{Today...}

I love inspiring quotes & I love printables. 

How cute would this be framed in your bathroom?  Or bedroom? 

From one of my favorite blogs, Oh My! Handmade Goodness.  Yours to download for free.  I love free.

{Banana Cake}

We made Banana Cake today.  Well, it was a banana bread recipe but I used a 9" round cake pan instead, lessened the baking time and then added some left over cream cheese icing to the top.  Banana Cake Perfection!  Here's the recipe:

Banana Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs, beaten

2 1/3 cups mashed very overripe bananas

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly grease 9 x 5 loaf pan (I used a 9" round pan)

In large bowl, combine flour, soda and salt.

In separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar.

Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended.

Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 60-65 minutes until a toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean. (I only baked it for 40 minutes and it came out perfect)

Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and enjoy!

{Yard work & bugs}

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature ‑ the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.     - Rachel Carson -

With that said... the kids and I spent an entire day in the backyard.  It was a day full of weeds, bugs, worms, flowers and laughter.  And did I mention I ruined my manicure?

{Free shipping... say what!}

Just announced!  Free shipping for small items from the Fun Things section:

{Time for reflection}

Last weekend I enjoyed a nice long quiet drive through the countryside (on my way to pick up my kiddies from a sleepover at their Auntie's cottage).  This alone time doesn't happen too often and the fact that it was early in the morning, the birds were singing, the sun was shining and I had a piping hot cup of Chai Tea made it just that more glorious.  It was the perfect time to ponder, create, regroup, organize, plan, and to reflect.  It was a nice welcomed drive.

 

Driving Tunes:
City and Color - The Grand Optimist
Kings of Leon - Back Down South
David Gray - The Other Side
Coldplay - What If
Florence + the Machine - Dogs Days are Over
Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun

{Secret Hideaway}

The other day Ethan and I built a secret hideaway.  And it sat right in the middle of our living room all week until I finally had to move it so I could vacuum the crumb infested carpet underneath.  The kids certainly had their fill of enjoyment from it with all the snacks, story time, house playing and nap taking that took place.  But eventually it had to come down, and we now have our little living room back... until its time to rebuild.

Our secret hideaway was built with this set from Crazy Forts, which came to us as a gift from my Auntie and we honestly have used it many many times creating all sorts of different hideaways.  What fun for the kids!  Find out more about it here - Crazy Forts

{Thirsty Chic}

About 2 years ago (or more), I vowed to stop bringing plastic water bottles into our house, we also stopped our monthly order of purified water and gave away our water cooler.  After reading too much scary articles on toxins used in the bottles and how it leaches into the water I started to envision all the rows and rows of plastic wrapped cases of water bottles sitting in HOT warehouses and transport trucks and then feeding these same water bottles to my children.  It made my stomach turn so I forced myself to start drinking our CLEAN tap water with just a Brita.  It was awkward at first, (I know, silly huh!) but now it feels so much better than what I was doing before.  We have saved a ton of money let alone saved hundreds of water bottles from being polluted into our beautiful environment.  There were just so many negative factors with drinking bottled water I just had to make the transition and do my part.   

So... in honor of Earth Day I bring to you some gorgeous GLASS refillable water bottles.  I am always on the hunt for something that's just a bit more grown up chic than my kids colorful stainless steel containers I often end up carting around with me.  So I thought a good round up of some beautiful glass bottles will help me decide which one, or two, or three I should get... so help me out and tell me which one should I get?

Have a wonderfully happy Earth Day.  Remeber to love both your Mothers. 

Clockwise from top left: Takeya $17.99, Love Bottle $15, Bottles Up $33.99, Tap Water $10-$18, Tall Bottle $26.99, Silicone Covered Bottle $36, Facet Face $30