Glory to God, Glory to God in the Highest!

It has been several months since I last found time to update the blog, and I promise I will finish our European Adventures at some point, but my life has been full of so much joy lately that I have barely had a minute to spare for reflection.  Since he will graduate in May, Adam is currently applying for professorships all over the country and hopefully if any get listed, some overseas as well.  It's always been the plan for me to stop working when Adam finished school, so my early "retirement" is on the horizon in May, along with the frightening thought that I only have 7 paychecks left.  Yikes!

On top of that (most of you probably already know) Adam and I are expecting our first child in May 2015.  We are still mostly shocked and overjoyed.  To be a mother is something I have dreamed about since I was a little girl, so I am completely over the moon and am so glad we waited even though at times it seemed like the hardest thing in the world to do.

I feel so blessed to have remained strong in my faith in God.  He has gotten me through the darkest days when I felt like waiting to have a child was keeping me from having a biological mother-child bond, something as an adoptee I have always wanted to experience.  Thankfully, God provided us with so many wonderful opportunities to grow both as individuals and as a couple, and I am forever grateful that He made waiting for His perfect timing enjoyable most of the time! 

God also blessed me with the perfect job to prepare me for being a mom.  I have snuggled, disciplined, studied, and loved so many children throughout my many years in childcare.  I went into this field part-time as an undergrad, because it was easy, and I had tons of babysitting experience.  I have learned so much about the personalities of little ones, and although my job is both rewarding and fun, I would never again say it is easy!  It has opened my eyes to many things, innumerable to list here and given me a long list of forever friends that I know will always be there to help me out with "mom questions" or just to vent. :)

I can't count the number of times Adam & I prayed for God to show us the right time to have a baby, but the end of the summer it finally felt like the time to let go and let God.  Once again, God showed me how awesome He is...within 5 weeks, I was holding 4 (yes, I couldn't quite believe the first 3) positive pregnancy tests.  Although I don't feel God's existence needs to be proven to me, I'm only human, and the reassurance that we really had been listening to Him these past 7 years was overwhelming. 

Looking back, Adam and I were in no way, shape, or form ready to tackle parenting when we first got married.  I'm sure we could have figured it out, but the life experiences and challenges we have been able to tackle together have strengthened our relationship in ways that I didn't even know were possible.  God's provisions (Adam's education & my flexible job) allowed me to travel with my husband all over the world.  Navigating unknown territory together, facing language barriers, and novel customs brought us closer together, and I feel so secure entering the world of parenting with my best friend for life. 

Basically, God's timing is perfect, and I encourage each of you to keep praying, keep believing, and live in the moment.  Don't waste your time worrying, because God has a plan for you!  Pregnancy has come with its own set of trepidations, but I have been choosing to trust God and enjoy this special time! I will leave you with one of my all time favorite Bible passage: 1 Peter 5:6-7: Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Not Just Names and Dates

Hey everyone! Add my sister Rachel's new historical blog: http://history-thesmallerpicture.blogspot.co.uk

I Love Paris: Part Deux

 Trying to make the most of our trip, we pushed aside our jet lag after settling into our apartment on Saturday, and went out for an afternoon of sightseeing.

 

 First we located the Marriott where Adam's conference was located, and then we walked back through the 14th Arrondissement towards the Montparnasse Tower, which we were also able to see through our living room window.  On our way to the tower, we wandered through the peaceful Montparnasse Cemetery.  

The next morning (Monday), we woke up early, and Adam took off for his conference.  I walked the short distance to the Luxembourg Gardens, where I spent some time exploring and reading before I headed back to the flat to wait for my sister's arrival from London!

Monday morning selfie in front of the Palace of Luxembourg.

Montparnasse Tower from the Luxembourg Gardens

A peek at the Eiffel Tower from the Luxembourg Gardens

Getting settled in Paris

Bonjour! It's been almost a month since we've returned to The Good Life, and the post-vacation hangover has been real.  Last time we were in Europe, Paris was the place I was least excited to be in, but I wanted to experience it.  Since leaving it behind, I have thought of returning constantly, and this time around, I truly fell in Love (I can already hear my mom getting excited) with La Ville-Lumière, The City of Lights.

Plane selfie (and photobomb!) at LNK.

We flew out on a Friday afternoon from Lincoln.  We love our little airport and always spend the extra $$ for the convenience.  As always, we arranged to fly through Chicago so we could get our beloved Garrett's.

Chicago Mix

After 2 more flights: ORD-FRA and FRA-CDG, we were finally in Paris.  This time around we stayed in the 14th arrondissement near Montparnasse Tower and the Jardin du Luxembourg (Garden of Luxembourg).  I neglected to take a picture of our building, but our flat was beautiful, and if you are ever in Paris, we would highly recommend it!  The flat was insanely affordable, and if you love food, it's the place for you.  Find out more about it here.

View from our windows, looking left

View to the right

 I really could have stayed here forever.  The big, bright picture windows and the classic Parisian rooftops views were what got me.  And the food.  But more on that later.... :)

April Blogging Challenge Wrap Up

I'm still a bit behind, but here are the last three prompts from the April Blogging Challenge. 

28:  Share a favorite childhood memory
 There are far too many to count.  I have so many fond memories.  At the top of my list, though, is  driving to Toronto each summer to spend 2 weeks with my Dad's mom, Popo, my Uncle Mark & Aunty Judy, and cousins Andrew & Matthew.  The car trips were long, but my sister(s) and I found tons of ways to amuse ourselves from writing notes in different voices, to counting the number of Dodge Neons we would see on the way (obviously our dream car).  Toronto often was ahead of Lincoln, and I remember clear as day seeing McFlurry's a year before they came to Nebraska.

