tuesday

Just another start to the work week.

sewed up a pretty case for my "pearl"



my husband and his brother have been working on a comic book. the first printing arrived today, along with a bunch of paper strips. Mosey had a blast hiding in it, and pouncing on it.
(info about the comic book here, it's really neat)





i consumed plenty of these no-bake cookies today. i had almost forgot about a childhood favorite of mine, until sheena posted about them a bit ago.
they are too easy and i spruced mine up to be healthy (somewhat??)
she called them gorilla poops, and i liked that so thats what i'm calling them now.


makes about 20

1/2 cup pure agave (you can sub sugar if you must!)
1/4 cup baking cocoa
1/4 cup milk (almond milk was great)
1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt


In a medium sauce pan mix agave nectar and baking cocoa. Add milk and coconut oil. Stir over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Boil for one minute. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter, vanilla, salt and oats. Drop by spoonfuls onto lined cookie sheets. Stick the pan into the refrigerator until the mounds are set, then eat away.

i love the NW

some trip highlights:
(some things are accompanied by pictures, some are not..oops)

-watched my little brother shoot big guns at targets.
i was just looking through the "eye thing".. i'm too big of a weanie to actually shoot it.


-had a delicious potluck with friends and family on the fourth. with a bon fire and tons of cool fireworks that night.


-went through some old photo albums with my grandma.
the stories that went along with some of the pictures were the best part.
first picture is of my grandma, what a babe. i love her dearly!
and the second is of her parents, i would've loved to have known them
at the time the picture was taken.



-had dinner at my aunt and uncles. but just us girls made it in the picture.

-watched a spider spin a web. (its a miracle i got this close)

-photographed a few friends' adorable babies




-made a french macaron video tutorial (which i'll be showing in the near future)


-played soccer in the sand with my brother-in-law. (more pictures coming soon, action shots are always funny)


-made silly faces at the beach


unphotographed:
-went to trader joes three times. i miss that place too much.
-went on a (late fathers day) starbucks date. just dad and i.
-saw eclipse with my sisters (guilty pleasure)
-satisfied my froyo craving at yocream
-enjoyed every second of the amazing weather.

its always a blast when i get to visit. :)

colorful and pretty

photos from my parents front porch.



the beautiful sky on the fourth.


and the farmers market in downtown vancouver.

strawberry freezer jam (honey-sweetened)

*This was supposed to be posted the day I left. Somehow that didn't happen. Oops!
I'll be back soon with a little blog about my trip*

I'm off to Washington for the next ten days. I'm looking forward to the non-humid, and somewhat cool weather they have been having there. Hopefully i'll find the time to pop in here and show you what i've been up to. But for now here is an awesome sugar free freezer jam recipe.

It sets up like regular jam, tastes amazing and is much healthier than the sugar alternative. And it takes a whopping 5 minutes to make (give or take?)

Strawberry freezer jam (honey-sweetened)

4 cups strawberries
1 T lemon juice
1/2 cup honey
(this can vary, depending on how sweet your berries are. Start at 1/3 and go up to 1 cup if needed)
1 package of No sugar needed pectin
3/4 cup water


Clean and stem berries. Blend with honey in food processor/blender until pureed.

Pour pureed berries into a bowl and add lemon juice and water. Sprinkle on the pectin and stir until well incorporated.

Ladle into clean jars/containers, leaving plenty of room for expansion. Let sit in the refrigerator for a few hours to set up and then transfer to the freezer to store