Can you believe Easter is next weekend? It snuck up on me, which means this week I’m making sure Jane has a cute dress to wear, finishing up her Easter basket, and figuring out what I’m going to bring to my in-law’s dinner! One item already marked off my Easter prep list is coming up with a cute (and oh so simple!) hostess gift idea made with egg cartons and some chocolates. 
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More snow today, ugh. I think it’s safe to say that we all need a drink! In fact, maybe Mother Nature could use a cocktail to chill out too? I’m happy to mix this one up for her. One of my favorite way to shake up cocktails at home is with homemade simple syrups, usually made out of fresh ingredients I have leftover in my fridge. This week my leftovers included a brimming bowl of satsuma oranges — which are tiny and sweet and the prettiest orange tone. I juiced them all by hand and simmered them with a piece of fresh peeled ginger, some water and sugar.
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I always look forward to Easter celebrations, because it usually means that spring is finally in the air. The flurries outside of our window today are telling a different story though — spring seems to have missed the memo this year! In fact, I’m hunting right now for tights and wool sweaters and boots for Jane to wear with her Easter dress. Brrrr! With the weather refusing to cooperate, I’m gathering all of the spring inspiration I can indoors and translating it into a spring tablescape that feels like warm weather is on the horizon.
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It’s been kind of a quiet week around here, which is rare but also welcomed. It gave me a bit of time to do some planning for spring, to take a beat and look for some fresh inspiration, and of course spend lots of playtime with Jane (she just got into coloring with crayons and it’s making me SO happy). It was also the perfect week for that quiet, because it’s been a blustery, snowy, winter wonderland in these parts. Spring better get its act together and make a debut next week, but in the meantime feel free to hibernate with a few links and posts below! 
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I was reading a magazine the other day when saw a mention of a classic chicken marsala recipe, and I have been thinking about (and craving) chicken marsala ever since. It’s one of those dishes that I order at restaurants, but rarely think to make at home. To fix up my insatiable craving, I got to work on making my own spin on this rather simple chicken dish. My version gets tossed with al dente campanelle pasta, sautéed mushrooms and shallots, lots of parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, and baked for just a few minutes in individual serving bowls. I’m happy to report there were lots of leftovers that I’ve been cheerily chipping away at for lunch this week! Get the full recipe below:
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This is by far one of my favorite room makeovers we’ve done at our house so far (which says a lot, since we removed a kitchenette from our master bedroom last year!), and I’m so excited to share these before and after images today! Our living room was ripe for a makeover with plush wall to wall mauve carpeting, tons of dark wood paneling, an outdated fireplace, and even a faux-wall that blocked off the staircase to our second floor. I’m happy to report though, that after quite a bit of elbow grease, it has finally lived up to its potential. 
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One of the really fun things about my job is that I get to experiment with delicious food, and work with some of the brands that I admired for years. One of those brands is Martha Stewart Living, and I was so excited they invited me participate in a challenge this month to create an over the top tiny toast recipe using Boursin® Cheese that would wow guests when entertaining.
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Last week my mom came to visit for a few days, and I took her up on some free-babysitting to tackle a house project that has been hanging over my head for ages: cleaning out my pantry and prop closet! One of the big selling points of our house when we still in the house-hunting phase, was a super long walk-in closet that sits off the kitchen in our entryway.
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A brunch recipe on a Monday, you ask? Why, yes! Things are a little bit backwards here this week after lots of stormy weather, 2 days of power outages, and of course, no internet. It was an unintended digital detox weekend without lights, TV, or blogging. I read an entire book from start to finish, we got out of the house for most of the weekend, and indulged in lots of dining out and take-out. As power-outages go, this one was chilly but survivable. Now that we’re back in action (hallelujah for heat and WiFi!), I have a tasty brunch recipe that can finally be shared!
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Is there any better way to start your morning than with coffee and donuts? I don’t think so! Which is why I love making homemade mini-donuts, and serving them with a fresh pot of coffee when we have friends and family stay the weekend.
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