Being Creative, Everything Else, Good Food

My favorite King Cake Recipe-with a Twist

January 3, 2014 Salinda 1 Comment

While the rest of the world is cleaning up Christmas and already breaking New Year’s Resolutions, we in the South are counting down to our next big party—Mardi Gras! Parades, beads, masks, parties, king cakes, and, for this seamstress, sewing with purple and green and gold!

While the season doesn’t actually start until January 6th, I wanted to share my favorite recipe with you a few days earlier. I’ll be baking our first king cake for Monday.

Last year, I decided to fill my king cakes with something a little different than just cinnamon and sugar. I mixed a stick of cream cheese with a cup of Nutella and spread this heavenly goodness over my dough before I rolled up the cake. Oh. My.Goodness. Another fun option is a stick of cream cheese and some strawberry syrup. Oh yes, it is as good as it sounds.

How ever you choose to fill your king cake, don’t forget the baby! Have fun baking and laissez bon temp rouler!

Everything Else

Orchid on Etsy-for your littles

Link January 2, 2014 Salinda Leave a comment

Radiant Orchid. It’s the color of the year.

Here are just a few of the orchid pretties on Etsy for your littlest ones.

Everything Else, Gardens

January Garden tasks

January 1, 2014 Salinda Leave a comment

Is there anything sadder than a garden in January? Thankfully, here in the South, our growing season is year-round.

It’s time for peas and carrots, cabbage and kale. I really should have had them in the garden in the fall, but since I didn’t, it’s kinda a “now-or-never” deal. Once the temps hit the 80s in March, I find the broccoli and kale start to bolt.

I’ve always used my google calendar to remember when to plant (and when to look for tiny sprouts) and when to harvest. I’ve printed out my January Garden Tasks to share with you:

January Gardening Calendar

Please remember these things: I’m not a professional, I’ve compiled several different tables to come up with what works for me, I live along the I-20 corridor in Louisiana, and you need to use common sense when planting in your area. Our last frost date is somewhere between March 4 and 10. If yours is later, you have a few more weeks!

Happy Gardening!

Everything Else

A thought for your New Year

Quote January 1, 2014 Salinda

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 3:10 NLT

Everything Else, Southern Hospitality

{ Home } Challenge 1: Chores

December 30, 2013 Salinda Leave a comment

{ Home } is the place we live. I want it to be a safe, comfortable, cozy place for my family. That’s not going to happen if I don’t stay on top of somethings. Things like laundry, dishes, dusting. Things I don’t enjoy. Enter my first challenge to myself.

Challenge:

Keep a neat home (not obsessively tidy, but clean enough I don’t panic when the doorbell rings).

Goals:

A daily load of laundry

A clean kitchen every night

3ish small tasks each day

Plan:

Don’t recreate the wheel. Use a system that I’ve used before and that I know works for me. For me that’s the Confident Mom planner. I love this plan, because I can do the few tasks listed on each day.
Stick to the system. The biggest reason I don’t usually stick to this system–I forget to print out the next week’s plan. I just printed the first 12 weeks of the year. No excuses now!!!
Delegate! The kids can help! Take for example today’s tasks: change sheets in the kids’ rooms. They can do that! Vacuum the kids’ rooms. They can do that too! Sweet!

Everything Else, Southern Hospitality

{ HOME }

December 28, 2013 Salinda Leave a comment

Home.

My Word for 2014.

This is the third year I’ve chosen a word for year. Here’s the idea: Rather than make a long list of resolutions and I’m-gonna-do’s, you choose a word that inspires you.

So…I’ve picked my word. Or maybe it’s picked me.

This word has been front and center in mind and heart for a while now. Kinda funny considering we are currently prepping our home to sell. But I think the word goes so much farther than my little brick box in Southern Hills. Home inspires me with thoughts of warmth, laughter, food, and love. Home challenges me with thoughts of safety and kindness and comfort. It’s a mindset. It’s a feeling. It’s a safe place. It extends from my kitchen to my car to any space I share with another. Home.

S as in Sam