If you are looking for an alternative to the typical cinnamon buns on Christmas morning, look no further! I have the best and easiest recipe for scones ever. These things are awesome. And they will completely impress your family, after all, who makes scones from scratch? Surprisingly, the ingredients are few and the steps easy.
I got this recipe at a cooking class I took at a Viking cooking store many years ago. My mother in law gave me this class as a Christmas present about 4 years ago. The class was fantastic. When you arrived, they served you coffee and fresh fruit, they cleaned your cooking stations and washed your dishes while you cooked, and basically waited on you while you enjoyed your day and learned some new tricks in the kitchen. I totally recommend the experience!
Anyway, my favorite recipe from that day was the one for scones. I had always stayed away for scones thinking of them as dry, but these are not at all. I have also added different things to them - chocolate chips, blue berries, candied orange peel, cranberries. You just throw into the batter whatever you want to punch up the favor.
2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
4 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch cubes and chilled
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream
Preheat oven to 425F
Place flour, baking powder, salt and 3 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl or food processor. (I don't have a food processor, so I do the mixing here with a fork).
Pulse several times to combine everything (or mix it with your fork)
Add butter to mixture, scattering it throughout.
Pulse 12 to 15 times, getting the mixture to resemble coarse meal.
If you are using a fork, kind of cut the butter into the mixture, breaking it up slightly and mixing it. It takes about 5-10 minutes to do this by hand, just keep going, it works. You want the consistency to be a bit ragged and coarse.
Toss in whatever you are adding (chocolate chips are my favorite). You probably only need about 1 cup of this. Eyeball this and add more if it looks like it isn't mixed throughout.
Transfer to a mixing bowl if you were using a food processor.
Add 1 cup of heavy cream and continue to stir with a fork until it forms a shaggy dough.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it until the dough comes together. This is like playing with play dough and mixing all the colors together, use the palms of your hands to press through the dough. Be careful if you added berries to not crush them too badly.
Pat the dough into about an 8 inch circle about 2 inches thick.
Cut the dough into 8 wedges like a pizza and place on an untreated baking sheet, placing them slightly apart. You could also cut the dough into cute little shapes if you really wanted to all out!
Whisk together 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon heavy cream, brush over tops of scones.
Bake until tops are golden brown and firm, about 12-15 minutes.
Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
It seems like a lot of steps as I type it, but seriously it is easy and totally uncomplicated. And it will impress your family, because I mean really, homemade scones!?
I have made the dough the night before too and just let it warm up a bit before putting it into the oven on Christmas morning. I also brushed the sugar mixture on the scones in the morning, I wasn't sure how that would do in the fridge over night. It would probably work, but why chance it.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Christmas Morning Traditions
Last year, a dear friend had an ongoing deliberation with her husband regarding the wrapping of Christmas presents for their young children. Her family traveled a distance for the holiday and her parents just couldn't transport the gifts and wrap everything, so nothing was ever wrapped. Barbie was out playing in the Dream House, sweaters were folded under the tree, etc. Her husband balked at this idea, coming from a home where everything was wrapped.
I shared with her that my family was kind of a hybrid, clothes was always in boxes and wrapped and big toys were out for us to play with. Although I only remember a few toys ever being out like a bike or a cradle for my Cabbage Patch dolls. What I do remember is the actual unwrapping of presents and that my parents used to make us each go one at a time which meant it took forever!! I just wanted to tear into everything, but my mom insisted that she see our reaction to every present, even if she knew we were unwrapping underwear.
Over the last few weeks, my facebook friends have pondered this same dilemma; wrap or don't wrap your kids presents. As I think about it, I totally understand why my mom wanted us each to take our turns opening everything. If she was going to shop and wrap for us 3 kids, she was going to get some simple joy out us opening everything.
Besides the prolonged unwrapping, my parents also tortured us Christmas morning. We were not allowed to wake them up and go downstairs until 7am. We also all had to be up together with robes and slippers on (my brother slept in footed PJs for years to skip the need for slippers and "save time" that morning), with our hair and teeth brushed, and had gone to the bathroom, then we could wake up mom and dad. That's when the real torture began.
My parents both had to get out of bed, go to the bathroom, brush their teeth and hair, put in contacts, and find robes and slippers. Then we could move to the top of the stairs. The suspense was always killing me at this point, I was bursting out my skin. But of course, we couldn't just go downstairs yet, nope. Coffee had to be made, tree lights turned on, camcorder set up. My dad did these things while my mom sat with us at the top of the stairs. We always jockeyed for good positioning going down the stairs and I only remember getting to go first one year when I was on crutches. Finally, my dad would call up and announce that we could come on downstairs and see what Santa left us.
I know this drove me crazy as a little girl, but it was fun and it completely added to the experience. My sister and brother and I laughed and giggled together on those mornings and now jokingly complain as grown-ups as we remember how slow Dad was.
Now that my boys are 1 and 3, I'm starting to think that we might be able to start torturing them this year. They won't fully get it this year, especially the little one, but it might fun to start the tradition early and see what kind of fun we can create for our own kids.
Were your Christmas mornings like this or do you have another fun tradition that we can start?
I shared with her that my family was kind of a hybrid, clothes was always in boxes and wrapped and big toys were out for us to play with. Although I only remember a few toys ever being out like a bike or a cradle for my Cabbage Patch dolls. What I do remember is the actual unwrapping of presents and that my parents used to make us each go one at a time which meant it took forever!! I just wanted to tear into everything, but my mom insisted that she see our reaction to every present, even if she knew we were unwrapping underwear.
Over the last few weeks, my facebook friends have pondered this same dilemma; wrap or don't wrap your kids presents. As I think about it, I totally understand why my mom wanted us each to take our turns opening everything. If she was going to shop and wrap for us 3 kids, she was going to get some simple joy out us opening everything.
Besides the prolonged unwrapping, my parents also tortured us Christmas morning. We were not allowed to wake them up and go downstairs until 7am. We also all had to be up together with robes and slippers on (my brother slept in footed PJs for years to skip the need for slippers and "save time" that morning), with our hair and teeth brushed, and had gone to the bathroom, then we could wake up mom and dad. That's when the real torture began.
