Love is in the Air

Well, its that time of year again. Valentine's Day. The holiday created so we would show some love:) and spend money;)

I've always loved Valentine's Day. Not for any particular reason; its just a fun holiday. Its a good excuse to make yummy desserts and write ooey gooey love notes (writing love notes is so fun). I'm not like "omg let's spend so much money cause its Valentine's Day," but I do smile at all the fun things that seem to happen.

And I love an excuse to love on my boy!

Now that I have bored you with that, let's see some fun photos from this week (cause that is so much more interesting).

We love the dog park;)

New pans! Thanks Dad!

This is where we go on our runs. There were ducks and Gavin goes crazy over them!

This is to show you that Gavin has his moments

...he destroyed this hard plastic toy. Hah!

Beautiful sunrise one morning this week. 

God shining through His creation. 

Everyone have a wonderful weekend and we'll talk about some fun Valentine's things next week:)

Much love,

Adrienne

WFMW- Cheddar Biscuits

Do you have a go-to recipe? You know, that thing you make when you don't know what else to put on the table?

Mine is Cheddar biscuits. I know everyone has a variation of this recipe, but this has become my side dish when 1)I don't know what else to make, 2)I don't have anything else to make, or 3)I'm craving carbs!

It's really easy, and you most likely have everything you need to make them in your pantry right now.

Half Whole Wheat Cheddar Biscuits (makes 10-12 biscuits)

Ingredients:
Biscuits:
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
1/2 TBS baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
2 1/2 TBS butter (cold or room temperature)
3/4 cup of shredded cheese (I usually use sharp cheddar, but any kind would work)
1/2 cup buttermilk (just use 1/2 cup of milk and pour in 1 1/2 tsp vinegar. Let it sit for 5-10 min, or until bubbly)
Topping:
1 Tbs butter, melted
1/4 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 425. Mix flours, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in butter and mix in with a pastry cutter, or fork until mixture is crumbly. Carefully mix in cheese. Stir in milk until just combined (do not overmix-dry spots are okay). Use a spoon to drop onto cookie sheet or stone. Cook for 12-14 minutes or until golden. While biscuits are in oven, mix together topping ingredients. Pour on top of biscuits as soon as they come out of the oven. Serve warm!! They will melt in your mouth:)

What is your go-to recipe when you don't know what to make?

Much love,
-Adrienne

I'm linking up with We are that Family today:)

Monday Musings- Power

Photo Credit

"And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst." Zechariah 2:5

For the past week, this verse has been on my heart. I have it on my desk at work, so I read it constantly throughout the day. God is just writing this on my heart. The whole chapter is intense. God is speaking to the prophet, Zechariah, with such an intensity about His people. God loves His people with a fierce love. He will fight for his children, and he will love his children even when they don't love him. He tells them that when the city does not have physical walls to protect them that he will be "a wall of fire" for them. He says that he "will be the glory in [their] midst"- or he will be their strength and power. 

These words mean different things depending on the day, but they challenge me to live as if God is protecting me with a "wall of fire"! Shouldn't that change the way I live my life? I have nothing to fear because when it seems that all my barriers to the world are brought down, God is my protection.When I am open to criticism, God is protecting me. When I love selflessly and open myself up to be hurt, God still protects me.  And he loves me fiercely as his own child. In Romans, Paul writes about this very thing. He says, 

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:13-14

Those verses lead into the second part of the verse in Zechariah. Not only is he protecting me, he is all around me; His glory is all around me. How powerful! He is protecting me, and he is living through me. I am walking around with the glory of God in my midst. I am led by the Spirit, which makes me free. I am free from all fear because I can call my Creator my Father, my dad. 

I hope you are encouraged by the power in these verses. Pray for God to make these verses real for you. Just this morning I prayed that God would be a wall of fire around me today, and that he would be the glory in my midst. Just pray the scriptures- God loves it when we speak his words back to him.

Much love,
-Adrienne

First 10k!! Woohoo

I promise exercise won't be an everyday occurrence on here, but I have to write about my first 10k Saturday night!!

It was the Retro Night Glow road race put on by a local organization called Project Giving. I ran the 10k with Jared (hubby) and 3 other girlfriends. I had my best time yet!!!! I surprised myself. I had fun too. I am a bit sore today, but I actually don't feel that bad. It makes me excited for the half-marathon in November. I better get training!! 

Yay for running together!!!

In Christ,

Adrienne

Monday Musings: Fall Edition

Wow!! How about this weather!! It feels like Fall and it is September in Middle Georgia! Woah!

