Little Bird Thank You

I love giving and receiving homemade cards, and card making is one of my favorite crafts. I don't profess to be a super scrapbooker (which often seems to be coupled with card making), nor do I profess to be a brilliant card maker, but I really enjoy taking the time to do it, which usually leads to a good result. :-) I made a Thank You note today for a friend who came to Maddox's First Birthday party and I've posted a little tutorial below in case anyone out there wants a new idea for a homemade card. It's simple and sweet!

Materials:
-Envelope you plan to mail/give the card in (any size is fine)
-Piece of scrap fabric at least as big as your envelope
-Piece of cardstock at least as big as your envelope (any color you can write on)
-Embroidery thread in a corresponding (or clashing, it's your card) color
-Markers or a pen to write your note with

First choose and iron your fabric. I chose this vintage style floral print, which I happen to think is completely gorgeous.


Next trace the outline of the envelope onto the cardstock. You'll draw the outline of your card inside the envelope outline to be sure your card will fit well into its envelope.

Now draw the outline of your card. I wanted to draw a bird, but this card can be made in any shape that can be drawn inside the envelope. I googled "bird silhouette" to find a guideline for the shape of my bird. You can also use a stencil.
Draw the outline of your card, cut it out, then trace it onto the fabric with the wrong sides together (back of the fabric meets the back of the cardstock).


Put the cardstock and the fabric together with just a couple drops of glue in between to hold the two pieces in place while you sew them together. Then use the embroidery thread to sew loops all the way around the edges by pushing the needle through both pieces from top to bottom, bringing it around the edge back to the top, and repeating.



Then just write your message on the cardstock and voila! A cute, simple, homemade card to proudly share with a friend!

Cilantro Lime Chicken Cacciatore

Matt and I read The Maker's Diet, by Jordan Rubin, about 4 and a half years ago and made some serious changes in the way we eat as a result. While we don't follow the plan strictly anymore, we definitely follow some basic principles, like no processed food or refined sugar. This is one of Matt's FAVORITE recipes ever, right out of the book, and is a kick in the mouth to the standard chicken dish.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Cacciatore
Ingredients:
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 Tbsp minced garlic*
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, divided
3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp EVOO
5 medium-sized roma tomatoes
Celtic sea salt to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste (go easy on this at first, you can always add more)

*Don't like mincing garlic? Do what Rachael Ray does and run a clove over your cheese grater for an easy garlic paste. Seriously, she is a genius.

Directions:
Heat pan to medium on stove top. Add olive oil, garlic, cilantro, and 1/4 cup of lime juice. Simmer for 4-6 minutes. While simmering, pour the other 1/4 cup of lime juice over chicken and let stand for 1-2 minutes. Season chicken with salt and cayenne pepper. Add seasoned chicken to pan and cook for 8-10 minutes over medium to medium-high heat. Serves 4.

MMM this one is GOOD! Serve over a bed of pasta for a mexitalian meal, or alongside a spinach and mango salad to balance out the spice of the chicken.

You can enjoy healthy food!

Giant Umbrella Lady

Wow... I found this picture on a blog I've been following (Domestic Bliss) and I thought it was so gorgeous I had to repost it!

Our New Bathroom

Every month Matt and I give ourselves an allotted amount of personal spending money that we affectionately call our "allowance." It's fun to see the strange and sometimes offended looks I get when I mention that I got that new shirt/book/bag with my allowance. I have to explain (quickly, before the feminine beast I'm chatting with is aroused) that Matt takes an allowance, too, and we both get the same amount, and it is a great financial tool in our marriage. Personally, I love the allowance system. It is guilt free spending money. If I have my eye on a new dress I don't have to check our budget, I don't have to ask my husband, I don't have to deal with the feeling of guilt attached to whether or not this is a "responsible" purchase, I just get the dress. When the allowance is gone, it's gone, and there is no more personal spending until next month.

So this month I decided to use my allowance to pick up some accessories to get our bathroom organized. None of this would be classified as a need in our house, hence the allowance. Well, my purchases quickly led to a vision for a minor remodel of our master bathroom, and Matt was quick to jump on board after we got a Home Depot gift card for Christmas. My brother-in-law, Steve, drove down from Fort Collins last weekend and helped (and by helped I mean did the whole thing) us paint, hang, and electrify(?)! Check out the before and after shots below.

BEFORE




READY TO GO GRAY!

THE BOYS ARE HARD AT WORK


LET THERE BE (new) LIGHT!

AFTER






It's amazing what a coat of paint can do! Now for some white and gray bath towels...
Thanks for all your help, Steve!!

Suffering

Suffering is a common theme in life lately, it seems. I don't mean that to sound melodramatic, it's not my common experience lately, just a repeating theme in life's text. Matt is facing another surgery, he is studying Job in one of his seminary classes this quarter and I've decided to read through Job as well, we'll be discussing suffering at our next Junior/Senior/College monthly Bible study, and now Haiti.

