Eats of the Week

Chase, so generously, offered to make brownies for a Superbowl party. As we were getting ready to leave he said, "we're never buying Aldi brownies again. Brownies are supposed to be flaky on top and these are fluffy like a cake. I even tried to flatten them down with my oven mitt!"
Having more faith in Aldi brand than my husband's cooking I asked, "well did you make the cake that was in the cabinet?" Checking the cabinet we found the brownie box quietly untouched!! LOL!!
He made one delicious cake...even though his heart was set in brownies, poor fella.

P.S. I love how loyal he is...still sporting the Brown's gear!

Monday at work we had a SOUPerbowl party. Over the past three years this has become one of my favorite school days. I always get to see some different faces when we potluck. It's nice to see how some of the other teachers are doing and chat with them. Plus these ladies know a thing or two about soup! I tried the Taco Soup and a Cream Cheese Chicken Chili. Our wonderful PTA made the goodies...red velvet cupcakes-yum!!

After mastering self-control over my Sweet Frog addiction by not going at all in January I have returned to fro-yo. It will have to be on a more limited basis than before...but gosh it's just so good! I shared Sweet Frog with two friends from church who also are amazing volunteers at Xalt!! We had a blast be-bopping along to some Jamie Grace and chatting about life.

Times with friends and good food cannot be beat!

Favorite Things

July's Favorite Things  

This romper I bought from Marshall's last summer for my sister-in-laws' rehearsal dinner.  Happy One year Anniversary!!!

That seashell wall paper is also...GONE!!!

Spending the mission trip and just everyday time with Xalt students! If you aren't already involved in a church whether it's attending the main service or a small group, give it a shot! It just might brighten your life!

$10 floral wedges from The Shoe Department

The midnight premier of The Dark Knight Rises and all of the conversations  since then dissecting it with the ultimate Batman fan aka my husband!! If you have a question about the trilogy he's seriously the person to ask.

The dance for Sunday's So You Think You Can Dance message about Career {video to come} and the super fun ladies who joined in, the guys are pretty cool too (and amazingly talented) I just don't have a picture of them.

Our one day visit to Virginia!! {that's a post in and of itself...more to come}

Thanks to Dancing with Ashley for the link up!!

 

lovebuffalo

Xalt's mission trip to Buffalo turned out to be unforgettable! We had an absolute blast. For lunch the other days we taste tested Ethiopian, Thai, and Burmese. 

Authentic meals = DE-LISH!! 

The girls worked with a smile whether weeding, paint scraping, or mulching was their victim!! The guys worked with a good attitude but not a smile because if they had been smiling their teeth would have stained black.  Serious muscles and will power took over during the work days. These students killed it!!  

Thank you to The Hub for welcoming us along! 

Somalian Cuisine

Each day for lunch, we are served a taste of Buffalo. Today we broadened our cuisine horizon with Somalian food. I'm not sure what any of it was called but it tasted good.

My tongue burns when I eat mild salsa so that says it all for my spice tolerance. From what I could tell the breaded triangle pocket was filled with chicken, that had the spiciest kick of all but I could still handle it. There was a spinach chicken dish, French fry looking potatoes but bright red, rice, and a salad with lime slices in it. I really enjoyed the flavorful but mild spice meal.
thanks chefs

Today being 7/11, 7/11 gave out free slurpees. Yay!! We drove up to an inner city (limited parking) 7/11 in our rockin' church bus and were able to get 17 free mini slurpees. Perfect quencher for a day spent out in the sun working hard!!
thanks 7/11!

 

Niagara Wear

We experienced absolutely perfect weather for visiting Niagara Falls, the sun warmed us while a gentle breeze blew to cool us off. I never felt hot or sticky like the humid heat of NC.

I wore a childhood inspired outfit. My family camped/hiked a lot and my dad always preferred - pants with lots of pockets. I thrifted these beauties for a total of $3.50 which included tons of pockets. We're talking pockets inside pockets, zippers, Velcro, hidden pockets, you name it these ultimate hiking shorts have it.

For the Cave of the Winds tour, we all got ponchos and matching sandals. We went right up to the bottom of the American Falls. On the "Hurricane deck", even with all of our gear, we still got drenched from the water gushing down over us. Hearing the rushing water all around us and feeling the blasts of water pelting our bare skin made for an experience we'll never forget.

Follow: Sam

The next of our two senior girls is Sam. Earlier this Spring, Sam came to a girl's retreat at the camp ground and found some like minded Christian friends who enjoyed a lot of the same things as her. Since then she wanted to come to camp so she could experience this awesome place for a whole week verses just a weekend.

Her fave part this week was the Ashes Remain concert. They played the style of music that she likes best and she was able to mosh with the best of 'em.

I love hearing about the projects she's working on. She has so much enthusiasm and passion for her hobbies and writing. Sam is always herself and proud of it!

Follow: Dana

Last year was Dana's first year to come to camp. I remember being so glad when she decided to come. We had so much fun all together.

After having a blast last year she couldn't miss it this summer!! Her fave thing this week has been our nightly messages from the camp speaker.

We've talked about positioning ourselves to follow God and setting boundaries to help us follow Him.
Over the past few years, she has positioned herself as a leader and friend at Xalt. It's awesome to see her impact!

Birthday Girl

Today is Anna's birthday so naturally it's her profile day.
Every year I've been to camp, Anna's been to camp. We started off at Jr. High camp 2 years ago now we've moved up to High School camp and we love it!! I'm so glad to have her in all of my camp memories. We always have a blast and each year brings us closer together.

She loves coming to camp to meet new people. Her fave thing at camp this year was the Ashes Remain's concert. She was totally pumped for her pic with the band member.
Anna's also my hair mannequin so below is an inside out pig tail braid she let me do on her.

Follow: Olivia

This is the second year I have been at camp with Olivia. She continues to come because every year is such a blast. She enjoys the nightly services most about camp. It is great to have her around because she is always good for a laugh, easy going, and willing to have some F.U.N!!

Megan Monday!

One of our two senior girls at camp is Megan who last came in 8th grade. I'm SO excited she decided to come this year because it is her last year to come as a camper. She decided to come this year after hearing how much fun everyone had last year. Her fave part so far has been cabin time. Cabin time consists of group time with our cabin girls, getting to know one another, and sharing about your day.
It's been great seeing her grow over the years and to be able to become a closer friend to her.

Follow: Caroline

This week's camp theme is Follow. There are 6 girls her from Xalt and...6 days!! So you will get a lovely profile of one of these fine young ladies each day!!

Bravely volunteering to go first is Caroline, it's also her first time at camp.
She decided to come to camp because it sounded fun and a previous weekend retreat at the campground peaked her interest.
Her fave part so far has been the worship!! It's always rockin'.
Her fun loving but quiet personality can be summed up in the adorable squirrel socks she's wearing!!

Summer Vaca

Having the summers off allows me to spend time with the Xalt students!

And I love it!!

There's been Sweet Frog dates

late night Taco Bell

(with no worry of being out too late)

Summer Lunch Crew

(we pick a restaurant and eat lunch together)

sand volleyball

and more dance rehearsal...!!!

Having the summer off also means spending Monday with Chase.

Last Sunday night, we went camping.

Willow even got to come along. 

I don't think she loved it but 

it may grow on her.

For dinner we cooked potatoes in the fire

then roasted...bacon.

That was a first

but it tasted good!

 

Between all of that, I spent time with the puppster

and worked around the house.

I even finished the 5th Harry Potter Book! 

My last Les Lit was ages ago...eek!
Speaking of Willow, she's spending a few weeks with our parents
so hopefully there won't be any damages to report. 

Xalt Grads!

Thirteen years

Three levels of schooling

Friday night football games

Dazzling Dances

Choir Concerts

Marching Band

Friendships made,

stretched, and lost

Of course, your

daily doses of drama

And then one day

Cap, Gown, and Tassel

Don't forget

Speeches

Cheering

Pictures

and then...

an end.

Not the end

but an end.

A fun, memorable, hopeful

end!

Congrats Xalt Grads!

We can't wait to see all of your accomplishments.

Radiant!

A bus load of fun was had by every girl that attended this weekend girls' retreat 

put on by the Wesleyan churches around the area. 

Xalt participated for the third year in a row and every time we have an absolute blast!! 

Xalt Girls at Radiant 2012!!

This Year's theme was Soul Spa, hence the sleep masks. 

We like to bring our own props along for extra fun!! 

I thought the spa references would all be figurative toward our relationship with Christ 

so imagine my delight when a full out spa experience arrived. 

I love when themes run throughout an event, plus who doesn't enjoy a little pampering!!

 

It's impossible not to have fun when a chocolate fountain is involved!

Yes, these girls did chug the chocolate!!

Other than having an absolute amazing time.  

We learned a lot about allowing our heart's and soul's to be still in the Lord.

Not striving in our own strength or becoming stagnant

but resting in Jesus' peace and allowing His power to move us forward in this journey.

 

Love these girls!!