Disguised Blessings

Ruthless: Sara Shepard

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:44:00 +0000

Seriously? I'm not even sure where to start. These are my closet reads. It's embarrassing to me to admit that I have read 10 of these so far... But, nonetheless, I read them. The first few books were great, intriguing and kept me wanting more, but now I'm finding myself hoping that the next one will have a REAL & FINAL ending! It's time to be done. How many 'A's can there really be? It's great if the show keeps going, but I think it's time for the books to end. It feels like Sara is trying to push out the books in order to keep up with the show - they seem choppy and not as well plotted as the first few. It's time for the whole 'A' to come to an end.

On other notes, I'm still around just trying to figure out how to write about all that's been going on, I guess it's all about just sitting down and writing... :D Maybe soon, we'll see.

Dedication 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:39:00 +0000

So I just wrote this whole thing out, and my computer decided to spazz out on me, so now I have to sit here and write it all again… So hopefully it’s as good as it was the first time!

I was out walking with a good friend the other day and she was mentioning how her sister always toasts on New Year’s Eve to a word. Words such as: love, connection, communication, hope, etc. As she was mentioning this the word that popped into my head was “dedication”. For the past couple of months I’ve been pondering upon the New Year’s Resolutions I always make, and how they always seem to fall by the wayside around March/April, and I have been trying to figure out how to keep them going - how to stay motivated for my ‘goals’. At this time a couple of things came into play that helped me figure out how to accomplish this in this year of Two-Thousand and Twelve.

One, was the reading of an internet friend that I have followed since before she had a blog over on SparkPeople. She blogged about her new years resolutions and her monthly goals for January. What a great idea! Make a spreadsheet for your Resolutions to help keep track of them, and to stay accountable. I love spreadsheets and being able to see my goals reach the end destination before my eyes. This still, however, did not help with my problem of losing my motivation throughout the year. In 2012 I want to become a better person - not just resolutions that end at a certain time or have little simple ‘goal checking off’ meaning. I want to grow, and create new habits. Become dedicated to my life and not just let it pass me by.

Two, the conversation I was having with my friend and the word Dedication. How could I make resolutions that would help me in the long run? I needed to decide what I wanted to dedicate my time to that would be worthwhile in the long run, habits that I always wanted to have. Things that would help me become the person I want to become. So I set out to figure out how to do this. I have another friend whose family every New Year had them sit down as children and write down a goal in each of three categories that they could focus on throughout the year:

Mental

Physical

Spiritual

What a great plan! Three areas that I (and probably everyone) could improve in! So this is what I came up with for my three areas, and the habits I wanted to form in each:

Mental

Read 24 Books in a Year
Journal Weekly
Blog Weekly
Weekly Photo

Physical

Drink 72oz Water per Day
Juice Once a Day
Walk 2 Miles Daily
Do 50 Crunches per Day

Spiritual

Read 10 pages of Scriptures Daily
Read Complete Ensign Monthly
Prayer at least Once Daily
Attend the Temple Monthly
Attend Church Weekly

I created a spreadsheet that would reflect this for a month at a time. I’ll keep all the same goals for the entire year, but adjust the numbers after each month to be able to complete something reasonable that I can turn into a habit. Some of them definitely need more determination and dedication on my part, but these are the things I want to keep in my life daily, forever.

So here’s my toast to the New Year (yes, I’m 6 day's late). To DEDICATION, to creating habits that will be with me forever. To making myself the best person that I can be!

Happy New Year

Catch - Up

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:26:00 +0000

I should be tending to the boiling potatoes on the stove that I will be making potato salad with this afternoon. We are having a little get together of some of my husbands friends. It takes me off-guard when he says that he invited some of his friends over to play. I figured since the potatoes are cooking I’ll post to my blog since it’s been awhile, as for a quick summary since my birthday.

Nothing is new.

See how simple that was?

I am, however, trying to decide if I’m a laptop work station traveller or a have it all in one place all the time type of girl. The past couple of years I’ve just been hauling it all over the house to work - living room, living room floor, bedroom, kitchen, office, the “man cave”. Recently, I have acquired a beauty of a ‘computer screen’ - the term computer screen is to be taken lightly. I’m using our 32” Samsung LCD for my ‘monitor’. So I have my desk cleared off (that’s a story in itself) and have everything set up and I have to say I really like just having it in one place. My only new task is to figure out cord management - I have WAY too many things plugged in, ie: Garmin Watch Receiver, TV, Keyboard, 1TB HDD, Silhouette, Garmin Watch Charger, iPod cable.

