Currently

Photos by VAL Photography

Reading:  Bread + Wine by Shauna Niequist.  In her book, Shauna states that there are two kinds of people in this world: Those who wake up thinking about what they will have for supper and those who don't.  I don't. But this book is so captivation! and it might be turning me into a foodie, albeit a mild one. My Aunt, LaReta, recommended this book several times, and now that I am part way into it, I know why. The art of celebration is weaved through this book of essays on family relationships, friendship and the meals that bring us together. Shauna writes about creating a relaxed and homey atmosphere for your guests whether you serve boxed frozen pizza or make the most gourmet of meals from scratch.  This book is leaving me inspired and wanting to host dinner parties again and again. 

 I would definitely recommend this book.

Loving: Fair Trade everything! I was gifted with this bag and this mug and a gift card which I spent on this necklace for my birthday. And then Christmas came and so did this scarf and another gift card to spend at Ten Thousand Villages.

I have always been intrigued with Fair Trade items. The global style draws me in, and knowing that the product purchased is supporting someones livelihood is empowering, but recently ethical fashion, and even more, learning and living an ethical lifestyle has become an obsession. I am still on this journey and I'm nowhere near perfect, but I am becoming more and more aware of how and where things are manufactured, and it is impacting my purchasing decisions.

It is time we remake the fashion of fashion and start bringing into vogue putting people first. 

Dreaming:  Up an Etsy shop. More details to come later on...

Wishing:  My sister, Kate, would hurry home from India. In the past week I've probably reached for my phone at least half a dozen times to text her about things only she would understand, and then I remember, she's living it up traveling the world and won't respond. 

Thinking About:  A new word for the New Year. My choice for 2014 was Be Still. I chose it because I wanted to remember to soak in the moment and stop pushing ahead so hard. I wanted to still my heart and calm my soul. I feel like that phrase was tried again and again and again, because looking back it wasn't a very calm year. It was a hard year, full of growth and change and chaos. But it was good.

For 2015 I want a word that encourages me to take risks and pursue my dreams. I want a word that embraces the moment and seizes the day. I want a word that is calm yet on fire. Are there any words like that?

Listening:  To Sarah McLachlan's Christmas album.

Watching:  It's a Wonderful Life. Every year around Christmas time, my family gathers to watch this classic. And every year I like it more and more. I introduced it to Herm our first Christmas together and it has now become our little family tradition as well. It's one of the handful of movies I am willing add to my collection and watch again.  If you haven't already seen it, please do! I don't think you'll regret it. 

Trying:  To make French Macarons. If I'm honest, I did approach this with an I got this attitude. I had read several recipes and watched a few Youtube tutorials also. Everyone said these are finicky cookies, and that it would probably take several attempts before you perfect them. But I was pretty sure it couldn't be that hard.

They were a fail, folks.

I piped the batter out onto the tray, and they got a little bit bigger than I intended. I waited 45 minutes and then baked them. My recipe said to bake for 12-13 minutes. When the timer went at 12 minutes, they still looked pretty gooey, so I left them in the oven for 3 more minutes. They had feet, which is what every blog on Macarons says that you want, and they edges were crispy... I didn't want to over bake them. So I pulled them out and when they cooled they were a flat, gooey delicious Tiramisu mess. 

But an Instagram friend came to my rescue and shared a bunch of tips and tricks to perfecting the Macaron. She makes them to sell, so I know that she knows what she is talking about! I will try again. 


What about you? I would love to hear about things that are currently going on in your life!


P.S. If I would have an "Eating" prompt, it would be: Peanut butter, straight from the jar. And if hashtags and blogs would go together, I would add: #unashamed