DIY Headband and my past weekend...

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend, mine had a little work with some fun and excitement squeezed in! I've been in a crafty DIY kind of mood lately, there's so much that I have lined up to do and I'm excited to share them with you.

This past weekend was my dear friend, Jen's birthday. Jen is one of the most amazing, caring, and giving people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She is part of my Colorado family and I truly feel blessed to have her in my life. I knew I wanted to make her a headband for her birthday to add a little pizazz to her birthday festivities that she always has lined up. She's defiantly a little hippy and I knew this would fit her personality perfect, and I also made one for myself.

Happy Birthday, Jen! I love you!!!

I got to debut my headband on Saturday at the OAR concert at Red Rocks with Boo. Red Rocks is constantly named one of the best venues in the country, if not the world. The place is pure magic, beautiful and stunning, a place that has to be visited! I've been there for hiking and the summer series Film on the Rocks, but this was my first concert and it was phenomenal! Boo and I had such a great time, we look forward to going back for more shows.

Start with small fake flowers and leather lace.

Measure leather 38" and cut 3 strands. Tie a knot at one end and braid, secure with another knot at the end. 

                                         

Hot glue flowers, however many as you wish. 

Secure around head with small knot or bobby pins.

I hope you all are enjoying your summer and getting a chance to explore and have fun!!!

Black Bean Corn Salad and a thinking of Dad...

Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you enjoyed your weekend and had an opportunity to spoil the great dads out there. My dad lives about 1000 miles away from us, so Liam and I sent out cards, pictures, and drawings last week for him. The last time we visited was during fall and we had the chance to go to the apple orchard, it was so fun and Liam still talks about our time spent there with Grandpa. We love and miss you Dad!

Flavor Packed Pasta and dealing with negative opinions...

Hope you all had a great weekend, mine was filled with lots of work and hanging with the Boo. He just moved into his first house, so lots of painting and decorating have been taking place. I love every single minute of it! 

If you all recall on Friday I posted a recipe for whole wheat donuts and a short story of Liam and his love for them. Shortly after that was posted I received my first negative comment as a blogger. In short I said that Liam would do anything for a donut, and as a reward for being good during my hair and dentist appointments, he will get a donut. I deleted the comment immediately cause I don't want anything negative on here ever, but after talking to a few people about it they said that I should have left it to see what others have to say. So here is what this person had to say... "this boy has sit through numerous dentist visits" I'm not surprised! If you are feeding him balls of dough smothered in regular sugar - then you are setting yourself up to be your dentists best friend. There has got to be a healthier way to bribe a kid that rot his teeth out of his head. 

My child is given sweets, only during special occasions or times when he deserves it for being good. He doesn't even drink juice, soda, or chocolate milk, mostly regular milk or water. He will choose broccoli over potatoes. So to the person that was so concerned with what I give my child, you should know the whole story before you give your opinion. My child is one of the healthiest kids I know or ever have known, and that's all my doing. 

OK now onto something tasty...

I'm eating really light lately since summer weather is here. I wanted a pasta that had a lot of flavor and some protein. So I came up with a whole wheat pasta tossed in some sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, lemon, and Parmesan cheese. There's also a little cayenne pepper for a nice kick! Its a perfect summer pasta dish. 

Whole Wheat Donuts and what my child will do for a donut...

So today is National Donut Day, obviously a day that we celebrate in this house. Liam and I both have a love for anything sweet and Liam especially has a thing for donuts. This kid will do anything for a donut, its usually what I use as bribery for good behavior or helping me out. I kid you not, this boy has sit through numerous dentist visits and hair appointments that last upwards to two hours all for a donut! I'm always surprised with how well behaved he will be for a single donut, I should buy him a dozen.

My love for donuts started early as well, I remember my grandma "mommo" making this little donuts that she called mousy's, essentially fried dough that was in the shape of a mouse. My sister and I still reminisce about those. We would stay at her house on the weekends, go to church on Saturday afternoon, come home have dinner, watch the Golden Girls, and Mommo would make some mousy's. Memories I will never forget! 

The Neiman Marcus Cookie and whats been happening in my crazy life...

Hello everyone! I hope that you are enjoying the start of summer, I know that we are around here. Things have been crazy awesome in my life. I'm now only working one job, for the past 3 1/2 years I have had at least two jobs, sometimes three. And I'm so happy about that fact that I only have to focus on one now, I can finally breathe and sleep.

Liam finished school a couple weeks ago, it was bittersweet. I've seen so much growth from him in his first year of preschool, its amazing! His teachers loved him, he was described as a fair friend and always up for an adventure. I'm so proud of my baby! We plan on doing a lot of fun outdoor stuff this summer, camping at the top of the list. Its just him, me, and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Can't wait to share our adventures with you guys.

And probably the most exciting thing is that I found love. I have been single for the past 3 1/2 years and I have found someone that makes me so happy. He's the most honest, sweetest, reliable person that has come into my life in a very long time. It was all very unexpected, I wasn't "looking" for anyone, and in comes the missing piece to my puzzle. We have shared so many great times together and I only look forward to more. I love you, Boo!

Part of the reason I have been MIA lately is because I haven't been feeling like baking or creating. I've had so much on my mind that one more thing couldn't possibly fit. But I'm excited to be back, hopefully full swing before I know it.

Now, on to baking...

A couple weeks ago a coworker told me about the Neiman Marcus cookie recipe, hers were unsuccessful and she was asking for some pointers. I've seen this recipe on Pinterest and decided to give them a try. I really like this recipe, it was equally nutty, chocolaty, and chewy.