Other favorite memories include:
Going to the bookmobile and participating in the summer reading program with the library.
Obviously my card was always maxed out.  Karen, "the bookmobile lady," even came to my wedding reception.  I miss those days. 
Walking to "the pig farm" down the gravel road, and throwing stones into the creek.
Bicycle skid marks
Playing house outside and using various plant material to make "salad" and "soup."

29.  Write a letter to your readers
Dear  Readers,

Thank you for joining me on my blogging journey.  I hope you enjoy my entries!  I love all sorts of things, so bear with me and my lack of focus.  Again, thank you for taking time out of your busy days to read my poorly written posts.  :)

Always,
Liz

30.  Tell us 3 random facts about you
I'm a pretty open book, but here are some things you might not already know about me.
1) I didn't like Paris much the first time we went, but after getting home, I missed it all the time.  I feel the same way about Budapest.
2) I have severe abandonment issues.
3) I prefer dogs to cats, but I do love my cat.

This brings me to the end of the challenge.  I have enjoyed going about it in my own way, and I hope it was fun for you all to read too!  Stay tuned for updates from Paris and Valencia....EEEEEE!!!! :)

My Worst Traits and My Favorite Blogs

I'm still behind in the April Blogging Challenge, but while I'm waiting for some laundry do finish up in the dryer, I'm going to try to get caught up. 

Day 23: What are your top three worst traits?

1) I'm a major control freak.  I'm not great at delegating; I usually think I can do things better myself.  This is something I have been working on for a long time, as trying to do everything usually leads to me being completely overwhelmed and consequently, a nervous breakdown.  I just have a hard time trusting that others can do what I do.  Funnily enough, this is a problem for me at home.  When it comes to work, I have no real issues with letting go anymore!

2) I have some obsessive/compulsive traits that I am working on.  For example, I used to have to re-read the entire page (or sometimes chapter) if I thought I skipped a word.  I meticulously keep a written log of all the books I have read.  Only this past year have I been able to stop feeling guilty for not reading every. single. page. of a book....including the title page, bibliographies, dedication, about the author page, etc.  This goes back to me being a control freak and learning to let go.  I'm getting better, I promise!

3)  I have a real lack of motivation.  I am guilty of sitting on the couch with the intention of watching ONE episode of a show and 4 hours later, wondering what am I still doing here?  We gave up cable about a year ago but pay $8 a month each for Netflix and Hulu Plus.  Binge watching TV has always been our favorite way to watch shows.  I'm thinking back to my junior year of college when I skipped so much class to powerhouse through Grey's Anatomy and One Tree Hill, of course with a little Taste of China takeout.  My apologies to those who are now craving $4.50 lunch specials, lemon chicken, and the best egg rolls ever.  Anyways, I find working with children to be Exhausting, so I give myself a pass for lounging on the couch every night.  I will surely miss these days when/if I become a parent!

Day 24: Share your blog with us and let us know why you started blogging

If you're here, you know how to find my blog.  I started this, mostly because I love food.  People are always asking me for recipes and reviews or recommendations for restaurants.  It's also a good way for me to remember exactly what I thought of places and dishes.

Day 25: What is one of the best presents you’ve ever received?

For my birthday last year, my sister, Amy, made me a coupon booklet of fun things for us to do together.  I love it, and I need to cash in some of those coupons.

Day 26:  Tell us things you’ve learned about life that school didn’t teach you.

Life is about being happy, not necessarily the smartest, most athletic, most well-rounded human being.  It's about finding what and who you love and prioritizing! 

Day 27: What are your favorite 5 blogs, other than mine of course, that you follow?

In no particular order:
The Londoner - I enjoy looking at this girl's travel, food, and fashion pictures. :)
The Sweet Adventures of Sugar Belle - Cookie decorating is a newish hobby of mine, and this blog has the best ones!
smitten kitchen -  This is my go-to blog for delicious recipes.  Sometimes I follow them as is, and sometimes I tweak them.  My fave brownie recipe can be found here.
Young House Love - I love their DIY projects!
Amy Takes (a suburb of) Atlanta - My little sister is heading to Atlanta for the summer to work with students going on mission trips.  I can't wait to read about her adventure!

Thanks for reading, and I'm all caught up now.  Hooray!  I guess it's back to laundry and packing.  Have a great Sunday evening!

Love, Beauty, Babies, & The Future

Ok, so the fact that I'm leaving for vacation in less than a week (EEK!) has totally been on my mind and work was exhausting (our cook was on vacation, so I spent the week cooking for 90ish children...it was an adventure), so the blog got moved to a back burner.  I'm feeling more (and less?) in control and organized right now, plus, I just needed a break, so here comes a 5-day challenge blog dump.

Day 18: Tell me about your first love. (Age, how did you meet, how long were you together)

My first love was and still is, my husband!  We officially met the first day I moved to Lincoln in August of 2003, but truth be told, I already knew who he was.  I (and most of my high school) was involved in FBLA, Future Business Leaders of America.  In April each year, a state conference was held in Omaha where we took tests to qualify for the National Leadership Conference and attended seminars.  Oh, and we got to skip 2 days of school and stay overnight in Omaha (the dream)!  I first attended in 2000, as a sophomore, and I did really well, even winning the Business Math competition which enabled me to travel to Orlando, FL in the summer to compete nationally.  I noticed there was this guy, Adam, who basically won every. single. event.  What a nerd.  My friends and I for the next 2 years of high school were annoyed by his dominance, and (I'm not proud of this) when he didn't win "Mr. Future Business Leader" our senior year, we gave the winner a standing ovation.  Yikes.  Rude. 

So when I moved into the dorm room I shared with my high school best friend, and we went searching for boys to play pitch with, we were less than thrilled to find out that Adam was living in a room almost directly above us.  We were even less thrilled when he actually agreed to play cards with us.  Adam later told me he could "sense the hostility," but had zero idea who we were.  He also admitted that during our junior year at the conference, up on stage he was thinking something along the lines of  oh shoot, there's an Asian up here...well I've lost. At the same time, I, who made a conscious effort to stand on the opposite side of the stage was thinking, Ugh, that Adam kid is up here.  I really hope I beat him.  Of course I got 8th or something, and Adam won.  Typical.



Adam is all the way to the left next to the 2 girls in red, and I'm in the white top and blue skirt at the opposite end of the stage.  You'll just have to take my word for it, since this is basically the worst picture ever.

We started hanging out, became friends, went to church together in his '79 Camaro, and soon after started dating in November.  Our first date was to the Starship 9 (*tear*) to see Pirates of the Caribbean for the millionth time, and have been together ever since.  We are coming up on our 7th wedding anniversary and will have been together 11 years this fall.  So that's my first love!

Day 19:What is your typical beauty routine like (favorite products, how much time do you spend)

 I don't do much, that's for sure.  The only makeup I wear is black eyeliner (my favorite), and if I'm feeling fancy, mascara and/or lipgloss.  I'm much more of a lip balm girl; I always have at least one floating in my bag.  My go to is Badger's Organic Lip Balm in Tangerine Breeze, but I also like the Eos Smooth Spheres.  In regards to my hair, I use Organix.  The Awapuhi Ginger smells the best, in my opinion, and I like to use coconut oil and/or olive oil to treat my ends occasionally.  I started oil pulling this year, but need to get back into it as I've been lax.  I'm pretty low key in regards to beauty!

20. Describe your perfect day

Adam, Beach, Bikini, Book(s), Booze, Food

21. Do you have kids; if yes tell us about them, if not do you plan to one day?

No babers for us yet, but we have talking about them since before we got married, and we are *almost* ready to give parenthood a try.  Adam would be fine with one or none, but I think I'd like two.  I had such fond memories of growing up with my siblings, that I don't want my future child to go it alone.  We will see!

22. What do you hope your life will be like in 3 years?

I hope we are settled.  I hope I'm happy.  I hope I'm a mom!

I'm not into quotes

Day 17:  Share something you’ve read that really spoke to you and why.

This particular topic is hard for me, because although I like to read, words don't really stick with me, even those from my favorite books.  I can't quote a single line from Little Women, and the only line I remember from Gone with the Wind is the closing line, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn," which isn't something that really spoke to me, haha.  What do speak to me are feelings, since I'm a fairly super emotional person.

A couple months ago, I read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  Wow.  I loved this book, and I loved the way it played with my emotions.  I don't want to give anything away, but this book was an emotional roller coaster.  It also made me step back and evaluate my relationship with Adam and how thankful I am for it.  I have said it a million times over, and I will continue to say it, but I am so blessed to have found my life partner.  I am blessed to be in a marriage full of love and mutual respect.  So even though I'm not a quote person, I will never stop reading, because I love the ride.

Linked up with A Fresh Start on a Budget.

Things I've Learned from Mom

Day 16's prompt asks me to tell you what I've learned from my parents about being a parent.

Although I'm not a parent yet, I have learned loads of things (mostly from my mom) that I plan on using with my future children.  I think we've all turned out really well rounded, although my brother's outcome is TBD, haha, and I know I will be bombarding my  mom with questions when the time comes. 

As it stands, there are actually some things that I have been able to use in my classroom, namely, routine, routine, routine.  My mom was a stickler for routine growing up, and my babies definitely need their daily structure.  We do exercise a lot of flexibility, they are one, after-all, but if we stray too far from the norm, helllllooo, meltdown city! 

Secondly, I have learned how important reading is.  If the little ones want to sit and look at books all morning, that is fine by me.  My mom has always reiterated how crucial early exposure to books is to future language skills.  I have always loved reading, and I know my mom read stacks and stacks of books to me over and over.  Thank you so much, Mom!

The third most important thing I've learned is that children need independence!  My mom was not always looking over my shoulder, and I had the chance to choose my own activities much of the time.  I also try to exercise this in my classroom, because I do feel like children of today need space to learn and breathe on their own.  I'm obviously right there if they need me, but sometimes, I butt out so they can do their own thing. :)

In the future, I'd like to spend time nurturing my relationship with Adam first and foremost.  My parents weren't afraid to hire a sitter or tell us that we needed to play outside for an hour or two without interrupting them.  I think the transition into family life for us may be difficult, as we have been enjoying our childless life so far.  In fact, I'm off to a dinner date right now!  Happy reading. :)

Linked up with A Fresh Start on a Budget for Day 16 of the April Blogging Challenge.

Advice for Teenage Lizzy

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  I'm halfway through  my work week, and halfway through the April Blogging Challenge put on by Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget.  It has been a good experience so far, although I admit that I'm looking forward to posting a couple times a week rather than daily.  :) 

Day 15:  What advice would you give to the teenage you?

