I'm cashed out.

I think I'm over the blog stage of my life.  I don't think I was very good at it to begin with.  Not enough time.  Or discipline to actually make it happen.  I really wish I would have been better, but I think I realized I only have time to read other people's blogs (like once every two weeks) and I can't even document my own adventures.

I think I'll switch my life to Instagram because I think I can make that happen.  

Dear Blogger,

I'm temporarily pushing pause on our relationship.  Not that you'll be too sad because I neglect you anyway and you have 79 billion other users besides me.  But good luck on your own out there.

Love, Jules

October is NUTS

I love October.  It's my favorite month.  But, it's always SO busy.  I think I know about 20 close friends that have birthdays in October.  I turned 28 last week.  Recently at a football game (3 days before my birthday) a high school boy asked if he could guess my age.  He said 19.  ...neat.

Here are some great things that happened so far this month...

• My little brother got married.  I LOVE my new sister Erin and their weekend was so stinking great.  I might have cried a lot.  Their photographers were awesome and I really want them to post more pictures.  I think they will really soon.  Until then...here's a little glimpse.
• Seth & I finally found a church that we really love.  It's called The Remedy.  And there are a lot of couples our age, which makes it really special.  In the beginning of October we went camping with some couples at a state park nearby.  Unfortunately I forgot my camera and didn't take any pictures.  But Allie, made a post here.  She made our campsite Martha Stewart world!  

She is a REALLY talented designer and makes beautiful invitations, among other creative things.  So, you should scroll around on her blog and be inspired and jealous of her skills.  Jen, you said you wanted to learn calligraphy...don't you wish you could do this?

• We had our annual Young Life banquet last Tuesday.  It was AWESOME and we raised 80% of our budget!!  Our teammate, Chris, made this really great video about Newburgh Young Life and it is really excellent.
• We've been training new leaders from University of Evansville and University of Southern Indiana for the past few weeks and it's been really sweet.  It's mostly girls.  C'mon, boys...where are you!?!?!  (Probably not reading this blog...).  But I did training last Wednesday and then got to have lunch on Friday with some Freshmen girls.  I'm excited for the group that we have...I think they're all really great and really wanting to grow in their relationship with the Lord.  It's refreshing to have conversations with them and to help them sort through some of their questions/thoughts.
• Last weekend we took 32 high school kids from Newburgh to Great Wolf Lodge in Cincinnati for a campaigner weekend and it was great.  It was really fun to be with the Lexington kids and leaders, but I wish it could have been longer.  Even though I feel like I got run over by the bus/van that I drove.  So freakin' exhausted!

So, that's it.  I'm tired.  I'm looking forward to November 16th.  By then, Jen & I will be done with our big Young Life presentation in Colorado and I'll finally be able to relax a little.  So, who knows if I'll blog before then.  :)

Forever...

It's been forever since I've blogged.  We've been crazy.  I've been home in Indiana a total of 12 days during the month of September.  When I say that I feel like that is nuts for real.  But it's been crazy, exciting, & adventurous all at once.

Europe was awesome.  More on that in the future.  I'd like to go back, with endless money, so I do not have to have any responsibilities & just enjoy living.  But that's not legit.  :) Here's a pic from the Swiss Alps:

Raceway Region Leader Summit.  Loved it!!  So much fun to go on an adventure with our area leaders and just learn and grow together.  But I always have a hard time now that we know people all over our region.  I want to spend good quality time with everyone, but it's impossible in like a 24 hour time period.  But I did get to hang out with my YL girls who are going through training in Indy, have a sweet convo with Jenna & Scott, chat with old girls who lead in other cities in Indiana, play cards, and laugh a lot with my friends.

Visit with our families.  Seth's brother, Marty, his wife, Laura, and their son, Kellen, came to visit us the next weekend and we had such a good time.  I love Kellen.  He's precious & loved watching his dad & uncle Seth race motorcycles.

Shan & Andy's Wedding.  We've been friends with Shan since she got placed on our YL team in the spring of 2005.  We're lucky.  And she was lucky to meet Andy two summer's later.  In due time, they got married.  And that was last weekend.  I got to be a bridesmaid and stand alongside Shan to support her on her big day.  And Seth was a reader.  It was really fun to both be involved and supportive of their marriage both on Saturday, and over the last several months.  It has been a joy and blessing to do pre-marital counselling with Shandy for a few month.  Seth & I always learn a lot about ourselves in the process.  But I think we were able to encourage them and remind them that it is about being married...not a wedding.  It's a lifelong commitment, not an event.  And it's a blessing to have a partner to love, serve, honor, and cherish as you point them toward Christ.  I am very much reminded of that as all of these weddings are going on.  Speaking of...

Mikey & Erin's Wedding.  It's this weekend.  I am so so excited for my little brother get married to an awesome girl, whom I love with all my heart.  The Lord seriously paired them together perfectly.  I'm in Louisville helping with anything I can.  I think that's been cool for me to be able to serve my family (and Shan too) over the last month or so as we've been preparing for such big events.  Sometimes I wish I knew how to be really humble about it, but I think the Lord is working on me because I'm not the center of attention and that's really nice.  So excited Seth & I get to stand alongside them and help point them to Christ and love each other...forever.

In other news...

• We started club.  I gave the first talk about Seeing God Clearly.
• We started New Leader Training.  I organized a picture scavenger hunt around UE's campus that provided a lot of laughs and a good bonding experience.
• I miss my YL girls.  The ones in college and the ones in HS.  I just feel like I haven't been around and I haven't been able to shake that.  I know it was just a short season and that everything will be back to normal next week, but still.
• I miss my church.  But it's the first time in about 3 years that I really feel that way and I think it's because we finally found a place that really suits us and helps us grow in fellowship and with the Lord.  I think I'll blog about it some other time because it's a great family.  
• I am praying for obedience.  Still learning how to faithfully submit my heart to the Lord daily.

Vacation Countdown

I am a blog slacker.  I just told Anne that I think it's because whenever I have a free minute I end up looking up stuff about Europe instead of blogging.  But it's true.  I'm so pumped about Europe and I'm leaving one week from tomorrow.  I dread driving all the way to Chicago to catch my flight, but I love airports and adventures.  We've got a couple of great weeks planned and I think it's an awesome balance between adventure, tourism, culture, and relaxation.  We're going here:

(I stole this from this website, but I haven't gone yet, so I haven't taken any pics of it!)

I really can't wait to spend some great quality time with my husband.  Whenever we go on vacation we always happen to be on the same page and love to do the same things.  It's a perfect marriage of personality and purpose.  I am really praying that it is meaningful and significant and that we'd really reflect on the last 6 years of being together.  (1 year of dating, 5 years of marriage)

I'll give you all the updates when we get back!

Also, I scored a sweet deal on a fancy camera a couple months back and I am loving it.  All of the things I learned in my high school photography classes are really coming back to me.  Perfect timing.

Planning the European Adventures

Europe is still in the works.  I've made some serious progress, but still need places to stay in Rome, London, Paris, and Zurich.  Turns out old school-BFF, Kelli is moving out of her current place and into a place where she'll have three roomies and no space for me and Boo.  BUMMER.  I was totally banking on three free nights.  And accommodations in Europe are way pricey.  So, let me know if you have any suggestions for those 4 cities.

I don't want to stay in a big bunk room at a hostel, because I still want some privacy, but I'm thinking about risking it with this site called Airbnb.com.  It's where you can rent people's apartments or homes and they are twenty times cheaper than some hotels.  I researched it a bunch and it doesn't sound sketchy.  Hopefully we can find some good deals there at least for a couple cities.

A long time ago I made a post [here] about budgeting & Mint.com and my serious love and gratitude for it.  I'm still using it every day.  It's been awesome to set goals on and we've been able to check off some big expenses by disciplining ourselves in the spending department.  Sometimes I hate having to be so structured with our finances, but I know that it is so good for our lifestyle habits and to be good stewards of the Lord's money.  We also set up automatic transfers on our bank accounts so the money we need to save automatically goes into bank accounts we only use for special expenses.

We have one called "Tithe."  10% of our paychecks automatically go there so we can give as needs come our way.  We also have specific ministries that we support monthly and that is automatically withdrawn from this account.

Next we have a large chunk go into our Savings Account, mostly to save up for buying a car one day.  We'd like to pay cash and not have to finance it.  We are blessed to not have car payments right now and it's so freeing.

The last account is our Fun Fund.  If there is money in it when we want to go on a trip, then we can do it.  If not, sad day...we have to say "no".  Travelling is our favorite thing ever, so we are always dreaming up new trips.  Sometimes two years out, like the European Adventure.  And...Mint.com has helped me set goals for our trip by helping us to save the right amount based on budgets for flight, hotel, car/travel, food, activities.  It is so wonderful and really helping us be disciplined about the trip and not just spending frivolously.

Tomorrow I'll post about a couple places we're going to stay...if I have time!

