Simple Gluten Free, Egg Free Brownie Cupcakes

I have been craving brownies for quite awhile. I haven’t had a brownie in…. at least five years? I honestly can’t remember, it might be longer.

I have looked up recipes for gluten-free brownies numerous times, but they usually contain eggs. Searching for an uncomplicated gluten free, corn free, egg free brownie recipe can be a little frustrating. Usually, my desire for brownies wears off as I dig through recipe after recipe with bizarre ingredients.

My goal for gluten free, egg free brownies was that they be simple, fast and contain ingredients I already had on hand (for more easy recipes click here). I personally prefer a more solid brownie. Cake like ones are good too, but I wanted something closer to a cookie, crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside.

Cat had also been wanting brownies, and even offered to make them. I seized the opportunity and dived into a google search. I looked for vegan recipes since they are more likely to have egg-free brownies. I found a recipe that seemed to work for us and made a few modifications. This time we stuck with regular sugar to see how the recipe turned out, but I think we’ll attempt using honey or maple syrup next time.

Although we are not vegan, this recipe can easily be converted to dairy free by using dairy-free substitutes for the butter. Maybe coconut oil or olive oil? Maybe I’ll give both a try to see what happens and get back to you!

The brownies turned out as good as I had hoped. We decided to top them with homemade cream cheese frosting and shredded chocolate flakes. This might be a new family favorite, we gobbled them all up in a few days!

Gluten Free Brownie Cupcake Recipe

Ingredients

- 1/2 cup softened butter

- 3/4 cup sugar

- 2 large flax eggs

- 1 tsp vanilla extract

- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar

- 1/4 tsp sea salt

- 1/2 cup cocoa powder

- 3/4 cup gluten-free flour blend

Optional Add-Ins: 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds or chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Grease muffin pan with butter.

1. Prepare flax eggs in a small bowl and let rest for 5 minutes.

1. Place butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and blend until smooth. Stir in the flax egg, vanilla, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and cocoa powder. Lastly, add the flour, then fold in any mix-ins – chocolate chips or pumpkin seeds.

1. Scoop batter evenly into muffin tins until 3/4 full and bake on the middle rack for 22-26 minutes, or until the brownies start to pull away from the sides and they spring back slightly to the touch. Be careful not to overcook or they will get crumbly. Remove from oven and let rest in the tin for 5 minutes before removing to cool completely on a plate or cooling rack.

Store in an airtight container to keep fresh for a couple days. Freeze for long-term storage.

Frosting

Ingredients

- 8 oz cream cheese

- 1 pint heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup maple syrup

Instructions

1. Attach a whisk to your mixer.

1. Add cream cheese to the mixing bowl.

1. Blend cream cheese till smooth.

1. Blend in maple syrup and cream.

1. Whip on high till mixture is smooth, thick, and begins to separate.
2. Pipe onto cupcakes.

Shave chocolate over the top.

May 16, 2018July 18, 2018

7 Summer Challenge Ideas

Although spring has had a late start this year, these last few weeks have really warmed up! It’s almost hard to believe that a few weeks ago, we had a huge blizzard! If you are anything like us, you are probably itching to get outside and enjoy the warm, fresh air!

Last year we had so much fun doing a 5-week workout challenge! Every week we made it a goal to move our bodies. I don’t know about you, but I am not a big fan of a traditional work out session. I have a hard time getting motivated to stare at a TV and watch other people work out. Or worse, go somewhere public to work out with strangers.

Hiking is my favorite way to get exercise. Being outside, in nature, makes me happy. Getting a change of scenery, enjoying a new adventure, exploring a new location, what’s not to love?!

When doing research for local parks online, I found so many! I felt like the ones I had seen were just a drop in the bucket. I wanted to see them all! Is it crazy and over-ambitious that I’m not exaggerating?!

We had only scratched the surface last year. I knew, without a doubt, that our adventures would continue. Should I do another workout challenge?! I don’t know. It did motivate me last year. Honestly, many days I felt like sitting on the couch and being lazy in the air conditioning. Knowing I had made a commitment kept me going.

Maybe this year is time for a new challenge. There are so many options! I might have to try one or all of these.

