What's Cookin'?

Last week, I was a bit overwhelmed with other items on my to do list that I didn't really try any new recipes, but this week I am making and have made all new recipes! My husband helped plan the meal schedule this week - so this plan is a little special! 

Pulled pork is missing from the board! So, here's the menu this week - I really hope you feel inspired to try these recipes with me! 

Slow Cook Pulled Pork - Skinny Taste

Shopping list:

pork loin or shoulder, butt (hehehe) will work too {pork loin was a bit pricey}

red wine vinegar

Hickory liquid smoke 

bbq sauce

Full recipe is on Skinny Taste.

Since I made this dish on Monday, I will offer a tip: This recipe uses the wonderful slow cooker, however, the recipe says to cook the loin in the slow cooker for 6 hours on high with just a little bit of vinegar and liquid smoke. I came home to a burnt smell. Luckily, the pork wasn't too dry. I would go ahead and add water to cover most of the loin when using your slow cooker.

It was a very tasty dish! 

Chicken Gyros - The Girl Who Ate Everything

Shopping list:

plain Greek yogurt
cucumber
minced garlic
white wine vinegar
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
dried oregano
boneless, skinless chicken breasts

red wine vinegar 

Full recipe on The Girl Who Ate Everything.

I am very excited to make this on Thursday!!

{photo from The Girl Who Ate Everything}

Pumpkin Butter - iVillage

Shopping List:

Pumpkin pie pumpkins

cinnamon 

sugar

allspice

Full recipe on iVillage.

I can't wait to make some homemade pumpkin butter! It takes about 1-2 hours to cook over the stove, but it will be worth it. Maybe I will make my biscuits to enjoy the butter with....hmmm.

happy cooking, friends! 

aneta nina

crave a reckless faith

Finally, Anything was in my mailbox last night.

I woke up early this morning with excitement to start reading a book written by Jennie Allen.

The first chapter resonated with me and I thought "hey, I should share this with my readers." I want to share this book with you, or maybe you'll purchase your own copy. As a believer in Jesus, or someone who may not know what they believe - I really encourage you to start this book club (if you will) with me. I am anxious to see where this book and the thoughts in it will take us.

Chapter one: There were many parts that stuck out me, but this line here: "I started craving a reckless faith, a faith where I knew God was real because I needed him, a faith where I lived surrendered, obedient, a faith where I sacrificed something...comfort or safety or practicality...something."

I believe this is why Steve and I are in Denver. After we were married, there was something within in me that wouldn't settle. I couldn't describe it nor tame it. I asked God to make my heart light, 'content', calm - but of course - He was preparing me for something...something scary...something different. And the question would be would I notice the opportunity - the something? Would I accept it? Would I go to the place He was sending me?

Well, we know what happened - we ended up moving to Colorado after being married only 8 months! That was the something He had for us - for this season! And you know how I knew that? My heart felt light when my husband said "hey, they offered me a position (in Colorado)."

It was the hardest decision to leave family and friends - everything we knew to be part of our identity! But as Believers - it was far more important to be obedient. We drew close to God - and my heart was light! My unsettlement finally settled which only confirmed our decision to move.

But why did He want us to move? I am still understanding my Father's way - but I think the most important thing we can all do is have reckless faith!

with joy,
Aneta Nina

at sixteen...

I celebrated my 26th birthday last month - 26! I remember when I was 16 dreaming about being an adult, with a house, husband and a family. But boy, is life a bit different than what I could have ever imagined - and I'm not complaining. 

At 16, I couldn't have imagined that I would have spent 2 weeks in a beautiful country with beautiful people - Cambodia. I couldn't have imagined that I would be working at my "dream job" - Denver Rescue Mission. I couldn't have imagined being married - to my high school sweetheart. I couldn't have imagined my life...and I trust that God has so many wondrous plans for me as long as I surrender my selfish desires to only make myself more comfortable, and pursue righteousness in His name! 

{this post started to remind me of Taylor Swift's song....

oh wait, she was singing about 15 - close enough}

Well, here's a glimpse from my birthday celebration that my husband planned:    

Cog Ride up Pikes Peak

with joy,
aneta nina

Let all that you do be done in Love...

