Happy Halloween

'When witches go riding & black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween'

Happy Halloween! 

Had a great weekend in Greenville--getting ready to go work at the hospital in the morning.  Hopefully there will be lots of Halloween cheer there to make the day go by quickly!

Chocolate Square Oatmeal Cookies

These are easy cookies for a crowd and can easily be made GF and taste just the same!

Chocolate Square Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 c. sifted all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. shortening (soft)
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. chopped pecans
1 1/2 c. Oats (old-fashion or quick cooking--uncooked)

~3-4 regular size chocolate bars

pecan halves (enough to press 1 into each cookie)

Sift together flour, soda and salt. Add sugars, shortening, egg and vanilla. Beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in oats and pecans. Shape dough into one 12 inch roll. Wrap and chill thoroughly. Slice; place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in preheated 375º oven 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven. Immediately place small square of milk chocolate bar on each. Remove from cookie sheets. Press pecan half into chocolate.  Makes 3 dozen cookies.

{Recipe from Grandma Nancy's collection, but also found here: http://www.familycookbookproject.com/view_recipesite.asp?rid=1918370&uid=24034&sid=47089}

Fall Dinner Get Together

Christie and I hosted a girl's night last Thursday. Since we've been traveling so much this semester, we don't get to see our Columbia friends a lot.  The weather was starting to get a little chilly so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out a Pintrist soup I've been eyeing.  Everyone liked it and I almost felt guilty because it was SO easy!  I dumped everything in the crockpot in the morning and it was ready for company at night.

 Easy Crockpot Potato Soup

1 30oz bag of frozen shredded has browns

3 14oz cans of chicken broth

1 can of cream of chicken soup {GF variety worked great!}

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1 pkg. cream cheese {I used 1/3 fat--I red fat free won't melt}

In crockpot, combine everything EXCEPT for the cream cheese.  Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat.  About 1 hour before serving, add cream cheese and keep heated until thoroughly melted.  {the soup wasn't as smooth as I liked, so I put some in the blender until smooth}
Serve with cheese, sour cream, crumbled bacon, and green onions.

 {recipe via: http://pinterest.com/pin/365928880/}

I also made a salad with walnuts and pears with an Apple Vinigrette:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tsp grated sweet onion
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup finely chopped apple
Whisk together ingredients and pulse a few times in the blender

{recipe via: http://southernfood.about.com/od/spinachsaladrecipes/r/bl90416e.htm}

Dessert was Chocolate Square Oatmeal Cookies {I'll post that recipe tomorrow}

Dinner was so much fun--we need to get together more often!  Thanks for coming over Graham, Lindsey, and  Lizette!  And thanks for being the party planner Christie!

Friday Night

My weekend started this afternoon at 1:00pm after my aphasia group...I had no plans. zip. zero. 

I went to lunch with my friend Lacy then came home and relaxed.  Caitlyn called and asked if I wanted to go to Bonefish with her and her mom.  Of course I accepted and it was a blast.  I finished the night by coming home to watch PanAm.  It was a perfect Friday night.  

I was thinking I don't know for how long I'll be able to enjoy the freedom of a Friday night with NO responsibilities or NO plans.  I don't have to share the remote with anyone, I can go to bed whenever I want to and I can sleep in until whatever time I chose.  It was great.  

I am trying to be better at living in the moment and not looking ahead to the next thing.  In high school I always looked ahead to college.  In college I looked ahead to grad school.  I don't want to waste my 20s because I'm always looking forward to my 30s.  Good Lord willing my 30s will come one day...Here's to enjoying today!

via

Happy Friday.

The Truth About Friendship

"The truth about friendship is that no matter how long it has been since you have seen someone, with true friends it seems as though you were never apart and you just pick up where you left off" -mf

had a great time with yall--just like old times.
xoxo

How to Decorate for Fall on $50 or less..

1. Glass Pumpkin (I won when I was 10)  with $ Store Candy Corn
2. Autumn garland from Joanne's + $ Store pumpkins + Candles and Leaves from Hobby Lobby
3. Garage Sale Jack-O-Lantern
4. Free Fall Printable + Owl bookend with ribbon + $ Store pumpkins
5. Owl Light (a birthday present)
6. Straw wreath and small pumpkins from Hobby Lobby with ribbon + Mason jar with candy corn + yet another owl
7. Hurricane filled with split peas, kidney beans, popcorn kernels, and a candle + another owl gift
8. See #6 with printable from #4
9. Give Thanks plate from Joanne's + Garage Sale Kitten Jack-O-Lanterns + Fall Bucket List for Southern Belles printable + Wine glasses with $ Store pumpkins, candles, and ribbon

Having an extensive Chi O owl collections helps :)
Happy Fall!

White Coat??

When I first started my practicum at the hospital, my supervisor told me I had to wear a white coat.  Umm, excuse me? I thought doctors wore white coats?!?  Turns out I was wrong.  So I bought my coat and was ready to go.   After a few weeks I still feel pretty silly walking around the hospital wearing a white coat when I really don't feel like I know what I'm doing!  (The other day a doctor asked me what a code was after it was announced--um I have no clue what Code Blue vs Code Red means however I think you should!)

First day of Hospital pic

So off I go to the hospital...