Jellibean Journals

Stroller Clips Keep Out the Sun

2012-05-26T00:52:00.001-07:00

The stroller we borrow here in Italy is lovely---except for one thing: the buggy cover doesn’t keep out the sun. When mister bright hot sun is on his way up or streaming down at midday, I really like to keep Summer Elizabeth’s delicate baby skin protected from rays.

Cue: Stroller Clips.

Yes, it looks ghetto fab at best, but…

using laundry pins to secure a thin blanket over the stroller is a great way to protect your child from sun and cover them when sleeping.

Clothespins firmly secure a blanket, cost pennies and are already on hand.

Try it. Then feel free to tell me how silly it looks. I’m cool with that.

Last week a mama friend of mine sarcastically asked if I’d been parading damp laundry through town on the stroller to dry. Smiling, I explained my stroller clips. She grinned.

Days later she led me outside to catch a glimpse of her brand new top-of-the-line stroller, decked out cool with 3 laundry pin stroller clips. It made my day!

Hope you have a *cheery* bright sunshiny day, friends!

Hugs,

Nectarine Brown Butter Cobbler for Two

2012-05-24T00:38:00.001-07:00

This week a Swissy friend came to visit for the weekend. We hadn’t seen one another in four years, so it was lovely to catch up and to introduce her to Francavilla del Mare. The weather meant our beach picnic plan was a no-go, but we still had a good time over Cool Runnings, pizza, pastries, of course the premier gelateria in town. Her favorite gelato flavor: Raffaello. Yum.

At our last meal together, hoping to impress, I served a nectarine cobbler based on this Pioneer Woman recipe.

I ate half the dish. Oops.

The following night my 2 remaining nectarines begged to dive into a dish of cobbler all their own. I obliged them, of course, in a much smaller cobbler of my own creation measured with dainty espresso cups.

The highlight of this cobbler is the brown butter. It lends a luscious buttery caramel flavor; pure luxury of the cobbler variety, though I’m pretty sure cobbler’s got humble beginnings. Nevertheless, if you’re fixing for simplicity with a piece of fruit (any fruit) on hand, by all means indulge yourself in this warm comfort food. It is blissful!

Nectarine Brown Butter Cobbler for Two

Ingredients:

2 espresso cupfuls of flour, sugar, and milk

pinch salt

3 T. butter

1 c. sliced or chopped nectarines or other fruit

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325F.

Melt butter in a small saucepan and allow to cook until lightly browned. Turn off heat and set aside.

Mix together flour, sugar, salt, and milk in a small bowl. Stir in butter to combine. Pour into a small (4 cup) baking dish and sprinkle fruit over the top. Bake 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted removes clean. Allow to cool slightly before digging in.

Hugs,

How to Choose a {Great} Diaper Bag

2012-05-21T05:06:00.001-07:00

Welcome to {Monday Mom Musings} link-up! I’m so excited you came to join the fun. Moms supporting moms is what Monday Mom Musings is all about.

When you’re expecting, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by information spouting from every direction, both solicited and the all-too-common unsolicited variety. With so many choices to make in only 40 short weeks of pregnancy, why spend more than 5 minutes selecting a diaper bag? Here’s how to choose a great bag every time. For tips on packing a {cloth} diaper bag, read here.

How to Choose a {Great} Diaper Bag :

Buy it big enough for everything AND small enough to tote around comfortably.
Look for outer pockets. Easy, quick access to necessities in split-seconds.
Compartments, compartments, compartments. No fumbling around here.
Over-the-shoulder strap. When you’re toting groceries, stuffing receipts into your wallet, and trying to hold onto your curious toddler, this will be a life saver. The more free hands you have, the better.
Machine-washable. Makes life so much easier. Toss it in dirty, take it out clean.
Elastic bottle-holding bands inside. These helpful bands keep bottles upright to avoid spills.
Dark colored bags are less likely to show dirt.
Sturdy, good quality but not necessarily couture. You want this to last, right?

A few pretty finds from (Amazon) online:

Kids Line Carryall Diaper Bag

Kids Line Satin City Dot Carryall Diaper Bag

timi & leslie Tag - a - Long Diaper Bag

Carter's Microfiber Print Tote - Zebra

What is your ESSENTIAL diaper bag component?

Now it’s your turn! Please join me and link up your {Monday Mom Musings} ; anecdotes, game & activity ideas, gems of wisdom, crafts, recent triumphs, or anything else that you’ve learned or would like to share with us this week about parenting.

HOW do I link? Read here.

Mama “MUSTS”:

Make a pal! Visit {at least} the two posts ahead of yours & COMMENT!!
Make it family-friendly {of course!}
Please link to your specific post, not your homepage

Optional, but appreciated:

*Follow me, pretty please!

*Place the Mom Musings button link on your post.

