Thirty.

This handsome husband of mine turns thirty today.  THIRTY.  30.

This photo taken for our 5 year wedding anniversary, taken this past October

Gosh, I just feel like 30 seems so old...  I clearly know that it's not, but it seems like, well. This is it.
You're not in your twenties anymore.  You officially have to be a responsible member of society.
Because you're THIRTY.  You should know life stuff...
You should have a successful career, a house with a white picket fence, a handful of kids, life insurance, and a 401k.

I know all that is silly, because age is just a number.  But for some reason, thirty just stings for me...
Thank God I'm not turning 30 for a couple more years :)

Okay, that was kind of depressing, and I didn't mean it to be.  I do really want to wish my Zachary the best of Birthdays. We've had a couple really sucky weeks & it's time we celebrate something fun.

So in honor of you turning 30, here are 30 things that I love about you!

1. The way you love me.
2. That you're a dreamer.
3. How you ALWAYS find the positive in every situation.
4. When you hug me, that you always tell me I feel so small in your arms.
5. Your smile.  Even that snaggle tooth on the bottom.
6. The way your eyebrows move when you talk about something you're really passionate about.
7. When you start a new hobby, how you go all in (this also drives me crazy, too) ;)
8. When you laugh or giggle, how your head kind of tips back and to the side. It's so cute!
9. Your hands.  I know this is weird, but I think you have the best hands & fingers.
10.  That you make the best coffee.
11. Also that you make the best eggs.
12. How thoughtful you are.
13. That I know you will never let us fail, no matter what life hands us.
14. How much you love God & that you are continually reminding me to trust in Him, always.
15. The way you look when you're sleeping.
16. I equal parts love & despise how smart you are.
17. How you can look at something & figure out how it works in an instant.
18. That you're never afraid to try something new.
19. How much you genuinely care for your family & friends.
20. When you read a magazine, how you always lay down on the floor to do it.
21. That you let me pester you.
22. The way you laugh uncontrollably when I can find your one ticklish spot.
23. How patient you are with me, even when I'm easily frustrated.
24. When you bring my crazy ideas to life.
25. That you always wear your wedding ring.
26. When you scoop me up off the couch like a baby because I'm too lazy to get up.
27. How you know me better than I know myself sometimes.
28. That you clean the toilets.
29. How you always hold the door open for me.
30. That we were lucky enough to cross paths 11 years ago, and you persistently "chased" me for 5 months until I would officially say yes to being your girlfriend.

(For the record, I contemplated keeping these private; writing them in a card & not sharing them with the world.  But the world needs to know how great you are, and how much I love you).

I love you more than you know & more than I show sometimes.  Always remember that.

Here's to 30 years, babe.  Cheers!

Happy Sunday.

Twelve yummy drink & smoothie recipes to try (including mine!)

Alternatively, 22 hot drinks to warm you up this winter.

This post has me inspired to create a DIY project for our home, all by my girl-power self.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions?  I like Jessica's... especially the Listening & Making Me Time Count ones.

This fox knit hat would surely look adorable on my brand new baby nephew!

Favorite moments of the week.

+ New flannel bed sheets.

+ Oreo balls.

+ The first snow fall of the season.

+ On a bad day, remembering all the wonderful things I have to be thankful for.

+ Finding a spot for all my new Christmas gifts; aka 'out with the old, in with the new'.

+ Watching a few movies I'd been itching to see: American Sniper, An Officer & a Gentleman, & Jurassic World

+ Picking up my camera again after about a month of neglecting it.

+ Getting back into a routine after the holidays.

+ Looking through old photos.

+ Warm, homemade soup on a cold winter night.


See my favorites from a few weeks ago,  here.

Favorite Tropical Green Smoothie

I drink a smoothie almost daily.  When it comes to breakfast on-the-go, or a post-workout snack, you can't really beat a refreshing smoothie.


































My version takes less than 5 minutes to make & is super simple -- it only requires 4 affordable ingredients (5 if you count the ice cubes, which are optional).

































I use (and am in love with) my Ninja blender.  I've used numerous blenders throughout the years, and this one takes the cake.  I received it as a Christmas gift 2 years ago, and I use it daily.  It works just as good today as it did the first day I used it. For my smoothies, I use the individual cup with Sip & Seal lid, making it perfect for on-the-go.

My Favorite Tropical Green Smoothie Recipe:
- 1 cup chopped frozen pineapple, strawberry, mango, & peach
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1/2 cup vanilla greek yogurt

*Target has great options for frozen mixed fruit bags, with pieces already chopped & no sugar added.  This is the blend I used in the recipe above, but this one is also my favorite.
































Place 3 ice cubes (optional), fruit, milk, spinach, & yogurt in a blender, and blend until creamy.  You can add almond milk or fruit to thicken/thin the mixture.  Serve immediately, or freeze to enjoy for later.

There are about a billion recipes for "green smoothie" online, but these core ingredients are my favorite.  Don't be afraid to play around & make this smoothie your own.  You could add flax seeds, chia seeds, or whatever else you wanted.  Try coconut milk instead of almond, or a different leafy green, such as kale, in place of spinach.
































I'd love to know, what's your favorite blend?


*For other great green smoothie recipes, click here!

Linking up here:
Elizabeth & Co | The Winthrop Chronicles | Live Laugh Rowe | Adventures of Mel | Tatertots & Jello

Good bye 2015 & Hello 2016

Cheers to a fresh start, a clean slate, a new beginning!

Here’s to remembering the good times throughout the last year, and the bad times too.  For without both, there wouldn't be growth.

Let’s learn from our mistakes, let’s make healthier choices, let’s look forward to new adventures, but let’s not forget to live in the here & now… find the veiled, special junctures sprinkled throughout every day, and let’s cherish those mundane moments too.

Wishing everyone a healthy, prosperous, & blessed New Year!