The kitchen

I've always been obsessed with bench seating. Our dinning room table growing up had bench seating and I've always envisioned a table at my home with it as well. Doesn't our table make you want to eat breakfast and enjoy some coffee?! We love it! 

Mojito Recipe

What's more refreshing than a summer cocktail? Mojitos are one of my favorites! The best part of my recipe is that you don't have to pick mint leaves out of your teeth all night... Just add it to your simple syrup and omit all that muddling! 

Simple syrup:

1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, A few mint sprigs

Cook over medium high heat until the sugar dissolves. Let cool.

Mojito:

About 3 tablespoons simple syrup, half of 1 lime- squeezed, about a cup of simply limeade, 1 shot of rum. *adjust to your liking*  

Where the sidewalk ends...

If there's one thing I miss since moving south it's running. I miss my running partner as well. Alex's dad, Bill, and I would venture out 3 days a week for a run in the crisp air beginning last November and enjoyed the change of seasons when the frost melted in the spring. "Run, juice, and pancakes" came to be our signature Wednesday morning routine. I am blessed to have had someone special close by.

Here is my new, smaller lake to run around:

Below is a picture of what I run into when running through my neighborhood. Not to mention its 100% humidity and a high of 101 degrees today. I know in November I will love running in shorts but at the moment I am jealous of the 82 degree high in Naperville. For now I will just appreciate the fact that we are blessed to be able to afford a gym membership and rejoice in the fact that I can run in the artificial air conditioned breeze. :)

C is for community.

We're here and officially Texas residents. We will get our Texas licenses later this week... eek! I haven't quite figured out why but for whatever reason, we expected a grace period in moving, maybe because we have our "baby Grace" and are used to making the ultimate excuse for ourselves ("we have a baby!") but Texas gives you 30 days to change your registration to their state. THIRTY DAYS! I have had mail go unopened, laundry go without being folded, spoiled milk sit in our refrigerator longer than 30 days. Who am I kidding, I love mail and could never let it sit that long. But seriously, when I found this out I went through a mini breakdown, "what if I'm not ready to change my licence  I mean, I just got here. With out record of moving we could be back in Illinois in a few short months."  Confession time... we never changed our registration to the city of Chicago to avoid paying those outrageous city sticker fees. Since maturing and looking for community, I have come to appreciate the "all in" attitude that is Texas. Before our last move to Naperville, I have always waited to invest, waited to become members of a church, waited to make strong relationships with the neighbors. Despite our involvement with our last church, we never did become official members. Not this time. I am actually proud of Alex and myself. We've met some of the neighbors at the splash pad, at the pool, at church, and out watering the lawn. We have even had dinner with a few families. We are convinced that God wants us here in Katy, Texas and we're anxious to see where we are led while we are here. Cheers to new friendships, decorating our new home, and getting settled. Keep us in your prayers!