Celebrate 1440

Naked Tea Party

2012-01-05T21:42:00.006-06:00

What a ca.ra.zey. month December was. I told Matt last week that I'm pretty sure I ate more red meat in that single month than I have the whole rest of the year! Between our work parties, our little family Christmas dinner with the three of us and then Matt's birthday dinner date, we ate steak like it was chicken! Decadent, I tell you!

Now, we're back to our fruits and veggies, soups and cheeses (well, the cheeses never actually went away, of course ;) But somewhere in the middle of all that craziness, I finally got around to making L's portable tea party! I found this tutorial from Prudent Baby back when L was a wee baby and since then I've made one for my niece, ML and my might-as-well-be niece WK. I figured it was about time I made one for my tea-lovin' gal. Matt's mom found the adorable tea pot fabric, and I loved it because it was so colorful. I'll take some more practical pictures later, but basically it's a giant circle that's reversible that serves as the tea party tablecloth AND then you pull the ribbon that runs along the edge and it becomes a satchel to hold all your tea party goodies. I also made some little placemats with yellow-gingham fabric and adorable matching napkins with yellow rick-rack on the side. L loves her tea parties, but apparently proper attire is well... lacking ;)

Ridiculous

2011-11-22T08:56:00.005-06:00

She was 17. He was 18. In true Nicholas Sparks' fashion, the two were talking one night outside the rental house listening to the waves crash on the shore. They were in Key West for a Jr/Sr Youth Trip preparing to graduate high school in just a few short months.

They were sitting on an old log, worn smooth by countless beatings from the ocean. He leaned over to her and said, "You know... I'm gonna marry you one day." She was convinced he would be able to see her heart beating rapidly as the corners of her mouth turned up. After all, she had felt the same thing already. But it seemed ridiculous. How could you know at 17 that the man sitting to your left would be the one you spent the rest of your life with?

Fast forward ten years and it still seems ridiculous. But I love that man more now than ever before. Soon, we will be back in the Keys for the first time since that trip almost ten years ago. We'll be celebrating six years of marriage and ten years of dating with a little anniversary cruise. To that boy with the preppy hair cut and the insanely good tan, I love you forever and always.

November

2011-11-22T08:51:00.003-06:00

November is my favorite month... it's the month Matt asked me to be his wife... it's the month one year later we tied the knot... and it's the month of Thanksgiving... my favorite holiday.

We've made a little Thanksgiving garland for the mantle this year. Every day, Matt and I have written a little card with one more thing we are thankful for... date nights and Muddy's cupcakes, our small group and work teams, moments and memories with our baby girl and many, many more. As we approach a season where it's easy to be consumed in what we want, I love being intentional about remembering all that I've been given. I don't deserve any of it, but my heavenly Father is a God of grace.

I can't help but think of friends who are counting their blessings in the midst of great loss. I pray that I am sensitive to the bittersweet nature of their holiday season.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere

2011-10-27T13:42:00.008-05:00

I absolutely LOVE pumpkins, everything about them. Matt and I got married November 4th, so I used white pumpkins as an accent at our wedding. Actually, I made them into cake stands for the pecan pies we had in place of Matt's groom cake. I cut the top off the pumpkin and placed a platter on top where scrumptious pecan delights rested. {Side note, we ordered plenty of extra pies and I'm pretty sure M & I ate pecan pie every. single. night. for at least three months after our wedding.}

We have been looking forward to taking L back to the pumpkin patch this year. She loved it last year when we used the pumpkins to create a baby bumbo to prop her up... ha! This year, she was all over the place, picking up {and dropping} pumpkins left and right! How we ended up with three still intact pumpkins is still a shock to me! Here are some pics from our trip to the Pumpkin Patch... and below the pics is an easy recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread.

Ashley's Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips

{my sis-in-law makes the most amazing pumpkin bread... I just tweaked her recipe a little using some whole wheat flour and added some chocolate chips in place of a little of the sugar!}

Ingredients

1- 15 oz can pumpkin

2 cups all purpose flour

1.5 cups whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 cup vegetable oil

2.5 cups sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup water

4 eggs

1-2 cups chocolate chips {I used two.}

Mix wet ingredients in mixer. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and add to mixer. Grease loaf pans well. {Note: This recipe makes three large loaves or 1 large loaf and 4 mini loaves.) Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

It's a Wreath Down

2011-10-17T17:07:00.003-05:00

After being inspired by my crafty friends Ari and Liz, I made this wreath this afternoon. Since I used stuff I already had around the house, it cost me zero dollars and only took about 30 minutes to make!
I had leftover houndstooth fabric (a Bama girl's staple) from a project last Christmas, and I've been wanting to make a wreath for the front door. Fall at our home means Bama football, so the houndstooth was perfect! I just cut the fabric into 10"x1.5" strips (no need to be exact) with pinking shears. I took a wire coat hanger and stretched it out into a circle shape. Then, I knotted each strip around the coat hanger until they went all the way around. I had some red and white polka dot fabric leftover from a V-day sewing project so I put seven or eight strips of that fabric at the top for a little Bama crimson :)
Next, I cut a football shape from a brown box we got some pics in. I used a silver Sharpie to add a few details and RTR! (If you don't know that means Roll Tide Roll, shame on you! ;)
Next, I cut a piece of red ribbon and duct taped it to the back. Fancy, huh?
Last, I bent the top part of the hanger down to make a little hook and hung it on our freshly painted front door. {Color is MS Vermilion High Gloss Exterior in case you are wondering! We put a fresh coat on this weekend and painted the hardware with Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.}
RTR! :)

Easiest Fall Dessert Ever!

2011-10-16T21:00:00.004-05:00

Once a year we have a Pumpkinpalooza around our home. For several weeks I try out recipe after recipe with pumpkin in it. Boy, did I start with a zinger for this year! Last night, I made what has got to be the EASIEST cake ever, and it has all the favorite flavors of fall in each bite.

Get ready for this...

Two-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake with Apple Cider Glaze
From Noble Pig who got it from Big Red Kitchen

For the cake:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree

For the apple cider glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons apple cider
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Mix the cake mix and pumpkin puree in your mixer until well blended. It will be thick! Spread the mixture into a greased 7x11 pan (this is a small rectangular, casserole dish). Bake at 350 degrees for 28 minutes or until a toothpick or fork comes out clean. Do NOT overbake!!!

Let cool for 10-15 minutes, then flip onto a plate or platter. Make the glaze while you are waiting. Combine the powdered sugar, cider and pumpkin pie spice until smooth. Glaze will be thick but pourable. After you flip the cake onto the batter, pour 2/3 of the glaze on top. Save some of the glaze to pour on each piece after you cut it. Serve warm!

It doesn't get any easier than that! And it is sooo yummy! Happy fall!

Everyone should have a friend like Kim

2011-09-28T21:20:00.004-05:00

Everyone should have a friend like Kim. One night while we were searching for Scripture in M28 at church, we landed on a passage in Luke 1. I showed Kim how those particular pages of my Bible are underlined, dated and written on all over the place. They're also crinkly from many, many, many tears that have landed on those beautiful words. I showed her Luke 1:45 and told her I had claimed it after we lost our first baby. Our first baby was due right about this time of year. She would be turning two. Our niece turns two today, and when we found out we were pregnant at the same time as my sister-in-law, we imagined what would happen if both the babies were born on the same day. Our baby was born on February 8th instead, straight into Heaven but still having made an indelible mark on this world... at least my world. That sweet baby has taught me so much, most of all to cling tight to my Father. For true peace, joy and hope is found solely in Him.

Today, Kim gave me a card, and words can't describe how much it meant for someone to remember our baby. And then, she handed me the following piece of artwork she had created for me. And I cried... big tears... the kind that make your chin crinkle up and look all funny. To have someone love you in a vulnerable spot like that... it changes a person. It inspires hope and provides perseverance. For in Heaven, our sweet babies wait for us. And God has so richly blessed us with a baby to hold in our arms. And I am a different kind of mom because of those first two babies. Happy birthday, sweet child. I look forward to holding you one day, but I know you're in the arms of your Creator.

I hope you are blessed with a friend like Kim.

Funfetti

2011-09-20T19:49:00.006-05:00

I absolutely adore Funfetti cake. It is the antithesis of what we normally eat. (What with the vast quantities of white flour, white sugar and don't forget the colored candies...) But every year Matt makes me a Funfetti cake for my birthday, and together we eat every last morsel. Of course, this year L is making a big dent in the cake.

All three of us together! L is wearing her cupcake outfit :)

Momma and L blowing out the candles. L thought the smoke was awesome!

Matt took me out to dinner to get sushi, the most delicious sushi... my mouth starts watering just thinking about it. I didn't eat all of that. I shared a couple pieces with Matt. The one on the left is the Mexico Roll, a longtime favorite and the one on the right with all the fresh salmon on top is the New Orleans Roll, a new favorite.

After dinner we did a little shopping. I found a new mug from Anthropologie. When we got home I took a bath, read my new library book and enjoyed my blueberry green tea from my new mug. Mine is the first one on the second row. The main color was aqua blue... perfect? I think so!

As a midnight snack (okay, 9:30... did I turn 72?!?) we enjoyed Funfetti cake and toasted another year with ice cold milk.

The jadeite cake plate was my birthday gift from Matt. I absolutely love it, and I look forward to many happy memories celebrated with it!

And those flowers you see in the background. My daddy had them delivered to me since he is out of the country this week on a mission trip. They are sooooo gorgeous, and they were the best surprise! I LOVE them!

I am a blessed girl, and my greatest blessings are my family and friends. But the reason I live to celebrate another year is my Savior, Jesus Christ. Without Him, life would be nothing.

Kitchen Updates

2011-09-13T20:40:00.000-05:00

I've always loved our kitchen. It's a sunny room with lots of space for friends to gather and food to be shared. We don't have a dining room, but instead we got a big room with space to cook, eat and even a little desk for writing. When we first moved in, we painted the kitchen the most beautiful shade of pale aqua... the color of sea glass. We also transformed the less-than-awesome oak cabinets into a sea of crisp white. It really brightened the place up. Since we decided to wait a while to move because of the real estate market, I was itching to change things up. :)

So, I decided I wanted to paint the walls a different color and incorporate my love of aqua into the furniture instead. So, we changed the walls to a pale gray {Secret Passage by Olympic}. Our dining table is nothing special, just a plain rectangle and four semi-boring chairs that we bought for a couple hundred bucks at a mega-furniture store when we got married. They were all stained a deep ebony color, pretty but boring... And that's when we went a-sanding... we sanded... and sanded... and sanded... and wait... we sanded some more. Yes, it took a looooong time to sand the table completely down to the bare wood, but when we did we were REALLY happy with it. {We used a palm sander to do this. Otherwise, we'd still be working on it.} The top of the table has butcher block style wood. We opted to stain it a lighter color. We went to the hardware store and started swooning over this shade called Peppermill (by Cabot, I believe). The color reminds me of driftwood, and we l.o.v.e. it! Before we stained it, we used a hammer and chains to distress the top. This was the fun part. Great way to get out any stress! After the distressing, we applied a thin layer of stain and used an old undershirt {always thrifty over here} to wipe away the excess stain. Then, we applied a couple thin coats of poly on top. After we finished sanding, it really wasn't that hard.

Then, we needed to do something about the chairs. We sanded those a bit, just enough to rough them up. I used several cans of spray paint primer {I love that stuff} to prime each chair really well. The spray paint primer is great for jobs like this where there are lots of small crevices. That made a good base, and then I applied a couple thin coats of Valspar Aqua Glow paint to each chair. One tester {only $2.50} covered all four chairs. After the paint had dried, I used some fine sand paper to distress the edges. Because the original ebony color was underneath, the distressing turned out great. I took it a little further and watered down some raw umber glaze I had from a past project {about 1 part glaze to 1 part water} and wiped the glaze over the paint to further add a little "age" to it. Then, I painted a couple thin coats of poly on top of these too for protection. {Tip: Use those cheapo sponge brushes for the poly so you can just toss them at the end.}

Last but not least, that rug. It is now my favorite thing in the kitchen! {Well, except for my KitchenAid mixer, but that's another post.} I found the rug in the back corner of the Anthropologie clearance section for $30!!! I spotted it, and I could. not. believe. it. I hugged it tight, took it out into the store and found an empty spot of floor to lay it out and see if it would work size wise. Sure enough, it looked perfect! I ran to the counter and could barely contain my glee. I'm super stoked that it's a cotton/poly blend too so it can be machine-washed! {All the mommas of toddlers who end up with errant blueberries underfoot, can I get a woot-woot?!?} Just for added durability, I took it outside and sprayed it with Scotchguard too. I'm really happy with how everything has turned out, and we did it for super cheap. All of it was around $60. Not too bad!

In case you wanted to see the before, here is a table that looks similar to ours. I cannot figure out where I saved the before pics... argh! This will give you an idea though...

And now...

Passed Down Pillows

2011-09-01T14:23:00.005-05:00

When we were at my parent's home a couple weekends ago, Mom gave me an old stiched piece of fabric that my great-great aunt had done. It was quite dirty with tattered edges, but still so beautiful. I brought it home and soaked it in a vinegar bath {a couple capfuls of vinegar in a gallon of water} for several hours. Then I wrung the water out and hung it out in the sunshine to dry for a couple days {bringing it in at night, of course}. That removed a lot of the stains on the fabric. The fabric still has that aged color to it, but I love that. I cut the tattered edges off and cut a matching piece of muslin and made it into a gorgeous pillow. I absolutely adore handmade things, and this one simply makes me smile. I hope one day L will have it in her home and tell her kids the story behind it.

Gracie's Favorite

2011-08-25T21:42:00.004-05:00

This past weekend we traveled to Mississippi to move my baby sister into college {insert sobs and gobs of Kleenex}. I love her so much. We share a love of beach vacations {even though she'll always be 49 shades darker than me}, country music {a little T Swift is all we need ;)} and even the same major {maybe she'll actually use hers!}.

I am so, so proud of her for stepping out, for being brave, for embarking on a new adventure. We also share a love of fettuccine, so this recipe's in honor of my incredible sister. I love you, Gracie!

3-Ingredient Fettuccine Alfredo
via Martha Stewart Recipes

Ingredients
2 sticks of butter
1/2 pound grated Parmesan cheese
Salt
1 lb fettuccine (I love Delallo organic whole wheat pasta!)

Directions
1. Using an electric mixer, beat the Parmesan and butter until creamy.

2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook fettuccine according to package instructions until al dente, about 12 minutes. Reserve about 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta.

3. Return fettuccine to warm pot. Toss pasta with 1/2 teaspoon salt, cheese mixture and 1/4 cup pasta water. Add more pasta water, as needed.

Seriously, could that be any easier? I made this again this week and topped it with shrimp sauteed with garlic, olive oil and crushed red pepper flakes. Scrumptious! Gracie, next time you're here, I'll make you some ;)

Hard Day

2011-08-15T14:55:00.003-05:00

Today is a hard day. The kind where you have to gulp and put one foot in front of the other and venture out the front door because otherwise you might just dig a hole in the pile of dirty clothes sitting in your closet, grab your most favorite little munchkin and hide away for, oh, a few decades at least.

In what can only be described as the most bizarre, freak accident, one of our preschoolers at church–a precious one-year-old who was in L's Sunday school class–passed away today. "How?" and "Why?" and "What?"... these are the questions that spiral through my head, but I know there won't be answers. Some things we simply cannot understand.

While a hideaway does sound so supremely comforting right now, I know life would be so boring. For the bitter taste of death reminds us of the sweet deliciousness of life. And the crazy, mysterious, leave-it-to-God-to-work-in-this-way part of it all is... somewhere, a family is celebrating because their loved one has just gotten a new chance at life since Jackson's parent's decided to donate his organs. Somewhere, God has just said "yes" to one family's prayers even as He said "no" to another one's desperate pleas. His ways are not our own.

And I am soberly reminded that our children do not belong to us. They belong to their Creator, and they are given to us for a season to love, cherish, enjoy and train. Today, like every day and every breath, is a day to celebrate, hug, kiss and whisper sweet "I love you's." Tomorrow is not a guarantee, but today... today is a gift.

Garden Gifts

2011-08-11T21:33:00.003-05:00

Last week, my garden buddy Chariti calls telling me our garden neighbor gave her some hybrid zucchinis that are humongous. I've seen my fair share of those garden shows on tv, but my imagination couldn't fathom the thing she would hand me that Sunday. Seriously, it weighed more than my child when she was born (and she took two extra days to bake!). Needless to say, I knew much zucchini was in our future. And after grilling and sauteing, I needed something else to do with all these zukes! I googled and found a few recipes for chocolate zucchini cake... I know what you're thinking–veggies in my dessert–no, thank you! But I promise the zucchini only adds moisture, not any sort of weird flavor. Try it! Plus, it has veggies in it, so that totally makes it healthy, right?

Chocolate Zucchini Cake
adapted from allrecipes.com

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups peeled and grated zucchini
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a bundt cake pan. In a large bowl combine eggs, sugar, oil, zucchini and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour into your greased bundt pan and bake for around one hour or until a toothpick comes out clean.

I made a little glaze to go on top mixing powdered sugar and milk until it reached a consistency I liked. Then, I drizzled the glaze on top of the cooled cake. (Well, it was almost cooled. Okay, not very cool at all, but I couldn't wait any longer.) I hope someone also gifts you a zuke so large you want to file for its social security card. :) I'm still eating on that thing!

Fetish with Feta

2011-08-09T21:35:00.004-05:00

I have a little crush. (No, I'm not talking about Matt although that's true all the time, and no, I'm not talking about Justin Bieber either even though my daughter could dance to "Baby" for twelve hours straight.)

All summer long, I've been obsessed with feta cheese... feta on salads, feta on flank steak, feta in dips, feta with my fingers. (Oh snap, I was going to keep that quiet!) So much that I'm considering curating a board on Pinterest with recipes that feed my fetish with feta! In case you share this fetish with me, this recipe is sooooo easy you could make it (and eat it) in your sleep.

Feta Pesto Crostinis

Recipe from Liz Stone

4 ounces pesto

6 ounces feta

3 Roma tomatoes

1 tablespoon minced garlic

whole grain baguette (the long one, not the short)

olive oil

Slice the baguette into 1/2 inch slices and spread onto a baking stone. Baste the top of each slice with olive oil and bake at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes. Remove and spread a thin (or thick!) layer of pesto on top of each slice. Chop the tomatoes into small pieces and combine with the minced garlic. Spoon a small amount of the tomatoes and garlic on top of each slice. Sprinkle feta cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for another 5-7 minutes until the toppings are hot.

