Archives for June 2016

Fourth of July Dessert Hacks: Ice Cream Sandwiches & Boozy Rootbeer Floats

June 30, 2016 by Drafts & Crafts

Here are two simple, yet timeless (yes- I just described dessert as timeless #biggie) dessert hacks that will be perfect for entertaining on the Fourth of July!

Sprinkled Ice Cream Sandwich Pops

ice cream sandwiches (these mini soy sandwiches are from Trader Joe’s)
sprinkles
popsicle sticks
plastic wrap

Gently stick the popsicle stick into the ice cream sandwich and dab the edges of the ice cream into a bowl of sprinkles.
Re-wrap the finished product in plastic wrap and place back into the freezer until ready to eat.

Boozy Root Beer Floats

vanilla ice cream
The BEST root beer (alcoholic root beer) or regular root beer with a shot of bourbon or vodka

Scoop 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream into a glass or tumbler.
Fill the glass with alcoholic root beer for an adult beverage. And of course you can use regular root beer to make a treat for the kids too!

These two quick hacks are fool proof desserts that would be awesome to celebrate the Fourth of July. I personally love them because I think they are fun for both adults and children! We will be having some younger kids at our home this holiday so I like to find ideas that are enjoyable for all. The possibilities for red, white, and blue treats are endless! If you are in a pinch, don’t forget that you can add some strawberries and blueberries to any dessert for an instant patriotic touch! What are your plans this holiday weekend?? We plan to catch some sun, relax, play some yard games, and grill out!

Keep in touch,
Dani

Red, White, and Blue

Closet

June 28, 2016 by Drafts & Crafts

I love busting out the red, white, and blue color combo for the Fourth! Holidays are the perfect excuse to rock your festive attire and colorful accessories. I am sharing my casual July 4th look and linking some fun hair accessories, like these cat ears.

{Off the shoulder dress: J. Crew}
{Cat ears: Forever 21}
{Sandals: J. Crew}
{Bag: J. Crew}
{Tanner’s Onesie: J. Crew}

Additional Red, White, & Blue Accessories:

Red, White, and Blue striped Headband
Red and Blue Star Headband
Stars and Stripes Bows
Blue and Red Stripe Bow

This new mama is keeping it casual this Fourth of July weekend. You can not go wrong with a comfortable off-the-shoulder chambray dress. This dress is a repeat offender and I am completely OK with that. The last time I featured this dress on the blog, I was still preggo so I thought it’s time to re-style it now that I don’t have a big baby bump. Chambray is like a neutral color to me. The possibilities to accessorize chambray for July 4th are endless. I found these adorable cat ears at Forever 21! I have linked several other red, white, and blue hair accessories that would be super fun to style for the Fourth! What are your holiday weekend plans? Jason and I have family coming into town from Tennessee. We are super excited to spend the weekend with our brother and sister-in-law. Tanner will also get to meet his 3 cousins for the first time!! We are excited to kick-back, relax, and host our family in town. I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th!

Keep in touch,
Dani

Pink Scallops + Cold Brew

Closet

June 15, 2016 by Drafts & Crafts

Took this scalloped tank for a spin to my coffee date. There is nothing I enjoy more than sippin’ some good coffee at my favorite neighborhood coffee shop.

{Scalloped Top: Anthropologie} {Skirt: Target}
{Flats: Gap (sold out), similar, similar under $25!}
{Bucket bag: J. Crew}
{Watch: AIBI} {Hat: Forever 21}

My husband and I live in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Jacksonville. With new store fronts popping up regularly, most locals recognize the neighborhood as “up and coming.” I like to recognize it as being restored. Murray Hill, which was named after the neighborhood in NYC, is an historic part of Jax. The neighborhood was established in the early 1900’s and was thriving through 40’s, 50’s, 60’s. There are some historic establishments that are still open, like the Dreamette, which is a soft-serve ice cream shop that opened in 1948. The Dreamette was voted the best soft serve in Florida.

There are also several new places in Murray Hill, like Vagabond Coffee Co. Vagabond is my favorite neighborhood hangout. This retro coffee shop is the perfect space to catch up with a friend or catch up on some work. I highly recommend trying a latte, the cold brew, and a galette… you can thank me later! I took this Anthropologie scalloped tank for a spin to get some coffee (sleep deprivation calls from coffee with breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and headed to dinner with my little family. This raspberry top is the perfect pop of color for welcoming summer next week. I always look forward to adding some bright pieces to my wardrobe in the summer. You can still shop this gingham bucket bag from J. Crew that is on sale. My flats are currently sold out, but I have linked 2 similar pairs- one which is only $25. Are you ready for summer?

Keep in touch,
Dani

Tanner’s 1 Month Update

Mommy & Misc

June 12, 2016 by Drafts & Crafts

Welcoming Tanner to our family has been the greatest adventure! The past month has flown by and we are soaking up each and every memory with our son. Here is a little update on what life has been like for us & some of our fav baby products.

{Get the outfit details here}

Tanner Chase was born one month ago, on May 12. I shared his birth story a few weeks ago incase you missed it and would like to catch up. My husband and I do not know where the last month has gone… oh that’s right, it’s been consumed by miracles, love, worry, pray, praise, and I can not forget- sleeplessness! Although we may be tired all of the time, Tanner has brought so much joy to our lives in the one month that he has been “in the world” and we would not change a thing!

