weekend review

First, I'm promoting my brother and his kewl friends for the NBA all stars that read my blog:

Hope you enjoyed. So, the 5k was a success, I ran it with my first-timer boss-lady, and she did a great job! It was a perf morning for it and I was glad to be back running again. Even though tonight I ended my healthy weekend with homemade chocolate chip cookies.Sue me.

A few random things:

• I want to decorate with things like this for spring timez: DIY Garland (clearly it's from a wedding, so I guess that's my decor style?).
• I found these on another blog that are cute for little gurlies (or big gurlies): Free! Paper Dolls
• We went to a place called the Salt Room. You can read about it by going to the site, but it's basically a salt therapy to treat any type of respiratory problems, allergies, sinuses, skin problems, etc., naturally by simply using salt (aka Halo therapy). I had never heard about it before, but they had a special open house this past Saturday, and because Randy has such bad allergies I thought it would be worth a try. It was an interesting experience/awesome because Rands was the only male in the Relaxation Room. So far he hasn't noticed many huge changes, but you never know. I like natural better than non, so I hope it works. They also say to come back a few times before it really kicks in, of course.  
• Finally, we spent some time putting together pictures for my Grandpa's 90th birthday party next weekend. It was a great trip down memory lane (btw I'm the boy with the black-haired bowl-cut if you were wondering), and I wanted to share a few gems. He's pretty awesome and I can't wait to celebrate him. Happy Monday almost!

Farewell Feb

I can't believe it's almost March2011. 

I was happy to have been able to fit 2 ATL trips into February, and hope for more to come. I left the husb at home, and went on a little girl-sister weekend trip. Here is a little sample of what we did. 

Between my two visits in two weeks to Atlanta, the temperature went from 30 the first time to 78 this past weekend. And because it was 78 out, we went on a Piedmont Park Picnic lunch with the Dixon fam + all of Atlanta.

First we stopped at the delicious Star Provisions for our sandwiches.

   Then watched the kiddies play. 

 After, we got to be the real housewivez of north Atlanta, and pampered ourselves (sister Sarah's belated bday gift), to some awesome mani/pedi's, shopping, & the best FroYo I've ever had(courtesy of SBD who stayed with the kids).

Also, my model finally got to try on her skirt. Even though she wasn't really into the whole full featured presentation, you get the gist at least. A little large, but she can work it.

 

      A couple other highlights of

the weekend was finally attending Passion City Church. It blessed and greatly encouraged me, and I can see God working through that church. There was also a worship leader's conference the same weekend, and we got to spend some time with a band my broinlaw & sister are working with called Rend Collective, a legit Irish worship band. Great people. Check em.  

On the home front, Rands and I have decided that we need to maybe start making some healthier food decisions in our lives again. Just a few changes, like not eating froyo for dinner or Mexican 4x a week. So we are trying the work out thing, I'm going to do another 5k this weekend to hopefully get me in the running mode again, and of course eating better. I made this tonight and loved it. Definitely not a dudes meal- I don't think the husb was fond of this being our dinner (however, after dousing it with his special dressing and making it his own, he claimed it was better). I still like the original, and you can find it here. 

And finally, I will leave you with this. I surrendered to my desire to read a ridiculously large novel this past week. Maybe I am giving up too soon, but I have found that my book ADD needs to be properly treated by starting with lesser pages & more books(ones that are interesting to me helps too). The book above, Abba's Child by Brennan Manning, was suggested to me by several friends. I am only on chapter 3, but it is by far the best book I've had this year. And accompanied by some nice rays by the pool made it even better. I needed a raw and truthful read, and this was it. Buy/library it.  

Sewing 101: Conquered!

 
Now for the reveal....

Voila! And the best part, I get to gift it to her in person this weekend on a little ATL sister sister gurl trip.
  

On a food side note, this was also made. It was an Ina Garten recipe suggested by my sister. It was my first time cooking with a whole (small) bird, and I have to say I was a little grossed out, cooking with bones and all. But I also have to say it was one of the best/easiest chicken dishes I've ever made.  And it may not look too appetizing below (Ina makes it more intriguing)and I used it sans the bacon, but I definitely recommend it. You can get the recipe here.

So with my Mom's magic teaching skillz and a little extra time on my hands this week, I got my first sewing project done a day early.  A few quirks here and there, but all in all I'm just glad it looks skirtish. We followed a basic old school toddler skirt pattern from Hobby Lobby (it's really dangerous I live so close to one now), and I think it turned out ok- hopefully my model likes it (she aka OliverKate, is pretty picky when it comes to fashion).I already have an idea for my next project, I can't wait.

being learned

         Here are a few post Valentines Day snap shots:

So the red velvet cookie recipe in the post before this ended up as the above. I attempted to make the cookies while rushing to get to our friends house so I could share them. Unfortunately, my mind decided to go with the box directions instead of the recipe in front of me, which turned them into cupcakes. However, the cream cheese frosting was divine making them delish (and my less scatter brained sister made the cookies and gave them an A+!).

 I awoke my Valentine with the standard Heart Breakfast. He was confused at my cliche-ness, but I have to admit that I am glad someone gifted me those heart cookie cutters from our wedding. It was from a married pro, and clearly they knew what they were thinking.

I got to also spend it with another favorite little valentine.

And finally I came home to this..

Filet Mignon, Sushi, pineapple salad & Saki. This was the first time my husband has ever cooked solo and it was amazing. I love him. And have made him agree to cook once a week.

My part of the deal was dessert, naturally. Randy loves cheesecake, and I was limited on time once again. I found this old recipe book, and found a gem.

No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Pie:
1 Prepared 9-inch chocolate crumb crust
8 oz semi-sweet chocolate baking bars, melted & cooled
2 packages (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tbs. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
whipped cream (optional)

BEAT cream cheese, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk & vanilla for 2 minutes. Add melted chocolate; beat for 2 more minutes.

SPOON into crust; refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours or until firm.

Enjoy!


Now here is a sneak peak of what I am learning. I am so excited and my ever patient Mother is the best teacher.

Learn to Sew Day by Mom Stinson. Stick around for the finished product,

(hopefully by Friday if I can obtain some of her skill).

Brother Zack- I warned you if you continued to be dumb, which you did, this will happen. My special, special brother. Loves ya.

 And finally, the perfect ending to this day. A taco tuezday regular @ Tijuana Flats with my husb & enjoying God's perfection in the city beautiful.

Love.

                       
The hallmark day of love is approaching rather quickly, and though I think it is kind of silly, I always end up giving into the annual fad. Besides loving my loved ones, it gives me yet another excuse to buy/make crafts & get silly gifts for Randy & do fun stuff with the kiddos & bake sweet things. 

As I was reminiscing of me & Randy's past VDay's together, I had to post a picture of the best gift that will be hard to top, which I still have of course. In our courting days when we were long distant, he sent me this amazing gift (I told him during a super important convo that I always coveted my friend who owned one of these sleeping bags growing up, but couldn't get it because it was too expensive). So now we sleep in it every night. Jk, kind of. But just dwell on it's awesomeness. 

I have found some cutie ideas if you are into last minute treats like me. I have stolen all of them from other people's blogs, but it's fun to make your own variation. 


♥ This blog has a cute & healthier twist: Twig & Thistle
♥ Little Things: Design*Sponge  
♥ More Cute Little Things: Flax & Twine
♥ Ideas for kiddos (& adults): cookie pops, bouncy ball (shout out to sister Michelle for that one)
♥ I am making these tomorrow for a double date dessert night, can't wait: red velvet cookies

And here is a sneak peak of My Valentine's gift. His fave Swedish fish candy (yuck but ok)& fave game, but chocolatized. Perf. Thanks Urban Outfitters for thinking like me sometimes.








And aside from Valentine's, this is a little taste of our weekend. Randy's been busy with his new mobile recording, which went really successfully for his first time around- so proud. If you need to lay down some tunes and want it done by my husband pro, go here.

And for me, I was successful at what I do best also. Spend money. But it actually was free money (wedding gift card leftovers). I am very excited about this cake plate, which I have been looking for, that I bought at Anthropologie for $15 (originally $98.00-seriously). And I am always jonesin for a deal.

We also started off this freezing Saturday morning with a 5krun in honor of sweet little Ava Hunter who passed away after she lost her battle to cancer a few months ago. Her story is here and you can still donate to Miles For Hope, the organization we ran with. Amazing time. 

 

Post-run, I got to go antiquing with a friend in Mt. Dora. We went to the infamous Rennigers & then ventured to the downtown area for a delish lunch at The Garden Gate Tea Room. Def a great day trip if you want to get away for a bit!

Our busy weekend continues, but stay tuned for a Valentines Day post- it's sure to be exciting. In the mean time, I am going to watch Chris Brown dance on SNL and wish I could dance like him. Happy weekend!   

a weekend in the 404

This is just a little taste of Oliver Kate's cuteness & spiritualness. If you weren't able to make out what she said for some reason, she's just reciting her memory verse (Colossians 3:20). Love her.

We took a short and sweet road trip to Atlanta this weekend. We both thoroughly enjoy it there (minus the rapid temperature decline from FL to GA), and have thought about the possibility of moving there someday. And of course spent the weekend with some favorites.   

Our first stop was Farm Burger. Omg. If you are in Decatur,GA please do yourself a favor and go there. It is all natural, 100% grass fed beef, so it makes it healthy of course. I added an egg on mine, which is a first- and so delish. One of the many reasons I enjoy travelling with Rands is because we both enjoy finding or hearing about the quirky local eatery's. I'm probably just a cynical Orlandoian, but whenever we find these, Otown's eats seem pretty lame. 

So somehow the trip ended up being a lot of see-how-much-bad-but-delicious-food-we-can-ingest (it was most likely sympathy pregnancy cravings we all felt for Michelle). And we successfully did that.We also went to a few other amazing places, which I guess I was too much of a fatty to remember to take pictures of. But here are the links:

Mexican-  Pure Taqueria

         Delicious Dinner- (only if you start with the fries + aioli dipping sauce & peanut butter + bacon) Leon's Full Service

Doughnut Breakfast + great coffee- Dutch Monkey

I really do love other things in life besides food. Like the things pictured below. We had such a fun, relaxing, delicious, educational, silly weekend. I love having all (well almost all) my bff's in one place. Enjoy!

I went on a craigslist adventure on Saturday with my big sister Michelle. She bought this adorb Herman Miller chair for a steal (which she learned me about- I do learn a lot of important things from her).

Her newest trick- Fake smiling.

And finally, a brief TruTru photo shoot:

Freebies

Welp, this week started off a little rough for the Kett fam. Dealing with post-respiratory infections, opposite schedules, little time to talk, and things neglected that are resurfacing. This past Sunday helped me prepare for this week. Our Pastor challenged us by asking what we are doing with the "vineyard" i.e. calling, God has gifted us individually with. It may not seem like a gift at times, we may compare ours with others which will lead no where (which I do quite a bit), and even worse, neglect it. However, we each have one we are responsible for- and will matter when we reach eternity.

I was encouraged by remembering that even if it's not ideal all the time, God has me, now us, here for our specific vineyard. We can't allow ourselves to let it deteriorate by comparing or neglecting, but daily cultivate it- spiritually, physically, wifingly, husbandly, etc. And as always, remember God knows best. Simple to say, hard to live sometimes.

Since Randy has been recording every night, I have had some great gurlie gurl time, which always brings me joy. Monday night, I got to spend with my great friend Megan. We were each others stand-in husbands while ours were working, so she made me and her 2 kids some delicious homemade pizza & scones (which were scrumptious Meg, even without 234 lbs of butter). She is a breath of fresh air and always ALWAYS encourages me and speaks truth and so godly and I just love her. And her kids are adorable and always entertaining. (I wish I had a better picture of her son Aidan, but of course this is the only one that was saved).

We also had Ellie's 13th bday round 2, where she received her first gift from a 12 year old neighbor boy. A box of heart candy. Not okay. At least he's her age. Ellie described him as "really nice, wears skinny jeans and looks like Justin Bieber." Sounds like ideal prerequisites for a husband.

This was the best part of her birthday, no offense (Ellie's fave saying, even when it doesn't make sense). My mom made this sinful cake, called Chocolate Lover Cake- very clever. But it was probably the best thing I have ever tasted. It's from Nestle's own cookbook that I had forgotten I received from my dear friend Molly a few years ago, I'll have to post it when I'm not too fat & full to get up and get it. So in the meantime, drool.

And saving the best for last, I found this in someone's trash while driving to my Mom's house, with my partner in crime, Harper (left-another nan-fam child whom I adore). And after some good disinfecting, and husbands reluctant consent (I guess it did smell like a 90 year old had been sitting on it for 80 of those years), good as new. I feel like I'm never one of those people that find things like this, so now that I am, it is everything I thought it would be.

And to top off my week of free stuff that makes me happy, my friend Bethany treated me to a FroYo Dinner- I haven't had since my singlehood, and realized that it is never something I will give up ever again. Sorry body. I have to say, out of the 69,0049 yogurt places now open in Orlando, Yogurt Land is prob my fave. Coffee+PB+Chocolate+toppings that make it not healthy= can't think of a word to explain it. Thanks Bet, for the wifery chats over my fave dinner.