Fall favorites. {recipes}

  

 If there is one time of year that makes me think of certain foods and recipes, its Fall. Hands down. I mean, pumpkin and apples. Need I say more? So I thought I'd share my three absolute favorites for this time of year. 

Apple bars// I've blogged about these babies before and I have no shame about doing it again. They are that good. I've been eating these every Fall for as long as I can remember and as soon as apple season begins each year, I start looking for the first excuse to make them. Someone's birthday? Cooking club? Small group? Apples are on sale? I'm just hungry? All of those work. TRY THESE ASAP.

Pumpkin bread// Ok. I know everyone has a recipe for this. Gold star for us all. But the secret to the BEST EVER pumpkin bread is in how you bake it. You guys, if you have an oval {not circle} crockpot, you can make this. And you should. 

Southwestern White Chili// I've adapted this over the years and it never turns out exactly the same {its one of those recipes}. But as someone who actually hates regular, red chili {sue me.}, I love having my own version while everyone else is freaking out about chili-season. I also dislike pretty much all beans, so I use my immersion blender to blend 2/3 of the beans in the broth and still have the flavor/thickness but none of the slimy bean-ness in the chili. Thanks for that tip, mom! And I love that this recipe is a bit spicy and has tons of flavor overall. 

In crockpot, combine 1c chopped onion, 4 cloves garlic, 2tsp cumin, 1tsp oregano, 1/4tsp ground red pepper, 2 15oz can Great Northern beans {1-1.5 pureed}, 2 4oz cans diced green chile peppers, 4c chicken broth, and 3c cooked chicken {shredded}. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3.5-4 hours. Stir in 8oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese before serving!

But seriously, I know I'm missing some Fall staples here. What are you favorite recipes that you break out every Fall? Share away!

Summer on the table.

  One of the best parts of summer is being able to easily find fresh foods. Berries, greens, watermelons- all things that are harder {and more expensive!} to find during the winter months in Indiana. When I realized it was my chance to host cooking club this month, I knew I wouldn't actually cook anything and that we would definitely NOT be having chicken {my biggest pregnancy aversion}. So I opted for this light summer salad and really simple watermelon slush. You guys, not to be dramatic or anything, but if you could put summer on a table, this is it. 

  They're both extremely basic and you could probably recreate them with what's already in your fridge. The salad is such a hodge podge- you could mix it up with candied nuts or feta cheese. We added some sautéed shrimp {all the seafood for me right now, thankyouverymuch}, but you could add grilled chicken or go completely meatless, too. 

  

{Summer salad: Spring greens, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, avocado, toasted almond slivers, goat cheese crumbles, raspberry vinaigrette}

And this slush. You literally just need a watermelon, lime, and sugar. Yes, yes, yes. There's a 100% I made myself an entire pitcher again today because I love it so much. I may or may not decide to share with Caleb and Justin...

{Watermelon slush: 5 cups cubed watermelon, juice from half lime, 2 tbsp sugar, 2 cups ice- blended}

  So I'll officially be eating/drinking these on repeat until Fall. What summer recipes are you loving right now? 

On showing love with food.

  

  At the risk of sounding very trendy, food is one of my love languages {in addition to mail and intentional conversation}. Food is one thing everyone can relate to; we all need to eat. 
  It took me a long time to learn that food was one of my things. Maybe our first year of marriage? I finally had my own kitchen and a live in taste-tester.  But it definitely started when I was a kid. Growing up, my mom was always cooking and letting me help her bake. Are all kids interested in helping in the kitchen? She also signed me up for 4-H {10 year member, what what!} and Foods was one of my very first and most favorite projects. 
  I'm by no means a good cook or baker; I'd say I'm pretty average. I'm not winning any Pinterest awards for my recipes. That's not really the point, though. I'm good at deep conversations, but have a hard time with surface things or when words are hard to come by. I flounder a lot when I don't know what to say or how I want to say it. For example, when people are grieving or celebrating big life things. Sometimes I just have trouble coming up with words or I worry about being overbearing or rambling or saying the wrong thing. And that's when I default to food. Food, to me, says I love you and I'm celebrating {or mourning} with you, I'm on your side, I'm thinking of you and don't know what to say but I want to bless you somehow. Eat this cookie or soup and know you're not alone in whatever season of life you're in right now. There are probably lots of other ways to say those same things, but I'm just not really great at them. Food I can do. 
  In high school, I'd wake up earl on Thursday mornings to make monkey bread for our morning accountability group. In college, I would make fall treats for off campus friends. In married life, I try to make meals that Justin loves after his long days of work. In friendships, I try to leave enchiladas and breads on doorsteps to celebrate new babies and grieve lives ended too soon and in honor of Galentine's day. I don't think I'll ever stop loving people through food. 
  All that to say, I've been baking and cooking a lot lately. And after a weekend in the kitchen with our cooking club, I'm in the mood to take stock of my favorite go-to recipes. I love having recipes I know by heart and can make quickly without a lot of fuss. And I love hearing what recipes other people love and depend on. The internet is kind of a blackhole of recipes, and it's just hard to sift through to find the good ones. I have a handful of real, tangible cookbooks that I work through {Pinterest blasphemy!}, but am always on the hunt for new favorites. So anyways, here are some of my favorite go-to recipes {and cookbooks to work from} to make and take. They all make great freezer meals or sides to group dinners. But since I'm in the sharing mood, what are your favorite recipes to share? And cookbooks! What cookbooks should I add to my must-buy list?

cookbooks::
The Pioneer Woman// I have been her fan since long before her cooking show or cookbooks came out and, in the last week alone, I have made four of my favorite recipes to share! Bonus- the Kindle version is only $12!!! 
{while her first is by far my favorite, PW's second cookbook is still in my top ten and only $12 too!}
Betty Crocker// This is probably my manual for all cooking and baking basics and staple recipes. So many worn edges and greasy stains from keeping it permanently on my counter! {and it's only $.74 on amazon!!} 
Bread and Wine// Ok, this is really a book with recipes after each chapter. The story is great and definitely worth ready, but I am in love with a handful of the recipes. I have made Shauna's bread no less than 100 times, no joke. 

recipes::
creamy tomato soup {from this cookbook} 
cinnamon rolls {from this cookbook}
cake batter chocolate chip cookies
restaurant style salsa
brownie cupcakes with pb icing
Kathleen's enchilada's {recipe coming soon!
Sullivan Street Bread{the book is only $8 on Kindle and worth it for this recipe alone!}
lasagna {I make it both in my crockpot and in the oven- turns out great either way!}
southwest white chili {from this cookbook}

I heart gluten. {and blog comments}



I'm already anticipating the hate comments and links to Pro-Gluten articles I'm going to receive for writing this but,

I don't get the gluten free craze. Just about any doctor will tell you that only a few of us actually needs to cut gluten out of our diets {here & here}. But somehow, 2/3 of the people I know are Going gluten free! And loving it! Please. {before you flip, I realize some people have legit Celiac's or gluten sensitivity}

Um, no. I heart gluten. Bread is my bff. I would eat freshouttheoven bread on the hour every hour if it were socially acceptable and my thighs couldn't tell the difference. Instead, I'm sticking to my motto of everything in moderation. Because, good Lord, I refuse to give up my breads.

Tell me I'm not alone? Do you secretly roll your eyes at the over-abundance of I'm going gluten free! proclamations and Instagram posts, too? Or am I basically a health outcast now?

On a completely different topic, are blog comments dead? I feel like when we said goodbye to GoogleReader {rip}, it took comments with it. I'm just as guitly- maybe I should resolve to comment more? Ok, you twisted my arm.

Full heart & house.

 "When you satisfy the needs of the oppressed, your night will become like the noonday..." Isaiah 58:10

  On Saturday morning, my kitchen and living room were filled to the brim with about 18 ladies, one {adorable} baby, two dogs, and one {adorable} puppy. We sat around eating crêpes and drinking mimosas while we learned a bit about what Noonday is all about.

  

  I always get a bit insecure about these kinds of get-togethers. Maybe no one will show up, my dog will scare someone off, the food will be disgusting, people won't end up having a good time, or, most of all- they'll think I'm trying to hassle them into buying something just so I can get some sort of reward. That last one is how I always feel when I go to other types of parties like this {you know what I'm talking about!}.

  Guys, I wish you all could have been there. Seriously. It went a gagillion times better than I could have imagined {a definite perk of always underestimating things!}. SO many ladies showed up, every drop of champagne was consumed, no one seemed to feel hassled, my dogs behaved, and everyone seemed really amazed by Noonday's mission. People were really excited about the social justice focus and supporting fair trade. I was blown away by how many people jumped on board and purchased something! 

  My expectation for the trunk show was not at all for people to spend money. That sounds silly, I know. But what I love about Noonday is that its a truly great way to expose ladies to real life issues while giving them a way to join in the fight to help end poverty and support orphans and widows. Sometimes talking about social justice issues makes people uncomfortable or overwhelmed. I really just wanted my trunk show to be a chance to talk with friends about real life issues they may not know or think about everyday. 

  At this point in life, its safe to say I'm passionate about social justice. As a social worker, its kind of just a part of who I am. That's probably why I've fallen in love with Noonday. I've even entertained the idea of becoming an ambassador. Although, I'm pretty sure I'd be terrible at it. Either way, I'm so thankful I had the chance to spread the word about Noonday and open the door for good conversations with friends about poverty and what fair trade really means. I also ordered a gorgeous necklace, so there's that, too. 

  All that to say, it was such a great morning. Filling my house with good friends and feeding them and sharing my heart are all some of my absolute favorite things in life. My heart is most happy when I look around my house and see women eating and talking and laughing together. Add talk of social justice to the mix, and this girl is over the moon. 

  Everyone has their thing{s}. I'm learning that you don't have to be the best at something to consider it your thing. So, I guess hosting and cooking and talking about social justice are my things. What's your thing? 

A summer staple.

  Grilling is a summer staple for us {and the rest of America?}, but getting Justin to eat more than mac'n'cheese, marinated chicken, or a burger is hard to do. I've been trying to find ways to sneak more vegetables into his diet, and I've landed on a new favorite recipe {probably more my favorite than his}. Hopefully by next month, we can use veggies from our garden. Wishful thinking? Maybe. 

In the kitchen:: Pizza bites.

  On a completely different note than yesterday, I have a favorite recipe to share! I've probably mentioned it a hundred times, but I'm a creature of habit. Especially when it comes to food. I love trying new recipes, but always with the hopes of finding a new favorite staple. This recipe is one of those. I have made these pizza bites probably 15 times over the last 3 months. No joke. These are dee lish ush. They don't look like anything special and everyone is a little hesitant to dive right in, but once they do- the bites are gone in minutes. There are two things that set these puppies apart from any other recipe I've seen or tried for pizza bites. I quickly substituted bread dough {this is my favorite! We also use it for stromboli} for pizza dough. Much fluffier and less flaky. You also cannot skimp on the olive oil seasoning. The garlicky, parmesan-y, olive-y goodness seals the deal here, people. You can get crazy and use whatever pizza toppings you want, but I would keep it simple. And, well, I do. I always stick with pepperoni and mozz. Yum!

A current fav.

   I really, really love cooking and baking. I know it's super stereotypical and very pinterest-y, but it's true. I was always the one begging to help my mom make banana bread or learn how to make my own supper growing up. I've had a Family Circle subscription for the last four years. I'm not sure home much more cooking/baking-nerdy you can get than that one. Family Circle, people. I'm 26. Yup.

  But over the last couple of years, Justin and I have had opposite schedules. So making meals has been trickier and really, less frequent. Cooking for one is no fun. When we do cook, we stick with favorites. And repeat them a lot. This recipe is one of those favorites. Chicken is our go-to meat. I don't like red meat and he hates fish. Chicken it is. We have a favorite spicy bbq marinade, but have been switching it up lately. 

  This is one of those marinades that is and So. Full. Of. Flavor. I use parmesan to make it thicker, which seems to help it stick to the chicken so much better than bread crumbs. Its also one of those 'just eye it' recipes. I probably use a different amount each time I make it.

1 lb.     chicken tenderloins

3 tbsp    Northern Italian dressing

3 tbsp    grated parmesan

1 tbsp    Montreal steak seasoning

1 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 1/2 tsp onion flakes

1 1/2 tsp oregano

  Place tenderloins in a smallish container or plastic baggie {very specific, right?} so that they are packed in an able to soak up the marinade. Add all the marinade in with the chicken and stir to mix. The parmesan should act as a thickener and help the mixture stick to the chicken. Chill if you have time, or bake immediately. I like to prepare this a day ahead {just to save time}, but it tastes just as good if you make right away! After baking, I usually set the tenderloins on a cooling rack so that the bottoms aren't super soggy. Enjoy!

 I'm dying to know. What are your go-to recipes? You know, the ones that work themselves into the weekly rotation. The ones you know by heart. I'm always looking for new, better recipes! 

Fried rice.

  Growing up, our house was what you would call 'meat and potatoes'. I'm not sure I had ever eaten raspberries or avocados or indian food until college- so the fact that I like (and make!) dishes like fried rice, loaded with veggies, is huge. Its become a staple for us lately- we love it! I made a huge batch last night for the rest of our work lunches this week, posted a pic on instagram, and thought I'd share my recipe. Guys, it so easy. Here it is! But be sure to read my tips below...

  What I love about dishes like this is that you can change it a million ways and have it still turn out delicious. Different preferences, what you have on hand, and time available may call for some adjustments. Here are some of the random things I add/do::

- Rice. Sooo I never cook the rice in advance. Its ideal to have day old, cold rice from the fridge to add- but I'm never prepared. Instead, I cook the rice according to the package (usually while I'm cooking a couple frozen chicken breasts, since I don't preplan that, either). When the its done, I put into a large container and throw in the freezer while I cook the eggs and veggies. This makes it firm up a bit and be just the right texture. (I should mention we always use brown rice!)

- Eggs. We love lots of egg in our fried rice so we use 4, but you could totally use less (or more!).

- Veggies. I love that I can use frozen veggies for this- my favorite mixes are both from Trader Joe's. I usually add one cup Harvest Hodgepodge and one cup Stir Fry veggies. With both, I get a mix of soy beans, snow peas, onion, carrots, mushroom, broccoli, sprouts- good stuff. You can adjust the amount of veggies to your liking.

- Serving sizes. I find that when I prepare 1c of uncooked rice, it comes out to a bit more than 3c cooked. I usually have more than I need, and throw that in the fridge to use for a small batch of stir fry or fried rice later. You may find you want to use more/less rice.

  Let me know if you try it! And any tweaks/change you make...I'm always looking for improvements :) 

{Linking up here: Stories of AtoZ, Under the Table and Dreaming, Young & Crafty}

Favorites.

   I've found myself stuck on several things lately. I do that- find something, realize I love it, and use it over and over and over for a stretch of time. I once ate salmon cakes every day for a month straight in high school. I bought a sweatshirt at Target for $6 two months ago and have worn it at least two times a week since. Obsessed. Here's what I can't get enough of right now {besides that sweatshirt, of course, since I'm wearing it right now...}

1// Hart of Dixie. I fully blame Lauren for this addiction- I'm about to finish the first season and am already stressing about how I can catch up on the second season! Do tell if you know where I can find all the episodes...you'd be my new bff. I'll bake you a cake. 

2// My fav pen. I'm pretty sure it came a from the vet's office and I know it's totally quirky, but I have a thing with pens. I find one {usually a cheap, promotional one like my current} and use it literally until the ink is out or I lose it. 

3// Handmade soaps. I picked some up at the Urban Homesteading Market while I was in Denver a few weeks ago. They smell amazing, even Justin loves them!

4// Washi tape. My mom surprised me with 8 new rolls in my mailbox over the weekend and I find myself wanting to washi everything!

5// Eric Hutchinson station. For a few years now, this has been my go-to sunny day, good mood station. I know every song played by heart, I've heard it so many times.

6// Pink Magnolia candle. It's heavenly. With a light, fresh scent that I can't get enough of- I have two of them burning right now!

7// A delicious, homemade Caesar salad. I made the Caesar dressing and croutons and Can. Not. Get. Enough. Look for the recipe {& book review} soon!

8// The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. We read it for our first Book Club, and it was a great read. I couldn't put it down, am sad its over, and want to know what the next step is for the characters. If you're looking for a good read, pick this one up!

9// My Camelbak. I used to be a Nalgene girl- since, you know, I drink a gallon of water every day- but have fallen in love with this gem. I take it everywhere.

10// Sally Hansen's XtremeWear polish. I love this polish, especially since its cheap and the only one that stays on my nails. My go to colors right now are Golden-I and Strobe Light.

11// Light Blue by DG. This stuff smells so good. Light, but wonderful. 

What are you loving right now? Any must have's I need to add to my list? Do tell!

Healthy eating.

Chels is one of my favorite new blog friends. We 'met' last month through the Cara Box Exchange, and I am so thankful for her. She is seriously the sweetest. She's recently decided to go back to school for nutrition and I so admire her drive to go back to school to do what she really loves!
Hi, I'm Chelsea and I blog over at Freckles In Our Eyes. I blog about food, crafts, our beagle, travel, life as a newlywed, military life and life in general! I'm headed back to school this year to pursue a degree in Nutrition to become a Registered Dietitian. It's been something I've considered for years, but finally have decided it's what I need to do for me. I'm excited and nervous, but I know it's where my heart is! I'm here today to talk about food and nutrition. (Note: I am not an expert. I'm just sharing what has worked for me.)

I have a lot of food allergies, so I have to live gluten free. I've been gluten free for nearly 5 years, so I've learned a lot. Last year, my husband and I started a vegan diet after watching Forks Over Knives. That was a new challenge, but really enjoyable. I stick to a vegan diet about 6 days a week. I still enjoy meat and fish occasionally, but tend to avoid dairy for intolerance issues. I do still eat dairy at times, but in very small amounts.

I go about a gluten free and vegan diet in the way a lot of people go about any healthy diet. I stick to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and lean protein. It's incredibly healthy. I do splurge occasionally because I don't think you should deprive yourself of food you enjoy. It's about moderation with anything. So, I wanted to share some ways to cut out processed food from your diet.

Some of my favorite snacks during the workday are:

• Apple with peanut butter
• Mixed Nuts (I prefer Planters Nut-rition Men's Health Recommended Mix)
• Quinoa (cooked and cooled) with coconut milk yogurt (tons of protein, so it's filling)
• Popcorn (I pop kernels in olive oil on the stove top and bag it to take to work)
• KIND Bars and Larabars (these are pricey, so I only keep an emergency stash in my desk)
• Carrots, Snap peas, cucumbers, bell peppers with homemade hummus
• A waffle (Van's organic gluten free blueberry are my favorite) with peanut butter or coconut oil

For lunch and dinner, we have a lot of bean and/or vegetable based soups or salads (with beans or chickpeas) drizzled with a tiny amount of balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Some of my weekly staples:

• Mixed greens
• Tomatoes
• Apples
• Avocados
• Garbanzo beans
• Quinoa
• Black Beans
• Oatmeal
• Berries/Oranges/Pears
• Cucumbers/Bell Peppers/Carrots/Snap Peas
• Brussels Sprouts (sauteed in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper)
• Sweet potatoes

I choose to eat more natural, minimally processed foods. This is also an incredibly affordable diet. Because I'm not buying expensive prepackaged meals or gluten free replacement products, we save money. I also buy dry beans rather than canned. I'm allergic to soy, so we don't eat any soy products. After we cut out meat, we saved hundreds of dollars each month on groceries, and I have more money to buy organic produce. This minimally processed diet keeps me feeling really healthy and light. I used to feel bloated often and now I hardly ever do! I've lost a few pounds from eating this way, and maintain a really healthy weight. I do eat junk food sometimes, but it's a special treat. I've gotten to the point that greasy, fatty food doesn't make me feel well, so I hardly ever eat unhealthy food (which I never thought would happen)!

Hop over to my blog and check out some recipes or ask me questions!

 

Easy lazy day cookie bars.

Have I mentioned how thankful I am for this blog break and some really wonderful blog friends who are guest posting for me while I'm out? So thankful. Jenny is no exception. I love this girl. She has a heart of gold and such a beautiful resilence- even when life gets really, really hard. Love her. Can't say it enough :)  

Hey y'all! I am Jenny and I blog over at Strickly Stricklands! I am so happy to be guest posting today for Katie as she enjoys some time off from blogging! We have become close blog friends over the last 6 months and I just adore her!  Katie is a sweetheart and I admire her strong faith in the Lord! 

Today I am going to share a super easy recipe for some delicious cookie bars! The original recipe calls them lazy day cookies, but after making them a couple of times and changing up the recipe some, I renamed mine Easy Lazy Day Cookie Bars!

I am a big sweet eater! I like to have something sweet on hand for those cravings I get! Usually you can find me in my kitchen on Sunday afternoon baking up a storm! As much as I love my KitchenAid mixer,  there are some days I don't want  drag it out or spend the afternoon baking. One day I found this recipe for Lazy Day Cookies. It looked simple enough to throw together without messing up that many dishes.

Easy Lazy Day Cookie Bars

1 box yellow cake mix

2 eggs

6 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 Tablespoon water (if needed add more)

1 cup milk chocolate chips

2 small bags of M&Ms (or half of a large bag)

  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in the microwave. While butter is melting get your other bowl ready by pouring in the cake mix, 2 eggs, water, chocolate chips & M&Ms. Don't mix yet! Once butter is melted add to the other ingredients. Mix well. The butter will melt the chocolate chips and M&Ms some but that is ok! (to me this is what made them so good!) Pour into a greased 9x13 dish or 2 brownie pans and bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes. Slice into bars and enjoy!