In honor of the weather, we will talk about all things Fall today, so be prepared.

Porches: We will now be sitting on the porch often, as long as the dog doesn't bark at everyone who walks by. Maybe we'll get to know more neighbors with the cooler weather :)

Boots: Oh boots.....need I say more.

Scarves: So pretty, yet so simple. I didn't get to wear my scarves much last year, cuz it never got that cold, but you can bet that I will make a point to wear them this year. They are so much fun!!

Pumpkin Spice Latte: Totally had one last week, and my day was made. That WILL be happening again:)

Pumpkin bread: The hubby has already requested it, so I'm sure it will appear in the Fincher house in the near future. I might share my recipe (not really mine, but I'll send you in the right direction to find it) Maybe I could make some rounds to the neighbors....I know you want to be my neighbor now!

Leaves: I always try to make a point to notice the leaves changing in the fall. It is so easy to get busy and forget to look, but God creates such beauty that just radiates His own beauty. So thankful for beautiful colors in the Fall.

What do you love about Fall??

In Christ,
Adrienne

Monday Musings

Well, another week begins as it always does. Today we should discuss half marathons; not because they are such a fascinating subject in general, but because I am training for one. I know it's selfish, but I write about what I know (by the way that is a good writing tip: Write what you know).

Anyway, half-marathons are a strange thing. I never in my life thought I would ever run anything like that. I run 2 or 3 miles "for fun," but 13.1 is another story. Despite my lack of desire to run a half-marathon, my dear friend, Courtney, talked me into it. So, I am currently training for one in November.

We do long runs on the weekend, so Saturday we ran 6 miles-the furthest I've ever run! It turns out that I am actually enjoying this whole running thing more than I thought. There is quite a sense of accomplishment to go along with the training. I feel like I could do anything!! Well, most anything.

Enough rambling, the reason I'm especially thinking about running right now is because I ran across this book today called Every Body Matters by Gary Thomas. I've never heard of it before, but it is quite intriguing. It talks about how by exercising and taking care of our bodies we are honoring God. I mean, of course I've thought about that before, but I've never seen a whole book about being healthy so that we can serve God better. I'm carefully contemplating buying the book. I'll let you know if I do, and if it's any good:)

Enough exercise talk! Let's talk about this:

My afternoon treat after my morning workout on Saturday:) Yummy!!!

Have a good Monday!
Adrienne

Meet the Newest Fincher!

I am beginning again! It has been almost a year since I posted on here, but I really like this blog, so we will try again.

We have moved again since our last move. We are in a two bedroom apartment with a cute little puppy!! AND...(wait for it...)...I am a college graduate!!!! Yep, I finished school! Life is totally different now, and I love it!

Today's post will be about Gavin, the newest member of our family. So prepare yourself to meet Gavin Fincher:

How can you not smile after seeing that cute face:)

Don't worry, you'll see it again!

Much love,

Adrienne

Moving!!!

We no longer live in a One Bedroom Apartment...so does that mean I need to change the title of my blog? I'm not really sure....I'll think about it. Anyway, we moved into a two bedroom duplex! Whoopeee!! It's so pretty and lovely and wonderful and fun! We love it. We moved in this weekend, and there is still stuff everywhere, but it will all come together eventually. I hope:) I can't wait to have people over and all that fun jazz! I don't have pictures yet, but I will work on it. Maybe I'll do it room by room as I get things put together...that's the blog way of doing it, right? Well, hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

Here's a pretty picture of my mom and I when we went home for my birthday:)

Isn't she so pretty??

Candy Corn Sugar Cookies

Here is a fun, fairly easy cookie recipe that is just plain cute! I'll try to give credit where it is due but I kind of mix and matched a couple recipes. I used this recipe but I followed these directions on preparing the actual cookies. But they turned out wonderful! I'm sure there is a mixture of these two recipes somewhere but I couldn't find it so I made it work. This link has a good picture tutorial for the process. I forgot to take pictures as I was doing it or I would have been all creative-like and put a picture story here. Oh well, maybe next time. I'll get better:) Well, here are how my cookies turned out.

It's a not-so-good iphone picture because I had already put a lot of them in baggies when I remembered I should take a picture! The recipe made a ton of cookies so I've been giving them away all week! It's been so much fun!! You should try it. The hardest part was probably putting the food coloring paste in because my hands got messy, but other than that it is easy-peasy. My next big endeavor will be pumpkin!! Pumpkin cheesecake...pumpkin bread...pumpkin muffins(?)....who knows!!

Check it Out!

I just thought I'd share some things that make me smile these days:)

We have a new frozen yogurt place here in Macon! I thought the day would never come. I found out about it last week, and have been there 3 times since then! I love it! La Berry!

Boots. I'm ready for fall. I want some brown boots. You know, the "go with everything" kind. They are just so dang pricey; I guess you pay for what you get....These or these or these

Headbands. You see, I like headbands. They have just always made my head hurt, but I've discovered I can wear the "stretchy" kind. My mom got me one a few weeks ago that I love, and I would love a few more styles. This one isn't really a headband, but isn't it lovely! But this is what I'm really talking about.

Minesweeper. I know, weird, but I've been kind of addicted to it on my phone, except I can't beat my time anymore so it's not as much fun.

McDonald's Smoothies! Have you tried them? They're so good! I love the Mango Pineapple ones. I have to restrain myself from going like EVERY morning!

Jared. He probably makes me smile the most these days:) He's such a cutie, and I love laughing with him!



Hope you have a few things to make you smile too!

My new favorite thing!

I have a new favorite thing. You see, I like coffee. But, for some reason it hasn't really been too appetizing lately. And, I've found that I need coffee if I am to wake up and accomplish anything in the mornings. So, I've started drinking Iced coffee. It is working fabulously! It's not like the best iced coffee I've ever had or anything, and I know there are better ways to make it, but it works for me!

I simply brew a double pot of coffee. Fill a glass up with ice. Pour milk over the ice. Pour coffee in the cup. Sprinkle a little bit of Vanilla Sugar on top. Stir. Enjoy! I leave the rest of coffee in the pot until the next morning. And, the next morning, it's even better because it doesn't melt all the ice. 

Again, I know it's not the best, but it gets the job done in the morning!

Have a good Monday!

We have a Birthday Boy!

I know I am so very late, but Jared's birthday was last month. It wasn't anything crazy and exciting, but we did our best:) We had balloons, signs, cake, gifts, and friends! I love Jared so so much! He means the world to me! I'm so blessed to have him as a husband and a friend. I pray that God continues to grow, challenge, and encourage him as he begins another year of life. I pray that I can be his help, his encouragement, and his support. Thank you Lord for blessing Jared with another year of life; I pray that it is used to lift up His name in Macon and in the world.

Happy Birthday Jared!!

(via Instagram)

I've got some post ideas, so hopefully there will be more to come!

Adrienne

6 Months!

It's hard to believe it's already been 6 months! It has been the best 6 months too! I'm so thankful for Jared and the love he has for me, for people, and for his God. It has been so much fun learning to live together, and just getting to enjoy one another, whether we're taking a spontaneous trip to Atlanta, or sitting on the couch watching Lost episodes. I grow so much more in love with him every day. I am so looking forward to our life together, each day. 

Our 6 months was actually on July 1, so this is a little late but oh well. We were gifted a gift certificate to Natalia's, so we decided to use it to celebrate our 6 months of marriage:) It was fun! We dressed up and ate nice food; then we came home and put on our pajamas and sat on the couch! (I made him take pictures first though)

(our apartment has awful lighting, and I haven't figured it all out on this camera)

That's it! Have a good weekend! It's storming here all weekend. I guess we'll be trying to stay dry, and using our new rain jackets, finally!

Cupcakes...

Well, I deemed tonight's adventure to be blog-worthy. I've recently been on a new food/recipe kick. I find much happiness from making good food. So far, it has been fairly successful. UNTIL, tonight. Tonight, I took a stab at some baking. So far, in my married life, my baking successes have been slim, but I do like to bake. I saw these cupcakes at A Beautiful Mess (she has lots of pretty things to write about!). I thought they sounded yummy, but I'm not a huge raspberry person. So I decided to do strawberry instead. I had most of the ingredients minus this and that. So tonight, the adventure began(dun dun dun). And, surprisingly, it went well. Everything tasted good, and looked good up until I told Jared he could finally have one......no one told me I have to spray cupcake liners!!!!....they are all stuck:( So....These strawberry-creme filled cupcakes fall apart when you try to eat them. What a bummer! Oh well, at least I know they taste good. I don't really know what to do with them now. I can't really give them away...maybe some good friends will indulge in the delicious messiness. Oh well, one good thing is I got to use my cake decorator contraption:) It was fun. Well, here are the pretty, deceitful cupcakes.

This is them with the creme-filling, before the icing. 

 And, this is the finished product!

And, this is the best part.....

So sad, but yummy...