Quirks of Life

January confessions

2012-01-31T09:12:00.000-08:00

In January I decided to challenge myself to buy nothing new. Well, a month has gone by and I am pretty proud of myself. For the most part I avoided going to stores in the first place, lest I stir the temptation. When I did go to Target for work purposes, I will confess walking through the clothes section - just to see - and I did pause a couple times. There was a dress that really caught my eye... But practicing self-control I moved along.

Then it was time for Dad's birthday and I knew he wanted a pair of jeans. So I went to Gap. And like always, they had an extra x% off all sale items... there was a sales rack. There were a pair of jeans. For me. I tried them on. They were perfect. They were $10. Without giving myself time to change my mind, I bought them.

And it felt great.

I talked with my friend Emily, who is also participating in this challenge...and she suggested we re-evaluate the rules. Perhaps things that cost same as used should qualify.

Maybe. But I am going to continue to try to stick with the original rules. I need to practice self-control. Its an area I struggle with, and just because I may have found a reason to bend the rules in January doesn't mean I need to bend the rules all around.

Maybe February will be a month that I can truly say I succeeded.

Deciphering the Goodwill Tags

2012-01-18T08:13:00.000-08:00

I finally cracked the Goodwill tag code. For those who don't shop at Goodwill, all items are tagged with a color. Each day a different color is marked at 50% off. The mystery for me was always which tag was going to be on sale next. My grandpa seemed to have cracked that code, and I figured it was time for me to discover this as well. So I did.

Who knew, it was as easy as googling "Goodwill calendar"?

My summary of the Goodwill Calendar for January:

1/15-16 - Blue Tag items 50% off
1/17 - Blue Tag items $1.49
1/19-21 - All winter items 50% off
1/22-23 - Green Tag items 50% off
1/24 - Green Tag items $1.49
1/29-30 - Yellow Tag items 50% off
1/31 - Yellow Tag items $1.49

The next mystery is discovering why certain items have certain tags...What do the colors mean? Hmm...

P.S. Goodwill uses funds raised from sales to help people develop job readiness skills and career advancement through GED support, ESL classes, coaching, etc. Check it out here. How many retail stores do you know that support a cause with their profits?

2012 Challenge: No New Stuff

2012-01-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

I am a lover of bargains, and this year I want to take this passion to a new level:

For 2012, I am challenging myself to obtain all home goods, clothing, accessories, etc. from thrift stores, garage sales, or from swaps. I will track my progress, success and failures here. Hopefully there will not be much failure.

Things that will be exceptions to this rule include - purchasing gifts - I will try my best to go the homemade route, but it will be okay to buy new things for people I love or accept new gifts from people who love me. I will also allow myself to buy a new swimming suit. Obviously things like food, shampoo, and other consumables will come new. Otherwise, anything I can buy at Goodwill, Value Village, Craigslist, etc. will come from there. Or at least I will try. My husband is in on this too, so we will keep each other accountable. For him, things he needs from Home Depot for our home renovation will be the exception.

I'm sure there are many wonderful and thoughtful motivations that could explain why I am doing this, but in all honesty, the main reason for doing this is my insane obsession with bargains and the desire to see how long I can sustain this hobby. I want to test the theory that it is possible to only shop secondhand.

I hope this experiment will allow me to slow down and evaluate what is important. I know each day will be its own sort of treasure hunt. There are a lot of things we need to outfit our home and going the thrifty way will take the pressure off of getting it all done right away and each find will be all the more appreciated.

I haven't looked this up, but I am pretty sure there is some sort of endorphin/dopamine benefit to saving money. I know when we found a free couch and patio table for $2 I was on some sort of high from the steal. Every time I look at those two items I am filled with giddy excitement and relive the memories of the treasure hunt that led to them.

I invite anyone who wants to join in this journey with me. I would love to share in the joys, temptations, and adventure of buying nothing new. Let's do this together!

Lemon Yogurt

2011-12-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, my parents surprised me with a case of lemon yogurt. Now, what am I going to do with 24 cups of lemon yogurt? I can't imagine eating it plain, although I think David might.

Here are some recipes I found that will make use of this tangy-ness:

Lemon Yogurt Muffins

Lemon Mint Chicken Salad

Lemon Yogurt Waffles

What would you make with lemon yogurt?

3D Gingerbread Cookies

2011-12-24T21:38:00.000-08:00

Gingerbread cookies go 3D! Saving this idea for next year. Thanks Not Martha!

Cookies galore!

2011-12-15T18:54:00.000-08:00

The cookie swap I participated in this year has posted all the wonderful cookie recipes involved in the massive 22,000 cookie trade. Can you believe that? 22,000 cookies were mailed around the US and the world earlier this month! Makes my eyes go way wide!

Check out all the delicious cookies (and beautiful cookie shots) here and here.

Bonus points if you can spot the special gingerbread cookies Kat, Marina & I made.

Cheers!

Secret Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Revealed!

2011-12-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, today I will reveal the recipe of the most delicious gingerbread cookies I've ever had. My wonderful friend and baking extraordinaire, Kat, from Walk Slowly and Carry a Camera agreed to share the coveted recipe for this cookie swap.

But before we go into the recipe, I just wanted to reflect: this was the first cookie swap I've ever participated in and it was awesome! There is a special kind of joy about getting cookies of an unknown variety in the mail and I even found myself giddy while waiting in line at the post office to mail mine off. Thank you Love and Olive Oil for connecting me to this cookie swap! I look forward to participating again next year!

Thank you Bake Eat Repeat for mailing me absolutely amazing soft and chewy ginger spice cookies cookies! They were delicious!

And now....drumroll please....the recipe!!

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp group cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup softened butter
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses or think honey
1 egg

Directions:

1. Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt into a large bowl.

Beat butter and brown sugar in a separate bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg; beat well.

Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed.

(It should have this consistency)

Press dough into a thick flat disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 350*F. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness on lightly floured work surface (don't be shy on the flour!)

(Don't be shy with the flour, it will keep your gingerbread people will shaped)

Cut into the gingerbread with cookie cutters of your choice. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

3. Bake 8-10 minutes or until ledges of cookies are set and just begin to brown.

Cool on baking sheet 1-2 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

(This is just the beginning of the 6 dozen cookies we baked)

Decorate cooled cookies as desired.

Enjoy!

(Can you call it foul play when it is so irresistible? :P )

It's Walnut Time!

2011-12-01T10:55:00.001-08:00

Since we have this sitting on our kitchen counter:

I am making this:

Thanks Eat Good 4 Life for the wonderful idea!

Here are some other walnut-iriffic recipes I am trying out with our mountain of walnuts:

Celery stuffed with goat cheese and walnuts

Chocolate Walnut Brownie

So much deliciousness to make, so glad that pretty squirrel doubles as a nut cracker!

Cookie love

2011-11-23T14:43:00.001-08:00

I am absolutely stoked about participating in my first ever Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap this year! I will be making my cousin's secret recipe fabulous gingerbread cookies, but until then - here are a few other cookie recipes I intend to make before Christmas:

Soft & Chewy Vanilla-Orange Cranberry Cookies

Cookies & Cream Brownies

And the ultimate ambition, I'll be finally tackling the Snickers Bar from Bon Appetit... I've had my eye on this one for a few months now, and finally with winter break upon me - we're going to make it happen!

Is it too ambitious...

2011-11-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

to sign up to make apple grape pie from scratch for Thanksgiving dinner? I've never made a pie before but I was smitten by this gorgeous pie from Bon Appetit:

It's just so beautiful! I am going to try to pull off the leaf look too.. Going to practice this week, but first I need to pick up a rolling pin.. Sad that I don't have one yet, huh? Shows how much I bake! :)

UPDATE: I made the pie and it was delicious!! So glad I tried, and now I have a rolling pin so their is no baking obstacles to stop me now.. I have an endless list of cookies and baked goodness I want to make. Sigh :)

View from my kitchen window...a poem

2011-11-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

view from my kitchen window

2011 - the world is a place of pain, brokenness, suffering, greed, confusion

But I wake up to the sunrise peeking through my window

The man of my dreams holding me tight

The colors of autumn leaves flying around outside

And all is right for a minute.

The cover of Time magazine reveals world problems

Uncertainty of what tomorrow brings

The kitchen may not be in one piece

But I am warmed by a cup of hot cocoa

And my feet are not cold

And all is right for an hour.

Children without love

Parents without a means to provide

Families without homes

Seems like all has fallen apart

But a smile from a child who has lost everything

Makes the world right for a day.

Darkness fills the street

Sirens rush to help

People shouting

But I hear a sound - singing

A song of love, a song of Christ

A choir of voices singing proudly

And I know that all is still alright.

Style muse: Pippa Middleton

2011-10-31T09:14:00.000-07:00

I adore Pippa Middleton's style... So simple, classy, yet elegant. Definitely copying some of her looks this fall, because copying is the highest form of flattery - right?

Spooky apples

2011-10-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

Are these cool or what? Learn how to make them here.

The harvest is plenty!

2011-10-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

(Image via Flickr)

We received the bounty from the CSA we are participating in - and there are a lot of goodies in it this week! We have kale, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, beets, tomatoes, watermelon, potatoes and eggs!

Here is what I am planning on making with all this deliciousness:

Zuppa Toscana

Beets & Bowties

Watermelon Salad

Kohlrabi, Apple & Bacon Slaw

What are you having for dinner this week?

The return...

2011-10-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the car dealership waiting room, I found myself with a couple extra moments and beginning to realize, wow - have I really not posted anything since July 6th? Slightly unbelievable, but then I remember all the millions of things that happened over the last 4 months...

1. We bought a fixer-upper house
2. I started a new job.
3. We bought a fixer-upper house

So basically, all free-time has been swallowed by survival mode living. But now, things are finally settling down (or so I feel since I'm trapped in this surprisingly cozy waiting room) and I am excited to get back into writing and making note of all life's wonderful things.

I am excited to start posting before and after photos of our house, because we are very close to having some decent "after" shots.

Until then, here are some images from my recent trip to the local farm... Isn't Oregon breathtaking?

