Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Tasty Tuesday-Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken & Recipe Link Up


Before I get to today's recipe and party, can I be totally corny and say how much I appreciate all of you who linked up and shared about the very first Tasty Tuesday Recipe Link Up Party last week?  And would it be totally dorky if I said I might have teared up a little thinking of how complete strangers become your friends before you've even met them?  So yes...dorky and corny.  But also completely sincere.  Thank you friends.

You all know I'm a sucker for a good slow cooker recipe.  Well this one is my husband's very favorite recipe of all my slow cooker recipes-and ya'll know I have a ton.  It is perfect for a super quick lunch or dinner with chips and a pickle, or you can dress it up a bit and entertain with it easily.  Eat it by it self, in a baked potato, or in a sandwich like we typically do.  However you choose to serve it just make sure you try this one!  I hope you fall in love with it as much as my family always does.  My only regret with this dish is that there is never, ever leftovers.  Here's what you'll need...
4-6 chicken breasts (depending on size of chicken breasts)
12 ozs. of BBQ sauce of your choice
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Alright friends it doesn't get easier than this one.  Pour all of your ingredients except your chicken in a bowl and mix together.  Or if you're like me and don't want to dirty up another dish then just mix it together in the bottom of your slow cooker.

Then just throw in your chicken breasts and coat them with the sauce.  Pop the lid on and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 6-8 hours.

When it's done it will completely fall apart in a puddle of delicious-ness.

Take 2 forks and get to shredding.


This dish is an absolute staple in our house.  I hope you love it as much as we do!

Printable version found here
Alright friends-time for the Recipe Link Up!
Here are a few favorites from last week!  




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Thanks for linking up guys!  Have fun!




Monday, April 28, 2014

About the Hard things

Confession:  I am terrible at doing hard things.  

I will go out of my way to avoid them.

I will choose comfort every time.

And honestly, it's an area that has tripped me up more than once.  It's definitely sin in me that I continue to battle and work through.  Last night at church we were posed with a question that has me wrapped up:  What do you find yourself praying more often...Lord comfort me...or Lord conform me?

Ouch.

After church last night I got to spend some time chatting with a friend and of course that question in the sermon came up.  We cried over it together admitting that hands down I pray for God to comfort me!  Not that praying for God to comfort us is bad, not at all!  But how often do we say-Lord change me!  No matter how uncomfortable it is I just want to be more and more like you!

For me I'll be honest, not enough.

The friend that I was discussing this over is kind of incredible.  You see, she met Jesus in a jail cell.  She grew up with one parent bound in the chains of addiction and the other in jail.  WIth no one else to raise her she was sent to live with her grandmother.  Living in the pain and heartbreak that she did growing up she was determined to not let the same thing happen to her.  But you see...she didn't know Jesus, she didn't even know that there was a God big enough to heal her and love up the broken pieces of her and put her back together.  She didn't know.  And determination and grit will only carry you so far, and eventually she found herself in the chains of addiction too.  That's how she wound up in that jail cell.  But as often is the case with my God, what seemed like the end was only the beginning.  And when she had decided that this cell and this lifestyle was all there was to life, and that it must be her family curse that she couldn't ever escape even if she did find herself out of that cell, a woman came through and introduced her to Jesus.  If you hear her talk about she'll tell you herself-she just gave me a glimpse, she didn't tell me much.  But just that taste was enough and I was ruined.  Ruined for Jesus.  Which is exactly where she needed to be.  7 years later she is a free woman in more ways than 1.  She is a mother to precious boys, an incredible wife, and in a few months graduating with her counseling degree to help other women like her.  The woman who left that cell was in no way the same woman who entered it.  Because that's what Jesus does, changes you.  Sometimes we forget that often requires doing hard things.

These days my friend finds herself in that same jail often, though now it's to minister to others who felt there was no other way like she did.  But she wept with me last night as we mulled over that question together as she remembered the day she knew the hard thing that she had to do that was essential for her healing.  She had to cut ties with her biological family.  She wept as she recalled it all.  But she said through a tear stained smile-every single thing that I have given up for God He has replaced ten fold.  I thought I would never have a family if I gave up the one I had, but now I have my only family and my own church family that is so huge and really, really loves me-and loves me without the strings of addiction!  Freedom I didn't even know existed!

