SIMPLY LIVE

Jonathan is getting his wisdom teeth pulled this morning. Please keep him in your prayers. I will be happily playing "nurse" today--making sure he is well taken care of and comfortable. Have a phenomenal weekend!

Eating Your Frog

2012-01-05T08:03:00.000-05:00

Man, everyone seems to be posting about the new year. I suppose this is normal, but I feel like every blog-post that I read reflects some goal for the new year or memories from 2011.

The posts that I really enjoy are about accomplishing those goals we have set for 2012. Most of them delineate step-by-step instructions on how we can master things this new year. They talk about breaking a task down into manageable chunks that enable us to accomplish a seemingly overwhelming task. I like this point-of-view. It reminds me that I can do anything as long as I break it down appropriately.

One post that stands out in my mind is this one. I love the idea of "eating your frog." By accomplishing a daily task that you dread the most, first thing in the morning, you are "eating your frog." Basically, the simple idea that getting the hard part out of the way first, frees the rest of your day up to accomplish things that are more enjoyable.

{Picture Source}

For example, as I sit here and type this, I have been thinking about the stacks of dishes that are chilling in my sink and on my kitchen counter. Washing dishes is my least favorite thing to do. For me, it feels like a job that is never done. Once I wash breakfast dishes, lunch dishes appear. Once lunch dishes are done, here come dinner ones. Unlike laundry, which only takes me one day to do and then its done for the week, dishes are a daily item on my list that always seems to be put off until the last possible minute. Thank goodness my husband is patient with me and doesn't complain about a disheveled kitchen.

Today, I think I am going to eat my frog. Before making myself breakfast, doing my devotions, or making my bed (my favorite chore because it is so easy and is literally done in two minutes), I am going to clean those dishes. I am not going to worry about the breakfast dishes that will follow or the lunch ones that will come after that. Instead I am going to enjoy the freedom that my counters are clear for a bit and that I don't have to worry about doing dishes for the rest of the day.

How would you feel if you ate your frog every morning? I'd love to hear what your "frog" is. :)

P.S. For anyone interested in reading more about this concept, there is a whole book about it!

2012 Reading List

2012-01-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, I think this is my last post about my 2012 goals. :) Here is the list of books that I hope to read in 2012. This is my list of thirty (I decided to leave room for books that may come out later in the year or for books that are recommended to me), but remember my goal is to read at least 24.

So far I am starting off well with the three books I have picked for January. We will see how this goes!!

Faith Books:

Facing Your Giants—Max Lucado

Just Walk across the Room –BillHybels

A Quest for More—Paul David Tripp

Jesus Freaks Vol 1—DC Talk

Jesus Freaks Vol 2—DC Talk

The Real You – Kevin Leman

If you Want to Walk on Water, You’veGot to Get out of the Boat—John Ortberg

Why Pray?—Philip Yancy andDisciplines of the Beautiful Woman—Anne Ortland (small books, counted as one)

Mere Christianity – CS Lewis

So Long Insecurity (book anddevotional journal) – Beth Moore

Fun Books:

Mockingjay—Ruth Collins

The Narnia Series – CS Lewis

When Invisible Children Sing—HuangTang

Falling Forward—Sandi Patty

The Help—Kathryn Stockett

Who is my Shelter? –Neta Jackson

The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo—StiegLarsson

Stuck in the Middle—Virginia Smith (kindle)

Daughter of Joy – Kathleen Morgan (kindle)

Practical Books:

Cashflow Quadrant – Robert Kiyosaki

Wild at Heart – John Eldredge

Made to Crave – Lysa Terkeurst

Your Money Counts – Howard Dayton

The Seven Habits of Highly EffectivePeople – Stephen R. Covey

Intimate Issues – Linda Dillow andLorraine Pintus

Help Meet –Debi Pearl

Money and Marriage God’s Way – HowardDayton

Onward – Howard Schultz

Entreleadership – Dave Ramsey (borrow fromdaddy)

2012 Goals

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Homemade Laundry Detergent

As I promised, today I will be putting my ~~pen to paper~~ fingers to the keyboard and blogging about my personal goals for 2012. I have chosen these goals in an attempt to encourage myself to grow spiritually, mentally, and physically. I want to be a better me.

I know that God has a lot planned for my life. I believe that the goals I have set for myself this year, will prepare me for His plans. I want only His will and I am praying that these goals will keep my sights set on Him.

----------------------------------------

1. Grow spiritually.
Now this may seem like a vague goal, but I have no idea what God has in store for me this year, so I wanted to leave it a bit open. I know that I want to focus on my devotions and really plunging deep into His word. I also want to make it a point to create a home that reflects our spirituality (i.e. put scripture around the house, creating an environment of peace and understanding between my husband and I, etc.). I am learning more and more the power of God and I cannot wait to see what He has planned this year!

2. Lose 75 lbs.
I set this goal because it would require me to lose about 6lbs a month. I think this is a realistic amount to lose. I plan on working out at least four days a week, thirty minutes a day. I also want to focus on my eating and have started out this month by eliminating sugar (meaning sweets) from my diet. As the year progresses I hope to really focus on being healthier version of me. One step at a time.

3. Read 24 books.
I originally made a list of thirty-six, but realized that may be a bit unrealistic. You think?! So, I have my list of thirty-six, but I going to focus on reading twenty-four of them. Two a month. More on this goal tomorrow.

4. Simplify.
My final goal is to really simplify my life. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be and act a certain way. I want my home to look like this. I want to make sure that I come across that way. Standards. Such high standards. I always seems to push myself too much. So this year I want to clean out my life and focus in on the things that bring the most happiness: God, Family, and Friends.

I also want to really work on getting rid of a bunch of things. I feel that our house is too full. With the transition coming up of moving out of our apartment and into our first home (eek!!!) I want to make sure that we aren't taking a lot of baggage with us. I want to simplify in this new home. Plus, we are technically downsizing (going from approximately 1400 sq ft. to 1000 sq ft.) so purging ourselves of clutter is a must.

-------------------------------------------

I think four goals is enough this year. I think the above things are all obtainable and I cannot wait to work hard on these things. Here's to a new year and lots of anticipation for what's ahead!

Projects for 2012

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I would really like to tackle at least one project a month in 2012. Some will be practical; some will be just for fun. Here is a list of things, in no particular order, that I hope to try. Pinterest has created something "evil" in me. I can't get enough of DIY projects, so I decided that it was time to try some of them. I plan on writing about each project as well. Maybe I can encourage you to try something new this year! :)

Crayon Art

Yarn Sign

A Felt Pillow

--not sure what the original source is

Pallet Shelves

DIY Decorative Twine Balls

Decorative Pumpkin

Handmade Snow Globe

--not sure what the original source is

Howling Winds

2012-01-01T22:16:00.000-05:00

It definitely sounds like a blizzard is a-brewing out there.

This is the best sleeping weather.

Cold.

Windy.

A snowy/sleety mix hitting the windows.

The heavy wool blanket and quilt.

Lots of pillow.

I can't wait to wake up to a winter wonderland.

