saturday favorite #20

I’m not really a fan of the cold. If it’s cool enough to wear a light jacket, it’s too cold. I’m in the right state, right? Ha!

What I DO love about once it starts getting cold is making all different kinds of soups and chili’s! Yum!! There’s nothing more comforting than a hot bowl of soup when it’s cold outside. It makes it officially feel like winter. Even when “winter” in Arizona is still 78 degrees outside.

We’ve been spending time at my mom’s house a lot lately and she always makes the most yummy dinners! She’s made this a couple times in the past month or so and I HAD to have the recipe. And then I HAD to pass it on to you. It’s Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. It’s so easy- you just throw it all in your crock pot and walk away for a few hours. And about 10 minutes before you’re ready to eat, throw some Texas toast in the oven as a side. I’m all about dinners that are simple to make and that are full of flavor. You will love this if you try it! It’s comforting to me for some reason. And in this season, I think all of us could use a little comfort!

 

Ingredients

- 3 chicken breast halves- cooked and diced

- 1 box of Uncle Ben’s long grain & wild rice

- 1/2 C. uncooked wild rice

- 1/2 C. carrots, onions and celery- all chopped

- 1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth

- 1 can Cream of Chicken soup

- 1 can Cream of Celery soup

- 1 pint half & half

- 1/2 Tbsp Mrs. Dash

 

Directions

1. Prepare wild rice according to the basic cooking method on the package.

2. Add all other ingredients into slow cooker, including the chicken that has already been cooked.

3. Cook on low for 2-3 hours

4. Serve with Texas toast and enjoy!

 

… Yeeessss…

a blank slate

The thought of moving has been exhilarating. I feel like I use that word a lot, especially lately. But it is truly how I feel about our life on most days.

Exhilarated. Thrilled. Free.

As we are processing where we might be heading to, a move is a definite possibility in our future. All of the opportunities that have been presented to us will require us to move somewhere, most likely. And we are happy about it and ready for the adventure!

I’ve been cleaning out our house, de-cluttering, reorganizing. I’ve just felt the need to clean out everything. I don’t know if it was our layoff, the miscarriage, the need to spring clean or all of the above, but I got rid of a ton of stuff. Including our dining room table and chairs and if you know anyone who wants a coffee table with matching end tables, let me know. I’m selling those too.

I’ve been really focusing on finding key items that I am in love with and bringing those into our home. Now, we are on an obvious budget but thankfully I don’t have expensive taste. I’m really all about things that are practical and simple. I’d rather spend my money on traveling than on a $500 coffee table.

It’s just not my style.

Jason and I were randomly in Goodwill looking for some props for an upcoming photo shoot when I stumbled across the most amazing dresser I’ve ever seen. It’s an old school lingerie dresser- tall, skinny and slightly victorian. It was $40. So while we don’t have extra cash laying around to just purchase new dressers, I also just couldn’t live without this incredible find!

So we worked it out and it’s in our bedroom right now. Our plan is to sand it down and paint it a super fun color, so I’ll post pictures as soon as that project is complete.

Hopefully before 2010. But probably not.

*sigh*

But it’s been fun to begin to find a few new things. It’s made this transition in our lives really seem like a new beginning in a lot of ways. A fresh outlook on life. A fresh beginning, even though we haven’t really begun anything yet. It has a lot to do with the freedom I feel.

And while I am still sorting through the loss of both our job and mainly the miscarriage (I’m not sure that I’ve truly dealt with it yet), it’s helped to focus my mind on our work, our home and our life moving forward.

And this beautiful dresser is a reminder to me that there are great and beautiful things in our future. Amazing people to meet. Wonderful friends to get to know. And a new place to head to. A blank slate.

We’re getting closer!

party hats

I had to post this picture. I took this on his birthday right before he went to bed (and apparently right before I wiped his nose!) and I just thought it was too funny. My friend Katelyn made these cute little hats for her son Hudson’s birthday party, and she gave me one for Cruz.

Jason and I just had so much fun celebrating his birthday with him all day; all the way up until he went to bed! And I promise I wiped his nose right after I took this picture. Wow, that’s one snotty nose! Ha!

birthday boy

I can’t believe my baby boy is one today. It seriously feels like just yesterday I was meeting his little face for the first time! The past year has flown by and it’s amazing how much can truly change in that amount of time. We feel incredibly blessed with all that’s come our way and we’ve grown a lot in this journey. Being a parent is harder than you’d think- at least for me it’s hard! But Cruz has been the biggest blessing of our lives and I know we both couldn’t have asked for more.

