Well, Happy New Year!

It might be a while before I post pictures again. Our camera broke around the same time as my last blog. Andrew went to Best Buy twice, looking at cameras, and we weren't able to agree on what kind to get. We went back a 3rd and 4th time...and came home with a Wii.

So yes, now we have joined the 21st century. The last video game that I played was my family's old N64...and I wasn't that good at it. I'm not very good at this Wii business, but man, it's fun! My arm is killing me from tennis and boxing, bowling and frisbee golf.

Andrew also got Donkey Kong Country Returns and Mario Galaxy II...which have kept him quite occupied for the last couple days. In fact, one could easily tell from a look at our apartment that we have ceased to function as responsible adults this weekend. I see it as a final hurrah before Andrew starts work and I start student teaching tomorrow. :)

Thank the Lord, Andrew is back on 1st shift, at least for the next 6 months. This means that Andrew and I will be getting up early again and have a similar schedule. Student teaching might be more difficult than a full load of classes (?), but I look forward to the simplified schedule.

For the next few months, this blog might be a bit of a 'Student Teaching Blog'...I want to journal my thoughts and feelings about teaching so that I can look back and see what I've learned. Whether or not that actually happens is a different story.

In other news, I am going sugar-free for the month of January, along with my mom and couple friends. Andrew's made it clear that this is one adventure in which he will NOT be joining me. :) If you'd like to join me, go for it! I had enough sugar in December to make up for three months...

And that's it. Now I'm going to go enjoy the rest of this evening and get everything ready for tomorrow morning...Excel Charter Academy, here I come!

New day!

This is Andrew.

This is his wardrobe. Notice any patterns?





Today the impossible happened. I found shirts that were NOT vertically striped. See? And Andrew not only liked them, but bought them (and they were on clearance for $7:99!).




In other good news, Andrew and I made two different kinds of lasagna yesterday.
First, Portabello Lasagna with Basil Cream from Rache Ray's 'EveryDay' magazine. I stole the recipe from my mother-in-law. :) Due to the fact that I feel downright pudgy lately, I substituted the whipping cream for fat-free half & half, and I used skim milk to make the garlic sauce. I also used less butter than it called for, and less parmesan. It wasn't as knock-out amazing as I wanted it to be, but I bet with all the called-for fat, it would be better. :D It also needed more seasoning...I'm thinking some rosemary and thyme would do the trick.
If you want the recipe, let me know. :)

Next, we made 'Christmas Lasagna' from Chef John's FoodWishes blog. It was quite excellent! According to the chef, grateable mozerella isn't legit, so we made the treck to J.B. Russos & Sons (a GREAT place to go, anyway :), and got the real stuff. We probably could've gotten it at Meijer, but it was more fun to go to Russos. AND we had a gift card. :)

In my opinion, lasagna is always better the next day. Maybe something to do with the flavors having a chance to meld together? Chili is the same way. But today we thad the 'Christmas' lasagna for lunch and it was way better than yesterday.

And that's all for today. Andrew's making coffee now (in his nicely patterned shirt) and hugging Kitty...which is possibly the most adorable thing ever. Till next time!

~Briana

Food is one of my favorite things.

Perhaps inspired by the Julie and Julia movie, I decided to blog about my food conquests. Plus, food is so delicious and pretty to look at. :)

Today I made french onion soup...my absolute favorite soup of all time. There's nothing like caramelized onions gently simmered with a dash of sherry wine and homemade beef stock, topped with bubbling gruyere cheese. Mmmmmm.

My recipe came from Foodwishes...a blog that I often frequent for the great recipes. Here's the recipe.

I also made Chicken Bryan, a dish that Andrew and I love to order at Carrabba's, at special occasions. :) We've made it a couple times, and this recipe claims to be the original. It was perfect, but I think that the poster accidently switched measurements. If you make this, be sure to use 1/2 cup of white wine and 6 tbsp of lemon juice, not vice versa as in the recipe.
Mmmm...

(These are photos I found online, not mine. Next time I'll take pictures of my own. :) )

It would've been even better with garlic mashed potatoes, but I didn't have any potatoes left. :(

There you have it.

I think Andrew and I are making lasagna this week, so I'll post our adventure when it happens. :)

~Briana

This weekend I am going to Cedar Point with the VT Family!

By "VT Family" I mean:

Mike - Dad-in-law
Brenda - Mom-in-law

Josh - Bro-in-law

Brooke - Sister-in-law
Alyssa and Kirsten - Nieces

Tim - Bro-in-law

Meghan - Bro-in-law's gf

Nick - Bro-in-law
Jenna - Bro-in-law's gf

Kristen - Sis-in-law

Kyle -Sis-in-law's should-be-fiance

So yeah. Andrew's extremely excited to be riding all of the amazing rollercoasters. And I am too, I suppose...it's just that I haven't had a weekend for two weeks now and I dearly love my weekends. The quietness, the still moments, the second cup of coffee, the snuggling on the couch...

"You always need margin", my mom says. The blank spaces between things. I love margin.

I should not complain, though. Life is good. I spend too much time complaining, actually...I'm tired, I'm lonely, I don't like doing homework, I don't have enough time to go grocery shopping...