Isn't that the way it is?  I'm not saying we are all called to give up our biological families, for my friend and her situation that was what was key to her healing.  These days, years later, she does have some contact with them and she is able to witness to them and show them the love of Jesus and we pray that one day they would seek the Healer for themselves.  So often our healing and our spiritual growth is just on the other side of that hard thing that we know He is calling us to.  After our talk last night I drove home and I knew what I needed to do today, I needed to do my own hard thing, even though it didn't look like my friend's.

So this morning I woke up and got the Mr. off to work and then I got myself ready and I got in the car.  The whole way there I talked out loud to God and wept like he was in the seat right next to me.  I told Him I wanted to trust Him, I wanted to not be afraid, I knew I had every reason to trust Him and no reason to be afraid.  So help me please!

And then?

I did the hard thing.




Linking up with: Faith, Nan, Amber, Kendra, Put a Bird on It

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Scripture Sunday


Thursday, April 24, 2014

Top 10 Date Night Ideas


#1-  Theme Night
Check out your local grocery sale ad and see what's on special that week, then plan a themed date night based off that.  Pasta for $1?  Italian night it is.  Then make it your personal mission to together come up with a really fun (and inexpensive) Italian night menu.  If you want to go all out even dress up to fit the role!  It might sound silly, but this is where some of the sweetest and simplest memories are made.

#2-  Kid Night
This could technically be classified as a theme night, but it's one of our personal favorites so I had to include it separately.  Pick out your favorite old Disney movie that you watched on repeat 2035 times as a kid and watch it with your love while playing your favorite board games.  Sometimes when life gets so busy and you feel like you're just paying the next bill and accomplishing the next task-and that's all you're doing, this really brings it back down to simplicity and laughter for a few hours.  Order pizza, or better yet find out your man's favorite childhood dish and surprise him with it.  Finish off the night with giant chocolate chip cookies and milk and remember 1 rule-take nothing seriously for one solid night.  You're both 5 again.  

#3- Reverse Breakfast
Everything that happens at the beginning of the day?  Do it at the end.  Get into your comfiest (but not oldest/grungiest...you know which ones I'm talking about there) pjs.  Fix a huge breakfast.  Gather a stack of newspapers to swap your favorite comics and do the crosswords together, and a funny TV show on DVD, and go back to bed with it all.  Breakfast in bed at the end of the day.  

#4- Picnic
This may sound like a "duh" kind of idea, but really I think it's kind of overlooked.  Either grab subs at the local sandwich shop or pack a PB&J for crying out loud.  Then remember some fun stuff to get you both active and laughing, like bikes, fishing poles, rollerblades, frisbees, or even sidewalk chalk to challenge each other to who can make the best public love letter on the sidewalk.  Have fun with it!

#5- Begin the day with a Date
Who says date night has to happen after 5:00??  (Except for the title of this post that clearly states date night)  Sometimes we both know the day we are shooting for date day is going to be hectic and crazy, and odds are by the evening we are both going to be so exhausted that we'll be half asleep.  Solution?  Wake up 30 minutes early and slip away to a coffee shop or local breakfast spot together.  Sure it's simple and not as long as an entire evening together, but something is better than nothing right?  Plus I've noticed on the days we have done this we are both more "connected" throughout the day.  Even if we're going in 2 different directions and going nuts, there's more communication still, there's more hugs and hand holding when we see each other.  We're just "there".  Even though it was just an 30 minutes or an hour we started our day focusing on our relationship, and that can't help but shift the way we think or feel for each other throughout that day.

#6- Take a Class Together
Check out a local paper and see what discount classes your town offers.  Dancing?  Cooking?  Or something sports related for him?  This is not only a fun way to learn something new together, but it is also one way to guarantee date night.  If you are in a season of life where you're just struggling getting motivated to have a frequent date night this is a great place to start because 1-you don't have to be responsible for planning the date, you just go the class together, and 2-if the class is once a week or every other week then there's no question as to whether or not you'll find time for date night that week.  It's already set for you and all you have to do is show up.

#7-  Take a Drive
Sometimes getting out for a bit is just what you need to reconnect, but it can be difficult to really talk when you're in a public place.  So sometimes you just need to pack a blanket, grab a cup of coffee, and go for a drive.  When you find a wide open spot pull over and pull out the blanket for some star gazing.  Couldn't be simpler or sweeter to just get away without really going anywhere for a bit.  I also really love incorporating some of these questions into the evening.  If there could be one date I could choose to have every single week, this one would probably be it.  There's no "fuss" over it, no planning.  Just the two of you.  

