{my photography} spring blooms...

photos from my weekend...

My weekend was full of so many happy things! I enjoyed the beauty of the spring blooms & the amazing spring weather. I ate the best cheeseburger & fries at a favorite local restaurant. & I played tennis, twice!!

Also, I saw this movie...

I won't say anything about the movie itself, but I will say that I believe in the messages of this movie 

& I believe everyone should see it! It was very moving & beautifully created! 

{ Every Life Is Beautiful }

my {week thirteen} memory verse...

see my verses from weeks...

one & two  ||  three  ||  four  || five  || six || seven  ||  eight  || nine || ten  || eleven || twelve

happy saturday!!

It has been a beautiful Saturday... summer-like weather & the pretty spring trees are in bloom! 

Life is Beautiful.

I can't wait to share more of my photos, soon!! 

a few things i am loving...

... I am loving that "golden hour" is at 7pm!!! Praise the Lord!!

... I am loving this teal nail color!!

... I am loving this new soup that I made for dinner last night! Yumm!

(& I love that I have left overs for lunch today!!)

Here is the recipe...

Sausage & Kale Soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, diced

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

¼ teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes (optional)

5 potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size chunks

3 cans chicken broth

1 bunch kale, stemmed and roughly shredded

12 ounces of ground sausage, whatever kind you'd like: Italian, Turkey, etc...

(I used reduced-fat pork sausage & it tasted great)

Directions

In a large pot, heat oil over medium. Add diced onion and cook until soft. Add minced garlic and red-pepper flakes; cook for about a minute. Add the chicken broth & then the potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the ground sausage. Season to taste.

Once the potatoes are done, take out about ¼ to half of the soup and puree it in a blender or food processor. Return the pureed soup to the pot; add the kale and the cooked ground sausage. Allow to simmer until the kale is wilted, about 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Have a Happy Weekend!

inspired by: indoor plants...

Because spring is here & my little flowers are growing... I have felt so inspired by potted plants! I know I will be planting outside very soon, but I think it's good to have a little bit of nature inside too. I would love to have my own collection of pretty green plants! I especially love the idea of clustering lots of plants together, to make one big indoor garden. Sitting plants in front of big windows is just what they need & it makes any room so bright & airy! These photos give me such inspiration...

{ design sponge }

{ apartment therapy }

{design sponge}

{ planting succulents }

{ colorful succulents  for sale on etsy }

{ beautiful plant table seen on  for me, for you }

{ creative idea for hanging wall planters, would be great for herbs }

recipe: my favorite banana bread...

My Favorite Banana Bread

Ingredients...

1/2 cup Butter

1 cup Brown Sugar

2 eggs

1 cup Mashed Bananas

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1/4 cup Buttermilk

2 cups Flour

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

Directions...

Cream butter & sugar in mixer. 

Add eggs, one at a time. 

Mix in the mashed bananas, vanilla, & buttermilk. 

Combine flour, cinnamon, & baking soda. 

Gradually mix in the dry ingredients. 

Spray a loaf pan with oil & pour in the batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45-50 minutes.

Additional Notes...

I like to sprinkle oats & brown sugar on top before I put it in the oven.

Of course, you can add nuts, chocolate chips, etc... if you'd like.

& If you don't have buttermilk... just add a bit of lemon juice or vinegar to the milk. 

spring is here...

Unfortunately, it is chilly & windy outside, but I am still excited because I know that warm weather will be here soon! I always feel like there is so much to be hopeful for during spring! Everything is growing & feels refreshed! There is nothing like seeing little bits of green pop up from the dirt. I planted a few seeds a couple of weeks ago (poppies & daisies)... I sat them in the sunshine & gave them a little water... & now they are growing!! What a simple joy! It is such a beautiful representation of God's faithfulness! He renews all things, He gives life! 

I am so happy spring is here!!

my {week twelve} memory verse...

see my verses from weeks...

one & two  ||  three  ||  four  || five  || six || seven  ||  eight  || nine || ten  || eleven

dressing for spring...

This week has really started to feel like spring! I am so happy to have the warmer weather & the extra daylight! One of my favorite things about spring arriving is that I get to start wearing spring clothes!! Brighter colors & no winter coat!! YAY!! The trend that I have really loved lately is colored pants! 

I was kind of nervous about trying this out myself, but just yesterday I found the perfect pair of yellow cropped pants!! I love that the yellow is not too bold & I love that they are cropped (instead of skinny jeans, which never fit me right). I am sure I will wear these all spring & summer! 

My necklace is one that I recently made! I am thinking about making some for my shop...

