Beef Enchiladas & Misc

This recipe is a low-fat meal for 2-3 people adjust accordingly.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb extra lean ground beef
1-1/2 cup chunky salsa
1/2 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed & drained
1 teaspoon cumin & 1/2 teaspoon salt
4 oz Fat Free Cream Cheese, cubed
1/2 can (2oz) of green chilies
5-6 Flour Tortillas
3/4 cup Reduced Fat Shredded Cheese

Cook & Drain Beef

Heat in saucepan cooked ground beef, 1/2 cup salsa, 1/2 pkg
spinach, cumin, salt, and cream cheese....

....until melted/heated

Spoon 1/2 cup filling down center of each tortilla

roll up and place seam down in lightly greased
8X8 pan.

Spoon remaining salsa over enchiladas.
Bake uncovered @350 for 25 minutes.

Add cheese on top and return to oven
until melted.

Serve with a side salad and voila!

I typically opt for chicken enchiladas, but these were scrumptious, and I am tempted to try the recipe again with chicken!

As for other things in my life....

I've been crafting up a storm!

I made the following camera strap using a tutorial from here

This was part of my boss's birthday present.
She is nuts about desserts so we figured she needed a sweet
reminder at all times!

Her other gift was an idea I borrowed from here and here

Finally here is the scarf I've been working on for a lady at work.  She commissioned me to make it for her daughters birthday!

She loved it when I dropped it off at her desk this morning!
She said the color was perfect as was the presentation!

I've been on cloud 9 all day!

I hope you all had a Blessed Monday!

Belated Celebration

If you remember, a few weeks ago was Bud's Birthday.
Unfortunately, he was out of town.
So, finally, last night we were able to get together with friends and celebrate!
We decided to dress up...

Self portrait while waiting for the
hubby to get home from work so
we can head out!

My favorite most comfortable heels!

We went across the street to one of our favorite places Red's Porch.

The guys played some darts

Bud got a Bullseye

He's very proud!

Bud, PR, & JT

There was shuffleboard...

I love this shot!

JT very intense

AK patiently awaiting her turn.

 Group picture #1 w/ ROTC peeps

TT, JT, Bud, PR, TH, CR, SH, AK, & CP

Group picture #2 w/ Co-workers

EC, LC, JF, KR, AB, Bud, SC & EH

One picture of the happy couple!

It was a very successful night!

Bud was happy!

He was up to help with church set up bright and early this morning, despite only 5 hrs of sleep.

I went to first service as we discussed Solitude and how we allow the everyday sounds to keep us from finding solitude and silence to really listen for God.

So this week I challenge you to all find a window of time to have complete silence and to just take in that solitude.

Have a Blessed Sunday!

P.S. One last picture I took last night that didn't really fit in anywhere, but I really like how it turned out.

Bare Legs

As far as I know yesterday was still January.
Austin didn't get that memo.
The 77 degrees had everyone outside enjoying the extra warmth!

Bud & I decided to head to Town Lake for our work out.

He took off for a 3 mile run

While I did about a 1 mile walk.
I probably could have done 2 mile, but I was just glad to accomplish 2 things.
1. Get my workout done
2. Get outside!

During my walk I snapped a few pictures...

LET'S PRETEND WE'RE ROBOTS

FOCUS ON ONE POINT AND BREATHE

One view of the Austin Skyline.
I'm hoping to come back 2/18 & 3/19 to do a night shot.
Why those days you may ask?
They are the next full moon nights!

Bud & I had agreed on a meeting spot for post workout and I got there and just relaxed...

And here he comes!

Afterwards we hustled home for a nice dinner of homemade beef & broccoli.

After which I promptly passed out from 7:45-10:45!

I missed JF stopping by, I missed a night with the hubby, but I seriously believe my body was exhausted.

We headed to bed for real at midnight...and I slept like a baby most of the night.

I hope you all had wonderful Friday nights.

I hope you have a Blessed Saturday!

P.S. I'm linked up here if you are interested in stopping by!

Bible Verse Friday #11

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in the truth." ~John 4:24

Join with me today and worship...

This song literally brings me to my knees

Sing along with me and tell God how you love him...

Allow God to work through you today so that you can be a light unto his people...

And have fun with it (this has been one of my favorite songs for YEARS)!

I hope you all find time to worship God outside of just at church.

I hope you all have a Blessed Friday!

P.S. Come link up here to meet a bunch of other bloggers!

Bread, Pasta, Chicken, Salad...doesn't get much better.

Tonights dinner is Warm Chicken Pasta over salad w/ Parmesan Bread!
This recipe is a low-fat meal for 2-3 people adjust accordingly.

Ingredients:

 5 Chicken Breast Tenderloin
1 box of Suddenly Salad
Salad
1/2 loaf of French Bread
Parmesan cheese, garlic salt, spray butter, & FF Italian Dressing

Prepare pasta mix as directed on box using FF dressing instead of oil.

Pound Chicken Tenderloin

Saute chick in skillet until done

On a baking sheet

Slice French Bread in half, lengthwise

Spray each 1/2 with butter.
Sprinkle garlic salt and top with parmesan.

Bake  @ 400 degrees, 10 minutes or until crispy.

If you have multiple cutting boards this next step is unnecessary...but I realized tonight that sadly I do not have multiple cutting boards!

Clean cutting board

Slice Chicken into thin strips and add to prepared pasta mix.

from here you can either serve it warm or put it in
fridge until dinner and serve cool.

How does your bread look?

I served mine cold over the lettuce with the yummy bread on the side!

I hope you all enjoyed your dinner!

I'll see you all tomorrow for Bible Verse Friday!

Have a Blessed Thursday.

Being a Witness

I don't normally do this.
However, today's devotional jumped out at me and I thought all my crafty friends might like it.
So here it goes...

Tutus and touchdowns

Voices of the Faithful
Beth Moore

Compiled by Kim P. Davis

Tutus, tap shoes, free throws and touchdowns.  What do these things have in common?

More than you think.

During the past months, Jen, a missionary, has donned her tutu and tap shoes, and she has spent more than nine hours a week with more than 150 students ranging from ages 4 to 16.  Her husband, Seth, has been plunged into a world of free throws and touchdowns, as he has been asked to teach basketball and American footbal in a local school.

Are these the things these missionaries envisioned doing when they signed up to plant churches?

Not really.

Do they feel like missionaries as Jen is twirling around the dance floor or when Seth is showing special needs students how to dribble a basketball?

Not necessarily.

But isn't that the point?

Aren't we, as Christians, told to live not by our feelings, but by our faith, choosing to believe that our dreams are happening even when we can't see it?

God has opened doors to show the people of this country His love through everyday activities.  It doesn't feel like work.  It doesn't feel like "evangelism."  Yet somehow, people are asking questions; somehow, people want to know why we do things differently.  God is good, holy and just; but God is also creative.

What unsuspecting hobby does God want to use in your life to show His love and truth to others?  For more than a year, these missionaries prayed that God would show them how to be involved in the community. 

He answered in a most unusual way!

-S.E.D. and J.V.D., Western Europe

Did you read that the way I did?

God is also creative!

What hobby does God use in your life to show you his love and truth so that you can share with others?

Seriously....so many of the amazing bloggers I follow are incredibly talented in so many ways and God uses that.

He gives us an eye for things and we bless others with what we make.

Sometimes we purchase those crafted items and sometimes they are gifted, but we know they are all made with love...and each piece is a reflection of God's love for us!

So I hope everyone is feeling crafty, God wants you to!

Have a Blessed Wednesday!

P.S. I recently had a friend tell me, "You're so crafty, can you share some of that with me"?  I honestly told her, "I am not really that crafty, I just borrow ideas from the real crafty people".  She politely reminded me that I obviously have an eye for it though, most people admire crafted items and leave it at that....I, however, figure out how to make it for my own.  That was such a revelation to me and it blessed me so much to hear those kind words!  So if you are ever feeling that you aren't that crafty...here is a friendly reminder that copying is the biggest form of flattery :D

Bridesmaid Diaries Part 2

And their off!
The number of emails I'm receiving in regards to the wedding, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, etc have started to double in the past few weeks!

Wedding #1's Dresses have been picked out and we have started making payments on them:

found here
We all got to choose our own style dress as
long as they were all Caymen Blue!
I LOVE my dress!

As for the Wedding #2 we have picked out dresses and we need to order them by the end of March:

found here
Our dresses will all be cocoa in color and we will
be wearing cowgirl boots.
P.S. my favorite part, this dress has POCKETS!!!

So now that dresses and hair and make-up are all figured out for the day...what else do we have?
Oh yeah!
Those Bridal Parties...
and Bachelorette Parties...
Would you believe me if I told you that in the all the weddings I've been in (including my own) I've never been to a traditional bachelorette party?
Never.
I've been to lingerie parties.
I've been to days at the spa.
But never a bachelorette party.

When I was asked for feedback about how to plan for said party I froze...I don't know what to do?
Does anyone out there have any suggestions?
-----------------------------------------------
On other notes I promised to show you my most recent project.
I started last night and finished about 15 minutes ago!

First I bought 4 different colored fabrics 3/4 yds each.
Then I cut 1" strips

Unfold & cut into fourths.

Pretty stacks of fabric!

ABC

I purchased 2 heart shaped wreath
frames at Hobby Lobby

What I forgot to take pictures of was how I overlapped the 2 frames and started tying them together with my knotted fabric.

Pull Ribbon between 2 sections of the frame

knot once...

knot twice...

stair step your alternating fabrics and slide back.
Continue in this pattern until your wreath is full!

If you like you can go around the edges with
scissors or a rotary blade to clean up your lines.
**My hubby suggested this tip...when I was fussy
about how I wasn't totally in love with it, I think
I'll keep him ;)

Close up of heart #1

Close up of heart #2

And finally you can hang it on your door

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

The rest of the week I'll be working on my scarf every chance I get...I wonder if it's safe to knit and walk on the treadmill...just kidding!

I'm off to bed it's been a busy day!

I hope you all had a Blessed Tuesday!

P.S. I gained 2 new followers today!  How exciting is that?  Don't answer, I'll answer!  It's SUPER exciting!  Thank you for filling my heart with more joy today....all of you comments and YOUR blog postings are blessings!

P.S.S. I linked up with these fun parties: