Let the craziness begin!

My baby turns 4 this weekend!  Hard to believe how quickly the time has gone.  A small part of me is sad that he really isn't a baby anymore, but a little kid.  However, a greater part of me is so excited we are officially moving into another phase of parenting.  It's exciting watching them grown and learn and become little people!  I look forward to many new milestones with the same excitement as I had when he first rolled over, took his first steps, or called my name!  

So, as usual, we are throwing a small party and the party prep is fully underway.  Not to mention it's a fairly busy week around here, too.  I think that Sunday, we will all take naps!  I'm working my way through Gilmore Girls and catching up on my NCIS shows while I am working on projects.  It really is good times around here!  

Going to go tackle my to-do list now. . . 

Flashback Friday: Carrot Raisin Muffins

Last week, I was walking around one of my favorite shopping places in town and as I walked by Mimi's, I had to fight every urge not to run in and by just one carrot raisin muffin. So, because of that. .  it's time for a flashback to one of my all time favorite recipes!  They are such a favorite that I have plans on making them next week!  My carrots are waiting and so are my taste buds.  

I also realized when I pulled up this post that I am in dire need of redoing some of these pictures, so hopefully I can work on that next week when I make them. . . if I don't eat them all up before hand! I also noticed that I posted this back a few months into this blogs life!  Crazy!  I can't get over it!!!  In fact, TODAY is my blogs birthday!!!  Happy Birthday to my blog!!!!!  6 years old today! 

Click here to find the original post along with the recipe.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Cranberry Orange Scones. . . mmmmmm good!

Today I saw the sun for the first time in several days.  It was only out for a bit, but we celebrated!  I kind of miss it!  It's been dreary and cloudy with a little bit of mist but absolutely no rain.  Give me clouds any day, as long as they are filled with rain!  Overcast days make me want to curl up with my new book and drink hot tea curled up in a warm quilt.  Anyone else?

Unfortunately, the boys need my attention and work needs to get done and so I made these guys.  I think Weston ate two one morning!  If the boys eat them, I would say they are a hit!  All taste testers seemed to really enjoy them!  They were so moist and flaky and since I make mine in the food processor, they really aren't' that much work.  And because I have a headache and some cookies that need to get out of the oven, I am going to let these pictures do all the talking! I will warn you, you are really going to want to make these today.  Maybe even for dinner.   Or for a fun breakfast treat in the morning. . . it is Friday afterall!

Orange Cranberry Scones

adapted from Ina Garten

Ingredients:

2 cups plus 2 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 Tbsp orange zest

6 Tbsp butter, cold and diced

2 large eggs

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup whipping cream for brushing the tops

sugar sprinkles*, or just sugar

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp. orange juice

Directions:

Preheat to 375. 

Get your food processor all set up.  Pour in dry ingredients.  Pulse a couple of times to get them all mixed up.  Add cold butter pieces.  Mine stay in the freezer until I am ready to use them. Pulse until butter is cut into flour and the size of peas.  Add eggs, cream, and pulse some more until a soft dough forms.  Add cranberries and pulse until mixed.  

Take dough out onto a floured surface.  Knead into a ball and roll out to about a 3/4 inch circle.  Cut out triangles or use a cookie cutter to cut out simple shaped scones.  Move to stone or silpat lined pan and brush with whipping cream.  Sprinkle with sugar or sprinkles and bake for 20-25 minutes. 

*I get like these sprinkles and try to keep them on hand.  They really add the perfect touch to scones, muffins, and cookies.  They are pretty inexpensive on amazon, but even cheaper with a Michael's or JoAnns coupon.  

**The original recipe was for twice as much and used a basic egg wash.  So, feel free to double the batch if you want a lot. . . I didn't.  One batch made enough to feed my family for a couple days of breakfasts.  

Just a little About me.

I have seen a few bloggers this year right about some random thoughts about themselves for this new year.  I really liked the idea and since we are coming up on the 6th anniversary of this blog, I thought. . . I am totally going to copy that.  So, here we go:

My name is Jolie Klassen.  I am 35 years old and am getting ready to celebrate my 10th anniversary with my love, Jon.  We have 2 rambunctious boys, 6 and almost 4.   We keep pretty busy.