Button Code (copy & paste):

Link up now, Lovelies!

** Stay tuned for a great giveaway for next week’s party!

Hugs,

Linking here

The Beauty of Pregnancy {Guest Post}

2012-05-18T23:38:00.001-07:00

Today I’m giddy to let Heather from Finding Beauty in the Ordinary share with you about her new journey through pregnancy and motherhood. She’s a real sweetie, so be sure you visit her blog and leave her some good ole comment lovin’.

Hi! My name is Heather and I blog over at Finding Beauty in the Ordinary. The real heart behind my blog is to find beauty in all of life's moments-- the ordinary and the extraordinary ones-- and document them. I love to share what's on my heart and what God is teaching me. I love to share some recipes, document glimpses of our new life in Arizona, also share the adventures of being new homeowners, and most excitingly, soon-to-be new parents!

What have you found to be beautiful through your pregnancy? Has anything surprised you about being pregnant?
Oh man! Everything! Pregnancy is an absolutely beautiful experience. Even all that morning sickness, goodness, I would do it all over again. I love feeling her move and kick inside me. I love how she reacts to cold drinks and loud music. I love planning her nursery, daydreaming about what she'll look like, all of it. I think the biggest thing that has surprised me about pregnancy is the horrible heartburn I've had-- why did no one warn me?!

What excites you about motherhood? What are you looking forward to?
I know I sound redundant, but everything excites me. Even the sleepless nights and dirty diapers. I'm so excited to take her camping, on evening walks, and trips back home to San Diego. I'm looking forward to all those milestones, but especially watching her become a daddy's girl, because we all know she'll be wrapped around Joshua's finger :)

What is the best pregnancy and/or parenting advice you've received?
Regarding both pregnancy and parenting-- it would be to just enjoy the moment and be present.

Thank you so much for having me here! I'd love to have ya'll stop by my blog and visit me sometime. God bless! xoxo Heather

What is your favorite part of pregnancy?

Hugs,

How to Pack a {Cloth} Diaper Bag

2012-05-17T06:57:00.001-07:00

** This post is part of the Classy in Cloth diapering series**

Packing a diaper bag is a breeze when you have a little guidance on what you’ll really need in your {CLOTH} diaper bag.

As a brand-new parent it’s overwhelming to consider all the items you could pack “just in case.” If your aim is to have every possible situation covered, not only will you have to use some monstrous specimen of a diaper bag, you’ll also have to down a few energy drinks to keep up the stamina to tote that bag along. My advice is to leave the “maybe” extras at home for day-to-day outings.

For daily strolling about the neighborhood, quick errands, and general outings, here’s what you’ll find in my small diaper bag or purse at any given time. With 7 months of experience, this is what works for me.

{Cloth} Diaper Bag Essentials

2 diapers (prefolds or 2 pockets) * We change the baby just before heading out the door.
1 diaper cover & Snappi, if using prefolds
3 cloth wipes (dry.We wet wipes with water when we change diapers,)
1 small wetbag
1 changing mat or large prefold to double as a changing mat or emergency diaper
1 small toy that won’t be dearly missed if tossed from the stroller and lost
change of clothes (footed pjs are best, so you’re dealing with fewer pieces)
hat (for warmth or sun, according to the season)
small, thin blanket for nursing coverage, warmth, or covering a stroller

Extras to Consider:

Tide to-go pen for stains and smudges
burp rag
water bottle for mom
prepped bottles
baby food
spoon
bib
paper towel/extra baby washcloth
plastic grocery bag
thin jacket or sweater
mama cloth
pen & notepad

What is your “must-have” diaper bag essential?

Hugs,

Linking here:

Mother’s Day Weekend in Photos

2012-05-14T23:49:00.001-07:00

Linking here:

Monday Mom Musings: Letters from my Baby

2012-05-13T00:36:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the first edition of {Monday Mom Musings} link-up! I’m so excited you came to join the fun.

Moms supporting moms is what Monday Mom Musings is all about.

Check out this special surprise that I found this morning!

A little note opened up on the desktop as I turned on the laptop, a top-secret project of my favorite Daddy-Baby duo:

Dear Mommy,
I love you a lot.
Thanks for your super amazing love for me.
For being patient with me even when I pull your hair.
I enjoy showering with you and cleaning next to you.
I am happy that you include me in your life so much and you take so good care of me.
I love reading with you, even when you don't let me eat my books.
You take good care of me and teach me a lot about God through your life.
When I grow up I want to be like you, you are a great woman and an outstanding mommy.
I am glad you like me in spite my stinky poop and my pukies and crycries.
I bless you my mommy and ask God to bless you in this special day.

Happy mother's day.

Your beloved daughter that loves you,
Summer Elizabeth.

*************************************************************************************************

HOW do I link? Read here.

Mama “MUSTS”:

Make a pal! Visit {at least} the two posts ahead of yours & COMMENT!!
Make it family-friendly {of course!}
Please link to your specific post, not your homepage

Optional, but appreciated:

*Follow me, pretty please!

*Place the Mom Musings button link on your post.

Button Code (copy & paste):

Link up now, Lovelies!

Hugs,

Linked to Finding Beauty in the Ordinary

All-Natural Soothing Diaper Rash Cream

2012-05-10T23:48:00.001-07:00

** This post is part of the Classy in Cloth diapering series**

Ask any cloth diapering parent & they’ll share with you the special laundry routine they go through to protect their precious fluffy diapers.

As with any investment, we want to maintain our diapers in the best possible condition for the longest possible time.

Therefore, most commercial grade diaper rash creams are out of the picture. You’ll find no Desitin, Butt Paste, or Triple Paste in my medicine cabinet.

My favorite all-natural soothing diaper rash cream is coconut oil.

Coconut oil can be found in some supermarkets and in many health food stores, I’m told. Living in Costa Rica, considering the abundance of coconut trees, you’d expect the stuff to be found just about anywhere, but that’s actually not the case. Thankfully, after stopping by many a farmacia and macrobiótico, I found a shop that carries 1 oz. jars of local coco oil.

Be sure that you purchase 100% coconut oil that is solid at room temperature, not the liquid oil often sold as massage oil.

Why coconut oil?

Coconut oil does not damage cloth diapers.

Unlike commercial rash creams, coconut oil is easy to remove in a typical cloth diaper (CD) laundry cycle—especially if you have the luxury of washing in hot water. We wash exclusively in cold water and have not seen any troubles with coconut oil. It’s light, soothing, and an all-natural alternative to commercial rash creams. (Also doubles as a great lip balm and eye cream…just don’t use the same tub. My other favorite use here.)

Commercial grade diaper rash creams are usually zinc oxide based and extremely difficult to remove from cloth diapers. The dense creams work great to keep baby’s bums dry, but cause great damage to cloth diapers because the dense barrier is tough to remove from fabric, therefore jeopardizing diaper absorbency. In dire circumstances, commercial creams may be used, but it is advised to use a disposable liner between the baby’s creamed skin and the CD to reduce risk of diaper damage.

***What is your tried and true method for clearing up diaper rash?

Remember to join me here on Monday for the debut of Monday Mom Musings.

Can’t wait to read your posts full of mommy wisdom!

Hugs,

linking here:

Brand New Monday Mom Musings Link-Up

2012-05-09T06:02:00.001-07:00

Learning both with and from other mamas is über important through this messy beautiful journey of raising children.

Inexperienced newbies, mamas of older kiddos, and very VERY experienced {grand}mothers all have valuable wisdom to share.

We're all in this together.

In the spirit of sharing mama musings of all sorts – tips, anecdotes, triumphs, failures, cute “zoo trip” photos, even finicky-eater-recipes, I'd love to invite you to visit and join in a *brand new* weekly blog link-up: Monday Mom Musings.

Premiering Monday, May 14th here at Jellibean Journals.

I know you've got loads of tips and tricks, stories, wacky-fun game ideas & lots of helpful experience up your sleeves that you may not even realize we (speaking on behalf of those so-called “newbies”) would LoVe you to share each Monday!

Moms supporting moms is what Monday Mom Musings is all about.

Have a great week! Can't wait to check out your posts on Monday, May 14th.

Can’t Touch This Joy

2012-05-06T23:27:00.001-07:00

Lately, I’ve struggled a lot with being joyful.

Every night as I wind down for bed I remember a little too late that I’ve chosen “joy” as my word of the month. As I recount my daily activities, it seems that the joy I mean to exude hasn’t been exuded or sometimes even leaked out at all during my day.

The time we’ve spent in Italy has been lovely. I am more than smitten with the community and seaside environment, but the ministry aspect has been draining at times. In the midst of difficulties and challenges, I want to be joyful.

I want to shine like that light that Jesus mentions in his sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7).

But sometimes I don’t feel joyful at all.

That’s where I had it all wrong, folks. Joy isn’t a feeling. If we’re Christians controlled by mere emotions, where does that leave us? Lost in a whirlwind of confusion.

The joy I want is more than the giddy, giggly, skipping through sunny meadows of wildflowers joy.

I want the joy of the Lord.

If we wait for Him.

If we ask.

If we seek His face more than anything else in all the world. . .

… then we’ll have that all-encompassing, uncircumstancial, unconditional joy that only God himself can fill our cup with to overflowing.

I don’t know about you, but I’m asking the Lord to fill my cup to overflow with the joy of the Lord, my strength. Thanks, God.

Hugs,

Linking here:

Buying Your First Cloth Diaper Stash

2012-05-04T00:50:00.001-07:00

Photo Credit

Welcome to the first post in my new {cloth diapers series}. Here you’ll find helpful tips, resources, and other information to help you choose the right cloth for your sweet baby.

Before Summer Elizabeth was born, I spent hours researching cloth diapers. With so many shapes and sizes, forms and functions, not to mention the diaper jargon, the world of cloth diapering is pretty daunting to newbie mom.

Before buying cloth, Husband & I considered how often we’d be hip for doing laundry, line drying time in our humid Costa Rican weather, and how many spares we’d like to have around “just in case.” As you begin your cloth diapering (CD) journey, you’ll have loads of questions, so here are my bits of wisdom. You’ll find varying opinions about what number of diapers and which tools are necessary, but this is what works for us.

Where to Buy Cloth Diapers

We purchased nearly all of our diapers secondhand from kind mamas on diaperswappers.com. This website is a wonderful tool for parents looking to buy, sell, trade, and give away diapers. Consider it the Craigslist of cloth diapers, but with added benefits:

Forums for diaper questions and answers
Freebies
Bartering
Buying & selling of all kinds of new & used baby items, maternity & postpartum wares, NURSING TANKS, baby carriers…

Other great new diaper retailers:

Kelly’s Closet

Cotton Babies

Green Mountain Diapers

Newborn Stash

Most parents opt to purchase a small stash of newborn diapers, since many cloth diapers are too big for the tiniest little bums. These diapers often fit up to 3 months of age, at which time parents may opt to store the diapers for future use, give them away, or re-sell them to fund the purchase of larger sized diapers. * I even made profit re-selling my secondhand newborn stash on diaperswappers.com.

When we purchased our first cloth diapers, I’d fully intended to get use of them to 3 months of age. I purchased 30 newborn-sized (nb) prefolds, 3 all-in-ones, 5 newborn or XS covers, and a 2 fitted diapers. (Diaper types deciphered here.)

We had a comfortable number of diapers to launder every other day, but had made one monumental mistake:

By 2 months, our small baby was quickly outgrowing the prefolds.

She was an average-sized baby, not at all big for her age, but the nb prefolds just weren’t fitting anymore, and the absorbency wasn’t making the grade. Through trial and error , my advice is to invest in nb prefolds for the first 3 months, but to purchase the small-sized prefolds (12.5x13.5”yellow edge) instead of the tiniest nb size. These will offer you better absorbency and can be folded small to cover from the teensiest bums up to 3(+) month bums. Later on, if you’re not keen to sell these diapers, they work well tri-folded as doublers for pocket diapers.

Photo credit

Growth Stash

One of the perks of cloth diapering is the cost savings. The best way to save is to have cloth diapers that fit throughout the entire diapering stage of your baby’s life. Enter: one-sized (OS) pocket diapers. These lovely dipes are adjustable to fit from birth (or a few weeks later, in my experience) through potty training. Most one-sized pocket diapers have snap adjustments to alter the diaper’s rise on the tummy and the diameter of the leg openings. These diapers are gems! We have around 10 OS diapers in our rotation. I’m happy to say that the one-sized diapers are handy, easy to use, and definitely the CD I pull out when encouraging parents to consider cloth.

In addition to the OS diapers, we also have a stash of 20 medium red-edged prefolds (13 x 15.5”) that we use during most of the day. Since PFs are the most economical form of cloth diapering, we prefer to bulk up our stash with them rather than the more expensive pocket diapers and other varieties. Prefold stashes can be sold and purchased as your baby grows. Ideally, with 3 sizes (newborn, mid-sized, and toddler) you can CD your child until potty training occurs. PF diapers have an excellent resale value, since they have no waterproof barrier to leak, no velcro to get pilly, and no elastic to replace. Prefolds also make awesome inserts for pocket diapers, often drying faster than the microfiber inserts that come with the pockets. I’d recommend 3 covers to accompany your prefolds. My favorite are the Thirsties Duo Diaper Wrap covers. They have great inner gussets that really keep in the poo and can be wiped clean between uses. These covers come in 2 sizes to fit from newborn through potty training and they really do fit newborns well. The super cute colorful prints don’t hurt either.

Another diaper essential we purchased was doublers, which you can think of as pocket diaper assistants. If you plan to use pockets for overnight use, as we do, it’s wise to invest in a handful of extra doublers, essentially an extra piece of absorbant material inserted with the pocket diaper insert, to make sure your baby’s diaper is leakproof for the long overnight haul. Doublers come in various fabrics, but the most highly acclaimed are hemp and bamboo, which absorb a lot of moisture. If you keep an eye out, you can often come across lots of work-at-home-mom (WAHM) doublers at great prices. I purchased a dozen “imperfect” bamboo doublers made by a mother who wasn’t satisfied with her sewing skills, for a real deal.

Check back next week for more in my *cloth diaper series* to help you build and maintain your fluffy cloth diaper stash.

In the meantime, you can research to your heart’s content here.

If you have questions or would like to share your wisdom in a related guest post, please email me at jellibeanjournals{at}hotmail{dot}com.

Hugs,

Linking here:

How to Secure Wet Hair Towels

2012-05-01T23:47:00.001-07:00

A few years ago while on a weekend vacay with a friend, I had a serious “duh!” moment when my friend emerged from the bathroom freshly showered with her hair tightly bundled into a twisted towel on her head.

Of course, I’d been sporting the “genie in a bottle” turban towel look for years, but had never come upon a way to make it stay up on top without drooping down or toppling off my head when I dressed or applied moisturizer. (Or posed for goofy photos).

**THE TRICK: twist the towel up, and secure with a hair elastic or scrunchie.**

How easy is that? No more toppling towels, no more wet hair dripping on your shoulders. Perfect solution!

Hugs,

Linking here:

Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake

2012-04-28T06:31:00.001-07:00

My absolute favorite chocolate cake recipe is found right on the back of the Hershey’s Baking Cocoa canister. It’s no secret. Nope.

It’s a great base recipe that lends itself to endless variations with frostings, fillings, decorations, and creative workings of all kinds.

Recently, this 6 year-old friend of ours celebrated his birthday, and asked for a cake:

*chocolate on chocolate*

My kind of lad!

We’re living here in Italy sho

rt-term in an apartment that’s not so “furnished,” so whisks were out of the picture. Since I’m not a one-time use investment kind of girl, I counted on the only frosting recipe I had that was stir {not only whisk} friendly: the Hershey’s Buttercream Frosting recipe that accompanies the Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake recipe on cocoa containers.

This cake was a hit. Of course Hershey’s won’t lead you astray. After all, they do want to sell their product and lend you the arsenal of know-how with tasty recipes to make you a loyal Hershey’s convert for life.

I was beyond smitten with the turnout of this cake. The frosting was tasty too, but I prefer a smoother whipped chocolate ganache {load on that chocolate goodness!} when I have a whisk or mixer on hand.

If you’re up for potentially the most exuberant one-bowl chocolate cake recipe ever, let’s get baking!

Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake

Recipe below copied from Hershey’s site

My personal favorite variation here

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING (recipe follows)

Directions

1 Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2 Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.
3 Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING. 10 to 12 servings.
VARIATIONS:
ONE-PAN CAKE: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.
THREE LAYER CAKE: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.
BUNDT CAKE: Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.
CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.
"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

* I wouldn’t recommend decorating this cake with Smarties like I did, since the high butter content of the frosting meant that the candies didn’t grip well and slid off.

What’s your favorite way to decorate a chocolate cake?

Hugs,

Linking here:

Lost Sock Solution for Tiny Toes

2012-04-26T03:29:00.001-07:00

If you’ve got a curious, squirmy, and cute baby like mine, you may often find cute little naked piggies that were once covered by socks:

because of this:

*Solution*

Socks getting lost? Try tights!

Tights not only keep a baby’s legs extra toasty warm, but also save you the hassle of searching for lost socks that often fall off at the most inconvenient times in the most inconvenient places. Husband and I have been on 2 sock-searching missions walking through the neighborhood this week, and I’ve gotta tell ya, I’d be much happier dressing this cute girl in tights every day.

Baby boy? No one will ever be the wiser if your little scout sports white tights under his trousers. It can be your little sanity-saving secret.

Now I’d love to know. . .

What do you do with mismatched socks?

Hugs,

Linking here:

Shabby Apple “Ahoy” Dress Crush

2012-04-23T02:37:00.001-07:00

Shabby Apple.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, surely you already know and love Shabby Apple’s pretty boutique dresses. (If not, pause here, and go visit.) I’ve been Shabby Apple crushing for 2 years, and am head over heels for their vintage swimwear too. (My beachwear picks here).

As for dresses, my current fave = the Ahoy Dress from the Set Sail Collection.

Pretty, Feminine, Modestly Chic. Love it!

Here’s the scoop, straight from Shabby Apple:
Caribbean-cool turquoise cotton lawn dips and ducks into the nipped waist of this hollywood starlet-inspired summer frock. Perfect for a cruise, this ocean-colored double layer dress sports an under-bodice of green cotton voile with a bright turquoise bow belt. Pleats at the collar and waist finish it with an expertly tailored appeal. This delightfully done-up dress will take you from the upper deck to an evening stroll of the boardwalk in no time. This dress is made from a leightweight, delicate fabric and FITS GENEROUSLY on our fit guide.

