Category: blog posts

Meal Planning 101: Week 40

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I know I skipped last week! I went out of town Thursday, so there wasn’t much of a meal plan. But this week I’m on call! I couldn’t leave if I wanted to, and thus, there is a meal plan. Keeping in short and sweet for you, just the meals!

Monday:

Fiesta Rice Bowls with Chips and Salsa

Tuesday:

OWLs Potluck (bringing wilted spinach and roasted brussel sprouts)

Wednesday: 

Church Meal (Was bringing pumpkin cookies, but found out it wasn’t my team’s week to cook, so I’ll make these for something else!)

Thursday: 

Savory Waffles and Fancy Eggs

Friday: 

Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches with Breakfast Potatoes

Saturday: 

Leftovers

Sunday: 

Crock Pot French Onion Soup and Grilled Cheese

Last week I made a crock pot rotisserie chicken using the balled up tinfoil trick and it was excellent! Also used leftover chicken to make a big fall chopped spinach salad that was delicious!

#31Days of Food for Thought

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I kept hearing (seeing?) about this #31days all day today on Twitter. That little thing started to happen to my insides. That excitement/bubbling/nervous/freaking out/scared challenging fear thing. You know, the feeling when you’re terrified, but you know it’s the good kind of fear that pushes you to do something you know you can do but are scared to do?

I was already feeling pretty inspired by all my blogging world friends, but when my real life blogging friend Jessica over at Meet the Magnolias decided to do it, it was just the push I needed to jump off the diving board.

And so it’s official! I’m linking up with thenester.com and probably over a thousand other bloggers (Literally! They had 1,200 last year.) to participate in the 31 day writing challenge. It’s a challenge to write about a specific (ish) topic every day for 31 days. My mind started to rush with a million different things I could specifically write about, but I just couldn’t decided between two!

After helping with a women’s conference this weekend and being  completed challenged to dare to believe that God really, wholeheartedly, absolutely loves me, I couldn’t get the idea out of my head to walk through that journey with you, a journey of believing.

Being primarily a food blogger, I also sort of felt like I was cheating on my blog if I went 31 days without posting about food! So I keep thinking of ideas/tips for the kitchen to make being in the kitchen more simple. How does a girl chose between the two?!

Well, she doesn’t! As I was having a freak out moment with Jess about wanting to do it but being unable to decide, she encouraged me to do both and even suggested a title that worked perfectly with combining the two. And so, for the next 31 days (I HOPE), I will be blogging about “Food for Thought,” alternating between talking about God’s love, and ways to make the kitchen “easier.”

I’d also like to add, I’m doing this for a few reasons! 1. I’ve been out of the blogging pattern. I want to be more consistent. 2. I’m supposed to be helping Total Woman U (the non-profit women’s ministry team I’m on the faculty for) write a book and blog! Key work on SUPPOSED. I’ve not been as good about blogging about specific things, I tend to be a seat of the pants kind of topic blogger. 3. I challenged myself this weekend to really dwell in daring to believe that God loves me unconditionally, and what better way to follow through on that challenge than the accountability of writing about it. 4. Writing is therapeutic for me! I want to be better about developing the daily pattern of doing it. 5. If I want to write a book one day, I need practice! 6. It ill be a fun way to play catch up on my goal to post 100 times this year (I’m WAY behind). 7. It’s for the month of October! My favorite month of the entire year. What better time to believe I can do something than now.

And so join me on this journey! Let’s learn a lot together.

Day 1: Why Love?
Day 2: Making the Kitchen Manageable Part 1 – Meal Planning
Day 3: Love and Bad Moods
Day 4: Fall To-Do List
Day 5: Love Defined
Day 6: Meal Planning 101: Week 41
Day 7: My Favorite Day
Day 8: Confession: Sometimes You Need a Break (and sleep)

