Creole Wisdom

the best kind of party.

Sigh. Was it mean of me to post photos of cake like that? It was delicious, like red velvet always is.  Happy birthday celebration for Katie at her and Greg's place. It was so fun. Karen. Kate. Katie. Me. Sitting, cake eating, and champagne/coffee drinking. So wonderful. I loved Karen's up-do. I missed Becky and Alicia. I could not finish my cake. So Kate eat the rest of it. The night was so fun. We chatted. We laughed. I love them.

girls in lakeland (part 2)

 
Last morning on the lake: wake up and look out at the gorgeous water.  Then, naturally, go for a final jet ski run :)  I drove this time, a crazy 30 mph!  But that's kind of fast when you consider the force of those machines and the big waves.  Maybe I'm not as wild as Kate who prefers to go 60!

Get ready, say thank-you to Karen's family, and head on down that crazy bumpy road to... a coffee shop straight out of Gilmore Girls.  Very sweet.  Delicious food and the biggest desserts you have ever seen!

Around 4pm I headed back on the road, following Karen and Alicia with Kate in tow.  It was great to have a few hours to just catch up.  It was so fun to drive down the road and see the city come into view after a few hours... it was good to be home.  Sunburned, crazy bleached out hair, and dry skin besides it was a fabulous weekend!

girls in lakeland (part 1)

Drove the hundreds of miles from the city to a sweet little town called McGregor.  I did not get lost, the car did not break down, and I had the windows down the whole way.  It was an easy drive minus the crazy bumpiness of a gravel road right before Karen's cabin.  I am not a country girl! Paved roads = easy driving.

Karen, Kate, and Alicia came out and were waving at me when I arrived.  How can you not love a greeting like that? I got on my bikini right away, and walked out on the porch...

See? I told you I wasn't playing.  This is the best place on earth to live. Since we are deprived from normalcy during the winter months... it was time to get our share of vitamin D.  I need it, oh I need it!

We spent the afternoon lounging, riding on the jet-skis, and "roughing it" by munching on: fresh Washington cherries, brie on carr's crackers with raspberries on top, mango slices, and gigantic strawberries with fruit topping.  Did I forget to mention the hint of lime chips, thick salsa, and pink champagne? We don't mess around.

In case you are wondering, the lovely ladies are: Sam (Karen's high school friend), pretty in Irish green Karen, Alicia, your's truly, and boo-boo.  Our photographer/entertainment/Kate's big bro and SAE (how's that for an introduction?) Ryan took that lovely shot. 

Ryan did better than well stuck in a cabin full of crazy ladies.  He can out talk anyone (and I mean ANYONE), and was a countless source of laughs.  I believe my favorite quote from him was: "the most beautiful a woman looks is when she has just given birth... to your baby!" LOL.  Hilarious!

When evening rolled around we promptly changed from sundresses to our fourth of july gear- which for me included the AOPi yoga pants that I wish I could quit.  A sick addiction, as I have an image of myself wearing them in a four season's eque nursing home someday.  They are that good!  Karen's family was such a treat to be around (her mom, dad, sister, aunt, uncle, and cousin all stayed up the road at the "big cabin").  They were so kind to us, and treated us like royalty! Dinner was fantastic, and I gasp, tried a veggie burger.  It tasted good.  Alicia and I could not resist snail hunting on the beach as the night began to arrive...

Before we knew it it was fireworks time.  Of course we had to sing American songs before the show started... nothing will beat Ryan belting out "I'm Proud to be an American" in the "Creed" style.  Too funny.  There were certainly some good fireworks and sparklers... stay tuned for part 2!

we are/always

Boo-boo (yes, that's Kate) came over last week.  I was tired, it had been a long day, a day when I considered taking a mammoth nap once I pulled into the driveway (in the car. I know. sad)  But, she suggested dinner.  And I felt invigorated.

Here's what we whipped up, spinach and parm stuffed chicken.  Delightful. 

