Around the house...

We been enjoying a few days at home around the holidays. I love it.

Sometimes, Mr. Evans and I keep busy running errands, working, exercising (Mr. Evans), working on grad school homework (me), cooking, cleaning, working on projects, getting together with friends and family, etc. Other times, we love nothing more than doing absolutely nothing.

This about sums it up...

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow, but children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow. So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep.
- Ruth Hulburt Hamilton, 1958

Happy New Year!!

Rosemary Roasted Cashews

This snack can be served along with an elegant or casual appetizer spread. Either way, these Rosemary Roasted Cashews are delicious and simple. They're a staple in our house around the holidays. Mr. Evans requests them every year!

Click here for the recipe.

A Merry Christmas

I have so much to be thankful for this holiday season. See below for the highlights from my side of the family Christmas. We're headed out of town this weekend for the Evans family Christmas and New Year's celebrations.

On Christmas Eve day, we always celebrate with champagne (a 2003 bottle of Schramsberg - Nina liked holding the glass), a Napa lunch with old friends, followed by dinner (see below) and the 8:30 candlelight church service. Mr. Evans came down the stomach flu, so unfortunately missed church (hence the photo of Nina and I sans daddy).

Every year, we choose a new dinner theme. Last year, it was lobster. Two years ago, we made Boeuf Bourguignon. This year, we made this menu (click here). It was delicious! I made homemade peppermint ice cream for dessert, but do not have a photo for proof. I promise, it was tasty! I used a Todd English recipe if you're wondering.

Christmas Day photos (Nina and bows, Nina on present, Nina in dress, Nina with Aunt Melissa)!

Getting ready for Christmas Day. We spent the morning opening presents and then went to my Aunt and Uncle's for brunch, a White Elephant exchange, games, a chili cook-off and the Packers game.

P.S. I now have dark brown hair. Any thoughts? It's growing on me, especially during the winter months. I'll be back blonde in summer, no doubt.

White Chocolate Bark

I make a variation on this recipe (click here), but use pistachios, dried figs and dried cranberries. It's another super simple addition to any spread. It would make a great hostess gift as well!

What are your favorite sites/cookbooks to peruse when gathering recipes? Lately, my go-to's are Ina Garten  cookbooks and foodgawker.com.

Merry Christmas!

May your holiday be filled with peace, joy and wonderful memories.
May your new year be filled with health and prosperity.
May you always love others with patience and kindness.
May you humbly remember the reason for the season.
May you pause to count your blessings.
May you laugh and enjoy all that is good about living.

May your days be merry and bright!

Cheers!

Merry Christmas, from my family to yours!

Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of all those things and be calm in your heart. - Unknown

Clothespin Wreath

I never know what to do with all the Christmas cards I receive. Some are so beautiful that I've been searching for a way to display them for all to see. Then, of course, I saw an idea on Pinterest. Really, you say? Pinterest, again?

Check out my inspiration here. Mine looks similar, although it's not perfect and is a little lopsided. Oh well. I like it! :)

When I feel crafty again, I'd also make this (click here, also from the same blog) for Nina.

P.S. We do receive many more beautiful cards than this, but for the purposes of photo taking, I only chose a few.

Planning Board

I got the idea to make this on Pinterest. I would love to share the original link/inspiration/directions, but cannot seem to find it again! My apologies.

Basically, I bought an inexpensive frame at Hobby Lobby and made the inside template with leftover ribbon and paper. Then, each Sunday Mr. Evans and I write on the outside glass with dry-erase markers.

We hung it right near our garage door so we're able to quick check our schedules. In the age of technology, I still like having a paper calendar and hard-copy organization.

100 Posts

So, I've had 100 posts since I started my blog. Let's celebrate! Here are things you might not know about  me. Or, if we're friends or family, you probably do!

What don't I know about you? I'd love to read your comments!

I live in the town I grew up in.

I love to cook and bake.
I love to read cookbooks. 
I blog about my baby Nina a lot.

I play piano, but not nearly enough.

I am obsessed with Pinterest on my iPhone.

I eat a ton of cheese and drink a glass of wine perhaps too often.

My middle name is Rose.

Mr. Evans is the best father and husband. He’s currently training for an Ironman. Wow.

I’m impatient and am very particular about how things are done. 

I’m organized, sometimes too much so.

I have a nice camera, but don’t take great photos. Yet.
I have an old violin that my grandpa gave to me. My goal is to learn to play Ashokan Farewell on it.