Getting to Know You (Part 2): A Mississippi Women Bloggers’ Link-Up

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Mississippi Women Bloggers
1.  What is your favorite thing to do in your hometown?
I consider Clinton my hometown now, even though I was born and lived my childhood in Monticello. My favorite thing to do in Clinton is anything on the Olde Towne brick streets! I love the Olde Towne Courtyard on the brick streets. I love attending any event they host on the brick streets like our movie nights and farmer’s market. I just love being there! 
2. What is the best vacation spot in Mississippi?
Hmm, my favorite place to vacation is visiting friends. But the coast does have a fun, relaxed atmosphere for vacation. 
3. Tell us about the most fun date night idea in Mississippi.
Currently, my ideal date idea would be to take a picnic to the Olde Towne Courtyard in Clinton at night under the string lights on a cool autumn night. 
4.  What is one fun fact that very few people know about you?
Hard one… I’m such an open share-y person, everyone always knows everything about me! I guess not everyone knows that I was in dance for 4 years growing up. I hate dancing and am NOT good at it. But I was in dance class for 4 years. 
5.  Who is your favorite sports team (if you have one) and how did it start?
Nope. Don’t do sports. I mean it’s in my blood to support the New Orleans Saints, and I’m happy when I hear (or read from social media) that they won, but you won’t catch me watching a game. If cooking can be a sport my favorite team is Team Food Network. 
6.  What are your top three “Best Eats” in Mississippi?
I’ll say in my part of Mississippi, because there is so much in our great state! My my local top three are 303 Jefferson (Clinton), Blue Rooster (Clinton), and any of the many Mexican restaurants in the Clinton/Jackson area. 
7.  Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Well, I truly believe God is in control of my life and next steps, so though I can dream about it, I have no idea! But my dream would be to have my bakery up, running, and thriving in Clinton and be married! I’m not dating anyone haha, but a lot can happen in 5 years right?? 
8.  If you could choose an actress to play you in real life, who would you choose and why?
Drew Barrymore! I’ve always love the characters she plays and feel like I can relate to them. I think she’s the perfect amount of awkward, class, girlishness and quirkiness to represent me. 
9.  What is a southern tradition you and your family have?(Note: Get your guest posts on “Traditions” ready for December!)
Does food count? I feel like all of our traditions are based around food! We don’t do them as much anymore, be we used to have family fish frys a lot growing up! My other side of the family loves a crawfish boil, as do I! We do holidays right with all the southern classics. 
10.  List 5 things on your Bucket List you hope to do before you die.
Well, I think my first two are cheating, but they are the two things I want to do more than anything before I die! 1. GET MARRIED! 2. Have kids. 3. Write a book. 4. Go to London. 5. Got to Harry Potter world in Orlando. 

Meal Planning 101: Week 39

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Would you believe me if I said I forgot yesterday was Monday?? I totally did! I had this post prepped and ready to go but forgot to post it because it didn’t feel like a Monday! Due to my lateness, I’ll keep it short and sweet, no rambling, just the meal plan. One note… Last week I had to bake a million things so cooking dinner took a seat on the bench.  I mostly ate boiled peanuts or snacks for dinner! So there is a repeat meal from last week that I never got to.

Monday: 

Easy Garlic Pasta and Sauteed Garlic Kale

Tuesday:

OWLs (Older Wiser Ladies) Dinner Party – We’re eating out this week! 

Wednesday: 

Dinner at Missional Community

Thursday: 

Fiesta Bowls (lime rice + fiesta lime chicken + black beans + salsa + anything else that fits from my fridge/cabinet) with Blue Corn Chips & Peach Mango Chipotle Salsa

Friday: 

Leftovers

Saturday:

Cheesy Bacon Waffles, Cheese Grits, Fancy Scrambled Eggs, and Sauteed Pears (Never got to it! Crazy busy week of baking last week.)

Sunday:

Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich and Roasted Rosemary Brussel Sprouts (And therefore never got to this day two recipe.)

What are you eating this week? Post your weekly meal plan in the comment section below! You can also link your meal plan up over at Organizing Junkie and see even more people who are meal planning. 

