Recipes Tried & "To Make"

I have this huge problem, I am SO addicted to Pinterest, not only do I like that I can find every DIY project on just about anything, look at great photography ideas, find decorating tips for every room in the house, find some activities that will entertain my kiddos but I DO love that I can find some great recipes to try. We all get stuck in our own "dinner ruts" of the same meals but I have vowed to myself that I will try to make a new meal, side dish, breakfast or dessert once a week. So I figured I would share them with you and of course some future ones I would like to make as well.

Lemon Garlic Spaghetti (pic and recipe via I Nom Things)

I love this simple pasta dish, I used linguine instead of spaghetti and I added broccoli and next time I will add sun dried tomatoes, so yummy and easy!
 4 oz dry spaghetti
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
2 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic
1/2 lemon
2 tbsp pine nuts (** note these are so expensive you can omit, it will still taste just as good)
5-6 basil leaves

Roasted Parmesan Green Beans (pic and recipe via Skinny Taste)

12 oz green beans, trimmed (make sure they are dry)

2 tsp olive oil

kosher salt + fresh cracked pepper to taste

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 1/2 tbsp shredded Parmesan

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum for easy clean-up.
Lay green beans out on the baking sheet and drizzle oil over them. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder and toss to evenly coat
(My kiddos LOVED the green beans, they asked the next day if I could make them again)

Homemade Baked Taco Shells (via Eating Well)

Yes I know you can easily buy taco shells already made, but they are from a box and I grew up with eating the greasy, fried taco shells. But I am a bit on the healthy side and I don't like frying foods, so I tried this and YES it works! I used my "cooling racks" and placed them in the oven but I made the mistake of putting them only over one bar, so do not do this, lay them over 2 bars or else you will get very tiny taco shells that do not open!

Directions: Working with 6 tortillas at a time, wrap in a barely damp cloth or paper towel and microwave on High until steamed, about 30 seconds. Lay the tortillas on a clean work surface and coat both sides with cooking spray. Then carefully drape each tortilla over two bars of the oven rack. Bake at 375°F until crispy, 7 to 10 minutes. ( I had mine in there for a little longer)

Baked Blueberry Oatmeal from Lottie + Doof

This looks so yummy and is on my "to bake" list! I love the blueberry oat bars from Starbucks, I am hoping it will taste like that....or maybe my sweet friend Vanessa will share her own recipe with us sometime :)

Whole Wheat  Brown Sugar Banana Bread Pancakes from How Sweet It Is

 Seriously these looks DELICIOUS!! Next weekend this will be my Sunday morning breakfast!! I will keep you posted on how yummy it is!

Rice Pudding from How Does She

I LOVE rice pudding, I don't know if it's because it reminds me of  my childhood, but something about it I just love and my sweet little girl shares the same love for it also. But funny I have yet to find a recipe I love or that has turned out good, so I hope this one doesn't disappoint, I mean how can it, it looks SO good!

So there you have it, my list of things I tried and my "to make list".  I will keep you posted on more "yummy" finds! If you have any great recipes you would like to share, we would love to hear them.

Until next time...
Lynnae

The Sewing Attic

About 3 months ago my friend jenny told me about this sewing class she goes to once a week for two hours...I was totally intrigued I have a sewing machine but my skills are limited. I emailed the teacher the next day and after a few weeks on a waiting list I got a spot. Ever since I have been spending my tues night sewing....I just finished my lastest project a baseball backpack for Angels games!

Baseball Print and a Blue Denim to make the Backpack stronger

Zipper Top & Inside Pocket!

Super Cute Backpack!

Thanks Nancy for all your help and such an amazing class!

If you are interested in taking a sewing class contact Nancy Gray ( thesewingattic@hotmail.com)

<3 rosette

Paper Coterie photo books

I love this site Paper Coterie and they have a good deal going on right now for 40% off all their "LOVE" products. These books are easy to make and would make great gifts for Valentine's Day for your love!

They also have a promotion for 50% off any "BABY" books.

Both are good until Feb 5th!

Until next time.
Lynnae

The Queen's Bakery

Who doesn't like a cute bakery that has the best girlie decor, coffee, tea, lunch and yummy desserts! This past weekend I celebrated my birthday (I know the celebration keeps on going) with my sweet, amazing friends at The Queen's Bakery in Costa Mesa and WOW was I impressed. This little bakery is so cute, with pink, black, yellow and blue decor/furniture, diamonds, chandeliers, and yummy desserts! They reserved a table in the back for all 12 of us and it was perfect. It's cafe style so you order your food at the counter and they bring it to your table. The bakery just opened in November and the owner was very sweet making sure that we were enjoying ourselves. I would highly recommend this place for anytime you need a little girl time, a good treat, a baby or wedding shower or maybe just some mother/daughter time. They also do little girls birthday parties there too! I can't wait to take my very girlie daughter there for some tea and desserts! The location is a little hard to find as it's off a small street off Baker Street, but if you are ever in the area and feel like a bite to eat, stop by and give it a try!

Until next time,
Lynnae

Birthday Treat!

My good friend and fellow blog buddy Lynnae just recently had a birthday...and she doesn't like cake so finding a treat to make her is a little tricky. However I found this receipe on pinterest (of course) for sugar cookie truffles....lynnae also doesn't like chocolate chips so sugar cookies were a perfect idea.

