At Christmastime

 Hi friends! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas filled with love, joy, and peace!

A quick hello

 

Hello friends! Just a quick hello and a few pictures from the week. The sunset was gorgeous on Monday evening after it had rained all day. I just started reading the cutest, holiday rom-com. I love sitting out on our back deck reading in the warm, afternoon sunlight. And also, my afternoon cup of tea - matcha today. Are you a fan of matcha green tea? I've tried so many different brands, and I can say Pique is my favorite. Ryze also isn't bad - it's a mushroom matcha so it has more of an earthy taste.

 Okay, so I need to go start on dinner - Swiss Chard and Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells in Marinara Sauce.

It was a good week. Have a great upcoming weekend!

Vote!

 

Tomorrow is Election Day here in the US.  I voted early a few weeks ago. Pray and vote, my friends.

Glorious October

 Hello friends! Oh my goodness has this been the most gorgeous month! Blue skies, sunshine, and comfortable temperatures every single day. October is usually our best weather month here in NC. After our hot and humid summer, it's a breath of fresh air literally. I'm spending as much time as possible outside, going on daily walks, and soaking it all up. 

Recently, we spent the afternoon in Blowing Rock enjoying the gorgeous weather and going out for dinner. Sorry, I didn't get any pictures of our meal, but it was wonderful. We also visited my favorite garden center The Mustard Seed for pansies, violas, and pumpkins. It was a really great way to spend the day. 

I've been spending lots of time in the kitchen, too. I made a wonderful turkey chili amongst lots of other things. I bought a new non-toxic Caraway frying pan which I love and would recommend if you are in the market for a new one. If I'm buying healthy foods, why would I want to cook them in something that could potentially release toxic chemicals into my food? It's not something we often think about, but we must be aware of what we are cooking with. I mostly cook with Le Creuset cookware - I love their Dutch oven and brasier, but I wasn't a fan of their frying pan - everything seemed to stick. Le Creuset is an investment. It will last you for many years to come. I cannot say enough about the quality of Caraway though. I'll likely be buying more.

Oh, and if you have slipcovers is there anything better than a freshly washed slipcover? I recently washed my sofa cover and it feels so clean and fresh.

I've also been watching lots of cozy autumn Hallmark movies in the evenings. They are the best!

Charlotte and I had a fun girls day out and about last Friday and I didn't get any pictures. We went shopping at J Crew Outlet and she found several cute, new things for fall. I found the softest, coziest cardigan. Afterward, we went to lunch followed by Barnes & Noble - I could spend hours there, Williams Sonoma and Trader Joe's which is always fun. It was a much-needed, fun day. Charlotte has been working super hard this semester so she was ready for a nice break. 

Have a wonderful day! Enjoy this beautiful time of year.🍂

Easy and healthy lunch recipe

 

Hi friends! I hope you all are well and are enjoying this gorgeous October day. I'm praying for the state of Florida and all who are in the path of this horrific hurricane that is headed your way. Please stay safe! 

I wanted to share my lunch with you today. Actually, I make this lunch for myself quite often. If I don't eat enough protein with each meal, I just end up overeating and snacking to make up for it. I also love garbanzo beans! They are packed with protein and fiber and help keep you full. So, here's my easy salad recipe... I use mixed salad greens, but you could use any type of greens or lettuce you like. Preheat your oven to 325 F. I drain a can of garbanzo beans and lay them out on a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan - drizzle them with olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt, and roast them for 22-24 minutes.  I usually toss in kalamata olives, and sometimes cucumbers to my salad. I also love to add fresh parsley when I have it on hand. Top your salad with the roasted chickpeas, your favorite dressing, and that's it! Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Dutch Baby

 

Hello friends! Happy October! It seems like September absolutely flew by. Okay, I've made this recipe four times in the past month! It's wonderful for this time of year as it is apple season. It's perfect for a leisurely weekend breakfast and I hope you make it this weekend. Your house will smell amazing - like apples and cinnamon - like fall! And it's really easy to make! Be sure to top it with a good drizzle of pure maple syrup and eat it as quickly as it comes out of the oven. Your family will be so impressed!

I wanted to thank you all for the kind comments on my last post. Thank God my brother and sister-in-law are safe from the hurricane, but so many here in Western North Carolina are suffering from the devastating Hurricane Helene. Please continue to pray for the people who have lost their homes, businesses, and sadly their loved ones. 

I went to Anthropologie yesterday in search of a new cute fall mug or dish towel and sadly found neither one. I asked the sales associate why they didn't have any cute seasonal things like they used to and she said they were only going to be carrying clothing from now on. Why?? I mean you can order more things on their website, but it was always so much fun to look at everything in person. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! I hope the weather truly feels like fall where you are. I'm planning to do some fall baking and watch some cozy Hallmark movies this weekend. What are your plans for the weekend?🍁

Hurricane Helene

 

Hello friends. My family and I are safe from the hurricane - thank God! Although many people in our town do not have power, thankfully, we do. These pictures were taken by my brother at their home way on top of a mountain in Linville, NC. His area was hit so hard. Western North Carolina was hit really hard with tornadoes and so much flooding.  Certain areas received thirty inches of rain in twenty-four hours! The area (Chimney Rock) where my daughter went hiking with her youth group last Saturday was completely flooded and washed away. The restaurant where they had lunch is gone along with all the others in that town. It's just so sad. So many people have lost their homes and businesses. 

My brother doesn't have power and cell service is very spotty, but they do have a generator running sparingly in the evenings. He had a kind neighbor stop by today to help clear all the debris off his truck and make a path through the yard so they could leave tomorrow. His driveway is a complete mess. Thankfully, his home wasn't affected by the hurricane or tornadoes, just the grounds. They likely won't have power restored in his town for at least a week. They are planning to go to Charlotte which is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from where they live and rent a place until they have power back. Praying they don't have any issues getting out tomorrow as so many roads are closed now.

Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic destruction to so many in Western NC. Please continue to pray for the people who were affected by this horrific natural disaster.

**UPDATE - My brother and his wife were able to get in touch with a friend who lives in Blowing Rock which is about forty minutes away from where they live. She has power, running water, and cell service at her home. They are heading there today and will stay with her until their power is restored. They should have power restored no later than this Friday.