Hello!

Hello!
I'm afraid I haven't posted in a long time...oops. I spent my summer in Brasil, (which was spectacular!) although it meant we didn't always have access to internet. I thought I'd share some pictures from my trip. I was there for two and a half months, traveling around, and seeing family. It was amazing and I miss the country so much already;)

This was the view we had in the first place we stayed. The city of São Paulo. A jumble of houses trees and cars. It's a busy city! 

I felt this car was asking me to take a picture;)

The city market.

A trip to the Mountains. The place is called "Little Switzerland" It's really cute.

                                                      

The feira. It's like a farmer's market only ten times better!

A Brazilian meal.

A coffee shop in Rio.

The beach in Porto de Galinhas.

The Christ in Rio. It was truly breathtaking.

A morning walk with Becket.

The house we stayed in during our trip to Tiradentes.

The door to the yellow house we stayed in. Gorgeous, huh?

A colonial town we visited.

A painter's studio we saw. I wanted it!

I have many more pictures, but these give you a little taste of some parts of Brazil. The people are wonderful. Super warm and very connective. The food is to die for, and there is amazing produce. I hope to go back some day!

xoxo-gillian

Flowers

Ahh. Flowers.

Whenever my mum gets these from Trader Joes I'm so delighted. Every time I look at them they make me happy. It's something about their spindly and curious stems. And the color is priceless as well!

I always love when daffodils come out. They're so delicate and fresh. But they also have a certain simplicity about them that's so pretty. Driving around becomes lots more pleasant with flowers bordering the streets!

There's nothing better (except maybe ranunculus;))

than a white pitcher containing huge orange flowers. They're so big and full. 

Mmmm.

I'm looking forward to planting things in my garden! I can't wait. It's so exciting to see those little green sprouts begin to appear!

Enjoy the spring air!

xoxo

Spinach Onion Egg

Spinach Onion Egg
yum.

I always tire of ordinary fried eggs and toast so easily. I was fed up one day and so I rummaged through the fridge and emerged with a small bag of spinach, a red onion and some cheese. This is what came of it. It's pretty easy to make. There are no exact measurements, just eye it by how many people your making it for and you should be good! 

To begin with: rummage in you fridge and pantry and see if you have these essential ingredients;)

-Eggs-

-Onions-

-Spinach-

-Cheese-

Dice 1/2 or whole onion.
Scramble your choice number of eggs.
Heat the pan with oil or butter.
Sauté the spinach and onion until spinach is soft and onion is looking less crisp than usual.

Add the eggs.

Half way through cooking add grated cheese.

Pair with a cup of coffee and a piece of toast with jam.
Or anything else that happens to be apart of your waking up traditions;)

Enjoy!

xoxo-gillian

Banana Bread

Happy Monday, my friends! 

Yesterday, my sister came home from college (Yay!) and we made banana bread together!

It was fun, and the result was delicious. At least I thought so. And the boys. They seemed to consume it with gusto;)

So here goes:

Banana Bread

First of course, the recipe:

Oh, and before you forget! Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Beat together:

1/2 C. Oil

1C. Sugar

2 Eggs

Sift and add:

2 C. Flour

1t. Soda

3/4 t. Salt

1/4 Peanut Butter Powder (optional)

Mix well and bake in greased loaf pan for 60 min. 

Enjoy with butter, a dollop of whipped cream or just plain. 

It tastes wonderful paired with a hot cup of tea, as well! 

I hope you enjoy!

xoxo

gillian

A ThredUp Find!

:ThredUp:

 I just recently got a discount on my ThredUp account, so I bought this dress. 

I think I might wear it for Easter, which is coming so soon!

I love this online consignment shop. The clothes are nicer than normal resale shops, but cheaper than other stores. And, usually, unless stated you can return.

If this sounds fun to you...good news...I have a little gift for you;)

If you press on this link, then you get ten dollars on your first order, and I get 10 dollars after your first order. 

Such a win win, right?!

xoxo

gillian

Chocolate Peanut Truffles

Chocolate Peanut Truffles

Ingredients:

1\4 Honeyville Peanut Butter Powder

(I got mine from Costco. It’s sweetened with coconut sugar)

1\4 C. Almond milk

2 T. Cocoa powder

In a food processor, measure out all ingredients. Pulse until it makes a firm paste. If it’s not wet enough, you can add a little more almond milk until it looks and feels right. Form into balls and refrigerate, (I freeze mine for faster results, and then refrigerate, so that I can actually bite into them:))

Then eat them.

xoxo-gillian

Spring...at last!

Spring...at last!

Here is a poem, that I think fitting for the season;)

Written In March

The cock is crowing, 

The stream is flowing, 

The small birds twitter, 

The lake doth glitter 

The green field sleeps in the sun; 

The oldest and youngest 

Are at work with the strongest; 

The cattle are grazing, 

Their heads never raising; 

There are forty feeding like one! 

Like an army defeated 

The snow hath retreated, 

And now doth fare ill 

On the top of the bare hill; 

The plowboy is whooping- anon-anon: 

There's joy in the mountains; 

There's life in the fountains; 

Small clouds are sailing, 

Blue sky prevailing; 

The rain is over and gone! 

William Wordsworth

Spring is here at last! Isn't it so wonderful?

xoxo-gillian

A Birthday Gift

-A Birthday Gift-

A while ago, I made this as birthday gift for a friend. 

I've found that just a piece of watercolor paper, paints, and a name can create a pretty, whimsical little gift. It only took me about fifteen minutes!

Supplies Needed:

• A square of water color paper (Or something else, it depends on what paint)
• A paint brush 
• A name
• A jar lid or something to trace the wreath 

What do you make when you need a gift for a friend?

xoxo-gillian

Delish Blueberry Muffins

I've made this muffins quite a few times now, and am really pleased with the pretty constant 
yummy result;)
Here it is, adapted from Allrecipes

:Blueberry Muffins: 
1 cup sprouted grain flour (or, 1 1\2 C. all purpose flour

1 cup sprouted grain flour (or, 1 1\2 C. all purpose flour)

3/4 cup coconut sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

1 cup fresh blueberries

1/2 cup coconut sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.

Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil, egg and milk together in a bowl. Beat well. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture. To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes

Serve hot with butter, or store in fridge!

Enjoy!

xxxooo -gillian




I thought that the top one looked like a face:)