20 Things I Want You To Know & Remember

Dear little love,

I promise to always love you. 

I promise to always welcome you with an open heart & arms. 

I am beyond blessed that God gifted me with you.

I am here to help guide you in creating a wonderful life...

20 things I want you to know & remember. 

1. Love God. Above all else, pursue relationship with Jesus. Every day should start with, "Hello, Jesus!" and end with "Goodnight, God!" Pray without ceasing.
2. Go on adventures; no matter how big or small. 
3. Be a great friend.
4. Create. Play. Draw. Paint. 
5. Read something every day.
6. Get outside as much as possible. Breathe in the fresh air. Explore the outdoors. 
Skip. Jump. Run. Climb. 
7. Ooze positivity. You & those around you will benefit greatly.  
8. Accept others for who they are. 
9. Exude the fruit of The Spirit : love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control.
10. Keep it simple. 
11. Be confident in who you are.
12. Maintain your health : body, mind & spirit.
13. Love well. Love God, family, friends, acquaintances & strangers. 
14. Laugh often.
15. Enjoy your life. Enjoy the good, bad, ugly & beautiful. 
16. Sometimes all it takes is remembering to "just breathe." 
17. Admit when you're wrong & always apologize if you need to. 
18. Never lose who you are by trying to impress someone else. 
19. Make family a priority.  
20. You are enough. Quit comparing. You were created because this world needed a YOU! We need your stories, passions, experiences, failures & love. This world was meant to exist with you & everything you have to offer. So just be YOU! 

I'll love you forever,

momma

Children's Books

READ!

My mother was a librarian for 14 years of my childhood.

What did this mean for me?

I spent a gazillion hours in the public library thumbing through an assortment of stories.

I was carried away to distant lands. I had fictional friends. I learned & dreamed & explored.

Reading is magical. 

We have so many favorite children's books!
Here are some of our most favorites...

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones 

I Love You Through & Through by Bernadette Rossetti 

Giraffe's Cant Dance by Giles Andreae

Llama Llama Nighty Night by Anna Dewdney

Geraldine's Big Snow by Holly Keller
A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester
Panda-monium! by Cynthia Platt
The Mitten by Jan Brett
The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Marianna Mayer
Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills
God Knows All About Me by Kate Toms
Are You A Cow? by Sandra Boynton
Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth
Witzy's Fun Bath by Katie Kobble
P-O-T-T-Y by Kathy Ireland

I encourage you to read to your children! 

Open up new world's for them.

Create a special bond through reading together. 

I promise you, your child(ren) won't be the only one benefiting! 

Enjoy!

Nicole

Sober October

Hello friends,

            I want to share with you a decision I made. I want to make a public confession. And I want to share so I'm held more accountable.

Backstory::

In July I started feeling a constant, dull, but throbbing pain in my abdomen and back. 

I felt tired all of the time. 

I "lost it" multiple times a day [crying & yelling].

After a few times of keeling over in such intense pain, falling asleep in the middle of the day, negative pregnancy tests, and 100% not feeling like myself, I finally went to the doctor. 

Blood work, an ultrasound, and a CT scan later I still have no answers. 

Confession:

I started drinking because it was the only thing that numbed me. 

I'm not sure if it numbed the pain or my mind, but I "felt better" with a drink or two in me. 

Fast forward to the end of September ::

I gained so much weight that none of my jeans fit. 

A night without drinking would reveal the pain in my abdomen & back was still very present.

Masking the initial issue with drinking is not healthy. 

It's not healthy for multiple reasons. 

I'm sure you all are thinking, "DUH!" 

Sometimes you have to figure stuff out on your own.

People can have the best intentions, but their words are hollow unless you yourself desire the change. 

I had to make the decision to quit drinking for 31 days on my own.

Three days into a sober October and I am realizing a few things ::

I have a very addictive personality. 

I thrive on routine. 

I enjoy wine, very much.

Accountability:

By putting this out here for whomever to read; I'm promising not only myself, but you [the reader], that I'm going to commit to not drinking for the full 31 days of October. 

Cheers to health, wealth, happiness, and a sober October! 

With love,

Nicole

hot ham & cheese crescent rolls

I had to share our delicious weeknight dinner! 
If your oven doesn't take a year to preheat like mine, then you could have this ready in about 30 minutes!

Serves four. If doubling the recipe use a 9x13 pan. 


Side of vegetables ::
Frozen zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, cauliflower & carrots (use whatever is on hand)
Put olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. 
Throw in veggies and sauté until water is mostly evaporated. 
Season with seasoning salt (I love Lowry's).
Pour in 1/4 - 1/2 cup of broth (I used beef but chicken or veggie would work too)  
Simmer until all liquid has evaporated. 

