April 2020

Blueberry Cream Cheese Babka

Have you ever seen something while mindlessly scrolling through your Pinterest feed that catches your eye? You click it to look closer and eventually follow it to a website with stunning pictures. That was me the other day when I came across this recipe for Blueberry Cream Cheese Babka. Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I recommend and hope you do too! For more information, please read my full disclosure policy. I have never made Babka before but I’m not intimidated by yeast goods so I figured I could tackle something like this. The last time I was at the grocery store I stocked up on yeast packets because they were really hard to find (that and bread…

Friday Favorites: Lovevery

Each Friday I want to talk about something that I absolutely loved this week. I want to highlight something material, delicious, or an experience or activity that brought me or my family joy. My Friday Favorites are things that enrich my life and make my life easier, exciting, or generally happy. This week’s Friday Favorites highlights one of my favorite baby brands: Lovevery. Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I recommend and hope you do too! For more information, please read my full disclosure policy. I had everything I could possibly need or want on the cusp of Daniel’s arrival into this world. Then I learned about Lovevery. My friend whose babe is 8 weeks…

Breastfeeding Basics

Daniel is a boob baby. In fact, he is exclusively breastfed. I didn’t think in a million years that this would be a thing that I not only do, but do well. It’s both a sacrifice and the ultimate gift. In the beginning, I set an expiration at 6 months but here we are at 7 months and the thought of him no longer needing me this way makes me want to cry. There have been quite a number of things that really helped with the success of our breastfeeding journey. Even with a baby who is exclusively breastfed there are some breastfeeding basics you don’t want to miss. Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I…

Diaper Bag Essentials & Organization

I have always had a thing for bags. It is my favorite kind of accessory. I’m not talking designer bags either. My favorite purse is from Target and I’ve been known to be quite fond of reusable bags too (I come from a long line of bag ladies). When I was pregnant I spent a great deal of time researching diaper bags because I wanted the perfect one. It had to be cute, durable, my style, and also dad-friendly. I ended up finding the perfect diaper bag and couldn’t wait to pack it full of diaper bag essentials. Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I recommend and hope you do too! For more information, please read…

Friday Favorites: “Never Touch A” Books

Each Friday I want to talk about something that I absolutely loved this week. I want to highlight something material, delicious, or an experience or activity that brought me or my family joy. My Friday Favorites are things that enrich my life and make my life easier, exciting, or generally happy. This week I want to highlight the “Never Touch A” series of books. Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I recommend and hope you do too! For more information, please read my full disclosure policy. I loved reading as a kid and I still do. I want to instill a love for reading and books in Danny as well. It was not until relatively recently that Danny showed…

Playroom Organization & Inspiration

I have a love-hate relationship with things. Do you know what kind of things I am talking about? Things that lay around appearing to be clutter. Certain things that don’t have a designated home or don’t even have utility in the home in which they reside. Do these things sound familiar? When I was pregnant I had a lot of anxiety about things. All things, really, as most pregnant women do. But the sheer amount of things a baby requires? Anxiety. In recent days, Danny has been acquiring even MORE things which has necessitated some crafty playroom organization and inspiration on my part. Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I recommend and hope you do…

Best Baby Teething Toys

Teething is NO fun. It is unpredictable, uncomfortable, and involves a lot of chewing and drooling. Daniel has not cut any teeth yet and we are 7 months into this baby thing. He may not have teeth yet but he sure is chewing and drooling as if they are imminent. We are in a perpetual state of bib replacement and teething remedies. I put together a quick list of the best baby teething toys we have around and Danny’s favorite things to chew on. Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I recommend and hope you do too! For more information, please read my full disclosure policy. Okay, funny story. In between writing that first section and finishing…

Prime Rib Roast

Okay so I was debating on actually posting a recipe and story about prime rib and just decided to go for it. My family LOVES a good prime rib roast so I will go ahead and share our favorite strategies for making the best prime rib roast! Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I recommend and hope you do too! For more information, please read my full disclosure policy. Ordinarily my family reserves prime rib for the Christmas holiday. We always have prime rib roast on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. One year I got a small rib roast at my local grocer on a huge discount after the Christmas holidays. I squeezed it into a foodsaver bag…

Easy Cake Batter Dip

One of the things I have been trying to do recently is ensure we are using our resources effectively. None of us particularly want to go to the grocery store during this pandemic. We have been very efficient about eating leftovers and re-purposing things so that we’re not eating the same thing every day. Today I decided to re-purpose some ingredients for easy cake batter dip! Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I recommend and hope you do too! For more information, please read my full disclosure policy. So I am staring into the abyss that is my refrigerator and I notice one of those huge containers of yogurt. Danny has started eating solids and…

Mushroom Risotto

My love for a delicious creamy risotto stems from a meal I had when I was a kid. My family was at Le Cellier, the restaurant in Epcot’s Canada. I ordered the filet mingon topped with truffle butter served atop a bed of the most delicious, creamy, savory mushroom risotto. Just to let you know, I earn a modest commission off of purchases made through Amazon affiliate links on this page. Don’t worry, it is of no extra cost to you. I love the products I recommend and hope you do too! For more information, please read my full disclosure policy. My family is obsessed with this meal. We snagged a reservation when we went to Disney in January and all of us, for the most part, ordered that exact meal. My favorite seafood restaurant in Raleigh does an amazing Parmesan-inspired risotto which is also…