blog with a purpose

Okay, so lately I've stashed a camera in the kitchen just in case I remember to photo something I'm doing.

Last Sunday it was Paula Deen's biscuit recipe. This is something that Mr. Perry has been asking for, for months now, so I got up and got to baking. I've never made biscuits from scratch before, but was surprised at how easy they were. Seriously, it took all of 10 minutes to get it all together. They tasted great, I just wish I had made them a little bit thicker. I'm pretty proud of them in any way.

All they took were butter, buttermilk (or milk),  and all purpose flour.

The first step was to cut the butter into the flour as seen above. Basically you just mash the butter up into the flour. This was the hardest part because the butter was cold, I have no strength. The instructions said to do this til it resembled corn meal. You do cube the butter before this so it makes it somewhat easier to work with. 

Then you slowly add the buttermilk (or reg. milk) until it becomes.. dough. Seriously, looked JUST LIKE biscuit dough from a can. You might have to use your hands. I had a Pampered Chef Mix n Chop from a shower and used that. Seriously LOVE that tool!

This is where I started thinking though..

I imagine you could add cheese, fresh/dried herbs, or something else arromatic and flavorful at this point to make some other delicious biscuits for various meals. 

.. but we stuck with plain for today!

Not sure whats up with that photo, but I rolled it out on a floured surface and cut out my biscuits. 

I will say, the didn't rise as much as I thought they would, so for round 2 this will be thicker. 

I ended up with 9 biscuits. I liked the size of the cutter I used, because I think it's a good sandwich size. 

OUR FINAL PRODUCT!!! 

The recipe on Food network didn't have  a temp or a time listed. I started at 350 *, but Mr. Perry had me bump that up to a solid 400*. Anyways, you bake til golden brown. 

I enjoyed mine with grape jam, and Paul with syrup. 

See I told you I could write a blog with a purpose. 

I actually have some photos and a blog waiting to be written but for now I'll just update you on my Monday!


I taught elementary school today.. third grade to be exact, and ya know I didn't totally hate it. Subbing in elementary schools always has been something I've never been 100% excited about. Yes I do realize this is what I spent four years learning how to do in college. My days there just weren't as easy as they were with my older kids. But... it's the holidays and I had a hair appointment, so I was determined to work as many days as I could. Even if that meant ..elementary school. Don't get me wrong, the kids are wonderful, and I love that after being there 10 minutes I'm already their bff. However, it can get veryyyy taxing with the constant questions and what not. It's also always something brand new. Each elementary teacher has their own way of doing things, and I never can quite get in the groove at the school.Very confusing at times. Sooo many behavior plans, seating charts, lesson plans or lack there of at times...were my elementary teachers like this and I just didn't realize it? One thing I do love however is that I actually get to teach. From taking attendance to lunch count and read alouds, I just adore being in command of a classroom. It's a pretty magical/powerful feeling to have 19 something young minds at your fingertips.

Anyways, back in June I became.. "chemically dependant", my hair stylist's nice way of saying you're stuck with me. I got a major chop off and some highlights. The highlights were brand new to me. Hard to imagine at 25 years old I had never had my hair professionally done. It just never really crossed my mind honestly.  I've had a trim since then, but today I finally went in to get the roots touched up. I'm honestly amazed at how long they lasted, and it even still didn't look that bad. We decided to definitely keep it short with LOTS of layers, in fact the shorter the better. If it grows out it just ends up in a pony tail and then has the potential to become ungodly long as it was before. We also took it up a notch with the color, a lovely blend of two shades of blonde, and normal blonde and blonde blonde. Instead of just my test run with the highlights as before they are covering my head.

You will see exhibit A below. It will take a little adjusting too, and some playing around with to get the right look, and also make up, but I think I like it! Now I'll really get to see if blondes have more fun!

a laugh

Thanks Mr. Perry, you always know how to make me smile.

life update

It's been a crazy few weeks here at Casa de Perry.

I'm working like a maniac in the schools, and learning to love it. Which may might just mean I'm learning to love teaching. We'll see, don't hold your breath though. I love the flexibility I have to pick which dates I work, and where I work at. I'm home by 4 which these days means, just enough time for a nap before dinner, and a load of laundry. Crazy to admit, that I wish I had more hours in a day to keep the house clean. I am becoming quite the little housewife.

We had a festive Halloween. I swear NOTHING comes close to any holiday in the HG, but this year was pretty neat. We didn't decorate (minus our pumpkin, which didn't get carved) and didn't pass out candy. Instead I got a small bag of treats for my neighbors and took the girls who live on our street trick or treating. I think they loved not having to walk around with mom. I think the mom's themselves loved it too. After that I headed to a small Halloween party at a family friend's house and enjoyed catching up with lots of fun people! I will say there is slightly more of a social scene here in L-town as opposed to Columbia.

This past week I've started to really get thinking about some upcoming events this month. Thanksgiving, Taylor Swift in a few weeks as well as a handful of birthdays and then.. Christmas! I am for once excited about the holidays this year. I know it will be a wonderful season of firsts for Mr. P and I, and I want to make sure to savor every second of them.

