Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes....

As we all know, change is basically inevitable. Now that I am approaching the big 3-0, I am feeling not only more receptive to change, but also I feel like I am really thirsting for it. This, in addition to my "One Little Word" for 2015 (Grow). I have decided to take a huge step and move on from this blog.

No, this doesn't mean that I am leaving or quitting blogging, by any means. This means that I am starting a new blog and leaving this one behind. I feel like I need a fresh start with a new name and a new layout. This blog was fun for a while, but it no longer feels like me.

Also, I eventually plan to make products to sell, so I want my blog name and business name to be interchangeable.

I'm not linking my blogs together because I am ready for a fresh start and a clean break. So, this blog will still be here in order for you to reference my older, more popular posts. And my new blog will be completely separate.

So go check out the new blog at: http://rufflesrustandsawdust.blogspot.com/

My Pinterest and Instagram are linked up to the new blog and I have a new fan page created and ready to go. You can definitely follow along with me on all three social media sites.

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/RufflesRustSD/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/rufflesrustsawdust/
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/RufflesRustandSawdust
Blog address: http://rufflesrustandsawdust.blogspot.com/

Also, lastly I want to make a huge shout out to Crystal at My Ramblings. She took my sloppy idea for a logo and turned it into something beautiful.

She is so incredibly talented and I don't know what I would do without her. She's amazing. You should probably go buy some Tupperware from her.

Anyway, be sure to change your bookmarks and I will see you over at Ruffles, Rust & Sawdust!

Strawberry Spinach Salad with vinaigrette dressing

Who doesn't love a good salad? Me, that's who. This weekend I got a huge craving for Strawberry Salad, and I had to have it right that second. Or at least that evening. I did a lot of searching around on Pinterest, but none of them were exactly what I wanted so I borrowed the dressing recipe from here: http://juliasalbum.com/2014/07/strawberry-spinach-salad-with-bacon/ and I made up the rest myself.

 

Ingredients:

 

Dressing:

1/4 cup oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

 

Salad:

Medium bag of spinach

10 strawberries, sliced

1/3 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup real bacon bits

 

 

Dressing:

Whisk dressing ingredients together. Set aside.

 

Salad:

Combine spinach, strawberry slices, Parmesan cheese, and bacon bits in a large bowl. Pour dressing over top. Toss to coat.

 

It can't get easier than that ladies and gentlemen!

 

 

I didn't even feel guilty eating this with a homemade cheeseburger and fries! (Ok, maybe a little...) This is definitely a new favorite!

 

Do you have a favorite "go to" salad recipe?

Grow

 

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great time ringing in the New Year. We took a more low key approach and hung out at home this year.

 

As the new year approaches everyone is all about making resolutions. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great to have goals. If we don't have goals then we have no aspiration to do better with our lives.  But, what I don't want to do is get into the trap of making resolutions that I will never be able to keep. Mostly because that ends up making me feel like a failure. And no one likes to feel like a failure. Especially me. 

 

As New Years Eve approached I was toying with making some resolutions, but then I found about "one little word". If you have never heard of one little word, it is basically choosing one word to reflect on and meditate on each day throughout the year. (More info about "One Little Word" here.)

 

It took me a little bit of time to settle on a word, but once the word came to mind it just stuck. My word will be "grow".

 

I have a lot of growing I want to do this year. I want to grow as a Christian, a wife, a mother, a teacher, and just as an individual.

 

As a Christian, I want to grow stronger. I want to build relationships with those that I am sitting next to on Sundays, and I want to serve in the church,

 

As a wife and mother I just want to do a better job. I want to be present more, and just continue to strive to make more memories with my family.

 

As a teacher, I want to continue to grow. I want to complete my CDA and my degree, but most importantly, I want to continue to learn constantly so that I can be the best possible teacher for these kids.  

 

As an individual I have a lot of growth to do. I want to spend my spare time doing things that make me happy. I want to be healthier, and just be happy with myself.

 

2014 was a good year, but I'm looking forward to 2015 being even better. Do you have a word to focus on this year?