A week of cooking adventures

This week I have done a lot of baking/cooking experimentation and it has all turned out successfully! 

Score! 

I will share a few. 

Portable s'mores

Ingredients: 

3 Tbsp butter

 1 bag large marshmallows 

3 cups golden grahams 

3 cups coco krispies

1. Melt butter in pan on low, add marshmallows and stir until well melted. Remove from heat. 

2. Add golden grahams and krispies. Stir in until well mixed. 

3. Press into greased 9" X 13" pan

4. Cool and enjoy. 

Not my photo, but close enough ;)

A nice twist on the classic rice krispie.

My brother really liked them. 

banana-pumkin-black raspberry muffin

We have a crazy amount of black raspberry bushes around our house, so I needed to find something to bake them into, thus the bpb muffin-just made that up.

Ingredients(Makes 24): 

2 1/2 c flour

1/2 tsp stevia

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda 

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

2 eggs 

2 ripe bananas, mashed 

1 15 oz can pumpkin puree

3/4 c coconut oil

1 c black raspberries

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tins or place liners.

2.In a large bowl stir together mashed bananas, eggs, oil, pumpkin and stevia. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon then stir into the banana mixture until just combined.

3.Fold in black raspberries. 

4.Spoon mixture into muffin tins and bake for approx 15 minutes or until tops begin to brown.

These were completely by experimentation and I love them! 

The taste is fantastic and they are low on the glycemic index, which is needed since I have adverse reactions to sugar.

The texture is very dense and I like that. Think of it like play-do, but not. haha

If you like the ingredients give 'em a go or do a little altering and swap a few things! 

Summer salsa/salad

Another experimentation due to the garden, but this time cucumbers! Seriously, we have so many! Good thing I love them. 

Last night I was making chicken fajitas, so I decided to create a salsa that could pair well. 

Ingredients: 

1 large cucumber sliced and quartered 

Red, yellow and orange peppers, chopped

1 can black beans drained and rinsed

1 can Hyvee diced tomatoes w/ sweet onion

1 large yellow onion sliced and chopped 

Black pepper 

Sweet basil 

1. Mix all ingredients together, season to preference, cool and enjoy. 

So good and so refreshing! 

I added it to my chicken and fresh guac in my tortilla bowl and it was amazing! 

I added sweet corn into the leftovers for my lunch today; great addition.

Anybody have any 'garden recipes' they would like to share?

P.s. I need to take more pics next time!

My favorite place.

 My favorite place in the whole wide world is most definitely my room;

It is where I relax.

Just wanted to share a couple of the small details that make it what it is. 

 My globe which was revamped in "Transforming the World on Tuesday"

In front of my mural

 Tree, seahorse and candle votives. 

As you can see I like to double things for use.

 

This stand is, behind my bed and is actually a planter, for which I double as blanket storage. 

The blue plate is a perfect fit to the top. 

I was gifted this vase at my church's last ladies event; it fits amazingly well with the rest of my room! 

I picked the lilies this morning they are my favorite flower and my pop of contrast.

Ahh my curtains!

These are my most recent purchase, $10.00 at WalMart. 

Seriously, amazing! They are God-favored and perfect. (I had been wanting new curtains at a good price for only five days)

The blue from the curtain actually matches the first color of paint on my walls-before the metallic green. I love how the vertical lines continue from wall to curtain.

My TV stand

 Another seahorse with homemade glitter ornaments, a glittered shell and a beautiful jar of shells that was given to me by an amazing friend.

My ever-growing film collection. 

If you know me, you know why I had to share this. 

I find my 3d/blu ray section adorable. 

And then the many.

Now, one of my favorite parts of my room:

My inspiration board

Everything that is in print that I am inspired by is taped here.

Anybody experience any God-favored purchases lately? 

Doing any revamping?

Inspiration boards of your own?

Please share!

Highlights

Here are highlights from this last week:

When the junior highers are at camp team Doxa and Eklyo go to the beach!

It was a blast! Cookout and volleyball. 

Thrusday, PACIFIC RIM! 

Here's my two cents:

I have been looking forward to seeing this film ever since the trailer was released; I enjoy sci fi. From the trailer I knew there were giant robots, huge reptile-like creatures and a war that's pretty much it, so when entering the theater I honestly had no idea what the storyline was going to be. I am so glad they did this! Seriously all movies should have a vague trailer, it makes it so much more exciting! 

The storyline hit me very hard emotionally, which is probably why I like it so much. The characters/actors were great! Had the ones with tragic backstories, those who sacrifice and those who were comical; it was the perfect mix! 