Pop Rocks Ice Cream Float

2011-07-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

This is absolutely amazing! Had it for the 4th of July and will definitely be making it again, and again, and again. It is that good! Thank you Love and Homemade Recipes for the idea!

Firecracker Float

3 scoops of vanilla ice cream
1 envelope Pop Rocks candy, flavor of your choice
1 cup chilled lemon-lime soda

Place a scoop of ice cream in a tall glass; sprinkle with one-third of the candy. Repeat layers twice. Top with soda. Serve immediately.

Dinner This Week

2011-05-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

Image via How Sweet It Is

I have my very last final of my college career this week! Woohoo! This is truly a monumental week for me, so I'm celebrating by eating delicious food. Excited to have a meal plan for this week actually, its been awhile since I've put together a plan.

Creamy Caprese Pasta

Crockpot Indian Curry

Amish Breakfast Casserole

Strawberry Shortcakes

Saving this one for later:

Thai Spring Rolls

2011 Eurovision Recap

2011-05-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

Overall, this year's Eurovision was a disappointment. Barely any of my favorites made it past the semi-finals and the top 10 did nothing short of making me groan in agony. I guess my taste is not necessarily that of the voting population in Europe.

In any case, here are my favorites. Feel free to post your favorites.

My absolute favorite, probably for its cuteness and uplifting vibes:

I also enjoyed:

Italy's Raphael Gualallazi with Madness of Love. It felt so Italian and romantic.

Beligium's With Love - all done acoustically. Such talent! I don't know why they didn't get into the finals.

Belarus' belched a patriotic anthem - I Love Belarus.

Denmark's New Tomorrow by A Friend in London was inspiring.

Lipstick by Jedward from Ireland is pretty fun and wacky.

Yet, somehow this song won. Why?!?

Anyways, what are your favorites? If you aren't familiar with Eurovision and are curious, wikipedia has a pretty good summary (of course).

Picnic Printable

2011-05-23T08:41:00.001-07:00

Last week I gushed about my love for picnics. This weekend, I accidentally came across a super cute picnic printable.

Polka Dot Print Studio shares a fun tutorial on how to make picnics even more awesome with these cute bags for your picnic deliciousness. Thanks Polka Dot Prints for this great tutorial and template!

Butternut Squash Lasagna

2011-05-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

Image via The Kitchen Ink Recipes

My husband had this at our community group and said it was delicious. I was stuck in Gladstone with a flat tire, so I missed out - but I'm saving this recipe for later. He said it was that good :) Thanks Caitlin for the recipe!

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Today I am loving...

2011-05-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

this song:

Such soul!

Love: picnics!

2011-05-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about summer are all the picnics. There is a special joy I find in sitting on a blanket in the sun and eating. Somehow, everything tastes better outside in the sun.

Then there is the laughter that surrounds. The kiss of the sun as you turn the page of a gripping book. And the gentle touch of those you love that are right there on the blanket with you.

Basically, picnics are awesome.

Some of my favorite picnic finds come from World Market:

Navy Chelsea Picnic Pack

Picnic Blanket

This picture makes me very happy:

Slow cooker favorite: Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers

2011-05-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

As you can tell by now, I am a lover of slow cooker recipes. I've shared slow cooker soups, meats, and today I am making Italian Stuffed Peppers.

Keep in mind, for this recipe you will need cooked rice, so if you have some left over from a previous day, that is ideal. Otherwise, you'll want to plan ahead to make sure you have enough time.

If you are pressed for time in the morning, you can prepare the filling for the peppers the day before and refrigerate until stuffing. I should have done that, to save the stress of making sure I could get out of the house on time.

Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers

via Slow Cooker Revolution

serves 4

Ingredients:

1 onion, minced

6 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

4 red, yellow or orange bell peppers

1 slice white sandwich bread, torn into quarters

1/4 cup whole milk

12 oz Italian sausage removed from its casing

1 small zuccini, cut into 1/4 inch peices

3/4 cup shredded monterey jack cheese

3/4 cup cooked rice

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

salt & pepper

2 tbp minced fresh basil for garnish

1. Microwave onion, garlic, oil, tomato paste, and red pepper flakes in bowl, stiring occasionally, until onions are softened (about 5 minutes).

2. Cut top 1/2 inch off each pepper. Chop pepper tops fine, discarding stems. Remove core and seeds from peppers.

3. Mash bread and milk into paste in large bowl using fork. Mix in onion mixture, chopper pepper tops, sausage, zucchini, monterey jack, cooked rice, parmesan and 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper using hands (I used fork). Pack evenly into cored peppers.

4. Pour 1/3 cup water into slow cooker. Place stuffed peppers upright in slow cooker. Cover and cook until peppers are tender, 4-6 hours on low.

5. Using tongs and slotted spoon, transfer peppers to serving platter, discarding liquid in slow cooker. Sprinkle with basil and additional parmesan and serve.

(Image above via Why Vegetarian)

Relationship for survival

2011-04-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

Image via Velvet Morning

"Let us not make a mistake - that the hunger is only for a piece of bread. The hunger of today is so much greater: for love - to be wanted, to be loved, to be cared for, to be somebody."

Mother Theresa

I've been thinking a lot lately about the importance of relationships and friendships. It was God's design for us to need each other - need to love and be loved, need to hear and be heard, need to connect and be connected with. It is vital to our existence to have relationships with each other. Without them, we are slowly stripped of our human-ness.

I am glad this was the theme during our church's prayers this week. I would like to continue this prayer - that we will continue to seek relationship with each other - not in superficial, self beneficial ways, but that we will join each other in our struggles, strengths, joys and hardships. That we will value each other and be available for each other.

This song is a continuation of my prayer:

I need you, you need me.

We're all a part of God's body.

Stand with me, agree with me.

We're all a part of God's body.

It is his will, that every need be supplied.

You are important to me, I need you to survive.

(repeat 3X)

I pray for you, You pray for me.

I love you, I need you to survive.

I won't harm you with words from my mouth.

I love you, I need you to survive.

(repeat 8 X)

It is his will, that every need be supplied.

You are important to me, I need you to survive.

Blurt

2011-04-18T17:47:00.000-07:00

Discovered a new game today...Blurt! Apparently its a pretty popular game, but it was the first I've heard of it. It was in a random collection of card games at work - pulled it out and played with a group of students - they had a blast and it seemed like we all learned quite a bit.

The point, from what I understood, is to guess what word is being defined. The first person to guess the word being defined advances. This was great on two levels - it made reading and thinking about how things are described competitive, and it built the student's vocabulary. The students were practicing their English language skills in reading, comprehension and listening, while also getting a good laugh. It was great seeing their progression from resisting the challenge of the game to completely embracing it, gaining confidence and consequently thinking quicker on their feet.

It was fun for the kiddos, but I can see it being a blast at an adult game night as well. I'm going to have to pick it up for myself now!

Do you believe?

2011-04-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

Last week at work I was, possibly for the first time in my life, asked directly what I believed. The ten-year-old Muslim girl threw me off guard when she asked me if I was a Muslim. I replied that I wasn't. She then prodded and asked if I went to church. Finally, she looked me directly in the eyes and asked,

"Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?"

Wow. Never has any adult asked me this so directly, and coming from a child I was, to say the least, a little unprepared. I replied "yes," to which she boldly responded, "well I don't believe that God had any wives or children."

At this point a million thoughts ran through my mind: do I engage her in this conversation and explain the trinity and the details of my beliefs (which I was probably unprepared to eloquently do), or do I respect the rules of keeping religious talk out of the workplace? What would happen with whatever I said - how would she respond? Would I get reprimanded for sharing this information? I wondered how many other people she asked this and what came of those conversations.

But what came out of my mouth was, "what do you believe?" To which she didn't respond and then, to not make her dwell in the awkwardness, I asked what other beliefs she knew about.

We talked a little about various religions and beliefs people held, but before we could get into anything of significance, it was time to leave. I really cannot stop thinking about this small encounter. I am sure I will see this girl again, and my prayer is that she will continue to be curious and to ask questions. I pray also that God will give me the right words to say and also for the other people she will most likely talk with. Regardless of any silly mistakes on my part, I am sure God has His heart and eye on her and all things are working together for His good.

This encounter was also a great blessing for me, because it made me start thinking seriously about what I believe and why. Various religions hold true to their roots and there are some things they do not compromise. As Christians, we should never compromise the reality of Christ and the power of His death and resurrection, both what it means in our lives and what it means in the larger sense for the world. I am no theological scholar - but I know it is important to acknowledge my brokenness and accept the healing and restoration that comes from Christ alone. Whenever I have strayed from this truth, my spirit strongly suffered and my identity became out of whack. My identity is tied up with Christ, and apart from Him I am nothing.

I hope this Easter is full of meditation and focus on what Easter is truly about.

Here are some songs I am listening to this week, in preparation for Easter:

Crockpot favorite: chicken tortilla soup

2011-04-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

Definitely a keeper, although next time I might add some corn to add a little more body to the soup.

Photo via Fat Free Vegan

Tortilla Soup from The Slow Cooker Revolution

serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:

1 tbs vegetable oil

2 tomatoes, corred and chopped

1 onion, minced

2 jalapeno chiles, stemmed, seeded and minced (I used half of a poblano pepper and it worked fine)

6 garlic cloves, minced

4 tsp minced canned chipotle chile in adobo

1 tbs tomato paste

8 cups chicken broth

10 cilantro stems, tied together with twine

1.5 lbs skinless chicken thighs, trimmed

salt & pepper

Garnishes:

4 cups tortilla chips

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

1 ripe avocado

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro

lime wedges, for serving

1. Heat oil in 12 inch skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add tomatoes, onion and half of jalapenos and cook until onion is softened and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in garlic, 1 tablespoon chipotles and tomato paste and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Stir in 1 cup of broth, scraping up any browned bits; transfer to slow cooker.

2. Stir remaining 7 cups broth and cilantro stems into slow cooker. Season chicken with salt and pepper and nestle into slow cooker. Cover and cook until chicken is tender 4-6 hours on low.

