How-To Guide: DIY Wooden Sign

Psalm 5:11 "But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You." While I sit here in my safe, protected little bubble I think about all the Christian missionaries around the world who live in constant danger while spreading Christ's light and the life-saving Good News to the darkness. I think about those who are persecuted and killed because of their faith. I think about the fighting and wars that have reigned in areas for centuries. It is so easy to become so content in our safe space and so immune to the hardships and struggles of those around the world. I just pray this psalm over them, that God's protection be spread over all who love His wonderful name, spread to all who rejoice and take refuge in our mighty Creator. Praise the Lord for His goodness and love. Praise the Lord for each person risking their lives for the sake of the Kingdom and the Gospel.

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Well the nursery is finished except for just one teeny tiny little detail, such as the crib...which won't be delivered until a couple weeks after my due date. But not to fear, backup plan B is in effect. As I was working on a collage wall over the rocking chair, I just kept commenting to myself, Angelo, James, but mainly to myself {don't judge, some of my best conversations take place that way} that it was missing....something. You know those times when it just irks you every time you look at it? You just know it needs one more finishing touch? Anyone else that obsessive out there? Moving on.

After searching high and low at TJ Maxx and Homegoods, which failed to come through for me for the first time ever, I decided to forgo the store-bought decor and create my own. Which means I had to do it right then-that minute-no time to waste. These moments always occur on a Sunday when the beloved Hobby Lobby is closed. And so my impatient and immediate desire to start a new project had to wait. In the meantime, I scoured Pinterest and assorted blogs to find exactly what I wanted to make. Little did I know that this project, originally intended to take an afternoon or two, took about a week altogether. Not what I expected, but a learning experience nonetheless. And now I pass that learning on to you, in hopes that if you desire to make a wooden sign you have success on the first try on the first day rather than the tenth try by the end of the week, by presenting.... 

"My Guide to a DIY Wooden Sign"

1. Decide to make a wooden sign. Overestimate your ability and shoot for the stars, aiming to create a sign with an incredibly long quote.

2. Go to Lowe's or Home Depot and purchase a cheap wooden board. Debate with yourself over the size and type of wood for so long that an old man standing in the board aisle {who knows exactly what he's doing} comments about the project you {who does not know exactly what she's doing} are trying to accomplish.

3. Take the decided-upon board home and realize it is too long for the space on your collage wall.

4. Sweetly ask husband to cut said board to the correct size. Now. No I mean right now. This. Cannot. Wait.

5. Paint background a nice cream color and let dry. Begin to stencil a damask pattern on top of the cream with a light pink. Realize the light pink is way too light and bright. Hold it up to the other items on the wall and notice that it does not go at all. Paint over the damask pattern 

and let dry.

6. Stencil a damask pattern on top of the cream with a light taupe. Fall in love with it. Discover the awesome trick of using a Mr. Clean magic eraser to distress the paint instead of sand paper. Bask in this accomplishment. Paint over taupe damask with a thin coat of cream to really get a cool distressed vintage look. Feel so proud of this paint job that you consider hanging just a board with a pattern on the wall. 

7. Begin the task of lettering your quote onto the board. Find the quote {in this case, I aspired to writing "Let her sleep for when she wakes, she will move mountains"}. Print out the quote in a fun font off your computer. Hand write the quote painstakingly carefully with pencil, copying the font exactly. Feel as though this will be the best DIY project ever.

8. Drive to Hobby Lobby and purchase paint pens in light pink and gray {not silver...take special note of this. Specifically do not buy the pen that says "silver", but choose the gray one instead}. Spend way too long debating in the aisle of HobLob, calling and texting your sister so many times you feel you may actually be stalking her. Drive home, ready and excited to trace those perfectly written words.

9. Follow directions on the pen {shake well, depress tip until paint starts flowing}. Trace over a word in pink. Notice that the paint is not flowing freely and instead looks like you tried to write with a dried out marker. Make that a dried out highlighter because the pink is waaayyyy brighter than the label indicated. Trace over the paint again before it has a chance to dry, making it look worse rather than better. Call sister to vent.

10. While waiting for the pink to dry, begin to trace the other words in gray. Notice that the gray paint pen is so metallic that it looks like silver. Notice that when you hold it up on the wall, it catches and reflects the light so much that you can't read what it says. Also notice that it too does not flow smoothly. Comment to husband that this paint pen is extremely metallic, only to have him comment back, "That's because you bought a silver paint pen". Momentarily explode as you shove the pen in his face and adamantly shout that you did NOT buy a silver pen, you made sure it was NOT silver, and you specifically bought a GRAY pen. Have husband laugh at your intensity while shaking his head 

and walking away.

11. Before the silver gray paint even dries, flip the board over and begin, once again, to paint the background cream. Pull out that stinkin' damask pattern and begin, once again, to stencil the stinkin' pattern all over the board, this time with pink. Use the magical Mr. Clean eraser to distress up the board {at least by this time you are a pro at the background technique}. Look up other ways to letter a sign. Find a DIY post on a blog about printing words backwards on regular paper with a regular printer, taping them ink-side down onto the piece of wood, then "burning" them into the wood by dampening them with water and rubbing them with the cap of a marker. See photographic evidence of this technique on the blog and know deep in your bones that this will work and 

this will be amazing. 