(now let's just hope the weatherman was right)

A Final Recap

2011-12-31T19:17:00.000-05:00

Do you remember this post? Well here is an update of what I accomplished in 2011. My actual progress will be in blue.

1.) I will get in good physical shape. Well,I didn't lose any weight, but let's focus on the positive. Jonathan and I ran a 5k and an 8k. That took a lot of training and I guess that means that I am in better shape because I can run 5 miles.

2.) I will do daily devotions. I did pretty well with this and feel like I have grown spiritually because of it.

3.) I will read 20 books this year. Hmm...to be honest I didn't keep track of this. I know I didn't read 20 though. I am going to guess I read 10.

4.) I will crochet a hat for my husband and do another project that challenges my crocheting abilities (such as a sweater for myself, a complicated new stitch, or maybe I will just skip crocheting and teach myself to knit!). No hat for Jonathan, but I did learn a new stitch and crocheted two baby blankets for a couple special ladies.

5.) I will make a real quilt. No "real" quilt. But I did make a t-shirt quilt for my brother for his graduation gift. I also finished this quilt and gave it to Jonathan for Christmas.

6.) We will purchase a cloth diaper set. Well we were given a set from Jonathan's sister, Sarah.

7.) We will raise our first dog. We have successfully done this! We love her to pieces.

8.) I will become a better homemaker and wife. I have definitely accomplished this one. I have been making weekly menus, I quit my job in order to focus on my husband more, and I have been focusing on simplifying our lives. This all has helped me to be a lot less stressed and be (in my opinion) a better wife.

9.) We will plan (and possibly take) a road trip that involves places featured on "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives," "Bert the Conqueror," and "Man vs. Food." We didn't do this at all.

10.) We will purchase a house. Well not quite in 2011, but two weeks into January we should be closing on our first house!!!

11.) I will crochet at least 10 sets of scarves and hats to donate to a local food bank/shelter. This really didn't happen.

So all in all, I accomplished about eight of eleven. I think that is pretty good. This coming year I want to really focus on setting realistic goals. I think part of my problem this past year was expecting too much from myself. I can't wait to see what 2012 holds! Expect a list of goals in the next couple of days.

Happy New Year!

Post Christmas

2011-12-29T11:28:00.002-05:00

I am still in Christmas mode around here. I am currently relishing the time that I have in the morning to delve into the word of God and to drink an extra cup of coffee. I don't really want this week to end. I think its time that we perpetually celebrate Christmas. What do you think?

P.S. Isn't the coffee-mug-collar awesome?! My roommate from college knitted it for me for Christmas!! She is the best. Interested in making it? --here is the link

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!!

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. --Isaiah 9:6

Christmasing

2011-12-23T13:20:00.001-05:00

We are in full celebrating-Christmas-mode around here.
To me, Christmas is family, food, and traditions. So...

We made cutouts.

We drove 6 hours to visit Jonathan's family for a few days.

We opened gifts.

We decorated a gingerbread FARM.

We played (or watched Jonathan play) Cabella's 2011 hunting game for the Wii.

And we ate. lots. and. lots. YUM! Mom's food is the best.

Now its time to hang out with family all day and then head home tomorrow for our traditional Christmas Eve celebration and our own Christmas morning. I can't wait to wake up on Sunday.

Celebrating Jesus' birth is the best.

A Wedding Video

2011-12-15T12:51:00.000-05:00

Please watch the whole video. It is absolutely beautiful.

Be a Confident Woman

2011-12-15T09:04:00.001-05:00

Finally....SNOW!!

2011-12-08T21:15:00.001-05:00

Finally. Snow. I can smell it in the air!

CHRISTmas: Day 2

2011-12-06T08:25:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I stumbled across this blog all about homemaking and being a supportive wife. I love these kinds of blogs. They inspire me and encourage me to be the best homemaker that I can be. Courtney of Women Living Well Ministries keeps a daily blog about the ins and outs of being a beautiful wife. Visit her blog here.

This morning she shared a beautiful Christmas mantel that she created. And then she shared this quote:

“If you have been afraid that your love of beautiful flowers and the flickering flame of the candle is somehow less spiritual than living in starkness and ugliness, remember that He who created you to be creative gave you the things with which to make beauty and gave you the sensitivity to appreciate and respond to his creation. Creativity is his gift to you and the ‘raw materials’ to be put together in various ways are His gift to you as well.”

-Edith Shaeffer

The Art of Homemaking

Wow. I have never heard it put that way. My desire and creativity for my home comes from God?! Having recently quit my part-time job, I am getting to know what its like to be solely a wife and domestic goddess. This quote validates everything that I believe in and have been doing lately. I also am reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:58:

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

It has given me a renewed excitement for the day ahead of me. I am worshiping and honoring my Heavenly Father by using the gift of creativity that He has given me. It is my spiritual gift from God.

Jonathan and I have been enjoying our goal of keeping Christ in Christmas; like I mentioned in my last post. We have been focusing on doing something together daily in preparation of Jesus' birth. So far we have:

december 1st.) Pulled out all the Christmas decorations and put them up together.

december 2nd.) Watched a Christmas movie on Netflix

december 3rd.) Attended our church's Christmas party--and had a blast.

december 4th.) Cut down our Christmas tree together

december 5th.) (oops we missed out on this day)

So in keeping with the whole "decorating as worship" theme, here are some pictures of our Christmas decorations.

Happy decorating!!!

CHRISTmas: Day 1

2011-12-01T08:58:00.001-05:00

Christmas. It's that time of the year again. Christmas has a special place in my heart. It always has. My childhood home always felt different during the holiday season. There was something that changed in the weeks after Thanksgiving. Not only did the decorations come out, but the feelings of closeness, celebration, and merriment as well. I used to love coming home from school to my mom hurrying about carefully placing decoration after decoration.

There were the handmade stockings from my grandmother, dangling from the mantle. The usual sprig of mistletoe hung carefully in the doorway. The freshly cut tree, standing at least eight feet tall, decorated with painted glass ornaments. Dicken's Village was spread over the top of the piano--a magical scene I always wanted to be part of.

Then there was the nativity scene. Jesus was nestled between Mary and Joseph. The donkey and camel were snuggled away in their stalls. The wisemen were lined up ready to present their gifts. But the best part was always Mary's face. It expressed something that I may never understand. An awed expression mixed with love. A look that only Mary will ever have--having given birth to the savior of our earth and having the love that only a mom can have. Can you imagine?!

This year I want to make Christmas special in our house. Last year I wasn't really into it. It was my first Christmas as a new wife and I just didn't feel the magic. I didn't know how to create the special feelings I always felt as a child. But this year, it will be different. I want to focus on making sure Christ is in Christmas. I want to make this year special for my husband.

I have printed this Jesse's Tree devotional to read daily. I also will be planning out an advent calendar of activities for Jonathan and I that focuses on family time and spending time talking about the real meaning of Christmas. I plan on blogging daily to help encourage everyone else to celebrate along with us.

I can't wait to see what this month brings. Happy first of December everyone!

Merry Christmas!

$180 an Hour

2011-11-30T14:14:00.001-05:00

I am so excited about what just happened. I had to post about it.

