BBQ Pulled Pork

Y'all! You must try this recipe. It is some of the best pulled pork I've ever made and eaten!

The link to the online version of the recipe is here. I actually found the recipe in the All Recipes Guide that comes along with monthly magazines every now and then.

Recipe:

1 Pork tenderloin

12-16 ounces of root beer

1 bottle of bbq sauce

hamburger buns

coleslaw to top the sandwiches (optional)



---Place the pork in the crock pot. Pour the root beer over the top. Cook on low for 5-6 hours. Drain the rootbeer. Shred the pork and add the bbq sauce. Then heat just long enough to make sure everything is hot.

We put a little butter on our buns and toasted them in the skillet. I put the pulled pork on top and then put some cole slaw on top of that. It was legit. I'm telling you!

Let me know if you try it!

Guest Post---Emily Carnes

A Few weeks ago, I posted over at Emily's blog while she was in Africa. I thought I'd post it here too. Enjoy! 

I'm Leslie from Did YOU Hear about the Morgans?

It is an HONOR to be posting for Emily while she is away in Africa. I must admit, I am a wee bit jealous of Emily. I have always wanted to take a mission trip to Africa. Maybe one day, I will get the opportunity. 

When Emily e-mailed me about guest posting, she said I could write about anything. At first, I was overwhelmed by the word anything. It is one thing to post anything on your own blog and a complete other beast to post anything on someone else's blog! 

After a bit of thinking, I decided to write about one of my favorite things...marriage! 

My husband, Matt, and I have been married since 1/1/11. We were friends for 8 months, dated 6 months, and were engaged 9 days shy of 6 months. That means we have known each other for a total of 4 years. All that to say, we still have SOOO much to learn about each other and our marriage BUT here is what we have learned so far. I hope this helps and encourages some of you precious married or soon to be married people out there!

1. NEVER go to bed angry. 

I know this may sound silly to some but this is honestly one of the best things we have ever done. The bible says in Ephesians 4:26 "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." (NIV) In our short 2 years of marriage, there have been arguments and heated discussions but we have always made it a point to either resolve the issue OR agree to disagree until the morning. It's be a blessing AND a life saver. 

2. COMMUNICATE your feelings. 

This is hard for some people. In most cases, it's the men but certainly not always. It is important to share how you are feeling. Neither person can read the other person's mind. From my experience, holding in emotions? it NEVER helps. Be comfortable around each other and foster an environment for the other person to share his/her feelings. 

3. Have FUN!

Every marriage should be fun. If you aren't having fun, something needs to be discussed. Every married couple has at least one activity they like to do together. When times are hard, unite around that activity. Matt and I like to cook together, play board games, watch re-runs of Law and Order: SVU or go for a walk. All of these things help to bring us closer to each other. 

4. SERVE Each other. 

Every marriage should be about serving the other person. I won't go into detail too much here but click the link below to read a post I recently wrote about serving. 

Out Serving One Another

5. REMEMBER what's important. 

This has been especially dear to us recently as we have dealt with some issues in our families, lives of our friends etc etc. We have had to remind ourselves almost daily to remember the important things. The argument over how to hang something on the wall? Not important.

The attempt to prove the other person wrong about something? Not important. 

The reminder that we are in this together? SOOO important. 

Remember, always look to God and look to each other. Drown the world out AND? He will direct the path for your marriage. 

God Bless and PLEASE come visit my blog sometime! 

Fun Post...20 Questions

Found this fun little 20 Questions Quiz today and since there isn't too much going on in our world right now, I thought it would be fun to blog about it. 


1. What is your essential road trip snack? It used to always be Peanut Butter M&M's but now it's just whatever Matt and I both decide on. Usually it involves a soda since we rarely drink soda.

2. You've been handed 2 free round-trip tickets. Where are you going and who are you taking with you? Well, I would definitely bring Matt and I think we would go to Disney World. 

3. What was your high school jam? Anything Rap...I was gangsta :)

4. Would you rather have a perfect bum or a flawless face? flawless face and my flawless, I mean no blemishes. I would like to look the same with less break outs :)

5. What shows are you ashamed to admit are on your DVR? We don't have cable tv.

6. What's your ringtone? I don't use a ringtone because my phone is always on vibrate for work.

7. How old were you when you had your first kiss? Was it meh or toe-curling? This will surprise some of you but my first kiss was to Matt on our wedding day. (have questions, e-mail me). It was wonderful! 

8. Do you have any siblings, and if so, where are you in the birth order? I have half and step siblings. I am my parents only child. 

9. What was your first car, and did you name it? My first car was a Pontiac Grand Prix; no name though

10. What would you request for your last supper? Steak with creamy shrimp sauce, mashed potatoes, and salad

11. Have you ever been hospitalized, and if so, what for? No, I've have two small outpatient surgeries but that's all. 

12. How tall are you? Do you wish you were taller or shorter, or are you just right? 5'5"; most of the time, my height is just fine.

