A New Year.

This post comes a little late, but hopefully it will be a great reminder to keep going when now is the time that most New Years resolutions seem to waver.

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     I've been thinking a lot about this new year 2014 and what I want to say at the end of it. Hasn't everyone? The beginning of the year has this habit of lifting peoples spirits. It gives people the gumption to say, "hey last year was rough, but no biggie, this year is going to be fabulous! I've got these 75 goals that are going to set me on track and make me into that new and improved version of myself that I've always wanted to be!"
     So in response 100 more people hit your gym in January and February and everyone likes to make comments about how empty it will feel come March when the sparkle of New Years Resolutions wear off. What is it that drives people to make goals?
     I'll be honest, I've made goals at the beginning of this year just like almost everyone else. What really irks me is the fact that this is now the third year in a row that I've made the same goals. That should be telling in and of itself. I'm definitely one of "those" people who crowds the gym in the hopes of working off those extra pounds. I'm one of "those" people who makes outlandish goals that are unattainable and often unrealistic. And I'm definitely one of "those" people who feels guilty when I don't do what I said I would do and so I start counting down the days until the next year when I can start over and set new unreachable goals (because goals can only start at the beginning of the year). I'm hopeless!
     And yet, I still want to make goals! I believe that God created people to grow and continue growing. Mentally, physically, emotionally, and especially spiritually. I definitely don't want to look back at my year and have regrets or guilt or find that I've stayed the same. That doesn't mean that sometimes things will happen that will set me back, it just means I want to always see improvement even if its so minuscule that some might call it trite.
     But in that same vain, I can't "Just do it," and honestly that has to be one of my least favorite phrases. It never seems to help. I'm not one of those driven people who can just go after something relentlessly until it's conquered. If anything I need someone to constantly remind me of the goals I've set. Someone who is that pest you can't stand, but can't get rid of because you asked them to help! I need that accountability.
     I want to come to the end of 2014 just like everyone else, happy that when I look back I did the things I said I would do. With that in mind, I want goals that aren't so outrageous and impossible. I want goals that truly benefit me in the fact that they are molding and shaping me into a better Christ-follower. A more ardent worshiper. I more loving wife. A more selfless friend and sister.
     If I were to create a mantra that I would repeat over and over to myself the rest of this year, it would be this:

I want to strive after true perseverance and learn to give myself grace when things don't end the way I think they should. 

     So I've set goals, I've reevaluated what I'm asking myself. I've come down to a list of things that I really want to pursue. My problem now isn't that I don't have enough goals or that they are too unachievable, my problem is that I need someone to help me persevere. And I need someone to remind me that accepting grace is necessary and more than okay.

Engagement Photo Shoot: Darius & Amber

It's been a while, but a much needed break from social media was in order. I'm finally getting back into the swing of things. What with the holiday's and moving and leaving my job, life's been its normal chaotic self. So forgive me if some of these posts seem "old," they will be, because I'm going to be playing a little bit of catch up in the next couple of weeks! One of the goals I set for myself in 2014 was to blog everyday for one month. My month starts today February 20th :). I'm excited to get started I have some general updates to share and a few projects from our new home!

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This past November I had the chance to take photos of this gorgeous family and I had such a good time! It was a relatively short session, but we definitely got some good ones. I'm so excited to shoot their wedding in April! They plan to have a sweet vintage wedding in their backyard. I can't wait to capture all the character. Its going to be a great day to remember for her and her sweet family!

Friday's with Francesca- Spunky Spaghetti

So this year is the first time I have lived in my own place, a cute little apartment that does the trick for my last year of school (can I get an amen?) :) And one of the things I love the most about living off campus is being able to choose my own food! I love reading books and searching for creative ways to eat the foods I love without all the calories. On a recent trip to the library I found a recipe book called Hungry Girl to the Max!- The Ultimate Guilt Free Cookbook and let me tell you it is pretty much my new favorite thing.

The author of the book takes all of the food you love and makes them into low-calorie treats. And we all know those low-calorie recipes where the serving sizes are literally fit for a baby but these are filling and delicious! I have tried 4 recipes at this point and have plans to try many, many more (or as many as I can before I can't renew the book anymore hehe)

So without further ado here is the recipe, along with the things I learned along the way!

Pepperoni Spaghetti Squash

1 spaghetti squash (about 4 1/2 pounds)
2 cups of sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
One 14.5-ounce can creamy tomato soup with 4 grams fat or less per serving
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
30 slices turkey pepperoni, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Optional: salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes

First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Second, microwave the spaghetti squash until it is soft enough to cut through-This the first time I have ever cooked or eaten spaghetti squash and found it pretty easy to cut through the middle after about 4 minutes on high. After cutting them in half, scoop out and discard all the seeds. Fill large baking pan with 1/2 inch of water and place squash halves in the pan with cut side down. Bake until tender, about 40 minutes!-I watched them and mine ended up being soft enough around 30 minutes so just keep an eye on them when you're nearing the end.

Use a fork and scrape out the squash in strands. Place them in a strainer to drain the excess water and set aside in a large bowl with a lid to keep them warm.

Bring a large skillet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray to medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, onion, and garlic, and cook and stir until softened, about 8 minutes- make sure they are softened because I found out the hard way what its like when they're not ;) Then, stir in the soup, sour cream, pepperoni, and basil. Cook and stir until well mixed, about 2 minutes. 

Add the mixture to the squash and there you go- A delicious, filling meal for half the calories! 1 3/4 cups is only 212 calories, yes- 212 calories!! Eat and enjoy! 

What recipe books have you all found to be healthy but delicious? I would love suggestions-I'm always up for trying new things and finding different takes on foods!

Autumn

“Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile.” 
― William Cullen Bryant

Halloween Recap

     I hope your Halloween was fun and that you aren't too sick after stuffing yourself with candy. Gray and I didn't participate in the trick or treating festivities, but we did host a Murder Mystery Party with several of the couples from Monday Night Crew.  If you're looking for a fun group event I would highly recommend it, we had soo much fun. Gray was the host (a role he played extremely well!) and I was the character "Royal T" a professional wrestler with a hot temper, loud mouth and jersey accent (?). My character didn't have very many friends and as it turns out I was the victim. Lesson learned: don't get in the way of Australian billionaire's they tend to get what they want. . .