- Part 117

March 26, 2014

Cinnamon Bun Cake

Just when I thought cinnamon buns couldn’t get any better, I found this Giant Cinnamon Roll Cake! I have yet to meet someone that can pass up a cinnamon roll (unless you gave up sugar for lent or are gluten free…sorry girls!!) and I’m certainly not one of them. We were celebrating a friends birthday during a morning bible study, so this seemed like a better option than cake. Don’t get me wrong, I have had cake for breakfast more than once, but this just seemed like a fun and different option. Wouldn’t it be sweet to surprise a spouse or child with this for breakfast on their birthday?? I know I’d be thankful!

Make sure you prepare ahead of time because the dough will need time to rise, but other than that, you shouldn’t run into any issues with this recipe. After shaping the dough into the dish and looking at the sad drooping dough I thought I had ruined it. But after I let it rise for nearly an hour and a half (in the over as the recipe recommends) it puffed up gloriously filling up the dish entirely. Oh and the smell, watch out, it’s dangerous!

Mmmmmm, enjoy!!

March 25, 2014

Blues

A few weeks ago I was finding it rather difficult to pull together a monochromatic look (seen here), but since then I’ve been finding myself dressing monochromatically without even trying. In a way it follows my shopping theory, that I find the best purchases when I am not looking for them. Any time I’m on the hunt, I typically strike out. So if you want my advice, I say stray from your list (within reason of course) and grab those wonderful items when you see them.

Ok, back on track here…

This top was another item I picked up at the Boden sample sale I hit up a few weeks ago. It’s such a classic piece and I just love the blue leopard print. It’s still available in limited sizes on their website which you can find here. I then broke out these JCrew pants which I had tucked away for the winter, and I have a feeling they’re going to get their wear again this season. They are so stinkin’ comfy, you may want to try them out.

Details: Boden top / JCrew pants / Gap jacket (similar) / Madewell tote / Arturo Chiang pumps (similar) / JCrew factory necklace / Tiffany bow necklace / Michelle watch / Rayban sunglasses

March 24, 2014

Loving Lately: Spring Frocks

Along with warmer weather, springtime also brings a slew of activities that require (or allow) you to throw on dresses. Whether you have a shower, girls lunch, or any other fun event coming up, I’ve gathered some dresses that I’ve been loving lately. There are a ton of options out there right now. Everything from soft and sweet to bright and edgy, so no matter what you’re going for, you shouldn’t have an issue finding something perfect for you.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

Are there others that are on your radar? Do share!

March 21, 2014

High Five for Friday

Happy Friday, friends! It’s officially spring and I couldn’t be more pleased! Now if only I could put away my winter coats for good, I’d be one seriously happy girl. That and finally clearing my kids of colds and winter illnesses for good! They both got hit with awful colds on Monday, so we’ve been making it through the week with a little less sleep and a lot more coughing! My husband came down with it as well, so I am the only healthy one around here doing my best to remain sane.

Despite the not so fun part of my week, here’s a glimpse at some of the lovelier things that happened:

1. Daffodil’s felt more than appropriate to grab this week and since snapping this pic yesterday afternoon they have already blossomed!

2. A new pastel polish I grabbed to continue with the Spring theme of the week, Essie’s lilacism.

3. I was invited to a CAbi clothing party and ordered this little number while I was there. I’m in love with the color and the fact that it can be worn as a dress, a tunic, dressed up or down sold me even more. It had been a few years since I had been to one of these parties and I’m so glad I decided to go. If you aren’t familiar with the concept, it’s basically a home show where the clothes come to you. If you live in the area (central, PA that is), I’d be more than happy to introduce you to a consultant.

4. Maybe it’s been awhile since I’ve been in an Old Navy dressing room, but I sure got a kick out of their clothing hooks!

5. I’ll leave you with a shot of this deliciousness that I made for a friend’s birthday this week (turns out she’s gluten free and couldn’t even eat a piece, but it’s the thought that counts, no?). I’ll have a full post for you next week, but for now you can just imagine the sweet smell coming through your screen ;)

Have a fantastic weekend!

