leatherwood.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, we spent the weekend before last in the mountains with friends.  We had a really good time.  Pretty much doing a lot of nothing.  Playing cards, building a fire, getting in the hot tub, sleeping late, eating lots of junk food.

Oh and looking at this view:

It was amazing.



We are definitely blessed to have good friends!

I don't know if I've mentioned lately, but I love this man.  I'm so thankful for him.  And his crazy personality.  And I'm thankful for the fact that he's still talking to me after I posted his recent modeling shoot.

Aren't they cute?

We went to see the horses, spent time playing with the baby, sat in front of the fire, watched some basketball and football, and admired the awesome house!

So thankful for a chance to get away.

And enjoy such an incredible place!

ohhh baby, baby!

We spent this past weekend in the mountains with some friends.

They have a four-month old.

I was in heaven.

I took a few pictures while her mom took a shower.

Just wanted to share a couple :)

studio.

On Friday I am photographing homecoming for a school in the area.

I am typically not a "studio" photographer.  So, I've had to be a little creative on building a backdrop and getting the appropriate lighting.  I did some research on makeshift studios and got an idea of what needed to be done.  On Tuesday night, Worker Man and I bought the necessary supplies.

Last night, we did a little trial run.

I needed a subject for my trial run so Worker Man stepped up to the plate.

He's going to kill me for posting these.

But I couldn't help myself.

Needless to say, it was a pretty entertaining evening.

simplicity.

I just started the bible study "Becoming a Woman of Simplicity" by Cynthia Heald.

And I'm so excited.  I have absolutely loved it so far.  

There are just a few excerpts from Chapter One that I have to share with you.

"When we are inwardly simple - at rest, free, willing to trust - then we can step into a chaotic world and be at peace."

"Trusting and resting in God grants us inward simplicity that can then lead to an outward simplicity obtained by making wise choices in a complex world."

"There are so few empty pages in my engagement pad, or empty hours in the day or empty rooms in my life in which to stand alone and find myself.  Too many activities, and people, and things.  Too many worthy activities, valuable things, and interesting people.  For it is not merely the trivial which clutters our lives but the important as well."  And then, later, she goes on to talk about abiding in Christ.  She says, "Abiding is not an activity; it is a lifestyle.  It is reordering my whole perspective on life so that my sole purpose is to live simply and purely in devotion to the Lord...Abiding allows the Lord to bring interesting people, worthy activities, and valuable things into my life in the right way, at the right time, and for His purpose."

"We live in a world where doing, communicating, and possessing so rule our lives that we have allowed even good thins to overtake our time and distract form the best."

"Single-minded devotion to Christ is the fundamental principle of this study...The purpose is to encourage you to live life the way God has planned for you.  I think His way is one of inner peace and rest in the midst of a complex and busy world.  My definition of a woman of simplicity is one who lives a God-paced life.  She waits for God's leading, and she has time to be still and know her Lord...She is a woman of profound simplicity because she has only one focus:  being simply and purely devoted to Christ."

"Noise and words and frenzied, hectic schedules dull our senses, closing our ears to his still, small voice and making us numb to his touch."

This is so different from our normal.  Or at least so different from my normal.  So I have a long way to go - but God calls us to "be still" so I'm dragging you along in my pursuit of that :)

Do you have a hard time being still?  Would you say you live a simple life?

Any advice for a novice in the "simple life" arena?

worker man's sister monogrammed me a fun present :)

check it out....

how awesome is this?

peanut butter, jelly.

Okay - let me preface this by telling you I love Trader Joes.

And I love trying anything new from there.

So when I was there a few weeks ago I grabbed some organic peanut butter since I was out of pb and saw it on the shelf.  I wondered if it would be a lot different than JIF or PeterPan but I figured it'd be worth a shot.

So yesterday I opened the jar for the first time to make a sandwich at lunch.

When I opened it, there was about 2 inches of oil sitting on the top.

Knew that I would have to mix it up.

But oh my gosh.

The most difficult thing ever!

And messy.

Seriously - I stirred and stirred and couldn't get it right.  So I brought my friend in the breakroom and she stirred and stirred, only to realize there was another 2 inches of oil separated on the bottom of the peanut butter. 

After trying and trying - I finally slapped some hard/oiless peanut butter on my sandwich.

And made my final decision.

To the trash.

I hate to be wasteful - but I knew it was going to be a huge process everytime to make a sandwich and it was such a mess!

So - I think I'll go back to PeterPan now.

quick appetizer.

Need a quick appetizer?

I've got just the thing!

You have GOT to get this [from Costco]:

There are a few recipes on the back of the bottle.  For salad dressing and marinade.  Those look wonderful.   But the easiest thing?

This poured over a block of cream cheese and served with wheat thins.

You won't regret it. 

Promise.