Match.com(s) Made in Heaven!

Well folks, here we are, Thursday afternoon and the sun is shining. So I have to know, where the heck did March go? Can you believe that tomorrow is April 1st? No! Me either. However, even though it feels like I slept one night and then woke up to a new month, I am super excited about April's cooking challenge! Bread! BREAD. B+R+E+A+D = BIG TIME YUM (in my tum) mmmm.... My roommates hate it when I rhyme - cause I do it all the time. 


Enough. 


Well I made it through March cooking NONE, repeat NONE of the things on my cooking challenge, but the good news is that I did try new sweet dessert recipes, see below:


Cream Puffs
Key Lime Pie
Coconut Cream Pie
14 layer cake <-- But I did it in 5 mini sized versions. 
Caramel Banana Cream Pie <---BUT SOMEONE STOLE IT!!!! Out of one of the fridges at my office. Lame.

The Cream Puffs were awesome and probably the crowd fave...as were they mine. However, the little mini-many layer cakes were so cute, especially when  you cut into them!

**These photos are crap. I need to start using my Nikon for food photos. Gross! Just plain stinkin' gross.**

OK - on to the Month O' Bread! Here are the recipes I want to try:

1. Challah 
2. Pastor Ryan's Dutch Oven Bread
3. Homemade Pastry - like croissants or scones.
4. THE BIG CHALLENGE - Sourdough Bread/Bagels 
• Note that I also have to make a starter 
• There will be a post devoted to this, I can feel it. And I already have a photo.

In other news this month I celebrated Christmas! Want to see what I got?

That is correct! A 9.5 Quart Le Creuset Dutch Oven. My life is complete. Goodbye. 

No. But seriously, GET EXCITED. I was, I almost peed my pants. Thank you Auntie Becca. She loves me. She spoils me. I love her. I love Dutchie (who by the way has taking a liking to Kitchy there...they're a match made in heaven). 

Speaking of MATCH.com(s) made in heaven - My date. He was definitely nice and a gentlemen. We spent 3 hours at Lupe Tortilla before I even glanced at the time. That has got to say something, right? When it was all said and done he said, "Well I will call you so we can plan part two of our date!"  It is Thursday. No word. No vote. I guess he is off the island. Seriously - not even a courtesy call? My ego is slightly bruised, but I guess I really have not been just sitting by the phone, with butterflies in my tummy, waiting for his call either. And, well what I can I say? He didn't even like two-stepin'. 

Well from the wise words of my bestie, "Make it a Theological Thursday!" 

Bahha. 

-S

A Moment of Encouragement

Nahum 1:7
        The Lord is good; a stronghold in the day of trouble,
         And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

Until today I had never even read a word out of the book of Nahum, in fact if you were to ask me right now how to even pronounce Nahum – yeah well don’t. Sometimes doesn’t life feel like you are walking down a path that is leading you to something unknown? That the end is not clear? I think this is something that most people struggle with, especially when faced with times of trouble or uncertainty. I think we all want to know where the end is, that if we have done all this walking that it won’t have been for nothing. No matter where you are, who you are,  or what road you are walking down, God knows your struggle. But doesn’t that even seem a bit cliché for the moment? But take a second to think about knowing God. An awesome, amazing, big, and HOLY God, who could not forget you, who knows your heart, your desires, AND your struggles. Learn to lean on Him, but not because he knows of your struggles, but because by taking refuge in Him means he KNOWS YOU. He holds you. When you think you can’t – He can. He will. He is. When your feet are hitting the sand and gravel and stirring up the dust – even with no certainty, no end, no means in sight, take refuge in your maker and let Him be your stronghold – your guide. He is standing there at the end. He is standing behind you in case you were to stumble, and He is right there to grab your hand as you travel down whatever path you might be on. The Lord is mighty; a stronghold in the day of trouble. HE KNOWS YOU. Take refuge in Him.

Match.com, the Beebs, & 400 Stalkers!

Well, since I only posted once in two weeks I think I may just have to post again! Yay! 

I wanted to tell you about three really important things:

1. A Match.com update... oh yeah buddie

2. I am so cool that I have stalkers

3. And how my Justin Bieber shirt... well haha it just speaks for itself. 

I think I will start with number two up there on my mighty fine list. Well as most of you know I am a youth director, it is a BOMB.COM kinda job. I get to hang out with students, talk about Jesus, and plan really awesome events, like the one we are having tomorrow night - a Gnome Scavenger Hunt - wahoo! Anyway part of my awesome job is spending time with students and one way to do that is going to their schools for the lunch hour! Talk about intimidating! 500 students giving you the stare... well and we all know that I look like a middle schooler - as a student asked me on my first day of work, "Hi, my name is Clay...What grade are you in?" Muahahha. So anyways, the way that I get past all the awkward stares is through a little method I like to call the "Candy in the purse method". Eric and I load up as many Blow Pops, Skittles, and Starbursts as we can into hipster purse and we head to the courtyard where the students flood out after their 'delish' lunch. This is where I tell you about my stalkers. I have like 400 hundred of them. You see, the students, well they have caught on to the purse, they recognize the purse, they LOOOOVE the purse. And because of all these fabulous factors every time we show up, I get swarmed, swarmed by a bunch of candy craving, gutsy, will do anything for ONE SINGLE PIECE of CANDY students. And this continues, they continue to stalk me until the glorious sound of that lunch bell rings... dismissing them back to class. I love it! I love my sugar high stalkers!

