Welp, I finally took this baby off the loom, got it all finished up and ready to go, and..... I don't love it. Lol. Not surprisingly, this happens sometimes. Usually when I try to push out of my comfort zone and use different colors/materials that I normally wouldn't gravitate towards. I DO like the way the pattern turned out. I like how scrunchy and thin it is. It looks a little messy and lived-in, and I like that about it. I always love the way this yarn feels too. How could you go wrong with 100% silk?!
The thing I don't like about it is mainly the color. I chose these colors, if you remember, because they were like a less ukky version of fall colors. As it turns out, I just still don't love it. I'm more of a vivid, vibrant, pop color kind of girl when it comes to my scarves. This one just isn't quite as bright as the ones I normally tend towards. (It doesn't help that fall is my least favorite season. I'm a summer girl, and I like summer colors.) Also, it doesn't help that it started raining today before I could take the photos. So the lighting was all wonky. I was able to edit them up a bit, but I never really feel like photos show the true colors anyway. So, you're probably thinking, how is this a win? True, I don't love the scarf, and it will probably go in the closet with the other scarves that I'm not crazy about and therefore hardly ever wear, but it is just such a sense of accomplishment to finish something tangible. Something that took hours to complete and was frustrating. And one of the best parts of weaving, for me, is getting to pick out the next one and warp it onto the loom, watching the colors come together! (Speaking of that, I already warped up another one last night! I'll take some photos when the lighting is better, a.k.a. when it's not raining.) So, finishing it is a win, even if the scarf itself isn't. One last thing, (not to be a saleswoman or anything) if you ever like a scarf I've made or want one made-to-order, I'd love to weave one for you if you're willing to cover the cost of the yarn. Just as an example, this scarf is made of really nice quality yarn (and of course it's my fave) and it cost me about $15 to make (so this one's up for grabs if you like it; like I said I'll probably never wear it!). So, just let me know if you ever want one!
So, nothing major today... Just a mild Monday. It certainly has not been a bad day; it's really been pretty good. But, still, nothing major has happened. So here are a few little lovelies. I have several different types of fresh fruit in my fridge right now! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just love fruit, and I love variety. I've caught some good sales in the past few days, so I have different fruits to choose from when I want a snack. In fact, I'm eating an apple from the huge bag I bought the other day, and it is a-maz-ing! Seriously, it's like eating apple cider it's so sweet! Guess what came off the loom today?! Yep, the latest scarf! Woohoo! I literally just pulled it off and walked away, so photos will come later this week. Thomas and I are having date night tonight! We're going out to dinner, and though we've discussed where to go for about 20 minutes already today, we still don't know where we're going! Not a little lovely, but a funny story... I woke up with a shot of adrenaline this morning. I was slowly resuming consciousness while hearing weird noises. I was thinking that Lo was probably digging around in the closet (as she does every so often). But then I shot up out of bed when she started (cat) screaming! (Like a high pitched gurgle-y meow) Freaking out, I started to untangle myself out of bed when I saw the bottom two drawers of the dresser open, looking over, there was Lo, sitting next to them shaking herself out. So she managed to get herself stuck in the bottom drawer, then pulled the one on top of that out on top of her so that she had to squeeze out a tiny 2 inch space to get out. Yeah. Not the nicest way to wake up in the morning! Happy Monday!
Ok, so maybe I don't have any funny stories to tell today or anything. But I do have a light-hearted, not-so-sappy post! So there's a change! Two of these sneak peeks are of my own making. One is very much not, but possibly the coolest of the three. (Shocker, right?! I have nothing to do with the coolest thing I have to share today!) #1: Here's a much over due sneak peek of my current scarf project. The photo's not great, but you get the idea. This scarf is a first for me. The weave you see is called "Leno Lace", and it can be really cool, but it is also a big fat pain in the butt! So it's coming along. Mainly, though, I just can't wait to finish it so I can see what it looks like off the loom. I can't really tell if I'm going to like it yet. Anyway... moving on!
#2: I just pulled a batch of these babies out of the oven. Mmmm! I haven't ever made these, but they're a staple at my parents' house during the holidays. And I just so happened to buy a ginormous bag of Reese's on clearance after Halloween, so these were the perfect thing to make for Life Group tomorrow. You can find this recipe on basically every recipe website there is. Just type in something like Reese's cookies and you'll find a billion of them (and they're all basically the same).