I'm actually sick of hearing my brain complain. I'm working on training myself to be thankful.

For my working legs. For dry and warm clothing. For my husband. For the opportunity to be educated. For the money to go grocery shopping!

I will train this brain to be happy! "We're gonna traaaiiin you.

Speaking of thankfulness, I found another thing for which to be thankful...concerning my husband. Not that there aren't a gazillion things to be thankful about concerning him.... :D
Here it is:

In general, "things" pop into my mind constantly. Funny pictures, ambitious ideas, strange commentaries, eye-opening realizations...and when I'm with Andrew I am completely free to open my mouth and spew said "things". He might respond with a laugh or a nod or a word of advice...or maybe nothing at all. But he listens. And he doesn't think I'm stupid or unimportant. He HEARS me.

You might laugh, but I really want to be heard. You'd be amazed at the many times when people just DON'T hear me! My friend Bethany says that I have one of those voices that just blend into the background. Bethany loves me so I don't feel insulted by this...just informed. It helps me realize that some people might just honestly not hear me. And it helps prepare me for those terrible moments when I start speaking and then someone else talks right over me. Oy vey.

But anyway...I appreciate Andrew because he truly listens to me and values what I say to him. That's...wow. It's just so cool to have someone like that in your life. My mom is like that too.

People probably think I'm odd because I always bring up my mom at school. I realized that this year. "My mom always says that...", or "My mom used to...", or "My mom thinks that..."

I think that's a compliment to her...it means that I value her opinion and that her actions have made a lasting impression on me.

See? I'm not that messed up. Let this be an encouragement to all first-born PKs...there is hope. Just MOVE OUT. And you will be better friends with your family. :P

(Kidding!...sortof.)

Word of the last-couple-weeks:
Snarky.

I really really really love that word. Snarky.

That's all. I'm going to play puzzle games online until Andrew gets home.

Spring Break!

Two years ago, a certain girl couldn't wait for spring break to be over, so she could get back to school.

That certain girl no longer exists...an older, wiser one is in her stead...and good heavens, if only Spring Break could last forever!

Andrew took this past week off, so we could have a mid-semester vacation. We went to South Haven for a couple days and stayed a really cute bed and breakfast, called 'Martha's Vineyard'. South Haven is quiet this time of year, as is Saugatuck, but we enjoyed the peace and quiet very much!
The week went slowly, thank the Lord, and it was so refreshing to do absolutely nothing for a while. Of course, we visited my family a couple times (we went to see 'Blind Side' on Friday-- excellent movie!!!) and went on walks, and watched a few movies.
Last night, Andrew and I MADE ourselves go bowling with a couple of our friends...we both felt too lazy to go out, but we were so glad we did! Andrew, it turns out, is a decent bowler...and I, it turns out, am not. ;)

Now, tomorrow's Monday. I have a project to finish before Tuesday, two journals to write before Thursday, a musical to practice for before the performances this weekend, a funeral to attend, a form to fill out for student teaching, a presentation to put togethere, excuses to find for my trumpet teacher...etc.
It's the last half of the semester, and it's gonna fly!

I do have a couple fun ideas for my trumpet recital next fall. I think the theme will be 'A Few of My Favorite Things'. :)

Life is good, whether busy or not...and God is always faithful.

Love and liquid soap (in Leah style),
~Briana

Mostly pictures - People I like and love :)

Too close! Zoom out! lol

Zachary, his guitar and adoring fans.

J and Iz :)

My sister, Ivey and "my baby", Alexandra.

Amber! Such a smile.




I can't believe how old these girls are getting! Cassidy and Moriah. :)





How cute can you get? I love Sophie.

I look...really strange in this picture. But at least it's a picture of me and my mum. :)

Andrew, playing his sweet guitar (he's getting really good at it!!!)

Ivey and Mollie chillin' on my bed.

The two of us...I wonder if Andrew's capable of taking non-goofy pictures?

Nope.

There are 5 Gazillion other things I could be doing right now...

But here I am...
When I got married to Andrew, I had to get used to his "early to bed, early to rise" routine. I grew accustom to going to bed around 10...and I often got tired around 9pm because we got up so early.
But now, with Andrew working 2nd shift, my old habit of staying up till midnight has quickly reemerged.
The problem is that the LAST thing I want to do at 10pm is read articles or write papers. I know as a college student I'm not entitled to any free time...but I always feel like evenings should be a time to rest and regroup. Ergo, this weblog.

Today Andrew came to convocation with me and helped write an arrangement for 'My Jesus I Love Thee' for brass quintet. I'm really enjoying my orchestration and arranging class because of its hands on application. It's even better with Andrew helping me out. :)
We went home and ate lunch...and went our separate ways. For him: work. For me: taking a piano lesson, two hours of band, more arranging, and giving two piano lessons at the Roarks.

Somehow TOMORROW is sneaking up on me, and it's the worst kind of tomorrow. It's a TUESDAY. ugh. I HATE Tuesdays. I especially hate this tuesday because I have a trumpet lesson and I haven't practiced for it (not that I haven't played...I just haven't played what he assigned to me.)

But this too, shall pass. Soon it'll be Friday and my spring break will have started! Friday's not too far away, right? Of course right! (Yente, anyone?)

Blessings,
~Briana