Dear Frannie Friday--Easy Kid Recipes

If you follow me on Instagram, you know by now that the kids and I took full advantage of the week of more family time with board games and cooking (complete with a cooking video from Brielle).  So I was going to do a post on low cost ways to spend time with your kids.  But as I wrote it, it started to feel entirely too familiar and I realized . . . I've written about this before. 

Back to the drawing board!  But I had another thought.  A lot of the ways that the kids and I spend time together is cooking in the kitchen.  So here are some really yummy, easy kid recipes that we really love:

Chocolate Chip Cookies

 Picture and Recipe here

Brownies

 (usually we use my mom's recipe, but this one is pretty similar)

 Picture and Recipe here

Blueberry Banana Bread

 Recipe and Picture here

Rice Krispie Treats

 Recipe and Picture here

Navy Joggers-Nordstrom; Orange Blouse-thrifted, Charming Charlie's; Mint Camera Bag-Jo Totes; Cognac Knotted Booties-Charlotte Russe; Earrings-Kohl's

Thursday Mixer--Free People Dress

I got this dress with a Macy's gift card two years ago and it's still going strong.  I have worn this dress as a dress and as a skirt.  It even fit over my super preggo belly!  It has a really cool texture and mustard is one of my favorite colors ever--both on its own and to mix with other colors.

The retail on this dress was $50.  I didn't spend that (gift card), but had I, the current price per wear of this dress would be $8 or so.  For a Free People dress, not too bad.  But then again I am obsessed with Free People and would wear their stuff exclusively if I could afford it.

Top Left to Right- 1, 2, Now

Bottom Left to Right- 1, 2, 3 

So this weekend is a big one for Kaden and Brielle.  Their dance classes (as well as the class that Kaden teaches) are performing for the halftime show for the Colorado Ice game.  It is a huge deal and they are both really excited. 

Of course, true to form, Kaden is stoked not only to be the center of attention (he has no problem with this whatsoever and even has three solos), and not only to see his boys perform (he is so proud of them and the work that he does with them), but he is also excited about his outfit.

Kaden has his mother's style.  The only requirement for his costume is that they have a red jacket.  He has been orchestrating outfit options from said jacket and has even bedazzled his sneakers so that sparkle off of the lights for the show.  He's my kid alright.

Mustard Dress (worn as a skirt)-Free People; Mint Mesh Sweater-Target; Boots-vintage; Skull Belt-Target; Starfish Earrings-c/o Touchstone Crystals; Buckle Cuff-H&M

Wordy Wednesday--Kids

Since my resolution this week is to have more family time, it seems appropriate to do this week's Wordy Wednesday based on kids.  Meanwhile, I will be playing a lot of Uno, Guess Who and Go Fish.  I will be baking cookies and reading books.  I will be participating in fashion shows and building with Legos.  I will be loving every.  minute.  of it.

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Red and White Striped Shirt-Jones New York; Skirt-thrifted; Gold Sequined Smoking Slippers-Target; Anchor Necklace-Charming Charlie's; Starfish Earrings-c/o Touchstone Crystal

Share the Covers--50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Here is the original by Paul Simon . . .

And here is the cover by Miley Cyrus circa the SNL 40 show . . .

Now I am definitely not a Miley fan.  Not in the slightest.  To be honest before that foam finger weird teddy bear thing she did at the VMAs a few years back, I didn't really even know who she was.  And I think that any child who gets pushed in the spotlight and then has a breakdown is always a sad, sad thing.  But I was extremely pleased with the cover she did of this song.

And you know what?  I was also pleased with the 40th anniversary of SNL.  Yeah, I said it.  I know everyone has been giving it a bad rap saying that they could have done so much more with it.  But let's be honest, SNL has been on a downward slope since the early 2000's.  And they only had so much time to air the thing.  I am not a huge SNL fan and I enjoyed it.

I think we have been setting our expectations for television and movies up way too high.  Maybe that or my standards are extremely low since I am not a big TV fan.  Either way, as usual I go against the crowd.

Flare Jeans-Lee; Tweed Flats-Target; Mustard Sweater and Grey Cardigan-thrifted; Grey Newsboy Hat-really, really, REALLY old

Make it Work Monday #8

Today's Make it Work Monday look comes from one of my favorite style blogs (miss it so much--come back Ife!!!), The Fashionista Next Door.   Unintentionally, it also ends up being a head to toe Target ad--rookie and low cost of course.

This look called for some slight modifications simply because I didn't have some of the pieces that Ife does, but it came out pretty close and I got to add some pattern mixing so that was cool!  I got this leather sleeved jacket after I had already planned the look with my existing military jacket (#bloggerclosets) and I think it worked out very well.

Currently in my non-sartorial world?  First off, thanks for the well wishes on my brother.  He is now home from the hospital and recovering.  The details and aftermath of the accident are unfolding.  We're anxiously awaiting and hoping for good news on those fronts.

There is also a blizzard roaring outside that has been in the works all weekend long.  This has forced us to remain indoors with snacks and pajamas and Netflix.  Because I feel like I've been physically and mentally on the go for several days (weeks?  months?  I can't even remember) in a row, it was a welcome reprise.

Last week's resolution was to donate clothes--which is not exactly a week long ordeal.  But it was successful!  I ended up donating more than I thrifted on or about my birthday, which I consider a win.  And I found and donated a bunch of Reilly's too small clothes as well.  Next week's resolution will be a really good one:

Family Time


I've got lots of ideas for this--board games and movie nights and baking.  And there is really no better week for this because we actually have a family mini-vacation planned for this weekend to Winter Park.  Perfect.

And now it's Monday.   Normally, I'm not a fan, but the knowledge that nothing can possibly be as bad as last week makes it much easier to face.  So let's do this.

Black and White Striped Dress, Leather Sleeved Military Jacket, Red Booties, Plaid Baseball Cap and Mirrored Aviators-Target; Earrings-Kohls

Eva Franco for Lover.ly

I was recently contacted by Lover.ly to review their new (as in just launched!) collection of bridesmaid dresses from Anthropology's Eva Franco.  Here are some of my favorites:

Ellie

Not only is my daughter's nickname Ellie but I love the lacy little details of this dress.

Maura Jumpsuit

I never considered jumpsuits for my bridesmaids, but now that I see this sleek little jumpsuit I would've rethought it!  Not to mention, how cute would this be for a groomswoman?

Cora

Simple and sweet.  What a lovely dress for a spring wedding, no?

Leigh

I know that they say only the bride should wear white at a wedding right?  Well times are changing.  And this crisp, classic cut dress would be a welcome modern alternative.

Amelia

Pretty lace, a rich color and a shape that would flatter any body type makes this dress another pretty dress choice.