Thursday, December 29, 2016

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Like most of you, I love HGTV's Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines. He's hilarious and goofy, while she's talented, serious, and calm. They balance each other out. Their strong faith and sense of family is really special. I've been waiting for Christmas break, so I could finally read their book, the Magnolia Story.

It's about their lives growing up to now. I hadn't realized that Chip was such an athlete, having gone to college on a baseball scholarship. He graduated in marketing from Baylor. Joanna was interested in news, did an internship in New York, and graduated from Baylor in communications.

Chip and Jo met in her dad's Firestone store. Though there were lots of reasons they shouldn't have worked out, they did. Chip is a risk-taker, doer, dreamer, and thinker. Joanna is more of a planner and calculated. Chip has always been an entrepreneur.

The book chronicles their start flipping houses, building homes, doing renovations, and Joanna's first little shop. They moved around a lot, but always stayed in Waco. They took a lot of risks along the way, but they all worked out and got them to where they are. Their story is really one of faith, family, hard work, and following your dreams. Chip and Joanna Gaines are inspirations and great role models. Their book is a great read.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Recipe # 32: Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies

I needed to bring something to a work social and wanted to use ingredients that I already had so, that led me to make cranberry white chocolate cookies.

Thankfully, they were easy to make!

The BEST Soft & Chewy Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Author: Hayley Parker, The Domestic Rebel
Prep time: 1 hour 15 mins Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 1 hour 25 mins
Serves: 24

Ingredients

¾ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
1 Tbsp vanilla extract (I like to use Madagascar Bourbon)
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch salt
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, brown sugar & white sugar with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and egg to combine. Lastly, beat in the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and pinch of salt until a soft dough has formed. Stir in the cranberries and white chips by hand.
Refrigerate the cookie dough for AT LEAST 1 HOUR. You can chill it overnight if you'd like, but one hour chill time is mandatory to prevent cookies from spreading and to create that light, soft and chewy texture.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with silicone liners or mist lightly with cooking spray. Remove chilled dough from fridge and roll into Tablespoon-sized balls. Place onto the cookie sheets about 1-2" apart from one another.
Bake for approx. 8-10 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking time to ensure an even cook. Cookies may appear slightly undone, but do not over-bake them! They will continue to set up more as they cool. Allow cookies to set on the baking sheets for about 10 minutes or so before carefully transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. If you'd like to make them prettier, garnish cookies with additional white chips on top of still-warm cookies before serving.

I always do my own thing, so I didn't refrigerate the dough, I didn't add unsalted butter (so I didn't add the pinch of salt), and I didn't add extra chips to the still-warm cookies. My grandma and coworkers really liked them!

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Conway, Arkansas; A Hidden Gem

On our way back from Thanksgiving in Louisiana, my dad and I stopped for the night in Conway, Arkansas. I didn't expect much for a town right off the highway, but it's now a place I hope to return to and explore more.

As we made our way to our hotel, we saw downtown and a ferris wheel all lighted up. It was a welcoming sight.

Our first stop was to check into Fairfield Inn & Suites Conway. My parents stayed there on previous trips.

Next, was to find a restaurant. We headed to downtown. I read reviews for Mike's Place and we decided to give it a try. It had really good reviews on Yelp. The restaurant featured beautiful paintings on the walls, wood floors and brick walls and arches. It looked like they'd combined three storefronts to make the restaurant. The menu looked fantastic and the staff was great.

Once I saw that they had $3 bread pudding, I decided to get a smaller meal and definitely get dessert. They had great rolls as you waited for your food. I ordered a house salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The salad was huge; so good!

I ordered a cup of sausage and chicken gumbo. It was fantastic! It had okra and a depth of flavors. I could go for a cup now!

After that, I had the bread pudding with bourbon glaze! It was large and wow! Despite how tantalizing it was, I just couldn't finish it. I should've taken the remaining and had it for breakfast. We all have regrets...

After dinner and packed to the gills, we walked around downtown Conway. They are known for their art galleries and I enjoyed the window shopping. Most of the paintings were landscapes or Christmas-themed. They did not disappoint. Downtown, Santa gave rides in a horse-drawn carriage. Such a charming downtown and town in general.

They also had weird names for things...

I definitely wish we had a restaurant like Mike's Place in Manhattan, KS. I can't wait for the next time I happen through Conway, Arkansas.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Branson, Missouri

So, this year my family decided to to spend Thanksgiving in Louisiana, since we wanted to visit my sick uncle. It's a 17-hour drive. We decided to split it into two days with a stop in Branson, Missouri. Things changed and just my dad and I went.

We arrived early afternoon and hit the very packed Tanger Outlet Mall. They were having terrific sales. From there, we checked into our hotel at the Clarion. It was super festive there with an enormous Christmas tree. There were also super cute Christmas wreaths on the balconies.
We got lost and walked six-tenths of a mile. It was cold outside. We were relieved to happen upon Shorty Smalls. They're known for the World's Largest Country Fried Steak. We split it and it was huge!

Afterward, we visited the Grand Village Shops, a must-see! They had lots of Christmas decorations to buy and got me in the Christmas spirit.

Later, we went to see the Baldknobbers Show and it was SO good with lots of Christmas songs in the second half.They did a lot of old and new country songs too. It was a high energy show with comedy.

The next morning, we had breakfast at Buckingham's. They stuff were great and the food was okay. I miss when it used to be Sadie's!

I really enjoyed our fast stop in Branson and hope to visit again.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Louisiana Thanksgiving

With my uncle's health failing, we decided to head to Louisiana for Thanksgiving.

Down South food for Thanksgiving is a bit different.

In the south, they don't have mashed potatoes and gravy for Thanksgiving. Instead, they have potato salad. For me, potato salad is for summer barbecues.

