Since it was the end of school, May was cray, but I was so glad to finally be on the home stretch that I didn't care. Things would be going on this month that I would never get to/have to do again, so I tried to make the most of it.
1st
loyalty
"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments." Deuteronomy 7:9
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth." Luke 16:13
"You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." 1 Corinthians 10:21
chocolate parfait
This one was easy! I always have some chocolate and vanilla stuff on hand because it can be simple, quick, and go with just about anything. For this occasion I threw in a little bit of everything: pudding, cool whip, frozen yogurt, granola, sprinkles, cookies, dark chocolate, etc
mother goose
lemonade
I always drink water, but if I can get my hands on some flavored water, I won't pass it up. Our hotel in
Colorado gives freebies at the front desk, so over the trip I grabbed a bunch of these to bring home.
2nd
truffle
Truffles are a delectable dessert that have just become part of my menu in recent months, and I am so glad they have! This is mostly thanks to mom who shared her Christmas treats with me and bought me some at the Godiva store over
Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now I have found all kinds of recipes for so many flavors, just waiting in my list for me to make them!
In the mean time, I've eaten the store bought ones, and truffle flavored things, like ice cream.
3rd
One of the places on my bucket list was
Culver's, and I got that checked off after the state track meet! Here I got both chocolate and vanilla custard, swirled with butterfinger, kit kat, and Heath.
raspberry popover
Another one that I used what I had on hand to be creative. I used bread lining the muffin cups, filled with a mix of raspberries and a raspberry coconut
Buddy Fruits squeeze and baked it til it looked done to me!
teacher appreciation
Teachers have it rough. I used to want to be one, but I feel like there are too many restrictions now that it takes all the fun away. So for those who are persevering to be a light into our school systems, I really do appreciate you and pray for you often! My mom tells me lots from working in the office, too. There is so much that most people will never know. Thank you all for the extra time you put in outside the hours you are paid for. These kids need you. You are the only light some of them may ever see!
4th
bird
That cute/crazy looking bird was one that had just hatched from my friend Julia's house, and she sent me a snapchat of it! It's some kind of chicken thing!
Second is the most talkative bird I know...Robin, my mom! I made her pose with those dark chocolate caramel robin eggs because they matched her, and I never knew when I may need it!
candied orange peel
orange juice
We had a breakfast party, and mom went a little overboard on the OJ. This jug was huge, but there was anoter one in the fridge, too! Oh well, it will be a treat for Dad!
bike to school day
I wish! But that's okay...I'm taking my bike to Lipscomb!
5th
Cinco de Mayo
I'm not Hispanic, but I love Mexican food, so I basically celebrate this multiple times a week!
hoagie
Not my fav, but Dad has recently been picking mom up and taking her to lunch at a local business we have,
The Hoagie Shop.
totally chipotle
This one was no problem to celebrate either! I love adobo, chipotle peppers in sauce, kinda similar to a spicy barbeque. I also use chipotle chili powder to sprinkle on foods.
Day of Prayer
Prayer is one of the best things you can do! I love it so much! Anytime, anyplace, anywhere, anything. God wants to talk to you! It's such a great way to connect and really get your mind and heart calmed. It also works wonders encouraging others.
"Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16
6th
Some of my favorites that ice had this month...I can't wait to get to Lipscomb so I can have the Lifewater and Sunkist enhanced waters anytime I'm in the caf! Panera's fruity green teas are also one of the few places I will buy a drink rather than get free water. And obviously coffee. No brainier.
nurses
7th
scrapbook
Mom and I used to be huge scrapbookers, always up to date throughout each year's main events. We haven't had time in u don't even know when, but I really miss it. I have tons to things piled up waiting to be matched with pages, but I still haven't gotten around to it. Instead I've made small ones along the way, like this one for my moms Mother's Day card!
birth mothers
Again, what mom wants for her special occasion is Little Caesars pizza.
Mothers Day (Sunday, so date changes)
No matter the length or color of our hair, shape of our glasses, or year of our life, we love the summer sun, but more importantly, we love each other and love the Lord. My mom and mamaw are just beautiful.
8th
coconut cream pie
9th
butterscotch brownie
Not a butterscotch brownie, but some butterscotch fudge ice cream is pretty darn close.
10th
shrimp
One of my favorite proteins! I make it when I'm on my own for dinner and sometimes when we go out.
11th
foam rolling
Considering I'm a runner, you would think this would excite me, but I'm not a roller.
12th
nutty fudge
Homemade this with chopped cereal, nuts, and melted chocolate then let it cool in the fridge.
13th
apple pie
Wish I had some pie, but instead made an apple pie dessert bowl with an apple pie yogurt and that other stuff up there!
14th
dance like a chicken
We had a race this day, so I suggested that we all do it on the start line, but that wasn't a very good idea.
