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New toy!
Mark's got a new car this weekend!! It pretty much makes my car look like an old piece of junk! I couldn't be more excited for Mark. 
This is his first new car ever! I haven't been able to drive it, but trust me I will soon! I've posted a few pictures above.
Way too many envelopes...
Today I spent about 3 hours trying to figure out the proper way to address the inner and outer envelopes of our wedding invitations. UGGH. So annoying. Why are there so many envelopes anyways..why can't you just stuff all that crap into one?? A few invites later I think I finally figured out how I'm going to address them. I do want to apologize in advance for anyone who receives one and it's not proper etiquette/procedure...at this point if I could figure out a way for Bailey to address all of these bad boys I would. Happy Friday!
Spinach & Sausage Quiche
I didn't realized I liked spinach until this dish.
1 deep dish pie crust (if you use a regular dish pie crust..you will need 2)
1 Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage
2 eggs
1 little can of mushrooms (drain)
1 box of chopped frozen Spinach (cook & drain)
3 cups mozzarella cheese
1/4 pound hamburger (optional)
green onions (optional)
Brown sausage
Add mushrooms, onions, spinach
Mix eggs in bowl and add slowly
Off heat, add cheese
Bake at 425 for 30 minutes
Enjoy!
Interesting...
If you think of yourself as a diehard Gator fan you should check this out:
Diehard Gator Fans
Super Easy Chicken Dish
2 cups chopped cooked chicken--next time I will probably use more chicken
1 family sized Vigo yellow rice
1/2 can sweetened condensed milk (small can)--optional, makes the dish a little sweet
1 can cream of mushroom
1 can cream of chicken
2 C shredded cheese (1 C mixed, 1 C on top)
Mix above and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes
So many weddings...
This year Mark and I have 7 weddings to attend! Craziness. The fun starts July 4th with our wedding and continues until the December 31! I am super excited and I can't wait to start shopping for gifts and something to wear to all these events.
July 4: Our wedding
July 11: Bo & Lisa
July 25: We have THREE!
Mike & Michalina
Cortney & Seth
Leroy & Tasha
August 15:
Melanie and Brad
December 31:
Daren & Lauren
Super model fun
Not sure if you remember Mark's quote "What if someone sees Bailey's pictures and thinks he should be a super model?" Well someone did see his photos and thought so. My great friend
Jenn, who took the fabulous photos of Bailey had three of her photos chosen to be hung in the
MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) and one of the three was BAILEY!
So if you are in the Jacksonville area from now until April, you should go check out Bailey, the super model and the other fab photos.
What would you do?
For the 2nd time in a month I've had a cashier just give me stuff for free..once at Old Navy the lady just 'forgot' to ring up a pair of shorts and now at Target the guy didn't ring up the top for my new fabulous bikini. When I called him out on it and he was just like oh well, there isn't a tag on it. I proceed to explain, that you have to pay for each piece and he was like oh well. He didn't care at all..what was I supposed to do??? So needless to say I walked out of there without paying for the top. I feel horrible, what would you have done? I told the cashier and he didn't care. Was I supposed to beg for him to ring up the top? I also purchased a 2nd bottom because I wasn't sure of the size so I need to return that, I guess I'm just going to walk into Target and explain what happened and just "give" them back the bottom because the bottom and top are the same price and since I technically got the top for free I feel like I should just "give" them back the additional bottom for free. How I am going to explain that to the cashier at the return register?
Twitter?
What the heck is Twitter? I watched an entire special on CSPAN about Twitter and I am still confused. What's the point? From what I gather it is sort of like an away message but not?? Seriously, I don't understand. According to the Twitter website: Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?
Hmm..still doesn't really help. This coming from the least high tech person ever. I think I'm the last person on the planet to not own an Ipod or even a camera phone. I think I'll stick to not "twittering" whatever that means. 
Sweet Simplicity!