Try not to eat two dozen at a time, but good luck! I can't do it!

Flapjacks

2011-08-08T20:53:00.004-05:00

The latest issue of Martha Stewart Living arrived in our mailbox today. When I saw the front cover, the smells and tastes of fall almost brought a cool breeze into the house... almost. (Let's not get carried away... it's still 93 degrees at 8 pm.) But I could imagine cooler days, and immediately I am dreaming of my Le Creuset bubbling over with soups-roasted tomato, potato leek and, of course, Paula Deen's taco soup. As much as I love summer, I love the actual changing of the seasons most of all. Whether it's sweaters to flip-flops or sundresses to wool pea coats, I love the transition.

Whenever I eat these oatmeal pancakes, I remember a fall night with our good friends Matt and Mary Jane. It was a last minute text, "Busy tonight? Wanna do dinner at our place?" If you know me at all, you know the answer to texts such as these is always, "Yes!" Matt and MJ worked the griddle and made the most delicious pancakes I've ever tasted. Usually, we put blueberries in the pancake batter like they did, but when I made them recently I made a fresh fruit compote with blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. We piled the fruit compote on top and sprinkled with powdered sugar. The bright burst of summer berries with the warm, comfort of buttermilk oatmeal pancakes feels just like the transformation of those last late summer nights that quickly drift into a brisk fall breeze.

Buttermilk Oatmeal Pancakes

from Matt and Mary Jane May (I think this is a Wilson family recipe)

2 eggs

2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup flour (we use whole wheat flour)

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups quick-cookng oatmeal.

Whisk eggs with buttermilk. Add flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add oatmeal. Cook pancakes on a hot skillet or griddle. To make the fresh fruit compote, heat berries with 1/2 tablespoon sugar in a small pot on low/medium heat. Stir frequently until most of the berries burst and the juices thicken. Spoon compote over pancakes and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

I'm Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

2011-07-26T15:31:00.003-05:00

Last Friday, I picked a peck of pickled peppers. (Sorry, I couldn't resist... this is what happens when the rhyming books are your daughter's fave.) I had about a dozen hot banana peppers and jalapeno peppers, but I wasn't sure what to do with them. I've recently fallen in love with Lenny's hot pepper relish (on a Philly cheesesteak with onions and lots of cheese... delish!) so I thought I would make some hot pepper relish.

This was my first time canning something on my own. I spent many an afternoon canning veggies with my Mamaw when I was younger, but I was just her helper. Now, I was a little nervous about doing each step correctly.

This is the recipe I adapted from one I found online. The original recipe used habanero, but I used hot banana peppers and jalapenos since that's what I had. So, mine is a good bit less spicy than the recipe one. I have tasted it, and it's spicy, sweet and definitely tangy. I think it would taste scrumptious over brie with some sea salt crackers. You can really adjust this recipe to whatever "heat" you or your gift recipients like. I'm a "the hotter the better" gal, but I thought a more middle-of-the-road heat level would be better since I'm going to tie some pretty ribbon around mine and save them for Christmas gifts (except for the one can I had to open and try... that one's all for us. They keep for a year once they are canned and sealed. If you don't go through the canning process, it keeps for around 2 months in the fridge. Enjoy!

Hot Pepper Relish
adapted from a recipe from Group Recipes

6 cups of bell peppers (I used a combo of green, red and yellow)
12-20 hot peppers (I used hot banana peppers and jalapeno peppers, but use whatever you like)
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 cups sugar
1 quart apple cider vinegar

1. Process the peppers until medium size pieces. (Make sure you use gloves with the hot peppers!)

2. Combine the peppers with the sea salt and let them stand for 2 hours.

3. Put into non-reactive pot such as a coated cast iron. (I used my Le Creuset.) Add sugar and vinegar and stir regularly on medium heat for 40-50 minutes until the mixture thickens.

4. Pour or ladle into jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace and process in a hot-water bath for 10 minutes. (I did 15 minutes just to be sure! :)

I went to Ball's website for a step-by-step canning process, and I found it very helpful.

Our Bellies Were Full of Stromboli

2011-07-25T15:59:00.003-05:00

image via burnmenot.blogspot.com

Last weekend, I pinned this delicious looking stromboli. You see, I cannot resist oozing cheese. I just. can't. do. it. So, I didn't. And what did I say as I handed Matt his plate of homemade stromboli with the most melt-in-your-mouth crust surrounding piping hot spicy pepperoni, savory green peppers and sweet onions with a large dash of crushed red pepper flakes? "You're gonna love me, baby." This homemade crust is easy peasy, and I made a little homemade marinara as a dip. (Just cut up some tomatoes–organic, of course, those things are laden with pesticides–throw them in a pot with some garlic, pepper and salt and heat. Then, I just used my immersion blender to make it smooth!) Ooey, gooey and perfect!

Homemade Stromboli
via burnmenot.blogspot.com

Ingredients
Yields 2 loaves
1 (.25 oz) package active dry yeast
1 1/3 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp salt
4 to 5 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:
The quantities below are for 1 Stromboli. Double the amount if you want to make both loaves.
1/4 lb thinly sliced ham
1/4 lb reduced fat pepperoni
Dried basil
Dried oregano
4 slices provolone cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add oil, salt and 2 cups flour; fitted with the paddle attachment, beat until smooth. Stir in enough flour to form a soft dough. Switching to the dough hook attachment, knead dough on low speed until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Roll one portion into a 15 x 12-inch rectangle. (I froze the second portion for a later date.) Arrange ham slices lengthwise down half of rectangle. Place pepperoni on top. Sprinkle with a little bit of basil and oregano. Arrange provolone slices over the top and then add the mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with a little more basil and oregano. Fold plain half of dough over filling and seal ends well. Brush with oil; sprinkle with oregano.

Bake on a baking sheet at 400°F for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; cut into 1-inch slices.

I followed the recipe exactly, but I did substitute pizza toppings. I used spicy pepperoni (a LOT), green bell peppers and onion (half a bell pepper and half an onion for each loaf). I did, however, deviate from the recipe when she said, cut into 1-inch slices. One inch?!? No way. Each loaf makes enough for 4 servings (or 3 if you're Matt, Elissa & Lydia ;). So, if you make both loaves, you'll have 8 servings, give or take a little depending on who's eating.

(BTW, does anyone know the difference between stromboli and calzone? Are they the same? Does stromboli mean the specific toppings?)

Greeking Out

2011-07-25T15:46:00.003-05:00

image via housetweaking.com

I've been in a very "Greek" mood recently. Maybe it's my recent obsession with feta or the always classic pairing of crisp blue and white. Or maybe it's just that I read about this guy's trip, and now I want to live on a house boat in the Greek isles...

Since, I'm not moving anywhere anytime soon, I've appeased my Greek curiosity in the kitchen. I tried this tasty Greek spread a couple weeks ago, and Matt and I finished it off in less than 24 hours. Confession: I may have even eating it for breakfast. A dip with red pepper, hummus and feta. How could you go wrong? Try it today. Right now. It's that good.

Easy Greek Spread
via housetweaking.com

8 oz. hummus {I used red pepper hummus)
6 oz. plain Greek yogurt
½ tsp. pepper
1 tsp. lemon juice
½ cucumber, seeded and chopped
2 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
½ bunch of green onions, chopped
6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

Spread the hummus in the bottom of a 9x9 dish. Mix the Greek yogurt with the pepper and lemon juice. Spread the yogurt mixture over the hummus. Cut the cucumber, tomatoes, onions and peppers into small pieces and layer on top of the yogurt mixture. (Tip: Save a little of the veggies for the top of the dip to make it look pretty). Spread the feta cheese on top and finish off with the pretty veggies you saved. Drizzle the olive oil on top. We ate it with Simply Naked pita chips. Yowza! This is tasty! Enjoy!

p.s. If you happen to be the owner of a house boat in the Greek isles, let's please be friends. Please and thank you.

Dandelions

2011-07-21T18:45:00.003-05:00

When is it that dandelions transform from magical flowers to annoying weeds? As kids, we would chase after the coveted dandelions hoping we might be the lucky one to get to blow those whimsical petals into the sun-drenched sky. Their tiny filaments scattered like pixie sticks until the tug of the breeze carried them out of sight.

Not so any more. I pulled into the driveway yesterday afternoon and, sure enough, three of these little beauties had taken root right in the front of the flower bed. Certain that our retired neighbor with his immaculate garden had already spied our newest lawn ornaments, I started pulling.

While I dried my hair this morning, Lydia took a box of Band-Aids she had proudly confiscated and, in true one-year-old fashion, proceeded to take out each individual Band-Aid for careful inspection. She proceeded to pull up a few inches of the bath rug and place one underneath it. She kept moving around the perimeter of the rug placing each Band-Aid carefully in position. Upon making the entire circumference, she began pulling each one out so she could start again. Over and over she went around that brown bath rug with her Band-Aids living in her own imaginary world. Those Band-Aids could have been anything.

My Band-Aids are food. Summer mornings at my grandparent's farm were spent picking veggies in the garden, but summer afternoons were the best. We brought the day's harvest into the dining room where I set up my farmer's market. I took great pride in separating each specimen into baskets gathered around the house. I remember eggplants as dark as the night sky, fiery jalapenos and bell peppers brighter than a box of highlighters. Mamaw would come through my market and place her selections in a bag while I measured each one on Papaw's old metal scale. During a recent visit, I found a book, and in it were some of the little slips of paper with my childish scribbles that served as her receipt.

I don't know what turns dandelions into weeds. Maybe it's mortgages or losing someone you love. Maybe it's the fear of going for a dream and busting your butt. It's important to find those things that stir up within us the ability to dream and believe and risk something. My imagination still has a home in my taste buds. The kitchen is my playground, and feta, roasted tomatoes, olive oil, hummus and Brie... those are my dandelions.

Near

2011-07-14T08:43:00.003-05:00

One night this week I was busy sewing a whimsical little gift for a certain one-year-old who has a birthday coming up next week (she shall remain anonymous, but her name rhymes with pillow :) I was in need of some girlfriend chit-chat while I sewed, so I took my machine over to my dear friend Liz's home and we sewed and talked and sewed and talked. Since I was gone, Matt put L to bed. I always have to sneak in and take a peek at her when I get home, sending her I love you's and kisses in her dreams.

Tuesday night, I crept out of her room and crawled into bed. We fell asleep, but a couple hours later I heard a little whimper coming across the monitor. I cracked her door and saw L standing up in her crib. As usual, she reached her hands out to me as soon as she saw me. I lifted her into my arms and within seconds she was drifting into her dreams again. I snuggled into the rocking chair with her silky hair against my cheek and the sweet sound of her breathing tickling my ear. All she needed was to feel her momma, to know she was there.

As I held my baby girl, a realization washed over me. My heavenly Father must feel the same thing. When I crave His presence, hold my arms out wide and sink into His chest, does He feel my love? Does He know that when I'm hungry, thirsty, needy, lonely, rejected–that He's the only One I want? Does He know that just His mere presence puts my heart at rest, lets me close my eyes and be still? Be near, Father, be near.

Italics- Summer Part 2

2011-07-08T11:57:00.006-05:00

I have a new author who has quickly joined my favorites list- Lisa See. I stumbled upon her bestseller Snow Flower and the Secret Fan at the library a few weeks ago and could. not. put. it. down. Set in 19th century China, it is the story of two laotongs who have been paired to be best friends for life. Lisa See embroiders history into the tapestry of a very personal story. Her writing is so vivid and poetic that I can imagine the world she creates better than any picture or movie could portray. If you enjoyed reading The Help (and who didn't?!?), I think you will fall in love with this author.
After I finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, we headed back to the library to load up for our Jamaica trip. I darted over to the "S" section crossing my fingers that See would have more books available. I was so excited to see Peony in Love and Shanghai Girls. I read both of them under the palm trees with a salt-kissed breeze keeping me cool and an ice-cold strawberry lemonade in hand. It. was. paradise.
And now I am headed back to the library because I just put a fourth of See's books on hold! I'm headed to the country for the night with a couple of girlfriends. Happy weekend!

In Italics- Summer Part 1

2011-07-05T17:05:00.006-05:00

Summer = reading for me, and I've pored through a stack of books this summer. Some autobiographies, some thrillers and a new author I'm just giddy over. The list runs too long for a single post, so I'll separate it into a couple/three different blogs, but here are a few...

Last summer, I devoured Laura Bush's autobiography, so when my friend Heather, finished George Bush's Decision Points, I was itching to get my hands on it. In a most fortuitous relationship, we have an unspoken back-and-forth conversation that takes place within the books we share. Decision Points is informative, eye-opening and offers the reader an interesting view into the world of politics and family. While the former president has a much more fact-driven way of writing than his lovely wife, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. I kept thinking to myself, "How does one person carry all that responsibility?" I was deeply encouraged to read of his outspoken relationship with Christ and particularly his battle with alcohol. Read both of their books together, and it gives you a personal narrative of these unique years in history.

I spied this book on the 7-Day checkout at the library, and after I finished Decision Points, I couldn't pass it up. I've always enjoyed Tony Blair's charisma, and the way he writes only cemented my feelings. He is an excellent communicator, and he immediately puts his reader at ease. I can see why he was such an effective diplomat. While I enjoyed discovering history from the other side of the ocean, his communication skills and methods were my favorite lessons.

While we're in the genre of autobiographies, I read Dancing with Max one weekend recently. I was at the Orange conference in April, and one of my breakouts was about kids with autism. The breakout speaker recommended this book, and I'm glad she did. I laughed. I cried. And by the end of the book, I wanted to hug Max and his momma. If you love someone with special needs, you will love every last word of this inspirational story. I couldn't put it down.

Three down... about a dozen to go... so many good books. More to come!

On the Bias

2011-06-11T16:34:00.002-05:00

Ok, I admit it. I'm a bit of a steak snob. I have this thing about getting a little piece of fat, and, frankly, it triggers my gag reflex and just ruins the meal for me. (More information than you wanted to know, I'm sure.) So, on the very rare occasion that I eat steak, I order a filet, medium-rare but more on that later. Almost no fat to deal with, extremely tender and moist. Perfect! Except the price :( I'm a Dave Ramsey fanatic who has a bit of a crush on our family budget, so I don't want to cheat and go over on the grocery line.

Well, I've heard all about the flank steak–not a lot of fat to deal with, easy to grill and cheap! Woohoo! But I've always wondered if that inexpensive cut of beef could really taste good. Last weekend, I decided to try it. I found a good-looking flank steak for around $10 that would make 4 servings ($2.50 a serving for steak... um, yeah!) I knew from my extensive Food Network watching days back when we had cable that marinating the meat in something acidic was crucial to flank steak. So, I found a tequila lime marinade and put that thing in a Ziploc just bathing in all that yummy goodness overnight. The next night, Matt fired up the grill and cooked it for six minutes on each side, searing in all the juices but definitely leaving it a little room to still say, "Moo!"

Two other commandments I learned from Food Network. The first–always, always, always let your meat rest before you cut it. We waited around 10-12 minutes or the time it took to make the side dish, move L's high chair outside and get our drinks. The second–when working with flank steak you MUST slice the meat at a diagonal against the grain. In sewing, it's called cutting it on the bias. This is the key! I sliced it up and served it with a simple wedge of frosty iceberg lettuce with jalapeno ranch dressing drizzled (ok, dripping) on top and let's just say it was... deeeeeelicious. So delicious that I thought about taking a picture, but realized that would mean I had to wait 30 more seconds before sinking my teeth in, and I just couldn't do it.

One last comment about flank steak, or any steak actually. A kind cow has given his life that we might have the delicious meal before us. Please do not insult the memory of this kind creature by cooking your steak well-done. It's wrong, very wrong. Medium-rare is my preference, but at least go for medium... puh-lease? The cows would be very grateful. Ok, I'm well done with that now. (Get it? Har-har-har.) If you do cook your steak well-done, it's okay. I have plenty of faults too. :)

Homemade Ice Cream

2011-06-11T16:21:00.002-05:00

If beach vacations had a taste, for me, it would be boiled shrimp with cold, spicy cocktail sauce and homemade ice cream... not in the same bite though–just the same meal. :)

My daddy makes homemade ice cream, and we eat it every. single. night. at the beach. The hum of ice cream churning signals summer, and with it a flood of happy memories wash over me.

I found this easy recipe for homemade cheesecake ice cream, and last week we gave it a try. It's rich and delicious (almost as good as my daddy's... but not quite). The hint of lemon cuts all that cream with a little zing, and the tart berries put it over the top.

Berry Cheesecake Ice Cream
by David Lebovitz in The Perfect Scoop

8 ounces cream cheese
1 lemon
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup half-and-half
2/3 cup sugar
pinch of salt
frozen berries (use whatever you like or none at all!)

Cut the cream cheese into small pieces. Zest the lemon directly into your blender and add the rest of the ingredients except the berries. Puree until smooth. Chill the mixture thoroughly in your refrigerator, then freeze in your ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Add frozen berries close to the end when mixture is already very thick.

Scoop. Eat. And dream of saltwater kisses and sandy toes...

Gonna Party Like It's Your Birthday

2011-06-09T15:59:00.008-05:00

Because her birthday is in May and we knew we wanted the party to be in MS so our family wouldn't have to travel far, we decided on a garden theme! I didn't want it to be too "themey" but I did want it to feel casual and fun and of course... lots of food!

I made the invitations myself. One side was yellow polka dotted and the other was bright pink polka dotted. The flower invitation folded to make a fun little surprise envelope. I found a fun font and went to town...

We had the party at Matt's mom and step-dad's house, a beautiful home in the country that is over one hundred years old. As people arrived, we asked them to write a special message to L in a sweet book. We hope that she will keep the book so she can remember all the people who came to her first birthday party.

The book is called My Garden by Kevin Henkes. My favorite page was about planting seashells :)

We drank sweet tea and lemonade from Mason jars with adorable barber stripe straws

The menu for "Cafe Lydia" included Pop's Boiled Shrimp (a Wentworth staple), Big Skeet's Italian Grilled Chicken and Zucchini, Momma's Pesto Pasta Salad and Didi's Homemade Blueberry Pie with Pop's Homemade Ice Cream (another Wentworth staple :) The cute little bicycle held the silverware.

The napkins were wrapped around plastic ware that looks like real silver ware! I tied ribbons from the vintage fabrics I used to make her birthday banner and tablecloths.

I made L a sunflower cake. The center was her smash cake--lemon cake with blueberries on top. Around it were lemon cupcakes. The plate I painted for her, and I hope she will use it every birthday to eat a piece of cake!

Here is the cake from a little further out. It was easy to make and fun to watch L eat!

She devoured every last blueberry!

You can see the banner I made her at the top with vintage fabrics I found for $1 each! Below is all the yummy food!

I had to put this one in! My mom acting crazy! I think we know where L gets her dance moves!

Aunt Gracie got L some birthday balloons. They were a BIG hit!

Pops & Didi got L a wagon, and she and ML (her cousin) had so much fun riding around on it while Uncle Scotty pulled them.

I made Mini Mint Dirt Cakes for people to take with them as a thank you for coming. The mint was in memory of L's great-grandmother Kitty who passed away the summer before L was born. Kitty used to grow mint and use it to make mint tea. She is greatly missed!

They were yummy and very easy! (I know the lighting is different, but we forgot to take pics before the sun went down :)

Matt brought down lots of hydrangeas from our special bush at home. We put them in blue Mason jars all over the place. The blue Mason jars were the first things I bought for L's party, and the whole theme took off from there...

More pictures coming soon of L on her big day! My sweet friend Steph took lots of pics of L on her fancy schmancy new camera, so I'm waiting on those!

Happy Birthday

2011-05-31T21:43:00.007-05:00

Sweet Lydia,

How fast this first year has flown by. One minute Dr. Miller is saying, "It's a girl," and your daddy and I call you Lydia for the first time. The next minute you are saying, "Mama, Dada" over and over as you play with your animals and drift off to sleep. One minute you are grabbing my nose as your daddy holds you by my head so I could see your for the first time. The next minute you are waving to everyone in the grocery story and saying, "Bye" to Didi on the phone. One minute you have a head full of dark, silky hair. The next minute you are wearing pigtails as we light the candle on your birthday cake.

So many special moments, so many treasured memories that we packed into a single year. Still it feels like yesterday that I held you for the first time, and God showed me joy like I had never known before.

I love you, Lydia, more than you will ever know.

Summer in a Bowl

2011-05-17T21:25:00.004-05:00

image via thekitchn.com

Summer, why are you so reluctant to come and stay a while? I promise we won't bite. Matter of fact, we'll wear tank tops and flip flops just to bask in your rays. We'll break out the grill and sizzle onions and peppers until they are branded with your lines of demarcation. And because we love the sun but not looking like a crab, we'll slather on the spf like good girls. But, puh-lease, Summer... come and stay! Love, Liss and Lyd

Some of my favorite summer flavors are captured in a recipe I found a few years ago from a friend. Tonight, I tried a new recipe that plays up my summer favorites but adds a few new friends to the mix as well. It's six ingredients {plus salt} and it is delicious and easy. Matt's step-mom is staying with us tonight, and she couldn't believe how easy this way. And it got RAVE reviews from all three of us. Trust, me... you're going to have to try this one out. Plus, it can be eaten cold, so it would be perfect for a picnic or better yet... a sunset dinner on the beach. I think I have a new summer love {in addition to my handsome-always-so-stinkin'-tan-that-I-never-cease-to-get-profiled-at-the-airport-husband and our could-my-belly-poking-out-of-this-bikini-be-any-cuter-daughter of course}.

Lemony Pesto Pasta
via thekitchn.com
serves 4-6

8 ounces spaghetti 
1/2 cup pesto 
8 ounces spinach
 2 cups edamame (shelled and shucked, the peas, not entire pods)
 juice from 2 lemons (plus fresh lemon wedges for serving)
 3/4 cup almonds, crushed and lightly toasted

Heat a large pot of water to boiling, cook pasta until al dente. Remove from water, strain and rinse with cold water. In a large bowl, stir pasta, pesto and spinach until combined (some spinach will wilt, some will stay firm -- this is a nice contrast of textures). Finally, stir in the edamame and squirt the lemon all over the finished dish. Reserve a few lemon slices for people to add more if they like. On a low heat, toast crushed almonds until just fragrant. Garnish pasta with the toasted almonds.

A Bit British

2011-05-07T21:22:00.005-05:00

Last night, we were supposed to go to the Oyster House for a birthday party for a friend, but since L's getting her one-year-molars, she wasn't sleeping great and I didn't feel good about leaving her with a babysitter in that condition.

So, instead Matt pulled out his phone and we discovered that The King's Speech was finally available at our nearest Redbox. A few minutes later we started the movie and I realized we were missing something... and you know what that something was... scones!

Such a simple recipe, so we had all the ingredients {well, I had to substitute sour cream and a splash of organic 2% milk for ricotta cheese and buttermilk but it worked great!} and ten minutes later our delicious mixed berry scones were baking in the oven. And I'm happy to report they were just as delicious as I remembered and the movie is outstanding. {Warning to parents, a bit of language in a couple parts but it's pretty contained.}

Sometimes, the impromptu date nights on the couch are the very best ones. Cheers!

Empty Arms

2011-05-05T14:27:00.003-05:00

I'm very much looking forward to Mother's Day this year. This is my first one since having L in my arms. Every afternoon I take a stroll over to the hydrangea bush in the front yard. I count the number of blooms {almost a dozen already} that are only days away from giving me an explosion of lacy, delicate petals that remind me of tiny newborn fingers and toes. That precious plant is so dear to my heart...

Some people might think that this is my first Mother's Day, but, to me, it isn't. My first Mother's Day was 2009. Just a couple months prior we had to say goodbye to our precious baby. My heart was raw and very much still grieving. I felt like a mom but my arms and my womb were empty. Matt bought me the beautiful hydrangea bush because he knew they were my favorite and he wanted to plant something that every year would bloom and remind me of our child and God's faithfulness. While we are guaranteed trials in this life, we are also guaranteed a deep joy that comes only from our Savior, and every time I glance at my hydrangeas I am reminded of this truth.

Over the past two years, our little hydrangea bush has flourished and quadrupled in size. Last year, we grinned and laughed when the same bush that had previously put forth pale blue and lilac blooms suddenly started shifting to a pinker hue. Some might say it's the acidic/basic quality of the soil, but I know it was God reminding us of His faithfulness as we brought home our precious baby girl.

Mother's Day is a joyous celebration, but for many people this will be a bittersweet day. I remember how my heart ached that first Mother's Day. If you have a friend who has lost a baby due to miscarriage or is struggling with infertility, I would recommend you send her a private little note and just say Happy Mother's Day and I love you. I know you might be worried that you will remind her of her pain, but, the truth is, she is already acutely aware of what day it is. You see, that woman whose baby is in heaven or who longs to have a baby in her womb–she's already a mom, but she's a mom with empty arms.

I love what Laura Bush wrote in her book...

"The English language lacks the words 'to mourn an absence.' For the loss of a parent, grandparent, spouse, child or friend we have all manner of words and phrases, some helpful, some not. Still, we are conditioned to say something, even if it is only 'I am sorry for your loss.' But for an absence, for someone who was never there at all, we are wordless to capture that particular emptiness. For those who deeply want children and are denied them, those missing babies hover like silent, ephemeral shadows over their lives. Who can describe the feel of a tiny hand that is never held?"

Stuck Like Glue

2011-05-05T10:21:00.004-05:00

image via thekitchn.com

When my daddy calls my momma, her cell phone starts ringing the Sugarland song "Stuck Like Glue." You know the one... "Woah-woah, stuck like glue. You and me, baby, we're stuck like glue." {What's even better is that my momma has to sing along to it for a few seconds before she answers... my momma loves to sing}

They just celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary last Sunday, and almost three decades later they are still so in love. Every time I hear that song on the radio, I am so grateful for my parents and the model they have given me of marriage. I love them both to pieces.

Speaking of sticky things, Easter Sunday I tried a new recipe–Lemon Sticky Rolls–and they were insanely delicious. No, seriously, I am not joking. These things are Di.Vine. You are going to want to consume the entire pan, and, frankly, I don't see anything wrong with that. These sticky rolls are similar to cinnamon rolls but lose the cinnamon and add layers of zesty lemon. They are a bit {okay, a LOT involved} but they are definitely worth it. Oh, and did I mention that they have a lemon cream cheese glaze? Oh yes, you're drooling. It's okay. I am too.

Sticky Lemons Rolls with Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze
via thekitchn.com
Makes 12 large breakfast rolls (or 4 servings for M & me... just kidding... sort of :)

Lemon Roll Dough
 3 lemons
 1 envelope (0.25 ounces, or 2 1/2 teaspoons) active yeast  
3/4 cup milk, warmed to about 100°F (warm but not hot on your wrist)
 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, very soft
 1/4 cup white sugar 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 4 1/2 cups flour 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
 2 eggs
Sticky Lemon Filling 
1 cup sugar 
1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger 
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft

Lemon Cream Cheese Glaze 
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
 1 cup powdered sugar
Make the dough: 
Zest and juice the lemons. Divide the zest into three parts. Divide the juice into two parts, and set aside. (Half of the lemon juice will be used in the lemon-sugar filling for the rolls. The other half will be used in the glaze.)

In the bowl of a stand mixer sprinkle the yeast over the warmed milk and let it sit for a few minutes. With the mixer paddle, stir in the softened butter, sugar, vanilla, and one cup of the flour. Stir in the salt, nutmeg, and one part (1/3) of the lemon zest. Stir in the eggs and enough of the remaining flour to make a soft yet sticky dough.

Switch to the dough hook and knead for about 5 minutes, or until the dough is elastic and pliable. (If you do not have a stand mixer, stir together the ingredients by hand, then turn the soft dough out onto a lightly floured countertop. Knead the dough by hand (see this video for explicit instructions) for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the dough is smooth, pliable, and stretchy.)
Spray the top of the dough with vegetable oil, and turn the dough over so it is coated in oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and a towel and let the dough rise until nearly doubled — about an hour.

Make the filling:
 In a small bowl, mix the sugar with the nutmeg and ginger, then work in the second part of the lemon zest (1/3) with the tips of your fingers until the sugar resembles soft sand. Slowly pour in one part of the lemon juice, stirring. Stop when the sugar and lemon juice form a wet, clumpy mixture. (You may use all of the reserved half of the lemon juice; you may stop before completely adding that half of the lemon juice.)

Assemble the rolls: 
Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking dish with baking spray or butter. On a floured surface pat the dough out into a large yet still thick rectangle — about 10x15 inches.

Spread the dough evenly with the 3 tablespoons of softened butter, then pour and spread the lemon-sugar mixture over top. Roll the dough up tightly, starting from the top long end. Stretch and pull the dough taut as you roll, to keep the lemon sugar firml inside. Cut the long dough roll into 12 even rolls. Pinch the bottom of each roll closed and place each one, open and cut side up, in the prepared baking dish.

Cover the rolls with a towel and let them rise for an hour or until puffy and nearly doubled. (You can also refrigerate the rolls at this point. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to bake the rolls, remove the pan from the fridge, and let them rise for an hour.)

Heat the oven to 350°F. Place the risen rolls in the oven and bake for 35 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into a center roll reads 190°F.

Make the glaze: 
While the rolls are baking, prepare the glaze. In a small food processor (or with a mixer, or a sturdy whisk), whip the cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the remaining lemon juice and blend until well combined. Add the powdered sugar and blend until smooth and creamy.
Finish the rolls: When the rolls are done, smear them with the cream cheese glaze, and sprinkle the final remaining lemon zest over top to garnish. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving, but do serve while still warm.

My beloved T-Town

2011-04-28T21:41:00.003-05:00

Last night I was sitting in a session when my friend Liz messaged me saying she had seen a picture of 15th Street in Tuscaloosa post-tornado and it looked awful. She wanted to know if my sister-in-law, brother-in-law and niece were okay. I had been in sessions all day at the conference and didn't even know about the tornado. I instantly messaged my sister-in-law Ashley. She responded that they were okay and was sending me pictures. I opened my email completely unprepared for the utter devastation I would see in my inbox. The street I used to live on was demolished. The city I love and the campus that forever holds my heart was broken and shattered.

I ask for your prayers for Tuscaloosa tonight, specifically for my former church Calvary Baptist. I pray that Calvary will be a beacon of light during this dark time. I pray that God's presence will be known throughout my beloved alma mater and that His Name will be glorified even in the midst of such tragedy. I pray that the saving grace of Jesus will be shared and that many will begin a relationship with Him. Thank you, Lord, for being our Everything.

Thank you for your prayers.

Lines in the Sand

2011-04-28T21:20:00.002-05:00

I'm at an incredible conference this week- Orange Conference for people in Kids, Student and Family Ministry. {If you don't know, I've been on staff at our church for five years in May.} Ministry is amazing, it's hard, it's extremely gratifying, it's all-consuming and it's beyond rewarding. And then, of course, being a wife and mom is also exactly all those things–amazing, hard, gratifying, all-consuming and beyond rewarding. So, what happens when the two collide?

This morning, one of the speakers shared this simple but profound truth, "My family should get the best of my time." What does that mean? It means that I've drawn a line in the sand. I've decided that I want Matt & L to love ministry, not resent it. It means I am committed to weekly dates with Matt, family dinners every night around the table and getting on the floor to play with my baby girl instead of watching tv. It means that I will choose to get my work done while L naps instead of checking Facebook or reading blogs because that way I can be finished by the time she wakes up. It means that I won't say yes to everything, even good things, because it means I would have to say no to my family. It means I will unplug from my laptop and my phone. It means I will treasure every moment with my incredible husband and precious daughter. It means that I will remember that God carries our burdens and ministry isn't about me. It's about the Almighty, and He is fully capable of carrying everything I bring to Him. So that when I am with my family, I can truly give them the best of my time.

What about you? What boundaries do you have in place to treasure and celebrate your family?

This is how we know what love is...

2011-04-24T20:46:00.002-05:00

I'll forever remember this week. Easter has a whole new meaning for me now that we have L. When I hold her, I am swept away by this fierce protection I have for her. Never before have the words of 1 John 3:16 meant so much to me, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." In a heartbeat, I would lay down my life for my precious daughter. And then I realized that the only thing more painful than God dying Himself was God sending His Son instead. And while they are one in the same because of the beauty of the Trinity, His pain was the pain of a daddy watching His child hurt. And even more it was His only Son, which meant that while He was watching in agony, His arms were also aching with the emptiness of a Son who was gone. Wow... that is a love that is indescribable. A love that beckons me to live a different life, to pursue a different passion, to love a different way.

Happy Easter! I pray that you know the love of the Savior today.

Cut the Cord

2011-04-19T20:58:00.004-05:00

Well, we did it. After a year of talking about, going back and forth, pros and cons, yada yada yada... we finally did it. We got rid of cable. Yep, to the tune of $70 bucks a month. No, we're not "anti-tv" or anything like that. But our nightly schedule consists of going on a long walk/run to get some exercise and let the dogs stretch their legs, then we all hang out in the kitchen while I cook dinner, then, of course, we eat dinner and by then it's already around 7:30 and it's time to get L her bath and lay her down to go to sleep.

Then, as you probably already know, I take my nightly bath where I usually get lost in whatever book I'm devouring or if it's a really good day the latest issue of Coastal Living or Martha Stewart Living that just came in my mailbox :) By the time I get done with that, there's not a whole lot of time left before we head to bed {the Robertssss, we like our sleep... all 8-9–ok sometimes 10, but don't judge–hours of it}.

So, you see... we simply weren't using it. And the couple of shows we do like (House, Modern Family) are on network so we can still see them or we can just watch them on Hulu. Now, I will say that I miss House Hunters International but I can watch it online or catch up when I go to my mother-in-law's house (she's a HHI junkie too :). Plus, it's another $70 a month that can go to something else, and God's already given us an awesome way to use that money for ministry.

So, in case, you're on the fence and wondering if you should do it, we haven't regretted it one bit! Now, when football season comes along... we may be feeling the pinch a bit since a lot of the Bama games are on ESPN. I think we'll be able to watch most of them online, but for the other ones which awesome friends would like to let us come crash with them for say 4-5 hours at a time... with a one-year-old?!? I'll bring snacks! ;)

Goodbye Comcast!

p.s. Are we the only ones without cable? One of my staff girl friends has been "cable-less" for a while and another doesn't even have a home tv. Anyone else out there ditch the cable?

I won!

2011-04-19T10:15:00.002-05:00

I thought it was a joke when I opened my email and saw my name in fancy type... but it isn't! I won the April Giveaway at Jones Design Co. WooHoo! And mucho thanks to my Emily Jones (same name, different person :) for first introducing me to the Jones Design Co. blog!

Very excited about the giveaway, especially that long, skinny tray since it's plastic and I need to replace the current, breakable one on my coffee table since Little Bit is pulling up on everything now! :) Now, I'll ~~check my mailbox every few minutes~~ wait patiently for my package to get here! Yippee!

p.s. image courtesy of Jones Design Co.

Where's the Cream Filling?

2011-04-12T14:26:00.003-05:00

This yummy chocolate eclair cake is a favorite summer dessert. I first had it when my roommate at Bama made it for us. Jenn was a huge answer to prayer and our meeting was definitely a God-thing. We both ended up in the very last summer orientation because of calendar conflicts with the other ones. (We are both type-A personalities and definitely not the type to wait for the last anything ;) Mom and I drove to Tuscaloosa for the orientation.

When we arrived, they sent the parents to one room and the students to another. We were divided by last names, so all the W's were together. I asked the girl sitting behind me if I could borrow her pen, and we started talking. I quickly found out she loved God and loved to have fun. (And this is when the wheels start turning... see, I didn't know anyone else going to Bama and I didn't have a roommate yet.) We laughed and had a good time and at the end of our session we walked to the Ferg (student union) to find our moms. And of course... in God's hilarious way... our moms had met too and totally hit it off as well. The four of us hung out that day, and then it was time to go to the dorms where we would spend the night. Jenn pulled out her key, and I pulled out mine. Yep, our rooms were right next to each other. We knew then that it was destined to be!

A few weeks later we moved into New Hall (which wasn't new at all but we loved it!). The first week we were there we got plastic cups with the Alabama fight song on them, and we brought them back to our dorm room and learned every. last. word. of that song. Eternal nerds I tell you. :) Jenn and her husband live in D.C. now where they are both brilliant engineers (their combined IQs would blow you away), but I'll always remember the fun times we had at Bama.

Chocolate Eclair Cake

Ingredients:
2 packages of French vanilla pudding
4 cups cold milk
1 8 oz container Cool-Whip
1 box of graham crackers
1 container of chocolate frosting

1. Make the pudding according to directions. Usually, you beat the two pudding packets with four cups of cold milk for a couple minutes.

