Stylish and affordable. Perfect combo.
Now how do I pick just one pair?
Laura
11.27.2012
Loafer Love
I'm really loving these loafers from Gap.
Stylish and affordable. Perfect combo.
Now how do I pick just one pair?
Laura
Stylish and affordable. Perfect combo.
Now how do I pick just one pair?
Laura
11.26.2012
Must Have Maternity Clothes
Maternity clothes aren't cheap. And a lot of times they aren't cute, either.
I was so fortunate to borrow a lot of things from a sweet friend and my mom took me shopping near the beginning of my second trimester.
Here is what I found myself wearing more often than other clothes and are worth spending more money on! Obviously, everyone is comfortable in different things and this is just more advice that you can take or leave! Doesn't bother me.
I was so fortunate to borrow a lot of things from a sweet friend and my mom took me shopping near the beginning of my second trimester.
Here is what I found myself wearing more often than other clothes and are worth spending more money on! Obviously, everyone is comfortable in different things and this is just more advice that you can take or leave! Doesn't bother me.
From A Pea in the Pod
I had this shirt in white and black and I wore them all the time! They are super comfortable, long enough to last through your due date without showing your belly and durable. I found that most Gap maternity shirts didn't last me my entire pregnancy because of their length. My go-to outfits were one of these shirts, a cardigan (non-maternity! Use what you have!) and a scarf with jeans. I still felt somewhat fashionable and I wasn't spending an arm and a leg on an outfit because the shirt and pants were the only maternity items.
These are from A Pea in the Pod but I bought some from Target. Gap also has good options. These are great for running errands when your belly is so huge that anything tight is just not appealing. Also, you need a comfy pair of pants that fit well for lounging around the house or having people over for football or a movie. I also wore these to yoga class and the movie theater for absolute comfort! I will add that mine did not have a belly panel which was fine until about month 9 when my shirts weren't long enough and my pants were too short up top. Peek-a-boo, belly, nobody wants to see you.
With stretch. My mom got me these AG Jeans after we tried on LOTS of different brands and styles at A Pea in the Pod. These were the most comfortable for me. They have stretch, were a great length and had a full belly panel, which I liked. I really suggest that you go to a store and try on multiple styles and brands, too, and invest in a pair that make you feel good. It is worth every penny.
This is from Gap and is so comfortable! (Are you noticing a comfortable trend here?) It was perfect for sleeping, wearing under shirts, wearing while getting ready and lounging. This is a must have.
I mean, we all know how comfy regular leggings are and maternity leggings takes that to the next level. Throw it on with a dress, long sweater, etc. and you have comfort at its max. I loved these from A Pea in the Pod.
Also from Gap and available in a long length. A great option for switching things up from shorts or pants and way more cozy. I wore this all the time and was able to make it casual for running errands or throw on a cute shirt, boots, cardigan and scarf for a more fashionable option.
Obviously this is only a small portion of your new wardrobe but these were things I turned to more frequently than others. Also, a plain black dress (great for adding fun jewelry, shoes, scarves, etc!) and pajama shorts were a must for this pregnant lady!
Shop around, Gap, Old Navy, H&M and Target all have reasonably priced, stylish options. And shop the sales! If you know you will be pregnant when the weather is warmer where you live, buy shorts on sale now! You will be so glad that you did.
I'm going to miss those expandable waisted pants...
Laura
11.21.2012
Thanksgiving Spirits
...not the ghost kind...the drinking kind of spirits.
Now that I'm not pregnant anymore, I'm looking forward to trying one of these yummy fall drinks! Perfect for a last minute addition to your Thanksgiving menu.
Now that I'm not pregnant anymore, I'm looking forward to trying one of these yummy fall drinks! Perfect for a last minute addition to your Thanksgiving menu.
Apple Cider with Champagne and a Pumpkin Pie Spice Rim
Apple Cider, Vanilla Vodka, Ice and Cinnamon
And any SkinnyGirl cocktail or wine!
Lots to be thankful for this year!
Laura
11.20.2012
Thanksgiving Tablecloth
Because of Charlotte's sweet (and recent) birth, we are celebrating Thanksgiving at our house this year!
I wanted to think of a fun idea that we could use every year whether we are with my immediate family, my in-laws family, at our house or somewhere else. Pinterest saves the day again.
I wanted to think of a fun idea that we could use every year whether we are with my immediate family, my in-laws family, at our house or somewhere else. Pinterest saves the day again.
I bought a white tablecloth from Walmart and fabric markers from good ol' Hobby Lobby (although, Walmart might have them, too!) and during our meal on Thursday, we will all write the year and what we are thankful for that year.
I am really excited to see how this progresses year to year as our family grows and I think it is a fun way to unite both sides of the family at the holiday season by reading through all of the previous years thankful wishes!
It's easy to store, easy to travel with and full of memories and thankfulness. Sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving addition, to me!
Let me know if you incorporate this fun memory maker into your holiday plans!
Laura
11.19.2012
Apple Butter Breakfast Cake
Breakfast. Cake.
Breakfast Cake.
Is there much more you need to know?
Whenever you can eat cake for breakfast and it's actually the name of the dish, not just leftover birthday cake or something, it's a good day in my book.
Here is another great recipe for all that Apple Butter you made in the slow cooker, remember that (click here)?
You could also write out this recipe (or this one for Apple Butter Rolls!) and give it as a gift with a can of your homemade apple butter! How thoughtful and domestic of you.
This breakfast cake is moist, flavorful and perfect for a Fall morning. Try it out when your guests are in town for Thanksgiving as a delicious breakfast option!
Breakfast Cake.
Is there much more you need to know?
Whenever you can eat cake for breakfast and it's actually the name of the dish, not just leftover birthday cake or something, it's a good day in my book.
Here is another great recipe for all that Apple Butter you made in the slow cooker, remember that (click here)?
You could also write out this recipe (or this one for Apple Butter Rolls!) and give it as a gift with a can of your homemade apple butter! How thoughtful and domestic of you.
This breakfast cake is moist, flavorful and perfect for a Fall morning. Try it out when your guests are in town for Thanksgiving as a delicious breakfast option!
Apple Butter Breakfast Cake
Slightly Adapted from Musselmans
Yield: 8x8 pan, approximately 12 small servings
Prep Time: 20 min. Total Time: 1 hour, 20 min. plus cooling
Ingredients:
2 1/4 c. all purpose baking mix
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1 1/2 c. apple butter
1/3 c. chopped pecans
1/3 c. sugar
2 tbsp. butter, melted
Directions:
-In large bowl, combine baking mix, milk, 1/2 c. sugar, egg and 2 tbsp. butter. Pour 2/3 of the batter into an 8x8 baking dish that has been coated with non-stick spray.
-Cover with apple butter.
-Top with remaining batter, dropped by spoonfuls.
-Combine pecans, 1/3 c. sugar and 2 tbsp. melted butter in a small bowl and sprinkle on top of cake.
-Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
This cake will fill up the entire dish while baking so do not substitute a smaller baking dish or a disposable pan!
Enjoy!
Laura
Enjoy!
Laura
11.16.2012
Sweet Potato Gratin with Gruyere
I am all about traditional Thanksgiving dishes.
Green Bean Casserole, the recipe on the cream of mushroom soup can.
Stuffing from a box. Not ashamed to admit it.
But last year, my sister in law whipped up this dish that we found from Brown Eyed Baker and we swore to start a new tradition. To make this every year.
Layered sweet potatoes with gruyere cheese, thyme and cream.
Swoon.
I don't want to tell y'all what to do but you must make this dish for Thanksgiving this week. You will not regret it. I want it. Now.
Click here for the link to the original recipe from one of my favorites, Brown Eyed Baker and start a new tradition at your house.
