Why is making adult friends so hard?

I have been having a super emotional grumpy weekend, so prepare yourself for some deep stuff.  (more than recipes and pants and what shoe I wore today)

Friends.  That's what we are going to talk about today.  I feel like I have been searching for friends for forever.

Little background:
I went to a small private school my entire life.  I was friends with who I was friends with because they were in my class for years on end.  Thankfully, those friendships have developed into much more than "I am your friend because I have known you for 12 years."

I also went to the same church for a really long time.  My other group of friends are from church.  and I love them dearly.  However, not a single one of them lives nearby.

Speed up to present time:
I have lots of good friends at work.  They are funny, and sometimes we hang out outside of work.  It is always a blast.

I have several friends at church.  Those are in different stages of relationships.

Those friendships I developed when I was younger are pretty strong because most of them I talk to on a regular basis or if we don't don't talk on a regular basis, we are able to pick up right where we left off.

Here's the problem I am struggling with:  I want refrigerator friends.  (Meaning-I am comfortable to come over to your house and eat whatever from your fridge without asking and you are able to do likewise.)  ***Let me state, that I do have one of these nearby, and I don't want that person to think I don't consider them in this category, I do!

I want to be vulnerable with this person. I want to talk about all those things that I call my faraway friends and talk about. I want to come over when my husband is monopolizing the tv.  I want you to stop by whenever. I want you to invite yourself over for dinner.  I want you to sit on my couch and eat junk food and watch Real Housewives.

I have been looking for friends like this for years, since college.  Why is it so hard?  I feel like I put forth effort.  I am always looking for people to invite over for dinner.  Maybe they will be my fridge friend.  But then I find out that they already have enough fridge friends or they are in a different stage of life than me and that doesn't work for them.  (Regarding the stage of life thing, I think it is a load of crap.  My best friend lives hundreds of miles away and has a baby, and we make it work.  I think if we live in the same town, we would be able to make it work.)

I don't understand what else I have to do.  Do these friends exist?  Am I wishing for something that is intangible?

Denton-love it!

If you didn't catch my guest post a few weeks ago...here it is.

Denton is a wonderful town located north of DFW.  I commuted to school at Texas Woman's University in Denton.  After I graduated, I moved up to Denton, and now my husband and I call Denton our home.

Denton has such a vast amount of activities that anyone of any age or walk of life can find entertainment and enjoyment.  The following are just a few that my husband and I enjoy:

1.  Denton Community Theater--We love going to the theater, but we don't like the prices or the drive to the ones downtown.  This place is right off the square and is an intimate setting to enjoy some drama.  If you live in Denton or ever stop by you need to check it out!

2.  Free Community Events--Denton is a large city, but it doesn't feel like it.  They offer so many events throughout the year.  We have enjoy the wassail-tasting contest at Christmas time, Cinco de Mayo festival, 4th of July Parade, movies in the park, Air Show, and the Arts and Jazz festival.  It is a rare week when there is not something going on in Denton.  Check out their webpage.

We love that Denton is a college town, too!  Go Mean Green!


3.  Unique Food and Beverage Places to go check out:

Jupiter House on the Square--The vibe is so laid back and chill.  Their coffee drinks are delicious.  Plus, it is right on the square, so you can walk around, lounge on the grass by the Courthouse, or check out the old opera house turned bookstore.

Abbey Inn on the Square--Try the Aesthetic Burger.  It is legit!

For all the partakers of alcohol,

Oak Street Draft House and Cocktail Parlor--This place has quite the selection of beer, I hear.  (I'm not a beer drinker, but I have seen their menu, and it is long!)  What I love about this place is the backyard area.  It is the huge space with picnic tables and chair.  You can just come and relax.  The bar area is in an old house, which is so cool for those who like historic things like me.

Pascal's on the square--Anyone watch Mad Men??? This is so that!  Need I say more?  There is even a secret door.  You kinda gotta know where you are going.

I could go on and on about the things to do, people to meet, or places to go in Denton!  Hopefully, one of these above-mentioned options strikes your fancy, and when you are nearby you will go check it out!

Thanks for reading,

Angela

Peek-A-boo Soup

I love this soup.  It looks like a lot of steps; however, it really is just dumping one ingredient in after another.   Some of the ingredients look like it would make it spicy, but it is NOT SPICY at all.  If you know me, I have a very low tolerance for anything spicy, but it is very flavorful.  Yum!

Ingredients.  

You will need a large pot for this as there is a lot of ingredients.

I don't know what the original name for this is.  My family named it Peekaboo soup when we were younger because my sister, a picky eater, would always try to peek under the tortilla chips to make sure she wasn't eating an onion or a tomato.  We still laugh about it today!  Isn't it fun making memories around the kitchen table?

I hope this recipe works for you and helps create many memories for your family!

Friday Letters

Linking Up with Ashley.

Dear naps after school, you have got to end.  I am only using you as an escape from life.  I don't need you.  I need to go to the gym.  Dear race on Saturday that I didn't know I was doing until last Monday, please have no hills.  And please let me have a Medium shirt because I will be busting out of the small, for sure.  Dear Jennifer, so thankful you read my blog, but even more excited that we have reading buddies this week, so we can catch up in real life.  I missed that!  Dear new followers, I will get to responding and following back this weekend.  So glad you found me.  I am here to support you the best I can.  Dear potential camping trip this weekend, Wouldn't that be so nice if that worked out and was so relaxing??  Dear Kroger sushi california rolls (happy? Jessica and Felicia),  you are not cutting it.  I have had better.  Never again.  Dear God, Thanks for wanting me to come to you as a child, messy and all.  Because I have tried and keep trying to fix myself and it doesn't work when I do it on my own.  Dear Halloween costume, you are probably not going to happen.  Lame, I know, but I would rather go camping.  And I just don't care.   

And that's a wrap!

Linking Up with Neely.

It's ok that I ate all the rest of the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies while attempting to fix a technological problem with the tv.  (I didn't fix it, and I ended up taking a nap instead of cooking dinner because I was so frustrated, and Anthony wonders why I don't even bother trying...)

It's ok that I think it is a lame excuse to stop being friends or hanging out with someone because "you are in a different stage of life."  Get real.  (More on this later)

It's ok to be super excited about an upcoming destination wedding for selfish reasons.  We get to redo our honeymoon, which totally did not meet expectations.

It's ok to make two students cry in a day.  To tell one of them, "I am glad you are crying.  Cry all you want.  It makes me feel like I am doing my job well."  And to cry with the other one because you want him to change so much it makes your heart hurt.

It's ok to not ever pray out loud in prayer circle.  

It's ok to talk to my husband about other people and why we are glad we are not them.  Us against the world, baby.

It's ok to skip something you are supposed to go to and talk to your bff for an hour and 20 minutes.  

Hard time waking up?

Goood Morning!  We are half-way through the work week.  You can do it!  Make the day go by faster by looking for ways to encourage others or by reading my blog and posting sweet comments--that def makes my day!!

A few weeks ago, Amy at Keepin' up with the Smiths graciously asked me do a guest post for her blog.  (Click on the link to read up)She has been so helpful with the blogging process and getting started.  You should check out the rest of her post.  Follower her, too, because she is a keeper.

Thanks again Amy!

I love guest posting, so send me an email if you are interested in me doing one for you:))

Secret Pal

At our school this year, we were assigned secret pal.  Every now and then we are supposed to drop them a note or a little gift to brighten their day.  And if you are a teacher, you know that there are some most days that you need a little encouragement.  I have no idea who my secret pal is, which is super exciting!  I found this in my mailbox a couple weeks ago.

I love, love, love dark chocolate!  I ate them all in two days and did not share.  I have no self-control.  But to top it all off, this was the cute bowl I got with it:

 Is that not the best bowl ever.  I love holiday decorations!  I think I was more excited about the bowl than the candy.  Partly because the candy is all gone, but the bowl is currently decorating my kitchen table.  

Thanks Secret Pal!

I know there are some things similar to this in blogging world (sending people stuff, surprises).  Anyone done any of those?  Any suggestion on where to get started?  I love getting and giving goodies:)))

Why is praying so hard?

We just started this book with my small group Bible study. I am really excited because I need something very structured for my quiet time to be productive.
Recap of chapter 1:
"Our trust in ourselves and in our talents makes us structurally independent of God.  As a result, exhortations to pray do not stick."--So true.  The reason I don't pray is because I think I can do it by myself.  Or the only time, I do pray is AFTER I have tried everything I can possible think of.

Look at the question above: What is it like when you talk to God?

Recap of chapter 2:
The author gave a great comparison of prayer to a family dinner.  You don't sit at dinner and think about the conversation, we, instead, focus on the person with whom we are talking.  The same is true with God.  "A praying life feels like our family mealtimes because prayer is all about relationship.  Many people struggle to pray because they are focusing on praying, not on God."

Check out question #10.

Hopefully, blogging about prayer and my struggles with it will be an encouragement to you, but also an encouragement to me to continue and be consistent with my time getting to know the Lord.  

Linking up here

Leopard Dress with Belt

I love this dress!  I bought it from Express for $20.  Again, not a store I normally shop at, but the clearance can be nice at these places, too.

The blue belt is from New York and Company for $3.  

The earrings I got from Dillards for $5.  

I could have paired this up with heels or my boots, but at this point during the week of Parent Conferences I was ready for flats and stretchy pants.  

I put the belt around my smallest part of my body per What Not To Wear advice.

I am also digging my hair in this picture.  Nice big poof with a side french braid.  The braid is small because I cannot keep my hands in my hair that long.  I mean, my arms are killing me.  Anyone else have this problem?

It's Friday, Friday.

Dear brain, please function for one more day this week.  You can do it!  Dear Airborne, You have staved off my getting sick.  Thank you!  Please continue to do your job, so I can do mine.  Dear tight jeans, please be that way because I just washed you not because I got bigger.  Dear me, Thank you for going to bed at a decent hour the last few nights.  I feel way better.  Dear trainer at the gym, I had a dream about training last night, and I was whining the whole time.  Not much different from in real life.  Dear library, I am coming to visit you soon.  I am about to finish my last book at the house.  This makes me so happy!  Dear Thanksgiving break and trip to Maryland, I hope you are everything that I am expecting you to be.  Dear Halloween costume that I so creatively thought of, please be easy to find all the pieces.  Or I am going to have to go as what I went as last year, myself.  Dear new followers, I have loved connecting with you.  Hope you have a great weekend!

Joey voice: How YOU doin'?

Link Up with Neely.

It's okay that I am eating two huge chocolate chip cookies from Chickfila because that is a cut-down from the three I was eating.
It's okay that I have to wait to call my parents until I am not driving because they will hang up on me if they know I am driving and on the phone.
It's okay that each week of the school year makes me more stressed out and causes me to contemplate other careers.  This week's option: hotel customer service.
It's okay that I am a little jealous of all those people who like wine.  I so desperately wish to be in my kitchen, with an apron, cooking dinner, with a glass of wine.  I pretend with my tall stemmed glasses.
It's okay that other people have different birthing plans than I do.  (And it's okay to decline commenting about that because you don't want their opinion.)
It's probably not okay to vote only for the people who your dad tells you who to vote for.
It's okay to enjoy an evening alone at the apartment.

Are you doing okay?

Love where you live

If you love Denton as much as I do, you should check out my first guest post.

P.S.  I would love to have guest posts on my blog, and I love doing them.  SO, if you are interested either way--shoot me an email.

Happy Monday!

Sometimes the hardest part of DIY is doing it.

Well, I did something I found on Pinterest.  I actually make a lot of recipes I find and activities for school.  DIY projects take a lot more motivation for me.  We will blame it on the small space apartment we live in.  

I am linking up again today.  I met some really sweet bloggers last time I linked up and would love to repeat that.  My goal is to reach 20 followers before the week is out.  Will you help me out??

This is the picture I found.
http://pinterest.com/pin/180566266281193612/

I have several large vases from my wedding that have been sitting empty on the top of my counter.  My mom came the other day, and I put her to work.

I also happened to have several things of popcorn kernels (thanks Dawn and Alexa!).

I also had some large white candles from my wedding.  I had a ball of twine from Alexa that I haven't returned.  (You can have it back.  I didn't use much!)

Here is my finished product, and I love it!

The surrounding acorns I got from the thrift store for $2 total.  

Friday Letters

I am linking up with Ashley for Friday Letters.  This is my first, of hopefully many, link-ups.

Dear new keyboard, not a big fan.  Change is not fun.  Dear husband, thank you for taking out the trash even though I have been a totally witch to you this evening.  I love you.  Dear love for my job, Where did you go this week?  Without you, the week felt so much longer.  Please return with a vengeance ASAP!  Dear retainer and braces, Despite one of my students telling me I look good with you, I hate you so much.  Dear Lisa,  I already miss you in the classroom and hope you recover quickly.  Dear perfect running shorts, Where are you?  How do you stay in one place and not ride up when my thighs rub together?  Currently, I have to pull my shorts out, up, and over several times on my jog.  Not cool.  Dear Chuy's Happy Hour, I need you badly tomorrow.  However, I don't know how well I can munch on your free chips and queso.  Sometimes, you are the one thing that gets me through the day.  Dear bloggers, I would love some new followers and comments.  It totally makes my day!

Finish strong, peeps!

It doesn't get easier than this!

Another easy meal for you here.  I got it from my sister, Emily, and my family usually eats it on a weekend when we get together.

And as an added bonus: it goes in the crockpot, people.  Only one pan to clean!
This is what you need to look for at the store:

It says pork, but I use it for chicken.  I haven't been able to find this in a n off-brand.  

Since it is a little fuzzy, this is what you need: ketchup, brown sugar, and cider vinegar.  

Put in the crockpot for 4 hours.  The chicken will be done when you can easily shred the chicken with a fork and knife.  If it is not easily cut, then leave it in the crockpot longer.  

We serve it on tortillas with avocados and cheese.  Or you can serve it on hamburger buns.

Yummy!  Let me know if it works out for you:)))

Pink Pants

On my huge shopping spree a few weeks ago, I found these pink capris at Dillards for $10.  Total Steal.  

You all know, I love a good deal.  In the past, I struggled buying stuff just because it was on sale.  This actually would end up costing me more money in the long run because I would buy stuff that I didn't end up wearing.  Now when I go to the clearance rack, I try to picture in my head the many options that I could do with that article of clothing.  Sometimes, I spend more than I normally would for a piece of clothing because it is a good investment piece.  

I love the pink pants, but I also like the combination on the top.  I am wearing a teal spaghetti strap top from New York and Company and a black sleeveless top over it.  In fact, I think everything on the top half of me is from New York and Company.  The jacket is a nice touch because I am always cold, but also because it pulls in at the smallest section of my body giving me an hourglass shape.

The one thing about this outfit I might change is the shoes, but my feet are killing me these days.  Any advice on shoes that are appropriate for work that aren't a a pain literally and figuratively?

Chicken in Basil Cream

I love, love, love cooking!  I feel like it is a great way to express how you care about someone.  Everyone loves a good meal.  When I cook a meal for my husband, I feel like it is my way of telling him that I appreciate him.  Sometimes, the food isn't always wonderful, but it is the effort I took to prepare it for him.  The meal I am going to share today is a Pinterest meal that turned out to be a hit.   I am attaching the link http://www.bigoven.com/recipe/192234/Chicken-in-Basil-Cream-(9) because I don't always follow the recipe exactly.  A lot of times I choose to leave things out because I forgot them at the store, or it is too much effort to put it in.  I did take some pictures with this because I know sometimes this is helpful when cooking.

Ingredients:       1/4 cupMilk
	1/4 cupDry bread crumbs
	1 poundBoneless skinless chicken breast; 4 halves
	3 tablespoonButter
	1/2 cupChicken broth
	1 cupHeavy cream
	1 can (4 oz)Pimento; sliced
	1/4 cupBasil; fresh, minced
	1/2 cupParmesan; grated
	1/8 teaspoonPepper

 1.  Melt butter on the stove.

2.  Dip chicken in milk and then cook in bread crumbs.

3.  Cook chicken on one side.
Add the rest of the butter and cook on the other side.

4.  Remove chicken and keep warm.  Add broth to pan and bring to a boil.  

5.  Stir in cream, parmesan cheese, basil, and pepper. Cook and stir until heated through. Serve over chicken.

Hot pants

Hot and dangerousIf you're one of us then roll with us'Cause we make the hipsters fall in loveWhen we got our hot pants on and up

My mother-in-law came last weekend, and she had these super cute red jeans.  I was like I want some colored jeans.  I had tried on a pair at Old Navy that totally did not fit, and I kinda ruled colored jeans out.  I found this pair on the clearance rack at New York and Company for ten dollars, ten dollars people!

I paired it with another shirt that I got at The Limited.  I don't normally shop at that store because it is too expensive for me, but I found this shirt on the clearance rack for 10 bucks.

I like the shirt because it has lace detail, but it doesn't take away from the colored pants.  I paired the outfit with my $5 dollar Steve Madden wedges.

I like this outfit so much I wore it twice last week.  Thankfully, I didn't see any of the same people:)

Have you jumped on the fashion bandwagon of colored jeans?  What do you pair them with?

It happened to me...

So, yesterday I went to the doctor's office.  I had put it off for a while.  I knew what the doctor was going to say, and I just didn't want to hear it.

I had neglected to consistently wear my bottom retainer.  Two teeth started moving.  Old retainer no longer fits.    Check out my addition:

They are pretty hard to see, which is nice.  Unlike when I had braces before (yep, I had them before), I am\was not excited to get them.  However, I know that if I didn't get them fixed, it would drive me nuts!

Trying to look a the positive here, because I am super duper not enjoying the ever-enduring dull pain in my mouth and the shredding of my lower lip as it rubs on my metal mouth.

Positive things of having braces for the 2nd time:
-Built in diet system.  I seriously don't want to eat anything.  Too much work.
-I have never made out with anyone while wearing braces.  Anthony, no doubt, is definitely looking forward to this.
-Instant sympathy card.  (Although I am pretty sure that this won't last)
-I only have to have them for 6 months instead of four years.  
-Free toothbrushes.  I am always in need of those.  I literally destroy these things.  My family makes fun of me.  
-More doctor's appointments that I don't have to freak out about.  Plus the ability to schedule this appointments during any staff meetings I don't want to attend.  
-Free wax (clearly I am grasping at straws here)
-Getting to feel the financial responsibility of choosing to neglect a relatively simple task.

WARNING:  Wear your retainer, or this will happen to you.

Happy Gilmore

Anthony has started a new hobby.  The other day him and his friend went and picked out golf clubs.  (I had no idea they were so expensive!  I volunteered to pick him up a set at Goodwill--they have so many.)  He is taking a class in Lewisville for the next five weeks.
I am glad that he will have something relaxing to do on his days off of work.  I have tried to come up with a hobby for myself: knitting, running...But I haven't really come up with anything that I consistently do besides making and eating sweets.  I would like to start scrapbooking, but that can be really expensive, and we have no room in the apartment.  (Sad face)

Doesn't he look like a profes already?  The hat is not really his.  We saw it today when we were shopping and thought that it added to golf look.  Check out that swing!

midweek memos

Dear rough morning, please don't ruin the rest of my day.