I love Coca-Cola

I  love love LOVE Coca-Cola.  It's my favorite beverage.

In April I gave it up.  Not for Lent.  Just for life.  Well, not really.  But just for two weeks.  Then I told myself I'd be really good and not have a lot of pop.  Turns out that was false.  I drink almost just as much as I did before the "Coca-Cola Fast."

I'm working on no more than 4 a week.  Turns out I've already had two this week.  IT'S TUESDAY!!!

(I just realized I said "turns out" twice in this post.  I didn't even try to change it.  Because I couldn't think of anything to put in it's place.  Do you think that's a weird phrase??  I was just saying it over and over, thinking..."Turns what?  That doesn't even make sense.  I wonder if it's Southern?  Like, "Bless their heart"...)

Roomies

A few weeks ago we unexpectedly inherited some roommates.  Two of our college-age leaders, David & Alex, were supposed to move into their new house, but when they showed up from out of town with their dads to move in, they realized the space was unlivable.  No kitchen, incomplete bathroom, no carpet, construction everywhere.  Sick.  So, naturally, without asking Seth, I invited them to stay with us.  Alex said, "I guess David and I can sleep in the queen bed for a few weeks."  OMG...two grown boys sharing a bed for a month.  Hilarious.  Not to mention that Alex had just gotten his appendix removed one week prior and couldn't actually move anything.  I wasn't about to let him live in the dump house.  So, Alex took the guest room and David brought his twin bed over and set up shop in my office.  Thus, my office is now the kitchen table.  Here are a couple pics of them:

(Second from the left is David.  Far right is Alex.)

They're hilarious.  Every day that David leaves for summer school he says, "Bye, Mom!!"  I play along and we laugh a lot.

It's funny to share your house with people.  Because everyone lives differently with their families and has different quirks and habits.  But they have been good.  Since Alex doesn't have a job yet, I find him doing various chores around the house.  One day he pulled weeds.  Another day I thought he took my car somewhere, but he was really outside washing and waxing it.  I guess he thinks that's his "pay" for a place to live.  We didn't ask them to do that.  

It is harder for Seth to give up "his space" than for me.  I love to be hospitable and to have people over at all times of the day.  I have long felt that was my spiritual gift.  If I didn't have a job and wasn't trying to be responsible, I'd stay up and play Monopoly Deal with them every night until 3am.  But then again, in marriage and in life you need to have some alone time, so that has been the trickiest.  Sometimes at the end of the day we come home and I forget we have roommates.  Or in the morning, I almost go downstairs looking...inappropriate is a good word, for having boy roommates around.  (Although, they're usually asleep until noon, but you shouldn't risk it!)

When we bought our house I knew we were blessed to get more space than we really needed.  But we told the Lord we would use it for his glory.  I knew that meant giving people a place to stay and loving to welcome anyone in our home.  We've already been able to do that so many times.  We are lucky to have campaigners at our place and have kids over all the time.  The girls in my bible study treat it like it's their second home and that brings me such joy.  (Seth always feels sad when his OJ is gone, but I know he loves them dearly.  He calls them all his "boos".  Probably because they started calling Seth "Boo" because I do it.  He'll come home during BS and head upstairs and says, "Bye, Boos!")  

I know that having roommates, house guests, and visitors all the time helps to keep me grounded.  I am reminded that this is in fact, not our space.  It is the Lords.  And we are entrusted with it.  I love to ponder the lifestyle the Apostles had when they would travel from town to town.  They always had homes that welcomed them in and were hospitable in any way.  I pray that we would be a modern day example of the Acts of the Apostles. 

For my own benefit, I pray that:

• Our home would always honor and glorify the Lord.
• That we would remember that it is not our own, but is the Lords and that He has entrusted us with it.  Therefore, that we would care for it and be wise and responsible in purchases and investments.
• Visitors would always feel welcome and have a place to stay...even if it has to be a couch or air mattress because there's no extra space.
• That Seth and I would be an accurate reflection of what the Lord designed marriage to look like and that our guests would see healthy marriage habits lived out.  (I know we are not perfect, but I pray that we would strive to be selfless, loving, gentle, and pushing one another toward Christ always).
• It would be a place of good, deep conversation, where hearts and minds are stirred to think about the Lord and what it means to walk in His ways.
• That it would be a place of prayer, truth, confidentiality, and love.

So, if you're looking for a place to visit or need a place to stay, our home is always open and it would bring joy to my heart cook you good food.  :)

My new favorite song

My friend Rhiannon just sent me an email that said: "Your new favorite song".  Thinking she meant that sweet hip hop jam "Down on Me" that makes me nearly blow out my speakers while car dancing to my hearts content I clicked away.

