Today is a big day in our house.
Nick and I have been married for 8 years, together for about 9.5 years total.
That’s almost 1/3 of my life and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. It’s hard to even remember what I did before I had him as part of my every day.
8 years later, I still can’t believe it’s been this long. We’ve had some fun years and some tough ones. We’ve seen two nephews completely take over our hearts and lost other family members too soon. There’s been a few vacations, lots of time in Honduras, and lunch together, almost every day.
Sometime over these years, he’s figured out just how crazy I am and still loves me. I finally learned how to cook and found something that keeps both of us happy.
The most important lessons I’ve learned in 8 years of marriage:
Being married to your best friend is the greatest thing, ever.
Laughing every day keeps you both happy.
Even though you may think being right is the most important thing, it never is.
Fight fair and make up.
There is always going to be something trying to tear you apart: disagreements, money, big decisions. Figure out your system, stick to it, and always always be willing to compromise.
Find little things that make your other half happy and do them often. Surprise gifts, special meals, a hug at the end of the day. Just do it.
Your sense of humor will be the most important part about you some days. Don’t lose it.
Dance. Goof off. Don’t always be such a boring adult.
Pay the bills and keep money ready for date nights.
Your marriage is your marriage and only yours. Protect it. Cherish it.
Sharing your life with someone is a lot of work sometimes. Keep working at it, every day. It’s worth it.
A fridge full of beer and steak can cure a bad day.
Chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven calm any bad mood.
Homemade bread and butter solves almost any problem. Fact.
I never, ever thought I would stand in any kitchen of mine and just whip up some butter.
But – you don’t need one of those huge butter churns or gallons of cream. Making butter is one of the easiest things I’ve made…ever.
Take some cold cream. Beat it until you have super thick whipped cream, and then just keep going. The fat will separate from the liquid, leaving you with butter and buttermilk.
Drain it, whip in some salt, and serve.
Some things are better when they’re simple, like bread + butter. Cookies + milk. Best friends + wedding rings.
Homemade Butter
Makes: about 1 cup of butter
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cold heavy cream
- 1 tsp sea salt
Directions:
- Pour the cold cream into a large bowl. Beat the cream with a hand mixer or in your stand mixer (with the whisk attachment) until you have thick whipped cream.
- Keep whipping the cream on low-medium speed until the fat starts to separate from the liquid.
- Dump the butter and buttermilk into a colander and drain the liquid away from the butter solids. You can keep the buttermilk to use for cooking.
- Put your butter solids back in the mixing bowl, add the salt, and whip together until the butter is creamy.
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I feel so sad that I’ve never done this before. I feel like I’ve spent a quarter of a century missing out on the most delicious looking and healthiest butter ever. Thanks for the inspiration, Brandi!
A sweet story and I did not know how simple making butter was!
Happy Anniversary:-) My husband and I have been together 8 1/2 years but only married for almost 2.
thanks!!
Happy anniversary! Great advice in this post. How cool that you made your own butter! Doesit taste better than store bought?
um..yes. it’s incredible. it’s going to be trouble :)
Love this post. Happy anniversary to you and Nick!
thanks Sarah!
What a great post, and how cool that you made butter!
Congrats on 8 years! :)
thanks Rachel :)
Happy Anniversary!
I have a slight obsession with butter. I wish I could have a cow just so I could make butter whenever I wanted.
Thanks Stacy! You and me both :)
Awww, great post! Loved reading it. Happy anniversary!! :)
thanks so much!
I love this post!! I’ve never thought to make my own butter, but now I’m totally tempted. I have a feeling once I made it once, I’d never go back.
exxxxactly :) it’s dangerous knowledge to have.
Congratulations on 8 yeaaaars! And butter. Oh yes, the butter.
thanks bev :)
Who knew it was butter that easy to make!! Great marriage advice too!
i know, right? thanks lauren!!
Happy anniversary! It really sounds like you guys have a great marriage!
thank you so much!
So fun! Happy anniversary, Brandi!!
thanks Cassie!!
Happy Anniversary!! We celebrate 8 years (in June), so I know EXACTLY what 8 years of hard work looks like. Tough times and also amazing times. At the end of the day, laughing and eating bread and butter is basically perfect! Homemade bread and butter solve all of our problems too, FACT! And chocolate chip cookies do too ;)
happy (early) anniversary!!
Y’all are too cute! Happy Anniversary! xoxo
Fantastic! I am trying to use up everything that will spoil otherwise while I am gone on vacation. Thanks for this.
perfect! it was so easy.
Congrats my dear! You two are absolutely adorable together. I wish you many more years of happiness! =)
thank you!!
happy aniversary! loooovvee this!! i sorta wish i never read this!!! #dangerous! hope you had a great weekend.
What a beautiful post, and so true: Everyone should marry their best friend, and fighting fair is one of the keys to any good relationship! (So is homemade bread and fresh butter. Well, okay, it might not guarantee success in love, but it sure helps.)
Happy rest of your lives together, you two crazy in-love kids.
thanks so much :)
big congrats to you two! that is some good marriage advice.
thanks lynn!!
Loved the blog Brandi!!! Miss you! Hope to see you this summer! And I’m gonna have to get on this homemade butter thing!!! :)
really, that easy?? delicious! oh, and CONGRATS!!!
thanks!! and yes. THAT easy.
Just curious if this is more cost effective then buying stick butter at the store. Or do you do it strictly for the better taste?
I guess it depends on what butter and/or cream you normally buy. It can definitely BE cheaper, for sure, but it depends on the pricing where you are. I did love how it tasted, though – especially since I could control how much salt was in it. And it was just fun to make!
How long will your butter last when made homemade like this?? Love this post!
Probably a few weeks, I would guess? We used it pretty quickly, since I made biscuits the next weekend.