Easy Summer Skillet

Anything with the word "easy" in the title has the power to hook me. The fact that I could also use the oodles of fresh veggies from our CSA box too made it the perfect match for our mid-week supper! This was an awesome meal and super simple to make. I would highly suggest it to anyone looking for a new summer go-to.

Ingredients 

2 zucchini (I used squash too!)

2 large Johnsonville summer sausage links

1/2 red onion

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tomato

2 small red potatoes

salt and pepper

Directions

Cut the potatoes into chunks and steam for 10ish minutes until soft.

Meanwhile, slice up all the vegetables to approximately the same size.

Throw them in a skillet over medium-high heat with the olive oil. 

Once the veggies brown a bit, toss the potatoes and sausage in and sauté for another few minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Enjoy!

Steaming the potatoes

Half of the veggies

More veggies and sausage!

Simmerin' away

 Supper is served!

Friday's Letters-[06.29]

It's a fantastic edition of Friday's Letters with Adventures of Newlyweds!

Dear hubby, Thank you for being so wonderful. Seriously, you are pretty awesome opossum. The way you take care of me and look after me is amazing. I love how you make me laugh and remind me just to chillax sometimes. I am so proud of all your hard work and what you have accomplished in all the paths that you travel down. It has been an incredible two years and I cannot wait for all the more to come!

Dear foot, You have been quite the nuisance this week. Please continue not to hurt more than a dull ache. It would be really swell if you could hurry up and heal so I can get back to moving and shaking!

Dear Mandy, Thank you oh so very much for coming to help take care of me. I greatly appreciate you driving me on my errands and fetching things for me. I would have been in a terrible place without your help!

Dear readers, Thank you for all the love after my surgery! I am very grateful for your well-wishes and prayers!

Dear Daisy, You are so sweet to your momma. Thank you for being such a good pillow and snuggler. You are an awesome little spoon. Keep up the good work, princess.

Dear bloggers, Anyone interested in guest posting?? I'm still on the hunt for some writers to step in for me while I am at the beach in July!

Thankful Thursday-Living In The Moment

I will not waste my days
Making up all kinds of ways
To worry about all the things
That will not happen to me
  -Jason Mraz

I have so much to be thankful for in my life. I am continually amazed at how blessed I am. This weekly representation barely scratches the surface of all the wonderful ways the Lord provides for me. Here are a few things I am counting as a blessing this week:

my sweet husband

I cannot say enough about this man. He looks out for and cares for me in a way I didn't know was possible. One small example is how he took off of work to care for me when I had my surgery. He could have just as easily gone back to work after my surgery, but instead he catered to my every request-even anticipating many of them before they happened!

rest & relaxation

This surgery is a great reminder to rest and relax. I rush and rush all school year, so settling down to do nothing is a bit of an adjustment. I'm learning to sleep in, catch up on reading, and let things go. 

family and friends

I'm so thankful for all the people who have checked in on me and made sure I'm OK. I am seriously so blessed by all the people who care enough about me to check on me!

 the pool

While I can't get in for a few weeks, it is nice to know that the pool is just down the road for me to cool off in when these temps jump to the hundreds!

walking

This may sound strange, but I am so grateful for the ability to walk. Hobbling around on these crutches and not being able to walk is a great reminder what a blessing it is to walk on my own! Can't wait to toss these crutches to the side and do my own thing again. 

Surgery? Um, OK

That was my exact response to the orthopedic surgeon yesterday morning. I need surgery? Um, OK. Let me back up and start the story from the beginning. . .

A little over two months ago I started getting a bit of a sore spot on my foot. Well, the sore spot grew and it grew and it grew. I saw my general physicians who took some x-rays. He determined it was benign and that it was likely caused by overuse and the thinning of my bones due to the steroids for my kidneys. The steroids strike again! He prescribed some antibiotics and I was on my way.

Two weeks later it was still there and the pain was getting worse. Ugh. I called The Momma, who moonlights as a nurse when she's not a momma to the Wardlets, who suggested I see the orthopedic doctor for his opinion. This brings us to yesterday. It took him less than five minutes to diagnose it as a fatty cyst that needed to go. Fun. I met with his scheduling nurse who told me it looked like it would be a few weeks until he could fit me in. While this would be after our trip to the beach with the hubby's family, it would also be right before my school district's summer conference at which I am presenting. Crutching around during a presentation? No, thank you! I went out on a limb and asked if she had any appointments open for the next day, even though it was super short notice. I was in luck-there had been a cancellation!

That brought us to today and this:

Lovely, right? My surgery was scheduled for 10:45, which meant they wanted us there at 9:15 for prep and such. We met with multiple nurses, the anesthesiologist, the orthopedic doctor, and others over the course of an hour and a half. A little before 11 they injected a concoction of drugs into my IV and things got spotty from there. I don't remember rolling down the hall, but I remember looking at some lights in a different room. The next thing I know I'm groggily being woken up by a nurse asking if I want a drink. Huh? I glance down and I have a lovely wrap around my foot.

 No, I wasn't on any meds at all

I was still pretty groggy for the next bit. I don't remember David coming in, but I do remember the nurse bringing me a drink which was before David arrived. Anywho, after some time of waking up, and apparently raving about how wonderful the hospital was compared to my last hospital visit, we were on our way! We headed to Moe's for lunch to pig out. After not eating for well over 12 hours I was in desperate need of some food.

Here I am now on the couch where I will be camped out for the foreseeable future. It's a week on crutches and completely off my foot, two weeks out of water, and three weeks until I can wear closed-toed shoes. Bah humbug.

Any shows suggestions on Netflix or HuluPlus??

Two Years Down, Many To Go!

Today marks the day that my sweet hubby and I have been married two whole years! Eeeek! I'm still having trouble wrapping my brain around the fact that we've been a part of the "married club" for two whole years. Not to mention, this pretty much marks the end of our tenure as newlyweds. While that saddens me a bit, it's also pretty exciting. In the past two years we have overcome so much and learned even more about each other. Some of the highlights. . .

truly living out the "in sickness and in health" part of our vows and coming back to the health side of things.

overcoming hundreds of miles between us while he was working in Alabama.

conquering work stress that threatened to place a stake in our marriage and stay put. No worries, we're learning to kick that uninvited mess to the curb!

supporting each other as we chase our dreams together.

making sure God stays at the center of our relationship and any decisions we make.

remembering to laugh at the situations and each other. After all, "a day without laughter is a day wasted".

These are just a few of the highlights. There have been so many moments that have sent us up, down, and all around this past year. I am full of hope and prayer for what the next fifty, sixty, and maybe even seventy years hold for us! A few pictures from our big day. . .

Happy Anniversary, my love!

While I've Been Away. . .

I'm back!! At least for a few weeks before we're headed back to the beach with the hubby's extended family. I live such a rough life, don't I? Speaking of which, any of you fabulous ladies interested in guest posting for me while I'm away?? No worries if you've guest posted here before, we'd love to have you back:-) Just shoot me an email/comment below and I'll connect with ya! Anywho, here are a few thing that happened in my absence:

The super sweet Melody stopped on by to share her favorites about the beach!

I also won a fabulous bag from Dalayna! 

Modeling my new bag!

Please excuse the jim-jams, it was a long drive home. . .

  Up close!

The hubby and I spent quite a few hours soaking in the sun and making new friends with random NCSU peeps! The Wolfpack nation spreads far and wide:-)

These up-close-and-personal shots never turn out like you hope!

My view for the past few days

In other news, y'all have helped me reach 95 followers-wahoo! A giveaway is coming at 100! Get excited:-)

And I got a new blog button, so if you feel so inclined I'd love for you to switch them out. Let me know, though, so I can add yours!

Happy Monday, y'all!

Guest Post-Melody at Sweet Like a Song!

Good morning all! While I am away soaking in the sun (with sunscreen on, of course!) and celebrating our second anniversary with my love, the sweet Melody will be stepping in and sharing her own beach must-do's! Be sure to stop by and say hello:-)

Hi everyone! I'm Melody and I blog over at Sweet Like a Song! I'm so excited to be with you today, while Miss Lauren is vacationing to the beach!

In honor of everyone that's heading on vacation this week or sometime this summer, I thought I'd share my top 5 favorite activities to do while I'm at the beach! I'd love to know if any of these are your favorites as well!

1. Eat great food!

Eating good food is a priority of mine all year long, but it is especially important at the beach! I love the little pizza places that deliver and the local sub shops, but the seafood is my all-time favorite! If I'm going to the beach, I make sure that at least one night of the trip we have good seafood.

Outer Banks, NC 2010

2. Go shopping!

Shopping is one of my absolute favorite things to do while I'm at the beach! When I was little, I loved all the beachy stores like Wings and Eagles (the places with all the t-shirts & beach towels). Though my tastes have changed a lot, I still love shopping at the beach! Tanger Outlets and local boutiques? Sign me up! I always feel like I need to buy something just because it's a special occasion. 

New Smyrna Beach, FL 2012

3. Get dressed up & do something fun!

Whether it's one time during your trip or every night, I'm a strong believer in getting dressed up and doing something fun at night! Whether that be, walking on the pier, going putt-putt, riding go carts, whatever! I love staying out on the beach all day, coming in to get cleaned up and then doing something fun with my family at night!

Charleston, SC 2012

4. Beach reading

There's something about laying on the beach with a good book that makes you feel so relaxed! I love this feeling and I do it as much as I can! During my own beach trip in a couple days, I'll be starting the first Fifty Shades of Grey book! I'm so excited to finally know what everyone's talking about!

via

5. Make fun snacks!

I think it's so much fun to go to the grocery store at the beach (Piggly Wiggly anyone?) and buy supplies to make snacks at your house or condo! This is a great time to try out fun dips or dessert recipes you've seen on Pinterest. Whether your family is eating in or going out for dinner each night, you're always going to need snacks around the house to munch on! 

My personal favorite? Fruit pizza! 

I hope you've enjoyed hearing about my favorite things to do at the beach! If you'd like to learn more about me, I'd love to have you stop by and visit my blog! Thanks so much Lauren for letting me guest post for you!

Friday's Letters [06.22]

Happy Friday y'all! It's time to link up with Adventures of Newlyweds for a FAB edition of Friday's Letters:-)

Dear beach, Oh, how I adore you! You have been a wonderful friend to me this week and I am excited to be visiting you again this weekend. Thank you for being so kind and aiding in my relaxation in such a fabulous way. You rock.

Dear almond coconut milk, Wowzers, you sure are yummy. You extreme cheapness at the Teeter last week was a total fluke, but has created an addiction. You are the perfect addition to my coffee or oatmeal, and I have no doubt you would be delish in a milkshake! Rest assured, you are a new regular on my grocery list.

Dear Scott & Tiffany, We are so lucky we were able to witness your joining as man and wife last weekend. You make a beautiful couple and we wish you the best of luck as you embark on your new life!

Dear Davido, Speaking of weddings, can you believe it will be two years on Tuesday that we have been married?? Time sure does fly when you're having fun;-) I am so excited to celebrate this milestone this weekend at the beach!

Dear "Sweetie Tea" ice cream, You were better than I expected! Your flavor was not over powering at all and the crumbled up tea cakes were the perfect touch. And the fact that I found out you were local made you a bajillion times better! Here is to many more summer nights of your deliciousness.

Dear self, You post too much about food. Maybe you should have a talk with yourself about healthy choices. Maybe.

Thankful Thursday-Beach Music

I love beach music
I always have and I always will
There ain't no other kind of music in the world that gives me quite the thrill
When I hear...
60 minute man, and walkin' up the one-way street
He's up on the roof, he's under the boardwalk
Summertime's a-callin' me

-The Embers

As always, I have MUCH to be thankful for this week. Here is a glimpse at all the awesome in my life:

sisters

 Brothers are awesome too, but there is just something about the bond between sisters that is indescribable.

supportive husbands

 How superb is a hubby who encourages me to do whatever makes me happy?? Pretty superb:-)

coupons

 This week is SUPER DOUBLES at the Teeter. That means they will double coupons up to $2.00. How sweet is that? I spent roughly $30 and saved $107!! Hard to beat savings like that!

lazy days on the beach

Earlier this week and the next few days were just what the doctor ordered for this tired teacher! 

summer fruits & veggies

I love all the fresh foods that are available at this time of year. They are really encouraging us to expand our taste buds. I don't hate it.

wonderful friends & family who voted for me
I was selected as one of the winners!! My plate will now be made! Thank you all VERY much:-)

massages
Enough said.

