meal planning monday 2016: no. 6

It's a new week!

Last week meal planning didn't happen. Our schedules were just too crazy. The week before that some of our meals didn't happen as planned so I am including them this week so we can test them out!

Here's our line up:

monday// leftover chili
- recipe: PW's simple chili

tuesday// bacon and leek pasta
-PW's recipe using bacon instead of pancetta

wednesday// pesto chicken pasta
*Homemade pesto is always best but I will most likely be using store bought for the sake of convenience. All I do is cook the chicken in a skillet, add pesto at the end of cooking, and toss with cooked pasta with additional pesto.

thursday// italian sausage soup
mrs. anita granier's recipe

friday// pork burgers, oven fries, sautéed greens

saturday// meatloaf, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables
-PW's meatloaf recipe

sunday// slow cooker honey garlic chicken with potatoes and green beans
-recipe via tasty

What are you cooking this week?

7 on the 7th: kitchen tool favorites

This month's favorites come from my favorite place in our home: the kitchen!

 Here are a few of my kitchen must-haves that I put to use everyday.

1. garlic press: Fresh garlic is a game changer in recipes. I used to attempt slicing or mincing garlic with a knife. Now I use this handy little tool for super fine, crushed garlic.

2. mini food processor: I wish I was a super quick hand chopper. I'm not. Also, have a husband who prefers for any tomato product to be pulverized to a puree, so the chopper is my go-to for turning crushed or diced tomatoes into smooth tomatoes.

3. silicone mitt (& festive ones!): I won the silicone mitts in a dirty santa game this year. I love that they are multipurpose. I use them for removing hot items from the oven and also to open difficult jars! Also, seasonal kitchen linens are my love language.

4. microplane: My friend shared this tool with me and it is definitely a favorite. It is perfect for zesting citrus, grating garlic, grating parmesan, or fresh ginger.

5. ramekins: Small bowls may be my love language too. I love using them for serving Charlotte's food, my snacks (hello portion control), or for meal prep to hold ingredients.

6. salt and pepper grinders: There is nothing better than freshly ground pepper or salt. I used to buy the cheap filled plastic ones from aldi or kroger but then decided to buy refillable grinders at Walmart. I love them!

7. spoon rest: I use this little piggy my grandmother gave me as a spoon rest. I love having it out on my counter for decoration and functionality.

What are your most used, go-to kitchen gadgets?

meal planning monday 2012: no. 5

Believe it or not, last week I had a 6/7 record! I'm going for progress, not perfection.

This week here's our line up:

monday// leftover beef + hashbrown casserole
recipe via last week's meal plan

tuesday// chicken pot pie
recipe via mrs. brenda lichtenburg

wednesday// italian sausage soup
recipe via mrs. anita granier

thursday// slow cooker honey garlic chicken with potatoes + green beans
recipe via tasty

friday + saturday// plans with friends

sunday// super bowl snacks
TBA {all suggestions welcome}

What's on your week's menu?

meal planning monday 2016: no. 4

How is it already Monday again? And the last Monday in January at that!? Goodness gracious, time flies.

Well, I wish I could tell you last week's meals went so much better than the week before. 

They didn't. 

Maybe I should just call this Meal Idea Monday since I can't seem to stick to a plan...

Regardless, I'm still trying...

Here's what we plan to might eat this week... 

monday// deer stew compliments of Dustin's Nana 

tuesday// oven baked salmon, rice, steamed veggies 

salmon recipe: combine 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp dried parsley, 2 cloves minced garlic, evoo. bake salmon filets at 400* for 10 minutes. spoon mixture onto salmon filets. bake for 10-15 more minutes. enjoy! 

wednesday// one pan honey garlic chicken + veggies

recipe: this one found via pinterest 

thursday// leftovers

friday// spicy thai noodles
recipe: this one 

saturday// easy chicken paprikash
recipe via tasty {Dustin suggested we try to make something from one of the videos once a week}

sunday// beef + potato casserole {we had this yesterday- so easy, so good, I want it again}

recipe: similar to this one, with added bell peppers/garlic and cream instead of evaporated milk

What's on your menu this week? 

meal planning monday 2016: no. 3

Lest anyone think that our meals are elaborate, perfectly planned and executed suppers, let me just be real. I'm pretty sure none of our meals went as planned last week, except for Monday. Either we ordered out, ran through the drive thru, swapped things around, or did something different. Our little one had a rough few days of not feeling well (& still isn't 100%), which often puts cooking on the back burner. (See what I did there?)

Anyways, it's a new week. There is grace. Thank you Lord. Most of our meat is in the freezer so I will have to be more mindful about what needs to be taken out to thaw and when this week. We shall see! Yesterday as we were in the kitchen we realized this Wednesday is our proposal anniversary. Every year we recreate the meal we were making (bacon wrapped duck, carrots, and mashed potatoes) on January 20th when Dustin proposed. It almost slipped our minds. Well we just happened to have some duck marinating for gumbo, so we decided to celebrate a little early. I just love food traditions, even if they change a little year to year.

