Style Friday

I've been on the search for the perfect bag since I saw this picture of Reese Witherspoon:
I am unhealthily obsessed with this purse. It is the Kansas Tote by Lanvin. And it retails for about $1500. So, yeah, it is out of my price range. I've done my best to look for some good alternatives and along the way I've been distracted by other styles. Apparently, I have a penchant for international style because most of the bags I found on Etsy are from out of the country.

1. Grey tiled tote from Drika B (California)
2. Ruffled linen bag by Ruta Jasiunien (Lithuania)
3. 2in1 Messenger bag by Big Tree (West Malaysia)
{Click on link to see the variations of this bag}
4. Canvas multi purpose bag by Love Janice (Malaysia)
5. Yellow Leather Pocket bag by The Leather Store (UK)
6. Diana large leather slouch tote by Frei Design (Australia)
7. Truffle in Charcoal by Morelle (Greece)
8. Brown messenger bag by Fantella (Virginia)

I could go on and on with hundreds more pictures but I think you get the point. Happy Friday!

A Couple Great Posts

In place of FAQ this week, I wanted to post links to a couple of great blog posts I have read lately.

First, I love this post from Adoptive Dads - An Exception to the Rule. Here is a little snippet:

Foster parents have tremendous power to shape our foster care system by providing an environment that creates many more ‘exceptions,’ and gradually, if ever so slowly, changes the ‘rule.’ This is not some idealistic vision that calls for the end of foster care in our lifetime or even an ambitious and laudable effort to clear the roles of children who are waiting. No, what we need is an army of foster parents that re-imagine what is possible because they understand foster care primarily as a ministry. With a renewed and fresh passion to see hearts mended, bodies healed and lives transformed – both children and parents alike – these foster parents can, and are, making the realities and outcomes of foster care different for all involved. They expect the ‘exception’ and refuse to accept or even be discouraged by the commonly assumed ‘rule.’

Adoptive Dad's has a great series going on called Myths & Realities.

Another post that really ministered to me recently was this one from Parenthood for Me.

Hope you get a chance to read these two great posts.

Chickpeas and Spinach

I have totally fallen in love with this recipe. I sort of adapted it from two versions that I saw online (this one and this one). And, best of all, it is pretty healthy!

Ingredients:
Olive oil (or whatever oil you want to use)
Cumin
Red pepper flakes
Fresh garlic
Chickpeas/garbanzo beans
Salt
Pepper
Fresh spinach
Lemon juice
Eggs

1. In a pan, sauté over medium heat 1-2 cloves of garlic with ½ - 1 teaspoon cumin and ¼ - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes. This should only take a couple of minutes. Make sure they do not burn.

2. Turn heat up slightly and add in a can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans and heat them through. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat and add a generous amount of fresh spinach (like a whole bag). You can probably turn the heat off after a minute or two and the spinach should wilt down. Squeeze the juice of one small lemon over top.

3. Serve with fried egg on top.

This meal certainly has a kick to it so if you do not like spice I would go easy on the red pepper flakes. I am pretty sure you could sub black beans if you are not a fan of chickpeas. I actually really do not like cold, whole chickpeas so I was a little skeptical but they are delicious warm.

Style Friday

I decided to take a different route this week with Style Friday. Instead of things I want to buy (but usually don't) I thought I would post things that I already own. These are some of my favorite items that have been gifted to me. There are many more but I figured I would save those for another week.

1. This little glass cup was given to me by Meredith as a thank you for watching her dog (aww, RIP Maggie). I believe its intended purpose is a candle holder but I use it to hold the rings and earrings that I wear on a regular basis. I think it was from Anthropologie and, you know, you just can't go wrong there.

2. Dan gave me this Ansel Adams print sometime early in our dating relationship. I love it and it made me think, "He must know me pretty well to know I would love a picture of a sad, lonely tree."

3. Meghan gave me these "twigs" (I don't really know what they technically are) as a thank you gift for helping with her baby shower. They add just the perfect amount of color to the shelf above our television. They are not nearly as beautiful as her baby but they do the trick for our house.

4. Oh, Heather. You may just be my style soul mate. These earrings were a birthday gift and I'm pretty much basing my entire life around them now. I buy clothes depending on how they will look with these darlings from Brooke Marton. The unexpected color scheme of these earrings just makes me happy.

FAQ #7: What kind of kids are you going to get?

Part of our licensing process is determining what kids we are able to take in to our home. Our agency asked for our specifics on what age, gender and race we were willing to accept along with a whole check list of behaviors and special needs. Honestly, it felt sort of awful checking off certain characteristics we were willing to accept while skipping over others.

My parents have custody of my fifteen year old cousin (Shout-out to Emily!) and they have become great friends with their first social worker. We were able to meet him at my parent’s house one week. He gave us great advice – do not take on any kids you do not feel prepared to handle. Part of us wants to say, “We will take any kids who need a home” but we know there are certain kids that probably would not be a good fit for our family (at least at this point in our lives).

At our last class we turned in our paperwork saying that we would accept newborn to four years old. We also said we would like boys but should there be a sibling set of a brother and sister we are willing to accept that situation as well. We are willing to accept children outside of our race. On the checklist of special needs and behaviors, we checked several that we felt prepared to work with.

I definitely felt guilty leaving out older children and certain special needs on our forms. As two twenty-six year olds, we just felt like taking on pre-teens and teenagers would not give us much of an age gap between ourselves and them. Someday we will probably be open to that option though as there is a huge need for people who are willing to foster teens.

Style Friday

I love my dog. I pretty much let him do whatever he wants. I don't even get mad when he does stuff like this:

Let's all pray right now that I have better parenting skills.

I've been known to spend a few bucks on my puppy. Here is the best in puppy style from Etsy:

1. For safety reasons - just in case he ever gets lost (The Poppy Tag from Make Your Dog Smile)
2. Piper may completely destroy this but it is just so cute (Eco Pet Bed from Annie's Sweatshop)
3. Because it can get cold in Michigan (Hansel's Thick and Warm Dog Neck Warmer by Beantown Handmade)
4. More for me than Piper - everyone should have their dog immortalized in art (Patience - A Schnauzer in the Dog Art Series by Studio 12-12)