Valentine's Day treats and a bit about love.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Galations 5:22

A huge part of sharing our love for each other is making things.  For some it is big things, like building a house, or making it into a home, others smaller like baking and cooking for each other, building swing sets for our littles to play on etc...  Since making things takes love, kindness and patience, why are we led to believe that Valentine's Day is about BUYING things?  I love flowers, don't get me wrong, but these jewelry commercials can take a hike!  (that's what birthdays are for) heehee, only kidding, I'm kind of not into expensive jewelry, as I prefer cute costume jewelry from target, etsy and on rare occasion jcrew and anthro.  Anyway,   when we were little it felt so great to give homemade gifts, so when did that feeling end?  For me I don't think it has,  I love making, baking, and all things re-used.  My point is, I hope we can show our loved ones more peace, love, kindness, gentleness, and LESS commercialized things.  For Jeff I grabbed his favorite licorice candy at fleet farm because I found his stash and ate it, so I felt guilty...  I also baked him delicious sugar cookies with butter cream cheese frosting.  He will be thrilled, and I loved making them.  I do NOT have self control when these are around.  

Super soft sugar cookie recipe

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1.5 tsp almond or vanilla extract

Combine above ingredients in bowl

3 cups flour

1.5 tsp baking powder

.5 tsp salt

mix these ingredients together and combine with sugar mixture 

measure flour carefully or you will have dry dough.

roll out dough on wax paper, and use a canning jar lid to cut into thick circles.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.  

Frosting

1 stick butter softened

4 oz cream cheese softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

4 drops food coloring

2-3 cups powder sugar

mix together and frost

I have never refrigerated my cream cheese frosting, it is always fine for a day.  I googled it and you get both sides of the story!  Enjoy!

My son and niece in my studio! xoxo

Play dough and living intentionally as a mother.

Today after I picked my smallest child up from his auntie's house, I looked in the rearview mirror at him, and just couldn't stop staring, staring at the wonder in his eyes as he looked out the window, him glancing up at me and smiling.  I felt a rush of sadness, even though he is smiling, why would I feel sad?!  I guess that's the thing about being a mom, you literally wear your heart on your sleeve.  I felt sad because every day I tell my kids I love them, and I make dang sure they have a good day, and happy life, but am I doing enough to make our time together memorable?  Is reading books, tickling, and doing puzzles memorable?  I don't really think so, I think it's fun, it's part of being a good mom and spending time with them.  But what I want to do is create lasting memories that are just a step out of the ordinary, like buying balloons just because, and having silly photo shoots in our pajamas, making play dough, using all of the kitchen utensils to cut out gingerbread families, or playing Ninja together.  (not ninja turtles, I am talking about a weird 4th grade boy game where you pretend karate chop each other, but after using whichever limb to do so, it is frozen, leaving you to hop around looking like a fool, pretend karate chopping with no legs, and one arm, yep- told ya it was weird) but by doing this, it creates time for us to talk more, and time for me to slow down as a mom and cherish their littleness. 

I adore the above image of two of my sons feeling the warm play dough, they were so anxious to play.

 I have felt a great peace come across me lately.  I know they will get big, I've just now became okay with that as long as I know with every piece of me that I cherished them when they were little.  I prayed for this peace in my heart, because I have been uneasy watching my baby turn 5, wondering if I'll ever have a baby or toddler again. 

 p.s  Thank you children's place for making such cute footie jammies in size 5T, and they are on mega clearance, $6 each after coupon codes + free shipping!

This play dough it super silky and smells great!  
In a sauce pan, mix 1.5 c water, 1.5 c flour, 1/2 c salt, 2 tsp cream of tarter, 2 Tbls vegetable oil.  Stir constantly on medium high, adding food coloring and essential oils as desired.  (if you don't use have essential oils, use vanilla or orange extract.  Remove from heat once dough is forming and pulling off the sides of the pan.