Raise your hand if you have had this dreaded cold that has been going around? You know the one with that rattling dry cough that lingers for a week or two. This recipe for an Easy Cold Remedy Drink has gotten Sara and I through cold and flu season. It’s a god send and it’s easy to make and it really does work! We promise. [Read more…]
I hear the tip toeing of little leprechauns coming our way next week! Do your kids love St. Patrick’s Day? This St. Patrick’s Day Caramel Corn is a favorite in my household. So much so that my husband took off with the bag that we had left. So actually a big leprechaun loves this as much as the kiddos. We have been making this Caramel Corn recipe for a few years. My son’s birthday is the week before Halloween so during that time of the year we make it as a party treats. It’s a super easy recipe passed down from my mother in law, but now I make it too as we are big caramel corn fans, add in a little green food coloring and you have yourself a green treat that guarantees zero pinching and a whole lot of snacking. [Read more…]
DIY // Oatmeal and Lavender Bath SoakYay… It’s mid-week! All I’m dreaming of is a little rest, relaxation, and a warm bath {alone} tonight! If you’re a mom, you’ll especially appreciate the “alone” part! Am I right? It seems that every time I draw a bath for myself, I have at least a couple of my kids come in, splash their hands in the water, and ask if they can take a bath. It’s far from relaxing! So tonight, my plan is to take a secret bath {when everyone falls asleep}, immersing my body in this simple DIY bath soak!
I love a good bath soak, but they can be expensive to buy… and sometimes there are unwanted added ingredients. I first made this Oatmeal and Lavender mixture for my littlest guy, Finn, over Christmas. He had pneumonia and ended up with an itchy rash all over his body from an allergic reaction to the antibiotics. On Christmas morning, my heart was broken looking at his sweet face and little body. He was literally covered in an uncomfortable rash from head-to-toe. I decided to make my own bath soak to help soothe his skin and lift his spirits. It definitely did help, which is partly why I’m sharing it with you today!
I have since made this recipe a few times. I have used locally grown dried lavender, as well as, {kid-safe} lavender essential oil, from Plant Therapy. The bath soak has turned out great, regardless of which kind of lavender I have used. So my advice to you, is to use whatever you have on hand, or can find easily! [Read more…]
:: Cable Knit Scarf Pattern ::We haven’t had much of a winter here in California, though we do pray for rain. Our family went out of our way to find local snow over the President’s weekend, so of course… I had to make a scarf for the occasion! This Cable Knit Scarf Pattern is my favorite knitting pattern for handmade scarves. It’s fairly easy, and it’s a wonderful craft to give to a special someone. It can be perfectly styled with that favorite pair of boots that rarely make it out of your closest! The perfect excuse to make and wear this scarf before the spring warms us up! [Read more…]
:: Blushing Grapefruit Cocktail ::What do you have planned for the weekend? I know it’s only Tuesday, but I am thinking of sunshine, a couple girl friends, and a fun pink drink… such as this Blushing Grapefruit Cocktail. Why not make it girls night-in and whip up a few of these for some of your favorite gal pals and binge on the oldie but goodie reruns of Sex and The City? The perfect combination, I think! [Read more…]
Avocado Toast //So… I’ve been on a serious {carb-overload} toast kick. I can’t seem to shake it. I usually start my day with a healthy, protein-packed smoothie, but lately… all I crave is a warm cup of coffee and a buttery piece of toast. {Yikes!} Perhaps not the healthiest way to start my day {insert frown face}. I’ve noticed within an hour or two, my stomach is already growling. I decided it’s best not to fight my craving, but instead… let it ride out. After all, how long can this toast addiction of mine last?
So, in an effort to make my latest obsession a little more nutritious, I gave Gwyneth Paltrow’s recipe for Avocado Toast a try. It’s from her It’s All Good cookbook – a fave of mine! You guys… how have I not been eating this? Not only did I love it… but so did 3 out of 4 of my kids {success, right?}! It reminded me of my husby’s tasty homemade guacamole on toast! PERFECTION, I tell you!
As you can imagine, the ingredients are super simple… some healthy bread, mayo, ripe avocados, sea salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon. [Read more…]
:: Chocolate Ricotta Pudding ::Do you have your Valentine’s Day plans all figured out? Menu all planned? If not, don’t fret! This recipe for Chocolate Ricotta Pudding With Raspberry Sauce is a magical end to a Valentine’s Day meal at home. Sara shared, in the guest post recipe of Nutella Cheesecake featured on Simple As That, her favorite Valentine’s Day plans. She like myself, tends to spend the night-in with the kids and hubby, rather than battle with the prices and the crowds. We both often don’t have the luxury of having our husbands home on holidays, so it makes like easier to make a fun meal at home. Often times it’s just our kids and us, so dessert has to be the star of the show! [Read more…]
Vanilla Bean Scones //My kids and I love the little Vanilla Bean Scones at Starbucks. Unfortunately, we don’t get them too often, because they tend to run out early in the day. They’re delicious (and clearly we aren’t the only ones who think so)!
Having never made scones before, I decided to search for a ‘copycat’ recipe online. Lucky for me, I came across one that The Pioneer Woman posted some time ago. I wouldn’t describe the recipe as quick and easy, friends… rather, I think it’s a bit labor intensive. (Sort of like the work involved in making homemade sugar cookies, cutting them out, frosting them, etc.) There’s lots of love that goes into creating these little gems, but it makes them absolutely irresistible!
I’m sort of at a loss for words in describing them, but in my (“expert” of all-things-sweet) opinion, they’re the perfect flakey scone texture! The glaze compliments the slightly sweet biscuit, sealing in the moisture. However, the star of the scone is definitely the vanilla bean! Did you know that there are usually 25,000 tiny vanilla seeds in one scraped vanilla bean pod? Amazing! Well, all of those mini flecks add the most intense flavor! [Read more…]
Nutella Cheesecake //Nicole and I have such exciting news to share with you all today! We will be contributing guest posts over at one of our very favorite blogs, Simple As That, throughout 2015!
If you haven’t perused Rebecca’s site, you absolutely should take a moment to do so! You’ll be hooked on her DIY projects, printables, recipes, and photography posts! She has been such a source of inspiration for us during our two + years of blogging… not-to-mention, a wonderful friend and supporter of Simply Happenstance! For that… we are so grateful, which makes contributing to her fantastic blog, even more meaningful to us!
Last year we created this delicious Sparkling Berry Float for her site {which would be a fun Valentine’s drink for the kids}! Today we are sharing this simple {no-bake} Nutella Cheesecake! It’s heavenly, you guys… perfect for a date night-in to celebrate V-Day! [Read more…]
:: Strawberry Pretzel Dessert ::What seems to be a lifetime ago, I worked at a local newspaper. Every year we held a community bake contest to launch our Holiday Gift Guide Edition of the paper. This Strawberry Pretzel Dessert was one of the delightful recipes that we got to taste and vote on. I voted 5 stars on this dessert and I think you might, too. It’s a little strawberry and a whole lot of Valentine’s fluff!
