flower tag...

Happy Friday!!!
On vacation Mondays and work Mondays the same truth holds true~It doesn't seem possible that Friday will ever arrive. The differance is on vacation Mondays, the impossiblity of Friday feels like a permanent break from the world! The week stretches out before us...surely it will never end!

While on work Mondays the impossibility of Friday feels like a permanent, respiteless immersion into the world. The week stretches out before us...surely it will never end!

But sadly and thankfully, Friday always comes.

I am sad that this week's Monday has turned into Friday!!

But I have had a great week off, working on several organizing projects and a couple of home improvement things (as I type my thumb is a nice shade of gray from car primer spray paint...more on that next week). My laundry room is taped off and ready for some paint (which will hopefully happen today), and my family room has new curtains (was going to paint but Mike talked me out of it, LOL!). The kitchen cabinets, my craft room, my closet, and our new filing cabinet are reorganized. I still have a few projects that I didn't get to, but they will be waiting for me, LOL!

We celebrated Ashley's birthday at work yesterday (we will have our usual family party when she gets back from her trip to Jamaica next week). I am usually in charge of the gifts/gift wrapping for our office (which I really enjoy). So I whipped up a quick tag to go along with her gift from us gals in the front office...of course I had to make sure it all matched *wink*




Tonight I am heading to a Diamond Back's game with my hubby (I am SO not into sports!!! Luckily I understand baseball, LOL!). It will be nice to have the evening together, and of course I am bringing my camera to keep me occupied.

Have a SUPER weekend friends!!!

**not sure why my photos are fuzzy~I think it is the flickr site???

Supplies used (PTI unless noted): Delightful Dahlia stamp set; White/Lemon Tart/Raspberry Fizz/Ripe Avocado cardstock; Choc Chip (SU!)/Fresh Snow ink; PTI/Nestabilities Dies; White Button; Twine

Card Supplies in this post
Pail from Target

another year older...

posted by Ashley

It’s hard to believe that yet another year has gone by and I am now 24 years old. Some of you who are reading this may be rolling your eyes by now because to you, 24 is young. I’m not going to disagree with you, either. I still think I’m young, but I am honestly amazed at how quickly time has gone by thus far. I keep hearing that time will continue to speed up as you get older, and I am really starting to believe it! As I sit here, I can’t help but look forward and wonder how God will use this next year of my life. I have to say, a mission trip to Jamaica is an incredible way to start year 24 of my life!
I want to share with you some personal goals I have set for myself this coming year (maybe because I’ll need some accountability!). First, and foremost, I look forward to finding an internship position and receiving my master’s degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. This period of my life has taken longer than I had anticipated, but I couldn’t be happier with how God has worked everything out in His perfect timing (though it often felt like He was working against my personal schedule!). I also plan to learn how to play acoustic guitar this year. Ambitious? Absolutely! I was the kid who was involved in dance, soccer, karate, piano, and many other activities in my childhood, but somehow managed to quit everything except singing. I’m at a point in my life where I want to become a stronger musician and singer, which means I have to put forth effort while remaining diligent… this could be interesting! I also hope to begin mentoring this year. Being the wife of a youth pastor, I have really been searching for my place in that particular ministry and mentoring just seems like something I could really love and enjoy. I don’t know who the girl(s) will be, when this will begin, or even how to approach this but I do know one thing for sure: God is in control and He will lead me to the teenager in need of a mentor.
I am so excited to see how this year turns out and I hope to share that journey with you. As you know, I will be serving in Jamaica on a mission trip next week, so you won’t be seeing any blog posts from me (until the following week). If you think of it, please keep our team in your thoughts and prayers as we travel and help lead ministries. I can’t wait to share my experiences and photos with you all when we return! Have a great weekend!

Happy HAPPY B'day!!!!
posted by Gretchen

And of course I have to wish my FAVORITE daughter a very Happy Birthday!!! I too cannot believe that she is 24 today (glad I am not aging, right?).

I am so proud of all of her accomplishments!!! She has turned out to be such a wonderful young woman!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PEEP!! Love Ya!!!

sparkly birthday...

I am popping in with a quick post and birthday card today. I have been in organization mode all week, and it feels really good to get things in order (spoken like a true ocd'er huh?, LOL!!).

Tomorrow is a very special someones birthday~and this card may or may not be for her *wink*



Supplies used (PTI unless noted): Blooming Button Bits stamp set; Ripe Avacodo/Raspberry Fizz ink; Kraft/White/Lemon Tart/Raspberry Fizz cardstock; Lemon Tart Grosgrain Ribbon;Rhinestones; Flower Punch (SU!)

poppin' in...

Hi'ya peeps!!
Just poppin' in with a quick update~I have been organizing up a storm (on my OCD vacation), which means that my stamping time has been zero *sad face* !!! However, my craft room has had a complete overhaul and I am hoping to mess it up a bit today ;)

So check back later and hopefully I will have a card to share!!

yum~o!!!

posted by Ashley

Hey everyone!
I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! I had such a great FOUR DAY weekend, which was so restful. I even got to make Fresh & Easy buttermilk pancakes for breakfast yesterday morning since Nate & I had the day off :) They were absolutely delicious (though not as good as my mom's homemade ones).