Here's what our menu looks like this week:

monday// leftover gumbo + bacon wrapped duck, carrots, mashed potatoes

tuesday// beef + broccoli with rice
recipe: a cross between this and this

wednesday// slow cooker pork tacos with beans + rice
recipe: this one on food network

thursday// ground beef curry with rice
recipe: a blend between this one from pinterest and PW's

friday// pork chops + roasted apples + brussels sprouts
recipe: from this month's Southern Living

saturday// leftovers

sunday// chicken noodle soup
recipe: from this month's SL

What are y'all cooking?

meal planning monday 2016: no. 2

I've found I do better when I have recipes lined up to use for each night's meal. This week I was doing well just to decide on something to eat for every day. I still have some time to determine recipes for a couple of the meals at the end of the week. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Here's this week's menu:

monday// filipino adobo chicken, rice, steamed vegetables
recipe: food network

tuesday// chili
recipe: here

wednesday// pasta alla marlboro man (don't worry Dustin, I'll blend up the tomatoes...)
recipe: Pioneer Woman's

thursday// leftovers

friday// gumbo
recipe: to be determined

saturday// salmon, roasted vegetables
recipe: undecided

sunday// breakfast for supper

What are y'all whipping up in the kitchen this week?

7 on the 7th: new year edition

A fresh cup of coffee, a journal, a new planner, and my favorite Bible: just a few of my favorite things. Each one comes in handy when preparing for the New Year, and every new day! I like setting goals or resolutions. I also like the idea of declaring a word of the year. I decided to combine these approaches to making goals. I wanted a word (or a derivative) I could find in scripture and I wanted it to be broad enough to apply it to multiple areas of my life.

I chose mindful as my one word for 2016. I want to be attentive to, aware of, and careful with the decisions I make this year. Scripture has quite a bit to say about our minds-- my Bible's concordance referenced 32 verses where the word mind/minded/mindful is used. I was particularly excited to find that number almost perfectly fits for reading one verse about mindfulness a day each month.

Here are a few areas I want to be particularly mindful this year:

1// my thinking: This one is definitely a challenge. I struggle with anxiety and selfishness. Rather than my initial thought be a negative/sinful/overanalyzed one, I pray this year I become more mindful and take captive every thought, making it obedient to Christ {2 Corinthians 10:5}.

2// my eating: As a dietitian, food is always on my mind. Too often this past year I varied between the extremes of unintentionally missing a meal because I was too busy doing fill in the blank and overindulging in foods that provided no nutrition. This year I want to do better about eating healthily, but also enjoying things that maybe aren't as nutritionally beneficial.

3// my scheduling: I hope to be better about planning our days and weeks so that I can have time for what matters most. That means being prepared with meal plans, setting limits to the time I'm away from home, and using my time at home wisely. I especially want to do better about honoring the sabbath and being prepared for the week ahead so that I can enjoy a day of rest with my family.

4// my spending: My husband is nodding his head in approval to this one, I'm sure. I think it's pretty self explanatory that I need to be more mindful in how I view and use our finances. That means discerning the choices I make at the grocery store, the department store, or on amazon. The sermon last Sunday was especially convicting about stewardship. The Lord owns everything. I need to be mindful of this daily.

5// my praying: Lately, I have noticed a desire for a deeper prayer life. I find myself settling for short snippet prayers throughout the day. I don't think those are always wrong, but I crave a closer relationship with the Lord through prayer. I believe in and have witnessed its power; I want to be mindful of the time I spend in prayer.

6// my reading: I love to read. Books are (one of) my weakness. I want to buy them all and read them all. (Clearly, mindfulness when it comes to spending and scheduling are needed in regards to books!) I'm guilty of buying a book but not reading it or completing it. I joined the library last summer but have not checked out any books. I hope this year to set aside time to enjoy reading books, maybe even buy some new ones, but also finish the ones I already have.

7// my studying: Last November and December I completed a scripture writing plan. (Technically I finished the November one in December thanks to procrastination.) I've found writing the Word helps me study it on a whole different level. My sister-friend Rhi started a Facebook group devoted to writing the Word everyday this year! Our church also has a Tuesday morning bible study group that I have become so fond of! I hope to complete reading the Bible this year. I'm so excited see what the Lord teaches me this year through studying scripture in each of these ways. I also want to be mindful of the time I devote to studying nutrition. I enjoy it and never want to fall behind in the latest research.

There you have it. My one word for the year and my goals to apply it. Have you set any goals this year? Have you declared a word of the year? I pray your 2016 is one full of growth for you and glory for the Lord!

meal planning monday 2016: no. 1

Remember that time I wanted to start meal planning and I did it for all of like two weeks? Yeah, me too. Well, I didn't stick with it last time but it's a new year and I'm all about some grace.

Grab your grocery lists. Here's what's cookin' at our house this week:

monday// leftovers from Sunday's supper of baked salmon, rice, sautéed mushrooms

tuesday// pork burgers, roasted potatoes, sautéed cabbage + carrots

wednesday// homemade hamburger helper, salad
 recipe: similar to this one

thursday// leftovers

friday// Greek chicken + rice, roasted veggies
recipe for the chicken and rice: this one

saturday// zuppa toscana soup
recipe: here ya go

sunday// salmon patties, green peas, roasted veggies
recipe: similar to this one

What's on your menu this week?

2015: year at a glance

It's that time of year again -- the time where we look forward to the coming year. We start our lists of goals, plan for different events, and anticipate the future. I love the freshness of a new planner or journal: the blank space to create new memories, the chance to start anew. One thing I hope to always do at this time is look back. To remember the previous year-- the highs, the lows, the tears, the laughter. The Lord is always good and always faithful. I never want to forget that. Last year, I shared our year at a glance around this time and I thought it would be fun to do that again. As I transfer info from my old planner to the new, it is so neat to see what we were doing and when.

January:

- after months of looking at houses, we found the one we knew we wanted to be our home

-we prepared for Baby C's arrival by attending childbirth classes, celebrating, and some DIY projects

February:

-we closed on and moved into our home!

-we moved just in time to be snowed in for about a week

-Dustin traveled for work (while I prayed Baby C didn't come while he was gone)

March:

-weekly doctor's appointments to monitor Miss C

-we stayed pretty low key anticipating the baby, who was in no rush to join us on her due date!

April:

-April 1st, at 3:24am, Charlotte Lee was born-- all 9lbs 15oz, 21in of her

-we were showered with love through visits and meals from family and friends

May:

-I celebrated my first Mother's Day

-we continued to soak up the newness of being parents to our baby girl

June:

-I went back to work as needed

-we celebrated the beautiful weddings of Micah and Daniel, Katherine and Brent, and some friends

-Dustin celebrated his first Father's Day and traveled for work

July:

-we celebrated 3 years of marriage

-we held a successful yard sale with our Sunday school class

-Charlotte had her first trip to the beach when we went to St. Teresa Florida with the Curtsinger fam

-I celebrated my 26th birthday

August:

-more working for me, finding avenues to serve in our church, playdates, and getting into somewhat of a routine

September:

-Dustin and I took a cooking class together

-Charlotte's baby dedication at church

-more working and traveling

-we attended a lovely wedding

October: 

-we attended three more beautiful weddings

-Charlotte started eating solids

-we celebrated Dustin's brother, Jordan, proposing to Shelby

-we celebrated Dustin's 29th birthday

-we had the cutest little piglet for Halloween

November:

-our church hosted Kelly Minter at the women's conference

-more work and traveling

-celebrating and giving thanks for all of our blessings

December:

-we traveled to Branson for a Christmas trip with my brother and family

-Charlotte met Santa and was not a fan

-lots of celebrating the birth of our Savior with family and friends

It is impossible to include every highlight. It also is impossible to share the extent of growth we have experienced through our struggles, all thanks to God's grace and faithfulness. Parenting has been overwhelming for me in every aspect-- physically, emotionally, spiritually. I can't adequately explain the love I have for Charlotte or her daddy. Our bond is so special and brings me so much joy. The healing from the c-section, the sleepless nights, the continual dying to self, the constant wonder of "is this the right choice?" weren't and aren't always easy but they are so worth it.

2015 has been a blast. I'm so thankful that through Christ, the best is always yet to come.

Happy New Year, everyone! 

meal planning monday {2}

So far, so good with the meal planning! In case you missed last week, I'm trying something new by sharing our weekly menus. Last week went really smoothly and every meal but one was completed! Hopefully, I will continue this. I'm thankful for everyone who has offered their tips and ideas for meals, too. Keep 'em coming!

I try to vary our protein source each day. This week we are having more chicken than usual. We recently bought some on sale and it seemed like every inspiration recipe I found included poultry. Next week I'll try to keep things mixed up a bit more. Nothing against chicken, we just like variety.

Here's the line up for this week:

M// leftovers from Sunday's supper
     recipe: One Pot Greek Chicken & Lemon Rice

T// crockpot Italian beef w/ rice + roasted vegetables
    recipe: similar to PW's Drip Beef with pepperocinni's

W// leftovers

Th// chicken + butternut squash casserole (a while ago my MIL introduced us to this & we love it!)
    recipe: similar to this one

F// crockpot hawaiian pork w/ sweet potatoes*
   recipe: follow this link

S// leftovers

S// chicken taco bowls w/ rice + beans*
    recipe for chicken: this one for the crockpot

* = a new recipe

What's on your menu this week?

