New Smoothie

So maybe I should rename this blog to Shirley and Smoothies, because that's pretty much all I ever post about.  I just discovered a new smoothie the other day and even though I probably say this a lot, this is my FAVORITE one!

Choco-nana P. B. Smoothie 

(Like my clever name for it? )  

Ingredients:

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup almond milk

1 tsp carob powder

1 tsp honey

1/8 cup peanut butter

1 or 2 ice cubes

Directions:

Throw it all in a blender and blend until smooth.  

Drink up and enjoy!

One More Recipe

Here's another drink recipe for you.  It's the perfect 4th of July drink so I'm sorry it's a little late, but you can use it next year.  Or you know...whenever you want.  Thankfully I found out about it on July 3rd, so my mom, Emily and I had it that night.

Have you ever heard of a French soda?  Like anything French (mostly) it's just a tad classier than an American soda.  Especially when you add a fun pink chevron straw at the end.  (The original recipe can be found on Everyday Reading.  I tweaked it ever so slightly.)

4th of July French Soda

Ingredients:

a handful of blueberries
ice
perrier
half and half
black cherry fruit concentrate

Directions:

Toss a few ice cubes in a glass, throw in the berries on top of the ice, fill the glass 2/3 with perrier, stir in two tablespoons of half and half and about a tablespoon of the black cherry fruit concentrate.  (More if you like your soda sweeter.)  Stir with a cute straw and enjoy!

Banana Date Shake

I promised you a recipe and I am here to deliver.

Ready?

1 frozen banana

2 or 3 pitted dates (I go for 3) 

1/2 cup almond milk (or coconut milk - I personally like coconut milk for a more refreshing version)

Blend until smooth and that's IT!

Seriously it's my new ice cream.  Kwacha and I were eating it every night for dessert but it isn't necessarily low calorie so we're cutting back to only every other night at the most.

The banana makes it creamy, the dates give it the needed sweetness and the milk makes it a shake.

Enjoy!

(Sorry, no picture.  It's gone too fast!)

Eureka!

Yes, I've found it.  When you discover something amazing, don't you just want to tell everyone?  I mean that's how it should be with the gospel, right?  As most people know, it means "good news".

Side note: If you are reading this and don't know the good news about Jesus, (who He is and what He's done for us), PLEASE email me and ask! acsimwaka@gmail.com.

Anyway, today's good news I'm sharing with you is amazingly less important.  I mean the two can't even be compared.  But it's still pretty great.  It's just a recipe and it's my new favorite thing.

The Oatmeal Cookie Dough Smoothie!

Originally found here, I've made very tiny changes.  It just amazes me that something can taste so much like oatmeal cookie dough without any added sugar.

So without further ado, the recipe:

1 frozen banana

1/4 cup raw oats

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 Tbsp peanut butter

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Throw it all in a blender and blend until smooth.  Like the original author says, it's best when you have to eat a smoothie with a spoon, right?  ;)

This smoothie is filling enough (and healthy enough) to stand in for lunch.

Enjoy!

Illustration

Last night Kwacha and I had some of our favorite younger people over - Alyssa, Parker and Reagan!  All three of them were in our wedding.  We found out that Parker's fave place to eat is Jimmy Dean's.  (Our friend, Lisa, said that this is why discipleship is important.  ;)  So for his belated birthday present, we took him and his sisters there for dinner and then they came over to our place for games and baking.  (Pumpkin cookies to be exact.)

After the baking, Reagan asked for some paper so she could draw.  Later on she asked for some tape so she could...tape.  When their mom came to pick them up she handed me a "package." 

 

Inside were some pictures and notes she made for us. 

After they left and Kwacha and I were just sitting on the couch, Kwacha started talking about Reagan's package and how sweet it is.  We know she made it for us because she loves us.  It's not perfect; the tape was sticking out, the pictures are simple, but we know the heart behind it and that's what made it sweet. 

Kwacha was saying that it's like us with God.  We seek to please Him in obedience, but it's not perfect.  Our righteousness is like filthy rags, but if we've put our trust in His Son and seek to honor Him, he sees our hearts.  It's a good test for me.  Am I doing what I do, seeking to honor Jesus because I love Him so much?  Or am I doing what I do to seek His favor, to try to earn something?

