Friday Night Date!!

It was so nice to finally go on a real date with Tyler. We've been so busy with school that our date nights usually consist of homework.

But Friday, we stepped out of the norm and had some fun!

We began with a trip to the new grocery store in town, Buy Low.

(Some of you may recognize this parking lot; it's right next to our favorite place to eat out--Cafe Rio!)

Don't let the name of the store deceive you--items in the store were their normal (higher than preferable) prices.

Except for their produce and fresh food. All their produce was super cheap-- 50 cents for a head of lettuce. $1.99 for amazing rolls.

So what did we do? We made hoagies! Mmmm! They were so good. We got pepper jack and provolone cheeses and brown sugar baked ham (Deli Selects--my favorite!).

AND strawberry shortcake stuff!

While I didn't take pictures of the hoagies (which were amazing!), I did get pictures of Tyler's Strawberry Shortcake Madness though.

Check this out:

1. The prep:















2. Getting started:















3. Half-way:















4. Final Product:



















Delicious!

We watched the movie Bolt as we ate our dessert.

It was so much fun. We had a blast just spending some fun time together, and putting off schoolwork.

Yay for real dates!!

I think that you should be proud of me...

For doing schoolwork today! (On a Saturday)

I have so many things going on right now. But check me out! I not only finished a novel early for one of my other classes, but I've already started TWO papers! (One due Wednesday, the other the last week of March.)

I'm planning on doing some cleaning in a little bit, then back to the essays or onto yet another novel that I need to read.


Technically, I have four that I ought to read, but it's a little late for two of them. Though, of those two, one of them I really do want to read, and probably need to for my final in one of my classes.

But check out the things I've been reading:

Notes From Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Paradise by Toni Morrison
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Mama Day by Gloria Naylor
All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes by Maya Angelou
Passage to India by E.M. Forster
A Room With a View by E.M. Forster

and so on. . .

I decided to stop listing the books I was reading. By the time this semester is over, I will be an E.M. Forster expert as well as a white interloper able to read and catch many nuances in African American literature.

I've really been enjoying this semester, and have learned a LOT.

But as things get busier and busier, I just have to keep reminding myself that I am completely capable of handling it. (Not on my own of course. I could not ever do this all on my own.)

So if you are looking for a good book, I can lead you in the right direction. Want a romance? Go with A Room With a View. Adventure? Tarzan of the Apes. Biting social commentary? A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Less biting social commentary? Howards End. Afro-mysticism? Mama Day.

Anyway, ask me at the end of the semester how many books I read that I was supposed to. So far, I've only missed a couple. (But out of 25ish? I'm awesome.)

Once more, wish me luck with student life.

And shoot, wish me luck at work, too.

We Have A House!!!!!

Well... at least the basement part!

Tyler has been searching tirelessly for two months for a good place for us to live after we get married. It's been pretty rough. Rent around here is going up, and as a soon-to-be newlywed couple, we were trying to find a place that would be a good deal so that we can keep saving money.

And a couple nights ago, Tyler found a great place!

We toured the apartment yesterday, and then offered to take it. Two other couples had toured it before we had, but they hadn't made any offers! We were so surprised. . . and felt very blessed.

It's an older place, but very nice. Each part of the basement is a room of its own. We have a living room, a bathroom, a kitchenroom, and a bedroom.

The location is really nice, too. We are right across the street from the Provo Library, and about ten minutes walking from Carly and Curtis. Maybe twenty from classes? I don't know, I'll have to time it.

AND

Last night, Tyler bought a suit for the wedding! It's a beautiful dark brown. And it looks so good on him! The total cost? Less than $80.

Other than that, life has been SO busy. New job, plus lots of tests = a VERY busy Karen.

"Busy, busy, busy" as the toddler version of one of my cousins would have said.

But, better busy than bored!