Oh, I forgot to mention...

My bonus was spent before it even had a chance to get in the bank :( I had to have 4 new tires. Oh well, at least we had the money!

The Jones Christmas

Chad and I are celebrating Christmas today - the just me and him Christmas. We opened each other's stockings this morning and tonight we'll open each other's gifts. I'm excited!! Instead of traditional Christmas food (which I don't like) we're making spring rolls and sushi! Yum, yum :) This will be our first time to make it so it should be interesting!

Just for Daddy

Cranberry Salsa

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (12 ounce) bag cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 1 bunch green onions, cut into 3 inch lengths
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 2 limes, juiced
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 pinch salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine cranberries, cilantro, green onions, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a medium blade. Chop to medium consistency. Refrigerate if not using immediately. Serve at room temperature.

I got a BONUS!!!

I totally was not expecting one. I had looked at the records to see if the last secretary got a Christmas bonus and she didn't so I wasn't counting on one. But yay, I got one!!

So due to the joint effort of my husband, everything got done last night except for dying my hair. I guess that wasn't very important anyway. I can wait till Saturday.

Chad dropped me off at work so he can take my car to the shop this morning and we can leave it there while we're in Nashville. He and Josh are picking me up from work at 1:00 and we're leaving straight from here headed to Nashville. I'm so excited!!

Check!

Go grocery shopping = done!!!

Chad is working on the house. I might get everything done after all!

Uninspired

I haven't blogged in a very long time. I have been completely uninspired as of late. I am still uninspired however, I feel it is my moral and civic duty to write because wherever I go I meet someone who tells me they read my blog. Kind of scary but kind of makes me feel good that I have an indention in this ol' world. I'm kidding :)

Last night I went to Hudson's with a friend. I got season one of Get Smart. I'm very excited! I love that show :) Oh, I also got a gorgeous crystal bowl for 10 dollars!! I rationalized getting it by planning on giving it as a wedding gift (we have a lot of weddings coming up in the next year) but upon further thought, I've decided I just can't bear to give it away. I must keep it myself :) I got a bunch of crystal when I got married but not any bowls, mostly plates and stuff. So this a need, not a want ;) I got a whole lot more at Hudson's but those are my two favorite.

So here is my do list for tonight:

• cook supper
  
• pick up entire house
• wash clothes
• color hair
• go grocery shopping
• pack for nashville
• make cranberry salsa and white trash for Christmas party
• oh, and chad wants me to drop of my car at the car shop

yeah, I think that's everything.

I predict about 2 of those things actually getting done. Too bad all of it MUST get done! Well here's to trying!

we've been taking some dance lessons

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

happy anniversary to me!!

This past Saturday Chad and I set up and ran the second annual book table at the RUF Fall Conference. Last year after we finished up for the night, we went back to my grandparent's to stay the night. It was there that Chad told me he loved me for the first time :) I knew then it would last forever.

So to make Chad happy, I guess I should tell you the other story. Before we went back to my grandparents, we walked around the campus for a little bit and laid in a hammock over looking the lake. I tried to kiss him. Yeah I did - full moon, hott guy, stars reflecting in the lake, come on, anybody could be weak! He said "no" and turned away. I never tried again and we made it to engagement day! Which I'm very glad we did.

So this Saturday I celebrated the day we said "I love you" and he celebrated the day he told a girl "no".

I got another bonus!!!!

Another whole extra pay check! This is my third one in four months!!! I am completely floored. This check will go straight to savings, so I can get my dream house one day - one sooner day now!

It's Christmas!!

or so it felt. When I began unpacking in our new apartment, I discovered that somewhere in the moving process, a garbage bag containing ALL of my jeans, the majority of my nice "church" dresses, and some of my favorite shirts and jackets had gotten lost in the transit. Yes, all of my nicest and most valuable clothes all in the same bag - note to packers, don't do that! So for the past four months I've had to restock my closet. I know, it just about killed me ;) Well......the missing bag has been found now!!! Chad told me at lunch that he had a surprise waiting for me when I got home sitting on his chair. My long gone bag of clothes is what I least expected! When we were engaged, every time I'd come to Jackson to see him, I'd bring bags of stuff and leave in his apartment mate's empty room (he had moved out for the summer). So my bag of clothes has been in the office of his old apartment this whole time. The guy that moved in, never uses the office, so didn't know it was in there. Last night was like Christmas for me as I opened the bag and pulled out what was in there! Get this - 5 pairs of pants, 17 skirts, 9 dress, 7 shirts, and 2 jackets. Yes, my ability to cram things in a plastic white garbage bag is amazing.

I'm going with all my jeans were just washed before I put them in the bag. After my fatal attempts to squeeze into them last night, I am convinced that "the pill" is the absolutely worst thing on the planet! Three measly months on it and I had to practically bind myself up on my wedding day in order to fit in my wedding dress and now four more months I can't fit into my old jeans. Some people have pre-pregnancy jeans. I have pre-birth control jeans. But it's kept me from getting pregnant these past four months, so I shall continue on it, and continue to restock my wardrobe :)

Robin's getting married tomorrow, yay! I can't wait!

