WIWW--The Spending Freeze Version

Well it seems like now is as good of a time as any to tell you about my spending freeze.  Clothes spending that is.  I've been losing and gaining the same 5 pounds for over six months.  It is incredibly frustrating and I just want to push past this hump so badly!  So I decided I needed a little outside motivation.  After I lost 10 pounds then I can go shopping again.  Until then no shoes...no pants...no cute summer dresses.  It's killing me!  But I'm motivated and already making progress!  And hey the stomach bug over the weekend was pretty helpful too.

Let's talk about this mirror. I finally moved it out into our hallway so my pictures are a tad lighter but still so unprofessional.  You might just have to take my word for it that I looked cute.

I'm loving neon yellow (as we've seen with my lovely yellow flats in the past) and this sweater is just perfect for the Tacoma spring weather.  It's heavy but springy.  I like it.

Sweater and shirt from Loft

Jeans from TJ Maxx

Repeat sparkly shoes--Nine West

What do you think of this cropped style?  I know it is "in" but I'm not sure I like it.  I've been wearing these through the winter with boots and this was the first time I paired them with flats.  I think I'm ok with it?

This is my favorite look lately.  

T-shirt--TJ Maxx (American Eagle Brand)

Pants--TJ Maxx

For 20 bucks I think it' a pretty cute look!  And there are those sparkly shoes again.  Totally worth every penny I spent (which wasn't much!).

So hopefully I'll have an update for you next week on my weight loss.  My parents are coming into town (yay!!!) today and it's always hard to eat well when you have company.

Also...the stomach bug is definitely to blame for the lack of pictures this weekend.  My outfit consisted of a tank top and yoga pants...and although I'm sure you are all dying to see that I forgot to get a snapshot.  Maybe next time!! Ha ha!

May Vegucation-Cauliflower

In case you've been wondering the official definition of Veg-ucation

This month's challenge was to eat a little more cauliflower.  I swear I won't make a soup every single month but I do find it is an easy way to consume more veggies and fill up on things that aren't calorie laden.  It's also a great way to have something that tastes a little richer and fuller without lots of calories.  This soup has a big of heavy cream in it but not enough to break the calorie bank.  In fact it's just over 100 calories a serving!

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

1 large head cauliflower cut into florets

I large onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic

2 T olive oil

2 14.5 oz cans chicken broth

1 cup water

1 bay leaf

1 tsp fresh thyme

1 cup cream

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  In a large bowl mix the cauliflower and onion with garlic and oil.  Roast for 25 to 30 minutes stirring occasionally.

In a large saucepan mix the cauliflower, brother, water, bay leaf and thyme.  Boil and then reduce heat.  simmer covered for 20 minutes.

Remove the bay leaf.  Process in a blender in batches.  Remember not to do this when the soup is too hot!  It will burst out of the top of your blender.  I promise. 

Return the pureed soup to the saucepan and heat through.  Add the cream and pepper.

I served mine with a bit of pecorino cheese on top.  I like cheese with soup, what can I say?

This was a great way to incorporate cauliflower and I know the other girl's have some incredible recipes to share with you as well!!

Check out the next yummy recipe at Eat Your Beets!!

Tulips Times Two

When Peter's parents came to visit I knew I wanted to take them to see the tulip up in the Skagit Valley.  I figured that even though the festival ended April 30th that surely there would still be some tulips in bloom on May 1st, one day later.

Ha ha.  I was very, very wrong.  We drove into the valley and all we saw were rows and rows of tulip stems and no flowers.  Thankfully one of the local gardens still had their show garden available for viewing.  It was stunning and we still had a wonderful time with beautiful weather.  

The re-occuring cheese face.

Brotherly love

Still beautiful

Family portrait....with the cheese face

You could see for miles and miles!

Playing with Daddy's glasses

My favorite tulip shot!

Mimi & Grandad Visit

As usual we were horrible about taking picture when Peter's parents came.  We got lots and lots of pictures of the thing we went to see and not so many of the people.  must work on that next time.  I did get this absolute gem though.  The two boys are already following in their Grandad's picture taking footsteps.

I just love this photo!!

We already are counting down the day until Mimi & Grandad visit again!!