7 on the 7th: meal planning must-haves

On Monday, I shared I plan to post our weekly menus to be more organized. I've been struggling in the meal planning department for several reasons despite being well aware of how beneficial it is to be prepared. Hopefully by sharing some of our recipes and tips, and by hearing from y'all, we will all be more prepared! Here's a few must-have tips and tools for meal planning that help me with the process:

1// use your calendar/agenda/planner
Know your schedule for the week. Is one day longer/harder than others? Will anyone be out of town? Do you have plans for people coming over? Are you going out to eat? Another reason to use your planner is to make notes of any prep work needed ahead of time. Write in tasks that can be done days in advance for your meals. For example, we keep quite a bit of frozen meat, which is great but it requires planning ahead to properly thaw. I feel like Mondays are always crazy so I try to plan for us to have leftovers that night just to make it a little easier.

2// search for inspiration
Once I know what our week looks like, I look for meal inspiration. I search instagram, pinterest, magazines, and cookbooks for ideas. I aim to try new recipes and sometimes seeing what other people are preparing reminds me of my own recipes I haven't made in a while. I also try to have Dustin provide an idea or two just so I am keeping his preferences in mind. Sometimes inspiration comes from the pantry or fridge. Those random canned goods would make a tasty vegetable soup. The sausage and bacon in the freezer reminds me we haven't had breakfast for supper in a few months. Consider different cuisines or themes when cooking: Mexican Monday, Thai Tuesday, Fish Friday, Soup Sunday, etc.

3// make a list
After I have an idea of what I want to prepare each day, I make a list of the meals and also my grocery list. I try to be sure we actually need what I write down so I'm not buying duplicates. Sometimes I overestimate my memory skills and end up with four containers of sour cream. My Simplified Planner has a nice little box on each day's page where I can write what we are eating. I love it.

4// notepads/printables/etc
I'm a sucker for a cute notepad, especially one that relates to food. I snagged a few at Target a couple years ago in the dollar aisle. I also have seen several printables on pinterest for grocery lists or menus. For me, pretty paper gets me excited to write my list and get organized. Fix a yummy snack, turn on your favorite music, light a candle or do whatever you enjoy to get excited for meal planning.

5// do the prep & find shortcuts
If I know we are having a roast on Sunday, I know to put it in the fridge to thaw on Thursday. Prepping this prevents me from trying to thaw a huge hunk of meat in a short amount of time (aka chaos). If I have spare time, I try to chop any veggies I know I will need in the coming days. I enjoy chopping vegetables; however, some days I just don't have the time. I've become BFF with the frozen chopped onions and bell peppers in the freezer section at Kroger. Find shortcuts that help shorten the time of your meal preparation.

6// consider all the meals/snacks
I only have shared our supper menus because typically for breakfast/lunch are pretty much a routine of any of the following: eggs/salads/leftovers. Snacks are usually nuts/lunch meat roll ups/fruit/avocados/etc. (nutrition tip: always have protein + carbohydrate + fat at your meals/snacks to prevent spikes/drops in blood sugar and to stay full longer). If you have people in your family who like different things each day, be sure that's considered.

7// plan for flexibility
This is one I struggle with at times. I get a plan going and then something comes up. Maybe the day doesn't go as I thought, plans change last minute, or we didn't like the new recipe we tried. Try to have things on hand you can make a quick meal out of: greens for a salad, frozen burritos that your husband loves, condiments for sandwiches, etc.

What helps you with your meal planning process? I'd love to hear your favorite tools, tips and tricks. What do you keep on hand for "emergency" meals?

meal planning monday

I could spend all day in the kitchen. It's my happy place. Sometimes I enjoy it more than I should, which then leads to other areas of our life being neglected-- I'm looking at you, laundry. Lately, I've been struggling in the meal planning department. Exhaustion, poor time management, and laziness have gotten the best of me. Supper time rolls around and I become overwhelmed because I don't have a plan or I didn't prepare ahead of time. Some days, my priorities are out of order. Some days, I have the best of intentions. Thankfully, the Lord and my husband both give more grace.

In an effort to be more organized as well as provide some ideas for meals, I hope to share my week's menus more frequently. I aim to try new recipes, too. I'll mark these with a "*".

M// sunday's leftover roast, carrots, + potatoes with green beans
       -- roast recipe: close to this one by the Pioneer Woman

T// crockpot sausage, peppers + onions with roasted potatoes*
      -- crockpot recipe: this one by fellow RD, Katie Serbinski

W// sausage + mushroom quiche with roasted veggies
      -- quiche recipe: my mom's

Th// meatloaf, mashed potatoes, + roasted veggies
      -- meatloaf recipe: close to this one by PW (if you haven't noticed, she's one of my faves)

F// leftovers from the days before

S// chicken soup
     -- a combination of this recipe and this recipe by PW

S// skillet greek chicken and rice with roasted veggies*
     -- chicken recipe: this one by RecipeTin Eats pinned on my food pinterest board

Friends, hold me accountable and share your own menus! It's so easy to get stuck in a rut. Hopefully, we can help each other out with different meal ideas!

