Belated food vlog!

So I've been so busy/lazy to even blog lately. 

I don't know why I don't have my act together but it could be that it's still too cold to bring out the shorts and capris. I'm currently writing this post using the blogGo app from a fellow blogger and graphic designer at The Wonder Forest! 

Here's a vlog that I made last week to be a part of the girl behind the blog link up. I particularly wanted to share because of my food journey with being gf/cf/ef aka gluten free, dairy free, egg free. 

http://youtu.be/vyePmzikCmA

And the recipe you all should deff try especially if you live where it's still cold. 

This amazing soup from gluten free goddess 

http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/09/roasted-corn-chowder-with-cilantro.html

My dog loves his cupcake. That's pretty much his food philosophy ;-)
 

First couples ski retreat!

First of all I would like to say that January was flipping awesome. 

It was way better than February and march. 

I had such high hopes for march being great, but it's been filled with Tim being sick, then me being sick and we are still sick! 

So to remember how awesome January, my bday month, was...I'm going to share our ski trip! 

 

I've always had dreams about going on a ski trip with other couples. 

When I was younger, I was just such a dreamer of sipping hot cocoa by a huge fireplace, having a handsome hubby with his arms wrapped around me.

Playing card games with a few close friends and just enjoying the company. 

Then hitting the slopes with friends and having a great time. 

And finally for my 24th bday, this trip became a reality. 

Granted, it didn't exactly go as planned as I had envisioned for so many years, but it was still a blast and I can't wait to do it again. 

To preface this trip I have to say that we had invited a couple that I met online. 

I never thought I would develop such a close friendship with someone meeting online, but it's been a couple years now that I met this girl, and we have clicked so well in many ways. 

Her and her hubby let us stay with them a couple days back in sept when we were driving to our new place near DC. What's even more awesome is how our hubbies actually like each other too! 

So I thought for my main bday gift, I wanted to go skiing at snowshoe mtn, WV. 

I hadn't been there in 9 years and we only live a little under 5 hours from there now. 

Our friends live 6 hours from there, so it was pretty much in the middle for the both of us and we planned our mini trip for 3 days. 

We really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into as the temps while we were there dropped and it was so windy! 

It was around -20 F with the windchill on both days we skied. 

This was the type of weather that we had to cover every inch of our skin, otherwise we would be numb and in pain if we stayed out too long. 

 

There wasn't quite enough snow for all the trails to be open, but we sure made the best with it. 

We stayed at a condo right on the mtn that way we could ski right back door, but there wasn't enough snow to at the time. 

 We had brought our food to make at our place to save money and it turned out great! 

Homemade beef stew after a day of skiing in such windy conditions? Yes, that soothed the soul. :-)

We played some card games, and we educated our friends on the show How I met your mother 

We wanted to explore the village area of the mtn and the comedy club, but we were so sore and tired from skiing we ended up staying at the condo at night. 

We skied on a tues and wed so the slopes were practically empty! 

God will not give you more than you can handle

Have you forgotten that basic truth and promise from our loving God in hard times?

I'm writing this down today as I've had a really bad last couple of weeks where I felt at my lowest in the longest time.

I felt abandoned and defeated. 

I felt no guidance or calling.

I heard no whispers of comfort or encouragement.

I only heard the lies over and over again brought by this dark presence 

Telling me I'm not worthless and that the days would all be bad. 

That's why I haven't written because the words and happiness escaped me for sometime. 

I cried out to God so many times asking why, but got no answer. 

Then I would rise up from this sea of darkness

From the depth of despair 

And I finally reached the surface and inhaled the sweet aroma of the fresh air. 

I could breathe again. 

God brought me through it. 

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 CORINTHIANS 10 : 13”

That's a promise for us who are in Christ, friends!

Note that it doesn't say we will never be tempted or have hard times.

He promises to give you a way to deal with it, a way to get pass it and live.

My God is bigger than my problems

And He is not only with me but FOR me 

Some will think that I'm crazy for believing in someone who will always be there for me and protect me and yet allows horrible things to still happen in this world. 

I will never understand every thing that God does and doesn't do, but I trust that in the end, it's for the best. 

I may have these nausea issues and food intolerances for the rest of my life here on earth I will just accept that God still has me in his arms, and knows that all things work together for His good for those who serve Him. 

So today I'm going to bask in His peace. 

I accept that I will totally become angry, bitter, frustrated, depressed, scared and confused many more times, but right now I want to look back on this day and remember that there are still great days for me. 

And there will be times you want to give up too, but there will be better days. 

Smile, Jesus still loves you. 

Five Friday Favorites! (2)

What a week it has been! I've been busy prepping for a piano audition/interview to a piano studio nearby because lets face it, it would be nice making some more money for living in this area. 

We also have something really fun and exciting planned for tonight and tmrw which I will be sharing with you later. 

Some of you may be able to guess or already know...but its been tough keeping this secret.

Here are this week's 5 Friday Favs!

Favorite Memory

In honor of Vday, I will say the sweet poem that my hubby wrote for me. 

He didn't buy me any flowers this year, and I'm actually fine with that. I saw every one else on social media world were sharing their flowers, and honestly thats great but expected for men to do so! 

This year we were low key and gave each other our time and small items of appreciation like his sweet poem to me. And I bought him his fav non dairy ice cream (Rice cream hehe) and took the time to get dressed up for him. Valentines day is cute and romantic, but every week there should be a special day to express your love to each other, not once a year. 

ok getting off my soap box ;-)

*he did buy me an hour massage and facial to use soon woohoo*

Favorite Food

oh this is a tough one! I had made gluten free vegan banana nut bread this week that was pretty yummy

and also had a great random dinner last night of chicken dumplings and pizza 

but I'll say that this hip cool salad place had such a wonderful salad!!

Sweetgreen

source

source

They serve fresh local produce and had many options for myself being Gluten/dairy/egg free! They were also super nice and have an app where you get 5.00 towards your rewards account of meeting the goal to get free salads! The location close to me has an awesome wood bar that is open to the fresh air. It was glorious

Favorite Song 

Another hard one, but I have to say when I came across this I just lovedddd it! 

Favorite Outfit 

What I wore for my interview yesterday was so fun! I was scared to wear the teal tights but went with it to be bold and memorable ;-)

Also great for date night

Target swag this week!

Fav LOL moment 

I had a posh party last sat night, and it was a crazy group of women! 

One of our products is called "The stripper" (detox mud masque for your body) and just some of the comments made from them were hilarious! I had mentioned some customers had put this product on their chest and it felt great. Well one chimes in and asks her friend, 

"She has fake boobs, would she feel anything?!" 

hahaha died laughing. 

Our December in photos (2012)

The main reason why I wanted to start this blog was to be able to share my life story as I became an old married woman. Of course when the holidays come and go so quickly as you grow up, I tried to relish in every moment. 

Needless to say, I didn't get the chance to blog about these moments of our lives. 

So yes, a whole 2 months later I am going to share our December of 2012! Many firsts happened and plenty of surprises along the way.

(And if your new around here...welcome! This is my life :-)

My Mother in law took me out to see the historic town of Alexandria, VA

Lots of fun shops to peruse and a yummy meal at the old Gadsby's Tavern.

I was a bit nervous to eat out at a new place considering my food intolerances, but this chicken salad was quite amazing. And my tummy remained happy! 

The hubby and I were able to buy a new sectional since we have moved into our new place! 

It was quite a deal from this small store. Because we moved from a 1 story apartment to a 3 story town house, we were in need of some more furniture. Its in our basement along with our entertainment center and I absolutely love the bright red color!

We prepped for Christmas and this is just one of the few pics I had of our real tree

Dressing up for church this month included pretty pink lace tights

I absolutely love the Mosaic District shopping area near our house that decorated a winter wonderland! 

This is where we go to Target along with other fun places like the fancy movie place from this post and Chipotle and smaller shops!

Also decided to start painting our spare room dark red....Its just about finished now and will show the after shots later!

I also got new glasses that I feel like fit my face better 

and

started to wear contacts for the first time! Another very odd experience but it was well worth learning 

The hubby was so awesome to have surprised me with a Michael Kors watch that I wanted this year for my main gift. Actually...I figured it out before Christmas, so thats why he let me open it early hehe

All dressed up for Christmas Eve with Tim's family.

Unfortunately it was a late night because his parents were stuck in DC traffic for 2 hours because of a car pile up! They weren't moving for 2 hours....I would have had a panic attack!

Christmas Morning just the two of us :-) 

How I like it!

And the ultimate event was how I planned a surprise Bday party for Tim by contacting his BFF from Boston to come down and spend a few days with us! 

Tim's bday was on the 30th while his mom's is the 31st. So it was a joint party/new years eve celebration! I did all the decorating the few hours I had Tim out of the house. It was stressful but Tim was thoroughly impressed that I kept my mouth shut about it for that whole month! 

Tim was very surprised and happy to have seen his friend too :-)

I made vegan gluten free fudgey brownies, that were way too gooey. 

They still tasted yummy.

Yep, a handmade book bunting banner. It totally wasn't going to plan, but it was perfect for our little party 

If you still made it through to the end, Congrats! 

I can't wait to share with you about our January ski trip we had for my Bday! 

If you have instagram, most of these look familiar, sorry! 

Find me at GingerpeachT!

Have a lovely monday!