New Cookbook!

So, a little backstory. I love the show Masterchef. I watched every episode of the first season, and really rooted for Whitney Miller. She was southern, polite, and cute as a button! I was THRILLED when she was crowned the first "American Masterchef", and got really excited when I saw (while watching Season 2 of Masterchef actually) that she had her own cookbook. So, last week...I ordered one! I received it in the mail yesterday, and I've read through it 3 or 4 times already. It really makes me miss the south and the food that is easily accessible there (catfish, crawfish, okra, etc). But all of the recipes seem really simple, even if the names are daunting. Since it's my birthday next week, I've decided that I absolutely HAVE to do at least 2 of the recipes. For my birthday dinner I'm going to make the Shrimp bisque and grits. My birthday dessert is going to be the Toasted Coconut Cupcakes with Lemon glaze. I'm just a teensy bit excited, I'll be sure to let you know how it comes out! You really should check out this book, but you'll probably have to get your own copy. I might be too stingy to share ;)

No more Neverland

I must be growing up. I find that each dinner always has a vegetable, and often a fruit side dish (yes...it's taken 6 years for that to be a regular thing for us...don't judge me!), and I just vacuumed and dusted for the second time this week. I never vacuum twice in a week. Ok, not entirely true, if we company more than once a week I'll vacuum, but today it was just for the heck of it. I'm now looking forward to mopping my floors again, and if I have time I'll give our room a good deep clean.

The things I've been most terrified of (homeschooling for example), I approach with joy each morning. I can't wait to order Riley's "real" curriculum and do something more official. I am eager to teach her piano, her books will get here tomorrow. I love the 1 on 1 time I get with them while we work. If nothing else, we are guaranteed a good hour every day with nothing distracting me from them.

I made a decision a long time ago to make sure the girls saw me cleaning with a smile on my face. Lately, I've been telling them how it glorifies God. He gave us all of our things, and by taking care of them we are showing Him how much we love Him. Repeating that over and over, just drives it deeper into my own heart. The girls laugh as I dance while I clean, then they run to get rags to help me dust. Riley is an expert sweeper, and will often lock herself in her room only to emerge 1/2 an hour later to tell me she cleaned her room "because it's loving God!".

Yes, I love that I am growing up.