For the past 8 weeks in AIT, Austyn has been able to call us and, if we're lucky, Skype with us at night. All depending on his schedule and how his drill sergeants are feeling. :/ I can't remember the last time I was able to have more than a 30 minute conversation with him. Probably back in December when he was home. That has definitely been one of the hardest things to deal with; not being able to tell him about my day, or the adorable things Maci and Molli have been doing, their milestones. Oh happy day, we're almost DONE!!! :)
And just a shout out to my handsome babe - CONGRATULATIONS BABY!!! I am so so so proud of you!
He has accomplished so much and gone through heck to finally be done with this training. It seems like yesterday he left for basic. I was instantly thrown into a single parent lifestyle, which, sure, I had a few months to prepare, but really, nothing can prepare you for it. That day is certainly not one I ever want to relive. Seeing him off again after Christmas was hard too, but different. It was torture because I knew exactly what it was like to have him gone now. Yet almost easier in that I also knew I had just done this for 12 weeks, I can handle 8 more. At least that's what I tried to convince myself.
I have had amazing support from family, friends, members of our ward... It has been a very humbling experience to tell you the truth. I thank my Father in Heaven every day for making me stronger through these past 5 months. I am really hoping we can breathe for a bit after Austyn comes home --- but that would just be too easy, right? ;) I think if we can make it 5 months apart, we can make it through nearly anything together.
I have kept myself busy all along, thank goodness. With my obsession of cooking and interior design, to learning just how crazy I am about cleaning and organizing! I seriously have rearranged different spaces in our home a good 5-10 times! I am obsessed! But I don't mind. :) Along with that, I am equally into decorating my home. Austyn will tell you, my style hasn't necessarily changed, but it gets little updates and additions here and there. I am seriously debating on going into interior design or culinary school someday --- way, way down the road. I have some time to decide.
Above all, cooking and baking are my sweet escape from life. I don't know what it is; maybe the smell of garlic, butter, and peppers perfectly sauteing in a pan. Or the warmth of fresh baked, right out of the oven, homemade bread. Or the perfect peace I feel when mixing cocoa powder, peanut butter, vanilla, and oats into a mixture of melted butter, sugar, and milk. Best - No Bake - Cookies - EVER! (My humble opinion, of course.) Thankfully I have managed to somehow avoid packing on the pounds while consuming all these calories.
Here are some great breakfast muffins... or any time of the day muffins. An inspiring recipe from one of my favorite food bloggers, The Pioneer Woman. They're pretty simple in flavor, just coat them in a coating of cinnamon sugar and they're to die for! I am a wee bit of a cinnamon nut, so anything that consists of a cinnamon sugar topping, in my book, is to die for.
Morning Muffins
Ingredients:
3 C flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 C sugar
2/3 C butter flavored shortening (if that's too strong a flavor for ya, just use regular shortening)
2 eggs
1 C milk
Directions:
- Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, mix together sugar and shortening. Add eggs.
- Alternate adding milk and flour mixture while the mixer is on.
- Fill a lightly greased muffin tin and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until golden.
Cinnamon Sugar Coating:
- Melt 2 sticks of butter in a bowl, and mix 1 1/2 cups of sugar and 3 teaspoons of cinnamon in a separate bowl.
- Dip warm muffins in butter really well, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.
Bon Appetit! :)
