How Sweet it is

Smoothie Break

2012-03-07T22:21:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I have been beyond busy with getting things ready for the twins' first birthday party! Finalizing the menu, grocery shopping (losing the list somewhere along the way), getting party favors, making the banner, etc. I also am beyond emotional! I cannot believe they are turning one! I don't know where the time went. This past year felt like such a blur-with all those sleepless night, some pretty gnarly postpartum, and busyness with Hazel, I was barely surviving. God was so good to meet me night after night, day after day strengthening me and building me up! I have never prayed so hard in my life!! I really could go on but I better switch subjects before I become a blubbering mess! :) So, before I get to my smoothie recipe, here is a sneak peak of the banner I made. Nothing special but it goes with the color scheme. I'll show you a picture later on of the finished result.

I am pretty happy with it. So much cheaper than ordering the one I really wanted off of Etsy. Anyway, after working hard on cutting and glueing, I was in need of a small snack before Hazel awoke from her slumber, one that Hazel would like as well. Lately, my little doll face has become quite the little picky eater. She used to eat everything! Now, it's hit and miss. One thing she definitely won't eat is spinach! So I sneak it in this simple little smoothie! She loves them and so do I. Can't wait to use my kefir once I get going on it. So here it is:

Super Simple Spinach Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients:

Handful of fresh spinach

1 cup of frozen berries

1 banana

2 cups of coconut milk

1-2 Tbl of ground flax seed

Place all ingredients in your blender that you wish was a Vitamix, and blend until your kid wakes up from her nap because it's so loud since it's not a Vitamix! :)

Enjoy!

Sunday Funday

2012-03-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

As a mom, every day I have a choice to give 100% -all of us mothers do. It doesn't mean that we're perfect, but it means we put our best foot forward and really go the extra mile in making our kids' day special. One of the ways that I like to go the extra mile is by providing healthy, yummy food for my kids. Aside from godliness, raising healthy kids is one of my top priorities. It's no easy task though! When I've had maybe 5 hours of sleep and Hazel is yelling for mommy at 6:30 in the morning, I don't really have a desire to make a healthy breakfast. That is when I have to slam some coffee, put on a smile, and focus on what's important.

Lately, I have been cooking/baking with almond flour. You can read about all the health bennies here. I decided that for breakfast on Sunday morning, I'd make almond flour pancakes with organic strawberries. You can really use whatever fruit you like but I recently picked up some organic strawberries and was eager to use them. These pancakes were delish and I didn't miss using white flour at all. Hazel happily gobbled them up and the twins even shared one. I made a small batch but next time I'm going to double it and freeze for a quick breakfast later on. Below is the recipe, I hope you give them a try!

Almond Flour Pancakes with Organic Strawberries

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of almond flour

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 farm fresh, soy free eggs

1/8 cup of raw, unprocessed honey

1/8 cup of coconut oil or butter, plus more for frying

1/4 cup of sour cream, plain greek yogurt, or creme fraiche

1/2 tablespoon of vanilla

Garnishes or add ons: Organic Strawberries or other organic fruit, unsweetened shredded coconut, real maple syrup.

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients and set aside. In a smaller bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and combine until just mixed. Gently fold the strawberries into the batter and set aside. Heat coconut oil or butter over low-medium heat. Once heated, add 2 or so tablespoons of the batter and gently spread into a small pancake. Cook until bubbles start to form and the underside is cooked. These pancakes tend to brown quickly so don't run off and switch the laundry. Flip and cook until done.

I served them with a side of sliced strawberries, a sprinkling of unsweetened shredded coconut and a touch of real maple syrup.

Mmmmm!

Have a great day!

♥

Friday, I'm in Love

2012-03-02T20:39:00.002-08:00

Today was a beautiful day here in Boise. I don't think I'll ever tire of the vast majestic sky and the miles and miles of open fields and farmland. God's creation is indescribable. Hope you have a fabulous weekend with the ones you love.

♥

God is with you always. Simply turn your face to Him.

Kirpal Singh

A Sweet Treat

2012-03-01T06:56:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! Sorry for not posting so much this week. William has been working extra hours so when that happens, I lack the time and the energy to blog. One exciting thing that happened this week is that I finally got my big 5 lb. bag of blanched almond flour in the mail! I have been dying to try it as an alternative to real flour but it's pretty pricey. I've been using coconut flour but it's really not my favorite. We are trying to go gluten free as much as possible, especially after reading this article. Plus, we just feel better and Hazel is much happier and less moody. We aren't perfect but we try try try.

So ..... I was in the mood for something sweet yesterday (ok, everyday) and was browsing various gluten-free sites and stumbled upon this recipe from Elana's Pantry. I tweaked it a bit to my liking and needless to say, the whole batch was gone by morning. You have to try them!

Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies

Ingredients

1/4 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup almond butter

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/3 cup sugar (or sweetener of choice)

1 egg

1 1/4 cups blanched almond flour

1/2 tsp salt

Preserves of your liking (we used this delicious choke cherry jam)

Directions

In a large bowl, cream peanut butter, coconut oil, sugar and egg with a hand blender

Blend until smooth then stir in almond flour and salt

Scoop dough 1 tablespoon at a time onto a parchment lined baking sheet

Make a large thumbprint in the center of each cookie

Scoop jam 1 teaspoon at a time into the center of each cookie

Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes

Cool and serve.

Seriously good.

Till tomorrow- Anitra ♥

Birthday Breakfast

2012-02-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday was my husband's birthday. He is 36 and that sounds old even though he certainly doesn't act like it. Since William had to work most of the day, we went out for breakfast, and that was just lovely.

One of my favorite things on this planet is watching my little Hazel Bee interact with her daddy. It brings such a smile to my soul.

aww, my heart is full.

♥

Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

Hello Sun

2012-02-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

Lately, my poor littles are always gazing out the window eager for winter to be over. I am as well. It's been such dreary weather lately and finally today the sun is shining through. Even though I had only 5 hours of sleep last night, I am blissfully happy that the sun is saying hello.

Well, I'm off to get breakfast going for the babes. Plus there is so much cuteness going on this morning that I must get on the floor and play with them.

Have a bright, bright sun shiny day!

♥

A Day to Celebrate

2012-02-22T18:03:00.000-08:00

Today is my daddy's birthday. So weird that life crept up on all of us and that feeling of being young forever is long since gone. My dad is 58 years old today and I value my relationship with him more than he will ever know. Just the other night we were able to talk for an hour about life, politics, and our favorite topic- The Lord. William and I took him out to lunch and we had the best time- so much laughter! Below are some pics of my dad with us kids, myself, and my children.

{ My dad and all three of us kids circa 1980)

{My dad & I on his birthday in 2006}

{With Oliver & Charlotte 2012}

{With his beloved Hazel Bee- 2012}

Happy Birthday Daddy!

♥

Kiddie Fashion Find: Pixie Hats

2012-02-21T07:15:00.000-08:00

I was out shopping last week and stumbled upon some very cute little knit pixie hats for the kids! I ended up only getting one but it's adorable and can be used for Hazel this year, and Charlotte, the next. These little knit caps are simply darling. Below are a couple pictures of Hazel Bee sporting the mushroom pixie hat.

I'll go mushroom picking if this is who I'll find! ;)

Have a Happy Day!

Weekly Meal Planning

2012-02-20T07:04:00.000-08:00

Hello Monday! I am ready for a great week! Last week was pretty crazy and unorganized and it was partly my fault. If I don't meal plan for the week, we are always scrambling (well, I am), trying to figure out what's for dinner. I end up standing in front of the fridge or pantry wondering what to make while Hazel is telling me over and over again that she is hungry (hunnery)! Not very fun! Do you meal plan? Awhile back, I was browsing over at one of my favorite blogs, Riddlelove, and I saw her approach to meal planning for her family of 6, almost 7! I immediately knew that I needed to do this! So with some of her ideas and mine, I came up with something perfect for our family. I thought I would share my process for how I meal plan in our family. I try and meal plan for about 4-5 days worth of meals, giving us flexibility on William's days off. I am fortunate that I enjoy meal planning so much because it's a definite must for our family or we end up eating junk, like cereal for dinner! :)

Saturdays: Planning Day
On Saturdays, I get my husband's work schedule for the week so I know if he's going to be around for dinner or not. We might also decide ahead of time to go out alone on his days off so I don't plan dinner for those days. Next comes pantry and refrigerator inventory. I like to use up what we already have instead of letting it go to waste. Plus, it's kind of fun for me to try and put together a couple meals based on what we have. Then I write out our meals/grocery list for the week including a few breakfasts and lunches.

My little sunshine, Hazel Bee, is usually up from her nap at this point and she will happily color while I work away. We are a good team, her and I.

Later on that night once the kids are in bed, I head to the store .. a mother's work is never done I tell ya!

Sundays: Baking/Organization Day

Sundays are my days for getting my recipe binder all organized (more on that later), food prep, and baking. For instance, this week we are making fajitas. Since we are trying to go gluten free as much as possible, I will whip up some coconut flour tortillas and freeze them for when we need them. I will do the same with coconut flour biscuits, veggie meatballs, grain free crackers, and gluten-free granola if we are out. Below is a sample schedule to give you an idea of how detailed I try and plan. I know it looks crazy but if you are trying to raise a healthy family, planning is the key.. also, this is just a plan we try and follow. If Hazel wants something different for snack etc, then I let her, as long as it's healthy. This may look like a lot of work (and sometimes is) but it makes the week go so much smoother!

