Jul 31, 2014

Beach vacation checklist!

Our beach vacation is in one week from today! EEK! We are going to California next week for my family reunion on my mom’s side. It will be so great to see some of my family that I haven’t seen in a while and to have Jordan meet some of them for the first time! Plus, it doesn't hurt that we are staying RIGHT ON THE BEACH! Oh my stars, I cannot tell you how pumped I am about that! 

Since it is getting so close I thought it would be a great idea to start planning my beach vacay check-list! 


These are some of the ideas of items to bring on my trip.  If only I could take the actual items off these list. A girl can dream right?


I would love to get a bunch of new swim suits for this trip but unfortunately our budget just won't really allow for that. Hopefully I can talk my wallet into allowing me to get one new suit though! 

Love this list. Obviously all the items on the list will not be necessary for this trip but it is helpful to help you new forget anything! 


So there you have it! I am sure I will be adding items to my list all week long but this is a great start! 

What are some items you think are a must have for a beach vacation?


Have a beautiful day!


Jul 29, 2014

Why I love Coffee Shops

The comforting and peaceful smell of fresh coffee beans brewing. The low and cozy lights dancing on the page of my book. The white foam swirling around the warm cup in my hand. The old wooden table I am resting my elbows on as I have a deep and meaningful conversation with a friend. Coffee shops. They really can create and cultivate some of the most meaningful and beautiful friendships, ideas, and passions.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Hebrews 10:25


I have been thinking about why I enjoy coffee shops so much and what about them keeps me coming back. I believe it is all about the atmosphere. Certain coffee shops have an atmosphere of cozy, others of industrial and others of vintage. But they all offer an atmosphere that make people want to sit down with a fresh cup of brew and spend hours soaking it all in.


Coffee shops are the places where I always choose to meet with people to talk about life, marriage, hardships and the future. It was at coffee shops in college where I was the most productive with my homework and papers. Now they are the places where my most creative thinking goes on for my blog. They are places where I can worship my God by listening to music and sermons about my joy in Him. 


It was in a coffee shop where I sat crying to my mentor Sharon as I told her about some of the struggles of dating and where she prayed for me and encouraged me with scripture.It is in a coffee shop where I had my first real date with my husband and where we still go on dates to talk about Jesus, our future children, and what it looks like to make disciples who make disciples for the glory of our creator.



Coffee shops have a way to inspire you to be great to live your life for a purpose and discover who it is that God desires for you to be. I have had some of my best quiet times and retreat days in coffee shops and God always seems to speak to me in those places. 

What inspires you about coffee shops? 

Don't forget about the Sweet Moments Giveaway! You only have one day left! 


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Jul 25, 2014

Oh hey Friday!


Per usual I will be linking up with the girls from Oh Hey Friday!
I love this link-up because it is such a simple way to keep track of my week. Part of what I use my blog for is an online diary. It is a place I can write about the things that stood out to me that week, what I have learned, where I went and who I saw. I love the simplicity of posting your favorite 5 things of the week.



-ONE-
We attended a very fun wedding last Friday night and I just loved the little details that they had thought of. Weddings are such a great way to see part of someone’s personality and the things they enjoy. I love seeing all the DIY projects people do now days and how creative they are!





-TWO-
Yesterday I hosted my VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY! I was way too excited about it! Make sure to enter for the chance to win an adorable print as well as a $40 Target gift card. Who doesn’t love Target?!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

-THREE-
The hubs and I went on a much needed date night this week! We have had such a BUSY summer so far so it was definitely a wonderful break from all the craziness!


-FOUR-
In less than two weeks we will in CALI!! My side of the family is having a family reunion in Santa Cruz, California and I am SO EXCITED! I can’t wait to see my extended family as well as enjoy some R&R on the beach! Counting down the days!



-FIVE-
Tonight we are having a bunch of people over to our house for a grill out and sand volleyball tourney. I am pretty excited about it but also pretty nervous. We haven’t had large groups of people over to our house yet and it is pretty tiny so hopefully everyone fits! No matter what it will be a great time though I know it! 


Jul 24, 2014

Sweet Moments Giveaway!


Good morning dear readers!

I am absolutely bubbling with excitement today to share that I am hosting my very first giveaway this morning! I know it might not seem like that big of a deal but I have been nervously planning and dreaming about this for a while now. I just didn’t have the courage to actually follow through! Well today’s the day!

I am Co-hosting the Sweet Moments giveaway with my dear friend Lisa from Lisa Love John. I have loved reading her blog and it has been an absolute pleasure to get to know her better over the last couple of months. We also have two amazing bloggers that will be helping Lisa and I host this awesome giveaway, Bailey and Madison. I have learned so much from these two ladies. Their posts are full of wisdom and great ideas! I cannot say enough how much I have loved the blogging community. It has truly been a blessing. 


