Author Archives: Lauren

Little Reminders

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It is Thursday, and I have seen my husband maybe four hours this week. For the next five weeks or so, our work schedules will run opposite, Monday through Thursday. It’s tough.

And it is a reminder that relationships take work.

I am technically still a newly wed. Our one-year wedding anniversary is in two weeks! Still, I like to think I have gained some wisdom from our four years together, and that I have learned lessons from the long and successful relationships around me.

People change every day, with every experience and interaction. In a year, you will be a different person. Your core values may be the same, but the color and flavor of your world will be different. Your perspective will be different.

We can’t just expect our relationships (friendships included) to tag along, bending and reshaping on their own to fit us as we change. Even the most solid couple can veer off course and grow apart without mutual commitment, without work.

A sweet text or e-mail during the day. A handwritten note pinned to the refrigerator. Picking up the slack with household chores. Making your partner’s favorite meal. Hugging just a little bit longer when you get home. These are small acts, but they are so important.

The big things are important, too. Respect. Commitment. Compromise. Fighting fair. Being honest about needs and fears, expectations and disappointments. Navigating life’s challenges as a team. These are the headings for your journey – your true north.

However, as this week has reminded me, the little things are the small course corrections that can keep you going in the right direction. Especially when things are tough.

St. Patty’s Pancakes

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What a perfect reminder about why I started this blog: the little things. You don’t need complicated projects or fancy purchases to make life great. Sometimes, all you need is green food coloring!

St. Patty's Pancakes

St. Patty’s Pancakes

Though my pancake pen skills need some work, I was pretty happy with my little shamrock! 🙂 This was a simple alteration, but it was a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

Shamrock Pancake

It has four distinct leaves. That qualifies as a four-leaf clover!

Plus, the green pancake batter gave me the perfect excuse to pull out my Yoda pancake mold again!

Cake from a pan am I! Delicious covered in syrup am I!

Cake from a pan am I! Delicious covered in syrup am I!

Mini Cinnamon Rolls

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Comfort foods are a great thing. Delicious, indulgent, usually nostalgic — they can soothe just about any bad mood or grumbly tummy. What’s even better is comfort food that is easy to make!

Since it has been such a crazy week at work, and I have been especially demanding on several of my co-workers for a big project, I decided to make the office a Friday morning treat! This recipe for Mini Cinnamon Rolls is one of my favorite recipes. It is so simple, and yet such a crowd pleaser. These things disappear FAST!

Here is what you need:

  • 2 cans of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • chopped nuts (optional)
  • 2/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Unroll both cans of crescent rolls and separate each sheet of dough along the center perforation to form 4 rectangles. Press the diagonal perforations to seal the triangle pieces together.

Stir together the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Spread this mixture evenly over each rectangle. You can sprinkle chopped nuts over the spread, if you like. Roll the rectangles up like a jelly roll, starting at the long end.

Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Keep the dough cold. It’s easier to work with!

Use a serrated knife to gently slice each “log” into six 1-inch pieces. Use shortening or a spray to grease two 8-inch cake pans. Arrange the rolls about 1/4 inch apart. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes.

Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Ready for the oven!

While the rolls are cooking, stir together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Drizzle this mixture over the rolls when they get done in the oven! And enjoy the ooey-gooey goodness!

Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Just for funsies, I did a batch with Nutella as the filling! Something I saw on … wait for it … Pinterest. Anyway, these Nutella Rolls were less work and equally as delicious. WIN!

Mini Nutella Roll

Mini Nutella Roll

So to make these, you just need the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Nutella — and then the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt to make the glaze!

Taking Heart

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It seems that my last post was a little prophetic. Work has indeed been crazy, and I haven’t posted anything in days. Boy, what a week! I have accomplished so much, received affirmation on my work, and interacted with great new people, but I have also been challenged by the late nights, the big projects on my plate, and some personal disappointments.

I will admit, proudly, to wearing rose-colored glasses. In my chest beats the soft, squishy heart of an idealist! I see so much good in the work that I do and in the place that I work. It is disheartening to be reminded that my good intentions (and expectations) are not shared by everyone, everywhere. We live in an imperfect world.

Disheartening. To cause to lose spirit or morale. To make a person lose confidence, hope and energy.

As we get older, it is so easy to be disheartened. Our spirits, not just our bodies, become stiff and inflexible. When we fall or fail (or are failed by others), we are slow to trust again, to get back up and jump back in. How do we avoid becoming cynical?

Some people would say, let the world harden you. I’m not one of those people. I believe that we are made stronger by compassion, by our empathy for other human beings, and that true resilience means weathering the storm without losing your capacity to be inspired and surprised by life.

So, what’s the take-away here? Be elastic in your judgements, and in your self-righteousness, because no one is perfect and change is gradual. Don’t be disheartened. Take heart in knowing that every day of your life is a ripple that changes the world just a little.

I’ve found it is the small everyday deeds
of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.
Small acts of kindness and love.

Gandalf, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

I love this quote, even if it’s not original Tolkien. 😛 And I promise to post fun, craftsy, light-hearted things this weekend!

Blogger’s Block

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Having a blog is great … when you’re feeling creative, or being productive, or thinking interesting thoughts. Having a blog is not-so-great on a day like today: a lazy, cold Sunday when I have absolutely zero motivation to do anything!

