but first comes love

Cinnamon Butter Recipe

Monday, November 18, 2024

Looking for something tasty and simple to take along to all of your holiday gatherings? This cinnamon butter is always a hit! I like to make a bunch for Thanksgiving & put it in cute little jars. It is a great addition to your holiday feasts, and it makes a wonderful gift for friends and neighbors.

R E C I P E

4 sticks unsalted, softened butter

1 cup of honey

1 cup of powdered sugar

4 tsp cinnamon

Mix it all together in a stand mixer and divide into jars to serve and share.

Easy Sourdough Pizza Lunch Kit

Thursday, January 11, 2024

We are all fans of easy when it comes to lunch + kids. I love these easy, homemade pizza lunch kits. They are like the classic lunchables of our childhood...but way better. They taste better, they have better ingredients, and it takes up way less room in your fridge.

SOURDOUGH PIZZA LUNCH KIT

2 cups flour

1 cup sourdough discard

1/2 cup water

1 tsp salt

Mix together and let rise for 2-4 hours or overnight.

Roll out the dough and cut with a biscuit cutter.

Cook over low heat on both sides for a few minutes or until done.

Once they have cooled you can top them with a marinara sauce of your choice + cheese.

These are great to make ahead and use throughout the week for lunch or snacks!

Enjoy!

Halloween 2023

Wednesday, November 01, 2023

No tricks, just treats for this Halloween gang. The kids had so much fun with their costumes this year.

We had a park ranger, Yogi Bear, and a ballerina. The boys have known exactly what they wanted to be since July, but sis changed her mind a dozen times. So glad she finally settled on a ballerina, because it was precious!

Hope you had a lot of fun this season!

Fall Fun

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

We have just been over here enjoying all of the the fall festivities, but there is still some fun to be had. I love this season and all of the traditions that come with it. Carving pumpkins, making caramel apples, jumping in leaves. We try to squeeze in as much as we can & add a couple new fun things each year. Here is a list of all some of the activities we enjoy.

FESTIVE FALL ACTIVITIES

Jump in Leaves

Carve Pumpkins

Bake Apple Pie

Make Homemade Costumes

Go on a Fall Scavenger Hunt

Visit the Pumpkin Patch

Sip Hot Apple Cider

Decorate for Halloween

Make Pumpkin Seeds

Eat Dinner in the Field

Ride in the Combine

Go to a Fall Festival

Hang Twinkle Lights

Make Caramel Apples

What are your favorite fall activities?

Dining Room Inspiration

Friday, September 01, 2023

It has been a while since I have shared an inspiration post. I was on a roll when right before we moved and then we got here, and well...things didn't move all that quickly. While I love planning all the pretty details, there were (and still are) a lot of not so pretty things that needed done first. So, I kind of stopped doing these for a bit.

If I am being honest, I have felt a little uninspired by the construction mess and long timeline. However, this dining room space is something that I am so excited to see finished and I am going to keep envisioning it until it is a reality. Someday it will happen.

light fixture / table / hutch / chairs

Here's the thing though...I imagine all the conversations to be had in this space, all of the games to be played at the table, all of the birthday candles to be blown out, Christmas cookies to be decorated, and pumpkins to be carved. Those things can (and will) happen regardless of the state of the room. Even if we don't have the perfect light fixture or the right rug...all of life's moments will still happen.

Don't put your life on pause for a renovation. Let life happen in the middle of it, host book club, take the pictures, plan the party...it is okay if your house isn't perfect.

* This turned into a pep talk to myself that no one asked for.

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First Day of School

Thursday, August 10, 2023

I have no idea where the summer went, but here we are starting a new school year. We made it out of the house on time and I don't think we forgot anything. That is a win. The kids were so excited to go see all of their friends and I only cried a tiny bit. My babies are growing up, and I don't know how I feel about it.

ROWAN

How old are you: eight

What is your favorite food: broccoli

What is your favorite animal: sloth

What do you like to do for fun: making bracelets

What is your favorite color: green

What is your favorite movie: Ninja Turtles

What are you looking forward to learning this year: exploratories

What do you want to be when you grow up: a zookeeper, an artist, or a national park ranger

What do you love most: rascal and reggie!

CREW

How old are you: five

What is your favorite food: corndogs

What is your favorite animal: turtles

What do you like to do for fun: playing with bubba

What is your favorite color: orange

What is your favorite movie: Ninja Turtles

What are you looking forward to learning this year: reading

What do you want to be when you grow up: a ninja turtle

What do you love most: reggie and my family

ARDEN

How old are you: four and three quarters

What is your favorite food: mac and cheese

What is your favorite animal: unicorns

What do you like to do for fun: family game night

What is your favorite color: pink and purple

What is your favorite movie: Ninja Turtles

What are you looking forward to learning this year: everything

What do you want to be when you grow up: a veterinarian

What do you love most: my family and my turtle

Rowan's Last Day of School

Wednesday, August 09, 2023

Summer seems to have slipped away, and I took a little break from blogging. I never even posted Rowan's last day of school interview. So here it goes...on the very last day of summer.

How old are you: eight

What is your favorite food: mac and cheese

What is your favorite animal: sloths

What do you like to do for fun: having movie night

What is your favorite color: green

What is your favorite movie: Clifford

What was your favorite thing to learn about this year: math

What do you want to be when you grow up: a zookeeper

What do you love most: rascal the raccoon

Crew's Last Day of School

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Somehow we have reached today...the last day of school for Crew! Next stop, Kindergarten...which I am 100% not ready for! But first, we have a full summer of fun to enjoy, and we are going to soak up every second of it.

AND in true last day fashion...here is the cutest little interview. These answers might be my favorite!

How old are you: five and a half

What is your favorite food: cantaloupe

What is your favorite animal: turtles

What do you like to do for fun: swimming

What is your favorite color: light green

What is your favorite movie: Luca

What was your favorite thing to learn about this year: Jesus

What do you want to be when you grow up: a basketball player

What do you love most: God and Jesus

Oh goodness, I love him!

Quiche Recipe

Saturday, April 15, 2023

With chickens on the farm, we usually have an abundance of eggs & I love finding new ways to use them.

Quiche is easy, tasty, and I love that you can mix it up with whatever you have on hand!

Q U I C H E

6 large eggs

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup milk

8 oz shredded Gouda cheese

1 1/2 cups of chopped veggies (I did broccoli, red bell pepper, and red onion)

1/2 cup crumbled bacon (or real bacon bits if you want to skip a step!)

salt + pepper

Mix together & pour into an uncooked pie crust. Bake at 375 for 35 minutes.

I used a store bought pie crust, but you could also make your own. There are really so many ways to change this recipe up and make it your own.

Enjoy!

Happy Monday

Monday, April 10, 2023

We had to get some purple field pictures before planting season begins!

I got this cute shirt from Old Navy over the weekend and it was perfect for these pictures!

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Iced Coffee at Home

Thursday, January 12, 2023

One thing that I miss about living in town...closer proximity to the coffee shop! I will say that it makes going to town for coffee an extra special treat, but I have also had to get good at making iced coffee at home. I think I have finally perfected my favorite recipe (and by recipe I mean unmeasured combination of ingredients), so it is time to share!

Simply froth together half & half, honey, and coconut extract to make a naturally sweetened cold foam. I use this handheld frother. Then pour Stok Cold Brew over a glass of ice and top with the half & half mixture. Stir and enjoy!

It is really that easy! And while it isn't the same as my favorite chocolate cold foam cold brew from the coffee shop, it is a pretty great alternative when I am not making a trip to town.

Built-in Inspiration

Friday, December 30, 2022

For Christmas, Dane got me all the materials that we need to finish up our fireplace and built-ins! AND the material for our mudroom locker system, but I will share about that another time! For now I have been dreaming up all the ways to fill the built-ins with cozy items that give the space some style!

frames: I have a couple of these vintage looking, pressed glass frames and they are my absolute favorite. I think they showcase old family photos so well. I also think they would be beautiful in the kitchen with a tattered and well loved, handwritten recipe.

hardware: The bottom of the built-ins is going to have cabinet doors! Just making my hidden storage dreams come true. Anyway...these pulls are so sweet! I originally thought that we would use them in the kitchen, but I think the living room will be a better fit.

storage bins: I plan on putting some family games and some of my books in the cabinets, but I am sure we will put some little toys + coloring books and crayons in there as well. Some storage bins will help organize those little items and make it easy to pull out when the kids want to use them.

pretty books: I love the idea of a little stack of books on the shelves. I feel like it makes things look so cozy!

canister: I thought this canister was so pretty with the textured glass and gold lid. I imagine it on top of a couple books.

marshall speaker: I have been eyeing this speaker for a while. I love the vintage vibe.

I cannot wait to get started styling these built-ins. And then adding festive touches for each season or holiday! EEEP! It is going to be so good.

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Free Gift Tag Printable

Thursday, December 01, 2022

Happy December. Wrapping gifts is one of those things that people love or hate. Personally, I LOVE IT! I enjoy picking out pretty paper, finding ribbon and yarn that matches, and finishing it up with a tag.

For years I have used my favorite label maker, but this year I am adding something different to the mix. I designed these cute little gift tags to add to each gift. Some are funny, some are sweet, all are sure to give your packages an extra festive touch. Just add a little to & from on the back.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

So are you team gangsta wrapper, or do you dread the holiday task? I like to make it a whole event...complete with a holiday drink and Christmas music playing in the background.

DIY Christmas Card Book

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Well, I ordered our Christmas cards for 2022. I enjoy picking out a card that showcases our favorite family photos (even if it takes me a full day to make a decision) & I love it when our mailbox starts to fill up with cards from those we love. It is such a special tradition that I look forward to year after year.

A couple years ago I put together a little book of our Christmas cards from years past. It is so fun to flip through each December & it is easy to add new cards to each holiday season.

How to:

- Laminate cards: I use this laminator and these laminating pouches.

- Hole punch the corner

- Put them on a binder ring

- Add a cover: I cut the back off of an old notebook to use for the cover of ours...get creative.

- Fancy it up a bit: I used this label maker and some fun yarn and ribbon

- Easily add to it every year

What do you do with your extra Christmas cards at the end of the season?

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Halloween 2022

Monday, October 31, 2022

One of my favorite posts every year. Halloween costumes and kiddos are ready for all the trick or treating! Over the summer the boys borrowed Back to the Future from the library and we read it over and over again for two weeks. And it was settled...the boys would be Marty McFly and Doc Brown for Halloween.

And then there is sweet sis. She loved the book too, but there wasn't a character that she was crazy about dressing up as...so a butterfly it is! Cutest butterfly ever, if you ask me!

Have fun and be safe this halloween!

Crew's First Day of School

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

First day of Pre-K! I cannot believe that Crew is headed off to school. This morning he told me that he was excited...but also a little scared. Sweet boy!