Today is the first day of October, so I’m interrupting this anniversary week to bring you my monthly update!

Current Book(s): I’ve been wanting to start this one for months, ever since a friend of mine told me The Sword Of Truth books were her favorite series. This is the first one, Wizard’s First Rule. It’s total fantasy, geeky stuff, but I love it so far. Of course, I am only on page 94 out of 836. And there are eleven books in the series, all of which are equally as long. This might take me awhile…

Current Playlist: Big news, y’all. I bought an album! (Do they still call them “albums”?) Anyway, I haven’t done that in a LONG time. And I am very satisfied with my purchase, the self-titled premier of band Works Progress Administration. If you like Nickel Creek or Glen Phillips (from Toad the Wet Sprocket), you’ll love it. And you can listen to the entire thing on their website, too.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: WHEN OH WHEN will I be able to cut back on the ice cream?? I stopped by my in-laws’ house yesterday to watch some TV that I had them record for me, and I helped myself to some Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate. While I was still there, my father-in-law came home and brought me some Haagen Dazs. I couldn’t turn down a gift, so I ate the whole thing. Shame-inducing? Yes. Guilty? Yes. Pleasureable? Oh yes.

Current Color: Still a sucker for sage green, but dying to paint the rest of our house a nice neutral.

Current Drink: Water, of course.

Doesn’t it look refreshing?

Current Food: I made chicken marsala for the first time recently, and what do you know, it was amazing! Maybe I am a natural chef after all. Or maybe I just pick really easy recipes.

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Current Favorite Show: Oh Dancing With the Stars, you get me every time. I am not proud to admit that I teared up during the premiere, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t. I have no idea how something so ridiculous can make me so happy.

Current Wishlist: More money in the bank so my husband and I can execute all the travel plans we’re making for ourselves. Currently on the list: San Antonio, Kansas, Scotland, New York City, South Carolina, California coast.

Current Needs: To actually set a budget and stick to it. Help me, Dave Ramsey.

Current Triumphs: I taught a lesson at my church’s youth group last night, and I think it went pretty well. I celebrate inwardly every time I get through one of those, and then I ask my husband over and over what he thought of it. Last night he told me, “It was awesome! Your best one yet!” Gotta love him for that.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: Air bubbles in the IV pumps. I hear the beeping in my dreams.

Current Celebrity Crush: This is anniversary week; my only crush is my husband. :)

Current Indulgence: Between DWTS and all the ice cream, I think I have enough indulgence in my life right now.

Current #1 Blessing: Last night after I went to bed my husband went and put gas in my car. Little things like that make me love him even more. :)

Current Slang or Saying: I don’t think I have one of these. Although when I’m with the teenagers at church all of a sudden I find myself saying things I never would normally. Things like “chill”.

Current Outfit: Same old scrubs. One of these days I’ll take a picture of something cute I wear on the weekend so this isn’t so boring.

Current Excitement: We’re going to San Antonio TOMORROW for our anniversary trip! Some things I’m looking forward to:

Staying in this bed and breakfast

Going to SeaWorld since neither of us have ever been

A boat ride down the Riverwalk

Current Mood: Slightly weary from work, but mostly REALLY! EXCITED!

Current Link: I just have to share with you this awesome cooking website, Rouxbe. It’s not just a place for recipes, it’s an actual online cooking school. I used it to make the above-mentioned chicken marsala, and already I’ve learned about sucs, deglazing, and the fact that you can cut chicken breasts in half or even in three parts so they won’t be as thick – why did I not think of this myself??

Anyway, there is a whole lot of stuff you can access just by registering (for free!) and the website is so easy to navigate. For example, you can be watching a video recipe and if you don’t understand a word or a concept you can just click on that part of the outline and it will take you to a page to explain said concept, and then you can pick up right where you left off in the recipe when you’re finished. It’s amazing! Us newbie chefs (albeit naturally gifted) find it VERY helpful.

Happy October!