My New Favorite Thing...

It's pretty darn often that I try a new recipe.  And on occasion, I become obsessed with one.  Several weeks ago I tried a recipe that I have had pinned for a very long time but had never quite gotten around to. Man, I have been missing out.

We do not mess around with breakfast on the weekends, particularly when we have guests.  I found a recipe for Coconut Lime Pull Apart Rolls and well, I am a coconut junkie, so pretty much you had me at coconut.  Here is why this recipe completely rocks:

• it's super easy
• it makes a lot
• it's soooo yummy

The only bad thing is, you do need to start it the night before.  And by start it, I mean, pull the frozen rolls out.  Alright, see, you can handle this one.  And you were going to stop reading!

Before I share the recipe, here are some things to know.  I didn't put anything in the food processor, as recommended.  I just mixed it up and sprinkled it on top.  (I didn't see why it was necessary.)  The first time I made these, I made the glaze.  It was great, but you could totally skip this if you wanted to save on time.  Or, say you just started eating them by accident, and then you were like, oh yeah, there is supposed to be a glaze. I mean, that never happened to me.  I'm just sayin'.

Coconut Lime Pull Apart Rolls 

So, I started thinking.  (I do that once in awhile!)  "Why couldn't I make these Coconut LEMON Pull Apart Rolls?"  The answer is, "Why you can!"  And then I started thinking again (I know, right!), "Why couldn't I make these Coconut ORANGE Pull Apart Rolls?"  And the answer was, "Do it.  You know you want to."  Both versions were delicious!!  I mean, look at this....

Mmmmm.  All you have to do is switch out the zest and the juice.  Easy Peasy!  My daughter suggested trying lemon and lime together so we might have to try that as well.  Then I think we will just start the rotation all over again!

Enjoy a special treat with your family this weekend (you will be their hero!)!  Or the next time you have an occasion to bring a breakfast or brunch item somewhere, this is the one right here.  Enjoy!

A Mouth's Gotta Wake Up Too!

~K

New Month, New Start...April Fools!

So....sometimes, life happens.  And sometimes, it happens a lot.  March was not as "productive" as I had hoped.  I was sick, hubs was sick, Spring Break was here, one thing, another thing...Doesn't that always seem to happen when you are really going along smoothly and getting things done? Here I was, last week, all ready to write a post about your goals and how sometimes life gets in your way and then....Life REALLY got in my way. I mean, one of those situations that takes over your life and consumes everything about it.  You know, when all hell breaks loose.  Appointments were cancelled, dinners weren't cooked, I didn't know what day it was...I am not even functioning properly, much less meeting my monthly goals.

Well...what can I say?  Sometimes life DOES happen.  And sometimes things happen that get you really off track of your goals and where you were going.  Ever been in the car and you have a detour and you wonder, how am I ever going to get back on the road I was on, none of this looks right? What should you do?

You can keep driving and hope the road looks familiar to you soon.  Or sometimes you might have to pull the car over and regroup.  At least, I hope that works, because that's what we did this weekend.  I slept a lot.  I cleaned my house a lot (this makes me feel like I have control over my life, I have learned this about myself!), I tried to relax and basically tried to get all of Team Holmes back on the same page.  My granny used to say "Sometimes you gotta pull yourself up by your boot straps". Granny, I am trying, Girl.

And here you thought I was gonna lecture you on meeting your annual goals.  Honey, I am having my own problems over here!  But...I reread my own goals this weekend.  I remembered where it is I wanted to be going before my detour and I spent some time thinking of the big picture.  I thought about which goals I really wanted to focus on this month.  And I am praying for the best.

It's a shame when you read your own blog for advice.  Last month I said, "it doesn't have to be a giant leap, but you do have to move."  I would like to add, "in the right direction".  Hoping your month has been "on track" and if not, you are not alone here.  Let's all keep moving forward.  Even if we had to pull over for a minute.

Summing Up Our Week...

Still Being Fierce in 2016, just slowed down for speed bumps!

K

April's Menu

As much as I love Fall, Spring comes in a really close second for me.  I love when the weather starts getting warmer and the air seems just a little cleaner and fresher.  Produce starts making a comeback and my menu starts to change to reflect that and the fact that I want to get on that grill.  Friday night pizza night turns into either Italian sausage or burger night.  And we are back to eating on my beloved back porch.

Some of my favorite recipes from last month reappear on this month's menu.  If you did not try the Carolina Pork BBQ sandwiches or the Greek Pork Gyros, they were both top notch and made a lot.

Today we had our FFF (Fix It, Freeze It and Forget It!) freezer session and tagged and bagged 17 of these meals (listed below).

I hope you are able to enjoy some of these clean, healthy meals!

April Menu

Freezer Meal Recipes Only (17)

Grocery List for 17 freezer meals only

Happy Eating!

K

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