We brought Tanner home from the NICU one week after he was born and our lives will never be the same. Jason and I love to spend our days with our baby boy. Sure, we are exhausted and our lives are now dictated by a 8 pound human, but Jason and I work as a team and make it work. I personally do not think I could do it on my own. Jason gets up to feed the baby boy before around 5am (sometimes 4am) and it gives me a chance to sleep a FEW more hours. On average I sleep for 3 hours then feed around 2am and then get another 3 to 4 hours in after that, if I am lucky. Broken sleep is hard and takes a toll on some days.

Tanner has gained over a pound since being home. He has been to the doctor twice and they are pleased with his development. The baby burrito (my nickname for him) eats like a champ, like we should be surprised- he fits right in with his family!! Tanner loves to be held, tummy time, bright lights, breast milk, and warm baths. The mister does not care for diaper changes and being hungry (or should I say hangry). He does not have a loud screechy cry, he grunts a lot, which is actually kinda nice.. And funny! Tanner sounds like an old man who is grunting when he wants something! All in all, we would say he is an easy baby!! I just pray it stays that way! We are so so thankful for this little gift! Tanner does drink breast milk, but not usually from the breast. I mostly pump and bottle feed. This will be something personal that I would like to talk about in a later post. Breastfeeding is not easy so props to all the mamas out there who do it!

Now for some of our favorite baby products! In the past month, we have fallen in love with several baby items. These products seem like they were created to make life a little bit simpler while managing a newborn. First, my favorite gadget that you can see in most of my photos of Tanner are pacifier clips from Madeline’s Box (Acorn brown and gray clip in photos above). These braided, leather clips are made by a sweet small business owner named Heather. These clips were created to keep a little one’s pacifier from falling on the floor or getting lost. It doesn’t hurt that the vintage-inspired clip is adorable with every baby outfit! Second, I am loving our baby cover from Sweetee Handmade. This baby cover is a 3-in-1 item- a carrier cover, nursing cover, and shopping cart seat cover (pictured in white and check pattern above)! GENIUS! The high-quality material used is soft and breathable. The patterns and prints that Sweetee Handmade offers are fun and trendy! Sweetee Handmade also makes cute headbands, leggings, and hats so be sure to check out their Etsy shop. What are your favorite baby products?

Keep in touch,
Dani

Mini Banana Bread Donuts with Cream Cheese Frosting

Kitchen

June 6, 2016 by Drafts & Crafts

As a new mama who is doing a ton of time hanging out at home with baby, I plan to enjoy my time creating some new recipes in between feedings and naps.

{Time} 1 hour
{Amount} 48 mini bite size treats in a mini cupcake pan
{Ingredients}

1 stick of unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten
1 3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 large ripe bananas
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
cinnamon to sprinkle finish
Cream cheese frosting (this new mom took the easy route, don’t judge)
1 storage or freezer bag
mini cupcake pan

{Steps}

Preheat the oven to 350.
Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.

3. Add the eggs, milk, flour, baking soda, and almond extract.

4. Fold in the bananas. (Since we are not making a loaf of bread, you do not have to worry about over-folding.)

5. Place mix in freezer or storage bag and cut a tiny corner to use the bag for a piping bag. Simply squeeze the bag to fill the mini cupcake pan.

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Let the mini donuts cool for a few minutes, then use a toothpick to carve out the center of the donuts so that they will slide on a straw.

9. Frost and sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!!

In the past, I have tried to share at least 2-3 new recipes per month in my little corner of the internet. I have not been posting as many recipes as I would like and since I love to cook, bake, and get creative in the kitchen, I am so looking forward to trying some new recipes this summer. I definitely would like to begin posting one new recipe every other week so please stay tuned. Up first are these mini banana bread donuts! I have said this a thousand times, but I have to say it again, I love ALL things mini, especially DONUTS!! How fun to have some girlfriends over for an ice coffee and include some sweet treats on their straw! These bite size treats are a must-try!

Keep in touch,
Dani

The Tunic Dress

Closet

June 1, 2016 by Drafts & Crafts

Baby boy is here and we are ready to welcome summer with open arms. This chambray tunic was high on my wish list to ensure a cool and comfortable summer.

{Dress: Anthropologie} {Sandals: J. Crew}
{Necklace: Anthropologie} {Sunnies: Illesteva}

Jason, Tanner, and I enjoyed a lovely stroll in Avondale last week. It was THE BEST to get out of the house with my new little family! We took full advantage of the beautiful weather and the husband’s day off. We looked at all of the gorgeous, old homes and tried macaroons at the new shop, Le Macaroon. Of course the census was correct… the macaroons were delicious! I am swooning over this chambray tunic from Anthropologie. Let’s be real, I am dealing with a post baby bod so this forgiving dress is where you will find me! This loose-hugging tunic is easy and breezy, which is just what the doctor ordered for Florida’s heatwave. A comfortable dress makes life so much easier, especially in the summer. I paired this tunic with my new eyelet sandals for the cherry on top! These strappy sandals are something to write home about, the sea salt color pair is on my wish list as well. Are you ready to say hey, what’s up, hello to summer?

Keep in touch,
Dani