Kisses + Caffeine

Sharing my journey as a mother, wife, homemaker, Jesus girl, entrepreneur and all things in between!

Bacon Cheddar Scones

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Back at the end of February, just before Lilliana was born, we threw Addilyn an early “Tea for TWO” birthday party. As a true baker, my menu was loaded down with sweets- chocolate covered Oreos, macarons, custom sugar cookies and of course cake! But planning a tea party, I knew that we absolutely needed scones in the lineup as well! In the interest of not adding yet another sweet, I started researching savory recipes and landed on creating a bacon and cheddar scone. Let me tell you guys… these did not disappoint! 

Not only did they taste like heaven in your mouth, but check out how pretty the look, just hanging out on that plate! They absolutely completed the overall look I was going for and made it feel like a proper tea party! 

Because I love you guys, I am going to share the recipe below! I was so intimidated by scones, but it turns out they are incredibly easy! Even if you don’t have a fancy tea party planned, you need to try these. They make an awesome breakfast and can be stored for up to a week! 

Bacon Cheddar Scones

  • Servings: 16
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients:

  • 3 Cups Flour (I used all-purpose!)
  • 1 Tbsp baking powder
  •  1 Tsp Salt
  • 2 Tsp sugar
  • 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
  • 12 Tbsp butter, frozen and grated with a cheese grater
  • 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 12 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 & 1/4 cup of heavy cream (you will likely need more to bring the dough together, up to an additional 1/2 cup!)

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400.
  2.  Cook and chop your bacon. I cooked mine to crispy texture because I cannot stand chewy bacon. You do you, though! 
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients. (Flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, garlic powder).
  4. Using a pastry blender (far less messy, but if you don’t have one, your hands work too!), work your frozen butter into the dry ingredients. A crumbly dough should start to form.
  5. Add the 1 1/4 cup of cream to the mixture, and work until large clumps of dough begin to form.
  6. Add in the cheese and bacon and work until everything is incorporated. It is at this point that you may need to gradually add more cream to bring everything together. You don’t want it to be super sticky though!
  7. Once your dough comes together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
  8. Divide your dough in half, and work each half into a 7-8 in round that is about 1 inch thick.
  9. Slice each round into 8 wedges.
  10. Transfer the rounds onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. (I love these pre-cut sheets! They make life so much easier!). You want the sides of each wedge to be pretty much touching so that they rise up instead of flopping to the side. 
  11. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the tops with heavy cream. 
  12. Bake for 20-23 minutes, until golden brown.
  13. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes if serving immediately! If you are making them ahead of time (I did these the night before), store them in an airtight container. When you are ready to serve them, you can warm them in a 300 degree oven until they are heated through. They are also great at room temp! 

Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

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We are on a serious banana kick over here! Maybe because we are stuck at home, or maybe because the toddler decided one banana into a bunch that she is temporarily over them. In the effort of not wasting, I have been trying to come up with new ways to use them and we have had a blast! 

Addie LOVES baking with me. The other day, she requested to make cupcakes, so I set out to create some super moist banana cupcakes. And what better frosting to pair it with than a smooth cream cheese? Still sweet, but not as sweet as buttercream and the perfect match. 

The over-ripe bananas added just the right amount of sweetness, and look at how perfectly golden those cuppy cakes come out?! 

These stoneware cupcake pans are my favorite. They cook things more evenly and are less prone to burning! The ones I have are Paula Deen and are discontinued, but I have also tried this set that you can get on Amazon and they work just as well! 

Of course, when you help mom in the kitchen, it’s a rite of passage that you get to lick the beater when the frosting is done! I think more special than the treats we make are the memories. If you have a toddler, bake with them! Sure it may take a little longer and make a bit more of a mess, but the joy my girl has spending time with me is worth it all!

By the way, she thoroughly approves of the cupcake itself, too! Ignore our mix-matched PJ’s…she wanted to be “wacky!”

I hope that you love these as much as we did! Which I suppose is a good thing since we are quarantined and will be “forced” to eat all 24 by ourselves…

Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Servings: 24
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes:

  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 4 Large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups mashed over-ripe bananas 
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

For the Frosting:

  • 8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
  • 5 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tbsp milk, to thin as needed

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line your baking pans with cupcake liners (you will need 24).
  2. Cream the butter and sugar for the cupcake base together in your stand mixer until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well between each addition.
  4. Add the vanilla and banana and mix until smooth.
  5. Combine flour, baking soda and baking powder together in a separate bowl.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until well incorporated.
  7. Fill each cupcake liner and bake for 15-18 minutes, until your cupcake is set and firm when you lightly touch the top. If you are using a metal pan, they may cook a bit faster, so keep an eye on it!
  8. While your cupcakes are baking, go ahead and make your frosting! Using the whisk attachment on your mixer, whip the butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. 
  9. Add in the vanilla and mix to combine.
  10. Gradually add the powdered sugar a cup a time, mixing well after each addition.
  11. If your icing is too thick, add a bit of milk to thin it to piping consistency. I like my icing firm enough to hold shape, but not so firm that I can’t squeeze it out!
  12. Once your cupcakes are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool to room temperature.
  13. Frost* and enjoy! Store the extras in the fridge!

I prefer to use these piping bags and tips to pipe my icing on for a bakery look! you can totally use a bag with the corner cut off if you don’t have them, though!

Must-Haves for Newborn Life

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With your first child, it’s super easy to get caught up in the registry check-lists, cute little socks and hair bows for days. There is so much out there that it can be hard to figure out exactly what you truly need, and what you can live without. Honestly, after our first I felt a little overwhelmed by some things, and opted to keep things simpler this time around. 

We did not have the space to give Lilliana her own nursery, so I truly have kept things very minimalist for her and honestly, it has been refreshing! So if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure where to start, I am here to help! I have compiled a list of all of the items that I feel we have absolutely needed for our girls. Add these to your Baby Registry and you will be all set (and then add fluff as desired 😉 ).

 

Side note- we LOVE the Amazon Baby Registry Program! I have used it with both babies and been extremely pleased! We live in a small town without many shopping options, so people love the selection and ability to direct ship! Plus you can find literally anything on Amazon, or add items from external sites, too! They send you an awesome welcome box filled with full-sized products, samples and coupons. And maybe one of my favorite things- once your registry hits a certain amount, you get a discount on diapers for your baby’s first year! They also give a generous registry completion discount to tie up any loose ends before baby comes! We used this discount both times, coupled with gift cards, to buy some of our more expensive items such as the Owlet, our baby monitor, etc.

Anyway, the list… (click each pink link to go to the exact item!)

1. Diapers and Wipes

This seems like a no-brainer, but seriously bulk up your registry with these! They are literally the most essential thing you can get! We love Pampers Swaddlers for when they are tiny, but Huggies are good too! I also prefer the Huggies Natural Care wipes, because they are gentle on little bottoms! If you choose the cloth diaper route, I have heard great things about these Mama Koala ones! They are affordable and fit very well!

2. Swaddle Me Velcro Swaddles

These truly are a must-have! Trying to keep a squirmy baby swaddled is tricky. If you are a first time parent that has no clue how to swaddle, even more so! Michael hated trying to get them wrapped properly, and then we had to worry about her working it loose and getting the blanket over her nose and mouth. A friend introduced me to these, and they are a total game changer! Go ahead and stock up on a few packs! We use them every night and every nap!

3. Owlet Smart Sock

I have no idea why I didn’t make this number 1, because it honestly has been my favorite item that we have gotten for our girls. It may be a bit spendy, but it is worth every single penny and then some! I have no idea how people sleep with a newborn without one of these, and it has done wonders for my anxiety. Heck, I didn’t sleep the first few nights even with the Owlet! Not to mention I have several personal friends that have had the Owlet alert them to serious issues with their babies and save their lives. Don’t believe me? Just hop on the reviews! Thousands of SIDS deaths have been prevented. Again, if you are able at all, find a way to get one! Use your completion discount if you do an Amazon registry. Save up gift cards. It will be the best investment that you make for your baby. 

4. A Good Video Monitor

While we are talking monitors, another must-have for us! We tried a different brand with Addilyn, and it crapped out on us about a year later. After doing a ton of research, I landed on this Motorola one because it has all of the features that we wanted and great reviews! Some people that use the Owlet don’t use a video monitor, but I would never have been able to move Addilyn out of our room without being able to lay eyes on her. And even with Lilliana in our room, I keep her camera on so that I can see her from our bed in the dark. Night vision is a powerful thing!

5. Baby Sleepers

People love to gift blankets and clothes. It can be easy to wind up with far more than you really need, especially in those newborn days. It was honestly sort of stressful to me with Addilyn, trying to make sure that I got her in every outfit at least once (and grabbed a picture!). In all honesty, if you are anything like us, your baby will spend most of their first months either in swaddles (see number 2!) or in sleepers. Stack your registry with these! Add some staples (Onesies, pants, socks) that can mix and match and a few fun outfits and you really will have all that you need. Go ahead and expect to do laundry almost every day. Babies poop a lot. 

6. Boppy 

This is one of those things that you will hear people on both sides, but for us it’s a must! Even if you are bottle feeding (it’s absolutely necessary for breastfeeding) you can use this to keep your arm from dying while holding your baby. You can order a cover in all sorts of prints to match just about any nursery, too!

7. White Noise 

For as long as I have been with Michael, we have slept with white noise. We were told that it also helps newborns to sleep better because it mimics the womb environment. We have used it with both of our girls from day 1 and it really does help! Simply turning the white noise on signals it is time for rest and helps them switch their gears, but it also gives a little more grace for house noise! This is a tried and true white noise machine (we haven’t had much luck with the “fancy” ones that do ocean waves, etc. It just isn’t the same). When they are teeny tiny, a Baby Shusher is also a game changer! We discovered these at our newborn session for Addie and I had Prime’d one to the house before we left the studio! 

8. A Car Seat Cover

Our big world is so germy, and newborns are so teeny tiny. I wanted to do the best I could to protect our girls in any way possible (and discourage strangers from touching!). Not to mention taking your 3 day old into the germ-infested pediatrician’s office! A good carseat cover is the perfect way to do that! We prefer these stretchy ones that can double as nursing covers and make it virtually impossible for unwanted hands to reach in. Grab a couple if you plan to nurse with them- spit up will happen! I have a pretty floral one and a striped one for the hubby!

 

9. Cloth Diapers

No, I am not telling you to cloth diaper! I don’t have the stomach for that (hey, sister, if you do then go for it!). But let me tell you, boring white cloth diapers are the BEST burp cloths. The cute little ones that they sell in sets are not absorbent, and are usually very small. Your baby will likely launch far more spit than you are prepared for with those. Do yourself a solid and buy a few packs of these. 

10. Probiotic Drops

I truly hope that you are lucky enough to not have a colic baby. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing until you are in the thick of it and totally sleep deprived. We had the hardest time with Addie’s tummy her first few weeks of life. Her Pediatrician suggested getting her on a probiotic to help. Desperate to help her out (and get a few minutes of peace), we ordered these and tried them out. It took about a week to see a major difference, but once they kicked in she was a different baby! She felt better and we felt better. (By the way, they are way cheaper on Amazon than in the store!)

 

Armed with this knowledge, I went ahead and stocked up on a few bottles to have on hand for Lilliana’s arrival on our registry. Heck, I even used that completion discount to buy a couple more. We started them from the day we came home this time and so far, we haven’t had as many tummy issues! Get a bottle before your babe arrives, just in case! 

Other things you will be glad you had on hand:

  1. Gas Drops
  2. Rapid Relief Desitin Rash Cream
  3. Gripe Water
  4. Buckets of Hand Sanitizer!
  5. Baby Bottles (We loved the Dr. Browns for gas reasons. I breastfeed, so bottles are just occasional)
  6. Bottle Brushes
  7. Steam Sterilizer (This one is the best! Super easy and does the trick)
  8.  Pacifiers (We like the soothies and NUK pacis!)
  9. Pack N Play (we used one like this with the bassinet built in so that we didn’t need an extra piece of equipment! Addie slept in this the entire time she was in our room)
     
  10. Backpack Diaper Bag- Sure, the purse styles are cute, but the hands-free is what I fully recommend! We use this one and it has so much space!

I hope that this helped give you some guidance! I made sure that I put anything we used daily on here. If it isn’t on this list, we did not find it absolutely mandatory! Sure, there are all sorts of convenience items but these should cover the necessities to get you by. Good luck, and congratulations!

Other posts you may like:
How to have a super smooth quick labor!
Addilyn’s Birth Story
Lilliana’s Birth Story
Morning Sickness Must-haves
Breastfeeding Must-haves
Postpartum Must-haves
Bedtime Must-haves

10 Ways to Be a Light During the COVID 19 Quarantine

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We are all stuck in quarantine right now, thanks to the spread of the Coronavirus (read some encouragement here!). There seems to be endless amounts of negativity floating around social media and it got me thinking- how can we find ways to shine light and be positive in our current culture? And what can I do that I can involve Addilyn in to teach her about spreading kindness when life is hard? 

I made a list of 10 ways that we can share a smile right now, from the safety of our homes (for the most part). I would love to hear any other ideas that you may have! 

