thank you

 

Do you ever feel you're presented with gifts in life that are out of your control? Sometimes positive and sometimes negative! So strong that you can't help to see the writing on the wall {it's in your face}!  Whatever these gifts may be... They are lessons that you have a choice to run in a positive or a negative light. This week I had a few gifts presented to me that were so strong that I couldn't help to sit down and re-think a lot of stuff. I know when these life lessons are given to me it's my dad saying, slow down baby girl and turn right. Listen and do not fight the lesson! You need to re-think all of your actions. I have a very strong and absolutely beautiful family.  I can't even imagine what I would do with out them. Their love is so unconditional and supportive that I would truly be lost if they weren't around. When I'm negative they switch me to a positive... When I question things they steer me toward the best decision... When I want to conquer the world they pack my bag and push me forward... If I want to quit they whisper in my ear, it will be OK... You can do this! I heard a few things that sadden me this week. I knew I heard them for a reason! So with that said, I realized I need to kiss my babies more, say I love you to my family, laugh as much as possible, listen unconditionally, help when I can, stay calm and re-think my actions before I speak and share positivity to all... I am beyond grateful for my life and the direction it's headed in. Without my struggles I don't think I would be who I am today... And I don't think I would have grown to where I am growing! This weekend was wonderful with my family. We laughed so hard, we ate way too much {i'm paying the price}, we cried... Told stories that I was covering my eyes in sheer embarrassment... But guess what I would never have traded this weekend for anything! 

I had way too much fun! 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!    

happy sunday...

yum

 {recipe here}

Blackberry Butter Bars

Ingredients

• 1 box of yellow cake mix
• 4 Tbsp. unsweetened shredded coconut
• 4 Tbsp. butter, melted
• 3 eggs
• 1 Tbsp. lemon zest
• 10 oz. blackberries
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 2 oz. coconut milk
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp. real vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, creating a 1" overhang on both sides. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium sized bowl, mix together cake mix, coconut, melted butter, 1 egg and lemon zest. Press mixture into the bottom of the parchment lined pan, creating an even coat. Sprinkle the blackberries on top and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, blend together the cream cheese, coconut milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla until well combined. Pour overtop blackberries and bake for 35-45 minutes. The edges should be light golden brown, and the centre should sill be a little wiggly.
4. Cool completely, remove from pan and cut into small squares. 

1st day...

{5th and 3rd - PEC.2016}

Yes, this happened today... My littles OK not so little anymore went back to school! Ahhhh We have a 5th grade {omg} and a 3rd grader {omg} at Paul Ecke Central! Not going to lie... I  have a handful of emotions right now! 

1.)Yaaaaaaa It's time to celebrate... POP some bubbly, get a mani/pedi... And lesurlie walk around the house in my PJ's!

2.)Grab a bottle of Jack... Pull myself into the fetal position and cry my day away!

... R E A L I T Y ... 

3.)Get a cup of coffee at Starbucks... Ask for an extra shot of espresso and get into my office and work my little tail off!  

I know I'll be ok... Yes, I will pull on my big girl pants and get through the day! Truly I think what's helping me is that they were so excited to see all of their friends and they didn't really need us to help them {got a few rolling eyes}. I could see strength and confidence pouring out of every inch of their body. I know Sean and our confidence has rubbed off on both of them! 1 point for us! 

Happy 1st day parents!  

Which number would you pick today... 

1, 2 or 3

 {4th and 2nd - PEC.2015}

happy sunday...

{happy} national lemonade day

We saw...

He made it... 

 They sold it...

.. HAPPY ..

 national lemonade day 

cool breeze

I can feel the cool breeze on my neck... The wind in my hair and the sun shining on my face! Feeling that is truly all I need... So I definitely will say Y E S to many more new adventures!  Getting out and exploring always fill my heart to the brim! Lets just say, it's the best little re-charge that this girl could ask for... And I just adore doing them with my littles. Seeing their faces light up with excitement when I explain something or they see something for the first time is just enough for me! Watching their eyes open wide and their jaws drop... And the questions start flooding in is really priceless. Sometimes I get a little chuckle as other times I feel honored to share the moment with them. Being a mother of course hasn't been easy and i've had to take a few classes {thanks Susie Walton} and definitely will take more to learn how to be a better parent... But I know I wouldn't change my job for the world. These two little ones will always come first in my life... Some will understand this as others won't. That's ok... To each his own! One day I won't have these moments as often as I like, but I do know they will always know where their rock is. So when it's time for them to come back with their own little families... They will! So right now watch out people... Many more adventures will be happening for this trio! So with a cool breeze on our necks, the wind in our hair and the sun shining bright we say, Y E S to new adventures!   

