Menu Planning Monday

So I haven't featured a menu planning Monday in a while... I have been cooking for the most part, but nothing too inspiring ;) So I decided to plan and share this week! And I'll try to post a few recipes soon!

+Monday+ shredded chicken tacos, rice and beans
+Tuesday+ taco soup and Mexican cornbread {the high tomorrow is 62! That is definitely soup weather!}
+Wednesday+ Out to eat for Z's birthday!
+Thursday+ baked chicken, sweet potato rounds, roasted brocoli
+Friday+ homemade mini pizzas
+Saturday+ football snacks- {possibly... taco dip, buffalo chicken tenders, turkey and cheese sliders...}

*also on the menu... pumpkin bread!! I have been obsessing over all things pumpkin ;) I'll share the recipe if it turns out yummy!!

Have a good week friends!

Fall

The sixty degree {yes that said SIXTY} temperature outside has this girl all kinds of excited about fall! Be prepared for fall picture overload...

Caramel apple bites... what a great alternative to the toomessyandhardtoeat caramel apples!

Chicago in the fall ;)

Cute fall look from kendieveryday- love her!

How cute are these pillows?! Maybe another drop cloth project?!

Love these carved pumpkins!

And I really love this monogrammed pumpkin even more!

Nothing says fall like pumpkin bread ;)

Except for maybe Z's favorite- taco soup. I only make it when it's chilly outside. It's pretty much a rule or something!

So now I'm off to make something fallish... pumpkin bread, trick or treat pillows... who know?! Happy {almost} fall y'all!

Being Renewed

I feel like God is really speaking to me in so many ways right now. Or maybe I'm just finally listening ;) It seems like every time I open a book or talk to Z or have a great conversation with a sweet friend, I hear the Lord speaking to me so clearly. Being away from friends and family in a new city without my job that I loved so much has been hard to say the least. Also, since I haven't found a job here yet, I have had more time to complain be negative think. Which lately has become more time to listen. Which is a good thing! But more time doesn't always feel like a good thing right now. However, I think it's all in my perspective. I remember so many mornings that I would soo wish I didn't have to get up and go to work {at that job that I truly did love so much ;)}. I remember wishing the school day would hurry up so I could have well, "more time". I even remember wishing for summer so we could move to Chicago- ha! Looking back it seems funny that I ever had any complaints. Now I would love to have to get up {way too early} and go to school or teach a classroom full of firsties all day! So I wonder. A year from now, what will I be wishing for. If I have a new job {here's a hopin'} will I be wishing that I didn't have to get up and make it to work on time?! Probably. But why. Why do I choose to complain about the here and now and wish for what I already had? Here's to changing my perspective... no more wishing away or looking back. I have a bazillion things to be thankful for right here and right now! I read in one of my books yesterday that we should never put a comma where God puts a period {like holding on to something- ahem, my job- when God's asking us to let go} ... and we should never put a period where God puts a comma {not trusting His perfect plan, timing}. That is so me. I'm always trying to change up the grammar in my life and not just let God have the pen. Plus why would I choose to write my own story when the story He has already written for my life is so much greater?! So I'm giving it up... the negative outlook, pity-parties, the pen... and trusting that the Father really does know best!

Weekend Review and a Welcome Reminder

We had a great weekend!! The weather here was ah-ma-zing all weekend! It was just cool enough to enjoy that Pumpkin Spice Latte that was on my to-do list {it was just as yummy as I remembered!!} but not too cool for long walks. Perfect! Sadly, the Redbull Flugtag was cancelled :/ They cancelled it due to strong rip tides or something. We asked when it was rescheduled for, and they told us next year. So sad! But we decided since we were out and about we would watch the Bama game at the Houndstooth Saloon. So.much.fun!!! It was crazy seeing other Bama fans here in Chicago. Like true fans that know all the words to the fight song and Rammer Jammer ;) We are definitely planning to watch more games there for sure!
Moving on... I thought I would share something that the Lord used Z to remind me of this weekend. I was telling him how I really love Chicago but I just don't really feel like I "fit in" here. I could tell this bothered him and immediately regretted my word choice. He is working so hard for us here and the last thing I want to do is discourage him in anyway. But later he shared that what he was really thinking was how maybe we're not supposed to "fit in". As followers of Christ, I'm pretty sure I know he's right. The Lord tells us to be in this world but not of it. And fitting in is probably the definition of being of this world. It's not about where we live or if we fit in wherever we are, our hope is in the Lord and the promise of eternity with Him in heaven. This earth is not our home, so no, we probably won't fit in. But how much better to have the promise of a home that is so much greater than any we could ever know here on earth! I just wanted to share this because it was a welcome reminder for me. I was so thankful to Z for sharing his heart on the matter because it really changed my perspective! I'm so thankful that this is not our home... and neither is Alabama... how amazing to have our hope in the promise of one day being home with our Heavenly Father!

