Nana's Fruit Salad

I usually make this for Easter but it's a sweet finish for any occasion. My husband refers to it as ambrosia salad which I thought always had sour cream in it. This does not have sour cream and my family has always lovingly referred to it as Nana's fruit salad. It's quite simple to make and everyone loves it especially kids. This Easter I ended up with lots of leftovers I think everyone was in a food coma after the meal so they had no room for dessert. It also seems like people can be picky about coconut so if you don't like it just leave it out. What made this years batch extra fun was the adorable bunny marshmallows I found.

I love using the shaped marshmallows! 

Just make sure that the marshmallows you use are the regular vanilla flavor. 

Isn't it pretty? I've often considered using a variety of fresh fruits for this

 instead of canned but the canned makes it so quick and easy. 

 Enjoy the recipe!

Easter Celebration & Asparagus Salad

Now that we live in Colorado again we are far away from our families. We are thankful that we have friends that are like family to celebrate with on the holidays. We generally invite people over who also don't have family near by. We will use just about any excuse to share good food. What better day to share food and celebrate than on Easter. To me it's a day to remember the great sacrifice that was paid for me and the miracle resurrection that took place. My parents send the most beautiful flowers every Easter as a way to celebrate with us.

I'm not super traditional when it comes to what I fix for an Easter meal. I like to try new recipes and change things up. One thing I make sure to always have no mater the occasion is deviled eggs. THESE Smoked Salmon Deviled eggs are my favorite.

I tried making a couple new salads this year. I like to choose recipes that I can make ahead so that I'm not cooking the day of the celebration.  Did you see my tomato salad on Instagram? Not only was it tasty but it was super cute and resembled a bouquet of tulips.

I also made an Asparagus Salad that I really enjoyed. For this salad you cut the asparagus into small rounds and leave it raw, which is a unique format for this veggie.  The vinegar that's added makes for the perfect bite. Overall it was a big hit and people were definitely very surprised that it was raw asparagus.

 This simple and delicious salad can be found HERE thanks to Anne Burrell.

Another salad that I usually make that's a sweet finish to the meal is my Nana's Fruit Salad.
I'll share this recipe next time.

I hope that whether you celebrate Easter or not that you had a wonderful weekend and were able to spend some time with those you cherish! 

Crock-Pot Chai Tea

I know many of you love the Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate Recipe, I do too. It's my go to crowd pleaser. I can remember helping my mom with a holiday breakfast she was planning. She realized she didn't really have a way to fix a large amount of coffee. So we made Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate and poured in a pot of coffee in place of some of the water. It was yummy!

This Chai Tea recipe comes from the idea that if I could make Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate why couldn't I make Crock-pot Chai Tea. I love a good cup of Chai Tea but I'm kinda picky about it. I don't want it to be too spicy and I like it sweet. One chilly night some friends were coming over and I wanted to make something warm but different than the hot chocolate. I began researching homemade Chai tea and I decided to combine a couple ideas, omit a few spices and put it all in the crock-pot.

It actually worked and it was good. I served the Chai Tea in some of my great grandmothers tea cups. It's not everyday that I get to use these cups, plus it's always nice for your guests to feel like royalty every once in a while. They were tiny cups so multiple refills were required.

This Chai Tea is super simple to make. The main flavoring came from cardamom, cinnamon sticks and ginger. If you like a spicier tea you can add peppercorn. I used vanilla tea bags but realized after an hour or so that it wasn't looking like Chai Tea so I added a few black tea bags as well. Bits of the tea and spice did end up floating around so I used a small strainer to strain each cup of tea. You could just strain all the tea at once and transfer it to another container. Also this tea is awesome chilled. I had some leftover so I put it in a pitcher in the fridge. It didn't last long. Here's the detailed recipe:

This will make you smile

We recently fostered some puppies for a couple nights, you might have seen quite a few pictures on my Instagram feed. These puppies were just too cute not to share. Originally we thought we would just foster one puppy since we already have two big dogs but the rescue had 2 sisters that shouldn't be separated yet. If they have siblings they like to keep them in pairs as long as possible so they can comfort each other. 

