Mint-Lemon Pound Cake

Y'all I am back. Last week I took a little sabbatical to just enjoy life. I ate up the little moments. BK's new smile, the 3 new words she started saying, dinners with my husband, pretty afternoons sunbathing in the backyard. It was wonderful and it was much needed. 

I spent a day on blog organization and flow. I've decided that my week will look like this:

Monday - Recipes

Tuesday - BK + Motherhood

Wednesday - Lifestyle

Thursday - Lifestyle

Friday - Fashion / DIY / Randoms

Hopefully those are all things that will interest you. My advertising spots got a makeover and I'm pretty excited about them. Take a look, this week you can get 30% off using code REVAMP. 

I also made a super delicious Mint-Lemon Pound Cake that I am super excited to share the recipe... 

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix

1 package lemon pudding mix 

1/2 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1/2 cup milk

8 oz. sour cream

6 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (it took me 3 lemons)

1/4 cup fresh mint + more for garnish

Icing:

2.5 cups powdered sugar

4 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice 

1 - 2 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease your pan. Mix cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, and milk. Add mint, oil, sour cream, and lemon juice to a blender. Blend until smooth. Add mint mixture to cake mixture. Pour into pan. Bake on middle rack for 35-40 minutes or until knife comes out of cake clean. Run butter knife around the edge of pan for easier removal. Let cake cool for ten minutes.

For glaze add all icing ingredients together until preferred consistency. Pour glaze over cake. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and add mint for garnish. 

{Mine didnt have a very strong mint taste coming through so feel free to add more if you want a stronger taste}

Enjoy!

Holiday Clean Up + Guest Post

Today is the last of my amazing guest bloggers! Christina is here to talk about holiday clean up, and lets be honest we can all appreciate new ideas with regards to organization. I swear every year I contemplate throwing stuff away. Yes I'm lazy, I admit it. Y'all enjoy this sweet girl!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Hey, readers! My name's Christina, and I blog over at Behind the Eyes of a Butterfly. The beautiful Brandi asked me to guest post while she's sunning with the Mister and kiddo in Jamaica. LUCKY GIRL!

I want to share some ideas that I have about Christmas Clean-Up! I know, I know, the holiday's barely over. BUT, if you're anything like me, you're already wondering WHAT in the WORLD you're going to do with all these decorations that you bought/crafted/stole from your mom/otherwise added to your collection this year and whether your husband will be a ear and bring those boxes back down to the basement, please & thanks!

Now I admit, in years past I haven't done a very good job at this:





...but this year, I've vowed to do better. Let me share my "plan of action":

DONATE. Anything that you haven't used in a few years, send it to Salvation Army. Yes, even if you think it's hideous - there are tons of bored old ladies shoppers scouring the thrift stores for Christmas knick knacks every year! (Note: DO NOT under any circumstances donate that string of lights that doesn't light. That's just cruel and unusual punishment. You have my permission to throw those away.)

LABEL, LABEL, LABEL. That way your husband doesn't waste time carrying a heavy box up the stairs that contains the Easter decorations. (Sorry, babe!) Also, it makes it a lot easier if you're only decorating one room at a time, have decided to use colored lights instead of white, etc.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS NEED THAT BUBBLE WRAP! Seriously, bubble wrap is kind of expensive. Don't buy it to wrap inexpensive/replaceable items - save it for the expensive/sentimental stuff. Also, you can get creative - last year, I wrapped my Dickens Village pieces in layers of fake snow that I used for the display.

MAKE IT FUN. That way, it doesn't seem like a chore! Put on your favorite Christmas movie for the last time of the season, pour yourself a glass or four of wine, and dance around while you pack everything up!

Hope that this helps you all! Feel free to post your own tips as well - I need all of the help I can get!

xo,
Christina