Page 7

remembering tot bedtime

I love photoshoots with kids in pajamas. There is just something so sweet and innocent about bedtime, unless you fight your kids to fall asleep. We don’t have the greatest nighttime routine, it’s pretty rough with me working four nights a week and with Jim traveling. This Summer we’ve really started working with the kids. Both kids are pull-up free at night which has been a work in progress, but we made it. Our routine is not perfect but it works for us and that’s all that matters. We both get frustrated on a weekly basis because we compare ourselves to others and there’s one thing I always tell new parents, do what works for you and don’t listen to others. In the end, my kids are happy, they are funny and sarcastic as hell, they sleep in late (a blessing for me but a curse) and they are healthy. One day I will miss the middle of the night cuddles. I embrace them sleeping with us even if that means it’s not always the most comfortable for us.

To document our Summer bedtime trials we did a PJ shoot with local photographer, Sweet Snap Photography. The studio is super cute and she runs monthly mini sessions that are adorbs! You might take a look for her upcoming back-to-school minis.

Do you co-sleep? I would love to hear from you!

for the love of the mouse.

Many people have a place or activity that they turn to when they feel down. After my Grandmother passed when my Mom was down I would suggest a Disneyland visit. We’ve always been a Disney family but once I had kids it changed, I see the park differently and I love it even more because I am experiencing it through their eyes. It was recently explained to me that it’s because it’s a place of fantasy. I don’t want my children to grow-up in a fantasyland, I want them to know that there are struggles in life and that all things aren’t pretend. From a previous post you know that as a family we are in the most trying time in our lives. Our children do not know there are issues, rather that mommy has a different place she lives, we call it the new normal and explain that there is a lot of in between normal we experience throughout life. Over the past month I have been spending more and more time at home as we reconstruct and start building a new future. Life has been good and life has been tough. If you follow me on Instagram you know that we go to Disneyland just about every week or bi-weekly. Just like I used to do for my Mom after my Grandma passed I have found myself resorting to a visit to Disneyland. I have found a new meaning in the phrase, “the happiest place on Earth”. I no longer stress out over visits, the kids and I try something new each visit and we call ourselves the little explorers. It has been very difficult for me to blog, I have neglected this space and I believe that if I begin to write about things I love like our visits to Disneyland then a new love will form. I look forward to sharing our Disney adventures, travel & park tips, yummy food and the joy we have as a family at the park.

Triple Berry Coffee Cake

It’s no secret that I have an addiction for triple iced espressos served over ice with a splash of half & half. I will seek out my favorite coffee houses for the best variations of my drink. My Mom has her go-to’s from Starbucks and even as a baby Payton shared the same love for Starbucks’ very berry coffee cake. There is just something about the airy cake studded with fresh berries topped with a light buttery streusel that makes the dreariest of mornings bright. It tastes even better with a bold cup of espresso.

My “copycat” recipe isn’t reduced fat like Starbucks’ but it is pretty darn close in terms of flavor. I have made a few versions and this one was the best! This version skips the streusel because I wanted a lemony glaze instead. I hope you enjoy it just like my family does.

Triple Berry Coffee Cake

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

55 mins

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

A copycat version of Starbucks' very berry coffee cake.

Author: Melissa

Recipe type: Breakfast & Breads

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

For the Loaf:
¾ cup all purpose flour + 1 tablespoon
¾ cup cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup blueberries
½ cup blackberries
½ cup raspberries
For the glaze:
1 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease bottom and sides of bundt pan; dust with flour, tapping out excess.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, vanilla and oil. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix the fresh berries with the remaining tablespoon of flour, and fold them very gently into the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 20 minutes before removing cake to a wire rack on top of a baking sheet.
While the loaf is cooling,
To make the glaze, in a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners sugar, the lemon juice and the milk. The mixture should be thick but pourable. Add up to another tablespoon of milk if the mixture is too stiff. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake and let it drip down the sides. Let the glaze harden slightly before serving.

Goldfish cracker Crusted Mac ‘n Cheese #Goldfishmix

This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GoldfishMix #CollectiveBias

I realize the New Year has just begun, but I have to tell you that there is just something about the Winter months that make me crave comfort foods. In SoCal, we’re actually experiencing Winter-like weather so the craving of comfort foods has been insane. I have also been brainstorming comfort-type foods to bring to the annual big game party. I think I accomplished all my goals with this simple mid-week meal that can be made ahead for guests, for a quiet night in with the kids or to bring to a party. You must try my version of creamy mac ‘n cheese with a buttery, crisp and decadent Goldfish cracker crust.

I know you’re probably asking yourself, Melissa, did you just say Goldfish cracker crust? Yes, I sure did people! I know I might be channeling my inner grandma here but we’re not talking crushed potato chips on top of tuna noodle casserole. We’re talking about a grown-up version of mac ‘n cheese that takes the cute Goldfish crackers we have all grown to love, crushed with all it’s buttery goodness atop creamy noodles chock full of cheese. You might seriously thank me for bringing Goldfish crackers to the dinner table.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Goldfish cracker Crusted Mac 'n Cheese

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

35 mins

A twist on an all-American comfort food. This mac 'n cheese takes the Goldfish crackers we all enjoy and love to the next level by adding a buttery crust to the creamy mac 'n cheese.

Author: Melissa

Recipe type: Entree

Cuisine: American

Serves: 6

Ingredients

1 pound Elbow Macaroni
½ stick Butter
8 oz. Extra Sharp Cheddar
8 oz. Colby Cheese
2 cups Whole Milk
¼ cup Flour
1 Egg
2 tsp Ground Mustard
2 tsp Fresh Thyme
salt & pepper to taste
Crust:
1.5 cups Crushed Whole Grain Goldfish crackers
¼ cup Panko Breadcrumbs
½ stick Butter

Instructions

Bring a pot of water to a boil
Boil pasta to al dente, do not overcook pasta.
Meanwhile, grate your cheeses. In a pot, melt butter and sprinkle in flour. Whisk flour and butter together and keep stirring for roughly five minutes until you have a blonde color.
Pour milk into flour/butter mixture. Stir for another five minutes or so until it begins to thicken.
Crack your egg into a separate bowl and scramble. Add in a few spoonfuls of milk/flour mixture to temper the egg. Mix the tempered egg back into the pot.
Add in the cheese, ground mustard, salt and pepper.
Once the pasta is cooked add the hot pasta to the cheese mixture. Mix until combined.
Taste for seasoning and add in fresh thyme.
Coat a baking dish and spoon in mac 'n cheese. Top with an additional sprinkling of cheese and then crumb topping.
Crust:
In a small bowl combine: crushed Goldfish crackers, panko breadcrumbs and melted butter. Mix until combined. Top onto mac 'n cheese.

If the mac ‘n cheese isn’t enough comfort food fun, I went even further with my love for Goldfish crackers and whipped up my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. But, instead of just plain ‘ole chocolate chips I added: caramel filled chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and pretzel Goldfish crackers. I mean, if you thought you were going to just “wow” everyone on game day you can pretty much seal the deal with these sweet & salty pretzel Goldfish cracker cookies. It’s basically like a Take 5 bar wrapped up into a cookie! Yum!!

Bring a smile to any table with my Goldfish cracker crusted mac ‘n cheese and my gooey pretzel Goldfish cracker cookies. You can find Goldfish crackers on the cracker & cookie aisle at Walmart. Goldfish cracker cartons are on Rollback right now!

You can find additional Goldfish cracker recipes by visiting their Facebook page or by following them on twitter at @GoldfishSmiles

PJ’s, Hot Cocoa & a Christmas Tree Farm

This year for our family portraits we took ourselves to a Christmas tree lot in Ramona. We decided to switch it up and wore pi’s and the kids had hot cocoa (er, cold cocoa). It was a fun moment the day after Thanksgiving to spend time with the family.

If you’re looking for a photographer in the San Diego area you should consider Amira Gray Photography. I met Amira when we were in High School, we got closer when we were both in yearbook together. A few years post High School I was lucky enough to bake for her gorgeous wedding in Temecula. Amira has a wonderful spirit and is a wonderful photographer.

« Previous Page
1
…
5
6
7
8
9
…
135
Next Page »