Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies

Or.....  Oatmeal Scotchies!

These cookies are some of my mother's favorite cookies ever. I have learned that when it comes to butterscotch.... you either love it or hate it. I am my mama's girl...so, I love it! 

Making these delicious cookies are always a wonderful thing for me! But, I just don't make cookies all the time because of them being you know.... so sweet and ahem fattening {totally, because I have no self-control while eating said cookies ---- I don't know when to stop --- the temptation is just too doggone great!}. 

Here is my "secret" to making not-so-unhealthy delicious cookies: 

I utilize no sodium baking soda, Stevia, and whole wheat flour. I use a little less butter and salt.

I also use 2 egg whites instead of 1 egg.

Simple and easy substitutions that seem to make me feel a little better about eating the whole batch in one sitting {ok --- that has never happened --- but, the desire is there, my friends!}

Here is my recipe for these DELICIOUS cookies! 

BUTTERSCOTCH OATMEAL COOKIES

Yield: approximately 42 cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Bake Time: 8-10 minutes

Cupcakes:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda*

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 3/4 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened and cut into chunks

3/4 cup Truvia or Stevia

3/4 cup backed brown sugar

1 egg at room temperature

2 egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

3 cups of quick or old-fashioned oats {I used quick}

1 2/3 cups {11 oz package} Butterscotch Chips

* I use sodium free baking soda, therefore I have to double the amount: 2 teaspoons of baking soda

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

2. In a medium bowl, combine together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; set aside.

3. In an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat the butter, brown sugar, Stevia, eggs and vanilla extract .

4. Gradually beat in the flour mixture.

5. Stir in the oats and Butterscotch Chips.

6. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto and ungreased baking sheet.

7. Bake for 8-10 minutes. {less time more chewy - greater time more crisp}

8. Cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

ENJOY!

Hope you have a FANTASTIC weekend!

I will be enjoying these cookies with my family {that means I have to have self-control and not eat the whole batch!}. 

We have a lot to celebrate while together:

Grandpa's 80th Birthday

Mom's 60th Birthday

Mom and Dad's 40th Wedding Anniversary

Grandparents' 61st Wedding Anniversary

A LOT to celebrate!

So, do you love or hate butterscotch?

Today is a Special Day

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

"You know what makes Mother's Day so special?"

"It's spending a wonderful day with you!"

Areaware Gold Pig Designed by Harry Allen

Card {handmade} and gift and given with love from my kiddo and his daddy --- how special.

They know my heart.....

They know my desires {seriously.... this gold pig means SO much to me. Simply. Perfection!}

For all you out there who provide love, warmth, comfort, encouragement to someone --- today is YOUR day. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Craigslist Find -- SCORE!

I'm IN LOVE!

Let me introduce you to the one that has stolen my heart.... 

Our new... coffee table!

It was a Craigslist item that I scored over the weekend.

LUCITE - BRASS - VINTAGE

GOODNESS!

A Vintage Charles Hollis Jones Style Coffee Table!!!

Are you in love?

And for my friends who are cringing at the fact that my previous coffee table {vintage industrial cart} is no longer in the picture.... let me assure you that said coffee table was a very bad boy. Or should I say my kiddo was actually goofing off and..... well.... cut his head open on previous coffee table. That hospital bill will probably be about 2 to 3 times the cost of this new-to-us coffee table.

Bad Boy Coffee Table is now in storage. Awaiting the growth of our kiddo.... you know, to reach the age where he possesses his OWN health insurance. We'll see. But, for now... I promised him I would hold onto it.

Have you scored any good finds from Craigslist lately?

Sprinkles of Changes

The past few months, I have been working on some updates, changes, additions to our Double-Wide in the Sky {our home}.

Some things I have been working towards since we moved in... like the drapery. But, for big purchases like these, you need to save money.... take your time in the fabric choices..... and get plenty of quotes. But, it was definitely worth the 1.5 year wait!

Some things have morphed from other projects around the house.

I must say.... I am at a peaceful and content place.

Especially, when I sit down with my cup of coffee for my Quiet Time.... 

Awwwww.....HOME!

If you live in the Dallas Fort Worth location, Trinity Windows Uptown is AWESOME when it comes to fabric selection, consultation, install and final product! {And I have been offered NO incentives for singing their praises.}

I am a very specific person. I know what I want.... after all, I have had an idea in mind for 1.5 years with our home.... I knew what I wanted with our drapery. That could make for an extremely aggravating experience.

But, the Design Specialist who held my hand through the entire process was simply AMAZING! 

She completely "got me" and led the way to sweet success! 

The sheers in the Living/Dining/Kitchen space add so much warmth, but yet, provide the needed shelter for the bright morning sun's rays.

And I could go on.... and on.... about the BLACKOUT drapery in our Master Bedroom.

Yes!

BLACK OUT DRAPERY!

And.... all with a black and white greek key trim ---- LOVE!

I have not slept this good in a LONG time! 

You would be surprised at how much city lights can interrupt a girl's beauty sleep --- hah!

These puppies do the trick {and the fabulous newly gold spray painted Foo Dogs would agree}!

