Go Cowboys!

Mansfield Young Life Leader Pictures

The Women:

The Men:




We had about 10 people over to our little apartment last Sunday for the Cowboys game. I must say it was a great game!!! We had a ton of food and had a great time.


Oh and....I couldn't help myself.....

I'm a Rebel girl now

My wonderful husband surprised with my dream camera! The Canon Rebel Xti. Even though I'm not planning on becoming a professional photographer I will sure get a ton of amazing pictures with this camera at my disposal! Hurray! Here are some neat pictures I've played around with thus far....










Since I just got it a day or two ago I haven't gotten a chance to use it on any people yet. We are having people over for the Cowboy game tomorrow and we have a Christmas concert at church to go to so without a doubt I will have many more pictures to post. My only concern is will people want to hang out with me if I am always taking pictures?????

Smokin' Hot Women (other then myself)

It's late on a Saturday night and I'm bored so I thought I'd have some fun on my blog. Have I mentioned that I love both Celine Dion and Angelina Jolie?

I was so privileged to be able to go to the amazing Celine Dion show in Vegas for Matt and I's 1 yr anniversary last New Years. It was the best gift I've ever gotten and the best $150 I've ever spent.

I definitely don't idolize Angelina Jolie but I think she's smokin' hot ( can a girl say that?) and I think it's awesome how she can look so normal and motherly one moment and then next look hot and mysterious. I wish I had that ability. (For some reason I always feel like I look like a librarian. ) For example:

"kindergarten teacher"

turned

"temptress"

It must be the eye make-up. I gotta learn how to do that.

Things you didn't know about me....

1. I don't eat anything that swims. I think it's the smell and texture. And yes, I have tried sea food on multiple occasions because my husband loves it and begs me to. Even very expensive lobster dipped in butter is ewww to me. My husband thinks it tastes like heaven. Opposites sure attract don't they.

2. I love learning about mummy's , burial customs, and ancient Egyptians traditions. As a kid I remember one year in elementary school going over Egyptian History. I was mesmerized! One of my favorite movies is The Mummy I and II. Did y'all hear King Tut's mummified body was found and is now in display in Ciro Egypt!? How cool! I would love to go tour a pyramid someday. Random I know.

3. I love airports. Probably because I was seriously considering being a flight attendant before I met Matt. (have you ever seen "View from the Top" with Gweneth Paltro? Loved it. ) Since I don't get to fly a lot, I often volunteer to pick people up and drop them off because I love just being there. It reminds me of my honeymoon and when Matt and I went to Vegas for our first anniversary. I love to travel but don't really have the money to do it a lot. When I do get a chance to, it's like the biggest deal ever. I can't sleep for days before hand because I'm so excited...

4. I eat while I grocery shop. Ya, I'm one of those shoppers who snacks on food before it's actually paid for! Hehe! Not everything, just a few crackers or a handful of chips etc. It's because I always go after a long day at work and I'm so hungry I can't help it.

I need to think of some more....

$ 737,000

So today during surgery I heard on the radio that Britney Spears earns $ 737,000 monthly. Everyone in the room was talking about what they would do with that kind of money. One doc said he would buy an island in the Bahamas, another doc said he already had one (what!!) so he would buy a castle in Europe or something. I was just thinking what I would do with that much money.

This is what I would seriously do if I got $ 737,000 for some strange reason...
1) I would buy a nice, well-made house big enough to have plenty of family over for holidays and big enough for my children to have their own room, probably with a gigantic kitchen (with a island) a pool and a movie/media room for Matt to watch Lord of the Rings.

2) I would buy my parents and my mother-in-law each a comfortable house as well. (but across town...mama didn't raise no fool)

3) I would give at least $50,000 to my church and I would send my wonderful, humble pastor and his wife on a fantastic vacation where ever they want to go to say thank you for being such a great pastor for 23+ yrs.

4. Matt would definitely invest some money into some stock or something that I know nothing about.

5. Matt and I would go on a big group vacation and pay all our friends way to go (first class) to Europe or something.

After that, I got nothin'.

Side Note:
Even though I can think of all these great things I would want, I would NEVER want to be so filthy rich. Don't get me wrong, it definitely helps when you make a good living but geez. Look at those peoples lives, how unhappy and never satisfied they are. I have really worked on trying to be content with what I have! I would LOVE to be in a house right now, but God has provided a great apartment in a nice location and two new cars that are reliable...I really have nothing to wine about and am learning to be thankful always.

Weekend Rush

So weekends are supposed to be our break from a busy week. Well, we Americans cram all we can into Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday! Then we need a break from the weekend but instead we start everything over again on Monday. This weekend is our womens retreat at church. I'm excited but sometimes I need to just sit and do nothing all weekend. It's tonight and all day on Saturday. I have a ton of laundry and need to wash my car and do some Christmas list making. Oh well. It will have to wait. The weeks go by so fast now. Before I know it, its gonna be mid-November. Crazy. And I think my life is busy....I don't even have kids yet.

