NYC Food Tour

 This fall we took a trip to NYC. Earlier this year, Southwest had an amazing sale and we took advantage! Our NYC trip pretty much revolved around food. We made one of our resturant reservations before we made our hotel reservation! :) My sweet hubby is a total foodie and I love to enjoy all his picks. He always picks the best places and proves me wrong when I'm skeptical.

Clinton Street Bakery
   This was the only day we made it out for breakfast and it was fantastic! I am not exactly a morning person. So between my slow going and trying to figure out the subway on our first day, we had breakfast at about 11am. I started with a super chocolatey mug of hot chocolate. It started raining-- link and I was already cold so this hot chocolate was the perfect remedy. And is was so rich! I love me some chocolate so this thick and creamy beverage was right up my alley. For the main.course I ordered their famous pancakes. Best. Ever. Even better than Cracker Barrel. Now I know this is hardly a fair comparison but I really like the nice crispy buttermilk outside and soft inside of Cracker Barrel pancakes. J ordered a delicious omelet and bottomless coffee. 

Babbo

   We had to call a month in advance to get in here! This is one of Chef Mario Batalli's 5-star returants. And they take reservations only a month ahead. J called exactly a month before our trip and after an hour of redialing, got thru and we had to rsvp at either 5:30pm or 8:30pm. So we had to eat at 5:30pm. But it worked out well because we also took in a Broadway show--link that night. This is the most expensive and the best meal I've ever eaten! We had Warm Lamb’s Tongue Vinaigrette, Pig Foot “Milanese”, Goose Liver Ravioli, Black Spaghetti, Grilled Pork Chop, and Olive Oil Geliato.

Russ & Daughters
    Bagel
Scheshwan Gourmet
  Chinese
Shake Shack

   Burgers and chocolate shake
Katz's Deli

   Pastrami sandwich
Totto Ramen
   Ramen.. to die for.
I think I'm going to have to seriously consider going on a diet now.

Celebrating Halloween?

I have long been conflicted about celebrating Halloween. I grew up not participating in Halloween in any way. I am perfectly fine with that and do not feel like I missed out at all. It was rather easy, in fact. We lived in the country and so no one came knocking on our door anyhow. Now my family and I live in town and I find there are more aspects to consider about Halloween. We have neighbors that are going to come knocking on our door whether we have our light on or not, I realized when we first moved in. That year I wasn't prepared and had to give out candy bars to our new neighbors. :) oops! Though I don't like Halloween, I do love to give. (It's one of my favorite things about Christmas.) So even before we had kids, we decided that we would definitely turn on our light and hand out candy and be friendly. We needed the opportunity to see our neighbors more! Now that we have a child of our own, the questions only grow. This year we will be handing out candy and if Millie would like to dress up, she can. I always loved dressing up as a kid. Halloween or not, imagination and dressing up is always encouraged at our house!
I will always be opposed to the dark, sinful aspects of Halloween. And for now, we choose not to go trick or treating.
Do you trick or treat? Do your kids? Did you as a kid?

Here are a couple articles from Focus on the Family president Jim Daly I've read recently on the subject..

Halloween and Christianity
Halloween: Trick or Treat or Abstain?
He makes some very good observations and the comments are also quite interesting, good and entertaining. :) 

Beauty of a NE sunset

Thursday Thoughts on Romans

Today I started reading through Romans via a reading plan on my YouVersion Bible app. It's supposed to be a 8 day plan. I am sure I won't finish in that short of a time frame but I intend to do at least a chapter a day.
I've always loved the book of Romans. There are so many bold verses! Paul speaks so strongly about Christ and what being a Christian is all about. He doesn't mince words.. my kinda guy. :) I was blessed to study Romans at Bible college and it only deepened my convictions. And I haven't read entirely through this book since then.
After only the first day and the first two chapters, I am encouraged and convicted. Here are a couple verses that jumped out at me...

Romans 1:24-25 NKJV, especially verse 25.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
   I always have heard that line about worshipping the Creator rather than the creation and didn't know it was actually a verse.

Romans 2:29 NKJV
but  he is  a Jew who  is one  inwardly; and circumcision  is that  of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise  is not from men but from God.
   Beautiful picture and such a convincing reminder.

Wow. I love how any time I read the Word, I'm moved and encouraged. What have you been reading and learning?

Feels like Football

 This week I saw this bus parked in the lot of my local Wal-mart. And then this chair in my grocery store. Looks like it's almost football season! It sure is going to be exciting this year... Since we're now in the Big Ten, the Penn State - Nebraska rivalry in our home is going to really heat up!
I am dying to buy one of these little camp chairs for Millie. Every since she learned to climb on our kitchen chairs, she has been climbing on EVERYTHING. Maybe a chair her size would be less dangerous. :) I've also been hunting for the perfect Husker tee for her. She's not quite ready for the 2T size but I'm so done with onesies. And I think this year she might get a PSU tee and  Nebraska tee. Maybe I won't let her out of the house in Nittany Lion blue. Millie has been learning new words left and right. I can't wait to hear her say GO BIG RED!

Satisfying the Sweet Tooth

 

 We just finished these S'more bars. OOH YUMMY!

Starbucks Outrageous Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Starbucks Outrageous Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats (not quick cooking)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup dark raisin
1/4 cup golden raisin
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
Topping (optional): 4 tablespoons dark raisins, 4 tablespoons golden raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Blend oats, flour raisins, cranberries, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add egg, cinnamon, and vanilla; beat until combined. Gradually add oat mixture to butter mixture; beat until combined. Combine raisins for topping in separate bowl and set aside.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoons, 2 inches apart onto two lightly greased baking sheets. Place 1 mounded tsp of raisins on top of dough.
Bake about 12-16 minutes, until cookies are golden brown, but still soft. Cool on sheets before serving.

