Barefoot Kitchen Diaries

Ok I'm obsessed with cooking so I've been thinking about doing a series on my blog devoted to recipes, but then I was like hmm maybe not there are so many good cooking blogs with beautiful food stylized photos ( I mean come on who really has time for that). I do however think it would be fun to add recipes I've tried and perfected onto this blog as a Melina's personal recommendations to good eats! Also maybe a few posts with some personal cooking tips and tricks I've learned along the way. It will be my own personal "Barefoot Kitchen Diaries". So I'll give it a try for my first recipe I'd like to recommend Posole Rojo, it comes from foodnetwork

Posole Rojo

With some modifications, instead of pork I've been making it with chicken which takes less time to cook and tastes just as good! so follow the recipe replacing pork with chicken and adjusting the cooking time to when the chicken is fully cooked. (or if you prefer do the pork)

Caught in the "In Between"

Well friends family, if you even read this blog you probably have noticed that it has been a while since I have posted anything on here. A few months in fact, my last post being about my yosemite trip.

The truth is that I'm kind of at a "in between" stage right now and there is not much to share. I used this phrase the other day and realized that there are actually so many "in between" stages in life. One memorable "in between" is that age between childhood and teenage years, it's a time of awkward moments of wanting to be older but still having fun like a kid.

Then there is the "in between" that is the most fun the time in between young adult age and adulthood meaning the time when you are still somewhat dependent on your family/parents but trying to work toward an independence.

Then there is the relational "in between" where you are done dating for fun and are looking for something serious so you are in an "in between" being a member of a family a son or daughter that comes home to parents to being a wife or mother.

Singleness "in between" I think is the hardest and loneliest, I remember when I was in that in between I would do huge 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles on lonely nights just to pass the time, thankfully God had another plan for my life and Tim came into my life to save me from my life of jigsaw puzzles.

Right now I am in another "in between", I am in the "in between" being just a wife to being a wife and mother. Many friends and family have been patiently waiting for the day when Tim and I finally decide to start having children, and though I'm sorry to disappoint those hoping for good news we are still waiting to have kids, but I am getting much closer to wanting to be a mom. I feel ready now but I know I want to be a financially responsible mother, and I don't know that I'm there yet we still have some catching up to do on bills and I know God has a perfect timing for everything so I have to just trust Him for his timing for when Tim and I should be parents.

I feel confident in God's timing because through each of those in between times I have faced before (times when I felt like screaming out to God when will this stage be over God will it ever be over) God has always carried me through He gave me the faith when mine was weak. It's crazy to look back at those "in betweens" and realize wow God answered my prayer even better than I could have imagined, why was my faith so weak, (i'm human I guess).

I know someday I WILL be a mother, and life will be busy, tiring and wonderful filled with cuddles, hugs, kisses, snotty noses, poopy diapers, bedtime stories, and all the other joys of parenthood. But for right now I'm going to be in the present and enjoy the in between I'm in now.

And if I can share any words of wisdom with anyone who is caught in the "in between" just go ahead and enjoy your "in between" as hard or as challenging as it may be life is too short to be in a hurry to get to the next stage. Enjoy the ride you're in!

Convinced My Husband Tim Fischer Is The Same Person As Phil Dunphy

“I'm a cool dad, that's my thang. I'm hip, I surf the web, I text. LOL means laugh out loud, OMG: oh my god, WTF: why the face” –Phil Dunphy
Ever since I first started watching Modern Family I have thought from day 1 that Tim is Phil and my opinion has not changed, the more I watch the show every new episode the character Phil will do or say something that reminds me of Tim. Here are just a few ways in which Phil reminds me of Tim! (and if you know Tim at all you will know what I'm talking about)

• Tim and Phil are both two very laid back people.
• Tim and Phil have a very endearingly child like attitude, Claire refer's to Phil as "The Child I Married", I can relate!
• Tim and Phil both have a serious case of Coulrophobia (FEAR OF CLOWNS) it's almost hard not to laugh when Tim is around a clown, because he quite literally freaks out very similar to how Phil freaks out in the show. 
• Tim and Phil are always in a good mood and tend to find joy in everything they do!
• Tim and Phil are both very goofy!
• Tim and Phil have very personable way of relating to people Tim will often treat you like you're pals before he even knows you well and will start calling you by your nicknames when he hears them for the first time. Phil is the same way and creates "cool" things like "manshakes" to relate to people. 
• Tim and Phil both don't plan things out! And both have to avoid getting in trouble with their wives for lack of planning! 
• Tim and Phil both like to have any excuse to break out their dance skills!
• Tim and Phil are both very competitive so much to the point that Phil will often beat his son at basketball games without any remorse. 
• Tim and Phil both have a great enthusiasm for life!
• Tim and Phil both have a sensitive side as seen in many episodes of Modern Family Phil will choke up during emotional moments very similar to my husband Tim. 
• Although we are not parents yet I believe  I got a taste of what type of parent Tim will be just by watching Phil on modern family. I think he too will refer to himself as "the cool dad" and have the parenting style of "Peeranting" which is the style of of parenting where you are both a friend and a parent. And when it comes time to step it up as Phil did during the episode where Haley gets kicked out of college I believe that Tim would also say something similar to "This is real life Haley not an excellent movie" (referring to legally blonde)

Such a Fun man I married!