  1. Text or call someone just to check in on them!
  2. Write encouraging letters or thank you notes to friends or family members. Like with a pen and paper and good ol’ fashioned snail mail!
  3. Send something special to those that are working so hard right now. Healthcare workers, truck drivers, first responders, grocery store employees…the list goes on! While we are all stuck at home “relaxing and refocusing,” they are out there putting themselves in harm’s way and working their tail off! Send a cookie basket, or pizza, or donuts, or maybe just encouraging notes! This is a great project to involve your kids in! If you have a reason that you need to go to the doctor, etc, take a little blessing bag with you and give it to someone that is working! It will likely make their day.
  4. Check in with elderly/sick/pregnant neighbors and family members. See if there is anything that you can pick up for them or help them get access to.
  5. Send cards, puzzle books and snacks to your local nursing homes for the residents that are not able to receive visitors right now. 
  6. If you are able, collect basic necessities and food items and set up a table where people can come and take what they need. This is an awesome kid project as well! If you live in a secluded area, find a ministry that you can donate items to and let them get those items to the people that need them most.
  7. Grab a box of sidewalk chalk and write encouraging messages or scripture on the road for others to see! I have seen people do this outside of hospitals and doctor’s offices. But remember, stay home if you don’t have a reason to be out! If you are already out, do this and then go home! 🙂 
  8. Make a gratitude list with your family and focus on all of the things that you are thankful for!
  9. Post on social media asking how you can pray for others. And then sit down as a family and actually pray for them! 
  10. Join this Pay it Forward group and send random acts of kindness to strangers! We have been doing this so much lately. I will warn you…it is addicting!

Easy (and Delicious!) Banana Bread

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I love me some banana bread! This recipe is super delicious, quick and easy! We have been cooped up in the house pretty much since Lilliana was born. Add in the Coronavirus quarantine and I’m not sure there is an end in sight! (I kid, I totally know there is an end, it just feels like forever!). I have been needing to come up with new ways to entertain Addilyn, and myself. I noticed we had a few bananas that were borderline black and needed to be used and my girlie loves to bake with me, so I figured banana bread it is! 

This recipe makes two loaves, but you can easily halve it to make just one. We went ahead and made both to freeze one, although who am I kidding? I will probably thaw that in a couple of days. Banana bread doesn’t last around here! 🙂

This is a fantastic recipe to do with littles, by the way. If you get the measurements just a hair off, it’s okay! And for some reason, Addie thought throwing bananas into my mixer was hilarious. Add nuts, chocolate chips, a half cup of peanut butter…there are so many creative things you can do to spice it up! 

I hope this gives you a little something to do while you are locked in your homes. Let me know what you think!

Easy Banana Bread

  • Servings: 20
  • Difficulty: easy
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Ingredients:

  • Cooking Spray
  • 2 sticks butter, softened
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 5-6 over-ripe bananas
  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup optional add ins (walnuts, chocolate chips, etc)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350. Line two loaf pans with parchment paper, allowing the excess to hang over the sides and then spray with cooking spray.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer.
  3. Add the eggs and mix until smooth.
  4. Add the milk and vanilla and mix until incorporated.
  5. Add the bananas one at a time and mix until they are well incorporated. I prefer a smoother bread but you could leave it chunky, too!
  6. Last, add in the flour, salt and baking soda. Mix until just combined and no more dry flour is visible. Stir in any optional add-ins with a spatula if you are using them.
  7. Divide the batter between the two pans and bake for approximately 55-65 minutes, until a toothpick stuck into the center comes out clean.
  8. Allow them to cool for 5 minutes in the pan, and then lift them out of the pan and cool an additional 10 minutes on the counter.
  9. If you want to freeze one, wrap it carefully in cling wrap and then in foil or a freezer bag. You can freeze for up to 3 months!

The Lord is in This Place

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We are living in the midst of the most uncertain times that our generation has ever seen. The power of the media is strong, and for the first week or two after the news of Coronavirus broke, I was filled with anxiety. I focused on the fear that was being stirred up. Unknown exposure and reactions. Uncertainty about food and basic necessities. Worry over exposing my newborn or my toddler. Worry for my parents. Fear over loss of income. My head was swimming constantly as I scrolled my social media feed. 

One evening though, the Lord spoke to me extremely clearly. I was singing the song “Here Again” by Elevation Worship to Addilyn as I rocked her for bed. (We love this song, and it was literally what got me through the hard part of my labor with Lilliana!)

There is a lyric in this song that says “Not for a minute was I forsaken. The Lord is in this place.” For a long time, I had thought of “this place” as a physical location, but a few months ago I had a revelation that “this place” may be our circumstances more than anything else. 

We are at a place in life and in our world where there is a lot of uncertainty and fear. The Lord is in this place. 

We are at a place in our world where we fear contacting other people because quite literally, it may kill us or someone we love. The Lord is in this place. 

We are isolated and cut off from community and fellowship. The Lord is in this place.

We are at a place in life where we aren’t sure if we will be able to pay our bills this month. Or next. The Lord is in this place.

Not for one minute are we forsaken.

So I have chosen faith over fear. Sure, we are being smart about limiting exposure and are staying home and cooking in. We are honoring the urging of our physicians and authorities to help keep things from spreading and making it worse. But rather than wallowing in fear and loneliness, we are taking time to rest and recover. We are enjoying time with our family. We are finding new ways to connect with others and to give back to the greater community around us. We are soaking in a slower pace to life, and quality family time. We are embracing the giggles (and the fussing). We are taking time to teach our big girl new things. To bake. To watch cartoons and snuggle. To enjoy the smell of a newborn. To play outside and pick flowers and draw with sidewalk chalk. To read the bible and sing worship music and be thankful for all of the good things that God has given to us.

I will never again take for granted the warm hug of a family member. A drop in visit from a good friend. Play dates and time at the park. Stocked shelves at the grocery store (and stinkin’ toilet paper…for crying out loud). Or a full meat counter. I will feel differently about strolls through my favorite store (holla, Target!) or sitting in a movie theater with my husband for a date night. It won’t be lost on me how special that it will feel to gather with my brothers and sisters in Christ to worship again. If nothing else, I have learned gratitude.

You know what I have concluded? This quarantine thing is a huge blessing. It is the Lord forcing us to slow down and refocus our hearts on what matters. 

 

If you have a few minutes, take some time to listen to our pastor Josh’s message from this past Sunday. He points us to the truth of how we can find peace in the storm, and certainty amidst uncertainty!

What I Learned from my Journey with Gestational Diabetes

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I’ll be honest, I had a hard time accepting my gestational diabetes diagnosis at first. I threw a huge pity party and felt like my life was ruined (even if temporarily). I have come a long way since I wrote this post back in December, and I have so much clarity and a totally different mindset!

See, I was not off to the healthiest start to my pregnancy. When we conceived, I was about 15 lbs lighter than where I started my pregnancy with Addilyn, but I was not eating great. Sure, it could have been worse, but I just felt very swollen and not so good about myself. I did not want to take any “bump” pictures and my clothes felt weird on me. When I took my glucose test, my weight gain was up a bit from that point with Addie’s pregnancy ( I gained about 40 lbs by the time that one was all said and done). I was anticipating being worse off by the time that I gave birth to Lilliana at the rate I was going. 

After my GDM diagnosis and adjusting to the new way of life, I immediately started to feel so much better! Within a few weeks, I lost about 12 lbs of the 18 I had gained, and I never did gain them back! The day that I gave birth to Lillie, I was only up about 15 lbs total which was mostly baby, etc. So I left the hospital feeling amazing! I did not deal with the back pain that I had during my first pregnancy and I had zero blood pressure issues, which were the cause of my induction with Addilyn. At the end of the day, it was all worth it for so many reasons! 

In the picture on the left, I was 34 weeks pregnant with Addie. I don’t remember feeling swollen, but looking back I sure do see it especially in my face! The picture on the right, I am 38 weeks pregnant with Lillie. I am wearing smaller clothes and noticeably healthier!

I snapped this photo a couple of days before giving birth! 

And this one less than 24 hours postpartum. Compare that to the pic below where I was 48 hours postpartum with Addie and you can really see a difference!

I tell you all of this not to brag. Honestly this was some of the hardest times in my life adjusting to everything (and watching people around me eat yummy things while I couldn’t. Hello, Christmas week diagnosis!) and it was not through my own strength but rather necessity. I tell you this to encourage you and show you the silver lining! I had virtually zero heartburn after making the switch, when I had been eating 6 TUMS a day. My labor was so great, and my recovery has gone incredibly well. I have had so much more energy and felt much better physically and mentally. At 2 weeks postpartum, I am about 5 lbs from my pre-baby weight and I am so happy with that progress. 

As someone who was weathered the storm and come out the other side, I feel compelled to share the things that I learned- some the hard way- to try and make your life a little bit easier! If you are reeling from a new diagnosis, or just struggling to make it to baby day, I truly hope that these few little nuggets will help you. Please always feel free to reach out to me on Facebook or Email Me. I would love to help in any way that I can! 

*I must add, I am not a medical professional. These tips are based on my experiences and that of others that I know. Please consult with your doctor before making nay major changes!

1. Get over it.

I say that with the most love. I had to tell myself that for quite a while! There’s no point to wallowing in misery. Mourn it for a day or two and then accept it, learn, and move forward! There is nothing you can do about it so you might as well enjoy it! Outlook is everything.

2. Get a good support system!

My husband was so encouraging throughout the whole thing. He ate my low-carb meals and never complained or asked me to make him something different. Sure, he snacked on some things that I couldn’t have, but overall I was so thankful for his help. My mom also is a diabetic and was super helpful in teaching me how sugar checks work and helping me figure out what foods may affect me negatively. If you don’t have a supportive partner, ask a friend if maybe they would be interested in trying a low-carb lifestyle with you. It is a very popular thing right now and a “person” can make a huge difference!

There are so many great groups on Facebook, as well! This group was hands down one of the very best things for me, especially in the beginning! I learned so much and those ladies were so helpful! I was able to skip meeting with a nutritionist and simply go off of the advice in here and from my OB since I was able to control my numbers.

3. This whole thing is literally trial and error!

Not everything affects everyone the same way. You have to learn what works and what doesn’t for YOUR body. It took a few weeks of numbers that were a little bit all over the place to learn what my body processes well and what it doesn’t. I learned super quickly that simple carbs like crackers, white rice and white bread spiked my sugar very badly. Whole wheat pasta was even a no-go, but I could get away with Protein Pasta just fine!

4. Protein is your best friend!

I did have to watch my carbs far more closely than some. I was unable to eat anywhere near the suggested amount that a lot of nutritionists recommend. If I would go anywhere near 30-40g of carbs in a meal, it would put my numbers way over my maximum. However, I did find that balancing my carbs with high protein made a huge difference and virtually negated the carb ratio. For example, if I had a meal that was 20g of carbs, if I ate 15g of protein it was essentially like I only had 5g of carbs. My numbers would be great! Knowledge was power for me on this, and I always made sure my meals were high protein. This was why I liked a lot of the Keto recipes, but made sure to have some carbs in there. And hey, if I knew that I wanted to cheat a tiny bit and have a few French fries, I would just make sure I chased them with a protein shake and it seemed to help. (the chocolate Premier shakes were my go-to, but they have TONS of flavors!).

5. Speaking of- you may come to dread eggs.

Yep. I always was someone that loved eggs! Hard boiled or scrambled were my favorite. And in the beginning I told my husband that I really didn’t understand why people hated on eggs so much in these groups. Until about month 7.5. I got to the point where the thought of eating eggs literally made me gag some days. This was when I started eating more Greek yogurt and cheese, as they both really helped with the protein intake in a non-egg way. 

6. The finger poke is not all that bad. Wash your hands every time!

I hate needles. I was dreading having to stick myself four times a day. But once I got used to it, it really wasn’t that bad. Just make sure to change your lancet often to keep it sharp, and rotate which fingers you stick. Also- Wash your hands! Every time you check. I did not take that seriously and one day I checked my sugar after eating a large salad packed with protein. My glucose monitor read 193 and I freaked out. I thought something was seriously wrong with me. So I stopped and washed my hands and rechecked immediately, and my monitor read 91. Turns out, I hadn’t considered that I had been feeing Addie a donut with that same hand and the sugar was all over my fingers. Residue really does affect your readings! 

7. Its not the end of the world if you need to go on medication. 

After about 2 months of being diet controlled, my doctor wasn’t happy with my fasting numbers, which are truly out of your control most of the time. I had tried everything and they were still a little high. So we decided that I would start on Metformin to help bring them down. At first, I was super disappointed in myself for not being able to manage things, but my doctor gently explained to me that none of this is my fault…it’s the placenta. And there is no shame in needing medication. So I took my meds and my numbers came down into range easily. Inconvenient? Sure! But it was all worth it to make sure baby girl was safe.

8. The extra ultrasounds are fun!

At first I was not a fan of having to go to the doctor twice a week for the last two months of my pregnancy (our OB office is an hour away), but once I got used to getting to see my sweet girl all the time for her biophysical profiles, I started to look forward to the visits! Addie loved seeing sissy, too, and I think it helped her excitement to meet her!

9. Your baby will be just fine, 98% of the time!

I know, the biggest concern is worry for your baby. I promise you, if you follow the diet and do what your doctor says, the overwhelming majority of the time, your baby will be perfectly fine! The scary stories that you hear are typically because people don’t listen to what they are told. Lilliana passed all of her post-birth tests and checks with flying colors, and this seems to be the norm.

