The Mothership

 I'm not sure if it is because of my lackadaisical ways through the summer - but man it seems like this summer is eating a whole through our path of normal order and structure.  At the beginning of every summer I always am so relieved to have a free schedule. I feel like Julia Andrews in the Swiss Alps.   My regular mode of planning every event is thrown out the window. As we move through the summer days we seem to leave a wake of forgetfulness and that feeling of perpetual "no responsibility."  It's like I think we are on a really long vacation. I'm good with it, really, but clearly I am not a responsible adult when structure isn't a top priority. Also, I'm convinced the pool has an under-layer of THINGS that have collected...like a whole underworld litered with pretzels, water bottles, clothes, and all the torpedos you could ever dream to dive for...like a scene from Ninja Turtles...you could totally survice if you needed. You might be in "su...

I don't know about you, but when it comes to the summer, fresh ingredients call my name.  And the less I use my oven and stove-top the better! Plus we are always on the go to the pool or some other activity and I'm packing more than ever before.  I revel in the fact that we don't have a schedule in the summer so anything to make my morning lazier, the better.  I hate having to chop every single morning, so the less that occurs, then the easier my morning is and the faster we get out of the house! My favorite way to quickly have a healthy/fresh salad on the go is to chop up Salad Toppers!  I have about 5-6 salads that I cycle through.  They all require no extra dressing so it is super easy to pack them up.  I usually have spinach and a head of romaine lettuce in the fridge.  So that is all I need to prepare in the morning after I have made a large batch of a salad topper earlier in the week.  I take a handful of spinach, and two leaves of romai...

You can make this as large or as little as you like; it's super easy to make this recipe grow and grow by adding more cucumbers or more tomatoes.  This is good just by itself as a side to bring to a party, or as another salad topper!  It's so juicy that you don't need any dressing on your salad:)  This recipe makes a pretty big batch for me to put on top of my lettuce all week long. And as usually measurements are never exact ;) Greek Salad 2-3 large tomatoes, chopped 1-2 cucumbers, chopped 1/4 cup of chopped red onion 1/2 a can kalamata olives, pitted and halved 1/2 a brick of feta cheese, crumbled the juice of half of a lemon 2 Tbsp. of red wine vinegar salt & pepper 1/4 cup olive oil (maybe more) 1 Tbsp. of chopped parsley (optional) In a large bowl, mix he first 5 ingredients. In a small mixing bowl mix together the last 4 ingredients.  Pour liquid mixture over the tomato mixture.  Stir till combined.  When you mix it all together ...

This is a little healthier than regular, store bought chicken, and it's quick to make.  I feel less guilty when I eat this than if I buy it at a restaurant.  Plus, it tastes so fresh, and crunchy...I love me crunchy tasting things.  I make a big batch and then have it for the week to put over top of lettuce. Chicken Salad 2 cups of cooked chicken breast, Chopped (I bought an already cooked bird at the grocery, to save time, and just cut the breast meat off the bones). 1 Fuji apple, chopped into small pieces 1 &1/2 cups of chopped celery 1 avocado, chopped 1 cup of grapes, halved 1/2 cup of mayo (I used olive oil mayo) the juice from two, thick lemon wedges salt & pepper 2 Tbsp. of dijon mustard Mix all the ingredients together.  Eat right away or let it sit in the fridge for a while (I think it tastes best this way).  I eat it over top of spinach leaves and then sometimes I add cut tomatoes and chopped onion.  Or put it on toast wit...

So, Luke, my precious little man, has been a lesson learned from the beginning.  His nature of doing things is always teaching me new things about myself and about how I should perceive others, namely Luke.  I believe God reveals these things to me through Luke so that I may be more patient and less judgmental with others because I have empathy.  Here is a memory that will always be burned into my brain...and boy did it teach me a lot. During the summer I like to mooch off of my friends as much as I possibly can for their use of a swimming pool.  Well, actually, I don't like to, but I love to spend time with them, I was pregnant, and we just didn't have it in the budget to join a pool.  This past summer I would go the the Gamble Nipert YMCA almost every Wednesday with my two friends Tori & Julie and their girls. We all know how much food is a HUGE factor in Luke's mood.  It can either make or break an outing.  He just doesn't transition well, a...