23

23 will always be a memorable birthday for me, I am sure. It started out great, forecasts for flurries in the afternoon, a lunch date with a sweet friend, coworkers who brought me flowers and cake. Amazing. I woke up, Skyped with my mom and opened their gifts like I always did when I was a kid, and headed off to work.

By the time it reached 12:45, my friend and I were finishing up lunch and our lattes (by the way, lavender latte? Insane.) and it had just started to snow. I guess all of Durham got the memo that it was going to be a bad one, because between dropping her off at her apartment and getting on the road ten minutes later, I found myself in a traffic jam that would last for four hours. Mind you, my new drive to work usually takes me 20 minutes tops. So crazy! Things got pretty desperate in my Civic when my gas light came on three and a half hours into my trek, but thank Jesus I made it home to poor Brandon, who had run to the store to get a few supplies just in case our power went out (and a ton of stuff for an AMAZING birthday dinner), and had been waiting outside of my apartment for me to get there for over an hour. Like I said, it was real crazy out there.

When we finally did make it inside and warm, the day got so much better. We enjoyed the snow from the comfort of my couch, ate tuna tataki (our absolute favorite) and smores (my favorite) and watched the world outside get more and more white as the night went on. We drank hot cocoa and watched movies. From that point on, it was perfect.

It's crazy thinking about all of the things that will happen this year while I'm 23! B and I will get married, move into our first apartment, get a dog (please??) and figure out what life as a Goodman looks like. I am so so grateful, remembering where I was this time last year and knowing where I will be next year this time. Even though I succumb to stress like every other human ever, I am so grateful for this life, for this time.

xoxo,

Abby

sushi bowls!

Call me crazy, but I think in another life I was Japanese.

...

Ok so sushi! We all love it (well, most of us do...right Regan?), we all hate how the good stuff is so expensive, we all can't look cute and go out to eat all of the time, amirite? Enter: the sushi bowl. Deconstructed sushi. In a bowl. And then in your stomach.

This would be such fun food for a dinner party because it's so customizable! Literally take whatever ingredients you normally like in your sushi, put it over a bed of rice, and add your favorite seasonings. I kept this version sweet and simple. I could also see it being amazing with rice vinegar instead of teriyaki sauce, cucumbers, strawberries, pineapple, ginger, wasabi, raw tuna or salmon, daikon, crumbled nori sheets, lime mayo, you get the picture.

Sushi bowls (makes one)

1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 large carrot, chopped lengthwise
1/2 avocado, sliced
1 green onion, whites only, sliced and minced
2 "legs" imitation crab meat, diced
And to taste:
Sesame seeds
Sriracha
Soy sauce
Teriyaki sauce
Light mayo
Ponzu (fish sauce)

Layer ingredients in a bowl over hot or cold rice. Nom so hard.

xoxo.

Abby

crockpot "husband" beef stew

Every time I use my crockpot, I can't believe that I don't use it more often. A serious thought went through my head as I was eating the other night that I should give it a hug. This is while I was home alone by myself though, as a disclaimer. And sometimes when I'm home alone in my apartment things get weird.


Anyways! This stew. You guys. It was roughly adapted from a recipe I found here, and I was super nervous putting it together that all of the little tweaks I had made to it were going to be weird. BUT OH MAN. This stew gets its name because my roommate walks in, eats a bowl and exclaims, "You have to teach me how to make this so I can get a husband." (Jokes on jokes, do you see any husbands in this apartment?)

There is something really magical about beef that gets so happy and tender from being cooked in broth for eight hours straight. There is also something magical about my crockpot's "Keep warm" feature which doesn't keep my longer-than-I-would-like-but-it's-ok-because-I-listen-to-NPR commute from allowing me to enjoy my stew hot even though the timer ended two hours before. But I digress.

Crockpot "Husband" Beef Stew

**Note: Use organic ingredients whenever possible. I used organic beef, tomatoes, beef stock and carrots in this recipe and I am starting to believe that they make a huge difference in flavor!

1.5 lbs stew meat
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
4 medium carrots, chopped
1.5 lbs yellow potatoes, chopped
2 cups beef stock
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
2 bay leaves
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
a generous shaking of Italian seasoning

Combine all ingredients except for beef stock in a gallon-sized zip lock bag. Freeze. When you're ready to make the stew (aka the next morning) take the bag out of the freezer, dump into your crockpot and pour the beef stock over. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. If possible, stir a few times throughout the day to make sure the flavors are distributing evenly, but don't stress if you can't.