This rescue program is such a great idea. A lot of puppies come from other states that have kill shelters meaning if they are there over a certain period of time they will just be killed. Volunteers foster the puppies until adoption day where most of them get adopted because they are just too irresistible. If they aren't adopted a new family fosters again until the next adoption day. If you're in the market to get a puppy you should see if there is a program in your area to volunteer for. It's a great way to see which puppy would be a great fit for your family. If you're not in the market for a puppy you could at least get a puppy fix for a couple nights. 

They have those adorable pudgy bellies and make the cutest faces. Even though they're still learning where to go to the bathroom you learn their behaviors pretty quick and of course just take them out every hour at least. 

Can you tell this sister was the mischievous one? She was very active, much more talkative and always playing.

This puppy I would often loose. At first I was worried but then I realized she was just finding a quiet place to take a nap. She loved to snuggle up with shoes or under the sofa. 

Of course when I let them outside she was much more of an explorer. 

This was probably their first time being in an outdoor open space like this. They were very fascinated by the spring snow that was leftover and they loved climbing on the rocks. 

I love the way puppies run.

Blanca's teaching the puppy to sit. 

Princeton taught the puppies bad habits like how to eat plants.

The big dogs also play rough and frequently wrestle. The puppies were scared at first 

but soon they joined in the fun and wrested each other. 

By far one of the cutest things was watching them sleep and snuggle up together. 

Watching them eat was pretty cute too. They would try to fit as much of themselves in the bowl as they could. 

I wouldn't blame you if you wanted a puppy now. I was sad when we took them to adoption day but I'm happy that someone else will get to enjoy them. Don't forget to see if there's a rescue in your area you can volunteer with. It will make your heart so happy. 

Backpacking Dominguez Canyon

A couple weekends ago we took a long weekend with some friends and went backpacking. That's one of the things we were excited about moving back to Colorado for was the outdoor adventure. For me living in a city can be hard, so it's necessary that I can easily get outside and enjoy God's creation.

This trip really took it out of me. I've felt exhausted since I got back and unfortunately came down with either a head cold or allergy problems. The experience is always worth it though. I knew I wanted to share this adventure here on the blog since so many of you enjoy living vicariously through me. In case you don't know when you backpack you put everything you need to for living on your back. These packs can get heavy with shelter, clothes, food.... You hike into a wilderness area and find a spot to put your tent. These spots aren't designated campsites they are usually spots far away from signs of anyone else. The first night we actually hiked in a short distance and set up in the dark. This was our first camping spot which was more "designated."

The next day we continued hiking through the canyon for a few miles until we found a good spot to set up camp. We always try to find spots next to water and with plenty of options for wood so we can have a fire. 

This pool of water was right next to where we camped. I love these experiences because they can be challenging but most of all they are so peaceful and awe inspiring. 

Walking through this canyon was like walking through one of the most magnificent museums in the world.
Except it was free and wasn't crowded! 

It was full of colorful landscapes that outshine the most famous paintings.

We stumbled upon ancient rock carvings called petroglyphs.

There were ruins left behind from the mining days

and subtle signs of spring everywhere.

Not to mention the most interesting of rock formations.

This is the best time of the year to visit Western Colorado. The snow has melted it's not too cold and it's not too hot. Those rocks in Dominguez Canyon will really heat up in the summer.

We always leave this type of trip feel refreshed and happy. It truly is the best kind of vacation! Next time you and your family are thinking about a vacation think about a backpacking trip. There are tons of reasons why you should get out and explore the wilderness where you live but the main one is that it costs next to nothing and the experience itself is priceless.

Bring Spring Inside

I cut off some branches again this year and brought them inside, I filled a vase full of different ones. Almost a week has gone by and they are just starting to show some pink. It's so exciting to watch this process up close.

I shared this post last year but in case you missed it here's how you too can bring 

Spring inside and enjoy some blooms early. 

Are you seeing signs of Spring where you live? Today is officially the 1st day of Spring! So whether you are seeing it around you or not be encouraged you will soon. Happy 1st Day of Spring!

Easy Burlap Wreath

I made a new wreath for the front door. The front of our house is in desperate need of color; it will get there one step at a time. I keep putting plants on the porch and they keep dying.  It must just be the time of year. This wreath at least adds some cheer.

I was inspired by THIS tutorial from the blog Mrs. Hines Class. When I went to the store to get supplies I was excited to discover a square shaped metal wreath form which was a perfect fit for my door. I used burlap ribbon with wire, which holds it's shape better but you could use the kind without wire too. Basically you find the burlap that you like, there are so many fun colors these days and you just weave it in and out of the wreath form.

I bet this would work beautifully with regular ribbon too.  This is a super easy project! So if you've always wanted to try making a wreath yourself this is a great place to start; even the most craft challenged could do this project. 

St. Patrick's Day Meal

Make Crock-pot Corned Beef you won't regret it. Go get the ingredients now! I was just shopping for my corned beef the other day and a lady came up next to me mentioning how cheap the meat was but she wasn't going to get any because she didn't know how to make it. I walked her through all the steps and she's gonna try it! I hope you will too, click the picture for the recipe and don't forget THIS amazing sauce.

Return to Me (Book Review)

Lynn Austin is a well known author. Have you read any of her books before?  Return to Me is actually the first book of hers that I've read. Bethany House Publishing sent it to me for review. The genera of this book is Biblical Historical Fiction. At almost 500 pages it can be a long read. It's the first book in a series called The Restoration Chronicles.

This book is based on the Biblical story of the second exodus, when the Jews return to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. The author uses her creativity to bring alive the Old Testament. There were many times that I stopped to think about different passages and stories I had read and been taught from the Bible. This story literally takes you on a journey to the past. It gives you a perspective on the culture and way of life during that time. 

For me the book was a bit of a roller coaster as far as engagement. The beginning really grasped my attention then I felt like it got a little slow and it was challenging to keep all the characters straight. There were parts as I was reading where I definitely had to force myself to continue. I'm glad that I did because soon after a slow section the interest would pick back up again. I'm sure it's a challenge to balance insight into Biblical history with suspense and a story line. I recommend reading this book because it paints a clear picture of the rebuilding of the temple and the events surrounding it. This story really drew me to the Word of God and made me want to read the Old Testament. 

Towards the end of the book there was a main theme that really hit me hard, God can do the impossible. I know it sounds simple enough but the light bulb just clicked for me one day as I was reading. How can we see God's work in our lives if everything is perfect, when all our ducks are in a row? We can truly experience God's power and see his work in our lives when things aren't going as planned when things seem impossible. God is the only one who can do the impossible. If we want to see and experience His miracles we've got to be obedient, faithful and STEP BACK and allow Him to work. 

If you're interested in this book and furthering your understanding of the second exodus you can find it at Amazon by clicking the link below. I would love to hear what themes stood out to you as you read the book.

Wordless Wednesday

Mashed Potatoes (made in the crock-pot)

I find that crock-pot recipes can be hit or miss. Sometimes a recipe turns out great and sometimes it turns out dry. Crock-pot cooking takes some experimenting and recipes can tend to cook differently for everyone. A lot of that has to do with us not all having the exact same crock-pot. That being said have fun with this recipe and find what works for you. I think you'll be amazed at the results and how easy it is to make mashed potatoes in the crock-pot!

When I first tried this recipe it was for a special Christmas dinner. I think we had been in our new house for a week. I decided to invite over some sweet friends for a meal. They like us have families that aren't so close and a job that often prevents them from being able to travel around holidays. I love to share food and celebrate with others as much as possible. This was the first nice meal I fixed in my new kitchen which proved to have its challenges. I wanted creamy mashed potatoes as a side but getting used to working in a smaller space and realizing I didn't have room for one more pot on the stove got me thinking. I decided to take a big risk and make the mashed potatoes in the crock-pot. It made perfect sense to me. It was one less thing I had to find room for on the stove and they would stay
warm until the rest of the meal was ready. It truly was the PERFECT solution. These potatoes rocked my
world. They seriously were way better than any I had ever previously made and so so easy. I did add some
cheese and more butter at the end which probably helped. Get creative and add whatever flavors you like,
here are some ideas: cream cheese, Greek yogurt, sour cream, chives, green onion, bacon, any fresh herb,
paprika, olive oil, Parmesan cheese...

