Beach Essentials

So, Summer is right around the corner! I am so excited for our beach trip with our friends Nick and Alison, and their sweet Hadley.

Last year Jake and I crashed their beach trip for a couple of days, and we had a great time!

  This year we will be together for 11 days in Rivera Maya, Mexico and we can't wait!

I like to plan ahead, and even though we are 74 days away I am already thinking about what to take.

Here are some must haves on any beach trip!

1. Baseball Cap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Proper Frat Hats

2. Spray Sunscreen

Neutrogena Ultimate Sport

3. Sunglasses

Costa Del Mar Hammock

4. Kindle

Kindle

5. Beach Bag

Vineyard Vines Beach Bag

6.  Sundress

Old Navy Ruffled Chiffon Maxi Dresses

7. After Sun Lotion

Ocean Potion Aloe After Sun Lotion

8. Camera 

Nikon COOLPIX Digital Camera

9. Lip Balm

Bigelow Rose Salve

10. Flip Flops

Havaianas Sandals

I can't wait to pack all these things and head to the beach!

Nothing like relaxing with your friends by the ocean!

Foodie Friday | Chocolate Pie

Those who spend time around me know that food is the center of our home.

I love to cook and come up with new recipies.

It never fails when we have people over to our house we all congregate in the kitchen.

This is I'm sure common everywhere, but in the South food is apart of the soul.

It holds the memory of special events and reminds us of people we love.

Jake has been very sick this week and Wednesday night he just wanted a comfort food.

So he asked for this. . .

Chocolate Pie with Meringue

Filling

1 Cup Sugar

1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder

1/4 Cup Self-Rising Flour

2 Egg Yolks

2 Cups Whole Milk

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Pinch of Salt

1 Pie Crust (I just buy one if I don't want to put in the time)

Meringue

3 Egg Whites

1/4 Cup Sugar

To Make Filling: Preheat the oven to 325. 

In a medium pot combine sugar, cocoa powder, and flour. Add in milk and egg yolk. Cook without boiling until filling thickens. At the end add vanilla, butter, and salt. Then pour into baked pie crust.

To Make Meringue: Whip egg whites until they froth.  Then add the sugar and mix on high until peaks form.  Then pour on top of pie.  Bake on 325 for 15 minutes.

Jake always likes to get a slice hot out of the oven, but agrees that it is better if you let it chill for a couple hours.

I hope you enjoy!

Catching Up

Yes, I know it has been six months since I last blogged.

So, to catch up on all that has happened I will just hit some highlights!

This year it was great to be a Roll Tide Fan!

Jake and I attend all the home games (of course we miss a few for weddings and such). I love football season in the South.There is nothing better than a stadium dog and a Coke while watching a little football. Especially when you end up being National Champs!

And a BIG plus is we sometimes run into friends!

The only good thing about football season being over is that it means it’s time for the holidays! Christmas is (according to Jake and I) the best time of the year! We also look forward to Christmas, and usually start celebrating a little early. Our Christmas tree is always the first thing to go up.

It makes it truly feel like Christmas!

We also enjoyed spending time with our families!

Santa was very good to us this year; we got everything we wanted and more. For our “Big gift” from Jake’s parents this year they took us to Gatlinburg for four days. We had so much fun, I forgot to take pictures.

One of my gifts from Jake this year was a surprise! All he told me was I would need an overnight bag! The day before we were to go on our surprise, he told me what was going on. . . He was taking me to the Dave Barnes Christmas Concert! I was so excited! The concert was so enjoyable and the decorations were beautiful!

There was of course Dave.

Then Matt Wertz showed up.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get better…in walked Ben Rector.

All-in-all we had a great end to 2011!

Not much has been going on the first of this year.  I promise to do my best in keeping everyone up-to-date on a more regular basis from now on!