Bummer! He didn't win :(

Maybe next time around Teddy! I'll have to start campaigning earlier. Votes for Ted Weill in the 2012 election!!

So I have to say I've really enjoyed this election. It's really give me a chance to think about what I believe about different issues. How I'll miss all those texts and forwards calling God a Republican and no Christian would vote otherwise, Obama the anti-christ, Palin a modern day Esther, and McCann the anointed and chosen one. Poor little Biden was all left out :( (by saying I'll miss them, I meant that in the most sarcastic way imaginable, though I will say they did provide some laughter to my day). Oh! I will miss the Saturday night live's reenactment (that was not sarcastic). My favorite was McCann. His voice was hilarious to me. I laughed every time.

Anyway, so back to the fowards, had I believed them I would be quite disillusioned right now because it would appear that Obama was the anointed, and chosen one. But you see, I am not disillusioned or planning on moving out of the country, because I believe in a God that is sovereign and is interested in one thing - His glory. (oh, and I also believe in a God that is not Republican. God is love, mercy, truth, holy, I could go on and on but already the Rebublican party falls short). God's will was accomplished in the election of Obama as the new president and it will continue to be accomplished - that is a promise, a guarantee. It was not by chance that he was elected or a mistake - no it was on purpose. So tonight I will sleep warm and sound in my bed like I always have knowing that God is in control -of course it also helps that I'm poor and my taxes aren't going to go up in an enormous way ;)

So congradulations to our new president, Barak Obama, and praise be to God who is bringing all things to the completion of His glory!!

Rom. 13:1-2 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."

Everybody vote for Ted Weill!!

(hey, I'm trying to get a raise here)

A bonus!!

I got a bonus today! Yay!!! Mr. Weill said he had to spend his money before Obama takes it all away. Too bad election is only 4 days away and thus that impending threat ends.

Last night Chad and I had our own little Halloween celebration, if you would call it that. We carved pumpkins (which I discovered is not at all as easy as it looks but I think it was definitely worth it), watched The Corpse Bride while craving those pumpkins (loved it! it's a musical believe it or not), and got sick off of candy corn and candy pumpkins. So I discovered when we finished that this was also Chad's first pumpkin to carve. I thought we did really well for the first time. His turned out really well. We took pictures. I'll have to post them when I get home.

Happy Halloween and Reformation Day!

I know someone really famous

I just got back from a lunch date with my husband. I'm so so full and feel like I can't even move around the office. We went to a Aladdin, a Greek restaurant downtown. And get this - our meal was only 5.46! And that included an appetizer! All thanks to this site (click on site). They give you a 2 week free trial which we're using now. I've gotten coupons for 2 for the price of 1 meals at two Greek places, two Mexican, 1 Indian restaurant, and a whole lot more. They have a lot of shopping coupons too. Chad bought 2 dvds for the price of one this past Sunday. The bad part is that you have to use the coupons by the time the free trial ends. I don't know how much membership is but we're thinking it may be worth it with all this free stuff! And it's stuff that we were going to buy anyway!

Yesterday Chad got his absentee ballot. I got to put my notary power into use! He had to fly it to Olive Branch last night putting him home at 3 in the morning :( Oh well...time is money and that was a 5 hour paid job! Anyway, here's the real story I'm getting at....I personally know one of the presidential candidates! I'm sure you've all heard of him. Ted Weill of the Reform Party. He's my bosses dad. I've met him on a few occasions. Mr Weill (my boss) is kind of embarrassed about it. In fact, he had me go the Secretary of State's Office to turn in his dad's paper work because people know him there and he didn't want them to think that he supported him or was voting for him. So this morning I came in and teasingly told him that I saw his dad on the ballot last night and I kind of felt an obligation to vote for him since I had such a key part in his being on the ballot. Then he told me that word somehow leaked out at his son's school that his grandfather was running for president and that the school was holding their own election for the kids to see how they vote and his dad won! So, Mr. Ted Weill may not win the presidency but he's got the vote of Jackson Prep!

Gas is 2.08 now!

Not really much to say

I went home to Natchez this weekend. Every time Chad and I go to Natchez my family is always busy so we don't get to spend much time with them, so that's what I did! I had a really good time and got some good shopping bargains :) However, I was by myself, so I was very, very, very happy to get back to Jackson, to Chad!

Sunday was Chad's first Sunday as intern at First Presbyterian Church in Brandon. He gets to lead the responsive reading and later will be teaching a Sunday School class (I don't know if they call it Sunday School in the Presbyterian church?). I lied to him and told him I wouldn't be coming back till that night but I surprised him by showing up just in time for church. He did good, I was proud of him! Though I kind of wish I had stayed in Natchez. He was planning on surprising me by washing all the clothes that afternoon. So alas, I returned home and had to wash five loads of laundry on my Sunday afternoon :( But he got to catch up on his reading for class, so it all worked out....I guess.

Tonight's agenda is Heroes - YAY!!!!! And chili for supper, yum!

Oh, my mom has a blog. (Click on blog).

recipes

This is what I cooked for supper last night. And it was all so so yummy! My favorite was the soup. Chad really liked the sandwiches.

Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 8 ounces shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 8 slices French bread
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, shredded cheese and garlic salt. Beat until smooth.
2. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Spread cheese mixture on 4 slices of bread, then top with the other 4 bread slices. Lightly butter both sides of each sandwich. Place sandwiches in skillet, and grill until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side.

Spinach Souffle Bake
serves 12 (I divided it by three)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 3 (10 ounce) packages chopped frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease sides and bottom of an 8 inch square baking dish.

1. In a large bowl, mix together the cottage cheese and eggs. Stir in spinach, salt, nutmeg, and 11/4 cups of shredded Cheddar cheese. Mix until well blended. Spread evenly into prepared pan.
2. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until firm. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Tomato Basil Soup
serves 6

Ingredients:

• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (11.5 ounce) can tomato-vegetable juice cocktail
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
• 20 fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup butter

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine the tomatoes, vegetable juice, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, and cook for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the basil. At this point, you may puree the soup if you wish. Add the cream and butter; return to medium-low heat, and stir until butter is melted. Serve immediately.

a boring day at the office

I am so so bored. I've done absolutely everything here at the office. I've even been racking my brains trying to come up with stuff to do - but nothing. It's amazing how slow time moves too when there's nothing to do. One whole hour and fifteen gigantic minutes till I'm out of here....ugh.

The Andrew Peterson concert was amazing! Though getting back at 2 o'clock in the morning wasn't so amazing, especially when you have to be at work at 8:30. So I guess, come to think of it, though I am incredibly bored right now, it does beat being miserably tired all day like yesterday. When I got home from work I went straight to the couch and didn't wake up till Chad got home at nine. Some chicken strips, french fries, and two episodes of House later, I was back asleep for the night!

Tonight I'm finally making Chad a birthday cake (I know, two days later). His favorite cake is German Chocolate so that is what it will be. I hope, Claire, that you and Wesley like it too because it will be accompanying us to Natchez this weekend so it won't stay at my house and be consumed by me and my growing hips. Even though I don't like flavored chocolate, I will still eat every single bit because it's sugar!! That is how addicted I am to sugar, it can exceed my dislike for the flavored chocolate. It's makes no sense.

I'm so glad tomorrow's Friday! A new paycheck and a road trip! yay!

Today and six random things about me

My mouse is dying and I don't think I have any batteries left here. Good thing I'm only working for a couple of hours today. My boss is on a hunting trip in Michigan so yesterday I didn't come in at all (which means my house FINALLY got completely picked up, yay!) and today I'm just staying till I finish up some filing and till the mail comes.

Today is Chad's birthday. I think it's going to be pretty sad because we've already done the big celebration stuff. I gave him his big gift while we were at the restaurant Friday night. I gave him a trip to St. Louis - specifically the City Museum. When we were dating we had talked about what places we wanted to see and go to one day, and he said the City Museum. I have to say it does look pretty cool. Check it out for yourself - www.citymuseum.org.

Tonight we're going to a free (yay!) Andrew Peterson concert in Tupelo. I'm so excited!! I've never heard him in person but I hear he's really really good. I love his cd's so I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

Sooo, since I had the great honor of being tagged, here are 6 random things about me:

1. I love chocolate but hate the flavor of chocolate. I know kind of confusing, so let me explain. It's more like chocolate flavored things that I don't like. For examples, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cake, chocolate milk shake, etc. - can't stand those things! But when it comes to chocolate bars, just plain ol' chocolate the way God intended it, um um, so good!! I will say that brownies are in exception to this rule. They taste more like "real" chocolate instead of that nasty imitation stuff.

2. I have a sock phobia. Seriously, socks are the grossest things on the planet. I'll freak out if one gets on me. I don't mind mine so much but I only wear them when I absolutely have to - when I have to wear tennis shoes. Uh, they're so gross!!

3. I use to be a Civil War nerd. I could tell you about every single battle - all the details, I had a gazillion books about the war, I collected Civil War Barbies (I guess they would actually be called Kens). Those are just a few things, it was bad. In fact, it use to be my dream to visit all the major battlefields in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland for my honeymoon. I changed my mind when I got a little older :) Though Chad has promised me that one day we'll do that, so the nerdiness is still in there. This is probably why I can't say much about my husband's Star Wars nerdiness.

4. Gah, this is getting hard to come up with things!.....I love John Wayne movies. Really any western, but John Wayne, he's my man!

5. I would rather do dishes for a week than cook for one night. I will say that my hatred for cooking is getting better. It use to be I would rather do dishes for a month than cook one meal. Maybe one day I will find joy in the act of cooking but for now the only joy I receive from it is knowing that it is 100% solely in act of love for my husband and I wouldn't do it for any one else.

6. I use to hate my husband. Like seriously, loathe him. (I know Christian's aren't suppose to hate, but I'm just going to be honest, I'm a sinner and I hated). Of couse this was way, way before I had any idea that he would be my husband. When I was in 7th gr. he teased me in front of a big group of people (more like chewed me out - he must have been having a really bad day and took it out on me) for being shy, and from that day on I couldn't stand him. Of couse he remembers absolutely nothing about it, and doesn't believe that this really happened, but I can assure you, it did. I guess the jokes on me because now I LOVE the guy I use to hate. Funny how things change.