Notes: I don't do the topping because they usually burn on me and they're really not necessary because there are plenty of raisins and craisins in the cookies. Also, 1 batch makes 17 cookies when I use my pampered chef scoop. So I like to buy all the stuff and keep it on hand to make a small batch every once in awhile or double or triple it. Do not succumb to eating all the craisins after you make one batch! They're so good but expensive! :)
Oops I guess I haven't made it quite clear that I didn't come up with this recipe. I got it from my sister who probably found it online somewhere but I don't know where. 
Hope you enjoy these cookies!

S'mores Cheescake Bars

S'mores Cheesecake Bars
from Annie's Eats (who adapted from Sugar Plum)

Crust
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (from about 7 graham crackers)
1 tablespoon sugar
pinch of salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Cheesecake
4 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1/2 cup marshmallow cream
2 teaspoons unsweetened natural cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature

Topping
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
Milk chocolate chips, melted (optional)

To make the crust: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil leaving an overhang on opposite sides to lift the bars out. Spray the lined pan with cooking spray. Stir the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, salt and melted butter together in a small bowl with a fork until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Press the mixture in an even layer into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden and fragrant. Transfer the pan to a wire rack while you prepare the filling. Reduce oven temperature to 325 F.

To make the filling: Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30 second bursts on 50% powder, stirring in between, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, sour cream and marshmallow cream on medium-high speed until smooth, 1-2 minutes. Add the cocoa powder, vanilla extract and eggs to the bowl and beat until incorporated. Finally, beat in the melted chocolate. Give the batter a final stir with a rubber spatula to ensure everything is evenly combined. Pour the filling over the graham cracker crust and smooth the top with a spatula.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the center is just set (does not jiggle when shaken gently). Transfer the pan to a wire rack and spread the mini marshmallows evenly over the cheesecake layer. Return the pan to the oven for about 2-3 minutes, or until the marshmallows just begin to melt into one another. Remove the pan to the wire rack and, using a kitchen torch, brown the tops of the marshmallows. Let the cheesecake cool to room temperature then drizzle with melted chocolate, if desired. Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours before cutting into squares and serving.

I found this great recipe at Tracey's Culinary Adventures. This week I signed up to make dessert for Bible Study and since my birthday is also this week, I wanted to make something chocolate so I could enjoy the leftovers all week. So started hunting and found that August 10th is S'mores Day so I had a lot of marshmallow and chocolate treats to choose from. Amy Atlas did a fun s'mores day roundup and Tracey's cheesecake struck my fancy. But when I found I could make it in bar form, I was sold! They were easy to make, didn't require the traditional cheesecake water bath and are very tasty! I hope everyone else liked them as much as I did!

SSMT

I find this verse to be a very good reminder. I ought to post it on a wall in my house... in BIG letters! How many days do I find myself saying dumb things that are better left unsaid? How many days do I let my selfishness and personal discomfort affect my mouth? I want to speak words of kindness to those I love. Words that build them up and strengthen our relationship.

Proverbs 31:26 NKJV
She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

I pray that the Law of Kindness will be evident on my tongue and in my home.

August Ten

So my ten has officially become a top ten list, not ten photos. I sure wish I had a better eye for photography. But, hey, I definitely know how to make lists. I am the list queen! I make lists during the day just so I can remember everything and then so I can mark things off. I feel more accomplished! :)
So today...
1. Going to the YMCA. We started the day off right with a trip to the Y for some PiYo. It makes me feel loose! Today Millie didn't want to leave. She was coloring. I guess I'm glad she no longer cries while I'm gone.
2. Groceries for the 3rd time. This week! Grr. The country girl in me does not like. I went Sunday and then again Monday to exchange my faulty hamburger. I bought 80/20 instead of 93/7 for meatballs. Oops, that would've been greasy. So today I was back for 3 more things.
3. Playtime. We spent a fun filled hour or so with the neighbors. They have toys, lots of them. Millie loves it. And today she got to chase the bunny too.
4. Bunny chasing. Millie absolutely loves to chase the sweet bunny. Good thing Cutels is so good tempered. She just runs around searching for a safe hiding place. When she gets fed up she runs back to her cage for a break. Isn't Cutels such a cute name for a bunny!? It's "cute" and "ellls". Add bunny to the list of pets that baby girl is going to beg daddy for someday.
5. Blueberries. Millie has been thoroughly enjoying freeze-dried blueberries. She won't touch fresh ones with a ten foot pole... purple food apparently isn't edible in her book. (Please forgive the awful blurry phone picture and smile at the blue lips.)
6. Baby meal. One of our friends just had a sweet baby girl so I prepared a meal for them today. My go to baby meal is meatballs. The other moms expect it. :) In a good way. But one of the other gals brought meatballs on Monday. We thought it would be ok for them to have it again cause they're a little different. But I didn't feel right about doing that. So with a quick (and 3rd) trip to the store I was set for Hamburger Pie (casserole) a la the yellow Mennonite cookbook. I wanted to keep a spoonful for myself!
7. Starbucks outrageous oatmeal raisin cookies. Yum. Recipe coming up later.
8. Good friends and good talks. I'm thankful for my Titus 2 'older' woman. A girl can really be encouraged by a listening ear!
9. Veggies! We are part of a CSA vegetable share. Hmm I'm say that wrong. But we do get a bag of fresh, local veggies every week. Yummy! We got lots of tomatoes this week. We also have sweet corn and beets coming out of our ears. I'm looking forward to enjoying whatever my chef comes up with this week.
10. Sweet corn. It is so in season right now. It's perfect! My ear for supper was so sweet and had nice big kernels. Yum! Thanks Dad! I think we should definitely visit my parents again, at least for the sweet corn. ;) I'm attempting to freeze a bunch so we can enjoy it this winter too.
Happy August 10th!

