The Daily It List

Friday, July 20

The bump's big debut

Well, after my last post I decided to go and try on a million bajillion outfits in order to beat my hourly dressing rate. And then I thought I better get the long awaited (at least by my mom) baby bump pic. I actually wore this outfit to church a couple weeks ago, but never got any pics of it. I'm usually hungry and change into sweats so fast my outfits don't stand a chance, but ironically Sundays are usually the day I look the most put together. Anyway, I present to you: The Bump! I even managed to smudge on a bit of lipstick so you all wouldn't guess I was wearing sweats and no makeup all day :)

{Shirt: F21, Skirt & Belt: H&M, Shoes: Target - I got them for like $3 last year! Necklace: Thrifted}

Summertime

So the lack of outfit posts have been because I simply don't know how to get dressed these days. The bump is more difficult than I thought to cover up in a flattering way, resulting in almost an hour everyday trying to find something that will suffice.Especially since outfits that I wore last week, don't fit this week. To remedy this problem I've done what every other girl would do in my situation - I made a Pinterest board full of prego inspiration and have vowed to go shopping as soon as possible. Until then, more food talk is in order around here. Beginning now. You see, I love anything related to summer. But I especially love the food. I mean, I LOVE the food around the holidays like nobody's business, but coming in a close second is the summertime grub. So why don't you stay awhile, Summer? Because I could eat these things a few dozen more times.

Wednesday, July 18

{Fully} Loaded S'mores Cookies

So the hubby tends to all the smelly scouts at our church. In fact - he is the head smelly scout (aka the Scout Master). It's really quite perfect for him because if you knew my hubby you'd know he's pretty much a 12 yr old boy himself. Well, every so often I decide to bake up a little something for said smelly boys, and on this particular occasion I decided something s'mores was in order. But I couldn't find what I deemed to be a perfect s'mores cookie. This one, this one and this one came close.....but when I asked the hubby whether I should do one of those or the concoction pictured above he chose my version. And I'm pretty happy he did, because these turned out pretty rad. And they were super easy. Hoorah! Anyway, I went with this recipe as a base which is apparently the best chocolate chip cookie ever. Well - let me tell you. I made a few normal choc chip cookies before adding in all the s'mores stuff and it came pretty close to being the best ever. The texture is right on and they ARE super chewy, but I'm thinking to use the browned butter technique I've tried before from here to make it truly the perfect choc chip cookie. I'll keep you posted on that one. But for now, without further ado, the s'mores cookie recipe!

{Fully} Loaded S'mores Cookies:

Base recipe for cookies c/o Apple A Day & topping idea c/o Intimate Weddings

Ingredients:

3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened (if your cookies typically come out flat like mine because of the altitude, use 1/2 c. butter flavored shortening, and 1/4 c. unsalted butter)

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 egg

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. flour

2 tsp. cornstarch (the secret ingredient to make the cookies super chewy & awesome)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate)

3/4 c. Mallow Bits (aka Itty Bitty Marshmallows)

3/4 c. broken up pieces of graham crackers

Mini Marshmallows

Hershey's chocolate squares, cut into half of the pre-scored cube size

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and blend in.

3. Mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chips, graham cracker pieces & mallow bits.

4. Drop dough onto a prepared baking sheet by tablespoons or by using a cookie scoop. Bake for 5-6 minutes, then put two pieces of Hershey's chocolate & two mini marshmallows on top of the cookie, pushing in a bit. Bake for an additional 3-4 minutes.

5. Let cool on the sheet for five minutes. Remove from baking sheet and let cool completely on a wire rack.

Tuesday, July 17

Gosh I love fruit

Really is there anything better than fresh cut up strawberries and mango? No. Well........maybe ice cream. Or popcorn. Or cheesecake brownies. Or cheesecake! Or cake. Or....well whatever, I'm happy with my fruit.

Monday, July 16

Mr. Mraz

I'm back from Girls Camp! And listening to this song on repeat. Like ten times in a row repeat. I just kinda love it for so many reasons. And I may have also just taken a break from this little post to make a ringtone of said song. I'm not obsessed or anything.

In other news here are some random thoughts I've collected over the past, idk, 4 months? So watch out - it's one doozy of a list. But there are some gems in there you won't want to miss. Then again there are some you'll probably wish you had. It's a gamble.