Hands down, I would tell myself to STUDY!  I skated through school my whole life up until college, and if I could do it over, I would definitely instill some study habits in myself.  Unfortunately, when I went to college, I felt that I was too smart to study and also insecure about needing to study, since none of my close friends had to.  I spent my time growing up, rushing through my chores and what little homework I had, so I could enjoy my life: playing, reading, talking, and what have you.  In college, I did much of the same, but also had the newfound freedom to skip class and do whatever I liked, aka, reading, chatting on MSN, spending time with Adam, shopping with Val, and playing MarioKart or binge watching TV shows with my friend Rach.  Yikes.  I wish I had a little more self control!  So kids, studying is important!! 

Day 14

Today I am supposed to tell you what 2 items (other than people and animals) I would save in a house fire.  This has been the easiest question for me to answer, but the hardest for me to tell you, because without a doubt, the first things I would save are my baby blankets....so embarrassing!  Yes, I still have them, and yes, I still sleep with them, almost every night.  Have you seen the musical, The Producers?  Basically, I'm Bloom.  I bury my face in them when I'm upset and get really nervous when other people touch them, for fear they will be thrown away!  When I fly, I keep them in my carry-on, because I'm too afraid they will get lost forever! 

These two blankets have already survived a fire during my freshman year of college.  Remember those clip on lamps that were super popular in the dorms?  I left mine clipped to the underside of my roommate's bunk, so I could study on my bed.  One night, I left to go see one of the Matrix movies with some high school friends, and when I came back, there was a lot of commotion, and it turned out my lamp had fallen, turned on, and subsequently started a fire on my mattress.....while my roomie was sleeping.  It was a crazy night, and everyone was fine.  I just needed a new mattress and bedding.  Oh college life.

The second thing I would save is my book list.  I have been keeping track of the books I have read since 1999.  I am quite OCD about it, and even though I use the Goodreads app on my phone, I would be very sad to lose my original list.

I would be sad to leave behind my scrapbooks and photo albums and postcard collection, but most of my favorite pictures are online or my parents have copies at their homes.  Our most important documents are kept in a safe deposit box, and everything else could be replaced, in fact some things need to be replaced (my cat-scratched couches), but that's a story for another time.

What things would you save? 

Linking up with A Fresh Start on a Budget for today's challenge.

Tattoo

Today I'm supposed to tell you guys about my tattoo(s). I don't have any, but I have actually thought about it and have a couple really special things I would love to get someday if the opportunity arises.

Because my faith is so important to me, I've thought about getting the words for eternal life in Hebrew or Greek on one of my wrists. I think it could be a great tool for starting a conversation about religion with others and also a constant reminder to me of God's everlasting love for me. 

The second tattoo I've given a lot of thought to is my name in Korean down the nape of my neck or the Korean national flower, the Rose of Sharon, placement TBD. 

There are a number of reasons I haven't gone through with getting inked, the first being fear. No, not of pain or needles,  but of being the girl with the messed up tattoo!  I don't want to have something obscene or misspelled on my body forever. Nor would I want to invest more time and money having it fixed. Another major reason I haven't done it is the cost. I have never felt like it was a wise use of money, for me.  Thirdly, Adam doesn't particularly like tattoos, and my husband's opinion does matter to me, even if it is ultimately my choice. 

I think tattoos are so beautiful, but they are a commitment, and they just aren't something I'm ready for yet. For now, I am content with pinning gorgeous sleeves and whimsical birds and admiring from afar. 

Linking up once again with A Fresh Start on a Budget. 

Photo Post

Well, I sort of fell off the blogging wagon and skipped yesterday, because I spent a lovely evening out with my husband. :)  I'm making up for it tonight by posting yesterday's and today's.

Day 12's task is to show you all my 5 favorite photos, so yeah.  Obviously, I can't choose just 5.  Here are some of my faves, beginning with my wedding, because it was one of my favorite days ever. :)

 Dad, walking me down the aisle.  I loved having this special moment with my dad.

 

 

us, on cloud 9

 

"Frantically!!"  Those who know, they know. I laugh whenever I see this picture.

  

My love and I, in the place he loves: Valencia, Spain.

  

My first partner in crime/travel partner: Rachel

Here we are prepping for Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Eve at approximately 11 PM with a few of our old friends: Betty Crocker, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 

Bailey's (or Carolan's?), and Coffee.

 

The one and only Amy being put to work.  Again.

 

The siblings

{photo credit: abbyanderson photography}

 

Typical Christmas in Columbus

 

And finally: the 'rents

(It's a good thing I don't live at home!)

Where in the World....

....would I want to live, if I could live anywhere in the world for a year?

I'm going to assume that money is not an issue here, and will have to go with the world's 2nd most expensive city to live in:  Paris, France.  My answer may surprise some of you, since I always talk about how much I enjoyed Spain!  The truth of the matter is that although the food and wine are cheap in Spain, they are divine in France!  When we were in Paris 2 summers ago, we woke up every morning and walked to any one of a number of bakeries for a croissant or pastry for breakfast.  Yum!  Also, I would love to go to cooking school, and obviously, Le Cordon Bleu Paris would be a dream come true.  

Ok, I'll admit it's not all about the food though.  The amount of history in Paris is spectacular.  I have been to a few of the landmarks, but definitely would love to have an entire year to enjoy them and see even more.  One of my favorite things to do during my travels is to wander through neighborhoods, taking in all the beautiful architecture.  Obviously, Paris is a beautiful city, and I could wander up and down the quaint little streets day after day, stumbling into shops as I happen upon them.