Linking up with The Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday!

March 20, 2014

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is one of those comfort foods I would hate to do without. My son, who is an extremely picky eater, took almost 4 years until he began enjoying it! And when I made this as a side a few evenings ago he finally said, “Mom, this is the best dinner ever!” A sure stamp of approval.

I know there are a million and one recipes out there for baked mac ‘n cheese, but this one is one of my top fav’s for sure. I’m not claiming that this recipe is healthy, but by mac and cheese standards it has a lot going for it. To start with, I always use the Barilla Protein Plus noodles (whole wheat would also work) and I use skim milk and part skim ricotta and cheddar cheese as well. I rarely use fat-free anything because it seems they always need to compensate for the lack of taste with an excess of salt or sugar. Hence I take the mild-fat route, if you will, and stick with skim, part skim or low fat ingredients.

I’ve made this dish for various occasions when company has been over and every single time I’ve been asked to pass the recipe along. I took that as a sign that all of you lovely readers may enjoy this as well.

mac I found the original recipe here (you’ll see that you can add even more nutrients to this recipe by throwing in some spinach) but I’ve also posted my slightly edited version for you below. Hope you enjoy! mac5

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Serves: 6 (I’d say more like 10)

Prep time: 20 min

Cook time: 25 min

Ingredients:

15 oz tub low-fat ricotta cheese
1 1/4C skim milk
2 eggs beaten
2 tsp brown mustard
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1lb elbow macaroni – prepared as directed
2C low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1/4C grated low-fat parmesan cheese
1/4C dry bread crumbs
1 tsp paprika

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray a 13 x 9 x 2baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
In a food processor or blender, mix ricotta, milk, eggs, mustard, salt and pepper. Process until smooth.
In a saucepan over low heat, stir together cooked macaroni and cheddar until cheese melts.
Stir ricotta mixture into macaroni mixture and then scrape into prepared baking dish.
In a small bowl,combine parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and paprika. Sprinkle evenly over macaroni and cheese.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

March 19, 2014

A Little Spring Decorating

Details: Target basket / Pier 1 florals / HomeGoods bowl / Pier 1 eggs / Bunnies (similar)

Each year after Christmas has passed I find myself eager to get all of the decorations down. I can’t wait to de-clutter our home after the slew of presents take over our place. But once everything is back to normal, I realize how sparse and unwelcoming everything feels. This is most likely from the shock of going from one extreme to the next. Regardless, I’m always excited when Spring comes along so that we can add some life back to our home.

As Easter approaches I enjoy adding a few seasonally appropriate items, all while keeping my focus on the Spring theme which will carry out for the next few months. The above photos show how my dining room table is currently decorated, but I have a bunch of my other favorite finds listed for you below. They all lend such a refreshing feel which is more than welcomed after the winter we’ve all endured!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11

Happy Decorating!

March 18, 2014

Basics

Some days it feels good to keep my outfits plain and simple. Denim on denim and a great pair of sneaks can surely accomplish that. It also feels quite refreshing after being bundled in sweaters for 5+ months. I recently ordered a new pair of Converse and have since been wearing them everyday that the weather allows my ankles to be exposed. This particular day was warm enough but the wind was annoying to say the least, hence my crazy and unruly hair!

I’m not one for dirty shoes, but I can’t wait to beat these guys up a little and slap the shiny white off of them! I always go for the ‘Shoreline’ Converse because I find them to be more flattering on my feet than the classic Chuck Taylors. The slip-on feature is a nice little bonus.