12. Decide that the quote was way too lofty of a goal and choose instead a three-word phrase.

13. Print out the phrase backwards and follow the water "burning" directions to a T. Remove wet paper and notice that it did not do anything. Not a single thing. Laugh at this point and how ridiculous this project has become.

14. Decide to use the printer and good ol' Modge Podge. Print out the phrase in black ink and cut out each individual letter. Lay them out on the board and have a very good feeling that this will work and this will be amazing. As you lay them out on the board and hold it up to the collage wall as best you can without the letters falling off, notice that the black stands out more than anything else on the wall. Decide to paint the letters gray. Why not just print them out in gray ink? That would have been a good idea...prior to the fact that you would have to cut out each letter again. Dab some gray paint on each letter and decide you like that better than gray ink because it gives a cooler textured effect {or at least justify the added step like that}.

15. Before gluing, make sure the letters are centered on the board, begin very careful and particular in the beginning then just eyeball it by the end. Dab modge podge on the back of each letter and press it onto the board. Without realizing it, glue each word slightly lower than the previous board. Realize it when it's all said and done, and decide to call it "rustic". Be amazed at how well the modge podge bonds the paper to the painted wood and wonder why you didn't do this is in the first place. Dream of all the possibilities of wooden signs {one for every holiday, every sports team, etc.} now that you know the easiest way to do it.

16. Hang the sign, feel very satisfied with the finished product, wash your hands of the matter, and call it a day. Or week.

I did not pose Angelo like that. I swear.

Next order of business...muffins! {Did not have a good transition into that one, sorry}. I promise these do not have nearly as many steps as the sign, not to fret. I found a recipe via Pinterest for lemon berry muffins using frozen berries, which we keep in the freezer for smoothies. The original recipe called for lemon extract and butter extract in the batter, which I omitted and replaced with the zest and juice of one fresh lemon. In addition to the delicious streusel-y topping the original recipe called for a lemon glaze. I decided to forgo the powdered sugar-lemon juice glaze, especially since it had the lemon juice in the muffin, and save us some calories. Actually, I did it to justify eating these for breakfast, mid-morning snack, and late-afternoon snack. Oh yeah, and dessert. Moist, fluffy, lemony, buttery, fruity....I could go on and on. If only they lasted more than three days in our house I would go eat one now. 

Adapted from: myfairbaking.blogspot.com

What you need....

For the muffins:

1 egg

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 

{if I had applesauce on hand I think I'd do half oil-half applesauce}

1 tsp vanilla

Zest and juice of 1 whole lemon

1 1/2 cups flour + a little extra to sprinkle on berries

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup mixed frozen berries

{I used blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries}

For the streusel topping:

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup old-fashioned oats

1/4 brown sugar

4 Tbsp cold butter

What to do....

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a muffin tin with liners or spray with cooking spray.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, oil, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. 

3. In a separate large bowl, sift together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Slowly and gently stir in the wet ingredients until mixed. 

4. Toss the berries with a tablespoon or so of flour until coated so they do not sink when baked in the batter. Gently and quickly stir them into the batter.

5. Spoon batter evenly into the muffin tin {mine made 12 muffins exactly}. Mix together the crumble ingredients and cut in the cold butter. Sprinkle generously all over the muffins and press down slightly. 

6. Bake for 15-18 minutes {mine took 18} or until the tops are golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack.

These are best eaten warm and often :)

This & That

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." For a while now I have considered Jeremiah 29:11-13 to be my "life verse". However, as a new year begins, I really feel a strong call to focus 2014 around this verse in 1 Thessalonians. The Bible can be clear to me at times, while other times I need a much more studied and educated person to explain passages and ideas. However, nothing is more explicit than the phrase "this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" and I need no further explanation of what God would have me do. As 2014 begins and we face a year of many, many changes {hello, parenthood!} I am going to daily remind myself to be full of the joy of knowing the Lord and His great love. I am going to pray constantly, continually, and consistently, not just during my morning quiet times but throughout each day. I am going to pray for the people I meet briefly, for those I have known my whole life, and for those I will never meet. And I am going to give the Father the thanks and praise He deserves for everything, the good and the not-so-good. Because when you thank Him for the hard times and hope in His goodness no matter what, your faith is increased and blessed, simple as that. So here's to a new year and a new "year verse"!

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Hey there. Remember me? The girl that used to post somewhat regularly? The girl that used to try new recipes and share them? That girl turned into this girl...

Husband: What are we having for dinner?

This girl: I don't know. I guess I could just make....{crickets}...ummm...pasta? Oh wait, we're out of milk, cheese, tomatoes, and anything that could vaguely be turned into a sauce. Or we could have a whatever night.

PB&Js all around.

Well with the new year comes a renewed sense of drive to actually cook! And meal plan. For the next 5 weeks or so until baby girl makes her debut in the world. Then it's back to "whatever nights". But in the meantime I am striving to formulate a plan for the upcoming week and trying out some new recipes {and trying out our new camera before she gets here}.