2. Fold in the Cool-Whip with the pudding to make your custard.

3. In the bottom of a 9x12 baking dish, layer graham crackers.

4. Then spread half the custard mixture on top of the layer of graham crackers.

5. Repeat with another layer of graham crackers and the other half of the custard.

6. Spread a final layer of graham crackers on top.

7. Take the lid and aluminum foil top off the frosting can, and put it in the microwave at half power for 1 minute.

8. Pour the frosting on top and spread it evenly to cover the top and refrigerate the dessert overnight.

9. (Sneak a bite at midnight because that's overnight, right? :)

Is there anything better than crescent rolls?

2011-04-12T14:00:00.004-05:00

I'm realizing how many memories are attached the food I make. Yes, there are five senses, but taste is most definitely the one that colors my world. Every time I eat boiled shrimp and fresh cocktail sauce, I can close my eyes and imagine countless beach vacations with my family and pounds and pounds of shrimp piled up on the biggest platter we can find, some inevitably spilling over the side. Or when I savor the tart flavor of lemon ice box pie, I am immediately a kid again sitting with my Mamaw watching I Love Lucy and curling her hair with little pink sponge rollers and a tummy full of the cold, creamy pie with the perfect graham cracker crust. My favorite foods have a lifetime of memories attached.

I love to learn new recipes from family and friends. Two of the dishes I made for the girls' night out last week came from friends. The mini onion and chive cream cheese crescents come from one of my oldest friends Emily. Em and I became best friends the summer before 5th grade when we moved to Mississippi. I remember summer camp and purple hair, singing MmmBop at the top of our lungs in the car and too many slumber parties to count. I also remember when she stood beside me as I married my best friend and then six months later when I got to do the same for her. One night, Em and Ethan came over for dinner and she made the easiest but yummiest little crescents.

Em's Mini Onion and Chive Cream Cheese Crescents

Ingredients:
Crescent Roll Dough
Onion and Chive Cream Cheese (or whatever kind you want)
Bacon pieces (already cooked)

First, cook your bacon pieces (or you can buy Bacon Bits that are ready to go). Next, cut the crescent dough triangle in half lengthwise. Then, you smear a little cream cheese on one side and sprinkle some bacon pieces on it. Roll it up and line them on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees until the tops are golden brown. Seriously, could that be any easier? But your guests (or yourself if you're me ;) will L.O.V.E. them! Feel free to change out the cream cheese for a sweet variety and add dried fruit or something for a sweet take on this. But I like the savory. Be careful though... before you know it you will have eaten a dozen (oh wait, that's just me?! ;)

Roast and Toast

2011-04-07T11:10:00.005-05:00

image via thekitchn.com

I hosted a little girls night on Tuesday to look at fun Stella & Dot jewelry and of course... to eat.

I wish I would have taken pics (especially since I made cute little cards that said what was what, but I was so distracted by the food and fun that I totally forgot :)

Girls Night Menu:
Roasted Edamame with Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper
Mini Onion and Chive Cream Cheese Crescents
Spicy Red Pepper Hummus with Organic Blue Corn Chips
White and Gold Corn Dip
And for dessert... Chocolate Eclair Cake

I'll put up the rest of the recipes this week, but the roasted edamame was a new recipe and you have to try it. It could not be any easier, and it's really healthy and soooo addictive. I ate like a fourth of the pan before any guests even got here... oops! ;)

Roasted Edamame with Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper
via thekitchn.com
Makes roughly 2 cups

16 oz frozen shelled edamame (these are found in the freezer section and a bag costs around 3 bucks)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper

If you have time, thaw the edamame for an hour or so before baking in a strainer over a bowl (to catch the melting liquid). This will reduce the roasting time.

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Pour the edamame in a strainer and run under warm water for a few seconds to melt any ice crystals. Spread the edamame on a clean dish towel and pat gently with another dish towel to dry them as much as possible.

In a mixing bowl, toss the edamame with the olive oil, salt, and pepper (or other seasonings). Taste one of the edamame and add more seasonings if desired.

Spread the edamame in a single layer on a sheet pan and roast for 30-40 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes and watch for the edamame to begin puffing and turning golden-brown. Their color will also darken, the exterior will be dry, and you'll hear them "singing" as steam escapes from inside the bean.

Remove the pan from the oven and transfer the roasted edamame to a serving bowl. They are best if eaten within a few hours of roasting.

Scrumptious!!! I bet you can't eat just one!

Double Digits

2011-04-01T10:26:00.004-05:00

Sweet L,
Yesterday you turned 10 months old. I cannot believe how fast you are growing. You are curious and brave and you laugh at everything. The other day I brought your cheese over to your highchair and you started smiling and waving at it! Ha! You keep your daddy and me laughing all. day. long. You think everything is an adventure. You l.o.v.e. to eat {just like your momma} and your new favorite food is kiwi {you like all things tart}. I am starting to get stuff ready for your first birthday party, and I can hardly believe it. This time last year, my belly was quite large and we were counting down the days until we would lay eyes on you. I'll never forget the moment when I first got to hold you. You looked straight into my eyes and I have never been the same.

I love you more than you'll ever know,
Momma

Prayer Link

2011-04-01T10:12:00.005-05:00

I think the coolest thing about technology is how it links the body of Christ... through the magic of internet and blogs I can follow and pray for people I don't even know. Because we worship the same Lord and Healer.

Please join me in praying for these three girls. I don't know any of them personally, but their stories are amazing. All three of them have incredible moms who love the Lord with all their hearts and love their precious girls just like I love mine. I think it is amazing that our Savior can unite people who will never meet through prayer.

Here are the girls' names and their moms' blogs...

Lucy Krull- http://erikandkatekrull.blogspot.com/
Kate McRae- http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate
Kellan Good- www.caringbridge.org/visit/kellangood

Two of the girls are being treated at St. Jude here in Memphis. I am so grateful for everything that St. Jude and LeBonheur (where a lot of serious pediatric surgeries are done) do, and this city is better because these hospitals exist. If you ever get the chance to give to St. Jude, please take the opportunity. St. Jude does not turn away a child because his family can't pay, and that is AMAZING!!! I have several friends who work at St. Jude and they have incredible hearts for the ministry they are doing.

Thank you for your prayers for these girls. I am so grateful that we worship the Great Physician and that He is fully capable of carrying these families through this hard, hard time.

Glossy

2011-03-30T15:14:00.003-05:00

So, today Matt was home for his lunch break and we were sitting on the couch watching silly L play with her toys on the opposite side of the room. She is fishing toys out of her toy basket and hits one that starts playing music. And then in true "Dianne Wentworth's granddaughter fashion" she started dancing... and not just a little head bob. No, no my girl was shaking it with her shoulders going, her head swaying and her adorable little booty just a shakin'. Matt and I were laughing so hard, but we were trying not to make a peep so as not to distract her and end the dance party remix. Highlight of my day!

Speaking of dances, I do a little {er, could be construed as flailing/just won the lottery/someone is trying to drown me} dance every time I open the mailbox and find one of these two glossies waiting on me...

Matt got me a subscription to Coastal Living for my birthday last year. Best. Birthday. Gift. Ever. I dream of living by the beach and this little beauty lets me dream away... Plus, it always has yummy recipes, especially seafood and citrus ones {my two faves}.

And Martha Stewart Living–I really don't like to watch the lady–her show kinda puts me to sleep, but I love this magazine. It is extremely practical with creative ideas for parties, and I am especially grateful for all the gardening help. This year I am starting a garden {organic, of course} with three girlfriends! We have a huge lot at Shelby Farms, and I can't wait! They are all way more experienced than me, so I'm especially excited to learn from them... and Martha, of course.

And even though it is frigidly cold outside, I keep hoping and wishing for spring. I've been having this smoothie a lot this week, and it is very yummy. Don't let the green color scare you–or the fact that it has a cup of spinach in it–it's really good! Promise!

Green Smoothie
from One Charming Party {a delightful blog that you must check out}

4 cups loosely packed organic baby spinach
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1 ripe banana
2 cups frozen light colored fruits, any combo
(pineapples, peaches, mangoes, honeydew)

Do not use any dark colored or red fruits. They will turn the smoothie brown and that is yucky :(

Add ingredients to the blender in the order listed. Blend on high power until smooth. If you want it to be a little icier, you can add some ice {duh!}. This makes four 8-oz servings.

And lastly, I have decided that I prefer these little {} things to these () things... so cute! And who knows what they are really supposed to be used for, but I'm happy to think of them as cuter parenthesis!

p.s. I, of course, had to wiki the answer to the aforementioned pondering and I found out that curly brackets {yes, that's their "official" name} are used for the following...

Curly brackets – also called braces (US) or flower brackets (India) – are sometimes used in prose to indicate a series of equal choices: "Select your animal {goat, sheep, cow, horse} and follow me". They are used in specialized ways in poetry and music (to mark repeats or joined lines). The musical terms for this mark joining staves are accolade and "brace", and connect two or more lines of music that are played simultaneously.^[12] In mathematics they delimit sets. In many programming languages, they enclose groups of statements. Such languages (C being one of the best-known examples) are therefore called curly bracket languages. Some people use a brace to signify movement in a particular direction.

I just think they look pretty :)

Many Thanks

2011-03-28T15:18:00.004-05:00

Thank you for your prayers! My mother-in-law's surgery went great and we got VERY good results back from the pathology report. Yay!

In other news, I am wanting to find new bedside tables for M and me. I don't want them to match and I would love to find something I can refinish... in the meantime, I saw a blog about what's on your bedside table so I had to go look at mine...

I have a clock that Matt gave me on our second dating anniversary (that would be 2003 and we were 19 :) It is mother of pearl and says "My Timeless Treasure" on it... (cue the awws please ;) and then there's a sweet pic of L with her nose all crinkled because she's smiling just as big as she possibly can. Add in a lamp for late night reading, my latest library book and a water glass for middle-of-the-night-thirst (that started when I was pregnant and never ended) and my Burt's Bee's lib balm. That stuff is crazy-good.

So, what's on your bedside table? Do share!

In other-other news, a very tiny Taco Bell dog has weaseled his way into our backyard and Nola and Allie are now going mad trying to get out the back door to go show him who's boss. Uh-oh... must go!

Doozy

2011-03-21T15:28:00.004-05:00

Last week was a doozy... the stress just started wearing on me. I soon realized it was because my slight controlling tendencies (cue laughs please) got the best of me, and I was simply trying to carry everything. The trusting God issue is a two steps forward, one step back process for me. But I know He is faithful in my head, and I just have to remind my heart that sometimes.

I would really appreciate your prayers for my sweet mother-in-law. We found out a week ago that she has bladder cancer, and tomorrow she is having surgery to remove the tumor. Please pray that the surgery goes really well and most of all that the tumor has not metastasized. My MIL has been so strong and so encouraging since finding out. I can certainly learn a lesson from her about trusting God. We love her to pieces, and we know God will be glorified through this.

And then there's the house... if you remember, we are moving back home whenever our house sells, and our hearts are just very ready to be closer to family. We know God's timing is absolutely perfect, and we are resting in that. We would appreciate your prayers though for God's incredible provision and that we would soon be able to be closer to our family.

All my anxiety turned last week into a blur a little bit, and I really didn't like that. We got to go to Jackson over the weekend and the warm temps made it feel like summer. If you know me at all, you know I l.o.v.e. summer. The sun was shining. The grass was shooting up and I was surrounded by my family. We feasted on fresh shrimp and ribs with my favorite pink strawberry cake from Primos and homemade ice cream. It was wonderful and just what I needed to change my outlook from last week. This week, I want to trade anxiety and worry for hope and gratitude. Sometimes, it's the simple things that are the hardest to remember, so this week when I am stressed and anxious I will stop and say thank you for all the blessings I have been given, many of which I so easily take for granted. Most of all... thank you, Jesus, for loving me.

Elissa's No-Stress, Super Simple Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Panini
via Elissa (hence the title of the recipe ;)

Ingredients:
Sourdough bread (or something else, but I like sourdough for paninis)
Tomatoes (organic and preferably homegrown, but it's still a little early for that this year)
Fresh Mozzarella (one ball is plenty for two sandwiches)
Fresh Basil
Garlic
A little bit of butter

I make my paninis in a panini press, but if you don't have one you can use a cast-iron skillet and something heavy (like a brick wrapped in aluminum foil) to smush your sandwich (yes, smush is a scientific word). First, lay your bread on the panini press just long enough to get a little color and a little crispy. Then, I turn the slices over and start layering. First, smear or rub a garlic clove over both pieces of bread. Then, layer slices of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil on one of the slices. Place the other slice on top and spread a very thin layer of butter on the outside of the sandwich and pull your panini press down. You want to apply a little pressure to it. Let the outside of the sandwich get crispy and the inside ooey-gooey (yes, another scientific word). You can turn the sandwich over and spread a very thin layer of butter on the other side of the sandwich too, if you want. I like to serve this with fresh baby Romaine and a dollop of Caesar dressing. Here's to a week of gratitude! Cheers!

Pie for Pi

2011-03-14T20:47:00.004-05:00

It's Pi Day! Since I'm married to one of those adorable nerds who can quote umpteen digits from the never-ending number, we most definitely had reason to celebrate. And, of course, you know that means we're eating pie! Now, before you go reminding me of my "no dessert on a weekday" may I remind you of Exception 3 and Pi Day is clearly a holiday. Yay! (And yay for Thursday being St. Patrick's Day... this no desserts thing is REALLY working out for me! ;)

Chocolate Chess Pie

via thekitchn.com (p.s. this blog is a MUST if you like to cook!)

serves 8 (supposedly, but I can already tell you it ain't gonna serve 8 Robertsssss!)

For the crust

1 sleeve chocolate graham crackers

1 stick butter, melted

1 tablespoon sugar

For the filling

1 stick butter

1 (1 ounce) square unsweetened chocolate (or 3 tablespoons cocoa powder)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350°.

To make the crust, crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs. (I like to put them in a large ziploc and smash them with a rolling pin. It's very satisfying.) Add sugar and melted butter and mix until well combined. Push into a 9 inch pie pan to form a thin crust on the bottom and sides. (I also like to save a few bites for myself.) Bake for 8 minutes, remove from oven, and chill until firm and crunchy, about an hour.

Lower oven temperature to 325°.

To make the filling, heat the butter and chocolate in a saucepan over medium until melted and smooth. Remove from the burner and add the sugar, mixing until well combined. Stir in eggs, vanilla, and salt. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for around 45 minutes, until top is puffed and the center is just set. I also covered the edges of the crust with foil about half way through to keep it from burning.

Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool for at least 20 - 30 minutes. It is delicious warm or at room temperature. Serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Happy Pi (or should I say Pie ;) Day everyone! I feel like I should eat 3.14 pieces of this pie to truly honor this monumental holiday.

Magical Beans

2011-03-09T16:53:00.004-06:00

Have you heard of author Shauna Niequist or her books Cold Tangerines or Bittersweet? I like this girl a lot. I don't know her at all, but I really, really like her. I know that might sound crazy, but read her books. She's amazing. And she loves to cook... and eat... and write. Now, can you see why I like her so much?

She posted a recipe on her blog called Magical White Bean Soup. Since it has "magical" in the name I had to try it. It is silky smooth and perfectly filling on a cold March day that begs for spring to show its face. Plus, it's extremely healthy and economical (yay for beans, right?!).

Magical White Bean Soup
from Shauna Niequist

2 shallots, sliced
1/2 lb carrots, sliced into thin coins on a diagonal
1 bulb fennel, sliced
4 celery ribs, sliced on a diagonal
6 cans white beans in liquid
1 tbsp rosemary, rough chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

In a stockpot or Dutch oven, soften two sliced shallots in olive oil over medium heat.
Add carrots, fennel, and celery, and allow to soften 10-15 minutes.
Add beans in their liquid and chopped rosemary.
Cover and cook for 20 minutes at a gentle boil.
Taste, add salt & pepper, taste again—and keep in mind that you’ll get a good amount of salt from the toppings.
Cook for 20 more minutes, or longer if you have time. Off heat, mash with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon for a rustic chunky texture. If you’d like a smoother texture, run it through a food processor or use an immersion blender in the pot.
For the balsamic vinaigrette, mix a spoonful of Dijon, a few tablespoons of balsamic, a quarter cup or so of olive oil, some salt and pepper in a glass jar, then shake well. Adjust to taste--I usually like 2:1 oil to vinegar and dijon.
Serve with a small pitcher of vinaigrette, and bowls of prosciutto torn into ribbons, grated Parmesan, and chopped rosemary.

Oh, and you should also check out this personality test on Shauna's blog, The Enneagram. I love personality tests and this one's a fun one. I'm a #4. What are you?

Impossible

2011-03-09T13:48:00.003-06:00

Today, I had to write Psalm 56:3 on little index cards six times. And this was the second week in a row I've had to do that. Do you think God might be saying something to me?

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

That is the verse our kids at Highpoint are learning this month, and they needed the index cards for an activity this week and last week. Although, I'm starting to think I was the one who needed the index cards more. Fear is my biggest struggle. The enemy knows that, and he is constantly trying to sabotage my God-given joy with it. I've tried all sorts of things to cure it. (In case you were wondering, Google doesn't work. More research doesn't work. Telling yourself to forget about it doesn't work.) The only thing I've found that conquers fear is Scripture, and that's exactly why I think I had to write Psalm 56:3 not once, but twelve times in the past week. When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

And why do I trust in Him? But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Acts 2:24

I read this verse last night and I wanted to shout and scream and yell it at the top of my lungs. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR DEATH TO KEEP ITS HOLD ON HIM!!! So, take that, enemy! You lose. You will always lose and my Savior will ALWAYS win!!! Maybe I'm the only person who fights fear daily, but if anyone else is out there I hope this verse helps you fight the battle today. If you get a chance, listen to Todd Agnew's "Glorious Day." That song is one of my favorites, and I think it speaks to the victory we can claim in Jesus Christ.

Hodge Podge

2011-03-02T14:28:00.003-06:00

I love words that have the "dge" sound like "hodge" and "podge" and "smidge" and "bridge" and okay... I think you get the point. Anyway, a few random things I am loving these days...

1. The caesar salad with grilled chicken at Newk's. It is cold and crispy with the perfect amount of Parmesan cheese and razor-thin shavings of grilled chicken. Plus, it's GIGANTIC. That and a tall glass of iced tea cut in half, and I am good to go.

2. This travel booster seat from Munchkin. When we were at the lake this weekend, we took this for Lyd to sit in. It's so convenient because it straps onto any chair and creates an instant high chair. And when you're all done you just fold it up and carry it like a purse. Brilliant!