happy sunday...

one thing

{pictures from here}

Today I'm going to pick one little thing that I enjoy doing and focus on it... The garden! I know you all are thinking WOW she must have a glorious garden and everything is so luscious and beautiful... ha ha ha absolutely NOT! I'm actually a true black thumb! I adore gardens... No joke I always admire gardens and do spy drive by's all the time to a few of my favorite gardens in my neighborhood! Then I go home and try to achieve what they have. Hundreds of dollars thrown out the door, I still can't get it right! Unfortunately, I've been told I over water and maybe talk too much to my flowers {wink}. Seriously how could that be... Gardening should be so easy. I have a few clients that their gardens are so beautiful... So after I pick up my jaw in ahhhh,  I ask a million questions on how they do it... But for some reason it goes in one ear and out the other. So with that said, I'm going to go slow, be patient and not over water my garden. I'm very positive it's going to work this time!!! Wish me luck!  

costata {menu}

 

{recipe here}

 peach and blueberry crostata

Prep Time

30 min 

Cook Time

30 min 

FOR THE CRUST

1. 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2. 4 1/2 ounces COLD unsalted butter, cut into cubes
3. 1 tablespoon sugar
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt
5. 1 large egg
6. 2-3 tablespoons cold water

FOR THE FILLING

1. 1 lb ripe, but firm peaches (about 3 large)
2. 1 pint blueberries
3. pinch of salt
4. 1/4 cup vanilla sugar* OR 1/4 cup regular white sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract
5. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
6. 1 tablespoon flour
7. 1 tablespoon butter
8. 1 egg, beaten with 2 teaspoons of water
9. 1 tablespoon sugar in the raw

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To make the dough, start by mixing the flour, sugar and salt together in a bowl. Add the butter and use a pastry cutter or a fork to cut the butter into the flour. Do this for about two minutes, until the butter is broken into pea sized pieces.
2. Whisk together the egg and two tablespoons of cold water, then pour it into the flour mixture. Use a fork to stir the mixture until it comes together, adding one to two additional tablespoons of water until it forms a ball. Do not knead the dough or mix any further. Wrap the ball in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes prior to rolling out.
3. Bring a large pot of water up to a boil, prepare an ice bath, and score an X on the bottom of each peach. Drop the peaches into the boiling water for about 30 seconds, or until the skin begins to peel up from the cut ends. Remove from the water and immediately submerge into the ice bath. Once cool enough to handle, the skins should easily peel off. cut the peaches in half, remove the core, slice into 3/4 inch pieces and place in a bowl.
4. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Add the blueberries to the bowl along with the salt, sugar, cinnamon and flour, then mix to combine. Roll out the dough to about a 12" circle and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. Pour the fruit mixture into the center leaving a 2-inch border around the outside. Gather and fold the dough up around the sides to enclose the filling.
5. Dot the butter around the top of the filling. Brush the exposed dough with the egg wash, then sprinkle the raw sugar on top. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the filling is bubbling. Serve warm, ideally with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

NOTES

1. *I make vanilla sugar by storing old, used vanilla beans in a canister with granulated sugar. Over time, they give off their perfume and it gets absorbed by the sugar, creating a lightly vanilla infused sugar. I keep it on hand to stir into coffee or use in sweet recipes such as this. Regular can be substituted along with a teaspoon of vanilla extract, or leave the vanilla out altogether.
2. **To achieve a tender, flaky pie crust, the dough needs to stay cold at all times. Be sure to start with chilled ingredients and place the bowl in the freezer for a few minutes if it's starting to get too warm. Placing the prepared tart in the freezer for a few minutes before baking ensures that the crust will be super flaky.

happy sunday...