FUN & FLIRTY... FRIDAY FINDINGS

I don't know about you, but I'm obsessed with Pinterest.  I am a newbie, just a few weeks old... but have already added more things to my board than I can complete in 3 years.  But it's good for my soul.  Its like when you shop online at ten different stores, fill your cart up with things you want...and then exit out of the screen.  Somehow there is a sense of fulfillment in that.  Well for me I anyways.  I miss shopping like crazy and having access to create whatever I want.  Here are a few of my favorite findings:

I think her hair is so casually sexy.

Love love love this idea.  Great way to stay organized and save space (and a mess!)

Sweet words to my soul.  Love the picture too.

How stinkin cute are these?!!  The great thing about Malta is you can dress up as fancy as you want, any night of the week, to do anything you want... and you are never overdressed!!!

This saying is going to have to go into our baby's room.  I just think its so precious.

I just love this bathing suit bottom.  I cant even believe I'm saying that.  I've become more European than I realize.  

Isn't this AMAZING!  I'm sure you could re-create it for a decent price too.  So magical!!

How yummy do these look?!!  Who doesnt love strawberry shortcake... with frosting drizzled on top!  Great party dessert!

There is something about outside showers that I'm in love with.  Being outside naked has that rebellious, freeing feeling.  And then under the stars, listening to nature, mix of cool air and hot water... I dont really know what it is.  But I'm going to have one someday! :)

I definitely can use some work with this.  I need to print it and hang it on my mirror.  How easy it is to read but so hard sometimes to do.  

Ok.  I need this dress.  I have no idea where it is from and I think I would give my pinkie finger for it.  It is the CUTEST dress I've ever seen. 

Love her outfit!  The hat would definitely not look like that on me, but I think she looks adorable.  Great dress!

I think this is such a cute idea!  Spread cool whip on a tray and let it sit in the freezer.  Then use cookie cutters to cut out a shape.  So fun!

Isn't this an adorable idea?!  I really need a little girl :)

I love this salad idea.  I don't exactly love salads but I'm trying to eat more.  Like more than one a month.  BUT, I think if I do this... I may be more apt to grabbing this instead.  Check out her blog for the details... they last up to 4 days in this jar!

So hot.  

I think this is a great idea.  I'm actually going to make it this week.  Put a jar somewhere in your house and write down happy memories throughout the year.  During New Years or maybe Thanksgiving go through and read them!  How fun!

Very cool picture.  I somewhat relate as i feel like I'm always pulling a suitcase and walking towards a plane.  Feel so so blessed to be able to travel and see the world but gosh I cant wait to be close to my family again!  I have way to many nieces and nephews coming along and its KILLING me to be away!!

I know there is so much hype and talk going around about Tim Tebow.  I think the guy isn't only a successful  quarterback but the guy has such a huge heart for Jesus.  I love hearing his testimonies and stories about how he lives his life.  Its inspiring to see someone in the spotlight not give a crap about what people think and take a knee when he needs to pray.  We can all learn so much from his bold and humble love and dedication for Jesus.  Heartwarming.

Mother Teresa.  Ahhhhh...  If only we could sit and have coffee with her.  This woman was just simply amazing.  Words cant even describe my adoration for her.

I know this was a lot of random stuff but I was busy with guests today and hadn't thought too much about a blog before 10pm.  I'm trying my hardest to keep up with my New Years Goals.  Blogging has been successful, reading my bible has gone almost perfectly, and working out is at about 50%.  Our friends from Tunisia are here and so I've spent a lot of time with them the past few days.  I know its not an excuse and I'm determined to keep at my program.  How are you doing on your goals? 

I think everyone should check out this party ideas site.  She has pictures and ideas for every themed party you can imagine...and the ideas she has came from winning contestants!  LOVE it all...  Click here 

Have a great weekend!!!  P.S... Remember when we were younger and Friday nights consisted of T.G.I.F...Family Matters, Step by Step, Hanging with Mr. Cooper, Are you afraid of the Dark...  loved those days :)

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS...

I feel like so often I come across things overseas that are just so abnormal. And I always say to myself, I need to write that down so I don't forget.  So here are a few things off the top of my head that I either love or dislike greatly from the other side of the world...

• Siestas.  Closing down the country from 1-5 is just silly.  Americans will never just remember that, and it will be the time they finally decide to get up and go to the store.  

• European style.  I try to fit in sometimes.  I really do.  I bought a few pairs of skinny pants (not even jeans), and am mixing weird colors together.  But some of this stuff...is just weird.  

• On the subject of style... Many Maltese girls are apparently in competition with the Italian girls who come to Malta on who can dress the sluttiest.  I'm not kidding.  I have seen more hoo ha's then I can count.  Its ridiculous.  They aren't just making shirts into dresses now, they are using like tube tops.  It's insane...and sad.   I couldn't find an appropriate picture because even this one the girls are wearing way more than normal. 

 

• Maltese people are SO friendly.  Whenever I have stopped and asked for directions (which is so often)... they have pretty much either offered to drive me, or walked me to a road to lead me to the next.  So great!!  Malta is also the most confusing country to drive in.  The picture below is what came up when I googled Maltese roads!  haha...sooo true!

• Along with driving here, which stinks so much that I dont even want to write about it... the streets do not have signs, there are no land marks, and a million little towns which consist of like 3 streets.  It's really crazy.  Oh, and the houses do not have numbers on them.  Just names.  Like ours is "Heaven Saint"  and then the road name.  So when you try to drive to someones house...you have to leave extra early to give yourself enough time to drive around reading house names!

• There are 365 churches in Malta!  It's crazy!  And the country is only 22 miles by 7 miles.  That is where I live and all the further I can go before swimming.  :)  Also a cool thing about the churches...they all have 2 clocks on the outside of them.  One with the correct time and the other incorrect.  This is believed to deceive the devil from entering because he wouldn't know the correct time!

• I'm loving all the outdoor cafe's and restaurants.  Just today we sat outside in the middle of the street to order drinks.  Its both beautiful and refreshing.  Europe has this down right.  

• I just plain miss Walmart.  Or a normal grocery store...that has EVERYTHING you could ever need.  I cant even find sour cream here.

• I'm loving my new pair of boots Marshall bought me.  I've wanted these for awhile but couldnt find them cheap enough anywhere.  Ebay saved the day :)

• I'm having a hard time taking my Christmas tree down.  It makes our "not too homey" house so nice and warm.  Think I can take off the Merry Christmas sign and just have a winter tree up?  ;)

• Marshall's command (a lot of them!) are coming here in February.  I'm trying to start mentally preparing for what I'll make for dinner so I can order anything I need online now.  Any great recipes or suggestions?!!  Specifically a main course/meat dish?

• I really need to have babies soon.  I found myself wanting to buy a hair bow for a little girl at the store today.  If only we could get married sooner!  AHHHH!! :)

I'm also in desperate need of re-hydrating my hair.  The water here makes it feel like straw and its just getting worse.  Any suggestions?!!

  Sorry about all the corny pictures... I dropped my hard drive and lost everything from the past ten years :(  Every picture I own.  Sooooo I'm super devastated about that.  Apparently our last hope is to pay a couple grand for someone to take it into a vacuum sealed room and try to extract the information.  

Well I hope you are having a great week!  Almost the weekend!! Hugs!!

Who doesn't love cut-out cookies?!!

I really think homemade gifts are so much fun.  Maybe it's because I have too much of my momma in me, or maybe its because I love the personal touch (and taste!!).  So a sweet friend from Tunisia was coming to Malta with her family for a vacation.  (Its awful that the word "holiday" came to mind first.)  I need to get back to the states ASAP!  Anyways, I decided to make her a cookie bouquet since yesterday was her birthday.  If anyone is curious how to do one, I'll try to outline it as best as I can.  Also, if you dont think you can do it...trust me you can!  It's super easy.  