Monday:
To Do: Prep veggies for fajitas, set out chicken and tortillas from the freezer
Breakfast: Gluten-free Granola & Milk
Snack: Trail Mix (recipe coming)
Lunch: Veggie meatballs, applesauce
Snack: Spinach-yogurt smoothies (recipe coming)
Dinner: Chicken fajitas with Coconut flour tortillas

Tuesday:
To do: Rinse quinoa, prep veggies for salad, set out chicken from the freezer
Breakfast: Coconut flour crepes with berry reduction (recipe coming)
Snack: Dried cherries & 3 Cheese Grain-free Crackers
Lunch: Annie's Minestrone Soup with freshly grated parmesan cheese
Snack: Celery & Almond Butter
Dinner: Roasted Curry Chicken with Warm Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Wednesday & Thursday- Off

Friday:
To do: Make pesto for pizza (recipe coming)
Breakfast: Egg scramble with spinach, avocado, tomato, onion, garlic & cilantro
Snack: Raisins & Cheese
Lunch: Almond Butter & Jelly Sammies on Coconut Flour Biscuits
Snack: Baked Kale Chips
Dinner: Grain-free Flatbread Pizza, fruit

Saturday:
To do: Meal plan for the week, set out ground beef/turkey from the freezer
Breakfast: Coconut Flour Pancakes, seasonal fruit
Snack: Seasonal fruit & cashews
Lunch: Annie's Mac n' Cheese, green beans
Snack: Lara Bar
Dinner: Spaghetti Squash & Meat Sauce (One of our favorites!)
Dessert: Quinoa Pudding (easy to make)

Sunday:
To do: Make Zucchini Hummus, set out chicken from the freezer
Breakfast: Oatmeal with fruit
Snack: Zucchini Hummus & crackers
Lunch: Ham and Spinach Sammies
Snack: Bananas with Almond Butter
Dinner: Thai Style Stir Fried Chicken
Dessert: Leftover pudding

So there you have it! It is a little overwhelming at first but there are a few things that help me. One is my recipe binder. I keep all my recipes and old meal plans in there; they really come in handy! Second, be flexible! Don't let this schedule control you or stress you out! There a bunch of times I have said "Screw the schedule, we're ordering chinese!" This meal plan is put in place to help bring order, not be a burden. You will discover that the more you plan, the easier it becomes. I will save my recipe/meal planning binder and how I keep it organized for another post. Lastly, I get up about an hour before the kiddies usually start stirring to take a shower, drink some coffee and spend some alone time with God. All these things help me stay on track and doing all that needs to be done :)

Have a great Monday!
♥

Vintage {LOVE}

2012-02-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

Hey! So sorry for the late Friday post! It has been a busy last couple days with William. I had to share a quick post about my {love} for vintage items or anything that even looks vintage. I purchased a glass tray today to go in our bathroom. I love the way it looks. It's such a cool way to display some of your bathroom items that would otherwise go unnoticed.

The tray is from a local place here in Boise, the little vintage San Francisco plate was a find from a garage sale in Seattle, and the jadeite green milk glass boxes I purchased from Martha Stewart over ten years ago. If you can't see- I also added my new wedding ring! My husband wanted to upgrade my ring so we did just yesterday! I am in love!

Have a fab weekend!

♥

Recipe {LOVE}

2012-02-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

Hi Ladies! It's a beautiful, sunny day once again here in Boise. I must say, even though we miss Seattle so much, the constant sun does wonders for my mood. It's so wonderful to wake up to sun almost every day, even in winter.

Since I {love} to cook, it's only fitting to post a recipe on this fine day. One of the things I find most satisfying is cooking for my family, particularly my husband. Since it's his day off I decided to make one of his favorite meals, Honey Ginger Chicken with Balsamic and Dried Cherry Brussels. It sounds complicated but it's not, I promise!

Let's first start with the chicken:

Honey Ginger Chicken:

adapted from The Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients:

5 chicken drumsticks or whatever chicken pieces you like

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon of finely minced ginger

1/2 cup of honey

1/4 cup of soy sauce

Instructions:

Mix all the ingredients together in a pot except for the chicken, and heat until everything is blended thoroughly and the honey is melted.

Now for the Chicken:

Salt and pepper your chicken

Next, take the marinade and pour it on the chicken making sure to coat all of the pieces

Bake at 350 degrees until done, turning chicken half-way through

(45 minutes total, give or take a few)

At the end, I love to stick the chicken under the broiler to get a nice crust on the chicken! How simple is that?! Now, onto the veggie portion of the meal!

Balsamic and Dried Cherry Brussels

adapted from Everyday Paleo

6-7 Brussel Sprouts, stemmed and sliced

1 tablespoon of coconut oil or butter

1-2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4 cup of dried cherries

1/4 cup of onions, chopped

1/4 cup of cashews, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon of honey

1/2 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In saute pan, cook onions and garlic with the oil or butter until soft and fragrant. Add the brussels and cook until soft.

Once softened, add the dried cherries and chopped cashews and cook until heated through.

Lastly, add the honey and the balsamic and cook until the brussels are coated.

Salt and pepper to taste!

It's really that easy!

Enjoy! ♥

Homemade {LOVE}

2012-02-15T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! I can't believe it's already Wednesday! One more day until William is off for two and a half days! Bliss! So, most of my close friends know that I {love} to make things from scratch or homemade. I have been like that for as long as I can remember. Way back in the day, my friend Sarah and I would always make homemade sachets filled with lavender and other herbs and put them in our drawers. We would bake and cook all the time (much to my mom's dismay), and Martha Stewart was our idol :) Now that I'm older I still pretty much make everything from scratch but I've ventured into the world of homemade cleaners. As a mom it is very important to have less chemicals in the house. I found this homemade all purpose cleaner via Frugally Sustainable that is simply wonderful. Not only is it a great cleaner, but it's super cheap (after you pick up the initial supplies), so easy to make, and smells delicious! I make a small batch every 3 weeks or so. I even make it for my folks who love it as well.

All Purpose Cleaner

1 teaspoon of castile soap
2.5 tablespoons of vinegar (just use the cheap white vinegar)
1 teaspoons of borax
1 teaspoon baking soda

Mix with 2 cups of hot water.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of essential oils for kicks. You can use a mixture of two or just one. Oils that I’ve used are eucalyptus and lavender, although I would love to get others like sweet orange or peppermint. I also add about a 1/8 of a teaspoon of tea tree oil for its anti-septic benefits.

Now, load your cleaner into a small spray bottle (I use an old Mrs. Meyer's spray bottle but the dollar stores in Boise carry the same plastic spray bottles minus the label :) and use on anything except for glass. You can also double or triple this recipe!

Trust me that you will {LOVE} this!

Happy Cleaning

♥

{LOVE} Birds

2012-02-14T11:55:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Today already started off pretty sweet with some heart-shaped french toast I made for Hazel. I'm also really enjoy gazing at the dozen roses William surprised me with. Flowers are such an easy way to make a girl happy, at least for me. So today I am spending my day with my beautiful family including this guy:

Mr. William H. Sweet, III

such a distinguished name for a special guy!

He is by far my most favorite person in this life and I am so fortunate to have found him. When we first started dating I can say, without a doubt, that it was the most exciting time in my life. There is something so wonderful about being young, in love, and so free. Now that we've settled down and started a family, things are a bit different. No more spontaneous trips to the coast, or staying up all night knowing that we can sleep in until noon, no more living in a simple studio apartment, or eating dinner at 9:00 at night. We now have dinner times, planned vacations, a three bedroom house with a giant backyard, and three beautiful children that sometimes take us away from spending time together. But that's okay, that's life.. and we are embracing it all. We work really hard at finding time to be alone each other, because with three kids and two jobs, it can sometimes feel like we're two ships passing in the night. But, no matter where life takes us or doesn't take us, Love is what holds us together and will continue to see us through.

Happy Valentine's Day to the love of my life!

♥

A week in {LOVE}

2012-02-13T08:18:00.000-08:00

Call me crazy but I love Monday mornings. It gives me this wonderful feeling of a fresh start... that all the mistakes and trials from last week are done and over with! Weekends around here are different than the average family. My Husband, who has two jobs, works them back to back on the weekends and works 12-14 hour days. This leaves me lonely and a wee bit stressed out ... and the kids are usually a bit needier when they don't get to see their Dad. His presence is vital here at the Sweet compound, even if he's just chilling listening to music. The kids are always a bit more at peace when he's near and so am I. So now that another busy weekend is behind us, I can focus on the week ahead taking with me all the lessons I've learned, adding them to my mommy bag.

Since it's the week of Valentine's, I thought I would spend some time posting about what/who I love. It's always a good idea anyway to look deep inside your heart to see what moves you.. what makes your heart beat.

Today, I want to share the {LOVE} I have for my three children. I am seriously so in love with my kids! Along with Jesus, they have saved me. I was in a constant state of selfishness doing what I wanted when I wanted. I was always on a roller coaster looking for the next great adventure and never fully satisfied with anything. Life lacked color, inspiration, and focus. God knew what I needed! Life isn't perfect but it certainly feels like it sometimes.

Meet Hazel:

Hazel is my first born, the sunshine to my cloudy day, the laughter to my soul, and the melody in my song. She tests me the most, challenges me the most, and is one of the main reasons I am constantly on my knees asking God for strength. Loving her has been one of the most beautiful experiences in my life and I am a better person being her Mom. Much like her father, she is my most curious child and is in constant need of being entertained and stimulated. My hope as a Mother is that I can teach her that God is found in the stillness and that quietness and confidence shall be her strength. Either way, I love my little ball of energy and it brings me so much joy to discover all the gifts and talents that are within her.

{Hazel worshipping at Church}

{Going for a walk with Daddy and her little brother}

Meet Oliver:

Oliver is my 2nd born and 1st born of the twins! I am so glad I have a boy! I feel like I have such a special heart connection with him and for some reason I have all the grace in the world for that boy! He is my mister smarty pants, always studying you and checking everything out. He looks so deeply into your eyes, you wonder if he can see straight down to your heart. He loves to dance and holler and play independently with his toys. His tender heart will be fiercely guarded by us all. My hope as a Mother is that he grows up to be a strong man with strong convictions and that the Word of God will be a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path.

{My handsome baby}

{Such a joy}

Meet Charlotte:

Charlotte is the baby of the family but is certainly not the least. This little girl is the most pleasant girl to be around; her disposition is a gift from God. When Hazel is dumping out the toys from the toy box, and Ollie is hooping and hollering, little Charlotte sits so contently smiling at the world around her. She is independent, confident and full of giggles .. waking up to her will chase any morning blues away! She loves to be at my feet and crawls around me happy just to be by her Mommy. My hope for her as a Mother is that she will always be happy and content at the feet of Jesus. That she will seek Him with all of her heart and be found by Him. She will be known as His beloved and make the sacrifices it takes to remain in the presence of Jesus.

{Hanging out with me while I cook}

{Precious}

I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse into the {loves} of my life!

♥

Have a lovely Monday

Happy Weekend

2012-02-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

It's friday and I am kicking off this weekend early with a little shopping. Here is a picture of my amazing mother with my daughters during Christmas ...

