Berry Sweet Strawberry Party

So, this past weekend we celebrated my baby girl turning 5 years old.....5 years old people! I just can't believe that.
She is such a joy and while I am a little sad that she is not still curled up lying on my chest, I am so excited to continue to watch her grow into a little lady and get to know her as a big girl!

She requested strawberry everything! We had a blast celebrating her. Hope you enjoy the party!

 We had a few little friends over for play time, a game, a strawberry craft and strawberry milk, cookies and strawberries of course!

The night before the party I always bake cakes, decorate and get everything in order so that I can enjoy the kids that day and not have to be rushing around like a crazy person!
So, I added dipping glasses in honey and then sprinkles to my list this time! I stuck them in the freezer until they were ready to fill with strawberry milk!

I found these free Strawberry Shortcake coloring sheets online and printed 2 off for each little girl. Then, I put together little craft bags with all of their needed supplies, cut and ready for them because I knew they wouldn't have time to do it all. I got my inspiration for the craft here. I changed it up just a tad by adding little rhinestone initial stickers to each bag.

I made several pretty little banners out of paper doilies and scrapbook papers. I really loved how they turned out...so girly!
Now, we're moving onto cake and ice cream with friends AND family!

I also filled these little cups with ice cream and fresh strawberry syrup the night before; placed them on a cookie sheet and slid them into the freezer. The next day, I simply pulled them out and added whipped cream and sprinkles!

I feel so much better the day of the party when I am prepared. I am able to enjoy the celebration so much more.

She's 5!!! CRAZY!

I made this 5 by drawing a 5 on foam board, cutting it out using an exacto knife, and then wrapping it with strips of fabric. Then I added the little rosettes and ribbon. I did the same thing here for my little boys Sock Monkey party.

We had a berry sweet day celebrating my baby girl!

-Jenny

Easy & Delicious Vanilla Chai Protein Shake

(sorry about the bad coloring in the pics! My camera battery was dead so I grabbed my phone!)
This is so simple, so refreshing, and full of protein but not full of tons of calories!

Vanilla Chai Protein Shake

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk
ice
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 tsp of honey
1tbsp of almond butter
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Blend it all together and enjoy!

*My current protein powder is Designer Whey and has 21 grams of protein and only 100 calories per scoop. It has very little carbs and very little sugar.
This is my first time using this because I grabbed what looked to be the best that Kroger had at the time. However, I have used Spiru-Tein powder for many years now and love it!

Do you have any favorite quick protein shake recipes?
-Jenny

Crazy Good Life

So, you might have noticed that we haven't blogged in a while. Daspri was going to take a break for a short while and I was still going to post. However, I unintentionally took a short break too!

Life is SO full these days, but so full of so many WONDERFUL things!

So, I am back for now and here's a very quick glimpse into life over the last month.

 

 There has been A LOT of this...reading, writing and arithmetic!

and A LOT of this too!

A few friends and I ran the Color Me Rad race and got all colored up! SUPER FUN!

I kind of liked it ;)

scored a new coffee table from my in-laws garage! It was love at first sight!

the perfect new spot for my many cups of coffee throughout the day!

the boys got their summer cuts...love this nice mohawk silhouette

Fun 4th of July drinks-lemonade with honey and sugar rimmed glasses!

...and the adult version ;)

got some new pillows for our bed...first home purchase I've made in quite a while...LOVE them and LOVE Ikea!

Hooray for massaged Kale salad and fresh summer produce!

Shout out for some yummy quinoa!

More summer freshness...

some peach picking....

...that resulted in some peach cobbler goodness!

So, that's a very little glimpse into of our life over the last month...so very thankful and blessed above and beyond what I deserve!

Enjoy your day and I'll see ya soon!
-Jenny

Summer Time Delights

What a beautiful weekend we just had! The weather was near perfect and we got to enjoy a lot of time together as a family and with dear friends.

 YUM-MY, grilled veggies!
I threw in some pineapple chunks with the veggies (red onion, bell pepper, zuchini, & squash) and it was delicious.
I am kind of on a kick with adding pineapples to unexpected dishes!

Some good friends of ours have gotten us hooked on fresh pico. Seriously, I crave this A LOT these days, especially with the warm weather upon us now.
And it is so simple to make; bell pepper, tomatoes, jalepeno (with no seeds), red onion, cilantro, sea salt, garlic powder and some fresh lime juice.
Serve it with chips, top your grilled chicken/steak with a spoonful, toss some in your salad.....so many ways to enjoy this!

And what would a summer cook out be without SMORES?!  Um...dare I say lame...

Such a fun and blessed time.
Good food, good friends.....good times.

-Jenny

Delicious Veggie Burgers

This is truly the best veggie burger recipe I have ever tried, not just made, but tried! I posted about it here but they are so good that I thought they needed sharing with you again....in case you missed it!

They hold together perfectly and have such a wonderful flavor. I served mine on a bed of fresh Romaine lettuce and topped with fresh homemade pico, a side of avocado slices and corn on the cob.
YUM-MY!
Check out the recipe here and ENJOY!
-Jenny

My Pancakes Taste Sweeter-Perspective

As  I was making pancakes this morning, the same recipe we have made for the past year and a half now, the same recipe that we had started to tire of; they looked so very good to me. Even different. I found myself noticing the details; the things that I noticed the first couple of times that I made them.

Their golden color. Their hearty thickness. The slight smell of toasted almonds from the almond meal.

 I know, I know. They are just pancakes, one might say.
But for me, this morning, they were a healthy, delicious breakfast that I was given the opportunity to prepare and enjoy with my four children. My heart was filled with thankfulness and delight over these pancakes this morning.
How easily and quickly we take things for granted sometimes.

So many are without this morning; without food to eat, without a table to eat their food upon, without a home, without their loved ones, and without the comfort and hope that rests only by resting in the Lord.
Perspective.

Why is it that I get to enjoy this meal with all of my children seated at the table with me? Is it because I am any better?
Absolutely not.
And sometimes I have to fight the urge to feel guilty about this.
But today, I am simply filled with thanksgiving and joy for right now. This day. And all that I have been blessed with this day.


"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all of the rushing...Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away." (One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp)

We are not promised tomorrow; another day or even another minute. This is not meant to make us sad or anxious but to make us more aware of the things and people right in front of us. It is meant to stir thankfulness within our hearts.
I pray for the many who are hurting and without today. I pray that these tragedies would not be in vain; that people would come to know the infinite love, saving grace, and hope of Jesus Christ. I pray that eyes would be opened and that thankfulness would fill the hearts of many; that less time would be wasted hurrying about this life.

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." -J.R.R. Tolkien

What will you do with your time today?
-Jenny

A Heavy Heart Of Thanksgiving & Prayer-Oklahoma

My heart is heavy today thinking about the loss in Oklahoma; the lives that were lost and the homes that were destroyed.

It is hard to find words when something like this happens. It is hard to fathom what that must be like; to wrap my mind around the whole of it. It seems so surreal.  But it is so very real to so many right now at this very moment.

My heart is heavy for the parents that sent their children to school that morning, never to have the opportunity to pick them up from school again; for the brother or sister that lost their sibling; for the children that have to bear the unspeakable loss of a parent; and for so many that must start all over rebuilding their lives.

When things like this happen, people around the world seem to pull together and rally and give on behalf of those that lost. 

People also either run towards the Lord God, seeking refuge and hope or they run further away with bitterness and anger in their hearts.

It is hard to grasp; to understand.

I, myself, am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ; a child of God. I cannot understand why things happen sometimes. I don't always understand the purpose in everything. But I do know the deep love that my God has for me and those that are His.  

He experienced great loss when His very own Son died a horrific death on the cross...and He did it for me and for those that call upon Him.

I do know that He is ALWAYS good and that ALL that happens is for the good of His children and His glory, even when we cannot see it with our physical eyes or understand it.

I know that many question this in times like these when precious little one's lives have been taken so quickly. I cannot give you an answer as to why. 

But I trust Him.

And I mourn with those parents and I pray for them to have peace and to be comforted. I pray for their hearts. I pray that they run into the arms of the Lord and rest in Him. Without the Lord, we have no hope.

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:26

Times like this make me even more thankful for all that God has given me and allows me to enjoy everyday. It makes me want to squeeze my husband and children extra tight.

I am thankful for those little ones in Oklahoma; thankful for the time they spent on earth and the time that so many were given to love and enjoy them.

I pray that through this tragic time, that many hearts would be turned to the Lord and that, in that way, their lives would be forever changed.

My heart goes out to the people of Oklahoma and my prayer is for them to experience the love and hope that is in Jesus Christ.

 May God be with you,

-Jenny