Wednesday, October 28

The BEST Sugar Cookies EVER

Three times a year, I roll up my sleeves and make grandma Betty's amazing sugar cookies.  They are definitely a labor of love.  Having little ones to join me in the kitchen makes the process so much more fun!  I had my friend Kileann over with her adorable little guy, to show them the ropes.  If there is one thing I am confident in my skills, it's that of sugar cookie making.  I make them thick and soft with just the right amount of frosting.  P has taken a liking to the process and now looks forward to each holiday that much more.

I know I have shared this recipe before, but wanted to make sure if you haven't tried them already, to give them a shot.  I promise you won't be disappointed.  The trick is having your butter room temperature and lots of vanilla!

THE BEST SUGAR COOKIE EVER

Mix: 3/4 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla
Add: 2 1/2 cup flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt
Wrap the dough in tinfoil and let sit in the fridge over night


Sprinkle counter with flour, roll out cookies
Bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes

* I always double the recipe.

Buttercream Frosting
(on the back of C&H Pure Can Sugar box)
1 box powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 stick of butter (softened)
food coloring of your choice

Beat with a mixer and enjoy!

^^^ Eating the candy and sprinkles is way more fun than frosting them. ^^^
^^^ Lucy girl wanting in on the action. ^^^
^^^ Daddy came home just in the nick of time. ^^^
^^^ P made a plate of cookies to take to grandma.  She was so proud of herself. ^^^
Lucy was covered in frosting and sprinkles.  It was the perfect afternoon activity and help us get in the Halloween spirit..... if that's a thing!
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Monday, October 26

Sunday Best

Yesterday on our way home from church, we decided to stop by the pecan orchard near our house and take some pictures.  These were one of the first orchards I saw in Clovis and made my home sickness for Utah slowly dissipate.  Every time I drive by them there is a special feeling of home and belonging.  

Sunday's happen to be my favorite day of the week.  I always feel like I get the rejuvenation I need to to tackle the new week ahead.  I love that I get to spend all day with my hubby and kiddos and if I'm lucky, I get to sneak in a nap.

I am always on the hunt for comfy/stylish dresses to wear.  I have had the hardest time finding a dress that fits my post baby bod.  All of my old dresses hug all the wrong places and sag were they should be hugging.  You feel me?  When I came across this beauty of a dress from Bouvardian, I instantly knew I had to have it.  It's just a beautiful in person and the best part it is sooooo comfy!  I actually ended up staying in this dress all day long, which usually never happens.  I received compliment after compliment, while wearing it.   

Bouvardian is sweet enough to give all my readers 10% off of their first purchase.  All you have to do is use the promo code JANESSA10 at checkout.  They have some amazing clothes and am already looking forward to wearing my dress again! 
 GiGi was in heaven!  Oh what I would give to have some land one day and let her have free rein. 
I think we discovered P's new favorite spot.  She was running wild and free and took a couple of good spills.  She was covered in leaves and dirt and was happy as a clam.
I love this hubby of mine that supports all of my crazy endeavors.  He's rather handsome too, if I say so myself.  
 Lucy girl was sleeping at grammy's house, so I guess will just have to come back to snag some more photos.  What I would give to have pictures of me with my daddy!  I hope P cherishes these forever.
I hope you all had an amazing weekend!  Ours was fantastic.  We attended our friends annual Fall Feast and you guys it was crazy amazing.  I can't wait to post pictures and tell you more of the details.  And HUGE thanks to Bouvardian for sending me my new favorite dress!
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Monday, October 19

Homemade Playdough Recipe

This time of year is crazy busy for me.  If I am not out shooting pics, I am at home editing them.  In doing so, my little family gets a little deprived of some mama time.  I try my best to only edit when the girls are napping, but sometimes that doesn't always work out.  I always aim to do some sort of special activity in the afternoon, to make up for lost time.  My kiddos love language seems to be quality time, just like their mama's.  Knowing that, I make sure to wedge out some quality time for P and Lucy.

Penelope loves playdough and I have been meaning to whip up some homemade goodness for her for quite some time now.  Today happened to be the day!  Thank you Pinterest for helping a mama out.  This recipe is super and easy and luckily I had everything I needed in the cupboard.  Heaven forbidden I didn't, because the first thing P wanted to do when she woke up, was make blue playdough.

I always remember making salt dough playdough when I was younger and it always left my hands dry and crusty.  I love that this dough is super soft and easy to work with.  It rolled out perfectly and stores really well.  If you are looking for something to do with your little ones, you have come to the right place.

Homemade Playdough
1 cup water
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 tablespoon 
food coloring

Combine all ingredients, turn heat to medium and stir constantly until dough forms into a ball.  Dump onto counter and wait until it cools.  You can store it in an air tight container and reuse for many hours of fun.  I made the recipe three different times so that P could have three different colors.  I ran out of cream of tarter or would have made many more.
 P dumped all the ingredients into the pot and I mixed them up while cooking them on the stove.
^^^ Daddy painted her nails on Sunday and I think they are just about the cutest things ever. ^^^
 ^^^ I couldn't find P's little rolling pin, so she improvised with her forearm. ^^^
^^^ Lucy girl wanted in on the fun. ^^^
 ^^^ That profile. ^^^
Now off to watch Dancing With The Stars and enjoy some Reese's pumpkins!
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