Here's to New Adventures

Hey all,

I have some good news, some regular news, and some bad news.

So ... which would you like first?

Too bad I'm doing the bad news first.

I'm getting rid of this blog.

I know I know, ALISHA THIS WILL BE THE 7TH BLOG!

Well look, I've enjoyed this blog a lot, and it's really helped me figure out a few things about myself, marriage, and my priorities. What I am hoping to do is take those priorities and craft a new blog. This blog will be for ME. For what I want to write about and no one else.

That brings me to the good news: I am starting a new blog! (surprise, surprise)

Feel free to follow my new adventures on Instagram (@alishajeanlife) and my new blog thealishajeanlife.blogspot.com.

Thanks for everything! 😙

Balsamic Glazed Pork

When you are trying to stay healthy and eat more protein, chicken breasts get REAL boring. 

Cue this pork recipe my mom introduced me to. It's tangy and sweet and so easy. And I'm all about easy and cheap. I like to pair it with a nice simple green salad and call it good. It's the perfect thing for when you don't feel like cooking. 

Original from Mel's Kitchen Cafe: 

Ingredients

Pork

• 2 to 3 pounds boneless pork loin or pork sirloin roast, trimmed of large fat pockets

• 1 teaspoon ground sage or poultry seasoning

• 1/2 teaspoon coarse, kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper

• 1 clove garlic, finely minced or crushed

• 1/2 cup water or chicken broth

Mix the seasonings together and rub into pork. Then place in slow cooker with water for 8-10 hours on low. When cooked, shred. 

Glaze

• 1/2 cup brown sugar, light or dark

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

• 1/2 cup water

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Whisk all the ingredients together in a small pan and bring to boil. Let simmer 3-5 minutes and drizzle over pork. 

Serve on a sandwich, or just eat plain! Both ways are great. 

Big thanks to Mel's Kitchen Cafe for the great recipe. 

Original here: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/sweet-balsamic-glazed-pork-loin-slow-cooker/

Small Homes, Big Memories

Hey all!

I've been thinking a lot lately about small houses.

Most of us in this stage of life are living out of a one or two bedroom apartment with some ghetto feature or another. My sink is super tiny. I have a friend who has to balance her dresser with books to keep things level. There is always something wrong with the house we are in.

But I don't believe that we should be unhappy in our home.

One of my coworkers recently made an art piece that said the following

"Love grow best in little houses with fewer walls to separate. Where you eat and sleep so close together, you can't help but communicate. And if we had room between us, think of all we'd miss. Love grows best in little houses just like this." 

It came from an old country song called "Little Houses" by Doug Stone. (http://www.metrolyrics.com/little-houses-lyrics-doug-stone.html)

I love what the song embraces. Sometimes it takes living in a small place to really love someone. Sure it gets frustrating having only 800 sq feet when you both grew up in four or five bedroom homes, but think of the memories.

One day, I can't wait to show my kids pictures of our first house.

The joke at our house is one day I'll have a walk-in closet as big as my kitchen is now. (Once you see these pictures you'll realize it's not an unrealistic goal.)

So if you are living in a "tiny house" right now, appreciate it.

Here are some pictures of what our house loos like right now. I could have cleaned it up but I wanted to show what it looks every day.

Our "office"

I love our entertainment center 

Can you notice what is missing? (Answer: There's no counter...)

My teeny, tiny kitchen

The whole main living area. Don't you like my birthday balloons? 

Gotta love the laundry basket eh? 

We both hate decorative pillows so that's why it seems so plain

And there you have it! Our tiny, lovely, home. 

Reading Roadtrip: Alaska

Literally it took me 5 hours to finish this award-winning book. My latest reading road trip adventure took me to the tundras of Alaska as I lived with Julie in Julie of the Wolves.