Take Me Here!

My Recipe for Toast!

You know how all those swanky blogs always have recipes well this is my first one! And it's for toast...

I eat it nearly every morning and it may seem like a simple thing but noooo it ain't!

Here we go:

TOAST:

What you will need:

1. Good bread... I use Rudy's organic breads.

2. Good nut butter, y'all. I'm using Justin's organic classic peanutbutter but switch it up and use almond or heck cashew (I've never tried it... it scares me)

3. Agave nectar, honey or maple syrup.

4. Cut up bananas or strawberries or anything really that would be turned in to a jam but isn't yet so it is better... see?

Alrighty. First off toast the bread (important right?). while you are doing this you can be retrieving your ingredients, chopping fruit, putting on coffee. This makes the noise of the popping up toast very exciting because you aren't watching it and it goes "pop" and you go, "yay my toast is ready." Now carefully pick up toasted bread that has reached your desired level of toastiness (I like it over medium.. if I wanted soft bread heck I wouldn't be making toast!)
This is important! Have you nut butter ready for application. You want the warmth of the bread to soften the butter and it smooths so much better! Once applied, Now lightly drip agave nectar across the top (This ain't no toaster strudel, a little goes a long way!) I like adding that twinge of sweetness because most good nut butters don't have sugar added which gives you control of the sweetness!
Now time for the fruit. Jam is so sweet and wonderful and I love it dearly but lately I have been just straight up adding bananas and strawberries and blueberries and blackberries to my toast... It is healthier and I prefer it. (give me a biscuit and be ready to hand me that jam but this is different I feel)
Now you can choose to clean up now or leave it for after you eat. I usually go ahead and put things up but always decide to have another piece and regret putting everything away.
Now your coffee should be ready and you add a little cream (I don't need sugar because of the twinge of sweetness to my toast!)

There you have it! I can't believe I just wrote how I make toast.

Betsy Phillips: Amateur Detective

My dream is to be an amateur detective like Nancy Drew. Here's to mysteries!

Today is the Day....

Matty Lindley fell in love with tomatoes. Big day.

Right Now.

Bedtime tea.
Bourdain.
Austin Stone sermons online.

I can't get enough of Jesus.

Also, daydreaming about finally being married to Matthew Lindley. I can hardly wait.

I don't ever want to forget that moment!

On New Year's Eve right at midnight I welcomed 2011 as an engaged woman!

The whole night was beautiful. Matt and I hosted a wonderful party at my family's lake house where we grilled, sat with blankets under twinkly lights, shot off fire works, made a fire in the fire pit and DANCED. Oh yeah we danced!
With five minutes to midnight we gathered in a circle (all 30-40 of our dearest friends/family) as the neighbors shot off pretty fireworks. We started the countdown at 30 seconds. 30 29 28... everyone was screaming!... 15 14 13... I was distracted by all the fireworks happening and Chris holding a massive one that he would soon light and nearly burn himself severely... 5 4 3... Matt had to yell my name twice to get me to look over at him... 2...1... Then everything went silent and blurred. I looked over at Matt as he asked, "Will you marry me?" He proceeded to get down on one knee. Despite all the commotion it was as if it was just him and me standing there in the middle of muffled shouts and sparkling lights. I need to see the pictures to see my face because I hear it was a good and shocked one. My favorite part was being able to sense in that moment how nervous/excited my boy was. All the anticipation of the countdown collided in an epic moment!

I'm so so so so joyful and happy that so many people I love were in the same place for such a special night.

Matt and I decided yesterday that it is impossible for anyone else to have better friends!

Please be praying for us... we will keep everyone updated on when our little wedding will happen!

For now we will continue to bliss out on each other and the fact that we are both marrying our bestest/dumbest friend.

Love you all!

This is what I see in the morning...

I'm sitting in my breakfast "nook" this morning with the cool breeze flowing freely in as I listen to a sermon online.
I like to think of everyone else around the country who is just waking up too. Maybe they are still comfy in bed or already cooking breakfast. My favorite image is of a happy family still in their pajamas, the kids still too sleepy to be annoying :)... kidding!

I feel thankful to have a warm bed and breakfast "nook" in the first place. I don't deserve it all.

I keep putting my hopes in fleeting seasons of life. Beauty, clothes, health do not satisfy my soul... this is one of the evidences that I do indeed have a soul. The only time it is content is in worship of Yahweh, God, Jesus.