What I'm loving Wednesday

How is it already Wednesday again?!?

One thing they don't tell before you have kids is that after you do- time passes at warp speed. It's true!

Since last Wednesday I have restrained myself from posting all the things I love just so that I could write this juicy post and include it all. #yourwelcome

First of all, I thought this article entitled "Surviving Whole Foods" was absolutely hilarious. I totally related to the way the author feels about the place. I like to call it "Whole Paycheck", because that's what it could cost me to shop there. I was laughing out loud. Read it!
(FYI- she does use some swear words in the article, which I don't like and weren't necessary in my opinion. Still worth a read if you need a good laugh today!)

Secondly, I am loving group fitness right now. It used to be my absolute favorite way to work out (and really still is). But after I got pregnant, at a certain point I just had to quit and exercise in other ways. 

Since then, I hadn't gotten the chance to resume that type of workout due to gym schedules, nap schedules, etc etc etc. Well- last week I got to go back- YAY! And then this week, my daughter caught a stomach bug and I wasn't able to make it again. Wah wah. There's always next week!

Which brings me to my next favorite thing: Shaun T's Focus T25 workout videos. For those days when I can't make it to the gym for whatever reason- this workout is awesome. And only 25 minutes. Score! Its a tough workout too. 

In case you aren't familiar- Shaun T also did the Insanity workout (so good too!).

I am also loving Honeycrisp Apples this week. I finally found some here in Michigan!  I immediately bought a whole bag. This is an apple they developed in Minnesota, so when we lived there they were plentiful! They are the sweetest and most crisp apples I have ever tasted. So. Good.

What apple snack would be complete without the perfect fall companion? Yes, friends, I'm talking about caramel dip. Am I right? YUM.

Finally, I am majorly lusting after some fall booties. I used to think they were icky, but I am a total convert! I have been having a hard time deciding which pair to purchase. Sheaffer over at Pinterest Told Me To wrote a great post today about fall booties. I think some booties would look fabulous with my camo skinnies!

(Source)

What are your favorites this week?

Hope your Wednesday has been fabulous!

Weekend.

Hi friends!

So how was your weekend? It was a fun one around here.

Nice fall temperatures.
Windows open.
Some time at the park.

A Wildcat Victory.

Maybe the win was a result of this little good luck charm? I'm gonna go with that!

We watched two good movies.

Lots of family time.

Church.

All in all a restful weekend. 

Even though I am a stay at home mom, Mondays can be kind of a downer after a fun weekend when the hubby has to go back to work.

So, I thought Mondays on the bloggy blog might be a good time for a Monday Meditation.

I always think its a good thing to keep scripture in front of you. To memorize it. Meditate on it. When I am praying, I am often reminded of verses that I memorized years ago. God always uses his word to speak to me and encourage me. I love that!

This is one of my all-time favorite verses and something that I am reminded of almost on a daily basis. Most recently during our moving, buying a home/selling a home, being homeless for a month process earlier this summer.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

Do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

And he will show you which path to take.

To sum it up, our move from Minnesota to Michigan was a difficult (and long!) transition. My daughter and I were alone and my husband had to move to Michigan without us while we sold our old home and bought a new home. The separation ended up being three months long and was much more challenging than we expected. 

We put offers on 8 (yes 8!!!) houses in Michigan before an offer was accepted. (The housing market was pretty tough and the supply of homes on the market was at a ten year low- good for sellers and bad for buyers) And then we were homeless for a month in between the buying/selling process!

I recited this verse out loud every day. I just knew the Lord was in the midst of this situation even though after each rejection of an offer on a house the "reality" of things didn't look positive. 

So today, write this verse on your heart. Know that even though a situation may not look good with your earthly eyes, when we trust in the Lord he will direct our steps. "Reality" means nothing to our God. He isn't constrained to our earthly realities. He works supernaturally. He will take care of you and whatever predicament you might find yourself in. He is faithful.
Every. Time.

Praying this verse blesses you this week!

