Finding Adda

I have a love for a good coffee. 

An oatmilk latte is my favorite.  No syrups needed, but if there’s a house syrup that lightly sweetens the drink without taking away from the taste of the specially roasted bean. . . It’s probably going to be a winner.

 My love of coffee is no secret if you know me or follow me on Instagram.  It brings joy to a morning of errand running or gets me through the afternoon after a busy day.  It opens doors to have coffee dates with Jon or even catching up with a friend in between the business of the week.  My husband is quite partial to drinking his out of ceramic cup and not rushing around.  I could go either way (because Target calls, right?).   Over in the social media world, Carlos Whittaker recently posted about how he was starting to take more time to slow down and enjoy his coffee, after a trip to Italy, where he noticed even coffee shops and gas stations served espresso in ceramic cups and people enjoyed their coffee sitting either in the quiet of their own thoughts or in the company of a good friend. 

I one hundred percent believe that coffee brings connection.  Last month, my husband traveled to Pittsburg, Pa for work, and visited a local shop called Adda (Ironically, they serve our favorite coffee from our side of the country!).  While, his coffee experiences in Pittsburg were slightly disappointing (we’re spoiled here in CA!), the story behind this Adda coffeehouse did stand out.  Adda, is the Bengali word for bringing people together to engage in the fine art of conversation.  It is not only a noun, but a verb. . . It is the actual conversation as well as the place in which the connection takes place. 

 Isn’t that beautiful?  In high school, I had the opportunity to spend a month in Norway, meeting family and learning about my heritage.  One of my favorite observations, was how every afternoon, everyone stopped what they were doing for coffee and treats.  A few years later, on a trip to El Salvador, one of my most favorite memories, was sitting around talking because the whole town shut down for an hour or so each afternoon!  A siesta!  It was funny, how we always wanted to walk and get coke in a bag or a papusa when everything was closed! 

How different life is here, stateside.  We rush around, filling our planners with plans from sunup to sundown.  We are ragged and worn down and lonely.  We struggle with slowing down and just sitting to enjoy that cup of handcrafted espresso with a good book or with a good friend.  Jennie Allen recently shared some staggering research in her book, Find Your People, that is heart breaking.  This research shows that 3 out of 5 people are chronically lonely, and that number is growing.  And loneliness is just the beginning. . . anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts are all rising with it at a rate that is worse for our health than the usual obesity, smoking, and inactivity. 

Ouch!  That was painful to type. It is a heartbreaking statistic. 

It’s comfortable in our homes, away from people.  And as that pandemic seems to still be trying to hold on tight, we have made isolation an acceptable thing.  We’ve gotten comfortable avoiding people, but deep down inside we are craving connection.  We desire to be heard and seen, to laugh and cry . . . or maybe both at the same time.  We are made to connect with others, and not just from behind a screen. The Bible is very clear from the beginning of creation that, “man is not meant to be alone.” While that verse in Genesis refers to Adam being alone and the creation of Eve, we really aren’t meant to be alone. Period.  God, our creator even desires connection between us and Him.   

It’s time to find our way back to Adda, to connecting with others. Maybe Adda takes place in a coffee shop or a local restaurant.  Or maybe its Stok cold brew and E.L. Fudges and goldfish crackers (are those still a thing?) in the backyard while the kids play.  Let’s stop loneliness in its tracks and create space for others in our lives.  Let’s be courageous and take the first step and invite someone into our lives, our space.  Let’s sign up for a Bible Study or a women's event.  Let’s look at our schedules and start breaking the chain of loneliness.  Push through the uncomfortable act of sending the text and you won't regret it! 

 

 

 

What's for Dinner?

 I like food. . . a lot.  Nothing gets me more excited about sitting down at the kitchen table with my family, talking about our day, laughing about things that happened and sharing life together than when it is combined with delicious food.  Now, before we go any further, let's be real for a minute (I know. . . not even a paragraph in and we're getting real, but we live in an instagram world so yeah. . . ) not every night is picture perfect.  We've got soccer practice nights and cross country meets and other things thrown in there and just like many of you, we are eating dinner some nights at different times.  It's just the season we are in, and we embrace it.  

In this season of busy, meal planning is a MUST and winging it. . . well, we would just starve.  I've gotta have a plan.  This is basically, the run-down of what cooking in a week looks like:

Sunday: meal plan the week (100 percent worth it!)

Monday:  Easy dinner, meal prep and grocery shopping

Tuesday-Wednesday: Dinners (Monday and Wednesday's dinners have to be made earlier due to soccer practice 

Thursday: Family Dinner Nights (aka best night of the week, when we get together with the Jon's family and eat together).  We host once every 3 weeks and the other two weeks are either a side dish or dessert.  It's pretty easy!

Friday: Either a fun meal or leftovers.  

Sat-Sun: Leftovers always. . . I take the weekends off!  It's the best and leaves me energized the rest of the week.  

So, first, let's talk quick and easy meals for busy nights.  We use the crockpot, I make pasta or Pioneer Woman's Simple Sesame Noodles, or grill up some chicken that can be made quickly into a salad or some of my bistro chicken salad (so good!).  Ooh!  And it's almost soup season here! Sometimes, we make naan pizza. . . it's easy and quick and the kids love it! And, sometimes we just clean out the fridge with a charcuterie (everyone is happy!)

Then I fill in the gaps with meals that I just am drooling over.  Lately, Half Baked Harvest has been making appearances on our menu (her recipes just never disappoint!)

Here are some of my favorites lately:

Thai basil beef - This was just so flavorful!  The cool crisp veggies combined with the flavorful ground beef and lemongrass rice. . . I am suddenly getting super hungry just thinking about it! 

Hot Honey Chicken Tenders - This was a whim, because I had some chicken tenders in the freezer and we kind of keep hot honey in the pantry.  This was a huge hit with everyone! 

Shrimp Rice Bowls - Jon was out of town, so we through some shrimp in!  This was a super simple meal that just hit the spot on a hot day! Plus it was so quick and easy on a soccer night! 

Sheet Pan Greek Garlic Chicken - I didn't actually make this . . . my sister in law did . . and it was amazing.  But, it's definitely on my list of things to make soon!  Like all of Half Baked Harvest's recipes, it was super flavorful!  Plus, it's a sheet pan dinner so that's a win!  

Well, It's Friday and I'm ready to get my weekend on.  So I will leave you here.  Stay tuned to my instagram and we'll be talking menu planning over there next week.  I am curious about your favorite meal and if you have any questions or need to see a grocery hall.  Don't forget to comment in the comments (somewhere!).  It makes my day to hear from you! 

 

Teen Outdoor Movie Night Fun

 Welp.  We have a 14 year old in the house!  

I'm going to ignore the fact that he keeps reminding me how close he is to his drivers license and high school and so many other things and instead just enjoy this kid.  I'm going to be honest, I was sort of dreading the teen years, but the reality is they are so much fun.  Thirteen was such a sweet year of junior high, Instagram, new friends and some pretty great conversations and adventures.  He's a great kid and I think we'll keep him (I also don't want him to stop sending me ig reels because they make me laugh and it makes me so happy he thinks I want to see them!).  

 Anyways,  he's now 14 and living his best life as an 8th grader doing all the things.  It's been a hot minute since we've thrown a serious birthday party.  Once they hit 10, we kind of gave them a choice of a party or adventure and then COVID kind of hit and put a damper on all the things.  13 is a bigger trip with just dad and I am not going to lie. . . what was I thinking when I came up with the idea?  But, it's good for dad-son time and I'm going to let them have their thing.  Last year, they went to a football game and then a out of town hockey/soccer back to back trip with a stay at the nearby Westin.  They had fun!  But this year, we wanted to really celebrate him with some of friends (and by some. . . a whole bunch!).  

Several years ago, back before COVID wasn't even on our radar, Jon got really inspired with creating an outdoor movie space to have get build some community in our neighborhood.  COVID hit and those plans kind of went down the drain, but I've always wanted to do a birthday party with the set up, but I could not get everyone on board (and a pandemic. .  . ugh!), until this year, when it just worked out.  Plus, we had some really spectacular weather after a whole week of 110-115 degree heat!  It was the perfect night!

We kept it pretty simple, because teenagers (and co-ed), and at night.  I went with the main colors of black, red, and yellow, with some splashes of blue, because I couldn't help myself.  We had pizza and veggies, a popcorn bar, and s'mores.  Teenagers love candy and pizza, right?  The ping pong table was open for business as well as spike ball and some other yard games, board games and beach balls.  We knew we didn't have enough chairs for everyone, so we set out blankets and a raided the Target clearance pool inflatables and they worked perfect! 

 

 

 This party was so much fun and I am so thankful that Ethan has some pretty great friends that wanted to celebrate him.   Down below, I am going to share my printable as well as tell you where I got everything. Some of the stuff, I had from past parties (I have a box that I keep certain things, like happy birthday banners and bunting).  

 Sources:

Movie Night Banner - Hobby Lobby

Fence signs - Hobby Lobby (they have a great movie night party area!)

Happy Birthday banner - Target 

Printables - click here 

 

Looking for a different party idea (and maybe some free printables), check out these other parties I've thrown. 

 

Thanks again for taking the time to read! See you next time!

 

 

Sparks of Joy {and links I'm loving}

 

Happy Friday!  Let’s all take a break and breathe a few deep breaths in and give ourselves a pat on the back.  You survived the week.  You survived a week of doing whatever you do while balancing about a hundred other things.  I don’t know what season of life you are in, but I see you.  You might feel like you’re drowning under the weight of life right now, but oh, sweet friend.  You are loved and cherished. 

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a sparks of joy post, but essentially it is this: a chance for us sit and have a cup of coffee and talk about life and things we’re loving.  I’m actually sitting in a nearby Starbucks typing this while the man cub is at soccer practice (I’m drinking my go-to brown sugar shaken oat milk espresso that I might regret later tonight).  I know it seems kind of one sided, like I’m talking to myself in a blog post, and that’s where you come in. . . Let’s strike up a conversation in the comments below, the comments on facebook or instagram or even in my insta stories.  Let’s chat!  

Speaking of coffee, I am still dreaming of the vanilla bean latte I enjoyed on our recent stop into SLO's Scout coffee.  It was so good.  I even came home and made my own vanilla bean syrup! 

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed sitting and writing on this blog until I sat down and planned out the next few months.  It has been such a joy to be able to do this even though there are like 5 of you that take time out of your busy day to glance at my posts. 

Okay, totally got off topic there.  Ooops.  It happens. 

The kids have officially been in school for 5 weeks.  I blinked and school started and I blinked again and we’re already 5 weeks in.  I pulled out my fall décor last night because the weather finally started to feel like fall (last week it was 115 and I could.NOT.do.it!).  Bring on all the neutral pumpkins. 

Speaking of pumpkins.  I have a confession. It might offend some of you, but pumpkin spice is not my thing. . . UNLESS. . . There is real pumpkin involved.  Like in a pie or pumpkin bread.  But, if you are going to make me a latte, it’s just got to have the squash in it.  One of our local coffee shops makes the BEST pumpkin latte on the planet and I am not exaggerating.  But, way back at the beginning of August, before school started Target, like many of the other retailers in the country, started to bring out all the pumpkin spice EVERYTHING.  Now, as much as I love my BSSOE, I am just as happy to drink a latte with nothing up espresso and oat milk (extra points if its Oatly!).  But, I spotted a carton of Califia Barista Pumpkin Spice Oatmilk that claimed good foam.  Guess what one of the ingredients was.  .  . Yeah, you guessed it. . . Pumpkin.  I tried it out this week, and while the foam was pretty disappointing, the flavor was not bad.  I will definitely make myself another one soon!  

 Over the summer I hosted a Women’s book club with our church ladies and the books we chose were so good (so was the conversation between some pretty great women!)

:: If you are looking for a good chick lit, this one.

:: If you are on the hunt for intriguing historical fiction. . . This one.

:: and if you’re wanting to fall in love with the Bible AND want to laugh, enjoy some sarcasm then this one. 

Currently, I am listening to this audio book while I am driving around.  It is soooo good! I am actually counting down the minutes until I can get in the car and continue listening!  (I will note, that there is some language in it. . . so it might not be suitable for younger ears, but still well worth the time to read or listen to!)

Several weeks ago, I discovered the podcast, Pod meets World and am currently way behind, but and re-watching Boy Meets World and following along with the podcast.  It’s hosted by Topanga, Shawn and Eric and several other cast members join them on occasion.  It is so good!  

 I made theses scones last night.  I really didn’t bake much this summer (it’s too hot!) and it feels so good to bake.  I’ve made these particular ones and they don’t disappoint!  A few tips for your scone making ease: use a food processor, cold COLD butter, and vanilla bean paste.  Also, I subbed half and half for oatmilk and they were just as flakey and wondierful as they would have been. . . NO ONE WILL NOTICE!. 

I ordered some new pens and I’m kind of obsessed!  They are technically Bible journaling pens, but they are perfection and if you are curious, they don't bleed through, which is so great!  And I love writing in my Bible, but the thin pages make it a little iffy.  I'm so happy with these pens! 

This quilt is giving me all the feels and I really am craving some sewing time! 

I am such a fan of a good BLT and I am currently drooling over this sandwich!  

This summer, the combo of peaches, tomatoes and basil was just flat out delicious!  This looks great. . . if I could just find a good dairy free burata (wishful thinking on my part!)

 And that's it for the first week back to the blog!  Once again, thanks so much for joining me here in this little space. . . I appreciate you!  Have a great weekend!