Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy, happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

The weather was so gorgeous here today; we took Bear for his first bowling experience this morning (which he loved, naturally, pizza was involved) and spent the afternoon playing outside. Days like today make me so happy. As cliché as it sounds, it really is the simple things in life that are the most fulfilling.


A look at our week in pictures...

Bear & I have started trying to do daily #ootd pictures. Which usually means my hair looking crazy and Bear kissing himself in the mirror.

 

Had so much fun baking this week; one of the best baking weeks of the year!

I'm attempting to redo/reorganize my "office" (aka my small claimed corner of the playroom). Wanting to paint the desk and mirror white, but then again I've been wanting to do that for two years...so we'll see if it ever gets around to actually happening :). In the meantime totally swooning over these spring elastic colors. We're already excited for Easter!

 

Bear's treats from our Valentine's party yesterday. So fortunate to be part of a playgroup that makes every holiday, and every normal day, so special.

I've been on the hunt for the perfect prints for above my desk for weeks; I was so excited to find these at Target for under $6 each! We have a little made up song we sing to Bear with "I love you to the moon and back", so that one is special.

 

the easiest "kiss ladies" for our Valentine party

loving that Christmas pj's are acceptable through February because of Valentine's Day :)

New wallet! Loving it so far.

This little boy loves corn on the cob.

 

Today's bowling experience was so much fun! Especially because I beat Z in one game and can't stop rubbing it in.

 

Bear beat us both.

 

 Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxo

 

 

Valentine's Day Prep & Donut Cookies

 

My mind is seriously blown that it's already February 3rd. Weren't we just ringing in the New Year?
Not complaining though, because this is one of my favorite months. Sure, it's dreary and cold and yucky outside for the most part. But it's also the month that I actually get to decorate with and enjoy the color PINK! Living with two boys, that doesn't happen too often. I embrace it while I can. :)

 

 

I didn't do much decorating inside this year, but I did draw on a chalkboard "wreath" for our front door (chalkboard tutorial somewhere in the archives!).

 

Pretty sure I already posted this picture, but in case you missed it, these are Bear's homemade Valentine's for our party on the 14th. The heart mazes can be found at Michael's.

 

These "pink ladies" were really easy to make and a huge hit with the kids at the play date we took them to. Just take pink wafers, dip them in white almond bark, and stick on candy lips (found at HEB) before chocolate dries. After dry, draw on eyes with black gel icing. So easy and fun! Bear did a few with sprinkles only, which still tasted good. :)

 

We also made donut cookies for a play date we didn't end up going to because Bear is battling yet another cold :(. Praying he feels like himself soon, it's been a rough month and a half of on and off sickness for the little guy.

Betty Crocker donut mix found here (we snagged it at Dollar Tree last week!). This mix is so yummy, they really do taste like donuts!

 

I've been trying to tweak my cookie icing recipe for some time, with quite a few failed attempts along the way. This time was the best result I've gotten so far, so I thought I'd share the recipe. If you have any tips on the perfect icing, I'd love to hear!

 

Donut Cookie Icing:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 teaspoons milk

2 teaspoons light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

 

In a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If the consistency is too thick, add small amounts of corn syrup until icing is smooth.

For pink frosting, add 4 drops of red food coloring and stir until blended.
*yields icing for 2 dozen 3 inch cookies

 

Hope you're having the sweetest week!

This Week

Happy Friday, friends!

 

 

In pretty much every blog post, I mention how busy we are. Well, not this time! For once we've had a pretty low key week, mostly because Bear and I are both battling nasty colds. Bear did get antibiotic at the doctor today so hopefully he'll be over this in the next couple of days. Fingers crossed, he's been such a little trooper.

 

I've been bitten by the craft bug as of late; all I seem to want to do is run to Michael's and make something I've spotted on Pinterest the night before. Anyone else having this problem? :)

This is a picture heavy post so I'll hop to it. Hope you've all had a wonderful week!

 

 

It all started with "just another mani Monday". Chose the deep purple, in case you were wondering. ;)

 

Macy's has been having some killer sales that I can't seem to stay away from. Neither can Olaf and Sven (both of them).

 

When in question on Starbuck's treats, just get two. Have you tried the salted caramel cake pop? It's heavenly.

 

This little man had a run in with an open drawer one evening, but luckily he's just fine and it's the scratches are almost completely healed.

 

Because this seems like a great way to watch TV.

 

Bear and I are excited for our Valentine's Day party next month! So excited that we already whipped up some (very) homemade Valentine's for Bear's friends.

 

This Charming Charlie trip lasted all of 5 minutes before Bear had his first ever major meltdown over a pink owl-shaped lip balm. That was....fun.

 

Thursday was rainy & gloomy, so we spent the day inside battling our colds and watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

When you fight your nap all day, you fall asleep at 6pm in Daddy's chair.

 

Bear and I honestly never have days that we don't leave the house. It's really, really rare for us. So we pulled out all the play-time stops yesterday, including being "tuh-tulls". We rocked our shells alllllll afternoon.

Because Mommy's friends deserve Valentine's, too! Found these yummy candles at Michael's on sale for 60 cents apiece, so I couldn't resist. Told you I've been craft crazy.

Today's #ootd. Obsessed with black and white these days.

 

Can't even begin to explain how amazing this ice cream is. Truly beyond words. Run, don't walk, to the nearest grocery store.

Bear did so well at his 2 year check-up today; happy to report we have a healthy (big, 35 lb.) boy!

 

xoxoxo

Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread

Another year, another banana bread recipe.
If you've been following this blog for awhile, you probably realize that this is the third banana bread recipe I've posted. Oopsie! I can't help it; when I find a really good one I get the urge to share it with other bakers :).

 

You don't even have to be a "baker" to make this recipe; it's really simple and oh-so-good. Zach isn't a banana bread fan at all and he even loves this stuff. It freezes well too, so you can always double the recipe and save a loaf for later!

 

My favorite recipes are the ones I always have all the ingredients on hand for. This is one of those recipes; you have a few extra ripe bananas going to waste and chances are you already have everything in your kitchen to whip up this bread.

 

It's moist, chocolatey, and delicious, with just the right amount of crunch from the pecans. The perfect breakfast, dessert, or snack in between.

 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 medium)

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 9x5- or 8x4-inch loaf pan with shortening or cooking spray. In large bowl, beat sugar and butter with spoon until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Stir in bananas, milk and vanilla until well blended.

2. In small bowl, mix flour, nuts, chocolate chips, baking soda and salt. Add to banana mixture all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour into pan.

3. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Wrap tightly and store in refrigerator.

 

recipe tweaked from here

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

A Baby Shower for Piper Grace

A few weeks ago, my sweet friend Aimey and I held a Tiffany's themed shower for one of our dear friends, Tiffany (who would've guessed?!). The shower was hosted in Aimey's home and she took all of the pictures (Diamond Oak Photography); thank you for your hard work, Aimey! Everyone seemed to have a good time and Piper Grace was showered with love.

 

 

Can't wait to meet your new princess, Tiff! We love y'all!