My parents both had to get out of bed, go to the bathroom, brush their teeth and hair, put in contacts, and find robes and slippers. Then we could move to the top of the stairs. The suspense was always killing me at this point, I was bursting out my skin. But of course, we couldn't just go downstairs yet, nope. Coffee had to be made, tree lights turned on, camcorder set up. My dad did these things while my mom sat with us at the top of the stairs. We always jockeyed for good positioning going down the stairs and I only remember getting to go first one year when I was on crutches. Finally, my dad would call up and announce that we could come on downstairs and see what Santa left us.
I know this drove me crazy as a little girl, but it was fun and it completely added to the experience. My sister and brother and I laughed and giggled together on those mornings and now jokingly complain as grown-ups as we remember how slow Dad was.
Now that my boys are 1 and 3, I'm starting to think that we might be able to start torturing them this year. They won't fully get it this year, especially the little one, but it might fun to start the tradition early and see what kind of fun we can create for our own kids.
Were your Christmas mornings like this or do you have another fun tradition that we can start?
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Dining Room Centerpieces - Do you set the table?
I always struggle with my dining room table centerpiece. Not sure what happens here, but it never turns out the way I want it to look. Maybe its because the ones I see in magazines have fully set tables which makes everything look better. I am not setting my table for a meal that is not happening. My kids will have that silverware all over the house, the napkins on their heads, and the plates outside. I don't even want to think about what would happen to my Waterford wine glasses! AH!!! This means, I need to dress up a table without the full dressings and just be happy with it.
Last year in my 7 or 8 week post baby bliss, I made a centerpiece using a large round silver tray, a cake plate, tiny poinsettias, candles and a few Christmas balls. It worked for last year, everything that got decorated last year worked just because I had a 2 year old and a newborn. I tried the same arrangement this year and it just didn't work at all. It was down right blah. Case in point below:
Its okay but not the idea of holiday wonderment that I really would love to evoke. I started looking for fresh ideas and found beautiful inspiration everywhere, but again these tables were all set, making everything come together so much better --- do people really do this in real homes???
I think my favorite idea (read into it: somewhat doable idea), came from Sweet Something Designs. I love the use of the lantern and the greens. Its simple and elegant and also warms the space up. It totally destroys my poor excuse for a centerpiece.
I set out shopping yesterday hoping to find a great lantern and greens to create my own similar look. I found a lantern at Pier 1 for only $15 which seemed like a deal since I saw others for lots more. And then I headed to Michael's for the greens. You would think that people were giving crafty stuff away to every kid in the world this Christmas. That place was a mad house. Shelves were empty, wreath embellishment were thrown on the ground, and there was even a baby crying at the cash register --- it was basically Armageddon. Wives were even there with their husbands - I could not pay my husband to go into that store, let alone to venture in when madness is happening.
I didn't find exactly what I wanted but I figured that I just need to shop earlier next year to really get what I want and this year would just have to be a practice year on the centerpiece. Here is how it turned out:
I still had the tiny poinsettias and didn't want to waste them so I threw them in and I had Christmas balls there from the previous centerpiece so they got added too. I don't think this is my best work by a long shot, but at least it beats what was happening there. I'll keep tweaking it for the next week or so before I decide if I like it or not, but so far its okay.
Last year in my 7 or 8 week post baby bliss, I made a centerpiece using a large round silver tray, a cake plate, tiny poinsettias, candles and a few Christmas balls. It worked for last year, everything that got decorated last year worked just because I had a 2 year old and a newborn. I tried the same arrangement this year and it just didn't work at all. It was down right blah. Case in point below:
I think my favorite idea (read into it: somewhat doable idea), came from Sweet Something Designs. I love the use of the lantern and the greens. Its simple and elegant and also warms the space up. It totally destroys my poor excuse for a centerpiece.
I set out shopping yesterday hoping to find a great lantern and greens to create my own similar look. I found a lantern at Pier 1 for only $15 which seemed like a deal since I saw others for lots more. And then I headed to Michael's for the greens. You would think that people were giving crafty stuff away to every kid in the world this Christmas. That place was a mad house. Shelves were empty, wreath embellishment were thrown on the ground, and there was even a baby crying at the cash register --- it was basically Armageddon. Wives were even there with their husbands - I could not pay my husband to go into that store, let alone to venture in when madness is happening.
I didn't find exactly what I wanted but I figured that I just need to shop earlier next year to really get what I want and this year would just have to be a practice year on the centerpiece. Here is how it turned out:
Monday, December 12, 2011
Christmas Gifts
I was having a hard time with gifts for my boys this year. They are 3 and 1 and just had birthdays so our house is still full of "new" toys. Also, my oldest isn't really a toy kid. He loves to play with tools and scrap pieces of wood and build with blocks of which we have tons already! My youngest has all of his older brother's toys and is still a little young to play with toys. He does like trucks and cars and trains, but our house is totally overrun with them already.
So, I was obviously in a rut. I started asking some friends and received great ideas. My husband also reminded me how much our kids love to be outside and that anything for outside made sense to him.
After consideration here are some of the things our boys are getting:
1. Sleds!!! We have an infant sled, but now that I have a three year old, a real sled is needed! Just remember, please put helmets on your kids when they go sledding just like you would if they were skiing or riding a bike. Helmets are super warm, the kid can't rip them off, and they are a huge safety plus especially if you have a little boy who has already gone over the side of the driveway in a Cozy Coupe and got stitches like I do.
2. Anything to keep them quiet in the car during our long ride to Vermont for a family ski trip. I got Sammy a lap desk for the car so that he could play with little toys and also color in addition to watching movies. And while Tommy might be a bit young to sit and watch TV, I'll do just about anything to keep him happy on a long trip so we have a dual screen DVD player. I'm hoping he will actually watch and fall asleep to the Lion King, sleeping blissfully for several hours (that will never happen).
3. Educational toys. I also wanted a few easy, non-mommy involved educational toys for Sammy. He is learning so much at preschool and really does like to do a lot of this type of thing independently. We have had flash cards in the past but they always ended up all over the place and not really serving their purpose. Then I saw these on Amazon that came on a ring so you couldn't loose one. I can already picture him flipping through these by himself and talking to each card. The best part is that you can either buy them through Amazon or buy cheaper cards yourself and put them on ring of your own.
4. Our biggest purchase this Christmas will be a Kindle Fire. It would be redundant if I repeated why we are buying this expensive product for our 3 year old, so I will just send you over to Mommy Breakdown for the comparison of tablets for young ones. Lauren has a done a great job breaking it down both by cost and by function.
Good luck shopping. Try not to go crazy. Make lists and try to really think about what people want, need and will use -- all hard things to figure out!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Rain, Rain, Go Away or else.....
I will never be able to walk in our playroom again! The boys dumped everything today with the exception of one box of blocks that was hidden and a few games. Otherwise, everything else went on the floor. I guess its a game to them that I just don't understand! All I could think of was that someone (me) would have to sort through everything to make sure the legos, the mega blocks, the wooden blocks, etc were all back in the right containers later this evening ready to be dumped once again tomorrow......
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Preparing for Christmas
I love this time of year. It used to be the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but now since Halloween is another spectacular holiday to decorate for, I love everything from the beginning of fall through Christmas. It's so festive; there is so much to think about and do in terms of activities, cooking, baking, and decorating. In short, its all around awesome!
And my new love, Pinterest is completely facilitating my love of the holidays by giving me tons of ideas for DIY decorating. My mantle is always something I look forward to decorating. It immediately fills the rooms with holiday cheer and is also something my kids can't touch so I can put some pretty delicate things there too. I usually do mercury glass objects and lighted garland with a few ornaments, but I am inspired this year, who knows what I might end up with! Some of my inspirations found on Pinterest........
However, I also live in reality. I don't have much time to be crafty with two little ones running around and honestly, I am not a craft expert. I can do basic things, sometimes even tricky crafts, but my attention, time, and patience all run out when something gets too time consuming and/or super tricky. I also get overwhelmed at AC Moore and Michaels - I want to buy so much and get so excited that I can't seem to figure it all out.
So, this is what I ended up with on my mantle. I kept the usual mercury glass, candles, and garland, but also a few things below the mantle with little stockings and mittens hung with clothes pins on ribbon. I wanted to do more, but I was quickly reminded that even an area that I "thought" was kid proofed like the mantle really isn't when the other night I found a sensory ball whizzing at the mantle and quickly breaking an ornament. I love boys, they very quickly bring you back to reality. :)
And my new love, Pinterest is completely facilitating my love of the holidays by giving me tons of ideas for DIY decorating. My mantle is always something I look forward to decorating. It immediately fills the rooms with holiday cheer and is also something my kids can't touch so I can put some pretty delicate things there too. I usually do mercury glass objects and lighted garland with a few ornaments, but I am inspired this year, who knows what I might end up with! Some of my inspirations found on Pinterest........
However, I also live in reality. I don't have much time to be crafty with two little ones running around and honestly, I am not a craft expert. I can do basic things, sometimes even tricky crafts, but my attention, time, and patience all run out when something gets too time consuming and/or super tricky. I also get overwhelmed at AC Moore and Michaels - I want to buy so much and get so excited that I can't seem to figure it all out.
So, this is what I ended up with on my mantle. I kept the usual mercury glass, candles, and garland, but also a few things below the mantle with little stockings and mittens hung with clothes pins on ribbon. I wanted to do more, but I was quickly reminded that even an area that I "thought" was kid proofed like the mantle really isn't when the other night I found a sensory ball whizzing at the mantle and quickly breaking an ornament. I love boys, they very quickly bring you back to reality. :)
Thursday, December 1, 2011
All Aboard!! The 3rd Birthday Express is Here!
I started out with a fantastic template from Paper and Cake for the banner, signs, etc. I got this on sale for only $10! I never used anything from Paper and Cake before and I loved it. I was really easy to use - I just put in Sammy's name where I wanted it and printed it out. I didn't use all of the ideas that came from packet, but for only $10, it was worth it to me. Here is an idea of what I did use to decorate. Please ignore my spelling mistake on All Aboard - can't believe I did that and that no one told me until I posted a few pictures on Facebook and an old college friend broke the news to me. :(
I made 12 cardboard trains for the kids to play with and I have to say they were really easy to make, just a little time consuming.
To make them I started with a diaper box or a wine box, either worked out fine. I sprayed painted them and let dry really well. I cut off the flaps of the box on the bottom and then cut a hole out in at the top of the box. I didn't remove the entire top of the box so that I had a place to put the smoke stack. The smoke stake is a canister of oatmeal, too bad I don't eat oatmeal......I attached the smoke stack with a hot glue gun and a paper fastener. To strap it onto the kids, I just used ribbon and paper fasteners. I found the template for Percy's face here. For some of the trains I added a little extra dimension with a cereal box on the front and just used the glue gun to attach it. To decorate I used electrical tape and colored duct tape. In the beginning of this project I was really elaborate with my decorating, that waned after about 5 trains and the duct tape won out in terms of ease and patience, but it still looked great. I also found this website that had tons of Thomas trains that gave me lots of ideas and also reminded me that I am only a weekend crafter and not nearly as serious as some people!
As you can tell, the kids were adorable in their trains, but I have to say they didn't gravitate to them like I thought they would. The train table was a much bigger hit as well as our other everyday toys. But each child was sent home with their train and a red bandana and an engineers hat and many moms have told me they have been a hit at home. But isn't it so adorable! I wish I could have gotten a picture of everyone with their trains on, but it just wasn't going to happen. Unfortunately, a November birthday means lots of stuffy noses and coughs, including my own little guy who barely worn his James train that day.
 |
| Asher looked fantastic as Thomas |
Here are some other things I used to decorate for the party. Vintage trains across the mantle, plastic shoe boxes covered with construction paper to look like a train to hold snacks for the party,and anything else I could find.
All and all it was a great party and the kids had fun. If your little one loves trains, I'd really suggest making one of these cardboard trains. So easy to do and something they can really have a lot of fun with too.
Oops, almost forgot --- for the babies, I made little tiny trains to wear with the same concept in mind. I just used wipes boxes and only put a face and straps on them.
The cake is a post for another day. So stay tuned.....
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Christmas Book Tradition
I wanted to start an easy Christmas tradition for my kids last year and came across an idea while shopping at Barnes and Noble.
We love books in our family, the more the merrier! I thought won't it be nice to have the boys open a special Christmas book from Mommy and Daddy each Christmas morning. The book had to have beautiful pictures since our kids are young and we would spurge here too. Not a paperback which I normally turn to since my kids are also hard on their books, but a hardback, fancy book!
For our first year we choose Carl's Christmas by Alexandra Day. We are big dog lovers in our family and this book totally fits our family. Our bullmastiff, Cooper, could probably watch our boys with no problem just like Carl does for his baby. The Carl books have just a few words in the beginning of the book and then the rest is up to your imagination with the help of the fantastic pictures.
For this year, we are choosing You Are My Miracle by Maryann K. Cusimano. Its a beautiful book that really helps convey just how much you love your little ones and this special time of year.
I also write a special inscription in the book with the date so that we can easily keep track of the books each year and hopefully one Christmas morning, sit down and read them all together.
Does your family have a Christmas tradition? If so, please share! I love to steal great ideas from friends!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Feeding the Birds
My backyard is like a nature preserve most days. Deer stroll in and out of it at their own will, not at all bothered by the people or large dog who live here. Squirrels and chipmunks have endless entertainment running around the big boulders and rocks hunting for food. A family of fox call our side yard their home. And a ground hog has even been spotted a few times. But by far my favorite guests are the birds. They don't dig up my flowers or eat my bulbs, but rather eat the bad bugs and add a little color to the sky.
I kind of spoil our birds, I keep their feeders filled from about November to April thinking that between April and October there should be plenty of natural food for them to eat. The only problem with feeding the birds is the squirrels.
I have had several bird feeders, always trying to outsmart the squirrels and have found that the Droll brand feeders seem to do the best job at this. They are a little more expensive but they are really durable and are something you will have for years. My favorite feeder of theirs is the Yankee Flipper.
You need to watch the product video on this one - it is hysterical. When a squirrel tries to eat the seed and leans on the birds' resting bar, the whole bar jerks and "flips" the squirrel off. Its great. I have seen this live and am always amazed by it. After awhile, the squirrels do catch on to this trick and figure out other ways to get the seed, but at least for a little while I have a bit of entertainment.
I also keep a suet feeder filled all winter. Wood peckers really like suet and my yard this fall has been filled with them. My first suet feeder was a cheapy from the grocery store ---- it lasted one night. I hung it from a normal shepherds hook and didn't even think of wiring it onto the pole, which is why it lasted only one night. The squirrels must have dragged it into the woods that night to have the delicious suet all to themselves, selfish little buggers! After this experience, I invested in a double suet feeder and some wire. The double feeder has a cage around it so the squirrels can't get to it and the wire is my extra insurance.
I have also found that different seeds bring different birds. Your run of the mill grocery store blend is junk, just don't buy it. It has so much waste in it and will just give you weeds on the ground below the feeder. Find a feed store and see if they have their own mix, these are usually made special for your area and will have less waste. I also sometimes mix a few different seeds on my own to make a blend. I try to pick seeds that don't have a shell so it isn't so messy. Right now I have shelled sunflower seeds and thistle. Best part of this mix is that the squirrels don't seem to like it, they aren't even bothering with it which is amazing to me! Just be sure to store the seed in a steel container. I was optimistic last year and thought the mice in my garage couldn't eat through a big rubbermaid container.....so wrong and disgusted on the day I opened up the container to find a mouse inside!
While you are at it, might as well pick up a bird book too. As kids, my mom always had bird books in the kitchen on the window sill so that we could identify all the birds in our yard. Kids are fascinated by this; it is especially fun on a snowy morning when the birds are all out looking for food.
Happy Birding!
I kind of spoil our birds, I keep their feeders filled from about November to April thinking that between April and October there should be plenty of natural food for them to eat. The only problem with feeding the birds is the squirrels.
I have had several bird feeders, always trying to outsmart the squirrels and have found that the Droll brand feeders seem to do the best job at this. They are a little more expensive but they are really durable and are something you will have for years. My favorite feeder of theirs is the Yankee Flipper.
You need to watch the product video on this one - it is hysterical. When a squirrel tries to eat the seed and leans on the birds' resting bar, the whole bar jerks and "flips" the squirrel off. Its great. I have seen this live and am always amazed by it. After awhile, the squirrels do catch on to this trick and figure out other ways to get the seed, but at least for a little while I have a bit of entertainment.
I also keep a suet feeder filled all winter. Wood peckers really like suet and my yard this fall has been filled with them. My first suet feeder was a cheapy from the grocery store ---- it lasted one night. I hung it from a normal shepherds hook and didn't even think of wiring it onto the pole, which is why it lasted only one night. The squirrels must have dragged it into the woods that night to have the delicious suet all to themselves, selfish little buggers! After this experience, I invested in a double suet feeder and some wire. The double feeder has a cage around it so the squirrels can't get to it and the wire is my extra insurance.
I have also found that different seeds bring different birds. Your run of the mill grocery store blend is junk, just don't buy it. It has so much waste in it and will just give you weeds on the ground below the feeder. Find a feed store and see if they have their own mix, these are usually made special for your area and will have less waste. I also sometimes mix a few different seeds on my own to make a blend. I try to pick seeds that don't have a shell so it isn't so messy. Right now I have shelled sunflower seeds and thistle. Best part of this mix is that the squirrels don't seem to like it, they aren't even bothering with it which is amazing to me! Just be sure to store the seed in a steel container. I was optimistic last year and thought the mice in my garage couldn't eat through a big rubbermaid container.....so wrong and disgusted on the day I opened up the container to find a mouse inside!
While you are at it, might as well pick up a bird book too. As kids, my mom always had bird books in the kitchen on the window sill so that we could identify all the birds in our yard. Kids are fascinated by this; it is especially fun on a snowy morning when the birds are all out looking for food.
Happy Birding!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Winter Flowers
Winter leaves us with a very drab and boring landscape, especially after the New Year when all the fun holiday decorations are gone and we are stuck looking at bare mantles once again and empty cookie jars.
Start planning now and you can have a "garden" almost all winter long. Flowers like paper whites, amaryllis, and poinsettia will grown inside very easily and can add just what you need to any room to make it feel more lived it.
I think paper whites are my favorite because they can pretty much grow in anything. I have grown them in just pebbles and in a pot with soil and had great results with either. The fun part is figuring out what you are going to grow them in especially since they are so relaxed that they can literally grow in a regular old drinking glass with some water. Pretty low maintenance, huh?
No matter what you plant them in, the instructions are pretty basic -- pointy side goes up, they can be close together, but not completely touching and keep them watered. When you first "plant" them keep them in a warmer spot until they flower and then move them to an area with indirect sunlight.
I even keep poinsettias out all winter long and sometimes they last into the summer months too. The key here is to replant them just like you would any other annual flower. Water when it is dry and fertilize it once a month. Remove the flowers or leaves as they die too. You could even plant it in a holiday pot through December and then move it into something else for the rest of the winter. With the great pinks and oranges that you now find poinsettias in, there is no reason to just have the typical red one that reminds us of Christmas. They also come in different sizes, not just the traditional larger size. I love the tiny single blooms to decorate with, they are a bit more expensive, but they make up for it! Look for these at higher end garden shops. For more information on caring for a poinsettia and making them rebloom, take a look at this page from Martha Stewart.
Get creative and you will be greeted by a cheerful flower all winter, hopefully chasing the winter blues away!
Here are a few inspiration for you to try out on your own!
Start planning now and you can have a "garden" almost all winter long. Flowers like paper whites, amaryllis, and poinsettia will grown inside very easily and can add just what you need to any room to make it feel more lived it.
I think paper whites are my favorite because they can pretty much grow in anything. I have grown them in just pebbles and in a pot with soil and had great results with either. The fun part is figuring out what you are going to grow them in especially since they are so relaxed that they can literally grow in a regular old drinking glass with some water. Pretty low maintenance, huh?
No matter what you plant them in, the instructions are pretty basic -- pointy side goes up, they can be close together, but not completely touching and keep them watered. When you first "plant" them keep them in a warmer spot until they flower and then move them to an area with indirect sunlight.
I even keep poinsettias out all winter long and sometimes they last into the summer months too. The key here is to replant them just like you would any other annual flower. Water when it is dry and fertilize it once a month. Remove the flowers or leaves as they die too. You could even plant it in a holiday pot through December and then move it into something else for the rest of the winter. With the great pinks and oranges that you now find poinsettias in, there is no reason to just have the typical red one that reminds us of Christmas. They also come in different sizes, not just the traditional larger size. I love the tiny single blooms to decorate with, they are a bit more expensive, but they make up for it! Look for these at higher end garden shops. For more information on caring for a poinsettia and making them rebloom, take a look at this page from Martha Stewart.
Get creative and you will be greeted by a cheerful flower all winter, hopefully chasing the winter blues away!
Here are a few inspiration for you to try out on your own!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Fabulous Way to Keep and Store Kids School Work!
My oldest started preschool this fall and each day after pickup we sort through his collection of pictures and crafts from the day. I love each and every thing he creates, but had no idea where to put them until I stumbled onto this blog.......
IHeart Organizing: School Paperwork Storage
If you love to organize and feel like a new person when everything has a place, you need to go to this blog. It is amazing! I love the cataloging of each school year and creating an easy memory box at the same time.
Happy Organizing!
IHeart Organizing: School Paperwork Storage
If you love to organize and feel like a new person when everything has a place, you need to go to this blog. It is amazing! I love the cataloging of each school year and creating an easy memory box at the same time.
Happy Organizing!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Playroom Storage Solution
Like many of you, I dream of a perfect playroom. It has amazing organization, thoughtful details, and all toys are always placed exactly where they belong. Basically, it always looks like the pages of the Pottery Barn Kids catalog.
Reality at my house is a whole other story. The only person really doing the putting away of toys is yours truly and my playroom floor is often covered in trains, blocks, trucks and my toothbrush (Tommy's favorite teether right now). So, when I saw these large tubs or buckets for $7.99 a piece at Target I jumped at them! My kids are old enough to put toys away, but they need direction and the big toys really had no place to go. These tubs were the perfect solution, with 3 of them we have enough room for the smaller toys and the monster trucks. Also, its easy for kids to put toys in these, its just a big, over sized bucket that holds a ton of stuff
I can't seem to find these tubs online at Target, but they could still be in stores. Regardless, they are really just tubs that you would use for a keg which makes them even better. Party supply stores or the local beer distributor would have some on hand. Since they are large and plastic, their uses are endless. One will certainly move to the garage to hold balls in future years, another will be used as a makeshift water toy this summer, and perhaps one day, one of these will be used to chill a keg at the boys college graduation parties. The versatility and sheer price (did I mention $7.99!!!) make these a great storage/organization solution.
Reality at my house is a whole other story. The only person really doing the putting away of toys is yours truly and my playroom floor is often covered in trains, blocks, trucks and my toothbrush (Tommy's favorite teether right now). So, when I saw these large tubs or buckets for $7.99 a piece at Target I jumped at them! My kids are old enough to put toys away, but they need direction and the big toys really had no place to go. These tubs were the perfect solution, with 3 of them we have enough room for the smaller toys and the monster trucks. Also, its easy for kids to put toys in these, its just a big, over sized bucket that holds a ton of stuff
I can't seem to find these tubs online at Target, but they could still be in stores. Regardless, they are really just tubs that you would use for a keg which makes them even better. Party supply stores or the local beer distributor would have some on hand. Since they are large and plastic, their uses are endless. One will certainly move to the garage to hold balls in future years, another will be used as a makeshift water toy this summer, and perhaps one day, one of these will be used to chill a keg at the boys college graduation parties. The versatility and sheer price (did I mention $7.99!!!) make these a great storage/organization solution.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Not loving J&J right now! Baby Wash is harmful?! WHAT???!!!
I think we all try to keep our children as safe as possible and also believe that there is an unspoken rule about how awful it is to knowingly harm children, which makes this news from Johnson and Johnson so hard to stomach.
Lauren at MommyBreakdown has the full story with all the details, check it out here and find another product this week to serve as your new bath time staple.
