Mavis

Adventuring and Getting Creative in the Kitchen

Pittsburgh has been getting some warmer weather and sunshine lately! So much so that we mowed our lawn twice this week and it was warm enough for Mavis and I to take a little adventure to a creek near our house.

Cocker spaniel puppy by water

This was her first experience with a body of water and she was definitely curious, but not super into it. Lola enjoys water, so I wish she had been with us to show Mavis how fun it is, but I’m not confident taking two dogs by the water with an almost 20 week baby bump, lol.

The warmer weather has me dreaming of gardening, too. Jimmy and I were back and forth on starting a garden this year since our baby is due in September and we have done like zero things to prepare for his or her arrival, but we figured we’ll just make the garden smaller this year and if it gets neglected, then oh well. We love gardening too much to give it up 🙂

I’ve been having fun in the kitchen lately! I think my favorite way to cook and bake is to see what we have on hand and then improvise and create meals or treats out of those items.

Tabbouleh ingredients cucumber, tomato, green onions, bulgur and quinoa mix, and lemonTabbouleh

I realized we had some of the classic tabbouleh ingredients on had yesterday, so I improvised off of this recipe and our little side dish turned out wonderfully!

I had also bought a container of cocoa powder and was in the mood for cookies, so I made these chocolate drop cookies and highly recommend the recipe. It’s simple and they definitely hit the spot.

King Arthur Flour Chocolate Drop Cookies on cooling rack

Other ways I’ve been creative in the kitchen lately include whipping up my favorite homemade baked beans and adding some extra spices, making a strawberries and cream oatmeal creation, and cooking cereal bars with marshmallow fluff, vanilla Chex, and Mr. Goodbars.

Alright, I better get going. I’m having my mother-in-law, mom, and sister over this evening and need to clean up our house a bit! I got the kitchen all cleaned from the aforementioned cooking and baking, but the rest has been a bit neglected 😉

Do you like to get creative with cooking and baking?

Blessings and a Sleepover

Jimmy and I have felt so cared for and blessed lately. Today marks the 19th week of this pregnancy, and we have been given some wonderful hand-me-downs that have our hearts so full! It’s also making things feel so real!

I saw my friend (and fellow blogger/vlogger), Kim on Saturday and she gifted me a huge box of baby clothes and a wrap from her kids, Annabelle and Jackson. I spent some time going through every item and was incredibly overwhelmed by her generosity.

Baby clothes and hat

I can’t even deal with that raccoon sleeper. So cute!

Also, a friend at church asked Jimmy and I if we wanted a used stroller. We were totally on board and offered to buy it, but she just gave it to us. We unpacked the stroller on Sunday afternoon and were super excited about it and all the features. What a blessing. Also, seeing my husband get excited over a stroller totally made my day 🙂

These gifts have me wanting to give to others as much as we have been given to. It’s just amazing to see the ways in which God has provided for us lately (and always) and to reflect on that.

As for the sleepover, I spent the night at my parents’ house on Friday and had a blast hanging out with my mom and dad. Is that dorky to say? I don’t even care. I’m beyond thankful to have such a wonderful relationship with my parents.

Mother and daughter

My mom was able to feel baby kick on Friday night, which was surreal. Three generations just kicking back on the couch… literally, lol.

We hung out with our dogs (I brought Mavis along), went shopping for maternity clothes, my mom braided my hair, and I made a pot of black bean soup for my parents to have on hand for the week as a little gift for having Mavis and I over. Of course I had to taste test a bowl to make sure it was good 😉

Black bean soup with lime and cilantro and sandwich on the sideBlonde hair french braided into a ponytailBuff colored cocker spaniel and parti colored cocker spaniel puppy sitting together

Since I can’t stop with the vlogs lately, I filmed one while I was with my parents and I’m so glad I did. I love looking back on old vlogs because there are so many things I forget about. This one is already such a sweet memory to look back on.

Tell me a blessing in your life lately!