Green Berry Smoothie

Green Berry Smoothie

It’s a New Year can you believe it?  I am thinking positive by starting my day positive and healthy with a Green Berry Smoothie.  Yes, as you can tell Sara and I love smoothies.  Did I mention I worked at Jamba Juice when I was a freshman in college, so yes I am a smoothie dork? I love the way they make me feel in the morning.  I need what ever additional energy I can get, because the whole coffee thing doesn’t get things cracking around here.

I know I am not alone in this whole “feeling good” department and it is something we are always striving to find.  Every year I do make a few resolutions or vows of some simple life changes.  I do have to say that we eat pretty healthy around here when we can, but one of the life changes I would like to incorporate in our life style is adding some gluten free meals into our diet.  This Green Berry Smoothie is gluten free recipe and it is packed with protein, fruits, and vegetables.  But what I am HOPING {it’s my word this year} is to add it more into our kids diet.  With Mason being on the Autism Spectrum, his diagnosis has yet to prove it’s results in a gluten free lifestyle as he is very high functioning, but I think that it can improve his attention span and his energy level in a positive way.  As for myself, we haven’t seen much winter here and there is always the beach and pool that us mamas have to attend to with the kids. [Read more…]

Beauty… My Word for 2014

Images Via: Simply Happenstance Blog

 :: Beauty… My Word for 2014 ::

With the beginning of 2014, I’ve noticed that several of my favorite blogs have posted their “best of 2013,” a look back in photographs, or a roundup of their top-rated recipes. A few have even chosen a single word to represent the New Year… a simple reminder of their personal goals for 2014. I loved this idea, so I decided to do the same.

Images via: Simply Happenstance BlogLooking back at 2013, I’d have to say that my word was TRUST. It was a big year for my family. Exactly a year ago marked our trip to Mammoth Lakes in California… which changed everything. It got us thinking… and talking… about our lives, our goals for our family, what we valued, and what our hopes were for our sweet four. [Read more…]

Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}

Twenty Fourteen

:: Weekend Lovelies {favorite things} ::

Wow it’s 2014! Can you believe it? Sara and I had a nice break enjoying our family time during the holidays.  With two fire schedules, the holidays aren’t really celebrated exactly as per the calendar date, but around the time we have our husbands home during their days off.  A crazy life for sure, but one we get used to day by day. We were able to capture the moments when we could. 

January is like September for me.  A month to renew, rethink, and re-evaluate what is working in life, and what is not.  I love it because I am not one for big change, so it pushes me outside of my comfort zone to really think about life.  I have a few big resolutions, or I should say “life changes,” that I have been working on for a couple of years. I don’t plan on moving mountains, but the one thing I do love and plan to hang on to, is to the simple idea of “hope.” It’s a big word that can help in multiple ways in life. 

That being said, Sara and I hope you like some new changes we have made to Simply Happenstance!  A big one is our weekly edition of Weekend Lovelies. We thoroughly enjoy lovelies because it truly is an eclectic mix of all the wonderful things we’ve come across on the web. There are so many great recipes, DIY projects, and thought provoking articles to share! In an effort to broaden our lovelies and share more great finds… we thought we’d  open it up to other bloggers! {If you have a personal blog, from this point forward, on Saturday’s & Sunday’s, you’ll be able to link-up your favorite recent blog post to share with our readers! We hope that you will join us, and spread the word! If you have an Etsy Shop… you can link that up, too!} 

So without much further ado, welcome to Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}! 

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{weekend} lovelies

 

merry christmas {image via simply happenstance} :: Weekend Lovelies ::

So this is it! Christmas is in just a few short days! By now… you are all most likely prepared for family gatherings and gift giving. In case you’re not… here are a few more ideas! There’s a couple recipes, some DIY gifts, and some style inspiration. To top it off, we found a fun stamp project to do with your kids over Winter Break!

Nicole and I have decided to take next week off from the blog so that we can truly focus on spending time with our families. We are hoping to soak up this special time by baking with our children, listening to Christmas music, enjoying our recent snowfall {in the mountains}, spending some cuddle time with our husbands, and catching up with friends and family. We just wanted to wish you all the Merriest Christmas! May it be joyous and bright… and let’s not forget the true meaning behind CHRISTmas! {xo} [Read more…]

D.I.Y. Wine Hostess Gift

DIY Wine Hostess Gift

:: D.I.Y. Wine Hostess Gift ::

Do you have 12 holiday parties to go to and not a gift insight?  This easy D.I.Y. Wine Hostess Gift is a great way to present wine at the next party you attend.  Whether it be for Christmas or New Year’s, these two D.I.Y. ideas are a great way to use simple items to present that bottle wine you need to bring to your next event. 

I love wine. Shane and I enjoyed our 10-year anniversary in Napa and Sonoma, so for us wine is a wonderful gift to both give and receive. I love to drink red or white as I like them both. I tend to sway more towards a Sauvignon Blanc or a lovely Bubbly as my choice for white, and as for Red I do enjoy the affordable yet sensational Layer Cake.  Their Malbec is bold and earthy, while their Cabernet is spicy and fruity.  Layer Cake pairs well with holiday meals.