15th
chocolate chip
The best kind of chip is a chocolate chip and the best chocolate chips are dark. They should also always be in cookies. Like these!
16th
love a tree
Why I love trees: they are green and pretty, give us air, some give us fruit, shade, block the wind, help us celebrate Christmas, and are used in the Bible for some awesome parallels.
18th
visit your relatives
Yes, these are from
Christmas, but that's my favorite time to visit my relatives. We have such a great time! Savor the memories...
Why yes I do! And every time I see Reese's I think of Jenna ever since I learned how much she loves them at Motown Madness several years ago. At our church senior night, we had ice cream sundaes with Reese's pieces as one of the toppings, so I had to tell Jenna about this holiday!
19th
All these are basically Devils food cake (or the flavor). And how cute are those gift mug cakes!? Get them at
Rowena's!
20th
pick strawberries
I had been telling mom for a long time that I wanted to go pick some of our own strawberries at the local patch across from her school, and she finally took me! I had no idea how bright red they are when they are that fresh! We got a whole gallon.
bike to work
My dad actually used to do this when he worked farther away so he could get in a workout and get to work at the same time!
endangered species
I decided to go on the
US Fish and Wildlife website to see some of these endangered species and refined my results just to Tennesse, surprised to see how many animals and plants that still included! However, I shouldn't be surprised with the way this world is headed.
There were too many big words and abbreviations on there that I didn't understand.
However, on the
World Wildlife Fund site (which I used to be a member of back in my childhood nature fanatic years), there is a great list that you can actually understand!
Here are some that I found and really appreciate: species of lepards and tigers (I've always loved those big cats), lots of monkeys and their relatives (as I also used to be compared with a monkey), dolphins, pandas, sea lions, and more.
pizza party
In our family mom would be the champion of this one. However, Ultimate California Pizza at Myrtle Beach is pretty good since I can get mine personal size and with whatever I want on it! Mom always wants pepperoni extra cheese, so I you want to make her day just take her some pizza.
21st
memo
strawberries and cream
S&C dessert blend
learn to swim
Who are we kidding I grew up on the lake. At the beach when I was teeny, my favorite thing to say was "play waters, play waters!"
22nd
vanilla pudding
The great thing about vanilla is that it can go with basically anything! Sweet like with chocolate or fruit, or more savory like with sweet potato, oatmeal raisin, or carrot cake.
23rd
lucky penny
Post-race with just one more high school race to go.
24th
scavenger hunt
26th
blueberry cheesecake
No celebration here but in my imagination. Bring me some?
28th
hamburger
My favorite thing about hamburgers is finding new toppings for them.
31st
macaroon
I had never tried macaroons before because I didn't even think I would like them, but mom got a fancy and free box of them with a gift she bought at VS, so she gave them to me. They are actually really tasty! I like how there was dark chocolate, cookie, and cream with them!
All Month Long
barbeque
What a great summer month meal! Mom buys pork bbq to bake at home, we bbq chicken, and we get it out sometimes.
Dickey's barbeque which has many locations and
Martin's bbq in Nashville (and a few more) are my favorite! (We went there while in Nashville after state most recently). But you also can't go wrong with our local favorites:
Buddy's, and
Weber (actually less than a mile from my house..always smells so good when I run by)
bike
chocolate custard
egg
The most impressive egg of the whole month takes this picture spot. The hotel we stayed at for track state my sophomore year, Embassy Suites, captured my moms heart with their huge breakfast buffet and made-to-order bar. So much so, that she booked her hotel there no matter where anyone else stayed! But that meant that I got to stay there for one night, too! Those chefs do a great job with so many pancakes, waffles, and omelettes.
hamburger
The best burger is a buffalo burger.
Fuddruckers didn't have to tell me to try; I already know that's what I want.
Mediterranean diet
I didn't even know what this was until I saw it on the calendar and looked it up. I think could qualify most of the time! I love fruits and vegetables and meat, so that fits pretty well!
Well, this shouldn't be hard because I love to take pictures to commemorate everything, so here's a random one from May. I saw my math teacher from first semester in Food City. Mr. Hayes is a funny guy.
It has been about a month now since I've had a salad, but there for a while I was on a roll! That happens when we travel more, but sometimes we make them at home. These were from various places: Chick-full-a, Panera, home, the cafe at the beach, and Chili's.
You bet I can celebrate some salsa!
Moe's is my favorite restaurant to get it though because they have the bar where you get your own, some spicy and some seasonal! I'll pretty much try any kind. Dad likes it, too, mild, for his chips. That personality picture was at my graduation dinner at Abuelos!
May is prime strawberry time, as you can tell from all these strawberry-related celebrations this month. Let the fresh fruit and vegetable season begin!
