Why didn't I think of yogurt?
It is such a simple idea. Frozen yogurt (aka eat something practically identical to ice cream...yet fill up your bowl without feeling guilty) and enjoy wonderful conversations in a trendy little yogurt shop.
Last night, I had the chance to sit around with the other women in my community group (sidenote: James and I recently joined Watermark in Dallas and plugged into a community group with 5 other newlywed couples and a mentor couple and it is wonderful!) It was so nice to sit around with other women my age who are at the same life stage as I am. We were able to open up and talk about so many great things (and enjoy yummy yogurt together!) So if you have not found a church home and a community to get plugged into...I really want to encourage you to do that! It is wonderful! And find a cute yogurt shop to meet at!
New favorite thing for the week- my Cooking Light magazine! There are so many great recipes this month ( I want to try them all!) You can also check out some of the reader favorites here (there is some great stuff!!)
Hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
spring break favorite moments
1. Kerry and Logan got hitched! There wedding was beautiful and everything was so wonderful! It is crazy that we are both married now! YAY!
Kerry with her bridesmaids
James and I at the reception
James and I with Kerry and Logan at the rehearsal dinner
2. Sleeping in!!!
3. I went to lunch with my mom, Ashley, and the twins. We decided to get seafood. When we told Brinley we were going to eat fish she said, "Mooommm, you can't eat fwish...they are too swippery." It makes sense! She is always saying the funniest things!!
4. The new Whole Foods that opened up! Even though it is kind of far from us...I love it!!!
5. Our new herb garden. We decided instead of buying herbs...why not just grow our own. Maybe it's our attempt to have a garden in this tiny apartment.
6. Yummy steak dinner with my hubby f0r our 3 month anniversary!
7. New Moon coming out on dvd.
8. Getting my passport for CABO!!!!! (2 months!!!!)
9. St. Patty's Day with wonderful friends!
10. BEAUTIFUL WEATHER...except for this rainy coldness today!
God is so good! This was a wonderful week off! Only 2 1/2 more months until summer!
As for today....
lunch with sara
errands
dinner and a movie with my lovey!
Kerry with her bridesmaids
James and I at the reception
James and I with Kerry and Logan at the rehearsal dinner2. Sleeping in!!!
3. I went to lunch with my mom, Ashley, and the twins. We decided to get seafood. When we told Brinley we were going to eat fish she said, "Mooommm, you can't eat fwish...they are too swippery." It makes sense! She is always saying the funniest things!!
4. The new Whole Foods that opened up! Even though it is kind of far from us...I love it!!!
5. Our new herb garden. We decided instead of buying herbs...why not just grow our own. Maybe it's our attempt to have a garden in this tiny apartment.
6. Yummy steak dinner with my hubby f0r our 3 month anniversary!
7. New Moon coming out on dvd.
8. Getting my passport for CABO!!!!! (2 months!!!!)
9. St. Patty's Day with wonderful friends!
10. BEAUTIFUL WEATHER...except for this rainy coldness today!
God is so good! This was a wonderful week off! Only 2 1/2 more months until summer!
As for today....
lunch with sara
errands
dinner and a movie with my lovey!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
joy.
After a series of many things happening that have brought me joy...i feel the need to share. Considering I have this wonderful blog to share my thoughts I thought I would expose some things that have truly brought joy into my life this past week.
1. Watermark- James and I have recently joined Watermark Community Church and feel very blessed to feel so connected to a church and community. This past Sunday as a part of the "Life's too short" series, the sermon focused on love. Love seems like a word we just let roll off our tongues. We use the word "love" for such a wide range of things. Yet at the end of the day are we loving well? Are we loving in the most Christlike way possible? I know this was a huge challenge for me. There are areas where I love so well. I love those areas well, because it comes easy. It is the everyday, most important moments and people who I know I do not always love well. My husband, the kids in my classroom, my friends, my family. Why is it so hard to love the people and things we love the most well? Maybe because the selfish desires of my heart become so evident through the wonderful relationships I have been blessed with. So because of this...I am inspired. I am inspired to love others well. I am inspired to be thankful to my wonderful husband for the love he shows me. I am inspired to love like Christ.
2. SNOW DAY! Although Friday was already deemed a "Staff Development" day, I was relieved and thrilled to spend my day building snowmen, eating warm chocolate chip cookies, and drinking coffee with my husband without checking the clock to make sure I am not running late to work. James and I spent our morning together and then headed over to his parents house to meet up with my mom, sisters, and niece and nephew to play in the snow. James and I love to watch Brinley and Caden (our "almost 3 year old" niece and nephew) play. It truly brings us both so much joy!
3. Sky Ranch- So...I logged onto facebook tonight and saw that a new Sky Ranch video had been posted. It was such a joyful reminder of the blessing James and I both had to work with Sky Ranch. We both learned so much through the staff, counselors, and children who came into our life during our time at camp. Coming from a girl who does not favor the sweaty summer goodness of camp...I would take it anyday for the beauty of what happens there. If you get a chance I would take a moment and watch the video. Such a beautiful depiction of what camp is. Something that seems so impossible to summarize in a short conversation was so accurately expressed in 10 minutes.
On that note....the last joy to share is the fact that I get to lounge on the couch with my amazing husband and maybe go to bed early?
1. Watermark- James and I have recently joined Watermark Community Church and feel very blessed to feel so connected to a church and community. This past Sunday as a part of the "Life's too short" series, the sermon focused on love. Love seems like a word we just let roll off our tongues. We use the word "love" for such a wide range of things. Yet at the end of the day are we loving well? Are we loving in the most Christlike way possible? I know this was a huge challenge for me. There are areas where I love so well. I love those areas well, because it comes easy. It is the everyday, most important moments and people who I know I do not always love well. My husband, the kids in my classroom, my friends, my family. Why is it so hard to love the people and things we love the most well? Maybe because the selfish desires of my heart become so evident through the wonderful relationships I have been blessed with. So because of this...I am inspired. I am inspired to love others well. I am inspired to be thankful to my wonderful husband for the love he shows me. I am inspired to love like Christ.
