Let's Go ...

Let's go run a race.
I know we've never done it before and there will be LOTS of people who are faster and fitter and better...
BUT...
Let's just go. Let's just do it. Let's laugh. Let's try.



Let's hop in a car with some healthy and not-so-healthy treats and some coffee ~ I'll take a large ~ don't forget some kickin' tunes and crank the AC.
Let's drive and find a new place and learn new things and see what there is to be seen beyond our own backyard.
P.S. I'm a fan of GPS ... I'm not laid back enough to think getting lost is awesome. Maybe someday .... not yet.
We'll split the gas ;)



Let's eat breakfast late.
Let's discover a cute place for lunch.
Let's find a local delicacy and try it.
Let's peruse a local market and walk some cobblestone streets ... if there are fresh bunches of flowers I'm sold.
Maybe there will be a street festival or some sidewalk musicians. I plan to stop and listen this time around.



Refresh.
Recharge.
Reignite.
Relax.


I need all that.
I anticipate that.
Looking forward to it ....

The Thankful Choice

Is thankfulness a destination?
Is gratitude a place?


No .... it's a perspective about your journey.
And MY journey and YOUR journey are filled full and running over with moments to say 'thank you' for.

I'm thankful for ~

A drive-thru breakfast with a $1 Coke chaser {once in a blue moon never hurt anyone ;) }

Strawberry Shortcake and Spiderman flip flops that are going to thrill two little people when they discover them.

A mom who lets her grown daughter borrow her phone when her daughter's phone is washed down the river in a canoeing CATASTROPHE!! { I may be 'the daughter' in this story }.

Pink, heart-shaped, strawberry flavoured marshmallows.

Plans for a family get-together on a holiday Monday.

A mountain of laundry to fold which means I have healthy children who play and get dirty and need clean clothes :)  { Perspective folks! This was shared by another blogger and rang true for me...cause I don't love laundry most days.}

An upcoming weekend getaway...much needed, much anticipated.

Flip flops for $4.

An opportunity to welcome additional little hearts and hands into my home and to be able to jump into their world and be present with them all day long and then send them home well cared for and happy to their parents each night.

Hard earned, peaceful sleep most nights.

A great new, CHEAP, mascara! Yahoo!!

Little strawberries and cherry tomatoes that look like they might grow!!!

Wandering the yard early in the morning and feeling the plant leaves and the soil and watering them and hearing the birds call.

Finding a baby bunny under a wagon. :)

A book that matters and applies to my life right now.

A little girl who sings fanciful songs and prays elaborate prayers, with eyes as round as saucers and a temper as fiery as a firecracker. She lights my world.

Storybooks scattered across a living room and bingo markers on the kitchen floor ~ signs of a house filled with life.

A blond-haired boy who was the star of the day at school and when asked what he was really good at? His anwer was .... hugs.

The difference a year can make.
The miracle of renewal.
The cleansing power of tears.
The strengthening balm of sharing your story, your truth, your life.
The unveiling of the eyes of your soul ... allowing so much more depth and beauty and grace to be seen ... everywhere.

My life overflows with thanks.
I whisper it, I yell it, I pray it, I laugh it, I cry it, I live it.

I am pressed but not crushed.

Persecuted not abandoned.

Struck down, but not destroyed.

I am blessed BEYOND the curse.

For His promise will endure and His joy will be my strength.

Though the sorrow may last for the night....JOY comes in the morning.

Monday Monday...

Sometimes Mondays are less than awesome.
Yes?
Yes.


Today was a significantly less than awesome one.
So I made jam.
It helped.

I have some Strawberry~Blackberry waiting to be canned right now.
Tomorrow I plan to have breakfast with a bunch of great women.
That is how everyday should be started in my opinion.

Hope you had a good day.
xoxo

Cinnamon Buns or Clover Leaf Rolls ~ A Twofer!!

I heart my breadmaker.
No secret.
Bread is something I've always wanted to master but I'm not very intuitive when it comes to questions like . . . . "has that risen to double its size . . . ?"
Some psychology into trusting myself could be delved into at this point . . . . hmmmm ~ let's not.

Anywhoo.


Two things I've made this week with great success.
Clover Leaf rolls & Cinnamon Buns.
Same recipe, just a varitation.

Here we go.


Clover Leaf Rolls

1/4c. milk warm
1/4c. water warm
1 lrg egg
1/4c. sugar
2tbsp. butter or margarine, cut into small pieces
1/2tsp. salt
2 1/2c. bread flour (if you're in Canada you can use all-purpose flour)
2 1/4tsp. active dry or bread machine yeast

1. Measure ingredients into bread pan in order listed.
2. Insert bread pan securely into unit.
3. Select Dough setting.
4. When cycle is complete remove dough from bread pan, place on lightly floured surface.
5. Invert large mixing bowl over dough and let rest for 10 mins.
8. Shape into your favourite dinner roll shape (I did clover leaf ~ 3 - 1 1/2 inch balls in each muffin tin) and place in greased muffin tin.
9. Cover and let rise until doubled (about 30 mins.)
10. Bake at 375 for 12 mins. or until golden brown.


Cinnamon Buns

Variation.
Follow previous instructions up to Step 5.
For cinnamon rolls.

1. Roll dough out on lightly floured surface to 9x14-inch rectangle.
  { P.S. I don't have a rolling pin so I used a Diet Pepsi bottle ~ for realz. . . . .}
2. Brush with about 2tbsp. melted butter. Sprinkle with a mixture of sugar (I used brown) and cinnamon. Use a bunch...I like them gooey and mine weren't. Top with 1/4c. raisins if you want.
3. Roll up jelly-role style, starting at long end.
4. Cut into 1-inch slices and arrange in greased 9x12 baking pan.
5. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled. (about 45 mins.)
6. Bake at 350 for 30 mins. or until golden. (I did 25 and next time I would do a bit less.)
7. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

I drenched them in cream cheese icing that I found on the Philly website.

1 brick of cream cheese softened
2c. icing sugar
1/4c. butter melted.

This is a big batch of icing. You won't need all of it . . . . or will you????

Linking up at Gingerbread Handmade today!

Happy Weekend :D

Cloud Dough

Oh Pinterest.
You're my peeps.
Everytime I think . . . . oh no, it's a no-school-day tomorrow and I've got nothing planned . . . . up pops some great idea that saves the day :D


No school.
Cousins over to play.
Cloud Dough was the answer.

These guys came back to this activity all day long.
They loved it.


The flour and oil mix feels like soft sand and is mouldable just like sand.
The oil makes it smell nice too.
BUT ~ if you don't have baby oil or don't want to use it, any oil will work.
You'll need to work the flour and oil for a couple of minutes until it starts sticking together when you squeeze it.
Once it does that you're good to go.
My bins are from the dollar store :)