Chocolate Peppermint Schnapps Cake
If I was to rename this blog, I think I would call it Baking With Booze. I mean, every time I do, we do have a pretty darn happy home! Last year I finally made my aunt’s Whiskey Cake and wrote about it in a blatant attempt to drool all over the Internet. When the Junk Whisperer visited me over Christmas, we brainstormed other ways we could adapt the recipe while daintily eating bites of Whiskey Cake and practicing portion control. Just kidding. The only thing that was true about that sentence was the brainstorming and the Christmas visit. She went home and made a Rum Cake, which I hear was…
LEGO Valentine’s Day Cards – Free Printable
On Wednesday, I shared the writing-themed Valentine’s Day Cards my daughter is handing out this year. Now, it’s time to share my son’s Valentine’s Day cards. The day I was working on this post, this picture popped up in my Facebook feed from 3 years ago when my son was 2 years old. I left it in all of its unedited glory. Did you laugh out loud and spit tea on your computer screen too? It took me three years, but I am finally able to look back on that clean-up and laugh! My favorite Facebook comment on that picture was from my friend Christine who said, “it’s not easy being…
Write This Way Valentine Card Printable
Last weekend my husband, daughter and son were bonding over some sort of computer game. It’s what they do. Picture them all sitting in a row, almost shoulder to shoulder, each playing the same game on their own computers. All of the sudden, my daughter realizes there is instant messaging “chat” functionality on this game. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “Now we don’t have to talk to each other!” I just…I can’t even…I… Let’s just say it is a little ironic that she picked a communication-themed Valentine’s Day card. My brain is still processing all the hope we are hanging on this next generation, so I can’t remember if the idea or the trinket came…
Gold and Turquoise Wood Arrows
Now, I don’t want you guys to take this the wrong way, but I’ve been mulling an idea over. I really think that instead of streets of gold, Heaven should be filled with the aisles of Hobby Lobby. Furthermore, the 40% off coupons could be replaced with 100% off coupons. Imagine it… The last time I was there (Hobby Lobby, not Heaven), I was on a mission to find something that could pass as a Valentine’s Day decoration, but wouldn’t actually BE a Valentine’s decoration. Do you get what I mean? Yeah, me neither. But I knew it would all become crystal clear the minute I saw the thing that I didn’t know…
White Chocolate Cashew Cookies
Every good cookie needs an equally good story. This one has touches of Little House on the Prairie, Desperate Housewives and Dirty Jobs. Doesn’t that sound appetizing? I used to be in marketing. It all started with a giant jar of UNSALTED cashews. That’s right. I accidentally purchased unsalted instead of salted cashews. How was I to know what would transpire after that? The humans I live with were displeased. In all fairness, they are also displeased with baths, vegetables, bedtime, wearing shoes and any days that start with school. But, back to the cashews. My husband decided to dip the cashews in Nutella. I decided to make White Chocolate Cashew Cookies. I’m…
Printable Valentine’s Cards for Kids
I’m working on Valentine’s Day cards for the kiddos to hand out to their classmates. It’s quite a process in deciding what type of card each child wants to hand out. It reminds me of my most favorite time of year when my kids go about picking their Halloween costumes. Without fail that process goes something like this… Child: I want to be a (insert any random character here). 5 seconds later… Child: No, I want to be (insert a combination of random characters here). Me: So, you want to be a Storm Trooper My Little Pony Ghost? Child: YES! That’s exactly what I want! 5 seconds later… Child: No, I just want…
Paper Arrows
I’m on a Valentine craft roll! If you call two similar crafts a roll. On Friday I showed you my Valentine plant stakes. In that same crafty surge I also made some arrows. These came about as a result of my weekly sojourn to Target. I always walk through their dollar section and decide I need EVERYTHING. Then I decide that would be a little excessive, so I walk away with nothing. I’m all about balance. This time I took away an idea. Those, my friend, are free. I thought these clothespins were cute. Probably because they were embellished with felt. Felt is a close second on my list of things I’m…
Heart Plant Stakes
Valentine’s Day is a month away. In truth, it’s not my most favorite holiday. I like the sentiment, I just think we should let people know we love them a little more regularly than when Hallmark tells us to. That said, if my husband wants to shower me with gifts, I won’t turn them down! Also, my kids love Valentine’s Day, so I’m getting into the spirit of things – on my terms. First up, flowers. I treated myself to some happy yellow roses from Trader Joe’s. $5 in that cute little tin! Don’t mind if I do! Yellow roses remind me of sunshine and definitely brighten up a dreary winter day.…
Gingersnaps with White Chocolate Drizzle
I hope your New Year’s Resolution for healthier eating included a gingersnap exception. It’s the prudent thing to do. A little bit of indulgence helps one stay on the straight and narrow. Or so I imagine. These gingersnaps have a bit of spice and are nice and chewy. I actually already shared the original recipe and drooled over them here. I didn’t really think they needed the chocolate drizzle. It’s like apple pie needing vanilla ice cream. It doesn’t need it, but man, does it push the gluttony flavor experience over the top. That’s what the chocolate drizzle does for the cookies. Does anyone else ever see those cookie decorating…
Tips for Visiting the Dominican Republic
We had the pleasure of visiting the Dominican Republic over Christmas. It was a real hardship, but someone had to do it! Don’t hate me right now. 😉 If you are from the United States and planning a trip to the Dominican Republic, here is some useful information we discovered during our visit. Beach at Catalonia Gran Dominicus La Romana near Bayahibe 1. Currency It was unclear before we left how much currency we needed to exchange into Dominican pesos. Most sites recommended having a mixture of US dollars and Dominican pesos – especially small bills for tipping. We ended up exchanging $100 before we left the U.S. and received…
