Four Sisters Wine Design

I have three incredible sisters. And two pretty amazing parents. And of course, three fantastic married-to-us-men (including my husband!). We are equally divided between Wisconsin and Florida and when we get together, we make it a good time!

We had so much fun during our last visit. Two parties in one day. We had a girls' night painting class (more on that to come! I can't stop raving about it!). We took cousin photos. And just hung out. All in four short days. Go big and then get back to reality, right?

One of the two parties was just to get together. My mom had this vision to have a wine bottle with "Four Sisters" on it. I took her idea and ran. With a little help from my very creative niece we came up with this invite (personal info removed...sorry for the dull space!).

After we created the funky invite. We realized that the party wouldn't be complete with our own bottles of wine to serve. So I went back and created wine labels! What fun! I don't think I could ever have so much fun with anyone else. Who would have thought that 20 years ago when we were all under the same roof fighting over bathroom space and clothes?! 

Maybe it's because we all drink wine now.

Cheers!

{Mini} Puff Pancakes - Gluten, Soy, Dairy Free

I love a good puff pancake. My go-to recipe uses a 9-inch pie pan. And a host of non-The Boy-Friendly ingredients.

With my niece and nephew around during Spring Break, I wanted to make mini-versions. Kids always seem to eat better if their food is miniature. I hopped over to one of my favorite blogs to see what they had. Sure enough, I found a Mini Puff Pancake recipe. 

I have adapted the recipe below to be gluten free, dairy free (and soy free). Give them a try!

Mini Puffed Oven Pancakes with Berry Sauce
recipe by ourbestbites.com - adapted by Tree of Life Creative

Ingredients
1/2 cup rice flour
1/4 tapioca starch
3/4 cup coconut milk
2 eggs
1/8 teaspoon salt
2-3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
powdered sugar

Berry Sauce
6 large frozen or fresh strawberries or mixed berries
3 tablespoons berry jam

InstructionsPlace mini muffin pan in oven and heat to 400 degrees.  While oven is heating, place flour, milk, eggs, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth.  

Carefully remove the pan from the oven (don’t forget it’s hot!) and brush with melted butter. 

Fill muffin wells 3/4 full with batter.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until puffed and slightly golden on top.  

Remove puffs and place on plate or platter.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  

Drizzle with berry sauce and top with cool whip or whipped cream, or serve with sauce and/or maple syrup for dipping.

Quick and Easy Berry Sauce

Place berries and into small saucepan. Heat on medium until mixture is bubbly. Mash large pieces if needed. Drizzle over puff pancakes!

Yields about 24 mini muffin pancake puffs

KMKool

K visiting her aunts in the south!

My niece inspired me to get back on the blogtrack. Wow how time has managed to get away from me!

Stop by her blog - she just got it up and running. I hope to help her with some graphics when she needs something. That's what aunties do, right?

She's an adorable nine-year-old busy with school and gymnastics. She has a knack for fashion and a great sense of humor. She probably takes after me. Ha! I only wish!

Here's to you, K! Best of luck on your first blog!

Face Your Fears

Even a baby bunny can be scary.

I just read this post at SpouseBuzz.com, a military spouse website regarding facing your fears.

The post made me laugh, but also made me so grateful for the other military spouses who take on military life with a sense of humor.

I often feel instantly connected with other military spouses I meet. In this instance, I realize that many of the same "fears" we face like palmetto bugs, spiders or bunnies with fleas, other civilian wives face too.

What makes a military wife different is that we know that at some point in time, usually sooner than later, we are going to have to face that fear head on, and it's always going to be when your husband is gone!

We can laugh about insignificant fears together because we understand that there are more serious fears to face. It's the deeper level of life that we live allows me to draw nearer to a military spouse.

Rather than shy away from those fears, I'm grateful for them because they allow me to live a fuller, more purposeful life. The fears also cause me to draw nearer to God.

2 Timothy 1:7 it says "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Military life gives me the opportunity to push away the timidity that easily controls me and gives me a spirit of power. It's not power from my abilities, but God's. He gives me the strength to face my fears no matter how big or small.

Gone Fishing.

Let me tell you about The Man. He's and outdoors man. He likes nice, fluffy things, but at the end of the day he'd rather be outside chasing some animal and cooking it over a fire. Since we started our dating and eventual married life together, I've know he likes to hunt. He's hunted antelope, elk, deer, and even tried moose hunting last fall without luck. I've learned how to cook wild food (sometimes over a fire) getting the "wild" flavor at least mellowed. I've come to terms with knowing he'll be gone for a week or two each year tromping around with a gun looking for animals and probably not showering. It's cool.

I'd never thought about him fishing, though. He had some fishing poles and a tackle box and once or twice a year he'd go out with his uncle or on a big fishing trip with the guys. Honestly, fishing was not on my radar. And I should have seen it coming.