My "all I had on hand marinara sauce" ::
Mix together ---
8oz tomato sauce
1Tbsp red wine vinegar
Dash of each of the following
garlic powder
oregano
thyme
basil
parsley
kosher salt (regular works too)
pepper

Ham & Cheese rolls ::
1 can crescent rolls
6-8oz deli sliced ham
6-8oz deli sliced cheese (I used provolone (then took picture with colby jack because I already threw out the provolone bag!) but you could use any cheese you have on hand)
butter
dash of each of the following
basil 
oregano
garlic powder
salt & pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Unroll half of the crescent dough and spread it to cover the bottom of a greased 8x8 pan.
3. Bake for 8 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and spread a little butter then season with seasonings.
5. Layer 1/2 of the cheese.
6. Layer all of the ham.
7. Layer the rest of the cheese.
8. Layer the rest of the crescent rolls on top. 
9. Season again with seasonings.
10. Bake for about 15 minutes until brown (and no longer squishy in the center).

ENJOY!!

Let me introduce myself...again!

Zach, Nicole, Penelope [3], Lillian [1.5]

Hello,

     I am Nicole!

Welcome to a peek inside this Dowler house!

We are recent first-time home buyers who live in northwest Montana.

We try to get out as often as we can to explore the beauty our state has to offer.

As a stay-at-home mom my days are filled with beautiful chaos.

I could not get through this life without the ever-present hand of God.

The biggest aspects of our lives summed up in five words ::

Jesus. Family. Friends. Food. Adventure.

This blog is a place for me to get it all out : the good, the bad, the beautiful & the ugly.

Feel free to ask me anything!

Enjoy!

Nicole

Copycats

Oh friends,
         I have a confession.

This past week I overheard Penelope, age 3, pretending to be a momma.
There was a lot of negativity & yelling. 
Then as she was pretending to get Lilly ready for bed she got really sweet -- cuddly, happy tone of voice, singing songs, kisses, prayers. 

What did I learn from this? 

I appear happiest when it's time for my girls to go to sleep 

and they're mirroring my ugly! 

How does that make me feel?

Like a completely awful mom!

I have a hard time giving myself grace because once I mess up I feel like I've scarred them for life. 

I have a lot of emotional damage from my childhood.
I grew up wanting kids because ::
I was going to parent so much better.
I was going to be the best.
Then after a few years of marriage I realized how much work goes into a healthy relationship & quickly didn't want children anymore ::
I didn't want to fail.
I didn't want to let them down.

Zach & I had a fight one day.
I said, "I don't ever want kids."
Two weeks later I found out I was pregnant.
I prayed & prayed that it was a boy.
Boys seem to forgive easier - they don't seem to hold grudges as long.
A girl seemed impossible.
Penelope Joy was born.
A short 9 months later I was pregnant again.
"Please God, I am BEGGING you...I cannot ruin two girls lives!"
Lillian August was born.

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord. 

"Plans to prosper you & not to harm you. 

Plans for a hope & future." 

Jeremiah 29:11

I realize God knew what He was doing when he blessed me with my two little loves.

Being a stay-at-home mom is my full-time job. 

This past week I failed miserably. 

Had I been at a "real" job they would have fired me.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you are working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, 

and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

Colossians 3:22-24

So, what's the solution?! 

I need to be the mother I hope they become one day.

I need to continue to work on me! 

Constantly. 

Constantly cleansing my heart. 

Constantly being intentional with my time & genuine joy of getting to mother my littles. 

So dear friends I'll leave you with this ::

Let's find the power in optimism! 
Let's be the best we can be! 
Let's fight our negative urges!
Let's start new positive habits! 

Wishing you all the best in your parenting!

Enjoy!

Nicole

Homebody

Homebody : noun : A person who enjoys the simple pleasures of being at home. 

Home is where I spend 95% of my time. 

Home is my comfort zone.

If I'm going to be a homebody I may as well LOVE every aspect of our home! 

Six of my thoughts when making our house home ::

1) Does it bring joy?
The question I ask about every item that's going into our home.
There is no point in spending money on items that are "trendy" but bring no flick of "oh I love this & it brings a smile to my face!" 

2) Our little loves touch/get into EVERYTHING!
I need to be practical in including style & decor that works for the whole family. 

3) Less is more!
The slightest feeling of having "too much" sends me into a tizzy! 
I crave simplicity! 

4) Mix & match & all that jazz! 
For me, this will be the most difficult aspect of creating our new home. 
How am I going to include bits of each style I love, but keep the flow & not have it look too hodgepodge? 

5) Don't compare. 
I am loving all the Instagram accounts I follow & pull tons of inspiration from. 
I also see how easy it is to be jealous, covet, or feel insecure. 

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." Dr. Seuss

Right now this shelf is a mess, but that's our real life.

6) Stay frugal!

Stick to a budget. 

I hope you found inspiration in this post and can use it while you make your house home!