the calm before the storm

My night shifts for this week starts tomorrow, which means today was mostly spent preparing for the messy and starving house that is yet to come. It's pretty tough trying to maintain a clean house and full tummies when I'm off at work so I'm trying to learn how to be better prepared! It's been trial and error so far, but I've done my research and now I'm ready to face this week FULL FORCE!

Three strategies I will use this week:

1) Hardcore meal-planning

2) Slow Cooker Recipes

3) Frozen, easy-on-the-go foods

I've been reading alot of different foodie blogposts regarding meal-planning, and helen jane's has been my favorite! I've kinda tweaked off of her's and some tips from Tracy at shutterbean. Here's mine for this week!

The highlighted items are things I need to prepare for the night before (i.e. defrosting the chicken in the fridge, etc.) Super helpful tip! I also purposefully planned all the slow cooker meals for the days I have to work at night. 15-20 minutes of prepping in the morning, throw it in the slow-cooker, let it cook for 4-6 hours, wake up and dinner's ready! TOO PERFECT!

Since I got to stay at home tonight, I tried to make a nice home-cooked dinner. We had alot of vegetables that were about to go bad-- onions, cilantro, tomatoes, jalapenos. Doesn't that just scream "Mexican"? We had some tortillas and frozen fish in the freezer, so I decided to make fish tacos! 

Of course we had to eat it with corn cake (Eugene's FAVE) and some good ol' mexican rice. I actually found a REALLY excellent Mexican Rice recipe.

I substituted the cumin for some chili powder and used chunky canned tomato instead of just the tomato sauce. It was SO good. You have to try it.

I seriously love how colorful Mexican food is... and it was bursting with every flavor possible. There was the savory (from the rice), spicy (from the tapatio!), sweet (from the corn cake) and sour (from the lime). It was perfect!

We had leftovers so I decided to make some freezer burritos. I got the idea when I was looking through Martha Stewart's website and thought it was perfect for my family, especially with my wild night shift schedule! I had all the ingredients I needed to make a hefty burrito, and LOTS of Mexican rice left from dinner tonight. It was meant to be. Heaven-sent!

I just used the leftover Mexican rice, the leftover chopped onion and cilantro, and some refried beans and black beans. Microwave the tortillas on a papertowel first to keep it from breaking apart when you make your burrito!

Scoop on your rice, spread some refried beans next to your rice pile. and throw on some cilantro, onions, and black beans. Throw a dollop of sour cream on it and top it off with some shredded cheese and tapatio (if you dig the spicy like me!) Wrap it up, sides first then roll it up nice and easy, tucking the sides of the tortilla inside gently

Wrap it in foil--- then, freeze! Instruct your family (or friends) to peel off the foil, wrap the burrito in a moist paper towel, throw it in the microwave and voila! Quick and easy burrito on the go! Takes a bit of time to prep.. but now I have 7 delicious, easy-to-eat burritos stocked in my freezer! Woo hoo! :) This adjustment is still pretty challenging, but I'm thankful that God continues to give me the energy and joy to really find ways to serve my home as excellently and faithfully as I can! 

Hopefully this meal-planning jig will be successful so I can keep improving my MP skillz. ;)

Now I'm off to finish the dishes! Eugene and I are going to a much-needed movie date at the dollar theatre tonight! So excited!!!! :) Have a great week everyone!

Freezer Burritos

Extra large flour tortillas (warmed in a microwave)

1 can of refried beans

1 can of black beans (drained)

Sour Cream (as needed)

1 onion - chopped

1 bunch of cilantro - chopped

Mexican-style shredded cheese (as needed)

Tapatio or Any Hot Sauce (as needed) 

Mexican Rice Recipe

(4 servings)

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup uncooked long-grain rice

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup tomato sauce

2 cups chicken broth

Freeze for up to 3 months.

To reheat from frozen:
from Martha Stewart's website
Remove frozen burritos from plastic wrap. Place on a microwave-safe plate; microwave on high for 3 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet; bake at 450 degrees until crispy, about 10 minutes.

If only using a microwave, remove from plastic wrap, and place on a microwave-safe plate, covered with a microwave safe bowl. Defrost at high power for 3 to 4 minutes; uncover, and microwave on high 3 to 4 minutes longer.