So, now I’m kinda stuck at always using my desk, my laptop doesn’t have the greatest battery power but it’s still a great machine - it just doesn’t travel well without it’s power tail. So I have to say, all in all I really like having a permanent work station.

Now shall we catch up in pictures since July? Alright. Prepare yourself for image overload.

We went on a picnic on an extremely hot day. It was a lot of fun, my sister didn’t go with us as she was already committed to something previous. It took stomping through multiple mud puddles, kicking water on each other, and dumping a 5lb bucket of cheese balls all over the car to get to the most perfect spot we could find but the cool river that was freezing from the melted snow that was coming down the mountainside.

I love my mothers face as soon as she put her feet in the water, it was quite humorous, it was so hot outside - but you couldn’t utilize the river water because it was so super cold. Too hot and too cold.

I loved these trees by our spot that had many carvings in them from over the years.

There were quiet moments at home.

There were goofy moments out doing family activities.

There’s been cupcake making.

Family Shooting Outings.

Long drives home with interesting traffic travelling our same direction from the Burning Man thing - whatever it is.

So from this little ‘update’ I’ve learned I seriously need to pull my camera out more! I also did a couple of photoshoots as well over the past couple of months - one for a wonderful family, and another for a precious little girl for her baptism.

That’s all I got. I promise I’ll pull my camera out more, and be better about documenting more of my meaningless days, and that moments that inspire me to be better, along with the little gems that are hidden throughout my day that makes them less meaningless and more special.

It’s Never To Late

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:32:00 +0000

I’m 28. I’ve been 28 for 5 days. I’m 28. For the past few days I’ve been asking myself what did I do with my time, where did it go? Who am I? What have I become? Have I accomplished anything I’ve wanted to do? In high school everyone asks, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” . My answer was the same every time because I KNEW what I wanted to be and who I was.

I’ll have at least 3 kids. Have my Master’s in Education (possibly Special Education). Be a 2nd grade teacher. Be married. 28 will be the best year of my life.

So far, I’m married. I’ve been married for 5 years. Married to the most wonderful man I could every have the opportunity to be married to, and that’s it. I started to get a little down, a little depressed, a little ‘my life isn’t what it’s supposed to be’. I didn’t finish school. I don’t have children (yet), and other things that I thought I would be I’m not. Then I took a good hard look at myself and realized that although I’m not what I wanted to be, or what I thought I would be - I am me. People know what I like, they know who I am. I realized I would be turning 28 soon, and everyone says it’s their magical year - at first I thought it wouldn’t be mine - because I’m not where I wanted to be when I hit 28. Then after talking with a good friend I realized - I can make my 28 the best year I’ve ever had. And that means stepping up and taking control of my life and becoming what I thought I would be and who I want to be.

So instead of New Year’s, I’m using my birthday calendar year. I will become stronger and better. I will become more dedicated to bettering myself, more dedicated to the church, more dedicated to being a wife (I’m still figuring that out) - it doesn’t help that we’ve only lived together about 25 months out of 5 years. It’s never too late - even though I feel like I ‘wasted’ the past 10 years - I have learned lessons, I have grown, and I have become more me. Now it’s time to let the inner me shine through - be strong and stop letting my life pass me by. Here’s to my 28th year, a year of changes and a year of growth. Everyday will be better than the one before it, and I choose to make it that way.

Enjoy everyday to it’s fullest, and push yourself to be the strongest and best possible version of you that you can be.

When people try to excuse themselves by saying, “That’s just the way I am,” I say, “That’s not who you are. That’s what you have chosen to be. What do you believe you could become?” With the power of the Holy Ghost, you can become whatever you want that is good and right in God’s sight. We can become what we should become. It’s about enduring. It’s about deciding what you want to be and working for it. -Don Clarke

