Nature's Heart

Nature's Heart

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Easy-peasy Rolo treats


I know that Christmas has come and gone (and what a Christmas it was!) but I am still very much in the mood to continue to make goodies! Something easy, something quick and something delicious.
Hence, pretzel Rolo treats!
 You will need:
Waffle pretzels (trust me they are much easier than the regular mini shape)
Rolos
Real maple syrup
Almonds and/or walnuts


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking tray with waffle  or mini pretzels. Place a Rolo on each  pretzel and put in the oven for a few minutes until  you can see the Rolo chocolates soften./ sweat. Pull out and place a nut  in the center and press down. Add a drop or two of maple syrup and let cool! 


Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Growth and Adventure!

My word for 2013 would have to be: GROWTH
What an amazing year 2013 has been and I still can't believe that it's end is so near! So many blessings, so much change, so much to look forward too, so much achieved.
A recap of some of my highlights as I look back on 2013...
Ben:  Meeting and forming what has budded into an incredible relationship...we are pushing and encouraging each other to grow in some very deep ways...oh love...
A personal concert, “Heart”: I never thought that I would be able to have a solo show…I just didn’t feel like I had it in me and thus kind of marked it as a, “not going to happen”. However, with other people’s encouragement and finding a way to put that concert to better use and turning it into a benefit concert for Ekisa Ministries, this was the push and motivation that I needed.
Traveling: was able to go to Hawaii as a belated graduation present from my father and what an amazing and special time that I got to spend and share with him. Thank you Dad for this kickoff in investing and growing in our father/daughter relationship!!!
I have also made several trips to Louisiana to visit loved ones and will be finishing off 2013/starting 2014 with my second trip to CA! Speaking of growth, it is unbelievable how fast my nephews are growing!!!
Acrobalance at WA MidSummer Renaissance Faire: I never thought that in less than a year, I would be performing acrobalance at the 2013 WA Renaissance Fantasy Faire this summer. It truly pushed me in ways I never would have imagined and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I hope that the future holds more opportunities to express myself in more of a physical/artistic way.
Thank you so much Robin Neiswender for capturing this beautiful moment! Check out more information such as about her new line of greeting cards and other photos

Thank you Byron Dazey for capturing this beautiful shot! Check out more of his work from Ren Faire and other events at: Creative Flashes Photography

Picking up my Violin: It has been years…YEARS!!!! As in, before high school since the last time that I played my violin…Thank you mom for giving me your treasured instrument that you made music with for so long. Finally the timing was right. I am playing for the right reasons…I am playing for me and my personal enjoyment.
Vinyl: I know it’s simple, but I finally began using my record player...I don't know why I put it off for so long. I think I was a little intimidated because I had to teach myself how to use this player...and who would have thought it was so much more simple than I thought! Why some of the most random things give us anxiety I have no clue but I am glad I try to overcome things that I am fearful of or intimidated by. Anyway as a result I have started collecting vinyl for my record player and have had some amazing finds! Vinyl sounds so much better than other media systems…love it!
My spiritual growth: I have definitely gone through some trials this year but God has been every present and helped me through those dark/hard times...although it can be hard I am so thankful for going through the Refiners Fire...burn away the chaff in me Lord, that I me gleam to the brightness and beauty that you have called and made me to be.
So what does 2014 hold for me?
I have NO CLUE!!! Isn’t it great? This planner is actually excited about the unknown. I was laughing with my father that I know why planners aren’t made3-4 years at a time…because it keeps over planners like me in check…if we had that option you had better believe that we would try to plan that far in advance.
If I were to predict what word I feel like is in store for me in 2014 it would be: ADVENTURE
Now this might change as the year progresses but so far so good…going to start the year off visiting the Grand Canyon with the Man that I love so dearly as well as visiting with both his and my family and friends...sounds like a good start to me. 
Ah, life is good.

Monday, December 2, 2013

New Recipes for Festivities

By the time I got home it was after 7:30 PM the night before Thanksgiving, so this wonder woman poured herself a glass of wine, rolled up her sleeves and cooked up a storm in my kitchen until well past 1:30AM in preparation for the fast approaching feast.
I love opportunities to try out new recipes and this Thanksgiving was no exception! I certainly put my birthday present/amazing Wonder Woman apron from my brother to good use.

Do you know the difference between dressing and stuffing? I found out recently that stuffing is what is "stuffed" and cooked inside of the bird/turkey (that makes sense), and dressing is what you put along the outside of the bird to "dress" it up after it is carved.

I made a last minute decision to try my hand at a crockpot dressing and looked for one of the simplest recipes I could find...Thank you Pinterest!

My requirements were as follows: Must be simple, easy and delicious!
I found an apple sausage recipe that made my mouth water just reading about it and it ended up being a huge hit with my family. This simple, easy peasy recipe can be found at:


The second new recipe that I tried was a Quinoa (pronounced/sounds like "Keenwa") and Caramelized Butternut Squash and Roasted Brussel Sprouts! YUM YUM YUM!!! I found this recipe from one of my favorite bloggers Kristin

 IowaGirlEats


I love to dress up for the holidays and I love dresses so much!!! Ankle boots, navy blue tights, a belted summer dress with a little navy cardi (was one of my favorite finds from...can you guess? The Goodwill.../we are talking $5.99!) was my Thanksgiving attire for the festivities...I should have closed the tea cabinet door when I struck a quick pose for my picture taking cousin!

I finally got to use my old gravy boat...or in this case a gravy turkey boat! How cute is this little guy!?!? His tail is the ladle. He has been in my family for years and I think that I need to use him more often!

He's just so cute!
My traditional "Angeled" eggs...so the story behind why my family calls them "angeled" eggs instead of deviled...is because my mother didn't like the name...so she called them angeled and the name has stuck with my family ever since...and has been used for as long as I can remember. She used to say they were angeled because there was a white halo from the cooked egg white...but I think she just didn't like the that word "devil". Haha! I love you Mom!

Homemade cherry pie for dessert!

 
And to finish off the night were many rounds of Apples To Apples! I loved some of my cards!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!