Enjoyer of Grace

SIMPLE CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

2013-12-29T22:51:00.004-06:00

Curry is one of my husband's favorite meals to eat. I'm always excited when I can find a new way of changing it up for him. For awhile now, I've been wanting to make tikka masala (aka creamy tomato curry) and recently found this simple recipe that didn't involve grilling or 10 different spices. With a few minor alterations, I was absolutely pleased with the results!

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. chicken thighs (bite-sized)

1 T honey

2 T ketchup

4 T Greek yogurt

2 T salted butter

1/2 medium-sized white onion (thinly sliced)

1 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes (undrained and split into two parts)

3/4 C water

1 tsp salt

2 cubes of curry sauce (S&B Golden Curry-Medium Hot)

1/2 C whipping cream

2 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce

salt to taste

*optional: hand blender

DIRECTIONS

Marinate the chicken thighs in ketchup, honey and Greek yogurt. Set aside.

Using a blender, combine one part of the diced tomatoes, water and salt until fully liquefied. Set aside.

In a large saute pan, melt the butter on medium high heat. Toss in the onions and cook until soft and lightly browned. Add in the chicken with the yogurt mixture and stir well.

Once the chicken starts to turn color, add in the tomato mixture along with the remaining tomatoes. Add in the curry cubes and stir until fully dispersed. Simmer for about 5 minutes.

*If you're not a huge fan of biting into onions like my husband, remove the chicken at this point and set it aside. With a hand blender, puree the sauce directly in the pan until smooth and then put the chicken back in.

Slowly pour in the cream and then the soy sauce. Stir well and cook until it comes back to a boil. Remove from heat and serve over rice or naan. Enjoy!

SPICED ALMOND HOT CHOCOLATE

2013-12-10T23:48:00.002-06:00

Sipping on a large mug of hot chocolate is one of my favorite things about winter. E loves it so much that he has a cup every night after dinner (we may or may not use it to bribe him into finishing his dinners). Lately, I've been trying something different than our usual Swiss Miss mix that we've been drinking for years. A good friend recently gave me a few cartons of chocolate almond milk and I've been heating that up with some regular milk and cinnamon sticks. Not only has it been a healthier alternative, we found ourselves loving it more! It's much lighter and smoother. The richness is still there, but you don't feel like your hips and rear just gained 5 pounds after a cup. ;)

The above picture includes all the ingredients I had planned to use. The only item not shown is the cardamom that I decided to add at the very last minute.

* This recipe makes enough for two!

INGREDIENTS

2 C chocolate almond milk

1 C 2% milk

2 cinnamon sticks

a pinch of cardamom

marshmallows

1/3 C semi-sweet chocolate or your favorite dark chocolate (optional)

1/4 tsp ancho chili powder (optional)

DIRECTIONS

In a large saucepan, mix together the almond milk, regular milk, cardamom and cinnamon sticks on medium high heat. Right before it starts to boil, turn the heat down to medium low and let it slowly simmer for another 5 minutes. If you like your drink richer/sweeter, melt some semi-sweet chocolate morsels or your favorite dark chocolate (yummm) on a double broiler and add it into the milk mixture as well. Once the cinnamon becomes fragrant, remove from heat and pour the drink into your mugs. Serve with some toasted marshmallows!

I decided to try making marshmallows this week. My first effort was a total and utter FAIL. Went out and got a candy thermometer this time and tried again tonight. Will find out tomorrow to see how they turned out!

WINTER UPDATE

2013-12-09T16:18:00.001-06:00

It's been surprisingly cold for us already here in Texas. We went from a week of being in the beautiful 70s to an icy cold 24 degrees all in one night. Most of us spent the last few days being iced-in; luckily we didn't lose power. Although we've been stuck inside, it's been nice to slow down for a change and the boys are LOVING having daddy at home. :)

Homemade chili and cornbread with cardamom honey butter... perfect comfort food for this kind of weather.

Spiced almond hot chocolate with marshmallows... E's daily request ;)

This is a repeat, but still enjoying this hymn as much as ever...

My God, my Portion, and my Love,
My everlasting All,
I’ve none but Thee in heav’n above,
Or on this earthly ball.
What empty things are all the skies,
And this inferior clod!
There’s nothing here deserves my joys,
There’s nothing like my God.

Be back tomorrow to share the recipe for the hot chocolate. Stay warm, everyone!

QUICK AND TASTY STEAK SALAD

2013-11-25T10:07:00.002-06:00

I never could have imagined how ~~tiring~~ different it'd be going from one child to two. For those of you who have two or more kids - major hats off to you! :) Before the days of little brother, I use to get excited about looking for new recipes and prepping for meals. These days, I'm just happy if there's something edible and healthy on the table when my husband gets home.