Innocent suffering doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me (although then I really have to ask myself what makes a person innocent in the first place). Someone recently told me that suffering is a part of reality. The more we immerse ourselves in what is real in this life, the more we will experience suffering.

Matt was watching a documentary a few days ago about the atrocities going on in parts of Africa. I couldn't watch it with him. It was too much for me. Now, I can see how that might sound selfish at face value, but please allow me to explain. It's not that I don't care, or want to be numb, desensitized, or unaware of the suffering going on in the world. I just wonder, what difference does my awareness make if it is not partnered with action? Knowing about the hardships in Africa or Haiti doesn't change them. If anything it only gives me a false sense of gratification because I've made myself "aware."

I have felt powerless and helpless in the face of the Haitian earthquake. I sit here at my computer comfortably, in a beautiful home that is not caving in on itself, and what can I do about Haiti except watch in sickness and sadness? That's how I felt as of last night. But this morning I see that many of my friends are donating to organizations that are on the ground there trying to help. My first thought about donating was, "Yeah but that's so impersonal. What difference does my money make?" A LOT! I was reminded of when Matt went through his first hip surgery, how people came around us and paid our bills and paid our medical expenses and bought us groceries, and how absolutely personal it felt to be taken care of in the way that we most needed at the time. We didn't need a greeting card (although those were nice, too), we needed tangible help.

So this morning Matt and I made a donation to World Vision relief efforts. I don't say that to fluff my own pillow. Only to say, if this is what I can do, and if this is how I can help, then I'll do it. It is one small gesture that will be added to a lot of other small gestures and hopefully result in some BIG help for the Haitian people. Money moves things. Money gets things done. Money can bring change. Money holds an enormous amount of power. Since we have it in this country, let's give it. Here are links to websites where you can donate. I want to encourage you to give TODAY.

www.redcross.org
www.compassion.com
www.fh.org
www.americares.org
www.care.org
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
www.samaritanspurse.org
www.convoyofhope.org
www.worldvision.org
(I still can't figure out how to post a click-able link)



"Let us not love with words and tongue, but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:18

"Good Morning" with Tea

Lately I have been considering getting up before Maddox so I can spend some quiet time with God and get a little head start on my day... but up until this morning I had only made half efforts, which never worked out. Well last night I put my mind to it. I was going to get up at 5:30 this morning, and not just this morning, but every day this week, to see if I can really make the change.

I needed an incentive, though. I needed something that I knew would make me happy right off the bat so I wouldn't be stumbling out of bed thinking, "curses on this dark morning!" While I am completely in LOVE with the smell of coffee, I can't stand the taste, so unfortunately I don't have that first cup to look forward to on my way out of bed. I do, however, like tea very much. So before I went to bed last night I set up a cute little tea station, all ready to go for my 5:30 awakening.



Sure enough, when I stirred at 5:45 (having no recollection of the alarm going off at 5:30), I thought of my tea waiting for me downstairs, and had a smile. Still somewhat reluctant, I pulled myself from under the warm, heavy covers and trod down the stairs to make my tea.


Moroccan Mint

The morning ended up being really wonderful. I was able to spend about 30 minutes praying, reading my Bible, and journaling. Maddox woke up around 6:30, at which point I got him out of his crib and brought him back into bed with me. We fell back asleep until 8:00. :-) I think that's the only reason I am functioning at all right now!

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Psalm 5:3

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23

Cake and Casserole

My litte boy, Maddox, turned one last week. And being the controlling, I mean creative, person that I am, I decided I wanted to make, from scratch, his very first birthday cake. Very exciting! I had never baked a cake before! I made a basic 2 layer butter cake (recipe courtesy of my fabulous baking friend, Melanie) using strawberry jam between the layers and a YUMMY cream cheese frosting (also from scratch) all over. I really enjoyed this baking project! You can see the finished cake in the pictures below, complete with my elementary icing drawing of The Hungry Caterpillar. :-)




And here's the birthday boy himself... all tired out from eating all that cake!


Onto the next recipe project... Once a month our church holds a big potluck and all the ladies cook all this amazing food! Well, all the ladies except me! Historically, I am awful at cooking for potlucks. Usually around 8:30 p.m. Saturday night I remember that I have to have food together to bring the next morning and we end up running to the store for some chips and salsa, or worse yet, macaroni salad from the deli.

Well, this month I was determined to cook something actually worth eating! If you've ever looked at the bottom of a bag of tortilla chips and wondered what to do with all those tiny pieces that are too small to dip but too big to throw away, read on for a Mexican Casserole recipe! It's the perfect place to dump those tortilla tinies!