I Wish Wednesday

I wish my baby was sleeping. We have a friend over today and H is sleeping soundly and my girl has been making herself heard for the last couple hours. I think it's time to completely drop the morning nap. We've be doing naptime from 10-11 and then 2-4. Millie just couldn't make it through the morning without a rest. But now she's really struggling with her afternoon naps.
Any tips on how to make the transition to one nap easier?
Honestly I think the transition might be harder for me than her! I enjoy being able to take a morning nap if I stayed up too late last night. And I usually get ready for the day during her morning nap as well. I'm either going to have to get up before her, which is rarely going to happen or learn to get ready faster with her around.

I wish it was 85 degrees everyday for the rest of the summer. Today is so beautiful! It's been so ridiculously hot that today I almost felt like I needed a jacket this morning. Even though summer is my favorite time of year, I do miss cooler evenings and mornings where you just want to pull on a cozy sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. But today was the perfect day to be outside! Yesterday the FedEx man delivered our new kiddie pool and today we broke it in! It was a hit and a great way to cool off. Between all 5 kids (my 2 for today plus the 3 neighbor kids), I had to wash out a bunch of grass but it was worth it. I'm happy to have a pool for the rest of the summer!
How have you been beating the heat this summer?

I do not wish for twins. Oh my goodness. Having two 1.5year olds today has shown me that I do not wish for twins. Ever. When I was a kid, I thought having a twin would be a blast. But now as a mother, I realize raising twins would make me pull my hair out after a couple days. To those mamas out there I know that have twins ...you are strong women! God must give extra patience to those moms and dads!

The Maverick's Bride

I just finished reading The Maverick's Bride by Catherine Palmer. On our recent trip to PA, Grandma gave me a pile of easy reading, fluffy, romantic books. :) She knows I like to read. It was a pile of like 8 books and I read 2 of them while we were there. They must think I'm anti-social the way I buckle down and read every time we're there. This book took me less than a week at home. And if I had nothing to do, I could read one in a day. I enjoyed this one and the story was surprisingly well developed for a 272 page book. I even wished it was a little longer!

The Maverick's Bride is about Emma Pickering's desire to follow God's calling to be a nurse in East Africa in 1898 despite her father's disapproval, her needy younger sister and her heart's tug towards rugged, mysterious, American, cowboy, Adam King. Spoiler Alert: if you want to read this book and not know the details stop reading here. But seriously, you can guess how it turns out based on the cover picture and the back cover description. :)

What I loved most about this book was Emma's character. She was a woman with a calling from God to be a nurse. But in that day, she was expected to be a proper young lady whose only goal was to find a good husband. She was faced with the added pressure of keeping tabs on her flighty younger sister, Cissy and keeping them both out of their strict father's way. Their mother passed away when they were young girls and it turned their father into an unhappy man. Mr. Pickering was a British railroad man and they were all headed to East Africa to beat the Germans in a railroad race inland. Upon arrival, Cissy was broken hearted to be separated from Dirk, the German solider she fell in love with on the ship; they were bombarded with reports of lions attacking the railroad workers; and they crossed paths with Adam King. The railroad foreman Nicholas Bond, immediately informed Emma that Mr. King was a loose cannon with a bad reputation. And Mr. Bond also made it clear that he intended to please her father and marry her. But when Emma broke her father's rules to help a sick child, Adam was there to help. At the first railroad stop on their journey inland, Emma realized Mr. King was following her and she didn't want to admit her attraction to him. That night there was a lion attack and when Cissy disappeared because she thought she heard Dirk calling to her, Emma took off to find her in the wild Savannah. Thankfully Emma was rescued by a local tribe and Adam King. Mr. Pickering died unexpectedly because of all the chaos and Emma married Adam to access her sizable inheritance so she could continue searching for her sister.
The rest of the story is about Emma's struggle to find her sister, follow God's calling to be a nurse and fight her attraction to Adam. I don't think I have to tell you that it all turns out after a few twists and turns. If you're looking for a quick, enjoyable read try The Maverick's Bride! :) I recommend it.

August 1st SSMT

I'm excited to be plugging through Proverbs 31!
Proverbs 31:25 NKJV
Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.

This verse is encouraging to me right now! It's amazing how that often works out. The verse that I just happen to be focusing on speaks to me at this time of life. :) I love how God arranges that. This verse reminds me to be diligent in my day to day work at home because there is a reward coming.

Home on the Plains

I was reminded this week of how much I love my home state and in particular the area around my hometown. As we sped down the interstate, I could see the horizon stretching for miles. The corn had all grown tall and I could see the patchwork of green fields all around. And this time of year many of the farmers are getting their field's sprayed for bugs so there we're crop dusters diving all over the place. I grew up only a few miles from a local airstrip and remember the planes flying over our house often. We loved watching them and waving! I always hoped they would see me and my siblings waving. :) And usually if they did, we got a little wave from the wings. Now that was a special day! Back to our recent drive... Millie was asleep in the backseat and I was a little sad that she missed seeing all the planes. There were crop dusters diving on both sides of the road. I could see the flashes of white and yellow flying through the air from miles away. As we drove closer I could see that one of the yellow planes was spraying right next to the interstate and he had to go right over the road when he turned around. I sure hoped that he would buzz us when we got close. It was our lucky day! We happened to just be passing by as he finished a pass and came whizzing right over the car!! Now I remember being told that we should never hope that the planes would go right over us because they could get chemicals on you. But I'm thinking that times have changed and hopefully they're better at turning off the spray when they're not over the corn.
I love watching the seasons change and the landscape grow in Nebraska. I love watching the corn pop up the turn the plains green in the spring. (Sorry allergy sufferers.) In the fall, I love seeing the haze from corn dust as I watch the big orange harvest moon come up. There's just something about this land that warms my heart.
Where is your favorite place?

July Ten

So I completely forgot about 10 on 10 this month. And then I started this list and forgot about it. We went on vacation! :) Because I forgot I don't have any pictures but here are my 10 highlights of that day...
1.  Church - While out of town I really missed my home church. I like the music style and the preaching style and there's just something about worshiping with the family of believers you're comfortable.
2.  Vota lead worship
3.  Visit from Grandpa and Grandma - I think we might have to come up with a new name for my parents because while we were in PA staying with J's grandparents (Millie's great grandparents), she learned how to say Grandpa (papa) and Grandma (mama). So she was a little confused today. I've been trying out Opa and Oma. It's different and german so it still fits with my family. But it still feels unfamiliar so we'll see!
4.  Wilderness Lodge for lunch
5.  AC - It was insanely hot on Sunday! And many of you know it still is a week later. I don't remember summer being this hot last year. Above or at 100 degrees all week is too much. O is very sad that I keep telling her we can't go outside during the afternoon.
6.  Afternoon naps
7. Playtime with the neighbors
8.  Hamburgers for supper - my hubby makes a mean hamburger. Yum!
Sorry I can't think of 2 more. Maybe I'll have 2 extra next month! 
Perhaps I should just stick to lists. Top ten on the 10th!

Barley

We had some amazing Barley Casserole this fall after Grandpa passed away. One of my mom's friends dropped it off. I'd never had barley casserole and was skeptical. But I tried it. And loved it!
I wasn't able to get the recipe from her so I asked my mom who said just to use one off the Internet like they had. So I hunted the google and tried this Mushroom and Barley Casserole recipe from My Recipes.com.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon stick margarine
1 (8-ounce) package presliced mushrooms
1 (3 1/2-ounce) package shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps sliced
1 cup uncooked pearl barley
1 (1-ounce) envelope onion soup mix (such as Lipton Recipe Secrets)
4 cups water
Chopped chives (optional)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.
Heat margarine in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Set aside.
Combine barley, onion soup mix, and water in a 3-quart casserole, and stir in mushroom mixture. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until liquid is almost absorbed. Garnish casserole with chives, if desired.

Millie helped me watch it cook. And she also unloaded the cabinets while we waited. :) Good kitchen help is hard to find!
It wasn't the best. Even though the ingredients seemed the same the flavor was really bland. We added soy sauce to make it take better. Soy sauce makes everything better, right? We sure thought so. And baby girl agreed. She loved the barley casserole both times!
For the next go around, I made sure I got the exact one my family ate. My mom sent me theirs to try next time from Taste of Home.
Ingredients
1 cup medium pearl barley
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup butter
1-1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1 envelope onion soup mix
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
3 to 3-1/2 cups chicken broth
Directions
In a small skillet, saute barley and onion in butter for 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Transfer to an ungreased 2-qt. baking dish. Stir in the mushrooms, almonds, soup mix and parsley. Add 3 cups broth.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1-1/4 hours or until barley is tender, adding more broth if needed. Yield: 8-10 servings. 

I hope it's better. :)

Forever Sunshine

Right now I'm enjoying a new shower gel fragrance from Bath & Body Works . 

Forever Sunshine is a blend of apricot, peonies and pralines. I don't know if this is what sunshine smells like but I love it! I have to admit I almost look forward to this part of my shower knowing I get to smell this scent. :) I sure hope they have this shower gel again next summer. I usually fall in love with one of their seasonal flavors and then they discontinue it. Maybe I should stock up!
I do love summer. But when I think of summer smells something more like fresh cut grass comes to mind. I don't really want to smell like that. Or sunscreen and chlorine. Or bug spray. I love summer but summer smells aren't usually to nice. I'd better go smell the roses in front of my house to remind me of the good smells of summer.
What are your favorite scents? What smells remind you of summer?

SSMT

Proverbs 31:23 NKJV
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

3 Year Blog-o-versary

Today is the Anniversary of my little blog!

It's been 3 years since my first blog post. My first post was about God's goodness to me - and it still rings true! I have a wonderful little family. I love seeing my baby girl grow up each and every day. She's learning so many new things! As you can tell from most of my posts, she's my daily excitement. I usually post about her. :) I also have a wonderful husband. As the years pass, we grow closer and learn how to work together more. We have a beautiful house and wonderful neighbors. We have an amazing church family. I've been truly enjoying all the opportunities to serve and challenges to grow.

One of my first posts was fun facts about me. In honor of those first days here's an update about me...

I am: going to be 25 this year! 

28. Oh boy, I think I'm beginning to feel a little old. Sometimes I actually forget my age. When I get the age question I usually think '25' and then 'oops. I'm definitely past that.' Maybe my internal age is stuck on 25! :)
I think: in funny directions.

I am still one of a kind. I've found that mind-reading is the hardest skill to learn in marriage. Seriously, I need that superpower!!
I know: that I am loved.

that I am still loved and even more! And that I have my own daughter, I have learned what it is to love my own child. It's amazing and scary to feel so strongly about a person!
I want: a kitty.

still a kitty. :) But I think I'll wait until Millie is old enough to ask. She has way more pull with Daddy!
I have: more blessings than I take stock of.

