Bacon Wrapped Green Beans, or How Not to Burn Your House Down

For Easter this year, I contributed bacon wrapped green beans. I've had bacon wrapped asparagus, but 2/5 of my Easter party aren't big asparagus fans. You know what EVERYone is a fan of? Bacon.

This "recipe" is super easy. Get one pound fresh green beans, blanch them (boil for three minutes then hit them with cold water), wrap five to six pieces in raw bacon, place on a pan, put them in the over on 350 degrees until the bacon is done (anywhere from 10-20 minutes).

Pro tip: do NOT put the oven rack on the top row and set oven on broil. Bacon grease will pop, sparks will light, your kitchen will catch on fire.

Not that this happened to ME or anything.  

[Everyone's okay. The bacon beans were delish.]

So Cute

I know.

My 26th Year, in [mostly] chronological order

Mourned my grandma.

Dated a boy for the second time, five years later. I love second chances. Didn't work.

Truly doubted God for the first time and subsequently pursued by God. In a big way.

Changed positions at work.

Worked. like. crazy.

Got a camera stuck down my throat and left there.

Went to Vegas for the first time.

Went to New York for the millionth time, decided I needed to move back (as per usual).

Began intensely, intentionally, and obsessively practicing yoga daily.

Had an interesting relationship with an interesting boy, couldn't last.

Watched some of my closest friends get married.

Watched some of my closest friends celebrate one year of marriage.

Watched two good friends become moms for the first time.

Experienced love at first sight with baby Liam Carter on August 11.

Missed my grandma more than I thought possible.

Dyed my hair dark, cut bangs, regretted it being anything but super long and red (as per usual).

Fell in love with Jesus more than I thought possible.

Was happier, more at peace, and more loved by amazing friends than I deserve.


And now, something I stole from Cara, a little snapshot of me, right this minute:

Book: The Paris Wife, Pride and Prejudice, Genesis.

Color: tangerine tango (official spring 2012 pantone), but also keep buying things in Tiffany blue, oddly.

Currently collecting: prayers. Is that a trite thing to say? I don't care.

Food: anything gluten free.

Hobby: starting a crazy new fashion site, to be officially launched mid-March.

Movie: studying Can't Hardly Wait for work. No, but really.

New show: Mad Men. Holy moly. Catching up just in time for the new season.

Obsessed with: yoga. Always.

Favorite thing to wear: Yoga pants. Sorry about it.

Always wearing: at least one piece of my grandma's jewelry.

Watching: God's promises for this year already rapidly unfolding.








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God=Love

I know this. If you're a christian, you know this.

What if someone doesn't believe in God? I guarantee you that they still believe in love. I bet most of them show love even better than you or I do sometimes, but that's another blog post.

So, if someone doesn't believe in God, and they ask you what Christianity or the bible is all about, do you answer automatically "God" or "Jesus" (or, God's love, even)? Guess what? From my experience, that's the end of the conversation for them, they've checked out. They don't believe in God, so telling them "God" isn't wedging that door open, it's not planting any seeds.

Next time, try answering "love" first. Just "love". They're going to ask another question. I bet you anything. Then you can tell them all about how a man showed and taught love.

If you truly believe God=love, think about showing LOVE way before you PREACH God.

2012, a list and a couple of mantras

Writing a list of resolutions seems pretty trite, so here's a list of...2012 focuses. That's different, right? ;)

First, here's my "keep it up!" list:

1. Practice yoga and continue pushing myself during practice (cadenceyoga.com, it's the best, check it out).

2. Eat healthy. I haven't had fast food (except Chick-fil-a, which totally does NOT count) in months.

3. Write notes to others, and myself. I love a good hand-written note.

And now new "focuses", in no particular order:

1. Try a different cheese every week. I just discovered you can keep a card with a list of your cheeses at Forward Foods. Can't wait to fill mine up.

2. Practice a few sun salutations every morning, and SMILE through them! Which means...

3. Get up earlier (this is on my list every year, I always wake up right in time and have to rush to get ready). Here's to hoping I can actually achieve this one in 2012.

4. Cook something new/different every other week. I feel really good about my baking skills but wish I had a wider range in cooking. That is, more than just fish and veggies.

5. Use prayer cards every morning while getting ready. I put these around my mirror, hopefully they'll be hard to miss that way.

6. Open the blinds every morning. As stated before, I am NOT a morning person, but a little sunlight always helps get me in a ... sunnier mood. Ha! Hahaha.

7. Don't cheat on my budget. Period.

8. Make notes in REAL bible (instead youversion, though I do love it). I'm pretty sure I did all of my bible reading and highlighting digitally last year and I just miss that actual, physical book.

And finally, my 2012 mantras:

Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.

Be open and actively expect transformation.


Happy New Year. :)