Things...

1.     Yesterday's deadline got pushed to next week. 

Which is good and bad.  It's good because we needed the extra time.  It's bad because pushing back deadlines always feels like I studied my butt off for a test but didn't get to take it, so then I just have to study my butt off some more. 

2.     In other work news, today is my secretary's birthday. 

It's weird enough to have a secretary (I always feel like a kid playing grownup when I have to ask her to do something), but picking out gifts for her is always such a struggle for me.  I'm not a very good gift giver anyway, and shopping for people at work is downright anxiety-inducing, so I usually end up just going with gift cards.  #suchaslacker (#suchalame-o for blogging in hashtags.  #whatevs.)

3.     Micah picked up dinner and loaded AND unloaded the dishwasher the other night. 

Without me asking.  At the risk of sounding like a brag-a-saurus, I'll go ahead and tell you guys that he does things like this for me all the time.  And, to top it all off, he's ridiculously good-looking.

I'm totally a brag-a-saurus, I know.  But mostly I'm just so thankful to have scored this guy.

4.     I didn't watch the VMAs last night. 

I didn't even know they were on until I heard a recap on the radio this morning.  That makes me old, doesn't it?  I'm pretty sure the last VMAs show that I watched was this one.

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5.     I haven't made dinner one single night this week. 

Nope, not one.

6.     I still haven't had a pumpkin spice latte.

But it's happening this afternoon.  It's definitely happening.  I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my favorate seasonal Starbucks drink for months, and I have a Starbucks in my building.  So there's just no excuse for my laziness.

7.     It's Friday, y'all.

I think this one speaks for itself, no?

Thankful Thursdays (Link Up!)...

I've got a crazy deadline at work today, so I'm going to have to leave it to you guys to count out your blessings!  So go on -- link them up! :)

I feel all fancy...

Did you guys see my cute new social media icons over there to the right?

I've had Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for awhile now, but I recently created a Facebook page for the blog.  I'm hoping to be able to get to know more of you this way, so head on over and say hello! :)

In other news, I'm in Austin for the day for work.  It's a short day trip, and hopefully we'll get our stuff done early and I can catch an earlier flight.  This girl is not excited about landing in Dallas at 8 pm...

Hope you all are having a lovely Wednesday.  Don't you just love short weeks?!

Lazy bones...

It's almost embarassing how lazy we were this weekend.  

I told Micah that I wanted a weekend to rest and relax since we've been going nonstop for the last month.  And boy did he deliver.  We watched the entire first season of Mad Men (how GORGEOUS is January Jones?!  She makes me want to be a 60's housewife.  Minus her philandering husband, of course.).

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I'm kind of obsessed, but Micah's not in love with the show, so I'm afraid I'll have to watch the other seasons when he's not around.  And speaking of things Micah's not in love with.

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I also watched an entire season of Dawson's Creek.  I'm not sure that it's okay for a grown up attorney to still love this show, but I totally do.  And I'm not sorry.  These overly analytical, hormonal teenagers made working from home on Friday much more enjoyable.

And I did have to work some this weekend, but again, I can't really complain when I'm in my sweatpants, plopped on the couch, recapturing the Dawson/Joey magic.  :)

We haven't been this lazy in a long time, but it was much-needed.  Apart from church, lunch with Micah's sweet family on Sunday, a quick visit with my brother and Faith (and STELLA!), and a trip to Home Depot, we didn't leave the house. 

So, unfortunately, that's about all I've got this morning.  Well that and this week's Project Scripture verse.

Mattew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Hope you all had a lovely long weekend!

Southern Cream Gravy...

There are few things in this world I love more than a plate of homemade biscuits and gravy.  I never really cared about them growing up, but when I started dating Micah, his mom made them for me once, and I couldn't get enough.  Now they're probably my favorite breakfast food.

I'll have to share her homemade biscuit recipe some other time, but today I'll tell you how she makes her southern cream gravy.  And then you'll thank me forever. :)

The ingredients are simple.  You need bacon drippings, flour, milk, salt, and pepper.  And I promise you, that's all you need.

So go ahead and fry up some bacon.

Oh, bacon.  How I love thee.  (But if for some reason you're crazy and are not a bacon lover, you can just as easily use vegetable oil.)

Once the bacon is finished (if you're curious, for me, finished means crispy on the edges and chewy in the middle), set aside the drippings.  Put them in a medium saucepan on medium heat.

The grease should still be pretty darned hot, so it shouldn't take long for it to get hot enough to add the flour.  If you want to check and see if it's ready, sprinkle a bit of flour in the pan.

If it bubbles, it's ready to go and you can add your flour.  Measure in the flour, and whisk it into the grease.  You should get a paste-like roux.

Now, the name of the game is whisking continuously.  Keep on a-whisking until the roux starts turning golden brown. 

Then, add in your milk.  And keep on whisking.

If you don't whisk it continuously, you'll get burned gravy on the bottom of the pan.  And burned gravy is a sin.  So, for the love of all that is holy, keep whisking. 

After about five minutes, you'll feel it start to thicken up a bit.  Depending on how much milk you add, you'll probably need to keep whisking.  It usually takes me about ten minutes to get to the consistency I like.

When it's almost done, add your salt and pepper to taste.  Be sure and add plenty of both, y'all.  You can't really over-pepper this stuff, and the salt brings out the flavor.

Once it's done, pour it over your biscuits, add a side of bacon, and enjoy yourself a proper Southern breakfast.

Southern Cream Gravy Recipe

serves four

Ingredients

1/2 c. bacon drippings (or vegetable oil)

1/2 c. flour

5 c. milk (more or less, depending on how thick you like your gravy)

1 t. salt (I'm estimating - could be more or less depending on your preference)

1 t. pepper

Directions

Heat bacon drippings on medium heat.  When hot, whisk in flour to make a roux.  Whisk continuously until roux turns golden brown, likely a minute or less.  Pour in milk.  Whisk continuously until gravy reaches desired consistency, eight to ten minutes.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy y'all!