The Cool Dad

Money Saving Housewife 101

So being married it seems like there is a natural give and take that just happens to take place over time, overtime you just find your self falling into your naturally assumed roles. Maybe you observed these roles based on what you have learned from society or within your own family. I'm a bit of a feminist myself so gender roles are a bit taboo for me but then again here I am enjoying taking up some of those stereotypical housewife roles. For example I love to cook so I generally do the cooking and grocery shopping for Tim and I which I don't mind because it's what I love, (can cooking be a sixth love language I think I'm adding it to the list). Anyways since I do the grocery shopping I am always searching and scanning for ways to save and get the best deal, I do the regular compare ads, clip coupons, shop clearance etc. but my favorite way to save money is by shopping at Sprouts on Wednesdays double ad wednesdays are my favorite day of the week! You get the deals from the week before plus the new deals for the next week. I was so excited when I walked away from the grocery store with three full bags of groceries (mostly produce I might add) for just $13, whoever said eating healthy has to cost more was so mistaken! What is your favorite way to save money at the grocery store, this new wife loves any advice she can get!

My Wife Diaries

It's funny how you hear things as a single girl from your married friends about being married and being a wife and you develop your own idea or fantasy about what YOUR marriage will be like, then once you get to experience marriage for yourself, you realize "OH that's what they were talking about!".

Here are some revelations I have learned from being married!

• Tell each other how you feel!! When you do life together it's easy to wake up to the same person who sleeps next to you and just assume they know how much they mean to you (NOT TRUE) I have learned that it is so important to uplift each other by telling that person how much they mean to you whenever you think it. (if you are married tell your spouse you appreciate them today) 
• It's easy to get frustrated over things when you never communicate your needs. It's so important to communicate your needs even if you are just tired and really need a break or are worried and need prayer for something, that's on your heart. It surprises me sometimes how much Tim steps up and helps out once he knows what I'm going through. 
• Take time to think about what your spouse does right. Honesty time, now I know I am not the only one who struggles with this! I have found in my marriage I forget this one most often. It's easy to feel like you wish that your husband does this or that more, but it's sooo soo important to make an effort to think about the billions of qualities that your spouse does possess.  There are so many things I cherish about my husband, I really need to think on those more. It will make your life so much better and more positive. 
• Finally It is all in the way you present it! It's ok to let your spouse know when you are annoyed or frustrated with things however it is so important how you present it. Obviously they are not trying to annoy or frustrate you on purpose, sometimes when you live together it just happens!! Whenever you do feel that way stop yourself in the moment maybe think through what you are planning to say ask yourself will this come across as criticism? My advice is try the sandwich method, example: I love it that you have been helping out so much more with the chores it really makes me feel loved, it would really mean a lot to me if you could continue helping out with things around the house like ---------- it would be such a relief/help to me even more, since I know you have been doing so much more to help me with things! praise and compliment - need - praise and compliment! See how that doesn't sound like a criticism but it gets the message across that you have an expectation you need met. 

I'm not writing this because I want to brag about how I get these things right in my marriage this is really a confession about things I am trying really hard at doing more! One of the biggest things I have learned about marriage is that it is REAL WORK it's never easy but it is so rewarding when you learn about how to be the wife your husband needs and love him the way he needs!

Date Nights and the Marrieds

So once you get married things tend to slow down a ton. Here's how:
*You tend to go to bed way earlier than you ever have since you were maybe 10.
*You tend to prefer to stay in and just watch a movie on Friday Nights rather than going out on the town.
*If you have cable TV you tend to become obsessed with certain shows (mine are downton abbey, new girl, and modern family).
* Going out with friends becomes a real chore because now you got rid of all your hot going out clothes and have filled your closet with nice mature looking dresses that if you wear out you instantly feel like a granny.
*And date nights become less and less spectacular, sometimes date night for Tim and I consists of going to our favorite fish taco joint and splurging on a drink or even worse you squeeze in a date after shopping at costco and split a soda and cheap meal at costco (dun da da YOUR MARRIED).

 So it takes a bit of work to shake things up and that is why I am actually kind of thrilled about this upcoming holiday, because it requires people like us young marrieds (those without kids because I hear having kids takes it to a whole new level), to work on shaking up the romance maybe wear heels, a pretty dress, glam up the hair and make up and go out in public! I can't wait!!! I have no idea what we are doing but I'm sure Tim has something up his sleeve. What will be your plans this Valentines?