Isn't she just beautiful? She is my shopping partner today! I have lots to do in preparation for the twins' birthday party next month and she has been such a big help! I can't wait to give you a sneak peek of the party .. hopefully next week I will blog about my ideas with some pictures of the the things I have picked up along the way. Yesterday, hubby and I had a fabulous cup of coffee at one of the local coffee shops in McCall... I think a yummy latte is a great way to start out our day today! Hope you all have a fabulous day and a relaxing weekend!

till Monday- Anitra ♥

Bedtime

2012-02-09T20:02:00.000-08:00

Well, we are back from our day trip and it was just what we needed! Hubby and I really try to make sure we have some alone time with Hazel. Sometimes I feel bad that I wasn't able to give her all my attention for the first few years of her life. We only had a little over 10 months together before the twins came into this world. I just want her to feel loved and special. I think I will always have mommy guilt over that. One of the ways I squeeze in one on one time with her is with our bedtime routine. It always starts out with a book or two, then I sing her a little song while we rock in the rocking chair, and then we pray.. she even says "Ameen" :) Lately (and I want to make it a habit) I have been telling her who she is. Our children look to us to tell them who they are. I love to tell her how beautiful she is, how funny she is, what a good helper she is, how I love the way she dances, etc. etc. and as she gets older, I will continue to build her up and call out those beautiful gifts and talents that God created within her. I so cherish these little moments and my cup overflows when I lay her down, kiss her goodnight and shut the door. These moments are what make it all worthwhile. She may not remember them when she gets older but I will ... and I tuck them away in my heart forever.

Sweet Dreams ♥

Day Trippers

2012-02-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! Today I won't be around much. My hubby, Hazel and I are headed up to McCall, ID for the day. Every year they have a {Winter Carnival} with amazing snow sculptures, a torch light parade, music, snow mobile run, and fireworks. We missed it this year but since it's 26 degrees up there, I'm sure most of the snow sculptures are still in tact. Hubby and I stayed up in McCall for a couple of nights at the beautiful {Shore Lodge} to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary back in October. It was wonderful .. although the major highlight was being able to get two full nights of sleep! Sorry babe, spending one on one time with you comes in close second! :)

{McCall, ID- October 2011}

Have the most lovely day ♥

Cooking with my girls

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love to cook, bake, meal plan and experiment in the kitchen. I often dream of owning a restaurant or cafe with my husband and imagine all our kids helping out and learning the family business. Growing up I spent countless hours watching Martha Stewart Living (the pre-jail years ;) and asked for kitchen gadgets and cookbooks for Christmas presents. Even though I can't control the interests of my kids, I do hope that they will enjoy getting dirty in the kitchen with me, at least my girls. Charlotte already crawls around my feet when I'm in the kitchen and is so content just sitting and watching me. Hazel is another story... she likes to lick the spoon, grab stuff out of the drawers, and make a huge mess for mommy! :) I love that girl but she is one busy little bee! Anyway, I was browsing on {Anthropology's website} for a new duvet cover when I noticed that they have a kids section! Why did I not know this? Much to my delight I stumbled upon a couple aprons that I think are adorable!

Talk about darling! I look forward to the days we can don on our aprons, stay inside and bake cookies on cold, snowy days. Being a mom is so much fun! I've always dreamed of this and I praise God that He truly does give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). If you ever doubt or wonder if some day, some how, those dreams you've tucked away in the corner of your heart will ever come true- they will! It will be so amazing when they do! God is so faithful and loves to bring us joy!

Have a great Wednesday!

Under Fire

2012-02-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

I think one of the things I find most frustrating with being a believer is the battle. I heard a preacher say that when we become Christians, we become part of the Kingdom of God.... and the Kingdom of God is at war. I know that the Lord is more powerful than all our circumstances but I get sick of the fight sometimes. Sometimes all I can do is go to bed and pray that I wake up refreshed and ready to fight again.

With that being said, God is making me more courageous in this battle... it's okay to just let Him fight for me and let Him defend me. I can rest in the fact that He knows the score. I have learned that the moment you start to press in to Him, all hell breaks loose. The enemy does not want us close to the Lord! He doesn't want us to know Him and be intimate with Him. The enemy knows that those who know their God will be strong and carry out great exploits (Daniel 11:32) I love how God's protection and promise of refuge during the storm is repeated throughout scripture, especially through the Psalms.

Psalm 91

Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High will remain in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "[You are] my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." He is the one who will rescue you from hunters' traps and from deadly plagues. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor. You do not need to fear terrors of the night, arrows that fly during the day,plagues that roam the dark, epidemics that strike at noon. They will not come near you, even though a thousand may fall dead beside you or ten thousand at your right side. You only have to look with your eyes to see the punishment of wicked people. You, O LORD, are my refuge! You have made the Most High your home. No harm will come to you. No sickness will come near your house.He will put his angels in charge of you to protect you in all your ways. They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock. You will step on lions and cobras. You will trample young lions and snakes. Because you love me, I will rescue you. I will protect you because you know my name. When you call to me, I will answer you. I will be with you when you are in trouble. I will save you and honor you. I will satisfy you with a long life. I will show you how I will save you.

Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all.

The Christian life is one of adventure with many ups and downs and trials and triumphs... It takes time and effort to press into God... the enemy may come to try and distract and discourage but keep pressing in! One thing I can guarantee- When it's all said and done and we are standing before God, we will never regret one single moment that we spent with the Lord! Be encouraged that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!

I pray friends that we continue to press into Him no matter the cost!

Happy Tuesday!

Cupcakes + Birthday!

2012-02-06T07:16:00.000-08:00

Well, that time has come again! It's my birthday! I was panicking for about 2 weeks prior and then all of a sudden it left me. I am fine with turning 34. I am excited to be another year wiser (hopefully) and to see all that God has for my family and I! I had a small dinner party the other night with my closest friends here in Boise and it was such a wonderful time. On Thursday, my hubby has planned a day trip up to McCall to attend the Winter Festival there. I am very excited!!

So with my birthday, my husband's, the twins, and hazel's birthday coming up, I have been practicing my cupcake skills. I decided to try a healthier one and found a delicious recipe via Pinterest for a zucchini cupcake with cream cheese frosting! They were so yummy and my husband actually said they were the best cupcakes he's ever had ... and he's not one to flatter when it comes to food! Below is the recipe; I hope you all have a great day! My babies will be stirring soon and another blessed day begins! I think banana pancakes are on the menu for my birthday breakfast!

Zucchini Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Recipe and Image via I am Baker

For the cupcakes:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 medium zucchini coarsely shredded (about 1 3/4 cups)
1/3 cup Canola oil
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In bowl, mix flour, both sugars, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In separate bowl, combine zucchini, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add this to flour mixture and mix until just combined. Use 1/4 cup measuring cup or ice cream scooper and scoop into prepared cupcake pan. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Put in freezer (right out of oven) for about 45 min. to an hour.

For the frosting:

1 package cream cheese (8 oz)
1 stick butter (8 tablespoons)
2-3 cups confectioners sugar depending on your tastes
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

I threw all the ingredients in a bowl once they were room temperature and used a hand mixer to blend.

It had the softest creamiest texture to it! I had to stop myself from eating it! I frosted the chilled cupcakes and sampled one or maybe two and they were delish! Since Hazel can say cupcake, that's all she kept shouting until I gave her a little taste! Hope you give these a try!

Happy Monday!

Friday Night Worship

2012-02-03T22:19:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my mom I was able to attend worship night at our church with my Dad and my sissy. It was so wonderful although barely anyone was there. I asked myself the question, "doesn't anyone want to worship the Lord on a Friday night?" I guess not. People, including myself, are so busy these days and I decided that I am going to be more intentional about my time with Lord. Whether it's turning off the t.v. and turning on worship music when I'm cleaning, or taking that moment just before the kids wake up to get on my knees and thank God for another day, or opening the Word and reading a passage or two before I go to bed.... I want and need to press in to Him.

Tonight we sang Psalm 23 by Jason Upton. Below are the lyrics and man, it really touched my soul.

Your hands Reached into the depths of darkness

Your arms Pulled me to the light above
Your voice Spoke the word that broke my heart
Your eyes Burn with holy passion, fire, and love
You lead Me beside the quiet waters
You walk In the shadows of deaths darkened door
You make Tables right before my enemies
You take oil and then you pour it over me
The Lord is my Shepherd, I will fear no evil
You are my Shepherd, God, I will fear no evil
Surely goodness and mercy cover me
All the days of my life they cover me
Surely Im going to dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever and ever and ever and ever more
You are my refuge, You are my refuge O God

Amazing! I am refreshed because of His presence, His promises, and His love. What if I had decided to skip out on tonight? (The thought did cross my mind). I know that when I get to heaven, that I will not regret one moment, one prayer, one church service, one song, that was given to Him.

He Lives!

2012-02-03T08:02:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I blogged. I just get so caught up in the day and in life that when it's time to sit down and write, I have no energy left. Well, here I am again... My babies are growing up faster than I'd like but there's nothing I can do. I must admit, that I am on the edge of my seat every day wondering what my babies will do next! Being a mommy is so much fun! It's hard hard work but it is so much fun! I am planning the twins' birthday party which is coming up in March. It is going to be a blast and I am brainstorming many ideas. I will most def try to post pics of the big day. The other night I was feeling overwhelmed with exhaustion trying to comfort Charlotte who was up with an upset stomach and I was crying out to the Lord to touch her and to touch me with strength. He spoke these simple words to me ... "I live to make intercession for you, I am praying for you"... Those words forever changed my heart! Hebrews 7:25 is another promise that I can hold on to! I love when the Word is made alive in my heart. So beautiful! Well, I hope to blog more soon! Love you all!

Turkey Day!

2011-11-18T22:35:00.000-08:00

I am really excited for Thanksgiving! It will be really busy with three kids underfoot but I am up for the challenge! My in laws are coming into town from San Jose, CA to stay with us for the four day weekend so that will be fun! They haven't met the twins yet so it will be a treat! We're heading to my folks' house since it's bigger so I will be bringing a few things over for the meal. I think I'm going to make cranberries, a sweet potato dish, and something else- haven't decided yet. Last year, I made Ruth's Chris Steakhouse' recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole. I thought I would post the recipe in case you wanted to try it! Beware, it is so fattening and pretty sweet, but it is delicious! Soon, I promise to update you all on the move and post pics!

Have a great weekend!

