I have to go down those babies in the dark night if i wanna pee.
What was Amsterdam thinking?
This is the view from our bedroom.

Talk when we get back home!
Love ya!

I did not take these pictures…they belong to there respective recipe links

Tex-Mex Sloppy Joe Sandwich
Pineapple Mango Green Smoothie
BBQ Chicken Sandwich
Charred Corn Chopped Salad
Beet Salad
Whole grain french loaf, with cream cheese, avocado & sun dried tomatoes…found this on Pinterest but there is no recipe link.
Stuffed Zucchini
Buttermilk Roasted Chicken and collard greens (forgot to add collard greens to the collage…whoops)

That’s what’s on our plates and in our tummies this week.
I’m trying to ramp up the veggies and protein and cut down the carbs and sugar.
And boy am I excited to try my hand at that beet salad!!
I love a good beet salad.

My sweet blog friend Tara sent it to me this week.
She picked it up on her recent trip to Spain!
Can you believe that?
So sweet!
She sent it to say Happy Belated Birthday and to help remind me of all the blessing in my life now and blessings that are to come.
I know I didn’t do anything to deserve such a kindness so I’m just going to chalk it all up to her being a complete sweetheart!
It made my day!
Thanks girl!

Also, I had to take a picture of the bracelet on that glass cup because…well…have you ever tried to take a picture of a bracelet your wearing?
So creepy looking.
It’s like hello hairy, pale, freakish looking wrist!
I’ve come to the conclusion that wrists, without the context of the rest of the body,are down right strange.

Now I’m off to the airport.
We are headed to central Washington for a friends winter camp retreat.
There will be snow and I will be cold.
But do you know why we are going?
Uh, cause it’s worth it.
Hehe.

I love Marcel.

I first came across him (him? her? I think him.) on the TBTL website last year.
I laughed and almost cried.
Almost daily the husband and I say to one another…”guess why I … because it’s worth it”
Or “treats and snoozin, snoozin and treats”.
He even got me the book for Christmas.
One of my favorite Christmas gifts for sure.

This picture has nothing to do with anything.
Except I actually did my hair yesterday.
Which means I used product, curled it, sprayed it , said kind things to it…and then it fell flat as I walked out the bathroom door.
But I also got dressed in something other than yoga pants.
Actually, not true…I did wear my yoga pants with this outfit.
But yoga pants/leggins are in right now so whatever.

What I want to say is…see that scarf?
I have been wanting a big chunky scarf like this one and this one.
And yesterday realized…I have one!
And it’s even special cause my mom made it for me ages ago.
Finding a new way to wear an old scarf and falling in love is priceless.

Also, what I want to say…or ask really.
Are you guys doing anything for lent?
I haven’t ever participated in the lent season.
I’ve really only come to understand what lent is all about in the last few years.
However, I think Im going to give it a go.
I’ve been encouraged by my husband who is participating as well.
And by this post…I appreciate the point that “Lent is not a behavior modification program”…so true…it’s an act of worship.
I think I will set my alarm 15 minutes earlier each morning and use that first 15 minutes of the day to read my bible.
Ground breaking right?
Well, no.
However, it is sacrificing something…in my case that extra 15 minutes of sleep.
And instead of that extra sleep I will use the time to focus on God…no matter how groggy I might be.
I didn’t come up with this idea until today (coincidently the idea came to me while I was reading and praying) so I will start tomorrow morning.
Lent day one…fail.
Although, as I said…I did read my bible…so that counts right?
Right.

Elderflower syrup.
My sweet husband bought me some Elderflower syrup for Christmas.
The story goes that a co-worker was served a delicious sparkly beverage at a restaurant in San Francisco and was smart enough to ask the kitchen what the heck it was and how she could get her hands on it.
Come to find out it was club soda and elderflower syrup.
It has a sweet floral flavor.
I love it.
Even my Dad loves it.
And he’s pretty manly.
However, at about $30 a bottle (after shipping) it was a treat.
Not something we were going to have laying around the house at all times.
Ikea has changed this.
They sell it for under $5.
It might not be as high quality as other brands…but my tongue and memory can’t tell the difference.
So maybe it is.
Awesome.
Do yourself a favor…next time your in Ikea grab yourself a bottle or two.
You will thank me.
(and incase you’ve been turned off of Elderflower forever because of this stuff…let me assure you they do not taste the same)
We even poured a little over pound cake…I have a feeling the uses are endless.

