My thoughts...in no particular order

1. The bears are bowl bound!
2.  I think I'm still wet from the monsoon at the Kansas State game this past Friday.  Sic' em homecoming!
3.  I'm moving to Dallas in less than 2 months...whoa!
4.  Within the next 6 months I will have traveled to two foreign countries.  I've never even left the country before
5. I need a passport (see #4)
6. I'm a really really good procrastinator (strengths perspective)
7. I'm sore from bear cycle today...damn my 3 week hiatus from working out.  what was I thinking??
8. In exactly 2 months I will be having the first Christmas away from my immediate family (thankfully I have awesome inlaws!)
9.  My brother is playing for Louisiana Tech next year!  So proud!
10.  My husband has his first interview tomorrow!  So excited for him and am singlehandedly taking on all of his nerves...I guess that's my contribution.

The DOW went up 38.6 points today

How do I know that??

This is my current study spot

Steven and I both have lots of studying to do and he has to work on his presentation for some class where he gets to trade stock to raise money for Baylor endowed scholarships...eh I guess I'm proud.

He apparently needed some fancy bloomberg machine he can only get in this room so I joined him.  I feel extra classy reading about community development while the stock ticker scrolls above my head, CNBC is playing on the TV and I get to see how the dollar is trading with other foreign currency.  

1.390 with the Euro  if you must know. 

Oh and just incase I get bored I can see what time it is in Singapore, Bahrain, London and New York

Why we aren't having children soon

::our conversation after I told Steven that one of our couple friends is waiting to completely determine the name of their child until he/she is delivered because they want to make sure the name fits with the baby's personality::

Steven: Babies don't have personalities right out of the womb.
Katie: Sure they do!
Steven: how so?
Katie: well they can be calm, hyper, alert, looking around etc.
Steven: What?  Babies don't look around right after their born, their eyes don't even open for a few weeks
Katie:...that's puppies Steven...

Candle Math

I think I'm developing a slight obsession when it comes to candles.  I attribute this to my nose's amazing ability to remember and appreciate really good smells.   

Example 1: When people ask "what is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex" my answer has always been the way they smell.  Weird, I know, but it's true.  

Example 2: When Steven and I were just friends our freshman year I used to always give him a hug, not because I particularly loved hugs, but because he wore the best smelling cologne.  

Example 3: Once we started dating I decided to buy him new cologne for Christmas because he was running out of his so I went to Dillards and picked out an amazing fragrance by Ralph Lauren that I just loved.  I called my mom on the way home because I was so excited about how great this cologne was and when I told her the brand she laughed saying "that's what your Dad wears."  awkward??? um yes...did I return it??? no because I had fallen in love with it 

Example 4:  My mom has always used Yankee Candles at our house and when I would get particularly homesick in college I would go to Bed, Bath and Beyond to smell the candles we used at home.  I never bought them because they were too expensive...

So needless to say I have been on the lookout for the perfect fragrance(s) for our home.  I fell in love with Woodwick candles a few years ago because the family I babysit for always had one lit when I would come over.  They are amazing because the wick is real wood and crackles (thus the name woodwick...)  When I went to the store to buy one a few years ago I realized their large jars were so expensive!  Why in the world would I buy a large candle for way more than I could buy one at Bath and Body Works?  So for the past few years I have been buying Slatkin and Co. candles from Bath and Body Works dreaming of one day being able to afford a large woodwick candle.  

Disclaimer:  Slatkin and Co. is actually really good.  The aroma will fill up your entire apartment, but I was really wanting the crackling sound the Woodwick candle makes...

But this year I decided to do some math.  I was admiring some Woodwick candles at the Hallmark store and realized that the medium jar burned for up to 100 hours.  I thought wow that seems like a lot....so I did some research and found out an amazing discovery!  WOODWICK IS CHEEPER THAN YANKEE CANDLE OR SLATKIN AND CO!  let me explain.  (this experience is truly life changing so brace yourself.

Slatkin and Co. (Bath and Body Works)

Price for 14.5oz Jar (Large): 19.50

Burn Time Max: 65 hours

Price per hour: 30 cents

Yankee Candle

Price for 14.5oz Jar (Medium): 21.99

Burn time Max: 90 hours

Price per hour: 24 cents

Woodwick Candle

Price for 10oz Jar (Medium): 17.99

Burn time Max: 100 hours

Price per hour: 17 cents 

So really it's all in the math :)

Needless to say me, my nose, and my ears (remember the wood wick crackles) are eternally pleased.  