A wonderful life! I am so blessed to have a wonderful hubby and beautiful daughter.
I wish: I was more observant.

Well I'm still working on being observant but I think I'm improving! This seems to be a life long learning process. These days the one thing I really need more of is patience. Mommyhood required a lot of it!
I plan: to be an organized mover.

to enjoy the summer. Millie loves being outside and so we're going to soak up the sun!
I hate: it when people are rude or disrespectful.

I think this one stays the same. Rude-ness is annoying. It's not that hard to be a little gracious and remember 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!'
I miss: the Tetons some days.

the freedom of life before kids (only some days). You know. Kids mean your schedule isn't yours, it's theirs. I miss having dates with my hubby!
I fear: big, fast spiders.

ugh. Still spiders!!! But family brings a whole new set of fears. I would hate to loose J or Millie. I love them so much! I constantly have to give them to God and remind myself that He loves them even more. And I know He loves me and will care for me thru any storm.
I feel: sleepy still.

optimistic.
I hear: birds.

happy baby-talk. I love this happy stage! Sometimes I wish Millie would stay little.
I smell: enchanted orchid soap.

a little funky. I go workout at the Y most mornings and it's a great time!
I crave: chocolate.

a date night. We plan way too few of these. Date nights are expensive! You pay for dinner and a babysitter plus a movie is $10 per person. Crazy. I also crave a mani and pedi day. Ahhh that sounds so relaxing. I haven't got that type of pampering since last summer.
I search: Google.

for wisdom. I am constantly look for ways to be a better homemaker, mom and wife.
I wonder: how I can better love my husband.

when Jesus will return. I'm not the type to see the end of the world around every corner. But the crazy weather, etc in the world these days has me wishing for His return more often than I used to.
I regret: being quick to speak.

not much, thankfully.
I love: J! Happy (very soon) Birthday!

my Lord, my life and my loves.
I hope: to be a mom.

in the Lord on a daily basis. He is my everything!
I ache: to have a hug.

when I hear about suffering mamas or babies. Motherhood makes my heart so much more tender.
I always: take too long in the bathroom.

hmm ALWAYS is a word I like to avoid. I always use words like always and never when I'm mad which I remember learning in pre-marriage counseling that you are NOT supposed to do. oops.
I am not: outgoing.
a morning person. Millie wakes me up between 7 and 7:30 everyday. I know that's not that early but my internal clock says it is!
I believe: God's word is truth. AMEN.
God's promises are true. He is on His throne at all times and He is coming again.
I dance: when I'm alone with Cher. :)
with baby girl all the time! I love dance parties with her. 
I sing: for fun.
because it puts a smile on my face. I especially treasure bedtime when I sing for baby girl.
I cry: when I'm hurt.
because I'm a woman and I get emotional, just accept it.
I don’t always: run on time.
wash my hair. I'm really trying not to wash it every day because it's supposed to be better for it. But it's driving me a little crazy.
I fight: because I'm stubborn.
because I'm passionate about what I think, what I believe and who I love.
I write: for fun and to clear the brain.
as a release. It clears my mind and makes my thoughts clearer.
I never: want to move away from Nebraska.
say NEVER if I can help it. Life is so full of changes and most that I sure can't control.
I need: forgiveness for the grouch monster.
daily hugs from my baby! 

Thanks for reading!

SSMT & my crazy week

Oh oh, I'm a little late but I have had a busy week. So first off here's my verse...
Proverbs 31:21-22 (NKJV)
She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
I'm still working though Proverbs 31. I am halfway through my year of memorization. It is definitely getting more challenging to keep on top of! Now that we're halfway through the year have you been able to keep on top of your New Year's resolutions?

So my last week has been crazy!!
First off O had surgery to repair her umbilical hernia on Wednesday. We were up at 4:30am to be at the hospital at 5:30 and surgery was at 7:30am. I'm telling you that was way to much hanging around. O was awake and didn't exactly just want to lay in bed waiting for her turn. Once she was in surgery, the waiting was the hardest part for me. It was so hard to watch her walk away with the nurse. She cried and reached over her shoulder to me. :( Thankfully we had friends join J and I in the waiting room. A long hour and half later, she was done. New belly button!! I cannot believe how fast she recovered. Kids are amazing! After 1 day, she was off Tylenol and by 2 days, she didn't even seem to remember or care she'd had surgery. I'm so glad to have this behind us.
Second I coordinated a wedding on Friday. And not just any wedding but the pastor's granddaughter. So I felt a little pressure to do well. I worried about the weather all week as I prepped all my notes. But it was beautiful! A beautiful evening for an outdoor wedding and everything went off without a hitch! Congrats to the Newlyweds!!
I hope you're having a busy and fun summer!

Father of the Year

There are now 2 daddy's in my life - my Dad and my Husband, the father of our baby girl - that I love dearly. This spring the local radio station hosted a Father of the Year contest. I sent in a submission for my Dad...

I think of my Dad as Father of the Year every year!
When I was a child, he taught me life lessons. Whenever he was working outside, he always made me feel welcome. I knew he would encourage my help and teach me something new. I never felt in the way or shut out of his work space. I could watch him work on his motorcycles or latest carpentry project for hours, and he’d usually open a Dr. Pepper or homemade Root Beer for us to share. He always disciplined with a firm but loving hand. I constantly look back at his example as I parent my own daughter.
As I grew into a young women, he made me feel special. He made me feel beautiful. My Dad took time out of his busy schedule to take me on dates. We would go to Chances R and order mushrooms and dessert. It was our special thing! He often would compliment me before school or church, reminding me that I was beautiful in his eyes. During this time in my life, I quickly realized that his love towards me brought me confidence and security. This was the type of man I wanted to marry someday. When I didn’t get into the college I applied to, he sent me flowers though I was 13 hours away. I still look back fondly on those flowers. They meant a lot be me because, he understood how disappointed I was without me saying a word.
As an adult, my Dad encouraged me to independence and responsibility. He would spend time on the phone or late into the evening talking by the fire about my struggles. He always points me back the God’s Word as the place of truth and comfort. His most consistent word of advice for me was about Job. As a girl, I struggled with emotional moments of crisis and he would always turn me to the book of Job and remind me to look at what was true above what I felt. Just because Job didn’t feel like God was there, doesn’t mean He wasn’t. My Dad still greets me with a hug and a kiss every time I see him, though sometimes my baby girl gets the first one. And he still has a listening ear for me when I need advice.
The one thing that has meant the most to me is that he tells me how proud he is of me. He praises my godly choices and desire to continue on that path. It means everything to me, that my Dad is still pleased with me as I make decisions with my husband and regarding my family that I don’t discuss with him. I miss that season of closeness but I treasure our adult friendship and will never take for granted our close father-daughter relationship. Every girl needs a father like mine to point her to our Heavenly Father.

I wish I would've had the words to send in for my husband. But this being only the second year of him being a daddy to my sweet baby girl, I wasn't sure how to say how I feel. J is a wonderful dad! I know she adores him. I love seeing that beautiful relationship develop. I know someday I'll understand how to tell my husband what a wonderful father he is to our family in the same way it's so easy to tell my Dad. I look forward to a lifetime of sweet moments!

Waterfall braid

I am still attempting new hair styles. This is another from My Yellow Sandbox called the Waterfall Braid. It's so easy and pretty! I think I'll have to keep trying this one.

I'm enjoying playing around with new looks. Actually part of the reason I'm messing around so much is because I'm trying to wash my hair less. I've heard a million times that it's better to not wash your hair every day. And yes it'll be a little greasy but then your hair will catch on and stop producing so much oil. So I'm trying to shampoo it every other day. But I'm still waiting for it not to be so gross the 2nd day. I may have to give up on this one. I so cannot pull off the greased monster look!

Find the original look with tutorial at My Yellow Sandbox.

Ten

 Well my plan was to attempt the 10 on 10 project. The goal is to take 10 pictures on every hour on the 10th day of the month. Realistically I knew I would forget and my pictures wouldn't turn out good. So I'll share what I have. And along with my pictures, I'll share 10 highlights from the day!

1. Step class at the YMCA. Since we joined the Y in December, I've been trying all the classes out. I wasn't sure I had the coordination for Step but ended up loving it. I look forward to my Friday Step class. The teacher is so energetic and I look forward to seeing the 'regulars'. 

2. Honey Bunches of Oats with Blueberries. Breakfast!! I was so hungry after my workout that I went a bit overboard. It was good! I'm not much of a cereal person. In fact, I prefer the kid's cereals like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. :) But J introduced me to my new favorite.

3. One of Millie's favorite things is reading books! Today she unloaded my diaper bag to find one.

 4. When I was doing dishes today somebody was laying on my foot. :) I sure love my little helper! Sure she's a little under foot sometimes but over all I don't mind her sitting on my feet and trying to get her little hands into everything.

 5. I just liked this picture. I was feeling artsy.

 6. For some reason Millie has decided that naptime needs to be a solitary time. All of the stuff animals and blankets in her crib make a trip to the floor while she naps. Here they all are waiting to be welcomed back.

 7. Oh man this was funny! Millie loves to unload our laundry baskets. Daddy only had a few things in his basket today so she tossed in her nuk. But when she reached down in to get it, her feet left the ground. She was stuck!! Oh I laughed! She was a little upset but I couldn't help laughing. :)

8. Date Night!! This was definitely the highlight of the day. The week even! I haven't enjoyed an evening out with my hubby for months.

9. Sorry for the unappetizing post dinner shot. But we went to Brix & Stones for supper and it was awesome. I always get the Guinness Braised Short Ribs. I feel bad always getting the same thing but they're so good. I just dug right in and didn't remember to take a picture until afterwards. 

10. Super 8. We saw this movie and I was surprised. From the previews I had seen, I was sure it was just going to be another scary movie. And I do NOT do scary movies. AT ALL. It was intense in a good way and I enjoyed it. My hubby chooses movies I don't think I'll like way too often. But I usually change my mind. He has good taste.

So I enjoyed focusing on the highlights of the day and trying to capture some of those moments. I'm not a photographer so my pictures are nothing to write home about, but I hope this inspires you to remember the little blessings in your day!

ps. This post is dated on the 10th to reflect the date of the pictures and events.

New Duds!

This month I went on a long overdue shopping trip. The Loft just opened in town and that was my first stop. Really it was the only place I needed to go. I love their stuff!! First off, they have that perfect blend of clothes for the young casual woman who doesn't want to look like a teenager or too matronly. And second, I am an x-small at the Loft. Seriously - an XS!!! That will sure make a girl feel good about trying on clothes. And the Loft always has great sales. So I ended up getting a few casual tops and some capris and a few days later this dress went on my bday list. My birthday's in August so I think it's soon enough to make a list!

How cute, right!? Well surprise! My mom got it for me the other day! Mom's are the best. And of course she said I can wear it now. :) I'm loving my new summer clothes!

Have you been shopping this summer? What's your fav place to shop?

Like?

Hi my faithful readers!

So I've been blogging on and off for almost 3 years (since June 23rd, 2008). Wow 3 years. That's crazy! At that point in my life, we were just buying our first house and sweet O was still just a twinkle in my eye. My posts have ranged from fun exciting news to opinions about life to mundane mommy ramblings. 

