Thursday, August 30, 2012

So I'm Biting the Bullet

So I've been nominated 3 times in the past 2 months for the Liebster Award. I never do these kinds of things, because I feel weird nominating other people like I'm suppose to. Maybe it has to do with my shyness, I don't know. So I'm going to answer the fun questions and all, but I'm following what Michelle@michmash and not nominate anyone. It's only the answers you care about anyways right?!

I was nominated by Monica@Captivated By Love, Vanessa@Pure Joy & Adoration and Amanda@Bringing Up Allie. Go check all those ladies out. They're awesome!

The first thing I'm suppose to do is give you 11 facts about me.

1. I had this weird obsession with Elijah Wood after the first Lord of the Rings movie came out. I'm pretty sure I was in middle school at the time. I just thought it would be so cool if I could marry him, because then we'd have the same initials, E.J.W. I was young, silly and boy crazy.Good news is my hubby is way cooler than Elijah Wood, just sayin'.
2. This should be nothing new to all of you, but I have a pretty unhealthy obsession with donuts. I don't know why, but those things get me. I'm not much of a sweets person either, but donuts are a whole other category for me. Add sprinkles and I'm in heaven!
3. Before meeting my hubby 4 years ago I thought for sure I would be on the mission field somewhere by this point. Obviously God had other plans for me, but I'm content and happy with the life I have.
4. So we don't have TV. We have an actual television set with an X-Box360 & Playstation2 hooked up to it for video games, but we don't actually have any TV channels. Instead we (mostly me) get our TV fix via Hulu or other places on the internet.
5. I hate to admit it, but my favorite shows to watch are The Real Housewives and other ridiculous reality shows.
6. Most days I'm lucky if I put on make-up or do anything with my hair. Thankfully I've actually gotten in a better habit of washing my face in the morning even if I don't shower. That mostly only has to do with the fact that I've started breaking out like a 15 year old and I'm trying to combat that. It's just when I know I won't be leaving the house it's hard to put much effort into my appearance for Evelyn.
7. I was home schooled through 12th grade. All except for 2nd grade and a portion of 4th.
8. My best friend and I have been friends since I was 6 and she was 3. We became fast friends the summer after I moved into her neighborhood.
9. Upon first meeting my best friend mentioned above I thought she was a boy because she was all bundled up in winter clothes and had short curly hair. We laugh about it now.
10. I have a ridiculous fear of fish. I don't know why but they freak me out. I refuse to go snorkeling. Aquariums are ok, but only as long as it's salt water fish, fresh water fish are ugly and give me nightmares.
11.  As a child I watched my sister's VHS of The Littler Mermaid so much that it got stretched out just before the big fight between Ursula and Prince Eric. It would always break our VCR if I tried to watch all the way till the end, but I would still try it almost every time. I still love that movie and know all of the songs!


Now for the Questions from Monica@Captivated By Love
1. What is your dream day? Anything.. money is not a problem.
My dream day would probably include going to Disney World with my whole family. I just love Disney World and would love to go back there.
2. When you were little... what did you want to grow up to be?
Honestly I've always wanted to be a mom and homemaker growing up. For actual outside of the home careers I remember as a 4th grader I wanted to be a scientist/astronaut. Now thinking back that is just utterly ridiculous, because I loathed science class and I've never been very good at it. I find all that stuff interesting, but I could never do it as a job.
3. What is your favorite holiday and the traditions that go with it?
I'm going to be cliche and say Christmas. I just love it though. My family has always opened our presents up on Christmas Eve after church and then gone to my Aunt's house for lunch on Christmas Day. Now with our own family we do kind of the same thing. We go to my in-laws on Christmas Eve, do our own thing Christmas morning and then head to my Aunt's for lunch. We get together with my family sometime around there, but it's usually the day before Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas mattering on peoples schedules.
4. What is your least favorite chore?
This is hard, because I don't like quite a few. Least favorite would have to be vacuuming/cleaning the floors. It just drives me nuts and they never seem to be all the way clean.
5. What was the last thing you did for the first time?
Going shopping for a whole day with my husband's mom & aunts.
6. Where would you travel if you could go anywhere?
Europe, specifically England. It's always been a dream of mine to go there.
7. Favorite memory?
Umm...it's difficult to choose just one. The one that first popped into my mind was the day I found out I was pregnant. It's was so exciting and something I had prayed for for such a long time.
8. How did you come up with your blog name?
Since my intention was to just write about my life, it's just a culmination of what my whole focus of my life is. 
9. Do you stay up late or wake up early?
Both and it leave me tired. Usually I tend to wake-up early. I've always been a morning person.
10. What is your favorite restaurant... and the favorite meal there?
My hubby and I's favorite place is called Lazlo's. We always get their spinach artichoke dip and my new favorite mail course is their avocado salmon salad. It has all these delicious toppings, which include artichokes, avocados, onions and the most perfectly cooked salmon. Then it's topped with a creamy avocado dressing. It's to die for!
11. How was your first kiss with your hubby? 
Ha! Good...I'm going to leave it at that.