You can leave the peels on the potatoes and you hardly notice them because everything cooks down perfectly. Also use whatever potatoes you like I got russet because they were on sale. I also used an entire head of garlic, which I know sounds like a lot  but it goes on the bottom so that it roasts to a sweet perfection. I did add more stock while the potatoes were cooking because I didn't want them to get dry. Start with 1/4 of the container and keep an eye on the potatoes when you first make this recipe and add more as needed. 

This would work great if you work all day and wanted a side to go with your meal. Better yet if you want to make a Shepherd's Pie for dinner this would be an easy way to make the top layer. What do you usually have mashed potatoes with? 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Signs of Spring & Some Inspiration

As you may have gathered from my last post I'm really looking forward to Spring. I'm already getting discouraged thinking I won't have any flowers to enjoy and that there won't be much green around here. I even got that way in PA and boy was I wrong. Our new house is South facing so the front gets lots of sun. Unfortunately the previous owners attempted xeriscaping. It appears that it's just all rocks in the front yard. Our back yard doesn't get nearly as much sun and is sloped. I'm VERY determined to make the best of these two spaces. I want chickens badly, raspberry bushes along the fence and beautiful plants all around. First I need to get a landscaper in here for the back yard. It needs to be terraced off and it needs to be done right with effective retaining walls. As the days get longer and we experience more Spring like weather I dream and make plans. My husband keeps reminding me to follow my own advice which is on the 100 Things I learned From my First Home List: 

 #39 Experience all the seasons in a new home before you remove any plants

        #40 Wait to see what pops up and how things grow before you plant new plants

It's always easier to spew off advice then follow it!  I really have been quite a grump lately about the lack of Spring that we will experience; so God decided that He should step in and give me an attitude adjustment. The other day I went outside to bring the trash cans up from the end of the driveway and put them back where they go. We roll them behind our fence and place them in a rock area next to our shed. I was shocked to discover that under the trash cans of all places something had begun to grow.

I truly believe that this was God and that he got a big laugh from my surprise. Out of all places for something to grow it would be in a pile of rocks under trash cans with no sunlight. I'm guessing these will be tulips. 

It's funny because I'm finishing up a book right now called Return to Me (review coming soon) and it's theme is God doing the impossible. It just seems impossible that plants would start growing in these conditions but what a reminder for me to have faith. God knows the desires of my heart and with Him anything and EVERYTHING is possible. Oh and if you look closely at the trees the branches are starting to fatten up due to buds forming!

I had been debating back and forth about going to the Colorado Home & Garden Show, after seeing the hope that my yard does have I decided that I must go. I knew that I could use the inspiration and resources. 

There were lots of landscapers to make contact with and we found lots of ideas for retaining walls. I love these Foxgloves and would like to plant some of them along with some Columbines. 

My favorite take away from the entire show was the water feature made from an old truck, which you may have seen a peek of on my Instagram feed. 

Now if only I could accomplish this in my yard!

With March just a few days away Thalassa Cruso puts it into words best, "March is a month of considerable frustration - it is so near Spring and yet across a great deal of the country the weather is still so violent and changeable that outdoor activity in our yards seems light years away." 

On side note I feel a little incomplete today and will for the next week at least. I sent my camera off for some maintenance. Have you had this done on your camera? If you have equipment that you consider an investment it's worth getting it done. It's recommended every 3 years or of course if you start noticing changes in your photos. Like for example seeing spotting or blurring. You can see if a local photography shop in your area does it or you can always look up your camera's brand and find information. I have a Canon, you can read about what they do for maintenance HERE. Of course there are tutorials out there on doing this kind of thing yourself but I personally wouldn't risk it. Keep your camera in tip top shape so it's ready to document life in the best possible way!