3. Unfiltered, local honey. During all my Southern Living reading last weekend, I came across an article about how unfiltered honey is packed with antioxidants, and local honey can help with allergies. So, at the grocery store last week, I came across a jar of unfiltered honey made just a few miles away. Plus, the beekeeper's name and address just happened to be on the jar. Yep, he might be getting a little visit from me. Yay for buying local!

4. Dove dark chocolates. I decided to only eat desserts on the weekends, but I still need a little bit of sweet every day. Dove dark chocolates are so creamy and one or two (always two) is the perfect mini-dessert. Plus, everyone says dark chocolate is good for you. (And who am I to argue?)

5. What's your favorite type of cheese? I think mine is Brie or maybe fresh mozzarella or maybe melted goat cheese... I can't decide. But if you ever lose me in the grocery store, go to the artisanal cheese section, and that's where I'll be.

With a fridge and a fudge and a budge and a nudge, I'm outta here. (Can you tell I'm in a weird mood today?)

Druid City

2011-02-27T18:28:00.010-06:00

We got an unexpected mini-vacation this week. Matt has a potential client who wanted to do an in-person meeting in Tuscaloosa, so Lyd and I joined him. We have some friends from Jackson who have a second home on Lake Tuscaloosa that we got to stay at for a couple days. I was expecting it to be pretty (I have a gigantic love for any body of water) but I was blown away by the view from every room in the house...

We got in town Thursday around lunch and went to our favorite place for lunch in Tuscaloosa, City Cafe. As always, it hadn't changed a bit. Still the same plastic menus, still the same photos on the wall (with a couple new signed pics from the championship :) and the food was still just as delicious. I got the meat and three (well, actually four but who's counting ;) with a fried chicken breast filet and string beans, black-eyed peas, mac and cheese and fried okra. Nobody else makes fried okra like City Cafe!
Soon after lunch, M had to head to his meeting and L needed her afternoon nap, so I curled up on the couch staring out at that lake with my cup of tea in hand and a stack of old Southern Living magazines to explore. I kept coming across recipes I want to try, so I decided to take pictures with our camera instead of trying to write them down. It worked great, and I came home with a couple dozen new recipes! I'm looking forward to trying them soon. Friday, we got to show L around our alma mater. It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed getting to hear the chimes and walk around the quad. Forgive my hair. It was quite windy that day!

L also got to see her cousin ML. Aren't they so cute? I love how L is trying to hold ML's arm.

We packed a lot of fun into three days. We made chocolate chip pancakes. I barely beat M at Friends Scene It. We discovered mint Skinny Cows (delish). And the three of us got to spend a lot of time together. Have I mentioned how much I love these two?
*In case you are wondering about the title... Tuscaloosa is nicknamed Druid City because of all the water oaks that grow there. Just a bit of trivia for you :) and of course... RTR!

My baby has a fever...

2011-02-23T14:18:00.005-06:00

Bieber fever that is!!! We occasionally like to break out into song and dance and our current favorite around here is "Baby" by Justin Bieber. See, L can even pull off his hairdo...

And she loves dancing with her daddy... (how can I blame her? He's got some moves!)

And I know this one's a bit blurry (hello!?! we were dancing!) but I just thought it perfectly captured the joy God has brought us through this precious baby girl. We are smitten 110%.

Noodle Goodness

2011-02-23T14:04:00.004-06:00

There's just something about pasta that is so comforting... especially when accompanied with shrimp and asparagus... oh, and a little bit of butter. But just a little :)

Friday night, we made this and we both curled up on the couch after a long week. I thought about suggesting we go "Lady and the Tramp" with the linguine, but then I realized that would mean sharing my noodles so I quickly nixed that idea. I made a few small changes to Ina's original recipe and served sauteed asparagus on the side. This meal takes 30 minutes to make, but it looks very elegant.

Linguine with Shrimp Scampi
original recipe from Barefoot Contessa Family Style
via Food Network

Olive oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt plus 1 1/2 teaspoons
1 pound whole wheat linguine
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1.5 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 lemon, zest grated
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

Directions
Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.

Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.

When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve.

p.s. I'm finally getting the hang of our new camera lens-the fixed 50 mm. And I am loving it!!! I'm certainly no photographer, but the colors and lighting are a million times better with this lens. Hopefully, I'll keep learning more!

Ahoy Matey

2011-02-18T10:29:00.009-06:00

I used to loathe nautical stuff. I think it was the gold brassy tone combined with all those anchors. But somewhere along the way I started digging the nautical vibe (maybe not all that brass, but I'm a sucker for starfish and cool beachy hues). Perhaps, I have Coastal Living to blame or maybe it's all my memories of beach trips with my family and cruises with my hubby. Either way, I'm in love with all things "coastal" these days.

Yesterday, I was thrifting/bargain shopping, and I found an adorable white platter with an embossed fish on the side of it. It's large, and I love the divide down the middle, but I loved its price tag most of all- $7. I got it at TJ Maxx in the clearance section. It makes me want to paint a piece of furniture a dark, inky blue and put this platter on top to separate mail or maybe to hold a delicious platter of fish tacos... yep, definitely the latter.

Last weekend, M and I had the most delicious fish tacos. It all started when my bff Heather sent me an email saying these were the–and I quote–BEST fish tacos of my life. Well now, I simply had to try these tacos because Heather is from Florida, and if there is one thing that coastal girl knows, it's her seafood. She was SO right. These fish tacos are super easy and positively scrumptious. I just couldn't put them down, and I think my new platter is practically begging to proudly display all that pescetarian goodness...

Heather's Fish Tacos

2-4 fish (a mild white fish, depending on what you like-I used 1 lb of tilapia)
Fajita seasoning
1 purple onion (sliced)
1 red pepper (sliced)
Asparagus (cut into 1” pieces)
EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1 can corn (drain & rinse)
1 can black beans (drain & rinse)
1 avocado
1 tsp cumin
Squeeze of lime
Tortillas (I used whole wheat)
Colby jack cheese

Directions:

Pat fish down with fajita seasoning, placed on foiled baking sheet (in oven) at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Sauté sliced onion, red pepper and asparagus in EVOO until tender. Mix corn, black beans, diced avocado, cumin & squeeze of lime in a bowl. Cut fish into strips once out of the oven. Warm up tortilla with a sprinkle of cheese (until it melts) in the microwave, put strips of fish on tortilla and cover with sautéed mixture of onion, pepper and asparagus and then mixture of beans, corn & avocado. Wrap it up and eat. DELICIOUS. So easy, so good for you …

Thank you, Heather! I look forward to eating lots of fish tacos on our beach trips one day...

Let's hear it for the goats...

2011-02-17T13:59:00.004-06:00

Secret Confession #72: I want to have goats in my backyard.

Yep, I can just see them scurrying around playing with Nola and Allie in the backyard looking so cute. And what about that awesome Mythbusters episode about the fainting goats? I smile every time I think of those adorable goats just falling over. (They don't get injured though, so don't go calling PETA on me!) Anyway, if I had goats I would make goat cheese all the time.

I love cheese. It's a bit of an obsession, but I really love goat cheese. We made this pizza, and it features three types of cheese–classic salty mozzarella, creamy Fontina and tart Goats' cheese–oh my! The recipe comes from Ina Garten's white pizzas with arugula, but they were out of organic arugula at the store, and I wasn't sure hubby would go for the "salad on top of his pizza". So, we just left that part out. This pizza is decadent and a perfect date night entree. Imagine candlelight and lots of hot, melted cheese... ah... bliss.

I used a store-bought thin crust pizza dough, but if you click on the link below you can make Ina's homemade crust. Ina's crust has to be used within four hours, and since it was just going to be the two of us, I didn't want to waste perfectly good crust. (Plus, I had a coupon for the thin crust pizza dough :)

White Pizza
Adapted from Ina Garten's White Pizzas with Arugula

For the garlic oil:
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic sliced (or you can use minced garlic)
5 sprigs fresh thyme (or use dried if you prefer)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (I used about 3/4 teaspoon because I love red pepper)

For the topping:
8 ounces Fontina cheese
7 ounces Mozzarella (most definitely the fresh, in a ball kind and NOT the shredded stuff)
11 ounces creamy goat cheese

For the dough:
Make your own or use two store-bought thin crust pizza doughs

To assemble:
*Don't forget this recipe makes two pizzas!

1. Place the olive oil, garlic, thyme and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat. Cook for 10 minutes, making sure the garlic doesn't burn. Set aside.

2. Spread your dough on a pizza stone. Prebake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.

3. Remove dough from oven and spread with a thin layer of the garlic oil. Sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.

4. Crumble the goats' cheese and sprinkle crumbles on the prebaked crust. Shred the mozzarella and Fontina cheese and sprinkle over the goats' cheese.

5. Bake 15-17 minutes at 400 degrees.

6. Eat up! And I would recommend serving an arugula salad with a balsamic vinaigrette on the side. (We need a little green to balance out all that cheese, right?)

The Apiary

2011-02-15T21:19:00.003-06:00

Last week, M bought us both the Groupon for Barnes & Noble. Well, sending me to a bookstore with a $20 gift card (made even better by the fact that I only paid $10 for it) is sweeter and a bit stickier than a bee in a hive (horrible, horrible pun but it's late at night for me, and I'm giddy because I just spent the evening on a date with my always charming hubby).

It's so hard to choose which book I want to read since at any given moment I have at least a half dozen options swirling around in my head. After much deliberation, I couldn't resist Little Bee by Chris Cleave. I was immediately enchanted by the typography of the cover, but the description on the back meant I couldn't put it down.

And it didn't disappoint. Little Bee is a dark, moody novel, but it's an eye-opening look into life on the other side of the world (and maybe not even that far away). Cleave is a masterful writer whose words leave an indelible mark on the reader. His description of a sunny day in May left me speechless...

"It was the month of May and there was warm sunshine dripping through the holes between the clouds, like the sky was a broken blue bowl and a child was trying to keep honey in it."

Little Bee isn't a "feel-good" book, but rather it shows the strength and character of two women forged by fire, and it left me wondering how I would respond. At any moment, someone is being forced into slavery, someone is being coerced, someone is being taken advantage of and someone is battling injustice. At any moment, we can choose to stand up and break the silence. At any moment, we can choose to fight replacing evil with truth and darkness with light. At any moment...

Dessert Rations

2011-02-09T17:09:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, I had to admit to myself that the nightly dessert is going to have to come to an end. In a few short months, baby girl will be one, and that means I'll be done feeding her which means I can say goodbye to the 500 daily calories that burns (such an easy exercise routine).

So, I came up with the following plan: I will only eat desserts on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). I'm the kind of gal who would rather have an extra scoop of the entree rather than dessert, but I do enjoy baking so I sure won't say no to a good sweet treat. As with all good plans, though, this one comes with a few exceptions...

Unless it is someone's birthday, anniversary, wedding, new job celebration, dog just got housebroken, etc. (It would be wrong not to participate in someone's big moment.)
Unless it is snowing. (We need the extra padding to stay warm.)
Unless it is a holiday. (Do I even need to explain? And yes, Arbor Day does count!)
Unless it is an unexpected trip to the doctor's office which just happens to be right next to our favorite bakery. (I can't help it. When in Rome, right?)
Unless it is a particularly stressful day in which myself or someone I love needs a little hug via a delicious treat to maintain sanity. (What's a friend for?)
Unless I'm on vacation (Vacation is deemed as anywhere that requires a driving trip of over one hour... or sometimes less....)

As you can clearly see, we are in the realm of #2 on this particular day. Therefore, I am perfectly free to bake oatmeal butterscotch cookies. Bring on the extra padding!!!

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies
via KitchenStewardship.com

4 1/2 cups oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla1 cup honey
1 cup butter, softened/melted (I like it to be mostly melted)
1 cup butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Mix butter and honey together really well.
Add other ingredients except for the butterscotch chips and mix.
Add butterscotch chips.
Roll into loose balls (they will be a little loose, but that's okay).
Bake for around 12 minutes or just until slightly brown on the top. (If you're like me, mine are barely toasted dough ;)

Plans were made to have exceptions, right! Enjoy!

Winter Wonderland

2011-02-09T16:18:00.002-06:00

Who knew it would snow 5 times before Valentine's Day? Not me! But it sure is pretty.

Nola and Allie really like the snow...

In the backyard (that pitiful little tree over there is about as exotic as the foliage gets in our backyard... it's kinda sad!)

My photogenic puppy-Nola

My little snowbunny-the Lydster :)

My two loves...
Happy Snow Day!

In case you were wondering...

2011-02-07T16:32:00.005-06:00

... it's not summer yet. Nope, not even close. Matter of fact, my back yard is covered in white stuff. It's beautiful–don't get me wrong–but it's not summer.

I'm starting to think I may have a touch (okay, fine–a big 'ole dollop) of seasonal affective disorder. Have you heard of this? If not, just wiki it. ("Wiki it" is my answer for everything.) We've had snow every week since Christmas except for last week where we just got a nice slushy drizzle of icy goodness and I'm just about to go crazy.

So, to stave off the padded room for a little longer, I went to Target and bought a new swimsuit. It's turquoise with white polka dots and I am imagining wearing it with my straw hat on the beaches of Jamaica while waves crash around me. Bliss...

And while we're speaking of beaches, my *dream vacation* is to go to Greece. I want to see the pearly white domes peeking out like little crescents against an inky blue ocean. I want to be able to take Lydia to see the area that shares her name. And of course, I want to eat... hummus and pita chips, feta cheese and tomatoes blistering in the gorgeous sunlight and olive oil, olive oil, olive oil and more olive oil. One day...

Since I couldn't go to Greece this weekend, I decided to make Roasted Shrimp with Feta for date night. I have no words (and that's saying a lot) to describe how absolutely-lick-your-fingers-don't-want-to-share-with-your-hubby-even-though-it's-date-night delicious this recipe is. For once, I made no changes (except I left out the Pernod because I didn't even know what that was. I just wiki'd it and apparently it's a liquor/herb... yeah, we don't have that.) It was amazing, and you are definitely going to want some big chunks of crusty bread to eat this with.

Roasted Shrimp with Feta
via House Beautiful
from How Easy is That? by the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten
Serves 4

Good olive oil
1 1/2 cups diced fennel (1 bulb)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon Pernod (I left this out!!!)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 pounds (16 to 18) shrimp, peeled and deveined with the tails left on
3 ounces feta cheese, preferably Greek or French, coarsely crumbled
1 cup fresh bread crumbs (see note)
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 lemons

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in 10- or 12-inch heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-low heat. Add the fennel and garlic and sauté for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender. Add the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits clinging to the bottom of the skillet, and cook until the liquid is reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, Pernod, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to the skillet. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes.

4. Arrange the shrimp artfully in one layer over the tomato mixture in the skillet. Scatter feta evenly over the shrimp. In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parsley, and lemon zest with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle evenly over the shrimp.

5. Bake the shrimp for about 15 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through and the bread crumbs are golden brown. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon over the shrimp. Serve hot with wedges of lemon.

NOTE: To make 1 cup of fresh bread crumbs, remove the crusts from 3 to 4 slices white bread and place in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until the bread is in crumbs.

Assemble the shrimp right in a 10- to 12-inch stainless-steel sauté pan, and then put the pan in the oven for 15 minutes before serving.

Cherries in Winter

2011-02-03T16:27:00.006-06:00

Just finished reading Cherries in Winter by Suzan Colon. My sweet friend Heather brought it to my house Tuesday night, and I haven't been able to put it down. It's the perfect book to read when the sun is hidden and snow flurries are in the forecast.

My favorite words are found in Chapter 19 entitled "Leave the Dishes"

A small piece of advice, and one of the best, that I've gotten from Nana, who died at the age of fifty-seven--too young, but having never wasted a moment of her life:

I was not, and am not, the best housekeeper in the neighborhood. The competition of getting the first line of wash out on Monday morning has never interested me. Putting the dishes in the sink "until later" was, and still is, my practice. There are so many more important things than dishes.

Sometimes the house is such a mess that I think, "On Saturday I must do this–or that–or whatever is most in need of doing." But when Saturday comes along, and it is a delightful, delicious day, and my husband says, "Let's the three of us go fishing," we all look at each other–guiltily–and of course they stick me with the decision.

I look at the house, at their faces, at what is outside of our hazy windows, and, knowing we are all only here for an unknown time, and how precious every minute is, I say: "Let's go."

Cherries in Winter is an uplifting read. I recommend you bake some scones (see recipe below), put the tea kettle on and cuddle up on the couch with your honey. That's what I plan to do tonight.

These scones are moist and delicious, not hard and crunchy like the ones at Starbucks. The recipe comes from Prudent Baby. And I should mention that I didn't have cream, so I substituted ricotta cheese and a tad bit of buttermilk instead.

Kevin's Famous Scones
from Prudent Baby

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp cold unsalted butter
1 cup cream (this is where I used 1 cup ricotta cheese and a splash of buttermilk instead)
1/2 cup frozen fruit (I used a blackberry, raspberry, blueberry mixture because I knew H would love it)

In my stand mixer, I combined the first four ingredients. Add butter (chopped) and mix to a meal. Add cream OR ricotta cheese and buttermilk and mix. Add berries and mix. Place onto flat surface and cut into triangles or use cookie cutters to do circles or hearts. Sprinkle with more sugar and place on a cookie sheet (I put parchment paper below). Bake in 425 degree oven for 15-17 minutes.

*I just realized I forgot to sprinkle with sugar when I made these. I guess I need to make them again to experiment, right? Sounds like a good excuse to me!

Everybody Likes Parfaits

2011-02-03T09:25:00.007-06:00

I love Shrek. So much so that my 19th birthday was a Shrek theme. Oh yes, that's right. Shrek likes parfaits, and so do I. Most mornings, I have a parfait for breakfast. It's yummy, nutritious and oh-so-pretty :)

To make my morning parfait, I mix about a cup of Greek yogurt (little less, little more depending on how hungry I am-read-depending on what time I get to actually eat breakfast :) with a half tablespoon of honey. Then, I layer that with frozen organic blueberries (from Kroger-$2 a bag) and homemade granola. I love my blueberries slightly frozen, so I don't even thaw mine out. This homemade granola is delish! I've also been caught eating it with a spoon straight from the container!

Homemade Granola
taken from Kitchen Stewardship

Mix together the following dry ingredients:

3 cups oats

1/2 cup nuts (you can use up to a cup of nuts if you'd like)

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut (if you like it - if not - just leave it out)

Mix together the following wet ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil (good for the heart!)

