What I Wore:

Peacock dress made by me • Anthropologie cardigan • Clarks boots • Target tights

I made this dress for my 26th birthday and the silhouette is still one of my favorites. 

Happy Valentines day to all, my love and I will stay at home, eat a good meal, sip good coffee, watch an old movie and cuddle all night. A perfect night. In my opinion, celebrating your love should happen every day, not just once a year on a holiday everyone celebrates. Come home with flowers on a Monday for no reason at all? Perfect. Lay in each others arms and talk by candlelight Tuesday? Even better. So forth and so forth. Celebrate love every day my friends!

Zesty Lemon Bars:

The taste of lemons are such a summery treat and are always nice to have in the doldrums of winter. This past weekend I made us lemon bars and adopted the recipe from here. With the full cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice, these are zesty at their best! If you’re short on time, make the crust the night before and let it chill in the refrigerator covered with saran wrap. 

Lemon Bars Recipe:

Crust Ingredients:

2 sticks salted butter- room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

Filling Ingredients:

6 extra large eggs- room temperature

3 cups sugar

2 tablespoons grated lemon zest

1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 6 lemons)

1 cup flour

confectioners sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Combine the flour and salt, with mixer on low, gradually add to the butter and sugar until just mixed.

Scoop the dough into a 9x13 baking dish and flatten crust leaving a 1/2 inch edge on all sides. Chill in the refrigerator.

Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned, cool on wire rack. Whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice and flour. Pour over the crust and bake 30-35 minutes until the filling is set and does not have a jello appearance. Let the bars cool to room temperature and lightly dust with confectioners sugar.

The bars are excellent when cooled in the refrigerator, we enjoyed these with coffee after dinner. Happy baking!

The 52 Project: 6/52

“A portrait of my son every week in 2014.”

That little front wisp of hair melts me every time I look at him.

f. 1.6 / 1/160 / ISO 800 / 50 mm lens

Oh The Things We like: Overseas Baby

Milk & Masuki bear tee • Beau Loves raglan romper • Caramel Baby & Child Naddle Baby Dungarees • Lucky Boy Sunday Favourite Place • Ferm Living bear blanket

Right now I am loving each and every one of these pieces. All great graphics and designs for baby. I'm always interested in european and australian goods, I love how usually it is very different from our American designs, dare I say more unique? Part of me thinks that with American baby goods, they're a bit too much alike, too plain and more of the norm. Give me bright, playful, energetic and imaginative any day!

What I Wore: Pieces

Sweater c/o Odd Molly, Jeans Miss Me, Shoes 80%20

It's funny how 20 degrees can feel so warm when it's been so cold! Been a busy few days running errands throughout the cities and sewing lots of goods. A day of rest with my husband and son is always welcome!

Today for the first time in five and a half months, I went out by myself. I mean entirely by myself. I actually got to wear a purse, not a diaper bag. It was a much needed rest, gather my thoughts, reflect and wander Anthropologie while sipping a latte from Starbucks. I missed my boys, but I think we all need time to ourselves especially if we want to be well rested and focused enough to take good care of and love those we surround ourselves with. 

Glimpses From The Past Week:

1. Miss Allbright

2. resting place

3. stars for Rowan

4. us

5. early morning cuddles

6. blue pine

7. leaves in the snow

8. playtime

9. sunset

The 52 Project: 5/52

“A portrait of my son every week in 2014.”

One tooth on the alligator for his first tooth.

f. 4.0 / 1/40 / ISO 800 / 12-24 mm lens 

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Goodness it has been so cold outside that we're pretty much indoors all day, every day. Not that I mind! Lots of work to be done, playtime to be had and conversations and cuddles for all. Spring, please come soon.

Delicious Crumb Bars:

It’s well known that I am a big fan of Ina Garten. Her recipes are my go to when I need a dish that will turn out just right and not taste like an ingredient is missing (which I notice quite a bit especially in restaurants or bake shops that come out with a cookbook). This recipe for crumble bars is quick, easy and most likely you already have everything you need in your kitchen cabinets! A few ingredients I substituted since we didn’t have exactly what the recipe called for, but it turned out great!

