Homeade Alfredo Sauce

Last week was CRAZY busy! I didn't get a chance to go to the grocery store until Wednesday! Typically, I do all of my grocery shopping on Monday because I am really good about making meal plans each and every week. Well, that just did NOT happen last week. So... last Tuesday I knew we obviously needed to eat dinner that night, but I did NOT want to go to the grocery store. (its like my LEAST favorite thing to do)... Anyway, I found a recipe for Homeade Alfredo Sauce. Now, usually the words "homeade" or "from scratch" really don't catch my eye, because typically those words are not associated with easy recipes. By  the way, I am all about easy. It just so happened that I actually had half a box of noodles and all the ingredients for the Alfredo sauce on hand! Can't beat that!!!

Here goes.. You will need :
*4 oz. cream cheese
*4 tbsp. butter
*2 tsp. garlic powder
*3/4 cup of 2% milk
*2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
*A dash of salt & pepper
(Zack said he would have liked it better without the salt so keep that in mind if you're not crazy about saltiness)

Step 1 : Place all of the ingredients in a small saucepan
Step 2 : Place pan on stove and cook over medium heat
Step 3 : Stir with a whisk as the cheese & butter begin to melt, once it begins to boil whisk constantly so it doesn't burn.
Step 4 : After whisking for 2-3 minutes turn the heat on low and whisk for another 5 - 7 minutes.
The sauce will begin to thicken. Keep in mind that it will thicken as it cools so don't let it get too thick before removing from heat. 

I actually happened to have some leftover frozen shrimp in my freezer so I added that to my sauce. You could add chicken as well or just eat as is! Top over some fetuccini noodles and you are ready to enjoy!!!

I hope you guys enjoy this recipe.. It was seriously so easy and so delicious! Much better than eating it out of a jar!

A lovely week

Last week was terrible. Really unfortunate, actually. I won't go into all the details, because that is not what this post is about. This post is about the loveliest week I have had in quite some time. I know, I know, this post was supposed to be about our home... maybe next time.

So the week started out kind of rough - the events of last week looming over us. But, as the week went on it just got better and better. We were able to spend a lot of time with my family this week. I realize how blessed I am to be able to spend time with my family whenever we feel like it so I truly treasure our time together.

I also got to see many of my close friends this week that I don't see very often any more. My friend Lauren came for a visit and the next night my friends Ashley & Kiederra came over to hang out for a bit.

Zack & I were able to make a very sweet memory - putting up our first Christmas tree together.

It is 9 feet tall! Zack & I were so tickled at how huge it was! 

We didn't realize it would be so fat, we had to re arrange our entire apartment to fit the stinking thing in here, but it was so worth it!

 It is beautiful & its just magical to sit underneath the light of it.

Thanksgiving was obviously the highlight of the week. 

The food was amazing & I am so thankful that my parents are such great cooks!!!

It is always sweet to sit around the table with all the people I love together and talk about why we are thankful. My heart is full with blessings. I really do have so much to be thankful for. Unfortunately, we didn't get a family photo this year. I was pretty disappointed about it, but oh well. 

Today, Zack & I took some photos for our first Christmas card!!! 

Zachary is definitely one of my favorite blessings this year (and for all the years to come)! 

I am so fortunate to have someone so joyful in my life. 

He is a goofball - constantly making me laugh. 

Even when he makes me angry, somehow he always manages to make me laugh. 

He has continued to warm my heart through our marriage and I fall for him all over again every single day. 

The thing that topped off our lovely week & put a huge smile on my man's face is the fact that the 

GATOR'S WON!!! CHOMP!

But, really, God has been so good to us.

Have a lovely week.

The Potter's

I used to be really good at journaling. I would take the time to record my memories, write out my thoughts & prayers and occasionally let off some steam. Lately, I really haven't been doing that.. probably because I am so technological and it would just be easier for me to transfer my journaling to the internet type. So, here goes...

Mr. & Mrs. Zack Potter

This is us... We're pretty cute, right?

Over three years ago, I met this guy, the love of my life. Not long after that we were totally & completely in love and have been ever since. There was no on & off with us, no uncertainties. We were in love, together forever, head over heels in love. Of course, we've had our ups & downs, but I haven't doubted for a minute that this was my man. 

This was taken shortly after we met. 

We definitely hadn't established our feelings for each other but there was definitely some flirting going on.

Two years later, this happened... 

And a little less than a year after that, we were married!!!

It was a beautiful, fairytale wedding but not near as beautiful as our marriage has been so far. I love this man more than words can say. He is a caring, compassionate servant of the Lord. He loves me, but he puts God first and that is all I have ever wanted in my husband. Zack serves as the youth pastor of our church and is also a high school Bible & History teacher. He is making such a difference in the lives of teenagers and I am beyond proud of him!

I currently stay at home during the day, because I am working on my education degree and I am almost there!!! I took a nice long break from school but I will be starting up again in January. I didn't plan on this break, but it has proven to be a blessing. It has given me time to learn how to be the best wife possible. I have learned a lot about managing our household and being supportive to my husband. However, I do work part time in the afternoons in the extended education program at our school. I was placed with the 7-12 graders, and while sometimes it is challenging it has been mostly fun and interesting hanging out with them every day.

I can't wait to use this website as a place to store all of our experiences and memories. I don't really care if anyone reads it. It is more for me than anyone else. I am so excited. My next post will be on OUR HOME... See you then ;)