Making Memories

This year for Christmas, we wanted to do something a little different.

 We're sick of the materialistic side of Christmas and really want to embrace the real meaning this year. Spending extra time with family and friends, sending care packages to our sweet sponsor child in Africa, making gifts instead of spending lots of money... these are things we're doing to change it up this year.

For our families, we decided a photo shoot was the perfect way to make memories and freeze them at the same time. Check out some of the moments our friend Kristen Lunceford got for us:

Our dads - this picture gets me every time!

My in-laws, Rita and Randy.

My parents, Kelley and Colleen.

My older brother- and sister-in-law, Ryan and Kelly, and their puppy, Bridger.

Jordan and I

My younger brother-in-law, Colin.

The table we set in the backyard.

My immediate family.

My in-law family.

My beautiful mother-in-law.

My sweet, pretty mom. (And their puppy)

Jordan and I entertaining my mom and dad.

Looks like Randy made an inappropriate joke.

Love the angle she got with these.

Always laughing. I love it.

Everyone all together. My family.

I was never sentimental when I was younger, but now I can't get enough of catching these moments and memories with the people I love. I get teary just looking through these photos. So excited to get prints and put them up all over our house!

Kristen's Favorite Things 2010

If Oprah can do it, why can't I? :-)

A list of my favorite things from 2010 (in no particular order).

Microfiber cloths. Now this might sound strange, but they are my absolute favorite thing for dusting and drying dishes. You'll obviously want separate cloths for those duties, but you can't go wrong with them.

Mrs. Meyers all-purpose cleaner in lemon verbena. One bottle lasts FOREVER and can be used to clean just about anything. We mix ours with water and keep a spray bottle in the kitchen and in an upstairs bathroom. I'm not a fan of bleach or other nasty chemicals (for health reasons and for smell reasons!), so this is the perfect option. It smells heavenly and leaves our house sparkling clean.

Pier1 has always held a special spot in my heart. I was thrilled when Jordan agreed to this fabulous chair - it's a little girlie which was why I was so excited. It's comfortable and adds a great pop to our bedroom sitting area. It makes me smile every morning.

Our Dyson vacuum cleaner is definitely near the top of my favorites this year. When we moved into our new place, we were in desperate need of a vacuum. Thankfully, we had a gift card and a few extra bucks to afford this beauty. If sucks up anything we put down - and it makes vacuuming so fun (somehow).

MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil. It's black, goes on smooth, and defies water. Not that I'm a crier or anything.... I searched high and low for a good waterproof eyeliner and this one does the trick. I have dark eyes and hair, so I go with black ("engraved") but they have a whole host of different colors. It's pricier than your average drugstore eyeliner, but it's so worth it.

OPI nail polish - specifically the shade named Can You Tapas This?. People who know me well know that I love nothing more than perfectly manicured nails. This color is somewhere between brown and deep red and I love it. I also recently purchased Barefoot in Barcelona and I'm loving it! I'll have to give Give Me Moori a try since it looks so nice in this picture. Oh, and if you haven't been to the OPI website recently, you should visit. There are so many brilliant links and fun things to do!

Aveda Foot Relief. I just discovered this last weekend when my mom gave me an early Christmas gift... a combo of Hand Relief and Foot Relief - in travel size AND regular size. I've used Hand Relief for a long time, but just found the smoothing effects of Foot Relief. This comes in handy for anyone, but especially those of us who endure cold, dry Minnesota winters! Smells great and keeps those nasty callouses at bay!

Our pizza stone. Jordan has been on a kick of making pizza dough from scratch and you can't cook it well without one of these! It was a steal at Target for only $10 and we use it more than I thought we would. In addition to baking pizzas, it's great for homemade bread and regulates the temperature of the oven. Who would have guessed?! The website says they're sold out, but we got ours in a store and I'm guessing they still have them.

My fun new Silpada jewelry. Shamless plug... but only because I truly love the quality and style of the jewelry. Below is a shot of my favorite piece. I love rings and this one fits perfectly and goes with so many things! The color is beautiful and the detailing on the band is awesome.

