Updates, Cupcakes, and Prizes!!

First, let me update ya’ll about the job thingy.  So I had an interview last Wednesday with the director of a high school music program in South Mississippi.  The interview went fab; but as of yesterday evening, I still had not heard anything.  My fire of hope was dwindling to say the least, but around 5 o’clock my phone rang!  It was the director. 

She told me that the principle really wanted to hire the other interviewee because she has more experience (remember, I’m fresh out of grad school!).  The issue was… the other applicant could not start work until January while I could have started…. like yesterday!    

Then director is in dire need of help with this music program and wants someone ASAP (plus I think she’s pulling for me).  She continued that if the job was offered to me, it may be on a one-year term.   So at the end of May, I would have to interview for this position again and take the chance of not being hired for a second school year. Which…. Surprisingly…I am okay with.  I would much rather gain a year’s worth of experience working in the field that I love than to miss this opportunity doing another random job.

The director said that at the absolute latest, I should know something by Monday.  Just five more days…Just 120 hours…7200 minutes… uhg!!!!

On to the cupcakes…okay, I didn’t really make cupcakes, it just rhymed with updates, but I did make home-made brownies!!  Ya’ll, these are seriously good.  NWH worked late the other night so I met him for dinner at 5 (that’s extremely early eating for us).  When he got home, I wanted him to have a little something in his tummy before going to bed.   So I looked up a recipe, crossed my fingers, and got to mixin’.

I got the recipe from Allrecipes and cut it in half because we can never eat an entire batch before they dry-out.  Here’s the full recipe for Quick and Easy Brownies (tweaked a bit to how I made them)…

Ingredients

2 cups white sugar

1 cup butter (melted)

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 eggs

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix all dry ingredients together (White Sugar, Cocoa, Flour, baking powder, and salt).  Mix in the melted butter, vanilla, and eggs.  Bake in a greased 9x13 pan at 350 for 30 minutes.

Finally, I won my first blog prize!! YEY!!  Well… Chipper is actually the winner!  Bell on Heels did a Gone Doggie collar give-a-way.  Kelly S. is the owner of the Etsy store Gone Doggie and she makes the absolute cutest collars EVER!!  Now I get to own my very own...I mean chipper gets to own HIS very own.  This is the one I picked out.  Don't you LOVE IT!!

Wedding Word Wednesday: The Proposal

Our proposal story actually began in December of 2008, about three months before we got engaged. NWH and I had been in TN for the holidays visiting MIL (mother-in-law) and J-Man (father-in-law).   One day on our trip we decided to swing by J-Man’s new office. While there I noticed hanging on the wall, a beautifully framed photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge. I commented on the amazing picture and J-Man said that he had taken the photo himself. Raving about the view, I said, “I have to see that!”

After that little remark, J-Man, MIL and NWH booked a trip to visit San Francisco in March for Spring Break.

With months of anticipation behind us, NWH and I, along with J-Man and MIL headed west to the great state of California. We had an early night the Friday we arrived, but woke up Saturday morning refreshed and ready to go.

After coffee at the local Starbucks, the guys split from MIL and me. We girls were ready to do some San Fran shopping while the guys were going to pick up the rental car and check out possible restaurants for the week, (at least that is what they TOLD me.)

After a full day, we all met back at the hotel to freshen up for the evening. NWH and J-May told us they had made dinner reservations at The Spinnaker, a classy spot across the bay. We jumped in the car and were on our way.

The Spinnaker is located in Sausalito, a town that sits adjacent to the city of San Francisco. You can imagine my excitement as we drove; it was my first time across the famous Golden Gate and seeing the grand Pacific Ocean.

Once we were over the bridge, J-Man mentioned that we were a few minutes early for our reservations and suggested that we re-visit the spot where the photograph in his office was taken. Of course I burst with excitement, and we began making our way up the steep coast line.

On top of the hills, J-Man and MIL moseyed off, and NWH walked me to an isolated spot cut out with beautiful shrubs and flowers. I felt like I was standing on top of the world. The magnificent Golden Gate was to my left framing the city of San Francisco while the mighty Pacific waved to my right welcoming in the sunset.

