Jeans & Boots

So it's been a while since I've posted anything and I've been a little busy with Christmas and all which I hope everyone had a great Christmas. So it is a mess outside here with all the snow and if you want to look fashionable and still stay warm and somewhat dry I think jeans and boots are the way to go. I just got these boots for christmas and wasn't to sure on them because of how short they are but I have really come to love them. And as for jeans I do always spend more on my jeans and usually get all of them from buckle. They last me forever and are always stylish and cute.

Red Scarf = Old Navy

Grey Shirt = Target
White Tank Top = Buckle

Jeans = Buckle

Boots = Buckle

Merry Christmas

So it's been a while since I've posted anything ( so sorry) but I've been a little busy with Christmas and all. This year was extra special for Trav and I because we got to celebrate finally as a family with our Son Madden. It was so special being able to have Christmas this year with madden and watching him open presents, okay not really...All he wanted to do was play with wrapping paper and boxes, but we have waited a long time to finally spend the holidays as a family and it was amazing. Trav's family always has Santa come over on Christmas Eve and well lets just say Maddy wasn't a big fan of  Santa. At first he just stared and then stranger danger set in and he flipped out. We kind of had a feeling that would happen. Anyways, I thought I would share a few photos from Maddy's first Christmas and I hope everyone had a great Christmas this year and a Happy New Year to come!!!!

Trav & I agreed not to get anything for each other this year but I  guess Madden decided he wanted to. It's his birthstone. I was spoiled this year as well and absolutely love my necklace.

I don't think he realized Mommy or Daddy wasn't holding him right now.

He wasn't Santa's biggest fan this year.

I think he got a little spoiled this year for his first Christmas!!

We are so very blessed this year to be able to have our beautiful son in our lives. We couldn't have asked for a better gift this year and are so grateful for all our family and friends!!!!

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

So to start off my holiday baking I decided to try these vanilla bean cupcakes and it was such a good choice. I absolutely love these cupcakes. I'm a bigger fan of chocolate cupcakes myself but when I had these I fell in love. Ok, not really but close. They are Sooooo yummy. I think what makes these cupcakes and the frosting so good is Vanilla Bean Paste. It is quite expensive but really really good and I think worth the cost. I love also that you can see the vanilla bean specks in the cupcakes and also frosting. This recipe both the cake and the frosting is pretty time consuming but so worth the wait. So, here we go:

Ingredients:
For the cupcakes:
1 1/2 c cake flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
1/2 c unsalted butter at room temperature
1 c sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 c sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the frosting:
5 large egg whites
1 c plus 2 Tbsp white sugar
pinch of salt
3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
1/2 c powdered sugar

Directions:
For the cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare cupcake pan with liners.  Set aside.
2.In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder, and salt.  Whisk together and set aside.  3.Add the butter and vanilla bean paste in electric mixer and beat on medium-high speed for 3 minutes, until light and creamy in color.
4. Add the sugar to the butter mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition.  

5.Mix in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.  

6.Combine the sour cream and vanilla extract in a measuring cup.  With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients alternately with the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing just until incorporated.
7.Divide batter between prepared liners, filling about 2/3 of the way full.  Bake 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.   

This is what the batter should look like.

For the frosting:

1. Combine the egg whites, white sugar, and salt in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water.  Heat, whisking frequently, until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture reaches 160 F (This takes a while.  Use a thermometer).
2. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment.  Beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form and the mixture has cooled to room temperature, about 8 minutes. 
3. Reduce speed to medium and add the butter, 2 Tbsp at a time, adding more once each addition has been incorporated.  

4. Stir in the powdered sugar

5. Stir in the vanilla bean paste and mix just until incorporated.

This is what the frosting will look like once it's done. Can you see the yummy vanilla bean specks?

And the finish product!! This didn't last very long in my house.

Original recipe came from beachsidebaker. I made some changes in my recipe though. Which I thought turned out a lot better!

Family Photos and update on Maddy

Just thought I would share some of our beautiful family photos and Madden's 6 month Photos that were taken by Ashley Stilson Photography! She has been shooting madden since he was a newborn and she does such an amazing job. Go check her blog out at www.ashleystilsonphoto.blogspot.com 

I cannot believe my little boy is half way to a year now. He has brought so much joy and happiness to our lives! He is growing up so fast! He loves sitting up on his own now and he back crawls! He's never been a fan of tummy time so instead he moves his feet while on his back to get around. It's pretty funny and he does a pretty dam good job of getting around that way. Lately though he hasn't mind being on his tummy which is good. Hopefully he'll start being closer to crawling. He always has to have a taste of whatever I'm eating and loves snacking on his puffs and yogurt melts. He loves to play with his toys and is obsessed with his jumparoo. That kid goes crazy in that thing. He gets so excited for his baths and loves to knock his toys down when he put them on the edge of his bath tub. Words cannot describe the love we have for our special little boy! He is the most amazing little boy and we are so lucky to be his parents! Here are a few of the pictures! 

Connecticut school shooting

After the shooting in Connecticut school it makes me so grateful that my little boy is safe!! My prayers and thoughts are with everyone who was involved. I am so sorry for your losses! Let's all give our children hugs and kisses and let them know how loved they are each and everyday. God bless!!!

Banana Caramel Cream Delight

OMG!!! This desert is Soooooooo yummy. I probably will gain 10lbs from eating so much of it. If you love bananas and carmel and cream?, you are going to LOVE this! It take a little time to make but trust me, it's worth every second you spend making it. Here is what it looks like once everything is all done!

Banana Caramel Cream Delight

Ingredients:

Vanilla Pastry Cream (recipe below)

Bananas 

Caramel Sauce

Fresh whipped cream ( 3/4 c heavy whipping cream and 1 1/2 Tbls powdered sugar)

Graham Cracker crumble (recipe below)

*Vanilla Pastry Cream

2/3 c white sugar 

1/4 c cornstarch

1/2 tsp salt

3 c whole milk

2 eggs

2 Tbls butter

1 Tbls vanilla extract 

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl,  beat eggs with a fork to combine.  Set aside.

2. Make your fresh whipped cream by beating cream & powdered sugar together till it's fluffy.

3. Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan.  Gradually pour in milk, while whisking, to make a smooth mixture.  Cook over medium heat, stirring almost constantly, until the mixture thickens and boils.  Continue to cook and stir one minute.

4. Pour 4 to 5 tbls of the hot mixture into the bowl with the eggs and immediately stir well. (this is so were not pouring a cold mixture into our already hot mixture) Pour warmed egg mixture into the pan with the rest of the hot milk mixture.  Return to a slow boil, and cook one minute, stirring constantly.

5. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.  Set aside to cool.  When the pan has cooled, place in the refrigerator to fully cool.  

*Graham Cracker Crumble

10 full sized graham cracker crumbs 

1/3 c butter, melted

1 Tbls white sugar

Directions:

1. Crush crackers in a large ziplock type bag.  

2. Pour crumbs, sugar and melted butter into a bowl and , stir until fully combined.  

3. Pour into a 9″x13″ baking pan and press into a even layer.  

4. Bake at 350*F for 10-12 minutes, until light brown.  Allow to cool.

*How to Assemble:

1.  Spoon about 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumble into individual cups. 

2.  Add a layer of pastry cream into each dish.  For easy assembly, fill a large ziplock type bag with the pastry cream, snip off the end and fill the dishes from this bag.

3.  Add as many slices of banana.

4.  Top bananas with a layer of whipped cream.

5.  Add some graham cracker crumble and a drizzle of caramel 

6. Repeat steps as many times as you would like

Happy Baking!!

Baby Arrival Blocks

Hey everyone!!! So my first post for crafts is so adorb and I'm so excited to share this with you. I think it's a perfect gift for when the baby is finally here!! I got these as a gift from my sister in law when I had my little baby boy and I thought they were so sweet and such a good way to remember the details of your little one! She did such an amazing job on them so I give her tons of credit for making mine! Here are the ones she made for me!  SO cute right?! They are in his room on his dresser and match his colors. I love them!!

My friend just had her baby the other day and I wanted to make her these blocks. I get all my wood products from wood connection in West Jordan, Utah. You can customize them to say whatever you want but here what I did.

This is the adorbable blocks!!!

Supplies needed:
4 wood blocks ( I get the rounded edge ones)
Little stickers
Big Sticker
Scissors
Whatever color paint you choose to do
(I try to coordinate with whatever the baby's room colors are)
Sand Paper
Ribbon

Paint your blocks

Using sand paper, roughen the edges
( you can do as much or as little as you want, most of the time I like roughing up a lot to make it look more rustic)


Next you'll want to add the stickers to each block.
You can put a clear coat of mod podge over the blocks to protect them if  you want.
Next add ribbon to block and your done!

Aren't these so cute? So easy and so perfect as a gift or for yourself to always have a reminder of the day your little one was born!!

Madden's Christmas Photo Shoot

Our amazing photographer decided to do some mini christmas sessions and I just couldn't resist even though we just had our family pictures done a couple days before. I just had to share these and thought you guys might enjoy them as much as I do. I have to say that I am so grateful to have a beautiful son in my life. He brings so much joy to Travis and I and we are so excited to have our first christmas as a family with our little miracle. 