Another selling point for Paris is that it is a major travel hub, either by train or plane.  It would give me the opportunity to bop all over Europe.  In fact, Paris is only 2 1/2 hours (by train) from London where my sister Rachel lives.  I can only imagine all the fun we would have traveling around.  We will actually be meeting up in Paris in less than a month (eeeek!!), as my husband will be attending a conference, and I get to tag along.  I can't wait to share my travel experience with you. :)

Once again, linking up with A Fresh Start on a Budget for the April Blogging Challenge.

Chores

Linking up with A Fresh Start on a Budget for Day 10 of the April Blogging Challenge.  One third of the way done...woo hoo! 

Day 10: What are your favorite and least favorite household chores?

Anyone who knows me knows that I love hate to sweep.  So much so, that family members who see me sweeping often shout, "Liz is sweeping?!  Quick!  Take a picture!"  Because I now own a home with wood or tile flooring throughout and have a job at which I sweep at least once daily, I no longer despise the broom and dustpan as much.  I still don't sweep as often as I should at home though.

Favorite chore is usually a toss up between dishes and laundry, but again, our home has changed this.  Washing dishes in a shallow enamel-coated cast iron sink results in me taking a bath in dirty dish water and more than the occasional broken dish.  Our unfinished basement that has seen a few bats throughout our residence here also makes laundry less fun than in the past, but these two still top my list. 

Although it doesn't look like it, I generally enjoy cleaning.  I'm just beat after basically cleaning up after 8 little ones all week long and just want to lie around and binge watch shows instead.  Now that you all know my weakness, I'm working on it; I promise!

Because I'm Happy :)

It's 82 degrees!!  In an attempt to soak up some more of this beautiful day, I'm keeping this Day 9 post brief!

Ten things that make me happy:
      (in no particular order)
1) The sun
2) Praise songs & music in general
3) Travel
4) My best friend, aka my husby
5) Dates
6) Running
7) My life in general
8) Talking with my siblings
9) Bicycling
10) Shopping

I may edit this some other time, but I'm off to enjoy this beautiful evening with my love. :)

Book Nerd

Thanks again to Karissa at A Fresh Start on a Budget for hosting this April Blogging Challenge!
Day 8's challenge is to recommend a book to read and why I love it.

Books have always been a huge part of my life. My mom read all the time to me, and even when I was in high school insisted on reading chapter books aloud at the table.  I loved taking part in the summer reading program that our local library put on each year, and my sister and I always had a friendly competition going regarding who could read the most books.  Rachel always came out on top.  She even was honored for achieving the most Accelerated Reader points in a year when she was in 5th grade....at my 8th grade graduation.  I was happy to be runner up.

I have so many favorite books; I know I'm supposed to pick one, but I'm allowing myself three. :)

One that I've read in the past few years really sticks out in my mind:  Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.  I'm not sure why, but I've always been fascinated by the circus and zoos, elephants in particular.  The older I get, the less enchanted I am by them, and in fact, the circus makes me sad...poor animals!  I still love elephants, and I just really loved the way the book was written.  I will admit that I am very impatient and usually have to read the end of a book before I can commit to reading the whole thing.  Weird, I know.  I actually didn't do that with Water for Elephants, because it held my attention!  It has romance, action, and elephants.  Enough said.

The other two books at the top of my list are classics: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.  Again, these books both have romance and action in the form of war.  I love the strong female main character in each, and I also really, really liked the movie adaptations.  I used to read Little Women over and over again, and I have a very dog-eared copy that used to belong to my aunt.  I love it, and I need to get it out again this summer.

All of these books can be found on Amazon.com, and I'm pretty sure Little Women can be downloaded for free if you have a Nook or Kindle.  I also highly suggest looking at garage sales or trying out your local library!  Lincoln's library system is awesome; I love that through  my online account I can put books and DVDs on hold and pick them up at the location of my choice.  It's so easy!  Check it out (pun intended)!  Happy Reading!

All About Me

Day 7 of the April Blogging Challenge reminds me of filling out the "All About Me" posters in grade school or being the "Star Student" of the week or month or whatnot.  I have a love/hate relationship with being in the spotlight.  I love to share my life with others, but I also get twitchy and uncomfortable when all eyes are on me.  I don't really like to brag, but I do think I'm an awesome person.  :)

So here are three things that I like about myself...

1) I am a great cook!!  Adam also likes this about me.  I love to experiment with different ingredients and combinations and try to recreate dishes I have had in restaurants.  Of course there are failures, sometimes even miserable ones, but for the most part I feel pretty successful in the kitchen.

2) I like, no, I LOVE, that I have been able to find a profession that I am passionate about.  As I've mentioned before, I skipped a lot of classes in college (so silly; I don't recommend it!), and I didn't graduate with the degree I originally had in mind or end up with the career I wanted.  Everything has worked out for the best, as I have been able to get my baby fix; hugs and cuddles from my little ones are so precious, and I love every single child that has passed through my room so much!  What really fascinates me is how the mind of a child works, and it is a feeling like no other to see their eyes light up when they understand a concept for the first time.  I have been so blessed to be able to devote so much of my time to learning about infants, and although I know my life will change drastically when I have my own, at least I know I won't be having EIGHT at the same time (knock on wood).  Through my job, I have been given the opportunity to develop my own teaching mantra for infants, and I can't stress enough how important ROUTINE and PLAY are to the happiness of a child.  I could go on and on about these topics, but I'll save them for another time. :)

3)  I like that I am different...in so many ways.  I like that I'm adopted and that I have a multi-ethnic family.  I love that I have only dated one person in my life: my husband.  I love that we married young.  I like that I've never had a car payment.  I love my ability to say "no" to things that don't fit into my life.  I love that we've made travel a priority.  I love my short legs and my freakishly long torso.  I love that I openly admit that I am addicted to reality TV.  It has taken me a long time to get to this point, but I just genuinely love myself the way that God made me, and I hope that all of you are able to love yourselves for the way you are too.

