New Friend Day!

I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner today for New Friend Day! I always love making new friends and it would be fun to meet some people in the same area as I am in the blog world.

So a little bit about me:

I've been married to my handsome husband, Jason, for 4 1/2 years and after 2 years of infertility we are expecting our first child in early September 2012. We have a little miniature dachshund named Lucye that we treat as our child.  I love Jesus most importantly, reality TV, reading, shopping, being crafty or at least attempting to, Target and going to the movies.

If you are in the DFW area, leave a comment! I'd love to check our your blog!

Show Us Your Life - Christmas Tour of Homes!

I'm so excited to share my Christmas decorations with all you out there. I absolutely love Christmas and I don't think you can ever have enough Christmas decorations!! This year I didn't get to put up all my decorations like I wanted because we are moving in a couple of weeks but I couldn't let the season go by without decorating. Welcome to my home!!!

Before you walk in, you'll be greeted with a lovely Christmas wreath that my good friend, Jessica, made for me a couple years back.

In our living room, our stockings are hung by the chimney with care

Also in our living room we have our Christmas tree!!

Above our entertainment center, I have our nativity scene and then a fun printout I got off the internet of Luke 2:13-14

This little thing might be one of my favorite decorations. It is sitting on one of the end tables. 

This wreath is on our bedroom door. It has ornaments that my grandmother collected over the years. Last year, my aunts separated all the ornaments that my grandmother had and split them between all the grandkids and put them on wreaths. I love it because I will always have a piece of my grandmother with me. 

 I also have this little guy that sings O Christmas Tree and dances. I love it and makes me giggle every time I turn it on.

I have my photobook of my Christmas cards from previous years lying out on the console table. I'm excited to add the ones I got this year!

To see other homes go HERE. Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

Show Us Your Life Friday

I'm so glad to link up with Kelly's Korner today to find some new blogs to read and maybe meet a new friend or two =)

I  started blogging a couple years ago just as a way for me to document life - even the little details that just go through my head sometimes - for my family and friends. I've loved "meeting" new people through this bloggy land.

Some little tidbits about me:

- I'm married to my best friend, Jason, and he is such a blessing to me. (He definitely has to put up with my quirks and craziness)
-We have a dog, Lucye, and she is our fur baby. She may or may not think she is human.
-No babies yet but would love some in the near future.
- We live in the DFW area and try to get out once in awhile to enjoy it =)
- I LOVE to craft and cook!
- I'm obsessed with TV..it's kind of embarrassing how many shows are on my DVR.
- I love Jesus and without Him my life would be nothing!

 Leave a comment to let me know you stopped by and so I can come check out your blog too! Have a great weekend!

Show Us Your Life Fridays -My little Lucye

I'm glad that Show Us Your Life Fridays is about our pets today. I get to talk about a very special member of our family. We have a miniature dachshund named Lucye. She will be three in December. I hate to admit it but I treat her like my child a lot of the time, but I can't help it - look at this face:

Isn't she just the cutest?

Lucye loves to hide and burrow underneath blankets. I think it might have something to do with her breed.

She also loves to go on walks and chase all the flying leaves. 

She also likes to sit out on our balcony and sunbathe and check out what's going on at our apartments. Sometimes she will sit and watch out our sliding door  in our room. 

And at the end of the day, she knows how to to relax with the best of them!

We love our little Lucye!

Show Us Your LIFE Fridays - Dessert Recipe

I'm linking up with Kelly's Korner today for favorite dessert recipes. I can't wait to add to my list of desserts to make! To see other recipes go HERE

I LOVE DESSERTS!! I'm pretty sure I could eat dessert every day if my hip size would stay the same - ha! I had a hard time just picking one dessert recipe because I like them all so much but I picked one from my all time favorite dessert cook book that I got as a wedding gift. It combines my two favorites: chocolate and peanut butter!

Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter/Milk Chocolate Frosting

Cake:

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

2/3 cups baking cocoa

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 2/3 cups Nestle Peanut Butter & Milk & Chocolate Morsels

Frosting:

1 package of cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

3 cups sifted powdered sugar

For Cake:

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, soda and salt in bowl. Add milk, water, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract; blend until moistened. Beat for 2 minutes and pour into 2 greased and floured 9 inch round cake pans. Sprinkle 1/3 cup morsels over each cake. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

For frosting:

Microwave remaining morsels in small bowl on medium high for 1 minute and then at additional 10-20 second intervals, stirring until smooth. Beat cream chesse, melted morsels, vanilla extract, and salt in small bowl until fluffy. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Frost between layers on top and side of cake. Makes 10-12 servings.

Enjoy!!

Show Us Your LIfe Fridays - Main Course Recipe

I love to cook. I am always looking for new recipes to add to our list of favorites. And this one is definitely on that list. It's super easy, super quick and so yummy!! I got if off the Pioneer Woman website. You can't go wrong with that.

Bow-tie Lasagna

-1 pound of ground beef or turkey

-1 can of spaghetti sauce

- 5 cups of bow tie noodles (I use penne noodles sometimes)

- 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

-1 tsp of salt

-1/2 tsp garlic powder

-1 tsp Italian Seasoning (or more per taste)

-1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese

-1/2 cups sour cream

Fry ground meat in pan while noodles are cooking. After noodles are cooked, drain and drizzle with olive oil. Mix in with the ground meat and then pour in your spaghetti sauce. Add cheese, sour cream and seasonings and then stir to combine until cheese is melted. Enjoy!!

To see more recipes go HERE

Show Us Your LIfe Fridays - My Book List

Don't forget to see what others are reading! HERE

I love to read! In fact one of my goals for my 29 before 29 list is to read two books a month. So far I have been able to keep up. =)

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This is what I am reading right now. The backdrop of the book is the story of Ruth in the Bible and talks about God's sovereignty in the good and bad times. I have really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone who has gone through any type of sorrow or pain (which is almost anyone!)

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I think this is going to be the next book I read. The movie comes out in a couple of weeks and I usually like to read the book before I see the movie whenever possible.

I have recently read the first in the Bailey Flanigan Series: Leaving. It is sooo good and I can't wait for the next book to come out in June. Although its a new series, it follows families that I have been reading about forever. It all started with the Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury. I would highly recommend these books!

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I will stop there but I also would recommend the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Series, the Hunger Games, the Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers and of course Harry Potter. Can't you tell I love to read?!

Show Us Your LIfe Fridays - Church Edition

I am so glad to be joining the show us your life series with the church edition!

I have grown up in church my whole life and have been blessed to be a part of congregations that have stretched me and shaped me in my walk with the Lord and for that I am thankful. Jason and I go to The Village Church at the Dallas campus now since we have lived here. The Village Church has three campuses: Flower Mound, Dallas, and Denton and each is great! The pastor, Matt Chandler, is awesome and each week preaches from the scriptures with a great and powerful message. The Lord truly has used him to reach so many and challenged me and so many others to not just attend church which is so easy to do in the Bible belt, but to live lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Not only do I love to go to services each week to hear the gospel preached but I love our home group. Home groups are how the Village Church creates community. Home groups can be from a small group of 6 to large groups of 20-30 people that meet together every week in homes and live life together. Jason and I have been so blessed with our home group. We are in a home group that consists of many young married couples, but also has a few singles and dating/engaged couples as well. We not only meet for Bible study but we hang out together during the week as well. Words can not express how thankful I am for these people in my life. Sadly I do not have pictures of any of us together, but in my defense, when we are together I'm laughing and having such a good time that I forget to take pics =).

Also, today was perfect timing to talk about my church because our church just released a CD of songs that people in our church have written over the years and we have sung at our church. The CD is on ITunes and I highly recommend that you get it. It's called God of Victory - please go buy it - it is amazing! In fact, I'm listening to it right now =).

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I hope and pray that if you don't have a home church in your area that maybe through this you will be able to find one and go visit. And if you live in the Dallas area, stop by The Village Church - you will love it.