Houseplant Confession

So remember how I have been hunting for a house plant for---well, a month or so?

Hmmm....haven't found one yet.

However, due to not going out of town today as was expected, I had a little extra time to do some exploring in my own home town.

It is a beautifully sunny day--cool but warmer than it has been. The perfect weather to get out and about.

Red and I headed down S. Grand to Chimichanga's for lunch---despite rave reviews via Urbanspoon, we left being glad we got that our of our system and with no intention of returning. ( I will say their chips were excellent....thin and light.)

That aside...

Red was meeting up with AD at Sump, so we headed down to Cherokee Street to Antique Row so I could pop into a few of my favorite places. By few, I mean one---where I found a fab old chair that I would love to buy and reupholster. (I'm kidding!!! Ok, no I'm not--but now isn't the best time.)

We left there for Red to hang with AD. I headed around the corner to Meremec and Grand---to an area known as Dutchtown.

Now. I had heard of Dutchtown, but I had never experienced it. And the row that had caught my eye was 4 stores of consignment/re-sale shops. You know I like that.

The first one-- Zaftig was great.

Here is where the confession part comes in.

I found a pair of J.Brand jeans for $17.00

This is an incredible find people. I couldn't pass it up. They fit (....besides needing to be hemmed a few inches) and they are beautiful. I say yes to that.

And the proprietor of the store was a sassy woman filled with personality. Bricks (her nickname) was not to be pushed aside. She even gave me some earrings for half-price. I say yes to that too!

Soft coral/pink color

Unfortunately, this means my hunt for a houseplant is on pause. I had set aside a little birthday money and have officially spent it.

So, future Houseplant? I say sorry to you. My heart is weak for good deals and the jeans beat you out. In a few months I'll make it up to you.

Food Glory

With the onset of a new week, it is time to attack menu planning.

Red and I like to eat. By like, I mean we adore it.

Red is the resident food critic amongst our friends and is always researching or concocting some new dish.

It's been quite nice actually. Having started a new internship at Ronald McDonald House, I haven't had the same amount of time to put into cooking...but good ole' Red has gladly stepped in.

This week, I decided I would return to my old duties as wife and plan the menu for our upcoming week...(and, hopefully execute it).

The challenge is that we have really struggled to return to a healthy lifestyle since Christmas. My parent's spoiled us with fabulous Southern cooking the entire time we were at home---and it has proven to be impossible to bounce back. (pecan pie anyone?? or, cornbread??)

So with that in mind--I am determined to eat at least semi-healthy this week.

Healthy is relative, right?

Our Dinner Plans:

• Roasted Pork Chops with Mashed Cauliflower
• Rosemary Garlic Chicken Quarters with Quinoa and Spicy, Caramelized Green-beans
• White Bean Soup with Andouille and Collards, and Salad
• Chicken with Tomato Herb Sauce, Sweet Potatos, and Salad

Yum.

What are you cooking this week?

Radical Pursuit

Today is the day.

We have been planning for 6+ months and here it is:

Radical Pursuit: A weekend Retreat for Women.

Praise the Lord for all He is doing in and through our church community!

I have been gathering my personal things and my thoughts as I prepare not only for sweet fellowship with lovely ladies but also for sweet communion with the Lord.

Father, I pray that this weekend is filled with rejuvenation of spirit and reminders of our full redemption in Christ.

Blessings,

Houseplants and Donuts

I woke up with a huge hankering for a stroll around our neighborhood. You know...it's Sunday morning; it's cheerfully bright; it's crisp and refreshing; and....

It's blanketed in 4 inches of unexpected snow.

Ok, so no walk.

BUT instead of a Sunday morning walk, why not venture out into the winter wonderland via le Trooper and continue my hunt for a houseplant?

My thoughts exactly. There was absolutely no sound reason to stay home. Icy roads and frigid temperatures are nothing against my zealous desire to either a) build a terrarium or b) at least have a beautiful houseplant.

I lassoed Red into partnering with me on this escapade and off we went to the wonderful, marvelous, magically curated Bowood Farms Greenhouse and Gift shoppe in the Central West End.

Wandering the aisles of house plants, terrarium finds, and air plants, I was certain to find what I longed for: an Oxalis.

Didn't happen.

