New Blog Name?

I started this blog about a year ago as a means of keeping our family and friends updated on what's going on in our crazy, busy, sometimes boring, sometimes exciting lives. We have so many people we care about who live in different places, and to be honest, life always gets away from us and phone calls don't happen as often as they should. So, this was a great outlet for updates on our adventures after our big move from Alabama to Kentucky. One of my friends from my hometown helped me come up with our blog name, Tiger Fans in Cat Country. It was a cute fit ... at the time. Now that the whole "living in a new place" has kind of passed, and we're moving on to new adventures that include diapers, bottles and super cute onesies, I'm thinking we need a new name for this blog. Since most of my creativity is used up at work, I need help from you all to come up with something cute and fitting for this new phase of our lives. If you have any good ideas, share them in the comments section. I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Confessions - Mascara & Lip Gloss

I used to be that girl who never walked out the door without - at the very least - mascara and lip gloss. It didn't matter if I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt or a cocktail dress. Eyes and lips must always be ON (I get this from my mother who was caught putting mascara on my sister while she was in labor with my niece). Since we've moved into our apartment, I don't really have a place to get ready which means I end up sitting on the couch while putting my make up on and watching the news. This is so not a good set up. And, I'm usually running late. So, I've gotten in a really bad habit of keeping my two staples in my purse. I get to work. I get busy. And I forget to put them on. Who is this girl? Where did the girl my mother created go? She must be found. She must be found today. I can't take these boring eyes and lips for another minute. From today forward, I'm back to my old self. I vow to NEVER walk out of the house AGAIN without - at the very least - mascara and lip gloss.

My Favorite Time of Year

Time flies when you're having fun! It's been so long since I've shared anything on here, and well, to be honest, I've missed it. I love to write, but we've been so busy that time has just gotten away from me. Summer has come and gone, and now here we are again ... my favorite time of year ... Fall! There are so many awesome things that happen between September and the end of November, and here are just a few of the things I'm looking forward to:

Football
Tailgating
Keeneland Horse Racing
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Soup
Changing of the Colors (If you've never seen our beautiful mountains change colors, it's worth a trip to see us in October. We'd love to have you!)
Warm Kentucky Days, Cool Kentucky Nights
Toasty Fires
Roasting Marshmallows
Hot chocolate
And most importantly ... lots of time with family!

Speaking of football, here's a War Eagle moment before I sign off ...

What are you looking forward to this Fall?

Check! One down ...

On Wednesday night, I did something that I've always wanted to do ... I took a cooking class! My friend (and former employer at the Richmond Chamber of Commerce), Ali, invited me to go as an "early birthday gift." Have I told you yet how much she rocks? Well, she does. Taking a cooking class is one of the "to-do's" on my bucket list, and I'm so excited that I got to check it off! One down. At least 15 more things (for now) to go.

The class was taught by the awesome Phil Dunn. Of course, not being from here, I wasn't familiar with him. But, when I came back to work on Thursday and told everyone about the class, they were totally impressed. Apparently, he's a rock star chef!

The Menu:
Margaritas
Shrimp Tortilla Soup
Mexican Fiesta Dip
Arroz Con Pollo
Mexican Wedding Cookies

I've been on a diet, but I definitely cheated this night. There's no way around it! We cooked a course, then ate. Cooked then ate. Cooked then ate. And, of course, well, we had to stay hydrated while we cooked in that beautiful, hot kitchen!

Here are some of the pictures from the class:

Architectural Kitchens & Bath - Where the class was held.

Our first creation - Mexican Fiesta Dip - It was my favorite!

Chef Dunn browning the chicken for our main dish, Arroz Con Pollo.

Again, browning the chicken.

Preparing the cilantro for our Shrimp Tortilla Soup.

Ali butterflying the shrimp for the soup.

Chef Dunn making sure she's doing it right :)

Yummy!

We only used half of this butter to make our cookies - thank goodness! I can feel my thighs getting bigger just looking at this big chunk-o-butter!

Jared's "to go" plate. We cooked so much that there was no way I could eat it all! There's chicken and rice that was our main dish and a little bit of dip that we had as an appetizer on here. He loved it too!

Thank you for such a fun night!!!!!

And finally, "sugaring" our Mexican Wedding Cookies. I seriously could have eaten 100 of these! Mmmmm!

I can't wait to take another class! If anyone wants to go with me, just let me know, and I'll keep you posted about the next class schedule.

Updated Bucket List:
1. Sky dive (I'll have to do this when I'm on my death bed though. I really don't want to break my arm again.)
2. Write a book (I'm still trying to decide what I want to write about ... )
3. Live at the beach
4. Learn to fly a plane
5. Run a marathon (start with 5K and work my way up)
6. Wear a pink stripe in my hair
7. Travel to at least 10 different countries
8. Own my own business
9. Go to a Broadway Show in NYC (I can't believe I've never done this.)
10. Take cooking classes. COMPLETED
11. Learn to knit.
12. Take an art class/Learn to paint
13. Take a dance class (specifically salsa, but I'd love to learn all kinds of dances)
14. Go on a mission trip
15. Adopt a child (Jared isn't as convinced about this one as I am.)
16. Take a photography class



Cheers!
Rian

The Beginning of a Bucket List

For a long time I've wanted to start a "Bucket List." I saw the movie. Hated it. Loved the concept. I think that so many of us get so wrapped up in our day-to-day stuff that we forget to live our lives. I don't want to be one of those people who looks back on my life and wishes I had done so much more.