Head over to Shabby Apple and make your Mother’s Day wishlist. Just be sure to leave the webpage open & bookmarked so that your husband and children can’t help but catch the hint.

Hugs,

Found it: Mother’s Day Printable

2012-04-21T00:39:00.001-07:00

If you {heart} this pretty Mother’s Day quote printable as much as I do, may I suggest you

Visit Diaper Style Memoirs & Colour Me There and Print!

(It’s free!)

Hugs!

Italian Hot Chocolate

2012-04-20T07:33:00.001-07:00

lava thick, rich, luscious, dark chocolate

EATEN WITH A SPOON!

Italy knows hot chocolate. They rock hot chocolate, oh do they! Italian hot chocolate, thick enough to be served always with a spoon alongside, is in a whole ‘nother league than North American (and most other) hot chocolates & cocoas.

Chocolate Pudding and Chocolate Milk marry.

This is their sweet, sweet child.

The first clue about the sinfulness of this delicious flavor sensation is the intensity of the black chocolate color. HellO yum!

The best part about Italian hot chocolate, aside from the extreme chocolate rush it offers, is that it takes mere minutes to ~~whip~~ whisk up at home any time you need a serious chocolate fix. My favorite way to serve this chocolate is in pretty & petite espresso cups.

*Warning: Once you try Italian hot chocolate, you may never be satisfied with hot cocoa mix again.

Italian Hot Chocolate (yields 4 espresso cup-sized portions)

Ingredients:

3 T. Cocoa powder (unsweetened for baking or otherwise; the higher the quality, the better)
1 c. Milk
2-3 T. Sugar
Pinch Salt
1/8 t. Vanilla Extract (optional)
1 t. Brewed Espresso or 1/8 t. Instant Coffee Grounds
2 t. Cornstarch + 2 t. Cold water, stirred together

Instructions:

Combine cocoa powder, salt, sugar, and a couple tablespoons of water to form a loose paste in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisking constantly, bring to a boil and allow to boil 1 minute.
Pour in milk and the cornstarch mixture. Whisk frequently and bring the liquid back to a boil to thicken, about 5 minutes.
When thickened to your liking, turn off the heat and add vanilla, if you choose. Taste and adjust sugar as needed.
Ladle or pour immediately into pretty little espresso cups and serve piping hot. Relish the moment.

What's your favorite hot chocolate drink?

Smiles & Hugs,

Linking up here:

Etsy Love: Baby Crib Mobiles

2012-04-15T02:53:00.001-07:00

Gosh & Golly

Nothing says nursery as well as a dainty mobile suspended over a sweet baby’s crib that’s been thoughtfully & meticulously adorned with charmingly cozy bedding.

Summer Elizabeth’s “mobile” consisted of colorful Christmas globes, satin ribbons, and jingle bells thumbtacked to the wooden ceiling above her bed. The sunshine gleaming in from the window made the metallic ornaments twinkle, much to the baby’s delight.

There’s something intrinsically special about creating, buying, & receiving a handmade gift, especially for baby.

These Etsy artisan mobile picks are the presents you’ll find yourself becoming sentimental over; the gifts which will make you stand out as the most popularly hip shower attendee.

Drops of Color Maisie Moo

Love Felt Creations

Lovely Friend

Drops of Color

Jaell & Tofta Lovely Friend

Lil Sprout Creations

Please visit these lovely Etsy shops and check out the HUGE assortment of pretty mobiles waiting eagerly to adorn a crib near you.

Hugs,

Blog Designer Spotlight: Janelle

2012-04-12T02:15:00.001-07:00

As you may have noticed, last month my blog design was fabulously transformed.

What you may not know, is that the lovely Janelle of J.P. Photography is the cute face behind the pretty new design. Thanks so much, Janelle!

Janelle does great work, and is sugar-sweet, especially considering my picky specifications and requests.

This girl has style!

Check out her blog and give her a shout. You’re sure to find pretty pics and great content.

Mr. & Mrs. Love Journal

2012-04-10T02:29:00.001-07:00

Love letters between a husband and wife

Sweet, tender, personal, and hilarious matters divulge themselves between the lined pages of this Mr. & Mrs. journal.

We share.

Inspired by Dayspring, and created by yours truly, this notebook is a fun way to connect on a deeper level with your spouse. Intentionally designed with a nifty double-sided cover, your hunky Mister pens his lovely mistress heartfelt sonnets on the “hers” side, while said Señor receives his scribbled lovin’ behind the other cover labeled oh-so-cleverly “his.”

Materials:

Hard-sided lined notebook
Scrapbooking papers, stickers, photos, etc.
Glue
Contact paper
Colored pens & doodling devices
Scissors/paper cutter

Instructions:

Determine the orientation of cover to lined pages that suits your fancy.

Create 2 cover designs (his & hers) and prepare your pretty papers. Glue them on and decorate at will.