#3: Alright, here's the coolest sneak peek of the day. Guess what?! It's a movie trailer! (Another shocker there!) So, last night Thomas was trying to tell me about a movie coming out about Noah (yes, the one from the Bible) starring Russell Crowe. But I was in a not-great mood at the moment and kind of blew him off (sorry honey). But, a little later, I got on my favorite website ever and a trailer was right there on the front page (the source of Thomas' info), so of course, I watched it. And WOW! I am stoked for this movie now! Talk about capturing the epic proportions of the story! Wow! You have to watch it. Seriously, you have two minutes to be awed!
Woah! Right?! Well, that's all. Enjoy your weekend!
So, this week, for Thankful Thursday, I want to focus on some of the people in my life. And please note that it would take for-e-ver to list everyone I'm thankful for, so don't get all huffy if I don't mention you or someone. Know that I'm thankful for a lot more than I can take time to list. I am most thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him in my life, forgiving me, loving me, leading me, saving me, I would have nothing. Without the Lord, I wouldn't have anyone or anything to be thankful for. I am truly and wonderfully blessed that God gave Thomas to me. We are best friends (which means that many days I want to throw him out the window just as much as kiss him), and I am honored that God chose me to get to take care of him and love him for the rest of our lives. (And Thomas, I better get rewarded for saying such nice things about you so publicly! Lol) I am so thankful for my family. To have grown up in a godly home is a blessing that so many do not have, and I am so glad to have the parents I have. And now that I'm not a stubborn teenager anymore (mostly), I can say that with a sincere heart. Since we have moved to Florida, God has placed us in a wonderful church! And through that church we have received so many blessings. We have friends that truly sharpen us just as we have the honor of sharpening them. It is a joy to have people to live life with. There are so many people who have poured into me and helped to shape me into the person I am today. And I am thankful for each and every one of them. It would take entirely too long to list everyone by name, and I don't want to do so because I would inevitably forget someone. But the list ranges from friends, friends' parents, teachers, youth pastors, pastors, friends' friends, parents' friends, family. So many people have taken the time to invest in me, and I am so thankful to be so blessed. Ok... was that sappy enough for you?! Somehow, I struggle with writing a sincere post that doesn't sound so rehearsed and sappy. Oh well though, this is the best I got! I'll have to come up with a not-sappy post for tomorrow or Saturday... now I just need something funny to happen to me so I'll have something to write about! Lol. Not likely!
Ok... so I've felt so bad that I haven't blogged any recipes in a while that I thought you should get two in a row! Also, today's recipe really is a win! Every time I tell Thomas that we're having these chicken pockets for dinner, he just about drools. We love them so much, and they're incredibly easy! Lots of times, I stir up the filling earlier in the day or even the night before so that it's super quick to just toss everything together at dinner time! We usually eat these with a green veggie for a simple and delicious meal!
Ranch Chicken Pockets Adapted from: Will Cook for Smiles Makes: 8 pockets Ingredients: 1 can of crescent rolls (8 rolls) 1-2 cups chicken, cooked and shredded 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning mix 3-5 ounces cream cheese 1/4 shredded cheese (I use cheddar) Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, stir together the chicken, ranch seasoning, cream cheese, and shredded cheese. (To make sure I'm really happy with the consistency and taste, I start with the smaller amounts listed (about) and taste and add more if I want to tweak it. We really like the creaminess, so I may add a little extra cream cheese.)
Spread the crescent roll dough out and separate into 8 individual rolls. Spoon chicken mixture onto each roll, then seal each roll completely. (They may not look very pretty, but make sure they're sealed.)
Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the rolls start to brown nicely.
Eat and enjoy!
This meal is so simple and quick. I hope you enjoy it!
I've loved the French language since I started taking classes in high school. I very quickly learned that I also loved a lot of French foods and culture too! And these madeleines are a French food that I just absolutely adore. They are a delicious, light and sweet treat that will not kill your calorie count.
The only thing that makes these difficult is that you have to have the special madeleine pans to make them. Yes, technically you could bake these in whoopie pans or something of the like, but you really miss out on their beautiful shape.
These lovely treats are dusted in powdered sugar for just a little extra sweet-ness. My favorite way to eat them is dipped in a steaming cup of hot cocoa or coffee. Since they're so light and fluffy, they just soak the liquid right up and melt in your mouth! To die for!
