Making Paczki for Fat Tuesday

Raspberry preserves, Lemon Curd, and Vanilla Custard filled Paczki

Last year we started a new family tradition—making Paczki for Fat Tuesday! For those of you unfamiliar with this tradition, historically, Polish Catholics, the day or week before Lent begins, indulge in these rich donuts made with a sweet egg & milk dough and filled with custard and jam. Happily, this has become an American tradition throughout the US. Though while I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio which has a very large Polish population, I don’t recall eating Paczki before I moved to Michigan (but Brock tells me otherwise). For history buffs, here’s a little background via Michigan.org.

Our local grocery stores start selling them weeks before Lent. They’re fine, but I knew that homemade would be a fun project and more authentic than what we can find in our small town. After scouring the internet for a good recipe, I landed on this one from Serious Eats. I appreciate that they recreated donuts from the US Paczki capital, Hamtramck, MI, where Fat Tuesday is called “Paczki Day” and local Polish bakeries have lines out the door selling these sweet, dense filled donuts.

Below is an adaptation of the Serious Eats recipe. Having never made donuts before, I worried that it would be complicated. And what I found it that the process is more time consuming than complicated because there are three different rise times (for the yeast starter, for the dough, and then for the donuts before you fry them). This is a great team or family project. It’s nice to have someone frying, rolling in powdered sugar and filling the paczki. Bottom line—it’s definitely takes some time, but, they are so worth it! Store bought can’t compare with homemade. Note: I do think they are best eaten within 48 hours, and are truly amazing the first day.

We filled the Paczki with three different types of filling. My homemade raspberry preserves, a basic custard filling (I went with a pretty simple custard made from cornstarch. It’s good and not nearly as time consuming as making custard from egg yolks), and a lemon curd that I had on hand from Trader Joe’s. I have also made my own lemon custard and lemon preserves which is great if you have the time.

Paczki Dough Recipe (adapted from Serious Eats)

Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk (pretty sure I only had 2% so I substituted a 1/2 c. of half/half)

4 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast (2 standard sized envelopes)

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

5 cups all purpose flour

4 egg yolks plus one whole egg

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 quarts canola oil for frying

1 1/2 cups favorite custard or preserves (I used a mix of raspberry preserves, vanilla custard, and lemon curd)

1 cup powdered sugar for dusting

Step 1:   

• Heat 2 c. whole milk to 110-115 degree and dissolve yeast in milk

• Add 1 TBSP Sugar & 2 Cups of Flour

• Mix until consistency of pancake batter 

• Cover and let rise in a warm spot (30 minutes or so)

Raspberry, Lemon Curd, and Custard filled Paczki

Step 2:       

• Combine egg and yolks in a medium bowl

• Whisk until light and frothy (about 4 minutes)

• Whisk in 1/2 c of sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla 

 Step 3:        

• Slowly stir cooled melted butter (1/4 c) into yeast starter 

• Slowly add egg mixture until just combined

• Fit mixer with dough hook

• Stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time until a soft dough comes together. 

• Dough will be very sticky! 

• Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hr.

Step 4:

•  Turn out dough onto a floured surface

• Dust surface of dough with flour & punch dough to about 1/2”

• Cut out doughnuts with 2 or 3” biscuit cutter

• Transfer rounds to parchment lined baking sheets 

• Cover with a clean towel and let rise to double in size (about 30 minutes)

 Step 5.         

•  Pour 2 quarts of canola into a dutch oven

• Heat oil to 360 degrees (I use a candy thermometer

• Carefully drop doughnuts in 1 at a time (approximately 3-4 at a time)

• Cook until one side is golden brown and flip  (*Note that they continue to brown a bit as they cool)

• Remove from oil and cool on a wire rack

 Step 6.         

•  Toss cooled doughnuts in a shallow bowl filed with powdered sugar

• Fill your pastry with your favorite preserves 

• I suggest eating the first day—you can store for a few days them but they taste best within 48 hrs.

Finally, I there is video of me making the Paczki saved to my Insta stories highlight reel. And I would love to hear if you have any Fat Tuesday traditions. Please share!

Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes

Molasses cookies—love this recipe, and I’m not usually a spice cookie fan! Photography: Rachel Cuthbert Photography

It’s December 22, and I’m finally ready to begin baking. I like to save my Christmas baking until I’ve finished all of my holiday shopping, and I’m ready to hang out in the kitchen, listen to Christmas music or play a well loved holiday movie in the background. These are some of my favorite moments right before the flurry of relatives & friends descend for Christmas. And I do have a very specific repertoire that is in my rotation: Italian knot cookies from this cookbook, lemon drop cookies, pizzelles, chocolate and vanilla biscotti, thumbprint cookies with raspberry filling & Russian teacakes are a few of my favorites!

The following molasses cookie has become a new holiday favorite. And honestly, I’ve never been a huge fan of gingerbread or spice cookies, but this molasses cookie is delicious. It’s from one of my favorite baking cookbooks, “A Collection of Mrs. R’s Old Fashioned Recipes.” Mrs. R Old Fashioned Bakery was located in Pentwater, MI, and when Mrs. R. closed shop, in 2014, she compiled some of her favorites in a spiral bound book that is unfortunately no longer in print. I did, however, get permission to publish the following recipe:

Molasses Cookies

(reprinted with permission)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment, combine:

• 2 cups granulated sugar

• 1 1/3 cups canola oil

• 1/2 cup molasses (recipe suggests using a brand with a mild taste, but of course this is a preference. Adjust accordingly)

• 2 eggs

• 4 tsp. baking soda

• 1 tsp. ground cloves

• 1 tsp. ground ginger

• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp. salt (scant)

Mix above ingredients well in your mixer. While mixer is still turning, add:

• 4 cups flour (one cup at a time)

When thoroughly mixed, form into balls (about the size of ping-pong balls) and roll in a small bowl of granulated sugar before placing on a greased or parchment papered cookie sheet. Leave the cookies in a ball. Do not flatten.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the tops of the cookies begin to crack. Cool for about 5 minutes before removing from the cookie sheet onto a cooling rack. If cookies are too thick, take away a couple of tablespoons. Don’t be afraid to “tweak” your cookies to fit your preference.

Makes about 30 cookies that are 4 inches in diameter.

If you’ve followed along for any time, you know that my Italian heritage deeply influences my cooking & baking. For the holidays, I favor more traditional Italian confections. The following are a handful of links to recipes, cookbooks, & cookie inspiration:

From left to right: Lemon Drop cookies, Chocolate Almond Biscotti, Cranberry Nut Biscotti, Grandma’s Pizzelles, Italian Knot Cookies Photography: Rachel Cuthbert Photography

• My grandmother’s pizzelle recipe.

• Sweet Maria’s Italian Cookie Tray. This was gifted to me by my best friend, Monica, as a wedding gift. She’s my Italian counterpart, and knows the importance of a good, Italian cookie tray! In particular, I love the Italian Knot Cookies, Lemon Drop Cookies and Chocolate Butter Cookies. My aunt also makes her Pignoli recipe from this cookbook. Delish! Finally, you can check out a few of her recipes via her bakeries website—the Lemon Drop cookie recipe is one of my favorites.

What are some of your favorite holiday cookies? Please share! Wishing you a wonderful holiday as you enjoy time with your friends and fami!y. Buon Natale! Jen

Last minute gift ideas -- for under $30!

A few last minute favorites—perfect for stocking stuffers, hostess gifts or simply a gift under the tree!

Earlier this week, a friend was asking me for last minute gift suggestions. She wanted to know what was this year’s must-have gift for under $25. I’m not sure if I have the corner on the market of what are “must-have” gifts, but I decided I should put together a few of my favorite things from 2019 (I’ve loved several of these for a few years!). Most of these gifts are well under $25, but the reed diffusers are closer to $30, so… With that said, here are my favorites under $30!

• PF Candle Reed Diffusers.  I first found these at one of my favorite home stores, Stoffer Home, in Grand Rapids, MI.  So if you’re ever in GR, it’s definitely worth the time to stop in—they have so many beautifully curated items, and at a good price point.  You can also find them on Amazon. I’ve purchased the Black Fig and also the Teakwood & Tobacco.

• Voluspa Candles. (I usually buy mine at Anthropologie, but also found them on Amazon, Nordstrom, and various boutiques.  Though I often wait until Anthro is having a sale and then I stock up. Another favorite is the the Capri Blue candle that Anthropologie has sold for years.  It’s a classic!

• Hand towels & Hand Soap.  Again, I found this hand towel at Stoffer Design in Grand Rapids. It looks like they’re out of stock online, but you should definitely stop into the store if you’re in Grand Rapids (I found the same one at this online store, but I’ve never purchased from here so I can’t fully recommend). I recently gifted it along with Mrs. Meyer’s dish and handsoap.  A few other hand soaps that I like to gift— Michel’s hand soap (I pick that up at MaryBeth’s in Hillsdale and Williams Sonoma hand soap). 

• This mascara & eyeliner I’m always on the lookout for a few drugstore brands to incorporate into my makeup routine.  The eyeliner was recommended to me by my friend, Ingrid—and she knows makeup!  She was the first person I reached out to when I had to do a few TV morning shows for Tree Classics to help me elevate my makeup game. And I first discovered the mascara via Sherry Petersik of Young House Love fame.  I’ve been using it for months & really like it. Best part—they’re under $15 and you can pick up at Walmart or Walgreens. I also use their eyelash primer and really like it. They would make great stocking stuffers!

• These earrings (JCrew Factory). A classic earring that you can wear daily—and they look spendier than they actually cost!  I just bought a second pair because I have a problem with losing earrings. If you want to make more of statement, grab these fun earrings at Target—love them!  Would not have payed much attention if I just saw them in the store, but my friend, Ingrid (my official style consultant!), wore them recently, and she received complements all day!  Against dark hair in particular, they are standout! 

• This book (A Praying Life).  Brock and I have gifted a countless number of these this year.  It’s that good!  What I appreciate about the author is that he gets that life is hard and that it’s easy to become cynical in our approach to prayer.  He gives amazing insight and hands-on advice on how to reassess & reinvigorate our prayer life.  

That’s my 2019 roundup. Please share some of your favorite gifts for under $30. I’m always looking to add to my repertoire! : )

Celebrating Christmas with the Family & Tree Classics

Jessie’s living room decked with Tree Classics 7.5ft. Kennedy Fir Narrow Artificial Christmas Tree with Quickset LED Clear lights, Wreath & Garland, Tree Skirt, Silver Berry Holiday Picks, and Silver & Gold Ornament Collection

One of the joys of working with Tree Classics is their commitment to celebrating holiday and family. And gratefully, I get the opportunity to enter other people’s lives and spread a bit of Christmas cheer.  This year I asked Tree Classics if we could decorate the house of a friend of ours, Jess, for the Christmas with the Family campaign.  Recently diagnosed with breast cancer, she undergoes surgery in December.  With a husband and two little guys at home, I knew it would be a small comfort & joy to have the house prepared beforehand. 

She picked the pre-lit Kennedy fir with Quickset LED Clear lights (one of my favorites!), and the accompanying wreath & garland. After seeing a few of her holiday inspiration pictures, I chose the Tree Classics, Shimmering Snow Faux Fur Tree Skirt, Festive Holiday Picks in silver and two ornament sets from the silver and gold ornament collection.

Decorating Jess’s house was definitely a team effort from start to finish. Rachel and I had about 4 hours to get the tree, garland, and wreath set up and all the decor in place. Many hands certainly do make for light work, and between me, Rachel, Jess and her friend, Jill, we decked the halls in record time.

So much of decorating for the holidays (and in general) is arranging the things you love and adding layers. Jess already had some beautiful pieces, so Rachel and I quickly got to work setting up the greenery and adding touches of Christmas to Jess’s armoire, seating area, and front entry.

From Tree Classics, 7.5ft. Kennedy Fir Narrow Artificial Christmas Tree with Quickset LED Clear lights, Silver Berry Holiday Picks, and Silver & Gold Ornament Collection. Ribbon from Walmart, gold beads from World Market (past season), and gold beaded garland from local Hillsdale boutique, MaryBeth’s

From Tree Classics: 7.5ft. Kennedy Fir Narrow Artificial Christmas Tree with Quickset LED Clear lights,Tree Skirt, Silver Berry Holiday Picks, and Silver & Gold Ornament Collection, wrapping paper from Target’s 2019, sugar paper, collection.

Rachel and I pulled in a few soft touches & signage to create a welcoming entry. On the landing, we used a mirror as the base and added the 24” Kennedy fir wreath. Mirrors, layers, texture are a great combination. Wreath and garland from Tree Classics. Pillows on steps from Target, 2019 Holiday Collection. Knit Stockings, Target 2019.

Holiday greens, sprigs of berry, and a touch of copper add holiday cheer to Jess’s entry.

Based on Jess’s living room decor and her inspiration photos, I pulled in some soft silver, gold, and just a touch of red to add a spark of color.

While Christmas is so much more than decorations or a tree—somehow the beauty of lit greens, our favorite cherished stockings and ornaments, music playing, a fire crackling, cooking & baking, giving in abundance, and ultimately gathering with those we love, all blended together in December creates beautiful memories. A big thank you to Jess for allowing us to trim her lovely home, and to Tree Classics for sponsoring this post. And definitely check out these fellow bloggers who are sharing their family holiday traditions and decor throughout the week!

Excited to share holiday decor & traditions with these fellow bloggers! Sharon of Sweet Honey Cottage @sweethoneycottage; Kaitlyn of Fresh and Vintage Living @freshandvintageliving; Romelia of Life Through Mama Eyes, @lifethroughmamaeyes, Caitlyn of Caitlyn Neier, @caitlynneier

Source list:

7.5ft. Kennedy Fir Narrow Artificial Christmas Tree with Quickset LED Clear lights 

Wreath & Garland

Tree Skirt

Silver Berry Holiday Picks

Silver & Gold Ornament Collection

A Friendsgiving Menu

Roasted chicken & bread salad via Smitten Kitchen, velvety rich mashed potatoes via Martha Stewart, cranberry sauce via Williams Sonoma, and pumpkin cheesecake via Williams Sonoma | RACHEL CUTHBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

Because my birthday usually falls the week of Thanksgiving (though not this year because the holiday is so late), we often begin the festivities before Thanksgiving. And while we love celebrating with family and all the traditional fixings, we also love celebrating with our friends. This year, we have close friends visiting the weekend before Thanksgiving. They’re English, and back in the 1990s we introduced them to American Thanksgiving customs. For the following ten years as their kids grew up, they would always spend the holiday with us.

So this year I wanted to celebrate the upcoming holiday with them, but with a twist. It seems like a a bit of overkill (no pun intended) to have the same turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie that we serve on Thanksgiving. So earlier this month I tested out a Friendsgiving menu that would feel festive, but wouldn’t be a repeat of our traditional meal.

I happened upon this roasted chicken recipe via Smitten Kitchen, and I’m sold. It’s so good and I can prep it the night before! I also made the bread salad that accompanied the recipe and I’ve become a huge fan. It feels like stuffing, but healthier.

Roasted chicken & bread salad via Smitten Kitchen, velvety rich mashed potatoes via Martha Stewart, cranberry sauce via Williams Sonoma, and pumpkin cheesecake via Williams Sonoma | RACHEL CUTHBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

Speaking of sides, this is my favorite mashed potato recipe. Pretty traditional, but always a success. I think that cream, butter, and cream cheese makes the richest, creamiest mashed potatoes. I realize Martha’s recipe calls for Yukon gold potatoes, but I had Russet on hand when I was testing it out, and they worked as well. I also added a few peeled garlic cloves to the water while boiling the potatoes.

Roasted chicken & bread salad via Smitten Kitchen, velvety rich mashed potatoes via Martha Stewart, cranberry sauce via Williams Sonoma, and pumpkin cheesecake via Williams Sonoma | RACHEL CUTHBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

I wanted a bit of color and sweetness to accompany the chicken, and this is my favorite go to for cranberry sauce. It’s a more traditional cranberry sauce with apple and orange from Williams Sonoma. I’ve been making it for years and it doesn’t disappoint.

Roasted chicken & bread salad via Smitten Kitchen, velvety rich mashed potatoes via Martha Stewart, cranberry sauce via Williams Sonoma, and pumpkin cheesecake via Williams Sonoma | RACHEL CUTHBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

Finally, another oldie, but goody from Williams Sonoma is this twist on pumpkin pie: pumpkin cheesecake. I’ve made this a few times, and it’s a lovely blend of cheesecake and pumpkin with a gingersnap crust. Also, I haven’t had issue with the top cracking, which makes me happy.

Roasted chicken & bread salad via Smitten Kitchen and pumpkin cheesecake via Williams Sonoma | RACHEL CUTHBERT PHOTOGRAPHY

Bottom line, whether you’re celebrating Friendsgiving or serving a smaller crowd for Thanksgiving, I definitely recommend trying a roast chicken instead of a turkey. My family was so excited when I did a trial run of this meal — they told me it felt like the beginning of the holiday season and even wanted to light candles on the dinner table. Needless to say, I will be using these recipes when our friends come next week!

What are some of your favorite Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving dishes? I’d love to hear them in the comments below or on my social channels!

Finally, i’d like to wish a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

7.5’ Kennedy Fir from Tree Classics; Dinnerware from TJ Maxx; Silverware & Linens, World Marke; Faux Pumpkins & Candlestick Holders, Target; Plaid throw, Pottery Barn

Tree:

Kennedy fir, 7.5’ prelit quick set tree, Tree Classics

Classic Fraser fir decorated wreath, 24” Tree Classics

Greenery:

Wood garland, Creative Co-op. I really like this brand—usually found at boutiques. I found the garland at Lake St. Design Studio in Petoskey, MI and at our local Hillsdale boutique, MaryBeth’s.

Silk flowers & faux wheat: Target Dollar Bin

Faux pumpkins (gingham & pumpkin picks): TJ Maxx

Tablescape:

Water Hyacinth pumpkin, Opalhouse for Target, fall 2019

Gold Candlestick holders , Target

Candles, Magnolia for Target

White plates, Pioneer Woman, Walmart

Brown transferware plates, TJ Maxx

Gingham faux pumpkins, TJ Maxx

Twig Silverware, World Market

Linen napkins, World Market

Tablerunner, Ikea

Plaid wool blanket, Pottery Barn (no longer for sale)

Thanksgiving with Tree Classics

Rachel’s dining room, set for Thanksgiving. Kennedy Fir, 7.5’ via Tree Classics. Table layered with favorite dishes, linens and silverware. Sources listed below.

Happy November! In Michigan, it' is officially late fall (this is not based on the calendar, but the temperature) and ready or not, the holidays are upon us! In our family, the week of Thanksgiving has always been ushered in by a flurry of celebrations. We have 6 family birthdays between Thanksgiving and the New Year, and Brock and I celebrate our anniversary to boot . Side note: I was 23 when we were married and couldn’t fully appreciate the stress/busyness of the holiday season. : ) Yet somehow, despite birthdays, anniversaries and 3 major holidays, my mom and grandma always made the holiday season feel special and full of “sneaky surprises.”

Growing up, I was firmly in the, you don’t decorate until after Thanksgiving. In fact, I remember my mom waiting to get a Christmas tree until mid-December. But over the years—and I’m sure that working for a tree company has influenced me a bit— I’ve grown to love the slow roll out of holiday decor. I start early in November, and by Thanksgiving, I’m in pretty good shape on the decor front. Pre-decorating has opened up my December schedule, and has allowed me to do a bit more holiday baking & entertaining.

This year, I started decorating at my friend & photographer, Rachel’s house. She has lovely 9 ft ceilings and a great dining room for entertaining. I chose one of my favorite trees, a 7.5’ Kennedy fir from Tree Classics to add a bit of holiday ambiance. It’s amazing how twinkle lights brighten a gray fall day!

To bridge the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, I mix some of my favorite holiday greens, along with fall accents. This year I chose warm cozy touches—mostly a mix of creams, green, gray, and dark brown hues. So much of decorating is trial and error. I pick some of my favorite colors for the season, shop my houses and then fill in with a few new pieces. Once I start decorating, I just layer, layer, and layer some more.

Layering includes color, texture and size. Note that on the tree I used oversize ivory colored florals, miniature pumpkins, and faux wheat and common cat tail for color and texture. I added black and white buffalo check ribbon that ties together the table and coordinates with pumpkins at the bottom of the tree.

Tree Classics, 7.5” Kennedy fir. This particular tree has been a perennial favorite of mine. It has a slender profile and real feel tips. And it fits beautifully in Rachel’s dining room—providing the soft white lighting and winter foliage, but allowing guests space to move around the Thanksgiving table.

Something old: Buffalo checked ribbon from Michaels, a black and white runner from Ikea, ivory dishes via Pioneer Woman, silverware and linen napkins from World Market. For a full list of all my sources, see my list below with links.

Something new: Water hyacinth pumpkin, candles and candlestick holders, all from Target. Transfer ware dark brown plates from TJ Maxx (I could only find six, and I hit at least 6 TJ’s from Ann Arbor to Grand Rapids. ; ) For the tree: Faux pumpkins, gingham pumpkins (TJ Maxx), silk flowers and faux wheat (Target dollar section) and wood garland (Creative co-op

7.5” pre-lit, quick set Kennedy fir.

On social media, I did a quick poll on whether you were team “decorate before Thanksgiving” or “decorate after Thanksgiving.” You all definitely had opinions, which I love, and it was a split decision with a variety of rules surrounding pre Thanksgiving decorating. For me, it’s slowly decorate with a mix of fall and Christmas decor. But definitely no Christmas music or movies until Thanksgiving weekend. Some of you said, yes to decor, but no tree until Thanksgiving. Love it! Others said after Thanksgiving because it’s the natural start of advent, and some strongly believe that Christmas decor belongs in December only. I would love to hear some more of your holiday decor thoughts & favorite Thanksgiving traditions!

Ready for Thanksgiving. The table is set, tree and wreath are fluffed and decorated. Wreath: 24” Classic Festive Fraser Fir from Tree Classics. Tree: 7.5' prelit, Kennedy Fir.

And clearly, I’ve trained my own children to anticipate the holidays. No sooner had we cleaned up the Halloween candy, when my 10 year old daughter asked, “when can we put up the Christmas trees?,” naturally, I was delighted. She loves the the coziness and beauty that comes from a house filled with twinkle lights. And in the midwest, where fall ushers in cold weather and shorter days, twinkle lights and holiday celebrations are a delightful reminder that winter is a great time to cozy up together. So bring on celebrations—family, friends, abundant feasting, warm drinks, and cozy nights before the fire.

A big thank you to Tree Classics for sponsoring this post. Check a few of my other blog friends as they share some of their favorite Thanksgiving memories! Come back next week when I will share a few favorite “Friendsgiving” recipes!

Kicking off the holidays with these Blogger friends!

Kristine of Bold Boundless Blonde, @boldboundlessblonde_

Kelly of City Girl Meets Farm Boy,@citygirlmeetsfarmboy

Mary of Selah Pines Farmhouse, @selah.pines.farmhouse

Lori of My Lovely Texas Home, @mylovelytexashome

Katie of Baker Nest, @baker_nest

Source List:

Kennedy fir, 7.5’ prelit quick set tree, Tree Classics

Classic Fraser fir decorated wreath, 24” Tree Classics

Tree:

Wood garland, Creative Co-op. I really like this brand—usually found at boutiques. I found the garland at Lake St. Design Studio in Petoskey, MI and at our local Hillsdale boutique, MaryBeth’s.

Silk flowers & faux wheat: Target Dollar Bin

Faux pumpkins (gingham & pumpkin picks): TJ Maxx

Tablescape:

Water Hyacinth pumpkin, Opalhouse for Target, fall 2019

Gold Candlestick holders , Target

Candles, Magnolia for Target

White plates, Pioneer Woman, Walmart

Brown transferware plates, TJ Maxx

Gingham faux pumpkins, TJ Maxx

Twig Silverware, World Market

Linen napkins, World Market

Tablerunner, Ikea

Plaid wool blanket, Pottery Barn (no longer for sale)

Fall Decorating with Tree Classics

Rachel’s front porch decorated with a mix of real and faux pumpkins, fall mums, and Classic Fraser Fir Festive Wreaths and Garland

Truly a picture is worth a thousand word, and what better way to welcome friends and family than a front door festooned with fall bounty. This year, we are in the process of renovating the front of our house (new door, windows, lighting, and a bit of landscaping). So I asked my friend and photographer, Rachel Cuthbert, if she would mind if we decorated her front porch instead for Tree Classics blog hop, Treasured Celebrations. Graciously, she accepted!

I chose two of my favorites from Tree Classics, their Classic Fraser Fir Festive 6’ garland and 24" wreath. It’s a collection I go back to year after year because it transitions beautifully from fall to Thanksgiving and Christmas. It includes pinecones, faux leaves and small gold buds which lend itself to fall and winter. For fall, I added miniature pumpkins that I found in the Target Dollar bin (always a treasure trove)!

We hung one 6’ Classic Fraser Fir Festive Garland and Wreath. The garland is hung on Tree Classics double door Garland hanger—no nails needed! Though it definitely helps to have two people Hanging it.

To create a bit of visualize interest, I like to add bits of texture and pattern along with real and faux pumpkins. Needless to say, I was excited when I found black and white buffalo check pumpkins at TJ Maxx, and faux straw textured pumpkins from Target. To tie everything together, I used bits of leftover buffalo check ribbon to hang the wreath. Side note, we hung the wreath on her front door with a Command Hook wreath hanger (Love Command Hooks! One of the most ingenious 21st century decorating tools.).

It’s amazing what a bit of color and texture adds. Real pumpkins and mums from our local nursery and Walmart. Wreath and Garland via Tree Classics, and I added mini faux pumpkins from the Target Dollar Bin.

What’s not to love about fall—it’s glorious shades of red, orange and yellow. And so before the north wind doth blow snow, I will savor fall and all of its rich color and bounty. A big thanks for Rachel for letting me use her front porch as my fall decor laboratory! And thank you to Tree Classics for sponsoring, Treasured Celebrations. Check out their current sales and prep for the holidays!

• 10% off wreaths and garlands by using the code: TCWG10 upon checkout.

• Coupon code is valid until Oct. 31

• 10% discount is applied on top of the sale price

And join bloggers, Kristine of Bold Boundless Blonde, Kelly of City Girl Meets Farmboy, and Lori @mylovelytexashome for their favorite fall decorating tips. Happy fall!

Thanks to Tree Classics for sponsoring Treasured Celebrations! ANd Follow along with Kristine at BoldBoundlessBlonde.com, Lori of MyLovelyTexasHome.com, and Kelly of CityGirlMeetsFarmBoy.com as they celebrate fall along with me!

Tree Classics Classic Fraser Fir Festive Wreath

Tree Classics Classic Fraser Fir Festive Wreath. The wreath comes decorated with tiny gold buds, faux leaves, pinecones and real feel needles. I added the faux pumpkins for a bit of a fall touch.

Tree Classics Classic Fraser Fir Wreath

Tree Classics Classic Fraser Fir Wreath and Garland. I originally intended to swag multiple garlands over the door, but decided we liked the simplicity of the single Garland.

Favorite Fall Recipes

Even though it’s a high of 80 degrees today, the calendar says it’s the start of fall.  And I’m itching to do a bit of baking.  So, in no special order, here are a few of my perennial fall favorites.  These are recipes that I go back to again and again every autumn.  

1. Mom’s apple cake.  Deb Perlman of Smitten Kitchen is right up there with Ina Garten in my book.  And it’s because her recipes work.  This apple cake is delish.  It’s dense and moist.  It’s also a pretty easy recipe, but you need to give yourself time to peel and core the apples. 

Photo courtesy of https://smittenkitchen.com

Speaking of peeling apples… I love this heavy duty apple corer/peeler for fall baking & applesauce making.

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

Final note about Smitten Kitchen: If you’re baking for a crowd, Deb’s apple slab pie is also delicious. This recipe makes a half sheet pie and is so good.

2. And speaking of Ina, this crostata is amazing.  In the fall I use apples, but she also has a version with peaches and berries.  I’ve been making the apple version for years and it’s always a crowd pleaser. 

Photo courtesy of https://barefootcontessa.com

I also love her apple crisp recipe, which I have been making for nearly 20 years. If you are only feeding a few people, cut the recipe in half because it’s made to serve a crowd!  

You can serve either of these with ice cream, or homemade whipping cream, which is super easy to make in my Kitchen Aid. For that, I use very cold heavy whipping cream and whip it until it has stiff peaks. Then I add sugar (or powdered sugar) to taste, along with vanilla flavoring.  The key to successful whipping cream is using very cold cream and a cold bowl for mixing. I sometimes throw my mixing bowl in the freezer for a couple minutes beforehand.

3. What would a fall recipe round-up be without pumpkin?  For years I made a family pumpkin roll recipe, but then a friend brought these pumpkin bars to my house last year and I fell in love.  The bars are so good and easy to make. No baking, filling and having to roll the sponge anymore! It’s one of those recipes that people always ask me for.  I make it in a half sheet pan, and it also feeds a crowd. So good, that when it was served alongside pies at Thanksgiving, I chose it over pumpkin pie.

