Team Tuohy

I have always been pretty patriotic, I knew I was blessed to live in America and have not only clean water as a standard but a mentality built into me that there is no limit, anything is possible. I however was greatly unaware of how much I loved this country until I married a sweet, handsome, loving Brit and moved across the pond. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against my hubby's home, it is just simply different.

There are some absolutely beautiful things about the English lifestyle, family and friends are very much a priority and work life comes second. The culture is deep and rich, the traditions solid and meaningful. Not to mention the beauty of century old buildings that were not torn down, but still used everyday. These things, I truly love and often reminisce on over a cup of tea.

I remember watching the World Cup last year though, England vs. USA round 1. Everyone almost guaranteed England to win. I will never forget though the BBC anchor talking during the pre-game chatter and saying that as much as England was favored to win there was something about America and the fact that we could take it, that we always seriously believed we could win, that we could do anything. That is what I missed, that is what makes me proud to be an American.

Needless to say, I have a trooper of a Tuohy family who have made every fourth of July absolutely fantastic and truly have embraced my culture and all its holidays with open arms, even if we did win ;). This year we were blessed to share  it with a couple who have become such great friends of ours. We celebrated a new job change in the Tuohy family and a first-time home purchase in the Billmans before heading off to watch fireworks reminding us of our freedom that we so often take for granted.  It was overall a spectacular night! I really do thank my lucky stars to be living here today.

Celebration Night!

Sugar Free Cake & Sugar Free Frosting

Yet still YUMMY!

New Homeowners!!!

Watching Fireworks!

Team Tuohy!

Photo Credit

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Thinking back I can't remember if I have mentioned that Michael and I are part of something called a foundation group. It's a community group that is put together through our church- Watermark- with five other couples and a mentor couple. For 18 months we go through curriculum designated by Watermark and are coached on it by our mentors in order to best prepare us as Newlyweds for our marriages to last and on how to live in community, and do it well. At the end of those 18 months it is the hope that we will continue on as a community group apart from our mentors. I will say that it hands down has bettered our marriage, friendships, lives, thought process and most importantly walk with Christ more than any other single thing. We are big supporters. 

So far we have read When Sinners Say I Do and followed Watermark's own financial curriculum MoneyWise. Now we are into this little wonder called The Lasting Promise. It is about all thing communication! So as a guy in our mentor's community group said the definition of good communication can be put up to Ephesians 4:29. Wholeheartedly agree. With that said, we are on an adventure to memorize it. I put it as a post-it on my office computer which has done wonders, as well as left the email with just the scripture address in my inbox so I am reminded daily to think of it and try to repeat it back. Oh the tricks of years worth of studying for exams!

The first time I really took this verse in, it was actually on the table at our foundation group leaders home- the dinning room table. What a glorious idea. Tables are where people talk the great, the good and unfortunately the bad and nasty. It's most commonly surrounded by family or close friends and seems like a safe place to let it all out. However, this comes with the ability for the line between chat that builds others up and gossip to be seriously grayed quite easily. With no negative intentions at all it goes from a simple conversation about a low point in a day, or a topic on mind to a full on tear down sesh about whatever may have caused that. However, I wonder what that would look like if every time you looked up from your place your eyes were smack dab faced with scripture.  I bet you would think twice, I would. 

Along with the dinning room table encouragement this verse also gives pure general encouragement and guidelines for what Godly communication looks like. Imagine how much our conversations would alter if all we spoke were words that would build others up. Imagine how those around us would feel, good I bet. Imagine what our spouses would be like towards us, how well they would take our words into consideration, the love our marriage would pour out. All due to the knowledge that the words being spoken were only for that single purpose of encouraging and making each other stronger in faith and more Christlike. Such good stuff!

These reasons alone along with the pure joy in engraving God's Word on my heart makes me pumped to get the chance to add it to my scripture memory bank with my fellow friends, I love being in this as a team and growing in our walks together. Not only is it nice accountability but its fun to look back and see how much we've walked through together and how rockin' our marriages are going to be with such lessons as this one! 

xoxo



 

Diving In...

Feeling it Out...

A face of Joy! Mission completed with success!

Michael and I FINALLY went on our honeymoon. That's right, almost two years into marriage we still had not set off on any type of vacation together (minus our mini Wales getaways). We had been saving for a down payment on a house and then decided to push and wait a year until we know the area better and what we are looking for so we decided to head off for our long awaited weekend together!

