Singapore-Day 1

We're still 12 hours ahead here in Singapore. Currently it's Sunday evening and we've already had a full couple of days here since we arrived late on Friday. Saturday we woke up early and had an amazing breakfast at our hotel, Dave loves the coffee they serve. After breakfast we took off walking and exploring. It was Singapore's National Day-which was commemorates the 49th year of Singapore's independence from Malaysia. It was very cool to be here for this holiday.

{largest indoor waterfall}

We walked to the Gardens at the Bay and bought a ticket to the Cloud Forest. It was really amazing. I wasn't a fan of the highest walkway, but the whole place was beautiful.

Dave and I walked along the cross way from the gardens to the Marina Sands Hotel to meet up with his two coworkers that are on this trip too. In the background you can see the Singapore Flyer (the ferris wheel) and on the right that dome is the flower dome at the Gardens by the Bay.

We walked around and went to Merlion Park-a landmark of Singapore. 

The original statue at the Merlion Park measures 8.6 metres high and weighs 70 tonnes, and is one of Singapore’s most well-known icons. The lion head represents the lion spotted by Prince Sang Nila Utama when he re-discovered Singapura in 11 AD, as recorded in the "Malay Annals", and the fish tail of the Merlion symbolises the ancient city of Temasek (meaning “sea” in Javanese) by which Singapore was known before the Prince named it “Singapura” (meaning “lion city” in Sanskrit). via YourSingapore

It was hot out so we went back to the hotel for an afternoon swim. before figuring out dinner and splitting up for Dave to buy some shorts and me to get a mani/pedi. We watched the fireworks for National Day from our hotel room. A great way to end our first full day in this beautiful (and oh so clean) city.

Perth, Australia

Hi friends! It's been a while since I've been on my little space of the internet. And it's been far too long since I've read my daily blogs (I'm missing your lives Cassie, Aubrey, Christa etc-but I'll catch up when I'm home).
Anyway, we're now in Singapore but I'm recapping our time in Perth. I still can't believe we were lucky enough to have traveled to Australia! It was a fun week with perfect weather and honestly I enjoyed my time exploring on my own.

{Dave and I with part of the Perth skyline}

{me taking the train (metro) out to Fremantle}

{no matter where in the world I am, I'm happiest by his side}

{kangaroo at the zoo!}

{venison, gator, kangaroo, wild boar}

We went out to this cool restaurant that served a game platter on hot lava stone. The brought out the steaming hot platter and you had to cook your own meat. I really wanted to try kangaroo and I'm glad I had the chance. I wanted to try emu as well but couldn't find it on any menu. However, I did find emu jerky at the airport right before flying out, so I bought that and ate it. I crossed both things I wanted to try off my list! Kangaroo was really good and as for the emu jerky, it tasted basically like regular jerky.

{Dave after his dip}

It was a little chilly but Dave and his co-worker decided they wanted to get in the water anyway. We all wanted to go to Penguin Island (behind us) but when we got there we were told there were no ferry's going over because it's their mating season. So close. It would have been neat to see the penguins that call Australia their home year round.

Meat pies are also a big food in Australia so I may have had 3 of them during my stay! It was a great week and I'm glad I've checked off Australia on my world travel bucket list.

Guest Post: greek salad recipe

We're wrapping up the week of guest posts with one of my oldest friends, Aubrey. And she's got a great recipe for one of my favorite foods: greek salad. So I hope you enjoy her post as much as I do. 
HI! I'm Aubrey and you can find me over at The Found Life. I love the Lord, I am married to the best man I've ever known and we have two fur kids - a dog, Hubble, and a cat, Phoebe who make our days more interesting! I am pluviophile, and a lover of weird words like that. I am a wedding and lifestyle photographer in Northern Nevada. I've known Lauren for years and years! We met when we were in middle school when we were both living in Germany! I can remember plenty of sleep overs and days of laughter and fun with this sweet girl! She is kind, so nurturing, and encouraging! She is beautiful inside and out and has such a fun laugh! Thankfully over the years we have kept in touch, and I am so thankful for our friendship, and the fact that we can call each other and just cry and pray together! I recently just got back into blogging (on the personal side), so I want to give a huge thanks to Lauren for letting me take over her blog today!


I love to eat (who doesn't!?) but I am a very picky eater, the flavor and texture has to be just right and sadly for me, a lot of what is healthy has either a weird texture or flavor to me. So because I am so picky, when I find a healthy recipe that I love I get super excited! So I wanted to share a recipe for Greek Salad with y'all that I absolutely love!! I am not a chef by any means, but I enjoy cooking (I'll let you clean up any day though!!) and making things my own so I don't follow the recipe too strictly and you can feel free to modify it to fit your own taste.

