Not So Boring Oatmeal

Oatmeal can be sooo boring for breakfast....When I was a kid I used to think it was gross and how could it ever taste good. There are alot of prepackaged flavored oatmeals out there now and most are not as good for you as you would think. Alot of added sugars and such that just don't make for a healthy start to your day. I have played around with different ideas to make oatmeal a little more exciting in my house. Here is what I came up with....

you will need -

quick cooking oatmeal

agave nectar

raisins

cinnamon

unsweetened applesauce

Start out cooking the desired serving of oatmeal as directed on the box

In a bowl sprinkle a tsp of cinnamon

add in the applesauce and a tbsp of agave nectar

pour the oatmeal over the ingredients in your bowl and stir

sprinkle about a 1/4 a cup of raisins over the oatmeal

Its quick, easy and simply delicious! If you want to be a little more adventurous you can substitute the applesauce and raisins with banans, almonds and or dark chocolate morsels. There are so many ways to enjoy oatmeal that it never has to be boring. Enjoy!

A Song In My Mouth

Out of the mouth of babes, so the saying goes....sometimes, in a transient moment we are given a little gift of unexpected profoundness. The little girl, I babysat today shared such a gift with me. As she and Jacob played outdoors today, I overheard her singing. I didn't know the song but she sang it with all the excitement her little voice could send out into the vast open. She noticed me standing near, looked up with a twinkle and a hint of mischeviousness in her bright eyes and simply said, "there's a song in my mouth." Nothing more, nothing less. Just plainly put, that she was going to sing the song in her mouth. I smiled and thought wow, she had a song to sing and she sang it without hesitation. So, if you have a song in your mouth, sing it!

FRECKLES & CHOCOLATE

 &

So my wonderful husband and I are sitting on the couch, enjoying a movie together with our son. When all of a sudden he looks over at me and says "So, I thought I found a new freckle on my face, on the edge of my eyebrow." I look at him and think ok, that's cool. He continues with, "I touched it to make sure that it was a freckle, and when I touched it, it came off. It was actually chocolate." I laughed hysterically....for several seconds. All I could think about was him touching his new freckle and tasting it. MMMM, taste like chocolate. So if you think you may have found a new freckle, taste it to make sure it's not chocolate. We had just had some dark chocolate after dinner. Knowing how much he loves chocolate he probably ate it like our son does, he wears it. LOL....He would probably get mad at for me sharing this story here with all of you, but it was too funny to keep to myself.



It's official! My beautiful SUV is now a resident of Virginia. We just got the plates and she is wearing them proudly. The picture above is not my license plate (Jacob really loves Buzz and Woody from Toy Story and I couldn't resist this cute pic). September will make a year that we have been living here, I can't believe how time has flown. We moved here right before the foliage began to turn for the autumn season. It was lushly green and everything overgrown and simply magnificent. Once again we are in the lush green time and our garden is blooming and exploding with veggies. My tiger lillies and dahlias are budding and will soon add to all the lovely colors in our backyard. We just got our lemon tree and will be planting it very soon. I look forward to a glass of sweet tea with a slice of lemon from our tree. I hope you all enjoy this beautiful (beautiful here anyhow) summer day and don't forget to thank God for His many blessings in your life!



As I sit here enjoying the delightful sounds of french cafe music I am swept away to Paris. Indulging on a creamy espresso accompanied by a warm, buttered croissant. Sitting at a little corner cafe watching parisians float by talking in delicious tones of french. The air is filled with the scent of warm bread and pastries beyond my wildest sugar fantasies.....

Back to reality - I want to introduce you to my newest addition of tea cups in my collection of assorted, vintage cups. Meet Chloe, yes I name my tea cups. Crazy, I know, but it just gives them all the more character..Chloe sounds french and I can imagine myself drinking from these adorable tea cups in Paris.





So by now I would imagine you all know how much I love to cook/bake/create....Lately I have been slacking in those departments. Unfortunately I have let life's crazy way of making us busy, take me away from what I love to do. I promise myself and those who love my cooking/baking/creating to do better.

My neighbor, whom I shall keep anonymous (clearing throat sound) "Scotty", is always asking where his cupcakes are??? I made him and his wife some delicious peanut butter cupcakes several months ago and ever since then he won't leave me alone about the baking goods. Here's to you Scotty - "I promise to be a slacker no longer and get off my bum and bake you some delicious things"

I know that what I make tastes good but just for once I want to bite into something I've made and just close my eyes and go YUUUUMMMMMMMMMM! Like, really yummmmm. Something that tastes so good it would make your toes curl. Have you ever had something that good that you stop and think, man this is unbelievably tasty? I have a craving to make something so incredibly, finger-lickin, toe-curlin, make you wanna slap yer' mama, G-O-O-D!

I would love to be the modern day Julia Child...maybe I'll just aspire to be good enough to make her Boeuf Bourguingnon well. You are all invited to my dinner party, bring your appetite and some napkins.

Signing off with thoughts of being a great cook with lots of imagination......

Welcome Baby Titus

Congratulations to my best friend Annie, her husband Jason and their daughter Alexus! Baby Titus Conway Michael Roberts, was born at 6:48pm, weighing in at 7lbs 7oz and 21inches long. He's a beautiful baby boy and I know that they are so happy he is finally here. We love ya'll and we join in your happiness for the birth of this precious little gift from God.