I just want to say thank you to all my friends and family who continue to read my blog, even through the slow spots. If you've been enjoying my musing on life and motherhood, please FOLLOW me!! I love to know you're still reading. I'd also to hear from you. I realize that I don't always post a lot to comment on... so I'll work on that if you promise to comment once in a while. :)

So today my question for you is... What do you like reading about on my blog? And what do you think I need to share more about?

Outdoor Living

When the weather started to get warm this spring, we headed outside! On this particular day we had a snack outdoors on the deck.

Millie is beginning to learn how to hold still and smile for the camera. So I get some of these adorable little grins captured!

Walk for Life

The Lincoln Crisis Pregnancy Walk for Life is tomorrow!

I'm so excited to walk this year. In years past, I've wanted to participate but was usually gone or busy on the chosen weekend. So this year I put in on the calendar way early. I am finding that we're still busy this year and as I think ahead to tomorrow, I'm a little overwhelmed by the full day we have planned. But this is a very worthy cause. I think I can sacrifice some sleep. And it should be a beautiful day for a walk around the lake. So I think I might even get some exercise pushing 20+ pounds of stroller and my baby girl a couple miles.

I've always strongly believed in the sanctity of human life but since I've had my own baby girl the feeling has become personal. I absolutely 100% believe that Millie was a person from the moment of conception and it would have been murder for me to terminate my pregnancy at anytime. Each baby is a beautiful gift from God and should be treasured. This reality is something that is especially hard to accept when you're young and facing an unplanned pregnancy. The Center helps young couple make wise, Biblical choices about the future of their family.

If you want to walk or sponsor a walker, check out the details.

SSMT

June 1st! I'm nearing the halfway mark on bi-weekly scripture memorization for the year. Beth posted a very encouraging note today. This particular paragraph jumped out at me...
Part of how we stand firm is to know Scripture, and not with swollen heads but swollen hearts. One of the verses in my quiet time this morning was Psalm 119:57 – “The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow Your instructions.” (The NET Bible) One thing is certain: we are finding out how little security this anguishing planet can offer us. “The LORD is the source of security.” Personal. National. Global. Universal. The Lord alone. And, so, like never before, we need to know His instructions…and follow them.
What a beautiful verse! I'm amazed at how a different translation can sometimes bring a verse alive in a new way. Knowing that God is my security gives me confidence and determination to follow Him, even though it's hard and I get discouraged far too often. Do you have a verse that brings you determination?

I'm still working on my goal to memorize Proverbs 31. Though I admit I'm not doing as well as when I started, I'm am sticking with it!! And when I do take the time to meditate on my verse, I am challenged to put into practice the ways of this godly woman. Here's my memory verse for the next 2 weeks..
Proverbs 31:19-20
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

I Wish Wednesday

I WISH... I was at PiYo. Let's just say, this morning did not go as planned. J left early this morning, which is normal but Millie decided that meant she needed to be up too... at 6:45am. Daddy gave her a kiss and I gave her some books to keep her in bed until 7:30. Then began the struggle of breakfast. Apparently pancakes and nectarines weren't making her skirt fly up this morning. After a 1/2hr of sitting in her chair, she drank all her milk and threw her pancake on the floor. So I could a) clean her up and take her to the Y with basically no breakfast or b) sit and patiently help her eat. This good but slightly grouchy mama chose option B. PiYo is my favorite class each week so I'm bummed. I might have to just do what I remember here at home. I always feel so relaxed after this class!

I WISH... Millie would stay little forever some days. She's my little bookworm and I love reading to her.

I WISH... I had this Hartford Buffett in my dining room. Don't you just love dreaming about what you want in your house someday!? I do. We've only been in our house a few years, so we're still accumulating furniture. It can be expensive!! So we save for a while and then make a purchase. This baby is definitely on my list!

So this is my attempt at getting back into a blogging rhythm and bringing back I Wish Wednesdays.  Here's my first IWW post and why I choose 'wish'. What do you wish for this week?

30 New Do's

Just recently I ran across a great new blog at My Yellow Sandbox. The thing that really caught my eye is her new series '30 Do's in 30 Days'. Abby is doing a new hair do everyday for 30 days! Crazy awesome! She posts pictures and a video tutorial. 

 

I was so happy when I ran across this! I've had my hair this long (about mid back) since I got married almost 6 years ago. I've changed up the layers and bangs a little but it's stayed pretty much the same. Now I'm not the type of girl to keep her hair the same for this long but my hubby LOVES it! So it stays. I threaten every now and then to chop it all off. When Katie Holmes first chopped hers a few years ago, I really wanted that bob. But new layers and a fresh color kept me long. So I only have a few go to hair do's - down, ponytail, straight, curly, bun and sometimes a french braid. Boring. I am so excited to start trying these new do's! Here's my first attempt at the braided messy bun.

 

 Everyone warned me about those baby hairs. You  know. The ones you get post pregnancy when all that nice thick hair from the prenatal vitamins falls out and then starts growing in again. So especially on humid days, I get this nice halo of fuzz. Also, I think my french braiding needs some practice. This is what her more professional job looked like...

 I hope you pop over to My Yellow Sandbox and check out all the great do's!

SSMT

Proverbs 31:17-18 NKJV
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.  She perceives that her merchandise  is  good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.

I am sad because I'm falling behind. I'm still picking my verses every couple weeks but I haven't memorized them as well as when I started. And I know I need to move forward and be committed! The verses I have committed to memory are sticking with me. They pop into my head when I need an encouraging reminder.

