Margherita pizza on the grill

I've been wanting to try pizza on the grill for awhile now and tonight we pulled it off, slightly burned on the bottom, but tasty nonetheless! Throw the dough on a pizza stone on top of the grill (used my pampered chef stone) and cover the lid and acts just like an oven. By the way, margherita pizza is hands down my favorite, simple and delicious- tomatoes, mozzerella balls, and basil.

Eating outside on our deck is our new favorite springtime thing.

And our deck space is starting to shape up, found these string of lights at Target, perfect for summer nights.

Nurisng redefined

image via audreyhepburncomplex

Yesterday had a delightful encounter with an 80 yr old patient who used to be a nurse. We talked about how nursing used to be and how it is now, though the basics remain the same. She shared antecdotes, stories, and even songs with me. Yes, we actually broke out into "You are my sunshine" in her room, she said,"You do the top part Maria and Ill do the bottom!!! I thought, ok, Im singing harmony to "You are my sunshine" in my patient's room?!! So perfectly funny and all together joyful. What a treasured moment she's already a permanent fixture in my mind and heart and reaffirmed my role as a nurse.....not just pill passer, but listener, joy-maker, and song sharer!

Thank you, dear Elizabeth for your charm and unending joy, I completely forgot you were sick, what an inspiration!

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliciton, faithful in prayer" Romans 12:12

Hot mess looks

My dear friend, Rebecca, has a great question/thought- how to look cute, fashionable, and stay cool in 90 degree weather while chasing your tot on the playground?! This truly applies because when I'm not at the hospital I'm at the park pushing Gideon on the swings or chasing the latest butterfly that caught his eye!

So here's the basics, lightweight fabrics, rompers (easy and versatile-pair with heels for night out), airy dresses and flat shoes for chasing.

By the way, all of these are under $50, no need to be in expensive duds while sliding down slides at the park.

The vineyard and my $1.50 shirt

It's hard to believe but true, this vineyard is walking distance from our home!! Just gorgeous. Oh and my shirt is from goodwill, I have a thing for granny blouses!!

Favorites Friday: Etsy

Etsy is such a great resource for home finds, here's some of my picks.

LOVE these via modernverses

via fabulousmess

via shorelychic

via rozart

via LMcreation

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

Type A

So at work the other day I was sharing with another nurse how I literally grew a fever blister overnight just from one stressful shift. Her response was, "Oh that's your type A, to which I said, "I'm not type A!!! Leading me on a furious internet search of quizzes to take and definitions to read confirming my personality/temperament type!!!

In the temperment world I am an extroverted, feeling driven, fly by the seat of my pants, sensory loving fool! But I do admit my type A tendencies arise at work, Im always rushing, and can never relax! But please don't misread I have nothing against type A's, in fact, Im pretty sure the world is driven by them, it's just I want to be more type B!!

Here's the definitions according to wikipedia:

Type A:Type A individuals can be described as impatient, time-conscious, controlling, concerned about their status, highly competitive, ambitious, business-like, aggressive, having difficulty relaxing; and are sometimes disliked by individuals with Type B personalities for the way that they're always rushing^{[citation needed]}. They are often high-achieving workaholics who multi-task, drive themselves with deadlines, and are unhappy about delays. Because of these characteristics, Type A individuals are often described as "stress junkies."

Type B:Type B individuals, in contrast, are described as patient, relaxed, and easy-going, generally lacking an overriding sense of urgency. Because of these characteristics, Type B individuals are often described by Type A's as apathetic and disengaged^{[citation needed]}. There is also a Type AB mixed profile for people who cannot be clearly categorized.

I'm curious which one are you or a little bit of both?!

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matt 6:34

Guest room sneak peeks

Do you have one of those rooms that you stare at and try a hundred different things and you still aren't feeling it?!! That's this room for me!! However, a random trip to World Market with a serendipitious stumble upon a roman shade changed everything and now I have direction!! I am so in love with this shade and highly recommend checking out their other options too.

Chandelier I found at an antique store, under $50.

Our old armoire that I painted to give it a second wind.

Here's the roman shade from World market, LOVE.

I enlisted my sister and Gideon for installation, which took her a grand total of 10 minutes!

Love sign, $5

Neutral bedding from Target.

Still need to paint the room and add a few odds and ends, but its finally on its way!

Made by girl

A big thanks to the gorgeous and super talented Jennifer of the beloved blog, Made by girl for featuring my home. I adore her her shop and home, which is chock full of inspiration and creativity, here's a sampling, but be sure to head over and check out her wonderful site.

Her home

Her office, love that wallpaper!

colorful closet

And the beautiful prints she designs:

If I ever have an office this is going in it!

Weekend tidbits

Arugula, tomato, mozzarella pizza...yum yum

New ikat comforter on clearance for $20!

Gideon "helped" Dad cut the grass!

Then we found a new lunch spot at the most unexpected place...the Marine Corps Museum!

This museum is brand new and really well done, the Marines look so life like.

I loved their gallery wall with pictures hung by suspended cables.

Since the Marine Corps actually began in a bar called "Tun Tavern" they placed one in the museum where you can grab lunch and drinks, genius idea.

Overstock and something for you

I was delighted to receive an email from the lovely people at Overstock offering all of you a sweet 10% discount!!! Overstock was actually one of the very few websites that shipped to Japan when we lived there with great prices and a huge selection, there's a lot to love.

Here are some of my favorites.

Also, be sure to check out some of their great items for bathroom, shower, and sinks- great for adding character to track home bathrooms like mine!

Here's the discount code to enter at checkout: 121728

Happy Friday!

Shadows

via audreyhepburncomplex

I read daily from Mark Batterson's blog who geninusly thought of having church meet in movie theatures all along the metro line in Washington D.C because after all church is the people not the building, right?! (I love his innovative thinking!)

This week his evotional really hit me between the eyes on the topic of humility, something I honestly struggle with daily. You see from the ripe age of 3 I was center stage in dance and competed in gymastics and diving winning numerous awards and medals continually loving the limelight.

However, in the Christian life, Jesus offers mutiple paradoxes that go dead against our natural flesh, such as the first shall be last, washing each others feet, and serving one another. I find them both challenging and so incredibly refreshing in our dog eat dog world.

Mark Batterson puts it, "If you seek the limelight, God will often keep you in the shadows. And if you seek the shadows, God will often put you in the limelight."

There's nothing more beautiful than a humble spirit, Lord please help me gain one! Here's to seeking the shadows today!