Chewy Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yesterday, we celebrated Josh's birthday. I enjoyed ribbing him about his old age (he robbed the cradle, ya'll). I also enjoyed making him cookies. His favorite dessert is typically chocolate chip cookies and a big glass of milk. But, rather than making my faithful stand by recipe...I decided to stray away and try my hand at chewy dark chocolate chip cookies. I liked them. Espeically dunked in a cold glass of milk. And Josh really liked them, which is saying a lot. He's a tough cookie to crack when it comes to new dessert recipes. (pun intended...ha ha ha).

They were really easy to make. I love the combination of dark chocolate chips, sea salt, and vanilla paste. Thick 'n chewy with ribbons of dark chocolate happiness. Doesn't get much better than that. ;-)

1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Butter, melted
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste
1 1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips

Mix together dry ingredients, and slowly incorporate wet ingredients. Roll batter into tablespoon sized balls and bake at 325 for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set. Cool and enjoy!

Link Ups: Take It On Tuesday | Wordless Wednesday | Wow Me Wednesday |

Visiting Honduras!

The beaches at Honduras were out of this world amazing. I couldn't get over the contrast of colors, sights, and sounds.We visited the private beaches of Tabyana. Highly recommended! The guides were very kind, which was a big deal. I'm terrified of deep water, so snorkeling was really pushing the limits for me.

We enjoyed walking the beach, swimming, snorkeling, and petting a little monkey. He was so cute!

A storm moved in while we were on the beach, so we took cover and feast on an amazing meal. Best barbeque I've ever had...and now I'm desperate to learn how to make it myself. Oh, and the fresh pineapple sealed the meal. ;-)

I cannot wait to go back someday!

Link Ups: Sweet Shot Tuesday | Tonal Tuesday | Tuesday Muse |

favorite things + instagram love

Oh, instagram. how can such a tiny little app take up so much room in my heart? I love the ability to document the happy, count the blessings, and record the funny. The run down:

+ Quiet time with one of my favorite devotional's thanks to Book Sneeze.
+ Getting inspiration for instagram ops thanks to the #May Challenge!
+ Mr. Darcy giving me one of his attitudes.
+ Rainy Days + Breakfast Sandwiches + Coffee = Perfect Dinners.
+ Insurgent. Ya'll it is so good. Better than the first. And closely tied with my love for Hunger Games.
+ Lazy afternoons outside writing, thinking, reading, dreaming & planning.

What little moments have you savored lately?

Book Review: The Winnowing Season

I've always enjoyed reading books by Cindy Woodsmall, but when I first started reading the Amish Vines and Orchards series, I wasn't so sure it was up my alley. The first book took a few chapters to get into, but eventually I found myself caught up in the story line.

The second book "The Winnowing Season", captured my attention right away. The plot thickens as each character learns life lessons over love and friendship. Mix that with mysteries and supernatural happenings, and you've got a page turner on your hands. Oh, and the ending? Is one very painful cliff hanger. I'll be waiting for the third book to come out...somewhat on pins and needles.

Spring Time Sweetness – Outdoor Activities to Do with Your Love

Hello, it’s Sierra from Ocean Dreams blog and I’m happy to be guest posting on Heather’s blog today! I know how much she loves her husband and spending time with him, (aren’t they the cutest?!) so I thought I would write a bit about what spring and summer activities you can do with your husband, aka the love of your life. ;) I know I love doing lots of fun activities with my BK during the spring and summer, because that’s when it is warm outside and there are so many activities to choose from! Living in Southern CA definitely keeps us busy, but I know there are many more activities to have fun with no matter where you are located in the world! Matter of fact, there are activities you can do with your love in your own backyard. Here is some fun and romantic outdoor activities that are on top of my list and by the time you are done reading this post maybe they will be top on your list as well. 


Creating a Garden Retreat
I love to read, and I can think of nothing better than a summer pastime of reading a great book in the setting of your own garden next to your husband. Gardening is a wonderful way to spend extra time with your hubby and throughout the spring you can continue to nurture and watch your plants grow. If you have enough space a pond is also a nice addition, especially if it means having water lilies, turtles, and other aquatic life in your pond. Don’t forget pertinent supplies if you plan on planting a garden and building a pond, however. You’ll need pond liners from quality sites like Swallow Aquatics, pretty flowers to plant in your garden, and other supplies depending on how hands on you’d like to be with your outdoor gardening space. 


Going on a Hike
Going on a hike may seem like nothing new, but depending on where you hike to and which hiking trails you select, hiking can be a brand new adventure that the two of you can enjoy! Use hiking as a time to talk to one another about things you may have not discussed before or simply as a time to enjoy one another’s company. BK and I love to use our hiking adventures as times to reflect, check out nature, and get our heart rates up while running up a hill! However you’d prefer to use your hiking adventure is up to you, but use this time wisely to also appreciate the nature – it’s the perfect time to bond near flowers and a gorgeous backdrop. Not to mention hiking will make it all the more fun to fall in love again and again. 


Weekend Road Trips
Do you like road trips? The summer time is a fantastic season to explore destinations you haven’t been to before. Make a list with your husband of the places you have yet to see and find out if you can carve out some time to explore these destinations together. You’ll discover that not only is it fun to visit new places, but jumping in the car and listening to your favorite tunes on your way to a new location will also be worthwhile. Whatever you do this spring and summer, make it memorable and enjoy your time together – you’ll have sweet memories to look back on!