Barefoot Contessa's Hummus

I adore hummus. I love it on wraps, crackers, carrot sticks, and celery. It's just an all-around healthy, delicious snack!

In our house, we use a few different recipes for hummus - plain, roasted red pepper, and now, Barefoot Contessa's recipe that includes lemons. This recipe is by far the EASIEST and lightest to make. Plus, with a very fruitful lemon tree in our back yard, it just makes sense!

Here's what you'll need:

Chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans)

Tahini (ground sesame seeds)

Salt

Lemons

2 gloves of garlic

Food processor

Add 2 gloves of garlic to food processor. 

Pulse until finely chopped.

Add your chickpeas.

  

Add the tahini. 

The amount really depends on personal preference of texture and taste. 

I usually just eyeball it. You can always add more.

Squeeze the juice of 1-2 lemons and a generous pinch of salt into the food processor.

Blend until you reach the consistency you like.

Taste frequently to ensure you have enough salt and lemon juice.

 Enjoy with crackers, veggie sticks, or add to your favorite wrap sandwich!

Thankful I made it through the week!

I'm thankful this week for love.

Yes, LOVE.

I am reminded and being taught anew by our loving Creator God about His love and how, if we let it, that love can love all those around us. I want to express love, BE love, and receive love well. I don't think I have ever, and may never, truly grasp the concept of unconditional love from a God I cannot see, touch, or hear. But I can choose to be open to that love and allow that love to change me, move through me, and impact others.

This week, I'm thankful for love -

The love of my Coastie (who is SO awesome and such a fantastic husband, y'all just don't even know!!),

My mom and sister

My in-laws (yes, I said! I'm so blessed to be their "baby girl")

The love of my best friends in NC, VA, and HI.

The love that creates another human life coming into family members' and friends' lives.

My furballs

And, most astonishingly, the love I am learning to have for myself... all thanks to God's unconditional love and goodness so graciously showered upon me.

Be thankful and feel the love today!!!

Thankful for another Thursday

I was looking over several blogs I like and then I realized... I haven't posted in quite some time about Thankful Thursday!

The Coastie and I have so much to be thankful for these days. We've been going on so many adventures - both physical and spiritual. Every bump in the road of life only gives us more joy and victory as we overcome things and choose to walk in joy on the path set before us.

This week, I am most thankful for:

Galatians 6:9

Deuteronomy 32:4

Our furry little pets

New goals

Employment in these uncertain economic times

Friends

Yoga classes

Blessings coming to family members in HUGE ways

Coupons

Oranges

The Coastie's new-to-him truck

Supportive, encouraging family

A best friend who walks a difficult road at my side, even though she has not experienced the road herself. It is truly a blessing to have a friend like you, Liz. Thank you also to all the other women in my life who love me and pray for me.

Skype dates

The beauty of the Pacific Ocean that reminds me how big the universe is, and how truly small my circumstances are

Be thankful today: For the obvious blessings, but more importantly, for the blessings hard to see through the storm. 

New Year, New Things

My Coastie asked me last night if I was going to make a New Year's resolution. I shook my head and said that I wouldn't. I never make a resolution out loud because I know I will break it. Then I will feel like a failure... and who needs other people to know that about themselves? Instead, I like to just set goals in mind that I would like to achieve, but they aren't things that will make me feel bad if I don't do them or experience them. They are just extra little things I think I'd like to do or enjoy.

For example, for Christmas, we didn't buy each other gifts. *shock and awe* Instead, we bought "gifts" for our adventures together. We bought a camping tent, a sleeping bag, and an overnight pack for me. These gifts were all bought so that we could enjoy backpacking and camping TOGETHER. So, in essence, we bought togetherness.

We believe that is what Christmas and the holidays are all about. Being with people you love!

We've already taken some of the items for a test run. Here are some photos from our hike to Salmon Creek. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Here's to new adventures!

Southern Comfort Zone

During the Thanksgiving holiday, I heard the best new song. I was going back to our sweet hometown to see my family. I left the Coastie here to work and take care of the furry children (aka pets).

This new song has become our new favorite. It's about being grateful for our Tennessee roots and our Southern way of life. We love our sweet tea, living in the Bible Belt, and the slow, friendly pace of life.

However, the song is also about having the courage to leave our Tennessee home so that we can explore the world. We have a deep longing in our souls to meet people that are different from what we are. We long to experience other cultures. We enjoy trying new foods. We want to be the people we are meant to be - that just means we have to expand our horizons with new places, people, and experiences. We are the type of people that can't stay "home." We need to explore, taste, see, climb, touch, hear, and soak in other parts of the world and the country. We have to leave our peaceful, wonderful, awesome "southern comfort zone." We have to leave this comfort zone in order to have all of these adventures.

That doesn't mean we don't also respect our roots and miss home. We do miss home. We aren't homesick, per se, but we miss the comforts of home - friendly faces, people who already "know" our stories, the food, smells, the pace, and the values.

Enjoy Brad Paisley's "Southern Comfort Zone."

Introducing the newest member of Team Preston

We can officially announce the newest member of Team Preston!

(And no, it is not a baby!)

BUT, she is the cutest thing since Honey Boo Boo.

Introducing... Princess Buttercup Preston!!!!!

Our sweet new addition is a rescue from a local shelter. The Coastie fell instantly in love with her and came rushing home to beg me to meet her and adopt her. I am so glad we did!

About Buttercup:

Age: 3.5 years

Female

Breed: Red Border Collie/Mix

Hobbies: chasing lemons, going to the dog park, sleeping, going on walks, wrestling with the Coastie

Cutest things about her: she never ever barks, she doesn't mind her big brother Mr. McGee, she obeys commands pretty well, and she gets us out and moving every day.

Welcome to Team Preston, Princess Buttercup!

So Thankful it's Thursday!

Happy Thursday, happy blog readers! We've been in a whirlwind wrapping up October. Strange things happened, but also really good things!

I guess the most important thing to make note of is that I am officially employed again!

Yes, that's right! I am working at a kidney dialysis center as a clinical social worker. My supervisor is so stinkin' smart. I have so much to learn. I know I look like a deer in headlights most of the time, but I am excited to be learning so much about dialysis, our patients, and how social work is the unique factor in ensuring best patient care to our clients. I only work three days a week right now, but that means I get four day weekends with my handsome Coastie! I am over the moon happy!

In other news, the Coastie and I finally explored a unique town nearby during their Scarecrow Festival. This town might possibly be the cutest thing we've seen since Gatlinburg back in the day. Here are a few good photos:

Then we found this amazing Greenspace reserved for the town. The history began with Chinese settlers. The town has preserved only one of the buildings, but the landscape and the hidden creek are what truly captivated us.

Believe it or not... this is a blackberry bush! We instantly felt like we were "home."

By the creek, people had built several cairns with the rocks.

And finally, more scarecrows to end the trip.

These were actually moving! The scarecrows were connected to the bike wheels, powered by a motor, so it looked liked they were actually "riding" the bikes.

So we are extremely thankful this Thursday! We have jobs, a home, each other, and HOPE.

Be thankful today!