Friday's Letters

Its Friday again!!! Oh I am soo happy! I am BEYOND ready for the weekend.

Lets write some letters. (:



Dear A/C,
Do you think you can start working correctly? I set you to 72 degrees... but somehow by the time my Mr. gets home it says it is 82 degrees in the house. You realize that is a TEN degree difference? I am not the one who needs the cool air... he is. Can we work on this? Thanks in advance!
Signed, One hot wife.

Dear David Tutera, 
I have been watching 'My Fair Wedding' on Netflix this past week and can I just say that I love you! You make the most beautiful weddings out of the silliest concepts. You are making me want to have another wedding though! Still marry my prince.. but just have another beautiful celebration of love. Thanks for entertaining me while I fold laundry.
Sincerely, a forever bride

Dear 49ers, 
Hubby and I are sooo excited for the new season!!! (: I never thought that I would ENJOY watching football on TV but I think that the 4 yrs of cheerleading helped. hehe. I truly love spending that quality time with my Mr.   I love making fun finger foods, wearing the attire, and seeing him encourage you and coach. Lets make this a good season for him, okay? Oh! And hopefully we will see you at the New Orleans game!
Love, the 49er convert

Dear Sophia,
I know that you always want to go in the spare bedroom and our room during the day... but you just cannot. I am sorry. We are taking you to the vet on Saturday for a check-up and schedule some shots.. so get excited for your first outing! Oh and I am sooo proud of you for sleeping ALL NIGHT LONG (all niiight... all night loooong.. all night. ..... Sorry Iionel Richie just popped in my head). Lets make a habit of this. (:
Also.. its so incredibly cute the way you have to readjust your body all the time when you sleep. hehe
Always, Your mommy.

Dear Skype, 
Okay.. seriously.. you are fantastic! Thank you for keeping me in contact with my friends! I love that I can feel like they are with me... even when they are thousands of miles away! I like to just stay signed in all the time... so that whenever someone gets on.. they can Skype me if they want! You are wonderful.
Signed, Long Distance Friend

My lovely friend Pam, who just moved to TN

My gorgeous friend Alyssa, who lives in WA

Dear Husband, 
Thank you for working so so hard. I know this week has been super tough on you! I appreciate it. You are breaking your back for your family and I trust that God will reward you.
Sorry for our little arguments this week and thank you for your grace while I was working out my insecurity. You constantly push me towards the Lord and I am so thankful for that.
Ohhh! I cannot wait until your birthday... and I still can't believe you convinced me to give you your present early! You little stinker! We are going to have fun! ANNDDD then it will be our 1 yr anniversary! So insane!
Love forever, Your Rib

Dear Lord, 
Oh.. I love you! Thank you for your grace that is sufficient for me. Lord, just thank you for opening my heart more and more. Thank you for provision! Thank you for friends and for family. Today.. I just feel so thankful! Thank you for continuing to bless my little family! You are so much better then I realize.
With a Thankful Heart, Your Princess

Happy Friday everyone and have a wonderful weekend!

Letters and Love. - Mrs. V
♥ . ♥ . ♥

cleaving and memories.

"Therefor shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." 

Genesis 2:24 (KJV)

That verse has been on my mind a lot lately. With hubby and I leaving in about 5 days it is making the phrase "leave and cleave" a lot more real. We are about to leave our families and everything that we are familiar with and to completely cling to one another and our Lord. 

We are about to truly learn what the Lord meant when he spoke this over Adam and Eve for the future husbands and wives. 

We are excited for this new season in our lives and we are expectantly waiting on God. 

Packing is pretty much done. It took about 2 days straight of constant packing. I procrastinated a little and found some pictures that are dear to me. 

This is my Papa so lovingly placing his hand on my Gram while she blew out some birthday candles (as i joined her). I adore how the love between my Gram and Papa is so incredibly evident. 

I would see them bicker from time to time (especially when my Papa would open up the pot that my Gram was cooking in. hehe) but their love was always true. They are an inspiration to me. They would be married over 60 years if they were still alive today. I wore my Gram's 40th anniversary ring as my 'something old' at my wedding. 

These are my twin little brothers outside my Gram's house. I am not sure how old they were here... probably about 4 maybe. They are sooo stinking cute! They are 21 years old now. I love them sooo soo much and miss them lots! They can be little terrors but my sisterly love for them never alters. 

This is from the same day as the last one with my Gram and Papa. This is my Gram, myself, and my baby brother (all 49-ered out hehe. My Papa was a fan too.. I know he would get along with my hubby) at my Gram's house. We ALWAYS had every birthday party here! Our whole family would cram into the house that my Papa built in the 70s and have dinner, cake, and argue over who would do the dishes. Every Christmas and Thanksgiving memory of my childhood was held at my Gram's house. A million special memories that bring small swells of tears to my eyes even as I type this. 

I love and miss you Gram and Papa! 

fond memories, new memories, and love. - Monica

♥ . ♥ . ♥ 

Playoffs and believing in yourself

The big thing that is going on in my house right now is NFL playoffs!

My husband is a lifelong 49er fan. The entire family is. Now... the 49ers weren't always the greatest team, i guess. Apparently they went through tons of coaches went through many seasons with not too many wins. Last year they only won 6 games and lost 10 games! 

This year their record for the regular season was 13-3 and are now going to play in the NFC championship game (only one game before the Superbowl)!

hehe.. i am having to check all this with my husband and my best friend, google.

The most amazing thing about this team this year is that is all the same guys playing. The same quarterback. The same tight end. The same running back. The SAME team. The BIG difference is a different coach. Jim Harbaugh is having his first year with the 49ers and taking them straight to victory. 

Even if you aren't a 49er fan it is hard to ignore the success that they are having. The change is completely evident in their game and the way that they carry themselves. 

It is amazing what one person believing in someone can do! Someone who takes the time to excite the person. To encourage the person. To shape their God-given gifts and grow their talents. Coach Harbaugh is often seen pumping Alex Smith (the quarterback) up with hitting his pads and helmet. Its incredible what can happen when someone in your life INVESTS their time in you. 

When you have someone believing in you, its easier to believe in yourself. My pastor has said that we become what we think the most important person in our lives expects us to become.  If the most important person expects us to become great.. then i think we will have the confidence to do so. BUT if the most important person says that we are worthless, not good enough, that we will never amount to anything, annoying, too much to handle.. etc... then in most cases what do we have to try for? Why would we try to be great when the people around us say that we aren't good enough. 

I know that i am not perfect at all.. but i want to try to encourage others. To believe in them. To tell them they can.. when everyone around is telling them they cant. I want to pump others up and get them excited about what they are passionate about. So that they can someday get to their "Superbowl game" of their life. 

playoff games, believing, and love. - Monica

♥ . ♥ . ♥

our road trip as Mr. & Mrs.

Martin and i had a lovely New Years Eve. We decided it was FINALLY time to take our first road trip as husband and wife and make the looonnngg (a whole 2 hours) trip to visit my sister. (which we realized when we got there that Martin hasn't been there since BEFORE he left for school in So Cal).

Saturday we woke up with NOTHING ready to go. We weren't packed. We didn't even have clean laundry. I told my sister we would be there AT noon.... needless to say that did not happen.
Martin got up and had to start a load of laundry (which quickly turned into two loads) and get a haircut. I jumped, sprung, slowly got up and started to clean the kitchen so it wasn't a MESS when we returned. After that i hopped in the shower while Martin finished our dirty wet laundry. I had to time to straighten my  hair and do makeup! Its amazing how sslllooowww laundry can take!

Martin bought me this new shirt... i wasn't too sure about it.. but now i think i am in love! I thought i looked like a farmer... but at least i look like a cute farmer! hehe

He actually bought my entire outfit. hehe. He's good. :)

But.. i can give myself credit for my oh-so-simple hairstyle. hehe. :)

After laundry was all finished and tummies were full of food, we headed off.

Our radio doesn't usually work (i think we need new speakers) but for some odd amazing reason it worked the majority of the ride there. So my hubby and i grooved, sang, and were silly for 2 hours.
Being a girl.. i tried to start serious conversations... but he asked if we could just have fun. hehe. :) I agreed and joined him in singing and dancing to the radio. I am glad i have him to remind me to be silly. ;) Although this is him being serious driving..because the roads were starting to get icy.

When we arrived in the mountains the temperature DROPPED! And we were surrounded by beautiful pine trees!

Do you like the crack in my windshield? hehe.. i really need to get that fixed.

When we got to my sister's house my nephew ran as fast as he could to.... Martin. Yup, my husband is apparently his new favorite. hehe. But i still got some hugs and kisses.

But he quickly returned to "Mar-TIN". (he pronounces the 'tin' part very distinctive.. it is soo stinking cute!)

Then he, of course, had to show off all of his new stuff he got from Santa.

He really loved this watch he got. It had a little light and would shine different little aliens on the wall. He would NOT take it off! hehe. And every picture he took he wanted to show it off. lol. He took it off to play with Martin some more and had me wear it. He was all kinds of excited when it fit me. hehe. He made sure to tell everyone around him that his watch "fit Auntie too"!