Happy Monday :)

Recipe: Warm Goat Cheese Salad with Liquid Gold Vinaigrette

Since I have become a stay at home mom, I have been experimenting with new recipes quite a bit more than I had in the past. Much to my surprise, I actually find myself enjoying it!
(My old self, who was so preoccupied with work and going 180 mph all day every day, hated cooking)

So here is a recipe (if you can call salad a recipe?) that I made the other night and it was so good, I made it again for lunch the next day! Super easy and no pricey ingredients either. I thought I should share in the hopes that you all would make it and enjoy it as much as I did.

Oh, and remember in this post when I said I loved cheese? Well, goat cheese happens to be my favorite. I have been known to order entree's in restaurants for the sole fact that one of the ingredients was goat cheese.
True story.
So, as you can see, its fitting that my first posted recipe includes my favorite cheese. And BTW- goat cheese is not a pricey ingredient if you shop at Aldi: $1.99 for a log. (Maybe in a future post I will discuss my love for Aldi) Score!

Warm Goat Cheese Salad

Ingredients
Goat Cheese Log
1/2 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1-2 Egg Whites
1 T. Olive Oil
1 T. Butter
Greens of choice (I used Spinach and Arugula)
Anything else you would like to add to the salad! (I used cherry tomatoes and slivered raw almonds)

Instructions
Slice your goat cheese into as many rounds as you need (approx. 2 per salad), being careful that it doesn't break apart. Using dental floss to slice it can help. Dip each round into the egg white and then into the bread crumbs, making sure to coat it well.

Take the coated rounds and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. During this time you can toss your salad ingredients in the dressing if you wish. After 15 minutes, heat olive oil and butter in skillet. When it starts to bubble, place the rounds in the oil and brown on both sides. This happens pretty quickly, and you need to get them out before the cheese melts, so be careful!

Liquid Gold Vinaigrette 

This dressing is amazing! I found the recipe here, and just omitted the Fig Jam. SO. GOOD.

Now assemble your salad and ENJOY!

Truth.

I don't know about you, but when I try to fully grasp who God is, I often make the mistake of applying characteristics of my human relationships here on earth to better understand.

I often find myself trying to gain approval from God. Or wondering if he is mad or frustrated with all the mistakes and times that I take a step backward.

I could not be more wrong. My understanding is so limited! (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I am reminded of that even more since becoming a mother. When I look at my daughter, and think of how much I love her- I remember that God loves me even more than that. Its hard to fathom!

A friend posted this video on Facebook today and I was reminded of what a mighty, awesome, loving, gracious, powerful God he is! It is so worth the 4.5 minutes to watch. Do it.

Such powerful, life-changing truth. And a good reminder for me.

Whatever place or season you find yourself in right now, I want you to know that God is mighty and he loves you- no matter what. In fact, he values you so much he was willing to sacrifice a son (John 3:16).

His message is love, grace, and forgiveness, and even if you haven't experienced that in your relationships here on earth you can find it in Him.

There is nothing too broken that He can't fix.
There is no need that he can't provide for.
There is no marriage too far gone that He can't restore.
There is no pain, or brokenness, or sickness that He can't heal.
There is no one too far gone that He can't rescue.
There is no addiction or stronghold He can't overcome.
There is no past He won't forgive.
There is NO ONE on this earth that He won't welcome with open, loving arms. 

Friends, my prayer for you today is that you would come to know this love. Or if you have already experienced it, that you would be reminded, and brought to a new level of understanding about just how great that love is. Amen and Amen!

Ephesians 3:17-21
New Living Translation (NLT)
¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

This is my jam.

I love worship music. I love some secular music too- don't get me wrong. But there are days when the right worship song just lifts my mood. Keeps me in an attitude of worship and expectation.

Have you ever noticed the difference when you listen to worship music consistently and even when its not on its playing on repeat all day in your subconscious?

Or is that just me? Weird.

This song has been on repeat at our house recently.

So. Good.

(For reference, it is Priscilla Shirer's brother. He was on The Voice one or two seasons ago)

Be blessed!

