celebrating in NYC

Last week, we planned a spontaneous overnight trip into New York City to celebrate my husband's new job! Thanks to Living Social we found a great hotel deal, which included a few free drinks at the hotel bar and a free breakfast buffet the next morning! We also enjoyed dining on the town with a certificate from Restaurant.com. We spent the next day on the Hudson River taking a City Sights cruise to see all of New York's highlights from the perspective of the water! It was a great way to spend time together before we both go back to work! 

can't get enough of her!

As promised, I had a mini photo shoot with my niece during our vacation in Lake George. I love the results, hope you do too! 

More Lake George photos to come!

answered prayers

Dear friends,

I cannot thank you enough for your support and prayers! The reason I was so anxious a few days back was because my husband had an important interview for a job he really wanted. After a summer of waiting on God's perfect timing, he has been very ready for the right job to come along. It was especially nerve-wracking because he felt God calling him to this position, which would have made it even more devastating if he did not get the job.

Thankfully that was not the case! I am happy to report that (starting next week) my husband will be the Executive Director at a local ministry that benefits people in need within our community. This could not be a more perfect fit for him! He has a huge heart for  social justice, but especially for people who are often overlooked or have a hard time "getting by." He has also learned a lot about community development and the needs of our specific area. Though it is a big job (huge, actually) and will require a lot of learning, I know he will do an amazing job! I am so proud of his hard work in getting to this new phase of our lives.

God is good! We are so incredibly grateful.

my favorite color is green

My mom may be shocked to read that since I detested every green vegetable for most of my life, but now I love just about everything green! What I most love about the color green is that it is an "earthy" tone - a color that often shows itself in nature.

For these reasons, it should not surprise you that my husband and I also strive to "be green" in many ways. Though it is not always easy to put the environment above our own convenience, it has become more natural for me over the last few years. I thought I would share some of the ways that we strive to minimize our carbon footprint - not because I want to say "look what we do," but because I hope it may inspire you to "go green" in ways that you may not have thought of before. That's what it took for me - other people to simply say, "Have you thought of doing it this way?" Some of my suggestions are so simple - definitely not new or unique ideas, but perhaps they will be new to you.

• Using a clothes line - I know it sounds silly and small in the grand scheme of buying a house, but I was thrilled to find out that our home came with a clothes line! I love not having to use the dryer as often, especially for those clothes that you don't want to shrink! As long as the weather cooperates, I use our clothes line on a weekly basis from spring through fall.

• Eating vegetarian - When my husband (then boyfriend) first told me he was going to become a vegetarian about 5 years ago, I must admit that I wasn't thrilled. But now he has rubbed off on me! We don't buy or eat any meat in our home. Not only does this benefit the environment (and the animals!), but it also helps with our grocery budget. I do enjoy chicken or a burger once in a while when we eat with others or go out for a bite. Though I must say I don't miss eating meat as much as I once thought I would! There are so many delicious, healthy, and easy vegetarian options that I was unaware of!

• Composting - Since we eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, we decided recently to save on waste and start a compost. We bought a compost tumbler and some starter mix, simply added some water, brown yard waste, and of course our table scraps, and nature does the rest! We turn the tumbler every few days and add water as necessary to keep the compost at the right temperature. We hope to use our composted soil in our own garden someday! 

• Growing a "mini garden" - For as much as I love the color green, I can't say I have a "green thumb." But I received such a sweet and practical gift from a student at the end of the school year - a mini garden for the kitchen - that I became determined to keep the plants alive! So far, so good! Right in our own home, we are growing basil, oregano, and sage. Unfortunately, we used all of the cilantro and it did not grow back. Even still, I love that we can pull off some fresh herbs while cooking and enjoy them as we want to! 

• Going "paperless" - I am proud to say that since we've been married, we have not purchased paper plates or paper napkins! We stick to our dishes and cloth napkins for all meals throughout the day. As long as the napkins don't get too dirty, we use them for several meals and then toss them in the hamper to be washed with our towels. Though we do use paper towels for cleaning, we try to use them sparingly. This is another great way to save at the grocery store - those paper products can add up after a while! 

• Lighting our home with CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs - Yes, these bulbs are more expensive but they last so long! We've been married for over 2 years and we have not needed to replace any of our CFL bulbs yet.

• Saying good-bye to plastic snack bags - As a teacher, I pack my lunch for school every day. My husband was doing the same as a grad student in the city. We were flying through plastic snack bags, even if we reused them a few times. What a great surprise to find "Lunch Skins" in our Christmas stockings from my parents! These reusable sandwich/snack bags are perfect for taking food on the go. During the school year, we use them on a daily basis! In fact, we use them several days in a row and then simply hand wash them or put them on the top rack of the dishwasher for a good cleaning. I love that they come in so many fun colors and patterns! 

• Shopping with grocery and produce bags - I am happy to see that many people are "going green" in this way - canvas totes are everywhere! My husband bought 6 reusable bags from the grocery store during our college years, and they are still holding up great! We use them all the time for grocery shopping or just packing to go somewhere. More recently, I realized that even by bringing my own grocery bags to the store, I was still using a lot of plastic bags in the produce section. A quick google search later and I discovered reusable plastic produce bags! I used them for the first time today and loved the drawstring close - no apples falling into the cart this time! I also loved that the cashier rang me up as having 12 reusable bags (6 canvas bags and 6  produce bags). For each bag, the store gives a 5 cent discount. I know it's not much, but 60 cents off every grocery bill will add up by the end of the year, right?! 

