{weekend notes}

March 11, 2019 xoxostacybLeave a comment

Monday! When you don’t whoop it up on the weekend, Monday’s don’t suck quite as bad. Not going to lie, yesterday I straight up struggled. Kept trying to stay busy so I didn’t think about pouring a glass of wine or opening a beer..lol. Enjoy this sunshine and make today a good one!!

Intentions for the Week:

Make a fun Springy flower arrangement
Watch my nephews play baseball
Tell you guys more about Weight Watchers (I’ve been getting lots of questions)
Try homemade buffalo cauliflower
Movie theater date with Cory to see Free Solo
List clothes to sell on online yard sale and Poshmark
Stay on track with point and activity
Challenge myself to no online shopping all week
Try not to dream about booze

This week on the blog: DIY Spring wreath. Target finds. And hopefully a St Patrick’s Day day recipe…if I can get my shit together.

Highlights from the weekend…..

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{friday 5}

March 8, 2019 xoxostacybLeave a comment

Friiiidaaayyyyy! 11 days left till SPRING! (I just googled it) Goodbye Winter. Gimme all the sunshine. I woke up early AF, like always. I made the decision to skip the gym and clean my house for 2 hours. And I feel really fucking happy about that decision. There’s something to be said about starting your day with a workout, trust me, I get it. But, leaving for work on a Friday morning with a clean AF house. It’s pretty close up there too. I did a little shimmy as I walked out the door. Ha!

Weekend plans: zip. zlich. nada. Which makes me slightly anxious. Being sober and all. What will I do all day? Anyway, have a great weekend! Do all the things. Have a drink or two for me, k?

Before you get your weekend started, I’ve got 5 things on my mind…….

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Bay Bakes · Cooking · diy · Food · foodie · Holiday Whore · Holidays · Recipe

{heart tart}

February 13, 2019February 13, 2019 xoxostacybLeave a comment

This heart tart has everything you’d expect from a traditional tart. A butter crust. Creamy center. Topped with a crown of berries. And you know I had to throw a festive Valentine’s Day flare to it. The heart-shaped strawberries are the quite the showstopper!

Although this recipe does call for some prep time….don’t let it get your panties in a bunch. It’s crazy simple. I didn’t even recruit Bay for this one. I did it all on my own. These two hands baked. And that doesn’t happen too often when living with Bay the Baker.

So, I cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a thousand needles in my eye. This recipe is legit easy AF!!

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{valentine’s day table setting}

February 12, 2019February 12, 2019 xoxostacybLeave a comment

Happy Tuesday peeps! Sorry for the multiple posts today. Yesterday’s {weekend notes} was all set and ready to publish and somehow about half of the post was gone. Deleted. Nowhere to be found. And I chose to drink wine instead of work on it more last night. Priorities…..You know how it goes.

So today you get a BOGO. Except you didn’t have to buy shit to get the second one free. lol.

I was flipping trough a Taste of Home magazine last week and stumbled on these adorable marble meringue hearts. I’m such a sucker for cheesy Holiday tchotchkes + treats. And since I had all 4 ingredients for the meringues and there was no school yesterday, I recruited Bay the Baker to whip some up. I have one on each place setting.

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{weekend notes}

February 11, 2019February 12, 2019 xoxostacyb1 Comment

WOW, Monday sure did come fast! Hope you had a great weekend! We had equal parts kick it + all over the damn place. Typical.

Intentions for the Week:

catch up on paperwork/entry forms/permission slips
national random acts of kindness day
set a pretty Valentine’s Day table
figure out my fitbit issues…the app is no longer working?
make returns
start 3-day cleanse {on wednesdays we wear pink}
find the perfect black pair of shoes
heart dessert
show you guys a really cool new photo editing app
target finds

This week on the blog: Valentine’s Day table with a cute napkin fold. Galentines idea. Strawberry Tart.

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Bay Bakes · Food · foodie · Holiday Whore · Holidays · Kid Food · kids · mom & me · Recipe

{chocolate mini layer cakes}

February 5, 2019 xoxostacybLeave a comment

Bay Bakes, again! A few weeks back I shared Bailey’s beautiful Chocolate Mini Layer Cakes. I was such a tease. Ha! I have planned to shared them the whole time. Promise! Just waiting till it got a little closer to Valentine’s Day. As I think this would make the perfect festive treat.