Reagan's pictures were mainly of fruit and butterflies and pizza, but she also drew something else.  I don't know if you can see it below.  It's right below the pizza.

 

I asked if Reagan wrote "donut".  (I assumed that's what "donet" meant.)  She said "No, it's 'done' with a cross."

I just liked how that summed up what Kwacha said last night.  And I didn't really think about it until this morning.  Jesus has already done it all on the cross.  Now we just get to obey Him in love.

 

And here's what Alyssa was doing while Reagan was drawing.

 

Taking pictures of my silly faces.

 

 

 

Life is Sometimes Weird

Let me tell you why.

Today at lunch, my friend Janet was sharing some vital information on how to ripen an avocado quickly; stick it in a brown paper bag with a banana.  Deborah wittily called it "bavacado."  Immediately my mind begun to imagine what it might taste like to blend an avocado and a banana together.  My inside voice said, "gross." 
Well, what should I happen to find when I stumble onto Pinterest but a yummy looking recipe for chololate pudding using avocado.  I click on the link and it takes me to two recipes; one for the chocolate looking dessert and the other for Banana Avocado pudding, in which you only use bananas and avocados!!

See??  Life is weird sometimes.

Walnut Street

 

Kwacha and I live on Walnut Street.  To anyone who went to Grace Community Church or The Master's College, Walnut Street immediately brings to mind the term "Seminary Row".  To be honest, I did not want to live on Walnut Street.  Ever.  It just seemed so...typical.  Typical grace girl.  Grow up, marry a seminary student, live on Walnut Street and eventually move to another state or country. 
But you know what?  I have come to love Walnut Street in all its glory.  I know it sounds crazy but I am actually quite fond of the ding.....ding....ding of the ice cream truck and the Mexican hat dance song of the produce truck.  I love taking a walk in our neighborhood every night with Kwacha.  Kids and families are always out and about.  The mama's pushing their babies in strollers with 3-5 other kids in tow, the papa's playing catch or soccer with their boys in the front yards, and my favorite dog, "table dog", walking to and fro behind his family's white picket fence.  (One day I caught him lying on the table outside, hence the nickname.  Very creative, I know.)
We love to walk to the local park and watch a group of older men playing soccer and teenagers at baseball and soccer practice.  We walk through the grass and my feet get poked by all the fallen pine needles.  Kwacha knows I love to walk right near the sprinklers going off at Hart High School.  It's so refreshing! 

Last night we walked down to the local farmer's market in Old Town Newhall.  The area is so nice now with the brick sidewalks and lanterns.  There were lots of fruits and veggies and yummy Mexican food.  Then we enjoyed walking back through the neighborhood admiring the pretty yards. A lot of men around Walnut Street work on other people's yards during the day and they have made their own yards so beautiful!  I try to take in as many ideas as I can for our own yard that I'm hoping we'll have someday in Malawi. 
And of course, it's just so nice holding hands with my husband. 
Walnut Street, I've grown to love you, and I'm going to miss you one day.

 

The Face of Newhall

 

 

I have no idea what this man has to do with Newhall, but his picture came up when I searched Newhall, CA, so he must be important.

 

Pinteresting Wednesdays

I have had a serious lack-of-posting disease lately.  I just haven't had much to blog about. :(  It may also be due to the craziness of May!  Mother's Day, Emily's birthday, and wedding showers!  Every weekend seems to be busy lately and my wallet is empty from all those presents.  Next year, more sentimental gifts. 

I do have a few little projects I've been working on recently.  I may post some of those soon.  Jenn has encouraged me to dip into that "creative...pool...?"  Ha. She is so artistic! 

Well, to ease myself back into posting I will just do a little "pinterest-ing" for you. 

Here is what I have found recently:

I used to not even like gold jewelry, but in the last year or so, it has really grown on me.  And these are so fun!

I seriously wear my hair like this all the time now.  I felt "bun challenged" for years and now I finally feel that I have a grip on it.

I really want to try and ink drawing like this sometime soon.  I love the lines!  And it reminds me of Aslan of course!

Brick walls...oh brick walls I love you.

"Healthy" peanut butter cookies.  My favorite. Oh yes please!

Did you know quinoa (keen-wa) is a complete protein even though it's a grain??  And it's pretty tasty too, in my opinion.

And I think I may try this today.  So summery! So fun!

Heh heh....

As always, you can find all the links for these pictures on my pinterest, http://pinterest.com/manderstee/.

Have a good rest of the week!

The Friend Files

Kristen Smith

Kristen Smith.  Oh Kristen, you are so funny.  Seriously people, if you want to laugh, hang around Kristen.  I think she is one of the funniest females I know.  She's very quick and witty.  She once told me she had a lot of practice thinking up comebacks to her two older brothers.

Kristen is also very thoughtful.  When I first discovered that I had colitis, I found a basket of foods I could eat outside my front door.  It had lots of fun little notes.  It was so kind!

Kristen used to meet Megan and me for Peet's also before church on Sunday's. 

I first knew Kristen when she was a freshman and I was a senior in high school.  We were in the same Bible study.  She actually came to my birthday party on her birthday! (It's the day before mine.)

See?  So kind.

Anyway...learn more about her here!

What is your full name?  Is there any significance behind it?  Any funny stories in connection with it?

My name is Kristen Michelle Smith but my parents will NOT stop calling me "Chris".

What is your favorite book?  Why?

Favorite book? Other than the bible I would have to say anything by CS Lewis. I love how that man's brain worked.

Where is your favorite place to eat in the greater L.A. area?  Why?

This is like picking your favorite child. I like hole-in the wall places by where I live. There is a place by my home called Crave that has good crepes, a place called the Pita Kitchen that is fresh and tasty, and a place that will get me FAT on their lattes alone - Aroma Cafe. I could practically go on forever...

Have you ever left the country?  Where did you go?  What did you do?

I have been to Mexico, Canada, Thailand, Germany, Monaco and France. Adventures! I love traveling but I LOVE coming back home! Next trip: somewhere that English is the 1st language. 

What is your dream job?  Are you doing your dream job right now?  If so, what do you do?

I go back and forth on my dream job. On one hand I would love to teach students but on the other hand I would love to do some sort of experiential marketing job. Or just owning my own business where I can do something artsy/creative or sell food I make. So many choices. But I am content at where I am now.

Who do you look up to?  Why?

I look up to Jesus Christ first and foremost. What an ultimate example of humility, love, contentment, submission... I look up to my mom and dad for their faithfulness, patience with me, service to Christ and His church, and for how they are willing to continue to grow and change (rollin' with the punches). And so many more.

I never look up to celebrities. Those crazies always let you down.

What is the first concert you ever went to?

I can't remember what my first concert was but it was in high school. I would so much rather go to a concert than see a movie. 

What are you thankful for?

I'm thankful for.. Everything. I'm so thankful for friendship, family, the body of Christ, s'mores, high school small groups, fresh cut flowers, SoCal weather, that I have a job, technology, and for a High Priest who can sympathize with my weakness. 
 

If you had a baby elephant, what would you name it?

Todd. First thing that came to my mind. Tiny Todd on special occasions.

'Teensy' because I am so original.

 Kristen made this little facebook collage.  The top two are from our trip to Minnesota.  We helped move Megan there.  We drove there in two days, stayed for two days, and drove home in two days.  It was a crazy whirlwind trip, but so much fun!  And there were a few crazy things that happened, like an encounter with a possible dead man?!  More on that later...

Oh and the pic on the bottom left was from an Audio Adrenaline concert at Magic Mountain!  ;)

Love you, Kristen!

Project!

So I am very excited to announce that very soon, in a couple of weeks to be exact, we will have a new resident at the Taylor household!  Jennifer.  We really like Jennifer.  She serves on High School staff with Em and me and she is godly, kind and funny.  :)

There is a funny story...well, incident with Jenn. 

The very first time she came over I was having a little party while my mom and sister were on vacation.  We all wound up talking about how creepy it can be at night when you are home alone.  Well, Jenn was sweet and offered to spend the night.  As we were getting ready for bed, Jenn was in the bathroom when I heard a LOUD crash downstairs.  In my mind, it HAD to be a burglar breaking in. 