Crust
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans preferred)
1/3 stick butter -- melted

Sweet Potato Mixture
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs -- well beaten
1 stick butter -- ( 1/2 cup) melted

Directions:
Combine brown sugar, flour, nuts and butter in mixing bowl. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and butter in a mixing bowl in the order listed. Mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish. Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with the crust mixture. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

via here

First Aid

2011-11-06T22:34:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is moving day and I can't sleep, too excited. Moving day seemed to creep by and now it's here! So I sliced my finger on a mandolin when I was slicing sweet potatoes into fries and I was in serious need of a first aid kit. I started wondering if there was a Naturopathic first aid kit out there and I stumbled upon one by Naturokit that I want to get asap. It has everything you need for rashes, stings, cuts, bites etc. It's a tad bit spendy at $68.00 but it looks like it's worth it! Once we get moved in and settled I'm gonna order one of these!

Happy Monday!!

Moving!!

2011-11-03T12:34:00.000-07:00

I met with our future landlord last night and he said we could start moving stuff over on Monday. I am so excited to get out of apartment living and hope that we never have to live in an apartment again. Our new house is nothing spectacular but it will be such a great home for us and we are very thankful! It has three bedrooms and two baths, a huge back yard and big garage. Also, it's in a fabulous neighborhood which is so important to me! I will definitely post pics as soon as we are settled. It has been a really hard season in so many ways and I am praying that moving will be a start of new things! For instance, my husband and I haven't slept in the same bed for 6 months now. I sleep on the couch so I can hear the babies in the middle of the night and Hazel and Billy sleep in the bedroom. Hazel sleeps in her crib and Billy in the bed. Since he works two jobs and has to get up at 5 am, it's important that he gets good rest. I will be so happy to be in my own bed!

So for the next few days I will be living out of boxes. I have been feeling so stressed lately. I hate that I haven't carved out time to be with the Lord. I read a good quote today that says "A Bible falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't". I need to press in for the grace I so desire and desperately need!

I hope everyone has a good rest of the week!! As always, I love to post pics of my kiddos- Enjoy!

Poor Ollie in his pink bib but it has snaps and prevents him from pulling it off!

Could she bee any cuter?!

2011-11-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hazel dressed up as a Bee for Halloween and had a great time. I also successfully kept the candy away from her although next year I'm sure she'll be more aware of it. She is acting like such a little girl lately and I can't believe that she is growing up so fast! She has so much personality and is already a great little actress :) Her vocabulary is really growing and she pretty much mimics everything we say, which can be a bad thing! :) Below are a few pics of the night!

Now, on to the next Holiday!

Sweet Treat

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's Hazel's first Halloween that she is dressing up and we are really excited! She is going to be a bee! We plan on taking her around to a few friends' houses and then to grandma and grandpa's to surprise grandpa! (He doesn't know she is dressing up!) I wanted to share a recipe for a sweet treat that's way healthier than all that chemical filled candy that the kids are sure to bring home. Plus it can keep you company in case you decide to stay at home to answer (or ignore) the door. I made this sweet batch of popcorn last night and I have to tell you, it was amazing! Hope you give it a try!

Nut Butter and Honey Popcorn
via Riddlelove

1 to 2 batches air popped corn (or however you like to pop yours)

1/3 cup nut butter (we like peanut)

1/3 cup extra virgin coconut oil or ghee (this makes the sauce nice and drizzly so it disperses evenly over the popcorn)

1/4 honey (local, raw is best)

1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt

Instructions

Start the popcorn. While the corn is popping, in a small cast iron skillet, soften the nut butter over medium heat. Turn heat off and stir in coconut oil and honey until all melted and well combined (I add the honey and oil after the heat is off to try and preserve as many enzymes as possible in them. Since we use roasted peanut butter, we choose to heat that up first).

The popcorn should be done popping right as the drizzle is ready. Drizzle over popcorn, then sprinkle sea salt over popcorn.

Enjoy! Happy Halloween!

I'm back- I think :)

2011-10-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, it's been July since I posted. That is far too long. Life has been incredibly busy and it's only going to get busier since Charlotte is on the verge of crawling and we are packing to move here in a week or so! So a quick update- Hazel Bee is 18 months old as of yesterday and is as feisty as ever! For instance, she threw my phone in the toilet today so it is currently in a bag of rice for a few days to dry out. I have to admit, being a parent of a busy toddler who rarely listens is VERY hard. I find myself yelling at her all too often and feeling ROTTEN afterwards. Everyone tells me that she will grow out of this and that this is just a stage. I hope they're right! I love her so much. She is so curious, energetic, funny, talkative, smart, beautiful etc etc. but boy is that girl ever busy and has an attitude to boot!

The twins are nearly 8 months! Can you even believe time has gone by that quickly? Like I said, Charlotte is almost crawling and is such a lover. She always has her mouth open for kisses and really loves Hazel. Ollie is my little boyfriend! :) Him and I are just the closest and my heart just melts for him. He was fitted for a helmet in August to correct his flat head and he has been such a trooper! Never cries or whines when I put it on or take it off. Boys are so different than girls. I must say, I am head over heels for all my kids but there is something amazing and special about my little Ollie Bear!

The twins are both a little behind (Oliver more so) with their motor skills but I am okay with that since we're not having anymore kids and these will be the last babies I ever have! Well, I have sooooo much to catch everyone up on plus I have a ton of recipes and info that I want to pass along about the path we are taking in regards to nutrition and health. More to come I hope!

- Anitra

My Latest Obsession

2011-07-14T15:21:00.000-07:00

There are recipes that I truly get obsessed with and I make over and over again until I decide to take a break. For instance, I was on a huge Peanut Butter cookie kick and made these 5 ingredient cookies all the time ... but that's over with for now.. onto Greek food! So since my husband loves and I mean loves lamb, I discovered a Lamb Souvlaki recipe over at Martha Stewart that's simply to die for and so perfect for summer! I have to say that ever since I moved from Seattle to Boise, I really have enjoyed our consistently sunny days! So back to food, the Lamb Souvlaki recipe is over here and these wonderful kebabs will turn out something like this:

Now for the pièce de résistance- my Warm Mediterranean Quinoa Salad! It is so easy to make and soooo delicious. I consider myself obsessed and I make it at least once a week. Below is the recipe. These two paired together will be the perfect summer meal!

Warm Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

1 c Quinoa

1 T olive oil
1/2 small red onion, diced
1/2 red pepper diced

1/2 cucumber, diced
1/3 c feta cheese, crumbled

dressing:

3 T olive oil
juice & zest of 1 large lemon
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 t dijon mustard
1/2 t honey
1/2 t ground cumin (optional)
1/2 t dried dill (optional)
salt & pepper

Prepare quinoa according to package directions (2 cups of water to 1 cup of quinoa). In a small saute pan, heat olive oil and saute the red onion and red pepper until fragrant and just soft, a few minutes. Set aside. Prepare the dressing by shaking all the ingredients in a small jam jar. Set aside.

When the quinoa is done, toss with the onion and pepper and dressing. Toss again with the cucumber and feta and serve warm. Leftovers are great eaten from the fridge cold.

Enjoy!!

{ in love }

2011-06-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

Since the twins are nearly 3 months old, I have more time on my hands to browse my favorite fashion. My newest love? Wide leg jeans! I seriously love them so much! I think they are tricky though because you kinda have to have the right derriere to really make them work. Below are a couple pairs from {Madewell} that I am pining for!

Definitely inspiration to get my butt to the gym!

Happy Monday!!

{via A Cup of Jo}

A Quick Check In

2011-04-15T00:25:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!! I have taken some time off from blogging due to being so busy with the twins. I am eager to start blogging daily again.. I miss it quite a bit. Being a mom of twins has been harder than I could've ever imagined. Sometimes I doubt that I have enough love, energy, and motivation to be there for all 3 of my kids but I know that God does not give us more than we can handle and that He equips us with everything we need. There are times that it's 3:30 in the morning, the twins are both crying, won't go back to sleep and I just lose it and start crying right there with them. I know that in time things will get better but for right now, times are tough. On the bright side, we are moving! After living with my parents for 9 months, we finally are able to move out. My husband works at Costco and The Hilton to make ends meet and we are very grateful to the Lord for blessing us. Below are a few pictures of the Charlotte and Oliver (born March 10th), I hope to be blogging more consistently after we get settled. ♥♥♥

5 Weeks Today!

Bad Blogger

2011-01-30T21:15:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't blogged in a month but seriously, this being pregnant with twins thing is no joke! I feel like I have lost all contact with my friends and only have the energy for my immediate family and my little 9 month old. My stomach is getting huge (I will post pics soon) and I am so tired! So I thought I would just say hello to you all and I hope to be more faithful soon but not sure when. I am 32 weeks today!! yikes!! Have a blessed week!

Photo Op

2010-12-30T13:09:00.000-08:00

I love the idea of displaying family photos around the house. I don't however, like when they look like they came from Walmart or JC Penny. Aren't I horrible? I can't believe I just wrote that! Oh well! Below is a great idea to take a family photo and blow it up huge. Maybe i'll get around to doing something like that this year. Happy Thursday my friends!

{via poppytalk}

♥♥♥

Psalm 65:11

2010-12-27T15:38:00.000-08:00

What a crazy week it has been! All I can say is having a baby makes the Holidays so much more fun!! I admit I was a little nervous that I would even be able to enjoy Christmas with being so pregnant but God gave me the grace to endure it and I had such a good time! A low point came a few days before Christmas when I heard the news that my beloved pastor of 16 years lost his 6 year battle with cancer. Even though he is with Jesus and out of pain, it really shook my faith and I had to hash it out with God for a couple of days. I am a strong believer in healing and truly believed that God was going to heal him... but God had other plans and I have to trust that He knows what is best. All I know is that the secret things belong to the Lord and that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. I have come to terms with everything and am continuing to pray for the Smith family while I enjoy my precious friends and family around me. Life is truly but a vapor and we never know when our last day will be. I want to make my life count for something.. I want to do all that God has for me and even though there are many trials at the moment, I know God will deliver us from them all. I want to be the best Mother I can be and raise Hazel is such a way that she will run hard after God's heart! I just can't imagine my life without her... she is so precious and funny and fiery and every day she blows my mind!

My beautiful friend Laura sent me a package all the way from Ireland and in it, she gave me a scripture that I am claiming for this next year... I know that it was the Lord speaking through her! Psalm 65:11 says: "You crown the year with Your goodness, Your paths drip with abundance" ... so amazing! We as a family are believing in the goodness of God for 2011! I refuse to build a case against Him according to my experiences, circumstances, and trials I am going through. I am settling once and for all that God is good and His plans for our life will drip with His goodness and His abundance!

