A Delicious Way To Wake Up!

December 23, 2013December 20, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Happy Christmas Week!

We are writing to you from beautiful (& very chilly) Minnesota on this Monday before Christmas, with the perfect (mostly) prepare-ahead breakfast for your Christmas Morning!

Craig & I made breakfast for dinner last week, and tried this dish…It was so GOOD! We substituted blackberries & blueberries for the raspberries, and of course used Gluten-Free Bread – but you can certainly use “real” bread if you aren’t “gluten-challenged”!

Raspberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

Click the link for the recipe, and until you make your own version, here is the one we made last week!

Oh my goodness, this was just so delicious! Craig ate his with maple syrup, and the look he gave me when he took his first bite told me he was in heaven! 🙂 Personally, I think whipped cream…or vanilla ice cream…mmmm…would be yummy, as well!

I would have taken a pretty, ‘staged’ picture our plates…but we just gobbled this up TOO quickly!!

If you enjoy this recipe and are gluten-challenged or interested in more gluten-free and delicious recipes, Udi’s has some great ones here – Your family won’t even be able to tell the difference! 🙂

Until tomorrow…

Love,

Food For Thought Friday

His Mysterious Ways (& They Aren’t OUR Ways!)

December 20, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Happy Happy Happy Happy Friday!!!

Can you tell I’m excited and energized this morning?!?! It isn’t ONLY because I’ve been up since 4AM, and have already gotten the day’s work-out in and have had 3 cups of coffee and half of one Monster Energy Ultra Zero drink (but that has a lot to do with it!).

Tonight Craig and I exchange our Christmas cards (letters) and our not-in-a-stocking stuffers, and have “our little Christmas dinner” on the Christmas Tree Spode. It’s our 1st (2nd if you count our ‘big gift’ exchange last Sunday) Christmas of 4, and beginning things reverently and quietly is my favorite way to ‘begin the season’, so to speak. Tonight, Craig will read from our “Family Bible” the Nativity Story from Luke. And we will give the furs their Christmas bones and catnip, before sending them off to the pet nanny in the morning. These are parts of the Christmas tradition we are beginning within our little family.

Traditions, practices, good habits: these are important in our lives – much as our switch to Monday thru Friday blogging has become our practice – something we do every weekday, and some of you have asked “Why?”.

Well, let’s talk for a moment about why we are blogging daily, and networking with Christian Blogging Networks/Communities. Why is this a ‘new tradition’ for the Newlywed Lefebvres?

Because God is reaching people through us.

Amazingly, our little blog has been viewed in these 43 countries:

U.S.A.
Canada
United Kingdom
India
Costa Rica
Italy
Phillipines (Just yesterday actually)
Thailand
Germany
Hong Kong
Australia
Romania
U.A.E.
Saudi Arabia
France
New Zealand
Malaysia
Taiwan
Russian Federation
Singapore
South Africa
Trinidad & Tobago
Sri Lanka
Portugal
Hungary
Mexico
Ireland
Switzerland
Indonesia
Slovakia
Bulgaria
Norway
Brazil
Finland
Spain
Israel
Qatar
Netherlands
Bolivia
Austria
Albania
Botswana
Republic of Korea

And our words & pictures have been shared on Twitter, Tumblr, StumbleUpon, PressThis, Pinterest & via e-mail…

Feeling called to write about the journey we are on with Christ in our marriage, it is utterly amazing to see we have touched people all over the world, and all over the United States. God is powerful, unfathomably so.

When He tugs on your heart to do something for His Kingdom, there is a reason, and it is bigger than you…Craig and I may not be able to get away from work and the furs to go to Botswana, and tell the people there how awesome our God is…But God can use simple words in a blog to reach someone all the way across the world. It is just CRAZY what God can and DOES do when you follow Him.

Remember that when you feel your heartstrings pulled to do something for Christ, that is not YOU talking in there. It’s the Holy Spirit. Follow Him.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says,

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This Christmas, let the Holy Spirit be your food for thought.

Love & Blessings,

What's Up Wednesday

An Early Christmas At Our House

December 18, 2013December 18, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

It has been a little while since I have written anything on the blog, so I decided that I would sit down and take some time on ‘What’s Up Wednesday’ to give a little bit of info on what has been going on.