Meal Planning 101: Week CATCH UP (38-ish)

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I’m back! I think. I hope. Gotta get back into the rhythm of posting, but I’m pretty sure I’m back! Or that I want to be at least. Brief little update of what you missed since I’ve been gone: 1 plus month of CRAZY (called RD training, RA training, move in day, and the first couple of weeks of school), a back injury (resulting in a shot, three medicines, and a couple weeks of physical therapy, still not totally recovered but know what stupid careless things not to do now), and now I’m sick! Full blown cold, icky, feel like I have been hit by a truck kind of cold. Is it just me or do colds feel worse the older you get? Oh and I got two new tattoos. Oh and I got obsessed with a book series, Divergent. I’d totes be in Amity with their bright colors, but I’d be a rule breaker and set on falling in love with a tattooed dauntless boy with a bad boy exterior and gentlemen huggable interior. Just saying. It’s true. Well now that you’re all caught up.

Guess what’s back?! PUMPKIN! By September 1st I had already used three cans of pumpkin and had three pumpkin spiced lattes. All in one week. It’s still ridiculously scorching hot, so it’s putting a damper on my fall mood, but I’m clinging to the pumpkin! Pumpkin love will bring on the fall. And until it gets cool enough, I’ll just have my pumpkin coffees iced!

Now to the meal plan! I will admit meal planning has a been a struggle lately! I made a deal with myself that I wouldn’t say no to friends wanting to hang out with me even if it interrupted my meal plan and/or tv watching schedule. YES! I actually had to make that deal with myself. I’m a shy routine loving extrovert (get energy from being with people, drained by too much alone tome). So I need people, but I avoid chaos at all cost and therefore love my routines. But, while living in peopleless routines, I’m not as happy! I’ve happily said yes to a few weekly things, which is great! But just means less of a meal plan. BUT thankfully the way people connect is over food, so most of these things are potluck situations. Therefore, I think I’ll still be able to work up a meal plan for us (for my sanity and your enjoyment – meal plan posts steal continue to be my most viewed). 

Monday: 

Kale Bleu Chopped Salad (Pizza was planned too, but my sickness only wanted salad!) 

Tuesday:

OWLs (Older Wiser Ladies) Dinner Party – Bringing individual Pumpkin Cheesecake Trifles. 

Wednesday: 

Dinner at Missional Community – Bringing Iced Sugar Cookies (tea party themed). 

Thursday: 

Cheesy Bacon Waffles, Cheese Grits, Fancy Scrambled Eggs, and Sauteed Pears

Friday: 

Leftovers

Saturday:

Tailgate Snacks – Bringing Iced Sugar Cookies (football themed). 

Sunday:

Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich and Roasted Rosemary Brussel Sprouts

Some other meals I made while away: 

Chicken Tortilla Soup and Southwest Chopped Salad
Pumpkin Pancakes and Maple Bacon

Lunches: 

I have a happy/sad update about lunches… The university I work for decided to give the RDs (my job) another benefit… A meal plan! At first it stressed me out. I like cooking! I wanted to be able to take advantage of the benefit in some way to allow it to help my budget without missing out on cooking (And blogging! If I don’t cook, what will I blog?!). My favorite part of my job is getting to meet one on one with RAs. I meet with each of them every other week, so half one week and half the next. I used to do these meetings in the late afternoon/early evening, but decided a good practical compromise was meeting with them over lunch. So the happy news is… budget saved! With only purchasing stuff for my planned meals and breakfast (which is mostly 10 for $10 yogurts), so far the last two grocery bills have been $50-$70 less! The sand news is that meals I can’t give you take to work lunch ideas! One day, when I have a job without this benefit, lunch ideas will return. But for now, I’m going to attempt to use this as an accountability tool to make healthy lunch choices in an “out” to eat setting and possibly post pictures. We’ll see how it goes! 

Did I mention it’s pumpkin season?? This as one of my pumpkin creations, a pumpkin cake with cinnamon pumpkin butter cream for a friend’s birthday. Also made two pumpkin bread puddings with caramel sauce.

What are you eating this week? Post your weekly meal plan in the comment section below! You can also link your meal plan up over at Organizing Junkie and see even more people who are meal planning. 

