A Reason To Smile

Happy Monday, dear reader. It is indeed a happy Monday; the birds are singing, the sun is shining, and the temperature is supposed to be in the sixties today. I will try to knock out some outdoor chores this week and soak up the sun. Currently, Cindy Crawford, our lovely nanny goat scheduled to deliver first, is not showing any signs of labor. The girls usually run a few days later than expected, so we are not concerned. We are now checking the girls for signs of labor twice to thrice daily. Be sure to check our Facebook page for updates and pictures.

Seeing the sunshine and feeling the warm temperatures put a smile on my face. To share some of that sunshine, The Bibbed Wonder and I have decided to include a free bar of the upcoming release, Vanilla Bean Dream, in all orders over $50 today. The new Vanilla Bean Dream is infused with vanilla pods and beans from my sweet friend, Amanda, who owns Sweet Home Vanilla. I took Amanda's vanilla pods and beans, dehydrated them, ground them into a fine powder, and incorporated them into the base of the soap for gentle exfoliation. Not only does it add gentle exfoliation properties, but it smells AMAZING! I gifted a bar to my friends, Tricia and Christina, and they both said the addition of the vanilla beans gives it a wonderful vanilla scent. I can't wait to release this soap in mid-March.

Sharing our new soaps is always exciting and a bit nerve-racking. I am always excited to create new fragrance blends. However, I am also anxious about how my soap family will receive them. I believe you all will enjoy the Vanilla Bean Dream with the new addition of vanilla beans. At least I hope you enjoy it...insert crossed fingers here. If you are as impatient as I am, you can receive an early gift of Vanilla Bean Dream soap today if you order. You can also experience all our new spring scents when you add a quarterly or monthly subscription box. The new spring scents will be released in mid-March. It's a wonderful way to sample all the spring soaps, stock up, and have enough soap to share...or gift to yourself.

On this beautiful late winter morning, stay safe, be smart, enjoy a gift, get out and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, and keep washing your hands.

Foodie Friday: French Toast

Welcome to yet another Friday, dear reader. Once again, we have reached the end of another week and are one week closer to spring. With the fast-approaching baby season, I am pulling out all the stops for easy, convenient meals. Especially during baby season, meal planning and preparation get pushed aside. Our schedule is so unpredictable this time of year that I don't always have time to create well-planned, elaborate meals. There are weeks when going to the grocery store is impossible because we care for our nanny goats or babies. This time of year, simple and convenient, is the name of the game for meals.

One of the meals I know I can prepare easily and quickly, and almost always have the ingredients on hand, is breakfast for dinner. The Bibbed Wonder is always happy when a meal includes sausage or bacon, and The Bean is tickled to have French toast or pancakes. I can create a meal that pleases everyone with just a few on-hand ingredients. The Bean claims I make the best French toast. However, my recipe for French toast is merely what my daughter is used to eating, and she can be generous with compliments to make me feel good.

I thought I would share my easy recipe for French toast as an easy and convenient meal for you on a busy night. With just five staple ingredients, a source of protein, and a fruit salad, you have a well-balanced, simple, delicious meal that can be prepared in minutes.

French Toast

Ingredients:

2 Eggs, well-beaten

1/4 Cup Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

1 tsp. Cinnamon

Loaf of Bread Cut Into 1.5-2 Inch Slices

Optional: Powdered Sugar, Maple Syrup, Fruit Syrup, or Jam

-Using a whisk, whip the first four ingredients until frothy.

- Heat a well-oiled skillet over medium heat

-Dip the bread slices, one by one, into the egg mixture, coating both sides of the bread

-Place on a hot skillet and fry until slightly browned; flip and fry the other side

Optional: Lightly dust with powdered sugar.

-Top with maple or fruit syrup or fruit jam

Pair with bacon, sausage patties, or sausage links and serve with a simple fruit salad.

French toast will be on standby and in our weekly meal rotation for the next several weeks. Having breakfast for supper is one of my easy go-to options on a busy weeknight. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does. On this spring-like winter day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy simple and delicious meals, and keep washing your hands.

One Of My Favorite Days

Today is a day that I look forward to each month. Once a month, I meet my friends Tricia and Christina for our "business meeting." Tricia owns Canine Confections, and Christina owns Confections by Christina Elizabeth. These hard-working, innovative, fierce, strong women are my go-to people, and I love them. Each month, we meet in Blairsville at The Villa Restaurant and Pub, discussing anything and everything about our businesses, upcoming markets, goals, and, of course, personal lives. These two amazing women keep me sane, lift me, keep me grounded, and are just good for my soul.

There are friends, and then there are friends who become family. Tricia and Christina are my family. The three of us have uncannily similar backgrounds. We all share oddly identical family issues. We understand each other, get each other, and empathize with each other. Sometimes, it's just good to be understood, and we understand each other. With Tricia and Christina, I feel free to speak unfiltered. There is absolutely no pretense, no agenda, no judgment. One rarely finds friends; one can be one hundred percent one's authentic self and continue to remain friends. I know what we share is rare and genuine.

Tricia and I are close in age, but Christina is the one we call a "young pup." Christina just turned thirty, and we have a good two decades on her. Although I am old enough to be her mother or, at the very least, a cool aunt, we find common ground and appreciate where we are in our life's journey. Christina is one of the strongest women I know. I admire her strength, vision, optimism, and kind heart. She may be two decades younger than me, but she is an old soul. Our friendship works, and I believe we bring out the best in each other.

My friend Tricia has become my ride-or-die. I adore Trish. Everyone needs a friend they can message and say, "Will you bail me out of jail if I get arrested?" I know Trish will be there with bail money, a coffee with a straw in it, and a minivan filled with garbage bags and shovels to help me bury a body. She is that kind of friend. In the event I would commit a felony, Trish would be my alibi and convince me that whoever I killed had it coming, and it was well deserved. One does not come across a friend like that very often. Tricia and I text almost every day. It doesn't have to be anything important; it is just checking in with each other and making sure everything is good.

The three of us met at The Ligonier Country Market. Tricia was our neighbor and was placed between Eric and me when Eric was selling chicken. Her first impression was she really liked Eric but wasn't sure about me. Everyone always really likes Eric. However, I became her preferred person once she got to know me. Tricia is not a fan of children, but she loved Jordan immediately. Again, everyone always loves The Bean. Eric refers to Tricia as his "market wife." If Eric and I are debating, Tricia has the uncanny ability to make him see reason...and no, not just my side. She is always the voice of reason, nonjudgemental, and always fair.

I look forward to our monthly business meetings and the time spent with two of my favorite people. On this lovely Thursday, please stay safe and be smart; I hope you have friendships you cherish and keep washing your hands.