Randomness on Wednesday

Lots of things to share and I love lists. So I combined them both and tried not to make the list too long!

* I went to the library to get my book club book (all out, had to put a copy on hold) and instead came home with these books. Instead of spending ALL night on Pinterest (you can follow me here), I'll be enjoying these books.

* I've been teaching M sign language but she seems to interpret my signs a little differently and makes up her own so that only Brian and I know what she is saying! Its cute, but a little confusing at times since a few look very similar. Her newest one is "help" and instead of using the sign I tried to teach her she raises her hand or in urgent situations, raises both hands. I like her version much better.

* This week I will be attempting my third try at making macarons. The first two, while tasting great, didn't have the "typical" macaron look. So after a lot of research, I'm hoping to have success this time around!

First failed attempt at macarons, 4 years ago

* Have you ever purchased bulk food products? A friend introduced me to Azure Standard awhile back and I'll be placing an order soon! A few friends are going in on some things with me and we can't wait to get everything!

* I went to get M up from her nap yesterday and found she had taken off her pants AND diaper AND went to the bathroom both on the crib and on the floor. Luckily there was no finger painting or anything brown...but it was a funny scene to walk in to!

* I love my kitchen. We remodeled our house about 8 years ago and I was able to get a great kitchen. To good to be true appliances, beautiful countertops and custom cabinets, my dad is a master carpenter! I also have tons of storage space but somehow I need even more. I've just collected so many things and its hard to let go...so a little organization was in order. I started with the most disorganized cabinets and even though I still have lots of things/food at least its organized!

Before
After, I love baskets!

* Oh, and Miette is now walking! It is the cutest thing and makes me want to cry each time I see her little Frankenstein walk! And she is so proud of herself.

Hope you have a great Wednesday. I'm off to make test some new (pink!) recipes for BlogSugar!

Miette: Peanut Butter Cookies and Caramel Corn

Miette. The name of our beautiful baby girl. About 10 years ago, B and I watched a French movie called "(La cite des enfants perdus) The City of Lost Children". The main character is a young girl by the name of Miette. We both immediately fell in love with the name and knew that if we ever had a girl that would be her name. A few years later we were in San Francisco and stumbled across a pastry shop called Miette Patisserie. Absolutely amazing pastries and desserts, plus everything had our favorite name on it! Every time we would visit San Francisco we had to make a stop and bring home some delicious treats.

Our little Miette is now 1 year old and a few months ago I heard that the patisserie was coming out with a cookbook. I immediately pre-ordered it and was so excited. I found out that my sister-in-law also ordered the cookbook as a gift for M and I was glad that I could use one and keep one for when she is older.

The cookbook arrived on Friday and I eagerly flipped through the pages and fell in love. The photography is stunning as are each of the desserts. And the pages have scalloped edges, how adorable is that? I want to make everything in the cookbook!

On Saturday morning I decided to make the Caramel Corn and the Peanut Butter Cookies, two of my favorite desserts. Oh my goodness. They are both incredible. And addicting. Very addicting.

The caramel corn is sweet but you also get a little hint of salt which balances the sweet just perfect. And each piece is the perfect piece of caramel corn. I left out the peanuts because I didn't have any on hand and I didn't miss them!

Peanut butter cookies. My husband's favorite. Instead of the trademark "fork" tine marks I flattened them and added a peanut then sprinkled with either fleur de sel or sugar. They are so light, not too sweet and just the right amount of peanut butter.

I can't wait to make more desserts out of this cookbook. There are recipes for graham crackers and marshmallows and I think those may be up next (since I am addicted to homemade s'mores)!

If you love desserts, candy, pastries, beautiful photography, simple recipes and scalloped pages then you must get this cookbook!

Lovely Lemon Muffins

A few weeks ago I was at a friend's house and she served quinoa muffins with dried cranberries. They were good but a little heavy. I started thinking of ways to lighten the muffins as well as add more flavor. Citrus, tart, sweet. I adapted a lemon poppy seed recipe and replaced the poppy seeds with a large quantity of cooked quinoa, and added dried cranberries, blueberries and cherries. This morning, while Miette was sleeping, I baked these muffins.


These are good. Really good. The citrus-y lemon flavor really comes through. Then you get a little tart burst when you bite into a cranberry and the sweet flavor of the muffin. Miette agrees that they are delicious.


I imagine that these lemon muffins are...




Here's the recipe.


And while Miette was enjoying her snack a special gift arrived in the mail. We pre-ordered this cookbook a few month's ago and were so excited to receive it (we have another one coming, a birthday gift, and that one will be a keepsake for my Miette)! The Miette cookbook from the bakery in San Francisco. Amazing desserts, beautiful photos. I flipped through and want to make each and every recipe! And instead of regular square pages, the entire book has scalloped edges. Adorable!

Hope you enjoy the recipe!

Sewing: Birdie Top and Cardigan Sweater

I've been on a sewing kick lately. I made some bibs, a shirt, a sweater and I'm planning to make a jacket and a skirt in the next week or so. I go through phases where I sew a lot and then the sewing machine sits there, untouched, for weeks at a time. I've been inspired by so many blogs and it's amazing how creative and talented these women are! I have a long list of things I want to make and here are just a few that I'm so excited about!

I made this shirt for Miette's 1st birthday using the snappy toddler top pattern from Prudent Baby. Well, I actually made three of these tops. The first two were too small but the third was a perfect fit! I sewed snaps onto the shirt then added buttons for more decoration.

Front

Back

The material is a soft, light corduroy and looked so adorable with leggings and these cute sandals!


Earlier this year I cleaned out my closet and made a stack of clothes that I still liked but either didn't fit anymore or just needed a little re-fashioning.

Using this tutorial I took an old sweater of mine and cut it down to fit Miette.

Before (I forgot to take a picture of the actual sweater, but this is the same style, different color)

Then I cut down the center to make it into a cardigan. I used the original ribbing for the sleeves, bottom and center. Added a snap to the top then made a small fabric flower that I glued onto the snap.

I love how it turned out! Looks cute with her little khaki shorts too!

After

We are off to Jo-Ann's to check out their $1.99 McCalls pattern sale!

Have a great weekend!