Oh so thankful.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

((Psalm 107:1)) 

I'm thankful for...

This girl still looking to her mama for help every once in awhile :)
Sometimes it feels like she's getting more independent by the day which is amazing & so fun to watch!
But when she's a little afraid to go check out the big inflated pumpkin patch snowman without holding mama's hand it's ok to be a little happy right?

 

Warm, fabulous, sunny weather this fall.
I hate to admit it but I sometimes complain about fall in these parts because it can skip right into winter some years.
Well, not this year. Thanksgiving is in 2 days and they're still saying we've got 70 degrees and sunshine to look forward too :)



Exactly where we're at... even though it's not my favorite place.
I've spent a lot of time lately being stressed about where we are in life & just praying for May to get here soon so Hunter can graduate & we can move on with our lives.
Even though I do still long for that change, and hope for a chance to be a stay at home mama again soon, I'm thankful for right now.
We're figuring it out & learning how to trust in Jesus in a way that we probably wouldn't be without a little struggle & sacrifice.



(I'm adding this colored version of this print to the shop today & both will still give 50% to Hurricane Sandy relief.)

(Also linked with Erin at Art Social.) 

Happy National Zucchini Day!! (+ a recipe)

Oh hey it's National Zucchini Day.
Yep, it's real.
So guess what I made?
Chocolate Zucchini Bread of course!



(Also, guess what I had for dinner?)
shhh...
I based my recipe off one I found in a mag but I cut the oil in half and cut back on the sugar a little too.
Which made me feel really ok about eating 3 slices in a row.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

• 2 cups flour (I use a gluten free mix of course but I betcha regular flour might just work too)
• 1 tsp xanthan gum
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 TB flax meal
• 6 TB warm water
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 cups shredded zucchini

Preheat oven to 350 & spray a 9x12 loaf pan.

Whisk together dry ingredients. 

Beat sugar, flax, water and oil.

Mix in zucchini.

Gradually beat in dry ingredients until just mixed. 

Stir in chocolate chips & walnuts if you're feeling crazy... I was & I don't regret it :) 

Pour into pan & bake for 1 hr. 

Cool on rack (or slice in when it's still warm if you're that hungry, it's not pretty but it's dang good).

Enjoy!

I'm super thankful for giant garden fresh zucchinis that taste fabulous in chocolate :)
I'm also thankful for paint on the clearance table at Home Depot for $0.50 in the perfect color for my chairs.
By perfect I mean $0.50 and already mixed up (read: I don't have to agonize over paint chips).
Also when Hunter saw me painting them he said "Oh that color looks like you". 

How wonderful!

Last, but far from least, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for this extra snuggly little girl. 

My first week back to full-time working went well, but it has been a major adjustment for all and really emotional for mama. 

The past two days were filled with lots of snuggles & smooches. 

I'm feeling renewed and ready to take on another week. 

PS we also found an apartment onsite where I work so August 25th we'll be living across the parking lot from my office!!!!!

I get to have lunches with Lily & Hunter and an extra 20 minutes in the morning and evening. 

May sounds silly but it means so much to me and I'm totally thankful it worked out!

Oh Happy Day!

So I mentioned last week that Sugar Mama Bakeshop has some really exciting stuff coming up... And then I disappeared for a week.
Oops.

I really am sorry about that.
I've missed you!
Anyway, I've been working my booty off getting ready for my eversave.com daily deal that is running TODAY!
(Well, that and I've been playing in the sunshine and 80 degree weather!)
When I told you all about my baking class that I'll be teaching I got the most encouraging and supportive responses.
Thank you sweet friends!
I wish you could ALL come to my cupcake class.

BUT since you can't, here is the next best thing :)
For $7 you get $15 in Sugar Mama store credit!
You can get cookies, cake pops AND mixes.
You can host your very own cupcake class if you're feeling crazy!
I also have brownie mixes and all-purpose gluten free flour mixes coming very soon.
I am PUMPED can you tell? ;)

I'm also really thankful for this opportunity.
If you don't mind spreading the word I would love any/all shout outs and I'm not too proud to ask for them :)
Besides, you get eversave credit when you refer your friends.

It's a win-win really.

Thankful Wednesday

Yeah I know it's not as fun to say as Thankful Thursday, but I couldn't wait :)

This week I am bursting with thanks for this GORGEOUS 70 degree weather!

