Backyard Roads

 I love social media. Sure it has some yucky drama, but if you ignore that (like really ignore it) and enjoy the fact that it connects you with friends that you haven't seen in ages, even though you live in the same town, it's a really good thing!  Dorothy is the sweetest and she was one of my first college friends and eventually we became roommates!  She has a such a heart for others, especially little ones and she has recently started writing about it.  She is seriously one of my favorite people!

I am super excited about today's post because I'm over at Dorothy's blog sharing the ins and outs of our backyard roads that I built last month.  I know a lot of you were asking for details. . . you can head on over there and find out how! 

Click here to be transported to the blog post! 

Connection Time!!!

 I'm doing some serious procrastinating right now.  The to-do list is outrageously long. . . except I haven't made one.  I should.  There's a lot going on right now around here and throw in a quick beach trip and family pictures (when we get home) is enough to motivate me to get things done.

This week, we have been so busy with spontaneous play dates with friends, sweet friends dropping by and some shopping.  Plus, it's perfectly spring.  Overcast mornings and breezy afternoons are enough to send us all outside.  We just love it! 

During Spring Break, we headed up the mountain in search of snow.  We've been getting a lot of rain lately, so we new we should be able to find some.  The snow was crunchy and it made quite the slippery sled ride, but we had a blast!  We only had to go about an hour from home.  I seriously live in the best place. . . snow and beach so close!  I am a serious California girl!

Has your Target gone Mario Kart crazy?  Mine has and I kind of wished I had the kids with me to race around the store in our "Mario Karts."  ha ha!  It might be a good idea that I was alone!  Also, how creative are they that they made the game start sounds when you walk through the doors.  My favorite part!  (side note:  I am NOOOO good at video games! But no matter how bad I am, Mario Kart is my favorite!).

I love avacado toast and I love a good runny egg, so when my friend Jenna posted what she did with the new everything bagel spice mix from Trader Joes, I knew I had to make it.  Seriously.  It's amazing!  I've eaten it twice this week for my lunch.  So satisfying and delicious!  And super easy! 
Here's what you need (bread toasted (I used sourdough), 1/2 avacado (smooshed into the bread), a sprinkle of salt, fried egg over easy, everything bagel topping. 
Make it.  You will thank me.  I'll pass it on to Jenna!

Sunday Nights are my favorite.  The kids go to bed a smidge early, the hubby grabs take out, and we watch a movie together.  We've been doing this for over a year and it's the best.  We get kid free time without having to pay for a babysitter.  We try not to work on projects (sometimes it happens), because we want this time to be focused on just hanging out and spending time with each other.  It is so hard to get date night's as parents and while we are so blessed with parents who love to watch our kids, we wanted to make this a weekly time that is set aside for just each other.  This past Sunday, I made a quick batch of carrot cake for two.  Seriously.  Amazing. Probably good that it makes 2 perfect servings and there's no leftovers, because carrot cake is probably my top cake choice!  I'm drooling just thinking about it! 

I've been doing some reading and I finished Bread and Wine, by Shauna Neiquist.  I got my copy from the library and had to take it back yesterday.  I was so sad.  It's filled with tons of delicious sounding recipes and so I think that I need to buy myself a copy.  Plus, she said some pretty profound things about food, life, community, and hospitality.  My favorite thing is probably not most people's but, I loved when she talked about using her friends (and husband's) food allergies as a way to challenge her in the kitchen.  She talks a lot about showing her friends love while making sure they are comfortable and have food to eat.  It spoke to my heart in so many ways! 

On Sunday, I just laid around the house reading.  At one point my oldest came and joined me and it was the best.  Really.  When your kids get old enough to sit and read chapter books on the couch next to you, it really is the best!  Then I think about how is growing up and I am just like "make it stop!"  He is growing into such a kind and loving kid that just takes life by storm.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for him! 

Each month, I try to do a Connection Time post where I just share my heart and what's going on in my life.  I want this blog to be a place where you come and feel encouraged and feel like you are connecting somewhere.  I love to hear from you and hear what kinds of things you are doing around your neck of the woods.  So, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite drink and join me for some coffee time. 

Outside my window there is a gentle breeze blowing, which is a welcome addition to our day because it's been really muggy today.  That and a gentle breeze is way better than crazy wind blowing and knocking baby plums off the tree! 

I am thinking of how much I need to get done and how to do it quickly.  And also, if I should make a cup of coffee to make it through the afternoon.  I've hit that point in the day where I think I need a nap.  grr. 

