A Woman of God

Women of God can never be like women of the world. 

The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. 

There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. 

There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. 

We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. 

We have enough greed; we need more goodness. 

We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. 

We have enough popularity; we need more purity.
-Maragret D. Nadauld

This quote from Sister Nadauld is taped on my bathroom mirror. Don't you love it? Is it not so empowering to be reminded of the qualities a faithful woman should possess? I love it. It provokes peace from every part of my being. I know I am not perfect. I know I fail my desires to be good throughout the day. But I do know, that Heavenly Father loves me. He always has loved me. And most importantly to me, he wants to see me happy.  He knows how to strengthen my weaknesses so that I can be happy regardless of this world and the trials in my path. Aaron and I have been trying to get pregnant since last December and I can't convey the peace that comes from having the simple testimony that my God loves me and will place blessings in my life as He sees fit. I'm in good hands.

Yours truly, Me

Spicy Honey Chicken & Cilantro-Lime Rice with Pineapple

First, I didn't take any pictures! But, I’ll be making this soon again and will post them.

This has definitely become a favorite for us! It's quick, easy, and you don't have to worry about marinating the meat. Its not very spicy as it is allows you to adjust the heat with the chipotle powder. Paired with cilantro and lime rice with crushed pineapple... DELISH!!! It's a perfect meal. 

Spicy Honey Chicken

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, about 2lbs (Yes, thighs. I used breasts this last time and it was still very good. Thighs are still better.)

Rub:

2 t granulated garlic
2 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t coriander
1 t kosher salt
1 t cumin
1/2 t chipotle chili powder

Glaze:


1/2 C Honey


1T Cider Vinegar

  

Combine the rub spices in bowl and mix well.

Trim off any excess fat from the chicken pieces. Pat dry. Drizzle canola oil over chicken and rub in with your hands to lightly coat all the pieces. Then toss chicken with the spice rub to coat all sides well. Use your hands and get in there! Grill chicken for 3-5 minutes on each side, until cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, warm honey in the microwave so it's not so thick. Add the vinegar and combine well. Reserve 2T honey glaze for later. Take the rest and brush on chicken (both sides) in the final moments of grilling. This time, I substituted the apple cider vinegar (I didn't have any!) for white distilled, brown sugar, 1 t liquid smoke, and 2 T BBQ sauce. It turned out just as good!

I'm gonna warn you that this can make a hot mess, literally. It's sugar, and it's gonna drip. But the smelly smoke is worth it for a minute or two. Just leave your grill on for a few minutes after the chicken is done to burn off any excess glaze. It's totally worth it once you taste this stuff.

Since it's August AND in I'm in Texas, I'm not about to step foot near our BBQ grill, I just simplified and use an indoor grill pan and broiler. 

Remember how I had you reserve that extra couple tablespoons of glaze? Ya, drizzle that on top now. Your taste buds will thank you.

Cilantro and Lime Rice with Crushed Pineapple

You can pretty much eyeball the measurements for this recipe. 

1 cup white rice (2 c. water)

2 T butter

Juice from one large lime (taste as you go, I add a lot!)

1 small can crushed pineapple, drained. 

½ - ¾ C chopped fresh cilantro

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook rice. As soon as it’s done, toss in the butter and stir to melt. Add lime juice, pineapple, and cilantro. Stir to combine, and then add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

* You’ll want to serve this right away, if you don’t, the flavors tend to mellow a bit and you’ll probably need to add more lime juice because the rice kind of sucks it up. If you’re not quite ready to eat when your rice finishes cooking, just toss in the butter and keep a lid on it so it stays warm. Then right before you serve it, toss it all together.

Rejoining the Workforce

Does the Lord not always provide? I am noticing a pattern in the way the Lord answer's my desperate prayers. It is almost always after my faith has been stretched and my hope has been running on empty. I am so grateful for my upbringing and the personal experiences that have taught me tough and valuable lessons. Also, I appreciate the examples I've seen where people have realized the Lord is in charge and has an infinite ability to understand and tap into our dreams and paths in this life -- resulting in true happiness. Basically, I feel special to know that Heavenly Father knows me better than I know myself.
Aaron and I have rejoined the workforce!

Meet the new Chemistry teacher at Kelly High School!!! He teaches 2 regular, 2 pre-AP, and 2 AP Chemistry classes.

So... we were playing Loaded Questions (really fun game to play with people you know well) and Aaron had to answer the question, "What is evidence that there is something very wrong in this world?" His response? Aaron M. Crossley being paid to teach a high school chemistry class. Ha! Don't get me wrong, he's really smart and totally deserves and has earned this. It's just, around here, everyone knows how much of a trouble-making, irresponsible teenager he is. WAS... I meant was.
Oh, what sort of school is this you may ask? STATS for Class of 2009: 99% went on to college (the 1% went to the military), 92% went on to 4 year universities, and with only 112 graduates they collectively received $5 million worth of grants and scholarships. These are smart cookies. Mr. Crossley is smarter.

BUT...2 incomes is even better AND a first for our family. It's exciting to save for the future.

 I started a few weeks ago working for a pretty rad dentist. He admits he has adult ADHD. We have fun at work. He's also running for city mayor next year, go figure. Life is good. Aaron and I know we are in a blessed time in our story together. This coming Saturday is our 2nd year anniversary together. That's when the cutest guy in the universe asked me to be his best friend forever. Fast forward two years and I am excited for this one. We got tickets to go see Brian Regan (Youtube this guy, he's good), "Suga's"--a jazzy, classy restaurant lounge, and then we will stay in the same hotel that we had our wedding night. I was sick as a dog on our wedding day with strep throat which makes this even more exciting. I can't recall a darn thing about the hotel! We're actually celebrating on Friday night...instead of Saturday. I promise I am sentimental...but Brian Regan is coming when he's coming and we LOVE him. This makes Friday our anniversary.

Yours truly, Me

Janene's Refinishing Inc.

Ever since we moved into the 'Crossley Manor' with Aaron's parents I've heard all the major cautions... nasty resentment-causing issues, if you will. But you have to ask yourself, 'Is your cup half empty or half full?' We've really grown to enjoy living here.. and a sweet perk for me was mom giving me free reign with her furniture to decorate our 2 bedroom upstairs suite : ) 

Ps. Sorry in advance for for the picture overload!!!

Here's a bookshelf I found in a shed.

....Viola!

These are 2 blonde bookshelves over 25 years old...

Priming...

Brown gel stain...

Ta-da!

Cute, huh?

I forgot to snap a picture before but I went to town on this drawer set

I also forgot to snap a before pic! This was a medium brown chest

SO charming...I love it so much I can't stand it!

Last one!

I decided to 'two-tone' this kitchen table

A few days later...

I love it! I love it!

I have a love/hate relationship with this sort of hobby. I reached my limit with the 4th chair! Notice the picture is missing the other 4? I'll get to it soon...

Yours truly, Me

Our Favorite Fajita's

Fajitas are always our first choice at any Mexican restaurant! I could live off fajitas and Chili's chips & salsa w/ avocado ranch... forever. I'd be even happier if Coke Zero was in that picture. With that aside, this marinade makes the best fajitas EVER. Try these if you really want to impress your family and make a dish that will put all of those hole-in-the wall Tex-Mex shops to shame. 

Fajitas Marinade

1/4 C fresh lime juice
1/3 C water
2 T vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
3 t vinegar
2 t soy sauce
2 t liquid smoke
1 t salt
1/2 t chili powder
1/2 t cayenne pepper
1/4 t ground black pepper
1/4 t onion powder
optional: minced jalapeños, depending on how hot you like it

For the Fajitas:
-Boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3 large ones). Steak is also great.
-Bell Peppers (about 3 large ones) I always use Red, Yellow, and Orange because they're the sweetest, but you can use whatever you like. 
-1 Onion. I prefer a red one just because the color looks so great in there.

Mango Salsa- mango, purple onion, jalapeno, lime, cilantro, salt, and garlic.

Pico de Gallo-tomatoes, purple onion, jalapeno, lime, cilantro, and salt.

Sincerely, Little Bakin' Blonde

Happily Unemployed

Isn't life funny sometimes? I mean, in the way that makes you want to role your eyes in the back of your head. We moved down to Texas nearly 2 months ago with great jobs lined up for each of us. I had 2 offers at orthodontic offices the day after I settled in. I picked the office where I would be needed to replace a gal that was moving. WELL, three weeks later, she decides not to move. OUCH. No big deal, right? 

Two days later, I can hear Aaron ending a conversation with his principal  "Okay, well I appreciated your time, thanks ." It turns out the principal at the high school where Aaron had planned on teaching found a more qualified science teacher. What were we doing wrong? Options and plans for our futures that felt so right were out the door.  The longer we are here and the more time we spend with our families and especially through meeting others I am realizing we are here for good reasons. I am learning how grateful I want to feel because of the blessings that never cease. I am learning how to see these blessings more easily when the solutions to my challenges seem far-fetched. I am so happy for the education and knowledge that helps me to find the peace I need to get past myself .

So, we've decided to be happily unemployed in the mean time : )

I think it really works for us, too.

Aaron's  entire family spent a week in San Antonio. I have loved, loved spending time with them. We wouldn't have moved to Texas as early as we did if Aaron hadn't had planned on teaching. We moved into Aaron's parent's new home. And it's been GOOD.  I have really fallen in love with my in-laws. Haha, I finally feel comfortable with saying "mom" and "dad." Isn't it the small things in life that reminds us how loved we are?

                      We went to Ripley's Believe it or Not and Madame Tussaurd's Wax Museum.

 

Sentimental moment. Baby Buddha meets Buddha.

This Rocky was legit.

Saltgrass at Riverwalk. Their mac n' cheese is Heavenly.

Have I mentioned that I've loved being home?

Yours truly,  me

Summer Happenings

Summer. Slow-paced. Relaxing... finding yourself bored kind of relaxing. Extra time to read really good books. Pondering time. Swimsuits and tan lines. Sigh...

This summer has been a busy one for us and I am craving some relaxing time like cu-razy!

These past few months have been incredibly fun for us. We went on our third cruise!

It's our favorite way to vacation. The only thing I'd change in the future is the cruise line, no offense Carnival! We have your menu memorized, your activities...we've done them all, destinations were all gorgeous in their entireties.

Aaron scored a Nikon camera for his birthday!! He kept sneaking away every chance he got (a.k.a. Every time I was laying out!) to play with his new toy. He was SO pouty when his precious zoom lens' motor died on the first day! But thanks to Nikon's amazing warranty that we didn't technically qualify for...his spirits have been restored!

Catalina Island's Finest: Get this...tow trucks for golf carts--their usual transportation. So rad.

Then we hiked the Provo "Y" with my sister and her hubby. 

Since we've moved to Texas...we've really really missed them.

I also miss these beautiful smiles : )

Aaron scored a teaching position for Vidor High School this coming school year .  Aaron submitted his dental school application(cross your fingers!) and he's always wanted to teach high school for his off year before grad school. Good thing we got his braces taken off last month before he starts teaching his chemistry class, ha! Maybe he should grow some facial hair , too...And how about I break it to the high school ladies now and decorate his classroom with pictures of me .  Hmm.. we'll see.

So we sold our things and packed our Malibu and hit the road to head back home to Texas. The drive went really well! Thanks to our Mac and a ton of redbox movies.  I kind of really like road trips. I LOVE love  talking with Aaron about everything on my mind and he has no where to go : ) Poor guy. What's the first thing we so happened to buy in Texas?

MMmm...Happy Tracks! It's a new one.

We really love being from the south. The pride is just ridiculous.

Home Sweet Home

Yours truly, Me

BOND: Fun shots!

My brother-in-law Keith got a sweet, new camera a while back and we decided to do these fun shots around Provo. We had a blast doing these shots, but I'm not gonna lie...I'm a horrible and embarrassing model!! 

                                               

Yours truly,  Me