We started the first full week of January and it has been one of those weeks where nothing much happened, but sometimes that’s just what you need.
Painted toes, pizza on the counter, and pops of pink everywhere have made up our week so far. Nothing too crazy around here, just the usual everyday moments that make up our full lives!
Pedicures and a Precious Surprise 💅
Jimmy gave me a gift certificate to our local salon and spa for Christmas and I immediately booked an appointment for Sadie and I to get pedicures together! I put “Mommy and Sadie Date” on our calendar about a week before the appointment and told Sadie it was a surprise.
She spent a week begging me to tell her the surprise and was so excited. She was extra intrigued before we left when I told her she had to wear flip flops! It all made sense when we arrived and I let her know we were getting our toes polished!
Sadie chose a sparkly blue color for her toes and I went with forest green. It was so fun to get out with Sadie girl and get a chance to kick back and be pampered!
It was even more fun to dream about taking Dakota with us in a few years. Before having daughters, I always dreamt of doing things like this and to actually do them is everything. It’s such a blessing to make these memories!
Flour, Food, and Family Time 🍕
As usual, we’ve been busy in the kitchen! We’ve been continuing to add recipes to Sadie’s cookbook. We made monkey bread and it was devoured in less than 24 hours!
The kids were also very excited to add pizza to the cookbook. Mordecai did better than I expected putting his pizza together!
And I finally bought rye flour and poppy seeds to make some very unique cookies from a bakery in France! I was very intrigued by these cookies. They’re a riff on classic chocolate chip cookies, but have rye flour, poppy seeds, and dried cranberries in them.
Mordecai helped me put together the dough (which had to be refrigerated overnight!) and they definitely looked different. I’m not going to lie, I ate a raw dough ball. I was curious! They tasted healthy. Crunchy and hearty from the rye.
I baked the cookies the next day and the verdict is that they’re good! But I’ve made more memorable cookies before—I’m lookin’ at you malted milk chocolate chip cookies and secret ingredient butterscotch chocolate chip cookies!
And last but not least in the kitchen… I never thought I’d say this, but I think I made chicken that was too spicy. I marinated chicken thighs in hot sauce, coated them in spicy panko, drizzled hot honey over them, and baked them with cherry peppers on top.
I was cooking dinner and putting chicken on my plate and stole a nibble before we sat down and I was like “Jimmy, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to finish my piece because it’s that hot!” haha. I had him try a bite and he opted for leftover steak instead of my chicken. 😂
I’m happy to report I did finish my chicken and my mouth was on fire!
Festive Finds and Family Decorating 💗
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of all the little holidays in our home. Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day are some of my favorite holidays because they’re a fun, bright spot in the middle of winter. I’ll use any excuse to celebrate with our family!
We stopped by Hobby Lobby this week to check out their seasonal decor and had so much fun goofing around with the St. Patrick’s Day accessories.
We picked up a few Valentine’s Day decor items and decorated our house this week. Yep, it’s early January and we are all decked out in pink and red and I love it!
Our mantle makes me so happy! Especially the shelf with faux cupcakes and coffee.
What about you—do you decorate for and celebrate “little” holidays?
Moments, Messes, and Memories 🏠
We’re always making messes and memories around here. Here’s what our kitchen table looks like by lunchtime most days.
Baby snacks, pizza, paint, crafts, and crumbs!
We got outside on a chilly walk! The temperature was probably in the 40s, which in my head felt a lot warmer than the 20s it has been recently… but I quickly remembered that temperatures in the 40s with no sun still isn’t very warm. 😉
Also, Dakota’s “blanket” in the photo above is actually Jimmy’s truck drying towel for when he washes his truck. We were walking out the garage door and I forgot to grab a blanket for Koko but was too lazy to run back upstairs to her bedroom so I grabbed one of Jimmy’s towels. 🤣
Other Notes and Thoughts 📝
- For some reason, I decided this is the year I want to learn how to make soap. I’ve been taking a deep dive into soapmaking by reading this book and I have to admit I had no idea it was so intense?! After reading through different methods, I am slightly afraid of working with lye, lol. 🧼
- Someone contacted me and asked me to make their baby’s first birthday cake in June. It made me realize I haven’t thought much about Dakota’s first birthday cake for next month. Help!! 🎂
Living My Full Life 
I love all the pics at hobby lobby – they seriously made me laugh! I’m glad you get the kids out to do fun stuff like that!
I did enjoy the rye cookies – the poppy seeds were def stuck in my teeth – but it was worth it 🙂
The first week in Jan has been pretty uneventful – getting back into the swing of things post stomach bug, and a small obx trip. It’s always good to start a fresh year with fun planning for upcoming fun family events (we only lack 2 months of non-birthdays – Dec & Jan)
FYI – my mouth hurt just looking at that chicken – I cannot do spicy – at all.
Love you,
Madre