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Saturday, January 11, 2014

Odds & Ends

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odds and ends

1. I've made these buttermilk biscuits four or five times now and haven't gotten around to photographing them, but you absolutely must make them. They take mere minutes to throw together and with a quick bake, you have warm, flaky biscuits that are great fresh from the oven or eaten a day or two later. I substitute half of the all-purpose flour for whole-wheat flour and you'd never guess the difference. If it's just Ryan and me, I make a half batch, although he's proven his ability to polish off three or four at a time! We eat them plain, with butter and honey, as the base of an egg sandwich, with jam, dipped into soup...the possibilities are endless!

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2. I have always been a pretty low maintenance sleeper...give me a warm blanket and a pillow and I'm a happy camper. Pregnancy changed that. I have very few complaints about pregnancy thus far (35 weeks on Monday!), but my sleep habits have taken a turn for the worst lately. Thankfully the body pillow pictured above (you're welcome for not posting a picture of me using it!) has been a lifesaver. I don't get perfect sleep as a result, but it's definitely more comfortable. Thanks Kara for letting me borrow!!

little princes nepal
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3. Thanks to two weeks off around the holidays (thank you employer for having an awesome Christmas break policy!), I was able to do quite a bit of reading....some baby-related, but also a lot of "fun" reading. One of my favorites? Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal. It's one of those books that puts you in awe of people who so selflessly throw everything else in their lives aside to devote themselves to a single cause (even though he admittedly started out for selfish reasons). Part educational, part inspirational, and part love story, I loved every page of this true story and have now spent quite a bit of time exploring the website for his organization Next Generation Nepal.

giraffe blanket
4. Baby McLaury is so stinking blessed and he/she hasn't even arrived yet! I've had two beautiful baby showers and a third is today, and I can't help but get a little overwhelmed by the outpouring of love for Ryan, me, and our baby. I'll be sharing more about each of the AMAZING showers, but until then, wanted to share one of the most touching gifts I've received--a handmade quilt for the nursery from two of my best friends. I had no idea they had this kind of skill and I was literally in shock and awe the evening they gave it to me! Incredible, right?!

One Year Ago: Shredded Caesar Salad on Toasts
Two Years Ago: Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce
Three Years Ago: Cranberry, Caramelized Onion, and Goat Cheese Dip
Four Years Ago: Grammy's Chocolate Cookies