Today I decided to clean out our bookshelf and organize our books. I hate getting rid of books, but I feel pressure to really start getting rid of clutter. Purge, purge, purge.

About a month ago I read about this new-to-me opportunity on Amazon. They offer a "trade-in" option on their website. You can visit it here.

All you do is go to the website, type in the title or ISBN number of your book, and they will tell you what your book is worth. Bonus: they even give you a shipping label! You don't have to pay a thing and they will automatically credit your amazon account for the money once they receive the books. Oh, and if they don't want the books you sent, they will mail them back for free! How can you go wrong?

So back to today. I was cleaning off our bookshelf and decided to see what I could get for some of my old textbooks from college. All-in-all for 6 books (three textbooks and three regular books) and 2 DVDs (oh yea they also will take DVDs, electronics, and video games) I will receive about $180. All for about an hour of work.

So visit Amazon and see what you can get for your stuff! To me, it was well worth it!

Applesauce

2011-10-25T08:46:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I had fun making 18 quarts of applesauce. It was my first experience making homemade applesauce and my second experience canning. I am so glad to say that all of the jars "popped."

I cannot tell you how rewarding it is to hear that little noise. I want to jump and do a happy dance every time one sneaks out. I have been really enjoying my kitchen lately. Now I am dreaming up grand ideas of what to do next :)

Happy Tuesday!

Today

2011-10-24T12:51:00.001-04:00

Today the skies look like they could open at any moment.

The wind is gentle, but chilly.

It's a typical fall day around here.

Thus, I am making and canning applesauce.

I am enjoying the latest Real Simple magazine.

I am eating organic potato leek soup.

The washer, dryer, and oven are all going.

The house is warm.

I love the smells wafting through my house.

Cinnamon and apple.

Andrea Bocelli is keeping me company.

Thank you God for this beautiful Monday.

A Home.

2011-10-07T16:09:00.000-04:00

Why do I really want a house? What would I like said house to be like? What are the things that I am really not willing to compromise on? What is God's plan for our future house??

I found myself dreaming of our future house today. I was thinking about all of the cute things that I wanted to do. I was thinking about the quaint charm that I would like our future house to have. Then I realized something. All along I thought that location didn't really matter. You know what they say, "Location, location, location." But to me this had never really been an issue.

But today, oh today, I realized that this is very key to the house we pick. I can make any house work as long as it has the following criteria.

1.) It cannot be a cookie cutter house. It must have character. I like imperfections and wood. LOTS of wood.

2.) It has to come with a decent amount of land. Now, I am not saying acres and acres; I am just thinking a decent sized yard maybe surrounded by fields. I want to feel the space between me and my neighbor.

3.) It has to have a great kitchen or at least space for one. I love to entertain and I really want to be able to have a lot of space to cook, bake, and entertain.

4.) My husband has to love it. If Jonathan is a no-go, then I am a no-go. He has the final say and I truly trust his opinion 100%.

Man do I just keep dreamin', hopin', and prayin'. I know God has our house out there somewhere for us. I just pray that He will open my eyes to it when it comes along.

Tete-a-Tete Tuesday

2011-10-04T08:17:00.001-04:00

Good morning friends and family! Today is just another rainy day in paradise. Yay. I really do love fall.

We had our second meeting of our small group last night. Long story short, we are talking about the ins and outs of money and living within your means. It has made me think a lot. On top of small group discussions, I just got done reading this book. Surprisingly they talk a bit about their financial situation and how investing in real estate has allowed their family to be 100% debt free for many years. All this has been making my mind reel. Romans 13:8 says, "Owe no man any thing." This verse has really had me thinking. As believers, are we called to live within our means and to go against the grain by having no debt?

Another thing on my mind as of late is Christmas. Yes, Christmas. I have been scheming and pondering ideas to make Christmas extra special this year. I want to start traditions. I want to host a Christmas party. I want to decorate. I want to find an extra special way to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. I want to be unconventional. Christmas is just a special time of the year for me; for all Christians. I have so many happy memories from Christmas. I don't want this year to be any different.

Well, I am off to start my Tuesday! It looks like a bit of work and errands are in my near future. Oh and I am also starting week four of my 5k training. Wish me (well us) luck!

For a Marine

2011-09-19T12:00:00.000-04:00

This morning I put together a care package for my brother-in-law. He is a Marine, overseas, protecting our country. It was really fun buying everything and putting this box together! The whole time I pictured what it would be like to get a package of goodies from home. I really hope he finds this box a blessing. I have been in constant prayer as I put it together, thinking of his family, him, and the rest of the Marines in his platoon. May God protect all of them and give them a peace that is past understanding.

For my family, here is a list of what the box included:

-4 gun-related magazines
-a blanket
-a package of baby wipes
-2 boxes of propel drink mix (i think there were 10 packets in each box)
-4 toothbrushes
-a tube of crest toothpaste
-chapstick
-2 bottles of Bayer back and body (50 ct)
-Axe Clix Anitpersperant
-Batteries (AA and AAA)
-6 packs of Trident gum
-Rook
-6 bottles of five hour energy
-Twizzlers
-A book of 1 minute devotionals
-10 2-packs of foot/hand warmers
-10 pairs of socks

Also, Jonathan and I each wrote him a letter and then I included a few pictures just for something fun to look at.

Happy Monday everyone!

Perfect

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was perfect. Yes. Perfect.

I woke and it was pouring outside. Perfect.

It was chilly and I was able to wear my sweatshirt to work. Perfect.

After work, the sun was out and the clouds were those big-cotton-billowy-looking ones. Perfect.

When I got home, I took the puppers for a walk and she loved it. Perfect.

Suddenly in the midst of our walk I stopped. It couldn't be. No! I took another deep breath. Yup! That smell, oh that smell. Oh how I missed it! The smell of leaves falling, cooler air, and grapes ripening. Fall. I love the smell of fall. Perfect.

Today I love...

2011-09-15T06:59:00.000-04:00

Aren't these balloons beautiful? I was looking at the weather this morning (it is going to be a chilly day here in NY) and there was a picture of hot air balloons on their homepage. Spectacular. I just had to share. Look at all the colors and designs! I would love to go on a ride someday...

Happy Thursday all! I am off to work :)

Make Lemonade

2011-09-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

We have had a very busy summer around here. Not only is it Jonathan's busy time of the year, but we were also both working round the clock on our church's basement. We were part of the team who was in charge of renovating it and making it more appropriate for our youth ministries. I am so thankful that we were able to be part of this team. God has really opened our eyes to the behind the scenes work of a church. Yet, needless to say, when we had the big reveal this past Sunday, we were both looking forward to a little bit of R&R.

Last night, I greeted my husband as he walked through the door after work. He immediately said, "I know you won't like it, but would you mind if I headed back to work after dinner for a couple of hours?" I paused and smiled assuring him that I would be ok and that I rather him work if it would put his mind at peace (he has been feeling a bit behind).

So last night I made lemonade and instead of spending it with my husband, I did this:

I really haven't taken the time to sit down and read in awhile. Life becomes busy and reading is the first thing I usually stop doing. I haven't felt that I-need-to-read-because-this-book-is-so-good-and-I-can't-put-it-down feeling in awhile. I loved snuggling up with my puppers, pulling out the book I mentioned in this post, and just reading the night away. Lemons to Lemonade.