My sister cooked an amazing meal of tri-tip and crab! Sooo good! and then we had cheesecake and carrot cake for dessert.
My nephew and husband played the (old school) Super Mario Bros game on AJ's gameboy. hehe. My nephew cant really play.. but was amazed when Mar-TIN "beat the game" (he only beat one level.. but AJ was soo happy!)

At about 9:30pm we all headed out to my sister's friends house for a New Year's Eve party. Although stuff like that isn't really my thing... it was still pretty fun.
Of course i probably looked silly with my giant Hello Kitty purse (which Martin eventually put it in the car.. because i kept it on all night lol) and my red cup of the kid's punch. hehe. No shame though. lol. :)
At 11pm we went home because my brother-in-law had to work early the next morning.
At home we watched Dick Clark's New Years Rockin Eve and drank some DELICIOUS Starbucks peppermint hot cocoa with my sister's homemade marshmallow.

That was probably the highlight of New years Eve. I love just snuggling on the couch with hot cocoa! I don't really enjoy "going out". I'd rather hang out and play board games, sipping hot chocolate, listening to music with my loved ones. i know.. i am probably boring. hehe. but i like it.

At midnight we said our happy new years.. and after Martin stopped coughing (he got a tickle in his throat RIGHT at midnight haha) i had my FIRST ever New Years kiss! :) 

It was a really great first New Years as a new wife. :) 

The next morning was the 49er game and so my sister made her brother-in-law an amazing football meal!

She is such a wonderful cook!!! :)

After the game we talked for a little while and packed up and headed back home. :)
Arriving to town the sky was sooo beautiful!!!

We had SUCH a fun road trip together. :)

I am sooo excited for the new 2012 year! My resolution is to continue to get closer to the Lord, be love everywhere i go, and cherish my marriage.

new years, short road trips, and love. - M
♥  . ♥ . ♥

decking the halls

My husband and i had a wonderful little Thanksgiving just the two of us on Wednesday... followed by Thanksgiving day at my father-in-law's mom's house with the in laws! :)

Tuesday we took out Hank (our tHANKsgiving turkey) at 3pm to defrost for the next day. I guess we missed the surgeon generals warning about defrosting a turkey at room temperature. Apparently you can get food poisoning and even death. We missed that memo. Wednesday morning (after the turkey had been sitting out for a whole 16 hours in the kitchen) my husband read the fine print on the packaging of the bird that said NOT to defrost at room temperature. Needless to say we did NOT eat it. Although our family were saying it was probably fine since it was completely frozen when we took it out...  but we weren't willing to attempt it.

Also Wednesday my sister, niece, and nephew came to visit for a little while. It was great... because i havn't been able to visit in a couple of months! My nephew is 4 and he keeps getting taller and taller!!! :) My niece is gonna be 18 in 2 weeks and she is sooo gorgeous! I love hearing about all her high school stuff and of course boy drama. haha. My husband and i got to have lunch with them and visit for awhile. She also brought me her old Christmas tree! :)
We went to the store to get ANOTHER baby Hank (well just a breast roast actually) and some pie. After 3 short little hours we were eating our very little Thanksgiving dinner.

rolls are not pictured. hehe.

It wasn't much... but it was good for just us two. :) We also had some dutch applie pie. (side note: we bought a cherry pie at the same time... and we put it in the refrigerator instead of the freezer. well... there was red cherry juice all over our food last night! uh oh!)

Before dinner we decided to decorate our cute little tree. So i ran to the Walmart store to grab some little Christmas bulbs. 

The tree already came with lights... which was sooo nice! We put the bulbs all around the tree and i had previously bought my husband 3 little ornaments for his favorite football team. I also bought a gold star to go on top of the tree. 

Our tree is 6 ft tall... so i let my hubby put the star on! See that little sock monkey ornament?! He is soo cute! hehe. 

Here is our finished product! 

I am soooo pleased with it! It really is the perfect size for us! :) Now we just need to get some stockings! hehe. 

Last night we went and had Thanksgiving dinner with my in-laws. It was really nice to have all of us together. :) Then we watched the big 49er game. We lost and my hubby wasn't to happy. hehe. 

Christmas decorations, lots of turkey, and love. - M

♥ . ♥ . ♥

what the chicken tacos?

Wow! This week went by really fast.
I adore having my hubby home now. (: I have been practicing my wifey skills with cooking and cleaning (everyday.... when he was out of town working it was always "clean-up friday" since he would come home on Saturdays.).

