Fiscally Chic

Christmas in July

2014-07-24T13:34:00.000-05:00

Mini stockings: white, red
Pillow covers: top, middle, bottom

I don't talk about it much on the blog, but I still have an Etsy shop filled with lovely Marimekko pillow covers. Around Christmas, I also stock mini Christmas stockings. Since it's currently Christmas in July, I thought I would bring back the mini stockings and have a sale! You can get 20% off through Sunday July 27 using the coupon code "CHRISTMASINJULY20"

Ho ho ho!

Tidying Up

2014-07-20T21:56:00.000-05:00

first row: Target (no longer available), right
second row: left, center, right
third row: left, right

While it appears to be all quiet on the ~~western~~ blogging front (it is summer, after all), I've been tidying up my blog design. (And moving to WordPress...eek!) At the same time, it's a battle to keep things tidy at home. As Monica has grown, so has her collection of toys and books. To contain some of the chaos, I bought the two baskets from the top row. Not only do her things have a "home," but it's easy to move a bunch of toys from one room to the other. Say, from the front room to our bedroom so she can play while we get ready in the morning. Or from the backroom to the back yard if we want to play outside. Now if only she can learn to put her toys back into the baskets!

On Blogging and Running

2014-06-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

About a month ago, Lindsay Ostrom of Pinch of Yum was a guest on The Lively Show. I enjoy reading food blogs, but hadn't heard of Pinch of Yum until then. In addition to sharing delicious recipes with gorgeous photography, Pinch of Yum shares their monthly income reports. Their first income report was for August 2011 and the blog made $21.97. In May 2014, Pinch of Yum had net income of over $23,000! Suffice it to say, I've read more of their income reports (and related tips) than recipes ;)

What does this have to do with running? In January 2014's report, Bjork (Lindsay's husband and behind the scenes guy of Pinch of Yum) shared the following mindset for growing a blog:

Be a cross country star, not a tennis star. I love tennis. It was my favorite sport in high school. But I always had a ton of respect for the cross country guys and girls. Not only because of their crazy ability to run long distances, but because of the mindset they had in regards to their performance. With tennis, if you beat your opponent you consider the day a success. With cross country, if you beat your own previous record you consider the day a success. Your journey of growing your blog will be much more fulfilling if you aim to outperform yourself as opposed to other blogs.

Amen, brother!

Like blogging, I took a bit of an extended maternity leave from running. Sure, I ran a 10K this past October, but I wasn't running consistently. About three months before Monica's birthday, John's sister talked me into running a half marathon. I pulled up a Hal Higdon training plan, dusted off my running shoes, and got to work. The day before Monica's birthday, I ran my first half marathon in over three years. Was is pretty? Not exactly. But I went out there and finished.

Likewise, this past spring, I felt ready to get back into blogging on a more consistent basis. The analogy isn't perfect, but here are a few more thoughts about why blogging is like running:

You have to start somewhere. Whether it's sitting down to write or starting to run after some time off, the hardest part is starting. For running, the hardest part is getting out the door. But once you get going and see your progress and improvement, the momentum encourages you to keep going.

For example, the first recipe (and second blog post!) I shared on Fiscally Chic was for Raspberry Champagne Cupcakes. My photo wasn't fantastic, but it got the job done:

September 2010 - Raspberry Champagne Cupcakes

More recently, I shared a recipe for Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes. This picture isn't perfect, but it's exponentially better than the first:

June 2014 - Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes

Over the past 4 years, I've had more opportunities to bake cupcakes, photograph cupcakes, and blog about said cupcakes. That's not to say there haven't been a few hiccups along the way. While the following cupcakes tasted great, the photographs were less than stellar (don't laugh too much):

February 2011 - Banana Split Cupcakes

Ugh...I know. In blogging and running, you might have a few setbacks, like writer's block or a knee injury. You can either let it get you down or use it as a learning experience and moment of growth.

In addition to having more experience, my blogging and running has improved (or become a little easier) as I've obtained the correct tools. For blogging, that would be getting a better camera (and knowing how to use it). For baking cupcakes, that includes finally buying a pastry bag and piping tips. For running, it's having a proper pair of running shoes, iPhone armband, and our BOB jogging stroller.

Finally, sometimes I need to adjust my expectations and benchmarks of running and blogging. Going back to Bjork's point, "with cross country, if you beat your own previous record you consider the day a success." With my first post-baby half marathon, I couldn't compare that performance to my previous personal record. This time around, I didn't have as much time to train. As with blogging, there are only so many hours in the day and I think it'll be a good week if I post once or twice. That sure beats my current track record of posting once or twice a month!

Toolbox Essentials for the New Homeowner

2014-06-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's summertime, which means DIY projects and household improvements are filling people's weekend "to do" lists. The summer is also a prime time to buy a new house, which means you need to be prepared for repairs. If you're in either of these camps, you'll enjoy today's post sponsored by Gotstock.

What’s in Your Toolbox?
Whether you live in an apartment, condo, or house, you should have a few basic tools on hand to tackle simple household repairs. This isn’t about being an HGTV DIY expert; it’s just about being reasonably self-sufficient.

Think about whether you would be able to deal with an emergency. If you don’t have to the tools to do this; you need to make a trip to the hardware store. This applies to both the ladies and gentlemen.

What is the Best way to Acquire Tools?
There are ready-equipped tool kits on the market which give you access to a variety of different sizes and types of tools. The problem is that the majority are not cheap, and you may not need all of the items in the kit.

The best time to buy the very basic tools is when you first start running your own home. Then as you go on, you can acquire, rent, or borrow extra materials as jobs require them. So what are the essentials?

Screwdrivers
These tools are probably the most essential of the essentials. Whether it’s changing an outlet or putting together furniture; a screwdriver always comes in handy. It's useful to have a selection of screwdrivers for different sizes and types of screws (i.e. flathead vs. Phillips head). A really small screwdriver is also helpful to tighten a loose screw on a pair of glasses or sunglasses; check out Gotstock for more on this.

Claw Hammer
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a hammer, you just need one that will do the job. This is pretty essential for a lot of basic household DIY tasks such as hanging a picture frame. A claw hammer also allows you to remove nails to take down furnishings in your home.

Wrench Set
Again, you don’t have to spend a huge amount of money on wrenches, but make sure that they can withstand a fair amount of pressure. You don’t want to leave a bolt unscathed and bend the wrench instead.

Cordless Drill
If you're going to put shelves or curtain rods up, you're going to need a few holes and anchors in the wall. A cordless drill is the best way of doing this. Being cordless reduces the risk of tripping, but you still have to be really careful that you use it correctly.

Plunger
You hope you never have to do it, but unblocking a toilet is easy with a plunger. Tie a plastic bag tightly over the end and plunge with vigor; the toilet will be unblocked in no time.

