#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Weekend Photos in Review – The Pre-Birthday Edition

February 5, 2012 · Narrative

Hello Sweetnickers, happy weekend to you!

Friday sunset

Madeline’s fourth birthday is officially still six days away, but the kids aren’t with me next weekend, so we squeezed most of our birthday celebrations into this weekend. When we saw Dolphin Tale many months ago, there were previews for Big Miracle, and Madeline was transfixed. Animals? Especially water-based ones? She’s so there. We found out when it was opening up and marked our calendar. Very fitting that it opened on her pre-birthday weekend, and it became the perfect way to kick off the festivities.

But first, a quick dinner at home.
Pizza at home

Big Miracle

I told Madeline she could choose Saturday morning breakfast, and she’s in love with these new heart-shaped donuts she spied on a recent commercial.
New favorite

This was her first year having a “friend” party, and I embarked on making forty-eight cupcakes.
Smells like...

Nick walked in right about this point and told me the house smelled like a bakery.

I think that was a compliment.

Hot pink frosting

She requested chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting. I added a batch of vanilla too, for the non-chocolate lovers.  You know, like her mom.

Pre-frost

Ready to go

Madeline wanted a unicorn-themed party, so I went with rainbow lollipops, a sheet of unicorn stickers, and a unicorn rubber duck stuffed inside a unicorn muslin bag. Simple.
Rainbow lollipops

…

Read More

Recipe: Three Minute Three Ingredient Fudge

January 19, 2012 · Narrative

Three Minute Fudge
A few weekends ago, knee-deep during the holiday season, my kitchen was covered from top to bottom, left to right.  With kitchen helpers, pots and pans, four burners on the stove going, the oven heating up, and massive quantities of flour, butter, and sugar.  Everywhere.

Mystic’s daughter and a friend of hers.  A co-worker.  Midway through, the kids came home, and the kitchen swelled to include Mystic, The Ex, and my stepdaughter.  A true dysfunctional functional family if I ever saw one.  At that point, not everyone was cooking and baking.  But those that were, were going balls to the wall.

A chocolate chip bundt cake.  Ten dozen cookies.  Cranberry Almond Bars.  No Bake cookies.  Homemade hummus.  Eight dozen chocolate covered pretzels.  Mexican Wedding cookies.  And fudge.  It was crazy.  But one of my most favorite kinds of crazy.

“Fudge?  You’re making fudge?”  That’s right about when Mystic started paying closer attention to all the cooking and baking going on around him.

“Yes.  Do you like fudge?”

“Chocolate fudge.  Is it chocolate?”

“Um, no.”

Truth be told, since I’m super picky about sweets that we keep in the house, I usually only make fudge if a) I’m going to see my sister, so I can share it with her or b) if it immediately has plans to leave the house.

I made a mental note to make Mystic some chocolate fudge in the coming weeks, and when I spied this recipe, it was a no brainer.  We happened to be on a grocery shopping trip together when he saw me grab the bag of Andes mint chips.  He asked what they were for, and when I told him, he wondered if we needed another bag for snacking.

No, definitely not.  Well, he did, and his daughter.  As soon as she comes in the house, she makes a beeline for the white chocolate chip jar.

This fudge recipe is one of those perfect little recipes to have in your back pocket.

For when the kids are clamoring for a sweet snack.

For when they want to “help” you in the kitchen.

For when you want to give them the reins of the recipe and let them take charge and own it.

For when you owe a thank you to someone who helped you out.

For a quick little birthday treat for your favorite friend.

For when your boyfriend shares his love of chocolate fudge.

Especially the mint flavored kind.

January 19, 2012 – Bonus Photo
Birthday Cake Topper

Birthday cake topper, check!  This little beauty arrived yesterday and as our plan for her upcoming parties comes together, we’re getting more and more excited.  We did think the blue unicorn belly was a little weird, and we’re convinced he needs a little bit of sparkle (which we will certainly take care of), but it’s going to look pretty awesome atop someone’s upcoming birthday cake.

…

Read More

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

Pinterest

#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

Copyright © 2023 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design