...in wanderland

Silent Night - Bosque Brown

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:42:00 -0500

Silent Night - Bosque Brown

Thanksgiving oh myyy!I made old fashioned southern candied sweet potatoes this year.. in a skillet!...

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:36:00 -0500

Thanksgiving oh myyy!
I made old fashioned southern candied sweet potatoes this year.. in a skillet!
I also lathered them with marshmallows because I am okay with eating dessert as a side dish. Also known as my main dish. I pretty much only ate sweet potatoes and bread this year. No regrets! We also had green beans, corn, salad, turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin cheesecake, and a gingerbead pumpkin trifle. Woooeee.

We were able to skype with my family in Texas. I miss them all SO much. I would love more than anything for all 19 of us (12 in texas; 7 in indiana) to be together for Christmas like we used to. Wahhhhhhh. Yes, I do feel like crying about it. The good news is that my uncle is going to the christmas tree farm to saw down a tree pretty soon! Bliss! I am honestly kind of glad we got that Thanksgiving business out of the way…..on to Christmas, the greatest day of ALL TIME.

Decorating the tree tonight…I’ve been a sickly thing for about a week now.
Thanking Jesus so much for creating bodies that know how to heal themselves.
Also thanking him for my funny family, my amazing friendships, and the abundance of blessings he provides every.single.day that meet every last one of our needs. He is truly the best thing in the whole wide world!

♥ Liz

[photo by: lauren nicole] Now to Him who, by the action of His...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:16:32 -0500

[photo by: lauren nicole]

Now to Him who, by the action of His power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly far over and above all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—

Ephesians 3:20

One week until Thanksgiving little dears!I am in charge of...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:27:26 -0500

One week until Thanksgiving little dears!
I am in charge of vegetable, bread, and dessert this year!
Thank goodness because I don’t know how to cook a turkey and I am pretty sure
I would gag just holding it. Sidenote: Martha Stewart is selling her own ‘perfect martha’ turkeys for $90 bucks if you’re interested in having one shipped to you.
Not sure why anyone would pay $90 for a turkey unless it danced and washed the dishes. I’m still confused why anyone eats them period, have you SEEN their disgusting jiggly bubble necks? I can’t even look at pictures of turkeys without getting nauseous.

I will be without my only Grandparents (who are with the rest of my family in Texas) but the small bits of us left in Indiana will gather round the table and feast just the same. Speaking of, if anyone has a dessert recipe that they REALLY LOVE that gets raves every year, send it to me. I feel like I’ve literally seen every Thanksgivingy dessert known to man and would love to hear about your dishes that are tried and true.

Today I am so thankful for:
- vitamin c
- my fancy juicer of which i can juice carrots and then drink them.
- jesus in my heart
- aunt sadies tree in a can candle

♥ liz

So, someone wants to take me here right? I think its in...

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:59:00 -0500

So, someone wants to take me here right?
I think its in Colorado. I think its maybe one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.
Look at those woods in the back! They are just ASKING to be explored.
Perfect spot for warm muffins in the morning, grilled cheeses and soup and christmas blend coffees and reading old books and singalongs. I bet there is a piano inside ….and probably an old record player that needs a beach boys christmas album on it. Maybe we could watch home alone and draw pictures and craft things?! I am daydreaming.

Tonight I went ornament hunting. I have no idea what is up with ornament makers but apparently an adorable christmas panda is just too much to ask for.
Instead they provide the ugliest freakiest monkeys I have ever seen.
Seriously, a whole row of ugly monkeys and bright pink furry flamingo ornaments.
What kind of Christmas is that?! Sorry, thats mean. Sorry if you are into monkeys on your christmas trees, weirdos.

Now…Pumpkin chai. Gilmore Girls. Bed. In that order.
Goodnight!

♥ liz

I got this delightful little book at the bookstore a few months...

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:38:00 -0500

I got this delightful little book at the bookstore a few months ago.
Surely one of the most beautiful cookbooks I’ve yet to see.
The photography and styling is gorgeous and I am pretty sure this lady and I would be real life bff’s. She talks about growing up in the garden and about the benefits of organic cooking and all her cakes and such are so super adorable and whimsical. She also dabbles in rustic farmers market sweets and there is a special section for moms titled ‘childrens goodies’ …so precious. Her most well known creations called “Goldies”..are organic homemade chocolate twinkies finished with edible gold glitter….. See how magical they end up looking?!

