Musical Mondays

I've kind of been all over the place with my music lately. I like it that way. Here's a sample of what I've been listening to recently. 


Side A:
Backfire- MuteMath
Wake Up- Arcade Fire
I And Love And You- The Avett Brothers
Hang Me Up To Dry- Cold War Kids
All I Wanted- Paramore

Side B:
Hype Man- Toby Mac and Trudog 07
Playing God- Paramore
Clipping- MuteMath
An American in Paris- George Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue- George Gershwin

(ps- sorry it's not Monday. Tuesday is better than never, though, right? Have a great day!)

Craving

 

I've really been craving some bubble tea lately.  There's a place downtown that makes the most amazing mango bubble tea, but I'd run out of money fast if I bought one every time I wanted one.

My sister and I have been thinking about trying to make our own... anyone have any good recipes?

Winner

A Cup of Jo and this great Etsy shop, Allen Company co-hosted a giveaway of this beautifully goldspun 1940s handbag... and guess who won?
Yay! I can't wait to use it!
In case you didn't know, I am in love with the 40s decade. If I could live in another time period, oh my it would be this one. For sure.
Hope you're all having a lovely day. Happy Super Bowling, everyone!
Who are you cheering for?

Sick Day Valentines

KK had strep throat this week and had to stay home from school. We took advantage of our time together and watched too many movies, cuddled with Little Guy, and made some Valentine's for next weekend (which also happens to be KK's birthday!).

I made these orange and red valentine's for the family that I babysat for. I got the silly cute idea from this tutorial at A Beautiful Mess. Tiger Woods for their dad, Tinkerbell for KK, "R" for Little Guy, Sandra Bullock for their mom, and Bumblebee for N.

I hope you guys are having a great weekend! I got to sleep in today, thank Jesus!

John Mayer and Apple-Cinnamon Strata

Remember when I was coming up with some recipes using items that were already found in my house?
Here is another one for you.
This strata recipe is amazing! The basic ingredients are raisins, apples, bread and eggs... so simple... and fast. While I was preparing the mixture last night I was listening to John Mayer. John Mayer + baking = a relaxing evening. Enjoy!
I have another one that is similar to this one but made with tomatoes and herbs (perfect duo for a brunch)... can't wait to try it out and share it with you!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Cinnamon-Apple Strata
(using leftover sweet breads)

Ingredients
· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (*I used almond extract and it was amazing)
· 4 cups whole milk
· 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
· 3 tablespoons butter, softened (*or vegetable oil)
· 8 large eggs
· 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
· Nutmeg, to taste (*which is about 4 good shakes of the container for me)
· An assortment of sliced breads such as cinnamon-strudel, banana-nut and/or English muffins, waffles, cinnamon-raisin, etc., cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes (enough to fill a 13x9x2” baking dish)
· 1 cup golden raisins
· 2 McIntosh apples, cored and coarsely chopped
· Pure maple syrup, for serving

Yields: 8 servings

Preparation
Butter a 13x9x2” glass baking dish.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Arrange the bread cubes in the bottom of the prepared baking dish then scatter the raisins and apples over top. Pour the milk and egg mixture on top of the breads and fruit, pressing down to submerge the breads completely. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least a few hours -- preferably overnight -- to allow the breads to soak up all the milk.
To bake, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350ºF.
Bake the strata uncovered until puffed and golden, and a knife inserted into its center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let stand for 10 minutes. Cut the strata into squares and serve with maple syrup. (*I didn't use any topping with it and it was still moist and sweet, but not too sweet... delish!)

Musical Mondays

Three things I love:
1: Fairy-tales and Mystical Things
2: Butterflies
3: Paramore

Good Morning and Happy February. :)




isn't Hayley's blonde hair just gorgeous?

Well, Hello There

Is it really nearly February already? I have been gone for awhile, haven't I? It was a much needed break and I am glad to be back. I am feeling fresh and revamped. Can't wait to catch up around your places to see what I've been missing out on and to share some new things with you as well. I've missed you and I can't express my gratitude for your prayers and thoughts during our time of struggle.
Just to catch you all up:
My grandpa did pass away on December 22. We kind of got there just in time. We spent two nights and a day in the hospital with him and our family. There were ten people at any given time in the room- 24/7. It was crowded but so comfortable at the same time. It was a roller coaster ride and very emotionally challenging. When he did pass, at 4:40 in the morning, we were all standing around his bed, holding his hands and touching him, telling him that we loved him so much. I've never experienced something so intimate and sweet. I love my family so much and am so grateful that we were able to be there and spend that time with them. One nurse said that he must have been a great man to have that many people with him. She had never seen anything like it.
It was a difficult Christmas, to say the least. It was spent at the funeral home singing carols (my Grandma insisted that we sing). I must admit, though, that I would have much rather spent my Christmas surrounded by love and family instead of the stress of gifts and greed that usually accompany the holiday.
We got back home just a couple days before the New Year. Since then I've been getting back into my daily routine of things, working on my list of things to accomplish (currently reading Emma and watching the first season of Gilmore Girls), and getting over the flu!

Here are some photos from our trip:

it was so nice of the nurses to let the babies be in there. they aren't typically allowed in the hospital unit, but given the circumstances, everyone was very gracious.

little Natalie and Grandpa were such cute best friends.

the babies definitely kept us going. they were sent to this earth for a purpose, that's for sure.

my grandma was going through my grandpa's wallet and a box, giving away some little mementos. we tried on his glasses. it was hilarious, to say the least .

this part of the trip SUCKED! a blizzard decided to show its face the day after we all came home from the hospital. kansas flat lands do not provide any shelter from the wind so there were some serious snow drifts created. this is my uncle thad digging out the path by hand. let's just say he's not a small man and that is up to his hips.

just after midnight on Christmas Eve/Christmas.

my grandma was so upset because this would be the first year that she wouldn't be baking Baby Jesus a birthday cake (she's the sweetest thing). me, my cousins lauren and deanna, and tam went to deanna's and made a cake immediately. we wanted to surprise her with it. i'd say we succeeded.

the kiddos were the life force of that week and a half.
we also played tripoly that night after the funeral... my grandpa's favorite game.

i so adore this mailbox. it used to sit out in front of their house and when they moved into these apartments they took it with them.

this is the grave of my mom's childhood best friend, Christal. she was killed by a car on her bike when she was 14. i got my middle name from her. i had never seen her grave before so that was neat for me.

my grandpa had decided to be cremated (he didn't want people- except for family- to see him any other way. he also always said that he wanted to be buried out in the prairie so he took the furthest spot in the cemetery- just across the road is a giant corn field. perfect.

So, between the stress of trying to get everyone home for the funeral (my brother had to spend Christmas in the Kansas City airport), the awful awful weather that definitely reflected the mood of everyone, and mourning the loss of the head of our family, it was a pretty taxing week and a half spent in Kansas. You know what, though? It was one of the best times that I've spent with my family. We grew as a unit so closely, in a way that I can't even describe (all 50 something of us). I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about. I love each and every one of them so much and I have been challenged by this experience to make sure that they know it and are told often.
Thank you guys so much for your support and kind words. I am grateful for friends whom most of you I have never even met face to face. I pray that the Lord will give you what you need to get through each day and that he will continually show himself to you!