Easy Fall Food

It seems that once fall hits all motivation for cooking dinner leaves because, I would rather be making apple crisp, or cookies, or carving a pumpkin, or making some new fall drink, or just chilling outside in the amazing fall weather. Anything but, making the same old dinner. That is where the lovely invention called the crock-pot comes in!

Crock-pot Chicken Wraps
What you need:
2 lb of boneless skinless chicken. (Thighs, breast, it really doesn't matter)
1 cup of salsa
1 can of black beans (strained and rinsed)
2 cloves of garlic (chopped up)
2 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
12 tortillas
Sour Cream (optional)

 Next your just going to literally just dump it all into the crock-pot. Switch it to low for 7-8 hours and there you go dinner!

Now for my favorite part (other than eating it). Grab your hand mixer and shred the meat, until it looks like this. And this take less than one minute to do.

No just put it on some tortillas! I always like to top it with sour cream as well, but it is just as good without!

Also 4 of us ate about 8 or 9 and there were still plenty of leftovers. I usually don't like leftovers heated up but, these taste the same reheated. Just pop it in the microwave.

Religious Speaking

Since I sorta just made this blog for ranting I believe I will continue to do so. Last night I was at a coffee shop just hanging out with a few of my friends. On my way into the coffee shop I noticed a group of girls in a huddle holding hands and obviously praying. When I saw them I smiled and thought honestly you have to live on the Bible belt to see a group of people praying and right next to them a group of people smoking pot, I also thought isn't that cool though. You definitely see more of it down here but, I just thought some people are ashamed to pray in public. I know when I was younger I hated praying when we went out to eat. Somehow the waiter would always show up while we were praying or people would stare at us. As I matured I realized praying in public is the least I can do unashamedly for Jesus.

I headed inside and forgot about the whole thing, until about 30 min later when the same group of girls came into the coffee shop. They were huddled in their little group about 5 feet away from our table. I noticed they kept glancing at us until they finally decided to approach us. After they introduced themselves the first things out of their mouths was "What do you think about Heaven and Hell?" "If you were to die tonight would you want to go to Hell?" Of course we explained to them what we believed and they were encouraged. We were invited back to there bible study and than they said "Pray for us we are headed over to that group of girls over there!"

Now I disagree with a few things about the way they were doing this. First of all if I was a non-believer I can guarantee that what they said would have been a huge turn off to me. Why?! Because, my first thought may be what if I don't even believe in a heaven or a hell? Second if I did, my thought may be why would I want to go to heaven with a bunch of people like that? And thirdly, I think I would feel unappreciated. I would feel like, man they just want to say that they "saved a soul" another check off their list of things to do today. Never to hear from them again. These girls that came up to us seemed like great girls! Really they did they were happy and smiley and I believe they are headed in the right direction.

Now you may ask well now Laura what would you do differently?! How else are you going to reach out to the lost people of your town?! First I would say we are all lost and I believe we need to realize this daily. Without Jesus we are as lost as lost can be. It is him living IN and THROUGH us that makes us found. The next step I would say is befriend the people that are lost but, don't friend them for that exact reason. Jesus came to earth to show the lost (us) the life (himself). Do you ever see Jesus randomly walking up to people and saying. "Hey I am the Son of God and well lets put it simply you are going to die and go to hell without me oh yah and btw in order for you to go to heaven I am going to have to die for you and THAN rise up from the grave so that you can go to heaven with me." (Big sigh) Nope never ever see him doing that. When Jesus calls Zaccheus down from the tree, what do you see? You do not see Jesus rushing about trying to get him to believe in him so that he can move onto the next person nope. You see Jesus going to eat dinner with Zaccheus! A whole meal with just Zaccheus. Do you think Zaccheus felt like Jesus was just trying to win him over? No, I know he felt so at ease and amazed by Jesus that he sought out a way to be more like Jesus. He wanted to please Jesus, and he found the best way for him to serve Jesus was to give up almost all of his possessions and give back 4x what he stole from those around him. That is what we need to be doing; we need to be such a light that people want to ask us why are you so different? What is it about you?! That right there friends is how we can share the gospel without running around with out big bibles asking people if they think they are going to hell or not.

Speaking of that. Why do we go around saying: "Do you think you are going to heaven or hell?" Why do we put it that way? Maybe because we think that we can scare people into believing in Christ. Maybe we ourselves think that going to heaven it the only plus to being a Christian. Whew at least we have eternal life not in a fire hole. Naw those are the wrong questions to ask. Yah they are partly true but, mostly incorrect. I think people should be told about heaven and hell AFTER they are told about Jesus. Did you know the whole reason there is a heaven is...wait for it.....because of JESUS. Heaven is supposed to be a place where we can rest with Jesus. Not a place where we go just cus we trust that Jesus does exist. Nope our motive for being a Christian should be living to the best of our ability for the Creator of this universe. You know he is the only person who understands exactly how I feel. The only person who has never broken my trust. The only person who will be patient enough to listen to me rant all the time. And he is the only person who has enough grace in him to forgive me every single day! I seriously cannot wait to meet him face to face. It's kinda like talking to my best friend on the phone all the time and you count down the days until you can go see them! I cannot wait until I can get to heaven and give my best friend a hug!

