D.C.

I think I found my new favourite city.

4th of July

Relaxed.

today has been so relaxed. i made myself some fish tacos, the house was quiet and i played my music as loud as i wanted. & it being the weekend makes everything so much better, as always. :)

My Holiday.

my mommy <3

first live tree in years.

                                    my favorite gift.                                                  

Soum and Beau's tree.

Christmas morning photo op.

my much needed mixer.

my aunt loves setting the table.

Beau (pronounced beeyu)

Beau and her mom's birthday celebration.

BFF time <3

happy new year!

cousins! <3

Hello beautiful people! :)

Another Christmas holiday has come and gone. I was terribly sad to see it go. Although there were a few ups and downs, this year was one of the best Christmases ever. It wasn't even about the gifts, it never is, we got to spend time with the people we love and that's what really matters. As I get older, that's what matters more to me than anything. Gifts are just a plus. :)

this month, there was so much going on my head was spinning, in a good way of course. i turned 24! where has the time gone??? yikes... i tried to fight it. i love getting older, but i know that there is responsibility with age. i think that's something i am going to have to face and get over because time is not waiting for me. minus my pouting about getting older, i am beyond blessed to see another year and so thankful. my mom, aunt and sister know that i don't like celebrating my birthday, but they were so wonderful and made me feel so special with gifts, hugs, kisses and cupcakes. they are the best! this time of year makes me so giddy and everyone around you is happy. i wish it was christmas everyday. i got to partake in a lot of christmas fun and tradition, like making cookies, helping put up the tree, buying and wrapping gifts, you know the usual. i also take this time to reflect on what is really important and the true meaning of christmas-- Jesus. i don't believe that Jesus was born on christmas day, but this is the season i celebrate his birth and i have the opportunity to reflect on God's love and the reason for the season. christmas day, we had my good friend, whom i met at work back in  April, and her lovely family over for dinner. her kids had christmas at our house too, which was so nice, and they were so grateful that they fell asleep with their gifts when they got home. my heart melted. i've gotten to know them so well and they have welcomed me into their home and hearts. they're such a beautiful family and they have brightened my year more than they will ever know. i took advantage of this holiday to see friends who were in town visiting for the holiday. i got to catch up and exchange gifts (our yearly tradtion) with my best friend! i had a blast, i loved every second we were together. i love that every time she comes home i realize that we're not in junior high anymore. it always takes me by surprise, but it also makes me realize that we're ADULTS now. we live hundreds of miles apart, but it has never changed our relationship, honestly it's stronger! i am so thankful for her and i couldn't have chosen a better friend, more like twin.

for new years, we surprised some friends (who are also like our family considering we spend every other holiday with them!) and stopped by for the night and watched the ball drop! so much fun. my age is telling on me because at 11 PM i was yawning and getting comfy on their couch. hehe ;) at midnight we opened up some sparkling grape juice and took about 10,000 silly photos. New years day, we took a trip to grandma's for her yearly new years day dinner. we got a chance to see some old friends and spend time with family. agh, there was soo much food, nothing vegetarian friendly except beans and mac&cheese-- which i loved anyway. it was a nice afternoon/evening and much needed. the night ended with a random bottle of champagne and my grandma playing the piano and my aunt and uncle singing old gospel songs!

i hope you all had a wonderful holiday. it's 2014, make this year count!

-Bree

What are you reading?

Currently I am reading:

The Big Picture by Ben Carson. Excellent read! As a world renown pediatric neurosurgeon, he is such an inspiration to so many people-- including myself.  Growing up poor and raised by a single parent, who challenged him to be the best that he could be, not only did he beat the odds, but he is one of the top pediatric neurosurgeons in the U.S.  He has a great story and I am so thankful to have read it and been inspired by it. & if you didn't admire him already, reading this book will do it for you along with his biography (Gifted Hands).

Garden of Shadows by V.C. Andrews.  Although this book is written by a ghost writer and not originally by V.C. Andrews, he channels her voice in this book.  Oh man, it's excruciatingly GOOD! If you've ever read or seen the movie Flowers in the Attic and liked it, you would love this one! It is the prequel to Flowers in the Attic.  The grandmother has a story to tell, as well. It's where it ALL begins.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you're an avid reader, you would thoroughly enjoy it. 

So, what are you reading?

Happy weekend, beautiful bloggers!

weekend, why you so short?

here are a few photos from my weekend. 

 so. many. flowers.

to sum it up, i did a few house chores, tried a new recipe, some yard work/more gardening with my mom (we still have a few flowers to plant), attended Sunday service and then the plant/flower festival afterwards. fairly eventful, huh? ;) not really. hehe 

also, i know i don't have a lot of blog readers, but for those who do take time to read what i write, thank you! it means so much to me & i just wanted to say thanks :) xoxo

Today.

I've not felt like myself. & even yesterday.  i've been doing some hard core bumming.  i don't think i'm getting an adequate amount of sleep for one.  'cause at the moment i could kill over from being so sleepy any minute now.  coffee always makes me feel better though :) unfortunately i ran out of creamer yesterday. :/  go figure.  also it's been very gloomy here.  i can't tell you the last time i saw the sun.  i'm going to need him to come out of hiding. for real.  i hope i'm out of this "funk" by Monday-- which is when i start my new job!  i'm super excited and anxious and terrified of messing up.  luckily i'll be working with one of my good friends.  thank God it's a lot of lab work.  we worked on tons of labs together in college (chem lab partners to be exact) and we're a pretty good team. :)  well, i am hoping for a happier/less gloomy tomorrow.  until then, i might do a little writing and pinterest.  Happy Friday, all!

As of Lately..

I have been baking like a mad woman and also because I don't really have anything else to do.  i've been having so much fun with it.  i've baked a cake with homemade icing, lemon zest & raisin scones, two batches of cookies, croissants--chocolate and regular, and cinnamon raisin Danish swirls.  oh how I've longed to do this for such a long time!  & gosh do I LOVE butter.  It is the core ingredient.  it makes everything taste soo good.   when I was in school, I'd always had an urge to bake something good, but never had the time to do it.  curse, those long hours of studying, working and staying up HOURS after my bedtime that took me away form being able to bake.  pinterest is where it all started.  i have never been so thankful for a website.  God bless the person who came up with the idea.  pinterest is pretty much the only place I got all the recipes from.  i will post links to the blogs under my pictures.  the only thing I changed from the recipes was the amount of sugar in them.  in my house, my family has to limit their sugar intake.  so far I think the best thing I have made were the croissants.  they came out of the oven this afternoon and gosh they were amazing! literally my fist time ever making them and they came out so good--not just in taste but appearance too.  everything was done in trial & error.  i learned a little patience in the process too.  baking is a great outlet for me.  it keeps me happy and far from boredom. you know what they say, "An idle mind is the devils workshop."

Cake, cake, cake-- & it's not even my birthday! ;) (frosting)

Best cookies ever!

Lemon Zest & Raisin scones! you might also like these chocolate malt cream scones!

Yummy Chocolate Croissants & Danish Swirls aka Cinnamon Rolls!

Croissants!