Time has flown by so fast over the past six months that my blog hasn't been able to keep up! So I'm dedicating this post to commemorate one of the busiest, hardest, and most exciting chapters of my life.
Here it is in pictures:
Surprise from my sweet Valentine
Michael ran the Augusta Half Marathon with church buddies
Batman and Robin at Match Day festivities
2nd Annual Vaughan-Baareman Garage Sale
Offer accepted on the new house!
Lake weekend with college friends
Laura's baby shower
Saying goodbye to my fantastic coworkers at Doctors
MCG School of Medicine - Class of 2012
Dr. and Mrs. Vaughan
Good times with family - including Michael's parents
Parting with dear friends, (Dr.) Jason and Laura
Going away party with our Berea church family
Goodbye to the Trollingers, our beloved home group hosts
Moving day - packing up for Southaven, MS
Lucy Baareman was born! Skype only for now.
First day as Dr. Vaughan!
With others from Christ Community Health Services
Lots of other great things have happened for us, like finding a great church, starting my new job, getting settled in our home, and meeting our neighbors. But more on most of that later...
Two weeks ago I mentioned in this post that I was planning to start Grant Horner's ten-chapter-per-day Bible reading plan. When I first heard about the plan I was seriously intimidated. But the more I thought about it, the more I decided it was just what I needed. Lately my attempts at consistent scripture reading have been plagued by these problems: a lack of direction (reading a little here and a little there), getting bogged down in more difficult sections, and looking for deep meaning in just a few verses but coming away scratching my head. This plan has an answer for each of these problems: a structure and prescribed reading amount for each day, a mixture of stories, instruction, and poetry/prophecy each day, and the expectation (already confirmed) that scripture will explain scripture. In other words, the more I read the more I understand, without diagramming each sentence or cross-referencing all kinds of verses I can't remember. The cross-referencing happens on its own.
I'm happy to say that by God's grace I just completed Day 15 of the plan. I've read 150 chapters of the Bible in the past two weeks!! That's ridiculous! And I absolutely love it! Reading on my phone (I highly recommend the ESV Bible App) means that I can read a little when I wake up, a little while I eat breakfast, a little in a work break, a little after dinner, and a little before bed. Or all together. I was skeptical that quick reading (not trying to absorb every detail) would allow me to finish in 45 minutes, but I think it usually takes me less than that.
I absolutely love how much of God's word I've been exposed to in this time. And I think the thing that really pushes me forward is seeing how much ground I've covered so quickly. So here's a look at what I've read in just a short time.
Matthew
Jesus is born, baptized, tempted, calls disciples, gives the Sermon on the Mount, heals a LOT of people, calms a storm, sends out the apostles, teaches in parables, feeds a LOT of people, walks on water.
Genesis
God creates the world, Adam and Eve sin, Cain kills Abel, Noah builds an ark, God sends the flood, God disperses the peoples from the Tower of Babel, God calls Abram, God gives Abram land, God makes a covenant with Abram.
Romans
God's wrath against sin is righteous. We are justified by faith. We are free from sin and slaves to righteousness. The law reveals sin, and sin takes advantage of the law. We live according to the Spirit, not the flesh. We are sons of God. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God shows wrath to some and mercy to others. Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. God will save the remnant of Israel and the Gentiles who are grafted in to his kingdom. We are to live sacrificially through love, service, rejoicing, prayer, humility, and peace. We should submit to earthly authorities. We shouldn't judge each other or cause each other to stumble.
1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy
God has not called us for impurity, but holiness. Jesus will return and take the saints with him. No one knows when Jesus will come back. Avoid idleness. Avoid false teachers. Christ came to save sinners. Prayer pleases God. Elders and deacons must meet requirements. The church is responsible to care for widows.
Job
Job is righteous and God allows Satan to take all he has to test him. Job suffers greatly, but does not curse God even though his friends think he has sinned to earn his hardships.
Psalms
God establishes/protects/hears the righteous and punishes/judges the wicked. God will send his Son. God's love is steadfast. Those who trust/fear God rejoice/give thanks. God's creation shows us his majesty. God does great things for us. God takes care of the poor.
