Celebrating Christmas Early and Brooks Running Shoes

Happy Monday friends!

I have to start this post out with a birthday shout out to my dad and sister-in -law. (yesterday)

This morning just so happened to be the only time N and I could celebrate Christmas together and do our own little gift exchange. He works tomorrow and we have 3 Christmas eve services tomorrow evening then we will be flying the friendly skies on Christmas morning, so today it was! 

I stopped by the store yesterday to buy some supplies for today’s Christmas dinner…

So, I woke up today around 7 because I planned to make a pot roast that we could enjoy for a late lunch, and I just have to say my house smells AMAZING right now as it cooks away!

 I put on a pot of coffee, played some Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music, and we read through the story of Jesus’s birth in Luke 2 together before opening gifts. 

We let brandy open her gift first and it was hilarious watching her try to figure out what to do with the wrapping paper ha!

Then Nathan and I took turns opening gifts that we got for each other. He usually does a theme when he gets me gifts, and this year’s was a fitness theme. 

Check out these babies!

I’m officially a Brooks owner 😉 I’ve never tried this brand of running shoe, mainly because they are so pricey, and I love my Sauconies.  HOWEVER, I am super excited to test these babies out on my run today! Thanks Nathan!

After gifts, we headed to the kitchen and made omelets with goat cheese and spinach. 

I love goat cheese, it’s probably my favorite cheese out there. 

Oh, and there has been mass amounts of coffee consumed over here this morning, because dad shipped me some of our favorite coffee only sold in Northern Michigan. We discovered it on a family vacation one summer and have been fans ever since.

The flavor is “Chocolate Cherry Festival”, which gives it a hint of amaretto and mocha. I highly recommend it!

 

Last night Nathan challenged me to yet another board game. (I think he was still holding a grudge from all of my recent Monopoly victories). So, I gladly accepted his proposal to play Settlers of Catan.

Well, guess who swept the board yet AGAIN?

yep, I think it’s safe to say he won’t be challenging me to any rematches any time soon. 😉

Well, I’m off to break in my new Brooks and brave the chilly 40* weather. 

Have a great day!

-Lauren ❤

 

Playing Catch up Through Pictures

Hola!

It has been too long since my last post, so I’ve got a bunch of recapping to do today. 🙂 I only have a few minutes before I’m out the door to our paintball youth outing, should be fun!

Here’s a recap in picture form…

Nathans BFF who flew into town for a weekend visit!

 

My thanksgiving plate. We joined some friends out at their ranch for TG, it was so beautiful!

 

 

Half off aps. at Applebees. So yummy but so unhealthy.

 

 

Shrimp, zucchini squash, and brown rice. One of my favorite week night dinners to make, and oh so easy! 

 

 

Came home from work Tuesday to find the rug I’ve been wanting 😉 Thanks Nathan! 

(I may or may not have dived on it when walking in the door..)

 

I whipped up a batch of cookies while we decorated the tree together 🙂

 

My babies performed last night at the school Christmas concert, it was so precious!!

 

 

Afterwards, the guys and I went out to a new little pizza parlor in town and got some dinner, yummm.

 

Being dorks in the car, typical 😉

 

 

Me and my running buddy tackling those miles this morning!

 

 

Nathan and I whipped up a nice healthy breakfast this morning of bacon, eggs, toast, and coffee.

 

 

So, this is a brief look at what life’s been like these past two weeks. I cannot wait for Christmas break after just one more week of school and work. Nathan and I are headed North for Christmas!

Well, I’m off to get my paintball on 😉

Have a great Saturday!

-Lauren

Perks of Being Married to a Youth Pastor…;)

All I have to say for myself is…I’m married to a youth pastor, which is my excuse for all the shenanigans you’re about to see…

So, let me rewind. My darling husband decided to plan a guys camping trip which got rained our Friday and led to a guys sleepover at a youth leader’s house. Well I had the HS girls sleep over at our new house (what a better way to break it in? literally) So, we decided to pull a few harmless pranks on the guys at their sleepover/camp out. 

We piled in cars, warpaint and all and forked the yard, shaving creamed cars, wrote with car paint on all their windows, oh and stuck a few pads on there for good measure. We did this in like ten minutes flat and drove away to celebrate our successful prank.

However, our success was short lived due to the fact that the guys quickly discovered our prank and decided to do us one better…which led to the above pictures and the unpictured electricity shut off. The deer was one that they found dead on the side of the road and thought, “Hmmm I bet those girls would really freak out if they woke up to that on the door step”…true story.

Well played boys, well played (and my hubby).

Needless to say, it was a crazy, fun night that those HS boys and girls will remember for a long time. I’m not gonna lie, us youth leaders had quite a hoot as well 😉

Which leads me to today, Tuesday. I’m fighting off a bad sore throat and cold. I know it’s due to lack of sleep this past weekend, but I’ll take it. My running game is suffering because of it though. Now, normally a little rain and freezing temps. wouldn’t deter me away from running, but with this cold I know I shouldn’t push my luck. 

I have this week off of school, yay! Only in Texas people..ha. So, naturally Nathan and I got all bundled up yesterday on his day off and went out for some Christmas shopping and movie going. When I say bundled up, I mean the whole nine yards. We’re talking sweat pants, hats, gloves, sweaters, coats, and boots. It’s darn cold here in Texas right now. We walked all around the outlets and got half our our Christmas shopping finished!

Afterwards, we grabbed a bite at Wendy’s and caught the next showing of “Catching Fire”. It was such a great movie, I would recommend it. I only read the first “Hunger Games” book but hear that this 2nd movie was very similar to the book.

Today, I’m debating running. It’s stopped raining and the temp. is supposed to get up to 55. I haven’t run since last Wednesday, and my eating has been highly caloric between sleepover munchies, pizza, ice cream , cupcakes…you get the picture. I need to get back into a healthy routine of balanced eating and exercise. 

I’m making my Oreo truffles for Thanksgiving this Thursday and I will be sure to post the recipe so keep your eyes opened for that!

Some delicious eats I have to blab about for a minute, after that balanced eating blurb.

My movie theater snack of choice, yumm!

These delicious, mostly icing GiGi’s cupcakes I mentioned earlier…

Holding onto the last flavors of fall…this drink is delicious cold or served hot.

 Well, I’m off to tidy up around here and possibly dig out the Christmas decorations (It’s never too early ;))

Have a great day!

-Lauren