Date Night Dinner for Two for Under $30

Anyone who has seen Lady and the Tramp knows that spaghetti and meatballs is a signature romantic meal. 

Fortunately for us, the classic dish eliminates the need to slave over the stove for hours, trying to create the perfect Date Night dinner. Not only is this delicious entrée fast and simple to prepare, all of the ingredients can be purchased for under $30; under $20 if some are on sale! 

Meatballs:

INGREDIENTS

1lb ground beef

3/4 cup bread crumbs 

3/4 grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg

1tbs pepper

1tbs all purpose seasoning 

1 1/2tbs garlic powder

Salt to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the thawed ground beef with the spices. Then mix in the egg, bread crumbs, and grated Parmesan. 

Pull small pieces of beef and roll it into a ball in the palm of your hand and place on a NON-GREASED baking sheet.

(to save clean up time, cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil before baking) 

Cook for about 15 minutes or until the meatballs are lightly browned on the top. Remove from sheet and place on a paper towel covered plate. 

Spaghetti & Sauce: 

INGREDIENTS

Half a package of uncooked spaghetti

1/2 Jar of your favorite sauce

3tbs of parmesan

1tbs pepper

1/2tbs onion powder

Salt to taste

1/2 cheese of choice

While waiting for those meatballs to bake, boil water with a dash of salt and olive oil in a medium sized pot for the pasta. If you wait until the water is boiling before adding the spaghetti, it cooks faster and more evenly. Once pasta is at desired tenderness turn off the burner and drain it. Then add the rest of the ingredients and mix it all up! 

After mixing the sauce into the spaghetti throw the meatballs in the pot and mix it together. Cover the main course and let the flavors mesh while you make a deliciously healthy side salad! 

 

Side Salad:

INGREDIENTS

1 cup fresh spinach

1 cup romaine lettuce

1/4 cup fresh cilantro 

1 tomato 

1/2 small white onion 

1/2 tbs lemon juice

1tbs olive oil

Dice the tomato and onions. Chop up the cilantro. Cut the spinach and romaine lettuce into smaller pieces. Finally add all of the ingredients together in a pretty bowl and serve along side the spaghetti.

Now the only thing you have to worry about is what movie to watch and of course what to wear to WOW your date ;)  

3 Hacks to Have a Better Monday

Many people have one thing in common; they hate Mondays. This early day of the week is dreaded by almost everybody. It is said to be the start of the mundane routines and tasks of daily life, school, work, etc. 

 

Many people have a negative frame of mind when it comes to this day. By changing how we perceive Mondays we can all come to enjoy them more. Changing a mindset is not always easy, but these 3 easy Monday hacks will make the transition seamless!

 

1. Do something nice for someone else: Make it your mission to find one favor you can do for another person where you are receiving nothing in return. It could be anything from buying a homeless person a bottle of water to planning a nice surprise dinner for your significant other. Being kind to others for no reason is scientifically proven to make you feel better! Don't believe me? Google it! 

2. List 5 things that you are grateful for: If you already do this you are ahead of the game! For the rest of us, take the time right after we wake up to say "thank you" for a few of the things we normally take for granted. If you're drawing a blank, you can start with your bed and your beautiful smile! =D

3. Do one thing differently: Change up your daily routine a little! Shake up your day! Make yourself  a new food for lunch, or better yet set up a lunch date! Do you hair differently, where a bright new color; if you really want to get crazy, go to a movie after lunch!

There is usually nothing to look forward to on a Monday, but I think it's time we take it back and turn it into an early Friday!

What Is Love?

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, the pressure is on for many, if not all of us. 

This is a special time of year when images of "love" are suddenly everywhere, shoved in our faces in every store we step foot in.

It seems that everyone is aiming to manipulate us into think that the color of love is red, pink, and white. Or that putting hearts everywhere and buying chocolates and flowers is the grandest gesture a person can  make to declare their passion and commitment to their fellow human being.

 

The bible teaches: 

That is absolutely beautiful, and it should be every person's person goal to strive for a love like the bible describes, but it is describing a perfect love (God's love), and we are far from perfect. 

While it is wonderful to give and receive gifts and candy, during Valentine's Day it is important to remember what loves truly is. 

In my opinion, true love is sacrifice.

It is about putting your needs aside and elevating the needs of those around you; this could be extended to strangers, or simply family and friends. For example; true love is waking up every 2 hours to feed your new born, or letting your spouse rest for an hour while you do the chores or make dinner. True love can also be dedicating your weekends to spending time visiting lonely strangers in the hospital. 

No matter what you do, don't forget that love means being humble and respectful and kind to all in everyday situations. 

Sometimes the best Valentine's Day gift can be the most simple.

3 Ways to Renew Your Love

Here you are with you significant other after a few years. 

You love each other dearly, but it seems like all you ever do together is stress and worry, even though life is made a little bit easier when you have someone to help you figure out how to live so that you both get the most out of the gift God has blessed us all with. 

The problem is that most of the time this gift of life doesn't seem much like a blessing at all.

After the bills are paid, the homework is done, the kids are asleep, and you've had dinner, you tend to lay down feeling more achy than you did when you woke up. 

As time passes, we all find ourselves burning out. The passion and lust that once consumed couples in the beginning of their relationship fades to a more necessary and secure form of love. Before you know it, you are in bed by ten reading together like those married couples in the movies and on TV. 

 

And all too soon, life is hum-drum and you feel, dare I say it, OLD. 

If only there were a time machine that could at least show you what you used to do for fun.

While we cannot avoid the inevitability of getting older, we CAN do things that make us feel young again, and we can do them with our significant other. Doing exciting new things together, and maybe a few harmless things you used to do, can renew love in a powerful way! 