I don't know why I save this dish for Thanksgiving, I should make it year round!
Laura
Green Bean Casserole, the recipe on the cream of mushroom soup can.
Stuffing from a box. Not ashamed to admit it.
But last year, my sister in law whipped up this dish that we found from Brown Eyed Baker and we swore to start a new tradition. To make this every year.
Layered sweet potatoes with gruyere cheese, thyme and cream.
Swoon.
I don't want to tell y'all what to do but you must make this dish for Thanksgiving this week. You will not regret it. I want it. Now.
Click here for the link to the original recipe from one of my favorites, Brown Eyed Baker and start a new tradition at your house.
I don't know why I save this dish for Thanksgiving, I should make it year round!
Laura
11.14.2012
Pumpkin Seed Bark with Salted Caramel
Wondering what else to do with those pumpkin seeds I inspired you to roast yesterday?
Not to assume that I am that inspiring...but, anyways, you know what I mean...right?
Pumpkin Seed Bark!
This couldn't have been easier and so unique.
Continue cooking the sugar until it reaches a deep amber color. Make sure you watch the pan very closely. This is where it is easy to burn the caramel.
As soon as the sugar reaches the dark amber color, carefully add the butter. Whisk until butter is melted.
Remove the pan from the heat and carefully pour in the heavy cream. Whisk until cream is incorporated and caramel is smooth. Whisk in the sea salt flakes.
Not to assume that I am that inspiring...but, anyways, you know what I mean...right?
Pumpkin Seed Bark!
This couldn't have been easier and so unique.
Pumpkin Seed Bark with Salted Caramel
Prep Time: 5 min. Total Time: 10 min. plus cooling
Ingredients:
-Chocolate bark (I love the chocolate flavored almond bark from the grocery store or Wilton Candy melts)
-Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (I did half salted, half sweet)
-Salted Caramel Sauce (see below)
Directions:
-Melt chocolate bark according to package directions (I used half the package) and spread into a thin layer on a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet
-Sprinkle pumpkin seeds over the top and lightly push into the chocolate to stick
-Refrigerate while you make the salted caramel
-Salted Caramel Sauce: (from Two Peas and Their Pod)
1 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into pieces
1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
1/2 tablespoon sea salt flakes
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into pieces
1/2 cup heavy cream, at room temperature
1/2 tablespoon sea salt flakes
Make sure you have all of the ingredients ready. Once you start the caramel sauce you have to pay close attention so you don't burn it. To begin, heat the sugar over medium high-heat in the bottom of a heavy saucepan. When the sugar starts to melt, start whisking the sugar. The sugar will clump up, but keep whisking. It will continue to melt. When the sugar is melted, stop whisking. You can swirl the pan to move the sugar around.
Continue cooking the sugar until it reaches a deep amber color. Make sure you watch the pan very closely. This is where it is easy to burn the caramel.
As soon as the sugar reaches the dark amber color, carefully add the butter. Whisk until butter is melted.
Remove the pan from the heat and carefully pour in the heavy cream. Whisk until cream is incorporated and caramel is smooth. Whisk in the sea salt flakes.
-Let cool for a few minutes before drizzling it over the chocolate and pumpkin seeds. You will have extra so pour the extra into a mason jar or tupperware, let cool and store in the refrigerator.
-After the caramel has cooled, break the bark into pieces and serve.
Enjoy!
Laura
11.13.2012
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Do you still have pumpkin seeds around?
Is this too late?
Either way, you should find some. Scoop out your pumpkin pie pumpkins for Thanksgiving and give those seeds a little roast!
We had a big carving party and the best part was that I kept all the seeds, thoroughly rinsed them, laid them out to dry overnight and roasted the seeds five different ways!
1. Traditional Salted: tossed with a drizzle of EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil) and heavily salted.