I also, had for the first time, carrot souffle. It was so good and sweet; my fav! It was a great addition to our Thanksgiving dinner and I plan to make it for Christmas. It was store bought, so I couldn't get the recipe, but here's what I found on Pinterest.
Also, the green bean casserole had cheese instead of cream of mushroom. There was Cajun fried turkey, roast and rice, stuffing, ham, and thankfully a salad. ;)

The weather was terrific and it was great so get to see so many family members. Now, I have baby fever!

Monday, November 28, 2016

How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

So, this actually works. I tried it today after getting tired of my appliances looking streaked and covered in water spots.

Here's the recipe:
Mix 1/4 cup vinegar to 1/2 cup baking soda.
Add a tablespoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of olive oil.
Stir all of your ingredients so they form a paste.
Once your paste is made, take a soft cloth and dip it into your mixture and rub it in small circles over your dishwasher/appliance.

This also worked on my tarnished silver jewelry. :)

Friday, November 18, 2016

Recipe #31: Mexican Pasta Salad

I enjoy making pasta salads for events, but am extra nervous about using mayonnaise. I never want to be responsible for anyone getting food poisoning. I was excited to to find this recipe, Mexican Pasta Salad that doesn't include mayo.

INGREDIENTS

1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 glove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Wildtree Natural Grapeseed Oil
1 tablespoon white wine (or white balsamic) vinegar
1 tablespoon Wildtree Chipotle Lime Rub
2 cups uncooked pasta, prepared according to package directions
1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15.25 ounce) can corn, drained and rinsed
1 ½ cup diced cherry tomatoes
2 avocados, diced

I improvised, as always. I used dried cilantro. I also, used kidney beans instead of black beans.

I ended up liking this recipe, but I would say that it's best made and eaten in the same day, as the avocados discolor.

My finished product

Friday, November 11, 2016

Recipe # 30: Chocolate Pumpkin Cake

I've been tailgating a lot this year and have been waiting to make different things for each. I've also been embracing fall and thus wanting to make desserts with pumpkin. Roughly 3 weeks ago, I made Pumpkin Cake with Apple Cider Glaze and this time I decided to try pumpkin AND chocolate!!!

I used Pinterest to find this easy recipe. The upside is that it's low fat! The recipe is essentially a boxed Devil's Food cake mix and a can of pumpkin. No eggs, oil or water.

The cake comes out so moist, but slightly crumbly. My friends liked it and so did I. :)

Friday, November 4, 2016

Recipe #29: Pumpkin Cake with Apple Cider Glaze

I had a can of pumpkin and wanted to make an easy cake with purchasing as few extra items as possible. I found a great recipe on Pinterest and tweaked it, as always.

Pumpkin Cake with Apple Cider Glaze
From: Noble Pig Vineyard & Winery

Instructions
1. Empty the contents of the boxed cake mix and pumpkin puree into a large bowl. Using a hand-mixer or stand mixer beat until well incorporated. The batter will be very thick, but will come together nicely.
2. Pour batter into a greased 7 x 11 X 2 pan. This is the small, rectangular-sized pan from your Pyrex set.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Do not over bake.
4. Let cool for 5-10 minutes in the pan, then flip onto a platter.
5. Make the glaze while you're waiting.
6. Combine powdered sugar, apple cider and pumpkin pie spice. Glaze should be thick but pourable. Add more sugar or cider if needed. Pour over the cake while still warm. Reserve some to pour over each slice when served.

My Tweaks
So, my cake seemed too dense, so I added an egg.
I also, decided to make it into a poke cake. I used roughly 8 ounces of apple cider and kept it in it's original pan.

My friends really liked it. Next time, I won't add the egg and will add less liquid as the cake was crumbly. I'll probably tone down on the powdered sugar since it was a bit too sweet.

This weekend, I'll be experimenting using a chocolate cake mix and possibly no glaze, we'll see. :)

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Halloween Costume: Snow White

I had a Halloween party to go to this year, but needed to come up with a costume. I'm not creative and I hate coming up with costumes. I don't like to buy costumes, because I'm frugal. So, that's when I decided to check out Pinterest. There I found this easy costume: Snow White.
I had a royal blue shirt already, so that made it cheaper. I had to buy a skirt. Since it's fall, finding a yellow skirt was unfortunately out of the question. I settled for a red skirt that I bought at Goodwill for $5.24. Then I also had to buy ribbon. So, the whole costume cost about $8. Here's the finished product and it turned out better than I thought it would.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Ellie Holcomb Music

At this year's Wonderful Weekend for Women the worship leader was Ellie Holcomb. Over the course of the weekend, I feel in love with her music. So, I bought all three of her CDs and listen to them everyday. They remind me of the promises of God and are TERRIFIC to sing along to. :) Every single song is one my favorites list, but here's my Top 10 favorites:
1. Marvelous Light

2. As Sure As The Sun

3. The Valley

4. My Portion and My Strength

5. Tho Broken Beautiful

6. Place My Hope

7. Anchor of Hope

8. Magnolia

9. Night Song
10. May The Words

I actually got to meet Ellie and she was so sweet and kind. Her favorite Bible verse is Hosea 6:3, "Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime." That scripture was the inspiration for her song, As Sure As The Sun.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Unsteady by X Ambassadors

I'm enjoying lyric music videos lately. So, this was my jam, last week; I think, I was feeling a little unsteady myself.

Monday, October 10, 2016

Meghan Trainor Music

I love this happy upbeat dance song! I could play it on repeat all day. What can I say? I LOVE dancing!


My grandma laughed when I played her Meghan Trainor's song, "No" on one of our weekly grocery store trips.