Proverbs
Wisdom is one of God's greatest gifts. The way of sin leads to destruction. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Honor God with the firstfruits of your labor. Love reproof - it's good for you. Do not withhold good when it's in your power to give. Adultery leads to death. Be responsible with your money and work hard for it. God hates a liar. Righteousness is a better reward than riches. A wife can bring glory or shame to her husband. Words are powerful. Good parents are diligent in discipline. Blessed is he who gives to the poor. God sees everything and everyone. Seeking good advice leads to success.
Joshua
God leads Joshua to the promised land. Rahab hides the spies of Israel. God allows the nation of Israel to cross the Jordan on foot. Israel worships God, circumcises the new generation, and observes passover. Israel defeats Jericho, Ai, the Gibeonites, the Amorites, and lots of other people in Canaan. Land is distributed as inheritances for the tribes of Israel.
Isaiah
God will judge the wickedness of his people and destroy the earth. God will blot out their sins. God is weary of our religious rituals. God will humble his people. The remnant of Israel will be glorified. Isaiah has a vision of the Lord and he purifies his mouth and takes away his guilt. The son of God will be descended from David and will be called Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. God will destroy Babylon.
Acts
Jesus commissions the apostles and ascends into heaven. Matthias replaces Judas. The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost. The members of the church take care of each other in every way. Peter and John preach and heal people and are arrested, but released after giving witness. Ananias and Sapphira are struck dead after being dishonest about offerings to the church. Stephen is arrested, gives witness, and is stoned. Simon the magician tries to gain the power of the Holy Spirit for monetary gain, but is converted. Philip converts an Ethiopian eunuch. Saul, who persecuted the church, encounters Jesus and is converted to Paul, the missionary. God shows to Peter in a dream that no people or things are unclean. Peter preaches to the Gentiles and they receive the Holy Spirit. James is killed. Peter is imprisoned and later rescued by an angel. Barnabus and Saul go to Cyprus, Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra.
It's been a good two weeks, wouldn't you say?! Try it for yourself!
One of my goals when I started this blog was to keep track of my progress in reading books and record my thoughts about them. I even made a tab just for books, but as you can tell it hasn't seen much use. That's okay though, because I've spent some of the time that I would have been blogging reading instead (but mostly on facebook and pinterest).
So, instead of going book-by-book, I've decided to post a reading summary from the whole year, brief reviews of my top three favorites, and set some goals for next year's reading.
2011 Books
Mansfield Park - Jane Austen
The Mysterious Incident at Styles - Agatha Christie
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Financial Peace University - Dave Ramsey
Guide to Georgia Vegetable Gardening - Walter Reeves
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - Mark Haddon
Chosen by God - R.C. Sproul
Same Kind of Different As Me - Ron Hall, Denver Moore
Ministering Cross-Culturally - Sherwood G. Lingenfelter
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
The Help - Kathryn Stockett
The Tears of the Giraffe - Alexander McCall Smith
A Praying Life - Paul Miller
Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches - Russell Moore
Hudson Taylor - J. Hudson Taylor
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
Persuasion - Jane Austen
Some of these books I loved and others I didn't, but here are my thoughts on the top three books of 2011.
1. Chosen By God - R.C. Sproul
Written 25 years ago, this treatise on the doctrine of predestination has become a contemporary classic. I would highly recommend this book, not just to those who consider themselves Calvinists or reformed, but especially to those (like me, before I read this book) who have always thought of predestination as murky theological waters. It's not a big book, but it's dense, and it took me a few attempts to finish. This book, in combination with sermons from our church and others I've listened to online, has given me a much better understanding of the mysterious balance between the sovereign authority of God and his boundless grace.
2. The Help - Kathryn Stockett
I was one of the millions of people this year who read and loved this book. Set in Jackson, Mississippi at the beginning of the Civil Rights movement, this inspirational story examines the lives of black maids and the women they work for. This book was unexpectedly funny, lighthearted, and powerful. The characters were absolutely delightful and the Southern idioms were perfectly authentic. It's been a long time since I've allowed myself to become so consumed by a story, and like all wonderful books I was sad to put it down. If you've only watched the movie, which was wonderful, but lacked the richness of the book, do yourself a favor and read The Help.