The film itself-in 3d-was visually stunning. At times I found myself gaping at the screen. haha I was in awe! 

5/5 stars over hurr.

So brilliant! 

Friday=Redbox night! 

The call.

Found myself talking to Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin during the movie telling them exactly what to do to avoid danger; they didn't listen. 

lol 

I do that during every suspenseful film. Probably a good thing I didn't see it in theaters I most likely would have been yelled at ;)

Saturday, ladies event.

I am absolutely honored to have been given the wonderful opportunity to design the centerpieces for each monthly ladies event. Flowers are usually involved and this month we decided on Gerbera Daisy's! They are so pretty :)

Everything in this arrangement is already previously purchased except for the flowers. The mat, being a neutral is so versatile and same for the vases! 

I placed four tealights on the mat along with green 'mancala beads'(Not sure of their exact name, but that is what I have always called them). On the vase itself I zig-zagged some hemp that I found in my closet. Wasn't sure how it would look, but I like how it breaks up the vase and mimics the pattern on the mat. 

As for the flowers, I cut the stems 1 1/2-2 times the vase length and just placed them on opposite corners. When it comes to flowers I am big on simplicity. I don't like it to be too crowded. 

I so enjoy my church's ladies events, they are amazing!

Pastor Amy always has an incredible message and it always seems to be very relevant.

Seven steps on how To Receive your Miracle at the Midnight Hour:

1. Chose God Almighty as your God even in the midst of hardship.

2. Chose to be thankful, rather than bitter with God.

3. Do not fear.

4. Speak favor over your situation.

5. Be kind and polite to everyone you encounter

6. Seek out wisdom.

7.Give a sacrifice of praise.

Anybody see any movies lately? Do any decorating?

Please share!

Have a great week!

Independence Day Week/end

 It's already July?

Seriously, where does all the time go?

1st Man of Steel!!

Finally. 

I've heard very mixed reviews about this movie, either okay or bad. This surprised me to say the least. I have had so much expectation on this movie to be great...

I actually really enjoyed the narrative aspect of this film(most people didn't), it gave good background especially if you aren't familiar with the comic book. There were a couple lame parts, but the great parts made up for those.

July 3rd; the Broadwater Bash! 

Got lost not once, not twice, but three times trying to find the farm. (Something to laugh about in the future) Once we found it though, so much fun! Friends, laughter, volleyball, beautiful sunset, and smores.

July 4th was an exhausting day, but super fun. After getting a free car wash, working on the landscaping around our fire pit and a bonfire I decided to go to the fireworks.

To tell you the truth Rochester's fireworks seem to only get worse. I wish it weren't so!

Someone did let off lanterns though:

So magical!

I felt a little bit like Rapunzel; trying to get as close as possible. Sometimes I wish I could fly.

Friday I got to go to the Medin's! 

It was a wonderfully relaxing time. 

That relaxation continued on into saturday as well.

Bananagrams

Kitties

and concerts!

Concert was at the North Star Room in Mounds View, MN-just north of Minneapolis. 

Breakthrough + 6 other bands

It was so much fun! 

Marah in the Main Sail was one of the other bands. They are so great; I love how they give folk a punk vibe. Very creative.

 7th, church! 

"Unlocking Limitless Victories"

Praise is Jesus' love language.

The magnitude of my praise is directly correlated to the magnitude of my potential breakthrough's in life.

A thankful heart changes things.

Later; the Lone Ranger!

Think of it as POTC gone Western. 

Johnny Depp is fantastically hilarious and crazy as always and the storyline was definitely interesting.

Favorite moment: "Fear of cat"(If you go see it, remember that)

How was your fourth?

See any good movies lately?

Have a great week everyone!

Love.

 Heavy on my heart:

Love(noun) according to Webster's is a, "An intense feeling of deep affection" or as a verb, "A deep romantic attachment."

Love to God: Agape, "God's love for us-completely sacrificial"

The idea of love has become so corrupted and is continuing to become more corrupted over the generations. 

Today love is a feeling, a 'high' if you will, that we experience when we first become close to someone that we are physically attracted to. It's emotional, irrational and often blind. When in this emotional high it is difficult to see anything but the love we believe we have with that person. Time passes and that high fades and what is left is a dull relationship. We begin to notice each others faults more than anything and we start to wonder how we even 'loved' them in the first place. 

So many marriages happen within this emotion love-high, and within a year or two that high is gone and they don't feel 'the love' anymore, they eventually grow apart, divorce and fall in love again with someone else. 

This cycle is so destructive; leaving scars and ties all over the heart. 

Love is what Jesus gave us; sacrifice. He put everyone else, all of us, above him, even though above is where he rightfully belonged. 