Life

I'm still taking part in the April Blogging Challenge by Karissa from A Fresh Start on a Budget.  It is definitely a challenge to write every day!

Day 6: What is the biggest event that has ever happened in your life, something that changed your life dramatically?

For me, moving to Lincoln for college sparked a huge change in my life!  Growing up, I didn't have the typical high school experience of parties, boyfriends, homework, and curfews.  I participated in a number of different activities ranging from band to FBLA to cross country (my senior year).  I was at the top of my class and almost never had any homework to do.  My parents never gave me a curfew, because I honestly never went out unless I was going over to my best friend, Val's house.

When I moved to Lincoln, I had so much freedom!  I could go to class, or I could go to the movies instead.  I could stay up as late as I wanted and do whatever I wanted.  I didn't know what to do with myself, and ultimately, I ended up watching far too much MTV and skipping the majority of my classes.  I was exposed to all sorts of different lifestyles and my preconceived notions about the world fell away. 

If I could go back, of course I would do some things over, but I came away with many blessings: my husband, a mind open to accepting others' differences, and the ability to think for myself.  I also was able to hold onto the morals that my parents instilled in me before leaving home.  I have always felt safe in Lincoln, and I'm grateful for the 10+ years I have spent in this great city.

Easy Peasy

Day 5's writing prompt of the April Blog Challenge asks, what are your quick and easy meal ideas?

Let me start off by saying I love to cook....when I have the time to slow down.  Quick and easy meals are just not my thing, which is why more often than not we eat dinner later than either of us would like to. 

I don't really have any big "secrets," when it comes to cooking, as I think that much of it is knowing basic cooking skills and how to read and follow directions.  Every recipe can be adapted with your own twists to suit your particular family's tastes.  For example, my husband doesn't like cheese, so instead of combining it with the other ingredients, I usually just top off my portion with a little before serving. 

We try to eat clean, local, and organic, so I just replace things as I see fit, like using whole organic milk in place of skim or local pasture-raised ground pork, seasoned with my own blend of spices rather than frozen pork sausage. 

My biggest time saver is meal planning.  When I actually sit down and figure out what I'm going to make for dinner and then go through the ads to make my shopping list, then I know I have everything on hand, and I don't have to sit around for 30+ minutes trying to decide what to make every night. 

If I'm really in a pinch, I try to have freezer meals on hand that I can warm up on the stovetop, but I really do feel like it's much quicker to prepare an actual meal with ingredients I have prepped or defrosted the night before. 

For recipes, check out my Muy Delicioso board on Pinterest. Bon Appétit!

Influential

Due to an untimely nap this evening, I almost forgot to blog today, but I didn't want to get in the habit of putting it off, so here is the topic for Day 4 of the April Blog Challenge hosted by Karissa.

Tell us about the people who have had the most influence in your life.

 

I'm not a sappy person, so I will be brief.

My parents sheltered me from the influences from the world, and the older I get, the more thankful I am for their protection of my heart and my mind.

My husband has helped me learn to say, "No," to things, to be honest with myself and to stay accountable to God. 

Tomorrow

April Blog Challenge Day 3!

If you knew tomorrow was your last day on Earth what three things would you do?

 If I knew I was no longer going to be on Earth, there are so many things I would want to do, mostly involving travel.  I am too much of a realist though, to say I'd want to spend the majority of my last day on a plane.  :)  My day would most likely be divided between the following: eating, talking, and cuddling. 

1) I love food.  I would meet any and every one of my family members and close friends for a coffee, a snack, or a meal.

2) I love to talk, and most especially, I would call my sister in London for one last gut-busting chat.

3) I love my husband and would want to spend the most time with him, making a small dent in our Netflix and Hulu Plus queues.

So there you have it; nothing too fancy, just lots of love. 

My Condensed Life Story

 

 

 

The challenge of today is to tell my life story in 300 words or less, basically impossible for me, but I will try! Here are some of the things that define me. :)

 




I was born in Seoul, South Korea and placed in the arms of my adoptive parents 3 months later in Omaha, Nebraska.  My mom has always told the story of how we stopped in Fremont on our way home to Columbus at Burger King, and I cried the entire time she was inside.  To this day, I still dislike BK and can probably count on one hand the number of times I've actually eaten there.  

My first sister was born when I was 2 1/2 years old, and we have always been close even though she currently lives in the UK.  We share(d) a love of Nancy Drew, Beanie Babies, travel and wine, and an aversion to lentils.  My next sister came along when I was 9 1/2, and I definitely thought I was a great "mom" to her.  We both enjoy Sudoku, Nebrasketball, Burgers, SNL, and hashtagging things.  My favorite brother was born towards the end of my junior year of high school.  He will never progress past 10 years old in my mind, and even that’s a stretch (he just turned 12).  We both love football, the Olympics, laughing, talking, and Legos.

