A Guest Post, an Anniversary, and Bangs

Hello!
I have two things to talk about today,

#1. Today Joel and I celebrate our 2nd Anniversary!

SUCCESS!

We plan on celebrating this weekend, when a) it's the weekend, and b) it feels a little more like our anniversary anyway, since we were married the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which feels more accurate and festive than a Tuesday.

I hope it includes a great cocktail, and a babysitter.

Here are two of my favorite photos from the day...

About 96% of this event was DIY.  Maybe a post in the future about the details?  Yes, I think so.

Well, I love my husband and I feel like we've been married forever (in a good way). 

This girl <<-- 
She's lucky.

Though, come to think of it, I just learned something new about Joel last night - he uses the small spoon for his soup instead of the big spoon.  But he uses a big fork instead of the small fork for regular meals.  He's just full of surprises, that guy.

Ok Ok on to #2) I wrote a "guest post" over at the Maggie's Place Blog - check it out if you're interested!  Here is a quote from the post, which is actually me quoting Elizabeth over at Lark & Bloom:

“We don’t love so that we have great stories of happy endings. We love people because God loves them, and that is reason enough.”

And here is another throw-back photo that went with the post.  For a tutorial on bangs, you'll have to ask the little one. I gave up soon after this photo.

circa 2008

I hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving!  We'll be celebrating the day here in Phoenix, and I don't know if it will ever get easier celebrating a holiday away from our immediate family, but at least the forecast is for 72 degrees every. single. day this weekend!  And of course we have our amazing adopted family here to spend the day with.

What a lot to be thankful for this year.  Have a great day!  

Salmon Burger Recipe

Oh, hello!

So a lot has happened around here lately (ok not really).  But one thing is for sure...I have a 6 month old!

OMG!

I just think she's the cutest.  I could -literally- kiss her face off.

She sits up on her own (mainly), and is a little obsessed with food right now, especially when mama is eating it.  This is a great age ya'll.  Much better than the days when she didn't even laugh at my jokes.

Speaking of food, I'm sure you would all agree it's time for another great recipe, no?  (That was a joke. I've been a little recipe happy lately. This too shall pass).

Anyhoo, I thought I would share with you my Salmon Burger recipe.  Like a lotta great things, I got this from my mama.  I made it for Joel after we got married, my super clean eating husband, and he requests them Often, people.  They are awesome.   

Kath's Salmon Burgers

Serves 4 adults

Roughly 25 g of protein per burger

1 14.75oz can / pouch wild caught Salmon (some cans/pouches are slightly less, that is OK - just shoot for 14-15 oz.)

12 soda crackers, crushed

1 Tbsp. mayo

2 eggs

Salt and Pepper to taste

Some adaptations:  I've subbed out the crackers for old fashioned oats a few times- (about 1/2 cup) and it was awesome!  I do this when I'm eating a tiny bit extra "clean".  I usually pulse them in a food processor to grind them up a bit first, but you definitely don't have to...I've done it both ways. 

I have also added more spices to it before and liked it - a mix of cumin, cinnamon, and paprika.

Anyway - whatever you put in - mix and patty them up, and fry them on a pan with either a little bit of olive oil, or some Pam.  

A lot of people might wonder, what do you eat with Salmon Burgers?  Well here I am to tell you....one of our favorite meals is in that above picture...a baked sweet potato, steamed veggies, and a Salmon Burger.

Now, don't judge me on this, but when I'm not really counting calories I dip my burger in a mixture of mayo and ketchup.  Been doing it since I was little with these babies.  

You can just call me Mrs. Gourmet with that pretty pink mixture on my plate.  I don't mind.

Get your omega 3's!

7 Quick Takes: Halloween re-cap, Apple Muffins and more

Hello Friends!  It's been a while, I know.

But here I am, with some Quick Takes!  (Don't forget to join the rest of the party over at Jen's!)

1. 
Halloween Re-Cap. I know I know, I am like a month and a half late, but I just had to share.  

Don't mind my dirty mirror.
I figured this was the one and only year we could do something funny for Halloween instead of the princess / pink attire.  How cute is she.

If you missed it on Instagram, I let everyone know that 60 seconds after this photo she spit up allllllll over me. Like, had to change my clothes, all over me. 

Like, had to wash my face, all over me.

2.
On Wednesday Mia and I went over to our friends Sharon and Ava's house to celebrate Ava's first birthday!  It was a super cute party, themed "Oh the Places You Will Go!" We even had a little photo sesh (typical mommy group activity) that looked a little like this..

(Up up and away, get it?)
You can't really tell in this photo, but there were a few (unnamed) babies who were not so happy with their (unnamed) mothers.  

They'll love us later for it though. Or, (still) think we're crazy. Either one.  

3. 
I love baking in the fall and holiday season, and found a super easy Apple Muffin recipe from a cool blogger over at Wee Eats.  It even called for applesauce instead of all that slicing and dicing and peeling I was imagining.  I, for once in my life, had every single ingredient already in my pantry!  And I bet you will too.

I subbed out (because I am a subbing snob) about half the flour for oats and flax, and it still turned out awesome.  Now go check out Natalie's recipe!

4.
Speaking of sweets, you ever have those friends that peer pressure you into stuff?  Well at Ava's birthday party I got roped into a "sugar detox" that I had no intention of joining.  5 days with no sugar.  Why? I don't know.  I'm a people pleaser.

Glad I made these muffins!! :)  "Detox" starts Monday, sharp.

5. 
My husband came home from work the other day with a present.  A random, awesome, present.
Check'em out:

L-O-V-E them.  And yes, I bust out in a rap when I put them on. You would too.

6.
One more recipe link. I just can't get enough!

I made this recipe a few Sundays ago from RealSimple.com and am still thinking about it.  SOO good.  Beef stew, made in my crock pot.

Image from realsimple.com

I have never made beef stew before, and I must admit...I nailed it. So easy, so good.  I subbed (see quick take #4)  sweet potatoes for the regular ones, and again - so good.


7. 
I heard a news story out of Phoenix yesterday that made me take more seriously my hair cutting skillz.

A quick background- when Joel and I got married almost two years ago, we decided I would learn how to cut his hair to save money.  I am now quite the profesh, if I do say so myself.

Fast forward to the news story - in summary, a guy put on craigslist that he wanted to hire somebody to kill his grandfather (I know, terrrible right?), and for payment he would give him an ipad, an ipod, and a year's worth of free hair cuts. (!!!!)

On a lighter note, I had no idea hair cuts were so valuable!  I am now trying to come up with the perfect house-cleaning-lady barter system.

As long as she has the exact same hair cut as my husband, anyway. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!