Easy Apple Turnovers

There is nothing quite like good conversation, dessert, and hot coffee after dinner.

Mitchell & I were planning to head over to his grandparents Monday night to hang out and so I could meet his great aunt and great uncle. I wanted to take a dessert but I didn’t want it to be to drawn out because I knew my mom was in the kitchen getting dinner ready.

My first thought was Apple Turnovers, a childhood favorite. I happened to already be in Target (I’d move in if they would let me!) so all I had to grab were crescent rolls!

I put them together in about 15 minutes and they only took 20 to bake- perfect 🙂 They smelled so good cooking that my family practically begged to have them with dinner! I obliged. Even after each of us having one, there were still plenty to share!

2 cups peeled and chopped apples (I used pink ladies. Don’t even consider canned.)

1/3 c sugar

2 tbsp flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon (I adore cinnamon, so I was extra generous here!!)

Dash nutmeg

two 8 oz cans refrigerated crescent rolls 

Glaze:

1/2 c powdered sugar

water to the right consistency

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together first five ingredients; make sure apples are well coated. Take a bite- this mixture is amazing. Roll dough out and separate the 16 triangles. Spoon 1 rounded tbsp of apple mixture into the center of each. Fold dough over the filling, overlapping each corner. Try to close up all the holes! Place each on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Combine glaze ingredients and mix until smooth. Drizzle over the top & lastly,

Survival

Coffee in the form of Iced Caramel Lattes, good music, a planned reward to celebrate finishing, studying something that has eternal significance, food to fill the tummy and fuel the mind during last minute cramming, great friends for encouragement and much needed breaks (not the TV show this time!)… all served with a side of procrastination!

See you on the other side!

A Quick Workout for Busy Days

Travel days are always busy- even when the “traveling” is only 2 hours worth from Starkville to Memphis.

Wednesday was a busy day that involved finishing all my classes for the semester (woohooo!), completing a project, babysitting, and driving home!  Knowing all that the day held, I pulled myself out of bed and headed downstairs even though it was the perfect stormy morning for sleeping in!

I planned on having eggs like I have the last couple days (trying to get more protein), but I just wasn’t feeling it. My belly wanted carbs… in the form of cinnamon cereal. So I went with it. Alongside my cereal, my new mug I got for my birthday filled with coffee from the keurig, 2% milk, and stevia. Thanks Mom!

The almonds and strawberries were a pre workout snack

Even in this busy day, I wanted to get a good workout in (without taking too much of the day) and make use of my new running hat 🙂 Thanks M!

I hit the Sanderson Center after class for this:

And let me tell you, my heart was pumping! It felt a lot better to ride in the car knowing I had 3 miles done.

Can you find 40 minutes to get your heart pumping? It’s not so bad if you take the Lifetime app with Army Wives on demand 😉

PS: Have you heard of She Reads Truth?! It is daily devotional for women.. I highly suggest you grab a cup of coffee and head on over there today. A new portion is beginning, with the focus on Hosea. It’s too good to miss. I posted a link on my Facebook this morning- I promise it’s so good.

celebrating

I couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon/evening! It somehow happened to include most of my favorites! Mitchell and I got into Collierville around 12:30, spent some time at his grandparent’s, then headed to Booyas with my mom! (My all time fave..!)

After Booyas, we had to hit up Target! I tend to have withdrawals while in Starkville with nothing but Walmart! .. It’s rare lately that my mom and I get to go without being in a hurry so this was so much fun!! Thanks Mom

Once we got home, Marley and I went for a quick run before getting ready & heading downtown.

Majestic Grill & Melting Pot were our destinations for the evening! I enjoyed every minute of it! It was so fun to think back on old memories and laugh- It’s crazy to think we’ve spent TWENTY of my birthdays together! So thankful for my parents, grandparents, bros, and M. It feels so clique to say “blessed”… almost even seems like it needs a hashtag before it- haha!- but truly, I am.

3rd birthday together- love it.

After lots of consideration of just about every item on the menu, I decided on Grilled Salmon with a Honey glaze, Sweet Carrots, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes- combined with a few handfuls of their famous parmesan fries we all shared- perfectly satisfying.

Me and the boys

My Dad, My Mom, and I

Nana, Me, and Poppa

For dessert, we decided on two mixtures for the table. Bananas Foster (which included white chocolate and cinnamon and smelled phenomenal!) and Flaming Turtle (caramel and chocolate, too!- that actually came to the table flaming!). Our “dippers” included fresh strawberries, bananas, graham cracker covered marshmallows, brownies, cheesecake, and red velvet cake!! YUM. We washed it down with coffee. Just like I adore coffee in the morning, I love to have it after dinner.

The Melting Pot

Around here, we crack up at how long birthdays last.. it goes from one day to a weekend to a week to a month! So you probably will hear more about my entrance into the twenties before this is over..

More than ready to hit the hay now & wake up for more relaxin tomorrow.

I hope your weekend is awesome! The days pass slow, but the years go to fast.

WIAW

This wednesday started like any other, (I’m ignoring the fact that there are only a few of these precious mornings with these girls left) at 929 with Rachel, Lesley, Lauren, and Magan.

Zambia coffee for me with half & half and Splenda. (Did I mention my speech today was on artificial sweeteners? Oh, the irony.)

After our meeting, I had to finish up my speech. I spent every last available minute typing so breakfast was of the grab and go- drive and eat variety. A handful of dark chocolate almonds & a banana!

I was so nervous for my speech I waited until it was over to have lunch! McAlisters & Local Culture~ decided a treat was in store!

