tender loving care

Yesterday I found this bread box at Goodwill for $4. It was brown wood and had a wooden knob on it. I already had some mint paint at home that I'd been waiting to use on something. Another thing on my to do list was to run to Hobby Lobby to pick up some crafts for Johns youth project for mutual last night. So while I was there I picked up this cute little red knob for $1.50. I painted it this morning and love how it turned out. Can't wait to make a homemade loaf with tender loving care and put it in there!

(Thanks for my sweater pumpkin CJ! I love it, even though right after this picture Evaleigh ripped the leaves off of it.)

French things make everything better.

Day 4 of the Snowpocolypse.

School had been cancelled for everyone again.

Despite what you might think, we were not going stir crazy.

Good thing we brought some of my homemade wheat bread.  

It is full of flax seed, oats, and crushed almonds.

Yum.

We decided to try to make some homemade french toast with the wheat bread.

Here is how you do it:

This morning John left for his first day of school for this semester. I'm gonna miss that guy during the days.  The Snowpocolypse spoiled us.

I'm feeling a lot this morning as I think about what this semester might hold for us. 

I'm scared I might get bored.  This is the first time, since I was four, that I haven't been a student.  I feel like its hard to gain a sure footing right now.  I am faced with all of this time and the freedom to choose what I would like to do with it.

I have always been an extremely busy lady.  

I have prided myself on my "to-do" lists.  I went through school in a whirl wind of things to do, songs to memorize, assignments to complete, and places to be.  I had a schedule and places where I knew I had to be present.  Now, I feel like I am floating around in some sort of uncharted territory.  Although now I occasionally have work, voice lessons, and a grocery run, I find myself in possession of one of the most precious gifts: time.

My father-in-law encouraged John and I to read (this talk) from October General Conference again.  We did, and I am so grateful for that.  Here are some things that Dieter Uchtdorf said that spoke to my soul.

"Let’s be honest; it’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. They flood the open spaces in their time with lists of meetings and minutia—even during times of stress and fatigue. Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives."

"It is said that any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice. Over-scheduling our days would certainly qualify for this. There comes a point where milestones can become millstones and ambitions, albatrosses around our necks."

"Strength comes not from frantic activity but from being settled on a firm foundation of truth and light. It comes from placing our attention and efforts on the basics of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It comes from paying attention to the divine things that matter most.

Let us simplify our lives a little. Let us make the changes necessary to refocus our lives on the sublime beauty of the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship—the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace. "

I am very much looking forward to devoting my time to simplifying my life and emphasizing the basics of the gospel in my life.

I am looking forward to being a supportive wife while my husband soldiers through another semester of college.

I am looking forward to the next time I can make this french toast.

And I am looking forward to all of my precious time and turning it in to something wonderful.

My Male loves the Mail

One of my favorite times of the day used to be checking the mail.  Now that I am a married woman I have a husband who also really likes to do that too so I have lovingly given up my affection for checking the mail.  But I must confess...I miss it.

I love the feeling of going in to the mailbox and seeing a handwritten envelope. We should all write hand written letters more often.

OH IT MUST BE SOMETHING GREAT!  Junk mail makes sad and hand written letters and boxes make me oh so so happy.  Don't get me wrong, I still check it every now and then but I have left that joy to the Mr.

Yesterday I received some lingering birthday cards and gifts.  My sweet step  mother-in-law sent me the handmade angel.  It is from an old quilt!  So CUTE! She said we could use it as one of our Christmas ornaments but I am going to see about what I can do to make her the topper on our tree.

(I love the pearls in her hair.)

On Saturday I received my package from (this girl). I entered one of her giveaways several weeks ago and won something that I am sure every girl in this world would want, an Anthropologie gift card.  Yep, thats right.  Free money to one of the most whimsical, magical, and expensive places on earth.  I was determined to make this gift card stretch as far as I could.  So, I did.  With the help of my %15 off birthday coupon I only paid $13 bucks for all of this...

and...

but wait thats not it...

4 beautiful latte bowls

Who has a photo shoot with their new latte bowls?  Oh, that's right, we do.

(Dear bowls, I am going to make pumpkin soup in you on Wednesday)

thats still not it...

We got a pack of three lovely kitchen towels that I used on the table for a centerpiece instead.  Eeek!  $13 bucks!  I walked out of that store BEAMING yesterday.  I must say I did pretty good except I did almost throw up when I saw a candle holder for $138 bucks.  I'm sorry thats a little ridics don't you think!?!

Anyhow, as we were admiring our new finds there was a knock on the door.  Some latinos were selling Mexican sweet bread door to door in our apartment complex.  Have I mentioned yet that I am only 1 of 2 American women in our complex?  I love it, I never feel unsafe and there are precious latino babies running around all of the time!  I had never had the sweet bread before so John went down to their van and bought it out of the back of their trunk like it was a fake Fendi purse.

We got...

Yummy!  Hearing John speak the Espanol to them was a special treat.  I love to hear him speak in spanish. RAWR!

We LOVE our new finds and we ended the evening learning a special new song on the guitar and uke.  Stay tuned to hear something lovely.  Here is a hint: We want to get rich and buy our parents homes in the south of France.

Thanks Ashleeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Jammin' at the Murphy's

A few weeks ago we had a jam sesh with a big group of friends. It was perfection.  


Each jam sesh is completely different.  Sometimes we all play songs we know and sometimes we just improv. No matter what we are doing be assured that the lights are low and there are candles in the fireplace and on the tables.  


We made:


Caramel Apple Pork Chops with a Pecan Glaze Sauce (absolutely a hit and a perfect fall dinner!)
Steamed Broccoli
Squash with Onions and Parmesan
Homemade Bread (which is becoming a staple in our house)
and
Homemade Strawberry Jam (also a staple)


My only complaint about our perfect little apartment is the lack of counter space.  Its so bad that when I am cooking in there I have to open up the dishwasher to get more space.  Its ok, it does the trick.  
Smaller kitchen= less space to have to clean.

the prep...

I used the picture frame that eventually became my (earring holder) as a center piece to hold all of our condiments, gravy, salt, and pepper. (and a couple of teacups and candles just for looks)

(these beautiful floral napkins came from my one and only Lisa who is serving her mission in Finland.  She sent two different packs of them to John and I as a wedding gift.)

Those in attendance:

Me- uke and vocals

Husband- guitar

Belen- rocking it on the drums

Jenna- keyboard

Lina- on her mac

Brandy- the most fierce egg shaker we know

Clark & Monique- the "just marrieds" & our new neighbors! Tambourine and Xylophone

Here is a little taste of what we like to do.  Sometimes things come out great and other times its a flop, but we all liked this one a lot.  I like it when Jenna shakes her hiney in front of the camera in the end.  No one knew I was recording this.  Clark is quite the rapper, wish you could hear what he is saying better.  Listen...

We all had a really fun time.  Everyone left...

(goodbye friends!)

...and then I got to be with this guy.

And we got to do these together.  

It looked like a dishware massacre in there.  But it was nothing a little love and elbow grease couldn't take care of.  We love knowing that these dishes belong to us.  We love that this is our mess and we are the only ones who can clean it up.  If we don't do it, it doesn't get done.  We are big kids now and get to take care of all our own things.  

Growing up is fun.  

I turn 23 tomorrow.

I feel old.

C'est Fall!

Do you feel that kids?  That's right, its fall.  The real deal;  I mean wind-blowing, leaves falling, crunch beneath your new shoes and feet real deal fall.  Today I babysat and opened up the doors and listened  to the wind bellow and tinker through the trees while airplanes flew by.  Other than the fact that the kid pooped three times while I was there, it was bliss.

Today I rushed home after work to be with the love of my life.  We were both STARVING and I was having one of those "oppositions to the kitchen" nights.  So, we went to Sandy Springs knowing there were about 15 hundred restaurants that would suffice.  

"How about Flying Biscuit? Fresh 2 Order?  Nothing but Noodles? Or we could try that French place in Perimeter?"

Um, yes please!  I can't believe I have lived in Sandy Springs for for almost 5 years now and I haven't been to la Madeleine! 

(Look at those fall clouds creepin' in like creepers)

We had read rave reviews on their Tomato Basil Soup; we had to try it.  So we had:

2 Bowls Tomato Basil Soup

1 Quiche Lorraine

1 Quiche Florentine

2 Ice Waters

...and all the fresh French bread we wanted

This is me in my old lady sweater.  I got it at Loehmann's because it was cashmere and Juicy Couture, but really its just a geriatric poop-green sweater trying to be cool. What a wannabe. But I sure do love it.

P.S.What's up with that USA Today newspaper box in the background CLEARLY trying to ruin our French ambience?!

Miss Lorraine

Miss Florentine

Soup Soup Soup Soup

French Sourdough

Wheat

Then we did something we shouldn't have...

So, these French desserts were just staring at us!  How rude right??  We went over to see what they wanted and then they begged us to buy them and take them home to eat.

Fine, "We will each get one."

I picked the Sacher Torte

Husband dearest picked the Strawberry Napoleon

"Oh what's that you say? We got a coupon for another free dessert when you printed out our receipt?  Geez, I guess we will have to get the French Vanilla Berry Tart..."

John and I took our treasures home and sat at the table and tasted each one...slowly...one...by...one...

We think we will move to France just for the desserts alone.  I mean, if American French desserts are this good, I can't imagine how good French French desserts are!

Our favorite was...

...the Sacher torte which was layers of chocolate sponge cake, with chocolate mousse, chocolate icing, and apricot jam in layers.

Yes, we ate all of them...oh, France we want to move to you so bad right now.

A Bag Full

I love grocery shopping.  I just really do.

I love driving to the grocery, I love walking in to the grocery with my cloth bags.  I love going isle by isle and picking each thing out. I love checking out.  I really love that John and I are big kids now and can pay for all of our own stuff.  I love carrying all of my groceries to the car.  One of my favorite sights of all is looking in my backseat with a car full goodies.  It makes me smile to see bags full of yummy things coming home to my kitchen.

Yesterday I went to the grocery and came home with these...

(we are cooking vegetarian for some friends Wednesday night, hence the tofu)

and made this...

Homemade bread and jam (for this recipe go here)

Bacon Wrapped Chicken in a Creme Sauce (here)

and

Broccoli Salad

The Hubs loved it dearly.  He has been asking for broccoli salad basically since we got married.  The moment finally came and he acted like it was Christmas.  That always makes me feel like I am the bomb wife.  So right before we got ready to eat Johns phone butt dialed our Pops.  He heard the prayer and he heard us both squeal with excitement as we started to eat.  Oops.

Anyway, it was a...

(FHE)

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