Nick's Birthday

We did a lot for Nick's birthday this year.  The week before his birthday we saw Spamalot at Emens Auditorium at Ball State University.  It was amazing!  We laughed so much.  Nick had heard the music before, but seeing it was so much better.  We loved Monty Python and The Holy Grail, so we knew this would be great.

We also ate at Olive Garden with Nick's parents and sister and her husband on his actually birthday (12/11).  This week, we are continuing the celebration by seeing Tron Legacy on Friday!

Happy Birthday Nick!

Coming to an End

College is almost over.  In fact, today is my last day of classes at BSU EVER!  I'm excited and scared and proud.  

Graduation is on Dec. 18!  I will be graduating with a degree in hospitality and food management with a minor in travel and tourism.  I picked up my cords and medal the other day too.  

My mom and step-dad sent me flowers to congratulate me on my Summa Cum Laude medal.  They are beautiful.

Christmas Decorations

We love Christmas, especially now that we are married.  I don't know why, but it seems to bring a new element to the holiday.  

On Dec. 1, we decorated our apartment.  We planned on decorating earlier, but I am really happy we waited because it snowed while we were putting up the tree.  

 Tree

 New Napkins

 Table Runner

 Table

Center Piece

Mouse Family

Stockings

Hiatus

It is been almost a month since my last post.  I feel bad for my avid followers (Thanks to Jordan and Katie).

The month of November is always crazy at school.  Over the past week alone I have turned in a rough draft for a 30 page thesis, a 5 page paper, read 3 books, a 7 page paper and an oral presentation.  On top of that, I am presenting at a Symposium tomorrow and have been working 10 hours a week.

So here is a recap of everything Nick and I have been doing in my time off of blogging.

 For Halloween, Nick and I went to the Muncie Symphony Orchestra performance in a mortuary.  Here is a picture of us before the concert.  Let's just say it was an interesting experience.

Nick and I also had an evening with Chaney and Tucker (Nick and now my cousins).  We have spent time with Chaney before, but this was our first go at tackling both the toddlers.  We started the evening making cupcakes.  They were allowed to dye the batter and put sprinkles on before and after baking.  Apparently sprinkles kind of explode in the oven, but they still loved them.

They also got to make their own pizzas with English muffins.  Chaney made pizzas with us last time we had her, and she loved it so much we decided to do it again.  For the record, Chaney LOVES black olives.

 Tucker loved his cupcake!

My iPod

First off, I do not listen to music as much as you would think.  I mean, I was a band geek; yet, I could never find artists that said what I wanted to hear.  Instead, I was stuck listening to whatever came on the radio and being satisfied with the catchy tunes.  

In the past few years, I have found the music I like.  It has taken me many years to find the genre of music that makes me think and feel and understand myself more.  So this is what is on my iPod/Pandora.

Saturday Breakfast: #2

Last weekend, Nick and I had my old college roommates over.  On Friday, Lindsey, Jude and Angie came over for dinner and to hang out.  We had a blast!

Jude and Lindsey spent the night, and Nick insisted that I make Monkey Bread for breakfast on Saturday morning.  Monkey Bread is really easy to make, so I agreed.  

I took 4 refrigerated biscuit containers and cut each biscuit into quarters.  Then, Jude tossed the pieces in sugar and cinnamon and layered the bundt pan with the sugary goodness.  Next, we poured melted butter, sugar and cinnamon on top and baked the bread for about 45 minutes.  Lets just say it was amazing, and we demolished it!

Finished Product

Demolished!

Uncomfortable

Today's weather makes me extremely uncomfortable.  I do not like this wind and warm weather, but I especially do not like the tornado warnings and watches.  

When I was a senior in high school, my house was hit by a tornado.  The whole second story was taken off.  It completely destroyed my room and most of my possessions.  Luckily, I was not home at the time, but this weather still makes me very uncomfortable.  It is a fear that slowly creeps over my body.  I try very hard to ignore the raging wind and the many warnings popping up on Facebook....and now the siren outside.....time to go to the basement of Bracken!

Be safe!

3 Months

We did it! 

Nick and I have officially been married 3 months.  

So far our married life is....AWESOME!  Mostly we hang out: cook, watch Netflix, play board games, watch T.V., read books and relax.  I am absolutely loving being married.  It is amazing what it is like to have everything you want.  Nick and I have been waiting to get married for a long time.

Saturday Breakfast: #1

My favorite meal of the day is breakfast.  I'm not sure why, but it always makes me think of cool mornings with the windows open, no homework and movie marathons.  As a result, Nick and I usually eat pretty good Saturday morning.  Saturday's are the only days that we do not have a reason to get up early, and we take advantage of that. 

