I Am Grateful

  

I enjoy a healthy life.  I live without pain or daily medication, for that I am most truly grateful. Sure, from time to time I get caught up in things that put a bend in my path. But it's the love I give and the love I receive that helps me live the good life. 


Hope that your Sunday's a good one.

This Moment

A single picture capturing a snippet in the week. No words, just this moment in time.

Join in the fun with a group of bloggers sharing their moments. The movement started with Soulemama, you can see more moments in the comments section.

Happy Hour Soap

Who doesn't like a Margarita? Close your eyes and take a deep breath, lime, salt, and hint of tequila. When I made this soap, the whole house smelled like a margarita, yum.

This soap is a true delight to your skin with a blend of olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, cocoa and shea butter. It starts with large bubbles and works it way into a luxurious creamy lather.

Tonight I think I'll have a margarita in the tub. I'm quite sure that this one is safe to indulge in any hour of the day.

Parades, Fireworks, And Cookie Dough Dip

Here in Center County the 4th of July festivities go on for days. Each small borough had a parade and many have firework displays, all of this happening on different days. 

Our city had their annual Fireman's Parade this past Saturday. After the parade my neighbor hosted a  party. I had intended on bringing a tray of cake pops to the party but could not bring myself to turning on my oven to bake the cake needed to make the pops. So I had to rethink my plan. I had pinned a recipe for a dip on one of my boards on Pinterest. I took another look at it and decided to take a chance on it. I'm glad that I did. It was a hit with everyone.

I had to leave the leftovers behind because I knew that we could consume all of the leftovers that evening. Better that all of the kids eat it and not me.

This dip comes together in less than five minutes and is ready to head out the door without any time in the refrigerator for all of the flavors to mingle. It is very akin to a decadent frosting that you dip a cookie into. Feel free to put as much on a cookie as your heart desires.

Cookie Dough Dip

1 8 oz package cream cheese softened
1/2 cup butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup toffee bits


1. Cream together the cream cheese, vanilla, and butter.
2. Add in the remaining ingredients and mix till well combined.
3 Serve with graham cracker, vanilla wafers, and apple wedges.

Source: Add a Pinch

Avalanche Bars, Yummy Gluten Free Goodness

I love these bars, they are gluten free and don't require the use of the stove or oven. They are a great last minute dessert option when you don't know what to take to a party or just want a sweet treat. Best of all they are delicious.

To make this delicious treat you will need one bag of white chocolate chips, 1/4 cup peanut butter, three cups rice krispies, 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows. A pretty simple list of ingredients.

Before you begin, prepare a 8 x 8 pan by lining it with parchment paper or spraying it with non-stick spray.
Place the white chocolate chips in a microwave bowl and heat on medium power for 30 seconds at a time till melted. This step took my microwave four 30 second increments. Add the peanut butter and mix to combine. Stir in the rice krispies and combine till  all of the cereal is mixed  and well coated with the peanut butter and chocolate mixture. Lastly mix in the marshmallows and mini chocolate chips. 

Pour or plop mixture into the prepared pan and lightly press into pan. Lastly add an additional 3 tablespoons of mini chips on top. Cut into squares and enjoy.

Source:Cookies & Cups

Sharing Your Passion

Just one of the many beautiful plants that Dot shared with me, coneflowers. 

This past week my neighbor passed away and it's made me think about the mark we leave on people when we are gone. Dot loved to garden, like me she could get lost in a plot of dirt. Over the past couple of years she has shared with me many cuttings from her garden. She was generous with her love and her passion for her garden was infectious.

So, like Dot I hope to inspire those around me to be more and lead an uncommon life.

Playing With New Fragrance

A couple of months ago I poured a batch of soap with a new fragrance. I test all new fragrances before offering them to my customers. I like to know the behavior and mostly the staying power of fragrances. There is nothing worse that a fragrance that starts out strong and then fades to nothing but a hint of it's former self.

I am happy to say that I will be adding Sun Kissed Laundry to my line of soaps. I love how this fragrance lingers on my skin after a bath, leaving you with a clean fresh scent. It smells like a pile of clean laundry, neatly folded and ready be put away. That image alone is one of my happy thoughts.

I hope that your Saturday is a cool safe one. 

This Moment

A single picture capturing a snippet in the week. No words, just this moment in time.

Join in the fun with a group of bloggers sharing their moments. The movement started with Soulemama, you can see more moments in the comments section.

Happy Fourth of July

Wishing you a safe and happy Fourth of July. We will celebrate by barbecuing and watching fireworks in State College. Bellefonte will have their annual parade on Saturday July7th and fireworks Friday July 6th. So I guess that it will be a long weekend full of festivities. 

Boys Who Photobomb

We were out on a walk along one of our favorite trails, enjoying our time together. My son went off to explore and climb a rock wall. As we waited for him I decide to take a picture of some wildflowers along the path.

Such pretty wildflowers with boy sliding down wall of rocks in background. I say that it is more interesting that way. Life is always interesting around here.

I Am Grateful

 "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

  Nora Ephron

Sometimes I find it hard to move forward, afraid of any missteps or failures. I've found it hard this week to write, edit, make decisions on my next post. I guess that I would call it writer's block. It's easy not to move forward. 

I'm grateful for those who believe in me and are always in my corner. I lead a blessed life.