... Right where I need to be.

I know it isn't Thanksgiving yet but, right now I'm feeling very thankful for everything God's given me. Even with all the hectic things happening in my life right now, tonight I've just got this overwhelming feeling that Gods got me. 

It should be an automatic thing to know that Gods got complete control but, I feel like I have to remind myself almost daily that I'm not in this alone. Not right now... Right now I know for a fact that God knows what he's doing. Even though I lost my car last week, I've been getting crazy bad migraines, certain relationships are ending and I've been really worried about money. This week, I'm becoming a pro at taking the bus, I'm learning a huge lesson on knowing when someone has your best interest or not, I just got a job this week and I'm STILL loving school.

On top of all this amazing news, SARA (my best friend) and her husband are expecting (You should all know by now). I have got some crazy awesome, beautifully talented friends, an extremely supportive, loving family and a gracious, forgiving, beautiful, worthy God who loves me and has this crazy extravagant plan for my life. 

I'm being a total cheese ball right now but, sometimes it's necessary. 

{L}

Pumpkin Spice Trifle

Adapted from Paula Deen's Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle, here is my own rendition.







1- 29oz can of pumpkin
2- 3oz pkgs cook and serve vanilla     pudding
2- pkgs spice cake mix
2- 12oz French Vanilla cool whip
1/2 c packed brown sugar
2tsp cinnamon
1tsp ginger
1/2tsp cloves






















Directions:
Bake the spice cake according to the package directions, and let completely cool. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves into the pudding. Crumble half of the spice cake into the bottom of a large, clear bowl (a punch bowl would even work). Pour half of the pudding mixture over the cake, then add a layer of cool whip. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Top with a small amount of crumbled cake, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Sara tested, guests approved.

Enjoy!

{S}

This Beautiful Life.

You always remember those special moments in your life. First day of school, first tooth you lost, graduating highschool, the moment you knew you were in love, graduating college, your wedding day, being hired at your first "real" job, and buying a house. Maybe you relate to all, maybe you relate to some, and maybe you have many others you could share. Milestones like these cancel out the bad memories, and they bring joy to your day-to-day. None of the above memories, however, prepare you for the moment when that little stick reads to you that beautiful word, "pregnant."

If you've read my dreams post, you know my desire to be a mommy. It's an ache that's lived inside of me for as long as I can remember. I've walked along some of my amazing friend's pregnancies and held their beautiful babies. I loved every moment and everything I've learned from them. But now, it's my turn. It was an early, unexpected, wonderful surprise. And it's my turn.

I always thought the day that I found out would be magical. I thought being pregnant would be complete bliss. I promised myself prior that I would continually be grateful in between each sick spell. It's been different than that. It's been the scariest and most wonderful thing I have ever experienced. I have had a couple scary moments where I have had to trust more than I have ever had to for anything. It may be the worrier in me, but it may be too close to home with everyone that I know that has lost a precious soul for whatever reason- and it's part of reality. I told someone "I can't wait until this stage of worrying is over, so I can start a whole other kind when my child is born". I wouldn't let my excitement pver this pregnancy consume me too much. Now that I have made it to my second semester, I feel a new sense of relief, with a smaller side of worry. It's like a new chapter in this new book I've been chosen to write. But it's hard to make it through to the next time I get to hear that little heart beat.

To get me by, I always try to remember to embrace my stomach, close my eyes, and whisper a prayer "Thank You for this amazing gift". I don't ever want to take this blessing for granted.

I always thought I would cry when I saw my first ultrasound, or heard the heartbeat for the first time. I didn't. I laid there smiling. With a giddy, goofy smile. It's so surreal. "Is that really inside of me?" Or the excitement of my midwife when she used a doppler to hear the heartbeat for the first time at 9 weeks. "Oh! Do you hear that? That's your baby's heartbeat! Normally we can't hear it this way this early..." Now that was a life-altering moment.

Now finally, pictures. This is from my "viability" ultrasound. Scary! But a sweet outcome.

Words can't fathom my excitement or my feelings. 

Linking up Here

{S}

Announcing...

Love,
Kyle & Sara

short.

My husband and I have had so much going on lately. Taking care of a dog, work, traveling all over creation, wonderful family company, and getting our house appraised. By the end of the day, I have no energy for anything. No crafts, no recipes. Life should slow down in time for the holidays. I miss blogging and shall be returning soon!

credit

{S}

99.

This number is epic. This number represents life, joy, pain, suffering, and love.

Today is my grandmother's birthday; she turned 99. She is one of the most amazing people I have ever known in my life. She half raised me growing up, and is everything I hope to become. She is beautiful both inside and out, and has the heart of an over-comer.

