Our Week in Photos

-4/365 New Year's Resolution

I have never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I tell myself every year that I am going to eat healthier, lose weight, read more, etc. and obviously, according to my size 7 jeans and dusty bookshelf, I never follow through. So this year, I refuse to make any figure changing goals. My only attempt at a resolution is to capture a little more time; take notes on my life. This year has gone by way too fast and I wish I would have stopped and taken a little more time to enjoy it. So hopefully, by reflecting as often as possible, I will learn to appreciate the little things a tiny bit more. 2013 has been one hell of a year. I learned that I have the power to change my life. I have learned that life is way too short to be unhappy. I have learned that you only have one lifetime to live, so you may as well spend it how you’d like and stop caring what anyone else thinks. I have learned that sometimes, mom and dad aren't always right. Sometimes they are, but you have to make your own mistakes; mistakes are quite often the fun part of growing up. I have learned that life may throw you a curve ball, and that is okay. How boring and unadventurous would life be if it was a one way road, all highway, with no beautiful and winding back roads?

Tonight, I kicked off my resolution and documented our delicious dinner. I have been on a baking spree due to my new KitchenAid so today, we decided to make homemade pizza for dinner. I would love to share my Grandmother's dough recipe, but it is on strict lock-down for Denton family members only. However, here is a link to one of my favorites from All Recipes. Ours was simply topped with tomato sauce, cheese, mushrooms, olives, and turkey pepperoni. I never realized how much money we were wasting on frozen pizzas, even buying the cheap kinds. We made two HUGE pizzas for under $5. However, we had most of the ingredients in our kitchen and only had to buy vegetables and pepperoni. We also had enough dough left over to make honey bread for breakfast tomorrow. As a couple, we are trying to cook at home more to save money and keep our food simple and a little healthier...

Cowboy Cookies

Pardon my language, but bloody hell I am addicted. By request from the boyfriend, I whipped up a batch of cowboy cookies this evening  and I can't stop eating them! Did I mention I made them with my new KITCHENAID!!! My parents were wonderful and surprised me with one! I never thought I would own one, and might I say, it looks beautiful in our kitchen! As delicious as this recipe is, I should probably keep it top secret. But it is the season of giving, so merry Christmas!

Cowboy Cookies:

Ingredients:

3 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cinnamon 

1 teaspoon salt

3 sticks softened butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 (7oz) bag sweetened coconut flakes

6 packets instant maple and brown sugar oatmeal

(I forgot to pick up oats at the store and I wasn't about to head out the day before Christmas eve to get more, so I made it work!)

4 cups chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups pecan pieces 

Directions: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Using an electric mixer, cream butter for approx. one minute. Slowly add white and brown sugar to the butter. Once thoroughly combined, add in eggs and vanilla. Slowly add dry mix to wet mix. Once combined, using the electric mixer, add coconut flakes and oatmeal. Using your hands, fold in chocolate chips and pecan pieces. (I attempted to use the Kitchenaid for this, but it got way too thick.) Create balls using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, do not flatten. Leave a good distance between cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet because they flatten quite a bit. Bake for 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes and remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy! 

25 Naughty & Nice Days For Him

I have been spending countless hours planning our Christmas and sticking to a budget. Because we don't have too much money to spend, I am having to get a little creative. To keep the holiday spirit alive and fun, I made my wonderful boyfriend a "grown up" advent calendar. I just purchased a $5 felt advent calendar from Target & stuffed a coupon and little chocolate inside each pocket. Who says the holidays have to be expensive!? I loved the idea so much I thought I should share, please feel free to print and use, but if you pin or re post, please have a link to my site. Happy holidays and enjoy! 

P.S. These coupons were designed to be printed 2x3 & work the best on card-stock. 

Timing and Fate

"Sometimes, it's okay to take a step back and admit you are being ridiculous."

-Unknown

Healing is a beautiful process. It takes time. But sometimes, just when I feel okay, the little voice in my head fills me with all sorts of nasty thoughts. This journey is making me learn more about myself than I ever thought possible. It is amazing how when you are pushed to your limits you realize how strong you are. I have learned to trust myself. I have learned to watch what I say. I have learned that we all have bad days. I have learned it is okay to be alone. I have learned that timing has a funny way of playing out. I believe in fate. I have learned that sometimes, the best thing to say is nothing at all. I have learned that we can’t change the past, but through all of the bad, there is always some form of a blessing. I have learned that the best ideas come from hot showers and long drives to nowhere. I have learned to say no. I have learned that I am not responsible for anyone else’s happiness. I have learned that when you are stressing out about something simply stop and have a cup of tea. But most importantly, I have learned that I am not broken; I will never let this break me.  

