Good morning!
Sorry for my lack of posting last night…..it was a long story but here was the gist: Christie was supposed to leave New Orleans at 8 am yesterday to get here in time for the show (its about a 10 hour drive)….but who knows what happened and she ended up leaving around 11 am instead! So……she told us all there was no way she could make it to the concert (and she talked herself out of three tickets on the way but that’s another story) so we had to go without her, and then she showed up in the middle of the show still wearing her pajamas from her long drive!!!! It was crazy and fun!
I wasn’t really a huge Jake Owen fan before the show but I’m definitely one now...I just wish I could have taken more pictures but it was pretty hard to get a good shot. Here’s the one I got:
That’s Jake introducing one of his song writers. The concert was in our local high school’s auditorium, so the whole time I was only about 40 feet (if that) from the stage and the room only sat a couple hundred people. I have never been so close at a concert and it was really cool!
During one song he ran back to where I was sitting and serenaded a girl near me and that was funny. Would have been much cooler if he sang to ME but oh well! Betty is good friends with Jake’s parents actually and they were there in the first row, rocking out. He comes home every year at Christmas to do this to benefit some of our local charities. And I had no idea sooo many of his songs (he primarily writes his own songs) are based on Vero! Very cool since no one really even knows where Vero Beach is!
Before I left for the show I made a huge salad for dinner—-
It was a big mix of greens, cherry tomatoes and grilled chicken. Topped with feta, dried cherries and a big scoop of Sabra’s garlic hummus. Just what I needed!
(I also had two unpictured ginger cookies as we were walking out the door)
We got home around 10:30 and I got to bed around 11…I was soooo tired! Of course since my body is set on that early morning internal alarm clock though, I woke up at around 6:30 this morning. Bah! For breakfast I had the bagel I made yesterday—sliced, toasted and topped with peanut butter and raspberry preserves.
I used the peanut butter I bought last week but hadn’t tried yet—
I wasn’t sure if I would like this because I’m not a huge raisin fan AT ALL, but it was surprisingly pretty good because of all the cinnamon in it! There were not too many raisins and the peanut butter was pretty sweet. I felt like I was eating “junk food” (aka peter pan with honey….soo good but sooooo bad). I only ended up eating half of that banana because I was pretty full after inhaling the bagel.
I sipped on English Breakfast tea with stevia because the coffee pot is broken here! GASP!!! As soon as Christie wakes up though we are headed to Cravings, our old high school hang out for coffee and maybe a beach walk if its nice. Cravings is a tiny bakery that’s been here foreverrrrrr and we would go all the time right when school let out to get pain au chocolat or house made cinnamon buns. I don’t know how I ate like that and stayed thin! It sucks getting older! Damn metabolism 😉
Other plans for the day include CHRISTMAS SHOPPING because I not done ANY and today is my only day off. Granted I have the rest of my life off as of 3 o’clock on Friday, but I’d like to get some of it out of the way before next weekend. As much as I love to christmas shop, I admit it’s a little stressful because money is so tight right now! This is why I have a great idea but can’t share it with yall until unfortunately after Christmas because every one I know reads my blog and I can’t discuss their special presents! Hahaha sorry!!!!! You will know soon enough! How do YOU keep to your budget during Christmas?! It’s hard!!
Since I’m skipping church this morning to catch up and caffeinate with Christie, I’m going to break out the bible now to have a little bible study of my own before every one wakes up. Praise God for good friends, laughs and coffee! 🙂
Here are Christie and I last year at this time when she came to visit me in Orlando (woe to my long hair!!!!):
A year and a half ago when I graduated college:
2 1/2 years ago being silly:
On my 21st birthday:
And on a cruise ship headed for jamaica during a college spring break:
Crazy times
It was a fun cruise. Too much fun for my 19 year old self in international waters.
MAN! That was so long ago I feel like I’m getting old. Boooooo
Anne P
December 14, 2008 at 6:49 amlove the pictures 🙂
Courtney
December 14, 2008 at 6:55 amcute pictures! To stay in budget on gifts we are making homemade granola and putting them in mason jars with ribbon, etc. Cute gift and not too expensive. A good way to be able to acknowledge everyone at Christmas!
Moran
December 14, 2008 at 7:08 amThose are adorable pictures!!
Have fun with your friend!
Adie
December 14, 2008 at 7:20 amI’m from the panhandle of Florida and I know where Vero is. That’s where my boys, the Dodgers, had their spring training! I’ve been there quite a few times. Too bad this was their last year there 🙁
You think no one knows where Vero is? Try my hometown…Niceville, FL. hahaha
Shelby
December 14, 2008 at 7:33 amcute pictures =)
VeggieGirl
December 14, 2008 at 7:39 amHAHA!! Your friend sounds so fun – glad you’re able to spend time with her!!
Sorry about the PB – stick with the hazelnut-butter, my friend 😉
K
December 14, 2008 at 7:55 am3 tickets?! That’s impressive!!
Love the glob o’ hummus on the salad 🙂 When I got that PB a lot of the raisins were on the bottom of the jar.
Have a blast today!
Talia
December 14, 2008 at 8:15 amCourtney- I love that idea- I am also thinking of doing homemade for the holidays this year- a family cookbook for my family, and probably nothing for the adults from his side, but small things like coloring books and crayons for the kids….
Don’t we all feel like we are getting old though Jenna- I am married with a baby at 22- I feel ancient, especially since I do the grownup thing of working full time and going to school at night !
joanne
December 14, 2008 at 8:35 amI really like the new look of you site! Great job. Did you do it?
As for getting older and the metabolism…aren’t you in your 20’s? I think you have another 1/2 life left before that metabolism gives you more motivation for feeding your workouts.
Great pics – take care.
mh
December 14, 2008 at 8:35 amI feel so old too b/c I’m getting married this summer and I’m turning 23!! gah! all good things but I feel like I just graduated from HS yet I’ve already graduated from college! time flies! have a great time today with your friend! My fam loves to read (LIKE ME!!) so I order books off amazon (usually used books that are like new b/c I’m in law school and OH so poor! haha) and I make cards and treats and they love it! haha! its the thought that counts! have a great day Jenna! the pics are adorable
Mel
mh
December 14, 2008 at 8:35 amps I love you new heading! so cute
Jennifer
December 14, 2008 at 8:41 amHey Jenna-
I’ve been reading for about 2 months now- love your blog! I have similar views on eating/working out and just graduated college in May.. Just wanted to give a shout out to Vero Beach!! I used to go 1-2 times a year- my grandparents used to live by St. Edwards and i LOVED going to visit. I had a lot of friends growing up that would vacation there and we had a blast. Doesn’t Cravings serve ice cream as well? Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Oh She Glows
December 14, 2008 at 8:45 amLove the pics! It is so fun looking back on the ‘good old days’ eh?
PS- I love your new avatar!! So neat looking 🙂
Angela
http://www.ohsheglows.com
hk
December 14, 2008 at 8:59 amwooo new header, adorable 🙂
Erin
December 14, 2008 at 9:09 amI am working my way through a jar of cinn raisin PB and all the raisins are in the middle! 🙂
Fancy
December 14, 2008 at 9:23 amI eat that peanut butter spread on a banana for dessert every night:) You have to really stir it to find the raisins each time so I would recommend not referigerating it. I LOVE it, it’s delicious!
We used to have a restaurant here in Chicago called Cravings where we would hang out during junior high years, too! It was different than yours, though….burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc. It had the most amazing french fries I have ever had to this day! It closed years ago….so sad! Good times, good times.
You and your friend are adorable! Now all you need are some recent pics from this trip to add to the others throughtout the years.
Have a great day, Jenna! Have fun shopping!
rebecca
December 14, 2008 at 9:45 amYou are so pretty! You haven’t changed a bit since college years:]
And I think that is so cute that the coffee shop is named cravings! LOL
Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter)
December 14, 2008 at 9:49 amLove the new blog header! As far as Christmas budget goes, I make gifts for friends and coworkers. This year, it’s jars of pesto and homemade granola. Gotta balance out the savory with some sweetness 🙂
Laurel
December 14, 2008 at 9:58 amThe new header on your blog is stellar! I think it fits you and your blog perfectly.
How wonderful it is to catch up with old friends…have a great time! 🙂
Jenn
December 14, 2008 at 10:05 amHi Jenna,
I’ve been following your blog, as well as others for about 5 months now and I love it. I have tried a couple of your recipes and they are all good, however, my favorite sweets recipe is your Banana Bread. I love it… goes perfect with a cup of coffee just to snack on.
