this is our happily ever after

preparing

for being out of town for about 10 days....laundry, cleaning out the fridge, preparing guest room for CB (who will be returning from STL with me and will be staying with us for a few weeks :), packing, etc.

Tomorrow I'm flying to St. Louis to spend a week with my parents, family, and friends.  Brian will arrive on Thursday night to spend the weekend at Casa de Rule.  Yes, my maiden name is Rule so my name is Angela Rule Moore...gotta love it!  We have a week full of plans that I"m very excited about.  Off to pack...I'll see you in St. Louie....

today in a daisy

So I'm thinking this might become a weekly tradition on my blog....but I don't want to say that because as soon as I say that I'll consistently add something here...I lose interest. 

healthy, summertime treat

The other day I made a smoothie for breakfast and I had a bunch of smoothie left over in the blender...I came up with the idea to make yogurt popsicles, so I made another batch and filled 8 popsicle molds.  This has been great for us. Brian is quite the ice cream man...if I buy ice cream it's gone in a matter of a couple of days. The same goes for ice cream bars.  He loves these and I feel good about him eating them.  There is nothing unhealthy in them.  Here's how I made the smoothie...of course feel free to change up any of the ingredients I put in.  I just used what I had a home. 

• 6 oz container of organic fruit yogurt (I use organic b/c most yogurts have high fructose corn syrup in them, but organic does not)
• 5.3 oz of plain greek yogurt...I like Oikos or Fage  or vanilla yogurt (Greek yogurt is much thicker than regular yogurt.  If you can't find greek yogurt then you can easily make something similar.  Line a strainer with a coffee filter.  Pour the yogurt in the filter and place a bowl under the strainer.  Place in the refrigerator and let the yogurt drain the extra liquid over night.  voila...you have made your own greek yogurt!  If you use vanilla it makes a great, thick fruit dip.)
• 2 cups of frozen berries (I used a berry blend this time)
• 1 cup orange juice (or any juice you have)
• 1/2 cup milk

Blend all ingredients together in blender.  Pour into popsicle molds.  Freeze for a few hours.  Enjoy!

being intentional

This afternoon I had an appointment with my dermatologist.  As a transplant patient I recently found out I need to visit a dermatologist twice a year so I can be checked from head to toe for suspicious skin issues that could lead to skin cancer if not removed.  I have DREADED this appointment since my transplant cardiologist told me that this is now part of my follow up.  Frankly, I'm feeling so fantastic that I just don't want to deal with doctors, hospitals, or anything that falls in that category.  I want to be left alone and lead a normal life!  However I finally talked myself into making an appointment as a part of being INTENTIONAL about things in my life.  I would hate to put off going to the dermatologist aside and then in the future find out I have major skin cancer (that could have been removed in 5 minutes) that has spread to my organs, lymph nodes, etc.  So today Brian took me to see Dr. Laborde out near the Galleria because I was a big chicken and didn't want to go by myself.  I had myself so completely stressed out, worried and anxious over this it was ridiculous.  Now I must say it was so easy.  He removed 3 spots that concerned him, one on the side of my face, one on my lower abdomen (a freckle that I've had for years and had not even thought was an issue), and a place on my back that was the major reason I went in.  The numbing medicine stung going in, but I have to say my anxiety and worry were far worse than that.  Once he had numbed the area I felt NOTHING!    He was fantastic, talked to me the whole time and put my mind at ease immediately.  I will return in a month and have a couple of other things removed that he thinks are fine, but would rather have removed before they can turn into anything else.  So I urge each of my readers to find a dermatologist in your city and be intentional and proactive about being checked, even if you don't think you have any issues.  It's just a good thing to do...and trust me...it's not that bad....and this is coming from a girl who is the biggest baby when it comes to this kind of stuff.  (Oh, I know you're thinking...seriously Angela...you've had two heart transplants...you're a very brave girl.  Well yes, I have had two heart transplants and all that horrible stuff that goes with it, but if you know me I beg for drugs for even the smallest procedure and because my docs don't want to deal with me being a paniced and crying  basket case they usually drug me, so I don't care...so yes, I'm a big baby)  If you live in Houston I HIGHLY recommend Laborde Dermatology
His credintials are about as good as you can get.  He was valedictorian in Medical School, was the chief resident at Colombia Presbytirian Hospital in NY, and did his fellowship on the Harvard and Yale faculty.  Plus he has great "bedside" manner which is more important to me than all of that combined.  Make your appointment this week...be INTENTIONAL...it could save your life!

and a photo of some flowers on my kitchen table with the sun shining on them

Spinach, Mushroom and Feta Quiche

I made this for dinner last night and I truly think it's the best quiche I've ever had.  If you like quiche you must try this one...the best part, it was really easy!!

