and the cinnamon roll also rises

or at least I hoped it would. Day after New Year's Day I tackled my first batch of cinnamon rolls. Also, my first attempt at using yeast. I used a great recipe from Saint Louis Days and Nights, a cookbook published by the Junior League of Saint Louis. These are the official famous Junior League rolls.


Things I learned...
1) Yeast needs to be refrigerated after opening.
2) A child's bath thermometer will work in a pinch for measuring the temp of water for use with yeast. (Throughly cleaned before hand, of course.)
3) The Pioneer Woman is absolutely right. More butter makes it better. I'll use twice as much next time. 
4) Cinnamon is a super useful spice. One I don't use enough.

{Turtle says, "Too hot."}

{Turtle says, "Just right."}

{Does this look foamy to you?}

{Mixed dough}

{Rise baby, rise.}

{It has risen. I think.}

{Successfully rolled.}

{Pre-butter dip}

{Ready for the oven.}

{The aftermath.}

{Yum.}

triple word score: wowza

Day One:


I am completely astonished by what I learned last night playing a game I've played for years. I've been playing Scrabble all wrong. You may have been doing so, too.


Here's the kicker. This little known (to me) rule worked in my favor this time but could definitely not some other time.  And it doesn't really seem fair. And that makes it worse. And that would make me very unhappy.


See, I like to win. I know what you are thinking, "who doesn't?" But seriously, I really like to win. My husband can attest to it. Hence the need for an oath last night before our game of Scrabble. I swore that I be sportsman-like. As did he.


Generally, our games progress like this. I start out strong and keeping going that way and he gets mad. And I get mad that he is mad. Then I win. He's madder and I gloat. The end. (His version might be different.)


And last night was different. The high score went back and forth between us until I ended the game by using all my tiles. He couldn't use his. As per the rules we had been playing by for years, we subtracted the points of his unused letter from his score. We were tied.


"How could we tie?" I said. "Let me look at the rules." 


I look at the rules. Here's what it says: "Unplayed letters: When the game ends, each player's score is reduced by the sum of his or her unplayed letters. In addition if a player used all of his or her letters [I did], the sum of the other players' unplayed letters is added to that player's score."


Our score sheet looked like this:


Me (the wife)
223 + 8 (my hubby's unused tile points) = 231


Him (the husband)
231 - 8 (his unused points) = 223


Oh, my gosh. "What?" he said. "Let me see that." I read them aloud again.


We both were flabbergasted. But I did keep to my word and did not gloat. Out loud.


Has anyone else been playing Scrabble all wrong? If you keep old score sheets like we do, would the outcomes turn out very different? Are you flabbergasted, too? Or, do you have a more exciting life than I? :)

you say you want a resolution

As I look back over the year, I think to myself, what did I accomplish? I certainly did a lot on the mom front. My son went from a little crawler to a tentative walker then runner and crazy talker. I navigated these changes learning all the way how best to care for, teach and handle an active toddler.


What did I do for myself? Um, not much. I dabbled in some exercise. Sporadically sewed (though I did get it together for a little shop on Etsy). Other than that, I am not sure I accomplished much.


I have been thinking. What if I resolved to learn or do something new (to me) every day? Too ambitious? Maybe every week to start. It doesn't have to be extreme. I don't envision jumping out of an airplane one day and then snowboarding the next. I just want to learn more, try more and do more. I think it will make me a better person. Someone not afraid to take a risk, make a mistake or embarrass myself (I do that on a regular basis anyway).


As I love to do, I'll start a list. I won't claim to have "a bucket list." This is just to get the juices flowing.

• poach an egg (inspired by Julie & Julia)
• go zip-lining (we do have this in Missouri)
• go to a movie by myself
• make homemade cinnamon rolls
• install an electrical outlet (on the home improvement to do list)

This may seem small and ridiculous but I know I can come up with some good stuff. It may not change the world but it will help change my world and those in it.

