Friday, February 27, 2015

Weekend Bloggy Reading :: Link Up!

TGIF! Ready for some creative inspiration? Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Fridays are fun because this is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week here at Serenity Now, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects!

*Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link--I've had to bypass so many great projects lately because they didn't include a link back to my blog in the post!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.


Did you miss any of my posts this week? I'd love for you to click over:

Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake
Inspiring Project Ideas

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

Hello, creative friends! The weekend's just around the corner, and it looks like perhaps more snow for my neck of the woods. I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from this past weekend link party and the weekend before (got sidetracked by snow days) with you today. The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Home Decor Supply Closet via Life and Home at 2102


~Eclectic Entry via Little Brags


~Easy Chocolate Mousse Pie via The Kitchen is My Playground

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake

Every so often, I update very old recipe posts with new photos. Today's recipe for Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake was shared on the blog four or five years ago, but the photos left something to be desired. When I made the cake for book club last Friday, I knew I had the perfect opportunity to take a few new shots of this sinfully delicious cake. Don't mind the holes all over the place--that's where the icing goes in!
Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake from Serenity Now- so sinful you'll need to go to church on Sunday!


The recipe came from one of those family reunion-type cookbooks and was a gift from one of T's cousins years ago. I'm not sure why it was called a "Sunday Cake," unless perhaps the originator spelled "sundae" wrong...or maybe it's so sinful that you need to go to church on Sunday.
Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake from Serenity Now- so sinful you'll need to go to church on Sunday!


Whatever the reason for the recipe name, it's amazing. So, here you go....

Chocolate Sunday Bundt Cake
Easy Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake from Serenity Now- so sinful you'll need to go to church on Sunday!


Ingredients:

1 pkg. devils food cake mix (another reason to go to church if you're baking with the devil)
1 box of light brown sugar
3/4 stick of butter
3/4 cup evaporated milk

Directions:

Bake cake as directed on package. (I bake mine in a bundt pan)

Towards the end of the baking time, mix butter, brown sugar, and evaporated milk in a saucepan and cook until well melted.

Take hot cake out of oven and place on whatever you'll be serving it on. Poke holes all over the cake with the end of a wooden spoon handle. Pour hot sugar mixture all over the cake and let it cool a little. Then enjoy your sinful dessert.
Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake from Serenity Now- so sinful you'll need to go to church on Sunday!



This one's a crowd-pleaser, so don't expect to have much in the way of leftovers!
Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake from Serenity Now


Do you have a favorite "sinful" dessert?
Chocolate "Sunday" Bundt Cake from Serenity Now- so sinful you'll need to go to church on Sunday!


If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments, Facebook shares, and Tweets!

Follow on Bloglovin

Friday, February 20, 2015

Weekend Bloggy Reading :: Link Up!

TGIF, everyone! Ready for some creative inspiration? Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Fridays are fun because this is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week here at Serenity Now, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects!

*Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link--I've had to bypass so many great projects lately because they didn't include a link back to my blog in the post!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.


It was a slow week here, but I did have one post. I'd love for you to click over:

10 Inspiring "How to Decorate" Blog Posts and Series

*And don't forget that a BOTB column will be up at Centsational Girl today! Be sure to visit to see what Kate and I have rounded up for the Best of the Blogosphere!

Time to link up your best post of the!

Monday, February 16, 2015

10 Inspiring "How to Decorate" Blog Posts and Series

I'm taking a little blogging break today to get parts of my house under control. It's been too many days of chaos with a baby dragging on my leg because he has a bad cold...doesn't make for getting stuff done around the homestead. So, today I thought it would be fun to share some great DIY and Decorating links with you. These are some of my favorite blog posts and series on How to Decorate!
10 Inspiring "How to Decorate" Blog Posts and Series, rounded up at Serenity Now

Friday, February 13, 2015

Weekend Bloggy Reading :: Link Up!

Hi there! Ready for some creative inspiration? Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Fridays are fun because this is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week here at Serenity Now, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects!

*Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link--I've had to bypass so many great projects lately because they didn't include a link back to my blog in the post!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Did you miss any of my posts this week? I'd love for you to click over:

How to Respond Positively to Mommy Judging
Hilarious Mommy Judging Video
10 Delicious Valentine's Day Desserts
Inspiring Project Ideas

Time to link up your best post of the week!

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

Hello, hello! The weekend's just around the corner. I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from the weekend link party with you today. The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Framed Atlas Pages via Home Happy Home

~White Chocolate Mud Cake via Winnish


~Crayon Valentine Printable via The Scrap Shoppe


Tuesday, February 10, 2015

10 Delicious Valentine's Day Dessert Recipes

T and I have been married for a little over 13 years, but it's still fun to celebrate Valentine's Day, even if we don't do big, extravagant gifts or outings. I usually try to make him a nice dinner or bake something tasty. With that in mind, I rounded up 10 simple and delicious Valentine's Day dessert recipes for you to try.
10 Delicious Valentine's Day Recipes to Try! at Serenity Now

*Be sure to Pin from the original sources!


Monday, February 9, 2015

Turn Mommy Judging On Its Head #sisterhoodunite

This sponsored blog partner post brought to you by The Sisterhood of the Motherhood. Call it judging. Call it guilting. Call it shaming. The phenomenon of Mommy Judging seems to be everywhere these days, thanks to the power of social media. Moms criticizing and belittling other parenting choices, and feeling defensive for the choices they make for their own families. Today's post is meant to be a discussion of how we can combat the Mommy Judging in a positive way. Let's turn mommy judging on its head. Please join me!
How to Respond When You Experience "Mommy Judging," from Serenity Now #sisterhoodunite #partner #parentsfirst


As I mentioned in my last "sisterhood" post, if you have kids, you've probably experienced (or participated!) in Mommy Judging at some point (there's a whole funny video dedicated to it). I've encountered it a few times over the years.

One very uncomfortable instance I can recall was a few years ago with a casual mom acquaintance. She asked where we would be sending our oldest to school for first grade, and was appalled when I told her Natalie would be attending the public school across the street from us.

She could not, for the life of her, fathom why we would not send Natalie to the local private school that T and I both graduated from. Not that it was any of her business, but finances just would not permit that, and (three years later) we love our neighborhood school and are happy with it. The other mom went on and on, even offering *helpful suggestions* as to ways we could send Natalie to the private school. She went so far as to ask why my mom wouldn't use her staff discount for us.

I was embarrassed, to say the least.

I stammered and stuttered and looked around to make sure none of the other moms could hear the conversation.

How do you respond when other parents question your choices? Sometimes they really do mean well...and sometimes...sometimes they just want to validate their own parenting style and make you feel "less than."

I read Amy Poehler's Yes Please back in November for book club. I was surprised to find that I really connected to Poehler over her reflections on parenting. She's a talented, famous, wealthy actress and I am a stay-at-home sippy cup washer.

We couldn't be any more different.

Yet, we are both moms who want the best for our children.

The part that stood out to me more than any other part in the book was Poehler's revelation that just because a woman does something differently than you does not mean it's the right choice for your family. I highlighted the following quote and it's popped up in my thoughts more than once in the past few months.

"Good for her! Not for me. That is the motto women should constantly repeat over and over again. Good for her! Not for me."
How to Respond When You Experience "Mommy Judging," from Serenity Now #sisterhoodunite #partner #parentsfirst


Sarah's family lives on a 987 acre farm in Iowa and raises organic llamas and makes felted llama hair soap that she sells on Saturdays in the outdoor market and donates all the proceeds to blind chickens.

Good for her! Not for me.

Leah only feeds her kids kale.

Good for her! Not for me.

Tracy sends her four year old to college prep class five afternoons a week.

Good for her! Not for me.

Get the picture?

