Bubble Party

I saw this Bubble party photographed by Nicole Hill Gerulat and am so in love with it! If only I had seen it yesterday so I could have used it today for my birthday...

Nap Time

This sweet boy has decided the past week and a half that he is done taking naps. Unfortunately his very pregnant mother really needs a nap most days! Being less than a month away from having a baby, we have been getting out the baby things...like the swing. My sweet boy loves to play in it and when momma was taking a nap, he fell asleep in the swing! It was pretty funny. He looks so big and grown up sleeping in the swing! I'm glad another baby is coming to our family soon!

I posted this picture as part of Simply Modern Mom's Project 52: check it out for yourself!

Cookie

A friend of mine posted this recipe on her blog and I'm re-posting it here so I can remember the recipe and try it out sometime! She calls it her lower-fat, lower-sugar, still-yummy oatmeal cookie recipe:

3/4 cup flour
1 1/4 cup oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
In another bowl, combine
1/4 cup softened butter
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Mix wet and dry ingredients. Add pecans and whatever else you like (Matt always chooses raisins; I go for milk chocolate chips). Use a tablespoon to measure the dough--this always results in 24 cookies with an allowance for dough sampling. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Fold a Shirt

This is amazing. And it really works. Try it!

Cabochon

image from here
I've been in love with cabochon earrings for awhile now. So much so, that I tried to figure out how to make them myself...with no luck. Until I found this segment from Studio 5! Now I know what to look for...which is not cabochon but more like sculpted flowers! Check it out!

Macaroons

Just watched this clip from Studio 5 about making Macarons...they sound so delightful!


Tahitian French Macarons - Macaron Base:
Ingredients:

3 egg whites, aged*
5 tbsp granulated sugar
2/3 cup almond flour
1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract (amount will differ with variations )

Method:

In a food processor, process almond flour and confectioners sugar until well mixed. Sift the mixture through sieve, and divide in half.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, whip egg whites until foamy.

While beating on high, slowly add sugar. When soft peaks form, add extract and food coloring if desired.

Beat until stiff peaks,has a glossy texture, and mixture doesn't drip from the beaters.

Into the whipped merengue, fold in the first half of the almond mixture. When just blended, add additional dry mixture, folding until mixture is blended.

Be careful not to over-mix!

Place mixture in a piping bag fitted with round tip.

On to a parchment lined baking sheet, pipe in small circles, about the size of a quarter; leaving room for the batter to spread.

Rap sheet firmly against the counter, or flat surface. This helps the macaron to get it's pied shape.

Before baking, let batter dry, uncovered for 30 minutes.

Heat oven to 300. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Cool completely.

Pipe a small amount of french buttercream on flat side of macaron, top with other half making a sandwich. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen filled macarons.

* Aged egg whites: Covered and set at room temperature overnight.

Variations - Guava Passionfruit:
Ingredients:

Add about 8 drops pink food coloring to meringue mixture.
Add 2-3 tbsp frozen guava passion fruit concentrate to buttercream;

Method:

beating well after addition.

Kiwi Lime:
Ingredients:

Add 1/2 tsp vanilla and zest of 1 lime to meringue mixture
Add about 8 drops neon green food coloring to meringue mixture
Add 3 tbsp kiwi purée, adding sugar to purée as needed to buttercream;

Method:

beating well after addition

Mango Tangerine:
Ingredients:

Add 1/4 tsp vanilla and zest of 1 tangerine to meringue mixture
Add1/4 tsp orange extract to meringue mixture
Add about 8 drops of orange food coloring to meringue mixture
Add 2-3 tbsp frozen Mango Orange Concentrate or Mango purée to buttercream;

Method:

beating well after addition.

Island Pineapple:
Ingredients:

Add 1/4 tsp vanilla to meringue mixture
Add 1/4 tsp banana extract to meringue mixture
Add about 8 drops of yellow food coloring to meringue mixture
Add 2-3 tbsp frozen Pina Colada concentrate ( Bacardi's ) to buttercream,

Method:

beating well after addition.

Blue Coconut:
Ingredients:

Add 1/4 tsp coconut extract to meringue mixture
Add 1/4 tsp rum extract to meringue mixture
Add about 8 drops of neon blue food coloring to meringue mixture
Add 1 tsp coconut extract to buttercream,

Method:

beating well after addition.

French Buttercream:
Ingredients:

3 eggs
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, and stirred.

Method:

In a medium sized mixing bowl, beat eggs for about 5 minutes.

Eggs should be light and fluffy.

In a small sauce pan, heat water and sugar over medium high heat.

Cook until mixture comes to a soft ball stage. To test, spoon a small amount of mixture into a glass of cold water, if the syrup forms into a ball that can be picked up, it is ready.

While mixer is running, pour a fine, thread like stream into the egg mixture. Beat mixture until the bottom of the mixing bowl is cool to touch .

Add softened butter in 2-3 separate increments. The frosting will dramatically change texture. Do not be alarmed!!

Keep beating and it will lighten and become smooth again, about 5-7 minutes.

When adding flavorings, the butter cream will separate again.

Repeat beating process until smooth again.

Fill macarons with a small amount of buttercream. Leftovers may be refrigerated or frozen for next use; mixing well after becoming room temperature.

Makes about 2 1/2-3 cups

Cool

This little boy loves glasses. So he finally got a pair or his own. It was the first thing he grabbed from his Easter basket. And he looks pretty cute in them. Or cool. :)

I posted this picture as part of Simply Modern Mom's Project 52:Glimpse into Motherhood. To check out more pictures or join yourself, go here:

I Love to See the Temple

This weekend we went to one of my favorite places in the world--the LDS Temple in Provo Utah.
We don't live close to a Temple anymore, but we talk about the temple a lot. We sing a Primary song about the Temple every night before bed, and we have a picture of the Temple in his bedroom. It made me so happy that when we got there--my sweet son started running towards it! He was so excited to see the Temple! I wish I could have captured a better picture, and a better camera, but at least I have the happy memory!

I'm posting this picture as a part of Simply Modern Mom's Project 52! Check it out here!

I'm anxious...

Seeing things like this gets me so excited for a new baby! I wish it was coming sooner...

Project 52

This week the only pictures I took were from a trip we made to a magical place called Bananas! My little guy's bestest friend in the whole world invited us to Banana's to celebrate his birthday. It was our first time going and it was fun!
Because it mostly involved jumping and sliding--most of the pictures are blurry or filled with red eye...but I loved this picture of playing air hockey with Daddy. Daddy had just as much fun at Bananas. :)

I am taking part of Simply Modern Mom's Project 52: Glimpse Into Motherhood. To check it out, go here!