Seeing Them, and Being Seen BY Them

“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” -Simone Weil

“See me, Mom? Mommy did you see? Mom, did you SEE?” I remember our kids saying that, often. It was also “Watch, Mom, watch. Mommy, watch me!” While they still ask that sometimes, it is very rare! One is turning eleven in ONE month, the other is nine. Today’s church lesson was such a good reminder and conviction that though my kids are growing and not necessarily asking to be seen, giving them each attention is one of the best things that I can and will do for them.

The pastor today mentioned how allowing our kids to use the gifts God gave them, instead of forcing our own opinions and ‘should do’s’ on them, is going to be life changing. I wonder what paths they will walk. What colleges they will choose. What their first jobs will be. Who will they marry? Will they want kids, have kids, be able to have kids? What careers will they be in, what will their hobbies be, what will they remember?

I want my kids to be seen by me. At the end of their busiest, hardest, saddest, most exciting, most exhilarating, most trying days…to know that I am theirs.

I woke today with a hand typed letter from my son and a homemade card from my daughter. Both cards read so uniquely and vastly differently from each other’s, and both made me feel SO loved and so cherished. My son and my daughter are very different from one another—it is fascinating and humbling to watch their lives unfold before me.

I want to share parts from each’s here.

My son’s first:

“…don’t let me or anyone else say you are small. If anyone says that, they do not know what they are talking about. You’ve fallen off horses, gone to the hospital, you have MS, there are so many things that not even the tallest person in the world could handle, but YOU can. Sometimes I don’t recognize how much you do…I want you to never feel like I don’t see you what you do. I don’t think there will be enough paper in the world to write to you how grateful I truly am…..”

And my sweet girl’s:

…”thank you for helping me get cozy in my bed! It helped me a lot. I love that you hold my hand every night! Thank. you for teaching me to ride a horse! I love you so much! I can’t believe this is your 10th Mother’s Day! I use exclamation points so much…”

Pierson’s notes remind me of me when I was his age and how I would leave notes on MY mom’s pillow at bedtime. And Reese’s just makes me genuinely laugh because 1) I use exclamation points a lOT, and 2) I could only aspire to be as carefree as she is! I can see both of my kid’s love languages within their handwritten notes to me for today…my son is so much words of affirmation and my daughter’s is quality time. I see that. I know that. I confidently stand by that they’ve been this way since they were toddlers and first figuring out how to be individual people.

Lastly I wanted to share a blurb about husbands. Have you heard or seen the quote, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother?” Henry Ward Beecher said that and I wanted to take a second to praise and love on my husband here. Today he wrote in a handwritten letter:

“In 2011 when we agreed it was time for a baby, we had no idea. In each season we have struggled and thrived as parents. Not because either of us is GREAT at it, but because we have each other. You are the calm to my loud…the gentle to my strength. The tenderness to my rough. The listening ear to my problem solving. My pause to my go…YOU complete this family. There were a million reasons we were and weren’t ready, but whether we were ready or not, YOU were the only reason I needed to say yes. You are ALL of my reasons.”

Life is short, it is tough, and it is fleeting. It was yesterday I was holding a newborn in my arms, and today I have two almost adolescents. Yesterday I was twenty years old and walking down the aisle, and today it has been almost fifteen years that I said I Do.

I see my people. Every ounce of me sees, hears, feels, and senses them. It is like I have a hundred hearts walking around outside of my chest, simply from being loved by THEM. May I always find the attention. May I always seek to love them more. May THEY always be seen by ME.

Homemade Baked Mac n' Cheese, Yes, Please!

Reese is definitely a mac n’ cheese gal but let’s face it…who doesn’t love it? Asa has made his from scratch for a long time and it’s a huge hit at family functions and get togethers, but for this dish he found a new recipe that is absolutely to die for!

We worked with Kroger and the campaign was for a Southern Comfort meal. This dinner hit the SPOT for that comfort food deliciousness, so much so that I may have eaten directly out of the tray once I cleaned my plate. Oh my word, Ashley… that’s embarrassing.