What are you thankful for this week??  

Strawberry Pretzel Icebox Pie

I made this delicious treat in honor of Father's Day. My daddy is not the biggest fan of sweet treats (must get that from my Momma!) but always appreciates something tasty. I found this little treasure in a magazine and decided to whip it up. Boy oh boy, am I glad that I did! This is definitely worth the time and few hours of waiting. Let me know what ya think!

Ingredients

2 cups finely crushed pretzel sticks 

3/4 cup butter, melted 

1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries 

1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 

1/2 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened 

4 tablespoons plus 1 tsp. strawberry gelatin

2 cups whipping cream, divided 

1/3 cup granulated sugar

Directions 

 Preheat oven to 350°. 

Stir together first 3 ingredients; firmly press on bottom, up sides of a lightly greased 10-inch pie plate. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. 

Remove from oven and cool completely (about 30 minutes).

 Process strawberries in a food processor until finely chopped. 

Beat condensed milk and next 2 ingredients at medium speed with mixer until smooth. 

Add strawberries; beat at low speed just until blended. 

Transfer to a large bowl.

Beat 3/4 cup whipping cream at high speed until soft peaks form.

Gently fold whipped cream into strawberry mixture. 

Spoon into prepared crust. 

Cover and freeze 8 to 12 hours or until firm.

Beat remaining 1 1/4 cups whipping cream at high speed until foamy.

Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until soft peaks form. 

Spread over pie. 

Freeze 1 hour or until whipped cream is firm.

Enjoy!

I didn't get a picture because it was gone before I got the chance! I highly suggest this delicious summer treat for your next get together:-)

 

Wordless Wednesday [06.20]

Emergency Products

Every girl has her emergency go-to products. The ones she couldn't possibly live without and would have to replace if she went on a far off trip and happened to forget one or two (been there, done that, stopped at Target). Here are a few of my must-haves!

I've searched high and low for the perfect mascara, and I think I've finally found it! It lengthens and adds volume without adding a lot of weight. Not to mention, there is no clumping! The fact that David's aunt is a Mary Kay rep is an added bonus:-)

Every Southern belle knows that pearls are the perfect complement to any outfit. I can put mine on with a fancy party dress or to wear with my ball cap running errands. Regardless of what I wear them with they add a classy component to everything I wear!

I've been using this stuff since high school, and there is no hope of getting me to switch! Everyone wants to perfect light moisturizer with SPF, and it's here. I feel my skin absolutely glow whenever I put it on. It evens out my skin tone and makes my face baby soft. Couldn't be happier!

Lip balm is something else I've searched high and low for in my lifetime, so when The Momma introduced me to Burt's Bees I knew there was no going back. It protects and soothes my chapped lips without a lot of weight.

Another great product The Momma introduced me to! Aren't mommas just the best?? This is a great face wash for all skin-types, especially my combination skin. It removes my makeup and cleanses my skin without a lot of lather. Not to mention, my skin doesn't dry out! Score!

What are some of your go-to products??

Rapid Rewind

It's been another whirlwind of a weekend, and the crazy/wonderful fun will only continue in the next week! A rapid rewind:

First there was this on Friday. . .

Then we were blessed to witness this. . .

And I got a good laugh at this. . .

And now I'm headed here. . .

I'm heading to the beach with The Momma for a few days, then back home for a bit, then back to the beach with my sweet hubby to celebrate our anniversary! Anyone interested in stepping in and writing a post or two for my little corner of the internet?? 

Also, if y'all haven't voted yet I would be very grateful if you popped over to Sweet Tea Paperie and voted for my plate!

Happy Sunday y'all!

Simple Summer Spaghetti

A few weeks ago we got a slew of summer vegetables in our farm box. I knew I wanted to do something different with them so on the hunt I went! I found what turned out to be a very simple recipe for "summer spaghetti". Even my husband who insists on meat at every meal enjoyed it! Take a look below for a fabulous way to prepare some of those awesome veggies you've been seeing on sale in the stores.