From the kitchen not much is happening right now.  I attempted some gluten free muffins this weekend that looked fantastic in cyber space!  I bought all the ingredients, baked them, and they were beautiful.  They tasted great.  I just could not get past the texture.  It was weird and wet and almost slimy.  So, I made these.  They are probably no where near as healthy as the gluten free, sugar free, dairy free ones I attempted, but they always make my tummy so happy! 

I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  Super comfy today.  I am working on getting laundry done for a quick trip to the beach and family pictures on Saturday.  I am trying so hard to not shop for myself and just shop from my closet.  That's hard when there are so many cute things out right now!

I am creating stuff for Teacher Appreciation Week next week.  That's kind of where my brain is right now.  I will be posting stuff all week on instagram if you need inspiration to spoil your child's teacher.  Also, if you use any of my printables, use the hashtag: #outoftherightbrainblog  on your post so we can see what you are doing!  I love to see what you all do!

I am going crazy. No. Not really.  I am headed to the beach for a mini vacation and by vacation I mean KID FREE!  It's just for one night, but me, my hubby and the beach are going to be having a wonderful 24 hours! 

I am reading absolutely nothing right now.  I am waiting for a book to come in the mail and then I will start on that.  If it doesn't come, I will grab a fiction book from my stash and devour that while listening to the ocean waves. 

I am hearing kids playing. Trying to ignore the occasional argument, but it's so hard when they are in the room next door. 

Around the House things are everywhere.  That sign that says "excuse my mess, my kids are making memories" would be the perfect way to describe my house.  Perler beads and quixel projects are on the counters, coloring books and colored pencils are on the coffee table and dining room table, and legos. . . well, those are just about everywhere.  Dishes need to be loaded in the dishwasher and bags need to be packed.  Oh, and laundry.  There are currently piles of laundry in two rooms and I am going to do it all tonight.  Wish me luck!

One of my favorite things hmmm.  This one took me a minute, but I honestly think it's that book Bread and Wine.  I just loved it and was so encouraged by it!  Go read it! 

A few plans for the week beach, pictures, and prep teacher appreciation.  I think that covers it for now.

Now, it's your turn.  Go ahead and pick one, two, or as many as you want and comment in the comments, on Facebook, or instagram.  Let's connect and have a conversation! 

Outside my window
I am thinking
From the kitchen
I am wearing
I am creating
I am going
I am reading
I am hoping
I am hearing
Around the House
One of my favorite things
A few plans for the week
What I am listening to 

Friday Favorites: Instagram Loves

I love taking pictures and documenting the things my kids do and the things I create.  It's one of the reasons I started this blog and it's one of the reasons I started an instagram account.  It's also a way for you all to follow me along on this journey of motherhood.  Pictures tell so much.   So many of the instagram/blog accounts I follow post very beautiful things, but they are also very real people and so I thought that today, I would share 4 of of favorite places to go for inspiration or just for fun. 

1.  Baked Bree
I've been following Baked Bree since I first started reading blogs and doing a lot of baking.  That's probably since I was home on maternity leave and had nothing better to do but sit around and read blogs.  Now, I read them every now and then and I haven't stopped reading hers.  She posts the most beautiful pictures of food, her home, and her family as they live life as a coast guard family.  They have lived in some pretty cool places too!

2.  Smitten Kitchen -
I fell in love with Smitten Kitchen not long after Weston was born and she is one of my go-to places for some of my favorite recipes. . . especially chocolate chip cookies and brown butter rice krispy treats.  She doesn't use crazy, weird kitchen gadgets and so you don't have to worry about not having something to make one of her yummy recipes.  That and she has a shake shack copycat. . . and I might be kind of obsessed. . . a little bit. 

 3.  Jones Design Company
This is one of my favorite bloggers.  She is so down to earth and lives in one of my most favorite places.  She has wonderful design tips and someday I will get my house plants to grow just like hers.  (i think her's do better because she's in the pacific northwest and we just have scorching hot sun. . . but I could be very wrong).  Her design style tends to be very neutral, where I prefer a bit more splash of color, but I love watching her go through her process of design.

4.  The Nesting Place
I found this blog a few years ago and the way she styles her home is just beautiful.  She's more of a risk taker than me, but her home is gorgeous! This is a great place to go to style your home without spending a lot of money. . . she has some wonderful tips!