Several of my friends are currently pregnant or just recently had a baby and I have found my latest obsession for baby gear, Sweet Simplicity! I LOVE IT! It is so great and she can even make custom onesies. She is currently making one for my dear friend and I can't wait to see it in person.
TGIF
TGIF—Today is my Friday! I have tomorrow off because I am traveling to Memphis, Tennesse to attend Chi Omega’s Firesides. I am super excited and I am secretly hoping we have time to visit while we are there. 
My co-workers and I brought in breakfast this morning to celebrate Valentine’s Day a little early. I baked Paula Deen's Blueberry Coffee Cake and it was a huge hit! Hope you enjoy the recipe below:
Paula Deen's Blueberry Coffee Cake
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar - I had to double b/c I ran out when dipping the biscuits
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon- I had to double b/c I ran out when dipping the biscuits
1 (12-ounce) can buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Generously grease a 9-inch square baking dish. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well with a fork. Separate biscuit dough into 10 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into quarters, and dip each piece in melted butter and coat with brown sugar mixture. Arrange in a single layer in baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the oats.
Combine blueberries and sugar in a bowl and toss to coat. Spoon over oats and biscuits and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup oats. Drizzle remaining melted butter on top. Bake for 20 minutes or until cake is golden brown and center is done. Cool for 20 minutes. Serve warm.
Yummy Sugar Cookies
If anyone is in the mood to bake yummy sugar cookies, below is the best recipe ever. They taste like the Publix Sugar Cookies with icing. YUM-O!
Mix-Easy Rolled Sugar Cookies
1 box of white cake mix
1/2 cupe shortening
1/3 cup butter/margarine softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
Sugar
1 cup of vanilla frosting
food coloring, optional
Heat oven to 375°F (350°F for dark or nonstick cookie sheets). In large bowl, beat cake mix, shortening, butter, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on high speed 1 minute.
Roll dough onto lightly floured surface with rolling pin. Cut with cookie cutters into desired shapes; sprinkle with sugar. On ungreased cookie sheet, place 2 inches apart.
Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until light brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. In microwavable bowl, microwave frosting uncovered on High 20 to 30 seconds or until melted; stir. Frost cookies.
Happy Weekend!
In case you are curious (HA! I doubt it) Mark and I have a busy weekend full of random errands that he hasn't been able to do the past few months. The list keeps growing. I'm sure Mark will try to fight me on doing half of these things because he will just want to relax..but too bad buddy.
Goals for this weekend:
Get Mark's suit jacket & pants hemmed--he needs to look nice when he meets my good pal Obama
Get my pants hemmed--actually I need to have the hem taken out
Purchase Gator shirt for Firesides--the one and only day we get to dress down at Firesides we are supposed to wear college gear!
Clean the ENTIRE apartment--HA, we only live in a 1 bedroom, 1 bath but it still gets dirty fast
Go shopping with Mark to get new clothes--apparently he needs new clothes?
Take B to the park--a must!
Ring Shopping--Mark needs to get his finger sized & decide if he likes the ring I picked for him
Get in touch with Hair woman
Fill out photography questionnaire
Fill out make up contract
Cirque
I am SO excited. Cirque du Soleil is coming to GAINESVILLE!!! This will be my 4th Cirque Show. I absolutely love them. My all time favorite show was "O" in Vegas. Words can not describe how incredible this show was. If it is coming to Gainesville, FL of all places, it is probably coming to a town near you--check it out!
Signing Day
Yay! Today is Signing Day, which is College Football's version of Bid Day, for us sorority folks. To sum it up: high-school kids commit to the college they will be playing football for. This is the day that Mark has been working his ass off for all year long! It is like Christmas for the football office. They all sit around and wait for the faxes to come in, never knowing who is actually going to commit. 18 year old boys, can be tricky little boogers- always changing their minds. Cross your fingers it goes well. Mark seems to think they will have a top 10 recruiting class, which is amazing! On a side note (sort of) the woman that is potentially doing my make up for the wedding is supposed to fax Mark the make up contract today. Since they are all waiting around for faxes to come in, can you imagine: Urban- "Don't worry guys, I'll get this fax!" and it being the make up contract made out to Mark's attention. HA! 
