On Breaking Tradition: A Guest Post by Together We Think Funny

Hello everyone - I’m excited to be guest posting
for the lovely Ab today!  As a newly-wed, I thought it would be
fitting to share a little peek into our wedding day…

~ ~ ~

Just over two months ago, I married my best friend.

Lots of things they say about your wedding day
are true – it does fly by at crazy warp speed,

you definitely don’t have time to eat,

and no matter how much you prepare,
it’s totally unpredictable and wonderful.

While our day was full of incredible moments,

it was the one pictured above that probably

meant the most to me.Long before the big day,

we had decided to break tradition by spending

a few moments together before our ceremony.

Yes, he would see me in my dress, but more
importantly, we would get the chance to spend a

few precious moments in prayer together before

starting the biggest journey of our lives.

I could hear the buzz of everyone arriving and

talking out in the sanctuary as I carefully climbed

the narrow stairs to the little back room we
had chosen. About a million thoughts flooded my brain.
Was I dragging my dress on the floor? Jesus,
please help my poor Momma feel better. Good grief,
these shoes are high.I wonder if he’s nervous?

Our amazing photographer hurried ahead of me

and I could hear him telling my handsome man

that I was coming. Suddenly all the logistics & details
faded into the background as I walked around the corner
and saw the look of pure joy on his face. And in that instant,
I knew we were going to have a glorious day.

And we did.

{image}

~ ~ ~

To read more of Amanda’s ramblings on marriage, faith,

family, summertime & eating well, visit her blog!

~ ~ ~

miss . . . er, misses amanda,

thank you so much for sharing such a lovely moment on my blog.

i'm honored that you would let us in on the special

moments of your big day.

love you bunches!

Second Breakfast: A guest post by Just Wright Here

It was about 9:30am last Friday at my parents house.

I reached into the fridge.

My Dad got a pan out.

We stopped.

Looked at each other.

And almost at the same time asked "What are you doing?"

It was time for "second breakfast."

I should have know, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

photo credit

First breakfast: 6AM cereal - kashi, granola or oatmeal.

Second breakfast: 9:30AM scrambled eggs... with whatever else is in the fridge (rice, beans, cheese, olives, onion, spinach... any veggie really)

I haven't lived with my parents in over 5 years, but the early bird in me and the 5 meals a day was instilled in me.

Some things just don't change.

And that can be a good thing ;)

~~~

Guest post by:

Karissa Renaud Wright.

She blogs at Just Wright Here

Runs a business on a mission at REDEMPTION soap

Is part of an extreme biking ministry at CWTrials

~~~

thanks for the lovely little guest post, karissa! breakfast is the best meal of the day,

and therefor, i LOVE second breakfast . . .

it's a big thing in the stoutimore household as well ;)

i'm also a fan of breakfast for dinner.

actually, i'm just a fan of breakfast in general.

heart, abby

Sea shells: A guest post by Momma G

When Abby asked me to do a guest post on her blog,

I was very enthusiastic, but a little apprehensive.

Unlike my daughters, I am no fashionista. I can muddle my way through

deciding which sweater goes with what skirt, but I get lost with accessories.

I know that Coco Chanel said

“When accessorizing, always take the off the last thing you put on,”

but in my case that would mean that

I would walk out the door in my underwear.

However, I do have a few favorite accessories.

One of these is a necklace that my son Gabriel

made out of sea shells and orange gimp.

He gave it to me for Mother’s Day when he was seven

and begged me to wear it to work the next morning.

I did. All day.

And although it raised a few

eyebrows, and prompted much behind-my-back snickering,

it was worth it to see his little face

light up when I told him that everyone noticed and remarked upon his beautiful gift.

The worth of most people’s jewelry is measured in carats, but they cannot come close to the

sparkle in my children’s eyes.