Ingredients

12 oz. package dry spaghetti

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

5 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped 

crushed red pepper to taste

2 cups cut-up grilled zucchini and/or summer squash

2 cups red and/or yellow cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil or Italian parsley

Directions

Bring large pot of salted water to boiling.

Stir in spaghetti.

  Cook 9-10 minutes or until tender.

Strain noodles and reserve 1 cup of liquid.

Meanwhile, combine olive oil, garlic, and crushed red pepper.

Cook over medium heat roughly 3 minutes or until garlic softens.

Stir in zucchini, tomatoes, and torn basil.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Reduce heat to low.

Stir in noodles and pasta liquid into skillet with vegetables.

Heat thoroughly.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Transfer to large serving bowl and sprinkle with basil.

Enjoy!

Friday's Letters [06.15]

It's a fabulous Friday with Adventures of Newlyweds!

Dear summer, Welcome. You were very much missed. We are so happy to have you here. Please wear out your welcome.

Dear readers, Check me out at Coffee at Nordstrom. I'm posting on our little love story in honor of Crystal's new marriage!

Dear focus, Where have you gone? I thought with more sleep and a shorter to-do list you would be sharper. Boy, was I off base on that one! Could you come back for a few days? I really need to work on this presentation and your presence would make life significantly easier. Appreciate it.

Dear Boyce Avenue, How did I not know about you sooner?? Seriously, your Pandora station is my new go-to and that's saying a lot for this T-Swizzle (Taylor Swift for all you cool kids not up on my wannabe cool language) fan. Keep up the stellar work. PS- A T-Swizzle remake would be awesome sauce.

Dear Charlotteans, Any suggestions on a good place to get a massage? That's my "reward" for ending the school year without losing my mind and going completely gray.

Dear Date Night, You were wonderful! I'm so glad you were able to join our marriage yesterday evening. Looking forward to next week! (PS-post on the importance of date nights coming soon!)
 

My hot date!

Dear readers, Y'all get two posts today, don't you feel special?! I made it to the top six of the Plate Design Contests-WAHOOO!!! A HUGE thank you to everyone who voted for me the first time around. Would you pretty pretty please with a cherry on top vote again? The top 3 at the end of next Friday get their plates made! Click here to vote. Many many thanks!

Thankful Thursday-Falling In

Every time I see your face
My heart takes off on a high speed chase
Now don't be scared, it's only love
That we're falling in
I would never do you wrong
Or let you down or lead you on
Don't look down, it's only love
Baby, that we're falling in
  -Lifehouse

It's been a few weeks since I've done one of these posts. Not because I haven't had a plethora of things to be thankful for, but because I've just had a lot on my mind! Here are a few things I am thanking God for on this beautiful summer morning. . .

summer vacation!!

People keep asking me what I'm up to this summer and I am so excited to share about the trips with family and the time I get to spend relaxing. Not to mention the time I get to catch up on sleep!

part-time job

I am so thankful for the opportunity to hang out with some of the neighbor kids a few hours a week. It's the perfect balance for all of us.

my sweet husband

His rockstar patience and support of me is incredible. I would be lost without this man!

coffee shops

I love that I have a few hours to spend in a coffee shop. I don't even mind that I'm working on school work!

beach

I am thrilled to be beach bound next week. Between the few days I get with The Momma and then the few days I get with the hubby I'm thinking I'll be VERY relaxed by the end of next week:-)

School's Out!

School isn't really out for forever, but it is out for the summer! After a long, and often stressful, second year I am very grateful for a few months of rest. A reflection of the past year:

I would be lost without my teammates!

Their humor and realistic attitudes kept me grounded. If it weren't for their support and faith in me as a teacher I never would have received BTOY.

You have to laugh.

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

-Charlie Chaplin

Collaboration is key!

It is amazing what can happen when you put your heads together. So many great things came out of meetings this year. I am hopeful for the awesome things we have in place for next year's kiddos.

Put your best foot forward

You may be having a hard day. You may be ready to fall asleep standing. You may be ready to curl up in a ball and cry. You still need to put your best foot forth; your kids deserve that much.

