Thes Asian fish cakes are the absolute freakin bomb.

Thanks to @jamieoliver for his quick and easy, deliciously healthy, and impressively beautiful recipe for busy folks!

1 lb salmon filets (remove the skin)

Chop into "cubes"

1/2 stalk cilantro, diced (stalk and all)

Save a few leaves for garnish

Ginger (I used about 1 tsp ground ginger)

1 stalk lemongrass, diced (remove outer layer)

Salt/Pepper

Sweet Chili Jam

Heat 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a non-stick frying pan.

Mix all the above ingredients well. Then, create patties about 1 inch thick. Fry for approximately 2 minutes, each side, on medium-high heat. 

Top with your favorite sweet chili jam and a few more sprigs of cilantro.

Serve with rice, couscous, quinoa, potatoes, asparagus, or steamed broccoli.

Simple. Fast. Nutritious. Slap yo' mama good!

What do you do when you're only one day post-op from pulling 4 wisdom teeth?

Ya know... Don't want to get out, but aren't up for another full day of binging 10 more 90s/00s rom coms again, though, either?

Well, around these parts, I try out new recipes. 

Let me just say, somebody nailed this chocolate chip cookie recipe!

They were so simple to make, required light clean up, yielded more than 2 dozen, and were absolutely incredible.

I mean... would ya just look at it?!

1 cup butter

1.5 cups brown sugar, packed

1 large egg yolk

1 tbsp vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp kosher salt or 1/2 tsp table salt

10 oz package chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375°F. 

Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. 

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan. The butter should be just melted. 

Add brown sugar to a large bowl. 

Pour melted butter over the sugar. 

Stir to combine.

Let stand 5 minutes. 

Add egg and egg yolk; stir to combine. 

Stir in vanilla extract. 

Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir until just combined. 

Stir in chocolate chips. 

Using a medium cookie scoop (1.5 tbsp), drop scoops of dough 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet. 

Bake for about 7-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are golden brown. The centers should still look soft and slightly underbaked. That will help to keep the cookies soft. 

Let cool for 5 minutes. 

Remove to wire rack to finish cooling.

These lovelies were also ready to devour within 35 minutes... start to finish!

Wins all around.

Definitely a new blog to follow. Girl's got skillzzz. 

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm not a mama yet, but one day.

Right now, I'm a gal who adores my husband, my puppy, my nieces and nephews, and all my friends' and their kids that we've adopted as our own.

God's made my life beautiful.

Despite the disappointments and difficulties, it's pretty great. 

I've learned what's important, who matters, and that doing things that make your heart happy is what's up. This stepping out of my comfort zone has produced some pretty amazing things. Pushing the fear of failure aside and going for it anyways has been the biggest accomplishment in my life.

Does is always work out? Nope. But a lot of times, it does! Maybe after trial and error. Stains. Spills. Mess ups that require loads of help recovering... 

Like this beauty!

I'm so happy with it. Truly.

Now, I can' t quit looking at it. It makes me smile. Pretty big. 

Can't wait to see what beautiful prize awaits us through our adoption process, too. Am I'm a little scared of disappointment? Yes. Terrified at the possibility of heartbreak? Absolutely. Because we've been through it all before! 

But, we sat down at the table again and picked up the brush... So, I'm trusting this process. Well, trusting God to handle it. 

One day, I fully believe we will have the most incredible little human to pour ourselves into.

I'm going to cherish every single moment. Getting there... and when we're right in the middle of it.

Y'all. This is my new fave. It's so refreshing and different for a spring/summer day. And, it goes without saying, (yet we always say it anyway), so scrumptious!

Simply boil a few cobs of corn, let them cool, and then shave the kernels into a bowl. 

Add some shredded chicken, too. (However much you'd like; there's really no wrong or right measurement here.)

Throw in about 2-4 tbsp of mayo. (This all depends on how much corn and chicken you've started with... 4 cobs of corn and 1 cup of chicken usually takes 2.5 - 3 large tbsp.)

Don't forget to include about 1/4 cup of sour cream.

Top with 1/2 cup COTIJA cheese and the juice of 2 large limes.

Here's the kicker -- sprinkle a generous amount of Tajin Clasico lime seasoning over the entire mixture. 

Shall I say, GAME. CHANGER? Yes. Yes, I shall.

Mix everything well. 

Plate it all pretty and add a couple leaves of cilantro if your little heart so desires. 

Guys, this is just delicious. If you like Mexican street corn, you'll be pleased with this quick and easy lunch!

Try it out! Vamanos! 

Working on a new piece today.

Foundation laid, but still unfinished. 

Kinda how I'm feeling. 

I may leave it this way for a while until that specific image hits the brain.

It's been a while... felt nice to grab a brush again.

I'm learning more and more every day that life is a canvas that can be painted into whatever you choose. You may not always get to pick the colors, and something may spill on what you considered a masterpiece... you may have to start all over. Nonetheless, if you so choose, each day can produce something beautiful and inspirational. 

You know something else about art? There are countless styles and techniques out there. You can't compare a Monet to a Picasso. They're both fabulous, right? Still, there's probably very few places that would house both painters' work, that isn't an art museum.

Don't be taken aback by certain people's disinterest in your life. Maybe they're enamored by DaVinci... but you're still a freaking Van Gogh, love! Carry on. 

I'm trying to grasp that myself. Acceptance does have several stages that seem to proceed it, though. That's okay! As long as my denial and anger don't linger too long, I'll be just fine. 

I may not have it all together, but I know I have a lot to offer. I just have to find my purpose, my place, and my people. 

Every day, well, I get a little bit closer to feeling fulfilled. 

Until then, I'll love my life as much as I love this piece... even if it is slightly unfinished. 

I mean, maybe that's the very thing that makes it so beautiful?