Okay, want the recipe?? I expect this to be on your family’s weekend menu and I want to know how you like it! This dish was inspired by Mom On Timeout’s blog post, so I cannot take the credit, she totally deserves it all! :)

PS: we were in an airbnb when we made this dish, as our home was still being fixed up. Hence the reason for the disposable tray and a room you may not recognize at the bottom of this post ;)

Ingredients:

• 16 oz elbow macaroni, cooked (or other tubular pasta)

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter

• 1/3 cup all purpose flour

• 3 cups whole milk

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

• 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded

• 2 cups Gruyere cheese shredded

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1 1/2 cups panko crumbs

• 4 tbsp butter melted

• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese shredded

• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a large 3 qt or 4 qt baking dish and set aside.Combine shredded cheeses in a large bowl and set aside.

• Cook the pasta one minute shy of al dente according to the package instructions. Remove from heat, drain, and place in a large bowl.

• Drizzle pasta with olive oil and stir to coat pasta. Set aside to cool while preparing cheese sauce.

• Melt butter in a deep saucepan, dutch oven, or stock pot.

• Whisk in flour over medium heat and continue whisking for about 1 minute until bubbly and golden.

• Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream until nice and smooth. Continue whisking until you see bubbles on the surface and then continue cooking and whisking for another 2 minutes. Whisk in salt and pepper.

• Add two cups of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth. Add another two cups of shredded cheese and continue whisking until creamy and smooth. Sauce should be nice and thick.

• Stir in the cooled pasta until combined and pasta is fully coated with the cheese sauce.

• Pour half of the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 2 cups of shredded cheese and then the remaining mac and cheese.

• In a small bowl, combine panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter and paprika. Sprinkle over the top and bake until bubbly and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

---

A few tips from her blog that we also can’t emphasize enough:

Use block cheese and shred, do NOT buy the pre-shredded cheese. Yes, shredded cheese is so easy and serves so many purposes in homemade meals…but NOT for this! It is coated and will not melt properly. You need to shred it yourself for the best result.

Also—cook your pasta to slightly less than al dente, about one minute shy is great. The reason is that this is baked mac and cheese so the pasta will continue to cook in the homemade cheese sauce in the oven. Nobody likes soggy macaroni!

This mac and cheese recipe starts with a roux. The roux is crucial for getting the creamiest cheese sauce ever! Here is what you need to look for:

• The roux (equal parts butter and flour) is whisked together until bubbly and golden.

• Whisk in cold milk – not warm – to prevent the flour from clumping.

• Cook the roux until you see bubbles on the surface and then continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes before adding the cheese.

For an extra bang of flavor, add Parmesan to the Panko topping – cheese upon cheese upon cheese upon cheese. Always and forever, amen. What are you waiting for? Order your groceries, add these items, and get cooking! Comment here when you’ve tried it, I wanna know what you’d rate this!

Kicking Off 30 Right: a Night at the Omni!

When you are about to turn a chapter on a brand new decade, I'd say it's absolutely necessary to go big or big home celebration wise! I am super thankful to our brand new Omni Hotel for ensuring that this happened for me last weekend and I am pumped to tell Y'all about it. First of all, look at that VIEW!! That was from our room, which was on the tenth floor. It was so inspiring to look out the window and see so much beautiful history--from the buildings, skyscrapers, and even in the distance, the bridge connecting Louisville and Indiana. 

The hotel is covered in a crisp and shiny glass, giving you that WOW impression as soon as you arrive. There are intersecting towers that represent the crossroads of the past, present, and future of Louisville. There is a common theme of bourbon, culture, and water throughout the Omni, and within the design, there is a beautiful blend of polish and grit; seen in the colors, the shine, textures, and nuances throughout. 

The trusses in the lobby ceiling are representative of the Big Four Bridge, which has a TON of history! There are Edison lightbulbs throughout the entire hotel--did you know his light bulb was first demonstrated to the public IN Louisville?? I had no idea he lived in the Butchertown neighborhood [not far from where Asa and I spent the majority of our marriage thus far.] 