Photo courtesy of https://www.tasteofhome.com

The one change I make to the recipe is that I use this banana bar frosting recipe instead of the one included in the original recipe.

4. These chocolate chip cookie bars via Martha Stewart. This is not exactly a fall recipe, but I tend to make it more in the fall and winter.  It also feeds a crowd (are you sensing a theme here?). Quick note, it gets mixed reviews, but I think it may have something to do with the baking time.  I bake it for half the time that the recipe calls for (more like 18-20 minutes). 

Photo courtesy of https://www.marthastewart.com

Martha’s soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies are also a go-to recipe.  I have tried others, but these are the best when I need something quick and uncomplicated.  We host and feed a lot of people (including many college students), so good and simple is the name of the game for me. 

So these are just a few of my stand-by fall favorites.  What are some of yours? I’m always looking for some new recipes, so I would love to hear a few of your favorites!

Things I can't stop talking about--favorite blogger edition

Happy Monday! Kicking off the week with a shout out to a few of my favorite bloggers.

I was a bit late to the blog game—I started following a hand full of bloggers for work. In my pre-kids life I had done marketing & event planning, and when the kids were tiny, I staged photoshoots for a Christmas tree company. Fast forward to 2013, and I started decorating & staging Christmas trees again, but for social media platforms.

Prior to this I was knee deep with babies and toddlers and basically trying to survive. But, now I needed to figure out the blogging and social media world, FAST! I knew traditional marketing (think print media), but this was a whole new world. What I wasn’t expecting was to find an online world full of very helpful interior decorating & design advice. And weirdly, you start to feel like you know these people. In my opinion, the best bloggers out there have a very distinct voice, create achievable, fresh projects, geared towards a variety of budgets. So without further ado… here are a few of my favorites.

Chris and Julia Marcum at ChrisLovesJulia.com

Newer to my feed, but definitely a favorite. They are a husband/wife team, and I appreciate their mix of high and low design. They’ve done $50,000 bathroom remodels (whoa!), but most recently they did a Phase 1 budge kitchen remodel very affordably. It included moving some cabinets, painting them a rich moody gray/green, and building some fun shelves — all in just two weeks!

Before:

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/chrislovesjulia/

After:

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/chrislovesjulia/

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/chrislovesjulia/

Check their blog out at https://www.chrislovesjulia.com

John and Sherry at YoungHouseLove.com

No surprise these two are perennial blog favorites. Their website is a treasure trove of DIY and affordable home improvement projects.  And while they’ve been around for over a decade (which is centuries in the blog world), they have a distinct voice and have stayed true to their original mission of making design approachable for the average person.  They often shop big box stores like Home Depot and Lowes, or even Ikea.  While some bloggers use more and more expensive products, they are still budget-conscious.  Their website is an encyclopedia of DIY resources! I also like to listen to their podcast when I’m cooking dinner!

One of my favorites is their painted brick house. Something I have been dreaming about for years, but have been too scared to take the plunge!. They completely revamped the exterior of their home by covering brick with long-lasting white paint. Amazing what some paint can do! This is something we may be tackling at our how house this fall. Will keep you posted!

Before:

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/younghouselove/

After:

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/younghouselove/

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/younghouselove/

Check out more of their house remodels at https://www.younghouselove.com

Emily Henderson

I’ve been following Emily from the beginning. She’s a great mix of good interior design content as well as some real life. It’s fun watching someones life evolve from reality tv stylist to married mom of two. She is one of the real authentic voices out there, despite a pretty big rise up the ranks and partnering with big brands like Target.

I have learned a ton from her about mixing high and low design, where to shop, and blending styles.

This is one of her more recent projects—a remodel of their mountain house. Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/em_henderson/

Photo courtesy of https://www.instagram.com/em_henderson/

Photo via https://www.instagram.com/em_henderson/

Check out Emily’s blog https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com to see the renovations she’s made on her home and the homes of others!

Jenny Komenda at JuniperStudios.com

I’ve been following Jenny for years (originally LittleGreenNotebook.com) and I appreciate her ability to take both budget and high end projects. She recently remodeled her kitchen and her Insta stories about this renovation are so great! This remodel is EXPENSIVE, but aspirational, and she does more budget remodels as well.

Jenny’s Kitchen Remodel. Photos via https://www.instagram.com/jennykomenda/

Check out this her blog for details about the entire renovation. Photo via https://www.instagram.com/jennykomenda/. Love the high contrast mix of dark and moody, warm woods and white.

This is a flip house that she remodeled—the kitchen is beautiful but also filled budget friendly products. Photos via https://www.instagram.com/jennykomenda/, here’s a full post about this remodel.

That’s all for now. Will be back with more favorites soon. I’m thinking along the lines of favorite interior designers, fall decor and some fall recipes. Will keep you posted. And I would love to hear from you—which bloggers and Instagram feeds do you love to follow? Have a great week!

Cooking with friends: Prepping & Roasting Lamb

This week I’m sharing our Easter dinner menu, as well as tips for preparing a holiday meal. For Easter, I often make ham with a grainy mustard & brown sugar glaze, but this year I wanted to try lamb—It feels special and seasonal.  But while I love lamb, but I’m slightly intimidated to make it.  The meat is tough if over cooked and can taste gamey if not properly prepared. 

Me & Steph. Excited to pass along her impressive tying & trussing skills.

With this in mind, I’m excited to introduce my friend, Stephanie Maxwell, who walks me through a step-by-step tutorial on preparing and roasting lamb (check out videos at the end of this post). Steph is a great cook (think modern-day Julia Child), and I know I will be referencing her tying and trussing tips for years to come!

Below is what’s on the menu for Easter dinner. And what I really like about this menu is that everything can be prepped the day before, which makes day-of prep much easier.  

Menu

• Roast Boneless Leg of Lamb

• Cheesy Hasselback Gratin Potatoes via the New York Times

• Popovers with jam via Cook’s Illustrated, adapted by adding cheddar cheese.

• Baby peas

• Lemon Pie via Magnolia Table

  Planning

A couple quick planning suggestions. Split the work into three days if possible—Trust me, it’s much more enjoyable for everyone if you plan ahead. My natural inclination is towards procrastination, or overfilling my schedule, but years of holiday meals and event planning has taught me that slow and steady is the better course of action.

Day 1 (Friday). Make grocery list and shop.

Day 2 (Saturday). Prep as much as possible (including setting the table).

• Prepare popover batter.

• Make pie crust & filling. Pie should set overnight in fridge.

• Make lamb rub, prepare & truss lamb, refrigerate overnight.

• Peel and slice potatoes (store in water in an airtight container).

Day 3 (Sunday). Finish assembling and cooking food.

• Prepare a timeline. (Often I just use a scratch piece of paper to make sure I know what time everything needs to be in and out of the oven in time for dinner, but both my mom and Stephanie keep spread sheets for events). Not only does this keep things super organized, it’s also helpful from year to year to look back at menus & timelines. It’s amazing how much you forget from one year to the next!)

Lamb: Make the rub, trim and truss lamb the night before.

Stephanie’s rub for a 5-6 lb. leg of lamb:

• 3 cloves of garlic

• 2 tsp of salt

  Pound garlic and salt in mortar with pestle until a paste forms. (A small food processor would also work if you don’t have a mortar.) Add rosemary, oregano & lemon:

• 2 TBSP rosemary

• 1 TBSP oregano

• Zest of 1 lemon (Make sure not to get the pith or white skin beneath the yellow lemon zest.)

  Grind the herbs and zest into the garlic-salt paste in the mortar (or food processor), and then add:

• 1/4 cup of olive oil

• 2 TBSP lemon juice

• 1 tsp of ground pepper

1. Trim as much fat as possible from the lamb. As I learned from Stephanie, the gamey taste resides in the fat, so remove as much fat as possible before butterflying.

2. Butterfly the meat. Place lamb fat-side down and score interior of the lamb so the rub can penetrate the meat. (Be careful not to cut the meat all the way through).

3. Spread half of the rub into the scored meat, and then roll the meat before trussing.

4. Truss the lamb and cover with rub. (Watch the trussing and tying video for detailed instructions). Marinate a few hours or overnight.

Roasting Lamb:

Roast at 450 degrees for first 20 minutes, and then reduce the oven to 375 until the roast reaches an internal temperature of 130-140 degrees (usually about an hour). In this case, we roasted a 4 lb lamb, and it took about an hour total. Note that your roast will continue to cook as it rests. So if you plan to let it sit for more than 10 minutes, take it out when the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees to ensure you don’t end up with overdone meat. Serve warm with one or both of the sauces below.

Yogurt sauce: Mix together

• 1 cup whole milk plain yogurt,

• a squeeze of lemon to taste, salt to taste,

• 1/4 c. diced onion,

• 1/4 c diced cucumber,

• chopped chives,

• a pinch of cayenne,  and

• feta on top (optional)

Chimichurri sauce: Mix together

• 1/4 c. olive oil

• 1/4 c. red-wine vinegar

• 1/4 c. finely chopped onion

• 2 TBSP minced red bell pepper

• 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic

• 2 TBSP chopped flat-leaf parsley

• 1 1/2 tsp oregano leaves

• 1/4 tsp hot red-pepper flakes

Cheddar Popovers with homemade jam. Popover recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated Baking Book. I added cheddar cheese—so good.

Popovers—Recently, Brock and I ate at a steakhouse and had the most delicious cheddar-cheese popovers. This started me on a quest to find a recipe for Easter. They feel like fancy holiday fare, but truthfully, the batter is simple to make. I use a 12 cup mini-popover pan, though I read a number of recipes that say you can use non-stick muffin pans as well (you fill half full). After making a recipe from The Joy of Cooking and a Cook’s Illustrated version, I settled on the Cook’s Illustrated recipe.  There are a few key differences between Cook’s Illustrated and The Joy of Cooking.

First, to get tall, substantial popovers, Cook’s Illustrated doubles the batter, and they also use bread flour.  Second, because they use bread flour, they have you rest the batter for an hour or over night. This is a bonus for me—it allows me to make the batter the day before and bake the popovers the day of.  You can also make them ahead and warm up in the oven.  Also, I added cheddar cheese to my recipe. Pour batter into each mini-popover cup (about half full), sprinkle the batter with cheese (about a 1-2 TBSP) and then top each cup with more batter. Each popover cup should be about 2/3rd full before baking. Serve with homemade jam & butter.  I find that the trickiest part of making popovers is really knowing your oven—With both recipes, my popovers cooked in 1/4 of the time listed in the recipe. I suggest using the oven light to watch that they get a deep golden brown, but do not burn.

Cheesy Hasselback Potato gratin. This has become a favorite at our house. A couple of tips:  I peel and slice my potatoes the night before, cover with water and store in the fridge.  The water & dark fridge keep them from browning.  I drain them before tossing with the garlic, cream & cheese mixture. And once I stack the potatoes in rows in the baking dish, I immediately pour the remaining cream mixture over the potatoes—I’ve found that half way up the side of the potatoes is good coverage (enough that it’s rich and creamy, but not too much that it spills over the pan).

Baby peas—frozen baby peas (I used Birds Eye brand).  Stephanie taught me a great way to gently prep peas so they don’t get shriveled and over cooked.  Boil water, place peas in a colander and pour hot water over the peas.  Toss as you go to defrost peas.  Serve with a pat of butter and salt to taste.  So easy & delicious.  Thanks, Steph! 

Lemon pie from the Magnolia Table Cookbook.

Lemon pie. I found this delicious and simple recipe in the Magnolia Table Cookbook.  It reminds me of key lime pie.  I made an easy graham cracker crust (also the day before), and made the custard the day before as well.  Future tweaks: I would add some lemon zest to kick up the lemon flavor a notch. 

So that’s my Easter menu. Check out the prepping and roasting lamb videos below. And of course, I would love to hear what’s cooking at your house!

Things I can't stop talking about - 4/14/19

Popovers! A preview of a recipe I made for my Easter blog post. This

I’m a few weeks behind on this one, so I have a lot of thoughts percolating. My mind is often on overdrive with a variety of disparate thoughts from the philosophical to the more trivial. So of course, I’m inviting you into the weeds with me. : ) Without further ado, here they are in no particular order.

One. This article, Creativity Beyond Crafting resonated with me.  It made me think about what I do on this blog, and how I love to create, but not necessarily in a traditional manner. I love menu planning, setting a welcoming table & sharing those ideas with others. And I really love collaborating with other creative people. For instance, when I put together a holiday blog post, I like pulling in my mom and friends with creative eyes to help me tweak & finesse. And I love working with my friend & photographer, Rachel, because she captures my ideas beautifully—much better than I can. What ways do you enjoy creating?

Two. All things Enneagram. A couple years ago, I was introduced to this book. Full disclosure—I’m a bit of a personality test junky. I enjoy them in part because I like learning how other people tick—and I’m always looking for ways to improve how I engage with the world at large.

Ironically, Brock, my husband—our career & household therapist and chief finds them a bit annoying. Mostly because he doesn’t like labels, and thinks that they lean towards putting people into a narrow box. But, after two years of incessant discussion, I got him on the Enneagram band wagon He appreciates that it’s a bit more complex (here’s your personality under stress, here’s what it looks like when you’re healthy, etc..). . At the very least it makes for great conversation, and this podcast is a good introduction. Recently, I also listened to episodes 124 & 125 from Donald Miller’s Storybrand podcast regarding your Enneagram personality in the workplace. Also interesting.

Three. Clothes shopping at Costco.  A few weeks back I bought these FILA joggers.  So comfy & affordable.  I needed something for when I’m justing cleaning/hanging around the house. Perfect! We also get most of my husband’s work pants there, and I last fall I found a really cute Ben Sherman coat that’s perfect for spring/fall.  Super affordable, stylish & convenient. Though I’m sure my 25 year old self might be rolling her eyes at me right now. Ha!

Four. Maybe it’s spring fever, but I’m thinking about cleaning. A number of years ago I was introduced to Basic H by Shaklee, and it has been my go to. It’s non-toxic and lasts FOREVER (I still have my first bottle from at least 7 years ago). It’s highly concentrated and you simply add a few drops to water. And it’s safe on my new bathroom quartz countertops so that makes me even happier. I also like their spray bottles because you can use one for windows, one for general cleaning and one for degreasing. I recently decided to try their scrubbing paste and Basic G for disinfecting. Finally, I also really love the Norwex cleaning cloths—in particular the window cloth. 

Five. Recently, Brock and I went to eat at The Chophouse in Ann Arbor, and they had the most delicious gluten free cheddar popovers (and I’m not a gluten free girl).  They were made with tapioca flour—after the meal I immediately started searching for a similar recipe. I found this one via King Arthur’s flour.  And stay tuned, I also made traditional popovers this week in preparation for Easter.

Finally, Things my favorite boys can’t stop talking about, and secretly, I’m pretty excited as well.

Six. The Cleveland Browns

Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham, revamped defensive line…  12-1 odds that we’ll win the Super Bowl. And Jim Rome’s on board.

For non-Clevelanders, what you have to understand is the Browns haven’t been good since I was 13 years old. That’s 30 years ago. I was in seventh grade. Bernie Kosar was quarterback. My own son is 13. The two seasons before this past one, they had a 1-31 record!!!!! Possibly the worst stretch in professional sports history. To say there’s been a football drought in the land of Cleve is an understatement.  Wonders never cease.

Best way to cook St. Paddy’s-inspired corned beef (and it's not what I expected!)

Photo by Rachel Cuthbert Photography

To all of my Irish friends & wannabe Irishmen (this includes me), I’ve been on a quest for the perfect corned beef. How many of you the week of St. Paddy’s Day think, I want to make corned beef at home but don’t because either you don’t make it often enough, never make it, or find yourself overwhelmed by the endless recipes online? If so, this post is for you. This year, I purchased two corned beefs and made them two ways—by oven & Instant Pot.

Irish Soda bread, recipe via Ina Garten, Photo by Rachel Cuthbert Photography

Quick backstory: Each year, as long as I can remember, my Italian grandmother celebrated St. Patrick’s day with a traditional corned beef and cabbage feast. And since I moved away from my hometown of Cleveland nearly 8 years ago, I had to learn how to make it for my family. So year after year I would call my grandma and ask her to remind me how to cook cabbage and noodles, how to boil corned beef, and glaze carrots. Slowly, I’ve added my own traditions. I found a delicious Irish Soda bread recipe via Ina Garten (she’s often my go to), and I started to experiment with corned beef recipes. Instructions on the package are fine, but I knew there were ways I could add a little pizzazz.

Two years ago, I found a corned beef recipe via Rachel Ray that included a brown sugar & stone ground mustard glaze (I also included it at the end of this post). You roast it in the oven for about two hours, wrapped in foil and covered with the glaze. My favorite thing about this recipe is the glaze, but I struggled to get the beef super tender. This year, I decided I would experiment with oven vs. the Instant pot. Increasingly, my Instant Pot has become my go to. In my opinion, it’s way better than the crockpot—I find that most things in the crockpot end up tasting the same.

Despite my growing love for the Instant Pot, I was a bit nervous to try it with the corned beef. The verdict (taste tasted by friends with refined palettes): While both the oven and the Instant Pot took about two hours, the Instant Pot corned beef (see adapted recipe at end of post) was fall apart tender—not mushy. Because my favorite part of the oven roasted recipe is the glaze, this weekend I plan to make more corned beef in the Instant pot, and finish it off in the broiler with the brown sugar/mustard glaze. I will keep you posted!

Corned beef roasted in the oven, Photo by Rachel Cuthbert

Oven vs. Instant Pot Corned beef

Corned beef cooked in the INstant Pot, Pictured above is a reuben sandwich—a great alternative if you aren’t a straight up cabbage and noodles fan, or a great way to use up leftovers. I follow a recipe from Zingerman’s Deli—A well known & loved deli in Ann Arbor, MI. Their thousand Island dressing is delish (it’s the only time I use thousand Island, and I love SauerKraut from Mcclures.—a small batch company out of Detroit/brooklyn. Photo by Rachel Cuthbert

Tablescape pre food: Platter, Williams Sonoma; plates, Homegoods; grass charger, Ikea; Glassware, Hearth & Hand, Target; runner, Hand sewn by friend, Peggy Stewart, fabric from Waverly/purchased at Walmart. Photo by Rachel Cuthbert Photography

Instant Pot Corned Beef

(adapted from a Striped Spatula recipe)

• 1 Large onion, pulled and quartered

• 4 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed with back of a knife

• Package of pickling spices (that comes with the corned beef)

• 2 cups water

• 12 oz of beer (in my case, I just used 12 oz of beef broth because I didn’t have beer on hand)

1. Combine onion, garlic cloves, pickling spices and water in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Place corned beef, fat side up on top of mixture. Cover with beer or in my case beef broth.

2. Seal lid and set the unit to HIGH pressure for 85 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 20 minutes, then manually release the remaining pressure.* Remove corned beef and place on a dish or a cutting board, spooning a bit of the cooking liquid over the top. Cover with foil to keep warm.

3. Slice corned beef against the grain. Spoon a little bit of the reserved cooking liquid over the corned beef slices on your platter. Serve corned beef with mustard, horseradish, etc..

*Read some of Amanda at the Striped Spatula’s notes on venting the Instant Pot. For instance, she mentions that you should NOT use a towel while venting because it can damage the pot or cause a malfunction. This was news to me—I’ve used a pot holder while venting, but after reading this will take precaution not to cover the spout with a potholder or towel while releasing the steam.

Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze

via Rachel Ray

• 1/3 cup dijon or country-style grainy mustard (I used grainy mustard, but you could even mix dijon and country style)

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar or plain water

Mix ingredients in a bowl. Set aside. Once meat is finished in Instant Pot, place it on a large piece of foil, fat side up, cover with glaze. Broil in oven on high for 2-3 minutes. Slice meat against the grain.

Things I can't stop talking about: 3/11/19

Brunch—This may be one of my favorite meals. Photo by Rachel Cuthbert Photgraphy

Here’s a very “recipe heavy” list of things I can’t stop talking about. Clearly the end of winter, beginning of Lent is a good time for cooking.

One. Brunch with friends. I realize this is something I discuss often, but it’s because I believe that shared meals are a fundamental part of relationships—whether with friends or family. Recently I gathered with a few friends for a birthday celebration. I brought a crustless bacon, mushroom, and onion quiche.

REcipe & Photo from Epicurious, PHoto by Romulo Yanes. Delicious!

I’ve been looking for a good crustless quiche recipe and was pleased when I happened upon this Epicurious recipe.  Like many comments suggested, I added a 5th egg.  Also, I did not have heavy cream on hand so I used whole milk and half/half.  I also added 3/4 cup of crumbled bacon & I used a mix of gruyere and cheddar cheese that I had in the fridge.  I love a recipe where I can improvise a bit.  

Two. Paczki: Ahh, Fat Tuesday, thank you for giving us an excuse to eat fried dough filled with creamy, sweet deliciousness. 

And for the first time ever, I made my own and I’m sold. I used this recipe (it made about 4 1/2 dozen small Paczki). It wasn’t difficult as much as time consuming. I started the dough around 3 p.m., and we were frying them by 8 p.m. at night. I also made dinner in between, so there was a time lapse. I suggest making it a family affair. My husband fried the donuts, I took them out and drained them, and my mom rolled them in powdered sugar and filled them. We made custard, lemon filling, and raspberry preserve Paczki.

Three. This quick homemade mac-n-cheese recipe. You cook the pasta in the water & milk and then add cheese. Brilliant! And literally took less than 30 minutes. My husband shredded the cheese so that was a huge help. Also, the blogger recommends not using pre-shredded cheese because it’s coated to keep it from clumping in the bag. Totally agree. Finally, if you want to take it to the next level, I suggest using a quality cheddar. A family favorite is the white, extra sharp from Cabot cheese. You can buy it in large blocks at Walmart and Costco. I also added a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce based on a recommendation. Definitely adds to the flavor!

My old school system for filing recipes. Three ring binder, Masking Tape & Sharpie.

Four. This is a bit of rabbit trail, but… printing recipes. For longer than I would like to admit, our printer was broken. Seriously, why didn’t we replace it?  I was always looking up recipes online and cooking via my phone or computer. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of online recipes. They are amazingly convenient, and I find all the comments & feedback helpful.  

However, I do not love reading/cooking from them. My screen saver always turns on, then inevitably my screen gets dirty, and soon enough I forget where I found  my “favorite” recipe.  I also like writing cooking notes on my recipes. Needless to say, I was delighted when my MIL gifted me with a new printer.  I love quickly printing a recipe and adding it to my recipe binder.

Finally, here’s my very rudimentary system for storing recipes.  I don’t have the patience for label printers, so a sharpie and masking tape it is! 

I always love hearing favorite weeknight recipes and people organize recipes, so please share.

Things I can't stop talking about: 3/4/19

Dark chocolate cookies with sour cherries - Martha Stewart recipe

One. Dark chocolate cookies with sour cherries via Martha Stewart.  It’s winter. I continue to crave chocolate, and these cookies mixed with dried sour cherries are delish! A few notes: I only had Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa in the house and that worked just as well as Dutch Processed.  Also, I let my cookies cool on the pan. I find that they’re too gooey to transfer right after baking.  And you can definitely make the batter and refrigerate some of it to bake later.  I have baked a pan three different times this week.  Weirdly, the recipe only gets 3 stars on Martha’s website—but there are 72 reviews. I think it has to do with cooling and transferring the cookie.

Two. Using the Instant Pot for Indian food—I know this isn’t anything new to people on the Instant Pot band wagon, but it’s been a game changer for me. I’ve made the butter chicken recipe, and on the stove, I make curried red lentils to accompany the chicken. Also, I pressure cooked frozen chicken breasts last night.  I followed this recipe (though I added some olive oil, kosher salt, & cracked pepper) and then made a quick stir fry with veggies and  leftover rice.  Simple and good.

Three. The Spatty —Happily, I happened upon this accidentally when I asked a cosmetics retailer the best way to get the 20% of product left at the bottom of my foundation.  I guess it’s a Shark Tank product.  Either way, I’m excited to use it. It’s so frustrating spend money on makeup & lotions and then waste so much.

Rabbit trail conversation: I think I’m an old soul (basically, 43 going on 90) and really prefer a traditional department store makeup counter to Sephora.  In Michigan, we have a department store, Von Maur—it reminds me of Nordstrom—I  mean, who doesn’t love a little piano music while you shop & they have a great shoe sale room.  

Last week, the makeup counter person called to tell me about an upcoming sale and that’s when I asked about getting the last bits of product out of my foundation bottle. I realize that I could have Googled this, and that sales people can be annoying, but it was so nice to have someone call & check in.  And I actually needed a few items, so I placed an order — which they ship for free — along with advice about the Spatty. : )

Four. For Valentines Day, I did a FB live for Tree Classics on The 5 Love Languages. I think it helped me more than anyone else.  I ended up having the whole family—Brock, kids, and my mom, take the quiz.  It was a fun re-introduction to the 5 Love Languages, and a good reminder that each of the kids & my husband experience love differently.

Five. Reading through the Psalms for family devotions.  I hesitated to share this one because I realize that there is no one size fits all for family devos, and for fear that as soon as I share this we’ll fall off the wagon. ; )  In fact, our oldest is 13 and we have struggled for years to find something that really fit & is consistent.  We’ve been hit or miss with fighter verses (though I think they’re brilliant), we’ve tried reading short devos to the kids and they seem to tune us out.  

That said, Brock, a month or so ago shared that his men’s bible study had read scripture together and answered three questions: what leads you to rejoice, repent, request  when you read through these scriptures.  We decided to apply these questions to the Psalms, and the kids have been really engaged every night.  It may be that they’re at the right age for it (13, 11, 9 & 9) or maybe it’s more interactive. We read the Psalm out loud, take a few minutes journaling our answers and then we finish by sharing answers and praying.

Finally, I would love some input! We need a list of good family movies. I  have been feeling the slow creep of garbage movies making their way into our home.  It’s always slow and a bit insidious. So I’m trying to compile a list of movies that we want to watch as a family so when Friday night rolls around we’re not scrambling.  Would love to hear from you!

Pink Bath Remodel

Our pink bathroom got a makeover! Before I get started with all the details, let me preface with a few notes. The bathroom hadn’t been updated—except for basics like paint and accessories—since it was built in 1960. How do I know this for sure since we only lived in the house for 7 years… because we found newspaper wrapped around electrical wiring from the 1960 Nixon/Kennedy election. No kidding. Bottom line, it needed to be gutted. Scroll through these photos and check out the crumbling pink tile shower.

This particular bathroom is the main bath off of our kitchen & living room and is also our kids’ bath. My goal: attractive, functional & kid friendly. For that reason we decided to ditch the tiny shower (it was dark and cramped) and combine it with our bath. We kept the original cast iron tub because it was in good shape, and nothing can truly replace old school cast iron! Combining the shower and tub allowed us to add a tall cabinet for towels, medicine, etc, as well as a double sink so two kids could brush their teeth at the same time. I also included four drawers on the main cabinet so each child could have their own drawer—to minimize arguments, of course. : )

This is is basically how the bathroom looked when we purchased the house in 2011. We stripped the wallpaper and painted it a greige, but until we demoed it this past summer, 2018, it only had basic cosmetic upgrades.

I saw this photo via instagram last spring and loved it, though I was a bit gun shy going all blue in my bath—so I blended these ideas with a simply white by Benjamin moore and a light warm gray. You can see my tile, cabinet and counter choices below. inspiration via Sabbe Interior Design

I love the wainscoting, substantial trim, and saturated color of this dining room. Inspiration via Sabbe Interior Design.

Blue has always been one of my favorite colors, so needless to say I’ve happily embraced the dark blue cabinet trend. I color matched a sample I found via the Sarah Sherman Samuel line by Semi-Handmade (a company that makes semi-custom fronts for Ikea cabinets), and went with simple Shaker in set doors. I had a local cabinet maker, Brian Stoll, make the cabinets and he did a beautiful job—basically I described what I was looking for and he sketched & built the cabinet. I love the deep inky blue!  I was really inspired by the beautiful design work of Sabbe Interior Design as well as Jean Stoffer Design. And I pulled in my friend, Rebekah Dell throughout the entire process. She freelances as an interior designer and has a great eye. If she didn’t have a full time job, I would find away to work with her on all projects.

For the hardware, I looked at all sorts of spendy places but settled on Martha Stewart pulls from Home Depot. I had to draw the line somewhere, and couldn’t stomach the spendy prices. This is where I love blogs. I had saved some notes from Erin Gates of Elements of Style.  She’s got a great, traditional New England look and fabulous taste, so when she says that the Martha Stewart line is quality, I believe her. And there was a $100 price difference between that at Restoration Hardware and Rejuvenation.  Not to mention, a bunch of their hardware was back ordered.  

Inky blue cabinets with Ella cambria quartz counters, Delta cassidy faucets in Brilliance Polished Nickel, hardware by Martha stewart at home depot. custom cabinets & Mirror by brian stoll, jonesville, MI. Photos by Rachel Cuthbert Photography.

Also, I decided to mix metals which makes everything less matchy-matchy, but holy cow, it was no fun trying to find the right shade of brass. Seriously, there’s unlacquered brass,super shiny, aged brass, etc...  I went with a polished nickel for my plumbing fixtures, which is a warmer metal so it plays well with gold and silver.  The gold overhead pendant lights are from Pottery Barn—another suggestion from Rebekah. They add a bit of warmth and a bit oversized which adds balance to tall glass medicine cabinet.

Also, I spent a lot of time thinking about the best way to enclose the bath/shower.  As I mentioned, we tore out the separate shower and added a shower head in the bath.  But, I didn’t want to create a full wall to enclose the bath for fear of losing natural light.  This decision was tricky because it’s the kids & guest bath.  So I want it to be welcoming, but I also wanted to make sure we didn’t flood the bathroom.  If you have kids, you probably get this concern. ; ) Originally, I ordered an L-shaped curtain rod to use with an extra wide shower curtain but those seem to look better with a claw foot tub. Also, I thought it could attract mildew over time.

White and blue shower curtain, Peri Home

Newly renovated bath/shower with tempered glass wall.. Shower curtain by Peri Home, bloomingdales. 3x12 Retro Perla gray Tile via the Tile shop. Photo via Rachel Cuthbert Photography

My other option was adding a piece of glass to the side of the tub.  I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to have a piece of glass and and shower curtain.  After discussing with friends with eyes for renovating, I decided to go with the a piece of tempered glass to keep water from splashing all over the half wall. I am so glad I asked for their input.

Also, I’ve got stuck in the proverbial weeds when it came to smaller details. It reminds me of planning an event (I planned weddings in a past life). You feel like you’re doing really well—you’ve got the venue, caterer, music.  Phew, but then you get closer to the event and the devil really is in the details (place settings, table décor, music list, party favors and such).  It’s the same with house renovations. I had the contractor, picked out the vanity & counter tops, even the plumbing fixtures. But then I started feeling pretty overwhelmed with the minutia: is the height of my wainscoting too tall, not tall enough, how many sconces should I go with and does the style fit the look of the bathroom?  Don’t forget to put dimmers on lights, what about towel hooks, bars & such?  What color should I go with for the grout, what type of grout should I purchase, and on & on…  These are the details that really make a difference and can make or break the look of a room.

This is where a second & third set of eyes helped. As I mentioned above, while I pulled together bathroom story boards, I also consulted with my friend Rebekah & my mom for some of the final details. As for wainscoting, I finally decided to go with 42” vertical shiplap with a ¼” spacing (again, a decision I had to make on the fly).  For mirror(s), I originally wanted two antique style tilt mirrors, and sconces flanking each side, but sink and tall cabinet placement didn’t allow for that so I had our previous mirror cut down and framed with gray trim to tie together the tiles from the bath with the rest of the room.  

Here’s where I made one of a few mistakes. I handed my contractor a piece of tile and told him to have our cabinet maker match the mirror trim to the tile. Now, my cabinet guy is great, but why in the world didn’t I think to take a few minutes and look through a Ben Moore fan deck that I had sitting on my dining room table!?!I think I was just tired at that point and wanted the bathroom to be done.Bummer! Because, while I like my mirror size, I’m not super jazzed about the gray. It skews more icy cool blue than a deeper, warm gray.

And of course, like many projects, I still have some details to finish. I need to add artwork, upgrade the window treatments, and we will eventually change out the 1960’s bathroom door when we update the rest of the house. It’s true that when you start doing one project, it mushrooms! Though we’ve happily taken a couple of months off in between projects to gear up for our next big project—a kitchen & living room remodel.

Things I can't stop talking about...

If you spend anytime with me, you will know that I like to talk.  Faith, politics, books, food, family, home decor, you name it… So here it is. For February 2019—a few things I can’t stop talking about:

Image by Nick Kelley via The Magnolia Journal, Spring 2019

One. Life Unfiltered article via The Magnolia Journal, Spring 2019. Joanna Gaines beautifully summarizes a conversation I have with myself—often. I love creating beauty, I love learning from other designers and makers who create beautiful things, and I love discussing and sharing ideas amongst one another.  Of course, social media—in particular Instagram & FB are natural places to share our ideas & creations.  In fact, after 5 years of following a variety of design bloggers, I’m an infinitely better decorator. 

But, all the edited, curated beauty is also exhausting.  And Joanna Gaines breaks it down so well in this piece. How many of us can relate to “letting this small square on my phone become yet another thing to perfect.” And she challenges herself and the reader to not let it become a “means to measure our worth or compare our lot in life with another’s.  It is not an honest mirror or window, because that view is always obscured to the point of only catching a glimpse.” So beautifully said! With this in mind, I will continue to wrestle with the tension between creating & enjoying beauty, and not letting myself and in particular my family become prisoners to an impossible standard of perfection.

Image & Recipe Via Lucinda Scala QUinn, Mad Hungry. This is a great one bowl Chocolate cake. I made it for Valentines day—you can find the Recipe in Mad Hungry: Feeding Men & Boys. Here’s an easy buttercream frosting to with the cake.

Two. Mad Hungry Insta stories— I ❤️ watching Lucinda Scala Quinn cook. She’s in her modest NYC kitchen, but she cooks like a boss. And she cooks straight from her fridge—using ingredients that she has on hand. Delicious, yet so approachable.

Three. Organization & bathroom items from Better Homes and Garden. Available at Walmart. Many of you probably know that I live in a pretty rural town. The nearest Target is 45 minutes away, so Walmart is often my go to if I need to quickly grab something for the house. And I have been really surprised by how much I like their Better Homes and Gardens line.  From bath mats to glass containers for cotton balls to cute storage boxes for my closet, I think there are quality for the price and a lower price point and some of their competitors. I’m a convert. 

Four. These two books: Educated and The Choice (I read this in two days). The autobiography of a holocaust survivor—harrowing, beautifully told, inspiring. If you’re a fan of Viktor Frankel’s Man’s Search for Meeting—The Choice will also inspire you. 

So good!!! Bought at Costco. Next time, I’m stocking up. : )

Five. And because we just celebrated Valentines Day and my kids asked me what was my favorite candy… These are probably not new to anyone but me & Brock, but Dark Chocolate Mint Crunch Pretzel Thins from Snack Factory = our new favorite snack.  In fact we like them so much,  we’re attempting to hide from kids. It’s like a cross between a thin mint and a pretzel.... delish!

Of course, I would also love to hear what you can’t stop talking about (or thinking about). I always love good book suggestions, recipes, or must have house items. Please share below or message me!

Winter Gatherings

An amazing spread of grilled vegetables, fresh greens, nuts, olives and cheeses assembled by my friend, Jaminda. Delicious! Photos by Rachel Cuthbert Photography

The holiday fog has finally cleared.  Post New Years, it takes me about two weeks to dig out, regroup, and to start missing people again. ; ) As January draws to a close, and winter has clearly set in (currently digging out from 8” new inches of snow and prepping for Polar Vortex 2019), I’m often looking for ways ways to stay active when my body is screaming, “hibernate!”, to engage my mind & gather friends. As you can imagine, winters in Michigan are long and often the skies are gray. Human connection makes a big difference.

The last two Christmas seasons, I’ve hosted a book swap with a few friends and we’ve had so much fun. I love books, friends, great conversation, the holidays season & brunch!  So why not combine a few of my favorite things? It’s a really fun way to celebrate the season together. But I think it also translates well into a good winter gathering. I truly believe that meaningful conversations, shared meals, and good books are a natural mood booster.

And it’s flexible. Last year I suggested people bring their favorite non-fiction and favorite fiction book.  This year, friends brought a recent favorite and a favorite from last year.  I served coffee, mimosas, my favorite Mushroom Swiss Chard Sausage Strata and friends brought food to share as well. The goal was to swap books throughout the year. Unfortunately, trading books throughout the year didn’t go as planned so I had people bring a favorite book from the previous year. Each guest drew a number and then picked 2 books. We chose White Elephant style, so the person choosing could unwrap a book or steal a book.

Wrapped books to be swapped. Photo by Rachel Cuthbert photo

2018 books:

• Educated by Tara Westover (I read this book in a few days—great read and leaves so much to discuss. Though it impeded some of my pre-Christmas work. Oops! I’m one of those readers who can’t begin a good book if I actually have things I need to accomplish.  The author drew me in to her harrowing family story, but I also appreciate the care she takes care to present facts as faithfully as possible. Throughout the book she recognizes that memory can be a tricky thing, and she tries to corroborate as many details as possible.

• Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance—One of my favorite memoirs from the last couple of years. I’ve recommended it often. Much has been written about it in light of the 2016 election, and I certainly think it lives up to its reputation as a behind the scenes account of life in modern rural Midwestern America. If you’re an audio book fan, check this one out. The author narrates, and it really brings some of the characters, like his grandmother, to life.

• In His Image by Jen Wilkin

• Joel: A Boy of Galilee by Annie Fellows Johnston

• Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett—I've heard good things about this and I’m looking forward to reading it. I’ve been a bit apprehensive to start because it’s a longer read and I fear that once I start, I won’t be able to put it down.

• Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi This was my selection, and a book that I often think about and want to discuss. Dr. Qureshi, was a Christian apologist who came to his Christian faith as a medical student. His mind is razor sharp, and his journey to faith in Christ compelling. I first read this book in 2016 and later followed his apologetics ministry along with his battle and eventual death to stomach cancer in the fall of 2017 at the age of 33.

• Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi

• The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

• The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure

• Waiting on the Word (advent book) by Malcolm Guite

A few 2017 favorites: 

• A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg—if you love food memoirs, this is a great one. 