Accomplish Something Each Day

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:46:00 +0000

I was watching a video from Drew Canole at fitlifetv on YouTube. He started a video with one question, “Give me one thing that you will have done by the end of the day”. After his workout one morning in the gym he went around and asked people that same question, the result? Most people had no idea what they wanted to get done during the day. He then proceeded to say, “That is deadly”. Talk about something really striking me. How many times do I go throughout my day not knowing something that I want to accomplish? What does not knowing what you want lead up to? A whole lot of never getting anything done, not knowing what you want, and wasted days. It truly is deadly not knowing what you want. I don’t want to be one of those people who doesn’t know what she wants, I want to know what I want, and I want to know how I’m going to accomplish it. If you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t go anywhere.I just purchased an Erin Condren planner (I am so excited to get it that I’m going crazy!) and I am hoping that every night I can plan my next day, when I first thought about how I would utilize the planner I thought about a simple to-do list, you know chores - appointments - meetings - doctors - travel - birthdays, you know the usual. But now I will implement on each day something I want to accomplish that day. I know a to-do list might count, but I want it to be more meaningful, goal oriented, and something towards self-betterment. I want to start making the better and best choices over the normal mediocre, everyday - not knowing where I’m going choices.

Life isn’t going to last forever. The days aren’t always going to keep coming. I want to be productive. I want to grow. I want to become the best me that I can. It’s time to stop going through the motions, and start living and loving my life - making it the life I want it to be. I might be a little late, but it is truly better than never, right?

So starting tomorrow wake up knowing what you want to accomplish tomorrow, make the day important and meaningful, no matter how mundane, repetitive, and mediocre it may seem. This is your now, so live it up and enjoy it to the fullest.

Luscious Lemon Cupcake Love

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:34:00 +0000

I’m not, nor ever have been a “trendy” person. In fact when there is a trend I usually steer clear until the trend is all over, and if I’m still interested I might stick my toe in to see if it was really worth the hype. I’ve been interested in taking pictures of food lately, food styling, etc. It’s a world that fascinates me - I know I am not the greatest right now but I would like to learn about it, and maybe start doing it more often. So I decided that I could make cupcakes/cookies/brownies to learn new recipes, utilize my kitchen more (which has been very neglected lately), and it’s something that I can easily bundle up and give away since I’m not eating it. Out of the whole batch of peach cupcakes I had 1 regular sized one, and out of this new batch of lemon ones I made myself a half sized cupcake. It’s great service, and it gets me to do something that I enjoy - so I have apparently jumped on the cupcake bandwagon, and I’m enjoying it completely. So here is another cupcake recipe to enjoy!

Cupcake

2 1/4 cups flour
1 TBL baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
4 large egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
lemon zest from two lemons
8 TBLS unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 tsp pure lemon extract

Center a rack in the over and pre-heat to 350.

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl
Whisk together buttermilk and egg whites in a medium bowl
Put sugar and lemon zest in a mixer bowl and rub together with fingers until the sugar is moist and fragrant
Add the butter and beat on medium speed for 3 minutes, until the butter and sugar are very light
Beat in all the extracts
Alternate between 1/3 of the flour and 1/2 of the milk until all is incorporated
Beat for 1 minute to ensure it is completely mixed
DON’T OVER BEAT - this recipe will get dense quickly
Bake for 20 min or until cupcakes are well risen, springy to the touch, or a thin knife inserted in center comes out clean

Icing

1 cup softened butter
8oz softened cream cheese
3-5 cups of confectioners sugar
1 1/4 vanilla extract
juice of one lemon

In mixer mix butter until it is softened and uniform
Add cream cheese and beat together until it is well blended
Add vanilla and mix
Add lemon juice and mix
Add 3c of sugar to the mixture and mix
Continue mixing until mixture is the consistency you need it
Add more sugar if needed according to taste

And now I leave you with some cupcake eye candy!

Sunday Love

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:21:00 +0000

_______________________________
Best Quote

_______________________________
Dessert of the Week
Lemon Cupcakes w/ Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Found: http://www.mybakingaddiction.com

_______________________________
Best Giggle

_______________________________

If I Could Afford It, I Would Buy It

_________________________________________
Favorite House Space
Maybe one day I’ll be able to re-create it!

_______________________________

Photographer of the Week
Hoffer Photography
Click Image to go to their site - they are my favorite, and have been for awhile!

_______________________________
Etsy Store Love
Jewels By Design
Her pieces are truly beautiful pieces of art! I own them, and have given some to others for gifts, they are beautiful on, and I wish I could afford everything in her store!

Pure Peach Cupcake Perfection!

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:32:00 +0000

Last week, I mentioned how I was going to start taking something from my Sunday Love post, and I chose the Peach Cupcakes, that were posted originally by Joanne Choi at Week of Menus. I absolutely love peach, and being from the one and only peach state - could not wait to try these out!

