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...simple lavender simple syrup

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I have discovered somewhat recently that I am craving sweets a heck of a lot more than I have in the past decade or so (thanks hormones?). And when I say craving sweets, I mean something like eating 3 s'mores in a row while camping, eating Swiss chocolates in the evening (or throughout the day, thanks to the large box of chocolates we received as a wedding gift from friends abroad) and adding simple syrups to my morning coffee. But these things are actually all related! Well the camping trip and coffee I mean, although probably the hormone thing as well. You see, we went camping because I needed to go to the Sequim Lavender Festival. Yes, you read that right, I needed to. It was just something I had to do. I have been wanting to go to the place that celebrates one of my favorite herbs for years  and we finally had the chance last July. If you've never been to Sequim and you also have a similar (nearly unhealthy) love and appreciation for lavender, than I couldn't recommend ...
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... a Comeback!

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Holy Moly! It's been 18 months since I last wrote or posted anything. Does it even count as a comeback if you were away longer than you were present to begin with? Not like I took a new job that turned out insane, and had to find a new job (at which I've now been for a year now) or was planning an elopement and a wedding in there or anything. But hey! I'm back! Now that I'm happily married, satisfactorily employed and finally have a newer device for word processing it's so much easier to get things done! Once again, I'll introduce myself (because I'm actually a different person now). I'm Mattie Miller, old married lady and cat mom. I spend my days as a special-needs nanny (focusing on medically complex kiddos) and my evenings cooking, sometimes making things, and often snuggling with my kitties and husband. A brand new post is just around the corner. I just need to take some photos. And hopefully I can keep up with this thing for a bit this time.
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...the BEST homemade Valentine's Day Game EVER

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I'm a pretty modest person. I think you can tell that already, can't you? Well, if not, you may want to avoid this next entry because it is going to be a little  braggy. Because this is something I totally nailed. Like seriously  AMAZING. Here, I'll even give you a picture of the finished product before you read the rest of the blog because that's how great it is. HAHA!  Just a teaser - you don't get to see it all yet! But it all started with my parents. They have been making one another Valentines forever. If I'm being 100% honest, I don't know what year they started this tradition but I know it goes back to when they were dating and they've being doing it for something like 40 years now. Here they are, totally adorable in 2016 Instead of buying chocolates or jewelry or flowers (not that I dislike any of those things, at all *cough* Nicky if you're reading this please don't get the wrong idea), but instead of spending an absurd amoun...
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...Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Root Vegetables

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Everything starts with something. I know that I sound *super* profound (see:  cliché ) when I say things like that, but I honestly mean, everything starts with something that doesn't necessarily  seem  related, but often ends up being  because of  something else. This meal started with a baking dish. Not just ANY pan, but a GLORIOUS, large, red, oval,  Le Creuset  gratin dish.   That I found while shopping with my mother at Marshall's for half price. And I mean actual half-price, according to the internet, and we all know how accurate the internet is for telling you how much things cost. So I found this incredible dish; but the thing is, right now it's just two humans at my house, so the large oval is almost too large for things like scalloped potatoes, or even ratatouille, unless I'm inviting people over, which believe me will totally happen, but in the meanwhile I  really  wanted to break in my new dish, so I had to come up with...
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...Things

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WELCOME to Auntie Matter Makes, the blog where I, Auntie Matter tell you about the things that I make. Seems pretty straight forward, but you never know. Sometimes things on the internet are confusing...have you ever noticed that? Like recipes. Do people even TEST recipes anymore?! I doubt it, given that I've read at least 3 in the past month that have forgotten to list a key ingredient or direction. (Let's make a shitaki-noodle salad, but neglect to mention the type of noodles so everyone can join in on the guessing game fun!). Like lots of things on the internet, this blog is bound to have mistakes, I'm sure I'll forget to tell you about something super basic, but also critical (like, oven temperature perhaps), but please just remember I'm a human doing this in my spare time because at some point in my life at least 4 people have told me I should start a blog. I expect that those four people will be the only habitual readers, and 3 of them are related to me, so ...
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