Chocolove - the Almonds and Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate variety. To. Die. For. My mother-in-law introduced me to this and I've been head over heels in love ever since. I used to hate almonds and now they're one of my favorite snacks... especially when dunked in chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt. The salt is such a great addition. Not a fan of salt and almonds? There are 17 other tantalizing flavors to choose from. Oh good, now my mouth is watering.

Give Thanks

I just did a quick search on biblegateway.com for "give thanks." I had no idea how many times these two words are found together in the Bible and I wanted to know (hello, it's Thanksgiving tomorrow!). I was surprised to find 48 references! And "thanksgiving"? Well that's mentioned 30 times. The simple word "thanks" is written 100+ times. I'm not even scratching the surface of gratitude, grateful, thankful, and any other word that comes close to thanks.


We're planning to spend lots of time counting our blessings this week/weekend. We get to have quality time with both families... who we're very thankful for. Hoping you all have time to thank God for all He's done for you this year and for all that is to come. We serve such an amazing God.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Ahhh Shutterfly

I've always loved Shutterfly products. From sweet holiday cards to custom photo books to fun desk calendars, they do it all! And let's talk about quality... well, it's awesome. I've never been disappointed by anything I've ordered... which is why this giveaway is so exciting to me!

Two words: Christmas. Cards.

(for free!)

I love sending out Christmas cards and receiving them. Not many of our friends send them because, well let's face it, our lives aren't as exciting as people my parents' age who have kids getting married, having babies, and traveling around the world. But I like to know what's going on in my friends' lives. Check out some great layouts Shutterfly is offering this season:

Love the simplicity of this one - picture it with a much less cute but still fun 20s-something couple in place of the sweet little girl. :-)

Also enjoy this design. Contemporary meets chic. Fabulous.

And this one is gorgeous. Maybe I just wish my wedding pictures were by the ocean. Not going to happen here in chilly Minnesota!

We're having a family photo shoot this weekend with my great photographer friend, and I'm hoping one of the pictures will be perfect to grace our free Shutterfly Christmas card!

i will follow

seeking God's heart... this song says it all. 

can't get the words out of my mind.

where You go, i'll go 

where You stay, i'll stay 

when You move, i'll move 

i will follow... 

all Your ways are good 

all Your ways are sure 

i will trust in You alone 

higher than my side 

high above my life 

i will trust in You alone 

where You go, i'll go 

where You stay, i'll stay 

when You move, i'll move 

i will follow You 

who You love, i'll love 

how You serve i'll serve 

if this life i lose, i will follow You 

i will follow You

light unto the world 

light unto my life 

i will live for You alone 

You're the one i seek 

knowing i will find 

all i need in You alone, in You alone 

in You there's life everlasting 

in You there's freedom for my soul 

in You there joy, unending joy 

and i will follow

where You go, i'll go 

where You stay, i'll stay 

when You move, i'll move 

i will follow You 

who You love, i'll love 

how You serve i'll serve 

if this life i lose, i will follow You 

i will follow You

~i will follow by chris tomlin

It's Official!

I sent in my paperwork. I ordered my inventory. I was accepted. I have a website. I am an official Silpada rep!

If you're looking for a fun gift for Christmas or looking for something fun to wear for Christmas, check out our online catalog here. If you'd like lots of free jewelry, contact me about hosting a party - the average hostess makes $285 in free jewelry!

I do promise that I'm not going to be the annoying, in-your-face sales lady... if I ask you if you'd like to host a party and you say no, I won't ask again! I just want everyone to know that I'm out here with some great jewelry for you!

A New Endeavor

After a bit of a blogging hiatus, I'm back. There has been so much going on in my life that blogging had to take a backseat.

Here's a little recap:

• Travel to NYC - check.
• Start a new small group - check.
• Go to work - check.
• Continue teaching 6 piano students - check.
• Have two great friends visit from far away - check.
• Find out that great friends are moving far away - check. (And check out more on that here).
• Have a fun Silpada jewelry party - check.
• Start selling Silpada jewelry - hmmmmm....

