there is a fairy for that

Did you know there is such a thing as a Binky Fairy?  Neither did I until my clever neighbor told me.  We have a certain two and a half year old who lives in our house that still enjoys a nighttime binky.  Or paci, Nuk, sucky, - whatever slang you feel like using.

So after lots of days of talking about giving all the binkies to the babies who need them, we gathered up all of the binkies and put them in a box.  Little two and a half year old, P., and big seven year old sis D. then wrapped the box up to leave by the front door for the Binky Fairy.

And, what do you know?  This morning in the same spot the Binky Fairy left a present.  Just for P.  Amazing.

I wonder if there is a Bad Behavior Fairy?  Gather up all our bad behavior and put it into a box...in the morning...*poof!*....we all act good as gold.  Wishful thinking, I guess.

Suds

With all the hand washing that I find myself doing as a mom, my dry-skin-prone hands really take a beating.  I'm trying to do a better job of using high quality soaps and slathering my hands with super moisturizing lotions during the day.  I found these great soaps a while back, and absolutely love them.  Their soft, sudsy lather makes my endless hand-washing more bearable.  

And, their great scents don't hurt either.

{Paintbox Soapworks}

Don't you love these little paint box inspired packaging?  The mini soaps make great gifts, and the larger sized soaps last for months.    

anticipating berries

I'm so happy that the weather by us has finally started to warm up and treat us like it actually likes us.  We were starting to wonder.  The past couple of days the flowers have begun to bloom more freely, the leaves are growing rapidly on the trees, and the kids have dug down deep in their drawers to find any shorts that still fit (not very successfully, I'm afraid).  Ahh, Spring.  A little late, but we'll definitely take it.

"Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with green leafy wings reaching heavenward."  Terri Guillemets

I'm determined to grow a bigger and better garden this year.  That is not saying much, compared to years past, but nonetheless - it's a goal!  These little berries are doing fine and we even have some little growing berries tucked underneath the leaves now.  Yay!

cool like that. in iceland.

I can't get enough of this song.  

It gets played over and over on my runs.  I play it loudly in the kitchen when I'm making dinner (mainly to drown out the kids yelling - it works!). I listen to it on repeat in my tiny little studio.  

Heart, heart.  Love, love.

Don't you just adore it?  Happiness should now be oozing through your fingertips - hey!

I'm off to toss some clothes in a bag for a sweet little weekend away with some old, dear friends....right after I listen to this song.  Again.

good morning, good friday

I thought I'd try my hand at Hot Cross Buns.  It seems a fitting food for this time of year.  When making them I couldn't help but want to sing the Mother Goose rhyme, "Hot cross buns; hot cross buns; one a penny, two a penny...."

Traditionally I realize that they're supposed to contain currants.  But, out of my household of five, I'm the only one who likes raisins/currants in my food.  So, for these little buns I left out the currants.  I did, however, add a healthy dose of orange zest instead.  

They turned out alright for my first go at them.  Excuse the messy frosting crosses.  I am not too skilled at frosting yet.

The recipe is here - making it even easier with a bread machine!

bedtime story

I happened to pick up Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson, at the library last week and I'm so glad I did.  It is the perfect read-aloud bedtime story for the kids.  I'm not sure who enjoys it more - the grown-ups or the kids.  There are words like 'dingblastit' and 'tarnation' in it.  I ask you, when is the last time those words have crossed your lips?  

Besides, it seems a perfect read for this time of year. All spring like and such. 

I highly recommend it as a family reading book.  And, it won a Newberry award so I know I'm not making it up.  

cafe au lait bowls

I still remember one of the best cafe au laits I've ever had.  It was in Berlin at an outdoor cafe.  My dear sweet friend and I were in the middle of our backpacking trip through Europe.  I remember ordering and savoring a big bowl full of warm, frothy goodness.

It made all the difference drinking the liquid out of a bowl.  Don't get me wrong.  I love my mugs of coffee.  Turning on the coffee pot and waiting, mug in hand, for my hot coffee is one of the first things I do in the morning.  But, there is something cozy, and European, about drinking my cafe au lait and hot chocolate out of a bowl.

{Image from Simon Food Favorites}

This fascination with drinking from bowls got me to thinking about when I was younger.  I remember staying with one of my aunts and uncles when I was little, and they served us our hot chocolate in a bowl with toast for dipping.  For breakfast!

You know where I'm going with this....ta da!  Guess what we've been doing here lately?  Yep.  Drinking our [homemade] hot cocoa from bowls for breakfast...with cinnamon toast for dipping.  Makes breakfast before school a little more enjoyable.

Check out these cute vintage cafe au lait bowls.  Or these.  Or what about these for the smaller set?

{Image from Northern Light}

I love (and want) this collection of cafe au lait bowls.  Until then, our little bowls at home will have to do.  Off to enjoy one now!