Since it is the month of all things chocolate + flowers.

Made from a simple sheet cake. Boxed…that’s our jam. Or homemade cake batter. Whatever you prefer. These mini cakes are crazy simple to put together.

The best part.

The Buttercream frosting recipe. Be careful…..it’s dangerous. And you will have leftovers. Which can be refrigerated for up to a month in an airtight container. If you can keep your hands out of it for 30 damn days!

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Bay Bakes · Food · foodie · kids · mom & me · Recipe

{caramel snickerdoodle bars}

January 15, 2019 xoxostacyb2 Comments

A thick layer of caramel sandwiched between layers of white chocolate + crumbly oatmeal + cinnamon and sugar.

If you’re trying to fit into your skinny jeans. Or on that new year, new me diet. DON’T makes these. I repeat….DO NOT MAKE these. Just close this page right now and move on with your life…ha!

Bay made these right before Christmas. And they are so bad. In the VERY best way possible.

Crazy sweet. Crazy good. You can’t just have one. You’ll go back and pick at it. One of these kind of desserts. Ya know what I mean?

Every time you walk past the dish, you’ll cut off a tiny little sliver. Then next thing you know…..

They’re fucking GONE!

And no one know what happened or who ate them all.

Forreals though.

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{thanksgiving kids table // graham cracker crust pumpkin pie}

November 21, 2018November 21, 2018 xoxostacybLeave a comment

My dining room table isn’t large enough accommodate the whole fam-bam. Someday when I grow up (I say this all the time..Ha) I’ll have a table that can seat an army! Until then, we shall set up the kids table.

Not just a boring kids table though. A fun + entertaining table is key. They stay busy = you get to enjoy your wine + pie with a little peace…HA! Love them to death, but let’s be real.

I’m also sharing my graham cracker crust pumpkin pie. Which I’m really sad to announce…I can’t take the credit for inventing. Bobby Flay patented it about 8 fucking years ago. What the hell. As soon as you think you’re onto something BOMB. Google it and it’s already been done!

Which isn’t always the worst thing. I honestly had NO idea how long to bake. So I followed Bobby’s baking directions, which gave me the perfectly set pies!

And how about this kids table. The activity table-cloth is so perfect. And the leaves. My Mom collected each one of them at Casini Ranch while camping last weekend. They have the most gorgeous trees that were dropping these giant leaves. Thanks Mom!

I kept it simple using everything I had on-hand. Including the used to be white mini pumpkins that are now yellow-ish. I did buy them in September, so I should stop bitching. Coloring crayons…we’ve all got some lying around. Poured some Trader Joe’s chocolate covered sunflower seeds…mainly for the color factor. But, for snacking too!

This color on activity tablecloth is from the one, the only….Target. There is a word search for the older kids. A pumpkin + turkey maze. Even a spot to write what they are Thankful for! Love it so much. It completed the kids table.

Color In Thanksgiving Tablecloth $3.50 at Target

Just bring on the turkey…we’re all set over here!

Here are some of the recipes we will be enjoying for Turkey day tomorrow:

Cory has our Branigan’s Turkey in brine as I type. He’s on turkey duty and will be cooking it in an air fryer. I’ll be sure to snap some pictures tomorrow.

Pioneer Women Creamy Mashed Potatoes the main attraction, if you ask me!

I’ve been making these Stuffing Balls for years. I found the recipe in one of the old Kraft Magazines that used to come out monthly. Do they still do that? I sub the ground pork for good ol Jimmy Dean sausage.

My Mom will always be in charge of the gravy. It’s the one thing that I just can’t get down with on the Thanksgiving menu. Honestly I can’t even make it without wanting to gag. Bay’s the same.

Her Pretzel Jello Salad (similar to this one) is probably our “weirdest” side. Poop-A-Doop, my late Grandfather LOVED this salad. Really, it’s not even a salad. It’s a layer of pretzels + sugar + butter. With a cream cheese center and strawberries + jello on top. So random, so good!

Kissey will forever bring her favorite side, Campbell’s Classic Green Bean Casserole. She makes it the BEST!!!

Along with canned cranberry (the only way to serve it). With lots of cans of whole olives to stick on our fingers.

