Drink Pomegranate Gin Fizz. And Be Happy.

It's such a tremendously fun time of year, isn't it? The holiday decor is competing for our attention at Target (do I focus on Thanksgiving? Or do I just dive straight into Christmas? BOTH. ALWAYS BOTH.) The temperatures have dropped, so we get to cozy up to our loved ones and wear hats and gloves and chunky boots. Well, I'm sure that's the case somewhere in the world. My New York friends are certainly doing that. My Georgia friends... well, we are all confused about the weather here. Like, why is it always raining?? And tricking us with the threat of tornadoes? We prefer winter wonderlands. But whatever - LET'S DRINK SPIKED POMEGRANATE JUICE.

I concocted this for the flurry of bridal festivities a few weeks back, and it was so girly and different and good. It would be a great holiday appetizer cocktail for all the upcoming smashing events that I know are on your calendar. Enjoy, friends!

Ingredients:
- 2 oz. gin
- 2 oz. pomegranate juice (I prefer POM)
- 2 oz. club soda
- 2 lime wedges
- fresh mint leaves

Method:
1. Combine gin, pomegranate juice and the juice of 1 lime wedge in a shaker. Shake mixture well.
2. Fill a highball glass (or in my case, a stemless wine glass) with ice and a few sprigs of fresh mint. Muddle that mint a bit. It's asking for it.
3. Pour drink mixture into the glass. Garnish with extra mint and another lime wedge on the side. You're so fancy.

So fancy! That is all! Happy holiday imbibing, my friends! xox.

Girls Night at Fab'rik!

Last week I enjoyed the silliest, most wonderful girls night. My sis-in-law (and bff extraordinaire) won an exclusive party in a random drawing at a local retailer, Fab'rik, where we had the store to ourselves so we could basically shop, drink bubbly and LAUGH. Baby-free. Boy-free. Dinner time hours. It was the BEST. I love these ladies so much and it was a hilariously random joy to be able to try on some wild trends and then run out into the middle of the store in my bare feet and be all like, "So... what do you think? Go or no-go??" Because seriously, in my stage of life, shopping for cute clothes in a REAL STORE just isn't happening. In the random times that I do shop, it's usually asking my stylist sister to pick something up for me, or, it's simply clicking my size on the website of stores I already know. I never try new things. Because, Everett. Let me just tell you something: Everett and cute shopping stores do NOT mix. I wish I could say they did. If I brought Everett into this cute store, he would have screamed like a velociraptor for me to get him out of his stroller and then I would be wrestle-carrying around my broken-legged baby, trying to figure out how to wiggle out of the fancy jeans that I just HAD to try on. Um. No.

So, SHOPPING PARTY. And the Heavens parted. I had the chance to really engage with my friends and do some Christmas shopping and it was just all the most wonderful things smashed together into one jolly evening. And they gave us 20% off everything. I mean, the Christmas spirit was seriously alive and well. Oh, and did I mention we all rode there via golf cart? THE BEST. I love my community and I love our local Fab'rik. No, they did not pay me to say any of this. I truly love this store and the ladies there made us feel SO comfortable and welcome - thank you to Kelsey and the team! A few photos for your viewing pleasure.

Hi Amanda. You so fancy.

I couldn't resist. I had to buy something red :)

I talk too much at the cash wrap. But it's because they are SO NICE.

BEER FRIDGE.

Awwww you guys are the prettiest.

I'll just take them all. Thanks.

I fell in love with these dainty little gold necklaces.

So I might be ruined for shopping like a normal person after this wondrous experience. You mean other stores don't hand you glasses of champagne when you enter and take your bags and coats and help you in the fitting room and let you run around the premises and goof off like you're a tweenager? Man. Other stores are so behind the times.

Again, many thanks to Fab'rik for hosting this smashing event!

Paris.

I can't imagine the sheer horror that the beautiful people of France must be feeling this morning as they wake up. Without their loved ones in bed beside them. Without bumping into those souls on the metro, or while they're waiting in line for coffee, or while they're settling into their desks at work and looking over, realizing that their co-worker is gone.

Gone.

It's hard to find a frame of reference.

As Americans, we have 9/11 to remember.

I was in Boston, living in Cambridge, during the time of the Boston Marathon bombings and the man hunt that occurred in my neighborhood. I remember being afraid that the bomber was going to walk into my apartment building and try to hide out. That was kind of like an out of body experience.

But what what has happened in Paris is unlike other attacks. Simply because, these are other people. And every single man, woman and child who died in the wreckage of this terror matters. They matter.

I feel more than just a pain in my heart for this sweet country, this delicious city of lights that immediately swept me away with its romance, breathless beauty and vibrant history 3 years ago, when I had the privilege of visiting. But just feeling pain seems so inadequate. I am at a loss with just my words, and just the break in my heart, because I want to do something to alleviate the pain of this nation.

What can we do, friends? What can be done?

Peace on Earth seems to be battled for with the blood of our children. What can be done?

I am at a loss today. But as I plan my Thanksgiving meal and look forward to the coming Advent season, I feel a sense of guilt that there are places in the world that don't have the opportunity to feel my same sense of seemingly trivial peace. But it's not trivial at all, is it?

How can I extend my peace?

All I know to do today is to turn my questions, cries and helplessness into a ribbon of prayer. And all I know to offer to you is the encouragement to do the same. Prayers for our countries, prayers for our leaders to make wise decisions, prayers for the misguided hands that committed acts of terror, prayers for the families impacted, prayers for the loss.

Churn your confusion into a prayer of hope today.

Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
- Isaiah 60:1-3

My Dear Sister.

