Honey Dessert Recipes

Christian and I were arguing yesterday about honey. I think honey is better for you. He says, no way it's just like refined sugar. Calorie wise he's probably right. And since we're off sugar (minus 1 cheat dessert on Sundays), so that I can shed this baby weight, I really should put the argument to rest.

But honey is sooooo much better than sugar ...

If you're looking for yummy honey treats, look no further these are as yummy as they come
// Perfect Lemon and Coconut Bars via Green Kitchen Stories
// Pecan-Honey Cookies {in the raw} via Eliza Domestica
// Vanilla Walnut Shortbread via Shutterbean

Also, have you ever had Honey Bites? Crazy good!

//

via Joss&Main

Let's Talk About: Vine App

Colorful Sunday vine.co/v/bJMJOJ5UnPZ
— Da (@KitchenCorners) January 28, 2013

The word on the street is that there's a new addictive social media App in town. Think Instagram for video. Now think Twitter. Vine allows you to make 6 second videos, and share them with your friends and strangers. Yes, strangers, lots and lots of strangers. Twitter has a reputation for being overly permissive. So before you run off to download the newest distraction keep in mind that, unlike Instagram, you can't keep the lurkers out. If you're into having a private account, Vine is not for you, at least not for now.

And like any newborn app Vine has a few little things (if it takes me only 6 seconds to watch why does it take so long to load?) and a few big things (apparently you can film a porn video in 6 seconds flat) to iron out.

Curious? Here's what it looks like.

The reason why Vine is different from other video sharing Instagram-wannabes is that you can put short clips together, like this,

My morning routine. #parenting #school #schoollunch #firstgrader vine.co/v/bJnbvVQj6zU
— Da (@KitchenCorners) January 28, 2013

And comment and watch other people's videos via twitter.
So what do you think, tempted to join?

Check out what other bloggers are saying about Vine
// Design Love Fest
// Kludgy Mom
// Mashable

My Lucky Clovers

I know I'm going to regret this, blogging at 11:55pm, but I just haven't blogged in so long and I did just take a little cat nap with the baby on the couch while Christian worked on our taxes. The plan was to work on our taxes together, sort of like a date night minus any romance. But the baby needed me, so I went to her and nursed and fell asleep. I woke up just in time to convince Christian to not leave the house in the dead of night to print documents at the computer lab up the street. Seriously, he can just do it tomorrow. Just like I can blog tomorrow (maybe). I know the feeling of wanting to get things done, that feeling defies all reason.

There are some pretty exciting things happening around here, for example baby may or may not have started sucking her thumb. She's been practicing for a couple of weeks now and as of two hours ago it seems like she finally succeeded. Yes, we do want her to suck her thumb. Yes, we do realize we'll have thousands of dollars to pay for this in the future when she needs braces. But hey, I've always wanted braces myself so maybe Eliza and I can be twinners some day.

The other day I saw a Pinterest idea that I immediately wanted to do. It's mommy-son date nights. The boy dresses up and the mom dresses up. The whole purpose of the date night is for mom to teach boy how to be a gentleman. I thought it was a great idea for 2 seconds and then a total crap idea after that. My boy is 6, does he really need to wear a dress shirt, which he hates, and go out with me and have me nagging him about how to treat a lady?

That same day he came home with a bouquet for me. However, I was too busy being on Pinterest looking up ideas on how to raise my son that I didn't even notice the nice gesture. Just kidding, though I could totally see myself doing something insensible like that. Actually, I've been pretty proud of myself these days, I've had some good parenting moments. Enzo wants to play Monopoly every single day, and after our last Monopoly game that lasted 5 hours I told him to jump in the lake. Maria wants me to play Candy Land with her every single day and I told her to jump in the lake and she told me to jump in the lake because she's a total answer-backer.

So I established a mommy-kid time. For 20 minutes each they get my undivided attention. No phone (I know!), no distractions, just me and the kid doing whatever it is they want. Enzo and I play Monopoly for 20 minutes each day and then continue our game the next day for another 20 minutes. Hopefully we'll finish in a month or so. Maria and I play Candy Land, it usually takes us a good 20 minutes to finish a game. Today she was one card away from winning but when the timer when off she just closed the board and was totally content that we had played. I also do 20 minutes mommy-Eliza time which isn't entirely fair because we get a lot of mommy-baby time with nursing and because she hates to be put down. But still, it's nice to set a timer and just play with her for 20 minutes without the other two kids interrupting us.

Other than parenting I've also been working, and because my work revolves around the internet here are some goodies I found to share.

// Valentine's Day on the Cheap
// this print
// I'm going off sugar for a year minus once cheat dessert a week. This will be my cheat dessert for this week.
// I'm back working with Glam Media and part of my job description is to manage some Pinterest accounts (yes, my job is dreamy). So if you are not already following please follow Bliss by Glam and Foodie by Glam on Pinterest. I'm working on some fun Valentine's Day boards. If you have any suggestions on boards or people I should follow please share.

Happy weekend.
xoxo

Happy 2013

I'm the kind of person that makes resolutions. Most of my resolutions revolve around people I love, and I just so happen to love a lot of people.

It has been an absolute gift to have ended 2012 and started 2013 surrounded by family and friends, in beautiful Hawaii.



All of us in one house, feeding, playing, teasing, cleaning up, messing up, laughing, celebrating, and simply enjoying each other. I've been a part of this for almost 10 years and I'm still amazed that this exists, that we're related, and that we like each other (most of the time).



2012 was a great year. I've never felt more sick (first trimester pregnancy kicked me in the butt), and I've never felt more pain (emergency c-section where the anesthesia doesn't totally kick in), and I've never felt more worried (our baby in the NICU),  than in 2012. However, trials really do come hand in hand with blessings and 2012 brought us lots of blessings.

2012 also marked 5 years of blogging for me. Last year I was a pretty bad blogger. Between feeling super sick, homeschooling in Brazil, moving back to California, working full time, and having a baby, I was anything but consistent with my blog. At the same time 2012 brought unexpected professional opportunities. The Travel Channel hired me for 2 episodes, I did some exciting consulting work for Google, I worked at Glam Media for 3 1/2 months doing something I loved, and I wrote some fun sponsored posts on this here blog. 

Do what you love and love what you do. I live by this rule and I plan on living by this rule for a long time. I see real change when I do what I love, and I also see real change when I love what I do, even if what I do is hard.

My resolution for 2013 is to love what is hard. I will love feeding Maria, my picky Maria. I will love making Enzo's lunch in the morning and If I don't love it then he can eat school lunch, lets be real. Oh, and I will love being sugar free. Adios sugar, I relied on you way too much last year but this year I'm ready to feel my best.

I have a good feeling about this new year. It should be a good one.

P.S. Shout out to my brother-in-law Adam who's been documenting this whole trip with his mad photography skills.