Lately I've been adding a lot of salads into our rotation. I forget how simple and delicious they can be. They're super versatile and can be made with so many combinations. Last week I made this yummy steak salad with a side of Trader Joe's organic tomato and roasted red pepper soup. I don't really have a recipe to share, since it was pretty much thrown together with whatever was in our fridge. But basically I use one source of protein (shredded rotisserie chicken, steak, beans, etc) and then add nuts (almonds, pecans, cashews), fruits (mandarin oranges, apples, craisins, tomato, etc.) and cheese (cheddar, parmesan, blue cheese, etc.) to the lettuce. Here's the combination I used that night in case you're curious...

INGREDIENTS
skirt steak
romaine lettuce, chopped
Roma tomatoes, sliced
honey roasted pecans
mandarin oranges
some type of sharp cheese (I used Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar), crumbled or shaved
green onions, sliced (optional)

Sauce for Steak Marinade
1/4 C reduced sodium soy sauce
1/3 C grapeseed oil
1 tsp sesame oil
1 clove of minced garlic
1/2 tsp minced ginger

***Set aside about 3 T of the sauce to drizzle on the salad (this can vary due to how much dressing you like on your salads).

DIRECTIONS
Combine and whisk together all your sauce ingredients into a small bowl. Set aside some sauce to dress the salad. Toss the marinade and the steak into a ziplock bag and let it sit for about an hour before cooking. Once it's ready, sprinkle on a generous amount of black pepper and a light sprinkle of salt on both sides before cooking. Since I don't have a grill, I just cooked it on my cast iron pan for about 3-4 minutes on each side.

Meanwhile place the lettuce and tomatoes into a salad bowl. Drizzle in the sauce and toss well. Add the remaining ingredients and lightly toss everything together. Top the salad with the steak and enjoy!

FUN AND MODERN TAKE ON DECOR!

2013-11-15T00:13:00.003-06:00

I am so excited to introduce to you Shae, the amazing designer and owner of Skoope Home! I first came across her shop a few months ago and have been loving her fun and modern take on small home goods such as pillows and prints. Here she is to share a little about herself and what her shop is all about.

* * * * * * * *

Skoope Home was born in 2011 through my love of interior decorating and fabric but has since grown into so much more. Originally the idea was to make small home goods out of modern fabrics but it has evolved into my creative baby through which I can create boldly fun conversation pieces for the home. Its not just about making decor but actually creating home accessories that make you happy. The brand is a handmade, one-woman operation from start to finish and I love every moment of it! From designing to printing and photographing to packaging, I revel in each step of the process and I hope you find something at Skoope Home that's perfect for you and your space!

For a limited time, Shae is generously offering all Enjoyer of Grace readers a 10% discount on any purchases from her shop using the promo code: SKHEOG10. Happy browsing! :)

FALL FAVORITES

2013-11-13T12:34:00.001-06:00

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Dropping in to say hi and share some of my favorite items that I've been using/eating/loving recently! It's been quite busy around here lately so I apologize for being MIA for so long. I've been working on a few projects here and there, doing a lot of end-of-the-year de-cluttering (the guys at our local donation truck know me a little too well haha), and just trying to keep up with my two little guys.

* * * * * * * *

If you want to immerse yourself with some yummy fall smells, heat up a scented wax melt on a coffee warmer. Instead of buying specialized candle warmers that cost $30, these are a lot cheaper at $10 and more versatile since you can use it for other things too.

If you're in need of some TLC and much needed down time, make yourself a cup of this delicious salted caramel chai tea. SO SO good.

My husband and I also have really been enjoying this Paris tea from Harney & Sons. We're about to stock up some more of this tasty black tea that has wonderful notes of vanilla and caramel.

Little brother just started eating solids last week. With E, I always used the Take and Toss spoons but for some reason little brother had a hard time with those. I switched to these feeding spoons from OXO and have been absolutely loving them! These spoons are super gentle on the gums and are great at scraping up all the food. He's been taking down food like a pro. ;)

I've also been eyeing these adorable pillows from Skoope Home. Shae is the super talented lady behind this amazing brand and makes her entire line of home decor herself! I especially love her "hello" and "you are loved" pillows. I'll be featuring her etsy shop later this week and sharing a special discount she's giving to all my readers. :)

Lastly, have you read this article about why marriage is not for us? Before making any assumptions, you need to read it first!

Until next time,

FAVORITES LATELY

2013-10-25T01:10:00.000-05:00

So I haven't had a whole lot of time for projects lately, but I do have some favorite items that I'd like to share with you from this month.

Folex - If you have kids or pets (or just live with someone who's really messy haha), then you probably already know about this bottle of amazing-ness. My oldest gets nosebleeds almost daily and Folex cleans it up better than anything else I've tried. I've even used it on our bedding for on-the-spot cleaning and it works great. Instead of the usual rubbing, the secret is to generously spray the stain and then soak up the stains with paper towels. It's a great deal when you buy it at Bed Bath & Beyond and use their $5 off $15 coupon.

