Today's Coffee: Trader Joe's Sumatra

Well, I did it. 

I deactivated my facebook account yesterday morning. Uhm, it took multiple steps and pages. Also, my internet cut out just as I clicked the confirm button. Did facebook know I was leaving? (That's a joke)

Today I want to write about 2 things:

1. A recital coming up in March

-and-

2. Corned Beef and Cabbage

Here's the first. 

The poster is pretty self explanatory, but I'll talk about it for a moment anyways. 

Covenant Presbyterian Church has many stained glass windows. T has decided to perform a series of recitals where he plays pieces that meditate on each window. This first recital will cover the Biblical covenants and the Trinity rose window. You can read about each individual  window here:

 Covenant Presbyterian Church - Sanctuary 

I would encourage anyone in the area to come and listen to some wonderful music (some of which has never been recorded before - to our knowledge - ). The recital is at 5:00pm and not later because we didn't want it to be dark and therefore not be able to see the windows themselves. These particular windows are on the left side of the sanctuary, so you may want to sit on the right side. 

And #2: Corned Beef and Cabbage

This is one of my favorite meals. Thank you Dad for making this for us when we were kids. 

Here is my 'recipe'

Chop up onions and carrots and potatoes.
I don't know how many you want, I want the whole bottom lined.
Add 4 cups of water.  

Lay your beef on top.
Pour a bottle of beer over it.
I used Guinness because it was in our fridge. I don't know if I would use anything too hoppy. 

Remember that little packet of flavor-goodness that came packed in the with corned beef?  I hope you found it and didn't drop it in with the beef...
Anyways, sprinkle that on top.
Set on Low for 8 hours.
The smell... is amazing. All day your house will smell amazing. 

After about 8 hours, knife the cabbage into thick wedges. I have to cut a little smaller to get it all to fit.
Then, let it cook on Low for 1.5 hours.
Then, serve with malt vinegar.
I have no after pics... we ate it too quickly!

How do you make your corned beef and cabbage? I'm always looking for new ways to make it even better. 

Now for the obligatory pics of a cutie pie:

This was W's outfit yesterday. Hard to believe he's going to be 2 on Monday!

This morning he discovered he could stretch his t-shirt over his knees and look silly. 

In Christ,

Julie

Today's Coffee: Trader Joe's Sumatra

Last night was a big night in the Russell House. 

First, our dinner. A very simple (only 3 ingredients?!) crock-pot meal. I have been using this blog for most of our paleo crock-pot meals. The link takes you right to our dinner recipe. 

Paleo Kielbasa and Super Kraut

Sauerkraut in the bottom of your crock-pot, topped with shredded red cabbage, covered on top with sliced kielbasa. Then, set on low for 4-5 hours. I was nervous... I mean, I like sauerkraut... but as a main portion of my meal? I wasn't sure, but it ended up being not as 'lip-puckering' as I thought it might be. W would only eat the sausage, but I may have been reaching for the stars thinking he would want to eat cabbage and kraut.

And W - taught him how to really cheese it for the camera

After this amazing meal (that was also easy on the wallet and paleo!) we then built a blanket fort. T was a proud dad last night. I think he's been waiting for the day that he and W could build forts together and play in them!

I love W's smile, dimples,  and his double chin. LOOK AT THE CUTENESS!!!!

To finish off the evening, we turned all the lights off and gave W a flashlight.  We  'explored'  our house. :)

Overall, what a great evening together! We usually try to go on a Family Date on Tuesdays, but we totally forgot until after dinner!

Also, enough talking about me getting off facebook... right? So, I'm doing it. This will be my last post I put on facebook. I'm praying that my attitude towards my brothers and sisters will be nourished and edified as I hope to spend less time in my day coveting, judging and just wasting time (which is what I found myself doing on facebook - and the Lord has convicted me of this). Again, send me your address to be pen-pals!

In Christ,

Julie

Today's Coffee: Cafe Espresso with a small bit of coconut oil

It snowed a few days ago. We were so excited to get W out in the snow, but getting him dressed for the chilly air was a lot of work. He didn't want to wear his mittens but he had to. He loved it, even though all he wanted to do was push his red plastic car around. 

Other things W is doing and getting into:

1. Dipping food - he will eat just about anything if he can dip in something. It doesn't have to be covered/smothered, just the act of putting the carrot or cauliflower in a separate bowl and 'dipping' it is enough. We've wised up and started watering down the ketchup or bbq sauce though. 

2. About 80% of the time that I turn around and look at him in the carseat when I'm driving, he has both pointer fingers up his nose. So, great. 

3. He loves putting on chapstick... and eating it. 

4. He is now saying (not with sign language) "no" and "more." He also can say "basketball", "Bob" (as in, the builder), and "blueberry." 

5. For Valentine's Day, Thomas and I went to Krispie Kreme and ordered a dozen hot and now. We ate some, came home and went to bed. The next morning, we were all awake and upstairs when Wilson slides himself down the stairs. He's gone for a few minutes and it's been too quiet. We peek into the living room to discover
HE'D TAKEN ALL OUR DONUTS!!!

He was so proud of himself. He also ended up being a crazy-man for the rest of the day. Never before has my child consumed that much sugar (we're trying that parenting style of 'blueberries are the sweetest thing he eats'). 

As far as paleo is going, we. love. it. 
We love the food we make and we love making the food. Every recipe is good. And, when we have to grab something quick on the go... we can taste the difference. Last night was a Coconut Chicken Apple Curry dish served over Riced Cauliflower. 

We are also searching for a house. We are going to see one today. It's close to all the places we go already, but the house isn't in the best part of town. It's the only house to pop up on the more West side of town. So, thoughts on West Nashville? I've read articles saying that it's "more up and coming, but still has some rough spots"  - would you live in West Nashville? If you have thoughts about it, please let me know soon! The house is super super cute, and well within our price range. We just don't know a lot about the area. And crimemapping.com makes every neighborhood look really awful. Thanks!

Today is a rare Saturday that we don't have anything planned. And by that, I mean, I teach one lesson and we have to go to the Farmer's Market and we are looking at a house. So pretty easy going for us! I'm excited to see where this day takes us and our sweet little Donut-Napper!

In Christ,
Julie

P.S. - Prayers appreciated for the house search (uhm, why didn't we know it was stressful?) and for me - I'm going to the dentist on the 25th. 'Nuff said. :)