And so I stumbled upon this gem of a cornbread recipe thanks to another great Christmas present...the Barefoot Contessa's cookbook! To anyone starting off the new year with healthy eating habits, this may not be the recipe for you. But in my humble opinion, cornbread was never designed to be "light". If you're gonna do cornbread, you go all the way. And that is exactly what this recipe does.

One more thing...this makes a ton. I originally planned to halve or third it or something, forgot that I had ever made such a plan, and baked the entire batch. Then proceeded to run a gallon baggie full of chunks of cornbread over to my neighbors house {in the cold mind you...who knew Florida could get in the 20s during the day??}. Then proceeded to eat a piece everyday. And still have a normal size batch beckoning me.

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

From: Barefoot Contessa at Home

What you need...

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

2 Tbsp baking powder

2 tsp kosher salt

2 cups milk

3 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten

1/2 pound {2 sticks} unsalted butter, melted, plus extra to grease the pan

8 oz extra-sharp Cheddar, grated, divided

1/3 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts, plus extra for garnish {3 scallions}

3 Tbsp seeded and minced fresh jalapeno peppers {2 to 3 peppers}

*Side story: After experiencing the excruciating pain of an allergic reaction to fresh jalapeno peppers, I chopped these with baggies sealed awkwardly over my hands. 

Much to the amusement of my husband.

What to do...

1. Combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. 

2. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and butter {let your butter cool so you don't end up with scrambled eggs!}

3. With a wooden spoon, stir the wet ingredients into the dry until most of the lumps are dissolved. Don't overmix! Mix in 2 cups of the grated Cheddar, the scallions, and jalapenos, and allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13x2-inch baking pan.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and extra scallions. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

You gotta eat these warm - there is just no other way to do it!

Ooh yeah baby...

We served these beauties up with some grilled bbq chicken and baked beans. Worth every buttery bite :) 

So apparently this whole "nesting" thing is a legit problem disease thing. I have become that girl. What did I absolutely have to get done this morning before I could breathe easily? Scrub the laundry room. Never in my life have I ever cared if the room where dirty things go to get clean is actually clean! But this morning, everything about that room was just.so.wrong. How could I possibly bring a child into this world with the shelves piled high with dust and stray cat food on the floor? My husband, after laughing at me of course, asked if there were any pills to make my nesting last even after she is here. 

Another task on my to-do-before-baby-gets-here list: practice with our new camera {still have yet to come up with a good name to christen her with....the camera not the baby}. Perfect test subject - Angelo during a nap.

Just look at that face...who couldn't love a face like that?

To those who say they don't like cats...they haven't met the right one...

Uh oh. I better stop. The cat lady in me is about to get out.

I'm off to go clean something else. And possibly start packing for the hospital aka continue making a list of what to pack. All you pros - what is something you wish you had brought?

Happy Thursday! Show someone God's love today :)

Mud.

This morning as I was doing my quiet time and reading my Bible, I came across this story in John. A story I'd read many times before, this morning it jumped out at me from the pages and stuck in my mind. I found myself going back and rereading it just for the calm, joy, and reassurance it gave me. 

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'" Jesus proceeds to restore this blind beggar's sight with a little bit of spit and dirt. 

This morning I just want to encourage anyone who feels like they are in a hopeless situation, maybe even as hopeless as being blind from birth and reduced to begging every day to hopefully gain enough from passersby to merely survive. God did not give you that situation as a punishment for some sin or another, for our God is not punitive. He is Love. He gives us trials and challenges as a way for His glory and magnificent work to be displayed in our lives, for His goodness to be revealed and His truth spread to those around us. And the truth is this: if you are still breathing (which I hope is the case if you are reading this right now!) God is not finished with you yet. Trust in His power and His solution might be as simple as some good ol' fashioned spit. For in God's hands, even mud is a powerful thing. Praise God.

Well, I am taking full advantage of this actual-fall weather while we are still in Virginia, snapping a pic of every fall leaf or tree I come across and baking anything that involves pumpkin or cinnamon. And Baby Barnacle is a fan of the fall deliciousness as well. (Side note...I really don't know what I'm going to do when she is born and I can no longer call her Barnacle...it has such a ring to it!) I sense a fellow fall fanatic in the making! Speaking of Barnacle, I just can't help but share this pic. I had a 3D ultrasound the other week and the technology just blew my mind. My favorite picture of all....her sweet little profile between an arm (on the right) and her foot (on the right). I think we may have a dancer on our hands! And considering she engages in some sort of baby tae bo class each night, I'd say that's a safe bet. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his might heavens....

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing....

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Psalm 150

Pumpkin Coffee Cake

From: http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/09/22/iced-pumpkin-coffee-cake/

Crumb Topping:

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup cold unsalted butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

Pumpkin Coffee Cake:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 cup pure pumpkin puree

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup milk

Vanilla Glaze:

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1-2 Tbsp pumpkin spice coffee creamer or milk (I used milk)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Make the crumb topping first: In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, salt and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter or fork. Mix until crumbly and set aside.

