I left my {heart} in San Francisco

We live fairly close to San Francisco, so we are fortunate enough to be able to go about every other month, sometime more, sometimes less.

Greg's friends live close to the City so we headed down there last night to catch up with them and go to a restaurant I have always wanted to go to

The Stinking Rose

Oh yeah baby all about garlic! I'm glad y'all can't smell my breath! 

It lingers. for a week. but it is so worth it!

My main {squeeze...and} adventure buddy!

Here we come!

Nothing like wearing my mocs to the city. So comfy!

The boys. Greg is not looking. Haha...what is he looking at?

Dinner...and no not at Chilis. The Stinking Rose. Garlicy heaven!

And drinks at the Comstock Saloon. A San Francisco favorite of ours.

Coffee with my favorite guy.

Illy Coffee and a chocolate chip cannoli. Does life get better? Oh, please the canoli did not last long enough for a picture!

Lovva the China Town. Especially at night. So beautiful.

Taffy tasting!

So basically I love going to and exploring the City! What are your favorite local adventures?!

Amazing lyrics.

Good Friday. 

Thank you Lord for all you have done.

mewithoutyou says it best.

this is one of my absolutely favorite songs.

The Horse's hay beneath His head our Lord was born to a manger bed, that all whose wells run dry could drink of His supply.
To keep Him warm the Sheep drew near, so grateful for His coming here: You come with news of grace, come to take my place!

The Donkey whispered in His ear: Child, in thirty-some-odd years, You'll ride someone who looks like me (untriumphantly).

While the Cardinals warbled a joyful song: He'll make right what man made wrong, bringing low the hills, that the valleys might be filled!

Then Child, asked the birds, well, aren't they lovely words we sing?
The tiny Baby lay there without saying anything.

At a distance stood a mangy Goat with crooked teeth and a matted coat, weary eyes and worn, chipped & twisted horns.
Thinking: Maybe I'll make friends some day with the Cows in the pens and the Rambouillet, but for now I'll keep away - I got nothin' smart to say.

But there's a sign on the barn in the Cabbagetown: WHEN THE RAIN PICKS UP AND THE SUN GOES DOWN, SINNERS, COME INSIDE!
WITH NO MONEY, COME AND BUY.
NO CLEVER TALK NOR GIFT TO BRING REQUIRES OUR LOWLY, LOVELY KING.
COME YOU EMPTYHANDED, YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING.

And the night was cool and clear as glass with the sneaking Snake in the garden grass, as Deep cried out to Deep, the Disciples fast asleep.
And the snake perked up when he heard You ask: if You're willing that this cup might pass we could find our way back home, maybe start a family all our own...but does not the Father guide the Son?
Not my will but Yours be done!
What else here to do?
What else me but You???

And the snake who'd held the world, a stick, a carrot and a string, was crushed beneath the Foot of Your not wanting anything.

My weekend has begun.

I have a nice 4 day weekend starting...now. Excited! Gonna do some spring cleaning and organizing! Bring on the Martha Stewart in me!

A Real Woman: Lauren from Living Loved

I am so honored to have the lovely Lauren here with us today. She is awesome to say the least. She is from Australia. Which is awesome. She doesn't know it yet but I am going to visit her one day and we are going to laugh and craft and talk and have coffee. Ok...stalker status.

            ___________________________________________________________________

I am not a housewife. I am a single, twenty-one year old lover of Christ. I blog at Living Loved. When Savannah asked me to post for this project I thought it was an excellent idea! That's so much for having me Sav :) The point of this post is simple, but incredibly powerful. Show Grace when blogging. There are many women, of many different faiths that have blogs. So how do we make our blogs reflect beliefs that are Christian? How do we allow readers to acknowledge what makes Christian women's blogs different? There is an anecdote that goes something along the line of this:

Years ago, a large international conference was held of religious leaders from around the world. In the midst of the conference, a debate began about what it was that set Christianity apart from other religions.

Some argued that it was God coming in the flesh that set Christianity apart from other religions. They decided that wasn’t it, because other religions claimed that their gods came in human form. Some argued that it was love, or sacrifice, or the resurrection, or one thing or another; each idea being shot down. Finally, C. S. Lewis, having arrived late, walked into the conference and asked what all the noise was about. When told they were discussing what it was that set Christianity apart from all other religions, he said, “That’s easy. It’s grace.”  source

Christianity is set apart because of Grace.

When I think about what I should or should not blog about... I remember that the most important thing is being real with readers and continually reminding them of God's grace as much as I need to remind myself sometimes.  That's why it's important to post about the messy, the sad, the frustrating.. because Grace has always  and will always cover us and spreading this message can change lives. Nothing we do will ever change how much our Lord loves us.  So when you've had a bad day and all you want to post about it 'today was rough' or 'today did not go how I planned' then post about it! AND declare His continued faithfulness, renewal and amazing grace, too. We need to be imperfect examples so that His perfection shines through.

Spicy peanut Thai noodles

This week has been particularly crazy for the The Hortons!

We hardly ate any of our planned menu this week. With it being my Spring Break we went to a potluck, visited a couple for dinner in their home, went out to dinner with my parents and hung out with friends with rushed dinners before hand that were not on the menu.

So finally...I decided to make Friday night dinner for Sunday lunch/dinner

It was delish!

So glad I made it!

Yum. Yum.

{Ingredients}

-Soba, mung bean, or udon noodles

-1 large bell pepper

-2 cloves garlic

-1 tsp fresh minced ginger (I used ginger powder however)

-2 Tbs chunky peanut butter

-1 Tbs reduced sodium soy sauce

-1 C chicken broth

- 1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce (I used Sriracha, the bottle with the rooster on it) I used 1 tsp

-Grilled chicken (optional)

Prepare your noodles according to the package directions. I used mung bean noodles so I had to soak them for 10 minutes prior to boiling them

Prepare noodles and set aside

In a medium bowl combine the chicken broth, sriracha, soy sauce, and peanut butter

Chop bell peppers and garlic (and fresh ginger if using)

Sautee garlic, ginger, and bell pepper for 2 minutes

After 2 minutes add the chicken broth mixture and cook for an additional 2 minutes

After 2 minutes combine with the prepared noodles and mix. If you are adding chicken add it now!

Serve and enjoy!

So yummy, especially on a chilly lazy Sunday afternoon!

DIY {sorta} freezer/fridge organizer

So this DIY is not really that cute, but it was NEEDED at our house!

I HATE wasting food. It makes me sick throwing away food that went bad because of neglect or half used freezer burned bags of smoothie fruit.

So I devised a system to let us know what we have in the freezer and (immediately perishables) fridge so we would waste less and not buy things we already have only to find it shoved to the back of the freezer trapped beneath the 10 lb bag of ice!

Here is the freezer before. Yikes.

 Here is the freezer door before. Double yikes!

I had this old cork/white board mixed in with my craft supplies and I know since I bought it at Target it would be too hard to take it apart and repurpose it. 

I was right. (disregard dirty door...)

I love my new organizer! It will help us waste less and know what we have when planning meals!

Our weekend in the woods...

{Here we go!}

{This here is cow country}

{Tent is up!}

{Our little friend}

{drying rain soaked clothes!}

{Rolling waves}

{All the girls!}

{Succulents}

{Fun with my love!}

Have any fun adventures this weekend?!

{What's for dinner}

Monday
{This started out as hamburgers...but ended up falling apart into sloppy joes!!}
Spicy Sloppy joes
Oven baked fries
Sauteed Kale with red wine vinegar


Tuesday 
Dinner with our good friends the Velascos!!


Wednesday 
Chicken Quesadillas with caramelized onions and sliced green apples (don't knock it til you've tried it!!) {Recipe coming!}
Broccoli


Thursday
POTLUCK! 
Still thinking of a good treat to bring...


Friday 
Thai chicken soba noodle soup with peanut sauce
Sauteed Kale


Saturday/Sunday
Easy peasy spaghetti with meat sauce
 leftover veggies
Leftovers from the week!!

Spring Inspiration

Hello Spring.

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New logo

So I have been playing with a fews things on the blog, with fonts and such. The hubby and I also designed a new logo for my blog...I'm loving!

What do you think? 

Pretty simple, but I am trying to get into more of the designing aspect of blogging and using my own little space as a guinea pig.

Insta Fri(Satur)day

I meant to post this up on Friday, but things happen, right?! : )

{Windowsill Garden}

{Office/Guestroom remodel}

{Relaxing with my man}

{Prepping for the class I'm teaching this summer}

{Studying}

There is a peak into my insta-weekend.

Link up over at Life Rearranged

<a href="http://liferearranged.com/" ><img alt="life rearranged" height="120" width="200" border="0" src="http://liferearranged.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/instafridaybutton.jpg" /></a>