The first year of marriage

So this past weekend my husband and I celebrated our one year anniversary. We spent the time hiking and just staying away from distractions. Our first year of marriage has been filled with the distractions of work, school, family and unfortunately a tragedy that affects us both to this day. It was a tumultuous year where we both felt that we did not get enough time together. However, given all this we never once questioned our decision to get married or felt unhappy with each other. We recognized that outside circumstances would always be there but it was how we faced them together that would define us as a couple. After everything this past year has brought on, I can say that I am so glad that I had my husband by my side to help me through it. We talked about all the obstacles we had to go through before we met each other, how all those things brought us to the right moment in time to meet each other. If either of our paths had changed marginally we never would have even met. I thank god every day for bringing me to my husband. It is hard to understand when people talk about how god sees the bigger picture and that you may not understand why you are going through the trials in your life but to trust that god is leading you to where you are supposed to be. I did not see all this until I realized everything that I went through led me directly to Thomas. He is the best thing that ever happened to me and our wedding day is the best day of my life. Looking forward to the years ahead...

Cara Box

So this post is sooo late, I had my last week of school last week and things got a bit crazy so I am so sorry to my Cara Box partner I hope she forgives me. This past month I got to get to know two ladies: Hallie at the blog Life Oceanside and Desiree at the blog Macke Monologues. I had so much fun getting to know them, they are both so wonderful. Desiree is a runner and I found her posts on running inspiring to get started again. Hallie is interested in going back to school and is even interested in my major so it was really neat having that to connect over since school is practically my entire life right now (you know, other than work, being married and friend and family obligations). I sent Desiree a box and Hallie sent me one (pictured above). She sent me the best box I could have asked for. This months was a nautical theme and Hallie did not disappoint. I received the cutest seashell decoration, a adorable sand dollar magnet (which is so funny because I actually really need more magnets), sweet & salty trail mix, anchor earrings, nail polish (how did she know I love nail polish, seriously I have tons of colors), and not to play favorites but the sign is my favorite. It reads: Keep Calm and Stay Anchored, I think it is my favorite because Hallie made it herself which is pretty much the sweetest thing ever. She wrote me the nicest letter and even wrote cute sayings on the inside of each flap of the box, I mean how clever is that? She put so much time, thought, and effort into this box and there just are not enough words to describe how grateful I am.




If you are interested in joining in on the Cara Box fun click the button below to learn more.

You're a songbird themed birthday

My adorable niece had her first birthday last month. She loves to "sing" and listen to music, she even attempts to sing along. At least that is what we think she is trying to do. So the theme for her party was "You're a songbird" (thank you pinterest).



She even had her own sash and party hat.



We decorated with these cute wooden bird houses that were from the craft store for just a couple bucks each and then we painted them ourself.
Also, we had some wire bird cages and these cute little white picket fences we filled with flowers and there were flower pots filled with bird
shaped sugar cookies.



My sister made the most adorable cake and bird nest cupcakes. We even found these adorable little white picket fence cupcake wrappers to put on them. She made that cute letter I by cutting out a piece of cardboard wrapping it in yarn and adding a decorative fabric flower, I personally thought this was genius. She brought a picture frame that had a picture of her at each months age for family who dont get to see her as often, I thought this was a really nice touch.



To top it all off she had a station to paint your own birdhouse for all the kids to enjoy, combining activity with take home gift, also genius.



My sisters and I had so much fun brainstorming for this birthday and it turned out so cute. Feel free to share any of your fun kids birthday themes, were already preparing for next year!

Wildcard Wednesday

 Welcome to Wildcard Wednesday!

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The name of the game is #wildcard 

Stakes: A special PRIZE will be up for grabs the last week of each month

 Your link ups each week are your entries

Example: If you link up your blog, bloglovin and twitter you will have 3 entries each week

Disclaimer: You MUST be following your hosts in order to win

Winner of the June #wildcard {Won A $20 Giftcard of Choice + Ad Space}:

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1. Follow all your hosts

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Cara box = feeling spoiled

So this past month was my first experience in taking part in a Cara Box exchange. For those of you who are wondering what Cara Box is, it is a very creative program created by Kaitlyn at the blog Wifessionals. To learn more about it click the Cara Box button at the end of this post. This past month I have been getting to know Elizabeth at the blog: The DC Boese's and Joy at the blog: All Things White. Both women are amazing ladies and I have had so much fun getting to know them. I highly recommend checking out each of their blogs, they are so much fun to read. This months theme was "Take me to the fair" so anything fair/carnival/circus was the name of the game this month. I received this amazing box from Elizabeth:



It was filled with some of my favorite things like cotton candy, roasted peanuts, fudge covered brownies, the most amazing smelling cotton candy scented candle (seriously I can't stop taking the lid off to smell it), fun colorful socks and more. I am feeling very spoiled this month. To learn more about the amazing girl who sent me my box please visit Elizabeths blog at: dcboeses.blogspot.com

I sent Joy a fair survival kit themed box, if you want to see it you will need to visit her blog at: http://allthings-white.blogspot.com

I honestly can't say enough good things about these two ladies they are both so much fun and so nice. It has been really great getting to know other bloggers. If you have the ability to participate please do, click the button below to follow the link to Kaitlyn's blog Wifessionals to learn more.

Five great summer reads

So I am a not so undercover bookworm (ahem, see post titled Meeting Sarah Dessen). I am often asked for book recommendations and I thought I would share them here. So the following is a list of books that are great reads especially during summer time when those of us who are not in school have more time to read.

#1) Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, by: Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner
Why I picked it: This book has something for everyone. It is a compilation of interesting studies all done in about a chapter each. Ever wonder "how much do my parenting skills really matter?" or "how much do drug dealers really make?". Well they tackle these subjects creatively and thoroughly. It is the "Mythbusters" of social economics.

#2) The Truth About Forever, by: Sarah Dessen
Why I picked it: A great summer read for a coming of age story of a girls summer before her senior year of high school. You will feel as if you are reading your best friends diary and reliving the summer you missed out on with her. The characters feel real and you can't help but feel like you know them.

#3) Sloppy Firsts, by: Megan McCafferty
Why I picked it: A funny series about a girl, a bad boy and the crazy antics that follow as she goes through High School, the series follows her life through college. This book is written as a diary and she is often writing to her best friend. So you often feel as if you are being written to. The main character is smart and witty and you will find your self wondering how this story will unfold.

#4) Bossypants, by: Tina Fey
Why I picked it: I am not one for autobiographies but this one is hysterical. It will literally have you laughing out loud calling your sister to tell her what you just read. It is funny, poignant and memorable.

#5) The Year of Fog, by: Michelle Richmond
Why I picked it: I never read mysteries, they just are not my thing. However, this story about a women who while on a trip to the beach looks down to take a picture and when she looks up her fiances daughter is suddenly missing, will take you full speed fromt the very first chapter on the search for the little girl. You will be reading all night to find out what really happened and ultimately will she ever be found?

I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did. I recommend them often and have gotten plenty of positive feedback. I tried to make sure there was something on this list for everyone and know that these books are in no particular order.

If you have read any of them I would love to know what you think.

Wildcard Wednesday!

Meeting Sarah Dessen

So for those of you who don't know the person I wanted to meet most in this world was Sarah Dessen. This past Monday I got the opportunity to meet her and get my books signed which was one of the best days of my life. I am a complete book worm and most of the people on my list to meet are authors not actors/singers and Sarah Dessen was at the top. Not just because she wrote a great book but because she wrote 12! If you haven't read any of her books, you should definitely read one. I suggest starting with "The Truth About Forever" an awesome read about a girl who starts to find herself the summer before her senior year but as a result by changing herself she is changing her mom and her mom can't handle it.



That was me meeting my idol, and yes all those books on the table are mine and she signed all of them. She was so incredibly nice and I felt so bad, because I had all of her books plus one for a friend and the first thing I did was say "I'm so sorry I have so many books to sign" and she just said "oh no, dont be sorry I remember going to my first signings and the only person who would show up was my mom. I am so appreciative of everyone who comes out to these events, I will sign anything you want me to sign." She was just amazing, so nice and answered our questions so thoroughly. It was so great, if you ever get the opportunity to go to one of her book signings don't miss out.

Chicken the way my mom makes it

So I'm not much of a cook but I do know a few recipes. This week my husband asked me to make what is referred to in my family as "Red chicken". I know its not the greatest title but it does taste good. It is chicken that is cooked in tomato sauce, soy sauce, onions and cilantro and served with white rice. So I am going to attempt to walk you through how I make it, but know that we never have really used measuring cups when making this so its a little different every time we make it.

So first thing is first here is the ingredients to make four chicken breasts:
-3 cans of tomato sauce
-1 cup of soy sauce
-cilantro about a third of cup to a half cup finely chopped
-onion amount is the same as the cilantro



So what I do is I finely chop the cilantro and the onion put it in a glass baking dish pour the tomato sauce and soy sauce in. Then I stir it in the baking dish then place the chicken in, this way I don't have to dirty a mixing bowl. Here is an image of the onion and cilantro chopped so you can see about how much I chop it and about how much I use.