Friday Love List

It's always easier to come up with a love list on a Friday ;) Here are a few things I'm loving right now...

+I have been wanting a new Alabama t-shirt, but it's not like they sell those around here! So I decided to make a diy rtr{roll tide roll} shirt... Remember these pocket tees? Well I used the same idea to make these...

I used some fabric I already had {left over from my pocket tee creations!} and bought a package of v-neck undershirts from Target {5 for $13!}. The elephant is a little wonky, but pretty cute for my first try!

 I decided to make another one with a cute red paisley fabric for my mom!

 I think it turned out even cuter... {Okay so I might have made another one just like it for me too!} Yep, these new roll tide tees are definitely on my love list!



+Hello fall! Starbucks has their pumpkin spice lattes back on the menu!! A walk to Starbucks is definitely on our weekend to-do list ;) And pumpkin spice is on my love list for sure!

+This is probably a little strange to be on my love list. But...Please check out this event that is coming to Chicago tomorrow...

It is called the Redbull Flugtag... pretty much people try to make a handcrafted contraption that can fly! By the looks of the pictures, not many succeed ;) This event is coming to North Avenue Beach tomorrow and we are so going to be there! Going to the beach with Z and watching this hilariousness definitely made the love list ;)


+A little flashback roll tide with the fam!

Miss you guys! And we miss all of our family not in this picture too! ;)



+My sweet husband is always on the top of my love list! As is hanging out with him all.weekend!!!

 Happy Friday y'all!

Chevron Obsessed

So I might have a problem. I am obsessed with chevron. It all started when I recovered a chair last summer for my classroom in a yellow chevron print. It turned out super cute and I was in love from that point on! Now everytime I have to pick a fabric, print, etc., I go for the chevron. Just take a look at my most recent diy projects to see what I mean...
-My first project was a way to keep up with bill payments. I wanted to be able to have all of the due dates in one place. I remembered an adorable idea that a lot of teachers are using in their classrooms... using a frame as a dry erase board! So cute. So I made a printable {with a chevron background of course} that listed all of the bills that we have with room to write when each one is due. Then I put my new printable in a $3 frame {thank you Gardenridge!} and used a dry-erase marker to update my payment dates! Of course it helps that it turned out super cute with the chevron background and adorable fonts!

a close up... cute, right?

It is now hanging on the wall in our kitchen, easy to access, update, reference...

 -My second project was a print to go in our bedroom. That room still needs a lot of love, but it's coming along slowly! After my bill payment printable turned out so cute, I decided to make another printable to add some cuteness to our room. I figured this was a cheap way to have some art for our very blank walls! I found this verse on Pinterest a while back. It is just a portion of what Song of Solomon 3:4 says, but I really like this version ;) Again, I added a chevron background to my document and used some cute fonts to make a super cute printable! Z asked that I make the chevron print any color other than black {to save on the black ink} so I chose a soft blue. But when it was printed, you could not see the chevron at all. Well since I have some extra time on my hands right now, I decided just to color in the chevron print. Crazy I know. But I do love the way it turned out. Grey is possibly my favorite color right now, and chevron in my favorite pattern, so the combination=love!

I put the print in a silver-ish frame that I already had

Sorry for the terrible pic, but I wanted to show what it looks like hanging in our room!

So now you know about my obsession. I'm really wanting to make a few pillows with some chevron fabric. Or maybe curtains for the bedroom with grey chevron. Too much, no? I'm sure more diy projects to come ;)

A Little R&R- A Little RTR

We had such a fun weekend! Filled with relaxing, hanging out, eating, and college football! Which is so not a big deal around here... so they say. Except that when Z wore his Alabama shirt out on Sunday, at least 5 people commented on how we beat Michigan and they were Ohio State fans and then would thank us for beating Michigan! So they do watch some college football around here apparently. It is different though for sure. We watched the big game at our apartment with all of the Alabama fans we know in this city... well except for the doorman downstairs ;) My sweet friend and I made about every kind of football food we could think of... we had so much food- Ha! So yummy! Here are a few pics of our little get together...

Cooking up our football feast!

Matching Roll Tide shirts ;)

The new Mr. and Mrs.!!

My sweet Z :)

 On another note... Lolly and I had a little shopping/girl's date on Monday. We found the Chicago Outlets {which were having a Labor Day Sale and Back to School Sale... cah-razy!!} and a Gardenridge!! Ever been to a Gardenridge?! Best store ever... everything you can imagine to decorate your home for amazing prices. We were in love! Can't wait to go back soon!