Baby girl seems to have forgotten how to sleep... which is a huge bummer,

but then I go outside in a t-shirt and rolled up jeans and the sun is shining and no amount of (lack of) sleep seems to matter anymore.

I'm also way thankful for these sunglasses.

And see Elmo way down in the bottom of the picture?

Well he lights up and sings songs and *barks* over and over and over and over....

And I'm thankful for him too because he makes Lily laugh and I can't think of anything I've ever been more thankful for than her sweet giggle.

(My favorite part of this picture is that it looks like she's really rockin' the glasses but really I just distracted her with Elmo for about 15 seconds so I could get the picture before she ripped them off and started eating them.)

I'm thankful for bath time skype dates with my dad and 2 of my bros.

So fun!

I'm thankful for some crazy awesome & exciting Sugar Mama plans that are in the works.

I've been daydreaming about the farmer's market all week...

and by daydreaming I mean pinning wonderful extravagant booth displays.

If anyone has an antique pickup I can borrow... PLEASE call me?

Source: urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Or the coolest TOY BAKERY set up EVER?

Yep those are felt baked goods that the mom made and put in the display case the dad build.

I just hope those kids know how lucky they are :)

Source: bakerella.com via Ashley on Pinterest

(You can see the whole board if you really want to.)

Also have you heard of a cool website called Dabble?

Well, it's filled with $20 classes and it's perfect for those of us who can't ever make up our mind and want to try a little of everything!

So far I'm signed up for a small biz class, intro to photography, acting 101...

Just kidding. Kind of.

I'm not signed up yet, but I really do want to take the first 2.

I just want to sit in on the acting class so I can meet the teacher... who was on the Sing Off last season!

Um, you know how I feel about the Sing Off right?

Anyway. Sugar Mama Bakeshop will be offering a gluten free & vegan cupcake class SOON!

You get to bake & decorate your own cupcakes and go home with a dozen!

Plus I'm working on sweet little aprons for class participants :)

Finally, I'm thankful for some exciting news Hunter got about an internship yesterday!!

It's still in the works but very encouraging.

I'm incredibly proud of him for working AND going back to school so that he can make a living doing something he is passionate about.

What an amazing example for our daughter!

Aaaaaaaand that is all.

Nap time is halfway over and I still have to make muffins and take a shower!

Thankful again :)

So I wasn't planning on doing a Thankful Thursday post again today... let's be honest. I wasn't planning on posting anything today. I was actually feeling pretty sorry for my poor self.

I've got a sick baby who also happens to be teething :(

AND a sick hubby.

And a headache and a sore throat.

Plus I cooked dinner last night and it was gross and the house is a serious wreck because sweet sick baby wouldn't sleep all day yesterday... or all night!

But then it hit me.

That's a perfect reason to post about what I'm thankful for!

It doesn't matter how bad the day is, there is always SO much to be grateful for.

Amen?

So today I'm thankful for:

-My brother, who wrote this awesome article that pushes me to stay focused on what really matters. Tyler is the most passionate person I know and he constantly inspires me to not settle for what's popular and/or easy.

-Our general health. Colds and coughs are a bummer for a few days but really we are so blessed to have healthy bodies!

-The blessing of being able to be home with Lily. We've sacrificed a lot to make this possible and at times I've even doubted myself for doing it, but I am 100% positive this is where I should be and I'm more thankful than ever that I can be at home to take care of my sick baby.

-My new leopard print flats from Target. I "splurged" and bought them at the full $14.99 instead of waiting for them to go on clearance. They feel like spring :)

So there you have it. I'm thankful again!

Thankful Thursday

My friends Carina and Cami are both hosting Thankful Thursdays on their blogs & I'm feeling inspired to focus on the wonderful things I'm thankful for right now!

#1: This sweet sweet face. Holy cow I'm so in love with this precious baby.

#2 Booking my first wedding for this summer!! These are the cupcakes I made the cute couple for their tasting :) So fun!!!

#3 This hard-working, sexy, supportive man that I'm blessed to call husband and best bud ;)

#4 Exciting Sugar Mama opportunities that are coming up. (New storenvy store front coming soon!)

Have a blessed day!! What are you thankful for?