The best, easiest and healthiest salad dressing ever

I have come to terms about not having ranch dressing in Portugal. I have since become addicted to another really easy dressing that makes any salad better and makes you really sad when there is no more salad. THAT is the sign of a good dressing. Plus, it's really easy because there is no chopping involved!

*Based on IGE's Black and Blue Salad

 

 

 

Step one:

Put 1-2 cups of blackberries or blueberries in the blender. Add 4 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, salt and pepper.

 

Step two:

Blend and ENJOY!

 

 

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Motherhood is awful

It's ripping me apart. I now see why it's so difficult to have children. Not the actually having children part. Pregnancy was exciting, (okay childbirth was awful), watching the baby grow is thrilling and taking care of her is wonderful. She's adorable and makes our lives a million bajillion times better.

 

It's the not-wanting-to-leave-her-ever and wanting-to-build-my-life-around-her but not being able to and that not being good for me and finding the right balance that's killing me. This terrible, do I work? do I do this? do I do that? No one seems to understand that here in Portugal!

 

When I say it's awful I mean sanctifying/makes you a better person and all that. The baby is quite sweet, just to clarify. I just happen to be in the most heart-wrenching, confusing and IMPORTANT decision-making process of my life.

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Jaaaaazz

This was our date night two weeks ago. Unfortunately the baby crashed it. It's hard to find babysitters... I guess I should ask more often but it just seems like so much work.

 

Last week we went on a dancing date sans baby and that was fabulous. This week with baby. Next week without. Date nights are hard to put energy into, but it's definitely well-spent. I look forward to them all week.

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Hiking trails and backyards

There is this place in Lisbon that my husband (at the time fiancee) and I happened to stumble upon a few years ago. It is a little neighborhood in the middle of Lisbon's forest. It is my DREAM to live there. Unfortunately houses are not for sale or rent. And that little neighborhood is social housing and belongs to the state. Bummer.

 

So we continue to live in our overpriced 6th-storey apartment that overlooks a highway and I sometimes go to the other place to hike the wonderful hiking trails. Can you imagine having this as your backyard?

Unfortunately, God doesn't seem to be answering prayers the way I WANT Him to. (Imagine that?) Yesterday I heard a little video of Scott Hahn saying, do you pray to change God's mind? I confess, I do. What a struggle.

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DIY No-Sew Diaper Changing Pad Cover

We have been spending a lot of money on pretty things for the baby. So I tried making my own DIY changing pad cover with fabric from Ikea and guess what... it worked! And everyone compliments it when they come over. Plus, I don't know how to sew... not even a button... so this is super easy.

 

Step 1:

Cut your fabric in a 80x120 cm rectangle. Then cut about 15x15 cm boxes of  each corner.

Step 2:
Bind the ends of the square together using the strips you iron on and glue fabric together with.
Place on edge...

Fold over...

(This is what I used)

Iron back and forth and voilá...

Repeat with all corners...

 

Step 3:

Bind all four sides down. Fold over a side and place the fabric tape along the edge, then iron back and forth again. Make sure to leave enough space to run elastic through next.

Step 4:
Using any type of elastic string you have (I just had this one), tie it firmly to the edge of a pin and then thread it through the entire edge of the cover.

That's it! Look how wonderfully it blends in with my couch...

And I made another one to switch with when I wash them.

Ah. Much better...

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