Alpine Valley's Multi-Grain with Omega 3 - We tried this bread for the first time at Costco and was really impressed with how delicious it was for being so "healthy." It's chewier and not as dry as others that we've had. It's delicious toasted with a light spread of butter or jam!

Hario Coffee Dripper - I know I've mentioned this before, but we still love making our pour-over coffee. Every morning we use our favorite Ruta Maya Organic Medium Roast (we get ours from Costco) and mix it with a few spoonfuls of honey and frothed milk. YUM.

Are you intrigued yet? I've been really into these lately and making it for myself and E everyday. For those of you who do know about these amazing chia seeds, aren't they great?! Will be sharing more about it soon...

AND I just found out that my favorite casual shoe of all time...the Sanuk Shorty in Light Blue...has been marked down from $55 to $25 on Amazon! I've worn mine so much this past year that it's definitely time for another pair... yes I'm buying the same exact pair again. That's how much I love it!

Have any of you come across any interesting/amazing/life-changing products lately?? I'd love for you to share it with all of us!

Until next time,

KOREAN SPICY RICE CAKES + RAMEN

2013-10-21T23:43:00.001-05:00

Whenever I crave Korean food, Maangchi is always my go-to source for delicious recipes and easy-to-follow videos. Recently I've been craving this popular Korean street snack, otherwise known as rabboki. It's a delicious combination of ramen plus rice cakes in a spicy sauce. I finally had an excuse to make it last week when a good friend and I decided to hold a Pride & Prejudice marathon at my house (the A&E version of course!). We had hot tea and snacks throughout the day and then this yummy dish among some other Korean dishes for dinner. Definitely our idea of a perfect day! ;)

Being that this was my first time making this, I can happily say that it was a success. I used Maangchi's dukbokki recipe with a few alterations (i.e. the ketchup and ramen). Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

Ingredients
4 C of water
10 dried anchovies
1 lb Korean rice cakes (cylinder-shaped)
1 pack of Korean ramen
1/2 lb fish cakes
2 hard boiled eggs, shelled
1/3 C hot pepper paste
1/3 C ketchup
1 T sugar
3 stalks of scallions, cut into 3" pieces

Directions
Soak rice cakes in warm water for half an hour. Drain and set aside.

In a large sauce pan, bring water to a boil. Drop in the anchovies, turn the heat down to medium high and let it slowly boil for another 10 min. Remove the anchovies.

Add the hot pepper paste, ketchup and sugar and stir well. Add the rice cakes, fish cakes, eggs and scallions (white parts) and bring to a boil. Stirring frequently, cook for another 8 minutes or until the rice cakes have soften and the sauce has thicken. Finally break the ramen into small chunks, add it into the pan and cook for another 2 minutes. Add up to an additional half cup of water if more liquid is needed. Right before it's done, add in the remaining scallions (green parts). Serve while hot.

COFFEE TALK

2013-10-07T11:15:00.001-05:00

It's been unusually cool here in Texas and we're totally loving it. :) Although I know it's going to be short-lived, it's been a nice treat and I'm going to enjoy it for as long as I can! One of my favorite things about this time of year - besides getting to bundle up in sweaters and hoodies - are all the hot drinks that I get to enjoy again. Flavored coffees, hot apple cider, hot cocoa, hot tea, tea lattes, etc. My mouth's watering already.

So for today, I thought it'd be nice to "grab a hot drink" with you all and connect on a more personal level for a change. Shall we? :)

First off. You would see me walking in with E while carrying little brother in his car seat on my other arm. A little frazzled, but I would smile, wave hi and put in my order before coming over to you. I'd most likely be coming back with a large tea latte of some sort (probably blueberry pomegranate if we were at Coffee Bean) and a chocolate milk and banana bread for E. If we were at Dunkin' Donuts, it'd be coffee with coconut flavoring. If we were at neither, then it'd be a white chocolate mocha instead. Haha I told you I get excited about my drinks. ;)

I would put the boys down, give you a hug and ask you how you're doing. I'd tell you what a weekend it's been and how I'm still a little sore from having my wisdom teeth pulled.

E would be trying to get over his shyness and peer over to you every once in a while. Then he'd eventually get comfortable and start interrupting us so that I could help him with his banana bread and milk. Little brother would probably be asleep in his car seat.

I'd tell you how these days, I'm finding myself stopping to enjoy my boys a lot more - putting my laptop away and not taking my phone everywhere I go...

Because Facebook and most social media and I have been in a complicated relationship...most of the times I'm annoyed by them and the amount of time I waste on them.

ALTHOUGH recently a friend did introduce me to these local online garage sale groups on FB and I've been selling items on it left and right! I told you I like purging hehe.

