Car Envy
Every time I see a Volvo C30 I drool...
If I didn't have to lug a car seat in and out of it's back seat, it would be mine!
Weekend In Review
This was my first Mother's Day weekend as a momma.
I had lots of fun and we certainly packed it full!
Chris only worked part of the day Friday so we could
hang out and celebrate with our little family.
Remember when I had cupcakes on the brain? Well, we went to Saint Cupcake, which recently remodeled their Eastside location and added the 'deluxe' (the cutest party supplies ever) to their shop. I will totally be going back in a few months to get some supplies for Bennett's 1st b-day!
The cupcakes are amazing.
They are celebrating their remodel with free mini-cupcakes!
Chris got a chocolate cupcake with hot fudge topping and I got a vanilla cupcake with cream cheese frosting topped with toasted coconut. AMAZING!
Saturday morning we celebrated Mother's Day with Chris' parents by taking them to the farmers market. We got them coffee and Pine State Biscuits. Unfortunately there were no macarons to be found. People must be catching onto their goodness.
After the farmers market, my friend Kira (yellow dress) and I drove down to Corvallis for my friend Sara's (next to me) baby shower. It was fun to see a few friends from college:
Sunday morning we celebrated with my family at my sister's house. We had a brunch and Chris had a pancake bar with made to order pancakes...mine had bananas and chocolate chips with Nutella on top.
The view from their deck is amazing.
My bro and Bennett chewing on a lid. Weirdos.
My lovely mom, Bennett and me.
We went on a walk after stuffing our faces and found this fun little creek that we waded in. The bridge going over it was super cute too.
I actually went in the super cold water!
Chris went thigh deep. He's crazy.
Bennett chilled on the bridge.
I guess I didn't take any pictures after this, but we went to church Sunday evening. Evan Wickham played worship, I love it when he comes up! After church we went to TCBY and I got my beloved white chocolate mousse for free since I'm a mom! I may or may not have started Bennett's addiction to wcm. It's the best (and he agrees)!
Oh yeah...stop by Sarah's blog to enter her giveaway!
Cupcake anyone?
has these amazing looking cupcakes on her website.
She adds a new one each week. (I didn't even post them all)
The best part is that she includes the recipes...oh man!
I don't know about you, but you wouldn't
have to force me to eat any of these beauties.
Can I have one of each?
I might have to make cupcake 32 this weekend.
Don't you think these would make the cutest cookbook?!
Weekend In Review
a day late, but what the heck...
We had a nice relaxing weekend.
I have a ton of pictures below to prove it.
What was my favorite thing about it? you ask...
Chris's belated birthday present arrived! (his b-day was April 1st)
It was well worth the wait. Nan Lawson did a custom family portrait
and Chris was so surprised! Isn't it SO cute?!
Saturday started out with Chris running a bazillion miles. He is running a half marathon this summer and the Portland marathon in October. Needless to say, his shoes REEK. I've heard that the only thing that really kills the stinky bacteria is a freezer.
So...
Don't worry, they are bagged up.
It took the stank out too!
After getting ready, we walked down to Stumptown and got some coffee, then we went to the farmers market, which is the biggest one in Portland and it's only 2 blocks up from the Ladd! We are spoiled living downtown.
We go up to the farmers market every weekend. We also get a macaron to share every weekend. Have you tried these yet?
Amazing. That's all I have to say. I'm going to attempt to make them soon.
After the farmers market, we went back home and relaxed before church.
(we go to the saturday night service)
Sunday, Chris had the fun idea to go on a hike through Forest Park. It's the largest park within city limits in the U.S. and it's only a few miles from us, yet I had never been there.
So beautiful. God is real...if you don't believe it, go on a hike!
I have been wanting to make some terrariums,
so I gathered moss and sticks and Chris got to carry them.
Bennett with fungus:
Bennett with a giant slug:
He fell asleep about halfway through. This little man can sleep through anything! It's a pretty good workout to hike with 20 lbs. attached to your front. :)
Then we went to the park so Bennett could experience his first swing and slide.
He wanted to hold on for dear life...
I love how he was holding on here:
He is always sticking his tongue out...
While we were at the park, we saw a couple that had been on House Hunters. Chris didn't know what I was doing but I was being a creepy stalker and took a picture of them. I'm so sneaky.
And that was our weekend. Off to get my workout in!
Vote for Bennett
So I know every mom thinks their baby is the cutest. A lot of these moms enter their baby in 'cute baby contests' thinking everyone else will think their baby is the cutest also.
I always told myself I wouldn't force people to vote for my son/daughter in lame contests. I do however get stopped constantly when I'm trying to grocery shop, so I figured maybe other people think he's super cute too and it's not just my biased mamma brain.
Parent's Magazine is having a photo contest and the 9 finalists get to go to NYC for FREE and the winner gets to be on the cover. I may or may not have entered Bennett into this contest (mostly because I've always wanted to go to NY) and I just got an email saying the editors chose his picture to duel it out with other cute babes.
Anyways, go here and vote if you happen to be looking for something to do...it's open all week and you can vote once a day.
You guys are awesome and I am lame for entering my son in a contest.
There, I said it.
But I bet NYC is worth it!
Homemade Granola
(and some randomness)
After doing the Crispy Salmon Cakes post I decided that I need to do more recipes, because who doesn't eat right? I find a recipe I want to try almost every day...it's kind of addicting but I love it! Anyways, on to the granola...I'm not even sure where I found the original recipe, but I've altered it enough to make it super yummy and I'd say it's mine now. This recipe makes a ton so I usually freeze half of it in a big ziplock bag. I get most of the ingredients from the bulk section at the grocery store (winco has a great bulk section).
Homemade Granola
- 8 cups extra thick cut oats (make sure they are extra thick)
- 1 cup oat bran
- 1/2 cup ground flax seed
- 1 cup sunflower seeds (not salted)
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1 T cinnamon
- 1 T vanilla
- 2 cups rasins
I like to start out roasting all of the nuts. I usually put the sliced almonds and sunflower seeds together on one sheet (they will be mixed in together) and the walnuts on a separate sheet. Throw them in the oven preheated to 350 degrees for 10-15 mins or until they smell amazing. When they are done, finely chop the walnuts until they look like crumbs. I usually just put them in the food processor.
Turn your oven down to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine oats, oat bran, flax seed, and nuts in a huge bowl or pot.
In a sauce pan, stir together salt, brown sugar, honey, oil, applesauce, cinnamon and vanilla. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
Pour syrup into oat mixture. Stir to coat evenly. Spread mixture evenly onto baking sheets (press it into pans to make more clumps).
Bake for 12 minutes, stir, press into pans again and bake for another 12 minutes or so. Granola will get crispier as it cools. Let cool completely, break apart and stir in raisins.
Store in an air tight container in refrigerator for best shelf life. Like I said, I usually freeze half of it.
Enjoy!
By the way, if you have never roasted nuts before, beware you might become addicted like me :) There is something about the roasting process that bring out the flavor so much more, and your house will smell amazing. Try roasting almonds and eating them as a snack with dark chocolate chips. Pretty much the best snack ever! (and a healthy one at that) :)
On a side note, I'm going to tell Bennett someday in the distant future that he will look like this if he ever wants to drink...
(STUPID and people will make fun of him!)
Also, over at How About Orange there is a link to Download&Print which has awesome and FREE invitation templates. She posts a new one every week day! I wish this was around when I got married, gosh.
