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a new morning recipe has been found!

Published by Aubrey

I came across this recipe for chocolate chip scones. I wanted to make them this morning before Brian left for a trip. I took them out of the oven right before we said goodbye. Oh my goodness! What amazingness we enjoyed! Such a simple recipe. One that Brian has already asked I make weekly. Well…I think I can do that! You have to try them! I’m thinking orange cranberry next or blueberry.

I made a couple changes: instead of OJ I used apple juice because we didn’t have any OJ and added a little orange flavoring. I also upped the amount to 8T of juice, as well as 8T of butter instead of 4T.

Chocolate Chip Scones

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/english-royalty-chocolate-chip-scones/Detail.aspx

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons orange juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. With a pastry blender or a large fork, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chocolate chips. Mix in the orange juice to form a dough.
Turn out the dough on a floured surface. Pat or roll into a 9 inch circle about 1/2 inch thick. With a 2 1/2 inch fluted biscuit cutter, cut out 12 scones, pushing the dough scraps together for the last few, if necessary. Transfer the scones to the baking sheet.
Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Move to wire racks to cool.

day 1 success.

Published by Aubrey

Mason’s first day of school was a success. I mean I think we can call it that. It’s been 2 days and we are still getting bits and pieces of what happened. But everything we heard sounded great. He did good! Everyone has asked how I did. Well I was good until I saw the bus round the corner…Mason gave us all quick hugs and kisses and then bounded up the steps, with a quick turn and huge smile “Bye Mom!” he was off. And then the tears started flowing. In front of the neighbors, who I hardly know, with girls asking a million times, “why is mommy sad?” But I was feeling it. A chapter has closed and new, exciting one has started. Brian let me have a good cry as he held me tight and encouraged me with lots of kinds words. And then he took his girls to Starbucks. This always helps:)

So now we are on to day 2 tomorrow and Mason couldn’t be more excited.

And so am I.

the time has come.

Published by Aubrey

tomorrow my little boy will start a new adventure of his own. one that i won’t be there to fully watch. will he know what to do, what to say? will he have fun, make friends, get scared? what will he do if he gets embarrassed, or hurt, or lonely?

well i’m sure all those things and more will happen along the way.

and he will be ok.

yes, his independence from me grows just a little more tomorrow and i’m praying along with that his dependence on Jesus grows a little more too. i won’t be there to comfort him, protect him, watch over him but One greater than i will be.

and i know my dependence on Jesus will grow as well as i am daily reminded that He’s got him. the One who loves him and knows him more than me is with Him. He will be there like he always is but in a way that is new to us.

so i lay down my fears at His feet for He knows them all. i put my little boy in His Hands once again, but like never before.

tomorrow is the first day of kindergarten.

and he will be ok.

and so will i.

coming soon…

Published by Aubrey

I am not a reader. I would like to be but I just don’t take/make time for it. But there are so many books I would like to read. Rarely, though do I actually get to a place where I make that happen. There is one book coming out September 1 that I know I will make time for and that is Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman. I’ve followed Emily’s blog and twitter for awhile now and have been anxiously awaiting for her book. I really enjoy and appreciate her style of writing and her vulnerability and realness as she welcomes you in. To hear her talk about her new book check out the following link. And please join me in reading Grace for the Good Girl.

5 projects on my “do some day list”

Published by Aubrey

Here are 5 projects I would like to do at some point, hopefully in the near future. All found on pinterest.

http://bit.ly/kIn42P

Love this as a decoration or serving piece.

http://bit.ly/pm7pFK

Definitely doing these! Maybe even in the same colors. Love ’em. Just as simple as styrofoam balls and thumbtacks. Easy peasy.

http://bit.ly/nrLVdT

I always have trouble coming up with something to decorate my front door with, especially at Christmas. I’m not a big wreath person. I love the original use of the frame and the non-traditional Christmas colors. You may see some thing like this on my door this Christmas season.

http://bit.ly/qS2qeh

Yep, love this one too. I have several B’s around the house so this would be a perfect one to add to the collection.

http://bit.ly/l1cUfi

And I saved my favorite for last! This is most awesome and lovely in every way! We’ve always wanted to have more seating at our table by adding a bench. I think this would look great! Love the bright colors and the different chairs that are used. You can be sure I’m on the look out for random dining room chairs to make this happen.

So what have you found on Pinterest, or anywhere else that has caught your eye?

What you dreaming up in your head?

splishing and a splashing.

Published by Aubrey

An afternoon at the splash park = good times.

coffee. it does me good.

Published by Aubrey

This my friends is my leftover morning coffee warmed up that I am enjoying/absolutely needing right now at 4:30. Why am I so tired? Maybe it’s the full days we’ve had of filling our house with groceries, catching up on laundry and going to the pool squeezing every last bit of summer out. Well it could be the adjustment back to a routine of getting up early again. Or it could be I’m tired because of my class at the gym I have returned to. Could it be the 2 little girls who have colds/allergies and are needing breathing treatments all hours of the day?

Yes…it could be all of those. But mostly I believe my tiredness is due this little guy.

For sure he has the sweetest little face and he has quickly captured my heart. But…
He. Is. Wearing. Me. Out.

Therefore, the 4:30pm coffee.

summer shopping on a budget.

Published by Aubrey

At the start of summer I realized as I was getting my summer clothes out that I am wearing the exact same clothes as I did the last summer and the summer before and somethings….the summer before! As you can imagine I was ready to make a change. But our budget was not really saying the same thing.

What’s a girl to do?

How about some garage sale-ing and make your own?

Well finding some summer tops at a garage sale was easier than I thought. I went to 2 different houses at our neighborhood garage sale and found a total of 5 tops (some brand new, all name brand!) for $2. Score!

Still I was feeling need for some new dresses. I was introduced to craftgawker and fell in love with it! It’s similar to pinterest but this site is specifically crafts. Ideas galore! The first night I was browsing I found the cutest and simplest dress to make out of some fabric and a tank top cut in half. I decided I could pull this off. Then I remembered the amazing fabric I got in NYC at the Mood fabric store when we visited 2 years ago! I’ve been waiting for the perfect project to use this fabric and this was it! I followed a simple tutorial from the blog Talk2Trees and ended up with 2 cute dresses that actually fit and that I have worn several times already. Honestly, you don’t need much skill on the sewing machine, as mine is very little. Just need some guts to go for it. Who knows you may end up with a really cute dress!

go ahead. have a party!

Published by Aubrey

photo credit

Confession: I have a tendency to be the kind of mom that has 15 things going at once, I tell my kids “just a minute” 43 times a day and IF I get to them it’s never just ONE minute later. My intentions of sitting down and playing, listening, talking are always good but I don’t often follow through. I rush, rush, rush from one thing to the next. Sure they are often good and necessary things, like cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. but I’m not sure it is as important as I make it out to be. This is not how I want my kids to know me. My desire is for them to see more of a balance. A hardworking, disciplined mom but also one who will stop and listen to the stories, watch the new dance and read the library books at least once before they are due.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Feeling convicted. Maybe because Mason is heading off to kindergarten and reality is hitting me: I don’t have them home forever. Ok so maybe this is a little dramatice, he’ll only be in school 2 1/2 days a week but still….

This morning the girls were setting up a party in their room. A favorite game of theirs. Kaia had the idea that the party needed flowers, hot chocolate and cupcakes. My first reaction was to play “pretend”. But that didn’t fly. And then I just said yes. Why not?!? The kitchen doesn’t have to be cleaned up now, the laundry will get done at some point and showers are over rated right? So we went outside and picked flowers and put then in a cute little vase. I talked her into chocolate milk instead of hot chocolate because of the 90 degree weather. And we made graham crackers with whipped cream and sprinkles. The girls invited Mason their party, who was a little reluctant to play along until he saw what was being served. Sure it was 9:45 in the morning and we just finished it blueberry pancakes with lots of syrup but who cares. They loved it!

My prayer as mom is to use my time wisely, find a balance of some sort (nothing is ever perfect) and to have discernment in what my kids need through out the day. Yes, this is a big prayer. Gosh, I’m overwhelmed just typing it out! But I’m not alone. I’m grateful I have the One who knows me best and my kids better than I do to help me each step of the way.

Is there a party you are missing out on? Or a Lego ship to be built? Don’t miss out.

and we are back. a little of this and a little of that.

Published by Aubrey

After 2 months of traveling, people visiting and more traveling we are ALL 5 are finally in our home together. Make that 6. Can’t forget our latest addition, Obie. This little guy has quickly captured my heart. Those big floppy ears, feet too big for his body and sad blue eyes have just melted me. And to top it all off he loves to snuggle. Yes. I love him. And the rest of the family does too. He has quickly become one of us.

Our national staff conference (CSU) was amazing! We heard from several great speakers, my favorite being Francis Chan. Loved what he had to say. More on that another time. This conference I realized that each CSU has something different in store for me depending on how I am coming into the conference. Some years it’s to soak up as much as I can from each and every speaker and seminar. Last year it was a time for Brian and I to reconnect as a couple. It was our first time being with out the kids. The girls were only 1 1/2 and we were coming off a crazy year of adjusting to life with 3 kids. It was also this summer that we were first approached about moving to Indy. Lots to discuss. I walked away from that summer more connected and in love with my husband than I ever have been. But this year it was about hanging out with people who know me, who get me, who make me laugh ALOT, who I can be real with (good or bad), who I can be silly and weird with and they still love me just the same. It just did my heart good to be with good friends. Much needed. So yes, I feel God spoke to me at the conference, I was challenged and have some things to process. I feel refreshed spiritually. But more than that I had an awesome time just hanging out with my hubby and friends…and eating some amazing food. Ft. Collins has so many wonderful restaurants. They are kind of hogging all of my favorites.

So now we are all trying to readjust to what “normal” life is. You know like morning routines, rest times, cooking meals and actual bedtimes. The washer and dryer and going full steam ahead, the pantry is still empty but I’m working that, catching up on mail, email and all the other little things that happen. Oh, yes I remember doing all that:) We have 9 days until school starts so we are going to soak in every last minute of summer that we can. Just not quite ready for it to end yet…and for my little dude to head off to kindergarten. Sniff. Sniff.