Lyrics to No by Meghan Trainor
I think it's so cute and I think it's so sweet
How you let your friends encourage you to try and talk to me
But let me stop you there, oh, before you speak

Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

First you gonna say you ain't runnin' game, thinkin' I'm believing every word
Call me beautiful, so original, telling me I'm not like other girls
I was in my zone before you came along, now I'm thinking maybe you should go
Blah, blah, blah, blah
I be like nah to the I, to the no, no, no

All my ladies listen up
If that boy ain't giving up
Lick your lips and swing your hips
Girl all you gotta say is

My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

Thank you in advance, I don't wanna dance (nope)
I don't need your hands all over me
If I want a man, then I'mma get a man
But it's never my priority
I was in my zone, before you came along, don't want you to take this personal
Blah, blah, blah, I be like nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

All my ladies listen up (all my ladies)
If that boy ain't giving up (ain't giving up)
Lick your lips and swing your hips
Girl all you gotta say is

My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
(Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no)
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
(Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no)

All my ladies listen up (say, all my ladies)
If that boy ain't giving up (ain't giving up)
Lick your lips and swing your hips
Girl all you gotta say is

My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no
My name is no
My sign is no
My number is no
You need to let it go
You need to let it go
Need to let it go
Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no

I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
I'm feeling
Untouchable, untouchable
(Nah to the ah to the, no, no, no)

Songwriters
ERIC FREDERIC, MEGHAN TRAINOR, JACOB KASHER
Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Meghan Trainor - No Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Monday, October 3, 2016

Why I'm Pro-Life: The Beginning of My Story

I've been wanting to share this for years, but my story isn't just mine, but others that I wanted to make sure were comfortable about what I'm sharing. It also took me awhile to find my words and the strength to share my heart with you.

I'm pro-life for many reasons:
1. God gives life; thus, ALL life matters
2. No one asks to be born into the situation and circumstances they come into
3. I was that unplanned baby, born to a single mother with no job or degree

When I say the lives of the unborn matter; I'm saying I mattered when I was unborn and I matter now.

I'm saying that I know babies can be an "inconvenience," but they are a blessing and so was/am I.

I'm not only advocating for their lives, but in a way, I'm advocating for my own life.


My mom was the youngest of 6 children born to a Catholic, suddenly single mother. She was living out of state and in an unstable relationship. She decided to move back home, not knowing that she was moving back with some extra cargo; me.

The timing was all wrong, but she decided to keep me. She kept her pregnancy a secret for 7 months. Once announcing her pregnancy, she was told to abort the baby; me. Even though, I have a terrific relationship with the person who said that; there's still a tinge of pain that there wasn't joy at the announcement of my impending birth, but rather someone trying to help my mom fix a "problem."

My entire life my mom has told me that she always wanted me and that I'm the best thing that's ever happened to her, but for far too long, I've taken the identity of someone that wasn't wanted. I'm coming to realize that some of the surprises in my life have lead to my greatest blessings. While not planned, I was and am wanted. God had and has a plan for my life; things He has for me to do that no one else can accomplish.

So while, I may not have changed your mind on the debate of being pro-life or pro-choice; I hope I've given you a different perspective to think about.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Recipe #29: Blackberry Crumb Bars

Since my parent's have blackberry bushes just for me, since they're not fans, I was up to try a new dessert recipe.
Let me be honest, I made them and they looked nothing like the picture that came with the recipe.
BLACKBERRY CRUMB BARS

PREP TIME
20 mins
COOK TIME
30 mins
TOTAL TIME
50 mins

Author: Mallory
Serves: 24 bars
INGREDIENTS
For the crust and topping
3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup cold butter, cut into pieces
¾ cup granulated white sugar
½ teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, beaten
For the blackberry filling
4 cups blackberries, halved
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
¾ cup granulated white sugar

I liked the recipe, but it wasn't what I thought it would be. It was kind of like a biscuit mix over fruit...

Monday, September 19, 2016

Recipe #28: Lemon Lime Snowdrop Cookies

I wanted to make something sweet for a pre-concert tailgate. It was for the Zac Brown Band concert with Train and Phillip Phillips, which were terrific. So, I made Lemon Lime Snowdrop Cookies. Thankfully, they were fairly easy to make. My friends loved them! Check out the recipe, here.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Recipe #27: Pesto Pasta Salad

I made this yummy pasta salad for a BBQ a few weeks ago. Pesto always reminds me of my trip to Italy.
I like that it wasn't your run-of-the-mill pasta salad. The pine nuts and sun dried tomatoes made it even better. My only improvise was in using rotini noodles.
Click here for the recipe.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Recipe #26: Wildtree Spicy Cocktail Meatballs

I wanted to try a new recipe so I went to the Wildtree site to see what I could find. From there, I found a recipe for spicy cocktail meatballs.

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon Wildtree Rancher Steak Rub
2/3 cup Wildtree's Organic Ketchup
1/2 cup Wildtree Happenin' Hot Pepper Jelly

I always improvise with ingredients I already have and this time was no different. I didn't have parsley, so I used 1 tablespoon of basil. I used regular ketchup. I didn't have Wildtree Happenin' Hot Pepper Jelly, so I used a half cup jar of jalapeno jelly that my mom made. It turned out terrifically and I know I'll make this recipe again.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Rise Up by Andra Day Music Video

I love this powerful song! I hadn't watched this music video before, but it's equally powerful and emotional. Watch it and feel uplifted. Let's rise up!