On to Vanessa@Pure Joy & Adoration's questions.

1. What movie could you watch over & over, and why?
Pride & Prejudice the BBC mini-series. It maybe 5 hours long, but I love it and it's so true to the book.
2. What's your ideal date night?
My favorite of our date nights are actually when we get take-out chinese and watch a movie in the basement after putting Evelyn to bed. Don't get me wrong I love when we dress up and go out, but there is just something about a simple night at home with just my hubby that I love.
3. When do you feel the most beautiful?
Whenever my husband tells me I am. He's constantly telling me how beautiful I am and it makes me feel so special.
4. What is your most favorite piece of clothing you own?
Ugh...I don't like much of my clothes right now. Still trying to deal with the changes done to my body due to having a baby. If I had to choose something I would choose this stripey cream & red sweater I got at Goodwill.
5. What is your favorite Scripture?
It has always been Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you hope and a future." That verse just gives such hope.
6. Do you dress up for Halloween, and if so, what ideas are you thinking of for this year?
I used to, but it's doubtful that it will happen this year because now I have a little one.
7. Who would you consider an awesome female role model in your life?
My mother. She has really taught me what it means to be a godly wife and mother. She's a great grandmother and one of my best friends.
8. What is your favorite food?
I love food, but I would have to say that any sort of carbohydrate is a favorite of mine. I love pasta, bread, rice, muffins. While I'm not a big sweets person, I am a carbs person. That was one of the hardest things about being diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
9. What's one thing you love about yourself?
Physically I love my eyes. I have bright blue eyes that I get from my dad. Evelyn has blue eyes that rival mine; they are so bright and blue. In other respects my favorite thing about myself is my fierce loyalty. I'm loyal to people almost to a default. It means I'm easily hurt by others' actions, because I feel it's a breech again their loyalty to me.
10. Early bird or night owl?
As I answered before I tend to be a bit of both, but I've always been more of a morning person.
11. What one goal have you set for your future?
My husband and I really want to be foster parents in the future. We're not sure the timeline, we're still just in the prayer step of it.


Last but certainly not least here are Amanda@Bringing Up Allie's questions.

1.What is something we don't know about you?
I have only lived without a cat for a very short period of my life. Short as in a month. Otherwise there has always been at least one cat if not more living with me; even as a baby.2.What is your dream job?
I have it! It's being a wife, mommy and homemaker.3.What is your favorite thing about blogging?
I would have to say the community that makes up the blogging world. I never would have thought how quickly I could make friends with some wonderful women through blogging. It's pretty awesome.4.If I could give you a plane ticket to anywhere, where would you go?
Europe, specifically England. (same as above)5.What's your favorite meal?
For at a restaurant see above. At home I love Chili & Cinnamon Rolls. It's a Midwestern thing, maybe even just a Nebraska thing. Chili with Cinnamon rolls is a must though! Can't wait till it's cool enough to make some.
6.Any pets?
Yes! 3 Cats and they are terrors!7.If you won $150,000 how would you spend it?
I'd pay off the rest of our house and do the few home-improvement things we're saving for. After that I'd probably pay for our whole family to go to Disney world.8.What is your favorite picture (please share it with us) and why?


For right now this is one of my favorites. (Even though it's old) I even have it printed out and on our wall. I don't know why it's my favorite, but she just looks so darn cute. Don't worry I'm sure I'll have a new favorite next week.
9.What's your favorite room in your house?
I really don't have a favorite, but I really like how Evelyn's room is decorated. Maybe after we paint our main room that will be my favorite.10.Tell us a little about your family...
I'm the youngest of 4 girls, but I came along so much later than the rest that I basically grew up like an only child. I have 8 soon to be 9 nieces and nephews, 5 of which are all from one sister. I have a great mother and father who knew all the tricks by the time I came around so I didn't even bother trying to get away with anything. I'm married to a pretty awesome man who has a sister and 2 wonderful parents. We have a beautiful 10 month old daughter. Our extended families are too big to really describe.11.What do you consider to be your best quality?
See above.
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That took forever! Any of you that read all of that deserve a donut! Once I can figure out how to send one to you via e-mail you'll be sure to get one!

