Coffee vs. Chocolate...... Who is the Winner?

HI!! I am in love with chocolate and coffee. I feel like I am cheating on one of them with the other. I feel like a wretched person { insert pouting lip} .

Coffee is a main staple in America. We eat it, drink it, not to mention get caffeine over- dosed in the air we breathe at Starbucks!   The only issue with coffee is it causes {when you consume too much of it}  the shakes, uneven breathing, and it drives your friends through the roof. So if you are in love with coffee be prepared to be just friends with coffee.

My other love interest is chocolate. Yeah, that dark, creamy stuff that is made a fool on Halloween.  I love chocolate but it makes you fat and gives you zits and it also has caffeine in it as well!!!! So you are eating coffee without enjoying the experience!

There is good news to this story, however. I have developed a way to have cake and eat it too. It is called a .......................... MOCHA!

My Mother Plays with Her Dough

My mom is amazing, because we have not eaten store- bought bread in over two years. Today while Mom was making her monthly loaves, she reminded me who funny she is because she always talks to her dough and plays with like it is Play Dough. If you are grumpy on that day, and you watch my mom, you can be sure the storm clouds will roll away in approximately .02 nanoseconds.

I feel jealous of those loaves because they are slowly replacing me and my brother in my mother's heart. At least my dad still {for the most part} likes us!

October 13, 2014

My whole family is sick. :(  Yes, I started it when I decided to hold a adorable little girl. Mm hm. Real smart of me! Anyway, my brother is coughing all over, so I say I was just the catalyst! Makes sense, don't ya think?

I was just taking random photos on a gorgeous October day. I love that we live in such a Leave it to Beaver neighborhood.

 These pics were taken around 4:00 PM which gives them a warmer color. I enjoyed playing around with B/W and color.

Adorable little mushroom, I couldn't help it!

The green is so brilliant!

Book Review For "Your Family in Pictures" by Me Ra Koh

I got the chance to review a book form Blogging for Books for free!

Your Family in Pictures is a sweet book and easy to understand. I usually delve in objects but I liked learning to do portraits as well. Me Ra Koh gives us photo recipes. The photo recipes are for both Point- and- shoot cameras and DSLR cameras. Since point- and- shoot cameras are relevant to me, I focused on those more. The recipes are easy to understand and descriptive.  

I really liked this book because it had a lot of pictures. The book inspired me and soon my little brother became my model.  Thank you Blogging for Books!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Pumpkin Apple Oatmeal Muffins-- A New Fall Favorite

Hello!!!!!!! Today is a gorgeous day but probably one of the last for a while. Ahh, rain and cold and soup ( I don't like the winter / fall {sarcasm}). I woke up craving pumpkin, which is rather prominent here so I ask Mom if we could make pumpkin muffins for  breakfast. My mom is so good about that kind of thing so she goes to Allrecipes.com and quickly finds a delicious- sounding muffin recipe. My dad hates pumpkin, so we found one with apple, too! We made a few changes and I have to say that this recipe is so good! I am good at cookies, but I have never attempted to make muffins. Houston, trial run was successful. Anyway, I am sharing my good morning with in hopes you have a good one, too!                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                        Pumpkin Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Makes 18 muffins

• 2 C sprouted soft whole wheat flour
• ½ C old-fashioned oatmeal
• 1-1/2 C sucanat
• 2 t cinnamon
• ¾ t ginger
• ¼ t allspice
• ¼ t nutmeg
• 1 t baking soda
• ½ t sea salt
• 2 eggs, preferably pastured
• 1 C pumpkin puree
• ½ C expeller-pressed coconut oil, gently melted
• 2 C chopped apple

Streusel topping:

• 2 T sprouted soft whole wheat flour
• 3 T turbinado
• ½ t cinnamon
• 3 T butter, softened

1. Preheat oven to 350*.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together dry ingredients.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, beat eggs.  Add pumpkin puree, stir.  While stirring, add coconut oil. 
4. Add wet ingredients to dry, stirring just until there are no my dry pieces.  Be careful not to over-mix.
5. Fold in chopped apple.
6. Evenly divide batter between muffin cups.
7. Make streusel topping by mixing together flour, turbinado, and cinnamon.  Cut in butter.  Top each muffin with streusel mixture.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until done.