This concept of essentially minding one's own business and choosing to react positively was so freeing to me. {the obvious exception being when a child's health and security are involved--"what would a doctor or policeman say?" is my rule of thumb}

Our generation spends a lot of time behind computer and phone screens. It's become second nature to use social media as a platform to expound on the virtues of our parenting choices, add our two cents when someone hasn't asked for it, or to fire off a rapid response when a mom disagrees with our parenting style.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that the woman on the other side of the screen can do without our scrutiny and judgement, hastily typed out as our fingers fly over the keyboard. No, what she really needs is support, encouragement. A friend. A sisterhood.
How to Respond When You Experience "Mommy Judging," from Serenity Now #sisterhoodunite #partner #parentsfirst


I'm doing my best to adopt Amy Poehler's mantra when the schooling-sleep training-baby feeding-discipline-organic or non-organic-etc etc etc argument rears its head yet again in conversation or online. Because, quite honestly, there are more interesting things to talk about sometimes. Who wants to rehash the same thing over and over?

No one is asking you to change your mind or stop being passionate about your parenting style. Maybe just choose to focus on positives instead. Remember that we are all parents who love their little ones...and no one method or way of life fits all.

So, while your choices might be "good for [you], not for me," I think we can agree that an effort to support each other in this journey of parenthood is good for you AND good for me too!

*You can learn more about Similac's The Sisterhood of Motherhood on Facebook and their website.

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments, Facebook shares, and Tweets!

Follow on Bloglovin

Disclosure: Similac partnered with bloggers such as me for its Sisterhood of Motherhood Program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. All opinions expressed are my own. Similac believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Similac’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Weekend Bloggy Reading :: Link Up!

TGIF, am I right?! Ready for some creative inspiration? Welcome to my Weekend Bloggy Reading link party. Fridays are fun because this is the day of the week where other bloggers stop by to link up their best post of the week here at Serenity Now, and readers get to browse tons of fun project ideas. If you're new here, don't forget to "Follow" or subscribe so you don't miss future parties and projects!

*Please be sure to read my guidelines before you add a link--I've had to bypass so many great projects lately because they didn't include a link back to my blog in the post!

This party is a great place to showcase your very best post of the week (home decor, crafts, party ideas, recipes, DIY, tips and tricks, etc.) and to see what else is out there.

Did you miss any of my posts this week? I'd love for you to click over:

Easy Homemade Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
Snack Station for On the Go Kids
Inspiring Project Ideas

*And don't forget that a BOTB column will be up at Centsational Girl today! Be sure to visit to see what Kate and I have rounded up for the Best of the Blogosphere!

Time to link up your best post of the!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Inspiring Project Ideas {link party features}

Good morning! The weekend's just around the corner. I love it when features day rolls around because I always hope to show off a project or two you haven't seen around the blogosphere yet. I'm pleased to share some good creative features from the weekend link party with you today. The party opens up again tomorrow morning, so be ready to join the fun. If you're new to the blog, I take a couple of days each week to let other bloggers showcase their project ideas here, and I take a day to feature a few of my faves. We have crafts, home decor, DIY, recipes, party ideas, organizing, sewing, tips and tricks, seasonal projects, and more!

Here are some projects that caught my eye this week:

~Budget Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel via Noting Grace

~Chalkboard Valentine Bookmark via Call Me Creative


~Peanut Butter Brownie Bites via The Life Jolie


Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Snack Station for On the Go Kids


Keep reading to see how Honey Maid Go Bites fit in with our on the go snack routine.
Setting Up a Snack Station for Busy "On the Go" Days, from Serenity Now


I'm a dance mom. There, I said it. Okay, maybe not like those dance moms you see on TV...the ones who sit rigidly through their childrens' modern dance classes, their hawk eyes peeled for any little minutiae of a mistake that they can rehash with their child over and over in the parking lot while the sun sets. But I am a mom. A mom who used to dance and enjoy dancing. A dance mom. And now my two lovely daughters dance and enjoy dancing. Ballet, Jazz, and Musical Theatre. It makes me proud to see them practice and perform.


