Friday, February 7, 2014

a valentine's day dessert party

in celebration of valentine's day, i threw a little dessert party with a few of our close friends. my goal was to keep it simple, but to add diy touches. the "theme" of the party was gold, glitter, pink, and confetti. and what a happy combination it was! [i'm in a major pink and gold phase right now...] so if you're looking for a little inspiration for a valentine's get-together, whether its just you and your guy or you and your friends, look no further.
i made this five-layer chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream, and while i think tall cakes are certainly eye-candy, it was so hard to cut! cake was falling all over the place...
 ^it might be blurry, but i don't care...still love this picture!
happy [almost] valentine's day friends!!

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

diy ombre heart banner

over christmas i made a pine cone garland. i loved the way it decorated the mantle and what it added to the room...so i was sad to take it down come january. to replace it, i decided to make a pink ombre heart banner for valentine's day. it is just the perfect touch. not to mention, super easy. i'm in love.
supplies: 7 sheets of craft paper (each in a different shade from red to light pink, roll of twine, hot glue gun and glue sticks, scissors, and a pencil.

directions: 1. using a pencil, sketch a heart about 2 inches high and 3 inches wide 2. cut out the heart - this is your "stencil" 3. use the stencil heart to cut out 4 hearts from each piece of craft paper 4. lay the hearts out flat and side by side, about 1.5 inches apart - two of each color 5. roll out the twine and hot glue it to each heart. leave at least two inches at the beginning and end of the banner, then cut the twine off the spool. 6. using the other two hearts left of each color, hot glue them on top of their corresponding heart. let dry. 7. and you're done. voila! seriously...that easy. 8. using a nail, position how you would like across your mantle, across a table, or on your wall.

if you want your banner longer or shorter, measure the twine the length you would like before you cut it and you might have to add more or less hearts, accordingly.
hope you enjoy this little fun valentine's craft!  

Monday, February 3, 2014

weekend things.

over the weekend, we threw a fun little valentine's party with a few of our close friends. i always love any excuse to get dressed up and throw some color on my lips. more on the party coming soon!
we had a church dodgeball tournament to help raise money for student mission trips this summer. this handsome man of mine was last year's reigning champ. i loved watching him dress goofy with his high school guys and get out there and play again. i played one game with my middle school small group girls, but mostly watched from the side lines :)
and one things for sure....boys will be boys. i'm pretty sure this is their victory huddle.

and then of course, there was the super bowl. i'm not gonna lie...my favorite part of the whole game was the food and bruno mars half time show.

how was your weekend!?

Thursday, January 30, 2014

chocolate chip donuts with blueberry glaze

we recently had a snow day, and the poor south was sent into chaos. we decided not to brave the storm, so snuggled up indoors. A day inside, by the fire, with my honey - I sure can't complain about that. and these chocolate chip donuts with a blueberry glaze were the perfect snow day treat. 
the husband gave his stamp of approval [he never holds back what he thinks--which i so appreciate!] so i knew they were a win. sure, these donuts aren't made bananas and coconut oil, but they are healthier than your average donut. number one, they are baked instead of fried [yay for donut molds!]. and number two, there's a little protein and antioxidant boost from the greek yogurt and blueberries. so there.... a "healthy" treat.


chocolate chip donuts with blueberry glaze


ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cake flour
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 large egg, & 1 egg yolk
  • 3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar + 1 tbsp.
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup vanilla soy milk
  • 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
for the glaze:
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp. vanilla soy milk

preheat the oven to 350 F. in a mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients. in a separate bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar. add in the eggs, vanilla extract, and soy milk and continue to whisk. pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until fully incorporated. mix in the chocolate chips. spray a donut pan with cooking spray and add dough to each pan. the key here is to add minimal dough to each mold. i'm always tempted to pile it up, but with a donut pan, you only need a little dough in each. bake at 350 for 15 minutes. 

while the donuts are cooking, prepare the glaze. using a food processor puree the blueberries. transfer the pureed berries to a bowl and whisk in the powdered sugar. add the vanilla extract and soy milk. for a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar. refrigerate for about 30 minutes, while the donuts are cooling. 

once the donuts have been cooked and cooled, dip each one into the bowl of glaze. let dry, and enjoy!

eat up, and stay warm!

