This past week I have been reflecting a lot on how things became what they are today. We all having a starting point, whether it be in blogging, running, cooking, etc. We then invest time, efforts, and passion into it and that starting point becomes a path. Maybe that path is still full of excitement, adventure, hope, and encouragement. Maybe that path is kinda at a lull, just stagnant, feeling unmotivated. Or maybe that path just needs to look back at that starting point to see how far they’ve come.
Deep thoughts, I know. I am looking back. I have come so far yet detoured a little on the way. I am looking back and finding those roots, getting back to basics. Because really, that’s where it all began, with the basics. One foot in front of the other, one word of encouragement, one simple recipe made with love.
Today I am looking back at the basics with these words.
Today I am looking back and remembering the reasons why I started blogging in the first place.
 It’s pretty basic….to share and connect!
![cotter2-top[1] (2)](https://www.cottercrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cotter2-top1-2.jpg)
Today I will look back and share  a GF recipe with simple ingredients.
All you need is Bob’s basics (bobredmills.com), I just changed a few things. 
IngredientsÂ
- 1-â…” cups Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour (Bobredmills.com)
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
- ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
- ¼ cup Butter (Unsalted at room temp)
- ¾ cup packed Brown Sugar
- â…“ cup agave nectar or honey
- 2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla
- 1 large Egg
- 1 cup Mini or regular Chocolate Chips
Directions
Preheat oven to 325°F. Layout muffin tins or cups on top of baking sheet. Set aside.
Mix GF baking flour, baking soda, xanthan gum and salt. In a another large bowl, beat butter with brown sugar, vanilla and egg; slowly add in your honey/agave nectar. Then combine your flour mixture and beat on low speed. Finally, stir in chocolate chips.
Roll dough into balls and place in muffin cups. Bake 18-22 minutes (depending on oven) or until lightly browned. Cool 2-3 minutes before removing from muffin tins. Makes 18-24 muffin cookies. I also used mini muffin tins so those baked in 16 minutes.
What are you looking back on today?
Cheers,
LC
p.s.
Wanna win some Healthy Bites? Check out Katie’s post here.
it was so much fun! and amazing food! one of the women there wrote an article about it and a couple other kona eats, if you are interested: http://lavamagazine.com/features/beyond-lava-java-three-kona-gems/#.TpX_XzOIdY0.facebook
still playing catch-up from the trip and enjoying reading your updates! xo
thanks for looking back on this recipe! it needs to be made in my house, STAT! thanks linds!
oh i’ve been thinking about you! how did the mauna lani dinner go?
Looking back, I love this ALL, lol! 😛 I love that picture with all the quotations on, and I love your motivations for starting a blog – mine are the same! <3 Thank you for sharing, lovely – I adore your wise and reflective words in the first paragraph…what you say is all so true. Sometimes our path is full of excitement, other times is more quiet…everything ebbs and flows. But those simple things – the ones in the quotation picture – are true in every situation! <3 xyx
yes yes, the ebb and flow. I love how you describe that. We need to embrace the ebb and flow. The simple and JOYFUL way of life, right? oh i adore your wisdom friend!
These sound and look delicious – I need to start trying some GF baking!
what? you’ve haven’t GF baked yet? Oh girl, get in that kitchen! i think you need some GF muffins!
I love how positive you are, and the basics are always the best 🙂
sometimes being positive gets us to the next step, basically. haha. No really, life is not fair at times, but we have the option to look back and dwell or look back and be thankful, right?
🙂
Too often we get caught up in something else and take our eyes off why we are doing it in the first place. This is an awesome reflection.
I’m looking back and thinking I can’t believe I moved overseas a few months ago..crazy.
i can’t believe it either! what an amazing time, both the hard times and the good times during this journey have made you stronger.
🙂
Love your posts! Sometimes looking back can be dangerous for me :o. So I am choosing to stay in the present! Happy Monday pretty!
<3
but look how far you’ve come now. THat has to feel good, I hope! You are one amazing woman Katie. xxoo
So true…its always so important to take the time to look back on everything we have…everything we are grateful for. Today I spent time looking back on what a great summer it was…it went by so quickly but there were so many GREAT moments! It was fun to reflect on some of them during a relaxing walk with a good friend this morning 🙂
looking back, your summer was amazing! i am glad that you got to be with family and friends. Grateful indeed friend!
That sayings board reminds me of the chorus from the Lee Brice song “Love Like Crazy” 🙂
oh i need to listen to this song. I bet its catchy, eh?
DELICIOUS!! I love reading your blog because it makes me THINK! I have been looking back on my running and trying to go back to the basics of not worrying about all the little things and doing it just because I CAN!
you have come so far as a runner. The miles and pace don’t matter, its the mental strength, health, and determination that you have. Back to the basics…..LOVE OF RUNNING!
I believe that many things we do are originally motivated by very simple things, such as:
– I just enjoy doing this.
– I want to share.
– I want to learn new things.
And so on.
It’s good to look back and get aware of that original simplicity, because life really is about the simple things. (And then you can put on all those complicated toppings anyway, if you like. :D)
so true friend. Simplicity can bring such joy and contentment. A captured moment of motivation.
Sometimes it can be good to look back, to remember why we started something. Especially if things are feeling perhaps out of control or not as enjoyable.
can you remember when you first started running and training? now look at you! another half marathon under you belt soon. WOW!
The link “runs barefoot” in your link section doesn’t work anymore 😉
is that mama runs barefoot? She switched her site. Need to update that, thank you!
