Breakfast cake...yum. Leading into late fall and winter, there is nothing more that I love (in the kitchen) than the delicious smells of home baked goods. Aside from anything involving cookies, or things with chocolate (favorites for obvious reasons), breakfast yummies are definitely high on the list at our house. This cranberry buttermilk coffee cake is d-e-licious. It is the perfect festive holiday treat if you are planning out Christmas morning, a holiday brunch gathering, or are someone who loves making food items to gift to friends and family (if you happen to be one of those...please come knocking on my door!). 

Recipe adapted from Alexandra's Kitchen

CRANBERRY ORANGE BUTTERMILK BREAKFAST CAKE | Yield: 1 8x10 (3qt) baking dish (approximately 6-8 servings) | Total Time: 1hr

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 C unsalted butter, room temp 
Orange zest, 1 orange
3/4 C sugar + 1 Tbsp sugar
1 egg, room temp
1 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp kosher salt
2 C fresh cranberries (1 bag)
1/2 C buttermilk

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter, 3/4 C sugar, orange zest in a large bowl until well blended. Add egg and vanilla. Mix until combined. 

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to the batter a little at a time, alternating with buttermilk.

In a separate smaller bowl, toss cranberries with 2 Tbsp flour to coat.

Fold cranberries into batter mix.

Spread batter into a greased baking dish (it will be very thick), and sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp sugar. Bake 45 min and check for doneness. Allow to cool 15 minutes before serving.

A Weekend in Scottsdale

 Breaking from tradition, we found ourselves in Scottsdale, AZ for a weekend in late October. T had a medical conference to attend (he has been busy crafting his allergy skills), and S & I were lucky enough to tag along for the weekend. The boys stayed home with grandparents, and had such a fun time that they barely noticed we were gone. It was S's first big trip, so we weren't sure what to expect for her first time traveling by air, but planned a direct evening flight anticipating she would be an easy flier like her brothers. In hindsight, we aren't convinced this was the best plan as our flight ended up getting delayed until 11:30pm, and it was after 3am when we finally arrived at our destination. YUCK. Luckily, S was a perfect little angel, and had no problem adjusting to the change in plans, sleeping for most of the flight. T and I on the other hand were completely exhausted by the time we arrived, and T only got about three hours of sleep before his morning conference began. Thankfully, we were staying right at the resort the conference was, so he didn't have far to go!

So excited for her first flight! Who knew it would be a red-eye!

The first morning of our trip, we joined T for breakfast at The Canal Club before his conference started. Afterwards, S & I enjoyed lounging by the pool in the fresh air and sunshine. A welcome change from the cold weather back home!

When T's conference finished for the day, to the pool we went! S LOVED splashing in the water with Dad, and just might be the cutest little swimmer I've ever set my eyes on :)

Some other highlights of the trip included shopping at Fashion Square Mall, enjoying a few dinners out after S cashed out for the night in the stroller, walking around Old Town and The Waterfront shopping/dining areas of Scottsdale, and overall just basking in the sunshine and warm weather. Several of our restaurant highlights included a stop at The Salty Señorita to watch the Iowa game and enjoy some apps and a margarita or two, late night dinner and drinks at Postino Wine Cafe, and the most delicious breakfast at The Herb Box in Old Town Scottsdale. Honestly there are so many amazing restaurants nearby that it would be hard to go wrong.

We stayed at The Scott Resort in Scottsdale, AZ, and would highly recommend for anyone planning a visit. It was conveniently located within walking distance to Old Town Scottsdale, restaurants, and shopping, and we didn't have to rent a vehicle or use a taxi for anything other than getting to and from the airport (we flew Allegiant to Tempe and it ended up being about an hour cab ride from our resort, so would definitely recommend flying straight into Phoenix if possible). The resort itself has a boutique feel and the design evokes a bit of a Cuban vibe. I could feel the stress of our travels melt off the minute we stepped inside - exactly what I want in a vacation! The pool area was lush with flowering plants and palm trees, and was a beautiful spot to relax, and the onsite Canal Club restaurant had delicious breakfast we were able to enjoy before starting the day. The only downside was - no elevators, and we were on the second floor. If you are traveling with kids and all the gear, I would suggest requesting a ground floor room. Overall, we had a great time, and would definitely consider staying here again if we find ourselves back in Scottsdale!

Scarlett: Seven Months

Seven months old, and full of adventures. From Okoboji to Iowa City to Scottsdale, little miss was quite the seasoned little traveler this month, a trend that will be continued this coming month as we attempt our first family vacation as a family of five!

THE STATS:

Age: 7 months

Diaper size: 3

Clothing: 6-9 months, 9 months (big)

SCHEDULE:

S's schedule has remained unchanged this month for the most part. She consistently is ready for bed between 7-7:30pm, and sleeps until between 7-7:30am. Just our little angel!

FAVORITE TOY:

S continues to love the Jumparoo this month, but has also started to love her walker. She is really getting the hang of it, and enjoys having the freedom to roam around as she pleases. She also loves any sort of teether she can get her hands on. 

STORYTIME:

S enjoys story time about as much as any seven month old does. She mostly just listens in to whatever story her brothers are reading, so her main intake of knowledge trends towards trucks, farming, and construction equipment. I do enjoy reading 'You're All My Favorites' as a bedtime story, and am glad such a book exists for us parents of multiple littles. Instills the idea that each and every kiddo is just as loved and important as their siblings.

CUISINE:

Solid food! S immediately fell in love with pureed baby food, and has been working her way through all sorts of yummy fruits, veggies, and blends. She tends to like veggies more than fruits so far, and has loved everything except straight apples. Weird! Maybe too tangy for her on their own so far I suppose. She started out with just one package of food per day, and she has moved up to two per day currently. I sometimes think she would just keep going with the solid food and give up milk for how quickly she devours it! In terms of milk, I'm down to nursing just twice a day - once in the morning, and once in the evening. At bedtime, she nurses and then has a bottle in addition, so I don't know how much she actually gets, but I like the quiet wind-down special time for just her and I, so haven't brought myself to give it up just yet.

SEVEN MONTH FAVORITES

Bathtime and splashing
Flirting
Solid food

Traveling

SEVEN MONTH LEAST FAVORITES

Vaccines...no fun, but mama sure enjoyed having the baby thighs out to smooch!

OH THE MEMORIES:
S was baptized at the beginning of this month on Sept 30, 2018. She was absolutely stunning (as only a 6 month old can be) in her white lacy dress, and was the perfect little angel for the day. She got her first jewelry from both of her grandmas (two sweet little bracelets with crosses, pearls, and crystals), and she enjoyed being the center of the celebration.

S got to go on her very first trip to Iowa City this month, and had a super fun time at the University of Iowa homecoming parade and first Hawkeye football game at Kinnick Stadium. She slept for most of the game all snuggled up on my chest in our Ergo baby carrier, and loved all of the extra attention from family.

First big trip! S got to tag along with T & I on a weekend trip to Scottsdale, AZ at the very end of month six (she officially turned seven months while on our trip!). She slept most of her first plane ride since it was waaaaaaay past bedtime before our delayed flight took off....around 11:30pm, so I guess you could say she took her first red-eye! Ha. She loved the warm weather and sunshine, and particularly had a blast splashing around in the pool with Dad. We certainly have a little water baby on our hands!

C played soccer at the YMCA this fall, and S was the best little cheerleader for her big brother! Even looking cute when she fell asleep.

And a few miscellaneous others, because you just can't stop this cuteness! :)