Savored Grace

Baby Violet

October 7, 2018 No Comments

She’s here, she’s here, she’s here!

Introducing my lovely little daughter, Violet. She started out a tiny little squirt, despite arriving nearly two weeks late! You will have to pardon my delay in posting (she is nearly 3 weeks old now!), but life with three kiddos has been beautifully exhausting.

I am still right in the thick of that twilight zone where I can’t remember when I last took a shower…but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t today. Between nursing constantly, homeschooling a kindergartner part-time, and spending the rest of the hours reading to a contrary preschooler, my days have been very full!

Violet is a bright spot of sunshine for us. She smiles constantly in her sleep (and is beginning to smile when awake, be still my heart!), adores staring at our black-and-white striped curtains, and is perfectly willing to let her older siblings hold her hand. We love her dearly and can’t wait to see how her sweet personality develops as she grows!

photo credit: Photography by Karen Brown

We love, you, Violet!

fish, mains, quick & easy, salads, wholesome

Kale Salmon Caesar Salad

August 2, 2018 1 Comment

Kale salmon caesar is a metaphor for my entire marriage.

It represents a blending of taste buds and nutritional ideals, a desire for simplicity and for dinner around the table together.

To be honest, drenching salmon in caesar dressing is one of the only ways I can get every member of my family to eat it. I call it a win.

books, life, wholesome

Books I’ve Read in 2018, Part 1

July 3, 2018 No Comments

Hello, friends. It sure has been a while since I’ve written here, but I hope you’ll extend some grace to me! I found out on New Year’s Day that I am expecting a new little one, and wow has she been requiring all of my energy! (And so have my other two tots. All the energy and more patience than I have had to spare. Say a prayer for me, friends!)

breakfast, eggs, gluten-free, vegetarian, wholesome

Eat Your Greens for Breakfast: Creamy Shirred Eggs with Greens

February 14, 2018 1 Comment

“Greens” is like a love word for me. If someone tells me they made a dish with greens (or any specific version of greens, like chard or kale or spinach), I basically swoon.

I love greens.

My theory is that we begin to crave the things we eat a lot. I eat a lot of leafy greens…therefore my taste buds have accomodated me.

Greens. Swoon.

breakfast, eggs, gluten-free, quick & easy, vegetarian, wholesome

Eat Your Greens for Breakfast: Salsa Scrambled Eggs and the Best Ever Veggie Breakfast Burrito

February 8, 2018 No Comments

It’s the middle of February. Classically a time of year when folks lose interest in all their healthy intentions. How are you doing with your healthy goals?

One of my ongoing goals is to eat greens in as many meals as possible. To be totally honest, I have realized that this usually means spinach, which is maybe a bit lopsided (or, maybe I am treating my mild anemia naturally with food!) when there are so many delicious kinds of greens in the world. But! I still think it’s a win when I find ways to eat something dark green at every meal of the day—including breakfast.

faith, life, wholesome

The Thief

January 12, 2018 2 Comments

“The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that [you] might have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

Sometimes, a thief comes to steal my joy. But he does it reeeeal sneaky-like. It sounds a little bit like this:

“You’re on vacation! Live your life on vacation ‘to the full’! Maybe instead of dessert, you could enjoy another glass of wine.”

books, life, wholesome

Books I Read in 2017, Part 2

January 7, 2018 No Comments

In 2017, I started out the year thinking I should spend more time reading than watching TV, and I cautiously hoped to read 30 books in the course of the year.

At the halfway mark, I had already read 22 books (thanks to the help of Audible, which definitely did some of the heavy lifting for me!). By the end of the year, the count was up to 52 books (woo! kicked it up a notch)! Additionally, I started read-alouds with my kiddos in the second half of 2017, and we read 6 chapter books aloud together as well as 2 books of poems. I will always cherish that time cuddling next to them on the couch and sharing the gift of story.

books

Reading Challenge 2018

December 30, 2017 No Comments

I have always been very fortunate in my life to be surrounded by readers. I have friends who regularly ask me what I’m reading as well as share ideas for a new page-turner. I belong to a book club. My parents’ house is full of bookshelves that are slowly buckling with the weight of all the books they are reading and want to be reading.

I am a firm believer that reading leads to greater happiness than just about any other activity.

how-to, sweets, wholesome

10 Ways to Cut Back on Refined Sugar

December 22, 2017 No Comments

So you’re thinking of cutting back on refined sugar. Maybe this is a New Year’s resolution thing, a short-term reset-your-habits thing, or a long-term reclaim-your-health thing, but whatever your reasons, I applaud you! You can do this!

If you’ve been hanging out at Savored Grace for a while, you may know that I cut out refined sugar at the beginning of 2017, and it hasn’t been back. For me, this was a calling from God to depend on Him more than on food. I had to learn that God would be enough for me, and that I didn’t need to be greedy with what I put into my body.

dairy-free, gluten-free, quick & easy, sweets, vegan, Winter

Chocolate Gingerbread Date Balls

December 7, 2017 2 Comments

I’m going to say what maybe some of you have also thought: Christmas has been making me a little nervous since last January. Christmas is a season of joy and light and life! And cookies. And parties. And desserts. And indulgence with family and friends.