bring joy

{MM} easy baked beans + two awesome must-read books

marvelous mondays, main dish, simple cooking, reviews

I’m on a “gotta-make-more-bean-dishes-kick,” & yesterday I made some super easy “baked” beans–frugal, easy (don’t let the list of ingredients scare you!), & tasty.

(And you know, navy beans are on my list of foods to focus on for weight loss, so even better.)

I’d like to share the recipe with you, but first,

On Friday Joseph had a required “morale/family day.”

(I think this is the Air Force’s way of making sure the underlings don’t revolt.)

We went up to Fredricksburg, a little German themed town (which means all the restaurants served beer, potatoes, & sausage) north of San Antonio & spent the day going to a WWII Pacific War museum, window shopping, & just enjoying the beautiful spring weather with the rest of Joseph’s office pals. Since it was a family day I brought Salem & the...

the best laid plans, finding time to exercise + hummus salsa veggie plate

slim + slender, fitness fridays, weight loss

As far as my daily exercise, the past month have been spotty at best.

It’s like when you’re getting out of debt. You have your plan, you have your budget.

And then things happen.

Car doors fall off, hubands get traffic tickets, kid’s dance extra-curriculars end up costing more than anticipated. So despite the best laid plans, there are always detours. And that’s what I’ve experienced with my exercise. I have a workout schedule (one that I’ll share in my upcoming fitness ebook) where I have specific things I do each day of the week. All of that seemed to go out the window the past few weeks with Joseph’s intense trial work schedule, a car accident, & being sick (twice!–this last one lasted over a week).

But, things have normalized again, & I’m recommitted to my plan.

I also...

31 + why being a parent is easier than you think

personal, motherhood, parenting

But first, today I turn 31.

Last year I got sentimental on my birthday. This year, it’s no big deal. I’ve been securely in my thirties for a year now, & I can say, life is good as a grown-up.

I found this random birthday video from four years ago.

(I think 55 seconds in is pretty funny.)

Look at how little my boys were, & Amalia!

(Okay, so maybe this year I did get a wee bit sentimental.)

♥♥

You left some thoughtful comments–thank you!

I especially appreciated what April had to say.

She writes (I italicized what I thought were really important points):

“I am a Christian and So many of my church friends home school for that reason. While I have no doubt that there are certain schools that are severely below par and equally no doubt that some children will thrive and receive...