This is the cilantro before it is chopped so you can see about how much it is before it crushed up:



Here it all is in the dish:



As you can see the chicken is completely submerged in the sauce. I cook it at a temperature of 375 for about 45 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked (obviously). The only thing that makes this recipe hard is that the chicken is cooked in a red sauce so it takes on the coloring of if so it can be hard to tell the chicken is done by looking at it so a thermometer is really helpful. What I like about this recipe is that it is really quick and easy to make the only real prep is chopping the cilantro and the onion. Once its all in the oven I clean the cutting board, knives and anything else I got messy. Then I start the rice up. It is usually all done really close to the same time then I just put it in a bowl together and your done.



Not the prettiest or fanciest dish, but it is simple and tasty. You can definitely use different cuts of chicken, sometimes I use bone in or boneless depending on what I have in the freezer. Sometimes I use more or less soy sauce depending on how I want it to taste. If you come up with any additions or variations please send it to me I am always looking for ways to make something different.

It is Wildcard Wednesday, follow the button to be redirected to the rules for playing.

Vacation rundown

So I spent the last few days in Reno, NV visiting my mom, sisters and my best friend. It was a great few days to get away and see people I dont normally get to see. On the way there we hit horrible traffic.


This is us sitting in stop and go traffic(for an hour straight).


This is my husband driving and being a good sport about said traffic.

I spent Friday with my mom and helping my youngest sister clean out her closest. It was nice getting to help my mom get ready for my second youngest sisters graduation from High School especially since I wont be able to make it to her graduation because of work. So I am cooking dinner, which mostly means I am making a salad while my husband mans the BBQ (he is excellent at BBQ, seriously the best ever) when my fourth youngest sister comes bursting through the front door and says "look what I just did". I look up from the salad and she is holding this:


She busted her new phone on the way in the door, all I could say was "at least the phone isn't broken its just the screen" trying to find the bright side here.

Saturday I got to spend with my best friend and her boyfriend at Tahoe. We had lunch at this amazing restaurant called Fire & Ice, if you ever get the opportunity you have to try it. That afternoon we hung out at the beach sunbathing while the boys explored the beach and took turns trying to drag us into the water.


This picture was taken early in the day before the sun turned us into a "hot mess."

We finished up the day by having an awesome dinner in downtown Reno and playing pool where on my last shot to sink our final ball before the eight ball I sank my ball and the eight ball at the same time which was an impressive shot for me except for the fact that we technically lost because of it.

We headed home early this morning, we had to leave by 7:00 a.m. to make home in time for church. Which I am really glad we did because our church started a new series for the sermons this week and it was really interesting. They talked about some things that I had been learning in one of the most recent books I've been reading called "The Case for Christ". It was nice to hear the information presented in a different way. So now were just getting ready for the week ahead, I go back to work this week from vacation. Im just glad school hasn't started back up quite yet, I have a couple more weeks off before that.

No place like home

Currently (ok not right this second obviously) I am cleaning the house and packing our bags. We are headed up to Reno for a few days to see my best friend for her birthday and to visit my mom. I cant wait to spend time with my mom, I dont get to go up that often and usually when I do she has to work. This time we are actually going to get to spend some uninterrupted time together. Saturday I get to spend in Tahoe which I haven't been to in years. Hopefully I will have some fun stories and pictures to follow in the next couple days.

Define forever?

I don't think it fully hits you that you are with the person you will be with the rest of your life until after you are married.  You of course think about this before you get married, but the realization does not come to fully sink in for awhile.  Even before I got married I could not imagine spending the rest of my life without Thomas.  When I met him I came alive, life became brighter and suddenly anything was possible.  I knew from very early in our relationship that he was exactly what I never knew I was looking for.  Yet even after he proposed and our wedding date neared I couldn't wrap my mind around forever.  Forever is literally defined as a limitless time.  It is a concept that I was not afraid of just one that I couldn't really fathom. I think what makes it so overwhelming is that you have this vision of how you want to lead your life and you realize that this is the first step of the rest of your life.  That this is the beginning of your forever and you feel you must hit the ground running if you are ever to reach your final destination.  Yet somehow Thomas made limitless possible, he made forever seem vast and small all at the same time.  So here I am at the start of our journey, trying to make every step count.

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