Standing in his arms, NWH began to tell me how much he loved me and how he hoped this trip would be memorable. He said he wanted to bring me to a place that we could return to in future years, a place that would always be. And just like that place would never disappear neither would his love for me.

He then reached in his coat pocket, pulled out a box and got down on his knee. Now at this point I always imagined I would cry; but instead of tears, I SCREAMED! I jumped and shouted, “I’m engaged, I’m engaged!”

(J-Man, MIL, NWH, and Me)

Not only did we have a wonderful candle lit dinner overlooking the sparkling bay, NWH concluded our evening with dancing and celebrating at The Top of the Mark, San Francisco’s legendary 19th floor sky lounge.

How could there be a more perfect proposal!

Ma’am can you tell me how to get to the movie theatre parking garage?

On Sunday morning, MIL (mother-in-law) and I were out and about roaming the streets of Buckhead.  We had gotten up early that morning, drank coffees in the lobby, enjoyed (never mind, got through) a workout in the fitness center, and eaten On the Boarder for lunch. 

We made a stop at Old Navy (I picked up that fur vest I wanted!) and TJ’s (which we spent approximately 3 hours).  It was a pretty nasty day so MIL bought us matching Totes umbrellas so we could walk back to the hotel without being totally drenched!

As we made our way through the big buildings and up the sidewalks to the Hyatt, we were stopped by a green jeep with two men.  The passenger rolled down his window and said, “Ma’am (which MIL hates to hear), can you tell me how to get to the movie theatre parking garage?” 

Now is probably a good time to mention that both MIL and I are… how you say….directionally challenged.  On top of the fact that neither of us are from nor have ever lived in Atlanta.  May I also add, that just the day before MIL and I were discussing seeing a movie and were trying to figure out where the theatre was located!

Continuing the story…..

MIL says very politely, “Excuse me?”  (Like she didn’t hear the question the first time, now I know she was staling.).  The gentleman repeats the question, and MIL confidently answers, “Ohhhhh, just go down through these buildings and take a right.  Then you’re going to see a big red canopy and when you do, go ahead and take a left.  You’ll see the parking garage right there in front of you.”  He tells his driver the route, thanks MIL for her help, and speeds off to find the garage.

I’m very impressed (almost baffled) that she knew; the day before we didn’t even know how to find the theatre, more less the parking garage!! Anyway, I say how nice she was to give them those directions, and as she speeds up our walk she looks at me and says…Yeah, it would have been real nice, but I just sent them to DSW! 

We fell out, almost peed on ourselves and could barely walk to the hotel!!  She said she thought they may try to grab us if we didn’t tell them how to get there and I’m screaming… these matching leopard umbrellas are really going to give us away when they come back for us after they realize you sent them to a shoe store! She says she just couldn’t think straight…it was the only place she knew how to get to!!  I’m thinking... No directions are probably slightly better than wrong directions, wouldn't you agree!! 

Poor guys, they never saw it coming.. two nice women... carrying leopard umbrellas...I hope they didn't miss their movie. Hahahahhahahahaha...I'm still dying laughing!

ATL trip was FAB!! Look What I FOUND

I’m back from ATL and what a FAB time we had!! This will be the first of many posts (I’m sure) that report the HYSTERICAL stories of our mini-vacay.  But since I’m washing clothes and unpacking this one will be short. 

Look at what I found at Marshall’s!!  I know, I know…they weren’t on the list of three little bitty teeny weeny things, but I just couldn’t resist.  I’ve been wanting nude pumps forever and these were so comfy.  LOVE LOVE LOVE these!  When I got them back to the hotel, NWH said.. “Are they 40 dollars cute?”  I’m thinking, hello, they are Franco Sarto and ONLY 40 little one dollar bills!!

P.S. Just wait for tomorrow's post.  It has something to do with MIL(mother-in-law)+drive by car+directions=extreme laughter!!

It's Finally Friday

So, I'm supposed to be packing for ATL, but I didn't get back from Mississippi until yesterday afternoon, and NWH didn't get home until late last night.  We ordered Marco’s Pizza, watched shows on our DVR, and got to bed early.  This morning we snuggled a bit and are just enjoying our time together.  Hahahaha, he’s on his computer and I’m on mine, that’s our kind of morning! (At least we’re sitting beside each other on the couch.)