Mom makes homemade rolls that are to die for too!

And for dessert, my Mom is trying a new recipe for mini pecan pies and I’ll be serving my, I mean Bobby Flay’s Graham Cracker Crust Pumpkin Pie (recipe below) with homemade whipped cream (made by Bay)

What’s on your menu? I love hearing about families one random, kinda weird, side dish they can’t have Thanksgiving without.

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{weekend notes}

November 5, 2018November 5, 2018 xoxostacybLeave a comment

Hello Monday. May your coffee be strong and your week short! I woke up and immediately practiced gratitude this morning. I wrote down the first 5 things that came to mind that I’m truly grateful for. Instead of thinking about all the things I wasn’t looking forward to. It really works. Try it! We had another relaxing weekend. Friends + family + good food + good wine! Lots of laughs. We even snuck in a date night.

Intentions for the Week:

* VOTE!!

* Get my hair done…cannot fucking wait

* Go to be early. The more zzz’s the more better

* Pull out the Christmas tubs

* Plan our Thanksgiving menu

* Hit 15k steps per day

* Stay off the sugar. Goodbye chardonnay 😭

* Share all the things Target

* Not get sick

Highlights from the weekend…..

Doesn’t everyone show up to their homegirls house looking homeless AF? Budweiser sweatshirt + slippers for my Friday night #ootd

These two fell asleep and Tiger Raptor messed with them the whole time.

When Bubba shows up in his new G-ride. When’s the last time you saw a Miata?

Oops….I found Bays stash 🍫

Breakfast for lunch

Meal preppin. Going sugar free AGAIN. Pray for me k? Turkey + lots of spices + spinach + onion. Clean AF!

But first, we’re having enchiladas. Look at that filling though. Sharing this one mañana.

Another day, another tall boy. This time my fave BLL. Now you see why the sugar cleanse is happening? Lol.

Date Night. I seriously made reservations for the restaurant that I’ve been dying to try. Put on my new dress. Told him to pick me up at 6. And it worked.

We stopped at The Barn in West Sac. It just officially opened over the weekend.

Such a cool spot. As you can see, it looks really cool too.

Situated on the Sac River. In a big open area off to the side of Raley Field.

Family friendly. Dog friendly.

Pizza oven and food trucks. You can totally bring your own snacks to. Which is really cool. Bring a picnic blanket or they have lawn chairs you can use. The really did think of it all.

Outdoor seating. Live music. Fire pits. Lawn games.

Beer! Lots of beer. I believe they said 50 on tap.

This was a ring on a string. You release it and aim for a little hook on the pole. This kid was really good. Cory picked his brain for a bit, but still failed to make one.

They also serve wine and cocktails. We stuck with beer.

Pretty views too. You can see Raley field and the Bridge.

When you have a couple beers and find the perfect selfie mirror. You don’t give AF about the girl trying to wash her hands in the back or the fact the public restroom is a complete mess. Lol. Anything for the gram! Linking everything you see here below.

Dress // Booties (similar) // Denim Jacket // Leather Tote // Necklace // Bracelet // Earrings // Phone Case // OPI

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Bay Bakes · Crafting · diy · fall · Food · foodie · Halloween · Holiday Whore · Holidays · Kid Food · kid style · kids · Pumpkin

{happy halloween // spider cupcakes}

October 31, 2018 xoxostacyb2 Comments

Happy Halloween! It’s been a full month of all things orange + black + spooky! We’ve baked. We’ve decorated (twice). Pumpkins are carved. Pumpkin seeds roasted…(my mom’s best batch yet) Bay DIY’d her costume.

The only thing left…Trick-Or-Treating!

Which is probably my least favorite part of the Holiday..lol! The kids favorite, the adults…not so much.

But, I realized today – this could possibly be that last time my girl dresses up for Halloween. I was honestly unsure she was even going to be up for it this year. I think the whole DIY costume really got her in the spirit. Or the bribes? HA!

Either way, we are going to Trick-Or-Treat our asses off tonight. In the dark. In the cold. With strangers giving our kids candy.

I will have a wine in hand, though so I can’t complain too much.

Here’s to our kids ending up with shit-tons of Reese’s! CHEERS!!!

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