Gator Nation
Gator Nation is truly everywhere. Maybe one day we will see Obama in the stands doing the Gator Chomp.
Obama loves the Gators!
Friends...
Due to Mark's schedule he is unavailable to help with many chores around the apartment. Judging by the way he unloads the dishwasher, this is probably a good thing. For whatever reason when it comes time for Mark to unload the dishes, bowls, silverware, etc. he completely forgets where things go. It's not like he hasn't open the cabinets a million times before. He pretty much just throws things where ever there is an empty spot and the less cabinets he has to open the better. This morning while he was unloading the dishes I tried to explain to him that he just needs to open the cabinets and see where their "friend" (the matching bowl, glass, etc) are. Wow, what a concept- the matching bowls actually go together inside the cabinets!
Small Town
You know you live in a small town..when the grand opening of a local pizza joint includes the mayor, celebrity from the Sopranos, local tv & radio stations and Mafia members from the surrounding area. Today on my lunch break myself and a few co-workers went to this local pizza joint because we heard they were giving out free pizza. We got free pizza plus more...We pulled into the parking lot and to our surprise the who's who of Gainesville was packed into this little parking lot, and when I say little, I mean little. There was a lady giving away t-shirts with different sayings on them (my shirt says "Getouddahea"). There was a guy tossing pizza dough into the air (my personal favorite) and a DJ from the local radio station with the Wheel of Prizes, handing out fabulous prizes, aka a pen or handy dandy key chain. There were also lot of men in suits- the Mafia members. Sadly, we did not get to meet the "celebrity" from the Sopranos. We later heard that it was Tony's bodyguard from the show (no idea, don't watch the show, don't really care). All of this plus free pizza, we were in heaven. Don't forget to look for us on the local news, because I'm sure it will be their top story at 6.
Vendors & such
Almost Famous
Mark is in Sports Illustrated. Yes, that is correct, Sports freaking Illustrated. Check out page 8 of the 2008 BCS Commemorative Issue with Tebow on the cover. He is standing next to # 32.
Yes, it is just his face from the eyes up. BUT WHO CARES!!!! 
Sweet Sasha
I guess the rest of America agrees with me- Sasha and what's her name are the cutest first children ever! So cute that Ty has created their very on
dolls.
Me + Sasha = BFF
I just love Sasha Obama. She is just too cute.
Check out the letter the Bush Twins left for the Obama girls.
BYOP!
Today was filled with wedding planning and it was actually fun--surprise, surprise! 
I think we (or should I say, I) have decided on a florist. The owner was awesome and had a lot of great ideas! When I told Mark that I had picked out the flowers for his boutonniere he flat out said: I'm not wearing that. He was in complete shock that he was going to have to wear flowers. He acted as if I told him he was going to have to wear a tiara. Silly boy. If anyone is curious I am having the following flowers in my bouquet: white hydrangeas, gardenias, white roses, stephanotis (Mark is having just this in his) and stock. We also decided on the centerpieces for the tables- 3 hydrangeas in a 6" cube vase. Of course, this is all subject to change..but for now..this is what I've decided on- YAY! We also went to the Party Rental Store and WOW was this expensive(double the price of the flowers). Because we are having it at the stadium we have to pretty much rent/hire/borrow/purchase everything- which includes all of the little things most people don't have to worry about- plates, silverware, glassware, dance floor etc.! Don't be surprised if the invites are BYOP (Bring Your Own Plate!).
Brrrrrrr!
I'm starting to panic..according to accuweather.com here is what Gainesville's weather will be for Friday:
Yes, that is correct a low of 17, realfeel 14...14 degrees..brrrrrrrrrrr.