10. It’s all worth it!

The literal minute that my doctor laid that sweet baby girl onto my chest, it was like all of this never happened. I totally forgot about the struggle. Every finger poke and pill and skipped cookie was worth it to ensure her safe arrival!

Moving forward, I will be taking steps to help my entire family eat better and be healthy to reduce the risks of Type 2 Diabetes. (I will say though, that piece of cake after she came out was fantastic 🙂 ). I hope that this helps give you some hope as you work through this journey yourself. You’ve got this, Mama!

Foods that worked great for me:

  • Protein Pasta (This one and this one gave me some of my very best numbers! Balance with meat and cheese). Stock up, they will be your best friend! Especially if you are feeding a husband and other kids!
  • Greek Yogurt. I loved buying plain, unsweetened and sweetening it myself with a zero calorie sweetener and a splash of vanilla.
  • Protein Shakes! Like I said, these are a magic bullet to help bring your numbers down quickly! They are also super yummy if you freeze them and eat them like ice-cream!
  • Carb Smart Ice Cream Bars. Super good and easy to find at most grocery stores! I loved these as a bedtime snack 🙂 
  • Peanut Butter. I just used regular ol’ PB. If I had whole wheat bread, I could get away with a PB sandwich. But it also works in a pinch when you need a sweet to just eat a big fat spoonful! I literally ate about a jar a week.
  • Protein Bars. These were fantastic for breakfast when I just could not eat another egg or was in a hurry. They also make a great afternoon snack! A few favs:
  • Trail Mix: Find one that is more nuts and fruits, and less candy. High protein, low carb is the game here! (I liked this one!)
  •  Almond Everything! I made all sorts of things using Almond Flour. It’s great to keep a bag on hand. (see my recipes archive for some great ideas! Also, my Pinterest Board). Salted Almonds were also great to have on hand to help with chip cravings!
  • Quest Pizza! This was a life-saver! Some days yo just don’t feel like making a big, involved meal. I kept a few of these in my freezer and made them for myself when I fixed a normal pizza for my family. I ate the entire dang thing and consistently got my lowest post-meal numbers to date! They used to be hard to find, but most stores carry it now.

Addilyn’s “Tea for Two” Birthday Party

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If you’ve been with me for a while, you probably remember Addilyn’s Donut First Birthday Party. Her second birthday is quickly approaching, and we had decided that we wanted to throw her a party before her little sister made her arrival. Being that I was 9 months pregnant and we planned this little gathering the day before my induction (I like to live on the edge!), my orders were to keep things simple and easy on myself, and to keep the guest list small. Try as I may, I literally do not know how to not be a little extra when it comes to celebrating this little rainbow baby girl. So as you can see, I did not keep it as simple as I probably should have. But it was worth every second of work to see the joy on her face!

The entry table is always one of my favorite things to decorate! I used my Cricut to cut out the “Tea for Two” banner and teacups, and glued them to this fun green vine garland. All of the florals were things that I had on hand to use for various parties and entertaining that I do! I just pulled from my stash.

We started a little tradition with that box off to the left. Each year at Addilyn’s birthday, we have loved ones and friends write her letters to put into the box. They will remain sealed until her 18th birthday, and then we will give them to her to open. My hope is that it is incredibly special to her to read about how loved she has been her entire life. We will be doing this for all of our babies! 

Of course, every tea party needs a teapot! I had actually wanted to order this one, but I forgot (pregnancy brain!) and ran out of time. Thankfully, TJ Maxx had this ADORABLE polka dot one for a fantastic price, so I was able to snatch it up quick!

A little pink tulle goes a long way to add some sweetness to the overall look! I tied it around vases, the lamp and the chandelier over the kitchen table.

Mama couldn’t help but make a batch of custom cookies too! These little Teacup and Teapot cutters were the perfect addition! 

These teacups were another last minute TJ Maxx score, but Amazon has some gorgeous options if your local TJ Maxx doesn’t have any!

I had every intention of making fancy petit fours. But…mama was out of time and energy. I opted for these gorgeous Chocolate Covered Oreos and they really added some sweetness! Seriously, SO easy! All you need is this mold, Oreos, candy melts, and fancy sprinkles! I made these about 4-5 days ahead and they were perfect on party day. I’m all for things I can do ahead of time!

I love doing custom cookies in general, but there is something special about making them for your baby that makes you want to put a little extra love into them! I was so happy with how these came out and Addie loved them!

Her cake was a vision that I had in my head and sketched out. I spent weeks trying to perfect macarons for just this reason. Apparently they hate gas ovens, so that was a bit of a headache, but I finally was able to make a batch that worked! This is easily my favorite cake that I have ever made! Even more than her first birthday one, which I was incredibly proud of! The little teacup on top was another TJ Maxx steal!

A local coffee shop here in town makes bacon cheddar scones, and a friend of mine has been raving about them and telling me I need to try them out. With a lineup chock full of sweets for this party, I wanted to make some savory foods and this seemed like the perfect occasion! Tea and scones go together, after all. Grab the Scone recipe HERE! Let me tell you…they were GOOD! Like, it killed me not being able to eat them with my Gestational Diabetes.

Working within a budget, I decided that I wasn’t paying $15 for a tiny box of frozen quiches. I did some homework and figured out how to make my own Quiche Lorraines. Super easy, super yummy and the perfect tea party finger food! I’ll get you guys that recipe too!

The little tea stands were a major Amazon score! I got both for just shy of $12, and they are reusable so I can have tea parties with my girls as they get a little bigger! Plus they will be nice to have in my stash for entertaining.

Chicken Salad croissants were a last minute addition, and I made up the recipe with stuff that I had on hand! Turns out, my made up chicken salad was a giant hit and everyone wants me to get that recipe together too. Working on it! Newborn mama life… 🙂 

For the grown ups, we had some cucumber dill finger sandwiches. The little people had their own PBJ variety!

Since we are being fancy, I couldn’t just do boring paper plates! These gorgeous pink plates completed the food table, and they are incredibly sturdy and nice! I wound up washing and keeping them to use for tea parties in the future! 10 out of 10 recommend!

Sigh…. I seriously love this cake!

I couldn’t help myself when I came across these sweet little paper tea cups! The littles loved them, and they were cute and fun for the adults too! (Disclaimer- they cannot hold hot liquid. But they were perfect for the water, pink lemonade and sweet tea that we served! And just right for little hands!)

The little people were happy with the sweet options for drink, but I wanted some hot tea for the adults! This variety pack of Bigelow teas was perfect! We had plenty left over, too, which I am not mad about! We like hot tea around here.

Plus, a tea party was a good excuse to bust out some of my fine china that I haven’t used much since we got married 10 years ago.

Behind the food table and mixed into the balloon garland, I made these little strings of teacups and pots. I just used my Cricut to cut the shapes out of some pretty floral papers that I ordered on Amazon. Then I hot glued them to the greenery vines. Easy peasy and super cute!

I sure do love a good balloon garland! They are a very inexpensive and relatively easy way to add a major statement to your event! (Check out my post here with a detailed tutorial!). Usually, I just buy balloons at the store and work them into a garland, but in the name of ease this go around, I ordered this kit off of Amazon. It was perfect, with a good mixture of sizes and colors. Huge bonus that it includes everything that you could possibly need!

Sweet girl had so much fun and loved being the center of attention!

Our last family photo with Lillie on the inside!

Last but not least, here is the invitation (with our personal info marked out, of course!). If you would like your own to print or use as an evite, email me and I can create a custom for you! I charge $15 and you can use it however you want!

Here’s a handy supply list if you would like to create your own beautiful tea party! Just click for direct links!

Green Vines

Tea Pot

Pink Tulle

Tea Cup and Pot Cookie Cutter

Tea Cups

Oreo Mold

Lilliana’s Birth Story

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Lilliana Grace joined our family this week, and I am finally settling in to write out her birth story! It was a whirlwind, but went absolutely perfectly, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

I know I am probably in the mass minority, but I have decided that I love induction. I love the idea of planning ahead and being prepared. I loved being able to get our family into town to be a part of the birth. I love being already at the hospital when contractions start, just in case things progress quickly (which they did!). And this go around, I loved being able to settle my big baby girl in and make sure she was in the best hands possible prior to going into labor. 

After a busy weekend throwing Addilyn an early 2nd birthday party, the plan was to head to the hospital on Sunday just after dinner time to start the induction process. Sunday morning, I was feeling a little unprepared. Our parents took Addie to church, and I opted to stay home by myself to get ready, pack and tie up a few loose ends. I took a long hot shower…like the kind where the tank runs out of hot water. Without having to listen for a baby monitor. I haven’t done that in two years! And it was so nice. I packed, picked up, wrote a letter to Addilyn for her birthday and wrapped up a few gifts for our nurses and our OBGYN (we LOVE him!). All in a quiet house. It was so relaxing and helped me feel more mentally prepared. 

We had lunch together, and while Addie napped my mother in law took me for a last minute pedicure. Not totally necessary, but boy was it nice! And it’s always fun to go in for labor with cute toenails!

When we got home, we spent a little time as a family, got Addilyn settled with our friend that was keeping her and then Michael and I set off for the hospital! We made the hour drive, got stuck in traffic and grabbed a quick bite to eat. And then we did the fun stuff like checking in and filling out paperwork.

Finally at 10:15pm, my first dose of Cytotec was placed. I was not dilated at all, so we settled in to try and rest a bit after our parents came by to check on us and drop off a few things that we forgot. We both were able to grab a couple of restless hours of sleep before the nurse came back in.

At 2:30am on Monday morning, my second dose of Cytotec was placed. Still no dilation at all, so we tried to rest a little more.

At about 4am, I woke up starting to feel cramps and mild contractions, which I worked through on my own using my labor techniques that I used with Addie’s labor (I will NEVER not drink Red Raspberry Leaf Tea before labor! I only drank it the day before and day of and it helped so much!), so that Michael could rest a little more. By about 4:45am, I had to wake him up to help me get to the restroom because I felt like I needed to go very urgently. While I was up, I was pretty sure that my water broke, which was new for me! With Addie, my doctor had to break it and I was already numb so I felt nothing. I called the nurse in to test for amniotic fluid, and she said I was dilated to a 2(ish). The test came back positive that my water had, in fact, broken. We went ahead and called our parents to come back to the hospital at that point.

Contractions picked up in intensity and I went ahead and asked for my epidural because they were getting pretty painful. With my history of going quickly, the anesthesiologist came pretty much right away.

At 6:20am, my epidural was in and starting to work. My doctor got to the hospital about 30 minutes later, checked me and found that I was already dilated to an 8. Our parents arrived and got to visit for a few minutes with us, and then I realized that I felt a ton of pressure and we had to kick my poor dad out of the room. My epidural just barely numbed me in time! Things went very quickly from here.

At about 7:15am, my doctor checked and said her head was pretty much all the way through the canal and told me I can push when I am ready. I pushed through 2 sets of contractions, so for about 10 minutes. And then little Lillie just came shooting right out! Easiest. Labor. Ever! If they all go that way, I’d have 200 babies!

We did some skin to skin and took about 1,000 pics while Dr. Jackson got everything handled from there. It was such a beautiful moment filled with so much love and joy!

Seriously, we hit the jackpot with this man. Everyone deserves an OB that listens to them, knows them well, cares about them as a person and not just a number, and most importantly to us, loves the Lord. I mean how often does an OB deliver a baby and then come back to pray over the family and the little life that just came into the world?? I would venture to say that it is rare and we are so thankful for him and all that he has done for us over the last 4 years. 

As a thank you to our fantastic labor nurses for all that they do, I took them a batch of custom cookies. I mean, they do the dirty work! They take care of needy, scared moms during labor, they clean you up after, they make sure you adjust to life with your baby. They truly are heroes and deserve all of the thanks!

I will say it again, I cannot sing the praises of Red Raspberry Leaf tea enough! I drank it religiously before having Addilyn, hoping it would start labor. It did not, but my induction went incredibly quickly with her. 

This time around, I did not start drinking it early because I didn’t want to go into labor until we had done Addie’s birthday party. I started drinking it the day before my induction, and drank a strong brew on Sunday afternoon. My labor with Lilliana went from no dilation at all, to baby on my chest in less than 9 hours! With about an hour of laboring pre-epidural and only 10 minutes of pushing. I could say this was just my personal results, but I have recommended it to a few friends and they have seen very similar results! I am a believer! If you are expecting a baby soon, definitely order you some! (Here is the best brand that I have found!)

Almond Crusted Quiche Recipe

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A few weeks ago I was feeling quite in the Gestational Diabetes rut. I swear we have been eating the same meals on a short rotation, and I was desperate for something new. Everything that I had on my meal planner for the week sounded blah, so I took to the web and scoured the pantry to figure out what I may be able to whip up!

The answer to my craving was quiche! Quiche is typically easy, and most of the time we have everything needed on hand! The one problem? The crust. Way too carby for what I needed. So I decided to try my hand at an almond flour crust and you guys…it did not disappoint! This quiche came together super easily and tasted delicious! I almost did not miss the normal crust at all. And major win? The toddler loved it! 

The first piece, the crust stuck to the pie plate a bit. Next time, I will pre-grease it a little to help with this. Subsequent pieces, however, came out much cleaner. 

If you are on a low-carb or Keto diet for any reason, you MUST try this! It was so good and you can easily customize the filling to what you are craving or what you have on hand. 

