Red....

yep, it's that week. The week where I dig for something in my closet that is red.



I am blonde and I don't have a single thing in my closet the color red, except for these......

not sure why I even look, I usually grab my 1998 pink GAP button down and cuff the sleeves for the ol' Valentine's Day party at my girl's school. This year, probably no different.

That doesn't stop me from adding a little red around the house. Some of my favorite items in my house are red....

What's your favorite red item you own????


Happy Monday Y'all! I'm off to the grocery store for some ingredients to have some V'day fun in the kitchen!

keepin' it real....

a friend of mine's old title to her blog was the title of this post.

Her goal.

Keeping her blog real...like in, real life....



I admire her for always, putting the pretty, and not so pretty, things out there.

A few months ago, I was approached with some really fun opportunities.

Both, of which was presented to me just days before announcing our closing of Bellamia.

I had such mixed emotions and struggled really hard with turning one down and postponing the other.

I knew I just couldn't say yes to them during that time.

My plate was full, but it was going to be SO.MUCH.FUN!

I had to give them an answer soon.


I struggled.


Then God gave me great peace.


I thought it was terrible timing, but it was in fact the right time. I turned down something that was right up my ally. But I was able to postpone the other.


Even though I wasn't able to do that something that very moment in my life, it was if God was saying "I told you I would take care of you. I have many opportunities for you. It's okay to say no, because I will have more lined up."


So that is how I took it, and was very encouraged.

Some of you remember this.









We had so much fun re-doing our oldest daughter's bedrooms last year. I pretty much had Jillian's room complete. I still have not found a rug for Emily's, which I am okay with; I just haven't found "the one".


Somehow the pics of the rooms made it to Wiregrass Living Magazine, in which resulted in them wanting to feature Jillian's room in an upcoming edition.


I was thrilled, humbled, and then kinda wanted to throw up.

I literally never thought any room in my house "magazine worthy". Those rooms normally always look, staged or not "lived in".



So, before you say that about the above pictures, let me assure you with the pictures below that it is "lived in" by keeping it real....

The day before the shoot.....

Jillian still had a Merry Christmas "welcome sign" on her door entering her room (yes, I know it's February),

 her desk was piled high with school projects (old ones, not current. Still trying to figure out what the heck to do with them.),

Mimi picked up this trash can from Target (sticker still on, from maybe last September..),

Paint on the bedding from when Tim and I had it in our room (and when our room was blue),

$40 deal on this beautiful beat up dresser that needed TLC was a steal, but it is still unfinished (because I am convinced I will find a matching drawer pull SOMEWHERE IN DOTHAN and not have to purchase online),

I had not yet pulled off the stickers randomly placed on furniture (how do I prevent this from happening?? Mom and Gram, stop giving my kids stickers, it always makes furniture prettier, so the girls say.),

I told Jillian to clean her closet.......sigh.

 I have a 12 year old, that lives like a 12 year old. I told Wiregrass Living during the interview when asked what makes this a great teenager room.......


"It is white. It looks crisp and clean, and what I hear, teenagers are pretty messy."


Not sure when it will be featured, but keep a look out! It is a beautiful, well done magazine, that is truly a piece of art. You can click on their website above for information on subscribing to it. It would make an awesome gift; I know, because my mom gave it to me, Thanks Mom!

just for fun.....

If the weather hasn't made you think of summer, then maybe this will.....

When I saw these at Sam's Club for around $2.50 per pack, my mind immediately envisioned an outdoor party, serving up Fish and Chips, Good ol' Hamburgers and Fries, or Bar-b-que and Slaw during the lazy days of Summer....


And when I got home and my girls helped me unload the goodies and they saw these, they said "awwwww, these are so cute..."


Thankful they have an imagination also :)


Hope this inspires you to think outside the box (or paper plates).....



Happy Tuesday!

Gossip.....

Let's face it.


IT. IS. JUST.FUN.




Let's face it.


This title really got your attention.



Let's face it.


We want to know.



Let's face it.


IT.IS.WRONG.



Let's face it.


We really don't care.


Let's face it.



That is exactly the lie Satan feeds, that our flesh believes.


Let's face it.


Our soul knows better.




But how do we stop it..........




For those of you just tuning in, we have three girls.


And those of you know, gossip + girls go hand and hand.


Not, saying boys don't love gossip, it's just something that comes naturally to us girl's sinful nature. It is something that makes raising girls very challenging. It starts at an early age, but once it grows into the teens, it becomes vicious. It's when the term "mean girls" really takes it's meaning.


Gossip comes is different shapes and forms, but the bottom line-

It is to tear down others.
Build you up.


This is our B.M.V. for the week.....

I had never thought about how this verse and gossip can relate. But the Lord put it on my heart this week that it does, and that is one way we will apply it.


We've all heard, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all".

But it's more than that.

Not only should you not say, but you are to encourage.


Encourage good that is.

How do you encourage someone that just belittled you.

How do you encourage someone that broke trust.

How do you encourage someone that slandered your name.

How?

