You are my SUNSHINE!

Hello summertime!!!

Thank you so much for finally shaking those sleepy jitters off!!  

Now that summer is ago nationwide, it is important to take care of that time in the sun!

Always apply no less than SPF 15 sunscreen at least THIRTY minutes before hitting the pool, the beach, the lake, or participating outdoors!!!  Sunscreen is a topical treatment that needs time to be absorbed by the skin! 

Children are at higher risk for sunburn than adults are!  Especially fair skin-redheaded children!!  Always apply sunscreen to your child, whether it be yours or a child you are carrying for, before yourself!  Younger generations are always more important! They carry our habits, for better or worse.  Make it a habit that children see you apply sunscreen to yourself and help them apply it! This habit will stick with them!!  

Every sunburn you get before the age of 15 increases your chance of getting skin cancer by two times!!!  Skin is the bodies largest organ! How you take care of your skin is a direct reflection of how you take care of your body and nutrition!!  Your skin is your first impression of health.  Make it last!

Take care of your skin year round too!  If you drive a lot, frequently apply sunscreen or sunscreen lotion to your hands.  Also, do not neglect the tops of your feet or ears!  These areas tend to develop skin cancer more quickly because they are so frequently neglected!

Remember, you may not have that perfect golden glow now, but in 20-30 years from now your skin will be glossy and wrinkle free!!!

xo

-J-

The Spice of Life!

Thyme, Curry, Pepper, Rosemary, these are not your Gramma's golf ladies, these are allspices (see what I did there? ha! cooking humor) we use frequently to add spice to every dish as it touches part of your life.  Life craves flavor and variety, so why shouldn't your food?!  I am sure many of you are thinking, we get it out with the bland in with the flavor! And you are exactly right! IN with the FLAVOR!!

via google images

Did you know that most spices expire between one and two years after they are purchased?  Well it's true! So the next time you are making Gramma's award winning chili or your ninos favorite fajitas, think of how flavorful those spices might be.  I know the absolute ideal would be that everyone has their own garden out back full of lovely, aromatic spices, but that is just not real life for busy moms, dads and families!  That is why I want to teach you a better way to preserve those special spices of life!!!

Next time you purchase new spices for a recipe, date them.  Not tomorrow, not a month from now, TODAY!  This will help you control flavor and valuable cupboard space.  Not only does this control flavor, but it can help control budget too!  Some spices can be quite expensive (ahem! Ms. Saffron!!)  While others are quite inexpensive (pepper, garlic salt).  But we want them to taste as flavorful as possible for as long as possible, right?  Also, as you are cooking/cleaning in your kitchen, check the pigment of the spices you have.  As pigment fades so does flavor.  Think of how bright a banana that is just off of the tree is compared to a few days later when it has been sitting on your drainboard.  The same goes for spices, not as quickly as a ripening banana, but you get the picture.  Pigment is a direct reflection of the flavor quality.  It is a great visual queue to know when a spices life may be coming to an end.

Buying fresh herbs & spices not only ups the nutritional level of the spice, but also the flavor.  Thus you can (potentially) get away with using less, that is until the spices begins to age.  As the spice ages, you will need to evaluate if you are OK with using more spice for maximum flavor or purchasing new.  That is up to you and not for me to dictate or tell you what choice is best.  Cooking is personal, you have to do what feels right by you, and sometimes your wallet.

Now, on to storing these flavor game changers!!  Many people tend to store spices nearest their stove or oven.  I would kindly advise against this.  Heat can change the flavor of spices.  Most spices beg to be stored in a cool, dry environment.  (That is unless you are a Martha wannabe and have your own herb/spice garden/shop, if you do snaps for you!!)  In the vain of your own personal herb garden, the best place to store spices is nearest the coolest, driest place in your kitchen.  Yes you may have to walk a bit further while cooking, but think of how great that food will taste!!!  If you have a wine cellar or wine rack I recommend storing spices as closely to this place as possible.  (Wine is generally stored in the coolest place in your living quarters or kitchen)  These places are also, generally, furthest from heat or sudden exposure to heat.  Very different environment than next to or above your stove or oven.

Happy spice hunting!

xo
-J-

Youthful Tastes with a Grown-up Sophistication

Attention: Busy moms, college coeds, working professionals!!

I have found the cutest recipe for our childhood favorite, PopTarts!

Come on y'all! Who didn't love these "pastries" as a kid!?!

Well here is a spruced up, much more appealing and definitely tastier version of a childhood staple!

Visit the link below for a step by step guide on making these decadent breakfast pastries!

homemade pop tarts | smitten kitchen

*all images are via smitten kitchen*

XO-

-J-

Give 'Em The Boot

In a spurt of intense spring cleaning I decided to show you all how I store my boots during and after the winter season!

For added life of your hot winter boots, roll-up old catalogs or magazines and stuff one in each shaft.  This will preserve the life of your boots!  And keep them looking brand-new for the next chilly season!

Step one:  Roll any old catalog or magazine.

Step two: Place rolled-up mag/catalog into boots.

Step 3:  Stretch mag/catalog to fill boot.

Final Result:  Boots that stand up and don't flop over!!!  This will preserve the aesthetic AND the leather!

Boots in my closet.  