7 on the 7th: fall favorites

Happy Fall Y'all! I love this time of year. The colors, the smells, the weather, the flavors, all of it. Here are a few of my fall favorites to create an autumn ambience:

1. plush pumpkins
A few weeks ago I snagged these cuties at TJMaxx. I love the jewel tones and texture. Plus they were a cheaper version of some I've seen online.

2. table linens
My mom always dresses up her home with the changes of the seasons. I love how she celebrates each one with special touches here and there. One easy way she does this is with different tea towels or dish towels. I grabbed a few fall colored towels and linen napkins at TJMaxx. I keep the napkins on the table in a cute basket my sweet friend Kirby gave me a couple years ago.

3. cinderella pumpkins
I love the classic orange pumpkin, but I think these beauties have claimed the top spot on my pumpkin variety list. Their muted color and unique shape is my favorite. Plus, what's not to love about a pumpkin named after a beloved fairytale!? I love them paired with the gorgeous, green jarrahdale, a multicolored "one too many" pumpkin, and a simple, white pumpkin.

4. mini pumpkins & gourds
You can usually find these for a dollar or less just about anywhere. Who doesn't love mini anything? Tuck them in baskets, hurricane glasses, or on bookshelves for some cheap fall cheer. Dustin's mom always has a delicious display of produce. Put that pretty, edible squash on the counter. Great double duty of decor & dinner!

5. happy everything plate
This has been one of my favorite wedding presents. Switching out the attachments is such a simple & cute way to celebrate the changing seasons & holidays. The red leaf definitely adds happy to my kitchen!

6. chalk art
My friend Whitney Prescott is the chalk art queen. She has a gift of creativity! I love how she updates her chalkboard with different beautiful designs. My art skills are lacking but I do enjoy changing out messages on my pig chalkboard. Dustin gave me this for Christmas one year & it has been a favorite of mine since. I love the adding little reminders for the month or season.

7. thieves
I think aromas add to the autumn ambience. Pumpkin bread, hot apple cider, savory simmering soups, smoking tobacco barns, and sweet marshmallows toasting over bonfires are some of my favorite fall scents. Diffusing my Thieves essential oil is also a favorite. Its spicy scent reminds me of fall all year long & with flu season upon us, I love the added protection it provides.

What are your favorite ways to celebrate & decorate for fall?

sausage + sweet potato soup

Who else is excited that the beloved soup weather is back!? I love it. Friday night we had some friends over for our first chili of the season! If you're looking for a good chili recipe, PW (Pioneer Woman) has a great one. I follow it almost exactly. Y'all know from pretty much any recipe I share, I can't follow a recipe exactly without adjusting for our tastes. Saturday we split the chili leftovers for lunch and then I made a pot of soup for supper because the weather was perfect for it!

Anytime I make a new recipe, I always ask Dustin, "Is it a keeper?" and he agreed that this is one to make again! When I was serving the soup, I tried to describe it to him as a close relative --maybe a soup sibling-- of Olive Garden's Zuppa Tuscana (as if soups have relatives!?) Several of the ingredients are the same but there's just enough changes that it has a different flavor, sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes & a tomatoey broth instead of a creamy broth. I was inspired by Martha Stewart's recipe but I did my own adjustments according to the reviews I read (always read recipe reviews!) and what we had on hand. No offense, Martha! Here's the recipe with my alterations.

Sausage + Sweet Potato Soup

Ingredients
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and pepper
1 lb bulk mild Italian Sausage
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes
1 small can tomato paste
Italian seasoning (I eyeballed it, maybe almost a tablespoon?)
A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (you could omit if you don't like extra heat)
A dash of ground nutmeg
4 cups unsalted beef broth
2 cups water
4 cups roughly chopped kale

Directions
In a large pot, saute onions in EVOO until tender. Add in sausage and cook until browned. Add in seasonings and garlic. Cook for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Stir tomato paste into the sausage and onion mixture. Let this cook together for a minute or two. Throw in potatoes and cover with the broth and water. Bring to a boil for about 10 minutes. After about 10 minutes test a potato for tenderness. At this point mine needed just few minutes longer (probably about 4) so I went ahead and added the kale for it to wilt. Taste for seasonings and enjoy!