Cover both notebook covers with contact paper, smoothing out bubbles from the center outward. Flat, wooden rulers work wonderfully for this.

Add quirky quotations, Scripture, romantic doodles, stickers, and other fun findings for your special someone to discover as you fill out his pages.

Scribble down a love letter inside the front pages explaining how you wish to share the journal. (Letter writing, dream sharing, goal-setting, song writing, poetry. . .)

Wrap the love journal in fancy gift wrap with an accompanying pen and bestow upon the lucky-in-love recipient.

How would you use your love journal?

XOXO,

Linking up here. Come visit and join the par-tays!

Brownie Sundae Cheesecake

2012-04-05T02:19:00.001-07:00

Picture this:

Dense chocolate marbled cheesecake atop a fudgy bed of rich, luscious brownie.

Folks, desserts don’t get much better than this. Unless you’re speaking of mixing bits into gelato. That’s a whole different story.

This brownie sundae cheesecake is the bare bones addition, and it’s great. If you’re into presentation a little more than this simple girl, drizzle the top with thick hot fudge topping, go whipped cream crazy, sprinkle with toasted nuts, and finish with maraschino cherries.

Brownie Sundae Cheesecake

Cookie crust:

2 c. cookie/graham crumbs

6 T. butter, melted

Cheesecake filling:

16 oz. cream cheese (2 pkgs.)

1/2 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1/2 c. baking chocolate of choice or chocolate chips

2 T. milk, cream, or coffee

Brownies:

In a pinch, follow the directions on a packet of brownies. No one will ever be the wiser.

Otherwise, use this stellar recipe for Five Star Brownies

Here’s the ingredient list, just to save you time:

1 c. butter	3/4 c. cocoa
2 c. sugar	1/2 t. baking powder
4 eggs	1/4 t. salt
1 t. vanilla	1 T. coffee grounds
1 1/4 c. flour

*Instructions:*

Bake brownies according to recipe or box directions. Cool and cut (with a plastic knife to avoid sticking) into 1” cubes. Save 2 cups of cubes and chow down on the remaining brownie bits.

Preheat oven to 350F.

Stir together crust ingredients and press into the bottom and up the sides of an 8-9” springform pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and continue to beat on medium speed, scraping down the sides once or twice. Add eggs, one at a time, and follow with vanilla extract. Remove approximately 1 cup of the mixture and set aside.

Melt chocolate with milk, cream, or coffee in the microwave with heat reduced by half to keep chocolate from seizing. Be sure to heat in no more than 30 sec. increments, stirring well between each bout, to keep chocolate smooth. Blend this melted mixture into the cup of cheesecake filling you’ve set aside. This will be your chocolate marble.

Arrange half of the brownie bits to your liking over the cookie crust. Pour in the cheesecake base filling and spoon dollops of chocolate filling in “puddles” over the base filling. Toss in the remaining brownies and use a knife to swirl the batters.

Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the outer edges appear firm and the center a bit wobbly. Turn off the oven with cake inside and let it rest 10 minutes. Gently prop the oven door open with a wooden spoon and cool the cake for 1 hour. Remove spoon, prop oven open more, and allow to cool to room temperature (4 hours). Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight, and then decorate to suit your whims.

Enjoy!

Linking here:

The True Cornerstone

2012-04-03T07:52:00.001-07:00

Each of us builds our life around something. Some choose family, others money, still others may yearn for high-ranking positions and recognition. While none of these desires are in and of themselves harmful, not one will wholly fulfill our deepest need that only a loving God and blessed Saviour can offer.

Jesus is our Cornerstone.

No matter where you are in your walk of faith, stand strong, and remember to lean on your true cornerstone.

Lean on Truth.

Base your life around Jesus. Let every single second of every day be an act of worship to the One who loves us best. Know the Truth. Study the Word. Let your heartsong emanate the joy of the Lord.

Amen.

Date Night Scrabble

2012-03-30T06:26:00.001-07:00

My husband is board game crazy. His current crush: Dominion. Every now and then I indulge him in a quick competitive game or two, usually choosing something that lasts less than my 45 minute ~~bored~~ board game attention span.

If you’re feeling particularly creative the next time date night rolls around, try this fun little twist on the well-loved Scrabble game I’m sure you’ve got stashed away somewhere.

Date Night Scrabble: Join the fun!

Who: Mr. & Mrs. YOU!

What: Romantically merry board game night featuring YOU & your man’s love connection.

Wear: Just between us, he’ll grin real wide if you go polish up and put on some pretty lady wares right about now.

You heard me.

Go on!

Dust off that little black dress and smear on some ruby lipstick.

Stilettos? Now we’re talking!

When: Tonight, of course! Bonus points for kids tucked snugly into bed.

Why: Why not? Have a blast remembering your past and creating new memories together.

