The Sauder Experience: Dresser to Sideboard

July 3, 2014 by Aliesha

I love furniture that multitasks! I’ve been looking for a dresser for my dining room for a while now, so I was excited to find this pretty piece at Sauder. I also love assembling furniture (is that weird?), so I actually enjoyed the process of assembling my new dresser.

It was fun deciding on the exact piece to order (Sauder has such a great selection!), but I settled pretty quickly on the Soft White Dresser from the Shoal Creek Collection. The soft white matched the other pieces I have in our dining room, and I knew I could use this piece in many ways (not just as a dresser in a bedroom)! I’ve found some fun ways of using dressers (and other pieces of furniture) in unique ways on Pinterest.

Assembling it was very straightforward and I did it in a few hours. The directions were clear and easy to follow, plus all the holes were exactly where they should be and all the hardware was included and easy to identify! I did most of the assembly myself, and even Tad was surprised at how quickly I put it together.

I absolutely love having a dresser sideboard in my dining room now! It’s so nice to have a place to store my table linens, cloth napkins, party supplies, and more. It’s fun to have a new surface to decorate as well!

In addition to being perfect for storage, a dresser sideboard is wonderful for serving a buffet dinner! Although these pictures don’t show any food, I was picturing in my mind (right to left) beverages, bread sticks, lasagna, and salad.

It will be fun to see the different ways I can use this beautiful piece of furniture! I’ll be sharing more ways of styling it in the future!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sauder. The opinions and text are all mine.

Contentment in Seasons

July 2, 2014 by Aliesha

Contentment. It’s such an elusive thing, isn’t it? Some people spend their whole life feeling discontent with their state in life, where they are, and what they have.

I have found that when I am not content in a particular season, I am probably not going to be content when I am out of that season.

If I’m not content to be single, I won’t be content when married.
If I’m not content without children, I won’t be content when I do have them.
If I’m not content when my husband is in ministry, I won’t be content when he is not in the ministry anymore.
If I’m not content in poverty, I won’t be content in wealth.
If I’m not content at this church, I won’t be content at the next one.
If I’m not content to be “stuck at home” with a bunch of little ones, I won’t be content when our lives are busy with extracurricular activities.
If I’m not content now, I won’t be content “then,” whenever “then” comes.

How often do we complain about the things we once craved? And how many times do we seek after “the next thing” as soon as we get what we always wanted?

That is because things and other people can never satisfy us. Only God Himself can deeply meet the longings within us.

Our discontentment now only prepares us for further discontentment in the future. This can manifest itself in two primary ways. When we receive what we had wanted so badly, we can immediately begin running after the next thing (life milestone or better possession) because we are already discontent with what we just received. The other way is by anxiously fearing what will come next. We are removed from a season of trials or a burden is lifted from us, but rather than finding contentment, we instead fear the future, scared to breathe a sigh of relief lest something worse happen to us.

Both of these responses show a heart of discontentment, which ultimately shows a lack of trust in God.

If I’m not content now, I won’t be content “then.”

But the good news is this: We can be content now because of God’s grace that enables us to walk in His strength.

Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-13, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Many times verse 13 is taken out of context and used for almost anything, but the real context of this verse is having contentment. The secret to contentment is Christ giving us the strength.

In another passage (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10), Paul writes: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Here we can see that it is possible, by Christ’s power, to be content in the midst of painful circumstances and difficulties.

I have definitely experienced many challenges over the past few years of my life (and I know I will in the future as well), but I can say that the Lord has enabled me to be content in many of those circumstances. It is amazing to see God giving me that gift of contentment, and I know it isn’t something I could have mustered up on my own strength!

I pray for you today, that you would find contentment and peace in whatever you are facing, “through Him who strengthens” you!

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Easy 5-Ingredient Dinner Rolls

June 30, 2014 by Aliesha

This post has also been posted on Baking Whole Grains, a site I write for which compensates me for sharing whole grain recipes. While I receive compensation, this does not influence my opinions. All photos and directions are my own.

As you probably know, I love trying new whole grain recipes! These dinner rolls made an appearance at our table recently alongside salmon, as well as an encore at lunch the following day with frittata.

They’re a great little addition to a meal and an excellent way to have whole grain bread with your meal without much “fuss”! They come together so quickly (no need to rise!) and they bake in just 8 minutes, so your oven won’t overheat your kitchen. Plus, they only require five simple ingredients (that you probably already have on hand)!

adapted from here

Easy 5-Ingredient Dinner Rolls

Cook time

8 mins

Total time

8 mins

Author: Aliesha @ Feathers in Our Nest

Recipe type: Bread

Serves: 12

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour, freshly ground
2½ tsp. baking powder
scant ½ tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. butter
½ cup milk (may need a few Tbsp. more)

Instructions

Grind wheat in the WonderMill. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter until butter is the size of small marbles. Add ½ cup milk and stir until the mixture comes together. Use your hands to knead the dough into a ball. It should not be sticky, but if it's too dry, add milk 1 Tbsp. at a time until it holds together well. Be careful not to overwork.
Form 12 golf ball-sized rolls out of the dough and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes at 450 degrees.
Serve warm with butter!

Enjoy!