Today's prompt is about the best meal I've ever cooked. This is a tough one because I like my cooking. A. LOT. I'm actually working on trimming down a bit so it has been a little difficult to chow down on everything I want. I do still enjoy my "waist friendly" cooking, but not as much as my best meal EVER!
Let's set the scene... Valentine's Day. Husband is on his way home from work and candles are lit. Wine is poured and the house (apartment at the time) is filled with amazing scents of roasting lamb, roasted tomatoes and Parmesan asparagus. Oh. My. Mercy. That meal was BY FAR the yummiest thing I've ever made!
Want to make it? Check out my post about it here.
Wednesday, November 14
Tuesday, November 13
Monday, November 12
Change Your Life
The NaBloPoMo prompt of the day asks if I could change one thing about my life, what would it be. Although my life is FREAKIN' AMAZING, there is still one thing that I feel holds me back. Financial peace.
When I was in college I made poor financial decisions which have me sitting on some credit card debt that seems to weigh us down every month. I hate that I HAVE to work to pay this debt instead of being able to be a stay-at-home-mom for my little precious. One day...
Friday, November 9
Friday night these days...
As I enjoy some quiet time tonight I'm reminded how different my Friday nights are these days. A few years back I would be hitting the local establishment for hours of fun with friends. Tonight, this is my Friday. Honestly, back then was fun, but no where near as perfect as this...
Thursday, November 8
Dedication
Some of these writing prompts are so much more boring than my life that I’m skipping them and boring you with the ongoings of the Hunt family instead. Enjoy. Or endure. :)
We are planning on participating in our church’s Baby Dedication in January to celebrate our little dude. As part of it, we have to write a letter to Wyatt that encompasses different topics. My notes made me cry while I was writing them, so I thought I’d share. The little person has made such an impact on my life in his short (almost) 3 months that I cannot even imagine who we will all be in the next year, five years, ten years and beyond.
WRITE DOWN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, TOUCHING ATTRIBUTES AND QUALITIES OF YOUR CHILD.
Wyatt, you are so full of happiness. Laughing from the top of your head to the tips of your little toes, your smile brightens our day every time we see your little face. We love your “spunky” personality, our after bath “conversations” where you voice your opinion on life, your impatience when it is time to eat and your interest in everything that surrounds you. Each day you teach us to stop and look at the small things. Through your eyes, our world is so beautiful and new.
DEFINE THE CONTENT OF YOUR LOVE AS A PARENT.
Never before did we know what it felt like to love something so unconditionally. Words cannot even describe the joy, the excitement, the pride, the amazing love we hold for you Wyatt.
NAME THE ACTIVITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTING THAT GIVE YOU MOST CONTENTMENT/JOY/PRIDE.
Spending every moment with your is the best times of our lives. From rolling around on the living room floor to night conversations on our bed, watching you grow into a little person has brought us such joy. We are so proud of all the achievements you’ve already made and burst with pride in the man we know you will become.
NAME THE ACTIVITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTING THAT CAUSE HUMILITY/WONDER.
Parenting in itself is a daunting job that only God can help us with. Knowing that we are responsible for your walk with Christ, your health and happiness is a terrifying blessing – one that we are so grateful to have. Each day we pray for guidance in raising you as God sees fit.
DESCRIBE SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN THE BIRTH OF YOUR CHILD… MOMENTS THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.
Wyatt, the day you were born was one of the best days of our lives. Mommy will never forget the doctor telling me, “open your eyes mom… he is here”. Seeing you for the first time was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Knowing that God had blessed my life so wonderfully made me cry then and cry now as I remember your sweet little face, your long fingers and huge feet!
EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NAME YOU CHOSE FOR YOUR CHILD.
Wyatt is an English name meaning “brave” and “strong”, which is what we want you to be. We want you to be brave in life, take chances and prosper. We want you to be strong, stand up for your beliefs and inspire others to live lives full of God’s Grace. Daddy and Mommy also selected it for its southern ties, to celebrate your heritage and because it is unique and we want you to stand out from others.
WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS FOR YOUR CHILD? WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS FOR YOUR FAMILY?
Wyatt our dreams for you are to live a God-centered life in which you find health, happiness and prosperity. We pray that you grow into a man that loves your Lord, your family and your life. As a family, our dreams include family vacations, a sibling and prosperity.
WHAT IS YOUR PRAYER FOR YOUR CHILD? WHAT IS YOUR PRAYER FOR YOUR FAMILY?
Daddy and Mommy pray for God to rescue your heart Wyatt so that you will have everlasting life. Our prayers for our family are simple – to continue to place God in the center of our home, to grow together and to always be happy.
