What I'm Loving Right Now (6)

Let's start with this quote

A New School Year--I am beginning my 4th year of teaching this year and I am being tested. Let me just say! This year, I have 9 students. The most I've had before now is 7. So, needless to say, we stay quite busy. Nonetheless, I am so excited for 9 little personalities that I get to know, teach, and love. It's going to be a great year!

Cross Stitching--I am REALLY enjoying this new hobby! I'm on my 3rd project now. It's definitely time consuming, but I love it!

 
Project #3, in the works...

Pretty Little Liars--I am so hooked on this show right now. I'm almost caught up! 3 episodes to go. I just want to know who "A" is! What should I watch next?

The 3 new LaCroix flavors--Yes, I am still obsessing over these drinks. Finally, my Dad saved the day and found the new flavors at our Target and they were SO SO GOOD! My goodness. It's a tie between Kiwi-Watermelon and Blackberry-Cucumber being the best. Mmmmmhmmmm

My new candle--my sweet Mom got me the best smelling candle, ever. Harvest Pumpkin Ale. If you know me at all, then you know I'm a fan of anything pumpkin scented or flavored. Thankfully, my favorite season is quickly approaching and with it, comes all things pumpkin. 

This delicious Sweet Potato Fritatta--This is my favorite breakfast right now. It is so yummy! While we're doing the Whole30, we like to try fun, new recipes so we don't get bored and this particular one reminded me of Chicken Pot Pie! It's super yummy. I'll eventually get around to posting the recipe!

Earl Gray Tea--Also, while doing Whole30, I've transitioned over to drinking hot tea in the morning and I have fallen in love with Earl Gray.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's--This year, a friend of mine asked me to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer's and I couldn't be more excited. My Dad's mom, Innie, had Alzheimer's so I am walking in her memory and for those who are currently struggling with this terrible, terrible disease. If you or anyone you know are interested in joining our team and walking with us (It's on September 19th at 9am), we would be MORE than happy to have you! Visit my page (here) and join our team! If you can't walk and want to give a donation--that would be amazing, you can do that through my site as well! I set a personal goal of raising $250 and after the two donations I mailed in today--I will be $56 shy of my goal! 17 days to go and I know we can make it happen! If you walk with our team, you can get this cool shirt for a discounted price and if you can't walk with our team, you can get this shirt for $10 and help support our team! And by the way, my team is #5 for fundraising thus far! We are doing great things here and I am excited!

All of the sunrises I've been BLOWN away by here lately--one of the best perks of waking up at 5 am is that you're guaranteed to catch the sunrise. Look at these beautiful pictures. Only one of them was enhanced, the other two--all natural beauties! 

Can y'all believe that it's September?
Time is flying!
In just 22 short days my handsome husband and I had our first date at Papitos! Like I said, time flies!
Enjoy your Labor day--here's to a long weekend!

Slow-Cooker Chipotle Pork Carnitas with Pineapple Guacamole

We are trucking along on our Whole30 and while searching for recipes we found this DELICIOUS recipe (originally from here).

I am always looking for slow-cooker recipes. I feel like they are lifesavers but I haven't found many that were appealing to me or were compliant with paleo/primal and now Whole30. 

But lo and behold, these bad boys. 

Slow-Cooker Chipotle Pork Carnitas with Pineapple  Guacamole

What you need: 

Carnitas:

2 lbs, bone in pork chops (ours didn't have bones, we read this AFTER we bough the chops from the market)

1 cup chicken stock (sugar free) (we used beef, bone broth that Jason had previously made)

1 tbsp cumin

2 tsp chili powder

2 tbsp fresh thyme

8 cloves garlic

1 dried chipotle pepper (we didn't use this, this time. We couldn't find it! I'm sure Whole Foods or Fresh Market would have it. But, it taste delicious even without it)

2 bay leaves

salt and pepper, to taste

Pineapple Guacamole:

3 ripe avocados

1 lime, juiced

3 tbsp minced red or green onions (we like red)

3/4 cup fresh, pineapple that's diced

1/2 jalapeño, deseeded and finely diced

salt and pepper to taste

Rutabaga Fries:

1 large (or 2 small) rutabagas

salt

pepper

garlic powder

cayenne pepper

olive oil 

What you do: 

Carnitas:

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. 

