house and home.

so clearly it has been a while:)
not too much is new since my last post of eloquent poetry, but I will go ahead and make a list anyway!

For starters, a very special event FINALLY took place on April 23, 2011 at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon, at the park next to the Hillsborough River and Lowry Park Zoo. My boyfriend of over 7 years proposed:) he thought and he schemed and he oganized, and he planned, and he was successful. surprise was achieved, and exuberant, overwhelming joy, and elated-ness are extreme understatements. He set up a scavenger hunt for me, through my best friend Alexandra, and the whole time I just thought it was all for my upcoming birthday.

I am so thankful for that sweet man..that fact that he put so much effort into planning such a momentous occasion just for me makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Best proposal story ever? Check.

The only BAD thing was that on this day I had been suffering from BRONCHITIS for the past week and a half..I was almost going to go to the DR that day but I sucked it up:) and I went the following Monday. 'Yayyy' for meds.

After my extremely wonderful and thoughtful proposal...

-I celebrated my 21st birthday; the night of my engagement we had a "surprise" get together at my house..it was just a wonderful day:)
-On my actual birthday we went to Bern's Steakhouse, yumm!
-We celebrated Memorial Day in Daytona Beach. LOVE!
-My cousin Katie got married, my sister and I were both bridesmaids. Such a fun day:)
-My oldest sister, Lindsey got married.

photos from the "Smile (photo) Booth" at Lindsey's wedding:



confused:)

un-confused:)

-Summer classes were in full swing...ICK.
This brings us to our current time..
we have been in the process of house-hunting. Our wedding is almost 9 months away, and so we have been diligently trying to find a place for Jaymes to get into well before the wedding date so that we can have everything DONE by the time that I will be living there:)

We put in an offer on our first house back in March. But I just didn't feel the peace that I knew should accompany such a big decision..I trusted God and we pulled our offer. Boy are we thankful.

About three weeks ago we found a house that we felt was perfect. Big lot, perfect area, and an adorable starter home. We knew that a lot of work was going to be needed, but we were prepared for that. We made and offer, negotiated with the sellers, and eventually settled on something.

We had the home inspector and termite guy come out yesterday.

Results, you ask?

Oh dear. This house is basically just a "shell". EVERYTHING that makes a house functional needs to be replaced:) it was to be expected because the house was built in 1958, but I will say that my fiance and I were a bit naive going into it. Everything from plumbing, electric, A/C, roof, washer/dryer hookup..i mean ANY single thing that you can think of. RE-DO. we're going to lowball the seller EXTREMELY, and if they don't bite, we are walking.

WALKING away from what we almost thought was God's plan for us, but WALKING towards the house that He actually does have planned for us. It just makes things so exciting and comforting to know that God has everything under extreme control. And it is even more exciting to see how He choses to reveal that fact to you:)

Summer classes have technically ended, I have two assignments still due for my online "Intro to the 'Black Experience'" class..needless to say, that was an interesting course:)

This Saturday, we leave for Islamorada in the Keys. Anxiously awaiting, am I:)

~Allyson

The Beach

So I am just starting my summer classes, and don't very much feel like buying a brand new notebook for only two months of classes, so I am recycling one that I used my freshman year, but hardly used at all. While tearing out old pages, I found a little poem that I wrote in my English class that I thought was cute, so I thought I'd share. (And it's nothing special, I just wanted to have another place I was storing it so I can throw the sheet of paper away:))

Beachiraffe (I'm not sure why that is the title?)

I like the wind, the sun
The sand, the fun,
The shells, the waves,
and the lazy days.
I like the beach, for many reasons
it's too bad I can only go for two seasons,
Although here in Florida you can go year-round
and listen to waves, my favorite sound.
The wind, the sun, the sand, the fun,
My favorite place to go and run.

Aww, how precious:)
Hey, I didn't promise it would be an Emily Dickinson piece!

