fresh zucchini pizzas

Are you looking quick easy summer recipes that don't come from a can? This is one of my weekly go to recipes and I specifically planted some zucchini plants in my garden this year so we can enjoy these delicious zucchini pizzas all summer long. I made mine dairy free.

{ingredients}

two large zucchinis (this covers Scott, Judah and myself with leftovers)

dairy free mozzarella cheese (I like diaya)

vine tomato's

fresh basil

red onion

fresh portobello mushrooms

olive oil

Sea salt, pepper and garlic powder

{directions}

Preheat the oven to 375

Slice the zucchinis in half and cut off the sides to stable them in the oven.

Slice tomatos, mushrooms and red onion. Rip apart the basil in large pieces.

Brush olive oil on top of the zucchini.

Then sprinkle sea salt, pepper and garlic powder on each.

Add sliced tomato's, mushrooms, red onion and fresh basil. 

Sprinkle dairy free mozzarella on top.

Then place in the oven for 25-30 mins until soft. 

I love this recipe because it tastes fresh and makes great leftovers for those who are on the run.

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your words

In my closet I have a box of letters from various friends and pen pals over the years. Right next to that box I have an even bigger box of letters from my sister Rhonda. When we both moved out of the house we wrote to each other all the time. When ever I had any type of discouragement in my adult life my sister Rhonda would send me letters of encouragement. She would decorate her card and knew just the right words to say that would really uplift my heart and make me feel special. I loved getting letters from Rhonda. Getting snail mail is probably one of my favorite things, even today Scott knows that I like to check the mail "just in case I get a letter from someone".

When we drove back home early last week from our Myrtle Beach trip one of the first things I did was sit down and write out a letter to my sister. I just wanted to remind her how special she is in my life and how deeply I treasure our friendship. I guess Rhonda must have done the same thing because I received a letter from her in the mail today. We both realized that writing a letter would be encouraging to the other person.

Normally I send out packages to friends to encourage them. A book, mixed CD, succulent plant I found on Etsy or something I crochet. This week I wanted to focus on my words and how I can use them to let someone know how special they are to me. I want to pray and send out an encouraging letter to 20 people in my life (family and friends). I want to really try to encourage them with a simple handwritten note. I'm doing 20 letters because the post office is selling these gorgeous vintage flower stamps and they come in books of 20. 

Hopefully my letters will encourage someone just the way my sister encourages me with hers. 

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it all changed

Growing up I hated mothers day. I always had that anxious feeling of wondering where my mom was living, was she thinking of me and was I ever going to hear from her. As a little girl I would write her long drawn out letters letting her know about this mother hole in my heart that I had and a desire for her to be the mother I wanted her to be and fill it. She never tried and she broke our hearts over and over again. My step mom Dyan was wonderful in stepping in and raising me and my siblings and letting us know how much she loved and cared for us. But even today as a grown woman, I still find myself having the occasional conversation with my sister asking her "do you think mom ever truly cared for us" "why did she treat us the way that she did" and "why did she abandon us". Questions that will probably never be answers and that I need to find peace for in my heart.

In my adult life it was hard to find my value in anything. I often questioned close friends of mine "what is the point of everything, why does God even have me around". I believe I had a lot of these questions because I felt abandoned at an early age by my parents. I strived to be the best employee, friend or encourager but I always always felt that God made a mistake and that I truly didn't have a purpose in life. That all changed on December 10, 2010 when Judah was first placed in my arms. I found my purpose in life and that was to be his mother.

I truly believe that The Lord has blessed with with an extra special son. Judah is by far one of the sweetest and happiest boys I know. Of course he has his occasional tantrums just like any other toddler and some days I just want to cry in frustration. But for the most part he is always trying to make the day a better day. Asking people how they are doing, blowing kisses or saying "hi" to that person who looks like they need a smile. Judah has given me a purpose in life and I daily see how his sweet and loving nature impacts the lives of those around him.

When I start a crochet project I always wonder at first "Will this turn out right, it looks kinda funny" but after awhile the project will take shape and I will be able to see clearly this beautiful thing I am creating. I believe that is how my journey has been. I had no idea where The Lord was taking me with my life, I thought He made a mistake and to be honest things looked a little funky. After awhile things started to take shape and I am seeing this beautiful purpose in life that The Lord has given me. To be Judah's mother.

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never want this to end

I don't want this to end. 

 early morning drives to pick up a special donut for Judah. 

singing songs to me from the backseat. 

teaching him dance moves.

laughing at squirrels running by as we go on an adventure in the backyard. 

coloring outside while we sit on old Mickey Mouse sheets. 

searching for a caterpillar.

whispering "night night" to the sleeping pine cones.

endless conversations about bulldozers and diggers.

picking flowers together. 

creating play doh masterpieces.

reading books. 

the hugs.

the kisses.

crash hugs.

the giggles.

being best friends....forever

I am the luckiest. Only because I don't want to take for granted one single moment that the Lord has blessed me with this wonderfully sweet child of mine. I want to cherish each hug, lock up each "I love you mama" in my heart and pray that I am a kind and understanding mother to him during his meltdowns. I will never be the perfect mother for Judah, but I will live my life trying to be a good mother to him. Being Judah's mother has changed my heart and has changed the way I view the world. He has given me compassion, strength and hope. I'm so grateful for the journey that we are on together. 

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$50 Spa Gift Card & Crochet Happy Banner Giveaway

First off please excuse the grammar of this post. I am battling a nasty sinus infection and am going to tuck myself into bed once I publish this. 

Since Judah and I woke up this morning it felt like we were trudging through mud. He didn't want to wake up and to be honest I could have stayed a few more hours in our warm bed. But I promised a girlfriend that we were going to take our kids for a walk and my body felt like a walk would probably give it the much needed boost of energy. Plus outdoor walks almost guarantee me a great nap time with Judah. As we were eating our breakfast of eggs, sweet potato hash and raspberries my friend texted me asking if we could reschedule for later this week since it was still wet out. I didn't even look outside yet and just assumed it was a cloudy yet clear day. Breakfast finished I decided we would go pick up Judahs prescription. His doctor told me yesterday that Judah still has really bad allergies but is right on the cusp of a sinus infection. So she prescribed me a nasal spray and antibiotics. We only handed in the nasal spray script to be filled. Now here is where the day starts to get a bit dicey. 

We headed to Target to pick up the prescription when I finally got through to my husband who told me that Judah's prescription was at Walgreen's and it should be ready. Turned my car around headed to Walgreen's. The pharmacy tech wasn't kind at all, screamed at me that my husband just called in the script and it wont be ready for 30 minutes. Judah was already tired and was starting to crash and wanted to sit on the counter next to the pharmacist. I took Judah over to the Mothers Day cards, found one that I may get for my step mom. It was a cute musical card but was listed for $7, I said out loud "no way am I paying $7 for a card!". Judah wanted to "look at it". Figured no harm in it while I searched for that "perfect yet inexpensive mothers day card". I hear Judah say "Look I did it!" turn around and he completely dissected the $7 musical card! On one hand I should be proud that my son wants to learn and take things apart to see how they look but...does he have to do it on a $7 mothers day card! So we go to purchase this $7 mothers day card with a handful of other items and Judah starts to scream "Lolli pop, I want a lollipop!" I bent down to eye level and explained "Judah you ripped a card your not getting a lolli pop also we are going to Starbucks for milk". He calmed down with a few hushed whimpers of "lolli pop" but no where near the screams. The cashier rings me up then asks me "Is that all for you? you dont want anything else like candy" I said no thank you and she said "I think your boy could really use a lolli pop" I looked up and just stared at her. I mean come on really my son just calmed down and sure enough he started to scream "LOLLI POP" but I didn't give in. I thanked her and we walked to the car, I accidentally hit my car alarm while Judah was screaming. I had to somehow calm him, find my keys and get us both into the car. We drove over to Starbucks and he was wonderful. Grabbed our drinks and figured we could have a nice calm mommy and Judah date since we had a hectic morning but we couldn't find a chair anywhere. Balancing two drinks, holding a toddlers hand in the rain and trying to fumble for my keys. Drinks spill, my car alarm goes off again and toddler starts to cry. I almost cried. Finally we head home and decide to lay low for the rest of the day. 