3. Transfer chicken to cutting board, let cool slightly , then shred into bite size pieces (if there is bone, you can remove it now too). Let soup settle for 5 minutes, then remove fat from surface using a large spoon. Discard cilantro.

4. Stir in shredded chicken, remaining jalapenos and remaining teaspoon chipotles (if you want to add more spice) and let sit until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste (I found the soup already flavorful enough so did not add any salt or pepper).

Place tortilla chips in serving bowls, ladle soup over top and serve with cheese, avocado, sour cream, cilantro and lime wedges.

International Pillow Fight Day

2011-03-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

When's the last time you had a pillow fight? Yeah, I can't remember either. I was pretty surprised when I stumbled upon info on International Pillow Fight Day - which is this Saturday - celebrated all over the world. Literally, every continent will be celebrating: Brazil, Australia, Ukraine, South Korea, you name it.

Of course Portland isn't going to pass on such a quirky festivity. The joy starts this Saturday at 2pm at Director Park in SW Portland. More info on rules and such can be found here.

I might stop by just to see a bunch of adults going at it. I'll bring a pillow, because it looks pretty irresistible...

Brick by brick

2011-03-30T16:58:00.000-07:00

Photo by RaeoLight

"God is building a home. He's using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he's using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home."

- From Ephesians 2

Love: tea tins for flowers and herbs

2011-03-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

Growing herbs in tea tins on the kitchen windowsill. Love this idea. Definitely saving it for when I have a kitchen with a window!

Also awesome are flowers in tea tins.

Crockpot favorite: preserving flavors

2011-03-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

I was very excited to come across Slow Cooker Revolution, which addresses my biggest concern with crockpots - lack of rich flavor. Ten test cooks spent a year figuring out ways to intensify and preserve flavors during the slow cook process and live to share their results. I've already skimmed through and see some interesting ideas I haven't thought of before, like using the microwave or oven to prep ingredients for the slow cook process or making a foil packet to keep veggies from overcooking or losing too much flavor.

I am excited for this type of wisdom to take my much loved slow cooker meals from good to out of this world great. Stay tuned - I will surely be posting my favorites from this new book.

Thursday cupcake love

2011-03-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

So I didn't end up making the pretty marshmallow flower cupcakes today - instead I made these Devil's Chocolate w/ Raspberry Creme Cheese Frosting cupcakes. They turned out delicious. Thanks Kat for suggesting raspberry creme cheese frosting!

They are an absolute delight for the mouth and easy to make, considering the cupcake itself is made from a cake mix. I didn't have the appropriate cupcake decorating supplies, so I poured the frosting into a ziplock bag, snipped off a little corner and went to town.

1. Make Devil's Food cake mix according to package instructions - put into cupcake pan.

2. Make frosting.

3. Decorate.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Adapted from Obsessed With Baking

makes enough to decorate 24 cupcakes

1 stick butter, room temperature
1 block (8oz) cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup raspberry jam

1. Beat butter on medium-low speed until smooth and creamy
2. Add cream cheese and beat on medium-low speed until smooth and creamy (30 seconds-1 minute)
3. Sift powdered sugar over creamed mixture and beat on medium low until the sugar is all incorporated
4. Add jam and continue beating.

Note: Make sure you don't overbeat or else the frosting will become soupy. Also, its cream cheese frosting so if you don't refrigerate it, it will start to sag.

Best cookies ever

2011-03-23T19:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo by Steph from Obsessed with Baking)

Was in the baking mood today making cupcakes when I came across the Smores Cookie recipe. Of course I had to stop what I was doing and make these. And it was worth it.

The cookies are truly fantastic - the batter is delicious on its own, but then you add the chocolate and marshmallows...absolute goodness! I will definitely be making these many times again.

Smores Cookies
Adapted from Obsessed with Baking
Makes 2 dozen cookies

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups miniature chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows*
1 Hershey bar chopped

1. With a mixer, combine the butter and sugars until fluffy.
2. Mix in egg and vanilla until combined. Add the flour, graham crackers, salt, and baking soda, mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips.
3. Refrigerate dough for about an hour.
4. Preheat oven to 375ºF
5. Drop by rounded tablespoon (I used an ice-cream scoop) onto cookie sheets. Bake for 8 minutes, and remove from the oven. Push 2 to 3 marshmallows and a few pieces of a hershey's bar into each cookie. Return to the oven and bake an additional 2-3 minutes until fully cooked. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

*Note: I had large marshmallows and cut them up - definitely much stickier way to do it but still works.

Welcoming spring with a bunting banner

2011-03-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend I celebrated the oncoming of Spring by making a bunting banner for the bathroom. It was super easy and instantly added some Spring color to the most important room in the house. Plus, because it was hanging on a mirror, the reflection from the back made it look like we have two banners hanging. Makes me want to sing Double Rainbow!

Thanks Odessa May for the inspiration!

Happiness

2011-03-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

Absolutely love this picture by Bloom Print because its so true! Five years ago I would have never resonated so strongly with this picture, but now just looking at this print makes me super happy. Then when I think about this upcoming week - my last Spring break as a college kid - and you know what I am most excited about? That's right, spending some quality time in the kitchen making some delicious meals for those I love. Excited to spend quality time with friends visiting on their Spring break over a glass of wine and home cooked grub. Ah, this is the life!

Here is what we're eating this week:

Asian Style Orange Sauced Norwegian Salmon

Blackened Chicken Fettucine Alfredo w/ Sweet Spicy Carrot Salad

Goat Cheese Ravioli w/ Brocoli & Parmesan

To celebrate the coming of Spring, maybe I will make some pretty cupcakes... These caught my eye as cute and fun. Maybe I will make them with my little brother.

Crockpot favorite: easy pulled pork

2011-03-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

Photo via My Kitchen by the Lake

Seriously, this pulled pork cannot be easier to make - a potluck favorite.

Easy Pulled Pork
makes 12 servings

16 oz. root beer
18 oz bottle of your favorite bbq sauce
3-4 lbs pork shoulder

1. Put pork shoulder into slow cooker and pour root beer to cover pork.

2. Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours.

3. Drain pork & shred it with knife and fork - at this point you can also easily remove any bones or excess fat.

4. Return pork to crockpot - add bottle of your favorite bbq sauce, mix.

5. Cover and cook on low 1 hour.

Enjoy on mini buns, hoagie rolls, coleslaw or anything else! Makes delicious left overs.

Banned children's book worth reading

2011-03-16T23:14:00.000-07:00

It's A Book by Lane Smith bluntly reminds us in our techno-consumed world the pleasure and simplicity of a book. A short snippet:

Seems like a timely and poignant lesson, but this book has stirred controversy amidst schools and literacy programs, forcing many teachers to avoid this book as if its the plague.

Which raises the interesting topic of censorship and children. What criteria do you follow in choosing what content to give your children or students to read? When choosing For yourself? Would you let your child read a book that has a questionable word in it if the message was overall profound?

In any case, I think every adult should get their hands on Its A Book and read it. Yep, its that good.

On a similar note, Futura is playing at the Portland Center Stage. Looking forward to seeing it next week.

Cake Stencils

2011-03-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Baking, let alone being artsy with precise cake decorating has always been a bit out of my league. But I've always loved paper crafts, so when I learned about cake stencils I felt like there was still some hope for me.

Brooke from Playing Grown Up shares a free printable stencil and gives an excellent tutorial.

Or if you have any doily's left over from Valentine's day...

Real Simple

Or for something more advanced...

My Sweet & Saucy shows how to make this beautiful cake.

Now to think of an excuse to make a cake...

Lessons from the Shamrock

2011-03-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

(Photo via Evan Pilchik Photography)

This Sunday, David and I, along with 75,000 other people ran the Shamrock Run. The atmosphere was very festive, with live music and people dressed in their wacky greens. In the 5k, we ran alongside 11,000 other people through downtown, greeted with encouraging live music at every mile post.

Despite the lively mood, something was missing, and I realized that this something is the most important thing and the reason why I run these races. I run these races for the exhilarating feeling at the end of the race, when after 30 minutes of running as fast as humanely possible, I can just lay down and soak up the adrenaline. It is a wonderful feeling, and (understandably) amidst these 75,000 people there was no room at the end to sit down let alone lay down. We had to struggle to find some water and by then the mood for soaking it all in had passed.

But this confirms my appreciation for smaller races with 1,000 runners or less. The Stoller Vineyards Run was incredibly difficult, but at the end the view was marvelous and you actually felt connected with the other runners. Same with the OktoberFest Run in Mt. Angel.

Excited for these April races: Race for the Roses and the Spring Burst - both are for great causes, and we've done the Race for the Roses last year, which was my first race ever, so it has a special place in our hearts.

Are you running this year? What is your favorite race? What makes for a good running experience for you?

Rediscovering a childhood favorite

2011-03-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

Wrapping up the term for my young adult literature class I decided to do my author study on Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Although she is most known for her award winning Shiloh, I know her from the Boys Start the War/Girls Get Even series. I have very fond memories reading these hilarious adventures fueled with pranks, friendship and a little love between two neighboring families. These were definitely the books that got me excited about reading and to this day I recommend it to any reluctant reader in 4th-8th grade. I was also excited to find out that she's added to the series since I last checked. Maybe I'm too old for this kind of book, but there is always room for a little trip down memory lane, right?

Crockpot favorites: Lentil & Ham Stew

2011-03-02T09:03:00.000-08:00

Easy and delicious - this is a crockpot recipe I will make plenty of times to come. Perfect for a chilly day. Thanks Betty Crocker!

Lentil & Ham Stew

makes 10 servings

1 pound fully cooked smoked ham, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (3 cups)

4 medium stalks celery, chopped (2 cups)

4 medium carrots, chopped (2 cups)

1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)

2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed chicken broth

2 cups dried lentils (1 pound), sorted rinsed

4 cups water

Tabasco

Pepper

Wheat Thins

1. Mix all ingredients (except last three) into 5-6 qt slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8-10 hours or until lentils are tender.

3. Add Tabasco, pepper to taste (I prefer to do this to each bowl individually).

4. Sprinkle with Wheat Thins and enjoy!

Another lentil favorite is the Lentil Tacos w/ Onion and Jalapeno Salsa.
Saving this Beenie Weenie recipe per husband's request.