The author, Sarah Magid, has this suuuper cute blog where she posts her creations, and talks about her life in Brooklyn, and her children. She also used to be a shoe and jewelry designer for companies such as J. Crew & Fye boots! Y’know, a well rounded baker.

http://www.sarahmagidcakes.blogspot.com/

♥ Liz

Once upon a time the most perfect dessert was created in my...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:42:00 -0500

Once upon a time the most perfect dessert was created in my kitchen. It involved marshmallows, peanut butter, rice krispies, chocolate, and carbs. Look at it people! Three layers of delicious and addicting. You may want to cut them into bars and serve them to lots of other people…..and by this I mean get them the heck out of your house as soon as possible because you’ll end up eating a quarter of the pan for breakfast. Say whaaaat? ‘Ew Liz. Ew. You are so unhealthy.’ Whatever! I eat broccoli and cucumbers and soy chicken the rest of the live long day.

So all I’m saying is, make these.
Here’s the recipe from All Recipes.com.
Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

p.s.
I doubled the rice krispy topping, and I suggest you do as well…
otherwise it won’t cover all the marshmallow and it’ll look super lame.

♥ Liz

This post is dedicated to the so very gorgeous & sweet...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:58:00 -0500

This post is dedicated to the so very gorgeous & sweet hearted Christy Chaffin and her brand new fianceee Chris! Woooeee! Is it just me or do they look really mega hot together? Isn’t love awesome? Gettin married is even more awesome. I would not personally know this, but I’ve heard its pretty sweet and life changing and stuff! Soooo…everyone needs to follow her here, because she is so hilarious and so creative and talented and amazing!
You love her already!

p.s.
Congratulations Christy!!

♥

city sidewalks

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:05:00 -0400

I have been dreaming more about New York City lately.
I told my Dad that all I wanted for Christmas was to see the city.
He said, “I do too.’ Wow Dad!
Then he told me his address growing up in greenwich village.. 15 Sheridan Square.
How amazing is that address! It sounds so hip.

I can just imagine visiting before Christmas, and seeing the twinkly lights,
and walking through the village, and central park, and the upper west side and eating cute little dinners, and getting tickets to see Regis & Kelly and Martha Stewart. (Don’t make fun of me!) And going to kitschy little childrens bookstores all decorated for Christmas, and seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway, and the ballet performing the Nutcracker! (Oh my goodness, it’s been my childhood dream to see the freagin sugar plum fairies!) Visiting the huge decorated tree in Bryant Park, iceskating, bundling up, and drinking hot tea 24/7.

The sheer joyousness of it all overwhelms my brain.
This is what central park looks like right now! So magical!

♥ Liz

Eisley- AmbulanceA brand new track from their EP “Fire...

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:48:00 -0400

Eisley- Ambulance
A brand new track from their EP “Fire Kite”…
Stacy wrote this song about Sherri’s divorce.
Such a beautiful little creation.

Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition...

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:42:42 -0400

Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.

-Mother Theresa

Fudge baking.Of course I shot video! ♥

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:05:00 -0400

Fudge baking.
Of course I shot video!

♥

Sophie.Precious little face.

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:00:00 -0400

Sophie.
Precious little face.

Maddix showing off her fierce bobcat tattoo. We were hoping for...

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:55:30 -0400

Maddix showing off her fierce bobcat tattoo.
We were hoping for a butterfly, but tattoo machine thought a teeth bearing bobcat would be good for a 3 year old girl. She said she didn’t really like it and that it looked mean, but I told her it was just a kitty laughing. She liked that.

Yesterday I was blessed to spend the evening with one of my...

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:38:00 -0400

Yesterday I was blessed to spend the evening with one of my favorite
families on earth. We got pizza. We talked. We played. We fake tattooed. We baked! Fudge! My fudge. The recipe down below! It was such a lovely little time and I was glad I got to see my dear friend before she left the continent.

Jade and her husband Nathan are leaving for Uganda, Africa in one week to adopt a precious little dumpling baby. I am secretly hoping God has a brother & sister duo waiting for them, but whatevs. Please remember them in your prayers in the coming days as things start getting closer to take off time. Pray for their safety to and from, pray for their health, for joy & peace to replace any kind of anxiousness, and ultimately for their little babypants who is awaiting their arrival. Pray for their two girls, Maddix & Sophie, who are staying home, that God will be preparing their minds and hearts for all of this newness and tons more fun!

