It's OK Thursday 3/29

It's OK...

...that although I am sad to be leaving hubby for 4 nights, I am super excited about my upcoming trip this weekend. I am headed to Boise for a job interview (and to see my grandparents/aunt/uncle/cousins!).

...that I am so excited for our next adventure and to start our lives in Boise! 

...to wish that I was sun bathing instead of listening to the rain beating down right now.

...to be incredibly worried for our friend who was in a terrible ATV accident on Saturday night. He wasn't wearing a helmet (bad) and crashed. So many injuries I am not sure where to begin- the handle bars did go through his abdomen and caused a laceration in his liver which has resulted in 4 surgeries thus far. He was life flighted to the ICU at the local hospital here and put in a medically induced coma. Other injuries include: some bleeding on the brain which resulted in a screw to relieve some pressure, bruised kidney, deflated lung, broken ribs, and a COMPLETELY shattered elbow which they did reconstructive surgery on to fix. Needless to say, please keep our dear friend in your prayers.

...to be having no luck thinking of a puppy name. Hubby wants one that has to do with something in the kitchen (that's the chef in him...). Any ideas?

...to be wondering what you have all been up to lately?!?!

M.I.A.

Hello lovely people out in the bloggy world,

I have been absent from my blog, but I have legitimate reasons, I promise! I didn't forget about this wonderful little corner of cyber space. 

Hubby and I have been thinking, deciding, and praying about some changes for us. We have been wanting to move and experience somewhere else (Oregon, you are beautiful, we will be back). At the same time, I really want to start my teaching career this fall....badly. My time has been sucked into filling out job applications literally all over the country, and even England!

But in the midst of this, a great opportunity opened up. My grandparents live in Boise, Idaho. They own a few different rental houses there and are moving from there current one of 10+ years to another of theirs (on a golf course, with now stairs). This means their house is vacant, and we are moving in! Hello, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms on one acre.

 This blog will be a great outlet to share my experiences of moving and decorating our first house. And, getting a puppy too, shhh:)

I feel like doors are opening for us and I feel at peace about this big move for us. What a blessing! I have a job interview coming up in the next couple weeks in that area, so I would appreciate any prayers/good thoughts that you wouldn't mind sending my way!

It's OK Thursday 3/15

It's OK...

...that I am over-the-moon excited to learn how to sew! I am signing up for a once a week class in April and can't wait to learn!

...to be exhausted after working extra hours this week. Who can't wait for the weekend? Oh right, me.

...to be spending a lot of time shopping for the perfect grad present for hubby. I already know what I want to get him, I just have to read reviews and find the best brand.

...to actually be enjoying the rain today even though most people are complaining about it. We do live in Oregon. Breaking news: it rains here!

...that I am anxiously awaiting my afternoon cup (or two) of coffee that I am about to have.

...to have been slacking on my blog lately. I'm not really sure what I've been doing instead. Scrapbooking, I guess. And also hanging out with hubby when he isn't in his night class/ working his new job. I'm so proud of him! 

Source

And now, back to enjoying the sound of the rain while the babies sleep.

Wordless Wednesday 3/14

Good News & Bad News

We have had a fantastic, busy last three days.

First and foremost, my hubby was hired Friday, on the day his internship ended, for a full time job! What a blessing. The restaurant is well known, but smaller, so we thought the chances were slim to none of him getting hired now (we thought maybe they'd call him in the future). I am so proud of my hardworking man. 

When I got off of work Friday night, we headed about 80 miles south to go visit family and friends for the weekend. My husband's parents and grandparents all live there as well as many of our friends. Stephen had a "dude night" while I enjoyed night out with my college roommate {of 4 years}. It was a fun time. My roommate and I went to two of our favorite bars and had some yummy cocktails!

Saturday morning, I woke up to find a text from my husband that said  something like "I am up, come get me asap so we can go see my grandparents." Great, I woke up a few minutes later, hopped in the shower, and was on my way to get him. Except not. I backed out of the parking space I was in and turned to go down the hill. As I went down, all I heard was a "thump, thump, thump." Great, I have heard that before with my previous car. I had a flat. NOT a fun surprise. There was a lady outside smoking who watched my face as I realized I had a flat, and she also watched me get out and assess the situation, in which I immediately responded with "crap". I didn't want to wait for AAA to arrive, so my roommate kindly took me to pick up Stephen who was able to put the spare on. Once the tire was off, we saw a nail shoved all the way inside the tire. That was the problem. Luckily, Les Schwab is a life saver and fixed it for free since I had their tires! That was the best part of the bad situation- a free fix.

It was hard to capture a picture that actually looked accurate. The whole bottom part of the tire was flat.

