C is for Cookie...

...and that's good enough for me.

Bless my heart, sometimes a girl just needs to bake some cookies. 

I used my handy dandy all recipe app last night and put in "healthy cookies" to see what I could find that would taste good on my lips, but not stay permanently on my hips.  

I found a great recipe, made a few modifications and thought I'd share it with ya'll. 

'cause sometimes you want to get your Paula Dean on without getting your diabetes on. 

1. Preheat oven to 350.  

 2. mix 3/4 cup (softened) land o' lakes spreadable butter with canola oil, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar until purty

3. mix in 6 egg whites

 4. mix in 2 teaspoons vanilla 

5. mix in 4 lil' to-go cups of applesauce (or however much you feel like dumping in)

6. in another bowl combine 3 cups whole wheat flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt. mix it all up with a fork so it smells nice.

7. slowly dump/mix in your dry ingredients (all the stuff from #6)

8. mix in 1 small bag chopped pecans, 6ish cups of dry oatmeal, 1 bag of peanut butter chips, 1 bag of chocolate chips.

9. bake for about 15-17 minutes. ish.

10. share with friends

Sweet Jesus

My heart has needed a few reminders of who Jesus is to me... 

and the reminders came this week in a few different ways...

As I read these words....

 "I am both with you and within you. I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk along side you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am." 

Jesus Calling (Jan. 3)

As I looked at the sky this morning....

As I watched this video...

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 

If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!  

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 

even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.  

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,"

even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 

Psalm 139: 7-12

Elizabeth in Public.

Brake lights won't turn off?

Call a Dad then call the Subaru Dealership while reading a manual and enlisting two parking garage attendants to remove the fuse. That's not complicated- and it's the yellow one.

Mani/Pedi with a friend?

Eavesdrop on every conversation in the place while mouthing gossip to your friend only to have the owner of the salon realize what you're saying and interject the "correct" version of the story.
My version was so much better.

Dinner in the city?

Sit at one of those long tables. You know,  the ones with multiples groups of people all eating at the same rectangular table. Of course you join in the political debate going on next to you. Who wouldn't? 

Pick up your car at the parking garage?

Join another conversation while waiting for your car, obviously your opinion was needed. 

Apparently Elizabeth shouldn't be allowed out in public.

At least the old man that told me to shut up at church wasn't anywhere to be seen tonight. Something makes me think he wouldn't have approved of any of it.

Bless my heart.

Thanks Giving 2011

....Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving....

I've been overwhelmed by the many blessings in my life this week....

my amazing family, sweet friends, and silly memories of the people I love, along with God's provisions have my heart overflowing. 

My parents next door neighbor is in the hospital right now and every time I think of him, a thousand memories from my childhood come rushing into my heart. As I pray for his healing, I count the blessing of his friendship.

Boomer and I met when I was about seven years old. My family had just moved into the neighborhood and I wanted to meet the cop that lived next door. So I went with my pestering questions  and introduced myself and we've been friends ever since. 

He showed up to my Church plays, my brothers baseball games, and let us drink soda pop on his couch when we locked ourselves out of our house while our parents were out for dinner.

(Which was my fault, we went to check out the possible burglar situation and I locked the door behind us.)

As far as adopted family members go, Boomer has always been the greatest. He's put up with a lot from me- he even let me paint his toes pink once. That's a good neighbor. When I was in the fourth grade and made him a card for Thanksgiving he sent me a card back. And this (twenty)seven year old little girl is so thankful for the Grandpa-ish friend I found that day in his driveway.

Get better soon, Boomer. 

I'll be home to listen to some jazz music with you soon.

Happy birthday, Hannah!

Happy birthday to the girl who makes me laugh so hard I fall off chairs and run into things. 

Rome 2009

If you travel with her there's a chance you might miss a train for a totally random reason, there's also a chance that you'll have the time of you life. Just like Dirty Dancing. 

Thanks for being the sort of friend that I only argue about stupid things with and who knows the entertainment portion of trivial pursuit as well as I do.

Who's that fourth guy on Mount Rushmore? 

No idea.

Who really knows who that guy is anyway.

You know the kid from the Partridge family?

Yeah, Danny Bonaduce.

Thanks for also being the girl that lets me sob on her couch and who dances along to Mariah Caery on the weekends. 

Love you Han!

Disclaimer: we know lots of important facts, just not that particular fact. And while we play up our silliness we're not bumbling idiots. Just in case that's what you thought I said... I didn't. Don't want to make my friend appear anything less than intelligent on her birthday. Thank-you-very-much. xoxo

Excuse me while I brag...

I know, I know... I never brag and you're completely shocked, right?

Well, you can at least pretend. 

It's only polite. 

With out further ado I give you a glimpse of my uncle's creative genius... 

 A Plantation Ad in the NY Time's T Magazine.

page 11 yo

Isn't it just beautiful?

I could move in right now.

And to top it all off, my Uncle's a pretty good bowler too.

(If you're gonna brag, you might as well go all the way.)

For even more beautiful shots of Plantation, check out Plantation's website or their ads in  Elle Decor.

Shout out to Ryan, the master of the Online Store and all things wonderful! 

The makings of a good Sunday night.

1. Pauper's Dinner.
Baguette's, cheese,  and meat. Some people like to include mustard, I do not.

2. Friendsies that make you laugh so hard you pee your pants.

3. The cheesiest/best Christmas movie you've ever seen.
I'm going to make it my goal to watch one Christmas movie a day between Thanksgiving and Christmas... I think I can do it.

The countdown to next Sunday begins...

Christmastime

The red cups are out at Starbucks. 

I've got Angel Tree families to call.

I've been listening to Christmas music for a month. 

Thank you Matt Wertz and Justin Beiber for your recent Christmas albums. 

I love them.

And thank you Hannah and Rachel for loving Christmas just as much as me...

This is for you. 

 Judy Garland singing Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 

(you have to click it) 

Maria's Africa Bound!

For some people tomorrow might just be an ordinary Saturday, but it's not. Tomorrow one of my besties is getting on a plane and going to Africa. Africa!

We've been talking about Africa for as long as we've been Maria's, so this trip is a dream coming true. For both of us.

She's going to meet her Compassion kids, which has to be one of the coolest things ever.

2011

marias circa 2008

My crazy may run wild and deep, but I'm gonna miss you wild and deep.
Have a great trip, Mars.
xoxo Abs and Mark's wedding style.

For realz, giggle about that when you're beating the heat.
That and the fact that I'm trying a new all natural deodorant. Eww, gross.
Miss you already.

Kick it in the pants, Guiliana!

Wishing a victorious fight and a happy ending to one of my favorite reality stars!

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