Coffee Date

I love this coffee date linkup idea and I’m late for the submission but I still wanted to write to you and have a chat over a cup!!

source

If we were having coffee I’d tell you … I am emotionally and physically drained. This whole moving thing has really taken it out of me. And while it is nice to be all moved into the Farm, the process is far from over because now comes organizing and the even more dreaded unpacking!

If we were having coffee I’d tell you … I want Spring! Flowers, rain, mud, the smell of cow poop << Yep I’ll take it all. We are back below zero this week and I AM SICK OF IT!!

If we were having coffee I’d tell you … My husband is amazing! He cleaned our whole apartment: scrubbing bathtub, toilet, fridge … yep the whole 9 yards and I am so thankful he did that because it really wasn’t on the top of my To Do list!

If we were having coffee I’d tell you … I am feeling very anti-social this week and it is only Tuesday. Not sure what it is but I don’t feel like having small chat with people and have just been irritable over little things. I am just going to blame it on the weather for now!

If we were having coffee I’d tell you … I am beyond excited for tomorrow night. I have a date with my sister-in-law. Sushi, Movie, and Pamper Session are on the menu!! Hashtag CantWait

If we were having coffee I’d tell you … this is not a good idea. To be having caffeine after 12pm!!

If we were having coffee I’d tell you … to have a wonderful Tuesday – to smile – to do something for someone else!

What would you tell me over coffee??

Crockpot Stir Fry

This weekend {+Monday because I didn't work} was exhausting. Busy packing, moving, cleaning and this coming week and next weekend will look much the same.

The in-laws are {almost} all moved into their new house so now begins the process of cleaning the farm before we move in. Our apartment is now in piles and in disarray which is also kind of how my life feels. 

I will be the first to admit manual labor really isn't my thing and this moving business is taking a toll on my laziness haha but my fitbit is loving it!! Needless to say making meals was not on the top of my list this weekend!!

Here is a super easy meal I threw together on Saturday Morning and I was a bad blogger and only got this one picture but I can assure you it is amazing and my husband took thirds!!

Crockpot Stir Fry

What you Need:

1/2 Cup Veggie or Chicken Broth

1/4 Cup Soy Sauce

1/4 Cup Apple Juice (this could also be cider or rice wine vinegar but all I had was apple juice)

1 T. Corn Starch

Dash of Ketchup

...

8oz canned Baby Corn {drained}

8oz canned Water Chestnut {drained}

1 lb Canned Chicken {drained}

8oz Frozen Mushrooms

14oz Frozen Stir Fry Veggies 

What to Do:

Add all of the bottom ingredients to Crockpot. Mix Top ingredients together in bowl then dump on top of Crockpot mixture. Cook on Low for 5-8 hours or High for 3-4 hours. Might take less time too depending on how hot your Crockpot gets. {I had mine on low for 2 hours then on high for another 2 hours}

This was a great dish just by itself but could also be served over rice, whole wheat thin spaghetti or with chow mien noodles. 

Enjoy!!

Love Day 2014

Happy Love Day

This day makes me happy because I love Love!!

On this day 7 years ago I got the most wonderful surprise from my boyfriend of 3 months. 

Pink Roses : Winter walk with a Thermos of Hot Coca : 

Homemade Spaghetti & Wine Candlelit Dinner : Bubble Bath

Yep that guy completely won me over that day … and I'm not sure if I've met him since!! That guy is now my husband and he has had some romantic moments since but that was probably his best one. He Hooked Me Forever! 

Now please press play on the video below for a great Galentine's Review

Links You Should Care About:

Katie from Twin Stripe

Galentine's Link-up

Vlog Like A Boss

Wordless Wednesday

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday. 

Yep, a post with only these words and some of my favorite pictures of lately. Enjoy!!

Affirmation of Faith

There is this book out there that I desperately want to read but it scares the ever living daylights out of me. 

I want to be able to read between the lines.

I want to be able to hear Him speak to me.

I want to follow Him like never before.

…

Yesterday I was forgiven of all my sins. I ate the bread and drank the wine and I was Restored! I thanked Him for all he does in my life, thanked Him for giving up his life and forgiving me of my sins. I really did feel restored … Except there was this little part of me that wondered why I couldn't immerse myself in His word. 

That Book. 

It is the words {that I can't pronounce} and the names {that I can't pronounce} that are holding me back. I feel like I need to consult a dictionary with every other word I read. 

Where Do I Start.

With the first Book? What first book - Old or New? In The Middle? On Page 1567? It makes me feel lost.

…

So I joined a group of people that wanted to read The Book too! We are in week 3 and I haven't made it past week 1. Still struggling! 