Friday, Jan 16
High: 53 °F RealFeel®: 50 °F
Cold with periods of clouds and sun
Friday Night, Jan 16
Low: 17 °F RealFeel®: 14 °F
Clear with the temperature breaking the record of 23; watch for a hard freeze
P.s. our heater is BROKEN! Lovely, just lovely.
Get with the program
Growing up everyone spelled my name wrong. They always wanted to spell it KristEn. I was never able to get the fun pencils or name plates with my name on it because they never had the correct spelling. Just when people started to spell it correctly, they are now having a problem with pronouncing it. Seriously, my name is NOT difficult to pronounce. A lady just walked by my desk and said: Hi Kirsten..nope sorry that's NOT my name. I even have a name plate--so clearly people just can't read. Seriously people, get with the freaking program. Lately people have been calling me Christian, Kristy, Krissy and now Kirsten. WRONG--it's Kristin.
Chuck It Update
It’s official..I hit a woman in the head with Bailey’s Chuck It ball. As stated in a previous post I suck at using this fun little toy that Bailey is currently obsessed with. 
CHAMPS!
For those of you that have been living under a rock for the past few days....the Gators are 2008 BCS National Champions!! Just for the record, I predicted this from the beginning. I had a dream that they would go- I guess dreams do come true! Unfortunately, I was unable to travel to the game, but I was able to do the 2nd best thing--celebration with the rest of Gator Nation! Sunday, I attended the Championship Celebration in the Swamp. Tebow announced that he would be returning! Guess that means I should start packing my bags for Pasadena! I am very excited for the upcoming season--it will be my first season as a wife and with that comes some fun perks--and you better believe I will cash in on those! Another very exciting thing about winning a championship- Mark will get to travel to DC to meet Obama! Woohoo!
The pressure is on
I am sort of hit or miss when it comes to wedding planning. Honestly, I don’t really like doing it all that much—I am sort of the anti-bride. I like to do a few things at once and then I am done. I am way more excited for our trip to Hawaii. For whatever reason this weekend I started feeling the pressure, maybe it's because my mom had me make a to do list and it was forever long. I started freaking out as to what the reception linens were going to look like. My colors are blue and white and the carpet at the reception site is also blue, so it threw me for a loop as to what the heck to do for linens. I didn't want too much blue but then again I didn't want everything white. I am sort of against blue flowers, so I wanted white flowers..but then that would be too much white: white linen, white flowers, white chairs, blah! I think I have finally decided on linens! Yay, I know it sounds stupid, but it is such a relief!
On a side note some things I did accomplish were:
Groom's cake & Mark and I's wedding bands
and my mom might have her dress picked out, which is super exciting for her
Top Moments of 2008
In no particular order
Mark proposing!
Being in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game
Bailey FINALLY being potty trained
Seeing my great friend from middle school get married
Discovering the most wonderful thing ever: Doggy Daycare
Mom & I’s annual Mother’s Day trip to to see our good friend Paula Deen
King Gator Weekend
Tailgating on the Front Lawn
Barack Obama becoming the next President
Finding my wedding dress
My dad making it through his heart surgery
I’m sure there are plenty more that I am forgetting. I can’t wait for 2009 and so many more great things to come!
Easy Oreo Truffles
1 pkg Oreo Cookies, finely crushed, save a ½ cup of the finely crushed cookies to sprinkle on top of the chocolate dipped balls
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 pkg. (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted
MIX cookie crumbs and the cream cheese until well blended. Shape into (1-inch) balls.
DIP balls in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.
REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm.
Super easy and YUMMY!
Mattress = $$$
Not sure if anyone has gone mattress shopping lately, but they are SUPER expensive!
My mom and I went this past weekend to see how much they are and boy were we surprised! They ranged in price from $1200-$5000. Yes, that is correct $5000. Who pays $5000 for a mattress?? That is just insane. If I were to go insane and purchase a mattress at that price it better come with more than a mattress..I'm talking my own personal sheep to count on those sleepless nights or better yet someone to sing me a sweet lullaby to bed every night. Craziness.
Molly?