Sleeping is all I wanna do

2011-03-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes its just one of those days.

Can I just wake up when its time for this?

Seattle Weekend

2011-02-28T19:11:00.000-08:00

This past weekend David and I enjoyed a little trip to Seattle. We stayed at the 11th Avenue Inn, a "charming 1906 bed and breakfast" according to their website - it was everything they claimed and more. The hospitality was great - breakfast, one of my main requirements, was delicious, and the room was perfect. Location was super convenient - an easy and interesting walk to Pike's Place Market along vibrant Pine or Pike Street. If you're going to Seattle and need a cozy and convenient place to stay, I definitely recommend staying at the 11th Avenue Inn. If you're a practical person, just the amount of money you will save on parking should be enough reason to stay here.

It was a typical Seattle day in February, cold, windy and wet, but it was beautiful. Seattle has some amazing architecture, futuristic, gothic, Victorian you name it, they have it. Their library was definitely something special - never seen anything quite like it.

Our adventures included the obvious - Pike's Place and the Space Needle. But we also found some pretty awesome local treats, including Area 51, a modern furniture store, and Pinto Bistro, an ambient + delicious Thai and Japanese restaurant. Of course we found ourselves in the middle of a protest, but that made for some interesting people watching moments.

All in all, great weekend and definitely made me realize just how many treasures there are so close to home. Rich history, culture, and discovery may be in our own backyard. Fairy Doors and Wanderlust knows what I'm talking about. I'm looking forward to discovering the gems in Oregon and the Northwest in the coming years.

Rainbow Cake

2011-02-25T09:54:00.000-08:00

My beautiful cousin Marina is a phenomenal baker. Even at fifteen, she is a much better baker than I. She makes all kinds of baked goodness, I especially love her delicious brownies from scratch. So it made sense that when I came across this Rainbow Cake on Love and Olive Oil's blog, I immediately contacted Marina and asked her if she wanted to take on the challenge. Without hesitation she took on the challenge and baked it for her 15th birthday party. I think she did a mighty awesome job, don't you?

Married for a Mission

2011-02-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

"One of the missing ingredients of couples today is they do not have a mission; they do not have a sense of God having called them together to do something as a couple." - Dennis Rainey, marriage expert

I recently came across an article that attempts to answer the question: What's the Point of Marriage? The article follows the story of a couple and their marriage journey. They soon realize that it is when they looked outside of themselves, and worked together in ministry to God did they became stronger as a couple.

I totally agree with this point, especially reflecting on the bonding David and I shared in ministry with Night Strike and Compassion Connect - those were pivotal building blocks in our relationship. The reminder of course is to never stop working together in ministry, even when it isn't so obvious what the work God is calling us to is.

Counselor James H. Olthuis writes, “To try to keep love just for us ... is to kill it slowly .... We are not made just for each other; we are called to a ministry of love to everyone we meet and in all we do. In marriage, too, Jesus' words hold true: in saving our lives we lose them, and in losing our lives in love to others, we drink of life more deeply."

Now that we are in a less defined context for ministry, we must prayerfully be conscious of the many opportunities to serve that exist all around. Such a good reminder:

"He has placed you in your home, your family, your work, your church, your neighborhood and has said, in essence: "All this is yours. I'm giving you a mission together to care for the people around you. It's a big job, and you'll need each other. Together, join hands and make a difference."

Book Review: These Is My Words

2011-02-20T18:56:00.000-08:00

Historical fiction was never my favorite genre, and when my grandpa would watch his western movies I would usually yawn and get distracted with something else - but Nancy E Turner definitely kept my attention through to the end. This fictional diary is an action, drama, love story and historical account that is anything but predictable. Sarah is a smart, witty, and tough girl who I quickly fell in love with and rooted for throughout the story. Her journey to the Arizona Territories was much more complex than what we were ever taught in 6th grade or by playing the Oregon Trail game, although some of those themes and challenges were definitely present. Overall, I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a gripping story that is full of love, adventure and thought-provoking moments. This one may even come pretty close to my favorite, which come to think of is also historical fiction about women - Thousand Splendid Suns. Perhaps I have a thing for this genre after all. Thanks Kirsten for recommending this one!

Smoothie + Coupon = Awesome

2011-02-14T16:28:00.000-08:00

I love smoothies and I love good deals. When I saw this ad in the paper, I didn't even look for scissors. Instantly, this deal was ripped out and ready to go. Thank you Jamba for the $1 Pomegranate Paradise - I really enjoyed it!

Raspberry Mousse Brownies & Steak

2011-02-13T13:59:00.000-08:00

What's cooking this week?

Cuban Flank Steak w/ rice - use leftovers to make burritos later in the week for lunch

White Chili w/ cornbread

Raspberry Mousse Brownies

Our apartments are having a pizza party on Friday. We love our bi-monthly gatherings the management puts on. Looking forward to spending some time with our neighbors!

Love: Warmth

2011-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love the color of these handwarmers. I used to have a problem with my hands always being cold. Then, I started running and occasionally eating crystallized ginger (actually I only ate the ginger 2 or 3 times), and now no longer have that problem. There are times (especially when running) that my hands get really hot. Strange how that completely changed. But I would still wear these handwarmers.

Love: Valentines day

2011-02-10T09:35:00.000-08:00

I am a sucker for Valentine's day. Perhaps its because my first Scholastic book order was for a Valentine doily art project. Or that in 4th grade I had a secret admirer who showered me with gifts leading up to Valentine's day and then leaving me a "Will you go out with me, check yes or no" message on the day itself. Or perhaps the greatest reason of all: eating chocolate to my hearts content - no guilt allowed.

Regardless, once again I am excited. I'm making heart shaped brownies for a ladies night this weekend, and am fully prepared to wear my red tights on Monday.

I hope my wonderful cousin Kat will make her delicious Devil's Food cake, comparable to, if not better than this one.

And if I had more time, I would make these heart shaped tea bags for all my tea drinking friends and family. Life got busy this month, but perhaps next year.

Have a great Valentine's weekend friends!

Never Walking Alone

2011-02-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

I'm humming along to this song and processing the beauty of never walking alone.

Last 5 Reads

2011-02-07T21:38:00.000-08:00

I'm not an extraordinary reader like my husband, who is constantly eating up textbooks for pleasure. It takes me a while to connect with a book, and if I don't connect right away, it may take me months to come back and finish it off. Yet somehow, as I was cleaning our apartment this weekend, I noticed a hefty stack of books on my nightstand. I looked through them and realized I had read all of them in the past several months. Perhaps I am a reader after all.

They're quite a random selection of books, but hey, I'm a random kind of girl. It's fun to re-visit these books and ponder on my feelings towards them.

The Best Stories of Fyodor Dosteovsky - Extremely awkward, but also explains so much about the Russian psyche. As far as I can recollect this was the first book I've read by a Russian author, and boy is it a completely different experience.

The Shack - I can't believe it took me this long to read the book, but I'm glad I read it. It was very timely and reminded me of the intimacy and closeness I have with Papa - something that I needed to be reminded of. If you haven't read it, I recommend it. If you've heard weird things about it and resisted reading it - stop resisting and just read it. Eugene Peterson is right, it very well may be the Pilgrim's Progress of our time.

The Giver - Hated the ending, but definitely a book that can be discussed in a million different ways. Even though somehow I managed to get away with not reading it until now, it makes sense why its a required reading in many schools.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress - It was so fun to read a book that had references I understood! I don't come from a mennonite background, but there were so many references to food and culture that I could simply relate to, which made it fun to read. Made me laugh for sure.

Changing the Odds for Children At-Risk - Finally a book that looks at the educational system in a more constructive and positive way! Neuman's examples of what works, and why really made me think of programs in Portland and the need to be persistent in making sure the ones that have the qualities that work stay around because longevity is what makes greatest difference of them all. SUN Service System must remain (and be implemented everywhere!).

What are you reading these days? Any recommendations?

February crafts

2011-01-25T22:18:00.000-08:00

Can't believe February is lurking around the corner. I've already come across way too many cute things I want to make, so I've already set a date on the calendar to get crafting.

Here's what I'm making this month:

Yarn Love

Postage Stamp Coasters

And a jewelry organizer, inspiration courtesy of Craft Warehouse.

I'm excited to start working on these projects for a few reasons:

1. Being a student, especially in the program that I am in, everything is theoretical, so its exciting to produce something tangible with my own two hands.

2. Home gets a little update and I get the claim of "making it myself" - such a rewarding feeling!

So I'll definitely be staying busy while its gloomy and rainy outside. How are you spending your gray February? Are you working on any projects?

Mission Connexion

2011-01-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I wrote, but its been a busy couple weeks! This past weekend was AMAZING, spent at Mission Connexion NW. I love this conference, every year it reminds me how much work there is to be done in this world AND inspires me to see all the great work for the Kingdom already being done. Absolutely fabulous being surrounded by so many mission-minded people - with the united mindset, it really feels like family. It was also a blessing to sing worship songs in hindi, arabic, hungarian and english, especially in the context of remembering Christians all over the world and the different challenges they face because of their faith. We even got a list of a few churches we'll be visiting in the coming months. We ran into a woman attending Village Baptist church, one that was recognized by the City of Beaverton for its diversity. How beautiful it is when the church breaks racial and cultural stereotypes and embraces the beauty in culture! I love it!

Finally, we forgot to pick up our copy of Operation World - hopefully we'll get that soon, but if you're not in the loop with this and are interested in what is going on around the world you at least have to check out their website. The book and the website allow you to look at any country and see what sorts of social, political, economical, etc. issues the country is facing and what to pray for. The book is set up to walk you through praying for every country throughout the year. Pretty amazing resource.

Exciting Weekend Deals

2011-01-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

I don't post deals often but these are pretty exciting:

1 year Bon Appetit magazine subscription for only $3.99!! Just enter the Coupon code "FOOD."

Old Navy is having a Practically Free For All Sale, clearance items up to 80% off this weekend only (Jan. 14-17)

And if you're a JRR Tolkien fan - he's having a pretty big birthday bash at the Kennedy School, with a showing of the trilogy, music, costume contest, and more. Find details here.

