BBQ Lemon and Garlic Kabob Recipe

This recipe is one of my recent favorites! Its super simple and feeds a lot! We had 12 people gathered for the Holiday and my husband and I barbecued Lemon and Garlic Kabob's!

What you will need:

• 2lbs skinless and boneless chicken breasts 
• Marinade (I used Lawrys Lemon Herb marinade.) 
• 1 tbsp Lemon Pepper Spice
• 1 tbsp Garlic Powder Spice
• 2 Red Peppers 
• 2 Green Peppers
• 2 Yellow Peppers
• 1 Yellow Onion

Preparation; The day before you grill the kabobs cut up the chicken into cubes and then put all the chicken into a ziplock bag and add 1 cup of marinade and spices, coating the chicken. Leave this to refrigerate over night.

On grilling day, cube the peppers and slice the onions. Once the grill is heated up and ready to go, put these babies on the the BBQ (we put 6 on the grill at once) Keep them cooking for 4-6 minutes and then turn them over for another 4-6 minutes.

This is them before they were grilled! 

If you are looking for something different to whip up, or when its too hot to use the oven, this recipe is perfect! Also, you can alter the recipe if you are cooking for a smaller group! 

from my kitchen,

Danielle

The Nesting Place - a book review

When Lee and I moved into our apartment, I was so excited to be able to make our place cozy and inviting, while adding touches of our personalities in it. I loved being creative in this way. I'm pretty sure my ideas for our home, based off my pinterest board, changed every day. The color schemes changed, and of course I would attempt to put our couch in "just the right spot".  My dear husband didn't have a ton of input when it came to decor which was nice to have the freedom to complete this the way I wanted. We didn't have too much decor of our own so I knew I would have to be creative with our "newly wed" budget! I made a list of DIY projects and things to purchase. Some pieces are easier to just buy then to try to replicate. However, a constant battle in my head was my perfectionist. I wanted the whole home, room by room to come together and top it off with a neat and tidy bow. Yeah, I went little crazy...

When I read this book, The Nesting Place it was like Myquillyn was in my head! As a renter wanting to have freedom, but being limited to what I could do, her ideas were refreshing and helped me see what I could do by thinking outside of the box. I love her willingness to see things as they are, and not how to make them perfect but to admire the imperfections. Her examples of being in a perfect home and feeling as though you don't want to ruin anything is very relatable. Her motto of "It Doesn't have to be Perfect to be Beautiful" is so challenging and yet relieving at the same time. It challenges me to see decorating without the pressure of perfection. Our home will be beautiful to us, and my husband and I will enjoy it. We aren't afraid to live in it, or make it a little "lived in" because well, we live here!

To see more from The Nester, visit her website

from my heart,
Danielle

Full Plates

Hypothetically speaking let's say I have a friend, we will call her Sue. Sue likes keeping busy, she enjoys being around others. If she could she would have coffee with everyone. Sue never likes to say no to invites, even if she really doesn't have time. Sue likes to keep her weeks full, and rarely take a break.

I'm Sue. I've struggled and sometimes still do struggle with time management. I can be overcommitted. I like every hour of my day planned and filled. I do not enjoy telling people "no" which has left me at times, stretched thin. Over months of learning the hard way, and left feeling exhausted, I've learned how to say "no" and admitting to people I have a hard time saying this word. I would run around looking like one of those chickens with their heads cut off running off to the next thing. The Bible clearly points out that Jesus often took time away. It says in Mark and Luke that Jesus often withdrew to be alone. As much as I love my time spent with others, there are times where I need to be alone. To reflect, to sit in quiet. The best part is that its totally okay.

One of the worst things we can do is to tell someone yes, but in your head you are saying no. Matthew 5, encourages us to make the word yes mean yes, and the word no mean no. In other words do not commit to something you shouldn't. Especially if it is just to please others. Instead, take the time to check yourself, check your time, and check your intentions.

I've learned how to plan time with others in healthy ways and have learned that people won't and should't be upset if I do say no. My plate doesn't get bigger over time, I have the same 24 hours a day as everyone else. So the more aware of time management I am, the better life will be.

What does time management look like for you?  How do you balance life?  I would love to hear your thoughts!

from my heart,
Danielle

My Love Tank

Lately I have been reflecting on things that fill me. Those sweet things that bring me joy that I like to do for myself. Sounds a bit selfish, but its not! Just as a car needs gas in its tank to move forward, we need to be sure to do healthy things that fill our tanks to be able to pour out and care for others! Of course I've asked around to some girl friends asking what fills them when they are drained, or on empty. I have heard a lot of different things like, going for a drive, going hiking, taking a bath, writing in a journal, going for a run. You get the picture, healthy things that they personally enjoy!

For me, it's a day with no agenda. I know, why not take an arm and a leg...  A few weekends ago my husband and I had a whole weekend together with no agenda! Yeah, okay so it was kind of a planned "no agenda".  Meaning, we intentionally made NO plans and did that so we could spend this intentional time with one another. We have pretty full schedules and weekends are our days where we covet the uninterrupted time to spend intentionally with one another. So this extra time was amazing.

I know it must sound strange to think that I'm married to him, so I must see him all the time. Well, yes, I do. However, I'm talking about intentional time with one anther. No distractions, no time frames. Lets be honest, after a full day I sometimes come home and try not to fall asleep while we talk about our days. Just like I plan time for my friends and intentionally pursue their friendships, my husband and I pursue our marriage. Its something I pray we wholeheartedly pursue daily. I try and strive to do this.

It was nothing crazy, or over the top. We pretty much stayed in PJs. We watched movies, went to the food trucks and just got to be silly with one another. It was sooo good for us to be refreshed in this way! My hubs, Lee, is my best friend and I love when I have intentional time with him. Its not hard for me to want to spend time with my husband, but life happens and sometimes we have fuller days.

It makes me realize just how much I truly cherish our time together. Its always a fun question when people, married or not, ask me what my favorite thing about marriage is. It truly is just time with Lee. Time to be silly with him, time to be serious, time to just sit and be, and of course time to serve him. I feel as though there have been so many wonderful things I've learned about marriage and being a wife. I mean, I can't believe there was a time in my life that I didn't want to be married, but that is a story for another time. ;)

Some photos from our relaxing weekend. In photo one Remy wasn't ready. Don't worry she was ready in photo two.

So, what fills your love tank and have you taken time to fill yourself up this week?
I want to encourage you to ask someone in your life if they have taken time to "fill their tank" this week.

from my heart,
Danielle

Lets Gather!

Happy Thursday!

Over the last month something beautiful has been placed on my heart. Hosting an IF:Table.

What is an IF:Table?

6 woman 

4 questions

2 hours

I love the idea, and share the passion to gather with other woman to hear their stories, engage in laughter and enjoy a meal with one another.

The best part is that this idea has been shared with us before, in Acts 2:46 which says,
"They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts."

I'm beyond excited for what could spark from time with woman building one another up in Christ while breaking bread!

"6 women can come in as strangers, and leave as friends. People who will know more about themselves and each other and about Jesus." Susie Davis (IF:Table strategist)

How beautiful is that? So pull up a chair, and lets gather!

Would you consider hosting a table of your own? I would love to hear!

from my heart,
Danielle