• Making it work with one car - Though there are times when it is inconvenient to only have one car, most of the time, it is a huge blessing. We have only one car to repair, one gas tank to fill, and one car to pay insurance on. Plus, having just one car forces us to think of other ways of getting around when we need to. My husband used public transportation to commute into the city for his grad school program, and rides his bike to local places whenever possible. We also walk in our neighborhood a lot - most often to church since it is a quick 5 minute stroll. I love that we live in a community where places are close together and we can manage to get by with just one car.

Though it may seem like a long list, I realize that we have a ways to go in our efforts to protect the environment. But the way I look at it, every little bit helps!

a day to pray

I could really go for a snack right now.

It would be so easy to reach into the cabinet or refrigerator for something (anything!) to eat at the moment, but I've made the decision to fast for the bulk of today and am trying hard to stick to that choice! 

There were a variety of reasons for this decision (perhaps a topic for another post), but the main reason is that I want to spend the day in frequent prayer. I know that going about my day as usual would make it difficult to remember to talk with God (after all, that's what happens every other day). I have a lot on my mind today and figured the best way to remind myself to pray about it all was to go without food. This way, every time I feel hungry, I remember to open my mouth - not to eat, but to pray. For a routine 3-meals-a-day-and-a-few-snacks kind of girl, let's just say I've already spent a lot of time in prayer!

Will you join me in prayer? More of "what's on my mind" to come... For now, it's between me and God.

sweet summertime

How is it August already? When school comes to an end, I always have many ideas and projects in mind for the upcoming weeks of vacation. In mid-June, summer stretches ahead ... a 10 week break from routine! From that perspective, it seems I have all the time in the world to relax, while still accomplishing those goals that get set aside during the school year.


I am happy to say that some of these summer projects have been completed! For one, I have always wanted to create a space in our home for crafting - a place to store my many supplies in an organized way, as well as a large, but out-of-the-way table for working on projects. Most importantly, I wanted a space that was solely used for crafting, so that I could make a mess and not have to clean it up if I wasn't quite finished. Thankfully, my husband (having now completed the student phase of his life, at least for now) agreed to share what has been his "study" so that I could have a place to do what I love. After just a few stops (a plastic shelving unit and 6 foot long folding table from Lowes, and some decorative storage boxes from Michaels), we had everything I needed to make my goal become a reality. We spent the rest of that afternoon rearranging the room to make space for the new purchases. To top it off, a friend painted a desk chair for me to sit on while crafting. Our second bedroom now has two names - he continues to call it the "study," but I call it the "craft room!" This new space has already been put to good use many times and my craft table is currently covered in both finished projects and those still "in the works."


More to come in future posts about other summer goals that have been achieved! But of course I had other grand ideas in place for the summer that didn't have very grand results. Though 10 weeks sounds like a long time in June, somehow I find things to do every day and then it is August when it is time to think about school again! Though I've had some valid attempts over the last several weeks in these areas, the following goals are still works in progress:


Get caught up in my scrapbooks.
Exercise 3 times a week.
Be faithful with daily devotions.
Read more for pleasure.
Practice with my camera - take pictures, edit them, blog them.


You might be thinking - "You're not working, what's keeping you from doing all of the above?" In the past, I have worked for my dad's business in the summers doing simple data entry, filing, or other odd jobs even if it was just a few mornings a week. But this year, I decided I was sick of it. I didn't want to work this summer.  It's true, I tell people all the time that I'm not working this summer. But the more I think about it, I work all the time. It just doesn't feel like work because I'm doing things I love! In fact, I essentially have 3 jobs this summer!


1. I am working for a photographer a few hours a week - helping with design projects, database management, and more. I always look forward to the time we spend together because I always learn a lot and have a chance to express my creative side! Though I'm making money, it doesn't feel like work!


2. The craft business I run with my friends on the side has been booming this summer! We are working hard toward launching our own website, complete with a new look and logo. Our goal is that people will be able to order from us online in the near future! But even without online ordering this summer, our sales have been constant. When we complete one order, another one comes up. (Thank goodness for the craft room!) Thankfully, no matter how much crafting I do, it is never enough. It is so much fun to design projects for others that you know they are going to cherish.


3. My final summer job is one that most people don't expect. From September to June, I'm a teacher, but in the summer months, I'm a student. I like to take advantage of the time off from school to learn more about becoming a better teacher. This summer, I completed a 3 day course on my school's campus, as well as an online course relating to the new common core standards. I've also made it my goal to read 2 books for credit. 


Don't let me fool you -- this summer has by no means been all work and no play! I have enjoyed many relaxing days at my family's lake house, as well as weekend getaways with family and friends. All of this is just to say that though summer time is oh-so-sweet, it always goes too fast!

together again

You know you have great friends when you can go a whole year without seeing each other, but then pick up right where you left off when you are finally together again. 

I love that when I booked a flight to Chicago just a couple months ago, it coincidentally worked out that a friend from Arizona would just happen to be in the area at the same time! I also love that when friends from Michigan, Indiana, and even those spending the summer in Kansas found out I was coming to Chicago, they all made every effort to be there at the same time. It worked out perfectly that I could spend quality time with all of my closest college friends in one weekend.

We spent one day downtown enjoying the "Taste of Chicago." What could be better than some of Chicago's best restaurants setting up booths and selling taste portions of their most popular meals? Lots of things looked good, and we didn't have to choose just one! We enjoyed lots of different treats - each to our own liking. Though it was a dripping hot day, we found a shady place to eat and relax together.

The rest of our weekend was spent simply enjoying each other's company and catching up after too much time apart! Pedicures, girly drinks, sunshine, and late night conversations were a great combination!