Happy Birthday Z!!!

To my best friend and my love- happy birthday!! I am so thankful for you- for how hard you work for us, for always making me laugh, for being the best husband I could ever ask for! Can't wait to grow old with you babe! 

I love you so much!!

The Icing on the {Cup}cake

Since tomorrow is a certain someone's birthday, I decided to bake up a birthday treat! Growing up, birthdays always meant one thing... homemade cake ;) So I was super excited to make my Z some homemade cupcakes. I may have cheated on the homemade part when it came to the actual cakes {ahem-I used a box-ahem} but I wanted to make the icing from scratch. I used my Nana's recipe for her famous, fluffy white icing... and let me tell ya', it did not disappoint ;) This icing is so delicious and a bit dangerous because it is so light and not too rich. {So I literally can eat ate it with a spoon!} My Nana always makes this icing for her yummy red velvet cake at Christmas... it is definitely the perfect combination! But when my Mom was growing up, my Nana would always make her a chocolate birthday cake with this fluffy white icing. So I copy-catted for my Z and made chocolate cupcakes with the famous white icing. And now I'm going to share this delicious recipe with you!! It's pretty easy and always SO yummy!

Here is all you need for the icing... 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of softened butter, 4 tablespoons of flour, 1 cup of milk, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. I forgot to show both sticks of butter {yes, it calls for two- eek!}

Step one... cook the flour and milk over med-high heat until it thickens and begins to form a ball. Remove from heat and let cool completely. {This part is VERY important... one time I didn't let it cool and it was kinda disastrous}

Step two... cream the 2 sticks of softened butter with the sugar until well combined

Step three... add the *cooled* flour mixture one tablespoon at a time to the creamed butter and sugar. Continue mixing. Add the vanilla and beat until fluffy.

The icing should be light and fluffy. Check the consistency to be sure it is not gritty. Now you're ready for the cupcakes!

Don't skimp any... this stuff is too good! Thanks Nana for this yummy recipe!

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!