Cardamon Vanilla Latte at home

Five Days until Christmas. 

That can either stress you out or make you excited with anticipation of watching your loved ones open carefully picked out gifts, wrapping paper wars, and delicious goodies.  I am certainly a little of both.  I have been hanging out with my boys as much as possible and doing some baking, watching tons of Hallmark movies and drinking lots of coffee. 

Speaking of coffee. I like it a lot.  I've even blogged about why on this post  about why sitting down and having face to face conversation with people is so important.  (you should go read it after you finish reading this post.)  But, I also enjoy just sitting down and having a delicious cup of coffee while enjoying my family or reading a book.  It allows me to slow down and savor the moment a little more than rushing through the hustle.  I think that's why Starbucks inside Target is such a gift, because it just brings opportunity to savor. . . even if you are just running in to grab one thing or you are their with your children who are using your cart as a jungle gym and begging to go look at toys (been there!). 

Last week, the Target closest to my house had been working on one of the bathrooms, which meant they were all closed and the Starbucks was closed.  I had already gone to a Starbucks before this particular trip in, but throughout the store, I couldn't help but notice the amount of moms, kids in tow, who were getting their grocery shopping done with a grim look on their face.  Kids were acting crazy as usual, but I'm sure that they had plans on surviving this particular pre-Christmas Target run with a Christmas Latte in their hands.  (side note: this particular Target location got rid of their cafe, which also means no popcorn or free fruit. . . so basically these moms were doomed).  Moms out there:  I saw you.  I didn't know you, but I really wanted to tell you it'll be okay and remind you to stop by the Starbucks drive through on the way home.  Maybe even drive the long way home so you can enjoy that coffee while your kids are strapped in their car seats.  But, I didn't because I'm not that crazy. 

There is something wonderful about a delicious cup of coffee or a latte.  There are so many Starbucks in our town, but there are also some amazingly delicious local coffee shops that I love to visit.  One in particular is this place called Two Cities.  They have the best lattes and rolled ice cream and are just so nice!  It's my husband's favorite place to go and just sit and talk (mine, too!).  My favorite latte is their Cardamon Vanilla and it's like a taste of heaven.  Seriously, it's delicious! Not too sweet and just enough spice. I can't always get over there and I don't always want to spend $6 on a latte (it adds up!).  So, when my husband decided to buy a Nespresso (not an ad. . . but it's awesome!), I tried making one and it was just like it!  So, now I can make them at home and it's wonderful! 

So, today.  As an early Christmas present, I am going to share one of my current favorite latte recipes with you, because you might need coffee to survive the pre-Christmas prep work. . . or just to enjoy while you fit in a couple more Hallmark Christmas movies in your pajamas.

Pick your milk and heat it up or steam it.  You can add froth by using one of those handheld, battery powered frother gadgets, or heat it in a mason jar, then put a lid on it and shake it up really hard.  I use this (and I love it!).  I use New Barn Barista Blend Almond Milk and it's fantastic!

Brew your coffee/espresso.  I used my Nespresso, but also recommend this for making espresso. 
If you are using the Nespresso, I used the larger cup setting, which is about 2 shots (I think. I really don't know).  

 Pour a splash or two of vanilla syrup into the coffee.  It's probably about 2 tsp. . . give or take.  I just eyeball it. 

 Sprinkle some ground cardamon.  It doesn't take much.  A little bit of this stuff goes a long way!  Trust me!

 See, just a sprinkle or two. 

 Pour in your warm, frothy milk and enjoy! 

Super easy!  Now, go read a book or bake some cookies or even better, call up a friend for a sponateous-at-home coffee date.  Don't worry about your house.  She won't mind that it's messy from wrapping presents and your kids are on vacation.  She'll enjoy the company, just like you.  I promise! 


Cardamon Vanilla Latte

Ingredients:
milk of your choice
Espresso
Vanilla Syrup
Ground Cardamon

Directions: 
Steam milk and brew espresso.  Pour a splash or two of vanilla syrup into your espresso.  Add a sprinkle or two of cardamon and top with steamed milk.

Easiest latte ever! 

Target Dollar Spot Finds {Christmas Decor}

 The stockings are hung, the tree is decked, presents are wrapped (well, most of them!), and the kids are officially on vacation.  Ethan is working hard at a puzzle (it should take him awhile), and Weston is busy building with legos and it's so quiet.  I know it won't last long, but I do know these moments of quiet are more and more frequent as the boys get older.  So, mom's of little ones (who are already testing your patience on this first day of vacation. . . I promise you, it get's better! 

So, while the kids are off doing their own thing and I am enjoying a cup of coffee in the unexpected quiet of the morning, let's talk Christmas home decor.  I started this post last week and well, end of semester/Christmas crazy kind of took over my life and that's okay.  I have a tendency to want to add things or change things each year and this year I found some really cute things in the Target Dollar Spot.  Raise your hand if it's not one of your favorite places!  I mean, conveniently located right by the Starbucks, you can't help but glance and hope for some sweet treasures. While not all the treasures are $1, most things are $5 and under, which is still a pretty good steal!  This year, their Christmas selection did not disappoint.

