It's Christmas time...

I love Christmas time and all that comes along with it--people seem more friendly, Christmas music, and especially decorations!

Last year we were still getting settled into our house and didn't have very many Christmas decorations. This year, we are decked out and I love it!

My parents bought us a Christmas tree for our anniversary and it is a perfect tree!

I borrowed a tree skirt from my mama, it's one that my aunt made for her, I like it--adds a nice touch to the tree.








We were very blessed to get lots of gift cards for our wedding so I used the last of the pottery barn ones to buy stockings for us and have them monogrammed--I think they turned out really pretty :)









These are adorable snowmen that my mama and I made (she did most of the work) She made the one with the ear muffs extra short so they would look like me and Kyle.












Found this sweet surprise in my car early one morning before work...I have the best husband ever!










What makes your Christmas special?

Delicious cookies

I am a cookie girl, always have been always will be. Growing up I never wanted a cake for my birthday, always cookies or brownies :) Something chewy and chocolatey. I love to bake and have found many good cookie recipes in the past few years. I don't make them very often, not unless we have somewhere to take them because me and Kyle will eat them all. And well that's not good for the waistline!

I have a cabinet full of cookbooks, most of which I had never really looked through. Don't get me wrong I love to cook, but I don't leave myself enough time and I'm always hesitant about trying a new recipe. I have been finding lots of recipes on pinterest but I decided to take advantage of all these cookbooks.

So I've been going through them and putting post-it notes on recipes that sound good, would be east to make or fun to take to a group for dinner. I found a recipe for brown sugar oatmeal cookies. The cookbook said they only cost $.08 a serving (it was a cheap and easy meals cookbook) So I decided to make them for my Bible study group this week--let's just say it's a good thing the recipe made over 4 dozen cookies because quite a few disappeared before group.

They taste like a bowl of oatmeal only in cookie form. They are super easy to make, I used my kitchen aid for most of it and then had my hubby stir the oats in for me cause I couldn't get it mixed well enough. I would love to have these around the house more often but I think me and Kyle would both be buying new clothes if that was the case ;) Although, these cookies are fairly healthy since they have 1/2 regular flour 1/2 whole wheat flour.


Brown Sugar-Oatmeal Cookies (from Pilsbury Savvy Shoppers cookbook)
1 3/4 c packed brown sugar
1 c butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 c all-purpose flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 c old-fashion oats

• Heat oven to 350. Beat brown sugar and butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and eggs until well blended
• On low speed, beat in all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour and baking powder until well combined. Stir in oats
• Ungreased cookie sheet (I always use the cookie sheet covers)
  
• Bake 12 minutes. Cool 1 minute then transfer to cooling rack

It is well with my soul.

In all honesty it has been a hard month. I've been tired and crabby (my husband deserves major credit for loving me through all of it) I've been letting my worries and insecurities get the best of me. I am having a hard time being content and enjoying where I am at. I always imagined that I would graduate from college and *poof* get my dream 9-5 job. Thing is--I don't know what that dream job is...so I don't know where to start to get that job haha. But the other thing is--I have an awesome job that allows me a lot of extra free time that I wouldn't get with a 9-5 job. I haven't been taking advantage of that free time, I haven't been growing closer to the Lord in those spare moments, I haven't been searching out my passions during this free time.

This morning after work I went to LA fitness, usually I listen to pandora radio while I work out but today I just put my iPod on shuffle and It is Well With my Soul by Aaron Ivey came on. I just felt the Lord speaking to me through this song--"whatever my lot thou has taught me to say it is well, it is well with my soul" That is my prayer for today, tomorrow and the coming days.

I hope this song speaks to you in some way today.

A busy summer

Growing up I remember counting down the days until summer vacation, and I guess in some aspects I still do that but summer is different when you are a grown up. I feel like time is in fast forward, I haven't had a chance to blog and partly because I found pinterest which has consumed most of my computer time.