Ham and Cheese Quiche with Almond Crust

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients:

Crust:

  • 1 ½ cups almond flour
  • ¼ cup olive oil 
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Filling:

  • 6 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
  • 1 package of deli ham
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions:

  1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Prep your ham by cutting it into slices, and then cut those slices into smaller pieces. (You can literally fill this with anything you want! Add veggies that you have on hand, swap out the meats, chopped mushrooms…whatever you are feeling! I just wanted ham and cheese so that’s what we went with! If you add veggies, make sure to sautée them a bit first to pre-cook them.)
  3. Combine the ingredients for your crust and knead it until well mixed and a ball forms. You can add a bit more oil if you need to. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9″ pie pan.
  4. Bake your crust for 20 minutes and remove it from the oven.
  5. In a large bowl, mix together your eggs, ham, seasonings and 1 cup of your cheese and stir well.
  6. Pour your mixture into the crust and top with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. 
  7. Bake an additional 15-20 minutes until the center is set and firm. Remove it from the oven and allow it to stand for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

    The Promise in the Wait

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    Have you ever longed for something so badly that it caused you physical pain? I know I sure have. For me, it was a child. After we bought our current home, I used to sit in the floor of the tiny spare bedroom and cry out to God to give me the desire of my heart. And one day He did, but then that child went right back to heaven as quickly as it came. Again, I would find myself sitting in that room, wailing and praying even harder. I just did not understand why things did not change. Why God would allow my prayer to be answered and then allow it to be taken away. Why He was allowing things to go so slowly with getting pregnant again.

    Now that I have two beautiful little girls (one here with us, and one arriving any minute now!), I don’t find myself wailing in a tiny spare bedroom, but rather reflecting on God’s abundant goodness as I rock my Addilyn in a pretty floral nursery and feel sweet Lilliana kicking away. But I do find myself begging God to change other areas. To reconcile relationships, to fill my heart with friendship, to change my financial situation, I could go on…

    Some days, it’s really easy to get bogged down in the wait. It can feel like you are in a permanent season of unanswered prayers. Prayers for a child, for reconciliation in a broken marriage, for a break financially…whatever it may be. I personally have been through many different seasons of hurting and waiting. And I can promise you, I get it. It is such a lonely place to be. 

    I think a lot of times, the comfort that we are given is that this life is temporary, and even if our wait doesn’t come to an end here on this earth, it eventually will when we move on to heaven. This is a beautiful truth, and yes it does comfort me very often! But there is also great encouragement in this verse that is in Psalm 27.  

    While it may not always look like the answer that we have in mind or have planned, you can rest assured that if you wait on the Lord, you will see His goodness in the land of the living (i.e.- this life). He is faithful, and we can take heart in that promise! Not one minute of our waiting goes unseen or uncared about, and far too often I have learned that If I simply wait on His timing and open my hands of my sense of control, the goodness that He brings is far sweeter than what I was begging Him for in the first place!

    So, friend, if you feel stuck in a season of waiting and wondering, I encourage you to take heart, because you will see His goodness in His timing if you can just hold on and wait for Him. 

    Wait and See by Wendy Pope is a fantastic resource for your season of waiting, too! This book helped me more than words can even express and I highly recommend it!

    McKenna is Off!

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    A very good friend of mine’s daughter was leaving for New Mexico for dance school last year. They wanted to throw her a surprise going away party, so she asked me if I could come up with a cake and cookie set that incorporated her passion for dance, but also New Mexico and hot air balloons. 

    The catch? McKenna doesn’t love icing! So I had to keep the cake light with a whipped frosting and we did fresh fruit between the layers.

    What’s a hot air balloon without clouds? 

    Or New Mexico without cacti?!

    The cake seriously came out so cute! Sometimes simple really is more fun! (sometimes 🙂 ) *I used my Cricut and some shiny gold card stock to cut out her name and personalize it a bit more. 

    For the cookies, we went with cacti and balloons too, but also added some plaques in with her name and silhouettes of her dancing (These are from actual photos of her!).

    I absolutely loved the way that these came out, and thoroughly enjoyed creating them for her. What a special way to send off!

    Cutters used in this set:

    Hot Air Balloon

    Cactus

    Plaque (this set is VERY similar!)

    I also HIGHLY recommend the Miroir projector or PICO Projector for detail work (like the dancers!)

    Fondue Date Night (with a delicious recipe!)

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    To be honest (as I am sure is the case for many of you!), it’s just not always in our budget to do extravagant date nights and pay for baby sitters. Last year for our anniversary, I wanted to do something special at home that we would enjoy after putting Addilyn to bed. I had gotten a new fondue pot for Christmas and hadn’t had an opportunity to use it yet, so I decided that this was JUST the occasion!

    That afternoon, I  went to the store and grabbed various things to dip: Pineapple, marshmallows, strawberries, bananas, rice Krispy treats and pound cake. You could totally do any number of things, these are just all things that we like!

    Just after putting the baby to bed, I whipped up this delicious chocolate fondue recipe and set it all up on our back porch. We have an awesome IKEA dining set out there, and some fun cafe lights strung up which make it the perfect spot to spend a warm May evening!

     

    That’s it! A super simple, low key date night that you can put together in minutes. We really loved spending some quality time together just enjoying the view and each other’s company.

    (Keep scrolling for the fondue recipe!)

    Easy Chocolate Fondue

    • Servings: 8-10
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

    Ingredients:

    • 10 ounces chocolate (whatever kind you want!)
    • 1/2 – 3/4 cup whole milk or heavy cream (depending on how thick you want your fondue)
    • 1 1/2 TBSP unsalted butter
    • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1/8 tsp salt

    Instructions:

    1. Start by preparing all of the ingredients/treats you will be dipping in the fondue. The preparation of the fondue goes quickly, so you want to have all of the treats ready to go!
    2. In a small bowl, combine the chocolate, 1/2 cup milk or cream and butter and heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes at 50% power. (You may want to stir half way through).
    3. Remove and stir until completely smooth, heating more in 30 second intervals if needed.
    4. Add more milk if desired and then stir in the vanilla and salt.
    5. Pour into your fondue pot if you have one, or serve immediately in a bowl. If you are serving without a pot, your mixture may thicken as it cools. If this happens, simply heat it in bursts of 15 seconds in the microwave and stir well in between until it thins back out.

    3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

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    I love me some cookies. But my gestational diabetes has forced me to look for less-sugar-filled alternatives. To be honest, now that I am adapting to this lifestyle, I will likely keep cooking some of these recipes just for the benefit of my little family!

    I have heard all sorts of rave about easy peanut butter cookies, and decided that since peanut butter is one of the best things I can have, I needed to try and whip some up! So one night after dinner, my sweet kitchen assistant and I did just that. 

    I mean, how cute is she?! Okay so I will put the full recipe below. But since I am a visual person, here’s a little step-by-step for ya! After mixing to combine your ingredients, you will roll the dough into one-inch balls and place them on parchment paper lined baking sheets.

    Use a fork to smash them down to about 1/4 inch thick, making a criss cross pattern. The dough is a little sticky, so you will probably need to wipe the fork every other cookie.

    Bake them for about 12-13 minutes for a chewy cookie, or 15ish if you want them a bit more crunchy!

    That’s it!! They are a little more powdery than your traditional peanut butter cookie, but my goodness they sure do satisfy the craving! Next time I am going to dip half in melted Lily’s chocolate! I’ll be sure and update when I do!

    3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

    • Servings: about 20-24 cookies
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

    Ingredients:

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
    2. Combine all ingredients in the bowl of your mixer and mix until a soft dough forms. This may take a few minutes to accomplish, so don’t worry! 
    3. Roll into 1″ balls and place on your lined cookie sheet.
    4. Using a damp fork, press each ball down to about 1/4″ thick, in a criss-cross pattern.
    5. Bake for 12-13 minutes for a softer cookie, 15 or so if you prefer them a bit more crunchy!
    6. Allow to cool completely before removing from the baking sheet.

    Unloved on Valentine’s Day

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    This verse was part of my quiet time today, and it speaks to me for various reasons, but I am fairly certain that it was also for me to share. Today is a day of love, and our social media streams will be overloaded with grand gestures, special gifts, candy, flowers, poems, dates…you name it. And this is beautiful because we SHOULD celebrate those we love, and I don’t think there is a single thing wrong with a special day to do so. Heck, I have special treats and surprises for my people, too.
     
    BUT on that same token, today can be soul crushing for others. Today may be a reminder of how lonely you feel. A reminder of a failed marriage, the end of the relationship that you thought would be your forever, a lost family member, a broken home, empty arms and no child to buy candy for, the relationship where you feel completely unseen, uncelebrated, unappreciated and unloved….I could go on.
     
    Friend, if you are the latter today, know that you are seen and loved. The Lord is near to you, and you are never alone. Rest in His arms and allow HIS love to fill you up, rather than relying on the frail love of another human. And know that your pain is also seen, recognized and cared for as well. And I see you too! <3

    A Kate Spade Boutique Party

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    Our small little town has the most fabulous upscale consignment boutique called Sassy Girls! The sweet owner, Celeste, works hard to curate the most beautiful collections and absolutely adores all things Kate Spade. 

    Recently, she was throwing a party to celebrate the anniversary of her ownership of the business and she asked me to design a cake and cookies for her customers to enjoy.

    In true Kate Spade fashion, we went with gold, stripes and florals! I have been dying to try the “fault line” cake trend and this was a great opportunity to practice it. 

    For the cookies, I grabbed up this PERFECT Ann Clark cutter set and went to town, keeping with the same color scheme throughout.

    Am I totally crazy for envying a fake cookie purse?! Seriously love this black quilted handbag!

    And here is the precious owner, proudly rocking her gorgeous goodies! If you are local, you must go check them out! 

    Check out more fun cakes and cookies HERE!

    10 MUST HAVE (Stylish) Shoes for the Practical Mom

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    My first pregnancy destroyed my ability to wear much of a heel. Not to mention, carting around a toddler and now being super pregnant with baby number 2! This mama needs practical shoes that I can function in, but I still like to look cute! No one wants to live in a rut of clogs and tennis shoes all the time. 

    To make life easier for you, I pulled a few looks that I am loving! They up your outfit game instantly, but are practical and easy to wear for our real life days! 

    Boots and Booties!

    While it’s still cool out, I am all about the bootie! 

    These are absolutely adorable! With practically no heel, they dress up jeans or leggings (or heck, even a skirt!) but still allow you to walk. Which is a huge plus in my book!

     

    A subtle peep toe is also fun as the weather warms up! These DO have a heel, but its chunky and stable. Plus they are available in three colors! 

    Last up, THESE fringe booties! I am in love. They are available in a ton of colors, super comfortable, and add interest to literally any outfit! Disclaimer: Do order a size up! They run small.

    Flats!

    Gone are the days when the word “flats” meant literally ballet style shoes 24/7! There are so many fun ways to wear flats now that up your style but keep your heels on the ground.

    These basket-weave mules are adorable! You can totally wear them with jeans or dress them up for something a little more fancy. The padded sole is also a huge plus, making them super comfy for all-day wear!

     

    T-strap Espidrilles are a fun twist on the Mary Jane look! Incredibly comfortable on your feet, and the added security of the ankle strap will keep them put while you are on the go!

    Want something a little more punchy?? I absolutely love a good animal print shoe! You literally can wear jeans and a t-shirt (or leggings!), and then throw on these shoes and upgrade your look!

    Sneakers

    Sometimes you just need a good pair of comfy sneakers to get the job done. All of these are stylish options that are functional, comfortable and stylish!

    These Nude slip on Mules are awesome for running errands! Easy to just grab and go out the door, and perfect as the weather warms up!

    Like I said before with the flats, if I am going to wear sneakers, sometimes bold prints can take it from “I just ran a marathon” to “Put together Mom!” These leopard print ones check all of my boxes!

    TOMS Canvas Classics are a favorite go-to, and they support a fantastic cause! Extremely comfortable and easy to wear, if you haven’t tried TOMS yet, you need to. I am in love with this champagne pair!

    Last, but so definitely not least in my book: rose gold Kate Spade Keds! Keds are a timeless brand, known for being practical and comfortable. The shimmer in these is to die for, and they are on my short list for my next birthday! 

    There you have it! My round up of awesome, functional shoes that help keep you out of the “mom rut” that we so easily fall into! Have another favorite shoe style? Tell us in the comments! 

    Low Carb Chicken Pot Pie

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    Chicken Pot Pie is one of my absolute favorite comfort foods! Especially the Marie Calendars frozen kind that you literally pop into the oven (guilty!). My husband and I have differing opinions on this dish, so I don’t make it super often. 

    The other day I was having a craving for it, but needed something that would not throw my sugar levels off (thanks Gestational Diabetes, for stealing my comfort food!). So I did what I do and found recipes, and then combined and tweaked them until I came up with something that I honestly think was SUPER delicious! The husband and the toddler both ate it up, so it must be good!

    The best part? It was not super complicated to make and came together fairly easily. Major win for being able to simplify using my Crock Pot and Cast Iron Skillet too! 

    I went ahead and cooked the chicken (to pieces) in the crock pot on low the day before, simply because I had time. I shredded it and popped it into the fridge, and then threw this meal together at dinner time the next day. It was perfect and tender!

    Just look at that crusty goodness!