Can you see how good it was? I will certainly post the recipe readers.  Here it is, keep in mind this is not low-cal, but is anything really divine? No.  Plus there's the protein factor, so go into this guilt free:

You will need:
6 cups (6 ounces) fresh spinach
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1/4 cup freshly grated parm cheese
Salt
Ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch of ground red pepper
2 chicken breasts, split (or just stuff under the skins, like I did)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Method:
•Preheat oven to 450 degrees
•Cook spinach, drain, and chop
•Melt butter, saute onion in pan and add mushrooms (for 5 minutes)
•Mix parm, salt, pepper, nutmeg, red pepper and spinach
•Add onions and mushrooms. Mix with fork
•Stuff mixture under skins/inside of chicken pieces
•Heat pan, add oil, and cook chicken 5 minutes on each side
•Transfer to baking dish, bake 20 minutes then turn and then 20 again
•Enjoy : )

And I love having friends that I can cook with.  I love Sunday dinners with Emma, and brownies with Karen, achieving "stiff peaks" with Katie... it is all good.

let your love flow

Katie planned the most brilliant sister-get-together.  All six of us met up at the Original Cheesecake Factory (crazy big portions) for a "Monday night dinner" at 6:30pm.  Just like old times.  Joy is defined as many things, and one of them, for me, is dinner with my sorority sisters.  I feel blessed and honored to know, love, and be loved by these amazing women. 

It was great.  I got the salad and apple crisp and stayed for the conversation, way after the ice cream had melted and the whip cream was less than stiff peaks.

We chatted about many things:
•Engagement rings and wedding bands (so typical girl talk, but it's good!)
•Who in their right mind would only bring TWO pairs of pants for a SEMESTER abroad, like the "suggestion" list said to?!?
•Cute dresses and where they were from
•Boyfriends' families
•Racial and political issues
•Kids at work
•Our sorority, ritual
•Plans for a fun party at papa bear's house [maybe] :)
•How blessed we are to have each other!

They made my night.

senior send off

Eventually, all wonderful things must come to an "end."  I am so thankful for my time spent in AOII.  Truly the best years of my life to date- I am so blessed.  As the new adage goes... if I paid for my friends, I did not pay enough.  True, true!

So, for the last time I sang the prayer at dinner as a collegiate member, and the special senior verse of The Omega Song.  We had a nice meal, with some great desserts: cheesecake and grasshopper pie.  The tables looked like they always do: gorgeous

After, the entire chapter along with our alumni adviser and house mom, Mrs. Johnson, gathered in the living room.  Each year a senior can give a rose to another member, someone who she really admires or cares about.  I had two girls who I wanted to give my rose to, and I also had a few letters to read, too. 

First different members of the chapter got up and read letters the seniors' parents had written to them.  It always gets emotionally, and I just loved the letter I got.  Thank you, mom and papa bear.  After our little sisters got up and read letters from them and gave us each a beautiful picture frame.  Becky wrote me the sweetest letter.  I just love her.  Then it was time for the seniors to give out roses: I gave mine to two girls who I really admire, but do not know too well, Marissa and Sarah.  They are wonderful.  I also read two letters, one to Kate and another to Becky.  When we finished, and after tears and such, we went around and gave advice.  Mine was: "don't worry so much about school, spend time to talk to your sisters and put down your homework to really enjoy college.  No employer ever asked what my GPA was." 

Then, one last senior photo on the beautiful front porch of our house:

Being a member of Alpha Omicron Pi has truly meant the world to me.  It is a hard thing to understand, but I feel blessed everyday because of these fabulous women who I am privileged to call "sisters."  My years here were not always easy: boyfriend drama, lots of school work, religious trials, but I always had my AOPis to help me through.  I cannot wait to give back to the chapter as an alumni member: with time, financial gifts (eventually), and of course when I have a daughter... she'll know where to go!

you got the love [boat]

and just like that it comes to a real end.  this was my sixth and final sorority formal.  and of course it went out with a bang, lots of craziness.  just the way I like it.

kate and I started the evening with a little formal ritual that started exactly one year ago: b&w photos with sunglasses.  she's my girl.

she learned that sassy lip move from me.  yes she did! j even does it now : )

now we look like our sweet and "normal" selves. the craziness comes out at random intervals that are usually unexpected and a treat!

from there I headed to the liquor store: pink champagne.  you can laugh, but why waste your calories on something un-glamorous?

over to claire's where the seniors had a little pre get together.  j came after a day of grading, bless his heart.  and he looked very preppy and dare I say it... almost fratty (j if you are reading this, don't kill me.  you usually resemble a British engineer. xo).  we're used to it: boys were rocking their blue sear suckers pants, boat shoes, and linen jackets.  lovely!


It was time to catch the buses (safety first!) that was a bit dramatic, but we got there!  we had a double decker boat on beautiful Lake Minnetonka.  Our theme: love boat.  Certainly, but more like crazy boat, thankfully no one fell off!  Goodness!

we had on our matching jcrew cardigans : ) and here is j at the bar: "they wouldn't let me order you a drink, I tried."  oh goodness!  so I go up there, "can I get a martini?"  and they don't serve them.  that's a sad day, I tell ya.  J was aghast, that is his favorite drink (and my dad's too!) 

dancing was so fun.  I think they played "I'm on a boat" about 20 times.  People were hanging out in the front of the boat, and on both floors, too.  There was cheesecake, spinach dip with baguettes, and salad caprese.  and cloth napkins, you know I make note! lol!

it went so fast, and I am heartbroken that it's over.  are there parties like this in the adult world?  please tell me yes.  I always have the best time at formals, and I loved wearing my Lilly. 

my dream come true

It's almost a month until my graduation, and a few things have been weighing heavily on my mind.  I know that I talk about AOII often, and how much it means to me.  I am so happy to have found a place where I "fit."  I think college, especially as a large university can be a daunting experience.  This place is my home, and is filled with my dearest friends.  Because of the Greek community I have excelled academically, filled leadership positions, learned how to network, met all types of people, and loved every minute of it!  So, as this time comes to an end, I cannot help but smile for all the fun that I've experienced here.

This photo was taken for the Daily, and will appear in the "yearbook" type publication that will be distributed at commencement.  Cannot wait to see it!

it didn't quite kill me-

So, the week is near an end.  Coronation is this evening, which I will be gone for (tear).  I've got dates with J, ya know.  After all, this madness is de-energizing.  Last night I came home from a quiet evening with J to find the house bubbly and alive with voices, people.  We held our annual AOPanda Express- where we sell food (in the Greek community they are called "feeds") to raise money for our philanthropy: juvenile arthritis.  Of course there was drama, well, it's all kind of funny, but I was majorly asleep by that point!

Anyway, I didn't get a chance to blog about skits, which were Wednesday.  This is when each candidate brings members of their house, and they put on a skit for the entire chapter.  They basically make fun of the seniors and it is hilarious.  I loved seeing college boys trying to imitate me.  Hilarious.  We also got "awards" from some houses, too.  From AGR I got a "citation" for "having an extreme obsession with scrap-booking and photography."  Bless their hearts,  there's no "-" in scrapbooking!  From ADPhi I got "most likely to be a stay at home mom while scrapbooking all day... Katie Harris so she can watch TLC and make crafts with her 10 children all day."  LOL.  See, I told you, funny! Of course some houses went the sweet route, and sang to us- writing us songs and raps.  I loved it!  This is fabulous.  If you are reading this and are contemplating going through recruitment.  Please do it.  You won't regret it.

bake-a-thon

Last night was our sweetheart week's bake-a-thon.  This translates into: each candidate bringing in something delicious they made and presented it to the seniors first then to the rest of the house.  We judged on a scale of taste and creativity, discussing and arriving at the winner near the end of the night.  So amazingly good.  Let me show you a few of my favorites...

Lemon and shrimp bow tie pasta.  I just made sure not to eat the shrimp, but so amazingly delicious.  There was a wonderful lemony, spicy taste to it-

Is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen (minus a chubby baby)?  I like fruit pizza, and in the shape of a panda head... perfect.  FYI: the "symbol" of AOII is a panda, because they have no natural known enemies- just like AOPis : )

Delicious, perfect buns.  I loved these, especially the poppy seed one.  Of course this amazing dish was made by the Sigma Chi.  Naturally!

Personalized chocolaty treats by the Beta.  I loved that mine said "Katherine"