I don’t feel like baking, nor should I indulge in any more sweet treats. Two days of Pretzel Jello Salad for breakfast is pushing it. I also don’t need to cook anything as my fridge is still full of leftover lasagna. And it is far too late in the day (and the weekend) to revamp the cool double-tiered side table I bought at the antique mall or to upcycle that old armoire we aren’t using anymore.

So, what do I blog about?

I spent all day yesterday shopping with my sister-in-law. We found a great fabric shop and great sales at Steinmart and ended the day with junk food and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. A wonderful Saturday, in my opinion, but not really blog-material.

It seems that I have my first case of blogger’s block, but I can tell you it feels more like blogger’s guilt. If I can’t be fabulous every day, or at least every other day, then I don’t deserve to be a blogger. This thought actually crossed my mind. What an outrageous expectation!

In life, we can’t be ON all the time. I need to give myself the same luxury with my blog and not perceive a lapse in posts as a reflection on my abilities or personality or commitment. Sometimes, life and work will be too crazy to post regularly. Sometimes, for no particular reason, I just won’t feel inspired. And that is okay.

So today, I am giving myself permission to stay in my sock monkey pajamas and spend quality time with Pinterest and Netflix! 🙂

Pretzel Jello Salad

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Happy Valentine’s Day! As a present to my sweetie for an awesome day, I made one of his favorite desserts: Pretzel Jello Salad!

Now, the family recipe I have is for Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad, but I have created my own version, Peach Pretzel Jello Salad. That’s the wonderful thing about this recipe, though; you can really do any variation of fruit and Jello!

First, get the cream cheese out and put it in a mixing bowl to soften. I always forget to do this! Don’t forget to do this, unless you really enjoy softening the cream cheese by creaming it for five minutes. Hand cramp, anyone?

For the crust, you’ll need:

  • 2 cups crushed pretzel twists
  • 1 and 1/2 sticks butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup sugar

Crush the pretzels into small pieces, add in the sugar, and then pour in the melted butter. Stir until the pretzel pieces are well-coated in sugary goodness.

Sugary Goodness

Sugary Goodness

Pour the mixture into a 9X13 baking dish (I usually spray it lightly with Pam) and then use the back of a wooden spoon to pat the pretzels down into an even layer. It should look like this:

Pretzel Crust

Pretzel Crust

Cook at 350° for 10 minutes. Let it cool completely (no refrigeration) before putting on the next layer. Let me just say, this crust is to die for. If this came in candy bar form, I’d be in trouble!

For the middle layer, you’ll need:

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 9 oz Kool Whip (French Vanilla is the best!)

Combine the sugar and cream cheese first. Once they are well-mixed, fold in the Kool Whip.

Don't over mix!

Don’t over mix!

When the pretzel crust is cool, spread the cream cheese mixture over it. Make sure to seal the edges of the dish; this prevents the jello from seeping through the layers.

For the Jello layer, you’ll need:

  • 6 oz flavored Jello (in this case, Peach)
  • 2 cups pineapple juice
  • 20 – 30 oz frozen or canned fruit (in this case, sliced peaches)

To make Strawberry Pretzel Jello Salad, use 20 oz of frozen strawberries from the freezer section and Strawberry flavored Jello. For my Peach version, use two 15 oz cans of sliced peaches in lite syrup and Peach flavored Jello. Drain all the liquid from the peaches and cut them into bite size pieces. Then, let them sit in the freezer while you prepare the rest of the Jello layer.

Microwave the pineapple juice for about 3-4 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the hot juice and Jello. Stir until dissolved. Then add the chilled peaches (or fruit of your choosing). Depending on how the Jello sets, you may need to pop the bowl in the refrigerator for 5 minutes. When the Jello starts to thicken, pour over the top of the cream cheese layer. And make sure the fruit pieces are evenly distributed across the top.

Jello Layer

Jello Layer

After that, it’s the waiting game! Let the dessert set in the refrigerator for a few hours. Cutting the slices is a bit of a wrestle because of the caramelized pretzel crust, but it is soooooo worth it! And it may not come out pretty, but your taste buds won’t care!

Peach Pretzel Jello Salad

Peach Pretzel Jello Salad

Monday Musing

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I woke up this morning knowing it was going to be a bad day. I knew it before I even opened my eyes. I knew it as I mumbled and grumbled and rolled out of bed. When I left for work and opened the door to a rainy, chilly world, I felt vindicated. It was just as I suspected, a gloomy Monday.

I suffered through traffic, a glitchy printer, spilled coffee, and a paper-cut, to name a few tragedies. And as I worked through my lunch, I found myself wishing this day would go faster. Could it be the weekend already!?

Then, unexpectedly, I was asked to come along on a visit to one of my favorite alumnae of the College, a birthday visit. In my sour mood, I had completely forgotten that today was her 101st birthday. And as I sat next to this lovely woman, still brimming with humor and spit-fire in the face of illness and old age and loss, I felt ashamed.

How dare I write off an entire day because of some rain clouds? How dare I wallow over trivial inconveniences? How dare I wish away precious time when we are only blessed with so many days?

In her 101 years, there were many rainy Mondays, but I doubt that she regrets a single one. There were even days when she lost a loved one or dear friend. Of all the days to wish away, but even those days were a gift: a chance to say goodbye, to feel how deeply her heart could ache, and to find peace on the other side.

Today may not be the day for a rainbow or a holiday or a breakthrough in my life, but it is another day on this earth. As I encounter the good and the bad, I need only remember the jesting words of a very grateful 101-year old on her birthday:

“I’m glad you came today. I might not be here tomorrow!”