Pray.

Never give up faith that God has a purpose for each student, despite how stressed they may make you at that moment!

I am so grateful for this year and the experiences I had. If it weren't for the lessons from my students, administration, and co-workers I wouldn't be where I am today!

Poison Ivy

A few weeks ago our pastor preached on being in a "waiting room" of life. He asked us all to ponder whether or not we felt like we were in a waiting room. Were we waiting for a better job? Were we waiting for kids? Were we waiting for our spouse to fix some problem we were convinced they had?  It took me a second to think about it, but I realized pretty quickly that I was in a waiting room.

At the time I was waiting for the school year to end. It was in the thick of testing and craziness (hence why this post is weeks late!) and I was waiting for it to end. I think most teachers can agree with me that the last month of school is pure madness, but the knowledge that the end is near keeps us going. The problem is that we just keep going. Many of us don't have the energy to continue to minister to our students as we should.

While this is just my example, I'm sure we can all think of other examples. Are you waiting for that beach vacation? Are you waiting for the weekend? Are you waiting for that next project at work? I think many of us are in some sort of waiting room. The better question than asking if you're in a waiting room is, what are you doing in that waiting room?

Once I realized my waiting room I realized what a horrible patient I was. You know the type who sits in the room waiting for the doctor, complaining the entire time about not being the doctor's number one priority. The annoying one y'all want to run from. That was me for a month. My sweet husband had mentioned it (gosh I sure do hate when he's right!), but instead of me taking his constructive criticism and trying to fix the problem I allowed myself to continue to dwell in it. Our pastor had a great quote, "complaining is like poison ivy. The more you scratch at it, the worse it gets." Meaning, the more you do it, the worse it seems. He couldn't have been more accurate about the waiting room I was in. Not only was I in a waiting room, but my poison ivy was spreading.

My waiting room has come and gone, but that doesn't mean another one won't rear its ugly head. I am challenging myself to not let poison ivy spread next time I am in a sticky situation. I am challenging myself to not allow myself to get stuck in a waiting room. I am challenging myself to be missional and purposeful despite the challenges around me. I ask that y'all hold me to that and try it for yourself. Find your waiting room and instead of scratching your poison ivy, witness God's love for us to those around you!

Beach Essentials!

It's that time of year, folks! The time of year when we're all itching to get our toes in the sand and booties in a beach chair. We actually have a few trips scheduled that I am counting down the days to! Before we can depart we must pack a few beach essentials to make the most of our trip. A few things to toss in the bag before you leave:

1. Books and Magazines
   What is more perfect than hours of uninterrupted reading of your favorite books and magazines on the beach? Not much! 
   
2. sunscreen
   Cancer is not cute. End of story.
   
3. Refreshing Liquids
   water, beer, whatever your poison of choice you definitely need something to stay hydrated!
   
4. hat and sunglasses
   Along the same lines as sunscreen, these are crucial for protecting that precious skin on your face.
   
5.  Games
   This is more for those beach goers like my husband. While I am perfectly content to sit in my chair and rest for hours. My hubby on the other hand would rather die a slow, painful death than sit still on the beach for that long. Our games of choice are bocce ball and corn hole!
   
6. Towels and Chairs
   Whether you're going to sit there for the long haul or just to regain your energy, they are essential!

What is on your beach essentials list??

Beet Chips

This past week a whole bunch of beets showed up in our CSA box. Who likes beets?? Not many people that's the answer. I scrounged around for a recipe and found one for "beet chips". We were surprised to find they were actually pretty good! David even asked that any more beets we receive be turned into chips. Will I be running out to buy them? Probably not but at least I have something to do with them if they are ever gifted to us!

Ingredients

4 beets, scrubbed -- do not peel  

1 Tbsp. olive oil

sea salt to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

Slice beets thinly. You want them to be the size of a potato chip. 

Toss with olive oil and salt. 

Spread evenly on a cookie sheet. 

Roast 45 minutes to 1 hour, turning halfway through, until crisp. 

(Check often to make sure they don't burn)

Enjoy!

 

The culprits

Before heading into the oven.

The finished product!