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!

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! 

Madison of Wetherills Say I Do / Rachel of Rachel Rewritten / Sarah of Life with the Casterlines / Lindsey of Bliss and Blunders / Ashley of The Ashley Marie Blog

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Have a beautiful day! 

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! 

Weekend Recap and Fruit Pizza Recipe!

 Hey Ya'll! 

Happy (late) 4th of July! I hope you had a fabulous and relaxing holiday weekend. I know I did! This weekend was exactly what we needed and I am SO thankful we were able to have the time with family while relaxing and soaking up the sun! 

I am first going to share with you one of my favorite and most requested recipes! This is the 3rd year I have made fruit pizza for the 4th of July and it has now become a tradition. The first year I made it I arranged the fruit to look like an American flag which was cute and festive but all of the blueberries were in just one spot so I didn't make it like that again. Now I like to use a bunch of different fruit and arrange it in a pretty pattern. 

Fruit Pizza

Crust

1 Sugar Cookie Mix

TOPPING

·         8 oz (224g) full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature

·         1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

·         2 cups (240g) confectioners' sugar

·         1-2 Tablespoons (15-30ml) cream or milk

·         1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·         assorted sliced fresh fruit

Making the Crust

Follow the instructions for the sugar cookie packet and spread on to greased pan or baking stone. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Let completely cool.

Making the Frosting

In a medium bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the confectioners’ sugar and 1 Tbsp cream. Beat for 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and 1 more Tbsp cream if needed to thin out. Beat for 1 minute. Spread in a thick layer over the cooled sugar cookie crust. Decorate with fruit.

You can use whatever fruit you would like for it. I usually use strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, grapes, peaches, and sometimes bananas. (Bananas will turn brown if not eaten right away) 

This weekend was full of parades, napping, picnics, fireworks, boating, tanning, walks, and family time! It was the perfect way to spend the Fourth of July! 

Here a few pics from the last couple of days!

Cheers to a relaxing weekend!

Have a beautiful day! 

Strawberry Spinach Salad!

I am linking up with the girls from What You Wish Wednesday and today I am going to share a delicious recipe with you! It is perfect for summer and even more perfect for the 4th of July weekend!

This recipe is light but also filling at the same time! Plus it tastes A-MAZING! 

Strawberry Spinach Salad

1 bag of spinach (or fresh from the garden) 

1 bag of romaine lettuce (or fresh from the garden)

1 package of strawberries

1 container of feta cheese

1 small package of sliced almonds

2 chicken breasts

1 container of poppy seed salad dressing

Mix the spinach and romaine lettuce together well with large salad forks. Slice strawberries into fourths and add to greens. Pour entire package of sliced almonds into mixture and add half or all of the package of feta cheese. Grill two chicken breasts or cook on stove top. Cut into bite sized pieces and add to mixture. Toss with poppy seed dressing and serve!

ENJOY! 

Have a beautiful day! 

Dream Kitchen Wishlist!

While I was cleaning our teeny tiny kitchen the other day I was thinking about what I would want in a kitchen someday when we buy a house. I was thinking about what would be must haves and what would be on my dream list! I was also inspired to write this post because I am entering in the PartSelect giveaway to win a custom painted KitchenAid Mixer! 

Ever since I was a little girl I wanted a KitchenAid Mixer! That is one of those appliances that just makes you feel like a wife and a homemaker! They are just fun to use and they can help make some delicious dishes! 

Here is my dream kitchen wish list! 

A dishwasher.

 Seems so simple but for someone who does not have one it would truly be a gift to own one. It would save me hours upon hours of constantly washing the same dishes by hand over and over again. 

Walk-in Pantry 

This is not an appliance but I put it in the same category. This is something that I would just LOVE but don't know if I will ever get. In our tiny rental house we have hardly an cupboards or storage space. I had to resort to metal shelves with baskets and above the fridge storage. Now don't get me wrong, I love our little house but someday... this would be incredible!