Greek Salad with Herbed Pita

serves 4

Ingredients:

• Lemon juice, from 1 lemon
• Garlic, 1 clove, minced
• Freshly ground pepper
• Olive oil, 1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons
• Pita bread, 4 rounds
• Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon
• Your favorite salad mixture
• Cucumber, 1 half-whole
• Grape tomatoes, as many as you want
• Olives, black
• Feta cheese
• Green onions, 8, thinly sliced, optional
• Green bell pepper, 1/3, optional
• Red onion, as much as you want, optional

1. Make the vinaigrette:

In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, and a generous amount of pepper. Gradually whisk in the 1/4 cup of oil until smooth.

*I'm not sure if there is a reason for not mixing all the ingredients together or not, so I just throw them all in the bowl and whisk them together, none of that gradually mixing stuff... :)

2. Warm the pita:

Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Cut each pita into 4 wedges. Arrange on a baking sheet and brush both sides with the 2 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle with the italian seasoning and place in the oven to warm for about 10 minutes.

*I enjoy the pita just a little bit crunchier so I tend to leave it in for a few extra minutes, or if you are running short on time, you can up the temp to 325°F (165°C).

3. Assemble the salad:

Meanwhile, add the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, green onions, green bell pepper to the vinaigrette and toss to coat evenly. Arrange on plates and top with the olives, and feta. Place the warm pita wedges alongside the salads and serve.

*I always cut the wrong amount of the vegetables to add in, so I usually cut them all right before I add them in and like I said up above, feel free to add as many as you want of everything. Cut everything how you like to cut them. I like the cucumbers cut smaller and I usually cut them into 4 pieces and for the tomatoes I prefer cutting them into multiple slices because the pop of the grape tomato when you bite into it (even when cut in half)  is too much for this picky eater.

Guest Post: Work as Ministry

Hi everyone, I hope you're enjoying all my lovely friends guest posting. Today we have Kelli from A Deeper Joy. She's written about a subject that I really struggle with-work as ministry. I hope as I find a new position, I will use my job to really live out God's word in the work place. Thanks so much Kelli for being here today!

Hey lovely Bound by Love readers!  I'm thrilled to be guest posting for Lauren today - thanks for letting me take over your space, friend!

This is such a huge topic in my life!  Just to give you a little background...I am a CPA.  I work in the tax department at a commercial real estate company with six other women.  Yep, seven accounting women all in one area!  Sounds like drama, right?  This might surprise you, but it's really not.  We do talk about life and such, but we don't hang out outside of work and we don't take things personally.

Work As Ministry

If you are a Christian and have been one since you were young, you might have experienced what I have.  I grew up in a Christian family, attended church camp, was a leader in the youth group and then attended a Christian university.  Shoot...even if you didn't grow up like me, it's likely that you have heard this as well.  I feel like it was engrained in my head that to achieve the ultimate status as a Christian was to "work in ministry".  Many Christians receive this as a calling and I think that is awesome!

What do we define as "ministry"?

Usually ministry is a position in the church such as a pastor, children's pastor, youth pastor/worker, domestic or international missionary, Christian counselor, or working for any type of faith-based organization.  While I believe that ALL of these positions are WONDERFUL and so glorifying to the Lord, I think our view of what is "ministry" is far too restricting.

Aren't we ALL called to ministry?  Whether you're a teacher, a construction worker, a social worker, a lawyer, an accountant, work in retail, work in hospitality, a mother, a father, a student, an administrative assistant, a blogger, a writer, a recruiter or a food server, YOU are in ministry.  Aren't all places a work (with the exception of jobs outright involving sin like prostitution) a place of ministry?

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." ~Colossians 3:23

We are called to work as if working for the Lord.  Working your hardest at whatever you do brings glory to the Lord.  THIS is a ministry!  If you prepare tax returns (haha...me!), prepare them with the best accuracy and diligence that you can.  If you teach children, teach them important information and discipline them with love.  This applies to all areas of work.  

How can you work as if working for the Lord in your career?

Relationships

Be a light for the Lord in your workplace.  Your coworkers are observing you and if they know that you are a Christian, they are developing an opinion of God by your actions.

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven."

~Matthew 5:16

We are a reflection of Christ.  I know this is tough because you are human and you are sinful.  You won't be perfect but you can strive to live a Christ-like life through your words and actions at work.  Be open about God's forgiveness but strive to be a good example.  Someone may come to know Christ through you but could also be hindered by your behavior.  I daily have to remind myself of this.  I am often tempted to gossip and complain at work.  Then I remember that it isn't Christ-like and I want my coworkers to see God's love through me.

I know this can be awkward - I know!  I try to develop relationships with my coworkers.  I want them to know that I care about them not just as coworkers, but as friends.  We often talk about personal stuff without getting too nosey.  This can be a tough road to walk but such a rewarding one!  I pray often for my coworkers and am there for them to talk to if they need it.

This has honestly been what has kept me in my profession.  Sometimes I hate the actual work (and have to remind myself of Colossians 3:23) but knowing that so many professionals would never come in contact with a believer otherwise, motivates me to stay there and love them.  It is definitely a mission field!

How can you better show the love of Christ to your coworkers?

Guest Post: Book Recommendations

Continuing with my guest posts, we have Carly here today from her blog Carly Blogs Here with some book recommendations. As I've brought my kindle with me while I'm on vacation in New Hampshire I'm anxious to get started on some of her recommendations. Thanks so much Carly for guest posting. Take it away...

I'm so happy to be guest posting on Lauren's blog today! While I share a pretty wide variety of posts on my blog, some of my favorite posts revolve around books. I thought I would share a small selection of some favorites and recommendations.

 

 Me Before You is a recent read that I fell in love with from the very beginning. It's a story about friendship, love, and family. It will make you smile and make you cry and you'll be sad when it comes to an end. The Gifts of Imperfection is the perfect book if you need a little bit of encouragement or inspiration. It's one of those books that you want to highlight the entire thing because it's so relatable. Sloppy Firsts will forever be a favorite book of mine- I believe it's classified as new adult and is book one of a five part series. You can't help but love Jessica Darling and the rest of the very realistic set of characters. An Invisible Thread is the true story of an 11-year-old panhandler, a busy sales executive, and an unlikely meeting with destiny. I've been a huge fan of Sarah Dessen for years and recently read Along For the Ride and adored it! If you're a fan of young adult books it's one you don't want to miss! The Great Gatsby is the perfect classic to read or reread this summer. Fitzgerald makes us all wish we could attend a West Egg party! What are some of your all-time favorite books? Any recent reads that you've loved? A huge thank you to Lauren for letting me post today! Feel free to stop by Carly Blogs Here for more book recommendations!

Guest Post: no knead bread

Hi guys. Today I have one of my best friends, Tera, guest posting again for us. She's got an amazing recipe up her sleeve that I'm 100% going to try sometime soon. I'm a sucker for bread and if it's as easy as she says my house is soon to become a bakery.

Hello Bound By Love readers! My name is Tera... You may remember me from my guest post last month on meal planning. I'm stoked to be guest posting again for Lauren while she and Dave are enjoying a well deserved vacation.

Today I'm going to share one of the best bread recipes around. It's a take on the famous no knead method championed by Jim Lahey that my friend taught me to bake earlier this year. It's ridiculously easy to make and all it takes is a little forethought and a Dutch oven. Both key components! So let's get to it.

The first thing you is to possess a magical 6th sense that can predict your homemade artisan bread cravings about 24 hours before they hit. Ok, kidding but this bread does use a slow rise method so you need to let it rise for about 20 hour before baking. I usually prep the dough sometime in the evening the day before I want some bread say Saturday night for a loaf on Sunday afternoon. In a pinch you could probably get away with preparing the dough in the morning and baking that night!

In a bowl place the following ingredients and mix just until they come together:

3 cups of flour (I prefer 2 cups of bread flour and 1 cup of whole wheat but you can use any mix you want)
1/4 tsp yeast
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups cold water

 After the ingredients are combined cover the bowl tightly. I use plastic wrap secured with a rubber band but use whichever method works for you. Over the next 18-20 hours you'll see your dough transform into a bubbly uniform mixture that is ready to turn into delicious bread. Punch down the dough and turn it out into a floured surface. Fold the dough on itself a few times and shape it into a  ball with a distinct seam on the under side. (this will produce an opening in the bread when it bakes!) Cover the dough with the bowl you mixed it in or a floured tea towel and let it rise for another 2 hours. About an hour and a half in put your Dutch oven (you can use regular cast iron or enameled) into your oven and preheat to 450 degrees. You want the Dutch oven to heat up with the oven. When you hit the 2 hour mark and your oven and Dutch oven are piping hot pull out the Dutch oven and toss your dough seam side up into the pot. Place covered in the oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes remove the lid and cook for another 15 minutes. Enjoy some seriously delicious smells in your house while all this is happening.

