Lemon Cake

Lemon cake is one of those desserts that’s appropriate at any time. I’ve made it for brunch, served it for dessert after dinner, and even my kids brought it to share with their friends in school during snack time. I got this recipe from Ina Garten about 10 years ago and I've not used any other lemon cake recipe since. It’s sweet and tangy, and it’s probably the best lemon cake I’ll ever have. The whole cake disappears within minutes. The smell alone was amazing and I drizzled the royal icing a little earlier than I should have, but it really didn't matter, since this recipe is pretty much foolproof. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, divided
4 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup grated lemon zest (6 to 8 large lemons)
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, divided
3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the glaze:
2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch) loaf pans. You may also line the bottom with parchment paper, if desired.

Cream the butter and 2 cups granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, and the lemon zest.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 cup lemon juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them. Allow the cakes to cool completely.

For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and the lemon juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides.
 

Hubby and Me: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Us

1.  He is the only child and I’m the baby of three

2.  He is an extrovert and I’m an introvert

3.  He likes to talk and I love to listen

4.  He likes his steak well done and I like mine rare

5.  He dislikes anything with soup and I love anything with soup

6.  He loves to help and I love to delegate (it’s a baby thing…)

7.  He loves baseball and I love soccer

8.  He reads the Economist and I read InStyle magazine

9.  He loves to eat and I love to cook

10. He is hilarious and I laugh at all his jokes

They say opposite attract, right? Now we are stuck like glue!

Happy Valentine’s Day to my Mr. Awesome! 

Say It Like That

“You deserve a lover who wants you disheveled, with everything and all the reasons that wake you up in a haste and the demons that won’t let you sleep.
You deserve a lover who makes you feel safe, who can consume this world whole if he walks hand in hand with you; someone who believes that his embraces are a perfect match with your skin.
You deserve a lover who wants to dance with you, who goes to paradise every time he looks into your eyes and never gets tired of studying your expressions.
You deserve a lover who listens when you sing, who supports you when you feel shame and respects your freedom; who flies with you and isn’t afraid to fall.
You deserve a lover who takes away the lies and brings you hope, coffee, and poetry.” - F r i d a  K a h l o

Slumber Party

Who doesn’t love a slumber party? There is no better way to build friendships, create lasting memories, and have a lot of fun. Monday Sparkles spring box is packed with ten curated products for the ultimate slumber party. With their “earth.love.sparkle” concept in mind, you’ll find invitations, games, a DIY lip balm kit, organic snacks—and more. And my daughter's favorite experience from the box is that there is always an item to #sparklesomeonesday. Order your limited Slumber Party box today!

Monday Sparkles #sparklesomeonesday is a quarterly subscription box for girls ages 8-12. Subscriptions currently cost $35 per box or $140 per year.

"Celebrating the power of positivity with young girls one box at a time"

Photography by Julie Angold

Be Mine

Next week is Valentine's week and I see all things pink and red. Valentine's is in full swing over here at momlikethat headquarters - which, if you are wondering, it's my living room where I'll be making Valentine’s cards with my kids for their friends in school, and making sure my 4 year old doesn’t spill glue over our oriental carpets. The best part is that there is no junk food or sweets in this house until my six-week Whole30 challenge is over. I know very romantic...

Let’s be honest we all want our partner to plan something special or wear something sexy for the day. But men aren’t mind readers. When it comes to any holiday that requires gift giving, I make it clear to hubby what I want and where he can find it. Taking the romance out of the game? Maybe. But at least I’m getting things I actually love and everyone is happy. 

Let's run wild and free this Valentine’s Day. Buy yourself a little something sexy or sweet for fun! And forward this post to your partner. (And if he's reading, hint..cough…hint!)

Say no more….

Honey want to watch a movie with me?

How cute is this sweatshirt? 

Cute or Naughty?

LRD

Love Potion - Play with caution if you know what I mean ;-)

Sexy lace lingerie for the occasion

Valentine's card for hubby. I love you!

In love with them (hubby.. hint..hint..)

BFF Pin - How cute is this!

Love letter from Frida Kahlo to Diego Riviera - Now that's love! Click here for translation.