If you're in the market for madeleine pans, they can be found online at places like Bed, Bath, and Beyond (depending on where you live, your local store might even have them). You can also find them at specialty kitchen shops a lot of times. There are trays with several different sizes of molds. And there are also trays made of both metal and silicone. I have silicone pans, and I like that you don't have to grease them, but they sometimes collapse a little bit and make a mess in the oven. So, really, it's up to you which pans you decide to buy.
Vanilla Madeleines Adapted from: 101 Cookbooks Makes 2-3 dozen regular madeleines Ingredients: 1 1/2 sticks butter 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 4 large eggs a pinch of salt 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract powdered sugar Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. If using metal molds, grease with butter or cooking spray. (This part isn't necessary if you have silicone molds.)
Melt the butter in a small sauce pan over medium high heat until it turns brown and gives off a nutty aroma. It should take about 15-20 minutes. Strain the butter using a paper towel over a small bowl. Allow the butter to cool while you stir up the rest of the ingredients.
Whisk the eggs and salt in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until the eggs double or triple in volume.
Continue mixing on a high speed and add the sugar. Mix for about two minutes.
Fold in the vanilla.
Fold in the flour.
Fold in cooled butter. Stir as little as possible.
Use a tablespoon (a cookie scoop works really well) to spoon the batter into the molds. Fill each mold about 2/3 of the way full.
Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the edges start to brown.
Unmold immediately onto cooling racks and then dust with powdered sugar.
These madeleines are fluffy and delicious! I hope you enjoy!
This is definitely NOT one of those Mondays. The ones where I'm depressed and just feeling off. Today, I am so thankful for this Monday. Mainly because I need a mellow day to relax and catch up and process the past few days. This weekend, I had the absolutely fabulous opportunity to attend a Beth Moore conference in Daytona with a big group of women from church. And I have been so incredibly blessed by God, Beth, the worship team, and the lovely ladies who went on the trip. Frankly, I was a little nervous to go. I'm so shy. I also don't have children. I didn't even know the names of several of the women who were going. I was afraid of not enjoying myself because I so often don't fit in. But, I was wrong. The wonderful, godly women who went included me, and the Lord spoke to me so much that I simply cannot look back on the trip with regret. I know I was meant to go, as was each of the other women who went. I so greatly enjoyed getting to know them better. One of the wonderful things about the trip was that there was a lot of "unplanned" time where we could all just gather around and talk, share, pray, laugh, and cry. And I think I'm right in saying that we all walked away from the weekend changed in some way. God moved powerfully through the worship, Beth's speaking, and through our time with each other. Though I cannot fully explain how God spoke to me in a way that will speak to you, I'd like to share some of the things that Beth said that moved me.
"Jesus knew firsthand what it was like to be a man." - Now, I know that when Jesus came to this earth, he was fully God and fully man. But I have never thought about it to the point that Beth explained. Jesus took his 100% God-ness and put it into the confines of a human body. Beth thought about the fact that God never sleeps. So, it may have annoyed Jesus that his human form got tired and had to sleep. He surely got sores on his feet from walking miles in his sandals. He got hungry. He probably had a cold at some time in his life. And Beth focused on Mark 7:34 where is says that Jesus groaned. He knows the limitations and the afflictions of our human forms, and he longs for us to experience our heavenly forms that have no imperfections. Wow!
She also spoke on a verse that has long been dear to me. Isaiah 40:11 says, "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (NIV, Italics added) Oh how I just love that God gathers me in his arms and carries me close to his heart. I so dearly need to be loved and cared for in such a tender way by my Savior.
Beth's last point was that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God in heaven until he comes back to bring all the saints home. Amen! I have read the accounts of Christ's ascension into heaven many times, however, I have failed to picture the scene in my mind. "After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God." (Mark 16:19, NIV) Just as he had proclaimed right before his crucifixion (Mark 14:62), men witnessed him being raised into heaven and sitting down beside his Father! Wow! And there he remains until the day no one knows except the Father, when God will turn his head to his son and say "Go get her!" (Paraphrased from Beth Moore) Hallelujah!
I was so tremendously blessed through Beth's teaching of the Word. I am so thankful to her that she is daily obedient to the call that God has placed on her life. And I am also thankful for the wonderful group of women that He has placed me in. They are Godly influences on my life, and I am glad to be counted among them.
And we finished up the weekend with a life group party. What a great way to keep the fun going! We played True Colors, and I have not laughed so hard in ages! I am so glad that God has given us such a wonderful group of friends!
