a little neighborhood charm

This past week, I have hit a bit of a dry spell in the blogging world. I'm been hard at work in my crafting corner with a few projects. But just a few hours ago the door bell rang with an inspiring and heart warming idea.From the day we moved in our neighborhood has done nothing but surprise us with how friendly they can be, and this afternoon brought, yet again, another surprise. A neighborhood friend arrived at our house with a plate of delicious cookies on a special plate. I thought this idea was so special that I had to share it with all of you. It has been passed through 26 different houses, and with a few treats of my own, it will make it to the 27th. What a splendid idea!

what's new in store

I am having way too much fun in the wonderful world of etsy. I've been busy with some new creations, just in time for heart-day along with some new card designs.
Creating gifts or cards for others just never seam to get old or go out of style. There's nothing better that creating one of a kind items to be enjoyed by others! So please stop by Blissful Mae and have a look!

whole wheat blueberry muffins

With an inspiration to bake this morning, I whipped up some muffins, and not from a box which is usually what I opt for. Normally Saturday mornings consist of me rushing off to work or an event of some sort, but with the added bonus of having guests over, it was the perfect opportunity to spend a little more time in the kitchen that just grabbing a bowl of cereal. I paged through one of my favorite cook books and settled on the whole wheat blueberry muffins and just couldn't resist sharing my new favorite breakfast treat.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons lemon zests
1 cup blueberries {fresh or frozen}
1 cup milk
1 egg
4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

-Preheat oven to 425. Grease muffin pan or line them with baking cup liners.
-In a bowl stir flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, lemon zest. Add the blue berries and make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
-Combine the milk, egg, and cooled butter. Pour into the well and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Batter should be lumpy.
-Fill each muffin cup 2/3 full with batter and bake for 20 25 minutes or until the tops are lightly brown, rotating them half way through the baking time.
-Remove muffins from the pan immediately otherwise the moisture condenses on the bottom of the muffins and they will become soggy. Makes 12 muffins.

aspirations for the new year

Well there's nothing like 21 days into the year to share my aspirations for 2011. I wasn't even going to share them but when I saw some fellow bloggers like Marta & Jessica admitting to sharing there's a little late I followed suit and also agree with the phrase 'better late than never.' Also, sharing these ideas with you will also help me to keep on track and try my hardest to achieve these ambitions.
1. Try something new every day.

2. Spend more time with those who really matter in life: family & friends.

3. Not be so afraid of getting hurt and learn to trust again. This past year was one of heart break in my love life and it has left me altered. I am not the same person I once was and find many emotional walls up around me and my heart. Even through the heartbreak, given the choice between the experience of pain and feeling nothing, I would still choose the pain over never feeling love.

4. Spend more time talking to Jesus + building a better relationship with Him.

5. Cross off at least 5 aspirations from my bucket list.

6. Spend more time on our vintage sewing machine. I have some ideas and can't wait to start exploring the world of sewing.

7. Save more instead of spend and save up for my trip.

8. Dip into the literary world and devour more of the written word. There are a few series on my list like the last few Harry Potter books & the Twilight books {both of which I have already read a few times} but I want to read more about how the human body works and try to understand just a little more how the Lord put us all together. I also want to read novels that inspire me to be a stronger woman and to put fear in the past, any suggestions?

9. Live my life to better serve the Lord, in any way that I can.

babies babies everywhere

It seems that every where I look, babies fill my frame of vision. While I have been working quite a few more hours this month at the day care, I am referencing to the plethora of little nudgers being born around me. Just in the past 5 weeks I know of 4 babies being brought into this world and at least 5 other expectant mothers.

With all these thought rushing though my head I couldn't help but do a little searching through the endless amount of cute that so many etsy creators have put together. Just encase you wanted to do a little exploring of your own I put together some of my favorites. Wouldn't these made the cutest gifts?

1. LivvySue Kimono Top Flower Fields
2. Crochet Baby Booties
3. Grey Flower Cluster Baby One Piece
4. Organic Cotton Baby Wrap
5. Guitar Baby Gift Set
6. Changing Set
7. Baby Closet Dividers
8. Diana Camera Retro Toy Girl's Photography Pink Bodysuit
9. Dainty White Triple Flower Headband

ten on ten {january}

With this new year comes a new batch of ten photos on the tenth of the month!

sending off a few of my etsy creationsmy all time favorite tea {I'm easy to please}

the not so windy city {part 2}

On our second evening there we caught up with family who live just outside the city and the next day we hit the streets again to do a little more exploring. We found an amazing Irish Pub and enjoyed the best fries I've ever had, man I keep mentioning food. Oh well, that's what vacation's about anyway, treating your self to things you've never tried.The family split up again and me and my mom headed to Navy Pier while the others {sister and dad} went to the Science and Industry Museum. The batch of good weather had passed and we got some rain showers, but with out umbrella in hand we forged ahead even with soaking feet.
After doing a little shopping my mom and I came across a winter wonderland in the upper story of Navy Pier. With the carnival rides and Christmas decorations I felt as though I was a little kid again. When we used to live in California there was a similar even that we visited every year with similar events right down to the ice skating rink and decorating your own sugar cookies.The soaked feet and damp clothes were all worth it when we stepped outside after exploring the sites of Navy Pier. The fog had set in and covered the city in a blanket of white. It was the most extravagant sight I had seen all weekend.

the not so windy city {part 1}

Chicago, it's known as the largest city in Illinois, populated with about 3 million people and the 3rd largest city in the US. For our family {which if you didn't know consists of my mom, dad and older sister} it was the vacation spot for this winter.

We took off for Chicago 3 days after Christmas and enjoyed 4 fun filed days. While it may be known as 'the windy city' it wasn't so blistery for us and we were blessed with amazing weather, only using our umbrellas once.
Travels went pretty fast on the trip down to the city and we spent the first night in a hotel just outside the city. We then ventured into the heart of Chicago for the next 2 nights. From our window we could see the river flowing between the skyscrapers and under the beautiful bridges.
Seeing the musical Wicked was the main event for our 1st full day. My sister went on her own adventures that day {she had already seen Wicked in London last year} so my mom, dad and I saw it together.It was something I couldn't wait to see, but never wanted it to end! The scenes, songs, acting, & costumes were so spectacular and inspiring and thanks to my sister we can listen to the songs whenever we want on the Broadway version CD.
When you think of Chicago cuisine, what do you think of.... pizza anyone?? We asked around and finished the day with a highly recommended pizza place, Gino's East.
The next day was again unusually warm for December so we took advantage and hit the shops. We marched all over Michigan Street and went in to shops like Gap, H&M, XXI Forever, The Disney Store, and many others. For lunch we had to try another classic for the city, so we got a Chicago style hot dog from Downtown Dog and we just couldn't resist to made a stop at Giradelli's for an afternoon treat. My sister got a banana split {my Grandpa Ryan would be so proud} and she displayed her lovely manners while enjoying her ice cream.

Tomorrow....part 2!

blessed holiday

Can't even believe that it is already the 4th day of your bran new 2011 year!! These past weeks have been nonstop holiday cheer with so much family in town, Christmas celebrations in abundance, the Christmas Eve program, our little family vacation to the windy city, and the real reason for Christmas: celebration of our savior's birth.
This entry can't fill you in on all the happenings at once so I will start by sharing just a few photos from our Christmas celebrations {there is much more to come, don't you worry}. It truly was a blessed holiday and we couldn't have been more blessed and thankful for all that the Lord provided.