I’m also sitting on pins and needles, patiently waiting for a phone call.  I had the interview Wednesday, and I can honestly say…It could not have gone any better.  The director and I just TALKED. She didn’t ask me any question (probably because I talked her head off and she couldn’t think strait, ha!).  Anyway, the other applicant had her interview yesterday and a decision is SUPPOSED to be made by TODAY!!  Lord have mercy if I get the job, there will be PAR-TAY in ATL.  (You know I’ll let ya’ll know, ASAP!)

So I found this little blog hop thing last week, but Friday was like OVER.  So I wanted to try it today.  It’s Follow Me Friday from Maryland Pink and Green.  All you do is find new blogs to follow and be sure to follow Maryland Pink and Green and me (of course).  Follow someone who follows you and let them know that you found them through Follow Friday.  Tell your other blogger friends about Follow Friday and encourage them to join! 


Let’s make some new friends ya’ll!!

Wedding Word Wednesday: The Dress

 “The Dress.”

Lemme’ tell you about my wedding dress story.  Are you ready?  It’s a duzey.

I, like most brides, dreamed my entire life about my wedding dress.  Having been in a million pageants, a member of Cotillion and other social clubs, I have had my fair share of beautiful gowns; but this one had to be different.  It had to be PERFECT.

Perfect style for my body, perfect color for my skin, perfect material for the occasion, and perfect details for the season.  Most importantly I wanted my dress to reflect ME.  When people saw me in that wedding gown, I wanted them to say, “That is SO Telia.” 

I had visited a few shops but none of the dresses fit the bill.  So one day I popped into this little bridal boutique (all by myself mind you) and claimed I was just “looking.”  Then I decided it wouldn’t hurt to JUST try-on a few, right??

The first one, I loved, the second one, I loved more, and the third one was the winner.  Then I tried on the fourth and realized I had made a mistake about the third…this was THE ONE. 

It was a white silk, A-line dress with a huge one-loop bow on the right of my back.  The bow stretched from the top of my shoulder all the way down the length of my chapel train.  Across my back was a tiny strain of beads connecting one side of the dress to the other.  It was gorgeous, and SOOOOOoooooo ME!

My dad paid for and ordered the dress on January 8^th.  The sales lady approximated the delivery to take 10-12 weeks.  This meant March 12^th would be the absolute latest that I would receive my dress.   Well… March 12^th came and went and not only did I not have a wedding dress, I had not heard from the lady at the dress shop since January. 

I called the following week and asked about the status of my gown.  The owner clearly had not even thought about me or my dress.  She said she’d contact the designer and call me back.  Days went by…. no phone call.  So…I called her.  She said the dress would arrive no later than Friday, March 26^th.  March 26^th rolls around and guess what….you got it, still no dress. 

Now this is when it gets a little PG-13.  When I received the call that the dress still was not ready, momma (that’s my mother) took matters into her own hands.  I’m not exactly sure what was said in the conversation between dress shop lady and momma, but I know the words LIAR, LAWYER, MAKE-YOU-WISH-YOU-NEVER-OWNED-A-DRESS-SHOP, were all said.

More weeks go by and now we’re at the end of April.  Mind you, my wedding is June 5^th.  So whatever, the dress finally comes in the first of May.  I go to pick up by VERY EXPENSIVE DESINGER gown and the dress is unrecognizably-wrinkled.  The dress shop lady did not even take the time to dry iron my silk wedding gown! 

Long story short, I had to have the dress totally remade because it was two sizes too big.  I had to bring it to another woman who so graciously ironed it for me and in the midst of all of this; the dress shop lady called and made me break down into a dry-heaving fit in the middle of the restaurant. 

In the end I got married, loved my dress, and lived happily ever after but boy what a story!

P.S. Sorry post is so late!  I had that interview today, I'll tell ya'll about that tomorrow. It went GOOD!!