I met my husband the day I moved to Lincoln to attend UNL.  We were friends first, and although I had been going to church with Andi from Just Another Smith, Adam attended the same one, and I ended up catching rides with him instead.  We started dating that fall and will celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary this summer.  :) I am blessed to have a job I absolutely love while Adam finishes up graduate school, and after that, I can't wait to see what the next chapter(s) of our lives will bring! 

287 words!

Dance, Dance

This month I am taking part in a blog challenge hosted by Karissa from A Fresh Start on a Budget.  It looks fun, and I want to stay accountable and do a little writing every day, since I'm new to this. :)

The first prompt is:

What is one talent you wish you have that you don’t ?

 This is a toughie, because I have a whole laundry list of things I wish I was good at: photography, playing the piano by ear, singing, drawing....I could go on and on.  When it really comes down to it though, I wish I could Dance. 

I am quite possibly, the WORST dancer on earth.  I have zero idea how to move my body, and to top it all off, I am a super klutz.  I love watching all different genres, from hip hop to ballet.  I just marvel at how strong and graceful dancers are!  Maybe someday I will be brave enough to join an adult ballet class or go swing dancing, but for now, if any of you ask me to Zumba, my answer is still NO!

Blogging Challenge

Since I'm still a blogging newbie, I have been browsing around for some sort of challenge to take part in during April, and I believe I've found a winner.  Through Pinterest, I happened upon this challenge, and I can't wait to get started!  There are a lot of interesting prompts, and I hope you all will be entertained as you learn a little more about me.  :)

MóMó Pizzeria & Ristorante

Wednesday  night, I had zero idea what to make for dinner as I had plans to meet up with a couple of friends for sushi.  When said plans fell through, Adam was more than game to try out the new pizza place in town MóMó Pizzeria & Ristorante.  Featuring locally sourced, handmade dishes, MóMó is located in a freestanding building right next to Swimtastic.  All my mommy friends probably know where this is, but for those who don't, the restaurant is on the south side of Pioneers Boulevard and 77th, just off the Antelope Creek Trail.  I didn't see any bicycle parking upon arrival and forgot to look afterwards, so hopefully it's there and I just missed it. 

                                    

Now onto my first real blogging failure:  I neglected to get a picture of the front of the establishment, just a hurried snap as we walked ran through the 40 mph wind gusts towards the welcoming doors!  

Upon entering, we were greeted by a check in stand to the right and this gorgeous bar featuring a view straight into the wood hearth oven.  We were told the wait was 15-20 minutes, which isn't too bad, but we did notice the lack of a waiting area, so we awkwardly stood to one side of the doors.  Another option was to wait at the bar, but the stools were full, and we wanted to wait to drink with our meal. 

 

Gorgeous lighting fixtures.  Simple & modern, definitely my style. 

We started out with a couple of drinks: Hoegaarden for Adam and Zipline's Copper Alt for me.

 

Obviously we had to start off with the Salumi Platter: 3 house cured meats, olives, marinated red peppers, mostarda, and FRESH mozzarella. Seriously delicious. 

Pizzzzzza Time!  Prosciutto and egg for me and Italian Sausage for Adam.

Adam said his pizza was good, but next time he would ask for more char on his crust.  I am in love with eggs on pizza, and this one certainly delivered.  The richness of the yolk combined with the saltiness of the prosciutto and bitter arugula was on point.  It is currently towards the top of my favorite pizzas, and a solid number one on my list of egg topped pizzas.  :)

We weren't sure what to do about dessert.  I'm not a big fan of tiramisu; I've had too many that were dense, gloppy, and/or tasteless, but in the end we decided to go for it, and I'm so glad that we did!  The dish was incredibly light, and I'm not ashamed to say that I did a (hopefully) surreptitious finger swipe to get one last taste from a corner the extra large spoons couldn't reach. 

 

I am not usually this enthusiastic about new restaurants, especially ones on the south side of town.  I don't know if it's college nostalgia or what, but we almost always head down to the Haymarket for our dinners out.  All in all, I am eager to go back.  MóMó's menu had a lot of options, and I saw one particularly delicious looking salad being served to the table next to us.  If the wind ever goes away, we plan on taking a nice little ride on the trails over, so I will update when I figure out what kind of bicycle parking is available.  Thanks for reading, and if you try MóMó out, let me know your thoughts too!

One last thing, here's a shoutout to our waiter, Will, who was knowledgeable about the menu, and friendly without being annoying. :)

Daycare Fashion

Working in the childcare industry is not a glamorous occupation by any means.  In my opinion, it is one of the hardest jobs to dress for!  Ideally, I want to come across as professional and put together.  Realistically, 99% of my work day is spent down on floor level with older infants, so my outfits need to be comfortable, appropriate, and durable.

To be honest, this past winter was rough.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I find it hard to go shopping when it's cold out.  Peeling off all my layers and seeing my pasty skin in the dressing room mirrors isn't exactly appealing to me.  My lack of desire for shopping in the winter, usually means I have to rely on whatever I already have in my closet.  The frigid temperatures left me longing for comfort, so yoga pants or leggings and soft tees became my outfit of choice...so simple, comfortable, cheap, and easy to layer.  Thank goodness for a flexible dress code!  I really do love that about my job!

