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Friday, June 20, 2014

Beautiful Words

I had to share this with y'all. This post by Sweet Country Roots is just so profound, yet simple and truly spoke to my soul. This is how I want to live. My husband and I don't have the luxury of choosing where we want to live, so we will choose to make this our mindset, no matter where we are.  I am joining the movement towards a slower paced lifestyle and a more old-fashioned way of thinking and living. Enjoy!

I am intrigued by simplicity and the days of old. I love the thoughts of aprons around a mammas waist. The warmth of a kitchen with the enticing smells of  bread in the oven. I can see bare feet and mud pies lined in the driveway. To see feet dangling from a tree limb they just learned to climb. I can hear the static of a  radio playing in the background. It was a time when daddies walked in the door to a houseful and aromas of a homemade supper. A time when laughter was shared around the supper table and stories were told. Where kids learned their manners, how to eat what was given, and how to clean the plate. Where the food was real. It was mixed, stirred, and tasted. It was soaked, baked, and seasoned with love.

A time when you could spank your wild child then hug them after. A time when hard physical labor was a sought after character trait and the Gospel was the best story ever told. A time when they used their hands, sweat, and common sense.  Neighbors knew each other by first and last name. They were the first person you called when needing help. I love the thoughts of recipes being swapped and encouragement given. The days when being married to one person your whole life was just how it was. Back to the time when a swollen belly with life meant the marriage was content and blessed. Go back to the day when an animal was used for the good of the family, protection, not as an accessory. To go back when little boys could carry pocket knives. A time when the sports you played were all teams you formed in the backyard. When kids were called inside for supper and were filthy from a full day of play.

This is my mission.

To get back to family values and true quality of life. To live beautifully and simply and work hard to keep it that way. To slow down the pace and make something from nothing. To grow food and cook it with your own hands. To give the sweet gift of childhood to a generation that has lost it and to restore marriages back to what they are meant to be…forever.

Who wants to join me in this journey of reclaiming the best days of the past as we move forward in the future? Let us join together and show the world how to love on their husbands, children, and home. It has been placed on my  heart to reach more women in encouragement. If you feel led please share my page with others whom could benefit, like my Facebook page, and subscribe. My vision is to cut loose of unnecessary distractions and focus on all the God-given things that matter on the short time we all have.


Thursday, June 19, 2014

Thursday Randoms

1.) Oh my goodness. THIS DRESS! I just got it today, wore it today, and felt so so pretty! It just fits perfect and is the prettiest color (mine is a dark pinky purple which it looks like they don't have anymore) and just perfect for summer. It doesn't look super special but it is lovely.

2.) I got a surprise weekend with my hubby! It was so refreshing and just restored my soul. We got to meet our brand new baby nephew who is just beautiful and tiny and perfect, get lots and lots of snuggling in, slept in, cooked a yummy breakfast, watched some church, and then unfortunately had to sen him back. But the weekend just rejuvenated me and made me feel so content and blessed!

3.) Did I mention this breakfast? That was a happy husband right there!
Some homemade biscuits, both eggie-topped and butter/honey topped, and a beautiful bowl of fruit.
4.) Oh my. This just melts my heart. I can totally picture my hubby being like this with our future babes. 

5.) These just taste like summer to me. Off to Shandyland we go! 

6.) Have a great Thursday friends! One more day then the weekend! This weekend I will be attending my cousin's 5th grade graduation party. Don't you remember feeling like you were on top of the world when you were ready to go to middle school? No… just me? ok then...







What a beautiful friend day!

Read this. Right now, just read it.

#1: These are the best cinnamon rolls I've ever tasted or created. Courtesy of the one and only P-Dub… Pioneer Woman!

#2: This is probably one of the nicest collections of compliments I've been given by someone other than my husband.

#3: My friend Madi is beautiful and smart and witty and we are just two peas in a pod.



Monday, June 2, 2014

Meal Planning aka Savior of my Sanity

Confession time folks: I am a wanderer. No, I do not have that dreamy wanderlust that drives young people all over the world... I'm talking about the grocery store. Seriously, if I don't go in with a list, I will come out with a watermelon, some peanut butter, and a pack of bacon, and nothing for dinner. This girl needs a plan!


So here's the deal:
-Every Sunday after out big brunchy brunch, my hubby and I sit down with a laptop and some cookbooks and decide what's for dinner for the upcoming week. I'm working on incorporating some more variety in that plan because for a few weeks, I think we ate the same 5 things.


-While he cleans up from breakfast, I look through all the recipes for the week (some of which are in my head) and write down all the ingredients that are needed, plus some staples (like eggs and almond milk) and some other things we can have for snacks or treats.


-We load up and hit the grocery store and are surprisingly pretty good about getting only what we need.

-Since we shop at our local commissary, I don't dive much into the world of couponing. However, a couple weeks ago, Nate and I watched a lady spend $30 on like $200 worth of merchandise, so I'm tempted to try it out.


