erica danielle

I can't believe tomorrow is MONDAY-- what? When leaving work on Friday Mandy said, "Remember this moment.... It is the furthest you will be from work all week." So true. Sten and I love Saturday mornings. We lounge around, eat a big breakfast and plan out our day. This Saturday I: pulled out my yoga mat and got a little workout in, then scanned my recipe books for a breakfast pastry to try. I found a great recipe in my "cooking for two" cookbook. I altered the recipe to fit what was in my kitchen and here's what I came up with. I think the smell of the scones baking in the oven got Sten out of bed.     Recipe: Vanilla Orange Scones. Baking Time: 30 mins total. Yield: 4 mini scones. Ingredients: SCONES: 3/4 C Flour 2 1/2 tsp Sugar 1/2 tsp baking powder Dash salt 2 Tbls firm Butter 1/2 tsp Orange extract 1 egg 2 Tbls light whipped topping FROSTING: 2 Tbls butter 3/4 C Powdered Sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp orange extract 1 dash water ...

Today is a wonderful day in Chicago. However, if I could be ANYWHERE today, here wouldn't be it. These are some of my favorite places: Macinac Island, MI. The most magical place on earth. While Sten and I were dating at camp we took a trip here on a day off. It goes down in history as one of the BEST days of my life. We hiked, ate fudge, took tons of pictures and explored the island. I can't wait to go back someday and stay overnight.  The window below all the plants was where I lived in Italy. Our flat was absolutely incredible. I lived with 5 of the most amazing girls and we talked about art, wine, guys, life, faith and traveling. Three of the most formative and fun months of my life were spent here. In a one piece after "whip and strip" at Covenant Pines Bible Camp. This waterfront brings great memories from being a camper and a staff-er. This was the summer I met Emily and found a friend that I will cherish forever. My Senior year apartment. This...

Do you want to eat something fun? Then I have the PERFECT recipe for you! FAST, easy, a crowd pleas-er and COLORFUL! Bring FUN to your next gathering :) Boy's like Sten REALLY like them!  I made him pose for this picture by telling him the only way he could have *another* cookie is by letting me take his picture ;) Made these little gems Tuesday night. I found them on Pintrest, had an extra box of Funfetti Cake Mix 'laying around' and instantly got to work. They are ridiculously easy and insanely delicious. They were a total hit!! RECIPE: Funfetti Sandwich Cookies recipe from Baked Perfection makes approximately 24 sandwich cookies 1 (18.25) package Funfetti Cake 2 eggs 1/3 cup vegetable oil 2 tablespoons milk - or water (I used water, bc I didn't have milk) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Pour cake mix into a large bowl. Stir in eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla until combined. Drop teas...

Highlights of Saturday: baking with the most adorable flower girl in the world Titanic 3D Rock Bottom rooftop survivor catch-up. Kira is the sweetest thing. Here she is as our flower girl and now she is all grown up and a FANTASTIC baker. We had a baking party yesterday and it was so much fun. We are both chocolate fans, so we made Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate frosting. Double trouble!  We chatted about camp, her new baby sister that is due in a couple weeks, school, cousins, movies, and of course how silly Sten is.  Master baker!  it's a little hard to read, but it says: Kira Erica :) Doesn't she melt your heart?? We started getting pretty creative with our decorations after a while. Can't wait for my next bake date.... After baking I headed downtown to the theater to see TITANIC 3D... It was everything I hoped it would be and MORE. Here we are in our 3D glasses. After the movie we walked to Rock Bottom and sat up...

 I realized after looking back over my pictures that most of them on Easter contain little Elin. It's just because she is so darn cute. We had a wonderful day with Sten's family.  Ready for church.  Easter egg hunt!  I picked out Sten's Easter outfit by typing in "Men's Fashion" on Pinterest :)  This week has been AMAZING! I haven't had to go into work until 8a everyday! That means coffee and breakfast each morning with Sten! It's so awesome!  On Wednesday we had a small group bonfire at Pete and Anne's! It was the most perfect bonfire night ... cool, calm and great company... AND S'mores! My co-worker Jordan and I have been running home from work 1x a week for the past month. Yesterday was so beautiful. The sailboats were out, the sun was out and we had a great run. 6 miles goes by so much faster with a running buddy. I am so thankful for Jord-o! We've really had a great week. Lot's of thin...

 I kind of went a little crazy with the Easter candy this year... and by crazy I mean I spent about $20 in chocolate eggs, whoppers, bubble gum eggs, carrot pixies, bunny gummy teeth, jelly beans, chocolate peanut butter eggs, snicker eggs, milky way eggs... YIKES! Last night small group was at our place and Sten and I stuffed 36 eggs with candy and hid them all over our tiny apartment. Sten got really into it and found some great spots ;) I wanted to make a themed dessert and I thought these Cadbury Eggs would make the perfect addition to Blondie Brownies.... Success! and so easy!  It is a Print Family Fact that if you cut things into small pieces they will get eaten. Try it some time. My dad is the master at this. Exhibit 1: It's Christmas time. We have already eaten WAY too much food throughout the day, not to mention the feast my mom just prepared. Out comes the dessert tray filled with numerous Christmas candies, fudge, and cookies. At first glan...