these are a few of my favorite things.

trying new shampoo
getting new music, for the joy that comes along with getting familiar with new songs
the sound of your mother's voice
freedom of casting your burdens onto something bigger
hot coffee right after you pull yourself out of bed
exploring a new country, knowing you can always come home
speaking honest words
eating frozen yogurt for dinner
over using the words "I love you" to people you care for
the way your senses heighten the moment your eyes see the rolling ocean
quenching extreme thirst
letting the waves slowly splash up your body, finally letting the sea ingulf you as it's captive
laughing, really hard
how the beautiful, soft glow from candles can transform any room
pizza. from anywhere
sucking in clean air from the forrest, bringing your lungs back to life
finally pursuing something that matters to you
hugging someone that smells good
the feeling of home
letting your heart sing what it wants
taking a drive with the perfect song on
watching other people love each other, hoping one day you'll have the same
looking someone straight in the eyes, knowing exactly what they're saying without words
the smell of something baking
putting your earphones in enabling you to leave the world for a while
the way your spirit feels when you open up your bible, no matter what season your in
tropical air
the renewal that comes after crying your heart out
the way a father looks proudly at his child
writing down life dreams 
world maps
colorful cupcakes
being friends with someone who really gets you
the safety of your own bed 
smooth chapstick that tastes sweet
hot sand that burns your skin at first, and then soothes 
the feeling of realizing you can make it on you own, with just you and jesus
dancing like a crazy person 
thinking over the day ahead, as the steam from the hot shower rises
the vulnerability of making new friends
dresses and boots
the way flowers brighten life
music that makes you smile and sway
moments in life that truly take your breath away

You will want to read this.

 The Browned Butter Cookie.


I love food, and especially sugar. But that's old news.



Funny story: I visited my sister who lives in Northern Spain a couple of weeks ago, and it was a joy. Not only because of the amazing surrounding mountains or baby goats, but because we openly share the same dumb humor, and an obsession over sweeeeettt treeeaattsss. Because they live up in the mountains on a farm, these delicacies are scarce. Long story short, we got word from some outside source that there was a restaurant through the forrest around the mountain that could possibly have Magnum ice cream bars. Those are the ones with the thick chocolate layer and carmel and more chocolate...Don't even let me get started. So with the boys hard at work on the land, we decided this was a journey worth traveling. So we put on our rainboots and hiked MILES through the forrest. I'm talking long long miles in the pouring rain to find this place.
"Oh my gosh, we can't give up now Bean. Let's go around one more bend.. Nope no sign of sugar. Okay just one more bend." 


After miles of forrest, sweat, rain drops the size of small cookies, and  growling bellies.. We never found the restaurant, and thus never consumed the ice cream. 
But of course, with us being women, on the way there we were like, "GARRRR I COULD EAT 5 OF THEM! I'D KILL A BEAR FOR ONE!!!" 
and on the way home,
"...You know it's actually good that we didn't find them, because our bodies are much better off without all that fat and sugar. Blessing in disguise hehe haha hehe."
.the end. 




So as I've been back in the big O'l United States, where brownies and at my finger tips, to be quite honest, things have gotten a bit out of hand...


So I thought to myself, 
"Jenna. Oh Jenna. I believe the only answer to this is prayer and juice." 


It's not like I'm being creative, the whole juice fad has been around for weeks! but it's time I took hold of the life changing stuff. 
So it's only day one.... hahahahh and posting this blog is borderline torture. but hey I love you guys that much. 


This is why these cookies are so great. Actually lets discuss what browned butter even is first. I
love those different things that make something sound so shnazzy and good, but are ridiculously simple. Like how decadent mouse sounds, when it's really only whipped cream and flavoring. You know what I mean? 
Browned butter sounds so amazing (and it is) but all it takes is a pan, some heat, and lots of patients. 
The melting of the butter with the slow heat, totally changes the flavor profile of the butter; taking what once was mild and sweet, and turning it into a dark, nutty, carmel flavor! Oh the things heat can do :)


The browned butter aspect of these cookies, take a classic chocolate chip and give it a carmel twist. Magical. 