(I knew it wasn't the dogs, because when I went to the hallway they were both running to the sound, barking.) 

So, Jenn and I made a stealthy trek downstairs to find that the middle shelf in the cabinet had decided to give way all of the sudden!

It was the shelf that holds all our canned food. 

Some of those cans have been there for years no doubt.

For 23 years that shelf has been holding cans and has never given out.  But it decided that the best time would be when my mom and sister were away.

I'm so glad Jenn was there, otherwise, I would have probably spent the night upstairs in my room, awake, rocking back and forth in the fetal position.

Jenn and I spent probably half an hour putting the fallen cans on the table and rearranging what was left in the cupboard.  She suggested that I start...eating the canned food.  ;)

Well, last night Jenn came over and was shocked to see that pretty much none of the canned food had been consumed.  In fact, there may be even more.  So, we decided to start a little project called: Eat Canned Food!  Maybe we'll start when she moves in.  We are going to make a list of the many kinds of canned food we have and then we are going to make our way through the cans, finding recipes that require a can of "creamed asparagus" for instance.  Then we'll check it off the list.

So, keep your eyes open for "Canned Dinner Tuesdays" or something like that.  :)  It should be interesting.

Pinteresting Wednesdays

I did write this yesterday and thought I had posted it, but I hadn't!

This made me laugh. I want to make one of these right now! But I will have to wait until tomorrow. :(
If I am ever a mom someday, I want to be a fun one!
Aren't these rings too beautiful? Unfortunately they are pricey. (I think they use real silver.)
And have I ever told you how much I want to have a freestanding tub one day??

Pinteresting Wednesdays

Well, I planned on having another post up inbetween this and the last one, but I just didn't get around to it. My life needs to be a tad more interesting! Ha. Right now it's clearly just pinteresting. Ba doom ch!

Anyway, here are my weekly pins!

I've always wanted to get married in a church, but this idea just may have me changing my mind. I never thought about having an outside wedding at night!


This week, I found a grown up tent! I don't how I will accomplish this, but someday I WILL have one of these in my house.


I love the outfit ideas you can find on Pinterest. When I don't know what to wear I usually open my computer to this board and find some inspiration.


Um. Do I need to write any words about this? I think not.


So fantastic.


There's just something so well...romantic about twinkle lights.


I would want this birthday party even at this age!


I like this simple idea for a bookmark. I'm always in need of a bookmark.


Aren't these the cutest? Who says someone needs to be getting married to break these out?


The twist braid. Wish I had more time in the mornings.


Hehe...does this make me a nerd that I like this so much?


Two words: yum and my. I haven't tried these yet, but my friend Ashley has and she said they were amazing!


Perfect DIY for the oncoming Autumn weather!


Who doesn't want to know how to make their own Frosty??


There is something so whimsical about this.


There was more but you'd get tired of it. Until next week!

Pinterest!

I'm sure a lot of you...or ahem..the few of you who read this have by now heard of the phenomenon called Pinterest. It's a lovely little time sucker! For those of you who haven't heard of it, I'll explain (via Pinterest's own "About" section):

"Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests."

For about as long as I can remember, before my mom gets rid of the magazines she receives in the mail, she goes through and rips out pages which contain ideas that she wants to remember, then she files them away in various colored folders. As you may guess these are now stuffed to the max! Well, Pinterest does all that for you in just a few mouse clicks! Wow, I sound like an ad.

Anyway, I am going to start a new series of posts in which I post some of my favorites from Pinterest for the week, starting today! I'm going to call it "Pinteresting Wednesdays."

Here are a few to start off!

Under Style:


Under Hair:


Under Things I Love:


Under Fitness:


Under Home and Decorating:


Under Funny:


Under Hostess:


Under Dessert:


Under I Want to Make This:


And under Someday:


As you can see, you can leave a comment, you can "repin" someone else's cool find, you can make many different categories of your own choosing. It's great! And I might be a tad...obsessed. :/

If you're like me and you haven't joined Pinterest, you might want to go join right now. You have to request an invite first, or, the faster way is to have someone invite you. If you'd like for me to invite you just send me your email address.

As Pinterest would say, "Happy pinning!"