So with that, I think the position of this blog may change a little. Just want to keep track of all the things I am "learning" and "doing." Hope that you find something that makes you a little happy camper just like me.

get your wreath on

I love classic holiday wreaths. Evergreen and deep red velvet bows are so lovely together. They instantly put a Christmas-y touch on anything. You simply can't screw it up. Loop some red ribbon through the top of a wreath. Tack it to the top of a window pane and voila, instant Feliz Navidad.

Here is a sample and tutorial:

{Southern Living}

{Wreath Hanging Tutorial from My Serendipity} 

Happy hanging!

christmas card preview

I finally decided on our lovely Christmas card from Shutterfly. I wanted to share several pictures from our November photo session and this was a perfect card to do just that. I like the simplicity of the card and cheerful red and green color scheme. The card will be printed in a matte finish on premium stock paper. I can't wait to get them in the mail and send them out to family and friends. Thanks Shutterfly!

Family Wall Red Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

wardrobe fit for the royals: bridal shower

We've already attended the engagement party for will and kate, which of course was wonderful. Now, we are all ready to shower the princess bride with gifts. (Where do you think a prince and his fiance register?)

Time to be prim and proper. The ladies will likely be having tea and scones and unwrapping lovely packages. This outfit seems appropriate: 

{cloaked in roses jacket from anthropologie}

{winter rose bustier dress by j. crew}

{crystal vine pearl drop earring by ann taylor}

high, low: ruffly strappy sandal

{banana republic chiffon ruffle high heel - $150}

{bp. platinum medina sandal - $69.95}

wardrobe fit for the royals: dressing for will & kate's wedding festivities

How do I know the newly engaged prince and soon-to-be princess of Wales? Well, I don't. I am just pretending. That is what blogging is all about, right? Imagining up scenarios in which we would dress, decorate or shop for things we can't afford nor do we need. To this end, I figure I will need four new looks (at minimum) for the upcoming nuptial festivities: engagement party, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and wedding.

{congrats william & kate!}

Let's tackle that engagement party first. Something* colorful, classy and young:

{printed ruched jersey dress by robert cavalli from nordstrom}

{be dazzled earrings by kate spade} 

{badgley mischka keeper pump from piperlime}

Stay tuned for the bridal shower...

*Please note I can not actually afford any of these items. Not even close. Remember the imagining part. 

pickin' fly cards from shutterfly

So, we had our fall/holiday photos taken last Saturday (a very blustery day) as I mentioned in a previous post in The Loop. The next task at hand once you've taken holiday photos and selected just the perfect pictures is placing them in the perfect card.

I've always had a great experience shopping with Shutterfly. Now that I think about it, I've ordered tons from Shutterfly over the last year:

• I ordered my son's 1st birthday party invites,  
• a one year photo book,
• Space Age Thank You cards,
• and a 2010 wall calendar. 

Here are some Shutterfly holiday cards that I have an eye on for the aforementioned holiday pics:

{i love this retro metro card with the cheery green and red "ribbon" look.}

{oh what fun would be oh so perfect for a black and white photo}

{what is great about the full of love card is that you can use an entire photo and obstruct very little of it in the final look.}

{this year in pictures new year's card is an adorable way of recapping 2010.}

Decisions, decisions. Stay tuned for the final choice!

sew & support schools: oliver + s

Once again, Twitter has helped me to discover a simply adorable company, Oliver + S, which designs sewing patterns for children. Best part? They are doing a promotion supporting our nation's neediest schools (education is my day job and a cause near and dear to my heart). 


Purchase a pattern from Oliver + S's site and they will donate 15 percent of the sale to a school of your choosing.

{how cute are the finished pattern illustrations?}

Great idea!

lucky us: fave lucky mag girls are still around

I opened up my latest issue of Lucky magazine and came upon a different editor and missing back page illustrated feature.


The times they have a-changed.


Founders of the magazine, Kim France and Andrea Linnett, are no longer with the glossy. As a subscriber of almost 10 years (can't say I was in on that very first issue), I am sad to see them go BUT excited to find them in new ventures.

{I want to be her! Debut Post: Transitional SoHo Girl}

Linnett launched a new site this week that features a familiar sketch--one of herself drawn by childhood friend and designer of Martin Clothes Anne Johnston Albert. I want to be her! is an ode to stylish women--those on the street or ones Linett imagines. The details of the styling are described as captions to the illustrated lady and of course, there is a shopping guide to use in outfitting yourself. 


An article in Slate by France posted Monday gave a look at beauty products worth shelling out cash for (now that they are no longer gratis for her). I love the wit and candor of France's recs. On mascara: "it's not necessary to spend serious cash in this category. You really can find everything you need at the drugstore." And, "I require makeup that takes no serious skill or patience to apply." Amen sister.


Hope that the new ventures are exciting--we'll be reading!

location, location, location

I am really throwing caution to the wind and mixing it up for the aforementioned holiday photos. Not only will we not be wearing a stitch of red or one ounce of formal attire. We won't be in a studio, let alone in a park. 

No folks. We are hitting the streets and crusin' The Loop. You just can't take the "urban" out of the "suburbanite."

Possible back drops:

{moonrise hotel}

{the tivoli movie theatre}

{the pin-up bowl}

Looking forward to what is dreamed up for this photo shoot.

holiday pics

We are preparing for holiday pictures. My son is almost 18 months so it is pretty good timing. We tackle a milestone age and Christmas in one. Last year, we used JcPenney and did the traditional red sweater, plaid shirt ensemble. It worked well because he was only six months old and it is hard to predict what will happen with a baby. The result was a set of decent photos for not a lot of money. (Gotta love the coupons!)

This year, we've stepped it up a notch and will be using the same photographer that we did for his one year photos. 

Here's a peek at the duds (--if we were all getting new ones. Note - As usual, only the kiddo actually owns an item below. The others are "similar to" what we'll be wearing):

1) The kid...

{patterned cable-knit sweater from old navy}

+

2) The mom

{shawl zip sweater from the gap}

+

3) the dad

{exposed seam crew neck sweater from banana repulic}

All with dark wash denim jeans and some casual shoes. 

The setting... that's up next. Stay tuned!

lovin' lonny: hipster lifestyle & home decor online mag

I love when Twitter hits one out of the park. Thanks for suggesting Lonny! I am now following and officially addicted to Lonny, an online magazine dedicated to stylish interiors and trends that we all should be clued into.


For instance, this is lovely...

{of the moment - geometric: Lonny blog post}

The site also shares decorating inspiration by room:

{precious dining space featured in fall Lonny issue}

Also, crushing on the name inspired by LONdon and NY (New York). Well done!

puppy love

So, I had posted previously that I really liked this PB Kids costume:

{dalmatian from Pottery Barn Kids}

Here's what I ended up with after doing a little DIY and using some of this Parents mag tutorial.

Have to say the subject is pretty cute with or without the costume :)

O Canada!

For one of the friendliest countries I have ever visited...


New Canada maple leaf Etsy design:

{canada maple leaf red and white gingham shirt from

little happy camper on Etsy}

Ode to my neighbors to the North!

sneaky pete: new amy butler fabric

Shh. New fabric from Amy Butler. Not even live yet on her site. 

Really loving the lavender designs. Enjoy!

so chic chicos

I am frugal even when it comes to my kid because seriously, he's one. He doesn't need a $30+ tee shirt that he is going to smear potatoes on or wipe his nose with.

However, these items give me cause for pause...

{sherpa cable knit sweater from gapkids. Too cute for words. I mean, elbow patches. C'mon.}

{janie and jack ankle boot. are you going to daycare or a lecture on campus?}

{little maven black plaid blazer. work it.}

{crazy 8 herringbone slip-on. crazy hip.}

Sigh. Little boys. So adorable.

she works hard for the house

I am really trying to work hard around the house. We are contemplating selling the house next year and I have a list as long as my arm of things that need to be done.


Today...

• Planted tulip bulbs around the landscaping to bring some cheer to the exterior come spring (when we will hopefully be on the market).

Next up...

• Our walls in the bedroom are covered with family pics, which realtors frown upon, so we'll have to spruce it up with some wall decor. Ideas: 

{20x200 artist Yellena James "Myriad"}

{West Elm manzanita sconce}

{Crate and barrel set of Banana leaf mirrors}

Then... curtains?