We walked so slowly around the Omni, soaking in the richness of the culture, history, and beautiful art pieces throughout. Across from the escalators, there is a giant wall of art, which are all locally sourced from various Kentucky artists across ALL media [photography, watercolors, textiles, contemporary, and interactive]. Can you guess which my favorite pieces were...? 

I have never been to a hotel that offered SO many things and activities to do. There are at least twenty within the Omni; ranging from restaurants to eat in, a marketplace to shop, a bourbon tasting lounge, an amazingly adorable retail store, a flower shop, a Spa, a rooftop pool, a library bar, and get this--even a speakeasy with a cocktail lounge and bowling alley inside!! And guys, that isn't even covering them all. So, what were our favorite parts? Well, I hope I can convey to you just how incredible they are but I have a feeling you're going to want to check out the Omni for yourself--and I hope you do! 

I am very much so a 'knick-knack' kinda gal, so the Miller & Co. retail store was heaven for me. I literally want ALL of you reading this to go here, if for nothing else, then to meet Leeanne, who greeted us with a huge smile and Southern charm. She made me laugh out loud the second we met and when I asked her if I could snap her photo, she said, "Girl! Let me put my hair down!" I told her I wanted her autograph and she signed my receipt. YES, I bought stuff, duh! Do you SEE that horse bag I'm holding?! It's mine all mine and was only $25! 

Lewis + Louis was next. This is a bourbon retail and tasting room, where you will be professionally guided through bourbon tastings in a unique and relaxed setting. The city of Louisville was actually established AFTER Louis XVI, in 1778; so this was another incredibly culturally rich experience. PS: there are more bourbon barrels than people AND horses in the state of Kentucky, sooooo that's kind of mindblowing. 

The Library Bar was one of my absolute favorite spots. A stylish and casual atmosphere, there is a giant fireplace in the center and tons of comfortable seating throughout. Here too, there is no shortage of BEAUTIFUL art; one of the walls is covered in beautiful black and white vintage images. I love seeing the history behind where we live, I think it is so inspiring and really made me fall in love with Louisville all over again. 

The Falls City Market was absolutely mind-blowing. Here is where you will find the Omni's urban market and Food Hall, with open-air street access featuring tons of locally sourced products. The well-known Heine Brothers is your easy access to delicious coffee and lattes, and there are a TON of dining and food options. You can get delicious crepes and waffles at Belle Crepe, or mouthwatering BBQ at Bridges, sushi at the sushi bar which has counter seats, as well as daily prepared gourmet rolls. There is a butcher there providing meats from local farms, fresh seafood, a food truck featuring tacos, Iron Quarter which serves Artisan pizza paired with wine and local Louisville craft beer. In the Market, you'll find a flower shop, the Bottle Shop that sells fine wine and spirits, fresh produce, milk, cheeses, fruits, and over 2,000 grocery items! There are housewares such as Williams Sonoma, and Wendell's Book and Magazine store; Y'all, I could go on and on but I think you need to check it out for yourself. I'm telling you, everything is designed and created so beautifully, you will love experiencing it! 

Let's talk about our actual room for a moment, shall we? The carpet is a stylized interpretation of flowing water (Falls of Ohio!) and ties back to one of the three design elements. The windows overlook our magnificent city, providing excellent natural light. The bed was comfortable, the room spacious, and the BATHROOM was the nicest hotel bathroom I've ever seen. The shower in our house is so small and so cramped, my six-foot-four husband barely fits. Even petite me has my nose in the corner and it's always more of a chore than a refresher to be in! THIS shower, is first of all gigantic with strong water pressure, and guess what? We weren't fighting over who got to stand in the stream of water! 

Now let's talk about my favorite part, equally my husband's favorite as well--the Mokara Spa up on the third floor! We have been married for nine years and we have never had a couples massage. Let me just tell you that I am now convinced we need to have one at LEAST a few times a year because hello, Heaven! The spa is absolutely stunning! There are seven massage treatment rooms, four manicure, and four pedicure stations, and there are an array of products you can buy to treat and take care of yourself. 