2. SNOW DAY! Although Friday was already deemed a "Staff Development" day, I was relieved and thrilled to spend my day building snowmen, eating warm chocolate chip cookies, and drinking coffee with my husband without checking the clock to make sure I am not running late to work. James and I spent our morning together and then headed over to his parents house to meet up with my mom, sisters, and niece and nephew to play in the snow. James and I love to watch Brinley and Caden (our "almost 3 year old" niece and nephew) play. It truly brings us both so much joy!
3. Sky Ranch- So...I logged onto facebook tonight and saw that a new Sky Ranch video had been posted. It was such a joyful reminder of the blessing James and I both had to work with Sky Ranch. We both learned so much through the staff, counselors, and children who came into our life during our time at camp. Coming from a girl who does not favor the sweaty summer goodness of camp...I would take it anyday for the beauty of what happens there. If you get a chance I would take a moment and watch the video. Such a beautiful depiction of what camp is. Something that seems so impossible to summarize in a short conversation was so accurately expressed in 10 minutes.
On that note....the last joy to share is the fact that I get to lounge on the couch with my amazing husband and maybe go to bed early?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
4.
Giada did it wrong here so I fixed it for her and made some changes. Your welcome Giada de Laurentiis!
- 1 cup pasta (or any small pasta)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
- 1 Italian chicken sausage (sliced)
- 1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped basil
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish
Preheat oven to 400. Sautee seasoned chicken cubes and diced sausage with oil. While chicken is cooking, boil your pasta until done. Once the meat is nearly cooked, add minced garlic and diced onion. Once noodles are done, place them in a mixing bowl. When veggies are browned, add chicken and veggies to the pasta mixing bowl. In mixing bowl, add canned tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, chopped parsley, chopped basil, salt and pepper. Stir! Scoop into buttered 8X8X2 baking dish. sprinkle bread crumbs and parmesan on top. Place small pats of butter randomly on top the bread crumb and parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes or until looks delicious!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
their story is written
James and I have just finished the membership process at Watermark church here in Dallas. We feel very blessed to have found a church that we feel very connected to and one that we are very excited to be part of the community. As part of the membership class one of the pastors stood up and talked about some of the different ministries they work through. He began to talk about a specific ministry opportunity where you can mentor a 4th grade student in West Dallas. He proceeded to talk about why this ministry was so important by sharing that most of the community believes that if a child is not changed or shown potential for success before 4th grade
"their story is written."
I was really touched by this. As a 4th grade teacher I really thought about how there is so much more to teaching them than writing, math, reading, and so on. These kids need life. They need to be shown potential and true life. It is hard to reach out to my students in the same way considering I work for a public school but it is refreshing to know they are still impressionable and that I can still show them that they are completely capable of success. It is a daily challenge to love each of your 20 some odd kids, but great are the rewards for our future (and theirs)!
Moral of the story....
Even though my job may get the best of me at times....I truly feel that when my feet hit the floor in the morning I am using my gifts and working in a job that the Lord has truly called me to.
He never said his calling would be easy....
on that note...off to Central Market we go to get our weekly groceries (and with a $10 off coupon!)
"their story is written."
I was really touched by this. As a 4th grade teacher I really thought about how there is so much more to teaching them than writing, math, reading, and so on. These kids need life. They need to be shown potential and true life. It is hard to reach out to my students in the same way considering I work for a public school but it is refreshing to know they are still impressionable and that I can still show them that they are completely capable of success. It is a daily challenge to love each of your 20 some odd kids, but great are the rewards for our future (and theirs)!
Moral of the story....
Even though my job may get the best of me at times....I truly feel that when my feet hit the floor in the morning I am using my gifts and working in a job that the Lord has truly called me to.
He never said his calling would be easy....
on that note...off to Central Market we go to get our weekly groceries (and with a $10 off coupon!)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
two.
so apparently not capitalizing anything is very trendy right now according to Lau... excuse me lauren. look how trendy i am!
after taking more pictures than i could ever imagine in europe and in maui... i've been going through them and finding my favorites... i've posted some germany landscapes on my picasa page which you can find here! i'm looking for a way to use them, so if you have any genius ideas let me know!
special shout out to jackie our favorite (and most likely only) reader!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
one.
as i was trying to keep up with my new aspiration to be a good "blogger" james suggested we have a joint blog. with his love for photography, my love for baking and sharing what i am learning, and our love for jesus and cooking yummy food we hope our blog shares some of that joy with you. we will switch off making posts (but trust me...you will know who is posting!)
hard to believe it is january 19th and we have been married for ONE MONTH!!! i feel like we spent forever counting down the months until the wedding that it is so hard to believe we are counting up the time we have been married. it has been so wonderful and such a blessing. we are learning so much about each other and what it looks like to be a godly husband, wife, and couple. i will even try to share some of the funny things we are learning about each other as we go along.
with that being said....this teacher is exhausted and going to relax and get to bed early tonight!
love,
the unthanks
hard to believe it is january 19th and we have been married for ONE MONTH!!! i feel like we spent forever counting down the months until the wedding that it is so hard to believe we are counting up the time we have been married. it has been so wonderful and such a blessing. we are learning so much about each other and what it looks like to be a godly husband, wife, and couple. i will even try to share some of the funny things we are learning about each other as we go along.
with that being said....this teacher is exhausted and going to relax and get to bed early tonight!
love,
the unthanks
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