The beautiful lyrics:
Rise Up
You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains

And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you [4x]

When the silence isn't quiet
And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we'll take the world to it's feet
And move mountains
Bring it to it's feet
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you [4x]

All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
And for that we have each other
We will rise
We will rise
We'll rise, oh oh
We'll rise

I'll rise up
Rise like the day
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I will rise a thousand times again
And we'll rise up
High like the waves
We'll rise up
In spite of the ache
We'll rise up
And we'll do it a thousand times again
For you oh oh oh oh oh [3x]

Written by Cassandra Monique Batie, Jennifer Decilveo • Copyright © BMG Rights Management US, LLC

Monday, August 22, 2016

King of the World by Natalie Grant

I love the newer song, King of the World by Natalie Grant! It's soothing, peaceful, and full of the truth I need to be reminded of. Enjoy!

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

No Bake Lemon Lime Cheesecake from Wildtree

I needed a refreshing, easy dessert and I love cheesecake so I was drawn to this recipe. My cousin found this recipe for me from Wildtree; No Bake Lemon Lime Cheesecake.
I always improvise a little on my recipes. I didn't have enough whole graham crackers, but I did already have a box of graham cracker crumbles. I also didn't have sweetened condensed milk or a lime. For the sweetened condensed milk, I used a quarter cup of almond milk and sugar to taste. I thought it all needed more citrus flavor and didn't have a lime, so I added about 1.5 tablespoons of lime juice. In addition, I used marscapone that I already had instead of cream cheese. I used a cupcake tin to help them keep their shape. After you make them, you put them in the freezer for three hours. I'm storing them in the freezer, which makes it convenient for a quick treat. Enjoy!!!

Monday, August 8, 2016

Recipe #25: Sausage & Mushroom Stuffed Shells

I've been prepping some freezer meals in preparation for a busy fall. I used http://shop.wildtree.com/ to find recipes using spices I already had purchased. I chose to make
Sausage & Mushroom Stuffed Shells. Thankfully, it was a pretty easy recipe.

I doubled everything except mushrooms, since I only bought 8 ounces. I also didn't have Wildtree Red Bell Pepper Sauce, but substituted it with tomato paste and that worked perfectly. I think, sauteed spinach could've been added into mix easily and would be a great way to get in more veggies.

After making it, I put several shells in freezer bags and into the freezer for future use. This meal was so good! The photo does not do it justice.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Fun Remake of "You Don't Own Me"

I happened upon this cool remake of the classic, "You Don't Own Me" by Grace and I really like it. Check it out!

Monday, July 25, 2016

Lake of the Ozarks

I interned at Lake of the Ozarks 10 years ago. Ever since, I try to make it back every summer. I recommend spending at least two nights there to really enjoy it, but unfortunately, I only spent a quick night there.

Stayed where I interned at Tan-Tar-A Resort. Their staff was terrific and so helpful. It's a scenic part of the lake. They have a beautiful pool by the lake where I took these shots:


Had a terrific dinner at Shorty Pants. I always have to stop there for their Asian Shrimp Salad. It has a beautiful, peaceful lake view.

Had breakfast at On the Rise. It was my first time there and didn't disappoint.

Now I miss the lake all over again!



Monday, July 18, 2016

Thy Will by Hillary Scott

I just love the new song, Thy Will by Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott. It's so soothing and sweet, full of truth. I hope you enjoy it too!

Monday, July 11, 2016

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Summer Movie Night

I had a couple of movie nights with my parents. From the library, I rented: The Martian, Mom's Night Out, Woodlawn, and Aloha.

I'd heard great things about the Martian, but wasn't sure I'd like it, but I loved it. It starred Matt Damon, Kate Mara, Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, and Kristen Wiig. He's with an team of astronauts. There's a storm and it looks like Matt's character, Mark got blown away in a really bad storm. So, everyone else decides that to live, they must leave right then without Mark. But, Mark is alive. His suit was hit by debris, which made the sensors think he was dead. He removes the metal debris from his chest and patches himself up. Now he's just trying to live.

He starts making videos. He takes inventory of the supplies left behind, including food. He doesn't have enough. Luckily, he's a botanist and goes about creating a garden.

There are many ups and downs along the way. His crew is still in space at another area. They volunteer to stay longer and attempt to bring Mark back.


Mom's Night Out was terrific. It was funny and was a great reminder of what really matters. It starred Sean Austin (Rudy), Patricia Heaton, Trace Adkins, and Sarah Drew. All Allyson wanted was a mom's night out. A chance to get dressed up and have dinner with friends. They don't get dinner, but they have a lifetime of adventure in one night. This is one the movies made by the church that made Fireproof and War Room. I'm continually impressed with the quality of these films.


Next, we watched Woodlawn another movie made from the makers of Mom's Night Out. The movie was about a football team. It features Jon Voight and Sean Astin. It shares "Touchdown Tony" Nathan's story. Tony is recruited by Bear Bryant. It shows the difference Christ can make in a life, football team, school, and community; loved it!


We also watched Aloha with Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone, John Kasinski, Bill Murray, and Alec Baldwin. To be honest, this movie was really odd. Bradley's character, Brian used to date Rachel's character, Tracy. He returns to Hawaii for work, this time as a consultant to Bill Murray's character, Carson's company. Brian used to be in the military. For his new project, he's working with sharp Air Force Captain, Allison, Emma Stone's character. They are opposites but have to make it work.

He sees his ex, Tracy. She's married to an Air Force guy, Woody and has two kids. Brian and Tracy ended oddly, so things are awkward.

Brian and Allison work together, she's hard-charging and fun. He's an odd-ball, commitment challenged,and has a troubled past. Let me save you some time; don't see the movie. It was awkward and nonsensical. You're welcome!

Monday, June 27, 2016

Unashamed, the Book by Lecrae

This book was essentially Lecrae's biography. I always appreciate the background of learning what's shaped people and Lecrae holds nothing back. He also makes no excuses and owns his mistakes.

He was raised by a single mother. His feelings of abandonment and not feeling accepted due to his father not being in the picture really weighed on him growing up. Due to his mother holding many jobs, he spends a lot of time with babysitters, including one that molests him. It's heartbreaking and led him to know things someone his age shouldn't and to seek out those experiences at far too young of an age.

With flawed individuals serving as his mentors, he learns and experiences gangs, drugs, and fighting. Inwardly, he's always in turmoil seeking someone or something to fill the void in his heart. All along rap music is his release and a way for him to express himself. He grows up trying to find his purpose, but can't get out of the mire of the only life he's ever known.

He gets a girl pregnant and then pressures her to get an abortion that she doesn't want. They soon break up.

He gets into college and into more trouble. He starts going to Christian meetings, but he's still partying and doing drugs. He's living a double life.

At a Christian conference, he comes to Christ and finds peace. He gets involved in Bible studies. Soon the world pulls him away and he's back in a life of despair; miserable.

He finally goes to rehab and that helps him start getting his life back on track with Christ. There are still challenges and hard times, but he's trying to live for Christ.

He marries a Pastor's daughter that he knew in college. They move from Texas to Atlanta. He keeps doing music and ministry. He's won Grammy's and keeps pushing to be who Christ has made him to be.

Overall, I appreciated learning that I'm not the only one who struggles. At the end, our lives are all about Christ and making Him know. Lecrae's also a fantastic rapper; check him out!






Thursday, June 23, 2016

Brooklyn, the Movie and Book

I watch TV through Hulu and they kept having advertisements for a movie called, Brooklyn. It was written by Colm Toibin. It was set in the 50's and was about a girl from Ireland, so I had to see it since I love Ireland so much. I'd also seen the lead actress on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon; I love her name, Saoirse Ronan. She plans the lead role so well. I can't imagine anyone else as Eilis.

The Movie
It opens on a family of two daughters and their mother. The younger daughter, Eilis, can't find full time employment. She works on Sundays in a shop for a stuck up Ms. Kelly who gives preference to more affluent customers while treating everyone else like crap. The movie centers around Eilis. Her and her friend, Nancy go to dances together where Nancy dances with her crush, George.

Eilis' sister, Rose makes arrangements with a priest friend for Eilis to have housing and a job waiting for her in Brooklyn. Ms. Kelly doesn't take the news well and immediately fires Eilis. She comments on how Eilis' poor sister, Rose will be left to care for their mother.

As Eilis boards the ship for her journey to America, it's too much for her mom to handle and she leaves before Eilis' ship leaves. On the ship, Eilis shares a room and bunk bed with a worldly traveler. Not knowing that a big storm was brewing and no one else was eating dinner, Eilis eats alone in the dining room. Each room shares a bathroom, with another room. Knowing of the impending storm and wanting to have sole access to the bathroom, the other room locks access to the bathroom from Eilis' room. She get violently ill and must use a bucket to vomit in and use the bathroom. Her roommate comes back and cares for her, putting a cool towel on her head. She encourages Eilis not to eat until the storms end. The seasickness and not eating have made Eilis' fair skin especially pale. Her roommate points out that this will be an issue trying to get into the US. If she looks sick, they won't let her in. The roommate helps her select clothing and apply make up to make her look healthy.

She breezes into America, her boarding house, and job. She's so homesick though. Letters from home make her more sad. Her glum attitude gets her pulled from the sales floor. Her boss calls the priest who helped her secure her house and job. He comes to visit her and brainstorms for her to enroll in bookkeeping classes in the evenings. That helps keep her preoccupied.

Her landlady likes her. A new awkward boarder joins the house. Eilis is stuck going to the dance with her. There they see their popular, beautiful roommates. Eilis dances with a guy who then ignores her to dance the second dance with one of the prettier roommates. A guy emerges from the sidelines and asks her to dance. He said dancing is about acting like you know what you're doing. She asks him to walk her home at the end of the night, so she doesn't have to walk with her awkward, new roommate. He does and they plan to see each other the next week for dinner and then the dance.

Next thing you know, she has a steady boyfriend, Tony. He's head over heels crazy about Eilis. He's Italian, but attracted to Irish girls. He works as a plumber. He meets Eilis after her classes get out and walks her home. One night, Tony blurts out that he loves Eilis. She freaks out. The next week, when he'd normally meet her after class she gets out and he's not there. Soon he runs up, work kept him late. She wants to talk about what he said. He doesn't and thinks she's breaking up with him. Instead, she says that the next time he says he loves her, she'll say she loves him too. He's over the moon. Soon he asks her to meet his family. Her roommates help teach her how to eat spaghetti so she doesn't embarrass herself. Tony is one of 4 boys. His family lives in a small apartment. He warns her about his honery, little brother, Franky. His parents and other brothers are pleasant. Then, in the middle of dinner, Franky blurts out, "We don't like Irish people." He quickly gets escorted out for words with his dad. He quickly comes back and apologizes.

Eilis is doing well at work and school. She passes her year 1 exams with flying colors. Everyone is proud of her. On Christmas, she helps feed the needy. She takes a day trip to Coney Island with Tony. There they go to the beach. Later, he takes her to the country in Long Island. He and his oldest brothers have bought a large piece of land. He shares their plans to split the land into 5 lots; one for their parents, three to sell, and one for Tony. He said it would be "their" house. He's not sure what she'll say, but she thinks it's a good idea.

One day at work, her priest friend, Father Flood shows up. He has bad news, her sister, Rose has died. Eilis' world seems to be crashing down on her. Grief overcomes her. Father Flood arranges a call with her mom. That doesn't help, but makes her feel so far away. Tony comes to support her. She decides she wants to go home for a visit. Tony freaks out about it as he feels she will go and never come back unless...she marries him. He doesn't feel a promise from her that she'll come back is strong enough. So, a sex scene commenced. Then they get married at the courthouse and tell no one.