Pretty rad eh?

Singularities, Single Spaces, & Seedfolks

2011-01-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

This week has been pretty intense.

Even though its 2011 and we don't have civilians with flying cars, technology has been becoming an even bigger part of our life and after hearing The Singularity: Humanity's Last Invention segment on NPR, I am honestly a tad freaked out. Generally I embrace the benefits of technology and am not too cautious - but this week when I heard Martin Kaste discuss the reality of artificial intelligence multiplying in its intelligence and potentially becoming a threat to humanity, images of all those apoccalyptic Matrix and 1984 horrors started filling my mind. We are closer to such an invention than ever before - don't you think its time we slow down a little?

I also read Paul Fleischman's Seedfolks, which was timely as its a story about an inner-city community in Cleveland that blossoms as its members slowly decide to plant in the neighborhood rundown empty lot. The story was inspiring and reminded me of the many beautiful community moments at my previous apartment complex. I miss that place a lot and hope to engage similarly where I am now. Perhaps getting connected with a community garden in Tigard would be a good place to start... I will keep looking.

Finally, the intensity of the week concludes with David sending me the article that has finally convicted me of my writing sin: the double space. Writing and typography snobs will agree that single space is the way to go. I have without conscious thought have been typing double space my whole life and believed it was better. I can't break the habit, but I will be giving it a shot - after this post. Wish me luck!

Here's to a great simple weekend doing simple things!

Super cute video + book

2011-01-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

This is an absolutely adorable video put together by Ocoee Middle School in Florida:

The awesome part is that this is clearly a school-wide activity and the principal is in on it. The lady in front of the kids (not on the stage) wearing the red sweater shaking her fist in the air is the principal. So cool and inspiring seeing a principal get down like that in honor of getting her students into reading.

If you're feeling uninspired (especially with this gloomy rain outside) - check out the Awesome Book of Thanks. It's so cute, it should definitely make the grouchiest person crack a smile and think of something to be thankful for.

Happy Thursday. You almost made it to the weekend!

My favorites from this month's Cooking Light magazine

2011-01-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

Looking to January's Cooking Light magazine for meal inspiration this week:

Spinach w/ garlic vinaigrette + pasta

Herb crusted chicken and parsley orzo (fines herbes recipe here)

Hawaiian chicken w/ rice

Also excited to visit Indian friends for dinner this week for some authentic Indian food. Perhaps I'll be able to acquire a recipe for a true Indian dish.

Favorite Show: Parenthood

2011-01-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

Primetime tv is usually filled with pointless promiscuity and unnecessary violence. A lot of lust and very minimal quality content, seldom (if ever) does it address any thought-provoking, real life issues that are important in our society.

Parenthood is different. This fictional drama explores the daily challenges faced by a realistically portrayed family (you wont find any sitcom stereotypes here) and explores important issues in todays world. The issues are explored with respect and range from autism, alcoholism, responsibility, commitment, and beyond. Each episode follows the challenges family members are facing individually as well as how these challenges interweave and affect others in the family. Characters are well developed and although there may be some profanity or sexual scenes, they are not there just for the sake of it. This show is rich with meaning and purpose, and gives a realistic picture of the complexity of personal, family, and work life - how decisions affect ourselves and those around us.

Overall, I think this is a worthy show - I've seen every episode of Season 2 so far and continue to be impressed. It's definitely one of my favorites of all time.

Watch it here and see for yourself.

2011: Embracing technology in education

2011-01-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

Old news: technology is a way of life for most kids today. Club Penguin is as popular with 2nd graders as Facebook is with teens. Children's computer use has tripled in the last ten years. Although obsession with technology may have its own variety of implications, it only makes sense that the educational system began to use technology for their greater good:

Canby school district is incorporating ipods & ipads in their elementary classrooms to help kids learn to read and do math. My little brother learned to search for his favorite videos on youtube before he learned how to write, so I definitely see why this is catching on. Not only are kids enjoying these devices - they are proving to actually increase test scores - and as we all know, the education system today is all about test scores. New York Times agrees.

For a while, students were able to take advantage of technology for their benefit, as their technologically challenged teachers caught up with the times. Not any more. Schools are now using technology to combat the very thing kids used to rely on to cheat.

I'm taking a course this terms called Computer Apps in the Classroom...clearly I'm already excited about the topic since I write this post even before my first day of class...but it is almost certain that I will be engaging this topic further in the coming months.

Do you feel it is important to consider the implications of technology in the classroom? What excites you about increased technology in the classroom? What worries you?

Love: Asos Fashion Online

2011-01-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

I may have just discovered the online version of Nordstrom Rack - Asos. Ton's of designer fashion decently priced (including a large sale and outlet section), and finally a store where I feel I actually have a decent selection to choose from. Will definitely be looking into this place once its time to update the Spring wardrobe.

Pictured above - a couple of my favorite things from this site: Headband; Necklace; Dress

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T21:45:00.000-08:00

You may have taken down your Christmas tree, but Russians are just gearing up for the orthodox Christmas celebrations. And just when you thought you have received all your new years congratulations - here's one more - vintage Russian style.

Discover more Soviet new year's greetings here. And if you feel inspired - make some pierogi. Yum!

Give old classics a make-over

2010-12-29T17:32:00.000-08:00

I love how this blog allows me to clean out my tabs and save the recipes I love. Here's what's cooking this week:

Sounds fancy but oh so simple: Goat Cheese Ravioli w/ Broccoli and Parmesan

Give rice the WOW factor with Maria's Rice

You'll want to have grilled cheese sandwiches every night with Fire Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Make a simple classic gourmet: Bistro Mac & Cheese

What will your last meal of 2010 be?

More Portland Love

2010-12-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, riding back from snowshoeing on the mountain, exhausted (in a good way) from our adventure, I sat back in my seat and let the satisfaction sink in. Bob Marley was on the radio, rain was pouring outside, and I was wearing my earflap hat and was just so proud to be an Oregonian, where we take things one step at a time and enjoy the simple things in life.

Portland Map Pendant

2011 Calendar of Vintage Signs in Portland

Zesty BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken

2010-12-27T22:21:00.000-08:00

Time to whip out that slow cooker for a meal that will practically make itself.

Zesty BBQ Chicken

Ingredients:

6 frozen chicken breasts (4 is also fine for the portions)

12 oz. BBQ sauce

1/2 cup Italian salad dressing

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp. Worchester sauce

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.

2. In bowl mix BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar, and Worchester sauce.

4. Pour over chicken.

5. Cover and cook 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.

If you have a rice cooker, why not throw in some rice with half water/half beef broth and relax. Read a book. Paint your toe nails. Call your mom. Or if you want to feel extra productive, do any of these speed cleaning moves.

Shattered dreams and the quarter life crisis

2010-12-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

Despite the current state of the world, millenials "remain optimistic, despite a job-killing recession, two wars and the threat of terrorism" (USA Today).

We are also called "wildly optimistic" by the Atlantic.

Yet even with this optimism, twentysomethings are experiencing what is coined the "quarter life crisis." Instilled by teachers and parents that going to college would lend to a rewarding career and a happy life, many are finding that it may be more complicated than that.

OPB's Think Out Loud did a very interesting show on this phenomenon - many interesting perspectives of young adults finding themselves dissatisfied with where their life is at. Listen to it here.

This "quarter life crisis" is riveting, especially as it relates to efforts to keep kids in school. For the longest time, the reason kids who were disillusioned with school were convinced to stay was the promise that it will pay off financially and they will be happier. I have used this argument countless times with students. But now that life has proven otherwise - I wonder how this will influence such a philosophy. What motivation is there for students who are not interested to stay? What perspectives/philosophies/strategies in education need to change in order for the educational system to remain valuable? Our world is changing a lot - and youth are watching and finding fodder for their arguments against the system. My belief was that education led to a better paying and more satisfying job - I know my standards in what I want my life to be like are pretty high, and I know many of my peers experiencing this crisis. Do we need to re-evaluate what we expect from a job? Do we acknowledge that adult life generally isn't as cool as we were led to believe? Or are there deeper issues at play here?

I find this topic and general research about our generation fascinating. What are your thoughts?

December crafts

2010-12-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

A while back, I came across some owl calendars (if you're a regular, you probably remember me talking about them) and thinking they were super cool, wanted to use the free printable for something. And behold, they became our card/party favor at our Christmas party.

The first step was to design the cover. I'm not sure if I found the red bows first and then came up with the idea to have them be part of the cover or thought it would be cool to have the bows and then sought them out, but in any case...I bought the red bows from the dollar store and began designing the cover. I wanted the card to have a worthwhile message/wish for people for the holidays and the new year and figured it was most appropriate to tie in something about wisdom because of the owls (maybe cheesy but hey). I found the passage in Colossians to be most appropriate.

In iWorks Pages I set up the page to print accordingly, leaving enough space for the bow. Then off to printing and cutting (so thankful for my paper cutter!) Then, punched a hole on the top of the front page, inserted bow, and taped it on the back to secure it.

Then after printing and cutting the calendar sheets, I paper clipped the months (in order of course) with a white paper clip to the cover page.

It was fun, multi-dimensional, and I hope useful for the recipients of the card.

Cost breakdown of project:

Nice paper - $5 (50 sheets)

Printing ink - $7 (cartridge refill at Costco)

Bow - $1 for pack of 20 at the Dollar Store

Total - $13 for 15 awesome calendar Christmas cards

________

For David this Christmas, I made him a special card (with custom wrapping paper out of a paper bag and scraps from our wedding invitations circa 2009).

David also got me an Anthropologie gift card (yay!) and it came with this cool box. I definitely see this turning into a project soon...

Of course, my paper crafts will never compare to the awesome people made out of paper crafts made in Russia. Check them out here (scroll about half way down the page).

Fabulous baby back ribs

2010-12-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

(Recipe and picture c/o Food Network)

I served these phenomenal baby back ribs to my family for Christmas eve dinner and everyone loved them including my mom, who is an amazing cook and tough food critic. Bought the ribs from Albertsons, and two slabs were more than enough for my hungry company of seven. They are fun to make and absolutely delicious. Although I couldn't get the braising liquid to become thick, and just ended up pouring it on thin - the ribs turned out very tender and juicy. My favorite part is that they were in the oven hours before the family arrived so I had time to make other deliciousness like glazed carrots and orange-scented green beans without any stress.

In fact they were so good, I made them the next morning for lunch with the in-laws.

Definitely a keeper - will make them again.

Why Portland Is Awesome

2010-12-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

(Image by littleputbooks)

You've probably already watched the hilariously awesome Dream of the 90's is Alive in Portland video, which is an introduction for Portlandia, a new series coming out in January. I am excited about this show because, quite simply, I love Portland and embrace the oddities that make it always entertaining. The fact that I can look out the window and see a guy riding a segway wearing a Darth Vader mask and a trenchcoast in the middle of June, and not be completely shocked by it, is amazing.

There are many things Portlanders should be proud of like the enormous variety of food carts, the alternative sports scene (hello hiking, biking, ultimate frisbee), and the fact that we are a hub for creativity. The national recognition Portland's received over the years stands as a testament of its awesomeness.

Despite being considered one of the most "godless" cities, there are a lot of big things happening within the body of Christ, like the Compassion clinics, and efforts to fight human trafficking. Mentoring, partnering, and being the hands and feet of Jesus are core values of many churches in Portland. God is doing great things amidst this quirky place. Perhaps its because God likes using the oddballs to dumbfound the wise and put-together.

Every time I drive through I-5 across the river and look at the downtown skyline, I am taken by the beauty of this city. Also when I drive down I-84 and see the beauty of the gorge. Clearly I'm not the only one - there are several CD's devoted to songs about Portland. And a whole line of clothing representing the glorious 503.

We have a lot to be proud of and a lot to laugh about.

What do you love about Portland?

My Favorite Punch + Christmas Dinner

2010-12-17T21:48:00.001-08:00

My cousin Olga said this was the best drink she's ever had. Its definitely my favorite punch and its pretty much a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Thank you Linda for the recipe:

Banana Slush Punch

(54 servings - but keep note, people will want seconds)

4 ripe bananas

2 cups white sugar

3 cups water

1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice

2 (12 fluid ounce) cans frozen orange juice concentrate

1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate

3 cups water

3 liters ginger ale; the colder the better.

In a blender, combine bananas, sugar and 3 cups water. Blend until

smooth. Pour into a large bowl and stir in pineapple juice. Blend in

orange juice concentrate, lemonade concentrate and 3 more cups water.

If making it in advance:

Divide into 3 plastic containers and freeze until solid.

Remove from freezer 3 to 4 hours before serving. Using one portion at a

time, place slush in a punch bowl and pour in 1 liter of cold ginger ale

for each.

**************

Also excited for my parents to visit us for Christmas dinner this week. This will be the first holiday we will be hosting at our place. My mom is a tough cook to please, but I'm prepared with the following recipes:

Tuscan Pork Loin

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Glazed Carrots

Orange Scented Green Beans w/ Toasted Almonds

I'll leave her the honor of making the dessert. She makes the best Russian pastries - maybe someday I'll learn...

Some more tools for holiday entertaining that may be useful:

Centerpiece Ideas

West Elm's DIY Downloads

Fresh Off the Boat Radio

2010-12-16T18:46:00.000-08:00

Driving home from work, not content with the songs on my usual stations of interest, I started scanning and heard Numa Numa playing on 107.1 FM. I had never heard Numa Numa on the radio and was curious - what was this station?! I've never heard European music on Portland's airwaves, and even though it had terrible static (battling for the waves with klove - why is klove everywhere?) I discover:

DJ Siniy with Fresh Off the Boat, a station from Mt. Hood Community College playing Russian/European music Thursdays from 5-7pm.

The actual station is 89.1 FM - for some reason 107.1 was picking up the waves.

Naturally now I'm feeling a smidge nationalist so I'll listen to some Oleg Gazmanov.

Also, can't wait for Eurovision 2011. Lena, the winner of 2010 was great. My other favorites: Turkey, Armenia, and Greece. Russia was something special, to this day I have not concluded how I feel about them. Hope 2011 will be a better one for Russia.

Best book on marriage

2010-12-14T10:41:00.001-08:00

Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrot is hands down the best book about marriage that I have yet encountered. It goes beyond the oversimplified concept of love and respect, and explores the anatomy of love, importance and differences in communication, as well as the psychology of marriage. The book moves quickly, with many engaging (and relatable) anecdotes and gives practical advice that you can more or less imagine how it would apply in your own life. I've read it multiple times, given it as a gift, and continue to appreciate this book. The writing stye is engaging and the content is intelligent. Even though I have read it before, I still find useful insight/reminders within it. Whether you're in the process of tying the knot, already married for years, or a single trying to prepare yourself - this is a worthy read.

And if you're looking for some interesting research on the topic, check out Gottman. He has done quite extensive research on relationships and his findings are quite fascinating. For example, he has identified several key factors in successful relationships and after observing a couple for 5 minutes can with 95% accuracy predict whether a relationship will last or break. Interesting stuff! I enjoyed learning about him and his work in my Family Communication course. These things never get old.

For the chef or chef to be

2010-12-13T21:11:00.001-08:00

Last Summer, while strolling through Portland's Saturday market I came across Cuisine Mentor.

Their concept is brilliant - create ethnic cooking kits which are basically a spice kit with the perfect combination of spices to make authentic international delicacies. The kit comes with a variety of recipes, so you have a choice in how you will use the spice. Also perfect for getting motivation to try something new or to answer that age old groan of planning dinner.

The website doesn't give justice to the well designed packaging - but its pretty enough to give as a gift for the chef or chef in the making.

I've already made Indian Tandoori chicken and a Moroccan dish and they turned out delicious. Looking forward to make some Native American stew one of these cold winter evenings.

Bacon Jerky

2010-12-09T21:19:00.001-08:00

Bacon Jerky is delicious and everyone should try it sometime in their life. I had the delight this past weekend while at the Holiday Bazaar at the Expo. Bacon Forever was the vendor. Absolute delight - and worthy of a gift for bacon lovers. I also loved their bacon gear for babies.

And if you're coming to the Christmas Sweater party... just a hint, a little bacon jerky may be included in the winning prize for the most audacious sweater.

Feeling Special + More Free Printables

2010-12-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

Birthday's really deserve their own week. I've been spoiled with a host of fun for about a month now, starting with David's early birthday surprise for me. The fun continued this week with a family dinner complete with a fox fur fashion show, birthday cards, free coffee from Starbucks and of course the showering of birthday wishes on Facebook - I definitely feel loads special.

Tonight, David and I are going to enjoy delicious world cuisine at Salvador Molly's, one of my favorites that I haven't been to in a long time.

But the joy is in the giving, so here are some more awesome free printables:

Bird Ornaments by Lisa Rupp

Holiday Gift Tags by Camilla Engman

Weekly Meal Plan Shopping List Organizer by Real Simple

I love printables. I'm in the process of making something awesome using the Owl Calendar - more info to follow once I finish.

Enjoy and have a great day! I know I will.

Wednesday Refocus

2010-12-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

Sometimes life gets busy, and by Wednesday all the wonderful spiritual food from Sunday has long been digested. Its easy to lose sight of the source of life and peace while drowning in life's daily grind. This song is beautiful and convicting.

Captivate Us

Your face is beautiful

And Your eyes are like the stars

Your gentle hands have healing

There inside the scars

Your loving arms they draw me near

And Your smile it brings me peace

Draw me closer oh my Lord

Draw me closer Lord to Thee

(Chorus)

Captivate us, Lord Jesus

Set our eyes on You

Devastate us with Your presence

Falling down

And rushing river, draw us nearer

Holy fountain consume us with You

Captivate us Lord Jesus, with You

Your voice is powerful

And Your words are radiant bright

In Your breath and shadow

I will come close and abide

You whisper love and life divine

And Your fellowship is free

Draw me closer O my Lord

Draw me closer Lord to Thee

(Chorus)

Let everything be lost in the shadows

Of the light of Your face

Let every chain be broken from me

As I'm bound in Your grace

For Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light

You're full of wisdom, power and might

And every eye will see You

(Chorus)

Good Deals on Toys

2010-12-07T22:19:00.001-08:00

Right now I'm running a toy drive for Beaverton's low-income and homeless youth, so I'm constantly on the lookout for good deals on toys to maximize our cash donations. I thought I'd share my findings with you.

Top 3 Deals This Week

1. Old Navy $10 for kids & toddlers packable jackets

2. Target $10 for family games like Apples to Apples, Glee, Life, Scrabble & more

3. Toys R Us 60% off PixOs and ChixOs activity sets

***Bonus: $2.99 for 100 piece creatology art set at Michaels!

If you don't have any kids on your list, consider grabbing something for a local toy drive or clothing drive. This year the need is immense and your donation will be greatly appreciated.

To find a toy drive near you:

City of Beaverton

Portland Metro Area

*Deals listed are valid until 12/11/10

Review: Bull Mountain Dental Images

2010-12-07T21:49:00.000-08:00

Imagine a dental office that cares about providing a quality holistic dental experience instead of torture as care. I may have found one:

My fear of the dentist stemmed from a horrifying childhood experience where I was performed dental work while my mouth wasn't fully numb. I was too young to understand or know how to communicate my concern to the dentist, and since then I've had this excruciating fear of the dentist. It didn't help that all the dentist offices I've ever been to have had a sterile, impersonal feel to them. Seemed like dentist offices hadn't changed much in the past twenty years despite the enormous leaps in technological advances.

Until yesterday when I went to a new dental office in my new neighborhood. I chose the dental office because it was the closest one to my home. When I called to make my appointment I warned them of my dental anxiety and they reassured me that they have many patients like that. So I proceeded.

