Like A Tree

Classic Chai + Spring is Coming

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 14:36:00 +0000

Spring is on its way! The birds are singing every morning and the weather is slowly getting warmer. It has been mostly overcast and rainy in Atlanta the last few weeks but I'm looking forward to all of the Spring growth that the rain will eventually bring. Daffodils and a few other flowers and trees have already begun to bloom and grow. I love the anticipation that comes with the changing of each season.

While it is getting warmer, it's still pretty chilly most days so I've been keeping warm with a double batch of my go-to chai.

Classic Chai - serves two

Ingredients

- 1 cup water

- 1 cup whole milk

- 1 cinnamon stick

- 4 cloves

- 1/4 tsp cardamom

- 1/8 tsp pepper

- 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and grated

- Pinch of salt

- 2 tbsp black tea (Assam or Ceylon)

- 1-2 tbsp honey, to taste

Directions:

1. Heat water and milk over medium heat until simmering.

2. Turn off heat and add the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, pepper, ginger, and salt. Stir to combine.

3. Cover and steep for 20 minutes.

4. Return milk mixture to medium heat until simmering. Stir often to keep it from boiling over and scalding the milk.

5. Turn off heat and add the tea. Steep for five minutes.

6. Strain chai and add honey to taste.

I generally store the chai in a jar in the fridge for no more than five days. Enjoy, friends!

Steph

Pudina Chai

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 17:05:00 +0000

One day at the coffee shop where I work, an older Indian man came in and ordered a chai latte. While he waited for it to be made, he asked if I had ever tried mint chai. I had never even heard about it. The gentleman gave me a basic recipe and, intrigued, I made a small batch a day or two later. The recipe mixes ginger, mint, honey, and tea to make a more mild and refreshing cup of chai. The ginger comes out more strongly in this recipe without the pepper and other spices to compete with it.

Pudina Chai - serves two

Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1.5 cup water
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp black Darjeeling tea

Directions
1. Heat milk and water together over medium heat until simmering.
2. Remove from heat and add ginger and mint. Cover and steep for twenty minutes.
3. Return to simmering and add tea. Remove from heat and steep for five minutes.
4. Strain tea and add honey to taste.

Enjoy!

Smoky Maple Chai

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 03:21:00 +0000

This recipe, an altered version of my basic chai, incorporates flavors and aromas of Fall. The smokiness of Lapsang Souchong black tea, traditionally smoke-dried over pinewood, brings out a fragrance reminiscent of campfires and time spent in the woods. Replacing cardamom powder with cracked black cardamom pods adds a savory, more complex spice flavor that balances the sweetness of the maple syrup. The pepper and ginger round out the recipe with the warmth of their heat, which lingers after each sip.

Smoky Maple Chai - serves two

Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 black cardamom pods, crushed
- 1/16 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp Lapsang Souchong
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup

Directions:
1, Heat water and milk over medium heat until simmering.
2. Remove from heat and add the cinnamon stick, cloves, ginger, and cardamom pods. Cover and steep for 20 minutes.
3. Return mixture to medium heat until simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
4. Add tea, stir, and steep for 5 minutes.
5. Strain chai and add maple syrup to taste.

Make a batch, grab a friend, and enjoy the season!

Steph

Tea Journal // Iced Chai + Coffee Ice Cubes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 01:46:00 +0000

My current favorite summer drink is homemade chai with coffee cubes. The combination of the sweet chai and the strong coffee makes for a very dynamic drinking experience. At first, the creamy chai is the overwhelming flavor. Slowly, the coffee cubes melt into the milky tea, mellowing out the sweetness and bringing out a new flavor combination. This particular recipe combines iced caramel chai and coffee ice cubes made with Counter Culture's Nueva Llusta. I discovered the chai recipe earlier this year on Not Without Salt and savored every warm sip of it during the Winter months. So glad to have found a way to enjoy it during the hot Atlanta summer!

Caramel Chai
adapted from Not Without Salt's recipe

2 cups milk - I used almond milk
1/4 cup raw sugar
6 peppercorns
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
3/4 tsp ground cardamom
4 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp loose leaf black tea
pinch of salt

Add the raw sugar to a small saucepan and set over medium high heat. I always use a secondhand saucepan for this recipe as caramelizing sugar has ruined one of my nice pots in the past. Caramelize the sugar by letting it melt evenly until it's a dark caramel color. Make sure to watch it closely during this stage as burning the caramel even slightly will give the chai a bitter, harsh flavor rather than a lingering sweetness.