DIY Wine Hostess Gift 2  [Read more…]

Winter Break Fun

Winter Break Activity Ideas {via Simply Happenstance Blog}

Winter Break is upon us! This is the first year that we are homeschooling… but we still have a two-week break from school. Just like many of you… it has me already thinking of how I am going to structure my childrens’ time and keep them busy so they don’t bicker incessantly, and beg for screen time {wink, wink}.

Part of the great joy of Winter Break, is knowing that you have some much needed down time where you don’t have to contend with packing lunches, getting the kids out the door on time, and rigid schedules. Although it always sounds good in your head to wake up to lazy pajama days every morning… I can almost guarantee that a few days in, you’ll be wanting a bit more structure {and a plan}, to keep their little minds learning, exploring, and creating. Here are a few easy tips to help your Winter Break go smoothly with a few additional links for great ideas and activities!  [Read more…]

Hummingbird Bread

Hummingbird Bread

:: Hummingbird Bread ::

Stay calm, stay focused, now repeat, and enjoy.  That is the mantra I am trying to remember during the hustle and bustle.  We are in the thick of it my friends, the lovely holiday season.  We wait for this time all year long and when it comes it seems go by with a blink of an eye.  So here is a small remedy keep it simple, and I am doing so by making Hummingbird Bread.  Sounds fancy but oh so easy.  This year instead of handing out a million cookies, I am making mini breads for my neighbors.  Don’t get me wrong I love baking cookies and will do so, but I want to free up some of my time by creating something that can be enjoyed now and not later when everyone else is stuffed to the brim with sweets.  

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{Weekend Lovelies}

boots

 :: Weekend Lovelies ::

Jingle bells, Jingle bells, the weekend has arrived….oh what fun it is to be celebrating this holiday season!  I can’t believe we only have one more weekend until Christmas! Not to add any more stress to your already full plate, but I really can’t believe it.  Where oh where did this year go?  One minute it was January 2013, and now we are here today with a few weeks left in the year. 

This edition of weekend lovelies is a possible wish list of all the glorious finds that I seem to always come across when I am supposed to be shopping for others.  Since I am on a budget and not living in the days in which I would buy one for you and one for me {life before kids}, I do covet a wish list.  One of them I was able to get a little before Christmas, hence the magical find of these Frye Boots at Nordstrom Rack.  I am so very thankful for a little early holiday gift!  I hope that you will add a few of these favorite finds that Sara and I love to your own wish list. I heard Santa Claus is coming town…..hope you enjoy some of these picks! [Read more…]

Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding

Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding {Simply Happenstance Blog}

 :: Blueberry Croissant Bread Pudding ::

Oh… do I have a tasty indulgence for you today! My friends, this is definitely my favorite breakfast treat at the moment! It’s delicious served warm for breakfast {or dessert}… and it’s even good cold, straight out of the fridge {don’t ask me how I know that}! One of my dearest friends recently gave me the recipe to try out with my family. We’ve made it two times in the last week! Remember my husband who doesn’t like anything sweet? He LOVED it! In fact, I totally caught him with a fork sneaking bites out of the fridge. That never happens!

So, before I get started on the details of this amazingly delicious dish {that would be the perfect addition to your Christmas morning, I might add}… I must first tell you about my friend who passed on this recipe. I typically call her  “Pretty”… because she’s so pretty, of course {inside & out}! I’m hoping that one day she’ll decide to write a guest post for Simply Happenstance and tell you all about her testimony and issues she’s faced over the past few years. She is hands down, one of the strongest, most God-loving, positive, and wonderful mamas I know! She has taught and encouraged me so much over the past five years that I have known her. The most cherished girlfriends that I have in my life are definitely the ones that bring me closer to God. “Pretty” is one of those. We don’t live near each other any longer {now that our family has moved to the mountains}, but we talk on the phone almost daily. She uplifts my spirit in so many ways. I hope that all of you have a friend like that in your life. It is such an incredible gift… [Read more…]

DIY Snowflakes

 

DIY Snowflake Tutorial from Simply Happenstance Blog! Perfect for a holiday craft, decor, andor gift wrap!

 :: DIY Snowflakes ::

I have a super easy, and fun, three-dimensional snowflake tutorial to share with you today! My oldest son, Ryan, came home with one of these pretties last year. I immediately made him show me how to make them! The supplies are undoubtedly things you have around the house, and the steps are simple… especially once you’ve made the first section. This would be a lovely craft to do with the kids over winter break! They make darling seasonal decorations around your home… and can be made on a smaller scale to embellish gifts! So let’s get to it…

Supplies you will need:

  • 6 sheets of paper {plain white, colored, patterned… whatever you prefer} 
  • scissors
  • tape
  • stapler

[Read more…]