Miscellany Monday

The madness just seems to continue at our house.  I had one of those "I know I did a lot but what did I do" weeks.  But the sun is shining and no one in our house is currently throwing up so it's a good day.  This weekend...not so much.  So thankful for my sweet SWEET husband who not only took care of me but took care of both boys...washed and remade all 3 bed...did multiple loads of laundry...mowed the lawn.  Oh and woke up early on Saturday morning to get a *short* 20 miles in.  This one is a keeper and thankfully I get to keep him!

I've been wanting to try this recipe for a while now and since last week was "I don't feel like taking a nap week" practically everyday I knew it would be a great time filler when the Little Guy woke up from his short rest.  I used a simple recipe and modified it a bit and was very pleased with these homemade "Cheese Crackers in the Shape of Fish".  I'll be sharing the recipe soon!

My little pot garden!!  It's growing!!  I go and check it everyday looking for new signs of growth.  Yesterday I had my first pink strawberry and first bloom on my pea plant.  I guess gardening is kind of like losing weight.  You have to tend to it everyday but you don't see too much progress overnight.  Still I'm excited for the possibilities!!

I'm SO sad I didn't have my big camera with me when we were out on Friday night.  We saw THE most spectacular rainbow I've ever seen.  You could see it from one side to the other and it was a double one!  There are some more pictures on instagram (storybook_reality) but I couldn't chop this one into a square.  

We had GORGEOUS weather last week so I guess it was ok that is was nap-boycott week.  This little guy insisted on wearing hi rainboots down to walk along the water and he was searching for humpback whales the entire time.  Can we say adorable?

This kind.  Always smiling.  Melts my heart.  I want him to stay little forever.

A rare non cheesy grin from this not-so-little guy.  We were on our nightly walk and we was crawling on the "balance beam".  I was so happy to get him making a sweet face!

I'm still trying to put together a giveaway so if you would like to donate a product or ad space so I can highlight your blog please email me at storybookreality@gmail.com

Also if you are new I'd love to come visit!  Leave me a comment and I'll make sure to stop by during naptime this week!!!

The BEST Chocolate Cupcakes Ever

One of my favorite things the Little Guy likes to add to a lot of his sentences is "ever".  He is always eating the "biggest apple ever" or sliding down the "tallest slide ever".  For a while it was "eber" but I think he has finally mastered the V.

We had our last MOPS meeting this week and one of the talented girls brought cupcakes.  I have to admit I'm not a huge cake fan in general.  I hate a box mix and I generally find most cakes or cupcakes dry and tasteless.

Not anymore.

These were hands down the best cupcakes I've ever had.  And the fun part?  They are Vegan!! (I hear cheers from all of you egg allergy Mamas already!!)

I have to admit I did not make the cupcakes pictured.  My sweet friend gave me extra to take home and so I snapped up her recipe and a picture of these yummy chocolately goodness.

Make these today.  Trust me.

Vegan Chocolate Cake

1 cup sugar
11/4 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup warm water

Mix and bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes.  This recipe makes 13 cupcakes or 1 loaf pan of bread.

I'm going to try these this with applesauce or avocado in place of the vegetable oil and I'll update you on how they turn out!

In the meantime seriously you should go make these.  Now!!!

Sin and the Sea

I decided today that I've gotta pull myself out of this funk I've been in so where better to turn than my Bible and my computer!  That way I get to share with you what I'm learning and I get to spend quality time in the Word.

I've been really missing getting to use my creative gene so I decided today was the perfect day to learn how to use PSE to make printables.  I have a LONG way to go but I'm excited about learning more!  Today I learned how to create a Chevron pattern.  I paired it with a verse about sin and the sea.

I love the water.  I'm not a "nature" person per se but I love beautiful things.  And there is little out there more beautiful to me at least than a gorgeous body of water.  The Lord knew what he was doing when he sent us here to Tacoma and found us a house in the North End.  I can see the water from my bedroom and we are a short walk away from literally walking on the water.  I pass the water to go almost anywhere.  It's gorgeous.  And it's a constant reminder to me about how the Lord cares about the little things in our lives.  I'm not sure how we are ever going to top this location!

Here is my creation for today.

Obviously it is pretty simple and needs some work.  But I'm pleased with my first time attempt!

Print Micah 7:19

Please let me know if this doesn't work....I just set this up and not sure how it works!

Be encouraged by this beautiful verse today!