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Friday, July 29, 2011

Happy Friday!

This is pretty much how I want my weekend to feel.
Hope yours is amazing!
Balloon Crazy - 4x4 fine art photo print
{love this print? buy it on etsy}

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wednesday Words

{lyrics from "More Beautiful You" bu Johhny Diaz

I don't know about you, but those words really hit me where it counts. It's easy to feel purpose-less in this world of ours, but knowing that God made me to fill a specific purpose is beyond words ah-may-zing.

I've been giving a lot of thoughts to dreams lately. Not the kind you have at night, although those are good too. I'm talking about the kind you have deep down. The dreams that we all carry, whether it be to pursue a new career, take a leap and start our own business, travel the world, or {insert your own dream here}. We admire those few who take the leap, but sadly many of us just don't. Why? Because we're scared. Because we think we can't. Because we've been told we can't. Because. Because. Because.

But take a second and think about dreams. Have you noticed that each of us has a different one? There's something to be said for that. Our visions are unique and I whole-heartedly believe that those desires you have deep in your heart point to the purpose you were created to fill.

Perhaps you know that there has got to be something more...you just don't know what that is. I highly recommend checking out Strengths Finder 2.0 . It is a fabulous book and assessment to help you identify your God-given talents. I would also encourage you to take some time to disconnect. This world is noisy. Find some time to be quiet and still. No phone. No iPod. Take a journal. Ask God what He has for you.

How are you using your time, money and resources to use those wonderful talents of yours? Take some small steps this week. Sit down and write out your dream. Seeing it on paper will be empowering. Identify what steps you are currently doing to make it a reality. Reflect on how you can make room in your day, your week, and your bank account to get there. Even if it's just a half hour a week, or $5 here and there, something is certainly better than nothing. God can do big things if you'll let Him.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Hello, world.

Confession #1. This ain't my first rodeo. I used to have another blog. It lasted approximately three months. Kind of a fail on my part. But here we are, starting all fresh and new. Don't you just love new beginnings? Anyway, this blog is just about real life. My real life, at least. I'll be blogging about my baking (failures included), my DIY projects, thrifting, decorating, marriage, family, God, you know, pretty much whatever comes my way.

Confession #2: there isn't a confession #2 and I'm totally wondering why I started this post off with "Confession #1". Whatevs... let's just roll with it.

Anyway, on to the baking! Ok, so technically this isn't baking because I didn't turn on the oven. But the result was still some yummy, sugary goodness, so yeah. 

It all started with some butter, peanut butter, vanilla, oats and sugar blended together in all their glory, then rolled into little balls. Freeze those for a bit, then coat in chocolate. Glorious chocolate. Oh. yes.



{warning: I tend to eyeball things when I cook, so the measurements below are approximations. I'll be better in the future, promise.}

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls

1 1/2 c. peanut butter
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. oats
3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. powdered sugar
8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp. vegetable oil

Microwave peanut butter and butter in medium bowl for 30 seconds. Stir to combine. If it's still difficult to combine, feel free to heat in additional 15 second increments in the micro. Next, add in vanilla, oats and sugars. Once all ingredients are combined, form dough into 1 inch balls and place on to wax paper lined cookie sheet. (tip: if the consistency just isn't working for ball formation [yes...I just said that], try adding more melted butter if it's too dry, or more sugar if it's too moist).

Stick that cookie sheet goodness in the freezer for 30 minutes. Resist the urge to pop one of those balls in your mouth. Or, be like me, and don't resist.

During that 30 minutes, you may realize you only need half the bag of chocolate chips for this recipe. You may be like me and started digging in. No biggie.

Heat chocolate chips and vegetable oil in 30 second increments in the microwave, stirring in between. Heat just until smooth...be careful not to overheat.

Use a toothpick to hold balls as you coat them in the chocolate. Prepare for chocolate covered fingers. It's probably going to be messy. But deliciously messy, so it's all good. Stick those suckers back in the freezer for another 30 minutes.Stick it on a pretty plate to cover up the fact that you're not so great at coating things in chocolate. Have milk on hand. Enjoy.