Ladder
Yes, it is a bit big to fit in a toolbox, but it is an essential item for completing a lot of jobs in the home. Something as simple as putting a shade on a light, is a lot easier and safer when done off a stable ladder instead of a chair.

Miscellaneous
Other helpful tools include a measuring tape, level, box cutter, pliers, and safety glasses.

Be Careful with Storage
Storing tools safely is common sense, but sometimes people are in a hurry and items get left around the home. If this happens, a child might pick up a tool and do damage to the house, or worse to themselves. Ladders are also very important to be aware of. Never store them where there is a significant chance that they can be knocked and toppled over.

A tool box or tool chest is ideal for storing tools, but at the very least, you need to make sure that they are protected and dry. This will ensure that you have a useful set of tools to use for many years.

Raspberry Vanilla Birthday Cupcakes

2014-06-17T21:52:00.000-05:00

On June 8, Monica turned one! She started walking the day before she turned 11 months old, so turning one sealed the deal of her becoming a toddler (sniff).

While I had a secret Pinterest board filled with birthday party ideas, I didn't go over the top crafting elaborate decorations. I ran a half marathon the day before her birthday, so we decided to keep things simple. We catered Buona Beef, served food on pink plates with pink silverware, bought a canopy for the backyard which we decorated with pink paper lanterns, and had several coolers of chilled beverages.

One thing I didn't want to skimp on was the dessert. I had pinned several mini layer cakes as inspiration, but ultimately decided to bake cupcakes. Since the loose party theme was pink, the cupcakes had to be pink. In addition to baking exactly what I Monica wanted, I could avoid hard to pronounce food additives and artificial food colors.

Monica has been enjoying berries lately, so I decided to bake vanilla cupcakes with raspberry buttercream (strawberry being a close runner up). These weren't organic by any stretch, but I felt a little better knowing exactly what was in the cupcakes.

In addition to Monica's current love of raspberries, these cupcakes were inspired by The Cup's Raspberry Beret cupcakes. I don't think I ever had this flavor, but The Cup can do no wrong, in my opinion. Monica's birthday cupcakes are also reminiscent of the first recipe I shared on this blog, raspberry champagne cupcakes. Obviously there wasn't champagne in these cupcakes.

This may be one of my favorite pictures of Monica eating her birthday cupcake. Yes, there are other pictures of us singing to her and her enjoying her cupcake, but I love the expression on her face in this photo. It's like she's thinking, "Oh no! Cupcake down!"

One last minute (and extremely playful) detail I loved from the party was using one of Monica's bath toys as a paperweight. I just grabbed the purple walrus and it just went perfectly with the pink napkins. The napkins and walrus might still be sitting on the buffet.

Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes
Vanilla cupcakes adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction
Raspberry buttercream adapted from Eat Live Run (where she shared strawberry buttercream)

Vanilla Cupcakes
Yield: 12 cupcakes (I tripled the recipe, which made 45)

Ingredients
1 and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1 egg

1/4 cup yogurt (The original recipe called for vanilla greek yogurt. I used strawberry greek yogurt since that's what we had.)

3/4 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350*. Line muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Melt butter in a small saucepan on the stovetop or in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Transfer this to the bowl of your mixer. Using the paddle attachment, stir in sugar (the mixture will be gritty). Add in the egg, yogurt, milk, and vanilla extract until combined.

Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until no lumps remain. Batter will be thick.

Divide batter among 12 cupcake liners and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting.

Raspberry Buttercream
Note: I was able to frost all 45 cupcakes using one batch of this recipe

Ingredients
4 sticks unsalted butter, softened (1 pound)
1/2 cup pureed raspberries (about 1 cup whole raspberries, optional: strain out the seeds for a smoother frosting)
2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
8 cups powdered sugar (from two 1-lb boxes or one 2-lb bag)

Directions
Beat the butter using the whisk attachment on your stand mixer until creamy.

Add in the pureed raspberries.

Slowly add the powdered sugar, about one cup at a time.

Finally, add the lemon juice and sea salt. Continue beating until very light and fluffy.

Pipe* or spread frosting on each cupcake. Enjoy!

*I bought the Bake it Pretty Best-Ever Cupcake Icing Kit (5 jumbo pastry tips and 1 pastry bag) just for these cupcakes and it was fantastic! You can currently save 10% off your order using coupon code "BALLOONS".

Summer Wedding Looks

2014-06-12T22:10:00.002-05:00

Hi, friends! Wedding season is upon us! While we only have one wedding on our calendar thus far, I was having so much fun creating a wedding guest outfit that I put together three for you! Since I absolutely love using Rent the Runway* (I rented dresses for the last two weddings we attended), each dress and some of the accessories are available through RTR.

Earrings, Clutch, and Dress via Rent the Runway, Wedges

The first outfit was inspired by my sister-in-law. She rented this very dress for a black tie wedding and looked gorgeous. While the wedding we'll be attending isn't this formal, it's fun to dream and hopefully inspire you.

Necklace and Dress via Rent the Runway, Clutch, Pumps

I'd say that this dress and ensemble is a little closer to what I'll actually wear to our friends' wedding. It's less formal than the pink dress, but still dressed up. I also love the colors and pattern of the dress. And that peek of pink on the pumps? Such a fun surprise!

Necklace and Dress via Rent the Runway, Clutch, Wedges

Finally, here's what I might wear if we were invited to an outdoor wedding. A bit more casual, but the necklace dresses things up. And the wedges will ensure that I don't sink into the ground while walking.

What will you be wearing to a summer wedding?

*No, this isn't a sponsored post, I just really like RTR. If you also have a wedding on the calendar and are looking for a lovely dress at a lovely price, you can sign up through my Rent the Runway referral link, and we'll both get $20 off our next orders. Muchas gracias!

for more wedding lovelies, visit {long distance loving}

To Friends of Young Kids

2014-06-05T14:29:00.000-05:00

Monica's first birthday is this Sunday. Where has the time gone??? I didn't become a mom one year ago. Or even one year and nine months ago. The process of becoming a parent started over two years ago. Two years ago yesterday, I lost my first pregnancy. I was 6 weeks pregnant. While we're extremely blessed and grateful that we have Monica; other couples are struggling with infertility and/or waiting to become parents through adoption for much longer than two years.

My friend Marie doesn't have a blog, but wrote a letter that she wanted to share with parents of young kids. Some of you might relate to Marie, so I've given her this blog post as a way to share a little of her story.

Dear Friends of Young Kids,

Happy Mother's Day! Mothers are a precious gift from God and you show such grace being mothers. Here is my thank you note to you.

Thank you for taking me Easter outfit shopping at the newest children’s resale boutique. I enjoyed being out with you, shopping, and looking at cute kids clothes. I may not have my own kids to buy clothes for, but I enjoy looking at frilly pink dresses and enjoyed helping your almost-screaming almost-two year old try on clothes.