Hope everyone's week is going well! There is a 3 day weekend on the horizon and I can't wait!

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Forgiveness

I have been struggling with forgiveness friends.

Forgiveness has never been an easy thing for me. Once someone wrongs me it's very hard for me to move on. If there has been an apology, forgiving is much easier. Still not easy, but easier. If there is no apology I just don't know what to do with the pain of being hurt.

I hold onto that pain. I stuff it deep down inside, but it breaks out every once and awhile.

I know the Bible calls us to forgive one another; to show each other the grace and mercy God Himself has bestowed on us. I just feel like I don't the practical application of forgiveness. I just don't know what it looks like. God has forgiven us, but our sin still saddens and hurts him.

I long to forgive, but how do you forgive when you still hurt? I've prayed for the pain to go away and the ability to truly forgive those who've wronged me. How do you forgive when the pain doesn't go away?

Does it just come down to choosing to love those people despite the fact they've hurt you? Even though it still hurts? At what point is enough, enough? God doesn't ever give up on us, but is there a point as Christians where we essentially give up on someone because all they do is hurt us? When is a relationship broken beyond forgiveness being enough? Can you forgive someone truly, but still end your relationship with them?

These are the questions I'm struggling to find answers to.

I was talking with Nick about this Sunday after church. Our pastor had preached on Matthew 5, specifically some of the beatitudes. It was Matthew 5:7 that really got me thinking;

"Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall receive mercy."

Our pastor went on to say that until you've been drastically wronged and have experienced having to bestow grace on someone you can never fully begin to understand what God's grace is really all about. You can't begin to know how monumentally huge His forgiveness of us is.

I feel like this is what I need to focus on. If God can forgive me for all of the wrongs I've done to Him, the wrongs I'm continually doing because of my sinful nature, then I need to find a way to forgive those who've wronged me. Even if there hasn't been an apology and probably never will be one.

You see I know what my goal is. I just haven't figured out how to actually let go of the pain.

Right now my answer is to pray more about it and search for answers in God's Word.

If you have suggestions of verses or even a book that could maybe help please leave me a comment.

I hope your week is starting off well. God bless friends!

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Friday's Letters

Linking-up with Ashley@Adventures of Newlyweds for Friday's Letters.

Dear Hubby,
Well as of yesterday we have officially known one another for 4 years. Can you believe it?! It feels like so much longer then that. Four years ago I would have never imagined that this is where we'd be. I love you!

Dear Evelyn,
I know that your whole schedule has been off since we went shopping Wednesday. I'm sorry. Hopefully this weekend we can get you back to your routine or maybe start a new one. We'll see how it goes I guess. I love you little one!

Dear Weather,
Thank you so much for cooling off today. I love cloudy, cool days. I can't wait till fall and all of the crisp air it's going to bring. Please just don't rush into winter. I really need a good dose of fall this year!

Well everyone I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! We're just going to get lots of stuff done around our house all weekend. Boring stuff that we've been putting off for awhile. Hopefully we're very productive!

Happy Friday!

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Recent Happenings

So there really hasn't been much going on around here lately. So I thought I'd just do a bullet point post of all the highlights of our lives here in Nebraska as of late.

(There will be a huge lack of pictures, because I'm absolutely terrible at remember to get out my camera. I take it everywhere, but it rarely leaves my bag. I'm trying to get better, but it's slow going.)

This is seriously the only picture we got from camping.
- We went camping with some friends for the first time in a long time this past weekend. The weather was wonderful, warm during the day and then chilly enough to need the fire at night. Surprisingly Evelyn did fairly well sleeping in the tent. She really only woke up once around 5:30am and that was because she was freezing cold. So we just pulled her into bed with us. There was only one downside, this drought we're going through is making my allergies jump into overdrive. The next morning I couldn't stand it, I was stuffy and sneezing every 2 seconds. Needless to say we packed up early and headed home. All in all it was a fun time with all our friends.

- After said camping excursion my house is a disaster zone! Thankfully I had some time this morning to at least get some of the camping stuff put away. The rest will have to wait till Nick is home, because it's putting things away on high shelves.

- Evelyn loves muffins. I don't love cleaning up the mess from her eating them. It's almost worth it though, because she looks so darn cute eating them.


