Business Casual

Everytime I put this vest on him, he says "I'm cute!" Maybe you can guess that this used to be one of my favorite outfits for him to wear--he's almost too big to wear it now. This day he also insisted on wearing this tie. You can also see his awesome bedhead. :)

If you want to join in on this fun Project 52, or see other pictures of motherhood, go here!

Collection

...of good things.

I think this recipe for Raspberry Cream Roll looks so delicious! It's low-fat too. :) I was looking for a picture of a raspberry cream roll and found this lemon creme roll...doesn't it look amazing? Too bad this one doesn't come with a recipe!


Here's a fun shamrock garland you could whip up if you own a crochet hook and some green thread...

And I love this idea...similar to raingutter bookshelves, but I like that you can fit more on these--because I love books and would own a library if I could.

Friday loves

I am in love with this idea of decorating. If baby #2 is a girl--I'm pretty sure I'll be putting these adorable butterflies in her room!

I am also in love with this flower wrap. I always long for a pretty gift of flowers from a certain man in my life...maybe he'll see this and be inspired.. :)

Directions:
Cut a square of kraft or decorative paper and freehand a message with acrylic craft paint. If you’re giving flowers as a hostess or birthday gift, you can also personalize the wrap with the recipient’s name.

Dragon Slippers

Aren't these adorable? I can't wait to make some for my little dragon! He will love them! Find instructions here.

Random

I think this wreath is fun and would love to make one to adorn the walls or doors of my house!
Find instructions here.
I am a little sad now that Valentine's day is over...but you can bet I'm already getting excited for St. Patrick's Day! I love this subway art for the day of green!

Copy Cat

This little boy loves to copy. It's so funny to me the things he will choose to copy that we do. Like when you rub your eye, or cough. I have no idea why my husband did this, except that he has a picture of him like this from when he was little--but of course, he had a little copy cat and I took this picture. :)

If you want to be a part of capturing the moments of motherhood, join here!

Yummy

A friend of mine recently shared this recipe she found for Homemade Pop-Tarts! How fun is that! I have been craving pop tarts--and these ones are healthy...er! I can't wait to try them!
(P.S. Wouldn't it be fun to use cookie cutters to shape these for different holidays? Love it!)

These cheese rolls look and sound oh so yummy! I can't wait to try these out sometime soon!


I've never celebrated Mardi Gras, but this cake also sounds yummy--and looks like fun to eat! I might just have to try celebrating--or at least have a reason to eat cake. :)


I recently made homemade tortillas for the first time--it was a good experience. I came across this recipe today, and would like to try it now! It makes more than the first recipe I tried.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We sure had fun making sugar cookies this past week--and we ate the last two this morning. Perfect timing. My little honey sure had fun making the frosting--and then of course frosting his own cookie. He would frost some, take a bite, frost some more, take another bite, etc. Anytime he thinks I am making anything, he asks to sit on the counter or says "I want to help you!" I sure do love this boy!

If you want to see more fun pictures of motherhood, or add your own, go here:

Donuts and more

Here is a delicious looking cake donut recipe.

I have an obsession with the idea of making donuts. I've never actually made them--I was completely planning to for Halloween this year but I was starting to experience the nausea phase of pregnancy and things that were really sweet I just couldn't handle...so we didn't make them. But I love these ones because you can bake them instead of fry them in oil! Someday. Someday I will make donuts and they will be amazing! :)

Also, go here to watch a video showing how to make Venetian Chocolate Amaretto Crepes. These look so delicious to me.

Crepes:

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1tbsp butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp almond extract

Method:

Stir together flour and cocoa, mixing well. Set aside. Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar butter, and almond extract. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, whisking until smooth.

Pre-heat omelette pan over medium heat, when hot, pour in about 3 tbsp batter. Swirl to evenly coat pan. Cook until crepe has a dull finish. Carefully loosen edges then remove to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat. And cool.

Makes 18-20 crepes

Perugina Italian Chocolate Sauce:

Ingredients:

• 3.5 oz bar Perugina Dark Chocolate, broken into pieces
• 1/2 cup whipping cream

Method:

In small saucepan heat cream to almost boiling.
Remove from heat and add chocolate pieces.
Stir until smooth.

Makes about 3/4 cup



Additional ingredients:
Pistachio Gelato
Belgian Milk Chocolate Gelato
Double Dark Chocolate Gelato
Fresh Raspberries
Chopped roasted and Salted Pistachios
Cocoa and powdered Sugar for Dusting


To assemble:
Fill each crepe with 1 small scoop of each gelato, fold to close in a triangle shape if desired.
Place on a plate drizzled with chocolate sauce.
Place crepe on top. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios and fresh raspberries.
Dust with sugars if desired.
Serve Immediately

Be Mine

If you're still looking for some ideas for Valentine's Day...here are some more great ones!


How fun would it be to make personalized snowglobes! I love this great idea! You can go here for full instructions, including a video.
Homemade Circus Animal cookies!! Of course for Valentine's day, I would probably do heart shapes instead of circus animals...

I love this envelope! How fun would it be to put a coupon for something special in each pocket?


I love this Valentine yahtzee game! How fun would that be for a family activity? Or even just something a little different for you and your sweetheart!

I love this as a garland! This is made of fabric--check it out here.