I was just telling my Grandma the other night that when I got pregnant I was so excited to have a baby- little did I know I was about to have the coolest little kid ever who would make my heart explode every single day. It’s amazing what motherhood does to you- even in all it’s hard moments, I still wouldn’t trade anything I’ve learned.

We had Cruz’s first birthday this past Saturday and it was such a blast! We were surrounded by great friends and family for a couple hours and Cruz really had a blast.

He had no idea the party was for him, but whatever.

Casey and Katelyn Block were so awesome to open up their home for us to have his party there. Their home is so beautiful and they are two of the most wonderful people that Jay and I know. They are like family, really. Katelyn and our other dear friend Amy made all of these adorable cupcakes for Cruz’s big day! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw all the little animals made of fondant- Katelyn really went above and beyond for us and it was such a blessing. It warmed my heart more than I think she even knows.

We had a lot of friends help out with food and everyone just came for lunch and hanging out. It was a cool day on Saturday and it was rainy! It was refreshing that it wasn’t so warm (in November) and that we could all hang out outside- despite the light drizzle! Cruz LOVED the bubble machine that was at the Block’s house. The kids all played with the bubbles and all of Cruz’s little friends were there.

Then we set up the high chair outside and presented Cruz with his little ’smash cake’ (that Katelyn made), and we sang Happy Birthday to him. I was sort of hoping that he’d dive in and make a big huge mess.

That didn’t happen.

My kid is picky with what he puts in his mouth and the only things he really likes to eat is cheese and fruit. Maybe we should have made a cake made of just cheese? Weird.

So he just looked at the cake and he really wanted to play with the candle! So he touched it a little bit, got frosting on his face and that was about it. Ha! Then we all enjoyed the amazing cupcakes and Cruz opened presents! Well, I opened them for him, but he sat and ‘helped’. He got all kinds of goodies and he loves playing with his new toys. We were so grateful to everyone who took two hours out of their day to come celebrate with our special little man. He’s so loved and we have some of the greatest friends and family ever, who love us so much. We don’t take any of them forgranted.

So the party wasn’t long, but it was the perfect amount of time to get some great pictures and eat some great food! I keep saying it- but I can’t believe that a year has gone by. This time last year, my life was in a very different place. I had very different visions for our lives and I thought our future would be in a very different place. I had no idea that I’d be a stay at home mom, with a successful business, in-between churches and possibly moving. But I wouldn’t change anything about where we’ve come from, where we are at and where we are going. Although it’s been the most emotional couple months I’ve had in a long time, it’s clear that God is in control of our lives. It’s clear that He’s directing our steps. And it’s awesome to finally be able to relax in that.

A year ago today I saw my little man’s face for the first time. And I never thought that he’d be who he is. Everything about him has been everything and more than I could have ever imagined or hoped for. He just lights up every room he enters. He brings joy to so many, everywhere we go. And while he has a ton of energy and I’m tired all the time, I wouldn’t trade that kid for anything. I’m excited for all the birthdays that Jason and I will spend with him.

May there be many, many more!

Happy Birthday my little Cruzer man! You deserve all the best things in this life!

helping dadda

I think you’d agree. This is truly the best thing to come down the stairs to in the morning! It honestly makes my heart melt a little. I don’t think there’s anything Cruz loves more than his dadda.

Maybe cheese? Man, that kid loves him some cheese!

But he loves Jason so much. I can’t say it enough- Jason is an amazing hubby and father. It’s not shocking why Cruz and I love him so much! And this little picture are the things I want to remember for years to come.

early presents

I can’t believe we are less than a week away from Cruz’s first birthday. That is just crazy and time truly does fly by! It’s amazing how much can change in a year.

More on that later…

My Grandma Imo, Cruz’s Great Gram, gave him his birthday present a little early. And he’s pretty happy that she did! She got him the Fisher Price Smart Bounce & Spin Pony, and boy does he love it!! It comes with a wireless device that allows Cruz to control the on-screen activities with images that respond to his movements. There’s fun animation, music, sounds, characters, and a lot of exciting things he can explore and learn. Such a brilliant gift for my little man, who loves exploring everything and who gets into anything!

Now the only trick is teaching him how to get off the pony without falling off! We haven’t mastered that one yet.

Thank you Great Gram! Cruz loves his new toy and mommy is thrilled that it’s a toy that he can use for months and months! Cruz loves you so much!

inspired

I shot this picture while I was photographing the boutique at Cornerstone on this past Saturday. It’s a picture of some of the decor inside the bookstore, and I was just super inspired by it for some reason. It felt like my life in a lot of ways- hanging by a thread at the moment but bright and colorful- hopefully bringing joy and hope to many soon or someday or now. A symbol of the season, which actually ISN’T about shopping and things and presents. But is actually about a baby that was born to bring hope to us all. And this season I am full of exactly that- HOPE. Not that I haven’t had hope, but it’s been hard to find these past few years- at least for me. But I am starting to see why God has removed us from Cornerstone and I am grateful, hopeful and thrilled for the future.