  Today’s giveaway was made possible by the lovely Ashley from Printable Wisdom. Let me just tell you how talented this woman is! I have loved looking through her shop and checking out her awesome designs!



Here is a little info about Ashley.

"I specialize in "printable" designs that are an affordable way to bring a little art and some words of wisdom into your home!I started creating printables just for myself and family members. I wanted to have colorful art in my home but didn't want to pay outrageous prices for it. After creating some bridal shower invites for a family friend, I decided to go for it and opened my Etsy shop, PrintableWisdom! While I started out with printable quotes and Scripture, I've since expanded my shop and carry printable stationery, invitations, greeting cards, gift tags, and more! Check back often, as I'm always adding new designs (almost daily!). My newest product line that I'm very passionate about is my wedding stationery and decor line - check it out and let all of the brides or soon to be brides in your life know as well!"

Have a great day!



Make sure to check out her shop! Ashley has graciously given us one of her prints today’s giveaway! I am also adding in a $40 gift card to the one and only Target. Make to enter for the chance to win this great print and gift card!




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Jul 22, 2014

Personalized Cards = My Heart is Happy

Hey Ya'll!!!
Don't all of us love receiving personalized notes and cards?! I know I do!
SO..
I am just so very pumped to share an amazing brand with you today! Ever since hearing about about Treat I have become obsessed! So what is Treat? Well, let me tell you!



Treat is the new greeting card website by Shutterfly Inc. Treat offers specialized designs for personalized greeting cards, birthday cards, e-cards and more! They have SO many amazing design option and all for a VERY AFFORDABLE PRICE!! They were seriously cheaper than cards I found in the store! Amazing. 

One of the things I love about Treat is that you can actually send the cards that you personalize directly to the person you are making it for from the website!! So you never even have to leave your seat or hassle with the post office. How awesome is that?!



With all of the weddings we have had to go to for the last couple of summers I wish Treat had started earlier! How fun is this design I made for a friends wedding this summer?! You can put pictures of them on the card and design it the way that YOU want! I love that! 


Cards are such a personal gift you can give someone and I know that I feel so incredibly special and valued when someone takes the time to write me a note or card. I think it is also a great way to encourage your husband! Personalizing a cute card and putting your pictures and words on it can make a great keepsake for years to come! 

Here are a few of the other cards that I created! Love all the designs they offer!








I have so many baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries and I don't think I will be getting my cards from anywhere else! 

Stop by Treat today and make a special card for someone you love! 


Have a beautiful day!





Jul 18, 2014

Oh Hey Friday!




Friday is here and that means it is time for the weekend!

We have had a great but VERY full week and it looks like the weekend will not be any different! I am excited for all that it brings but I think I am also ready for the busyness to slow down a little bit.


I am linking up with the girls from Oh Hey Friday!

As usual, here are my five!

-ONE-
For some reason I have been in the mood to redecorate our master bedroom. Oh how I wish it could look a little something like this. How cozy and comfy is this room?! I tell you what, if I have this bedroom... I don't think I would ever leave!


-TWO-
We have had the wonderful pleasure to join multiple families this week for dinner in their homes! It has been just wonderful and a great time of food and fellowship. I just love our community! It is such a blessing to us.

-THREE-
Celebrated this little man's 6th birthday yesterday!! SO thankful for him and his sweet and precious heart. I love this little guy and his entire family! Happy Birthday Little "Brother!" Love you!


-FOUR-
We are attending another wedding this evening. It will be at a vineyard and I am pretty excited. I have no idea what it is going to look like but I like to imagine it will look a little something like this.



-FIVE-
UMPIRING IS OVER! So excited to ave my hubby back now that he isn't umpiring every night! Woot woot! Time for evening walks, cuddling on the couch and suppers on the deck!



Have a beautiful day!

Jul 16, 2014

Community Brew / / Marriage

Good morning my dear readers!

Today I am linking up with my lovely blogging friends Rachel and Madison for their Community Brew! I have just loved getting to know these ladies as well as the ladies I have connected with through this awesome link-up.

 Today the topic is one of my favorites… Marriage. I know I blog about marriage a lot here at Bliss and Blunders but that is because I just feel so passionately about my marriage and the value of marriage. It is the biggest blessing in my life so naturally I love to talk about it. You can check out a few more of my posts about marriage here.

All you ladies who are single or engaged please stick around! You are in this season of life for a purpose and I would love to hear about it! It wasn’t that long ago that I was also in your stage of life. I remember the joys and pain that it brings! 


These are two of the verses that we are looking at today with the topic of marriage.