I also snagged a heart ice cube tray.
Hearts aren’t only for Valentine’s Day.

After all our shenanigans we were excited to grab some dinner at Tacolicious.
I follow of few fashion blogs written by ladies that live in the city and they all rave about it.
And I didn’t take a single picture…but it was hoppin and delish.
We even got our appetizers for free because the kitchen kept missing our order.
Not going to complain.
And guess what?
To get there we had to get back on the train…and instead of walking to the terminal…
we took a pedicab.

Yeah!
Pedicab Bill biked us to the train.
I’m not sure how people in the city feel about this mode of transportation.
Maybe they’re just a touristy thing…not sure.
But it was fun and kinda romantic in a funny way.

So that was the highlight of our weekend in a giant nutshell.
How about you?
Did you get a three day weekend?
Do anything fun?
Did you watch the season finale of Downton Abbey?
I cheated and watched it on the big screen of my husbands office last weekend.

Oh yeah.
I loved it.
Can hardly wait for season 3.
Speaking of entertainment…was reminded of the impending movie release in the train station!

Who wants to go see it with me?

So what am I thankful for today?
I’m thankful that people are stronger than I am.
I’m thankful there is hope even if we don’t see it.
It’s hard times around here.
Not just the little challenges that Eric and I are facing with the adoption.
The people around me are hurting.
People that I love…really, truly love are suffering.
Dealing with things you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.
I’m not sure why it’s all hitting at once.
I don’t even have the words to describe the emotions.
I’m listening to Out of the Darkness by Michele McLaughlin right now.
It’s a beautiful piano solo…describes my feelings pretty well right now.

This is suppose to be Thursday Latelies!
A day to reflect on the joy and things we are thankful for this week!
Get it together Leah!
I’m thankful for God.
I can’t imagine what it must be like for those who CHOOSE to face life without him.
Sin is painful and terrifying.
I want no part in a life without my savior Jesus to help me wade through.
He already suffered for my sin, died for it and rose again.
He is strong and I can lean on him.
But you know what else…as much as it sucks to be human some times…I’m thankful that he is God and I am not.
I’m not strong enough to see the sins of this world day in and day out.
See people suffering and hurting one another.
No thank you.
And yet…Thank You Jesus.

I promise I wont be all doom and gloom forever.

So how did the husband and I celebrate?
A little Valentine’s decor…which he laughed at.
That man.

Flowers.
Monday night he said…”lets go to Whole Foods,I need to get you some Valentines day flowers”.
Really?
You want me to go with you?

I’m pretty sure that breaks some sort of Valentine’s Day rule.
But I went.
And made fun of him for asking me to help pick out my own flowers.
And took a picture of him doing the aforementioned rule breaking.
How could I not love that man…that mischievous smile.
Oh brother.

And then I came home and put my flowers in my old tea tin…just like Pinterest told me to.
A little advice…the water leaks out from the bottom…put a plate under just to be safe.

And then on Valentine’s Day I made his favorite meal.
Steak, roasted cauliflower (thanks for the link Tara! These are fabulous!) and sauteed brussel sprouts.
And a special dessert…again with the Pinterest.

That cake is excellent btw.
Very moist from a website called Skinny Taste…can’t get much better than that.

I’m convinced that successfully roasting a whole chicken makes a woman feel like she can conquer the world.
And I made brown rice to go with…even though I so badly wanted white rice.
Husb prefers brown.
Whatever with his healthy ways.

We also watched the Grammys.
Did you?

I’m over Chris Brown…can’t look at him without thinking of his woman beating ways.
Yuck.
Adele was cute and sounded great.
My favorite performance?
The 60 seconds that The Civil Wars played.
Loved them!

As for today?

Menu planning, laundry and other household chores.
And perhaps a Valentines day craft to go along with this rainy northern california day.