Now, number three on the list. The Bieber, BIEEEEBER FEEEVA! So, because like I mentioned above we were headed to a school lunch today I decided to wear my awesome Justin Bieber shirt! I got it when I had the privilege of taking a few students to a concert of his here in Houston. Anyway I never knew my shirt would get me SO much attention. Everywhere I went today someone mentioned the shirt. The students at lunch thought it was 'like totally awesome, OMG, I love Justin Bieber, he is such a hotty' awesome. At my office one of my fave pastors 'Crunchy Shirt' just could not believe that I would wear such a shirt - I explained to him about a little facade (my liking of the Beebs for the students sake) and he then approved going on his way. But the place that the shirt earned the most attention from was, Memorial City Mall. Never in my life have more people stared at me, checked me (cough) my shirt out, or asked me about my clothing. At Forever 21 the girl at the register said, "Woah! You totally have my boyfriend on your shirt!!!" Every time I passed a dude, they kinda squawked and gave me funny look, but the best was the last person I saw on my way out of the mall. She must have been 8 years old, cute as a button and totally obsessed with the Beeebs. It only took the loudest squeal and the words "AHHH OHHHH its JUSTIN BIEBER! MOM, JUSTIN BIEBER on her shirt"... followed by insane amounts of happy giggles! Love. My. LIFE!

Now, the one you read (you better have) through all that to get too, number ONE: Match.com. Well I have my first date on Saturday. Its going to be at Lupe Tortilla. Don't show up and try to get the skinny before I post about it later, and yes, I will post how it went...BUT LATER. Out of all the guys I have talked to or entertained the idea of dating, he has certainly earned his spot for a date. He definitely loves Jesus, has a solid head on his shoulders, and seems like a stand up citizen. He even phoned me to formally (just like southern gentlemen) to ask me for the lunch.  BUT he doesn't two-step or have any interest in trying, however it is only because he says it would only be "like watching Elaine from Seinfeld!" - Direct quote. I am excited. I am nervous. I have not been on a date since I was 5... well maybe a little sooner than that, but it sure feels like 20 years. Pray for me. Pray for him...

So that's it. Much love to you all. This weekend I am making a 14 layer cake, a few pies, and who knows what else... All to benefit a bake sale for an awesome cause...

Its 9:39PM and I might go to bed. 

Don't let the bed bugs bite, 

-S

Brothers and Gator Tacos!

I love Wednesdays. I think Wednesdays are simply fantastic. In fact, every Wednesday morning I wake up and think, “Oh Yay! It’s Wednesday!!”  Now some of you are probably thinking that I am plain crazy… after all Wednesday is the middle of the week, it’s certainly not “Friday, Friday, Friday” (bahahha, I hope you know why I joke), and I guess unless you are in a church choir or attend  a Wednesday night supper, Wednesday is just plain ordinary. But let me tell you what is so extraordinary about MY Wednesdays… 

I moved to Houston TX about 21 months ago, so I guess almost two years now, wow! And I moved here knowing barely a soul, started a new job, moved into an apartment all my own, and lived life as a normal then 24 year old. Well, every Wednesday we host the Grace School Chapel service. The Middle School Ministry, which is what I do, plans the music, speakers, and everything in between. It is held each Wednesday right before lunch – and let me tell you my stomach grumbles the whole way through. I cannot remember how it started, but after chapel one day we decided to go to lunch; we being myself, Ben (the worship leader at Grace) and Eric, my partner in Middle School Ministry crime.  Who even knows where we went that first time, but sure enough the next Wednesday rolled around and we found ourselves again sitting around a table enjoying conversation, life, laughter—and of course a delish meal! (Everything I talk about involves food, oh my!) Actually, there for a while we were going to lunch more than just on Wednesdays – we even coined a name for ourselves, “Yummy In My Tummy” – we had plans to rate every place we went, vowing to try as many ‘new to us’ restaurants as possible, and then make a website to let people know about it—such big dreams! This lasted until we realized that eating out all that much was just not feasible for our wallets or waistlines… So Wednesdays it was. 

