Welcome 2016!

I love the motivation that the new year brings to work on areas that need improvement and the opportunity to grow more as a person.

One of my favorite authors of 2015 was Ann Voskamp. I just finished reading her advent book called The Greatest Gift and it was amazing. I came across this beautiful printable that she posted on her website and I knew I wanted fill this out for myself.

So here is what I Purpose To in 2016.

Embrace God’s Grace

Engage more with people that God places in my life and path

Be Quiet and listen more

Believe in myself more

Break unhealthy eating habits

Daily spend time in the Word

Do exercise even if it’s just walking

Let Go of my imperfections

Learn Photography

Live a more simple life

Give more time to the people who really matter

Grow and foster relationships with family members and friends

So here is to 2016, may it be everything you hope for!

Christmas- Better late than never

I know it's a little late for a Christmas post, but I'm getting ready to take my Christmas decor down and I knew I'd regret it if I didn't share it now. 

We kept the decor pretty neutral this year to go with the other decor. The little skis were a new addition this year. I found them for $3 each at Target.

I've been collecting this nativity set since Daniel and I were married in 2001. It's always such a joy for my girls and I to set up each year. This year we added some tiny little lights from Anthro and they were perfect.  

Here's a shot of the sofa and all the decorations. Very small changes were made, we swapped out our Pottery Barn pillow for the sweet Bear pillow from Target. Added some mercury glass, a silver tree and a sweet little "Baby It's Cold Outside" sign. 

Here's a close up of the Bear pillow from Target. He was way to cute to pass up!

Now for a close up for the sign. My sweet friend Kristy from The Painted Nest made this custom sign for me. I plan on leaving it up all winter. 

I guess one of the reasons I wanted to make sure and share this years photos is because we will be putting our house on the market in the summer and you never know this might be our last year here. Fingers crossed! 

Favorite Pins Friday- Easter Edition

With a little more then a week away from Easter, I thought it was about time to share my Favorite Easter Pins.

One of the the easiest ways to switch out decor for a specific holiday is with a printable. Here is one of my favorites. 

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Several of my favorite childhood memories include baking with my mother during the different holidays. This is a tradition that I have carried on with my daughters. They love making any kind of bark and this one looks delicious. 

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We also make these cookies each year and I read the Easter Story as we make them. I would highly recommend working this recipe into your Easter tradition.

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The last pin that I wanted to share with you is our favorite Easter Ham recipe. This Ham does not disappoint. 

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If you have any Easter traditions that you would like to share with me, I would love to hear them. Please leave a comment below.

Hostess Easter Gifts

Hello Friends! I hope you are all doing well. As the Easter holiday approaches, I am sure plans are being made for gatherings with family & friends.

If you are going somewhere for Easter brunch or dinner why not take your hostess a gift to say "Thank You".

When we open our homes to people there is always a sense of nervousness and a lot of planning that goes into it. Show your hostess some love and appreciation with a small token.

Here are a few of my favorite Easter and Spring themed gifts to give.
 

Polyvore

 

1.) Jade Colored Glass Pedestal Stands

2.) Sewing Basket Oven Mitt

3.) Aqua Ceramic Scone Pan

4.) Pink Neroli Petals Glass Hobnail Jar Candle

5.) Bunny Kitchen Towels

 

 A small token of thanks never goes unnoticed or unappreciated. I hope you all have a blessed Holy Week and a wonderful Easter.

 

 

 

 

Easter Bunnies

It's hard to believe that we are only two weeks from Easter. I love this time of year when baby bunnies and chicks are all around. We recently purchased two rabbits for our daughters for 4H projects. They are both female Holland Loops and were born in January of this year.  They were early Easter presents.

Here they are...the fluffiest one is my youngest daughter's, which she named Butterscotch and the other sweet bunny is my oldest daughter's which she named Caramel.

These little gals are the sweetest things and should not get bigger than four pounds. The girls are doing a wonderful job taking care of them. Butterscotch's upkeep is a little more than Caramel's, as she requires being brushed weekly. She must really enjoy getting brushed and will set still on my lap until we are finished.

I hope you all are having a lovely weekend. We are heading to the City for the day to celebrate our youngest daughters 6th birthday!




 

Valentines Day

We are less then a month away from Valentine's day and I am starting to plan fun little projects to do with my girls to celebrate. 

One thing my daughters love are pancakes and these look fantastic!

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The girls also love to decorate cookies and these wafer cookies are a childhood favorite of mine. 

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The last item is already a favorite of my girls and that is an ice cream float. We have done "Pink Cows" before out of vanilla ice cream and strawberry soda, but this is just a little different. I love the addition of the licorice straw. 

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The last thing that I wanted to share is one of the most beautiful love stories, the love from our Heavenly Father for us.

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I hope these ideas inspire you to spread the love this Valentines Day!

To check out other Valentines ideas, visit my Pinterest Page.

Farmhouse Christmas Cookies

Christmas is such a magical time and one that brings back those Family Traditions. For our family, it wouldn't be Christmas Time without dusting off old cookbooks and gathering in the kitchen for a marathon cookie baking adventure.

Here are a few tried and true recipes that make there way into our homes each Christmas.

 Snickerdoodles

Recipe from Betty Crocker's New Picture Cookbook

Excerpt from book, "These crunchy, crinkly-topped, spicy rounds are one of my happy childhood memories." I totally agree with this statement. They are my favorite childhood cookie.

• 1 cup soft shortening (part butter) Use 1/2 cup Crisco and 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 3/4 cups GOLD MEDAL Flour
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 tsp. soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix shortening, sugar and eggs thoroughly. Measure flour by dip-level-pour method or by sifting. Blend all dry ingredients; stir in. Roll into balls the size of small walnuts. Roll in mixture of 2 tbsp. sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon. Place 2" apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 min. (These cookies puff up at first, then flatten out).
Makes about 5 dozen 2" cookies.

Mary's Sugar Cookies

Recipe from Betty Crocker's New Picture Cookbook

• 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioner's sugar
• 1 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. almond flavoring
• 2 1/2 cups GOLD MEDAL Flour
• 1 tsp. soda
• 1 tsp. cream of tartar

Cream sugar and butter. Mix in egg and flavorings. Measure flour by dip-level-pour method or by sifting. Blend dry ingredients; stir in. Refrigerate 2 to 3 hr. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough in half and roll out on lightly floured pastry cloth to 3/16" thick. Cut into desired shapes. Sprinkle with sugar. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 7 to 8 min., or until delicately golden.
Makes 5 dozen 2 to 2 1/2" cookies.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookie

Recipe from Betty Crocker's website

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups GOLD MEDAL Flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

In large bowl, mix oil, chocolate, granulated sugar and vanilla. Stir in eggs, one at a time. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheet with cooking spray. Drop dough by teaspoonful's into powdered sugar; roll around to coat and shape into balls. Place about 2" apart on cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until almost no imprint remains when touched lightly in center. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack.