Time for Cookies!!! Super Yummy Maple Chocolate Chunk

The kids have been asking me for a couple of weeks, "Can we bake cookies??" Last week I was in a super anxious and frusterated mood and I decided to whip through our Lazy Susan to see what ingredients we had. Why I choose to bake with two very small children when I am not in the greatest of moods is beyond me, however, I will admit that about half way through I started to cheer up and feel calm again. (Thanks, kiddos, for putting up with your mama!) 

I went to my Pinterest 'Sweets' board and found a recipe I had never made before: Ooey-Gooey Chewy Maple Chocolate Chip Cookies. I've never used maple syrup in cookies (have you??) but it is a genius idea! Most of the sweetness came from the syrup, as only 1/4 cup is required of granulated and brown sugar. 

If you're in the mood for a very SOFT cookie filled with chocolate chunk goodness, this is the cookie you should make. Here's what you need, my only adaption is that I didn't use the maple extract because we didn't have any:

• 6 tablespoons salted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons maple extract or maple flavor
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup plus 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup dark chocolate, cut into large chunks

I followed Broma Bakery's instructions exactly, and I don't recommend swaying from them! She was spot ON about the ten minutes of bake time. Yes, they DO look way underdone, but after sitting on the baking sheets for ten more minutes after they're out, they are literally perfect. 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two cookie sheets and set aside.
2. In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and maple syrup for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
3. Add in egg, maple extract, vanilla extract, and salt, and beat for an additional minute. Pour in flour and turn the mixer to its lowest speed, working in the flour only until it incorporates.
4. Remove from mixer and fold in chocolate chunks. Use a 2 ounce cookie scoop to scoop cookies onto prepared cookie sheets.
5. Bake cookies for 10 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to sit on the baking sheet, untouched, for 10 minutes. They will continue to cook and crisp up around the edges during this time.
6. Once the cookies have sat for 10 minutes, you can remove them from the cookie sheet and serve!

Perfect for Couples AND Kids: an Omni Staycation!

Hey, Y'all! So I'm sure you have heard about the Omni opening a SWEET and brand new location downtown Louisville (please tell me you have!) My husband and I had the time of our lives celebrating my 30th birthday there this past March, and we knew that we would have to come back--this time with the kids! [In case you missed that post, you can check it out here]. 

Summer days are literally the best, but let's face it, they can also feel long. Being a teacher and having all summer off with my kids is an absolute blessing, and it's yet not without challenges. It is really amazing getting so much extra time with my son and daughter; playing with them, teaching them and loving the heck out of them. But by mid summer, both my husband (who is a teacher too) found it kind of exhausting trying to find fun and engaging things to do every single day. (There are only so many trips to the zoo and the dollar spot at Target a mom can make.) When the opportunity to stay at the Omni again arose, I JUMPED at the chance! 

The Omni Louisville is only about 20 minutes or so from our house, so for us this was the perfect staycation. Especially since our annual summer trip to the Gulf fell through, our kids were ecstatic to learn that they were now going to stay at the hotel "with the pool on the roof." (ps: it kind of amazed me at how resilient our kids were when they did learn about the beach trip falling through. It's neat that they stayed happy and thankful through the other fun things we planned for our now Staycation, such as this very special trip to the Omni!)

When we arrived with the kids, they were in complete awe of the hotel. This place was unlike any hotel they’ve ever stayed in, or even seen. The art, the architecture, every inch seemed to captivate their attention and excite them. We literally did some sight seeing in the lobby and ground floor before ever making it to the room. (In case you didn't know, escalators can equate to endless fun for Littles).

Speaking of the room…OH MY WORD. Y'ALL!! It was incredible. The views, the finishes, the space, all of it! We walked in the door not expecting the spacious and seemingly endless floor plan. Or the breathtaking bathroom that I believe was larger than our kids bedrooms...! Scroll slowly through these pictures, and the second you can see for yourself by booking a stay at the Omni, I promise you will not be dissapointed! 

Even though I’m fairly certain my husband could have just stayed in the room enjoying how nice it was, the kids and I were more excited for the pool and some lunch! Omni Louisville has an immaculate, beautiful, rooftop pool. There is a restaurant and bar up there with incredible food that is flavorful and light--exactly what you'd want while being in the hot sun. It was really sweet when the waiter offered to make our kids some slushies; we really just felt so taken care of and everyone was super accomodating of our very excited children.  