  #8-  Dessert only Please
This is a great idea if you have kids.  Once the kids are in bed hire a sitter for an hour, it will be an easy job and maybe you could even pay them with free food since all they really have to do is watch tv and be there if the kids wake up.  Then get dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant and have just dessert.  If you don't want to go through the hassle of hiring a sitter or dressing up then one of you run out for dessert while the other puts the kids to bed, then meet in the bedroom for dessert in bed.  You can even make your own dessert or fondue for an even more affordable option.

#9- Spa Night
I can almost guarantee you that if you leave out the facials, even your husband would enjoy a night of pampering.  Start by soaking your feet together in a hot tub of water and epsom salt talking about the day, then move on to giving each other deluxe massages and finishing the night with a bubble bath.  You can even set up the laptop in the bathroom with a favorite movie on while you soak.  This is another one that could easily be done after the kiddos are in bed.

#10-  Skip it
You might be wondering am I really suggesting to forego date night after I've given all these tips?  Well, kinda.  But not really.  I love date night and I think there is tremendous value in it and is needed for healthy marriages in the long run.  I really do.  But you know what, sometimes it just doesn't get to happen.  Things happen and while you try to protect that time as much as you can, sometimes it's out of your control.  And that's okay.  The first year of our marriage I was a freak about date night.  So much so that it became more of a task to check off my to-do list like laundry and cleaning the toilet rather than an exciting time to reconnect with my new husband.  When we didn't get to have date night one week I was overcome with guilt.  I was a terrible wife and our marriage was going to fall apart in a matter of months for sure.  Stop it.  It's crazy.  We hear so much about the importance of date night these days that if we aren't careful it will lose it's fun.  Strive for date night, protect it and try your best to make it happen.  But don't stress over it.  Some week's are just too hectic and crazy.  And on those weeks I urge you to do something we do.  30 minutes of electronic break-turn off the phones and tv and laptops, and just sit on the couch and talk.  Just talk.  How is work really going?  What's got you worried this week?  How can I pray for you?  Date or no date, I'm still here and still love you deeply. 



Wednesday, April 23, 2014

To my husband...

Dear Mr.,
Tonight you were busy catching up on some work in the office so I know you didn't notice, but I had to sit down at the kitchen table and have a good cry over you.  The happy tears you know.  

You always love me well.  Well, maybe not always.  But your heart is always in it to love me well-and that suffices for the days we just fall short and mess this thing up.  Today was a hard day and you must have sensed it.  It felt like Spring so much, and while I love Spring, my aunt did too.  And it made me miss her so much I could hardly stand it.  So when you wanted to run by the bank after work with me I wasn't thrilled, I really just wanted to go home.  But I didn't say anything.  

You know how you love to collect change and then go cash it in?  And how I always think it's kind of silly?  I'm sorry for that.  I see pointless pennies and nickels that won't buy you much, but you see it eventually adding up to more...and I love you for that way you think and look at life.  God knew I needed that in my partner for this life and that perspective changes things for me.  So today when you got out of the car with your huge bag of change and the bag broke spewing coins all over the parking lot and all we could do was laugh like crazy-I needed that.  I needed to laugh.  And while most people would've gotten frustrated and annoyed, you just laughed with me and picked every single one of them up.  Even the creepy guy who walked up and offered his help if he could keep the money for himself didn't slow you down.  And when you politely declined his offer and he dug out a dirty plastic bag of unwrapped lemon drops out of his pocket and handed you a handful of candy to "enjoy while you work" you graciously smiled and said thanks man before handing them to me to discreetly throw away.  We drove away from the bank today laughing our heads off and wondering if there was a hidden camera somewhere pranking us, but it was one of those silly moments that make those great memories that you look back and smile on.  

Then you drove me to the store and spent that money on me.  A silly thing to most people probably.  But to me...it really meant the world.  To me you spent too much money on me, but to you I was worth it.  You knew how much I missed my aunt and you knew she loved fountains and butterflies.  So a beautiful tabletop fountain covered in butterflies to make me feel like she was still in the backyard gardening with me was one of the kindest things you've ever thought to do for me.  You knew that every time I was in that yard a piece of me would ache for her to be there with me, so this was the closest thing you could think of to make that a little easier for me.  