• 1 store-bought refrigerated pie crust (I used pillsbury)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 8 ounces of white or cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 5 ounces fresh baby spinach
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1 tsp  italian or  greek seasoning
• 1-6 ounce container of crumbled feta cheese
• 4 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided

1. Place pie crust in pie plate, prick the bottom with a fork, and put in freezer while prepping ingredients.
2. Preheat oven to 375 and position rack on lower third of oven
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, onion, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
4. Add the spinach and stir until it wilts, 2 to 4 minutes.
5. Place the eggs, half and half, milk, and seasoning in a bowl and whisk to combine.
6. Sprinkle 2 tbsp of parmesan onto chilled piecrust.  Spoon the spinach mixture over pie crust and sprinkle feta cheese on top.  Pour egg mixture into the crust and sprinkle with remaining parmesan
7. Place the quiche on the baking sheet in the oven and bake it until puffed and golden, 40 to 50 minutes.  Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.  Serve quiche warm. 

Living Beyond Yourself

This week I began a new Bible study by Beth Moore called "Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit" an online Bible Study.  My good friend Karin (who I taught with at Bailey) is also doing the study.  We will meet once a week to watch the online video and discuss what we learned the previous week.  We both know that having accountability is crucial for both of us to press on when life gets busy and we get sidetracked.  Here are some thoughts/reflections I've had so far this week.  Things in italics are words directly from the study. 

• The overwhelming majority of those poor choices we make are a result of seeking someone's approval and acceptance...a desire to fit in.
• He never asks anything of us to make Himself look better.   The demands He makes on our lives are NEVER for His personal gain.  We cannot make Him any more God than He already is.  He would be no less Lord of lords if no one believed.  Every urging and exhortation of God to us is for one major reason.  He desires that we have the pleasure of knowing, serving, and sharing Him.  
  
• You can trust only One to constantly be on the lookout for your best interest.  Only One holds the future in His hands and knows your part in that future.  Only one cares for you with a perfect unconditional love.  Only one can make "all things work together for good." (Romans 8:28)
• Attaining the approval of others does not mean seeking the approval of others.  Praise God if, in seeking to please Him, you accidentally end of pleasing others. 

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" Galatians 2:20

Ten Characteristics of the Crucified Life
1. Few will understand-- If you seriously decide to live a life crucified to self and alive in Christ, you will discover that few will understand.  More importantly, those who misunderstand will most likely be the ones you have to relate to the most. 

2. You must abandon your own will and your own agenda--As long as you have your own plans/agenda and continue to nuture your own desires the personalized daily will of God for you will be thrwarted.  Do you think Christ wanted to suffer and die on the cross?  No way, He could have easily said "No thanks I don't want to do that" but he abandoned his own desires to fulfill God's plans for Him.  Of course abandoning our own plans certainly doesn't mean we're God's will is a doomsday, horrible thing.  He wants great things for us.  Once we let go of what we think we want we can be blessed by what God wants for us.  I think of my friend Kelly who wanted nothing more than to get pregnant and have kids.  But once she surrendered her own personal desires God immediately gave she and Ryan the desire to adopt.  Now they have two incredible children who bless them daily.  If she had not let her own plans go she could still be trying to conceive her own, biological child and you can bet she would be miserable, wondering why her prayers weren't being heard.  When you're prayers aren't being answered maybe God is just waiting for His perfect time for them to be answered the way you think you want them answered, but maybe He's just trying to get you to change your perspective and begin praying for His will to be revealed to you.  Just a thought that I frequently struggle with. 

3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few--- There may be few people who can choose to walk the same road with you.  Not the people who you go to church with..the people who only see your happy, everything's fine personality, but rather those people who know your deepest, hardest spiritual struggles...those friends who see you cry and struggle and rejoice over the smallest revelations.  Be thankful for those few who walk beside you in good times and bad. 

4. Intense times of aloneness  with God are required---Not even your intimate spiritual companions are invited to attend some meetings with God.  Sometimes God reserves the right to withhold others and pull you aside with Him so that you can experience whta David did in 1 Samuel 30:6 "David found strength in the Lord his God."

5. You will be constantly on the witness stand---there will never be a time when your not subject to the observations of others.  Do we want to be conformed to the image of Christ, or do we want to be comforted?

6. You must go "outside the camp"--To live beyond yourself means going out of your comfort zone.  What has God been wanting you to do, but you keep putting it off because it's outside of your comfort zone?  There's a reason it's uncomfortable for you...because it's when we don't think we're capable to doing something that we really allow the Spirit to work in us, use us, guide us.  I know there is something He has been calling me to do that I don't feel capable of doing well.  This is a good reminder to me that it's NOT ABOUT ME.  If He wants me to do something He will give me the wisdom, strength and direction to do it. 

7. There will be times when your dignity is forfeited-- in those moments when we're vulnerable and exposed, the shadow of the Almighty may be the only covering we have! (Psalm 91:1)

8.You must forego your rights--You may have rights of your own, but to be crucified with Christ means that you volunteer to forego all your personal rights except one: your right as a believer to be filled and led by the Spirit of Christ who dwells within you. 

9. You must accept that death is painful-- At times, to choose the will of God is excruciating.  We love our flesh and it hurts to have its desires crucified.  Never misunderstand pain as permission to forego the will of God.  It's called sacrafice!