I'm a poet and didn't even know it...

~Allyson

follow-up!

well, to follow-up my post about the necklace that I really liked but couldn't find online, I have a picture of my homemade creation to share:) And I am actually wearing it today! So, without further ado, my beautiful necklace:)

Lovely, isn't it?!

I am proud for sure:)

Now, moving out from under the title of "follow-up", I am inserting a recipe for a DELICIOUS, and very easy gumbo. MMM!

I have the LAST serving in front of me right now, and I just felt that I had to share:)

"Big Easy" Gumbo:

Total: 48 minutes

Yield: Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup peanut oil

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup chopped sweet onion

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 cup chopped celery

2 teaspoons Creole seasoning

2 teaspoons minced garlic

3 (14-oz.) cans low-sodium chicken broth

4 cups shredded cooked chicken

1/2 pound andouille sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

1 1/2 cups frozen black-eyed peas, thawed

1 pound peeled, large raw shrimp (1 6/20 count)

Preparation
1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; gradually whisk in flour, and cook, whisking constantly, 5 to 7 minutes or until flour is chocolate colored. (Do not burn mixture.)


2. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in onion and next 4 ingredients, and cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Gradually stir in chicken broth; add chicken and next 2 ingredients. Increase heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. Add shrimp, and cook 5 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink.



Also, alongside the gumbo there is a rice dish, called "Hoppin John" that tastes very incredible alongside this awesome gumbo:

"Hoppin' John":

Total: 15 minutes
Yield: Makes 3 cups

Ingredients

1  cup  diced sweet onion

2  tablespoons  bacon drippings

1  (8.5-oz.) package ready-to-serve jasmine rice

2  cups  cooked and drained black-eyed peas

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Sauté diced onion in bacon drippings in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until golden. Stir in rice and black-eyed peas; cook, stirring gently, 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Add salt and pepper to taste.

So, I highly recommend this meal, it is perfect for this weather we are having, rainy and cold!

~Allyson

(p.s. Both recipes taken from Southern Living, found online or in the magazine.)

it is a new year!

Well Everyone,

We made through 2010. And might I say we did so QUICKLY! It is hard to believe that 2010 is already over, and 2011 has already begun. But needless to say, I am STOKED beyond belief for what this year holds!
For starters, I will complete my junior year and begin my senior - and hopefully LAST - year at USF. WOW! Hard to believe that I have been in college for almost 3 years. I'm sure it's even weirder for my parents:)

This year I also turn 21 - which is not such a big deal to me because I don't drink or have that much interest in it, my sister turns 18 and my brother turns 15. BIG years for all of us! I cannot believe that Andrew will be driving. And I am also excited that since I will be 21 I can ride in the car with him - special, I know:)

Jaymes was recently hired on at Square Deal Battery (my step dad Larry's shop) as a full time employee! He has been there for almost 7 years but was only working part time. Yayy:)

Also this year, Jaymes and I will celebrate our 7 year anniversary! That is also so hard to believe that almost 7 years ago we started this journey together. Obviously, we did pretty much all of our "crucial" growing up together..going through 8th grade and high school..two of the more awkward times in a person's life:).

We always try to imagine what kind of people we would be if we hadn't been a part of each other's lives, but after making up all kinds of kooky stories, we always come to the conclusion that we are most thankful that God's plan was for the two of us to be together. We have been through SO much together that the only thing we can think of is that God DEFINITELY has a big plan for the two of us..as a couple and as leaders in the church. We aren't sure why, but we are definitely feeling that tug. So, while we're nervous and excited..we're still a little mystified!

The holidays were WONDERFUL! We spent so much time with family, and SUCH an amazing family we both have:) While some are unfortunately "blessed" with the stereotypical in-laws, we both have such amazing families and i know we are each just as thankful for each other's families as we are our own!

