Growing an Avocado Plant

We've taken up the trend of growing avocado trees from seed. We have been saving our avocado seeds throughout the year and trying our best to get them to root. We've has a bit of success and therefore we've planted them in small pots and then combined them into a large pot all together. They've struggled a bit, but they are growing. We haven't read about how long it takes for them to grow larger, but for now we are happy with what we've created. The plants currently share a pot with some ginger found in the back of our refrigerator a few months ago. Waiting to see what happens with that, as well.

There's different way to get them to root, but I've always found that the toothpick balanced on the top of a glass has worked best for us.

I like to wait until there's a good group of roots showing and a small sprout coming from the seed before transferring them to soil.

These are the plants that the seeds above created. This is about a year's worth of growing. There is ginger in the pot with these, but overall there's definite success with the seeds. It's kind of satisfying to know that you can eat the avocados and with a little patience allow it to continue on with life. Everything in this world has a purpose, and I feel that sometimes giving other living things a chance to continue on living, is a great way to appreciate life on a different scale.

Easy Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are one of the first things I learned to bake once I was out on my own. But having to ice them and decorate them, is mostly something for holidays and special occasions, unless you have the time and patience. Just having a simple sugar cookie on any day of the year, or even just a quick cookie to take somewhere, or to eat on throughout the week, is something a lot of us enjoy. Sugar cookies, just baked and left by themselves, is such a simple cookie to mix together. The key to these easy sugar cookies is to roll them in sugar before baking, without the hassle of cookie cutters, or icing. Here is my version of "Easy Sugar Cookies" that you can make any time of the year. And the best part, they're soft.

Here's how to make these easy, soft sugar cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking power
• 3/4 tsp. sea salt
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk

Mix dry ingredients together and set aside. Using a stand mixer, mix wet ingredients together starting with the butter. Combine butter and sugar, and add the eggs. Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well. Form into balls, about two tablespoons for each ball. Roll in granulated sugar, or colored sprinkles, flatten just slightly and lay on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for about 30-45 minutes, or freeze at this point to bake later.

Bake for 12-16 minutes at 350 degrees.

I would add to allow them to cool before eating, but nothing is better than a warm sugar cookie straight from the oven, so enjoy!

Five Simple Things (November 22)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This tape.

A metal tape dispenser is just what I needed.

2. This rain.

The rain this week is relentless, it seems. I love the rain, so I can't complain...

3. This sunset.

... because the rain sometimes brings beautiful sunsets here on the west coast.

4. This illusion.

Kitty in a jar. (for the worried, she is sitting behind it, not inside of it)

5. This rain.

More rain to be had here. I am hoping that it will turn to snow one day.

One last thing:

We are going to be watching all the holiday movies this weekend. I like this time of year, because it is chilly outside, warm food and drinks are the norm, and you can cuddle up with a blanket and watching a lot of movies that are holiday-themed. Freeform has a lot of the good ones on their streaming platform. I'm definitely going to be watching Home Alone every day it's on.

Positive affirmations this week:

It really is okay.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice day.

Five Simple Things (November 15)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. These cookies.

I have been baking cookies lately. Probably being in full holiday mode tricks my brain to think cookies much be baked. I've been using some of my own recipes that I have perfected to our taste over the years.

2. This runner.

Our table is long and always welcoming to anyone wanting to sit at it with us for dinner. A lot of times we are feeding Skylar's friends, and sometimes coworkers, but over all, it's always a place we gather at once a week as a family. This table runner I found this week at TJ Maxx and I can't wait to add it to the tablescape this holiday season.

3. This kitty.

I washed all the quits this week and Eleven was the first one to take a nap on them before I added them back to everyone's beds.

4. This syrup.

We needed syrup, but half the reason I bought this one was for the bottle. Okay, mostly the reason I bought it was for the bottle.

5. This subscription.

This week my monthly subscription to Birchbox came, and I love that a full-sized bottle of Paul Mitchell Hair Mask was included this month. I love anything hair mask related that helps hydrate my hair. Skylar has enjoyed using the hair masks, too, because the city water dries our skin and hair out a lot more than it should. I have extremely sensitive skin and Skylar got my sensitive skin, as well. We love to hydrate our hair, skin, feet, and everything in between. Birchbox has been coming through for us on this for a few months in a row now.

One last thing:

These two new items are now in the shop.

These Sardines Match Box contain 18 wooden matches in a matchbox that looks like a pack of sardines. They are perfect for small gifts, or just laying out on a table for decor. These Watercolor Rainbow Greeting Cards are blank inside for your own personal message. They are hand painted by an artist in Hawaii and come with a cardstock envelope. Both of these items are under $7.

You can check out the rest of the Five Simple Things shop here.

Positive affirmations this week:

You deserve everything that gives you joy, slowing down and enjoying the moments that matter to you, and to smile at the things that bring you comfort. No matter the people in your life that try to take that joy away from you, you deserve to have a happy life. When people try to still that joy, they themselves have no found theirs. Focus on what makes you happy, and don't let people take that away from you.

You can do this!🌈

The image below is from Amber Fillerup Clark's company Dae.

Have a nice weekend.