sugar cookie recipe and a little bit of kitchen love ... ♥

the summer is already starting to fly by

every year i say the same thing...

i will not let summer fly by

i will not let summer fly by 

but sometimes it does anyways ... 

even still, i'm determined to make a summer bucket list and complete at least half of it. 

our summer seems to start later here. weather wise and when school ends. 

school starts the first week of September ... so i feel like i'm still sorta ahead of the game. sorta.

the past few tuesdays we've been making & taking cookies to daddy's work

last week we tried this recipe for no-roll sugar cookies that i found via Pinterest

it was simple & quick

i've been feeling the weight of not doing enough for others

and pointing out to my girls, that contrary to what society tells us, 

the world does not revolve around them... or even around our family. 

there are kids we can sponsor, people who are sick that we can help, 

or dresses that can be made for those who don't have clothes to wear.

or even just for our neighbors. is there something we can do for them? or bring to them?

are we paying attention? to what's going on outside of our little box.

all around us. everyday.

that's the only way. they only way something will be seen as different in us.

not to point towards religion.

religion is empty. it's void.

not to point towards rules

what we should wear, or what type of music we should listen to 

... what version we should read.

rules are empty.

and they fall on the deaf ears of a world 

that has already pinned the Creator as next to non-existent.

no... i don't want to point others towards rules

i want to point towards a Savior. 

the One who is meant to fill the void.

the One who sets us free.

free to live in His Truth & in His Grace...

and striving to find a good balance between the two.

anyways ... that's what's been on my heart lately

and with all this baking goin on, i'm thinking about how thankful i am 

for our home, our kitchen ~ it's spacious and comfy ... 

so much revolves around this room.

my kitchen sink gets a lot of hours out of me :)

i love sprucing it up, adding little things that make it a fun area to spend time in

i found a little white pedestal dish at the thrift store, and put our hand soap & a bottle of lotion on it right near the sink

then i saw these lights on Pinterest and fell in love

and then decided to make a few strands of my own

i strung them over the sink and later found the aqua bird cage at hobby lobby 

threw that and some pom pom flowers into the mix

and now it's like a little party 24/7 right over my kitchen sink :)

to make your own lights, all you need is a string of patio or Christmas lights 

(got these white ones at Target in the outdoor stuff) 

and some cupcake papers. snip a little hole in the base and fit over the bulb

then repeat. like a hundred times

but it's worth it.

at night when we go to bed i turn off all the other lights and leave these on :)

they're like night lights in the kitchen ♥

much love ♥

linking up here:

A Crafty Soiree ♥ Yesterday on Tuesday

Whatever you Want Wednesday ♥ Free Pretty Things for You

live laugh linky ♥ live laugh Rowe

Party Time ♥ the 36th Avenue

Weekend Wrap-Up Party ♥ Tatertots & Jello

Sundae Scoop ♥ i heart naptime

Party Junk ♥ Funky Junk Interiors

Junkin' Joe ♥ the Cottage Market

Funky Junk ♥ Funky Junk's Party Junk