Last Saturday, I made french toast.  During the week, my mom and step-dad came to visit, and we had some leftover french bread from our meal with them.  I cut the bread into slices; mixed together 2 eggs, about a cup of milk, a teaspoon or two of vanilla and lots of cinnamon; soaked the slices and voila! 

FRENCH TOAST!

Ingredients

 Batter

 Cooking

 Finished Product

YUMMY!

On our nightstands

Nick and I are big readers.  Our 3 shelved bookcase is stuffed full of books (some are even hidden behind the smaller books).  I thought that since we read so much, it might be nice to share what we are reading right now.

Nick- He has been reading this book for a while now.  He got through A.J. Jacob's The Year of Living Biblically very quickly, but has been taking his time on Know-It-All.

 Source

Lauren- I am in a class all about Jane Austen; therefore, I've been reading a lot of books about and by her.  Mansfield Park is the current assignment in my class.  We also have to do a pop culture assignment on her, and I am doing mine on The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Fowler.

 Source

Source

Things I love in my home

 source

 source

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Tea Time

Over the past month or so, Nick and I have both had sore throats off and on.  The only remedy was hot tea.  There began my quest (that's right, I said "quest") to find my favorite hot tea.  Let me tell you, there are a lot of options, and I have only just begun my search.  

 source

I decided the best way to start the search was a Twinings' Tea Variety Pack.  The pack consisted of Early Grey, Lady Grey, English Breakfast Tea and Irish Breakfast Tea.  I've tried all of them and must say my favorites are the English Breakfast and Irish Breakfast.  The two Grey's are just too citrus-y for me.  Don't get me wrong; I enjoy oranges and grapefruits by themselves, but orange flavor should not be mixed with tea, in my opinion. 

I'm not sure where this quest will take me next, but I'm excited to go grocery shopping this weekend and tackle the tea aisle once again.  I will not rest until my quest is accomplished!

Motivation

Motivation....where did you go?  

Once upon a time, 

all I wanted was to do homework.  

I wanted to keep busy 

and could not stand sitting on the couch for an 

entire day. 

Now, you have left me.

I cannot wait until the day

when there is no more homework.

But, oh motivation, I need you.

How am I ever to graduate

in 2 months if you do not show up.

Out of Commission

I have been out of commission since Sunday.  As a result, Nick has taken over house duties, as well as entertaining-Lauren duties.  He has stepped up to the plate nicely.  He made me chili and has done the dishes and laundry (well kinda).  

Since I have been on sitting rest, I've been thinking of my favorite TV Shows and have been Netflix-ing them like it is my job.  So here goes:

Bones

 

Gilmore Girls

Criminal Minds

Grey's Anatomy

 30 Rock

Big Bang Theory

Now sadly, Netflix would not let me watch all of them instantly on the Wii, but I was able to watch all of Bones.  I just thought I would go ahead and mention some of my other favorites.

Autopilot

Today, I am on autopilot. I am going to class and accomplishing things, but in that slow pace that makes you just want to crawl back onto the comfy chair in the library that you love (mind you my chair is currently taken).

The weather, amount of reading and sleepiness of the day all scream nap time. So...I am blogging. I am using this time to take a break from homework and all of my duties to give a shout out to the gloomy, cool weather and the comfy chair that is taken.

Oh, how I wish Bracken made a better Chai Tea Latte.

I think that I need to get better at this blogging thing. I'm not really sure how to accomplish that though. Well here is a start at least....

"And now I may dismiss my heroine to the sleepless couch,
which is the true heroine's portion;
to a pillow strewed with thorns and wet with tears."
Jane Austen: Northanger Abbey

IMA

On Saturday, Nick and I went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art to visit their 100 Acres.They have different art pieces outside across a 100 acre walking trail. It was a beautiful fall day. We've had some pretty warm September days, but today was perfect.

Nick and I on our way to the IMA.

This is a boat that was one of the
art pieces on the 100 Acres property.

The Lamenting Garden at the IMA.
It was very peaceful inside,
but Nick and I kept giggling.
We decided that we were too
happy for the Lamenting Garden.

The Life

Today is our 2 month anniversary!

Nick and I are currently living our lives the way we always wanted to. We have enough money to go to the movies and out to dinner, but not so much that we do not know what to do with it. Basically, being married is a lot of fun.

Our next big adventure is this blog. I'm hoping that we both can add to the entries so everyone can get both perspectives of our life.

So here is Lauren, signing off for the afternoon, but I'll be back soon with updates and pictures of Nick and I's life together!

Here Goes

This blog began as a wedding blog, but then we made a website. So this is the new beginning of the blog.