applesauce pancakes

During my relaxing iced-in day on Friday, I decided I wanted pancakes for lunch. I immediately knew I wanted to try a recipe with applesauce, so I scoured Pinterest for something that looked easy and legit. The results were fluffy and delicious. I even had enough left over to freeze and reheat for breakfast tomorrow (or dinner later?)

Applesauce Pancakes
Recipe via culinaryarts360.com

Ingredients
1 cup flour
1 tbsp. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 egg
2 tbsp. cooking oil (I used melted butter)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup applesauce

Directions
1. Whisk together all ingredients until just combined. Don't over mix.
2. Heat up a pan on medium heat for a couple minutes.
3. Scoop a couple spoonfuls of batter onto the pan. (I used 2 ice cream scoops of batter per pancake and had enough for 8 pancakes.)
4. When bubbles start to form in the batter (after about a minute or so), flip the pancake and allow it to cook for 30 seconds or until the bottom is golden brown. This step seems to vary so just keep a close eye on the pancakes to make sure they don't burn. (I cooked according to the original recipe and my first two pancakes were burned, so I had to alter this step and use less time.)
5. Remove pancakes and serve warm with syrup! Yum!

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friday snow day

Well it's the first Snow (i.e. Ice) Day of the season here in DFW. The bad weather eluded us last year so I guess we were due for one of these days! Roads are covered in ice and an inch or so of snow, meaning many restaurants, workplaces (including mine), and schools have closed. Not going to lie--it's kind of nice having this day off to just relax and listen to Christmas music! My dogs are in heaven having me home with them today. I'm using this day to catch up on some blogging and Christmas movie-watching. And pancake eating. (Recipe to follow on another post. It's definitely good enough to share!!)

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

xo.

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my holiday shopping strategy

Christmas is only 4 weeks away and I'm just now getting started on gift shopping--yikes! #procrastination

With moving into the new house still just barely on the horizon and a grad school mini session the week before Christmas, I'm trying to figure out an efficient way to cross gifts off my shopping list in the short amount of free time I have. Although I love the thrill of purchasing gifts in actual stores, I'm starting to like the idea of shopping from the comfort of home--only when it entails free shipping, of course!

I've made a list of some of my favorite online stores that offer some sort of free shipping--most, if not all, of which are also guaranteeing delivery by Christmas Eve! Happy shopping! xo.

via

PS: Feel free to comment and add some of your favorite free shipping sites that I haven't included!

Always:

Bauble Bar

Julep

Kate Spade

Nordstrom

Piperlime

Topshop

Zara


Stock up and save:

Ann Taylor (Free over $175)

Banana Republic (Free over $50 until 12/19 for 12/24 delivery)

Express (Free over $125)

Gap (Free over $50 until 12/19 for 12/24 delivery)

JustFab (Free over $39.99)

LOFT (Free over $125)

Old Navy (Free over $50 until 12/19 for 12/24 delivery)

Our World Boutique (Free over $50)

Sur La Table (Free over $59)

Target (Free over $50 or no minimum with Red Card)

Tobi (Free over $50)


Sometimes:

American Eagle

H&M

Kohl's

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gift guide for the host & hostess

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is all the parties and family gatherings that take place. Whether you're planning to travel to visit friends or family for an extended stay or attending a low-key dinner party, a hostess gift is a thoughtful gesture to show how much you appreciate being welcomed into someone else's home! The gifts I found below are not only great for hosts, but can also be given to loved ones that simply like entertaining/hosting. From quirky to practical to pretty, I think these gifts would please just about anyone! xo.

book / carafe / chalkboard place cards / throw blanket / wine stopper / candle holders / whiskey tasting set / tasting spoons / monogrammed soaps

Tip: To create a truly show stopping--yet effortless--gift, consider items that would complete the gift. For example, include a mulled cider mix with the carafe or a bottle of wine with the wine stopper. The tasting spoons are a perfect pairing with a canister of tea leaves and pretty mug!

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gift guide for the kids

Not having kids of my own, I really took my time creating this guide, curating ideas that I think kids these days might like (wow, I sound old!) When I was little, I loved games and playing "pretend." I would build forts out of any and every blanket and pillow I could find to create castles; come up with plays where I was most likely the lead while my siblings played supporting roles; and dress up in the prettiest, sparkliest things from my dress up box to resemble one of my then-favorite Disney princesses.

Technology has taken away a little of the wonder kids used to find in these kind of make-believe games. Thus, I was drawn toward the more whimsical items that would ignite a child's imagination and entertain them without buttons and light-up screens (there's plenty of time for that later!) I also couldn't help but include the cutest little dinosaur hoodie that a boy--or girl!--could run amuck in and some super shimmery shoes fit for a modern day princess to keep some little tootsies warm in the winter.

xo.

shoes / sand / blocks / puppets / tent / book / hoodie / tunnel / game

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