Eat your heart out Coco.

~~~

Momma G is Garrie Madison Stoutimore, Abby's mother. She writes a blog called A Cup of Tea with Momma G and it will make you cry- every time. She likes excellent grammar and cleaning up Abby's dirty drinking glasses from her living room end tables.

~~~

momma, i love you!

thanks for posting about brother and not embarrassing me

by telling stories about what a brat i was when i was a kiddo.

love your first born, abby

Portobello Pesto Pizzas: A guest post by Roman Numeral Six Productions

Good morning, everyone! As Abby has mentioned, she's away visiting Mr. Wonderful this week,and has asked few of us to help out with posting. If you've been following Abby, then you'd know me as "bestest." I have a little blog all about food, mostly vegetarian, over here. I'd love if you'd check it out since this is how you'll get the back story on today's recipe!

For the Garlic Scape Pesto recipe, go check out my blog.

As a recent member of my local CSA, I'm having a blast figuring out new food combinations. As a relatively new convert to a vegan diet, I'm also having fun learning to "veganize" lots of recipes and generally make healthy food.

I was reading somewhere the other day that you can substitute portobello mushrooms for a pizza crust - you know, like when you're a kid and think you've just invented English muffin mini pizzas.

So it dawned on me that I'd just made a giant batch of pesto - and was not in the mood for pasta - so I decided to make mini portobellopizzas instead.

Oh. My. Word.

They were stinkin' fantastic!

So good, in fact, that I nearly blogged about them right then and there - until I realized that I still needed a guest post, eeek!

Here's what to do:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Start by scraping the gills out of the underside of the mushroom. The gills make things extra runny and watery, so removing them will help keep your "crust" a little dryer.

Also remove the stem, being careful not to tear through the mushroom.

Bake gill side down for 20 minutes on a cookie sheet/jelly roll pan. Be sure to use the kind with the lip around the edge - baking the mushrooms draws out a lot of moisture and you don't want it all over your oven!

After 20 minutes, remove from the oven and flip over. Spoon on some of the pesto, add the cheese or vegan cheese substitute of your choice, and top with your favorite topping. I used thinly sliced yellow bell peppers because 1) that's what I had on hand and 2) I'm a sucker for pretty food.

Return the pizzas to the oven and place under the broiler until the cheese melts and browns slightly.

Remove and enjoy!

I hope you'll try this recipe so you can see how cute these little guys come out - I don't have a picture of them because they were so good I gobbled them right up before I could get a shot.

~~~

oh yummm. thanks for sharing, valerie. love you to pieces and can't wait

for you to make me some of these . . . hint hint!!!

;) abby

our first date.

happy friday, everyone!!!

since i'm jumping on a plane tonight to see johnny,

or as most of you know him, mr. wonderful,

i thought i'd send myself off with a little post

about our first date.

do you remember this post?

that was our first official date, one year ago.

can you believe we've been dating for a year?!

in the beginning, i was really nervous to even talk about him here,

because what if it didn't go anywhere and then i had all these lame posts

about some dude who i hung out with and crushed on

for a summer?

nothankyouverymuch.

after a little while, though, it seemed like i just had to talk about him . . .

he was always making me so happy and mushy and oh-gosh-i've-become-such-a-giiiirrrlll!

funny how things change, huh?

sometimes the long-distance thing can really get me down.

but in retrospect, my jaw drops at how quickly time has flown.

johnny and i have sort of known each other through friends for years,

but it wasn't until his cousin and one of our pastors

{a mischievous duo, those two}

introduced us last summer that we started to hang out with one another.

{truth be told, i had thought he was cute for a while, but i never told a single soul about how he made me blush every time he spoke to me at church . . . oh dear.}

lots of after-work scooter rides, ice cream meet-ups with friends

and several very awkward church services and side-hugs later,

we went on our first date to the movies.

i remember being kind of bummed that we had to

wear 3D glasses that prevented me from sneaking a peek to see what he was doing

{was he looking over at me too? was he having fun?

did he think i was lame for loving toy story???? holy cow was i nervous}.

yeah. that was me totally shy and awkward . . .

it's a shock he even knew i liked him

because i seriously couldn't even speak around him!

and now i can't shut up . . . poor guy.

aaaaannyway, it all worked out,

which i guess is proof that awkward 1st dates . . . and 2nd and 3rd dates . . .

can turn out just fine.

girls, if he really really does like you, he'll ask you to be his girlfriend anyway.

even if you do avoid him like the plague just so you won't

blush in public.

but maybe just do yourselves a favor and give up the side-hugs.

~~~

i've got some fantastic guest posts planned for next week while i'm away . . .

so stop by and get to know my lovely friends!

my boyfriend's old man face

found this screen shot from one of our conversations a few months ago.

i get to smooch that mug tomorrow.

that's all for today, folks.

colour of the week // beige

mother calls it the "beige-ing of america."

every time we watch hgtv together and a designer coaching

some lost home sellers through a quick sale,

they paint the walls some neutral color and momma g gets all

upset because she covets tones of crisp light blue and pale turquoise.

sometimes, i can't help but agree with her

{what is up with buyers with no imaginations? i tell 'ya.}

but i also have an affinity this pale, monochromatic, natural color.

let the beige-ing of america continue!

now, excuse me while i go bake some beige-colored treats for

mr. wonderful . . . let's hope they make it through security and air travel.

{via}

sunday at the beach

i played hooky on sunday and went to the beach with my mother.

it was gloriously sunny and warm . . .

my aunt, uncle and 3 of their 4 kids joined us.

we waded in the water and let the cool waves lap over our toes

and freeze our ankles until they went numb,

ate hummus, avocado and fresh spinach in whole wheat pita pockets

and fell asleep in our chairs in the hot sand.

so thankful i still have chances like that to spend with my loving family.

my nose looks a little rudolph-ish now, despite my best spf efforts.

well worth it.

{the photograph above is my beautiful and styling grammie

at the same beach a long, long time ago.

the shore is now littered with luxurious coastal homes

and the sand more crowded with vacationers,

but in a way, it still looks the same.}

what is greater than a cupcake?

a whole year dating mr. wonderful, that's what.

happy 1 year of dating, babe.

you're my best friend, encourager, the one i always can talk to,

the one who understands me most,

who accepts my quirks,

who always makes me laugh until i cry,

the one i feel free to be a goofball with

and who i trust to take me on scooter rides

and the only one i want to hold my hand.

you & love

are super great things.

~~~

stay tuned for a little tale about how we met later this week.

;)

{via}

1 week 'til nashville

ladies and gents, just one week and i'll be flying out to mr. wonderful

in nashville where summer heat and sun rule.

for more than just a weekend.

woot woot- see ya', new england!

the last time i went to visit him,

i stayed with his friends rhys and hannah,

a sweet married couple who i wish i had been able to get to know better

during my short short stay.

{i seriously had a sudden case of narcolepsy that weekend- every time i was within a foot of their couch,

i fell asleep. worst house guest EVER}.

i'm crashing at their place again this time and we've already

discussed going on fun little double dates.

i'll also be hanging out with my lovely friend amy,

who i met in india three years ago.

i simply adore her and can't wait to catch up

over some tasty vegan/gluten-free yummies.

{our favorite whenever we get together!}.

between all that and visiting johnny's church,

scooter rides through the city, park picnics, las paletas,

and, if i'm lucky, a trip to pancake pantry . . .

i'm sure it will be a packed week.

oh-so fantastical.

can.not.wait.

50 state stereotypes {in 2 minutes}

"half hippie, half french . . . all upperclass."

gahhhhhh.

{i'm not all that original}

colour of the week // chartreuse

this shade of bright yellowy green is goooorgeous.

not everyone can wear it,

but it's so lovely thrown into home decor and little sweet trinkets.

so even if you're not the type to don a chartreuse frock,

there are plenty of other elements to try!

{via}

a shout out to all you control freaks {like me}:

for all who try to be in charge life's every little detail

and think they can determine the future . . . or at least plan for all of it

{newsflash: we can't}.

not sure how Biblical this is,

but i like to think it's sort of true.

{via}

jessica's wreaths

when my sister went away to college,

she met this girl, jessica, who my brother promptly nicknamed "ka-ka."

like a bird call, not excrement.

i only met her in person once,

but she's just one of those people you keep up with every few weeks or months.

{we share a love for tweeting about glee . . . don't cringe too much.}

anyway, jessica is now a world-wide traveller and just started her own etsy shop.

i immediately fell in love with her little wreaths . . .

especially the ones created from the pages of john keats poetry.

she told me the other day that she's sending me one as a belated b-day gift . . .

i'm going to hang it right away,

but won't it also be pretty at Christmas hung by a thick, red velvet ribbon?

roy g. biv

{don't you love the skittle mani???}

it rained all saturday long.

so instead of kayaking with bestest as planned,

i hung out and watched food network and house hunters international with momma g.

probably the one and only upside to mr. wonderful being in nashville

is that i get lots of quality time with my mom and girlies.

i was feeling kinda rummy with a sore throat

{a summer cold has been plaguing all the studio employees}

so i just sat on the living room floor and painted my fingers and toes.

i always think i'm going to be inventive

and try a new color,

but i almost always revert back to my favorites:

opi black onyx & opi got a date to-knight.

i love a fresh mani/pedi,

but i'm gonna be honest with you;

it kind of stinks dropping so much cash on them.

i attempt my own every now and then

{like this weekend}

and often just go without.

i'm so awful at it- especially my right hand.

i am SO right-handed; my left is pretty much useless!

i've been debating for months about splurging on a shellac manicure one of these days . . .

the thought of not juggling keys to keep my polish from smudging on

the way out of the salon is more than enticing,

but i'm a little nervous about how my nails will look when

i have it taken off.

anyone???

{via}

sing a song this weekend

i gots to work tomorrow morning,

but then i think i'm going for a little kayaking trip with bestest

in the afternoon.

sunday afternoon, my church is hosting a read through of the book of revelation.

all in one weekend.

truth be told, i'm not sure i can do that whole book in one day

{i visited a church once that tried to explain the whole thing in one sermon

and i almost fell over in my chair.}

but i'm hoping to at least stop by for a bit.

no matter what, i'll probably be practicing my harmonies with

the civil wars . . . my new fave band that i cannot believe i didn't know about sooner.

check out their lovely/comical cover of an 80's classic.

brilliant!

{via}

no pictures with today's post.

sometimes, Christians make "keeping faith" seem so stinkin' easy.

BUT IT IS NOT EASY.

well, at least it's not easy for me.

so often, i look at life's circumstances and think,

this is really just impossible.

maybe you feel like this too . . .

it's moments like these when my one and only option is to rest on the Word:

Mark 11:22-23- Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Luke 17:6- He replied, If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

Isaiah 12:2- Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Matthew 6:34- So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Psalm 121:1-2- I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

don't lose hope. don't give up believing.

