The Message

One of my favorite Christmas gifts last year was a paperback copy of "The Message." As a girl who loves both the Lord and reading, it is truly a perfect combination. Admittedly, I have found reading the Bible to be hard work! Even when I read my NIV, I easily get lost or side tracked, rendering my efforts toward reading the Bible an even more challenging feat. In the same way that you would talk about scripture with a friend, "The Message" puts the words of the Bible in plain language. The contemporary style is enjoyable, and the paperback version fits easily in a purse or work bag. Don't get me wrong, the language of other translations is beautiful and timeless, but this certainly is a refreshing supplement. This chapter caught my eye the other day and I of course had to share it with you all!

Colossians 3
He Is Your Life

1-2 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
5-8 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

Back to the Burg

home sweet home... some of my favorite spots

Lyrical Bliss

You know how some songs just get stuck in your head? For no apparent reason, lyrics and tunes will pop up out of nowhere and stick with you all day long. Sometime this can be quite irritating, especially when the un-intentionally selected song is of the Lady-Gaga genre. Today, I'm humming to a beat of a different drum. Jarrett and I attended a new church service on Sunday and with our visitor welcome bag (cute, huh?) came a c.d. of a Christian artist that I had never heard. I can't wait to get the name to you, because her voice sounds like an angel and her words are so beautiful. As I pulled into my home, the song "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" started to play. Rather than grabbing my belongings and heading into the house, I sat there and felt both her words and my connection with the Lord. The words have been on repeat in my head all day long, which has been so amazing. Like a prayer, I never realized how powerful words could be. I hope you love this song as much as I do. These are the beautiful lyrics that are filling my heart and soul ~

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace."

Make Us Pure

Please pray for Kerry, my childhood friend. Kerry was born with cystic fibrosis and has had to overcome incredible odds in her short life thus far. She is an inspiration and role model and has certainly challenged me to live my life to the glory of God. Kerry shares her beautiful testimony in the words below, challenging herself (and indirectly ourselves) to live for the Lord. Please pray for Kerry as she awaits her new lungs, and please pray for the individual who will one day give Kerry her second chance.

"After much searching and praying I think I figured out why God has given me this time of waiting. I think I've been placing too much emphasis on how the transplant may change my outward appearance. For example, my hopes of getting rid of this barrel shaped chest, my hope of getting rid of the 02, my hope of gaining weight and muscle tone, scars and getting rid of feeding tubes and I'm sure there are many other things but they are not coming to mind right now. It is hard (for me) to be in this condition when I see everyday on TV, out in public and magazines what the true female figure is to look like and its hard knowing I'm different. but at the same time I feel it is very selfish of me to think this way. I should be thankful for how God created me, for I was created in His image and made to glorify Him, I don't see how I can do it this way, but He does. All this to get at the point that I think God is teaching me that it's not about how this will change my outward appearance but how someone I don't even know will give me a second chance to live and that alone should make me grateful and it does. And yes, the selfish side comes out again when after transplant yes I'll have the puffy chipmonk cheeks, the tremors and thin hair from all the meds, but it is like my good friend Pam told me: "who cares what you look like, you can breathe!" Which is very true. So in all this waiting, I'm praying that God will create in me a pure heart, rid me of this selfishness that haunts me and just be thankful for the gift I will recieve so that I can go and help others.

I'd appreciate it if you'd keep me and this matter in your prayers! I will overcome!"

Blizzard 2011

Without doubt, I most certainly fall into the category of "snow-lover." We've already had a couple of beautiful snows this winter, and I was beyond thrilled when I saw little white flakes in the forecast. As the snow began to fall on Monday afternoon, there was a (literal) flurry of activity as people grabbed their belongings to make a break for it. I overheard one lady glancing out the window in absolute disgust, declaring how much she hated the snow! I was part shocked, part offended and in awe of how someone could have such strong opinions against something so beautiful! Apart from it's beauty, I love the excitement that a good snow brings. Happy snow week :)

PUGGLE!

We dog-sat for Carrie's puggle last weekend. A puggle is a mix of a pug and a beagle, and seriously one of the sweetest breeds ever. "Bo" was so much fun to have around. He was incredibly well behaved and so very loving. We miss you Bo!

Week's Eats

Beef Stew

Jarrett and I had alot of leftover roast beef from our wedding that we didn't know what to do with. With little thought, we decided that a big pot of stew was just what we craved. The cookbook in the photo is one of my absolute favorites. Cori gave it to me in Martha's Vineyard and I've been referring to it ever since. I've never made beef stew before and this book gave me step by step directions. In the end, it was pretty fool proof and the end result was incredible savory.

Pork tenderloin, corn pudding, and couscous

I love pork tenderloin because it's so easy to prepare. I usually stick it in the crockpot for several hours and end up with a juicy and tender cut of meat. We served it up with some corn pudding and Marrakesh Express mango salsa couscous.