Lunch Special

2011-09-13T08:10:00.001-04:00

Did you know it is the season for salads? Yup! Chop up some fresh lettuce and juicy tomatoes. Dice up a bit of onion and then sprinkle on some turkey bacon. You won't be sorry. Tomatoes are in season and trust me, they are simply scrumptious.

Don't want to eat a salad? Why not try a BLT. In our house we add a little C too. Put it on some homemade bread and you really can't go wrong.

YUM!!!

Monday, Monday

2011-09-12T08:57:00.000-04:00

Is it wrong that I actually look forward to Mondays? About two weeks ago they changed my schedule at work so that I work on Tuesdays instead of Mondays. Now, I look forward to the first day of the week. I like that I can start off on the right foot. I do laundry, clean up our apartment, make sure that I have a list of things to do for the week, and I am able to make sure my menu for the week is in order. I love Mondays.

This month I decided to try something a little different when it comes to my menu planning. I sat down at the beginning of the month and wrote out a list of approximately 22 meals (subtracting a bunch of days for dinner events that we are attending). I then made a list of everything I would need for those dinners and went through my pantry to check off the things that I already had. After that I made a list of things that I could purchase the next day that would last for the whole month (i.e. canned goods, meats that could be frozen, etc.) and a list of things that I would need to purchase on a weekly basis (i.e. produce, lunch meat, milk, eggs, etc.).

It was a lot of work right off the bat, but has proved to save me time in the long run. Now I sit down for approximately 30 minutes on a Friday night and make a list of produce I will need to grab at the farmer's market on Saturday morning. Then I just make a list of other things I need and grab them as I leave work. It is really convenient to work at a deli/grocery store. So far, so good. It actually has saved me a bunch of money too. For once I feel like I am able to really stay on budget and even save some money! So here is what I making this week:

Menu Monday

Monday: italian sausages, corn on the cob, and salad

Tuesday: bucatini with turkey sausage and zucchini

Wednesday: chicken salad sandwiches with green beans

Thursday: steak salad

Friday: chili and cornbread

Saturday: ~dinner at my cousin's wedding~

Sunday: chicken enchiladas

I have been trying to switch things up in my menu. I will often sort through all of my magazines looking for inspiring meals. Jonathan and I love trying something new and filling up our stash of go-to meals. Where is your favorite place to find new recipes?

P.S. Don't you love the diamond pattern on the fridge above? Something subtle but different! Tres chic!!

Crazy Animals

2011-09-07T08:49:00.000-04:00

Aww how cute!!! :)

A few smiles and laughs for your Wednesday! Enjoy!

Fall.

2011-09-06T10:15:00.000-04:00

Today is a beautiful day. There is a cool breeze off the lake and the air continues to smell of fall. I am dreaming about all things fall. This is my favorite season and I cannot wait to take full advantage of this spectacular weather. What are your favorite things to do during fall?

Summer's End

2011-09-05T10:39:00.000-04:00

We are back from our Labor Day vacation. It's time to get back to the routine of things! I am so excited because today has brought cooler temps, a beautiful breeze and the smell of fall approaching. Today I am...

...doing a few loads of laundry.
...cleaning up our apartment a bit. Man does the dust collect after a few days!
...dreaming of our future house. (We are putting in an offer this week! EEP!)
...making a grocery list.
...researching local 5Ks. (Yes, Jonathan and I are going to run a 5K with a couple friends of ours! Ah!)
...resisting the urge to spend the whole day reading this book.
...planning a bit. (i.e. planning nights to work at the church, a visit to the farmer's market, lunch with a friend, and our calendar for the rest of the month.)
...writing a letter to my brother-in-law overseas.
...ironing.
...painting my toenails a lovely shade of deep red in honor of fall.
...enjoying a Labor Day picnic with friends.

Man does it feel good to be home after a relaxing time with family and friends. Hello Monday!

2011-08-13T07:55:00.000-04:00

I love the peace and quiet of the morning.

It's when I enjoy curling up with my Bible and listening to God's voice.

A cup of coffee, a comfy chair, and the sun streaming in through the window.

A perfect Saturday morning to me.

Rain.

2011-08-09T08:57:00.000-04:00

Rain

I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed

Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can't do a handstand--
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--
I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head

--Shel Silverstein

Living in the Moment

2011-08-08T10:12:00.002-04:00

Man I have really been living in the moment lately. There are so many things going on, but I am enjoying every minute of it. I will be back to blogging soon, maybe after summer is over? Who knows. But with that I leave you with my favorite song ever. Warren Barfield is phenomenal.

Summer = Blueberries

2011-07-26T13:34:00.000-04:00

Today I picked up four quarts, of freshly ripened blueberries, from our friends. They were so thoughtful in giving us some from their field. To make the deal even better they were never sprayed! Yay, I love pesticide free fruit. I have been dreaming up BIG possibilities for these all day. For now, they will be packed into freezer bags to be stored for future baking endeavors.

Though, I'm definitely going to take the time to make some banana blueberry muffins first.

A Thought

2011-07-25T08:00:00.005-04:00

{found here}

Ponder that quote for a moment. Imagine the power and the relief that those words hold. Do you ever hold back because you "can't do __________ (fill in the blank)." Have you ever caught yourself perusing the Internet looking at the fantastic abilities people have, only to think that you are not talented enough to do the skill yourself? Ever look at a picture, read an article, or glance at a facebook status and think, "Man, I wish I could be that way."

I really think that these words hold a lot of power. The key to this phrase is the word 'think.' Who you think you're not. Those are the words that stand out the most to me. The quote doesn't say 'who you aren't.' It says who you THINK you're not. Maybe all we are limited by is our personal perspective on accomplishing something. Maybe we are holding ourselves back because we don't think we are a homemaker, a business person, date-able, athletic enough, etc. The list could go on and on.

I wonder how much perspective plays a role in our lives. Those people who are brought up to believe that they can do anything seem to have the mentality that I personally lack. I want to believe that I have the ability to do whatever I set my heart to, but something inside of me seems to tell me that I am not able to. I can't.

Yesterday, at church, our sermon was on Matthew 5:8. One of the most powerful beatitudes in my opinion.

"God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God." -NLT

What does it mean to have a pure heart? How as a sin-filled human, can I ever be pure enough to see God? I wonder if the answer lies in the above quote. What if there was never an inhabition inside of us? What if the devil was unable to plant the seed of doubt deep in our souls? Would we then have a pure heart that is able to see God and willing seek only His will? Would our paths be straight and our lives filled with joy because we would never doubt the direction of God? Maybe this person we think we aren't is only sin hunting us down and dibilitating our strength in the Heavenly Father.

I have been mulling this over ever since the sermon and my discovery of this quote. I pray that God releases me from my own insecurities and delievers me from the oppresion that is sin. I want to have a pure heart so that I may clearly see the Heavenly Father guide me.

I know who I am in Him, it's the best me that I will ever be! In that I can find confidence and peace.

