Merry Christmas.

Wishing you all peace, love and joy this holiday season!

Growing up.

The older I get, the faster time seems to fly. I can't believe it's half way into November and approaching the end of the year already...didn't we just have Halloween? And wasn't it just summer not too long ago?

It seems like yesterday, I was holding my precious newborn babies wondering what life would be like when they could walk, talk, play, and sing. Those days I have been dreaming about seems to be passing by just as fast as they have been approaching and a part of me is scared. a little anxious. a lot excited. Mommyhood has been a blessing and a trial...the hardest thing and the best thing that has ever happened to me.

My little ones, as you grow up, please remember, that mommy has and will always love you. Be there for you and with you every step of the way. Cry with you, laugh with you, learn and grow with you.


I love you...

to the moon and back.

Cream Cheese Cookies.

 

3 oz cream cheese, softened
1 stick (8Tbsp) butter, room temp
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp lemon juice

1. Using a handmixer, cream together butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and lemon juice, and mix well. Stir in the flour using a spoon or spatula, just until incorporated.

2. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Space them out 1 1/2 inches apart from each other, as they will spread just a little. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes until edges are crispy and golden brown. *tip: edges burn pretty easily depending on oven and baking sheet, so keep a close eye on your first batch and adjust accordingly...[For the Ghost cookies (Halloween post), I used about a tablespoon and a half and shaped/flattened the dough right on the baking sheet. I used dried blueberries for the eyes, but chocolate chips would work great too!]

These cookies are creamy, tangy, sweet, chewy, and yummy. I hope you'll give them a try!

Spookilicious.

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Halloween, now my son's "favrite" holiday. This year we had a blast with our candy-loving sugar monsters -- being able to actually enjoy trick-or-treating without feeling like the greedy adults using their kids as an excuse to get lots of candy. If you can't guess what they were, N was a hobo by day, selling his little trick monkey brother to get lots of candy, and of course, Batman by night. My sweet mom overnighted this Batman costume for N after he told her what he really wanted to be this year for Halloween. I know, we're cheap horrible parents. But thank goodness for awesome grandparents :)

Lastly, make sure to check out how I made the Ghost cream cheese cookies in this post!

and with that....

New Hair.

A few weeks ago, after much thought and not so much planning, I cut almost 10 inches off of my hair. A ton of weight off my shoulders + less tangled messes in the morning meant less time spent drying in tropical weather and no more wet buns at night. I wanted to go a little more dramatic with the color, but I am happy with the overall result.
PS taking self-portraits is an art...one I have not mastered......and having the husband take it for you isn't much better ;)

A day to remember.

"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life,
love gives us a fairy tale." - Anonymous

My brother-in-law got married last month. The whole weekend was perfection, and I had the privilege of photographing it all. more HERE.

Guacamole: a favorite.

It's true. I love anything with avocado. Especially guacamole...well, I don't even know if that's even the correct term for this recipe because it's not mashed up avocado like a typical "guacamole"...it's more like a fresh salsa or pico de gallo with avocado -- It's light, fresh, vibrant, and TASTY.

Guacamole
(Adjust ingredients/seasoning to taste and to your liking)

2 ripe avocados, diced
1 roma tomato, seeded and diced
2 Tbsp finely chopped onion
A handful of cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp lime (or lemon) juice
1/2 tsp garlic salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp cumin
A dash of black pepper
 *Corn and/or beans optional

Pour lime juice over diced avocado. Add remaining ingredients and mix.
Use it on your favorite taco, burrito or any Mexican dish -- my personal favorite is this guac atop some sweet pulled pork, cilantro rice and a tomatillo dressing, wrapped in a homemade tortilla. << a recipe to be shared later ;)  >> What dish would you put it on?