Jason and I have made a decision about where we are going and what we are doing. I am not quite ready to discuss all the details, but we have found a place that is thriving and healthy and amazing. We couldn’t be happier and more excited for this time in our lives. God is so good and keeps revealing things to us that completely confirms that He has moved us for a huge reason. And he is taking care of us and protecting us- in more ways than I ever thought possible.

It makes me feel silly that I ever doubt Him and His plan for our lives.

So this picture might not have any significance to you. But it’s a fun picture to me; one that is symbolic in a lot of ways. And one that inspires me to keep pushing forward. Our future is bright and I am finally excited about this community of people and all the changes it’s going to bring for our lives.

I hate to leave you hanging, but more details will come once we can share them.

I promise.

saturday favorite #19

This has been my most favorite thing this week. I found it at Forever 21 while I was at the mall, and it’s kinda hard to come by.

Yes, my friends. I am talking about yellow nail polish.

It was only $2.80 (yet another reason why Forever 21 is my all time favorite) and it’s not a pastel yellow, which is usually what I find if I find yellow at all. It’s bright, it’s cheery, it’s fabulous. And it’s totally made my week!

happy 30th birthday!

Today was Jason’s 30th birthday!! Even though Jason isn’t sure how he feels about it, and even though I’ve made him feel like an old man these past few days, 30 is not old! It’s the new 20 and I’m pretty convinced that Jay is going to look as young as he does for a long, long time. He’ll just be that lucky.

I wanted to plan something special for him, but we don’t have a whole lot of extra cash these days. We have some really amazing friends who all helped me throw Jason a surprise party on Tuesday evening, the night before. He had absolutely NO IDEA and just thought we were going to our regular Bible study that we have each week. Our great friends Katelyn and Casey hosted and Katelyn helped me to get everything set up before we got there (thank you Katelyn!!). It was so great to hang with friends and about 25-30 people came, which was absolutely perfect.

I do have to say that Jason’s cake did look like it was on fire with the amount of candles we put on it! I wanted to make sure he blew out 30 candles and no less! So we all ate cake and relaxed for a little bit and Jason was totally surprised!

Today, Wednesday the 4th we spent time together as a family! We’ve had a lot of those days lately but this day was extra fun! We didn’t have too much planned, but we did manage to make our way into the Apple store. Jay decided that it was time to exchange the phone that he’s had for our ENTIRE MARRIAGE for a brand new iPhone!! I’m not kidding- that phone that he had was seriously one that Zach Morris from Saved By The Bell probably used during his time at Bayside. He’s had it forever! So it was completely time for him to upgrade to the new millenium and join the rest of us with an iPhone. Ha! I’m glad he did!

Our little man crashed from ‘partying’ to hard with mom and dad. We hadn’t even left the Apple store yet and he was already zonked out!

We ate lunch at Liberty Market after our time at the mall. When it’s your birthday, they give you a meal up to $10 for free!! So Jay got an amazing pizza made by none other than Andrew Sterbenz and we visited with Andrea Alley while we were there too!

Our evening was pretty simple- we had a family dinner at Olive Garden (one of Jay’s favorites!) and then headed home. After we put Cruz to bed, we sat on the couch with baseball on TV and worked. Yes, we had to work on his birthday. We don’t have the luxury right now of having a day off- THAT’s how busy we are! But we are super grateful to have each other and to be able to celebrate another birthday together! Birthdays are super special to me- life is too short and you never know how many birthday’s you’ll have together. Gotta make ‘em count for sure.

Happy 30th Birthday to the love of my life, Jason! I love you and I can’t wait till we turn 60 together! I love you!

 

kisses

Cruz is now giving us kisses. And it’s the best thing ever.

I can look right at him and say, “Cruz, can mommy have a kiss?” And I’ll pucker my lips up and he’ll lean in (with his mouth still open cuz he doesn’t know how to pucker his lips) and he’ll plant one on me. I love it so much that I ask him for ‘kisses’ all day long.

Tonight he totally got fed up with me asking for kisses. I can’t blame the kid. I seriously ask him all day long because it’s the cutest thing ever. But he gave me this look tonight that said, “Mom? Seriously?”

I just told him (as he crawled away from me) that I don’t care how old he is, he’s not ever going to be too big or too cool to hug and kiss his mother.