Cook on low for 8 hours. 

Before serving, remove bay leaves, bones, and any excess fat. 

Shred pork with two forks. 

**Original recipe calls for this to happen next: Heat 2 tbsp avocado oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat, brown pork until crispy** (We didn't do this)

Instead, we did this:

Strained the liquid from the crock pot into a pot.

Add the shredded meat to the pot and let it cook in the juice on medium heat for about 10 minutes. 

Pineapple Guacamole:

Mash avocados in a bowl.

Work in all the remaining ingredients. 

Salt and Pepper to taste. 

Rutabaga Fries:

Cut the rutabaga into "fry-like" spears.

Put them in a zip lock bag and drizzle with olive oil.

While in the bag, dust with spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper)--coat well. 

Put the fries on a baking sheet with parchment paper on it. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes depending on the thickness of the fries. 

This was so full of flavor and really different with the pineapple guacamole. 

We loved it. 

Moon River Music Festival--Round 2

My birthday gift this year was tickets to the Moon River Music Festival in Memphis that's put on by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors. 

We went last year and it was so much fun! This year was even better--more well known bands, more vendors, and a lot more people! It was a PACKED HOUSE compared to last year--they sold out the day of the festival. The Levitt Shell is such a cool venue, especially at night. Fun fact that we learned: The Levitt Shell is recognized as the site of Elvis Presley’s first professional rock-n-roll show--how cool is that? 

The line up was incredible:

Drew & Ellie kicked it off

Myla Smith

Cereus Bright (one of my new favorites)

Stephen Kellogg

Colony House

Judah & The Lion

Switchfoot

Needtobreathe

Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors

It was hot, hot, hot but I was loving it. 

I was so impressed with Switchfoot and Needtobreathe--both bands that I've heard multiple times (through radio or live) but there was something about last night--they were both on fire.  

They both blew. me. away. 

There was this amazing moment that gives me chills even now when Needtobreathe was performing their song "Multiplied" & ALL these people, gathered in this sold out, packed out, outdoor venue were singing at the top of their lungs and/or hearing these words:

"Your love is like radiant diamonds

Bursting inside us we cannot contain

Your love will surely come find us

Like blazing wild fires singing Your name

God of mercy sweet love of mine

I have surrendered to Your design

May this offering stretch across the skies

And these Halleluiahs be multiplied"

The whole song is those lines repeated over and over. 

Imagine that.

Chills, I know. 

God is so mighty and I am so thankful that He uses peoples talents to glorify Him. 

It was a great weekend. 

Here's to hoping that next year's Moon River Festival is just as amazing. 

"When We Love The Least Of These"

As I begin my 4th year of teaching, I wanted to share this song with you all. 

It's such a sweet reminder as we begin this school year--it has always made me think of my school and all the students there. 

I've talked to a lot of children who live with all kinds of various family dynamics. 

I've seen the aftermath and heard about a lot of sad situations that happen to these 2nd and 3rd graders when they go home--it breaks my heart. Yet, there's a part of me that is thankful that they get to be in the loving hands of their teachers, that care about them, and protect them, for 8 hours of the day. For 8 hours, we know they are safe, taken care of, fed, loved on, being told they matter, being told how important they are, and how far they can go in life--they are being led to take small steps in the right direction. 

This song has always struck a chord with me. I think of not only all the babies at our school, in all schools, but especially the sweet faces of the children I teach in my classroom on a daily basis. If not us (me), then who will be like Jesus to some of precious souls? This is my favorite line: "Boys become kings, girls will be queens, wrapped in Your majesty"---May I never forget that these little boys and girls are wrapped in His majesty. What an honor we have to love, teach, and influence them. May we never grow tired of reminding them through our actions that they are Kings and Queens.