Up*DATE*d Rules:

As you begin the game, the person with the best memory of the first time you met goes first.
He or she must place a word on the board that has some significance to your relationship.

ONLY words pertinent to the formation of your loooove count.

Be creative. If you’re clever, you can morph just about any word into something to do with Y.O.U.

Have fun! Giggle a little. It’s really a lot of fun! Now, go play! . . . you do have those kids tucked in now, don’t you?

Hugs,

Linking here:

Francavilla al mare, Italy

2012-03-28T06:49:00.001-07:00

We’ve crossed the lake! Here are a few photos of our first few days adventures in Francavilla al mare, Italy.

Gelato, who doesn’t love it? Even Summer Elizabeth is cone crazy.

Current fave= The Tennis Bar’s €1,50 cone topped with a swirly dallop of whipped cream!

Beach Fun

How I spent yesterday’s breakfast: Sipping coffee made in the stunna Italian espresso pot reading the oven instructions brochure. Turns out the oven only works when the timer is set to prevent burnage. Who would’ve guessed? Not I.

Locks on the dock

Apparently lovers go fishing together and commemorate the experience by clasping a lock onto the dock, sometimes inscribed. See the coral below? It was clear water day.

Local fishing & pleasure boats. Just yesterday purchased a scaly fish directly from a fisherman who set up shop beneath a blue-striped umbrella at the corner of our house. Freshness doesn’t get much better than this! (Thank goodness for local fish, as our fridge isn’t currently keeping any temperature below 20C right now. Sea-Me-Skillet-Yum!)

Bike & walking paths right next to the beach…with café’s interspersed blocking the view. Husband on right looking fly toting the diaper bag. Husband, you rock!

Europe recycles. As if you didn’t know this already. Grin.

Speed bumps here freshly painted, as in yesterday painted. Pretty, eh?

Market going. This stand seemed busy, usually a good indicator. Turns out my entire
stash was weighed together with a joint combined price. Oranges and artichokes cost the same..Cool! Also turns out it was less expensive in the long run than competitor’s stands.

Hugs,

Jelli

Guest Post: DIY Save-the-Dates

2012-03-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today, Lisa from Sew Gloried will be sharing with you a fantastic tutorial on how to make save-the-date cards for any occasion. Thanks, so much Lisa, for visiting!

Hi! I'm soo happy to be writing my first guest post for all you readers of Jellibean Journals! I have had so much fun so far exchanging sponsor-ships with Jelli this month! The craft I have for you today are the save-the-dates I put together for my wedding coming up in June.
These could be adapted as an invitation to any even simply by changing the theme and wording.
Materials needed:

Computer/printer set up
Card-stock
Printable magnate sheets
Scissors/Large Shape Punch
Removable glue-dots

Steps:
1. Create a graphic that you would like to use for the magnate shape. I use GIMP to create my graphics but it could be done in Microsoft Word as well (see end of post). In my case my idea had the magnate presented as a balloon so I just used a simple 2" circle shape (since I wanted to use a 2" circle punch to punch out the magnate as I was planning on doing 100 of these and didn’t want to hand cut). The shape you use can be much more versatile if you plan on using a scissors to cut the magnates out.

2. Create multiples of the graphic on one sheet of paper and print out the magnate graphic onto to the printable magnate sheets.

3. Cut out magnates.
4. Create a card that uses the magnate shape with-in the picture. Ex: round magnates could be a baseball, soccer ball, a balloon, center of a sun, etc.

5. Print out invites.
6. Use glue dot to affix the magnate on the invite. I used the brand below.

7. All done!

In my case I created the invite from a photo of my fiancé and I but there are plenty of pre-created images available that could be used instead.
WORD DOCUMENT VERSION:
Below is a screen shot of a card I found just doing a quick search for invitations through Microsoft Word. The center of the sun could be made into a magnate by creating a circle graphic to affix to the inside.

I drew a circle over the center of the sun…
Then copied and pasted the circle into a new document. Change the layering of the circle to “behind text” by right clicking on the circle, moving to “order” and selecting “send behind text.” From there you can type your phrase then move the circle so that the text fits into the phrase.

Please visit Lisa for more fun projects and crafty ideas! Leave her comment love when you're there too!!

Hugs,

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Ingredients

Directions

Lost Sock Solution for Tiny Toes

Shabby Apple “Ahoy” Dress Crush

Found it: Mother’s Day Printable

Italian Hot Chocolate

Etsy Love: Baby Crib Mobiles

Blog Designer Spotlight: Janelle

Mr. & Mrs. Love Journal

Brownie Sundae Cheesecake

The True Cornerstone

Date Night Scrabble

Francavilla al mare, Italy

Guest Post: DIY Save-the-Dates

Brand New Monday Mom Musings Link-Up