Now we have tried many different kinds of restaurants… Café Pita, Shwarma King, Cheeburger Cheeburger… we have tried Asian food, Mexican food, and many a times frequented Eric’s all-time favorite, Wing Stop.  We have sampled and tasted off each other’s plates. We have given 5 stars and no stars. We’ve had belly aches, and not just from strange food, but from all the laughter.  Even our Monday Game Club I am pretty sure came as an idea from Ben out of one of our lunches (I had been carrying Farkle in my purse).  Sometimes, and now, more often than not people have even joined us on our venture. Mostly it is just me and ‘the boys’ – Ben, Eric, Jason, Brian and sometimes even Frenchie.  It is absolutely fabulous. In fact at this moment, I might even have a tear gracing my cheek.

These 21 months of lunches have meant so much to me, they are sacred. I cherish that hour (well, sometimes an  hour, more like 2… well except for that one day we went one place for lunch and another for dessert, that may have been a 3 hour adventure).  These boys, well they are not just my friends, nor my co-workers, they are my family.  I grew up as an only child, but I cannot think of greater guys to call my brothers. 

I am absolutely grateful for Wednesday. It is part of the reason I call Houston home.  Man, could I be anymore blessed? I think not.  I think I am going to start cataloging our restaurants by taking photos of us each Wednesday and recording what we ate – just for a memory…

So, today we went to Bordeaux’s, a Cajun inspired restaurant that Brian insisted we try since we have been experiencing Louisiana weather the past few weeks. I drove us AND had the Gator and Shrimp Tacos, Ben almost passed out from the smell of Jason’s Po’boy sandwich, Brian had TWO HUGE slices of jalapeno corn bread, and Eric, well he rode backseat middle – and loved it!

People on the Prowl: Match.com

Comfortable Flower? Cowboy Take Me2049?  and last but not least, Able Action1693?

Well, no I am not starting a garden in my backyard. Nor am I a Dixie Chick.  I am most certainly not a piece of Able Action, but somehow after hours of fine tuning, many questions later, and a name generator...meet Two Step To My Heart, aka me. 

That's right, welcome to a preview of the coming attraction, "Sara joins Match.com", featuring Twosteptomyheart.  See how this well thought-out drama(free) love story about a girl who just wants to dance "cheek to cheek" until the "sun comes up" with a boy in boots and a heart for Jesus plays out in the big city of Houston TX.  Roger Ebert would give this riveting tale two thumbs up, that is, if he knew how hard dating online actually was!  

So, I joined Match.com. It took some convincing from my sweet roommate, but alas here we are. I think it might be a good option. I am about a month in and frankly have been dying to blog about it. BUT in doing so, that meant that the WHOLE world (because we all know the WHOLE world reads my blog, ha) would know that I was trying online dating. And not that there is a strange, weird stigma attached to online dating... oh wait, there just might be, but airing my dating life, or lack thereof really, just seemed to put this on a whole new personal level. But hey, why not?!

I have filled out the zillion questions, wrote about my likes, dislikes, my preferences for the dude of my dreams, and a month later here is the sitty: 

Ten things I have learned...

1. Christian men on Match? Well it's TBA.
2. If someone is interested in you and you do not respond, shouldn't that be a sign?
3. I met ONE guy that I thought might be promising, buuuut no. 
4. I had Whitney re-write my profile from her perspective. Oprah Online said, "Since your friends know you best, have them try writing your online profile". So she wrote, I approved, added some of my own banter... and well, no big changes. 
5. Yeah, I did do some research from Oprah on "How Best To Go About Online Dating; Tips of the Trade" BAHAHHAH 
6. I never thought of myself as superficial, but it is something that I am having to work through... I'm trying to read a person's profile before I gaze at their 35 uploaded pictures. Oh, and guys, here is a TIP: seriously... you are looking for a lady, don't have one in your photograph, kind of sends the wrong message.
7. Apparently people think it is ok to ask for your number, or give you theirs, even if you have only sent a "wink"... I think not.
8. My Tagline reads: "Cowboy Wanted!" Is that too specific? Probably...But seriously, two-steppin is a must in my book, or at least they must have a desire to try. Anyway, I think it is probably better than the last person in my "Today's 5 top Matches" category; his was "Pick Me! Pick Me!" 
9. So, I am thinking maybe eHarmony might have been a better choice - my friend Amy told me they ask a lot more questions, therefore being able to wean out people who are not right for you... Because frankly, Match.com just has not quite got this down...(down to that exact science you know... haha).
10. Lastly, this experience thus far has been pretty entertaining. It is fun to see and read about what people around me are looking for, who they are, and my favorite, the things people sometimes include in their profiles... I do not need to read an essay on how you "hate the drama from yo ex baby mama" or how online dating is your "last resort to finding love"...

We will see where this adventure takes me, I figure in the past year I have met, face to face, about three single men, so we are already making more progress then that. And if nothing else, there will always be good AND entertaining material to blog about!

Signed, "Check Yes or No",

-S

Ps. Stay tuned for more riveting tales from the front lines of online dating. You think People Of Walmart is intriguing, wait until you see my version of People on the Prowl: Match.com.