And those are just 4 of the bloggers/instagramers I follow.  Who are your favorites?  I am always on the lookout for something new to read and be inspired by.  I hope you have a great weekend and you get to relax and maybe check out some of these creatives and read about them. 

Teacher Appreciation Week is Coming! {Apple Theme}

 It's hard to believe that the school year is almost over and yet, there is still so much to do.  While we are in the middle of making our plans for the summer, I am also trying to finish a couple of projects before the kids get out.  First up is Teacher Appreciation Week in 2 weeks.  Our school celebrates it the first week of May, and we are planning some super fun things to spoil our teachers.

 Teachers work so hard and deserve all the encouragement that they can get.  They work hard both on and off the clock, spend their own money on our children, work hard to meet the requirements the district, state, and country place on them despite the demographics, learning styles, and other things that come into play.  Having been a teacher, I think that making sure they are loved on and encouraged is important to me, because I've been in their shoes. 

So, I love that I get to be a part of this amazing week the school, where my kids attend. As I was planning this year's theme, I was looking at pictures from last year's fun and I thought I would share the printables so that you, too, can be inspired to love on your child's teacher. All of the things were very inexpensive to do and so our teachers had gifts in their boxes all 5 days and then a Salad Bar Buffet lunch on Friday.

Last year, we did an Apple theme and I designed tags that went with everything.  It was pretty simple compared to a lot of the themes on Pinterest, but I loved how it came out.  We have some really talented parents at our school, so I found one that made amazing sugar cookies and decorated them beautifully.  It was one of the most loved treats during the week, too!

 We enlisted the help of many of the parents at the school, by having them volunteer to bring items for the Salad Bar and boy, were they generous!  We also bought a few items at Costco.  The teacher's loved it!  The same mom that made the cookies, made cute cupcakes that looked like apples to go with our theme. 

 I hope that you get to spoil your teacher's just a little in the upcoming weeks. . . they deserve it! 
 Please use these for personal use only and if you feel like it. . . snap a pic and use the #outoftherightbrainblog or tag me @jolieklassen so I can see what you are doing! 

Here are the tags and banner:

You can print the tags here.

You can print the banner here. 

Office update {part 2: almost done}

I can't believe that we are over halfway through April and I am finally getting around to posting the almost finished office.  Not everything is perfect. at. all.  I think that's why I am showing you this.  The reality is that life happens when you start a project and things always take longer than you think.  I'm okay with that, because it has been fun redoing the office.  It's been a lot of work, yes.  Lot's of purging, organizing, rethinking things.  It has been full of hunting for deals and saying goodbye to some things that we just don't use anymore.  There are still piles to be dealt with and solutions to be thought of, but we are getting there. 

When we started this project, the goal was to make it a place where Jon and I could both get work done and relax in.  After showing him lots of pins on white offices, I finally talked him into it and we agreed on a paint color for the walls (thanks HGTV magazine!).  It also worked well that we got to fit in an IKEA visit on a recent trip to Los Angeles.  It happened to be the first month the new Burbank location had opened.  It was HUGE.  It's probably the biggest one I have ever been in and we thought we would never make it to the bathrooms, once one kid said he had to pee. We made it and found what we wanted and it fit in the car, which was an added plus.  

We ordered two IKEA Alex drawer units and a Lack table top to make the table.  We are really happy with them so far.  Eventually, the table top will probably be replaced with something longer to span the width of closet to wall space that we were hoping for.  We also want to replace our fun folding chair with a more comfortable chair that can double as another place to turn and watch TV. 

 

We decided on the Ekby metal brackets with white shelves, however, in our exhaustion (it was the end of our fun adventure), we brought home the wrong shelves for the brackets.  They went with another Ekby bracket and are about a half inch thinner than the Ekby Bjarnum shelves we were supposed to get.  Of course, we didn't notice it until we had them up and noticed the gap.  And we are probably the only ones who really notice it.  These shelves are actually ending up to be a bit more sturdy. . . they are real wood as opposed to hollow.  So, I think we will keep them instead of trying to find the right pair on our next trip to IKEA, which probably won't be until we start the kid's bedroom re-do.   

We also bought some cute white pots and some of their fake plants to add a bit of color.  I haven't had much luck in keeping houseplants alive so, for now, we will just enjoy the fake ones.  The boxes and picture frames I found at Hobby Lobby and love the simplicity of them on the shelves.  

