Bloom Where You Are Planted

I have been thinking about this for several days
and decided that the thought needed to be put
into writing- maybe just for me-
but hopefully for you too.

I am almost 100% sure that I am not the only
mom/woman/human/adult (pick your noun)
who worries about the life they are living
and if it is the life they should be or COULD be living!

I have been really been struggling since we made
this most recent move!
It's been almost 2 years, for crying out loud-
and I just can't seem to get any semblance of
BELONGING!

Honestly it is the weirdest thing...
I wish I could explain it without sounding WEIRD!

Anyway,
I have offered many prayers on this matter and
a few days ago, I feel that I got a mini-answer
Maybe not an answer,
but definitely a little bit of an understanding.

You see,
I feel like I've been holding back since we moved to Texas-
definitely not on purpose,
and definitely not on everything...
but I've been holding back those things that I love-
love to share, love to create and love to do!

For 9 years we lived somewhere that we loved-

Our beautiful home in small town MN

kind people, great friends, awesome experiences!

Pig Roast in a garage- classic MN entertaining venue

I loved to decorate, craft, scrapbook, sew

Ten years of Ornament Exchange ornamentation- my favorite tradition EVER!!

and mostly I loved to host...

Andover Ward Ten Year Anniversary

ANYTHING and EVERYTHING-

I loved to find a reason to have a bunch
of people together laughing and having a good time!

6th Annual 4th of July Bike Parade

We had a lot of space,

Human Foosball at our 'Nothing Like a Good Friend Party'

a lot of flexibility

Ice Hockey on our Front Yard Pond

and it was simply what I LOVED to do...

Every good Bike Parade ends with a game of Water Baseball

I started hearing some pretty unkind criticism of
the things I loved to do,
and I noticed that I started to hold back and feel
anxious when I wanted to host a party or an activity-
I tried so hard to not allow the unkind remarks of some
to influence my heart,
but I fell prey to human emotion
and the remarks left a sting.

And then we moved...
No one knew me, which meant
no one knew what I did in my spare time
or what talents or skills I had or didn't have

and I found that I became a different version of ME!

We became Beach Bumms to the MAX

To be honest, I liked this version of me quite a bit too...
weekends at the beach,

Muscle Beach... always a FAV

Any Day is a Beach Day

lunch with friends, shopping in the city-
my husband has teased that I was on a 3 year play date :)

And because I felt like a blank slate,
I incorporated some things into my life that I hadn't
taken enough time for before-

Yoga moved from an exercise routine to a way of life

Over time, I started to add some of the old me back
into my life and things were really starting to click
that this could be my new HOME!

Pasta Parties before a Swim Meet

Kids in the Kitchen cooking classes

AND THEN WE MOVED AGAIN!

and I feel like a clean slate that just doesn't dare to be
inked up or colored on.
But I also feel a little lost and a lot lonely-


Now I want to take a minute to say, that
there are some things that I have added to my life
because of where I am emotionally that I LOVE-

So I'm not a male accordion player- but I do spend a lot of time in peaceful contentment

and honestly I wouldn't trade these things for the world-
or for either of my past lives!
 
But it doesn't change the fact that I feel a little disconnected...

So as I was praying one day,
desperate for guidance or understanding,
I envisioned a beautiful flower-

alone in a meadow.
Though the flower was alone amongst all the green foliage,
it was blossoming in it's full glory-
big, colorful and full of God's splendor.

I realized that not for one moment did that flower
hesitate to bloom,

never once did it question how long it
would be able to sustain that blossom nor did it ask
how many people would get to see it's beauty-

The flower blossomed because it was time
AND that is what it was created to do-
to reach it's full potential,
to magnify the measure of its creation.

I thought about this ALL day-
and I asked myself a lot of questions.

Why am I holding back?
What am I holding back?
Who am I waiting to give me permission to live the life
I want to live?
Why do I think it matters where I live to fulfill the full
measure of MY creation?

I loved this visual aid that Heavenly Father gave me.
I do better when I can SEE the lesson-
and I could SEE this!
Not only could I see the flower imagery,
but I could apply it into my own life.

I understand a little more why I feel so disconnected
AND more importantly,
I understand what I need to do to fix it-

I need to consider my life as a wonderful journey-
similar to a walk in a park with little kids!