I love the flavors of this soup! It's a little spicy from the sausage and red pepper flakes, a little sweet from the sweet potatoes and tomato paste. It's also very hearty & filling! The colors are very fall-ish, too! Deep red from the broth, green from the kale, bright orange from the sweet potato. Oh and let's not forget about the nutrition! Good protein from the sausage, a nice serving of carbohydrate and Vitamin A from the sweet potatoes, Vitamin A, K, and C from the kale. I contemplated adding a can of cannellini beans but didn't. I might next time!

Let me know if you give this recipe a try and what you think of it!

7 on the 7th: september smorgasbord

It's September! The month I let go of summer and welcome fall and all things pumpkin with open arms! I can't help but feel a tiny bit bad for summer as I usually neglect the last few days of it. (Totally over the heat, though!) So to make up for it, I am picking back up with my tradition of sharing seven of my favorite things on the 7th of the month. Sometimes I try to have a theme for my 7 on the 7th. Today, it's a compilation of random things, or a smorgasbord of sorts. A little food, a few fun finds, all favorites.

1. Curried Chicken Salad with Cherries
Chicken salad can be complicated or simple. I think it only needs 4 main components: chicken, a nut, a fruit, and a dressing. I'm pro-fruit when it comes to chicken salad. I enjoy grapes, apples, and cranberries (individually) as add-ins. My new favorite is adding fresh cherries. Super simple "recipe": Chop up a couple of cooked chicken breasts. Add about a cup or so of halved, pitted cherries. Add an equal amount of chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, your choice!). Then combine with an easy dressing of mayonnaise with curry powder. Depending on how wet or dry you like your salad, you can add more or less mayo. The same goes for the curry. I am obsessed with curry so I add a good amount. No joke, at least once a week we have a dish with curry powder in it.

2. Tomato and Cucumber Salad
My MIL made this one day while she was keeping Charlotte. I fell in love! Another super simple summery snack. Dice up a tomato, a cucumber, an onion, and an avocado. Drizzle with EVOO & the juice of a lemon. Adjust the amounts of each ingredient to fit your taste. This is summer in a bowl to me! So easy. So tasty. So satisfying. I made some today for our Labor Day get together.

3. Crispy Roasted Okra
I've only had okra a couple of ways-- fried and pickled. I love both ways but thought that it would be a good experiment to roast it. I happen to live by the motto: when in doubt, roast it out. I've yet to have a veggie I didn't enjoy roasted. Try it for yourself! Chop up some okra into similarly sized pieces. Or you could probably leave it whole too. Drizzle with EVOO or melted coconut oil. Season liberally with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then roast in a preheated 425* oven for about 20-30 minutes. If it isn't crispy enough, turn on the broiler for a minute or so but watch it so it doesn't burn. You're going for crunchy not charred to death. You also don't want mushy, which I make the mistake of doing sometimes. Even Dustin, who doesn't love vegetables as much as I do, enjoyed these!

4. This top from Target.
A nursing/pumping mama's dream. I bought it in two colors because I love it so much.

5. Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood.
I told myself when I was pregnant I wouldn't let our child watch television as a baby. Well I'm eating my words and telling the world wide web about it. Yes, I let Charlotte watch tv occasionally. No mom shaming allowed here, people. Charlotte coos and smiles so big when she sees the colorful characters on Daniel Tiger. The only downside, those catchy little songs they sing stick in your head forever. When you're sick, rest is best, rest is best! It's ok to feel sad sometimes, little by little, you'll feel better again!

6. Diffusing the Allergy Trio.
Lemon, Lavender, & Peppermint essential oils. Just a few drops of each & you'll have the room smelling lovely & the sniffles subsided. We have all had allergy issues in our home. Even poor Charlotte. I diffuse these nightly & throughout the day. With flu season around the corner, Thieves will soon be our go-to.

7. Pioneer Woman's new line at Walmart. 
Seriously. As if I didn't love her enough, she goes and creates this beautiful, affordable line for our kitchens. I love it all! I'm happy I walked away with one of her pretty plates to complete my gallery wall! I'll share pictures of it once I have them all placed.

What are some of your favorites lately? Happy Labor Day!

teach them to your children.

Sometimes I get so excited thinking about all the things I can't wait for Charlotte to learn and for us to teach her.

I can't wait to teach her how to crack an egg or measure out sugar for a recipe.

I can't wait to show her how to use her crayons to create works of art on her coloring pages. (& hopefully not the walls!)

I can't wait for Dustin to teach her how to kick a soccer ball. (Y'all know I could show her the wrong way to do anything sports related. I'll stick to cheerleading!)

I look forward to her daddy teaching her gun safety, how to bait a hook, and all about the great outdoors.

I can't wait to see her peddling down the driveway as she learns how to ride a bike. I get teary eyed thinking about the day she drives away in a car!

I can't wait to teach her about the seasons, the weather, the stars and the moon.

I look forward to teaching her how to swim, tie her shoes, read a book, and write her name.