 White ceramic houses.
I found these in several different sizes.  I am not sure if their intention was to have kids paint them or not (btw great idea if you are looking for something to keep your littles busy), but the simple, unpainted, matte look of these houses is just so much fun!  I stuck it on a charger I had found at Hobby Lobby last Spring with some fake snow I bought at Potterybarn way back before I had kids.  Then I stuck to white bottle brush trees in it to make it look kind of homey.  I meant to find some little twinkle lights to stick inside, but that didn't happen. . . maybe next year? 

Bottle Brush Trees
I can't tell you how much I just love the simplicity of bottle brush trees.  I had bought a few last year and more this year (because I had forgotten!) because they were a dollar a piece.  Perfect thing to add some simple flair to a spot. . . like next to the ceramic house and next to our letter board in the hutch.  By the way, that wooden stick star was from the dollar spot last year! 

 Metal Rod Houses
I am not actually sure what these are called, but I do know that they are cute and have endless possibilities.  I stuck a mason jar filled with salt with a votive inside the house and then placed some tree scraps/sprigs all around it.  It sits next to our Advent tree with twinkle lights and it just might be one of my favorite things I've done this year.

And finally, our hutch.  I just wanted to take a minute and share it with you, because decorating a hutch can be kind of expensive. . . the shelves add up.  So I thought I would share with you some inexpensive ways to decorate your hutch or a shelf, for that matter. 

1.  Find a few pieces that stand out .  For us, it was the cranberry trees.  I fell in love with them several years ago and we figured out how to fit them into our Christmas budget.  They actually started out as a centerpiece idea and then we bought this hutch and they just fit perfect!

2.  Picture Frames and Free Printables.  Take advantage of some of those super creative free printables out there.  There are tons out there and there's one sure to fit your style. Just rerpurpose old picture frames and print them out.  I used this one and this one.

3.  Letter boards.  These things are so much fun! You can change your saying with each season or if you are just in a goofy mood.

4.  Vase Fillers are fun ways of filling up space in hurricanes, lanterns and so much more.  I have a a collection of inexpensive ornaments that I like to use as filler, as well as the fake snow and fake cranberries. 

5.  Take advantage of nature.  Every year, I go grab some clippings from the Lowe's Christmas Tree lot.  It doesn't cost me a dime since I basically grab it out of their clipping trash.  THey are perfect for filling up vases and jars and tea pots for decor. 

Giving your home some Christmas Cheer doesn't take a winning lottery ticket or huge credit card debt.  Shop your house and take advantage of the Target Dollar Spot.  Have you found any wonderful finds this year?  

39

I'm currently sitting here, computer on my lap, staring at wrapping paper and ribbon scraps watching The Holiday.  It's crunch time to get things done because tomorrow at 2:30 we will officially be on vacation.  But, before I head to pick up those sweet boys of mine, I wanted to take a minute and reflect on something.

I turned 39 last month.

As in 40-1.

One year away from the Big 4-0.

There is a small part of me that still feels like the girl that just graduated from college.  I really feel like I just celebrated my 30th birthday with friends and family with the most delicious cupcakes.  But as I look back and really think about it, I am astonished about how much has happened since that little party 9 years ago.

Weston was born, Ethan started school and then a few years later Weston joined him. We traveled a lot, including some pretty big trips with our kids.  We started putting our heart into our house and making it a home with a few upgrades.  I learned how to make bread and have managed to keep sourdough starter alive for almost 2 years (I'm pretty proud of that one!).  I'm sure that there are more, but these are the things that stand out right now.

I know that a lot of people make bucket lists  of things they want to accomplish before they hit their 40th.  I don't really know that I want to make a bucket list, but I do want to set some goals to accomplish in the next year.  Goals that are more than just checking some fun things off a list, but goals that grow me as a person, wife, and mom.  Goals that grow me closer to God.

I thought I would share them with you because if I put them down here and make them public it will hold me to it.  And maybe. . . just maybe one person will ask how are things going?  Accountability is wonderful and such a good thing.

So. . . here it goes.

:: Complete my new Cultivate Prayer Journal.
:: Dig into and finish several She Reads Truth Studies.
:: Embrace bravery and write more (this is a big one because rejection is oh, so hard).
:: Slow Down. Breathe.  Say no to more things and hang out with my kids more.
:: Read more books. . . and finish them!
:: Finish some projects.
:: Travel (we already are planning our next big trip!)
:: Try baking Croissants and master macaroons.
:: Get to know more of our neighbors.
:: Ship-lap some walls.
:: De-clutter.  Throw things away and de-clutter.
:: escape for a weekend with my husband once, maybe twice.
:: keep working out and eating healthy (most of the time)


And that's my list.  I've already said no to some pretty big things and it's going to be weird not having them next Spring.  At the same time, when I said no, I felt lighter and less stressed out.  So, I am excited to slow down and leave room for growth and see what ways that God moves.


