Homemade Brownies

I think y'all have figured out at this point that I love anything sweet. My favorite sweet things usually contain some form of chocolate. Recently I realized I didn't have a go-to recipe for homemade brownies. Shameful, I know. Here is the one I finally settled on after many batches and bowls:

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups margarine

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup cocoa

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and add cocoa; mix. 
Stir in sugar and blend in the eggs, one at a time. 
Add vanilla. Stir in flour and mix well.
Bake in greased 9 x 13-inch pan for 30 minutes.
Let cool for 20-30 minutes.
Enjoy!


I frosted with cream cheese frosting and dove right in!

Friday's Letters [07.27]

Happy Friday all! It's a stellar day to link up with Adventures of Newlyweds for an edition of Friday's Letters!

Dear David and Bird, Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all your hard work in putting the bed together last night. I know that was the last thing you had in mind for a Thursday evening, but I really do appreciate it!

Dear Daisy, I know you think all these boxes and pieces of cardboard mean we are moving again, but I promise we are not. With that being said you really don't have to follow me from room to room

Dear Olympics, I am SO stoked you are here. Every four years just isn't enough. Your counterpart, the Winter Olympics, are alright but not nearly as awesome sauce as you. 

Dear USA Olympic Swim Team, Thank you for this:

Dear summer, What did I do to you? Why are you flying by so fast?? How about you slow way, way down? What about starting over completely? Think you can handle that? Appreciate it.

Kitchen King

Have you met this man?

No? Well, you should. This is Gordon Ramsay and he is awesome sauce. Te he he, get it? He's awesome sauce and he's a chef. Ah, I crack myself up sometimes. Anywho, we first made Mr. Ramsay's acquaintance two summers ago while flipping through the few channels we have on basic cable. There was nothing else on so we settled in to watch Hell's Kitchen. This is where our love affair began. Since then we have become fans of all the shows he has on Fox- Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, and Master Chef.

I never watched TV series until I met and married David. I never saw the point in it. Then, David showed me that there was more than just superfluous junk on TV and so now we've become "those people". You know the people, the ones who watch certain shows on certain nights. The truth is, I don't really mind being "those people" any more.

Back to the main man, Mr. Ramsay. He is a fast talking, no-nonsense kind of guy. Everyone thinks he is a total jerk, but once you get to know him (yes, I just went there) you learn he isn't a total meanie-poo. Thanks to his wise ways we've actually become more conscious of what we eat and are braver in our restaurant choices. So, before you shut him down as a total tool, check out his shows. I should also probably tell you that watching anyone of these shows will also turn you into a bit of a restaurant snob. . . fair warning!

Beach Blowout

What is about the beach that is so relaxing? Is it the waves crashing? Or the sand between your toes? Or is it the knowledge that you are on vacation and supposed to rest? Whatever it is, I want to bottle it and carry it around with me always. We just returned from our final beach trip of the summer and I am bummed. Don't get me wrong, it was an incredible trip. I'm just bummed that it's over!

We arrived at David's Aunt Debbie's house on a Thursday evening and headed back nine days later. Talk about a week and a half of bliss. In that time we hit the beach many times, I got my very first facial (and a follow-up!), hit the outlets a couple times (and scored some stellar deals!), ate at multiple different restaurants specializing in yum, introduced the princess to the sand and saltwater, and visited with family. Needless to say, bidding this vacation goodbye was difficult. Here are a few pictures giving you a glimpse of our bliss:

So peaceful.

Working on those Crossfit handstand push-ups.

Game night!

First trip to the beach for the cousins.

My fabulous find of the day-$40 Michael Kohrs wedges!

Catch of the day.

Following a yummy seafood supper.

Bliss.

Can I go back??

I'm Backkkkk!

Gooooood Monday morning, folks-I'm back! I wish I had time to share with y'all all the wonderful things we did and all the fun we had, but a mountain of laundry is calling my name. Oof. Instead I'm going to point y'all over to Mrs. Robinson's blog My New Wife Life where I am sharing the importance of date nights in a marriage and some tips on fun/cheap/easy/meaningful ways of making that happen!

Have a fabulous day!