Once the sugar has caramelized, remove the pan from heat and slowly pour the milk into the saucepan. This will harden the caramel and stop the caramelization process.

Next, heat the pan over medium low heat while adding all of the ingredients except the tea, stirring occasionally as the caramel melts into the milk.

Once the caramel has melted fully, increase the temperature to medium high, stirring often. Once it is just about boiling, remove the mix from the heat and let the spices steep in the hot milk for twenty minutes.

Return the pan to medium high heat until almost boiling, remove from heat and add the tea. Allow the tea to steep for five minutes.

Strain the chai through a fine mess strainer into a lidded container. I use a 16 oz mason jar. If you are making iced chai with coffee cubes, leave the chai to cool in the refrigerator until cold. Otherwise, it is ready to enjoy hot!

To make the coffee cubes, simply make a cup of your favorite coffee and freeze in an ice cube tray. Once the coffee is frozen and the chai has cooled, combine the two and enjoy!

Steph

Greek Yogurt with Figs + Caramel

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 02:29:00 +0000

While I was in Florida last month, my Grandmother gave me a huge carton of figs to take home. So many figs! I started looking up recipes for fig preserves right away since I knew that I wouldn't be able to eat them all before they spoiled. During my search, I found a decent preserves recipe and also came across this one for figs with Greek yogurt from The Newlywed Cookbook. Out of the three fig recipes that I tried that week, this was the only one that really complemented the fruit. Not to mention that the cold yogurt mixed with the fresh figs and buttery caramel was divine. The recipe is posted below, both for your enjoyment and (mostly) mine.

Greek Yogurt with Figs + Caramel via The Newlywed Cookbook
Ingredients: 1/3 cup packed brown sugar // 2 tbsp water // 3 tbsp cold unsalted butter // 2 cups Greek yogurt // 8 fresh figs, halved

"Combine the brown sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves completely and begins to melt into a think sauce, about 8 minutes. Decrease the heat and whisk in the cold butter til it reaches the consistency of melted caramels. Remove from heat and spoon warm caramel over swirls of Greek yogurt and fresh figs."

Yesterday, a girl at work brought in a few figs from her garden for everyone. Guess what I'm going to make with mine? :)

Steph

Father/Daughter Road Trip: PCB

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 21:29:00 +0000

A few weekends ago, my Dad and I took a road trip down to Florida to visit family for a few days. Eddie and the rest of my fam were working or out of town for the weekend so it was the perfect opportunity to take a father/daughter road trip! We left early Friday morning and got to my Grandparents' house by lunch time. We spent the afternoon lazing about, napping, and catching up with my Grandparents. While we were chatting, my Grandmother took me out to see the fruiting fig tree in the backyard.

I've been to my Grandparents' house a hundred times, played in the backyard with my sisters and cousins for years, and never knew this now-giant tree was a fruit tree. Turns out that it's a fig tree and it's branches were full of ripening figs. It was so perfect that we were there, on a semi-impromptu trip, during the few days that the tree happened to be overflowing with fruit!

My Grandma took me out to the tree with a large bowl and a hook, which she used to pull the branches lower so she could pick the fruit off. My Grandma, Aunt, and I picked bowls and bowls of figs over the next few days. I'd never tried a fig before but I loved the sweet flavor and the snackable size.

I love the obvious and tangible picture of patience and abundance that the tree painted. It was planted almost twenty years ago but has only grown fruit for the last few years. It took it's time deepening its roots, growing branches, and preparing itself to produce such an amazing harvest by soaking up the sun and the rain. It's large, green leaves that provide shade and shelter for all the animals that live around it. My grandmother can only pick what grows on the bottom branches of the tree and the birds snack on whatever grows at the top but, even still, there is so much fruit that falls from the higher branches to the ground once it's overripe.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers."

Psalm 1:1-3

My grandparents' whole backyard felt like an oasis. They have squirrels, turtles, and so many different varieties of bird that hang out in the yard. We sat out on the back patio in the morning and watched the birds eat from the bird feeders and from the fig tree. It was such a blessing to be able to spend a few days with my family!

On Friday night, we ate dinner at my Grandparents' neighborhood clubhouse. We had a tasty seafood dinner and watched the sun go down over the bay. At sunset, a guy set off a mini cannon to sound off the end of the day.

We couldn't leave without going to the beach at least once! We spent a few hours at St. Andrew's on Saturday, walking by the water. It was drizzling most of the time and the water was an uncommon light green color because of huge amounts of seaweed floating near the shore. We walked down to the pier, watched for fish and sea turtles, and saw a few sweet beach weddings getting set up.

So thankful for the time we got to spend in Florida. I thought it would be a crazy whirlwind since we only had a few days but they were a few of the most restful days that I've had in a while!

Steph

Quiet Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 02:03:00 +0000

This morning Eddie and I slept in and went to the late service. The service stirred up a lot of thoughts and sparked deep conversations which we shared over a bowl of pho and a couple of bahn mi sandwiches. We spent the afternoon in relative quiet, processing and thinking through a lot. Digging deep into relationships and truly investing in the lives around me has been a challenge. I find that I stay on the surface with relationships, attempting to hold together a clean and presentable exterior, rather than diving into the uneven, sometimes messy areas of life with honesty and authenticity. I want to pursue the Lord, my husband, my path in life with a raw vulnerability, unafraid of emotion and conflict or strain.

Striving for a deeper level of vulnerability, authenticity, and honesty this week. At home, at work, in the quiet place.

Vanilla Chai + Life Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Last week I made my first attempt at vanilla chai. Pretty good for a first try but the recipe needs some tweaking. I loved the flavor combination of the cardamom and vanilla but it wasn't quite as spicy as I would have liked. Next time I'll add more pepper, possibly some ginger, and will even out the milk to water ratio.
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I recently left my job at the asian-style tea shop where I worked for a year to take two new positions that I am quite ecstatic about. I've started an internship with a local organization that provides scholarships for young women in India and began training at a new coffee shop, as well. The coffee shop uses a portion of it's annual proceeds to support international aid projects and job creation programs. These jobs require different skill sets from me but they feel very intertwined. They are similar in that they both exist to empower and support humanity on a global scale as well as to foster community and growth here in Atlanta.

I'm looking forward to getting into the swing of things with both positions. It's been a hectic weekend trying to get my schedule and specific responsibilities ironed out but the final details are coming together!

Here's to a smooth + productive week!

Steph

Room Details

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 14:00:00 +0000

I took a few photos of our bedroom after cleaning it over the weekend. Because we share a house, our bedroom is the only room that we can really customize on our own. I love the details spread around the room that make our space so personal. Instax photos of our wedding day, people we love, and places we've traveled. Visual encouragements and little trinkets that we've gathered over the last few years.

I'm so thankful for this space and the beautiful light that it gets during the day. I plan on living with the windows wide open once the warm weather is here to stay!

Steph

Iced Chai + Salted Oatmeal Cookies with Dark Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 14:00:00 +0000

Lately I've been experimenting with homemade spiced chai recipes. I've made a handful of small batches, adding and subtracting different spices, testing different kinds of milk, and playing around with steeping methods. This weekend, I made a fresh batch and I think I'm quite close to perfecting the recipe! I'll post my version as soon as I nail it down.

While the chai steeped, I pulled out a recipe I found online a while back for salted oatmeal cookies with dark chocolate. So. Good. I love oatmeal cookies but rarely eat them because they're usually paired with raisins. Ick. These are the perfect blend of oatmeal and chocolate with a slight salty kick to them. I'll definitely be making them again!

Here's to a handful of more sunny days full of iced chai and sweet treats!

Steph

Life Lately

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:00:00 +0000

Happy Monday, friends! Here are a few snapshots from the last few weeks via Instagram and my phone archives:

My sweet man during a coffee break on a Saturday walk

Group shot during our girls trip to SC to see my cousin!

Slowly reading through the pile of books next to my bed.

Afternoon ice cream with my sisters

The last few Saturdays have been spent walking the Beltline and through Piedmont Park

Sunshine behind Ponce City Market

Post-work bubble tea

Overwhelming hints of the coming of Spring

Snacks + Coffee by the river on my day off

Pre-hair cut selfie.

Early Spring cleaning. Beautiful light, open windows, and the sounds of nature in our urban backyard.

We had guests this week and they brought tulips

Sunshine + homemade chai

Sunset in our backyard. Trees, birds, skyscrapers, and planes.

Amicalola Falls Sister Date

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:00:00 +0000

On Valentine's Day, my sister and I took a day trip to North Georgia to explore and hike a little bit. I had the day off of work, my love was ice fishing in Minnesota, and I hadn't had much one-on-one time with Court lately so it worked out perfectly! We drove an hour and a half north, stopping for a coffee break on the way to talk and to check out a new coffee shop.

The snow that remained from the latest winter storm made the scenery on the drive up even more beautiful! It also kept most people from venturing out to the state park and we had the place to ourselves most of the time. The path up to the falls was still icy and slippery in some places and we had fun trying not to slip as we slowly made our way up.

After hiking, we stopped for an early dinner at a tasty little burger joint in Dahlonega before heading up to watch the sunset. It was cloudy so the view of the sunset was minimal but the view of the snow covered mountains was gorgeous. Snow in the South is such a rare occurrence and I'm glad that Courtney and I took a day to drive up and adventure through it a little bit!

It was also sweet to be able to spend a good amount of time with my sister. Our schedules don't often match up with work, school, and a thirty minute drive between us. I'm thankful that we had a day to ourselves!

Steph xo

Snow Days

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 21:34:00 +0000

Round two of the Atlanta snowstorms is starting to wrap up. The snow and sleet that fell over the last few nights is melting and sliding off of the roof in big bunches. Two days of snow meant two days of no work and I didn't mind it a bit. Eddie worked from home and our housemates were home for the most part, as well.

A few highlights from our days stuck in the house:

- Tackling my to-do lists rather than going to work.
- Reading a few books that I'm trying to finish.
- Watching the Winter Olympics.
- Tea and coffee for two days straight.
- Impromptu movie night with my love.

- We have a beautiful view of a handful of huge trees from our bedroom window and every naked branch was lined with snow this morning.

- Eddie woke me up this morning with a warm chocolate croissant and a cup of milk. He got up before he had to work to loves me
- Seeing Eddie throughout the day. I love having him home!
- Hanging with our roommates. Pizza night tonight!

Steph

Snow + Atlanta = Atlantartica

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 15:00:00 +0000

This past week, we got snow in Atlanta! Fluffy, white, beautiful snow. It started snowing around noon on Wednesday and within two hours, the city had a meltdown. Once the snow began, schools and offices decided to close early and everyone started heading home. By around one, traffic on every major highway in Atlanta was completely stopped. The huge influx of people plus the icy, unsalted roads made for the worst traffic situation imaginable.

The state was so poorly prepared for the snow. My Mom and sister sat in traffic for over twelve hours on a drive that should have taken maybe thirty minutes. A few friends weren't able to make it through the traffic and ice, abandoned their cars in empty lots, and walked 5+ miles home. Schools had students spending the night and stranded motorists unable to find an open hotel room slept in stores like Home Depot or CVS.

Thankfully, my husband, housemates, and I didn't get stuck in the horrendous traffic. We definitely experienced the perks of living within walking distance of everything the past few days. While everyone was stranded on the highway, we were cooking a big dinner, playing in the snow, and trying to believe what we were seeing on the nightly news. We listened to news anchors and weather people lay into the state and city government as they covered the ongoing story. The roads weren't salted, most schools were kept open, and no plan was executed to keep the state functioning well in weather that the South is not accustomed to.

In the midst of the mess, though, so many encouraging stories came out. People living near the highways brought snacks, water, and hot drinks to stranded drivers. Truckers shared gas with people who couldn't move through traffic to get to a gas station. A Facebook group connected people with others willing to house perfect strangers for the night. The good in people being played out in such generous ways was the overwhelming highlight of the whole ordeal.

The snow and ice lasted less than two days but I'm sure people will talk about this for quite a while longer!

Steph

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 02:26:00 +0000

Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, friends! Hope you had a sweet holiday season.

Steph

Fall Traditions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:00:00 +0000

What happens when you find out that your housemates have a fire pit in the basement? Impromptu Fall extravaganza on the back porch, of course! Dinner out back, s'mores, pumpkin carving, roasted pumpkin seeds, and hot apple cider.

Happy Monday, friends! What was the highlight of your weekend?

Steph

Bonfires + S'mores + Cocoa

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 02:16:00 +0000

Spent Friday night at my parents' house roasting marshmallows and hotdogs and sipping on hot cocoa. Happy Fall memories!

I Remain Confident of This

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 01:34:00 +0000

Apple spice oatmeal + pumpkin chai latte + morning quiet time

The majority of the last week and a half was spent at the hospital with family. Such a range of emotions was felt over that time! Frustration, peace, sorrow, joy, weariness, thankfulness, worry...hope. God's presence was so tangible in a time when my family and I were in the throes of uncertainty. I am so thankful for the network of friends and family that covered us in prayer during that time and continue praying through the healing process that is ahead. Family came to town and friends came out of the woodwork with love, encouragement, prayer, and so many goodies. Muffins, chocolate, caramel apples, coffee, and more.

But the best thing of all: His presence. The burning in my chest at 3 a.m. telling me that He is with us and sees the situation better than we do. The peace in the midst of bad news that said, "Don't give up yet." And the good news that followed which the doctors just could not explain.

I meditated on Psalm 27 a lot during the week and clung to the last few verses. God is good not only in the next life but also in the present one and I'm thankful that we got to watch his goodness unfold over the course of the week. We're all home now, resting and recovering. The healing process is underway and, even if it's a long process, I'm trusting the Lord with it. He really does know what he's doing way better than we do.

Psalm 27

"The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me,

it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;

he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me;

at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;

I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

Teach my your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me,

spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Steph xo

Summer Instax + Season Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 01:59:00 +0000

Happy Fall! I'm already diving headfirst into all things autumnal...hot tea, sweaters, and other cozy things...even though it's still consistently ninety degrees out. Now that it's officially a new season, though, it's about time that I post on Summertime. This week will highlight a few of the trips and big events that happened over the last few months. Road trips, a wedding, friend visits...we had such a full season!

Here are a few instax that I took over the summer:

Chattanooga, TN.

Post 4th of July fireworks!

Seaside, FL

What was the highlight of your summer and what are you most looking forward to this fall?

Steph

Sunset Walks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 02:23:00 +0000

Since moving into the city, Eddie and I have spent a good chunk of time on the Beltline, a path near our neighborhood. It's so fun to walk the path, watch the sunset, and spend time with each other, friends, and family. Here are a few pictures from one of our recent walks with one of my sisters:

I love our new neighborhood and all the restoration that is going on in and around it!

Hope you all are having a good week,

Steph

The Girl with a Pearl Earring + Date with Mum

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 09 Sep 2013 13:00:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, before the moving frenzy began, my Mom and I went to an event at the High Museum of Art downtown Atlanta. The museum is currently hosting a collection of paintings from the Mauritshuis, the Royal Art Museum in the Netherlands. The main feature of the exhibit is the famous Dutch painting by Johannes Vermeer called the Girl with a Pearl Earring. In honor of the artist, the event was called Vermeer with a Schmear. The museum, which usually opens at ten, opened the exhibit at eight and served bagels with cream cheese and coffee. All of this and the tickets were half price! Win.

I was really looking forward to going to the event and it didn't disappoint! It was a good excuse to get up and get downtown early on my day off and was such a fun thing to do with my Mom! The coffee and bagels were very filling and the museum wasn't crowded at all. Best of all, the art was amazing. The paintings and the history behind them was incredible. We saw 30+ paintings by a variety of Dutch painters, including Vermeer and Rembrandt. I would definitely recommend the exhibit and would go again if I had the chance!

After leaving the museum, my Mum and I wandered through a couple of shops downtown before meeting up with Eddie for lunch in our new neighborhood. It was such a sweet way to end the morning and a great way to kick off our move into the city! Eddie and I began moving that afternoon and finally turned in the keys to the apartment this past weekend.

Here's to many more city adventures!

Steph

Video: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 17:30:00 +0000

Hollywood Beach, Florida - November 2012

I'm currently playing this song by Hillsong United on repeat. I love the imagery and the truth woven in every word. The uncertainty in life is real but the reality of the presence of the Lord, of the Spirit, is even more real. Standing on this reality as Eddie and I step into this new season of life. I'm looking forward to digging deeper into life and community, to drawing nearer to the Father's heart.

Hillsong United- Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

"You call me out upon the waters, the great unknown, where feet may fail.
And there I find You in the mystery, in oceans deep, my faith will stand.

And I will call upon Your name, and keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours, and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, You've never failed, and You won't start now

And I will call upon Your name, and keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours, and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.
Let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior"

Steph xo

Celebrating My Love

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 02:46:00 +0000

Yesterday was Eddie's birthday! We spent the day eating, going to church, eating, exploring the city, hanging out...and eating. It was a really relaxing, fun day of celebrating Eddie and all that he is. I'm so thankful for him. The longer we're married, the more I know about him and the more I love him. Can't imagine life without this man!