I don't think you'll ever know what this day meant to me.  We're in a crazy season of life, you and I.  Most days we see each other a precious few hours.  But you never forget to text me to ask me how my day is going, or step out for 3 minutes at work and pray with me over the phone just to make sure I remember you're still there.  Tonight when I got that discouraging phone call about a family member and was about to cry you quietly walked up and held me in your arms so tightly I thought you may be physically holding me together and not even know it, and in your strong, calm voice you simply whispered...I got you.  

Yes Mr., you certainly do.  



Linking up with:  Kristen

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Tasty Tuesday-Ham Casserole and Recipe Party Link-Up!


Since beginning my blog I have always reserved Tuesdays for recipe sharing.  I've gotten to link up with other amazing recipe party link-ups and meet other people and find new recipes, and I've loved it all so much!  So I finally decided it was time to begin my own recipe party!  I am so excited to announce that the Tasty Tuesday Recipe Party begins here today!  I truly hope I'm able to help you all gain blog exposure like those that helped me.  I do ask to please link up recipes only!  I will be pinning them on my Tasty Tuesday Party page on Pinterest that you can find here, and I will also be featuring a few of my favorite each week.  I would love to have you follow me but that is not a requirement, however if you do please let me know in the comments so that I can follow you as well!  I do require a link back to this party or grab the party button!  Thank you for linking up!!!  On to the recipe this week.....

If you love casseroles and have leftover ham like we do around here, I've got the perfect recipe for you today.  We always get such a large piece of ham and by the time we've had our 3rd set of leftovers we are all ham-ed out.  This is the perfect solution because it's a whole new dish and doesn't feel like leftovers at all!  In my recipe I am listing everything I used, but feel free to swap out the veggies for whatever you have on hand or whatever your family enjoys!  Also, a few of the measurements I used roughly because I know what we like/don't like as much-and let's be honest I eyeballed it.  Here's what was used...

-1 package bow tie pasta
-1 small onion, chopped
-1/2 cup sour cream
-1 (10.75oz) can cream of chicken soup
-1-1 1/2 cups chopped ham
-1-1 1/2 cups shredded cheese 
-Saltine or butter crackers
-1/2 cup frozen peas
-1/2 cup frozen corn 


Begin by preheating the oven to 350 and boiling the pasta according to package directions to al dente, since this goes in the oven as well and nobody wants a mushy noodle in their casserole.  While that is going mix all the other ingredients except the crackers in a large bowl.


Once the noodles are done just drain them and mix those in as well.  Then pour into a greased 2-qt. baking dish and bake for 35 minutes.  (I recommend covering this.)


While this is baking crunch up some crackers for the topping!  After the 35 minutes remove the dish and top it with the crackers, then put it back in the oven uncovered for 5-10 mins until it's all golden and delicious like.


Leftovers never tasted so good.

Printable version found here!



Sunday, April 20, 2014

Scripture Sunday


Thursday, April 17, 2014

Top 10 DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts


Though I was not blessed with the teaching gift personally, I come from a long line of them in my family.  To say it is in my blood is and understatement and many evenings the highlight of my night was getting to put stickers on the papers after they had been graded when my aunt would bring home a big stack of papers to grade.  Each generation in our family has had at least one person in the education field, so I've seen a lot of gifts.  First day of school gifts.  Christmas gifts.  Appreciation week gifts.  End of school year gifts.  And from an insiders perspective  let me just say there's been some crazy stuff.  

That's why I have compiled my top 10 favorite DIY gifts that would be perfect for Teacher's Appreciation week or an end of school year gift, or even just because!  These gifts can also easily be tweaked a little here and there to make them perfect for someone other in a teacher in your life as well!  

1.)  



Source unknown



I love a gift that is fun to receive in the moment and something the gift receiver can hang on to, and this is just the perfect idea for that.  Those canvas totes are fairly inexpensive at craft stores, then just decorating with a doily and an initial letter!  I really like the idea of filling it with some fun relaxing items, like a few magazines and some chocolate and a Starbucks or Sonic gift card.  Even when those items are used up they have this adorable bag to keep!!


2.)  

This is such a fun, inexpensive gift idea that even the kids could help with for their teacher!  Either buying a metal tin or saving one you have laying around the kitchen and painting it up!  
P.S.-Dad's...hint hint!  This would make a good Mother's Day gift idea too!  You could put your kids handprints on the back of the tin!!

3.)  

If you have a little less time for a DIY project, no fear!  These hand soaps are so adorable!  Also Bath & Body Works usually has great sales on from time to time, making these a fantastically affordable option!