But, I did get to experience Bowood Farms in an excellent way. As you enter through their chartreuse front doors, you are transplanted into another world. They have an excellent selection of house plants but also carry distinctive gifts and accents for the home and garden.

It honestly felt like a special place....as if I could do anything! That terrarium is in reach, Laura! They even provided inspiration:

Although I didn't find my Oxalis (they will carry them in March in time for St. Patrick's Day), it was a rejuvenating experience to meander through their trove and get ideas for gifts in the future

One of my favorites for a young boy or girl:

Mouse in a box!

After our field-trip to Bowood Farms, Red and I headed home...

Only to be overcome by the need for donuts.

And so, we stopped at World Fair's Donuts.

And the heaven's cried Hallelujah!!

Wow--life was just made a little bit better.

For $2.86 we had 4 donuts (what just happened?!) and a small cup of coffee to wash it down.

People. These donuts are worth the drive. No matter where you are in the St. Louis area, come eat this goodness.

I highly recommend the Buttermilk Cake Donut and Red gives his highest regards to the Classic Glazed.

Now we are home recuperating from a rush of inspiration at Bowood's and a rush of sugar and  inspiration at World's Fair Donuts.

What a great start to the day. Red is reading his book and I'm focusing on getting my mind right for the SuperBowl tonight.

 Really, I'm getting my mind right for all that food.

Cheers to you!

Happy New Year!! (26 days late!)

It is a gray Sunday afternoon and I have been curled up in our cozy leather chair devouring East of Eden by Steinbeck. My mind has been wandering the valley of Salinas, slipping through the retelling of Genesis as if it is all I ought to be thinking of, for forever. I have been consumed.

With the onset (27 days in is still consider "the onset", correct?) of the new year, I typically sit in a cocoon of self-reflection. I evaluate life, self, past, present, future and pray a lot. This typically produces an outpouring of questions--or conversations focused on the New Year and what it brings.

I begun early this year (or last year, if you will)---asking my friends over Christmas what their New Year's resolutions were. This foray was initiated out of curiosity--an interesting way to catapult conversation forward and glean a little taste of each other's heart.

I had jumped into these conversations with out my own question answered---what would be my resolution this year?

Now, I am of the mind that resolutions are not just for the start of each year. (I'm sure you've heard that before)...But honestly! It's true. If we were limited to goals being set only at the beginning of each year we would hold a  ridiculously small perspective and be disappointed... defined by our chaotic holidays and gluttonous meals.

Instead, resolutions should be fluid---or perhaps, gelatinous. Firm--but flexible...ready to morph if needed.

Hence, the process behind my resolutions has been long-winded and arduous. They've shifted shape too many times to count. But seeing that they are about to be published on the internet, I believe I have finally reached my final list.

Yes, list. It takes more than one improvement to help me.

Here are my hopes and goals for this year:

1. To memorize more Scripture.
2. To be better at "playing".
3. To learn something new (and learn it well)
4. To write in cursive.

To memorize more Scripture is to guide my heart and to help me love others through the Gospel, more powerfully.

To be better at playing means for me to be better at playing around--joking--being comfortable in non-serious circumstances. I have found that the people who leave the most lasting positive impression on me are those who are good at playing, as well as, working. I want to grow in that.

To learn something new could be taking a few different shapes: 1) Red and I are learning Spanish via Rosetta Stone (Thanks Vane!!) 2) I am desperate to learn how to play the banjo and there is a folk music school close by that could make that a reality. 3) I want to take a class about indesign and/or web design.

To write in cursive just seems like a good idea. I admire nice penmanship. It makes me feel like a lady....and it is quicker, once you're good at it.

So, boom.

That's the list. 26 days behind schedule.

It has been a wonderful New Year. Red and I have changed life direction, visited dear friends in Nashville, eaten our weight in homemade corn bread, returned to the world of Downtown Abbey, and have been soaking up the blustery cold of the Mid-west.

(I may or may not have almost busted it walking down our icy front steps this morning as we headed to Sump for brunch... no worries, I have neither broken bone nor bruise to report.)

Though I'm sure you have already created your list of things to do for this year--I encourage you to continue considering where you are and where you want to be---there seems to always be room for change, no matter the space available.

Happy New Year!