3. Adopted for Life - Russell Moore
Michael got a free download of the audio version of this book from www.ChristianAudio.com (check out their 50% off sale on audio Bibles here) and once we started it I wanted to keep driving until we'd heard it all. I plan on purchasing a hard copy and going back to it over and over again. This book serves to remind the church that the gospel of Jesus is really about adoption: becoming the sons and daughters of God. Inasmuch as God has loved us and given us the rights of children without any prior claim to these blessings, so we as the church are to love orphans. Much like the relationship of Jesus and the church is mirrored in marriage, so the sovereign grace of God to sinners is mirrored in the relationship of adoption. Moore, who has adopted two children from Russia, addresses both the "why" and "how" of adoption without getting mired in details that don't apply to those of us who aren't parents in the process of adoption. This book confirmed our desire to adopt at least one child in the future, made us really excited about being parents someday, and moved us to marvel at the riches of God's grace in adopting us as his wayward children.
My Plan for 2012
One thing I found helpful this year was to keep a note on my phone with a list of books I'd read and ones that I wanted to read. Any time I got bogged down in one book I encouraged myself to press on so that I'd be able to move another title from the "To Read" list to the "Already Read List." So, here are some books leftover from my phone list from 2011.
2012 Reading List
Money, Possessions, and Eternity - Randy Alcorn
A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
2020 Vision - Bill and Amy Stearns
The Girl w the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
Knowing God - J.I. Packer
In the Skin of a Lion - Michael Ondaatje
The Master Plan of Evangelism - Robert E. Coleman
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Sacred Marriage - Gary Thomas
Sookie Stackhouse series - Charlaine Harris
Make the Bread, Buy the Butter - Jennifer Reese
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting - Milan Kundera
I've had a recent exciting development when it comes to reading. In addition to the iBooks app that allows me to read classic public domain novels for free, my new Audiobooks app (the $1.99 version, not the free one) lets me listen to the same books on my phone. Of course, listening to these books makes a long drive fly by and helps me plow through books I might otherwise not finish. But my new favorite thing to do is to turn on an audiobook while I'm doing housework. It's always a struggle for me to put away laundry (clean or dirty) in the bedroom and to iron my clothes for work. But fortunately these tasks are quiet enough that I can focus on the book while I'm cleaning and the work is over in just a few chapters. So here's a list of public domain books I'm hoping to read and/or listen to over the next year.
Public Domain
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
Secret Adversary - Agatha Christie
Peter Pan - J.M. Barrie
Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
2012 Scripture Reading
In addition to these books, I'm excited to have a plan for scripture reading this year. Michael recently found this post from Tim Challies about a 10-Chapter-Per-Day reading plan. This sounded like insanity to me, since I haven't been consistent in scripture reading since we got married. But after thinking about it, I think it's going to work well. The idea is to read a large quantity of the Bible quickly rather than steeping slowly in a short passage. Instead of reading 10 consecutive chapters (which inevitably means getting bogged down), you read a chapter from each daily: the gospels, the Pentateuch, the New Testament letters (two daily), the Old Testament wisdom literature, the Psalms, the Proverbs, Acts, and the Old Testament History and Prophetic books. The quick pace of this plan means that by the end of the year I will have read through each of these sections multiple times. It also means that if I get behind I still will have covered enough ground to maintain my progress. Check out this link to download the reading plan and handy bookmarks to keep you in the right places.
So, what do you think? Are there any books you would add to my list?
You may remember from this post that earlier this year I was learning to make a cake for my brother's wedding in Brazil. I read articles, perused books, watched video tutorials, and practiced, practiced, practiced. I packed 30 pounds of fondant in my suitcase. I was all ready, and yet when it was time to bring everything together it was a lot harder than I expected. The ingredients were slightly different than their American counterparts, the equipment and workspace were unfamiliar, and the humidity was off the charts.
I wish that I could say that despite these obstacles all my preparations enabled me to still craft the cake into the masterpiece I was hoping for. In reality, the cake was crooked and bumpy and sticky - not quite what I had planned. But like a Food Network challenge, the most important accomplishment is moving the cake and displaying it in one piece. And I was proud to do that with a ton of help from my family and Beta's!
My sweet husband and Aunt Beth helped me from start to finish!
The finished product. The florist was nice enough to
cover up the slanted side for me!