• A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken—Have read this a few times and it’s a tear jerker.  A beautiful love story with poignant spiritual depth. Includes letters between the author and CS Lewis.

• Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

• Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

• The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt—I hope to read this soon. I have an almost teenager and three on his heels, so I’m always looking for good Young Adult lit.

Quick note: The above books were favorites of a group of friends. Some of the books I haven’t read so I am not necessarily recommending, just sharing what we traded with one another. I think that’s what makes this a fun gathering—I love seeing what friends are reading and also being challenged to read outside my comfort zone. My personal favorites from the two lists (understanding that I haven’t read all of the books so there may be new favorites lurking) are Educated, Hillbilly Elegy, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, A Homemade Life, and A Severe Mercy.

Funny, I’m noticing a theme here… human narratives. It’s true. I’m a people person and I love the deep dive into real stories—how people deal with life—tragedy, conflicts, limited resources, etc… and ultimately how they persevere. With that said, I would love to hear some of your reading favorites from 2018 and what you plan to read in 2019.

Nine for 2019 New Year's Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions… Do you or don’t you?

Ugh!  I don’t even like typing “resolutions.”  To me, it’s synonymous with promises I will break.  If I have an obligation to work, to a friend, to an organization, I’m 100% all in and committed. But, obligations to myself are much easier to break. Thus, my dread of New Year’s resolutions. Much easier to not make them than to disappoint myself.   

And yet, there really is something important about fresh starts, goal setting, and keeping promises to ourselves. So, I’ve had to get creative—basically, to find ways around my worst self.  Truthfully, given to my worst inclinations, I am given to inertia.  I prefer a cup of coffee, a good book and a couch. And while those are fine things, I’m my most fulfilled when I’ve put in the hard work and treat myself with relaxation. It helps that I’m married to a mental health counselor—and someone who prioritizes goal setting and is more likely than me to meet his internal resolutions.  

Over the last two years, I’ve also appreciated reading/listening to books by Gretchin Rubin.  Just this past December, I started to read her flagship book that launched a website, podcast and many other books, The Happiness Project, and I love it.  I actually listened to her follow up books, Happier at Home and The Four Tendencies first.  

I resonate with her system. Clearly, she’s a very accomplished (Yale Law Review, clerked for Sandra Day O’Connor), but doesn’t make you feel like you’re not good enough.  Her message is that we can make life changes by incrementally (in her case, month by month) looking at areas of our lives that we want to improve.  These changes ultimately improve our day to day life. I haven’t systematically followed her rules (yet), but I’ve implemented a few and it has shifted that way I look at things.  I’ve realized that for many years I have felt stuck.  But as I’ve really examined my own personality, temperament, and strengths/weaknesses, I am working hard to work around my weaknesses and play to my strengths.  

“Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing.”

— William Butler Yeats quoted in The Happiness Project (p.66)

It was eye opening listening to her book, The Four Tendencies, to realize that of the four (Upholder, Questioner, Rebel, Obliger), I’m an obliger.  As an obliger, my tendency is to fulfill outward obligations to people which makes me a good employer and friend, but I really struggle to meet my own inner expectations.  I spend my energy taking care of needs, but often fail myself by not meeting said expectations.  For years, I thought I was just unmotivated. It was helpful to recognize that it’s not an issue of laziness, but instead I work best with deadlines and —as she calls it, outer accountability.  

Honestly, this annoys me about myself.  I want to be an upholder with the mantra: “discipline is my freedom,” not the person who struggles with inner accountability. But all the gnashing of teeth in the world isn’t going to change how I’m hardwired. Instead of beating myself up, I’m actively looking for ways to create accountability.  Interestingly, I surround myself with upholders—I think this is one form of built in accountability. It’s important to spend the most time with people who inspire and encourage us to be our best selves. 

A few other ways I hold myself accountable include: For little things, like early prep for dinner or washing the dishes before I go to bed, I often ask myself how future self will feel. I’m old enough now (ha!)to know the pain of waking up to a sink full of dirty dishes. I also love learning & good conversation—so in particular, when I’m cooking in the kitchen or folding laundry, etc… I make sure that I stay motivated by listening to good podcasts, audio books or catching up on phone calls.

 For bigger tasks, such as creating my own website—I have had to invest more money and external accountability.  Bottom line: I need real skin in the game.  So I hired a graphic designer to help me craft my brand & I work with a recent marketing grad on some of my social media & scheduling.  Some would see this as a big expense, but for me it has been a good investment & a vehicle to fulfilling personal goals.

Inspired by the Happiness Podcast, here are my 9 Resolutions for 2019: 

1.     Exercise: more walking (track my steps), weight training, and stretching. I really need to work on my posture—I have a very bad habit of slouching and not holding my shoulders back. And big surprise, it’s not improving as I get older. So I’m dedicating 2019 to getting serious about this particular issue.

2.     Step up on the blog—weekly post, monthly email, research the business side of the website. Part of this includes making a concerted effort to write daily. Ideally, 1.5 hr increments. I can overthink projects and because of this really procrastinate. But there is something to setting a timer and breaking tasks into bite size pieces that makes things far less overwhelming. And again, once I get moving, push past my fear and inertia, the words come. I’ve been writing this particular post for 2 weeks. Sounds ridiculous I know. But I’ve been adding and subtracting content, and this is more personal to me than a post about Christmas trees, recipes or decorating. Slowly but surely, this post has taken shape.

3.     Decreasing time on social media—only 2 x’s a day. This is to review Instagram, catch up on blogs, and read news. Like many of us, I have a love hate with social media.  I like keeping up with people’s lives, and I like learning from the various talented bloggers online (one of the reasons I started my own website is because I’ve learned so much from other women who’ve made careers writing about books they read, time management strategies, menu planning, and home décor). But it can also be an exhausting, comparison game, time suck.  Alas, how do we take the good & leave the bad… 

4.     Memory books—pretty behind on this one.  Like 12 years of family photos all stored online behind.  My pipe dream goal is to make one scrapbook a month for the next year.  Probably unrealistic, but a girl can dream. : )

5.    Spend less money on incidentals, bring less into the house. Another personality trait I’ve had to come to terms with… I’m a spender. Some people under spend and have to learn to treat themselves & be more generous. I have to learn to spend less & more wisely. One budgeting tool that Brock and I have loved is the budgeting app: YNAB, short for You Need a Budget. It’s been a game changer for us—we do pay a yearly fee, but it’s been super helpful tracking every dollar and helping us save more. Of course, there’s always room for improvement. Thus I’m trying to decrease nickel & dime purchases. : )

6. Continuing to organize, purge and declutter the house. This goal is tied to #5. I started this process when the now very popular book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo burst on the scene 4 years ago. There’s a reason it has nearly 14,000 4.5 star reviews on Amazon and she has a new series on Netflix. Her steps work. There are a few weird things that I don’t subscribe to—basically treating inanimate objects as living things—but I do love looking at the items I own, or am considering purchasing, and asking the question, “does this spark joy?” There is something to having less but loving each item instead of being overwhelmed and frustrated by the endless organization of mediocre stuff.

7. Saving more for travel & bigger ticket items. Again, directly correlated to goals 5 & 6. Our oldest child is nearly 13, and the way we see it, we have 5 summers left with him living full time at our house. Big fat sigh. I want to use this time wisely. My goal—spend time & money on things that really matter.

8. Go to bed earlier (by 10:30, up early, up by 6 a.m.). I am hoping the Brock is the “wind beneath my wings” in this area. I’m a late night girl, and he loves early mornings. I’m trying to go to bed with him, read for a bit, and then get up earlier. This has been hit or miss so far.

9. Consistent quiet time with the Lord each morning (this is tied to going to bed earlier and getting up earlier).  The joy of the Lord truly is my strength.  But I can’t experience that if I’m not spending good time with Him.  My husband, Brock, is tapped into this—as a human being who counsels other humans, he can’t function before he spends a lot of time reading the Bible, devotionals, reflecting, and praying.  Often, I find myself riding his spiritual coat tails and coasting along until I find myself worn out & irritated with everyone in my general vicinity.  Truth is that on my own, I don’t have enough love, patience or strength.  

My true source is Jesus and his Word.  When I open my Bible, turn on worship music, spend time in prayer—this is the place I am truly encouraged & nourished.  I simply don’t have it on my own.  He, the sovereign Lord and king, the giver of life and peace, who tells us to come to the living water and drink from it (John 7:37-39, paraphrase) has to be my main source.  

Finally, because Brock counsels college students, he often discusses goal setting & such. So I asked him for a bit of feedback on how he encourages people to fulfill goals. Here’s what he had to say: “Why most people have a love/hate with resolutions is that we love newness, it’s the hope that things are going to change.  Which is true—new job, new love, new year… it’s possibility for change.  But—truth is that it has too much emphasis on external locus of control.  

Change comes from inside… Most resolutions fail because they are pipe dream or a magic wand that you want to wave over your life and have instant change. Change happens through hard work, setting objectives to bringing about the goal, by accountability.” 

Why most people have a love/hate with resolutions is that we love newness, it’s the hope that things are going to change.  Which is true—new job, new love, new year… it’s possibility for change.  But—truth is that it has too much emphasis on external locus of control.  

Change comes from inside… Most resolutions fail because they are pipe dream or a magic wand that you want to wave over your life and have instant change. Change happens through hard work, setting objectives to bringing about the goal, by accountability.  

Naturally, I asked him what he suggests people do to fulfill there resolutions. “Pretend I’m a client in your office, what would you tell me?”

• Review your resolutions/goals every day

• Hang them up where I can see them

• Focus on how you think & feel and be if I accomplish them.

• Journaling about something that didn’t want to do, but I did do. Journal & reflect on things that went well.  Not just the hard things.   

So that’s it for the moment. Would love to hear some of your New Years resolution and ways you plan on meeting them! Cheers to 2019 & greater growth!