Oh the fun we will have learning how to garden, send notes in the mail, paint our nails, and take care of animals.

Of course we will need help along the way. No one can dance in our family like Aunt Micah. G-Dad (Dustin's dad) can fix pretty much anything. Aunt Jess has the best sense of style. I could go on and on. Little CC is surrounded with talented family and friends.

More than anything I've listed above, I pray we teach Charlotte the love of Christ and raise her according to His Word.

In the times we mess up, and we do that often, I pray we show her grace. In our words. In our actions. In our apologies. To her and to others.

Today is the baby dedication service at our church. In front of our families and friends we will vow to raise Charlotte according to scripture. What a privilege and responsibility it is to be her parents. Charlotte Lee, we love you more than words can say and our Heavenly Father loves you infinitely more than that.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 

{Deuteronomy 11:18-20}

taking stock, again.

last year i did a "taking stock" post after reading one by ashley who blogs over at the vanilla tulip. i loved the format and idea of slowing down to notice the little things. it's also fun to look back & see what you took stock of in the past. here's mine.

making :: my second cup of coffee.

cooking :: leftover pad thai. who else loves random leftovers for breakfast!?

drinking :: a kona blend k-cup my daddy gave me w/ a splash of chocolate cashew milk {<-- fave}.

reading :: savor, a devotional by shauna niequist. 

wanting :: all the books. so many books, so little time. 

looking :: outside our window in the kitchen.

playing :: pat-a-cake & peek-a-boo with charlotte a million times a day.

wishing :: time would slow down.

enjoying :: the cool mornings as a hint fall is coming in a month! 

liking :: my new farmer's market stamps.

wondering :: what foods will charlotte enjoy the most when we eventually start introducing them. 

loving :: my sweet, hardworking husband who did the dishes last night.

hoping :: the stains come out from charlotte's blowout this morning {real life, people}.

marveling :: at mercy with the new morning {lamentations 3:23}.

needing :: to chill out if my to-do list isn't always completed.

smelling :: lemon, lavender & peppermint {yay for the allergy blend!} diffusing. 

wearing ::  stress away essential oil on the daily.

noticing :: charlotte is such a morning person. she coos and smiles as soon as she wakes up. 

knowing :: i need to be still & know the Lord is God {psalm 46:10}.

thinking :: about fall decorations. 

opening :: my planner to meal plan.

giggling :: everyday thanks to my hilarious husband & darling daughter. 

feeling :: all the feelings. often tired. sometimes overwhelmed. always blessed&thankful.


have you slowed down to take stock of what's going on in your life lately? 

a one pan plan: skillet chicken

Hello blogworld! Long time, no see! Since my last post, we have welcomed our sweet girl into our world. Life as I knew it has completely changed! What a blessing she is to our family. Miss Charlotte Lee has brought us so much joy the past two and a half months! I can't believe it has been that long.

I've been trying to find easy recipes with easy clean up since having Little CC. This is a recipe that I have prepared THREE times in the past week! Dustin was out of town last week so my mom came to stay with us. She raved about a recipe her friend had followed from People Magazine so I wanted to try it out. The first night it was good, but I knew we could tweak a few things to make it even better so we did it again the next night! I enjoyed it so much and couldn't wait for Dustin to try it when he returned home. Last night I prepared it for him and he loved it! Here's the recipe with our adaptations, along with a link to the original.

Skillet Chicken
adapted from Jessica Seinfeld's Skillet Chicken

{Ingredients}
1 yellow onion, sliced
4-5 medium Yukon gold potatoes, sliced into 1/4 inch rounds
2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3-4 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
3/4 tsp black pepper, divided
1-2 tbsp ground coriander
5 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Crumbled feta cheese

{Directions} 
Preheat oven to 425*. Scatter onions on bottom of cast iron skillet. Place potatoes over onions and drizzle with EVOO. Season with about 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Place rosemary on top of the potatoes. Combine the remaining salt and pepper with the ground coriander in a small bowl. Rub spices on chicken, making sure to season beneath the skin also. Place chicken skin side up over the potatoes. Roast for about 1 hour, or until chicken is fully cooked and potatoes are tender. Top with feta cheese crumbles during the last 5-10 minutes of roasting.

What I love about the recipe:
- simple, real ingredients: After tasting it, I would have thought more than just 9 ingredients went into the dish
- easy preparation: The most time consuming part was peeling and slicing the potatoes
- one pan plan: This makes for easy clean up
- great flavor from the coriander and chicken: I really love coriander so I enjoy the use of it in this recipe. Even if you are not usually a dark meat kinda person, give it a try with the chicken thighs!
- great texture from the chicken and feta: Leave the skin on, it crisps up so nicely and gives a nice crunch. The feta adds a creaminess to the dish

Let me know if you give this recipe a try! Enjoy!

taste & see

I went outside earlier to enjoy some of the beautiful sunshine and encourage some Vitamin D synthesis. What a lovely day it is! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, our windows are open, and I can hear my neighbor's wind chime when the breeze picks up on occasion.