I love having my husband as my photographer. I can be 100% comfortable and he can crack as many jokes as he’d like ;)

Details: JCrew shirt / Level99 denim / Converse sneakers / Madewell tote / Kate Spade sunglasses / necklace (old) / Marc by Marc Jacobs watch

March 17, 2014

Spring Wardrobe Updates: For the Little Ones

Do you fellow parents notice how with each new season, children have outgrown everything from the year before? Lucky little ducks have an ever evolving wardrobe! Today I have my mini-models showing off some new pieces that have recently been added to their wardrobe for Spring/Summer. I also have a new appreciation for photographers that work with children on a regular basis. Wow.My son has gone through a few growth spurts recently and his pants are beginning to get a bit short. With Spring on the horizon, I’ve been looking for some light-weight pants that will carry through summer at least. He’s going to need some new t-shirts as well, but for now some light-weight long sleeved shirts, such as this one, are perfect. This one happens to have 3/4 length sleeves which is perfect because my son hates when shirts hit his wrist (any other parents deal with weird nuances with their children? Don’t get me started on socks!). Come summer, we’ll be switching it up and wearing the shirt with some shorts and throwing some t-shirts on with the light-weight pants. Oh and incase you were wondering, this outfit is ‘cool’ approved by this 4 year old ;)

Then there’s my little sweat pea of a daughter. Just as I do for myself, I find that layering is perfect during these in-between seasons. I can add new Spring shirts to her wardrobe, but until it’s warm enough to bare her arms we’ll continue to layer with little cardigans. It’s also fun to begin adding some bright, fun colors, such as her yellow polka dot pants. She looks fresh and Springy without me worrying that she’s too cold.

And even though they are boy and girl, I love buying them the same shoes when possible. Their matching Converse complete their adorable looks.

Outfit details:

Madelyn: Target sweater / Target top / Gap pants (similar) / Converse shoes

Jack: JCrew top / Gap pants / Converse shoes

March 14, 2014

High Five for Friday

It’s Friday and the last day of Spring Break around here. As wonderful as it would have been to escape to some warmer weather, we actually enjoyed ourselves and got a peek at a few beautiful days! We were able to visit with family, attend a birthday party, see Sesame Street Live, tackle dentist appointments and squeeze in some gym time all while trying to catch up on that lost hour of sleep! Somehow that measly hour seems to throw things off for longer than it should. All in all it was a great week. Hope yours was too!

Here’s a better look into our week:

1. Sesame Street Live was a hit! Madelyn remained captivated for the entire first half. The second half was full of a handful of mini meltdowns, but I guess that’s to be expected. She certainly wasn’t the only crying baby in that arena!

2. My proud, cavity-free big guy!! After he had finished he was allowed to pick a toy out of their box for himself and his sister. The ladies in the office couldn’t get over him choosing the same toy for each of them “so they wouldn’t fight over it”. Smart cookie.

3. It thrills me to say that I was actually a bit warm the afternoon I wore this outfit. It felt fantastic! Bye, bye winter!

4. A good friend of mine gave this jacket to Madelyn when she was a few months old and it’s not only adorable but came in handy during some downpours this week! Too bad she would not stand still for half of a second for me to take a picture. Busy little bugger!

5. Anytime I venture into Pier One my son asks to play at the tiny toy area that they have. This is how I found him :)

Have a fantastic weekend and see you next week!

Linking up with The Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday.

March 13, 2014

Did Someone Say Embellished Sweatshirt?

Embellished sweatshirts, I just can’t get enough (as seen by examples here and here). I couldn’t be happier that they’ll easily be transitioned into my Spring wardrobe since they also come in short sleeves. As I’ve said before, they can totally make an outfit without forcing you to think about all the accessories you need to add since it’s an accessory all on it’s own.

I mentioned that Boden recently had a sample sale here in State College, PA, and these adorable nude pumps were the first thing I grabbed. They can totally class up an outfit and with a manageable heel I was still able to keep up running after my kids. What’s great about this outfit is that I can (and will) remove the necklace and throw on a pair of Converse for any other ordinary day.

Details: Juicy Couture jacket, old (similar) / JCrew Factory sweatshirt / JCrew Factory shirt / JCrew jeans / Boden shoes (similar) / JCrew Factory necklace / Rayban sunglasses

a lovely living

Archives

Cinnamon Bun Cake

Blues

Loving Lately: Spring Frocks

High Five for Friday

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

A Little Spring Decorating

Basics

Spring Wardrobe Updates: For the Little Ones

High Five for Friday

Did Someone Say Embellished Sweatshirt?