good morning

Enjoying my pumpkin spice creamer.  :)  I added 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 C applesauce to my pancakes this morning.  Go try it.  Now.

piece and love,

kayla

blueberry cheesecake cookies with white chocolate chips

Not sure any other combination of words would have enticed you more.

click picture to go to original recipe

I took a night off from studying and decided to tackle those dishes.  And what better thing to do when you finally finish dishes, than to dirty more?  You're going to love how easy this is.

Blueberry Cheesecake Cookies

2 boxes Jiffy blueberry muffin mix

4 oz cream cheese That's 8 tablespoons if you didn't know

1 stick butter Mine came out flat--maybe try 3/4 a stick

1/2 C light brown sugar, firmly packed

2 eggs

1 1/2 C white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325.

Cream together butter, cream cheese, and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time until blended.  Combine muffin mix with the butter mixture and mix well.  Fold in white chocolate chips.  Chill for at least one hour.  Drop by little spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet.  Bake 14-15 minutes.  Cool on cookie sheet 1-2 minutes then transfer to wire rack.  Enjoy!

piece and love,

kayla

diaries of a worn out tan woman

I'd like to work more hours...

Thrift more stores...

Create more things...

Cook  more meals...

BUT

I'm a college student.  Every time I finish one test, I get news of another.  I had a test Wednesday.  I have one Tomorrow.  I have one Tuesday AND Wednesday.  Are you serious?  And two weeks from today I have another book review due.  

I've had Taco Bell 4 times in the past three days because my dishes are piled so high I can't even fill a glass with water.  I haven't done anything with my appearance since my date because there's no point in dressing up for the library.  

piece and love,

kayla

date night

Each morning I wake up with every intention to do my hair and make-up.  And each morning I leave the house bare faced, with my hair in a ponytail.  Today is no different, BUT I had a hot date Saturday night.

I spent over an hour getting dolled up and I felt sooo sassy.  I finally ripped the tag off the special dress I bought over a year ago, and rocked it with some $4 shiny, black pumps I bought from Goodwill.

piece and love,

kayla

what this blog is for

There is a new peace about me these past few days.  I was truly blessed in bible study on Wednesday.  We discussed this verse:

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  Mark 1: 35

It's a beautiful day.

My body is sore from my 1st run in over a month.

I got paid yesterday.

I have a date after work tomorrow.

All my worries of school work have left my mind.

I'm cooking dinner tonight WITH meat.  Yeah, I can't do it anymore.

I feel wonderful.

piece and love,

kayla

my first recipe!

Remember the other day when I was telling you about all the homework I had?  Well I was basically stressed out and depressed all day.

So THIS guy...

...goes out and gets me THIS.

Are you serious?!  I almost cried.  I was totally surprised.  There were a bunch of other goodies in the bag too.

This is my auntie's recipe.  It's super easy, and one of his favorites.

Strawberry Pizza

1 sugar cookie roll

1 package cream cheese, softened

1 8oz tub cool whip

1 container strawberry glaze (I don't know the size but it's found by the fresh fruit)

1 container fresh strawberries

Preheat your oven to 350.  Dig out your pizza pan, and grease that thang.  Slice your cookie roll into about 1/2 in slices.  Slap them on the pan.  I like to start from the middle and work my way out so it looks more like a pizza.  Press together with your fingers until it's all relatively the same thickness.  If the dough keeps sticking to you, just wet your fingers (that's a life saving tip, right there).  Throw that thang in the oven.  Bake until golden.  Longer if you want it crunchy.  Let that thang cool completely.

Meanwhile,

Grab your hand mixer and a large mixing bowl.  Combine your cream cheese and whipped topping until smooooth.  Throw it in the fridge.  Rinse and slice your strawberries like pepperonis.  In another not as large bowl, fold your strawberry slices into your glaze.  Spread your cream cheese mixture on your cookie, then plop the strawberry mixture on top.

piece and love,

kayla

rest in love

Ok guys.  I've never lost anyone before.  No one exceptionally close, that is.  I lost a friend today.

This is me singing Yolonda Adams to him when he was a baby.

This was our road trip to go visit Jessie.

It's a really sad day.  I knew he wasn't going to live forever, but dang he's been with me for a long time.  We gave him a proper burial.  And I'll still see him every day.

piece and love,

kayla

oh, monday...

Oh, the life of a college student...

Oh, the life of an accounting major...

Oh, the life of a procrastinator...

I have 5 chapters worth of homework to do today.  Which is actually really great, considering I thought I had 8.  And I have an online midterm to do. 

I have a book review due Thursday.  I'm on page 25 out of 207.  

I have an accounting test next Monday.  I've read 1/2 of 3 chapters.

