Top 5 - 2015 Edition

As we close in on 2015 and start gearing up to celebrate New Year's it's hard not to miss every "round up." Top shows, top worst celebrity break ups, top Google searches, etc, etc, etc. Well, here's my small [but meaningful] round up right here on Between the Oaks [#BTO]. Enjoy this installment of my favorite Top 5 posts from 2015 [also known as the only year this blog has been up and running].

one | Living with Intention in 2015

This years most meaningful post - the first. It took a lot to start this blog after talking about it for a long time. And, truth be told the only reason this blog came to fruition is because the blog name came to me in a dream.

two | Home

Mr. B and I had already decided and began planning our wedding back in my hometown. Looking back now, it was the best decision to bring my family back to a place that means so much. 

three | Friends & Family 

This post is really about celebrating the bond between family. Nothing is more important than family especially when they're your best friends. What I've learned since this post is that distance won't ever change that. 

four | Monday's are for MRS

The highlight of my entire year was marrying my best friend. I never want to forget the emotion I had and the small details that made this day so perfect. 

five | My 20 year old self

2015 - also known as the year I became a Mrs and turned 30! But before I could do that I took a look back at all the things I would tell my younger self. 

Do you have a running list of 2015 highlights? I can only imagine what 2016 has in store for all of us!!

Merry, Merry!

We're back from our Christmas travels and trying to come down off our carb high! We've had a great couple of weeks. We baked cookies, visited lots of family, gone on lots of date nights, ice skated, bought our first real Christmas tree, and ate lots and lots of yummy food! We've been blessed this holiday season with amazing memories!

A late Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our little family to yours!

Friday Fun!

Happy Friday, ya'll! I hope everyone has finally come out of their turkey coma. I'm here again with some Friday Fun! 

I'm linking up with oh hey Friday and Five on Friday today!

one | Christmas Cookies
Every year my mother, sister and I do a huge cookie bake. We usually stick to the family favorites, but once in awhile we need something new and fun. This year will be different since we're geographically spread all over the place, but I came across these delicious sounding cookies and had to share!

Mocha Coconut Crinkles

Peppermint Pattie Cookies

two | Instagram Love

As I mentioned, on our way back from Buffalo I spent most of my time listening to Fantasy Football XM Radio which really means I spent all day on Instagram. If you're looking for new inspiration on your Instagram feed, I came across two great accounts to follow: Hugs and Punches and Intentionally Designed . Run on over and take a look! Be sure to check out Hugs and Punches adoption story, it's truly amazing!

three | Minted

Christmas cards have been ordered! As much as I hate not going old school with a real deal card and handwritten note, I couldn't pass up the chance to use our wedding photos for our first Christmas card. Yes, I know it's completely cliche, but I can't resist Minted and all it's shimmery, glittery fun!

four | So What If...

• We haven't decorated for Christmas yet... 4 days in which means I'll be keeping our tree and lights out 4 days into 2016
• The green bean casserole, which is the holy grail of Thanksgiving, was pretty much ice cold. I mean legit cold.
• Am I the only one that walks around without the little rubber piece on the bottom of their heels?! You can hear me coming from a mile away. I'll find a shoe cobbler one day. And if you find that rubber piece, give it back :)

five | Follow Me!

Have you enjoyed reading Between the Oaks? Are you following me? Keep up with new posts by following me on Bloglovin' or get new posts straight to your inbox. Don't miss out!

Have a great weekend!

Growth

We're back from our travels to Buffalo, NY for Thanksgiving! It was an amazing trip especially since being in person with your family trumps FaceTime any day. I do have to give myself the wife award for enduring 12 hours of Fantasy Football XM radio on the way home. That was tough...

I feel like we sped through the Thanksgiving holiday and now we're on to Christmas. Where is the time going?? Looking back, Mr. B and I spent the month of November saying what we were thankful for every day. It felt good to sit and reflect once a day. It's always interesting though when you start thinking about what you're thankful for. It usually consists of things from the present. How often though do we really reflect on things that got us to where we are today? Shouldn't we also be thankful for the intangible growth we've all had as well? The kind of growth that just seeps into your life that you don't even realize you've been working on. Before I dive straight into Christmas and the Kenny G Holiday Pandora station, I'd like to take one last second to reflect on that specific thing.

It's so easy to continue looking forward and only see the beauty ahead in life. I agree with that, don't get me wrong. But, I also firmly believe in looking back on what was [messy], where it sorted itself out, how you changed, and where you came out on the other end. Don't you think if we all spent some time traveling backwards our "thankful's" would be so much more profound? I know for myself it puts clarity and perspective on today, and how I want to grow tomorrow. 