With a half full cup of soy chai, a ripped up $7 mothers day card and soaked pants I kept thinking. Lord I don't want to focus on all the negatives of today. I really want to focus on what you have blessed me with.  So that is why I wanted to encourage you with a $50 Spa Gift Card and a Crochet Happy Banner giveaway. This is an instagram giveaway. 

This giveaway is open to everyone who has an intagram account. My account will be public until the giveaway is over so you don't even have to follow me. All you have to do is go to this picture on my IG feed. Copy and paste this picture into your own feed then go back to the original picture in my feed and leave a comment on how this gift card and happy banner would encourage you or someone that you know. Then go back and encourage each person that has commented or as many people as you would like. Each comment that you leave will count as an entry. So if you encourage 50 people you get 50 chances of winning this gift card. Or you could just leave a comment on why you would like the card. 

I was texting my friend Paige today and telling her that these encouraging it forward giveaways are kinda like chicken soup for the soul. I love hearing the stories of how you or someone you know could use encouragement and then something extraordinary happens when you start to see everyone else encourage each other. Its this domino effect of encouragement and its really one of the most beautiful things to witness. People encouraging others. 

Find my picture on Instagram here.

The giveaway ends on Sunday May 12th.

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getting green

I took Judah over to Merrifield Garden Center today to pick up some vegetable plants to grow in our garden. I've been reading up on urban farming and I have been inspired to slowly transform the backyard of our townhouse into garden that we can eat off of. On our trip we picked up some tomato, dill, basil and squash plants. I am already growing carrots, beans, cucumbers, strawberries, chives and blackberries. Hopefully in just a few short months we will be eating from my garden and fingers crossed I'll  have plenty of blackberries to make some blackberry jam. 

Merrifield Garden Center is a great place to bring your kids during the day. I just put Judah in one of their wagons, picked him up a bag of their free popcorn and walked around for an hour. The property is filled with all kinds of neat things to look at. Gorgeous vegetation, flowers, trees, a mini waterfall and fish. Judah tried to feed then ride this little lamb statue. Thank goodness I stopped him because if you look closely that lambs leg is cracked. 

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encouraging it forward giveaway

This week I'm giving away this crochet "Love" banner that I made. I wanted to hold a facebook giveaway since I had someone contact me on twitter who was disappointed that they didn't have an Instagram account to enter the previous crochet banner giveaway. 

To enter to win but mostly to encourage everyone else who commented and needs encouragement. Go to my facebook page here. Look for the picture above then leave a comment letting me know how this banner would encourage you or someone that you know. Then go back and reply to as many people as you can and encourage them. 

Each comment is an entry. 

So that means if you encourage 20 people you have 20 ways to win this giveaway! 

The giveaway ends Wednesday April 17th  2013, I will pick a winner on random.org and will post the winners name of the banner on my facebook page. 

I would really love to see people encouraging each other on this giveaway. Here are some comments that some sweet ladies already left who could really use some uplifting words of encouragement. 

I actually went to school with Michelle when we were younger. I remember sticking up for her in school the few times I wasn't scared to when she was bullied. It breaks my heart to see her sweet daughter being bullied in school. This especially hits close to home not only because I know Michelle but also because I recently received some online bullying. I would love to see some people encourage the socks off of Michelle and her daughter. 

Who have you encouraged this week? Can't think of anything to do to encourage someone. Then I would suggest you to encourage those ladies above and more on my giveaway and who knows you might just win the Love banner. 

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