A New Season: Friendship.

We recently moved from Minnesota to Michigan. Although I have lived here in Michigan once before for a short time (8 years ago), this time around I am in a new season of life, and a different location in the city.

So here I am again starting over. Searching for connections. Praying for new friendships. Dealing with the loneliness of limited adult interaction. While I have several, long distance girlfriends now- not having that face to face girlfriend time can be hard!

Maybe you find yourself in a new season looking for friendship too? Sometimes, in the natural ebb and flow of life and family, you can find yourself in this season without having moved to a different state. Whatever the reason, I understand.

It can be hard to put yourself out there and make new connections with other women. To be vulnerable. Frankly, its a little bit uncomfortable! For me, it feels like dating again. Blech!

As women, we can be critical. Too hard on ourselves and on others. We don't make it easy!
(Please understand I am making generalizations here....)

We compare.
We all have insecurities.
We get offended too easily.
We often let emotions and feelings take over.
We have a tendency to gossip.
We have a tendency to form groups or "cliques" and can be exclusive.

In the past, female friendships have been tricky for me. Growing up, I didn't have solid, faith based female friendships modeled for me. I didn't know how to be a friend, so unfortunately I was a terrible friend to many lovely ladies. I let rejection by friends as a young teen form a stronghold in my life that kept me from forming deep friendships for a very long time.

As I have grown in my faith, and prayed more about learning to be a good friend, God has taught me so much about what that looks like through his love. His grace. And he has placed people in my life in just the right season to show me what true faith based friendship looks like. It breathed life into me. Encouragement. Love. Support.

There is nothing like it girlfriend!

As I look back on my time in Minnesota, I am encouraged for the future here in Michigan.

God answered my prayers for friendship far beyond anything I could have imagined in my six years there!

Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

So friend, if you find yourself in a similar situation of without and waiting on friendships: be encouraged. God is able to do beyond all you can ask or think or imagine! And he is ALWAYS faithful.

So seek Him in the waiting. 
Discover what He has for you right in this place you find yourself in. 
Trust that he values you so much, that he gave his son for you. He knows the desires of your heart.
Put yourself out there! Join a small group and get plugged into a church.

This article over at the inCourage blog spoke to my heart about this matter too, if you need some more wisdom on the subject.

Blessings to you!

What I'm loving Wednesday

Happy Hump Day!

Hope your week is going fabulous so far. Its been a hot one here in Michigan:
92 Degrees and 1000% humidity. Ugh. Thank you Jesus for air conditioning and anti-frizz serum!

So anyhoo- I am the type of person who, when I find something I love (a song, a recent purchase, a tv show, etc etc etc) I do the following:

1. I want to let everyone I come in contact with know how much I loved it.
2. I want them to love it as much as I do.

So I figured this blog is the perfect spot to shout from the rooftops a few things I am currently loving.

First thing I am loving currently is camo pants for fall. Such a fun way to mix up the usual jeans and a tee look I usually have going on. I bought this pair from Target, but you can find them anywhere these days. I have also seen similar looks at Gap, JC Penney, and Macy's.

If you search Pinterest for ideas on different ways to style these, you will be surprised at how many different looks you can acheive with these! They really work as a neutral.

The second thing I am currently loving is Beth Moore's Esther Bible Study. I just went to our first bible study meeting this morning and I am so excited about it!

Also this message on purpose by Jen Hatmaker rocked my socks off. Spend the 40 minutes and listen friends. If you ever wonder what your purpose is- listen. Do it. Life changing stuff here people. I plan to listen to it at least one more time. I hope to do a future post on this one.

Lastly, I am seriously loving some baby Chuck Taylor's right now. I got Grace a pink pair and we loved them so much that her auntie got her a red pair too! She receives so many compliments on them. I am a huge fan of the fact she cannot get them off her feet.

The little stinker thought it was so funny to take off her Stride Rite velcro shoes, we've almost lost them many times. Well, mama won this battle thanks to Converse!

So what things are you currently loving? Please share!