3. For the cake: Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice together in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, oil, maple syrup, and milk until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined (it will be thick!) Pour the batter into the baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly on the top and press gently into the batter. Bake for 30 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

4. Make the glaze: Whisk the confectioners' sugar and 1 Tbsp of the creamer or milk until smooth. Add more creamer or milk to thin, if desired. Drizzle over the cake. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

Believe me when I say this cake is out-of-this-world! Next time I want to try doing half oil-half applesauce to keep it moist but make the nutritional content *slightly* better. We had it for breakfast the first morning then proceeded to eat it as dessert each night after. Plus some bites in between....like maybe every time someone walked past the dish...

Next pumpkin recipe.....muffins! Baby is all for fall breakfast treats!

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

Adapted from: http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/pumpkin-cinnamon-streusel-muffins/

*This recipe originally called for a brown sugar-cinnamon filling of 1 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon. While I am always a fan of more brown sugar, after reading the recipe I decided to omit this. I am actually glad I did as these muffins are already very sweet and might be a little too sugary with the 

additional filling! Disclaimer over.

Muffins:

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 Tbsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp nutmeg 

(I used pumpkin pie spice instead since I'm not a huge nutmeg person)

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup canola oil

1/3 cup water

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Streusel topping:

1 1/4 cup oats

1 Tbsp flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

6 Tbsp cold butter, cut into cubes

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two muffin tins with cooking spray or paper liners. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, water, pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth and combined.

4. Slowly stir in the flour mixture. Mix until ingredients are combined.

5. For the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix in the butter with your hands until crumbly. 

6. Fill the muffin cups with the batter and top each one with streusel topping.

7. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until the toothpick test comes out clean. Cool muffins on a wire rack. Enjoy!

And last but not least, the Franken-treats. While these do not contain any sort of pumpkin ingredient they are quintessential Halloween-y (anyone else giggle when making the word "Halloween" into an adjective? Just me? Okay cool.) Inspired by Pinterest of course and super easy, although slightly time consuming, these really don't even need detailed step-by-step directions. Here's pretty much the gist of it...

Franken-treats

What you'll need....

Recipe for classic Rice Krispie treats - butter, marshmallows, Rice Krispies, and green food coloring

Melted chocolate chips for the hair, smile, and pupils

White chocolate chips (unmelted) for the eyes

Toothpicks and mini marshmallows for the bolts

Cute paper straws from Target, Michael's, or other craft store

Pretty simple and almost too cute to eat....sorry Frank, I said almost :)

Happy Halloween everybody!

Hello, old friend.

Mark 10:43-45 "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." What a humbling reminder! I tried to keep this verse present in my mind and centered in my attitude as I went about today. Try adopting this attitude while doing mundane, ordinary tasks, for example while battling the crowds at the grocery store (I speak from experience...). I promise it will change the way you see those around you!

September 4, 2013. The day an old lover walked back into my life. The day I said, "Hello, old friend" as I once again enjoyed this relationship filled with warmth and love. The day Starbucks brought back the Pumpkin Spice Latte. This day signifies the return of Fall Spirit, no matter what the thermometer might read or the weathermen might predict. I happened to be in Austin, TX for this grand annual event where the high that day was a crisp 102 degrees. And yet we sipped on, wiping away those beads of sweat with determination and confidence! We even developed a new term...."sweatering".

sweatering [swet/er/eeng]
verb
1. The act of sweating in a sweater in the beginning of September because you really want it to be fall but it's still 100 degrees.

My fall spirit is out in full blast and I am quickly becoming my obsessive self with anything remotely reminding me of this fresh season. Fall scented Febreze candle? Why yes, I picked one up today. Chai tea latte with breakfast? Fall in a cup, I always say. And since we enjoyed a nice day in the 70's today, albeit 90 degrees is just lurking around the corner for tomorrow, a pumpkin recipe was a must for my day of fall. With "Apples and spice" burning cheerfully away, I whipped up this {healthy} pumpkin bread recipe, dreaming of patterned scarves, riding boots (never to actually be worn on a horse), rotund little pumpkins, and trees with leaves aglow.

**This is the doubled recipe since it originally called for 7 ounces of pumpkin and I didn't want to waste or have to store leftover Libby's so I made two loaves - one plain and one with chocolate chips for the hubby. Oh darn, more bread to eat. How will we ever stand it? :)

Pumpkin Bread

From: http://www.itbakesmehappy.com/2012/07/pumpkin-bread.html

1 can {15 oz} pumpkin

2 eggs

2/3 cup applesauce

1/2 cup water

1 cup honey

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cloves

1/4 tsp. ginger

Optional:

2/3 cup dried cranberries and/or 1/2  cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare two loaf pans with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs, applesauce, water, sugar, and honey. In a separate bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Fold in the cranberries and chocolate chips (if using). Spread batter in the loaf pans and bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Although a tad early, I must say it...

Happy fall, y'all!

What's in a name?

The name of these delectable little muffins instantly drew me in and I just had to try out a batch. As an avid carb lover, the thought of a single item encompassing not one but two carbalicious treats was mind-boggling. Muffins that taste like donuts? Yes, please. Nutritional information? No, thank you. Gym the next morning? Well, if you insist. 

After making these muffins-that-taste-like-donuts, I decided that I would actually change that inspirational name that pulled me in like the classic dance move...you know the one...throwing out an imaginary rope/lasso to rhythmically tug in someone who is flopping like fish to the same rhythm. I'd call these babies muffins-that-taste-like-coffee-cake. Maybe Coffee Cake Muffins would roll off the tongue more smoothly. Although with the delicious cinnamon-sugar topping, you're not going to want these muffins to roll anywhere. Dense, moist, cinnamon-y, sugary, perfect with a cup of coffee in the morning or late-night dessert.