"Kings and Queens" 

Audio Adrenaline 

Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking back at me

Will we leave behind the innocent to grieve?

On the road, on the run when their lives have only begun

These could be our daughters and our sons

And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating

I know my God won't let them be defeated

Every child has a dream to belong and be loved

Boys become kings, girls will be queens

Wrapped in Your majesty

When we love, when we love the least of these

Then they will be brave and free

Shout Your name in victory

When we love, when we love the least of these

When we love the least of these

Break our hearts once again

Help us to remember when

We were only children hoping for a friend

Won't you look around

These are the lives that the world has forgotten

Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open

Boys become kings, girls will be queens

Wrapped in Your majesty

When we love, when we love the least of these

Then they will be brave and free

Shout Your name in victory

When we love, when we love the least of these

When we love the least of these

If not us, who will be like Jesus

To the least of these

If not us tell me who will be like Jesus

Like Jesus

To the least of these

Boys become kings, girls will be queens

Wrapped in Your majesty

When we love, when we love the least of these

Then they will be brave and free, 

shout Your name in victory

When we love, when we love the least of these

We will love the least of these

Buffalo Ranch Stuffed Peppers with Guacamole

I've always wanted to find a stuffed pepper recipe that I like. Jason and I have tried 2 or 3 and they were, okay, but these bad boys hit it out of the park! 

The original recipe comes from here. 

Buffalo Ranch Stuffed Peppers with Guacamole 

What you need: 

4 chicken breasts 

1 medium onion, sliced

1/2 teaspoon of each: dried parsley, dried dill, dried chives, garlic powder, onion powder

sea salt and pepper to taste

extra butter (or ghee--or other fat of choice for greasing)

4 peppers, with the tops cut off and seeds cleaned out

1/2 cup hot sauce 

1/4 cup butter or ghee

If you really like it spicy, add more hot sauce and use less butter--if you want it more mild, use less hot sauce and more butter. 

Jason also added a bit more dried dill to ours to give it more of the ranch taste that I love so much!

Guacamole:

2 avocados

1/2-1 jalapeño, seeded and minced

1/4 of a medium red onion, finely chopped

2-3 tablespoons of cilantro, finely chopped

1/2 lime, juiced

sea salt, to taste 

What you do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix your dried spices together. 

Place the chicken breast and sliced onions together in a single layer on a greased or parchment paper lined baking pan. 

Sprinkle the entire pan with the dried spice mixture & salt and pepper to taste. 

Place a small pat of butter (or other fat choice) over each chicken breast. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. 

While chicken is cooking, melt 1/4 cup butter in a pot over medium-low heat. 

Once melted, add in hot sauce and stir. 

Set aside. 

If you are making the guacamole, make it now--mash all guacamole ingredients together until desired consistency. 

Once chicken is cooked, run a knife through the chicken and onions until chicken is in small, bite size pieces.  

Combine chicken with the hot sauce mixture. 

Spoon chicken mixture evenly into all 4 peppers. 

Place stuffed peppers in a baking pan. 

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until peppers are softened to your liking. 

Serve with the guacamole. 

Cilantro Garlic Lime Chicken with Zucchini Noodles

Jason and I really liked this dish. It was not only delicious but tasted really fresh. 

The recipe originally comes from here. We've started doing the Whole30 so we've been trying all new kinds of recipes around here and this one topped the charts tonight. 

Cilantro Garlic Lime Chicken with Zucchini Noodles

What you need:

1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped into 1 inch pieces

4 large zucchini made into noodles (I use this AMAZING zoodle--it's my new favorite kitchen tool--I promise it will be the best $13 you've ever spent) some use a potato slicer, too. 

1-2 jalapeños deseeded and diced

1 & 1/2 limes, juiced

1 cup, chopped, fresh cilantro

1 heaping tablespoon of taco seasoning (or 1/2 tablespoon of both cumin & chili powder)--I did the cumin and chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic salt (which I didn't have so I did 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. 

