Recipe love.

Unfortunately cooking each night is a mandatory thing, so to help keep it spicy in my kitchen, I love to try out new recipes.  My goal is to try 1-3 new dishes a week... it keeps us on our toes so we don't fall in the routine of eating the same thing.

I love when people do things like this, so here are a few recipes from Pinterest that we've tried and really enjoyed.  

Source: sixsistersstuff.com via Megan on Pinterest

We LOVE these... one of my favorite things to throw in the crock pot before church and come home to. So easy!

Source: recipe-diaries.com via Megan on Pinterest

A yummy weight watchers recipe... even my hubby liked these.

Source: afarmgirlsdabbles.com via Megan on Pinterest

One of my favorite Pinterest finds... I accidentally doubled the pasta the first time I made it, which made the soup VERY thick, which made Tyler happy since he's not a huge soup lover.

Source: tidymom.net via Megan on Pinterest

Not much to say, other than yummy.

Source: whataboutpie.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

Another one of our favorites... these are EASY and good.

Source: pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

Oh my, another good one.  This also makes a very large batch, so I could easily cut this in half for our family... but we love the leftovers.

Source: melskitchencafe.com via Megan on Pinterest

I think I've only made these once, but we liked them.

Source: recipegirl.com via Megan on Pinterest

Ahhhh... my "go to" breakfast when we have guests.  SO rich, but SO good.

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Megan on Pinterest

Another "go to" of mine... if I ever bring you a meal, this is what it will most likely be.  It is easy to double and keep half for our family, and give the other half to someone who needs it!

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Megan on Pinterest

Not for the vegetarians or dieters.  :)  We add pepperjack cheese and mushrooms to this, and LOVE them.

Source: goo.gl via Megan on Pinterest

A fun twist on Mexican/taco night.  I loved these, Tyler thought they were just okay... but he doesn't really like tacos to begin with.

Source: tandriantastytidbits.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

Really really really enjoyed this one.  Next time I'll cut the recipe in half, because the leftovers weren't great.

Try out some of these recipes and let me know what you think!

What about you... have you found anything good to eat lately?  You know me... always on the look-out for something new!  Ha!

Cute boys + A giveaway

Just a few weeks late to show you my cute boys at Easter...

How does that saying go...  Better late than never?

We had a really fun Easter day at my Sister's house this year... her first time to host! I told her she didn't have to do an egg hunt for my boys and she replied totally appalled, "What kind of Aunt would I be if I didn't have one!?!?"

Apparently the Indian-style parka was also a necessity.

She makes me laugh.

 

 

Chocolate covered mouth's make the best pictures, don't they?


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A friend of mine just started up her own Etsy business, Life Well Lived, and has offered to give away a custom printable invitation OR printable recipe cards to one of my readers!

How cute are these?!

I'm in love with this Anthro-inspired shower invitation...

And an outdoor BBQ... how fun would that be this summer!

To see more of their work, check out their etsy page!

To enter, simply go to Facebook and "like" their page, Life Well Lived...
Then leave me a comment saying you did just that... super easy! 

The winner will receive 1 printable invitation design OR set of printable recipe cards of your choice.  The invitations are perfect for the next bridal/baby shower, kids birthday, etc that you are throwing!

Giveaway ends next Thursday, May 10.


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My parents subdivision holds a HUGE garage sale each year that is so very chaotic but so much fun.  I have been busy all week prepping for that... I have LOTS of stuff to sell that has been in storage for a couple years  now.  You know when you have a big house how you buy stuff just to fill it up?  And then you move to a smaller house and realize how silly it is to keep all that stuff?  Yep... lots of items to sell.  :)

I need to finish my laundry, say a little prayer that everything fits in my car, and load it up to go.

What about you ... what are you up to today?

Marriage retreat.

re·treat: 

a place of refuge, seclusion, or privacy.

It hasn't been long since Tyler and I got away for an evening.  Just a couple months ago we stayed downtown for a "Staycation", and while we thoroughly enjoyed that night away, this one felt much different.


Friday night we arrived at the hotel to check-in and pretty quickly joined up with our group from church.  The leaders gave some quick instructions, handed out our packets, and sent us on our way... to be alone for the night.  Best.idea.ever.  The leader commented saying she always hated going on retreats or conferences and never getting any alone or "down" time with her spouse, so we were running things differently this time around.  Right on, lady.

Tyler and I decided to find a coffee shop.  It's one of my favorite places on earth... find a quiet corner, a cup of joe, and I'm good for hours on end.  Our only "task" Friday night was to do some homework, which I gladly obliged.  My husband isn't much of a DEEP talker, so it's pretty rare that we get to sit and have some GOOD heart to heart conversation that isn't fueled by a need to make decisions, or by something that happened.  The type of conversations we had all weekend long were solely fueled in love, and genuine concern for each other and our marriage. 

Saturday was spent in sessions with the group, but there was so much time reserved for talking one-on-one as well.  We reminisced about the past... one of my favorite sections of the workbook was taking a trip down memory lane.  We talked about the present, we prayed for forgiveness.  Another favorite session of mine was when we affirmed and encouraged each other... hello my love language!  And most importantly, the couple hours we spent studying and discussing where God is in our relationship was eye-opening and challenged us to be better.  Honestly?  There wasn't a single part of the retreat that I didn't like or didn't gain something from.  

We were away from distractions.

Away from stress.

Away from worry.

Away from responsibility.

Away from interrupted conversations.