I am so thankful to all my friends and family for their constant support and prayers... I pray the goodness of God will be evident in all your lives and that this will be your best year yet!

♥♥♥

Christmas Craft

2010-12-17T13:48:00.000-08:00

Hi Ladies! The weather in Boise is just stunning and I am really enjoying going for drives with little Hazel, listening to worship music, and sipping on a latte. These days, it seems my only time to get out and spend some time alone with God is when I'm in the car. Hazel is so good, I rarely hear a peep from her. I think she likes the stillness and the worship music too. My husband had most of the day off today so we made a trip to Costco which is pretty much a nightmare this time of year. It was nice to get out together though and not have to worry about packing the diaper bag.

I thought I would post a fun little Christmas craft that I found via {Sweet Paul}. You could really customize it to any Holiday or decor if you want. Below are the instructions!

Instructions:

All you need is a nice candle in a glass, a piece of a sweater, needle and thread.

Simply measure the material around the glass, fold down the sides, cut of any excess material and sew it together in the back.

Makes a really cute gift too!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!

♥♥♥

Crawling Around ...

2010-12-14T16:23:00.000-08:00

So Hazel is on the verge of crawling and it's so exciting! It's so funny what we find exciting when we become parents. I could sit and watch Hazel move around all day long, she is so entertaining! I admit that I am looking forward to her being more mobile but on the other hand, I know how curious she is and I'm sure I'll be running after her quite a bit. Once a newborn hits about 3 months, there are so many milestones and it's so much fun! That reminds me, I need to update Hazel's baby book so that I don't forget anything. Below is a couple pics of Hazel trying to crawl!

Happy Tuesday friends!!

♥♥♥

The War Within

2010-12-12T23:11:00.000-08:00

I can honestly say this is one of the hardest seasons of my entire life. Without being too specific, I have so much regret. I often wonder what my life would look like if I had always followed the Lord. His path is so good and so wonderful. Why did I ever wander off? I, like many countless people, think the grass is always greener on the other side.. that somehow, God is not good and He doesn't have my best interests in mind. I am so much like Eve, I hate it! How did I learn to not trust in the Lord? I hate that about myself and constantly have the war going on within. Can I abandon myself completely into His arms? Can I trust Him with my marriage and my children? I find myself holding on to so much of my heart because I fear that I am the only one who can protect it and if things go wrong in my life, I am responsible. I wouldn't have to try to rap my mind around why God would allow this and that to happen. Christmas is fast approaching and I have many things to be thankful for, mostly my family and my little Hazel Bee. What would I do without my precious ray of hope? There are so many things that I want for her life. I may have screwed up mine and ruined my destiny but I refuse to allow her to make the same mistakes that I did. I know I can't control her but I can pray and cry out to God for her and I can lead her to the best of my ability to trust in the Lord with all her heart! Even though I may struggle with trusting, I hope and pray that she will know Him as her Abba Father, as her good Shepard, and as the Lover of her precious soul. Below are some pictures of my little angel who is now nearly 7 1/2 months.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!!

♥♥♥

Wreath Time!

2010-12-11T17:22:00.000-08:00

I found the two cutest wreath ideas over at {Sweet Paul}. The peppermint one is my favorite... great idea to do with the kiddos. Head over there for complete instructions!

Hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

♥♥♥

Accepting the Unavoidable

2010-12-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! Sorry for the delay in posting lately. The days seem to be over before they've even begun! So today, we're going to head to the mall to Motherhood Maternity. Last Christmas my husband got me a gift card to their store but since Hazel was more positioned in my back, I didn't really need a lot of maternity clothes. This time around it's much different! I pretty much despise maternity clothes but there is no way I can avoid them. I browsed their website and was pleasantly surprised by the Heidi Klum line, Loved. Below are a few of her looks I could stomach wearing ;)

We'll see what I end up with!! Have a great day!

♥♥♥

Kids Wear em' Best

2010-12-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how I feel about UGG boots for adults. Sometimes I think they look a little sloppy and slightly overplayed. However, as I was browsing through my latest Baby Talk Magazine, I saw an ad for UGG boots for kids and was immediately hooked! UGG boots look so appropriate for the little ones. Below are some of my favorite picks. Happy Wednesday!

Happy December Ladies!!

♥ ♥ ♥

{via Nordstrom}

Sweet Treat

2010-11-23T15:24:00.000-08:00

So I know I said I wouldn't be blogging this week but of course I couldn't stay away once I saw this Hot Chocolate recipe. Here in Boise it is barely 25 degrees and in Seattle, I hear the snow drifts are piled high! So what's better than curling up on the couch, watching The Holiday and sipping on some delicious hot chocolate. Below is the recipe to this simple yet decadent treat!

Ingredients
(Makes 1 glass)
1 1/4 cup full fat milk
2 ounces good quality dark chocolate
1 teaspoon sugar, or more to taste
Whipped cream to serve

Directions
Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
Melt the chocolate in the milk.
Add the sugar and whisk until dissolved.
Serve with whipped cream

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Week

2010-11-22T06:17:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Well, it's the week of Thanksgiving and it's going to be a busy one! Yesterday, my mom and I baked two sugar pumpkins and scooped out all the delicious puree in preparation for our pies, rolls, cheesecake, and bread we are going to make. If there is any leftovers, I'm going to make some pumpkin cookies! All in all it's going to be an exciting week! So with all that going on, I don't think I will be posting much, if any. Now I have been known to go back on my word when it comes to blogging so don't abandon me all week but for the most part I think I'm taking the week off! My prayer is that everyone has a safe, warm, and fun Thanksgiving holiday. Let us remember how blessed we are and truly aim to have an attitude that expresses that gratitude.

Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

♥♥♥

My Inspiration

2010-11-19T02:27:00.000-08:00

Every Holiday season I scour the {Martha Stewart} website for decorating, entertaining, and recipe ideas. In my opinion, Martha is the queen of creativity and inspiration ... well her and her staff of hundreds! I have always held a special place in my heart for Martha since I discovered her along with a good friend at the age of 16. So enough about good ol' Martha ... I am in the midst of coming up with ideas for how to decorate our Thanksgiving table. Below are a few ideas that I am loving!

The top one is my ultimate favorite with the last one coming

in a close 2nd!

Thanks Martha!

Happy Entertaining!!

♥♥♥

What's for Dessert?

2010-11-18T20:17:00.000-08:00

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake of course!! This is on the menu for next week's fabulous Thanksgiving meal!

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup homemade whipped cream

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.

3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Don't worry if there are a couple of cracks; when you refrigerate it they will close up. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped topping before serving.

Look at those layers! Looks so yummy! Wish my mom and I luck!

Happy Eating Friends!

♥♥♥

{via All Recipes}

Party Time

2010-11-18T01:33:00.000-08:00

I kind of despise party hats from the stores. I have yet to see one that I like. I found this great tutorial over at {Momtastic} that shows you how to make your own homemade ones! Even though Hazel will only be turning one in April, I might, just might, make her her own very special party hat. I love that these are made out of fabric and can be customized to whatever theme you have for your party! We'll see how long she keeps it on. Cheers!

Happy Party Planning!!

Tacky or Terrific?

2010-11-17T20:44:00.000-08:00

I am well aware that animal prints are in style once again but I think these leopard print stairs are a bit much don't you think?

It might be fun for a while but it would get old quick!

Well, I'm off to bed in a bit!

Sweet Dreams

♥♥♥

{photo via beachbungalow8}

One of Those Days

2010-11-17T09:56:00.000-08:00

I think today is one of those days that I'd like to find a {tiny room} with one small window and curl up in a bed and not come out for one whole day. I'd like to sleep, write, daydream and read ... and sleep some more!

Doesn't that sound lovely?

But ... I'd miss my little Hazel Bee and my darling Hubby so maybe they could join me?!

Happy Wednesday friends!

♥♥♥

Etsy Love

2010-11-16T03:49:00.000-08:00

I just love it when I discover a great shop on Etsy! {Old New Again} is my latest find. This shop consists of wood letters, words, shelves and other items all done shabby chic style. Below are a few of my favorites!

How cute! Head over {there} to see what other great finds they have!

Have a great Tuesday Ladies!!

Monday Hair Day

2010-11-15T01:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday Ladies! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! I was browsing over at {This is Glamorous} and found this amazing holiday hair how-to: The Side Chignon. I don't even know how to pronounce chignon but it looks absolutely lovely! Since I have red hair, I'm imagining that I am her and that I don't have this huge pregnant belly that gets in the way of everything. Go {here} for the complete tutorial. I totally want to give it a try if me and my fat butt decide to go to any holiday parties this year! :)

Have a great day!!

Happy Friday!

2010-11-12T04:32:00.000-08:00

Well ladies, another week comes to a close. This one went fast! I will be 21 weeks pregnant on Sunday and Hazel will be 6 and half months old! She is growing way too fast for my liking although she has started to consistently sleep through the night which I am grateful for. My husband is working hard for our family and we are so very thankful to God for His provisions. This is probably the toughest season either of us has gone through but we are reminded everyday that it could always be much worse. I hope and pray you are all well and that you take a moment or two to yourself and just enjoy the things you love! Like a waffle, some coffee, and a good magazine! Have a super blessed weekend!

{Photo via Apartment Therapy}

The Spice of Life

2010-11-12T04:16:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to know more details about the herbs and spices that are in your cupboard? For instance, what they go best with, what kind of flavors are in them, etc. Well I have. I found a great {quick guide} to everything you need to know about the herbs and spices in your pantry!

Hope you check it out via {The Kitchn}!

Happy Friday! Grab an extra cup of Joe!

Happy Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return- General Colin Powell

Thank You to our Men and Women who have so bravely defended this great Nation!

Please Thank a Vet today!!

Have a grateful Thursday!!

How to Raise a Lady

2010-11-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

I was browsing over at {Sweet Details} and saw her blog on a great etiquette book called "How to be a Lady". I discovered that the book series, sold by Brooks Brothers, also has a similar book titled, "How to Raise a Lady", which is a civilized guide to an uncivilized childhood. I am putting this on my wish list for my daughters and I to read once they get to the appropriate age. Some of the topics discussed are: Please and thank you's, introductions, greetings, and leavings, manners for the playground, waiting rooms, and sleepovers, and proper etiquette for parties and when dining out. In this day and age, proper etiquette is not praised as much as it used to be and I for one, am going to try my hardest to raise two proper, classy young ladies! Head over to {Brooks Brothers} and purchase your copy! This would also be a great baby shower gift!