So I got everything together during the week, I didn’t have much time for shopping so it consisted of a lot of random purchases at the checkout. One trip was Buttermilk and Toilet Tissue, wonder what the checkout fellow was thinking… I only needed a cup of the buttermilk, Mr. B will be sad he wasn’t here to finish off the container. I think just drinking it is gross but he really likes it - so now I have 3 cups that are just going to go to waste.

So late last night I decided to make the cupcakes!

I started the reciepe (below), and got to where one needed to mix the flour in the the wet batter slowly and in parts so I was using a measuring cup to do so to get smaller portions - well, me being blonde, I wasn’t really paying attention and the mixer caught the cup and all of a sudden I had a white mixer and white counter, then I started laughing hysterically which could possibly be due to the fact that I was past the point of exhaustion and had reached the “slap happy” state. You know the one where everything is funny, and you laugh so hard you cry and think you’re going to pee your pants? That was me last night, at the beginning of the process anyway.

So I pureed, pulverized, sifted, mixed, laughed, and dirtied so many dishes. My mom is always telling me that there is a better way to bake so you don’t have a gazillion dishes when you’re done, but I wish I had paid attention to the stuff that she was trying to teach me about the domesticated world when I was younger. Yes, all these dishes were in part to the cupcakes - except for the rolling pin which I just purchased and need to “season” it.

Pulled out the muffin/cupcake tins, dropped the liners in, and filled them with batter. I wasn’t sure how full to fill each cup, but after baking I can say about 1/4 inch from the top is the perfect fill point.

The first batch I cooked using the normal bake option. After I pulled the batch out I realized that they didn’t cook evenly - so the second batch I put the oven on Convection Oven, then I slightly over baked them, so you live you learn - and now I know what to do different for the next time. Because with these cupcakes there will be a lot of next times!

Peach Cupcakes

Ingredients
1 c. of unsalted, softened butter
2 2/3 c. of flour
2 1/2 t. baking power
1/2 t. salt
2 c. granulated sugar
3 large eggs
49g of freeze dried peaches, pulverized
3/4 c low-fat buttermilk
1/2 c. pureed fresh peach (about 1-1 1/2 peaches)
1 t. vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tins with liners
Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt - set aside
In a large measuring cup or bowl, mix together buttermilk, peach puree, and vanilla extract - set aside
In Mixer, or with hand mixer - beat butter and sugar until pale, about 2 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Mix in pulverized peaches (I did this in my Ninja, but just use a food processor)
Mix in flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two batches of buttermilk mixture.
Mix until just combined
Place batter in cupcake liners (about 1/4” from the top)
Bake until golden brown and a toothpick in center comes out clean - about 20-24 minutes

Peach Icing

Ingredients
1 c. of softened butter
8oz softened cream cheese
49g freeze dried peaches, pulverized
1 t. vanilla extract
3-5 c. of confectioners sugar

Directions
In Mixer - mix butter until it is softened and uniform
Add cream cheese and beat together until it is well blended
Add vanilla extract and mix
Add pulverized peaches and mix
Add 3c of sugar to the mixture and mix
Add more sugar if needed and according to taste
Continue mixing until mixture is creamy and spreadable

Frost your cupcakes and enjoy! The icing and cake recipe make 24 cupcakes.

A couple of different things I did then mentioned above:
*I used Shelf Reliance Freeze Dried Peaches, if you don’t have access to these Target has Freeze Dried Peaches in their snack aisle. Be sure to use freeze dried and not fresh or dehydrated.
*In most of my baking I use cake flour, and baking sugar - they are ground finer, and offer a more silky texture in the final product
*I added a little bit of royal rose food coloring to the icing to help it become a little more peach and a little less beige.

So go make these pronto, and let me know how you liked them! I think they are delicious, and I’m glad that I gave them all away or I would have eaten them all!

So I have never used a pastry bag, or icing tips, or any of that… so I had to experiment - and I learned it’s going to take a lot of practice to actually do something other than spirals, see exhibit A:

See not the best… and those were the best of the iced batch… haha.

Now, seriously, go make these cupcakes - you will NOT regret it!

Simple Love…

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:32:00 +0000

My father.

An honest, hardworking, simple man.

My Mother.

Loves everything about all the little things in life.

My Sister.

Has the kindest heart of anyone I know.

My Brother.

The best listener, and protector any sister could have.

My Husband.

Comedian, Biker, Fly Fisherman, and most importantly the love of my life.

I’m not embarrassed.