There was also something about being at the rooftop pool that made us feel like we had gone away on a trip far from home. It’s luxurious, yet inviting. It feels exclusive and also accommodating. The pool is long, but not very deep. My kids were able to swim and play almost completely independently. (They even made friends with kids their ages minutes after jumping in, so that was really fun to watch!) There were tons of pool chairs for sunbathing, comfy shaded seating near the bar for relaxing, even cabanas you can use to escape the sun but still be poolside. We spent the bulk of our time right here, but my husband did take advantage of the gym just down the hall from the pool, and then he joined us on the roof. It was conveniently located near where the kids and I wanted to be. (I apparently don't believe in working out anymore now that I've gotten a horse............oops).

For dinner we ate at Neighborhood Services, because we just had to get another round of Hot Brown Tater Tots. If you only eat one thing at the Omni, you want these. They’re a twist on a Kentucky staple, and they are SO dang good. 

After dinner we went up to the room to unwind. Every TV has a built in Chromecast so finding something for my kids to watch was really easy. Plus, they were so wiped from being in the sun all day, and the beds are so comfortable, they fell asleep quickly without any protest. 

For breakfast you have got to check out Fall City Market. There are so many options to choose from to get exactly what you want for breakfast. The kids and I got fresh pastries from Batch Bakery. My husband wanted a hot and savory breakfast, which he was also able to get there. And of course you can't forget the Heine Brothers Coffee!

We took one last swim in the pool before we left. The morning hours had such a small crowd at the pool that we were practically alone. It was a perfect place to sip coffee, and ease into another beautiful day. It was just a shame our time at the Omni was coming to a close, but I promise, we WILL be back!

August Happenings: It's Been a While

Well it happened again. I went an entire season (almost) without keeping up here and regularly posting/writing. Remember when I launched this blog back in January of 2016? My goal was to have fun with it, write often, document my kids lives, track what's happening, just take NOTE...and it's just NOT happening. That being said, I am praying about getting a better grip again, and for now, I'll write when I can. 

I had babies yesterday, and they're going into kindergarten and first grade next WEEK. If you've ever had any vacation time, you know how hard it is to return back to the workplace after some time off. I've come to the conclusion that it's hard for everyone, not just me. Time off is sweet. It's refreshing and peaceful. Yet it's also crazy, filled with adventure and breaking up *tons* of sibling arguments--around the clock. (I realize now that probably doesn't sound appealing to you whatsoever, but honest to God? I wouldn't trade it.)

May 31st until August 13th, we will have been off. A long [not long enough] time that I am so super grateful for.

So here is where I want to tell you what I love about these crazy beautiful kids I'm blessed to call mine :) 

Pierson: 
Six years old. Earlier this summer, he was absolutely obsessed with all things basketball. He played on his first team ever his kindergarten year, was the youngest on the team, and he finished the season like a champ. He's now in love with baseball, and daily wants to play catch with his dad. Ended kindergarten reading on an upper first grade level, kicked butt on all of his report cards, and was the kid on the highest behavior level (4) ALL school year long. His love language is gift giving, he cuddles in my arms every Sunday at church while we sing hymns, and asks me to tickle his back. His body dangles well past my knees, and it's getting to the point that I am wondering how much longer I'll be able to hold or carry him. Never, right? Promise me NEVER!! He is a good kid, a loyal kid, and I love every ounce of who he is. 

Reese, Reesie-Cup, Reese Elisabeth, Liz, Sis:
4 years old, 5 in just one month, Heaven help me. She got her ears pierced TODAY. We went for a manicure, and had a sweet and special day together. She's turned into my biggest barn helper and sincerely loves our horse. I think her love language is words of affirmation, just like me. She is genuinely interested in hearing about people's day; how a meeting went, or the horses were, or how my ride was at the barn. She loves to learn and color and sing. She seems to be very artistically inclined and has a natural talent for memorizing lyrics. She wants to start gymnastics...so we'll see if that can happen soon. She did her first ballet classes during her preschool year, and while she ended up crying all throughout the very last class, she seemed to enjoy all the others. She is sweet, super cuddly, and doesn't know a stranger. Oh how I adore this girl!! 

