31 days of being intentional

And not because I'm good at it. Because it's something I need to work on.

As a creature of routine and habit (Type A, yes), I often find myself on auto-pilot. I can go through the day without much purposeful thought behind what I'm doing and why.

 

It's time to reset. 

To refocus. 

To be more intentional in life. 

In the big, deep things and the small, simple things.

Join me, The Nester, and countless other bloggers as we write daily through October.

To being intentional...

Index 
Each post discusses a big way or in a small way to be intentional.
[Note: I will link to each day to the corresponding post as the 31 days go by...enjoy :)]

Day 1 - Big: Your Life's Purpose

Day 2 - Big: Your Thought Life

Day 3 - Big: Priorities

Day 4 - Small: Celebrating the Season [5 on Friday!]

Day 5 - Big: Quiet Time in Word + Prayer
Day 6 - Small: Meal Planning

Day 7 - Small: Surprises

Day 8 - Big: What You Say

Day 9  - Big: What You Don't Say

Day 10 - Small: Healthy Eating [Pumpkin, Kale, + Cheese Pasta]

Day 11 - Small: Your Personal Style [5 on Friday!]

Day 12 - Big: Fruits of the Spirit

Day 13 - Big: Rest

Day 14 - Small: Healthy Meals [TJ's MYOP]

Day 15 - Small: Reflecting Purpose in Your Home

  Day 16 - Big: Serving
Day 17 - Small: Healthy Meals [Whole Wheat Pasta + Turkey Meatballs]

Day 18 - Small: Reflecting YOU in Your Home [5 on Friday!]

Day 19 - Small: Pinching Pennies [Make Your Own Soap]

Day 20 - Big: Your Identity

Day 21 - Big: Friendship

Day 22 - Big: Seeing His Creation

Day 23 - Big: Time

Day 24 - Big: Praying for People Unknown

Day 25 - Big: Using Your Gifts

Day 26 - Big: Prayer Triggers

Day 27 - Big: Stop Glorifying Busy

Day 28 - Big: A Community of Believers

Day 29 - Small: Smile + Say "Hello"

Day 30 - Big: Counting Your Blessings

Day 31- Big: Reflecting

butternut squash + kale quesadillas

It's hilarious to me that I'm writing about a recipe that I (successfully) cooked. The good news is that since I'm a complete and utter novice at this, if I can cook it...you can definitely cook it. So cheers to that!

I pinned this recipe from the Pioneer Woman, and y'all, she is GREAT at posting lots of detailed pics for an audience like me that a) didn't know what a butternut squash as a whole looked like before 1 week ago b) looked at the butternut squash and thought, "How the heck do I cut this thing?"

Without further ado...butternut squash and kale quesadillas!

I served ours with organic sweet potatoes. All they need is some cumin, pepper, butter (for Mark) or salsa verde (for me).

Ingredients (serves 2)
4 whole wheat tortillas
Cheese
1 butternut squash
Kale
Butter
Chili powder
Salt & pepper to taste (optional - I left out the salt in ours)
Salsa + sour cream (also optional :))

Directions

Peel, cut, and dice the butternut squash. I studied every picture posted in this link to do this. 

Add butter and olive oil to a skillet then pile on your diced squash. Add chili powder, salt, and pepper to your liking. Mix together and cook on high heat until the squash is a "nice and deep golden brown." Then empty that well-cooked squash onto a plate and forget about it for a few minutes. :)

Grab your kale (2-3 handfuls), remove any big stalks, and throw it into the same skillet you were just using on medium-high heat. Add more butter/olive oil if needed. Kale doesn't wither up like spinach, so don't expect that! :)

After the kale cooks and crisps for a few minutes, you can turn off the heat (or just keep it on low) and add the squash back to the skillet.

In a pan with butter (I used olive oil spray instead) toss in one tortilla at a time. I love how The Pioneer Woman suggested letting each side of each individual the tortilla warm up in the pan to help with the cheese melting process. Clutch.

Choose how much cheese you want...I prepared mine vs. Mark's just a teensy bit differently:

These are mine: I only added cheese to one tortilla.

And these are Marky's: cheese on both tortillas. :)

 
Finally, sprinkle on you cheese and add the kale and + butternut squash. Let that melty goodness happen, flip, cut into 4 slices and voilà! You've got yourself a butternut squash and kale quesadilla. Serve with salsa and/or sour cream. Woohoo!

1 thessalonians 5:18

Happy Sunday, y'all! I love Sundays.

I was up to some fall crafting around our house this morning. One of the things I made was this little printable. You can put it in a square picture frame, post it on a bulletin board, save it, pin it, or (the best yet!) commit it to memory. 

I am definitely trying to arm myself with more Scripture knowledge...the kind that involves knowing where it's written the Bible. I'd say I am a-okay with knowing verses in a very general sense, but when it comes to consistently remembering which book/chapter/verse number(s)?! Not so much. I am working on it!! 

Rhonna Designs // Rhonna Designs app

Join me in committing 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to memory! And have a happy, restful, rejuvenating Sunday. :)

what's in a name

I'm into names. What they mean, where they come from....all that good stuff. I mean, my future kids' names are already picked out. Middle names included. Yup, I'm owning it.

Naturally, I gave special thought to the name of this blog, and I figured it would be appropriate to explain how "cheers y'all" got its name. Some decor details from our wedding day say it best. They were made personally and perfectly by the oh-so-lovely Becca from Rebecca Rose Events (Thanks, Becca!!!).
 

Image by Elizabeth Scott Photography

"Cheers" in the title our blog isn't meant to be interpreted merely as the afterthought of a post-toast-drink-clink. With my English hubby's influence, it's also meant to be an expression of gratitude. A way of saying thank you. 

I added "y'all" to put the "down home" feel on it. I'm a Southerner born and raised. "Y'all" has always been a part of my vernacular. Even Mark has been caught saying it on many occasions...even though he can't take himself seriously when he does (and neither can anyone else). :)

Photo by Elizabeth Scott Photography

 I loved this glowy candlelight setup at our wedding!!!

 Can you spot the dusty miller too? Also obsessed with that greenery. It's my favorite.

Photo by Elizabeth Scott Photography

 Koozies for clinking the beer bottles in a toast AND as a "thank you for coming!" 

So...thanks for coming to the blog. Cheers! Forever expressing my gratitude and toasting to everyday life.

5 on Friday: Wilmington Edition

My first 5 on Friday link-up....and I'm pumped about this! Cheers to the lovely lady creators of this fun idea (hiii Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha!)!!

Since we are new residents of Wilmington, NC, I figured I should make my first 5 on Friday about our new beach life. Here are my 5 most favorite things about our move so far!

  
BEACH PROXIMITY

Did I mention that we live at the beach now? ;) Still can't get over it. Pinch me. This is where we went last weekend...
 

Can you guess what we're doing this weekend too? Eee!

 HUBBY TIME

Cheeeeeeeesssseeee. I know. But really. We had a (BIG) summer together. It was filled with lots of travel and both of us having some down time together before beginning new jobs with our relocation. To me our summer of travel + moving to a new place where we don't really know anyone/have a lot of friends (...yet!)  just means that I get some extra qt with my honey. I couldn't be more thankful for it. Last year with me teaching kindergarten and Mark coaching soccer, we had completely opposite schedules...since the only time kids can play soccer is when they're, of course, out of school.

All that to say, I've been soaking up every minute I've gotten with this handsome hubby of mine!

:)

ROOTS

Mark did a really great job living life in Charlotte, NC, with me. Our first year of marriage was super fun, but I couldn't help but notice how he so selflessly dropped himself into my hometown, my family, my church, my friends, my favorite restaurants...you get the picture. 

I am so happy that we moved somewhere where we can grow our own roots.  Just our little family! A place we can discover together.  :)

Rhonna Designs // Rhonna Designs app

NESTING

As the daughter of an incredible interior designer, I think my love for all things home is in my blood. I love making our new place reflect my style (because the hubs isn't too into decorating...free reign for me!) and who we are as a family.

These are the pillows I just posted about here! 

COOKING

Let it be known that I used to hate cooking. The fanciest meal I made in our first year of marriage consisted of 2 frozen crab cakes and mushroom risotto, both precisely from the frozen section of Trader Joe's. Heat it up, serve, bam.

I knew that with this change from teacher-to-nanny, I could put a lot more time into being the wife I have always dreamed of being. Knowing my way around the kitchen came along with that dream. I definitely wouldn't proclaim myself as a "good cook" yet (I still have a LOT to try/learn), but I am surprising myself and actually enjoying meal planning and attempting recipes. Truth.

I find myself texting pictures to my sister and girlfriends around dinnertime every night and asking the question, "Who am I?!?!?!"

This week I tried a butternut squash and kale quesadillas recipe. Y-U-M! 

Did you see this pic on my insta? Recipe coming soon!!

Okay...woo!!! I hope I did this right! 5 on Friday FUN!

throw pillows. i love.

My husband doesn't understand my love for throw pillows. Which is fine. I don't want/expect him to.

We moved to Wilmington just over a month ago, and with a new job (this kindergarten teacher turned into a nanny!), I have much more time and energy to pour into our little family and our home. Thank you, Lord!! 

With that said...throw pillows. Adding those around our home is a legit part of nesting, right?! 

I found society6 through Pinterest not too long ago. After browsing through the pillows and making a wish list that was way too long, I settled on these three designs for three different rooms in our home.

For our bedroom:

http://society6.com/AldariArtStudio/Beige-Tan-Damask-Pattern_Pillown

For our den (because leopard print is forever my favorite neutral):

http://society6.com/Daniellebourland/Leopard-pUg_Pillow

And one of these cuties for the chaise lounge in our guest room:

http://society6.com/product/Louis-Armstrong-told-us-so_Pillow

The best part? Society6 has free shipping worldwide through Sunday!

That makes me want to order a couple of my other favorites that I pinned here...eeek!

Go ahead and follow me on Pinterest or Insta! 

For now...happy Friday and happy WEEKEND!

here i am!!!

So, remember when I made this blog to keep up with our English family? Yeah, that didn't work out so well. I posted!...but that hardly counts when it happens once a month or so. Yikes!

Here is the new game plan: keep up with the blog. But not just for our family. This time I'm writing for any/all!

As a self-proclaimed open book, I am always a fan of wearing my heart on my sleeve and "doing life" alongside a community of people I love and cherish. Why not make that community a little bigger?! :)

So, here we go. Re-vamping the blog. With everything life. Ventures in cooking, homemaking, travel, faith, family, ups, downs, and the little things in between.

Let's do this!