Don't be disappointed folks - the cake saga doesn't end there. Since only a small part of our family could make it down to Brazil, Steven and Beta had a second celebration when she finally made it to the US in October. This gave me a chance to make another cake in my own home, using my own ingredients. I wanted it to be different than the first one, so I chose a square buttercream cake with light, refreshing flavors. I looked at elaborate designs, but ultimately chose a simple one that I knew would turn out just right.
I got my original inspiration from this Epicurious tutorial for a lemon raspberry wedding cake. I love the sweet and simple design she uses, but it wasn't what I was going for with this cake, so I just used it for the recipes and assembly instructions. It's always hard for me to estimate how much cake, frosting, and filling I will need, so even though the proportions are a little different for a 12", 8", and 4" square cake, the recipe served as a good guideline.
Since a few of the reviews for the white cake recipe said it was a little dry I made this White Almond Sour Cream Cake using a doctored cake mix instead. It's very similar to the chocolate cake I used for Erin's jungle shower cake and Teresa's sunflower ganache cake. This was, in my totally biased opinion, much more moist and delicious than your average wedding cake.
For the buttercream frosting (arguably the most important part), I used the Meringue Buttercream listed in the tutorial. It's slightly sweeter and fluffier than the recipe I usually use, but it still sets up perfectly in the fridge.
I wasn't so confident about the lemon curd recipe in the tutorial since it mentioned straining it for egg solids. I've had the unpleasant experience of straining lemon-flavored scrambled eggs out of one batch of lemon curd before and didn't want to do that for 12 cups worth. So, I found this recipe from Alton Brown that uses egg yolks only. This meant that the leftover yolks from making frosting went to good use, and straining wouldn't be necessary since the white is what turns into those annoying chewy bits.
With my recipes ready, it was time to get cooking. Unfortunately, since Michael was out of town and I was trying to work quickly, I only took two pictures of this process! I made the frosting and lemon curd about a week before the wedding since it keeps well in the refrigerator. Then I baked the cake layers on Monday before the wedding. Similar to my other cakes, I baked two cake layers in each size. Then, I leveled off the top of each layer and split them into two. So altogether I had four layers of cake in each size.
On Tuesday I filled the layers. First, I spread lemon curd onto a layer using the suggested amount as a guideline (keeping in mind that my cakes were slightly different sizes). Then, I arranged raspberries on top of the lemon curd so that every piece would have at least one. When that was done, I topped it with another layer and repeated until all four were filled and stacked. Then I did the same thing for the other two tiers.
Each cake tier sat on a piece of cardboard cut to size.
That night I applied my crumbcoat of buttercream to each tier. First, I refrigerated the tiers to firm up the lemon curd a bit. Then I scraped off any extra lemon curd that had dripped down the side (it's pretty thin compared to frosting). When the tiers were cold and clean I spread frosting on the tops and sides and scraped off any excess, leaving a thin, smooth coat. I refrigerated all three of the crumbcoated tiers overnight.
On Wednesday, I applied the outer layer of frosting. With the cake still cold, I spread on more frosting than I typically would. Then, I used this super-handy decorating comb to make a scalloped pattern in the frosting. It was even easier than I was expecting. All I did was drag one side of the comb through the frosting, looking down from the top to be sure I was getting a straight line. I figured that once I made the design I wouldn't be able to touch it up without ruining it. But it was actually really easy to fix any mistakes by swiping them again with the comb.
On Thursday I left the cake in the fridge and packed for the wedding. : ) But on Friday, I drove the two-and-a-half hours to my parents' house with the cake. I traveled with the tiers unstacked and set on sticky shelf liner to keep them from sliding. When I reached my destination two of my tiers had melted a little bit and one was bumped on one side. The great thing about buttercream cakes is that you can keep applying the frosting over and over until you're happy with it. So I refrigerated the tiers until they were cold again and then applied more frosting and smoothed it back into shape. As you can tell from this picture of the cake being served, I kept applying frosting until it was perfect, and that meant I used way too much!
Four layers of lemony goodness. Yum!
On the day of the wedding I took the cake to the church and stacked it there. My friend Katie who you met here helped me stack the cake and seal the tiers. Then, we (mostly she because I was a little frantic with the responsibilities of the day) clipped bunches of green hydrangeas and perched them on the corners of the cake.