I love the pictures and the new header and I wish you tons of luck with your new job.
Have fun Christmas shopping, that is one of my to-do tasks today as well.
To stay on budget with money, my family has decided to do grab bag this year with a limit to $50. Of course your more than welcome to go over, but not necessary. We don’t include little kids though, but if we all get them little things like coloring books, or check out sales sections (and there is so many of them now) your bound to find a cute outfit or 2. For the rest (people I work with or know) I am going to buy tins and fill them with cookies, breads and fudge…just a little variety assortment of sweets.
Goodluck!!!
xxoxJenn
Christina
December 14, 2008 at 10:37 amLove the new look of the website. You should now call this blog “Eat, Bake, Run”!
ashley (sweet & natural)
December 14, 2008 at 10:38 amHave a good day with Christie! Love the new header. Super cute.
emily
December 14, 2008 at 11:10 amLove the college pix! I think all of us who went to college in FL took a caribbean cruise at some point, did you do one of the “$100 Special!!” ones?
molls
December 14, 2008 at 11:22 amcute pictures! I love your new header it is sooo cute!! Have fun today 🙂
Becca A
December 14, 2008 at 11:30 amI love that pb!
Katie
December 14, 2008 at 11:46 amThose pictures were so cute! I’m glad Christie ended up making it to the concert… it sounds like it was such a fun show!
Erica
December 14, 2008 at 12:06 pmLove the pics! Glad you had a fun time at the concert!
Ooohh, and I really like the new header for your blog! Very cute! Have a blessed Sunday!
Sharon
December 14, 2008 at 12:20 pmDigging the new header. And glad you had a fun time at the concert.
Great pictures by the way!
Meghan
December 14, 2008 at 12:35 pmAhhh christmas! This year I knit scarves for the ladies am going to make candied pecans, cashews and almonds for the gentleman and some cashew brittle for everyone to share. For my boyfriend I’m making a few different hot sauces and went to Walmart and had a few of those customizable “photo gifts” (plates, mugs, BOXERS, etc.) made with silly, stupid pictures of us.
Cassidy
December 14, 2008 at 1:06 pmLove the new header!!! 🙂
Anne P
December 14, 2008 at 1:24 pmsuper cute new header!!
Mara
December 14, 2008 at 1:24 pmLOVE the pictures, and your new header is adorable!
Lindsey (Mrs. LC)
December 14, 2008 at 1:39 pmlove your pictures from way back when! 😉
Christmas budget ideas – homemade all the way! I love Christmas shopping and finding that perfect gift, but this Christmas I’m still unemployed so no shopping for us. 🙁 (No present exchange for our newlywed Christmas for my husband and i!) 🙁 But we’re mainly gifting our families by traveling to be with both families for Christmas/ New Year’s. I’m also going to be making some homemade goodies like granola, peppermint bark, painted/ redone picture frames with pictures, etc.
LisaR
December 14, 2008 at 2:24 pmlovely pics! your hair looks really cute in the pic where you have that polka dot halter top on! And I also like the new header pic too! tres cute!
Oh and this year we’re tighter on money too so we did more thoughtful gifts this year! For a gift for my dad I got him a picture frame w/ a pic of him pulling up my veil from my wedding day! We actually did part of our christmas this weekend and my dad loved it! He got a little teary eyed!
I like what Courtney had to say about making granola and packaging them in jars! I might have to steal that idea! 🙂
LAE
December 14, 2008 at 2:52 pmI love reading your blog and have only commented a couple of times. I’m only 15, and when I read about the fast metabolism when your younger I thought about it for awhile, because I always feel bad when I don’t go and exercise or when I think I ate too much. I used to be worse, but someday I hope to me more relaxed about it. An example would be for this week, I have a few semester tests and kind of just want to not worry about exercising. In yours (or anybody’s) opinion wouldn’t that be perfectly fine? Then next week my sister will be back from college break and she said she would like to exercise during break. I don’t exercise much in the first place though, because I’m not in a sport this season but I don’t want to be like a lazy bum! Sorry my comment is long and I rambled on but I just wanted some reassurance, I guess. Thanks so much for having such a wonderful blog and have a good week(almost time for break!! yay :D).