Love is to be selfless. 

To chose to love one another.

Now, I'm not saying that a relationship that experiences a high and is romantic isn't really love, we just need to realize that once that high has faded we need to chose to love-the other person-to keep the rose-colored glasses on.

To chose to meet the others needs ahead of our own.

To chose to be enraptured at the quirks of this person instead of disgusted by their 'faults'

To chose to look beyond imperfection, to find beauty.

To chose to be selfless.

As Jesus was.

Misti Edwards, "Arms Wide Open" sums this up perfectly:

"

I once believed that love was romance, just a chance

I even thought that love was for the lucky and theBeautifulI once believed that love was a momentary bliss

But love is more than this

Then I sat down, a little frustrated and confusedIf all of life comes down to loveThen love has to be more than sentiment

More than selfishness and selfish gain

And then I saw Him there, hanging on a tree, looking atMeI saw Him there, hanging on a tree, looking at meHe was looking at me, looking at Him, staring throughMeI could not escape those beautiful eyesAnd I began to weep and weepHe had arms wide open, a heart exposedArms wide open; He was bleeding, bleeding

Love's definition, 

love's definition was looking at me

Looking at Him, hanging on a treeI began to weep and weep and weep and weep

This is how I know what love is

"

Reason Behind

The truth behind my URL:

"There is more to living than being alive."

find-the-life, be-the-life, share-the-life, experience-the-life.  

Market and Movies.

To think that last post didn't even include my weekend! 

Saturday, I had the privilege to go to the Farmer's Market with my sister and her three babies :)

Kayleen, "Take a picture of me with these beautiful flowers."

 Payton, "Mommy, can I hold your purse."   

Maycie, "I not a bug."

Ga, I love these girls so much!

&

Rochester is a beautiful city.

Watched Promised Land with my parents at night. Pretty decent. Matt Damon and John Krasinski did a good job and the storyline was real which I like, lost my attention for a little bit in the middle though.

Sunday was amazing as always!

Pastor Shaun really brought the word this week.

"The quality of one's life is directly determined by the quality of ones choices."

So true. He also talked about how human reasoning is often what gets us in compromising situations. All we need to do is fully obey and we will be okay and even better, blessed! For God knows the plans he has for us; they are for good and not evil.

After church, Rach, Cat, Tyler and I went to Now You See Me.

I've seen once before, but it was just as good the second time! A little less surprising though.

This movie has such a fantastic cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. Ah, so, so good! Definitely purchasing this when it hits stores.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Week Review

I had an absolutely wonderful week! Here are some highlights:

Tuesday I got to go up to the cities for work; I had a pretty great time looking at the showrooms of those whom we buy our granite from. My boss's wife, a.k.a Julie, treated me to my very first Ruby Tuesday's experience! (Just realized the irony)

They have an amazing salad bar!

Wednesday=Tribal. Capture and Destroy; AMAZING! So much fun! Doxa did incredible, I wouldn't be surprised if we were on top, or at least second after this week.

Thursday, my day off, was wonderful! Went to World War Z with Rachel and Ashley.

If you don't mind Zombies you should definitely go see it and even if you do mind Zombies I'm sure you don't mind Brad Pitt. ;)

Overall, great film! A bit of a mix between Contagion and I Am Legend.

After the movie, Ashley, Rachel and I went down to Thrusday's on 1st and 3rd(Dowtown vendors, music and food). We ate dinner at Billotis Italian Village which was delicious! We then went to explore a bit. What did we find? This amazing band; Hey Marseilles.

Folk music, like Mumford & Sons, but with a slightly different flare. I bought their album immediately.

After a listen, we headed down a couple streets over to Rochfest and got some dessert. Then we continued to meander back and forth between this and that. And we were joined along the way by some others, Alexa, Collin, Taylor and Daven whom are always great company. Even when they spit Tapioca Pearls at you. lol.

At dusk there was something called Balloon Glow, now my mind immediately envisioned a glow stick in a helium balloon and then we would let them go, what it turned out to be was a Hot Air Balloon, which was still pretty awesome.

The kid's in front of us were hilarious! Running every time they lit the torch.

Friday! I was greeted at work by a lovely array of sticky notes :) Two are pictured below.

Sometimes I think I am absolutely spoiled with the friends that I have. They are all, most assuredly, God-given.

Later, the RochesterFest Parade!

It rained, but it was still a beautiful day!

"Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking."

Ezekiel 1:28

Our God is an amazing creator.

He is consistently revealing more and more of his beauty to me.

How was your week? Any rainbow sightings?

P.S. I need to start doing these reviews on Friday.