Good food and good friends

Here's a great recipe that my mom gave me a couple of years ago, and I think before that it came from allrecipes.com.  Either way, it's the best pork chop recipe I have.  I think if you asked David what he would want me to make him as a "last meal," he would choose this.  This is great news for me because it's incredibly easy and requires very few ingredients.  Another little bonus, it will fill your home with THE most incredible aroma.  So make sure you take the time to breathe in deeply while cooking.  

Pork Chops with Raspberry Sauce 
Ingredients: 

• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp. dried sage
• Salt and pepper
• 4 (4-5 oz) boneless pork loin chops
• 1 Tbs. butter
• 1 Tbs. olive oil
• 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
• 2 Tbs. orange juice
• 2 Tbs. white wine vinegar

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.  in a small bowl, combine thyme, sage, salt and pepper.  rub evenly over pork chops.
2. Melt butter and olive oil in a nonstick skillet.  cook pork chops for 4-5 minutes on each side, turning once.  Remove from skillet and keep warm in preheated oven.
3. In the skillet, combine raspberry jam, orange juice, and vinegar.  bring to a boil, and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until sauce is reduced.  Spoon sauce onto the pork chops.  Enjoy!

On a side note, we traveled down to Austin this past weekend because David had a couple of job interviews to attend (more on that another time).  While we were there, we were able to spend time with several great friends, which was such a blast.  There were even several rounds of Taboo that were played that contained unspeakable fits of laughter on all accounts.  Every time I am able to see old friends it's always such an encouragement to me.  It's so wonderful to be able to talk and reminisce and laugh (and laugh and laugh and laugh).  God has blessed me so much with amazing friends, close and far away.  So thanks to everyone in my life, ya'll make my days better and my smiles bigger :)  Hope everyone has a great week ahead!


*Sorry there are no pictures with this post, I failed in that department this weekend*

Busy bee

It's been a while since I updated last, I felt like I needed to let you recover from that cupcake recipe. MMM.  Moving on...

I ran my first 5k this weekend! I know this might not be a big deal to anyone, but it is to me!  I really don't enjoy running...maybe it's the swimmer inside of me that is used to non-load bearing exercise, but whatever it is, I pretty much have never liked running.  I still don't.  Well, I have some friends who work for the UT Autism Project, and they had organized a 5k to benefit it.  Since 1) I needed to get my butt into shape, and 2) my money was going towards a cause i'm passionate for, I signed up...with only two weeks left before the actual race (oh yeah, and have I mentioned that I don't ever run?). Oops.  So with only a couple of "training" runs in, I somehow completed my first 5k.  This was only made possible by God for not letting me die, and by my friend Tiffany for doing the whole thing right next to me even though she's an experienced runner and could have lapped me.  My hips and hamstrings have been in pain, but I hope I can make myself spontaneously sign up for another one someday...(maybe next time a little more prepared though).



Tiffany and I at the end...I can't believe how normal she looks after running 3 miles.  Makes me sick ;)



The evening after the 5k was my friend Erin's bachelorette party.  We did dinner, drinks, presents, and karaoke! Perfect night.

The bride-to-be



Making a fool out of myself



Beautiful ladies



In my own wedding department, David and I took our engagement pictures! I 'm SO pumped to see how they're going to turn out.  We also mailed the invitations and booked the rehearsal dinner.  I'm on a roll...with a million more things to get done.  Less than 2 months now :)

After I finish my awful research paper, there are exciting things in store for the upcoming weekend too: my sister coming to town, bridal portraits (as long as it doesn't rain), tiff's wedding shower, my own wedding shower, and the one i'm most excited about is GOING TO THE PHOENIX CONCERT!!!  Can't wait, I might die of happiness.

70 to snow

Texas weather is ridiculous. If you live in Texas, this is old news.  But to those of you that don't, I actually think the DSMIV has officially diagnosed our weather patterns with bipolar disorder.

Last Sunday was glorious, sunny and well into the 70s.  The kind of weather that brings out the best in the city of Austin and makes me wish i never had to leave.  Anyway, what did i wake up to Tuesday morning? Snow all over my car and sleet on the roads...coincidentally, i never made it to class that morning either (go figure).

Now, i've spent time in areas where the accumulation is measured in feet, not in centimeters, but it's always neat to see it snow here in Austin since it's such a rare occurrence.

Here's a picture i found online taken by a local photographer.  I thought it was cool because it was taken in the same place and of the same tree as my "header photo" above

Here's me after running to my car from the grocery store...i was literally outside for only like 15 seconds, and no that's not dandruff....forgive my awkward face.

I feel sorry though for whoever was driving these things though...bummer.

Don't worry Austin, we'll all be back wearing shorts before you know it!