From the Weekend Feb 6

I may be the only person alive who loves Mondays.  But it feels like a break to me after having everyone home all weekend.  Ben takes good naps because he's all worn out from the weekend excitement and I get extra quiet time = win/win.
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Weekend Links

I've been waffling on when I want to post links, but I always have so many that I NEED to share them at some point! This week it's some Saturday morning ready for you:)

Pro Organizer Tips: What Not to Do When De-Cluttering Your Home at Apartment Therapy:

"But here's the crucial part: Once you have decided where something is going to go -- take it there. Never keep bags for charity or boxes for friends in your home to deliver later. Do it now. Finish the process."

The Solution to American Poverty at Flower Patch Farmgirl:

"The problem is, I know names now. The whole (airquotes) poverty issue isn't hypothetical or theoretical anymore, and it can't be squashed with a mouthful of social science jargon."

I Choose Slow at The Nesting Place:

"Slow is a choice. You choose to be okay with the imperfection now because you trust things will change in the future. Choosing slow isn’t giving up or backing down, it’s usually not being lazy, maybe intentionally slowing down is an act of hope, rest and trust."

In Which I Don't Mind if My Tinies See Me On the Computer from Sarah Bessey via The Art of Simple

"Early into our family arrangement, I had to take a long hard look at the narrative that it was a shameful thing for my tinies to see me on the computer.And then, thoughtfully, prayerfully, we decided to call complete and utter crap on any more needless mum-guilt."

Let the Camera Testify: Roger May’s Photographic Hymn to His Mountain Home at Bitter Southerner via life {in} grace:

"Both outsiders and native artists continue to perpetuate those notions of depravity today. Others insist on only recording the amazing physical beauty of the region, even if that topography is disappearing more and more each day. But romanticizing a place is just as bad as vilifying it.Roger May insists on doing neither."

Happy Weekend, hope you have lots of sunshine and springtime wherever you are!

From Sunday

An icy day, a dutch baby, her cooking for us, a date where we were the only two in the whole restaurant happy in the wooden booth, discussions of finances that feel like we're actually making significant progress for the first time in forever, finally taking down the tree, kids staying in pajamas to go to the grandparents', kids SO ready to get back to a normal routine. These recent quiet days with no where we have to be on a schedule were making me so happy, though I was almost as happy to have a reason to actually get dressed this week since it means dropping off the two stir-crazy wild things to get back to school and normal again! 

Day 15: From the Weekend

I'm a big fan of weekends without much on the calendar. (Is that surprising?)  Slow breakfast in the morning, some chores and cleaning, an errand or two, maybe lunch or dinner out and a trip to a park. Lots of playing in the backyard. Nothing crazy.  That wasn't this weekend, though it wasn't too crazy, just lots of running around.  We helped my sister move into a new apartment (walking distance from us!!,) went on a fun date to a brewery and a favorite restaurant, had dinner for my in-law's 45th (!) anniversary, some work here and there.  


Some Favorite Weekend Breakfasts (in case you need some inspiration for something new):
Breakfast Sandwiches (this egg method really is fantastic) If you have it in your stores, we love to use Cooper cheese - it's really just a sharp American cheese, but that means more flavor with the same meltiness of American cheese.
Dutch Babies
Lemon and Basil Eggs Over Foccaccia
Muffins
Popovers
Eggs (always eggs - in any form) 
On my list to try: these granny horns.  Don't they sound fun??

Their favorite, though?  Cinnamon rolls from a container:) Those are saved for "special" occasions. What's your favorite weekend breakfast?

I'm spending 31 days writing and sharing a series about Documenting Your Everyday this month.

 Click here to see all of the posts as they're added and follow along.  

From the Weekend

From the Weekend: A Blackberry Dutch Baby

I feel like I've been posting nothing but food on here (oh wait, that is the case!)  But it's mid-August and there's just too much goodness happening in the produce world!  I'm preserving like crazy, so it's just sort of a side effect that I'm sharing what I'm making.  I also made this this weekend, but doubled the topping part of the recipe and patted half into the bottom of the pan and layered with blackberries that were mixed with brown sugar, flour and cornstarch(to keep them thick) to make blackberry crisp bars - SO GOOD.  It made a huge batch, so I'm freezing half to see how they do.

If you're like me, you'll make blackberry freezer jam and have it not set right and you'll wind up with a thick blackberry syrup when you wake up on a Saturday morning and think of how you could use it.  You'll think of pancakes immediately, then remember the post from last fall that detailed a series of dutch babies that made you swoon and remember that you've always wanted to try to make one...

I subbed in vanilla yogurt for the creme fraiche/sour cream option and swirled in a few tablespoons of blackberry jammy/syrup before I baked, then topped with more blackberry jammy/syrup before we ate.  Head over to Dash and Bella for the recipe and instructions on how to make - it's easy.  Blend the ingredients like crazy in a blender and bake in a preheated cast iron skillet until (hopefully) puffy and cooked.  

blackberry syrup:
you can make blackberry (or any berry of your choice) freezer jam and have it not actually set enough (like me.)  We happened to pick blackberries on Friday and needed to use them, but raspberries or blueberries would be a fantastic choice, too!) 

2 cups blackberries 
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
(You can make as much or as little as you'd like, just use a 1:1 ratio for berries to sugar, add some liquid and cook until you like the consistency.)

Combine the blackberries, sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  After it comes to a boil, turn the heat down to low and crush the fruit with a potato masher, then let it simmer on low until the syrup reaches a consistency you like.