That's right - I'm going to start selling Silpada. For those of you who are saying "Sil-what-huh?!", let me explain. It's my new endeavor!

Silpada started in 1997 when two ladies with a passion for great jewelry got together and tried something new. And great jewelry it is - all handcrafted, .925 sterling silver, made with love and sold party-style. The company is exploding all across the U.S. and even world-wide. Once you've experienced the quality of their jewelry, you'll want it all!

And the best part about Silpada? If you host a jewelry party (which means open up your house for me to come in and set up a bunch of jewelry, then invite friends over to try it on), you are eligible for lots of FREE jewelry. What's better than free, high-quality jewelry? Well, not much.

So why am I doing this? Well, I LOVE the jewelry for starters. I sport it everywhere I go and I would recommend it to anyone I know (love the rhyme, right?). Secondly, I love meeting new people and sharing about something I adore. And lastly, who doesn't want to earn a few extra bucks for that savings account?

If you live in the Twin Cities and are interested in throwing a Silpada party, don't hesitate to leave a comment and let me know! I'd love to set something up!

Birthday Recap

The best day of the year has come and gone. And this year it was a GREAT one.

Everything started with my dream to send people clean water through my charity:water campaign. We're almost halfway to my $240 goal - and we've already ensured that 4 people will get clean water. I've extended the end date for donations to December, so you still have time to send clean water!

The day before my birthday, I got two bouquets of flowers - one from my mother-in-law and one from my great friend, Kristen (the other Kristen L!). Fresh flowers are one of my favorite things, so they really started the week off right.

I worked during the day on my birthday, then came home to an incredible meal prepared by my husband. Filet mignon wrapped in bacon, twice baked potatoes (my fave!), Asian green beans (to die for!), and a cupcake from Kowalskis... oh and an amazing bottle of red wine (how could I forget that?!). He also surprised me with a dozen red roses and a beautiful necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs. Pictures will be coming soon!

On Friday, my sister-in-law, Kelly, planned a great Real Housewives-themed girls' night party. We got to choose which housewife to be for the night, played a housewife-themed game, ate some great snacks, and watched episodes from the show. I didn't realize how obsessed I've become with that show until people started asking questions... and I knew every answer. (What can I say? Bravo's the only cable channel we get!) It was so fun to celebrate with some of my favorite ladies!

Finally, on Sunday night, we went over to my in-laws house for the traditional birthday dinner. Usually the birthday person gets to choose the menu, but I left it up to my parents-in-law... and they did great! We had beef tenderloin with an incredible red wine reduction sauce, asparagus and goat cheese risotto, a great salad, and.... cheesecake!!! (Oh, and another great bottle of red wine!)

So, to say my birthday was a success is definitely an understatement. Cards from family who don't live in a 15-mile radius really sealed the deal (I LOVE getting snail mail. Jordan says I'm obsessed with checking the mailbox every day!).

To everyone who helped me celebrate, thanks. You are all so special to me and I couldn't be more grateful for the friends and family I've been blessed with.

Last Week

I was working on a post last Sunday, but got a little distracted when this happened:

 

Just a small oven fire. No big deal, right? I was in the midst of baking 8 pans (yes, I said pans) of sweet rolls (find the recipe here). I started out with cinnamon, then got bored with them and made some caramel rolls. Apparently someone neglected to tell me that if the caramel gets hot enough and if the pan is too shallow, caramel will spill over into the bottom of your oven and burn. And burn it did. Luckily, the rolls were salvaged (and real tasty!), so as soon as I took them out of the oven, I locked the door and hit "self clean". Poor life decision, let me tell you. The caramel in the bottom went up in flames in a matter of minutes. Luckily I caught it early. I turned off the self clean option and watched the flames wither away. The bottom of our oven is now black... but it still works! Now we just have to figure out how to clean it without using the self-clean-burn-it-up technique.