My weekend schedule: Friday 5-10 Women Retreat
Saturday 10-5 Womens Retreat
5-10 Make Dinner, laundry, prepare Sunday school lesson,
start scrapbooking christmas gift for mom, spend quality time with Hubby
Sunday 9-12:30 Church
12:30-2 Fellowship over lunch with friends
4:00 -6 Family get-together
6-10 Young Life Planning Meeting/Cowboy game

Ode to the Camera

Well, I have some sad news.... my beloved digital camera that I bring with me everywhere I go has disappeared. I had it at D-Now with a disc full of D-now pictures and now it's no where to be found. I don't know how many times in the past week I have really needed to take a picture of something and couldn't. Matt and I tore up our apartment and both cars looking for it. We figured it would turn up but it's been two weeks and no sign of it.... The worst part is I am not going to be able to add any pictures to my blog, my space or facebook accounts for a while which KILLS me! Hopefully I can figure out a way to get a new camera for Christmas but that's a long time to go without a camera especially for me. Someone out there who found my camera and now has all my D-Now pictures on disc. My cameras battery's were dead because I used it so much so anyone who stole or found my camera can't even use it. I have the base that it sits in to recharge itself. I am depressed. I would take a picture of me looking depressed and put it up if I only had a camera.

Mansfield Bible Church D-Now 2007

2002 D-Now with my girls:



Matt I and Brandon the "pre-lauren" years...hehe.

2007 D-Now:



2007 Theme:

Babies Babies Everywhere!

Jennifer had her baby! Josiah was born on October 15th via emergency c-section!!!!!!



Skyler was born Sept 22nd!


Korin was born October 17th! I don't have a pic yet...

Christmas

So Christmas is only 2 months away!!!!!! My favorite season. I bought hot chocolate (with extra marshmellows) since a cold front hit. I can't wait to decorate for the holidays! The only downfall is this year we don't have a fireplace with makes me really sad. We had a fire all the time last year during the cold months. It was so romantic and cozy. This apartment does not have one and I am definately going to miss it. I grew up with one. My dad gave us the "talk" about how to build the perfect fire and all the different ways to arrange the wood. It was a right of passage to build fires in the Gorrell household. We used to always fight over who got to light the fire. When Matt and I buy a house that will be a requirement.

De-Stressers

So there are many things I used to de-stress myself. Sometimes I cook. Usually it's a dessert of some kind. This week I made peach and apple cobbler one day after work. It was amazing. I'm a little surprised because I didn't have a recipe and just put in it whatever I wanted.



I also love to Mod Podge. I buy awesome paper from a scrapbook store and letters from Hobby Lobby for 3$ and it is so easy! I usually do it in front of a movie. It fun and a good hobby to have.

Bored

I am so bored. I've gone shopping, watched a movie and eaten dinner, rearranged my pantry and have nothing else to do and it's only 8:00pm on a Saturday night! Maybe I should clean our shower and vacuum a little. I am so busy during the week that by the time the weekend comes around I am so excited to do nothing, and then I get bored. Someone please call me and give me an idea of what to do with my time.

Chopped it Off

So I completely cut off all my hair. I have done this many times in my life when one night I just get tired of my long hair and chop it all off without giving it a second thought! I am so lucky to have a sister who has her own business. It's amazing I can show her a pic and it come out exactly like I wanted! She just opened up a new shop in Mansfield near the football stadium so if anyone is looking for someone fun and friendly to cut hair let me know on my facebook/myspace account! Here are some pics! It's takes me about 30 min to take a shower, blow dry AND style my hair. I love it! Thanks Court!

The BEFORE pic. Way long!


It's getting shorter and shorter!


Just like the picture!


I feel so light!

Babies!!!

Lee had her baby! Rhett was born after 24 hrs of being in Labor. BUT Lee had an epidural so she said it wasn't bad. He is so cute.

Giving In

So today I really didn't want to work out after work. I was way tired and my sunburn would have made it painful. So I mentioned to Matt " I know were trying to be good, but I REALLY don't want to workout today". Do you know what he said? He goes " Ok, lets go on a date instead" We are horrible motivational partners when it comes to working out! If I don't want to work out he says "ok... neither do I! " How funny are we. We aren't going to become healthy very quickly if we end up giving each other what we want. On the other hand, I was very excited about our date. Matt is so thoughtful!

My Saturdays

So it's Saturday and I really don't have much planned. Our weekends are pack full with going to weddings, seeing our families and going out with friends. But this weekend we went out last night with our friends, were going to see our families on Sunday and we don't have any weddings to go to till October. I could get my car washed, clean the bathroom, or go grocery shopping. How fun. The only thing I know I can't do is go near the mall. I do not have any money to spend. Dang it. Maybe I'll go sit out at the pool again and try to get another tan/burn, hehe.