Thank you for inviting us out for beignets and coffee. Though it may not be the easiest to take a 5 month old to a coffee shop, we had a nice time sitting outside with you and laughed when your husband changed your daughter on the bench in the coffee shop. I dream of one day taking my daughters out for coffee with friends.

Thank you for calling me to tell me you are pregnant. I love to hear your voice and celebrate with you. Though we have yet to have the opportunity to make such joyful phone calls to friends, thank you for telling me in person, so I don’t cry seeing someone else announce it on Facebook.

Thank you for posting your good news on Facebook. I planned five years ago what we would post and how fun it would be. Most days it is so joyful when you post online your good news. Forgive me if I cry when I see you good news; it is not that we are not soo happy for you, it is that we want that same blessing in our lives as you have in yours.

Thank you for inviting me to your baby showers. I love shopping and planning showers gifts and celebrating God’s gift of new life. I hope you understand how sometimes, I just can’t come. It's not that I don’t want to, but my heart is too heavy and too hurt at times to celebrate.

Thanks for giving me time to grieve my own loss and celebrate with you. Thank you for sharing your losses and struggles with me. I understand where you are coming from and I will pray with you, cry with you, and celebrate with you when you have good news to share.

Thank you for helping me to know your children, telling me what they enjoy and what clothes they wear and how fun they are. I really love your children and love that they know me.

Thank you for asking how we are doing. Thank you for caring sensitive and understanding. Really, I am no different than you are. Some days, I am calm, collected, hopeful. Some days I am a wild mess, with dirty laundry and a messy house. We both love kids, we both have busy lives and thank you for being my friend.

Marie

Thank you, Marie. My friend Stephanie is going through a similar chapter right now and blogs at Blessed to Be. She shares about their journey to parenthood. If you are struggling with infertility and/or in the process of adopting, you can find comfort in reading her blog. She also has a lovely blog link-up called "Little Happies" where she shares little moments of happiness while waiting for the next big thing to happen.

Hiding a Cable Box and DVD Player

2014-05-30T20:35:00.002-05:00

Hello and happy weekend! Do you have anything planned for these next few days? Lately, our weekends have been a mix of relaxing, half marathon training (my recent 9-miler was a beast), and house projects. Last weekend, I finally converted our "new" buffet into a media center.

In keeping with our "theme" of hiding TV cords in our back room, thus making things a little more baby-friendly, I wanted to tuck our cable box and DVD player out of sight. At first, I thought about putting the cable box and DVD player in a drawer and adding a hinge to the drawer front so that it would drop down when we wanted to watch TV. After talking with Meg, she suggested drilling holes in the back of the buffet and buying an Infrared Receiver Extender Cable. The cable plugs into the cable box or DVD player (out of sight) and the receiver is mounted to the front of the TV or somewhere else in sight of your remote control.

Unfortunately, that model was incompatible with our U-verse HD cable box (a Cisco ISB 7005). Fortunately, one of the Q&A commenters on Amazon suggested a model by Nextronics. I ultimately purchased the Nextronics IR Infrared Remote Extender Repeater (Dual). I liked this model because we could control the cable box and DVD player with one infrared receiver.

This whole project, not including the cost of the buffet, costless than $30. About $21 for the infrared extender and about $6 for a Bosch 1-1/2-inch spade bit from Home Depot.

I ultimately decided to put the cable box and DVD player in one of the side cabinets. There's a little more room for the DVD player to open and I only had to drill through one layer of wood. Based on Young House Love's similar project, I marked off 4 holes (3 inches apart) for the wires and ventilation.

After donning a pair of safety glasses (trust me, wood was flying!), I made quick work of drilling the holes.

Once the holes are sanded, you can hook everything back up. The HDMI cables were already connected to the TV and tucked behind the wall thanks to the Wallblade(see how we installed it here).

The infrared extender cable uses the USB port on the TV as its power source. Once connected to the TV, I fed the wire with the two mini transmitters through the Wallblade and through the holes in the back of the buffet. I then stuck the mini transmitters on the translucent or infrared window on the front of the cable box and DVD player. Finally, I mounted the large receiver to the front of the TV.

So far, everything is working well. The large receiver has a light that turns green when turned on and will flash red when it receives a signal from your remote control. Just be sure to point the remote at the receiver.

The Urge to Purge

2014-05-13T22:44:00.000-05:00

Hi! Remember me? I hope you're enjoying the spring weather while crickets have been chirping around these parts. As I touched on a while back, blogging has moved down on the list of priorities, while chasing after a ~~baby~~ toddler and training for a half marathon have moved up. But I'm feeling inspired to start writing again. We've been doing some projects around the house and somebody has a 1st birthday on the horizon!

If you follow me on Instagram (@FiscallyChic), you'll know that I went on a little cleaning frenzy a while back (clearly this post has been sitting in draft form for a while). This happens every so often, usually when we have company coming over. Last year, the mega cleaning bug also bit after going to an estate sale and while still pregnant and getting the house ready for Monica.

I keep a bag of items to be donated in our closet and take it to Goodwill once the bag gets full. When the bag was more than full, I knew it was time to clean house. I was feeling inspired by Jess Lively's most recent "Throw out 100 things challenge" and had also read about the minimalist challenge on Design*Sponge where you get rid of one item for each day of the month: one item on Day 1, two items of Day 2, all the way up to getting rid of 30 items on Day 30. They also linked to The Minimalists and I fell down the rabbit hole reading about minimizing. More recently, I discovered the Minimalist Baker after hearing Dana's interview on The Lively Show. Which, by the way, is a must-listen-to podcast!

So back to the post at hand...I also felt the urge to purge because Monica is crawling (!), pulling herself up on things, standing (!!), and now taking a few baby steps at a time (!!!). She loves to put everything in her mouth, so I'm trying to minimize the choking hazards and other household perils. Plus, we now have her stuff to contend with and reign in.

Instead of just donating the items in that shopping bag, I started to take a closer look at other items cluttering my life.

I donated clothes that didn't fit well, clothes that I haven't worn in years, and clothes that don't fit my current lifestyle. I also donated kitchen items we haven't used in years and threw out clothes beyond repair, old makeup samples (I tend to stick to a few tried and true products), and beat-up shoes. I also recycled old papers and magazines.

During the cleaning process, I came to realize that I'm a sucker for freebies (I'm looking at you unused and discarded Clinique Bonus Time gifts) and hold onto too many "just in case" and "someday" items. I sometimes place a little too much emotional weight on things, particularly gifts, which makes it harder to part with them thinking I might offend someone down the line. I also feel the need to hold onto something to remember an event. For example, a brochure from Galina, IL has been sitting on my dresser for quite some time now. We visited Galina in October 2010! What the heck was I still saving it for? To scrapbook it? That's not really my thing.