She heads back to Ireland. Eilis and her mother visit Rose's grave and put a wreath on it. She looks at Rose's old room; it feels so empty without her, but still has her jewelry that she left on the end table the night before she passed away. She meets up with her friend, Nancy and gets stuck hanging out with Nancy's now fiance, George and his friend, Jim Farrell. Eilis feels set up and isn't happy about it. She wants nothing to do with Jim, until he catches her off-guard, by sharing his sincere condolences for the death of her sister and said he and his family attended the funeral. He spoke of how well-regarded Rose was. The golf club that Rose was a member of is setting up a scholarship in her honor.

Tony writes, but Eilis doesn't write back. It's like she's living a new life. Rose's coworkers send for Eilis as they have some accounting work piling up and need help. Eilis helps and continues to do so throughout her 1+ month in Ireland. She extends her trip to attend Nancy's wedding. She spends more time on double dates with Nancy, George, and Jim.

Jim comes from a well-to-do family who owns a bar with a house attached and has a house in the country. As an only child, Jim will inherit the bar and home when his family retires. They all enjoy beach trips and dinners out. Her mom drops hints of how Jim is a good catch. Everyone views Eilis as glamorous with her new clothes and other worldliness. She continues to be torn between two worlds and lives.

Jim takes Eilis and her mom to Nancy's beautiful wedding. Her mom is happy.

Rose's employer wants Eilis to stay and work there. It's like she can get her whole life back. She meets Jim's parents and they talk of their impending retirement. It's clear that Jim loves her and they're essentially a couple. Engagement is soon to come.

Eilis' former employer, Ms. Kelly sends for her. She's not sure why she's being called. Turns out that a cousin of Ms. Kelly's saw Eilis get married and knows about her new relationship with Jim. It's then and there that Eilis decides that she must go. She goes and immediately books her passage back to the United States for the next day. She goes home and tells her shocked mother that she's married. Her mother remains calm and says that her husband must be a good guy if Eilis picked him. Despite the fact that it's early afternoon, her mom says her goodbyes calmly to Eilis and heads to bed. She doesn't plan to say goodbye in the morning.

Eilis writes Jim a letter and leaves it at his home on her way to the ship.

One the ship, she befriends a young girl that's heading to America for the first time and helps her much like she was helped.

She heads straight to Tony's work and stands across the street waiting. He comes out, finally sees her, and runs to embrace her. The End!

The Book


The Differences

1. In the book, Eilis has three brothers that live in England due to not being able to find work in Ireland

2. It has Eilis doing training for bookkeeping while in Ireland

3. One of her brothers meets her and helps her get set for the voyage to America

4. She meets Father Flood as soon as she arrives

5. Things with Jim Farrell are a bit steamier than the PG content shown in the movie

Overall, I loved the first 2/3 of the movie and book. It took me back to a different place in time.


Thursday, June 16, 2016

Age of Adaline

I'd seen previews for this movie, but thought it would be too weird and sad. I thought it would be odd like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or The Time Traveler's Wife. I thought it would feel unbelievable like those movies, but it didn't.

I cheered for Adeline Bowman from the start. The beautiful Blake Lively played her and did a terrific job. I'm now a Blake Lively fan.

It's about a beautiful girl from the 1920s who marries a successful man. They have a daughter. On Adaline's way to see her family, she's driving and it's rainy night. She crashes through a guardrail and plunges into a shallow body of water and dies. Two minutes later, lightning strikes and restarts her heart. That causes her not to age past her current age of 29. Her husband soon passes away in a work accident.

As her daughter ages they look more and more like sisters. Her childhood friends are shocked at how young she looks. She get pulled over and the officer can't believe she's in her 40s which her license says. He asks her to report to the police station the next day with her birth certificate. And so her life on the run begins. She leaves her now-college age daughter.

She changes her name and moves every couple of years. She has no close friends and doesn't really build relationships. She always has her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She went though many during her lifetime.

I love her style, which has a vintage, classic feel. She works with books and archives. New Year's Eve comes and she goes to a big party to hear her friend play music for the event. Her friend is blind and has no idea how young Adeline actually looks. As Adaline enters the venue looking timeless and beautiful, she sees a photo of herself and two army guys from a New Year's party there years ago. She reflects on that memory and heads into the party. Some young guy comes up admiring Adeline's beauty and her friend makes a comment about them being "cougars." He looks shocked as only one of them looks like a "cougar." He leaves.

In walks a dapper guy in a suit. Adaline catches his eye and he catches hers. The moment is ruined when a pretty girl walks up to him and kisses his cheek. Shortly after midnight, Adaline excuses herself from the party to head home. As the elevator doors close at the venue, a hand sticks through the door. You guessed it, the handsome man. His game is good, but she is not having it. He stops her cab and asks how he'll get in touch with her. She smiles and leaves.

He shows up at her work. He'll donate $50,000 in books if she'll go on a date with him. She refuses, but finally changes her mind. Gotta get them books. He brings her books with flower names, like the White Oleander. Their date goes well and he's crazy about her. Her dog dies and she pulls away from the guy, Ellis. She talks to her daughter, Flemming about the relationship and she encourages Adaline to open her heart.

When she reaches out to Ellis, he's overjoyed. She's finally happy, but holding a big secret. Soon he asks her to meet his parents and attend their anniversary party. She agrees. Soon they're heading outside of the city to his parent's home.