I love the way that God showed up and met us where we are.  He not only spoke to us individually, but together in our relationship as well.  I love the illustration used that without God in our triangle, we are simply a straight line.  He is the core of our relationship... and as our wise Pastor reminded us, the safest place to be in your spouse's heart is number two, with God being first.

I can't say it enough what a great time we had. 

Do you even know how many times we raced each other to the car?!

It was child-like fun, all weekend long.

Also, a huge...huge...HUGE thank you to my brother and his wife (and kids!) for hanging out with our boys.  There are not sufficient words to thank you enough... for loving us and helping us any time we need it. 

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Cohen - 18 months.

I know every post of mine about the boys growing up begins with "how did this happen" and "time goes too quickly".  I hate cliche sayings as much as the rest of you, but those 2 statements will always ring true.

Cohen Michael,
Today you are 18 months old... 1.5 years old... inching closer to 2 every day.  It feels impossible, yet it feels like you've been in our family all along.  You make me smile on a daily basis and your laugh is one of the most contagious I've heard.

You and Jaxon are really starting to play together.  Every morning as I get you out of your crib, you point and say "ah?", which I know means you want to see your brother.  I carry you down the hallway as your legs start squirming out of my arms the closer we get to Jax.  As soon as you see him, your smile appears and again, with the "ah?", so that Jaxon will acknowledge you.  Then your day with him begins, at his side.  You are a train lover which I'm positive is a direct effect that your brother has had on you.  You are his side-kick.  If he is in time-out, so are you, by your choice only.  If he has been sent to his room, you are outside his door waiting for him to come out.  If he's napping while you're awake, you knock on his door.  Long gone are the days of different meals or drinks for you boys.  You have to have whatever Jaxon has, fork and all.  Of course this means fights between the two of you have also began, but of course that is inevitable.  One of these days I know I'll find you guys wrestling and won't be able to do anything about it.

(WAY overdue for a haircut at Easter time)

You're also a huge fan of your Daddy.  You cry when he leaves a room and jump up and down (or try to!) when he gets home from work.  That's alright.... he's a really great guy and I'm so glad you love him as much as you do.  I happen to think you'll always be a Momma's boy deep down.

Your vocabulary primarily consists of "ah... ah??... ah!!" for everything, and once in a while we'll get a "Mama" or "Dada" out of you.  I have always heard that the second child speaks quicker than the first one did, but that's definitely not the case in our family.  Jaxon was pretty delayed in his speech, and I haven't figured out yet if you're going to be that way as well, or if you're just extremely stubborn.  Time will tell.

You have a huge love/hate relationship with dogs.  You get excited about them from a distance, but get nervous/scared once they get close.  You would spend all day every day outdoors if I allowed, and start yelling from excitement if I announce we're going bye-bye.  You are extremely attached to your monkey, and of course your binky and blanket as well.  You can follow almost any direction I give you, such as "go get your shoes" - "can you throw that away?" - "go find your monkey!" - "go put this away, please." - etc.  You love to give hi-5's to anyone who asks for one, as well as kisses and hugs, and wow... you are a dancin' machine!  I love your tender and sweet heart, although you definitely have an ornery side to you as well.  Your nickname quickly became "honey badger" and if anyone has seen the youTube video, they know why.

Probably the most "unique" thing about you right now is how you LOVE to stuff things down your pants or shirt.  We find your binky in the foot of your jammies frequently, and any time food quickly disappears, it's because it's in your pants or down your shirt.  You love to stuff toys down there as well, and think it's the funniest thing when they fall out as you start walking.

This is one of my favorite stages, as you are becoming more independent but yet still want & need Mommy. You are discovering new things each day, and I love how your personality is really starting to shine.  You are officially a "big boy", as people constantly remind me when they see you.  One of the most frequent things I've heard lately is "he looks all grown up... not a baby anymore!"  Yes, it is true, though most days I still can't believe it.

I love you, Cohen Michael!  I am so thankful that I was chosen as your Mommy.

Blessings.

I'm sure most of you have heard this song, Blessings by Laura Story.  The first few times I loved it... the next 5,000 times I flipped the channel because it started getting old... but this morning as it came on the radio, I stopped and listened again.

"When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart - this is not our home."

"What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life

is the revealing of a greater thirst, this world can't satisfy."

If I'm honest with myself, I can see that a lot of time my "funks" come during times that I'm not being as faithful in the Word as I should be.  Once I can fully grasp that last line, "a greater thirst - this world can't satisfy"... that's where I'll find the peace and true joy I'm looking for.

This morning I took the boys to the children's museum here in town, and left an hour later carrying a yelling/screaming/whaling/kicking Jaxon, while Cohen walked beside us out to the car.  I told Tyler in tears, I really don't know if I can do this.  I have no idea what I'm doing wrong... is this horrible horrible stage ever going to end?

Then I came home and put the boys to bed, and read this article shared by my sweet friend Leah.

Jesus, thank you for always knowing exactly what I need to hear.  

3 hours until our night away at the marriage retreat!

I can't wait to be with my favorite person on the planet and hopefully have a chance to dig deep into our marriage.  My prayer this morning was that I have a OPEN heart, OPEN ears, and my defenses can go down... so I am able to really hear my husband and his heart... and anything the Lord wants to say to me as well. 

I'm confident this short break will also refresh me, as a Mommy.

I don't feel guilty about writing that, though I thought about deleting it.

"Short breaks don't make you a bad Mom, they make you a better Mom."

Or at least that's what MY Mom says, who really is fantastic.  I think she knows what she's talking about.  :)

All of that to say... thank GOD it's Friday!  Have a great weekend.