Yesterday though I felt that it was okay. I was trying. I believe. He Loves Me.

He Loves Me!!

linked up with Brittany

A Grace-Filled Cara Box Reveal

Cara Box has changed to be based on Instagram and this month we were paired on proximity to each other. I was so excited at the blate possibilities!! 

If you haven't read the post about my blate with Samantha >> Read All About It Here or Here! And see what I got her >> Here!

My other partner was Kathryn from The Grace-Filled Home and she did such an amazing job on my box. She actually lives in SD but I do hope sometime we could meet up! Kathryn is such a sweetheart and a real God-fearing woman I am so glad we had the chance to get to know each other and I'd like to thank her again for the sweet words she wrote me!

Now go ahead and drool over my fun stuff!!

Can't wait to find a place for this!!!

I'm In LOVE with these leggings!! 

Packing Tips Welcome

You know those days where you think you will be really productive …

And then …

You Fail by sitting on the couch all day! 

Yep this has been my day. {I blame my horrible menstrual cramps - remedies welcome}

I have been editing photos.

My lovely sister : Crafter at Erika Joy Design

Adding to my 30 before 30 list. {almost done 5 left}

Anticipating March when we can bring our pup home.

Reading blogs. Catching up on responding to my own blog comments, and putting off cleaning and packing. 

Did I mention we have to be out of our apartment in 20 days?! HELP!! Any tips on packing for a move would be greatly appreciated!! 

Where are we going you ask?! Well Back on 9.8.12 {yep our wedding} we stayed in our apartment for the first time ever. You see since August of 2010 we had been living with my husband's dad at the farm house. {The farm and apartment are only 10 miles from each other} And at one point this living arrangement included living with ALL of my inlaws {father, his girlfriend (on the weekends), sister 1 and her husband and our nieces (2), and sister 2, and sister 3} Did you get all that?! 10 people under one roof, very female dominated with 2 bathrooms. Thinking back on it I really don't remember there being that many people but I'm fairly certain I couldn't do it {sanely} again!! I Love my family but this just sounds like chaos!! 

So as of today 2.8.14, we have been living here for 518 days, exactly 1 year and 5 months. Now it is time to pack because my Father-in-law and Wife {before mentioned girlfriend - aka Mother Teresa} are moving to 6911. Yep their new house is in the final final stages of being built and we get to move back to the farm house. 

I am SUPER excited to move out of town and live on the farm again but am DREADING packing so I really need those packing tips! My current solution is drinking ALL the wine on my wine rack instead of packing it then just pack the rest of the place after that, but I have a feeling that isn't practical and I'd misplace tons of our things! 

Hope you all are having a Wonderful Weekend!!

Reminding myself I am worthy

I received a card from my Cara Box partner and the card was as far as I got because it was just what I needed to hear. 

You see I've been struggling lately with the direction to take my side photography business and her words spoke right to my soul! She encouraged me and told me to keep taking photos because she loved the emotions I captured and found my photos gorgeous. The funny thing is she had no clue that I was down on myself and that is how I know she was genuine in the words she wrote!

Taking something you love as a hobby and turning it into a side job isn't all it is cracked up to be. It is demanding and at times, it takes the things you love and turns them into the things you dread. 

Plain and simple I have always loved the camera in my hand. Capturing moments never to be repeated exactly the same. The photos tell a story no matter how big or small or important and that is something I will always love about it!

I started to get inside my own head. 

"Why would people want me to take their photos when XX takes way better pictures than I do" 

"I don't have the newest camera/lens/photoshop so people probably aren't going to like my pictures as well" 

"I'd rather stick to still life and landscape because they can't like/dislike me" 

"They are my friends/family and have to tell me they enjoy my photos"

These became my struggles and I began turning a lot of people down from photo sessions. I was my own biggest critic and was starting to not like my own work. 

I have decided to say Yes to myself and to my photography again. I need to fall in love with it again and I think that will mean baby steps back into photo sessions for others because first I need to remind myself {all by myself} that I am worthy of it!

{All photos in this post are property of Mrs. Laura Beth - Give credit if used}

This post is part of #thesayyesproject

Winter Wedding Season

This weekend was crazy busy. 

We went to a wedding on Friday. 

Hubby went home to take care of baby calves.

I went to another wedding last night. 

I just got home today.

I am exhausted. 

Our apartment is a mess. 

I have no motivation to clean. 

But we do have clean sheets. #winning

Instead I downloaded new fonts.

And edited photos.

While watching Super Bowl commercials. 

I think This is my Favorite one.

Now it is 9:30.

aka Bed Time!! 

…