{and don't think i'm trying to sound like oprah.}

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

here is a giggle for ya'.

momma g and i went for a pretty summer evening power walk last night

and came out of our rooms in the same work out clothes.

like mother like daughter.

and isn't she cute???

colour of the week//pink

hey, lovelies.

i've been itching to add something pretty and fresh to this blog . . .

i find that things can get a little stale some times

{especially when i'm working a lot and mr. wonderful is not in town}

so this is my new little wednesday addition to this blog.

i've been gone for pink since the day i was born.

just ask my mother . . . momma g even named my first soft little dolly

"pink baby."

yup, that's right. girly-girl from the beginning.

i absolutely love color . . . i'm one of those people you'll find

in the paint section of lowe's drooling over the paint chips . . .

with no intentions to paint a blessed thing.

what are your favorite colors and what would you like to see featured??

{via etsy & pinterest}

simple dates

mr. wonderful and i are the king and queen of easy dates.

i think we're both happiest when we're doing something laid-back,

uncomplicated and inexpensive.

for instance, a couple weeks back, we were both pretty tuckered out but didn't want to be stuck inside on a pretty night at dinner time.

so we strolled around downtown until we found a place that would

make us a small, fresh, piping hot pizza. with lots of sauce.

mhmmmm, sauce.

with a handful of napkins, we made our way over

to the edge of the riverwalk and munched away as the sun set.

then we walked back to the car, grabbed tiny cups o' sorbet on the way,

watched 'up' and practiced standing my new longboard together.

if we can laugh and goof off together and talk

for as long as we want,

it pretty much qualifies as a killer date,

in my book.

what are you favorite dates???

papa-paparazzi

a couple more pictures from our aquarium trip the other day

that mr. wonderful's sister posted on facebook.

aw, seeing these makes me miss him even more.

just three weeks and i'm going to see him in nashville!

the wise words of pooh bear

isn't this what weekends are all about?

this weekend is kind of a quiet one-

johnny leaves for nashville on saturday morning,

and momma g is skipping town to see family after the tornado.

i will be sticking around home and getting my car repaired . . . again.

boooo hisssss.

{seriously, does car trouble ever stop?}

i'll probably head out and take my longboard for a spin . . .

er, and not a fall.

i hope you all have a lovely and sunny weekend!!!

{via}

memorial day in boston

johnny {aka: mr. wonderful} and i spent memorial day afternoon

picnicking in boston common.

after taking the morning to have breakfast with his family and grandpa,

the weather looked like it was going to be cloudy

and evening rainy . . . not what we wanted for the beach day we had planned.

since we already had a delish lunch packed in a cooler,

we decided to go back down to boston

to eat lunch and hit up a few stores that are too cool to be in our hometown.

they day turned out to be gorgeous, hot and sunny . . .

perfect for lunching on the cool grass.

we also took some time at the flag field in the common . . .

an understated tribute to the soldiers who have given their lives for our country.

by the end of the afternoon,

we were both totally pooped from walking in the sticky sun,

so we headed back up to new hampshire and i hung out with him

and his family again around their fire pit before it was time to go home.

{note johnny's 6-year old niece's little feet-ies next to the fire}.

tornadoes

you've probably heard about the tornadoes that tore through

western MA last night.

here is a picture of the grocery store in the town of monson,

where my aunt works

{monson is momma g's home town}.

please join us in prayer for our family, friends and all the other people

who have been affected by the tornadoes.

me and my longboard

my most favorite present of my 28th birthday

was a gorgeous custom longboard,

built by my bestest's boy and his buddies.

i've wanted my own longboard for ages,

ever since my college friend and co-RA pushed me down

a hill on one a couple of months after he taught me how to snowboard

{i went to college in VT . . . everyone did it . . . and i was terrrrrible. at both.}.

i tell ya', learning at a young age would have been so much easier.

at 5'7", falling seems pretty far down and recovering not so easy!

despite the fact that i was totally wary of scratching it's loveliness by riding it,

i've taken a couple of rides since getting it on friday

and have already had my first tumble . . .

no serious harm done.

just scratched up palms that stopped stinging after an hour.

i was going at a snail's pace, truth be told.

considering i'm not incredibly light on my feet,

i'm sure there are many more diggers in store for me.

since i probably won't be letting anyone photograph

my awkward self on my board for quite some time,

here is a pretty accurate representation of what i look like

as a longboarder for all of you who are dying to know:

i'll make sure to take some photos of my own board soon.

she's really pretty!

one thing is for sure . . .

it is LOADS of fun.

any longboarders out there with tips for a newbie?

{via}