All photos on this post were taken by the talented, highly esteemed Sarah Massie, Mint & Honey Photography.

My Dear Sister. The Bride.

I have so many hopes and wishes for you. I hope you don't mind.

I wish for you all the happiness.

That your heart and your home would be effervescent with silly amounts of joy and laughter, all day, everyday, for all the days of your life.

That your dreams would remain in the forefront of your periphery and on the tips of your fingers. That every possible investment will be made into those dreams, which will turn to plans, which will turn to present, which will turn to experience, and crescendo into your most impacting memories.

That you would learn the patterns of a powerful partnership.

That you would invite Jesus to saturate this union of souls.

That you would, holding hands with your beloved, take risks that make you sweat.

That you would know when to not risk it all.

That you would be imaginative, free, overcome with the ease of being yourself.

That you would listen, always.

That your words would be gentle. Gentler than mine.

That you would know the elegant intimacy of only one other.

That you would allow your character to be challenged, vulnerable to his input, and therefore sharpened. Sharpened by questions, sharpened by encouragement, sharpened by a great many calls to action.

That your heart would remain intact, ever and always open. Don't hide it away, especially if you're hurting. Lay that wound open and figure out, together, how to help it heal.

That you would give everything you have. Give it all away. It's counter to our culture, but please dear, be counter to this culture we live in. Don't let today's ever-shifting society norms define this lifelong covenant.

May this wild, precious life of yours be marked with a legacy of wisdom, truth, generosity, joy, dreams fulfilled and a momentous partnership that looks to the Heavens for guidance.

My hope is that you will be given to, completely. That you will be honored. That you will be equally safe and challenged. That you will be well loved, celebrated in your best and worst moments, calmed down, cheered up, smiled at, embraced, cherished for who you are, pushed forward into your dreams, pushed even more forward to face your fears, and laughed with. I hope you laugh so much.

Make his happiness your priority, and may he do the same.

I am proud of you both. I believe in you both. I trust you both.

And it goes without saying, but I love you.

Love,
the sister of the bride.

P.S. - I love our sisterhood. May it blossom into the strongest, fiercest, tenderest support system for your new partnership to fulfill and flourish. And while I'm making some declarations, may I still be able to dip into your closet every now and then. Oh, may it be so. :)

All photos by Sarah Massie, Mint & Honey Photography

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas.

I have been searching high and low for my favorite chicken enchilada recipe. I've tried everyone's - Giada's, Ree Drummond's, Jessica Alba's, a zillion people on Epicurious and Allrecipes.com. But I haven't found THE ONE. Until now, that is. This recipe is a blend of trial and error (a lot of error - there have been batches lost to too much spice, too much cheese, too much sauce, too little sauce, etc.) I am excited to share this with you! I hope you love it as much as my family does :)

Ingredients:
- 3-4 boneless, skinless organic chicken breasts
- 4 32-oz. boxes of chicken stock
- 1-2 package tortillas (I prefer flour)
- 2 15-oz. cans red enchilada sauce
- 1 can green chilies
- 1 can diced black olives, drained
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 24 oz. Mexican-style cheese, shredded (this could be 3-4 packages)
- 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup, plus 1/2 cup more, cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 green pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 tbsp. diced garlic
- salt & pepper, to taste
- paprika

Method:
1. Heat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Place the chicken and 1 tbsp. diced garlic in a large stockpot and cover with the chicken stock. Toss in a bit of salt and pepper for good measure. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and let the chicken cook for about 20 minutes, or until cooked all the way through. It should be white and easy to slice through (that's how you will know it's done!)

3. While the chicken is cooking, you can prep everything else. In a smaller stockpot, pour the 2 cans of enchilada sauce and the 1 can of green chilies in and heat over medium-low. Let it slowly heat up. Make sure to stir every few minutes.

4. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine 18 oz. of the shredded cheese, the drained black olives, and the chopped cilantro. Mix well. Set aside.

5. Go ahead and de-seed and dice up the green pepper. Dice the yellow onion.

6. Once the chicken is finished cooking, remove from heat and drain out the broth. Move to a large plate or cutting board and shred the chicken meat.

7. Heat a large deep skillet over medium. Add some olive oil to the pan and allow 1-2 minutes to heat. Add in the diced onion and green pepper. Toss in a bit of salt and pepper, for funsies. After 3-4 minutes, when things are getting soft and slightly browned, toss in the shredded chicken. Then add the magic ingredient: the cream cheese. Allow the cheese to melt over the chicken, and mix everything well, so the chicken, cheese, onion and green pepper make a creamy situation. Yum. Yum yum yum. Lower the heat. 

8. Now it's time to dress your tortillas! Lay your tortilla flat and add some of the chicken mixture down the middle. Then top with the cheese, olive + cilantro mixture. Roll the tortilla up and place seam-side down in a large glass oven-safe pan. Repeat this with all the tortillas until your pan is full. Note: I had enough ingredients to make 1 large 9x13 pan and another 8x8 pan.

9. Pour the enchilada sauce over the top of all the tortillas in the pan, making sure to completely saturate the tortillas.

10. Top the tortillas with another 8 oz. of shredded cheese.

11. Bake in the oven at 425 degrees for 20 minutes.

12. Top enchiladas with 1/2 cup of cilantro. Dress with sour cream, black beans or green onions - or nothing at all! These enchiladas can stand alone and stand proud.

Serves 6-8.

I really really REALLY love this recipe. It's taken me a good bit of trial and error to get here, so I am proud to share this with you. I hope it warms up your home on these days that are getting chillier and chillier :) Happy yummy dinner to you and your family!