Last week I finished my last class meaning I'm a college graduate, which still hasn't sunk in but I'm sure it will once August comes around!! Although I'm not currently using my degree directly, having some insight into the human mind does come in handy when dealing with customers on a daily basis haha. I am learning to have a still and patient heart and trust God for my future path. That statement is not easy for me, I am a planner, I like to know what is going on weeks out and what I need to do to get there. God has showed me I'm not in charge and my planning without His guidance is in vain.

For now, I am enjoying the place I am at--at a great job with great people, being married to my best friend, learning to be a supportive wife, and taking advantage of my extra time now that school is done!!!

How has your summer been, busy like ours? :)

Chicken Bacon Bites

This past week we had our first pot luck dinner with our new life group, which we are so excited about!! I decided to make some chicken bacon bites that have become a favorite among our families. I have made them for all kinds of occasions, and they disappear cause they are so delicious! Plus a huge bonus is they are easy to make, require very few ingredients, and are easy to transport to a party.

It's a Paula Deen recipe so how can it not be delicious right? ;)

What you need:
2 raw chicken breasts
1 package of uncooked bacon
2/3 c. packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp chili powder
toothpicks

Heat the oven to 350 degrees

The first thing I do is get my rub ready so that I don't have raw meat on my hands when I touch all my ingredients and measuring cups. Just mix them together in a flat dish so that you will be able to roll the bites in them. (Don't worry about the amount of chili powder being too spicy, it really just adds a smoky flavor and a tiny kick but I've never had anyone complain about the heat)

Start out by cutting the chicken into cubes, about 1" cubes works best. Then using kitchen scissors cut the bacon strips in half. Put a piece of the chicken on one of the cut bacon strips and roll until it's covered, use a toothpick to keep the bite closed.

Now place the bite in the brown sugar, chili powder mixture and using a spoon make sure it's all covered including the top and the sides.
Place the deliciously covered bites on a cookie sheet, leaving about an inch between each one.

Place them in the hot oven and let them cook between 30 and 45 minutes. It really depends on the size of the chicken as to how long they cook. The outsides should look crispy and bubbly when you take them out.
Yum!! I don't have anymore pictures of them, they really did disappear. I think my batch made around 30, give or take a few that Kyle ate before they made it to the tray haha ;)

Keep these in mind the next time you need an appetizer!

Cooking for a crowd

My aunt and uncle decided this summer they are gonna take their kids on a ocean to ocean road trip this summer, and they made the journey through Texas earlier this week. Their kids are so excited and have a full binder of fun road games and places to keep memories of the trip, it's such an awesome idea.

Me and my mama wanted to make something easy that the adults and kids would both like, so I went with my famous enchiladas plus a veggie version. I went out on a whim with the veggie version, but it was delicious! Even Kyle, who is a major carnivore, said I should make them again soon.

I love cooking and cook for me & Kyle quite often, it's a challenge to cook for 2 since I am not a fan of left overs. This was the biggest group I've ever cooked for, and I would love to do it again. Kyle thinks we should go in to business with the Kimmel's and have a all-encompassing wedding business. I think it's a fabulous idea :)

I wish I had pictures of the big dinner night, but I was cooking all night so no pictures here. All in all it was a wonderful night :)

Your love is strong

I love how songs can meet you where you are and speak to your heart. It really catches me off guard sometimes and shows me God's always with me. The words to this song are so simple yet are so true for me, not only that but I have so many memories of this song. I first heard it at UBC in Waco, it always seems to come on my ipod when I need to hear it the most, and me and Kyle played it at our wedding during our prayer time. It's a beautiful song, I hope you listen to it or at least read through the words.



I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Coffee.

I discovered my love for coffee freshman year of college. I had drank coffee before then, but nothing strong and didn't really love it until I found Common Grounds, or CG if you're in the know. CG has cowboy coffee, and I loved to get it iced, basically it's iced coffee, milk and their "secret sauce" which sweetens it and has some addicting quality haha. One day when I was home on Christmas break I had this horrible headache, which I finally realized was do to my lack of coffee. This was the start of my relationship with coffee.

