my hanging plant...

I am not sure why, but I love hanging plants... I guess it's because my grandma has always had them in her house! 

And my grandma actually made that macrame plant hanger for me to hang my spider plant in & I love it!

It looks so much better now that it has been re-potted & hung.

I love how the green makes the whole room look so bright & happy!

thankful snapshots

This is my attempt at being thankful every day... for little things & big things!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

I post most days, via Instagram @sarah_brightside.

If you don't follow me there, here are my snapshots from this past week (or so)...

Thankful for new yarn & a new mug in pretty sky blue & nail polish in lilac... Such pretty colors for spring!

Last week I posted my memory verses up, with cute & colorful tape, in my bathroom!! 

Thankful that I can study them in the mornings as I am getting ready, so helpful!

Also, last week, I finished the Bible study I have been doing for the last two and half months. 

It was on the tabernacle & I truly learned so much! I am so thankful for that journey!

Just a few photos from a trip downtown last week. 

Last week I was really trying to boost my immune system after being sick for too long...

Whenever someone in my family is sick I always make this kale soup. Kale is so healthy & yummy!

I am so thankful that I am finally feeling back to normal!

Thankful for my silly dog, begging for marshmallows... she is so cute & always makes me laugh!!

Thankful that we are getting moisture in this dry climate, even if it is in the form of snow in April... 

These shots were from last week, but it snowed again today... Spring, where are you??  :)

What little things are you thankful for lately??

photography: orange tulips

Today I am reminded that life on this earth is tragic & beautiful all at the same time.

Life on this earth is fleeting. It is "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes". (James 4:14)

In the blink of a eye, everything you know can completely change.

Most of us have experienced that in some way or another and it is impossible to understand...

But the one thing that has never changed for me is God & the hope I have in Him.

Life in God is full of hope! Life in God is eternal spring!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

recipe: chocolate & pretzel chewy granola bars

These homemade granola bars are chewy & soft. Also, they are no-bake & super easy to make.

I have already made them twice, so this is easily one of my new favorite recipes!! The combo of chocolate 

& pretzel is my favorite, but I think next time I might try cranberries & almonds. I love that this is a recipe 

that you could get really creative with. YUMM!!!

Chocolate Chip & Pretzel Granola Bars

{ original source of recipe }

Ingredients...

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup crispy rice cereal (I used plain Chex)

3/4 cup chopped pretzels

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup chocolate chips 

Plus extra chocolate chips to sprinkle on top

(mini chocolate chips would be best, but I only had regular)

Directions...

Coat and 8x8 baking pan with non-stick spray.

Combine roughly chopped pretzels & crispy rice cereal with old-fashioned oats in a large bowl. 

Add sea salt. Measure out 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and set aside.

In a large sauce pan, combine butter, brown sugar, honey and peanut butter. Heat over medium-low heat,

 stirring occasionally until the mixture starts to bubble. Once bubbling, cook for 2 minutes while continuing 

to stir. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Pour the peanut butter mixture into the bowl with the oats, cereal, and pretzels. Stir until everything is 

well coated. Pour in the chocolate chips and mix. The chocolate will begin to melt. Use a spatula to evenly 

& firmly press the granola into the pan. Sprinkle the top of the granola bars with extra chocolate chips and

gently press them into the granola bars.

Refrigerate the granola bars for at least an hour before cutting. Once you are ready to cut the granola bars,

 just run your knife around the edges until the whole piece comes loose from the pan, all in one piece. 

Cut into bars and serve. Enjoy!!

thankful snapshots

This is my attempt at being thankful every day... for little things & big things!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

I post most days, via Instagram @sarah_brightside.

If you don't follow me there, here are my snapshots from this past week (or so)...

Yesterday, while shopping at Target, I came across that gorgeous horse canvas print by Irene Suchoki. She is an amazing photographer. I especially love her horse photos & photos from her travels. I was so excited to see that Target had a collection of hers, so I definitely had to buy one!! Today I re-designed my "art wall" above my bed to include the horse canvas & I am in love with it!! I am so thankful to have access to such beautiful art by other artists and to be able to display it... Such a source of inspiration to me!

-  Irene Suchoki for Target  -

Thankful that with April, comes the beginning of baseball season!! This past week I have been getting back into watching my favorite guys... GO Rockies!!! :) So far they have been playing really well! I can't wait to go to my first game of the season!! 

Thankful for beautiful weather & my cute dog... even though she is currently shedding like crazy.

Thankful for a yummy omelet for Saturday breakfast!

Thankful for trees with little blooms, which will be full of green leaves soon! I can't wait, because today was freezing!

And thankful for Sinatra on Pandora, while cleaning... Sometimes listening to him is just what I need! :)

I hope you have big & little things to be thankful for today!

pure heart & renewed spirit

Psalm 51:10 is my first memory verse for April. 

It is a classic verse, that has always been a favorite. 

In fact, the whole chapter is one of my favorite Psalms. 

Of course, over Easter I was thinking a lot about what Christ did on the cross... 

He died so that we could have pure hearts before God. 

If He had not died, that would not have been possible.

That is the most amazing thing in the whole world!! 

I recently heard a quote, from my current Bible study...

"We don't have to come to God in a state of perfection, but we do have to come honest."

When we hide our messes from others & even ourselves, God still knows knows them!!

But God is there to forgive us. That is the very reason why Christ died.

If we don't humble ourselves & come before Him, asking for forgiveness, it would be as if the cross meant nothing.

So, this verse is my prayer for myself & for this whole world...

 That we might realize that we need renewal. We need pure hearts.

This is spring, the time where nature itself shows us the beauty of renewed life!!

There is a great lesson to be learned from the freshly bloomed flowers of springtime...

There is new life.  There is forgiveness.  There is hope. 

We will find renewal in Christ, every single time we come before Him and simply ask for it!

"White As Snow" by Jon Foreman is an amazingly beautiful song of Psalm 51.

If you have never heard it before, you can listen below...

thankful snapshots

This is my attempt at being thankful every day... for little things & big things!

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

I post most days, via Instagram @sarah_brightside.

If you don't follow me there, here are my snapshots from this past week (or so)...

Thankful for tea & tulips! I have been fighting a bad cold for over a week... so these have cheered me up!!

Thankful for celebrating Easter & that He Is Alive! Because of that alone, there is joy is everything else!

I have always loved that big cross in my church's sanctuary!

Thankful for a little Easter egg hunt with this cutie on Saturday! And for beautiful weather over the weekend!

Thankful for asparagus, it is my favorite spring veggie! And of course, Easter candy!!!!

Thankful for my cute new purse, from Target! 

What are you thankful for lately??