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Thursday, April 29, 2010

berries part2.

 berry cheesecake muffins



ingredients:
1/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup milk

cream cheese mixture:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup fresh starwberries
3/4 cup fresh blackberries
(or any berries you want)

streusel topping:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cold butter

directions:
in a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. add eggs; beat well. combine the flour, baking powder and cinnamon; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups one-third full.

for cream cheese mixture: in a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth. fold in the berries. drop a rounded tablespoonful into the center of each muffin.

for streusel topping: combine the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. sprinkle over batter. (muffin cups will be full.)

bake at 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. serve warm. refrigerate leftovers.

(i got the recipe from here)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

let the light in...

i love natural light! it is so inspiring to me... it's all i have ever used in my own photography. & someday i dream of having a house that lets the natural light flood in through amazing, big windows. i would love to have a big sun room or a cute little window seat. ohh, that would be so nice. here is some really pretty window inspiration...

^ a little nap in this bright loft would be so perfect. 
source: apartment therapy

^ the most amazing window seat i have ever seen. :)  
source: apartment therapy

^ i love the light shining through the colorful glass in the window. 
source: apartment therapy
^ i am not sure where i found this one, sorry.... but i still had to include it.
i just love country cottage charm!! :)

^ wow! pure white!! & oh my, i love those window seats!! this image is from here.

& the following photos of this cute appartment come from here.


Monday, April 26, 2010

spring trees & more! on film.

a few weeks ago i tried to shoot film for the first time in a while and unfortunately i didn't load the camera quite right, so the film didn't get pulled through like it was supposed to. i am still a bit confused on what happen, but because it's an old camera i thought i was taking photos, when i wasn't. anyway, i had to start over. i got a little bit of help and the second time around it turned out much better! :) obviously i am not a pro at shooting film. but i like the way the photos turned out & i am just doing this for fun anyway!!











Sunday, April 25, 2010

sweet berries. part1.

 i love to bake.
of course photography/design is my dream job, but if i had to choose a different one... i might want to be a pastry chef.
pies, cookies, & cakes... love.
of course, i also love taking photos of food, so maybe there is a job in that... hmmm...
:)
so anyway, i made two yummy treats this past week! with strawberries & blackberries.
here is the first one. berry crisp. yummm.
{i will get to the second recipe, with photos a little later this week.}



Strawberry & Blackberry Crisp

ingredients:
2 cups fresh blackberries
2 cups fresh strawberries
(of course you could use whatever berries you want)
4 tablespoons white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
(i added more cinnamon & nutmeg, because i love them!!!)
1 1/2 cups butter
 
directions:
preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

in a large bowl, gently toss together the berries and white sugar; set aside.

in a separate large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. cut in butter until crumbly. press half of mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. cover with the berries. crumble the remaining mixture over the berries.

bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until fruit is bubbly and topping is golden brown.

*serve warm with vanilla frozen yogurt. :)

sunday love.


{photos by me. yay! lilacs are about to be in full bloom. life is beautiful & i am so thankful.}

"our calling is not to become perfect, but to become inextricably linked to the One who is perfect."

Saturday, April 24, 2010

"let's get together, yeah, yeah, yeah..."


last night, i watched my most favorite childhood movie, the parent trap (1961), for maybe the 200th time!! you know how kids are with movies they love... when i was a kid, we would watch movies until the VCR actually ate the tape. thanks to technology, kids don't have to worry about that anymore... haha!

yes, i loved that movie. & of course i still do love it. i still daydream about living in that beautiful california ranch house... ahhh!! if you have never seen the movie, watch these videos to see what it looks like! oh my goodness, it is so pretty & definitly has that 60s charm!! i love it!




plus, isn't the vintage clothes amazing!?!?
:)

Friday, April 23, 2010

& the winner is...

first of all, i want to say THANK YOU! to everyone who entered my first ever giveaway!! it was so fun to read all of your comments! they were all so sweet! & i completely loved all of your favorite things about spring, they are all my favorites too!! :) also, i am so glad to have discovered all of your fun blogs through this! i love making new friends! thanks again!

& now for the big announcement:
according to random.org, the random number is............

the Spring Giveaway Winner is the 11th comment...
JEN!!
Jen, if you will send me an email: brightside_02@hotmail.com, with the item you want from my etsy shop & your mailing address! i will be sure to get your prize in the mail asap!!
YAY!!


**if you missed this giveaway or didn't win... be sure to check back at my blog regularly, i will be having more fun giveaways & freebies in the future! also, i will post important info about etsy updates & sales in my shop!!! thanks so much to everyone who entered!


love. sarah ♥

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

{happy little things}


here are 5 things that make me happy...
1.pink tulips in my pretty yellow vase. i took pretty photos of them too.


2.crisp spring mornings. every day this week my sister and i have gone for a brisk morning walk, with my doggie! the air is crisp & cool, the foggy-ness is amazingly beautiful, & of course it's good for us to get the exercise. i absolutely love these morning walks & i think, the doggie may love them even more!

3. "come away my beloved". i just started reading this devotional and it has already blessed me so much. written by Frances J. Roberts, it is full of wonderful words of encouragement. here is one of my favorite quotes from it, so far: "oh my soul, be anxious for nothing. it is enough that your Father loves you, He takes thought of your smallest need."
4.colorado rockies baseball. now that baseball has started up again, i have colorado rockies fever! i love watching the games & cheering for them! it is tons of fun! i can't wait to go see a game soon! go rox!!

5.dark chocolate raisinets. so yummy!!! & they have antioxidants, so that makes them a healthy snack!! right? haha! as long as i keep myself from eating too many at once, then i think i am good.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

through my camera lens: think pink!

i took these photos this morning! i love when the pretty pink trees are in full bloom, it is one of my favorite things about spring! & they smelled so amazing! i wish you could smell them through the computer!
{ps. don't forget to enter my giveaway in the post below this one...}







& i set the timer for this one... it didn't focus, but i love the way the background looks, so i posted it! :)

Monday, April 19, 2010

spring time giveaway!!!

hello everyone! & happy monday!
i have decided to start off this week with a fun giveaway on my blog!!! one special person will win any item they want from my etsy shop! & it is really simple to enter! just leave me a comment on this post, telling me what your favorite thing is about spring!!

i will randomly select & post the winner on friday!

so you have all week to visit my etsy shop, & think about what item you would choose, if you were to win!! :) & of course you will want to check back here on friday, to see if you won!
good luck!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

wishing for rain...

the weather has been really grey the last couple of days, but like always, the dry & dusty place where i live, is not getting any rain... bummer. i am sitting here wishing that it would rain a little bit... hopefully it will! in the mean time, here is some rainy day inspiration! :)
^ grey, rainy days always make me want to watch one of my most favorite movies, "pride & prejudice"... so beautiful!

^ i love this adorable umbrella necklace, with an aquamarine "rain drop" from lexi & gem etsy shop!
^ photo source: david urbanke
^ i have always wanted one of these bubble umbrellas! they are so cute & would make a perfect photo prop! they are for sale at http://www.target.com/! i might have to go buy one very soon!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

greeting cards for sale on etsy!!

i have been feeling very inspired lately... i guess it is in this lovely spring air!! so i decided to use some of my latest designs for some {pretty cute, if i do say so myself...} greeting cards, that are now FOR SALE in my etsy shop! :) i am so excited about it because i really am happy with how they came out!!! here are the designs! let me know what you think! & if you like them... head on over to my little etsy shop to find out more about purchasing them for yourself!!
also... remember, i still have free shipping on selected items in my etsy shop right now!
:)
thanks everyone!!