After donating fives bags and a box of stuff, in addition to throwing out or recycling a few more bags of things; it didn't feel like I made a dent. A lot of things were out of sight and out of mind, tucked away in storage bins and behind closet doors. It's a lot like The Minimalists' post "Organizing is often well-planned hoarding." Though I'm happy to report that some of my clothes drawers are easier to close and there's a little more breathing room in my closet.

I still have a ways to go, especially with some unopened boxes in our basement, but I feel like I'm making progress. I'm trying to be better about buying new things and what I bring into the house. For example, I'm resisting buying all sorts of new baby things unless Monica really needs it or it would make our life that much easier.

For example, we haven't bought special baby plates or bowls yet. We received baby spoons from a shower and fed her purees out of our mugs or put food directly on her highchair tray. I'm used our current ice cube trays to freeze food cubes instead of buying "special" baby food ones.

More recently, we traded in our Ikea "media center" for a "new" Midcentry Modern buffet by MegMade. It's totally baby proof, has concealed storage, and fits the style of our house much better than the yellow Ikea shelving. There are other updates to the back room and rest of the house, but I have to save a little material for future posts ;)

It's great to be back!

April Showers

2014-04-03T23:00:00.000-05:00

Umbrella, Leather Tote, Hunter wellies, Gingham Shirt, Pants

I don't know about you, but this week seemed to drag on forever. Add some rain and cloudy skies and I've practically self-diagnosed myself with seasonal affective disorder. One thing that helps me get through the week is having something fun to look forward to on the weekend. Sometimes it's just going for a walk as a family. Other times it's trying a new-to-us restaurant or cooking a new recipe. Once the weather gets consistently warmer, I'm sure we'll go out for ice cream or Italian ice.

This weekend, we don't have anything planned yet. Do you a fun weekend idea to share?

see {long distance loving} for other Friday's Fancies

Baby Broccoli and Cheese Egg Souffles

2014-03-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

Heeeey! You know it's time to get back into blogging when the baby is back asleep at 2am and you can't fall back asleep because you're thinking about blogging.

What's new with all of you? It's been a busy few months at work for me, but I'm slowly starting to get my groove back. John's sister convinced me to run a half marathon with her this summer, so I've been hitting the trails and treadmill. I've also started to get back into the kitchen (thank goodness for a husband that cooks!). One of my recent forays included these mini egg soufflés.

My Mom had visited for the weekend and left a bag of broccoli florets with us. I figured they would be a good addition to Monica's lunches, but wasn't exactly sure how until I saw this recipe for broccoli, cheddar and wild rice casserole on Smitten Kitchen. That reminded me of the baby soufflé of spinach I saw on Wholesome Baby Food. After a little more research, I found a third recipe for broccoli and cheese mini egg omelets on Skinny Taste.

I realize that introducing eggs to babies can be a little controversial, so talk with your pediatrician before introducing any foods that may pose allergy risks for your baby. Additionally, it's important to wait three or four days before introducing a new food. Monica was nine months old when I made these mini soufflés and she had already eaten scrambled eggs (and all of the other ingredients) without any reactions.

But these baby soufflés aren't just for babies! I enjoyed them more than Monica because she was teething and didn't want much to do with solids at the time. You could easily make these for brunch or on a Sunday night to eat for breakfast during the work week. The recipe is also extremely versatile, so feel free to use up whatever odds and ends are in your fridge.

Baby Broccoli and Cheese Egg Soufflés
Yield: About 15 or 16

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 cup chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
4 eggs
2 cups broccoli florets, steamed and crumbled into smaller pieces
Cooked rice, maybe a few tablespoons
Salt (omit if cooking just for baby)
Pepper
Shredded cheese, such as Parmesan, Romano, or cheddar

Directions
Preheat oven to 350*. Grease a mini muffin tin and set aside.

Sauté the onion and garlic over medium heat until softened.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs. Add in onion, garlic, crumbled broccoli, cooked rice, and shredded cheese. (I just eyeballed the amount of rice and cheese.) Season with salt (if using) and pepper. Mix well.

Spoon egg mixture into mini muffin tins until a little more than 3/4 full. Top with additional grated cheese.

Bake in the oven until cooked, about 15 minutes.

2014 Super Bowl desserts

2014-01-30T22:37:00.003-06:00

It's that time of year again! Time for entertaining commercials, tasty snacks, and a pretty big football game. Once again, I'm taking inspiration from the competing teams to bake a dessert for our Super Bowl party.

Going into the NFC/AFC championship games, I hoped that Denver and Seattle would make it to the Super Bowl. Denver (and all of Colorado) is all about craft beer and Seattle is home to Starbucks. That means a boozy and caffeinated dessert is on the menu!

I already have a few such cupcakes in my recipe box:

Dark Chocolate Smoked Porter Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting - The bottom half deemed the best cake I've ever baked by John.

Dark Chocolate Smoked Porter Cupcakes with Chai Buttercream - Because I also enjoy an occassional Chai Latte from Starbucks.

Mile High Chocolate Stout Pie from The Beeroness

The Beeroness also has a bevy of beer-infused dessert recipes. Her Mile High Chocolate Stout Pie sounds divine and somewhat fits with my Denver/Seattle theme. Denver is the Mile High City and the recipe uses Rogue Chocolate Stout, which is from Portland (not exactly Seattle, but still in the Pacific Northwest).

If you really want to stick with Colorado microbrews, I'd go with Great Divide Brewing Co.'s Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout, Breckenridge Brewery's Vanilla Porter or Oatmeal Stout, or Left Hand Brewing Company's Milk Stout.

What are you bringing to your Super Bowl party this year?

Where My Brain is these Days

2014-01-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Hi friends! How are things shaking? I feel like it's been forever since we last chatted. My last blog post was about a month ago, which feels like an eternity.

During this break, life has been taking center stage between my cousin's wedding, Christmas, and spending all sorts of time with Monica. John also turned 30, which means I'm next! And let's not forget the polar vortex/Chiberia.

Plus, things are busier at work between being promoted and it being year end. And when I get home from work, it's dinner, a quick few hours with Monica before putting her to bed and then getting everything ready for the next day. By the time that's done, I'd rather crash on the couch with John and watch some reruns of Modern Family instead of blogging. Especially since boss lady is still waking up in the middle of the night. Please send coffee.

And honestly, I didn't feel like I had much to share. I deal with accounting and numbers all day at work, so I didn't want to think about personal finance related posts. And I didn't want to overshare on the baby posts. Though can I brag for a second that she's almost crawling on her knees?!! Fiscally Chic isn't going to become a mommy blog, but Monica obviously occupies a majority of my brainspace these days.

I have a few posts in the hopper, but I'm curious about what you want to read. Are you cool with baby posts? More DIY? Recipes? Back to personal finance? If nothing else, I'll be sure it's a quality post before I launch it into the Internets.

Traveling by Car with a Baby

2013-12-20T14:38:00.000-06:00

Shirt, Leggings, Sweatshirt, Hair Ties, Gray Slippers, PJ's, Baby Boots

Christmas is next week!!! I don't know about you, but I'm not ready. Before cozying up with family, I still need to purchase a few more gifts, wrap presents, and bake Christmas cookies. And some years include a drive to Ohio to be with my family. Since we've already taken a few road trips with Monica, including going to her first wedding, I thought I would share a few tips for those taking their first long drive with a baby.

Allow extra time to make extra stops
Traffic and wintery weather already contribute to longer than usual travel times. Add a baby to the mix and drive times can increase by a few hours. You never know when an atomic diaper will strike, how long naps will be, or if someone will want to eat again. In conjunction with the inevitable diaper changes, we've learned to make time for extra "wiggle" stops. Babies are just like adults in that they want to stretch out and move around after being seated in the car for a while.

Have one person sit in the backseat
~~One of us~~ I have been sitting in the backseat with Monica almost exclusively since bringing her home from the hospital. 95% of the time, she's a chill baby and fine sitting by herself. But that 5% when she is fussy can be excruciating. To help prevent and combat the fussies, we bring an assortment of toys, books, and a pacifier. Some of the toys are her favorites and others are new things she hasn't played with yet.

Though sometimes you just have to stop the car. While driving home from a recent trip to St. Louis, Monica took a 1.5 hour nap, which is pretty amazing for her. Not so amazing was when she woke up hangry and wailing. I was driving and we were stuck in traffic on the highway. John was sitting with her in the backseat, trying to soothe and distract her until we could exit the highway. Her bottles were in a cooler and the milk was way too cold to drink. Needless to say, we had to pull over to the side of the road where I could nurse Monica back to happy.

Carry a well stocked diaper bag
In addition to the usual suspects, it's helpful to have extra extra diapers, wipes, diaper cream, outfits, swaddle blankets, and trash bags in your diaper bag. This includes extra outfits for mom and dad because super spit up and explosive diapers seem to happen on the go. And since rest stop bathrooms can be questionable, be sure to bring a travel-friendly changing pad.

Pump on the go
While Monica tends to prefer her milk straight from the source, sometimes it's easier for us to give her a bottle on the road, especially when she gets hungry in between rest stops. Plus, I still feel a little self-conscious about nursing in public. Enter the manual pump or electric pump with a battery pack or car lighter adapter. Then I use the pump and accessory wipes for quick clean up. Freshly pumped milk will then keep about 5 hours at room temperature or 24 hours in an insulated cooler with ice packs.

Try not to pack the kitchen sink
This one is easier said than done, but babies really only need clothes, diapers, and food. If you forget something critical, you can probably buy it on the road or at your destination.

Any other tips you want to share for traveling with a baby?

see more cozy inspiration at {long distance loving}

A Wedding Guest Dress (with a Baby!)

2013-12-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Alexis Bittar earrings and Diane von Furstenberg dress via Rent the Runway
Kate Spade clutch and Banana Republic pumps

Hi, friends! It's been a while since I've joined the ~~Friday's~~ Saturday's Fancies fun and this week's "holiday party" theme couldn't come sooner. My cousin is getting married this month, so I've been brainstorming what to wear.

Most of my dresses are summery or not quite baby/nursing friendly. Thank goodness for Rent the Runway! I have the above dress scheduled for delivery that meets all of my needs:

Looks good on a still slightly funky postpartum body: A wrap dress (by the queen of wrap dresses!) is pretty forgiving and they're sending my dress in two sizes.
Made of soft material: Sequins need not apply since they'll scratch Monica.
Easy access to the boobies: A V-neck or crisscrossed neckline is preferable.
I can wear a regular (nursing) bra.

Last time I rented a dress, I was trying to hide a mini baby bump. Now that Monica is here, renting a dress is a fabulous idea because I don't have to worry about being spit up on! RTR includes a small insurance policy with each rental and dry cleaning is also included.

And since the wedding is out of town, I'm having the dress delivered directly to Ohio. Having one less thing to worry about packing is another perk of renting. And then I just pop the dress back in the mail after the wedding.

If you're looking to sparkle this holiday season for a fraction of the price, I highly recommend Rent the Runway. And no, this isn't a sponsored post, I just really like RTR. And if you sign up through my Rent the Runway referral link, we'll both get $20 off our next orders.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Thanksgiving Turkey Burger with Cranberry Aioli

2013-11-26T13:27:00.000-06:00

Hi, friends! I've been waiting to share this recipe with you since the summer. John enjoyed the "Thankful" burger at Grange Hall Burger Bar in July and we recreated it a weekend or so later. While the burger was tasty enough to share then, the flavors are a little more appropriate for this week of Thanksgiving.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I'm extremely thankful for my family this year. Yes, being a parent is hard work, but Monica's smiles, giggles, and overall happiness makes it worth it. I'm also thankful for John and his cooking skills. I often joke that he feeds me (and himself) and I feed Monica, so things are even in the kitchen.

Back to the kitchen...if you'd rather use this burger as a way to give leftovers a new life, have at it! You could easily use a few slices of roasted turkey in place of ground turkey. If you go that route, I would suggest adding some fresh sage leaves to your sandwich.

As for the cranberry aioli, it was super easy to make using the food processor. And I felt very Julia Child in the process.

If you're not feeling that brave (yes, there is a raw egg yolk in there), you can take some leftover cranberry sauce and mix it with mayonnaise and a little minced garlic.

Top your burger (or leftover turkey sandwich) with some muenster cheese, arugula, a healthy slathering of cranberry aoili, and serve it on a pretzel bun. If you are going the leftover turkey sandwich route, I highly recommend melting the cheese under the broiler.

Thanksgiving Turkey Burger with Cranberry Aioli
Inspired by Grange Hall Burger Bar
Yields 6 burgers

Ingredients

For the burgers:
2 pounds ground turkey
1/2 medium sweet onion, minced
~12 sage leaves, rough chopped
Salt and pepper

For the cranberry aioli:
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg yolk
1 cup olive oil
1 cup fresh cranberries*, roughly chopped
1 T sugar

6 slices muenster cheese
Arugula
6 pretzel buns

Preparation
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the ground turkey, onion, sage, salt, and pepper. Divide the ground turkey mixture into six patties.

Pulse the garlic, salt, and egg yolk in the food processor or blender.

Slowly pour the olive oil into the food processor or blender on "stir." As the aioli thickens, keep pouring in the olive oil until it's all incorporated. Taste and add more garlic or salt, as necessary.

Add the cranberries and sugar to the aioli and pulse a few times in the food processor or blender. Taste again.

Grill your burgers to desired doneness, adding the cheese at the very end to melt.

Serve on pretzel buns with arugula and cranberry aioli.

*I used fresh cranberries that were previously frozen. Roughly chop, add sugar, and microwave in a bowl for about 15 seconds to thaw.

Improve Your Credit Score by Increasing Your Credit Limit

2013-11-18T07:00:00.000-06:00

Good morning, friends! Coming off of Wednesday's guest post on negotiating lower rent, I wanted to follow up with a way to increase your credit score. Don't know your credit score? A great place to start is Credit Karma. It's absolutely free and you can monitor the progress of your credit score over time.

As last week's post said, 30% of your credit score comes from your credit utilization rate, or how much you owe divided by how much credit is available to you. If your credit card has a balance of $1,000 and a credit limit of $5,000, then your credit utilization rate is 20%. Financial experts recommend keeping your credit utilization rate below 30% for your credit cards individually and collectively.

If you're currently carrying credit card debt, one obvious way to increase your credit score is to pay down your balances and get out of debt. If you need some inspiration, J. Money shared four success stories and links to how they kicked debt to the curb.

But if (and only if) you're responsible with your credit by keeping your credit utilization rate below 30% and pay off your credit cards each month; then it's time to focus on the other side of the ratio by increasing the credit available to you.

A few weeks ago, I received an email from my bank saying that I was eligible for a credit line increase. I provided them with some information and received confirmation of my increase a few days later.

However, you don't have to wait for your bank to contact you. You can call up customer service or fill out an online application to request a credit limit increase. I would recommend calling and using Ramit's script. That way, you can talk with a live person, which tends to speed up the process. Plus, you ask whether they will be checking your credit report as a hard or soft inquiry.

A hard inquiry will show up on your credit report and slightly lower your credit score until the inquiry rolls off after two years. A soft inquiry has no affect on your credit score. It's OK to have a few hard inquiries on your credit report (we have them from refinancing and buying our car), but keep them at 1 to 2 per year.

Negotiate Lower Rent with These 3 Tactics

2013-11-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Today we have a fabulous guest post from the folks at Zillow about negotiating lower rent. I'm a huge fan of Zillow! We used some of their tools when buying our home over 2 years ago and still enjoy checking out properties on Zillow on occasion. For those still renting, read on! And when you're done, you can search for apartment and home rentals on Zillow.

Most renters assume the advertised price on an apartment is the price they’ll pay, but in most cases additional costs such as deposits, fees, insurance and utilities apply. In fact, the advertised price may only apply to the cheapest available unit. Before getting discouraged, consider that renters may be able to negotiate lower monthly payments depending on demand in their local rental markets. While it takes a little legwork to effectively negotiate the price, it can save renters hundreds -- sometimes thousands -- of dollars throughout the duration of their leases. Here are three tactics to help renters negotiate rent.

Know the market
Consumers who understand their local rental markets are able to negotiate more effectively. Renters should figure out rents charged for apartments comparable to the units they want to or currently rent. If comparable properties charge less rent, then renters may have room to negotiate. In a hot rental market, landlords may receive multiple applications for each unit, with some applicants offering to pay more to ensure they get the apartments. In these competitive markets, renters are generally at the mercy of a landlord’s asking price. In cooler markets, landlords may be more willing to negotiate.

To determine a fair market price for an apartment, renters should check out the rental section on sites such as Zillow.com, comparing asking prices, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage and amenities such as dishwashers, washer/dryers, balconies, free gyms and courtyard barbeques. Renters should ask around about the rental markets they’re interested in; are the markets easy to navigate, accessible or highly competitive? Research helps renters determine whether they can negotiate rent, and if so, by how much.

If the landlord is asking a higher-than-expected price, renters can counter with their research when asking for lower prices. Often renters should quote a slightly lower rate than they’d actually pay, as landlords typically counter with a higher price; and the two parties generally meet at a price in the middle.

Demonstrate responsibility
Before renters try to negotiate rent with a landlord, they need to look good on paper. First, renters should make sure they have good credit by checking their credit scores on AnnualCreditReport.com, which gives consumers one free score each year. Look to correct any errors on credit reports before sending in rental applications. Credit scores range from 300 (very poor) to 850 (excellent); the rating is based on how frequently consumers pay bills on time (35 percent), amount of debt owed (30 percent), how long they’ve had credit (15 percent), new credit applications (10 percent) and types of credit (10 percent). Consumers should work to pay their bills on time and pay down debt to gradually improve their credit scores, as landlords find renters with higher credit scores more desirable.

Landlords also prefer renters with some savings in the bank, as this ensures their ability to pay rent even if they lose their jobs. Renters may also want to print out a list of former landlords’ contact information to provide referrals. Finally, when going to view an apartment, renters should appear groomed and professional in a business-casual outfit. All of this shows a landlord they’re responsible and prepared to take good care of the apartment.

Commit to a longer lease
If the landlord seems resistant to giving a qualified renter with good credit and references a lower rate, the renter can offer renting the apartment for longer than a year. Ask to sign an 18- or 24-month lease in exchange for lower monthly rent. Finding new tenants can be an expensive process for landlords, so many prefer to sign qualified tenants onto longer leases, even if that means a little less money each month. Be committed to the longer lease, as some leases include penalties for breaking the lease, such as paying back all concessions earned throughout the duration of tenancy.

If renting is the best financial decision or simply the most affordable option until consumers can afford purchasing a home, then they should take full advantage of the savings effective negotiating can earn them. To successfully negotiate lower monthly payments, renters should know the rental markets in their areas, improve their credit scores, collect solid references and keep savings in the bank. If those factors don’t lead landlords to offer lower rents, renters can offer to sign longer leases.

Jay Robert is a mortgage writer for Zillow and an associate with Kassoff, Robert & Lerner, LLP, focusing in the areas of elder law, real estate, special needs law and estates.

Happy Halloween!

2013-10-31T11:21:00.001-05:00

via creditcards.com

Happy Halloween! I thought I would share this "spooky" infographic I found on creditcards.com about the cost of Halloween. Sure, we shelled out more than the national average on our pumpkin, but spent much less on costumes and candy.

Is Halloween a trick or treat for your budget?

DIY Baby Dinosaur Costume

2013-10-29T21:20:00.001-05:00

Halloween is only a few days away! Are you ready? I finally pulled together Monica's costume over the weekend. We went to Target a few weeks ago and were less than impressed at the costume selection for babies. So we picked up the pumpkin onesie she wore to the pumpkin patch and called it a day. The onesie also came with a pumpkin hat, so we figured she would be a pumpkin for Halloween.