Today, I wanted to share this recipe I saw while watching The Dr. Oz Show. I absolutely love his show because he isn't afraid to talk about those embarrassing medical things that pretty much everyone wants to know about! He also incorporates healthy food recipes & beauty treatments in his show.



These chipotle tacos look so flavorful and delicious... I will definitely have to make them soon! Not to mention, they are less than $2.00 per serving (2 tacos), which is pretty amazing! Since becoming a lifetime member at WeightWatchers, I am always on the hunt for low-fat, low-calorie, but flavor-packed meals and this one looks like one of those! Hopefully I'll get a chance to make these soon, maybe once we get back from our mission trip to Jamaica next week.


Chef Lala's Cheap Chipotle Tacos
This recipe is great with whole chicken breast, fish, lean pork or shrimp.

Ingredients
Makes 24 tacos
2 lbs chicken breast, boneless, skinless
7 oz chipotle peppers in adobe sauce
12 oz frozen orange juice
4 oz tangerine juice
3 oz brown onion, peeled and sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp pepper
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
24 corn tortillas

Garnish options:
4 cups shredded lettuce
1/2 cup cilantro, shredded
1/2 cup onion, small dice
1 cup cotija or Mexican skim milk cheese
1 cup tomatoes diced,
2 avocados, sliced
1 cup, fresh salsa

Directions
Dice the chicken breast into small squares. Place chicken into medium bowl. Remove chipotle peppers from sauce, chop coarse. In a large bowl combine orange juice, tangerine juice, onions, garlic, pepper, olive oil and chopped chipotle peppers and remaining adobe sauce. Pour mixture over skewers, marinade refrigerated for 2-4 hours. Add salt to marinade just prior to cooking.

Heat non-stick skillet on medium-high heat and cook chicken for 3 minutes on each side or until to desired doneness. Heat tortillas on griddle until pliable. Top with chipotle chicken, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and fold in half. Serve with salsa, if desired.

Hope you all have a wonderful day... see you back here on Thursday!

showers of blessing...

Happy Friday!!!
I never thought it would get here!!! LONG weekend (with Mike) and next week off~hooray!!!
Although as I am typing this I am realizing~I will probably not want next Friday to get here that fast, LOL!! (funny how that works!!!). When we are on vacation we don't want Friday to arrive (because that means it is almost over...and while we are working~we cannot wait for Friday)!!

Mike told me that he just wants to relax this weekend~I hope he doesn't mind the few items I added to my list for him, LOL!!! We may even go to a movie too (which we haven't done in ages, since we have Direct TV, we usually get pay per view, which I really like because we are able to pause to get a snack and take a bathroom break without missing a beat).

Here is a quick and simple card for today...I really do like Orange Zest and Aqua Mist together~so fresh and really pretty!! (*note~ the leaves and stems are stamped in Spring Moss, but they are not showing up very well in the photo)



Have a super weekend FRIENDS!!!

Supplise used (PTI unless noted): Beautiful Blooms 2/Scattered Showers/Floral Frenzy stamp sets; Orange Zest/Spring Moss/Choc Chip (SU!) ink; Aqua Mist/White/Orange Zest cardstock; Dark Chocolate Buttons; Twine; Satin Dotted Aqua Mist Ribbon

Jamaica bound...

posted by Ashley

Happy Thursday, friends!

I am definitely looking forward to a long holiday weekend! I wanted to share a little today about an upcoming missions trip I will be going on along with my husband and our college group at church. The whole idea about going on a missions trip started when Nate and I attended NYWC (National Youth Workers Convention) in Los Angeles last fall. During our down time, we were perusing the youth workshops and were approached by a young man from Praying Pelican Missions who asked us, “When was the last time your church went on a missions trip?” Nate and I looked at each other and both realized that our church has never done a missions trip, especially not an international one. It was at that moment when we both realized that our church would never do one unless someone stepped up to the plate and took initiative. So, with conviction and excitement in our hearts, Nate began planning the trip and Just Beyond (our college ministry) was 100% on board with the idea. Over the past few months, we have done all types of fundraisers (such as selling DELICOUS cinnamon buns during our church services, a giant yard sale, and helping a family move). Below are some photos from our incredibly successful yard sale. It’s truly amazing to see how much support we are receiving and we are all so encouraged by this. We are 100% funded and we leave for Jamaica on July 10th.





As I prepare for this adventure, I can’t help but realize just how blessed we are here in America. The national gross income per person in the United States is over $33,000 whereas Jamaica’s national gross income per person is close to $5,000. That difference is astounding! My expectation for this trip is to serve the people of Jamaica, but I am certain I will return different than when I left. I think there are times when you must get out of your cozy, comfortable lifestyle and immerse yourself with those who are less fortunate in order to gain perspective. This will be my very first international trip, so I’m not sure what to expect and I’m a little nervous about what may come, but I’m also expectant that great things will happen as we serve and love the people there. Please keep our team of 12 in your thoughts and prayers the week of July 11th, especially Nate because this is his first time leading a missions trip (and an international one at that!). I will definitely be bringing my camera, so expect lots of photos when I return!

Have a wonderful day! See you back here on Tuesday!