    Low Carb Chicken Pot Pie

    • Servings: 6-8
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

    Ingredients:

    For the filling:

    • 2 TBSP Butter
    • 2.5 cups cooked, shredded chicken* (see note in step 1 below!)
    • 1 cup mixed vegetables (I just used a bag of frozen!)
    • 1/2 of a white onion, diced
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1/4 tsp pepper
    • 2 cloves of garlic, minced (I buy mine pre-minced in a jar! Major time saver!)
    • 3/4 cup heavy cream
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 2 tsp Italian seasoning (more for cooking your chicken!)
    • 1/4 tsp cornstarch (if you aren’t Keto! Xanthan Gum if you are!)
    For the Crust:
    • 5 TBSP Butter, melted and cooled
    • 1/3 cup Almond Flour
    • 2 TBSP Sour Cream
    • 4 Eggs
    • 1/2 tsp Salt
    • 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese (mild is best!)
    • 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese
    Instructions:
    1.  Cook your chicken (or shred your pre-cooked chicken). *I opted to pre-cook my chicken in the crock pot the day before. I simply placed 3-4 chicken breasts in there, added a good bit of Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper, a cup of water, and cooked on low for 8 hours. You could absolutely Instant Pot some chicken, or use rotisserie if you are pinched for time!
    2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
    3. Heat your Cast Iron Skillet on the stove top. Sautee your onion, mixed vegetables, salt and pepper in 2 TBSP butter, until onions are translucent. Add minced garlic and cook another minute until fragrant (stir constantly or it will burn!).
    4. Add the broth, cream and Italian Seasoning.
    5. Sprinkle your cornstarch (or Xanthan Gum) and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should start to thicken up at this point, but you want to keep the liquid in there, so if it starts to look too thick, stop simmering! 
    6. Stir in your shredded chicken and turn heat to low.
    7. Now for the “crust!” Combine your melted butter, salt, eggs and sour cream and whisk until well incorporated. 
    8. Add the almond flour and baking powder. 
    9. Stir in the cheeses. Mix until well combined.
    10. Drop the batter in dollops onto the filling and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until it seems cooked through. Turn the oven to broil and cook another minute or two, until it   has a golden crust on top.

    If you try it, make sure to post a picture and tag me on Instagram @Kisses.and.caffeine and/or use #kissesandcaffeine! 

    Get more yummy recipes HERE!

    Single-Serve (Healthy!) Greek Yogurt “Cheesecake”

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    I have a terrible sweet tooth. Like, it is bad how much I would prefer to just eat dessert over “real” food sometimes. Unfortunately, that doesn’t jive well with Gestational Diabetes, so I have been forced to get creative! (This fantastic chocolate chip mug cookie, for example.) The really fun thing is that so many of these recipes overlap with just a general diabetic, low-carb lifestyle and some even Keto, so they can benefit anyone! 

    The other day I was craving cheesecake something fierce. I was already headed to the store, so I stocked up on a few things to try my hand at and went to town! This is one of the easiest things I have ever made, and it comes together in literal minutes. Check it out!

    Single -Serve Greek Yogurt 'Cheesecake'

    • Servings: 1
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

    Ingredients:

     

    Directions:
    1. Combine your Greek Yogurt, pudding mix and vanilla and stir well.
    2. Allow mixture to sit a few minutes, until it firms up/sets a bit.
    3. Drizzle your syrup and sprinkle your chips! Or play with other toppings. Fresh fruit (low glycemic index) would be fantastic, too! 
    4. Enjoy! It really is THAT easy!

    Get more great recipes HERE!

    Balsamic Chicken Skillet (Low Carb- and DELICIOUS!)

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    Hey you guys! I’m here to share one of my absolute, all-time favorite recipes that I have ever created! I could seriously eat this entire pan on a daily basis. I teased it in my Insta story and had so many requests for the recipe- so here it is!

    I have always loved caprese anything. Something about the mixture of tomato, basil, balsamic reduction and fresh mozzarella is just my jam. Especially during this pregnancy with Lilliana! After Addilyn’s birth when I was really adjusting to the 2B Mindset (which I HIGHLY recommend, by the way!), I craved my old favorite, but with a low-carb, veggies-most twist! Now that I am dealing with Gestational Diabetes, it has come back into our menu rotation very frequently! Try it, I promise you won’t be sad!

    Low-Carb Balsamic Chicken Skillet

    • Servings: 4-6
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

    Ingredients:

    • 1 lb chicken breast, cubed.
    • 4 decent sized zucchini, cut into slices and then quartered
    • 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 16 oz log of fresh mozzarella (I personally love the Galbani brand!), cut into cubes
    • Olive Oil
    • Balsamic Vinegar 
    • 1 tsp Minced Garlic (I like to buy it in a jar, pre-minced!)
    • 2 TBSP Brown Sugar (you could try the brown sugar subs if you wanted to lower the carbs even more, but it doesn’t affect my sugar with all of this protein!)
    • 2 tsp Dried Basil (or fresh if you are feeling really fancy!)

    Directions:

    1. If you have time, put your cubed chicken in an airtight container with a drizzle of olive oil and a generous pour of balsamic vinegar. Give it a good shake and then place it in the fridge for a few hours to marinate. This step is not mandatory by any means, but it really gives your chicken more flavor!
    2. If you did not have time to marinate, jump right to this step! Heat a cast iron skillet (really helps with the flavor, but if you don’t have one, a non-stick skillet works too!) on med-low on your stove top. 
    3. Add a drizzle of olive oil and your chicken, and cook until the chicken is mostly cooked through.
    4. When the chicken is basically cooked, add the garlic and basil and cook for approximately one minute, until fragrant.
    5. Add a very generous pour of balsamic vinegar to the pan. I don’t ever measure this, I simply work to taste! You will figure out how tart you like it! 
    6. Next, add your zucchini and cook everything until the zucchini is tender but not mushy. You may have to add a bit more oil or vinegar as it cooks to keep some sauce in the pan. You will want the liquid at the end to drizzle, I promise!
    7. Once your zucchini is mostly cooked, add your brown sugar and stir well. 
    8. Add your cherry tomatoes the very last and cook just long enough to warm them up, but not make them mush..
    9. Taste the sauce. Add more sugar or vinegar to get it to where you like it! 
    10. Transfer your mixture to plates and add your fresh mozzarella cubes. We get a little carried away here, but you do you! Drizzle any leftover sauce from the pan over everything and enjoy!

    Try it and love it! Let me know what you think and give it a share if its a win for you like it is for us! Sharing is caring 😉

    DELISH Chocolate Chip Mug Cookie (Keto and Gestational Diabetes Friendly!)

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    A Gestational Diabetes diagnosis can be a lot to handle. It feels like the end of all things that taste good (i.e.. sweets!) at the very least until your pregnancy is over (barring any lingering sugar issues). Which is hard because when you are pregnant, a lot of times you crave all the sweets! Add to that the fact that I literally am constantly baking and working with sweets via my home baking side gig and I was really feeling deprived. 

    So, I decided that I needed to find a way to satisfy my sweet tooth that wouldn’t hurt my blood sugar numbers, and I am happy to say that I was SUPER successful! If you follow any low-carb diet, this may just be your new fave. I think I have made one almost every day since I finalized the recipe and it still tastes every bit as good to me! If you make it exact to this recipe, it only has 8g of carbs, and 7g of protein to almost entirely balance that out! 

    First of all, you will want to soften your butter, but not fully melt it! I put mine in a cute ramekin that I have, but a mug is perfect too! Zap that baby in the micro for about 15-20 seconds and its perfect.

    Then, you simply add everything else to the mug! I personally use these LILY’S baking chips because they are way lower carb and I don’t feel as guilty. But I will add that I have done it with a sprinkle of regular semi-sweet mini chips and my numbers have not spiked at all. So if you are in a pinch, don’t let that stop you!

    Give it a really good stir to mix everything in!

    Pop it in the microwave for 45 seconds and then devour! Omgosh it’s so good!

    Low Carb Chocolate Chip Mug Cookie

    • Servings: 1
    • Difficulty: SUPER easy
    • Print

    Ingredients:

    • 1 tbsp unsalted butter (use the real thing!)
    • 3 TBSP Almond Flour
    • 1 TBSP Sugar Free sweetener of your choice (I use Splenda. If you are Keto, use something like MonkFruit)
    • 1 large egg yolk (these are super helpful if you aren’t good at separating eggs!)
    • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
    • Pinch of salt
    • Approx 1 TBSP sugar free chocolate chips (I use THESE, but you can try with regular semi-sweet too if you aren’t being super strict!)

    Instructions:

    1. Place the butter in your mug and soften it for approximately 15-20 seconds in the microwave.
    2. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well.
    3. Microwave for approximately 45 seconds.
    4. Remove and let it cool for a second, if you can resist. 
    5. Enjoy your sweet (guilt-free!) treat!!

    Cheesy Spinach and Spaghetti Squash Bake (Gestational Diabetes & Keto Friendly!)

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    Being diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes was a bit overwhelming for me, as I can imagine it probably is for just about anyone! I was worried that I would have a hard time finding food that was satisfying to me, kept my numbers in check, and that my family would actually eat so that I didn’t have to do twice the work. 

    I had pretty much given up on cheesy pasta dishes. But then I whipped up this little dish and it checked all of the boxes! Cheese? Check! Pasta (ish)? Check! Creamy goodness?? Check! And my toddler and husband actually really liked it too! Plus it all comes together so easily in a cast iron skillet. (If you don’t have one, you need one! I recommend THIS ONE)

    Okay so, before you can make the actual recipe, we need to talk about cooking the spaghetti squash that it requires! For years, I dreaded any recipes that used it because cooking it seemed so time consuming. But then I found out about the microwave trick! It is so easy, and it takes minutes! CHECK OUT THIS POST to learn how to do it!

    Okay, now on to the recipe!

    Cheesy Spinach & Spaghetti Squash Bake

    • Servings: 5-7
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

    Ingredients:

    • 1 decent sized spaghetti squash
    • 1 tsp olive oil
    • 4-5 cups spinach, chopped 
    • Small jar of sun dried tomatoes (Or you can use red peppers! But I like the tomato flavor myself)
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1/2 tsp pepper
    • 8 oz. of cream cheese, softened
    • 1 cup mozzarella cheese
    • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
    • You will also really appreciate a Cast Iron Skillet because it saves dishes and adds more flavor, but it isn’t mandatory!

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
    2. Cook your spaghetti squash until tender, and prepare the noodles. (I love the microwave method I mentioned above!)
    3.  Heat your olive oil in your skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Add your spinach and sun dried tomato (or red bell pepper) and cook until spinach is wilted. Make sure to stir frequently!
    4. Add your garlic, salt and pepper, and cook until fragrant, stirring constantly so that your garlic doesn’t burn.
    5. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted.
    6. Add your spaghetti squash noodles and stir until everything is well incorporated. If you are using a cast iron skillet, you get to skip the next step! Yay you!
    7. If you are using a regular skillet, you will need to pour your mixture into a greased 9×13 casserole dish.
    8. Top your mixture with the parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and bake for approximately 30 minutes. Your mixture should be bubbly and the cheese should be browning a bit on top. 

    Would you look at all of that gooey, cheesy goodness?? I am craving some right now!

    If you wanted to up the protein content even more, you could always add shredded chicken to this dish as well! Even as it is, It was a definite hit for us!

    Winter One-derland Sugar Cookies

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    A sweet friend of mine reached out to me to do a set of cookies for her grandbaby’s first birthday party. Of course, I was so excited when she told me the theme, because I have been itching to do something different and this Winter One-derland set was perfect!

    They wanted a combination of metallics, white and blush, which came together beautifully! There isn’t much more to say other than to just enjoy the simple beauty of this look! I dropped links to the cutters used at the bottom, just in case you are wanting to do a little winter one-derland for your own little one!

    Cutters used for this set:

    Trees

    Plaques

    Number 1’s

    What Not to Say to the Woman Going Through Infertility or Miscarriage

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    This post is meant to educate, out of love. At the risk of possibly stepping on a handful of toes, I wanted to help the general public, who hasn’t suffered the loss of a pregnancy or endured infertility, to understand the things that you should never say to a woman (or her spouse) that is walking that road. I truly do believe that most people have good intentions and are trying to be helpful, and until you have been there you may not realize the way that your words can sting. The person that you say them to may never tell you that your words hurt, but they have the potential to ache for years. I hope that this list will help to start conversations and provide options that may be better received. 

    First and foremost, I am going to share what you should do. As someone who has gone through infertility as well as lost a child (more of our story here), I can say firsthand that this makes all the difference in the world. Working with women every day in my ministry, I see this play out for just about every situation. When someone you know and care about loses a baby or shares their struggle with you: 

    ASK. VALIDATE. LOVE.
    And then RESPOND.

    • ASK them how they are feeling. How they are coping. What is going through their mind and heart. And then truly listen to what they say. Not everyone processes or feels the same way.
    • VALIDATE their feelings. You may not understand, agree or be able to relate. But their feelings are their feelings and they are very real and raw and painful. If they chose to be vulnerable with you, honor that. I see a range of extreme grief, humor, confusion, anger, frustration…none of those feelings are wrong or bad. They just are what they are, and most people just want to feel heard and validated that their feelings are real.
    • LOVE them where they are. You don’t have to give the perfect “phrase” or verse or scripture right that second. You don’t have to fix it or have an answer. You don’t have to use any of these phrases that you may see below, thinking that they will explain things and make it go away. It is not our job to fix the pain, because we can’t. That is God’s job alone. 

    Let me say it louder for the people in the back: It is not your job to fix someone’s pain. That is God’s job! We simply need to love people.

    • RESPOND to them in a way that shows empathy and considers all of the aforementioned things. Sometimes you may not need to say anything. Sometimes actions are better than words. (post on that coming soon!). Your response to being let in on the most painful thing that a woman can go through can make or break her healing process. Always think of how your words will be received before you say them!

    Now, onto what you should NOT say! These quotes are things that I hear often, and most are taken verbatim from women who have been there. I am breaking them down by category.

    If they already have children:

    “The most hurtful comments that I got after my recent 2nd miscarriage was: ‘It was not meant to be, you have too many kids already!’ But the worst and most hurtful was: ‘You’re better off, 3 kids is too much. A 4th? You’re crazy!’ There is nothing more I love than being a mom.”

    “The most irritating thing so far with having ‘unexplained infertility’ is people saying, ‘You already have two healthy children. Do you really want to start all over again?’”

    “’At least you already have a kid. You can always try again.’ As if I hadn’t already formed a bond with the child I was carrying and full of love and hope.”

    “You guys don’t need another kid, you have three already.”

    “‘At least you have one child. You should be happy with that.’ So now not only are you depressed about no more kids, but you feel like crap for feeling that way.”

    “Both miscarriages after my boys I got told ‘You should be happy you at least have them.’ Umm of course I’m happy I have them but my heart got ripped out with each baby that passed away….”

    “‘If you had that baby you wouldn’t have your others.’ Which I don’t think is true at all!”

    “You have kids already, really you should be thankful and not selfish.”

    “I was told I ‘really dodged a bullet’ because I didn’t need anymore kids.”

    Spiritual Platitudes

    This one in particular burned me up and caused pretty bad harm to my relationship with God and the strength of my faith. As a long-time believer and someone that works in ministry even. So I can imagine how much harder it may hit someone who doesn’t have a strong walk with the Lord (or any walk with Him) just yet. THINK about that. While many of these may have truth to them, they don’t really need to be said- as they can paint God in a bad light, or make the person that you are saying them to feel like they are not faithful enough or good enough.

    “The worst comment was ‘You need to pray and fast, that’s why you don’t have a baby yet.’”

    “Something was wrong with the baby that’s why you lost it.” “Thank God you lost it early.” “It wasn’t God’s will.”

    “You’re not getting pregnant because you don’t go to church”

    “On Mother’s Day while I was going through infertility our pastor prayed ‘for all the mothers and all those who it’s not in your plan to be mothers.’ I left the church sobbing, forgot my purse and made my husband go back in to get the purse.”

    “‘They’re in a better place’” comes across like I am not good enough.”

    “Everything happens for a reason”- MAJOR pet peeve of mine!

    “Your baby is in a better place now.”

    “‘God’s timing is perfect,’ which I don’t disagree with. But it’s not a comforting thing to say to someone who’s been trying to get pregnant for a while. I already have a daughter which I’m grateful for, and she was literally an answer to prayer, but we so badly want to give her a sibling. We wanted to have a huge family and it hurts to not be able to get pregnant so easily like others do.”

    “I was told that I may not conceive a baby due to a medical issue. I was constantly being told ‘in Gods time.’ I know at the time it wasn’t meant as bad but to a woman truly wanting a child it hurt.”

    The "Just Relax" Mindset

    If you are thinking about saying this, don’t. Just don’t. Think of something else or just don’t say anything.

    “Just relax”

    “All the ‘When are you going to have children’ and ‘Maybe you should just relax’ comments hurt too.”

    “’Don’t think about it. Just relax and keep trying.’ It’s been 9 years, no baby…. I personally am on the verge of giving up.”

    “‘Stop thinking about it and it will happen.’ I get that one A LOT.” (By the way, it’s not that easy to “stop thinking about it!”)

    “It just wasn’t meant to be. You aren’t ready yet.” (HOW do you even know if someone else is ready? My heart had been ready for years!)

    "It wasn't meant to be" or "Something was wrong"

    “‘It probably just wasn’t meant to be,’ right after I told a family member that I had to have a D&C at 12 weeks pregnant. It hurt SOOOO bad, that even though it’s been years I still struggle to talk to this individual about anything.”

    “‘Something was wrong with the baby, that’s why you lost it.’ ‘Thank God you lost it early.’ ‘It wasn’t Gods will.’ Those three were the hardest.”

    “‘You’ve tried for a long time, but I don’t think your meant to have a baby, maybe it’s time to move on.’  I literally did everything I could to hold back the tears as a friend told me this. Super hurtful!”

    “You should thank God you lost it. I’m sure there was something wrong with it.” Again, not helpful to say, even if there is truth to it.

    “‘It was not the right time. You need to get over it.’” The best thing my midwife said was,’I wish I had a magic wand to take your pain away.’”

    “It’s totally natural, means there was something wrong with the baby.”

    “It happens all the time.” Yeah? So do car crashes and heart attacks. That doesn’t take away the grief that a family feels.

    Trivializing the pain or loss

    “At least you weren’t farther along in your pregnancy. That way you weren’t so attached to it yet.” 

    “The one that really got me came from someone extremely close to me. She told me a story about how she thought she was miscarrying, but it turned out it was just her period. As if I was mistaking the pain I was going thru as ‘just a period’ when I had actually heard the heartbeat by that point.”

    “After my miscarriage at 8 weeks this was said to me by a man at our church: ‘You can’t be upset over something you never had.’ I cried for DAYS over this… and 6 years later it still is in the back of my mind.”

    “It wasn’t really a baby you lost.” 

    “There was probably something wrong with IT anyway.”

    “This was God’s way of saying this baby isn’t perfect”

    “At least you never felt a kick” 

    “It happens to a lot of people, it’s really common and not that big of a deal.”

    “It’s ok, your brother gave me 4 grandchildren, that is plenty.”

    Adoption, While a beautiful thing, is not everyone’s answer and doesn’t always replace the desire for a biological child! It is a calling. You should never push that on someone.

    “Have you thought about adoption?”

    “‘Stop trying and it’ll happen,’ and ‘you can just adopt’ are the two worst for me.”

    Making the mother feel at fault

    “You don’t need to have a baby now anyways, lose your weight and then try it.” 

    “You just aren’t meant to be a mom.” 

    ”You shouldn’t have been so active, that’s why you miscarried.”

    Shaming fertility treatments or the desire to have a child

    “You’re better off. Some people just aren’t meant to be parents.”

    “Why are you wasting money on testing and treatments?”

    “It’s selfish to do all of this when you should just be thankful for what you have.”

    “If you were supposed to have children, it would happen naturally.”

    Other things you just shouldn't ask or say...

    “Why don’t you have kids yet? Aren’t you getting old?”

    “Maybe you shouldn’t have waited so late in life.” Maybe they didn’t wait. Maybe they’ve been struggling far longer than you realize? You never know someone’s story.

    “‘Don’t worry, there will be other babies.’ I wanted to scream ‘but that was my baby!'” There will be other babies if their spouse is on board to try again and they are able to conceive again.

    Another sweet friend of mine who suffered a mid-term loss put it this way, and I feel that it is the perfect way to end. I truly hope that this may help bring some awareness to the well-meaning comments and some healing to so many women who are having a hard time. It has been a labor of love that speaks so deeply to my heart.

    “I believe most people mean well. But just acknowledge that they lost their baby…no matter if it’s an early miscarriage, mid pregnancy or late pregnancy. Hopes & dreams of a life a mother has already envisioned for their unborn child already exist. Just be there for them & say a simple, ‘I’m sorry’ if you don’t know what to say.”

    Sweet friend, if you are this woman, THIS ONE is for you. Much love from me to you.

    Gestational Diabetes Friendly (Keto) Pizza!

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    I won’t lie, when I got my Gestational Diabetes diagnosis, pizza was one of the first things that I knew I would miss! See, my sugar levels are super finicky, and any white flour seems to send them soaring. Which totally stinks because pizza is a staple in our house and we eat it at least once a week! 

    So I got to doing some homework, because I see so many low carb/Keto diet friends talk about the pizza that they eat. After scouring the web and Pinterest, I found a few different recipes that I married into one. And you guys….IT IS SO GOOD! My toddler, who loves her some pizza, devoured this and didn’t even miss the traditional crust! I was so excited to get this recipe together for you guys that I didn’t wait for daylight to take my traditional photos, so sorry for the weird picture lighting! 

    Gestational Diabetes (Keto) friendly Pizza!

    • Servings: 12-16
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print
     

    Ingredients:

    •  2.5 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
    • 3 whole eggs, beaten
    • 1.5 cups almond flour
    • 1 tbsp baking powder
    • 2 oz cream cheese
    • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
    • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese (sharpness to your preference, or you could even use Colby Jack here!
    • A good low carb pizza sauce. Rao’s is amazing and very easy on us! You can get it HERE if you can’t find it locally. Walmart also has a decent store brand! 
    • Pepperoni slices, or other toppings of your choice!

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat your oven to 350.
    2. Mix the baking powder and almond flour together and then set aside.
    3. In a large microwave safe bowl, melt your Mozzarella and cream cheese together. (Takes about 1 min in the microwave, pausing to stir half way).
    4. While this is warming up, combine your Italian seasoning with your Parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
    5. After the Mozzarella cheese has melted, add your eggs and flour mixture.
    6. Pour the Parmesan mixture onto your work surface (to prevent stickiness) and then turn your “dough ball” out onto it, kneading well until all ingredients are incorporated.
    7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and then spread your dough out onto it.
    8. Top with pizza sauce, shredded cheese and any toppings that you want! 
    9. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the crust feels cooked through.
    10. Allow it to cool for a minute on the counter, slice and devour!

    As I said before, this was SO good! I hardly even missed the traditional crust! What’s even better is that it was also incredibly filling. I couldn’t finish what I put on my plate, and wound up saving some for lunch the next day. Major win? My sugar levels were fantastic at the 2 hour mark! 

    So whether you have Gestational Diabetes, or you are just trying to watch your sugar/carb intake, this pizza is for you! Try it out and let me know what you think!

    Magical Cake Release Paste

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    Have you ever baked the perfect cake, only to be heartbroken when you flip it over and half of it sticks in the pan? Which leaves you with sad, crumbly edges or holes in your cake, that you then have to try and compensate for with icing and decoration? I’m about to rock your world with the number one cake baking hack that I have learned over the years! I believe that sharing is caring, and everyone wants those pretty, clean lines on their cake. Whether you use a boxed mix or whip one up from scratch, this stuff is a miracle. (yep! It even works for oddly shaped cakes, brownies, muffins…you name it!)

    You guys…it is so complicated that I will have to spell it out for you. But it is worth the trouble.

    I kid. I kid. It’s stupid easy! All you need is all-purpose flour, canola oil, and vegetable shortening. Scoop out equal parts of each (I did 1/4 cup of each in the bowl below, but since I bake so much I usually do 1 cup of each at a time). Mix it all together really well (you will have a few lumps, and that is ok!) and use what you need to coat your pans! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in your pantry for up to a month! 

    Say goodbye to sad edges! Say goodbye to buttering and flouring and making a huge mess! Use this stuff. It works like a dream! And would you look at that smooth cake?!

    THESE Wilton 3″ pans are my absolute favorite go-to cake pans! Those + this magical cake paste are a baking dream come true!

    Try it and let me know what you think, and then share the love! (And while you’re here, check out some of my other baked goodies or recipes!)

    Vintage Airplane Cookies for a Sweet 1st Birthday!

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    Okay, confession time! Its totally okay to be obsessed with your own handiwork right?? Maybe not. Maybe that is considered vain. But I am so in love with how this little set turned out! My friend asked me to do them for her nephew’s first birthday, and I was determined to accomplish this precious theme without ordering a slew of new cutters! 

    The little biplanes were actually pretty simple to pipe out (THIS little gem helps a TON when you are trying to do consistent detail work! If you are a new cookier, I highly recommend investing!) and turned out perfectly!

    I opted to freehand the Happy Birthday circles, but this would be another great use of the projector if you need some guidance! 

    The little 1’s were super simple but I think they add so much! A good food pen will go a long way when adding details like the little dashed lines!

    These little helmets were also a freehand, copying a precious hat that the birthday boy’s mom got for him to wear! 

    Overall, I could not be happier with the way that these came out. Most importantly, the birthday boy and his family highly enjoyed them, and that’s all that matters to me!

    Cutters (and tools) used for this set:

    Miroir Mini Projector

    Circle cookie cutter

    1 Cookie Cutter

    Plaque Cookie Cutter Set

    Bakerpan Pens

    When Life Steals Your Sugar

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    Living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, I have always known that I was at a higher risk of developing Gestational Diabetes. I passed the 1-hour glucose test during my pregnancy with Addilyn. And I started my pregnancy with Lilliana at a lower weight than I started my first one, so I truly believed that I was good to go! 

    Was I ever wrong! I, apparently, failed my 1-hour test in a pretty big way. So the last day before we traveled for Christmas, mama got to go to the hospital and sit through the oh-so-pleasant 3-hour glucose test. I was SURE that I failed the 1-hour as a fluke and would pass this one with flying colors. Also wrong! I failed this one pretty badly too.