 After 45 minutes total cooking time take your Dutch oven and delicious bread out of the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes. If you listen carefully you'll hear your bread crackling and singing to you! After 10 minutes you are free to dig in. I'd recommend eating the whole loaf immediately with a little butter because it's so tasty steaming hot out of the oven but it also will last a few days stored in a bag on the counter. It is best fresh because the crust is wonderfully crisp and a great contrast to the soft interior. After a few hours of storage the bread loses it's crisp exterior and becomes more chewy. Still delicious just not quite as perfect as when it is fresh. Now... Feel free to enjoy your yummy homemade bread as an accompaniment to a pot of homemade soup, as toast or a sandwich, anything really. You can also separate the dough into four balls before cooking to make rolls or form it into a baguette loaf if you have an oblong Dutch oven.

Lately I've been really digging it as a side to my take on the Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana or topped with mashed avocado and a little salt. How are you going to eat yours??

Copy Cat Zuppa Toscana:

Brown two or three mild Italian sausages in a pot with the casings removed. Add one diced onion and sauté until soft. Next add two diced potatoes and 2 quarts of stock of your choice along with some crushed red pepper and Italian seasoning. Let the soup simmer away until the potatoes are tender and add one bunch of kale chopped or torn into bite size pieces and a cup of milk just before serving.

Summer Bucket List- Link Up!!!

I wrote here about my summer bucket list and really want to start making headway with it. I have a tendency to put things off, so making a list really helps me when Dave asks what I want to do. I'll be checking back the last Thursday of every month (June-August) to see how you're doing with your lists. I found this awesome printable How To Summer list from You Are My Fave. 

  

Get your own here. 

 

I've added a few things to my list including: make homemade ice cream, go to a farmer's market, possibly visit a local nude beach, beat Dave at Scrabble, tea time with Momma, and make cards more. I'll hope you'll join me in keeping track of what we're up to this summer and sharing our fun with others!

 

 

 

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wedding fun

 I'm back from Arizona for my friend Tera's wedding. While I'm sucking down caffeine to keep me awake it was totally worth it. It was such a fun weekend and I'm so honored to have been a part of their big day. My iphone pictures don't do this beautiful bride justice, she looked so breathtaking in her dress that more people than just me got teary eyed.

I was glad for the group of girls I shared the weekend with too-these silly bridesmaids. We all meshed really well together and knew the main reason we were together-to love on and support Tera!

 I'm glad to be home with my boys (and Bella pup for a few days) though. Arizona was beautiful and I'm hoping Dave and I can go back there to visit sometime.

How was your weekend? Do you like our poses?

tanked

I ordered the bridal party matching tank tops for the cruise and they were a hit! My obsession with Etsy is never ending-I can always find a print, a necklace, or a card that I just have to have. So I knew that I'd find something amazing for Tera's bachelorette cruise. We saved the shirts for our full day at sea and had a blast taking pictures all day long in them.

 I shopped Eventees on Etsy and was extremely happy with the product and service. She worked with me on a tight turn around, and even added an anchor to the back at my request. The tanks are American Apparel and were extremely comfortable to wear. I'm excited to have a little souvenir from our trip together and I know that I'll wear this tank top to the beach or around the house. The other girls can wear it working out and running and since I'm the lazy one I won't be participating in those ridiculous things.

{cute butts}

cruisin

It's so hard being back in the office after 5 days away. The Bachelorette Cruise Weekend was a blast though. All the girls got along, we relaxed, we ate (we really just centered everything around eating), we got quality time with da bride (a cruise inside joke), and just enjoyed not being connected to our phones.

 

{Freeport, Bahamas}

Our cruise took off Thursday afternoon and we got back to Jacksonville on Monday morning. Our first stop was Freeport Harbor. When we disembarked we walked around for a little and then decided to take a jam packed cab to Junkanoo beach. We enjoyed the day there before heading back to the ship for dinner.

{Nassau, Bahamas-one hat}

The following day we were in Nassau and decided that we just wanted to walk around the city. We walked the main strip where the stores, open market, and Starbucks was. We walked for a bit before ending up at the gorgeous beach where some of the girls got in the water. I was too freaked out by the mini jellyfish to go in. My plan was to lay out on the ship once we got back which worked out perfectly.

{beautiful Nassau-3 hats: w added some hats to our collection at this point}

{Me and the pretty bride to be}

{Fun group of girls}

{last night at dinner}

Every night we had fun dressing up for dinner. Dinner was by far my favorite meal of the day and we all took full advantage of ordering whatever we wanted. Oh 5 starters look good to you? By all means get them ALL! And we did!

{after the diva's show-a bunch of goofy girls}

The entertainment, when we could stay up for it, was really fun. We ended up seeing a Mo-Town show, comedy show, Diva show, and got cut off at Karaoke. It was such a fun trip and it was so good to get to know the other bridesmaids better. I can't wait for Tera's wedding in 18 days!!!!

More pictures of the cruise tomorrow, because let's face it I wish I was still there.