Anniversary Getaway: The Unabridged Version

2011-07-15T16:26:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, Jonathan and I headed on a wonderful weekend getaway! As I mentioned, our one year anniversary of marriage was on Sunday. We still can't believe that it has been a year already! We knew we wanted to do something special to celebrate the big day. For Christmas, my grandparents gave us a gift certificate for this beautiful B&B in Corning, NY. So, we made reservations, packed our bags, and headed out of town for the weekend--just the kind of special we were looking for!

On our way we saw these. Windmills have always fascinated me. There is an eerie beauty to the huge hunks of metal. I politely asked Jonathan to pull over so I could get some pictures. I couldn't resist.

We continued our journey through the bottom of New York. I loved driving along country roads, through fields of knee-high corn, and quaint towns. To me, this is what a road trip is all about. Jonathan and I talked, listened to music, and I read magazines. A great way to start out our vacation!

We reached Corning, NY and followed our GPS to the B&B. This is where it took us:

At first, we both were very hesitant. We couldn't see the B&B. There was no sign. Surely we were in the wrong place. But, in a brave attempt, we continued up the driveway. It paid off, because this is what greeted us.

A beautiful Swiss villa nestled in the woods overlooking the valley. It was spectacular! I couldn't wait to get inside and see our room. We were greeted by Tony Spycher, the owner of the villa. He welcomed us with his wonderful Swiss accent and hospitality. He showed us up to our room and told us to make ourselves comfortable and to just ask if we needed anything.

Our room was very simple and cozy. We put our things away, freshened up, and decided to head out to dinner. We found a great restaurant where Jonathan ordered a steak and I decided on a salad with BBQ brisket on it. Satisfied and full, we walked up and down Market Street scoping out our options for the next day. We closed the evening with some homemade ice cream and headed back to Villa Bernese.

Upon reaching our destination, we were invited to join our host, hostess, and all of the other B&Bers on the deck. We sat and talked enjoying a glass of champagne in honor of our anniversary! They were all so sweet and it was wonderful to meet such interesting people.

Saturday morning we had a fantastic breakfast prepared by our hostess, Marianne. We then headed out to visit the infamous Corning Glass Museum. We wondered around there for hours looking at the fabulous things for sale in the gift shop

primitive glass work thousands of years old in the museum itself

and tried our hand at our own glass creations. I made a wind chime and Jonathan made a necklace bead for me. We also took a picture of ourselves, the only one we have from the trip. Not the best, but it will do :)

After the museum, we headed to an antique store (more on this next week!) to shop and wait for Doug, Sarah, and the girls to show up. We couldn't wait to see them! Once they arrived, we proceeded to walk up and down Market Street window shopping. We grabbed homemade ice cream, ate a fantastic dinner on the rooftop of a local brewery, and enjoyed each other's company. It was great to see them again. It has been too long.

They headed out to make the three hour drive home and we headed to the local theater to see the new Transformers movie. Jonathan and I saw two movies on our honeymoon, so we figured we would continue the tradition by seeing one on our anniversary trip. Transformers 3 was so good. We then headed back to our suite and played a little dominoes. Want to ask me who won? Yea, I wouldn't if I were you. Let's just say Jonathan got lucky.

Sunday we woke up and headed back to the museum to pick up our projects from the day before. We also grabbed a little thank you gift for my parents. They watched Piper the whole time we were gone. We ended our little getaway with one last stop to the antique store. What can I say? We are suckers for a good, worn out item. Nothing better than someone else distressing it for you!

Thanks for a fantastic weekend Jonathan. I can't wait till next year!

Little Miss Piper

2011-07-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

I was photographing the vintage Pyrex you see in the background, when little miss Piper decided she should be the one photographed. I thought I would share the pictures with you. Oh how cute is she?!

First you only see her ears.

Then you get this look like, "Come on mom, why are you taking more pictures?" (Yes, I am mom, don't judge.)

Oh! I also had to share this picture with you too. I walked into the living room the other night to this. My husband was sound asleep on the chair and miss smarty pants decided the ground wasn't comfortable enough. Apparently my pillow was a better choice.

P.S. Yes! I did finally buy my first set of vintage Pyrex dishes. There was a pretty sweet antique shop, we found on our anniversary trip, full of the stuff!! More on the trip and antique shop to come. Yes, I took tons of pictures! :)

Downy Unstopables

2011-07-13T09:00:00.008-04:00

Ever heard of the website called Vocal Point? Neither had I. I was perusing moneysavingmom.com and stumbled across a post about the fantastic opportunities that Vocal Point offers. So I signed up!

Vocal Point is a mom based website designed to give mom's tips, product reviews, and a place to express their feelings about various household things. I'm not a mom yet, but figured it may be interesting to just visit it occasionally to get ideas. Plus, I read a review that said they will send you free products to try, test, and review. I am always interested in free things!

Well, after a month or two, I felt like I was wasting my time. I hadn't received anything in the mail and wasn't sure if having a Vocal Point account was really something I needed to invest time into. So I deleted my account. Seriously, one day later, I came home to find this box sticking out of my mailbox.

I was very confused and started reading the outside of the box only to find that it was from Vocal Point! A free product from them to review! It is full sized, only available in select few stores, and something given to me for free! No obligation. Just use it and tell them what I think. I honestly did not even have to write this post unless I wanted to!

I opened the package and this is what I found. A pair of socks and Downy Unstopables.

Now, Downy Unstopables are little soap beads that are meant to enhance the smell of your laundry. They are, in essence, scent boosters. You fill up the little lid on the top with your desired amount and then add them to your wash. They won't bleach your clothes and all they do is just boost the smell.

I have to say that I was impressed with them. I do have my reservations though. So, here are some pros and cons.

Pros:

1.) They smell fantastic and truly do hold their scent. When I put a shirt on that had been hanging in my closet all week, I could still smell the Unstopables.

2.) They are easy to use (explained above).

3.) They do not harm my clothes by bleaching them, leaving a funny residue, etc.

Cons:

1.) There are only two scents. Plus I am not sure that I really want to smell like fresh laundry all day. I think it would mix too much with my perfume maybe?

2.) It's another thing to add to the laundry. I'm not sure it's worth buying something else to add to the washer, when realistically the laundry soap is supposed to do the same thing.

Overall, Downy Unstopables seems to be a great product. I actually would love to have one that smelled of vanilla and lavender. I think it would be a great thing to wash all my sheets with. When I visit my grandmother's house, she always puts lavender scented dryer sheets under the pillow case. It really does sooth you as you fall asleep. Maybe then I would be more inclined to buy them. But my end decision is that I wouldn't buy them. Just one more thing that seems like a great idea, but truly isn't a necessity.

Home Sweet Home.

2011-07-12T13:42:00.000-04:00

We have been searching for a house. Yup, we are going to take the plunge and buy our first house. That is if we can find "the one." Tonight we are looking at a particular house for the second time. We are taking our great friends/cousins with us, to see what they think. This could be the one.

God seems to be guiding us through this process. There have been three other homes that we were interested and had appointments to see, that were under contract before our appointment! The hubs and I are feeling that God is showing us by closing the door on houses that really aren't right. Thus far, this house has been on the market for about a month. We saw it approximately three weeks ago and as of right now, it still isn't under contract. We are cautiously excited.

Upon first glance, it definitely isn't something I would go for. But then you walk into the house and see the beautiful wooden staircase and everything changes. You turn left and there is a dining room, living room, half bath, and this cute little "office" with french doors. I am loving the idea of french doors in my house! The kitchen leaves something to be desired, but is definitely workable for now. There is a huge den in the back of the house that has a door to the spacious garage. Get this, the garage already has a workbench in the back! Perfect for Jonathan!

There are three bedrooms and one full bathroom upstairs. Way more space then we need, but that just means we could grow into the house (i.e. lots of babies :) ) . Both the bathroom and half bath need to be gutted and redone, but yet again, we could probably live with them for a little while. Oh and I saved the best for last. The back yard. OH THE BACK YARD. It is to die for. There are two levels to it. The top level has a small patio and place for a veggie garden. Then you walk down this flower lined path to the lower level. It would be perfect for picnics, camp fires, and any other outdoor activity you can think of. Then the piece-de-resistance is the creek that runs through the back. I'm loving the idea of hearing running water when I sit out on my back patio. A little country oasis.
Over all the house is great. There are some major and minor things that we would have to do before we moved in. But I really think that it is a great little fixer-upper. I can see loads of potential. Now all we need to do is work on the price. Yup, a little high for us. But, God has it all in His hands. I'm trusting Him.

One Year Anniversary

2011-07-11T08:33:00.000-04:00

Jonathan,

Happy one year of marriage, my love. I cannot believe that this day, last year, we were on our way to a cozy b&b in the middle of nowhere, Vermont. I remember being nervous, giddy, and so in awe of the life that was ahead of us. I was in love. I was head over heals. I knew our marriage was blessed by our Heavenly Father. I knew that this was the beginning of the rest of our lives.

Today, I reflect back and realize that I barely knew what love meant. And as we talked about yesterday, I still don't think I completely know what love means. I look forward to the many years ahead of us, exploring this complex and wonderful emotion that God has given us. I realize that the "love" that I had for you while we were dating was a childish and enamored love that was beautiful on its own, but this love we share now is a whole new thing.

I have realized that my love for you is deep. It is the type of love that truly conquers all. It envelops things that I never knew it could. It survives through the arguments and the ugly times. I now know what it is to love you through the good times and the bad. The ups. The downs. I know what it is to love you, when I don't really like you. I now know how God has intended love to work. I feel closer to you and to Him. I never realized marriage could bring on such a complicated and lovely mix of emotions. I love you my Jonathan.

Can you believe that we are here? I know I can't. I want to pinch myself every time I think about where we were four years ago. I remember visiting your parent's house and telling everyone that we weren't ever going to date. I remember the night we started dating (a day after we showed up at your parent's house). I remember the two short weeks we had together before I headed back to college. God brought us closer than I ever thought possible in those first days. I just knew that I had found 'the one' that I would be with for the rest of my life. For that, I am so thankful to God.

He has been the cornerstone in our marriage and dating relationship and I can't picture it any other way. I am so thankful everyday, for you. God knew what He was doing, when he joined these two hearts. Four years ago, He had a hand in this. One year ago yesterday, He truly blessed our commitment to each other and to Him. I can't imagine a better person to be married to.

I love you Jonathan.

SHMILY,

Liz

Thank You.

2011-07-04T08:18:00.000-04:00

Thank you to all the men and women who served and are serving our country.

I am so thankful for my freedom.

Today I love...

2011-06-29T13:02:00.000-04:00

...this picture of my family at graduation. Loving the fact that almost all of us our there plus my wonderful grandparents. We missed my brother, Mark though. Congratulations Parker!! SO proud.

...this post by Marta. Loving the 4th of July inspiration and fresh new ideas. Hmm...what are your traditions for the 4th?

Beautifying something old.

2011-06-28T12:28:00.000-04:00

I am going to take this dresser:

And make it look like this one:

Or this one:

{yellow dresser} / {aqua dresser}

Extreme Couponing

2011-06-27T10:20:00.001-04:00

No, I am not talking about the wonderfully, fantastic show on TLC. I am talking about the amazing deal that I was able to get last week. It included some serious extreme couponing.

Let me start with a little back story. About a year ago, after my husband and I were wed and we settled into our lives together, I felt this sudden responsibility to save as much money as possible on groceries and household necessities. I was a stay-at-home-wife and I felt that it was my responsibility to make my husband's income stretch as much as possible. I had the time to clip coupons. I had the time to scour store adds and pick out the sales. I had the time to plan my shopping trips to be efficient and effective. Really, I had no excuse to head into a store and buy a full priced item.

So it began! I started researching "extreme couponing" on the internet. I became familiar with sites such as Money Saving Mom and Coupons.com. I started collecting coupons and store fliers from my parents. I created a routine that included sitting down on Monday nights and making my list for multiple stores, correlating sales with the coupons I had. The first time I saved $20 on a purchase I was ecstatic and hooked. I haven't stopped since.

Let me share a little deal that I was able to make last week.

I was able to purchase all of the above things for two dollars and change. Yes. TWO DOLLARS. Here is how it worked.

I purchased everything, above, from Rite Aid. They were running some pretty great sales that week so I was able to combine coupons, sales, and +Up Rewards to make my purchase only two dollars. (For those of you who don't know what an +Up reward is: you receive an +Up reward for purchasing a specific product. Basically you pay full price for an item and they give you a designated amount back in the form of a coupon for the store. The coupon prints at the end of your receipt.) The +Up rewards that I had for this transaction were two $4.99 +Up rewards that I had from purchasing two bottles of shampoo the week before. (You can look at it two ways. Either I was able to get the shampoo for free, or I had $10 in +Up rewards towards my next purchase.)

OK, on to how the deal worked. I purchased 10 products from Lysol. They were on sale at two for $5. Then I combined that with coupons I had which were $1 off 2. Then if you purchased $15 worth of Lysol products, you earned a $5 +Up reward. SO basically the Lysol products were worth $15 total or $1.50 apiece compared to their regular retail price of $3.49 apiece.

Then I moved on to the toothpaste which was on sale 2 tubes for $4. So I purchased 4 of them and had 4 coupons for $1 off of each tube of toothpaste. Which basically meant that I was able to get each tube of toothpaste for $1 compared to the regular retail price of $2.99 a piece.

Then the Bayer aspirin I was able to get for free! Rite Aid was giving a $1.99 +Up reward back on the product and I had a $2 coupon. So instead of paying $3.99 for the bottle. I didn't pay anything.

OK, now we are at a total of $19.00. I then took my the +Up rewards that I already had (the two $4.99 ones mentioned above) which then took my total down to $9.02. This is what I payed for out of pocket including tax. Then I had two more +Up rewards that printed at the end of my receipt that I can put towards my next purchase (or deduct them from this purchase). They were worth $5 (for the Lysol products) and $1.99 (for the Bayer aspirin). That brings me to a total of $2.03!!!

You can look at this process in a variety of ways. But however you look at it, I saved a bunch of money and now I am stocked up on cleaning products for awhile. I think I currently have enough toothpaste to last us the rest of the year. Plus the aspirin, even though its only a 24 count, will last us awhile too.

I love extreme couponing!!!!

Graduation

2011-06-26T08:06:00.001-04:00

My younger brother graduates today. Holy cow. Time is a-flying. I can't believe he is done with high school! I love you Parker!

Congratulations!!!!

My husband and Parker (our wedding)

My family at our wedding

It is so weird to think that I only have one brother left in school. Man, we are all growing up. I'm not sure I am ready for this :)

Winter Please.

2011-06-23T08:17:00.000-04:00

Is it wrong that on a beautiful summer's day like this, I am sort of hoping for winter? Yea, I thought so. Well, completely disregard this post then. I will keep my winter longing to myself. :)

Blog to Book

2011-06-22T09:00:00.002-04:00

OK. Am I the only one in the dark? Maybe I am. But please tell me I have some fellow clueless compatriots out there!?! Get this. I was talking on the phone to my SIL and she told me that you can actually make a book out of your blog!! Holy cow ~~batman~~ blogosphere! I had no idea this existed!

So ,I enthusiastically signed onto my computer and started searching. and searching. and searching. Did I mention searching? Anyways, it turns out there are tons of websites to choose from. They all charge a pretty decent fee to print your blog into a book. I am THRILLED! Look at all the options:

{website}

For the past year I have been regretting the fact that I haven't been printing out my blog posts. It was one of those things that was always in the back of my mind. 'You should have started printing from day one.' 'You should start printing now so that you don't have to do even more later.' 'Great, you invest all this time into an online journal, but will your grand-kids ever know about it and be able to read it on the world wide web?'

Thank goodness for a sister-in-law who seems to know everything. I am a happy camper today. This might actually make me better about posting on a regular basis. Now I just need to decide which one to go with and how to go about turning my blog into a book!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Morning Whispers

2011-06-21T08:35:00.001-04:00

I love waking up in the morning and making my bed. Then I walk out of our bedroom and proceed to open up all of the windows in our house. I open the blinds, push up those old and worn windows, and then listen. I indulge in the fresh, cool air that washes over me. I listen to the quiet of the morning. I anticipate the birds' morning songs. I enjoy the quiet whisper of the wind coming off the lake. Then, I listen for God's words.

1st Kings 19:11-13

¹¹ “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

Fantastic Weekend

2011-06-20T09:13:00.002-04:00

Oh Monday morning. Sometimes I love you, sometimes I wish you would wait to make your presence known. This morning I am sitting here with my cup-o-jo and reflecting on an amazing weekend. This week I do not mind that Monday is here, but I wish that I could go back to Friday and go through the weekend festivities all over again. Yup, they were that good.

Friday I worked all day, but enjoyed a mid-day lunch break with my favorite Belarusian sister. My little sister, Yuliya, arrived here on Thursday night from Belarus. So mom, my little brother, Yuliya, and I all had a lunch date on Friday so that I could see her! I can't believe she has already been coming to visit now for 8 years. Its incredible.

Saturday was a beautiful day. I walked down to the pier to watch my brother, Alex, and a friend, Tim, participate in the local 'Anything that Floats' competition that was part of 'Wreck and Roll' weekend in our town. Oh my goodness! What a great time! There was lots of music by local bands, tons of local food favorites, and SO many people. I will be attending next year.

Alex, Tim (who is one of the youth group leaders at our church), and most of the high school youth group, created an amazing raft for the competition. They placed first in their race!! They were so excited. Isn't their float amazing? They used a bunch of empty milk jugs, a bunch of balloons (inflated in the milk jugs), an inner-tube, a sled, and tons of duct tape. SO creative!! Here are a few pictures of my brother, Tim, and their boat.

Alex and Tim.

Starting off the race.

Coming in first place!!!

Here are a few other boats that participated. I think my favorite was the big one entitled 'Born at Brooks.'

It was hilarious to see the 'baby' in the middle haha

These kids did a great job creating four person boats!

The Made-in-the-USA team won their round.

These ladies had a lot of smack-talk to start with, but they ended up finishing second to last. I personally loved their enthusiasm and the funky boat! Plus they were the only ladies to compete!

These poor people couldn't even start the race. Their boat was way too heavy. It just sunk the instant it was put in the water.

These two men were veterans of the race. I believe each of their boats had participated three times before. The one with the dogs on the back won their round.

Then on Sunday it was Father's day (Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there!). We enjoyed a lovely lunch with my father. It was great to just sit down together as a family and enjoy a meal. Then after that, my husband and I spent a wonderful evening together. I love ending the week with a relaxing night together.

So as I sit here Monday and reflect on the upcoming week, I am excited for what is to come and here is to hoping that this week is a great as last week!

P.S. Sorry for my short mini-break this past week. The husband and I both came down with a horrible cold.

P.P.S. Happy birthday to my wonderful SIL and my grandfather!!! I love you both!

Future Project!

2011-06-14T08:11:00.001-04:00

I was reading through my usual barrage of blogs, when I stumbled upon this beaut.

Yes that is a filing cabinet. I saw the picture on Money Saving Mom via this post. She found the original design here. I can picture this sitting in the corner of my backyard. It would be a real statement piece. Maybe I would paint it turquoise...because I have a silent obsession with the color. Or maybe it would become a beautiful shade of yellow; I'm loving the picture above.

Either way it is a fantastic idea! Old into new. To make matters even better, I have an old filing cabinet wasting away in the basement! Summer project? I think yes.

What $1 Will Get You

2011-06-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

Last weekend was Attic and Cellar Days. This is the weekend that the whole town turns into one big yard sale! It is a huge deal around here. I love the idea of spending a whole day looking through other people's old "junk." There is just nothing better than finding a diamond in the rough.

This year I only had a few hours to accomplish a lot. I was looking for a new dresser, toys for our church nursery, and miscellaneous decorating items for our apartment. Plus it would have been a fantastic bonus to find a dining room table and chairs.

Well, I found a whole lot of exciting things! I purchased plenty of fun things for our church nursery. I picked up a few books. And I scored a beautiful, old red lantern for only $2. I also surprised my husband by bringing him home an old fashion push lawnmower! He was ecstatic! At only $5 it was a real bargain. I picked it up on Saturday and Sunday after church he immediately headed out to mow our entire lawn. He seemed like a kid in a candy store.

I also picked up a few things to decorate with. I scored two basic wood frames for fifty cents apiece and then a beautiful cookbook for another fifty cents. And this is what I did. Here are my supplies:

You can see the cookbook and picture frames that I purchased. Then I added a sponge brush and some paint that I had on hand. I painted a thin coat of black over the frames and then perused the cookbook for a few appetizing pictures that would work well in our kitchen. This is the end result:

I took the two pictures and hung them over our kitchen table. They are combined with a clock that my parent's purchased for us (thanks mom and dad!) and then two other kitchen utensils that I picked up at another yard sale. I love the arrangement. I love the idea of using old and worn items to decorate. Plus the whole kitchen utensil theme that I have going, is very appropriately themed.