2. Italian: tossed with a drizzle of EVOO and a sprinkling of Italian Seasoning.
3. Spicy (for 1 c. seeds): tossed with worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp. melted butter, a dash of cayenne pepper, 1/4 tsp. chili powder and a dash of salt.
4. Mexican (for 1 c. seeds): tossed with worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp. melted butter and 1/4 tsp. cumin.
5. Sweet (for 2 c. seeds): tossed with 2 tbsp, melted butter, 1 tbsp. sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg and 1/8 tsp. allspice.
After coating the seeds with your desired flavor, roast on a foil-lined baking sheet at 250 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until slightly brown!
The sweet was, of course, my favorite. Cinnamon, butter and sugar always wins in my book.
These are a great snack by themselves or throw them in a trail mix, homemade granola, on top of a salad, crushed in a food processor and used as breading on chicken...the possibilities are endless!
Enjoy!
Laura
P.S. Read here for all the health benefits of pumpkin seeds! Not to mention that roasting your own is a lot more affordable than buying them at the store!
Is this too late?
Either way, you should find some. Scoop out your pumpkin pie pumpkins for Thanksgiving and give those seeds a little roast!
We had a big carving party and the best part was that I kept all the seeds, thoroughly rinsed them, laid them out to dry overnight and roasted the seeds five different ways!
1. Traditional Salted: tossed with a drizzle of EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil) and heavily salted.
2. Italian: tossed with a drizzle of EVOO and a sprinkling of Italian Seasoning.
3. Spicy (for 1 c. seeds): tossed with worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp. melted butter, a dash of cayenne pepper, 1/4 tsp. chili powder and a dash of salt.
4. Mexican (for 1 c. seeds): tossed with worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp. melted butter and 1/4 tsp. cumin.
5. Sweet (for 2 c. seeds): tossed with 2 tbsp, melted butter, 1 tbsp. sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg and 1/8 tsp. allspice.
After coating the seeds with your desired flavor, roast on a foil-lined baking sheet at 250 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until slightly brown!
The sweet was, of course, my favorite. Cinnamon, butter and sugar always wins in my book.
These are a great snack by themselves or throw them in a trail mix, homemade granola, on top of a salad, crushed in a food processor and used as breading on chicken...the possibilities are endless!
Enjoy!
Laura
P.S. Read here for all the health benefits of pumpkin seeds! Not to mention that roasting your own is a lot more affordable than buying them at the store!
11.12.2012
Subway Art
The hubster and I recently (and finally!) finished decorating our entry way (well, almost finished).
Some call it nesting. I'll take it, whatever the motivation was!
I originally wanted a large sunburst mirror but also realized that we had a lot of fun pictures from our travels and around Colorado that we didn't have a space for in our house. I like the idea of a gallery wall but I don't like the commitment (that's a LOT of holes in the wall) and the tedious job of measuring where they should all go, etc.
I was inspired by this picture from Pinterest and went to town! Well, Ikea actually. I went to Ikea. Which is basically like its own town.
Some call it nesting. I'll take it, whatever the motivation was!
I originally wanted a large sunburst mirror but also realized that we had a lot of fun pictures from our travels and around Colorado that we didn't have a space for in our house. I like the idea of a gallery wall but I don't like the commitment (that's a LOT of holes in the wall) and the tedious job of measuring where they should all go, etc.
I was inspired by this picture from Pinterest and went to town! Well, Ikea actually. I went to Ikea. Which is basically like its own town.
Ikea has these great shelves that I hung for books in Charlotte's room. They come in black, tan or white and would be super easy to paint if you were wanting another color. They also come in the length we used in the entry way, 45 1/4" or, what we used in Charlotte's room, 21 3/4".
They are so easy to install and only cost $9.99 each! Deal!
I also loaded up on Ikea frames while I was there and I think the most expensive one was $4.99. I only prefer the finer things in life, obviously.
So this is turning into a much longer story than I first anticipated.
