french toast muffins say what?!

Pretty much everything in muffin form is adorable, but I've got to say, THIS is my next recipe to try. You only need a couple of ingredients and voila! You've created..

French Toast Muffins

Whatcha need: 2 cups all purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar  1/2 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. powdered cinnamon 1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg Pinch of salt 2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1/4 cup butter, melted Maple syrup Confectioners' sugar for dusting How ya do: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line cupcake pan with papers, set aside. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and pinch of salt in  a large bowl and set aside.   In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg and melted butter. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the buttermilk mixture.   Stir until just incorporated.  Do not over-mix or batter will deflate! Fill cupcake liners 1/2 full.  Bake for 10-15 minutes, (check at 10 minutes).  Muffins are done when a toothpick comes out clean. Poke holes in the muffin tops and gently spoon over one or two tablespoons of maple syrup onto each cake.   Dust with confectioners' sugar. Thank you, Sprinkle Bakes!

new year's resolution

Soguesswhat.

 I've already come up with my New Year's resolution (I know, it's kind of cheating) and I'm pretty stoked on it. Sure I want to become more healthy, help communities, improve my attitude..very important things, yeah! But next year, my goal is to be more of a reader.

Of more than just magazines.

I'm talkin' novels, inspirational theology, newspapers (not just the funnies!) and biographies. I want to learn!

I just came across this nifty little website that relates books you've already read and enjoyed and gives suggestions to new ones you may be interested in! So cool. The link is right down there. V

Someday I'll have my own bookcase FULL of books. Ahh, literature.

Click this  link thingy to expand your reading!

Yeah, that's right. ISBN feature.

Macaroons

This time next year I will have perfected the macaroon.
My recent obsession is this gorgeous French treat. To be honest, I don't even think I've ever tasted one! Just look at them though..

They are adorably fluffy and are captured in a shell, kind of like a treasure you want to preserve. Not to mention they can be whatever color, flavor, theme you can possibly dream of!

Here's the catch:
They are SO sassy and temperamental. If your oven isn't the perfect temperature or you haven't ground your flour to a powder, you're sunk. That's why I'm giving myself an entire year to perfect this wonder.


So, we shall see.
If anyone has tips of their own regarding cooking techniques, experiences, or favorite flavors!, I'd love to hear them. I'm super excited to figure this thing out!




Thank you, Pinterest!

such fun: first college banquet

Last month Drew invited me to his school's fall banquet. It was super snazzy, might I add.
Old-fashioned swing dancing never fails.
What an adventure!

i can feel winter in my fingertips

I'ts been about a month since my last post so let me catch you up!

So far this Holiday Season:

Thanksgiving breakfast/dinner

Black Friday Shopping

Ladies' Christmas Tea

First Christmas-inspired Sunday service

The hunt for a Christmas tree with Drew's family

up next:

MY TWENTIETH BIRTHDAY! On the nineteenth. 

healing through pomegranate-stained fingers.

I've been sick for about three days now and the best way for me to cope is to load up on antioxidants. Load up on antioxidants and paint. 
Last night I bust open a pomegranate and ate half. When I went back for seconds,

I was struck

with the beauty of the detail in this fruit with the compartments and individual little treats in them. How does He do it?!

I grabbed a canvas and pressed the face of other half of the bright fruit  and healed.

view with your ears.

See that photo up there? Not the one of me, but the bird. Moments like that happen to me all the time. 

Let me explain: 

I was standing with my boyfriend Drew at his school taking pictures of a fall-ishy tree, and at the moment I believed was the purpose of me venturing out there. It was a pretty tree, golden, being hit by the sun, yada yada (see photo 1)..

Then I heard a crow.

I whipped my head toward the sound and shot a photo right at it, i.e. Photo 2. 

You see, sometimes as beginning photographers we look for the majestic (sometimes cliche) photo opportunities when there are small moments waiting to be documented. Keep not only your eyes open, but your ears and creative mind as well.