I love the Santa hat

He loved playing with the ornaments.

I cannot wait to see him open presents!

Madden with his cousin Easton & Brynli

Work Wear...

So I'd like to think that I have style and know how to dress well and I have fun doing it.  Here is my first post about fashion. I work one day a week for half a day at my dental office doing marketing which I love because it gives me a little break from being a mommy and lets me have some adult time which is super needed. I love dressing up and looking good and while I do sometimes splurge and buy some expensive items I also love me some good deals. I also am in love with layering. The more layers the better I believe. I think it totally makes the outfit so, Layer it up!!!

P.S. Sorry about the crappy pictures.. I need to figure out where I get the best lighting in my house!

Salmon Blazer = Charlotte Russe
White Button up Shirt = Aeropostale
Black Skinny Jeans = Target
Dark Tan High Heels = Charlotte Russe
Necklace = Forever 21
Earrings = Old Navy

If you have any questions or comments please let me know.
Love to All!!!

Anyone for some Chocolate Chocolate chip bunt cake?????

Recipes

Oh how I love me some chocolate chocolate chip bunt cake. And I must say I've used this recipe for quite some time now and it is Soooooooo good! Since it started snowing here instead of going Christmas shopping, I decided to get my bake on. This recipe is so easy and oh so yummy!!!

Nothing Bundt Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake

Ingredients:

1 pkg devils food cake

1 lg pkg instant chocolate pudding

1 c sour cream

4 large eggs

1/2 c water

1/2 c oil

2 c mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Mix the first 6 ingredients together in mixer. Add chocolate chips.

2. Pour into greased bunt  cake pan 

3. Cook for 45-50 min (toothpick should come out clean) 

At 350 Degrees.

4. Let cool for 15 min.

5. Flip over onto cake plate

This is what cake will look like right out of the oven after it's done!!!

And this is what it will look like after it has cooled and you have flipped it onto a plate.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

1/2 c of butter at room temperature
8 oz of creams cheese at room temperature
2 to 3 c of powdered sugar
1 tsp of vanilla

Directions:

1. Mix the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes on medium speed until smooth.
2. Add the vanilla extract and mix.  
3. Slowly add the powdered sugar.  Keep adding until you get to desired sweetness.

4. Pour butter cream into piping bag and pipe onto bunt cake

*Note: If you don't have a piping bag you can use a zip loc baggy and cute one corner off.

This is what the finish product will look like.  Mines a bit messy but trying to feed my little man and frost a cake at the same time is a bit challenging.

Hope you enjoy this delicious cake as much as my family and I do!!!

Anyone want free baby sling

Hey everyone,

If your looking to get a cute and fashionable baby sling look no further. Go to www.sevenslings.com and click on the shop now tab. Pick whichever adorable sling you prefer and size and enter the promo code FAMILY2012 and all you pay for is shipping. So easy, cheap and oh so cute!!!!

Intro to my life...

Hi everyone,

I am so excited to start this blog. To start out here is a little bit about my life...  

This is my man Travis and I who have been together for 6 1/2 yrs. Wow, such a long time!  Haven't tied the knot yet but maybe someday soon hopefully.

We just became first time parents on May 15th 2012 to our beautiful baby boy Madden who is now almost 7 months old. He is the cutest isn't he?!

The journey to becoming parents hasen't been easy for us. After having been through 3 miscarriages we finally got pregnant with our little miracle boy. I loved every second of being pregnant.  Maybe that was because I really never was too sick during my pregnancy.  

Even though people would tell me all the horror stories about labor and delivery and already being nervous enough, the labor and delivery was one of my favorite parts about being pregnant.  I loved the whole experience and always wished I was back at the hospital having him all over again. People may say I'm crazy but the bond between you and your partner while going through such a amazing journey while being pregnant and at the hospital was so special to me. Then the moment we saw our son for the first time was so amazing and indescribable.  A little miracle that is a part of both of us was finally in our arms. Words can't describe the feeling you get when you hold and see your baby for the first time. It's an experience I will never forget and always cherish.

Since becoming a first time mommy it has been such a crazy, emotional, tiring, happy and wonderful experience.  While it is one of the hardest jobs I've ever had, it is also the most rewarding and exciting. He has brought so much joy to our lives and we finally became the family we've been longing for for so long. Time has flown by so much already and Madden has  grown and developed into a special little boy. He is the love of my life and even though at times it can be really hard and exhausting, he still always brings a smile to my face everyday and I am so excited to see him grown and learn new things each day.

 My goal for this blog is for you to get to know my family and I and hopefully learn about my experiences about being a first time mommy, while juggling some of my favorite hobbies of baking, crafting and fashion. Thanks for following!! Love to all!!