Chicken Corn Chowder

After having this favorite back home, I couldn't wait to make it again. I have yet to find a favorite corn bread recipe. When I do, I'll post it right away!

Honey Whole Wheat

I think that bread making might become a new hobby :). I've always been somewhat scared of making bread, mostly because I didn't know how. I sort of assumed that my ability to make bread would be a work in progress. Fortunatley, my first time making bread turned out to be a success.

Honey Whole Wheat

Pre-ferment:
1 cup bread flour
½ cup water
¼ tsp instant yeast

1. Mix pre-ferment ingredients together and let sit for 12-16 hours at room temp

Final Dough:
Pre-ferment (all of it)
1 cup bread flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup water
2 Tbsp honey
¼ cup wheat germ
1 ½ tsp kosher salt
1 ¼ tsp instant yeast

2. Put all ingredients in mixing bowl and stir until it comes together. Mix on first speed for 3 minutes. Mix on second speed for 3 minutes.
3. Pour dough onto a lightly floured surface. Fold once and cover with plastic. Allow to ferment for 2 hours, folding after the first hour.
4. Form into desired shape after fermentation (or place in loaf pan). Allow to rise for 1 hour. After 30 minutes, begin preheating oven to 450F. (Note- I used my Le Creuset without the lid- if you have a Le creset remember that the handle can’t withstand this heat and should not be place in the oven.)
5. Slash loaf to allow for expansion during baking. Splash 1oz of water in oven right before loading bread and bake for 25-30 mins until the crust takes on a nicely dark color!

Two Bean Chili

So healthy and definitely one of my favorites. There are so many ways to make chili, but here's my favorite.

Two-Bean Chili Recipe
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 lb lean ground beef
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon dried ancho chile powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
28 ounces diced tomatoes
15 1/2 ounces red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
15 1/2 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup nonfat sour cream
2 scallions, sliced

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
2. Add the beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until no longer pink, about 4 minutes.
3. Add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, chili powder and cumin.
4. Cook until the vegetables are softened, 3-4 minutes.
5. Stir in the tomatoes, beans and salt and bring to a boil.
6. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the chili thickens slightly, about 15 minutes.
7. Serve topped with the sour cream and scallions.

Citrus Tilapia with Quinoa Pilaf

I love quinoa becuase its a great source of protein and has a nice starchy taste. My favorite way to serve it is as a pilaf, which adds flavor, color, vitamins and nutrients. I use the Vegetable Chop and Measure to chop my veggies into small bits. Enjoy!

Quinoa Pilaf
Ingredients:
1 cup dry quinoa
2 cups canned chicken broth
1 T olive oil
1 T Smart Balance Light Spread
2 cloves of garlic minced
.5 cup diced carrots
.5 cup diced onion
.5 cup diced celery
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
.5 cup shredded parmesean cheese

Directions:
1. Chop and set aside vegetables and garlic. In a saucepan combine chicken stock and quinoa. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce heat to low and cook like rice, leaving covered to simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender.
2. While this is cooking melt the Smart Balance and olive oil in a large skillet. Saute vegetables and garlic in this oil until tender. Keep warm until quinoa is done then add quinoa to the skillet with the vegetables. Mix well. Stir in parmesean cheese just before serving.

Bon appetit!

The "M" List

10 things around the house that I absolutely love!

In no particular order, these ten products undoubtedly enhance my life. I strongly recommend them :)

10. Oil of Olay Regenerating Serum

I have been using this serum for several years and it's my absolute favorite. I've tried other lotions and products but always gravitate back to this little guy. I apply it twice a day and it seriously feels like silk. A bottle costs around $20-25 which is certainly reasonable compared to its higher end competitors. Love.it.

9. Clinique touch base for eyes

Andrea has always used this product and I discovered it when she did my make-up for the wedding. Let's be honest. Who loves having really good eye make-up? Better yet, who loves having really good eye make-up that stays on all day? Touch base seems to do the trick, with an added bonus of a shimmery sheen that adds youth and that extra dazzle. A new staple.

8. UGGs

I'll never forget the winter that I decided to cat sit for 2 weeks. I was a college student living in the foothills. It was somewhere between freezing and frigid and 7:00 may as well have been 4 in the morning. The alarm would sound, my cue to climb out of my warm bed to go give that darn cat its insulin. The only thing that got me out of bed was knowing that I could slide on my UGGs to keep me warm along the way. The sad truth is that that is the truth! I have been addicted to these shoes and have had my old beat up pair for 7 years! They have kept my feet toasty and have maintained their trendiness all the way. At long last, I finally got a new pair that will arrive in the mail any day now (thanks to my super sister-in-law and hopefully new found fellow UGG-lover). Sheepskin rocks my socks off (literally!).

7. Yankee Candles

I pretty much always have a Yankee lit whenever I am home. I picked up this habit from my mom, who balanced her southern home with a this type of Yankee influence ;). In high school, college, and PA school I always studied at home with a candle burning on my desk. There's something so comforting about the little glow. I have too many favorites and love the seasonal scents- Sand and Sun, Farmer's Market, Sparkling Snow. Currently, I'm burning Island Spa which is divine. Never underestimate the sense of smell.

6. KitchenAid mixer

In the past week I've made 2 loaves of honey whole wheat, 1 batch of corn bread, a dozen sugar cookies, and 2 loaves of banana bread. All in all, I did zero mixing. This thing is amazing. As long as you can measure, pour, and follow instructions, the KitchenAid mixer will do the rest of the work. There are so many recipes I can't wait to try. Adults get toys for Christmas too!

5. Sonicare toothbrush

At my last cleaning, my dental hygienist was going on and on about the new toothbrush that they got in. Since I'm sitting in a chair, vulnerable with my mouth propped opened choking on saliva, I pretty much had no choice but to sit there in listen (marketing ploy?). At first I brushed it off (no pun intended), and remained loyal to my good old Oral-B. Besides, they give you a free one at the end. But the more she talked, the more I listened and bought into the product. Who knows whether they really only had one left (again, marketing?), but I ended up being the lucky one to drop a hundred bucks in the name of fighting cavities. The verdict? Ha! I love it! I brush my teeth twice a day and can't feel even a trace of plaque left behind. Hello bright whites.

4. Eucalyptis sheets

When Jarrett and I got our new bed, I hunted high and low for the perfect sheets. First of all, I had no idea how expensive sheets can be! I realized that if I was going to drop a pretty penny, I wouldn't settle for anything less than the best. I tried the Simply Vera Wang sheets which were super stiff and very heavy. Luckily I was able to return them and try again. Bed Bath & Beyond has fabric samples of all of their lines, and when I felt the Eucalyptus sheets I was intrigued. I picked up a set and will never go back. These sheets are so incredibly soft. If you're in the market, grab your 20% off coupon and take my word for it. The only drawback? It does make it harder to get out of bed!

3. Arbonne shea butter

The winter months inevitably wreak havoc on my skin. I usually use Eucerin cream for sensitive skin to keep hydrated. Then I discovered Arbonne's shea butter at Shannon's spa party. In the same way that the Oil of Olay serum feels like silk, this lotion makes my skin feel healthy and refreshed. The smell is pretty delicious too. Santa hooked me up last week so I should be set for a while. A plus Arbonne.

2. Burberry Weekend

Every girl should have her trademark scent, and this is mine. I've been wearing Burberry weekend since college and adore the smell. If you don't have a go to perfume already, give this one a try. I can't really describe it, other than to say that it's not overpowering and smells divine. I don't wear it to work because of patient allergies, so when I wear it on weekends and special occasions, it makes me feel pretty :) Did you know perfume can do that?

1. Le Creuset dutch oven

Thank you Brigid! How did you know that I would fall head over heals for a pot? This cast iron beauty made its debut in my kitchen a little over a month ago and has taken my ability to cook to a whole new level. I've made chilis and stews, mashes potatoes and cranberries, bread and more in this red enamel coated dutch oven. It heats evenly, captures heat more thoroughly, and allows for better infusion of the seasonings and flavors. This is a piece that I will use forever and then give to my children along with some of my favorite recipes. For the love of cooking!

Reflections on a New Year

Happy New Year! 2011, wow! There's truly something so refreshing about the start of a new year. A time for new beginnings, hopeful wishes and plans for becoming a better version of you. It's pretty amazing how we start the year with visions and plans for what the year will bring. The truth is, we really have no clue what life will bring our way. Last year, for example, I had no idea that within the year I'd be married and living in a new home. My new year's resolution to "not be so type A" pretty much went right out the window ;). Nevertheless, 2010 was an amazing year, pretty much the best in my life.

I have goals, just like everyone else. To be honest, this year it seems remarkably difficult to pick just one as a new year's resolution. I'd love to get more organized, I'd love to spend more time in scripture, I'd love to cut back on junk food, I'd love to not get so stressed out, and I'd love to get more settled into my house. All in all, there are improvements here and there that would collectively make a big difference. The problem becomes striking a balance between achieving it all without becoming engulfed or consumed by unrealistic expectations.

That being said, I've landed on a perfect resolution and goal for the new year. This year I will strive to become more balanced. Rather than trying to perfect components in my life, I'd rather shift my efforts on striking a balance between my daily activities and valued relationships. Striving to be intentional and in the moment of all that I do, with realistic expectations, a smile on my face, and a reminder that worse case scenario, my life is still pretty great.