Strawberries & Cream Scones ♥

Hello Everyone! I have a question for you... 

Have you been craving scones ever since the royal wedding or is it just me? I love scones and I love making scones! When I made my first batch of scones a few years ago I was so surprised at how easy they were.  I don't know why, but I had always expected them to be more complicated.  Not the case.  And the best part...I rather enjoy having my hands in dough...(again...just me?) 

Since strawberries are at their sweetest now, I want to share with you a recipe for 

strawberries & cream scones.

They are divine ♥ 

Here's how you make them.... 

2 cups flour

1/3 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar, divided

2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

3/4 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup cold butter, cubed

2/3 cup half & half cream

1 cup coarsely chopped fresh strawberries

1 egg lightly beaten

In a large bowl combine flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, lemon peel, salt and cinnamon.

Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cream just until moistened.

Knead in strawberries.  (I used a potato masher to gently mash them in). 

Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. 

(*tip- flouring your hands will help the dough from sticking to you*) 

Pat into an 8 inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges (they need not be perfect so don't worry about that : )  and place on a baking sheet - greased or lined with parchment paper.  Brush with egg and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  

Bake at 425 degrees for 9 - 12 minutes.  

They are sweet and cinnamon-eee and strawberry-eee....and I know you will love them.  

Enjoy! 

Happy Wednesday, friends! I hope you are having a great week! ♥ 

                                          

Happy Memorial Day ♥

 

"Lest we forget"

 

 

Memorial Day is a day to reflect and give thanks for all those who have served for our country...

 

 

and our freedom...

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your service...

 

 

 

 

We will never forget ♥

 

 

I hope the sun is shining on you today and you are having fun with the ones you love!

 

Happy new week, friends! Let's make it a good one ♥

 

 

Weekly wrap up ♥

Hello Everyone! Happy Friday! 

First I would like to thank you for all your lovely comments regarding my last post.  Some even brought tears to my eyes : )  It makes my heart happy knowing all of us mom's and grandmom's are all going through the same emotions as our kids grow up.  We can't stop it, so we must embrace it.  However hard it may be.  Thank you loves, for all your support.  You are the best! ♥ 

Here are a few (very) random pictures to wrap up my week.....:)

I've been looking forward to this weekend because Monday is a holiday! Three day weekends are the best!  I'm craving hot dogs on the grill! 

♥

Gorgeous rays of sunlight beaming through the windows in the morning. 

I can't get enough of it.... ♥

I tried a new coffee shop this week and was pleasantly surprised.  I mean, look at this latte! 

I got a new beach hat!  $20 Khols!  

I love it! 

And of course my new Mickey T.  This is basically my summer wardrobe.  

I'm not even kidding : ) 

Having a little fun in the kitchen while cooking dinner.  

I made a lemon garlic chicken recipe.  It came out really yummy! I will share the recipe soon! 

And this. Oh the simple things in life.  This cheap conditioner smells so good!  It makes me feel like I'm on vacation (which clearly I'm not : ) 

All the rain early in the week woke up our french lilacs.  

Aren't they beauties?! 

Wee!!!   

And that about does it! 

How will you be celebrating Memorial Day?  Saturday will be our best weather day (supposed to be high 80's!) so we are having a family beach day with Rob's family.  I'm sure the water is still too cold to swim in (well, maybe not for the kiddies) but I can do just fine sitting under an umbrella with my toes in the sand, smelling the salt air, and watching the tide rush in.  

Happy weekend, my friends!  I hope you all have a good one!  

xo 

Someday I will miss this...♥

 I feel like it was only yesterday that my living room was filled with baby toys scattered all over the floor. Squishy animals and a tickle me Elmo.  I can remember so clearly what it felt like to hold a little bald bundle of joy in my arms.  Soon it became Thomas trains and Arthur books. I would trip over plastic train tracks (all.the.time.) and spend hours looking for a random lost train that accidentally got kicked under the couch. And then it was on to cars.  Buckets and buckets of cars.  Everywhere. 

With kids, everything comes in stages.  And I feel like the older they get, the faster time goes by.  I miss the days when I pushed a baby carriage, and if I could do it over again there is no question I would.  Diapers and all! I wouldn’t mind one single bit watching endless episodes of Caillou or the Wiggles.  (Yup, we had a BIG Wiggles phase : )    

The cars still remain, but now they are more “on display” as collectibles rather than playthings.  All the same I’m glad they are still there.  After every stage passes I feel a sadness that it’s over.  One day these cars will be gone all together, and honestly, I’m not ready for that yet.  I love going into John’s room and seeing toys.  I always tell him to stay a kid for as long as possible.  Being a grown up is overrated.

Nowadays we watch YouTube videos and laugh a lot.  It’s not the same as playing trains but it’s just as good.  I keep reminding myself to slow down and cherish this stage before it ends and we are on to something else.  Making memories is the most precious gift I can give him. 

I can’t go back in time, but I sure can look forward to the future ♥

 

 

♥

 

 

Things I'm currently loving: Monday edition ♥

 Hello Everyone!  I hope you all had a great weekend!

 

 

I was up bright and early Saturday morning watching the wedding.  Wasn't it lovely?  I loved everything about it - the dress, the tiara (oh the tiara!), the music, the hats, the flowers....I could go on. The vision of the bride walking in that church alone gave me chills.  She was simply stunning.

I was right there with her mom, teary and proud.  Yup. It was a good day. 

 

♥

 

And now on to real life.....: )

 

 

Today I thought I would share a few random things around the house that I'm currently loving. 

 

 

FYI: It doesn't take much :

 

 

 

 

 

 

How cute is this Mickey tissue box I picked up at Target?  I couldn't resist it.  Especially since we are  Disney obsessed around here. Or at least I am : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moon Light Path is still my favorite body spray from Bath & Body. Something about a brand new bottle makes me ♥♥♥

 

(I was sad to learn that they have discontinued that scent in the oil for the wall flowers! Why??! I'll have to pick a new one for my bedroom. Any suggestions....)

 

 

 

 

 

A pretty pink polish for my toes because it's sandal season!

 

 

 

 

 

Frosted mini wheats. Why? Because I love them. 

Truth be told, I'm normally a raving hot mess most mornings, but lately I've been trying to allow myself a few extra minutes to actually sit down and eat breakfast. 

 

It really does make a difference ♥

 

 

 

 

 

And so do these! A fresh batch of homemade cookies for the week!

 

 

 

 

 

Cut up watermelon in the fridge is heaven!

 

 

 

 

 

Freeze pops! Because they are delicious! We enjoy these all summer long.  I actually prefer them to Popsicles!  A fresh bag of freeze pops means summer is coming!

 

So that's what' I'm loving  these days! How about you? What's making you smile this week?

I would love to know.  

 

Happy Monday, friends! Let's make it a good one ♥

 

 

Weekly wrap up ♥

Hello everyone and happy Friday!  This week has been very busy and I must be honest with you, I'm glad it's over.  Don't get me wrong, I like being busy,  but the thought of curling up in front of the TV tomorrow and watching the Royal Wedding is all I've been thinking about.  It's going to rain which makes it even better! We don't have any other solid plans other than that, and I couldn't be happier : ) 

Here's a few random pics from our busy week.... 

Mother's Day was simply delightful. John made us all breakfast - he's become a master at scrambled eggs and toast! 

My mom gifted me with this pretty "tea for one set".  I absolutely love it! 

My sister in law had us over for dinner that night with my in laws which was wonderful! 

On Monday, my mom and I planned a day out! 

We had fun day of shopping and a lovely lunch at Panera Bread.  The spring salad with poppy seed dressing is delicious!  

Tuesday it was back to the real world.... 