7 Summer Challenge Ideas

Get Outside Every Day Challenge-For 3 months… for a year?!
How many parks can we hit in the summer? 30? 40? 60?!
Around Minnesota in 80 Days
Exercise Every Day for a Month
Art Challenge
30/60/90 Day Planking Challenge
100 Days of Gardening

Get Outside Every Day Challenge/ 100 Days of Sun

People Are spending more time inside than ever before in history. With the air inside polluted and stale, getting outside is vitally important to our health. AT LEAST an hour outside every day is the recommended amount for every age.

There are literally hundreds of things to do every day, all year round! I made a list of fun things to do, outside, in summer that you can check out for ideas.

30 FUN Parks in Minnesota That You Have to See!

Visiting Parks is one of the most fun things to do in the summer. Parks are full of activities for every age. The whole family can go for a hike. The kids can play at the playground while the adults relax and chat. Biking, swimming, sightseeing, bird watching, there are so many options!

Although the title is just an idea, you can set your goal for as many or as little parks as you think you will visit. Obviously, you will change Minnesota to your own local area.

Around Minnesota in 80 Days

This title leaves the window open for future fun expeditions. If you don’t have an exact plan of what you want to do, but you know you want to start a challenge, this might be a good starting point.

I might make a fun list soon about traveling ideas within a region. To get you started with a few ideas, you could visit local parks, check out small historic towns, visit a museum, check out a historic site, go to a zoo, smell the flowers at a conservatory, and so much more!

Exercise Every Day for a Month!

I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time getting motivated to exercise. Making it a goal is a great way to keep on track and get your body moving. Last year we did a 5 Week Workout Challenge. It was a lot of fun!

Working out doesn’t have to be just exercise videos or hitting up the Y. Exercise can be so many different things! You could go hiking, ride a bike, go kayaking, go swimming or even try rock climbing!

Art

There are so many options with this one! Art is near and dear to my heart. My Grandfather was an artist. He inspired me to be a creative person. I’m working hard to instill a love of being creative in my children. This would be the perfect project for us all to enjoy together.

If you didn’t have an artsy Grandpa, here are a couple of ideas to get you going! I’ll make a more extensive list in the future too. Paint on canvas, visit an art museum, draw with chalk, paint rocks, make a birdhouse, do a photography project, color with crayons and so much more!

30/60/90 Day Planking Challenge

Last year, during our 5 Week Workout Challenge, we tried planking for two of the days. Planking is HARD! It was so much harder than I thought it would be. It’s such a great way to build muscle FAST though! I’d love to try a 30-day plank challenge to see how long I would last at the end of the 30 days.

I think it would be fun to plank in different places every day for different visual content. The kids would probably love that too!

100 Days of Gardening

I started my first vegetable garden last year. This year we have been expanding, growing new things and learning more and more about gardening. Doing a 100 days of gardening challenge would be a perfect way to learn about gardening faster and get a lot of fresh food!

I would love to know how you are going to challenge yourself this summer! Let me know in the comments!

May 15, 2018May 15, 2018

Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do

What are your dreams? What are you doing to achieve them?

This has been my motivational quote this past week. I have my dreams, I want to get there, but I’ve got to do the work. All the planning in the world won’t matter without action. Work, good hard work is the only thing that’s going to push a someday dream into a NOW reality. Procrastinating, little time wasters, self-indulging, self-doubt, these are the things that slow progress.

What else is holding you back? What else can you do to move forward?

I love lists, I am the queen of list making in our house. All the lists in the world won’t matter without action though. They help organize the action, yes, but they are just a tool.

I have all of these desires, dreams, projects, but until I take action, they are mere whimsy. They are an idea. They are a someday. They are imagination.

You have a goal in mind. You have this burning desire. You ache for the fulfillment of this worthy goal. How bad do you really want it?

Are you willing to take action? Are you willing to do the work? Are you willing to take the necessary steps and MOVE FORWARD?