This is a way, way too long post. I hope people read it.

Oh yeah, Claire, you're tagged.

Yay for fine dining!

Chad's birthday is on Tuesday but we're having an early birthday celebration tonight. When I bought my wedding dress at David's Bridal, I got a $50.00 coupon to be used at several restaurants. We're going to redeem that tonight! Of course the catch is that you have to spend at least 100 dollars but considering the entrees are between $24.00 and $34.00 a piece, I don't think that will be too hard to do. I've been keeping the place a secret from Chad but I know he never looks on here so here's the place: http://www.elixirms.com/. I'm so so excited! We're definitely getting the sushi appetizer. I haven't decided which entree I want yet. I guess I have till tonight to decide :)

I bought a new dress just for tonight. I'm actually probably more excited about the dress than the meal because here's why: I've had my eyes on this dress for a long time but when I tried it on before, I couldn't get the zipper zipped and was not about to go up a size. I'd rather go without a dress then get anything but an extra small! Anyway, so when I tried it on again this week, I got it zipped and it fits perfect! It's amazing what cooking every night instead of going out to eat can do for one's figure!

Goal for this weekend: Get the house picked up and cleaned - SPOTLESS!

funnel cake, tram ride, farris wheel, blooming onion, and taffy =

THE FAIR!! We went to the fair last night. It was a lot of fun. That's all for now :)

Yay for The Office at eight tonight!

day two accomplished = mission accomplished!

Last night I cooked meat loaf, onion roasted potatoes, and Chad made green bean casserole. The past two meals have made enough left overs for the next two days so my goal for the week has been accomplished!!! (we leave friday afternoon for his parents that's why I only have two more days to go) Two meals, not too bad. I think I can get use to this :)

day one accomplished

I cooked beef stroganoff in the crock pot. It was super super easy and very yummy! I meant to post the recipe but I forgot my cook book. And Chad grilled some asparagus to go with it, yum :)

I'm thinking tonight I'll make meat loaf though I haven't decided the sides yet.

Oh! I also made some pumpkin bread...put of course it got burnt. I hate hate hate my oven! It burns everything! I even wised up this time and set the timer for five minutes less than it was suppose to cook, but yet still the outside got well done. The inside of the loaf tastes very good. I cut off the edges and it's good to eat now but it just doesn't look pretty. I told myself when I put the load in that I needed to check it every five to ten minutes to make sure it didn't burn...but that was during the hour Heroes was playing so that didn't happen. Next thing I knew the timer was going off.

My goal for the week =

To cook supper every night



I love this picture.

My favorite wedding picture/pictures

I can't decided if I like the color one better or the black and white. So here's both. More to come.

My wedding dress...almost

People were always asking me what my wedding dress looked like and if I could send a picture of it before I got married but it was really hard to describe because I had never seen one like it. Now of course after the wedding I find a picture of a dress that looks very very similar, almost identical.

I want a maid.

Someone please buy me one for Christmas.

Glorious fall!!

It's starting to get cooler here. Every year I can never decide if I like spring better or fall. I love spring because after the long cold dead winter (though I guess in Mississippi it's really not that long at all), it's so nice to feel warmth and to know that flip flop season is just around the corner. And I love fall because after the really really long hot muggy summer it's so releaving to feel the cool air and take your hair down from the frizzy pony tail that it's been forced to be in for the past five months. But as for today, I say fall is my favorite season because it feels wonderful!

So I have to be a good secretary and brag on my boss. He killed a 12 ft., over 400 lbs., alligator this weekend. It's the second largest that's been caught in Mississippi. He's quite proud. I got to look at the top of the alligator's head in the back of his truck. I think anyone that's going to purposefully be anywhere near an alligator is aboslutely crazy.

I guess I should start working.

If you were the only person on the earth......then that would make God a liar.

I like to think. And I especially like music that makes me think. This past Saturday, while in the midst of cleaning the house and washing five :( loads of laundry, I found Derek Webb's cd, "She Must and Shall go Free." I had heard a few songs on there before, but not all of it, and let me just say - INCREDIBLE! Like seriously, go get it.

During the song,"The Church" was playing (which lyrics I have posted below), I realized how false that ol' familiar saying is that everyone uses while sharing the Gospel - "If you were the only person, Christ would still have come to die for you." First of all, where in the Bible does it say anything remotely like that? Secondly, that could only be true if basically everything in the Bible was wrong and God was lying. From before the beginning of time it has been God's plan to redeem a people - His chosen people, His bride. All of Scripture points to that fact. So if you were going to suppose that you were the only person to be saved, then you would also have to suppose that God had an entirely different plan going on and do away with the entire Bible. But then, if you suppose that God had a different plan, then who knows if He would really die for you? It would be an entirely different plan so who knows what He would do.