Just three little bitty teeny weeny things

It’s going to be a CRAZY, do you hear me, CRAZY few days!  I’m heading down to South Mississippi (a five hour drive, YUCK!) around lunch time.  I have a meeting with a realtor at 5 to look at some homes I found online.  Tomorrow the interview is at 11 and Wednesday evening I’m teaching at church.  Thursday I’ll get up early, make my way BACK to North Alabama and leave again Friday morning for a weekend trip to Atlanta!  How about that!!!

So this Atlanta trip I speak of is kind of an “every-year” tradition, or as NWH refers to it… a family reunion.  We started going on NWH’s 21 first birthday and have gone every year since.  NWH’s mom and step-dad have friends (well, now they are our friends too) who are members of the East Lake Country Club which hosts the FedEx Cup. 

So while the guys head to the course, we ladies (me and my mom-in-law) head to TJ’s, Marshalls, the mall, really anyplace that excepts Visa, MasterCard, or American Express! 

It is a wonderful mini-vacation, really.  MIL (mom-in-law) and I will get up, have coffees together, maybe work out, shop till we drop, enjoy nice lunches, and then have great evenings with the guys.  Don’t you wish you were coming???

So, since I haven’t been working I feel just a little guilty for spending money on clothes because let me be honest…. I have a closet FULL, FULL of clothes.  So this year I decided to make myself a list of “must haves” that I think I need and just stick to those items.  If and when I find it, I’ll get it, but everything else can just stay on the rack.  (I’ll let you know how that works out for me.)

MUST HAVE LIST

I cannot wait to own one of these!  They are hot on the trend list and would go with so much!  I love this caramel color as it could be worn with black, brown, or even white underneath.  I could pair this with jeans on the weekend or with black skinny's for a more professional look, and for only 29.50 at Old Navy, NWH may just love me for ever!!

Remember these bad boys from Footy Booties Explained?  Yes, I'm still dreaming about them.  This pair of course is from Nine West, but I could settle for some less expensive ones if I stumble upon them.  I want my open-toe-booties in this color though.  They are a good neutral and would go with EVERYTHING.

Love this Chunky Knit trend that's going on (if only it would get COOLER).  The thing I don't love is looking like I'm 50 pounds heavier, so I'll try to find one like this with some type of shape or one that can be belted.  This Diane von Furstenberg Chunky Wool Sweater is a little over my price range at $375 at Nordstrom, but I'm confident I can find was for LESS (let's hope!).

Just three little bitty teeny weeny things...I can already hear your saying it.  Okay, I may get a few other small items hear and there, but for the most part I'm sticking to my guns!  What are your Fall MUST HAVES???  OR do you already have them??   Send me pics and I'll post about them and YOU!!



Job Interview: What to Wear????

NWH was off today and we’ve had a wonderful Monday!  Coffee and blueberry muffins for breakfast, Panera Bread for lunch, and my specialty (Zatarain’s) jambalaya for dinner tonight, (why does the highlight of my day revolve around food????)

We also made a run through Target (the mother of all stores) .  We needed just a few items from the grocery aisles, but the most important reason for the excursion to Tar-jey was to pick up a few “interview” pieces. 

Unfortunately the majority of my closet’s professional wear is very springing/summery.  I tried on all my suits and jackets this morning and they were either white, orange, or pink.  Although it’s as hot as (#?@*) I mean summer outside (yes, it was 93 degrees today), I’d like to DRESS like its mid-September, especially for THIS interview.

So when you think about an interview you automatically think….SUIT.  But you have to remember my profession is not only in education, it's MUSIC education; and to some degree interviewees' dress should reflect their occupation (just take it up a notch).

There’s no substitution for professionalism, but I also want to look like I am ready and able to take a classroom position (that means running around like a chicken with their head cut off) along with showing the creative and talented musician I am.  So I chose these pieces for my interview.  What do you think???

Mossimo Black:  Women’s Ruffle Top in Phantom Grape

Mossimo Black:  Women’s TRS pencil skirt in Black Herrington

Nine West Roacha Pumps

(Thank goodness I already own these)

Don't have these yet, but I think they would be perfect!!



And of course, my leather portfolio (leave the purse in the car for this one).

COOKING isn't in the vows but it should be

On June 5, 2010 I pledged to be my NWH’s faithful wife, to love and serve him, in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in sorrow as in joy…ect. ect. ect. (ooo, maybe I’ll do my Wedding Word Wednesday on our vows?). 