So..clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc., etc. = my material loves:)

Below is a necklace that is paired with a couple different shirts for sale at forever21.com, but for some RIDICULOUSLY odd reason, the necklace itself is not for sale. I think it is one of those things that I might be able to make, so at some point I may go exploring at JoAnn fabrics or Wal-Mart's DIY jewelry section. Or Michael's. Who knows:) So here is the necklace:


If you'll notice this is the winner of America's Next Top Model
from one of the earlier seasons!



Isn't it so cute?! I think I could make it..get a little bit of linen, and a long gold chain, some little hooks to keep the fabric rolled with? We'll see:) I just think it would be really cute with a t-shirt, black blazer, jeans or shorts and heels or sandals.

Next is my most recent accessory purchase:) It is from an online discount "mall" called BeyondTheRack.com. It has VERY top designer products, ranging from Michael Antonio shoes (like $15+) to Versace/Gucci/Prada/Coach/Ed Hardy...and they sell a VARIETY of different items..housewares, sunglasses, shoes, clothes, purses, watches, luggage, jewelry..everything! One of the cool things is that when you refer the site to someone and they buy something, you get a $10 referral reward! And it's free to register and there's no membership fee or anything. So I basically got a free $10 when my friend ordered something.

Gorgeous! ... I know:) It was $15 - ($10) = $5 + S/H = DEAL!

Aside from the purchase and the necklace inspiration, Jaymes and I are currently studying the Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs book. We just bought the workbooks as well as the "sequel". I put it in quotes just because it's not exactly the sequel, but once you've read the Love & Respect book, in order to continue to do well in the relationship it's good to have the next book.

So far, this book is AMAZING. It is by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, and Jaymes and I both love it. We're reading it together, which is neat because if the author says something about men that I don't exactly understand, I can ask Jaymes while it's fresh on my mind, and in the context it is meant to be understood in. It is basically explaining the verse Ephesians 5:33 (Husbands must love their wives as they love themselves, Wives must respect their husbands) in great detail, and here is a quick summation of what I understand so far: Men need respect like women need love. Because women are emotional, and created to LOVE, it is easy for men to understand that their wife loves them. However, while love is important, to a man respect is even MORE important. And we know this to be true because of Eph. 5:33 - God would not command us to do something second nature - for example, it is natural for women to love, we were created that way, and for that reason God does not command us to love our men because he know we will do it anyway, but rather to RESPECT our men. So because it is easy for our man to understand that we love him, that is why we must focusing on our expression of our respect for him. This is His command to us because it is not our second nature. Same for men - they are quick to understand respect and honor, but love is not their first language. And for that reason, they are commanded to love their wives, because that is what wives/women need to know and feel from their husband/man.

I think it is awesome that we are reading this book now, because it is teaching us so much about what the other needs in marriage and in the relationship in general BEFORE we are actually married. It's like giving us a head start to a successful marriage. Throughout the book there are testimonies from couples who have read the book or attended the conferences put on by this author and his wife, and in almost all of the testimonies the husband or wife says "I wish we would have found this 30 yrs sooner" or something along those lines. So I feel that if Jaymes and I take advantage of this "head start" we MIGHT have a more successful and enjoyable marriage in the long run. Also, because we aren't married yet (closer to it than ever before though:):)!) and we don't actually know what it is like to married, I feel like what the author is explaining in his book will prepare us for when we are finally married and when we are encountering the problems that are common in marriages.

So, that is what is going on:)

My final semester as a college junior is starting in less than a week, and I am just so thrilled with life!

I know that many changes are right around the corner, so I am enjoying what I am familiar with as much as I can!

I hope you are doing the same:)

~Allyson

oh and P.S....I did end up going on the trip with my mom and Larry and step-sisters etc, and it was so fun:) Jaymes told me "obviously I don't really want you to go because I don't want to miss you for a week, but you might not be going on too many more of these so you should go". OOOOOOOooooooOOO hint, hint mister??! Ahhhhh...i love thinking of a future with him:)