4.)  

These cups with the lids and reusables straws are some of my favorites, and if you looked at my kitchen cabinet now you might wonder if I collect them.  Filling them with candy and a sweet note makes them the perfect simple gift!

5.)  
Source unknown

Everything you need for a cute summer pedicure!

6.)  

Perfect for a Teacher's Appreciation or Mother's Day gift this practically free gift is especially meaningful after having your child write down all the reasons their teacher or mother means so much to them.

7.)  

Though this was technically shown as a Father's Day gift idea, I love putting a Mother's Day, or Teacher gift spin on it.  Kind of like a "Happy Sleep In past 8 Day", full of fancy coffee or tea, a nice mug, and a newspaper or magazine.

8.)  

Who wouldn't love someone handing them everything they need for a spa night at home? Since you're fitting everything into a mason jar you can also get by with buying all the items in a travel size, making this option very budget friendly.

9.)  

This is an adorable gift that can be as easy or complex as you wish!

10.)  
Who wouldn't love receiving a beautiful flower arrangement in a monogrammed mason jar!  This is beautiful and looks so simple to accomplish.





Wednesday, April 16, 2014

DIY Spring Tiered Flower Pots

You might remember a few weeks ago I posted my Top 10 Outdoor DIY Projects post.  Last week I finally got the chance to try out one of the ideas for myself and I am so excited to share it with you all!  It was so fun to do, really simple, and really brought Spring to our front porch!

I began with 3 flower pots of increasing size.  I actually already had these pots in my garage, so I began by just spray painting them 3 bright colors.


Next I started filling my pots with potting soil.  Then I took the middle size pot and set it inside on top of the soil in the largest pot.    


I offset this, even though you wouldn't have to.  I played around with it a bit and preferred this look the best.  Make sure that once you've decided the placement of the pots (off centered, centered, to the right/back/left) that you give a little pressure to the pots to kind of stabilize it within each other.

Now it's time to start filling the empty spots with flowers!  I tried to leave a bit of space among them to give them some growing room.  You can fill this with whatever you like depending on where you're putting this.  Since I was placing mine on our front porch and it's rather shady I had to keep that in mind when purchasing our plants and flowers for this project.  The top tier is Purple Fountain Grass, and the other 2 tiers are a mix of Double Begonias and Impatiens.


After only a few days these flowers have already really flourished and grown to make the pots look beautiful and full!  I love how this turned out and hope you do as well!





Linking up with:  Angela, Wake up Wednesdays, Ginger, Whimsy Wednesdays, WFMW, Amy, We Did it Wednesday, Kim, Kim, Christine, Leslie, Live, Laugh, Rowe, White Lights on Wednesday, Christine, Moonlight & Mason Jars 

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Tasty Tuesday- Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Growing up I had a unusual dislike for pot roast.  To me it was similar to chewing on the Toys R Us catalog.
Too dry.
No flavor.
No thank you.

But then in my early 20's I was given a slow cooker from my now husband's grandparents for Christmas.  I had never used one, neither had my mother.  So I took to google to find out what this new fangled discovery was.  This recipe was one of the first I stumbled upon, though I don't remember where.  At first the very words "pot roast" made me want to keep looking, but for some reason I gave it a try.  And ya'll-life was changed forever.  All of a sudden I loved pot roast, I wanted pot roast for breakfast, lunch and dinner, pot roast deserved a cape and a new name of super pot roast.


Not only is this a life changing pot roast, it couldn't be easier.  It only has 3 ingredients (unless you count water) and you can easily throw it together in under 5 minutes.  Also, one of my very favorite things about it is it makes its own gravy that is so insanely good I have been known to lick the plate more than once to get every last drop.  This not only makes it convenient, but also more moist and flavorful as it cooks in this delicious gravy all day.  Here's what you'll need.

3-4 lb. pot roast (this one was an arm roast)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 (1 oz.) packet dry onion soup mix
1 1/4 cup water

In a slow cooker mix together everything except the roast.

Place pot roast in slow cooker and coat with soup mixture.

Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 8-9 hours.  

When it's done it will fall apart perfectly.  I have put in carrots and potatoes before for the last hour or 2, but we eat a lot of carrots and potatoes at my house-we're kind of pigs.  Because it seemed we could never fit enough in the crockpot with the meat we usually just bake them in the oven separately.  



Printable version found here!