Monday, January 27, 2014

sunday soup

this weekend we enjoyed some hearty vegetarian chili. it might be vegetarian...but seriously, don't let that fool you. this soup is filling. it doesn't mess around. not only is it a heavy dose of vegetables and fiber, but it is packed full of vitamin c and beta-carotene. and oh my, with this sinus infection that i have going on right now [eww i know], i have been in some serious need of vitamin c.
another note: this soup could feed an army. this recipe makes so.much.food. so if you're having a dinner party, or if you're just into eating cheap for a week and having leftover soup every day for dinner [like we are] then this soup is for you.

anywho, if you're looking for some healthy comfort food on these cold days, then look no further.

vegetarian chili


ingredients:
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 can low-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup corn, frozen
  • 1/2 cup quinoa [dried]
  • 1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes and green chiles
  • 4 oz. tomato paste
  • 3 cups low sodium vegetable stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 tbsp. cumin
  • 2 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp. cayenne
  • salt and pepper
  • sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
  • sour cream
  • 1 avocado, diced

first brown the garlic with 2 tbsp. olive oil in a dutch oven on medium low heat. next, add the onions and continue to cook for about 10 minutes - until onions are soft and translucent. then, add the bell pepper, sweet potato, and the rest of the olive oil and cook another 10 minutes, stirring constantly. add all the beans, corn, diced tomatoes, tomatoes and green chiles, and tomato paste. stir together. immediately add the vegetable stock and water. bring to a boil. once the water gets to a boil, add 1/2 cup dried quinoa. reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, 30 minutes. finish it off by adding the spices - cumin, paprika, chili powder, cayenne, salt and pepper.

serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and top with diced avocado. oh yes...and don't forget the cornbread!

Friday, January 24, 2014

date night in: s'mores by the fire

living on a budget, scofield and i are always trying to think of creative and cheap date ideas. i think this is one of my favorite so far...indoor s'mores! we threw on our coziest clothes and enjoyed a night together right in the comfort of our own home.
scofield was on fire duty, so i took care of the s'more preparations. i lost my fire privileges a long time ago as a camp counselor when i took my middle school girls on an over-night hiking and camping trip, and then couldn't get the fire started to make our dinner. the director of the camp had to come find us in the dark and make our fire. from then on, i decided that was the end of any fire-making endeavors for me... 
of course, we quickly found out this could be a fire hazard...so if you plan on making indoor s'mores, be careful! :)
have a happy happy weekend! xoxo.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

sunday soup: cauliflower and cheese soup

sunday soup #2, and it's wednesday...i know...
the only thing better than broccoli and cheese soup is cauliflower and cheese soup. the first time i made this soup, i added entirely too much cheese. i served it for dinner with an apology [don't we do that far too often!?], warning my husband that it was far too cheesy - by accident, of course. his response: "i love a cheesy accident..." and that's why i love him...

cauliflower and cheese soup


ingredients:
  • 1 head cauliflower, rinsed and chopped
  • 1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, whole
  • 4 stalks celery, rinsed and chopped
  • 2 cups low sodium vegetable stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup half-n-half
  • 3/4 cup asiago cheese
  • 3/4 cup gruyere cheese
  • 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • dried thyme
  • dried rosemary
preheat oven to 400 F and roast cauliflower and three whole garlic cloves for 20-30 minutes, until golden brown. season with olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary before cooking. while the cauliflower is roasting, heat 1 tbsp. of olive on medium heat in a dutch oven and cook the garlic until slightly golden. add another tbsp. of olive oil and the onions. cook until soft and translucent. add the chopped celery and cook until soft. once the cauliflower is done cooking, throw away the whole cloves and add the cauliflower to the dutch oven. pour in 2 cups water and 2 cups of vegetable broth and bring to a boil. reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 20 minutes. 

next, add the soup (in batches) to a food processor, magic bullet, or immersion blender and blend until smooth and creamy. once all soup has been blended, add back to the stove and add the half-n-half and cheese. stir until smooth and season with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary to taste. 

serve with fresh baked bread, and you've got a decadent meal in no time. enjoy!