How everyday, my husband and I are just amazed at the two little human beings we've created together and how thankful we are to the Lord for giving them to us.

How I've been intentionally using these six words with E lately and what a difference it's made...

And I'd share this article with you if you've been feeling down about motherhood.

How I've been considering lately about our state of living and how much I rather live in a small well-thought-out space with minimal items than in a large house...

And how I've been desperately needing a change and praying to the Lord about it. I know some people really don't like change and like to stay with what's comfortable, but I'm one of those people who crave change... even major changes. Can any of you relate?

But then how this verse in Philippians has been on my mind a lot lately: "Rejoice in the Lord always..." How I need to learn to be happy in the Lord and not by my circumstances.

I'd comment on how depressing TV and current news has been and reminding me just how much we all need the Lord and His mercy and grace these days...

And then on a lighter note, how hard it's been clothes shopping for all of us! For the boys, everything seems to either have skulls or monsters on them. For me, everything's either too thin, too short, too low or too much crazy bling on the tops. For Danny, it hasn't been as bad...

Where do you all shop??

How much I'm looking forward to watching Pride & Prejudice (BBC's adaptation) with a friend of mine soon... it's been at least 10+ years since I've last watched it.

I've also been in a cooking+creative rut again. Haven't been super-inspired to do much of either - which could explain the lack of posts lately. Although I'd rather have something worth reading for you all then posting fillers... You all agree?

And of course in between all this, you would be filling me in on all that's been going on in your life! What you've been up to, what's been occupying your mind or heart these days, your kids or other important people in your life,etc. :)

Finally we'd say our goodbyes and hopefully have arranged to get together again soon. I'd gather up the boys and will probably take a quick glance over at the mugs/thermoses section of the coffee shop before leaving...because I'm kind of obsessed with collecting mugs haha.

Miraculously one of the boys will start whining and it'd be the Lord helping my husband out so that I'd hurry up and leave without adding another cup to our kitchen. ;)

Hope you all enjoyed our time together!

Until next time,

PINEAPPLE CHICKEN AND SHRIMP FRIED RICE

2013-09-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

*Instead of my usual Friday Treats, I will be sharing a recipe that I've been super excited about. :)

Fried rice was never my thing. My earliest memories of it always involved mushy frozen peas and stale carrots chunks. It wasn't until a trip to this place a few years back that completely changed my mind. Their pineapple chicken and shrimp fried rice was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. So amazing that I've been trying to re-create it ever since. About two weeks ago - with the help of this awesome recipe plus a few adjustments of my own - I was finally brought back to that special day again. Hope you all will enjoy it as much as I did!

Ingredients
2 T grapeseed oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red chili, chopped

2 eggs, lightly beaten

~Sauce
3 tablespoons chicken stock
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon sugar

3 cups cooked rice, refrigerated overnight
1/2 cup honey roasted cashews
1 cup cooked sugar snap peas, sliced
1 cup pineapple, bite-sized pieces
1/4 cup craisins
1 cup cooked shrimp, pan-fried with salt and red pepper flakes
1 cup cooked chicken, bite-sized pieces
scallions, sliced (optional)*

Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan over medium high. Add the garlic and chili and quickly stir-fry for about a minute. Add the eggs and cook until lightly scrambled but not dry. Set the eggs aside.

Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil over high heat. Add the cooked rice and start breaking apart any clumps with your spatula. Slowly pour the sauce evenly over the rice. Add the eggs and stir-fry them with the rice until they are evenly dispersed. Add the cashews, sugar snap peas, pineapple, craisins and stir everything together for another few minutes.

Lower the heat to medium high. With the flat surface of the spatula, press all the rice down into the pan and let it sit for about two minutes. This will help the rice develop a nice crunchy crust.

Add the shrimp and chicken (and scallions if you like them). Toss everything together and serve while hot.

* * * * * * * *

Trust Him when thy wants are many;

Trust Him when thy friends are few;

And the time of swift temptation

Is the time to trust Him too.

Trust Him when thy soul is burdened

With the sense of all its sin;

He will speak the word of pardon,

He will make thee clean within.

Trust Him for the grace sufficient,

Ever equal to thy need;

Trust Him always for the answer,

When in His dear name you plead.

Trust Him for the grace to conquer,

He is able to subdue;

Trust Him for the power for service;

Trust Him for the blessing too.

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,

Trust Him when thy strength is small,

Trust Him when to simply trust Him

Seems the hardest thing of all.

Trust Him; He is ever faithful;

Trust Him, for His will is best;

Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus

Is the only place of rest.

Trust Him, then, through cloud or sunshine,

All thy cares upon Him cast,

Till the storm of life is over,

And the trusting days are past.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/nt/647#ixzz2fPoAHx7D

Much grace,

KEEPING YOUR HOME CLEAN WITH A TODDLER

2013-09-18T21:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of BISSELL Homecare, Inc. for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Having a toddler is a lot of fun but cleaning up after one can sometimes be very frustrating. E loves hiding messes in places that I don't always see - under couches, between couch cushions, behind the shelves, etc. Once I found a dirty diaper in his stuffed animal bin. Yes. SO GROSS. Then there's his car seat - which I'm sure has a secret black hole somewhere because everything seems to find its way in there. And then there's his booster - which is a magnet for all sorts of food particles.

Recently I was introduced to the new BISSELL PowerGlide Lift-Off Vacuum. When my husband and I first got married, we had his very basic BISSELL that he used in college. It lasted him for quite awhile until it finally broke down on us 7 years later. This new one now uses the lift-off technology featuring an easy-release portable vacuum that has no loss of suction for a complete clean on multi-surfaces. I especially like that it's lightweight, has a long stretch hose, and a TurboBrush and crevice tool - perfect for getting at E's messes!

There are some great deals going on right now like $20 off and FREE shipping using the promo code: POWERGLIDE. This promotion is valid through November 30, 2013 for the following products:

PowerGlide Pet Vacuum with Lift-Off Technology - 2763
PowerGlide Pet Bagged Rewind Vacuum - 38631
PowerGlide Pet Vacuum - 1044

You can also enter to win a new BISSELL PowerGlide or a $50 certificate to BISSELL.com. Just send them a photo of your best everyday mess that you would clean up with a vacuum. The Celebrate Everyday Messes Contest runs through October 25, 2013. You can also check out some great cleaning tips from their website.

[BELATED] FRIDAY TREATS + IF I GAINED

2013-09-14T01:14:00.000-05:00

If I gained the world, but lost the Savior,

Were my life worth living for a day?

Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort

In the things that soon must pass away?

If I gained the world, but lost the Savior,

Would my gain be worth the lifelong strife?

Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing

For a moment with a Christ-filled life?

Had I wealth and love in fullest measure,

And a name revered both far and near,

Yet no hope beyond, no harbor waiting,

Where my storm-tossed vessel I could steer;

If I gained the world, but lost the Savior,

Who endured the cross and died for me,

Could then all the world afford a refuge,

Whither, in my anguish, I might flee?

O what emptiness!—without the Savior

’Mid the sins and sorrows here below!

And eternity, how dark without Him!

Only night and tears and endless woe!

What, though I might live without the Savior,

When I come to die, how would it be?

O to face the valley’s gloom without Him!

And without Him all eternity!

O the joy of having all in Jesus!

What a balm the broken heart to heal!

Ne’er a sin so great, but He’ll forgive it,

Nor a sorrow that He does not feel!

If I have but Jesus, only Jesus,

Nothing else in all the world beside—

O then everything is mine in Jesus;

For my needs and more He will provide.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/nt/1079#ixzz2eqN92wgi

* * * * * * * *

a beautiful ombre cake that I'm going to try...

already looking forward to winter and making these ice bubbles...

watercolor art using elmer's glue... so cool!

a blooming monogram...

* * * * * * * *

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IKEA STEP STOOL MAKEOVER

2013-09-12T01:20:00.000-05:00

So today's post is mostly a show and tell. I'm here to show you this IKEA Bekvam stool that I recently made over and to tell you how excited I am about it now! I can't take any credit for this look though. I completely "borrowed" it from these adorable stools that I pinned awhile ago. It had my two favorite colors and the crisp clean look that I love.

All it took was a can of Rustoleum Glossy White spray paint, Martha Stewart's craft paint in Surf, Miniwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane, some painter's tape and paper. (I would also recommend using a primer first. Since I didn't have any on hand, I skipped this step and later regretted it when I had some uneven white patches appear...)

Not bad for a $15 solid wood stool, huh? :) If you like the "dipped" look that's everywhere now, make sure to check out Michelle's version. I love projects like this!

SIMPLE ORGANIZATION FOR KIDS' LEARNING SPACES

2013-09-09T08:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! With the start of the new school year, E and I have been starting our own "school" at home. Since he's only three, ours is on a much smaller scale but we both have been enjoying this time tremendously. It's nice to wake up to some sort of schedule instead of the usual, "What should we do today?" I also love seeing how excited E gets about "doing school." It makes my teacher-heart very happy. :)

Since our family spends most of our time in the living room, I wanted to keep our activities there. Some of you may remember this corkboard makeover from last year. Normally we've been using it to display E's many artworks. You recognize these right, moms? ;)

We're now using the corkboard to display our morning activities. I managed to keep most our supplies hidden so that it wouldn't completely take over our living room. Here they are in these three areas:

Area 1: This is where E and I (plus baby brother) gather after Dad leaves for work. We spend the first part of "school" enjoying the Lord together - calling on the Lord's name, praying for each other and our day and singing a song or two to the Lord. I would usually play my guitar and E would accompany me with his maraca. Then we'd read and pray over our Bible verse for the week before moving on to the other activities.