Perfect. I love hydrangeas!
With Katie the chef. Soon to be Katie the mom!
And as usual, I look like a giant next to her!
I was so pleased with how it turned out! It looked just right with the decorations and I thought it was absolutely delicious! Here are more pictures of that beautiful day.
My brother's second wedding cake.
The bride and groom cutting the cake.
I think they liked it!
My family with the happy couple. So glad Beta's here!
Almost five months ago I did something I never thought I would do: I paid someone to peel back a flap of my cornea and burn off part of my eye with a laser. Some people dream of getting LASIK, but for me it was a scary, but reasonable, solution to a problem.
I started wearing glasses when I was five years old. They were Pepto-Bismol pink with pictures of Minnie Mouse on the earpieces. In other words, they were awesome!
Love the frames, the bangs, and the toothy grin!
Growing up, I never had negative feelings toward my glasses. I actually called them my best accessory. As I got older and more of my friends started wearing contacts I still didn't think I needed them - until the junior prom. Since that day in 11th grade, I've always felt that dressing up involves ditching my glasses. In fact, I wore contacts almost every day, special or not, of my college career.
Around the time that I finished college (three-and-a-half years ago!) I started having intermittent problems with irritation when I wore my contacts. I began to wear them only for special occasions. Eventually it got to the point that within a few hours of putting them in, my eyes would turn bright pink, tears would start streaming down my face, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Not fun.
In glasses for graduation. It was also the day after we got engaged.
While I know many people who have worn glasses every day of their adult lives (including both of my parents), I just wasn't okay with hiding behind frames for every special occasion. At a visit to the ophthalmologist's office I learned that my options were 1. just wear glasses, 2. try hard contacts (a $200 experiment that probably wouldn't work), or 3. get LASIK.
Michael got LASIK as a college graduation gift and has had great results, so we knew what to expect. And the cost at Eye Care One, $3,000 for both eyes, was significantly lower than his cost. While that's a hefty price tag that wasn't covered by insurance, if I can go 10-15 years without glasses, contacts, and expensive fittings I will easily recoup my investment. Also, I won't need to pay for vision insurance or regular check-ups. I will likely need to get reading glasses when I develop age-related far-sightedness, but, I should never need bifocals, and I probably won't need glasses for most activities.
On the day of the surgery I was accompanied by Michael and both of my parents. It did feel a little silly to have my own cheering section for a procedure that took about fifteen minutes. But was I glad they were there? Definitely. The doctor talked us through the procedure, gave me my valium, and left us to nibble on cookies until I was a little mellowed out. I don't know if the valium calmed me down, but it certainly made me sleepy, which helped me focus on finishing things up and going back to bed!
When it was time for the surgery I walked into a dim room and laid on what looked like a reclined dentist's chair. The doctor chatted with me while he taped my eyelashes down, gave me numbing drops, and got everything settled. Then the room went dark, he pried my eyes open with a speculum, and fixed what felt like a vice on one of my eyes. This was the worst part because of the pressure he had to apply. It made me very uncomfortable, but was necessary to keep my eye open and still. During the procedure he talked with me to tell me what he was doing. Although, looking back, he never said anything like, "Now I'm going to cut into your eyeball with a tiny cheese slicer," but that's what it looks like he did on the video! : )
Warning: DO NOT watch this video if you're squeamish! Or if you're thinking about getting LASIK and seeing something a little scary will change your mind. Seriously.
While he was working, my job was to focus on a series of flashing lights above me. I was worried that I would look away and cause a disaster, but since the lights were all I could see and I couldn't shut my eyes that wasn't a problem. It was really odd to have my eyes open that long, but the doctor wet them at a few points in the surgery, which helped.
He finished one side quickly and moved on to the other, which took more time. The vice had more pressure on this side, and I did groan a little bit despite my promise to myself that I wouldn't be a weanie. Although it was uncomfortable, when I was all done I could read a clock on the other side of the room! I was a little nervous because my vision was very hazy, but immediately better than it had been without glasses.
Check out my sweet goggles!
My family drove me home in goggles, which I continued to wear for the next 24 hours. The doctor instructed me to sleep all day, which I was super excited about for the first four-or-so hours. After that, I needed medication to help me sleep, but also spent some time chatting with my eyes closed. The next day, it was a little uncomfortable to focus on words to gauge my reading, but my distance vision was great. I was more tired than usual for a few days, probably from the swelling in my eyes, but by the third post-op day I was back to normal. My surgery was on a Thursday, I went on a family trip Friday through Sunday, and on Monday I was back at work with no problems.
A little swollen right after surgery, but feeling good!
Two days post-op: in the mountains with family.
At this point I've made it through the 3-month post-op evaluation process and I'm doing great. I do have to use eyedrops every morning when I wake up and as-needed due to dryness. This is apparently a problem I had before that was just exacerbated by the surgery. At my last appointment my vision had regressed very slightly (still better than 20/20) from my previous check, so we're checking it again in a few months to be sure things stabilize. At worst, this could mean that I'll need a revision of the surgery. Michael had to do this and, while unpleasant, he hasn't had a single problem since.
So, would I get LASIK again? Absolutely! The funny thing about it is that I rarely think about it since my vision is about the same as it was with correction. But when I'm swimming, or running, or on an international flight, or dressing up for a special occasion I remember that all of these things were more complicated before LASIK, and I'm very pleased with my investment.
I hope this post answered some of your questions about the surgery. Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know!
Don't tell anyone, but lately I've been in a vegetable rut. In fact, if I didn't have the letters "RD" after my name I might just live off of cereal, ice cream, and Nutella. But I don't. You may have noticed that the recipes I feature in the "What's Cooking" box usually don't include a ton of veggies and you might be thinking that we should have scurvy. But never fear, we're not deficient yet.
During our first year of marriage, I cooked two or three elaborate meals each week. They usually included a green and yellow vegetable and meant that I a) didn't spend enough time with my husband and b) had lots of leftover produce rotting in my fridge. Eventually I realized that cooking random veggie side dishes was a big drain on our time and budget, so since then most of our veggies have been the frozen steam-in-bag variety, salad, or extras incorporated into our main dish. These options are so easy that we have no excuse to fall short of our quota and they seriously reduce waste. But they can also get tiresome.
Lately I've missed being excited about vegetables instead of just scarfing them down between bites of meat or pasta, so I decided to experiment with some fresh and flavorful recipes that feature fantastic produce. Here are a few ways that we've been eating our veggies lately: Cheesy Zucchini and Red Onion Flatbread
This is delicious. The recipe calls for canned pizza dough, but I thought fresh dough from the Publix bakery would be better. I'm sure this is way better, but it doesn't really work right with the technique described in the recipe. I will definitely make this again, but next time I'll keep the dough flat instead of folding it in half. I also might try reduced-fat veggie cream cheese in place of the Alouette.
Chewy, cheesy, and delicious!
Rolling the fresh dough didn't work, so I stretched it instead.
The recipe calls for an extra layer of cheese and herbs in the crust.
I wanted to use all my zucchini, so I crammed it on!
The fresh dough puffed in the oven - no folding next time!
I grew up in a family of salsa purists, but ever since we tried Newman's Own Peach Salsa, Michael and I both prefer our salsa with a sweet kick. This recipe has a similar tangy, sweet flavor that I just can't get enough of. Although, next time I'll use about half the pickling spice because it was a little strong. Also, I nixed the pears since I had plenty of peaches and I think it's probably best without them.
Warning: this took a long time to make thanks to all the peeling and chopping. Do yourself a favor and check out this quick tutorial on blanching and peeling tomatoes and peaches before you start. Oh, and by the way, this recipe makes a gallon! I cut it in half and we will still never finish it, so choose your yield wisely.
I hated eggplant as a child and I still don't really like it, but when I wound up with free seeds I decided I had to grow some. I was expecting tons of eggplant to experiment with and adjust my taste buds, but after waiting all season for two tiny fruits I decided to play it safe with this fried and cheese-covered favorite. It doesn't disappoint.
This is the perfect way to revive your salad habit. Go crazy and throw in some croutons and olives and toss with this tangy dressing. It's not just like the restaurant dressing as it claims - I added some extra corn syrup and garlic salt to balance the flavor, but it seriously hit the spot. Serve it with soup and breadsticks for a satisfying restaurant-style meal.
