Friday, May 20, 2016

Friday Favorites

It's Friday, and you know what that means...


Yes, it means I am not cooking tonight, but it also means I am sharing five of my favorite things from this week with you.


Blog Life:  In case you missed it, on Tuesday, I linked up with Shelly to share my Bucket List for the summer.  We have lots of fun things planned...like riding roller coasters, potty training and getting a licensed driver in our house.  Just go ahead and add me to your prayer list.
On Thursday, I linked up with Michelle and shared one of my favorite breakfast casseroles that is hearty, yet low carb and Trim Healthy Mama friendly.  I still have some leftovers in the fridge, excuse me while I go heat up a piece....



Speaking of food, I have another favorite product to share with you.  As much as I am loving my grocery pickup from WalMart (and have a pickup scheduled for later today), I still adore Trader Joe's, too.  A few weeks ago after eating at Pollo Tropical for the first time, I was hooked on their cilantro garlic sauce.  Seriously, I need a milk jug full of that stuff.  I tried to persuade the Pollo Tropical employee to sell me some, but apparently they don't sell the sauce.  Rule #1 of operating a business: everything is for sale.  Later that day I went to Trader Joe's and saw this little beauty in the refrigerator section (near the salads) and hoped for the best.  It's not quite Pollo Tropical, but it is pretty good.  I have added it to quesadillas, fajitas and the Trim Healthy Mama recipe for Cowboy Grub, but it's a salad dressing, so I guess you could do that, too, if lettuce is your thing...



I love writing, but sometimes struggle with it.  When I first started my blog, some of the best advice I got came from Kara at A Kailo Chic Life.  Kara is uber-talented and happens to be from my hometown of Wimberley, Texas.  Kara told me to write like I talk...so that's what I do.  That's why there are too many commas, too many "...'s" and lots of run on sentences in my posts.  This is my blog; my space to share my thoughts.  Melanie Shankle is one of my favorite writers.  I admire her writing style and her personality that comes across in her words.  She just tells it like it is.  Her faith and family are her top priorities.  If you're looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend The Antelope in the Living Room (about marriage), Nobody's Cuter Than You (about friendship), and Sparkly Green Earrings (about motherhood).  If you love Jen Hatmaker, you will love Melanie.  If you don't want to commit to a whole book, she also has a blog, check it out!


I read two blog posts this week that totally spoke to me, and I wanted to share with you.  First off, Michelle's blog is one of my favorite blogs to read.  In this season of my life I am running around like crazy raising kids, trying to have a clean house, manage a few DIY projects every once in a while and get dinner on the table by 6:00.  It can be intimidating in this Pinterest era where everything looks so easy and effortless.  Michelle points out in this post that as styles come and go,we should choose to decorate our home with joy, laughter, gentleness and peace; four timeless traits that will be in style for years to come. 
Second, Brooke really should have addressed this post, "Dear Emily..." because she so spoke to me.  Wives, if you have a tendency to get frustrated with your husbands because they don't do things like you would, this post is for you to read. 


A few random moments from our life:  Jess sang in his spring choir performance at church.  (I have pictures from that night, but since there are other kids in those pictures and I don't know how their parents feel about them being on my blog, I opted for this one.)


There's nothing better than a boy and his dog!


Unless it's a boy and his sister....


Or a girl and her sister...


These kids have amazed me this week.  They have such a love for Jesus.  Whether  it's a discussion with Kendall after church on how she can be a difference maker next year as an upper classman, Jess singing his little heart out in his choir performance, or Jentry's sweet bedtime prayers, they fill my heart with such pride.  I hope the three of them always have this much joy in their lives.

Thank you so much for spending a little bit of your week with me.  I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Emily

I am linking up with the regulars...






P.S. If you purchase a book that I recommended through my Amazon links, I will receive a small commission...then, I'll probably use that commission to buy something...and then blog about it.

24 comments:

  1. So excited to be back catching up with you! These are such sweet pics =) I love that you thought about how others parents would feel about their kids' pictures online.. since you know I don't share any, it's always in the back of my mind when someone is taking pictures at a playgroup or something and then immediately posting it! I'll be checking out some of these posts =)

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    1. I'm so glad you're back in the blog world, Jacquelyn! I can't wait to read about your trip.

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  2. Ha! No cooking for me, either. That cilantro sauce sounds amazing!! I love Melanie Shankle as well. All of those books you mentioned are on my ‘favorites’ list! What kind of dog do you have? Looks a lot like my Diesel boy! Cute pictures. I hope you have a great weekend.

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    1. You definitely need to try the cilantro sauce! It's so yummy! Our dog is a Silky Terrier. She looks a lot like a Yorkie. She's the sweetest dog ever!

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  3. That sauce is da bomb! (does anyone say that anymore?) If you're lucky and get a cool employee they'll put some in a tiny cup I'd you ask them to. Write how you talk is really good advice! If only I could a emoji for all the hand gestures I do haha!

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    1. Ha!! That's funny! I'm trying to get on the emoji bandwagon when I text my daughter. It takes me forever to scroll they them & pick out the perfect one.

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  4. This post is so full of goodness!!! I just love it! I cannot wait to get to my computer and catch up and check the links you provided. Those babies!!!! Have a great cooking free weekend. I will email you soon! Another THM win for the crockpot 😊

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    1. Yay! I can't wait to hear about it! I made the Cowboy Grub last night. It was good!!

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  5. Wish I read your blog earlier - I was at Trader Joe's today. I will probably be there tomorrow because we are having a dinner party tomorrow night. Your family is positively precious.

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    1. Thank you, Katie! I am dying to try the cilantro sauce with grilled shrimp. Yum!! Hope you have a great dinner party. I can't wait to hear what you're serving!!

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  6. I'm so glad my post spoke to you. I love when blogs do that for me!

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    1. I loved it! I need to slow done & enjoy this season!! Thanks again for sharing.

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    1. They're so good! Let me know what you think.

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  8. Trader Joe's and their little food gems. I always walk out with one new item, and it's usually AMAZING! And love the advice about writing how you talk - that's exactly what I said to my husband this week. I write like I talk! So I'm right with you on the overuse of .... and a ! :) Hope you all are having a great weekend!

    Katie @ Cup of Tea

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    1. Yes, Trader Joe's has the best little finds! I find something new every trip!
      I notice I use lots of exclamation points, too. In fact, I go back and take some out most of the time because I feel like I'm shouting at my readers. Ha!!

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  9. I try to write like I talk too. I love your dog!

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  10. I love the sweet pictures!
    Writing like you talk is a great piece of advice. That way you come across as genuine!

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    1. Very true! It probably drives some people crazy because I'm not very professional, but oh well, it's me.

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  11. Friday and not cooking are just the best combo. Isn't Michelle the best? She is so full of Godly wisdom I just want to soak it all in. I hope you had a great weekend friend.

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    1. I think I found Michelle through your linkups! She is awesome! When I read her blog, I feel like I've known her for years!

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  12. I hear about Pollo Tropical all the time, but we still haven't tried it yet. Although, cilantro garlic dressing sounds fantastic, so we'll probably take a trip there soon! And yes to writing how you talk! I love it when my friends read my blog and tell me that they feel like I'm talking right to them because that's what my ultimate goal is!

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    1. You guys should definitely try Pollo Tropical! It's perfect when you need something quick, but want to eat healthy, too! I love when I feel like I can "hear" someone's voice when they write. I read Laura Bush's biography a few years ago & I felt like she was narrating it in my head!

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