Usually you see some pictures of the latest project I have been working on (for quite some time) and that being the cheval mirror for my wife. I am glad to say that the mirror part is finished so we have at least a full length mirror available!

It may sound silly to take on another project while I am finishing this one, but I find that working on another gets me motivated to work on the other, because I always reach a point where glue or a finish needs to dry, and then I can switch to the other one and keep going.

I decided to build a jewelry box for my wife, which I thought would be a pleasant surprise for her. I have no clue what I said that clued her in, though, because she straight out asked if I was building one! I could not keep it from her because I was so shocked that she guessed, that I knew I could not hide it in my expression!

Sunday we celebrated a little bit of Christmas early, and exchanged our “big gifts” with each other. This is only the start of our Christmas celebrating, as we have our stocking stuffers and Christmas dinner on Friday, and then we will celebrate with family after that! It will definitely be busy next week!

Pier picked out the perfect gifts for me! I will share a couple of them! I received a red and green plaid flannel shirt, which will be the perfect and warm shirt to wear on Christmas! After opening that, she gave me this HUGE box. Although it was not heavy for its size, I began to open it and I soon realized that there was another box inside wrapped up… and I opened that to find another and another and another and another and another! I never thought it would be 7 boxes to open!! Just for her to find 7 boxes to fit perfectly inside one another must of taken months!

Once I finally got down to the actual gift box I opened it and found a Citizen Eco-Drive Skyhawk Blue Angels edition watch! I was fascinated by the fact that it set itself to the correct time with radio waves right then and there and later I read the “mini book” called an instruction manual and found out the many other features of this watch including the E6-B computer on the face dial of the watch! Pilots will know exactly what I am talking about! Also, no batteries to replace as it is charged by any light source and will run 6 months in complete darkness with a full battery!

I loved watching Pier open her gifts. As some of you know, my wife has an amazing voice and I love to hear her sing. The best thing is she loves to sing, so I get to hear her often! I decided to get her a whole home recording and vocal system. I watched her smile as she opened the boxes containing the pro grade speaker, song database of 17,000 songs, 2 pro microphones (one for me so we can sing together!) and a mixing board and cables! It is unfair if only I get to hear her, so I also included a special recording mic and audio interface so we can record her singing!! I am sure that she will have some songs on the blog in the future! We have already used both systems and I will say she sounds amazing on them!

Well, I need to get back down to the workshop and finish Pier’s jewelry box! We hope you all have a wonderful day, and join us again tomorrow for Thirsty For Christ Thursday!

Love,

My Choice Monday

Music & Meds For Christmas Cheer

December 16, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Happy Monday!

We are officially 9 days away from Christmas!! Aren’t you excited!? Craig and I ended up having Part One of “Our Christmas” last night, which is the only day we have had to ourselves since last Sunday, and will be the only day we will have completely to ourselves until the New Year’s Eve. We figured we should make the most of this special time together, and so we opened each other’s “big gifts” last night. It was so much fun! We are looking forward to sharing Christmas with our families beginning at the end of the week! I think just maybe we might be able to fit everyone in! Prayers and fingers crossed!

Now for our recommendations for this week!

EZY Dose Stackable Pill Reminder Maybe you’re thinking this is an odd recommendation, but since I’ve started with the medication to balance my insulin, plus all the vitamins and supplements and allergy medications, I have struggled with a way to both make sure I remember to take them throughout the day, and to transport the pills. We found this handy pill keeper at Walgreen’s, and it has proved it’s usefulness tenfold. You can read more about it or purchase one here. Ladies, this fits quite easily into your purse; and gentlemen, with the helpful un-attaching feature, you can easily carry one (or a few) of the containers in your pocket! No more excuses for not taking your pills!
10% Off TODAY Only at The Catholic Company If you have any last minute gifts to buy, today’s your lucky day! The Catholic Company is giving an additional 10% today only with this code: F2RT7JD6 🙂 You can access their website here and can find a WIDE ARRAY of products from books to dvds to bible studies to jewelry to art to gorgeous pieces like this: Catholics and non-Catholics alike can easily find something at The Catholic Company! You can even get an extra 15% off by subscribing to their e-newsletter… Happy online shopping!
Sidewalk Prophets Christmas Album This is a phenomenal Christmas album that is both cheerful and worshipful, and contains both new and old Christmas music. I know you will really enjoy it, and your can purchase it right here! My favorite tune to get me in the Christmas spirit is “Because It’s Christmas” – and I’m giving you a little preview below 😉

Y’all enjoy the rest of your Monday, and we’ll catch up with you tomorrow!

Love & Christmas Blessings,

What's Up Wednesday

What’s Up?! Wednesday

December 11, 2013December 11, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Good Morning and What’s Up??

As I’m sure all of you have, Craig and I have been BUSY this Thanksgiving – Christmas season…Recently, it seems to start even earlier actually. I’m thinking about what our Christmas cards are going to look like as early as September, and we place the order by Halloween…

I realize this is news to absolutely no one. We are all busy and have a million things going on – especially this time of year. And one of the things we are all busy with is buying gifts, and then wrapping them – and in our case, shipping them to their ultimate destination (Note: Do not open said package when it/they arrive!!! :-).

Craig and I finished our shopping early this year – like extra early, which has been hard for us, in the ‘keeping what we bought each other a secret’ kind of way – and we have spent the past few nights in a sea of ribbons and bows and wrapping paper. As we were sitting on the floor the other night, I was making a bow from burlap wired ribbon and polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, and Craig was watching me pretty intently. He said, “Where did you learn to do that?!?”

I replied, “My mother.” And really, you should see her wrapped gifts. They are worthy of the pages of a magazine, and bring to my mind childhood memories and family traditions…

My husband has tons of great stories and memories of he and his father and grandfathers. Most of them involve International Harvester, working outside, and cows. His face lights up when he tells me about his childhood.

When I think about growing up, nothing about tractors really comes to mind, but when I think about my parents’ house at Christmastime, I think of helping my mother wrap presents. I felt special because it was something I, alone, got to do with my mama, while my dad and my brother were doing something manly. I learned all about creating bows out of ribbon, creasing the edges of the paper just so to make sure designs lined up and symmetry was straight, and I got to place my finger in the middle of the ribbons she was tying to ensure the knot was tight and centered…

Now this is part of our holiday tradition. Finding pretty ribbons and coordinating wrapping paper and gift tags, creating artful packages…Just a plain old gift bag and store-bought stick-on bows won’t do. It all came from my mother, and now here I was (have been) on the floor in the guest bedroom, creating bows out of ribbon, while my husband puts his finger in the middle to make sure the knot is tight, and helps me crease the edges of the paper just right.

Add in the Christmas music and a glass of wine (or Ol’ Santy Eggnog with brandy) in a Spode Christmas Tree glass (courtesy of my grandmother), and you have a lasting holiday tradition, passed on from one generation to the next.

What are your Christmas/Hanukkah traditions?

Much Love,

My Choice Monday

MY CHOICE Monday

December 9, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Good Morning All!

Welcome to the first week of our new blogging format, and to My Choice Monday! This week’s edition is going to be a little bit overzealous due to some great finds this weekend – Craig and I have three recommendations today!

Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips I found this little gem at our local Target the other day, and apparently, I was unbelievably lucky. This product has been available in the UK for quite awhile, but is hard to find in the US – of course. At $1.99, this is the best lip balm around – not to mention the amazing and light rosewater scent. I have found it works well as a base for lipstick, as well as over lip stick for a hint of shine. And that leftover bit on your fingertip? Dab it on the insides of your wrists prior to applying your perfume (adds longevity to your fragrance), or simply alone for a very faint but beautiful rose scent. Click on the image above to go straight to Amazon to pay a little bit more for a two-pack if you can’t find this at your local Target, CVS or Wal-Mart! It’s worth it!
Handel’s Messiah Ring in your Christmas season by going to see this unbelievable performance wherever you may reside! Craig surprised me on Saturday morning by hopping out of bed around 8AM, rustling around downstairs, and returning with coffee and an early Christmas gift – tickets to Handel’s Messiah, performed by the ASO, and dinner reservations – which will sum up today’s final recommendation. I’m sorry girls, but I got him – the most wonderful husband in the world – and I’m never letting go! 😉 Here’s a little preview of a chorus from the Messiah you all should know. The live performance of this brought tears to my eyes. If this is so beautiful here on earth, I cannot even begin to imagine the glory of the songs the choirs of angels sing in Heaven. This performance felt like a foretaste.

