Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

I am really having a hard time grasping the fact that this weekend is Easter.  It seems so early to me, I am just not ready for it.  But guess what....here comes Peter Cottontail, hoping down the bunny trail, and he really could care less if I am ready for Easter or not.  Selfish rabbit.

We don't do anything really clever on Easter but we do have a traditional egg hunt and Easter dinner. I really love my Easter menu and would like to share it with you, in case you are looking for something new!  I hope you enjoy some of these dishes on Easter or anytime!

Bourbon Glazed Ham
My husband loves ham and often tries to get me to make this for Christmas as well.  I like ham too, but I guess not as much as he does.  At any rate, this ham is delicious, really simply, and delicious.  Oh, I said that already.

Sweet Potato Biscuits
Well, duh....what else does ham need?  These biscuits, I tell you.  I have never quite figured out how to get these guys to rise up like regular biscuits so I just pretend like they are not supposed to.  They are a wonderful compliment to ham, regardless of their height.

Creamed Corn
This is not your canned cream corn.  I didn't even know I liked creamed corn until I tried this recipe. If you try nothing else, try this!  It is absolute heaven.  My niece and I fight over it every year.  I think this recipe originally came from Paula Deen.

Mandarin Spinach Salad
This salad is refreshing and goes great with the ham.  My only complaint is it isn't good the next day (too soggy).  If you plan on having leftovers (and you actually might, this recipe does make a lot of salad!), don't pour the dressing over the whole salad.  Which will be hard.  You're going to want to drink the dressing.  It's that good.

Bacon Jalapeno Deviled Eggs
This was a new entry last year.  Make them the day before because they are amazing once the flavors really meld.  I saw this recipe and knew that although we really didn't need any more food, I had to have them. They were everything I hoped they would be.

We usually have wine with dinner but don't be surprised if you see a Peep-tini recipe pop up this weekend on the blog!

Here's hoping that your Easter is nothing less than delicious!

Happy Easter!
K

A Wee Bit Irish...

Just in case you too are a wee bit Irish, here's a great recipe for you to celebrate St Patty's day tomorrow!

Irish Cream Pound Cake

1 1/c butter, softened

2 c firmly packed brown sugar

1 c sugar

5 large eggs

3 c all-purpose flour

1 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

3/4 c whole milk

1/4 c Irish Cream liqueur (Baileys recommended!)

Preheat oven to 325°.  Spray a fluted Bundt pan with nonstick spray.  

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.  Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating well after each addition.  Stir in Irish cream.  Spoon batter into prepared pan, and bake for 1 hour and 15-20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Let cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Remove from pan, and cool completely on a wire rack.  Drizzle with Irish Cream Glaze.  

Irish Cream Glaze

2 c powdered sugar

3 T Irish cream liqueur

In a medium bowl, combine sugar and Irish cream, whisking until smooth.

This recipe is courtesy of my girl Paula Deen.  I found it years ago...it's a good one!  Enjoy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

K

Stitch Fix #3 - The Time I Just Kept It All!

Hey ya'll!  I feel like I have been sick for weeks now, which is a slight exaggeration, but I have been on again/off again.  My school got hit with the flu and hubs and I did not make it under the radar (but the kids did, go figure!).  I am really trying to get myself together this week.  I missed talking to ya'll!  You haven't missed much in my life except me blowing my nose an excessive amount and wearing my pjs...also an excessive amount.

So one thing that helped speed my recovery was....dun dun duuuunnnnn!  THE BOX showed up!  It was super small.  I was like, hey, what up with my box.

But then I opened it and I was loving what was peeking out at me.

Item #1 - Renee C Jerri Polka Dot Pullover Sweater - $64
I mentioned to my stylist that Spring was hit or miss with the weather here and I would still like to get some long sleeve items, even a lightweight sweater.  Well, she delivered.  Aaannnd as soon as I got these pieces, the weather got much cooler.  I didn't even mind because I wanted to wear this stuff! I wore this sweater first.  It is adorable and I am a sucker for all things polka dot.

No, it did not come with a man.  Or a red solo cup.  This is a life action shot.
Verdict:  Kept (obviously. I am wearing it with my man and a red solo cup!)

Item #2 - 4Hawthorn Quay Henley Blouse - $58
I am still yammering about a gingham print blouse and Stephanie Y, new BFF and stylist said she couldn't get one for me, but she found this blouse she thought I would like that was gingham inspired. I did love this blouse!  I thought it was a great work top but she had it paired with jeans and white jeans on my card and it looks pretty cute as a casual outfit too.

Verdict:  Kept (ok, I know I told you I kept everything already.  I just like saying it!)

Item #3 - Skies are Blue McClain Crochet Panel Knit Top - $54
So even though this didn't have color, which my closet so desperately needs, I really liked the top and realistically, it will go with basically everything I own.  AND...it matches the skirt they sent me as well.

Verdict:  Kept

Item #4 - Gilli Nadia Textured Skirt - $58
Love, love, love this skirt!  I love that it is textured, love the colors, love the feel, love the way it looks...love, love, love.

Verdict:  Kept

Item #5 - Pixley Olley Knit Dress - $68
This was the only thing I hesitated on.  And that was because it was a liiiiitttllee too small.  However, I was home in bed when the box came and when I tried the items on, I had on a sports bra (hey, at least I had taken a shower at that point).  When I tried it on again, it fit better with my real bra.  Still a little smaller than I would normally get but I decided to go out on a limb here.  My 12 year old assured me it was "tots adorbs".  I think that is good.

It will also be great when my legs are not as pale as the dress.

Verdict:  Kept

So in keeping the box, I got a 25% discount, which meant I got to keep it all for $206.50.  Hey, it is my birthday this month afterall.

Happy Birthday, Me!
~K

Read Me a Story

Today is Dr. Seuss' birthday and as all educators know, it's Read Across America Day.  So it only seems fitting that I blog about reading tonight on this, one of my favorite days to think about how much I love reading and always have.

My daughters are readers.  And by readers, I mean they have literally run into things because I can't get them to get their noses out of books.  They have both had comments on their report cards about needing to put their books down and follow instruction (believe me, it pains a teacher to say that!). And you know what?  I love it.  I don't know if it is because my husband and I are both readers or because I have been reading to them since I knew they were in my belly and still do.  I love that they love reading as much as we do.

That's right, I said "still do".  I still read bedtime stories to my kids.  They are 9 and 12.

I, like I'm sure many parents, thought that bedtime stories were for kids who couldn't read.  I remember when they would have books memorized and started "reading" to me.  And oh, the times I read their favorites.  I would get so sick of reading the same book over and over (I am pretty sure I still know all the words to "Pinkalicious").  Then once they really could read, they would want to read to me.  And it really didn't matter, because we were still reading and discussing books together.  But then they were old enough to read to themselves and could put themselves to sleep on their own reading chapter books.  I was.....completely bummed.

Guess what I realized?  It didn't have to end.  One day I was thinking about when I had Mono in high school and my mom read "Little Women" to me.  I still remember that.  I don't mean I remember the book.  I mean I remember how that made me feel to have my mom read to me when I was in high school. It was such a special time.  And that memory was all I needed.

Now I read books to my girls that they are perfectly capable of reading on their own and could read way faster if they weren't waiting on me.  Sometimes it's a book I loved as a kid, like Judy Blume or "The Witch of Blackbird Pond".  With my 12 year old, we read a lot of classics that I never read.  Currently we are working through the Chronicles of Narnia. Sometimes it's books they have turned ME onto, such as "The School of Good and Evil" and "The Land of Stories".

This is still precious time with my children but for different reasons now.  A lot of times after I read, they share problems at school or things they are upset about.  It's like story time has taken them to a safe place and now they are ready to talk.  And depending on what you are reading, all kinds of discussions can take place from your book.

So on Read Across America Day, I encourage you to consider reading to your kids, no matter what their age.  I bet if you bring it up with yours, they might look at you weird a minute but once you do it, they will love that you are spending one on one special time with them.

And as Dr. Seuss would say,
"You can find magic wherever you look.
Sit back and relax, all you need is a book."

~K

March into Some Meal Prep!

This is not your boring meal prep.  For those of you interested in freezer meals, you know how you see someone made 10 meals in 3 hours and you're like "Sweet!" and then find out it was 3 bags of taco meat and 2 other boring things made into multiple bags?  Ugh.

No, no, no.  None of that here.  We are talking real meals.  17 different meals (only 2 repeats). And it's not gonna take you three hours, I'm not gonna lie.  But it is gonna be delicious.

Filling up the table

That's a whole lotta goodness!

I have also read a lot of people complaining that they don't want to spend a day prepping and I just can't figure that out.  A day worth of prepping to have a month's worth of meals done?  That's totally worth it to me.  But then again, I enjoy it so much more now that I have company!  Yesterday is the longest I have ever had a session go and even though we didn't finish until 4, no one noticed the time.  It's like having girl time but accomplishing something at the same time.  So it's like having guilt free girl time.  It rocks.

Those are too tired looking chicks there.  

I am even more excited about this month's menu than last month.  It is my "cleanest" month ever, with almost all new recipes and I can hardly decide what to try first.  It takes me waaay longer to plan the meals than actually put them together (if that makes you feel any better). This month's meals are fantastic!  I hope you enjoy these fresh spring meals!  Consider meal prep to make your life easier, healthier and more delicious during the week! If you don't have the constitution to make 19 meals on a weekend (and who does?), sign up for a session (if you're local!).  Or try just making a few on your own.  You will always want to do it!

March Menu

March Recipes

Master Grocery List

I have to go figure out what we are eating first!!  Enjoy~
K

March is Coming in Like a Lion

It's the end of February!  And you know what that means!  Yes, Spring is coming.  That's not where I was going with this...time to check in with ya'll on your annual goals.  Don't you dare walk away from this computer.

How is your plan for 2016 coming?  Have you even made one yet?  Not to fear, we are only 2 months into this thing, there is still time.  HOWEVER, stop procrastinating.  That time is now.

Go back and read those last 2 blog posts on making your annual goals (December 29 and January 28) if you need help on how to get started. Most importantly, ask yourself, what do you want to change?  What do you want more of?  What do you want to do more?  What do you wish you'd do less of or stop doing completely?  What would you like to start or learn to do?

Now that you have thought about WHAT you want to do, you need to think about WHY.  Why do you want to work out 3 times a week?  Why do you want to spend more one on one time with your hubby?  Get vested in what you want to do.  It will mean something to you, it will help you reach your goal, and it will make you WANT to do it.

Above all, you've gotta write this down.  I know I sound like a broken record.  You've gotta be able to look at this.  Frequently (at least at the end of each month).  Check in on how you are doing.  You don't want December to roll around and oops...there goes another year.

The one thing I did this month that I am super proud of myself for was in the category of Me.  Now hold on, taking care of myself ain't all about the Stitch Fix.  Here is what I did.  I made appointments with all the doctors I should be seeing on a regular basis but am not.  I would be ashamed to tell you how long it's been (let's just say one had to set me up as a new patient, it had been that long!).  I sat down one day and made three appointments.  Two of them involved me leaving work early.  And man, I struggled with this.  First appointment rolled around and I said "I am going to reschedule it." God bless one of my co-workers who said "Don't".  I am so glad I listened to her (and she wasn't kidding either!) and went on and did it.  The reason I hadn't seen this doctor in 7 years (there, I said it) is for this exact reason. I'll wait for this, I'll wait for that, and the next thing you know, years have passed.  And there you go.  Now I have had all my check-ups and I am happy that I am taking care of myself (and you thought it was all about clothes!)!

Once you write your annual goals down, go after them with a vengeance.  Remember, we said we were going to be FIERCE in 2016!  Get focused.  Go after the changes you want to make.  Take baby steps if you have to.  Start with one small thing on your list.  Make one small step in the direction of doing one thing on that list.  It doesn't have to be a giant leap, but you do have to move.

Bring March in like a Lion!
K

Breakin' Bread

This month I have shared a few things Team Holmes does to keep us grounded and well, a team.  I'd like to throw one more idea out there that is real rocket science people.  Wait for it.....

Sit down and have dinner together.  

I know, I AM a genius!

Dinner, Ya'll!

Now, there was once a time I would have thought this post was not necessary.  BUT, I have been amazed at how many people don't eat together as a family most nights.  Now, I get that this is not always logistically possible.  We can't even do it every night.  Right now, Hubs has 2 classes a week and on those nights he does not get home until 8:45 at the earliest.  We can't possibly hold dinner until then.  But the rest of us ("Just girls!", they like to say.) sit down like normal and have dinner. So, I get it.  But as much as humanly possible, sit at a table and have dinner.  Oh.  And I'd like to add, with no TV and no phones and no anything else electronic or distracting.  You know, spend time talking about your day.  To each other.  (Gasp!)  

Everybody needs to vent but we try to keep our dinner on the upbeat.  Everyone is happy to tell you what was wrong with their day.  But we want to hear what was right.  Every night everyone shares their high for the day and one thing they were grateful for.  This gives us that sometimes rare insight into bright spots in everyone's day. And sometimes what your family members say might just surprise you.

Have everyone be a part of dinner...someone sets the table, some people cook, some people clean up...the best jobs are those we can do together.  I mean, it's nice to be together but it's less work for me that way too.  Just sayin'. 

Having dinner together is a really important part of our family time.  I hope it is or can be for you too!

Supper Time!

~K