Friday Favorites: My Favorite Blogs to Follow

Hello Friday! I'm currently counting down the minutes until 5:00 just like many of you are I am sure. But in the meantime I wanted to share my top five favorite bloggers to follow as my Friday Favorites. I always love when someone recommends a good blog for me to read and I love even more getting to know the author behind the post!

 

Most of these ladies I have been following for years but some not as long. They are all my favorite for various reasons. In no particular order...

ONE: Jessica at GarvinAndCo.com {Mommy Blog} 

If I can be a little biased Jessica is my favorite blogger. Mainly because she was the very first blog I started following and I've been reading GarvinAndCo.com for several years now. Jessica is a mom to three precious little girls and a wife all while running a business and creating such an amazing creative space on her blog. She is always sharing great recipes, fun outfits, her love for holidays and precious finds she has found for her girls. I will say it is so funny to me that this is my favorite blog considering I'm not a mom and a lot of time can't relate to her posts but I still read and love every one of them. Read along at GarvinandCo.com I promise, you'll fall in love with her and her cute little family too!

TWO: Brighton at Brightontheday.com {Christian Fashion Blogger}

 

 

Love Brighton at Brightontheday.com! This girl is so real, down to earth and adorable that she won me over a few years ago. A twenty something year old living in Dallas as a cute fashion blogger that just recently bought her first house. She is so amazing that not only does she share the cutest outfits but her faith in God is nothing she hides. Brighton is so transparent and shares her love for God on her blog without even thinking twice about it. She often shares her stories, devotions and God moments and I couldn't love her more for that! Check her out at Brightontheday.com because not only will you fall in love with her style you're more than likely going to stumble across a few posts when she shares her faith that you won't be able to stop reading. 

THREE: Sarah at VenusTrappedinMars.com {Sports Blogger}

Another favorite from the heart of Texas, Sarah at VenusTrappedinMars.com. Sarah is too fun! Her and her boyfriend with their fur babies live in Dallas where she is always out finding the best spots in town to have pizza and a beer. If you are planning a trip to the Big D, she is your girl! I'm a big fan of VenusTrappedinMars.com for many reasons but I am also a huge sports fan so it's always fun to come read Sarah's posts after the big Dallas Cowboys game or when she is teaching us girls how to dominate in fantasy football! 

FOUR: Grace at ASouthernDrawl.com {Fitness/Fashion Blogger}

 

 

If you are looking to find all the cutest and best athleisure wear, Grace can help! Grace at ASouthernDrawl.com  is a southern Kentucky girl that knows what she's talking about when it comes to getting fit and fashion. I love that she has a balance of fashion while also sharing her best fitness tips on her page. I'm completely jealous of her Lululemon wardrobe but at the same time she has all the cutest pairs of heels too. Grace is always so sweet to answer my three hundred questions I send her way about fitness and eating clean. 

FIVE: Sarah at OurVintageFarmhouse.com {Decorating Blogger}

 

 

I absolutely adore Sarah at OurVintageFarmhouse.com! She is such a joyful lady that is always radiating happiness in all her posts. Sarah is a single mom living in the most amazing farmhouse in Tennessee with her daughter. She is always sharing her favorite memories they are making while dancing in the kitchen but at the same time her fabulous taste in home decor. She recently started her own furniture line that is to DIE for, gimme it all! I stumbled across OurVintageFarmhouse.com just about a year ago and haven't stopped reading since. Sarah and I share the same taste in southern farmhouse decor and I'm constantly filing away decor ideas in my head for someday when I have my own amazing white farmhouse with a wraparound porch. Check out Sarah, she is on point with her home design ideas!

 

 

AND Surprise, SIX! Kate at AloneStarSouthern.com {Fashion Blogger}

I know I said five but I couldn't narrow down so I have one more! Kate at AlonestarSouthern.com. Y'all, she is the cutest southern belle and I can not get enough of her style! Again, she is from deep in the heart of Texas in Dallas and you guys probably think I only read Dallas bloggers but that's not true! I just happen to think Texas has some great bloggers! Anyways, Kate has the best southern style and can be easily compared to the queen of Southern fashion, Reese Witherspoon. She can pull off any outfit and pair it with cowboy boots in the afternoon and heels that evening and looks oh so adorable! Of course I share the exact same love for southern fashion so A Lonestar Southern is one of my favorite blogs to get fashion inspiration from!