Lauren at MommyBreakdown has the full story with all the details, check it out here and find another product this week to serve as your new bath time staple.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Fall Yard Clean Up
I love the fall. By the time September comes, I am tired of summer (which is hard to believe) and ready for a change. The new colors, the smells, I find it all inspiring and invigorating.
However, there is a part of the fall that I don't find to be so inspiring..... fall yard clean up. All of my flowers are done at this point and while the color in the yard is beautiful from the fall leaves, it is also a lot of work. Here is a quick list of what I try to complete in the yard before the ground freezes for the winter.
1. Empty out flower pots: I dump the majority of my flower pots out into the compost pile. Actually just the flowers go into the compost, the soil I keep in a large trash can so that I can reuse it the following year. I stack my flower pots in the garage, putting a few newspaper pieces in between any of my ceramic pots so that they don't crack.
I do keep a few perennials in my pots over the winter, most of these are trailers like creeping jenny. I take these pots and move them up against the house for the winter months, trying to shield them from some of the winter weather. Surprising to me after the first winter of doing this, my creeping jenny has always made it through the winter like this and served as a great foundation plant in many pots each spring as I continue to divide it and spread it around.
2. Rake out flower beds: This job stinks, no other way to put it. I live on a heavily wooded lot which means lots and lots of raking. However, I just don't have the patience to rake everything in the fall and have perfect flower beds all winter long. I focus on the front yard, rake what I can and sometimes purposefully leave a little bit of the leaf cover behind to serve as "insulation" for my plants and also as organic matter. In the spring, I'll get back out there and thoroughly rake, but after a long winter, this is a welcomed job.
3. Yard Rejuvenation: Very late summer and early Fall is a great time to plant grass, but since we are past that point this year, its just time to keep the leaves off the grass so that it can breath through the winter and also be ready to spring back into action in the coming months. I also like to use a winterizer on our grass in mid-November. I feel like this just gives the grass a little bit of pick me up come early spring. In reality, it does strengthen the roots, keeps your grass a little greener a little longer as winter sets in, and bring on the bright green spring grass a little earlier. All things that matter for me!
4. Shrubbery/Tree trimming: Before it gets too cold, you can still trim your shrubs. I have a few burning bushes out front that need to be trimmed each fall right before the winter sets in or else they drive me completely crazy as I look outside in the cold months and see these few random spikes sticking up. Since we are now in late fall, just keep your trimming to what is really needed; wait for the spring to do a major overhaul on any bushes or trees.
5. Clean Up the Perennial Beds: This is actually really easy. I usually let my perennials like Black Eyed Susans and Cone Flowers go for awhile as the flowers die, thinking that the birds appreciate the seeds from these plants. I don't cut these back until early December, if at all, some years I just don't get to this and its not a big deal. Its easy to cut these back again in the spring before the new growth starts up.
6. Annual Flower Clean up: Another easy job is getting rid of all those Annuals in the ground. I really don't have too many of these any more and try to put as many perennials in the ground as possible and just keep annuals in pots, but I do have a few. At this point of the year, they easily pull right out of the ground and go to the compost. Rake the area a little bit and it is ready for winter.
7. Mulch: Some area of your yard may need a little bit of extra cover for the winter. More delicate plants and young trees will appreciate the extra blanket of warmth!
Each year is different and the weather and time dictate a great deal to what actually gets done in our yard before winter and what waits until spring. Don't stress about and focus on what keeps your plants healthy and happy through the winter months!
However, there is a part of the fall that I don't find to be so inspiring..... fall yard clean up. All of my flowers are done at this point and while the color in the yard is beautiful from the fall leaves, it is also a lot of work. Here is a quick list of what I try to complete in the yard before the ground freezes for the winter.
1. Empty out flower pots: I dump the majority of my flower pots out into the compost pile. Actually just the flowers go into the compost, the soil I keep in a large trash can so that I can reuse it the following year. I stack my flower pots in the garage, putting a few newspaper pieces in between any of my ceramic pots so that they don't crack.
I do keep a few perennials in my pots over the winter, most of these are trailers like creeping jenny. I take these pots and move them up against the house for the winter months, trying to shield them from some of the winter weather. Surprising to me after the first winter of doing this, my creeping jenny has always made it through the winter like this and served as a great foundation plant in many pots each spring as I continue to divide it and spread it around.
2. Rake out flower beds: This job stinks, no other way to put it. I live on a heavily wooded lot which means lots and lots of raking. However, I just don't have the patience to rake everything in the fall and have perfect flower beds all winter long. I focus on the front yard, rake what I can and sometimes purposefully leave a little bit of the leaf cover behind to serve as "insulation" for my plants and also as organic matter. In the spring, I'll get back out there and thoroughly rake, but after a long winter, this is a welcomed job.
3. Yard Rejuvenation: Very late summer and early Fall is a great time to plant grass, but since we are past that point this year, its just time to keep the leaves off the grass so that it can breath through the winter and also be ready to spring back into action in the coming months. I also like to use a winterizer on our grass in mid-November. I feel like this just gives the grass a little bit of pick me up come early spring. In reality, it does strengthen the roots, keeps your grass a little greener a little longer as winter sets in, and bring on the bright green spring grass a little earlier. All things that matter for me!
4. Shrubbery/Tree trimming: Before it gets too cold, you can still trim your shrubs. I have a few burning bushes out front that need to be trimmed each fall right before the winter sets in or else they drive me completely crazy as I look outside in the cold months and see these few random spikes sticking up. Since we are now in late fall, just keep your trimming to what is really needed; wait for the spring to do a major overhaul on any bushes or trees.
5. Clean Up the Perennial Beds: This is actually really easy. I usually let my perennials like Black Eyed Susans and Cone Flowers go for awhile as the flowers die, thinking that the birds appreciate the seeds from these plants. I don't cut these back until early December, if at all, some years I just don't get to this and its not a big deal. Its easy to cut these back again in the spring before the new growth starts up.
6. Annual Flower Clean up: Another easy job is getting rid of all those Annuals in the ground. I really don't have too many of these any more and try to put as many perennials in the ground as possible and just keep annuals in pots, but I do have a few. At this point of the year, they easily pull right out of the ground and go to the compost. Rake the area a little bit and it is ready for winter.