Also, pray for the little ones who have no one to hold them, to hear that they are loved. For those who are forced to sleep in filth and go hungry. Pray for them. I am so in awe of those who God calls to adopt. God promises he will never leave us or forsake us and what a joy to actually personally know a couple who through God, will be a saving grace to a child who needs love.

♥

Fudge! Just in time for Christmas! Har. Ya’ll, it is kinda...

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:32:02 -0400

Fudge! Just in time for Christmas! Har. Ya’ll, it is kinda sick how much I love the Holidays. Can we just skip Halloween? I’ve already started making a mega funtime holiday folder full of ‘how to’s’ for homemade ornaments, homemade presents, christmas dresses, glittery hair bows, recipes, etc etc etc. That’s later. But for now, fudge. Easiest fudge I’ve ever made in my life. No temperature taking, no boiling, easy easy easy. And delicious.

Speedy Fudge

1/2 cup milk
1 cup butter (no substitutes)
2/3 cup baking cocoa
2 pounds confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts

Place the first four ingredients in the order listed in a large 3-qt. baking dish (do not stir). Place in a 350 degrees oven for 15 minutes or until butter is melted. Carefully transfer to a mixing bowl. Add vanilla; beat on high for 2 minutes. Stir in nuts. Pour into a buttered 8 or 9 inch baking pan. Cool before cutting.

Well oh my goodness Kate Spade, your fall fashion line is just...

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:19:00 -0400

Well oh my goodness Kate Spade,
your fall fashion line is just too precious for words!

-Liz

Karen O & The Kids: All Is Love This song is something else....

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:07:00 -0400

Karen O & The Kids: All Is Love

This song is something else. It has been swarming my brain every single day.
I started singing it in the coffee aisle today, no big deal!
So, updates updates. I have been blessed with a huge influx of photoshootin dates.
Three of em are (lord willing) taking me to Texas. Yeehaw Texas!
Also, my heart has been stirred. I was raised in the country but the artsy part of me came from my Dad’s side, and his family grew up in NYC. I need to visit. I feel unsettled. I feel like something is out there undiscovered that NEEDS discovered!

My desires thus far:
Be a godly wife.
Be a godly mom.
Create Create Create.
Capture hearts through photos.
See lives radically changed for Jesus.
Cook up sweets & savories until I die.

Sound good? I think so too. I’m ready for some serious adventuring!
This amazing picture by NikiLynn kind of sums up my heart right now.
Woooee!

Happy October!
Love, Liz

I hope you’ll all get a ticket in your hometown to see...

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:46:00 -0400

I hope you’ll all get a ticket in your hometown to see this ONE NIGHT ONE TIME showing of “We’re All In This Together” on November 4th, 2009 at 7:30PM EST. A documentary that focuses on justice, compassion, and mercy. From there, local communities will be able to connect and find ways to start serving…as groups.. as individuals.. whatever!

To see where a screening is playing in your area click HERE.
And then in the upper right table enter your zipcode to search!

Love,
Liz

Oh my goodness! Did anyone else throw a first day of fall...

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:43:00 -0400

Oh my goodness! Did anyone else throw a first day of fall party?!
Autumn is the RULER of all seasons. It comes second to Christmas for my favorite time of the year! In honor of this glorious day I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with pumpkin buttercream frosting. Pumpkin pumpkin everywhere! However, I committed one of the dont’s of baking world and put the frosting on when the cookies were still warm. How dare you expect me to wait when the smell of warm sugary pumpkin was takin over the house! Thus, they look kinda goooooey in the picture. Gooey and AMAZING. Have you ever had pumpkin frosting? Have you ever had MY pumpkin frosting? I guarantee it would blow your face off.

You’re probably asking yourself “Gosh dang Liz, isn’t a cookie by itself enough? Why the frosting?” Because frosting is flickin perfection and the world needs more of it, that’s why.

Here’s the recipe. Go wild!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies:

½ cups butter (I used Earth Balance butter)
1-½ cup Sugar (I used 1/2 cup agave, 2 tablespoons stevia)
1 whole Egg (I used 1/4 cup eggbeaters)
1 cup Canned Pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
½ teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
2-½ cups Flour
1 cup Chocolate Chips

Mix dry ingredients together. Mix wet ingredients together. Add dry to wet.
Spoon onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Pumpkin Frosting:

1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 cup canned pumpkin

Beat together and spoon onto your cookies! Or eat it out of the bowl like I did. And then feel so sick you don’t want a cookie. This balances out right?