my favorite muffin recipe

I *almost* know this recipe by heart, that is how often I make it.  It's a base recipe and each ingredient can be substituted using various options to create completely different muffin combinations. Most often though, I make blueberry and they never last very long in our home.

Ingredient list

3 cups flour

2 cups oats

2 cups milk

2 eggs

1 cup brown sugar (I didn't pack it, but you can if you want)

4 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

1 cup blueberries (although I never measure, I just pour them in--& I use frozen)

*capful vanilla

*tsp cinnamon

*tsp nutmeg (I use it in everything!)

*optional ingredients & I don't really measure, just sprinkle in the mix, but that is a safe guesstimate. ;-)

Preheat oven to 400

put out butter so it can soften or melt

Mix together all the ingredients.

Pour about 1/4-1/3 cup in each muffin tin

Sprinkle a bit of brown sugar & cinnamon on top of each muffin (optional)

Bake for about 15-20 minutes (ovens vary--my antique stove always cooks longer)

Voila'!

Perfect for breakfast, snack or tea time.

What a lovely way to start (or end)  the day.

holiday parties

We've had a few parties to attend this season and I love every bit of it.  I know many people feel over whelmed by the seasonal invitations but I think it's a wonderful way to relax and enjoy ourselves.  It's so easy to get caught up in the spending frenzy, even though we love to the spirit of giving gifts, it can feel too hectic.  

Holiday parties give us time to sit back and simply enjoy.  Relax, smile, dance, play games, fellowship, have dessert.  It says you are important to me, I want to actually see you and spend time with you. I love it.

Tonight I had a lot of fun with my husband, attending his theater's annual holiday event.  We enjoyed a fabulously funny sketch show, a little dancing, watching others karaoke the night away (with a live band), laughing and mingling with friends, light conversations and yummy desserts.

Spending the night celebrating with friends you love and care about is a lovely night indeed.

I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.
- - - Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol"

angel ornamental

 

My daughter & I made this lovely little angel.

merry, merry

Why not? Double the joy, double the merry, double the lovely!

enjoy

 

I've been saving all my jars from foods that we used.

I had a nice variety of sizes to choose from.

I love how these turned out. 

Don't they look yummy?

You can find many variations of the recipe online.

 These are very budget friendly gifts. 
Giving home made gifts are even more lovely.

inspired by one of my favorite blogs: Moms by Heart
more fine details here

let it snow

It's actually 80 degrees outside today. That doesn't stop us from making our own snowballs. Inspired by Ashley I got a few (very inexpensive) supplies to create our own snow balls!

It was the easiest thing ever.

The weather outside is lovely (as opposed to frightful). The ambiance inside is pretty welcoming too.  The holidays brings out the best in our hospitality doesn't it?

Hope you are enjoying the most lovely holiday season as well.

it's magical

Christmastime! It is not my favorite holiday but I still do love mostly everything about it.  This year the weather is quite complimentary to magically, romantic, Christmas nights. Yes, I believe Christmas is one of the most naturally, romantic times of the year.

There is mood lighting everywhere! Driving around looking at Christmas lights is one of my most favorite traditions. If you live in a lovely neighborhood, it is so nice to toss on your scarf, crocheted hat, gloves and coat and take an evening stroll.  Come home, drink a nice cup of tea or enjoy some warm cocoa with the chillers.

Is there any better time of year than Christmas time to snuggle up on the couch with a warm blanket and read some Advent readings? Or a classic Christmas story, bake goodies, decorate cookies.  Move at a slower pace, take time to savor every last morsel of goodness of each day.  Sing Christmas carols.  Greet cashiers with a smile and leave with a hearty Merry Christmas!

The gospel is in every moment, in the mere word, Christmas.  The music on the radio, singing the wonder of the most Holy Night.  Sharing the Joy that has come to the world. During the darkness of winter...songs about the Light of the World are heard.

It's beautiful, isn't it?

Absolutely lovely.