This has to be the funniest Facebook Chat I have ever had. I don't know if this will even do it justice. Here's a short recap: I was talking to my human friend Molly about taking her dog, whom I have apparently thought had the same name as herself to the dog park. Why would both her and the dog have the same name?? Good question.
Kristin: Have u ever taken Molly to Dogwood in Jax?
Molly: hahah
Molly?
Lilly?
and no, make Bailey come play with Lillsers
Kristin: I thought your dogs name was Molly
Molly: no
I'm Molly
my dog is Lilly
Kristin:
hahahah
Wow, I am stupid
Molly:
...true
E!
Set your DVR's
Lindsay Soll will be starring (well maybe not starring 
) In an E! True Hollywood Story, this Friday, Dec 19 from 8-10pm. It's called Young Hollywood: A to Zac. She will be talking about Zac Efron and Miley Cyrus.
Super model?
Jenn has posted more pictures of Bailey on her blog! Check them out!
I have post my favorite pictures from the photo shoot in the scrolling pictures above. Too cute for words 
What if someone sees Bailey's pictures and thinks he should be a super model?- Mark
Chuck It
Can we please discuss how horrible I am with using the Chuck It. It is to the point that I need to start yelling FORE!, after attempting to throw it. Some of my most embarrassing moments have been: almost hitting a woman who was on crutches, hitting Bailey in the head, and the MOST embarrassing moment was having the ball hit a tree and then bounce off and hit me in the mouth. The funniest thing about the Chuck It, is that Bailey and Mark are both obsessed with it. Mark LOVES it, almost more than Bailey.
Home Sweet Home
This weekend I went home to for a little Pre Christmas fun with mom. We went to the World Golf Hall of Fame's Annual Festival of Trees, my mom participated for the first time this year. She decorated an adorable mini tree. Her theme was Santa's Winter Wonderland. Bailey also met Santa for the 1st time! It was hilarous, he pretty much hated every minute of it. We also went on the San Marco Home Tour. Talk about interesting homes...out of the 5 homes we toured only one was normal. The rest were interesting to say the very least. In the entrance to one of the homes was a table with about 15 fish bowls full of gold fish...I don't know about you but I don't think I saw that in my latest copy of Southern Living. We ended the weekend with a photo session with my good friend Jenn! Bailey got to play super model/dog. I am really excited to see the pictures.
He15man
While driving to the stadium to pick up Mark tonight guess who I saw... Tim Tebow on a SCOOTER. For the love of God can someone please tell him to not ride a freakin' scooter. Doesn't he know that the happiness of Gator Nation is in his hands?! Not only was he riding a scooter he was riding with only one hand, while holding a drink in the other. Can he please keep BOTH hands on the scooter?? Not only that, he needs to wear a helmet and football pads while riding the scooter. The more I think about it he should probably wear a helmet and football pads at ALL times. You know just in case, what if he were to fall down while walking to class and get injured. Not good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF7p4PwYMAU
Champions!
This weekend my dad and I headed up to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. We had so much fun!! Friday night we went to a steak restaurant called
Stoney River, it was AMAZING! For our appertizer we had lobster tempura and it was oh so yummy!! Saturday, we headed down to the stadium pretty early and "tailgated" at Taco Mac with Katie & Jenn. We were lucky enough to get a table and had fun trying all 200 of the different beers they had. The game was a lot of fun! The score was way too close for me, but I was extremly happy they won!
Sunday night, Mark and I were able to attend the BSC Bowl Selection with the team...next stop..Miami!!!
Blog Obsessed
I have pretty much become obsessed with blogs. Everyday I have to see what my blogger "friends" are doing. It's sort of an addiction. Mostly, I do it to pass the time at work (or at least that is my excuse) but it is starting to get out of hand. I have attached my favorite blogs to the "Favorite Links Section" on the right. Check them out and let me know what your favorite blog is.
FAQ
Boy, do people ask you some random questions when they find out you are getting married...