{warning these rolls are jam-packed with calories and not for the faint of heart. they are deadly.}

A couple days after our near-death experience, I came home for lunch to find this guy hanging out on our driveway:

Did someone forget to tell me I actually live in Florida - not the chilly state of Minnesota? I immediately called Jordan and told him to rush home. I was worried this critter would find a way into our house and I just couldn't deal with the thought of that. He arrived 5 minutes later and chased the little guy around until he picked him up and plopped him into one of our unused flower pots. (Yes, he touched him. Yes, I gagged.)

We did some quick googling and discovered he was a tiger salamander, not completely uncommon in Minnesota. I snapped a few pictures of Jordan and his buddy, then we set him free in the marsh that is the end of our street.

I guess you could say I've had a productive, strange, entertaining week. Did I tell you the same day that I found the salamander, there was also a HUGE turtle stranded in the road at the intersection by our house? At first I thought I was seeing things, but then a man turned on his hazard lights and hopped out to take a good look at the turtle. It was real. Weird, I tell you, weird.

Some inspiration for a new season

{found here}

::engage::

Engage groups are in the first stages of registration at our church. What are Engage groups, you might ask? Simply put, they're small groups that meet each week (in my case) and get to know each other and God a little better. I've had the honor of participating in lots of small groups over the years, and I'm excited about the one I'm leading this semester. Let me tell you why:

1. It's all about ladies, and I think girl time is precious.
2. Quality time with women in their 20s-30s.
3. Real, live accountability.
4. Insecurity.
5. God's grace.

The last two might sound confusing. I chose Beth Moore's book, So Long, Insecurity and I couldn't be more excited to go through it with a group of ladies. As women, we face all types of insecurity - "our battle against advertising's siren call for unattainable physical perfection; the habit of making a man's love the ultimate validation; and the worldly definition of success as money, power, and status." The book delves into these insecurities and shows us God's grace through them all. I'm excited to learn, along with the ladies in the group, how to dig myself out of my insecure rut.

Small groups offer an unbeatable experience - they're the way God intended for us to live: in community. If you live in the Woodbury area, I hope you consider signing up for one (and, if you're a lady in her 20s-30s, I'm a little biased to mine!). :-) Check out registration here.

Here Goes Nothin...

It seems like I've been waiting for this September for a long time. Not because it's my birthday (although you can read about that here), but because I'm starting to teach piano lessons! I've had two students signed up since May, and I've now gained four more, so I'm starting with six students next week!

I taught piano while I was in high school, didn't have time or resources to continue in college, and now I'm finally ready to start again (thanks to a piano from my parents and a flexible work schedule that allows me some free afternoons). My goal is to eventually have a full-time piano studio, and this is a great start.

The only tricky thing that comes with this new development is going to be finding a free night of the week to spend with my man. Any tips for great time management? I know we'll have Friday and Saturday nights free, but we'll be busy with one thing or another Monday through Thursday. I think we'll just have to get creative... I'd love any input!

Anthropologie is calling my name tonight. I'm so excited to go with a GIRL (sorry, Jordan) and have some quality time there. :-)

charity:water

I love birthdays. I get teased for counting down to my birthday... so I've cut it back a bit (from months to days...although I'm always counting down in my head!). What is it that's so fun to me? I'm not sure. There's something about celebrating another year and all the things to come that gets me every year. I've always loved gifts. I look forward to seeing how creative and thoughtful people are. I always enjoy putting together a good wishlist.

For me, this September 22nd is going to be different.

A couple years ago, I heard about an organization called charity:water. They are building wells around the world to supply clean drinking water to the 1 billion people who don't have it. Nearly 80% of diseases are related to unsafe water and a basic lack of sanitation. This organization is changing that. 100% of the money donated to charity:water goes directly to their water projects. Four years ago this September, charity:water asked people to give up their birthday and ask people to donate money instead of buy them gifts. This year, I'm joining them.

As I posted previously, this year I can't think of anything I need. Sure, there are lots of things I want, but nothing that's a must. I'm excited to give back for my birthday this year.

$20 supplies clean water to one person for 20 years.

$250 supplies clean water for two families of six.