I saw a neighbor as she was outside working in her yard. We met in the middle and introduced ourselves. She told me about her love for gardening and shared with me about some of the flowers starting to come up in our yard. I told her about Little Miss coming any day now, as if it weren't obvious, which meant we probably wouldn't be putting out a garden this year. She mentioned she planned to plant some tomatoes and I agreed that nothing is better than a fresh, homegrown tomato. She then went inside and came back with a few she picked up on a recent trip to the beach! We talked a bit more, went our back to our own yards, and eventually inside our homes.

Once inside I couldn't wait to slice up one of the tomatoes for a snack. Paired with a ripe avocado and sprinkled with salt and pepper, it was a delicious treat. There's something about sharing food with people that really means a lot to me. This weekend we had the opportunity to grill out with some of Dustin's family and also spend time around the table with a few from our Sunday school class. I realize fellowship doesn't always involve food, but isn't it great when it does?

Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones or maybe it's just me being sentimental (or a combination of both) but I just wanted to share and savor this memory. In {Psalm 34:8} the psalmist writes:

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 

Today I tasted His goodness in a fresh, ripe tomato shared by a sweet neighbor. I can see His goodness in the beautiful weather we are experiencing and in the generosity of another. What a blessing these moments are! How often I let these gifts of His goodness pass by without thanking Him. There will be days when the sun isn't shining. When staying inside is the only option. When a special snack may not make the cut on the agenda. Even then I hope I slow down and acknowledge that He is still good. For now, I will give thanks for today, taking time to taste and see His goodness. 

7 on the 7th: pregnancy favorites part 2

Happy March! It's Baby C's birth month! My mom surprised me with this adorable Happy Everything attachment. I considered saving it for Mother's Day, but just couldn't wait! I cannot believe that she could arrive at any point. We are considered to be full term now (+37 weeks) but I'm hoping she keeps cooking as long as she needs. For March, I wanted to share some more pregnancy favorites. In November when I was 20 weeks, I shared my favorites to that point in this post. Here are some more to add to the list:

1. Prenatal Massages
Dustin has treated me to a couple prenatal massages, once in my second trimester and once in my third, and I cannot say enough good things about them!  Even though I have been pretty comfortable (thankfully) it's amazing how much tension can be relieved. If you want to treat yourself or a mommy-to-be that you know, give them a gift certificate for a prenatal massage!

2. Chiropractic Care
Along with massages, I fully recommend considering chiropractic care during pregnancy. I started going to a chiropractor a little after 20 weeks. Each week she would adjust my hips, back, and ribs. When you have a growing baby pressing against your ribs/lungs, breathing takes a bit more effort. I could instantly tell a difference in the ability to breathe after my adjustments!

3. Pregnancy Pillows
Dustin's parents gave me a pregnancy pillow for Christmas after my friend Kirby's recommendation. There are many different brands/styles/etc. I loved having a long pillow to support my back/belly as well as in-between my knees. You reach a point during pregnancy where not only is it uncomfortable to sleep on your stomach/back, it's not safe. Having a long pillow really helps me stay on my sides comfortably.

4. Eggs
Of course I am going to address food again. I mentioned in part 1 of my pregnancy favorites about my love for Bubbies Pickles, which provide probiotics along with their delicious flavor. I have also loved eggs almost every morning for breakfast. They provide quality protein, healthy fats, and great fat-soluble vitamins which are so important during pregnancy. They also make a great snack or addition to a salad!

5. Labor & Delivery Scripture
I came across Val Marie Paper through Instagram. She has beautiful Prayer Journals & her posts are always so encouraging. She recently released Pregnancy Journals which I am sure are lovely, too! In one of her posts, she mentioned a free printable she made of verses to meditate on during labor/delivery. I have loved reading through her list of scripture already! You can find the link to her printable on her blog.

6. Meal Planning
These last few weeks of moving, unpacking (still occurring), and preparing for Baby C have been a whirlwind. I can only imagine how different things will be once she is here with us! I have tried to be more intentional with my meal planning each week so that I not only am sticking to a plan/budget, but also prepared with simple, quick recipes. I hope to share more of my meal planning process in the future.

7. Comfortable Pajamas
Since I plan on breastfeeding, finding comfortable, nursing-friendly pajamas is a must. My aunt gave me a couple sleeping shirts back in my first trimester that I have enjoyed the entire time. I received a pajama set for Christmas that I have loved and picked up another set a couple weeks ago to also include in my hospital bag. All have buttons in the front and are a soft, breathable cotton material. I take my sleep seriously so it's nice to have good pajamas to ensure quality rest!

Do you have any pregnancy favorites? I'd love to hear them!