Ephesians 5:22-33
“For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.  As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

Marriage is the greatest gift God has ever given me. To be able to share life with my husband and for us to be ONE is the most beautiful and practical way I can truly see and demonstrate the gospel. The relationship I have with my husband is not always easy and it is usually hard work but it is always beautiful, raw, intimate and special. No matter the season or the moment or the argument or the celebration. We are ONE flesh and one team in this crazy journey called life. {Sorry for the cheesiness}

1 Corinthians 7:32-35
“I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.”



I am going to tackle one of the suggested questions that Rachel and Madison gave.

What is God teaching you about being a wife?

What a wonderful question this is. The answer is… a lot. God has taught me a LOT about being a wife and all that it entails. The crazy part is I know that I have even more to learn! A couple of the truths that God has been teaching me in my first years of marriage are respect and encouragement.

Respect- It is no secret that men value respect more than anything else. It is the way God designed them and one of the ways that they feel most loved. When I first got married I asked as many married women as I could what it means to be a respectful wife. I was dying to know because I honestly had no idea what respect looked like. Some of the things that they told me were to never talk badly about him to other people and submit to his leadership. The first example has been very important in our marriage. I have made it my mission to never complain about my husband to anyone and to always try to build him up to others. Now, that doesn’t mean I never share the struggles in our marriage with anyone. I have a few very close friends and mentors that I have shared some of the struggles we have had for the purpose of wisdom and insight. I go to these women seeking advice not for the purpose to complain. They listen to me and give me wisdom on how to respectfully deal with whatever we are going through. They also are always honest with me and will tell me if I am not behaving appropriately. I love that! It is just like in the verses from Titus that say,

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.…”
Titus 2:3-5

My husband also feels respected when I submit to his leadership. When we are discussing something or trying to decide on something and in the end I submit to his leadership, he feels so respected and feels like the leaders. That is my goal. I want him to feel like he is the leader of our household and that I respect him enough to trust his leadership. He is not always right about the decisions that he makes BUT since he made them, it is always easier for him to deal with them. You can read more about submission here

Encouragement- Encouragement has been such an important thing about our relationship and it means SO much to him. Plus it is one of the ways he most feels respected. Encouragement can be simple things like telling him he looks smokin’ hott or big things like telling him how much you appreciate his leadership in your relationship. One of my goals is to strive to live up to the Proverbs 31 woman and that is one of the ways that I can do that. I know I am never going to be perfect and I am never going to live up to the standards that she created but I am going to try and encouragement is one of the ways I think I have really grown in. I always try to have a happy face on when he gets home from work and I try to never ask a million questions or bombard him with business the first chance I get when I see him. I love to tell him how awesome he is and thank him for loving me so well. Plus it is always fun to tell him how sexy he is. He loves that. Hehe.



So there you go! One of the truths I have learned about marriage. I am so thankful for a husband that is my best friend. He is someone I can enjoy my days with and someone that will be there with my when life gets hard. God has blessed me and I am SO thankful. 


community brew link up

Have a beautiful day!

Jul 14, 2014

Weekend Recap!

Happy Monday Ya’ll!
I usually don’t do a weekend recap but today I am in the mood to share with you so… here we go!

Friday night was a busy one for my sweet husband but I had not much going on so I had a night at home with my fur baby and did a lot of snuggling and catching up on Netflix! It was quite wonderful.

Saturday morning was my favorite. We slept in a little bit and then the hubs took me out for breakfast to a cute little diner in town! It was such amazing food and a great time to chat with my love. After breakfast we went home and went back to bed for an hour! SOOO wonderful. I love Saturdays…




That night we had the wedding of my dear friend and co-worker Kelsey. Her and her now husband have been through a lot in the last couple of weeks and I am so happy for them to now be married and headed to Mexico! It was such a beautiful wedding and they were both just glowing! I love marriage!










Sunday was a lazy day of church, lunch with friends, nap, world cup, dinner with the in-laws and Netflix. What a great weekend! 

Have a beautiful day!

Jul 9, 2014

Bread and Wine Project: Stuffed Manicotti

Good morning! Today I am linking up with Rachel for her Bread and Wine Project Link-up! I am excited to share an amazing recipe with you this morning. 


There are some dishes that I would consider comfort food and this dish is definitely one of those. It is a meal that you just want to keep eating and never stop! Today I am sharing with you an amazing dish that is easy, quick and great for dinner parties. 

My co-worker and I have also made this dish for our entire staff totaling 70 people! You will not regret trying this! 