Doesn't look that appealing by itself, but it's tasty.
Sometimes a few croutons go a long way in making me excited about salad!
I LOVE sweet potatoes, but I hate to wait for them to cook. I also don't like heating up the oven to cook them. So even though I could eat these super-nutritious sweeeties every day (I just about did for my first two years of college), we hardly ever eat them at home. Until now! This is so easy you can't even call it cooking, and I think it tastes better than oven-baking. The recipe calls for five sweet potatoes, but I nestle two snuggly in my little two-quart slow cooker and they're perfect - it just depends on how many will fit. And if one sticks out, just cut the tip off and cram it in - it'll be just fine. I don't pay attention to the time - just cook them on low all day long. These are great by themselves or used in recipes like casseroles, soups, and this yummy-looking gnocchi I plan to make soon.
I don't have any pictures of these, but they're gooey and browned just like they would get in the oven. We just might eat a ton of them before fall is over!
I hope I've inspired you to show your veggies a little more love. You won't regret it! Can you think of any other tasty favorites I left out?
Now that we've discussed the games and food, let's get down to the main business of showers: the gifts. When it comes to gift-giving, registeries are life-savers for the giver and receiver. But sometimes I choose to give off-registry because I want to give something special, I'm trying to save money, and/or the person receiving the gift didn't register (especially in the case of moms with previous kids). I love to be creative with gifts, but what's most important to me is to give things that will be appreciated and useful. Here's a list of my favorite creative shower gifts:
For Baby Showers
Last year I was invited to showers for 14 babies. True story. I love each of those babies, but if I had bought my typical $30-35 gift for each of them, that would have totaled almost $500!!! So I learned to make cute gifts that any mom would be able to use - burp cloths. These are especially great because even if the mom has 10 other kids, they can always use more! I can also make them more substantial gifts for close friends or family by putting them in a container (small hamper, tub, etc.) from their registry or making a gift basket with bath essentials, feeding items, socks, or onesies.
Before you think I'm a master seamstress, let's get one thing straight: this is the only thing I know how to sew. But I've made a ton of them. They only involve sewing straight lines, so if you can manage to thread the machine (which works by "magic" as my much more experienced mother told me), you can make these. Just be sure to wash and dry them before you gift them so you can fix anything that might unravel with washing - this has helped me refine my technique.
I'm going to post the links I used to figure these out, but promise you won't start making them for any of my friends! I've already bought enough diapers and fabric to make these for every baby gift for the rest of my life! I'm serious!!
Ruffles and paisley - perfectly girly!
The safari animal print is my all-time fave!
Color-block with denim: a gender-neutral option. (But I love pink and blue!)
For Bridal Showers
At my friend Teresa's shower last weekend (read about it here and here) I gave her a copy of my favorite cookbook complete with my comments, suggestions, and substitutions, plus a cookbook stand and some cutting boards from her registry. It gave me motivation to cook a bunch of recipes I'd been meaning to try for a while, and I think it hit the balance between a heart-felt gift and giving her things she really needs. This idea can be easily customized. If there's something you're good at making and you think the bride would enjoy it (or if you see she's registered for a related item), give a gift along with your suggestions for using it. For example, if you're an ice cream fanatic, give an ice cream maker or bowls with spoons along with your favorite Rocky Road recipe. If you're into grilling, wrap up some utensils with a batch of homemade spice rub or sauce. The possibilities are endless.
Oh, how I love Ina and her beautiful, tasty food!
Another great gift is a recipe binder full of your family's favorite recipes. My friend Amanda gave me one as a wedding gift and everything I've made from it has been great! I love gifts like this because the food we eat with our families is sacred to us and sharing it makes us closer.
For Lingerie Showers
For something unique and unexpected, give Custom Rhinestone Panties from Custom Glam Girl! My friend Haley (you met her in the previous posts) gave me a pair of these at my lingerie shower and they were one of my very favorite wedding gifts. They're hot pink, say "Mrs. Vaughan" across the back, and may be the first thing I owned with my married name on it! They make me smile every time I see them. And yes, I did just describe my underwear on the world wide web... Buy these the next time you need a lingerie gift!
Any fellow creative gifters out there? Tell us about your favorites!