I believe they said these resembled cake donuts, which might be why they seemed more like a coffee cake to me. (There are only two ways to do doughnuts in my humble opinion...chocolate icing with sprinkles or classic glazed, hot out of the oven, all the way). 

P.S. You will die when you see the method to the cinnamon-sugar-topping madness.

Muffins That Taste Like Donuts

From: http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breads/muffins-that-taste-like-donuts/

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 

(I went a little light on the nutmeg. I don't care for strong nutmeg flavor but if you are a fan, go big or go home. Don't go home, you can stay if you want.)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

(Now on the other hand, I am a huge cinnamon fan so I definitely used a heaping teaspoon)

1/3 cup oil

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup milk

For the topping:

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions:

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, combine oil, sugar, egg, and  milk. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir only to combine.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a bowl. Combine the sugar and cinnamon for the topping in another bowl. Shake muffins out while still hot. Dip muffins into the butter then into the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Let cool.

Enjoy!

Cheese Louise.

2 Corinthians 3:3 "You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." You are a living, breathing testament to God's work in you and His love for you. Now it is time to examine our lives to see if we are living in such a way to truly display Christ's mark. Remember - the Almighty Father created us in His own image and Scripture tells us that we are growing more and more like Him every day! You are a letter from Christ, sharing the story of His grace, mercy, and atoning sacrifice to all those around you!

Prepare to be stuffed with cheese. Seriously, I want to find the person who first invented (created? I don't know if cheese is considered an invention.) cheese and give him my utmost, sincerest thanks. Plus maybe a big smackaroo...don't tell James. Pinterest led me to this cheese-stuffed-heaven and all I can say is "Cheese louise, look at all this cheese!" (Back story on that quote...my college roommate uttered those infamous words while walking into the grocery store one day. She actually said "geez" but I heard "cheese" and then proceeded to mock her appropriately for the complete nerdy-ness of that phrase. And yet it stuck...)

Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells

From: http://joelens.blogspot.com/2010/05/pesto-chicken-stuffed-shells.html

12-16 jumbo pasta shells

4 oz cream cheese, softened 

(I think I used a little less, just because there is a lot of other cheese in this recipe)

1 cup grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese + 1/4 cup for topping

3 Tbsp prepared pesto

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large pot over high heat, boil water and prepare pasta shells as directed on the package. Cook pasta only until al dente. The pasta will finish cooking when the dish is baked. Drain pasta and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, combine rest of ingredients, except the 1/4 cup of cheese for the topping. Fill the pasta shells with the filling and place in baking dish. (Hint: run pasta under cold water first before attempting to fill - I learned the hard way!) Sprinkle the remaining cheese over filled shells.

3. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 30 minutes or until shells are bubbling hot and cheese melts. I stuck mine under the broiler at the end for a few minutes to brown the cheese all nice and toasty.

O.M.G. Believe me when I tell you these shells are delicious but incredibly filling!! I ate one more than I probably should have and had that miserably yet wonderfully full feeling the rest of the night. I would have asked James to compare food babies but I don't know how he'd react. All I can say is mine was definitely around 8 and a half months at least! 

This next recipe I got from my new cookbook "Simply Suppers" that my sister got me for my birthday. I've always been tempted to make my own spaghetti sauce but I thought it might be a little too complicated. Wrong. Super easy and hardly any prep work involved. The only thing better than this Mama's spaghetti would be to watch "Mama Mia" while shoveling it into my mouth. However, I believe Abba's soundtrack might prove to be too much of a strain on our marriage. And I kinda like this guy. So nix that idea....but this recipe was totally worth it, musical or not!

Mama's Spaghetti

From: "Simply Suppers" by Jennifer Chandler

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion

1/2 cup finely diced green bell pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

1 can (28 oz.) crushed tomatoes with juice

1 tsp dried basil leaves

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried oregano

Salt and pepper

1. In a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add meat and cook until meat is browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.

2. Transfer the cooked meat to a colander and drain excess fat.

3. Drain all but about 1 tablespoon of fat from pot. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 4 minutes.

4. Stir in tomatoes, basil, thyme, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Return meat to pot and stir to combine. Over high heat, bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until thickened, about 45 minutes. (We got hungry before then so I didn't simmer mine the full time). Adjust seasonings as needed.

6. Serve hot over warm pasta and enjoy!

I completely forgot to take a pic but believe me when I say it was a really awesome, really basic spaghetti sauce!

This next recipe I got from Pinterest, of course, and tweaked it a bit. Super simple, super easy, and would be really good to serve at any sort of get-together. They called there's beef-stuffed crescents but for some reason that name just is not very appealing to me. So I present to you....

Mexican Crescent Rolls

Adapted from: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Beef-Stuffed-Crescents-2

1 pound ground beef

1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, cubed

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp chili powder

3 tubes refrigerated crescent rolls

I added: 

Shredded fiesta cheese

Diced white onion

Diced jalapeno 

(in my halved version of this recipe, I did half a jalapeno. This recipe needed more spice so next time I would do a whole jalapeno. I'd also up the amount of chili powder, but that's just me!)

