Sunny Days and A Warm Gooey Easter

Something about sun shiny days really makes me want to  bake. And one of my favorite things about Easter (besides egg-shaped chocolaty goodness and bunnies plunging ears first into the peanut butter jar) is Easter breakfast. 

I love spending a lazy sunny Sunday morning visiting with my family, eating some of my favorite foods (spiral ham - yum! eggy breakfast casseroles - yum! hash browns - yum! sweet breakfast rolls - yum! yum!), chasing it down with loads of chocolate, and hunting a few Easter eggs.

Yes, I did hunt Easter eggs until I was in my late twenties. I'm talking full contact, race to find the most the fastest, stealing other peoples eggs, bragging rights for a full year Easter egg hunting.
Now that My Little Man is getting SO big, I'm so excited to share these traditions with him. Though the egg hunt may be a bit more subdued for a while. Nevertheless I can't wait!

Bryan and I went to an Italian cooking class last week at the Bosch store. It was a lot of fun and super tasty! The instructor was flighty but adorable and by the time the class was over, I was stoked to try grinding my own wheat flour. She made a super easy and yummy pizza dough that I can't wait to try.
What does that have to do with Easter you ask? Well... I think it will be perfect for making some oh so tantalizing breakfast bread. Now the only problem is deciding what kind to make.
There is the old standby favorite (and favorite for a reason)...  Cinnamon Rolls.
My moms go-to Orange Roll recipe that everyone loves.

or a new idea that has been cultivating in this little head of mine after numerous hours of Food Network playing in the background of my everyday household chores...  Salted Caramel Sticky Buns with Crumbled Brown Sugar Bacon.
How's a girl to decide? ... how about make all three!?! Sounds a bit ambitious for a novice baker with an 8 month old and a husband on the road. So we'll see how it goes.


Baking adventures to come....

A Work in Progress

My adorable little man is now 8 months old and yes I am still working on his nursery. I always had this idea that I would have my babies nursery complete and ready to go by the end of my first trimester.


...Yeah right!
I don't think I even left the couch.


 I had been planning this time for so many years I was certain I knew exactly how I wanted the oh so important room. Well needless to say, when the time came, I just couldn't decide how to decorate. Finally just 1 week before the arrival of little Lucas, I went out and bought a crib set. (giving up on the set I started making.)

So very long story short... yes... I am still working on some "finishing touches" in the nursery. And here is one of the projects I've been working on.

  

First pick out scrapbook paper for the fronts of your letters. And trace the letters onto your paper.

Then paint the letters to match the scrap book paper. Once the letters are dry, paint the fronts of the letters with Modge Podge or glue and attach you paper letters. Once it is dry use sandpaper to sand off any paper that hangs over the edge. I also sanded the edges to give it more of a worn look. I think next time I will cut the paper just a bit smaller than the letters and then sand the edges.

Just like that, you are done!

Can't believe it took me just short of eight months.   

Looking Forward to Spring!

Feeling cooped up?

Spring is coming!

And we can't wait!

Our Little Fishy

Last week we started taking Lucas to Parent-Tot classes at Swim Kids. We absolutely love it! And better yet, Lucas loves its!! He was a little sceptical at first But now I can honestly say he can't get enough. Not to mention how active he has become out of the water. After a few initial tears (yes from me too), he is off and ready to hit the lake this summer.

By his second lesson he was swimming under the water.

Love is in the Air

Love is in the air and so is cold and flu season. This week the cold and flu bug has hit our family hard. But luckily Lucas has gotten away with just a stuffy nose. In an effort to keep my germs to myself, I stopped giving my usually barrage of kisses. So much to my delight, after a few kiss-less days, a kiss on the back of the head prompted my little man to lean in for another, and another, and another with a squeal of delight. I know it won't last forever, but for now this mom is the happiest woman ever!

New Year - New Blog

My name is Emily Ann Tippetts. I am a wife, daughter, sister, crafter, DIYer, novice gardner, foodie, accidental IT professional, and recently a first-time mother. Being a new mom has brought many changes and a lot less sleep. So I've decided to turn-over a new leaf and make a New Year's resolution. Among the usual goals of getting organized and returning to a healthy lifestyle after my year long "baby hiatus", I've decided to start this blog about all the things I love and the people I love as a reminder of all I have been blessed with.