Weekly Favorites

This week was filled with some down time before my last semester of Nursing School starts back Monday. I was able do a good bit of snuggling with my sweet baby boys while also doing some baking. I will be sharing the recipe for the Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies with Icing one day next week. Trust me you want to try them out for yourself. 

Lastly, I have been trying out different lip colors by the company LipSense and I finally found some that I was interested in. I will be talking about these products next week because if you love lipstick but not that you have to keep reapplying then this brand is perfect for you! Happy weekend! 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Laurel, Mississippi

A little over a year ago I watched the Pilot episode of the new HGTV show called Home Town. Home Town on HGTV is based in the small southern town of Laurel, Mississippi where Ben and Erin Napier live. Ben and Erin Napier love their small town and plan to help it grow and thrive with restoring older homes and even the downtown area. I have been following them via Instagram since the pilot episode aired a year ago. After seeing all the wonderful pictures they have been posting of their quaint downtown I knew I had to go see it for myself. 

Last week I woke up one morning and decided I was going to take a spontaneous two hour road trip down to Laurel from Jackson, Mississippi. I am so very glad that I went because I absolutely loved it! I plan to visit a few more times this year. I would suggest visiting this small homegrown downtown to everyone.

Ben and Erin Napier have recently opened their own store in downtown Laurel called Laurel Mercantile Co. They opened the store in December 2016. I fell head over heels in love with their store and all the lovely old southern goods they sell. I bought a mug, shirt, and some old pieces of serving dinnerware. 

Even if you cannot visit check out their website here, where you can shop what is in the store along with handmade pieces of hardwood furniture that Ben Napier makes in his woodshop entitled Scotsman Co. They have a little bit of everything for everyone in this store, from wooden toys, leather goods, candles, dinnerware, apparel, and Erin's Casserole Tote that she designed. The Casserole Tote would make the best Hostess gift especially for that hostess that seems to already have everything under the sun!

In case you are wondering about Season One of Home Town on HGTV. They have been filming this past year so that Season 1 will air this year! I cannot wait to watch all the different projects that take on in this adorable small town in my home state. If you love Chip and Joanna Gaines show "Fixer Upper" on HGTV then you will quickly fall in love with the Napier's. I have to admit I had the pleasure of talking with Ben Napier himself and some of this crew while I was visiting and he is just a small town, sweet, southern gentleman who was very eager to talk with people coming into the store and listen to any stories they had to tell him. 

Be sure to follow them on Instagram and check out their website (linked above). I honestly fell in love with this small town and all the quaint tree lined streets with classical southern homes ranging from small to large. I could brag about the Napier's and the town of Laurel all day long, but just go see it for yourself and I am sure you will fall in love too!

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Mini Cinnamon Rolls

During the Holidays I always use a lot of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls but this Christmas I had some left over and decided to make Mini Cinnamon Rolls with them. I was not sure how these would turn out but I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. These would be the perfect addition to any brunch or just the perfect Saturday morning surprise! 

Mini Cinnamon Rolls:

Ingredients:

Cinnamon Rolls:

1 package of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

2 tablespoons of butter, melted

1/4 cup granulated sugar 

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Icing: 

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla 

1 tablespoon milk 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Unroll crescent rolls and coat both sides of the dough with melted butter. 

3. In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon.

4. Cover one side of the rolls with the sugar mix and roll each into a spiral, with the sugar coated side inside. 

5. Place rolls in a small muffin tin. 

6. Cook 10-12 minutes, until golden brown. Let stand 5 minutes. 

7. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth. 

8. Drizzle icing evenly over warm rolls to allow it to melt.

Lots of Love,  Natalie

2017!

Out with 2016 and in with 2017! I am so happy to start this new year. I look forward to everything this year has in store for me. I have a very good feeling this year will be a very very good one for me! I know for a fact it will be wonderful when I graduate from Nursing School in May! I cannot wait for that day to come so I can start working as a Registered Nurse! I have a few New Year's Resolutions that I intend to keep this year. 

2017 Resolutions:

Exercise more from home. Back in college I used to exercise at least once a day in my living room. Since graduating from college and moving back home to go to Nursing School I find it harder to workout everyday at home. I plan to get back into it again so I can cancel my two gym memberships to help save more money. By the end of 2017 I would like to be able to run a half marathon (who knows maybe even a full marathon), do a full yoga handstand, and gain more flexibility. 

