Road Trip!!!

After work tomorrow we are heading off for the lake!!!  I'm looking forward to getting out of town for some swimming, hammock time, watching fireworks on the water & hanging with my family.  I will be back with lots of photos after the weekend!

Recipe Share: Spicy Pork & Sesame Ramen

Slightly adapted from a recipe in Let's Cook Japanese Food...

1 teaspoon sesame oil

4-6 strips of bacon, fried then crumbled

1/2 pound ground pork

1 tablespoon chili bean paste

1 teaspoon finely minced garlic

2 packages instant ramen

3 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted & ground

2 green onions, minced

Hot chili oil

In a frying pan, cook the slices of bacon and set them aside.  Wipe out the pan leaving some of the bacon grease and add the sesame oil.  Over medium-high heat, brown the pork breaking it up with a wooden spoon.  Add the chili bean paste and the garlic and continue to cook until the pork is cooked through and is very crispy.  Remove from heat & set aside (I recommend draining both the bacon and the cooked pork on a paper towel).  Cook the ramen according to the directions but discard the flavor packet.  Once cooked, drain the ramen noodles and set aside.  Divide the ground sesame seeds between two large bowls and then pour half of the chicken broth into each bowl.  Add the noodles, then top with the cooked pork, crumbled bacon & green onions.  Drizzle hot chili oil according to your taste & enjoy!!  This is one of our favorites :)

P.S.  I can usually only eat half a serving but the leftovers reheat really well & can be eaten the next day for lunch!

Weekend Update

Cory with my niece Avry....these coordinating outfits were a complete coincidence & I had to get a photo of them.  Don't they just look like they're deep in conversation?  We had a pretty good weekend: some good friends got hitched on Friday night, an a-mazing meal with my family on Saturday, a Sunday picnic in the park with the dogs (forgot the camera - boo!), and checked lots of things off my to do list!

Wedding Update: Inspiration

I saw this ring pillow over on A Beautiful Mess probably years ago at this point.  I tucked the photo away for someday and now that day is imminent!  I have a rad collection of felt from Benzie Bazaar that I got a while back and happen to have the exact colors I need to make my own.

Father's Day Weekend

Our friends Travis & Becky tied the knot on Saturday and we celebrated with the most fantastic BBQ dinner EVER!  I don't think I've ever had beef brisket & corn bread that good before. YUM.  On Sunday we had a laid back little burger grill at my parent's house to celebrate Father's Day.  My little niece Avry was napping for most of the get together, and when she woke up she was so darn serious!  Isn't she ridiculously adorable?  Not that I am biased or anything :)  My dad is doing pretty well.  Since I last updated, he had another surgery (this time at Duke) and has started treatment.  He gets very tired but just last week he golfed a full 18 holes twice!  Please continue to include him in your prayers, we are feeling very blessed that he is doing so well but we know he has a fight ahead of him.  Happy Father's Day!!!

Projects: Daisy Chain Wreath

I've been meaning to make a summer yarn & felt wreath for the past 2 years...finally I can check it off my list!  A really simple project but extra nice because I can use it in both the spring & summer.  My least favorite part is definitely wrapping the yarn around the wreath form - kind of annoying.  Making the felt flowers & hot gluing them on the wreath is the best part :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

We love & appreciate you so much more than we can say...we always wonder how you survived our childhood & continue to be in awe of the sacrifices you make for your family.  Your grace & strength through life's challenges are inspiring.  We all wish you sunshine, love & peace for your birthday this year!  Summer birthday bonus - DQ ice cream cake!!!

Wedding Update: Sweets

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We haven't finalized the details - but we know we want to celebrate our marriage with cupcakes & mini-pies!  Some thoughts on cupcake flavors - chocolate marshmallow, carrot or spice with cream cheese frosting, orange, ginger lemon, cinnamon sugar, & chai latte.  As far as the mini-pies are concerned, we would love to have dutch apple, pumpkin & pecan!  We'll have to see how it all pans out - but we are having so much fun planning & daydreaming about it!  

Weekend Update

The weather was AMAZING today - absolutely perfect for a picnic at the park with my sister and my nieces.  We took turns chasing Addie all over as she was just running and singing all over the playground equipment.  She's still pretty little and there seemed to be lots of places for her to fall & from heights that make your stomach flip.  We were only there about an hour and a half and were completely exhausted!  While chilling with Avry on the blanket, I could see all the rest of the parents looked pretty tired & defeated as well.  Kids can be crazy, irrational, lacking in any sense of reason or logic, and they fall down a lot.  But seeing their excitement in just running, playing, & being outside is pretty fun to witness.

Projects: Craft Room

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Keeping my supplies & workspace organized is key in me actually completing projects.  I need to be able to find what I need & fast so I can pick up a project when the mood strikes.  We have also acquired an extra monitor that I need to make space for + reorganizing my supplies is also a good way to visually see what I have to work with & helps me from purchasing duplicate supplies.  Friends & family know I like arts & crafts so I also get a lot of donated supplies that I forget I have!  I'll be back next week with some photos of my newly organized space!

Wedding Update: Vista Bricks

The top photo is of my dad looking out over the Vista Bricks at Wildlife Prairie Park.  Weather permitting, this is where our ceremony will be.  We had our tasting and got another tour this time with Mom & Dad.  We saw lots of bison & elk in the pasture just beneath the Hespell Deck where we are having the reception.  We made some big decisions - it feels good to have things falling into place! 

Wedding Update

I freaking love the Augusta gown from J. Crew but it is no longer for sale.  Insert big fat frown-y face here.