I am a stay at home mom and I home school the youngest in preschool.

I used to teach.  I loved it.  I love being home with my family even more.

This blog is where I share my thoughts, what's cooking in our kitchen, and what creative things are happening in my craft room.

I bake, sew, cook, stitch, stamp, and scrapbook.  In between all those I find other things to do, too.  I don't do everything at once.  That's why I am a few years behind in my album making.

I also love to throw parties.  Pinterest helps a lot with this.  This is good, because I am a Pinterest junkie.

My favorite place to be is the beach.  I like the mountains, but the beach is my all time favorite place.

I love food.  I have a milk allergy that I've had since I was a small  kid.  It went dormant as I grew up, and it slowly started coming back in college and then with each pregnancy, it got worse.  Our youngest also has a milk allergy, so we keep a rice cheese, almond milk, and coconut cream on hand.

My favorite color is blue.

I collect fabric, bowls, and kitchen gadgets.

Fall and Winter are my favorite times of the year.

My favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

I LOVE the Proverbs 31 woman.  I want that to be my goal.

My house is most often a mess.  But, that's because life is happening in my house and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I could live in yoga pants and a hoodie.  Although, I really like to dress cute, too.  It's just easier to get things done when I'm cozy.

I am completely in love with Justin's Chocolate PB cups.  They are amazing!  And dairy free, which is a great thing!

I love crime shows with a kick of comedy.  So, usually when I am crafting, I am catching up on NCIS shows, Mysteries of Laura, Castle, and Bones.  I also LOVE Once Upon a Time, but only when I can binge watch the episodes at the end of the summer.

2015: My first post of the year

It's 2015 guys.

 It's apparently the year that Michael J. Fox travels to the future in.  . . too.  My kids got razors. . . no flying skateboards this year.

The past month has flown by.  I honestly can't believe I didn't blog the whole time.  Vacation kept me very busy.  And by very busy, I mean sleeping in and going to bed late.  We've had lots of family time and a really yucky cold bug that my sweet boys passed on to me.  Really nice of them, I know.

We went on adventures and watched a ton of T.V. It seriously was grand! I didn't even menu plan until Sunday night and I hardly baked at all over break (shocker!).  Yesterday rolled around at 7:00 came so quickly.  I think the my body screamed the whole time, all while doing a happy dance that I could get back to a routine.  It was the strangest day.  But now today is here, reality is quickly being adjusted to, and hopefully the words decide to flow.

I've thought about this post for over a week.  I sat down and the words disappeared.  So, pardon what seems to be my ramblings at this point.

According to social media I've been told that I should make resolutions, goals, or even pick a word.  I have lots of friends that picked words, made cute signs, and I honestly can't think of a word.  I made my usual list of goals for the year with my husband that contains mostly household projects that we want to tackle this year.

Last year, I created, and made, and didn't do everything I set out to do.  My list was always too long and there just weren't enough hours in the day.  That, and I like to sleep.  I hate to go to bed, but I love to sleep!  Not everything made it onto the blog, but I tried to post things on instagram as much as possible.

This year, I want to strive and enjoy.  I want to finish quilts, read more, and challenge myself in new areas.  I have a few new ideas to add to the blog, which I can't wait to share with you.  I also want to write more snail mail, because it's just awesome.  I got a handwritten (and handmade) card in the mail today, and it was seriously one of the best things!  I am trying to think of some way to create a challenge out of it.  If you have any ideas, message me or comment at the bottom.

I want to build community with the readers of this blog and inspire.  I don't know if that's a lofty goal for this year, but I started this blog as an outlet for my creativity after my oldest was born.  Next month, this blog will be 6 years old and I am still writing.  Pinterest and instagram have come and changed things a bit, but I am still blogging and I love it!  I don't blog because I want to brag about what my hands have made, but to inspire someone to reach out and try something.

With that, I am going to go cuddle with my boys and enjoy the quiet that this afternoon has brought.

What's on your mind when you think of 2015????