A Change, a Prose, a Bark

Is it truly only Wednesday?

This week has been super long already. With two tests, two meetings for projects, and another project/paper due Friday with working 26 hours this week, I'm a little tired. I worked a full day at work, and I am still running on adrenaline at the moment. But I'm sure I'll crash and burn very soon. Fall Break cannot come soon enough!

In other news, it will be sometime tomorrow or Friday that I will announce one of our big surprises. The changes Jarred and I are making are moving us in the right direction towards having a more secure future. We are so excited to share our news, but it'll have to wait a teeny bit longer!

Jarred was a good 'house-spouse' today while I was at work. He cleaned the entire apartment! It looks fabulous! He opened all the windows and it seems to have gotten out the funky smell that has stuck around since we first moved in. He even put up my French test on the refrigerator. I got an A :)

Now I just want to take a little time to clear up some things about my new blog site, The Traveling Menagerie. I created the site with the intention of getting away from talking about my everyday life, which is what this site has become. I am trying to revert back to my old way of writing, which can be viewed if you read posts from February and March. I had a more airy, light tone to my posts and I was a bit more philosophical, if I can say so myself. Nowadays, there is no more deeper meaning to my posts other than what I ate for lunch. I decided to separate the to forms of writing. M and J Hooray is still my go to, but I will be writing of topics meaningful to my life in Menagerie too. Just in a more prose-like writing. I would never abandon my baby that is M and J Hooray, but I wanted another outlet for writing. And don't forget to check out It's A Doggie-Ful Life soon. Baby has proved to not be much of a writer, so she tells me she is going to be passing on the blogging torch to Lucas when he comes home.

Can't wait for puppy!!!

Please Excuse the Reconstruction

UPDATE: I am through messing with my blog for now. I have also taken the time to create a new blog, The Traveling Menagerie. Follow please!

NOTE: I am changing up my blog look. Bear with me. It's gonna take a while.

Try my recipe! TRY IT!

It's feeling a lot more like fall weather here. I can't wait to break out the sweaters and sheepskin boots (And yes, I do also have a pair of Uggs. Don't hate.)! I've already pulled my cords out of the bin and have been wearing those to work.

Fall is so beautiful and there is nothing better than the warm smells and tastes of fall food. To get into the spirit, I concocted up a recipe for cinnamon apple bread. It is being used to get rid of some apples I picked up at the farmer's market. I had a feeling I would never eat them, but I don't want anything to go to waste. It's so hard to really cook for two people anyway. We normally have so many leftovers, and then those never get eaten.

So here is my recipe for Warm Cinnamon Apple Bread:

2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1 apple
cinnamon, to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine dry ingredients (except cinnamon) and cream butter and brown sugar together.
3. Slowly add dry ingredients to the butter and sugar, mixing on low.
4. Add the eggs, continuing to mix.
5. Chop the apple (I use Golden Delicious) very finely and add of mix
6. Add cinnamon. (I added this ingredient last because it gave me ribbons of cinnamon throughout the bread.
7. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a knife or toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Easy recipe! And I did it all myself.

Some points on the recipe:

1. I use dark brown sugar because it has a stronger flavor than light. My recipe doesn't call for vanilla extract, so the dark brown sugar gives it that sweet flavor. But if all you have around the house it light brown sugar, just add maybe a 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract or imitation.
2. You may also want to sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg or allspice on the apple itself once you chop it up so the spices can really infuse the apple.
3. Another good alternative could be using a can of pumpkin for pumpkin bread. Just omit one or both of the eggs.
4. If you want the recipe to be eggs-free, use some applesauce!


UPDATE: I tried the bread almost right after it came out. It was so good! It had a nice thick outer crust and a soft, dense inside. Perfect.

I'm thinking of making two other loaves. One for Mom and Pops and maybe Mom can give the other to C.

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I am so glad this school week is over with. But next week is going to be tough. I have two tests back to back on Tuesday and I hope to make time to meet with my French group again. But we'll see. All depends on work. Adding work to school next week officially makes it HELL week. The tests and projects that are due next week is getting me all in a tizzy, plus we have inventory next week and then getting a truck right after. F-U-N!

Poo.

We're Coming For You Lucas!

I'm really just trying to make it to the weekend. I still work this weekend, but still. I'm not looking forward to next week in that respect either. It's inventory time and I'm working a buttload of hours. The money is always helpful, but I am so burnt out from working.
I worked so many hours when I was a temp at FOL because I was full time. I worked 40+ hours every week. But I loved it because I enjoyed the work and the people. Not so much the case currently. I know it's getting bad because I'd rather be at school than at work.

Today was a great day off. Though Jarred is sick and I may have a stomach bug, I was able to go to school and go out to lunch with Mom. I also went back over to school to work on a project with two girls from my class. I made dinner when I got in (Cheesy Chicken and Pasta with a side of broccoli) and I am now taking a short break from studying for my French exam tomorrow. I wanted to make some apple cinnamon bread tonight, but it has gotten a little too late. And I really needed the time to study anyway. I'll probably make it tomorrow before I got into work.