13. Do you prefer to DIY or hire it out? Always DIY!

14. What do you eat for breakfast? It varies daily but it's usually between the following: toast with peanut butter, cereal, or muffins/bread

15. What would you do for a living if you didn't need money? I love my job as a Speech Pathologist. I'd keep doing it; And honestly, the only other job I want is as a mom;

16. Finish this sentence: Every room needs... windows!!!

17. How frequently do you wash your hair? Do you have any hair secrets or tricks? every morning; no secrets here!

18. Will you leave the house without makeup? not for work but on mornings when I go to the grocery, out to exercise, etc, I never wear make up

19. You just unloaded your Halloween haul. What candy do you go for first? Reeses or M&Ms

20. What totally inane talent do you possess? I can say the alphabet backwards!!!

{TOP} Things we are looking forward to...

Matt and I have had a CRAZY couple of weeks. It feels like time has flown by and I'm not sure what we've done with it! We celebrated Matt's birthday on March 26th and that was 3 weeks ago---doesn't seem possible. We got a storage unit behind our rental house so we've spent some time moving things around in there and clearing out the previous unit we were renting. That's been time consuming for sure. We've also switched around our room and the guest room. We knew we would eventually do this but when we moved items from the storage unit, it seemed like the best time. With that has come added work and some fun.

I guess all of those things together have caused the time to fly and here we are on April 17th!

We have some fun trips and happenings coming up this Spring and Summer. Here's a quick run down.

THIS Saturday, we head to Raleigh for the Flyers' hockey game which is part of Matt's birthday. On our way there, we will stop by Chimney Rock for their Bi-annual Membership Sunrise Breakfast. We missed the last one so we are really excited about this one.

Then, during the first weekend in May, we will head to Nashville to see Matt's sister's family and meet our newest niece Emelia. She will be 6 weeks old then and we are ecstatic to meet her and see everyone else as well.

Then, 3 weeks after that, we take a big trip! We will leave on May 24th and come home June 2nd. We will get to see lots of friends, family and celebrate TONS of fun events while we are there. I've already started making my list of place I want to eat while we are in Louisiana...it's a necessity for this girl! I told Matt I want to have snowballs everyday! :) (Mom, can we handle that?)

Lastly, in July, we take a trip to Pennsylvania to see Matt's Dad's whole family. It will be a LOT of stuff crammed into a short weekend but hopefully LOTS of fun too!

By the end of the summer, we will have seen most of our friends and family but unfortunately, not all.  But since we can't have it all? We will take most.

What are your Spring and Summer Plans?

Pictures from Lately

Here's what we have been up to in random pictures! 

I've had several good hair days lately. Here's one of them.

Yummy Saturday breakfast in bed. Homemade biscuits and eggs. 

Getting sweet text messages with pictures of family. 

Nephew with new hat. 

Bro and Sis in law with new niece Emelia. 

Getting our garden ready. First step...planting onions. 

Making lots of wreaths and crossing my fingers that the PO gets them there on time! 

Playing Dominoes. 

More pics of baby Emelia and planning our trip in May to meet her. 

Celebrating Easter. Love my guy. 

Monday Cupcake Date @ Gigi's using a Christmas Giftcard. 

Text message from Sweet friend Jill with an ultrasound picture of her first baby! Can't wait to meet this baby! 

Matt's Birthday//S'mores Cake

Matt's birthday was on March 26th and he asked for S'mores cake and I was happy to oblige. (I got the recipe from Food Network Magazine. If you are interested, let me know and I'll send it to you.) 

Here it is at step one!

Right before the final layer-chocolate ganache

TADA! It looks like it a little bit of a mess but I promise, it was legit! 

 My birthday boy and his cake. It was in love. :)

 Matt and Granddad enjoyed a little television after cake. So precious. 

 On the morning of his birthday, before work, we went to Bojangles for breakfast. YUM!! 

Happy 27th, Matt. Here's to the best year yet. 

Guest Post

Hey Guys! I'm posting over on Emily's blog today. Check it out on the link below!

Be Blessed Y'all

Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to those who participated in my giveaway! It was fun to finally host my own with all of my favorite things (right now)!

The winner was:

DAWN!!!! 

Email me, girl! Let me know what wreath you pick when you e-mail. 

March 2013-- 101 in 1001 Update

March 2013--101 in 1001 Update

Our Goals

1. Add a member to our family. 

2. Pay off all student loans. (our own deadline: 6/30/13) (We are now under the $6,000 mark!!!)

3. Visit NYC.

4. Take a long road trip. 

5. Sell something on Etsy  

6. Have Dad's Crawfish in Louisiana.  

7. Take a trip to Louisiana at least once a year. (1/3) This year's trip is coming in May. 

8. Host a holiday in our home. 

9. Go camping.

10. Build a real fire.   

11. Rent or buy a house. 

12. Decorate the outside of a house for Christmas.   

13. Stay at or Visit the Biltmore.  

14. Serve in a soup kitchen. 

15. Grow our own tomatoes. (Matt is working on the garden with Granddad and Grandmom now so we just might be able to cross this one off soon!)

