Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

After perusing various recipes for crockpot BBQ I came up with my own and it was delicious!!

You will need:

1 1/2 lbs chicken tenders 

1 cup BBQ sauce

1/2 cup Worcester Sauce

1/4 cup honey 

*Mix all ingredients together in crockpot and cook on low for six hours.  Shred with a fork 30 mins before done so chicken can absorb the sauce!

I serves with a toasted bun, homemade coleslaw and corn on the cob!  Couldn't get much simpler.

Thoughts for Thursday: Refocusing

Linking up again with East Coast Chic & Home of Malones

Today my thoughts are simple, and the quote above really struck a chord with me.  This week I've been reminded to really take a step back and focus on what matters in life, namely friends.  It's so easy to be hyper focused on our own lives.  It's so easy to spend our days mostly on ourselves, spend our free time keeping up with the jones, etc.  It's easy.  What's not easy is really stepping back and appreciating the people we have in our lives that we couldn't imagine life without.

I had a friend open up this week about some truly scary struggles they are going through right now.  This brave friend was hurting and I had actually taken the time to notice and listen.  It really hit me at my core how much more of that I need to be doing.  How I need to redirect my attention sometimes to the people I love and just be there for them.  It's so easy to forget to do this.  It's so easy to put off seeing a friend because you're too busy. I'm going to try and focus now on what's not easy.  Because truly, God has blessed me with wonderful people in my life.  Nothing else could matter more than that simple fact.

Weekend Recap: Nice and Low Key

This past weekend was unusual for me.  The hubs wasn't around!  Though gone for the occasional golf trip, my husband has been gone since this past Thursday and is returning Wednesday!  My parents jumped on the chance for some alone time with their only child...I happily agreed!

Friday night we went to one of my favorite places in town: Dish!  Located in plaza midwood, this casual place has the BEST chicken and dumplings + Cajun meatloaf.  They loved it!

 

Saturday we did some shopping..,how cute are these pet bowls from crate and barrel?  I knew Piper and Pippa would love to be included in my obsession with white!

 

Some other random crate and barrel goodies!  The little dishes are some of my fave for deserts or small little dishes!  I've been meaning to get some for a while!  The serving bowl is a textured glass.  I need the matching platter for a bridal shower I am hosting in a few weeks!  And those white kitchen towels are the best I have found!  I just love that store...I could do some serious damage there!

Saturday night we grilled out...some of the best filets I've had in a long time (shhhh don't tell the hubs!).  And Sunday we had a relaxing lunch at Reid's before they headed home!

Sunday night Piper had a play date with my friend Lauren's dog Sutton!

      (This 65lb lap dog has my heart!!)

Hope your weekend was lovely as well!

Thoughts For Thursday: Dreaming of White Houses

Today I thought I would try my hand at the thoughts for Thursday link up from East Coast Chic & Home of the Malones.

So, lately the hubs and I have been seriously zillow stalking and crushing on houses.  We currently own a cozy town home that we have enjoyed a lot, but going into it, we knew we would ideally be at this house for 2-4 years.  Well, we hit the two year mark in May and I began to get a little bit antsy.

One of the best pieces of advice I've received was from a friend who told me to be very cautious buying anything for the house that we didn't truly need.  He told me I would be shocked by how much my style and taste would change.  Turns out, he was actually right and I'm glad I listened.

Now that we are looking at houses, we are looking in totally different neighborhoods and are really drawn to certain homes with a lot of white and gray!  Now, I don't mind a bit of painting and updating, but we stumbled on some new construction homes that were flawless.  White white white!  With gray accents and dark wood floor in EVERY room (I hate carpet deeply).  We are obsessed and are thankful to have a vision of what we truly love now that we are older...hopefully this time next year we will be in the middle or the hunt!

For now...some inspiring photos...

(I love the pops of color!  I want to do all neutrals with a few fun and unexpected pops)

Goodness I just LOVE this asthetic!  I get more into modern by the day!

Easy Pork Tenderloin

This simple meal was super yummy and too easy not to share.

You will need:

1 pork tenderloin (roughly a pound)

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tsp mustard

2 tbls honey

2 tbls sugar

1-2 shallots

*add all ingredients to a ziplock bag then add pork tenderloin and mix up until good and covered!  

*marinade all day until ready to grill!

I also marinaded some fresh asparagus in olive oil, salt, and pepper as a side.

*grill the tenderloin on medium high to high heat 7 mins one side, 6 the next, then close the lid for 6 more minutes!  

Let me know if you try this!  The hubs and I absolutely loved it!

Currently obsessed.

I swear, every week or two I have a new list of things I'm obsessing over.  It may be a wish list item, a drink, or like this week--a hair style!

{One} French braids

(My hair on the way to the pool this weekend)

I've been doing both double and single braids lately...after finally learning how at 26.  I'm obsessed, as I love avoiding heat damage during the summer as much as possible.  I also just love to be way more casual and less fussy in the summer!

{Two} Aveda Products

I swear by Aveda products y'all.  For me they just work super well!  Plus, they are natural and cruelty free.  I've used the brilliant damage protection spray for years but recently added these two products to my daily routine and I am loving them!  The smooth infusion helps fight wave and allows me to use way less heat--love!!

{Three} Blogilates 

Recently, I asked my friend what she had been doing to look so hot.  Naturally thin already, she was looking very lean and fit and I had to know!  Turns out, she's been following this awesome blog by a trainer! Better yet, there's an iPhone app with a workout calendar for each day hat connects to YouTube videos!  You can check off when you've completed the various tasks.  I'm obsessed.  

{Four} Laura and Lilly Bracelets

So, these adorable bracelets are handmade by villagers in Nepal (and sold to support them).  I love them!  So comfortable and fun for summer.  I've never been one for the stacked look but I am slowly getting into it!

4th of July recap!

   (Celebrating the 4th with family friends)

This past weekend Michael and I had a wonderful time in the mountains with my family!  I feel very blessed to be from such a gorgeous place (Flat Rock, NC to be specific).  Two hours from Charlotte, the weather is incredible and it's so nice to get out of the city!!

We had a lot of yummy meals (German is my fave!).

Gorgeous views to enjoy pre fire works show!

We did some brewery hopping while up there, including Oscar blues which has one of our fave beers: dales pale ale.  

Look at my cute hubby with his mountain man beard!

Piper had a great time too!  She was able to go most everywhere with us!

My adorable parents at wicked weed brewery in Asheville!  They have a low gluten IPA that the hubs is just wild about!!

And another brewery...southern Appalachian in Hendersonville.

  (How cute is my sweet 87 year old grandma?!!)

Goodness I didn't want to leave!  But I am so thankful for long weekends with family!!