We bought a couple of IKEA Kallax bookcases to put around the room for storage and to put the TV on top of. We even found some cute crates and metal baskets to add some color and texture to the room to store things in the bookcases.  We will eventually put our diplomas on this wall along with some other art work . . . maybe a collage wall of some sort? 

And finally the couch.  I need to make some covers that will make the room pop a little more and I have just the right fabric for them.  That will probably happen when school gets out for the summer.   

Under the couch, in flat storage containers, is where I am hiding all of my fabric.  We found this couch at Cost Plus just after the new year (and on sale!) and we couldn't resist.  In fact, that's the whole thing that got us on this crazy adventure!  I found the curtains at Home Goods. . .they are my favorite place to find great curtains! 

Well, that's all for now.  The next step is to slowly add some color that makes the room pop.  I am still on the lookout for a fun rug and someday we will replace this ugly carpet (the bedrooms are the last rooms to have the floors updated).  And do a bit more purging and organizing to get rid of the random piles around.  I am on the lookout for maybe some narrow end tables for each side of the couch. . . not 100 percent sure about that one though.  

If you are curious about the before, click over here to see part 1 of this adventure. 

On Preparing your family's heart for Easter

I took my 8 year old shopping today to get all the stuff we needed to host our family's Easter gathering this weekend.  I love it when it's just the two of us and we can act goofy and just talk.  But this morning, was different.  As we were heading out the door, he tells me, "Mom, today's the day Jesus died."  and then walked away.   The tears well up as I write this because despite the busy and the chaos that screamed today, he slowed down and remembered.  He reminded me to slow down and remember, too. 

We can't forget. 

We've been trying to get our Resurrection Eggs done and we've been slacking off, because we are busy.  It happens.  But, when we do them, I am seeing lights turn on in my 6 year old's eyes. I see the excitement my 8 year old gets when he remembers specific details.  Sometimes I think that it would be easy just to not talk about the hard stuff with our kids.  Jesus's birth.  Easy.  But death.  It's hard.  And Jesus' death isn't even a fun one to talk about.  It's gut wrenching, painful, and bloody.  It's hard.  It would be easy to throw that on the shelf for when they get older. 

But then I remember.  Jesus said, "let the children come to me."  They need to hear it and I need to be reminded of it.  Jesus's death is painful.  It's hard to talk about, but, as I watch my kids get excited and remember, I, too, am excited.  I pray that this stays with them.  That they remember that Jesus, long ago, died on a cross, with them in mind.  He knows them and loves them. He died so we could be forgiven.  There is nothing like the Love of Jesus.  Our kids need to know this.  We need to be reminded of this. 

Sharing the story of the resurrection, or any story really, isn't always perfect. Sometimes it's just downright hilarious and full of tangents that make you wonder if they even care.  Last week, we were opening the egg with the cup, talking about the last supper and my 8 year old decides we need to reenact the last scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  I was frustrated and laughing.  My husband joined in the fun and reminded me that I am a mom of boys.  My 6 year old closed our time in prayer that night, and I am pretty sure that he prayed about zombies.   It's not perfect.  It might not even go like you envision it, but they do get it even when it seems hilariously hopeless.  Don't give up.  It's important. 

So, here's a few things that I have found over the past few years that have helped us usher in Easter.  We don't do them all anymore, because now both kids are in school.  And some, we cram in despite the busy because the illustration is beautiful and yeilds a tasty treat!

1.  Resurrection Cookies -
These are one of our favorite treats.  They only take a couple of minutes the night before, but they give a sensory lesson of the cross.  From the sweetness of sugar to the bitter taste of vinegar, these cookies tell the story of the cross in a wonderful way.  They also, are dairy free (because they are pretty much just meringue cookies) so it's a serious hit with Weston. 

2.  Resurrection Eggs
There are 12 color coordinated eggs that each have an object inside of them.  They have a book, with a verse and a little story about why the object is there.  We have found this to be a great before bedtime activity and offers and easy way for kids to remember little details about the story.   I found mine at Lifeway after Easter for 75 percent off. . . a price I could not miss!  So, if you don't have them, I encourage you to keep your eyes out next week for cheap ones.

3.  Books.
I am a lover of books.  Beautiful picture books with beautiful words are one my favorite things to collect.   I had found another one to add to the collection, but it is not available anywhere!  Hopefully next year, I will share it with you. . . it's a good one!  Some of our favorite Easter books are:

The Parable of the Lily
I also wrote a blog post on this one here.

The tale of the three trees

Benjamin's Box - this is the story of the Resurrection Eggs

The Story of Easter

What is Easter?