I knew that besides pictures of our great friends, families and travels, I wanted to do a seasonal subway art 8x10, as well. I found this jackpot of a link on Pinterest to FREE Subway Art printables! I simply followed their great instructions and uploaded the months that I wanted to Picasa and ordered them from the Walgreens down the street. One hour later and my frame was all ready for Halloween! And Thanksgiving! And Christmas! You get the idea. I didn't print them all but instead printed a few holiday pieces and a neutral, year-round print for the other months.
I am so excited about this and that it is DONE! Well, we still have a few empty frames but we also have a baby on the way who I am sure will have a few pictures taken of her. Just a few. I stored the rest of the prints in the frame, behind the current month. How simple is that?
Click here for all the free Subway Art printables and get to holiday decorating!
I think this would make an awesome Christmas gift, too! A frame with all the months printed out- so simple and fun!
I should go ahead and switch to the Thanksgiving print now, huh?
Laura
11.09.2012
Holiday Gifts: On My List
To close out our holiday gift round-up week, here are some things that are on my own wish list for this year!
Kitchen Edition
Beauty Edition
Fashion Edition
Random Edition
You better believe Christmas music is playing full force in this house already!
Laura
(to fit my Emile Henry Ruffle Pie Pan)
Still perusing, too!
I hope y'all have gotten some good ideas of gifts to give to your loving family and friends or to add to your own list this year! Here is a link to all the gifts this week:
Kitchen Edition
Beauty Edition
Fashion Edition
Random Edition
You better believe Christmas music is playing full force in this house already!
Laura
11.08.2012
Holiday Gifts: Random
{All this week I will be compiling my favorite gifts for the upcoming holiday season! Click on the name of the product to be taken to my blog post about why I love each product!}
And not to leave these three wonderful, yet an eclectic grouping, of gifts out!
And not to leave these three wonderful, yet an eclectic grouping, of gifts out!
See what I mean? Great gifts but not really a good category to place them in. Thanks for understanding, y'all.
One more day of holiday gifts tomorrow!
Laura
11.07.2012
Holiday Gifts: Fashion Edition
{All this week I will be compiling my favorite gifts for the upcoming holiday season! Click on the name of the product to be taken to my blog post about why I love each product!}
The gifts in today's holiday gift round-up are for the fashionista in your life. Well, the practical, simple fashionista. That's how I roll.
The gifts in today's holiday gift round-up are for the fashionista in your life. Well, the practical, simple fashionista. That's how I roll.
(BEST vest ever!)
Love, love, love all these things.
I'm serious about that vest- it's awesome.
Laura
11.06.2012
Holiday Gifts: Beauty Edition
{All this week I will be compiling my favorite gifts for the upcoming holiday season! Click on the name of the product to be taken to my blog post about why I love each product!}
Today on the holiday gift round-up, gifts for the beautiful ladies in your life! Not to be left out, guys can also use these products for glowing skin and hair. You deserve to be pampered too, you know?
Today on the holiday gift round-up, gifts for the beautiful ladies in your life! Not to be left out, guys can also use these products for glowing skin and hair. You deserve to be pampered too, you know?
You can't go wrong with these beauty products! I love getting face wash, lotion, etc. for Christmas gifts because it throws in a few practical gifts with the fun, non-practical ones!
You've got to try that Oribe spray...
Laura
11.05.2012
Holiday Gifts: Kitchen Edition
{All this week I will be compiling my favorite gifts for the upcoming holiday season! Click on the name of the product to be taken to my blog post about why I love each product!}
First up in this holiday gift round-up are gifts for your favorite chef or baker in your life!
First up in this holiday gift round-up are gifts for your favorite chef or baker in your life!
All of these are products that I use religiously in my own kitchen! Perfect for the chef or baker in your own life!
Remember, click on the name of the product to be taken to a post about how great the item is and where you can purchase it!
Check back tomorrow for more holiday gift ideas!
Laura
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