Happy Wednesday Friends!

Fleur De Lys

2010-11-09T03:33:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love the Fleur De Lys symbol. In French, it means Flower of the Lily. One of my friends had this beautiful symbol throughout her wedding and I loved it. I saw some serveware from {Anthropologie} awhile back that I am eyeing. Below are a few items from that collection that I think are so classy and elegant!

So simple yet beautiful!

Have a great day ladies!!

For the Little Gobblers

2010-11-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and currently I am brainstorming with my Mom about the menu, decorations, table settings etc. I was browsing for ideas and came across an adorable idea for the little gobblers that are sitting at the kids' table. While the Thanksgiving table can be wonderful and fun for the grown-ups, the kids are usually quite bored and unhappy. What a clever idea to incorporate a little entertainment into their table setting!

For the complete tutorial, visit {Momtastic}

Happy Monday! Hope you're staying warm!

One of Each

2010-11-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

We just found out we are having a boy and a girl! One of each!! We are beyond excited and now the real planning and purchasing can begin! They both look beautiful, strong, and healthy! We really couldn't be happier!

So now that I know I'm having a boy for sure, I can't wait to do some clothes shopping for the little guy! Below are some great finds from the recently launched children's line by {Stella McCartney}

Super Cute!!

Happy Friday Ladies!

Hope you spend it with the ones you love!

Today I'm Wearing ...

2010-11-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

I took some pictures of myself yesterday (I refuse to post them) and compared them with my last pregnancy and the results are astonishing! I look about 8 months pregnant when I'm not even 5 yet. I am so depressed! So to help me feel better, I found a couple looks from {Madewell} that I am most definitely thinking about wearing today ... in my dreams ...

Well, I better get ready! I'm off to the Doctor to find out the sexes of the twins!!

Happy Wednesday!!!

The Key is Under the Mat

2010-11-01T04:12:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween! We didn't really do much. I spent the weekend baking homemade lemon bars and German chocolate cake for my sister's birthday party on Saturday night. The lemon bars were amazing and the German chocolate cake was pretty spectacular although it stuck to the pan and ended up looking hideous! I should've gone with my gut and made them into cupcakes. I salvaged as much as I could and glued the layers together with the homemade icing. It wasn't pretty but tasted fabulous. On Sunday, I woke up with sharp pains in my abdomen and so I think I pushed myself a little too hard. I decided to sleep away most of the day and ordered myself on bed rest. I am feeling much better and need to remind myself that I'm half way through my pregnancy and need to slow it down a bit. We find out the sexes of the twins this Wednesday and we are beyond excited!!

So since Halloween is over I have Christmas on the mind quite a bit even though we still have yummy Thanksgiving at the end of the month. Even with Christmas two months away I couldn't resist posting this great find!

I'm sure every little kid always wonders how Santa gets into the house. It's an easy explanation if you have a fireplace, but what if you don't? A clever idea I found via {Paloma's Nest} is to have a special key made for Santa in a customizable bag with your family's name on it! How cute is that? Hang it on the tree until Christmas Eve and then before bedtime, grab the kiddos and hang it on the door or put it under the mat. This will be such a cute tradition you can do every year with your family and it will also squash any suspicious questions your kiddos might have! :)

Love it!!

Happy November Ladies!

Sew Cute!

2010-10-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

If only I had taken sewing class in High School! This adorable owl costume is just too cute for words. Sorry Hazel, Mommy needs to learn to sew!

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!!

{via LifeFlix but inspired by Martha Stewart}

Fall Comfort Food

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

There is nothing better than comfort food during the fall season. Warm breads, hearty soups and stews, and savory dishes that warm you up even on the coldest of fall evenings! I found a braised short ribs recipe that I am going to try out this week! I will let you all know how it turns out! Below is the recipe if you're eager to try it!

{Red Wine Braised Short Ribs}

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 pounds short ribs
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large yellow onion, peeled and chopped
2 ribs of celery, chopped
6 cloves of garlic, chopped
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 cup red wine
1 1/2 cups beef stock
15 small potatoes, cut in half

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Melt butter and olive oil in a large ovenproof pan. Rub the ribs with salt and pepper. Brown the ribs on all sides. Remove from pan and add carrots, onion, celery, garlic and thyme. Sauté until the onion becomes soft, about 5 minutes. Add the ribs, wine and stock. Cover and place in oven. After 2 hours, take it out, give it a little stir and add the potatoes. Cook for another 30 to 45 minutes, or until the meat falls off the bone. Serve with the potatoes cooked in the sauce.

Can you say yum?!! Pair this with some warm fresh bread and this meal will be sure to satisfy the body and soul!

Happy Eating!

Etsy Find

2010-10-28T04:31:00.000-07:00

As kids both my hubby and I loved Star Wars so I couldn't resist posting these little onesies I found on {Etsy}. They totally made me laugh!

For only $12 each, I think they're a great find!

Happy Thursday!!

Pumpkin Craft

2010-10-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love entertaining! I stumbled upon a gorgeous little pumpkin craft for a Fall dinner party that I am dying to try!

Isn't this little Glitter Box Place Card lovely?

Instructions:

- Cover a pumpkin shaped cardboard treat box with craft glue

- Cover with glitter (Silver is shown but gold would be beautiful too!)

- Hot glue a paper leaf on top as the place card
- Create a stem with white florist wire and hot glue in place.

Simple yet elegant! There's still time to run out to the craft store!

Happy Crafting!!

{via Sweet Paul}

Mom Inspiration

2010-10-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've seen pictures of Jennifer Lopez and her adorable twins all over the Internet for the recent Gucci Ad campaign. She is my ultimate inspiration for how I'd like to look after having twins. Yeah right! :) A girl can dream though! Her kids are so beautiful!

{via Sweet Details}

Pumpkins with Attitude

2010-10-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

How cute and fun are these?

{via Sweet Paul}

Life as I know It

2010-10-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Right now I would say that I'm in an intense season of waiting. While my little twins are growing inside of me, there is also something that the Lord is cooking up as well. I can just feel it! As impatient as I am for my twins to come out, I have to allow the process and development to run its course. In the same way I have to allow whatever God is doing to also come to pass in His timing. I've often heard that God is never late but always on time, or better yet, I've often heard the phrase- we're into microwaving but God is into marinating! I just love that one! My faith is being tested and I often get frustrated and take "time off" from seeking God because I am so sick of not seeing any fruit. My, what a horrible farmer I would be if I thought I could sow a seed and immediately see the fruit of it!

I want God to be pleased with me... but He is pleased by faith. He was so pleased with Abraham's faith that God basically called him righteous because of it. So I am going to continue to press on and fight the good fight of faith... and why is this fight of faith called good? Because we will always win when we have faith in Jesus. Even when it doesn't look like it, our faith is unlocking doors to new authority, new levels in the kingdom, conforming us to the image of Christ, and drawing us closer to the heart of God. How wonderful and exciting that is!! I covet your prayers for patience, submission to the process He is taking me through, and above all- Faith in His love, guidance, and timing! During these times that seem to try us, stretch us, and squeeze us- the Anchor to our soul is the Word of God! I pray that we all would cling to His precious promises as the storms of life try to ebb away our foundation! But our foundation will never fail us as long as we build our house on the Rock! Whether we build our house on the Rock or the sand, storms will always visit both. Which foundation are you building on? I hope you are joining me and continuing to build your house on the Rock! Below is a picture of how I feel sometimes ... but I'll keep on building ;)

Hope you're all having a great week!

Sexy Delivery

2010-10-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

Apparently you can look sexy while delivering your baby although I highly doubt I can. At almost 18 weeks prego with twins I am feeling as far from sexy as you can get! They say I have the pregnancy glow but it's just the sweat from climbing the stairs ;) I wonder if I bought this maternity gown if i'd look this good when I push out my little critters!

Enjoy your Wednesday Ladies!!

Pretty Pushers via Growing up Green

Spooky, Spooky!

2010-10-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

So I'm not totally into all the spooky Halloween stuff that is out there. I prefer Fall decorations to skeletons and tombstones and want Hazel to have a fun, not scary experience with this Holiday. With that being said, I did find a dancing witches' broom that is pretty cool, even in my opinion.

This broom starts moving around the floor, playing spooky music and emitting frightful sounds.

Fun!

Happy Monday Friends!

{via Grandinroad}

Unreliable Me

2010-10-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone- So I know I haven't been faithful in blogging lately and I'm not sure when or if I will fully return to every day blogging. These twins inside of me are starting to make their presence known for sure and it's getting harder on me. So I am shuffling my focus a bit on the here and now that is right in front of me. I hate being this unreliable person I have become but I have to learn to just stop making promises that I will do this and that and go here and there. I have the best intentions I promise but I just don't know how I'm going to feel every day. So with that being said- I'll blog again when I feel up to it. Thanks for understanding!!

with ♥- Anitra

Sisters

2010-09-29T04:16:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love my sister! While my parents were out of town we had a great time catching up and hanging out! Her and I always are giggling and talking about our hopes and dreams and what we believe the Lord has called us to do. She always encourages me and helps me along with my walk with Christ. I couldn't have asked the Lord for a better sister! I love you Erica!

{via The Sartorialist}

I know that's not really a picture of my sis and I but I can dream that we are that chic together. Actually, my sis has great style and looks amazing while I on the other hand, look like a little pot bellied pig already!! :)

Below is a real picture of my sis and I at my brother's wedding a couple years back. Her ice blue eyes are stunning!

Have a very happy Wednesday Ladies!!

with ♥- Anitra

Trick or Treat

2010-09-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

Halloween is fast approaching but with my daughter being only 5 months old, I don't plan on dressing her up in an entire costume. I did, however, find the most adorable hats from {Sweet Pea Toad Tots} that would be perfect for her. I'd love to answer the door with my little peanut in my arms wearing one of these cute hats while we give candy to the trick or treaters! How fun!

I love having kids! Life is so much more fun!

Happy Costume Hunting!!!

with ♥- Anitra

Room for Four

2010-09-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

With the way Billy and I are going, we will have to be creative with our decorating and use of space with the kiddos. Of course I am praying and believe for a house with at least 3 bedrooms but if not, we'll be making do with what we can.

Not bad huh??

Happy Monday!

with ♥- Anitra

{via little.lovely}

A Week all to Ourselves

2010-09-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

This past week has been both challenging and a blessing. My mom is currently out of town and she is such a HUGE help with Hazel while I forge through this first trimester. I know there are so many mothers out there that have juggled much more but being so sick and so tired all the time has been hard on me and my mom's help has been invaluable. On the other hand, the blessing of being able to take care of Hazel 24/7 all by myself has been so rewarding. I truly feel like we have bonded! I can actually feel our bond stronger than ever. This week she has been so much more peaceful and content I can't help but wonder if this is something she really needed. I am so happy that my 2nd trimester starts this Sunday and I know I will start to feel better and be the mommy that Hazel deserves and loves! I want to say that Hazel loves her Grandma so much and that I am so overjoyed that Hazel has gotten the chance to spend time with her these last few months!

I have asked the Lord so many times for my tiredness and sickness to go away, hazel to sleep through the night etc. etc and things really haven't changed much ... so instead, I have asked for more grace to endure the trials of new motherhood, twin pregnancies, moving to a new city, living with my parents, and believing God for so much! Grace is what I asked for and Grace is what I got! God is so good!! His Grace is ALWAYS sufficient for anything and everything we go through! Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Oh how I love my baby girl!!

Be Blessed Ladies!!

with ♥- Anitra

Family Photo Session

2010-09-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

A few months back when we were still living in Seattle, one of my very best friends, Leslie, and her husband Brian came to visit from Hong Kong. Due to some scheduling conflicts my husband and I were only able to spend time with them for one afternoon. I was so sad! We actually had planned a girls weekend and everything but with us moving so quickly and her and Brian going down to San Francisco for the week, we were only able to see each other that one day. I will say however, it was one of the best days I had had in a long time! Her husband Brian is a part-time photographer and he offered to do a family photo shoot for free! The pictures turned out so lovely. Below are a few of my favorites.

Hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday!

with ♥- Anitra

After School Snacks

2010-09-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

You'll never catch me running through the Mcdonald's drive thru on the way home from school with Hazel and the twins for an after school snack. I prefer to make something homemade and healthy. I found a cute spin on apples and peanut butter that I am eager to try!

Apple Sandwiches

Kids will love to help you make this healthy snack since it’s fun to spread the nut butter and sprinkle the chocolate chips. No corer in the kitchen drawer? Slice the apples into rounds first then use a small cookie cutter to remove the core from the center of each slice.

Ingredients
2 small apples, cored and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch thick rounds
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
3 tablespoons peanut or almond butter
2 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons granola

Method
If you won’t be eating these tasty treats right away, start by brushing the apples slices with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. Spread one side of half of the apple slices with peanut or almond butter then sprinkle with chocolate chips and granola. Top with remaining apple slices, pressing down gently to make the sandwiches. Transfer to napkins or plates and serve.

Looks yummy to me and something kids would gobble up!!

Enjoy your Tuesday ladies!

with ♥- Anitra

{via Taryn Cox, The Wife}

Fashion Challenged

2010-09-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

I am the first to admit that ever since I became a mom I have become fashion challenged. I guess I feel like what's the use for right now since I'm carrying twins and won't be able to fit into anything stylish for quite some time. I do however, love to know what the current fashions are just in case I feel the urge to buy a piece or two. My go to girl for fashion is one of my good friends whose blog I read daily. {Sweet Details} is always in the know when it comes to the latest fashion trends. I love how this year she is trying to follow a budget so her picks for this season aren't quite so spendy!

Her Fall picks this year:

Oversized Grey Sweater from {J.Crew}

Skinny Jeans from {American Eagle}

Boots from {Nordstrom}

Rachel Zoe Faux Fur Vest from {QVC}

I love her choices! Even though I won't be following the trends this season, I can still go shopping with my sister and girlfriends and give them my fashion advice that I picked up along the way.

Thanks {Sweet Details}!

Happy Monday!

with ♥- Anitra

Friday already?

2010-09-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I haven't blogged since last Friday! My week was pretty crazy and this sickness and tiredness just won't go away! I hope I will feel a little bit more normal soon. I have lots to do to prepare for the little twins who are growing quite beautifully. I went to the Doctor twice this week and had an ultrasound. The twins are so funny in there. They are in two separate sacs which is really good, although I'm not looking forward to pushing out two placentas! Anyway, too much info I'm sure. I will try and scan the ultrasound photos sometime soon so you all can see them. Well, not much of a post but I'm going to go play with Hazel for a bit before my hubby gets off work. Have a great great weekend everyone!!!

with ♥- Anitra

Is it Worth It??

2010-09-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

So I always wonder if I would pay those ridiculous prices for designer duds or if I would stick with Target and Forever 21 if I ever won the lotto... For example, Victoria Beckham has been sporting amazing {sunglasses} from her fall collection everywhere and I love them. But would I pay the $745 price tag???

These are the things that I ponder in the middle of the night when I can't sleep!

Have a Happy Happy Weekend!!

with ♥- Anitra

Blog Love

2010-09-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting yesterday, I spent most of my day looking at the inside of my toilet bowl. I am almost out of my first trimester so I hope to be feeling better soon. This post today is going to be short but I wanted to share one of my all time favorite blogs {Day Old News}. I don't even know how I discovered it but it's the go to blog for daily Hollywood fashion gossip. I have to admit I don't really keep up with fashion or Hollywood religiously but when I want to know what's going on, I head over to Day Old News and she always fills me in on the latest! Plus, she has a great sense of humor!! Head over there today to find out about Fashion Week in NYC!

Have a super blessed day!!

with ♥- Anitra

Bag It!

2010-09-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Everyone! I hope you all had a relaxing and fun Labor Day Weekend! Can I just say how much I love my family.. we cooked out on the grill and had a huge spread complete with the yummiest corn on the cob! My sister brought over a delicious dessert and we spent a ton of time outside eating on the patio and talking about the goodness of God. A nail biter of a Boise Bronco football game and a sweet last minute victory made our evening! What a great summer it has been. So many changes and challenges but I always make it through with the encouragement of my family and daily cheering from the Lord!

So back to my great little find- {Reuseable Baggies!}. These Reusable bags for kids' lunches are so fun and clever. Plus they are 100% Organic, use no plastic lining, and are unbleached and undyed!

Aren't they great?! There's even a baggy that says surprise on it!

How fun!!

I hope everyone has a great week! Happy Tuesday!!!

with ♥- Anitra

Calgon, Take Me Away

2010-09-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

Today I am so sick. Thank God my mom is here to help with Hazel. I slept until 11:50 and threw up multiple times... I am hoping this passes so I can enjoy the long weekend. In the meantime I'll just pretend I'm on the beach taking a nap and listening to the waves crash along the shore while the gentle breeze blows by ... nice thought huh?

Have a fabulous Labor Day Weekend!

with ♥- Anitra

To Cape or Not to Cape

2010-09-02T16:28:00.000-07:00

So this season the Cape is the latest trend. I can't tell if I'd look like a hippo in this since I'm carrying twins or if it would conceal them a bit ... hmmm... reguardless, I think it's so chic!

Happy Thursday Peeps!!!

with ♥- Anitra

Photo Courtesy of {The Sartorialist} via {Cup of Jo}

Twins, Really?

2010-09-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

It's been exactly one week since I found out I was having twins. I am still in shock! I mean Hazel is barely 4 months old right now! I was just getting used to being a Mom, getting used to Hazel's routine, settling in Idaho and Bam- I find out I'm having twins! I teeter between two things- one being, I can totally do this (with my mom's help of course)! We're going to get an awesome house, Billy is going to get a better job and things are going to go perfect! Then there's the thought- I can't do this, even with my mom's help. I'm so tired, my body aches, we're not going to get a house etc. etc. I hate all this doubt! But the thing that is comforting is that God is totally into difficult situations! I remember back when we lived in Seattle and the walls were caving in and I felt so depressed, I told the Lord that if He would move heaven and earth and part the red seas so we could move to Boise, then I would gladly go. And you know what? He did just that! So here I sit here again with tears in my eyes asking the Lord once again to part the red seas for us.... I know He will. I just need to trust Him. My mom told me the other day that God did not just move us here to drop us and leave us. He has a plan, He has everything mapped out! I just have to keep reminding myself that everyday! And in the meantime while God is working His wonders, I will enjoy my baby girl!

Hope you all have a great first day of September!!

with ♥- Anitra

Good-bye August

2010-08-31T14:10:00.000-07:00

My hubby and I opted for a courthouse wedding which was incredibly romantic in its own right. I do however get a twinge of jealousy when I see engagement photos that are to die for (we never got them done). I stumbled upon some photos from {Our Labor of Love} that are just so cute and creative! If only I could go back in time ..

How Sweet!

Enjoy your last day in August!

with ♥- Anitra

Seasons Change

2010-08-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

Day after day here in Boise it's right around 90+ degrees. All this heat and sun is making me yearn for Autumn! I found some really cool landscape photos via {The Lil Bee} that are just breathtaking! I can't think of anything more beautiful than a crisp, Autumn day!

Autumn can't come soon enough!!

Enjoy what's left of Summer!

with ♥- Anitra

Back to School DIY Project

2010-08-27T04:24:00.000-07:00

Well, It's almost time for school again and I was browsing through my new favorite blog {The Purl Bee} and discovered this great Do-it-yourself (DIY) project! Once I saw this, I told myself I was going to learn to sew! I know I blogged a week or so ago about lunch boxes, but this idea is for the more creative, do-it-yourself types!

Isn't this little back to school lunch bag the cutest?

Since I'm a huge advocate of taking a homemade lunch to school instead of buying the unhealthy stuff they serve there, this is a must-make for Hazel and the new little critters when they go to school! Plus they're washable and fully customizable to whatever style and colors you want!

This would be a great project you could do with the kids! Enjoy!!

For complete Tutorial: {Back to School Lunch Bag}

with ♥- Anitra

Cool Back to School Moms

2010-08-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

Seeing this {People} article on Cool Back to School Moms sure gives me hope! I sit here with no make-up on, wet hair, wearing a maternity shirt that has spit up on it and I'm dreaming of the day where I can look and feel cool again! :) Yesterday I just found out that we're having twins! No joke! Can my life get any crazier? I think not! Nevertheless, thanks moms for the inspiration!

Thank you Celeb Moms!!

Enjoy your day, it's almost the weekend!!!

with ♥- Anitra

Funky Lunch

2010-08-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

{Funky Lunch} is a book filled with amazing ideas on how to turn an ordinary lunchtime sandwhich into something creative and fun! Their desire is to encourage children to eat a varied and healthy lunch! I would soooo eat these sandwiches!