$5,000 supplies clean water for one community of 250 people.

I hope you'll join me this year. Check out my campaign page here.

Thursday Morning Update

So... a week from today we'll be in September. I only have one question: Where did AUGUST go?!

I really feel like life has been flying by. I've had some great opportunities over the past month, but it made time go even faster. I've still been trying to process... I'll give you a little snapshot into my mind.

Jordan and I left for Castaway Club on August 1st and were planning to stay until the 6th as adult guests (a.k.a. the nicest, most relaxing, and spiritually challenging vacation ever). We spent that week going to various planning meetings, spending time on the beach, reading on the deck that overlooked the lake... just soaking it all in. We also spent time getting to know the staff that was at the camp for the month of August. After making some great connections, I ended up staying through August 12th to work at Castaway for a WyldLife week. (if all of this seems like Greek to you, check out www.yl.org)

[note: please don't hate me after reading this. this is called pure, unfiltered honesty...]
Throughout the first week, Jordan and I were faced with materialism, which forced us to reevaluate our priorities and values. I'm still processing, but it was clear to me that stuff is a barrier in my ability to have freedom in life through Christ. I find myself comparing what I have to what others have and always wanting more. I have a list a mile long of all the things I want - when does it get to the point that that list starts to control the person I am?

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:7-10)

I have a birthday coming up, and my mind naturally drifts toward my wish list of gifts (this is where that "don't hate me" thing comes into play). I could easily rattle off 20 things I'd love to receive for my birthday... and they're all material. On Twitter, I follow a great organization called Charity Water and I've been seeing their marketing to give up your birthday - meaning to ask for donations to their organization instead of gifts or money. Welcome, conflict. As much as I'd love a heaping pile of gifts and money, I can't help but remember that there are people all over the world who have much less than I do - even down to suitable drinking water. So I'm stuck in the tension of what I want vs. what other people need. The answer should be clear, but sometimes it seems hard to discern... mostly because I'm human and sometimes the right thing just doesn't seem as fun for me. :-) I can sit here and justify the reason that I need money (trip to NYC, trip to Vail this winter, we're "poor" newlyweds, etc., etc.), but I have a pit in my stomach. People don't have water. I already have two trips planned (that we can afford... any extra $$ would just be for fun spending... of more stuff that I really don't need). Anyway. Hopefully I'm not the only person who gets stuck in this tension - Jordan even said he thinks it's a good tension to feel. It means that I'm actually processing the "in this world, not of it" part of being a Christian. Tough stuff.

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. (John 15:19)

 Our Young Life experience was incredible. An amazing vacation - mostly because it combined relaxation with great times of ministry and spiritual growth. We were challenged personally and as a couple, and I'm so thankful that we got to have this experience.

Much more I could write, but this is getting long. I'll leave you with this fun picture of us parasailing (gotta love the windblown look).

This might explain...

...those few extra pounds I'm trying (to no avail) to get rid of. But it's heavenly, so you really should try it some day soon. SO easy to make and got 3 thumbs up from everyone who's tried it. :-)

[picture and recipe from Tasty Kitchen]

Molten Chocolate Cake

Added by brandielle on July 28, 2009 in Desserts, Special Occasion

Prep Time 15 Minutes Cook Time 13 Minutes

Servings 4

Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

• 4 pieces (squares) Semi-sweet Baking Chocolate
• ½ cups Butter
• 1 cup Powdered Sugar
• 2 whole Eggs
• 2 whole Egg Yolks
• 6 Tablespoons Flour
• 2 cups Real Whipping Cream (seriously It's So Much Better!)
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Spray 4 custard cups with Pam and place on cookie sheet.

Microwave chocolate and butter in large bowl on high for about 1 minute, until butter is melted. whisk until chocolate is also melted.

Stir in sugar until well blended. Whisk in eggs and egg yolks. Stir in flour.

Divide between cups.

Bake 13-14 minutes until sides are firm and center is soft. Let stand 1 minute.

Combine sugar and heavy cream and whip until stiff.

Invert cakes on dishes and top with whipped cream.