Lazy, lazy Sunday

I accomplished absolutely nothing today.  Zip.  Nada.

And it was very nice. 

Since I have nothing new to report, take a look at some pictures that I took of my girls today.

The Batman and the Baby

Sophie with her baby doll "Gaston"

Less than thrilled

Grace was less than thrilled to be woken from her slumber in the carseat and dragged into the grocery store yesterday morning. Poor girl...she never gets a chance to rest on the weekend.

Grace being worn by me

p.s. A huge thank you to all my friends who have been so supportive of The Pied Paper since I launched the store yesterday. Your comments on my blog, facebook, and emails have really touched me! Not to mention the 3 orders I've received so far.  You all are giving me inspiration to keep going!

The Pied Paper

I'm proud to announce the official opening of my very first Etsy store, The Pied Paper!

The Pied Paper will sell handmade paper goods, with a specialty in hand lined envelopes and custom notecards. Over the next few weeks, I will be adding more items for sale.

This store is a creative outlet for me, more than anything. I've been making my own stationery for years (many of my family and friends reading this blog right now have been on the receiving end of my homemade Christmas cards and notes). Well, unfortunately the era of the handwritten note is dwindling and I had more stationery than I could use. Not to mention more ideas! During some stressful times at work, or while taking care of the girls, I would imagine some of the combinations of envelopes and cards you will now see in my Etsy shop. I hope that my store reaches out to others who still love using snail mail, like me.

In celebration of my grand opening, I'm going to be offering a 20% discount on everything at The Pied Paper through the end of April! Simply enter the code "domesticnotions" at checkout. Enjoy!

The Princess and the Pea

Bedtime hijinx tonight

As I was finishing reading Sophie "The Princess and the Pea" tonight, she asks: "Oh, you mean, the princess peed under her bed?"  I hope this story doesn't give her the wrong idea!

Saturday Snapshots

Grace is literally drooling over her sister's gummy bears.

Sophie was hilarious this morning.  She kept saying, "Mama, I'm gorgeous."

She's a tea partier (of the non-political variety!)

Never seen anyone so happy to run errands!

Sophie and Grace playing at the public library

She is a reader (I'm really proud!)

8 months

Grace, 8 months

It's going by too fast.  I'm trying to live in the moment, especially because she is just a great, happy, funny baby, but I find the months passing and my littlest one growing so quickly.

These days, she is sitting up unassisted, has two teeth, eats solids like a champ, likes to bounce when she's excited, shakes her head or grunts when she's trying to be funny, babbles a lot at home, and idolizes her big sister.  She's also trying really hard to crawl, but can basically make it around anywhere my pushing herself backward or rolling.  She can brighten your mood instantly with her big grin...we are in love with her!

Etsy Goody: papernoodle

There are many paper artists on Etsy, but this one is one of the best I've seen. How beautiful is this print? I just snatched up one for Sophie's room!

image via papernoodle

It's a beautiful day

Springtime is in the air (even though it's still officially 2 days away). We reveled in the warm weather today. Grace went sockless *gasp* for the first time in 6 months and we dined outdoors with my sister's family. I am so ready for the gray skies and cold weather to be gone!

Isn't she jolly?

This is her new smile!

I think I like this one better.

One of my favorite things about Spring.  Forsythia branches!

My niece, Remy.  This kid is a real ham!

And so is Sophie.  You can't get a candid picture from her anymore.

We had a nice start to our weekend!

Buttermilk Pudding Cakes with Sugared Raspberries

This recipe from The Lee Brothers is one of the easiest things I've ever baked.  I like it because it's so moist and it takes only 9 minutes in the oven!

Buttermilk Pudding Cakes with Sugared Raspberries

Buttermilk Pudding Cakes:

¾ cup sifted bleached all-purpose flour 

1½ teaspoons baking powder

2 large eggs

¾ cup whole or low-fat buttermilk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

⅓ cup sugar

4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature

Raspberries:

8 ounces (2 cups) fresh raspberries

½ cup sugar

Whipped cream (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees with a rack positioned in the top third of the oven. 

Sift the flour with the baking powder in a large bowl. 

In a second large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk until creamy and yellow, and then whisk in the buttermilk, vanilla, sugar, and butter (the mixture will look curdy and broken; that is fine).

Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture, and whisk until the batter is combined and smooth.

Divide the batter among 8 standard (3-ounce) nonstick muffin-pan cups, filling them two-thirds full. Bake for 9 minutes. Check the cakes by inserting a knife tip between the rim of the cake and the muffin cup and pulling gently to expose the side of the cake. If the side of the cake appears evenly browned, the cakes will hold together when inverted and are ready. If not, bake for another minute and check again.

While the cakes bake, place the raspberries in a medium bowl. Shower them with the sugar, and then use your hand to gently toss them in the sugar until they have a light dusting on them. (If the berries are overripe or bursting, or wet because you washed them, the sugar will dissolve on them. This is fine—they’ll still taste great!)

When the cakes are done, invert them onto individual small plates and divide the berries among them, mounding them on top and around the cakes, and top with a dollop of whipped cream, if using.

Saturday Snapshots

 

Black Swan

 

Ignore the fact that my kids are playing on top of a pile of laundry, and you have a very sweet, candid picture.

TGIF

The weekends go by too fast.

 

Sleeping among the clouds

I saw this dreamy bedroom in Lonny and it's inspired me to refresh my own bedroom with a few new pieces. 

Of course, I'll never be able to afford this bed, but I think this one from West Elm gives off a similarly "barefoot home" look at a fraction of the price (if only the slipcover was linen).

Layer these around the floor.

Or, a couple of these underfoot would be nice and cozy.

And finally, among all this white...a pop of "color"!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Mardi Gras, 2011

Before Bedtime

Saturday Snapshots

Bonding with Grace while Darren takes Sophie to ballet class.

Lunch.  First time ever making egg salad!  Didn't know it was so easy.

Sophie dancing on the bed with her Belle doll.  Does that make her the Beast?

They're really starting to enjoy each other.  I love it!

This one's for Ashley

Sophie, circa 2008

p.s. Sorry for the lack of updates this week.  I've been so busy at an offsite training all week that my house is a shambles, my family has been eating fast food for dinner, and I look like a wreck.  I'm getting back on the wagon this weekend though (with the posts and my life).