So along with this little promise thingy, I think I should have said... I promise to cook for you, with chicken as with beef, for breakfast as with dinner, in the oven as on the grill (hahahaha, I crack myself up sometimes)!!

I’ve been doing really well if I do say so myself, but I still have to have a recipe.  I’m too scared to just go out on a limb and try to create my own concoction.  That way if it turns out bad I can always say, “I followed the directions exactly, honey.  It must just be a bad recipe!”

So tonight we’re having mini-burgers and Lipton’s potatoes.  Now I know, I know, hamburgers are easy.  I could just salt and pepper them stick them on the grill and be done, but NWH said he wanted me to add Worcestershire sauce.  Why did he make this request?… no one knows! But he did, and if he wants Worcestershire in his burger, he’ll get Worcestershire in his burger!

So I’ve been looking up hamburger recipes that include this ingredient and have narrowed the choices down to three.

JUICY GRILLED HAMBURGERS

1 lb. lean ground beef
3 tbsp. chopped onions
3 tbsp. catsup
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Dash of Tabasco sauce

Mix all ingredients together well and place covered mixture in the refrigerator for several hour to marinate, before grilling. Form hamburger patties in a dish with vertical sides to eliminate a thin dried edge when cooked.

NOTE:  NWH and I are kind of picky eaters.  We don’t like onions so I guess I could leave that out.  I also like that the meat gets marinated before grilling.  This may be the winner.

GRILLED HAMBURGERS

1 lb. hamburger
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp. dry mustard
8 crushed Ritz crackers
1 tbsp. A-1 Steak Sauce
1 egg

Mix together. Make burgers into desired size and grill. Baste while grilling with burgundy and butter, if desired.

NOTE:  I read a lot of recipes that use eggs and either bread crumbs or crackers.  I’d like to try this, but I’m not sure NWH would like it.  Have any of you made burgers like this?  I would think it would be meatloaf “esc” and NWH and I are not meatloaf lovers.

GRILLED HAMBURGERS WITH WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE AND ONIONS

1 pound ground beef, preferably lean chuck

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 teaspoons dried chopped or minced onion

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

4 hamburger buns, white or whole wheat

Condiments and toppings

Mix all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Divide into four portions and gently form into patties. Make a small indention in the center of each burger so it cooks evenly. Grill over direct heat or pan fry on medium-high heat to desired doneness. Serve with your favorite buns and toppings. My favorites are sliced onion, cheddar cheese, sliced tomato and yellow mustard, as shown in the photo.

NOTE:  This one is the simplest but is the only one that uses garlic powder, and I LOVE to use garlic powder.  I may add the ½ teaspoon to receipt one and call it a dinner. 

What do ya’ll think?  Which one should I go with?  Any good burger recipes that you’d like to share?? 

3.5 hours Later!

So, I’ve been starring at my computer screen for 3.5 hours.  Yes, that’s three and a half hours, 210 minutes, 12,600 seconds (on a Saturday mind you).  I’m officially caught up with my blogs!  I’ve read every post, commented and feel like I’ve actually accomplished something today.  How funny is that!!  Am I the only person in the world who spends that kind of time blogging??????

P.S. What else am I going to do, NWH is sadly working his life away and I feel guilty for watching football without him!

MIA... with FAB NEWS!!!

O my gosh... I’ve been out of the blog world for two days and I feel terrible!  I have so much to catch up on!  So many comments to post, not to mention how much I missed everyone!!

I do, however, have some pretty fabulous news to share!  The reason I’ve been out of touch is because I took a little trip back to good ol’ Mississippi.

You know my post who says you can’t go home?  Well, I was expressing some of my disappointments to one of my friends (who is also my previous voice teacher, who also sang at my wedding and made my wedding cake, yeah she’s pretty amazing), and she mentioned that there was a children’s music position at her church.  If we did decide to move back, I needed to come and “interview” so the job could be held for me.  So I planned the cutest church music lesson which involved balloons and of course music and headed down the road.  The director offered me the job on the spot!!

While in Mississippi I also had to get a few other IMPORTANT things accomplished like…get my hair done my old hair dresser.  Don’t laugh, we all know how it is to have someone so good and then have to switch.  It’s awful. 