If only using oven, remove burritos from plastic wrap; rewrap individually in aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet; bake at 450 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove foil, and bake to crisp, 5 to 10 minutes. (To reheat defrosted burritos, remove any wrapping and bake for 10 minutes).

Give thanks: time with family, the sacrificial and loving examples I have in my parents, time to clean, time to cook, the blessing we have in the local church, Sunday worship, prayer, colorful highlighters, spending time with Eugene, costco/target trips with little K

Everyday life - Week(s) 10, 11 and 12

Sorry for slacking on these "Everyday Life" posts. I've been working most weekends this month (BOO..) so it's been taking me off track on these posts. But despite the weekly updates, life was lived and pictures were taken. Here is a massive explosion of what my life looked like lately.

I love weekly visits to Target with my sister! One of my favorite things to do.

Finding goodies for the home in lots and lots of color.

My failed attempts at latte art.. I need better espresso beans.. 

Walked to the market to buy ONE avocado. It was worth it. :)

The week I fell in LOVE with argula. I love the bitter but crispiness of its leaves.

Healthy on-the-go snacks for mornings after work. Hits the spot before my nap!

Waiting for my drink at Starbucks before work in my baggy scrubs.

Just a random hello before going out to eat with our parents. :)

Family lunches = chinese food. (LOTS of it.)

Freshening up with some shaved snow at Class 302. Perfect for a sunny spring day!

Our charge RN ordered pizza for us on one of the CRAZIEST and most stressful nights of my life.

Thanks Beth!

Lunch with Val means playtime with Micah. :) 

You never stop learning! Love quiet nights at home studying and freshening up on my ECG/Pharm skills.

Bought thin bagels for the first time! Less carbs, more flavor. Too sweet!

Hot coffee on a crisp morning. Nothing beats that.

Reading while waiting to eat lunch with Esther. I actually came to lunch 30 minutes before our scheduled time, but the wait was not bad at all. :)

Bought my first balls of yarn to start knitting (and eventually- crocheting)

Freshening up in the middle of my night shifts. Definitely helps me feel re-energized!

Weekly pho trips. I LOVE pho! We actually had really bad customer service this day and I left very disappointed. We treated ourselves to some yogurtland after to make ourselves feel better! It worked!

Dear rolling cart thing, you are my greatest friend!

Thanks for helping me carry all my groceries home!

The day my poor Eugene had to get his blood drawn on both arms in preparation for Pharmacy school. They had to draw titers to see what immunizations he had received. Treated him with some Caramel Macchiato. Yum!

Orange-juicing again! 

Freshly squeezed orange juice and some home-made seafood dip with crackers. Eugene's favorite snack! 

We had alot of people over for dinner this week. This particular dinner was a japanese/korean style dinner with udon, DIY California rolls and some pseudo-baked salmon rolls. I'm trying to improve my sushi-making skills but I need a better knife..

I love morning walks to the grocery store. Especially if that means I can grab an iced latte on the way home!

Staying at home over the weekend while Eugene is at a retreat. Went to Coco's for dinner like old times! They had electronic tablets to take our orders and my dad wanted to get in on it too (We laughed obnoxiously loud in embarrassment haha!)

and this is my mom learning how to play DrawSomething on her phone. We're becoming a high tech family yall' ;)

Love my mom's vintage goodies in the bathroom. Perfect place to put my jewelry before sleeping in without an alarm clock. :)

Back to "my spot" as my mom calls it. I spent all my high school years here and studied for my NCLEX after graduating college right on this desk. So sweet spending hours here this weekend reading, recharging, studying. Brought back years of memories!

I'll do my best to be better about updating more regularly!

I'm working tonight after I spend a day with my family today. Starting the morning off eating breakfast with Katherine while watching "Meet the Robinsons" (best movie ever...) and now we're heading out to Starbucks to get our dose of Coffee and the Word! 

Give thanks: time to spend at home, fellowship with people in the church, daily trips to starbucks, cleaning sessions, an empty sink, school supplies.

Seasons

Sunday was daylight savings, which marks the beginning of Spring.

I love Spring! Bright flowers, sunshine everywhere and an excuse to have mad OCD cleaning sessions for the sake of "spring cleaning". It's wonderful! This week, I reorganized my kitchen, wiped down my hardwood floors and did a few loads of laundry. My night shift schedules have been kind of tough for the past few weeks, but I'm so thankful for the days off I have to recover, re-energize and re-order my life and home. Going back and forth from the night owl to regular time schedule has definitely messed up my circadian rhythm and I've been feeling under the weather almost 24/7 for the past 3 weeks. This {unfortunately} usually equates to more complaining, more random crying and more sleeping in-- three things I don't really like to do. (Sorry Eugene!)

It's been a fight to find joy in the ordinary things of every day when I feel so tired and sleepy all the time. It's easy to complain and throw pity parties for myself and far too easy to fall into the temptation of discontentment. But praise God that His mercies are new every morning and that despite my complaining, discontent heart-- that He reminds me of the hope to which he has called me and his immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. (Ephesians 1:19) I find peace when I remember that this is but a season of my life. A season filled with joys, sorrows and lessons to take away, but just one of many seasons I will be able to enjoy because of the grace of my God.

My night-shift nurse slash frazzled newly-wed wife season will one day pass, and in a few years I will enter another season of {God-willing} home-staying, home-making, child-raising mom and wife. We always think that grass is always greener on the other side, and that once we overcome this certain period of our life that we'll be more happy, less busy, less tired but I'm realizing that's not the case. We're always going to be busy, and there will always be things and people who occupy our thoughts, our worries, our time and our energy. I'm learning that if I keep longing for the next season in life, I will live daily in discontentment and will miss out on the many opportunities to learn, grow and cultivate a greater appreciation for the evidences of God's grace in my life right now. I'm learning I need to stop looking towards tomorrow but live today and embrace it for what it is. I'm learning to praise God for everyday, no matter what kind of day it is.

Today was a house-cleaning, coffee-ing on the patio, book-reading, lunch-ing with a dear sister and errand-running kind of day. Tomorrow may be different!
but for now, I'll praise God for today :)

I also started knitting today! It was my first time in about.. 8 years.

Knitting is so hard! I watched almost 6 youtube videos to get it right.

A few mistakes here and there (a few, meaning ALOT) but I'm gonna let it go for now..

Baby steps, people! 

Give thanks: catching up with esther, hot coffee, sweet deals, quiet times at home, another day to live and rejoice in the God You are!

A big thanks for the small things

On one of my days off this week, I decided to try taking pictures with Eugene's DSLR.

I love picture taking and I deeply appreciate the art of photography but it's definitely not my forte.

My eye for photography is simple and I really love capturing the simplicity of every day life.

In the middle of this warm, crisp afternoon that I spent at home, I wore the DSLR strap around my neck and just took photos of little things of my day. What a beautiful blessing it was to be able to appreciate even the smallest blessings and feel such a great sense of gratitude for them! I am truly blessed beyond measure, far more than I deserve.

I've been trying to decide whether I should start saving up for a (smaller) DSLR of my own. This idea popped into my little head once I started daydreaming about all the moments I hoped to one day capture when we have a family of our own. I started collecting pocket change for this dream about two years ago but due to some lack of motivation, my money-collecting journey did not last for too long. This day definitely rekindled my motivation! Time to start saving up again... baby steps, baby steps!

Here are some snapshots of the little things I enjoyed on this picture-taking day.

A sunshine-kissed empty dining room

Clearance deals at Target. You can never have too many plates! {Especially if they're patterned}

I strongly believe the dishwasher is a God-given gift to wives! Thank you, Lord!

Preparing our home for Easter.. home, body and soul. :)

Simple but sweet. I'm beginning to build a mini collection of decorations for every season. 

Every girl should know how to use a tool box. Especially because hammering is so much fun!

A new addition to our plain walls.

Two of my favorite things. Flowers and photography.

Trying to sharpen up my barista skills. I'm really slackin'..

Just a few minutes to lounge after an exhausting vacuuming and kitchen-cleaning sesh

Buying a loaf of bread to make sandwiches for lunch. Feelin' fancy!

Dinner time

Sore arms by the end of the day!

Hopefully I'll get me a smaller one eventually.. maybe in a few years
{I have $1.50 in my jar so far!}

Give thanks - naps before work, a beautiful sunny day to look forward to, time to rest, time to work, comfort foods, prayers in the car, opportunities to grow in patience and humility at work, my Perfect Example of Perfect love and humility in Christ.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. {Philippians 2:1-8}