Every now and then Maddie Mae will give me a nice, long midday nap. And I happily receive them as a "thank you" for being her mama. Some weeks, these naps can be few and far between, but we're still working on her manners. But on those days when she does give me a little naptime "thank you," I enjoy a few extra hours of mommy-time: to fold that laundry, tidy up, get some writing done, and, sometimes, even bake a batch of homemade cookies.
Read MoreWhen it comes to baking, I'm a "the simpler the better" kind of gal. Meaning most of the time, if not all the time, you can find me baking some kind of cookie, or a simple bar, or brownie variation. Cakes, pies, and tarts, as delicious as they may be, simply being too intimidating for this novice baker. But with a kitchen full of freshly picked apples, I wanted to venture beyond my comfort zone and try sometime new.
So when I found the rustic, freeform pastry known as the galette, I knew it was the perfect way to spread my baking wings.
Read MoreBecause I'm the person that cozies up in a poncho + wants to bake as soon as there's the slightest hint of a chill in the air, I took advantage of the crisp sixty-degree morning yesterday and baked a batch of cookies.
Sure, it was only in the sixties until roughly 8am, but those few hours of autumnal feels were bliss all the same. I'm not much of a baker during the summer- leaning more towards ice cream and rosé as my warm weather treat. But there's something about the last few months of the year that get my baking clock-a-ticking.
Read MoreLive in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink the wild air.
I fell in love with the beach soon after I fell in love with my husband; his affinity for sandy feet and salty hair being infectious as they were. Despite growing up more poolside than seaside, he made a convert out of me- persuading me with clambakes, beachside corn-hole, summer sails, and sunset picnics replete with our favorite wines.
And while corn-hole and sails come a little less often now that we are a party of three, the sunset picnic still remains a weekly tradition. Living just a few miles from our local beach, we often throw together an impromptu picnic a few times a week- packing the essentials for a quick an easy weekday date, if only for a glass of wine and quick bite while the sun sets.
Read MoreIt's Cinco de Mayo!
Its been a while since I've celebrated this holiday- the fiestas for the fifth of May a little less vibrant on the east coast than they were on the west.
Luckily, my mama is in town on this years Cinco de Mayo- and that chica can make a margarita!
She's pretty particular- fresh lime juice only- but it's the best tasting margarita we've had to date. So if you find yourself pouring a cocktail tonight, pickup these fresh ingredients and have yourself a damn good 'Rita.
Read MoreRecently, I've gotten really into making breakfast. I was never a big breakfast-girl growing up, but in my adult years I've made a point to at least eat something- a bar here, a smoothie there. But now that I've been cooking breakfast for Maddie Mae on a regular basis- the girl loves her pancakes- I've started thinking about some quick and delicious meals I can make for myself and the hubs.
I came across this recipe for breakfast quesadillas on Pinterest- they looked colorful and delicious, and the fact that I had all the ingredients on hand completely won me over.
Read MoreRain, rain go away / Come again another day.
Maddie + Mommy want to play / But I guess we'll settle for baking all day.
Those are the words right? Anyhoo.
The rain {and snow} has kept us cooped up once again. And while Maddie can't yet enjoy the fruits of our labor, we spent afternoon in the kitchen whipping up some yummy treats.
I'm a fan of oatmeal in my cookies, so when I found this recipe for cookie-bars that called for all my favorite ingredients- vanilla, chocolate, oatmeal- I couldn't resist.
Read MoreHappy Spring! The season is officially here- despite the fact that yesterday we woke up to a solid dusting of snow. Sunday will be Madeline's first Easter, and I've had the best time cultivating goodies for her basket. There's just something about a little one that makes all the holidays just a little more exciting.
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Happy St. Patrick's Day! And what better way to celebrate than with some colorful baked goods?
St. Paddy's is a holiday we generally skip, being as that we are no longer the Guinness-all-day kind of people, nor are we Irish...
But this year we will be celebrating, albeit a few days late
Read MoreThe past few days have been delightfully warm; birds have been chirping, sun has been shining, and days have been filled with walks in the park. If I didn't know any better I'd say spring has sprung.
Add a pair of baby bunny ears gifted to mm by a good friend over an afternoon glass of iced tea, and you have a festive-feeling girl on your hands.
Read MoreI've been craving a marriage of mini eggs + baked goods recently- because as soon as February 14th comes and goes, our favorite chocolate eggs hit the shelves, and therefore grace the candy bowls at our humble abode. The smell of a freshly opened bag of Cadbury eggs combined with the spring-like sunshine and birds chirping got my creative juices flowing yesterday afternoon.
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In our younger, childless, drinking days, my husband and I once enjoyed a long layover in Las Vegas. Had we been much younger and wilder, we would have perhaps ventured outside the airport and enjoyed a casino or two. Instead, we bellied up to the bar at the American Express Lounge and took full advantage of the free top-shelf cocktails. My husband will still tell anyone headed that way to stop by that lounge, which he fondly refers to as the "best bar in Las Vegas."
I've fallen off the healthy bandwagon this winter. I really enjoyed the holidays and football season through my taste buds- and it was delicious. Now, in hopes of pulling it together, I've taken to the web to find some healthy and simple mommy recipes.
Read MoreTruth: I've never been big on Valentine's Day. In fact, I'm not even sure if my husband and I have really ever celebrated the holiday. That being said, I was having severe holiday-withdrawals in the weeks following Christmas- left full of cheer, with nowhere to place it. With the decorations all put away and peppermint-laden baking no longer acceptable, I started to explore my options.
Read MoreIt's official- I'm back on that Vitamix train. Two weeks in, and 2016 has been chock full of quick, easy, healthy morning smoothies. This Kourtney Kardashian-inspired Avocado Pudding has been my daily-go-to; just two ingredients...
Read MoreThese easy-peasy S'mores Treats bring back such memories of my childhood. I've had a sweet tooth since the beginning, and there's something about this marshmallow-graham-chocolate goodness that will always be sweetly nostalgic for me.
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