1. In a large skillet, cook beef, chilies, onions, and jalapenos (if adding) until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the cream cheese, cumin, and chili powder. Add shredded cheese (if using), allow to melt, cool slightly. *Since I added the shredded cheese I believe I used a little less cream cheese.

2. Separate crescent dough into 24 triangles. (In my halved version, I just used one can of crescent rolls, aka 8 triangles. I had a little meat filling leftover but James just ate that in a tortilla). Place 1 tablespoon of mixture along the short end of each triangle; carefully roll up. (I definitely did more than a tablespoon!)

3. Place point side down two inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown.

This final recipe I also got from the "Simply Suppers" cookbook. Just looking at the page it seemed like it would be a little more time-consuming but it really wasn't too bad at all! Just a heads-up it's not a super saucy dish - the sauce is the kind that just kinda sticks to your noodles and doesn't swim around in the bottom of your bowl. This could be due to the fact that I completely omitted the heavy whipping cream (I don't keep it on hand and for the sake of our pants fitting the next day) but even with this omission, I would definitely make this dish again! I halved this recipe when I made it since it can serve 6 to 8 people.

Chicken Tetrazzini

From: "Simply Suppers" by Jennifer Chandler

4 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup Italian style breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp olive oil

8 oz button mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed, and thinly sliced 

(I omitted...not a mushroom fan)

1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion

4 gloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/2 cup dry white wine

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 box (16 oz) linguine, cooked per package directions

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, divided 

(I eye-balled and used dried parsley)

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups milk

2 cups heavy cream

(Like I said, I omitted altogether)

1 cup chicken stock

Salt and pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish and set aside.

2. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese and set aside.

3. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter and oil. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently until the liquid from mushrooms evaporates and they become slightly golden, about 10 minutes.

4. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme. Cook until the vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the liquid has almost evaporated, about 2 minutes.

3. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the shredded chicken, cooked linguine, peas, and 2 Tbsp of parsley and set aside.

4. In the same pan used for the onions, melt the remaining 3 Tbsp of butter over medium-low heat. When butter starts to foam, add the flour and cook, whisking, until thickened, about 1 minute. While continuing to whisk, gradually add the milk, heavy cream, and chicken stock. 

Over medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a boil.

5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5 to 8 minutes. Pour the sauce over the pasta mixture and toss until well combined. 

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture and remaining 2 Tbsp parsley evenly over the pasta. Top with thinly sliced pats of butter (I omitted just to save a few calories). Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Life lessons brought to you by Mumford and Angelo.....

 There is nothing better than clean laundry fresh from the dryer!

 Everyone appreciates some help.....

But sometimes enough is enough!

In the end, let's all just be friends!

Righteousness, Rain, and Recipes!

2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God." When I read this I just had to stop and praise God for making us so special to Him although we are so unworthy. We are the righteousness of God the Almighty?! We have been washed clean by the only one who lived without sin, one who actually became the sin of that generation, and the next, and the next, and every generation to follow?! What an awesome, incredible thought! I think our days would change immensely if we woke up with the attitude and belief that "I am the righteousness of God".  Our interactions with others, the words we say, and even our thoughts would take on a whole new look when we step into the role of the righteousness of God. Lord, help us to better assume this role every day as we grow into the people You want us to be!

Well it finally rained last night!! Glory to God!! And I woke up to a deliciously dark, cloudy morning! Don't get me wrong...I am such a sunshine girl, seriously I think I need to see the sun each day not only so I can live but so that I do not harm those around me :) ...but after this yearlong drought (I exaggerate, naturally) there was no sweeter sound than the sound of a few sprinkles hitting our kitchen window!

In other exciting news...week 3 of Couch to 5K has started off with a bang! Actually a yawn and a whine "I don't want to doooooo this" as my alarm screeches at 6:30 am. But Clarisse has definitely stepped it up this week. We do two repetitions of 90 seconds running, 90 seconds walking, 3 minutes running, 3 minutes walking. Surprisingly the 3 minutes aren't too bad (if anyone reading this is an actual runner, forgive my pathetic-ness). And I can't believe it's been 3 weeks already! Just 6 more to go....ok that's depressing...haha!

So for kid news...they are just so precious! Even when their behavior is most challenging/insane, I just can't help but love them! Monday afternoon was one of those "two margarita days" as one of my college professors put it, but was followed by a wonderful afternoon the next day. We went on a whole-class car ride (aka I put our chairs in rows of 2 like an extra-long suburban) and took turns being the driver. Our first little man took us to "Water Buffalo Town" where, and I quote, "they have a brand-new playground, they just built it!" Every one in the car had to have their imaginary seat belts and some small toy from the classroom. Our next driver took us to Whataburger, where we ordered play-doh hamburgers, fries, tea, etc. from the kids that got off a Water Buffalo Town. We also stopped at McDonald's and Chick-fil-A....apparently my kids have a passion for fast food! One of the best quotes of the week was from my sweet little boyfriend (he calls me Ms. Sawah Baby) who asked me to throw away his trash at lunch. After calling my name several times in the chaos of opening everyone's juice boxes, I finally got over to his chair and picked up his baggie (he used his polite words). As I threw it in our trash can I hear a high-pitched, excited, "Yay for Ms. Sawah!!!!" Totally made my day...all I could do was laugh, as usual.

We also made homemade play-doh this week and the kids had a blast smooshing it around on the tables. My version was a little, um stickier let's say, than the store version and ended up being a huge mess to clean up but that is not the point! They had fun and learned in the process. The kids were hitting their play-doh to make it flat and I commented that it sort of sounded like a rain storm. That led to a whole class performance of a thunderstorm. I'd say "It's starting to sprinkle a little bit!" and the kids would quietly hit their play-doh pancakes with a few fingers...then...."It's getting harder, it's getting harder, it's getting harder!" and we'd all make a whole lot of noise (I apologize to anyone else in the building but sometimes learning is loud). Then we all would stop and I'd say, "The rain stopped!" and all the kids pointed to the window and exclaimed, "And the sun came out!" followed by screeches of laughter. How many times did we do this? I lost count!

On Sunday, my husband got back from a wedding he had been to and I surprised him (well, not really because I usually make dinner every night haha) with a nice dinner aka I made a little menu on scrapbook paper. It was so easy and so good! I got this chicken recipe from one of my fave blogs "Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour":

Smothered Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

6-8 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

4 slices cheddar cheese

BBQ sauce

Montreal steak seasoning (I didn't have this so I used Tony Chacheres)

Green onion

Honey mustard sauce (1 cup mayo, 1/2 cup dijon mustard, 1/4 cup honey)

(I omitted this, partly because I didn't have mustard, and partly because I'm not a huge condiment fan)

1. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with seasoning and cook in skillet on medium-high heat for about 6-8 minutes per side.

2. Cook and chop bacon.

3. After chicken is cooked on both sides and is all white throughout, leave it in the skillet and spread a tablespoon of bbq sauce on each piece.

4. Layer with chopped bacon then top with 1 slice of cheese each.

5. Cover skillet and continue cooking until cheese is all melted.

6. Top with green onions and serve with honey mustard sauce, if so desired.

Delish!

I also made some homemade cheddar biscuits that I got from my Christmas cookbook. While I was slightly disappointed in the fact that the cheese flavor was hardly noticeable, they turned out to be really soft, deliciously salty little biscuits. The cheese is so subtle that I've been having one with my morning coffee with jam. And believe me I would not eat cheese-jam :) Next time I think I'll double the cheese or omit it altogether.

Cheese Biscuits

2 cups sifted flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup Swiss or cheddar cheese, grated

2/3 cup milk

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 to 3 Tbsp butter, melted

1. Sift dry ingredients together.

2. Cut in shortening and cheese, mixing well.

3. Add milk and egg, stirring quickly until soft dough is formed.

4. Turn onto lightly floured surface and knead into smooth ball.

5. Roll lightly to 2-inch thickness (mine were more like 1 inch) and cut into rounds with floured biscuit cutter (I used a circle cookie cutter).

6. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.

7. Brush with melted butter immediately after removing oven (this is the best part!!)

The wonders of being weak :)

2 Corinthians 12:9 "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 about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me." In a world where strength is not only expected but also highly valued and at times exalted, our God designed us in such a way that we can come to Him weak, broken, and in need. In our humanly weakness God's almighty power is made even more perfect, and therefore we can bring glory to Him through this very weakness! What a beautifully-crafted, wonderfully-backwards relationship God put into place. Does He know us intimately or what??

The Lord truly blessed me with a wonderful last day of my first week at work. I only had four precious kiddos which made for a peaceful, relaxed Friday. We painted with tempera paint mixed with shaving cream on a huge piece of butcher paper spread out on the floor, danced around the classroom, and studied the various aspects of play-doh very seriously (make-believe pancakes with invisible syrup anyone?) One of my sweet little guys and I read almost every book in our bookshelf, with him jumping up after every picture to point out colors on the posters on our walls that matched the book's illustrations (literally, every...single...picture!) One of  the best moments, however, was when we were reading a book about how God made each person unique and the illustration depicted a little boy with blond hair and blue eyes. I quizzed this cutie on the color of the eyes, to which he correctly responded, "Blue!", and I made the remark that he had blue eyes too. Looking at me with his big, and in fact blue, eyes, he asked, "I do??? Where is the mirror?" and ran over to the full mirror. From around the bookshelf I heard this high-pitched, delighted squeal, "Oh my GOSH!" and saw his tiny little arms fling up and down excitedly. I could not help myself. I sat in the middle of the butterfly rug amidst various books, toys, and puzzles, cracking up and thanking God.

My husband is out of town this weekend, which you know what that means....Hobby Lobby!!! I went this morning to peruse those deliciously-wonderful aisles filled with 50% off goodies. I was a little disappointed, however, when nothing of my interest was half-off!! I guess I will just have to wait a week...thanks for the patience lesson (and financial lesson) God! I did walk down the fall and Christmas decor aisles wishing for cooler weather (seriously, even 95 degrees would be better!) I am definitely going to miss my fall tree colors this year as I moved back to the land of the evergreens and pine trees! Those aisles definitely got me thinking of all the decorations I want to purchase/make for our first season of decorating together! This Hobby Lobby-induced fall mood could possibly be the reason I bought apple cinnamon Glade air freshener at Walmart....

Speaking of weaknesses (see Bible verse above).....delicious carbs. I thought I'd surprise my sweet husband with one of his favorite weaknesses when he gets home tomorrow....banana bread! I've tried several different recipes before and for some reason, the middle would never cook correctly. Raw dough, anyone? I found this one last year and it not only cooked right, but was delish!

Banana Bread

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter or vegetable shortening

2 eggs, beaten

3 small overly ripened bananas, mashed

2 1/2 cups flour, divided

1 tsp. baking soda

6 Tbsp. buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon juice

Pinch of salt

Chopped nuts (optional)

1. In mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter.

2. Add eggs and bananas.

3. Add 1 cup of flour.

4. In separate bowl, stir baking soda into buttermilk and add to mixture.

5. Add remaining flour, vanilla, lemon juice, and salt.

6. Grease and flour 1 large bread pan.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour, testing with toothpick for doneness.

8. Cool about 5 minutes and remove from pan to cooling rack.

But the greatest of these is Love!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." One of my favorite verses in the Bible, I think this would be an excellent way to start each day with a reminder not only of God's love, but what it means to show His love to others. Our first and greatest commandment is to love God, the second to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we truly took this verse to heart and consciously strove each day to embrace this type of love, how different would our daily lives and even our world look! My personal challenge is "love keeps no records of wrongs". Although I do not tend to hold grudges for very long, I do clearly remember hurtful (even if said in a joking manner) words and actions of others. Just the other day, we were eating leftovers for dinner, attempting to clear the fridge of the enchiladas that had haunted us for too long (a testament to my overestimation skills), when my husband looked at my plate and said, "Wow, you ate as much as I did!" Although he was joking, I enjoyed reminding him of this delightful comment. However, after I reminded him once again I stopped and told him (and myself in the process) "Love keeps no record of wrongs". It might need to be a daily or weekly reminder but that's what God's word is for right? For guiding and directing our lives, words, and actions. My husband, on the other hand, truly has the gift of keeping no record of wrongs. In the midst of one of those Eeyore days where a little black cloud hangs over you and you just don't know why, I admit I was not the nicest person to my sweet husband. After this mood wore off a bit and I apologized, his response was "I already forgot it happened." I will never forget that moment and that perfect example of showing God's love and truly reflecting the Son.

Continuing this theme of LOVE, we went to see "Crazy, Stupid Love" last night. Oh my goodness if you have not seen it already, cancel all plans and go tonight!! It was one of the best movies I've seen in a while (sorry Captain America, but you were a little cheesy). We walked out of the theater feeling like it was money well-spent, even if it was just $4 with a college student ID (luckily for me, I still have my OSU id and have not aged much since freshman year...or unluckily in that regard?) With all the money the movie industry has squeezed out of us, I have to say I do not feel any remorse for using my college id post-college. Take that Tinseltown!

Speaking of love when it comes to food, I have to share this lovely recipe with y'all....Lemon Loves! The name alone invokes all kinds of lovely thoughts and feelings, especially since I am an avid lemon fan. Seriously, anything lemon and you have me sold. I got this recipe from my mom, the wonderful lady from whom I inherited my love of lemon, and it has been a hit with everyone who has tried this absolutely delish dessert!

Lemon Loves

Crust:

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

1 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

Mix ingredient in order listed. Bake in an 8" square pan for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Remove from oven and spread with the following filling mixture (mix in order listed)....

Filling:

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. salt

2 eggs, slightly beaten

2 Tbsp. lemon juice 

Return to oven and bake for 20 more minutes at 350 degrees. The top will be slightly golden brown.

When the cookie mixture is cold, spread with the following glaze....

Glaze:

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 Tbsp. butter

Looking at all of the butter, variety of sugars, and lemon juice, how could one not love lemon loves??? It is one of those desserts where I have to "even out" the pan every afternoon when I come home. Uh oh, that piece is uneven, I need to cut a little sliver to make it straight. Oops...my knife slipped, gotta even it out some more! Love!

Finally, I need to include one love of my husband.....beer. We're having a lazy Sunday, doing laundry and watching movies on tv the whole afternoon. When I don't have much to do, I like to whip up something with ingredients I already have. We recently inherited a plethora of leftover beer, leading me to the decision to make beer bread! This is the only kind of beer I like (except beer in a Mambo Margarita....that recipe is sure to make an appearance soon!). I just googled a recipe and found this one from honestfare.com. SO simple and so good if you like dense, hearty breads. Another love!

Beer Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. salt

4 Tbsp. sugar

1 12-oz. can or bottle of beer (we had an abundance of Bud Light but you can use any)

3 Tbsp. butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease a 9x5 loaf pan.

2. In large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Sift well. 

3. Pour in beer and stir until a stiff batter is formed. Do not over-mix!

4. Scrape batter into your loaf pan and pour melted butter on top (I think I started to drool at this step)

4. Bake for 40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. (I believe mine baked for 46 minutes)

Slap some butter on a thick slice and you are good to go show that bread some love:)