Texas On My Mind

Holy Cow, how did it get to be the end of July??? I am seriously baffled at where the last few months went.
In March, I flew to Texas for my friend Amy's engagement. I met Amy and her sister Jenifer when I was just a few months old when my family moved to Granbury, Texas. Although my family moved to Alabama when I was just 3, our families (who, while we lived there expanded to include another Duncan sister, Melanie, and my sister, Alyce) remained close, usually making an effort to see each other once a year or so, taking occasional vacations together and such. When I went to Baylor my freshman year of college, Amy was my roommate. Amy and I are about as different as two people can be. She is a morning person, organized and clean. I am.. none of those things. But somehow, we made it work, and ever since then she solidified her spot as my lifelong best friend.

The Noland/ Duncan girls in about 1993 in the traditional lineup.

Again in 2009... the height lineup has changed a little bit over the years...

When I got a tip that her boyfriend, Scott, was planning on proposing to Amy last March and that he was hoping her best friends could be there to surprise her, I jumped at the chance. It had been almost 2 years since I had seem the Duncan family. The trip was short, but surprising Amy and being there with her for this special time is one of my best memories. I will spare you the details of the proposal, but it was epic. (You can read about it HERE... it's a great story.) Anyway, here we are, just 4 months later, and I am days away from flying back to Georgetown... for the wedding! I can't believe it got her so fast, but I couldn't be more excited. Not only do I get to spend a week with Amy and her amazing family, but my entire family will be there as well! When the Nolands and Duncans get together, it's always filled with laughing fits, Sonic runs and Mexican food... I. CAN. NOT. WAIT. I probably will be too excited to sleep Monday night. Eeek!!!

On another note, I am officially obsessed with Pinterest. I got invited to it awhile back, but I was avoiding it because I just don't need another "thing" right now. Well, it's awesome. I used to use a website called I <3 It, which essentially did the same thing, but Pinterest does it so much better. I now want to ignore all of my responsibilities and DIY anything I can get my hands on. I mean, really, I don't know how I have lived without lanterns made from doilies and wallpaper glue! If you are on there, find me! If you want an invite, let me know and I can send you one!

Finally, I am in my final class before student teaching, and we have to design a 4-week unit. My unit is on To Kill a Mockingbird. I hadn't read the book since high school, so I decided to tackle it this weekend. I knew the story, and I remembered enjoying it back then, but I had no appreciation for what a good book it is. I really hope I get to teach it to actual students someday... I would love to give some California students a lesson on Alabama :-D.

So sorry this post got a little long and rambling, but I guess it's my blog so I can write what I want, right? I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and a great weekend!
-Katie

Blessings & a Prayer

In front of the Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle!

So, I haven't quite kept up with my twice-a-week blogging, so this week I am going to try and make up for it! The rest of our visit with Ryan's family was nice! I ate more than I possibly ever have in my life, including Hitching Post, Jocko's, and Flatbread. On Wednesday we went to Hearst Castle, which is just about 2 hours north of here. We had all been before, so we took a tour of the upstairs rooms of the castle. Then, we were able to wander around the gardens, which were amazing! I wish I could get these people to landscape my yard! We then drove over to Paso Robles and stopped at Jocko's on the way home... YUM!
This week I am busy trying to get a ton of stuff done before going to Texas for the wedding of the year! I am working on my English teaching credential, and I have a lot to do before I can register for student teaching this fall, most of which needs to be finished before August 1. However, it's difficult to focus when I have all kinds of much more fun things I could be doing.

Finally, I wanted to mention something that has been weighing on my heart this week. Keith Martin, a family friend, lost his battle with cancer last week. "Brother Keith," as I knew him, was the music minister at my church while I was growing up. His son, Joshua, and I were very good friends growing up, and daughter Bethany was Alyce's roommate in college. The Martin family is an incredible family, and it breaks my heart that they have to go through this. Keith was one of the most Godly, joyful people I have ever known. There were thousands of people across the country praying for him, and sometimes it's hard to understand why things work out this way. However, please join me in praying for the Martin family in the coming weeks. It is my prayer that they experience an outpouring of love from those who were touched by Keith's life.

- Katie

Fun with family!

 I promised pictures, so here they are! Unfortunately, we haven't taken many, and most of what we have taken has been on the iPhone... but Ryan's parents have been in town this week and we have had a great time wine tasting, seeing the area, and eating ourselves to death!

On Thursday, we went to the Farmer's Market in San Luis Obispo. It is by far the coolest Farmer's Market you will ever visit, and the roasted corn they sell is amazing!

Tonight we ate at what is probably Ryan's and my favorite restaurant here, Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos. They are only open on the weekends, and during the week they are a production facility that makes their flatbread pizzas. They are sold frozen at Whole Foods all over the country. The frozen ones aren't as good as in the restaurant, but it's probably the best frozen pizza you will ever eat. Click here to find them near you, they are amazing!

I have never been a big dessert eater, but Flatbread is the one place I ALWAYS get dessert. They have this s'more that is incredible. They make their own marshmallow, and toast it in between these two chocolate cookies... it's incredible. I meant to get a picture before we ate it, but I was a little distracted... so here is the after picture. Just trust me. It's good.

Now, Ryan is watching last year's Alabama/ Auburn game for about the 15th time. It still stresses me out, not to mention the mandatory yelling at Verne Lundquist... it's just more than I can handle these days. I love football season as much as anyone (and more than most), but after last season, my heart needs a rest.

It's hard to believe it's almost mid-July... I will be in Austin for the wedding of the year in just 3 weeks and 3 days.. so expect about that for the next few months, I can't wait! So, have a wonderful weekend.. and let me know if you read this. I am stalking google anayltics and I am trying to figure out who in the world is reading from some random cities... It will make my stalking much easier if you just reveal yourself :-)

-Katie

Happy Fourth!

So, when I started this blog I promised myself I would try to blog twice a week so I don't forget about it. Before now, the closest thing I have had to a blog is my Livejournal from high school. (Speaking of livejournal, I should definitely find and delete that asap...).
So, first things first, I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July! We had a great time in Paso Robles with friends, had a wonderful seafood dinner in Pismo Beach, and then got to watch fireworks! A successful day!
On Tuesday, Ryan's parents came in town! We have already hit up the Hitching Post and the San Luis Obsipo Farmer's Market. Ryan is able to take leave for almost the entire time they are here, and I know he is loving spending time with his parents.
I will post some pictures soon, but have a wonderful weekend!
-Katie