I've been feeling the pull to start blogging again.  I stopped about two years ago because I felt like my life was pretty hectic with work and family obligations and I didn't want the blog to pull me away from the important moments in my life that needed my full attention.

Now that I am no longer working outside the home and both of my boys are in school, I feel like I can dedicate more of my time to it. 

There have been many changes with our diet and my personal journey with food and health over just the last 3 months. I have had issues with digestion and low energy levels for several years now and have felt like I was going in the wrong direction on a vegetarian diet. 

After reading several blogs pointing me to theglutensummit.com I signed up and listened to it. I thought this whole gluten free, paleo/primal movement was just a passing fad that couldn't be all that healthy for you. But, I was wrong! 

As a family we have been eating primal-ish since October and it has completely changed our lives!! I have no more digestion issues at all and as an added bonus my skin has cleared up and I have more energy! My husband no longer has heartburn after meals and he is no longer having muscle cramps (cramps in his hands and arms would wake him up at night). He says he feels like he did when he was in his 20s. :)

It has been trial and error to learn to cook without wheat or sugar but there are so many resources at our fingertips that help make things easier. Pinterest is a BIG help.

Food and health will probably be a big focus of this blog but I don't want it to be solely dedicated to it. I feel like God has been working in a big way in our little family and I also want to use this space as a way to sort out the things on my heart and the direction He may be leading us.

Amelia

fall love



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cozy sweaters and tall brown boots



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pumpkin spice lattes



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waking up to crisp mornings and changing leaves



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snuggling under blankets with my boys

what do you love about Fall?

amelia

finally friday

It's already the second week of school.  After a few growing pains the boys are finding a good rhythm in their classes.

And I'm already uninspired and unimaginative with their lunch box meals.  Does anyone else have this problem?  Please tell me I'm not the only one.

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I love the idea of sending things like roasted miso eggplant or smashed sweet potatoes and goat cheese for the boys to eat. However, my boys would cry and complain and probably try to form a rebellion if I sent anything that remotely looked like the photo above.

Finding the house quiet after the constant energy that our Summer brought has left me feeling a little bit adrift.  So, I have decided to take an online art class.  I feel like it's time for me to be creative again.  :)

I also started reading Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman.  What a gift it has been.  I feel like it is my story.  Like those are my words, written by the hand of a stranger. If your interested you can read the first chapter here.

What does your Friday look like?  Do you have any fun plans for the holiday weekend?

amelia

After several years of a very tight budget which didn't allow for any home-improvements/repairs.  I am finally able to have a small decorating budget. Yay!

So many things need to be worked on in this 70 year old house that it's overwhelming to know where to start!

One of my husbands customers is a contractor and we have already talked with him about remodeling the bathrooms.  I will post pictures of before/after shots when we get started with everything.  Although I'm not sure if I want the "before" shots out there so to speak.  The interior is so shabby/ugly that it still amazes me that we have lived this way for three years. :)

One thing we want to do in the master bedroom is buy a smaller bed.  I LOVE our king bed but it is way too much for our tiny space!  Buying a new bed does get me excited about new linens, pillows, curtains...

I am loving these ikat panels from West Elm.

I love this repurposed night stand from IO Metro.  The photo doesn't do it justice...it is much cooler in person.

I love this quilt from Pottery Barn.

And I think a floor mirror would make the room look bigger. :)

I'd better slow down...I think I just spent my whole budget in one room!!

If you were doing some remodeling to your home which room would you tackle first?

amelia

summer fun

I don't remember a summer as fun as this one has been!

Our boys are at the perfect age. Long gone are the strollers, diaper bags, and changes of clothes.

If we want to go somewhere we just get in the car and go.

And we have been going...going...going this summer!

Thank goodness for all our generous friends who have a pool or a lake house.  We have managed to go swimming sometimes several times a week. :)

The boys a getting to be quite the little swimmers.  And my youngest has started jumping off the high dive!

I would say our theme for this summer is: water

Food is still front and center in our lives, but this little food blog has been much neglected.

What have you been up to this summer?

amelia

frosting for the cause *a guest post*

Today I have whipped up a yummy batch of blueberry cupcakes with maple butter frosting.

I made them lovingly for those who have fought or are still fighting cancer.

I am sharing them for a wonderful cause which unites bakers from all over the US and Canada who want to help find a cure for cancer.

I you are interested in Frosting for the Cause I encourage you to check out their blog.  Read about the project and how you can help.

If you want my yummy recipe go here.

Have a great day!

amelia

graduation day!

Our youngest is graduating from Kindergarten tonight.

He woke us up at 6:45 this morning yelling "Graduation! Graduation! It's my graduation day!"

I love his joy and exuberance and passion for life...everything he does is with an exclamation mark!

I asked him what he wanted for graduation and he said a big chocolate cake!

So, I've been up to my elbows in chocolate today (not a bad place to be).

I have been  could eat this frosting with a spoon. :)

Chocolate Frosting:

1/2 c. butter melted
2/3 c. cocoa powder
3 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. milk
1 tsp vanilla

mix melted butter and cocoa powder together in a big mixing bowel. gradually add the sugar and milk alternating between the two until it's a good spreading consistency.  add the vanilla.  spread over a chocolate cake to indulge your kindergarten graduate!

enjoy.

Do you have any graduates at your house this year?

amelia