Ask Yourself These Questions

What is your end goal?
What are the big steps to get there?
How can you break those big steps down into manageable steps?
Is this dream in line with God’s way of thinking?
Can I picture Jesus doing what I plan on doing?
What is the FIRST thing you are going to do to get started TODAY?
Is there something you don’t know how to do that is preventing you from moving forward? Google it! YouTube it! Pray about it! Bible it! Research it like crazy until you get it!
Is fear holding you back? Pray, pray, pray, every single day! Ask for bravery, ask for motivation, ask for God’s wisdom, ask for forgiveness, thank him for His guidance. Ask to be molded to his ways and to reflect his good qualities. Jehovah is a God of action.

Now most importantly, get to work. Get up, get moving, take steps, big or small. Every. Single. Day.

Believe in yourself. You can do this. You’ve got it.

Dreams don’t work unless you do.

May 12, 2018July 18, 2018

The Best Gluten-Free, Egg-Free Waffles Ever

If you have celiac disease or you’re gluten intolerant, you might be on the hunt for the perfect waffle recipe. I might be a bit biased, but these waffles are pretty awesome. They’re light, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

I love waffles! When we were driving from Minnesota to Florida a few years ago, we saw Waffle House restaurants in every town! We started counting as we went along and there were so many that we eventually lost count and gave up. It just goes to prove, however, that there are waffle lovers everywhere!

I have got to tell you, in the beginning, I failed miserably at recreating bread products. My loaves of bread were soggy and dense and would turn hard as a rock. Yuck. Thankfully I’ve since worked out my bread issues.

I did, however, make a wonderful waffle! Right from the beginning, this waffle recipe was easy and delicious. My waffles turned out fluffy and melt in your mouth good.

Before I took the time to figure out my errors in bread making, I simply made gluten-free, egg-free waffles. I would make a double or quadruple batch and freeze a bunch so I could grab them for snacks. I used them for sandwiches, I used them for dessert. I ate them with hummus. I had no idea waffles could be so versatile!

Please don’t be overwhelmed to actually try bread, but if you are in a pinch for time or need an easy and quick bread, this gluten-free, egg-free waffle just might be the recipe for you.

Do you love to use waffles for everything? What’s your favorite way to eat them? Let me know in the comments!

Recipe

Dry Ingredients

3 1/2 cups gluten-free flour blend
6 TBSP flax
2 TBSP chia seeds (ground or whole)
1/2 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar

Wet Ingredients

1 cup olive oil
3 1/2 cups coconut milk

Preparation

Add dry ingredients to a large bowl. Blend thoroughly with a whisk. Add wet ingredients and whip until well blended. Preheat waffle iron. Grease with butter or coconut oil. Add 1 cup of the recipe to the waffle iron. Cook on medium-high for 7 minutes. Serve with favorite toppings!

Breakfast Topping Ideas

100% grass-fed butter or ghee
100% pure maple syrup
berries
jam
homemade whipped cream

Lunch Ideas

Grilled Cheese
Hummus
Portabella Burger
Grilled Veggies
Classic Sandwich
Avocado
With Soup

January 27, 2018July 18, 2018

450 Daily Life Ideas for Your 365 Project

Are you interested in having a successful 365 project? Many people, myself included, start a new year full of excitement and high hopes about having a year full of beautiful images. Yet, actually fulfilling this task is easier said than done.

I have always wanted to complete a 365 project. I have tried a few times and ended up forgetting a day or two and gave up. I think this is probably the case for a lot of people. So after failing many times, I decided to try a 52 Project.

It was a lot of fun! I created a list of words that I wanted to tackle every week. Unfortunately, I would hit a word that stumped me and fall behind. I started skipping hard words and bouncing around a lot on my list. I still kept plugging away at it, but the truth is, I didn’t finish. I’m probably going to keep working at it till it is done though!

Although there are a lot of fun lists of ideas out there, I wanted a list that would be attainable. I wanted a list that could be jumped around on. This list must be something that I could do from home or during daily life, nothing crazy and extravagant. This way, no matter what I have going on, I can look at the list and say, “I can totally do this today!”

So here it is, a huge list full of ideas that can easily be fulfilled and hopefully make your 365 project, and mine, a success!

Many of these are repeatable! For example, What I’m Wearing changes every day! I’ve listed every room I can think of in a house, but you can always add on a room if you have something extra. These are all general ideas to work up your excitement and inspire you! If the task is Bathroom, you don’t have to take a shot of the entire room, for example. Maybe you love some art on the wall of your bathroom.