So, I started trying to think of all the things I want to do. I'm realizing that this has to be a working list. I'm a little sporadic, and I'm always thinking of things I want to do. So, here's the plan: I'll just continue to add stuff as I live. And, hopefully, cross some of the things off too. :)

The one thing I know is this ... Every day I realize just how much I love my husband. Just when I think I can't love him ANY MORE than I already do, wham! another day comes, and I love him more. He is truly my best friend. So, as I plan/do some of these things, I really want to keep him in mind. He may not want to do all of these things with me. But, everything I do will, in some way, affect him. I do, however, hope that he will agree to participate in the majority of my list (especially #15 - he he he). Besides ... Everything is so much more fun when your best friend is with you!

1. Sky dive (I'll have to do this when I'm on my death bed though. I really don't want to break my arm again.)
2. Write a book (I'm still trying to decide what I want to write about ... )
3. Live at the beach
4. Learn to fly a plane
5. Run a marathon (start with 5K and work my way up)
6. Wear a pink stripe in my hair
7. Travel to at least 10 different countries
8. Own my own business
9. Go to a Broadway Show in NYC (I can't believe I've never done this.)
10. Take cooking classes.
11. Learn to knit.
12. Take an art class/Learn to paint
13. Take a dance class (specifically salsa, but I'd love to learn all kinds of dances)
14. Go on a mission trip
15. Adopt a child (Jared isn't as convinced about this one as I am.)
16. Take a photography class

So, there it is. There's 16 things I want to do before I kick the bucket. I'm sure that by tomorrow, I'll be able to come up with 16 more things. But, hey, it's a start. Do you have a bucket list?

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee walk into a pot of boiling water ...

I received this email today, and I thought it was worth sharing. 


A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying
a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Life Motto

I've been doing some deep thinking lately. I know, that's scary. But, as I was thinking about My New Year's resolution, I realized I have so many areas of my life that I want to improve. It's not that I'm unhappy with my life or anything like that. In fact, my life is pretty good. But, I know there are areas that I'm not giving 100% of all I have to be the best I can be. So, I started thinking that I needed a life motto. You know ... something that I could just quickly say to myself when I start getting off track. There are so many things I want to do, see and be that if I keep sitting around giving 75% here and 40% there, I'll never get to them. I need to embrace every second and give each one 100%. So, here it is ... my life motto:

No rainchecks! Do it, be it, try it, buy it, give it, live it, love it ... NOW!

Do you have a motto to live by?

My Love Confession

I have a confession ... a love of ... well, read on ... Tonight, Jared and I ran out to grab something for dinner. I requested Taco Bell because of their fresco menu. I track my calories, and it fit perfectly within my diet budget today. Anyway, Jared requested Wendy's. Less than half a second from pulling away from the window with his food I caught a whiff of the most scrumptious, delicious yumminess - french fries. And, of course, I said, "may have just 1 french fry please"? And, yes, just as I expected ... HEAVEN! It was all I could do not to grab his whole bag, rip it open and devour the stupid potatoes! I know that sounds dramatic, but I really do love french fries that much.

FYI ... I'm not the kind of girl that craves chocolate or sweet stuff. I'm a salty kind of girl. Valentine's Day? I don't want a heart-shaped box with truffles stuffed with coconut. That real doesn't do anything for me at all.

So, the question is why do I love these shoe string shaped treats so much? It's the one thing (well, that and Mexican food) that will make my mouth water even if I'm not hungry! Is it the actual potato? The grease? The salt? What is it? I love my husband more than life itself, but these dang french fries are ranking right up there. Someone help me explain why I have such a love for deep fried potatoes. I'm learning to resist, but I'm not going out without a fight!

Wishing you a happy 2011!

I don't know about y'all, but I'm almost always in the crowd of folks who makes a resolution and never keeps it. I do a good job for the first month or so, but then it's over. Slowly. But surely. I forget about it until around December 31 ... when I'm reminded, again, that I need to change my ways. :)

So, this year I'm doing something different. Instead of making empty promises to myself about losing weight, drinking more water, eating less chocolate or whatever else I think I need to change, I'm just going to focus on being the best me I can possibly be.

That might mean losing weight, drinking more water and eating less chocolate, but that's not my focus. I want to focus on being happy and healthy. I want to focus on doing things that are on my bucket list (I'm in the process of writing this, so check back ... you might be surprised what's on it). I WILL focus on spending more time doing the things I love with the people I love. I WILL look back at 2011 with a smile.

I encourage all of you to think about what makes you happy - focus on those things this year. Worry less. Love more. Don't fight. Laugh a lot. Give all you can.

Wishing you a fabulous 2011!

Love,
Rian