Plus, did you see the scale that I have acquired since this post? My mom saw the post and dug up one that she had in the attic! Thanks again mom! I think this is my new favorite place in our apartment. Maybe I will pick up my recent yard sale book--an Agatha Christie mystery and enjoy my new little nook this weekend.

Happy weekend everyone!!

Run...just keep running.

2011-06-09T20:01:00.000-04:00

Sometimes all it takes is a good run to let out all the tension from the day! Oh and a good time of devotions thanking God for all He does for us. Amen.

A Twist on Taco Salad

2011-06-08T08:44:00.001-04:00

When I think of taco salad, I think of this meal pictured above. When my husband pictures taco salad, he pictures a deep fried tortilla bowl with lots of lettuce and the usual taco toppings.

I had to change his mind. So, I put together this dish that I used to purchase in high school. Oh good old high school! I guess the food was ok, but nothing compares to a fresh and homemade version of this yummy dinner.

All you do is take your favorite tortilla chips (by the way I can never type the word tortilla with out thinking of quesadilla--Napoleon Dynamite style!!), add some taco meat, and then layer with your favorite toppings. I love me some cheddar cheese, salsa, sour cream, and of course tons of yummy avocado. I think next time I will add some onions and cilantro. Oh how I love cilantro. Can I get an amen?!

Anyways, I think I have my husband thoroughly convinced that this is the way to eat taco salad. Plus, who could ask for a better way to incorporate salsa, avocado, and cilantro? Yup, it just doesn't get any better.

Just Another Day in Paradise

2011-06-07T08:52:00.000-04:00

God sent us a beautiful thunderstorm this morning. It seemed as if it was His little gift to me. He was reminding me that He loves me and was showering me with His love and mercy. Let me tell you! A great way to start my day.

I love days filled with thunderstorms. For me it means that a lot of housework will be done. Today, while I was spending my quiet time with the Lord I was reminded of His provisions in my life. I am thankful that I have the time to do all the of the housework that I need to do. I am thankful that I ENJOY doing all of the housework that I need to do. I am so thankful that my God has allowed me to do what I love the most: be a homemaker and take care of my husband.

Thank you God for your everlasting truth in my life. Thank you for the rain and the sun. Thank you for providing for my husband and I. But most of all, thank you Lord for giving me passion for my home and for my husband. You, alone, are my solid rock. Amen.

Jewelry

2011-06-01T15:02:00.004-04:00

Another place that was attacked by the spring cleaning freak was the corner of our master bedroom.

It went from looking like this:

to looking like this:

See the laugh and love over the dresser? They had to move somewhere else. So when I rearranged my closet, I decided to pull out the jewelry hanger that I made. I felt that it would look nice over the dresser. Plus, it would mean easy access for me! Then I took apart a picture that I had laying around and put some "love" scrap booking paper in the frame. I have to say, I like it a lot better. Now I can see everything and it is easy to pick out a piece and go!

A Confession

2011-05-31T16:00:00.001-04:00

It has been awhile since I have written in my journal. I purchased one while I was on my honeymoon last year (holy cow, batman, its been almost a year!) and seriously, have not written in it for over 7-8 months. It is sort of sad. I am really glad I have this blog to sort of make up for it though! Anyways, I pulled mine out today and started writing.

I had a very productive morning. I cleaned our apartment, made my detailed grocery list, and I proceeded to do my devotions. I was feeling very accomplished. But then it hit me like a ton of bricks. All of that stuff wasn't good enough. No matter how much I vacuumed, scrubbed, dusted, and cleaned up, nothing would make me feel better. I couldn't do enough cleaning on the outside, to make up for the mess that was engulfing me from the inside.

To be honest I have often enjoyed the "project" of cleaning. When I was younger, I would clean my room on a weekly basis, reorganizing till everything looked perfect. Everything had to be in its place. Everything needed to be organized and spotless. Everything had to be perfect. To be honest, I have always been a little OCD when it comes to my personal space. My poor husband found this out the hard way once we moved in together after getting married.

Anyway, today I was getting ready for the day, and like I said, an emotional ton of bricks almost knocked me to my knees. Even though everything around me looked good, I just couldn't seem to make myself look good enough. I couldn't find something to wear that fit me. Nothing was pretty enough. Nothing fit right. My body just wouldn't let me be comfortable in my own skin. I looked in the mirror and hated what I saw. Instead of loving me, for the person that God created me to be, I just saw imperfections and a mess.--Exactly what I try to get rid of every, single day in my physical world.

Emotionally I couldn't handle it. Instead of finishing my morning routine, I promptly threw on a pair of sweats and plopped myself in front of the TV. I was ready to sit there for the rest of my life. Yup, I wasn't going to move. Never. Ever. Again. Has anyone else ever felt this way?! Can I get an AMEN?!

But then I became mad. Then I started arguing with myself that enough was enough. I wasn't going to take this any more. I wanted my old self back. I wanted to reverse time and become the person I used to be.

See, about 5 years ago I went from looking like this:

To looking like this:

I lost approximately 55 pounds from the end of my junior year in high school to the end of my senior year in high school. I graduated and went on to college feeling confident. I was focused on my heavenly Father and was on top of the world. Nothing could get me down.

But something inevitably did. I don't know what it was exactly (I went through a lot of drama during my freshman year of college), but something knocked me down and made me turn to food again. And ever since then I have struggled. I have tried to keep my eating under control. I have tried to exercise regularly. But, until now, I just couldn't do it. This is what I look like now:

But, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I am done. I refuse to be this way for the rest of my life. I don't want this for my husband, my future kids, or myself! I want to be healthy and feel good about what I look like on the outside. I want what's on the in side to be reflected on the outside! My heart lives only for Him, but I feel like my body is a poor representation of the temple that God created for me.

I know I can do this. But I am hoping that this post will help all of you to hold me accountable! I need that accountability. I need someone else to want this for me. So enough of this sad and depressing post and on to the rest of my life!!!! I am going to be that girl again. The one in this picture:

who was so happy about life and all that it had to offer. Who was heading to her senior prom excited because she looked fantastic! Will you help me?

Puppy Mascot

2011-05-28T20:49:00.000-04:00

We found a mascot for my husband's business. What do you think?

Also, Piper was very happy to watch her favorite singer win American Idol! Way to go Scotty!

Time for the weekend

2011-05-27T21:23:00.000-04:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone!--I know I am excited about the chance to sleep in tomorrow and enjoy a little shopping at the mall. What are your plans?

This weekend we are hosting my younger brother and my parent's dog while they are out of town. So, we are trying to fill the weekend with fun things to do to (think fourteen-year-old boy who needs to be entertained). We are planning a trip to the mall, some video games, a movie or two, and a Memorial Day picnic. That should hopefully do the trick!

So while the men-types (meaning my husband and brother), are thoroughly enthralled in killing zombies, I decided to peruse the Internet for the things that I ~~need~~ find dreamy. I came across these pendant lamps.

Do you remember this post? Well, I still haven't purchased my first piece of vintage Pyrex and by no means will these lights become that first piece, but aren't they fun? I can definitely see them in my future country inspired kitchen. Maybe I can coax the hubs into making them for me some day!

Happy weekending!!!

To God be the Glory

2011-05-25T17:34:00.001-04:00