You can print these off and check off as you go. You do not have to do these in order, jump around to find something that excites you. I hope you have a successful 365 project and a fun year!
Download HERE

If you’d like a simple list to print instead, download HERE

January 20, 2018February 8, 2018

Homemade Magnesium Oil

After reading about magnesium deficiencies, I decided to give homemade magnesium oil a try. The reason I wanted to try homemade magnesium oil instead of buying it is simply that it’s cheaper to make my own. Plus, I can be sure that nothing else is added to it.

Price Breakdown of Magnesium Oil:
Store Bought Magnesium Oil Average Cost $20.00 per bottle
Tub of Magnesium Flakes (44oz, about 5 1/2 cups) $13.00/Tub=$2.30/Homemade Bottle

I rounded out the numbers for easy math. Magnesium oil ranged from $13.00 to $35.00, so depending on your choice of brand, the numbers could be different. However, even with the cheapest store-bought bottle of oil, making my own is still the cheapest option. My glass bottle was $2.00. So the final number would be $4.30. This is still even cheaper than the least expensive store-bought bottle of oil. Since I can use my bottle over and over it’s even better!

Update: I checked the current prices on Amazon, all of the prices have gone up since I have purchased my supplies, but making your own is still more affordable than buying a premade bottle.

It was really easy to make once I gathered all of my ingredients. It would have been even faster if our little Princess hadn’t run off with my funnel. Why kids think funnels are the greatest toy ever, I have no idea, but I am constantly finding them all over the house. Unable to find my smaller funnel, I settled for the larger one. I’m so glad it fit in my bottle!

I started by heating filtered water in my electric tea kettle. Then I measured out 1 cup of magnesium flakes. I poured them into a bowl big enough to accommodate both the flakes and the water. I knew my 8oz bottle held a cup of water, but with the added magnesium flakes, I was sure I would have leftovers.

Pouring the flakes into the bowl was a treat for the ears. The kids loved hearing the little pieces tinkle into the glass bowl. They almost sounded like little glass pieces. I picked up a shard to examine it and found that it even glittered in the sunlight. My son picked one up and then complained of burning fingers, so I had him wash his hands. His hands were slightly damp so the magnesium must have been absorbing into his skin. I didn’t notice any tingling, burning or irritation as I had read about, so I hoped this meant I wouldn’t experience it as bad when I sprayed it on later.

I then measured a cup of hot water and poured it over the flakes. I noticed that they instantly started dissolving. I grabbed a fork and gently stirred until they were completely dissolved. The water was slightly cloudy but began to clear as it sat.

I poured the mixture slowly into the funnel and checked to make sure I didn’t overflow the bottle. I did end up having half a cup of the mixture left over. I’m going to use it to make some magnesium cream for the kids.

Recipe

1- 8oz bottle (Find it here)
1 chalkboard label (I use the 1×2 stickers)
1 Chalk Pen (Find it here)
1/2 cup magnesium flakes (I use this one)
1/2 cup hot water

Bring water to a low boil. Pour 1/2 cup magnesium in a glass bowl. Add water to the bowl. Stir until dissolved. Pour mixture into glass spray bottle once cooled. Spray magnesium oil on lower legs after showering and massage in.

After the bottle was ready to go I excitedly sprayed it down my arms, legs, and stomach. Maybe because it was warm water still, it immediately began to tingle. I massaged and rubbed it into my skin. Then I noticed that it really began to burn. It makes me laugh to think of the description I read as a tingling sensation or a mild irritation. In truth, it felt like thousands of tiny needles pricking me. It wasn’t incredibly painful, just incredibly irritating.

I rubbed my hands over the irritated areas and it helped to stop the “stinging”. I made several “Notes to Self” for future reference.

Helpful Tips

Don’t spray on eczema. Thankfully washing it off the eczema patch stops the burning instantly. After re-rubbing my arms, I kept getting more magnesium oil on my eczema on my hand. I put my eczema cream on it and it helped protect the area so I didn’t have to keep washing my hands with water.
Don’t rub between the thighs or in any other sensitive area. I had read about avoiding sensitive areas, so I was careful to only spray on the tops of my arms and legs. However, when I was massaging it into my skin, I did forget and rub it too close to my inner thighs and experienced a slight cringe-worthy moment.
Wear shorts or something that makes it easy to access your legs. I was wearing a maxi skirt and had to hold it up as I rubbed my legs which led to me not paying close enough attention, hence the inner thigh exposure.
The kids would freak out if I did this to them, so I’ll make them a less irritating cream instead.

