YAY!

I'm not really sure if California had a winter this year, but with three days in a row in the high seventies? Not complaining one bit. I love the first tiny sprouts of my hydrangeas coming back each year. It means spring has almost sprung. YAY!

Have you seen the new buntings in my shop yet? Go see!

YAY for the weekend!

handmade heart day

Happy Valentines Day! So many cute ideas floating around blogs and Pinterest this year. The three big kids each found something just right to create for classmates. They may be too big to wear coordinating Valentines shirts anymore (they were so little!), but they're not too cool to craft with Mommy yet.

Chloe's (p)inspiration: inhabitots

Chayse's (p)inspiration: mer mag

Camden's (p)inspiration: Urban Comfort

juuuuice!

One of Cole's true loves is orange juice. 'Juice' was one of the first, in the handful of words he has in his repertoire. And each morning starts exactly the same: 1. Wake up... 2. Forceful finger-pointing down the stairs, toward the kitchen... 3. "JUUUUUUISSSSSHHHH!"

So I almost died when I saw this Target ad. Cole even says "juish" with puckered lips just like this kid! And NOW, he is obsessed with this YouTube video. Here is a look five years into my future:

ten on ten: february

ten on ten: Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month.
Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments!

He likes to bake.

And sample, too! What good baker doesn't?
We were making Ina's crumb cake for Sunday breakfast, 'cause it's sooo good.

it's been one of THOSE weeks.

banana muffin remix

I was inspired this week to create an easy and super healthy breakfast idea, for a certain typically-non-breakfast-eater in my life. Who is now non-breakfast-eating for TWO! I thought I'd revisit my Best Banana Muffins recipe which are deeeeelicious for a morning treat, but perhaps not the most wholesome snack. So I mixed it up a little... cutting the sugar in half, and boosting the Superfoods value with honey, whole grains, cinnamon, applesauce, and walnuts.

Recipe remix:

1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
3/4 cup 1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temp
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon maple syrup honey
1 1/2 cups 1 cup all purpose flour + 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sour cream or organic low-fat plain yogurt
2 1 small ripe bananas, mashed + 3 oz. unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup finely chopped raw walnuts

Preheat oven to 350. Line mini muffin tin.

1. Beat butter and sugar until light & fluffy. Mix in eggs (one at a time), vanilla, and syrup honey. Scrape down bowl.
2. Sift flours, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon into wet ingredients. Mix on low until just incorporated. Scrape down bowl.
3. Add yogurt, banana, applesauce, flax, and walnuts. Mix and scrape.
4. Spoon batter into 12 24 mini muffin cups. Top with walnut halves if desired. Bake for 24-25 11-12 minutes.

{Makes over 4 dozen minis.}

Quite a perfect, portable pick-me-up... whether you're prego or not!