Inside the Spa's locker room, there is a beautiful and large shower. There is also a cedar sauna (I wish I had had more time to indulge in that but we were kind of on a time crunch to pick up our kiddos from the sitter--guess I'll just have to go back, right? Ha!) There were cold rags, fruit-infused ice water, and gorgeous vanities where you could sit and do your hair. Asa and I had an hour-long massage and truly, it was magical. The ladies had us choose which oil we preferred, lit a calming candle, and they both did a fabulous job helping us feel relaxed (especially since we had run nine miles together the day prior!)  I really want to go back some time this spring or summer and do that again, I have realized that I am not the greatest at being still and remaining calm--and the massage helped me do just that. 

I have SO much more to share about the Omni, but truthfully, I believe you need to head downtown and see for yourself. Allow yourself a moment to get away, eat some delicious food, enjoy some beverages, and definitely treat yourself to a Spa treatment. Asa and I ate at Neighborhood Services for dinner and we weren't disappointed ONE bit. This is a restaurant ran by renowned chef Nick Badovinus, featuring his signature self-described 'honest food and drink in the American tradition.' For an appetizer, we ordered the Hot Brown Tater Tots (oh my word, I'm making myself so hungry writing this, guys). Asa got the chicken and waffles as his entree and I ordered a giant salad with a side of mac n' cheese. ALL of it was SO good and we want to go back with friends soon! 

Last but not least, let me just say that I haven't ordered room service at a hotel since I was a KID and my parents were the ones paying--so this basically felt like real life heaven Sunday morning. We had crepes and vanilla yogurt with granola, fresh fruit, orange juice, and a pot of coffee.

Asa and I haven't had a weekend away from our house in a LONG time. We feel forever thankful to our sweet babysitter who stayed overnight with our kids and for the Omni, for making all of this possible.  

If you're planning a trip to Louisville, I give the Omni five stars. If you're local, go take a little staycation and enjoy the history of this beautiful city! You could even go for a date night or girls night, the options are limitless with all that this hotel has to offer. Dinner, drinks, bowling ALL in the same spot?! And valet parking to boot! 
 

Gallrein Farm and Family Time

This is the second year that we've visited Gallrein Farms in Shelbyville and we loved it! My sister in law Jana and I had photographed a wedding the day prior and it was in the eighties and SO warm. It was crazy to see the temps drop so quickly Sunday while we were at the farm, and luckily for us, the rain held off until the very end. Our friends Tim and Clayton joined, and other than missing Uncle Noah [poor guy was sick at home!], we had the same crew as last year! 

Gallrein has an awesome petting zoo and we all loved seeing the different animals. You know me, my favorite animal(s) there were the horses. I'm always so jealous of these farms and wish I could just kidnap a horse or two. Or just have the owner give one to me--haha!

The kids had their faces painted, jumped in bounce houses, ate some snacks, rode the train, and last but not least, we of course went out to the pumpkin patch! 

Baby Kennedy was SUCH a trooper by the way. She's a month old now [how did this happen??] and she never fussed one bit about the wind and at one time, spitting rain droplets. In case you missed it, Tim and Clayton are in the process of adopting her and have been her guardians since the day she was born--they even stayed her last night in the hospital with her! They are two amazing dads and we are very blessed to call them friends. [Friends? Or family? Ha!] 

It started to REALLY rain as we were leaving, and Jana took her girls and Asa went with Reese to the corn maze. I took Pierson and his cousin Keats and we camped out in the car until they were finished, haha. We blared some music and had a hilarious car dance. We of course indulged in a LOT of fresh donuts before the trip ended, I swear I could have eaten a dozen by myself. 

If you haven't checked out Gallrein Farms, you're definitely missing out. Just a short thirty minute drive from Louisville, it's a quick and easy trip. Not to mention gorgeous--I passed SO many beautiful farms. I'm still just praying that one of them someday finds my blog and just offers me to take over the property. I mean, why not dream right?

Happy Fall, Y'all! This is my favorite season of all and I am SO excited that we've had these great festitivites to remember!