Choose 2: Turkey Melt on Pita & a cup of Broccoli Cheddar Soup!

This half white chocolate mousse/half orange sorbet concoction really hit the spot!

Dr. Pepper ten between lunch & dinner for… well, just because I enjoy them. It is unusual for me not to have a snack between lunch and dinner, but I think today my late lunch and dessert with lunch helped!

Dinner was Salmon Mitchell made 🙂 with edamame and Annie’s shells & cheese. Easy, yet satisfying and delicious!

 

Everything was successfully done oven-less.

The oven has been off limits around here lately due to this situation. A few to many drippy sweet potatoes lead to some major smoke, caked on gunk, and need for cleaning!

Somehow avoided the after dinner snacking, too! That is rare.

I am usually the one running around asking if anyone has anything sweet 😉

How was your day?

sweet gratitude, II

I am beyond grateful for:

The first day of spring and promise of summer to follow,

An incredible dinner and night of Bachelor fun with friends, Mitchell’s aunt, and cousin’s wife and her sister,

big breakfasts that stuff tummys for long road trips,

quiet time with my parents, the Word, and grande Blondes,

the return of my favorite show, Mitchell lending me his iPad,

words of wisdom from EmilyLey.com,

intense card games and laughs with close friends,

& a friend who gracious let me do her over with all my Mary Kay!

“give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you..”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

From The Happiness Project: Gratitude is important to happiness. Studies show that consistently grateful people are happier and more satisfied with their lives; they even feel more physically healthy and spend more time exercising. Gratitude brings freedom from envy, because when you are grateful for what you have, you are not consumed with wanting something different or something more. That, in turn, makes it easier to live within your means and also to be generous to others.

Remember to pause this week, and be grateful whether the circumstances seem great or just tough!

sweet gratitude

Although not our first instinct, gratitude can change perspective.

From The Happiness Project: Gratitude is important to happiness. Studies show that consistently grateful people are happier and more satisfied with their lives; they even feel more physically healthy and spend more time exercising. (woo hoo!) Gratitude brings freedom from envy, because when you are grateful for what you have, you are not consumed with wanting something different or something more. That, in turn, makes it easier to live within your means and also to be generous to others.

This passage inspired me to stop, or at least slow down, and be thankful for all I have. So once a week, I plan to share it with you!

This week, I am grateful for:

THIS TYPE OF MOMMA

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES & DESTIN TRIPS

READING TIME & PUPPY SNUGGLES

HOT COFFEE, LEMON POPPYSEED ANYTHING, & BEING PRODUCTIVE

COOL PINTEREST FINDS

OCCASIONAL MOTIVATION TO ACTUALLY GET READY

“give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you..”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Early Mornings

Ever wake up before the sun?

I know… it stinks, you’re tired, your eyes won’t open, it is cold, you can’t even see… just. one. more. minute. I almost always beg.

When I fight the urge to stay under the abundance of fluffy white linens, I end up thanking myself God for it.

My ideal morning has me arising in the darkness, quietly tip toe ing around the house to get just ready enough, grabbing every belonging in my house it seems and heading across town to a coffeehouse. My living room will work too, but that never requires more than PJs which means my eyes are more likely to assume they can slack off on the job.

Preferably, Starbucks would not be my destination, although it absolutely suffices.

For early, quiet mornings, it has got to be the town’s best kept secret… A “hipster” atmosphere makes it that much better.

I have fallen in love with the ease of parking with only 3 other cars in the lot… the way the barista’s whisper before 9 am.. the clicking of the keyboard or turning of old wrinkled pages.. the way my pen runs across a blank page… the promise of new mercies, not yet tainted… It’s warms my soul. It is when I start my day early, in communication with my great God (in all truth, coffee is of no importance) that my storm of a day is less tragic. I am aware of my fresh start, that my sins of yesterday are forgiven, thrown to the side. For this, I keep coming back for more.

via Pinterest

Starkville’s newest addition called 929… hits my idea of morning perfection on the head. It is located on Main Street, adding to the unmatchable atmosphere. You use unmatching mugs and check out at a counter made of old wood, beautifully battered. I just love their details.

via 929 Coffee Bar on Facebook

via 929 Coffee Bar on Facebook

I’d relate the hours of say 6-9 am to the calm before the storm. You can check your email, but there will hardly ever be more than the 3 am LOFT, Banana Republic, and Coach sale notifications. No teachers asking for homework assignments, yet. But when I close my Bible, leave that place, get in my car, and venture out into the world, onto campus, wherever my day takes me, I will never be in the same state I was in, until tomorrow morning.

Highlight of My Day aka True Life: I’m an Addict

You will come to realize I have 3 pretty intense addicitons.

1. purses

2. planners/notebook/agendas/any paper you can write a to do list on

3. CUPS! mugs. glasses. mason jars. 

What does this say about me? Oh goodness, I have not a clue (and I’m not sure I want to know!!)

But today Mitchell and I discovered Starbucks reusable cups! (I’ve had my eye on them for weeks– saw them behind the counter in Starkville– how creepy)

via westernfrontonline.net

While we waited in line, Mitchell guessed they would be $7.25! And I said $3.95, but would have purchased for anything under $5.00! 

When we asked… the guys says “$1.00!”

SOLD- to the lady with 67 coffee mugs who would like a cinnamon dolce blonde roast, 1 sweetener, and half & half!

An extra plus- you save 25 cents at Starbucks with every use!!!

It’s not hard to find the key to my heart, huh?