I hate scary movies. Even scary movie preview commercials.

I love McDonald’s.

I drink decaf.

I don’t drink enough water during the day.

I have to have something sweet after dinner.
I love fireworks and summers on the lake.
I love being a mom and wife.
On Saturday mornings in the summer, you'll find me at our farmers market.
I have far too many Sharpies to count.

Christmas Card Book

Since Mr. Evans and I have been married and sent out joint Christmas cards, I've saved a copy for my "records." This year I decided to create a little album (using an inexpensive Hobby Lobby red leather album and some leftover stickers) to house our cards. Each year, it will be fun to look back at all the cards.

Here is the card we mailed this year. I purchased the card design off of Etsy from "digibuddha paperie" (click here). Then, luckily my in-laws own a print shop so we could send over the file! Thanks Evans Printing!!

Three Months

On December 13th, Nina turned three months old!

The outfit below is not her Christmas outfit, but was MY Christmas outfit as a baby. Since we are both born in September, I knew it'd basically fit. However, it doesn't quite button around her neck. She's had a growth spurt as of late!

Happy less-than-one-week until Christmas!

Annual Cookie Baking

Every year, my family and some friends gather at my mom's house for our cooking baking extravaganza. We start at 10:30 am and often don't finish until around dinner. This year, we made 12 types of cookies. I figure we made around almost 800 cookies.

Here's what was on our list this year:
- Sugar Cut Outs
- Raspberry Almond Thumbprints
- Molasses Cookies
- Bacon and Egg Cookies
- Fudge
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Brownie Snowflakes
- Butterscotch Cut Outs
- Sturgeon Bay Cookies
- Christmas M&M Cookies
- Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
- Pecan Fingers

P.S. Isn't Santa's little elf the cutest?

Little Flower Soaps

My SIL owns a wonderful homemade soap company. I ordered bars of these two scents to incorporate with some of my holiday gifts.

If I could get the smell to penetrate through my computer to yours, you would smell lovely scents of the season (evergreen and the outdoors, cranberry, fig and spice).

Email her if you interested in ordering! I know she's super busy the rest of the year, but maybe some spring and summer scents will be just the ticket come the days of cold, gloomy snow.

Happy December!

Lemon Pecan Biscotti

I made this super simple recipe from my Cake Doctor cookbook for a brunch we hosted last weekend. Lemon Pecan Biscotti is refreshing and a great side to an egg bake, fresh fruit and coffee.

I've made another biscotti recipe before with a recipe from Smitten Kitchen (click here). However, this version was much easier and could be quickly made during Nina's morning nap!

In fact, I wish I had a piece right now!

St. Nick's Day

In her stocking, little miss Nina received her first Christmas ornament. I ordered it from Vintage Pearl.

I think it's beautiful.

I hope you love looking at your sparkling tree as much as I do.

This weekend, we have my mom's annual cooking baking party! Stay tuned for Nina's outfit - omg - it's just too much! Pointy elf shoes... need I say more?

O Christmas Tree

There is nothing like the soft twinkling lights of a Christmas tree. Nina is in a trance looking at the lights, and Mr. Evans and I are surely in the Christmas spirit. My Pandora is set to holiday tunes, we're burning an evergreen candle, I'm planning my cookie recipes, I've been writing out Christmas cards... does it get any better than that?

Since we don't have a fireplace (but definitely want one in our next house), we hang our stockings for St. Nick on my baby grand piano. Mr. Evans and I each have stockings from our mothers, so I only thought it fitting that Nina have one from me. The one below was made in late August, when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant. It kept me busy and the stores were just starting to stock stocking kits. I sewed this one by hand.

Christmas Parade

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.  ~Norman Vincent Peale


Happy December!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Somehow, I managed to not take one single family photo at Thanksgiving. Jeez. Luckily, here are a few quick (random) snapshots from the weekend.

Grandma bought this little outfit for Nina in Napa. How cute! We wore it out to dinner on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving to The Binkery.

She wore this outfit to Thanksgiving. Guess who gave this as a gift as well? Haha.

Nina and her cousin Evie (almost 1 year). I can't wait until they can play together!

Nina and I before lunch with Meemaw and Grandbear (the Evans grandparents) at Milwaukee Ale House on Sunday.

We wrapped up our weekend with our local Christmas parade. We also decked the halls of the Evans homestead. Photos to come soon!