Diabetes + CollegeLife

Kooking with the Katies #???

so here is the latest new recipe katie and i made! its chicken-spaghetti supreme and its amazing. here is the recipe if you’re interested : )

4oz. spaghetti ( we used whole grain )
1/4 lb. bacon, chopped ( turkey bacon tasted just as good!)
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 (16oz) can of tomatoes, chopped ( we used a can of rotel w/green chilis for an extra kick)
1 (10 1/2 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c. of milk ( skim!)
1 c. american cheese, shredded ( we only had colby jack, and it was wonderful, so use what you like : ) )
2 c. cooked chicken, cubed
1 (10oz) pk. frozen peas, thawed
1/4 c. parmesan cheese ( again, we had an italian blend so thats what we used)

1.preheat oven to 350.
2. cook spaghetti, drain.
3. while spaghetti cooks, in large pan, cook bacon, onion and garlic until bacon is crisp. ( our onion started to burn before our bacon was cooked so you might want to start bacon then add onion and garlic)
4.blend in flour, tomatos, soup and milk. cook and stir until thick and bubbly.
5. add shredded american cheese, stir until melted
6. then stir in chicken, peas and noodles
7. pour into 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. ( we did ours in a 9X13 and it was perfect)
8. sprinkle with parmesan cheese
9. bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes

spring semester is in full swing now. i am taking a communications class, college algebra, art survey, drawing 2 and 3D design. i still haven’t met with two of my classes but already have plenty of work. its going to be a busy semester with my little friday job, trying really hard to work out everyday and of course the school work. katie and i have already made a new recipe. we made a black bean soup and it was SO delicious and really easy! today i drove around a parking lot for 40 minutes because for some reason a ton of people all wanted a spot at the rec. center at 5:00. so i was a few minutes late to my Zumba class, but i still had a great time. 

so far, everything is going great. I’m really looking forward to going to UFC in nashville this weekend with my family! : D

k. 

the end of ‘11 and the start of ‘12.

i started writing this blog at the beginning of january 2011. what an incredible, hectic, crazy, sad, happy, fun year it has been. here is a recap of my two-thousand-eleven.

in january, i announced that i was going to study at Middle Tennessee State University. I was ready, already knew who i was going to room with and started planning out apartment decorations! i also got my iPhone and macbook. I’m now forever a mac. love it! then it snowed the most snow i have ever seen-about 8 inches! made some awesome memories with my sisters in the snow. kacey was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. senior year became so stressful. its a miracle i made it through calculus-never could have done it without kaylee ann and neha! i also turned 18 this year-to celebrate i got my cartilege pierced! i graduated and loss two pets all the the same week in may. that was just week of up’s and down’s for sure. i also went to the bahamas with my best friend, michelle, in may! such a great trip! june and july were gone in a blink of an eye. i registered for college, went to centrifuge. got to spend two weeks in hawaii with my family, grandparents and cousins! had the best camp session at TCDC with my twin, kacy! and then came august. i, unlike many teenagers my age, wasn’t  ready to move out. i wasn’t dying to leave my parents. i love my family. but it was time to start a new chapter. i cut 8 inches off my hair and donated it. in late august, i moved to murfreesboro with my roommate katie! we had so much fun decorating our apartment and it looks soo good! we are very blessed to have everything we have. and i am very happy to have her as a roommate.  the semester began… i went to the wrong class on the first day but from then on, i had a great semester and liked my professors. katie and i did lots of DIY projects and had a few trips to sweet cece’s : ) we also bought fish. murphy, louis and phoebe.  katie and i also have been watching friends from the very beginning. we are currently on season 6 i believe.  in september i had my 4 year diabetic anniversary! katie and i also did a lot of cooking, making lots of new recipes together. october came. i fell in love with zumba. got a job as a child care worker. katie, stephen and i met our care family. my dexcom arrived! found myself a winter starbucks drink! in november, we went to UTK for a football game against MTSU. we lost. i had a wonderful thanksgiving. it felt so good to be home! i finished up my first semester of college! whoohoo. four A’s and one B+. very pleased. 

winter break. well i don’t know where it went. was i really home for a month?? i had an awesome christmas. my best friend came and stayed with me for a week. i did crack the screen of my iPhone : / but it all turned out just fine! : ) happy new year! its 2012. whattt??? no way. and now its time for spring semester to start. i just can’t believe it. i don’t want to leave! i have enjoyed being home so much, from home-cooked meals to having family couch time. and I’ve loved hanging out with my little kitty. its harder heading back to murfreesboro now then it was leaving for the first time. but i know that is where God wants me and i know he has great things in store of me. 

I’m looking forward to hopefully another great semester and a great 2012. 

i have just a few more days left and i feel like i am running around with my head cut off. its going to be a crazy two weeks!

THANKFUL

here are just a few things of what i am thankful for.

- my family. i am thankful for the rare relationship that we share, all the hugs and kisses, friday night fun, couch time ( watching survivor for the last ten years), and the journey we have been on while moving all over the country. i am thankful that i have the best parents in the world and the great example they have set for me!

- my sisters. so glad we got past that stage of yelling and fighting over baby dolls : ) i love you both, bear and boo!

- everything diabetes related. tcdc and all the friendships i have made. my dexcom. definitely insulin- ‘cause without it, i wouldn’t be writing this post.

-my best friend, sugar cookie and significant other. i am so thankful you were persistant in inviting my to sit with you in middle school. i am even more thankful that even after i moved away, you’re still my best friend. 

-my twin. no one understands my diabetes better than you. i wish we still could Skype when we got ready for the day-  i miss spending every day together.

-my roommate. i love living with you! all the Friends, sweet cece’s, picking out outfits/looking in my full-length mirror, looking at pinterest and surviving college. i don’t know how i would have made it through this first semester without you! 

-the ladies in my youth group. i love you girls very much and i really miss you all! every time i hear “buttons” i think about the underground dancing in texas. and i wish we could have more girls sleepovers!

-zumba. i am so glad i have found a kind of exercise that i love!

-my three mentors: bethany, lauren, molly.  you three have taught me so much. i am so grateful for my relationship with you.

-my freedom. i am thankful for all the men and women who are serving, have served and died for my country. 

-Jesus Christ. for dying on a cross for me.