Tasting Plates Main Street - a Foodster Adventure

A while back a blogger I follow posted about a Vancouver Culinary Scavenger Hunt - and I thought that sounded awesome. She had a giveaway to be involved in something similar the following month. I entered, didn't win, then they redrew, and I ultimately won! So stoked. The only catch was that was on a Monday and the event was 2 days later, on a Wednesday. Thankfully we were free that night (or we were free after I moved some things around) and we'd been looking for a date night option, having not celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary yet. Perfection!

I'll let you in on a secret (as with most of my secrets, it's not really a secret), Paul and I REALLY like being together and dates are our favorite! Even something as simple as going to Home Depot just the two of us can feel like a special date since we're always so surrounded with people - so a time alone out to eat, just the two of us, felt epic. 

Menu Plan Monday, May 26, 2014

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

Upcoming week: 

Monday: Butter Chicken

Tonight is women at prayer - the ladies of our church gather to worship and pray - we'll do that at 7:30pm and before that, for dinner, my friend Arlene is joining us to talk about our upcoming camping trip!

Tuesday: Creamy Vodka Meatball Pasta

Tuesday is a home night and I've been meaning to try this recipe for months!

Wednesday: Tara Surprise
Wednesday's dinner will depend on what leftovers are in the fridge and need using up! Tara surprise indeed.

Thursday: Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Broccoli over Rice
Thursday is a night we'll eat together as a house and then I'll pack for camping and head out to Arlene's to do the food prep for the weekend. Then Friday morning I'll be going out with Arlene to our camping trip!

Friday, Saturday: YOYO
Camping!! Paul, myself and Duncan will be joining friends camping at Alouette Lake Friday to Sunday morning. Can't wait!!!! We went to Alouette Lake last summer and enjoyed it thoroughly. 

Sunday: Carbonara Bubble Up
We'll be back in the morning - Paul preaches in the afternoon. I'll head over to pick up my mom for church and then she'll join us for dinner afterwards - a comforting bubble up!

Bears, Beers & Birch Bay Beaches

This past weekend was the May Long weekend here in BC. May Long is always the start of the summer season and therefore one of my favorite holidays. Paul and I have been married for 4 years as of May 1st but this year hadn't had a chance to get away and celebrate so we decided that this weekend would be a celebration weekend. We were going to be going away one night and then making our normal weekend feel extra fun in little ways. 

Menu Plan Tuesday: Victoria Day Long Weekend

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

Upcoming week: 

Tuesday: Burgers, Hot Dogs & Salad

It's lifegroup night and Jodi is in town! So we're "celebrating" with a BBQ! Also I'll fry up some of Paul's bear sausage - farmers and garlic and serve that on the side for people to try. 

Wednesday: YOYO
Wednesday night we've organized an outing with friends for Music Bingo at the East Side Craft House - cheap wings, Music Bingo, beer and friends - what could be better!

Thursday: Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Broccoli
Thursday is a night out with friends but not until 8pm - so I'll join the household for a light dinner and then meet the ladies afterwards. I'm meeting up with my lovely friend Ana and a few of her girlfriends that I got to know at her stagette. I love Ana and LOVED her friends when I met them - I'm stoked to be a part of their hang out!

Friday: Mexican Casserole
We don't have any plans for Friday! I'm excited. We might make plans. Or not. Who knows!

Saturday: YOYO / Survivor Night

A few months ago a group of friends and I made some bets about the survivor outcome - the show ends this wednesday but we won't be able to watch and win together until saturday. I'm making Mac and Cheese (comfort food) and the rest are bringing dishes as well, potluck style. 

Sunday: Transformations Dinner

Sunday is our final day of 10 week Bible Study course called Transformations. There are about 20 of us in the class (students and coaches) and we have been broken up most of the time in our small groups - so this dinner gives us the chance to mingle between the groups. I'm quite excited. We're doing a bit of potluck - there are a few things being brought, and they'll I will make the rest. I can't decide what to make - so you don't get to know either!

"Can we go back, this is the moment"

I haven't had coffee in 2 months. Today I made a vanilla mocha latte (skinny) and listened to Macklemore's "Can't hold us down" between the upbeat song and the high I get from caffeine after a coffee haitus I realized something awesome...

DUDE.  I'm living the life I dreamed about when I first moved here. 

Menu Planning: This week

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

Of late

I haven't been on here in two week. I haven't known how to write. How to voice all that is swirling around in my head and everything that is happening in life. It has been crazy, but also God is moving through this time. 

The last two weeks can be divided into four topics: 
1. Normal Life
2. My mom's big adventure (as an optimistic way of looking at it)
3. Every Nation Vancouver (ENV)'s Women's Retreat
4. Paul's Bear Hunt
More will come on these - but for now - my heart in this moment...

Normal busyness can take it's toll - I knew the couple weeks after Easter would be intense as I'm the coordinator for our Women's Retreat and the event was looming (and has now passed). I did not expect an added amount of drama/trauma/adventure. And yet, it came. Reminding me, how much I need my Jesus. Because I really really do.