Area 2: This shelf is where we keep all of our books and resources.

Binder 1: My Resources

Binder 2: E's Binder (Will elaborate below)

Area 3: This fabric bin stores all of our other miscellaneous supplies (ie. math manipulatives, flash cards, dry-erase markers, etc.).

For E's binder, I put together our schedule and a few activities that I made for him to work on. They are all laminated so that we could write over them and re-use them as much as we needed to.

Here are a few examples:

How do you all organize your kids' learning spaces? :)

OVERDUE FRIDAY TREATS - PART 2

2013-09-07T07:32:00.000-05:00

So my brain apparently was not working very well yesterday. I posted a Friday Treats post... without the Friday Treats! You can only imagine how stupid I felt when I finally realized it later on in the day. Without further ado, here are my favorites from this week!

-via-

Maybe for the boys' room in the future...

Mmmmmm... this white chicken chili soup is making me excited for the fall!

Cute idea for these dollar bowls found at Michaels...

So simple but so pretty!

this brie dip... there are no words.

celebrate your 30th birthday with good food

great idea for bridal/baby showers...

Joy's amazing office transformation

why being a mom is enough

easy way to sharpen a hole puncher

in case of an emergency and you don't have candles

spray paint + kid's magnetic letters

FRIDAY TREATS + I'VE GOT RIVERS

2013-09-06T08:28:00.004-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! So far this morning has gotten off to a great start. I was able to spend some much needed quiet time with the Lord, eat breakfast in peace AND our little one slept for 9 hours straight last night! He finally started sleeping through the night this week ::hallelujah.praise the Lord:: and everyday he's been getting up later and later! Yes, I am one happy rested mommy. =D

And YAY! It's finally September! Definitely looking forward to cooler weather...

Christ has come to be life, the processed divine Trinity.

God the Father’s the source, a fountain emerging to be.

God the Son as a gushing up spring,

And the Spirit’s a river for life imparting

Oh how can this miracle be? The Triune God flowing in me!

Oh, I’ve got rivers of life flowing out of my innermost being!

I’ve got rivers of life flowing out of my innermost being!

As this life flows through me, I’m supplied abundantly.

His life nullifies sin! Power springs now from within!

To be free, overcoming spontaneously.

Yet this life though it frees, is not meant for mere victory.

God is full of intent and never could flow aimlessly.

So this life has a totality, a consummate issue encompassing me.

Life moves and life grows, life shapes as it flows

Now I share in this life’s destiny.

Oh, I’ve got rivers of life flowing out of my innermost being!

I’ve got rivers of life flowing out of my innermost being!

We’ll abide mutually, God and man revealed to be

Lamb, Wife, Spirit, and Bride.

Come! Drink! And riverside,

Grows the tree, our enjoyment for eternity!

So I’ve no cause to frown as one who’s received this zoe.

I know life runs its course and triumphs inevitably.

I’m required just to stay in the flow,

If I do the drinking then God gives the growth.

So there’s joy in my heart, and a spring in my step,

And a smile on my face as I sing,

Oh, I’ve got rivers of life flowing out of my innermost being!

I’ve got rivers of life flowing out of my innermost being!

-source-

FAUX CHENILLE BLANKET #2

2013-09-04T10:09:00.000-05:00

I recently made another baby faux chenille blanket for a good friend of mine. I found this beautiful fabric at Joann's called the "Vivienne Daisy" from the Alexander Henry Fabrics Collection. It was girly and fun without being too over the top. For the chenille side, I used a mix of mint, baby pink and a slightly deeper green flannel to pull in all the colors. Since I've already shared the process in detail here, I'll just leave you all with some photos. :)

Have any of you completed any fun projects lately? Leave the link in the comment section for us all to check out! :)

Until next time,

EASY IDEAS FOR WATERCOLOR ART

2013-09-03T10:31:00.003-05:00

Back in elementary school, I remember having the most amazing art teacher whose passion for art was contagious. As soon as we stepped into her room, she would immediately light up and start telling us about all the exciting things we'd be learning and making that hour. None of us were ever caught chatting or distracted doing other things. The second class started, we'd all rush to our stations to get our supplies so that we can start. That hour in art always flew by...

Palette 1 // Palette 2

Sadly, it was also in that class when I last worked with watercolors. I remember loving it but for some reason never using it again until last week with E. Putting that paintbrush to paper was like learning how to ride a bike again. I decided to try out some easy patterns first like the ones above. Here are some close-up shots:

The herringbone pattern is one of my favorites and an easy task for beginners...

Another simple technique is to paint repeating blocks...

I was inspired by Michelle to paint this ... I loved how it turned out! :)

My ~~sad~~ attempt at portraying a bed of roses...