Blog.  I know ladies and gentlemen this one really needs some work. This year I vow to take more pictures, post more recipes, and upgrade/change the layout and logo...possibly even the name. Basically expect for this to get a face lift in 2017!

Keep money on my mind. In college I was better at saving money. I am honestly very embarrassed at how poorly I have managed to do this since 2014. I want to start saving money to put forward towards buying a house in a year or two. I feel once I graduate from nursing school and can get back to having a full time job again this goal will be more obtainable.

Explore. I travel fairly often but this year I want to make it more of a goal. I want to strive to challenge myself to explore states I have never been to and be more adventurous. I know I already have one vacation planned for this year that will take me to somewhere I have been wanting to go for a few years. Stay tuned to see the hopefully many different adventures of this year.

Read more books. If you were to walk into my bedroom and see my nightstand you would see about 7 books that lack progress. I have bought many different books I completely intended to read but with school it is hard for me to even find enough time to read all the chapters in my textbooks. Nursing school has let all other books fall to the waste side (figuratively and physically). Once I graduate I will have more time to actually finish these books and hopefully a few more. If you have any suggestions on good reads I should check out please indulge me!

Happy New Year loves! I hope if you are like me and actually make resolutions I hope you can keep them. See you tomorrow! 

Lots of Love,  Natalie

Peppermint Toffee

 

This "Peppermint Toffee" is the perfect treat for Christmas time. If you are like me and you wait all year for November when they start to stock the stores with all the Peppermint Bark then this recipe is ideal for you. The added bonus of this recipe is that even the most inexperienced baker can make this recipe in under 30 minutes. Honestly, I could go on and on about how wonderful this recipe is but let's just get down to it so you can try it for yourself! 

Peppermint Toffee:

Ingredients:

2 sleeves of Graham Crackers

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 cup of Light Brown Sugar

1 package (2 cups) white chocolate chips

6 candy canes, crushed (about 1/2 cup)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F.

2. Line a 15x10x1 inch baking sheet with tin foil and lightly grease with cooking spray.

3. Line the baking sheet with Graham crackers until it is completely covered and set aside.

4.  In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add in light brown sugar and bring to a rolling boil, remove from heat. 

5. Pour over Graham crackers. Place in 375F preheated oven to bake for about 10 minutes or until the crackers are browned and caramelized.

6. Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave until smooth. 

7. Remove Toffee from the oven and allow to cool for 1 minute. Pour melted white chocolate on top and spread evenly with a spatula. 

8. Immediately sprinkle with the crushed candy canes.

9. Allow the chocolate to set. 

10. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 - 1 1/2 weeks.

 

Lots of Love,  Natalie  

 

 

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Jay and I were craving Chocolate Chip Cookies one night but decided we wanted something a little more than just chocolate chips. I found the recipe for these on Pinterest by blogger Grandbaby Cakes . These were very easy to make while also tasting amazing with the little added bonus of getting to eat a few chewy caramels while unwrapping them! I would highly recommend these for anyone with a sweet tooth or anyone just wanting chocolate chip cookies with a twist. You know you are dying to try them now so go ahead and give the recipe below a try! Happy baking! 

Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Ingredients: 

2½ cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cornstarch

¾ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

½ cup granulated sugar

1½ cups packed brown sugar

1 large egg plus 2 egg yolks at room temperature

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Individual wrapped caramels

Sea Salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder and baking soda and put aside.

2. In the bowl of your mixer, add butter and both granulated and brown sugars and cream together for 3-4 minutes on high until light and fluffy.

3. Next add in eggs one at a time beating until incorporated. Then add in pure vanilla extract and beat until smooth.

4. Turn down your mixer to low and add in flour mixture in three intervals beating after each addition until well-combined. Lastly, stir in chocolate chips.

5. Place dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Two hours is even better.

6. Scoop cookie dough in balls the size of a tablespoon. Add an unwrapped caramel to the center of 1 ball of dough then add another ball of dough to cover the caramel. 

7. Roll into one larger ball of dough and place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet at least 1½ inches apart.

8. Bake 11-14 minutes. Cookies may seem a little undone but remove from oven if you like them soft and chewy. If you want them more crisp, bake 14 minutes or longer.

9. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve.

Lots of Love, Natalie