How do you re-energize yourself when you've fallen behind on a personal commitment?
What verses stick with you?

Reading Tab

After slowly updating my reading tab over the past weeks, I finally finished...

I like to read and often way too much! I can't tell you how often I stayed up till 2 am in high school because i just had to finish my book. I just couldn't put them down. If I was really desperate, I'd read the last couple pages and finish the book later. I still wanted to enjoy the story but knowing the ending brought me enough peace to sleep. Sadly I don't get to the library often enough. And when I do, I'm usually picking out books for Olivia. As a mother and housewife, my days of spending hours upon hours reading are few and far between. Now I do most of my skimming reading online via Google Reader. I usually find myself struggling to keep up with all the blogs I'm dying to read. Honestly I usually wait until I have a huge list of unread posts and then realize I need to clean house. But I end up with a nice core of favs!
Check out my core reading material right now or save it for a rainy day.

What do you enjoy reading these days? Blogs? Books? Tell me your favorites!

My not so Green Thumb

I am killing house plants right and left this week! Eeek! Here I thought the warmer weather meant that finally my plants would get more sunlight and warmth. Instead... DEATH.

Plant #1... my Heartleaf Philodendron

And yes I had to research to find that name. Do you really know all the weird names of your plants?!?
Now this lovely plant has been dubbed one of the most common house plants and easy to grow. I think that means it's pretty hard to kill - it takes talent. I have this. After 5 years, it's down to one very sad stem and a couple leaves. I noticed about a month ago that it wasn't looking the best. So I went to my go to fixes: regular watering, extra light and miracle grow. It still went downhill. Then just the other day, I left it outside for the day. You know, fresh air. It's good for kids and plants. Well I accidentally left it outside over night and it just might have been that night recently when we had frost warnings. So I think it's officially over for my poor Philo. RIP.

Plant #2... Aloe Vera

Yep I knew this one. I'm not completely brain dead when it comes to my plants. This is actually my second go around on Aloe plants. I have received 2 batches from Granny. She has a green thumb! But I apparently didn't inherit it. I started it in a small pot and when it started to droop, I re-potted it into a larger pot with some new soil. I think it's been struggling ever since. But I blame the final death stroke on Millie. Well sorta. This Aloe makes it's home on a nice bench in the sunlight in our kitchen. Sadly it's a the perfect height for Millie, so she's been pulling them out. I dug them back in and gave them a new home and some miracle grow. (It's my go to!) So I'm really hoping they'll still recover.

Plant #3... Christmas Cactus

I only know this one because I got it from my Granny and she has one that we compare notes on. Repetition will guarantee me remembering the name. This is my only plant that is thriving!! Yay! It doesn't get a many blooms as the picture but it is as full. I think we'll be ok until I have to re-pot it.

In the process of trying to help my poor plants, I ran across a new (to me) website. For your next plant emergency (or simple question) check out the Guide to Houseplants. Great advice and easy to find!

Happy Easter

This morning I woke up excited like it was Christmas morning. I love Easter! I wish I was this excited for church every week.

I love this song! Whether Christmas or Easter or a Monday, this song pulls on my heart strings. I love most songs that mention the veil being torn. That moment is so personally important. It makes my heart fill with joy!

Jesus Messiah by Chris Tomlin

He became sin Who knew no sin That we might become His Righteousness. He humbled himself and carried the cross.
Love so amazing. Love so amazing.

Jesus Messiah, Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all.

His body the bread, His blood the wine, Broken and poured out all for love. The whole earth trembled And the veil was torn
Love so amazing. Love so amazing, yeah

Jesus Messiah, Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

All our hope is in You. All our hope is in You. All the glory to You, God, The light of the world

Jesus Messiah, Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all.

Amen! Praise You Jesus! I am so grateful and thankful for Your sacrifice. May we all be reminded of what we celebrate on Easter everyday.

Mirror Mirror

I can't tell how many times I question the mirror...
"How do I look today?"
"Does this fit right?"
"Is this attractive?"
In fact when I have a real fashion dilemma I contact my mom and my sister.
I have trouble with new clothing or accessory trends. I look in the mirror and can't decide if I like the new look or not. I recently texted them a picture with options. I started with a plain blue tee and a short sleeve grey cardigan. I ended up adding a skinny black belt to perfect my outfit. Thanks sister.:) If not for my fashionable family members I think I'd be stuck in a t-shirt rut.
I think the biggest question I sometimes forget to ask my mirror is...
"Is this God honoring? And does my appearance deserve as much time as I give it?"
Thankfully I have a good sense of modesty that my parents instilled in me, but I think all women struggle with vanity or image or body issues somedays. While I strive to be a beautiful reflect for my Savior on the outside as well as the inside, I strive to make sure the inside is still my priority.

SSMT

Proverbs 31:13-14 NKJV

She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.  She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.

SSMT

Today my verse is Proverbs 31:10-12 NKJV.
Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth  is  far above rubies.  The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
This chapter always encourages me or convicts me. So many of the verses are personal goals for my life. It's about time I start memorizing them!

Francine Rivers Contest

Francine Rivers is one of my all time favorite authors. Her stories always keep me up all night to read the end and in the end they always pull on my heart strings.
Tyndale is doing in a giveway in her honor. Go to http://www.tyndale.com/blog/?p=1042 to enter! You have a chance to win her entire library of books! I think I or my family must own most of them but that's ok. :)

VBall Game 2010

We made it to 1 volleyball game this year - the last one. I love going to Husker VB games! The atmosphere is like none other. And is also reminds me how tall and talented these girls really are. On TV it's easy for me to miss it. They all look the same height on TV. GO BIG RED!