You are currently browsing the monthly archive for June 2011.
Hello, world! 🙂 I am writing this with a happy heart. I am the happiest I have ever been, I believe. I have exciting news to write about at some point (so check back for that soon!) but for now, I am sharing my photo challenge from this week.
This week’s theme was water! These shots are in manual mode, which I am pumped to be learning about from my wonderful photographer friend Jenn! (Thanks Jenn!)
I love water. Whether it’s water in my favorite cup, with maybe a slice of lemon, to the vastness of water that is on the shores of Lake Michigan, to the water that drips from my dog’s slobbery mouth. Water is so, so good.
Today I have some homemade oreos to share. If you saw my last post, you know I’ve been wanting to make these. Oreos are a personal favorite.. and sure, it may be easier to just go buy some at the store but where’s the fun in that??
Kristina came over to help me out!
These cookies, especially the cream, are as sweet as can be. They really do taste like oreos too! I plan on taking a few of these on a picnic with Kevin tomorrow. He likes oreos and I promised to make something sweet for our day together. 🙂
Thanks for reading!
Source:Â http://annies-eats.net/2011/06/20/diy-oreos-and-a-giveaway/
My summer starts today and boy, am I excited.
I am sitting at home, enjoying a cozy morning of pj’s, coffee and Josh Garrels playing in the background. My summer, up to this point, has been a continuation of classes and ongoing homework, tests, and stress associated with that. NOT FUN.
Moving on.
I’m excited today to think about all the wonderful things I plan to do with my time throughout the rest of summer! I have a mental list, but I’m thinking if I put it on here, I can look at it and actually achieve what I want to do! 😀
Here are some ideas:
Sewing/Craftiness. First on my list? Make a couple of these adorable dresses!
Bake. Cupcakes, Muffins, Cookies! Including these DIY Oreos. Delicious!!!
Go to fun places! Like Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Also on the list? Grand Haven, Rosy Mound, Chicago & Ann Arbor.
Read for fun.
My list:
Something Borrowed.
The Help.
The Cider House Rules.
Under the Overpass.
Through Painted Deserts.
Other plans…
Spend time with my lovely friends, visit my grandparents, volunteer, yoga, take pictures, talk to God, love my boyfriend, cherish time.
These lists could go on, but that’s all for now… Happy summer! 😀
Three of the best things, according to me? One: bananas. Two: chocolate chips. Three: muffins. Now, you may wonder why I don’t branch out and make more versatile, “exciting” things? Well, really… I just like muffins. I just made some a couple weeks ago and here I am, posting MUFFINS yet again. I think I like them so much because they are like cupcakes (my favorite, you know). Muffins are little and scrumptious and can look boring but are oh so exciting once you take that first bite! These muffins… and this recipe… you really don’t want to pass up. Enough talking, here’s some photos (and the recipe!) from this week’s baking!
Why hello there, chickadee.
Told you. Heavenly GOODNESS.
My brother, just loving on some muffin! 😉
Thanks for making them look appetizing, Jake!
Now. This recipe is super easy. Trust me. Try it!
Ingredients:
2c. flour
1.5 teasp. baking soda
1/2 teasp. salt
1c. granulated sugar
1/3c. canola oil
4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/4c. water
1 teasp. vanilla extract
1c. nondairy semisweet choco chips (you can also use regular, if you wish)
1c. walnuts (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease muffin tins.
In a med-sized bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt together.
In a large bowl, beat the sugar and oil together, then add mashed bananas. Stir in the water and vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add the flour mixture, along with the choco chips, and stir to mix.
Fill each muffin tin halfway with the batter. Bake for 20 t0 30 mins. until they are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
Yield: 12 muffins or one 9-in cake. (For cake, bake for 40 to 45 mins).
Source: The Joy of Vegan Baking by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. –>Â http://www.joyofveganbaking.com/
My dad and I took a trip to Ludington.
Ludington is a place my family enjoys. We love it there! My mom and dad lived there for years and my brothers were born there. We have frequented the state park and other campgrounds, seen my parent’s old apartment & schools they taught at, and have grown fond of the house of flavors & miniature golf right next to the beautiful lake Michigan. I love going to places such as these, they are like home away from home. Familiar sights, smells, and people. 😀 It’s wonderful.
My dad and I headed to Ludington, camped for a night and ran the Lakestride 5k. It was a nice change of pace, from schoolwork, to dreadful exams, to studying more. We read a little, sat by a campfire (and I roasted a mallow!!!), curled up in sleeping bags, ran along the lake and took in God’s beauty of Northern Michigan.
Here are some pics from our adventure.
Gotta love it.
Gorgeous. I was kinda sad it wasn’t beach weather, but I still got to be near the beach at least!
One thing I love about camping? Life sloooooows down.
If I had kids, I would make them pose on this adorable kiddie picnic table. For now though, just a great photo! Love the yellow.
Run time.
My dad and I, after the race. We even got medals. I felt so accomplished!
Oh, hey. I like to run (sometimes ;)).
OH MY GOODNESS.
I have some delicious muffins to share today.
Last week, I whipped up some peach and pecan muffins. Made with real peaches! And topped with some brown sugar and bits of pecans. I changed the recipe a little bit (sometimes ya gotta do that!) but they still turned out. And a huge plus? My kitchen smelled like heaven while they were baking. My dad ate one as dessert… while I ate one for breakfast on my way to class. You choose the time, but they are bound to be delicious at any point throughout the day. 😉
Source: The Vegan Table by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
I love playing games. My favorite? Cranium. So creative. So fun. So everything wonderful. I also love Candyland, Yahtzee, Uno, Bop it & Spoons… ya know, all the good ones. This week, I captured games in action. I wish I would have played more. Firstly, because I love them so much. And secondly, because then I would have more pictures!
This first pic is of my darling little cousin, Nicholas. I actually captured this a couple weeks ago without the intention of using it for this post. So I’m breaking the rules a little, don’t tell. 😉 He is just too adorable to be left out, don’t you think?
My family loves playing spoons. Spoons gets everyone all riled up, screaming and squealing. I love it.
Kevin and I played Yahtzee the other day. He won one game and I won the other. Good thing, because we are both competitive. I can’t handle loosing very well… sigh…
So, what’s your favorite game??
treasures in my sandbox 