we're baaack {cont'd}

It was only a few days ago I wrote the "we're baaack" post, asking you to pray for me to find a job in Waco. Well, thanks! Yesterday around 10:00 AM, I went to an interview in Waco and around 3:30 PM I was offered the job! It was a quick process, but I am proud to say that I am the newest employee of Waco ISD. Thanks for the encouragement and prayers! I am sure there will be many interesting stories to come. Coming Soon: Diary of an SLP- Waco Edition

Oh! I almost forgot to show you this:

On the way into my interview, I saw this good luck charm in the Waco ISD parking lot! I'm glad to know I am in the company of a fellow clogger at WISD. I can't wait until the faculty/staff talent show! I may have to show him/her a few moves, but Locomotion could definitely be a duo number.

we're baaack

It's official, we are moving back to the 254! After a few college visits and lots of prayers, Tate has decided to go to grad school at Baylor University. When it came down to it, we had to make the final decision between staying Baylor Bears or becoming TCU Horned Frogs. Although TCU's campus was beautiful (shout out to our wonderful tour guide, Ali Foran) and Ft. Worth is a pretty awesome city, Baylor is just a better fit for us. Plus we already know we look good in green and gold. And let's face it, we were drrrreading having to change our blog name..."Baylor Barretts" just sounds better than "Horny (frog) Barretts" anyway. Something about that just doesn't sound right. Breathe easy followers (both of you), the Baylor Barretts are not only sticking around, but we are getting back to our roots! Back to where we first met, went on our first date and got engaged. Back to where Tate once referred to me as "the devil" and later called me his fiance. Back to where good food can be found at a cheap price and entertainment consists of throwing tortillas off of a bridge and seeing if you can get to the mailbox and back without getting shot at. Know that we will be sad, very sad, to leave our friends in Houston. You will always be our first family friends, richly blessing our first 2 years of marriage. But, at least if we have to leave you fine people, we aren't going too far away. Just drive a few hours North and we will introduce you to some of our old friends: hello Baris, hello George's, hello beloved Lavertys. We missed you all and can't wait to get reacquainted!

In all seriousness, thank you all for your prayers during this exciting and somewhat uncertain time. God is so good. All the time! He has provided in ways we could not have imagined and once again blessed our family. To Him be the glory! Please continue to pray that I find a job in Waco.

dance your shoes off

Sunday we were part of a church-wide flash mob! Jealous? Well, you should be because it was awesome! All five campuses of Second met at Discovery Green, a park in Houston, to spread the message of Easter and get our groove on.

Friends from our Sunday School class, Cord, were there to get down with us. Shout out to Meredith, Andrew, Catherine, Colby, Emily and Jamos! We practiced weeks beforehand. Not gonna lie, we were a little unsure of how it would all come together, but it was amazing!  

Everyone bought and wore a new pair of shoes. As the dance came to an end, over a thousand people took off their shoes, leaving them on the field to be picked up and given to people in need. Each pair of shoes will be given to those in Houston and on international mission trips within the next year. It was such a moving experience. Each time I watch the video I get a little emotional looking at all of those shoes laying on the lawn. Even more amazing: our "seasoned" pastor, Dr. Ed Young, danced alongside us in Row 12. 

You can check out the video here. Beware: there is a Danielle look-a-like in a pink shirt. You will think it is me, I wish it was, but it's not. If you want to find us, pause the group shot and look for the tiny blue and purple dot on the Left side of the screen about halfway back. Good luck!

what's cookin'

If you came down to our neck of the woods and asked to meet my closest friends, I would take you around the great city of Houston, introducing you to a few pretty cool people, and then I would take you into my kitchen and introduce you to my best friend of all, my slow cooker. After many unsuccessful newly-wed meals (ahh the good ol days) including but not limited to: raw meatloaf and baked steak resembling charcoal nuggets, I turned to this little gem for help. But over time, acquaintances grew into friends and friends into BFFs. I'll admit, it is somewhat of a one-way relationship: Her slaving away all day, patiently awaiting my return while I check things off my to-do list and am welcomed home by the pleasing aroma of her hard day's work. However, I want to take this moment to publicly say, "thank you, little red slow cooker for getting me through the first year and a half of marriage." I salute you!

Now, to all you fellow chefs newly-weds cooking on an envelope budget-

Here are some of our favorite recipes. A few of you have asked me to post these, so here ya go! They are easy, quick and most importantly delish!  Nothing better than walking into your house to the smell of (already made) brisket tacos! The following recipes can be made in the slow cooker, so plop a few ingredients in, sit back and relax while your new best friend does all the work! Enjoy!