I can't even begin to imagine the things she has seen over the last 99 years, but when she opens her mouth to share a memory of her past, I am all ears. I soak in every word, trying to cherish every story. I cannot believe the things I have learned from her. She is like a book with a wealth of knowledge. And what a beautiful outlook on life.

She has experienced loss of two children, two husbands, and three sisters- just to name a few. She has overcome so much pain in her life and yet her inner joy still comes through. I will never forget when my grandfather died, I was in her house getting ready for the funeral- I was 5. She started crying. I immediately grabbed her hand, gave it a squeeze, and in my bigger-than-a-five-year-old voice I said, "Grandma, it's ok. We have each other." She later returned the favor at the funeral, with a hand squeeze, as tears ran down my face, "It's ok, we have each other." I hope to make it through heartache with as much grace as she has throughout her years.

She broke her hip last year, and came through it with flying colors. She was victorious and made it through- something truly extraordinary. They say most people over the age of 50 don't make it past the first 6 months after a hip replacement surgery. My amazing husband drove me to Rochester in the middle of the night during of fit if me hyperventilating. We made it in time to see her before she went in for her surgery. That was a trying time in my life. I thought I was about to lose one of the most important people in my life, but she was stronger than that, and still is. She lives on her own. Cooks, cleans, and is completely self sufficient. All she needs since the accident is a walker and a hearing aid. That's awesome- I could brag on her all day.

I have so many amazing memories with her growing up. Saturday morning homemade swedish pancakes. Homemade strawberry jam served with butter and bread (A lot of my memories include her food!). Getting really involved in an episode of Wheel of Fortune. Bedtime story reading. Baths with an inch of water at the bottom of the tub. Trips to the Senior Citizen's center to watch her square dance, while I tried to charm the other seniors. The best sympathy ever when I was sick- even if it was a little sniffle. No matter what she always made me feel like a queen. She taught me how to serve.

Life moves forward, and business consumes my life. The opportunity to pay her a visit becomes less and less. It makes my heart ache to think that I don't spend enough time with her. My favorite way of communicating with her is by letters. None of that e-mail stuff. Good old fashioned stationary and penmanship. I love receiving her letters. No matter what is going on, they bring such joy to my day. I have saved every single one and plan to keep them forever.

Words cannot describe how much this woman means to me. I cannot even put it in to words. I am proud to share our middle name, and I am proud of her legacy. I strive to be even a fraction of the woman she is. I love her so much.

Next year, 100 candles on the cake.

I love you Edith Elizabeth, you mean the world to me.

Little Legs.

I love leg warmers. Even more than that, I love tiny leg warmers. The perfect addition to my shop. I have been working on creating patterns and discovering different textures of yarn with an assortment of sizes. Here is a preview on my niece, Makiya!

Love those baby legs! These leg warmers are cotton- perfect for a summer night or a warmer fall day. Keeps baby warm, yet light enough for nice weather!

Keep checking for updates, and follow for upcoming giveaways!

Click Here for my Etsy Site.

and Here to contact me regarding the shop!

It's Become Recipe Week.

I haven't done any cooking for months. Now that I am finally home and settling in, I have found my self constantly making dinners and enjoying every moment.

Now I would much rather be a gourmet, but working 40+ hours a week puts a damper on such dreams. Easy, nutritious, and quick are the best.

This week my co-worker gave me the best recipe that she had tried and recommended. I decided to try it this past weekend. It was a hit and I am excited to make it again!

Chicken Skewers

Ingredients

1/2  C Olive  Oil

1/2 C Ranch

3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1  Tbsp minced fresh Rosemary

2 tsp salt 

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp white vinegar

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1 Tbsp white sugar

5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves- cut in 1in cubes

Directions

1) In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2) Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Thread the chicken onto skewers and discard marinade.

3) Lightly oil the grill grate. (We grilled on top of aluminum foil) Grill skewers for 8-12 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear. 

Believe it or not, they taste even better than they look! 

Pair it by throwing some unhusked corn on the grill. Summer dinner perfection. 

{S}

 


  partying here at taste and tell

Easy As Pie

As summer ends and fall begins, we in Minnesota feel each and every change of season. I am happy to report I have one decided to properly embrace fall for the wonderful season it is. It took a lot of internal convincing, but I have made it. And boy, have I made some plans.

However, the weather has not yet changed. So before I bust out the pumpkin puree, pick the apples off my tree, and drink a hot cup of tea, I will finish up the ideas I had for summer. One of those being the world's easiest and most customizable pies- summer style.

Here we go: ingredients

1 pkg instant pudding
1 pkg cream cheese
1 container cool whip
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pre made Graham cracker crust

Directions:
Make pudding according to pie filling directions. Add softened cream cheese. Beat on medium speed. When combined, add cool whip and vanilla. Beat again until combined. Pour into Graham cracker pie crust. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until set. Want an even tastier treat? Freeze the pie. It's like fluffy ice cream goodness.

How to customize:
The other night I made it with chocolate pudding and chocolate Graham cracker crust. You can choose your favorite flavor and add extra ingredients.

Examples:
Banana cream pudding with slices of banana.
Chocolate pudding with chocolate chips.
Coconut cream with coconut flakes.

The possibilities are endless! Don't forget to garnish and make it pretty!

**************

One other thing I wanted to get in before summer ended was dinner on my patio with friends. It's peaceful and relaxing. Plus, it's the only season where we can eat at a real dining table (not enough space in our 1900's home for a dining space!)

Hope you are enjoying your last moments of summer.

{S}

Partying Here and here today.

Berni the Cat

I'm not sure who to blame for my love of animals, maybe Sara's mom, but I love animals. A friend of mine made fun of me once because, most single women my age would look at the men walking past but no, I look at the dogs.

Yes, I am that person who talks to dogs in baby voice. I'm not sure why, maybe they understand me better if i do? who knows. Besides the point... I'm not a huge fan of cats so, that's where this story gets interesting.

Well, my best friend (Sara) is home for just a few days before she leaves me for vacation so, I head over to just hang out while she packs to leave in the morning. Her mom gets there and we head outside to help bring her luggage in and we hear a cat meowing. Well, out pops this dark grey cat with white paws and just cuddles right up to us.

Marilyn and I kept trying to bring her outside and run back inside, close the door and hope she'd find her home. Every time, we'd open the door and there she was, just laying on the door mat waiting for us. I couldn't her just go homeless so, of course, I took her home.

I am not a cat person but, this cat has stolen my heart. Sara named her Berni because, at first we didn't know the gender so Bernard if it was a boy and Bernice if it was a girl so, Berni for short.

Bernice it is.

Unfortunately, My dog doesn't like cats and I woke up thursday morning wanting to scratch my itchy eyes right out of my head and not able to breathe. So, Bernice is going to her new home today. I'm going to miss her but, I'm glad she's going to a loving home.

Berni, Thank you for being the highlight of my week! I'm sorry I'm allergic to you. Kim and Chloe are going to take such great care of you! Love you!

{L}

Weekend in Cali {The Wedding}

I love weddings. There is something about it that provides the fairytale for my inner princess. This wedding was special. Not only was it beautiful, but it brought the opportunity to spend time with my family whom I only get to see every few years.

My cousin and her family did an excellent job planning. Every detail was perfect. The venue was breathtaking. She looked amazing!

{The Decor}

{Us}

My beautiful sister, Nikki

{The Ceremony}

{The Dance}

Perfection.

{S}

Weekend in Cali {The Harbor}

Besides the over populated areas, high amounts of grid-lock traffic, and the inland smog, the California coast is one of my favorite places in America.

My husband and I had the privilege to spend the weekend in Dana Point/ San Clemente for the weekend with my family for my cousin's wedding.

We stayed in the Dana Point Harbor.

There was nothing like waking up early (thank you, time difference!) walking along the harbor with the fresh, cool ocean breeze. There was an area on the water within walking distance to our hotel with little shops, and plenty of restaurants. My favorite in the morning was the Coffee Importers.

The food was excellent, but the coffee... superb.

Harbor Latte- Like a Starbuck's Caramel Macchiato, but 100x better.

Caramel Brulee Latte. It's funny how much they embrace fall there. Pictures of fall leaves, specialty fall drinks, stores with a fall line. All I wanted was to escape the fact that fall was around the corner and to hold on to every drop of summer remaining. I will fully embrace one of my favorite seasons as soon as i can get over my rebelling stage. 

We would pick our favorite table and look out into the harbor. Peaceful. Everyone brought their dogs to this area. Made me miss little Kona. Also made me want to ride a bike. Everyone had bikes. Everyone was fit. Inspired me a little bit. 

There was a lot going on this past weekend. Stay tuned for the California series. :)

{S}

Linking up Here

My Recent Work

Maybe you remember from this post  that my mom and I are starting an Esty Shop. We are hoping to launch sometime this fall.

For a little preview, here is one of my baby blankets that we will be selling. I hope you like!

Included in our items will be blankets, legwarmers, and sweaters- all for your precious little ones!

Keep checking back for more updates!

{S}