Wouldn't It Be Nice

The fam jam just returned from a week at the beach. Let me tell you, I wasn't sure if we were going to make it... there were some touch-and-go moments in the car when traffic was backed up and we had yet to eat lunch. But that's okay, we're here.

We celebrated Father's Day...

This was all I could get him to muster up. Poor kid, he got nailed in the eye with a football on the beach that day. It's not a Schilling family vacation without blood, sweat, and tears.

Kyle's friend, Connor. What a character to have join us on this trip. He and Billy are kindred spirits, if you can't tell.

...and flew kites.

Billy means business when it comes to his kites.

Got some reading done...

I ended up packing more than this. And then buying more at the beach because I ran out of stuff to read. (Except that Bonhoeffer book. Still working on that one.)

...and these were the albums of choice for beach music. No rhyme or reason, it just happened.

Mat Kearney's City of Black & White

Adam Hood's The Shape of Things

We also had to call AAA about 5 hours after arrival because the car battery died. So, yeah. That was a fun way to start the trip off. 

I managed not to get burned. Mostly by just staying inside a lot, but also lotioning up with SPF 50 and 70. And you know what, after the first day out the fam was begging to use that 50. I've learned my lesson the hard way. Awkward sunburn from Amplify and afternoon Auburn baseball game? Yeah, just got rid of the lines from those. Pity, they were so pretty in pictures from formal.

And now the rest of the summer disappears. Thankfully there is still plenty to enjoy! Coldplay concert, East Asia, and Pi Chi duties, and playing with my favorite exec staff on the Plains all before classes begin!

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

 This week I had to say, "so long" to another dear friend embarking on a big summer adventure! Caroline is headed to Austria to take some classes and I'm insanely jealous! 

The girl who was a nun every. single. year. in our camp skit (I'm talking 8th-12th grade, people) is going to the homeland of her sisters. (Even though the "homeland" is probably Vatican City, but we're going The Sound of Music route here.)

Naturally, we had a little going away party. Complete with nun themed presents as parting gifts.

That's a real gem, right there.

Here's to hoping you clim ev'ry mountain, ford ev'ry stream, follow ev'ry rainbow, 'till you find your dream.

P.S. I expect you to full-on imitate the opening scene where Julie Andrews runs with arms wide opening singing that the hills are alive. Or puppeteer a production of The Lonely Goatherd. It's a toss up.

How To Win Friends And Influence People... the Kelsey Edition

I like to think I know myself pretty well. I know my strengths and my weaknesses. I know my spiritual gifts. I know my personality type in basically every kind of test you can take (ESFJ, yellow, tortoise... if you work in student involvement, you know what these all mean). I like to think I know how to use all of these to my advantage. 

I may not be good at a lot of things, but I do know my way around the kitchen. I'm no Betty Crocker, Mrs. Fields, or Paula Deen, but I do know what I can manage.

Granted, there have been a few unfortunate instances when my attempt at royal icing was anything but glamourous. Or when some orange rolls took a sad turn for the garbage disposal. But that's another story for another day...

Plus, this is the South. We cook and bake for every possible occasion. You know when life calls for a casserole or a quiche. Momma taught me to never show up anywhere empty-handed. And hello, I'm Baptist. Hunger is never an option. There's a reason it's called "comfort food." 

But here's the thing, I'm not one to hoard my recipes. 

Unless you ask me for my grandma's oatmeal raisin cookie recipe. Then I might hesitate. But I'll probably give it to you cause we're friends.

So I feel obligated to share with you how ridiculously easy these cookies are to make and how insanely good they are.

You'll eat the whole batch if you're not careful.

I'm talking Girl-Scout-Thin-Mints-on-CRACK kind of good.

Listen, I don't just toss that phrase around.

I was a Girl Scout. That stuff is sacred.

Okay, I quit after Daisies in kindergarten. But once you're initiated, you're in for-ev-er.

So here it is, the easiest and most delicious cookie recipe ever. You'll make friends wherever you bring these. And if you don't, then we might need to work on your social skills.

--1 box devil's food cake mix (I use the Betty Crocker kind)

--2 eggs

--1/2 cup vegetable oil

--1 Box of Andes Mint Chocolates (but you'll probably want two, because it's REALLY hard to not want to eat a few while you're unwrapping them)

Mix together the dry cake mix, eggs, and oil. (Your mixture will be kind of spongey.)

Use a cookie scooper and scoop out ~24 cookies onto a baking sheet. (Do not flatten them out! They'll do that on their own when they bake.)

Bake at 350 for 6-9 minutes.

While the cookies are in the oven, unwrap all of your Andes mints. Eat a few if you were smart enough to buy two boxes.

As soon as your cookies come out of the oven, plot an Andes mint on the top of each cookies, pressing down slightly.

Watch and wait patiently for approximately 2 minutes as the chocolate melts down. Take a spoon and swish around that chocolate so that it makes almost a frosting on top of your cookies.

Here's the hardest part: you can eat those cookies immediately, even though they're piping hot.

But I like to wait and let that chocolate set. It's much easier to transport the cookies if you're not dealing with ooey gooey chocolate. But hey, I've never heard anyone complain.

Enjoy watching people sneak off with two or three in their hands. Or an entire plateful. It's happened before.

April Showers Bring May Flowers, But What Does May Bring to June?

Having a mother who firmly believes you should never show up anywhere empty-handed, I kind of loathe May just a little bit for getting the sweet end of the deal right after April and then hoping June can stand on its own. Rude.

Well hasn't May just flown by? Or has it not? Oh bother, I really can't tell. I'm not even sure what I did with my month. So naturally, I looked back through my photos on my phone to assess the important happenings of the month...

Saw this little gem as I was waiting in the drive-thru breakfast line at Chick-fil-A before my final departure from Auburn for the summer. State Farm, you really win creativity points for this. And for this.  

Realized Taylor Swift and I actually have a lot in common. I need to warn her the next phase isn't quite as pretty as the donuts. Right, Hill?

Just enjoyed some time with the fam jam. As cats. Best $0.99 I've spent on an app.

Prepared for my Pi Chi babies. 

Prepared for East Asia. Clockwise from left: emergency eating utensils just in case I can't seem to make the rice and chopsticks work out, practicing at P.F. Chang's and this was my fortune, packing all dri-fit material, new dslr camera to record all of this in action

Cavity free! 

Got some new jazzy stationery for summer pen pals! P.S. if you want to save $25 on your Minted order,  use this link!

And things that were supposed to be of a somewhat serious nature suddenly became ridiculous.

Our exec loves each other more than we love coral. And that's seriously a lot.

 Here's to a happy June!!