Bon appetit! I know that this recipe is going to be amazing this fall! I can't wait!

xoxo. Abby

august.

A few snapshots from my life recently. 

1/2: I got an iPad case! It is so gorgeous and you can find the brand here. 

3: Brandon came back from a week-long trip to Mexico with beautiful presents.

4: Craigslist adventures continue with this 1970's Goodform chair. Can't wait to keep slowly adding to our space!

5: A sweet man at my local Kroger was going around handing flowers out to people waiting to check out. Totally made my day. 

So many fun adventures for the next month and a half are in the works! One (maybe two?) trips to Nashville, settling in adventures, friend adventures, and possibly puppy adventures?? Can't handle all this goodness and can't wait to share it all as it unfolds.

Here's to what's ahead,

Abby

etsy obsessions: tea & snacks!

Setting up an apartment is so much fun! Doing it on a budget means it is happening slowly, but I keep having new fun ideas about to liven the place up a little bit every day. There's artwork to be done, furniture still to be moved in, and figuring out that fine line between functionality and amazing design.

One of my favorite things to think about now that our apartment is finally functional is having people over! I love the idea of having a space that makes people want to cozy in and stay awhile. There are a million ways to do this, and my brainstorming list so far includes lots of soft crocheted blankets, vintage board games, and plenty of good seating. And of course, food! Kitchenware is probably my #1 searched for category on Etsy and Craigslist right now, and my current obsession are these little tea and snack plates. I think they are just adorable and plan on investing soon to have girls over for tea! Here are some of my favorites that I've found.

1-2-3-4-5-6

Happy snacking (and dreaming!). 

Abby

gettin' it back. (the new normal)

How is it Sunday night already? Wasn't it Saturday morning about two seconds ago?

Weekends seem to go really fast when Monday morning comes so early, that's for sure. But you will never hear me complain about my job. I am eternally grateful for it and cherish the people there more than I thought I would after just two weeks of working.

SO MANY things have been going on lately! First, let me apologize for the abismal amount of posting I have been doing recently. It's a long story but my apartment still is internet-less and so every time I want to use the internet I have to go to Starbucks or Brandon's apartment. So please don't think to yourself, "Oh Abby, now that she's working full-time she is forgetting us." False. I miss this little space on the internet and plan to blog as much as I did when I was unemployed (if not more, because now my life is actually interesting). Things have just been a little crazy.

As a snapshot, in the past two weeks I moved into my new apartment, bought a car, traveled out of state for a wedding, and spent all of my work days training to take over my position at work from the girl who has left the position. There have been very very stressful moments in there, and I am so glad to be moving forward. Getting settled. Gettin' back into the groove of a new normal.

Here are some snapshots of my life the past two weeks!

boxes on boxes on boxes

garage sale finds! love this funky journal.

the messy bun is so awesome for weekends when I no longer care about polished hair (18/52)

And finally, some bare bones shots of the apartment! Soooo much decorating will be done soon. My awesome roommate's mom just so happens to work at an antique store so we are going to have all the goodies!

It's hard to tell, but my room is going to be cozy and very dark, so I have a feeling that my drafting table corner is going to be one of my favorite spots in the apartment. 

Here's to settling in and bed in half an hour. :)

xoxo. Abby

HOME DECORATING INSPIRATION

What a whirlwind couple of days it has been (and will continue to be!) During the past six weeks at home I did this awkward little dance with all of my boxes I moved home with from Nashville that went from "I refuse to unpack anything because I will only be here for one week max," to "well, since I'm here I might as well work on that craft project, unpacking one box won't hurt..." and back and forth until most of my boxes are slightly unpacked. It's one of the more awkward packing situations I've been in, for sure. Which is saying something, because living in a dorm for three years and then an apartment meant I was moving out and moving into a new place every year for the past four years. Oops.

Needless to say, I have been very excited for this move for a while now and my future roommate (holla atcha Kacey) and I have started house hunting!! I cannot wait to get there and see some of these places for myself but until I do I am satiating my desires with excessive amounts of Pinterest inspiration. Here are some of my favorites recently:

Copper confetti entry way via

Colorful succulents via

A washi-tape stag head above the fireplace via

These color combinations are all fantastic via

If you want to see more, you can visit my whole Pinterest inspiration board for my future dwelling space here. 

