Oct 22, 2019 | Everyday Life
We wore out the grass between our houses for the final time last weekend. So thankful for the opportunity to live next to two of our favorite people for the past 3 years. Lots of amazing memories were had here including all the house projects (including peeling paint and completing a tile backsplash in one day), Quiplash game nights, borrowing sugar (even though Schnucks is approximately the same distance away), Reapeford Garden, and all of our plans to tear down/add windows to our fence or somehow connect our basements. Looking forward to all new shenanigans for us to get into in the future. We already miss you, Sarah and Cole!
Aug 26, 2019 | Everyday Life, Home
I love a good birthday tradition. Growing up, my parents made it really special for us by hanging streamers, balloons, and having our entire family over the day of for a party. In addition to my favorite foods, Mom always made a double decker circle cake (vanilla with chocolate icing) and Great Grandma made banana cake. When I moved away from home it was hard to keep up with these traditions, so they started coming here to celebrate.
When we were registering for our wedding, a springform pan made it’s way onto our list, because who doesn’t like cheesecake? When I went a year without using it, I decided that needed to change and I started making cheesecake each year when family came in town for my birthday. Over the last couple years, it’s expanded from birthdays to anytime I offer to bring a dessert somewhere, which has allowed me to try out several different flavors, crusts, and baking styles. (Just for the record – I am a firm believer in the water bath cooking method and oreo cookie crust.)
They haven’t all turned out looking pretty, but all of them have tasted fantastic. Cheesecakes are finicky because they will crack and leave a gaping hole for a million different reasons – over mixing, temperature changes/drafts, over baking, etc, etc. My best advice is just to start with a cheesecake that has topping – no one will ever notice.
This year I made White Chocolate Raspberry by Baker by Nature and I have to say, it was the best so far!
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
None of my pictures come close to the ones in the link above (LOL) but we added chocolate sauce to the mix, so I think we’re winning.
I didn’t have the mesh strainer to adequately remove the seeds and pulp, so I only put the raspberry swirl on half, just in case!
Here are the recipes I’ve tried – and the ones on my list.
Past Birthday Cheesecakes: T W E N T Y – S E V E N | T W E N T Y – S I X | T W E N T Y – F I V E
Other Cheesecakes I’ve tried: G R A N D M A ‘ S B I R T H D A Y | N O – B A K E R E E C E S | O R E O
Next Up: H O N E Y L A V E N D E R | L E M O N B L U E B E R R Y
What fun traditions do you have for birthdays?
Aug 19, 2019 | Weekend Wrap Up
We had the best lake weekend with the family and then a productive Sunday evening prepping and cleaning up at the Esports facility.
Aug 16, 2019 | Everyday Life
Dear comfy, worn in spot on the couch, thanks for seeing me through all the craft projects, working from home, and crazy Bachelorette episodes of this year. You might just be my favorite place in the house (despite all the dog fur). Dear Magnolia doormat, scripty font is the best way to welcome people in. Dear DeannaCat3, thank you for being the most prolific instagrammer and making me fall madly in love with gardening and all the indoor plants. Dear photos of my feet, thanks for reminding me to be in the moment. Dear hubby, I’m so excited for the inaugural season of Mizzou Esports! I am beyond proud of all the hard work you’ve put toward this program, these students, and this school. No one would be a better role model for these gamers. Dear IRL and virtual friends, I’m so thankful that you stopped by.
Jul 9, 2019 | Travel, Weekend Wrap Up
The good list: the best reflections (on life and in windows), a jelly vs jam debate, star gazing, exploring a sweet little river town and a weekend of rest with my favorite people.
Jul 5, 2019 | Everyday Life
Center photo | Top right photo
This really happened. For the first time in franchise history, the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup. I’ve been dreaming about these moments for the last 27 years, hoping that my team would finally have the chance to lift the Cup. The entirety of the play offs were incredibly nerve wracking, tying for the most postseason games played in a single year (at 26 games). We watched game seven in our basement with friends and I watched our team celebrate for hours afterwards. I would be lying if I said that tears weren’t involved. We celebrated with the rest of St. Louis at the parade and rally downtown the weekend after we won. I’m so glad I got to go experience it all, truly one of the best moments of 2019!
P L A Y G L O R I A!
