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Friday, June 17, 2016

A Week of Emotions



Last Saturday my hubby and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary. Thanks to a groupon, we stuffed ourselves with fondue at The Melting Pot, then we popped next door to El Gaucho for an after-dinner cocktail. It was such a fun, happy night! We are so thankful God brought us together and has helped us stay together through the good and the hard times...

I ordered my favorite swanky drink, a Sidecar and it was the best one I've ever had! Be warned; this yummy concoction at El Gaucho is quite pricey~$15, and pretty potent.
 (I wasn't driving.)

The bartender wrote down the recipe for me in case I ever have all the ingredients at home to concoct one of my own.


It wasn't until we were in church the next day that I heard about the horrible shootings at the Orlando nightclub.  My heart breaks for all the Mamas and family members who are mourning. On Wednesday I was celebrating the grand re-opening of the Flagship Cutters Point Coffee Co. with a girlfriend, when she mentioned the death of a toddler in Disney World. I can't even fathom the pain and disbelief the parents must be feeling. So much sadness... 

As we all wrestle with the evil and unexpected events that have occurred in our broken world, I want to share two things that have ministered to me:

I love this new praise song: Thy WillI've always loved the country group "Lady Antebellum." The female member of the group, Hillary Scott, is now also writing and singing praise songs with her parents and sister. I think you'll agree that "Thy Will" is beautiful and the lyrics stick in your head (in a good way!)
"I know you hear me
I know you see me Lord
Your plans are for me
Goodness you have in store.
THY WILL BE DONE"


I appreciated this hope-filled response to the nightclub tragedy in Orlando:
Kristen Welch writes a blog called "We Are That Family" and she did a beautiful job in this letter to her kids. It's for all of us! 

Jesus is our only hope!



Let your family and friends know how much you love them, extend grace and kindness to all and have a safe weekend.

In His Grip,
Jane


Photo sources:
:amcor-usa.com

Friday, June 3, 2016

5 Favorites for Friday


Happy Friday friends! The weather here in the PNW is glorious, and since my cold/flu is starting to go away, I actually went on my first outing in two weeks; Trader Joe's with a girlfriend is always a favorite!

Here are five of my favorites this week:

Movie to rent~ The other night my hubby decided to watch The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on our "On Demand." I loved the actors, wonderful time-period fashions from the 60's and great action without too much violence. I give it 5 stars.
Photo source: https://blurppy.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/the-man-from-uncle.jpg

You Tube subscription~#Rach Talk of The Chic. I love watching and listening to Rachel Hollis. She always makes me smile She has her own lifestyle blog, is a Mom of 3 biological sons and 2 foster baby girls, she's a former L.A. event planner, a believer, and she's written fiction books. Check her out, I think you'll agree she's fun and talented!

Photo source: https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/shrinknp_400_400/p/5/005/0b0/122/379c0e8.jpg

Make-up product~ If I am deserted on an Island, this is the ONE product I need to have. Due to my Norwegian genes, I have scary dark circles. It's a multi-step process before I leave the house... First, Loréal Age Perfect eye Renewal creme, next, Garner BB eye roller, then Bobbie Brown Corrector in Bisque, and finally, the Maybelline eraser shown below. I have it in Light/pale right now and it's price-point is around $7.



Quote~"My imperfections will never override God’s promises. God’s promises are not dependent on my ability to always choose well, but rather on His ability to use well." 
(Lysa Terkeurst, Proverbs 31 Ministry)
 I wrote about making decisions earlier in the week. It's reassuring to remember God is bigger than any choice my loved ones or I make...

Recipe~ I saw this recipe, made by Kelly Nan on the Progressive Blog Dinner Tour and decided to give it a try. YUM! We'll be making this a lot this summer! Besides the yummy recipe, I think you'll also enjoy the Blog tour of homes!


Grilled Tilapia and Mango Salsa RecipeMarinade Ingredients:
  • 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic in the jar)
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 (6 ounce) tilapia fillets
Salsa Ingredients
  • 1 large mango, diced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 Tbsp minced red onion
  • 1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (we use serranos from our garden if we have them on hand)
  • 2 Tbsp lime juice
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
  1. Place tilapia filets in a Ziplock bag. Combine marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour marinade into the bag, seal the bag, and move the filets around until they are well coated. Refrigerate for an hour. 
  2. Prepare the mango salsa (this can be made ahead of time) by combining the first five salsa ingredients in a bowl. Add the lime juice and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and toss. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  3. Preheat grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil grate. (We use a fish pan with nonstick spray)
  4. Remove the tilapia from the marinade, and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade. Grill the fillets until the fish is no longer translucent in the center, and flakes easily with a fork, 3 to 4 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the fillets. Serve the tilapia on top of a bed of yellow saffron rice, and top with mango salsa.
It's the Maritime Festival weekend here in the Harbor, so they'll be parades, concerts and merriment. Tonight I'm heading to a Mops Mentor Mom end-of-year dinner. My youngest child is popping home too, before she meets up with her big sister in Nashville on Monday. Lots to be thankful for! 

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever." 
Psalm 107:1 (NLT)


In His Grip,

Jane