Thankful Thursday

Last week Ashley posted her Thankful Thursday post about the Dunaway home.  I thought that was a great post, and what a perfect time to introduce  (bits and pieces..) our new place?  I haven't had a chance to post anything at all about it just yet.  We are about a month in now and I haven't taken many pictures of what it alllllll looks like- my guest bathroom is so cute- but I have no proof (unless you would like to invite yourself over.. c'mon!)

Fort Worth has taken some getting used to- it is much different than the other side of the metroplex where we have become quite accustomed.. I think Jordan has a hard time with the fact that he is lost 88% of the time.  While it is a transition- we are enjoying CowTown and our lovely little home. 

This is my kitchen.. look at my space.  Just look at it.  I don't know what to do with all of it.. (if you saw my little hole of a kitchen at our previous home- you understand my excitement.)  My cooking is much quicker and effective. 

I love this corner.. (i.e. candy apple red KitchenAid, one of a bazillion William Sonoma cookbooks (I collect these cookbooks in particular) and my gorgeous WS platter.. matching the bowls I was graced with for my birthday last year..)

Just admiring my things.. they are material, yes- but it reminds me to be thankful for being able to afford pretty things such as the things found in this corner of my kitchen. 

I've already shared my tablescape.. but you didn't get the full view of my 'CUISINE' art and the great big fork and spoon :)  They are another favorite of mine. 

And.. lastly, for now.. this furniture piece was a heck of a bargain- and is just gorgeous!  This is our dining room..kinda.  The whole place is 'loft-like' and actual breakdown of rooms is pretty much non-existent. 

I love my piggy (left).. and my cookbook :)

While this isn't everything- I will be sharing random bits here and there. 

I am thankful to be able to have a home, with nice things that make me comfortable.  I come across so many that aren't able to provide well for themselves and forget all the blessings God has graced Jordan and me with.   Yea,  I like my bowls, love my piggy, and cherish my cookbooks- it is nothing compared to the ultimate gift He has provided- grace. 

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday

Happy Happy Day to you :)  For this addition of Thankful Thursday I would like to make note of 3 of my favorite couples- the Cabrera's, the Tapella's, and the Dunaway's!  These people are particularly fresh on my mind because this Friday is Supper Club at the Cabrera's- and I am oh-so-excited!  I always get excited to see our sweet friends, but when the food is positively delightful (that was a Bree Van De Camp thing to say..) shared with many laughs-until-you-cry's, it is almost depressing to say goodnight (hence our many drives home past midnight.)

These pictures are a minimal justification of the many times we have shared.  To my precious friends- your constant smiles and contageous laughs puts me in the best mood everytime.  I love,love, love our talks and laughs and fun times.  I cannot get enough!  Here's to many more years of our friendship.

Next week.. Broken Bow Bonanzaaa.  Let the countdown begin!

Sweatshirts and Slipper Boots

Who cares if it hit ninety degrees today.  It is positively sweater season inside my home!  Okay- maybe not quiet slipperboot worthy just yet- but I AM however sportin' the hoodie sweatshirt!

Jordan will for sure be digging out the Autumn M&M's.  If you don't mind Jordan germs all over your candy- feel free to take a sample :)

 I LOVE my pumpkins!!  These boys make their presence known a top my dinner table through Thankgiving

Here's to the (early) advancement into to holidays! 

This Weather

Makes me WANT my dark skinny jeans, tall multi color socks.. my lonely knee high boots..
and this sweater. 

bad.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for a multitude of things (as usual).  Last night in preparation for getting my crock*pot meal ready for this morning's assembly, I was flipping through one of many..many cookbooks that line my shelves and bookcases (who am I kidding, drawers and cabinets too.)  You see, I love to cook.  To feed that love, cookbooks (and the internet) are a necessity.  I feed my love for cooking quite often, and in turn continue to build by cookbook collection (Jordan ALWAYS knows how to spark my fancy with one as a gift.)  Beautifully covered cookbooks not only are a gorgeous home decor accessory to me.  I read my cookbooks cover to cover over the course of the first few days they are in my possesion.  Yes.. I read and re-read each and every recipe.  I suppose this is why most of my meals turn out a success.  How many times have you gotten halfway through a recipe and realized you were supposed to be adding in an ingredient you don't have.. or its 7pm already and you throw the casserole in the oven only to realize you still have 35-40 minutes of baking time.  Grr.. thats the worse.  This has happened to me on more than one occasion- but not so much, because I do read the recipes all the way through BEFORE starting the cooking process.  I have learned so much from each book to apply to other recipes, as well as develop my own spin- creating something new and different.  Jordan often jokes when he talks about my cooking.. "We have been married 6 years and I can count on one hand the amount of meals I've eaten twice."  Which is even more amusing because I am such a creature of habit.  I have my favorites- BBQ meatloaf.. slow cooker pulled pork.. fish tacos.. but I dont think I make a 'favorite' recipe the same everytime I revert back to the faithful original.  So- today I am thankful for my cookbook collection.  Each book is valuable to me in it's own way- even if their covers aren't so colorful or elaborate, they still have a place in my library.  The tips, tricks, and ideas that have spun from my collection has allowed me to be a successful chef (that's right.. I'm a chef.  You don't have to culinary trained to be one- not in my book, at least.  Just ask Rachael Ray- I think she has done well for herself since her days as a parlor girl, scooping ice cream floats for a living.).  As I continue to expand my collection my foodie brain can only get richer- providing not only benefit for feeding my own personal love for cooking, but for those that get to enjoy my culinary creations.  Just ask Jordan... he'll agree.

Leading a Healthier Movement

This weekend was the Tarrant County Heart Walk, and with Texas Health Resources being a major sponsor- employees were encouraged to walk in support of the fight against heart disease.  And of course, it falls in hand with my proffesion and desire for (heart) healthy clients- so it was only natural I walk.  :) 

Earlier this week, I was invited to speak at Advances in Medicine Women's God Red.  It is an initiative of THR to promote heart health awareness- as it is the number one killer of women.  Most do not know that.. or even realize.  The talk was held at Central Market in Fort Worth.  Myself and a resident doctor spoke about heart health and nutrition while the attendees enjoyed a delicious heart healthy meal- approved by moi!
(Excuse the iPhone picture)  We had a full house of eager listeners!

The walk took place in the heart of our new 'hometown' the Stockyards of Fort Worth.  We actually walked through it.. to be honest I had never really walked through it during the day before.  I took in all the historical structure.. it was a great scene on a beautiful Saturday morning.

The Herd. 

Fort Worth holds tight to the title of the world's only twice-daily cattle drive (11:30am and 4pm) These Texas Longhorns are driven by real Texas cowhands through the Stockyards.  It is really neat to watch if you happen to be sitting on the patio of one of the many restaurants lining the cobblestone streets.

I stood on the fence like a little kid and ooo'd and ahh'd at them. 

Jenn and hubby James and kiddo Carter came, too!  Jenn is the exercise physiologist in our office.  She also works in Cardiac Rehab with heart patients.  Her dad had serious heart surgery for his heart disease a couple years back.. She has yet to miss a heart walk.  She has true 'heart' in the matter ;) 

Carter walks for his Pop.  There were more people than I imagined with signs and t-shirts honoring those they walk for.  Puts a much better perspective on it all.

Sweet girl- I have such a blast during my workday with her!

 Jordan sporting the lime green THR company shirt.  We stood out in the crowd.  J kept admiring all the other company shirts.  He wanted to Siemen's turquoise shirt with a big footprint on the back.
Sorry, buddy.

Carter was being a booger and wouldn't pose for the camera.  I snapped this as James brought him back up from hanging upside down.. hence the gang-like hand gesture. 

The walk came and went before we knew it.. it was over.  Fun times lead to hungry bellies!  The THR tent was serving hot dogs (really? At an event supporting the fight against heart disease?!  Sodium and saturated fat laden tubes is appropriate.) Rather than stand in that ridiculous line, we headed to local place right near our home, actually.  I had seen the sign several times..

Paul's Donuts, Subs, and Gyros

They weren't kidding.  You can get a gyro at any time of the day.  Sounded like my kind of place. 
While my boss, Jenn, Carter, and Jordan had breakfast burritos, sausage rolls, and/or donuts on their plates (Carter was sampling all three..)

James and I settled for the gyro. 
It was good.

Its a Baking Kind of Day

Happy Weekend to you!  I am in a jolly good mood- mainly because I have a lazy morning in my near future.  Thank goodness for 3 day weekends.   These days cooking for my client starts bright and early on Saturday morning and church on Sunday morning- my weeks turn into a never ending cycle of busy-ness.    This beautiful Sunday afternoon I was a tad stir crazy..Jordan is at the fire station- leaving me at home in Fort Worth. I must say I'm just about tired of putting away boxes and setting up/hanging up/putting up.  Can't everything find it's place already?  Trust me- once it is 'complete' I will post pictures, its just not there..yet :)  Anyway.. Last week I was perusing my favorite blogs and landed on my sweet friend Shay's blog, Mix and Match Mama.  She posted a most delicious looking cookie and sparked my interest in baking some up!  Hello.  Chocolate. And. Peanut butter. DELICIOUS..and can I suggest that this is probably the easiest use of my baking skills yet?

 Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 large egg

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup water

1 cup peanut butter chips

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl with electric mixer.  Stir in peanut butter chips.  Drop 2 tablespoons dough onto lined cookie sheet.  Bake 12 minutes. 

See, told ya it was a cinch.  Go now and make your own batch.  Looks like I've got some treats to attend to :)  Have a relaxing rest of your weekend!

Thankful Thursday

For those of you that do not know.. I am not only a Registered Dietitian, I am also a Personal Chef.  I cook for one couple in particular on a weekly basis.  The woman has some special diet needs, so what is greater than a registered dietitian that knows her way around the kitchen!?  So.. what does this have to do with Thankful Thursday.. Well- my Saturday consists of 3 lists, 3 grocery stores..sometimes 4.. and 3+ hours of my time.  I have a cooler in my trunk and a multitude of cloth grocery bags in tow when I shop.  My iPhone has made my life a lot easier with all the handy apps..in particular, my grocery shopper app!  Not only does it save me a ton of time, but dreaded hand cramps, too! 

 I want to give a big 'Thank You' Miss Lall.. AHEM.. Dunaway.  I was lost for my TT post today, and you reminded me of the greatness of my Grocery Shopping App.  Oh my gracious. The greatest app ever invented- well for now at least.  I've been using a different app for my grocery shopping list(s) until about 3 weeks ago I decided to browse for others to try.  I was tired of the same one.  I've been using it every weekend for almost two years now- and my eyes have gotten bored.  SO.  Enter new iPhone App. Grocery IQ provides me with a database of thousands of grocery items, barcode scanning, multi-store lists (I shop frequently at Wal*mart, Market Street, Whole Foods, Costco/Sam's..and now since the move- I've made Target, Kroger, and Central Market lists!) Allows you to add product details- like price, weight, and quanity-Aisle organizations.. my list goes in order of the way that I make my way through the store- so I don't get to the end and realize I skipped  something on the other end of the store. I is so so so so easy to use.  My other app wasn't always so user friendly. 

Plus.. drumroll, please.. It. Is. Free. 

So.. I am thankful this Thursday for my grocery shopping app.  What are you thankful for?