Turns out, the pumpkin hat was a tad small (girlfriend has lots of hair!), so it wasn't looking like she was going to be a pumpkin. After brainstorming and creating a quick costume for my work party (thanks to this tutorial), I knew it would be easy enough to whip up Monica's costume.

I present to you, our little Cute-a-saurus!

See also: a DIY baby dinosaur costume that can be made in less than an hour for only a few bucks. If you're still searching for a costume for your little one, grab your sewing machine and get crafting!

Materials

Hooded sweatshirt (one with a zipper is easier to sew)
Two sheets of felt (mine were 9"x12")
Thread
Fabric glue

Note: Not all fabric glues are created equal. Test yours out on a piece of scraft felt first. I tried two kinds of fabric glue (Liquid Stitch and Sew No More) and both drenched the felt. I finally had success with Martha Stewart's glittering glue. The original tutorial said that Aleene's no-sew fabric glue worked well for her.

Tools

Rotary cutter and cutting mat (or scissors)
Iron and ironing board
Sewing machine
Pins

Cut the felt rectangles in half, widthwise.

You'll now have four 6"x9" felt rectangles.

Fold the felt rectangles in half lengthwise and iron the crease.

It's now time to mark where the spikes will be cut from the felt. I was able to get three spikes from each of the felt rectangles. Along the creased side of the felt, put a mark at 3" and 6". Along the open side of the felt, put a mark at 1.5", 4.5", and 7.5". You can trace a line to connect the marks if you like. Repeat for the other felt rectangles.

Cut out your spikes.

For a newborn-sized sweatshirt, I only needed 7 spikes. Two 9"x12" sheets of felt yielded 12 spikes, so use as many as you need for larger sweatshirts.

Unfold the spikes and pin them down the center of the hoodie, making sure the crease is in the center. Start with the hood (there's usually a seam going down the center) and work your way down.

Sew the spikes onto the hoodie, following the creases as your guide.

Looking cute!

Apply fabric glue to the spikes, fold together, and let dry overnight. This gives the spikes a little more substance. Or if you don't have time to glue the spikes, you can just tape and fold them together.

Rarrrr!

Why We Spent $9 on a Pumpkin

2013-10-23T13:55:00.002-05:00

Hi, friends! Long time, no chat. What's new with you? This past (extended) weekend, I was in St. Louis at FINCON13 to brush up on my financial blogging skills. Before heading back to Chicago, we took a quick trip to Eckert's to go pumpkin picking.

Lately, I've seen a bunch of blog posts sharing ways to save money on fall activites. One tip was to skip the pumpkin patch and just buy a pumpkin at the grocery store. Ignoring the "expert" advice, we happily drove to the pumpkin patch and gladly parted with our $9.

Isn't this the most beautiful pumpkin you've ever seen? I won't be offended if you don't think so because...

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PUMPKIN!

Sure, we could save a few bucks by buying our pumpkin at the grocery store, but going to a pumpkin patch is about the experience and creating new memories. Memories for me as a new parent and new memories for Monica: driving to the farm in the country, riding the wagon, and choosing our pumpkin in the middle of a field.

And then changing Monica's diaper in the middle of said field and discussing life insurance on the wagon ride back.

Going to the pumpkin patch also included feasting on a giant turkey leg, corn dog, and kettle corn. We don't eat those things on a regular basis, so they're a treat. Plus, giant turkey legs remind me of our trip to the Illinois State Fair when we were still dating and corn dogs remind me of going to Cedar Point with my family.

And know what? Those memories are priceless.

Hey, Mama!

2013-10-15T12:24:00.000-05:00

While financial freedom comes from bigger wins like negotiating a higher salary or refinancing, who doesn't enjoy some freebies? I recently received the Mama VoxBox from Influenster for review, so I wanted to share my thoughts about the goodies.

The Mama VoxBox included Pond's Luminous Finish BB+ Cream in two different tints, a belVita breakfast biscuit, a cup of Annie's Homegrown real aged cheddar mac and cheese, and Dr. Scholl's for Her comfort insoles.

One of my favorite items from the box was the Annie's mac and cheese cup. Last week was a little hectic with John travelling for work and Monica tackling a growth spurt and cold, so this was an easy lunch option. The last time I had instant/microwave mac and cheese was Kraft Easy Mac in college, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It's obviously not fresh-out-of-the-oven homemade or Chicago's Southern Mac and Cheese, but it was pretty good for a convenience item.

Would I buy this item?

Maybe. It was convenient to keep in my desk at work as a back up, but I wouldn't buy it on a regular basis.

The item that surprised me the most was the Dr. Scholl's for Her Comfort Insoles. The last time I bought insoles was over five years ago for my wedding shoes. I popped the insoles into my flats for a quick afternoon of shopping and in my flats at work.

Would I buy this item?

Probably not. While the insoles are comfortable, my feet don't bother me on a regular basis. If anything, I might look into something that prevents the back of my shoe from rubbing my feet.

I was really interested to try out the POND's Luminous Finish BB+ Cream because this is something I wouldn't go out and buy on my own. I've heard all about BB creams, but it's a little hard to break out of my regular makeup routine.

Would I buy this item?

The jury is still out. With all the hype about BB creams, I was expecting something amazing. I was a little disappointed.

A bunch of dark spots popped up on my face while I was pregnant and I have some pretty good dark circles under my eyes due now that Monica is here. So I still needed to use concealer for extra coverage. And I was feeling a little greasy by the end of the workday.

Maybe if the VoxBox came while I was on maternity leave, it would have had more time to work its BB cream magic. Though I will say, this is a great product for the weekends when I only need a little cover-up.

I was also interested to try the belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuit (i.e. cookie). Chocolate! And carbs! And it has the word "cookie" on the wrapper! Unfortunately, belVita didn't deliver the moist cookie I was hoping for. The "cookie" was a little dry and crumbly and could have used a few more chocolate chips. And while the "cookie" had 20% of my daily recommended fiber intake, it didn't keep me full for very long. Could be all the calories I'm buring from breastfeeding and pumping or it could be the "cookie."

Would I buy this item?
Sorry, belVita, I don't think I'll be buying your breakfast biscuits anytime soon. If I'm looking for something a little more substantial than a granola bar, I'm more likely to grab a CLIF bar.

Cinnamon Sugar Buttermilk Donuts

2013-10-11T11:24:00.004-05:00

I don't know how it is for the other new mamas out there, but I've had more cravings after Monica was born than while pregnant with her. My cravings of choice include ice cream, milkshakes, donuts, cookies, and a myriad of other sweets. I chalk it up to breastfeeding and running.

A few weeks back, I decided to indulge in my donut craving. The weather was starting to turn fall-ish and I associate fall with cinnamon and baking. OK, I fried the donuts, but you get my point.