I'm not even sure what I'll be doing with these pieces, but they sure were fun to work on! Now that I started, I'm kind of hooked - so you may be seeing more in the future. Hopefully my technique will improve with time... ;)

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

HAVING A LITTLE TOO MUCH FUN...

2013-08-27T00:03:00.004-05:00

As you can see from Megan's post, E and I have been having a little too much fun with watercolors lately! Currently working on something for our dining room... be back soon to share! :)

IT WAS FOR HER...

2013-08-20T23:56:00.001-05:00

A touching video of the believers from all over the world...

It was for her the church - His Bride.

It was for her, willingly He died.

She is the joy deep in His heart.

His masterpiece...

His counterpart...

BACK-TO-SCHOOL DUCK TAPE® DIY

2013-08-20T16:02:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart. All opinions are 100% mine.

So what do you do the the last week before school starts? A fun diy of course! ;)

Last week while I was at Walmart in their craft department, I spotted a bunch of cute Duck Tape® designs - ranging from solids to neons, cool patterns to popular cartoon characters. I was excited to see that you can also buy them by the sheet. For under $2, it was easier to commit to these if you don't want to buy a huge roll of tape.

With the above project that I had in mind, I picked up a sheet of these cute penguins and a roll of metallic tape.

With a few simple items, I made a small travel tube that's great for safely storing tiny miscellaneous items (bobby pins, jewelry, hair ties, etc.) in your purse or backpack.

Supplies: Duck Tape®, regular clear tape, 2 empty pill bottles, Xacto knife, scissors

Directions

Tape the two pill bottles together (end to end) to make your double-sided tube.
Start decorating by taping the two ends with the metallic tape first.
Cut out a strip of the penguin tape using the grid on the back as a guide.
Tape it to the middle.
Trace the caps onto the penguin tape and cut out your circles.
Adhere it to the caps.
Using an Xacto knife, adhere the rest of the metallic tape to the sides of the caps.

I love that the tube has two separate compartments. One side held tiny items like my jewelry, bobby pins, perfume samples, hair ties, etc...

and the other side for my chapstick.

These tapes now are definitely a lot more fun and versatile than the typical gray ones that's been around for years. Especially since they're waterproof and incredibly sturdy, they'd be great for so many other back-to-school projects like covering books, decorating notebooks and pens, and bringing some color to school lockers. They're an inexpensive way to make updates on a variety of items!

Interested yet? Go check these out and buy Duck Tape at Walmart. Make sure to also follow @TheDuckBrand for more creative inspiration!

DON'T MISS OUT ON THE FREE SHIPPING! :)

2013-08-19T23:06:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to pop in really quick and let you know that TOMS is currently offering free shipping and returns on ALL orders right now for the next three weeks! Below are also some other promotions going on too:

TOMS now has Free Shipping and Returns on ALL Orders. Offer valid until 9/5

$10 off any purchase of $100 or more at TOMS.com. Enter promo code: TOMSBTSSPECIAL
at checkout. Valid 8/6-9/3/13.

$5 off any purchase of $25 or more with code TOMSFALL5 at TOMS.com! Valid through10/31/13.

COPYCAT: PALIO'S THE "JIMMY"

2013-08-19T13:48:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! I'm here to share a meal that's perfect for those weeknights when you're completely exhausted or have unexpected company coming over. It takes less than 30 minutes to prep, costs less than $8 and can feed about three people.

One of our family's favorite pizza is The "Jimmy" from Palio's Pizza Cafe. It's the perfect blend of spicy and savory. I recently found a quick and much less expensive way to copy this favorite. With the price of one there, I can easily make two pizzas and still have some change left over! All you need is a ready-to-bake pizza and a few simple ingredients.

Before...

and after...

Ingredients

1 large pepperoni pizza (Papa Murphy's Take 'n Bake)

1 C frozen roasted corn (Trader Joe's)

2 jalapenos (unseeded, sliced or diced)

3 strips of bacon (cut into bite-sized pieces)

Directions
Preheat the oven at 425 degrees F.

The only items that need to be prepped ahead of time were the jalapenos and bacon. I roasted the jalapenos in the oven (or you can use a cast iron pan) first before slicing them. I also cooked the bacon and took them off the pan just before they got crispy.

Toss everything evenly over your ready-to-bake pizza and bake it for 12-15 minutes. Enjoy!

*Side note: Make sure you use gloves when handling the jalapenos... unless you want your hands to be burning for a good four hours!

THE HONEST COMPANY - PRODUCTS REVIEW

2013-08-14T10:12:00.001-05:00

When The Honest Company first reached out to me to review their products, I was silently jumping up and down. This had to be one of the most anticipated items that I've been wanting to try out. I first heard about this company when Jessica Alba, the co-founder, appeared on The Nate Show (so sad when it got canceled). I was very impressed with the company's commitment to making safe, effective, bio-degradable and non-toxic products affordable and not just a luxury that only a few can enjoy. All products are proudly made in America and made for the whole family to use.

Also with every product purchased, The Honest Company donates product, money, time, and effort to addressing critical health & social issues affecting children and families. This year they are partnering with a nonprofit organization, Baby2Baby.

As you read on, I will show you what I received and my ratings based on my impression of them after using them for a week.

So this is what showed up at my doorstep...

How cute is the packaging?

Ok let's start off with the diapers...

Diapers (rating: 4 out of 5)
The Good: Cute designs, non-toxic, chlorine-free, super-absorbent and made with a stretchy band in the back for extra security (you know, for those poop explosions up the back).
The Bad: Found these to be a little stiff compared to Pampers.

Healing balm (rating: 4 out of 5)
The good: This was great for soothing my son's eczema.
The bad: The formulation was a little greasier and stickier than I would like, but it may be due to all the organic oils.

Hand soap (rating: 4 out of 5)
The good: It washed off easily and had a nice clean scent of lemongrass.
The bad: It left my hands a bit dry afterwards.

Face + body lotion (rating: 4 out of 5)
The good: The formulation was very lightweight, absorbed well, and left the skin incredibly soft.
The bad: The initial smell reminded me of barbie dolls for some reason, however it did eventually wear off. I'm not sure if I just got a bad batch, because most reviewers loved the smell...

Laundry detergent (rating: 5 out of 5)
The good: Cleaned very well and did not leave our clothes feeling stiff (even without fabric softener).
The bad: None

Shampoo + Body Wash (rating: 5 out of 5)
The good: We love this product! Our longtime favorite's been Burt's Bees Shampoo and Body wash for our boys and we found this one to be very similar. The scent is a little sweeter and the consistency is a little thicker as well. I've been finding myself reaching for this more than the Burt's Bees.
The bad: None

These are some other items that I'm interested in from their beauty and cleaning line:
sunscreen, multi-surface cleaner, and fruit+veggie wash.

* * * * * * * *

I think it's great that the company's constantly introducing new products and improving on old ones based on their customers' feedback. If you are still skeptical or hesitant to buy their full-sized products, they also offer free trial kits (just pay $5.95 for shipping and handling).

*Please note that when you sign up for the free trial, you are automatically enrolled to be a member of the Honest Company. You have 7 days to cancel, for any reason, if you choose not to be charged monthly to receive their different bundles sent to your home.

For more information, check out these links:

Have any of you used their products before? What did you think of them? I would love to hear from you!

Disclosure: As part of The Honest Company's affiliate program, I was sent these products to review for my own use. I was not asked to write this review nor will I be paid to do so. All opinions are 100% mine and these products were shared/recommended because our family really like them. This post does, however contain affiliate links, which means I will earn a small commission based on any purchases made.

A SIMPLE SPRING BABY SHOWER

2013-08-12T06:02:00.001-05:00

Weekends fly by WAY too fast these days. I'm just saying...

Anyways! :) A few months ago, a good friend and I planned a baby shower for this other friend of ours. It was her first baby and we were all so excited that she was having a girl! Since her nursery was going to be pink and brown, we decided to carry this theme into the shower decor. Here a few pictures from that day.

We made a welcome banner with the word "baby" on one side and the couple's baby pictures on the other side...

large paper medallions out of scrapbook paper and brown kraft paper...

a fabric name banner (sorry had to black out the baby's name)...

a framed picture of her sonogram with a verse from Psalm 139:14...

water bottles wrapped with matching scrapbook paper and labeled with the baby's initials...

more medallions resting inside glasses of soybeans acting as food markers...

and a light spread of finger foods courtesy of Costco (I just love that place).

It was a very sweet time filled with lots of eating and good fellowship. There were some older, more "seasoned" moms there who shared with us their experiences in raising their children to the Lord. The mom-to-be also picked out this hymn that she had been enjoying throughout her pregnancy.

O Jesus Christ, grow Thou in me,

And all things else recede;

My heart be daily nearer Thee,

From sin be daily freed.

Each day let Thy supporting might

My weakness still embrace;

My darkness vanish in Thy light,

Thy life my death efface.

In Thy bright beams which on me fall,

Fade every evil thought;

That I am nothing, Thou art all,

I would be daily taught.
More of Thy glory let me see,

Thou Holy, Wise, and True;

I would Thy living image be,

In joy and sorrow too.
Fill me with gladness from above,

Hold me by strength divine;

Lord, let the glow of Thy great love

Through all my being shine.

Make this poor self grow less and less,

Be Thou my life and aim;

Oh, make me daily through Thy grace

More meet to bear Thy name.

-source-

Lord Jesus, grow more in us today! Hope you all have a wonderful Monday! :)