This was not what I expected.  It's not a dance jam, but it's oh so good.

Pizza Dough

"A creative cook is not a neat cook." - Ina Garten

This is me.  I am messy and I love it.  I get flour everywhere.  Crumbs scatter the floor.  Every ounce of my chopped up counter-top gets used.  But I get to wear my aprons and that is super fun.

Yesterday I learned how to make pizza dough.  I made a statement in February that I'd like to learn how to make one new thing a week.  It's probably more like every two weeks.  Kari made me buy yeast about this time last year and I forgot I had it.  Turns out it's still good and it made some dang good pizza dough yesterday.

After I prepped the dough according to Anne Burrell's recipe I kneaded in some oregano and rosemary once it raised.  Pizza dough ready.  Except I didn't make pizza.  I made a calzone.  My original goal was to make dough.  I hadn't really thought about what I was going to put in or on it.  I tried to use any random ingredients I had around the house so as to not spend extra money this month.  (We do one big grocery trip at the beginning of the month and then go sporadically throughout the month as needed for the necessities like milk, bread, lunch meat, and OJ).  Basically I used everything random that I already had made.  I made a bolognese sauce with sausage and beef last week.  And we had some leftover Strip Steak that we grilled on Sunday night.  Bunch of mozzarella...don't mind if I do!  Threw all of that in a skillet with some peppers, onions, and garlic.  Tada!!  Calzone filling.

So, I rolled out my dough until it was about 12" in diameter.  Put the filling on one side and then pulled the top over.  Bundled up the overlapping edges and spread an egg wash over the top for great color.  Baked at 400 for 30 minutes.  You wish I took some pictures, but I didn't.

Next time I'm going to try to make Funky Chicken Calzone like they have at Pazzo's.  And then a Philly Cheesesteak version.

Here's the dough recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup warm tap water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

To make the dough:

In a small bowl add the warm (this activates the yeast. If the water is too hot the yeast will die and if the water is too cold the yeast will not activate) tap water add the dry yeast and the sugar and stir to combine. Let sit for 15 minutes. The top of the water will bubble and it will smell very yeasty, this is what you want.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and the salt. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the olive oil and the yeast/water mixture. Using a fork gradually stir the flour into the yeast/water mix. Once most of the flour has combined, turn the dough out to a smooth clean work surface and use your hands to knead the dough to a smooth consistency.

Return the dough to the mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place for at least 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.

Vacation Dreams

Seth and I are counting down the days to a major vacation. This summer marks our 5th Anniversary (sometimes I can't believe it!) and we're going to EUROPE!!!!!!!!

It's been in the works for about a year.  We've been dreaming forever.  You might remember my lavish dreams about this time last year.  Maybe it's the rainy cloudy Winters that make me think like that.  Anywho, we finally made some planning progress.  We decided we'd go this summer after saving up some money and when we had enough time.  We won't have a YL assignment this summer and by late August I'll be finished with all my summer work craziness.

A couple of great things happened:

1. We've been saving our credit card points since we got married.  We put almost all of our expenses on our CC, minus our mortgage and like two other bills, so it was really building up. We had A LOT.  Therefore, we were able to buy two round trip plane tickets to Europe with our credit card points.  Didn't cost a dime!!  Well, actually it cost us a lot of dimes over 5 years, but these were like bonus points.  :)
2. We found two super cheap flights round trip from Chicago to Zurich for the same price as one round trip ticket from Evansville to London.  $1400...no thank you.  $1400 for two people...we'll take it!  
3. My BFF from MS & HS, Kelli Ann, lives in London and wants us to stay with her.  Well, we actually volunteered ourselves to stay there, but of course she said yes.  Free place to stay...CHECK
4. In December got my bonus check for all my extra hard work and sales and it was just the amount we estimated to spend in Europe.  Saved in the Fun Fund Checking Account.  DONE.

So, we booked our flights the day after Thanksgiving and it's officially happening!  We are so excited!!

We're still making plans and researching, but these are our expected destinations:

• Luzern, Switzerland
• The Cinque Terre, Italy
• Rome, Italy
• London, England
• English Countryside
• Paris, France
• Zurich, Switzerland

Here's where you come in. If you've been to these places can you tell me where you stayed and if it was good or not?  Also, anywhere around these places that would be a good stop?  Most of these locations are based on travel, but there is wiggle-room in the plan still.  Thoughts??