Pray and Act.

It will be the work of the Holy Spirit in both of your lives, but we have to Act. No matter if we don't want to. No matter how hard it will be. No matter, no matter, no matter.


For us to say "we can't" and "we won't", is telling our children that His word is NOT true, He can not restore and He doesn't know what is best for us.

Teaching our girls and preaching to ourselves to love and encourage, not just the ones that are easy, but the ones that are hard.


"Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today." Hebrews 3:13

Almond Kick...

I'm on an Almond Kick. Tim and I are trying to eat healthier, and by that, we are cutting out some of my favorites, like by beloved pastas. gasp.........I might need a moment of silence......

  We are trying to cut back on eating less carbs in general and I find that Almonds are providing me with a wonderful satisfying taste and so, I'm using it to kick it up a notch to my everyday staples.





With that in mind, I have tried to come up with side dishes that are pleasing and light. But let's face it, you have to eat a ton of steamed or roasted "greens" to fill up, and it still just doesn't satisfy like the carbs.



Let me introduce to you the cauliflower....

I have served it up a couple ways (that i didn't record or take pics of, sorry), and have become found of the tasty filler it provides. We have used it as a substitute for several of my usual carb sides like, potatoes or rice.


I do love me some bread dipped in a blend of spices and olive oil, but that has left our table as well. It will return I am sure of it; but for now, I am on a mission and I refuse to buy it, because I don't need any distractions!



Baby Portabella Mushrooms are meatier and therefore give you more satisfaction when eating them, and that is why I paired the two.


Here is what I did-


Wash your Cauliflower, mushrooms and green beans.


Add two cups of water to a very large skillet and add two chicken bullion cubes. Turn to high and bring to boil. Whisk the cubes until dissolved.

Add your veggies and boil/steam for 7-10 mins (desired tenderness). Place your lid over the top and drain broth, leaving veggies in pan.

Crank the heat back up and sprinkle with salt, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle about 1/2 cup of Almonds. Sautee' to get a nice brown coating for about 3-5 mins.

Place veggies on a large baking sheet and pre-heat oven to 450 degrees (this is to pop the veggies in right before serving to warm them back up).

I needed the skillet for the next task!


Almond Crusted Tilapia.

Season both of your sides of Tilapia with salt (to taste).



In your large skillet add about 4 tbls of Olive Oil and turn heat to med high.

Chop about a cup of almonds and place on a plate.

crust one side of the fish with almonds by laying over almonds and pressing firmly down.

Place Tilapia crust down in hot oil. Keep temp high as to create a nice toasted crunchy crust. Squeeze juice from one Lemon over all pieces. Cook for 8 mins.

Flip and sear for another 3-4 mins.

When you flip your fish, place the veggies in the pre-heated oven to warm up!

Enjoy! 

Bananas.....

This morning we were 30 mins early in getting ready before heading off to school. This doesn't happen often. As we all sat together in the Living Room while Tim and I enjoyed our morning cup of joe, we set goals for the day. Each one set one, I set four. The fourth being blogging.


This post doesn't mean I completed 1,2 and 3.


In fact.

I only accomplished number one so far. Which is not even this recipe that I am blogging about.



Sometimes, that's how I roll.

Some of you know, we decided to Homeschool Elizabeth the last part of this year.

That is another topic, for another day.



Today, when working on math, I decided we should wrap up our fractions, by putting them to good use in the kitchen.

So we did.




I think Math and Home Economics are very important.

That is also, another topic for another day.

I had some bananas, shall we say, maturing...ack hem; so I ventured to this site for a good ol' Banana Bread recipe; because we all know she is going to produce a good one.

I laughed at her first line on this blog post, because I can relate. Besides being one of the longest words (besides Mississippi) that I felt a sense of accomplishment by spelling it at an early age, I detest bananas. Hate them (yes, I know that is what detest means. Just really trying to get my point across here). I think they are disgusting and I as well, have never eaten a whole one. And because of that, I made my girls eat them since infancy and they like them. That is something that I am proud of, and can hopefully add that to the list of "I'm glad my mom made me do it".

But, even though my fondness of despising the monkey's favorite grows yearly...... I LOVE Banana Bread. Go figure.

I followed the recipe to a "t", except.....

There is only one thing that stood out as being odd in this recipe. The lack of salt and vanilla extract.

I know Ree knows what she's doing, but I love, love some extract. Since using salted butter , I didn't add salt, but when going for the vanilla; opted for it's lovely companion, Almond extract. And of course, if you are like me, I love nuts added to anything. I added the extract (1/2 tsp)after the butter and sugar was creamed for those that want to know.

Therefore, I toasted some almonds (with a little butter and a sprinkle of salt) for taste and beauty. Sprinkled the almonds on top with a sprinkle of sugar as well and waaaaaa laaaa....

Because I used loaf pans instead of bundt, my cook time was exactly an hour, instead of 1hr 10min.

Loaf pans make it easier for sharing :)

Serve it up with a nice cup of joe or cold milk!

Enjoy!