1/4 cup honey

1/6 cup water

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix wet and dry ingredients together. Pour onto a cookie sheet and and toast in a 350 degree oven stirring every few minutes until browned. Set your timer for 10 minutes and keep an eye on it after that. Store in an airtight container. It lasts for a while. I usually make a new batch every Saturday. You can add 1/2 cup sunflower seeds if you want to the dry ingredients. I might try that sometime, but I didn't have any the first time I made it so I haven't been putting that in.

On mornings when I'm in a hurry (Sunday!!!) I just throw some granola on top of my blueberry Activia to make a parfait on-the-go :) You could also eat the granola like cereal with some organic milk on top. Yum!

My Sous Chef

2011-02-02T15:32:00.016-06:00

You already know I love to cook, so it should come as no surprise that when L started eating real food a couple months ago I wanted to make it myself. It goes hand-in-hand with my other love- Dave Ramsey-not the man, the budget plan! (Don't get me wrong, Dave, I'm sure you're a nice guy but I've got my man and he has a little more hair :) But I digress...

Making baby food is easy and saves a LOT of money. For example, the first time I was making baby food back in November I went to Whole Foods and bought $18 worth of produce. That $18 worth of produce made 168 cubes of food (more on that below). Two cubes is equal to a jar of Stage 1 food, so that means I made 84 servings of food for $18. I went to Target and calculated that each jar of organic baby food cost .64 cents after tax. At Target, $18 would have gotten me only 27 servings, but instead I got 84!!! That's a lot of math, but the point is you can really save by making your own baby food. Plus, now that she is older (turned eight months a couple days ago) I can make my own combinations by mixing a cube of this and a cube of that.

There are fancy machines to make baby food, but I don't think you need those gadgets. Here's how I do it...

First, wash your food. Take a moment to gaze upon your beautiful organic fruit knowing that all those pesticides aren't going in your precious child's body... (ok, sorry-I'm a really big proponent of organic fruits and veggies, but if you don't buy all of them organic at least consider buying the Dirty Dozen organic-more on that here).

Next, peel, core and chop. If your child is older like mine is now, you can leave the peels on. But for first-time eaters, I would peel everything.

And here's my favorite gadget. This is a micro-cooker from Pampered Chef. I think it cost me $8, and it is AWESOME! It is BPA free (don't worry-I called Pampered Chef to verify :) and you just put your food in it, add a little water, put the lid on and microwave. I usually do about 3 minutes. It perfectly steams your food in minutes! You can use it for all sorts of stuff, but I really like it for baby food.

This is what the lid looks like. It's even got holes so you can pour off the excess water easily. How cool is that contraption? (I promise I do not work for Pampered Chef. I just happen to think this invention is the bomb dot com.) ((Isn't that a fun expression? the bomb dot com? yeah, I thought so too when I saw it on my friend's hilarious blog)) (((Do you like how I just keep adding in parenthesis as I digress further and further?))) I'm done now. I promise.

Now, let the blending begin. Just throw your cooked veggies or fruit in the blender and start going. Add water as needed to get it to the consistency your child needs. For younger babies, make it perfectly smooth and a little runny. For older babies, you can make it a little chunkier.

Once it is blended to the right consistency, spoon it into ice cube trays. Put the ice cube trays in the freezer overnight. Take them out the next day, and put them in Ziploc bags labeled with the food name and date made. When it's time for baby to eat, take out the cubes you need and microwave them to the desired temperature. Then, feed baby!

Wasn't that SO easy? I should add that I do purchase a couple containers of the pre-made baby food to keep in L's diaper bag for an emergency situation. And there's certainly nothing wrong with buying your baby food. That Gerber guy seems to really know what he's doing, and it might not be every momma's cup 'o tea! I enjoy getting to crush stuff in the blender and saving a few benjamins, so that's why I do it :)

So far, I've made pears, apples, peaches, blueberries (L's fave!), carrots, sweet potatoes, peas (another of L's faves), green beans and butternut squash (which we like to say squatternut bash because of a Friends episode... anyone else seen that one?).

Give it a try! And for a little non-frozen food, I love to mix half of an avocado with half of a banana in the blender for a little lunch-time protein. The girl loves it!

Looking for the right words

2011-02-01T21:53:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, one of my very best friends sent me a text asking what she could say or do to encourage two friends who just lost babies through miscarriage. I hesitated for a minute, immediately flooded with memories - some good and some bad - of what people said to me. While people never mean to say the wrong thing, sometimes we do. We've all done it, and sometimes we don't even realize it.

Everyone's loss is unique just like every person grieves differently, but I shared with her what helped me... and also what hurt.

Say "I'm sorry." Not because you're apologizing or you did anything wrong, but because you're sorry that she has to go through something so painful. Say "I love you." When you don't know what else to say, just say I love you. I don't think anyone can ever hear those words enough.

Please do not say, "God has a plan" or "there was probably something wrong with the baby." While it is certainly true that God is always sovereign and definitely has a plan, it just doesn't make you feel better when your heart is so broken. Later on, you can see God's plan, but in the moment it just hurts. It's also true that something may have been wrong with the baby's health, but that just hurts and makes a momma feel guilty like she could have done something differently. Just say, "I'm sorry and I love you."

And bring food... comfort food. I wanted Mexican food and mashed potatoes, rich desserts and cheesy casseroles... anything that was hot and filled my tummy. It helped take the edge off the ache in my heart.

Do something to remember the baby. My mom found me a tiny Willow Tree figurine of a small child holding a little metal balloon that says hope. I keep that figurine on my bedside table, and for a long time I would kiss that little child every night and ask God to kiss my babies for me. I clung to that word hope on many nights when my heart was so heavy. For the Mother's Day after our first miscarriage, Matt got me a hydrangea bush to plant in our front yard in memory of our baby. I love looking at those beautiful blooms and thinking of the day when I will get to meet that child.

Remember the day. Make a note of when the baby's due date was, so that you can encourage her on that day. It means a lot to know that someone remembers after time has passed.

If you have gone through a miscarriage, feel free to add in your thoughts. Like I said earlier, everyone is unique so what encourages me may not do the same for others. I don't always say the right thing either, so it helps to hear from other people about their experiences and what encouraged them.

To my sweet friend who took the time and had the thoughtfulness to ask, you are an incredible blessing in my life. You know who you are, and I love you to pieces.

Staples

2011-01-29T08:02:00.005-06:00

It's no secret. I love to cook. I love to bake. I love to be in my kitchen. Shoot, I love to be in the grocery store dreaming of what I'm going to cook and bake. After cooking for a while, I've realized there are some things I must keep in my pantry, and here are a few of those things...

1. Olive Oil- I use it daily for sauteing veggies, making pizza crust, dips and roasting veggies. Definitely extra virgin (I feel like I should break into Madonna's song... no? yeah, you're right. I'll pass) but get a good quality. I am super frugal, but I don't skimp on olive oil.

2. Honey- I use honey to sweeten everything from my morning parfait made with Greek yogurt, frozen, organic blueberries and homemade granola to my cup of hot tea that I drink during bath time each night while reading (er... rereading) Coastal Living for the 18th time.

3. Oats- Used to make the aforementioned homemade granola (I've been dying to use the word "aforementioned"-ok, I'm over it now) and granola bars or oatmeal butterscotch cookies (a Matt favorite).

4. Whole Wheat Flour- An easy way to increase fiber and make lots of dishes healthier. I just substitute it for white flour in many of my recipes. Warning: If you are making this molten chocolate cake, do not use whole wheat flour. You are making a dessert with cocoa, a cup of butter and sugar-it's pointless. Just enjoy the decadence... and run the next day! ha!

5. Whole Wheat Pasta- I love pasta. It's easy, yummy, inexpensive and fast. This makes it better for you.

6. Kosher Salt- If you are using salt from the can with the little girl in the rain on it, please throw it away and switch to kosher salt. It is approximately 189% better. I promise. I keep mine in a little bowl that my sister Gracie made me when she was eight. When I get to the bottom of the bowl, my heart smiles because it says, "Elissa, I love you."

7. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes- I love spices, and my current fave is crushed red pepper. I love to ~~sprinkle~~ douse it on everything!

Some other time, I'll tell you about my fridge staples. Now, I'm off to the grocery store!

The Paper Man

2011-01-28T21:10:00.003-06:00

I don't know if this is the case in all cities (most likely so), but every Sunday morning on my way to church I pass two paper men. I leave for church very early (around 6:30 AM if I'm on time... which means most weeks it's more like 6:40) and they are always hunkered down trying to stay warm since the sun hasn't come up and it has been chi-illy in Memphis recently.

So, I got an idea... what if I started bring them a hot drink on my way? Matt makes coffee every Sunday morning anyway, so he just makes extra and I take it to them and pick up my newspapers (yes, I buy two because I don't want one of them to feel left out-it's double the coupons!). I've been delivering coffee for a month now, and now they know it's me when they see my car pull up.

Anyway, the only reason I'm writing about this is because I was talking to some of the staff girls at lunch the other day (Chick-fil-A, of course :) and we realized that among us we pass about 6 people selling newspapers on Sundays! And that got me to thinking... what if other people delivered coffee? Could we cover all the newspaper men and women in Memphis? Wouldn't that be cool?

So, here's where you can get involved. Do you pass a newspaper man (or woman!) on Sunday morning? You can leave a comment and indicate if you're willing to deliver coffee and what location you're going to. I've been delivering the coffee in Commissary cups because we have a ridiculous surplus of those (all those tamales and bbq we've been eating with the in-laws), but I'm going to get some styrofoam (yes, I know-it's not green-maybe I can find a better option) cups with lids so the coffee stays warm longer. If the cost prevents you from doing it, please let me know and I will cover the cost of coffee and supplies! I know it's not much-just a simple cup of coffee-but on a cold morning, it sure makes a person smile :)

Are you in?

This blog brought to you by Date Night

2011-01-21T18:57:00.003-06:00

All week I look forward to Date Night. It is the highlight of my week. Now, I love getting all dressed up and going to a fancy restaurant and the big screen as much as the next gal, but we love a weekly date night, and all that fancy schmancy every week just ain't in our budget. So, a lot of weeks we do an "at home date". And we LOVE them! Tonight, we're making a pizza and renting a Red Box movie.

First, I think Red Box is a BRILLIANT invention. We even reserved the one we wanted to see (The Social Network) and I picked it up on my way to the grocery store for a DOLLAR (can you tell I still can't get over the fact that it only costs a dollar?). For our pizza, we're making a new creation, and we've deemed it "Mambo Italiano" :) Yes, we're that weird couple that makes up crazy names for everything because we're just that cool. ha! I made this homemade pizza crust but I used whole wheat flour instead. And we're topping it with turkey sausage (so delicious and way healthier), roasted bell peppers and onions (roast them at 400 degrees with a little olive oil and kosher salt to bring out all the natural flavor) and fresh mozzarella (I adore fresh mozzarella almost as much as I love Brie... almost...). And don't forget the crushed red pepper flakes! Yummy!

Oh, and for dessert... I think I'm going to make this chocolate molten cake with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream on the side. And with that I just canceled out all the healthiness of my whole wheat dough and turkey sausage but oh well! It is reeaaaalllly yummy. (and romantic :)

I'm so excited! Have I mentioned how much I love date night? Of course, my date might have something to do with that ;)

Happy Friday!

A few of my favorite things... January

2011-01-20T15:34:00.006-06:00

January is my least favorite month. I love summer-flip flops, swimming, beach vacations. I love spring-green grass, my hydrangea blooming, long evenings coming back. I love fall- football, cooler temps, beautiful leaves. But winter... well, it's not my fav. I love Christmas and all it represents, but come January it's a little dreary for me. I love to be outside and I love bright colors both of which don't happen much in January. But still, I have a few favorite things this January...

My new red kitchen kettle. Every night, I make a cup of tea (actually, sweet Matt makes it for me most of the time :) and take a hot bubble bath with my current read. So far, I have tried several Twinings teas. Tea drinkers, have any recommendations for me?

This Listerine whitening wash. Twice a day, before you brush your teeth, swish it around for 60 seconds. It's so easy, and it works! I found two coupons for this a couple weeks ago, so I got some to try and I'm loving it. Matt and I have both been using it and we can already see a difference. I <3 white teeth :)

Matt and I got Lydia this Busy Ball Popper for Christmas. Last week, I finally got around to getting the batteries for it, and she LOVES it! She also loves to "go Tarzan" on it and try and get the balls out of it. Quite amusing!

And I also love that Valentine's Day is not far away! :)

In Italics- January 2011

2011-01-17T08:33:00.005-06:00

Here are the books I've been reading the past few weeks...

Drew Brees' autobiography Coming Back Stronger. I am a huge Saints fan. Growing up in Mississippi, we don't have an NFL team, and we are less than three hours away from New Orleans, so most of the people in Jackson are Saints fans. We grew up going to games in the Super Dome, and Matt and I got to go to a game this year when we went to NOLA for our 5th anniversary. (Have you heard the funny story about that game? We bought tickets outside the dome a few minutes into the game... club level seats for $50 a person... seems too good to be true, huh? It was. We got inside and realized the seats were both in club level but not together!!! We learned that lesson the hard way! Fortunately, we got to sit together part of the game, and I'm the kind of girl who loves football so I was perfectly happy to see my boys play even if I was with strangers!) Moving on...

I got Matt this collection of C.S. Lewis classics for Christmas, but somehow conveniently borrowed it when we got home. :) I am reading Mere Christianity right now, and it has been way too long since I read this book. I am soaking every bit of it up. I was telling my small group girls last night that C.S. Lewis is one of the invitees at my "If I could have anyone-dead or alive-to dinner, who would it be?" dinner... along with Ina Garten, The Beatles and Ellen-an odd group I know- but Ina would make us a delicious meal, C.S. Lewis would have us talking for hours, The Beatles would keep us rockin' and Ellen is just hilarious! I can imagine some very interesting conversations between those guys.

The final book I finished a week ago (in one sitting because it was just that good) is a book by my mentor Miss Nan in Jackson, MS. She put together a collection of personal testimonies called God at Work, and it's amazing. I just love reading stories about God's faithfulness when people give. This book combined with Mere Christianity and the new study my small group is doing called Gospel in Life... rocking my world and I love it!

To our first baby

2011-01-17T08:12:00.004-06:00

I'll never forget you
The way my heart pounded
I took a test and knew

I couldn't believe it was true
We were having a baby
I couldn't wait to see you

I never got to meet you
But I know one day I will
For now, I'll tell you I love you
And I'll see you one day still

Two years ago today, we found out we were pregnant with our first baby. A month later, our sweet baby went to Heaven but we know one day we will get to meet our precious first and second babies. Today, we celebrate our Creator and His unending faithfulness.

Home

2011-01-11T14:53:00.003-06:00

You've taken over, baby girl. Yesterday the house was clean, but now a dozen sea creatures litter the bathtub. I'm finding stacking rings all over the house... blue and green ones in the guest bedroom, orange and red on the bathroom rug. Tiny shoes and a blue bow are resting on the chair in our room. Your thermometer is hanging out on the coffee table. Everywhere I look, there's not a spot that's missed your touch. And it's just perfect.

Some people may want the perfect house where the sofa pillows actually make it to the sofa and the counter tops are clean and clear. But I love that no matter where I look I know without a doubt that little hands live here. I can hear the sound of the ocean via your noise machine as you are napping, and I want to cry I'm so happy. Home isn't determined by your house or where you live. Home is being with the people you love, and, baby girl, you and your daddy are most certainly loved.

xoxo,
your momma

The people have spoken...

2011-01-07T10:08:00.005-06:00

Ok, people is a bit too strong, but a couple people (see, that just didn't sound as grand) requested the Roasted Potato Leek Soup recipe that I am always talking about. Of course, it is another Ina Garten (aka Barefoot Contessa) masterpiece, and once again I will remind you of how much I adore this woman! I make a couple changes to mine which I will describe below. Also, I love to serve this with crusty whole-grain baguette slices with melted Brie on top (you know me... I love me some Brie :) Ok, I'll leave the rhyming to Dr. Suess, but seriously this soup is scrumptious and so very perfect on a cold day.

Roasted Potato Leek Soup
via FoodNetwork.com
source Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics, Ina Garten

Ingredients

2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
4 cups chopped leeks, white and light green parts, cleaned of all sand (4 leeks)
1/4 cup good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 cups baby arugula, lightly packed
1/2 cup dry white wine, plus extra for serving
6 to 7 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
3/4 cup heavy cream
8 ounces creme fraiche
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for garnish
Crispy Shallots, recipe follows, optional

Directions

1.Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

2.Combine the potatoes and leeks on a sheet pan in a single layer. Add the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss to coat the vegetables evenly. Roast for 40 to 45 minutes, turning them with a spatula a few times during cooking, until very tender.

3.Add the arugula and toss to combine. Roast for 4 to 5 more minutes, until the arugula is wilted. Remove the pan from the oven and place over 2 burners. Stir in the wine and 1 cup of the chicken stock and cook over low heat, scraping up any crispy roasted bits sticking to the pan.

4.In batches, transfer the roasted vegetables to a food processor fitted with the steel blade, adding the pan liquid and about 5 cups of the chicken stock to make a puree. Pour the puree into a large pot or Dutch oven. Continue to puree the vegetables in batches until they're all done and combined in the large pot.

5.Add enough of the remaining 1 to 2 cups of stock to make a thick soup. Add the cream, creme fraiche, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and check the seasonings.

6.When ready to serve, reheat the soup gently and whisk in 2 tablespoons white wine and 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Serve hot with an extra grating of Parmesan and crispy shallots, if using.
Serves 6-8.

Elissa's Changes: I substitute buttermilk for cream and sour cream for cream fraiche. I also use my immersion blender (what I affectionately call my "boat motor" after Emeril Lagasse) instead of transferring it to a blender which makes things easier. But if you don't have an immersion blender, then use your blender. Also, I leave the white wine out since I'm breastfeeding :)

Ina Garten, you're a genius!!!

When life gives you lemons...

2011-01-05T16:57:00.004-06:00

Make Sunny Citrus Bars!

Today has been a long day for all the Robertsssss (what is the plural of my last name?!?!). Matt and I didn't get much sleep last night because Lyd woke up in pain and had a hard time going back to sleep. She has been attached to my hip because the moment I think about putting her down she cries the most pitiful little moan. I thought it was all because of teething, but her fever has been creeping up all day, so I took her to the doc this afternoon and wouldn't you know... it's a double ear infection. boo! :(

So, I drove by Walgreen's to pick up another antibiotic (we are keeping Mr. Penicillin in business around here) when I get a text from Matt saying that a client he's been pursuing for a while backed out. Crazy company doesn't know what they're missing! He was bummed. I was tired. Lydia was sick. I got home and did what I always do when I'm feeling down... start cooking. I'm a sucker for citrus desserts and I had seen one that looked yummy in the Coastal Living magazine I've read from cover to cover three times now. Since my bff Heather dropped me off a sack of fresh citrus last night, I knew I had the ingredients.