As springtime weather has slowly started to emerge, I am feeling more enthusiastic about outfit planning.  Here is what I wore today.  I had my eye on mustard yellow tights for a while and finally picked up a pair at Target a couple weeks ago on clearance for less than $4.  Score!  The kids definitely didn't know what to think about my legs, and I just have to share this story.  A 3 year old little boy followed me around this morning saying, "Liz, what's wrong?  Liz, what's wrong?"  When I asked what he meant, he said, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR LEGS?!"  I explained that I was wearing tights, and he responded with, "But they're yellow!" with an incredulous look on his face, "the color of THE SUN!"  According to his teacher he was concerned about my sunny legs for the rest of the morning.  So sweet!

                                               

                   

I was comfortable and able to move around in this outfit quite easily, as the skirt has just the right amount of length.  Are you as excited for spring and summer weather as I am?  I can't wait to break out more skirts and dresses (pro tip: when you spend a lot of time crawling around on the floor with babies, it's ALWAYS a good idea to wear shorts underneath!), as I find them so easy to wear and fun to style.  What is your favorite season to dress for?


Top: Banana Republic: (last Sept. $17.22 on clearance) seen here
Cardi: Target (old) similar
Skirt:  Banana Republic (Jan. 2014 $14.98 on clearance) available online
Tights: Target ($3.60 on clearance) similar, similar

Crunch Time

In 6 weeks and 6 days' time, I plan on sunning myself on the beaches of Valencia, Spain with my husband.  After enduring a winter of frigid temperatures and my lack of desire to purchase a gym membership, I'll admit my "abs" are a little softer than I would like!  About 2 weeks ago I happened across this pin and decided to give this pre-shower routine a shot.  Let's be honest:  I wake up at 5:30 AM during the weekdays and haven't yet done this at such an early hour.  Nor have I done this every evening (far from).  This little pin sits in the back of my mind, encouraging me to be more active daily.  For example, on Wednesday, instead of driving to the library to return a DVD, I ran!  Although my library is only about 3/4 of a mile away, I turned that short jaunt into over a 2 1/2 mile jog.

I have modified the original pin, doubling the jumping jacks, eliminating the plank, and adding burpees.

 

After doing this, with runs and long walks added in as well, I'm starting to see results already: a flatter tummy and more defined glutes.  Mainly, I'm just happy to have found something to motivate me to turn off Netflix and enjoy the warmer Spring temperatures!  

The Normandy

My mom is a fan of any and all things French, so I knew we had to try the new French restaurant in town: The Normandy.  It's located on the Northwest corner of 17th and Van Dorn, in a quaint little building that many may remember as the former site of El Sitio. Inside, we felt right at home at a table in the back corner.

The menu offered a selection of French comfort foods. Lunch was reasonably priced.  We each chose the $10 option which included an entree + appetizer.  For $15 you receive an entree + dessert.  Aaron ordered from the kids' menu which entailed a choice of entree with either an app or dessert for a total of $10.
Mom, Amy, and I each went for the creamy potato soup followed by the quiche du jour which happened to be Asparagus...a Chin family favorite veggie.  The quiche was served with a small salad of mixed greens and 2 tomato wedges seasoned simply with salt and pepper.

 Adam opted for the boeuf bourguignon, a hearty, classic French stew-like dish full of tender morsels of beef, carrots, and potato in a rich gravy.

He enjoyed the red wine flavor that shone through the sauce and actually admitted the potatoes were "not bad," a shocking statement from a man who has never liked potatoes. 

Aaron went for a grilled ham and cheese sans béchamel sauce. I'm pretty sure the FOUR mini desserts he received were the highlight of his meal!!

Savory or sweet, we all agreed our lunch  was delicieux and plan to return hopefully sooner rather than later!

Family Friday

My mom and brother decided to come down to Lincoln for part of their mid-winter break from school this past weekend.  We had quite a bit of fun planned: my sister Amy's birthday, the first annual PBL/March of Dimes Run/Walk for Babies on UNL's campus, a belated movie date for Aaron's February birthday, Malaysian Night, and my half-birthday.

As per usual, the highlights of my weekend were food experiences.  Friday night, Amy's 20th birthday, we headed out to The Parthenon, a popular local Greek restaurant.  Adam & I had been there once before for a holiday party, but it was the first time for everyone else.  As we were too busy talking, eating, and having a grand old time, I neglected to take any pictures, save for this shot taken by my camera-shy husband.

Note the insane amount of food we received.  Everything was delicious.  The standout dishes were the special lenten sides, most notably the broccoli with hazelnut butter and green beans with lemon-shallot butter.  Lip smacking good.  The standout of the evening was witnessing the following:
Waiter: What about you, buddy?  Know what you want?
Aaron: Leg of Lamb...
For those of you who know my family, this 12 year old boy always, ALWAYS, sticks to some sort of fried chicken or pizza at restaurants.  It made his food loving big(gest) sister so happy to see him brave the unknown!  Even better, he loved it!  Basically, we had the best time telling stories and laughing until our faces hurt.  Next time, we hope to bring Dad along.

Stay tuned, as we move from Greece to France on Saturday.

Welcome!

After giving this a lot of thought (several years' worth), I've decided to start a brand spanking new blog.  This is for my husband who has been encouraging me to put my thoughts about restaurants, food, recipes and travel out there for the world to see (yikes!) and for the 371 people on my Facebook friends list who are probably tired of seeing my poorly lit, sometimes half eaten photos of food.  Make no mistake, the photos featured throughout this blog will probably still be poorly lit, and the food shots may be missing a bite or two.  This is real life, people.  I hope you choose to join me on this journey.  Many thanks to the band Paramore and their song "Misery Business" for inspiring the name of my blog.