bring joy

{MM} It’s the best when you get free things, 7 months, + funny/interesting/lovely links

pinned to my happy pinterest board, image from cranny + me blog (check it out–so many “real life” posts & images)

pinned to my life pinterest board, image from we heart it

The coolest thing happened this weekend.

We decided to spend the remaining balance of this month’s date money budget on taking our kids out to a fancy dinner because they all earned top grades on their quarterly report cards. We feel it important to set a precedence, even at this young age that doing well in school is a big deal & we wanted to recognize their efforts with an extra special occasion.

We had them dress up in “Sunday best” & we took them to PF Changs. We rarely go out to eat as a family unless we have a gift certificate given to us or we’re on the road. And even then we stick mostly with fast food. So...

Gratitude lists + a recipe for apple cider cranberry sauce

grain-free, side dish, the good life, holiday foods

My kids started playing Christmas music yesterday.

Somehow hearing Frank Sinatra sing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” & watching Asher (my 7 year old) dance to “Jingle Bells,” made me deliriously happy.

And it’s begun to get cold here.

Salem & I went for a walk yesterday & I didn’t wear even a light sweater, though it was only 50 degrees out. I wanted to feel the cold. It feels like it’s been so long.

I’ve been pinning things to my holiday & festive food boards, drooling over the possibilities for holiday food & treats. The holiday spirit has struck our home & it’s only the beginning of November.

But lest I forget about Thanksgiving in my Christmas anticipation, I’m reminded of this important holiday–how gratitude is one of the foundations of happiness, and how without it,...

dessert freedom + roasted sweet potato, quinoa & watercress warm winter salad

salad & soup, main dish, reviews, holiday foods

Joseph makes these amazing enchiladas.

He makes everything from scratch–the sauce, the tortillas, the filling. They’re my favorite. I love smoothering them in fresh tomatoes, shredded cabbage, & lots of Mexican hot sauce.

He made some the other night, but because of a scouting event, he didn’t get around to making my gluten-free ones. He had made some for the kids (with the wheat tortillas) so there were some leftover.

They sat in my fridge yesterday, tempting me. “Just one, won’t hurt–right?”

I went back & forth, knowing full well how I feel after I eat something with gluten in it. But, pregnancy has weakened my logic/reasoning, so try as I might to talk myself out of it, I caved and ate one. It was DELICIOUS. I wanted more, but fortunately for me, there was actually only one left &...