These are yummy, easy and a good way to celebrate when life gives you lemons :)

Sunny Citrus Bars
from Coastal Living December/January 2011

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
Powdered sugar

1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Beat just until a smooth dough is formed. Press into a lightly greased, foil-lined 13x9 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.

2. Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, remaining 1/3 cup flour, sugar and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl; pour over baked crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until set. Let cool completely in pan; chill, if desired. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and cut into bars. Makes 2 dozen.

Matt's off to get us Chick-fil-A for dinner (the #1 is my ultimate comfort food) and we'll munch on these sunny citrus bars and keep giving Lyd her medicine and lots of TLC and we'll all feel a little better :)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

2011-01-05T10:38:00.003-06:00

So, I got a new cookbook for Christmas. Ina Garten's How Easy is That? Ina is hands down my favorite chef. On my list of the top five people I would want to have dinner with, she's definitely an invite (ok, I would beg, plead, grovel, you get the point... and while she's there, she could go ahead and cook the meal, right? ;)

Anyway, since one of my 2011 resolutions is to try a new recipe every week, I went right to work. I read the book from cover to cover, savoring all her delicious words and tips. I came across a recipe called Spicy Turkey Meatballs and Spaghetti that Ina created after eating at Mario Batali's restaurant... need I say more? I knew I had to try them.

And oh-my-goodness! They are DIVINE!!! I am not exaggerating. The meatballs are easy to make and definitely healthier since you use ground turkey instead of beef and bake them instead of fry them, but you will swoon over this dish! Please, go make them tonight! You won't regret it! And while you're at it... buy this cookbook! Every recipe looks amazing, and if this one is any indication of the rest of the book, yumm-o! To go alongside my turkey meatballs and spaghetti, I toasted a whole-grain baguette and served it with some olive oil with Italian spices and crushed red pepper in it. Oh, and I found a deal on Italian turkey sausage, so I used that instead of pork and used a little more sausage in place of the prosciutto. De.li.cious.

Spicy Turkey Meatballs
via Smells Like Home
source: Ina Garten, How Easy is That?

Ingredients:

3 cups (1-inch diced) bread cubes from a round rustic bread, crusts removed
2/3 cup whole milk
2 lbs ground turkey (88% – 92% lean)
1/2 lb sweet Italian pork sausage, casing removed
4 oz thinly sliced prosciutto, finely chopped
1 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp good olive oil plus, extra for brushing meatballs
2 extra large eggs, lightly beaten
3 (24-oz) jars good marinara sauce, such as Rao’s
2 lbs dried spaghetti, such as De Cecco
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.

1. Place the bread in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process until the bread is in medium crumbs. Transfer the crumbs to a small bowl and add the milk. Set aside for 5 minutes.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the turkey, sausage, prosciutto, bread mixture, Asiago, parsley, oregano, red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Lightly combine the ingredients with your hands. Add the 3 tablespoons of olive oil and the eggs, and stir lightly with a fork to combine.

3. With your hands, lightly roll the mixture into 2-inch-round meatballs and place them on the prepared sheet pans. Brush the meatballs with olive oil. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the tops are browned and the centers are completely cooked.

1.1.11

2011-01-01T20:51:00.004-06:00

What a wonderful Christmas we had celebrating Lydia's first one and surrounded by family we adore. I'll post pics from Christmas later, but on the first day of 2011 I am working on my list of resolutions. I love the start of a new year. It's like a shiny, new pair of shoes (mine are shiny since I got silver, sparkly Toms from my mom and daddy :) They start off so pretty, no scuffs, perfectly formed. But they're shoes... you've got to put them on and wear them out. Yes, the soles will get dirty and some of my perfect shiny sparkles will inevitably fall off. But they were made to be worn. This year was made to be worn too. Each day is an opportunity brimming with possibility and discovery. And that's why I make resolutions. I want each day to have purpose.

Here are my resolutions (aka goals) for 2011...

Try a new recipe every week
Find a consistent way to serve outside of my ministry job
Run a half-marathon (this is a stretch since I haven't run consistently since I got pregnant with Lyd but I want to try)
Set up my Etsy shop
Give spontaneously and to strangers
Continue to journal and memorize Scripture
Savor my time with Lydia each day
Write on my blog several times a week
Hopefully, move back to Jackson :)
Write a love letter to Matt each week
Become a better photographer
Love people better

Happy New Year!

Just a few...

2010-12-21T14:53:00.007-06:00

Of my favorite things. Oprah did her Favorite Things Show in TWO parts this week, and even gave away a brand new VW Bug to everyone in the office... sheesh... that's a lot of screaming, crying, peeing in their pants people...

Well, it's no VW, but here are a few of my favorite things right now...

Suave Rosemary Mint shampoo and conditioner: So, I LOVE the Aveda products (especially the Rosemary Mint one) that they use at the salon to wash and condition my hair, but let's be honest. I go through WAY too much hair stuff to spend that much money, and since I've only had two haircuts since my almost seven month old was born... well, I think we can all agree that would be a waste of money. But fear not! Thanks to Suave I can now get the same invigorating scent for less than 200 pennies! Eek!!!

Toms Shoes: I LOVE these shoes. They are SUPER comfortable, and the best part is that when you purchase a pair, another pair will be given to a child who doesn't have shoes! Love this company and their commitment to giving. I have my eyes on these silver glitter ones for Christmas :)

Candy Cane Kisses: I could eat these by the bucket! Oh my goodness! SOOOO good!!!

And of course... this little darlin' and her sweet daddy... love those two to pieces! :)

BBQ Chicken Pizza

2010-12-18T15:52:00.005-06:00

I love pizza... every kind... thin crust with crushed tomatoes, salty mozzarella and fresh basil, deep dish Chicago-style loaded with pepperonis, supreme topped with everything from the produce section. I like calzones and stuffed pizza... shoot, I even like Bagel Bites! ha!

Here is a new pizza recipe I came up with last week and I even used store-bought pizza dough to make it really easy. (My friend Jess thinks I'm crazy for making my own pizza dough, but I'll admit the store-bought pizza dough was tasty and super easy!)

What you need: 1 lb of chicken breasts, 1 bottle of BBQ sauce, mozzarella cheese (I like a LOT!), one red onion, 2 rolls of pizza dough

What you do: Chop up the red onion to your liking. I like big ole chunks, so I just do a coarse chop through my onion. Cook and shred chicken. (My favorite way to cook chicken for something like this is to boil it in my crock-pot with a cup of water on high for a few hours. This makes it shred really easily and I don't have to watch a pot.) Mix chicken with half of the BBQ sauce. Open pizza dough and spread onto pizza stone (note: this recipe makes two pizzas!) Blind bake your dough according to package instructions. Spread remaining BBQ sauce on the pizza dough. Spread BBQ chicken, chopped red onion and mozzarella on top. Bake until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly. This is super easy and super YUMMY! Sorry for the not-so-great-taken-with-my-cell-phone-because-I-had-my-6-month-old-on-my-hip picture :)

Under the Weather

2010-12-18T15:37:00.005-06:00

Lydia spent the better part of last night screaming in pain... which absolutely broke my heart. We got an early appointment with the pediatrician this morning, and she took one look at Lyd's left ear and said, "We have a really bad infection here." :( So, she got us an antibiotic, numbing drops and cough medicine. Poor girl is feeling a little better but still nothing like herself. I wish I could trade places with her...

After not a lot of sleep, no shower today and a to-do list a mile long... I was feeling just a little blah... but then I ventured over to my favorite Chick-fil-A and remembered the ultimate in comfort food... a #1 with a Diet Dr. Pepper (I even had a coupon for the DDP!) Gotta love the Christian chicken! :)

Today, I am very grateful for chicken sandwiches and incredible pediatricians and baby girls who are on the mend!

p.s. In the pic to the right, she had finally fallen asleep in the car coming back from the pediatrician's office. Those long, dark eyelashes get me every time. Have I mentioned that I love this girl?

Bubble

2010-12-09T20:49:00.002-06:00

There are some days (okay, a lot of days) that I want to put Lydia in a bubble. I want to shield her from pain, from heartache, from danger and from all the evil in this world... like acne and bad boyfriends, school bullies and job loss, drunk drivers and pretty much everything I see on the 6 o'clock news.

But I know that I can't. I wish I could shield her from the pain, but if I do I will also keep her from the joy of living life. Because while this world has pain and a lot of it, it has even more joy. Joy like feeling sand between your toes and the taste of salt in your mouth as the waves crash around you. Joy like a smorgasbord of cheesecake after you finally finish the chemistry final. Joy like the moment you hold the baby you've been waiting for so long.

I am praying that one day Lydia will get to live in a bubble, a bubble where there is no pain. A bubble where we are all feasting and joy fills the air. A bubble called Heaven, a perfect place to spend eternity with our perfect and most Sovereign Lord. For now, I remind myself that God knit her together and He is her Protector. And I trust Him.

Face scrub

2010-12-09T09:46:00.002-06:00

My skin has been drier than the Sahara desert... not attractive at all. I was rummaging around in my bathroom closet searching for something to do a little robust exfoliating with when I realized I had chunked everything because it was so old. Hmm... what's a girl to do?

Google, of course! Sure enough hundreds of recipes for homemade scrubs. My favorite- Honey Sugar Scrub. All you do is mix 1/2 teaspoon of sugar with 1 teaspoon of honey. Scrub it on your face and rinse well! It works great and leaves your skin super soft. Plus, I saw on Dr. Oz one day that honey is a natural antiseptic so it's great for clearing up any blemishes too. And the best part- if it gets in your mouth, it tastes oh-so-yummy!

Does anyone else have any home creations you love? Do share!

Cookietastic!

2010-12-08T13:53:00.003-06:00

I'm not the biggest fan of sugar cookies. I'm one of those who likes chunks of chocolate, nuts, caramel, peanut butter... you name it I want it in there. But at Christmas time, it's always so fun to decorate sugar cookies. My biggest frustration has always been the rolling of the dough, but this little trick from Bake it Pretty might have me believing. So nifty and so easy. I just had to share!

Speaking of cookies, I will be baking some this weekend with my bff Heather. Hopefully, we will have some on platters at the end of the day instead of all in our tummies... no promises though!

Yummy Soup

2010-12-08T10:02:00.004-06:00

Sunday was Lydia's dedication, and we had the whole family over for lunch. I knew I needed something easy and yummy that I could prepare ahead of time. Of course, I pulled out my old-faithful recipe- Paula Deen's Taco Soup. If you can brown ground beef and open cans, you can do this! It is delicious and so perfect on a cold winter day. Enjoy!

p.s. I put Frito's in a bowl, then add the taco soup and top with cheese and sour cream. I guess I kind of undid the healthiness of all those veggies, huh? :)

Lessons from Steve

2010-12-06T16:52:00.004-06:00

We stumbled upon the movie Evan Almighty while we were flipping between football games Saturday. I walked away two hours later feeling challenged and convicted... say what?!?! That little movie packed quite a punch. "All it takes to change the world is a simple Act of Random Kindness" or an ARK (if you haven't seen the movie, then I just look like an idiot right now, but watch the movie and it will make sense... maybe... you never know with me). Who knew so much truth could be found in a move starring Steve Carell?

Last year, Matt and I were dreaming of what this Christmas would be like with a little one. We talked about traditions we wanted to start and fun family outings. It's really easy for Christmas to become about "me," and we wanted to help our kids think about others. So, we decided every year one of the gifts we "give" our children will be a gift that doesn't go to them, but rather goes to someone around the world.

We decided to go with Compassion since we have two adopted children through Compassion, and we visited their Christmas catalog to choose a gift. While we love the chickens and goats (I not-so-secretly want a chicken and a goat), we decided this year to give a Kit for a New Mom. It includes wellness check-ups, vaccinations and HIV prevention awareness. Since we are new parents, it seemed like a good match for us this year.

I am amazed by how such a small amount of money can make such a big difference in other places. Acts of random kindness... maybe Steve is onto something.

Imagine the end...

2010-12-04T14:48:00.003-06:00

Tomorrow, Matt and I will have the joy of dedicating our sweet girl, Lydia Marie. As part of our homework leading up to dedication, we were asked to "imagine the end," to write out what we want our daughter to become and who we want her to be when she leaves our home in eighteen years. There are big tears in my eyes right now because the last six months have gone by so very fast, and I'm afraid the next seventeen and a half years won't move any more slowly. I am treasuring every single moment I have with our baby girl from our early morning snuggles to sweet potatoes being flung all over my shirt to giggles in the bathtub. On the eve of Lydia's dedication, this is what I pray for my baby girl...

I pray that you will fall in love with your Savior. Lydia, there is nothing this world can offer that comes close to having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I want you to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

I pray that you will love and serve God's people. God has created you for a special purpose, and I look forward to watching you discover what that is and fulfill it. It is so rewarding to serve people, and there are a million different ways you can do this. I pray that you will find your unique role and that you will passionately serve people.

I pray that God's Word will be alive in your life. I pray that you will memorize Scripture and that it will be the overflow of your heart. The truth of His Word is powerful. I pray that through trials you will cling to His Word because He will give you a peace that passes understanding.

I pray that you will find your worth in Christ. When I was pregant with you, Lydia, I prayed Acts 17:28 for your life, "In Him we live and move and have our being." I pray that you resist the lies of this world that tell you that your self-worth is found in beauty or money or fame. I pray that Acts 17:28 would be the story of your life, that you would know you are special because you are child of God.

Lydia, there are so many things that I want you to know, but most of all I want you to know that you are loved by your daddy and me. But even more than that, you are loved by the Creator of the Universe. I pray that you would fall in love with your Savior at a very early age and that you would run hard after Him. I pray that your daddy and I will model this for you every day, and that you will see in us two imperfect people who love and serve a perfect God.

I love you, Lydia, and I cherish the joy of being your mom.

For sale...

2010-12-02T14:49:00.002-06:00

Yep, it's true. Our house is on the market. You can imagine the fun this has been with a six month old and a house that has to be clean around the clock... ah, yes... that's the sound of gray hairs sprouting up as we speak ;)

We've wanted to move back to Mississippi for a while now, and about a month ago Matt and I were enjoying calzones with bubbly mozzarella (mine with fresh spinach and roma tomatoes) when we looked at each other and said, "What's holding us back?" We did come up with one thing, but in the end we just couldn't pass the opportunity up. After having Lydia, our hearts just ache to be closer to her grandparents and the rest of our family in Mississippi. Matt is blessed to work for the best boss ever, and he said it would be fine for him to work from Jackson, and so we began the home-selling process.

And a process it is... not much action yet, but we had Thanksgiving last week, so we are hoping for a little Christmas buzz in the housing market. As my friends with way more faith remind me, "It only takes one buyer." And so we are waiting... and cleaning... and putting baby paraphernalia away... and cleaning... and putting baby paraphernalia away... you get the gist. We would appreciate your prayers that the house would sell quickly.

Oh, and as for that one thing that was holding us back... we have been blessed with friends who are like family here in Memphis. We are surrounded by friends who have laughed with us, cried with us, brought us meals after the miscarriages, brought us meals after Lydia's birth. Friends we shop with, eat with, serve with and do life with. We will miss them more than I can even imagine. The mere thought of it opens a flood of tears, but we are moving home to the Hospitality State, so we'll just have to have them all over.

Thanks

2010-11-12T10:31:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday... reunited with family... everyone wearing cozy sweaters and sipping simmering drinks... platters full of roasted (or fried if you're from Mississippi :) turkey... bowls of mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and, of course, dressing. We catch up on everyone's year, celebrate the new ones (so grateful for our new one this year!) and remember the ones who have left us for a better place.

I love Thanksgiving because the act of giving thanks is something that should be celebrated... celebrated daily. To give thanks reminds me that I am so unworthy of all that my Lord has blessed me with. To give thanks teaches me to be grateful and most of all to be giving. To give thanks blesses me and stretches me.

So, as I count down the days until I get to head back home to Mississippi for Thanksgiving 2010, I am writing in my journal every day what I am thankful for. My list is quite long, but here are a few...

a roof over my head, Muddy's cupcakes, sweet tea, Lydia's grandparents, my favorite pillow, beautiful music, my sister and brother and cousins who are like sisters, antique shopping with Heather, getting to work with Amber and Liz, my church Highpoint, peanut M&Ms, Blue Bell's new Caramel Turtle Cheesecake ice cream, bubble baths, exersaucers that keep baby girl happy while I cook dinner, my new little rosemary bush in the kitchen, the Bible Matt gave me at our rehearsal dinner, 2 crazy fun dogs, one adorable baby girl and my best friend to enjoy it all with.

And of course... the One who so richly blesses me and loves me even though I most definitely do not deserve it. To my Lord and Savior, thank you, Father, for loving me and for saving me. I don't want a day to go by that I don't thank you for giving me life and life more abundant.

Here and There

2010-10-29T14:35:00.003-05:00

I am giddy right before a vacation, anxiously packing, doing last minute laundry, checking weather.com one more time, crossing items off my list... toothbrush-check, passport & plane ticket- check, pajamas-check, passport & plane ticket-check, camera bag-check, passport & plane ticket... you get the idea.

I love the feeling of walking through the airport, checking our bags and waiting to board the plane, and I especially love the feeling of landing at my vacation destination. My head is spinning with all the places I want to go, the foods I want to eat and the memories I want to make. Vacations have always been a big deal in my family. I remember countless summer trips to the beach, spring break trips to the mountains and, of course, hanging out with Mickey and Minnie. When Matt and I got married, we knew we wanted to continue that tradition with our family, and we even decided that instead of exchanging anniversary gifts every year, we would rather exchange memories. So, for the past five years we have taken an annual anniversary trip.

I am counting down the days (only 24 left!) until we go to New Orleans to celebrate our fifth anniversary, and we just booked our trip to Jamaica this summer to celebrate my sister's graduation from high school. Three weeks after her first birthday, Lydia will be sporting a passport on her first international adventure. Since she went on her first trip to the beach at 5 weeks old, this seems a perfectly fitting way to celebrate her first birthday!