So, last year in my 30's, let's do this.  Let's live life and slow down and see what God is doing and how he's working.

Christmas Joy Wreath

I have these high hopes of getting everything done for Christmas by next Friday.  I'm not even sure it's possible, but I can dream, right? The reality is I would really like to be able to do some fun things with the kids and NOT have to leave my house except for maybe a trip to the movies or to the store to stock up sparkling water. . . or milk(s) and applesauce because those are basically the three things that my family needs for survival.  Thank goodness for Amazon because they are doing most of the heavy lifting!  Last week, one of my main goals was to get the house decorated and I can proudly check that off my list.  Well, minus the strand of lights on the decorated tree that bit the dust last night.  Oops.  Anyways, the house is decorated and it's so warm and cozy all I everyone wants to do is snuggle next to the tree with a good book.  It's the best! 

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, I want to be festive, but not go broke decorating for a month.  I'm all for simple decor in a nice color scheme and each year I add a few things, like some dollar spot finds that I will share next week.  But, I kind of swooned when I saw Heidi Swapp post this wreath on her instagram.  I was just so simple and I just love me a word written in a cute scripty font.  When I went to check out how much her Christmas words were on her website, the were priced at $36 and well. . . that was out of my budget.  So, I went on a hunt.

JoAnns, Hobby Lobby and Michaels have seen a lot of me wandering their isles, because they all sell craft supplies but they all have different things.  I was hoping for some cut out wood words that sort of screamed Christmas, after all it was for my front door at Christmas time.  I was kind of disappointed when I didn't see anything and thought I would get online and see.  But, that never happened because we had make a quick run to a different Target than I had been at earlier and the first thing I saw was a white, wooden JOY sign.  Not only was it perfect for my wreath, but it was only 3 bucks!  I'm not sure if that's really a Christmas miracle, but it was an unexpected find in the dollar spot (and really, I don't know why I am so surprised, I have found so many amazing finds this year that I will share next week).

Adding the Joy to the basic wreath took about 10 minutes total of my time to make and I am so glad that I did.  I bought some red acrylic paint from the art section and painted it.  It would have probably been fine white, but mine was kind of scuffed and I really wanted red. . . I had a vision.    So, I painted about 3 coats.  When it was dry, I hammered two little nails in the back and winded some wire around both sides and just hung it from the wreath hook.  It's not that noticeable from far away and it works. This way I can just throw the wreath away later and keep the joy for another year and for another wreath.  The wreath is from Trader Joes. . . they have the best real wreaths and garlands (Well, they are just amazing period). 

I know that Christmas time is extra busy with class performances, nutcracker ballets, advent, and shopping, but I hope that you leave this blog today feeling inspired to create something beautiful, save a little money, and maybe feel energized by creating something.  Is there something that you have created this holiday season?  Tag me on instagram at @jolieklassen or on facebook at @outoftherightbrain. . . I would love to see what creative things you are doing! 

Christmas Cheer {Free Printable}

Happy December!  Happy Advent!   Happy, Merry Everything!

We are 5 days into December and I am feeling like it's crunch time.  My kids are out after next Friday and I want to take advantage of all the time they are home.  We get 3 weeks off and I am ready! So with the fact that we have 8 school days left at our house, let's start getting this blog ready for Christmas.  This will be a short post because I have a bunch of stuff to get done before I pick the kids up from school. 

Amazon boxes are being delivered  and it's time to get wrapping! I wanted to make some tags out of some of the graphics I bought for our Christmas Cards (and didn't end up using).  I think they are kind of fun and after looking at the price of tags yesterday at Target, I decided I would just make my own. . . it's cheaper! I couldn't justify 6 tags for $4, when they are just going to end up with the trash pile or part of a wrapping paper ball war (please tell me that this happens in your house, too?).   I wanted something that would be cute and not have to cost a whole bunch. 

The printable has 5 different options.  Some you might not even like.  It's okay. . . I wasn't the biggest fan of the wreath, but I kept it there because maybe it will be yours (It's okay if it's not).  I also left lots of room for you to cut them out the way you want.  I used some of my Sizzix framelits and an old Creative Memories oval cutter to cut these guys out.  You can even use a tag punch (which I don't have).  You could even just use your scissors and cut them out in the shape you want.  The possibilities are endless!  Just print them out on your favorite card stock color.  I used white and kraft and I think I like the white best, but you do, you.  Make it your own.  Get creative!

 I would love to see you you are using them, so don't forget to snap a picture and post it to social media using #outoftherightbrainblog.

Sources:
images are by peachycottoncandy via her Etsy shop
wrapping paper is Target from last year
Ribbon is Hobby Lobby (Because 50 percent off!)
pine needles from the stash I picked up last week

Cardstock: I always keep a ream of 110lb white cardstock from Office Depot on hand.  I use it all the time and it's great!

 CLICK HERE to get your free printable.