My kiddos could walk along and gather
anything and everything-
rocks, sticks, leaves...
At the end of the day they were the same
beautiful kids they were at days beginning
(probably a little dirtier)
BUT they had gathered a lot of little treasures to take home with them!
Some treasures we keep,

It's not what you do, but who you do it with that really matters

some we outgrow or leave behind

These treasures moved on to their own bigger and better...

and some are precious enough to display...

Some people come into your life long enough to make a forever imprint on your heart

I just happen to be walking through a much larger park :)

I just need to remember that we have gathered some amazing treasures over the years

Enjoy your day
Enjoy where you are right now
And never let a single day pass by
without living up to the full potential of THAT DAY

Day 77- Take off The Rose Colored Glasses

First things First,
I don't have a problem with
Rose Colored Glasses,
 
BUT
I do have a problem with
Rose Colored Glasses that only
seem to see the best in everyone else
AND the worst in ourselves.

It is so easy to look around and see
the GOOD in everyone else's lives and
compare that to the BAD in our own!

I think when trying to get in shape,
lose weight or find health, it is all the more
easy to compare our bad with our
neighbors good! So stop that now-
like RIGHT NOW!!

I think the biggest false rumor in the diet and
fitness world is that the gym is full of
beautiful, fit women who have not a care in the
world except feeding their insane vanity!

I have been a member of gyms for over 20 years,
in five states and I have never found this to be true.

What I love about going to classes,
besides the motivation of the instructor,
is the unity and comraderie in the class.

I love that when you see this,

what you really have is a room full of women & men,
each with a different obstacle,
but all working towards a common goal-
Health & Wellness!

I love that when you see this,

What you really should see is a room full
of people all working at different levels,
different strengths and weaknesses!

Within the classes that I regularly attend there is...
* a diabetic who avoids intense treatment by regular exercise
* a woman with fibromyalgia whose pain is
managed by strength training
* a young woman who went to the doctor for a cold,
but instead found that her heart was near failure
and is hoping she can avoid major surgery with
increased fitness
* a long distance runner, who has been fit her
entire life
* a recovering anorexic who desperately is trying to
overcome the abuse her body has suffered by giving
it strength and wellness
* woman who has finally lost the excess weight simply
with proper diet and nutrition and the support of the
friends she has met at the gym
* and many more whose stories I don't know, but I
feel confident enough to know that it is not vanity that
gets them to they gym each day- it is outright determination
to overcome something!

I hope you pause to do a reality check the next
time you put the rose colored glasses on-
things are not always what they seem.
There are stories, fears and challenges
behind every smiling face. Rather than compare,
I dare you to share-
share your story, your successes and your fears-
chances are you'll make gain more than muscle
in your next gym class!

Stats & Facts:
B: Mango Berry Protein Shake, cantalope
S: Celery with Peanut Butter
L:  Tuna on a rice cake with salsa
S: grapes, frozen yogurt
D: Veggie Stir Fry
 Total Calories 1212
Gym Class 60 minutes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

I am here to issue a great big
WARNING!!!
These Cupcakes are yummy-

not since I made the
Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Salted Caramel Cupcakes

& these Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes
have I made a cupcake that knocked
my socks off the way these have-

You know you have hit on success
when there is bowl licking

batter dipping & smiles oozing out of the kitchen...

Enjoy the recipe:


Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

1 box Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup oil
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract**
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sour cream

Peanut Butter Frosting
1 cube butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1/3 cup peanut butter
2 tsp. vanilla extract**
4-5 cups powdered sugar

24 mini peanut butter cups

** I use Nielsen- Massey Vanilla Bean Paste,
and I believe especially in the frosting this
makes a TON of difference.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In large bowl combine moist ingredients, don't over mix.
Combine wet and dry ingredients.
I let my mixer run for several minutes so
the batter is nice, light and airy.
Bake for 17-22 minutes until toothpick
comes out clean.
Allow to cool for just a few minutes and
than stuff a peanut butter cup in the center
of each cupcake.

Cool completely (I cool mine in a plastic
container with the lid on to retain moisture)
Frost with Peanut Butter Frosting

top with chocolate shavings if desired-

Oh mama mia, soo deliciouso!!

Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes

It is absolutely NO Secret
that I fell onto the
Cupcake Craze of our nation
FAST & HARD!!!

And I will say,
I drug my beautiful daughters
right on that little bandwagon-

it just ain't NO fun at all
to pick up an obsession
ALL by MYSELF!

My absolute favorite cupcake flavor
is Chocolate Coconut,
but I am here to say that very few
Cupcake Bakeries make this little
simple wonder-

so I have tried and tried to find the
perfect recipe.

I thought I had found it this fall
when we had all of the farewell parties
before we moved,

but alas,
that recipe has been updated,
modified and definitely
PERFECTED!

I seriously wasn't about to share any more
treat recipes-
I just can't keep talking about eating healthy
and than sharing treats right?????

But I made these little wonders
for my daughters sweet 16th
celebration at school
and got a zillion compliments
and requests for the recipe.

Flower gummies added only for the Spring Fling Cupcakes

So I made them again,
and I got the same result.

So,
YOU guessed it,
I made them again,
this time with a spring flair

and shared them for a Welcome Spring
treat for some friends of my husband!

With all the compliments and requests
I just have to share the recipe here-

Here's to the Extra 5 pounds these cupcakes
have added to my bod,
Enjoy!!!

Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes
 

Chocolate Cake:

1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix

1 TBSP dutch process cocoa (I added this to give a deep chocolate flavor)

1/2 cup oil

3 eggs

3/4 cup buttermilk

3/4 cup sour cream

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste

½ tsp. coconut extract

(I also used 1 TBSP of chocolate liqueur- this is optional)

*** One huge secret to the crumb of this cupcake is to let it mix for 5-6 minutes. It becomes very creamy, light and airy. Oh so good!

Coconut Cream Frosting:

8 oz. cream cheese

½  cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (this makes a HUGE difference in the frosting, you can use vanilla extract, but it will taste a bit different)

1 ½  teaspoons coconut extract

4-5 cups powdered sugar

*** really let the cream cheese and butter mix together to form a nice creamy mix before adding the other ingredients. I like to put the extracts in before the powdered sugar to make sure it really is incorporated into the frosting.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pan with cupcake liners.

Sift cake mix into a small bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl, gently whisk oil, eggs, buttermilk, sour cream and vanilla paste and liqueur.

Combine cake mix and wet ingredients alternately starting and ending with cake mix.

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 16-20 minutes, or until an inserted knife comes out clean.

Immediately transfer hot cupcakes to a dish that can be sealed and let them cool completely covered- this allows the cupcakes to maintain a very moist crumb!

Coconut Cream: Beat cream cheese and butter for 4 minutes. Add vanilla and coconut extract. Slowly add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Scrape down bowl as needed.

Pipe coconut cream on cooled cupcakes and roll in shredded coconut.

Day Fourteen: Creating Home (Home is Where the Heart is)

My oldest daughter turned 18 yesterday!

For her birthday, she had several friends take her
for a day of celebration-
she went to lunch,
out for frozen yogurt,
for cupcakes (it was vegan day),
out to dinner,
and finally out for ice cream!!
REALLY, all this in ONE DAY!

She ran into an awesome boy,
Josh is his name
(no names have been changed to protect the innocent)
that we met last year on a cruise through the Caribbean!

Josh on the right, on excursion with our family

Running into him made me think of this amazing cruise-

we were with 5 of our 6 kids
and we had a blast.
Cruises are fun because you are on this big vacation with
a ton of strangers that become friends within a few days!

These four boys were just the mini testosterone my son needed after being with four sisters

My kids make friends fast on a cruise,

so within a few short hours (at least that's how it seemed)

we were in the middle of a TON of amazing kids

from all over the country.

We have stayed in touch with many of them for over a year,
but Josh randomly was from our little corner of the world,
so we have seen him a lot-
and he has become someone we all love dearly!

I'm sharing this, because as we are preparing to leave
another HOME,
I am continually finding myself amazed
that HOME has more to do with where your HEART is,
than where your linens are stored, your bed is made
or your dishes are washed!

For 7 days in June of 2010,
HOME was in the middle of the Caribbean on a
ship bound for 4 beautiful Islands!

It feels like HOME to me,
if there is laughter, joy and smiling faces all around!