My current favorite song. Very appropriate for the occasion :)

Say It Like That

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you” – P r i n c e s s  D i a n a

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Cauliflower is a vegetable that you either love or hate. I was always on the fence about the cruciferous family member. Then came the Whole30 diet and I wanted to include it in my mix of things to it. I admit that I tended to choose recipes without it because the amount of time that it takes to prep. That is until I found this organic riced cauliflower from Trader Joe's. Now I can't stop making cauliflower friend rice! It really does taste like rice…you must try. Here is my spin on it with ingredients I had in my fridge. If you want to impress your friends and family, try the Nom Nom Paleo coconut pineapple rice or Asian cauliflower fried rice. Let me know how it turns out.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 slices of cooked bacon (chopped)
1 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
1 cup of shredded carrots
1 cup of shredded cabbage
1 cup of cooked kale
2 eggs (scrambled)
2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon of Sriracha sauce (optional)
1/4 cup of cucumber for some crunch (optional)

Instructions:

Scramble the eggs and put aside when it's done. Stir fry all ingredients in medium high heat for about 8 minutes. Add your condiments and scrambled eggs then let it cook for another 2-3 minutes. To serve, top with some fresh cucumber and voila! That's how easy and yummy is this recipe. 

Enjoy!

Instagram Roundup and Outfit Details

Here is another Instagram Roundup with some of my current favorite outfits, food, things, and the gorgeous valley I get to see everyday. 

It's mustard season in the valley!

Banana Republic sweatshirt - Gap skinny pants - Sneakers (similar here).

We celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary last Sunday. Time flies when you are having fun!

My easy and quick breakfast - spinach, sweet potatoes, and eggs. More recipes here, here, and here.

Forever21 dress (sold out in black, similar here) - IRO leather pants (similar here) - ANINE BING boots (similar here).

Pom Pom heaven! find more colors here.

J. Crew chambray shirt - Gap skinny pants - Bauble Bar statement necklace - Sam Edelman pumps.

Bootcamp at Fitness Revolution. 

My mid afternoon "pick me up" snack - dates + almond butter + pink sea salt.

My favorite dry shampoos out there!

Baked Cod Lettuce Wrap With Vegetable Slaw

When looking for recipes and meal ideas for my family I like to include something nutrient dense, colorful and focused on veggies, lean meats and healthy fats. Here is one dish that I created with what I had in my fridge. It follows the Whole30 principles. Remember you can alter the recipe with different vegetables, meats or dietary needs.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoon of olive oil divided
1 6 ounce fillet cod
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup of shredded carrots
1 cup of shredded purple cabbage
1 cup of diced cucumber
1/4 cup of diced red onion
1 avocado, diced
1 teaspoon of herb de provence
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 lemon, divided
1 head butter lettuce

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a bowl mix carrots, purple cabbage, onion, cucumber, and avocado with oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper and put it aside. Prepare fish with oil, herb de provence, lemon juice and salt and pepper. Wrap it in foil and bake for 10-15 minutes or until fish is easily flaked with a fork. To serve, spoon several tablespoons of the vegetable slaw into the center of a lettuce leaf, then place baked fish on top.

Enjoy!

What's In My Bag

I realized one day after cleaning out my purse that I carry far too much “stuff” around with me. So for quick daytime outings I’ve been grabbing just the essentials. Here is what I have in my bag:

1. Moroccan Oil hand cream

2. Baggu reusable bag

3. NARS lipstick

4. Honest hand sanitizer spray

5. Dinoplatz lip balm

6. RayBan sunglasess

7. doTERRA balance oil

8. Pom Pom keychain

Say It Like That

“The only real elegance is in the mind; if you’ve got that, the rest comes from it” – D i a n a  V r e e l a n d

Instagram Roundup and Outfit Details

Happy Monday! How was your first week of 2016? My week started with the kids going back to school, me getting back to the gym, and working on the next Monday Sparkles subscription box (stay tuned for more!). Below are some of my Instagram outfit details for you. Hope you have a productive week!

ANINE BING knits - Madewell vest (similar here) - Nordstrom OTK boots

Hydrangea is my favorite flower!

Old Navy jacket (similar here) - H&M sweater - Gap skinny pants - Shoedazzle OTK boots

Hunter Boots (similar here)

Nordstrom top (similar here) - Gap pants (similar here) - Bauble Bar statement necklace - Nordstrom pumps (similar here)

This book kept me all night reading!

New Year's day hike with the family

I like to eat my salad with chopsticks. More Whole30 recipes here, here, and here

Banana Republic pumps - Rice and Beans vintage Gucci

Easy Whole30 Recipes

Here are a few of my easy Whole30 recipes. I like to get my ingredients prepped on Sunday so I can mix and match dishes all week. I usually have the following in my fridge: chopped bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers as well as cooked steamed kale, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. I also like to have emergency protein ready like cooked bacon, ground beef and grilled chicken. To save time I sometimes get a roasted chicken from the grocery store (On Friday's they're on sale at Whole Foods). For fruit I always get apples, bananas, melons and berries. I like to keep at least a couple of avocados on hand for salads. And last I always have roasted/cooked sweet potatoes. They come in handy for frittatas or any egg dish.

I've said it before, clean eating doesn't have to be complicated or expensive if you plan ahead. A great app for ideas, planning, shopping and cooking is the Nom Nom Paleo App. It will save you time and keep you on track. 

Have a healthy weekend!

Simple frittatas. Recipe here.

Lettuce wraps. I stir fried some of my chopped veggies with my emergency protein and topped with raisins. Voila! lunch is ready!

Slow Cooker Beef and Tomato Stew. This dish is a must try! The whole family will love it. You can get the recipe here.

Made a quick salad with leftovers. Lettuce, bell peppers, grilled chicken, bacon, chopped almonds and raisin. Topped with olive oil and lemon juice. 

I used whatever left I had in the fridge to make this vegetable and chicken soup. Boil 2 cups of chicken broth then add your veggies and protein. A pinch of salt, white pepper, ginger or whatever seasoning you like. Topped with some cooked bacon.

I made this salad bowl for dinner. I used steamed broccoli, kale, roasted sliced sweet potatoes, bell peppers, grilled chicken, avocado and raisins. Olive oil and lemon juice for dressing.

The Greatest Tool For Invisible Hair Knot

I'm currently obsessed with Invisibobble! They are perfect for top knots. Holds your hair any way you want but falls perfectly, all at the same time. You can see how it works here and below is one of my favorite and effortless hairdo. 

Happy Six!

Our boy turns 6 years old today. How is this even happening?! Birthdays are starting to get under my skin a little because I’m just not sure I’m ready to let my kids get any older. They are turning into the sweetest people though, and I’m overjoyed with mommy pride.

Oscar loves his friends and school. This boy can build anything you put in front of him. He's very kind and caring of his sisters. Even when our youngest knows how to get on his nerves better than anyone, they remain the best of friends and support and protect one another every day. Thank you for being patient, loving and kind with me. I absolutely love being your mama. Our entire family loves you.

Happiest birthday my sweet boy!

Perfect Playdate

My kids get two weeks off from school during the winter break. The first week we are usually busy with activities in anticipation of Christmas. The second week we either take the kids to the snow or we play with the toys from Santa. This year I (Santa) got my kids subscription boxes from Avery and Austin, Kiwi Crate, and Monday Sparkles. We had so much fun crafting and connecting with each other through art projects, slime making and journal writing. I love when my kids get to have the perfect play date with mommy through creative play! (OK, we did have some screen time since we had to catch up with six episodes of Star Wars in order to see the seventh). 

Play camera kit from Avery and Austin. Water colors from Target.

Busy box from Avery and Austin

Projects from Kiwi and Tinker Box

Get the Journal here.

Our Family Holiday Tradition - Gingerbread House in the City

Four years ago we took the kids to San Francisco to see the enormous gingerbread house at the Fairmont Hotel. Since then we've made this our family holiday tradition. We are big believers in public transportation so we usually take the ferry instead of drive. The kids love it. They get to ride in a big boat, enjoy the view, eat donuts and drink hot chocolate. We feel very fortunate to have this option available to us as commuting on the San Francsico Bay is hard to beat. 

Once we arrived at the Ferry Building we got fresh bread from Acme Bread Company and then walked to Philz Coffee for a cup of hipster coffee. We then took the cable car up California Street to the Fairmont Hotel. After the kids see the gingerbread house, write a letter to Santa and explore around the hotel we walk to Chinatown for lunch. This year we added one more stop - the San Francisco Cable Car Museum. I'm so glad we went to see how the cable cars work. It's pretty amazing and a must see. You'll be amazed at the mechanics and also learn a lot about the history of one of two National Historic Landmarks that move (New Orleans’ St. Charles streetcar line is the other). We ended our trip with ice cream back at the Ferry Building, and two tired parents. What is your family holiday tradition?

Say It Like That

"Do you know what elegance is? It is...who you are inside. It is the way you decorate your house, what you surround yourself with, what books you read, what your interests are." - C a r o l i n a H e r r e r a

Instagram Roundup and Outfit Details

Can you believe Christmas is only 5 days away? Where has time gone? Times like this make me realize how fast life moves and to stop and really cherish every moment. I wanted to say thank you so much for reading MomLikeThat. It means a lot to me that you take the time to come here. This week we plan to celebrate as it should be: with lots of food and in sweatpants. I'm hoping the same for you. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, friends. I hope it's a good one. 

