Resurrection Sunday

Five Recent Obsessions

Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post! I’m glad those who watched the video enjoyed it, too. It seemed like everyone loved my mom’s reaction 🙂

Today I’m popping in to share five things I’ve been obsessed with lately!

1. Frothed Milk. I don’t know why, but I have been obsessed with having warm, frothed milk lately. At first, I thought it would be perfect with coffee, but I am still having a small (occasional–yay!) aversion to coffee since becoming pregnant. Soo, I’ve been drinking mugs of warm, frothy milk. How do I froth my milk? With this bad boy. It’s amazing.

2. Cake baking and celebrating. I made a strawberry cake with strawberry mousse and vanilla buttercream for my mom’s birthday. We (my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and cousins) went out to dinner to celebrate my mom and it was such a lovely evening! I truly adore spending time with family.

Family dinner at Bella Luna in Pittsburgh

We went to Bella Luna Trattoria, if any Pittsburghers are wondering!

Strawberry birthday cake with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles

3. Pet Sitting. It is kind of starting to warm up and feel more spring-like in Pittsburgh, which has made pet sitting so enjoyable (as if it’s not enjoyable enough when I have the adorable faces below staring back at me)! Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 50s and rainy, and I have six dogs to care for. It’s much easier to walk six dogs in rain than in snow, in my opinion! I’ll let you know if I change my mind on that after tomorrow, though 😉

Cocker spaniel puppy and chocolate lab on couch together

4. Preparing for Resurrection Sunday. It feels like Resurrection Sunday, or Easter as many call it, came up quickly! I plan on reading the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection this week, and have been writing cards to all my clients. Jimmy and I are also hosting my sister, brother-in-law, father-in-law, and his fiancé for dinner on Saturday and we are super excited!

Hallmark Easter card

5. Whipped cream flowers. I had a bunch of mousse leftover from my mom’s cake, and it’s basically whipped cream with a few extra ingredients. I didn’t want it to go to waste, so I did some research and learned that homemade whipped cream can be frozen! I pipped the whipped cream/mousse into rosettes and flowers and froze them on a baking sheet, then popped them into a freezer bag. I’m thinking they’ll be good on a mug of hot coffee or to decorate a cake or cupcakes!

Whipped cream piped into flowers and frozen

What have you been obsessed with lately?

Thoughts and Pictures

I should be working right now, but I just really want to blog. This week has been b-u-s-y. Jimmy is wrapping up a big work project at the Pittsburgh Zoo and I’ve been pet sitting, baking for Hannah’s bridal shower, and working.

Jimmy at the Pittsburgh Zoo Zip line

Jimmy working on the zip line at the Pittsburgh Zoo!

I was thinking about balance the other day. When I have a lot on my plate, I just don’t think balance is realistic. What’s more important about that thought is that I need to accept it. This week has been busy, and I probably won’t get everything done that I want to, and that’s okay. That’s life!

I was also thinking, how do parents juggle everything? I think I’m busy with my regular life, and then I see parents take care of their children, work, and do other things and I’m like… how?! It’s amazing.

Cooked and sliced ham

Our Resurrection Sunday (aka Easter) was low key and lovely this year.

I had to pet sit, so Jimmy and I went to church in the AM and PM as usual, I cooked a fresh ham (from my uncle who raises pigs), and we had a pretty relaxed day together. It was nice not to have too much hustle and bustle so we could reflect on the great sacrifice Christ made.

Dogwood tree

We have two dogwood trees in our yard and they’re in full bloom! I can’t believe how gorgeous they are. To take the above picture, I got on Jimmy’s shoulders. I’m sure our neighbors thought that was interesting 😉

The arrival of spring is so refreshing. It also means allergy season for poor Jimmy. I think we’re going to go to a local farm this evening to buy honey. We read that local honey can help with allergies, so we’re going to give it a try!

purple rosette vanilla cupcake with vanilla buttercream

Only a few more days until Hannah’s bridal shower! I can’t wait. I think it’s going to be a really special day for her and a lot of fun all around. I’m going to be a little sad when I don’t have to practice making elaborate cakes, cookies, and cupcakes for the big day though, haha.

My aunt and cousins from New York are staying with my parents, and it’s so nice to see them. My cousin brought her daughter, Macie to church last night and I played with her for a solid half hour after the service. At 10 months, she’s at a really fun development stage. It’s so neat to watch her discover everything around her. I had her feel Jimmy’s beard with her hand and she was cracking up!

peach whisper paint sample by Valspar

Last but not least, I finally painted a new paint sample in our office. I like it a lot better than the last one, so I think this is it! It’s called Peach Whisper. The sample has been on the wall for like two weeks now… I just need to find the time to actually paint 🙂

Speaking of time, I really should start work!

Tell me something you’ve been thinking about lately!