December in Instagrams || Personal

Yes, I am doing a December recap mid-January...better late than never, right? January has been a tad crazy and I guess you could say I'm a bit behind on my 2012 recap posts and all that but December was an exciting month so I figured I should still fit it in :)

December was full of no snow, surprisingly mild days, cookie decorating, the smell of christmas trees, a warm puppy named ellie to cuddle with, early breakfasts, nature hikes and joy. Even though it's mid-January I feel like Christmas has not passed and it's not even a new year yet. Funny how time flies and the feelings our seasons bring us determine things.

Just a few short days after the celebrations had passed, I took a flight to Atlanta, GA with a few friends to attend Passion 2013. Passion is a Christian conference for college students. You can learn more about it here. It was good so good to be back and a privilaege to experience the community and unity in Christ. I'm always amazed at the things that the Lord shows me during those days. I can't explain the feelings of pain hearing all the stories of the 27 million trapped in slavery. Slavery still exists. Did you know there are more slaves now at this point in time than at any other point in history? And the scary part is that almost no one knows it! I'm looking forward to writing more about this but for the time being I encourage you to go to slaveryfootprint.org and enditmovement.com.
Together we are a force for good.

Better late than never...? So looking forward to what 2013 has in store for the blog and many other things. Hope 2013 has started off well for all of you, dear friends :)

Love,

Alison

Peppermint Bark || Recipes

I love cooking & baking. But I love it even more when it's Christmas. Danish cookies and marzipan, sugar cookies with icing, hot cocoa, peppermint bark. YUM

Today I made peppermint bark. So easy, so affordable and so yummy. It can be quite pricy to buy all that Christmas candy...so just make it yourself! 

You will need:

24oz. (2 bags) dark chocolate chips

12oz. (1 bag) white chocolate chips

about 5 candy canes

9x13 pan

wax paper

ziplock bags

spatula

mixing bowls

To make:

Before beginning line your pan with wax paper.

Put about half of your dark chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted. When chocolate is melted stir in the remaining dark chocolate until combined and melted.

Pour your melted dark chocolate into your lined pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Refrigerate for about five minutes.

While your dark chocolate is hardening, repeat the same melting process with the white chocolate.

Once your dark chocolate is completely hardened, pour your white chocolate on top and spread evenly. 

Unwrap your desired amount of candy canes and place in a ziplock bag. Seal the bag and crush the candy canes. Don't crush them so much that they are just dust. You want to be able to tell that it's peppermint bark!

Sprinkle your peppermint on top of your still melted white chocolate and refrigerate until hardened.

Once your bark is hardened you should be able to pull the wax paper right out of the pan with your bark. You can cut your bark into pieces but I recommend putting it in another ziplock bag and just dropping it on your counter to break it up.

Package it up in nice tins as gifts or just enjoy it for yourself :)

Week 51 || Project 52

1 week left of Project 52. This is week 51 and I can barely believe it. This project has had it's ups and downs, it's peaks and valleys. This has been an adventure. This has been a journey. When I started this project I toyed with the idea of it being "52 weeks of self-portraits." Well, that didn't last very long (and I never really liked the idea that much anyway.) Every once in awhile it's fun to push my limits and give it a try at self-portraiture. Some think it's vain, conceited, while others think it's a beautiful expression of self. I stand in the middle of those two standpoints ;) 

On another note...1 week till Christmas! The week of crazy shoppers, cookie baking and last-minute wrapping. It hasn't snowed yet in Chicago so it doesn't feel like Christmas. But I am so excited to celebrate Christ's birth. I love Christmas Eve with my family and the anticipation of a new year coming. 

Merry Christmas, friends :)

November in Instagrams || Personal

I love November. It holds the peak of fall, chai tea lattes, candles always burning, crisp fall air, thankfulness and the anticipation of winter. This November filled me with joy, hope, faith and patience.    Spontaneous trips to the city, breakfast on Saturday mornings, fireworks, good friends, foggy mornings and road trips. 

I went a little instagram crazy because I got an iPhone 5 after being due for an upgrade. I'm kinda thrilled.

Our pleasure and our duty, though opposite before, since we have seen his beauty are joined to part no more

Day after Thanksgiving :: snow

& the greatest ending of all. This, my friends, is Ellie, the newest member of my family. We adopted her & she is a miracle. 

Happy December! So excited for all that this month holds.

Week 47 || Project 52

Life has been nothing but busy lately...but also full of blessings. Just so thankful for everything, everyone in my life. Week 47 of 2012 I took a spontaneous trip into the city to spend some time with a dear friend of mine. It was definitely windy in the city but beautiful :: full of Christmas lights, fireworks and interesting people. Another wonderful adventure added to the books...

Week 48 will be coming to you tomorrow!