gifts

Ross and I have a problem. We can't wait until Christmas Day to exchange gifts. It's just impossible! Last year, we exchanged gifts on the 21st or 22nd -- I can't quite remember (I always lose track of days when I'm not on vacation). This year, we made it to the 23rd. So we are improving!

Last year was extravagant. I spent about $250 on Ross to buy him a hard drive for his music techie stuff. He bought me a Le Creuset French Oven AND an engagement ring. This year, we're newlyweds. Did you know the word "newlyweds" is from the Latin phrase "newlius weddius," which means "really broke"? It's true.

Anyway, this year, we took it easy. Ross got me a pair of Old Navy fat pants and a Side Swipe attachment for my KitchenAid mixer (which, by the way, are extremely cool; check them out). I got Ross a pair of gloves and a book. It was a far cry from last Christmas.

But you know what? I have a husband this year. I think that makes up for it.

Wedding Photo Post!

It occurred to me a few days ago, as I was scouring through Shutterfly trying to put together a Christmas gift that cannot be mentioned here because several of my readers will be receiving said gift, that I have wedding pictures that haven't even been posted on the blog!

Of course, most of you have already seen the pictures via Facebook or Shutterfly, but I thought I'd do a series of photo posts on the blog. That way I can tell the stories behind some of the pictures. No matter how hard I try, my eyes still well up every time I tell one of those stories.

Not today's story, though. I thought to kick things off, I'd tell you about the first time Ross and I saw each other all dressed up in our wedding duds. It was July. (Reader: Didn't you get married in August?) Yes, we did. But, in what I still consider a stroke of genius, I decided we should have a pre-wedding photo shoot with BOTH of us, not just me. We did our bridal and groomal shoot on July 3 in Siloam Springs, where our photographer was located.

**Side note!** If you live in the Northwest Arkansas area (or nearby), and you need a photographer for any life event, we highly recommend Jonathan Edward Photography! Jonathan & Becky are crazy talented photographers and incredibly nice people to boot. Go sign 'em up for your next event.

I got dressed in the tiny bathroom at our photographer's office/studio, with my mom's help, and told Ross to shoo. He waited down the sidewalk...

And then I snuck up on him.

And then, we looked at each other for the first time in our wedding clothes -- the clothes in which we would become husband and wife before God and our families and friends in just one short month -- and at that very moment, we both knew we had found our perfect soulmates. It was the most romantic moment of our relationship.

NOT!

I have to say, Ross looked really good, but I just didn't find it all that moving. Maybe it's because we still had to wait another month to get married. But I think if we'd waited until the day to see each other, it still wouldn't have lived up to the hype. Really, it's just a suit and a dress. Sure, we looked pretty, but our romantic moments are not made from fine clothing and grand events. It's just not us.

So we said a simple, "Hey, you look good!" And we gave each other a hug.

And a kiss.

What? We were a month from getting married. Cut us a little slack. :-)

{p.s. I should mention that all of these photos were taken by Jonathan Seauve of Jonathan Edward Photography, and that only JE Photography can give you the rights to print or reproduce or repost these pictures in any way. So don't do it. Violating copyright law is really, really bad. Like, several years of your salary bad. Especially now that you've seen this disclaimer!}

Left Behind

Every day at 7:35 a.m., the Tan bus on the Razorback Transit line comes to my apartment. Until last week, I always rode that bus to school.

The bus has a notoriously grouchy driver. I always take coffee or tea in my travel mug to school, and it's Razorback Transit policy to have a lid on all drinks on the bus. I know this policy, and I dutifully abide by it. After weeks of the same bus driver picking me up three days a week at 7:35 a.m., one day, he said rather sternly, "You got a lid on that cup? You can't have a cup on this bus without a lid!" I showed him the lid, and he grumbled.

Last Thursday, at 7:30 a.m., I kissed Ross goodbye and opened the door. Just as I did so, the bus whirred by. "You'd better hurry!" Ross said. And I did hurry. I hurried as fast as a slightly overweight, terribly out-of-shape 26-year-old carrying a 40-pound backpack and a hot mug of tea could hurry. The bus came to a quick halt at its designated stop, and I was only about 30 feet away. "Wait!" I yelled. The bus didn't move. I kept trucking it. As I crossed the street, I signaled to the bus driver, who I am almost positive was looking at me through the rear view mirror. I smiled and breathed a sigh of relief as I approached the rear of the bus.

Just as I got to the bus's tail light, the bus driver DROVE AWAY! I felt so defeated. Ross, who had run outside to see if I'd caught the bus, waved me back to the apartment. "I'll take you to school," he said.

My hero. :-)

Know what? Somebody remind me next week to complain about that cantankerous old bus driver.

I Scream, You Scream

When we got married, my friend Angie gave us an $80 gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond. Know what we bought with it?
It's a KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment for our stand mixer. And in a word, it ROCKS! All you do is freeze the bowl for a day or so, then you're ready to make a homemade batch of heaven. No rock salt required. For ease, we store ours in the freezer so we can make ice cream whenever the craving hits us. (I say us. Usually, it's just me.)

Here's our favorite recipe for homemade vanilla ice cream, which has been adapted from allrecipes.com.

Ross & Leah's Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
2 1/2 cups half & half

1 cup sugar (duh! sorry I forgot this!)
1/8 t. salt
2 t. vanilla extract

Directions:
1) **IMPORTANT** Do not for one second think about how many calories and/or fat grams this ice cream contains. It's detrimental to your happiness.
2) Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Whisk together to incorporate sugar.
3) Attach freezer bowl to bottom of KitchenAid mixer. Pour cream mixture into bowl.
4) Attach dasher to the head of the mixer & turn to "stir." Mix for 25 to 30 minutes.
5) Transfer to a 2 qt. container and freeze at least six hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Homemade Laundry Detergent: Liquid

Earlier today, I posted about my homemade powdered laundry detergent. While I do love it, we're switching to liquid for two reasons: (1) the powdered detergent doesn't dissolve all that well, especially in cold-water loads, and (2) I am personally a little uncomfortable with the idea of whirling Borax around in my food processor, then later using the same food processor to chop vegetables for dinner.

We've only used our liquid detergent for one load of sheets, but I think it'll do okay. Here's the recipe!

Leah's Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

1 cup liquid castile soap -- I like Dr. Bronner's lavender, which I bought from my local hippie store out of the bulk soap container

1/3 cup washing soda

1/3 cup baking soda

1/3 cup Borax

warm/hot water

Directions:

1) Fill a one-gallon container with 1 cup of liquid castile soap

2) Add about 4 cups warm water

3) Add all powdered ingredients slowly. If possible, stir while adding. Alternatively, shake frequently.

4) Fill container with warm water until full.

Use 1/4 cup per load of laundry.

I should mention that this recipe is adapted from several I found on the interwebs. If you wanna see my sources, see this recipe and this recipe.

Good luck, and let me know if you try it!