Birthday party, Races, and Freezer Meals.

While some weekends are meant for rest...this past weekend was not one of those. I felt like I never stopped moving from beginning to end! Even though it was a little busier than what I would have liked I felt very accomplished at the end of it!

 Saturday morning I completed a 5K (if you consider walking and chatting for 3.1 miles a completion.) The Race for All Races was an event hosted by the Asian Alliance of Indianapolis and the goal is aimed at bringing together people from all different races and backgrounds. There were several of us from work that walked (as well as some more adventurous who ran) and it was good to be surrounded by many people from various walks of life.

 Saturday afternoon was spent celebrating this sweet guy's 5th birthday. He had a surprise party, and although was pretty shy at first when he walked in the door, it didn't take long for him to embrace the fun. Jackson is so full of life, laughs (both by him and at him because he is SO funny), and energy. It was fun to celebrate with him, be with family, and see him having so much fun with his friends!

 

After many, many months of discussing it, several friends and I had a freezer meal night! It was a bit exhausting but at the same time so much fun. I could barely walk at the end of our four hour meal prep but it was well worth it. At least I think so...I haven't eaten anything yet!

 Although this was our first attempt at group freezer meals I think we made it through pretty successfully. Only missing one ingredient (which a gracious husband went and got for us) and only some slight confusion with the recipes. We made some notes to help smooth the process for next time, but all in all I would say it was very successful first time!

We made a total of 6 meals: Salsa Chicken, Potato Soup, Cube Steak, Chicken Enchiladas, Black Bean Chili, and White Chicken Chili. 

love it or leave it.

Of course the Emmy's are not nearly as glamorous as Golden Globes or the Oscars there is still a lot of fashion to criticize...and love. Below are some noteworthy opinions from such a big fashion guru (okay, of course this is sarcastic but are some of these dresses for real?!)

 

Love it...

Will Arnet

 

 

Kerry Washington

Laura Dern

Malin Akerman

Sarah Hyland

Kelly Obsourne

(minus the purple hair of course)

 



Leave it...

Julianne Hough

Ugh. This made me gasp out loud in disgust. I hate  these

see-through legs so much. 

Paula Abdul

She just looks dead and scary. 

Vera Farmiga

 

I think this should have the same caption as Paula above. 

Alyson Hannigan

 

This color is horrid. She must have gotten the Emmy's confused for a 7th grade dance. 

Amanda Peet

 

Ugh. All of it is awful, the design, the see-through legs, the turtleneck...

Heidi Klum

 

Again with the turtleneck, really?

Zosia Mamet

 

I put this last on purpose. Not only is the dress and the color hideous but

what is the black leather boob thing going on. I realize this design over the breasts

is 'in' right now...but this added that it's leather and added that it's on this horrible

dress make this my least favorite dress of the whole event! 

Fried Green Tomatoes

 

How beautiful are these? What makes them even better is that they are homegrown in my own garden! Ever since watching the movie Fried Green Tomatoes I have been obsessed with this treat. Of course mine never turn out to the perfection that they did in the movie but I am still fairly proud of the results I do get. I am still trying to perfect my recipe though so that the coating is thick and not as crumbly as mine usually is. However, even if the recipe isn't perfected it is still mouth watering good!

 

 

                               

 

I typically never use the same ingredients because I often don't remember what I used the time before. This time for the coating I combined panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, and some flaxseed meal as well as some salt. I dipped each slice into an egg mixture (just egg, milk, and salt) and then into the coating mixture.

In the meantime I heated a mixture of olive oil and vegetable oil (just in a poor attempt of making it a little healthier). Once the skillet was heated I added the coated tomatoes and cooked them slow (if you don't cook them slow they end up pretty crunchy and raw).

 

They maybe not look that amazing, but trust me when I say, they were. It was a little

embarrassing how many I ate in one setting but you can't blame a girl for not wanting these gems to go to waste!

 



Busy Like Bees

The last few weeks have just been flying by! We have been pretty busy and it doesn't seem to

be slowing down anytime soon! I guess it is better for things to be busy but I am looking

forward to the dead of winter where no one wants to leave their house. And that is the

only thing about winter I am looking forward to.

For now, I am loving the slow-coming fall weather and excited for the upcoming sweatshirt and sweater weather. If only it could stay that way without adding a coat!

 A few weeks ago we went to "Under the Sea Adult Prom." Complete with De Lorean, a 50's band, and big prom dresses.

 

We did some long overdue house work! We bought these 

fixtures nearly 6 months ago and I have been nagging hubs since then to get them installed. They are finally done and they are beautiful! Finally the old 1990 eye sore of a light fixture are gone! Before this miracle happened however hubs and his parents demolished our backyard while I was away. I came home to the picture above! Once I got the overwhelming-ness of it all I loved the final product! We finally have some sun popping through our otherwise huge tree.

 I harvested some fresh basil from my garden! It was delicious.
I am fairly proud of it, considering this and my tomatoes are the only

things blooming out of the 10 items that I planted earlier this year!

I had a disastrous mild mishap while getting ready for work one day. This was my HUGE smoothie all over the counter, wall, etc, etc. And course I wasn't going to waste all of this deliciousness so I was forced to scoop it back into my cup and drink it!

Hubby and I spent several days with these sweeties while their parents basked in the sun in Florida. They are precious and were so well behaved and sweet during our time with them. It went by too quickly but I was also glad to get back to our much less chaotic life of two.

I went to a recently opened Starbucks and fell in love. I'm not sure if it was just the newness of it or the modern décor they had but it will now be my new favorite place to meet friends and/or read a book (if I ever get the chance to go and do that!)

I also got a spend several hours with these two angels. Although Elayne was a little sick, it just made a little more snuggly, which I cannot complain about. My heart just overflows with my love for these precious babies!

 

To take full advantage of a recent work trip to Cincinnati I introduced hubby to Ikea. His life was changed, and even though he is not much a shopper, I think he fell in love a little.  

Music for the Heart

Lately I have been spending more time paying attention to the lyrics of songs and less attention to

sound of the song. Of course both are important but I have found particular encouragement and company from certain songs recently. It really is true that songs speak to the heart.

Below are some song lyrics that have been speaking to my heart in the past week. Of course after the fact I have forgotten a few others but I hope that you can find some encouragement from

these words as I have been able to!

 

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer

I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

- "How Can I Keep From Singing Your Name" Chris Tomlin

 

 

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

- "Blessings" Laura Story

 

There's a place, there's a place you can run
When you fall, and it's all come undone
You'll be safe in the raging storm
So just let go
'Cause you are held in His arms
Step out on the edge
Don't be afraid of it
And when you feel the rain
Call His name
He'll find you in the hurricane

- "Hurricane" Natalie Grant

 

You know my every longing
You've heard my every prayer
You've held me in my weakness
Cause you are always there
So I'll stand in full surrender
It's your way and not my own
My mind is set on nothing less
Than you and you alone
I will not be moved
Whatever will come my way
Through fire or pouring rain
We won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken
Whatever tomorrow brings
Together we'll rise and sing
That we won't be shaken

- "We Won't be Shaken" Building 429

 

I'm tired
I'm worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing
I've made mistakes
I've let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left
Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn
- "Worn" Tenth Avenue North