A year ago I got hired as a barista at Starbucks and I absolutely love my job. Lots of people drink coffee every day, but very few people understand all that goes in to that delicious cup of joe. Starting with choosing the area and soil to grow the beans in. The kind of soil can drastically change the taste of the brew, which most people never realize because of all the cream and sugar in their coffee ;)

There are many perks to my job--free drinks while I'm on my shifts, getting to work for an awesome company that cares for their employees, but one of the best is a free pound of coffee every week. I try and share as many of these mark outs as I can, but sometimes they pile up cause two people can only drink so much coffee haha.

I have my favorites--Casi Cielo and Tribute (which both are limited time offerings)

Kyle has found his favorite--Yukon Blend, a bold coffee which is quickly climbing my list too

My other love related to coffee is coffee mugs. We have a ton of coffee mugs and they are all different, just the way I wanted it. My favorites are the ones I've gotten as gifts or that have stories behind them. What's better than sipping delicious coffee out of a mug that reminds you of a close friend? I guess having them next to you, but it is a close second.


So go find a fun mug, sit back and enjoy your coffee!

A birthday shared

Since me and my mama's birthdays are two days apart, the past few years we've been celebrating them together. I love getting to spend time with my family, it's always crazy and filled with laughter. This year to celebrate we combined ideas--I wanted good Mexican food and mama wanted to go somewhere fun.

We headed to Arlington, they have this outdoor mall area with a ton of restaurants and shops. We headed to Chuy's for dinner, a place that I got hooked on a few years ago when I went down to Austin with Aarika and Kendra. They have this dip called creamy jalapeno, and it is heavenly. It's like ranch, with a kick and a lot more flavor. Seriously, heavenly. Go try it, tell me I'm wrong haha ;)


Then we headed to Dave & Busters to play games and so mama and Kyle could have a rematch in air hockey. (Side note--she creamed him haha) Nick was on fire, kept winning 500 tickets on all different games. The past several times we've gone to Dave and Busters we've just saved the tickets on a card, I think we have like 17,000 and now we have a bunch more. Nick did get an ice cream maker though, so that will be an interesting adventure to figure out.


It was a great birthday celebration! I love spending time with my family and love all the laughs that come with it.

A day full of joy

These pictures sum up my birthday this year--bright, colorful, and full.

My sweet, sweet husband had these and a delicious cup of coffee ready for me when I got out of bed.

I love hearing from the people I cherish on my birthday, and facebook makes that happen a million times more than it used to.

It was a wonderful day filled with lots of food, including steak from Saltgrass and a party pazookie plater from BJ's (which I didn't even know existed) It came in a normal pizza box and had four different kinds of cookie in it. Oh my goodness it was amazing.

Thanks to everyone who made my birthday so wonderful!!

22 things for my 22 years

Decided to do a fun post for my birthday which is coming up on Thursday. 22 things I'm thankful for this year...

• I got married to my best friend in the world
• Because of that wedding, my entire extended family (minus one cousin) came to celebrate with us--which meant the world to us
• My parents for paying for our wedding, and on top of that buying us a new car
• Living close to both my parents and Kyle's parents
  
