A perfect, no plans kind of day.

Every so often a Sunday comes along with no plans. Today was one of those rare days and it was also one of those perfect days- where every little detail and moment is just, perfect. It was a bit windy outside but we bared the cold and took Mason sledding anyway. He loved it! So cute to watch him laugh and smile all the way down the hill.

 

I found this recipe for homemade goldfish and had to try it. I made a slight adjustment and used whole wheat flour instead of white and no kidding,  these taste just like the boxed goldfish! But, they only have 5 ingredients as apposed to the list of random things listed on the side of the goldfish box you buy in the stores. This will become a staple recipe in our house for sure. I also made my fish cookie cutter out of a coke can, like the recipe shows. Aren't they cute?

 

My little fish cutter was taking too much time so the last batch we just made crackers and they turned out delicious too.. Mason loves them!

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Enjoy your week!

Friday Afternoon.

Friday afternoon. What a welcomed sound.  Our weekend is filled with prepping for the arrival of our dear friends,  trying three new recipes (one which includes sweet potato waffles!), hair appointments, outdoor fun with Mason, organizing old clothes and giving away some of M's little outfits that look far too small to have ever fit him, cleaning out my car, planning our valentine's day dinner, and just enjoying being together, doing whatever else it is, this weekend brings. What do your weekend plans look like?

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday Friends! Hoping everyone had a wonderful weekend. Ours was filled with snow time, grocery shopping, football, family, laughing and relaxing. It was really great. This is my last full week of work then next week I'm down to part time. I squeezed Mason just a bit tighter as I left this morning and whispered how much fun we would have on my days off. I can't wait. Spending the day with this little man? I'll take it. every single day.

Muffins!

oh hello February.

As mentioned before I am on a muffin kick...

 

You will need:

1 cup almond butter

1 cup almond meal/almond flour

3 eggs, whisked

½ cup Raw Honey

⅓ cup Unsweetended Shredded Coconut

⅓ cup Coconut Oil, melted

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon sea salt

pinch of cinnamon

½ cup blueberries

Then:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients together.

Pour into muffin cups in a muffin tin.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

 Enjoy!

 

 Two days later I made these with strawberries. Equally as amazing.

 

 

Currently

Listening to: These songs... on repeat: Daylight by Maroon 5, Falling in Love by Ben Rector & Ho Hey by the Lumineers- repeat. repeat. repeat. Seriously any one of these songs is bound to put a smile on your face.

Watching: Nashville. I don't know how it happened but I got sucked in, yet again, to another tv drama.

Happy with: my decision to stop blogging at calm delight. It's been a roller coaster of should I's or shouldn't I's and I'm happy and thankful that the Lord has given me new direction, new opportunity, new passions. Blogging as a business or for random 'followers' is not one of them. So after the 10th it will be good bye calm delight blog.

Annoyed by: My eye Dr. Do you know their first available appointment is MAY 7th! What? I told the receptionist I was out of contacts so could I come in and at least grab a pair or two.. she hummed and hooed until saying "well, I guess we can let you come get some off your old prescription since we can't see you until May".. ah yeah, ya think? Annoying!

Mad about: The esty shop that scammed me! that's right. I got scammed by a little ol'd etsy shop selling adorable leg warmers. Some one ran off with my $28 bucks and is having a nice laugh about it. Boo for them. 

Eating: Muffins! I've been on a muffin kick, baking muffins like mad. Pumpkin, blueberry, strawberry, chocolate-strawberry.. next up.. maybe something with apple, banana, coconut, raspberries. I just don't know. The muffin ideas are endless! ps. recipes coming soon.

What about you? What are you currently up to?

Weekend Recap

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a good weekend. We woke up to ridiculously cold weather- -25 to be exact. ah.

Friday looked a little like this: Me sporting my new hearts shirt I bought for Valentines Day, Mason running around, family dinner and then a quick night out with Paul and Shellea for a cocktails!

 

Saturday was too cold to do anything so we indulged our bellies with pizza and enjoyed lots of couch time. and, a quick trip to Wal Mart to let Mason run around...

 After Church on Sunday, Kevin and I spent hours in the kitchen baking & cooking for the week. This morning it was bliss, grabbing premade food for our lunches! and.. Mason got a bath which is always photo worthy.

Mason's Meatballs.

Ok, so the technical term for these bad boys is actually Garden Meatballs.. but I'm quite certain Mason would eat meatballs breakfast, lunch and dinner if I let him- hence the name change.

So,  Mason loves meat. Ever since we began feeding him solids it was like he was saying "give me meat. give me meat. give me meat" and meat we gave him! He is a one year old with the appetite of a 16 year old boy- I swear. Ha. But he's growing and when he's done eating he throws his fork on the floor so I'm not into 'portion control' or anything weird like it. He eats when he's hungry and he does not eat when he's full. plain and simple.

Anyways. I have tried my best to feed Mason healthy foods and typically he just eats what we are eating.. and I'll admit it, I was overly impressed with myself when Mason always ate his veggies. He didn't care if it was broccoli, cauliflower, avocado, cucumber, tomato- he ate it... and loved it. (insert another "impressed with myself" smile here). I thought I'd never be one of those moms who said "I will never______" but as Mason kept eating his veggies I found myself thinking- I will never have to hide veggies so he eats them. He likes veggies!

oh how wrong I was.

Mason, not only learned that everything in the world is better than vegetables he also manages to eat the good stuff and spit out only the veggies.

oh shoot.

BUT, I'll be honest, I've never really felt all that concerned because.... I have these meatballs! They are loaded with veggies and since he eats them just about every day, I know he's getting an adequate amount of veggies.

I highly recommend these if you are trying to hide veggies in your child's food or if you just want a scrumptious meatball to try. I have a super yummy meal I'll be sharing next week too.

Here's the recipe:
2 zucchinis, grated
1 yam, grated
4 cups fresh whole-leaf spinach
12 oz. jar roasted red peppers
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2lb turkey
1 lb ground beef
2 eggs
1/2 cup almond meal
sea salt & pepper to taste

*note: I always forget the spinach and add carrots in mine. You really can add whatever veggies and seasoning you'd like.

Steps for Mason's Meatballs:
1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Grate zucchini and yam- place into large mixing bowl

3. In a food processor finely mince spinach, roasted red peppers and garlic. Then add into the zucchini and yam mixture.
4. Add the meat and remaining ingredients into the bowl and mix.

5. Form into meatballs and place on a baking dish

6. Bake covered for 45 minutes

**note: the meatballs will lose juices while in the oven so don't be alarmed when you see them kind of 'run out'.. they're supposed to do that..

Enjoy!! and if you do try these, let me know what you think.

hello!

Hello friends! It's been way too long since I've posted. Things up here are going well. I have a huge answer to prayer in that, 2 weeks from today I'll be down to part time work! Thank you Lord! Kevin and I have been working hard to put ourselves in a position that doesn't require me to work 40 hours. Up until recently, it's been profitable and beneficial for me to work. The Lord paved the way to have my Mom help out with Mason and keep the joy in our lives as I continued to work, but lately I really started feeling a tug to be a home more. I was so frustrated too. Just wanted to cry all the time and be mad. I realized it all stemmed from that pressing I felt to be home more.  As Mason enters into this year and stage in his life, I feel the need to be with him and I am just beyond thankful to be in this spot now. The Lord's timing is so good.

Here's a little snap shot of what we've been up to lately:

1. We took Mason to the pool for the first time- He loved it! I wore my most modest two piece but it didn't stand a chance against Mason's grip. He kept holding onto one side of my top and then turning his body the opposite direcition at a pace I could not keep up with. I was so worried about flashing the pool of teenagers I had to resort to putting on a tank top. It was awesome. All three of us were having such a great time and then we heard the whistle and saw the throw up in the pool. Disgusting. Our time at the pool was over. BUT regardless of the disgusting thoughts and realities of the public pool- we will be going back.

2. You know you're a mom when you reach in your purse for chap stick and instead get a tube of butt cream. perfect.

3. I've started putting cut up lime and frozen blueberries in my water. It feels like Summer and actually makes me smile a every time I take a sip. Try it. It's delightful.

4. Alaska+Snow+Sun=amazing.

5. Mason got a big boy forward facing car seat. He loves it and took a cue from his grandpa by doing a little laptop business on the go.

6. I got summoned for jury duty. AGH!!

7. Mason's typically night after dinner- pj's and toys... and me taking pictures of it.

8. Me lately. stripes, yellow and jeans. uh huh.

9. My new favorite wine. It's so delicious! and cheap- like $7.

 

In other news, I signed up for a photography class which starts tonight! I'm really excited to get some basic tips on photography and to check this resolution off my list. oh yeah.

What have you all been up to lately?

Love you all!!

Laura

Kevin Turns 30

I thought I had posted this for you to see.. but I guess I didn't. BOO. Kevin turned 30 this week!  I really wanted him to write a blog post for me. I know, thoughtful huh? ha. I really thought it would be way cooler than the typical Dear Husband you are the best, love of my life, man of god, etc  etc.. post, so instead, he sat down and wrote this gem. and I love it. I think he should be a blogger, don't you?

Blogger's Husband turns 30

                Hi I’m Kevin, and I am the husband to a blogger.  When my lovely wife (and that is NOT said sarcastically) decided to start blogging I thought it was a nice little hobby for her to pursue.  I thought she could snap a few pictures, write some clever little stories, and stay in touch with some close friends in a nice, informal, non-Facebook kind of way.

                At first, it was just like I had imagined…….and then it happened.  What is that you ask?  Pictures, Photographs, cameras, camera phones, smart phones, and the list could go on.  If it takes a picture, we are using it, and I am posing for it.  It does not matter what we are doing, it will be photographed whether I like it or not.

               
 Like most guys, I do not mind an appropriate impromptu photo every now and then.  I am talking about the great photos that really capture the moment.  You know the one, when you’re looking through old pictures and you see the one that makes you remember whatever awesome moment was captured.  Those pictures are awesome.  The pictures that have always irritated me are the ones where we take a photo. We check the photo.  We don’t look at anyone but ourselves, and then determine that the picture is not quite good enough.  PLEASE, let’s take 40 more until we get the perfect one….ughhh!

                Well, that was the old me.  Now I am 30 (that actually has nothing to do with pictures, it’s just my birthday!).  I have come to realize that if a photograph will help my wife complete another fantastic blog post, I can easily oblige.  Let’s be honest.  Every time I look for some clothes they are there, hanging from the coat hanger, nice and clean.  When I come home there is always a smiling face and nice warm hug waiting for me in the kitchen (now, there’s 2).  Whenever I need some advice or just to hear the word of the Lord, she is always there.

                So on my birthday, I guess I can only reflect on the things that the Lord has blessed me with: a loving wife, an awesome son, the anticipation of even greater blessings.  Go ahead guys, take that extra picture, cherish the extra hug, and thank the Lord for his daily blessings in your life.

Cheers my love! and Happy Birthday to the greatest man I know! MUAH!

   
 

What I've been up to.

For those of you that heard, (maybe none of you did?) I took a nasty six foot fall last Monday that landed me straight into the ER. I kinda, sorta thought my back was broken.  It was pretty bad. The Lord healed me though and I know, without a doubt, my angel caught me. However, on the way to the hospital I vowed that if I was out of commission I'd promise to eat only healthy foods and not balloon out just because I couldn't work-out. After the X-Ray came back and nothing was broken and the diagnosis was that I'd only be out of physical activity for a couple of weeks, I threw my vow straight out the window and bought myself a package of these... and ate one, two.

Then, since I couldn't work-out I decided to get caught up on some much needed reading.

Don't let the cover fool you. There is only one shirtless Channing photo and it isn't even that great.

 

 

And since, clearly my nightly routine of CrossFit was a no go, Mom, Mason & I took a million trips to Wal Mart.

 

 

 

 

OH and for good measure, I decided that my coffee needed a few squirts of whip cream from now on.. so there's that.

 

And while my typical weekly schedule has been put on the back burner until my back heals I must admit, I have been just about the same old me... hair up, plain white t, boots and a scarf. The epitome of Fashion... Yup, That's me.

 

OH and did I mention, Mason is walking? Yeah, like- hands up in the hair, laughing all the way, Walking! It's so fun!! and since this is the best picture of the men in my life, I wanted to end with it.. isn't it great? I can't get over it. I just stare at it and say, Thank the Lord..

New Years Eve in the ER + 2013 Resolutions

Happy New Year to each of you! I hope you had a wonderful time bringing in the New Year. As for me, I brought in 2013 in the ER. I was working on some bar work at our CrossFit gym when my hands slipped and I fell- back first, smack, on a concrete floor. (six feet high off the ground) I was in shock for a good 3 minutes and couldn't move. I typically don't go running to the ER or Dr but since my lower back was in such excruciating pain we thought an X-Ray to rule out any broken or fractures bones in my back or pelvis would be a good idea. And thanks be to the Lord, I have no broken bones or fractures, only some serious bruising and muscle spasms. They shot me up with some good ol' morphine, loaded me up with a Rx of meds and sent me on my way. With the impact of the fall and my pelvis still in a lot of pain, I'll be taking it easy the next couple of weeks. Not exactly how I'd figured my night would go, but hey, I got to spend some uninterrupted time with my hubby while sitting in the ER room so I guess I can't complain.

So now, here is it January 1st. I kinda, sorta, love making new years resolutions. Anything where I get to write something down and then cross it off- sign me up. My mom started a tradition with us 5 years ago and each New Years Day we cut out magazine pictures, words, images.. and make a collage of our years resolutions and goals. I happen to LOVE this little tradition we do.  It's fun to see what my Dad puts on his every year and what different ideas and goals my hubby has set for himself or how my Mom has succeeded in her goals from the previous years.

I always put my usual everyday goals on my collage- eat more veggies, continue working out, drink water etc.. etc.. more as a reminder to keep them in the forefront of my days but I do always add specific goals I want to accomplish for the year.

This year my collage looks like this:

So in short, here is what I'll be focusing on this year:

 

1. Always before the Lord- in every decision, thought and area of my life. Always before the Lord.

2. Skin, Skin, Skin! I want to have that healthy glow to my complexion and I know that doesn't come without a little work. So if any of you have a skin regimen you want to sure- I'm all ears!

3. BLOG. Like I've mentioned a number of times, I go back and forth on whether or not I want to continue on with this blog and this year I just think, I'll give it a go. For me, that just means blog. Blog when something great is going on, blog when I'm feeling down, blog when I'm feeling funny.. blog when I want. don't blog when I don't. Blog.

4. Muscle Up. This goes along with many of my CrossFit goals but doing a muscle up is on the top of my list!

5. Wipe out Debt. We have been working towards paying off all our debt for the last year and we are almost there! yes.

6. The Camera photo on the right is motivation to take a photography class. There's no denying I am not the best picture taker.. and I really, really want to take a class to get some basics under my belt.

 

Those are a few of the highlights and the rest on the collage are for me and my family :)

 

What about you? Any New Years traditions or resolutions you'd care to share? I'd love to hear them!

Have a great rest of the week!