no knead bread.

lately, i've been on a major bread-making kick.  i'd been dying to learn how to bake it, sans bread machine, and finally decided it was time to just start.  bread making, all said and done, isn't complicated, but it sure is intimidating & you definitely want to make sure you have the time to let it sit, rise and bake.  

after perusing through pinterest, i found a recipe that seemed simple enough and went for it.

adjustments: none.  i figured if i can't bake bread while following a recipe, this might not be the best hobby for me.

review: we LOVED this bread.  gobbled it up in less than a day.  the crust was crunchy and perfect & the center had great flavor and was so soft.  i probably could have let it bake a tad bit longer (i didn't have a thermometer as recommended), but we'll definitely be making this recipe again.  total keeper.

a long easter weekend.

thursday morning my sister and her little man flew out to spend easter with us & it was wonderful.  better than wonderful, in fact.  having her and niko around, totally made my month & easter that much more special.  it has been 4 years since she's visited our little home and i was more than happy to show her around.

while in town, we took them to their first hockey game and road-tripped to michigan to spend the weekend with our extended family.  to break up the 8-hour road trip, we stopped in buffalo to meet up with one of my sister's old roommates for coffee and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring niagara falls.  it was a beautiful day- so we really lucked out- & lindz got some awesome shots (although the below pic is courtesy of niko).

after an remaining five hour ride, we finally arrived in michigan.  my other sister had arrived that evening as well, so it was a full house.  we spent the rest of the weekend catching up with one another and the family, playing cards, games, hiking in my grandparents backyard, exploring ann arbor (of all weekends we had to visit, it was hash bash) and celebrating easter- complete with a brunch & an egg and beer hunt.

the ride home wasn't too bad, but the weekend went much faster than i would have hoped.  i had so much fun sending time with everyone & loved the all the company.  especially that of the little man who can belt out jason aldean's dirt road anthem, asks "why?" after everything you say, and starts each sentence with "an jen."  melts my heart.

it was a totally awesome easter & we had such a great time.  this is the second year i've trekked it to michigan to spend the holiday with our grandparents and family & i hope to keep this tradition alive for more years to come.

memorable march moments.

despite my lack of blogging, i sure took a ton of pictures this past march.  here are a few of my favorite moments.

after this image came together, it's definitely one of my favorite pieces.  i love the collaboration of the various moments & the collection of images creates the perfect finale.

motivational monday // just start.

*back by popular demand...motivational mondays!  i hope these posts continue to bring encouragement & motivation to your everyday.

generally, i love to make lists.  big, long, to-do lists.  when i turned twenty nine i was 90% certain i would make a thirty things to do before thirty list.  but with my monthly goals and all the craziness that's in store for this year, i knew i had to be practical.  this january i choose one word to help me better, empower, and improve myself: commitment.  by taking on a large list, i would completely negate the challenge i set for myself earlier this year.

so i knew i needed to do something else.  i considered a project challenge and a photo challenge and a workout challenge- but then when i thought about it, these were all things i did anyway.  or at least things i wanted to do.  & that's when i decided i needed a mantra.

this mantra is so simple.  just.  start.  it's easy to remember and the perfect motto for where i am in life.  i feel like i'm ready to take on the world, but most times, i'm so overwhelmed with where to start.

if you're anything like me, you're in the exact same boat.  you have a garden that needs tending or a button that needs sewing.  you might have massive projects that you've been dying to take on and are too intimidated to start or you're still sitting on those 10-20 additional pounds that won't seem to budge. then this is for you.  

just start.  close the computer and pull out your knitting needles or print those pictures you've been dying to scrapbook.  if you're at work, make a list of one manageable thing you can do tonight.  walk for 15 minutes?  perfect!  cut fabric strips for your quilt?  just start!  you'll never regret starting a project or endeavor & if you're heart is truly in it, somehow you'll find the time to make this a priority.  

be sure to remember that while you may want to do it all (now & today!) its important to step back and remember that baby steps are key.  you didn't build those pinterest boards or put on the weight overnight.  set small, weekly goals  and revel in the little accomplishments (having little milestones not only makes things less daunting, but a ton more fun).  it's also important that you don't spend your precious time comparing yourself to anyone.  been there, done that- and trust me...your time can be much better spent!

so do yourself a favor & commit to just start one thing this week.  just one.  i guarantee after you do, you'll feel so excited and suddenly, your list will feel that much more manageable. 

I first saw this slogan on Elise's shop  

this april.

where on earth did march go?  it's always a whirlwind of celebrations & springtime fever, but this month went exceptionally fast.  awesomely fast nonetheless.  

i was pretty consistent with my march goals and took rather well to eating whole foods and taking a photo a day.  my spontaneity caused other avenues in my life to slightly suffer (ahem, this blog perhaps?), so this april, consistency is key.  

i have high hopes for april.  lot's of travel, my sister's coming to visit (!), we're celebrating one of my favorite holidays & i have a ton of projects lined up.  it's bound to be a spectacular month.  & i can't wait!  happy april!