7. Mulch: Some area of your yard may need a little bit of extra cover for the winter. More delicate plants and young trees will appreciate the extra blanket of warmth!
Each year is different and the weather and time dictate a great deal to what actually gets done in our yard before winter and what waits until spring. Don't stress about and focus on what keeps your plants healthy and happy through the winter months!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Things I am loving right now!
Here are a few things I am totally loving right now!
1. Pinterest: This is the coolest social media site. Its an online pin board; think digital bulletin board that collects all of your thoughts, inspirations, etc while sharing with others. I love seeing other people's ideas, crafts, and recipes especially with the holidays coming and my desire to turn my house into a winter wonderland.
2. Young House Love blog: A wonderful home blog by a couple that are amazing DIYers. There is so much information in this blog it would be overwhelming if weren't for the organization of the blog. You almost can't call it a blog, there is just too much information here. Its more like This Old House and Martha Stewart's love child with a completely easy to read instruction manual.
3. Halloween candy: Need I say more. Its November 1st and I bought about 2 1/2 bags of too much Halloween candy. Hopefully my jeans will still fit next week.......
1. Pinterest: This is the coolest social media site. Its an online pin board; think digital bulletin board that collects all of your thoughts, inspirations, etc while sharing with others. I love seeing other people's ideas, crafts, and recipes especially with the holidays coming and my desire to turn my house into a winter wonderland.
2. Young House Love blog: A wonderful home blog by a couple that are amazing DIYers. There is so much information in this blog it would be overwhelming if weren't for the organization of the blog. You almost can't call it a blog, there is just too much information here. Its more like This Old House and Martha Stewart's love child with a completely easy to read instruction manual.
3. Halloween candy: Need I say more. Its November 1st and I bought about 2 1/2 bags of too much Halloween candy. Hopefully my jeans will still fit next week.......
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Gearing up for the big 3!
We just hosted our second son's 1st birthday party last weekend and it was wonderful. Exactly what I think a first birthday should be about -- the kids and the craziness they bring to your life. Lots of friends and family celebrated with us and little Tommy certainly knew he was loved in a big way. Now, my oldest is about to turn 3 and party planning is back into full swing here.
I'm feeling a bit more pressure with the 3rd birthday because I think that Sammy may actually remember this one as he gets older. My earliest memories are from when I was about 3 years old and moving into the house that I really grew up in. I remember checking out the bedrooms, the yellow carpet that my mom hated, and how it seemed so big to me. I also remember a lot of my birthday parties. We always had them at home and my mom pulled everything together from the Breakfast with Lea party to the 50's themed dance party with a bubble gum chewing contest.
As I start to construct my cardboard box trains (more on this later) for Sammy's train themed party, I have this lingering feeling of expectation hanging over me. I hope I can create memories like my mom did for me and give Sammy a great party. Wish me luck!!
I'm feeling a bit more pressure with the 3rd birthday because I think that Sammy may actually remember this one as he gets older. My earliest memories are from when I was about 3 years old and moving into the house that I really grew up in. I remember checking out the bedrooms, the yellow carpet that my mom hated, and how it seemed so big to me. I also remember a lot of my birthday parties. We always had them at home and my mom pulled everything together from the Breakfast with Lea party to the 50's themed dance party with a bubble gum chewing contest.
As I start to construct my cardboard box trains (more on this later) for Sammy's train themed party, I have this lingering feeling of expectation hanging over me. I hope I can create memories like my mom did for me and give Sammy a great party. Wish me luck!!
Friday, October 28, 2011
New love....Spray paint!
I love spray paint. It is a new found love but certainly one that will be around for a long time. I used to think of spray paint as something that was used for art projects and that's it. And then we inherited some wicker chairs that needed a little sprucing up. Armed with a few cans of white spray paint, I transformed my front porch into a chic oasis fit for the Hamptons.
But I didn't stop there, I started to use spray paint for much more then wicker. The application is super easy, it dries fast, and it is cheap. And the options in terms of finishes and colors are pretty extensive too.
My latest project was an old lamp from Restoration Hardware whose paint on the base had chipped off, but the shape and overall look of lamp remained intact. Two quick coats of spray paint and I had myself a brand new lamp. The paint I like to use is by Rustoleum. For this project I used a textured paint that gave the lamp a hammered finish. It not only looks hammered but feels that way too. Basically, its awesome.
Now I just need to work on the shade and then I will be in business!
But I didn't stop there, I started to use spray paint for much more then wicker. The application is super easy, it dries fast, and it is cheap. And the options in terms of finishes and colors are pretty extensive too.
My latest project was an old lamp from Restoration Hardware whose paint on the base had chipped off, but the shape and overall look of lamp remained intact. Two quick coats of spray paint and I had myself a brand new lamp. The paint I like to use is by Rustoleum. For this project I used a textured paint that gave the lamp a hammered finish. It not only looks hammered but feels that way too. Basically, its awesome.
Now I just need to work on the shade and then I will be in business!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Fall means.....Bulb Planting!!
Each summer I get the Breck's catalog with such anticipation. I love seeing all the new flowers they are offering, how many I can get at a steal price, and what will withstand my very aggressive deer population.
Spring and summer blooming bulbs can be planted all fall, right up until Thanksgiving in Southeastern Pennsylvania, so don't feel and pressure to get them into the ground asap. You want to get them into the ground before it freezes, giving them time for their roots to establish before winter.
Bulbs are a wonderful flower, you plant them once and they come back. There is little to no maintenance and the price is fairly inexpensive too. They like well drained soil (meaning they shouldn't be planted where water pools) and a balanced pH in the soil that can feed the bulbs. If you are worried about your soil pH, you can have it tested at some garden centers or you can always throw in some compost while you are planting to enrich the soil.
Most spring bulbs like daffodils like sun, but remember since these bulbs bloom before the trees, they can be planted almost anywhere in your yard and still get a lot of sun. Its really nice to have a bright flower in a spot of your yard that typically can not grow most flowers because of the heavy shade.
I have still only lived in my house just over a year and the previous owner didn't plant anything in the yard (such boring people!!!) so I am slowly adding more and more bulbs each season. I wish I could plant hundreds at once, but the cost and finding the time to do it are both really hard to come by.
