We’ve survived our first week of summer.  It’s always takes us a minute to get into the swing of summer, so during week one we usually have a few mishaps.

We get to the pool without our sunscreen.  We run out of bread because I forget how many sandwiches we eat.  I forget that I need a plan for the few hours I work outside of the home every week.

Taido and the big kids are off at camp now, so Simon and I are painting the house (willing it to sell) and hanging out with our cousins.

Here are a few fun things that have happened in the last week!

P. Allen Smith’s Summer eMagazine came out, and our family trip to Moss Mountain Farm is featured on several pages!  So much fun!  I have three summer salad recipes in it, so you might want to print it out and make those sometime soon!

(Those are my hands mixing and pouring that dressing right there!)

Also, we were tickled pink to be Honorably Mentioned for our Chino House Family Cycling Video at Olive Us.

Did you see, I’m giving away BACON this week?  You should definitely enter to win that!

Here are a few things that are In The Pipeline at the Chino House:

Seven

We finished up our Month 4 of Seven, which was a fast from Media.  And now we’re headed into Month 5, which is Waste.  I am excited about sharing the seven ways we are cutting our carbon footprint with you.  As part of Month 3, which was all about giving away our possessions, we have had two Giveaway Garage Sales to raise money for missions.  Sarabeth shared this week about the one at her house.  She totally captured how these events make me feel: full to the brim with love and amazement at how things just work out when you are willing to show up and give of yourself!

Travel

Remember that European Cruise I went on last year?  I’m sharing more from our two days in Venice next week!

Also, I finally visited Crystal Bridges and OH MY GOODNESS, I can’t wait to go through the pictures. It was amazing.

Scotland

I am still trying to gather my thoughts and feelings about our upcoming move to Scotland.  Almost every day brings a new bit of news or a new challenge to work through (Visas?! Yikes!)  However, we are already so amazed at how we have seen God’s faithfulness to us in the midst of so many unknowns.

I hope to write more about it soon, but my husband, Taido, has written at length about our journey to this decision, so you can read his point of view until I can get mine together.

I hope your summer is off to a great start and that you have the best weekend ever, soaking up sunshine and loving with all your heart.

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Want to know what the key is to a perfect BLT in my opinion?

There are lots of factors that can add to this pretty much perfect combination of sandwich ingredients.  Good bread, a good grainy mustard, super fresh tomatoes or the addition of avocado all make this sandwich yummy.

But the thing that makes a BLT extra special is this:

Peppered bacon.

Seriously, this extra thick peppered bacon from Petit Jean Meats is one of the best ways I know to make a BLT pop with flavor.  It’s also pretty amazing all by itself!

I am super excited to be giving away a Petit Jean Bacon Sampler just in time for Father’s Day!

This sampler has all three different kinds of Petit Jean Bacon and it comes straight to your doorstep in a cooler! I kind of think it’s a perfect dad gift, because…well, they can eat it.

If your dad is like mine, he already has closets full of junk. I mean, I guess I could get him some new socks, since his are kind of shabby. But let’s be honest, he would much rather have bacon.

To enter to win the Petit Jean Meats Bacon Sampler, just leave a comment on this post.  Tell me your favorite way to eat bacon.  Or your favorite thing to eat with your dad?  Or your favorite way to eat bacon WITH your dad?

Here’s the recipe for BLTs, even though you don’t really need a recipe!

Perfect BLTs for Six

A loaf of your favorite bread

2 avocodos

2 large tomatoes

1 package extra thick peppered bacon from Petit Jean Meats

whole grain mustard and mayo (optional)

a head of green leaf lettuce

Fry the bacon. Slice the tomatoes and avocados.  Wash and tear the lettuce into large pieces.  Set everything on the table and call everyone to the table to make their Perfect BLTs!

Disclosure: I am a Blue Diamond Club member with Petit Jean Meats, which means they send me products to try and share with you.  I received a Bacon Sampler, with which I made these BLTs and also these yummy dates, but all opinions are my own, of course.  Giveaway is open to residents of the continental US, and a winner for this giveaway will be randomly selected and emailed next Monday! This giveaway is closed.  Winner is LORA MATTHEY-HICKS!

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Yummiest little bite of party food ever?  Bacon Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese!

Sweet + Salty + Cheese = Goodness.

Such a happy combination of flavors, I promise.

Bacon is relatively hard to beat as a crowd pleaser, so naturally, these were a big hit at my house. My sister makes platters and platters of them for parties at her restaurant.  It took me a little while to prep them, but that part could be done ahead of time for sure.

And speaking of bacon, I am giving away a Petit Jean Bacon Sampler this week!

Just in time for Father’s Day!

Bacon Wrapped Dates With Goat Cheese

1 pound (16 slices) Petit Jean bacon

1/2 cup goat cheese

32 dates

toothpicks

Cut bacon slices in half.  Fill dates with goat cheese.  Wrap a half slice of bacon around each date and secure with a toothpick.  Repeat with all the dates.

Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Cool slightly before serving.

Enjoy!

Disclosure: I am a Blue Diamond Club member with Petit Jean Meats, which means they send me products to try and share with you.  I received a Bacon Sampler, with which I made these dates and the most amazing BLTs EVER, but all opinions are my own, of course.  For more information about and special discounts from Petit Jean Meats, you can sign up for their newsletter.

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