I cannot tell you how happy I am that I started doing this!  My boots fit better and my closet is more organized!  No more boot shafts flopping around over other shoes or folding over themselves!!

Enjoy!

xo-

J

Let Them Take Cake!

Is there anything more perfect in this world than getting to eat your cake and take it too?!



How perfect are these cake slice boxes?! I mean seriously? SO much better than a traditional to-go box! I would totally take a piece of cake just for the adorable packaging!

These would make a great accompaniment for your special day or an event!  There is nothing better than getting to take a small piece of delicious heaven home after a great event!  It is a great way to remember a fun day or evening!

These precious cake slice boxes can be found at the UK's Cox & Cox.  But for us Yanks it can be found on their website!  6 Euros will get you 10 boxes in a choice of 3 colors.

I would recommend these adorable favors for:

• Bridal showers
• Baby showers
• Tea parties
• Weddings

Happy Eventing!

xo

-J-

So Fly!

I do not recall where I heard of Fly Lady, but I heard about it!!!  They have a great starter program, Beginner Baby Steps.  (Free of charge).  Below I have compiled my favorite tips & tricks from Fly Lady.  I hope these help you organize and sort chores and activities the way they helped me!!!

I am already hyper-organizational, but this definitely refined these skills.

First: Shine Your Sink

This is simply making sure your sink is clear and dry when you are finished with it after:

                 *your morning wake-up/beauty routine

                 *breakfast/lunch prep

                 *dinner/dessert prep

                 *evening cleansing routine

by doing this you come home to a clean bathroom and a clean kitchen sink.
You will be amazed at how much stress this relieves!

Second: Get Dressed all the way

*This is a variation of their Get Dressed Up to Lace Up Shoes

This will allow you to be ready for the day no matter what is thrown your way.  I say get dressed all the way because I do not like walking around the house in my shoes.  (This saves on vacuuming time later and keeps floors looking nicer longer!)  

Third:  Pick Out Your Clothes

Set out what you would like to wear the next day before you go to bed at night, after you shine your sink and you will be time ahead in the morning.  I also do this with my meals up to dinner the evening before.  It makes for less hassle and less stress in the morning.  I find morning to be hectic as it is, so why not make it easier and less hectic?!

Fourth:  Write These Things Down

Write reminders down that help you stay on task!  I am by nature a list maker.  I constantly have a minimum of three, yes THREE, notepads on my desk.  They all vary in size according to the length of list needed.  I also, place post-its around that are tasks I need to do or little inspirations.  But I am careful as to not let them clutter!  If I have looked at something for more than about a week or two, I take it down and refresh it!

Fifth: Declutter for a Few Minutes

For me this may mean putting laundry away (my absolute least favorite chore) or wandering the house and tidying a little at a time.  It could also mean organizing for later in the day or for the next day.  But make it something that works for you!!

There are 30 total of these little tips.  These 5 are my standbys.  I will post 5 a week until I have posted all the ones I think are relevant! But all these links are linked to a point on the Fly Lady website!  That means you can view all of the tips/tricks at anytime and determine which are your favorites.

xo

-J-

Goody Goody Cupcakes!

This weekend was not productive for me other than work and making a LOT of cuppycakes!!!

Earlier in the week my father brought home a cupcake.  I saw it and intended to share it or simply refrain from eating it at all... But if you know you know that I canNOT refrain from eating a cupcake at all.  It is not in my DNA to say "Oh wow that surely is a gorgeous looking cupcake, I'll share it or let someone else eat it."  That will never happen.  Sharing is caring does not apply to a cupcake, unless I make a HUGE batch... Which is exactly what I did Saturday morning!  I should say "baked" because to be shamefully earnest I used store bought mix and icing! Shame, shame, shame on me!! I do usually make my own batter and icing from scratch. But the ideas were too fresh on my mind, and I did not want to use the extra time on cupcakes that were an experiment.

I find using some store bought items for a first try of cupcakes is great!  I found one cuppycake recipe I am keeping and one that needs LOTS of work.  So it was a successful baking weekend.

So onto the actual cupcakes...

The first was a cookies 'n' cream.  This was the absolute BEST! Oh my word, (I am sure this cupcake has been made plenty of times before by others) I have no clue how the idea for this cupcake never struck me before! I used yellow cake mix.  HOWEVER! I chopped up Oreos (R) and added them to the mix.  Delicious.  Then used simple vanilla icing and dipped the iced cupcakes in leftover crushed Oreos (R) for the topping!  Please I am begging you, make these! You will not be disappointed!

The second was S'mores.  Great concept. Poor execution.  But hey it was for fun and I have an even better idea how to execute this cupcake another time. So great learning experience!  Again, store bought rich chocolate cake mix.  Marshmallow creme and crushed up graham crackers on top.  The idea was well-intentioned however the marshmallow creme had other plans...  I will be re-doing this cupcake later in spring/early summer because I am dedicated to perfecting it.  In the meantime, I fully plan on enjoying what is leftover.

The cookies 'n' cream was a hit at work.  And the cake mix from the S'mores was a hit.  But the next time I make these cupcakes it will be with homemade batter!

Oh the adventures in cuppycakes!!!

Have a sweet week!!

xo
-J-