More recently this past weekend we took family photos and attended a family member's wedding. I LOVE how our photos turned out. We attemped to make it a USC/Clemson photo as we are the family divided. It was the first time all six of us kiddos were together in a lonnnnnnnnnng time. We seriously could not stop laughing being our goofy selves during the picture taking that we were asked to leave the room. God blessed me with three amazing brothers and a sweet little sister through marriage and I couldn't be more thankful. I think that's what every parent's goal in life is, is to see their children happy being around each other. Later on that day we had a wedding to go to. My 2nd since our big day,  but the first Mr. P and I got to attend together. It was beautiful, and being on the other side now a wonderful reminder to hear those vows read again.

I think I covered about all the bases here. Two more days til the weekend!!  Lucky for me I only am teaching half days both of those days so I can get a few errands and chores done.

the phone saga

My husband manages to drown phones like it's a job. Seriously!! I can't even remember how many he has been through in almost 8 years. Maybe... 10, who knows. It's become seriously a running joke about Mr. P and his phones.

Anyways, once again this past week he killed another phone. This time it was in a cup of water in his car. We've got a backup thankfully while a new one is on order. It should be here later this week.

In the mean time, I've have my precious phone for over 2 years now, and am starting to consider upgrades. I fear if I do go the smartphone route I will be constantly on the internet and what not. I have a laptop and a nook, so I'm covered in the wireless devices, but I hate the other phones that are out there now. Too many flips, twists and slides for me.  I like simple one piece phones, preferably no touch screens either.

you better watch out, you better not cry....

Santa Claus is coming to town, and soon. I am getting so excited for the holidays this year. Maybe it's marriage, maybe it's... well I'm quite sure it's marriage. It's the holiday's my way!! Pinterest already has my mind going in 1000 different directions. I absolutely cannot wait to start our on traditions and build a stockpile of decorations of my own.

Last year Paul and I got the 2010 Willow Tree ornament, so this year we'll be adding this one to that collection.

I'll probably pick up at least one more ornament for the year too. I'm thinking those personalized ones from the kiosk at the mall..maybe?! We'll see. I also am so excited to use some precious ornaments we got as wedding gifts.

I also started making this, this weekend..

which will soon be finished up, painted a lovely seasonal color and fitted to hold a stocking. Mr. Perry gets one too.

I am also thinking a larger one for the front door to do in a wreath?! Maybe.

I also need to figure out how to display all those Christmas cards we will get. I've seen lots of cute ideas and hope I can make that too!

and then.. a tree skirt too is also hopefully in the DIY projects for me.


and probably the biggest part of my Christmas creativity so far, the list! I've started this before, but it's high time I finish it..


The Christmas 2011 list.

I always love a few good movies.

Bridesmaids
The Help


and my Nook has been pretty lonely lately, so monetary donations to B&N are also appreciated.

For skin care and pampering, things I can NEVER have enough of.

A bathrobe, or wrap with some sweet initials on it.
Gift Certificate to POUT (for all my favorite products)
a Clarisonic MIA (like an electric toothbrush for your face)
manicure and pedicure

Garnet and Black Jack Rogers, or white, or any color really

new jeans!

solid black or solid brown boots, I'd really love some newer cowboy boots

cookbooks
an apron
a heavy duty rolling pin

a Keurig and some KCups

a few Fiestaware pieces we don't have already

I would LOVE that white bedding I was talking about in an earlier post.


for now that's about all I can think of but I'm sure I'll update it soon!

bedding overhaul

I have a serious problem with the way I want to switch my bedding. I guess it's just my indecisiveness in general and the fact that I get bored easily.

Our home at the moment is covered in darks, reds, browns, khakis, blues. All great colors, but they are just so bold and masculine I'm ready for a change. Yes I know we've barely had the new bedding on our new bed six months, but it's too.. matchy for me. The same pattern is on the bed spread, shames and everything else. Too much print for what I want right now.

We're also starting to discuss painting some rooms, the entire house for the most part is one dark khaki color. We have hopes of lightening up the bedrooms a good bit, and probably the downstairs too. But for now we'll stick with the bedrooms for this post. I'm super excited about finally starting to put some of our taste into the house, so it will finally feel like a home.


For our room, I want.. solid white linens. Crazy you might think, but I almost always had a solid white down comforter on my bed at my parents house. I think solid white is refreshing and clean. Two things I love. It's also easily washed (we're going for cotton or something else simple) and I can change out the throw pillows seasonally and it makes bringing the furniture in the rest of the room together so much easier. I can also throw in a monogram or two pretty easily, and color sheets look so bold against white back drop.

I like this photo because it shows off a dark headboard like we hope to build soon, and two simple lamps like we already have. I probably would have some more pillow though, I love fluffy bedding. My parents still have tons and tons of old quilts and afghans from my grandmother that would bring some history and some color into this as well. Our house is still so boxy and boyish that it needs a taste of family desperately.

For our future guest room I want some more color but not the bold brash ones we have now. Purple is my favorite color and we have none of it in the house. So that's an option. I've also notice cool greys, yellows and burlap trending as well. I also have a 200 year old wrought iron bed at my parent's house still that I want to bring in the house.

Until we get that bed brought over the upcycled barn would I think would look great.

I love the gathered purple comforter, and check out that chandelier.

One final photo so you get the idea. 

Maybe soon we'll add these to our collection here at home, or maybe Santa will just bring them. Either way I would love to crawl up in any of them for a nice nap.