YUM + healthy + easy.

Matt and I have both been sick this week after coming back from our trip to North Carolina (Although he has had it a lot worse than me with a fever :(...thankfully I was spared from that) and I have had a few long, busy days at work so the last thing I wanted to do was make a gourmet meal at the end of the day BUT I also wanted to get back to our normal healthy eating habits after eating pretty much whatever we wanted on vacation.

So, I went to my new very favorite grocery store, Earth Fare, and picked up some easy, healthy meals for the week. One of the meals was SOOOO yummy and a very healthy take on a burger and fries. I bought the Earth Fare brand of frozen organic black bean burgers and put them on Rudy's organic whole wheat english muffins (sounds weird to pair the two but it was SO good...and the english muffins are DELISH and very soft!) and served them with Peas of Mind (how cute is that brand name) carrot fries. Okay, so I was a little hesistant about how these would taste but they were very good! I was also a little hesistant about the nutrition factor but literally the very first ingredient was carrots...couldn't ask for much better than that. We had this meal with organic grean beans and grapes....so it definitely wasn't fancy pants but it was very satisfying, easy, and healthy.

I am also currently obsessed with the genre station "Contemporary Singer-Songwriters" on Pandora. My sweet sales assistant introduced me to this while we work and it is so nice and mellow with songs from Ingrid Michaelson, John Mayor, The Script, A Fine Frenzy, and Colbie. Love it and I am listening to it as I blog.

I will leave you with a picture to get you ready for my vacation recap post :)

Holy Cow Size -1 Font

I think I have given myself permanent wrinkles by trying to read my previous posts. I am so sorry for having a ridiculous size negative font. I love this font but I don't know how to make it bigger. Oh man, I feel like a little old lady for not knowing this. I know facebook like the back of my hand but blogger is a whole different story!

Blog Designs and etc.

I wanted to go for a new look on the blog and I like it but am not sold yet. I wish we had an alloted amount in our Dave Ramsey budget for a beautiful blog header and layout, but I don't....I think there is a better way to do it myself and make it not quite so generic but I just don't know how. If anyone has any help or advise on this, I would be more than happy to hear your thoughts! :)

I have also decided that after a very long time of owning this blog, I need more bloggity blog friends. It did absolutely make my day to know that my dear precious Papa reads this blog.....so really, I don't need blog friends because to know that my family reads it is enough but it would be nice to have more followers. {Hi Grandmother and Papa!} I guess I need to comment more on others blogs and post more and do giveaways in order to make this happen. DEEEEEP SIGHHHHHH. Can we just be friends? Oh, and you can follow me too!

The Lord is most definitely at work in the Garlich family. I can't really share yet, but I am seeing him do things....really cool things that we have been praying for. He is good and he really does give and take away...but he does it for his glory and our good.

I need to do a whole separate post on our recent North Carolina "vacation" because is quite similar to a Chevy Chase movie....but still fun nontheless. Just an adventure...like my life. I do now know why my husband told me on our wedding day "Welcome to our adventure!"

Thanks Mom! :)

I love coming home and seeing my copy of Better Homes and Gardens magazine on our kitchen table or going to get the mail and seeing it the box. Today was one of those days! :) My mom first ordered the subscription for me for M & I's first year of marriage and has renewed it every year since. It's such a fun thing to look through and get ideas from.

Thanks mom!

:)

10 to 1 Monday Random Countdown :)

10. Why did I deprive myself for so long of the joy and convenience of a garlic press? Thank you to my favorite mother-in-law for this gift.....it literally transformed the garlic from a clove to tiny little pieces for our spaghetti sauce in seconds!

9. Oh, The Bachelor....am I ready for you? I just don't know. I'm going to watch tonight while my cousin Katie and I facebook chat about it which is always fun....she is so funny and I love her and we always enjoy making fun of/having fun with the show.

8. My grandparents are two precious, generous people and always give us grandchildren money for Christmas....it didn't take me long to decide what I wanted to spend with their Christmas money this year. Can I just say that I LOVE MY NEW BOOTS and this picture does not do them justice. Love them with skirts, love them with skinny jeans, love wearing them walking Lucy, love wearing them to church....okay, I need to stop saying love in referencing an inanimate object.

7. Oh Earth Fare chocolate truffles that I got free with a coupon....please help me to have self control when I eat you....because you are really good.

6. Praying for your husband is one of the best things you can do. Why is it so easy for me to forget this and think that I have any control whatsoever. Lord, you are such a good God and you have blessed me with an incredible man. Please help me to remember to daily pray for this gift from you.

5. I love my new planner and Mary Engelbreit calendar that I just got....It is probably the OCD in me but I love a new, blank calendar and being able to write all of the upcoming birthdays or vacations....it is such a good feeling.

4. My brother-in-law's girlfriend Hope got me these beautiful lighted flower branches....my MIL had some and Hope and I both wanted them badly and I loved getting these for Christmas! They made taking down the Christmas lights bearable because I get to turn these on every night. Thank you Hopie!3. I can't wait to go to North Carolina in a couple of weeks for a great time of rest and relaxation. We are going to our friend's beautiful house again....can't wait!2. I wish I knew what God has in store for us the next several years....but I'm glad I don't. Please help me Lord to trust you with my whole heart....you love me and you have a great plan for Matthew Ryan and I. I trust in you.

1. Happy Monday to everyone! I hope you have enjoyed my countdown :)....it's been fun.