Monday, January 20, 2014

weekend things

saturday was the most lovely. i had the weekend off from work [eeek!], so i took full advantage. i slept in until an embarrassingly late hour...but hey, sometimes you just need it. then we made breakfast and coffee, and read all morning by the fire. i did some yoga in the late afternoon and caught up on cleaning around the house. it was a refreshing day, to say the least..

how was your weekend!?

Friday, January 17, 2014

baked beet chips

beets have a special place in my heart. maybe it's the fact that nature produces such a vibrant, radiant, gorgeous shade of pink. or maybe it's because they are so good for you, and i instantly feel better about myself when eating them. but i think it's mostly the fact that you can use them for so many different things - i've put them in cakes, brownieshummus, and even marinara sauce. today i have a recipe for eating them by themselves...homemade baked beet chips. there's no added sugar [like in a cake], but i promise they won't disappoint!
when i made them recently, i was so excited to sit down for lunch and eat them with my spinach grilled cheese. i mean, i had all the bases covered - carb, protein, vegetable. my meal was colorful [which is always a good sign..unless, of course, the color comes from food coloring] with the green spinach and pink beets. my husband was home for lunch on this particular day [score!] and so i was finishing up in the kitchen while he went ahead and sat at the table. i came to sit down and join him and all the beet chips were gone. gone! disappeared. vanished. just like that. it's like the time my dog ate three batches of chocolate chip cookies in five minutes. but hey...i told you they wouldn't disappoint. apparently the husband's stamp of approval is all over them.
now there are a lot of ways to make beet chips. some people cook them on super low for hours upon hours to dry them out. other people cook them on high for about 30 minutes. other people fry them. my first go at beet chips, i completely burnt the whole batch. so i tried my own method..kind of a mixture of all of them to get results i was pleased with.

baked beet chips


  • 3 medium sized beets, washed and peeled
  • 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • sea salt

preheat the oven to 250 F. lay the beets on their side and cut off the ends. then, using a sharp knife or mandolin, cut the beets into slices as thin as you can get them. the thinner, the better. put all the slices in a large plastic bag with 1 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil. shake them around until they are all coated. spread a piece of parchment paper over a large cookie sheet. place each slice flat on the parchment paper. cook on 250 F for 30 minutes. flip, and cook another 30 minutes. flip one more time to cook 30 minutes again. that's three increments of 30 minutes at 250. next, increase the heat to speed up the cooking - this gets them crispier, faster, but reduces the chance of burning them. put the heat on 325 and cook for 15 minutes. turn the oven off and let sit in the oven for another 15 minutes. 

some slices will be thinner than others, so check periodically as the beets are cooking to make sure they are burning. you may need to take some of the smaller pieces out earlier than the others as they will cook faster.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

5 easy tips for living green

1 - recycle
at our last house we didn't have recycling pick up, like we do now. we feel so lucky to have this feature at our home, now, because all we have to do is put our plastic bottles and recyclable materials into our container and set it at the end of the driveway. the cities comes to pick it up and does the rest - easy as pie! we have no reason not to recycle..
through this simple act of recycling, repreve turns our plastic bottles (6 to be exact) into clothes we can wear...like this "green" beanie. but really...it's green. are you convinced to recycle yet? great brands, such as north face and patagonia use repreve materials, too. what about now?