Last weekend was our first Halloween together (last year we were apart while he was in So Cal for school). We stayed at the house and watched movies. hehe... we are sooo adventurous, huh? We didn't even have trick-or-treaters (which was a disappointment to me..  i love cute little costumes.)
This year was my nephew's FIRST year dressing up EVER (& he is almost 5), so it was a big deal! He was
"robot bumblebee".

my sister said that he wore it all night and the next morning.

I can't wait to dress up my future little kids in super cute costumes. (: I have found some cute ones on Pinterest that i like. (has anyone else noticed that the start of a lot of conversation are now starting or ending with "i found it on pinterest").

this is soo clever and adorable. 

i ADORE this! hehe.

ahh... (: Someday. (:

Also this week i discovered an amazing dinner that i have made twice this weekend (per my hubby's request)  The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Tacos . Okay, seriously these were soooo good! I made them last night for my sister-in-law and my husband. I started with boneless, skinless chicken breast and cut it into little pieces.  And cooked it in the pan with olive oil.

We seasoned our chicken with Chicken Taco seasoning and peppercini juice. (my husband pronounces it "pepper-see-knee" i say "pepper-chee-knee". lol. We are in a debate.)

After the chicken is done and cooked... you set it aside and grab a corn tortilla. And this is where it is deliciously unique. You put the chicken IN the corn tortilla and put the whole taco in a pan with about an inch of oil and fry it!

Hold the taco with the tongs until it fries in the taco shape and then flip it over to the other side while you do another.

Once both sides are nice and crispy... take it out and wrap a paper towel over it to get the excess oil out. Put yummy cheese in them immediately so that it gets all melty! yum!

Then.. just put your toppings.. lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, hot sauce. (: and enjoy!

I was soo proud of them and they were soo yummy! (:

Today (of course) is football Sunday and my Sis-in-law came over for the game too. (:

delicious food, cute costumes, fun time with friends, and love. - M

♥ . ♥ . ♥

Football Sunday

My wonderful husband is home this weekend again. (: I love it when he is home.

Sundays are football days at our house. My husband is a lifelong 49er fan... and with me being his Mrs. i am a 49er fan as well.

I have always loved cute food! hehe. The first day that i met my husband's family  was on St. Patrick's Day. So.. OF COURSE i brought over green mint chocolate chip cookies. My sister has always been a pro with making beautiful, interesting, and totally scrumptious food. (just look at my bridal shower .)

Well, i have been finding some recipes on pinterest that fit the beautiful, interesting, and scrumptious checklist. I figured that Football Sunday would be the perfect day to try. (:

We got up Sunday morning and watched ibethel.tv and listened to a sermon from Kris V.  He talked about how everything that we do.. there is something that we are NOT doing.. and to pay attention  to what we are NOT doing. It was really good!

 Then it was time for the game.. and for me to cook. (:
The first thing i decided to make was pizza rolls. It was sooo easy! (which is also on this new bride's checklist)


Pizza Rolls:
2 can refrigerated pizza crust (i got pillsbury)
Garlic salt
Italian Seasoning
1 cup sliced pepporoni
1 cup shredded cheese (we used a pack of mozzarella and parmesan)
1/2 cup parmesan (which i just noticed i didnt use lol)
Ragu Sweet Basil Sauce for dipping

- Preheat oven to 425
- Dust a large cutting board or wax paper with flour and roll out pizza crust.
- Season each crust with garlic salt and italian seasoning
- Top with cheese and meat
- Starting with a short end, roll crust into a tight log.
- Place on a lightly greased pan and bake for 10-12 minutes
- Serve with Ragu Sweet Basil Sauce

See.. it is sooo easy!

Pizza dough with the seasonings.

Pizza log. 

Finished the pizza rolls.. and my husband loved them!

For dessert i made Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries! Also found on Pinterest. (: i got this recipe from The Sweets Life Blog.)

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries:
 1 lb large strawberries
 8 oz (1 cup) softened cream cheese (i used the whipped kind .. it was easier to work with)
 3 tbsp powdered sugar (4 tbsp for a sweeter filling)
 1 tsp vanilla extract
 graham cracker crumbs

- Rinse strawberries and cut the top of the strawberries off. Pit the middle with a paring knife. Prep all strawberries and set aside. 
- In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy. Put the mixture in a piping bag or ziplock with the corner cut off. 
- Fill strawberries with the mixture and dip the tops in the graham cracker crumbs. If not serving immediately, put in refrigerator until ready to enjoy. 


Also incredibly easy and absolutely delicious!

pitted strawberries.

The mixture was soo good! We only did 3 tbsp powdered sugar.

They were so so good!

  i was very very pleased with all that i made and with our day. (:

football games, delicious food, and love. - M