Stuffed Manicotti 

INGREDIENTS:

1 Box Large Pasta Shells
1 lb Italian Sausage
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce
2 Cups Mozzarella Cheese
1 Egg
1 8oz Container Ricotta
Garlic & Onion Powder
Oregano, Basil, Parsley (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Cook pasta according to package. Drain.
3. Cook Italian sausage and crumble in skillet.
4. Mix 1 cup of the mozzarella with remaining ingredients (except spaghetti sauce) in a large bowl. Add sausage.
5. Coat bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with a layer of spaghetti sauce.
6. Fill shells with cheese mixture using a spoon.
7. Place shells in baking dish. Cover with another layer of spaghetti sauce and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
8. Bake for 30-45 minutes.


I would encourage you to try this the next time you host a meal at your home. Serve it with a fresh garden salad, some garlic bread and wine and you have the perfect home cooked meal! 

Enjoy!

Make sure to enter the Bread and Wine Project giveaway that I am co-hosting with Rachel and many other lovely ladies! It is pretty spectacular and I am so excited for whoever the lucky winner will be! Enter in the chance to win a copy of the Bread and Wine book and a $50 Williams-Sonoma gift card! Head on over to Rachel's blog to enter!  I'm pairing up with these sweet blog friends to bring you a copy of the Bread & Wine book and a $50 Williams-Sonoma gift card! Head over to Rachel's blog to enter! 

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Have a beautiful day! 

Jul 8, 2014

Marriage is: Marriage isn't- Part II


Today I am going to share with you my second post about some of the things that I think marriage is and some of the things I think that marriage isn’t. I will be doing a post about this once every other week for the next month so stay tuned for that!


*The following statements are based off of my personal opinion and what I believe to be true. I am in no way claiming to be a marriage expert.

Marriage Is…
Hard work

Marriage isn't easy. There are days that are easier than others but making a marriage work is not easy. It takes a LOT of good communication and forgiveness. I remember a few of the disagreements that my husband and I have had and how the thought always entered my mind, "why is this so hard?" Well really the answer to that is that we are both sinners and we are living in a small space together. We are going to hurt and upset each other, and often we don't even mean to! There are going to be seasons of struggle and hardship in your marriage and it is important to never stop working at it. Marriage is the hardest and best thing I have ever done! 


Marriage isn’t…
Boring

I have heard so many television shows and movies make fun of marriage and make it out to be boring and stressful. They hardly ever show the passionate, funny, exciting and special times to represent a marriage. Marriage is not boring at all! I have never had more fun than I have with my husband since we have been married. We love to try new things, create special moments, go new places  and be really, really goofy! Marriage will be what you put into it. If you don't make an effort with your spouse or your marriage, it will probably be pretty boring. Try something new! 



Marriage is…
Serving and Sacrificing for one another
 

God designed marriage and he shaped it to represent Christ and the church. It represents Christ giving up his life for the church and sacrificing for the church every day. We can show this kind of sacrificial love in our marriages. We can serve our spouse in a way that people wonder where that loves comes from. That is your chance to share the gospel!  It is also a way we can show love to our spouse to make them feel special and that they are the most important person in our lives. When my husband sacrifices his time, interests, and desires for me, he shows me love in a beautiful and deep way. 

Marriage isn’t…
Winning an argument or discussion

This one can be challenging at times for people like me who like to be right. It is my natural tendency to try and convince my husband that I am right and he is wrong in a disagreement and vice versa. We are both always trying to make the other person see our perspective but then failing to listen to theirs in return. It is so important for me to remember that we are on the same team and we are not fighting with each other but instead fighting for each other.




Marriage is…
Something you need to protect

With all the perversion in this world today it is SO important to protect your marriage. There are temptations around every corner and especially in this society they are very easy to find. Fight against those things! When the devil sneaks into your thoughts and plants an image or idea it is so hard to get it out. Fight against temptations and have accountability. Find someone of the same sex as you that you trust and have a great relationship with. Talk to them about your marriage and about your struggles. Ask them to pray for you and your spouse. Also, pray for your husband. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I often underestimate the power of prayer and the difference it can make in our lives. 

Marriage isn’t…
Perfect 

Don't be afraid to have fun in your marriage and remember to give yourself grace. I often get caught up in the expectations that I have for myself in our marriage. They are so overwhelming to me! Plus, they aren't usually the expectations that my husband has for me! I need to remember that I'm not perfect, my husband is not perfect and our marriage is not perfect. Avoid comparing yourself to other people and avoid comparing your marriage to other peoples marriages. Enjoy your spouse and enjoy your marriage! 


There are many other things that marriage is and marriage isn’t but for today these are the ones that I am focusing on. Stay tuned for more! 

Thanks so much for following along today! Marriage is such an important topic to me and I feel blessed to be able to share my heart with you all today! 

Have a beautiful day!