A Brief Update/Announcement

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Don’t get your hopes up, I’m not finished with THE MONTH OF CRAZY that happens as a full time employee of residence life at a university, and therefore not “back” yet. So no meal plans, recipes, pictures, nail polish posts, or fashion updates. 

Well… let me chase a rabbit here to give you one fashion update. I bought in to this “no poo” natural DIY beauty routine thing. I’m totally sold! Go buy these four things (or steal them from your cabinet) and when I get back from THE MONTH OF CRAZY I’ll tell you what to do with them, OR just Google it. 

1. baking soda
2. apple cider vinegar
3. cornstarch
4. virgin coconut oil 

I’ve been washing my face with baking soda, spot treating blemishes with apple cider vinegar (which disappear the next day), washing my hair with a baking soda wash, spot treating my scalp psoriasis with coconut oil, moisturizing and coconut oil, conditioning my hair with a apple cider vinegar rinse, and using my DIY dry shampoo for dark hair made of cornstarch and cocoa powder. SOLD! I’ve “washed” my hair twice in two weeks and it looks fabulous. Like I said, more after THE MONTH OF CRAZY (yes, yes I am going to type that in all caps like I’m yelling it or saying it in a booming, deep, Morgan Freeman-like voice every time, because I am). 

End rabbit chase. 

The reason I am popping in to give you an update is because I have a need to tell you a vitally important update about my life. 

I found “the one” tonight. 

Okay, I didn’t find my future husband, just wanted to get your attention by being dramatic (especially after chasing that rabbit). I did however experience something that I have to believe feels something like the feeling people say they have when they “just know” they found “the one.” Not when middle school (or college freshman) girls say they found “the one,” but when loving married couples reflect back on the moment they “knew” and were right. 

I mentioned before (see Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding post), that I was living life with a new church. We’ve been taking turns telling our life stories. Tonight was my turn. I won’t share my whole story here (though I am praying about what that could possibly look like and mean), but I will share my “opener” to help explain the moment I had tonight. 

“If I were going to sum myself up in a few sentences, what I’d want you to know about me is that I’m passionate about cooking, baking, writing, women’s ministry, being connected to a church that believes in being a family, and living the Christian life out with others with transparency and vulnerability. Since this is a unique season and community where we’re trying to know each other in depth so that we can be a family, I’ll tell you a lot more, and by a lot, I do mean A LOT, but I believe my story as a whole, as traumatic and long as it is, gives explanation to these things I’m passionate about and vividly portrays the gospel message throughout. Because I’m passionate about writing, it’s my favorite way to communicate, so naturally I wrote my story out in story form and would like to read it to you.


“Every story whispers His name,” is the tagline of The Jesus Storybook Bible. It tells the stories of the Bible, New and Old Testament, in a storybook form for children of all ages and points every story back to Jesus and how it connects to the redeeming salvation story. Every story in Scripture does in fact whisper His name, and some stories scream His name. Our stories, stories of redemption and salvation, do the same. Allow me to tell you my story, one that whispers, echoes and screams His name through every detail.”

And so I read my story for approximately 25 minutes to this new church family. It was terrifying to be so vulnerable, but in the two short months we’ve been meeting together, I found myself able to trust them. It was one of the most incredible experiences. I was immensely encouraged and humbled. I’ve never felt such freedom from the trap of shame that often comes when I think about my story or free from the bonds of sin. I’ve also never felt so loved and accepted by such a large group of people. One of my best friends who had been praying for me asked me how it was after. My first response, as I sobbed happy tears all the way home and at least an hour after we met, was “indescribable.” As I continued to reflect more on how I felt, I sent her the following message.

“You know how people say when you meet “the one” you “know?” I feel like this feeling has to be similar to that. I feel like I just had a moment where I “knew” these people are going to love me forever.”

Her response was, “That’s so sweet. You should tell them.”

Since the way I communicate best is via writing, I immediately opened my computer and clicked “new post” and began to write about this moment. I can say with confidence that tonight will be a moment I remember for the rest of my life and that will forever now be added to my story. I literally sobbed, overcome with joy, that God would allow me to be part of such a moment.

Arise Church FAMILY, because we really are family, I love you. I’m beyond excited for this journey. Thanks for affirming me, thanks for accepting me, thanks for encouraging me, thanks for supporting me, and most of all, thanks for CHOOSING to love me (and each other). Because like I said tonight, if there is one thing I’ve learned from my being healed from my past journey, it’s that the choice to love someone is often more meaningful than loving someone because you are “supposed” to.

Getting to Know You – Mississippi Style!

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Today I’m participating in a Link Up with Mississippi Women Bloggers! I’m so happy to be part of Mississippi Women Bloggers and to know there are so many wonderful women in my state blogging. Bloggers have a way of feeling connected to people. I’d venture to say most bloggers would have the connectedness strength pretty high on their list if they all took StrengthsFinder. I love the opportunity and chance to go deeper and get to know my fellow bloggers better, as well as letting my readers know me a little more. Tell me about you! Let’s have coffee or chat sometime. I love getting to know people and their stories.

Mississippi Women Bloggers

 

  1. What part of Mississippi are you from? Childhood days from Monticello, Mississippi. I currently (and proudly) call Clinton, Mississippi home. 
  2. How long have you been blogging? In my college days, back in 2003-2006, I proudly participated in the Xanga craze. I started this blog in 2009. So technically I’ve been blogging since 2003, 13 years! But I’ve been blogging semi regularly since 2009 (4 year), and fairly seriously and regularly for 2 years. 
  3. Why did you start blogging? In college I started a Xanga because everyone was doing it! In 2009 I started blogging because I lived with a roommate that terrified me, had my first grown up job, and didn’t have many friends. I wanted a way to feel connected. I kept blogging and started blogging more for a few reasons: A. I love writing! It’s stress relief for me. B. I realized people actually wanted my recipes and meal plans. C. I realized I had a chance to be transparent and vulnerable about real things in my life that could help other people too (the weight loss struggle/journey and grief). 
  4. Tell us what we can expect when reading your blog. Well, if you haven’t noticed yet, FOOD! Food, recipes, and meal planning are what the majority of my posts are about. I occasionally share my heart about the grief process, healing, and my journey to try and love Jesus more and learn to let him love me more. I also like nail polish, hair, fashion, and DIY project a whole lot and they often make an appearance in my posts. 
  5. What does your blog title means? My kitchen is where I live. It’s where I cook, it’s where I plan meals, it’s where I do DIY projects, it’s where I like to be with people! 
  6. What do you love about being part of Mississippi Women Bloggers? I mentioned it above, but connectedness! I love the idea of all the women in the under appreciated state of Mississippi who love to write (and are good at it, in the state where people think we can’t read) being connected to each other. 
  7. Who inspires you to blog? Joy the Baker is my absolute favorite food blogger. When I discovered her blog, the way I blog about food was transformed. I learned how to take pictures better because of her. I learned how to incorporate stories with recipes because of her. Loving her blog also lead me to discovered SO many other great blogs out there. Loving blogs, blogging, and bloggers lead me to the Influence Network! And now, ever more than Joy the Baker, the Influence Network inspires me. The Influence Network inspires me because it reminds me the Jesus is my ultimate inspiration. 
  8. If you could pick a favorite blog post from this past year, what would it be? Hard one! I would have to pick the post I wrote about Celebrating Victories. “Let’s celebrate victories guys! Every small victory that isn’t small at all. Looking in the mirror and loving who you see before you, VICTORY! Not believing the lies that Satan (it’s him, it’s really him) tells you about yourself, VICTORY! Getting up early to spend time with Jesus when before you “never had enough time,” VICTORY! Asking for forgiveness, forgiving yourself, accepting grace that none of us deserve but get instead of living in self-condemnation, VICTORY! Choosing to grieve losses in a healthy way instead of letting yourself get numb and avoidance, victory, big, huge, not small at all, victory.”
  9. Do your real life friends know you blog?  How do they respond? They do! I post my posts on my personal Facebook and Twitter. My most faithful readers and supporters are my real life friends. Love them more than anything! 
  10. What is your blogging routine (if you have one)?  I wish my “routine” was more of a routine! The one consistent post I post every week is my weekly meal plan on Mondays. I’m mostly consistent with posting it. I’d like to post three times a week. On good weeks my routine involves prepping multiple weekly posts on the weekend to be scheduled to go out the next week. 
  11. We all love social media!  Are there any social media links you would like to share so we can follow you? Big social media fan! Twitter: kasialindsay / Facebook (Personal): Kasia.Crider / Facebook Page: kasiaskitchenblog / Pinterest: kasialindsay
  12. Name 3 bloggers who have not joined Mississippi Women Bloggers that you would like to see join us! Life on Lawson, The Manuel Family, and A Life Worth Something. 

Meal Planning 101: Week 37

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The number one tip for meal planning on a budget, other than actually DOING IT (do it, really!), is checking sale ads and sale sections! My local grocery store has manager’s special labels, most places do this! Sometimes I make a stop by the grocery store before I plan my meals to see if I can catch any of these labels. Other times I will sit there with my little list and change my meal plan based on the labels I find.

I had an awesome collage made with all the things I got this week on managers special, and then I deleted it! Ugh. So I’ll just tell you, even though the visual is always better! I got two packages of button mushrooms for 80 cents each and a fresh loaf of unsliced sourdough for $1.89 (hence the mushroom swiss grilled cheese sandwiches being on the meal plan below). I also got my FAVORITE yogurt for 69 cents! I got Jet Puffed Mallow bits for 15 cents a container from Big Lots (hence smores cookies also mentioned below). I also got Saltine cracker rounds, whole wheat and regular for 75 cents a box!

Sign up for store emails! Know what’s on sale. Know what’s cheaper at which stores (Big Lots has cheaper bread, pasta, and other random things, Kroger has cheaper produce when it’s on sale and cheaper pickles, whipped topping, and cocoa powder because they have their own brand and Wal-Mart doesn’t. Wal-Mart has cheaper meats.). PLAN out you meals. And your meal plan will be on a budget or under budget too!

Monday:

Mushroom Onion Swiss Grilled Cheese and Fajita Pasta Salad

Tuesday:

Buffalo Chicken Sammies and Baked Onion Rings and Celery and Carrots

Wednesday:

Church Meal

Thursday:

Bacon Cheddar Green Onion Waffles (rearranged things so didn’t get to this last week), Breakfast Ham and Sunny Side Up Eggs

Friday:

Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches (using the leftover waffles) and Fruit Salad

Saturday:

Leftovers

Sunday:

Quick snack-y leftovers before leaving for the RD retreat!

Extras: 

  • Made another gallon and a half of cold brew iced coffee. 
  • Eating yogurt for breakfast with fruit and granola. Some of my favorite yogurts were on sale! 
  • Making Smores Cookies for my coworkers. 

Lunch Ideas:

top right: spaghetti bread + salad + strawberries
bottom left: rice with green onions and yogurt butter + cucumber tomato onion salad + strawberries
bottom right: leftovers (poppyseed chicken casserole) + cucumbers + strawberries

What are you eating this week? Post your weekly meal plan in the comment section below! You can also link your meal plan up over at Organizing Junkie and see even more people who are meal planning. 

Weekend Mani: Corrections

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A super quick weekend manicure post to share my favorite nail polish trick. I would not like painting my nails as often as I do and as much as I do if I wouldn’t have discovered this trick. You know all those pictures people post with flawlessly painted nails? Do your nails look like that when you finish painting them? Mine sure don’t! I bet they all use this. Maybe some people are just that skilled, but I bet the majority of them use this little trick!

A small angled eyeliner or concealer brush dipped in acetone clean up a manicure perfectly. I’ve tried a few, but this cheap Elf concealer brush is my favorite. You can find it at Target always, Walmart sometimes, and Big Lots for barely a dollar if you’re lucky! Dip the brush in acetone, wipe it off slightly, and then clean up the polish that got on your skin while you were doing your best at painting your nails! Easy, simple, needed if you paint your nails regularly.