I couldn’t find a version on YouTube with the ASO, but this is a more than adequate example.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Dinner at Fleming’s was the other half of my early Christmas surprise, and boy, did we find a new favorite “special occasion” restaurant! Not only do they have more than 100 different glasses of wine to choose from, they provide an iPad to every table to help with pairing your wine to your meal – or specific course, in our case! Plus, (Men, I’m talking to you!) notice the prime bone-in ribeye on my husband’s plate. He did, indeed, eat the whole thing, and we had some happy doggies when we got home! Fleming’s is a ‘chain’, much like Ruth’s Chris or Morton’s Steakhouse, but in our opinion, WAY BETTER! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and our experience at Fleming’s! Click on the link above to see if there is a location in your area, and if not, come visit us in Atlanta. We wouldn’t hesitate to return!

Hope you all had a great weekend, and enjoyed today’s recommendations! Join us again tomorrow for TTC Tuesday! Oh, and did you notice our new domain name? We are officially newlywedlefebvres.com !

xoxo,

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Christmas, Woodworking, and Fondue!!

December 29, 2012December 29, 2012 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Once more I find myself on the road again. Ironically I am writing from Wisconsin again, Madison this time, and again the Vikes are prepping for another game against the Packers! Pier and I had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends and hope that all of you did as well. Our first Christmas together was absolutely wonderful. We started Christmas day off with Mass at midnight and it was great to hear and sing the Christmas hymns with my wife by my side! Then in the morning we woke and enjoyed our time together and to share our gifts with each other. I could have not asked for any better gifts than what Pier gave me. She knows me so well that she found the perfect gift for me, a painted picture of several breeds of cattle on it! Now it may not sound exciting but anyone that knows me knows how I love anything to do with farming. I love it and we have the perfect spot for it in our living room! Anyone that knows Pier knows how she loves fashion and she had been ~~hinting~~ mentioning how she would like a comfortable flat and that she had researched the perfect ones! She knew I would key in on the research that she did and that I would probably remember exactly what she wants. Well she was right! I got her the pair that she had been looking at, a pair of FSNY flats. Now the only way I could remember the initials was to say Fox Sports News Yes because I had no clue what it stood for. Although after a little research I discovered that it stands for French Sole New York. Now mind you I was not up to the task of picking and buying a pair of shoes since there are so many variables… size, shape, color, texture, design, etc. So I had to be creative. I ended up printing out the FSNY logo and I picked a pair that I thought she would like and I printed them out on paper. I found a shoe box and I placed the label on the box and then placed the paper cut outs in the box and wrapped it up. Needless to say she loved it and I also picked out the exact pair that she ended up getting!

We also celebrated Christmas with our friends Josh and Julia. On Wednesday night we headed up to the Melting Pot and enjoyed a long fondue dinner! It was delicious. It was my first time to eat fondue and I must say Craig and Pier that it is a perfect dinner to have great food and great conversation. I look forward to another visit in the future!

Now comes the wood technical part…. 🙂

In the middle of all this I have found some time to work down in the shop on Pier’s wedding gift. I must say it is coming along quite well. This past week I got the wood dimensioned out to the correct thickness and out to a rough size. To do this I first laid out wood and I drew out the individual pieces on the boards so I would know where to cut each piece from. Then I used a jig to flatten the board in my planer.

I place the wood on the jig and slide the adjustable supports up to support the board and then slide it through the planer multiple times and it creates a flat top.

Then I can flip the board over and plane it to the correct thickness. Then I joint an edge with another created jig, to create a 90 degree angle to the top and bottom. That takes care of 3 sides (top bottom and side) and the 4th side will be finished in the next step when I run it through the table saw to rip the stock to a workable width. Those will eventually be glued up to create the top and bottom of the cabinet piece.

: Planed and flat on top

So now I have 3/4″ and 1 1/4″ thick square pieces of stock that are ready to be glued or cut into final dimensions.