This year he is obsessed with fishing. I don't know how, or when, or why it happened, but it did. And I can't get him away from the water.

So, a few weeks ago, The Man suggested I go fishing with him on "Give Fishing a Try Day" aka no fishing license needed day. I thought to myself, "I'm dying to get out of the house and get some fresh air, fishing can't be that bad." So I told him, "Sure!" and I brought a book along for good measure.

I caught a fish or two, but I was so frustrated with fishing that I gave up and read my book. I decided that going fishing was my thing, as long as I don't have to fish.

Fast forward a week or so, we're on vacation and we're tagging along fishing. I didn't have the desire to do a thing but read my book or throw some stones in the water with The Boy. Ehh. Fishing.

Rainbow Trout from the Flaming Gorge.

And then BAM. I decided to get a fishing license and try it again this week. We went out last night and I only caught three little fish, but I can't think of anything I'd rather do this week than get back out on the boat and try to catch some more. I think it's because it's like a mini vacation. When you're out there, you can't do anything but toss out a line (or read a book, I still plan to bring a book along!). We went near sunset and it was so peaceful and relaxing and I can't wait to do it again.

Plus it affords some much needed quality time with The Man. Our crazy mixed up military life schedule doesn't allow us normal days, or normal weeks. So if it means we spend time fishing, then I'm taking advantage of it. Who knows what you might catch!

Western Frontier: Part 3

Last photos, I swear!

These are all Utah photos. I can't believe everything we saw in those last two days! I can't wait to go back!



Driving through a mountain pass, we spotted this little moose eating some lunch from a pond on the side of the road!

Bridal Veil Falls

We climbed up a pretty steep little trail. It was worth my freaking out over it, because the view was beautiful and the cool mist from the icy falls felt great on the hot day.

Saw this in the parking lot on our way back from seeing the waterfall. I love it. And now I want one!

More fishing! The Man with a kokanee salmon in Strawberry Resevoir.

Western Frontier

We got back from vacation to the Western Frontier and now I want to go back!

We landed in Salt Lake City and then headed to Wyoming for a family function for a few days. On our way home, we spent the last two days in Utah and I couldn't get enough. The views were spectacular. The weather incredible (if you like it hot!). We didn't even have time to visit the National Parks I had hoped to get to, but after this short stint, I'm ready to go back. Utah seems to be this incredibly kept secret. I don't know anyone, at least off the top of my mind, that I know who has vacationed there. I could probably post about a million photos, but I'll keep my next few posts to just a few of my favorites!

We picked up a mini hitch hiker right when we got to Salt Lake City. He was easy to tote!

Taking a walk in the Great Salt Lake. Water was warm and beautiful!

A view of the Lake from Antelope Island. For awhile, I thought I might have been in Hawaii again!

One of the bison from the herd that lives on Antelope Island. We didn't see any antelope, though...

Happy Birthday Finn!

Happy first birthday to The Boy!

We planned a small party full of yummy treats and fun. We were almost rained out, so all of my decorations didn't get put up, but I tried to maintain some flexibility (ha! The Man would tell you otherwise...). Check out the pics below on what turned into a really beautiful day, despite the wet beginnings! What fun!

Just Breathe.

I feel like I fell off the blog-earth the past two weeks. Last week, The Man returned from school in Utah. He spent the week, a very busy week, at home. We had the normal routine, plus I had my four-year-old nephew over for a few days. We, well actually, The Man, prepared and planted our garden. We had a party for The Boy's first birthday. And to top it off, one of my sisters was in town for Memorial Day weekend - so I didn't spend a minute in waste!

I am exhausted.

After blogging every day during the Wives of Faith Blog Carnival, I had to be blogged out for a few days or risk not getting a thing done before The Man got home! Now, it's back to business as usual. The Man is back to work and I'm back to crazy land with The Boy, The Dog, and occasionally, my nephew around for added fun. I'm pretty sure my neighbors think I'm crazy.

One of the four neighbor dogs has also been over to play frequently which just adds to the madness.

I'm pretty sure Odin and Tucker share a brain...

In all of this chaos, I was struggling to find some rest and some peace, when in one of my daily devotions spoke to my soul.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:5-8

I can't imagine living life without my mighty rock, and my refuge. Oh to have a heart for God like David did. I'm embarrassed that I don't turn to Him first in every test and every trial. When I fall short time after time, God meets me at that place no matter how far away I've fallen from him. Not only is He willing to meet me at any place that I call out to Him, He will give me rest, He will give me strength and He will give me hope. It's what I'm looking for this week, at the feet of my Father first.

Life is good.

Today's Blog Carnival Topic - It’s been said that a picture’s worth a thousand words. Post a photograph you’ve taken. (And yes, you can describe it or tell the story behind it if you want to!)

The Man, The Boy, The Dog.

I don't have much of a story. I just like this photo because these three boys make me feel at home no matter where we are. We always have a lot of laughs, and, especially when we're all together, life is good.