I have seen this idea in a few different places, including Martha Stewart, but this image and instructions come from here. I can't wait to make crayon hearts to hang in our windows!

Valentines Galore

I love this fun, easy way to make a candy dish a little more elegant? Check it out here.

I really like this idea! You could again do a countdown until the day, or give it all at once...how personal and sweet at the same time!

Bubble Hat

His new favorite thing is to have bubbles in the bathtub. I asked if he wanted a bubble mustache, he said "I want a hat!" So we made him a bubble hat, he saw it in the mirror and I took a picture of him and his hat.

If you want to check out other mommy moment pictures or join in on the fun yourself go here!

Good Things Utah

I never watched this show when I lived in Utah--but today I found some awesome things on their website! Remember this pillow I was in love with? Yeah--don't bother buying the pattern, because the instructions, including a video are here!

You can also find some awesome recipes from places I like to eat--like Kneaders and Panda Express!

I'm excited to check out past features from Good Things Utah...

Pencil Power

I love makeup. It makes me feel pretty. I really liked this video that showed different ways you can use makeup pencils--I didn't even know some of these existed!

Brie and Strawberry Pastry with Chocolate Sauce

I've never had brie cheese before. But this looks so beautifully yummy--I might even attempt it despite my allergy to strawberries. Sometimes it's just worth it.

Brie Cheese & Strawberry Puff Pastry "Ravioli" & Chocolate Sauce

Ravioli:
1 sheet store-bought puff pastry, defrosted
Flour for dusting
2 oz. Brie cheese, chilled
2 medium-sized strawberries, cut into eighths
1 egg white
2 tsp water
2 tbsp turbinado sugar (such as Sugar in the Raw)

Chocolate Sauce:
½ cup heavy cream
2 oz. high-quality bittersweet (not unsweetened) chocolate, finely chopped
1 ½ oz. high-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Ravioli:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll the puff pastry sheet into a 12-inch square. Cut the sheet in half to form two rectangles.

Thinly slice the Brie cheese and cut each piece into thirds crosswise for a total of 8 squares. Lay the Brie cheese pieces at even intervals on one rectangle of puff pastry. Top each piece of Brie with two strawberry pieces. Cover with the other puff pastry rectangle and, using your hands, gently press the top puff pastry sheet to form loosely around each cheese/strawberry mound. Using a handheld circle ravioli cutter or a knife, cut around each mound to form eight “ravioli”.

Using a small metal spatula, lift the ravioli onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly. With a small sharp knife, cut two small slits in the ravioli to release steam while cooking.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg white and water and brush the surface of the ravioli with the mixture. Sprinkle turbinado sugar evenly over the ravioli. Bake until the ravioli are golden brown, turning the baking sheet halfway through cooking, about 12 minutes. Place on a cooling rack for 5 to 10 minutes.

Chocolate Sauce:
In a small saucepan, heat the cream until it just starts to boil. Place the bittersweet and semisweet chocolate into a medium bowl and pour the cream over the chocolate, whisking until smooth.

Place 2 ravioli on each plate and drizzle with the chocolate sauce. Serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Various Valentines

I think this would be so sweet to make for your sweetheart and fill with reasons why you love that person or you could exchange love letters to each other--whatever you want!


I love this idea of a Valentine's countdown--although you could probably do the same thing with a full box of chocolates and just stick the papers underneath each one with instructions to eat one a day until Valentine's Day. :)
I love flowers. Roses are so expensive at Valentine's day...but wouldn't this also be a lovely gift from your sweetheart?
This could be a fun and easy gift to give the love of your life--or you could turn it into a countdown as well and leave them one a day!

Frames for all Seasons

I found this idea and totally love it--they use these three simple frames for all holidays, just changing what goes inside of them! Check it out here.

Food from the Heart

I completely love both of these ideas! How fun would it be to make cupcakes for your family and they get to bite into a yummy surprise for their eyes as well as mouth! The cupcakes instructions I found here. I used the cake picture from here--but love the instructions found here instead, where you get a heart shape in each slice of cake--plus you can watch a video showing you exactly how to do it!

P.S.

Blue Cricket Design is hosting a love letter week...and I absolutely love today's love letter! You could keep this one up all year long if you wanted.

Blueberry

I think this cake looks so beautiful and refreshing. I spotted this recipe via Simply Modern Mom.
I'm not so sure about the oil though...but I would still try it!

Olive Oil Cake with Blueberry
Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1-3/4 cups sugar, divided
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1-1/4 cups Bertolli^® Extra Light^™ Tasting Olive Oil, divided
• 2 containers (6 oz. ea.) fresh blueberries
• Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 Tbsp.)
• 1 tsp. grated lemon peel

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Spray 13- x 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

2. Beat eggs with 1-1/4 cups sugar in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium-high speed until eggs are pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Slowly beat in milk. Slowly add flour blended with baking powder and mix just until blended. Add 1 cup extra light tasting olive oil and beat just until blended. Turn into prepared pan.

3. Bake in center of oven 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely.

4. Meanwhile, for blueberry sauce, combine blueberries, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, remaining 1/4 cup olive oil and lemon juice in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until blueberries start to burst. Remove from heat; stir in lemon peel. Let cool to room temperature. Serve blueberry sauce with cake.