We had our first zucchini of the season this week!  I have several yummy zucchini recipes, but this is one I often forget about.  I don’t often fix pasta, but this recipe I absolutely love.

Summer Zucchini & Tomato Pasta

thin spaghetti noodles

3 medium zucchini (or more!)

2-3 medium tomatoes, chopped (or more!)

1/2 c- 1c parmesan cheese

1 T butter

1/4 c olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp dried basil

1. Prepare pasta according to directions on box.

2.  Julienne zucchini and steam for 3 minutes.  Set aside.

3.  In a small saucepan, combine butter, olive oil, garlic, and basil.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  Do not let garlic get brown (will get bitter).

4.  Combine garlic and oil mixture with noodles, zucchini, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese.  Serve with extra cheese at the table.

I salt everything, so I think it needs salt!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve really needed fresh inspiration for meal planning now that I’m back in the swing of it after winging it during my “I hate food” season of life.  Keeping in step with my summer recipe love, this is another fresh favorite for everyone in our family.

Texas Cavier

1 package frozen corn (if making ahead…it will thaw)

28 oz black-eye peas, drained

3 Roma tomatoes, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

4 green onions, thawed

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 c chopped yellow onions

1/2 c chopped cilantro or parsley (I use cilantro)

8 oz Italian dressing (homemade or other)

tortilla chips

Mix everything together in a large bowl, toss, and serve with tortilla chips.

We’ve been experiencing summer in this last part of winter, so I’ve begun pulling some of my favorite summer recipes to make for dinner.  Now that I’m almost fully out of my “I hate vegetables” season of pregnancy, this pizza is the very type of meal I am craving. 

(I don't have the best camera!)

I first had this pizza when some friends brought us dinner after I had Brant.  I loved it and asked for the recipe.  When we moved when Brant was three months old, I made it for the moving guys, very skeptical if they’d like it (why did I fix it? Not sure)…and they loved it.  It’s not Blane’s favorite, but the kids, especially Brant, really enjoy it.

I am slowly getting back into a normal routine with dinners, and typically every other Friday we eat pizza.  This summer, I plan to alternate between this, Pizza Bianco, and fruit pizza (recipe to come!).

Cold Veggie Pizza

pre-baked and cooled pizza crust

8-16 oz cream cheese (adjust to your preference)

8 oz. Italian salad dressing (I sometimes, but not always use my homemade recipe)

1 can artichoke hearts, quartered

1 red pepper, chopped

green onions, chopped

grape tomatoes, halved

cucumber, small pieces

greek olives, sliced

shredded carrots

broccoli, chopped

1.  In a large bowl, combine all of the veggies.  There is no exact amount to combine, it’s according to your preference.  The pizza will be loaded with veggies and I still often have some leftover in a bowl that I’ll add to a salad.

2.  Toss veggies with salad dressing.

3.  Spread cream cheese over pizza crust, then top with veggies.

This pizza is such a refreshing summer meal!

Yes, we use homemade deodorant.  Are you skeptical?  We were too…which drove my decision to try out a recipe I found about three years ago.   I am pleased to report that years later, we are still using it and have even given it to others to try with enthusiastic response!

We were so tired of trying different brands of *expensive* natural deodorant and being disappointed because they just didn’t work well.  Being the experimenter that I am, I set out to do some research to figure out if it was possible to make something that would do a better job.  I was thrilled when I came across the recipe for deodorant about two years ago over at Passionate Homemaking.

First of all, it would be wise to avoid antiperspirants for a few reasons.  Our skin was designed to both absorb and secrete.  This means we can absorb both good and bad things, which can make it’s way into our bloodstream.

Aluminum, which is found in antiperspirant, has been clinically shown to be linked to the development of Alzheimer’s.  The aluminum is what keeps our body from secreting perspiration; it blocks perspiration.  Perspiration is actually a very healthy way that our body secretes toxins, so we don’t want to prevent it!

What we love about this deodorant, other than the wonderfully natural and safe ingredients, is that it does a great job allowing our body to function as God intended.  The baking soda plays the role of absorbing any odor that you may excrete, and the cornstarch/arrowroot powder keeps you dry.

It takes about 5 minutes from start to finish to make, so it’s not labor intensive!

homemade deodorant (Photo credit: LizMarie_AK)

Here’s what you’ll need:

5-6 T coconut oil

1/4 c baking soda

1/4 c cornstarch or arrowroot powder

glass jar

empty deodorant container

1.  Warm a pan of water on the stove.  Measure the coconut oil into a glass Pyrex measuring cup and place in the pan of water to melt the oil.

2.  Once the oil is melted, remove the measuring cup from the pan of water.  Add the baking soda and cornstarch/arrowroot powder, and mix well (a small whisk works well).

3.  Prepare your old deodorant container by screwing the little tray all the way to the bottom.  Pour the liquid deodorant into the container (no, it won’t leak out through the bottom!).  There will likely be extra, so store the rest in a glass jar.

4.  Immediately and very carefully place the container into the fridge so that the deodorant can solidify.  Once solid, remove and add the lid and either keep it in the fridge or in the bathroom (or wherever you keep your deodorant!)

*If you find that it’s too oily, re-melt and add more baking soda and corn starch/arrowroot powder.

When you are ready to refill your  container, simply melt the deodorant in the glass jar the same way you originally melted coconut oil and then repeat steps 3 and 4!

Voila!  Easy, effective, frugal deodorant.  This costs less than $2 to make and it makes enough to fill at least two deodorant sticks with some leftover!

Would you join me?   http://kellytarr.com

The Lord is doing so much and as I have time, I am compelled to share.  Can’t contain the beauty and magnitude of His love.

I wanted to let you know about some great blogs and ministries that have been profitable to me, and I hope will be to you, too, if you’re unfamiliar with them.  I don’t read all of the blogs anymore, but they are so worth recommending!

And, feel free to contact me (top of the page) if you desire.  I will still have the email account connected to the blog.  I received a wonderfully encouraging email from a reader last night.

Okay, this first one might seem random, but I want to highly recommend Another Blessing to you.  This is a family business that sells ovulation kits and pregnancy tests at a fraction of the cost typically paid at a local store (we’re talking less that $2 for two!).  We have ordered from them a few times (both products) and they’ve been wonderful (the tests AND the people).  Good communication, fast shipping, and detailed instructions included.

Blogs (in no particular order)

Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet – Be prepared to meet God here.  God works through Sara’s writing and she has, in many ways, become a mentor and friend.

10 Million Miles – Laura has been tremendous in her helps for mothers.  I have a lot of respect for her!

Dance and Be Glad – I LOVE Leah’s heart to love God with every ounce of our being, and “to help support and raise up dancers for the Lord.”  Another friend.

Generation Cedar – This woman loves her children–and desires to help other believers understand God’s heart for children as well.  I love her passion.

Passionate Homemaking – A practical and encouraging blog for a wife and mother at home

Guarded by the Gospel – Another practical and encouraging blog for a wife and mother at home

Keeper of the Home – Stephanie has worked hard to provide many great writers to help the Christian homemaker.

Frugal Granola – I really appreciate Michele’s heart to be Christ-centered in everything she does.  We have many similarities!

Naturally Knocked Up – Donielle has a heart to help other women achieve fertility (which she’d agree is really in the Lord’s hands) through knowing our bodies and nourishing them.  She is offering a 60% discount for her Naturally Fertility Workshop through tonight at midnight when you sign up for her newsletter.

Heavenly Homemakers – I just love Laura’s sense of humor, transparency, and very helpful, practical resources.

Happy Brown House – Sara is a college friend who is extremely crafty and talented.  (Purchase something from her shop to help with their adoption!!)

Casual Cuisine – my friend Nancy’s cooking blog that has LOTS of delicious recipes (I know because I’ve made a lot and many have become go-to recipes)

A Holy Experience – Ann’s writing is both inspiring and convicting.

LAF/Beautiful Womanhood – A wonderful resource for promoting Biblical womanhood.

Raising Homemakers – Another great resource for mothers of daughters.  Practical and fun!

The Gospel Coalition Blog – For the thinker, a wonderful blog promoting Gospel-centered thinking and living within the body of Christ

Striving to Serve at Home – This girl rocks.  She is at least 9 years younger than me and has recently married. Her heart is just beautiful.  I would love, if we lived near one another, for Tara to spend time with her. What a godly young woman.

1+1+1=1 – A wonderful homeschooling resource

Forever ‘n Ever ‘n Always – I came across this blog after seeing repeated encouraging, edifying comments on another blog.  I just had to know who this woman was!  What an encouraging blog she has.  She has blessed me through her building up another believer.

Ministries

Sovereign Grace Ministries

Desiring God

International House of Prayer (I love turning the live stream for the Prayer Room on throughout our day)

Vision Forum

Family Ministries

Usually, I am not one to make New Year’s resolutions.  I don’t want to have lofty, unrealistic resolves that have the strong possibility of being quickly broken and then forgotten.

However, it is my goal to reflect upon and evaluate the previous year and purposefully step into the new year with a fresh outlook, goals, and plans.  I love new beginnings, and the start of a year does seem like a wonderfully crisp place to start.

This year, I believe, is very different from years past.  As I look back over 2010, there is much to be noted.  It was the year that God broke in and, in a new way, began ravaging my heart for the purposes of His pleasure.