There is no real other news, but Jarred and I are getting very excited for a few changes our little family is making. I'll leave you in suspense because I won't say anything else until they actually happen. But we are ecstatic! As I've said before, Jarred and I have come a long way in the past 2 years we've been together, and we are glad to finally get a boost in life.

Something I can talk about is how excited I am to be getting Lucas soon. I was searching high and low on Facebook for a picture either Jarred or A had of him, but I didn't find any. I have only seen Lucas very briefly about two years ago. But this is kinda what he looks like. Operative word being kinda:

Kinda-- meaning this is a picture of a mini and that's what Lucas is. This is about the length I will want to keep his hair. Maybe a bit longer. I want a cross between a Westie cut and a mini cut.

Enough blogging for now, back to studying!

1+1+1=Happy Home

Jarred and I have recently decide to add to our little family! We love our fishies very much (RIP Moe), but I have really been missing Fuzzy Butt. It's a change to be around a furry companion to nothing.
I have been talking about getting a cat since around Christmas '07. That was a good while ago. I would still someday like a cat, but honestly, staying with A, Jarred's best friend from high school, my mind has changed. At least until a house comes into the picture. A lived in a little apartment and boy did it stink from cat pee. Houses with cats don't smell, but there's no getting away from it in a tiny apartment.
Of course I would only want to get a dog from a shelter. I have been researching a bit, but who knows whether the animals there today will be there tomorrow. I have been set on going to the Humane Society in the next couple of months to begin our search. Jarred was up for the idea, but he came up with a wonderful idea tonight.
His family has a white miniature schnauzer named Lucas who was abused. Jarred's family bought him and have given him a loving home. But with all the life changes in the past years, Lucas has to be kept outside. Jarred has wanted to eventually bring him out here to stay.
So we have officially decided we are going to 'adopt' Lucas. This way he is able to get the attention he needs, Jarred's mom knows we'll take care of him, and we get another furry baby!
I'm very excited to have an animal to love on again. It gets lonely here sometimes.

I should mention the RIP for Moe. Moe was one of our fish, and we had noticed his color changing and he wasn't really eating. Last night when Jarred went to feed them, he found Moe almost completely gone. And yes, I'm not ashamed at all say that I shed a tear for my poor fish. They are so sweet, I just hope they stick around forever!

Had to share the news. We are very excited and can't wait to bring Lucas to his new home!

PICTURES FINALLY UP!

EDIT: These are pictures of the apartment as it was today. The first 3 pictures are of our bedroom. It's all my furniture, so it might be girly. But Jarred said I could pick out whatever bedspread I wanted.


In this picture, you can see Mr. and Mrs. Fuzzums under the window. But I'll save introducing them for another post. We're glad to have our fishy babies back with us. And I have put up a few pictures on the wall. Still more to do though.


More Van Gogh's will go up in the bedroom, but we haven't been able to buy any more 3M stick-ums yet. We don't want to put nails in the wall, considering the horror stories J, one of the managers, told us. People won't use a stud finder to hang a heavy painting and will rip a hole the size of your torso in the wall. Um... no thank you.


I know this picture is sideways. But I was too lazy to change it. Just tilt your head. Our seashell curtain is waaay tacky, but I love it! Who doesn't love the beach and shells?


Okay, this is the picture I feel I need to explain. This is our computer room and 'walk-in' closet. HAHA Jarred! Anyway, it was all cleaned and pretty a few days ago, but once Mom and Dad came back from the Home State, they brought us my Pottery Barn blue chair (pictured on it's side). They also gave us their old TV. There has been nowhere else to put these things but in this room. Also, maintenance came yesterday to spray the inside for spiders (eek!) so I'm sure things were strewn everywhere to get to the baseboards.


Our living room! Jarred is very happy with his new TV and I of course love finally having a place to put Camilla!


Once this corner gets all fixed up, I think it will be a cozy nook! But putting pictures on the wall always makes things better. But again, money.


My kitchen :) I can't wait for my kitchen kart to get here! Jarred ordered it yesterday. It's granite on top and I am excited to use it for cutting up veggies!


Our dinner table. Mom brought the flowers, but they are almost dead. We have our infamous painted mugs on the wall. Love it.

I'm a Brat

Yes, I'm quite aware that I haven't written on my blog for 6 days. Almost a week. Wow. But I cannot stress enough how busy life is at the moment. I'm looking forward to having the next two days off so I can catch up on homework, catch up on cleaning, catch my breath!

Jarred and I are getting some great new additions to the apartment. We aren't exactly in a position where we can save money. We are only making money and then spending it right away on rent, utilities, food, etc. It's only a bummer if I really think about it. But hopefully that will be changing quickly in the next month or so. I foresee changes for our little family. Our life is all about changes now. The only constant in our household is our trusty fish. Our babies :)

I am in the third week of school and I am really enjoying my classes. I have made some new friends (friends, as in those people you talk to in class, but never see outside of school). I haven't been overloaded with work so far, but ask me again after my first exam on Monday.