As soon as they enter his parent's house, Ellis' dad recognizes Adaline. She's going by the name, Jennifer, so she claims her mom was Adaline. Turns out, Adaline and Ellis' dad, played by Harrison Ford (who is looking crazy old nowadays) dated years ago. They met overseas. They came back to the states and he planned to propose, but she never showed up. In actuality, she saw him with the ring before she got out of the cab and asked the cabbie to keep going.

The next day, while everyone else is away, Ellis' dad sees a scar on Adeline's hand that jogs a memory. He rushes to find boxes in the shed, searching for a photo. He finds it. When he and Adaline were dating 25+ years ago, she cut her hand while hiking and he stitched it up. He was studying to be a doctor. He confronts her. She runs, packs her things, and tears off in Ellis' car. Ellis comes back from his walk to see what's happened and runs after her. It's rainy and she drives fast. She skids off the road as a truck hits her and leaves. She dies. Ellis comes upon the wreck and runs to her. An ambulance arrives and they shock her, which re-starts her heart. At the hospital, she awakes and tells Ellis everything. He looks overwhelmed. In walks her daughter, now an elderly silver-haired woman. She confirms Adaline is her mom.

The movie skips ahead one year. Adaline, Flemming, and Ellis live together with a puppy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Ellis is waiting on Adeline and they're heading to a fancy party. They're dressed to the nines. Adaline goes for one last check in the mirror. She sees something and pulls a hair, it's gray! She smiles. The shock to her heart fixed whatever wouldn't let her age. What a happy ending!

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Ruffly Fabric Wreath

I've posted in the past about where I got my love of wreaths and how to make a burlap wreath. I've been wanting to make a ruffly wreath like seen here, so spring break was my time for a project.

Here's the tutorial that I used. Let's just say that it was a lot harder than I thought it'd be.

I chose to make the larger-sized wreath. It required WAY more fabric than I expected. I eventually chose a bright coral fabric.

I used the suggested ruler, self healing mat, and rotating cutter. Cutting the fabric took EIGHT HOURS! From there, it took ANOTHER 8 HOURS to tie all 5 yards worth of fabric to the wire frame.

I'd found the little flower bouquet at Goodwill and knew a white ribbon would tie it all together well. Again my mom made the ribbon for me. :)

This is not for the faint of heart, but I was thrilled with the result!

Saturday, June 4, 2016

KC, Part 2

The next morning after the game, we decided to check out a nearby Farmers Market. We love Farmer's Markets and go to the one here in Manhattan, Kansas roughly twice a month. We went to the Kansas City River Market in Kansas City, Missouri. It was huge! We tried Amish made pecan cinnamon rolls and they were terrific!

They had an Italian market, Carollo's Gourmet Grocery, Deli, and Grill with cannolis and I had to get some. I hadn't had a good cannoli since leaving Italy four years ago. While there, I also tried their sea salt chocolate caramel gelato. There aren't places like that in Manhattan, Kansas and I didn't want to miss out. So glad we stopped there.

From there we stopped at Sephora in the Plaza, so I could get a few things.

We headed back to the Legends area and are at Casa Agave. Their food was awful and that was the down part of our trip.

We did a little more shopping at Legends and headed home.

It was so nice to get away for a night with my mom. We had fun exploring KC!

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

KC, Part 1

Last month, my mom and I decided to take a mini trip to Kansas City. It all started because my cousin had a gift certificate for a suite at a fancy Kansas City hotel that he wouldn't be able to use before it expired.

I hadn't attended a Royals game in awhile and mom was game. Later, I shockingly found out that this would be her first Royals or professional baseball game for that matter.

We headed out to Kansas City and stopped to shop at Legend's, a wonderful outlet mall, along the way. We, of course, stopped at T.J.Maxx, one of our favorite stores.

Next, we headed to the hotel that was in the Power and Light District, the Ambassador. It was beautiful and classy. Anyone headed to the Power and Light District should stay there, it's so convenient.

We went to get an early dinner before the game at the Power and Light District, since my mom had never been. We ate at Gordon Biersch. I had a terrific salad.

Next, we left for Kauffman Stadium which was a short drive away. Leaving early was the key and we were able to get in and parked in a decent about of time. We splurged for good seats.

What we hadn't expected was how cold it would get that night. Despite the fact that it was late April and had been sunny and warm during the day, the wind was insane. My mom ended up spending part of the game in the team store. Nevertheless, the Royals won and we made priceless memories.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Readers from 73 Countries

Welcome to my new readers from Namibia, New Zealand, Bahamas, Taiwan, Honduras, Chile, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Phillipines, São Tomé & Príncipe, Angola, Austria, Ecuador, Lebanon, Colombia, Egypt, and Benin. It blows my mind and humbles me that so many people from so many different countries have read my blog. I always enjoy pulling up a map and learning where each country is located.

I've previously had readers from these: Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, Cayman Islands, Ireland, Latvia, Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Turkey, Russia, China, Serbia, Netherlands, Venezuela, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Mongolia, France, Israel, Czech Republic, South Korea, Romania, Spain, India, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Canada, Cameroon, Slovakia, Hong Kong, and obviously the United States. Bosnia & Herzegovina, Slovenia, Andorra, Denmark, Bulgaria, Sweden, Philippines, Belgium, Moldova, Algeria, Singapore, Greece, Estonia, Portugal, Kenya, and Croatia!

Readers, what do you most enjoy reading from me? I want to better engage you. Funny stories, how-to tips, recipes, travel recaps, movie/music reviews, life stories, etc.?

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Outgrowing Friendships

As we get older, life changes. Sometimes, we try to stay friends with people that it just doesn't work with anymore. I've known deep down for awhile that I need to step away from some one-sided friendships, but that's hard to do. It's not easy to step away from someone you've made memories and shared life with. At some point in time, the friendships are no longer beneficial.

