My Beautiful Month

In case you aren't on Instagram, or don't follow me, here's a peek at my Insta-Life lately.
[*All photos are taken from my Instagram account.]

My step father-in-law turned 61. Time to celebrate!

We're getting Easter eggs. It's so ombre.

One of my favorite childhood memories.

Fun with all things Under the Sea at work.

Enjoying a 60+ degree day with a walk through the park. Mr. Darcy was beyond excited.

My traditional gnocchi Oscars meal. (My food was much better than the Oscars....)

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Lately

1. I'm a little too excited that I have only ONE program this week and it's not until SATURDAY. After almost a program-a-day for the last two weeks, I am ready to just sit at my computer and order books! Or to sit and stare at the shelves I should be weeding. Or to run around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to figure out what I'm doing for next week's programming. Or to peruse through the three stacks of new books currently sitting on my desk in hopes of actually seeing my desk again. Or.... Well, you know. Just another day at the library. :)

2. And speaking of the library.... I get quite the enjoyment out of peeking at what the staff is reading. Every day we lay our books on the break room table, and I love noting our different tastes or finding a new title to my ever growing to-read list. The I Work at a Public Library book has been passing through all of our hands. Currently, it's my turn. FYI, as my co-worker mentioned while reading it, "It's kind of boring. We could easily top these escapades." No truer words were spoken. We see and hear some crazy stuff. PEOPLE are crazy. I suggested we start taking notes on our "incidents" to re-enact later for YouTube videos.

3. Lately, I can't get enough smoothies. And even though the high these days is slightly above zero, I still want my hands on a cold, creamy smoothie. I've been drinking ones with fresh o.j., strawberries, and others with almond butter and banana, and even one with coffee and unsweetened cocoa powder. Very satisfying in the A.M. let me tell you.

4. THE OSCARS ARE ON SUNDAY!!!!!! You know I get all too hyped-up for this award show. I think this is the first year in awhile that I haven't watched most of the movies and really have no predictions. I just can't wait to watch!!! And, you know, hope to see my favorites.

7. And The DAYTONA 500. Also on tomorrow. How'd a girl get so lucky?! Come on, Jr. Repeat???

6. Oh, and I'm over the cold. I am a lover of snow and winter. Honestly, I truly am. Last Saturday when I looked out the window and it was a complete white-out, I was super-excited. Like a little kid. However, I'm over having to pull on seven layers just to take Mr. Darcy outside to do his business.

And I must do this because, like his mama, Mr. Darcy loves snow. Every single time he spends the first 10 minutes just face-planting in it and eating as many snow ice cubes as his little mouth can hold before I catch him. Yes, I am looking forward to 30-degree weather. Which is possible tomorrow. Along with 3-8" of snow. We pick our battles, people.


With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

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Family dinner night turned into Happy 60th Birthday (!) to my step father-in-law. It  was also a hunker-down-inside-because-it's-only-a-high-of-5-degrees kind of Sunday. Church was cancelled, but thankfully our pastor made an online version available (oh, the joys of technology), Mr. Darcy acted like the big freeze was no big deal, and at least the sunshine was out. Chilly days like these mean catching up on household chores with a high dose of relaxation. I pray your Sunday was just as blessed.

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

My Beautiful Month

In case you aren't on Instagram, or don't follow me, here's a peek at my Insta-Life lately.
[*All photos are taken from my Instagram account.]

This winter we made time to brighten up our basement walkway with a beautiful and cheery Lemon Ice...however, I think it looks more like lime. LOVE IT.

I love being surrounded by books all day. It's the best job in the world. Yet, finding the time to read them, or peruse through them, is another issue altogether.

My parents new puppy dog, Gibbs. He's a rescue, part mini pin and a few other breeds in the family pool.

Bought myself a few treats for Valentine's Day.

I figured since I started the post with snow it's only fitting to end with more snow. That's this winter's theme: More Snow. And, no, I do not have a problem with that :)

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Christmas Festivities

I pray everyone had a blessed Christmas holiday. I had the most wonderful time visiting with family and friends, and was so thrilled to see my brother (!)...he flew in from South Carolina and spent a week with us. Sadly, the only thing missing was the snow.

Our Christmas festivities started with our church's Christmas Eve service, where there was a string quartet playing Christmas carols, face-painting for the kids, and dozens of Christmas cookies that members of the congregation volunteered to bake. Of course, I volunteered because I just didn't have enough cookies on my plate already.

I sent the church five dozen Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies with Vanilla Frosting. These cookies have been in my family for years because they're my Grandma Barb's cut-outs. These cookies are the softest sugar cookie in the world, and the key is the cream cheese in the dough. Grandma Barb makes these cut-outs for every family holiday/gathering, but I only make them for Christmas.

I hope the kiddies enjoyed them.

Mr. B's family had Christmas this year, and after the church service we went over to his Grandma's house to visit. Then we came home and opened our gifts at midnight. The midnight tradition has been in my family for years. Ever since my brother and I were in 7th and 8th grade, our parents allowed us to open our gifts at midnight. We'd be at our grandparents for Christmas Eve and wouldn't get home until almost midnight. Since we were up, why not open our gifts?

It started with our stockings, then stockings + one gift, and eventually all of the gifts. This was brilliant because we could sleep in as late as we wanted Christmas morning....and then partake in our mimosas, of course. My husband and I have adopted this tradition, and plan to do so until we have children of our own who are eager for Santa and Christmas morning.

I have to share: My wonderful and loving husband bought me this for Christmas!

Pioneer Woman Cooks! You can imagine I was super.excited. Now, I can't wait until her new one comes out.....

Here's a few snapshots of my Christmas festivities!

Started Christmas morning off right with Single-Serve Monkey Bread. This is definitely a new tradition. Good thing Mr. B woke up when he did; I almost ate the entire pan....grant it I did halve the recipe.

My parents' beautiful tree.

Craft I made for my brother. Since he can't take home a lot of gifts on the plane, I made him a coupon book so I can send him gifts and the things he needs throughout the year.

The homemade apple butter I gave as gifts this year.

Craft I made for the girls in Cooking Club.

My Lemon Bread made the cookie plates a little more interesting.

Strawberry Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting. Check out this recipe here.

The "Skinny" Peanut Butter Cookie dough....so light and fluffy.

I almost accomplished everything on my baking list this year. I never had time to get around to the scones because Jess and I were tuckered. And every time I bought the clementines in an attempt to dip them in chocolate, I was eating them faster than my brain could think, Ooh, I wanted to dip these in chocolate!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!!!!!!

I'll leave you with this season 's Christmas song obsession: Michael Buble <3

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi