Easter Baking

I love Easter.  

It's the start of a new season and everything feels fresh and new.

I also believe its the season of renewal and being alive.

Do you have any Easter traditions?  

We always look forward to brunching with my family 

and an Easter service at church.  If I wasn't running around 

cooking like a mad woman this season I would have totally 

made this cake!  Isn't it adorable?!  

If you are looking for some Easter baked treats here 

are a couple I would highly recommend:

* This Champagne Cake is a go-to favorite

*A Cinnamon Roll Tower is a great alternative to plated cinnamon rolls

* A healthy Sweet Potato Muffin

* My favorite recipe is this Baked Oatmeal

I hope you all have a wonderful and 

hope filled Easter 

xo

{Style Me Pretty}

Superbowl Snacks

The Monday after a big loss is never a good day.  

Can you believe that ending?!  Ugh.  

Anyway,  I wanted to share with you my fail-proof 

Superbowl snack, or recover treat: Carmel Apple Nachos.

Its simple and delicious.  

The recipe can be found here.

Did you make any good snacks for the big game?

Now I'm going to go mourn... it hurts but there is always next year.

G  o   H  a  w  k  s  !

{photo and recipe from Butter, with a side of Bread}

Resolutions.

This year I'm going to make resolutions I can actually keep. 

Usually its something vague like be healthier.  

Yes, I'm healthier in some ways but am I overall healthier?  Probably not.

Below are my practical 2015 resolutions:

1. Be happy and inspire others to smile more
*see link here and here

2. Workout more (2-3 times a week ideally)

3. Cook more with whole foods and eat fewer processed foods

4. Create more simplicity in my home

5. Clean under the bed more... and probably under the fridge. Gross.

6. Clean my makeup brushes more.

7. Charge my Clarisonic and use it more 

(why is it so hard to remember to charge that thing...)

8. Put more effort and action into my passions

9. Don't take things personally - it's time to toughen up!

10.  Simply enjoy this new year!

Happy 2015!
xo

{sparkler photo from here     gold dress photo from here}

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

I wish you all a wonderful start to your Christmas and holiday celebrations.  

Justin and I are traveling around Washington and Oregon to spend
some quality time with our families. 

I am looking forward to lounging in my new fleece tunic and
eating my mom's sugar cookies and sipping on wine.

I hope you get to do the same!
 

Merry Christmas xo

{photo and styling by me}

Wreaths, Garland, and a Tree

I love my little apartment a lot.

So decorating it for the holidays is something I look forward to all year long.

This weekend Justin and I are going to pick out a wreath, garland, and a small tree.

The photo above is not my apartment but it looks a little similar.  

My favorite piece of Christmas decor is the fresh garland 

I hang over the doorway into our breakfast nook just like the photo.

I hope to post some photos of festive apartment soon.

xo

{photo from Libby Brittain}

Christmas Wish List

This year my wish list is a little practical.  

Things that I can't justify splurging on myself but I could actually use.  

Below are the links to everything on my wish list but more than anything 

I want a joyous holiday season with my family and friends.  

Its what matters most to me.  

I hope you enjoy!

1. This watch is so pretty.  

I'm not usually a watch person but this one is gorgeous!

2. This coral sweater is sure to brighten up a grey winter day

3. Slippers.  My feet get cold and these would be sure to keep them toasty.

4. A new hairdryer that won't dry my hair out.  

I love my mom's and look forward to using it each time I visit home.

5. This colorful necklace is definitely on the top of my list.  

I love everything about it!

6. A camel colored coat.  With a belt.  

This one fits the exact description of what I've been searching for... 

at a price I can totally get behind.

7. A monogrammed pajama shirt.

8. This pretty candle.  

Wouldn't this just glow in a dim room?!

9. This amazing perfume.

xo

Happy Thanksgiving

I wish you and your family and friends a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I'm going on a short road trip so I'll be taking a blog break. 

We'll see you back here first thing next week.

xo

{photo by The Sweetest Occasion}

Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes

This year we are going to Portland for Thanksgiving.

I'm taking a little piece of my family's thanksgiving with me: 

My Aunt's Sweet Potatoes

Below is the not-so-secret family recipe.

Aunt Carol's Sweet Potatoes

 3 1/2 lb yams or sweet potatoes

4-6 Tablespoon butter, melted

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup milk

1 cup dark brown sugar

4 tablespoon butter, softened

4 tablespoon flour

1 cup chopped pecans

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Bake yams or potatoes until tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours then let them cool

Increase oven temp to 375 degrees

Scoop pulp from yams.  Place in lage bowl.

Mash until smooth or use a food processor

Whisk melted butter and eggs into yams.

In small saucepan, heat the milk.

Stir hot milk and 1/2 cup of the sugar into the yams

Spread mixture into buttered 11 x 7 dish.

Mix remaining 1/2 cup sugar, the butter, and the flour until crumbly.  

Stir in remaining ingredients.

Sprinkle over yams and bake until topping is crusty (about 30 min)

Do you have a family favorite?

{photo from Baked in AZ}

Holiday Sparkle

With a couple weddings and few holiday parties

I am in the market for something sweet and sparkly to wear. 

Below are some of my favorite holiday picks from ModCloth.

Do you  have any favorite holiday dresses?

Dresses found here: 1   2   3   4    5   6

{photo above from Patterson Maker}

Party Planning

When I haven't been blogging I've been party planning.  

The husband and I throw our friends a party each year in lieu of a Christmas gift.  

This year I'm going all out.  We do drinks and snacks 

at our place followed by a night of zoo lights.  

This year the theme is blue, gold, and animals.  

I can't wait to share the after photos. 

xo

{Photos above: Ruffled, Artful Desperado, The Sweetest Occasion, Taste of Home}