The Why?
If you're really not sharing life together anymore, why still be friends?
I want more than to share major life happenings (weddings, baby showers, etc.). If all you're doing is sharing major life happenings and nothing more, what kind of friendship is that?
I realized that I was the one who made all the contact, minus the life happenings invites and that wasn't enough.

Hard Stuff

It's taken me so long to come to this decision, because I always want to be the better person.
Also, the thought of losing a friend is sad. I decided that wasn't a good enough reason and that quality friendships are better than the number of friendships.

What That Means
This doesn't mean that I'm deleting them from Facebook or blocking their calls/texts.
What it does mean is that I'm stepping away from these friendships.
They can make the effort or not. I'm okay losing these friendships. I know they love it when I remember their birthdays, but it sucks that they never remember mine.

I'm a firm believer that people make time for what's important to them. So, I'm making room in my life for people who value friendship.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Songs Stuck in My Head

Hello to my new Russian readers!

I'm embarrassed to say that I've had an Ariana Grande song stuck in my head for almost a week now. It's Dangerous Woman.

Rather randomly, I also have Steven Tyler's newer-ish country song stuck in my head. Love it! It was such a different song from that he normally does that I really came to like it.

What songs are stuck in your head?

Friday, April 29, 2016

Spare Parts, the Movie

Earlier this year while looking through movie options on Hulu, I thought this movie looked interesting. It had several familiar faces: George Lopez, Marisa Tomei, Carlos PenaVega, and Alexa PenaVega. It was a heart-warming story of underdogs achieving greatness despite all odds. In a high school on the West Coast, undocumented students come together to form a robotics club with George Lopez's character as their advisor. They work together to compete in a robotics competition against reigning champions, MIT. I loved their determination and resourcefulness, as they obviously had a much smaller budget than teams like MIT.

I found out that Spare Parts is actually a book and I plan to read it this summer. Kansas State University has a book of the year for students to read and this fall's book is Spare Parts.

I really enjoyed the movie and I think you will too.


Sunday, April 24, 2016

Ruelle-I Get To Love You

I'm again addicted to Dancing with the Stars. I watched one of this year's contestants, Nyle win America's Next Top Model and was excited to watch him again. He has the best attitude ever and happens to be deaf. His dances blow me away every week. This week's dance was especially moving and I fell in love with the song; in particular the beautiful lyrics! I hope you love it too!




I would've included the music video, but I didn't like it that much.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Fitbit Flex

I'm Addicted!
I was using a pedometer, but it was a pain as it easily re-set itself and was impossible to wear with dresses. I knew, I essentially just wanted something to track steps and stairs. I have a watch and also didn't care about it relaying calls and texts. Thankfully, I friend had a Fitbit Flex that she wasn't using.


How it Works
It wasn't hard to figure out the Flex; each dot represents 2,000 steps. The blinking dots mean you're on your way to earning that next 2,000 steps.

Charge
While I heard that it has to be charged a lot, I haven't found that to be the case. I charge it twice a week. The phone app tells you how much battery you have left and I haven't found that to be accurate. Also, once it emailed me that it was dying, but hasn't since.


Features
It tracks my sleep which is really cool to see, including how many times I woke up during the night, as well as times of restlessness.
I can track my calories. It has a nice list of product's calories, so for my fig bars, I just found the brand and listed how many I ate.
It tracks roughly how many calories you've burned as well.
You can track how much water you drink.
You can add friends and see how your steps compare towards theirs. This has been really helpful as I'm very competitive. "What do you mean I'm 150 steps behind so-and-so? Not anymore, I'm taking out the trash!" I've even asked a high-stepping friend how he gets in so many steps. I've incorporated some of his feedback into what I do daily.
You also earn badges for your first 10,000 steps, etc. These are neat and motivating.
You can also start competitions. A friend of mine added me and a bunch of other people to a weekend challenge. During the weekend, I generally don't walk a lot, so the added motivation was great!

Statistics
I love stats and there are a ton on the app. It compares my steps to last week. My total steps this week compared to my friends. You get the idea.

App
The app is really intuitive and easy-to-use. My only issue with it is when I'm adding in food I've eaten and it freezes and kicks me out before I can add the other items I've eaten.

Overall
I love my Fitbit Flex and can't imagine life without it. I will note that it doesn't track stairs.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Throwing a Baby Shower on a Budget

I wanted to throw a surprise baby shower for a friend, but it HAD to be on a shoestring budget.

I started with a secret Pinterest board; gathering game, food, and decoration ideas.

My Inspiration






(You may remember that I made this for my parent's 25th Anniversary party. Anyway, my friends LOVED it!) Click here for the recipe.

Making it Work

Thankfully, my cousin had just hosted a baby shower so I borrowed glass plates with cup holders (which were a lifesaver for my small apartment, streamers, napkins, balloons, stencils, and fabric pens with which to decorate bibs. My parent's have a lifetime supply of streamers from my parties, so that helped.

I was shocked by how much everyone enjoyed decorating bibs! They turned out so well!

I found this website and printed out the month for guests to guess the due date.


I also made sugar cookie sandwiches with frosting on the outside rolled in blue, green, and yellow sprinkles. I also made my own version of cheesecake dip which is terrific (cream cheese, sugar, whip cream, sour cream, and a little vanilla. Served my favorite store bought hummus with carrots and pita chips.

Costs

Frame for birthday date guess; $1 (Dollar Tree)
Baby boy-colored sprinkles: $1.83ish (Walmart)
Bibs: $10ish (Target)
Food: $15
Total (minus gift): under $30!!!

Best Part


My friend was surprised, everyone had fun, and she received much-needed items for baby!