Snow White

I have come to the conclusion that I work way to often to be able to actually sit outside and get some sort of color to my skin. I don't have to be way tan, I just want to look a tad outdoorsy. So I actually found time to sit outside today by the pool! I even used tanning lotion. These were the effects of 1 hr in the sun reading Harry Potter. I'm no longer pale white! Now I'm white and red.

Preggo Friends!

I want to remember some of my friends who are pregnant right now! This is such a fun stage in life!

Jennifer is due October 1st It's a Boy!













Lee was due....yesterday! July 18th. It's a Boy! Baby Rhett has not show up yet as far as I know!













Suzanna is due around Thanksgiving! It's a boy! Hayden Westley.













Don't I have way gorgeous pregnant friends! Man, talk about cute. This is why I have my share of "baby fever" on occasion.

Friends are Family

We have a GREAT group of friends. Matt and I have so much fun with them. They are our family. Here is a picture of them at Ashley and Trey's wedding.

Under the Weather

So last Monday night I started to have a sore throat, today is Saturday.....I am still sick. I called in two days in a row which I have never done before. I can't remember the last time I was sick for this long. I just wanted to throw in that I sound like I have smoked for 50 yrs but I have some Mucinex that I am loving right now. Matt has been so wonderful. He has made so many late night runs to Walmart for more Robitussin, Klennex or 7-Up. Thank you so much babe. You have just shown me how selfless and sweet you are!

Life in the OR

So today at work I amputated a leg. I was just standing there holding this leg while the doctor was sawing it off. As I was standing there I was thinking....this is gross...but pretty dang cool. It wasn't always like that though....

Quick story: My first semester of college I was watching TLC's Trauma in the ER in my dorm sitting area. Remember, I was 18, had just graduated and had not entered nursing school yet. They were showing footage of the trauma surgeon fixing a broken leg. It was really gross and I had to look away. Well, the next thing I knew I was laying flat on the couch with a ton of people around me asking me if I was ok. Ya, I fainted. I'm glad I was sitting down! From then on I told myself I could never work with broken legs or bones of any kind.

And now....here I am....holding a leg while Dr D. cuts it off. Oh the irony.

Sometimes I forget how gross the stuff is that we see everyday. We have a bunch of new nurses coming in right out of school and a few of them were observing today. Two of them asked to sit down during the surgery. I said "Of course! Please sit down if you feel nauseous. I did the same thing! " Sometimes I forget this is pretty gross.

My Matty

Have I mentioned yet how wonderful my husband is? Here we are making Taco's. I just got home from work and look kinda nappy. We are in such a great place right now as a couple. I hope we are always this easy going, fun and open with each other. (but not too open, none of this farting on each other or crap like that...)


I made him laugh.... I do this often just to see his gorgeous dimples. I 'm going to be very disappointed if our child does not have dimples.

Cooking with Katie episode 1

Thank you for joining us for Cooking with Katie. Today we will be making Brown Sugar Wraps (patent pending). Watch and learn....

First, throw in a skillet a spoonful of butter and brown sugar.


Once melted together, put a tortilla on top of the mixture and turn around in the pan so it doesn't stick. Once one side is done flip the tortilla and brown the other side.


When both sides are browned place the HOT tortilla on a plate. Put a scoop or two of ice cream (I use frozen yogurt cause I'm a major health nut.... ;) in the middle of the tortilla and top with whatever fruit or sauce you want. (I was out of chocolate)


Roll the tortilla up and cut in half. Garnish with cinnamon sugar and a strawberry.


All done! Here I am with the finish product. I'm wearing no make-up and I'm in my pj's but hey the food tasted wonderful!


Delicious.


Tune in next time for episode II of Cooking with Katie.

addendum: (this post is the result of major boredom and a long day of watching mostly cooking shows. My husband has always thought I was a nerd, but now I've gone too far. So he says)

Food Network

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon and I am watching Giada's Weekend Getaway on the food network. I didn't grow up with cable TV and since I've gotten married it's been so cool to see all the things on TV! It's amazing people get paid to travel across the country and taste great food. How can Giada be so thin and have a job like that. I have found, now that I'm done with school and have time, I really like to cook! I like to make food look pretty and to entertain. (I am so a young Martha Stewart...minus the fraud thing) I already warned matt that once we move into a house we will be having dinner parties a couple times a year. Matt just rolled his eyes and laughed. Men.... I went by Hobby Lobby and found out they have a cake decorating class starting soon! It only costs $12.50 for 3 weeks. I would love to learn how to decorate cakes. I'm not a big fan of eating a lot of cake but decorating it...way cool.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_gp