Back to the Basics

As promised, today I have a food post. I've got pictures and I've even got a recipe for you!

Monday was a rainy day in Birmingham. Although it cleared up before I got home from work, I'd already set my sights on some soup and salad for dinner. I'm a huge fan of chicken noodle soup and so is Jason. I have adapted my recipe from a recipe that I found online almost a year ago. My version tends to send Jason into a blast from the past because he swears it tastes just like his grandma's recipe.

Chicken Soup with Orzo (serves 8):
Ingredients

• 1 box of orzo
• 1 lb.boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 can carrots
• 4 chicken bullion cubes
• 8 c. water
• Nature's Season by Morton to taste
• Salt to taste

Directions

1. Add 8 cups of water to a large pot. Set on medium/high heat and bring to a boil.
2. While the water is boiling, cube the chicken breast and saute it in a skillet. Add seasonings to taste.
3. When water is almost boiling, add bullion cubes and stir in seasonings to taste.
4. When water begins to boil, add whole box of Orzo.
5. Let the soup boil for 7 minutes. 
6. After 7 minutes, add the can of carrots (strain the liquid out) and the chicken.
7. Let boil for 3-5 more minutes.

I served my soup with a side salad made with romaine lettuce, feta cheese, and balsamic vinegar. Perfect for a sort of rainy evening!

Last night, Jason and I needed a date. We are quickly coming to learn that we have to make time for each other without any distractions. In the craziness of the tour ending and Jason getting reacquainted with living in Birmingham full-time, traveling, Jason moving, wedding planning, and just living life, we've kind of made our "Jason and Jessica time" less of a priority. Even if we are together, we're usually with other people or we're constantly on our phones or computers.

Tuesday had to be date night. We discussed putting it off until Wednesday or Thursday since we had to do some more moving and we actually had small group. But honestly, if we put it off last night, we probably would have put it off until next week. We're also learning that putting other things on the back burner for time together is important.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that Jason and I enjoy being social together. We enjoy being together with other people. It makes life a lot easier, fun, and we love our friends dearly. I honestly never thought we'd be the type of couple that struggled with having enough time together, but another thing I'm learning is that time together (meaning in the same room) doesn't always equal time together (meaning with no distractions).

The point: last night we went on a date.

Jason had purchased a Groupon for The Fish Market in Hoover. Neither of us had ever been there before, so we were excited to experience it for the first time!

The food was DELICIOUS! I'm usually super hesitant about ordering seafood anywhere that isn't near a large body of water, but this was definitely an exception to the rule.

I attempted to be healthy, but I ended up just making last night my splurge night. I had grilled grouper, popcorn shrimp, steamed broccoli, a baked potato, and hushpuppies. Jason ordered a lobster tail with fries and corn on the cob.

I rolled out of there feeling quite full. I also ordered a Diet Coke to go and left it on the table. I hate it when I do that!

After dinner we went to Target because Jason had something to return, and well, I love Target (it's my happy place). While we were there we decided to look at some of their furniture. We walked away last night with a dresser and chest of drawers! Obviously, they both need to be assembled, but that's Jason's project for the next few weeks :)

I just love Target.

While we were there, I also tried the Light Mocha Coconut Frapp from Starbucks. Totally yummy, but I doubt I'll get it again any time soon. Maybe I should have held out for some froyo? Oh well, ya live and ya learn!

Official moving day is coming up quickly for Jason (tomorrow), along with a super busy (but super fun) weekend! Please keep us in  your prayers as we adjust to all of these transitions and changes.

I'm sure you're tired of me rambling on about my date last night, but what can I say, it was much needed and totally exceeding my expectations!

Happy Wednesday everyone - the weekend is just around the corner!

A Picture-sque Weekend

Happy Monday everyone!

I'm actually really sad that the weekend is over. I took a half vacation day on Friday and I literally had the best weekend I've had in months.

Here's the weekend-in-review-via-pictures (I like combining words today):

Friday Jason and I went to see one of my best friends graduate from Samford's nursing school. I am so proud of her and it was also great to see my Little (little sister in Phi Mu)!

Yay MK!!!!

After graduation, Jason and I drove to Decatur, AL to see our friends Mark and Lindsay. Lindsay was on the Casting Crowns tour opening for the band while Mark, her husband, was also on the tour as an assistant tour manager. Jason and I became friends with them in the fall and we were excited to get to see Lindsay play at Soul Stock.

Lindsay McCaul - and yes, you should go buy her album, right now!

The event was sponsored by Show Hope, which is an organization that helps people adopt from overseas by raising money for grants and also raising awareness about orphan care. If you've ready my blog at all...you should know that I was totally excited about going to a Show Hope sponsored event (I cried like three times while we were there).

One of the cool things that is connected with Show Hope is called the Red Bus Project. It's literally a big red bus that goes around to college campuses and it's set up like a thrift store on the inside. It's super awesome and if you ever see this thing, you should definitely check it out!

After Lindsay played, Steven Curtis Chapman's sons played. I'd heard a lot about their band, Caleb, but I'd never seen them live before. They were great and Jason and I had a great time relaxing outside listening to their music.

After Caleb, there was a speaker from Show Hope who talked a lot about adoption and what the organization does. Jason and I listened for a little while, but then we got super hungry so we hit up the booth that was selling Chick-fil-A sandwiches. YUM! Jason also bought us matching-ish Show Hope t-shirts! Thanks Jason!

I promise the top shirt (Jason's) is blue, not pink.
The editing made both of these shirts look super girly.

The headliner for Soul Stock was Steven Curtis Chapman. He and his wife started Show Hope after adopting their three little girls from China about 12 years ago. It was only appropriate that that headlined for the first Show Hope sponsored event, right? I definitely re-lived ages 6-9 since he played a lot of his older music.

I loved everything about the event (except the bugs).

Saturday morning I woke up early, per my usual weekend routine. I waited to get a text from Jason saying that he was awake. We were able to go for a walk and do some work around his apartment and mine. I made us some lunch to save money. I hadn't been to the grocery store yet, so I literally threw together random things for myself, but it ended up being pretty good!

I had Italian seasoned green beans with shrimp and a baked sweet potato on the side.

Later that evening, Jason and I went to Chili's for dinner. I had the chicken fajitas with no sides while he went for the chicken crispers with corn on the cob and fries. We had a coupon for a free molten lava cake (hello splurge day), so we split that for dessert. It was good, but not sure if it was worth the calories (that sounds like crazy talk coming out of my mouth, but it's the truth...my how things have changed). Jason made me promise I'd never tell him how many calories are in that cake.

Saturday lunch, Sunday lunch, Saturday dinner

After Chili's we used another coupon and saw What to Expect when you're Expecting at the Edge Theater. It cost $6 for both of us to see a movie and for Jason to get popcorn. Now that's what I call a cheap date :)

The movie was actually really funny...and surprisingly clean. It has some language in it, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Sunday was the greatest day of all. We didn't do a whole lot, but it was great for some reason! I was actually able to sleep in (which is unusual for me), and then Jason and I went for another walk. After our walk, we made lunch and caught up on some TV shows. After TV/lunch time, we went to the pool for the first time this season (it was Jason's first time ever).

When we walked up to the pool, there was a man laying on a float in a teal speedo. Last year, my mom came up to stay with me on Memorial Day weekend and this same man was in the back of my apartment (I guess his backs up to mine) doing yoga in his chair. Well, yesterday Jason decided that it was too hot  to just sit in the chair, so he got in the pool (Jason, not speedo man...he was already lounging on his float). Speedo man started talking poor Jason's ears off. Turns out...he's from Miami and he's an alligator wrangler.

I couldn't help it. I had to take a picture.

I texted my mom while Jason was talking to the man and she said, "Well, it's official. Jason will literally talk to anyone!" So much truth.

After about an hour at the pool, we had to go back to my apartment to wait on the guy from Charter to come fix my internet...again. After he left, it was time to head to church.

Church was great, dinner was get (yummy yummy Thai food), and then we went to Jason's apartment to work on getting the pedestals off of our new washer and dryer.

They're so dusty, which wasn't a big deal. The pedestal came off of the dryer super easy. But the washer was a whole different story.

After about 45 minutes of trying to get the bolts out, Jason decided we'd go buy a better tool later. Poor guy, in the middle of all of that, he killed at least two spiders (probably more) and had to clean off all kinds of bugs and nasty stuff that we apparently purchased with the washer.

Overall, great weekend. I honestly didn't want it to end. But next week is a long weekend (WHOOHOO!!!) and I'm sure it will be great as well!

Enough of the rambling from me...what did YOU do this weekend?

Who's Ready for the Weekend?

First of all, before we get into my eats of the day and other random activities, I have a slight public service announcement.

As you all know, I'm very passionate about orphan care, adoption, and foster care. May is National Foster Care Month.

This Saturday, May 12th, there will be a 5K walk at Veteran's Park in Hoover. I'll be there taking pictures and just hanging out from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The walk is only $30. Come hang out for a good cause! If you'd like more information, go to the website. Here is some more information here as well:

Yesterday morning I wasn't super hungry. I just kept with the usual coffee until about 10:00. Then I decided I was getting a bit hungry. I've been waiting for the perfect morning to make "Oats in a Jar" (idea from Itty Bits...I'm telling you, she's my fav).

Oats in a Jar:
Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. (about) Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter (creamy)
• 1/2 c. Quaker multigrain hot cereal
• 1 c. water
• Sweetener to taste 

Directions

1. When your peanut butter jar is almost empty (about 2 tbsp. left), set it aside and wait until breakfast.
2. Pour oats (or hot cereal) in a regular bowl and add water. Heat for 2 minutes or according to the directions given. 
3. When oats are cooked, add in sweetener to taste. Stir well.
4. Pour oats directly into peanut butter jar and mix well. 
5. Let cool and thicken up...and then it's time to enjoy!

Yesterday was quite busy at work (which is why I didn't have time to post this yesterday). It was nice to be super busy though. The pace of the day also carried over into the night. 

When I got home, Jason made himself a little snack-a-roo and I made myself "brinner" (breakfast for dinner). I truly love breakfast foods.

I made eggs (using Egg Beaters egg whites), whole wheat cinnamon and Stevia toast, and a banana/blueberry smoothie.

Here is the smoothie recipe -

Banana/Blueberry Smoothie:
Ingredients

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1/2 c. fresh blueberries
• 1 c. Silk unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• Ice

Directions

1. Pour milk into the blender
2. Cut up banana and add to blender
3. Pour in blueberries to the blender
4. Add ice.
5. Blend well.

After dinner, Jason had to do a video shoot at Samford. I decided to tag along. I know I only graduated a year ago, but I just felt old sitting there surrounded by all of the college students. Oh well...

When we left Samford we headed to meet up with some of my friends from college (it was kind of ironic since we'd just been on campus). One of my friends was in town from Texas to visit her fiance. I was happy to see everyone. Unfortunate, Jason and I both had to be up early this morning, so we were the lame ones who left early. 

I think that about sums up yesterday. Today is Friday...which means splurge day!!!!  I believe my sweet man is taking me on a date tonight :)

Happy Friday everyone!

Let the weekend ramblings begin.