{life} Never Forget.

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We all know where we were on that horrible day 10 years ago. 

We always will. 

I was sitting in my 6th grade language arts class. We were just beginning our attendance procedures. My teacher had the TV on the news still - she hadn't gotten around to turning it off yet. All of a sudden the whole demeanor of the news channel changed and images of a tall burning building appeared on the screen. My teacher looked at the TV in shock. I had absolutely no idea what was going on. Almost immediately our principal came on the loudspeaker and instructed all teachers to turn off all televisions. Our school psychologist thought it to be too traumatizing for a group of 6th-8th graders to watch. Most people were checked out of school that day. My mom checked me out almost immediately and when I got home she had the World Trade Center coverage playing in the living room.
It was on for the rest of the day.

At 11 years old, I had no idea the magnitude of what was happening to our country. I still probably don't fully understand it to this day. Only those who were in NYC, Washington DC, and the surrounding states at the time, and our troops, firefighters, and our police officers really do.

"I thank God for my life and for the stars and stripes. May freedom forever fly, let it ring. Salute the ones who died, the ones who gave their lives so we don't have to sacrifice all the things we love." 

- Zac Brown Band

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Never Forget.

{recipe} wine + cheese + roasted garlic

I have been such a bad blogger lately. 

Will you forgive me after I post about wine, cheese, and roasted garlic? 

Good, I thought you would.

The one thing you need to know about my apartment is that my roommates and I are in love with it.

There is never a shortage of cheese and wine floating around. We have a strict no stress and no drama policy. Everyone loves to cook. Everything is always very zen, organized, and clean. We spend more time in the common area than in our bedrooms. I could go on and on. 
This year has been absolutely fantastic so far!

Oh, and we are in college.

BUT we do not eat college food.

(Unless it is 2 am, but that is another story entirely.)

We eat things like sausage and peppers, salmon cakes on top of spinach, and broiled shrimp with roasted garlic, tomatoes, basil, and brie. We decided that we would cook three fabulous meals a week and the rest of the week rely on our sorority houses / football food / making quick meals after/before meetings.

Yesterday I was feelin' some roasted garlic. Once I get an idea in my head I have to carry through with it. Just like those Nutelle Chocolate Chip Cookies I just baked. Um. Whoops. (Recipe coming soon!)

Now back to the garlic.

Make some why dontcha? 

Spread it on toasted bread, add it to your dinner, eat it whole.

The possibilities are really endless.

Oh, and your house will smell amazing.

Promise!

The final product: Caramelized deliciousness.

Roasted Garlic:

Makes:  one head of garlic

Recipe from Joy the Baker

Ingredients:

• 1 head of garlic
• about 2 tablespoons olive oil
• about 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
• about 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

• Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.  Place a baking sheet in the oven as the oven preheats.
• If your garlic head is covered in several layers of white skin, peal off a few layers.  Keep several layers around to hold the head together.  With a sharp knife, cut the top off the head of garlic exposing a bit of each each clove of garlic.
• Place garlic head in a piece of foil or parchment paper.  Drizzle olive oil on top.  Top with a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper.  Seal the foil around the garlic or parchment paper.  If using parchment paper, use a kitchen string to seal the little package.
• Place on the pan in the oven and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, or until completely tender when poked with a fork or knife.
• Allow to cool slightly before eating.

roasted garlic + roasted red pepper jelly + bread + brie = The Good Life.

Swing by my blog in a few days for the broiled shrimp, basil, roasted garlic, tomatoes, and brie recipe and the nutella chocolate chip cookie recipe.

{life} hi friends

I'm the worst blogger ever. SORRY! School started and the GRE is coming up and I just can't seem to catch a break. I'm missing the calm of summer right now buuuut I'm having SO MUCH FUN!

PS. Cousin Katie - I promise I will help you make your blog sooooon.
Maybe I can just come visit you in ATL and do it then :)

So pretty much all I have to offer right now is an update on my life. Recruitment brought us a beautiful and well-rounded pledge class of 63 new Phis. We thought we were going to have to take 80. We were very excited when we found out that to make quota we only needed 63. 80 would get a tad bit ridiculous. I have been running around like crazy on campus trying to tie up all of my loose ends before I have to do a graduation check. When did I get this old? Why am I a senior in college already?!

Now onto this weekend!

Thursday my roommates and I were feeling a wee bit sick. I think all of the not sleeping, being around a thousand girls in the same house for two weeks straight, and the not very healthy diets of recruitment caught up with all of us. I decided to make some chicken noodle soup and pumpkin chocolate chip bread Thursday night to make us feel better for the weekend!

Chicken Noodle Soup - recipe I adapted is here.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread - recipe here.

(Sorry about the quality of pictures. Blackberry cameras are horrible!)

Friday began with an 8 am class (boooo.) When I went home though I had a lovely surprise.

"Just Because" flowers from my wonderful boyfriend. :) They made my entire week!!!

My roommates and I went to happy hour on Friday. Whenever there is a home game for FSU, Tallahassee hosts a street pep-rally of sorts called Downtown Getdown. A lot of people wear garnet and gold, there is a ton of street food and beer being sold, and new this year is free concerts in the square. SO MUCH FUN! This weekend was a free Justin Moore concert - so legit. We went to DT Getdown after happy hour and then went home to rest for GAMEDAY!

We beat University of Lousiana-Monroe 34-0. Nothing like a good ole shutout to start the season.

Today I'm going to go to brunch with my big brother who is in town for the game with his girlfriend. Then it is off to study for the GRE for the rest of the day.

I hope that y'all are having a terrific start to your fall semester.

xo, Jen

{life} bid day 2012

Senior Brunch!

Riding to the Westcott Fountain in style, obviously!

Seniorrrrs!

These are the years we will always remember. <3

Seniors in green - new babies in blue.

In love with them already!

BEAUTIES!

Most of the seniors.

My rush crush came HOME! :)

My pledge class is so small now!

The best of the best.

A little fur baby made it to bid day too! 

Leetle & I!

Phi Mu, forever.