:: Printable Minecraft Valentines ::
Do you know a Minecraft fan? Has Valentine’s Day “creeped” up on you? Well look no further; these simple Printable Minecraft Valentines are sure to be a hit with the biggest and littlest Mindcraft sweethearts.
That’s a Wrap!
T H A T ‘ S a W R A P !
>> February, 2013 <<
:: nicole ::
:: sara ::
Some February posts you may have missed…
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A Book Review {Guest Post}
Thriving in Motherhood >> Baby/Mommy Classes {Guest Post}
Birchbox Review
Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies Recipe
Current Fashion Trends we LOVE
Homemade Marshmallow Recipe Featured on Mamawolfe Blog
Baked French Toast Recipe {adapted from the Pioneer Woman}
Happy Valentine’s Day Wishes!
Our Very First Magazine Feature!
Favorite Top Ten Baby Essentials
From Bellies to Babies – Maternity Photos
Some Nursery Design Inspiration
Yummy Cheese & Vegetable Quiche Recipe
A Quest for a Simple Life >> Family Plans for the Future
Upcoming events in the Dana Point Harbor!
&
Our favorite picks of the web >> {weekend} lovelies 1, 2, 3 & 4
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“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep
because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
:: Dr. Seuss ::
Baked French Toast
Warm… gooey… sweet…
D E L I C I O U S
{Baked French Toast}!
I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t love french toast…
How great would this be on a lazy weekend at home?
This recipe
{adapted from the Pioneer Woman},
is super simple to make.
You can prepare it the night before and bake in the morning,
waking your family to the smells of this decadent dish!
Or perhaps you can make it during the day,
while the kids are at school,
and surprise them with breakfast for dinner
{our personal favorite around here}!
{What You Will Need}
* Butter, for greasing
* 1 loaf of crusty sourdough or french bread
{or a few mini loafs}
* 6 large eggs
* 2 cups of sweetened vanilla almond milk
{or milk of your choice}
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
{2 tablespoons vanilla if you used regular milk}
{Topping}
* 1/2 cup flour
* 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
* 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
{or 1 tsp. cinnamon & 1/4 tsp. nutmeg}
* 1 stick of cold butter, cut into pieces
* chopped pecans {optional}
{Serve with the Following}
* butter
* warm maple syrup
* fresh berries
{Preparation}
For the French toast: Grease the baking pan with butter.
Cut the bread into cubes, and evenly distribute in the pan.
Crack the eggs in a big bowl.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla.
Pour evenly over the bread.
Cover the pan tightly and store in the fridge until needed {preferably overnight}.
For the Topping: Mix the flour, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice
{or cinnamon & nutmeg}, salt and pecan pieces in a separate bowl.
Stir together using a fork.
Add the cold pieces of sliced butter with a pastry cutter,
and mix it all together until the mixture resembles fine pebbles.
{Note: since I am always looking for ways to make things easier and kid-friendly,
you can mix the dry ingredients with butter in a zipblock bag.
Use your hands or seal the bag and let the kids mix until topping
is combined and in crumbled pieces}.
Store the topping mixture,
in the sealed bag,
in the fridge until ready to use.
When you’re ready to bake the casserole,
preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Remove the casserole from the fridge and sprinkle on the topping.
Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, more bread pudding texture,
or for 1 hour + for a firmer, crisper texture.
Scoop out individual portions.
Top with butter, a drizzle of maple syrup and fresh berries!
Without a doubt, this dish is one of my family’s favorites!
I seriously think the kids and I licked our plates clean!
You just can’t go wrong when butter, cinnamon, bread & syrup are in the mix!
E N J O Y !
{Behind the Scenes}
It’s getting harder and harder to sneak a few photos past my older boys these days
and Mr. Amazing just wasn’t cooperating with the camera,
as you will see {he is nearly two, after-all}!
Here is one of Miss Blue, Pixie {one of our two cats}, & my littlest man… Finn.
{weekend} lovelies
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day…
some love,
inspiration,
recipes
&
our favorite posts…
enjoy this {lovely} weekend!
xo,
s & n
{Words To Live By // Etsy Poster by Eva Shrock}
{Darling Printable Valentine’s // Skip To My Lou}
{Red Velvet Brownies + Buttercream // Smells Like Home}
{60 Tiny Love Stories // Makes Me Think}
{12 Candy-Free Valentine’s // Plucky Momo}
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Some of our favorite {love + recipe} posts:
Love is a Verb
Chocolate Chip M&M Cookie Recipe
Family Date Night
Wine & Food Pairings
Sweet Dreams Little Man
Pioneer Woman’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
A “Moment” With My Older Boys
Favorite Pasta Recipe
{weekend} lovelies
{Music // “Yellow” The Vitamin String Quartet}
I went to hot yoga last night and during our final pose {savasana}, this song played. With my eyes closed and my body resting in such a peaceful state, the melody filled the air and the open spaces of my wandering mind. It was the perfect way to remain present while soaking in the beauty of the day… and the benefits of my yoga practice.
I desperately wish there was a YouTube video of this amazing String Quartet playing this version of Coldplay’s song live… but there isn’t.
Please do yourself a favor, take a moment, close your eyes, and listen to their amazing rendition…
{Do Good // Charity: Water}
This wonderful non-profit makes being charitable easy!
“Instead of birthday presents, just ask your family and friends to donate to clean water projects for your big day.” They use 100% of the money you raise to build clean water projects around the world. How fantastic is that?
You can also donate to this worthy cause by purchasing products from their online store {click here}.
{Recipe // Nutella Cinnamon Rolls}
This recipe comes to us from one of our favorite blogs…. “A Beautiful Mess.”
Clearly, I have a thing for cinnamon rolls… I think I’ve already posted a few recipes of different variations!
Cinnamon rolls + nutella = pure heaven!!
A perfect addition to your weekend!
{Design // Serena & Lily}
In terms of decor, this company truly has “everything you need for a happy home!”
I have had my eye on these handcrafted storage baskets for several months!
They also come in two other colors: pink & natural.
I also love their rolling storage crates!
{Beauty // 10 Minute Loose Curls}
This tutorial {via: Pink Pistachio} is fantastic for those of you that have always admired loose curls on others, but haven’t had a clue on how to produce the look on yourself!
After watching her tutorial last year {an older version – – click here to view}, I was finally able to curl my stubborn, thick… auburn hair!
{Kids // Classroom Valentine’s}
Now is the time to start planning your classroom Valentine’s cards!
I actually purchased Sophia Blue’s from Tiny Prints last year. They were darling, and were much more personal since I was able to add her picture and customize the cards with fonts and colors of our liking. They have dozens to choose from that you can create with or without your child’s photo!
{Homemaking // Tidying up Your Kitchen}
From “The Kitchn” 15 of their best tips for keeping your kitchen clean, tidy and smell-free!
Think I am going to focus on a few of these this weekend!
{Fashion // The Perfect Shoes & Accessories}
You probably know by now that Anthropologie is our favorite store
{serious love}.
Here’s a pair of shoes, a necklace, and a wristlet that we are ga-ga over!
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{Wedding // a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Invites}
I can’t remember when I first found this incredibly talented artist, but it was some time ago. I am in awe of modern calligraphy which first drew me to her site, plurabelle. She is by far, one of the most gifted in this artform.
Recently, I went on her blog to see her most latest work. I came across these wedding invitations, which are more lovely… more detailed… and more charming, then any I have ever seen!