& I have to share this picture of these new bowls that I just got from Target!

They are small, but came in 4 different designs & they are so cute!!

They kind of reminded me of something from Anthropologie, but much cheaper! :)

Happy Weekend!!

don't worry...

Today this verse spoke to me!! 

God has blessed me so much & I have no reason to worry. 

He has proven His love & provision over & over again.

Even if things aren't going right, simply having Him in my life brings JOY!

We should never loose sight of the fact that we can always be happy, because we always have God!

We just have to choose to focus on the Joy that comes from Him, in all things!

Today, I hope you can find lots of things to be happy about & thank God as often as you can!

:)

{ The "Be Happy" Photo Print is for sale in my etsy shop }

weekend snapshots...

a few things i did over the weekend... 

I walked around downtown & enjoyed the spring-like weather!

I always love taking pictures of the the old brick buildings!

I went to Joann's to used a few coupons!

& I ate my favorite Easter candy!!!

:)

my {week eleven} memory verse...

see my verses from weeks...

one & two  ||  three  ||  four  || five  || six || seven  ||  eight  || nine || ten 

recipe: salted caramel sauce (again)...

Back in September, I posted a recipe for homemade salted caramel sauce! {click here to see that recipe} It was really good, but it wasn't the consistency that I wanted. Well, last weekend, I discovered the perfect recipe!!! I really love it with green apples, the flavors are so great together! (Of course, it is also really good on frozen yogurt!) So, here is the new & improved recipe:

Salted Caramel Sauce

Ingredients...

4 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

2 cups heavy cream

1-2 teaspoons sea salt

2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons

Note: This makes a big batch, so if you don't want a lot, cut the recipe in half.

Also, for this recipe you should have a candy thermometer.

Directions...

Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Allow it to cook, without stirring, until the mixture is dark amber, about 14 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully pour in cream (be careful, because it will spatter); stir until smooth. Return to heat, and cook until a candy thermometer reaches 238 degrees, about 2 minutes. Pour caramel sauce into a bowl & stir in 1-2 teaspoon coarse salt, and let cool for about 15 minutes. Stir in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Let cool completely. Store the caramel sauce in a glass jar, in your refrigerator. It can be warmed up in the microwave.

{recipe adapted from Martha Stewart}

photos from this week...

photos from this week...

{1} granny-squares update: 74

{2} coral nail polish

{3} started new Bible study!!

{4} green apples

{5} planting flowers

I definitely have spring fever right now & apparently, I either have allergies or a cold too... I have sneezed so many times today. Yuck. But it has still been a good week!! Mainly because I just started a new Beth Moore Bible study, on James! I am a couple of days into the homework and so far, so good!! It has already shown me a new perspective on Jesus' life & I know I will learn a lot! I love her studies!! Has anyone ever done any of her studies before? Also... I have a couple of really yummy recipes to share soon! One of them is with the green apples & it's amazing!!! Can't wait to share it! :)

Hope everyone is having a good week!!

my (week ten} memory verse...

{ i am a little late on posting my verse for this week... sorry }

Just a little update...

Honestly, I am a bit surprised to say that so far my Bible verse memorizing has been going really well! It has actually been easier than I thought it would be... (since I thought it would be practically impossible!) Sharing my weekly verses on this blog has definitely helped me to stay accountable! Plus, I quickly save them right from my blog, on to my Kindle & that allows me to study them anytime! The best way to memorize verses is to find a way that works for you... post them in places where you will study them a lot. Choose verses that mean something to you personally & focus on what they really mean. And most of all, pray for God's help!! I know that He will help you, if you ask! Memorizing verses is something that He really wants us to do!

I just have to say thank you to those who have left comments on previous posts, since I started doing this! Your words have really encouraged me! :)

Also, I am so excited, because tonight I am starting a new Bible study with ladies in my church & I am sure that will inspire me in choosing my memory verses in the coming weeks! Yay!!

see my verses from weeks...

one & two  ||  three  ||  four  || five  || six || seven  ||  eight  || nine

a view from the sky...

I was inspired by this song...

I got really inspired yesterday when I re-discovered these photos as I was looking through my archives! I love when that happens!! I took them from an airplane window, in 2008, somewhere in between Colorado & California! 

I love the beauty of an early morning haze, when you can see all of the layers of the mountains & isn't this view even more beautiful from the sky?! I love it!!

I live in Colorado, so we have a lot of mountains! Everyday when I see them in the distance, I am reminded of God's magnificence & grandeur. Yet there is also this perfect feeling of peace & repose. I love their beauty so much, they are not like anything else 

in nature!! 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains,

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2