Things I'm Loving This Week (#5) + Blogiversary

Hot pink bandanas!  We wore them for Nationals and we rocked them, just saying.  I really liked how we looked as a team and that it looked tough:)  Nationals was really fun, although really hard.  We finished in the Silver Division, but we had to play three of the final four teams in the Gold Division and the Kansas State Champs.  It was mentally draining to lose nearly every single game, but it was really neat to get to play such good teams. 

 

Some highlights off the court were Omaha Zoo, Starbucks and Mulan movie night as a team.  Those were the best because it was our team, enjoying the last few days hanging out together.  I'll miss those girls next year!

 

 

Mother Daughter Football Game.  Ah yes, flag football without pads.  Last year, we truly played moms.  Like, the 50 year old homeschooling moms.  This year, it was opened to alumni and suddenly, there were aggressive 20-25 year old alumni on the other side of the line, ready to clobber whoever got in their way.  We were a little undersized ... and really cold. Soooo, we lost.  But it wasn't really to our moms, so there is some consolation.  :)  It was incredibly cold and I understand why football players wear gloves now.  And cleats.  Wet field do not make for great cutting ... more like great sliding on your face.  It's so much fun though, even if we do get numb fingers and banged up faces (yes, me and one of my teammates ran smack into eachother and are now suffering from mild concussions and broken noses.  Who said girls football wasn't rough?  They were wrong.)

Blimey Cow videos. These are absolutely hilarious!  Just watch one, just one, and I promise, you will be hooked. I really like how he addresses real problems in sarcastic and hilarious ways. He makes really good points, but it's so funny. I call it my ab workout for the day:)

These boots from Pinterest.  I will find brown boots. I promise!  Any recommendations or links?  I'll take them!

Running.  Granted, I've become a big wimp now that it is cold and I've stretched my hip flexor, but I figure the more I do it, the easier it will get (right Bethany?)  I love being by myself outside, with no extra noise or conversation or people.  Plus, it really has gotten easier and I much prefer it over conditioning (which I haven't done in, well, a really long time.)

 

Holding this little girl!  I cannot hold her enough!  She is one week as of yesterday. 

 

My dad's birthday was yesterday, too!  He went hunting with the boys and Stephen shot his first duck!  Other than that, it was pretty low key - candles in his cobbler and gifts from Mom and lots of hugs from John Caleb. 

 

Since Thanksgiving is around the corner, I've been thinking about pies.  These three look incredible!

Toffee Chocolate Pecan Pie by Crazy for Crust.  Fudgy, nutty, buttery heaven.
Butterscotch Pie with Curry Crust by Blahnik Baker. This flavor combo has got me intrigued!  And the filling looks so creamy. 

Apple Chai Pie by the Kitchen Paper. Chloe sent me this pin and I really want to try it!  I'm all about chai right now and apple pie is one of my all time favorites. 

Donut Update: I decided to do butter pecan and apple donuts!  Hopefully the recipe will be up soon!

And finally, it has been one year since I started blogging.

Wow.

For all you who have begun reading more recently, this began as an English assignment and has grown into something I'm passionate about.  What began as random posts has turned into a purposeful food focused blog.  Because of blogging, I've been able to experiment in the kitchen, become more comfortable with subbing in ingredients than is good for me, and improve my photography and writing.  I've met so many incredible bloggers who understand the woes of lighting and food props:)  It has been one of the best school assignments ever and is something I love spending time on. I don't have a giveaway that everyone else does when their blog has a birthday, but I do want to say thank you.  Thank you for taking the time to comment, to pin, to bake: it wouldn't be anything without you guys.  

Thank you! 

~Mary Frances