 

I could go on and on sharing favorite bloggers but I'll end it here. I hope if you check out any of these ladies you fall in love with their pages as I have done. I am always looking for new great bloggers 

to follow so please share your favorite blogs to read as well!

Have a great weekend y'all!

 

 

 

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile: First of Many Visits

Over Christmas break my mom and I took a road trip about an hour and twenty minutes north of home. We headed to Pawhuska, Oklahoma in hopes of meeting Ree Drummond, in search of finding the perfect must have pieces from the PW collection to add to our kitchens and with certainty of enjoying some mom and daughter time in small town Oklahoma!

 Image Credit: Rural Gone Urban

  Image Credit: Rural Gone Urban

By ten o'clock that cold December morning mom and I were standing in line with hundreds of others on the corner of Main Street and Kikhekah Ave patiently waiting to get inside of the Pioneer Woman's Mercantile! After an hour wait we were warm inside and shopping through all the fun merchandise in the Merc. Shelves and tables were lined with bright linens, jars filled with Carmex and working gloves, colored bowls stacked among coffee cups and dish sets and the most perfect leather jewelry collection. The Mercantile is a local gem that has a little something for everyone.

We shopped, we bought and we ate. Sadly, the line for the restaurant was wrapped around the building and down the street with a four hour wait. So Ree, we will be back! However, the line for the bakery upstairs was a quick mere ten minute wait so we headed upstairs to grab a lemon bar and a sticky bun for the road. As soon as we made it upstairs we turned the corner to be greeted by the Marlboro Man! He was the kindest cowboy in three counties and graciously agreed to snap a pic with my mom and I. He let us know that the Pioneer Woman herself was home sick which was a bummer but I was just as happy to get to meet her cattle rancher!

We scooped up our pastries and goodies from the store and headed out of town on a two lane back road headed south. It was such a fun day spent with my mom and Ree, you can take our money anytime because we will be back!

 

Friday Favorites: Working Out & Going to Bible Study in My Red High Heels

Hello Friday and y'all from the freezing cold here in Oklahoma! It has been a hot minute since I put together a Friday Favorites post so I thought I would share five of my absolute current faves in my life lately!

ONE: Cozy at Home

I'm so thankful that I am currently snuggled up by the fireplace and loving that I work from home on Fridays! Our state was suppose to be covered in ice this morning according to all the meteorologists but we have no ice, praise the good Lord! {insert hand clapping emoji}! Regardless it is still cold and I'm always happy to be working by the fire. 

TWO:  Going out in my Red High Heels

How HOT are these heels?! I snagged these red bow heels from Steven Madden for HALF off! Hurry, only $54! They arrived in the mail earlier this week when I was sick at home and something about them just made me feel better immediately, ha! I then promptly ordered them in the camel color because, well do I need to explain why?!

THREE: Why I'm on Social Media

I got this private message a couple weeks ago and y'all THIS is the reason I am on social media! How amazing is this?! Not for me, but for them and that God works in all ways! Made my heart swell knowing this. 

FOUR: Fitness Challenge

The girls and I at work area all doing a fitness challenge and I'm loving it! We all have different goals and motivations of course so we have one challenge for whoever loses the highest percentage of weight. The two separate challenges one were we have to put in a dollar for EACH sweet or alcoholic beverage we consume. The other is if we don't workout at least three times during the week we have to put in a dollar. The winner for each of those is who cheats the least on indulges and whoever works out the most. I LOVE a good competition so I'm all about this! The contest is over on March 1st and I'm proud to say I have lost almost 4 lbs this week, clap clap! Above is me trying a new leg workout last week at the gym. Its good y'all, try it!

FIVE: Praying to be Led AND Bible Study with Joanna Gaines!!!!

This. I'm constantly reminding myself of this lately. Sometimes I realize that I'm not talking enough and just trying to listen but it needs to be a two way communication or I'm not going to hear anything either.

Y'ALL!!! I've always said if I can't be best friends with Joanna Gaines can I just be in a bible study at least with her!!! WELL now we can!!!! Use this link to sign up to receive her new bible study starting next week! Please let me know if you sign up, I'm super pumped about it and would love to know who all is joining me!

 

I hope you guys have a great weekend and stay warm and safe wherever you may be at! I know for me it is going to be pretty low key with the weather being forecasted to be less than par for us here in the Okie state.

   

 

Announcing Westlyn Allie

On Tuesday, December 20th Kyle and I's new niece Westlyn Allie Ray was born and we are all so in love! Coming a few weeks early, she was just too excited to meet everyone and to be here for Christmas. She was a true precious Christmas gift! Born at 7:22 AM coming in at a tiny 5lbs 13oz and 19" long. She is so beautiful and has the most perfect full head of dark hair with the perfect tan complexion. 

We are so happy for my brother and sister in law Brad and Sheridan. Westlyn is very loved by all of us! Her cousin's were excited to meet baby Westlyn the day she was born at the hospital. 

Westlyn Allie, Aunt Kristen loves you very much and I can't wait to spoil you even more! Don't worry, I'll be the one to teach you to love pink, ruffles and bows girly! 

 

     

Chicken Broccoli Quinoa Casserole

Image Credit: A Southern Drawl  

My husband absolutely hates when I make a very healthy meal so I will just say he was not a fan of this chicken broccoli quinoa casserole that I made. I got the recipe from Grace at A Southern Drawl and knew this would be a great meal for me to meal prep for the week. 

I thought it was pretty tasty for coming in at just 336 calories per serving and it was filling. Easy to reheat and to have for lunch through out the week as well.

Chicken Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Recipe from: A Southern Drawl 

Ingredients
2 lbs Chicken, raw
1 1/2 cups of greek yogurt (I used Fage 0%)
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cups cooked quinoa

1 12oz jar of roasted red peppers

1/2 cup of white onion, diced

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (I used Italian just for extra flavor and that's what I had on hand) 

2 tbsp Italian seasoning

1 tbsp oregano

Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.    

Directions
1. Boil chicken breasts until done and then shred.

2. Steam broccoli and onions

3. In a blender, pulse greek yogurt and roasted red peppers until smooth.

4. Mix chicken, broccoli, onions, greek yogurt/red pepper mixture, seasonings, quinoa and half of the chicken broth in a bowl.

5. Spray a large baking dish with coconut or olive oil spray. 

6. Place mixture in baking dish and top with bread crumbs, mozzarella cheese and the other half of the chicken broth (this keeps it from getting dried out).

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.     

 Image Credit: A Southern Drawl (I failed at taking picutres of mine own)

If you make this let me know what you think! Also, if you have other recipes that you recommend for healthy meal preps, please share!

  

   

   

2016 Christmas

This Christmas Eve Kyle and I hosted dinner for my family. This was the first time to host and it was so great having everyone in our home. We shared a delicious meal together and then spent the evening playing games, my niece opened her gifts from all of us and making Christmas memories. 

 

Christmas morning we woke up to Haddock throwing up blood in our {all white} bed! I went straight into dog mom panic! Luckily he was okay but he did not leave our sight all day. I was so worried! We think it might have been that Kyle gave him several bites of an under cooked roll and who knew, raw yeast dough is poisonous to dogs!

After a fairly scary morning we went to Kyle's parents for Christmas morning breakfast and to open gifts. I will just say, I failed bad this year and I didn't take one picture Christmas day. That afternoon we headed to my parents where we had lunch, opened gifts and played more games. It was 65 degrees in Oklahoma with thunderstorms that evening and definitely made for a Christmas in the books. 

That evening I was freezing and asleep before ten o'clock...woke up in the middle of the night with body aches and a high temp, Merry Christmas to me! Spent the next few days sick at home but I think it was my body screaming for me to relax, and that is just what I did. Now looking back, this was probably why no pictures were taken. All in all Christmas was wonderful!