June is playing April fools.

Instead of summer, I'm staring outside of the window, watching Spring showers still roll in. 

Just two weeks ago, I was basking in the Californian sun. Now, it seems a far off memory - I can't quite remember how that feels. And because of this rain, I don't necessarily want sun right now. I just want to be cozy.

I'm thinkin':

a nice little fire. 

keep the coffee & warm drinks coming.

reading books for the rest of my day.

So, I guess I'm not entirely bummed it's raining. It gives me an excuse to stay indoors & relax. 

Happy Friday people. Xo.

Funfetti!!!

Who doesn't love a really yummy cake?

Especially... a really, really yummy funfetti cake. My personal go to box mix, for sure! But when my sister asked me to make my niece's cake for her 2nd birthday, I thought, "Funfetti, yes. Box mix, no." And so my journey to find the perfect homemade funfetti recipe began.

And I found it. 

SO delicious : moist, vanilla-y & sprinkles galore!

Here's the birthday girl... all happy to eat her cake! {and that, she did!} 

the recipe i {kinda} followed here . 

i tweaked it a little bit, but it's a great recipe to go off of!

Close your eyes & scroll down to the next post if you don't like blood.

Yesterday started out lovely.

Did hair for a 5th grade graduation.

Ran 4 miles.

Deep cleaned my room & gave some clothes/shoes away.

And thought of a great lunch idea.

Salmon + Avocado + Eggs + Tomatos + Variety of seasonings & Olive Oil.

Super easy & super good.

& all was going well.

Until I tried to get the seed of out the avocado.

With a knife.

My family keeps reminding me of how smart of an idea that was. *gee, thanks guys! ;)

Knife slipped & I pretty much stabbed myself in between my pointer & middle finger. Good thing my sister Dee was home. She cleaned it up & wrapped it - all while I was standing there, staring at my hand in shock. Grateful for her being there. I definitely could not have cleaned it up myself.

I figured I didn't have to go to the ER because, after all, I wasn't dying. Buttt... my sister, Reese, who's a nurse, insisted that I go to the ER. And good thing, because the cut ended being really deep & I needed stitches. 

First time for everything. 

My first time getting stitches:

The nurse tech who helped bandage my hand told me this,

"Aw wow. Looks like you got a sausage finger going on!"

Thanks. Thanks a lot. 

And so... it's only Tuesday & my week has already been super eventful. It can only go up hill from here on out right?

Better Than 6,7,8.

Today, my family celebrated this outgoing man. 

He's always worked hard to provide a better life for us.

He's always loved us no matter what.

He's been there to make us Samoan pancakes when we are in need of some comforting. 

He's an awesome, amazing, outstanding & wonderful father! 

Oh. And he has the best dance moves. Hands down.

And in the spirit of celebrating... I baked a cake.

And not just any cake.

A "Better Than Sex" cake. 

My family is pretty open about anything & everything. So we were just throwing that name around. It wasn't until my nephew said, "I want some better than sex" that we realized we should probably rename the cake we've all grown to LOVE (& will have at other family functions - i'm sure of it).

So. It's the "Better than 6,7,8" (my nephew then asked for a slice of better than six cake) or "Better than the birds & the bees" cake. 

Moist. Chocolately. Caramely. Whipped goodness-y. Heath bar-y. 

Change your life for sure-y. 

(and like my sister in law carrie said, "change my life & my waistline.")

But trust me, if you're going to eat crappy for a day - add this dessert to your meal plan!!!

Better Than 6,7,8 Cake

Ingredients:

Make your own Devils Food Cake (great recipe here) OR Just use a box Devils Food Cake (just as good & super easy - if you use box mix, don't forget you'll need eggs, water & oil)

Jar of Butterscotch Caramel Ice Cream Topping

4 oz of Cream Cheese (room temp)

1/2 C of Powdered Sugar

8 oz Cool Whip

Package of Milk Chocolate Heath Bar Bits 

Assemble:

*Preheat oven to directed time for your cake mix

Bake cake as directed

When cake is done, let it cool for about 10 minutes

With fork, poke as many holes into cake as you can - without completely mutilating it.

With the caramel, I like to warm it up so it's really nice & thin - instead of thick & super sticky. When it gets to the right consistency, pour evenly over the cake. 

(I never use the whole jar and the cake is sweet enough for me - but if you're feeling adventurous, be my guest)

Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar & cool whip together until smooth & spread over the caramel. 

Sprinkle heath on top.

Refrigerate over night.

Eat & be merry the next day. 

You'll thank me later. 

Xoxo. 

let us eat

         

“If more of us valued food and cheer above hoarded gold, it would be a much merrier world.” 
― J.R.R. Tolkien

Food. I think it's so beautiful. I love cooking. I love watching people cook. I love to read recipes. Look at pictures of food. Eat food. Congregate around food. It's why I could never really restrict myself from eating good things.
God didn't make us so that we would starve. Or better yet, God didn't make food so we couldn't {with wisdom} enjoy it.
Today, I'm grateful for good food.

*this post may or may not be based off the fact that i have not eaten since 8 am & in need of good food.

music for your ears : michael kiwanuka

Shift Happens.

A couple months ago... if you were to ask me how my life was going, I'd for sure respond with a happy, "It's AWESOME. Everything I exactly need is happening & I couldn't be happier."

In the last two weeks, things have changed.

And so... if you were to ask me the same question today - 

My answer wouldn't change.

A couple months ago, I got an amazing job.

Front desk position at a local tanning salon.

Super chill. Perfect for school. Everything I was praying for.

Two weeks ago, while I was on vacation, I found out the owner decided to shut the shop down.

For good.

Crazy, right? And my response to the craziness - I extended my vacation in California. 

I obviously wasn't, and still am not, stressed out. 

My point to all this.

Shift happens. 

And sometimes its sudden & out of the blue. And I'm convinced when that happens - if you quiet yourself instead of freak out - you'll hear a still small voice that speaks peace & assurance to your heart.

So, I'm working more hours at Anthropologie, a hostess for The Invisible Hostess & still do babysitting once/twice a week. 

{pays off to work a million jobs - i'll never be without, haha} 

Today, I had my official interview with the admissions director at Euro Institute. 

This girl is officially enrolled! 

Super excited about that and cannot wait for September to roll around. 

Lots of shifting in my life as of late but I'm seriously enjoying life right now!

Vacay in short.

For the past two weeks, I spent my days in the High Desert of So.Cal. Good ol' Apple Valley / Victorville area. My home away from home. I loved being back & honestly, did not want to leave. 

Just some photos I'd thought I'd post before bed. 

Gotta wake up early to go the gym - time to make up for lack of care of what i ate on vacay ;)

yes. i could live in that weather all the days of my life. zero humidity. 100% sunshine.

this is my old hood - when i lived in the high desert. no. i didn't live on the lake. but i was definitely by. good ol' spring valley. 

I miss having a Vallarta Market close by. They're only in California... and as far as I'm concerned - they need to be in every city in the world. 

I got to be in this beautiful bride's wedding! Love you Jalyssa!

Laguna. *Sigh. I love you.

I always said that if I were to move away from Seattle.. I'd move to So Cal. On the beach somewhere.