Craft & Commerce

My husband found a cool little place in Little Italy a couple weeks ago when one of his friends invited him to lunch. Craft & Commerce is not only quite unique and cool looking, it is also within walking distance of our house. They have outstanding corn dogs, 2 for $5 and they serve them with the best fondue cheese and their hamburger is wonderful, one of the best I've had in the States. If you live in San Diego we think you should visit, you will not regret it!

Costco in wedges

We usually plan our Costco trips well in advance, I always know when we are going to go and I prepare for them, comfortable clothes, grocery list in hand, flat shoes. Well a trip to Costco caught me off guard when we were asked to get water, creamer, and stamps for the church, and there I was walking around Costco in wedges. After 30 feet or so I asked my husband if I could hop in the cart and he obviously said yes. I might keep wearing wedges to go grocery shopping because riding in a shopping cart is just plain fun. 

Chula Vista

Before we left on our adventure

We live about 10 miles from Chula Vista and aside from a couple of specific places we had never really much of it. Well our friends Maria and Johnny who live there invited us to coffee and dessert and they drove us through downtown Chula Vista and we took a small walk around the area. It's pretty awesome, they have an outstanding park with a small river crossing through it where I want to throw a party, it's so nice. We really need to explore our city more.

Tea in the morning

 

I love tea,  and my K knowing this fact usually wakes up and makes me some I later enjoy in bed or by the living room window. He is just wonderful like that. 

When we first got married everything was just surreal; I was a married woman living in an apartment with a husband, a husband!... WEIRD!

I remember a particular Saturday morning after about 3 months of marriage. It was about 6am and I was sitting on a papasan chair we had in the living room, curled up with a blanket over me, sipping on strawberry tea. Right there, in the quietness that early weekend mornings provide, I suddenly realized a truth that had not settled in me; I was home. After 3 years of being away from my family, my country, my customs, my home, my friends, and everything I knew; for the first time since I moved to the States I knew I was home. 

Home was him. And a yearning for the warmth of that which I knew, was now replaced by the uncertainty and excitement of a life ahead of me, a life lived next to him.

So every morning from that day forward, early days accompanied by flavorful teas and comfortable chairs are a beautiful reminder that where He is I am too.

Game Night

 

We started our Summer Community Group two weeks ago and it was so much fun.  We played a great game and laughed so hard. We really love having people over and hanging out with people, it's just refreshing after long weeks. 

Tonight we have our second Game Night of the summer, and we are really excited to see everyone and see what everyone ends up saying this time (last time a charades game turned crazy when the ladies team was trying to guess Anthony Wiener).

Massages

In case I haven't mentioned it Karolyn is a massage therapist and she wanted to give Caleb and I a massage to thank us for taking pictures at her wedding. It was so timely and just flat out amazing, now we are even more sad she is leaving, she is so good at it.

Friends moving

Karolyn & Josiah got married almost a year ago, and now they are moving to Dallas, TX. They had a little get together to give us all a chance to say bye to them and K and I took the opportunity. Karolyn is by far the most outgoing, charming woman I know, and I know many. She is funny, and sweet, and wise and Josiah is blessed to have her. We are hoping to see them when we visit the great state of Texas and to hear all the great stories of God's provision, love, wisdom, etc, they will have. 

And right after the get together a quick stop at Bare Escentuals for foundation. I always love going there and looking at all the eye shadow colors they have. Thankfully their foundation lasts me a long time so I don't visit the store too often, otherwise I would end up succumbing to the temptation of having them all. 

Garlic Broiled Chicken

I have been trying new ways of making chicken, last week I decided to try a recipe I had seen before but using only ingredients I had at home. Introducing my version of the garlic broiled chicken.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 granulated garlic
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
•  4 chicken breasts
• Dried oregano

 Directions

• Preheat the oven broiler. Lightly grease a baking pan.
• In a microwave safe bowl, mix the butter, garlic, soy sauce, pepper, and oregano. Cook 2 minutes on High in the microwave, or until butter is melted.
• Arrange chicken on the baking pan, and coat with the butter mixture, reserving some of the mixture for basting.
• Broil chicken 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until juices run clear, turning occasionally and basting with remaining butter mixture. Sprinkle with oregano to serve. 

We made some white rice and a quick salad and dinner was served. Caleb loved it, and so did, it was such an easy recipe!

Urbanism

Urbanism is our church's pathway to involvement. It is a 4 week class designed for people that wish to make Urban their home church. We offer it 4 times a year and this lat time we offered it we had 25 people going through it. It is very exciting for us to see people sign up to Urbanism, we love knowing that God is calling people to become part of the family of believers we are. 

Most all of the 25 people that signed up and graduated from Urbanism are serving in an area of ministry. Some are involved at a great capacity, some aren't. Everyone met where they are at. 

I really do love the church, not just Urban, but the church at large, I love to see it grow and advance and take territory that is rightfully hers.

Pool Momma Products

I haven't been good with the Pool Momma Products blogs, but here is a magnificent one. 

A Peter Thomas Roth instant mineral SPF 45 brush on powder. The first time I ever tried something like it was at the pool with my friend Mel, she had the Bare Minerals version and I remember instantly loving it. 

If you have light skin, or if you are like me, and worry about the wrinkles sun exposure may enhance, then you should make the investment and get your Instant Mineral SPF45 brush on powder. Either brand is phenomenal and the difference is price is really not an issue, is mostly a matter of preference. I like the PTR better because I don't have to worry about the color, whether I am tanned in the summer months or not the PTR one will work. The Bare Minerals one comes in different colors depending on skin tone, then again, a matter of preference.

We share a bathroom

In San Diego K and I have only one bathroom, and our house is a small, cute, little place. Every morning when we are getting ready we see each other and we know what the other one is doing and wearing and everything. While getting ready in Palm Springs, in two different bathrooms in different ends of the room we actually end up wearing essentially the same outfit. it's pretty fun!

Poppa scared us

Poppa felt a little discomfort in the middle of the night, he started breathing heavily and woke Pool Momma up, he then proceeded to inform her he was having a heart attack.

She jumped to her feet, called 911 and got a bag of things ready for them. A few minutes later the ambulance got there and paramedics started working on poppa, his heart stopped, they used the defibrillator, it didn't work, the paramedic started using his fists, mom started praying.

Thankfully they were able to bring poppa back to life and Mom called us while in the ambulance heading to the hospital. At 3am and with a backpack full of clothes we hopped in our car and drove toward Palm Springs.

Non-stop prayer covered that day and the next following days. Poppa had an angioplasty and we learned he did not have a heart attack, his heart is just weaker and stopped for no good reason. He had surgery and a defibrillator was implanted in his chest, one that will shock him if his heart decides to stop again.

We are so grateful Poppa is well, we are praying his heart strengthens and he doesn't have to be shocked.

We love you poppa, please don't scare us again =D

Water Park

 

We went to the Knott's Soak City with our church the day after Independence Day. I hadn't been to a water park in almost a decade and I really didn't think I'd do anything different than lay down and read. Turns out Water Parks are as fun in your late 20's as they are when you were a teenager. We had a blast hanging out with everybody going down all the fun rides. Who would have known?

We also celebrated Cara's birthday, she is 9!!! When I met her she was so little, only 4 years old and adorable (not that the adorable has changed), and it seems like soon we will be sharing clothes. Time really stops at nothing, if anything it seems to always speed up.