Yes I do think these girls are headed the right way and I do think we have all done the same thing before. But please let us check our motives and our actions. Lets us be a light to this dark world by being who we are in Christ. If we are living for Christ people will want to know why we are soo different! Think about it how many different times did people come up to Jesus? And in the thousands no less. Jesus actually had to flee from them just to get some sleep. Guess who didn't run to Jesus....the people caught up in religious fog. Following Jesus is not a religion at all it is living.

Halloween Whys?

Halloween....I have never fully understood this holiday. When I was a kid I went to a private school, where we were taught that Halloween was Satan's birthday and that if we trick or treated we were worshiping the Devil. Of course my parents disagreed because, it is definitely not true. Every year we got dressed up and went door to door with our friends from the neighborhood. We were never allowed to dress up as witches, or goblins, or anything gross looking but, I think we always had the best costumes. I was Pippi Longstocking, a ladybug, Mrs.Clause, a jellyfish. etc. We always had more fun I believe getting ready for Halloween than actually celebrating Halloween itself, with all the pumpkin carving and hot chocolate drinking it was one of the greatest things of my childhood. But even after all of that I still had to go to school and listen to all my teachers and friends telling me how evil it was to celebrate this day of candy gathering.

Once I turned 13 or 14 I moved onto the teenager side of Halloween. Which I found I don't much enjoy. Yes the bonfires and hanging out part was all fine and dandy. The part that has not thrilled me or should I say thrilled me to much? This is the part of Halloween that I honestly just do not understand! Why would we go to a haunted house just to scare ourselves?! Why would we watch the scariest movies ever just to get nightmares?! Why?!?! I knew a girl a couple years ago, who around this time of year would get super duper skittish. Every little sound would make her jump and she would hardly ever go outside in the dark because, she was scared to death of "something" outside. I have never ever understood this whole lets go scare ourselves to death thing! If somebody has a good explanation of this whole thing I would gladly listen! I just want to know why the heck you would do that to yourself?!

The last thing that I don't understand about Halloween is why do some people just completely trash there yards for Halloween? Like I understand I few decorations, I'm talking about the people who cover every single living bush and tree with "spider webs" and orange and purple Christmas lights. Their yard is full of the blow up ghosts and goblins, and zombies and tombstones put throughout the front lawn. Don't you think that may be a bit over excessive?! Just a little bit?

Again if anyone has any explanations to these phenomenons please I would love to hear them, because I am either one confused person or one boring person who just doesn't want to have to go around being scared to death about taking a walk at night or in the woods. Give me the candy, and the pumpkin carving, and the hot cocoa, and the costumes. But lets just leave out the rest. Nothing in me wants to make myself scared about something not worth being scared about!

Oh Daniel...

10 years ago on this very day another little baby brother was brought into my life. I will always remember Daniel's whole pregnancy/birth experience. First off we were in Nebraska which was a far cry from my sweet home of tree filled Minnesota. Second my mom became very sick (which is what happens when she is pregnant..all 9 months) which meant that I now assumed the role of cleaning, laundry etc. I just remember my mom crawling out of her bedroom showing me how to do the laundry, which required me sitting on top of the washer when it was spinning the clothes. I remember random people that I didn't know very well coming in and out all the time with food and helping clean our house. I remember sitting at the kitchen table one afternoon doing my homework while my mom and dad where in the kitchen arguing on what the name of the baby would be if it was a girl. Finally they both looked at me and said Laura you are going to draw a name out of the hat 3 time and whichever name wins 2 out of three that's what it will  be. I also remember my parents telling me and Nate that if it was a girl I would share a room with her and if it was a boy he would share a room with Nate. I remember every night before going to bed praying and praying and praying that it was a girl who would want to play barbies and dress-up with me. Of course by the time 9 months was up I was 6 1/2 and we were getting ready to move to Duluth, MN.