Not only will this recipe allow you to make the perfect cookie for any get-together but it will also give you lots of enduring patients.  
Because you. can. not. stop. stirring. the. butter. as. it. browns. period!
It's like a little infant who needs lots of love and care. You wouldn't leave you new born baby alone in a room would you? Let's apply that same concept. 


 Here's the recipe: 

• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 lb chocolate chips/chunks
•  

For starters turn on your oven to 350. 

1.) Browning the butter is very basic, and only takes a good little pan, medium heat, and you stirring it. As you can see it the pictures, mine went from a light carmel color to a much darker brown. You want to allow the butter to get nice and dark= great carmel flavor. As the butter fully melts it will be bubbling and dancing around. Let it just do it's thing. 

Occasionally I would pull it off the burner and swirl; letting my eyes get a good gage on the color. (Don't be alarmed when your browned butter appears to be grainy.. this is only the butter solids browning with the heat) 

Whew! Once that's done, this cookie is a piece of cake. 

2.) Combine your cooled butter with your sugars, eggs and vanilla. 

3.) Combine your dry ingredients and combine! 

4.) taste the batter. Do you taste the difference of the more nutty, carmelly butter? Isn't it like carmel cookie joy??

5.) Add chocolate chips, oats, nuts, magnum bars, whatever your heart desires. 

6.) Pan them up

7.) And bake them until they are soft and cooked through. I'd start with 10 minutes and check them from there. 

           8.) Eat all of them. For me. Please. 

if we just believe...

The other day I was out in the sandbox with some precious pre schoolers.
I have a choice as the teacher to either: "over see" their play, or straight enter in to their imaginary worlds. Being older now and operated by a mind concerned about school, money, and life's duties, it's truly hard to be able to understand that the minute these kids walk onto that play ground, their entire world transforms into a playful imaginary land. 
A land where the small wooden play structure becomes a castle, the sand pies become real food, and when they meow and act like kittens, they really are one! 
So I challenge myself, when I sit there watching them, to try to remember how it felt to be that young. How magical every aspect of the world was. 


So yesterday as I sat on a bench among the scattered play, I started telling the little listening ears how much I love sweet treats and how hungryyyy I was. 
"Oh if there was only a bakery that served chocolate scrumdidily carmel crunch cotton candy rainbow cupcakes! I'd be soo happy."


They're eyes widened with delight, knowing exactly what I was doing. I was entering into their world. 
And sure enough, within minutes, the sandbox came alive. As they started up their own bakery made of plastic crates, pots and pans full of sand, water, and whatever else they could find around the yard. 


I had every kid in different corners rapidly stirring up their own sand concoctions, and then presenting it to me, eagerly watching me taste the creation and give comments. 
"(Gasp) Briton is this what I think it is? A vanilla sprinkle cherry cobbler coconut berry red velvet pie?!? Wow I've never tasted anything so delicious chef!"

There was never one response back to me of, "Oh no no, you don't really think that.. It wasn't my best. I've made much better! I swear the next one will be better."

No, their smiles stretch up to their ears and they run to go make another, because they only know how to believe what people say, and trust. 

They each have a "child like faith" in people and in God's love, that allows them to fully believe that they can accomplish anything! Because if it they are fearless. 

It's only us adults who think we know better than to believe people, and to truly believe in a loving God. We are the ones who question God's affections toward us because our "fully developed" minds think they're smart and get in the way. 

If we can only wake up each morning and ask God for a new child like faith, to simply not question, but trust Him. To choose to walk in the beautiful world of what God thinks of us, His children, instead of believing what we think of ourselves. Freedom. 

It's only when we can start viewing ourselves through our Creator's eyes, that we can begin viewing anyone else through them.  

It's only one piece of the puzzle, but this is where it all begins. This outlook and truth will re-shape your entire life. I promise. 

When I asked one cute girl what the sand creation was that she held out to me, she responded. 

"Um it's a chocolate pie... salad." :)