A Fresh Weekend

We've had a pretty busy last couple of weeks and this weekend we finally got a chance to breathe. It was so nice to spend time together around the house while doing what we love. There was much baking, playing, crafting and cuddling. And the weather was actually decent enough for a brisk walk outside. (A much needed event for those of us with cabin fever).
This book and these ovenmits were my kitchen companions this weekend.




Making maple syrup apple sauce.

My little taste tester.

These banana raisin muffins were definitely Little Man approved.

There were even fun moments of learning while cooking. This is a super easy recipe for homemade fruit snacks without all of the sugar. (They actually taste just like gummy bears).


And of course there was much play in between the cooking.
As well as time for softness and rest...

And working on projects around the house.

I hope your weekend was filled with many blessings of productivity, rest and family time.

A Baby Blue Bird Shower

A couple of weeks ago, a group of dear friends from church threw us a baby shower. It was beyond anything I could imagine a sweet shower could be for a little boy on the way. It had a baby blue bird theme and as you can see here, the details were so "tweet."

A Quarter of a Century

I turned 25 yesterday. That's a quarter of a century people! It's crazy to think that in this next year of my life that we're going to be moving into our first house and having our first child. Goodness me. How grown up I have become. Well...to a point. I do occasionally still love watching Saturday morning cartoons and any Disney movie I can get my hands on.

Yesterday was definitely a wonderful Birthday. My parents sang me happy birthday (over the phone) at 7:15am. My Hubby (who actually started giving me my Birthday presents 2 months ago) spoiled me with Olivia books and Dr. Seuss's ABC's, which I think are more for the baby, but I could read them over and over again. He also took me to lunch at Urban Element. I highly recommend the chicken salad sandwich. Yum-yum.

These beautiful flowers were delivered to my work from my amazing parents. Their aroma is filling my office with Spring.


And my friends at work made me a lemon bundt cake and rasberry sherbert punch.


The big finale for my Birthday will take place this Saturday, when the Hubby and I visit Cincinnatti to see Cirque du Soleil. It has been a huge dream of mine and I'm so excited to see that come true. We also might take a trip to IKEA if time allows.

So thank you to all of my amazing friends and family for making my 25th Birthday absolutely spectacular.

Around the House Saturdays: Baking Edition

This edition of Around the House Saturdays is coming straight from the kitchen. I made these homemade chocolate chip cookies this afternoon. No special occasion really. Just the Hubby saying, "You haven't made any chocolate chip cookies in a while," and me saying, "Well, would you like me to make some?" And him replying with his little boy face, "...Kinda..."
Now I cannot claim any credit for this amazing recipe. I got it from my dear, dear friend Kate. You may remember her from here and here. I used to be a "buy-the-cookie-dough-straight-from-the-store" girl, but ever since my taste buds were introduced to these amazing cookies, I haven't even been to the cookie dough aisle in the grocery store. Now there is nothing wrong with the pre-made dough, but once you've had made-from-scratch cookies, you just can't go back.
Of course, I knew I couldn't just make your mouth water without sharing this fabulous recipe. So here you go. I must warn you though, these cookies should NOT be eaten WITHOUT a fresh glass of ice cold milk. You'd be doing an injustice to the world of cookies if you neglected this one important detail. AND I insist that you purchase the specific brands of the ingredients that are in in the recipe. According to Kate, these cookies just aren't the same without those specifics, and I would have to agree with her.

Kate's Famous Cookies
1 1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 1/4 cup of white cane sugar
2 eggs
1 Tbs. Vanilla
1 stick Imperial Margarine
1 full stick (1 cup) Butter-Flavored Crisco
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
4 cups flour (If you like slightly softer cookies, I suggest 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 cups - that's what I do)
3 or 4 cups of Nestle Tollhouse Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream sugars, eggs, vanilla & butters.
Add baking soda, salt, flour and chocolate chips.
Once the dough is well mixed, place spoon-fulls on the baking sheet.
Bake for 11-12 minutes.

Now enjoy!

Baking Around the Christmas Tree

This past week was filled with baking, baking, and, oh yes, more baking.
Baking for our holiday party at work...
Ladies Cookie Exchange at our church...
And our annual Pastors' Christmas Open House (and I'm still not done with that baking).


My number one favorite cookies to bake during the Christmas season are Peanut Blossoms. When I was a kid, my mom and I used to make them together.


It was always so much fun to unwrap each individual Hershey Kiss (eating every 3rd one, as my mom would say)...


...Roll the dough in the sugar, and "testing" the first one right after it came out of the oven (with a cold glass of milk, of course).