fave x five

Happy Valentine's day to y'all. I wish that "y'all" was natural to my vernacular, but growing up here in New England, it never feels right when I say it (or type it). Anyhoo, I'm starting a new series here on a Side of Sparkle called "fave x five." In addition to what I hope will be life-altering, mood-boosting, thought-provoking original content, I'll be featuring a smattering of, you guessed it, five favorite things I've been burning about all week to share. So, here's the first Friday fave x five (yeah, I like alliteration).

seriously cute baby shoes

the goings on in the New England seacoast area

how to say no

so romantic you might cry

is this possible?

image credit

chocolate, like love, can be complicated

 

Love is not always easy. But it's so worth it and we grow from making it through the difficult parts, making the smooth parts that much sweeter.  Love and chocolate have a lot in common. Both can be complicated, yet with sweet results. Is that why we give chocolates on Valentine's day? Is it the perfect metaphor for love?

I'm not going to pretend this recipe for red velvet  bonbons is easy or simple... but it's not overly complicated either. First you bake a cake, then turn it into the liquid center for the bonbons. The chocolate requires tempering and the final product is firmed up in a candy mold of your choosing. The entire process really embodies what love is all about. If you make these bonbons for your valentine, tell them how much work it was, and tell them how much you love them. I think these are a sweet homage to love. Oh, and they look freakin' delicious!

valentine's day, you say?

It's a good thing I was late dropping off Violet to preschool today because I would not have overheard another mom asking the teacher about how many valentines to bring in on Thursday. Valentines! On Thursday? I had a small panic attack as I didn't even think about such reverie. Admittedly, I've been preoccupied. I sheepishly inquired of the same teacher "how many did you say?"

Turns out I'm not that daunted by the need to craft a dozen or so cards seeing as how there is a wealth of ideas out there {thank you, Pinterest}. Here are the few I'm debating over making. Personally, I like the non-candy idea of the goldfish crackers.

Here is a round up of some creative and straightforward valentines ideas for kids and their schoolmates. Oh, and this gorgeous diy valentine topiary that reuses all that beautiful card stock you have laying around! p.s. you will need this hydrangea punch

 Bunny Valentine Cards via smallforbig 

 Goldfish Valentine via tammymitchellphotography 

Caped Crusader via spoonful

Fish Bowl Valentine via i heart naptime

Valentine's Day Topiary via house by hoff

something new

It's been well over two years now that I have been using a homemade oil blend to moisturize my face. From the moment I first patted it onto my skin I knew I would never go back to commercial (ahem, chemical laden) creams. Friends asked me to make some for them and pretty soon it dawned on me that I might have a new venture in the works! Through the magic of PBS kids and mini marshmallows I whipped up a website last Thursday while the lovelies (can't believe they're already 4 and 2.5) were entertained.Without further ado, I would be honored if you checked out Precious Skin Elixirs.

This is the beginning of what I think will be rather successful. Chemical-free and toxin-free living is something I am passionate about in my own life and I am thrilled to be sharing something that has helped me stay true to that commitment. Plus, my skin has never looked so clear and vibrant! What do you think - do you like the concept? Would you like a free sample? Ask me in the comments!

venture

Ever talk yourself out of doing something new because the "what if's" start piling up? What if I fail, what if I don't like it, what if no one understands my decision? I'd like to know why the "what if's" are typically fear and doubt based and not pointed toward positivity. Why not ask what if I succeed, what if I love it, what if it doesn't matter what others think?

My reason for discussing this topic today comes from my realizing that I've spent too much time in the negative "what if's" and less time exploring the positive direction I want my life to go in. The mind is a powerful thing. Our thoughts are like arrows; and depending upon which direction you aim them, they might hit the target. Wouldn't you want that target to be something beneficial? Just something to think about today!

out of the blue

I chose the title for this post, "out of the blue," for two reasons. After all, this post truly does come out of nowhere after not blogging for an ENTIRE year *sigh*. First, There's the great blue yonder, the seemingly infinite sky above us. Second, there's the deep blue - the mysterious waters of which we never know the depths. As I sit clacking away in front of my mac I realize the urge to write, reconnect with readers, and share some (hopefully) interesting things from my corner of the blog-o-sphere has come from two "blues."

I won't bore you with the details of what has pulled me away from writing and contributing, but I can sum it all up in three words: kids, renovations, discipline. That last one was hard to type, but it's the key to staying healthy/sane while balancing all that is demanded of us in this modern world. It has been my lack of discipline that's skewed things too far away from staying involved in the things that make me feel, well, myself - you know, the things that make your heart sing. The demands of kids and house renovations are a whole other story, and I'm hoping that with the right discipline I can balance both and make room for blogging again!

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{lack}luster

As of late, a Side of Sparkle hasn't been very sparkly or shiny or filled with all those pretty things I love sharing with you all! Life happens and my two tots are keeping me on my toes instead of sitting in front of my mac with a hot cup of coffee. So, I apologize if I haven't been posting regularly. I'll post what I can when I can and hope you enjoy it all the same!

With the holiday season comes the need for creative hostess gifts. Sure, a bottle of wine (or better, champagne) fits the bill, but it's the thought that counts, right? So think about your recipient or the occasion and flex those creative muscles. Here's a little hostess gift inspiration. I love the idea of bringing something homemade and this collection is meant to provide the basics for a morning after treat. I know the last thing on my mind when throwing a fete is what I'll have for breakfast the next day. Bake some scones, toss in some preserves (or in this case, cider syrup), add a bag of coffee, a few extra goodies and ta-da! You have a thoughtful gift your host is sure to appreciate!

Just a side note: save the delight of cider syrup from epicurean extinction. Once a New England pantry staple, this classic autumn-time sweeter is rarely around anymore. I made a batch following the post from reading my tea leaves. It came out deliciously and I am looking forward to sharing it with my friends this Christmas. I purchased a slew of these swing top bottles from IKEA for $4.00. Or, if you're really ambitious, a 12 pack. Tie on a tag and a cinnamon stick with some pretty ribbon and you have one sweet little gift.

wordless wednesday

one | two 

upper crust

Once the month of November arrives it's difficult for me to think about anything other than food. Particularly difficult is keeping my fingers away from the dessert category in my cookbooks or my cursor from wondering the many dessert recipes I have bookmarked online. If you know my penchant for pastries, you would not be surprised to find my many recipes for pie. Baking pies with the bounty of an Autumn harvest seems an essential part of life this time of year, especially in New England. To not partake in this annual ritual would just seem un-American. 

An old favorite I keep returning to this time of year is pumpkin pie. Though I'm a sucker for a golden flakey crust, this year I thought I'd freshen things up by making a gingersnap cookie crust. Besides adding a sweetly spicy element to the pumpkin taste, the cookie crust will do away with any fears of a soggy, under-baked bottom crust. The flavor of this gingersnap crust would substitute wonderfully as the foundation for many pies and cheesecakes. It's a delicious way to update an old favorite.

GINGERSNAP CRUST
1 1/2 cups finely ground ginger snaps
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon minced crystallized ginger
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Combine cookie crumbs, sugar, and ginger in medium bowl. Add melted butter and stir until mixture is evenly moistened. Transfer crumb mixture to 9-inch-diameter pie dish. Press crumbs firmly and evenly onto bottom and up sides of dish. It's helpful to use a second pie dish to place inside to tamp down the mixture. Bake until crust is firm and slightly darker in color, about 8 minutes. Cool crust completely.

image via mccormick