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.

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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>

Gretchen from That Mama Gretchen: A Real Housewife

Today I have the lovely Gretchen who blogs over at THAT MAMA GRETCHEN

She is ready to get real with y'all. After reading here, go check out her blog...she is one amazing lady!

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Hi! My name is Gretchen and I blog over at That Mama Gretchen. I was so excited when Savannah asked me to participate in The Real Housewives Project! I hope you get a kick out of my real life moment at home - yoga pants with no plans of yoga, un-stylish top bun, a sick child glued to my hip, and a sink full of too many dishes :)

Since becoming a stay-at-home mama last September I have struggled with perfection. I had Pinterest ideals of a lovely home, 3 course meals, hip mama/baby outfits, and of course, the perfect blog that attracted hundreds of followers. Instead, I've yet to find a real sync in my new life and with a second baby on the way, I'm hesitant to believe I'll ever find my groove!

But, I promise I'm trying - striving for a realistic plan, not perfection. This last weekend I got super organized ... I made a simple meal plan, wrote out a realistic to-do list, and prayed I would have the strength, determination, patience, and every other good virtue to have a successful week. Then my sweet girl came down with a fever and cold :( She tossed and turned all night and our day has morphed into a snuggle movie day.

As we cuddle, I'm reminded of my true calling as a mama. It's not about folded laundry or a picture perfect family - it's about growing love, and then teaching my children how to give that love to others. It is my prayer that we can all let go of perfection and embrace these words from Ruth Hulburt Hamilton ...

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ok - Savannah again - I LOVE the poem that Gretchen added to the end. It is one of my favorites of all time and I hope one day to remember it when I am a mom!!

Thank you so much Gretchen, such a great "real" post!

March

Well spring has {almost} sprung here in sunny California. 

This weekend I am gettin' my green thumb on if that rain that is predicted decides to stay away!

Here are a couple goals for this month...

What goals do you have this month? Spring Cleaning anyone?!