Posted by RenaissanceTrophyWife on March 11, 2009
I’ve been crabby lately, just kinda feeling blah and uninspired, and on the verge of a cold… and the BF has been putting up with it admirably, poor guy. He gives me backrubs and listens to me and generally just lets me vent when I need to. Yes, I was happy being single, but there’s nothing like having someone who understands you and will hold your hand through the ups and downs.
Baking served a twofold purpose here: it’s calming, plus it’s a yummy reward for the BF who was an absolute angel. At least I can try and be productive with my stress, right? (I might be just a tiny bit type A… only a little.)
I like making mini-loaves as they bake more consistently, stay moist longer, and are great for sharing. After trying a recipe from Cook’s Illustrated that was a little too moist in the center, I made a few adjustments, including the substitution of whole wheat flour for half the AP flour, and have been happy with the consistent results ever since. This recipe also makes delicious muffins for an on-the-go fix.
Of course, you can add nuts or chocolate chips or whatever you prefer, but this recipe is moist and full of unadulterated banana flavor, so none of that is really needed. Bon appetit!
Banana Bread
Adapted from Cook’s Illustrated
Yields 3 mini loaves (approximately 18 slices)
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Posted in Domestic Diva | Tagged: baking, banana bread, breakfast, cooking, food, recipe, snack | Leave a Comment »
Posted by RenaissanceTrophyWife on March 9, 2009
Doing well and doing good? It really is possible; there’s a way to do it even with something as small as a postage stamp.
Karate Kat Graphics offers whimsical designs based on children’s artwork, and half the proceeds go to charities selected by the young artists themselves. If that doesn’t give you the warm fuzzies, I don’t know what will! The store offers so many cute products, including stamps, cards, mugs, t-shirts, and much more.
I was the lucky winner of the Karate Kat giveaway on Wedding Fanatic– thanks, Mary! As my prize, I got these gorgeous “to have and to hold” stamps. The quality of the stamps is terrific, and I’m so excited to start using ours on wedding-related correspondence! It’d be so perfect for save-the-dates or a shower invite.
During my email exchange with Mary I was also incredibly inspired by her warm personality and down-to-earth approach to life. She encourages her kids to be creative, while also teaching them how fortunate we are. I will absolutely be buying products from her again!
One of my favorites is this bag: how cute would it be with personalized text for bridesmaids or out of town guests?
Making a difference doesn’t have to be some grand sweeping gesture; it can be as simple as buying a stamp. All together now: awwwwww. Go and check out the infinite cuteness of the Karate Kat line, now, and keep the warm fuzzies going. Happy Monday, everyone!
What are your favorite organizations to contribute to?
Posted in Carpe Diem, Domestic Diva | Tagged: art, artwork, charity, children, customized, donations, stamps, stationery, zazzle | 2 Comments »
Posted by RenaissanceTrophyWife on March 2, 2009
Aaack, sorry I’ve been behind on the posting. It’s been crazy at work and I’m catching up on a number of fronts– seeing old friends, spending time with the fam, etc. It’s rainy and cold here… I’m totally looking forward to spring, four-leafed clovers, and Guinness, so in that spirit, I’m sharing a card I made a couple weekends ago. Yay for being half Irish!
Not sure yet if I’m going to send out a bunch of these or not… this card was a trial run and turned out decently, I think. The sentiment and clovers are from Studio G; stamped on light green vellum. (Note: Use a dye ink, not a pigment ink, for vellum, otherwise your stamped images will take ages to dry!) I rounded the corners of the vellum and finished it off with emerald organza ribbon with a satin edge.
Posted in Crafty Pursuits | Tagged: card, cards, clover, crafts, green, holiday, irish, march, st patrick's day | 1 Comment »
Posted by RenaissanceTrophyWife on February 26, 2009
Since we’re past the holiday season and coming up on spring, it’s common for people to try and “get back on track” by treating their bodies better– eating right, hydrating, and exercising. But let’s come clean; a lot of these plans involve crash dieting or denial of certain foods, which results in falling off the wagon time and time again.
There’s no simple, easy path to getting healthy– you have to commit to certain lifestyle modifications, rather than trying to do it all at once. Education is also an important factor in being good to your body. If you don’t know what you’re putting in it, and blindly follow the recommendations of a proscribed plan, how do you continue to make positive change when you become solely responsible for your health? Start by reading labels at the grocery store, buying some organic foods, and learning about the origin of various things at the grocery store.
Go slow, and make incremental changes. Total deprivation is usually not the answer. Life is for enjoying, after all! For most people without serious health conditions, it’s ok to have “bad” foods once in a while. So splurge on that eggs benedict, but the rest of the week, get your fruits and vegetables in. I like tricking myself– eating a burger and fries feels like a guilty pleasure, but the homemade version comes with some hidden health benefits.
Here’s one of my favorite healthy breakfasts that feels like an indulgence.
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Posted in Apple a Day, Domestic Diva | Tagged: breakfast, cooking, dairy, food, fruit, healthy, vitamins, yogurt | 5 Comments »
Posted by RenaissanceTrophyWife on February 24, 2009
The WSJ crowd is not your typical bargain-hunting set, but the paper’s article on $10-$20 wines may be signaling a sea change. Go here to check out some RTW value picks that taste a lot pricier than their tag would suggest.
Image courtesy of Ilan Brat / The Wall Street Journal
Posted in Domestic Diva, Trust fund, baby! | Tagged: bargain, drink, food, sale, shopping, value, wine, wsj | Leave a Comment »