- I constantly worry that my blog labels aren't perfectly organized. Like what exactly deserves a label of "faves?" My OCD does not like the uncertainty one bit.

- I have a growing list of lullaby type songs on my phone so I can practice them in the car to make sure I know all the words. I may or may not but definitely plan on having the list by my rocking chair to make sure I don't forget my options. Cute or crazy?

- The awesomeness (or awkwardness) of saying out loud, "Come on, Laura, you can do this" when turning around super duper quickly for the best ever parking spot before someone else snatches it up.

- Isn't this the most awesome thing you've ever seen? Where do I sign up?

- Speaking of being obsessed with songs, the hubby has had this on repeat for the last few weeks. But it's a rad song (& music video), sooooo I don't really mind :)

- I'm pretty sure I need a sleep number bed. Stat.

- Does anyone else have trouble shaving kneecaps? I swear I shave in every position possible and there are still stragglers. I've all but given up.

- Realizing I'm talking out loud to myself in a store when someone passes by. Talk about embarrassing.

- Contacts and airplanes - are they not the most crazy things ever?! I mean you throw a few tons of metal in the air, and put a piece of plastic in your eye to see, no big deal.

- Diet Mt. Dew tastes just like Sprite.

- According to the hubby I apparently talk about wanting to be part of a bank heist at least once a month. But to clarify - I don't want Bonnie & Clyde action - more Ocean's Eleven/Italian Job type stuff and I mean, really, who wouldn't want to be part of a heist like that?

- Why is there no light in the freezer? Because if you're heading to the kitchen for a midnight snack I'm betting it'll be more ice cream and less carrots.

- Having a husband means not doing simple tasks simply because they're easier to do with someone else. Like making the bed.

- I may have lost the cap for our laundry detergent, so now just dump in how much I think should be in there. So far, no explosions of soap = success.

- The other day the hubby came home to find me in sweats, one of his tshirts and bright coral lipstick. I got a very strange look even after I explained that I hadn't worn that lipstick for awhile and summer was going to be over soon so it was necessary.

Friday, July 6

So my mom is the most thoughtful woman on the planet

I think I've mentioned that I'm the Camp Director for a group of girls at my church's Girls Camp (that happens to be next week - prepare yourselves now for the lack of any blog presence around here). Well - my amazing mom sent me a "Camp Care Package". How freaking cute is that? She included a homemade pillowcase (which was a tradition when I was growing up and went to this same camp for her to make for me each year), mini Snickers, those little peach rings that are amazing, fruit flavored Mentos, travel Kleenex packs, some super awesome granola bars and the highly coveted in our family homemade fruit leather. I've been a good little girl and have only eaten one piece of the fruit leather, but the mini snickers didn't stand a chance. I told myself that I was saving them from a terrible melty death sure to be had up at camp, but I'm pretty sure I would have eaten them even if it was freezing outside. Thanks, Mom - you are simply THE BEST.

4th of July Food

Pinterest inspired fruit flag. I know - theirs kicks my butt, and no, I don't want to talk about it.

I tried to go the sparkler route with these cupcake toppers, so I got the "trick" candles. Well, it just looked like a birthday candle. Boo. BUT the pop rocks sprinkled on top did the trick. If you're into that sort of thing, that is. Personally, I don't like the feeling of my head exploding. But the hubby does and he was pretty cute to rave all about them to everyone who came over. I kinda just love that man.

Another epic cake fail. I tell you - cakes and I are NOT getting along lately. And Pinterest? You lie - this was SO not "easy". I'm gonna say my problem is I make my cakes too moist. So there. Your dry cake looks excellent but mine tastes better. At least in my head that's how it is, and we all know my head is always right.

Wednesday, July 4

Happy 4th of July!!

So these pictures may not be "Pinterest worthy" according to my dear hubby, but they sure were good to eat! The pancakes, not the pictures, that is. Happy 4th of July!!

Tuesday, July 3

Let's talk some more about food

Apparently this little baby is obsessed with food. Hence the last 8 out of 9 blog posts (I totally counted) have been about food. Usually sugary food. I'm not sure whether to apologize or to tell you you're welcome. SO I figured it would be appropriate to do this months awesome list about food. Here are 31 of the best recipes I know of that are out there on the webosphere. Some you may have seen already, but they're good enough to be repeated. I'll even spoil you and include pictures this time. I know, I am THAT good.