Aren't they fabulous?? You have to head to their {gallery} to see all their fabulous creations!!

Have a great day!!

with ♥- Anitra

{via one charming party}

Weekend Rewind

2010-08-23T04:04:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful weekend I had! In spite of Billy and Hazel both being sick, we still managed to have a good time. I love spending time with my family!! We decided to try to find a good Pho restaurant and ended up finding a decent one... we're still going to keep looking. We went for a beautiful drive along a road called warms springs and admired the river and mountains ...

On Sunday we were unable to go to Church because Hazel was so stuffed up so we just laid around in bed, made eggs and toast, and napped until about noon. We then ventured out running errands, grabbing coffee, and just enjoying each other. We had such a great evening grilling out with the family and enjoying Hazel and her every move. I was able to catch up on her baby book while listening to the latest Ihop worship album. God is so good and I feel so encouraged that He is by our side! We listened to this one song by Audra Lynn called "Psalm of Abraham" and here are a few of the lyrics to the song that are so good!

Faith is the assurance

The evidence of things unseen

You reward the one who seeks

Who does not see and yet believes

I will not doubt Your promises

Though many as the stars above

For I am on a pilgrimage

I'm searching for the King of Love

I walk by faith and not by sight

You give me grace to lift my eyes

I see Your face and it gives me life

To run the race, to fight the fight

The fight of faith

I am the first one to admit that the walk of faith isn't always easy but I know that if I just keep my eyes on Him, my steps will not slide and I will please Him with my faith! I am sick of doubting His promises, I want to be one that seeks Him knowing that He can and will be found... and takes Him at His Word! I am so thankful that He gives me the grace to lift my eyes! Ahhhh I love Him!! Below are some more pictures of our weekend with the family. I hope you all are blessed and enjoying your loved ones around you!!

Have an extra cup of coffee and be blessed today!!

with ♥- Anitra

Summer Pasta Salad

2010-08-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if everyone here knows how much I love pasta! I could eat it for two out of three meals a day easy... but i'd be 300 lbs if I did that, so I eat it only a few times a week if I'm lucky. I found this delicious Summer Pasta Salad via {Sunday Suppers} that I couldn't help sharing. What a beautiful little dish for a Saturday afternoon luncheon with your girlfriends!

Summer Pasta Salad

Ingredients
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 lemons, juiced and zested
2 shallots, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 pints, mixed baby heirlooms, halved
1 head of frisee, coarsely chopped
1 box(16 ounce) of Orecchiette
1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
1/2 cup torn mint leaves
Parmesan for garnish

Directions
Cook pasta in a pot of boiling salted water until tender but firm to the bite, stirring occasionally. Drain and toss with olive oil to coat, place in freezer for a couple minutes to cool.

Make vinaigrette by combining olive oil, lemon juice, zest, shallots, garlic, salt and pepper.

Combine the tomatoes, frisee and beans with the chilled pasta and dress lightly. Garnish with hazelnuts, mint and parmesan.

Does that not look yummy??

Have a blessed weekend my lovelies!

with ♥- Anitra

35 Reasons Why I Love You

2010-08-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon a great idea for my husband's 35th birthday via the blog {inchmark}. Now Billy's birthday isn't until February but at that time I will be almost 9 months pregnant so gathering a few ideas beforehand is a must! My husband knows I love him very very much. I tell him that all the time and vice versa. But what a great idea to hang little notes around the house describing why I love him so much!

Here's how to make your own... Grab some strips of paper, some colored tape, and some string. Then write 35 (or the age he is turning) things you love about the birthday boy: traits you admire, things you know will make him laugh, add some serious things as well. Lay out some string and tape your strips in order, from number 1 to 35.

Hang your string up using a little more tape. You also might want to put it up in the room he first walks into. They make a festive little garland, and no doubt will make your honey feel really special.

Then at the end of the week you can take them down, put them in a little envelope so your husband can revisit them anytime!

What an inexpensive and memorable way to show how much you care!! I can't wait to do this- of course this is just a starting off point, I can't wait to put my own creative touches on it!

I love that this week is flying by and that it's almost the weekend!!

Have a fab day!

with ♥- Anitra

Jotting it down

2010-08-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

I have pregnancy brain so bad this time around that I am forgetting everything! I recently forgot about a get together with a friend and she is so upset that she doesn't want to reschedule. I understand her frustration in me standing her up but if she could only be in my head at times... so she suggested that I write things down perhaps. Great idea except I usually forget to jot things down anyway. On my hunt for a cute notepad (because everyone knows it's gotta be cute) I found out about {Night Owl Paper Goods}! Night Owl Paper Goods is a eco-friendly stationary company that makes a variety of cards, invitations, notebooks, and journals that are made out of 100% sustainable birch wood. Apart from being green, they are simply adorable. Below are a few of the designs I am loving.

Cute!!

Maybe if I get in the habit of jotting things down, I won't be forgetting as much!

Have a Happy Happy Wednesday!!

with ♥- Anitra

Adventuring Out

2010-08-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, my hubby, Hazel and I packed up the car and headed up to Cascade, Idaho which is about an hour and 45 minute beautiful drive along the Payette River.

The drive itself has the most stunning views I have ever seen and rival anything the Northwest has to offer (I never thought I'd say that). The trees were plentiful, the flowers in abundance, and white water rafting tours speckled the river as we ascended to Cascade. I have to admit that I was one of those annoying drivers that went about 10 miles under the speed limit so I could soak in all the incredible views. No worries though, I pulled over often so drivers could pass me by. The Payette River has a personality of its own. It's not all raging river, it has calm parts as well. Both Billy and I were so happy to be up in the mountains again! Another thing we saw was a train that goes along the river but much closer. We are checking into taking a train ride up next time.

It was about 80 degrees up at Cascade which is so much better than the 90+ we are used to having back in town. We had lunch, where Hazel kept trying to hold her bottle!! :)

After lunch we walked around the old town trying to burn off our Reuben sandwiches and onion rings! We also visited some antique shops and thrift stores, and ended our day trip with a drive to Cascade Lake.

On our way back we stopped by a suspension bridge that we had spotted on our way up. Billy braved the trek as I stayed back and took pictures!

Maybe next time I will walk across!

Overall we had such a blessed day getting away with each other and exploring new parts of Idaho. God's creation is so breathtaking. I kept thinking of the scripture where it says:

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20, NLT

I love how I can just look outside and see God! Evidence of His existence is everywhere! I can't wait until we go up there next time. We are thinking of staying the night up there for our Anniversary in October... we'll see if I can leave Hazel with my parents!

Hope you all have a great Tuesday!!

with ♥- Anitra

Monday Morning Sickness

2010-08-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

So on this glorious Monday I have morning sickness. It really comes and goes but today it's sticking around. Before I head back to bed I thought I'd share some cute photos of some little kids spaces that I love!

photos via {here}

I've never been one that's totally wild about using a lot of color but ever since I had little Hazel I love it for room decor! Well, I hope you all have a fabulous Monday!!!

with ♥- Anitra

Tea Time

2010-08-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

In San Francisco there is the most darling Tea Salon called Crown and Crumpet. This little unique Tea Salon is perfect for parties and events for the young and old(er)! Recently they just had an event for the opening of Alice in Wonderland. I would've loved to have gone to that!

I love the decor and all the different colors and patterns! I would instantly feel happier being there! :)

I would love to take Hazel there one day even if it's just to browse!

Happy Friday!!

with ♥- Anitra

A Space to Read

2010-08-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

One thing that my husband and I love to do is read to Hazel. They say it's never too young to start! I have a huge love for reading and would love to pass that down to my kids. One dream of mine is to have a library in our home but for now I would be happy to have a little room or nook dedicated to reading just for the kids!

I was just at a coffee shop the other day that had a shortened version of one of my all time favorite books, "On the Banks of Plum Creek" I can't wait to introduce Hazel to the Little House on the Prairie series!

Well, I'm off to adventure out for the day, I hope all you ladies have a good one!!

with ♥- Anitra

Lunch Time

2010-08-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

Year after year things get more stylish by the moment. I don't know how I'll ever keep up! I recently found the most fabulous lunch boxes for kids from {SoYoungMother}. I am really trying to be more earth friendly and green so those brown paper bags just aren't an option for my family anymore. Once Hazel hits the school age years, I would love for her to sport something as cute as these for her lunch hour:

PVC Free, Phthalate Free, and Lead safe

Gotta Love that!

Enjoy your Wednesday Friends!

with ♥- Anitra

Mr. Moustache

2010-08-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

This is my wonderful daddy and his crazy moustache, pronounced moo-stache:

and this is a {baby mobile} designed for moustache lovers, both young and old alike:

{via growing up green}

Super cute! I've been looking for creative nursery ideas for if I have a boy and this just might be the winner!

It is pretty over the top and hilarious, don't you think?

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!

with ♥- Anitra

Headbands for the Wee Ones

2010-08-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

I spotted these over at {BubbaLou Bands} and instantly fell in love! How cute are these?!

I'll take one of each for Hazel, please!!

Have a great Monday!!!

with ♥- Anitra

Sundays in Idaho

2010-08-08T21:16:00.000-07:00

I love Sundays in Idaho. The main reason is because everything shuts down super early and no one is really out and about. Today Billy and I went to church and I was able to sit in the service (my parents took Hazel for a lot of the day) and it was so nice to be refreshed and encouraged. There is nothing really like it when you feel God touching you. At that moment, everything is okay. All my worry, fear, anxiety, and stress just goes away... I love it so much! I feel His love and His touch, He whispers to my heart that I am in His hands and that I can trust Him. How wonderful that God almighty would care to comfort His little sparrow... I love being able to rest in Him.

I am so happy to be here with my little family. I fought the Lord so hard.. I didn't want to move to Idaho, but He knew what I needed!

Psalm 18:19

He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because he delighted in me.

Thank you Lord for delighting in me... I am thankful that whatever You do, You do through the eyes of Mercy.

This night wouldn't have been complete without a warm summer storm with dark romantic skies! It was beautiful!

I hope everyone had a great Sunday!!

with ♥- Anitra

Cubby Holes

2010-08-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

At the rate Billy and I are going, we might have to get really creative with where to stash the kids! :)

{via little.lovely}

Hope you're having a Fabulous Weekend!

with ♥- Anitra