by Kimberly | Feb 5, 2011 | Uncategorized
I heard the other day that the Super Bowl really is just a food holiday. While I am too big of a football fan to really agree with that statement, I do believe there can be some good food enjoyed on behalf of the two top teams in the NFL. Tomorrow: the Packers and the Steelers. (Just for the record, I am pulling for the Steelers even though I couldn’t care less about who wins.) It really is a sad day because the world’s greatest sport ends tomorrow. (At least golf is starting!)
I read many food blogs so I have compiled some of my favorite mentions here for a list of super bowl foods you can make! And enjoy.
Do you need a vegetarian pizza for the game and like mushrooms? Here is a pan pizza for you.
Jenna, one of my fave bloggers, gives us heath bar blondies. Every football game has to have a bar of some kind 🙂
Bennigans. I remember my first trip ever to Bennigans with my Dad in Tallahassee in middle school. They have the best potato skins. Here are some sausage potato skins: potato, cheese, sausage – can it get any better?
Most Super Bowl parties have an abundance of two things: meat and finger food. These meatball sliders would be perfect for any party.
Michelle comes through with these amazing appetizers. I seriously wish I was going to be home so I could have these piping hot out of the oven.
If you want to really impress your guest by making your own crackers, and have time to do other foods as well, make these cheddar crackers from Jenna. They are simple!
Its Girl Scout Cookie time and since the price of Girl Scout cookies keeps going up (and they support some organizations I would rather not give my money to), why don’t you make your own Tagalongs. Chocolate and peanut butter – always goes good with football.
This is one of my favorite appetizer recipes that I made a few years ago. So delicious! 🙂
Those should keep you busy for the big game. Whatever you do: enjoy the evening.
by Kimberly | Jan 31, 2011 | Uncategorized
One month of 2011 down, 11 more to go. This next month is going to be busy for me in town – not much out of town.
1. I may breathe in May, on a cruise ship, to Alaska.
2. Vegetarianism is going pretty good. I’m thankful for a paycheck now so I can buy good veggies – and more peanut butter!
3. Long drives and sits at different coffee shops make me think, and there are always things I need to change in my life.
4. Hope. Hope is a strange thing when placed in the wrong place it is detrimental to your faith. That is sin. When placed in the right Person – God is faithful to fulfill it. I’ve experienced the wrong place this past week, and now am back on the right Person. He is good.
5. Sometimes I watch online dating commercials, and want to try it. But, then I go back to #4.
February: speaking in Roxboro, eating some good meals with friends, writing, working on food photography, baby shower for a dear friend, and writing – while I’m at it – I might as well do some more writing. Self-imposed deadlines, gotta love them!
Link Love:
1. Love D. A. Carson – and this is a great message.
2. Jewelry designer Jess is also a home designer – her studio makes me want to move to Chicago, or at least move to a studio and have great new stuff! Or design more of my own!
3. Does anyone need a chocolate cake recipe? I so have a craving to make this.
4. This is my spring craft project.
by Kimberly | Jan 27, 2011 | Uncategorized
Real. On this blog, you get differing depths of me depending on the post. This is going to be deeper post.
My days off are seldom like I think they are going to be. Most of the time they are better than I even thought they could be. This is one of those. I brought many books with me when I headed West on 40 last night and only one of those books has been opened.
Last night I had delicious food at Beyu Caffe in Durham. Delicious spinach dip with warm pita, hmmmmmmm. And found a place I would love to go back to with my laptop and just sit for hours with a cup of coffee and listen to the life music (maybe eat a dessert, or some more spinach dip).
Then heard a great run through of Calvin’s thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer. Very needed in my life at that moment and I’m very glad to have heard it. Saw some sweet friends there and then more talking. Rode home with younguns that knew some sweet Southern Seminary folks, and I thought of their goodness and transparency and faithfulness.
Then went back to my friend’s house: ate leftovers, talked, both on laptops, read some D.A. Carson and called it a night. Didn’t sleep very well and I didn’t know how that was going to bode for today. It has boded very well.
Started this morning with 4 hours at my favorite hangout spot in Durham: Foster’s Market. That is no surprise to anyone! Had a delightful conversation with a friend. Oh, so good. Then drove to have lunch and talk about photography: see people, that was good. Hear what God is doing.
Then headed to Starbucks and had a 2 hour conversation with a wise woman and mom and wife and pastor’s wife whom I had only met once and she was so gracious to let me in on her precious time.
Now I’m sitting at MadHatter’s…thinking, blogging, reading. So, here we go:
1. My ideal evening: sitting with a dear friend or new friend or anyone I just have a desire to be real with over a lovely dinner (cheap, not cheap), and a glass. For hours. No end in conversation. Breathing. Being real. Talking about life, not perfection.
2. What I don’t like: Fake. I’m not a fake person. I have said some things in 2 recent conversations that I never thought would come out of my mouth to people. Hearing those things come out of my mouth make me realize: I love those friends and I can be real with them, and God is still doing work in my heart to make it conformed to Christ.
3. I’d rather have deep meaningful conversations with people, or intentional conversations, then shooting the breeze with folks in a large group.
4. Colossians 3:16 is what happens when life is pressing. In one conversation today, I was able to take Scripture and say how it has been real in my life and how God has used it to shape me. When life is pressing: I want Scripture to come out because that shows my faith and hope are in Christ.
5. Christ is my hope. I tend to get my hopes up about one thing or another. And I get disappointed. But, when my hope is in Christ: which is where it always should be, He never disappoints. As I spoke this truth to a friend last night I knew I was preaching to myself to. As Lloyd-Jones and Bridges and Mahaney all say: preach the gospel to yourself everyday. I need to do more preaching and more listening and more applying and let the Spirit do more sanctifying.
6. I have to believe in the Gospel. If not, my life would be so meaningless. I would have no hope for ever changing, for ever being who I needed to be. I can’t do this life on my own. Christ is my grace and my sufficiency. I need to remember this in all areas of my life: work, “fun writing”, friendships, relationships, photography, traveling, reading, health, you name it. I need Christ. He is the good gospel.
7. I’m not there. Some of those real thoughts that came out today show that I am hopelessly man centered when it comes to areas of approval in my life. Blame it on being a woman: no. Blame it on SIN. Yes. Those two women couldn’t believe that would come out of my mouth? Do I really put on such an air of have-it-together-ness that I could never be that insecure? Do people really think I have it altogether. Folks: disclaimer: I don’t have it all together. God is still at work for His glory (See Philippians 1 and 2).
8. If my life on FB seems like I have it altogether, please don’t believe it. What I put on statuses that are Scripture and quotes are: I am preaching to myself. These are the things that I have read that God has used right then to sanctify me and make me more into the image of His Son. That is His desire. My happiness is wrapped up in Him (or that is where it should be). Its not totally there yet, never will be. Looking forward to the return of Christ!
9. I get disappointed and I get sad over sin (mine and others) and I love being by myself. I also love conversations with people that will allow me to be real and not be judged. Not confronted or held accountable for my sin: I crave that – but not judged. I want the truth to be spoken into my life. Yes, that is hard to hear, but I need it. You need it. We all need it.
10. God is good. The verse I left a conversation with today: The Lord God is a Sun and Shield, He will not withhold anything good from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11). I also love Romans 2:4 (Do you presume, or do you know that the kindness of God was to lead you to repentance) and also Romans 8:32: How will God, who gave us Jesus, not also graciously give us all things in Him.
Those are my refuges. Those are where I lay my hat at night. That is where I turn when I am disappointed or elated. When there is joy. When there is let downs. God is good. I love Him. He loves me. I stand in that.
Thank you: Leah, Heather, Clarissa, Brittany, Sherri, Wendy, Christi, Mollie. And an advance thank you to: Sarah, Christina, and Rachael. You are being used in my life and I am grateful for you!
by Kimberly | Jan 27, 2011 | chocolate, food, restaurants, Uncategorized
In the middle of the Brightleaf Square corridor sits a little cafe that serves desserts and real food.
I spend 4 hours there on Sunday, taking pictures, talking w a dear friend, and sipping on an espresso macchiato.
The cake we chose was moist, texture-perfect, and delicious. I could have easily eaten the entire cylindrical – goodness, but I shared, like a good girl. We chose the coconut tres leche cake and the toasted coconut on the outside was supreme. The filling of the tres leche cake was rich and pale yellow taste-bud delight with every bite.
They serve many other beautiful creations and then have a full menu as well. You can sit there for hours and have no one bother you. And they have refills on their coffee – serve your own. So, I’ll definitely be heading back there, especially when it gets warmer and I can sit outside.
Finds like Amelia’s are what makes Durham a great place to eat!
Only negative: their photos both on their website and menu need help. Hey folks at Amelia’s: I’m available. Contact me!
by Kimberly | Jan 24, 2011 | Uncategorized
1. Naps do a world of good – but not for your to-do list
2. Enjoy. Who do you enjoy? (Notice I didn’t say what…but who?) Is your life filled with people you enjoy being around, with, in their company?
3. Durham is a place of solace for me. I heart it. It used to be home. In many ways it still is. I would rather be in Durham than almost anywhere else (St. Augustine is a close second). I’m glad Durham is so close to Raleigh. I can be there in 10 minutes. Its slightly smaller and less hectic than Raleigh – I think that is one of the reasons I like it. I think it has more character than Raleigh. Not saying anything bad about Raleigh, just like Durham better.
4. Some dreams are happening. Dreams are hard.
5. I eagerly (and sometimes bitterly) pray with hope. Jesus is better. I heart the book of Hebrews.
Link Love:
1. Maybe John Piper should run for president? Good pre-rebuttal to Obama’s speech today.
2. Such a great post by Mark Altrogge. Needed.
3. I heart this. You really can learn a lot about me by reading this each week.
4. These might be the first thing I make when I get a paycheck!
5. My friend Thomas White breaks into the biblical manhood discussion. Let me tell you: he lives out what he preaches. Thankful for his example the past 11 years. He was my first boss at SEBTS. He and his wife, Joy, are good friends, and am excited about how God is blessing them with their daughter Rachel and a new baby in May!
6. Well, it is now set Sports Fans. Steelers and the Packers. Only reason I’m cheering for the Steelers is I think most of my friends here in RDU would disown me if I pulled against them.
Happy Monday everyone.
by Kimberly | Jan 20, 2011 | Uncategorized
One of the reasons I love traveling is the time in the car or the plane gives me time to think, ponder, focus, and definitely sing along with the radio. Yesterday I had a two-hour drive from Raleigh to Charlotte. It had been a hectic week at the office and I was very glad to get in a car and just sing some country music.
While I did do that, I also had good thought time. Quality time with my thoughts, my prayers, and my dreams.
Most of you who know me know that I tend to be:
1. Busy
2. Ambitious
3. Perfectionist.
So, I am trying to guard against 1 and 3 and hit 2 square on the head!
I got an email from a photographer friend and it spurred me on (after it made me realize that I’m not really good yet…, I only like to pretend I am)
“Never let the fact that it may not be your current career stop you from diving in and figuring out stuff that you want to work on to get better. It’s not about being great it’s about being proud of your work and producing work that others enjoy! That can happen at all levels of work and talent. 🙂 Keep at it.” – Said Friend (thank you said friend, and I mean that)
Currently, I have so many dreams. When was I ever a dreamer? I think I’m getting the knack of it in my old age. Reading much and seeing other people’s dreams spur me on and then a friend, Jess, gives good ways to accomplish those dreams. My reasoning behind dreams:
1. I have a life to live to its fullest – God gave it to me to live for His glory, so I should take advantage of it, right?
2. I am single and MUST use this time to its fullest.
3. There is too much I want to do to not be out there every day living it up and being good at what I do live.
4. Dreaming keeps me entertained and I press on…never knowing what is on the other side of that dream.
5. Must work toward making that dream a reality.
So…here is to some refocusing
1. I have my dream writing job – and I want to be the best curriculum writer I can be. This will take much work.
2. I want to be the best social writer, speaker, and book writer – this also will take some work. I think these three go hand in hand, that is why they are all linked.
3. I want to be the best at yoga and running that I can be (this will require me running when it is cold outside, brrrr)
4. I want to be the best food photographer I can be. This is still in the big dreaming session but this covers two passions: food and photography. My Mom helped get me started because she bought me my first food styling book for Christmas. Thank you parents – dream motivators! And I had a good conversation with a great wedding photographer who spurred me on.
That’s it. 4 things.
If any of you have suggestions on how to accomplish said dreams – please let me know.
