it's a great day to exchange one great year for another

current status: living room couch, finishing an episode of suburgatory while possibly the best shepherd's pie i've made to date bakes in the oven
we have sparkling sangria chilling in the fridge
several episodes of big bang theory to watch
and a multitude of board games to choose from

we decided to spend the last few moments of 2011 alone together
for a few reasons
{1} we spent a lot of time with friends and family over the Christmas holidays...which was great, but
{2} we haven't seen a whole lot of each other between that and working and
{3} we're spending the first DAY of the new year with some amazing friends after worship, and we have plans to spend time with good friends several times in the next couple of weeks.

so we decided to decline invitations and just stay in

i'm sure next year we'll throw a party or attend one
but this year we kind of wanted to spend on our own

i hope your new year's celebration is a great one
that you reflect on the joys and sorrows of 2011
and look forward to similar moments in 2012

be blessed, be safe
i can't wait to spend another year with you all :-)

(easy) recipe of the week: potato leek soup

i got this recipe from a friend

(actually, a former teacher of mine)

and filed it away at least a year ago

for the future

when trying to come up with an idea to feed my husband, one of his good friends and myself one friday

i decided to pull it out and see what happened.

the result?

it'll be a regularly made soup in our house

i think next time i'll make a double batch to freeze some

very simple

very light

nice texture

great flavor

potato leek soup

3 large potatoes, peeled and chopped into quarters or smaller

6 cups chicken broth

4 medium leeks, trimmed

2/3 cup sour cream

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

fresh chives for garnish

cook potatoes in the broth and salt & pepper until tender

add leeks and season again with salt and pepper

cook until leeks and potatoes are very tender

put everything in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth

add the sour cream on top and drag into a design with a fork.  add fresh chives to top

serve warm or cold...it's yummy either way!  enjoy :-)

thursday's ten (er...twelve): about 2011

i love looking back at the year, and reflecting.  here's some links and pictures that sum up 2011 for us!


january
i decided (or rather, i'm pretty sure God decided) that the word of the year was more.
(little did i know...)
and i participated in a gigantic city-wide snowball fight (can't wait to make that tradition!)

february
we had a sweet valentine's day (which somehow i never got around to posting about...)

we started a marriage prep class
we got engaged

newfound recipes were buffalo chicken stromboli, creamy broccoli soup and sausage ravioli lasagna


march
i did a little reflecting
we had a scare with emi, but she turned out to be as healthy as can be!

i turned 30

i found and shared recipes for adults-only brownies and chicken burgers with garlic-rosemary mayo


april
more reflection
longed for the ocean
loved that earth day collided with good friday


may
i discovered instagram...uh-oh! (if you have it, i'm msmsctchr)
had a few moments where God reminded me He had this
wrote about professional vs nanny life (little did i know i'd be striking the balance between these two worlds within months)
cicadas came and went
and i found inspiration in a bowl of pasta


june
i shared a sweet story about a teenagers prayer for me (us)
i started a new nanny gig

i shared a starter dream list about a place to live when we started apartment hunting.  little did i know...
i tweaked and made my own recipe for chicken cordon bleu soup


july
u2 came to nashville! (and we went.  a-mazing)

i learned some stuff from the kids i nanny for
bought my wedding dress and selected the bridesmaids dresses
i went on hcg and started losing weight and feeling fabulous
we picked out our wedding rings

i started a new part-time office job that has turned into much more than that...which i have yet to share here.  oops.

august

we had our first shower in indiana and took some time to hang out with friends while we were there :-)

we took our engagement photos

i went with my (future at the time) mother in law to atlanta to the women of faith event (which i recapped in september here)

i went to the beach with natasha (and never posted about it...oops!)

lots of wedding planning and hcg diet info...i ended up losing about 25 pounds!


september
i shared the amazing story of provision with our house
i also shared recipes for stuffed mushrooms, beef flank steak wheels and tabouli salad
and a lot of wedding planning and prep happened :-)


october
we got married :-)

and honeymooned 

 i shared my recipe for black pepper chicken

november
i shared recipes for spanakopita and creamy pesto chicken
we participated in the hike for the homeless again
we drove to birmingham for a burger

december
recipes were posted for blueberry crumb breakfast cake and peppermint joe-joe truffles (or oreo truffles)
we celebrated christmas (a week early) in indiana with my parents and some good friends
we had a great first christmas together, and got to celebrate with anthony's extended family as well

(and emi loves the tree)

2011 HAS been a year of more...more than i could have ever imagined.  thankful to a generous Heavenly Papa who has covered every step of the way.