Wisdom Wednesday: Uncoupling.

Did y'all hear about Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin? 

In case you're not up on celeb gossip these days, they are uncoupling. 

Seriously? What does that even MEAN?

I love being married and I feel like all of our married friends have healthy, committed marriages, but some days it seems like marriage is a dying institution.

The other day I read that 40% of all births are out of wedlock. So clearly, it's not a priority when bringing a new baby into the world. Divorce rate now is 50% (increasing with the number of marriages).

Gwyneth released this statement shortly after the news broke:

"Divorce is a traumatic and difficult decision for all parties involved—and there's arguably no salve besides time to take that pain away. However, when the whole concept of marriage and divorce is reexamined, there's actually something far more powerful—and positive—at play. ... Our biology and psychology aren't set up to be with one person for four, five, or six decades. The idea of being married to one person for life is too much pressure for anyone." 

Does that statement annoy anyone else?

Now listen, I think there are at times very valid reasons two people decide to get divorced. But it's this flippant attitude that she uses when talking about "marriage" that really bothers me. 

First of all...speak for yourself. 

She's very definitive about what she is saying, when in reality, this is her opinion, and there are many studies to contradict her "facts."

Second of all...

Ya probably shouldn't have gotten married in the first place if you hold the belief that it is, per her words, too much pressure and psychologically impossible.

Celebrities have such a platform to express their views, politically and relationally, and it feels too loud to me sometimes.  As for me and my husband, we each entered marriage believing we are stuck with the other FOR-EVER.
Like, ever.

Jeff and I have totally different interests and hobbies but at the end of the day we agree on the big things (ie: commitment to marriage, faith in God, how we want to raise our children, and respect for each other as friends).

And let me not deceive you here, we bicker, disagree and fight (not even a little, a lot), but I never worry that he's going to be out the door after an argument, or find someone else more interesting than me. When you marry the right person, for the right reasons, with the right intentions and work daily at being good to each other and yourself - marriage is not only sustainable for 5 decades...

...it's the best thing that'll ever happen to you.

It's The Little Things...In Little Packages.

Today I pulled out all of Coop's newborn onesies; just one more step to try to get organized and feel way, way, way in front of our newest little miracle's arrival. To feel on top of things. Ready. 

In other words, feel less stressed.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel going through newborn clothes.

Nostalgic? Sentimental? Guilty about how we're about to rock Cooper's world? 

But I feel excited. 

Anxious for him to get here. I feel like he will be arriving at the perfect time.

Not mine and not Jeff's timing, mind you. But, perfect, nonetheless.

These clothes, so tiny, were a small part of my day today, but brought me so much joy of the anticipation of a big event to come...welcoming our little boy! Sometimes life gets so darn busy it's hard to really soak in this pregnancy and this baby.

Bring it number two!

And in case you want  an update on how the Coop man is doing lately?

Static-ky.

Ikea Dresser Transformation

Good morning to you!

We are slow moving over here today, but I'm excited to share Cooper's dresser that I finished last week for his new room.

My goal for his room is to keep it cheap and simple. We'll be moving sometime soon, and in a couple years I'll upgrade his bed and such, but for now we are in a tiny room that fits a bed and a dresser, and that's about it.

I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a dresser, and didn't want to get an old dresser to re-do because they're just not as sturdy, and sturdiness is critical with a two year old. So, I settled on this Tarva 6-drawer pine wood dresser.

Ikea (they're brilliant I tell you), came out with a line of plain wood dressers that are up to the buyer to stain, paint, etc. So I grabbed one and got to work. Everything in his room is deep navy and reds, so I wanted to go pretty neutral. I decided on an antique white.

I recently fell in love with a store in Denver that refurbishes old furniture into unique pieces, and it was there I was introduced to Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. She has so many techniques but I am so not crafty, so I kept it simple.

Step One: One coat of paint on top, side, drawers. 

Step Two: Once paint dries, add second coat of paint.

Step Three: Apply soft wax in circular motion. Wipe down wax with cheesecloth.

Step Four: Repeated wax one more time on top of dresser. (I think I should have done one more coat) 

Step 5: Sand the edges of dresser to add worn down effect.

I also grabbed some knobs on sale (50% off) at Hobby Lobby, which I like because I can always switch them out and not waste a ton of money.

Here's the end result.

I'm close to being finished with the entire room and will share pictures soon!

He's been sleeping there for over a week and loves his new space.

First night in the new room!

And first morning. Crazy hair, don't care!

Way to go Coopy!

Happy Weekend and a (Can't Miss) Cake Batter Cookies Recipe.

Well, hello, friends!

It's been just a little bit since I've blogged, I've been busy around here - making dressers, transitioning to big boy rooms, celebrating 4 years of marriage...and all sorts of things in between. I'll share here soon.

Sometimes I'm just overwhelmed at the cuteness of my boys.

Like this week, when they were headed out to a Daddy Pancake Breakfast at Coop's preschool.

I mean I can't deal. Does anyone feel the air of greatness Snoop is putting off here?? Simmer down son.

We are having some folks over tomorrow for a little St. Paddy's Day festival in the 'hood. 

A low-key affair, but I see it as an opportunity to make my most favorite guilty pleasure in the whole wide world...Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I found the recipe at Sally's Baking Addiction and I mean...You just have to try it. 

Plan on adapting tomorrow with green sugary sprinkles. Yum!

Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sally's Baking Addiction

Ingredients:

1 and 1/4 cup (160g)all-purpose flour

1 and 1/4 cup (190g) yellow or vanilla boxed cake mix (I typically use vanilla cake mix)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup (1.5 sticks or 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar

1/2 cup (100g) light brown sugar

1 egg, at room temperature

1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup (180g) chocolate chips (I used a blend of white and semi-sweet chocolate chips)

1/2 cup (80g) sprinkles

Directions:

In a large bowl, sift together flour, cake mix, and baking soda. Set aside. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugars on medium speed. Mix in the egg and vanilla until creamy.

Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not OVERMIX the dough. Fold in the chocolate chips and sprinkles.

Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 days. This step is mandatory. The dough is fairly sticky, so chilling the dough is required in order to avoid the cookie from spreading too much.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Scoop rounded tablespoons of the cold dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. Shape your cookie dough balls to be "taller" than they are wide, as pictured above. Press a few chocolate chips on top for looks, if desired. Make sure to keep dough chilled when working in batches. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are slightly browned. (Mine took 10 minutes exactly). The centers will still appear very soft, but the cookies will set as they cool. You may also press a few more chips into the tops of the cookies at this point (the chips will melt down and stick from the warm cookies).

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 4 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Like mother like son.

It's the Little Things: Beauty All Around Us.

After a few weeks off I'm happy to be linking up with Jess and Ashley and It's the Little Things Link-Up. Today was easy.

I woke up to snow clinging to every tree and object in its path, and bright morning sun shining through baby blue skies.

I am often blown away by the beauty here in Denver and today I am especially thankful for it! It's there most days, if we slow down long enough to notice it. 

Today is one of those days!

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." -Confucious

Wisdom Wednesday: The Best is Yet to Come.

Life has been pretty good lately. 

And, I hate to say that out loud, because what if just thinking it jinxes something, or causes the other shoe to drop. But luckily I believe in a God who, among many things, is a gift-giver, a blessings-man, and all good things are through and from Him. 

Cooper is so darn cute y'all sometimes I feel like I can explode with happiness.

I look at Coop, feel this budding soccer player drop-kicking in my stomach, and look ahead a few months and think...I get to have another Cooper!! Stop it, right?!

And if I were to look even further ahead, who knows what I'd find?

I know there will be many hard times and difficult moments, after all, there is very little in this fallen world within our control, but I also know there is so much joy yet to live. It makes me excited for the future. I mean, what if our best days haven't happened yet? How exciting.

Wherever you are in life, I hope you too find hope in the thought that your best days are still ahead of you. Here's to not getting impatient in the meantime...

Intentional Eating Series: Kale Salad with Peanut Vinaigrette

We spent the weekend in Glenwood Springs, Colorado and it was so, so relaxing. 

Here's a gorgeous pic of our view from the front porch (not to make you jelly):

So I have been AH-bsessed with the Kale Salad at Hillstone, formerly known as Houston's, for like, ever. We're trying to work in more salads into our rotation and when I found this recipe online I jumped on it and it was so delicious. Husband approved.

Recipe and picture from Louise over at Kitchen Fiddler.

I used curly stemmed kale, my favorite, but Louise used Tuscan Kale. Choose what you like!

KALE SALAD WITH PEANUT VINAIGRETTE (A LA HOUSTON'S)

For the peanut vinaigrette: 

½ cup peanut oil (the nice kind, not the kind you fry with)

2 Tablespoons toasted sesame oil

2 Tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

1-½ Tablespoons honey

Dash of cayenne pepper

For the salad: 

4 heaping cups chopped kale (I prefer chopped)

1 cup finely slivered green cabbage

¼ cup chopped fresh mint

¼ cup chopped cilantro

1 scallion, slivered

3 Tablespoons chopped peanuts (I use roasted salted peanuts)

Make the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together in a small mixing bowl.

Combine all the salad ingredients except the chopped peanuts in a large bowl. Add about half the dressing and toss well, adding more dressing as needed so that all the leaves are lightly coated. (You will probably have leftover dressing.) This salad tastes better if dressed at least 30 minutes before serving. We put our dressing on individual salads, so leftovers would keep for the next couple days.

Add the chopped peanuts right before serving and toss again, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Makes 4 salad servings, or 2 main course servings.

I hope you agree! Let me know what you think if you try it.