Double Oven

Oh my goodness I am in love. Have you ever wanted to bake dinner and dessert at the same time but you simply don't have the room in your oven or don't want to mix the smells in the same oven? Well I have! Oh my what I would give to have a double oven in my future home. It would be so incredibly useful and a big relief for this lady. 

So there you go! This is my kitchen wish list! I am perfectly happy with my little kitchen for now but is fun to dream right?! 

What items do you have in your dream kitchen? 

Have a beautiful day! 

Hostess with the Mostest!

Since getting married and becoming a wife, one of the things I desire is for us to us to open up our home to others for meals and get-togethers. It is something that I have felt God calling me to but not something that I am naturally good at. I am a pretty disorganized individual so the thought of having large groups of people over to our house and "hosting" them used to make me really nervous. 

Over the first year of our marriage I have learned so much about being a hostess and inviting people into our home. It has helped to have some wonderful ladies in my life who have given me great examples of what it looks like to be a great hostess. Today I am going to share with you some of the tips that I have learned over the last year about hosting an incredible and welcoming get-together. 

1. Create a plan at least two days before. 

I have found that for me it is important to sit down and think about what I want this event in my home to look like and then come up with a game plan as to how I am going to accomplish this. If you do this at least two days before it gives you enough time to meal plan, go grocery shopping, discuss with your husband and acquire all the dishes/items you will need. This also is a good time frame to let the guests know if they should bring something. 

2. Straighten up your home.

Now I know many people say that you don't have to clean before they come over and they don't care if your home is messy. And to a certain extent I agree with that because I don't want to try and be someone I am not to the people who come to my home. I want to to be real with them and show them my real life. However, I know myself and I know that if my home is a mess and have people over that I will not enjoy my time with them as much as I could have if my house was clean. I want to be able to listen to what my guests are saying instead of sitting there thinking about all the dishes in the sink. I'm not saying I deep clean my carpet or dust every inch of my house before people come over but what I am saying is that I think it is a good idea to tidy things up. Pick up the laundry all over the floor.Wipe up the bathroom sink, and clean the toilet. I think that a tidy home shows your guest that you care about them and want them to be comfortable. 

3. Make as much of the meal as possible before guests arrive. 

This is probably the hardest part for me because I am not that great at timing food perfectly. So what I have done and I would suggest, making meals that I are comfortable with. I try and not make brand new, complicated or fancy meals for the first time when I am having people over. I usually always make meals I know I can do and that I think people will love. Having the meal ready (or almost ready) when guests arrive will help you to enjoy time with your guests instead of busy cooking in the kitchen. That has happened to me a few times and it is not as enjoyable. One time though it was because the couple arrived 2 HOURS EARLY!!! A hostesses worst nightmare!!

4. Have snack food and plenty of drink options. 

I love going to someones house and having to choose between different drinks. They don't have to be super expensive or complicated but simply having a beer, wine, water, lemonade or sweet tea would be appropriate. I also try to have an appetizer or snack food on the table or coffee table while guests are waiting for the food to be done or after the meal is over. I think it makes people feel at ease when they can snack and talk at the same time! 

5. Add a couple of candles and good background music. 

I love walking into someones home and having it smell fresh. I like to have at least one candle burning that has a fresh and clean scent so people automatically feel at ease. Right now my favorite candle is Lilac Blossoms from Bath and Body Works. I also like having quiet background music on while people are eating and talking. Since we are from the Midwest and are by no means "fancy" people we do not have anything like classical music on. We usually choose music like Needtobreathe, Ben Rector, or Phil Wickam to have playing softly in the background. 

So there you go! Those are just a few of the tips that I have learned over the past year about hosting! I would love to hear more if you have any that you would add! 

Something that I am probably going to add to my book collection in the next couple of months is the book Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist. I first heard about the book from my bloggy friend Rachel. She has absolutely RAVED about it and I am excited to read it and learn even more about hosting!

Hope you enjoyed these tips! 

Have a beautiful day!