This summer has been really, really great. I photographed a wedding in Wisconsin, which was one of the best experiences of my photographing career. We went camping with family at Cumberland Falls here in Kentucky. And we also had a week of staycation, where we visited my brother and his wife in Nashville; we did an overnight stay at the Omni Downtown [more coming on that, ASAP!!!!], and we took the kids to Kentucky Kingdom, the Science Center, and a 'fancy restaraunt.' Also, Paddy and I are doing well, thank you, Jesus! I still have a lot of moments where I get fearful riding him, but he is so good, and so sweet. We have learned and grown a lot in the short four months we've been together! 

What's next? Asa and I start back in the classroom August 13th. I'll have kindergarten and first graders in the morning, fourth and fifth in the afternoon (same as last year.) I'll have the same instructional assistant, which will be great, and I really love the women working on my unit with me. Asa will still be teaching self-contained EBD (emotional behavioral disabilities), and he'll get to see OUR kids daily, which has me uber jealous. What is going on in your life? What has your summer looked like? We'll never forget two summers ago when our kids were literally sick the ENTIRE summer. They had Hand Foot Mouth, Strep, the never ending stomach flu...So we've thanked God OFTEN for good health this season.

 If you've read this, thank you!! I know I am not the best at posting here and I really do want to be better. Thanks for sticking with me and I hope your summer was wonderful! 

How to Create and Enjoy Your Outdoor Space

I don't know about you, but I basically live for all things outdoor. I thoroughly embrace each season (okay, that's a lie...I think I hate winter!!) so when they shift and each one makes room for more opportunities spent outside, I take every chance! When we moved into our new house last summer, the first thing we noticed was how empty the back deck felt. We already had a gazebo with globe lighting, but I dreamt of outdoor furnituture; preferably some that I could comftorably lounge and get sleepy on. We knew that realistically we couldn't afford to buy anything (buying a brand new house is *kinda* pricey all on its' own.....) so we waited until the time was right. 

See this sectional? You better believe this is where I do the majority of my ME time. Sometimes I let my husband join me... kidding, kidding, kidding! We spend a LOT of time talking and cuddling right there. I remember the first night he set this all up. It was still cool and crisp outside (not 103 degrees as it CURRENTLY is) and we completely dozed off under that Opalhouse blanket. Thank you, Target, for generating a brand new line that basically resembles Anthro, but is way more affordable, am I right, Girls?! 

All of the pillows can be found yet this season at Target. The long rectangular one is not technically an 'outdoor pillow,' nor is the throw, but I decided to risk it anyway. They didn't have many options that I loved that are considered 'outdoors,' so when it rains I just do my best to grab them and put them on our living room couch. 

The sectional is an amazing Amazon find! It is seriously SO comfortable and very easily washable. It IS considered an outdoor couch, so yay. It came with the table, and we went with the Nature Brown option. Honestly the table came broken, with a piece of wood split open on the side. We decided to fix it ourselves instead of shipping it back, and Amazon was great to refund us $100 for the trouble. 

The two side chairs were also purchased on Amazon, but are technically Walker Edison Furniture pieces. They came in a set of two, and while the wood doesn't match 100%, it's very, very close and looks great with the sectional. We love that we can host 6+ people easily on this patio, because one of our biggest passions is gathering and fellowshiping with our friends and family. It's not just us who love lounging in this space, clearly our pets spend a lot of time here as well. Our grey cat, Manny, starts to howl around 6 in the morning to be let out and when I actually get UP for the day, I always smile when I see him curled up in a ball either on the couch or in the circular tray on the table.

My biggest advice for designing your outdoor space, is to create it around your family's needs. Sure, cute things are great, but they're not always functional. We made sure that we had a couch large enough that we could host, but made sure to choose one that could be cleaned and would [hopefully] last a long time. The outdoor rug is also easily sprayed off, and can still be found at Target.  

Pops of color are always great in a neutral space, which is why I went with the Opalhouse line of products that I did. I am obsessed with those salmon, and light pinks, and they look great on that cream colored sectional! And lastly, I am a firm believer that fresh flowers make *every* space better and more appealing. So at least whenever we host or plan to spend a few hours on the deck, I like to buy some and fill a vase. 

I would love to know what your dream deck looks like! Or what projects you're currently working on! I am so grateful to have this space and look forward to many cozy nights spent outside because of it.