The great thing about these donuts is that I already had everything I needed on hand. The original recipe called for sour cream and buttermilk, but there are easy substitutions for those. We usually have yogurt in the fridge, so I swapped out the sour cream for Chobani honey ginger Greek yogurt. And you can "make" buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting sit until it curdles, about 10 minutes.

As for special tools, you really only need a candy thermometer since it's important to keep the oil between 165 - 170*. Nobody wants a burnt donut! I used a plastic cup and old spice jar to cut out the donuts and donut holes.

A bench scraper is helpful, but you can also use a spatula to lift the donuts off your counter. And a slotted spoon, as opposed to a spider strainer/skimmer, can be used to take the donuts out of the hot oil.

Since I didn't want to indulge too much, I only made half of the original recipe, which was plenty for John and I. The ingredients and measurements below are for the half batch and yielded about 6 big donuts and at least a dozen donut holes.

While these donuts are delicious dipped in cinnamon sugar, they're also pretty fantastic on their own because cinnamon and nutmeg is in the donut itself.

Cinnamon Sugar Buttermilk Donuts
Adapted from Baked Explorations: Classic American Desserts Reinvented

Note: This recipe is for a half batch, which makes about 6 large donuts and a dozen-ish donut holes

Ingredients

For the Donuts:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/8 cup (or 6 tablespoons) granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I made this a heaping 1/2 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I made this a heaping 1/2 teaspoon)
1 large egg
3/8 cup buttermilk (or 1 1/8 teaspoon lemon juice and 3/8 cup milk, mixed together and let sit until curdled)
2 tablespoons reduced fat sour cream or yogurt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Vegetable oil for frying

For the Cinnamon Sugar:
5/8 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon

Preparation
Line one baking sheet with parchment paper and another with paper towels.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

In another bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk, and sour cream/yogurt until combined. Add the melted butter and whisk again. The butter might harden once it hits the cold buttermilk mixture, so be sure to whisk the mixture well.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the egg mixture into the center. Gently fold the flour into the liquid until the mixture forms a sticky dough.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and sprinkle the top of the dough with flour. Pat the dough out until it is about 1/2 inch thick.

Use two round cutters (2 1/2 inch and 1 inch). Dip the larger cutter in flour and cut out the donuts. Dip the smaller cutter in flour and cut the donut holes. Arrange the donuts and donut holes onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet. Continue to pat together the remaining scraps and repeat cutting as many donuts as possible ( I got about 6 big donuts and a dozen donut holes). Chill the dough while you heat the oil.

Pour oil into a deep skillet or dutch oven until it is about 1 – 1 1/2 inch deep. Slowly heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 165-170 degrees.

Mix the cinnamon sugar while the oil heats.

To Fry the Doughnuts
Once the oil reaches the appropriate temperature, gently place the doughnuts into the hot oil. Be sure to only fry about three at time so you don’t over crowd the pot.

Be careful to keep the oil temperature even. Adjust the burner to keep temperature between 165-170 degrees!

Once they have browned on one side, carefully flip them over in the oil. These should take about 2-3 minutes per side. Using a slotted spoon or spider strainer, transfer the donuts to the paper towel lined baking sheet.

Continue with the rest of the donuts and the donut holes. The donut holes will take less time, about 1 minute per side.

Assemble Doughnuts
Once you have finished frying the doughnuts, quickly dip them in the cinnamon sugar. Or just enjoy them au naturel!

Wanted: Perfect Black Flats

2013-10-03T23:00:00.000-05:00

Top: 1, 2, 3, 4
Middle: 1, 2, 3, 4
Bottom: 1, 2, 3, 4

Friends, I need your advice. My basic black flats have bit the dust. Between years of wear and tear and swollen pregnancy feet, it's time to invest in a new pair. I can easily throw down $100+ for a new pair of running shoes, but am having trouble pulling the trigger on dressier shoes. Beyond that, I'm torn between all of the options: plain vs. embellished, matte leather vs. patent leather vs. suede, rounded vs. pointy, etc.

Do you have a favorite pair of black flats you'd like to share?

see more Friday's Fancies at {long distance loving}

An Easy Duvet Cover Update

2013-10-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's been a little while since I shared a DIY project, no? Let's remedy that with an easy update to a duvet cover or comforter. Truth be told, I first completed this project over four years ago. The ribbons were starting to fall off, so I decided to clean things up a little and share this project with you!

Materials

Duvet cover or comforter (I bought this light-weight comforter at Target over four years ago)
Ribbon, cut to the length and width (plus a few inches) of your duvet cover or comforter
Ultrahold HeatnBond, slightly thinner than the width of your ribbon

Tools

Iron and ironing board
Scissors
Measuring tape

Before starting, be sure to pre-wash, dry, and iron your duvet cover or comforter.

Next, one of the most important steps of this entire project is to measure the length and width your duvet cover or comforter. I'd do it twice just to be sure. This determines how much ribbon and HeatnBond you need.

One you have your measurements, add a few inches. One, because you'll be folding under the ends of the ribbon for a finished look. And two, because the duvet cover or comforter might stretch out a little while ironing on the ribbon.

Pre-heat your iron to medium heat (wool) setting without steam.

Fold the starting end of the ribbon under 1/2 inch. Place the HeatnBond adhesive-side down/paper side up on the back of your ribbon. Lightly press and hold the iron on the paper side of the adhesive for 2 seconds. Move down the ribbon and repeat until the entire length is bonded.

Go back to the starting end of the ribbon. There will be a loop where you folded under the end of the ribbon. Cut a small piece of the HeatnBond, remove the paper backing, and slide the tiny piece of adhesive into the loop. Lighly press and hold the iron on that section for 2 seconds.

Once the HeatnBond-ed ribbon is cool, peel off the paper backing.

Measure where you will iron the ribbon onto your duvet cover or comforter (i.e. 6 inches from the edge, 3 inches from a second ribbon, etc.). You can pin down the ribbon or recheck the measurements as you iron.

With the adhesive-side of the ribbon down on the comforter or duvet cover, press and hold the iron for 8 to 10 seconds on each section of the ribbon until the entire length of the ribbon is bonded to the duvet cover or comforter. Be sure to start with the looped end of the ribbon.

If you want to do a basket weave pattern, be sure to iron down the appropriate pieces of ribbon first, then overlap as necessary.

Once you get to the other end of the duvet cover or comforter, loop under the end of the ribbon 1/2 inch. You'll need to cut another small section of the Heatnbond. Peel off the paper backing and place the adhesive between the ribbon and duvet cover or comforter. Press and hold the iron for 8 to 10 seconds

Continue ironing your ribbons until your pattern is complete!

This is a great project to customize a plain duvet cover or comforter. You could also use this same technique to embellish simple curtains or basic pillow covers.