my week in recipes

(NOTE: this post was originally written in January and I didn't get around to adding the photos until just now... oops)

here we go again.  I'm still working toward my goal... still eating new, more healthy foods.  here's my run down on how they went.

stuffed pepper soup | skinny taste

photo courtesy of skinnytaste.com

this soup was hearty, it did not dissappoint in that area.  often times lower calorie soups are thin and lack any textural diversity, not this soup.  tomatoes, rice, hamburger, onions, and peppers were found throughout the entire bowl.  I am a stuffed pepper lover and though this was pretty spot on.  if you know me you know I am terrible at following recipes.  well, this time I followed it perfectly and wished I had added a little more adventure.  when I make it again I will add more italian spices to the mix.

lighter buffalo chicken dip | recipes under 400, originally skinnytaste.com

photo courtesy of skinnytaste.com

so, last week the hubs and I met a friend at a pub/cafe to talk about life.  I ordered the buffalo chicken dip and was FLOORED with how awesome it was.  this was our super bowl party contribution and it did not dissapoint!  YUMMO!  I could eat this by the spoonful day after day.  this may have booted out my obsession with guacamole for the moment.  creamy and spicy.  my love for buffalo wings has grown even more, but now for this easier to eat version with fewer calories.

healthy pineapple shrimp fried rice | skinny taste

photo courtesy of skinnytaste.com

meh, I've had better.  I mean for fried rice to be healthy, you know you're giving up a little bit of what makes it savory, right.  yes, this is true for this meal too.  it was okay, but nothing I'm going out to the store to make again this week.  and, it must be eaten the night that you make it.  pineapple is an enemy to any sort of protein turning the shrimp into mush the next day when you try to reheat it-- yuck!

skinny chicken divan | eat yourself skinny

okay, chicken divan must mean anything with chicken and broccoli made into a casserole, because this was not what I typically consider, "chicken divan".  that being said, I'm not at all knocking it.  this was good!  I think I would like it even more served over some brown rice in the future. 

lemon crinkle cookies

summer is full of fresh flavors and bright colors.  the hot days mean that I always want something cool and refreshing at the end of the day.

summer has also been full of back yard parties and barbeques.  I stumbled upon this recipe on pinterest and it has become my favorite cookie recipe all year!  I have eaten too many of these to even count!

oh, and in case you have hopes to make yourself feel better and think that they are kind of "healthy"-- I subbed whole wheat flour for all purpose and they still taste wonderful!  they are a little darker and aren't quite as flat, but they are truly delish!

lemon crinkle cookies

life lately

wow, summer is in full swing AND I LOVE IT!  how about some time to catch up?  though summer is here and it seems as though the days should be longer I have had so much to do.  which has been a wonderful blessing.

school ended mid may and it was a bitter-sweet beginning of summer.  the last week of school I accepted a new position at a school in boise.  I am so excited!  however, it was so hard to say goodbye to my school in caldwell and the students, families, and coworkers I have shared the past two years with.  I cherish those years, the relationships, and the growth I experienced there.  I have not wanted to talk about it much because it truly is bitter-sweet.  I know that I am supposed to be in boise at this time though.  I have been feeling a calling toward the city where I live for the past year.  God has really put the city on my heart, specifically the neighborhoods and areas of town that we frequent a lot -- I know that I will be used as a vessel for His work in this city.  and of course, I am thrilled to be closer to home as well :)

enjoying a concert at the botanical gardens from the foothills above.  

