recipe // amish friendship bread

This bread is absolutely delicious!!! Bread is my favorite thing to bake, and I'm pretty sure that this was the first bread recipe I ever made. It's super easy and is very good! I've made this recipe quite a few times in the past and each time it turns out wonderful!!

Ingredients:

• 1 t. cinnamon


• 3 T. sugar


• 1 cup canola oil


• 1 t. vanilla


• 1 1/2 t. baking powder


• 2 cups flour


• 1/2 t. baking soda


• 2 t. cinnamon


• 1 cup sugar


• 3 large eggs


• 1/2 t salt


• 1/2 cup milk


• 1 large box instant vanilla pudding


• 1 cup to 1 1/4 cup chocolate chips, raisins, or chopped nuts (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Grease two loaf pans. Combine the 1 t. cinnamon with the 3 T. sugar. Sprinkle into the well-greased pans.
Add the remaining ingredients to a bowl. (Mix with plastic or wooden spoon)




Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake for 1 hour or until done.
Makes two loaves.




I hope y'all enjoy the recipe!!! :)



 

life with acne

I have acne. I've had it for a few years. My sisters had/have it. My parents had it. My grandparents had it. So yeah, it's a tradition.



But actually, I'm not too happy about this tradition. But I have it, and I have to make do.

A lot of people think that people with acne are dirty people. People that don't ever wash their face.
Honestly, I really think that you could have the cleanest face out there, but still struggle with acne. Especially when it seems like it's in your genes.
Sometimes I have a really hard time with acne.
Some days I'll look in the mirror and I'll be like, "Hey! My acne is going away!!"

.

Then the next morning, I'll go to brush my teeth and I'll glance at my face and it's covered in new red, white, and black pimples (if you have acne, you will understand) and I'm like

.

I try to take very good care of my face and I have a lot of rules for myself that I try to follow.
One of my rules is not to touch or pick at my acne pimples because I don't want them to leave scars.
Some times when I wash my face, I'll be so careful not to pop any pimples. But some times in the process of washing, one will pop or fall off.

.

Even though I do struggle with acne quite often, I try not to think about it, and I'm so thankful that it's not any worse than what it is.
When you really think about it, acne can be quite funny some times! :)

For all of you who struggle with acne, try not to let it get you down. Just do your best to take care of your face, and make sure to always wear a smile!
It's not what's on the outside that matters anyway.
"...for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
                                                                   - 1 Samuel 16:7b

Do you struggle with acne?
Do you have any tips?

tea party // photography practice

Chloe turned six on Thursday. I cannot believe that! She has grown a lot, and she is such a sweet little girl! I love her so much! :)
Chloe wanted to have a little tea party for her birthday. So we (the family), went over to Jason and Katy's house to celebrate.
This picture really captured how Chloe was. She was so excited and was like a busy bee running around filling and refilling people's cups with new tea. I think she had fun! :)


After her little celebration, Jason and I went outside so he could teach me a few things on my camera. I learned a lot about aperture. He wanted me to do a little photo shoot with Napoleon. I definitely need a lot of practice. Jason let me borrow his lens and his polarizing filter.

The one above would have been good, but the focus point is on the right side of the bucket, and Napoleon is blurred. I was very disappointed that this one didn't turn out better.




These turned out a little better. Napoleon is in focus and the background is blurred. I think these turned out the best. I tell y'all though, taking pictures of dogs is tough. Especially puppies. Napoleon would not stay still. He's a little wiggle worm :)
Thank you, Jason, for helping me edit some of these!

I also got to take some pictures of Bella. I think some of these turned out ok. She's a good little model! :)

I would have liked this one a lot more if the house wasn't in the background. But I liked the lighting.


So they were a few of my favorites. I plan on starting Nikon School really soon, so I can improve my photography! :) I'm really excited about starting it!