The office is in a new building and looks nice from the outside, but the real test was what lied within. Entering the office, the first thing that caught my eye was the lighting - it was ambient - not too bright, and the furniture was new. They serve water out of goblets not paper cups. I began feeling more like I was at a spa than a dentist office, so I started to relax a little bit. Then I discovered that the dentist chair doubles as a massage chair that is on a very subtle and relaxing setting. Who can complain about a massage chair? The dental offices were also nicely furnished and had a healthy plant in the corner.

The dental assistant was extremely friendly but not in an annoying fake way. She made me feel comfortable in a matter of minutes. The x-rays were painless and results were instant. This office knows how to incorporate technology into their practice. Then I got to meet the dentist. He was very relaxed, confident and friendly. A dentist with a sense of humor! Imagine that?! He asked about my previous dental experience and I did get a little teary eyed sharing my childhood horror experience, but he was understanding. The hunch I get is that he is a dentist because he truly wants to make dentistry a good experience for people because he understands how it feels.

So I think this dental office is a keeper. They totally know how to make a comfortable patient experience, they are up to date with technology, and most importantly, they can make me comfortable. That is quite a feat considering I'm probably the most difficult dental patient ever.

I highly recommend Bull Mountain Dental Imaging & Dr. Rod Johnson DMD

P.S. I was also told that they have this laser technology that takes care of small cavities without the drill. This is exciting because I hate the drill.

Perfect Pair of Trousers

2010-12-06T09:38:00.001-08:00

They say a diamond is a girls best friend, but I would argue that for the working girl, a pair of flattering and comfortable trousers are far more valuable.

Seriously, how difficult does it have to be to find the perfect pair of work pants? They are always either too long, too short, too loose or too tight. Men have the blessing of finding their perfect fit by combining two sizes - us ladies only one. Tailoring dress pants is fine, but there is something extremely satisfying when trying on a pair of pants and when looking in the mirror seeing exactly what you want to see, no alterations needed. Its magical and I would argue that it increases motivation and consequently productivity.

Have you found your perfect dress pant?

I found mine, and now I understand why, some people have multiples of the same item. I may have to get these pants in different colors because heaven knows how hard it is to find something that fits right.

And thank you to the wonderfully kind and patient woman at Ann Taylor Loft who helped me find this treasure.

Ann Taylor Loft - Marisa Modern Trouser Leg w/ Stretch 2P

Chiles, Cilantro & Monterey Jack Cheese

2010-12-05T10:25:00.000-08:00

Monday: Slow Cooker Layered Enchiladas (30 minute prep - you can brown the beef the night before, then in the morning before heading out for work set-up the crockpot - 5 hour total)

Tuesday: Chili Chicken Soup with Cilantro Dumplings (20 minute prep, 40 minutes total)

Leftover Wednesday - eat leftovers from previous meals or make something using ingredients you already have on hand

Thursday: Chile, Potato & Cheese Omelet (25 minutes)

Shopping list:

1 lb ground beef
4 eggs
3/4 cup frozen potatoes or diced cooked potatoes
chicken breasts
2 onions
1 jalapeno chile
5 cups chicken broth

Bisquick

garlic
4 scallions
1 can (10.75 oz) condensced cream of mushroom
2 cans (4.5 oz) green chilies
1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
corn tortillas
Monterey Jack cheese
cilantro
salsa

*Shopping list does not include ingredients like spices or oils. Check the recipe for the complete list of necessary ingredients for these recipes.

Birthday Week Off to a Great Start

2010-12-04T21:46:00.000-08:00

Today I celebrated the beginning of my birthday week with some much needed shopping. Technically, the day was supposed to be filled with task oriented type of shopping - you know, the basic mundane things of life like toothpaste and soap, but it quickly turned into something much more colorful.

As I was on my way to run these errands, I noticed Tigard high school was having a craft fair. I decided to stop by and see what all the excitement was about. It was a fundraiser for the school band and the cafeteria was filled with all kinds of vendors selling handcrafted items. There were even several jewelry vendors that caught my attention - which is pretty special because I am hard to please when it comes to the over-saturated market of handmade jewelry.

Then I got a call from a friend to go to the Holiday Bazaar at the Expo Center. First time at this expo and it proved to be useful. Met some awesome people doing great creative work, collected a couple business cards, ate some bacon jerky, and walked away with a super adorable purse.

Driving home I was tempted to stop by the mall and boy am I glad I did. Cozy sweaters at the Gap 50% off - yes please! I even bought a paper cutter for my paper crafts. This is what I call a holistic shopping spree.

Now I'm home with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, enjoying our pretty little Christmas tree all lit up and the soothing scent of pumpkin spice. Oh yes - happy birthday to me from me. Just the way I like it.

Preview: Weekly Meal Planning

2010-12-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

Life is busy - and after a long day of work scrambling to figure out what to make for dinner can be draining. We often opt for our regulars, which is great, but the palate does get bored.

Therefore, I am starting a series on weekly meal planning, which is really just sharing what I already do on a weekly basis and making it available as a resource to simplify the wonderful world of meal planning for busy people. Although in future weeks the plans will be fuller (4-5 days worth), this week is a preview, and is for 2 days. Enjoy!

---------------

Rotisserie chicken tonight, Mexican hominy soup tomorrow!

Buy a rotisserie chicken on your way home from work, pair it with some mashed potatoes and veggies (or whatever else you need to get eaten from your pantry). Save the leftover chicken for the next day.

Tomorrow, make it a holiday with this quick, 30 minute easy soup recipe. Serve with tortilla chips or make your own cumin-lime tortilla chips.

Shopping List:

Rotisseri chicken
1 jalapeño pepper
1 can (15.5 oz) hominy
radishes (1/2 cup) (This week at Fred Meyer 2 bunches for $1)
cilantro
lime
tortilla chips

* The shopping list does not include staples that I assume are already in your pantry - including spices, peppers, oils, etc. Check the recipe to make sure you have the basics on hand.

Confession: Why I Blog

2010-12-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Some of you may be wondering why I blog. Then let me tell you a story...

Last night, as I was falling asleep I was reflecting on how much fun I've had blogging and how closely it relates to my silly childhood dream.

You see, when I was a young girl I had this little dream - a dream to someday have my own media conglomerate under the guise Twinkle Maroon. In the secrecy of my room I would record tapes of myself reading the newspaper, creating news of my own imagination and recording songs on the radio combined with my commentary. Sometimes I would convince my brothers to be guests on the show. Sometimes I would invite my Barbie's to participate on the radio show. Other times, without even recording, I would take a random object in the house and explain what it is and try to sell it to the audience of my imagination. I would create stories about the object, usually beyond what the object was actually was. Obviously, it didn't take much to keep me entertained - this was my favorite past time.

Then as I got older and started enjoying magazines, I had a dream to start my own magazine. I conspired and even got as far as interviewing a student from the Art Institute of Portland to be a graphic designer for the magazine. But at 16, I didn't have the discipline nor the content to fulfill what I imagined the magazine would be. My vision was to create a magazine that was a cross section of all things local, combined with issues of faith and culture, primarily geared towards youth. It was supposed to be called Intersection. I had the design in my head, but didn't have the skill or encouragement to make it come to full fruition so the dream dwindled.

Now I'm an adult. I still remember my silly childhood dream, and although disillusioned by the concept of media conglomerates, thanks to my PSU media literacy courses, I still have the yearning to share things that seem interesting to me and to create stories. With the blog, I essentially can do what I have been doing throughout my childhood, but now I can share these things with the public in an easy, accessible way.

But the main reason for blogging, I realized as I was falling asleep last night, is to catalog sites and information that stands out to me in a given time. This month I have referred to several of my previous posts for my own information multiple times. Blogging is a great way to save links and the context of why they are of interest. It's also fun to see the progression of my interests - reflect on what was on my mind in the past and see how I will organize my life in the future. If someone gains something from it that is great - if not, I have gained from it. In a way, its a continuation of my childhood dream, but it is now actually useful in organizing my life.

And thus, I've had two strong months of blogging and I am excited to continue. I have a couple of plans on what I would like to blog about that might be even more beneficial to you, the reader. Sneak peek of the plan coming out this weekend!

Thanks for visiting and reading my blog, if you are finding it interesting and engaging, I am glad. Please comment on anything that stands out to you! If you are not, that's okay. I am still getting out of it what I would like.

Happy Thursday!

Most Elegant Gingerbread House

2010-12-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

This is the most elegant gingerbread house I have ever seen. Also looks like the most difficult one to make. I'm definitely not at this level - nor will be anytime soon, but I can still admire it. If you're incredibly patient and artistically talented, detailed instructions are here. If you want to have a baking party and invite me - I will watch you do it with complete awe and admiration.

If you admire a well designed gingerbread house and would like to check it off your "things to do before I get too old" list, but can't get the guts to try it on your own, Sur La Table in Portland is hosting a Gingerbread Decorating Party on December 12th. Although the point is to let the sweet tooth in you have the time of its life, with the help of guided professionals and all the right tools at your fingertips, your gingerbread house might turn out to be something admirable too.

Thai Beef Stir Fry

2010-11-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

David and I LOVE Thai food. We could probably eat Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles everyday and not get sick of them. We finally had a chance to try making our own Thai deliciousness: Beef Stir Fry. Well, David actually made it. I took the pictures.

I came home from work to witness these freshly chopped veggies - peppers, carrots, garlic, and bamboo shoots. The curiosity got the best of me and not realizing what it was, I grabbed a bamboo shoot to taste. Let's just say bamboo shoots taste a lot better once they're cooked.

The sauce smelled so good, and so peanuty!

Action shot!

We were so excited to eat the stir-fry that we forgot to take a final shot.

For the recipe: Thai Beef Stir Fry

Love: Red Letter Words

2010-11-30T10:05:00.000-08:00

Recently came across Red Letter Words by Dee and her amazing mounted art printed. I am absolutely in love, especially with these Christmas ones:

True Love Was Born in a Stable

Peace of Earth Goodwill Toward Men

And how about this Fruit of the Spirit one for everyday. This would look great in my kitchen! (Hint, hint, this is now on my wishlist).

Food for Thought: Titus

2010-11-29T10:22:00.000-08:00

For the past few weeks, our church has been going over the book of Titus and the clear implications the gospel has on our lives. Some powerful food for thought lies in this 3 chapter book.

