high five for friday

today I'm linking up with from my grey desk to share my best from this week.

it's been a pretty good week in our household. even though we're not in florida, we've had some nice weather and some exciting happenings.

1. we spent Easter weekend with both families- lots of driving but it also gave us the opportunity to see the beautiful double rainbow. a wonderful reminder of God's promises.

2. our wedding album finally arrived today. love love love being able to look at the pictures. it's perfect!

3. we've had an extra set of (four) legs this week. my in-laws are on spring break so we've been dog sitting. we love having two fluffy puppies around the house. they play and play all day long and they really are best friends.

4. the Easter bunny brought me some lovely, purple tulips. i love having real flowers on the table.

5. the weather has finally decided to act like spring. the hubs and i enjoyed sitting on our back deck watching the sunset-- and not be freezing.

oh, and i got a job. yay! it happened pretty quickly, just in the last week. i start training on monday and will be doing social media and website work at a local women's boutique. clothes, shoes, writing, social media-- yes, i am excited.

i'm ending this week feeling just showered in blessings. so thank you, thank you, thank you.

happy friday!

lately -- i'm back!

Well hello there! Please excuse my two week hideous; it's been a busy few weeks -- plus I was in Florida for eight of those days, which was awesome. So let me catch you up.

The hubs and I took off a little over a week ago, to head to Florida to visit with some of my family and soak in some sunshine. We spend the days enjoying the sun, the men went golfing and the ladies sat by the pool. We ate yummy grandma food, played cards and enjoyed being together. We also spent three days in Disney territory, which is one of my most favorite places to go.

We spent lots of time walking down Main Street, jumping from ride to ride and enjoying being at the most magical place on earth. Really, I'm a child at heart. And the sunshine was so welcome after a long, cold winter. I even got a little burned, but I tried not to complain because at least I got to wear shorts.

It was hard to come back to the cold mid-west, but we had a nice surprise waiting for us when we got home. My cousin's sweet baby girl was born while we were in Florida. She came two weeks early and was just 5 lbs 5 oz, but she is healthy and beautiful. She is the first great-grand baby in our family and I'm pretty sure she is going to be spoiled with lots of hugs and kisses. She is so tiny and so sweet. We spent most of Easter weekend ogling over every little facial expression and noise she made. She will not be lacking of someone to hold her, that's for sure!

But now that vacation and the Easter holiday is behind us. We're getting back into our daily routine and I will be posting more regularly again. And be watching for my upcoming book review of my favorite author's new book Bread & Wine. Loved this book -- it's chuck full of life lessons and awesome recipes. Be sure to check it out. But for now, thanks for checking back in.

Until next time...

let's be frank

This morning, I woke up and looked at my window, expecting to see even more green grass than yesterday. Instead, I saw the complete opposite-- another six inches of snow. Just when I thought spring was on the horizon, another lake effect snow party arrives. Needless to say, I was less than assumed. I followed up by my typical morning routine: coffee, breakfast and email checking. Recently, I have been holding my breath each time I open my email. Hoping for some activity that shows my job search is finally bearing some fruit.

Sigh, nothing.

For those of you who need updating, I left my prior job when we relocated. When we first moved north, I didn't expect much job activity because it was the end of the year and near the holiday. I didn't figure many people would be looking to hire at that point, so I didn't fret much. I had a couple bites, a few interviews, but nothing panned out. It wasn't until a couple weeks ago, that the word "frustrated" began to surface.

Let's be honest, job searching is tough. I knew it would take some time, but I also thought it'd have had a little more activity than I've had. Maybe I am being naive about the situation, but I've been to this frustrated place before and at that point, I blamed it on the fact that I was a new graduate. I'm out of excuses this time. One of the hardest parts is that most jobs come from having connections, and we're pretty unconnected here. So, my wonderfully patience and understanding husband has suggested that maybe I change up my approach. I met his remark with much resistance, because I didn't want to admit that he was probably right.

Although, it may sound like it, I'm not unhappy with all my free time. I've been able to do a lot of things that I couldn't if I were working all day. Our house is probably the cleanest it will ever be and I've had lots of opportunities to try out new recipes or DIY projects. I love being able to do things I enjoy, but a part of me also craves to be back in the working world. To be contributing to something outside of myself. And that is where I am today.

But job searching is kind of like the weather. You just have to wait and trust. Wait and trust. Wait for it to warm up and trust that the seasons will change. Wait for the flowers to bloom and trust that new life will soon appear. Wait for the right opportunity to come across my path and trust that God will provide it in His timing. Wait and trust. Wait and trust. Wait and trust.

high five for friday

Today I'm linking up with Lauren at From My Grey Desk for High Five or Friday.

I'm not sure where you're finding yourself today, but here it is beautifully sunny and bright outside. A much needed day without snow fall. This morning, I have been busy making travel plans. We have a lot of fun trips coming in the next few months. In just twelve days, we will be traveling to the sunshine state to visit with some of my family. Later this summer, we will be traveling back to Florida to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary and then Texas for our first anniversary and a wedding! After all this snow, I am so thankful to be traveling to places with lots of sunshine. But as for now, I will be enjoying some gruyere and fresh berries and share my top five favorites from this week.

1. i got to spend a whole afternoon with my childhood best friend and her sweet (soon to be) one year old. I just love that little girl and it was so great to have some quality time with them both.

2. i'm not actually sure if this is high five worthy -- but I finished the third season of Downton Abbey. I fell in love with the show and have spent the past couple weeks watching all three seasons. (let us not forget...I'm "in-between" jobs currently.) But to be honest, I'm not happy with the final episode. That's all I'm going to say.

3. yesterday, I explored the antique shop downtown. I will be returning soon.

4. the hubs and I have recently been playing lots of Yahtzee. I found it at the store for four dollars. seriously! we've been playing regularly and it's always a good time, especially because this is one game where I actually win.

5. i finally got back into a zumba class and i am loving it. i've even managed to meet some people. yay!

happy friday to you all. I hope you enjoy today, wherever you are!

food & family: part II

As you recall, I began telling you the story of how our family cookbook came into existence. It all began with a simple dilemma: wanting to have the recipes that our family has come to love over the years. So my cousin Laura, the same creative genius who threw this shower a few weeks ago, came up with the idea to put together a family cookbook. Side note: if you don't know my grandmother-- she is one of the best cooks ever-- seriously. ever. A lot of the recipes were foods we share together at her house. We talked about this cookbook every time we were together; and finally, two years ago, we decided it was time to stop talking and start doing.

The family began compiling favorite recipes and sending them to my cousin, who soon ended up with over 100 recipes. We like food, obviously. This is where the family cookbook idea turned from a collection of our favorite recipes to a masterpiece.

My cousin Laura works as an art director for an ad agency in

downtown Chicago. She is wildly talented in design, photography and baking. Her plans for this cookbook became something we could only dream about. And she took this project on full force.

Along with my grandma and other family, Laura baked, cooked, tasted, tweaked and photographed each recipe. She spent a couple weeks over the holidays working side by side with our grandma learning the secrets to each recipe, because its usually hard to make anything as good as grandma does. (And we've learned, more often than not, the secret is real butter!) Regardless, she spent hours upon hours ensuring that each recipe in the book was understandable and photographed, so each cook would know what that end product would (hopefully) look like. She also threw in some tips, facts and sections of helpful secrets to achieve success with each recipe.

It became quite the project and we were all so anxious to see the end product. Little did we know the treasure we would end up with. After two years of many hours dedicated to this family project, the day came when we each got our own copy. And what we ended up with was far greater than any cookbook could ever provide.

Yes, it had our favorite recipes but it also included the story of how our family came to be, with pictures and short stories, which so beautifully encompassed who we are as a family. It's so much more than we could have asked for and we are all so thankful for Laura's eye for perfection and detail and her endless desire to make a great family keepsake for all of us to share.

To be honest, I used my cookbook at least once a week, cooking and baking foods that I love. My favorite is when each time I open it to see the faces of those I hold so dear. At least for me, it allows me to keep a bit of home with me wherever I go.

If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out on Blurb. You can even order your own, available in both soft and hard cover. Just click here!

**Right now you can also save 25% through Monday. Just use the code WINTER25 at checkout and you're all set.

Thanks for sharing in my family story and if nothing else, enjoy drooling over these photos!

family & food: part I

In our family, we learn at an early age that food is best when it is homemade. There is just something about cutting into a fresh loaf of bread that you just can't get from a store. The smells and sounds of walking into a kitchen busy with preparation for a meal is something that resonates deep into my soul. It is something that to me speak of not just food, but of love and home.

I grew up in a small town, where the typical "eat out" restaurants were at least 15 miles away, so eating food at home was kind of a given. And I didn't think anything of it. But also, being a part of my family included learning how to cook and bake at a young age. I made my own birthday cake at age six, obviously not completely by myself but regardless, I took the credit. It is just a part of how we grew up and what we came to know as normal.

Every Sunday night, we spent around my grandparents table. We'd gather together in late afternoon, either when the farmers were finished out of the field or when the golfers were finished with 18 holes. But when you walked into their house, my grandma would always be scurrying around the kitchen, apron on and making something delicious. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents would all sit around the table eating and chatting late into the evening. This again, was our normal.

As I've grown up and moved out of my small country town, I have come to realize how much of a gem those Sunday nights were. Those nights were more than just about eating dinner. They were a time of sharing in life with the ones we hold so close to our hearts. It's about nourishing our bodies and our souls. The food was far more than just about eating to fill out stomachs. It encompassed so much preparation, love and care that my grandmother put into each dish to share with her family. To take care of each and every one of us. Those are the nights that I miss the very most now.

Now that I am cooking for my own family (well, my husband), I realize why cooking and making food for the ones we love is so important. Food is one of my love languages. Not in a glutenous kind of way. But it a, I may not be great at using my words, but I will show how much I care for you through my food. Making food with my own hands is almost like therapy to me. It's one of the ways that I can be creative and express who I am in the flavors and treats I can make. It's something that I can have confidence in because it's something that I love.

So when our family decided to put together a cookbook, we all agreed that it was a great idea. There were so many recipes that have been passed down from my great grandmother, my grandmother and new ones we've adopted along the way.  It was time to put all of those family gems in one place...

And I'll tell you more about that in part II...

DIY: bunting

If you remember from my last post, this past weekend was my cousin's baby shower. It was such a great day. My contribution for the decor of the shower, was the ABC flash card bunting. And just as I promised, I'll show you the easy steps to make your own.

I found these flashcards at the local big box store and you can find them pretty much anywhere.

I had the jute string leftover from the wedding bunting I made so that is what I used to hang up the cards. You can find it at any major craft store. I got the jute string and the extra small clothes pins at Hobby Lobby.

First, I went through and selected the cards I wanted to use. The flashcard set I bought had two of each letter, so I could pick which ones I liked best. Then I laid them out on the table and clothes pinned a few onto the string to see how it would look. 

  

We decided to do a bunting with the whole alphabet, but you could choose whatever saying you want. I laid all my cards out on the floor and cut the string to length, leaving some extra on the end for hanging. I like to be able to see what I am doing, so I flipped my cards upside down which  means I had to start with the letter z. I used hot glue and made a small strip at the top of the card and gently pressed the jute down until the glue cooled. (Just be aware that you will get hot glue on you, so be careful.) Then, I laid the next card down and repeated the same steps, keeping the jute string tight between the two cards. Since we were using 26 cards, I didn't leave space between them, but depending on the look you are going for, you can adjust it to your liking.

Once your done gluing the cards, let the glue completely cool before moving them. After the glue was dry, I added the clothes pins to the corners of each card. It was easier to do this with the bunting hanging up. I also added some little wooden hearts to the end of the cards for a finishing touch.

It's a pretty simple project that adds a nice touch to your decorations. And you can adjust it for whatever occasion you want. I love the way this one turned out and I think it looked pretty cute behind the cake table.

Until next time...