I'd like to challenge you [all 3 readers...] - let's extend our practice of being thankful past November. I want to spend this time before Christmas in true reflection of the past, and in true appreciation and gratefulness for all that was and how that's shaped all that is ahead.

Happy, Happy Birthday!

As my new in-laws like to sing...

Happy, Happy Birthday, it's your special day!

Happy, Happy Birthday, enjoy it in every way, hey!

Happiest of birthday's to my twinning is winning partner for life. I am blessed more today than ever that we've been given this incredible gift for 30 years!

First day of kindergarten!

#lisafrankforlife

Thanksgiving Favorites!

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I don't know about ya'll, but I spent many years turning my nose up to some of our Thanksgiving dinner staples. I'm not really sure why! I think I was too young. Since then I've finally given them a try, and let me tell you! I have such a heavy heart that I spent so many years not eating these dishes made by their original cooks! I can't believe I was missing out on what are now my all time favorite Thanksgiving dishes. So, I'm here to share them with you because I'm sure you're looking for juuust one more dish to add to your already full menu.

Grandma's Cranberry Sauce
will need to be doubled or tripled because it's amazing and will go quick!

1 can 15oz whole cranberry sauce
1/4 cup red onion, minced (and by minced I mean small like you can barely see it)
1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
dash fresh nutmeg
1 can 11oz mandarin oranges

Mix everything together, and enjoy! Great or even better the next day.

Pop's Red Cabbage

3-4 lbs red cabbage, thinly sliced
1 granny smith apple, chopped
4 T butter
1 T brown sugar
1 cup onion, minced
6 T red wine vinegar
1 cup chicken/beef stock or water
1 t salt
1/2 cup red currant jelly

Melt butter in dutch oven. Add in sugar, apple and onion. Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 mins. Stir in cabbage and vinegar. Cover and braise for 10 mins. Add stock/water and salt. Cook covered for 2 hours on low heat. Stir occasionally. Stir in jelly before serving. Enjoy!

What are your favorite Thanksgiving dishes? Have you just discovered a family favorite?

Happy Tuesday, ya'll!

My 20 year old self...

As 30 is becoming more of a reality it's hard not to think about where you are, where you've been, and the thoughts you had over your 20's. Some thoughts were true, some ridiculous and some were flat out wrong. If I had to tell my 20 year old self the most important things I've learned to date, here's what I'd say...

one | The most obvious.... you are beautiful! Stop hating yourself. Stop scrutinizing every little thing. Stop obsessing over the scale. It doesn't get much better than now. And for the love of god, please stop comparing yourself. You will learn one day that comparison is the thief of all joys, and it's true.

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two | 21 isn't as cracked up as it's made out to be. Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on every seasonal beer I've drank and every bottle of red wine I've finished. But, if I knew that 20 pounds would come along with finally being able to order a dirty martini I would have entered 21 with less abandonment. 

three | Just because you graduate from an accredited university does not mean you will find or receive the perfect job. For a while. It will take several ridiculous loops and turns before you finally land on something that makes your heart tick. And at 30, you may still be searching for that something special. On that note, take an internship or go somewhere. Just because spending a summer making money and waiting tables seems like a great idea, an experience in life will get you much farther.

four | Stop chasing that boy. He will never be your husband or anyone that will love you like you want or need to be. Spend more time loving yourself and investing in your well being.

five | Stop spending money on worthless, meaningless junk. Take that money and learn something. Learn to garden. Learn to cook. If you want trendy clothes, learn to make them! Spend money on a hobby. Find a friend and go somewhere. Most of all, stop filling up your closet or thimble size apartment with things that mean nothing.

six | Do not be afraid to speak up. Especially at the hair salon! It will save you several weeks of dreadful hair styling. Joking aside, be confident in who you are and what you believe.  

seven | Stop looking to the future because time will pass you by while everyone else is living in the moment. Have fun, enjoy your time, live for where you are. Take pictures, make memories. Stop planning ahead or trying to achieve "what should be" by a certain time. Your time will happen when God decides it's time. 

eight | One day you will learn that being burnt as a lobster isn't cool or fun. Wear sunscreen. Being pale and white is much hotter than being a miserable, scaly, peeling burnt mess. And I'm talking 30 SPF+. I know you think you'll need 15 because you're young and cute, but you're wrong.

nine | Every cliche you've ever heard from your parents is absolutely 100% true. Whether you want to believe it or not. You will not be an anomaly. Trust me. As much as you try and fight the cliche, it will always win!

ten | Stop biting your nails. Keep them polished. Invest in a quality hair brush. Learn how to give yourself a good blow out. Stop wearing clothes that are ill fitting. Invest in good shoes. Find a skincare regimen. And finally, love yourself and live your life unapologetically.