Memorial Day Recap

I don't know if it's the fact that the school year is winding down and there are a million little things I have to remember right now (e.g. send in money for teacher gifts, send in food for class parties, finish school projects, etc., etc.) or the fact that we had one whirlwind of a weekend, but man... I'm TIRED!

I'm not complaining though because it was one of the most fun weekends we've had in a long time.

Friday night, Brian and I went to the Darius Rucker concert at an outdoor amphitheater. We went with a fun group of couples who were mostly parents from Parker's class. And since we were also celebrating on of the gals birthdays, they arranged for a limo to take us to the concert. I couldn't tell you the last time I was in a limo!

We had a really great time! The weather was perfect and Darius Rucker put on a really great show. Highly recommend seeing him in concert if you ever get the chance.

The next day, we met my brother and his family for a minor league baseball game in Lakeland (which is half way between both of our houses). Again, excellent weather and such a fun event. We sat in our seats for the first 6 innings and then made our way out to the grassy knoll area where the kids could run around like wild banshees.

Such cutie pies! Joel & Payton are in the back, then Parker & Natalie, and Camryn is sitting in front.

Then, much to our surprise, after the game, there was an after party at the stadium where they had live music, face painting, a balloon artist, and a caricature artist. The best part?? It was all FREE!!! We couldn't believe it! The kids were in heaven.

And then once it was dark, they had an incredible fireworks show. It was quite spectacular with the flag flying proudly in the background.

After the game, we drove back to my brother's house and spent the night. The next morning after church, all the boys (minus Parker) went golfing, while the rest of us enjoyed a relaxing day at home.

Both my dad and my niece have birthdays in the next week, so my parents drove over and we had a little birthday celebration for both of them. The cake my brother got was so cute.

Later that afternoon, we went to their community pool - which is more like a resort pool - and the kids had a ball swimming and playing together.

We spent the night at my brother's house again that evening, and had the best time just sitting on their back patio well into the night talking, laughing and enjoying an incredible bottle of wine that my brother brought back from his last trip to Italy.

With full hearts and tired eyes, we headed back to Tampa the next morning. And after a lazy day spent around the house, we walked over to our neighbor's house for a Memorial Day party that evening.

There was SO much food there (I may have had like 5 slices of my neighbor's homemade fig, prosciutto, and arugula flatbread). Catching up with all our neighbors and friends was the perfect way to end the weekend.

Phew! What an adventurous weekend it was! So fortunate to have such awesome friends and family to celebrate with over a holiday weekend.

Here's to one more week of school; and then... SUMMER TIME!!!

Recipe: Slow Cooker Boneless Pork Chops

Happy Friday everyone! Dropping in real quick today to share a delicious recipe that works great for a busy weeknight meal.
Kinda embarrassing to admit, but I had never made boneless pork chops before. And I rarely make bone-in pork chops because I usually over-cook them and they come out tough.
But Publix recently had boneless pork chops on sale, so I thought I'd give them a try.
My past experience with tough meat made me think that possibly cooking them in the Crock Pot would yield a more tender meat. Boy, was I right!
These were fork tender and so flavorful!

Here's the recipe:

Savory Slow Cooker Pork Chops

Ingredients:

• 4 Pork Chops (I used boneless, but I'm sure either one would be great)
• 1/4 cup EVOO
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning, I used McCormick's
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Spray Slow Cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In a bowl (or straight in the Slow Cooker), whisk together all of the ingredients
3. Cut a small slit into the middle of each pork chop and place in the Slow Cooker.

4. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 6-8 hours. Periodically baste the pork chops with the liquid.

I served these over mashed potatoes and the boys went crazy for them! They are seriously so flavorful. I did however forget to take a finished photo - sorry! But trust me, it's delicious.

I will warn you though, when it's cooking, it's a pretty strong garlic/paprika smell. So if you don't want your house smelling like that all day, I recommend plugging your Slow Cooker in on your porch. That's what I do when I'm cooking something particularly fragrant, and it works great! :)

Hope you will try this recipe sometime next week and let me know how it turns out. Maybe even send me a photo. ;)

Mother's Day Recap

I hope all you moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day. I know for most moms, it's a day to be showered with love and attention from your kiddos, but I also know from experience that Mother's Day can be difficult for a lot of women.

My sweet Aunt said Mother's Day is very "bittersweet" since losing her daughter 4 years ago at the young age of 35. I have no doubt that the day brings some sadness to anyone who has lost their own mother, no matter how long it's been. And personally, I know the day can be difficult if  you have been trying to become a mother for years and years and still have not been able to conceive. There are many reasons why the day can be tough on some, but overall, the idea of Mother's Day is to celebrate the hard-working, compassionate, loving women in our lives. Whether they actually gave birth to us, or have been like a mother figure in our lives, a day set apart to thank these women is so important.

I count myself extremely blessed to have such a fantastic mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunts, and many other motherly figures in my life. They are all so important to me and they have all played a part in making me the mom that I am today.

For me, Mother's Day is a day (or weekend) to relax, take a little break from the day-to-day tasks of motherhood, and really enjoy my family. 

Friday morning, Parker's class had a special "Muffins with Mom" event where they presented us with adorable handmade keepsakes and had some little breakfast items for us to enjoy. It was so sweet.

That evening, Brian and I  attended an outdoor musical that was directed by one of our good friends. The weather was perfect, the venue was amazing, and we went with a few of our dear friends, which always makes for a fun time.

The amount of food we all brought was pretty ridiculous, but as I've mentioned before, I could make a meal out of appetizers, so I was in hog heaven with a whole table full of delicious bite-sized goodies. 

My neighbor brought little individual sized bottles of Prosecco and fresh raspberries, along with all sorts of little individual desserts. She went way above my box of Pepperidge Farm cookies that I brought. :)

Saturday morning, the boys got up on their own and let us sleep in. It was so nice (perks of having an older child in the house). Then Brian took the boys to church for a community service project while I got to enjoy some quiet time at the house. 

After my super healthy breakfast of coffee and macarons (ha, ha) the boys came home with the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers.

I have a pretty firm rule that Brian isn't allowed to buy me roses because they're so expensive and they die so quickly. But he made an exception this time because he found a little roadside stand that was selling them for SO cheap. They opened up pretty quickly, which was a bit of a bummer, but they still smell so amazing! Maybe I'll have to get rid of that "no roses" rule after all. ;)

On Saturday afternoon, we decided to go explore downtown St. Pete. It's very unlike me to be spontaneous, so Brian was excited that I was willing to just drive to St. Pete with absolutely no plan!

Our first stop was this awesome restaurant called "The Hangar" which is located at a small private airport. The outdoor seating looks right over the runway so the kids could watch airplanes and helicopters take off and land while we ate. They loved it! And my burger was AH-mazing!

After lunch we just walked around Beach Street, which is dotted with all sorts of cute restaurants, shops and a beautiful art museum. The boys discovered these gorgeous, giant trees along the path and of course had to climb them.

After all that climbing, the boys were ready for some ice cream, so we stopped at our favorite place, Kilwin's. Their fudge and homemade ice cream is so incredible.

That evening, Brian made sure that I had an uninterrupted bubble bath - complete with a glass of champagne! I felt so fancy. :) Later on we ordered in sushi and watched a movie. It was my idea of the perfect date night.

Sunday morning, I was showered with so many sweet handmade cards, hugs and kisses and lots of "I love you, Mom". I was in heaven! It was also very, very nice that Brian and Payton got me with several beautiful gifts. I felt quite spoiled. Payton even used his own money from his dog-walking business to buy me a pair of earrings. How sweet is that?!?

We headed off to church where the service was so powerful. The guest speaker talked about "How to Treat a Woman" and boy was it awesome. Made me so grateful for a husband who loves me and respects me and appreciates me.

They had a little photo area set up after service with cute little signs and props.

Much to my shock, Brian decided that he would prepare brunch for me. I have to be honest, my hopes were not set too high. The man burns scrambled eggs. I was a little shocked that he was taking on an omelette. But he poured me a mimosa and told me to sit back and relax while he took care of everything. Well... okay, I can do that!

Can I just tell you... it was the BEST omelette I have ever eaten. Seriously. That man stuffed that thing with all sorts of yummy goodness and cooked it to perfection. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. 

I know who's in charge of cooking Sunday brunch from now on. ;)

The rest of the day was the perfect mix of family time and relaxation. Brian really nailed it this year for Mother's Day. All my favorite things, all in one weekend, with absolutely no cooking or cleaning on my part... perfection!

And to my boys, who made me a mommy, I can only tell you that now I truly know the meaning behind Elizabeth Stone's quote:

“Making the decision to have a child - it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ”

I could never express the depth of my love for you. It is vast. It is fierce. And it is deep. 

I am so thankful that God blessed me to be your mom. 

Thank you Brian, Payton & Parker for one incredible Mother's Day!

Marriage & Family: Creating Harmony in the Home: MARRIAGE COUNSELING

This post is the second in the series "Marriage & Family: Creating Harmony in the Home." Today, I'm focusing on Marriage Counseling. If you have any topics you'd like me to address, please leave me a comment and let me know. :)

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What comes to mind when I mention the words, "Marriage Counseling?"

Is it sadness? Embarrassment? Failure?

Or is it the opposite?

Does it evoke feelings of accomplishment? Renewal? Dare I even say, excitement?

In many families, if you decide to seek marriage counseling, you are made to feel like your relationship is falling apart. Like it's a "last ditch effort" before walking down the hall to the divorce lawyer's office.

Well, I'm here to debunk that myth.

Brian and I have been married for 13 1/2 years and we've sought marriage help from our Pastors, been to a certified marriage counselor, and attended many marriage retreats. And every time, we leave with better communication skills, revived feelings about the sacrament of marriage, and renewed excitement about our marriage.

Don't get me wrong, we don't skip down the hallway holding hands every day. Marriage is tough. Especially after a decade (or several decades as in our parents' cases) together. Things can get stale. Dull. Almost like you're living with a friendly roommate and not your spouse.

This is not how God intended for marriage to be.

And if your marriage has become more of a friendship and less of a husband-wife relationship, that's where marriage counseling can really benefit you.

Having a third person to help navigate the conversations is so important. They know the questions to ask to help get things back on the right track. They can make sure each person is not only being heard, but being understood. Because so often, after we say the same things over and over to our spouses, they start hearing the voice of the teacher from Charlie Brown "Waa Waa Waa Waa." That's not good.

In doing some research for this post, I came across a statistical study by a large national law firm that specializes in divorce. Here are their top 5 reasons that people get divorced:

1. Lack of communication. This is one of the major reasons why divorce happens. Distance is created quickly if you don’t share your feelings, don’t tell your partner what’s happening, and keep your feelings to yourself. A successful relationship constantly keeps the lines of communication open.

2. Finances. Money talks and can make your life better or in some cases worse than you were. If money becomes a consistent topic of disagreement, the road to divorce is certain.

3. Feeling constrained. You may feel your marriage is holding you back from achieving goals and taking opportunities. If your partner can’t support you, then they don’t support the marriage.

4. Trust. Do you really trust your spouse? Trust is one of the leading factors in having a successful relationship and marriage. Your marriage is unlikely to survive if you don’t trust your spouse.

5. Expectations from each other. When expectations aren’t met, it can put a strain on the relationship. This leads to a personality conflict because one or the other spouse won’t bend to sacrifice their time and comfort.

Almost every one of these stems from proper communication! If we don't communicate to our spouse when we're feeling stressed about finances, or feeling constrained or feeling distrust... of course you would want out.

Happy marriages with strong communication and a healthy sex life do not end in divorce. They just don't.

But if you aren't able to achieve these things on your own, a marriage counselor can most likely help you to do so. And there ain't no shame in my game when it comes to telling people that when we hit rough spots in our marriage we seek professional help.

In 2009, after enduring years of painful and failed fertility treatments, I finally got pregnant, and then ten weeks later, I had a miscarriage, I went through a period of deep depression.

In my mind, felt like Brian moved on from the miscarriage far quicker than he should have because I was still deep in my grief.

I cried myself to sleep many nights. It was bad. I felt angry at him. I felt betrayed. I felt so alone. All the while, Brian hadn't done a single thing "wrong," he just didn't understand why I was still so sad all the time.

So our pastor suggested we see a Christian marriage counselor. And I'm so glad we did.

It wasn't a magical "cure." Things didn't improve instantly. But having that counselor sit in front of us and say the words, "Brian, Stacy needs you to be with her. Be with her in her grief. Be with her in her sadness. Be with her."

It changed everything.

That counselor was able to communicate to Brian the words that I could not come up with on my own.

I just sat there are cried my eyes out because I felt such a sense of relief. Finally, we were starting to understand each other again. And that day, a real healing began in my heart, and our marriage stood strong through the toughest time of our lives.

Most recently, our marriage counselor moved and started his own church, so we needed to find a new professional. We talked to our pastor and he recommended a local Christian marriage counselor for us. We weren't embarrassed to ask for a recommendation. We know that in the end, it is something to be proud of. We are doing something to make our marriage stronger.

We want to have a healthy, strong marriage. We want to set an example for our kids. We want to continue to legacy that our parents, and their parents, set for us.

Our marriage is far from perfect - no one's is. And once we can all accept this and set realistic expectations in our relationships, marriages could grow so much stronger.

I love my husband even more today than the day we got married. It's interesting the way tragedies and celebrations, and all the up's and down's of life, can bring two people closer than we ever thought possible. God is good.

If you gain nothing else from this post, I hope that you'll walk away with the knowledge that there's nothing to be embarrassed about if you seek out marriage counseling. Quite the opposite! You should be proud that you're doing something to make your marriage stronger and better. Kudos to you.

Thanks for reading this post. If you have any suggestions for future topics, please leave me a comment and let me know. And since I like to leave things on a happy note...