So I'm totally stressing out.  And it's 100% my fault.  And what am I doing now?  Blogging.  I spent 3 hours in the library.  I need a break.  So I'm whining.  To my three loyal readers.  

piece and love,

kayla

date night

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It's not hard to not eat meat.  It's hard to remember to not eat meat.  I ordered a grilled cheese with onion rings.  Not healthy, but not meat.  And Boyfriend and I had an ice cream shake eating (drinking?) contest.  He won this time.  He had to redeem himself from last time.  

It was great.

We went window shopping and held hands and rode with the windows down.  Today was wonderful.  And it's Fall Break.  That means no class until Monday.  That means I'm going Christmas shopping Thursday and getting my hair done Friday.  

piece and love,

kayla

seriously speaking

God blessed me with this man.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

This brings me peace every time I read it.  Oddly, it reminds me that love is easy.  

A relationship, on the other hand, is hard.

Two different people.  Two different backgrounds.  Two different beginnings.  One happily ever after.

Ponder that.  

piece and love,

kayla

mcchicken with no chicken

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Excuse me if I think this is a little bit hilarious.  

So I work at a hotel.  I absolutely love it.  It's nothing fancy, and it's only for gas money, but it's so fascinating to meet so many people.  I met a man today who gave me a card and told me to call him when I get my degree.  He owns a business in Dallas.  How awesome is that?  Despite the occasional full house and minimal housekeeping staff (this weekend), I love the hospitality business and I'm so blessed to have a job.   

I decided to treat myself to some good ol' no meat pizza after my oh so hectic weekend.  Even though I cooked this recipe for dinner last night.  Except I used low sodium soy sauce, and a whole lot of it.  And I fixed some scrimps for Boyfriend.  I would type it out with a pretty picture, but I don't have a pretty picture.  So just click on the link.  :)

This is the background on my phone.  It makes me happy.  

piece and love,

kayla

national vegetarian month

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Alright guys, along with Breast Cancer Awareness-, Domestic Violence Awareness-, and National Popcorn Popping-Month, October is National Vegetarian Month.  The awesome thing is, I learned this little fact AFTER I decided to do a vegetarian challenge.  

I wish I could link up with somebody (not that I really know what that means) and be awesome (because people who link up are awesome), but I kind of made up my own challenge before bed one night.  

TECHNICALLY I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian.  This means I eat eggs and dairy, because I'm just not that crazy yet.  

But really.

Think of the money I'm going to save this month.  Meat is expensive!  I spent $15 last month on a pork butt!  I think the hardest part is going to be to remember that I'm not eating meat.  I think I've only ever really met one vegetarian...and she ate fish...which is meat.  

Anyway.

I'll keep you updated.  Hopefully I'll find some awesome recipes for y'all.  Wish me luck!

Oh yeah!!!  Go grab a button, guys!!  

piece and love,

kayla

run like you stole something

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Alright guys let's talk about something awesome.  I love running.  I mean, I REALLY love running.  I fell in love with Boyfriend because I didn't want to run the trail alone at night.  The problem is, I forget how much I love running because it's hard.  It's draining.  It takes my breath away.  It makes me sweat.  It burns my insides.  It's absolutely wonderful.  

I've become lazy.  I've abandoned my love for my recliner.  And Taco Bell.  With Boyfriend's new love for the gym, I've become inspired again.  

Oh and today was picture day.

piece and love,

kayla

one of those days

The average age a woman begins her menstrual cycle is 12.

The average age of menopause is 50.

The average period lasts 5 days.

That's 38 years multiplied by 12 months multiplied by 5 days.  That's 2,280 days of bleeding.

piece and love,

kayla

it's gettin' hot in here

Hey Guys!  That's my awesome heater.  Yes, I said heater.  I broke it out this morning to make my bathroom all nice and toasty before my shower.  It's basically the most awesome thing ever.  Oh!  And that's my favorite sweatshirt Boyfriend gave to me.  It's my favorite.  Oh yeah and today is my one year and five monthiversary.  

piece and love,

kayla

i'm falling and i can't get up

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It's Fall!!!!!!!

I see sweatpants, scarves, coats, and boots in my near future.  I'm so excited.

On a more dismal note.

I made my first F today.  Maybe not my first F.  But my first F on a test in college.  What a wonderful way to start the week.  And month.  Technically, I made the F LAST Monday.  And technically it's a D because of the curve AND the bonus points from group work.  Regardless, I earned an F.  

I've never really had to study to pass.  In high school I was a super nerd who would study my butt off and make 100%.  When I got to college and realized I could skip studying and still pass, I was like Oh Man why haven't I been doing this all along?  Well, Intermediate Accounting II is absolutely the hardest class I've had yet.  I have never sat in class thinking What in the world is going on?  Thank you Dr. Jep, and whatever inspired me to be an Accounting major.

But I'm super proud of myself.  I went to the Student Union today and watched an hour lecture about Dilutive Securities and Earnings Per Share.  I know for a fact you just cringed.  So did I.

piece and love,

kayla