Trust Without Borders + Giveaway!

Almost a year ago I traveled to Haiti with one thing in mind, to share God's love. I was blessed to be able to share this experience with someone that I didn't know at all but by the end of the trip I felt like I had known all my life. Cathy, Trust Without Borders Etsy's owner, and her daughter are wonderful people that I'm so glad I got to know. Their love for our God is huge! 

Recently Cathy, her husband Darrick as well as their family have been faced with a few hard trials but with God's promise they have no doubt that these trials will be insignificant compared to God's grace. Unfortunately Darrick recently has been diagnosed with cancer and him and his family, along with their friends and family, are pulling together to raise the support Darrick needs to fight this battle. The family has now opened their Etsy shop, Trust Without Borders, that is filled with wonderful handmade jewelry and these awesome shirts! The family is hoping to raise enough funds to help with their unexpected medical bills and then their family's call to missions.

I recently got this leather cuff from their shop and I've barely taken it off since! The quality of the genuine leather cuffs are excellent with a double snap closures that makes them easily fit. Their shop offers several different designs and they were even nice enough to custom make my bracelet to fit my slim wrist.

Best of all these awesome cuffs are only twenty dollars! Easily way cheaper than most other leather cuffs and it goes towards helping a wonderful family and a great cause!

I love that it can be styled in some many different ways. This week I dressed it up a few strands of pearls but over the weekend I paired it with jeans and boots. These would make such cute graduation or mother's day gifts.

Check out their shop for several other jewelry options if the leather cuffs aren't your style. I'm dying to have one of these awesome necklaces! Ladies, this family is so amazing that even in this rough time they are sharing God's love with others fighting the same battles. For every necklace purchased they donate two necklaces to women currently undergoing cancer treatment for inspiration during their journey. How amazing is that?

I'm so excited because I'm giving away a leather cuff just like mine to one of you! Enter below to win this awesome bracelet but don't forget to visit Trust Without Borders to see all their products! Order your mother's day gifts today! Good luck and be sure to check them out on Instagram to see all their items!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

   

 

Caramelized Onion & Prosciutto Pizza

After seeing that Christina at North Carolina Charm made this pizza three nights in a row, I knew it was a must try! Since I am getting ready to leave for Alabama in the morning I knew I wanted to make homemade dinner but needed a quick idea. I had almost all the ingredients for this caramelized onion and prosciutto pizza on hand so after a quick trip to the grocery store on my way home and I was ready!

 

Caramelized Onion & Prosciutto Pizza

By: The Pioneer Women

Ingredients

1 whole Pizza Crust
Olive Oil, For Drizzling
1 whole Large Red Onion, Halved And Thinly Sliced
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
Kosher Salt To Taste
Parmesan Cheese, Grated
10 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Thinly Sliced
8 slices Prosciutto (more To Taste)

Directions

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet. Add onions and brown sugar and toss/stir for several minutes, or until onions are brown and cooked. Set aside.

Roll out pizza dough to a rectangular shape. Drizzle on olive oil, sprinkle on a little salt, followed by a little Parmesan.

Lay slices of mozzarella evenly over the top of the crust. Arrange caramelized onions over the top of the mozzarella. Randomly lay slices of prosciutto over the onions.

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the lower half of the oven, or until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and cut into squares. Serve immediately.

 

 

Since I was trying to save time so I would have time to get packed for my trip and make sure the husband had clothes to wear the rest of the week I opted for a pre-made pizza crust, don't judge. Next time I will do a thicker crust and maybe a tad bit less brown sugar but this pizza scored an A++ with Kyle and I, enjoy!

   

Jam Packed FUN Weekend! Brecken Turns Two!!

This weekend was non-stop from the moment I got off work Friday evening. My sister and brother in law and two nephews were in town so Friday evening I had dinner with them and in my in-laws. Then Saturday morning there was a citywide garage sale going on so I shopped a little and failed terribly, didn't find one thing. I'm not a huge garage sale(er) but I am about to redo our office so I thought I just might find the perfect chair to redo, no luck.

 

 

Afterwards I met  my mom and we went to the herb festival that was going on downtown. This is my favorite festival, I love stocking up on local plants and spices. This year I picked up an orange mint plant and I can not wait to start adding it to my iced tea daily and fruit salads! I snagged a few other great finds and I definitely enjoyed the time with my mom!

 

After lunch with my mom I headed to the gym to squeeze in a workout. My trip to Mexico is 35 days away, it's crunch time! That evening was party time! My nephew Brecken turns two on Wednesday so we celebrated at his tractor themed party Saturday evening. I think he really enjoyed his party! Sorry for the picture overload, but these are all my favorites from the evening!'

 

 I love how he is so patiently waiting for mom to cut the cake!

Off to the creek with uncle Kyle 

 Little brother partied hard too!



I think he loved our gift to him! Fixin' the tractor with his new John Deer tools.

Cyrus got to have a little birthday cupcake too

 

Happy birthday Brecken! Aunt Kristen loves you so much and will gladly give up my glass of tea to you any day!

 

 

After church Sunday Kyle and I headed to Lowe's for flowers. I spent that afternoon planting and trying to get our flowerbed in shape. Its a loss cause and after a lot of time and hard work it looks like I did nothing. I'm THIS close to giving in and having someone fix it up. It all looks dead to me and I just want to pull it all up but I know that's not the case. Anyways, on the other hand my flower pots look good! Our patio is now ready for summer and we've already had our first hummingbird, yay!

 

 

 

Thursday I paid off my car, 8 months early, and I am so very excited!!!! Dave Ramsey, I know you are probably reading this so are you proud?! As my prize to myself I brought home this perfect bike! It was love at first sight and I knew she had to come home with me. Sunday was a great day for a stroll! I'm going to have so much fun riding...and yes, of course I had to add flowers to the basket!

 

 

The weekend was capped off with a delicious dinner cooked by Kyle! He used his aunt's recipe and made steak au poive and he did great! Thanks babe!

 

Sorry again for the picture overload but I love to share all my favorites and definitely want them here on my little space. I hope everyone had a great weekend as well! Cheers to a very busy week! 

     

Liebster Award Nominee {Round Two}

I am so excited to be nominated for the Liebster Award by Julie from City Style Country Living. I was nominated last year but I thought it would be fun to do again, thanks for the nomination Julie! Being a somewhat new(ish) blogger I love doing fun things like this to connect me with some others in the blogging land. 

 

RULES:

1.      Answer the questions that the nominator has set for you, plus create 10 questions for the    

         people you’ve nominated to answer.

2.      Choose 6 people (with 200 followers or less) and link them in your post.

3.      Go to their page and tell them.

4.      No tag backs!

 

LET'S GO!!!

My Questions to Answer:      On your blog, what is your favorite post you have written? I think my favorite are all three of my Haiti trip recaps. Whenever my heart is heavy for these babies in Haiti I love to come back and read through my experience. You can find the posts here, here and here.         What is your favorite childhood memory? I think all the fun times I spent at my grandma and grandpa’s house. They had a swimming pool and for the younger years of my childhood we didn’t have one at home so this was always a fun time. Lately I’ve been thinking about how I would spend the night with them, tiny bear suitcase in tow, wake up to breakfast on the table and stuff as few bites down that I could get away with before heading out to the pool. My grandma would always make a special stop for ice cream before taking me back home. I sure do miss them!         Where do you see yourself in five years? Ah I have a love hate relationship with this question every time I’m asked. I’m just going to stick to successful, stronger and loving life!          What television shows are you currently watching?        I actually don’t watch a lot of TV so I don’t currently have any shows. I’m still trying to watch the first few seasons of Parenthood on Netflix but besides that none really. Until June when Big Brother starts again!         What are five of your favorite apps on your phone? Five of my faves are Twitter, Bloglovin, Instagram, Pinterest and Target’s Cartwheel app. Nothing too exciting!

If you could take the day off and do anything what would you do?
Right now anything relaxing sounds wonderful! Since being asked today I'd say a full day of pampering- massage, blowout, mani and pedi and a facial at the spa sounds pretty much like heaven! Top the day off with a nice dinner and I'd be so very happy!

      What is the best joke you’ve heard? I can’t think of a joke but how about a pickup line….”If you were a vegetable you’d be in cutecumber and if you were a fruit be a fineapple”                     If you could interview anyone (dead or alive) who would you interview and why?            Paula Deen, I want to know her secrets, her “real” story and tricks of the trade and then I’d   
           spend the rest of the time cooking with her. Y’all, how do I make this happen?? Anyone have  
           a connection?!
        What is your favorite holiday and why? Christmas, hands down! I love all the magic that goes with the season and every bit of the festiveness that comes with it. I can’t imagine how I’ll be when I have kids, whew!
       What is your favorite meal to cook?

Hmm lets go with to bake and cupcakes! I love how creative I can be with them and they’re such a cute little morsel of yumminess! 
 

My Questions for Nominees to Answer:

1.      What are the two things that you can’t leave the house without each day?

2.      What is the one thing that is most important to you to accomplish every week?

3.      How has blogging made an impact on your life?

4.      Where is the most adventurous place that you have traveled to?

5.      What does your evening routine look like?

6.      What is your biggest career accomplishment?

7.      Your cravings are usually salty or sweet?

8.      What do you find most attractive in a man or woman?

9.      How has life changed the most for you in the past five years?

10.  You only have five dollars to spend today, what do you spend it on?

  And the Nominees Are:
Abi Ruth
Monica's Notebook
Ashley P. Dickens
Little Dipper Life
Sparkle & Sage
The Rose Garden
   

Pasta Alla Vodka

Back in January I visited an Italian restaurant while in Salt Lake City and enjoyed a delicious dinner. I had the vodka cream pasta and after that I knew I wanted to try my hand at this in my own kitchen. I found the Pioneer Women's recipe that sounded absolutely amazing and recently gave it a go.

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

1 pound Pasta (I used cheese tortellini)  

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Medium Onion, Chopped Finely
2 cloves (to 3 Cloves) Garlic, Chopped
3/4 cups (to 1 Cup) Vodka
1 can (About 14 Oz.) Tomato Puree
1 cup Heavy Cream
1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes
1/4 teaspoon (to 1/2 Teaspoon) Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions, being careful not to overcook.
In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and butter. When butter is melted, add in chopped onion and garlic. Stir and allow to cook for two minutes. Pour in vodka. Stir and cook for three minutes. Add in tomato puree and stir.
Reduce heat to low and stir in cream. Allow to simmer, being careful not to overheat. Stir in red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of pasta water in case sauce is too thick. Add cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing to combine. Splash in a little water if it needs it. Stir in Parmesan cheese.
Pour mixture into large serving bowl. Garnish with more Parmesan cheese.
Eat it out of the serving bowl. Faint. Repeat as needed.

I served this with blackened chicken breasts, recipe here, César salad and of course with a glass of vino. I had shrimp with my pasta in Salt Lake and it was delicious too...but honestly, I get a little scared making shrimp. I tend to always overcook it so I went the safe way. And of course, what would be a good Italian dinner without gelato for dessert? I highly recommend you visit Italy in your own kitchen!

 

Linking up today with Martinis & Bikinis for the Tuesday Recipe Swap!