Although this specific message is directed to church elders, all Christians, especially those involved in any kind of leadership, both in the church and out should strive towards these things:

"They must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, they must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

Respect the government and be ready to do whatever is good, slander no one, be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. "

Why should we strive towards these things? Because we should always remember our story of redemption, after all:

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."

All passages listed are from Titus 1-3 - please do read the entire book to grasp the full message for yourself, and feel free to post any thoughts, reflections, etc.

Festive Veggie Platters

2010-11-28T09:33:00.000-08:00

Who said Veggie platters couldn't get their party on?

I love my veggies and if they can double as a creative decorative piece along with the nutritional value, I'm all over it. My only apprehension though, if you saw a veggie display this fun, would you be tempted to eat it or feel guilty to even touch it? I can't say for sure for myself.

If you're interested in making one of these fabulous crudite masterpieces, instructions can be found for the top one here and the bottom one here.

Thanks Apartment Therapy for sharing these awesome creative crudites.

Helping At-Risk Students Succeed Big Time

2010-11-27T20:24:00.000-08:00

Ironically, after watching Finding Forrester, I come across an article in the Oregonian about one of the best non-profits in Portland doing an amazing job with African American students who have traditionally been struggling to succeed in Oregon's schools.

Their passionate work has been causing dramatic results:

More than 95 percent of students enrolled in the SEI program earn high school diplomas. By contrast, only about 45 percent of African American students statewide graduate in four years.

This is incredible by itself, but what I find even more incredible is their approach. They do not take students completely out of their home high school and put them in an isolated bubble environment. Instead, they provide identified students with wraparound mentoring - they become part of the student's life where the student is at, AND they stick around with students for the long haul. They are committed to support the student until they are 25.

I am not surprised by their success, and I think many more groups who are trying to make positive changes for at-risk youth need to look to them as a good example of what is effective in making a difference in the lives of today's students.

The article by Betsy Hammond is definitely worth the read.

Love: Wooden Christmas Trees

2010-11-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

When you're living in a small space, innovative, small but adorable ideas for decorating are always welcome. That's why I love this tiny wooden Christmas tree from Red Zebra Designs that is perfect to put on an entry table. Light some pine scented candles and you've got yourself a Christmas tree without the mess.

I also like this one from PossibiliTree:

Freebie: Holiday Prints

2010-11-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

It's after Thanksgiving, and I can safely admit that I'm playing Peaceful Holiday's on Pandora and thinking about adding some Christmas spirit to our apartment. Naturally then, I was excited for this freebie:

Craftily Ever After has a couple fun free holiday printables. I am printing one to frame and put on our fireplace mantel. Haven't decided which one - I think they are both neat.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

Keep Calm and Merry On

Go ahead - print one and add some holiday spirit to your room, cubicle, binder, etc!

Leftover Turkey Finds a Way

2010-11-24T09:52:00.000-08:00

After all the delightful feasting, if you made the turkey, you're probably also going to get stuck with a bit of turkey leftovers. What do you do with these leftovers without it feeling like you're eating leftover turkey for weeks? Turkey sandwich, step-aside!

Creamy turkey pot pies are the new cool kids in town. Okay, I admit, when I first heard of chicken pot pies or turkey pot pies, I was kinda grossed out. Can chicken and pie be in the same sentence? It was a weird concept. Then I tried a piece and absolutely fell in love! I couldn't wait to make my own.

What is great about chicken/turkey pot pies is that they let you use the entire chicken. So this week, you might have turkey leftovers, but this also works amazing with leftover rotisserie chicken. I've always been kinda apprehensive about buying rotisserie chicken because we always have too much left over and don't quite know what to do with it. This was a wonderful solution.

What are your favorite ways to finish that left-over turkey?

Thanksgiving Baking Recap

2010-11-23T18:24:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving eve I had a blast baking three different pumpkin desserts for three different family gatherings. Survey says they all turned out delicious, and in the spirit of giving - I wanted to share the recipes.

Impossibly Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Notice the progression? All were slightly different, and David said the pumpkin cheesecake bars were his favorite, but feedback was good for them all. And I think they were worth not remembering whether I turned off the oven while we were half way to our family dinner on the other side of town. Twas a moment of panic infused problem solving, and thankfully in the end our apartment is still standing.

Thanksgiving: What to Make?

2010-11-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

The week leading up to Thanksgiving is always exciting - this weekend was extra exciting for me because my husband conspired a little early birthday surprise for me. It was my first time flying since I was a toddler - flying over the many vineyards in Dundee was breathtaking.

But now its time to figure out what I'm going to make to the several Thanksgiving feasts that await. I have narrowed down to a couple different options:

Betty Crocker's Impossibly Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake OR the almost perfect scoring Pumpkin Bars OR the perfect scoring Pecan Pie Bars (not pictured)?

With 3 upcoming feasts, I just might make them all...

SCRAP's Holiday Bazaar

2010-11-18T19:08:00.000-08:00

SCRAP is amazing. They have been the source of a lot of my joy, including where I bought a variety of random supplies for scrapbooking and the ultimate place for finding craft supplies for the many groups I have led with students. Students have loved field trips here where they learned all about the joys of recycling and re-purposing everyday objects into works of art. This is a wonderful non-profit in Portland and I am excited to visit their Holiday Bazaar! They always have really cool stuff, and this bazaar is more than shopping. It's going to be a party.

What: SCRAP’s Holiday Bazaar 2010 – Craft vendors, live music, food carts, raffle and gift wrapping by SCRAP!

Who: Local vendors selling reused/recycled gifts made from at least 75% reclaimed materials
When: Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21, 10am-6pm
Where: SCRAP, 2915 NE MLK Jr. Blvd. Portland, OR

Addicted Much?

2010-11-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

Perhaps this is a warning to myself, but I can't help but notice the growing impact of internet addictions, especially those to social media, like the Florida mom who lost control and killed her own baby. Of course most of us will deny that we would ever be pushed to that limit, but have we come close?

Does this cheesy video look familiar?

I'll admit, I've been there. There being the place where upon sitting for hours on social media, any interaction with a live person becomes a nuisance. I'm sure I've snapped a fair share at my little brothers unfairly because I was "in the zone" of the internet. And even now, sometimes I catch myself.

I was excited to see Holiday Matinee mention Hamlet's Blackberry, a book that shares practical advice on how to manage all the connectedness and how to disconnect once in a while. I'll definitely be picking this one up.

Technology isn't evil, but achieving a healthy balance can be challenging. How do you set your boundaries? Are you happy with the amount of face time vs. tech time you get?

I liked how Sarah from Her.Meneutics put it:

"When God created man to desire companionship, he didn’t take a rib and turn it into a Wi-fi signal. He took Adam’s rib and turned it into a living, breathing creature who could hug, touch, comfort, and even intuit emotion in its fellow inhabitants. I don’t think that means God frowns on technology like computers or phones. Social media facilitate most of our relationships and can even deepen some of them. But God’s intentions for humans call us to be purposeful about preserving face-to-face relationships — and stopping virtual addictions before they start."

Can't Help Being So Giddy

2010-11-17T20:26:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is next week. I just finished a huge project at work that turned out to be a success. What can I say? I'm in a great mood and can't help dancing around the room, singing along to my favorite tunes. However am I going to get to sleep tonight?

GIVE Handmade Sale in Portland

2010-11-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

If you're planning your post-Thanksgiving shopping, consider visiting the GIVE Handmade Sale. Not only will you find much unique-ness made by local artists, but 10% of all sales will go to the Oregon Food Bank to fight hunger.

In case you didn't know, Oregon has the 3rd highest hunger rate in the nation. For the over half million people in Oregon who struggle with food insecurity, Oregon Food Bank's impact is huge.

GIVE Handmade Sale
Sunday November 28th
11am – 5pm
Left Bank Annex
101 N. Weidler
Free Admission – All Ages
Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Oregon Food Bank. Cash donations will also be accepted.
Food and drink available for purchase
Swag boxes for the first 100 people through the doors!

Thanks handmade in portland for the heads-up!

Smart Gift Wrap

2010-11-16T19:01:00.000-08:00

With the holiday's approaching, many of us have already given some thought as to what is on our wish list and what we are giving others. Many of us acknowledge that part of the joy of gift giving is the presentation of the gift.

But consider these facts:

In the U.S., annual trash from gift-wrap and shopping bags totals 4 million tons. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, household waste increases by 25%, which adds a million more tons of waste into the landfills.

Now I'm not exactly an environmentalist, but considering the magnitude of waste in the landfills, and considering that all the pretty gift wrapping literally goes to waste makes me wonder what alternatives exist to the standard wrapping paper.

I was excited to come across some ideas that take gift wrapping to another level:

Little Kay Gardens makes gift wrap that can later be planted to grow wildflowers. Imagine that!

Apartment Therapy shared some cute reusable gift boxes that are more or less ready to give. Just add a simple, classy ribbon or get creative. I can definitely imagine a project with Kate's Paperie's Mini Suitcase that will be an irresistibly awesome gift presentation. Can you?

The Knepprath family is huge on re-using gift wrap and getting elaborate and creative with the way gifts are wrapped. I confess, David is a better gift wrapper than I, but maybe this year I will up my game with some of this multi-functional gift presentation options. We'll see.

Hot Apple Cider - Perfect for a Chilly Day

2010-11-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

Fall is hot apple cider while snuggled on the couch with a cozy blanket and intriguing book. Or if you're a student, like me, its one of those little things that goes a long way in making writing essays a bit more serene and enjoyable.

Usually, because of the chaotic school-work life, I have to opt for the instant Alpine Spiced Apple Cider, but I am looking forward to trying some of the more authentic apple ciders come winter break.

Here are some varieties on cider recipes if you want to mix it up a little bit:

Easy Apple Cider - 5 ingredients, 5 minutes prep time and ready in an hour - I may have to give this one a shot this weekend!

Hot Spiced Cider - Adds flavors of maple, orange and lemon.

Spiced Apricot Cider - Never tried apricot cider before!

Spirited Apple Cider - Sounds perfect for a cold and wet rainy night by the fireplace.