Have a happy Sunday,

Abby

P.S. - Some big things are coming for ASAGL's blog design soon! Get excited for some major changes this week! 

A SIMPLE SLIMFAST SMOOTHIE

One of my summer priorities thus far has been making time to exercise, and to do so much more regularly. I find that when I exercise and take care of my body, I want to eat more healthy as well! Here's a recipe that my dad and I have been drinking for extra vitamins and protein to start off the day- be that with a 10 mile run (like he so often does) or with a quick trip to the Y.

Simple Slimfast Smoothie

1/2 cup blueberries
1 cup strawberries
1 banana
1 scoop of Slimfast Chocolate powder
8 oz dairy of your choice (I used 1% milk)

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until very smooth, about 1 minute. If you like your smoothies colder, freeze your fruit ahead of time or add a cup of ice.

Drink up!

Abby

#SHEREADSTRUTH

About six months ago, I got introduced to a little community called #SheReadsTruth. The idea was simple: women reading the Bible together, learning together, growing together. Today, #SheReadsTruth celebrates its one-year anniversary, and I am so excited to celebrate with them today. While I would love to do a video, our home is a little crazy today after a 5k and preparing our house for a church intern to come and live with us for the summer, so instead, I'll just say this:

#SheReadsTruth has really challenged me spiritually in a spiritually challenging year. (Does that make sense?) There were a lot of times this past year where I began to doubt God's goodness and his sovereignty in orchestrating different circumstances in my life, from the job search to being in a long-distance relationship with a very busy first year med student, to figuring out what I really wanted out of life after my last year of college was over. I am thankful for the women of #SheReadsTruth sharing their struggles and their life right alongside mine (even when I didn't feel like sharing) and for getting me out of my comfort zone in studying the Old Testament! Let's just say there's a very slim chance that I would have studied Nehemiah on my own this spring. (Note: it's actually pretty boss and you should check it out for yourself)

So THANK YOU to Raechel and all of the women who decided to make #SheReadsTruth a place to come and meet with God this year. Can't wait to see what is in store for this awesome community and if you want to check it out for yourself, click here and see what this community has been for so many other women as well.

Happy June!

Abby

SUNDAY MORNING

Sunday morning this morning looks like a big bowl of Malt o Meal and some idea generation. It's full of list-making, goal-setting, and resting in good truth. 

Journal/Rifle Paper Co. 

Today is a good rest day after a lot of hard work on our back porch yesterday, which now has a ceiling!  Our family is real lucky to have lots of great friends who are willing to come and help us out on projects like that, and it's going to look great when it gets finished.

Can't wait to share some fun stuff that I have lined up for this week!

Happy Sunday,

Abby

HOME

What an insane seven days. Their happenings included two graduations (from college, and from law school), two plane flights, two days in a car, about 50 moving boxes, some broken pottery, two interviews, a networking social, and too many goodbyes.

As someone who craves structure and thrives on new adventures, this time has the potential to be pretty challenging for me. It makes me very grateful for the people and things in my life that I know will always be constant, including a generous family, a loving Brandon, and a good God.

AND REALLY. What is there to complain about when there are hammocks in your immediate future and plenty of time for good books and workouts with your mom?

Here are some awesome things I've been loving over the past week with links to inspire you this weekend:

I've been munchin' on Wasabi Peas from Trader Joes. Currently on a hunt to find a great salad to put these in!

A list of 50 Books That Will Change Your Life  (from Real Simple)

I made this salad both nights when I was in Chapel Hill this week. It was a huge hit! (from Cooking Light)

6 DIYs to try this weekend. Dying over those giant flowers. (from Paper & Stitch)

I made the photo above and so many others this week with the new A Beautiful Mess app! As if I needed another reason to be obsessed with Elsie & Emma. 

Happy Friday!

Abby 

FINISHED! CHEVRON BLANKET

Last week one of my fun "lets-avoid-packing-my-room" activities was finally finishing this grannie ripple afghan that I made as a going away present for my friend Molly. She has had a tremendous impact on my life and walk of faith over the past year that I have known her so I wanted to make her something special to remember me by.

If you're a fellow crochet-er (?) and wanna know how I made it, you can check out this general series of videos on the grannie ripple afghan on Youtube. I followed her tutorials pretty closely except for the colors and size (mine is way smaller).

Happy creating!

Abby