d.i.y. map

1. get a map

2. put it on some foamboard

3. mark where you've been & where you want to go

4. go there

a good day

my friend carrie & i adventured over to

the cutest little fresh farmer's market just 5 min from my apt.

i had seen it one afternoon while i was 'lost' 

driving home from micheals. 

now that i'm living in a new city, i find that 'getting lost'

isn't that bad after all. in fact, it's the best way

to stumble upon these wonderfully unique & hidden places

which kindly turn mundane activities into tiny adventures.

sorry h.e.b., you've been replaced. 

and in other news, 

get in my belly!

101 salads from Mark Bittman

ross & i are trying to eat out as little as possible, 

and so far it's going really well. 

we're trying to master the art of healthy, cheap and easy meals.

and we've had some surprising success.

and dare i say it...ross even likes salads now.

i've got to run with that :)

how sweet it is

tonight we celebrated

with champagne & chocolate covered strawbs!

because:

1. you only start medical school once

2. yum

3. life is good.

all dressed up & ready to go

med school, prepare to get dominated.

isn't he handsome?

i'm beyond proud of him.

the first day of school is so exciting...

this calls for cookies.

hello, new favorite treat

wow, two of my most favorite things put together: the margarita cupcake. yes, please.

INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes:
1 box white cake mix
8 oz margarita mix (liquid)
2 oz tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier
3 egg whites
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp grated lime zest

Lime Buttercream Icing:
8 Tbsp butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp lime juice (approx 2 fresh limes)
1 Tbsp margarita mix
1 tsp lime zest
5 cups powdered (confectioners’) sugar
cane sugar & fresh limes (for garnish)

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 350º and prepare muffin pans.

2. Combine margarita mix, tequila, and Grand Marnier in a large glass and stir well.

3. In large bowl, combine cake mix, egg whites, lime zest, vegetable oil, and margarita mixture from step one. Stir ingredients together, then beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for approximately 2-3 minutes.

4. Spoon the batter into prepared muffin pans. Fill each cup/liner about 2/3 full.

5. Bake at recommended temperature on cake mix box (usually 325º - 350º) for 20 - 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

Icing:
6. In a large bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, lime juice, margarita mix, and lime zest. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

7. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and continue beating until smooth. If icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar, a couple tablespoons at a time.

8. Spread icing generously on each cooled cupcake* or use a pastry bag to frost. Sprinkle cane sugar around the edges of the cupcake for a “salt rimmed” look and garnish with lime wheels & wedges.

*Make sure to remove cupcakes from pan and cool completely before frosting.

Tip: Leftover frosting makes a great dip for fruit!

Recipe + Image: Hostess with the Mostess

yep, i'm blogging at 10:30 on a friday night. ross & i are watching scrubs and drinking appletinis (JD-style). 

God & etsy

{via etsy}

i've been thinking about the message of these last two lovely posters a lot lately.

one reads:Your Dreams, Your Hopes, Your Desires/ Make it Happen.

the other: Because Everything is Relative/Choose Joy

two ideas which are continuously pressing into my soul, lingering in the back of my mind. 

firstly, 'making it happen' is not something i'm good at. but recently i'm realizing how very vital this is.  we can't just sit back and let life pass us by, taking the easy roads and the well-worn paths.  

since moving to college station, God has been laying certain messages very clearly & strongly upon my heart. the first is that i am exactly where He wants me to be.  though i am often envious that my three college roommates are called to live in kenya, spain, and south africa this year, my calling is here.  thankfully, God has given me confidence in this.  still, i would be lying if i said i wasn't jealous of their adventures. 

besides that comfort, the predominate message on my heart is two parts, and it grows louder everyday:

find your calling and pray for the boldness to chase after it. 

in other words, make it happen. while i lack vision & strength, He desires to empower me- if only I surrender myself.  and throughout this whole process, i must choose joy. because really, we have everything to be joyful about.  He is on our side, in control, and has a plan.  now, just have to find my place in it all.  

and sometimes God just wants you to live in aggieland.  

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  for everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." 

Matthew 7:7-8

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

ditto

{from here}

hehe it's true.

also:

dear s.bucks,

please hire me. i love you.

thanks,

katie

lets go to the movies

{trailor}

love this quote:

"action is character. if we never did anything, we wouldn't be anybody."

many cookbooks, not so many mouths

{vanilla-roasted peaches with raspberries}

dying to try this,

and to have people over to enjoy it with.

remember how in college people were in and out of our house all day?

even when no one that lived there was there.

friends, come play in our tiny kitchen!

first two weeks of marriage: check plus

life in the twin cities is starting to get into gear, but not too fast. thankfully 

so far, we've:

- we finished painting the study

{note: red was not the best idea. also, painting a challenging color while drinking wine & watching scrubs doesn't give the room a great effect. but hey, they can't all be winners}

- broken in the dance floor of the kitchen & living room

- explored the many generous wedding gifts we received, especially the ones involving the preparation & enjoyment of food :)

- hit the town on two occasions with ross' future classmates with just the right amount of nerdy-ness.

- completed our hp marathon & loved the half blood prince. 

{even though a tornado blew through town, and a ceiling tile in our theater let way to a gushing waterfall mid movie}

- checked out a church...but there was some 'whooping' during the service, so...

-applied for jobs.

- loved not having to say goodbye.

honeymoonin

we did it!

and now we're playin house   :)