What a fantastic year 2013 was for me and my family. So many blessings and so much love! This post is a recap of how my past year was. We have a niece! Our first niece was born in January, giving me a reason to buy baby clothes (which I love!). She is precious, and I love spending time with her. I turned 24. I spent my birthday weekend meeting my new niece who was only a few days old. She's the youngest baby I've ever held. Travis and I visited her and our nephew before driving on to Georgia. While there, we looked at houses, condos and apartments until we picked the one we loved Continue Reading
Archives for December 2013
Holiday Roundup: Cookies
Christmas Day might be over, but I know there are lots of us who still have Christmas celebrations to attend. Plus, New Year's Eve is right around the corner! I've complied a list of all kinds of holiday cookie recipes, so you'll never run out of ideas! Be sure to pin it for next year too! Let's start with a recap of the cookie recipes I've shared. Grasshoppers Swirl Butter Cookies Surprise Brownies Christmas Stars Snowflake Oreos Have you seen the other cookie recipes I've made? They turned out fantastic! Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Mint Chocolate Continue Reading
Holiday Munchies: Ranch Oyster Crackers
The Holiday Munchies series is coming to an end. But before it's over, I have one more snack to share! Ranch Oyster Crackers are perfect as a snack during game nights with family, as an alternative to popcorn during movie night or even as an treat during a New Year's Eve party. Here's what you'll need: Oyster crackers Dry ranch mix Olive oil Garlic powder Dill weed Start by mixing the olive oil with the seasonings in a large bowl. Pour in the oyster crackers and stir until the mixture has covered the crackers. Pour the crackers onto a rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 250 degrees Continue Reading
Holiday Cookies: Snowflake Oreos
Our holiday cookies series is coming to an end. Have you tried any of my cookie recipes? My favorite recipe is Swirl Butter Cookies -- I could eat those all day! Today, I'm sharing Snowflake Oreos! These cookies are so easy, probably because half the cookie is already made thanks to Nabisco. Here's what you'll need: Oreos White chocolate chips Decorating Gel Begin by melting the chocolate chips in the microwave at 15 second intervals. Stir between each heating until the chocolate is completely melted. It usually take one minute, but you have to do it in intervals or the chocolate Continue Reading
Crock Pot Chex Mix
One of my all time favorite snacks to munch on is chex mix. Homemade chex mix is the best. I remember sitting in a big recliner chair at my great grandma's with a giant tub of her homemade chex mix in my lap. I sat there munching away while the adults played a game -- and it was pure happiness. I'm using a crock pot for this recipe, so hopefully it will be even easier! Here's what you'll need: Corn Chex cereal Rice Chex cereal Wheat Chex cereal Pretzel sticks Peanuts Cheerios Butter Worcestershire sauce Garlic powder Onion powder Pour all the cereals, pretzels Continue Reading
Hurting During the Holidays
Christmas can be an incredibly happy time. It can be full of joy and love and hope. But it can also be a very difficult time. It can be full of disappointment, sadness, hurting, and loneliness. I know there are people out there who are struggling this season. For some, the holidays don't seem so happy. Two years ago, I was struggling during the holidays. I know what if feels like to have an aching heart during what is supposed to be such a joyful season. For those of you out there who are hurting right now, please know you are not alone. I've complied a list of posts from others that Continue Reading
Holiday Cookies: Christmas Stars
I've made these holiday treats several times because they are one of my mom's favorites. They are simple to make and look so dainty and sweet -- perfect for a holiday party. Here's what you'll need: Pie dough (refrigerated and thawed) Hershey's Kisses (I used Hugs, but you can use whichever you like best!) Egg white Sugar Powdered sugar Roll the pie dough out on your lightly floured table. You can make your own dough, but I buy the pre-made kind to make it easier. Place a kiss on the dough, and cut a circle around it. You want the circle to be about 2.5 inches around the Continue Reading
Holiday Munchies: Goldfish Snack Mix
The holidays are a time of playing games and bonding as a family, and everybody knows all that quality time makes you hungry. I love having munchies around to snack on during a great game of canasta. Not to mention snacks for traveling and the fun New Year's Eve party. That's why I'm doing a series called Holiday Munchies. Last week in the series, I shared a Garlic Ranch Pretzels recipe. But ya'll know how much I love goldfish (the snack not the kind that actually swims!), so this week I'm sharing a Goldfish Snack Mix with you. These little fishies have a great flavor! And even though they Continue Reading
When the darkness is overwhelming
Tears came to my eyes. I could feel my heart breaking. It all felt so overwhelming. We got back in the car, glad to be away from the constant gnats in our faces. It was quiet. I think we were processing. I was praying. Over and over. Help Brittany and Megan. Please God. Be with Brittany and Megan. A few weeks ago, I went with three other women from my small group out to downtown Savannah. We followed a police officer, the homeless liaison, out to a homeless camp. We had brought some clothes, blankets, and bags filled with toiletries to give to the people living there. I didn't know Continue Reading
Our Christmas Decorating
Once Christmas rolls around, Travis and I will have been married for six months. Half a year people! One of my prayers going into this military marriage was that we would be able to spend our first Christmas together. I prayed that Travis wouldn't get deployed within that first year. So far, my prayers are being answered and we will definitely be able to spend our first Christmas together. I'm very thankful and my heart goes out to those couples who won't get that privilege. Travis and I both love Christmas -- the decorations, the music, the baking, the church services, the festivities, Continue Reading
Holiday Cookies: Surprise Brownies
Have you been following along with all my holiday series? In the Holiday Cookie series, I've shared recipes for Grasshoppers and Swirl Butter Cookies. Today is Surprise Brownies! The best part about these cookies is that you can make them for all sorts of holidays! I made them last year for Halloween, and now I'm making them for Christmas. The surprise? Oreos! Each brownie has an Oreo inside! I'm using the holiday Oreos (with red creme) inside my Christmas cookies. For Halloween, I used the Oreos with orange filling. You can make them for Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day -- whenever Continue Reading
Holiday Munchies: Garlic Ranch Pretzels
For the holidays, I'm doing several series for ya'll. First, I wrote about my three favorite soups for those cold winter days: potato, vegetable and chili. Second, I'm posting a recipe for holiday cookies every Monday for five weeks -- so far you've seen grasshoppers and swirl butter cookies. My third series is all about the munchies! I love having snack food around for the holidays because its great to nibble on while playing games with family or (in our case this year) for traveling to see family. To start off this snack series, I'm sharing a recipe for garlic ranch pretzels! These babies Continue Reading