-Some people have found great success in prepping things for meals on Sundays, but since we do our shopping on Sundays, I like some lazy time between shopping and cooking Sunday dinner. Plus, I don't own enough tupperware.


-Right now, I'm not meal planning because I'm living at home, but I do search quite a few food blogs all the time. So I got the fancy pants idea of keeping a running word document with all the new recipes I've found, broken up into categories. That way, when we do get into a food rut, I can just pull one of those out and have a fab new dish for dinner!

I love this system because I don't have to figure out what's for dinner each night. I never have to dig through the fridge at 6 when we're both starving and hope I land on a delicious idea. All I have to do is look at my little listy!

Happy meal planning friends!

Friday, May 30, 2014

What's Your Perfect Day?

What would your perfect day look like? Now hold up, we aren't getting extravagant here. No jet setting to Paris, just a normal-ish day. Just picture this: You (and someone of your choosing) get the day off. What would your day look like?
My day would definitely include a whole lot of time with this guy! 
I would love to sleep in with my hubby (which is like 8am for us), get ready and go to breakfast somewhere super delish. I think my favorite is the Sheerwater breakfast buffet at the Hotel Del Coronado. Yum! Then we would either go home and take a little nappy nap and/or do something outside like take a walk on the beach or go for a hike or horseback ride. Then I would love to prep a good dinner and have some friends over for a grill out. Apparently that's southern for barbecue. There would be good drinks flowing, s'mores over the fire and some good guitar playing and singing by my fantastic hubby. Doesn't that sound wonderful?!

What does you perfect day look like?

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Thursday Randoms


1.) I have a new favorite blog (not including, of course, the people who have blogs that I'm actually friends with.... like in real life…not cyberspace). Anywho, this is chick Jessica from How Sweet It Is and she is just the most fabulous lady ever. All of her photos and recipes look beautiful and I have been blog binging on all her stuff
for about a week! She does "Tuesday Things" which I always love reading so I'm jumping on board with "Thursday Randoms."

2.) I love love love this dress! I wear it to work all the time and I always feel so sophisticated and cute when I do. It's conservative, but super flattering and I love the little flare of the skirt! I usually wear it with black flats and a gold sparkly belt.

3.) This song came on the radio the other morning when I was coming home from the gym and it really resonated with me. It reminded me that we are all on a journey and that journey is set by God. God has great things planned for us, and I know I need to calm my mind and let God work in me.

4.) I am dying for some trashy frozen yogurt right now. You know, like a mess of yogurt piled with random toppings. Oh yeah. Trashy all the way.

5.) I took this selfie of my sock bun the other day at work (does it count as a selfie if it's of your back?). I am currently undecided on the hairstyle. I have so darn much hair that it makes a gigantic bun, and I kind of feel like I have a prom up-do going on up there. PS…see above outfit in the selfie.



6.) I really want a jeans jacket/vest. Are those still in? Also a knee length flowery skirt. I am a grandma at heart.

7.) I love this water bottle from Target and I could probably write a song about how much I love this thing. I fill it up at least twice a day at work and it helps me drink at least 64oz of water. Plus it's cute!

8.) I love all the "back to your roots" kind of country music that has been coming out lately. Songs like Tim McGraw's "Meanwhile Back at Mama's" and Miranda Lambert's "Automatic" call for a slower paced life, where you enjoy the little things. That's the kind of life I hope to lead, no matter where I'm living. See my life plan here.

Have a great weekend friends! I would love to hear what y'all are up to. Comment back or send me an email!

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Update! Update! Read all about it!


Today, a lady in the department that I used to work in was sick and I happen to know her job, so it was a flash back to a slower paced day. But it did give me a chance to write, which I haven't done in forever!

Random update:
Everything is good and pretty darn normal.  I haven't seen my hubby in a few weeks (boo!)but we always have some pretty darn good adventures when he comes home (and lots of yummy food of course). A few weekends ago, we took some of my hubs' friends that he works with on their first Disneyland adventure! I love seeing the faces of people
who are experiencing the Happiest Place on Earth for the first time. However, we did have some 20 something year old complaining fellas by the end of the night. Poor little sore feet!
   
The next weekend Nate was home, we needed a little rest so that included some homemade chili, watching Frozen, a nice long nap, and just some great quality time together. Ahh I need some of that right about now!

We are gearing up for our move back down south... not quite physically preparing yet, but just in the planning stages. We are planning on living with some friends for a while so we can find our perfect home together and we can actually physically see it, not just in pictures. Good plan.

I've been going to the gym at 5:30am. Yes, I know, I'm nuts. But I'm always so tired after I'm done with work and I never want to go, so when my alarm goes off at 4:40am, I just tell myself "I'm going to be tough like Nate and get up and get it done." I'm pretty tired by the end of the day, but I'm always glad I got up and went.

I think that's all my updates for the time being!


PS... Check out my girl Madi's (seriously y'all, we're like sisters) blog Homegrown Hostess. She's pretty much the most fabulous thing out there.