Nordstrom hat / ANINE BING dress / Shoedazzle OTK boots/ Rice and Beans Vintage Chanel bag

Fall is my favorite season! 

Forever21 coat (old) / Old Navy stripes shirt / Nordstrom OTK boots

Love making lunch like this with whatever leftover I have in the fridge #whole30

Forever21 coat / H&M dress (sold out) / Nordstrom sneakers

I like to dress like a present during the holidays :)

Red perfection! Similar here

H&M top / Zara pants

Put a bow on it.

Holiday dressing. J. Crew sweater (old) / Tibi skirt (old) / Justfab pumps (old)

Meet MomLikeThat - Nichole Beaudry

Have you ever dropped your kid off for a play date and wondered what they would do with their friends? Or how you might enrich their time together? What if you could help create the perfect playdate? Mom Like That Nichole Beaudry has the answer for you. This smart, fun and impressive mama is the co-founder of Avery and Austin. I met Nicole a couple of months ago and we instantly clicked. We share a love for subscription boxes and we have very similar parenting styles. I hope you’ll enjoy reading about her just as much as I enjoying having her as a friend. 

How would you describe yourself? 

Generous, grateful and loyal.

What do you do besides motherhood?

I am one of the co-founders of Avery & Austin, a subscription box for creative kids and their amazing moms. I also do some photography and freelance writing and spend as much time on my yoga mat as possible.

What’s the best advice you have ever received?

I have the easiest time handing out advice, but sometimes find it difficult to be open to receiving it! I’m truly working that, though. The best advice that I’ve gotten that I resisted at first, but have come to hold dear came from my dear friend Sherri, who has children who are much older than mine. She urged me to never lament the fact that my children are getting older, but to see the beauty in the moment and in the many moments that are yet to come.

What’s your beauty routine?

I’m a pretty simple girl when it comes to my beauty routine. I wash my face each morning with Cetaphil and follow up with Perlier’s Hydro-Zone Barrier Balm and Aveda eye cream. If I’m just running errands, I top that off with a bit of Nars The Multiple and a coat of Benefit’s Roller Lash Mascara and some lip gloss. Then, each evening I wash everything off with Perlier’s Hydro-Zone Micellar Cleansing Water and follow up with another round of Barrier Balm and eye cream.

What’s your signature scent?

I’m eternally in love with Aquolina Pink Sugar. I love the way it reacts with my skin and lingers in a soft, sweet way.

What can’t you live without?

My husband, my children, my friends, coffee and wine. Not always in that order. Kidding. Sorta.

How do you balance your life?

Since launching Avery & Austin, balance has been truly elusive. I’m working on a plan to make 2016 the year I finally find my groove.

Who is your biggest role model?

My father died when I was just two years old. In his wake, my mother and my two grandmothers shaped my entire life. My paternal grandmother taught me that happiness truly is a choice, my maternal grandmother taught me that you have to love yourself before anyone else can truly love you, and my mother taught me what it is to sacrifice for your children, even when life isn’t easy and doesn’t go as you dreamed it would.

Do you have a family tradition?

My husband and I brought two sets of traditions to the holidays to our marriage, both carried with us from our own childhoods. Christmas meant ham for me and turkey for my husband. So, we scrapped all that a few years ago and created a new tradition based on foods that bring us all joy. Now, I make carnitas and borracho beans from scratch every year. Everything simmers all day while we stay cozied up at home.

What makes a mom like that?

Listening when my children talk, about the big things and the small… showing them every day that their thoughts are important and that they’re truly heard. For me, that’s the greatest gift I can give them.

5 quick questions:

Favorite restaurant:  I haven’t been in years, but if I could transport myself anywhere right now, it would be to Alamo Cafe in San Antonio. I lived there during college and I still crave everything on their menu.

Favorite recipe:  Carnitas, Houston style from The Homesick Texan.

Favorite dessert:  Simple white cake with a scoop of chocolate ice cream on top. Pure bliss.

Favorite drink:  I am, without question, a cabernet kind of girl.  

Favorite book:  Oh, I have too many to choose just one. The ones that I’ve read time and again are Walden (Henry David Thoreau), Emma (Jane Austen) and Me Before You (Jojo Moyes).