Weekend Wrap-Up (& a blog update!)

Another week, another weekend wrap-up! :) This week has been a pretty exciting one for me, as I launched a small home styling business, Mysa Home Styling. You might notice that there's a blog over there, and that might make you wonder if The Things That Make Us Tick is gonna stick around. Well, I can tell you that right now my plan is to keep this baby around for as long as I like writing about life and marriage and faith and food and music and travel and all the other non-home related things that I blog about. So YES! You will still find content here, it just might be slightly less frequent (especially at first here while I'm getting Mysa up and running), and there will probably be less home-related posts here since that will be happening over on the Mysa blog. So if you love home stuff as much as I do, make sure and follow the Mysa Blog!

So without further ado, some sweet stuff I found on the internet this week...
  This Brie and Grape Crostini from A Cup of Jo looks heavenly!

This post on how to style overhead still life photos from the Nesting Place is helpful... especially if you're into Instagram!

And lastly, just try and tell me that this doesn't look adorable. It comes out in a week! 

5 of Our Go-To Recipes

Happy Thursday! The weekend is drawing near, which means more time for cooking delicious meals and hosting friends and family. Since I recently wrote about dining tables and hospitality, I thought I would share with you some of our go-to recipes, both for entertaining, and for a quiet night in just the two of us.

1. Sausage Pasta
The perfect comfort food! Plus, it's basically a one-pot recipe. We love making this when we have one other couple over because not only is it the perfect amount of food for four, but it's also beautiful and tasty!

2. Chicken Lime Tacos

This chicken is amazing! All the flavors put together make a really unique and delicious combo and it's perfect for tacos (as the recipe suggests), but also works well over rice or with veggies.

3. Mexican Street Corn Salad

This recipe is easy but makes tacos go from "meh" to "woah!" It's also an amazing chip dip. A couple things... I cook the onion and garlic in with the corn, and use feta cheese. So. Good. Major crowd pleaser!

4. Parmesan Broiled Tilapia

This is our go-to quick meal! It legitimately takes 10 minutes and can be paired with veggies and any kind of carb (pasta, rice, potatoes, couscous, etc) for a healthy and fast meal.

5. Sausage & Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

This one's a favorite for the sheer quantity it makes, as well as how fancy it looks. The flavors are amazing and it works super well as leftovers. We'll often make a double batch of the filling and then freeze some of it to make with squash later.

And just for fun... here are a few cookbooks I've had my eye on. Has anyone used any of them? Any other good cookbook recommendations? 

                                          

Weekend Wrap-Up

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Happy Friday, folks! This graphic pretty much sums up how I'm feeling right now. Sun is shining, gourmet pizza for lunch, and just a few hours out from the weekend.

This weekend is looking like it will be the perfect mix of social, relaxing, and productive. We'll be visiting some art studios, having coffee with new friends, and going to an old friend's housewarming party. We will also be picking up our new (to us) car at the dealership tomorrow (cuz, that one time), working on a mailing that we'll be sending out soon (keep your eyes on your mailboxes!), and meeting with BASE to plan a purity conference. Good stuff.

This past week I found a few things on the internet to be extra helpful... drumroll, please...

This blogpost on adopting first has really impacted me this week and reiterates a lot of the thoughts that Loverboy and I have had on this topic.

Although not super pretty, this graphic from the UN is super helpful in understanding what makes up trafficking:

And last but not least, this recipe for Sausage & Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash not only looks amazing, but I have had it recommended to me by two ladies that I work with. Needless to say, I may have a couple acorn squash sitting on my kitchen counter ready and waiting!

Changing our Habits: 30 Days of Eating Healthy

This past week Loverboy and I decided to start a very loose interpretation of Whole30... and when I say very loose, I mean ver-er-errrryyyy loose. Like, we're still eating dairy (gasp!). And salad dressing (say it ain't so!). And peanut butter (noooooo!). Ok, I probably shouldn't even call it a loose interpretation of Whole30. Whoever started Whole30 is probably rolling over in their grave. Except I'm sure they're still alive because they eat so dang healthy. Anywho...

We ARE staying away from mass quantities of sugar (read: any sweets, dessert, chocolate, candy, or anything with abhorrent amounts of added sugar) and carbs/grain stuffs (I'm not a nutritionist so I don't know the real way to say that, but basically no bread, pasta, couscous, aforementioned yummies like cake and cookies, cereal, pizza, breaded anything, and other things that make the sun shine and the butterflies dance). We're doing this because we (especially me) really love our sugars and carbs just a little too much. And by a little, I mean a lottle. 

We do however, have the right to decide we are going to cheat a little, but only for special occasions or when other people are feeding us. Not when we are sitting on the couch at home after work.

So, we're 5 days in to this 30 day thing... 1/6 of the way there! And it's been pretty decent overall. I've been enjoying eggs and cheese with fruit for breakfast, and we've learned that potatoes are actually a pretty good substitution for pasta. ("But HOW do we have shrimp and asparagus without PASTA?!" We figured it out... drama averted.)