So here was the end product:

I think everyone probably has a sugar cookie recipe that they love.  Mine, I thought was an old family recipe.  See, my mom had an Aunt Ethel.  And every time I would pull her old, tattered recipe card out of the box... I would read "Aunt Ethel's Cut Out's."  So I thought we had the real deal.  Well after I moved away, I remember one day calling my mom for the recipe.  She was driving and just said... "Google it.  It's from the Betty Crocker Cookbook."  I remember saying to her... No...thats not the recipe I want.  I want your Aunt Ethel's.  She started laughing.  Wouldn't you know that the Betty Crocker recipe is listed under "Aunt Ethel"???   Broke my heart :)  So, if you want my recipe here it is:

Ethel's Sugar Cookies

adapted from Betty Crocker's Cooky Book (copyright 1977)

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/4 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1. Mix butter, shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla thoroughly.
2. Stir flour, baking powder, and salt together.
3. Blend butter mixture and flour mixture.
4. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
5. Remove dough from refrigerator and allow to sit on the counter for 15-30 minutes, depending on the temperature of your kitchen.
6. On a board that has been lightly floured with a mixture of flour and confectioner's sugar, roll dough until it is 1/4 inch thick. Cut with your favorite cooky cuter.
7. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Top with colored sanding sugar, if desired.
8. Bake 6 to 8 minutes, or until cookies are a delicate light golden color. 

For the frosting... I love the butter cream icing in the same cookbook.  It's like the real frosting taste, not the fake kind.  Royal icing is very popular with perfect looking cookies, but I just dont like the taste at all....so I try my best to work with the butter cream one.  

Buttercream Icing

Blend together 2 1/2 TBS soft butter and 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar.  

Add to it:  1 1/2 TBS milk and 3/4 tsp vanilla.

It's so simple and yummy.  Whenever I make the frosting though, I always double the recipe for one batch of cookies and it seems to come out just about right.

So after you decorate the cookies however you like and they dry... here are a few easy steps to put it all together.

I forgot to mention that it's sometimes a little tough to get the candy stick into the cookie correctly.  I do recommend cutting the cookies a little thicker and then placing them on the cookie sheet.  I like to insert the stick with them ready to bake.  Go slowly and I try to spin the stick carefully as I slide it up.  Go about half way up... and make sure to let them cool a little before removing them from the cookie sheet. This all sounds funny I know, but I'm not sure how else to explain it!

All the craft stores have these like longer treat/candy bags.  Put your cookie inside gently and then pinch the bottom and tie it together with a ribbon or whatever you have.

So this is pretty random, but I didn't have access to anything to use for weight this morning when I was making this.  It rained so I couldnt get to the beach for sand (which I prefer) and I was in a hurry.  So I used two bags of Malta's version of powdered sugar.  Although after I bought it and tried it, I realized I would never use it again because I dont know what it really is.  It was way to fine.  Anyways... For this bouquet, I just used a simple gift bag I had.  You can use anything from a bag to a container or be creative!  You just need to make sure you have weight on the bottom.

On top of the icing bags, I cut a piece of floral foam or whatever you call that stuff and placed it inside.  I used the stiffer one (there are two kinds for real and artificial flowers), because I think it holds the sticks more securely.   

Then start putting tissue around the outside of the foam.  I cut one piece of tissue in half, and then kind of pinch the center of that piece and whip it in one direction to make the rest rise up.  If that makes sense?  Or do what you need to do to be able to tuck it into the sides.  Keep the back a little higher and the front shorter.

After you have all your tissue in, put something small on top of the remaining green foam so you can't see it.

This part I think is one of the most important and something I learned by trial and error.  I used to always take the cookies on the stick and push it down into the foam where i wanted them.  This sometimes caused the cookies to come off the stick because of the force when I would push it down.  I also bake my cookies so they are very soft and so because of that, I have to be so gentle when putting it together.  So anyways, as logical as this is... it just took me a while to figure out that I needed to use a separate candy stick to just make all the holes. Then i could just slide the finished product into the foam without applying pressure.  

You can arrange them anyway you like.  I usually do like three in the back, one in the middle, and then two short ones in the front on the sides.  The bigger the container, obviously the more you can do.

Good luck!!!

When God speaks ... loud and clear

Yesterday I was reading my daily sections of my Bible for my goal of reading it in one year.  I was reading in Luke, chapter 5... versus 27.  It was the first verse for the day and it goes like this:

²⁷ After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, ²⁸ and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Well the reason this was both awesome and awakening is because it took me back to 2005 when God called me to go on a year long missions trip called The World Race.  It was His exact words to me all those years ago and I honestly wrestled with it for about 9 months before I gave in and surrendered to what He was calling me to do.  Back then, I had my life in a perfect box.  My job, family, friends, car, home, stuff...everything was great and comfortable.  I did NOT want to give it all up for some unknown.

2006 was maybe the best year of my life.  Going on that trip in full submission to God...knowing it was what he wanted me to do...and really living in it was unreal.  It was an experience that I'll treasure forever.  It showed me a different side of God's heart I didnt know.  His love for the poor, the sick, the outcast... and He showed us how to follow Him and love them too.  

I'm so excited that I've gotten back into the Word and am working on praying more and I guess regaining that strong foundation of a relationship with God I had before.  Living overseas is sometimes a struggle for me because I dont have my church, my family and friends who encourage and speak truth to me, my mentor, my bible studies...all that stuff.  But its also not an excuse either.  I have really just been kind of lazy at disciplining myself to keep God at the center of my days.  And the silly thing is... I KNOW without a doubt I'm such a happier, kinder, more generous person when I'm giving each day to the Lord.  

Something that I'll be forever grateful for is in December of 2009.  I heard a man speaking from a video at my church.  He was Burundian and desperately needed help with street children.  I originally had planned on going to Thailand for the winter to serve but really felt God tugging on my heart for Africa.  So in January...i left.  My amazing friend Kim went with me and I spent the next 5 months in Africa.  We had to go to the U.S. Embassy to get malaria meds and as we are walking in, this blonde hottie is walking out.  Long story short, that blondie is now my fiance...2 years later!  Two midwest people meeting and falling in love in the middle of Africa... can you say God is    AMAZING!!!  

So at the beginning of this new year... its definitely in God's humor to throw me the verse that changed my life before.  The verse that says "Follow Me."  I know He desires for us all to be close to Him and the best part is He never gives up trying.  Even when we suck and are lazy.  He still loves us.  Unconditionally.  

I was looking back at my blog from my trip and wanted to share this sentence I wrote.  It was like my first or second night into the trip and I was kind of scared.  

"Last night I think reality set in. We arrived in a little village over the border and slowly tackled the bumpy roads back to our new home. The building is a part church/ part dorm. As I laid in my sleeping bag, I felt a bit nervous. What am I doing? And then I felt a peace come over me and God reassuring me that He desires for me to grow, learn, and minister on this trip. I just needed to trust."

It encouraged me today when I re-read it because following God is very scary at times when there are so many unknowns.  But I know the fruit from trusting Him even in the small day to days is so worth it!

I hope you find Jesus in your days and grasp Him with everything inside of you.  He is worth fighting for!!  

It's a NEW YEAR!!!

New Years Eve was a lot of fun.  We went and had sushi with some friends and then went downtown to Valletta for some live music and a lot of people!!  

New Years Day I took Marshall down to the beach to write in the sand.  I had really wanted to do the picture of 2011 being washed away and 2012 underneath it.  I love beach pictures and it was a gorgeous day so I was excited he went with me to take some fun pictures.

We drove around to a few stores because our tradition on New Years Day is to eat pork and sauerkraut.  Well Marshall despises sauerkraut so I thought maybe I would make my grandmas famous sauerkraut balls and he would maybe try them.  If not, I would eat the whole batch :) Well every store was closed and I had everything BUT the sauerkraut.  Soooo... I'm going to make them in the next few days and will post the recipe and steps because they are seriously the best I've ever had!!!  So we ended up have some friends over and cooked out.  I am a HUGE fan of Tastefully Simple products and made their beer cheese soup and warm onion dip.  If you have never tried anything from them... I would find a consultant and order ASAP!  Beer bread is my favorite thing they have!  My sister sells it so if there aren't any you know, let me know and I'll hook you up!

I also got to shop online at Express because my mom sent me a gift card.  This is what I picked out...  I'm SO excited for it to come in!

I also got this super cute scarf.  The picture wouldn't upload for me. They are having great sales right now!  So now in order to wear this dress, I need to REALLY work on my New Years Goal of working out 5x a week.  Today was Day #1 and I successfully did 30 minutes of cardio and some upper body/arm weights.  Hopefully this dress will be motivation!!

What did you do for New Years?