Yes that’s the one! I was in doubt either it was mama or mom so I leave that word out 😉
love that poster! i think it is so beneficial to look back and think why we have chosen to do certain things….for me blogging is about the support! hope you and hubs are having a great day and thank you again lindsay for a great post 🙂
and what a support system it is! i agree Kalli. We can look back and see what we’ve done because of that support too!
I invest so much thought in the future–the allure of the unknown, the hope that lies there, the excitement–that I often forget to reflect on the past. We can learn so much about ourselves by thinking about where we were, where we are now, and the journey that we took to get here! Thanks for the reminder, Linds!.
I’m really looking forward to trying your GF chocolate chip muffins. 🙂
and the future can be so exciting! I think God wants us to see that. But we can’t forget how we got there, right? the good and the bad. It makes us stronger and wiser….I hope! haha.
today i looked back at a picture of my old self and realized that as the numbers on the scale were decreasing, so was my vibrancy. i’m so much happier now and, while it’s a constant struggle to remind myself of that, it’s a struggle i happily embrace. i would so much rather be healthy and happy (and struggling to stay that way) than the black hole i was in before.
i am vibrant. i am vibrating life. i breathe and therefore i express my beauty!
these are powerful words T. And it brings me JOY to read. I think we all can relate and say the same. We’d rather struggle a little now, than be in that dark place. Amen!!
Today I’m looking back at how God brought us to FL and how He’s blessed us beyond belief since coming here. Amazing how God blesses obedience. 🙂
blessed and happy! thats a good combo to reflect on. 🙂
while I was spending time with my parents, I was looking back to all the trials and blessings we have went through together, and really praising God for our relationship. God’s wisdom is so great, and it’s especially manifest when you look at past and present relationships and realize how much they have formed you.
this is so true. And why does it take us years to relaize that? such stuborn hearts but God has his plan, thank goodness! enjoy that time with your parents Sophia. <3
Today I am looking forward. So much to anticipate! I love looking back and seeing how far I’ve come as a mother, wife, and person, though. To be in a continuous cycle of growth and learning is important to me.
and such a wonderful mother/wife you are. Definitely an inspiration to us all!
I enjoy taking some time from time to time to sit back and think back. to rethink about my past, to learn from my past and to work hard for a better future 🙂
and that you have! just look at how far the wins bakery has come and I am excited to see where it is still going! enjoy that reflection ladies.
<3
It’s so important to take the time and reflect and appreciate everything you’ve done. I don’t do this enough!
we often look back at regrets, why is that? we should look at all we’ve overcome and how we are stronger for it, right?
<3
Beautiful words, and beautiful looking gluten free goodies! It’s so nice to reflect sometimes – it helps put life in perspective when you can see how far you’ve come along 🙂
yes m’am. I bet you are reflecting on what is was like being without a child. And now, the hard work and motherhood has given you such a sweet blessing! you are stronger for that. <3
Today I went to a brunch with a bunch of local alumnus from my college. It definitely caused me to reminisce a bit and see how far I have come.
oh gosh, i did that a few weeks ago. Its fun to look back and remember and then to look at the now and feel thankful. RIght?
Awesome/well written post pretty lady, I think we learn and grow the most when we look back. God is SO wonderful to give us the ability to reflect, eh? 🙂
Love the recipe, Bob is the man!! 😀
yes he is good! And God works in mysterious ways. What we once thought was impossible is now possible and then some. WOW! love that!
It’s so crazy to think that something was once a hobby or random interest, and suddenly it has shaped so many of the things that make up your every day routine! I think about that kind of stuff a lot, and have been really lucky in my passions becoming a career – slowly, but very surely. 🙂
Today I looked back on a long training cycle & had flashbacks of running these new/old familiar trails & roads. I had such an amazing run, and I couldn’t believe how perfect the DC day was – all perfect to wrap up and get ready for MCM.
that has to be one the of the best memories. Looking back at your old training to see where you started and how far you’ve come! glad that 22 miler went well friend. and Yes, so glad this hobby brought me to you!
I’m always looking back and seeing how far I’ve come and how far there is still to go. I think it’s a good exercise for all of us to do! Great post!
i know i can count on you to look back and see such growth! You are a walking example. ANd I love you for that confidence!!
Those look great!! I love your ideas on looking back…it’s probably something I don’t do enough of- at least not for the right reasons. It’s so easy to look back and think about wishing things were that way, or thinking about how you could change what you did.
so true, we should look back and see the good things, not the “regrets.” Lets change that focus!
I love your words! How are you so wise? I look back a lot, but I use it as a point to move forward. I have learned not to dwell on the past, but to move forward and learn from events in the past. This is beautiful! My heart is with you my friend!
oh no, you are the wise one. Did you just read what you wrote?! WOW, thats wisdom. You are so right, looking back does move us forward. Thank you for opening my eyes to that. What would I do without you??
xxoo
You make me SMILE!!! I love you girl!!!
xxoo
well the smile is contagious! love you friend!
It’s my Mom’s 65th Birthday today and I’m looking back and remembering how much she has done for me. It’s pretty amazing and leaves me speechless. She is Super Mom! So looking forward to a nice dinner with her, my little sister, and family friends at a delicious restaurant…and BYOB. 😉
oh happy birthday katies mom! give her a big hug from me. I know she deserves a lot! have fun too!
beautiful post 🙂 I love looking back on things! Its crazy sometimes! Love you sista
oh i bet you can really look back at this past year ans reflect. God is good, amen!
Can’t wait to munch on some of thes this week 🙂
simple and delicious. Enjoy friend!
These look so good!
and they are more dense in muffin form. Love that!
You are so awesome. This really got me looking back over the years and I can’t believe how much life can speed up sometimes (like the fact that it’s already halfway through October!)
i know, and it will 2012 before we know it. CRAZY!