Anyways, it is fixed, and just like new.

The rest of the weekend we spent with his dad and family. We hung up, chit chatted, and went to happy hour. It was much needed and great to see everyone. We stayed the night at his mom's house and went to his sisters soccer game- it was at 9:20 PM. Late game but we enjoyed it.

We were able to shop around some of our favorite stores in town and do the things we enjoyed doing them we lived there.

I'd say the weekend was a success. Hope you all have a great week!

From Scratch Friday #6

Welcome to From Scratch Friday! This is the place to link up all DIY projects, recipes, printables, and more! 

Here are the top viewed projects from last week:

Revamped Tower Card by Color Me Domestic

Upcycled Candle Holder into a Mini Easter Basket by Revolutionaries

Chocolate Syrup Swirl Cake by Chocolate, Chocolate, and More

It's OK Thursday

It's OK...

...that I planned all week to enjoy this beautiful, sunny day at the zoo with the girls I nanny for...and I couldn't be happier that we did!

...that all my free time is wrapped up working on my current project: our wedding scrapbook. See a picture of one of the layouts here.

...to feel bad for my sister who fell off a horse during her lesson this week and got a concussion. Ouch! And apparently studies have shown that thinking too much while healing from a concussion can cause permanent damage. Therefore, it may be two weeks before she can attend school full days again and she isn't allowed to take any tests. Odd!

...to be so proud of my husband who finishes his internship for culinary school tomorrow!!!!

...to be happy that we haven't had to cook much this week because we have either had salads (easy) or the chili I made in the crock pot (so simple). 

...to really, really want the Breaking Dawn part 1 soundtrack.

...that I am annoyed with this season of the Bachelor. Ben has really been bugging me and the fact that he likes someone like Courtney? Don't even get me started...

Tomorrow is Friday! Yay!

Wordless Wednesday 3/7

The view from here: our wedding scrapbook.

From Scratch Friday #5

Hello and thanks for stopping by From Scratch Friday! Here were the top three most viewed projects from last week's linkup.

DIY Vinyl Labels by That's Sew Crafty

Easter Subway Art by I Should Be Mopping the Floor

DIY Cork Letter by The Bailey Daily

I'd love for you to participate this week! Feel free to link up any craft, recipe, DIY project, printables, or anything else that you have made.

Just a few little linkup rules:

1. Please follow Marriage from Scratch.

2. Link up as many projects/posts as you want.

3. Place the button somewhere on your posts or blog.

4. Check out other projects that have been linked up.

Have fun!

Follow @marriagescratch

It's OK Thursday 3/1

 It's OK...

...that I am addicted to Scramble with Friends. Really, I am.

...to be excited to see all of the creations linked up at From Scratch Friday tomorrow!

...to be frustrated about the cold I have just come down with. I've stayed healthy all winter for the most part. I don't like this sore throat and sinus pressure one bit.

...that I love all the baking and cooking my hubby and I do together. My sis-in-law and her boyfriend came over for a yummy dinner last night that included the most amazing garlic bread sticks. Whoa yum. It's so nice to hardly buy any bread products anymore (ok, minus some hoagie rolls only because we don't have the right mold). But we make a loaf of bread weekly, pita bread, bread sticks, etc! Seriously awesome.

...to be annoyed with our upstairs neighbors. They do not sleep. They are awake all night and most of the day. Always home, always up. They make so much noise at night, and on Tuesday night they woke me up at 3:30 am and I wasn't able to go back to sleep (they were being too loud!). I called the apartment manager a couple weeks back when they were partying all night with friends on a Sunday night but it hasn't stopped. It needs to, though.

...that I am so excited/proud/happy for my husband who is about to finish up his culinary internship. It ends next week and then he just has a couple of English classes that end like May 4. His graduation is April 7, though, a few weeks before he finishes. I am a proud wifey!

...to always be ready for the weekend. 

Happy Thursday Everyone!

Wordless Wednesday #7

*Our green onion project. Next step- add soil into the jar. They are growing so well!

Join in for Wordless Wednesday!

*Link up your direct post, become a follower of Marriage from Scratch, and check out some of the other posts in the linkup! *

Recipe of the Week: Homemade Peanut Butter

We made our first batch of homemade peanut butter on Saturday, and let me just say, it was a success! I decided I would share the recipe with you because we are enjoying it so much. We are making small-ish batches since there are only two of us. We figure we will just make it once a week to keep it fresh since there are no preservatives in it.

What You Need:

Food processor

Baking sheet

Parchment Paper

1 pound of unsalted peanuts (this allows you to add as much salt as you want!).

Honey

Salt

Process:

1. Place a sheet of Parchment Paper over a large baking sheet. Spread peanuts evenly throughout.

2. Roast peanuts in oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. They will start smelling like peanut butter. Yummmm.

3. Remove peanuts from oven when roasted. No need to let them cool- just add them into the food processor and start processing them. The oils will start to come out and it will becoming finely ground and eventually creamy. 

5. When creamy, add two teaspoons of honey. Salt to taste. One thing to note: You taste salt more when food is warm & less when it is cold. So once the peanut butter cools it won't taste as salty. You probably will want to add an extra pinch or two! 

6. Store in an airtight container inside the fridge. 

ENJOY!

Tutorial: How to add a "pin it" button

Want to learn how to add one of those Pin it buttons so that it automatically shows on each blog post? It's easy, let me show you how!

Step 1: From your blogger dashboard, click on "Settings". Then select "Template".

Step 2: Click on Edit HTML.

Step 3: Click the box to add a check mark where it says "expand widget templates".

Step 4:  Find the text in the html coding that says <div class='post-footer'>.

 Immediately after that, paste this code: 

<div style="float: right; margin: 4px;"><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/green_tea/pin.jpg" /></a></div>

Step 5: Select "save template" and you should now have a Pin It button on each blog post!

_______________________________________

To use your own image, replace the image code in the html above with this: 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/green_tea/pin.jpg

To add the Pin it button to the left side instead of the right:

Replace <div style="float: right; margin: 4px;"> coding with just <div>.

Happy Weekend

Saturday has arrived and I couldn't be happier.

Hubby is working today so I am grocery shopping and starting season 2 of Big Love. Between that and starting to watch Dexter, I've spent my fair share of time watching t.v. lately. 

This weekend I am making these:

I found them on Pinterest and have been dying to try them. Don't they look scrumptious?

We have also been re-growing our green onion roots left over from one of our dinners last week. 

We have them sitting in water on our window sill so they get enough light. This is Day #3 and you can see the little sprouts forming at the top. I will be showing the whole process in details soon, so watch for it! This is a fun little project and it will be great to just snip off the green onions we need and to let them regrow again. 

I want to make this with the girls I nanny for in the next couple of weeks for St. Patrick's Day. Adorable, isn't it?

How fun and easy! I know they will get a kick of out making them. 

I've loved seeing all of the creativity and projects that have been linked up for From Scratch Friday in the last month. It's been great fun. Remember to come link up next Friday! The linkup is still open for this week, too, if you have some recipes, crafts, or DIY projects you want to show off. 

Now, I'm off to the grocery store. How fun, I know.

Follow @marriagescratch

From Scratch Friday #4

Hello lovely readers and welcome back to From Scratch Friday!

Most viewed projects from last week:

New Tricks from Eighteen

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap by Small Fine Print

Vintage Photo Jars by Silo Farm Hill

<center><a href=" http://www.marriagefromscratch.blogspot.com /"><img border="0" src=" http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/lilangel9972/Collages2-4.jpg"/></a></center>

Pin It

Joining in on From Scratch Friday:
*Become a follower of Marriage from Scratch and place the button above on your blog so others can participate.
*Link up as many posts as you would like that contain something you have made.
*Link directly to the post that you want to show off.
*Visit other posts and leave the bloggers some love.

It's OK Thursday 2/23

It's OK...

...that one of my favorite lunches right now is peanut butter toast. Easy & delicious.

...that I have been slacking on blogging this week. I have an excuse. I blame it all on Dexter.

...that we just finished season one of Dexter. In less than a week. And we are hooked.

...that I went to visit a friend in the hospital yesterday (she is doing a five day study there) and I was overwhelmed by creepy and sad feelings. I don't like hospitals. Props to those who can work in them.

...to be worried about the health of your loved ones.

...to always wonder what dinner is going to be.

...to be annoyed when the sink is full and I force myself to do the dishes only to wake up glad that I already did them. Anyone else?

...to be excited about the green onion project I am doing- yes regrowing the roots! I'll let you know how it turns out...

Happy Thursday!

Wordless Wednesday 2/22

Pin It

How to Participate:

 *Become a follower of Marriage from Scratch.

*Place the button (right side bar) on your blog so others can participate.

 *Link directly to the post.

 *Visit other posts and leave the bloggers some love.

It's OK Thursday AND From Scratch Friday #3

It's OK...


...that I was completely exhausted all day. I haven't woken up so tired/been that sleepy in awhile.


...that ever since this week started I have been counting down the days until the weekend.


...that our Valentine's Day was just. so. awesome that I'm still smiling about it!


...that I have let my coupon inserts pile up and really need to get clippin'.


...that I am getting really into Big Love after almost finishing the first season.


...that I'm sad Whitney Houston died.


...that one of the girls I nanny for dropped a toy in the (poopy) toilet. And I decided I was not in the mood to grab it out. So I left it...and told the grandparents! :)


...that I am excited to get started with From Scratch Friday...join in below!


-----------


Welcome to another From Scratch Friday! I am so excited to check out your arts & crafts, recipes, printables, furniture, or anything else you have created this week!

There were a lot of great entries last week. Here were some of the favorites:

The Paper Bag Floor by 4 You With Love

Dining Room Makeover from Laughter and Grace

Dates that Changed Our Lives by Holy Craft

Joining in on From Scratch Friday:
*Become a follower of Marriage from Scratch and place the button above on your blog so others can participate.
<center><a href=" http://www.marriagefromscratch.blogspot.com /"><img border="0" src=" http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/lilangel9972/Collages2-4.jpg"/></a></center>
*Link up as many posts as you would like that contain something you have made.
*Link directly to the post that you want to show off.
*Visit other posts and leave the bloggers some love.
Pin It

Valentine's Day Recap

What a fun, sweet day we had on Valentine's Day this year. With a husband who used to serve at a fancy restaurant and consequently was required to work on this day (one of the busiest days for restaurants, of course), it was so wonderful that we both ended up having the day off together. What a treat! 

Stephen woke me up with this surprise that I mentioned yesterday. After that, we got ready for the day, browsed some of our favorite stores, went out for sushi (for him; I had chicken bento), relaxed and caught up on a show or two on dvr, and then had this amazing meal that words can't even describe.

We enjoyed wine throughout the evening and also watched a movie that hubby has been wanting to see. 

I gave him his gift. He was incredibly touched as he read through the 52 reasons I had written. It was so sweet to see his reaction. After reading through them, he stood up, kissed me, and told me "this was probably the best present I've ever given him." Wow. And I have given him a lot of gifts! What a hit this special gift was.

How did you celebrate this day of love?



Pin It

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday

Pin It

My loving, thoughtful, sweet, dedicated, hardworking husband woke me up to this on {candlelit breakfast} Valentine's morning.

Homemade strawberry crepes

Beautiful flowers.

Thoughtful card. 

Homemade chocolate covered strawberries.

And coffee the way I like it.

The cutest part? He had the flowers (in water, of course) and already made chocolate covered strawberries in his truck overnight so that I wouldn't find them. Cute.

The rest of the day is full of fun & showing each other how much we care. We were blessed to have this day off together. But, one thing we love most about each other? We show each other how much we love each other every day. Not just on February 14!

Happy Valentine's Day. 




How to Participate: 
*Become a follower of Marriage from Scratch and place the button above on your blog so others can participate.
*Link up as many posts as you would like that contain something you have made.
*Link directly to the post that you want to show off.
*Visit other posts and leave the bloggers some love.

Get Your Blog Out There!

My name's Christina.

I am:

A wife, (grand)daughter, sister, cousin, niece, and friend. 

A Christian.

A lover of pink.

Outgoing.

Married to an amazing man who cooks for me!

A nanny with a teaching degree.

A scrapbooker and craft lover.

A wine lover.

Coffee drinker.

Silly song writer (yes, I make up goofy songs).

If you're new...take a look around & be sure to leave a comment so I can come visit you too!

Sunday Randomness

As many of you know, Google Friend Connect is going away. Boo. This means that unless we connect with each other soon, we will lose touch. I have added  Networked Blogs to my site. Please take a minute and follow Marriage from Scratch through Networked Blogs either below or on the left sidebar. Thanks!

Follow this blog

_________________________________________________________

Friday we drove out to Bob's Red Mill to get some of the best flour and grains around!

It was my first trip (although I've been buying their flour for awhile).

What did we buy? Rolled oats, honey oat granola, wild rice and twelve pounds of unbleached white bread flour.  Hubby mixes white and wheat flour to make our delicious homemade bread.

Bob's Red Mill was a fun experience. I highly recommend trying their products if you haven't. I loved that we cold buy in bulk from the bins at their store. What a cool place!


_______________________________________________________


After an insanely busy week at work, I was rewarded with this super romantic dinner on Thursday night courtesy of my loving husband.

This is what I walked in the door to. Candlelit dinner. Encrusted chicken with an apple, wine reduction sauce, potatoes and squash, and steamed broccoli.

I am so blessed to have this man as my husband!!

_________________________________________________________

I saw two movies this week that I highly recommend!

source                                                             source

Both of these movies surpassed my expectations. They were both entertaining and intriguing. Have you seen either of them?

         Follow @marriagescratch