found this in the archives (c.2009) . I've cooked many batches since.

I have an interesting relationship with cooking, not something I really want to get into right now, but I do enjoy making cookies. And I'm glad to know that. The girl I worked with, day in, day out, for 6 hours together 5 days a week, moved to san diego, so I made cookies for her last day. Inspired by a mention and experience of the Toll House recipe, I gave it a shot. They turned out great!

Very glad I didn't run out of flour this time, also that I remembered we have a hand mixer, I really need to keep that in mind!

chocolate chippss. call me crazy, but I usually put less than the prescribed amount. 2 cups is so much!

babies

they showed love all on their own!

ta da!

Spring

The birds have been singing incessantly the splendor of spring since it began on Wednesday. I sat in my car on my lunch break and heard them celebrating in such beautiful arrangement, it was as if they knew, as if they had all be in cue waiting for their moment to burst forth in song. The day before wasn't as such, and since then it is all I have heard.
Without realizing it would be the first day of spring I had planned to have a friend over for dinner. And I am so glad I did. Despite the fact that I broke the glass part of the blender, we had a great time. Together we made a salad I had learned the week before when I went cooking with my friend Lindsay. I brewed up some strawberry lemonade, my first time trying it and it was absolutely delightful! Angie had brought mango and strawberries for dessert, which started us on thoughts of mango sticky rice. So pushing time, we found ourselves adventuring to find some. We did, just before closing, and brought it back home to eat with the mango. I'm pretty sure it has become one of my favorite things.
What did you do on the first day of spring?

March 7, 2013

Today brought a springtime cool, with clouds and drizzle, a need for jackets, and a whispering suggestion of cozy. So here I sit with my ideal gloomy day snack of toast and hot chocolate, recollecting the day's simple delights.
As I sat in my car on my lunch break, connecting with Jesus through words written down, a drizzle splashed over my car, I looked up at my windshield to see the little kisses left on my windows, suspended transparency. I was safe from the wet, able to enjoy the gift it brought.
On my way home, as I rode the on-ramp, my eyes met that place above the horizon where they find the treasures the Creator brings each day. I was delighted by the figures God had placed in the sky today. Within the clouds were whimsical creatures, first I saw elephants, then a turtle, then a schnauzer who ended up giving me the thrill that floating clouds do. And I am pretty sure Nessie was there, too, the first time I have ever seen her in the sky...

On the Subject of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

The book is definitely better than the movie.


And I want this to be my kid, the one wearing the disguise.

Katy's Bridal Shower

 A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure and privilege of putting together a bridal shower for my bff Katy. I had so much fun planning and creating decorations, more fun than I had thought I would. Here are some snapshots of the event...

These paper hearts cut from book pages were 

strung on twine and placed in the entryway. 

They zigzagged delightfully across the

 ceiling above the stairs as you walked in.

Here is a picture of the gift table (before it was full of gifts).

Notice the paper lantern hanging above. 

Sabrina and I made these, inspired by my friend Lindsay. 

(Here is the link to the DIY instructions we used) 

There were several of these as decor hanging 

from twine strung across the ceiling.

One on each string, so there were multiple lines of twine overhead.

I carved this picture frame from the center of a book. 

This is where the hearts came from for the entryway.

Meredith, the lovely woman who opened her home for the event, 

created all the bouquets. 

I asked the other bridesmaids to help with making the food for the event. 

Sabrina was in charge of dessert and did a

 fantastic job with these cupcakes!

The presentation was spectacular! 

I love how she kept the theme so well and am so glad 

she was able to exhibit her splendid creativity as well.

Here is a picture of us in action. Katy, the bride, is on the left.

Jennie and I are shown sitting here having a great time 

lounging in our toilet paper wedding dresses.

Notice the mason jars along the top of the table as well. 

The details were magnificent! 

I'm so glad I had the help I did to make this such a success 

for a woman whom I love dearly. 

Autumn, How Gorgeous You Are

Hello,
I have to write about what a wonderful Autumn day today was! This morning I woke up to the sound of rain, a delightful way to enter the day. My drive to work was wonderful as the light raindrops splattered themselves across my windshield, enhancing the view of autumn sky everywhere before me. The clouds were thick, purple, and the mountains silhouetted themselves in wonderful layers, varying their shades as their distance was varied. The sun was still working in all this, and it shone orange and yellow between the blankets of clouds.
At work we made fall hats and had a fall parade and a wild rumpus, now seemingly a daily occurrence. Where The Wild Things Are is read every day in our class. I certainly don't mind!
After work I went to find wonderful fall harvest items. I bought indian corn, a couple of wonderfully colored harvest squash, some itty bitty pumpkins, and a gourd. I am so excited for my students to explore these items tomorrow.
The sky was lovely, the weather was cool, and I remember a time when I didn't care too much for fall. I'm glad that time of my life is over. I now enjoy it more every year. It is such a wondrous season. A season for cozy, for adventure, for creating, and most important, for reveling in the wonder of God's hand. His exquisite nature proclaimed throughout the atmosphere, throughout the ground, in the pine cones and acorns, in the leaves shouting from the tree tops and dancing, twirling down through the air, in the thick clouds that hold in them a serene color, in the way the shadows fall, in the way the light shines across the earth, in the way the wind blows. Fall, you are welcome here.

Decor

As I typed that title I recall that I have always enjoyed flipping through home decor magazines. And lately I am realizing more and more how much I enjoy decorations! I love the thoughts and creating and having a finished product. The whole process. I've been indulging in it planning my best friend's bridal shower, and it is definitely strengthening and revealing to myself the strength I have in this area. I have fun ideas, but I'm not the best planner, but over time and experiences I'm getting better at the planning part, and coming up with ideas with enough time to make them work.