The only real drawback is the time we spend in the car, shuttling to and from the dance studio. With two girls, and five dance classes a week...we're lucky the studio isn't far! Being on the go during those weekday afternoons means that we have to be quick with our after-school routine on dance days. 

The only thing more annoying than "What?! We're having that for dinner?" is the "We don't have any good snacks."

The girls gave the new Honey Maid Go Bites the after school snack test last week, and they were a hit! Even their baby brother loved them. Seriously, he stands in front of the cabinet, pointing up, and grunting small manly baby grunts.
Setting Up a Snack Station for Busy "On the Go" Days, from Serenity Now


I use little plastic containers to fill up with a few snacks before it's time to leave, so there's no rushing around or frantic tossing things together at the last minute. Stashing them in a cute metal snack station on our kitchen sideboard makes everything easy.

These are more of a treat than my kids normally get for snacks, so we add fresh fruit or veggies. Paired with a water bottle, banana, carrot sticks, raisins, or some apple slices, my girls are fueled up and ready for an hour or two of dance before dinner.
Setting Up a Snack Station for Busy "On the Go" Days, from Serenity Now


We keep the snack station on hand for those "grab and go" days. Making up the little snack containers beforehand also keeps portions under control. (I'm guilty of over-snacking by eating right out of the box so it's really more for me...who said moms can't enjoy a snack now and then too?)

As a mom, what do I love about our new snack?
  • No high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors
  • 5 grams for protein per serving
  • 7 grams of whole grain per serving
Setting Up a Snack Station for Busy "On the Go" Days, from Serenity Now

And my kids just plain love the taste.

We're happy to have a fun new snack to make dance afternoons a little bit easier!

What do your kids love to snack on after school?

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments, Facebook shares, and Tweets!

Follow on Bloglovin

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Easy Homemade Soft Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

I'll just start by saying if you add a dark chocolate Hershey's kiss to the top of some of these while they cool, you have found heaven on earth, my friend. I spotted this recipe on the back of our jar of crunchy peanut butter, and decided to give it a try. Well worth it! These Soft Peanut Butter Cookies are easy to make, and oh so tasty!
Easy Soft Peanut Butter Cookies--add a dark chocolate Hershey kiss for a kick! from Serenity Now #recipe #peanutbutter #cookie

Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup Jif Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter (This is not a sponsored post,  but I do recommend using the Jif. I've used store brands of peanut butter before and had poor results)
- 1/2 cup shortening
- 1 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 3 T milk
- 1 T vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 t baking soda
- 3/4 t salt

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. 

In a large bowl (I used my KitchenAid stand mixer), combine peanut butter, shortening, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla. Beat until well blended with an electric mixer. 

Add egg, beating until just blended.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Add to the creamed mixture, beating at low speed until just blended. 

Drop by rounded spoonfuls (I used a cookie scoop) 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Flatten slightly in a criss-cross pattern with the back of a fork. (I didn't do that to all of the cookies, which made some of them fluffier, which we liked)

Bake 7 to 8 minutes, or until just set and beginning to brown. Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet and then transfer to a wire baking rack to cool. 

Note: I added dark chocolate peanut butter Hershey's kisses to some of the cookies as they cooled on the baking sheet. Perfection!
Easy Soft Peanut Butter Cookies--add a dark chocolate Hershey kiss for a kick! from Serenity Now #recipe #peanutbutter #cookie
Easy Soft Peanut Butter Cookies--add a dark chocolate Hershey kiss for a kick! from Serenity Now #recipe #peanutbutter #cookie

Easy Soft Peanut Butter Cookies--add a dark chocolate Hershey kiss for a kick! from Serenity Now #recipe #peanutbutter #cookie


Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite recipe featuring peanut butter? Here are a few more of mine:



If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, I hope you'll click your "Pin It" button to add this post to Pinterest, or a +1 for Google+. And I always appreciate kind comments, Facebook shares, and Tweets!

Follow on Bloglovin
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