When Chad came back from studying, I had to rush to tell him my discovery and he told me that several years ago he had gone to a youth winter conference and the speakers were Josh McDowell and Voddie Baucham (absolutely amazing, I heard him preach last year). Anyway, Josh preaches this long moving sermon basically based on that saying, "if you were the only person...". So Voddie gets up to speak next (this was unplanned by the way) and his talk is on Christians' arrogance (very fitting). And he tell this story:

He and a guy were out witnessing and the guy is sharing the Gospel to this person and uses that saying, "if you were the only person..." etc. Voddie lets him finish talking and once they're leaving says to him, "I want you to do me a favor."

Friend:"Sure what?"

Voddie: "Do you remember while you were sharing the Gospel you said 'if you were the only person, Christ would still die for you?"

Friend:"Oh yeah! Isn't that great?!"

Voddie: "Well, the favor is that you never say that again." End of story.

So Voddie tells that story after McDowell's whole sermon on that. Pretty funny is you ask me. So when Josh was asked about it later, his excuse was "Well I was emphasing God's love and Voddie was emphasing something else." Whatev'. So now the Word of God contradicts itself? Stop preaching a warm and fuzzy man centered Gospel and give me a Christ centered Gospel.

I have come with one purpose
to capture for myself a bride
by my life she is lovely
by my death she’s justified

i have always been her husband
though many lovers she has known
so with water i will wash her
and by my word alone

so when you hear the sound of the water
you will know you’re not alone

(chorus)
‘cause i haven’t come for only you
but for my people to pursue
you cannot care for me with no regard for her
if you love me you will love the church

i have long pursued her
as a harlot and a whore
but she will feast upon me
she will drink and thirst no more

so when you taste my flesh and my blood
you will know you’re not alone

(chorus)

there is none that can replace her
though there are many who will try
and though some may be her bridesmaids
they can never be my bride

(chorus)

Just for Claire

My Falafel Recipe

-buy a box of falafel mix, follow directions. (to show you how good I am, here's the directions: dump mix in bowl, add water, stir, fry.)

-buy a box of hummus mix, follow directions. (dump mix in bowl, add water, stir, chill.)

-stuff falafel's in pita bread, along with letttuce (we use spinach), feta cheese (and/or whatever cheese you like), hummus, and tomatoes (we don't like tomatoes though so we skip this step).

I found a recipe here that looks simple enough:
http://mideastfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/falafelrecipe.htm
One day I want to make my own falafels and hummus instead of box mixes, but this is really all I have time for now. And really, it's good. It's one of our favorite meals. Especially mine because Chad makes it (I hate frying things).

Enjoy :)

Bummer

I promise I didn't mean to lie to you. I was lied to too. On the box of Season 2, it said that Season 3 of Heroes was going to premier on Sept. 8. Well, it didn't happen :( It premiers on the 22nd. All that excitement for nothing. But it probably ended up being a good thing. My house got some good attention which it desperately needed. It was so so messy. But it's all good now. Well except for our bedroom, which will get that attention tonight while Chad is night flying with a student.

Chad sent me this new's article today: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26513442/?GT1=43001. It's title is: "Eating too much? ‘Law & Order’ may be guilty. Must-bleed TV fans consumed with thoughts of death — and groceries?" I thought it was hilarious and scary at the same time because I think someone's been stalking me and written the article about me. I love, love, love food and I love, love, love Law and Order and any other "must bleed" tv shows, as they call it. I pretty much have an unhealthy addiction to both.

"In the study, titled “The Sweet Escape,” researchers conducted four experiments revealing that “consumers who have been recently reminded of their own impending mortality” spend more on groceries — and actually eat more of those groceries. We found that when people think about the fact that they’re going to die someday — not now, but someday — they want to consume more of everything,” says Naomi Mandel, co-author of the study and an associate professor of marketing at Arizona State University. “We find this with snacks and drinks but also all kinds of different foods: frozen foods, meats, vegetables, everything.”"

I do not think this preoccupation with death, whether subconcious or not, is true of me. I don't fear death, I know what lies ahead! I just watch these shows for the sheer entertainment. I love the suspense of it all and solving the case. And I just so happen to be a glutton. Is there I link between the two? I don't know.

Speaking of death, I saw my life flash before my eyes this morning (humm, maybe that's why I wanted to go out to eat for lunch today...it was yummy :) Anyway, a truck pulled out in front of me close to where I work on Lakeland. I was going 50 mph (speed limit). I slammed on my breaks, but he still would have hit me so I jerked my car over to the next lane. If there had been a car there....well, it would have been really bad. The two biggest things I miss about the town of Natchez are:

1. The small roads (no interstates) and lack of traffic
2. Dirt Cheap

Tonight's menu: Breakfast - eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and hashbrowns.

Heroes tonight 8:00

This makes my day. I've been counting down for the past week. The new series of Heroes premiers at 8:00 tonight. I can't believe I like this show. I used to tease Chad for liking it. Basically it's a bunch of people with super powers that are trying to save the world. Well, some are trying to destroy the world. I know, I know, sounds so lame. But really, it is so good and put together so well. It has to be for something like that not to be completely retarded. I was hocked on the first episode. I guess this is what I get for teasing.

I'm so excited! Oh, and filafils and hummus tonight for supper! This should be a very very good night :)

For my little refugee ;)

Mot's Ranch Potatoes

15 new potatoes (washed and boiled - don't peel them)
1 package hidden Valley ranch dressing mix (dry)
Go by directions on the package - but use....
2 cups mayo (or sour cream, Claire)
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup bacon bits (homemade are better)

Place cooked potatoes in casserole dish - leave skin on and cut in half
Pour ranch dressing over potatoes,sprinkle with cheese over dressing. Next bacon bits on top
Bake in oven (or microwave) until bubbles. At 350 for about 20 minutes

First in my heart

Last night I went to "Mrs. in Ministry". I guess it pretty much sounds self explanatory, but basically its a ministry for wives of RTS (Reformed Theological Seminary) students that meets every Thursday night for a couple of hours. Chad really wants me to get to know people, which he's right, I need to, so he kind of made me go. But it wasn't so bad. I'll keep going. I was of course the youngest person there and married the least amount of time but I guess I should enjoy being the baby of the bunch for as long as a can. Speaking of which, I was probably the only one without a baby or babies, but that's ok by me!

We opened with singing "Be Thou my Vision". That made me happy. The last time I heard that song was at my wedding. I choose that song as our wedding song before we were even engaged for these lines:

"Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art."

and

"Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all."

A lady I used to work with before I moved literally laughed at me and called me crazy everyday, all day, for wanting to get married (she was married too by the way). I think people think it's their God-given duty to discourage engaged and newly wed couples with dark stories of hardship and woe and blought out any glimor of joy or hope they may have for the future. And then of course after they finish their long discourse, they smile sweetly and say "I'm just giving you advice". I'm sorry, but since when does that qualify as advice?! I don't need to be told that marriage is hard. Anyone can look at the divorce rates and see that! I've lived under my parents roof for 21 years and seen their marriage firsthand. I know that it's going to be hard and you're not always going to feel in love, but is it so wrong to wish for happiness and to believe that marriage can actually be fulfilling and the most joyous experiene this side of heaven? I don't want an average marriage. I want the kind that books are written about. The best - everything that God intended it to be. I want to be able to say on our fiftith anniversary that I've grown to love him a little more every day. Despite the odds and statisics I really, truly believe that's possible. Why? Because I've got some REAL advice:

"Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art."

and

"Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all."

The only way to that kind of marriage is for God to be first in my heart, my treasure - our hearts, our treasure. Whatever befalls, if He is first in our vision, I know we'll make it, not only make it but live happily ever after.

So one thing I learned through this whole engaged, getting married, process is what couples need is advice on how to get through the hard times. Their "reality check" will come soon enough. I'm happy to say mine hasn't yet :)

I really don't know how I got started on this...

hurry up 4:30 and get here so i can begin my weekend!

After working for a lawyer, I am definitely glad I did not choose to pursue that profession. That's what I use to want to be - a lawyer. That was until I found out how many years of school that entailed, then I quickly was talked out of it. I've discovered it's not near as glamorous as my favorite TV show Law and Order makes it out to be. We had a client come in today who was incredibly rude and disrespectful. I heard everything from my desk. She made me so mad. I wanted to pounce on her when she was storming out. I was like he is doing you the favor missy! He's winning you oodles of money! I think you forget your place. I was told by the previous secretary to be prepared for ugly phone calls. With him being a lawyer and on the city council he gets a lot of them. Fortuantly I haven't had any yet.

Though this has changed my mind about any buried longings of being a lawyer, it has made me want to sue! I've been trying to come up with who and why I would sue all day. Ok I'm kidding, I would never actually do it, but goodness, it's ridiculous how much money you can make!

Last night's supper was very very good, if I do say so myself. I'll post the recipes next week. Tonight RTS is having a luau to welcome its new students so Chad and I will be going to that and enjoy the free food! There's suppose to be a slip and slide and water games but I have a feeling it will just be for the kids. There are times I don't like being an adult. This is one of them.

Ok this is getting to be long and nobody reads long posts, at least I know I don't, so have a great weekend!

I'm so swamped with work, but I don't care, I want to blog!

I have good news. I'm looking so so much thinner! Upon the third week of marriage, while out shopping for blue jeans, I discovered that I had gone up an entire clothes size - in three weeks! That's when reality hit about how much weight I was gaining at a rapid pace. People have told me that getting married equals gaining weight, and I always swore that wouldn't be me. I'm very happy to say that those days are gone by, thanks to the gym, lean cuisine, and long days at the office that keep me from munching in my cupboards.

Speaking of munching in my cupboards, two nights ago I made a spinach casserole that was very very yummy and super easy (which is the only kind of recipe you'll see me making!). I'll have to post the recipe soon. Tonight's menu is a chicken and cashew mixture over rice and as the veggie - asparagus and a blue cheese sauce poured over it. We'll see how they turn out. The recipes sound good. My two week groceries and menu will end up lasting three so that's exciting. I spent a hundred dollers, so I'm quite pleased with that for three weeks, especially with how high food is now. Really it's ridiculous. I haven't been grocery shopping in probably a couple of years, and when I went last week, I about cried as I saw the prices of some things. It made me sick.