Here is how:

1. Take Each Other Back - Once, long ago, you used to do something extra special for your significant other. You would buy her chocolates once a week, you would call him during your lunch break at work just to hear his voice, you always used to make breakfast together and sit down for a coffee. My recommendation is that you chose one of those things to do again! It doesn't have to become a consistent habit again (though it would be nice if it did) but a sweet gesture like that will make you remember and cherish the Puppy Love that brought you to where you are today! 

 

2. Teach Each Other Something New - In the beginning of our relationship, my husband Pedro was an avid skateboarder, and he was (and still is) very talented. Not only was it sexy when he would show off by doing tricks that his friends couldn't, but he would actually step off of his board to teach me how to ride; it was a HUGE turn on. In turn, back when he was not a Christian yet, I began taking him to church and teaching what I knew about Jesus and the bible. Those special moments that we spent together are priceless memories that we all have! They may not exactly be the same, but there was a time when you stepped out of your world into his/hers, and it was exhilarating! Recreate one of those memories, or make new ones! 

3. Fall in Love Again - I recently read an article that stated that love is a choice we make and that any two people can fall in love. The theory is that by asking a series of questions, 36 to be exact, in a romantic setting, a couple could create nonsexual intimacy and establish trust that would eventually grow in to respect and admiration. Begin a series of dates based around this theory. There are 3 sets of questions, so it  would take 3 romantic dates; for example a picnic in the park, a dinner out or in, making brunch together, going for a scenic drive, etc. You can even turn this into a craft by writing down the questions on decorated note cards! What do you have to lose? You're already in love, so this exercise could only push you deeper in your bond. Remember to ask the question even if you think you already know the answer, your partner may just surprise you! 

 

A Night to Remember: Kuro & Ivy

Yesterday on January 30, 2015 the beautiful wedding of Ivy and Kuro took place in a beautiful church! 

Too bad we were late!! 

(An hour and 15 minutes to be exact)

To pass the time in the car on the way I took a few selfies... 

 

By the time we arrived the ceremony was over, and everyone was preparing to head out to the reception, but at least we made it in time to see some good friends of mine make their love official forever!

The reception was gorgeous! The speeches that were made during the toast were tear-inducing, and events, such as the throwing of the garter, were gut-busting hilarious!

 

Nico did his best to stay awake for mommy and daddy, but the poor little guy fell asleep as he was waiting with the other unmarried men for the garter to be tossed. 

 

It was a night of enjoying a special time with our friends and coming together to celebrate a young love that we witnessed grow since its very beginning. 

 

We even took a dip in the pool for Ivy, who was dying to get in since she walked into the reception area. It was FREEZING! But at least I looked good ;) 

 

The wedding reminded me of how much love we share between us and what a blessing it is to be able to take on life with your best friend.  

Kuro and Ivy, you guys are made for each other, there is no other way to put it. You complete each other in every way and I know that with the help of God you will be Army Strong together until the end of your days. I wish you joy, peace, and abundant, overflowing love! 

3 Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship

Life in 2015 is moving at warp speed! 

There is just so much to do in a day and it seems like the hours are falling away. Working, cleaning, keeping up with friends and family can all be exhausting. Not to mention, school will be starting again for many of us. With a schedule that is bursting at the seams, it is no wonder we often feel overwhelmed when we try to add a serious relationship to the mix.

Everyone knows that spending time with each other is an important part of being a healthy and happy couple. But, when we do find time to spare to be together it is usually spent dealing with the situations that present themselves in life. You argue, you plan, you contemplate, you reason, and still you might find your relationship is not as strong as it was when all you did was talk on the phone for hours about nothing. Relationships need regular maintenance. It is important to not let it fall beneath other things in your life that are far less meaningful.

When you feel interference with your emotional connection there are a few things you can do to mend the weakening bond.

1. Read the bible LOUD & PROUD - I know I have said this before, and I will probably say it again, because IT WORKS! You don't have to read the entire gospel of John, but do take the time to read a few verses out loud. For a steamy bible reading I recommend passages from Song of Songs.  Not only does reading aloud help adults fully understand the material being read, it also can improve our focus on other tasks. Paying attention to each other as you read makes you both feel important, understood, and it encourages positive communication. 

2. Take the same "chill pill" - Spend time cuddling and kissing, knowing that it will not escalate to sex. When you first started dating you used to do that all the time! You made out for the joy and excitement of kissing, there was passion and freedom behind it. Make out in the back of a dark movie theater, or before you leave for work! On your day off, lay together for a hour, kiss, and  occasionally talk about random passing thoughts.

 3. Define the relationship - Oh, the dreaded DTR. Most of you are probably cringing, thinking about relationship status conversations that have gone horribly wrong, and some of you probably can't stop smiling about the ones the didn't. For each milestone you and your significant other have passed, you have had a moment when you sit down to discuss the next step. This is not what I mean when I say DTR. You don't necessarily need to talk about life changing decisions. Simply tell each other your current feelings about the state of your relationship. If you are blissfully happy, share that! If you feel like you are headed in the right direction, the other person has a right to know! It can be encouraging to hear that your partner is feeling secure and satisfied. On the other had, if there is a problem, this can be a way to find a solution without it escalating into a fight or argument.

The important thing to keep in mind is that relationships are not always perfect. There are high highs and low lows, but fortunately you have the rest of your lives to find a balance and to create a nearly perfect harmony. 

Throw Back Thursday!

Happy Throw-backing!

 It wouldn't be Thursday without it!

 

Sleepy baby! 

 

 Visiting Raleigh ready for his first outing in the cold winter!

 Wedding day! Jan. 16, 2013

 Nice and cozy with Buba!

 Trippy baby-vision

 bundle of joy

Hi!! I'm Nico!