HOW WILL YOU NURTURE AND GUIDE YOUR CHILD TOWARD CHRIST? THROUGH FAITHFUL ATTENDACE AND PARTICIPATION IN CHURCH? THROUGH BIBLE STUDY AND OTHER SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES?
Wyatt, we promise to always nurture and guide you in your journey to Christ by faithfully attending and participating in church. We will continually encourage your walk through family prayer time, Bible discussions and stories, and by living our lives as Christ would want us to live.
REGARDING YOUR CHILD’S FAITH DEVELOPMENT, WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU MOST WANT/NEED FROM YOUR CHURCH?
Wyatt, as your faith develops we are excited to be able to have a place like 12Stone to call our church home. Their love and dedication to children’s ministry is such a blessing in our lives that you will appreciate so much.
DEDICATE YOUR CHILD TO GOD IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
Dear God, today we bring to You our beautiful gift, our son Wyatt. We ask Your guidance as we raise him in Your name. We dedicate him to You, Lord. Please rescue his heart and guide him as he grows into a man who follows Your Word. We thank you for Your blessing us with this beautiful child and pray for Your Grace in his life. Amen.
We are planning on participating in our church’s Baby Dedication in January to celebrate our little dude. As part of it, we have to write a letter to Wyatt that encompasses different topics. My notes made me cry while I was writing them, so I thought I’d share. The little person has made such an impact on my life in his short (almost) 3 months that I cannot even imagine who we will all be in the next year, five years, ten years and beyond.
WRITE DOWN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, TOUCHING ATTRIBUTES AND QUALITIES OF YOUR CHILD.
Wyatt, you are so full of happiness. Laughing from the top of your head to the tips of your little toes, your smile brightens our day every time we see your little face. We love your “spunky” personality, our after bath “conversations” where you voice your opinion on life, your impatience when it is time to eat and your interest in everything that surrounds you. Each day you teach us to stop and look at the small things. Through your eyes, our world is so beautiful and new.
DEFINE THE CONTENT OF YOUR LOVE AS A PARENT.
Never before did we know what it felt like to love something so unconditionally. Words cannot even describe the joy, the excitement, the pride, the amazing love we hold for you Wyatt.
NAME THE ACTIVITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTING THAT GIVE YOU MOST CONTENTMENT/JOY/PRIDE.
Spending every moment with your is the best times of our lives. From rolling around on the living room floor to night conversations on our bed, watching you grow into a little person has brought us such joy. We are so proud of all the achievements you’ve already made and burst with pride in the man we know you will become.
NAME THE ACTIVITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTING THAT CAUSE HUMILITY/WONDER.
Parenting in itself is a daunting job that only God can help us with. Knowing that we are responsible for your walk with Christ, your health and happiness is a terrifying blessing – one that we are so grateful to have. Each day we pray for guidance in raising you as God sees fit.
DESCRIBE SOME MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN THE BIRTH OF YOUR CHILD… MOMENTS THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.
Wyatt, the day you were born was one of the best days of our lives. Mommy will never forget the doctor telling me, “open your eyes mom… he is here”. Seeing you for the first time was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Knowing that God had blessed my life so wonderfully made me cry then and cry now as I remember your sweet little face, your long fingers and huge feet!
EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NAME YOU CHOSE FOR YOUR CHILD.
Wyatt is an English name meaning “brave” and “strong”, which is what we want you to be. We want you to be brave in life, take chances and prosper. We want you to be strong, stand up for your beliefs and inspire others to live lives full of God’s Grace. Daddy and Mommy also selected it for its southern ties, to celebrate your heritage and because it is unique and we want you to stand out from others.
WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS FOR YOUR CHILD? WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS FOR YOUR FAMILY?
Wyatt our dreams for you are to live a God-centered life in which you find health, happiness and prosperity. We pray that you grow into a man that loves your Lord, your family and your life. As a family, our dreams include family vacations, a sibling and prosperity.
WHAT IS YOUR PRAYER FOR YOUR CHILD? WHAT IS YOUR PRAYER FOR YOUR FAMILY?
Daddy and Mommy pray for God to rescue your heart Wyatt so that you will have everlasting life. Our prayers for our family are simple – to continue to place God in the center of our home, to grow together and to always be happy.
HOW WILL YOU NURTURE AND GUIDE YOUR CHILD TOWARD CHRIST? THROUGH FAITHFUL ATTENDACE AND PARTICIPATION IN CHURCH? THROUGH BIBLE STUDY AND OTHER SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES?