Fragrances used in the Murray household to date:

Applewood

Autumn Sunset (purchased this afternoon. mmmmm fall :)

Things that make me laugh...

...people who call my husband "Steve" after he introduces himself.

For instance, the dialogue below has happened more times than I can count.

Steven: "Hi, nice to meet you (insert name here) my name is Steven"
Person: "It's nice to meet you too Steve"

He used to correct people, but now he just nods in agreement.

But just to be clear...don't ever try to call me Kate because I will smack you down.  Not that I don't like the name Kate, because I do, in fact I have many friends who go by Kate and it doesn't make me cringe...but for some reason I can't handle it being my name.

In fact only my sweet sweet sweet 83-ish year old grandmother is allowed to call me Kate and that's because she's too precious to say no to.

So the point of this post?  I laugh when people call my husband Steve and cringe when anyone but MeeMee calls me Kate.  

I leave you with my favorite picture of Steve and Kate (laughs while cringing :)

Ode to Pumpkin Butter

I have a new love of my life and it is called pumpkin butter. (Not actually butter, but a spread) I have been putting it in everything recently and thought I should chronicle my experience.

Now usually I try to only add my own photos to this blog when I cook food (unless I forget to take some).  But recently both my point and shoot camera and my phone camera have not been giving me the best pictures and this is a very important post :)  So I will intersperse my pictures with the pictures from Skinny Taste where I got all these recipes from.  (don't worry, I'm pretty sure you will be able to tell whose pictures belong to who...whom?  eh you get the point.)

Pumpkin Butter.
The crowned jewel in this whole experiment.  The perfect staple for your fall-inspired recipes.  I'm drooling just typing about it.  You can mix it with greek yogurt and granola for a parfait...mix it with oatmeal for a pumpkin treat in the morning...put it on toast...or "pumpkin butter fingers" (inspired by Joey on FRIENDS...obviously)

Pumpkin Spiced Crepes with Pumpkin Butter

This was the first time Steven and I had ever had crepes.  I don't have a cast iron skillet, which I think would have helped them cook a little more evenly, but they were still delish!

 Steven posing with the crepe he made all. by. himself.

Skinny Pumpkin Spiced Latte
This recipe was crucial to Steven and my health.  We gave up coffee (that isn't made at our house) for the entire month...during fall...aka pumpkin spiced latte month...what was I thinking???  So when this recipe came up on Skinny Taste where I could use pumpkin butter to make my favorite fall coffee I almost cried.

I have yet to have a full cup myself (we just found the recipe last week) But Steven has already made it for himself twice.  I decided to show you his mad pumpkin spiced latte skills below.  

 I could lie and tell you he loved me taking those pictures and putting them on the blog, but alas the husband does not enjoy taking pictures.  Luckily I have a great pouty face and he obliged (after telling me I was being childish).  Marriage is all about give and take and picking your battles. 

What's been cooking

Time for another installment of what's been cooking in the Murray household.  (ps...I am on the lookout for a point and shoot camera for Christmas so hopefully one day the pictures will look good)

Broiled Tilapia Oreganata.  

This is a super quick recipe that uses stuff we almost always have in our pantry.  Sorry for all the parmesan cheese.  When I took the fish out it smelled strange so I was hesitant that it wasn't going to be good and sprinkled cheese all over it. It tasted great (sans cheese) and we later found out the weird smell was from our oven...oh well :)

Baked Chicken with Dijon and Lime. 

 A Paula Deen inspired recipe which the amazing woman at Skinny Taste lightened up.  

 Chicken Milanese with Arugula and Tomatoes.  

Yum Yum Yum Yum Yum (that's all)

 Asian Glazed Drumsticks  

Steven loved these and they were great as leftovers a few days later.  

Oven Fried Drumsticks.  

Amazing recipe if you like fried chicken but don't want it to actually be fried. The batter is actually crushed up bran flakes with seasoning! We had my brother over and he loved them as well.  (Picture from Skinny Taste)