fall | family | food | recipe

Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Muffins with Caramel Butter

By on September 22, 2017

Ok – I’m going to let you guys in on a little secret…I’m not the best baker. I can cook pretty well. But baking? Not my forte. Too much exact science, measuring, and worrying about altitude and weather. That’s all way too complicated for this #lazymom! But since I’ve had kids, I’ve had lots of practice making muffins. For some reason, muffins aren’t as intimidating to me. And my kid’s absolutely love muffins, so we try to make them at least once a week. Muffins are also the perfect snack to bring to playdates, or send in to a preschool bake sale. These whole wheat apple cinnamon muffins with caramel butter are a fall favorite in our house, and we can pretend they’re healthy since they include whole wheat flour, ground flax, and apples!

Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Muffins with Caramel Butter | sunshineandholly.com

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church | family | food | friends | fun | motherhood | party | recipe

Tasty Treats to Whip Up When a Friend Comes Over

By on September 18, 2017

*This is a contributed post. I only accept contributed posts when I feel they can be relevant to the readers of Sunshine and Holly.*

There’s nothing better than eating good food with good friends, am I right? Before kids, Josh and I were always entertaining! We loved throwing dinner parties, cocktail hours, and seasonal parties. One year, my best friend Lauren and I threw an epic scary movie night for Halloween. These days, I mostly just host play dates and small groups from church. But I still love planning out snacks for my guests. If you’re looking for a few good recipes that will show your friends you care, here are a few ideas for tasty treats to whip up when a friend comes over. 

Tasty Treats to Whip Up When a Friend Comes Over | sunshineandholly.com

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family | food | friends | fun | kids activities | Motherhood Humor | parenting | Uncategorized

5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A

By on September 8, 2017

I love Chick-fil-A. They have some tasty, tasty food, decent coffee, and great customer service. And those milkshakes? Oh yeah!! But best of all, they have an indoor, climate controlled play area where my wild children can burn some energy while I sit and take a much needed mom-break.

5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A | sunshineandholly.com

But there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. On Tuesday, we spent 2 hours at Chick-fil-A. I took the kids to play and have dinner since Dada was traveling for work. And I have to say, that 2 hours is too long to spend at any restaurant with kids, even Chick-fil-A.

5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A:

1. Chick-fil-A is the only place where it’s socially acceptable to let a bunch of young children run around a restaurant barefoot. And go to the bathroom barefoot. #gross

5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A | sunshineandholly.com

2. When another parent walks into the tiny, enclosed play area that smells of toddler sweat, bare feet, and dirty diapers, and has at least 5 ice-cream-high-induced monkeys…er…kids running around, jumping, and screaming, I want to say to them, “Welcome to Hell.”

3. Forget frosted coffee and lemonade. What we really need up in here is some frosty alcoholic beverages.

Me: “Can I get a margarita?”

Chick-fil-a employee: “Of course! My pleasure!”

4. Is that my kid licking the slide? OMG she is!!! “Stop!!! Don’t lick the slide!!” Gag me.

5. When I get to the point in my life where I don’t have to stop, mid-bite, into my spicy chicken sandwich to hop up and go wipe someone else’s butt…that will be a good day.

 

So I learned my lesson. 2 hours is too much at Chick-fil-A. Unless they really do start serving margaritas…

Do you think that the cows would tell us to eat more chicken AND drink more tequila? Because I’d be all about that.

5 Thoughts I Had While Spending 2 Hours at Chick-fil-A | sunshineandholly.com

Do you love Chick-fil-A?

 

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family | food | happiness | shopping | Travel | Uncategorized

Exploring Helen, Georgia with Kids

By on September 4, 2017

I’ve been visiting Helen, Georgia, a replica Bavarian Alps town in North Georgia, for longer than I can remember. My parent’s have a timeshare at a beautiful resort right on the river, and we’ve spent so many weeks relaxing and exploring the small town.

Exploring Helen, Georgia with Kids | Sunshine and Holly

Now that I have my own kiddos, it’s been so fun going back and doing all the things I grew up doing. Some of them are just as wonderful and fun as I remember, and some seem a little strange now that I’m older. (Like watching the birth of a baby doll out of a cabbage…)

But if you live in the South East, you may want to put Helen, Georgia on your travel bucket list. The town is cozy and quaint, and you can find some great eats and some amazing outdoor views and adventures!

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family | Family Fun | food | fun | happiness | home | kids activities | recipe | Uncategorized

Homemade Pasta Using the KitchenAid Mixer

By on August 14, 2017
Homemade Pasta Using the KitchenAid Mixer | Sunshine and Holly

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I mentioned in the recipe for my caramelized onion bolognese that we served the sauce over homemade pasta. If you’ve never made homemade pasta – you should at least try it once. It’s not that hard – I promise! Our kids love helping us make pasta, almost as much as they love eating it!

Homemade Pasta Using the KitchenAid Mixer | Sunshine and Holly Homemade Pasta Using the KitchenAid Mixer | Sunshine and Holly

Although on this day, Maddie was the only one interested in cooking. Graham decided he would rather play on the iPad. Silly boy.

Homemade Pasta Using the KitchenAid Mixer | Sunshine and Holly Homemade Pasta Using the KitchenAid Mixer | Sunshine and Holly

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