That wall of fabric....... makes my heart swoon!

I also got pretty busy when I decided to finish out my office with wallpaper on all walls. 

Previously, there were only 2 focal walls covered. But, I completed the entire room in just 2 nights.

2 nights where the hubby was working late....

2 nights with the kiddo asleep....

2 nights of some frustration in applying this Tempaper completely by myself....

But, HAPPINESS and WORTH IT when sitting in my completely wallpapered office!

I LOVE it!

And, last but definitely not least....

I changed out the objects flanking our TV in the Living Room.

I needed something brighter to balance out the newly added sheers.

I went with a linear cluster of these from ZGallerie.

There you have it.... a few sprinkles of changes.

More like, sprinkles of activity!

I have also completed some more artwork....

Wishes de Turquoise

Springtime makes me so active and creative..... How about you?

A Wedding Vow Renewal Celebration

I am still in the glow of last weekend's events.

The love.

The beauty.

The specialness....

just simply DIVINE.

I thought I would share a few of the simple and easy details we added to our special day.

First off....

THE INVITATIONS

I found the perfect invites on Pinterest {of course}!

I thought they totally set the theme of what we were doing.... a Vow Renewal. 

The theme:

WE still DO!

minted.

The invitations were for the celebration party only. I copied the design, look and theme for our ceremony invites in Word and printed them in black and white. The ceremony was very small and intimate. It was held at 10 am at the church. The ceremony was very special. I didn't think it would be SO emotionally powerful... but, it was. Thank the Lord for waterproof eye makeup!

THE DRESS

I found the perfect dress at Nordstrom {of course}!

It suited me perfectly. 

Classy

sophisticated

modern 

with a little bit of edge!

The Eliza J Bell Sleeved

Lace Overlay Sheath Dress

It was perfection in every way!

I paired it with strappy silver heels and silver earrings and an adorable ring for the ceremony. 

I simply changed out the heels to high and silver glittery stilettos for the party!

The dress was very comfortable and easy to go from the church ceremony... to brunch.... to home... and to the party!

Here I am with my VERY WONDERFUL and HANDSOME groom!

THE BOUQUET

The bouquet was created by H. Bloom.

The design had a huge nod to the white roses which were at our first ceremony. Although, white tulips were my flower of choice for the original wedding. They just weren't in season at our summer ceremony. And considering, we purchased our flowers from a grocery store {we were so young.... and with very very little money back then}, we really had no say in what we were getting. We, truly, just prayed for any white flower. 

This ceremony was quite different!

I met with a representative from H. Bloom.

See, we live in a high rise condo that is connected to a very fine hotel. H. Bloom is contracted for the floral arrangements for the residence portion, as well as, the hotel. I knew I would LOVE whatever they designed because I LOVE all of their arrangements on site.

I had total trust.... and they did NOT disappoint.

This is my bouquet:

Again, it was important to me to convey a....

Classic

Sophisticated

Modern...

Design in all elements associated with the ceremony and celebration. After all, that is what my desire is in all design and art I am a part of.... hopefully, this celebration exuded those very components.

I think it did.

THE DIY COMPONENTS

These items were pretty minimal compared to my other parties and celebrations. But, I wanted them to pack a powerful PUNCH..... especially, since I wasn't devoting a lot of time and energy into them.

It was very important for me to enjoy this day and not to be bogged down with all the details.

So, I grabbed a whole bunch of very cheap wood letters at a rather large flea market. They provided a very good price per letter since this was for a vow renewal. They were so sweet and the letters turned out AMAZING!

I simply spay painted them GOLD.

The theme was really incorporated in the decor: WE STILL DO!

I had three sets of the phrase spanning the entire length of the lounge area.

Next up..... our CAKE TOPPER.

This is where our kiddo had to include his tastes, likes and design element.

He designed our Lego Minifigure Cake Topper.

An element that had to include him.

He is EIGHT years old. And we have been married for 15+ years..... so, he has a pretty heavy participation in our wedded union.

He also participated in the ceremony.

He is, after all, a "mini-me" of his "minifigure daddy". 

Can you tell the similarities?

The cake came from Society Bakery.

They are PHENOMENAL!

They also created some Vegan Cupcakes for our Vegan guests!

AWESOMENESS!

See..... kiddo was a party animal!

And having his grandma there to whisk him away.... at just the right time..... led for a lovely celebration.

We held the celebration in a lounge at the W Hotel - Dallas that is connected with our condo units.

They provided all the desserts and small bites.

Champagne was passed around on trays to all our guests. As well as, divine hearty appetizers.

We had a lovely full bar, bartendar and staff.

They provided such great service and a well-rounded pizzaz that was greatly appreciated by us and all our guests.

The W Hotel..... SIMPLY AMAZING!

It couldn't have been planned any smoother.

It couldn't have been executed any smoother.

I was a bride..... a planner.... but also, a guest.

It was a blessing to me!

I have done many many MANY events.... and this was BY FAR, the best!

Isn't that the way it should be?

I am so grateful to the family and friends that participated, prayed for this day and were such a part of this event.

It means so much to us.

Thank you!