I have known the Lord for nearly 15 years.  But in so many ways, I feel like my soul has been awakened to the glory and beauty of Jesus Christ like never before.

What does this have to do with my decision to stop blogging?  Stick with me, and, by the end, I think you’ll understand.

*****************************************

I have mentioned before that this blog began under the encouragement and blessing of my husband.  It was his idea for me to blog about things he thought I have to offer other women.  The purpose of blogging was to share things that I didn’t have much opportunity to share, with the goal of working toward supplementing our income.

We see women working under their husband’s authority to bring income to the family modeled in Scripture (Proverbs 31:18, 24, Acts 5:1, Acts 16:14), and Blane felt comfortable leading us in this way.  I was happy and excited to work toward being a financial asset to our family!

But, since I began blogging, I have felt a tension (of which I’ve written about a few times over the last few months).  For months I wrestled with it, trying to figure out why it was there.  It really bothered me.   I waffled back and forth about whether or not to do blog, spoke with my husband several times about when to blog, what to write about, etc.   I was not experiencing peace.

I didn’t know what to do, and I was in near constant angst over it.  However, my husband wanted me to stay committed (at least long enough to be able to evaluate things over time), and I wanted to stay committed instead of just quitting.  But I didn’t want to continue if the Lord didn’t want it.

Well, as the Lord has been working in my life through many circumstances and ways, and as I’ve sought Him regarding the blog, He has been answering me very specifically about a number of things, including what role blogging has in my life.

To be exact, December 12 was when it all came together and I knew what the Lord wants for me at this time.  And in a nutshell, it’s this: I am not to blog for now.  I don’t know if or when I’ll resume.  But for now, no blogging.

There are several factors contributing to the conclusion the Lord brought me to, which I’ll tie up in the end.  To get there, I’m going to explain things in list format, beginning with the most practical.

1.       Writing doesn’t come easily to me.  Not only do my circumstances need to be just right—quiet, uninterrupted, etc., I need editing done before a post goes up.  Instead of being independent in my writing, Blane has to be very involved (as my editor)—which takes away from his working time.  In addition to working full-time, he has his own online business that he runs when he is at home.  I not only want him to edit for grammatical errors, but to evaluate the tone in which a post is written.  This is especially true since I’m not only representing myself, but him as well with what I publish online.  He is my leader and I want to act like he is in this realm of life, too.

2.        Writing takes time.  Whether it’s playing with my kids, cleaning my kitchen or a bathroom, folding laundry or reading—something has to give in order for me to write.

3.       I am a relational kind of gal.  I usually sink (or at least feel like I am sinking) in surface relationships and thrive in relationships with depth.  The time it takes to maintain a blog like this one takes away from real life relationship.  I want to be active in the body of Christ—pursuing relationship, serving others, knowing others.

4.       Since I began blogging, the amount of time spent on my computer and online has grown—a lot.  This must change.

5.       God has made it clear that I am not to blog right now.  Period.

Tomorrow, I’ll finish sharing my heart and pull it all together in conclusion.

I will no longer be blogging.

To hear the long story, come back later this week for details about why and what led to this decision.

I realize it’s been reallllly quiet around here lately.  I hope to sit down over the next few days to write out why.  In the meantime, I thought I’d share a few pictures from our Christmas (click on them to enlarge them).

We enjoyed the annual Christmas get together with Blane’s dad’s side of the family on Christmas Eve and came home to my family who had arrived from MD while we were gone.  It was a pretty quiet Christmas at our house then next day, to which Brant woke up with a fever and felt pretty crummy.

I am horrible about remembering to take pictures when we are with family, so I’m thankful for my sister who got a few of the kids with everyone. She took some absolutely precious shots of Brant (in my opinion!)

Did I mention that we had a white Christmas?

An attempt at a family shot. Next to me is my sister Laura, my mom, and my youngest brother, Michael (we are nearly 11 yrs apart)

I'm snotty and I need a hair cut!

Mimi (my mom) and Tara

In case you were wondering, the child does have ALL of his teeth.

Tara was *intently* listening to Daddy read on Christmas morning

Tara received a fish, affectionately named Nemo. Here she is showing him puzzles she received from Mimi.

Caught red-handed on Mommy's computer. Which is why...

He received his own from DeeDee (Blane's mom). I put this picture up choosing not to fear the opinion of man (or ahem, women)at the fact that we all have computers.

We have an insane number of stuffed animals. But *every* single one of them is played with, and they are Tara's favorites! (And apparently Brant's, too)

That was our Christmas in a nutshell.  I’ll return soon with some explanations at to why it’s been quiet around here and what things will look like in the future!