List Maker

“She knew this transition was not about becoming better, but about finally allowing herself to become who she’d always been.”

-Amy Rubin

I have always been an independent one. I am a list maker and note taker. I need plans. I can be bossy at times and like having control. In my mind, letting go was a flaw, an imperfection. But what I am slowly learning is that letting go and living in the moment are two beautiful ways to live. There are times for lists and plans, but there are also times to just pack a bag and go.

It is amazing how much pictures truly give away. Looking back at old memories, you can see almost exactly when a spark disappeared from my eyes. The “glow” from my smile was gone. It always seemed so forced. So I stopped smiling for the camera. I will never forget the moment it came back. Suddenly, my world was brighter, the little things didn't bother me so much, and I finally let go.

When you are happy, truly happy, it is almost impossible to hide it. I have learned that my happiness doesn't come from anyone else. I control my mood. I decide how my day is going to go. I may have a long and stressful day ahead at work, but I have a job. All of my money may be going to pay off bills, but at least I have money to pay them. I may have a quarter tank of gas that has to last a week, but at least I have a car to get me places. At the end of the day, there isn't much I can complain about. I am healthy, young, I have a full life ahead of me, and I am truly blessed. I have wonderful family and friends. Honestly, how lucky am I? How many people can truly say they have such an amazing and strong support system who will stick by them through anything? How many people get second chances? My life may be crazy and not exactly how I had planned it, but I am loving almost every second of it.

When you surround yourself with positive thoughts and erase the negativity from your life, it is amazing how

your life can change. For years I thought there was something wrong with me. I was convinced I was doing everything wrong. And I was. I wasn't taking care of myself. I was letting others control my happiness.

Never in my life have I been able to just hop in the car and take a mini vacation without a plan. I have done that twice this month. Never in my life have I eaten a cupcake without feeling guilty. I have done that once this month. Never in my life have I liked my smile. But I am learning to love it. I may get squinty eyes and dimples, but they are mine. Never in my life have I lost track of time. I have been doing that a lot lately. Never in my life have I been able to just let go. It may take baby steps, but I am getting there.

I may have a lot of cleaning up to do, but I couldn't ask to be anywhere else. The road ahead may be a long one filled with obstacles; but what I have learned is that I can truly do anything. At the end of it all, I know it will be worth it. And I can’t wait until the day I can look back and say, “I did it!”

Chapter Two

“In life we do things. Some we wish we had never done. Some we wish we could replay a million times in our heads. But they all make us who we are. And in the end they shape every detail about us. If we were to reverse any of them we wouldn't be the person we are. So just live. Make mistakes. Have wonderful memories. But never ever second guess who you are. Where you have been. And most importantly where it is you're going.”

-Unknown

On July 20, 2013, my life began again. I was given a rare second chance. Life decided to take a complete turn. At the time, I thought life was playing a sick joke. Never would I have imagined I would end up where I was. I felt like I was living a complete out of body experience. I was watching myself go through hell and back. I can’t count the number of times over the past few years I prayed I would wake up and it would have just been a dream nightmare. I was, or I at least I thought I was, trapped.

While I am not ready to tell the world about the past few years, I am loving sharing my present and future. The future is a beautiful thing. I believe in fate but I believe that our actions now eventually lead us to where we belong. While I have made countless mistakes, many of which I am embarrassed and ashamed by, I do not regret them. Without those mistakes, I would not be where I am today. I would not be as strong as I am today. And I would not have the knowledge and strength I have today, which I am often told is far beyond my years.

I have always been a dreamer. I would fantasize about a life other than my own. I would search for happiness in places I didn’t belong. But it is amazing how in a split second that can completely change. I don’t know what exactly happened to me that night, but something in my soul changed. I found a new found confidence and strength. I understood that I didn’t need to rely on others for my happiness. I found a love for myself that allowed me to put myself first and be a little selfish at times. I was always trying to please others, never myself. I have always believed that kindness and compassion are two of the most important qualities in anyone, what I didn’t realize is that you also have to learn kindness and compassion towards yourself.

I have learned that life is a journey and you can never know for certain what comes next. I have learned what true happiness is. I have learned that true friends are hard to find, but when you do, you will know. I have learned that it is okay to let go. I have learned how to ask for help. I have learned that there are very few people in this world you can trust with all your heart, and that is okay. I have learned that we all make mistakes, and I will be judged for them and that is okay too. I can’t change how others view me, but I can forgive myself. I have learned to be kinder and smile more. Even on my darkest days, there is always someone going through something worse than I am. I have learned to enjoy the happy times and simplest of moments, because life is a beautiful gift. I don’t know where life will take me next, but where ever I go, I know I can handle it. Even if it is just one step at a time, I can do anything.