Citrus Glaze Recipe

As the weather gets cooler, so does my itch to bake something.  From cookies to cake, I have the biggest sweet tooth!  My family looks forward when I bake too.  I love seeing their curious faces as they round the corner and smell something delicious baking in the oven.

One evening after a nice dinner at home, I decided to indulge in dessert.  My son asked for cake.  Then, I realized I was out of eggs! 

After heading to the store to shop for ingredients, I lost my motivation to bake.  To keep my family happy, yet make dessert simpler, I decided on this easy recipe instead-- using a store bought, frozen pound cake.  Shhh...it's our secret!!

The citrus glaze is a tangy addition.  It came together in minutes and makes the pound cake more moist.

Made from scratch works best when I have the energy, but sometimes you need a nice short cut!

Ingredients 

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar 
2 tablespoons butter, melted 
2 teaspoons orange zest
 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice 
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions

Place ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth.  Glaze is thick and sticky!  Place pound cake on a cooling rack or cake serving tray and pour glaze over the cake.  Let cake set for an hour before slicing.  Serve and enjoy!  *Side note--This glaze would also be delicious brushed on top of fish with some salt and lemon pepper for an extra hint of flavor!

Choosing Artwork for Your Home

Hello friends!  I’m excited to share my collaboration with Art Crate, to help choose artwork for your home.
  
Buying art for your home can be a little intimidating.  I want to pick the right piece, but often feel overwhelmed while making my selection.  I usually gravitate towards botanical prints or landscape paintings.  This time around, I fell in love with a beautiful White Peacock print by artist, Christine Lindstorm.  The subtle colors are timeless and complement my decor.  I wanted my new art to shine so I kept my styling simple.  As a result, the professionally framed print makes a beautiful addition to my daughter's room.

When shopping for art on Art Crate's website, you can seek inspiration from their gallery, or work with a personal curator to find the perfect piece for your home.

With the holidays right around the corner, refresh your home with a new piece of art that makes you happy!  

As a bonus, Art Crate created a 20% off coupon for you to enjoy. Code: BRANDIART20 - Valid through 11/30/18

*This post was sponsored by Art Crate.  No financial compensation was received, however I did receive a framed print to review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Washington DC Trip

Earlier this year, my husband and I planned a trip to DC.  I visited once before on an 8th grade class trip, but this would be my husband's first time.

To save money, we booked our hotel in Arlington, Virginia.  The location was great!  We were only minutes away from many DC attractions.

Do not plan to drive while in DC.  Traffic was a nightmare!  We used Uber to get around.  

We had 4 days to explore.  We planned our trip well, to see as much as possible.

  

Our first stop on our route was Arlington National Cemetery.

The cemetery is the final resting place for more than 14,000 veterans, including those that fought in the Civil War.

From there we did a hop-on/hop-off tour to explore the National Mall.

  

In my opinion, this was the best way to see many DC landmarks.  Our tour bus driver shared many interesting facts about the city and monuments.  You can hop off at any time or stay on the bus and enjoy the tour.

The Lincoln Memorial is awe inspiring.

The Memorial is a national monument built to honor the 16th President of the United States.

An easy walk away was the Reflecting Pool.  Seeing the Washington Monument was a highlight of our trip.  Unfortunately we arrived too early to see the cherry blossoms in bloom.

The next day we chose to visit National Museum of American History.

  

Admission is free for all Smithsonian museums and the zoo!  The museum offers a wide range of exhibits.

The Batmobile, Julia Child’s kitchen, Archie Bunker's chair and The Star-Spangled Banner were a few of our favorites to see.

Did you know that Mister Rogers' mother knitted him the iconic sweater that he changed into each episode?

The following morning we went to the National Zoo; one of the oldest zoos in the United States.

  

It was a beautiful clear day.  We wore our sneakers and took our time walking through the zoo.

  

We loved watching the cheetahs.

Later that day we took an Uber to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington, Va.  This is a huge shopping mall.  I'm so glad we stopped here.

  

We ended the night at the Sugar Factory for a surprise birthday dinner for my niece.

On our final day in DC we visited Union Market.

  

My husband is from Philly.  We heard that Union Market is similar to Reading Terminal Market(a favorite place to eat in Philadelphia).  It was smaller, yet super crowded.  We loved window shopping at Salt and Sundry and the many options to eat.

  

Before heading home, I walked around the corner and snapped a couple pictures of the infamous DC mural by graffiti artist Mr. Brainwash.

We really enjoyed our time in DC.  I would love to visit again with my children one day.  There is so much history and so much to see and do.

Sometimes You Need a Break

It's been a long time since we talked.  Taking a break from social media wasn't something that I planned.  Unfortunately, not long after my last post, my daughter was hit by a car while she was away working in California.  It was scary. I was afraid for her. I thought I'd lose my mind from worry. 

 I missed blogging, but my family needed my attention.

Although a little shaken up, thankfully she is fine now.  I'm so grateful!

It was nice not being on the computer all the time, but I missed being creative and interacting with everyone.  For me, the most rewarding part about blogging is being apart of this supportive community.  Your comments and messages make my day!

Now I'm more motivated.  I feel refreshed and look forward to being more productive.  I hope that you'll continue to stick around.