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter! 

What's for Dinner {March 2017 edition}

 Spring Break is happening as we speak and it has been wonderful.  Slow mornings, sleeping in, basketball, movies, and a few spring cleaning chores thrown in here and there.  We even fit in a snow day.  So, I thought before we head to the movies, I would fit this blog post in. . . it's easy. . . and we still have to eat, right?  

 If you are new to the blog, this is a post I try to do monthly, where I share recipes that we tried from magazines, internet, cookbooks, etc.  If we liked them, I share them with you, so you can try them, too.  If I made something we didn't like, It won't make it onto the blog.  Call me your own personal guinea pig.  or not.  No one really likes being called a pig.  (I wish I could put a silly emoji right here.  because.)

My goal is to try at least one new recipe a week.  Sometimes it happens, sometimes it's a flop.  Sometimes we just don't have time to try something new and we just wing our way though the week.

Crispy Southwest Wraps
This recipe was one of our favorites and will probably be on the menu many, many more times!  It was easy, inexpensive, and quick.  It also lasted us 3 nights!!!  I made an avacado crema to dip it in and it was perfect. They were loved with the cheese and without.  The next time I make these, I think I am going to try to freeze a batch, so we can have them for quick lunches and crazy night dinners. 

Honey Sriracha Chicken
This chicken was delicious! We cooked it on the grill (which I try to do as much as possible to limit dishes. . . that's how I roll). It came out so moist and juicy that we couldn't wait for leftovers the next night. 

Pretzel Dogs
This week we are celebrating the end of indoor soccer classes.  While they have been fun and perfect for the boys, the 2 days a week of dinner time classes is getting old.  Miraculously, we have only gone out to eat once as a whole family and once to get a treat for the boys.  Because of our crazy schedule, I have been on the lookout for fun food that I can throw at our boys on the way out the door.  This one was a HUGE hit with everyone!  The homemade bread dough and hot dogs were just wonderful!  I think I might even make a batch of these to freeze for future quick meals, too!

 

We also had Jambalaya, but I that's a blog post coming soon!  I can't wait to share that one with you, it was delicious.

Other recipes that we ate were carne asada tacos (on another what's for dinner post), spaghetti and meatballs, French Dips with our local meat market's deli roast beef, chicken and veggie skewers, and paninis. 

I hope that inspires you in the kitchen this month.  Is there anything that you've tried that should be on our table next month?  Anything you want me to try with my family before you try it with yours?  Feel free to comment or send a link to me.

Happy cooking!

1 / 2 / 3 /

Spring & the best oven baked fries ever!

It's safe to say that we have a major case of spring fever around here.  The weather has been as close to perfect as you can dream (minus last week's crazy wind).  The kids have been coming home and willingly doing their chores just so that they can go outside and play while I cook dinner. I want to cook everything on the grill and eat outside.  There is something about dining al fresco that makes you slow down and savour the moment.  That and the grill uses less dishes. . . and that means less clean up.  I call that a win!

I bought a bag of potatoes last month and we just never got around to using them, so we've been making oven fries every chance we can get.  They are quite simple and one of my family's favorite things to eat.  I found a recipe by averiecooks that completely inspired this recipe.   A few years ago Jon wrapped up a fancy can of black truffle oil and it is perfect with these fries.  Plus, they are oven baked so less guilt, right?

Fries are probably my biggest weakness when it comes to food.  I nice, warm, slightly crunchy french fry dipped in ketchup is one of my favorite comfort foods. (unless I have chick fil-a sauce laying around and then. . . well. . .)  I know.  I am weird.   Making these fries is a quick side dish and almost everyone eats them.  Weston hasn't warmed up to the idea of little herb pieces hanging out on his potato, but it the rosemary and thyme make is so worth it!

Oven Baked Truffle Fries
adapted from averiecooks

Ingredients:
5 medium russet potatoes
2 TBSP cornstarch
2 TBSP melted coconut oil
1-2 tsp truffle oil (to taste)
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp garlic powder
pepper
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme

Directions:
Cut potatoes into french fry slices and stick into a ziplock bag.  Sprinkle with cornstarch and shake until nicely covered.  Then sprinkle with coconut oil and shake some more.  Then drizzle with truffle oil, salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic powder, and thyme and shake some more.  Place on a parchment covered cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes at 425 degrees.  Then turn them all over and bake for 10-15 more minutes.  Serve warm with a side of ketchup.