Trying to stay hydrated at work.  I like sparkling water with lemon ♥

And always an afternoon coffee and a snack ♥ 

John was home sick one day because of his allergies.  (he enjoyed the chocolate dipped frozen bananas by the way....so did the rest of us!)  

Thanks to Zyrtec and a little rain to wash the pollen away he is feeling better. 

John requested mac & cheese the day he was home.  I was all prepared to make the yummy "homemade" kind when he promptly brought me a box from the pantry.  "This is my favorite" he said.  

Yup, that's how we roll around here ♥

Although I did make Rob and I a yummy chicken and broccoli stir fry this week.  I brought leftovers for lunch the next day. 

Mid week John attended his friend Jonathan's birthday party.  It was on a "game truck" which is something I had never heard of.  Apparently it's a thing.  It pulls up in front of the house and the all kids climb on board.  Jonathan's mom texted me this photo of the boys in the truck.  I told her they look hypnotized! 

LOL 

And  to round out the week, last night was our schools annual spring Pops concert, which is something we love and look forward to all year.    

All the kids did an amazing job!  

John and his drum! ♥ 

My Dad ~ very proud of his grandson! 

(side note: John definitely gets his hair from my Dad!) 

John and his cousin Anthony ♥ (go Celtics! : ) 

John and his buddy Sean who also plays drums in the band.  

I'm glad they have each other and I'm also glad they have music.  It really does make the world go around! 

♥

Happy weekend my friends! I'm setting my alarm tonight for 5:30 am so I don't miss any details of the wedding in the morning.  I know I could record it, but what fun would that be? I'll nap after the ceremony : )

 I have my Union Jack mug all ready to go.  Although it will be filled with coffee, not tea.  Close enough!

Bye! xo 

Chocolate dipped frozen bananas ♥

Hello everyone!  Happy Wednesday!  

We are half way through the week and I'm feeling good! 

John on the other hand is not.  He's home sick today suffering terribly with allergies.  This happens every spring so it's no surprise, but still doesn't make it any easier.  Stuffy nose, itchy throat, watery eyes, the works!  It's safe to say that he does not enjoy the beautiful spring blossoms as much as the rest of us.  Sigh.

Rob and I are are working today so he's home with his grandparents, cozy on the couch - tissues at bay!  

I decided I was going to make him a special treat this afternoon when I get home, but what? And then as I caught a glimpse of this basket of bananas on the kitchen table it came to me!  

Chocolate dipped frozen bananas!  

I blogged this recipe once a few years back but because it's so GOOD and EASY I thought it was worth a second post.  

The only thing you have to do ahead of time is freeze the bananas.  

Before I left for work this morning I peeled 2 ripe bananas and put them in the freezer.  

Have you ever froze bananas?

 They are so delicious frozen!  You can blend them in a food processor and make ice cream, add them to smoothies, or dip them in chocolate!

Yeeeeees please! 

This is probably the easiest thing you will ever make ♥

Take one cup of chocolate chips and two tablespoons of vegetable oil and melt in the microwave. 

 

I melted mine on defrost in 30 second intervals. 

Let the chocolate cool a bit, for just a minute or two... ♥

Take two frozen bananas and cut them into bite sized chunks.

Now dip the banana pieces in the chocolate.  I dipped mine using  two forks. 

Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. 

Put back in the freezer to set. 

 

 Once frozen, store in the freezer in a sealed bag or airtight container. 

 

I can't wait to get home today and make these for him! : ) 

I guarantee you will become addicted to these things! They are waaaay too easy to make which makes it really hard to stop eating them.  Every time I walk by the freezer I'm tempted....but wait - these are for John!  

I'm sure he'll share with his mom, right?! We'll see about that!  ♥

Happy Wednesday, dear friends! I hope you are having a wonderful week and not suffering with allergies! Weather you are or aren't, frozen chocolate dipped bananas are amazing! 

And didn't you hear....chocolate is a vegetable...Mom says so! (it must be true : ) 

Make them today! Trust me ♥