kitchen chronicles

I'm a slave to a good recipe. I love trying a new dish and getting rave reviews from the hubby.

I mention this because at present, I'm preparing to make my first roast chicken. 

This is a big deal for me. I've never been an amazing cook, and I was pretty ok with that. Then I got married and well, life changed. For the first time in a long time I actually wanted to be better. It's not uncommon for me to be hosting at our house and that means, well - putting food on the table. (Good decor only gets you so far unfortunately).

There are certain dishes I feel like every woman should be able to make (calm down to all the feminists among us). They don't need to be amazing but I mean it's like baseline family survival:

1. Fried chicken (check!)

2. Roast chicken

3. Baked chicken

4. Roast beef

5. Some kind of fish (salmon all day)

6. Mac & cheese (making this tonight too ... eek!)

7. Ribs (check)

8. Some type of dessert (on LOCK; I'm a baking MACHINE!)

Ok so maybe this is just my beginner's bucket list but either way I'm almost there!

I still wish I would have learned more about cooking from my grandma before she passed away. My mother never really enjoyed cooking and I wasn't all that interested in learning when I was younger anyway. But one of my role models said it best: "if you can read, you can cook." And I'm a pretty good reader.

I think my grandma would be proud. 

NOLA

Currently: listening to raindrops on our hotel rooftop in Cajun Country. Nursing Lincoln to sleep. Measuring the time between my husband's breaths.

I'm blessed.

And I know it, but I forget it so very often.

Today, again I'm thankful for this God- given moment. And I'm ok with sounding like a broken record. May this be my routine, lifestyle even.

"His mercies are new every morning ..."

I'm seeing them now like ever before. 

So here's to you God of everything, Lord of the universe. Morning thanks from appreciative me. I know you won't mind the repetition :-)

don't play me, son

It's rather unfortunate that my son's favorite pasttime is napping at bedtime. 

He woke up three times last night and finally ended up in our bed at approximately 2:37a.

Lincoln - 1. Mom - 0. 

So today, I woke him up at the glorious hour of 6a. To my delight, he roused startled and confused.

"You keep me up, I keep you up," I tell those big, bewildered brown eyes.

This mom's no punk.

windows

I love to sleep in whenever the opportunity presents itself but this morning I woke up at precisely 7:59a. I remember because as soon as the doorbell rang, I asked Musa groggily:

"Babe, what time is it?"

"7:59. It's the window people," he answered.

To self: "YES!"

They said they'd be here between 8 and 10a and they were right on time. (Gosh I love great customer service).

I can't tell you how excited I am for new windows. Jump up and down excited. New purse excited. New shoes excited. Heck vacation excited (and that's pretty exciting in my world).

I've lived in this house for two years with my husband. And in the time we've been here we have done a lot of home improvements to make it our own.

We've purchased new appliances, new furniture, renovated a bathroom, installed new drywall ... the list goes on. I've decorated and redecorated. (Musa often comes home to new artwork, pillows or a rearranged room. Thankfully he's a patient man!)

And the windows are another (huge) sign of our progress. Us building a life together for our family.

So yes, I'm excited about new windows and I can hardly believe I'm saying that. 

Feels like I'm becoming a grown up. (Yikes!!!)