- Is Bailey in the wedding?
No, the Baughman Center doesn't even allow live flowers, except, for the ones you are
wearing or holding. There's no way they would allow Bailey to be there. Besides the fact
that he barks at everyone he sees. Not cool.
- Is Tim Tebow invited to the wedding?
No, sorry ladies Tim is not invited. Sorry, Amy! 
- Is Urban Meyer invited to the wedding?
Yes, all the coaches are invited. However, this is also their only week off the entire year, so
I doubt they will show.
- Am I invited to the wedding?
Hands down, the most awkward question you can ask someone who is getting married...
DON'T ASK!!
He does what?
Time for an upgrade
For the past few nights, for whatever reason, Bailey has decided that our FULL size bed is his. A full size bed is barely enough room for two average sized people, let alone two people and a 66 pound dog. Two nights ago Mark had a brilliant idea (NOT!)…Bailey was sound asleep right in the middle of the bed and instead of moving him, like any other normal person would do, he thought it would be best if we slept on either side of him. You know, the wrong way on the bed. I gave it a try. It wasn’t the worst sleep I’ve ever had, but I’m not going to spend the rest of my life sleeping on the bed wrong. That is nuts. Last night everything started out fine, Bailey was on his DOG bed sleeping and Mark and I were fast asleep in our bed. 2 am I wake up to find Bailey in our bed, this time he is curled up in a ball, right between Mark and I’s heads. All 66 pounds of him jammed between our heads! Then he proceeds to stretch his legs and kick us, as if we were intruding on his space! Needless to say, I am mattress shopping this weekend. California King here we come!
The president can’t email…WHAT?
I did it...
Have you ever eaten a meal alone? I haven't, until tonight. I swore I could never do it, I mean how lonely do the people you see eating alone in a restaurant look?? So sad. Well, tonight I finally broke down and did it, well sort of. I decided to go to Fire House Subs, I carefully decided where I was going to sit. I had my back to the door and I was facing a tv. I couldn't dare face the people who were coming in to eat with someone else and get the "Aww, look at that poor girl stares." Just as they called my name to tell me my food was ready, what is that I hear, my cell phone ringing, Jenn to the rescue! I proceed to talk to Jenn while eating...So I guess you can say I have 1/2 eaten alone. I swear, I could have done it!!
Tired...
Another insanely busy week. Between Chi O & JL, I had plently of events to keep me busy this week. Heather and I attended the Greek Awards Banquet, we both came up LOSERS.
I also went to Chi O's 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Dinner (2nd Thanksgiving meal in one day, I feel sick). Can't wait for this weekend to finally relax!
Busy Weekend
It was Theta Chi's Reunion Weekend which of course consisted of hanging out at the fraternity house and pretending like you were 21 again.
I attended my last home game of the season!! YAY, so excited football is almost over. I know most of you are probably sad, but I can not wait. I will finally get to see Mark for more than 10 hours a week total, yes that is correct, he works insane hours. It was extremely weird though..while leaving our seats all of the ladies around me wished me the best of luck with the wedding and said the next time they would see me I would be a married woman..SCARY! I did however, book my hotel room for the SEC Championship game and I am VERY excited about going to that game.
Sunday was super busy...In the morning I took Bailey to the dog park, attended a meeting at Chi O, met my dad and sister at the UF soccer game and I attended Baby Reese's Shower! Whew..tv time.
Greetings!
Hi Family & Friends!
It seems like everyone has a blog, so I thought why not? No guarantees, but I am going to attempt to keep this updated. So here goes...
As you all know Mark & I are getting married and today in the mail we received our Monogram Cake Toppers (If I can figure out how to attach a picture I will). Mark of course thinks it's the most ridiculous thing ever that I have even consider, yet alone, have received our cake toppers in the mail. Speaking of cakes, if anyone has any suggestions on yummy cake flavors, send them my way. I'm pretty sure we are ordering the cake from Publix. Everyone LOVES a Publix cake.