Favorite Pin Friday | Volume 20

TGIF! In my many trips to Hobby Lobby for supplies for the baby sprinkle, I was shocked by how much Christmas decor and craft items were available in JULY. Then I thought, people who would be making/selling Christmas decorations would need to start crafting now. I ran across a cute decoration for a front door on Pinterest. There isn't a website or directions to go with it as it was an image "uploaded by user," but it looks simple enough. This would be an easy to store decoration because of its size. Sometimes I feel like wreaths are just so huge and take up a lot of space!

Guess this means another trip to Hobby Lobby. Happy crafting! Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for visiting.

Until next post...xoxo Becca

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

I took advantage of a quiet Sunday afternoon and got back in the kitchen to bake. I was craving a warm chocolate chip cookie. When I traveled for work I often stayed at Hyatt Place hotels and one located in Dallas would heat up a chocolate chip and peanut butter cookie for me almost every night. It was a simple comfort of home that made hotel living easier to handle. I hope you enjoy this recipe!

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

8 Tbsp. butter, softened
½ cup sugar
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1½ cups all purpose flour
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1 cup chocolate chips (I used ½ cup milk chocolate and ½ cup white chocolate)

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add vanilla and egg, beat until incorporated
3. Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix well. Add chocolate chips until incorporated
4. Drop by the spoonful onto greased baking sheet. Makes about 12 cookies.
5. Bake for 13-18 minutes, until edges are slightly brown
6. Let cool and serve

Until next post...xoxo Becca

Favorite Pin Friday | Volume 19

For the last few weeks I've avoided the kitchen. I know, what's wrong with me!? I think the Texas heat plus the lack of interest in food won, but I am happy to report I have rediscovered this room again!

This week I've been busy in the kitchen. My latest goal is to add more vegetables to every dish. Doesn't hurt to sneak a few in here and there. A food processor is your best friend ;) Today I'm sharing a pie recipe that requires no cooking. Glorious, another easy dessert recipe!

Another obsession of mine (besides black and white everything!) is peanut butter. So today is a Peanut Butter Pie from allrecipes.com. Thank goodness for Pinterest because my mom used to make this pie for me all the time, but I've misplaced the recipe. The one I'm sharing is pretty close.

The original recipe is for 2 pies, but I'm giving instructions for 1.

1/2 8oz package of cream cheese
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup milk
8oz package frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 9-inch prepared graham cracker crust

1. Beat together cream cheese and confectioners' sugar. Mix in peanut butter and milk. Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.
2. Spoon into pie shell, cover and freeze until firm.

I try to make this pie 1 day in advance so it can stay in the freezer overnight. Let it thaw just a little before serving so it's cold and creamy. Great summer dessert.

Until next post...xoxo Becca

Recent Purchases

Hello and welcome to a new week! Hope you enjoyed the weekend. Today I'm reviewing a couple of my recent purchases.

Loft

I bought this shirt on sale at Loft a few weeks ago and can't stop wearing it! It's nice as a tank for these hot summer days or wearing to work under a cardigan or jacket. Only a few sizes left, snag one while you can.

Loft

Also bought this at Loft. Haven't had a chance to wear it yet, but the structure is nice if you're a pencil skirt lover like I am. I picked this skirt because I had seen it featured on Extra Petite last year in gray. The fabric is thick, but light enough for summer and I love the fact that it has pockets. The waist is a little large on me, but I also have a tiny waist compared to my hips. A little alteration and it will fit perfect! Can't wait to style it and feature it soon.

Lush

I picked up this product two weeks ago (mentioned here) and have been using it twice a day. I wanted to give you a review in case you were hoping I'd write one.

The idea behind Lush Cosmetics is making good products using fresh and organic ingredients, use little or no preservatives, and they list all the ingredients used on their packaging. There is a lot more about their beliefs on the website. All in all I think this is a great idea. With some products you have no clue what you're putting on your body.

I picked Skin Drink because I wanted to try a new moisturizer. I had been using Origins GinZing and like it, but thought trying something else may be even more effective with my dry skin. See my skincare routine here. This product definitely makes my skin feel soft and smooth. If you have a sensitive nose this isn't the product for you. It's very "earthy" and something makes me wonder why am I slathering this on my face if it doesn't smell good, but it works well! I use it at night and put it on under my foundation in the morning. All day my skin feels hydrated, but not greasy. I look forward to giving my skin a nice "drink" at the end of the day. Heck, I like a drink at the end of the day, but that's beside the point. I would recommend this product! 

What products or clothes have you bought recently you'd recommend?

Until next post...xoxo Becca

Favorite Pin Friday | Volume 18

Pinterest is loaded with recipes, DIYs, decorating tips, workout plans, the list goes on and on, but it also has some good quotes that serve as reminders or motivators in some cases. I have a whole board dedicated to them. The board is called Words of Wisdom and you can check it out here. Warning, it's a lot of random stuff, but isn't that what wisdom is...the knowledge of a whole bunch of stuff? Ok, maybe that's not completely right, but that's how I define "wise," having insight because of experience. That being said, one of the pins I ran across earlier this week reminds me how important quality over quantity is.

When you go to college you meet a ton of new people. Everyone's different, the environment is different. During college you're growing as a person because every situation is new and challenging. You're figuring yourself out. By senior year most of your friends are probably similar to you because you've narrowed down the list of people you want to be around. After college...boy oh boy do things change. You start to realize which people are truly there for you even if they're 200+ miles away. All of a sudden your "group" gets smaller and I'm here to remind you...that's ok!

I spent the first few years out of college realizing who my true friends were and the people who had similar goals. I didn't have time for those who would drag me down. I needed (and wanted) to surround myself with genuine people. Slowly my circle got smaller and smaller until I had a handful of really great people supporting me. Along the way you pick up new friends who come and go based on life changes.

For me, a good friend is honest, unselfish, successful/goal oriented, and genuine.

If you have people in your life who are bringing you down or making your life difficult, I'm not telling you to drop them, but maybe it's time to consider who has the most positive impact on your life.

Don't forget to evaluate how you are as a friend too! No one is perfect. Maybe you could reach out a little more or offer advice more frequently. Make an effort to stay involved in a person's life.

Was this too deep for a Friday? Remember when I started this blog and I said I wanted to share daily life, struggles, ambitions, and everything in between. Well here ya go! Hope you have a great weekend and check back Monday for a post. Thanks for visiting, I hope you leave me love in the form of a comment, I love hearing from you. Until next post...xoxo Becca
 

Sprinkled with Love

Hi everyone and welcome back! Over the weekend I hosted a baby sprinkle for one of my best friends. "What's a baby sprinkle" you say? Wellllll, it's to celebrate baby number 2, 3, 4... but not as formal as a baby shower. When you've already had one baby you don't really need the big ticket items for the additional little ones. A sprinkle focuses on the every day necessities (i.e. diapers, wipes, clothes, gift cards).

My friend is having another boy and I wanted to give her a day to relax with the girls and celebrate her little man. I think I accomplished that :) Enjoy some pictures from the sprinkle.

Forest Cafe & Bakery did an awesome job! | Idea Source

Free Printable | Shanty 2 Chic

I loathe baby shower games. So I opted for activities everyone could choose to participate in. First up, instead of a guestbook I asked each guest to create a scrapbook page and write a message for baby Aiden. They did an great job, the pages look fun and have the cutest messages! It was easy, I picked up all the supplies from Hobby Lobby and watched for sales on scrapbook items. Everything purchased was 50% off. #winning

Next up was a "guess baby's birthday" activity. I drew a calendar and each guest was asked to place a sticker on the day they thought baby Aiden would be born and sign it. Then I put it in a frame for my friend to keep. Can't wait to see who wins! :)

Thanks for making the diaper cake Carrie!

Food: All us girls know food at showers is pretty typical. For once I didn't stray too far from a typical menu, but I did make it easy on myself by using Chick-fil-a chicken salad and fruit tray. All I had to do was buy croissants, make a side dish, and put all the Chick-fil-a items in nice serving dishes. The punch was easy too. 2 packets of Blue Raspberry Lemonade Kool-Aid and 2 2-liter bottles of Sprite. Easy, easy, easy! The beverage dispenser was a deal I grabbed a few weeks ago from Sur la Table.

The fruit was so pretty it needed it's own photo ;) Plates from Crate and Barrel's Cambridge 2-Tier Server

Easy favor, animal crackers

Thanks for coming ladies!

Next event: a sip and see ;) Until next post...xoxo Becca