I love summers in boise!

shortly after the school year ended the hubs and I drove to southern utah to spend an extended weekend backpacking with the hubs' family in Zion National Park.  Oh my goodness!  zion is truly the most beautiful place I have ever been.  I loved every minute of it.  we backpacked for two days of the trip and camped in campgrounds for the remaining 3 days.  photos do not do the landscape justice.  we also did a day trip through the narrows... hiking up the virgin river... which was the most amazing hike of my life.  I would love to go back again some day.

my beautiful cousin was married at the end of june.  she is one of my very best friends and as dear to me as a sister.  I spent part of the week before the wedding in mccall with her preparing the final details.  I cherished the hours ironing linens and gluing stationary together.  we have been close our entire lives, but specifically the past twelve years or so have been so important for me.  she was my go to person to share exciting news with, she challenged me and pushed me to do things I wouldn't normally because I'm too planned out, she knew I would marry Scott before I did, she encourages me every day, and I cannot be more thrilled for her and her new hubby.  he is an amazing man that loves her well.  the time before the wedding was special for me because she moved to chicago the week after the wedding.  I will miss our daily conversations, but know great things will happen for them and cannot wait to see it!  I guess I'll just have to go visit chicago... and see my brother while I'm at it too!

so beautiful!

my summer job has been the best one I've had yet..  I have been teaching sewing lessons to some school aged girls and it has been a blast.  I am keeping busy and yet have plenty of time for other adventures as well.

speaking of adventures... I have a new office, which means more projects!  I will document them as they happen and post away.  also, I'm traveling to san francisco on vacation with the hubs' family at the end of the month which I am so ready for!

as I've promised time and time again... I'll be posting more... SOON.

update

summer is upon us and my life may have a little more free time... no promises though ;)

I hope to begin posting again soon... here's to summer!

this is my heart... my love for my day to day life

five days a week, I reluctantly drag myself out of my bed, get ready half asleep, drive half an hour to work, and love what I do.  some days are hard.  the past week has been really stressful and difficult.  more days than not my heart breaks.  often I am at a loss for what to do, I need advice, and I feel like I'm in over my head.  is this what you're supposed to admit when talking about your career?  well, this is my truth. 

I don't remember when I landed at the idea of being a school counselor.  I wanted to be an interior decorator, a dress designer, and entrepreneur, a vet (until I realized that most animals scare me before I ever like them), and so many other things.  at one time I was torn between accounting and child psychology... HA!  in that time I searched myself.  I have felt a greater purpose in my life for years now.  I know my life is not my own.  I know I am a tool and a vessel for His love.  I realized I wanted to work in a school for a few reasons: I could pour out love on every child, not just the ones that were crying out, but ALL; I could be a mom eventually; and, let's be honest, I could have every summer off... awesome, right?!

the huge poster that greeted me this morning.  with the name of every student from my school on it.  really, I love them.

 

I do have the best job.  I have been absolutely blessed beyond measure to do what I do each day.  my life struggles include pride and comparing myself--this is why He put me where I am.  DAILY I am humbled by the lives around me.  DAILY I am not enough, I am at a loss for words, and my heart breaks.  I went to school for too long to have no clue as to what to do when a 7 year old tells me what is happening in his home, but often, I don't know what to do.  I do know however that a child needs love.  a child needs to know that someone cares, that he is important, and smart, and special.  this is what creates growth and stretches me in my faith.  this is my job.

life happens in the in between.  life is not about the classes we take, the touchdowns we score, the dates we go on, the awards we win, or even the job we do: life is about everything that happens before, after, and in between those things.  my job consists of greeting children as they arrive from the chaos at home to the extreme structure of school.  I solve problems by throwing footballs and jumping rope at recess.  I teach kids about things I wish didn't exist in life, strangers and drugs and so much more.  I go to a ridiculous amount of meetings.  I wear "teacher clothes" and live in the life of the Ms. and Mrs. with no first names.  what a great life I live.  I get to see everything in the in between.  it's not about the classes, but about the high fives, the smiles, the hugs in the halls, and the "hey buddy" greetings each morning and afternoon.

despite the stories that tear me apart I know that my purpose is greater.  I love the mess.  I love the messy relationships, the people, the adults, the children, and the disaster that we all are.  I am humbly reminded of my need for Him each day in this career and how I am called to follow Him, to love the unlovable, to reach out the the unaccepted.  does it get any better?