• The sacrifices our family and friends made for us so that they could throw wedding showers, bridal showers, bachlorette parties, attend the wedding, and the list goes on
• Our awesome landlords/good friends and the fact that we have a beautiful, perfect-sized house to live in
• Our new church home that has welcomed us with open arms
• Being able to go to Jamaica for our delayed honeymoon right after Christmas, perfect timing
• My job with awesome people, helps fund my love for coffee, and provides health insurance for me and Kyle
• All the gift cards that people gave us for the wedding which have funded cart loads of groceries, and many of the decorations in our house
• My husband being patient with me whenever I'm having a hard day, and being there for me
• Being one class away from graduating from college!
• My small garden, that is slowly becoming colorful and beautiful
• Getting to go down to Waco with my mama for Kenge's graduation party, and seeing my beautiful friend right before she got engaged :)
• Making time to get together with Aarika and Kendra, which usually includes delicious food and lots of laughter
• A husband who loves to try my cooking and is always full of compliments and always offers to clean after I cook
• My dad who has taught me how to save money and who is always willing to provide helpful advice about money and all kinds of things I have no idea about
• Because of his wonderful advice throughout my life, me and Kyle have saved enough money to book a cruise for our one year anniversary :)
• The students in our church who always keep us laughing and learning with them
• Finishing out little reading nook, which has become my place to meet with Jesus
• The Kroger Marketplace right by our house, which makes grocery shopping so much easier--it's clean, has everything I need, and awesome prices (which I can't say for the Albertson's up the street)
• A year full of family, laughter and blessings
  

Zoe's

About two months ago Kyle and I found this restaurant in Alliance Town Center called Zoe's. It's a Mediterranean restaurant. I was a little hesitant about it at first, but it turned out to be delicious and it's my new favorite place to eat! My birthday is on Thursday and I have been loving all the email coupons, especially this one...



So after life group tonight, which was me, Kyle and Cara hanging out, we decided to take advantage of the coupon and headed there. I have tried to branch out and try new things each time we go, and can honestly say I haven't had anything that wasn't amazing. Tonight I got the chicken pita pizza and Kyle got the Reuben sandwich. I think I won, mine was amazing. Everything they make is super fresh and delicious.

I went up to get a to-go box and the lady who took our order & my bday coupon asked me how our food was, which I told her it was delicious. Then she asked me if I needed some birthday cake--now I'm not a cake fan, but Zoe's cake is a completely different story. For mother's day I ordered a full cake from there, and the 5 of us destroyed a cake for 12. So needless to say I took her up on the offer and can't wait to eat it later tonight haha.

Needless to say, next time you're trying to think of a place to eat...remember Zoe's and make sure you save room for some cake!

My "famous" enchiladas

Since Kyle and I got married, we have tried out many new recipes-most have gone well, but this one has been a repeat many times! Wanted to share this awesome recipe with you, found it on allrecipes which is an awesome resource and then I put my own twist on it. (something I learned to do from my Grandma D) We always make this when we are heading over to my parents house, it's way too much food for two people, so make sure you invite some friends over!


Ingredients

• 1 small can condensed cream of chicken soup (make sure it's the condensed version)
  
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
• 10-12 small tortillas (I definitely recommend Kroger's homemade tortillas-I tried the salsa ones this last time and they were awesome)
  
• 2ish cup shredded Cheddar cheese

I cook about three chicken breasts in the slow cooker with chicken broth for around 2 hours and then shred it up before beginning.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a small bowl mix the soup and sour cream; set aside.
3. Melt margarine in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add onion and chili powder, and saute until tender. Stir in the chicken, chile peppers, and 2 tablespoons of the soup mixture. Cook and stir until heated through.
4. Spread 1/2 cup of the soup mixture in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
   
5. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture down the center of each tortilla, add a sprinkle of cheese. Roll up tortillas, and place, seam-side-down, in the baking dish.
   
6. Spoon remaining soup mixture on top, and sprinkle with cheese.
7. Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until bubbly and lightly browned.

It's an awesome recipe, put your own twist on it and let me know how it goes!

A fresh new start

Thanks to my awesome hubby and his tech skills I now have a fresh new blog! I am excited to post recipes, pictures and life updates. I love reading blogs and I've decided to be a more active player in this blogging world. Thanks for stopping by!

The inspiration for the blog title came from a song by Addison Road. I heard the song a few weeks ago and this part has stuck with me.

"One day there will be no more pain
And we will finally see Jesus' face
So until then I'm gonna try
To brave the dark
And let my little light shine"
-Addison Road This Little Light of Mine