I'm excited to see how the month goes, how we're feeling, if we decide to stick with some of our new habits and integrate them into our normal, everyday diet. So far I haven't felt too tempted (and in fact have even felt relief that I have an excuse to not grab that piece of cake at work). I feel like the past year or so I have filled my body with so much junk, so it feels good to have a little self-control (I might be singing a different tune in a couple weeks!).So if you have any good recipes for me, please pass them my way. And let me know if you've ever tried going sugar/grain free, and if so, how it went. Or if you were REALLY brave and actually did the Whole30. :)

Weekend Wrap-Up // Food & Decor

Happy Friday! It's a beautiful day and the weekend is almost here, so why not be happy? Today I wanted to share a couple recipes (mmmmm) as well as some updates we've made to the apt and a helpful post about cleaning out your possessions. Read on!

I posted this on the Insta when we had it, but I just have to share it here too. Holy smokes, guys! This is like our new favorite thing! It makes an amazing meal, or you could make little mini ones for hors d'oeuvres.

✔️french bread 

✔️garlic butter (I just melt some butter and stir in fresh garlic)

✔️pesto 

✔️fresh mozzarella 

✔️basil or Italian seasoning 

✔️salt 

✔️tomatoes

Spread the garlic butter and pesto on the sliced bread. Top with slices of fresh mozz, sprinkle with basil or Italian seasoning and salt. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 min then top with tomatoes. Wallah!

Also, for your tastebud's pleasure, these Baked Asparagus Fries looks SUPER yummy and easy. Win-win. Will def be trying them out soon.

And this recipe for Mexican Street Corn Salad is actually to die for! My sis introduced me to is a couple weeks ago and we made a batch yesterday and ended up eating the whole thing! So yumm. But instead of putting the onions, peppers, and garlic in raw, we char it with the corn. So much better, I would guess. :)

This last week saw our bedroom getting some updated decorating! I was going for more simple and neutral. I think it worked! We moved our ribbon garland to the sun room, where we put it over the windows behind the keyboard, and it is soooo pretty there! It will be perfect for summer when we spend more time in there with the windows open and breeze flowing through. I think it adds a little bo-ho touch. :)

This post about how a couple got rid of half their stuff is super inspiring and will definitely be coming out again later this spring/summer when I'm hoping to do some major purging. There's some really practical tips and questions to ask yourself when going through things.

So that's about it! Some new recipes for your to try, as well as some new decor that's been happening around here. We're headed to Nebraska in a couple hours to spend the weekend with my bro and his wife who just moved there, as well as my grandparents and aunt and uncle. It should be an awesome weekend with the fam! Hope you have a good weekend too!

And if you haven't already, don't forget to check out some of the recent posts:
Discipline or Regret... or Not?
Our #keepthelovealive Retreat and How to Plan Your Own
Start With a Little
Comfort & Security

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Friday friends! Woof has this week seemed long! I'm looking forward to a packed weekend of a double date, Women's coffee, bachelorette party, and birthday celebrations with family. Then Monday is MLK day so the hubs and I have planned a little date day which looks like it will be relaxing and fun! 

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite things from the web this week... from some of my favorite blogs and sites! Enjoy and have a wonderful, WARM weekend! [3 cheers for above-freezing weather!]

This stir fry spaghetti squash from A Beautiful Mess looks amazing! I have a spaghetti squash just sitting in our kitchen waiting to be used... and a stir fry sounds uniquely delicious!

This article, 8 Questions to Ask Yourself to Help You Declutter by PopSugar, looks super helpful and I will definitely be pulling it back up in the next month or so as I try to attack clutter in our home.

The EveryGirl teaches us 15 Ways to Save on Decor. I already do a lot of these, but it's a good read to be reminded that decor doesn't have to be high-end to be fabulous! :)

Weekend Wrap-Up

It's Friday ya'll! Bring on the weekend! Tonight and tomorrow morning we have a membership class for our church [no, it's not a slumber party, but how awesome (and weird) would that be?!]. Then tomorrow afternoon and evening we're hittin' up Nickelodeon Universe at the MOA with a couple friends! I am super psyched since my love for amusement parks is up there on the list with my love for my husband, sleep, and food. [in that order].

Sundays around here are automatically football afternoons during the fall, which means I get a couple hours to spend time with my hubby, nap, and eat [hey! see how that works out with my favorite things?? No rollercoasters though...bummer].

So that's what I've got planned for the weekend... along with a couple things we need to do like set up our new printer and get going on the name change process as well as order thank yous for our wedding. Cheers to the weekend! Here's some inspiration for you!

Truth to Rest In

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Isaiah 46:4 - ” I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

Slow Cooker Cinnamon Almonds

1 1/2 C. Sugar 

1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar 

3 Tbsp. Cinnamon 

1/8 tsp. Salt 

1 Egg White 

2 tsp. Vanilla 

3 Cups Almonds 

1/4 C. Water

[Here for recipe directions and cook time]

Cute Seasonal DIY

I love these little stumps turned candle holders... especially with the added gold touch. We had similar candle holders at a our wedding... thanks to a wonderful friend! :)

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Hope you all have a wonderful weekend... resting in the truth that God sustains you, and maybe even trying out the recipe or DIY if you're weekend isn't looking quite as busy as mine [but let's be real... life is NEVER too busy for delicious slow clooker recipes!].