    To be completely honest, I cried my entire one hour drive home from the hospital. I felt like such a failure. Like my body and my eating habits were just junk and I took the word FAIL extremely personally. That I had done something wrong and this was somehow all my fault. I was embarrassed and did not really want the world to know. Not to mention I was heading into Christmas vacation with strict orders to dramatically cut my carbs and check my blood sugars 4 times a day. How in the world was I even supposed to enjoy myself?? Why this week?? Not to mention the fact that my side gig is a home baking business and I am around sugar literally constantly…

    Over the last two weeks, however, I have come to find some acceptance in it. Yes, your lifestyle can affect the test. But a lot of it is very much out of your control. I found a fantastic support group on Facebook and joined. I began learning all that I possibly could and absorbing so much information. I spent the week with my diabetic mother who was able to give me some tips and tricks, as well as help explain how things work to me. And I will be seeing my doctor this week to discuss my plan moving forward.

    I also felt like God was telling me that He would not give me a struggle without giving me a purpose! I am, after all, in full-time ministry working with women who are having pregnancy and loss struggles. I chose to see this as a new layer to how I can help others, sharing what I learn and helping them to accept and overcome as well! If this is you, I encourage you to subscribe to my blog. Email me. Follow me on social media. Let’s connect and do this together! I also created a Gestational Diabetes Pinterest board that you should totally follow! I plan to pin all my faves there!

    I am hoping that I will be able to cope in a completely diet-controlled way and not have to go on medication or insulin. I plan to share as I figure this thing out, so stay tuned for tons of recipes and snack ideas, as well as anything that I am able to learn to keep my levels in check! While I was sad about this diagnosis, now I am actually excited to finish this pregnancy much healthier than I started, and to share it with the world! 

    My FAV Chicken Salad Recipe!

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    I am a serious chicken salad lover! When I first got pregnant with Lilliana, I was craving it so badly that I almost couldn’t stand it. But our tiny town has really no good place to get it, and the store-bought kind wasn’t doing it for me! So I set out to create my own perfect blend, and you guys, it is SO good, and SO easy! 

    To make things go even more quickly (yay!) and get the perfect tender, juicy chicken, I took about 1.5 lbs of chicken breasts and cut them in half. Then I cooked them with a little broth on high pressure for 20 mins in my Instant Pot. If you don’t have one, you NEED one! Game changer and a huge time saver! The chicken literally falls apart.

    Grape & Walnut Chicken Salad

    • Servings: 4-6
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

    Ingredients:

    • 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken (breast meat)
    •  1 cup mayonnaise (give or take…I’ll explain in the directions!)
    •  1 cup red grapes, quartered
    • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1/4 tsp pepper
    Directions:
    1.  If you use rotisserie chicken, you can skip this step! If not, cook your chicken in the Instant Pot (or however you choose to cook it), allow it to cool a bit, and then shred it.
    2. Add grapes, walnuts, salt and pepper and stir well.
    3. Add mayo, a little at a time! I found that it took right at a cup to get the creamy consistency that I like, but you can do more or less depending on preference! Also feel free to add more grapes, nuts, salt or pepper! I love how versatile this recipe is. It provides you a springboard and you can adjust to your taste preferences!
    4. Chill until cool and then serve either on a sandwich, a salad, or just eat it with a spoon! I shamelessly do all three! 🙂
    This recipe is a fave around here! It is the perfect blend of sweet and savory!

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    Pancake Party Cookies!

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    Okay honestly, this set made me crave pancakes for WEEKS (thanks, pregnancy hormones!). I was commissioned for these by a friend of mine for her niece’s birthday party, and given pretty much free reign! All she asked was for the theme, and the colors pink and white. She also requested that we work bows and monograms in!

    I didn’t really have time to order a “Pajama” cutter, so I simply used my handy rectangle cutter  and made it look like pants with the royal icing! For the shirt, I used my go-to onesie cutter and just cut off the bottom! Perfect and super easy!

    The pancake? SUPER easy! I just used my fav Ann Clark circle cutter and detailed away!

    Seriously, how fun?! I love all of the new birthday party theme ideas! I’ll definitely be filing this one away to use with my girls someday. 🙂 

    Cutters used in this set:
    Pajama Pants HERE
    Pajama Top HERE
    Pancake HERE
    Plaque HERE

    Positive Affirmations for Little Girls

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    One of my most cherished parts of my day is settling Addilyn down for the night. It is a special time for us, and one that I hope I can protect when Lilliana arrives in March. We still pretty much stick to this bedtime routine, but with a few modifications (we don’t do a bottle anymore, but she does do milk in her cup, she has outgrown her Owlet sadly, etc). 

    Sometime around her first birthday though, I added something that is truly special to me. After her daddy kisses her and I say prayers with her, before I turn on her white noise, I love to spend a few minutes intentionally speaking into her with some positive affirmations. I believe that we all would sleep a little better if the last thing that we heard for the day built us up and spoke love into us, and it is something that I really enjoy doing with her! My hope is that as she grows, she will be grounded in who she is and how adored she is, and will become a strong, compassionate young woman. 

    Here are a few of my favorites, that are simple enough for her at almost two! I would love to hear some more in the comments, though! Especially that would be applicable as she grows!

    • Jesus loves you so much and He wants you to know Him!
    • Mommy and Daddy love you so much!
    • We are so proud of you!
    • You are very kind and caring.
    • You are a good friend!
    • You are so smart!
    • You are very brave!
    • You are very important and you will change the world someday.
    • You are so beautiful. You are wonderfully made and are just right the way that you are!
    • You can do anything you set your mind to!
    • You are going to be the best big sister!
    • You are the best helper, and it makes mommy very happy when you clean up!
    • You are a sweet, gentle girl and I love your spirit.
    • You are very creative and make beautiful artwork!
    • You are a daughter of the King, who is not moved by this world! You don’t have to fear because He goes before you and He is with you. You are His. (this is a quote on some artwork on her wall. I absolutely love it!

    Lumberjack Baby Shower Treats!

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    I sure do love a good lumberjack party! Buffalo plaid is one of my favorites, and not much says “fall” like a woodsy theme! Two of my sweet friends work together and contacted me about a shower they were throwing for a co-worker. I have been itching to try some plaid cookies, so this was the perfect chance! 

    There are literally TONS of ways to do the wood slice look, but I decided that edible hand-painting was the most feasible for me with a bit of a time crunch! (Make sure you grab my royal icing recipe if you are wanting to try your hand at these!)

    Acorns and leaves were a great accent to the slices and onesies…and you guys! Acorns are SO easy! Chocolate sprinkles are a life-saver and add a great texture! 

    I whipped up a batch of my signature s’mores cupcakes to go along with them and they turned out to be the perfect pair! How cute are these?! (I’ll drop a list of cutters down below!).

    Cutters used:

    Onesie: HERE

    Log Slice: HERE

    Leaf and Acorn HERE

    Stencils HERE

     (I wound up tracing the plaid using these edible markers rather than airbrushing, for a more clean edge! Time consuming? yes. Worth it? Yes!)

    Katum is One in a Melon!

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    A friend of mine asked me this summer to do a cake and cookies for her sweet girl’s first birthday party. I about died at the theme- One in a Melon! I had been itching to do a watermelon set and this was the perfect opportunity!

    She provided the topper (you can get one just like it HERE!) and I provided the rest! She loved the way that I did the cascading rosettes on Addilyn’s Donut Cake, so we just replicated the idea with the watermelon color palette. How sweet did this come out?!

    As for the cookies, those were a blast to do as well! I’ll drop links to the cutters that I used at the bottom of the post! 

    Cutters used for this set (click for links):

    Watermelon Slice (cut in half)
    Number 1
    Placques
    Banner

     

    A Little Pumpkin Baby Shower!

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    One of my very best friends is having a sweet baby girl in January. It’s a tradition amongst our group to celebrate one another, and my friend Brittany and I had a blast putting together this sweet Pumpkin shower for baby Elliana! 

    Entry tables are my favorite part of shower decor for some reason! Maybe because it’s the first thing you see, and therefore is your greatest shot at creating a welcoming atmosphere? Or maybe I just love the entry table that my sweet husband built me and a good excuse to deck it out! Either way, this came together so well with a lot of things we had on hand!

    Brittany made that adorable diaper cake using LUVS diapers since they are Lauren’s favorite! Typically I design little “Wishes for baby” cards that coordinate with the theme. But this particular week life just happened and I was a bit over-stretched. I stumbled upon that precious little guest book (GET IT HERE) on Amazon and Prime’d that baby right to my door! It matched our theme perfectly and had all sorts of features! I love that each guest got a whole page to write out wishes for baby and predictions, but it also has a handy section in the back for photos and a gift log. Now Lauren has a sweet keepsake book with her shower details all in one neat place! The quality is top notch and I highly recommend it!

    These cute little onesies, I custom made as part of our gift! You can grab them in my Etsy shop!

    And would it be a party at Katie Lee’s without some custom sugar cookies?! These are some of my favorite I have done, and they made the perfect favors for guests to take! 

    The sparkly curtains, I have had for a while now! But I got them on Amazon for a great price, if you are looking to replicate the look! (Grab them HERE). Most of the other decor was simple- balloons, some poufs and pinwheels I had on hand in my party stash, and a sweet pumpkin banner that I made with my Cricut! (If you don’t have one, you should! They are amazing for party prep!)

    The food was low key: veggies and dip, poppyseed ham biscuits (I’ll have to get ya’ll the recipe! They are a family favorite!), a homemade cheese ball, crock pot meatballs and some simple Katie Lee cupcakes!

    You can make even the most simple cupcakes pop with Fancy Sprinkles! I LOVE this brand not only for their looks, but also for their taste! Use this link to get a discount on your first order! 

    This first picture is from Elliana’s shower! The one below is from 3 years ago when we celebrated her sweet first baby boy on the way! (We missed you this time, Sara!). It is so fun to see these friendships grow over the years. Love you all so much!

    Morning Sickness Must Haves

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    As someone who will avoid getting sick at. all. costs. the lovely side of early pregnancy that includes morning sickness is not my fav! I honestly have been pretty fortunate to mostly deal with only nausea, and I know some women have it so much worse than I have with any of my pregnancies. No matter what, this part is not fun! It was particularly more difficult this time with a toddler to chase around, and I have found a few tried and true things that were super helpful for me with with both pregnancies! I wanted to share them with you all in hopes that maybe a few of them can help a few of you survive! If you are in the thick of it, hang in there! For most of us, this will pass in the second trimester. Also, Make sure you clear any medications with your doctor, too! Everyone is different!

    1. Unisom & B6 Combo

    This was the MOST helpful thing for me! My doctor suggested this and I have had to stay on it with both pregnancies, all the way through! I tried to stop in the second trimester with Addilyn and the nausea was so bad that I couldn’t function. He told me to get these 25 mg tablets and take a half in the morning and half at night, mixed with a half of a B6 tablet (I used these because they are affordable!) as well. It has worked like a charm, and been a true lifesaver for me! If your doctor is okay with it, start here!

    2. Emetrol

    Another serious life-saver for me! My doctor told me that this was safe during pregnancy when I was pregnant with Addilyn and it got me out of a pinch quite a few times! I tried not to use it every time I felt a little nauseous (see #3 for what I did the most!), but in those moments when I was overwhelmed by it and about to lose it, Emetrol saved the day! Helpful tip- it is a bit pricey in the stores…Amazon has a multi-pack for a better deal! Grab it HERE. I kept it on hand at all times! 

    3. Preggie Pop Drops

    I HATE anything ginger flavored. I think it comes from some childhood stomach bug trauma and being forced to drink it, but the taste makes me gag. Which is very counter-productive when you already want to gag! A friend gave me a tub of these little babies with my first pregnancy and they saved me for every pregnancy moving forward! They work great in a pinch and help to stave of that nauseous feeling very well! They can be really hard to find in stores, so I kept a stash on hand from Amazon! In my nightstand, in my purse, in the car…I have had these everywhere!

    4. Earth Mama Morning Sickness Tea

    I discovered this tea during my current pregnancy, and while it does have a slight ginger taste, it is balanced with other flavors and not overwhelming at all! I have loved sipping on a warm, soothing cup to help settle my stomach! I definitely recommend it, and at $5.99 for 16 bags, it really isn’t too pricey either.

    5. Pink Stork Magnesium Spray

    I used this a lot during my pregnancy with Addilyn! I didn’t really need it this time because the other things I have mentioned worked great! But it was nice to have on hand. I simply spritzed it on my wrists once a day and it really was helpful! I know a few other mamas that swear by it, too! 

    6. Sea Bands

    These are awesome if you are looking for a drug-free alternative, and things on your wrists don’t bug you. I wore them with my first pregnancy as well as Addilyn’s pregnancy, and have used them on cruises, too! The acupressure really does help ease the nauseous feeling! They may not work as well if you have severe nausea, but if it is mild they can be a fantastic alternative!

    When all else failed, I found it was super helpful to keep a bag of salty soup crackers and ginger ale on hand. The crackers helped when nothing else sounded good, but I needed something on my stomach to settle it down a bit. If I felt a wave coming, I would just grab a handful and snack on them!

    Have you tried any of these, or something else, that was super helpful? Share with us in the comments! 

    The ALDI Cookies that Broke the Internet

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    My mother in law has run an ALDI in a small Indiana town for as long as I have known her. We have always loved ALDI because of it (and their AMAZING prices!), but over recent years they have really grown in popularity and numbers. I had no idea the true following that was out there, though, until this week!

    See, my sweet Mom-in-law’s store was up for a major remodel this month, and to celebrate, she asked me to make some ALDI cookies for her employees and bosses to enjoy at their grand opening. A true cookie-lover, I was so excited for the task and we set to planning something fun and unique right away!

    Well let me tell you, I finished them and posted them on social media, like I always do, and they went viral! Apparently there are a lot of ALDI Nerds (they call themselves that…check out their group HERE!) out there that take this sort of thing very seriously. If you have never had a post go viral, it can be a bit overwhelming but also really exciting! So, all that to say, CONGRATS ALDI on your ever-growing popularity, and congrats Mama Debbie on your fantastic new store and famous cookies! 

    If you’ve never shopped at ALDI, find your closest location HERE and go check it out! You won’t be sorry!

    (Since so many have asked, to achieve that metallic look on the quarters, I used THIS AIRBRUSH and THIS SILVER DUST diluted. I highly recommend!)

    Cowboy Cactus Cupcakes

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    Sharing these from months ago! (Prego life! I’m so behind on…everything). A friend had me doing some western themed treats for her kids’ vacation bible School (see the others here and here), and we decided to do some Cactus Cupcakes! I’ve been wanting to try them forever, and this was the perfect excuse. We did vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting again, but I dipped them in graham cracker crumbs for a sandy look. Then I simply piped buttercream cacti in groupings on top and added a few little details to some. Easy peasy and so sweet! You will def be seeing more cacti from me!

    Delicious Homemade Sandwich Bread

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    I’m a serious sucker for some good homemade bread! Turns out, you don’t need a bulky bread machine to make delicious sandwich bread at home, and it’s actually way easier than you think! I have had this recipe for…forever. I honestly don’t even remember where I got it from, but its a go-to favorite around here. Not only does it taste fantastic, but there is the added bonus of saving money and cutting out preservatives that you would find in store-bought bread! 

    I’m dropping the recipe below. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

    Homemade Sandwich Bread

    • Servings: 20
    • Difficulty: easy/moderate
    • Print

    Ingredients:

    • 2 packets active dry yeast
    • 2 cups warm water
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 tbsp salt
    • 2 eggs, beaten
    • 1/4 cup oil (I use vegetable)
    • 6 1/2 to 7 cups all-purpose flour

    Directions:

    1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, dissolve the yeast in the water. (you could mix by hand but I prefer to use my Kitchenaid Mixer with the dough hook attachment).
    2.  Add the sugar, salt, eggs and oil and mix just until combined.
    3. Add 3 cups of the flour and mix until smooth.
    4. Add enough of the remaining flour to form a soft dough.
    5. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
    6.  Place the dough in a greased bowl (I use my mixer bowl, washed of course), and cover with a towel. Put in a warm oven* and let rise for one hour.
    7.  Remove the bowl, punch down the dough and divide in half.
    8.  Place one half of the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll like you would a pinwheel. Pinch the ends together and place into a greased loaf pan (as a baker, THESE are my favorite!). Repeat with the other half of the dough. 
    9. Place these back in the warm oven (you may have to re-warm it a little), cover with a towel and let rise for another hour.
    10.  Once your loaves have risen, bake at 375 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.
    11. Remove from the oven and brush the crust with melted butter to keep it soft.
    12. Slice and enjoy!!! We love it with fresh apple butter in the fall!
     
    *To “warm” the oven, I usually will preheat it to 200 degrees while I am making the dough, but turn the oven OFF before placing the dough in to let it rise!

    Real life pic- trying to photograph fresh bread with a hungry toddler nearby! 

    A Promise We Can Stand On

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    I don’t know where you are in life, friend. But I personally have been in a pressing season. There are days when I have wondered if things would ever get better, or if God would ever say “yes” to the pleas of my desperate heart. 

    And then I read this truth in 1 Peter, and it is a promise that we can stand on. God WILL restore. He WILL confirm. He WILL strengthen. He WILL establish. We just have to wait, as hard as that wait may be. I have felt this through fertility struggles, financial struggles, friendship struggles, broken seasons in my marriage, the list goes on. And time and again I can recall His faithfulness. Things will get better if we can simply cling to this truth, look for the lesson in the pain, and wait on the Lord. 

    I needed this reminder today. God is not dormant and His timing is perfect.

    Father’s Day Tool Set Cookies

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    I know Father’s Day is long-gone but I NEEDED to share these with you guys! I wanted to do something extra special for the dads this year. A good dad is truly the unsung hero of parenting and they deserve the best! After lots of brainstorming, I decided a realistic tool set was the perfect dad gift! My own daddy is not local, so I couldn’t send him a tool box, but you better believe he got tools! 

    The boxes are hand cut using a template that I designed, and then finished with a woodgrain effect done in royal icing. 100% edible!

    I had so much fun creating these little masterpieces! 

    Supplies used for this order:

    Tool set cookie cutters
    Silver Luster Dust
    Royal Icing
    No Spread Sugar Cookies

    We Have Some News!

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    We posted these images on our social media a few weeks ago, but life has been so hectic that I hadn’t gotten to share with the rest of you! We are right about 14 weeks with our newest little love, and we are over the moon excited! This time around was a total surprise, and adjusting our home and family to two (briefly) under two will be a whole new journey. But we are so thankful that the Lord is blessing us with another to love. Check out our sweet announcement!

    Sprinkles are from HERE!

    Bun and Oven cutter are from HERE!

    How precious is this Big Sister?! You can order this shirt at my Etsy shop!

    Pumpkin Banana Bread with a Cream Cheese Swirl

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    We’ve had our first glimpses of fall this weekend, and this mama is SO ready! I love summer, but I am looking forward to pumpkin and apple everything, football, cool weather, leggings and boots! It is my favorite! 

    I’ve had my FALL Candles burning for the last few days, and decided on a whim yesterday that the can of pumpkin in my pantry was begging to be used. So Addie and I settled in to create a new recipe. And you guys…this stuff is GOOD. You need to make you a loaf or two ASAP. It is super moist and flavorful, without being overpowering. Try it! You won’t be sorry!

    Pumpkin Banana Bread with a Cream Cheese Swirl

    • Servings: 10-12
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

    Ingredients:

    For the Bread:

    • 1 Cup granulated sugar
    • 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
    • 2 Large Eggs
    •  1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
    •  2 over-ripe bananas, mashed
    • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (I just used canned!)
    •  1 tsp baking soda
    •  3/4 tsp salt
    •  1 tsp pumpkin pie spices
    •  2 cups all purpose flour
    For the swirl:
    • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
    •  1/8 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 egg yolk (yolk only!)
    • 2 tsp vanilla extract
    Directions:
    1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees and grease a 9″ loaf pan.
    2.  In the bowl of your mixer, combine the oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla until well incorporated.
    3. Add the banana and pumpkin and mix well.
    4. Add the baking soda, salt and spices.
    5. Last, add the flour, gradually, mixing to incorporate as you go. Make sure you scrape the sides of your bowl! 
    6. Pour batter into your prepared loaf pan.
    7. In another bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the swirl and mix well. I used a small mixing bowl and my handheld mixer (mostly because I didn’t want to wash my mixer bowl just for a topping! 🙂 ) 
    8. I took the back of my spoon to create a little “well” the length of the loaf in the top of the pumpkin mixture. You could skip this step, but I felt like it helped me to swirl better. 
    9. Pour the swirl mixture over the top of the bread mixture, and then use a butter knife to create a swirl. It’s totally okay to dig down just a little!
    10. Pop that sucker in the oven for 60-80 minutes and enjoy your house smelling delicious! You will know it is done when you can insert a toothpick into the center and it comes out clean! 

     

     

     

    Slice and devour! I had a piece while it was still hot because I couldn’t resist. I also had a piece for breakfast this morning, cold, and it was equally as amazing! I like to put a tiny bit of butter on mine, but it was so good by itself too! 

    “Pot” Party Cookies!

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    Confession…when a client asked me if I could do toilet themed cookies to celebrate the completion of a friend’s bathroom renovation, I scratched my head a little. It was definitely the most unique request that i have gotten to date. But once I got my wheels turning, I was inspired! 

    I had a custom cutter made (the toilet) and she suggested we add some tools. (Grab the tool set cutters here). A touch of glam and some funny bathroom quotes and voila! A set that I am stinking in love with! Who knew toilets could be so pretty?! 

    I actually want a set of shiny gold and pink tools! How pretty did those turn out?

    I love a good challenge, and these were just that! My client loved them, and I had a blast doing it!

    Easy, Cheesy Spinach & Black Bean Enchiladas

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    Hello, my name is Katie and I am addicted to Mexican food. I’m not joking…I could eat it 5 days a week. I have been wanting something a little different though. And in my efforts to sneak more veggies into our toddler’s diet, these seemed like a great idea! 

    They seriously came together in minutes and had so much bang for your buck as far as taste is concerned! You could add some shredded chicken to up the protein, or sub wheat tortillas to make it a bit more healthy. I was working with what I had on hand. 🙂 I took the original recipe (here) and modified it to work for our family!,

    Spinach & Black Bean Enchiladas

    • Servings: 5-6
    • Difficulty: easy
    • Print

     

    Ingredients:

    Sauce:

    • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 Tablespoons flour
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • 1 cup salsa verde (I bought mild in a jar, but you could use hot or be fancy and make your own!)
    • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
    • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

    Filling:

    • 1 TBSP olive oil
    • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
    • 1 can corn, drained
    • 8-10 oz. fresh spinach (I actually added a few extra handfuls because I wasn’t using chicken)
    • 6 green onions, chopped
    • 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
    • 1 Tablespoon cumin
    • 8–10 large tortillas
    • 1 1/2 cups Cheddar or Fiesta Blend cheese.

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat Oven to 375.
    2. Spray a 9×13 dish with cooking spray.
    3. Heat 2TBSP olive oil over medium heat in a small sauce pan. Add the flour and cook for about a minute, stirring constantly. Add your broth and simmer until it thickens. Remove from heat. Stir in the Greek yogurt, salsa verde and cilantro and set aside.
    4. In a pan, heat the remaining TBSP olive oil and cook your spinach until wilted. 
    5. Combine the corn, beans, onion, cumin, spinach and 1/2 cup of cheese and mix well.
    6. Pour enough sauce in the greased dish to cover the bottom. 
    7. Fill each tortilla, roll and place tightly in your  dish. I was able to fit 10 enchiladas in a 9×13 pan.
    8. Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas and top with another cup of cheese (or get crazy with it…its up to you!)
    9. Bake for about 20 minutes, until your sauce is bubbling and your cheese is golden and crispy.
    10. Let them stand for a few minutes before serving.

     

    These were a legit plate licker!! The toddler even approved, with all of that veggie! And they were excellent reheated for lunch the following day.

    Have you tried these?? Let me know in the comments!

    “Giddyup” Western Cookies

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    The same client that had me do these adorable cowboy hat cupcakes, was gifted these cute little cookies by her sweet mom to take for another VBS dessert! I pulled several different “Giddyup Junction” elements and was able to whip these right up! 

    I absolutely LOVE doing detail work! The boots are probably my favorite part!

    Materials Used:

    Silver Luster Dust

    Cactus Cookie Cutter

    The rest came from this set. 

    The HorseShoe is just a “U” letter cutter!

     

    Taco ’bout some cookies

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    Tacos are basically life, right? I mean who doesn’t love Tacos?? If you don’t, you’re a monster…kidding! But really how cute are these taco cookies? They are the perfect dessert for any fiesta party!

    These are just simple sugar cookies using my No Spread Sugar cookie recipe, and all decorations are royal icing! 

    Hadley’s Pool Party

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    I had the most fun doing these cute pool party cookies for Hadley’s birthday! Her mom made sure to let me know that Hadley doesn’t love pink, so we focused on bright, summery colors for a fun look! I’ll drop a link to the cutters used for this order at the bottom of the post!

    Cutters used:

    Sun: Get it HERE

    Life Raft: Get it HERE

    Plaque: Get it HERE

    Beach Ball: Get it HERE

    The bubbles are just the middle piece from the Life Raft!

    Cowboy Cupcakes

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    Okay  but really…how adorable did these turn out?? A client of mine requested some “cowboy” themed dessert for her kids to take to VBS. We needed something relatively simple due to the quantity and turn around time, but that still packed a wow factor! Their theme was Giddyup Junction, so naturally cowboy hats were the perfect go-to! 

    We kept the cupcakes simple- vanilla with vanilla signature buttercream (all kids like vanilla!). But the hats? You guys want to know the secret here? A Pringle dipped in chocolate, topped with a Rolo! Seriously?? Seriously! I piped some red royal icing around them to finish them off. Just look at them, like a cute little army of cowboys ready to take on the world!

    Some-bunny is One Cookies

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    A friend of mine contacted me a couple of months ago to commission cookies for her daughter’s first birthday party. I was so excited when she told me the theme was “Some-bunny is one!” because I had never done those before! With Easter right around the corner, I wanted to share these little cuties for inspiration! If you need to fill an Easter basket, trying these out is a great idea! (Grab the Cookie Recipe here and the Icing recipe here!)! 

    Isn’t her name just the most gorgeous thing ever?! And I love the blush, gold and eucalyptus color scheme!

    This little set was so much fun to do! I got to play around with my bunny’s look, and test out a few new floral techniques as well. If you try them, post and tag me on social media- I would love to see!