I will never forget the day my mom went into labor with Daniel, we were picked up from school by some people from church. I remember talking to my dad right before bed, him saying that we had a baby brother but, we couldn't come see him till the next morning. I feel very bad for the girl who was probably 16, who had to put up with me that night. I was of course 6 and had been anxiously waiting for this moment for months and now the baby was here but, I couldn't go see it yet! I remember starting out sleeping on the floor in this girls room, than I woke her up probably at like midnight....she than let me sleep in her bed with her, I still couldn't sleep so we went and woke her parents up they let us sleep in the living room, but guess what I still couldn't sleep. Finally probably around 3am I woke the girl up again and she brought me to sleep with Nate. I remember curling up next to my younger brother and falling fast asleep. Of course the next morning we got to go see Daniel Harry Sahlberg in the hospital. I was a little disappointed that it was a boy and not a girl but, lets just say now I am very glad I don't have to share a room with a little 10 year old girl. (I am now thanking God for not listening to those prayers I prayed at age 6) 

I am blessed beyond measure to have a brother like Daniel. Yah he does get quite annoying from time to time and yah he back talks occasionally and yah he teases me like any normal ten year old brother would. But without Daniel in our lives I don't know what we would do. I know that he loves me to death even when he won't let me give him a goodbye kiss when the bus pulls up in the morning. He is the most creative and athletic 10 year old I know. He is always laughing and smiling. Even though he is only ten he checks up on all the people (guys) I hang out with and makes sure they are nice and treat me right. As a matter of fact last night at dinner he folded his hands on the table looked me right in the eye and said Laura I think it is time you get a boyfriend...but, not that guy from the coffee shop. Oh Daniel.....so full of humor and joy. 

So yes I am ever so glad that 10 years ago today my little brother Daniel came into this world. 

I Saw This Thing on Pinterest....

I have used those six words more times than I can count in countless conversations. My dad walks in from work. "What did you do today?"
Me: "Well I saw this thing on Pinterest....."
Shopping in WalMart, lady shopping in the same aisle as me. "Oooohh I love your hair! How did you do it?!"
Me: "I saw this thing on Pinterest....."
Making dinner for company. "This is delicious...what is your secret?"
Me: "Funny you ask...I saw this thing on Pinterest....."
Hanging out with friends. "Laura you are soo creative"
Me: Not really but, I saw this thing on Pinterest...."
Best conversation starter. "I saw this thing on Pinterest.."
Filling out job applications. Question: Describe your accomplishments in life.
My answer. I am actually one of the top pinners on Pinterest. I hate to brag but, I saw this thing on Pinterest...."

Ok so I think you get the picture. My dad will not let me say that anymore he told me "Laura, I assume you found it on Pinterest unless you say differently." I actually believe it is my favorite six words in the whole wide world, but that is beside the point. Some people find being addicted to Pinterest a waste of time and energy, but I would like to beg to differ and prove to you that it is actually one of the best things to spend time on.

The do's and don'ts of Pinterest:
 Do have a whole board devoted to your wedding. My wedding board has 176 pins at the moment. It is full of centerpiece ideas, dresses (for both bride and bridesmaids), good photo ideas, cute and unique wedding favors, save the dates...etc. Now you may say "Laura Jane you don't even have a fiance let alone a boyfriend! Why?!" When I get engaged, I will not have to be engaged for long and I will have the least stressful wedding in the whole world. All because I started planning my wedding little by little on Pinterest. When the time comes I just have to decide which ideas I will have and which I will not.

The don'ts of your wedding board. If you are married don't have one, unless it is for a friend or family member, and even so make sure it is what they want and not what you would have done differently. Don't just pin every single random and cute thing you see....make sure you have a general plan ie. same dress types, same color zone, same type of wedding theme. If I were to pin a pretty dress that I know I would never wear for my wedding that would just be a waste because, I would go back and have way to much to sort through.

Don't pin viruses....people oh dear people these are not that hard to realize. Before pinning something glance at the website under the picture! You will normally recognize it. Or you will notice it being a blog. If a website looks like this: www.gahw9sdrjuhw4guj.com I would generally not click on it. Also there is sometimes a lock that shows you if it is safe or not. Another thing if it says something like. "The first 500 hundred people to pin this will get a $800 gift certificate to Old Navy" It is most likely a lie and you will be pinning something that you probably don't want to pin...just guessing.

Don't pin a creative idea, food, exercise, or hairstyle that you are never actually going to use or do. And if you are using Pinterest correctly you will most likely make half of the food and creative idea items you pin. (If you have time of course) I find Pinterest my go to place when I am bored, I have used to many of the ideas I have found. It is crazy helpful. Love love love it!

Do stalk on all the super good blogs that have awesome tutorials, fashion, and cooking advice. You may find yourself getting lost in a blog more often that you get lost scrolling through the actual Pinterest home page. I have always loved blogs and now there is Pinterest which just shows me all the good blogs without having to go through all the ones that are not as interesting.

Don't just pin pictures of puppies and little ducks and pigs or whatever else is little, fluffy and not human.  Alright some of them are cute agreed, but when that is all you pin I get a little bit sick of seeing these fluffy creatures. I think there should be a maximum amount of fluffy creatures you can pin in one sitting. Moderation is key people.

Now since this is probably my favorite site in the whole wide world I could keep going and going I will just show you my top 5 favorites out of 1,000.

 I did this one but, with MN instead! And the heart by Duluth, MN....I love it!

 This is your fingerprint in your grooms wedding ring! I am definitely doing this and maybe for myself as well.

 This is 20 homemade recipes for growing long and luscious hair! I use it all the time!

 I really really love this photo and am doing one like it for my graduation pictures.

And I just love this picture cus it has snow and a ski lift which I adore!

Choosing those five was really hard! Like I said 5 out of 1,000 that is to many to chose from! ;)

To Fear or Not to Fear

Now that school is again starting after a week of "fall" break I thought it high time to up-date. Allot can happen in two weeks time. Some things good, some things bad, nonetheless they are memories and images that stay with us for a lifetime. They are our story, which helps us learn and grow. So what has happened to me this past two weeks you may ask? Fear.

Fear is a very real thing in everybody's life. I will never forget in 5 grade my classmates and I went on a field trip to a rock climbing wall. I had never been on a rock wall like that before and I remember being terrified. My dad happened to be one of the chaperones who, of course insisted that I get harnessed up and ready to face my fear. Half way up the wall I froze, completely panic stricken. I remember looking down at the guy with the rope and saying "I wanna come down" than looking over at my dad who looked at the guy with the rope and told him "She cannot come down until she rings the bell at the top." I felt completely out of control and mad that my dad thought I could make it to the top and live. I, of course protested and cried, until my dad said "Laura Jane the only way you are EVER going to over come ANY fear is to do what you are afraid of." After a few more minutes I took a shaky breathe and put one foot over the other till I could reach and ring the bell. When I got to the bottom I had never been so happy in all my life; and guess what I was never afraid of climbing walls again. Today I climb rock walls in caves with no fear and no harness; I owe it to my dad who pushed me past my fear.

I am greatly blessed to have a dad who has always pushed me past my greatest fears in life. But what do we do when our greatest fears grip our minds, soul, heart, and body? What do we do when all we want to do is curl up in a little "safety" ball and hide out till all that we fear is gone? I am only just now learning how to deal with it fully, and it is a process that I know I need help in and that I know I am only just beginning to grow in. It is a process that I hope to someday master so that fear no longer reigns in my life. There are a few things I do know though that have truly helped me get on the right path.

One thing is I absolutely must learn to give up control. This has always been and probably always will be one of my biggest struggles. I am a firstborn, I am oh so very stubborn, I am a leader, I say what I am thinking, and most of all I like, no scratch that, I love being in control of my life and what is happening around me. If something slips out of my grasp and there is nothing I can do about it, I sink into a pit of fear, which than drags me down till I feel there is no escaping it. What than am I doing to cure myself of this downward spiral?! I am learning to give Jesus Christ control of my life. If I do not trust him with my very life than there is honestly no hope for me at all.

Another thing that I know is good, is facing that fear head on. I ask myself a series of questions. First, why do I feel fear? What is making me fearful? Once I figure out what I am afraid of I put it in my real life situation. What is the worst thing that could happen in this situation? What are the odds of that happening? If they are high am I going to let that fear take over my mind and body or am I going to trust that Jesus loves me and that he has my best interest at heart? Because if I believe that Christ is in control of my life and that he does actually care about and want the best for me than there will be no room for that fear to grow and take hold.

So today am I going to let fear take hold of me and rule my world or am I going to let Christ's love in to take away all fear? It is a daily choice that I know I have to face every single day. And I pray to God that I make the right choice every single day so that I no longer have to live in fear of what is to come or what has happened.

6 Random Facts

My friend once told me that I had allot of weird facts in my head, after she told me this I wrote her a whole letter of my random facts of knowledge. After I sent the letter I thought of a bunch more and thought why not share these awesome random facts that I use all of the time!

1) When using a box cake mix replace the water with milk. Your cake will taste better and will be moist! People will want to know what your cake recipe is!

           

3) Alright girls you know when your mascara is almost gone but you really really don't want to go buy a new tube. Don't! Just add a few drops of contact solution! It works I do it all the time! You can usually do it up to three times and it last much longer!

4) Don't you just hate when you accidentally get deodorant stain on your clothes?! Don't sweat it....just grab a cotton sock and gently rub the area with the deodorant with the sock it will come right off! No water needed nothing! I got deodorant on my prom dress and it came right off with the sock.

5) Alright I have read sooo many articles on how to get stains out...but I have now found something that really actually works! I have done it twice now once on a shirt that had motor oil and once on a shirt that had   meat grease on it. Just spray carpet cleaner on the affected area than just throw into the washer with soap. (We use tide) Next thing you know the stain is gone!

6) When you have a pot of boiling water on the stove throw a wooden spoon across the top and it won't boil over! It really works and has saved me a huge mess more than once!

And those are my six random facts that I love!