I also had to bring my ring (wedding ring, that is) to my jeweler because the main diamond fell out!  I haven’t told that story yet, I don’t think.  It’s a good one… five words… I- WAS- ON – OUR- BOAT.  Another story for another day.

So last on the to-do list was visit my old office.  I worked at a family dentist practice for two years while I was in college.  At times I hated it, at times I loved it.  But one thing is for sure, they were so good to me!  My office manager was more like a friend and she always took care of her “little girl.”  

As it got closer to the wedding, I was juggling teaching, school, working, job-hunting, wedding, and moving all at the same time.  She never complained and let me have as many days off as I needed.  She’d even bought me happies like massages and pedicures because I needed to relax. (How sweet is that!).  The hygienist, the assistants, and even the doctors were my friends.  When you work somewhere for two years, you just grow to care for your co-workers. 

So you can imagine their excitement when I walked through the glass doors.  They hadn’t seen me since the wedding and were ecstatic!  Of course questions about married life and North Alabama swarmed.  I was honest and told them we loved being together, loved seeing each other every day (when I was in grad school we only saw each other on the weekends), but weren’t so fond of being in a place where we didn’t know anyone. 

Then…one of the doctors came in, closed everyone out, turn up the music, and proposed me a plan to come back to work.  He said he’d pay me X amount of dollars which is just as much as if I were teaching, and he wanted me to start either the 15^th of October or the 1^st of November.  I kind of had a hint this was coming after talking to my office manager, but I was still totally excited. 

Just when I thought things couldn’t get better, yesterday morning I was loading my car to head back to Alabama when my cell phone rang.  Flashing across the screen was one of my old professors.  I answered, asked about his family (I used to babysit for them), and then he told me his reason for calling.  He said there was a music position at one of the local high schools and they needed someone ASAP.  He heard NWH and I might be moving back and told the director all about me.  He gave me the director’s phone number and instructed me to call.  So I did and I have an interview next Wednesday at 11!! 

I can’t believe everything that has happened the past few days.  NWH and I still have a lot of decisions to make, but boy it feels good to have options.  Anyway, please keep me in your prayers (if you pray) as I prepare for the interview.  This would be an awesome job for me.  I not only would start the profession I went to school for,  I’d also have a church job which offers more money and more experience.  UGH…how great is that!!  I'm screaming!!

Wedding Word Wednesdays: Websites (the wedding kind of course!)

One of the first things I did after my NWH proposed was create a wedding website.  It’s kind of the modern-day thing to do in the wedding world, right? 

I researched and research and even got my NWH to study different website options.  The one thing I didn’t want to do was PAY!  There are so many costly things a wedding requires and a website was simply not in the budget. (There are some sites out there that charge over $100 for a year’s subscription, Whoa!).

I started a web page at the knot and began looking at other couple’s pages for inspiration.   That’s when I stumbled upon a little secret I like to call…. http://www.mywedding.com/.  It offers free wedding websites and also provides planning and organizational tools.  It was by far the best free website option that I found.

Mywedding.com allowed me to add pictures, slide shows, maps, music, links, even videos (although I never did that one).  My site had a wedding day countdown and a place for people to send private or public messages.  It even had an RSVP section.  (I could have blogged on the website as well…but the blog bug hadn’t bitten yet).  This website had all the services that the pricey ones had but for FREE.

With so many friends and family members at long distances, the website really proved helpful in keeping everyone connected with all the festivities.  It also gave us a place to share our engagement story and OUR STORY.  After all, there were a FEW people on the guest list whom I’d never met.  This lets people get to know you without meeting! Hahaha, how great it that!!  As for those who know and love you, well..they can read the stories over and over as many times as they like.

After so many requests, I uploaded pictures taken at our rehearsal and wedding as well as honeymoon.  Our wedding website is still online if you’d like to check it out.  The address is www.mywedding.com/teliaandzach

A wedding website is something I would recommend to anyone getting married.  It may require a little more time out of the busy bride schedule, but your friends and family will love you for it!  Please pass the valuable information on to any brides that you know.  They'll be glad you did!  (or your could always point them over this way).