Crumble Bars Recipe:

2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature (I always use salted)

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 1/3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

10-12 ounces raspberry jam (I used strawberry because we were out and it tasted just as good!)

2/3 cup granola without dried fruit (I used oatmeal)

1/4 cup sliced almonds (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Mix butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, mix on medium speed just until combined. Add vanilla with the mixer on low.

Sift flour and salt together, add to the butter mixture with the mixer on low. Mix until it almost comes together in a ball.

Spread out evenly two-thirds of the dough in a square 9” pan, going 1/4” up the sides. Spread the jam evenly over the dough. Mix the granola with the remaining dough and sprinkle on top of the jam. Sprinkle the almonds on top and bake for 45 minutes until lightly browned.

The bars pair great for an evening snack with decaf or even as breakfast! We loved them and they were so quick to make!

The 52 Project: 4/52

“A portrait of my son every week in 2014”

Playtime in his new room is becoming a morning routine. This little monkey is Rowan’s new favorite toy.

f 2.8 / 1/100 / ISO 800 / 50 mm lens

monkey- Jellycat, rug- HABA

Oh The Things We Like: Right Now

HABA Ships See Saw Swing • Topo Designs Mountain Briefcase • Odd Molly Remix dress • Bobo Choses Umbrella bodysuit • Eames molded plastic rocker

First off, I just found out about Topo Designs and I’m pretty much loving everything they make! Even better it’s all made in Colorado- I love that!  That briefcase pretty much has my husband written all over it. When we finally get around to taking a family trip out west, visiting their store in Denver is top on my list of must sees! Secondly, that Odd Molly dress- oh my! Love love love! What a perfect anytime dress! That HABA boat swing is seriously one of the most exciting kids play swings I’ve seen in a long time. My little sister used to have a dolphin swing and I thought that was great- but this- wow! I think it’s probably indulging more of my love for nautical things and that it basically looks  pretty awesome. 

Sundays Are For Cake Baking:

I hope everyone has been having a wonderful week and still enjoying the new year! Yes, it is very cold, January is a pretty blah month and it's very gray outside..BUT this is the time to enjoy being inside before all of the warm weather comes! (which it will) Right now I'm spending my days sewing lots of baby moccasins and goods as well as experimenting with cake recipes and new dishes. I love baking cakes, even more so eating them! 

This one is a chocolate espresso cake with dark cocoa buttercream frosting. I absolutely had no idea how to make the frosting so I mixed a little bit of this, a little bit of that and voila it actually turned out amazing! Unfortunately I do not think I'll ever be able to replicate it. I would love to get back to an old tradition I had of making a cake every weekend, I think my husband would appreciate it! :)

The 52 Project: 3/52

"A portrait of my son every week in 2014"

Took a nice, long Sunday stroll in the cold, this little guy loves being outside watching the world pass by as he’s perched in his stroller.

f 2.0 / 1/5000 / ISO 800 / 50mm lens

The 52 Project: 2/52

"A portrait of my son every week in 2014"

Happy baby sound asleep..Rowan is now in his own room and seems to love it! I'm still worried about him being alone, but it's a good thing for all of us. 

This week I will be posting two portraits of Rowan for the 52 Series as I am a week behind! 

What I Wore:

Oilily top • Anthropologie Odille skirt • Anthropologie tights • J. Crew cardigan • Clark’s boots

Does anyone remember Oilily? I used to absolutely love that brand, more so the children’s wear because it was so bright, colorful and had incredible, intricate designs. I've had this top for years and years, definitely will not be getting rid of it anytime soon! 

The 52 Project: 1/52

I’ve been wanting to do this project ever since I saw it on Practising Simplicity. I love the idea of having a year long project to commit to that’s creative as well as gives me little milestones to look back on in Rowan’s life throughout the year. It’s going to be a great one at that! Crawling, walking, exploring and hopefully lots of giggles and smiles. If you’re participating in this project as well, I would love a link to check it out!

1/52 Right now playtime before bath time on mama and papas bed is his favorite thing.