It was a 5 hour drive with little Lincoln to this fun little city called San Antonio, as you probably know it is indeed not too little at all! We had never been and our sweet friends did the math and research that led us to finally choosing it as our destination! It was stunning. Michael had surprised me and got us a room with a balcony over the river walk, the sun was shining and my heart was stolen once again by being along the water! We adventured out for the next three days and saw some Texas history (The Alamo), got a fabulous candle that was hand made before our eyes, had the best Mexican of our lives and enjoyed walks along the water just spending time together! Best part of it all I forgot the phone chargers so for three days neither of us were competing for the attention of the other versus Angry Birds! Hallelujah!

I will second my dear friend Chrisey in saying, that a yearly vacation is worth the price- it is completely and utterly towards your marriage. Michael is my best friend and sometimes it is just nice to put the responsibility to the wind and just enjoy being young, married and absolutely head over heels in love! Cant wait for next year already!

xoxo

Our View!

Yum Yum.

The Alamo

I am a true sucker for a trolley!

Taking a Ride!

Mi Tierras- BEST MEXICAN EVER.

This makes my heart happy =)

YUM.

Moving to Texas I knew I would find things like sweet tea, fried chicken, Tex Mex but never did I imagine these little obsessions called cake balls. They are heaven in a ball, and the more I try the better they get. Salted caramel from Whole Foods is still my winning favorite however... So about a month or two ago Starbucks released their version of the cake ball but it had one difference, it comes on a stick. Therefore leading to the name the cake pop. When the family came into town last week, I learned my sweet baby cousin was a master at cake pops, and  it became our mission to re-make these little delicious inventions and so off to Michael's we went for materials.

Materials:
1 Styrofoam board (poke the holes in before making the pops!)
2 bags of chocolate candy coating
1 box of store cake mix
1 tub of store cake frosting
 Sprinkles if wanted

Steps:
1. Bake cake as usual
2. Crumble finely the baked cake (throw our browned edges)
3. Combine crumbles with store 1/3-1/2 of a tub of store bought icing
4. Form into 1/2 inch balls
5. Place in freezer for 15 minutes
6. Melt candy chocolate in a double boiler or in a microwavable tub (we used our Tupperware as it was easy to microwave and easy to dip into later!)
7. Dip the end of the stick in the candy coating first then stick a hardend cake ball on it and dip to cover with the chocolate coating
8. Turn right side up and place in the pre poked hole in the styrophome
9. Repeat and ENJOY!

Proof:

With The Extra Decor!

HA!

Orignial

Complete!

Life in the Tuohy house has been needless to say crazy lately- hence the pause in blogging. We have been here there and everywhere besides home with time to spare. There have been end of the year lacrosse parties, intense school projects, a total remodel at work, a poorly puppy, Mother's day, family in town and among other exciting things a Royal Weddings, and a date with Beckham.

Recently, I have been loving all things British. This is typical for the other half of Team Tuohy but I may have even surpassed him these past couple weeks. I can't get enough of the Royal Wedding and the new addition, not to mention have "tapped tapped" the name Pippa for our future daughter, God willing. In all seriousness, I love it.

Although, I should get one of these Keep Calm and Carry On signs for our house as it seems slowing down is not looking like anything in the close future! The good news is we have this wonderful thing called our Foundation group that is getting us through it. Just this week we mentioned to a few of them we wanted to go out of town possibly for a vacation and one of them put together an entire budget of what it would cost to head down to San Antonio- down to even the gas for our car, I mean if that is not serving well then I do not know what it is! Something that has been all consuming turned into something fun and easy as vacations should be, thank you Billmans =).

These next weeks, although busy, hold some great joy for us, we will head off on our first vacation (I KNOW!!!!) to San Antonio, my maid of honor will be stopping by through Dallas -AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT, our sweet sweet sweet sister Sammi may be flying in from England (Yes! More Britishness!), my baby sis graduates her school program, lacrosse starts back up and I head to Denver possibly to see my family! Oh yeah, and I turn 24! All in a matter of 3 weeks... phew. Good thing I was spoiled rotten by the love of my life this weekend at the outlets- have I mentioned how blessed I am, because he really made my day. I love it when we just get it right sometimes!

Below are some pictures of all the fun missed and expect some more to come soon, I promised our mum we would get back on track, so accountability partners hold me to it! Love you all, thanks for following our crazy lives!

Love Love LOVE all things British! Rockin' the Man U Jersey =)

Happppy Michael!!!

<3

Becks

For Mum!

Sweet Mother's day delivery to work from Lincoln!

My sweet hubby leaving me notes all over the door and house after a long day of moving...

THE MOVE... Welcome to our temporary office kitchen!