I had the absolutely best cookie I've ever eaten in my life yesterday at Fresh Market. No joke. Triple Chocolate - chocolate cookie with white and dark chocolate chunks in it. Incredible. I also paid 3.26 for gas this past week. I think those are my highlights. Yeah, nothing really exciting is going on right now.

I want!

I went to Linens-n-Things today during my lunch break to pick up something for mom. That was the first time I've been in there and my opinion is for the most part, they're over priced. I'll stick with Hobby Lobby, Target, and my favorite - Dirt Cheap ;) Anyway, I did find something that I absolutely LOVE! I want it so bad. It would go perfect with my living room. But I'm too "dirt-cheapish" to pay eighty dollars for it. I thought blogging about it would help me forget about it and move on - kind of like group therapy ;) Here it is:

http://www.lnt.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2906586&cp=1331609.1331973.3021126&parentPage=family

Feel free to start a collection, my readers.

Piano Man

Last night after I got home from work, I pulled out all my cookbooks and made a menu for the next two weeks; then made out a grocery list; then went grocery shopping. I left the grocery store at 11:45 pm. By the time I got home, and unloaded everything and put it up in the cabinents, and got in bed it was one oclock. Once upon a time, I would have considered that early, but now that I have to be up at seven every morning, not so the case. I'm exhausted.

This feeling of self pity over lack of sleep is magnified by the fact that my parents are leaving today for the same cruise Chad and I went on during our honeymoon. I'm so so jealous. I want to go back! I miss the unlimited food at any time of the day and sleeping till as long as we wanted.

I called my post "piano man" because if I was going to write a book about our honeymoon, that's what I would call it. Our favorite part of the cruise was the piano bar - the Cleopatra Bar to be exact. It was decorated very elegantly and in the middle was a circular bar with raised up fake piano keys all the way around and in the middle of that was a grand piano. The guy who played the piano, his name was Vince. He was so so much fun and an incedible musician. You just called out what you wanted played and then everyone in the room sang the song at the top of their lungs. My favorite song was "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. I had never heard it till then. When we got back from the cruise, Chad bought me a cd of Billy Joel's greatest hits. I listened to Piano Man on the way to work this morning. It made me smile.

"Oh sing us a song, you're the piano man.
Sing us a song tonight.
Cause we'll all in the mood for a melody,
And you've got us feeling alright."

No, I haven't completely fallen off the face of the earth.

I've just been incredibly busy! I started a job last Monday - August 4. I'm the secretary for an attorney, Jeff Weill, Sr. Here's how it went down: We got back from the honeymoon on Saturday. Monday morning he calls me and sets up an interview for Tuesday morning. At the interview he says how about you come in for a couple of hours for the next few days and work with my secretary so she can evaluate you. By Thursday, he tells me I have the job. So Friday when I come in for a couple of hours, the secretary says that she'll be out Monday so could a wing it and she'll be back the rest of the week to help me. Well, she didn't come. So I've pretty much just been thrown in. I've just now started to get caught up, which is why I'm posting now....also because the boss is gone for the day :) Oh, this is the first lawyer that I mentioned in one of my earlier posts - the one that said he hired someone. He did, but that didn't work out, so he called me back and now I have the job!

I really can't believe I got a job so soon. And one with amazing pay and benefits! God has been so good to us in providing for every need!

Oh! I'm really happy today because my house is FINALLY all clean and everything has a place. Because of starting a job right away, I really had no time to unpack everything and get settled. But last night, I finished!! My home - ok apartment - looks so good :) And we even have a guest room with a bed, complete with a "Zombie Survival Guide" book on the night stand, if anyone wants to stay the night!

Ok, I should really get back to work. I really want to get caught up today because Mr. Weill will be gone three days next week and he said if I'm caught up, I can have off too - with pay!! It was nice getting caught up on the internet world though.

Oh, I guess I should answer this before I leave since everyone asks me this, "how's married life?" It's amazing! Of course that's because I have such an amazing husband. Really, he's incredible. I love him more now than the day a married him. I couldn't imagine a greater husband. Ok, I'll stop on the gush. But really, I'm happier now than I've ever been. So yeah, it's great :)

i'm mrs. jones now!!!!

...and my husband will be home from work in 15 minutes so i've got to scat to get something together for supper, bye :)

4 days!

Let me just say that I am so proud of myself. I seriously have to be the world's worst procrastinator.....well, nevermind, I thought that till I met Chad ;) Anyway, I just knew that the last week or two before my wedding would be absolutely chaotic because everything would be saved to the last minute. Well, here it is 4 days before and everything is running so smoothly!! I mean seriously, I couldn't imagine it any more perfect. Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly busy, but not so much so that it's stressful or more than I can handle. I still have time to take a break and watch a movie from time to time.

I'm starting to get really excited about the big day. I think it's going to be just beautiful....and we're going to have such a fun reception!

8 days!!!

I leave in an hour for my bachelorette party. It's in Baton Rouge. I'll be coming back tomorrow. I'm so so excited!!