Dear Snuggie, I know lots of people have made fun of you, but you have been possibly the best and most used gift.  Stay warm, my cuddle buddy.

Dear Rangers, please choose to win it all or lose quickly.  I don't think I can handle my husband's disappointment for another year.  In addition, I feel like I am putting up with a lot with my husband's playoff beard.  All those prickly, painful kisses will definitely not be worth it, if you lose.

Dear cookies, I am upset with you right now...for being in my belly for the second night in a row.  The End.

Dear God, thanks for giving me the motivation and conviction to get up in the morning and to read my Bible.  Keep it up!  I need you every day.

Dear house guests (in-laws and Jay), We loved having you!  Please come more often.  It motivates us to clean the house more, we like having people over to our place:)

Dear jack-O-latern jog, Please get here very slowly and be nice to me.  I am not ready to run a 5k yet....eek!

Dear parents of my students, the children who I work with, struggle with, spend hours preparing for, umm could you maybe take like 10 minutes out of your crazy schedule to come for the parent conference that you signed up for.  If that is too much, could you just give me a courtesy call and let me know that you don't care about your child's progress and would rather cancel the meeting? I would greatly prefer that, so I don't have to sit around waiting for someone who is getting their tires rotated.  (true story--two parents were doing this!)

Dear fall, I feel you in the air, I smell you at Bath and Body Works, I see you in the store decorations.  Love it.  Stay around as long as you like!

Orange and Turquoise

Again, grace on the picture please.  Still haven't bought the full length mirror.  But I am not the point of the picture.  I want to talk about the color combinations.  I got this shirt last week at New York and Company  (love that place!).

Normally I would have paired the shirt with brown accessories to match my shoes; however, in an attempt to branch out, I decided to pair it with a turquoise necklace and earrings set I got from Charming Charlie's.

For the longest time, I could not do orange and blue with because they were my high school colors.  My bestest friend, Brittany, designed a room with this two colors, and it looks great.  I used it as inspiration for my outfit!

Brittany lives in Ohio, and her house is so stinking cute.  I would never have thought to put orange and turquoise together.  

She found the pillows and used them for the inspiration for the rest of her room.  I think that is a smart idea, for sure!

Her and her husband, Tim, are super crafty and creative.  They found material that they liked and covered the crates under the coffee table and the lamp shades.

We have already informed Brittany that she will be coming down and decorating our house when we get one!  Thanks for the inspiration, Brittany!

What color combinations have you tried that aren't your normal?

Mix and Match

I am still working on taking pictures of myself.  Clearly, I am a newbie, but show me some love for my effort:)

I was trying to branch out on this outfit.  I have stripes on my skirt, pink polka dots on my shirt, and green shoes.  Woah!  Somehow, though I think this works.

 I bought the blazer a couple years ago, following Clint and Stacey's What Not to Wear advice.  However, I have struggled feeling comfortable wearing it because it is not my norm.  In this outfit, I feel like it helped pull it all together.

I wore my blazer for Meet the Teacher night as well.  For some reason, my principal thinks we all have to wear jeans and a tshirt the first time we make an impression on our parents and students.  I don't agree with that, so I put this blazer over the tshirt and wore heels with my jeans.  I think it helped me stand out a bit more and definitely was much more authoritative and professional.

Black Blazer: Target $20
Pink Polka Dotted Sleeveless Top:  New York and Company $8
Striped Skirt: Target $10
Green Shoes: Twice as Nice (Thrift store in Denton) $9

Any advice on how to take good pictures of oneself?  I might need to invest in a full length mirror.