I changed a few things with the recipe. I've made them by my recipe twice now and loved the way they turned out and by the original recipe one time but didn't like them at all. Play with the recipe. If you don't like chocolate chips or M&Ms then add what you want! I think that next time I will add in some chopped pecans. You can even use a different type of cake mix!The possibilities are endless! They don't really have the consistency of cookies nor do they have the consistency of cake. Its weird to explain. The best way I can describe it is that they taste like the cookies cakes you can get Great American Cookie! They are delicious right out of the oven but I found that they are even better once they have cooled down and a few days after baking!  

Let me know if you make these and what combinations you use!!! Happy baking!

Kay-suh-dill-uh.

Justin and I have gotten back into eating healthy over the last few months {funny how easy it is to get out of that habit!} and one of the things we've been doing is buying some frozen entrees. Say what you will, but those things are so convenient. Especially when you don't want to cook for one, are pressed for time, and on completely different schedules than your spouse. But it irks me every time I nuke one of those meals...because I know for a fraction of the price and little time in the kitchen, I can make something just as delicious. One of my fav frozen entrees were these yummy breakfast quesadillas. But I knew I could easily make my own, and have breakfast for a week- for the same price as two pre-made quesadillas. So I did!

And they were a success!!! So I thought I'd share my recipe...they're so good, easy to make, and pretty darn healthy to eat.

Cook 3 strips of bacon {I prefer turkey bacon!}, let cool. In the same pan {you know, because everyone loves that bacon flavor!}, make a large batch of eggs. I only like egg whites and ended up using about 5 for this recipe. In a bowl, mix cooked eggs, shredded bacon bits, 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, and some diced green and red pepper. Lay out tortilla {I used 5 for this recipe} and spoon mixture evenly into each. Cook each quesadilla, one at a time, in the same skillet. Let cool for 10 minutes and wrap individually in foil. Freeze for up to two weeks. 

To prepare, microwave individual quesadilla for 2 minutes, flipping every 30-45 seconds. 

Enjoy! :) 

Bucket of dirt.

If there's anything I'm a sucker for, its cute packaging and sweets. When you put them together? I can barely handle it!

For last month's Cara box, I was matched with Shawna. The theme was childhood and I quickly learned that Shawna was all things tomboy growing up (building forts, playing with salamanders, and even hated Barbies!). I knew I wanted to include some sort of play on that in the box...and realized I had to put in a package of dirt pudding! Cute, right? 

I was a bit stumped on how to package it at first, until I remembered these cute galvanized pails I had picked up at the dollar spot in Target a few months ago.  After that, I literally just picked up a single sleeve of oreos (you can buy them in the snack aisle at most drug stores/gas stations), vanilla pudding, and sour gummies. After smashing the oreos and pouring in the vanilla pudding mix, I wrapped them in some scrap burlap and tied with bakers twine. I put the sour gummy worms in a glassine bag and...voila! Dirt pudding...or a pail of dirt'n worms!

Cute, right? What fun gift ideas have you come up with this Christimas? 

Friendsgiving.

Last night, J and I hosted a Friendsgiving for some of his work friends. I think my favorite part of our house is being able to host people, even just simple little get togethers like this one was.

Santa even came!

Have I mentioned how much I love my table?! Friendsgiving was a great excuse to snag some lovely table wreaths from Trader Joe's and pretty napkins from World Market to pretty up the settings. Those cinnamon scented pinecones were a steal at wal-mart and made adorable placecard holders! 

Simple and easy settings!

  After supper, we broke out Battle of the Sexes (one of the white elephant gifts) and learned that Justin knows just about all of the girl questions! He almost single-handedly won two games for the guys. 
Overall, friendsgiving was a success. I really love having people in our house. Its little and cozy and just right for small crowds.  After the dishes were done and everyone had gone home, Justin and I laid and bed and talked about how strange adulthood can be sometimes. It was easy to find and maintain amazing friendships in high school and college. Post-college, really really great friends can be hard to find. {Or is it just me that thinks this?} After last night, we decided that we are even more committed to investing in people and make a point to have more nights like friendsgiving with really, really good friends.