Last fall I was about 37 weeks pregnant when we moved and I planted 40 bulbs with my mom the following weekend. It was hard work then with a giant belly, but I was thankful after the long winter to have some life in my back yard come spring. Tackling the rest of my hilly, rocky, weed infested, poison ivy factory back yard is a whole other story!
When they do bloom, take a picture, not just to share with others but also for you to have as a map of where things were the past year and blank spots that need to be filled in this year. Here is a quick snap shot from my kitchen window from last spring, there are more bulbs spread across the hill side and it really was a pretty sight. But......
if I want to end up with a back yard that looks more like this:
I need to develop some patience and think of this project as more of a 5 year plan then something that is completed in one growing season. Happy Planting!
Spring and summer blooming bulbs can be planted all fall, right up until Thanksgiving in Southeastern Pennsylvania, so don't feel and pressure to get them into the ground asap. You want to get them into the ground before it freezes, giving them time for their roots to establish before winter.
Bulbs are a wonderful flower, you plant them once and they come back. There is little to no maintenance and the price is fairly inexpensive too. They like well drained soil (meaning they shouldn't be planted where water pools) and a balanced pH in the soil that can feed the bulbs. If you are worried about your soil pH, you can have it tested at some garden centers or you can always throw in some compost while you are planting to enrich the soil.
Most spring bulbs like daffodils like sun, but remember since these bulbs bloom before the trees, they can be planted almost anywhere in your yard and still get a lot of sun. Its really nice to have a bright flower in a spot of your yard that typically can not grow most flowers because of the heavy shade.
I have still only lived in my house just over a year and the previous owner didn't plant anything in the yard (such boring people!!!) so I am slowly adding more and more bulbs each season. I wish I could plant hundreds at once, but the cost and finding the time to do it are both really hard to come by.
Last fall I was about 37 weeks pregnant when we moved and I planted 40 bulbs with my mom the following weekend. It was hard work then with a giant belly, but I was thankful after the long winter to have some life in my back yard come spring. Tackling the rest of my hilly, rocky, weed infested, poison ivy factory back yard is a whole other story!
When they do bloom, take a picture, not just to share with others but also for you to have as a map of where things were the past year and blank spots that need to be filled in this year. Here is a quick snap shot from my kitchen window from last spring, there are more bulbs spread across the hill side and it really was a pretty sight. But......
if I want to end up with a back yard that looks more like this:
I need to develop some patience and think of this project as more of a 5 year plan then something that is completed in one growing season. Happy Planting!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Epic Baking Failure Last Week
I really enjoy baking. I like the whole process from beginning to end, especially the end process when I get to taste what I have created. Usually it is a yummy creation, something that I have been craving and have truly needed in my diet.
With the fall weather now upon us, I truly needed to make pumpkin bread. I typically make this recipe about 6-8 times throughout the fall/early winter season without any problems. So you can imagine my huge disappointment when I realized that my inaugural pumpkin bread was a complete and utter failure.
I forgot one very simple ingredient that is so easy to forget and so unforgiving when you do so.....baking soda.
My pumpkin bread takes about an hour to cook even with the convection setting on the oven. You can imagine the wonderful smell throughout the house and the anticipation of taking that first bite. Did I also mention that I was not only making one batch of bread, but two. One for us at home at devour and the other for the Mom's Tea at my son's preschool the next morning.
At 10:34pm, I pulled the pumpkin bread from the oven and thought it looked a little different to me, but just thought it was because I had not made it in months. Boy was I wrong!!! I sliced into it, had a cup of tea ready to drink as I inhaled it, and then it happened. I realized my epic failure would cost me two loaves of pumpkin bread and much needed sleep as I stayed up late baking a new, correctly made loaf for the Mom's Tea in the morning.
Lesson learned. Always double check your recipe, especially when baking soda is involved.
With the fall weather now upon us, I truly needed to make pumpkin bread. I typically make this recipe about 6-8 times throughout the fall/early winter season without any problems. So you can imagine my huge disappointment when I realized that my inaugural pumpkin bread was a complete and utter failure.
I forgot one very simple ingredient that is so easy to forget and so unforgiving when you do so.....baking soda.
My pumpkin bread takes about an hour to cook even with the convection setting on the oven. You can imagine the wonderful smell throughout the house and the anticipation of taking that first bite. Did I also mention that I was not only making one batch of bread, but two. One for us at home at devour and the other for the Mom's Tea at my son's preschool the next morning.
At 10:34pm, I pulled the pumpkin bread from the oven and thought it looked a little different to me, but just thought it was because I had not made it in months. Boy was I wrong!!! I sliced into it, had a cup of tea ready to drink as I inhaled it, and then it happened. I realized my epic failure would cost me two loaves of pumpkin bread and much needed sleep as I stayed up late baking a new, correctly made loaf for the Mom's Tea in the morning.
Lesson learned. Always double check your recipe, especially when baking soda is involved.
Monday, October 24, 2011
1st Birthday Construction Party
1st Birthday
Construction Party!
Having two very active little boys and a very full list of attendees, I knew that my son's 1st birthday party would have to have some action in it, thus, a Construction Party was born! I tried to keep it simple, easy, and inexpensive.
Decorations included black table cloths with yellow duct tape down the center to create roads, soccer cones serving as construction cones, road signs, caution tape, and borrowed trucks from the boys vast collection.
By far the "entertainment" was the hit of the evening. I created a nail and hammer station made from styrofoam and golf tees. I borrowed this idea from my son's preschool, so I can't take all the credit. It was genius. The kids played with this for a solid hour, maybe even more. I had two long pieces of styrofoam from Home Depot, 100 golf tees, and 10 hammers. The kids went to work and just pounded away! In addition to the nail and hammer station, I also had hard hats for everyone and stickers for them to decorate their hat. Both activities really kept the kids busy and were incredibly easy for me to do as well.
For goodie bags, again I kept it really simple, ordering things from Oriental Trading like the construction rubber duckie, tool bath squirts, and dump truck stationery boxes. I loaded them all into my son's wheel barrel, hoping no child would take off through house with it!
And the party would not be complete without a beautiful Dump Truck cake and of course, a smash cake for the 1 year old. It was a great success and lots of fun. Now onto planning the 3 year old birthday party for next month........
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