A long time comin'...

So it finally happened. 

I got my hurr did! 

After sporting a nasty, dead ended, rat tail for the last year, (that's right people. YEAR!) it was time for a haircut.  

You should see the faces my hair stylist makes every time she sees me. 

Which is just about once a year. Give or take. 

'Hmm. What's going on over here? (finger pointing at my mess of a hair) Your hair looks, umm..pretty dead. When was the last time you've had it cut?' 

Every time. Same speech. 

At least she doesn't straight up say that it looks like a dead bird's nest up in there. 

Which would have been the perfect way to describe it. 

The bangs are still taking some adjustment. But I'm working on it. 

Also, how come that as soon as I walk out of a hair salon, I can never get my hair to look that way again? 

It's like they spray it with magic unicorn spit in there, that washes out after the first shower. 

This girl however, can sport those pig-tails like a pro I tell you! 

And of course no photo-shoot is over until Giada eats some dirt or dog food. This time it was potting soil and mulch. 

Good thing I love her to pieces and then some. 

Happy Thursday loves! 

Linking up with embrace the camera and the pleated poppy.

Get your fix on

I wouldn't say I'm an emotional eater.
But somedays I can hear the chocolate call my name. 
Somedays I even hear the booze call my name. 
But since I don't drink, I hide it in the chocolate. 
What is it about alcohol infused desserts that make them taste so much better? 
Am I alone in feeling this way? 
Don't cha lie to me now... You closet alchi's, raise your hands up high now.  


Anyway... 
Yesterday was one of those days when I needed chocolate. 
And as soon as I opened my pantry door, a box of chocolate cake mix started flirting with me right away.


That hussy. It knew I needed a fix! 


Now, you bakers-from-scratch peeps, don't you be rolling your eyes at me. 
Baking and I have never seen eye to eye, so I gave up that dream long ago. 
Now I cheat every chance I get.  
And if the end result is stuff-my-fat-mouth delicious...
Then who are you to judge me? 


Now, if you're a chocolate addict  just like me...
Follow my footsteps closely, and I promise you won't regret it. 
This stuff is the bomb yo. 


Ready? 


Here we go: 


Follow the directions on the chocolate cake box. 
Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray it with oil. 
Stuff the filling in a large ziplock bag, cut a small corner and squeeze the cake mix onto the cookie sheet.
Make them the size of regular cookies... 
And NOT the size of your toddler's head like I did. 
Cook them for about 10-12 minutes or until they look done and the toothpick you stab them with comes out clean. 

Once done, let them cool off for a few minutes before picking one up to photograph. 

While you're cookies are cooking get your filling ready. 

Which if you ask me, is the best part. 

I used: 

3tbs sour cream 

1/8 cup confectioning sugar and then 1/4-1/2cup 

2pck cream cheese 

vanilla and rum extract 

zest of one lemon 

strawberries 

Start out by beating the life out of that sour cream plus 1/8 cup of sugar. 

You want it to form peeks like real creamer would.

It makes it good. Don't ask any other questions. That's all you need to know. 

In a separate bowl beat the soft cream cheese, the rest of the sugar, lemon zest, vanilla and rum extract. 

Here's a secret. I almost never measure anything. 

No wonder baking is not my strong suite. 

BUT

When it comes to those flavors I just taste it until I like what I'm getting. 

You really can't go wrong unless you spill the whole bottle of vanilla or rum extract in the mixture. 

Fold in the sour cream. 

Next and almost final step...

Take two cooled cake cookies, smother them in frosting, place sliced strawberries on one side, let the two sides marry.... 

Let them honeymoon for 1hr in the fridge...

And you've got an out of this world masterpiece. 

Your mouth will forever thank you. 

Last step? 

Stuff your overly tired, overly anxious, overly addicted face. 

I think I heard some angels sing.  

Go on now. Give into your addiction. You know you want to. 

Happy weekend loves! 

Let Go, and Let God

I always learn things the hard way. 

Ok, not always always, but almost always. 

Especially when it comes to God's lessons and timing. 

I have a hard time with that. With the waiting and the being patient. 

And especially with the 'let it be your will Lord, not mine.'

I want things done now and prayers answered yesterday. 

I know I'm not the only one to feel that way. 

I know it's in human nature to feel anxious and hold on to your own will with your teeth.

And I know that God won't answer my prayers any sooner if I get on the floor and kick my feet and fists and throw tantrums like a toddler, demanding answers right this second. 

But that's what I do sometimes. More or less. 

Still. Just because I know the reason things are not going my way has nothing to do with me and everything to do with Him...

It doesn't make my heart hurt any less.

It doesn't make my tears stop flooding my face. 

And it sure doesn't stop that punch-to-my-stomach feeling I receive every time I realize that His timing is still not here. Still not now. 

And then when I feel like I'm two short inches away from the end of my rope...

I look back at all my 'delayed answers' from the past, and realize how truly perfect they are. 

All of them precisely in the order and time they were supposed to happen. 

Like a masterpiece unfolding in my mind. 

All those tears I wasted. All those sleepless nights. 

For nothing. 

His will was going to be done with or without me losing half of my mind over those issues. 

All I needed was patience and trust. 

And I'm reminded once again that He is perfect.

  And tears flood my face once more. 

Only this time they are full of joy because I server such an almighty God. 

This is what I need to remember again and again and again in this season of my life. 

That I need to let go and let God. 

I need to stop my tantrums, cushion the blow to my heart with his promises, move over to the passenger seat, and let him take control of my life. 

Because not only does he make all things beautiful in his time, but he has promised me that 'all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.' (Mat. 21:22) 

And he knows me well enough to know I will never stop asking. 

Or believing.