2 - lower your thermostat
another easy option is to keep your thermostat a little lower in the winter months. it's an easy way to live green, while also cutting down on utility costs. we always have blankets on hand, and yes sometimes i wear my repreve beanie indoors. but hey, who doesn't love an extra reason to cuddle up with your loved one under a warm blanket!?
3 - use your library card
not only does borrowing books from the library save you money, but it also saves on the ink & paper that goes into printing books.
4 - use reusable shopping bags
when grocery shopping, opt out of plastic and bring your own reusable bag to tote home your groceries. you'd be surprised at how much you can fit into those bags...
5 - go thrifting
shop for your furniture and unique pieces at thrift stores instead of buying new. i'm already a huge thrifter, so hearing it is good for the environment stirred up my passion all the more.

i'd love to hear your tips and tricks for living a green lifestyle below!

and don't forget...repreve is hosting a #turnitgreen contest to celebrate the x games. all you have to do to enter is share an image or video on instagram, twitter, or vine, about how you live green and use the hashtag #turnitgreen. 5 winners will be picked at random, and then the image or video out of those 5 with the most votes will win a $5,000 cash prize. the other four will win a repreve jacket and go-pro camera.


--

this post is sponsored by repreve, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Monday, January 13, 2014

sunday soup

i'm super excited to start a new series - sunday soup. given, it is monday night when i am posting this..but hey, sometimes life gets crazy and you have to shift your schedule a bit. sundays are the best for resting and spending time together. and to me, there's no better day to cozy up by a fire, soup in hand. so today, i'm sharing with you some butternut squash and apple soup. i've tried a lot of different butternut squash recipes and couldn't decide which route i liked best - sweet or savory. i settled on sweet, and put together this little recipe.
the first time i made the soup, though, my husband asked me if we were eating warm applesauce for dinner... ha! kids and husbands...they always tell you what they really think :) but don't worry, i made some adjustments.

butternut squash and apple soup


  • 4 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
  • 1 apple [i used honey crisp], peeled and chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
  • 1/2 cup apple cider
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • pinch of cloves
  • 1 tbsp. maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup cream
  • salt and pepper, to taste

melt the butter on medium heat in a dutch oven. add the onions and cook on low heat until soft and translucent. add the garlic and cook until slightly browned. next add the butternut squash and apple. pour in the vegetable stock and apple cider. bring to a boil. cover, and reduce to a simmer. let simmer for about 30-45 minutes, until squash is soft. add the spices and salt and pepper. transfer the soup, in batches, to a food processor or blender. blend until completely smooth and creamy. return to heat and add the maple syrup and cream. taste, and add more salt and pepper, if needed.

we love ours served alongside a grilled cheese.
enjoy!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

space

while attending a women's retreat a while back, we read and reflected on a series of poems. these poems really spoke to me and stayed with me, so i thought i would share them here. with the start of a new year, i think this poem [below], titled 'fire', could not be more perfect. i so often busy myself, taking up each and every space in my day with a task. the most difficult thing for me is to just be. i feel guilty or lazy if i'm not "productive." but the reality is, sometimes opening up some space in your day, removing items from your agenda, and just relaxing is productive. especially as an introvert, i need this time to be a better wife, a better friend, a harder worker, and to take better care of myself.
so, my word for 2014 is space. for me, this space looks like sitting down with my bible and my journal, reading, reflecting, and writing. this is the space where my fire comes from - my very source of life.

fire


what makes a fire burn
is space between the logs,
a breathing space.
too much of a good thing,
too many logs
packed in too tight
can douse the flames
almost as surely
as a pail of water would.

so building fires
requires attention
to the spaces in between,
as much as to the wood.

when we are able to build
open spaces
in the same way
we have learned
to pile on the logs,
then we can come to see how
it is fuel, and absence of the fuel
together, that make fire possible.

we only need to lay a log
lightly from time to time.
a fire
grows
simply because the space is there,
with openings
in which the flame
that knows just how it wants to burn
can find its way.

-judy brown

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

to my husband

just so you know...
i'd go anywhere with you.

xoxo,
lauren
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