Tex Mex Casserole
Ingredients:
2 tubes pre-cooked polenta (for this casserole I used sun-dried tomato and garlic)
1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced or cubed
1 packet Simply Organic Southwest Taco seasoning
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro (don't skimp, use the fresh stuff!)
1 15 oz can of black beans
1 15 oz can of corn
16 oz of your favorite salsa or pico de gallo
All those tortilla tinies from the bottom of the bag
A couple handfuls shredded Mexican blend cheese (Cheddar and Monterey Jack)

1. Pre-heat oven to 350. Start your chicken cooking on the stove over medium heat. Takes about 10-15 minutes to cook through, depending on how big your chunks are.

2. Open your tube of polenta, slice about half inch slices and layer on the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. You can also do this with freshly cooked polenta. Just spread it to cover the bottom of the dish and allow to firm up (about 15 minutes) before adding the next layer.


3. Coarsely chop your cilantro. (Mmmmmm! I am having a love affair with fresh cilantro right now!) Then layer over polenta.



4. When chicken is cooked through, mix contents of spice packet with 1/2 cup warm water and stir into chicken until it thickens a little. Spread chicken over cilantro.



5. Mix corn and beans and spread over chicken.

6. Spread salsa over corn/bean mix.


7. Here come those tortilla tinies! Spread 'em over the salsa.


8. Finally cover with a couple handfuls of cheese! WOW, this looks good!


9. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese melts and just starts turning golden.

Delicious, healthy (yes, it is!), easy, mexican-inspired dinner!


Happy creating!

Spaghetti-less Spaghetti!

This is my new favorite dinner recipe, straight from Rachael Ray (LOVE her). It is so fun and super easy to make! I know, you're thinking, SQUASH... REALLY?! REALLY!! The spaghetti squash is nutty and so full of flavor and not at all like the squash that made me gag when I was a kid. :-) Trust me and give it a try!

Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs
4 Servings
Prep 10 min
Cook 25 min
Ingredients:
1 large spaghetti squash (about 4 pounds), halved lengthwise and seeded
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 pound uncooked chicken or turkey sausage, casings removed
3/4 cup plain bread crumbs
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
8 basil leaves, torn

Directions:
1.Place the squash, cut side up, on a damp paper towel in a microwavable dish. Microwave on high until tender, about 15 minutes. Using a fork, scrape the strands of squash into a microwavable bowl and toss with the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2.Meanwhile, combine the sausage with the bread crumbs and form into 1-inch meatballs. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and cook, stirring, until browned, about 6 minutes. Cover and cook over low heat until cooked through, about 3 minutes more.

3.Reheat the shredded squash in the microwave and top with the meatballs, cheese and basil.

OK - So you can try the original recipe, or you can try the version I do in my kitchen, which is also DELISH!

Place your halved and seeded squash cut side up on a baking sheet. Drizzle with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes (or until soft). While that's baking, slice or cube some boneless skinless chicken breasts and cook up on the stove. I don't season the chicken because there's enough seasoning/salt in the sauce for my taste. You can grab your favorite red sauce or make your own. When the squash is done, shred it with a fork till it looks like spaghetti and leave it in the shell. Put a big helping of chicken over the "spaghetti" and pour your red sauce all down over the top. YUMMMMM! Eat it right out of the shell!

I served this to my family in Phoenix when we visited over Christmas and it was a big hit! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

P-Town

I love seeing old friends. This is a picture of Matt and me with a bunch of people we grew up with in our youth group in Phoenix. We visited The Bridge (thebridgelaveen.org) the Sunday we were there over Christmas break and had lunch with everyone afterwards. These are some of my absolutely favorite people to randomly see at weddings and holidays.

Thank you all for a great Sunday!

Resolutions

Usually I don't make New Year's resolutions. I think they're a little too wishful or something. But this year I did! I must be in a wishy mood. :-) Here they are:

1. Spend at least 15 minutes reading my Bible and praying each day
2. List at least 5 items for sale on Etsy
3. Get involved with a moms group or start one
4. Be CLEAN
5. Love and serve Matt in any and all ways he needs in the midst of ministry, school, and surgery
6. Transition to a waste-free home
7. Help in making mattredder.com a functioning art website

Seven is a good number.

More on a waste free home: I have really been inspired lately to rid our home of paper and plastic products. No more kleenex, paper towels, plastic bags, etc. (Toilet paper will have to stay - washing cloth diapers for one person already is quite enough.) Check out this article from Evelyn Field's blog about an "Unplastic Kitchen." It renewed my excitement about this last night. http://wingofam.blogspot.com/2009/09/unplastic-kitchen.html

Have a beautiful day!

Something New

I can't believe I'm sitting here blogging. Who am I? Well, I guess that's the thing. I'm not really sure right now. I became a mom one year and 3 days ago, and I feel more different every day... different from the Tasha I used to know so well. Some days I wake up and don't really recognize myself. So maybe this blog is my wish and hope that this new person forming inside me will come out in full form.

I believe that I can't know my true identity outside of Christ. So I think this blog is also a new way to praise Him and seek Him and recognize Him. The old ways haven't been very prevalent lately.

Here's to something new...