I will only mention work very quickly. It's going alright. The past few days have been pretty good. I've been keeping to myself and not getting into discussions with people. Which is always for the better. I have been getting a good amount of hours lately, but next week I am only working 13. Part of me is happy to have an easy week, but the other part of me worries about bills and paying for things.

Now for the topic of choice tonight. I want to address and issue that seems to have come up before, mostly at work. But it is not work related.

Of course not everything discussed at work is about work, and we will occasionally talk about what is going on in our personal lives. I like to talk about my family, and my co-workers appear to like the stories I tell. I will reminisce about Granddaddy and tell funny stories about Grandma. Yesterday, Mom gave Jarred and me a gift from Mamaw and Papaw. They gave us some money to get things to furnish the apartment with. Yes, I really would have liked to take the money and pay off some bills, but Mamaw and Papaw wanted us to get something special. Jarred and I decided to buy a kitchen cart from Wal-Mart and a TV from Target. We so appreciate the gift! I have had my eye on a kitchen cart for a while, but they have been too expensive.

Anyway, I was telling my co-workers that I was very thankful for the gift from my grandparents. In hindsight, I guess it could have sounded like bragging, but in no way did I mean it like that. I make no excuses for how I was raised. My parents paid for my gas up until a month ago. They are paying for my college education. If I ever really needed anything, I know my parents will be able to help. I am very thankful for what I have been given in life and for parents who are able to help.

I know not everyone is born into the same situation. Some are in worse and some are in better.

I am not a spoiled brat and I don't appreciate being 'called' one or having anyone allude to that point.

It bothered me, but I didn't say anything because good grief, I would have a mutiny on my hands at work if I said differently.

ANYWAY, enough of that. I am very aware that I have yet to put up any pictures. Tomorrow is a free day for me, so I will maybe have some brain capacity left to remember to snap some shots.

STOP HERE! POLITICAL RANT AND MAJOR BASHING!

And just in case anyone was wondering:

Good job Representative Wilson. People may think you should be above it, considering your position. But I'm not above it, so THANK YOU. You said exactly what we yell at the TV daily.

And NO, you Democrats did NOT respect my President, so I refuse to accept that liar of yours.

Life and Changes

I've been a terrible blogger lately. I can't believe I have only written 3 posts this month. But I've been super busy. And tired. And everything in between. I feel like I have traveled all the way to Timbuktu and back. That's how busy and exhausted I am.

Okay, first off. I know my apartment pictures are waaaay overdue. As long as I can find some batteries for my camera, everything will be good to go. Jarred and I are technically still not done decorating, but we really don't want to put holes in the wall, so when we find the money, we will buy some more 3M wall hooks to hang our paintings.

I've been trying to get all the hours I can at work because I WANT MONEY. It's exhausting and emotionally draining with the *ahem* people I work with. But I must keep telling myself that I don't work because of them. I really like our customers and they can always brighten my time at work. But maybe things will be changing very soon. But it all is based on what going to happen with J. We have some good news (just not right now) and that is going to decide my future. I have some good plans up my sleeve!

Lastly, I am into my second week of school. It has been good so far and I like my classes. But this semester so far has confirmed one thing: I hate group work. Really teachers, I'd much rather do it myself, thank you very much.

Now it is jammies time. Get into bed and study a bit!

Bonsoir!

Dadgum

I worked all today, so I am pretty tired right now.
But it was so nice to come home to a clean apartment. Jarred had spent the day cleaning and putting the last items away. He's so sweet!
We have been enjoying this free night together watching the NASCAR race and getting on the computer and listening to PYT!
But dadgum it! I pulled out my camera to take pictures of the apartment and guess what! Drained batteries. We searched high and low for some AAs. I even took the two out of the TV remote. I put them in the camera, and it would turn on then turn off.
So no pictures again.
I'm getting tired of saying that.
I hope that everyone will keep Jarred and me in mind this next week. It's been a long, hard road for us these past two years and we might start seeing some light soon.

In other good news, K and A got us a Brita water filter as a house-warming gift. Thanks guys! I like 'going green' in small ways like that! Good excuse to use my Nalgenes again, or possibly buy a new one???

I'm having Mom and Dad over for dinner next week. I'm making a CrockPot meal and hopefully a good dessert too!

And a big Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad! They've been married 24 tomorrow. Hope I haven't strangled Jarred by that point in our own lives. Haha. Joke Honey!!

TV and Internet Are Back

Hooray for TV and Internet! The guy came today and set us all up! I am very excited!
I can live without Internet or TV, but honestly, Jarred and I just didn't want to. Especially Internet. In today's world, you can't get by without having Internet.

Pictures are going to come very soon, I promise. Jarred and I are still unpacking. Mostly because we have both been very busy this past week. But it is coming along for sure.