Weekend Wrap-Up: Sheep and Cowboys

Found this little treasure on a walk around my [soon-to-be] new neighborhood with a friend last night. We weren't exactly sure what was going on in the painting... a giant sheep being wrangled by cowboys?? Regardless, the colors were just too fun and inviting to not have a spontaneous mini photoshoot!

Loverboy and I are planning on having a relaxing evening-in after all the craziness of the last few days of him moving and me obviously having my hands all over the place. We are going to make this delicious sounding Shrimp & Avocado Pasta simply because an avocado got dropped during move-in and needs to be eaten... sounds like a good excuse to try out a new recipe to me! 

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And lastly I'm going to leave you with this tasty little gem. Yummm. I am definitely into the whole toast/open-faced sandwhich idea. The mango, lime, & fresh moz sounds intriguing, as well as the berries, basil, & cream cheese. I'm finding that as I rise earlier to go to work that eating filling and energy-filled breakfasts is really important. Otherwise I'm tempted to eat my lunch at 10:30 or 11 and that just throws my whole day off. Lately my breakfast of choice has been oatmeal since it's cheap and quick but I'm hoping to get into a better morning rhythm once I'm hitched and in my own place. And then I will definitely be coming back to this link and checking out what fun breakfasts are in store!

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Have a happy weekend everyone! Perform a random act of kindness, spend time with someone you love, or check something off that never-ending to-do list... but whatever you do, make this weekend count!

Kitchen Creativity

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A lot of meals this summer have looked like meat, vegetables, and carb/starch. It's easy, requires few ingredients, and quick. However, I'm getting a little tired of singing this song and need a little more creativity in the kitchen. Plus, this girl isn't the hugest fan of chunks of protein (although Loverboy can't get enough). So I did a little Pinterest round-up of my recipe board and decided that I'd like to try these recipes sometime in the next couple months.

I'm pretty excited about the edamame since it's definitely our vegetable of choice right now and if the pizza rolls turn out we might have a stay-at-home option for the Old Chicago Sicilian Pepperoni Rolls we drool over. If I remember to snap some pics and document the process you might get to see some Pinterest fails (let's be real- stuff never turns out this pretty), and why don't you let me know if you try any of these before I do!

Weekend Wrap-Up

[Inspiration.]

[Yum.]

"Heathah Buttah"

8 oz dark chocolate almond milk

1 frozen banana

1 big spoonful peanut butter

Blend in a blender. Pour. Enjoy for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack. (Or all of the above!)

[Music.]

My new favorite rapper: Andy Mineo

(especially 1:50-3:00)

[Truth.]

Romans 8:1-17

(Working on memorizing it this summer!)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

[DIY.]

This really makes me want to start another art journal!

[image here.]

Weekend Wrap-Up

It's been awhile since I've done a Weekend Wrap-Up... and it feels good to be back! :) Hope you lovelies all had a wonderful weekend... what better way to end it by enjoying some tunes, inspiration, craftiness, and a sweet reminder about who's really in charge... as well as a yummy, easy treat!

music.

FREE Jenny & Tyler music at Noisetrade!

inspiration.

diy.

1. Buy Bulletin Board

2. Buy cute scrapbook paper at a craft store [I got mine at Michaels]

3. Paint the border of your board so it's not that cheap wood look

4. Arrange your paper, and staple!

faith.

Check out this portion from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young on January 31st:

I am your strength and shield. I plan out each day and have it ready for you, long before you arise from bed. I also provide the strength you need each step of the way. Instead of assessing your energy level and wondering about what's on the road ahead, concentrate on staying in touch with Me. My Power flows freely into you through our open communication. Refuse to waste energy worrying, and you will have strength to spare.

food.

[image here]

You must try this delicious appetizer! I made it for New Years, as well as for a little get together with some friends a couple weeks ago. Click here for the recipe! It's super simple and has been a hit!

There's still a bit of time left in the weekend... go out there and make it count!

Hannah's Pasta Salad

So I'm a college kid. Living on a college campus. During the summer when there's no cafeteria to feed me. So I really like cheap, easy, fast recipes. Delicious and nutritious doesn't hurt either. So, when I saw my friend eating this little beaut, I demanded she tell me the recipe. So now here I have it for all you fine people. Enjoy.

Hannah's Pasta Salad

• Pasta


• Italian Salad Dressing


• Any delicious mix-ins you want! (I used carrots, sugar snap peas, and cheese)

WOW! Only three ingredients?!?! That's right! (Well, technically 5) And a big batch of this could easily be made for a couple bucks... cha-ching! That's the sound of money in the bank!

So boil your pasta (duh). Cool. Add mix-ins to and dressing to taste.

DONE.