I'm going to be honest - sometimes that's easier said than done. There are times that I catch myself not doing something out of love when it disrupts my time.

 I'll sigh, huff and puff... but I try to start my day off with a little reminder that I should do everything from a place of love even if it inconveniences me. It makes a difference....

1 Corinthians 16:14

Let all that you do be done in love.

Shop for a print here.

Shop for a card here.

with joy,
aneta nina

Snapshots & Marriage talk

We've started this tradition of family photos already. I love the idea of watching our family grow from two to some day quite a few more :)

Our dear friend, Rachael is an amazing photographer that truly captures personalities of everyone she takes photos of - and we are excited to be a part of her art. Don't you think she rules!? And if you live in Colorado, well then consider yourself lucky to have an amazing photographer close by!
Take a look at a few of the moments she captured...I'm telling ya, she's amazing...

Now, we've been married two years and two months into our third year  - and guess what? I'm still not an expert on this whole being married thing. But there's good news - you don't have to be. All you need is love, grace and forgiveness (among a few other things). Prideful hearts can cause more strife than necessary, however grace and forgiveness allows love to endure all things.

We aren't perfect and our marriage isn't either, but we love each other like crazy and placed a few "guidelines" in our relationship to keep it sacred....if you don't keep sacred things sacred, well then they aren't sacred anymore, right? And I'm sure there may be a few folks that say, "hey, guidelines seem a bit controlling," but it's about intentionality in protecting what we value and the vow we made!
{A few of our marriage rules include weekly date nights, avoiding one-on-one lunches/dinners with the opposite sex alone, praying together....}

During our wedding ceremony, Steve and I tied a cord of three. Each cord represented Steve, me and God. Tying the cords together was illustrating to our family and friends that our relationship can only with-stand the storms because God is intertwined in it all. He's in the way we spend our finances, in the way we communicate and most importantly - the way we forgive!! Our bond can't be quickly broken.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12                                                    

I considered myself very blessed to be married to a man that loves Christ first, acts like a fool with me, and loves me through all my crazy day dreams.

How do you keep your marriage/relationships sacred?

with joy,
Aneta Nina

What's cookin'?

Oh, hello there friends. This week, I have some visitors coming, so I decided to put a fun morning treat on the menu! EEK, I'm kind of nervous to bake though...not the best baker and we have high altitude here in Denver -- that's my excuse!! :)

Pesto Cavatappi
Shopping list:
grape tomatoes
mushrooms
curly noodles
olive oil
basil
walnuts
parmesan cheese

I made this dish a few times, so I basically made it my own. I love to make my own pesto and it's easy (and inexpensive). All you do is blend/food processor basil, walnuts, parmesan cheese, and olive oil. The noodle part is easy. Just boil the noodles and while thats happening sauté the mushrooms and tomatoes (cut the tomatoes in half) in oil. Add all the ingredients together and you got yourself a yummy dish!

Tuscan Bean Soup
Shopping list:
kale
potatoes
yellow onion
carrots
celery
cannellini beans
squash 
oil
garlic

Tis the season for some yummy soups and I am up for trying new recipes!! This one looks quite delightful! 

Image from Saveur

Chocolate Biscuits
Shopping list:
Dark chocolate
flour 
sugar
unsalted butter

Sounds simple, but I am still nervous to bake! This will be a great challenge for me either way! 

Image from Bakerella


Happy cookin'
Aneta Nina
PS - the best part is that my grocery list was under $70 for the week!! and I even purchased fruits and veggies for our lunches. i'm telling ya these planned meal are saving us big $$$$$!

DIY with scrap fabric

With my love for fabric I have a collection of scrap fabric. The scraps are pretty small, but knew I was keeping them for a reason. And tonight, I did!! I added a touch of fabric to colorful stationary.

If you have scrap fabric and a sewing machine (you can hand-stitch them too), then you can add details to your stationary. Or, just visit my shop for handmade cards ready for your words :)

Take a look....

happy crafting,

Aneta Nina