Paints and Pins

My husband and I recently bought our first house. VERY exciting, but lots of work :) My family has never been the type that buys houses and moves into them shortly after.....so I have grown up accustomed to putting lots of work into houses and seeing the "potential". I love our new house :) But built in the 40's it has a lot of issues..........including practically every wall and floor being crooked :S

 They have jacked up the floor to help with the corner of the living room sinking (lovely...) and torn out walls so they could rebuild them straight. After a month of lots of long days for my husband.....we are getting near the paint stage!!!! 

Since we've always lived in apartments I have never really thought much about paint. I figured I would just go pick some when the time got near.......yikes. I was wrong. Picking colors for every room in the house has kind of overwhelmed me a little. How sad and pathetic that I'm overwhelmed picking PAINT colors for my new house..........????? Yes there are much bigger issues in life, and this is not worth the amount of time/thought I have put into it!

Grey, grey, grey......I am in love with grey :) But who knew greys were so hard!!! (Apparently everyone but me). I keep thinking I've found the one but when it goes on the wall it suddenly looks green or brown or blue. So I've decided who really cares......I'm just gonna pick one! In case any of you are having a similar dilemma my favorites so far are.

BEHR Northern Cliffs

BEHR Dolphin Fin

BEHR Silver Sateen

Sooooo...... yes I need to finish picking colors ;) But what am I doing? Pinning :) Decor ideas for the house of course because lets face it........that's the fun part! So I might as well shares today's pins with you :) 

I love this color! Thinking something similar for my laundry room.......which side note........I'M GOING TO HAVE A LAUNDRY ROOM! We've never had a washer or dryer so this is quite exciting!!!!!

Among the millions of cute headboard ideas on Pinterest.....I thought these were fun!

And I loooooove this idea :) Now I just need to keep my eye out for adorable vintage suitcases LOL :)

Anyway that's it for today! My daughter has apparently decided today is a "being held" day so I can't type with one hand anymore :) 

10-4 on.........8-12

Ok so I know I'm late on this but I really wanted to participate!!! :) Abby over at Akers of Love had this fun quiz to link up with :)  

1. What is your favorite makeup product?

Eye shadow :) Not sure if this sounds like a Jr. High answer but I love smokey colors..... especially Granite and Espresso from Mary Kay here. If I had to pick a favorite product by means of necessity though??? It would be face lotion, I have a really dry skin :( 

2. What foreign country would you like to travel to?

Paris, France.......always. Venice, Italy......Anytime. Hawaii.......someday

3. What is the last package you have received in the mail?

A baby gift :) Now my girl is about to turn 1 !!!!

4. What is your favorite picture from July?

I love my parents 4th of July party! I think they had over 80 people at this last years....such a fun time with lots of great people :) 

5. What is your favorite board game?

I love Kings Court........you probably have no idea what that game is but I love it :) 

And I know it's not a board game....but......Dutch blitz is my favorite game ever!!!!

6. What is your favorite Bible story?  Why?

I really like the story of Ruth. Her relationship with her mother-in-law and her obedience to God really overwhelms me. She left her family and people behind to be with her mother-in-law (Naomi). Ruth said in 1:16 Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back form you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me". 

It's amazing to me that she could have stayed with her family, in her home town, to mourn the death of her husband and then start a new life.......but instead.....stays by the side of her (now alone) mother-in-law and leaves it all behind.  God was working in her heart and had such an amazing plan for her life as we read on later! 

7. What is your favorite non-fast food restaurant? 

Fats.....expensive, amazing Chinese food :) 

8. What summer Olympics event do you enjoy watching the most?

Women's Volleyball. May and Walsh!!! I could watch for hours if we had cable!

9. What is your favorite post from July?

I think Picture Wall Hanging......because I spent so much time on it and I LOVE seeing it everyday on our wall :) I also love that it was one of my first posts. 

10. What famous person would you like to have dinner with? 

Rachel McAdams :) I really like her!

Flashback Friday :)

I'm linking up with Camille today for Flashback Friday! A year ago we were taking these fun maternity pics!!! Seems like yesterday :( 

These beautiful pictures were taken by my friend Tanya, check out here amazing work here.

Amazing how fast a year can go by. So grateful for my healthy, happy, amazing girl!!!!

The Mongolian BBQ experience....

If you haven't been to a Mongolian BBQ........YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!!!! I personally know think that the one in my small town is the best!

 For those of you that have no clue what I'm talking about, Mongolian BBQ is only the most amazing place to eat ever :) You put all your raw ingredients and sauces into a bowl and then they stir fry it on a huge wok making for one delicious meal!

I'm not sure why this became one of my favorite places to eat....but it's most likely the mix of amazing food and memories that go along with it. When Jeremy and I were dating we went there so often they had a regular table for us :) So every time I walk through those doors...I smile !

First you have your meats. Not gonna lie.... those frozen strips grossed me out for a couple years....haha....BUT they are vital for overall flavor :) 

I Love all the veggies! 

I don't know why I have this particular complex....but for some reason I feel the need to cram as much food as I possibly can into my bowl. Why you may ask???? I have no idea. It's almost like a buffet....where you are piling your plate with so many things that you probably won't even eat simply because they are in front of you. Or maybe that's just me at a buffet........

I even go so far as to use the vegetables like tomatoes and zucchini to build an extra wall around the outside so that I can actually smash more food into the bowl :) 

My beautiful sis-in-law :) 

Yuuuummmm.....!!!!!!!

Jules being a good sport at girl's lunch! :) 

So there you have it.....hungry yet?!?! I am full and happy!!!!

Happy Monday !!!!

I love Mondays and the beginning of a new week :) It's usually the first slow morning at home after a hectic weekend and I enjoy it by staying in my pajamas way too long, scrolling facebook instead of beginning to clean the house and cuddling with my girl (as seen here!) instead of getting her up and ready for the day. So before I go tackle the sink full of dishes or the vacuuming or exercising I'm of course blogging. Does this count as procrastination???? 

I hope you all had a great weekend! Enjoy your Monday and use this day to Glorify God in whatever it is you are doing. Instead of feeling irritable or rushed in what you need to accomplish today I challenge you and myself to choose a joyful heart!

Also! 

Check out this cute headband I made :) SUPER simple! Just buy a pack of those cheapo plastic headbands (I think they have them at dollar tree) and any silk flowers you like! Hot glue them on and add some cute buttons/pearls/beads and you're done! I've already worn it a bunch. Can't wait to make more!

I'm linking up today :) Hope to meet some new blogger friends!

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Welcome to Coffee with Anne!

Today I decided it would be fun to do the 30 second challenge from Rags to Stitches! 

Her challenge was to tell as much about yourself (over coffee together of course.......I have my cup do you have yours!?) in 30 seconds. She is right, it is a great way to meet new friends in the blogging community and you could find a buddy in just 30 seconds!!! 

On a side note......sorry for the yucko picture! But I am still in my pj's and am just going to the gym so I wasn't going to go do my hair and put on make-up just so I could take a picture for my blog.....hahaha so there ya go! Honesty :) 

MMmmmkay so here it goes!

I've been married to my amazing man for over 4 years now and we have the sweetest, most precious girl ever! She makes my days full of so much joy :) I am the youngest of 4 and my sisters are some of my dearest friends. I have lived....

ok that was 30 seconds. Do I type slowly cause everyone else seemed to have more?!?!? Oh well! Can I keep going?!?

I have lived in the same town my whole life other than the 6 months my husband and I spent in India teaching youth ministry basics. I love it here and we plan to stay until God calls us elsewhere! I like being fit but have to drag myself to the gym every time......I literally never am excited to go work out. I snack all day but love making big fun meals, and I hope to plant a garden soon! I miss my old hobbies like dancing and playing the piano and want to figure out how to fit these things in with motherhood. I wish I was a journaler but my entries are few and far between.....I plan to work on that, it is a great way to talk with God. Summer is my favorite time of year and I'm one of those weird people who like when it's really hot!  I am loving this new blogging thing and the community of people I am meeting......but in all honesty want to be cautious in how I use it and how it uses up my time. 

Ok now that it's been a couple minutes I should stop and continue on in our next coffee date.......and obviously if this was real coffee date you didn't get to say anything......... :( Which is kind of true in real life too. Will work on that one :) 

Happy Friday !!!! 

First Finger Foods!

Several different friends have been asking me lately what I feed my 10 month old since she won't eat pureed baby food, so I thought I would share a few! Not because I am a know it all or have really any clue what I'm doing haha -- but just so you can have some new ideas for your sweetness. Sometimes we get in a rut and it's nice to have some new inspirations. 

Since my baby only has two teeth and started finger food basically instead of pureed food, it needed to be really soft so she wouldn't choke. We got a late start on solids because it took Jules so long to get the hang of nursing and I didn't wanna mess with a good thing too early. So she was around 7 months when we started solids. There are LOTS of different opinions on what to start with but that's a different post for a different day!!! 

Here are some ideas for your little one. Acorn and butternut squash are great because they get really soft. I just cut them in half, de-seed and put them face down in a baking dish with about 1/2 inch of water.  Bake at 400 for, oh, about 15-25 minutes. I also plop a sweet potato in the oven too. Needs nothing but a cookie sheet below in case it drips. Roast until soft enough for your baby. 

Then I peal and put in Tupperware. It's great because it lasts you the whole week! You can just grab a few cubes and be done. 

I've also been trying to give her meats. I'm not gonna lie....baby food meat literally makes me gag. I know she needs the protein and iron and many other wonderful things meat provides but it grosses me out! She loves ground meat because while cooking it in a pan I can chop it up really tiny. I also add a little cumin to it -- did you know you can use spices in your babies food??? Yum! I've given her ground beef, chicken and turkey. 

Another thing we do that I know sounds weird at first.........is tofu. Regardless of your feelings about tofu it's a great source of protein and actually ideal finger food since it's so soft. You can  buy soft or firm tofu it really doesn't matter. I prefer to make sure it's Non - GMO. What I quickly discovered was that it was too slimy for her to grab. So I put some oatmeal cereal and cinnamon in a bowl and tossed the cubes in it. 

Another perfect finger food that requires NO work is avocado! Full of good fats and oils, avocado is a favorite for Jules because it's nice and soft --- and of course, lets just face it, avocado is amazing!

 When it comes to green beans, peas, carrots and corn I've actually gone with frozen. I couldn't get fresh soft enough when cooking. A huge plus of these frozen treats is that you can pour just what you need. 

 If you're having trouble with your baby wanting to eat bananas because of the texture (or maybe none of your kids are as sensitive as mine!!!) , try breaking the banana into it's natural 3 sections. They love it cause then they can hold it like a Popsicle!  

And of course there's good ol Joe's O's!!! She loves these and I feel good about giving them to her :) 

Trader Joe's also carries these awesome freeze dried fruit. They are just like meltables except they are just fruit!

Next time you're in the baby isle and grabbing for some puffs, check the back! I decided all the extra sugar was unnecessary in baby puffs!!!! I found these organic puffs at sprouts and she likes them just as much. 

And of course there's the given .... fruit! She loves diced up pears, mangoes, watermelon, blueberries, etc! 

(LOL apparently no smiles for mom!)

Things to try this coming month (possibly!)

Fresh Mozzarella

Yogurt

Toast/bread

I hope this gives you some new ideas for this coming week!!!! 

What are your favorite healthy finger foods for your baby?!?! Pass them along!