This past week has been busy and it does not look like it will be slowing down in the near future with our plans of traveling to Rome, Italy in early February. We both are excited to travel and see all the sites Rome has to offer! Happy New Year to everyone!! Craig and Pier

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A Little Bit Of This…

December 19, 2012December 19, 2012 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres5 Comments

My, my, my…only SIX more days until Christmas! Are all of you ready? Have you done all of your shopping? I’m happy (and relieved) to note that Craig and I are DONE! Now for me to wrap everything…

The past week has been a BUSY one, and I don’t know that things are going to slow down anytime soon! I went to a ‘Holiday Couples’ Shower’ for our dear friends Ashley & J.W. (sadly without my better half – Boo!!!!!!!), but I did get to enjoy a girls’ sing-along car ride to the shower and back with one of my faves, Julia! There’s nothing like singing at the top of your lungs to every song you know to pass the time on a long road trip!

Such a fun shower! And if you recognize the location, it’s because once again, it was hosted by another couple we absolutely adore: Lauren & Randall.

After the shower and our sing-a-long ride back to Northwestern Georgia, Julia and I met up with Craig and Julia’s hubs Josh & their children for dinner. 🙂 Always a great time with all of our special friends – Craig and I are so blessed to have such a great group of TRUE friends surrounding us!

On Monday, I FINALLY got my wedding bands back from the ~~slowest man on earth~~ jewelry designer! Our design turned out just BEAUTIFUL and I think the setting will be much stronger!

I am absolutely ECSTATIC to have my wedding bands displayed proudly on my finger once again! 🙂

Last night, C & I were up until 1:30am making a COMPLETELY FROM SCRATCH White Chocolate Candy Cane Cheesecake (completely gluten-free, as well!)…We even had to make the GRAHAM CRACKERS themselves for the crust, since we couldn’t find any sans gluten. Needless to say, even the cheesecake hater Craig thought it was delicious!

Tonight, we’ll be making Christmas cookies! 🙂 And when I detail that experience, you’ll have to remind me to show you a picture of the Peppermint Plate we made last night! So cute! (And yes, it’s the same thing you’ve seen all over Pinterest!)

Oh, and how could I have forgotten!?!?! Craig booked our hotel for our trip to Rome in February!! You’ll have to ask my sweet husband all about it! 🙂 We are SO excited about our upcoming vacation!!!

Y’all have a great evening! Maybe I can sneak in a short nap at the office before my long drive home?? 🙂

XOXO

Pier & Craig

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Hello & Ho Ho Ho

December 7, 2012December 7, 2012 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Hey there and Happppppy Friday!

Our short hiatus this past week from the blog doesn’t mean we haven’t been moving at cheetah pace – per usual! 🙂 Between Christmas shopping, work, injury, appointments, and (the most wonderful reason for hustle and bustle of all) friends and family, we haven’t sat down to rest once.

Sunday Craig and I went out in search of this year’s Christmas tree and decorations for our home! I think we did a pretty darn beautimaus job too – especially for newlywed first-time whole home decorators! 🙂 You can see for yourself here on our Shutterfly site! But here are a few previews:

Craig chose the wreath and I made the bow. Perfect Collaboration! 🙂

We Need a Nativity Scene – The Holy Family Is Missing! 😉 Good thing we have the angel and wise men to remind us of the TRUE reason for the season for the moment!

See, I think we did pretty well!! 🙂

Monday morning my right shoulder and neck began to hurt…No matter the amount of Tylenol and Aleve I took, nothing stopped the pain…So when I got home, my dear husband doctored me up with a heated rice bag…and I began to feel a little bit better. So much so that I slept with the rice bag on my neck/shoulder all night long.

And then I woke up at 4am and tried to roll over…

And I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow. Literally.

Talk about PAIN!!!! It came close to surpassing the pain of my skiing/knee injury last year!! Craig took me to the chiropractor, but we still have no idea of the cause! And I’m still walking around with my head tilted, but thank goodness the pain has subsided somewhat!! I was literally boo-hooing because of the pain– which I think frightened my husband, because if you know me, I am NOT a crier unless it’s something serious!

Gladly, the worst has past. For the most part, I’m able to walk upright as of today! 🙂 Thank you, God! Prayer is amazing!!!

And now, back to work for another hour before I head off to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception! I’m trying out St. Ann’s in Marietta/Roswell, Georgia this evening so I am able to make the Mass, since I work tomorrow. I’m looking forward to sharing an hour with the Lord, and also seeing the inside of a church I have been driving past for years now and have never entered. I’ve heard it’s beautiful!

My sweet Craig gets back home tomorrow evening and then it’s time for Christmas gift shopping! What’s on your wish list???

xoxo,

Pier & Craig