16. ******* ;)

17. Give an item away each time we buy something new (clothing, housewares, etc).  

18. Go on dates at least every other week.  

19. Complete a blog series together.

20. For one month, don't buy anything extra. 

21. Contact our family members at least once a week.

22. Go to a shooting range. 

23. Go sailing.

24. Get involved in a community service group.

25. Go on a mission trip.

26. Read at least one book a month for a year. (12/12)

27. Start a small business. 

29. Buy a new Christmas ornament each year. (2/3) 

30. Get a massage.  

31. Send a card to a friend or family member just for fun. 

32. Begin a photography business (big or small).  

33. Eat at a local/non-chain restaurant every time we travel. 

34. Visit a new place together once a year. (2/3)       (So far this year...Charleston)

35. Ride in a hot air balloon.  

36. Attend at least one festival a year in the state where we live. (1/3)

37. Stay at a B&B. 

38. Floss more- at least once a week. 

39. Give a 100% tip. 

40. Go see a musical. 

41. Eat a new type of food. (Korean, African, etc)

42. Repurpose a piece of furniture. 

43. Watch a sunrise and photograph it. 

44. Explore secret paths.

45. Do something nice for someone anonymously. 

46. Pick fruit at an orchard.  

47. Get a library card. 

48. Go to a garage sale together. 

49. Celebrate our Golden Birthdays in style! (1/2)

50. Make homemade ice cream. 

51. Learn a new hobby together.

Leslie's Goals

52. Lose my desired amount of weight. 

53. Continue to utilize this blog to document our lives especially once we start having children.

54. Get a Skype account and use it. 

55. Paint something worth looking at (not just a wall)  

56. Add at least one cross to my cross collection. 

57. Learn to make the best sweet tea my husband has ever tasted. 

58. Make homemade marshmallows.  

59. Sell/Give away at least one cake or cupcakes that I've decorated for a party/gathering/birthday/etc.

60. Plan a scavenger hunt for Matt. 

61. Bake and decorate each of Matt's birthday cakes. (2/3)

62. Rake someone's leaves.

63. Meet up with at least one other blogger whose blog I read. 

64. Complete a blog series or post about our wedding, including the planning. Just for my own sake :) 

65. Continue mailing out birthday and anniversary cards to our friends and family. 

66. Invite someone to stay with us for a weekend or longer at least once a year. (1/3)

67. Complete a vlog.

68. Go fishing.

69. Make a point to call my closest friends as often as possible, not just texting.

70. Take a continuing education class related to Autism or other childhood disorders.

71. Find a yummy Low Country Boil recipe and cook it. 

72. Take at least one picture of Matt and I every time we travel.

73. When we take a long trip (5+ hours one way), drive so that Matt doesn't have to. 

74. Take a trip to visit a few special friends (we know who they are).   

75. Take a cake decorating class.

76. Read a book, write a blog post about it, and link up with a book club blog. 

Matt's Goals

77. Run a 5k. 

78. Take a photography class. 

79. Take Leslie to an air show. 

80. Make a picture frame out of an old or hand-made window frame.  

81. Go to a college football game.  

82. Get a dog.   (DONE--on 3/26/13; Unfortunately, because of where we live, we were not able to get a REAL dog. Instead, I purchased an amazing stuffed dog from Build-A-Bear for Matt; Sure, it's cheesy but it helped us cross off a goal when it seemed impossible! :))

83. Get a new camera lens.  

84. Make my wife cry in a good/romantic/sweet/you get the idea way. 

85. Give Leslie a love letter at least once a month for a year.  

86. Visit Chimney Rock, N.C. 

87. Wear a suit, and look good doing it. ;) 

88. Visit a new, to me, zoo. 

89. Watch the Flyers destroy the Hurricanes in Raleigh (hopefully with Leslie).  (Coming up April 20th)

90. Fix something for someone.  

91. Cook something new and exciting. 

92. Swim in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

93. Make something from scratch. 

94. Do something with Granddad. 

95. Journal more often. 

96. Learn all the words to OR learn how to play one of Leslie's "high school days" favorite rap songs.

97. Teach something to someone.

98. Ride a horse.

99. Surprise Leslie with surprises.  

100. Spend an entire day, literally the entire day, in bed. Hopefully not while sick. 

101. Figure out how we will finish all 101 things on this list. 

Ours: 26/51

Leslie: 13/25

Matt: 16/25

Total: 55/101