The NEW Song that Never Ends

Fun things: I did a couple DIY refashions this weekend.
1. The flair white jeans I skinnied last summer... now shorts.
2. The long sleeve I haven't worn since 2009... now a tank.

Maybe you've already seen these photos, 
but if not don't forget to follow on instagram @patternedlove

As elementary, middle, and high schools let out in mid June, 

drivers everywhere stopped having pity parties and started having dance parties 

in their cars as they did NOT have to drive 20mph anymore for some ridiculous 

length before and after the school grounds when they're already late to work.

And with these series of events, adults everywhere start seeing youngsters 

in stores, on sidewalks, and in coffee shops in the MIDDLE OF THE DAY. 

To some adults it's annoying, but in my opinion this makes for many 

wonderful people watching experiences (in a totally NON-creeper-ish way).

As I checked the mail a few weeks back, I paused to thumb through 
and find anything that anyone might possible have sent for me. 
Nothing... but what's this? A faint voice in the wind?

Yes, the neighbor boy...

What's that? Is he singing?

Yes! That is without-a-doubt a little 7(ish) year old singing at the top of his lungs.

But wait... what is that lyric I hear?

He has made up a new and original song 

that for the past 5 WEEKS has not left me alone... 

it echos over and over and over in my increasingly annoyed, 

but initially laughing mind.

"IT'S SUMMER!

I'M GUNNA DO WHATEVER I WAaaaaaNT!"

"IT'S SUMMER!

I'M GUNNA DO WHATEVER I WAaaaaaNT!"

"IT'S SUMMER!

I'M GUNNA DO WHATEVER I WAaaaaaNT!"

"IT'S SUMMER!

I'M GUNNA DO WHATEVER I WAaaaaaNT!"

There is a strange tune. He made it up... It wont leave me alone.

I cracked up at first. In fact, I literally laughed out loud 

as I went inside chanting with him. 

But at this point, it's officially an anthem in my head that wont stop.

So currently the only appropriate actions is clearly 

to choreograph an entire dance number 

and enter as an act in an upcoming talent show!

Psalm 108:3-4

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Tasty Tuesdays: Sundried Tomato & Pesto Chicken Sandwich

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday. 

Sometimes I just need a quick bite and not a whole turn upside 

down every pan in the kitchen type of meal. 
And I am a little bit of a sandwich lover too... 

So this here meal... just happened one day.

Disclaimer: I didn't snag a photo of the finished closed sandwich 

because my taste buds just couldn't wait any longer. Sorry folks.

Ingredients: 

Baguette Bread

Pesto (I used Basil Pesto from Costco)

Sun Dried Tomatoes (you'll need the oil inside the jar too)

Cream Cheese

Cooked Chicken (I just salt & peppered mine)

Directions:

Cut your baguette sandwich style.

Remove about 8-12 pieces of sun dried tomato from the jar and dice them up. 

Dump those in with the cream cheese and add a little of the oil from the sun dried

tomato jar. I only had enough cream cheese for this left in my tub so I just used it to mix.

Mix well.

Drizzle (love that word) some of the oils from the tomato's onto your 

bread and put that in the oven to lightly toast it while you slice your chicken.

(don't forget or it will be much more than toasted.)

Once your chicken is sliced remove your bread, if you haven't already, from the oven.

On one side of your bread spread your cream cheese/tomato mix.

On the other side, spread your pesto.

Top one with your sliced chicken and close your sandwich.

Put that back in the oven for a short time just to toast it all together.

I hope you all enjoy!

^{Hebrews 4:14-16}

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, 

the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect

has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to

the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Strawberry Field Forever

Well there can't always be outfits and sunshine now can there.

Last week I found myself galavanting around a huge field packed

with rows of strawberries. As I picked and pick and picked, and chatted

 with a friend I slowly but surely picked way more than I expected.

I took home a huge bowl of strawberries wondering what in the world

I was going to do so that half or more didn't go bad sitting in that dang bowl.

I chopped them up and put them in oatmeal. I made up some shortcake

and topped it with these red delicious treats. And I even woke up early one

morning and whipped up some strawberry muffins to share.

And as I continually found uses for these mouth watering, flavor packed

strawberries, I also found myself humming a little tune I grew up hearing

thanks to my Beatles fan of a mother. "Strawberry Fields Forever."

I can't even type the title without singing it.

Does this ever happen to anyone eles? The childhood song stuck in your brain.

John 16:33

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.

In the world you will havetribulation.

But take heart; I have overcome the world.

A Love of Mugs and Muggles

The fun things about this outfit:

Shoes & Bracelet & Shirt - Thrifted, Necklace - HandMeDown from Mom, Jeans - Old Navy

This may have absolutely no relevence to you right now...

But I love mugs! 

I just love them.

I'm not a glass or a cup kind of girl. I like drinking from mugs!

(and straws but that's a different story)

I'm not sure where this strange love started, or how and why

it had developed, but alas, it has. 

My lovely mother and I went to Vegas to visit my sister

a while back and we all three went to see Love... the cirque

amazingness featuring Beatles music. In the gift shop, I totally

purchased a mug. It's huge and awesome... 

but the next day we hit up a local thrift store... 

and I found this gorgeous turquoise mug for only about $1 

and I purchased that bad boy too... Love it just as much!

(after I washed it).

Next week I am about to unfold the story of the best mug I have ever

held in my hands in my whole life. You wont want to miss it!

It's getting a little bit crazy up in here, and I might as well

tell the world because life is just that strange and beautiful sometimes.

P.S. I've set a goal for myself to read at least the first 2 Harry Potter

books this summer (big deal because I'm not a reader by any definition of the word)

.... and I'm Nailing It... halfway through book 2 and can't put it down. 

Maybe I should start setting more lofty goals! 

But hey... Muggle goals... whatcha gunna do?

James 3:17-18

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, 

open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Tasty Tuesday - Chicken & Brat Kabobs

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday. 

I have never in my life used a BBQ before. I've eaten plenty of yums

straight off the BBQ, I've ordered somethings at restaurants that have 
the word "BBQ" in it, I've been invited & attended BBQ's as events. 

But never have a used a BBQ in all of my life.

So in an effort to participate in being a human, I thought I ought to try.

And so the idea of Kabob's entered my head and whisked me away to drool land,

where we all lived happily and carnivorously ever after... Care to Join?

Here's what I did!

Disclaimer: I did mine in a different marinading order and think the way
I typed it below is better than what I did... 
Thus a lil difference in photos and directions.

Ingredients: 

8 Chicken Tenderloins

5 Beer Brats

2 Large Green Peppers

(add more colors if you'd like)

1 Large Onion

1-2 bottles Teriyaki marinade 

Note: Need long skewers

Directions:

Let's start at the very beginning. A very good place to start.

No really, when you wake up at the beginning 
of the morning, get the Brats on to boil.

You don't need to cook them 100% but at least 50% cooked.

While they're boiling, get the Veggies washed and cut. 

Cut them in large pieces about 1x1 inch at the smallest. 

(I think mine where closer to 2x2 inches)

This is especially important for the onion, seeing as how we're all

used to dicing or thin-slicing for those lil cry-babies.

When the veggies are cut and the brats is cooked to your liking,

Get your raw tenderloins and brats on the cutting board and cut them up.

Same thing, cut that meet to about 2 x 2 inches.

(not an exact science friends, just don't make them tiny)

Now that everything is cut (including any additional veggies you want)

Put it all in a gallon freezer zip lock bag and pour in 1-2 bottle of the

Teriyaki marinade. (this is your preference)
I might even suggest you put your chicken in a separate bag to 
marinade and combine it all when you skewer it later.

Let that sit in the refrigerator all the live long day, 

while you go about frolicking in field, picking daisies 

and any other major priorities you have to get through. 

About an hour before you want to eat, take that bag of goodies out

and start skewering it. I'm pretty sure I just did a healthy rotation

of all 4 things over and over and over again. 

But hey, you can live on the edge and put two peppers together if you wanted to.

When you're all skewered up, take it out and light up the BBQ.

(or as I did, have someone light up the BBQ... Maybe I still haven't used a BBQ?)

Lay out your Kabobs and cook until meat is finished.

I went ahead and sliced a baguette up with butter and garlic powder,

wrapped it in foil and put it on the BBQ too. Carbs people, I love 'em!

Enjoy!

^{Psalm 68:19-20}

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.

Revive my Soul

The fun things about this outfit:

Shoes & Dress - Clothing swaps, Necklace - Free, Belt - Thrifted

Well it's been a whirlwind of a weekend, that may or may not be

expounded upon in the coming weeks. But It was a wonderful one, too!

One of my the most relaxing parts of the weekend was a couple hour

chunk I spent with another lovely human, just laying on a blanket in the sun.

Soaking up some rays, reading some books, 

*cough cough*

Painting my nails.

It was wonderful & relaxing. I'm realizing as life speeds up 

more and more as I get older, that I really have to cherish these 

moments of calmness and ease when the arrive.

Soak them in like water to a sponge, so that during those crazy times,

those rough time, and those pull-you-hair-out-with-a-smile-on-your-face time

I can just rely on that restful water I've absorbed and look forward to the next refill.

What a perfect segue into two verses, that remind me of where the true rest is found!

Matthew 11:28-29

Come to me, all who labor and areheavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 119:25

My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!

Ate the Whole Thing

The fun things about this outfit:

Dress - Target (uber sale), Necklace - Free Bin, Blue Shirt & Earrings - Thrifted

The Northwest likes to rain just when all us natives get our hopes up that 
summer had started, I take every ray of sun with every ounce of seriousness... 
aka... Soak. It. Up. 

With the sunshine comes to light a certain little love of mine 
known as FRUIT! I didn't even think to snag a photo of what I really 

looked like prior to these photos but I did snap one of the proof.

I ate an entire cantaloupe.

Yep.
 Is that considered a confession when you eat something in its entirety?

Well, I confess then! 
Because that cantaloupe and I became real friendly, real quick!

I snuck it onto instagram in between bites as I sat on the 
porch loving the warmth that can never outstay it's welcome!

I believe the word I'm looking for is "basking."
Yes, I was basking in the sun, cantaloupe in hand, 
not a care in the world moment.

Thank you Lord for the Sun!
Thank you Lord for Cantaloupe!

Quick side note before I share some scripture that I was loving today:
I have now typed cantaloupe incorrectly in so many different ways that
I think my computer just rolled it's eyes at me 
while it put that dang dotted red line underneath.

Romans 12:17-19

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the 
sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, 
for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”