10. Because He was forsaken, you never will be

dinner tonight

It's HOT....I think I've mentioned that a few times lately.  The thought of cooking a "hot" dinner just doesn't interest me this evening, so we will be having Turkey Cobb Sandwiches and Macaroni Salad with Fresh Fruit for dessert.  I've added a new category called dinner tonight where I will share  recipes/ideas for what we're going to have/had for dinner a few nights a week.  Many of my friends ask me for recipe ideas, say their stuck in a rut, etc...so here you go...this is that dinner tonight will be a the Moore house...see sometimes it's as simple as a sandwich :)

Turkey Cobb Sandwiches

• 2  tablespoons  reduced-fat mayonnaise
• 8  (1-ounce) slices double-fiber wheat bread (such as Nature's Own), toasted
• 4  small green leaf lettuce leaves
• 4  tomato slices
• 6  ounces  shaved deli turkey
• 1  peeled avocado, sliced
• 4  precooked bacon slices
• 2  hard-cooked large eggs, sliced

Spread 1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise evenly over each of 4 bread slices. Layer each evenly with lettuce and remaining ingredients. Top with remaining 4 bread slices. Cut each sandwich in half diagonally.

Macaroni Salad

1/3 c. low-fat sour cream

2/3 c. mayo (I use Hellman’s)

2 T. sweet pickle relish (I used my mom’s famous zucchini relish in place of the pickle relish….if you’re lucky enough to have a bottle her the zucchini relish use that)

1 T. honey mustard

¼ t. ground pepper

1 t. Sunny Paris (a seasoning from Penzey’s spices—optional)

4 cups (8 oz uncooked pasta) cooked macaroni, rotini, or fussili pasta

¼ c. minced red onion, soak in cold water for 5 minutes to mellow the flavor

1 c. frozen green peas, thawed

½ c. diced carrot

¼ c. diced green or red bell pepper

½ c. diced celery

 

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl; stir well.  Add pasta and remaining ingredients; toss well to coat.  Cover and chill.

And the fruit I can't get enough of right now...fresh cherries...my favorite this time of year!

I can finally say....

It was all worth it!  Last Saturday we received the last order of furniture from Bassett.  Two chairs and an area rug for the living room and six dining room chairs.  The living room/dining area looks fantastic.  Yesterday morning and this morning when I walked out of the bedroom (which is right off the living room) I gasped because I forgot about the new furniture and it just looks so good.  I am tickled at how well everything came together.  Now that we have the furniture we'll begin hanging pictures and art and other cute stuff that I have planned.  Here are some photos so you can see the new, old living room all put back together in a way that is quite improved from the pre-Ike days.  Can you tell that I like color!

 

No Bake Cookies

So I was craving some chocolate earlier while planning next weeks menus and perusing some cookbooks and came across this recipe that I haven't made in years.  I had all the ingredients on hand and in about 10 minutes I had these treats made and cooling in the fridge.  They are super simple, very yummy, and don't require turning on the oven!

No Bake Cookies

 

1 ¾ cup sugar

¼ cup cocoa

½ cup milk

½ cup butter

½ tsp vanilla

Pinch of salt

½ cup peanut butter

3 cups rolled oats

 

Mix sugar, cocoa, milk and butter in a saucepan.  Stir over medium heat until it boils.  Remove from heat and cool for 1 minute.  Then add vanilla, salt, peanut butter, and oats; mix well.  Drop by teaspoonful onto wax paper.  Let cool completely before removing from wax paper. 

and because I feel like I always need a photo...
wishing I were in Colorado right about now...photo taken in 2005 at the Maroon Bells outside of Aspen...man my hair was short!

stuffed peppers

I mentioned in my post yesterday that I made stuffed peppers last night.  Here's the recipe and a photo from another time I made them. 

Stuffed Bell Peppers—Southwest Style

3 bell peppers; any color you like

1 cup rice

1 3/4 cup water

½ onion, chopped

1 pound ground beef or turkey

1 (8oz) can tomato sauce

1 T. Southwest seasoning (if you don’t have this, use 1 tsp cumin and 1 tsp chili powder)

3 slices of American cheese, cut in half; or ½ cup shredded cheddar jack

 

Preheat oven to 350….

Cook rice in water according to package directions.  Meanwhile, cut peppers in half, vertically, stem to base.  Discard the seeds and membrane, leaving 2 empty shells.  Place peppers in a microwave and oven safe dish and microwave for 3 minutes, or until tender.  Drain any water and set to the side.  Brown ground meat with chopped onion over medium high heat, cook until meat is cooked through and onions are transparent.  Drain off any juices or grease.  Mix in tomato sauce and seasoning.  Add cooked rice to ground beef and stir until combined.  Divide rice mixture into 6 portions and spoon mixture into bell pepper halves. Put cheese over each pepper and bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  Serve with salsa on the side. 

 

Stuffed Bell Peppers—Italian Style

Omit southwest seasoning and add 1 T. Italian seasoning and ½ T. garlic powder

Omit American cheese, and add mozzarella or provolone.    

---trying to finish up reading Remember Me this afternoon.  Will post more when I'm done.