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Paleo Blackberry Bars

August 24, 2015 • 24 Comments

A few years ago I spent a summer living on Bainbridge Island, Wash., where I was the editorial intern for YES! Magazine.

Many days were full of the stereotypical rain that you would expect out of living so close to Seattle. But as the locals say “when it’s sunny, it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth.” And I couldn’t agree more. Aside from the rain there was nothing not to like about Bainbridge. Chain businesses were restricted on the island and as a result a local community had flourished, giving the island a certain charm not afforded to most cities these days.

During my short three months on the island, I even became friends with one of the local shop owners, Lisa of Bon Bon Candies. Lisa inspired me because she had opened up her own fudge shop, against all odds. I cannot wait to return to Bainbridge someday so I can see her now upgraded storefront (congrats m’dear!).Read More

Am I Expecting God to Show Up?

August 18, 2015 • 7 Comments

A few years ago I dove into the local pool like any other morning, happy to swim some laps while resetting my focus on God and conversing with Him in the silence of the water.

This morning was different though because I was swimming with a heavy heart. A heart full of dreams, desires and wishes left unfulfilled. A heart full of longing. A heart full of wonder. A heart wanting so desperately to tap into the will of its creator.

God, I need you to show up here. I need you to make the way clear. I need you to show me what steps to take next.

With each flip turn I waited, expecting Him to show up and speak to me, but all I heard was silence. And so the day went on and with the distractions of work, I stopped listening. I stopped expecting Him to show up. I stopped looking for Him.

Later that day, I had the pleasure of getting coffee with a friend. We sat a talked for nearly an hour and I told her about my experience in the pool and the crazy workday that followed.

“I just feel like God is silent lately,” I said.

“I know what you mean … but can I ask you something? Why did you stop expecting Him to show up?”

I believe God used my friend to speak something into my life that I really needed to hear. I smiled as she spoke, and looked up the heavens. You showed up! I whispered to God. (As if there was reason to doubt that He would.)

Today I still have unanswered prayers in my life. I still don’t always know what steps to take or where the road is leading, but I do know one thing: I live in full expectation of God.

I expect to meet God today and every day. I live in full expectation of God.

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I expect to meet God today and every day. I expect Him to show up. I expect Him to do great things.

Focaccia Pizza With Pear, Manchego + Caramelized Onions

August 17, 2015 • 19 Comments

You just can’t go wrong with pizza.

The cheese, the dough, the endless topping combinations … what’s not to love? That’s right. Nothing! I’m not going to lie, when I found out I needed to go dairy and gluten free to fight my fibromyalgia and chronic daily headaches, I cried because that meant: 1) No ice cream and 2) No pizza.

But oh, how wrong I was. Going gluten free didn’t mean I couldn’t have pizza — it just meant I had to get creative and try new things. There are a lot of great gluten-free crusts out there, and places like Canyon Bakehouse even make focaccia that you can use for a doughier, thicker flatbread-style pizza.

Coconut Fish Tacos with Watermelon Salsa

August 10, 2015 • 5 Comments

Kids are going back to school and the days are getting shorter, but I refuse to acknowledge that summer is more than halfway over.

I’m optimistic like that. On the other hand, I’m a total pessimist when it comes to winter. I can’t wait to see family again this Christmas, but whenever someone mentions December I plug my ears and sing la la la don’t know what December is. Snow? No. Not happening.

The fact is my husband and I love being Minnesota transplants. But we also laugh at the fact that neither of us really cares for frigid winters. Because let’s face it — weather truly affects our mind, body and spirit.

So yes, I’m going to be in denial about winter coming until the first snowfall. And I’ll cook like it’s not winter for however long I can too! So long as watermelons are fresh and flavorful, you bet I’ll be making these tacos too — a new favorite in our house.Read More

Spiced Lamb Burgers with Herbed Yogurt

August 5, 2015 • 4 Comments

I know it’s already Aug. 5 but I don’t think it’s too late to say, Happy August!

The hubby and I finally crossed something off our 2015 Summer Bucket List. Kind of sad being that it’s already August and all, but hey! It’s never too late. We still have time before the abominable snowman hits Minnesota.

The first item we checked off our bucket list? A 7-mile canoe trip on the St. Croix River.

Our adventure was the definition of a perfect summer day: pure blue skies, butterflies and bald eagles swirling in the sky, time outdoors with my love. It was a day for the memory books, that’s for sure.

If you haven’t been on a canoe trip, I would highly recommend trying it out! At first I was a little skeptical, but I ending up having a wonderful time, even with a bum arm from a fibromyalgia flare up.Read More

Naked Chocolate Banana Cake

July 27, 2015 • 5 Comments

My husband and I didn’t have a traditional cake at our wedding.

We actually didn’t have a cake at all. Instead of feeding each other cake, we fed each other Dairy Queen Blizzards. This was commemorative of the first time we ever laid eyes on each other, over a Butterfinger and Hawaiian Blizzard as the third wheels of a couple we both knew.

The magic that is Alex and I all started with a Blizzard at Dairy Queen. But if it hadn’t, you can bet your boots I would’ve had a naked cake at our wedding.

Naked cakes are so unassuming. They aren’t showy and they don’t have to get all dressed up — they are simply beautiful in their natural state. When I think about the beginning of Alex and my relationship, or the beginning of many great love stories for that matter, I think about how similar they are to a naked cake. It’s all kinds of happiness and sweetness wrapped up in an adoration for someone for simply being who they are.

At the end of the day the deepest kind of love isn’t based on someone’s outward appearance, it’s based on recognizing and being captivated by someone’s beautiful soul. Peter confirms this in 1 Peter 3:4. He writes, “Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”Read More