I'm moving!

For future blogs, go to www.stephshuler.wordpress.com



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Fun stuff

I heard this story back in June but just finally watched this video today. I've always loved Lenny Kravitz and think he's pretty cute...but his stock went way up after watching this! And it's pretty cool that the choir is from my town. Shout out to L-Ville (:
Enjoy!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Hair

Ten years ago, I spent two months in China and Hong Kong. A lot happened on that trip in terms of who I was becoming as a person and I felt like a new girl who was ready to take on the world.
So I had the brilliant idea to cut off my hair. New 'do and a new attitude! This is the pic I took into the salon.



Cute, right? I thought so. After warning the stylist that my hair shrunk when it dried, she kept cutting. The result was the picture in on the right {can't crop on the iPhone}


My college buddies can vouch for me. It was horrific. I cried for at least two days straight. But it grew and it actually ended up becoming one of my favorite styles after 6 months or so.

Well now I'm wanting to go a little shorter and have an appointment next Wednesday. I was thinking of something that would be a little past my chin when straight and a little funky/short when curly. Kind of like this:


Now, my hair is curlier and thinner than Sarah Jessica's but I still feel it could work.

Anyone have comments, suggestions, ideas? I have a few days to nail something down.
I just don't want to end up with Felicity-gate 2.0 (:

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

You must try this!

This salad dressing is sooo good and healthy! I love that it's fresh and you can whip it up yourself. It would be great for those of you with an herb garden.
Here's the recipe... (:


Creamy Italian Dressing
3/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. raw apple cider vinegar
2 or 3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 T. fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 t. sea salt
1/2 c. fresh basil
1/4 c. fresh oregano
1/3 c. pure water
1/3 c. pine nuts
In a high speed blender, combine all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Remove any foam
that rises to the top. For a lighter version, omit the water and pine nuts.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

hope floats

A few weeks ago, I was flipping through the channels on my television and came across "Hope Floats". I love that movie. It is a difficult film to watch at times but there are so many sweet little parts to it that warm my heart.

Perhaps the hardest part to watch is when the grandmother is tucking Bernice into bed and reassuring her that everything is going to be fine and that her mother, Birdie, is a strong woman who just doesn't know her own strength yet. Little Bernice grabs her grandmother in a long hug to which she responds with, "My cup runneth over". The contentment that the grandmother finds in that moment is profound. Even though her husband has Alzheimer's and no longer recognizes her, her daughter's life is torn apart by infidelity, and her little grandson has been abandoned by his parents, she is overwhelmed with gratitude. In the midst of her crummy circumstances, she is filled with joy. Now, if you've seen the movie, you know that the next scene is where several boxes of tissues are necessary.

There have been several times in the past few days where I have had moments where I have been tempted to feel sorry for myself or dwell on hurt. And sometimes those feelings win. But, God has graciously shown me glimpses of how much he loves me through the people he's placed in my life. And he's answered even the smallest of prayers in the past few days.

So as I am sitting at Schlotzsky's this Saturday morning and enjoying their free internet, I am thankful. Thankful for good coffee, family who is selfless and loves me unconditionally, friends who make me laugh, a sweet little dog who is always happy to see me, a job that I'm excited about returning to, air conditioning, health, and God's grace.

My cup runneth over.

Can you guess what this is???

If you guessed that this was my new Bible then you are correct! I first saw this about a month ago and thought it was pretty. That's the most important thing, right? Ha. But, when I opened it up, I got even more excited because it is an ESV journaling Bible! Each page has margins for notetaking, reflections on verses, etc. Here's a sample of the inside:



Neat, huh? I am already loving it and think it would be special if it gets passed down to my own kids or grandkids someday. I love it!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Low key Friday night

Happy Friday! This day of the week doesn't hold quite as much excitement in the summer, but I still love the weekends:)
This has been a good week. It was about time because there have been some rough ones thrown in there recently. But, things are looking up and the hard days will hopefully make me stronger in the end.
Tonight I am staying in and watching "27 Dresses" whilst eating some Mexican. And yes, there might be a little homemade margarita on the side. Thank you, Bethenny Frankel, for the recipe;)

But here's my week in review:
1. I made a list of 20 things I'd like to do before I turn 35. This was inspired by my last book club read, "the next thing on my list". I haven't crossed anything off yet but some things are in the works.

2. I started august's book club pick, "the kitchen house". So far, so good!

3. I finished "eat, pray, love". I give it 7 out of ten stars. Ha. I like the way the author writes but I got bogged down in the "India" section. Perhaps it's because I disagreed with the new age spirituality so strongly. But, as a story, it was interesting and I want to see the movie.

4. I went to my first meeting with the Chin Refugee Ministry. I went to a training on Tuesday and learned how to fill out paperwork for medicaid and food stamps. It is humbling to know how little some people live on but how badly they want to live in this country. I'm truly thankful for being blessed enough to have more than I need.

5. I met some people from Young Life Lewisville/Flower Mound at a BBQ last night. I went not knowing anyone which is totally out of character for me. But, my new motto is "do it afraid". Everyone was so welcoming and I'm praying about joining the leadership team. I love high school kids and was really excited when I heard about the vision of YL last night.

6. There is a reason I don't have 3 dogs. Enough said!

7. Random observation--The girl in 27 dresses who is Katherine heigl's friend plays that same role in every movie...13 going on 30, the wedding planner, etc. Typecast much?

8. Amy Grant is following me on Twitter! Isn't that a riot? It's like all my childhood dreams came true with one email announcement. Ok, that's a little dramatic but I do love me some Amy!

9. Last thing-listen to your mom when she says to wear sunscreen. I'm paying the price for a horrible burn I acquired at the Lifetime pool on Sunday. Moms know what they're talking about!

Have a great weekend!!!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Testing...

I am writing this from my iPhone to see how it works. There is an app that lets you hook up to Blogger so we will see how it works! I got rid of internet access in my home a while back so that's one reason I have been MIA.
I am currently looking after my friend Carrie's pugs. It is a full house here! Here is Hawkeye...he fell asleep while reading a book this afternoon;)





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

do you tweet????

I've been dipping my toe into the Twitter pool lately and I would like to know....do you tweet?!?!?!

I am at twitter.com/stephanieshuler

sseko sandals

I get a lot of flack for wearing my gray TOMS at school, but I love them. And I love that my purchase of them provided someone else in need with their own pair of shoes. So, a few months ago I was reading a blog and first learned about Sseko Sandals. . Sseko is a Ugandan based business that employees women to help fund their education. Go to the website and read the stories...you won't be sorry! The thing I love about these sandals is that you can change out the straps and tie them a plethora of ways. I just ordered a pair this past week--plus a couple of other straps-- and I can't wait until the weather warms up and I can wear them. Here are a couple of pictures so you can see how cute and fun these are!

365 dates with Duds

This is my mom's idea for a book I should write. Per telling her about my most recent date that I had tonight, she thinks it would be hi-larious if I dated someone everyday and then wrote about it. Thanks Mom! She now thinks my life is comedic fodder. All I can say is that I guess it's good to be able to laugh at life's little mishaps and/or adventures. For my friends with spouses: please thank God that you are out of the dating scene and hug your husband or wife!!! It's scary out there :)

this says it all

I came across this post today and just thought it was one of the most beautiful things I've read in a while. I confess to stalking this blog but she hasn't updated for some time. This post, however, was so worth the wait. She has found the words to describe so much of what's in my heart right now and I was left feeling encouraged when I finished reading this. Enjoy.
http://katemcdonald.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/the-judean-desert/

Scentsy

For Christmas, my mom gave me a wonderful gift--a Scentsy warmer! I had never even heard of these items but absolutely fell in love with the products. They are wickless candles and are safer because they use a bulb to heat the wax. Furthermore, they are sooo much stronger than any other candle that I've had. I can turn it on in my living room and it smells up the whole house. It is truly fantastic. So, I decided that I wanted to get involved with the company and have now set up my website so that I can sell Scentsy products. You can see that here: https://stephanieshuler.scensty.us/

Don't worry friends...I am not going to beg you to host a party or anything like that. But, if you'd like to, I would love to do that with you. You do get really good perks for being a hostess (: The other cool thing is you can order online straight from the website if you'd like.

Allright. Check it out for yourself!!

too good not to share

My friend Tara has introduced me to some recipe blogs and I have enjoyed trying out a few recipes. Last week, I couldn't help but make this recipe for Bacon Cheeseburger Chicken. It is delicious, and I'm not even a big fan of bacon. And it's not particularly healthy but sometimes you just don't care about that. The other great thing is that it's easy and only uses a few ingredients. So check out the recipe below..but I also suggest visiting the link to see step-by-step instructions complete with pictures.

Bacon Cheeseburger Chicken

2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, split
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup Ranch dressing
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 lb bacon (or bacon bits)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large skillet, heat oil & butter over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and saute 4 to 5 minutes each side, until lightly browned. Place browned chicken breasts in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Cover with teriyaki sauce and dressing. Sprinkle with cheese and top with bacon bits. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

tis the season

I think about blogging a lot. There have been times where putting my thoughts out here has been so freeing. But right now, I just don't have that much to say. But I thought I would ease back into blogging with a list. I love lists, however, they are kind of a cheat when it comes to creating a new entry.

Since it's the Christmas season, here are the top ten things I love about this time of the year:
1. Christmas cookies with Hillary and Melissa. We have done it two
years now...here's hoping it will be a tradition!
2. My Christmas tree. I debated whether or not it was worth it for me to put
it up, but I did and it makes me so happy everyday.
3. Hot chocolate. Enough said.
4. Looking at Christmas lights.
5. My mom's famous "trash" recipe.
6. The feeling of magic, excitement, and giving in the air
7. Cheesy Christmas movies...especially the ones on Lifetime--ha
8. Making homemade Christmas cards and just crafting in general.
9. Seeing my Aunt Gina's Snow Village display. Seriously--it is out of control!
10. Celebrating the gift of Jesus

I will try to get back into the swing of things. Until then...

fall

My favorite season is slowly arriving. I love everything about this time of year. For the past couple of years, I've hung a little Fall "welcome" sign. Well, I happened to see this site. The yarn wreaths are absolutely adorable. Since I don't have $50 to spend on a fall wreath, I decided to try to make my own. I started it a few weeks ago but just finished it today. And while it's not as cute as the ones at Knock-Knocking, I like it. Here are a couple of pictures....although, I think it may be a little too small for my door. Happy Fall!!

Restaurant.com

So you might say I'm a little obsessed with saving money...and you'd be right! But I'm convinced that once you really experience the high that coupons can give you, you'll be hooked.
One site I learned about a while back was Restaurant.com. This is a website where you can buy gift certificates for restaurants at a discounted price. For example, you can get a $25 gift certificate by only paying $10. A lot of the certificates have a minimum that you have to buy and might add gratuity. BUT, it is still a great deal. The other cool thing is that this site is always having promotions so that you can get even more savings. I got a $25 one to Agave for only $1.25. What's the catch? Well, the point of this site is to get you to try new and perhaps obscure restaurants that you may not go to otherwise. You aren't going to find chain restaurants here. And, you can't use it on alcohol in most cases, but other than, it's legit. Melissa and I tried it out this past Friday and rang up quite a bill....we got queso, two orders of fajitas, and sopapillas all for a grand total of about $37. So after the certificate, it was only $12 total. Well, almost...we won't talk about the margaritas that we had... :)
Give it a shot...it would make for a cheap date night or a great dinner for 4.

love this site

Ok...I have blogged before about how I have this identity crisis about not fitting into any category. Just about 95% of my friends are married, mommies, etc. And I still get sent to the kid's table at family functions even though I'm 30, own a house, have a job, etc. Do I sound bitter? Those aren't my intentions...I'm just occasionally frustrated with this extended "season". I am just really interested in things that are not usually associated with single-working adults, but rather mothers of young families. Like couponing and saving money. I get a high every week when I get free stuff at the grocery store, Walgreen's, CVS, etc. One of my problems in this area is organization. Imagine my excitement when I saw this video blog yesterday on how to organize a coupon binder! I love this post: http://hip2save.blogspot.com/2009/09/follow-me-monday-coupon-organization.htmland
I also encourage everyone to check out hip2save.com
It's amazing!!! Enjoy.

my next thirty years

Oh, how I loved that Tim Mcgraw song when I was in college and 30 was far off in the distance. I thought it was so clever and witty. Now that I am officially in my 30s, I'm not sure what to make of this new decade. The one thing I am grateful for is that God doesn't allow us to glimpse into our lives 10 years down the road. I am quite certain that my 20 year old self would absolutely freak out if I knew where I would be at 30. And, let's be honest--this was not my first choice. But, it's just fine. I can't help but hold out hope that some of my most exciting life moments are going to happen in the next ten years, and I have to admit that being 30 gives me a sense that I'll be taken a little more seriously :)

One of my goals was to take a picture everyday of my 30th (31st?) year. I bought a camera but I keep forgetting I have it. My family has never been into photographing our lives so I guess that rubbed off on me. I will try to remember that I have the camera and document all of the excitement that this year will hold.

A Must Watch!!

I just found this awesome YouTube video called 'Love Story Meets Viva la Vida'. It is an arrangement of both songs played by two guys on the cello and piano. It is beautiful and I can't stop listening/watching it! I happen to love both of these songs and they go together very well. The pianist and arranger, Jon Schmidt, was inspired to do this because his little girl loves "Love Story" by Taylor Swift.
Anyway, enough of my chit-chat...watch it for yourself and enjoy!! **be sure to turn off my music player on the side of the page ;)