King of the Mountain!

Mr. K during our sunset picnic at Ruffner Mountain.

This post is specifically for Nanjie (my mom) and Monica. 

The two women who just can't get enough of K-dawg!

Door Decor

 Teaching the younger grades forces me to be all cutesy. But the kids enjoy it, and I like our work once its all hung up on my door. Here's some of my creativity this year. 

PS. I've got a fun flowery idea for the month of May! I will keep you posted once its up:)

Spinach and Feta Quesadilla (healthy, comfort food)

I was inspired by the restaurant Zoeys. Zoeys's serves healthy, Greek "fast" food.

This quesadilla is filling, and pretty healthy depending on how much cheese you use and what tortillas you use. 

Ingredients:

1. a lot of spinach (frozen or fresh, your choice. I've used both and its great either way)

2. 1/2 chopped onion

3. olive oil

4. tortillas

5. feta cheese

6. shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Saute spinach and half chopped onion in skillet. You can add garlic and salt. Get Creative.

2. When spinach mixture is done cooking, pull out another skillet and pour 1tbs olive oil in bottom. You can toast the tortilla in the oil for 30 second or so. Then stack feta, mozzarella, and spinach between two tortillas. 

3. Toast a couple minutes on each side. 

LOVE my spinach quesadillas! It's a comfort food I don't feel guilty about. If you are concerned don't use as much oil and cheese. 

Enjoy!

I'm so over celery sticks!

I try to eat my daily dose of spinach. I try to shove a serving of cabbage, broccoli, or cauliflower each day as well. I also strive to eat my "apple a day"...  to stay healthy, not really to keep Dr. Fite away:)

Recently I have found an easier way to crunch in more healthy fruits and veggies by just blending them together and drinking them.  Seriously, blending it all together. Who can say they had a 4-5 servings of fruit and veggies before lunch? I can:)

I believe than good health must be a conscience effort, and my morning smoothie is pretty dang simple. I put all my ingredients in the blender the night before. It could be a banana, kale, celery, frozen blueberries, and some cabbage. It really is whatever I have in our fridge, and once I blend it very well in the morning, it tastes like a green, fruit smoothie.

I try to always include a as many fruits as I do veggies, or I have to add some honey or turbinado sugar. I strive to have most if not all my fruits/veggies raw and/or organic. Some of the fruits I have used are: strawberries, banana, blueberries, apple, fresh ginger root, and peaches. Some of the veggies I've used are: kale, spinach, celery, and cabbage.

Erik took one swig of my smoothie one morning and groggily said, "Its too early in the morning for this!" I'm sure most of you all can hear him say that in his Grizzly Bear voice. But I did get him to drink one in the middle of the day. He's such a trooper.

(He just doesn't understand that a blog entry is a lot more interesting when there are pictures included. He didn't understand why I said "Say, Cheese!" while we were in the car parked in front of the apartment. Hence, the dorky half-smile.) 

PS. I talked to mom about my new breakfast to find out that she's been making "green drinks" for years. Like mother, like daughter:)

Kale Mint Smoothie 

1 banana

blender filled with kale

3 sprigs of mint

half an orange

1 large celery stalk

- Make sure to blend very well.

- I enjoy this one because I don't have to add any sugar and the mint/celery combo is refreshing.

Our First Easter

Two years ago Erik proposed to me in an Easter egg. I guess you can say this holiday is special to us.

 Due to E's demanding work schedule we could not celebrate with our family, but our first Easter as a married couple was not neglected. We spent our day like I like to spend most of my micromanaged days off: busy, industrious, and fun!

We were invited by my friend Sarah Walker invited us to an Easter Service on the Samford University campus. 

Then we went home to plant our herbs in our garden.

Organized our mud room.

Went fishing with John Roberts.

Kirby and me went on a hike. Kirbs needed to cool off. Sometimes that mutt reminds me of a wart hog:)

                                                              Kirbs helped the boys find some fish.

                                                                              Ta-Dah!

                                                      I hope you all had a very Happy Easter!

Fresh, Yummy Green Bean and Feta Salad

I love the cook book Leslie gave me- The Vegetarian Bible.

I will definitely make this Green Bean and Feta side dish again. If Erik and I are both licking the plate I know that the recipe is blog-worthy, so here it is!

Ingredients:
12 oz trimmed green beans
1 chopped red onion
4 tbs cilantro
2 thinly sliced radishes
3/4 cup feta
1t tsp oregano
 red wine vinegar to taste
5 tbs EVOO
salt and peper to taste

Directions:
1. Steam green beans for 5 minutes
2. transfer green beans to a bowl. Add onion, cilantro, radishes, feta, and oregano
3. whisk salt, pepper, vinegar, and olive oil. Then add to salad

ENJOY!

Sorry I didn't take a photo.. I will add one when I make this the second time:)

Tommy's Wedding; Aka: family reunion!

The Weathers Crew united again for Tommy's long-awaited wedding to Christine. We had a blast as usual, and the event was beautiful. Let the photos speak for themselves:)

My precious "niece" Madeline wearing my first dress from sewing lessons!

View of Downtown Houston and Buffalo Bayou from the Sabine Street Bridge.

Part of the Weathers Clan making their way to wedding.

My cousins and Uncle from Spokanne. Typical pic of a daddy and his daughters.

Your unattended camera cannot be trusted around my brother. Taken in the church from his lap. Nice.

One of the many highlights from the wedding. The groom came down from the from the front when the ringbearer and flower girl were in need of a helping hand.

                                                                     Tearful pappa

Aunt and Uncle aka. Mom and Dad of the Groom

My "sister" and Madeline

I love this picture of my cousins and their girls. I can see me and Brandty taking a picture like this in about 5 years:)