Here's a quick rundown of our day and the yumminess that it contained!

Breakfast: whole wheat + Nutella waffles with homemade maple syrup, chocolate chips, and blueberries. The weather was gorgeous so we ate out on the back porch in the heat. Taking advantage of the space before it starts to get cold out!

Recently, my cousin brought us some homemade maple syrup from my uncle's farm in Ohio and I've been looking for any excuse to make waffles or pancakes so we can use it! It's thinner and a little less sweet than store bought syrup, which I love.

Lunch: After church, we had brunch at a local restaurant called Parish with my family. Since moving downtown, Eddie and I have been exploring the area and checking out local restaurants. This place has a southern version of Eggs Benedict, burgers, fresh madeleines...it was pretty tasty!

Dinner: Homemade polenta + shrimp + bacon + parmesan cheese. Eddie gave this meal a 10/10! I combined two recipes to make it (one, two) and it turned out really well. The sweetness of the fresh-off-the-cob corn plus the saltiness of the shrimp cooked with bacon made for a really rich and flavorful meal. Definitely saving this one!

Wrapped up the night with chocolate chip cookies! I wasn't joking when I said we ate all day long. We spent the evening in the new house, not unpacking for a change. Just cooking, goofing off, and enjoying the last of the day. Loved celebrating my man and his life!

Love you, Eddie xo

Steph

We're Moving + Cold-Brewed Tea Infusion

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 03:28:00 +0000

This weekend, Eddie and I are packing up to move out of our first apartment. Ah! We're moving to a house downtown Atlanta with some friends, which we're pretty excited about and have been anticipating since the beginning of the summer. We're looking forward to living in community with other believers and to being more intentional with our time, space, money, and relationships.

We moved the majority of our stuff downtown today, with the help of our amazing family and friends and a U-haul the size of our whole apartment. It took only a few hours and, thankfully, went really smoothly!

Our space in the house is starting to come together already, even though we have quite a lot left to do. We're transitioning from a two bedroom apartment of our own to a house that is already mostly furnished, so we've been going through our things and simplifying.

Eddie and I are back at the mostly empty apartment tonight for what is probably going to be our last overnighter here. Even though we've known that this move was coming for the last few months and have slowly been packing up, the transition didn't feel real until this morning. I'm ready to move on to a new adventure but there's still that part of me that is anxious to hold on to the familiarity of life as it has been and the comfort (and control) that came with it. I know, though, that the Lord will use this new season to stretch, shape, and reshape both Eddie and me. I'm expectant for what He has for us during our time in Atlanta. He is so good and my heart is so full. I'm thankful that He has paved our way into the city and goes with us on this new adventure.

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On a totally unrelated note, here's the recipe for my current drink of choice: cold-brewed Ceylon black tea infused with mint. I'm trying to get in as much cold-brewed tea as I can before Summer officially slips away. The softer tea taste that cold-brewing provides with a subtle hint of mint...gooood morning to me! I love that I can prep this before bed and all I have to do in the morning is strain it and go.

What you'll need:

3 tsp loose leaf black tea

16 oz water
5(ish) fresh mint leaves, coarsely chopped
container with a lid

What to do:

1. Combine tea leaves and mint leaves in container. (I use a jar because it seals nicely and gives me the option of drinking the tea immediately after straining or resealing it and saving it for later. Win/win.)

2. Add water.

3. Place the top securely on the container and give it a good shake to mix all the ingredients together.

4. Leave to steep in the refrigerator for 8-9 hours.

5. Strain and sip away!

Steph

Chattanooga: The Camp House

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 18:00:00 +0000

On our day trip to Chattanooga, my sisters, mom, and I stumbled upon what may be my new favorite coffee shop. After meandering through an antique store behind the tea shop, we noticed a tiny sign that read 'Coffee Bar Open' and went over to check it out.

We open the door and walk into this large, renovated warehouse space with skylights and gorgeous brick walls. Coffee house heaven, you guys. I love stumbling upon awesome new places like this! Turns out the place is an Anglican church on Sunday and is open as a coffee shop during the week. And they serve Counter Culture Coffee!

Maddie grooving to the music

Even though we had just finished having tea, I couldn't leave this sweet space without getting something, so I got a decaf americano for the road.

I'm now looking for any reason to head up to Chatty to hang out at this place. Definitely check it out if you're in the city!

Steph