And just in case you're wondering, I have a few other vacations that are only in the dream phase right now, but you never know ;) I want to go to Seattle to visit my cousin, Alex, and eat Ranier cherries and fresh Pacific fish, shop in Pike's Place Market, and sip coffee from the place where it all started. I want to go to Amsterdam and ride the canals, drink hot tea and learn Dutch. I want to go to Greece and see the white domes against the sapphire blue water. I want to eat feta cheese and drizzle olive oil on everything! And, lastly, I want to go to St. Thomas, my favorite place to visit so far. I want to hold Matt's hand while we sit under the orange umbrellas staring at aqua water and let the sounds of steel drums carry us away...

In Italics

2010-10-22T10:14:00.002-05:00

There are few things I love more than a hot bubble bath made with my favorite potion- Bath and Body Works Tranquil Mint (rosemary and peppermint oils... p.s. I want a garden that smells like both) and a glass of sweet tea beside me as I read for hours on end... Eventually, Matt will come in and check on me to make sure I'm alive. As the water drains out of the tub, I will read just one more page...

A couple weeks ago, I devoured every last morsel of Bittersweet by my favorite author Shauna Niequist. When I read her first book Cold Tangerines a few years ago, I felt like I was reading an email from a best friend. She is at once funny, honest and in love with food (I think you can see why I like her so much). Reading Bittersweet comforted my heart like a steamy mug of hot chocolate when you reach the top of the bitterly cold ski slope. You know the adventure that is before you, but right now you're just savoring the warmth of where God has brought you and the beauty of what's ahead.

This week, courtesy of my wonderful mama, I am enjoying The Help by Kathryn Stockett (who happens to be a fellow Bama grad :). Mom told me last weekend that I would have a hard time putting it down, and she was (as always) absolutely right! I traded cleaning the house to read this book this week (priorities, right?) Halfway through, and I LOVE it so far! Can't wait to see how it ends...

Next on my list is this book... The Spirit of Food: 34 Writers on Feasting and Fasting toward God. I think it might be the perfect book for NOLA... if I can wait that long! To say that I enjoy food would be like saying there is some water in the ocean. So, I think this book has me written all over it... is 10:30 AM too early for my bubble bath?

This is how we roll...

2010-10-08T21:44:00.002-05:00

You are a determined baby girl, that's for sure. Passionate, committed and intense. You hung on until the last possible moment to enter this world making me wait two days past your due date to finally lay eyes on you. You eat every meal like it's your last meal, even if it's only an hour later (can't imagine where you get that from). When you smile, your whole face smiles. Your eyes sparkle and those chubby cheeks turn the color of cotton candy, the pink variety of course.

And that fierce determination was in full force this morning... I laid you on your play mat while I put my makeup on. It was "tummy time" which is at best something you tolerate. You love to watch everything going on and your view is just a bit obstructed when you are laying on your tummy. I look over and you have "that look" in your eyes. Your shoulders are already twisted around and you are feverishly trying to concoct a way to get your legs to follow. And sure enough only seconds later, I look up and you are laying on your back. You did it. You weren't going to give up. I want to watch it up close, so I flip you back over and before I can even get the video camera you have flipped again. Over and over, you do it while Momma is calling Daddy, Didi, KayKay and GranJan to tell them all about it.

Baby girl, don't ever lose that determination. Smile with your whole face. Eat like it's your last meal. Laugh so hard that your tummy hurts and your jaws ache. Cry the big, ugly tears that make your shoulders shake and help your heart heal . Hug your friends and hold them close. And tell your momma that you love her... because trust me... she loves you.

Now

2010-10-06T14:51:00.003-05:00

I used to want the title, the letters after my name. I wanted something that would prove I was important, I was worthy, I was somebody. I wanted to be the hero, the rescuer, the one who swoops in with a wealth of knowledge and just the right answer.

And then came the letter... "Ms. Wentworth, we regret to inform you that you have not been accepted for early admission..." All I read was, "You're a disappointment. You're a failure. Just not good enough." I cried. I sobbed. I cried some more. I was hurt, confused, lost and a shell of myself.

I felt like someone was taking the wrong end of the hammer and hacking away at me, chunks flying here and there. And in a way someone was... it would take me years to see it, but God was whittling me down, shaping me, painfully molding me...

Now, my title is different... no Dr. Roberts or Elissa Roberts M.D. Now, I am wife to my best friend and mom to a little girl who stirs my heart in ways I couldn't have imagined. Now, I treasure sweet tea and sewing nights with my friends more than promotions or raises. Now, I am becoming the person I truly want to be, not the person I wanted people to believe was me.

I'm learning to forgive myself, to insist on joy and not perfection, to let it go and to enjoy right here, right now. We haven't had friends over in forever because I thought my house wasn't clean enough, the yard looked quite "tropical" and my baseboards are just plain pitiful. But I'm tired of believing that if it isn't perfect, it isn't worth it. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I wanted the title and the prestige because I wanted people to think I had it all. It hurts to say it, but I'm grateful for the pain I went through when I got that letter because it started a journey that has brought me to now.

Tonight, dear friends will come over and we will eat yummy, delicious soup (even though it will be made with dried basil instead of fresh because I forgot to buy it when I went to the grocery store and I don't feel like dragging a four month old to the store for basil). We will savor salty Brie and flaky puff pastry, and I won't care that my sofa needs to be cleaned or my floors need to be mopped. I will not miss out on today's moments for fear that everything won't look perfect. I will not sacrifice joy for perfectionism. And I will relish my titles of wife, mom and friend with the respect they truly deserve...

26 Candles

2010-09-28T12:01:00.002-05:00

So, this is only a week late (yeah, more about that later) but I had the best birthday weekend...

It was simple and delicious, bursting with my favorite flavors like ice cold shrimp and spicy cocktail sauce and nostalgic Funfetti cupcakes. Friday afternoon we packed up the car, which now conjures scenes from the Griswold's Family Vacation, with a pack and play, our mismatched luggage, two furry dogs, one adorable baby and all her paraphernalia (she is not what you would call a "light traveler").

But the packing was worth it... for eighteen years, my little sister, Gracie, and I have celebrated the same birthday. And this year was no different... we feasted on boiled shrimp the size of my palm and homemade cocktail sauce just the way I like it... so spicy it will clear your nose right out... smoked brisket with a creamy horseradish sauce... raspberries, blueberries and strawberries, both tart and sweet... creamy mac and cheese, you know the kind that comes in the blue box :)

And to top it all off, we had a fluffy, pink, strawberry cake with about a million candles on it (26 + 18 is a lot!) with a side of homemade ice cream from my daddy. As we blew out the candles, I looked over at my baby sister who is now 18 years old and I had to hold back the tears. I love that my family's birthdays aren't fancy or themed. We're just all together, surrounded by love and lots of pink icing.

And then the next morning (my actual birthday), I woke up early to get ready for church. Matt wished me a sleepy happy birthday and I kissed my sweet girl on the forehead while still flying peacefully in dream world.

I got to worship my Savior with my church family and take in the hugeness of how God has blessed me this past year.

I walked through the door when I got home from church, and Matt was standing at the kitchen island with a whisk in his hand and a big bowl of Funfetti batter. My love of that cake with the funny little candies is quite ironic given the fact that I can't stand white cake OR white icing... but somehow those tiny little colorful gems add a flavor I can't resist. He baked the cupcakes and I iced them, and we both licked the spoon.

We went to dinner that night and I savored the shrimp tacos and grilled zucchini I had been craving all week. I held my husband's hand, looked over at my baby girl smiling up at me, blew out the candle in my cupcake and thought to myself... if next year holds half as much joy as this year I'm pretty sure my heart might burst...

It was a very happy birthday...

Five for Friday

2010-09-24T10:58:00.005-05:00

Today's Five for Friday feels a little different. I found out yesterday that the mom of one of my childhood friends has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma (a very serious bone cancer). My first reaction was to be gripped with fear because the enemy loves to use that to attack me. But a song came to mind, and with its words I could feel my fear fading and my God reigning. The song is by Billy and Cindy Foote, and it's actually the song that Matt and I walked down the aisle to after we were married... here are the words...

Sing to the King Who is coming to reign
Glory to Jesus, the Lamb that was slain
Life and salvation His empire shall bring
And joy to the nations when Jesus is King

Come, let us sing a song
A song declaring that we belong to Jesus
He is all we need
Lift up a heart of praise
Sing now with voices raised to Jesus
Sing to the King

For His returning we watch and we pray
We will be ready the dawn of that day
We'll join in singing with all the redeemed
'Cause Satan is vanquished and Jesus is King

That last line is my favorite!  Recently, whenever I've been gripped by fear,
I've started singing that line out loud at the top of my lungs!

In light of all that, I am going to enjoy every last moment of this day! 

I am going to...

1. kiss my husband an extra time
2. hold my baby girl an extra moment
3. tell my family how much I love them
4. soak up the feeling of fall in the air
5. and worship my Savior like never before

That's my Five for Friday this week.  Thank you, Lord, for changing my life!

Gleeza!!!

2010-09-21T15:59:00.004-05:00

What do you get when you add one delicious, bubbly pizza with the season premiere of Glee? A SUPER fun night with my hot hubby! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

p.s. pizza is way more fun when you eat it picnic style on the living room floor. just an idea! :)

p.s.s. yes, we are so nerdy that we gave our in-home date nights a name... all the credit for the creative genius of Gleeza goes to said hot hubby :)

Positive

2010-09-20T22:07:00.002-05:00

One year ago today...

I was hosting a lingerie shower for one of the staff girls who was getting married in October. We had some of my favorite foods... little ham, poppy seed sandwiches, spinach artichoke dip and a delicious chocolate cake. I barely picked at my food (which, if you know me at all, is VERY strange).

That night, after all the girls left, I took a pregnancy test and sure enough there was a faint pink line. My heart jumped... I was scared, excited, nervous... would this be the time? would I get to hold this baby in my arms?

You turned my wailing into dancing. You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for showing me joy like I have never known before. Thank you for our precious baby girl.

Five for Friday

2010-09-10T10:31:00.004-05:00

With all the hoopla of the Overton football game and family coming in town, I missed Five for Friday last week :(

But not this week!

1. I am amazed at my new-found "girlieness". When I was pregnant, I had a hard time envisioning a world of pink and ruffles, but lo and behold I have fallen in love with it! So much so that I'm making Lydia a lavender tutu... the ultimate in girlie ;)

2. Friday afternoons/evenings are my favorite part of the week! Matt gets off on Fridays at 11, so we go to the library, Sonic Happy Hour, run errands together, go out to eat... so fun!

3. I've been reading Captivating by John and Stasi Eldridge. Numerous people have recommended it to me, but I had never actually read it. Turns out I even had it in a stack of books in my garage (who knew?) so I started reading it. So far, I'm really liking it!

4. Bama plays Penn State on Saturday which means my heart will be palpitating at a frightening rate come Saturday. I've told myself that I am not going to get as emotionally involved this year, but let's be honest... I tell myself that every year! But at least this year I have an adorable little girl in her Bama cheerleader outfit to make me smile, win or lose!

5. I got a new pair of boots last week when Matt and I went shopping on our date night! I can't wait until it gets a little cooler so I can wear them! I <3 boots!

Happy Friday and Roll Tide!

Poboys, Beignets & Celebrating Five

2010-09-06T21:08:00.002-05:00

So excited! We just booked our hotel in New Orleans for our 5th anniversary trip! I'm already dreaming of a crawfish poboys, iced cafe au lait and beignets and the sound of jazz music drifting past my ears... can't wait to celebrate five years of being married to my best friend! Yippee!!!

Fly Me to the Moon

2010-09-02T22:42:00.003-05:00

On Monday I had a slight meltdown (and by meltdown I mean... snapped at my sweet husband while on the kitchen floor scrubbing the grout while my head throbbed with a sinus infection from the delightful ragweed that decided to bloom early).

And then, on Tuesday, my fellow cohort in control issues (we're both getting better!), Amber, told me about a woman called FlyLady. She is the guru of all things clean, orderly and organized, and every day she will send you an email giving you a few tasks to do that day. I have only been doing it for a couple days, and I can already see a HUGE difference. I can only imagine the impact if I stick with it long-term. Of course, I guess that means I'll have to say goodbye to my current method of cleaning which is what I like to call the oh-my-goodness-friends/family-are-coming-over-and-I-must-do-something-about-this-train-wreck-of-a-house. Such a shame, I thought I was really on to something with that plan...

I'll keep you posted on my progress. As for tonight, my sink is shining :)

Timing

2010-09-01T13:51:00.003-05:00

Just got home a little while ago from lunch with one of my most favorite people, Heather Hagood Bruce (because we southern girls just love using our full names whenever possible :) We talked about a lot of things... our hearts are quite heavy for some people we know who are going through BIG trials right now. As we were talking, she reminded me of my priority time this morning...

I had just written on the last page of my current journal, and I was fishing around in my stack of books and journals in the bedroom hoping that I had another blank one. I didn't, but I did start looking through old journals and I stumbled upon these words from September 7, 2009 (right about this time last year). We were days away from the due date of our first baby (who I think was a girl) and it had been a few months since we lost our second baby (who I think was a boy) You have to know how far God has brought me for me to be this vulnerable on a public blog, but He is the Giver of Hope, and I pray that He will use my pain and joy to bring others hope...

September 7, 2009
Father, will it ever get easier? Will I ever miss them less? My heart hurts so much knowing how close we would be to her delivery date or how I would be in the second trimester with him. I miss them so much, Father. I feel like I'm losing hope, giving up, unsure if I'll ever hold a precious baby in my arms. I miss them so much, Father. So much that my heart hurts inside. I just wish I could know what your will is... wish I could see a glimpse of the future... wish I could see a little encouragement, Lord. It's hard, really hard for me. I miss them so much.

All I can say today... almost one year later... is THANK YOU, LORD!!! Your timing is so sovereign because even as I wrote these words... even as I was losing hope... I was already pregnant (even though we wouldn't know it for a couple more weeks) with our sweet Lydia. I have clung to a verse that Mary clung to as she carried our Savior, "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished." I knew God was going to make me a mom in His own perfect way. In the midst of my pain and longing, God was already working, shaping, growing the baby girl inside me that He would give me to hold in my arms. And I know He is holding our other two babies until we are all united one day. Father, You are incredible and You leave me in absolute awe...

For all the people my heart is heavy for, I pray with hope knowing that our God is awesome and nothing is impossible with Him.

Cheap Wall Art

2010-09-01T13:50:00.002-05:00

What a FUN idea for an art piece! And if you grab a few paint chips every time you go to the store, you could do this for not a lot of moola! :)

If...

2010-08-29T20:10:00.003-05:00

If I had lots of superfluous money, I would have a bouquet like this on my coffee table all the time... and maybe my dining table... and maybe my vanity... you get the idea...

Five for Friday

2010-08-27T22:22:00.002-05:00

Um, apparently I had a busy week since my last post was LAST week's Five for Friday... oops! I can't even really tell you exactly what all I did this week... but I'm sure it was VERY important! :)

1. I'm attempting to make Lydia's Halloween costume- an owl- because her daddy loves owls. I started working on it tonight, and so far I have the feathers sewn onto her long-sleeve onesie. Next, I have to make the hat (aka eyes and beak). Just in case this doesn't work out, my sister-in-law is bringing my niece's outfit from last year ;)

2. I am getting a sinus infection, which is especially not fun because I don't get to take the good drugs since I'm nursing. So, I will be self-medicating with LOTS of sleep and orange juice this weekend... I like to call it the homeopathic method ;)

3. Lydia is laughing... a real, tiny, melt your heart giggle. The joy that sweet girl brings us is beyond explanation. All I can say is, "Thank you, Lord, for letting us be her parents!"

4. We went to Germantown Commissary tonight for tamales (Matt got BBQ) and caramel cake. 2000 calories later I was one very happy girl.

5. This week was the 5th anniversary of Katrina. This week five years ago, Matt and I were scrambling to move our NOLA wedding to Jackson (which pales in comparison to what many people went through because of Katrina). We had just over eight weeks to do it, and the first two weeks internet and phone lines were down and gas was in scarce supply. Somehow, it all came together perfectly to create the best night of my life. It's hard to believe we'll be celebrating our 5th anniversary in just a couple short months. I think we are going to celebrate in NOLA with crawfish poboys and beignets... seems fitting, huh? :)

Five for Friday

2010-08-20T15:58:00.002-05:00

I am totally stealing the "Five for Friday" idea from our incredibly talented photographer, Elizabeth Wiggs.

1. Speaking of Elizabeth, we have Lyd's 3 month pictures tomorrow... THREE MONTHS?!?! I can't believe our baby girl is almost three months old already. Our oh so adorably chubby girl is full of joy, and I know Liz will capture that. I can't wait to see how the pics turn out.

2. We have discovered Papa Murphy's pizza. This take-and-bake pizza place makes fresh pizzas LOADED with all your favorite delicious toppings (veggies and pepperoni for me, all meats for Matt the carnivore) that you pick up and take home to bake. And it makes the perfect meal for Gleeza... yep, that's where we watch Glee and eat pizza on the living room floor picnic style. It's a theatrical, ooey-gooey, fun kind of night.

3. Matt and I are going on a date tonight to see Inception. Yes, I realize most of the world saw this months ago, but we've been a bit busy ;)

4. I'm majorly craving an iced cafe au lait and a beignet from Cafe du Monde... I'm inclined to blame this on the fact that we've been reading Lydia Goodnight, Nola every night.

5. I want to learn how to make my own picture frames... yeah, we'll see how that goes. Me and power tools... well, that could be a dangerous idea :)

Happy Friday!

Everywhere

2010-08-14T13:48:00.003-05:00

I'm taking a bath last night, and I look over to see that I am joined by a hot pink octopus and a turquoise turtle. The chair in our bedroom is now littered with tiny, adorable outfits waiting until someone wakes up to hang them in her room. There are burp cloths on the coffee table... hanging on the dining room chair... mixed up with the dish towels (oops!)... they're multiplying faster than rabbits!

As I look around, I can't believe how much someone who is only 25 inches long has touched every part of our house. But then again, it's like my heart... which somehow you have managed to touch every part of in a mere eleven weeks. I love you, Lydia. I love our home and our family, and I love how you have become such a special part of it.

Dreaming of...

2010-08-10T15:26:00.004-05:00

crisp temperatures, cashmere sweaters, cuddling on the couch, the sound of espn gameday on saturday mornings, pumpkin pie candles, bringing out the snuggie, switching the ac to heat, fuzzy socks, leaves in brilliant hues, roasted tomato soup, hot apple pie, measurements made in ten yard increments, the sound of yea! alabama and houndstooth in abudant supply...

fall... are you here yet?