Wyatt, we promise to always nurture and guide you in your journey to Christ by faithfully attending and participating in church. We will continually encourage your walk through family prayer time, Bible discussions and stories, and by living our lives as Christ would want us to live.
REGARDING YOUR CHILD’S FAITH DEVELOPMENT, WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU MOST WANT/NEED FROM YOUR CHURCH?
Wyatt, as your faith develops we are excited to be able to have a place like 12Stone to call our church home. Their love and dedication to children’s ministry is such a blessing in our lives that you will appreciate so much.
DEDICATE YOUR CHILD TO GOD IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
Dear God, today we bring to You our beautiful gift, our son Wyatt. We ask Your guidance as we raise him in Your name. We dedicate him to You, Lord. Please rescue his heart and guide him as he grows into a man who follows Your Word. We thank you for Your blessing us with this beautiful child and pray for Your Grace in his life. Amen.
Wednesday, November 7
Why, Thank Ya!
Today’s prompt asks about the last compliment I received. Being in a very loving marriage, my husband showers me with compliments on a daily basis so I’m constantly being lifted up. Outside of my safe haven, compliments come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Two of the ones that stand out to me that made the most impact on me are:
“You are such a great mom.”
“You are SO rocking the ‘Mommy-Chic… it looks good on you girl.”
Of course the first made such an impression because I’m a new mom and constantly feel like I’m flying by the seat of my pants in order to keep up with my little man. Hearing that what I’m doing is right is such a confidence boost.
The “Mommy-Chic” line MADE. MY. DAY! Of course as a woman I am self conscious of my body. Add in the ass that comes along with child bearing and BOOM - big time body complex. Having someone (other than my husband) tell me that I look fabulous made me want to float away on my cloud 9. You know what made it even better? The compliment came from a gay man. We ALL know they have style! Woo hoo!
What compliments have you received that made your day?
“You are such a great mom.”
“You are SO rocking the ‘Mommy-Chic… it looks good on you girl.”
Of course the first made such an impression because I’m a new mom and constantly feel like I’m flying by the seat of my pants in order to keep up with my little man. Hearing that what I’m doing is right is such a confidence boost.
The “Mommy-Chic” line MADE. MY. DAY! Of course as a woman I am self conscious of my body. Add in the ass that comes along with child bearing and BOOM - big time body complex. Having someone (other than my husband) tell me that I look fabulous made me want to float away on my cloud 9. You know what made it even better? The compliment came from a gay man. We ALL know they have style! Woo hoo!
What compliments have you received that made your day?
Tuesday, November 6
Really, with this prompt?
Yesterday was my one political rant of the year... I don't enjoy politics because I'm hard-headed and get way to irritated with people who vote on the other side of the fence. SO, I'm skipping out on today's #NaBloPoMo post of "If you were President of the United States, what would be your first act in office?"... Boring.
Enjoy these instead!
Enjoy these instead!
Back to the writing tomorrow.
Sending blessings,
Steph
Monday, November 5
Political Thoughts
What’s that you say? You want my thoughts on tomorrow's election? You had to ask?
First, GET OUT AND VOTE Y’ALL! It is a right we often take for granted and it is a right that we ALL should exercise.
That being said, I’m conservative and I’m nervous what another term with our current president will hold for our country. I won’t rant for days… just a few minutes…
As an employee of a small business and a small(er) business owner, the tax policy that has come into question throughout the debates makes me want to crawl in a hole. The thought of having MORE of my well-earned money taken by the government for distribution among those who are not working is not ok with me. I hardly make enough as is, and I would prefer to keep my little fingers on every dollar I can.
Of course, I’m anti-Obamacare. Personally it made my health insurance go up so much this year that I had to fall off my company’s insurance plan just to be able to afford health care for my self and my son. Thanks Mr. President.
Finally, if I hear one more time that the president has helped the middle class I think I will SCREAM! My family and I are middle class and have not seen a BIT of help in the past four years. Actually, my husband and I make less than we did four years ago while the price of everything we have to purchase to live (food, transportation, healthcare, etc.) has gone up. We have seen no tax breaks and actually get less back in taxes than we did before being married.
As I mentioned earlier, please exercise your right to vote… but make sure you are voting for what YOU believe and not what is the “cool” thing.
Lots of Love,
Steph
P.S. Vote Romney ;)
First, GET OUT AND VOTE Y’ALL! It is a right we often take for granted and it is a right that we ALL should exercise.