Despite the tingling sensation, I’m not going to stop using my homemade magnesium spray. From what I’ve learned, the sensation is temporary. When I massage the irritated areas, the tingling dissipates for a while. I think if I am busy working it wouldn’t bother me. After about an hour the tingling had completely subsided. From what I’ve read, the burning is a sign that the body is incredibly deficient in magnesium. The more often the spray is used, the less the tingling will be.

Update

I’ve been using magnesium oil for about two and a half years now. I’ve learned a few more things:

The spray doesn’t tingle as much when it’s room temperature.
I spray it on the top of my lower legs and not my upper legs. I also spray it on the lower top half of my arms, not the soft underside. This helps as the skin is tougher in these areas.
The more frequently I use the spray, the less irritating it is.
It makes my skin feel slightly damp. This feeling doesn’t really go away on its own. I find that rubbing shea butter or coconut oil on my legs afterward helps it absorb and feel less gross.
I notice that my anxiety gets high if I forget to use the spray for a while. This means that I’m more deficient in magnesium.

Have you ever used magnesium oil? Let us know if you try our recipe!

*I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. These are my own personal experiences. Should you feel you need medical advice, as always, consult a medical professional. If you’d prefer more natural medical help, look into a chiropractor, a naturopath, an integrative medical doctor or a holistic practitioner.

January 12, 2018July 3, 2018

52 Project, Week 24: Words

It took me quite awhile to mull over what I was going to do with words. Should I photograph a few meaningful words? Should I photograph a journal page? Should I go out and find some words that appeal to me?

What words are worth capturing for this project? What words will have meaning and depth? Should I choose my own language or another? Words do always sound more romantic in another non-native tongue.

After Princess woke up and climbed into bed with us last night, I couldn’t fall back asleep. I mulled over words, saving inspiration to my Pinterest board. I put down my phone and attempted to go back to sleep when it came to me. I wrote the whole blog post in my head and it sounded great! Best blog post ever! As I drifted off to sleep, I knew I would forget every word. So I turned on the light and jotted down the most important part.

Words have power. The power to build someone up or to tear them down. Choose wisely.

When I think of all of the words that have made the sum of my life, there have been billions. I learned to speak, I learned other languages. I’ve heard others speak. I’ve written countless school papers, letters, journals, work notes, and emails. Words make up a large portion of my life.

Words create emotion that can touch deeper than any slap or caress. Words can be cruel, hate-filled, malicious, violent, slanderous and life-shattering. Words can be kind, gentle, loving, hopeful, sweet and uplifting. The bible says “Thoughtless speech is like the stabs of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is a healing.”

Words must be chosen carefully. I can remember vividly, words that I regret using. I can also remember words that have changed my life. I have deep sorrow for words never spoken. I have tears for the memory of words from lips that have been silenced. I have pain from words of vows that have been broken. I have joy from words of memories of my favorite things.

Words can be a gift when used wisely. In turn, those words can be a curse when used carelessly. So think carefully about your words, friends. Be careful, be patient and most importantly, be kind.

How have words changed your life? What are some of your favorite words?

Previous Week: 52 Project, Week 23: Green
Next Week:52 Project, Week 25: Patterns
Main Page for 52 Project

Join us for the photography challenge! We’d love to see your images!
You can post your image on our Facebook page here:

Or tag us on Instagram with #cisforcomfort52
Need inspiration for your words project? Check out my inspiration board on Pinterest!

January 11, 2018May 11, 2019

My Book List 2018

This list contains the books I’ve read and listened to. I love holding real books in my hands, but sometimes, I don’t have time to sit and read. I enjoy listening to audiobooks while I get work done. This list will be updated throughout the year. I have a short review of each book as well.

Many of these books I love to listen to with my children. I work hard to instill a love of books and for learning in them. Books are the key to untold worlds. They can bring you to different lands and adventures and teach you a wealth of knowledge. I want my children to develop the skills of educating themselves through the written word now in the hopes that they’ll always have the desire for learning within them.

Books I’ve Read

The Bible
Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Our Edible World by Julia Rothman
The Big Book of Kombucha by Hannah Crum and Alex LaGory
100% Real: 100 Insanely Good Recipes for Clean Food Made Fresh
The Big Awesome Book of Hand & Chalk Lettering by Dina Rodriguez
City Farmhouse Style: Designs for a Modern Country Life by Kim Leggett
1000 Tangles, Patterns Doodled Designs produced by Walter Foster Publishing with Various Artists
Pencil Art Workshop by Matt Rota
Jesus-The Way, The Truth, The Life
Once There Were Castles | Lost Mansions and Estates of the Twin Cities by Larry Millet
Castles | A History of Fortified Structures Ancient, Medieval & Modern by Charles Stephenson
Minnesota’s Own | Preserving Our Grand Homes by Larry Millett
Hearst Castle | The Biography of a Country House by Victoria Kastner
150 Best Cottage & Cabin Ideas by Francesc Zamora Mola
Compact Cabins | Simple Living in 1000 Square Feet or Less by Gerald Rowan
How to Build Your Dream Cabin in the Woods | The Ultimate Guide to Building and Maintaining a Backcountry Getaway by J. Wayne Fears

Audible Books I’ve Listened To

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
The Transfer by Veronica Roth
Four The Initiate by Veronica Roth
Four The Son by Veronica Roth
Four the Traitor by Veronica Roth
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Legend by Marie Lu
Champion by Marie Lu
Prodigy by Marie Lu
The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman
The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferris
A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner
Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe
Master Herbalist published by Author’s Republic with Various Authors
The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Elite by Kiera Cass
The Guard by Kiera Cass
The One by Kiera Cass
The Queen: A Novella by Kiera Cass
The Heir by Kiera Cass
The Favorite by Kiera Cass
The Crown by Kiera Cass
The Siren by Kiera Cass
Servant of the Crown by Melissa McShane
The Cage by Megan Sheperd
The Hunt by Megan Sheperd
The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones

A lot of the books on the list below, I’ve read or listened to before, but I’d like to listen to again. Several of these I’m going to be listening to with my children. A bunch of these I’ve already started reading, but I take breaks and come back to, depending on what I’m in the mood for.

Books I Want To Read/Listen To

The Bible
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T Kiyosaki
Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin
Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality by Professor Robert Sapolsky
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Dr. Andrew Weil’s Guide to Optimum Health by Dr. Andrew Weil
Understanding Genetics: DNA, Genes, and Their Real-World Application by Professor David Sadava
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Caroline: Little House Revisited by Sarah Miller
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery
Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery
Anne of Windy Poplars by L. M. Montgomery
Anne’s House of Dreams by L. M. Montgomery
Anne of Ingleside by L. M. Montgomery
Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery
Emily Climbs by L. M. Montgomery
Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott
Classics of American Literature narrated by Professor Arnold Weinstein
The History of World Literature narrated by Professor Grant L. Voth
The Science of Natural Healing by Professor Mimi Guarneri
Medical School for Everyone: Pediatric Grand Rounds by Professor Roy Benaroch
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Understanding Japan: A Cultural History by Professor Mark J. Ravina
Beauty and the Beast narrated by Jenna Augen
Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Messenger by Lois Lowry
Son by Lois Lowry
Emma by Jane Austin
The Princess Diaries By Meg Cabot
The Lost Queen by Frewin Jones
Deep Nutrition by Luke Shanahan, Catherine Shanahan MD

Have you read any of these books? Please tell me what’s on your book list this year!

I’ve decided to include a short, and by short, I mean tiny, review of the books that I’ve read.

The Bible: Honestly, I haven’t read the entire thing yet, but I’ve listened to several entire books within it. Since there are 66 books in the bible, I thought it might be easier to add simply, “The Bible” rather than each specific book. I love the Bible, it’s my guide to life. I could read it every day and never get sick of it. It’s full of wisdom, poetry, history, adventure, romance, drama, and so much more.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo: This book changed the way I think of the objects within my home. I’ve been using her methods to minimize my personal belongings by keeping only what I love. If you’re a packrat, or a hoarder, then I really recommend this book.
Food Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Our Edible World by Julia Rothman: This book is kind of something you’d want to leave on a coffee table. Every page is full of fun illustrations and descriptions of food and it’s history.
100% Real: 100 Insanely Good Recipes for Clean Food Made Fresh: To be honest, I looked at every page and drooled over many of the recipes. Then I didn’t make a single one. I love cookbooks, but usually, I look online for recipes. I’ll probably continue to check out every inspiring cookbook that crosses my path though.
The Big Awesome Book of Hand & Chalk Lettering by Dina Rodriguez: This book was a lot of fun! Both Cupcake and I practiced a lot of the variations in lettering. I might check this one out again in the future if I want to work on another chalkboard.
City Farmhouse Style: Designs for a Modern Country Life by Kim Leggett: This book was full of beautiful, inspiring images of home decor. I love browsing these types of books for remodeling our humble abode.
1000 Tangles, Patterns Doodled Designs produced by Walter Foster Publishing with Various Artists: This book was pretty cool. It’s full of different ways to doodle. I would have loved this one when I was in high school. I really enjoyed looking through it, but I came to realize that I’m past doodling on paper. I don’t have hours of boredom stuck in classrooms anymore. My kids all enjoyed looking through the designs though, hopefully, it will inspire them for their future doodling.
Pencil Art Workshop by Matt Rota: I used to love sketching. This book was full of inspiring pencil art and directions. I didn’t attempt to sketch anything, but It brought me fondly back in time. Maybe I’ll get back to it one day when I have a little more time on my hands.
The Transfer by Veronica Roth: I had read the divergent series back when it first came out. I enjoyed the movies, even though they varied from the books in a few big ways. I happened to come across these companion books, from Four’s perspective. I love when a good book series relates the story from another side.
Four The Initiate by Veronica Roth: ” “
Four The Son by Veronica Roth: ” “
Four the Traitor by Veronica Roth: ” “
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman: I feel like this book should be a requirement for every high school student. Gary Chapman made a lot of puzzle pieces about love click into place. It helped me realize whats important to me to feel loved and also help me realize how I can better love others. This kind of information is useful for every type of relationship, not just the romantic kinds. I immediately took the love quiz and found out my love language and then talked to my family about what theirs were. I’ll definitely read this book again and again over the years to refresh my memory.
Legend by Marie Lu
Champion by Marie Lu
Prodigy by Marie Lu: This is the second time I’ve read this series. Actually, the first time I read it, this time I listened to it. If you like futuristic adventure stories, this is a great series to add to your list.
150 Best Cottage & Cabin Ideas by Francesc Zamora Mola: I loved all of the images in this book. I’ve been looking into small houses and although these are cabins, I think this is a good small home book too. Most of these had huge windows, tall ceilings, open floor plans, and beautiful views. Much of the interior styles were not to my taste, however. I would look into this book again if I were building a home.
Compact Cabins | Simple Living in 1000 Square Feet or Less by Gerald Rowan: This book is pretty awesome. It contains 62 floor plans, black/green & white images of the completed cabin, off the grid options, green design, and from start to finish plans that help lay out exactly how to build. It goes over everything you’ve thought about and everything you didn’t even think of. I’m thinking of purchasing this book to keep at home so I can plan my future home. One thing to keep in mind is that the title is accurate, these are tiny cabins. It mentions that you can add on in the future if need be.
How to Build Your Dream Cabin in the Woods | The Ultimate Guide to Building and Maintaining a Backcountry Getaway by J. Wayne Fears: I actually did not finish this book. It is quite detailed and my time at the library was out before I could finish. I’d like to check it out again or purchase because it contains A LOT of info about having and caring for a small home/cabin.

January 3, 2018

Making Your Own Dried Basil

Making dried basil is so incredibly easy, I think my children could do it! Plus, homemade is always so much cheaper than the store, after the initial purchase, it’s free!

I grew my own basil this year and it did really well! I’ve tried to grow basil one other time when my neighbor gave me a gift of basil in a pot. It died within a few months, sadly. If you know anything from reading my blog, it’s that I don’t give up easily.

When Nate saw a potted basil plant at Walmart earlier this year, he suggested we give it another try. I immediately jumped on the idea. We brought our new plant home and it did exceptionally well! In fact, it became enormously bushy. I have had to prune it back a few times.

I love having potted basil year round. Pinching off a few leaves for snacking on with tomatoes and cheese is one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh basil. I also love to cook with it after it’s been dried. It’s one of my main herbs that I use.

Here are the steps I use to make my own dehydrated basil.

When your basil gets especially bushy, trim back the stems until it has a nice compact shape.
Put the stems in a strainer and gently rinse them off.
Shake the excess water off of the basil.
Remove the leaves from the stems and place them in the dehydrator. Use a fine mesh or fruit leather attachment for smaller leaves.
Dehydrate until leaves are dry and crumbly.
Put basil on a plate and crumble into small pieces.
Put dried basil crumbles into a spice jar.
Lable jar.

You can check out how I have dried basil in my videos!

January 2, 2018January 2, 2018

52 Project, Week 38: Happiness

Happiness. What a word. The dictionary defines happiness as a state of well being, contentment and joy.

In my notebooks over the years, I’ve made many lists full of the things that make me happy. When I think of the words contentment and joy, everything on my list fulfills those two descriptions of happiness.

What about well being? The dictionary defines well being as the state of being comfortable, healthy and happy. That’s where it gets tricky. You see, a lot of people are neither comfortable, nor healthy, yet they retain happiness. They are grateful for their lives despite their hardships. This is something that for the last year, I have been working hard on.

When you are a healthy, comfortable person, the little things are taken for granted. It’s hard to imagine any life other than the one you are living. Though you might try to be empathetic, you can never truly put yourself in someone’s shoes unless you have also walked that path.

Although my health has always been frail, it has never been as fragile as it has been this last year. I’ve lost count to the number of times I’ve had anaphylactic attacks and nearly died as a result. I can’t say how many times I thought to myself, this could be the last year of my life, what will my family do without me?

I am not afraid of death or dying, having faced it so many times. I think it would be peaceful to be without suffering. Not that I want to die. I love being alive. I love waking up every day. I delight in the weather, the seasons, my family, and what health I do have. So many suffer so much more than I have. I feel selfish when I think of my hardships because I do not deserve to complain about them. I don’t feel I can, when there are so many who suffer more than I.

I like to focus on what I do have and what I can do. I focus on teaching my children and maintaining my home. I also focus on maintaining my health and my education. I focus on my relationship with God. I am thankful. I am grateful. I have joy. I am happy.

Every person has a puzzle of their life. When we are born, we’re given this giant jumble of pieces which makes up the sum of our entire lives. As babies, we don’t even yet understand this. We are new and young and innocent. As we grow, we begin to understand basic concepts, like walking, talking, and eating. We don’t even realize that we’ve begun to sort out some of the basic pieces of our pile into categories. Some of the like colors are being separated into piles.

As we grow, we begin to learn about EVERYTHING. We learn about relationships, God, emotions, animals, history, science, art, and we begin to explore our world. We still sort our jumbled puzzle mess into color categories, but we also begin to make basic connections and understanding that start to piece our puzzle together.

At some point, we begin to realize that by having discipline and choosing to do hard work, we can benefit ourselves. We also realize the importance of helping others. We discover that we can help ourselves with introspection and we try to learn from our mistakes.

We have a greater desire for connection and faith in God. We work on developing our relationship with our creator and deepening our faith with more in-depth studies of the bible.

We might, at this point, begin to realize that our life is a giant puzzle. We know that we can’t see the whole picture yet. We can only focus on our little piece that we’re working on. We know that God can foresee our completed puzzle and how our puzzle connects to the puzzles of others and the entire beautiful masterpiece as a whole.

For me, my happiness is a variety of things that make my puzzle feel more complete and whole. It’s my happy memories, my future prospects. It’s this present moment and my life where it is now. It’s the fact that I’m alive and I can continue to have new adventures with those I love. It’s my relationship with God and feeling safe in his protection and love. It’s the giant puzzle that is my life.

What makes you happy?

Previous Week: Apples
Next Week: Explore
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