Brisket Tacos
It is actually cooking while I type this and I am counting down the hours until I can gobble it up.
Be sure to make enough for leftovers or you will be kicking yourself 
the following day around lunchtime!
Appearances: Valentine's Day meal, dinner with the Pittmans, dinner tonight 

What you need:
2 medium onions (thinly sliced)

2 garlic cloves, pressed

1 (2-3 lb.) brisket

2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. chili powder

1 cup chopped cilantro

What you do:
1. Place first two ingredients in slow cooker

2. Add a cup of water

3. Trim fat, cut brisket into 3-inch pieces

4. Combine salt and chili powder on small plate

5. Rub brisket evenly with salt and chili powder, then place in slow cooker

6. Top with cilantro

7. Cover and cook on HIGH for 6-8 hours

{BB Recommendation: serve with sliced avocado, white cheddar and lime}

Chicken in Red Wine
This is a great meal on a cold day...or any day, really. 
Super easy and gives you a great excuse to buy a bottle of wine. If you don't use it all on the meal (which I don't suggest), you can have a glass...ya know, just so it doesn't go to waste. 
Appearances: Dinner with the Halls, dinner for the newly-wed Tollesons

What you need:
8 boneless chicken breasts

1 bag (16 oz) baby carrots

8 oz tiny pearl onions

6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled 

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/4 cups dry red wine or Sherry cooking wine
*Sid enote: I've made with both, tastes the same with either

3/4 cup chicken broth

1 lb. small button mushrooms

2 Tbs flour

What you do:
1. Place chicken in slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients except mushrooms and flour 

2. Cover and cook on LOW 8-10 hrs. (or HIGH 3-5 hrs.) or until juice of chicken is no longer pink

3. Skim fat off top of mixture and stir in mushrooms 

4. Mix flour with 2 Tbs cold water and stir into chicken mixture to thicken

5. Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes. 

{BB Recommendation: Serve with garlic mashed potatoes. Yum!}

Chicken in Honey Sauce
This is great Asiany dish (nice adjective, I know) Considering I heart Chinese food, and T won't touch anything resembling it with a 10 foot stick, this is the closest thing to it we get in out house. Despite his hesitation, he liked it (probably because it includes ketchup) and has eaten it since! Very yummy and super easy.
Appearances: Uhhh I forgot to go the grocery store and will make anything lying around 
and quick meals on Thursday nights before Small Group

What you need:
6 boneless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 lbs.)
*Side note: I usually only cook 2 chicken breasts for our little fam
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups honey
1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
sesame seeds
*another Side note: I never have sesame seeds just lying around, so they usually don't make the cut

What you do:
1. Place chicken in slow cooker; season with salt and pepper
2. Combine honey, soy sauce, ketchup, oil and garlic in medium bowl. Pour over chicken. Cover and cook on LOW 6-8 hours or HIGH 3-4 hours.
3. Garnish with sesame seeds before serving. Serve extra sauce on side

{BB Recommendation: Serve with steamed broccoli and white rice}

Hope you enjoy these as much as we do! Feel free to pass along other easy slow cookin' recipes. If you haven't done so already, make besties with your slow cooker. She's a keeper.

tall texan

Little late on this post, but last Sunday was the Tall Texan 70.3 in Boerne. Tate and Dad went to San Antonio Friday morning for some pre-race training which consisted of two rounds of golf at La Cantera. They ate breakfast with a real life IronMan Saturday morning to seek advice on a nutrition plans, training and other things Iron Men dream about. 

{golfing at La Cantera}

While the guys were in San Antonio preparing for their race, I caught a flight to Amarillo (or as Tate refers to it, God's country) for Tye and Katie's wedding shower. These ladies know how to throw a party! I was glad to be there. After watching them open 153 gifts and hopped on another plane to Lovefield to pick up the other half of the support crew, mom, and then down to San Antonio to meet up with our 

 triathletes. 

{wedding shower crew}

After we got in, we ate a quick dinner at the hotel and then it was back to the room to complete some pre-race tasks: write their ages on their leg and numbers on their hands, round up some bananas, yogurt and gatorade and pack the fanny pack. Sunday morning came early. 4:00 AM to be exact. This race was much smaller than the last 70.3 they did back in September. There were 120 participants and what seemed like only 20 spectators. It was small, but they were easy to spot. 

{1.2 mile swim}

At 8:00 AM they were off and into the water! They made it allll the way around all 4 buoys with ease. However, climbing up the slippery moss and rocks wasn't quite as easy. As they conquered the mossy rocks, two "wet suit stripers" were shin deep in the water, helping them out of their suits. Dad and Tate met at the transition area in a sea of bikes to gear up for the second leg. They put on their bike shoes, strapped on their helmets, and were off for the bike ride. Both have Felt tri bikes, so as they left the transition area, the announcer said, "There goes Team Felt."

{56 mile bike}

They stayed together pretty much the entire bike ride, give or take a few miles where one anonymous biker got burst of energy and took off without his buddy, only to do a U-turn at the turn around point to find his buddy kept up the whole time! He was right behind him. From there on they stuck together for the rest of the race. By this point PaPa and Uncle Randy had joined us, doubling the support crew! Tate and Dad came in on the bike looking sharp. I have to say, they even beat a guy with an aero helmet, IronMan sticker AND IronMan tattoo! As they entered the transition area, it was announced, "Here come the Felt Brothers."

{13.1 mile run}

After they suited up in tennis shoes and hats, they started up the rocky hill for the half marathon. From what they said, they ran the entire way, only walking through aid stations (which I'm told is mandatory). After the second loop, they rounded the corner to the finish line. 6 hours, 23 minutes. Dad beat his last 70.3 time by 30 minutes and Tate by over an hour! They did awesome, as always! Thanks for your prayers and support. Both members of Team Felt finished strong. 

{Felt bros}

Next stop: IronMan Texas!