16 oz package of sugar cookies
1.5 oz room temp cream cheese
1 cup white chocolate chips
small chunk canning wax
sprinkles for garnish

Bake sugar cookies according to package....baking until crip but not burned.
Cool cookies completely on wire rack
Crumble the cookies into food processor....process until a fine crumble
Add cream cheese and process until mixture begins to hold together
Roll mixture into balls and place on baking sheet place in fridge or freezer for 30 to an hour
Melt canning wax and white chocolate and dip balls...add sprinkes as desired while chocolate is wet

mixture rolled into balls

double boiler for the chocolate

a little gold sparkle sprinkles and tada!

happy birthday blog buddy!!!

<3 Rosette

Special gifts...

Have I mentioned before that I have the BEST Mother-in-Love, I mean really she is! She came over to spoil I mean watch the kids on Saturday night (that's what Gamma's do best) and she came over with this cute little handmade mug cozie for me...

I love that she read my "wish list" and whipped this up in a day (see I told you she was the best!)

And the next day she was at our door with this YUMMY trifle, my absolute favorite!!

Thank you M-in-Love!!! I am so blessed to have you in my life. I love my gifts!

Until next time...
Lynnae

Cotton On Kids

I was so excited to see Cotton On Kids open up this weekend at the Irvine Spectrum! I was their second customer! I was surprisingly impressed with their selection for girls and boys (more of the girls than the boys, but LOVED the denim!) First of all I wanted to buy every pair of colored denim jeans they had for both my son and daughter. Their selection of flats was SO cute and for $12.95 you can't beat that price, I think she just might be getting a new pair every few weeks! Their prices were fairly reasonable for a cute dress or denim, ranging around $30. Now I wouldn't buy a basic tee for that much but a good dress or button up boy shirt for a special outfit I would. They had ADORABLE accessories for girls, I mean my daughter was oohing and awwing over all of the necklaces, think Forever 21 jewelry but for little girls! This will be a must stop for me whenever I am at the Spectrum. So happy to find a new shop with reasonably priced clothing!

My daughter's wish list

My son's wish list

For babies....SO cute especially the bloomer shorts!

P.S their site doesn't do the store justice, there was so much more in the store :)

Until next time...
Lynnae

DIY Inspiration

Just thought I would share a few DIY inspirations that I found this week:

A frame with a fabric napkin print, adds so much to a wall
From The Small Things blog

DIY necklaces, cute for Valentine's Day for a little girl, I mean what little girl doesn't like to have fun jewelry
From Eighteen25

DIY hooks from Sew Craft Create

Cute DIY ruffled hair clips. So easy from i heart nap time

Happy Crafting...

Until next time...
Lynnae

Wish List

This Saturday is MY Birthday!!! I doesn't phase me that I am getting older, life just gets better as the years come so I never mind celebrating a birthday! I grew up in a family that made birthdays a big deal so they were always special and a great, fun filled day! I plan on spending the day with my sweet little kiddos and hubby and a date night with the handsome man in the evening. I am sure my dad will be the first one to call bright and early in the morning! I love my dad, he never misses a beat when it comes to birthdays! So as I am approaching the strange number of 33 (I don't know why the two threes look so funny to me) my hubby wanted to know what was on my wish list and so I thought I would share (and hope that he reads this post too). Of course I know he will only pick one thing but at least I can give him a few different choices right?!?

Stamped necklace with kids initials from Vintage Pearl

Isn't this SO cute a knitted mug cozy from Etsy

Milk jug measuring cups from Anthropologie

Blue butter dish from Anthropologie



Fleur De Lys Tea Pot set from Anthropologie



Oh I love Initials! Such cute mugs from Anthropologie

Tea cups, vintage tea cups! 
I want to start collecting tea cups and have lots of them like my Mother in Love...hint hint :)

I think this necklace was made for me.... S & L
From Tyra Handmade Jewelry on Etsy

And last I already received this necklace as an early birthday gift from a dear friend. Thanks T! 
From Miranda Frye Jewelry 

I am sure there are many other things I would like but these are just a few that I thought I would share!

Until next time...

Lynnae

Curls

I have naturally wavy hair and like anyone with wavy hair ( which is not curly or straight just somewhere in the middle) I am aways flat ironing my hair. However I love curls especially the ones that are large and cascade right over the shoulders.



Exactly what I would love my hair to look like..everything about Reese is amazing!

 However my hair won't ever hold a curl....I have tried all sizes of curling irons and barrels and nothing....my friend karyn was at the mall the other day and she stopped at the flat iron and curling rod booth and she bought the curling rod. I was a bit suspicous of its amazing curls she said it produced and that had staying power...mine always seem to fall flat right away...

Its pink whats not to LOVE!

It took me about 20 mins...and I loved the results the true test however was would it last or just fall flat...and after a long holiday party...even slept on its was still curly!!!!! I will use this curling rod again...not everyday cause thats alot of work...but for parties or just when I want to be extra girlie!

<3 rosette

Christmas Card Book

I LOVE Christmas cards, I love getting them in the mail throughout December. I love seeing how families have grown and how big all the children are getting of the people I know. I love the thoughtfulness of others to send you warm holiday wishes for the season. A few months back I saw on Pinterest all the great ideas of what to do with your Christmas cards when the season is over. So I dug out all my Christmas cards back to 2006 and organized them and put them together by year in their own albums and had them on display in a Christmas basket throughout this season. It was fun looking back at all the cards we have received over the last 6 years, and what good were they doing in the abyss of a drawer all these years! So as this season came to a close and the Christmas decorations came down a few days ago, I finished up our 2011 Christmas Card album before I stored them away in the decorations box until I pull them out again next holiday season. 



Just 2 hold punches and 2 ring binders...simple and easy



The inside a mini album of all the wonderful cards

I wish I would have seen these printable covers before I made my books over at Eighteen25 but I am thinking I will start next years with these covers. You can go here to download the free printable.

Happy card making!

Until next time...

Lynnae