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 05:10:00 +0000

If you know me I LOVE cattle. All of them. Young, Old, Mean, and Sweet. I act like a little child when I see a herd of Herefords, Angus’, and Jerseys’. They make me smile. Much like these beautiful babies from my last trip out to my parents.

Sweet Shot Tuesday has some amazing photos, it’s been awhile since I submitted anything - but maybe because I took a ridiculous break from taking photos - but I’m back!

My favorite recipe....

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Crock Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu

INGREDIENTS
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (10.75oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
4oz sliced ham
4oz sliced swiss cheese
1 (8oz) pkg herbed dry bread stuffing mix
1/4 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS
Mix together the cream of chicken soup and milk in a small bowl. Pour enough of the soup into a crock pot to cover the bottom. Layer chicken over the sauce. Cover with slices of ham and then swiss cheese. Pour the remaining soup over the layers stirring a little to distribute between the layers. Sprinkle the stuffing on top, and drizzle the butter over the stuffing. Cover, and cook on low 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-3.

Macro Lens Love

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:31:00 +0000

So I’ve rented this lens a couple of times, and I love it. The Canon 100mm f/2.8L is the most clear crisp lens. Although it’s taken me awhile to figure it out, I love it, and one day will have it down pat! Here a few of my favorite images with it.

A hobby of mine…

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 05:41:00 +0000

This is what I grew up doing, what I love doing, and will always be a passion of mine

Shuffle the Music…

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 05:40:00 +0000

First 10 songs, after placing my iPod on shuffle (no judgment please).

Marry The Night - Lady GaGa
Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
When Heaven’s Not Far Away - Cold
Bright Lights - Matchbox 20
Spellbound - Lacuna Coil
Sober - P!nk
How Great Thou Art - Evergreen Singers
What Is This Feeling - WICKED Soundtrack
Who Needs You Baby - Clay Walker
Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons

A habit I wish I didn’t have…

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:32:00 +0000

Really, there is only one - Nail Biting. It’s gross, and yet I keep doing it. Any suggestions on how to stop? I really believe I’ve done it all.

Trip “Home” In Photos Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 05:45:00 +0000

Have you ever had Freeze Dried Ice Cream Sandwiches? You should, they are amazing, and don’t melt! We took them on our picnic in 100 degree weather.

Then of course we had to go see my favorite thing in the world, COWS! I love them, and could drive around forever looking at them, I have so many pictures of cows, it’s unreal, and some probably think I need an intervention…

Then it was off to the “lake”, I’m not sure why they call it a lake it’s more a reservoir, but it was beautiful that day!

Upper Left: Where my parents now live - NOWHERE, and it is grand!
Upper Right: The wonderful bugs they have the privilege to live with.

Then it was time for the ritual summer evening fire pit sitting, marshmallow roasting, family chatting, police scanner listening,
wonderful summer evening.

A Photo of my Family…

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 05:30:00 +0000

My mother, father, brother, sister, and husband. I love them.

Next 3 on your bucket list…

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 05:26:00 +0000

1. Buy a house.

2. Travel with husband.

3. Become a mother.

What did you do today?

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 05:23:00 +0000

Worked. The End.

A Favorite Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:22:00 +0000

I don’t think I can pick just one, so here are some of my favorites:

“I wish I were a glow worm, because a glow worm is never glum. Cause how can you be gloomy when the sun shines out your bum?”

“When you get the end of your rope tie a knot and hang on”

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

A Favorite Book

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 05:19:00 +0000

I could read this book over and over and over again. Learn something new, and never tire of it. My copy is well worn.

I would love to own a first edition signed copy - how hard do you think one would be to find?

A Favorite Food

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:14:00 +0000

My favorite food would most certainly have to be anything from the water. I love it all. Sushi, Crab, Salmon, Scallops, Eel, everything. I love it.

My Favorite Movie

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 20:53:00 +0000

This is my favorite movie, always will be - with GREASE falling in second quite farther back.

I watch this movie on rainy days, sick days, and sometimes just have it on. It’s a wonderful classic, and it’s my all time favorite.

Gone with the Wind (Two-Disc 70th Anniversary Edition)

My Favorite Song

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:46:00 +0000

I ‘found’ this song around 2002 and it’s been my favorite ever since.

November Rain (Full Length)

Something I Want To Buy

noreply@blogger.com (Amber Barber) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:40:00 +0000

This is a hard decision, I want to buy everything but the top thing on my to purchase list

The Canon 5DMarkII

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens