Sarah's Favorite Things- Kind of like Oprah, but really not at all. Edition 1

A lot of times, I run out of things to write about! My life is pretty cut and dry, as much as it can be with two small children. SO, I thought I would come up with a new installment for the blawg.

Introducing, "Sarah's Favorite Things- Kind of like Oprah, but really not at all". It will be kind of random, maybe some products, maybe some places, etc. Who knows! And please, if you have any favorite things, feel free to let me in on them. I'm a sucker for trying new products!

Without any further ado, here is my very first favorite thing!!!
Maybelline Lash Stiletto may be my new absolute favorite mascara! It really does give amazing length to your eyelashes. It is not the best volume builder, but I have a lot of eyelashes, they just aren't super long. If you're looking for volume, go elsewhere. I bought the waterproof version and it is very durable. It doesn't smudge, and at the end of the day I don't look like I have black eyes. It does come off easily when I wash my face with soap and water. LOVE THIS PRODUCT!

What is your favorite mascara???

Funnel Cakes are low cal, right?

Ahhhh, weekends. I just love them. Our weekend was so full of family fun and very laid back! Friday night we headed out to our county's fair. We LOVE the fair in the Van Nus household. The people watching and food are the best! We partook in both. Jackson was getting into game mode in this shot.


This is the one and only ride that I was on that night. It kind of turned me off when the gentleman in charge of the ride had to literally give it a running start to get it going.

Here is Jackson's $10 dog that he "won". The dog is less than dollar store quality, but oh how he loves it!


Please excuse me for a moment, while my heart skips a beat. Love this man.

On Saturday, we spent the evening with family and friends watching the Georgia game. My beloved Dawgs are getting real good at cutting it close. But we had such a great time!!! Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures!!!

Sundays are my favorite day of the week. We got up this morning and had a great time of worship and then headed home for afternoon naps! Usually, I want my kids to take a long nap, but today I was just itching for them to wake up. The weather today was gorgeous! No rain (PTL), sunny, breezy and pleasantly warm! So after the kids woke up, we headed out to take a walk and play in the back yard. I was wanting to get some cute pictures of Ace in the grass, but he would have no part of it! He did not enjoy the feeling on his skin! So he sat on my legs and I got some pretty cute shots.


I could just eat him with a spoon. He was so happy to be outside after so many days trapped inside from the rain!

Ace and I sat and played while Jackson collected rocks all throughout the yard. This is one of his most loved passtimes right now!

And now, here we are! Sunday night with a new week waiting for us. I am so thankful for this precious time we have together. Hope y'all have a great week!

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.
John 1:16

Show Us Your Life- Dessert Recipes

Oh Kelly, you're speaking my love language. Unfortunately for me and my hips, I have a major sweet tooth. Not only do I have a sweet tooth, I really enjoy baking. Here are a couple of my favorite dessert recipes.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake:
2.5 C plain flour
.5 C self rising flour
1: 8oz block of cream cheese
3 C sugar
3 sticks of butter
6 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon flavoring

-sift together flours, set aside
-mix together cream cheese, sugar and butter
-add flour and eggs to cream cheese mixture, alternating
-mix in flavorings
-bake 1.5-2 hours in 300 degree oven, or until toothpick comes out clean


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Pina Colada Cake

White cake mix
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can coconut milk (I usually can find this on the baking aisle, or with the mixed drink stuff)
Cool Whip
Flaked coconut

-prepare cake by box directions and bake
-as soon as the cake comes out of the oven, poke holes over entire surface with fork
-mix together both milks
-pour over cake
-allow milks to soak into cake while the cake cools completely
-top with cool whip and flaked coconut
-refrigerate and serve cold


Happy Friday, y'all! Hope it is a sweet one!!!

8 Months

Ace,

What feels like forever ago, I saw this one little word. One little word changed my life SO much. And now, you have been here with us for 8 whole months! Time is flying by too quickly, little boy. Here's what you are up to:

-Crawling, pulling up, into everything!
-Picking up every random little thing that is on the floor to put in your mouth. (I've been up to a lot of sweeping and mopping!)
-Teething! You are currently getting your 2nd top tooth.
-Refusing to take naps/ waking up in the middle of the night (Boo to this)
-Somehow managing to be the biggest charmer, despite the no nap situation
-Eating lots of table food. You pretty much eat a modified version of what we eat.
-You have learned that people think you are cute. You will stare someone down in the grocery store until they acknowledge you! And once they do, you give them the biggest grin.
-You are not too fond of being away from me. I think a little bit of separation anxiety is setting in.
So, here you are. One little word long ago, to such a sweet blessing in my arms today. I love you! Happy 8 months!

(Last photo is courtesy of Jackson! Quite the little photographer. Very artsy! Ha!)

The nerve.

This is what I find every morning when I go get Ace out of bed. Ace pulls himself into standing position and yells at me until I come and get him.

And this is what Jackson is doing every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Ready to head out the door to get to school. He is eager to go every morning.
And this is one of Ace's favorite activities. Standing up, holding onto a box; pushing it so he can walk a little.

WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE? Could they please stop with all the growing? Jackson amazes me everyday with how much he is growing. He is so smart and talkative. His understanding of certain things just floors me. And Ace... Ace is turning from a baby to a toddler before my very eyes. He is crawling anywhere and everywhere. I have had to baby-proof the entire house. (And he still seems to find something he shouldn't have!)

Of course I am happy my boys are meeting all the appropriate milestones because it means they are here and healthy. But I can't seem to get a grasp on how fast it all goes by. I am so thankful that Jesus has entrusted me with their sweet little lives. This season of my life will be over so quickly. I know sometimes I get bogged down in the everyday stuff. The wiping of body parts, always being the human tissue, the times where all I say is "NO", the days that feel like all I get accomplished is cleaning the kitchen. But in between those mundane moments is the miraculous. The beautiful moments surround me. Like snuggles with my sweethearts, Jackson picking a flower out of the yard to give to me, and watching Ace develop a skill that he has worked so hard at. I love this life. But please, could time just slow down a little?

It's Diptastic!!! Apple Dip

DO NOT let the name fool you. This recipe is not healthy. Although if you are from the same school of thought as my best friend, because you serve this dip with apples, it cancels all the bad stuff out!

This dip is an absolute family favorite around here. IT IS SO GOOD. We usually triple the recipe and eat on it for a few days. Enjoy! And thank you Boomama for hosting!

8 oz. cream cheese- room temperature
1/3 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup of white sugar
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
6 oz. Almond Brickle chips (like what is in a heath bar. You can find it in the grocery store close to the chocolate chips)

Mix the first 2 ingredients and let sit for 15 minutes. Mix in remaining ingredients and refrigerate. Serve with your favorite apples.