- We have a climber on our hands! I was making dinner one night last week and turned around and saw this happening. Instead of stopping it I grabbed my camera. She had used a old popcorn tin we let her play with as a step stool to climb onto one of the living room chairs. The next day I found her doing the same thing on the couch. Now I make sure the popcorn tin is nowhere near any of our furniture.

- On Thursday of this week Nick and I will officially have known one another for 4 years. I have a special surprise planned and he has no clue. Good thing he doesn't really read my blog! I'm going to try really hard to get some pictures, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

- So speaking of Evelyn being a climber. I just found her sitting in a basket of laundry. She had somehow managed to climb into it without knocking it over. When this girl can walk it's going to be pure chaos around here.

- Tomorrow I'm going shopping with Nick's mom and all of her sisters. Also his cousin is coming and bringing her little boy whom I haven't met yet. I'm excited even though I don't really have anything to buy. It should still be fun.

Well I hope you all are doing well. Why not let me know a couple of the highlights from your life! I love to hear about them.

bits of splendor monday
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Thursday, August 16, 2012

Thankful Vol. 6

I'm so thankful that I had a wonderful birthday this year.

I'm not one to have good birthdays. In the past I've always cried and had my expectations ruined. In the years I've tried to head into my birthday without expectations they day still seems to be lack luster and just not a good day. I'm happy to say that my 24th birthday didn't bring any tears. I don't know the last time that has happened.

I planned everything for my birthday weekend. That's how I like it. I'm a planner and I like being in control of  what my schedule is.

I started off Thursday night having and all girls dinner out. Granted this really wasn't for my birthday it was just because I wanted to hang-out with my girls. It ended up being a great night. (I'm lame and didn't get any pictures. I'm terrible at this camera thing.) After dinner we came back to my house and had some peanut butter pie. It was delicious!

Friday night we went to dinner with my in-laws. Nick's cousin was in town and staying with them so he tagged along. I had never met him before so that was nice. We ate at this great burger place I've been wanting to try and it didn't disappoint. We were all stuffed afterwards.

Since this past weekend was Nick's first weekend in 19 days I wanted it to be fairly low key. We did some shopping on Saturday and then went out to dinner with my parents. It was a fun relaxing day.

My stomach started bothering me half way through Saturday though. Unfortunately I ended up getting some sort of stomach bug. I'm pretty sure Evelyn had the same one earlier that week. Thankfully it didn't effect my birthday that much.

Sunday was my actual birthday. We woke up and Nick went and got us some donuts (of course!) before church. After church we made a stop at Menards. I know, that's kind of weird place to go on your birthday, but I love that place. Then we went home to let Evelyn nap a little before lunch.

We went to Chili's for lunch. Well the food was good, despite the overly spicy guacamole, but the service was terrible. We just laughed about how horrible it was on our way home. Unfortunately Chili's didn't do so well on my tummy. I didn't feel well most of the afternoon. By dinner time I was feeling better.

We put Evelyn down early for bed and then enjoyed some take-out chinese food and "The Vow". The movie was pretty terrible, but it didn't feel like a total waste of time. I'd never watch it again though.

All in all it was a pretty great weekend just having fun with my little family. I felt very blessed for all the people God has brought into my life over these last 24 years.

They spoiled me too!
Ice Tea Maker from my Sister.

Bass guitar from my hubby. He's the best!

I don't usually buy junk food, so it's Nick and I's think to give one another our favorite candy/junk food on birthdays. So he gave me cookie dough poptarts and reese's peanut butter cups.

I've been asking for a large jar of nutella for 2 years now. Nick finally got me some! I'm trying really hard not to overindulge so that it lasts.

Kitchen Aid mixer from my parents! I was so excited to get this! We didn't register for one when we got married and I've been kicking myself over it ever since. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, because with all the junk Nick got me for my birthday I have no need to make anymore. Thanks Mom!
On top of all those wonderful gifts I also got some gift cards to my favorite places, Target & Trader Joe's. The people in my life really know how to make me feel special. Not just with their gifts, but also all their kind words and thoughtfulness on my birthday.

I can't wait for the weekend to get here, we're going camping on Saturday night! It will be Evelyn's first time, hopefully she does well!

I hope all of you are doing well! God bless!

a punk, a pumpkin and a peanut
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Monday, August 13, 2012

Making Mondays a Good Day

I will never be able to go as far as saying that Mondays are my favorite day of the week. Unless of course it's one of those Monday holidays. Those Mondays are pretty up there as far as the favorites standard, but the ho-hum Mondays that happen every week could never hope to reach my standard of favorite.

That being said Mondays were pretty much my least favorite day of the week until recently. I mean who can like the day where your husband returns to work after an all to short weekend, leaving you to manage the house and child by yourself? I decided that enough was enough. I would find some way to make Mondays at least manageable.

My solution, Grocery Shopping!

I know that many people really don't like grocery shopping. I on the other hand love grocery shopping. I have loved it ever since I was a little girl helping my mom.

There is one little thing that will make anyone love grocery shopping. Are you ready for this?


See that there hiding behind my coffee? That's a tasty sprinkled cake dounut; one of my absolute faves.

There you have it friends. Donuts are the secret to loving grocery shopping!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Later this week I'm going to be blogging about my birthday weekend!

P.S. Isn't that jar with my coffee in it just adorable?! I found quilted 12oz. canning jars at the grocery store last week and just had to get them. I'm loving using them and my hubby just thinks I'm silly. Now I just have to buy one of those Cuppows!

bits of splendor monday
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Monday, August 6, 2012

Childhood Recipes

Having talked it over with some of my girlfriends, we all came to the consensus that our favorite cookbooks are the ones we grew up cooking from with our moms. It's the recipes in those cookbooks we can't seem to find anywhere else.


So I went on the hunt to find the cookbook my mom still uses for a lot of her basic recipes. It took a little bit, but I found one on amazon and it wasn't too expensive. Once I had it ordered all that was left to do was wait.

Our favorite cinnamon roll recipe.
You can bet that I was checking my e-mail like crazy wait for the conformation that the cookbook had finally shipped. Then once it had shipped I checked my amazon account constantly to keep up with the tracking info.

Today was the day that said it was out for delivery. My heart sank because I knew that I had missed the mail-lady while at the grocery store this morning. She won't usually leave packages unless they fit in the mailbox. Before I went out to take look I resolved that I would have to take a trip to the post office to pick up my box in the morning.

The yummy spritz cookies my mom makes at Christmas.
I was pleasantly surprised by the box containing my beloved cookbook sitting by my front door. I don't know why this time she could leave the package, but I'm not complaining! I brought the box inside, opened it up and began to examine the cookbook at once.

It's in pristine condition. Which is amazing since it was published in 1978. Obviously it belonged to someone who either didn't care to cook or just didn't realize how amazing the recipes really were.

I can't wait till it cools down a little more so that I can get back into baking!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Do you have a favorite cookbook? If so let me know what it is! I'm always in search of new delicious recipes.
bits of splendor monday
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Friday, August 3, 2012

This Week

So I have been completely uninspired to blog this week. I think I tried to once, but I'm pretty sure I only got about 2 sentences in before deleting it all and moving on. Well I at least have made it past 2 sentences!

Since nothing exciting is happening around here I thought I'd just give you look into what has been going on around her. Some of our favorites of the week if you will.


Our favorite breakfast has been pancakes. Last weekend I may or may not have gone to McDonald's and bought Evelyn and I some hotcakes instead of going to the grocery store to buy eggs. When I finally made it to the grocery store Monday I made sure to pick up some pancake mixes. Both Evelyn and I have had pancakes at least 4 times in the last week. She loves them, I love them, so it's a win win.


My favorite thing getting me through this past week has been my iced coffee. Every morning I have iced coffee with vanilla soy milk. Then every afternoon I have another glass. I love iced coffee so much that I will even drink it in the winter time! It's just what I need to get me through the long hot days we've been having.


My favorite attire for the week has been comfy work out clothes and a no-fuss hairstyle. I love waking up hanging-out in my pjs till Evelyn's nap time then getting dressed in something simple. Today I actually got dressed before Evelyn's nap so we could go for a walk before it got hot outside. Let's not talk about how that is the only time that's happened this whole week.


That would be Evelyn's favorite face at the moment. It's utterly adorable and she does it all the time. Most of the time it's just cause she's being silly. Sometimes though it's because she's whining. Either way I always end up laughing, it's just too cute.


This has been my favorite place to sit this week. I've needed some much needed lazy time. So while Evelyn has been napping this week I've been wasting some of that time on the internet. I've always amazed at how long I can be on the computer yet really never accomplish anything. That's why I don't try to make a habit of spending too much time there, but sometimes I need to shut my mind off for awhile.


This is always Evelyn & I's favorite time of time. We love when Daddy is finally home from work. There are only 7 more days left in his 19 day work "week". We can't wait till we have him home for a whole weekend.

I hope you all are doing well.
What are some of your favorite things right now?
Have a great weekend!
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