Swoon Worthy

So I apologize for posting this edition of Swoon Worthy a little late, really, I do, but I just had to take the time to make and photograph something that truly needed to be included.

Allow me to set the scene for you... Last October we attended a fall festival with some friends of ours. It was the typical autumn affair, corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, you know what I mean... but then, something magical happened.  When we stepped up to the concessions stand to order some lunch, my eyes were immediately drawn to one, and only one thing, on the menu; APPLE CIDER SLUSHIES! Yup, apple cider slushies people!

At the time I was pregnant with Ella, but nobody was in on our little secret yet.  The cravings were in full effect though, so when we left the festival, all I could think about were apple cider slushies. I literally dreamt about them.

I was on an all-out  mission to recreate that frosty fall amazingness (not a word, but totally fitting), so after scouring the internet and doing some research, my friend and I discovered that this could, in fact, be done at home.

Now this isn't some fancy tutorial with a million and one steps, all you need is a few key items.  If you have an ice cream maker and some cider, you are golden!  If not, I am going to offer some other suggestions, but I have not personally tried them, so you will have to let me know if they work. Zoku makes a slush maker, that is much cheaper than your standard ice cream maker, so you could give that a whirl.  My other suggestion would be to try filling your ice cube try with cider, freezing it, then place the cubes in a blender, perhaps with a little fresh cider.  Like I said, I'm not sure how these options will work, as I have always just used my trusty KitchenAid Ice Cream Attachment.

Ok, Are you ready?  You literally just pour the cider into the ice cream maker and let it work it's magic until it becomes a slush-like consistency.  It takes awhile, so be patient, but that's it!  You can pour in as much or as little as you'd like... trust me though, you'll want more than one cup.

Now, low and behold, here is the list of things I am loving this week:

1.  Of course it's apple cider slushies!!!

2.  I was fortunate enough to be invited to be a part of a book club with some very lovely ladies, our first book is really good so far!

3.  Little Hip Squeaks just released their new fall line, and I am obsessed with all of the fun bright colors.

4.  Disclaimer, I am NOT pregnant right now, but I desperately want this shirt for next time!

5.  My love affair with all things gold continues!

6.  October = Octoberfest... which equals soft pretzels and beer.  This pretzel dip is on my must-make list.

7.  This free Autumn print is a necessity.  Best part, there's one for every season!

8.  These baby Minnetonkas are about the cutest things I've ever seen, and I think they're on sale this weekend!

9.  A little personal plug.  I have just stocked my shop with a whole bunch of colorful and warm new items for fall and winter.  Check it out!

10.  Baby shoe overload in this post, but I just ordered Ella these shoes for the holidays.  You cannot beat the price or the level of adorableness!

Have a great Columbus Day weekend... and go make yourself an apple cider slushie!
-J

Swoon Worthy

I apologize for being a few days late on this swoon worthy post. It was a holiday weekend, and my husband took a few days off from work, and well, we took full advantage of the beautiful weekend to plant our garden (more on that in an upcoming post), do some grilling, and spend quality time with family and friends.

I figured better late than never, so here's what I'm swooning over this week!

1.  I'm dying... Seriously dying over These bags that Freshly Picked just released. It's no secret that I love their moccs for babes, but bags in the same colors... Swoon!

2.  This shirt, from Target that I bought this week, because the pineapple print was just too cute to pass up.

3.  These shorts from Banana Republic... They're currently out of stock online, but still available in stores!

4.  My cousin has the most amazing foodie blog,  Something to Snack On, that you must check out. I made the blue cheese chicken salad over the weekend, and it was so, so good!

5.  Little Hip Squeaks has been dropping new prints from their line, and I swear, This dress in this print is one of the sweetest things I've seen in awhile. I think my Ella has to have it!

6.  I got a sample of This lip and cheek balm from Benefit in my Birchbox this month, and I will definitely be buying the full size version. I love these colors for summer.

7.  Yum... That is all I have to say about This macachino flavor from Suja!

8.  I'm just aching to paint some teeny tiny toenails, and This polish from Piggy Toes is about as safe and natural as it gets for little ones.

9.  If you've never experienced kinetic sand, you don't know what you're missing... This stuff is fun for toddlers, kids, and adults.

10.  This faux sheepskin rug is the perfect backdrop for baby photo shoots, and draped over the back of a chair. For under $10, I couldn't pass it up!

Swoon Worthy

1.  On occasion, we like to eat Paleo... If you haven't visited Juli Bauer's PaleOMG blog, you must! She is hilarious, and her recipes are awesome. Her new cookbook, "the Paleo Kitchen", becomes available on June 10th, but can be preordered now on Amazon.

2.  These button on bow ties for little guys from Little Mr Ties, are just too cute!

3.  I am currently loving this BB Body Cream by Jergens. It gives your skin a subtle glow, while also improving its appearance.

4.  Since I've been "baby wearing" far more with Ella than I did with Max, I've been eyeing these wraps from Solly Baby. The colors they offer are beautiful, and from what I hear the material is super soft. I'm swooning over the orchid one.

5.  My cousin, who has amazing taste, sent this bathing suit as a gift for Ella... It is pretty much the most adorable thing I've ever seen.

6.  These prints from Pen and Paint, are amazing. I love the colors and designs. This lady is super talented!

7.  My husband likes to give me a hard time about my affinity for books in the "young adult" category, but a good read is a good read! I actually finished, "The Fault In Our Stars", by John Green quite awhile ago, but I loved it so much, that I read all of his books.  The movie version is coming out soon, so if you haven't already, I highly recommend reading it.

8.  It's no secret that I have been loving recipes from Averie Cooks lately, but I made these flourless double chocolate peanut butter blender muffins the other night, and they were delicious!  Best of all, they are gluten free and required no oil or sugar.

9.  I adore this tiny peach bow print dress from Little Hip Squeaks.  They have been releasing their summer collection, and it is fabulous!

10.  I'm kind of obsessed with this cookie dough flavored greek yogurt concoction lately.  It has become my go-to afternoon snack, and it's really, really yummy.