That being said, I’m conservative and I’m nervous what another term with our current president will hold for our country. I won’t rant for days… just a few minutes…
As an employee of a small business and a small(er) business owner, the tax policy that has come into question throughout the debates makes me want to crawl in a hole. The thought of having MORE of my well-earned money taken by the government for distribution among those who are not working is not ok with me. I hardly make enough as is, and I would prefer to keep my little fingers on every dollar I can.
Of course, I’m anti-Obamacare. Personally it made my health insurance go up so much this year that I had to fall off my company’s insurance plan just to be able to afford health care for my self and my son. Thanks Mr. President.
Finally, if I hear one more time that the president has helped the middle class I think I will SCREAM! My family and I are middle class and have not seen a BIT of help in the past four years. Actually, my husband and I make less than we did four years ago while the price of everything we have to purchase to live (food, transportation, healthcare, etc.) has gone up. We have seen no tax breaks and actually get less back in taxes than we did before being married.
As I mentioned earlier, please exercise your right to vote… but make sure you are voting for what YOU believe and not what is the “cool” thing.
Lots of Love,
Steph
P.S. Vote Romney ;)
Sunday, November 4
Saturday, November 3
Vintage Christmas
I found this gem at an estate sale a few months ago. Put it up to snap some pictures and prep it for selling. It does look pretty cool in my dining room though...
Friday, November 2
Oh What a Night...
Last night my mom and I enjoyed an evening out in downtown Atlanta to see the amazing Frankie Valli. Even at his age, the show was GREAT! He is such a performer.
We started with dinner at our favorite - Baraonda. Delish food and lovely atmosphere on the patio (under the heaters of course).
The show hit all of the hits - "Hang On", "Walk like a Man", & my favorite "Bye Bye Baby". So fun!
We started with dinner at our favorite - Baraonda. Delish food and lovely atmosphere on the patio (under the heaters of course).
The show hit all of the hits - "Hang On", "Walk like a Man", & my favorite "Bye Bye Baby". So fun!
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| Lamb for dinner? YES! |
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| Baraonda's beautiful patio |
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| Mother - Daughter Night! |
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| The Fabulous Fox |
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| Frankie Valli & his band |
If I could live anywhere...
Today’s #NaBloPoMo prompt is “If you could live anywhere, where would it be?”
Two words: Tybee Island. (Can this post be done? No, I kid.)
Ever since I was a kid, our yearly family vacations have been to Tybee Island, just off the Georgia coast and ever since I was a kid I wanted to go and stay… forever. I swear my soul is rejuvenated every time I roll my windows down as we cross the bridge onto Tybee, surrounded by the marsh and the salty scent of God’s beautiful creation. (Sitting here in Atlanta on this cool November morning is not helping at the moment…) I love spending evenings on the patio at Stingray’s, shopping at the IGA and spending every moment in the beach-humid air.
Oh Tybee… only 7 more months until you welcome me again. :)
Two words: Tybee Island. (Can this post be done? No, I kid.)
Ever since I was a kid, our yearly family vacations have been to Tybee Island, just off the Georgia coast and ever since I was a kid I wanted to go and stay… forever. I swear my soul is rejuvenated every time I roll my windows down as we cross the bridge onto Tybee, surrounded by the marsh and the salty scent of God’s beautiful creation. (Sitting here in Atlanta on this cool November morning is not helping at the moment…) I love spending evenings on the patio at Stingray’s, shopping at the IGA and spending every moment in the beach-humid air.
Oh Tybee… only 7 more months until you welcome me again. :)
Thursday, November 1
NaBloPoMo a.k.a Happy November Y'all
Happy November y’all! It is such a great month – Thanksgiving, Christmas prep, “No Shave November”, “Movember”, college football gets even better, cooler temperatures grace our doors, the leaves fall and apples are a top priority on the grocery list. November is also fabulous because it is National Blog Posting Month. Let us celebrate by writing each weekday. Sure, I should attempt an every-day-of-November blog posting routine, but let’s be honest… that isn’t going to happen around here. I’m a working mom who works three different gigs. Do you really think I’ll have time to post every single day? (Ok, I’m making lame excuses again.)
Over at BlogHer they have amazing prompts for each day of the month. To help get my creative writing juices flowing once again, I’m going to jump on board with them and write using their prompts. Today’s prompt is “Tell us your favorite quotation and why.”
Awesome. First prompt and my answer is, “don’t really have one”. Terrible, I know. I just do not find inspiration in infamous quotes, but do find motivation and strength in every word I read from my Bible. Here is a little something for today "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34). I promise I will not preach around here, but it is where I find my “umph” y'all.
Here’s hoping that the rest of the month is a little more productive than today’s right? LOL
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