9 more days!!!

and some more....

www.followellfotography.com

Just some more pictures

Back in Natchez

For only 10 more days though!! I've been gone for eight days now. I left last Monday night and returned tonight. I was in Jackson from Monday to Friday afternoon, Friday afternoon to Sunday night Chad and I were visiting his parent in Olive Branch, then from Sunday night to Tuesday night back in Jackson. What have I been doing you ask? Moving into my new apartment!!! Excuse me, mine and Chad's apartment. I love our place. And I really love that word - "our". It's looking so so good. I took lots of pictures but they're all on my phone. I'll post pictures after the honeymoon.

On Thursday night, Mom, Dad, Hannah, Benjamin, and Bethany all came to Jackson. They came to get Benjamin measured for his tux and also to bring up my furniture. I cooked supper for them all. It was a lot of fun! Benjamin carried on and on like it was the best meal he's ever eaten. That made me very happy because mom's such a great cook and he eats her food everyday!

I had a job interview. I'm waiting to hear back from the man to let me know if I got it.

Eight days made the longest time Chad and I have spent together. Up to the this point the longest has been four days. It was nice. I'm ready to spend every day with him.

I finally got all of my engagement pictures in. Here's some of my favorites from the new ones.

10 more days!!

My first snow cone of the year

Since Claire announced when she had her first snow cone this year, I felt the need to too :) I had clear blackberry. I think all of the flavors should be clear. I'm not a fan of blue, green, or bright red teeth and lips. That was my favorite flavor last year. It was good but not as good as I remember it being. I guess my taste buds changed in a year. I'll have to pick out a new favorite for this summer. But I'll wait till after my wedding. Starting tomorrow I'm on a no sugar diet. I realized this week that on a daily basis, my sweet in take far outweighs my none-sweet, normal food in take. I'll give you today for example. Here's what I ate - 2 cinnamon rolls for breakfast, a snow cone while I was our running errands, I guess that would be considered my lunch, a bowl of chili for supper, 2 glasses of lemonade this evening, and I just ate an apple cinnamon muffin Daniel made. So in other words, sugar, sugar, sugar, and a bowl of chili. And this is pretty much my diet every day. Its disgusting. I just can't say no to sugar. But for the next three weeks, I'm going to! I'm determined!!

This time 3 weeks/21 days from now I'll be Mrs. Tiffany Brooke Jones. I like the sound of that.

Some of my engagement pictures

www.followellfotography.com

I was on a role...

...now I can't think of anything to say. I had a great shower Saturday! And I've been getting gifts everyday since then! I could seriously get use to this. I'll post some pictures. These are from Ashley.



Wedding updates:

- Chad's ring came in yesterday! I ordered it from zales.com and was a little nervous, but it came in in exactly a week! I was impressed.

- I went by Rebecca's Flowers yesterday and paid for the flowers. I'm excited about my yellow tulips :)

Belks is having a sale on their pillows - 50 percent off. So yesterday I bought a whole bunch with my gift card. They're really nice. Today I'm going by JcPenney's and either buying the rest of my towels and the bath rug, or some toss pillows. I saw the pillows yesterday but wasn't sure if they were the same color blue as our comforter, so I'm bringing a sham with me today.

I love gift cards!

Do I really look that young?

Yesterday while Hannah and I were out, someone asked if we were twins. My response was, "uh no, we're ten years apart actually." And then they had a hard time guessing which one was older. This is absolutely ridiculous. I'm getting married next month and the average age people guess me to be is 14. I'm told that one day I'll love looking younger than I am, but for right now, I'm not too fond of it.

I have my bridal shower today! I can't wait to see what I get :)

lawyer number 1 emailed me back

He's already hired someone :( I'm bummed. He paid a whole whole lot of money! and had nice benefits too. But for some good news, to quote: "This is a GREAT resume!" So that left me encouraged and ready to send that resume out to more people! He also said he would circulate the resume for me.

So now I'm just waiting for lawyer number 2 to call me back. Hopefully he'll call me while I'm at work today. Oh, and if anyone else wants to call me, please do! I've been babysitting an empty office all morning and am fixing to return to that oh so funlishess job!

I think I just created a new word :)

Oh, I forgot, I have to clean the office this afternoon, pooh.

i finished my resume :)

I've never written one before so I'm kind of nervous that I did it right. I'm faxing it tomorrow. My fingers are crossed.

a good day!

I paid for Chad's wedding ring today :) And had enough money to set aside towards an excursion I want to go on on our honeymoon cruise!

Yesterday I sent emails out to two different lawyers who are looking for a part time secretary (in Jackson). One instantly wrote me back and said he was looking forward to recieving my resume. The second one wrote me back today and said that he and his wife want to call me! Yay! In his job description he said he was looking for someone who could also babysit his 3 - or maybe its 4 - children. I thought mentioning that I was the oldest of seven children would help me out there :)

So now tonight I have to finish my resume. I'll fax it while I'm at work tomorrow. I really hope I get these jobs!

I want a blog.

Why i'm setting one up at one o'clock in the morning is beyond me. I set out to go to sleep three hours ago but here I am. I have this thing were I can't go to sleep if Chad doesn't say goodnight. He fell asleep while we were texting, and now I can't go to sleep. I know, it's ridiculous, but there you have it. 37 more days...

Ok, I'm going to try my hardest to go to sleep now. I have a blog!