DIY | Home-brewed Root Beer

It's important to try new things. We all get caught up in our normal live-work routines, our weekly do-to lists, our schedules, and calendar reminders. Routine is good, healthy even, but when is the last time you did something for the first time? Now I'm not talking about diving out of a plane or walking on fire - I just mean getting a little outside of your comfort zone; Doing something new to you culinarily is a great way break your routine. 

Feeding Baby | Practice What You Preach

No, darling, you cannot have another cookie

We've reached a point in feeding our toddler where she eats most of what we eat at the table. I say "most" because some times she refuses to eat her vegetables and wants to fill up on cheese instead. Who could blame her though, cheese is delicious! 

Lately I've been listening to some of the things I tell her at the dinner table and thinking about the example I set for her. Real talk: I don't always take my own advice, here are some gems from the last couple of weeks: 

"No, you cannot have another cookie!" as pictured above. I will probably have 2 more after she goes to sleep. 

"Where's your water? Have some water. Would you like some water? Water, darling?" or any variation on the water theme, usually said while I'm holding a cocktail. 

"That is mommy's drink!" shouted at coffee and wine alike. 

"Ella, goldfish don't count as lunch." 

"Com'n, oatmeal is good for us and we have to eat breakfast!"

"You have to eat your broccoli too, darling, not just the pasta." 

"Too much cheese will hurt your tummy, Ella-bean." 

"No snackies right now, mommy is making dinner" - said as I am eating cheese while cooking dinner. 

What of your own advice is the hardest to swallow? 

Just A Tip | Coffee, Cubed

There are lots of half drunken pots of coffee in our life lately, the result of running off with a to-go mug to work, to birthday parties, or just to the grocery store. I'm making a habit of filling a few ice cube trays with the leftover brew for coffee ice cubes. You see, I'm counting on a few warm mornings on Saturday in the not-so-far-future where I might be able to sit with an iced coffee long enough for the ice to melt. 

This is my favorite method for making iced coffee from Stir and Scribble's very early days. Cheers to the rest of your week friends! 

Festive Feast | Mother's Day Lunch

Your perspective on certain holidays change once you become a Mother. I used to believe that all my mother could every hope for on Mother's Day was to spend the day with her children; Now I realize she would have probably preferred to go to Target by herself, have lunch with her friends, and maybe have the rest of the day to finish whatever book she was reading. 

Kitchen Sink Links | May 2013

May is brimming with so much goodness! We've had a bunch of rain here in Atlanta to start the month but the garden is growing and the pollen is clear. There is an air of new growth, change, and challenge to the next thirty one days. There is also plenty of weeding to do, too. 

Thirsty Thursday | Easy Horchata

My office recently moved into a different neighborhood and just down the street is a tiny taco place. We've been going for lunch at least once a week since unpacking. The tacos are delicious, but the real star is their house horchata - it made me fall in love with the drink all over again. 

Kitchen Sink Cookies + Bake Sale for No Kid Hungry

Y'all, I was not kidding when I said there have been a lot of cookies in my kitchen lately. I promise next week we'll get back to healthy family suppers and grown-up drinks around here soon! This week the Splawn house is gearing up for the Atlanta Bake Sale for No Kid Hungry - some nights will be spent making and scooping cookie dough, some printing labels, and another baking and packaging - in preparation for Saturday's sale.