Our Family Photoshoot || 2017

20 minutes. 75 marshmallows. 4 pockets of gravel. And 1 magical photographer...

And that's a wrap! 

I really wanted to share all 73 images with you but instead narrowed them down to a normal'ish number. And yes, I am just as surprised as you that Thomas cooperated. Caroline on the other hand, I knew would have no problem working that camera. Get it, girl! 

And now I'm off to turn all of these photos into coffee mugs, mouse pads, ornaments and more...

Outfit Details: Thomas: Skinny Dress Pants (on sale) // Shawl-Collar Sweater (on sale) //  Shoes | Caroline: Plaid Dress // Booties (on sale) | Matt: Shirt (on sale) // Pants (on sale) | Christina: Dress // Tassel Horse Necklace // Booties Sold Out

Previous Family Christmas Shoots: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013

The BEST Cinnamon Bread || Christmas Gift

Last week I dropped off mini loaves of cinnamon bread to Thomas and Caroline's teachers. My mom has been making cinnamon bread every Christmas season for as long as I can remember for neighbors and friends. A few years ago I stole her tradition. These little loaves are SO easy to whip up quickly in a large batch and are extremely delicious. I always make one large loaf for my family to eat for breakfast too.

I stock up on holiday ceramic mini loaf pans for $1 each at Michaels. There are so many colors and prints. You can also use disposable tins too. I found some super cute holiday disposables and ceramic pans on Amazon!

Christmas Cinnamon Bread

Ingredients

2 cups sugar  
4 cups flour  
2 Tbsp baking powder  
1 tsp salt  
2 eggs
2 cups milk

2/3 cup vegetable oil

TOPPING

1 Tbsp cinnamon
2/3 cup sugar  

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sugar, flour, baking powder & salt. Set aside. Beat eggs, milk & oil. Gradually add dry mixture to wet until just moist. Grease baking dishes & pour mixture an inch below to the top to compensate for rise. Combine topping, spoon on each loaf and swirl in with a knife, leaving some on top. Bake 40 minutes.

Yields 6 mini loaves

Print recipe for Cinnamon Bread

Uptown Christmassy Things

On Saturday we gathered the usual crew (6 fams) together for a 2nd annual Uptown Christmassy morning.

We kicked off the festivities with the Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra. The kids were slightly less creeped out this year but still required being held the entire time. Now that our group has grown to ELEVEN babes I was impressed that we lasted a whole 20 minutes before packing everyone up and heading to the Ritz-Carlton Winter Wonderland to see the life-size gingerbread house, constructed of edible, sweet-scented cookies and candies. 

The gingerbread house also features an electric train which was definitely the most popular feature among the kiddos.

Afterwards all 23 of us walked to Cantina for a boozy and delicious Mexican lunch.

And finished just in time to put all the minis down for naps! Another successful uptown Christmas rendezvous! I love these people!