Instagram story viewer> @ariana.cape> Posts

Ariana Balka Cape

@ariana.cape

11.7K

followers

166

following

Christian wife & mama ✝️
Romanticizing life in the suburbs ✨
📍Knoxville, TN
Tap to shop (affiliate links)

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Edited to add: Our kids’ reactions to my husband shaving is now posted on my page! 🥳

I fear I miss the beard 😅🙈

Never fear, the beard will be making a comeback shortly lol 😉

For licensing or usage, contact licensing@viralhog.com

#CleanShaven #BeardGone #MyHusband #FirstTimeEver #NewLook taken in Powell, Tennessee by @ariana.cape

427k

4k

a month ago

Somewhere in the middle of the homestead craze, many of us started believing we needed acreage, chickens, and a garden the size of a football field to live a slow, beautiful life.

But contentment isn’t found in land or livestock.

You can choose a slower, more intentional life right where you are, even in the middle of the suburbs.

If that sounds like you, I’d love to have you follow along as I romanticize life in the suburbs. 🌷🌿🍁❄️

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Philippians 4:11

#RomanticizeYourLife
#SuburbanLiving
#SuburbanMom
#Homemaking
#EverydayMagic taken in Powell, Tennessee by @ariana.cape

330

12

4 months ago

October looks good on Pennsylvania 🍁🎃🍂 by @ariana.cape

77

4

14 hours ago

For only being four, I think he did a pretty great job 🥹

#ToddlerMom #MomLife #HomemadePasta #FromScratchCooking #CozyHomeLife taken in Powell, Tennessee by @ariana.cape

88

3

3 days ago

Turns out it’s not that difficult once you learn to handle you machine correctly 😅 we’re going to chalk this one up to user error! 🙈 Thankfully, I was able to figure it out and baked some delicious goodies with my freshly milled flour-for the very first time! 🤩

Big shoutout to my MIL for letting me borrow her new @nutrimill ✨

Hit follow to see what I make with this flour!

#FreshMilledFlour #FreshlyMilledWheat #FromScratchCooking #Homemaking #Nutrimill taken in Powell, Tennessee by @ariana.cape

78

16

5 days ago

I’m curious… have you ever heard of milling your own flour? I’m really excited to try this out! Hit the follow button for part 2!

#FreshMilledFlour #WheatBerries #SourdoughBaking #TraditionalCooking #HomemadeFromScratch taken in Three Rivers Market by @ariana.cape

75

10

6 days ago

Can you guess what this meal is? Let me know in the comments! ⬇️

I surprised my husband with his favorite meal that I make, but with a twist… I normally make this meal with sirloin steak, but when I saw grass-fed stew meat at the store I bought that. And then I ended up using a different recipe to slow cook the meat to help make it more tender. It turned out pretty delicious, and if you have the time, I think you could let it cook even longer than I did. It was husband-approved, and I really enjoyed it too! 😋

Save this recipe for your next cozy autumn meal!

🍄 Braised Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients

• 1½–2 lb beef stew meat
• 1½ tsp salt + ½ tsp pepper
• onion powder, to taste
• 2 tbsp butter or tallow
• 1 onion, chopped into quarter moons
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups beef broth (maybe more as needed)
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• ½ tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 oz cream cheese
• ⅓ cup sour cream
• Egg noodles or mashed potatoes

Instructions

1. Season beef with salt and pepper and onion powder. Brown in butter or tallow in a Dutch oven; remove.
2. Sauté onion and mushrooms for 5–7 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
3. Stir in flour, then gradually add broth. Add Worcestershire, paprika, thyme, and bay leaf.
4. Return beef to the pot. Cover and braise at 300°F for 2–3 hours, until fork-tender.
5. Remove bay leaf. Stir in cream cheese until melted, then mix in sour cream off the heat. Serve over egg noodles or mashed potatoes! 🤎

#BeefStroganoff #ComfortFood #SurpriseDinner #SlowBraised #HomemadeCooking taken in Powell, Tennessee by @ariana.cape

352

26

7 days ago

I had so much fun Bible Quizzing with my dad over the book of I John today at the Volunteer State Autumn Spectacular tournament! I know Bible Quizzing is a niche competition, but I grew up doing it from 4th-12th grade and memorized over half the New Testament in the process. Some of my best memories from growing up are tied to Bible Quiz. Eighteen years ago I was competing over the book of I John, and it was fun to do it again, but this time with my dad as my teammate! “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

Feel free to reach out if you’re interested in getting you or your family involved in Bible Quizzing. I’d be happy to answer your questions!

#BibleQuiz #BibleMemory #FatherDaughter #IJohn #GodsWord taken in Knoxville, Tennessee by @ariana.cape

111

15

8 days ago

Greasy hair, bathrobe, and no makeup, but I went live around 9 am at my kitchen table and my kids thought it was pretty funny 😂 Tell me you’re a SAH mom without telling me! 😉

The preschool teacher in me was a showing a wee bit 😅

#StayAtHomeMom #SAHM #ToddlerMom #ChristianMom #MotherhoodUnhinged taken in Powell, Tennessee by @ariana.cape

146

9

9 days ago

Beef Tallow Popcorn 🍿
• 2 tbsp beef tallow
• ½ cup popcorn kernels
• Salt to taste

Melt tallow over medium to medium-high heat, add kernels, cover, and shake the pot occasionally as they pop. Once popping slows, remove from heat and season with salt!

⚠️ Popcorn is a choking hazard for young children. Use your best judgment and follow age-appropriate feeding/safety guidance for your child.

#BeefTallow #HomemadeSnacks #RealFood #PopcornTime #HealthyLiving taken in Powell, Tennessee by @ariana.cape

89

13

10 days ago

It was a fun and busy morning today 🤍 Scripture, a workout, family breakfast, playgroup + a little thrifting!

Follow along for more everyday SAHM life… even when I don’t actually stay home 😉

#MorningVlog #SAHM #MomLife #DayInMyLife #SuburbanLife taken in Knoxville, Tennessee by @ariana.cape

290

18

12 days ago

2nd family wedding in 3 1/2 weeks, and honestly, it’s been a lot of fun! 🤩

Congratulations to my cousin @grace_kennedy_05 and Justin Kennedy! 🥳🫶🏼

The Balka Siblings

The Balka Ladies ✨

The OG Balka Girls 💕

The beard is coming in nicely 😉

My aunt, sister, grandmother, and I all worked on this floral backdrop for the chapel! My aunt is phenomenal with flowers! 😍

My guy 🔥 taken in Whitestone Inn by @ariana.cape

227

10

13 days ago