Non-stick cooking spray (avocado spray)--I didn't have so we used coconut oil

salt and pepper to taste

What you do:

Spray a large skillet with cooking spray (or coconut oil). 

Heat the skillet to medium-high heat; then add the diced chicken breast & chopped jalapeño. 

Season with taco seasoning (or mixture of cumin & chili powder) along with the garlic salt.  

Cook until the chicken is lightly browned and cooked through. 

Once cooked through, transfer the chicken to a separate dish; set aside. I put it in a mixing bowl and placed a plate on top of it (like a lid) to keep it warm. 

In the original recipe, she suggests to wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel and then use it again--I didn't wipe it clean, I just kept going. 

Spray with cooking spray (or add more coconut oil) and turn the heat back to medium-high. 

Add the zucchini noodles, dust them with salt, and cook for 1-2 minutes--stirring continually. 

Add the chicken back to the skillet. 

Sprinkle in the chopped cilantro and add in the lime juice. 

Remove from the heat and toss to combine thoroughly (I couldn't toss, because there was a good bit of liquid in my pan--which was fine and actually added a good bit of flavor!) I just stirred and stirred. 

Season with salt and pepper.

Go and make your tummy happy!

26 on the 26th

I celebrated my "golden birthday" yesterday (aka, turning 26 on the 26th). 

It was such a fun day--well, really week/weekend! It's always fun to have a birthday week ;) 

We were at the beach with my parents all of last week and we celebrated some there with my annual crab legs from Blalocks--which were to die for, as usual. It was a week full of relaxation, good fun, great sun, and the best company. 

 Our new, fun, Sunski sunglasses. These bad boys are SO LIGHT and SO amazing. 

When we got home from the beach we had a wedding to attend and then went to Babalu's with Melissa & Ian to celebrate my birthday.

Look at this beautiful bride! Such a sweet wedding with one of the happiest brides I've ever seen!

Now, I want to give credit where credit's due and I THINK I first saw this sweet birthday tradition from my Cousin, Carrie. She said that her Mom always sent her the Psalm passage that corresponded with her age on her birthday. I absolutely loved that idea and have adopted it for our family. 

Psalm 26

I Will Bless the Lord

 Vindicate me, O Lord,

    for I have walked in my integrity,

    and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

    test my heart and my mind.

 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

    and I walk in your faithfulness.

 I do not sit with men of falsehood,

    nor do I consort with hypocrites.

 I hate the assembly of evildoers,

    and I will not sit with the wicked.

 I wash my hands in innocence

    and go around your altar, O Lord,

 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,

    and telling all your wondrous deeds.

 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house

    and the place where your glory dwells.

 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,

    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,

 in whose hands are evil devices,

    and whose right hands are full of bribes.

But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;

    redeem me, and be gracious to me.

 My foot stands on level ground;

    in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

I love what the footnote of my "Gospel Transformation Bible" (this Bible is a gem that everyone needs--it takes passages and has notes at the bottom, for every part, that "show how the message of the Bible culminates in Christ, and how the grace of God applies to our everyday lives in a heart-transforming way." I have really enjoyed mine) says about this passage: 

"To be in God's presence as a worshipper is to see the glory of His love, and to see His love is to be motivated to faithfulness.  Motivation is one thing, however, but ability is another.  So David pleads to be vindicated or distinguished from "hypocrites" and "evildoers".  Far from boasting, David's pronouncements are implicit prayers for help in his pursuit of holiness.  Recognition of God's threat of judgement against the unholy should be enough to keep anyone from boasting. With The Lord's steadfast love before his eyes of faith, David sees God to be a gracious redeemer, which emboldens him to ask for vindication.  With God's grace as his focal point, he has pursued a publicly worshipful life of gratitude.  The result has been "integrity" in his dealings, moral separation in his social life, and humble passion in worship.  Yet this determination to walk uprightly is not a moralistic, self-generated effort; David knows he needs redemption and grace.  Because of this grace, whatever happens, David stands on level ground.  The ultimate way in which God secured this redemption and grace was in the sending of his own Son, to whom God was not gracious, so that grace could be extended to sinners such as David--and us."

My prayer as I embark on this next year of life is that I will see the glory of His love to and for me and that His love will motivate me to faithfulness (and thankfulness) to Him in all things. 

Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies

My goodness, It's almost been a month since I've last posted!

I've finally had the time to recuperate from all of our busyness this summer. 

I think I'll ease back in with a recipe for you all. 

These cookies were a last minute (great) decision--I chose them because we had all the ingredients on hand & I realized I needed something sweet for a get together we were having that evening!

They were awesome--not too sweet but just the right ending to top off our meal. 

I found the recipe in our "Primal Cravings" cookbook. 

Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies

What you need:

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup coconut sugar

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons finely ground coffee

3/4 cup tapioca flour

1/4 cup coconut flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup chocolate chips

What you do:

Preheat oven to 375.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Whisk together salt, coffee grounds, tapioca flour, coconut flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. 

Set aside. 

Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for about 2 minutes, until fluffy. 

Then, beat in the egg and egg yolk, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. 

Turn the mixer down to low and slowly add the dry ingredients until combined. 

Fold in the chocolate chips. 

Drop by rounded teaspoon at least 2 inches apart on baking sheet. 

Bake for 12-15 minutes. 

Cool on sheet before removing. 

Aaron & Blair 6-27-15

10 years of dating and Aaron & Blair finally, FINALLY tied the knot this weekend and it was perfect!

It was such a fun, sweet weekend--from the bridesmaids luncheon, to the rehearsal dinner, to spending the day with all the wedding party, to the ceremony and one of the most fun receptions--it was a true celebration of these two!

As I've said before, there's nothing sweeter than seeing your sibling get married. It's so neat to see The Lord answer life long prayers of our family by providing us all with spouses. 

We are so thankful to have Blair as an "official" part of our family now. I know she will wear the Jussely name proud for those of us who have taken new last names ;)

(Let me go ahead and preface that I've gotten a few of these pictures from other people--thank y'all for helping our family capture all these moments!)

Friday afternoon, we had the bridesmaids luncheon at The Fairview Inn. 

We had the best time having all the girls together, just visiting and enjoying one another's company before all the evening events snuck up on us. 

 Blair's sweet, SWEET gift to her mom and my mom

 along with these fun robes

Thank you to Blair and all the ladies that made the luncheon so much fun for us all--it was wonderful!

Later that evening, we had the rehearsal at the church and then the rehearsal dinner at The Ivy

 The dinner was so nice and delicious. I loved hearing everyone's speeches about what Aaron and Blair mean to them and how they've been a part of their lives in one way or another. It's definitely one of my favorite parts of wedding weekends!

Their wedding day couldn't have been any better!

The weather held off and made for some beautiful pictures, everything went smoothly, it was so beautiful, the ceremony was sweet, Blair and Aaron were beaming, and it was all around lovely. 

 A huge shoutout to Charlotte Stringer and her amazing photography--thank you for sharing all these sneak peeks with us--I am LOVING them!

 With our new sister 

Aaron and Mom danced to "That's Alright Mama" 

 Aaron and Blair ended their first dance by kicking up their heels to "Son of a Preacher Man" and it was PERFECT. 

 We always love when our extended family is around 

I am so thankful for such a sweet weekend celebrating my big brother and his new wife. Join me in praying for Aaron and Blair as they start their new life as The Jussely's!

I have to end this post with a shoutout to my parents--3 weddings in 19 months! They are the most selfless, helpful, gracious, loving people I know and I think I speak for all three of us when I say how thankful we are for you both and all that you've done for us and our new little families over the past 19 months! Thank you both for showing us what covenantal loves looks like and modeling that in our home for over 30 years. Your marriage is such a blessing to our lives and we are so thankful that The Lord saw fit for us to be your children. Thank you for loving us so well!

May 28, 1983

 November 23, 2013

December 20, 2014

June 27, 2015