Delicious Mulled Wine/Glogg Recipe!

It’s that time of year again, folks! Time to get cozy. And to me, there’s not much that gives me that cozy feeling like a hot mug of glogg (also known as mulled wine). I posted about this last year and several people told me they made it! It was a hit on my IG stories last week, so I decided to share the recipe again. Making glogg, in and of itself, is an extremely hygge process. There’s really no need to stick to my recipe; you can make it according to your tastes. I’ll include some ideas below to get you inspired. Let’s get to it!

Ingredients:

- 1 bottle of red wine (merlot is the ultimate)

- 2 cinnamon sticks

- 4 star anise

- 3 cardamom pods

- 10 cloves

You could also add

- cranberries

- orange slices

- apple juice

- orange juice

Instructions:

1. Pour the bottle of wine into a pot on the stove.

2. Add your fruit, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and cloves.

3. Simmer until hot and you can smell all the delicious wintery scents.

4. Serve hot! I like to sweeten mine with a little maple syrup or brown sugar. 

It’s just that easy! If you make it, let me know what ingredients you include and how you liked it! I’d love to hear all about it. Stay cozy!

xoxo- Rachel

Processing Grief with Toddlers

Something I've learned about toddlers in the time I've been a parent, is that they are incapable of holding in their emotions. They don't concern themselves with what others might think if they fall on the floor of the grocery store in a fit of tears. It's actually healthy and developmentally appropriate for them to behave that way. I think there are lessons to be learned from them in regard to the way we process our emotions.

Now, I'm not suggesting that you have major freak outs in public places. Avoid that if you can. 😳 But, I don't think we need to restrain ourselves the way we've been conditioned to do. My generation and the generation before me have been constantly told not to cry, to "man up" and stuff our feelings down. I've heard so many times that one should "stay strong for the kids", but if we don't model it for them, how will they know what healthy emotional responses look like?

When I received the call that my Uncle Kenny had passed away, we were in the middle of the grocery store. Not the place I would have liked to get such heartbreaking news, but what can ya do. I immediately started crying and hugging Gil. Olivia, from the cart, started saying "Mommy sad! Mommy sad!" and imitating my crying. Gil picked her up and we all embraced in a family hug. I cried and Gil told her "that's right, baby. Mommy IS sad. She's crying. It's okay to be sad and cry sometimes." and I just LOVED that response. She was obviously concerned about me and wanted to know what was going on. She didn't want to go back in the cart after that. She wanted me to hold her the rest of the time and was hugging me and saying "Mommy sad". I told her "yeah, I'm sad. But I'll be okay." 💕

I want more for Olivia. I will never tell her to hold it in and bottle it up. I'll sit with her through tantrums and offer her hugs. I will validate her feelings and give words to them, to help her through them. I will cry when I need to and scream into a pillow and express my feelings. I'll tell her it's okay to process emotions in ways that don't hurt anyone. I won't tell you what to do with your kiddos, as you know them best, but please know that they learn so much just by what they see and hear, so it's our job as their parents to set an example for them. Have you been through grief with your little ones? How did you handle it? How did they respond? Let me know in the comments.

xoxo

-Rachel

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

The weather in Texas hasn't taken the hint from the calendar, and it's still in the 90s most days. But, hey, we can pretend, can't we? Lighting the fireplace might be a little ambitious, but how about cooking a big pot of delicious, soul-warming soup? If you're craving something that will make you feel cozy, THIS is the soup. It's pretty easy and foolproof, and you can easily tweak it to your heart's content. Here's how I made it.

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash
1 medium yellow onion
7 (yes 7) cloves of garlic, peeled 
2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
1 can coconut milk 
salt
pepper
olive oil 

Tools:

1 large baking pan
1 large pot
immersion blender

Directions:

-Peel your butternut squash and then cut it in half. Then scoop out the seeds and cut the squash into one inch cubes. 

-Peel and slice your onion, and then throw it into the pan with the garlic cloves and cubed squash.

-Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper, then toss it all together with your hands.

-Bake at 425 for 35-45 minutes or until the edges of the squash start to turn a caramel brown. 

-When your veggies are almost done roasting, pour your chicken broth and coconut milk into the pot and bring to a gentle simmer.

-Toss in the roasted vegetables and simmer for 5 minutes, then blend it all together with the immersion blender!

Top with whatever you'd like, but I added a shake of cayenne pepper and Gil added some crushed red pepper to his. We also ended up adding bacon on top. Play around with it! You'll find that it's super versatile. If you make it and switch it up a little, let me know what you do. I'd love to hear it. 

xoxo-

Rachel

Day-Weaning Olivia

    My sweet Livie-Lou has been a boobie girl since FOREVER. Right when she was born and they placed her on my chest, she did the breast crawl and latched perfectly all by herself. She has never refused the breast. EVER. She always wants to nurse and I have always obliged her. I researched breastfeeding and became a pro while I was pregnant and I was determined to make it work for us and nurse her until she was at least a year old, though the AAP recommends nursing until 2 years old. But, let me tell you... nursing an 18 month old on demand is DIFFICULT. This isn't a tiny little swaddled baby we're talking about, anymore. This is a spirited, rambunctious, heavy toddler who wants to nurse and nurse often. Sometimes, she nurses up to 12 times a day! And it's always right when I'm about to do something important that requires my full attention. She wants to nurse in the middle of Target or right as we sit down for dinner with friends at a restaurant, and frankly, it's started to become quite inconvenient. As much as it pained me to think about weaning her, I could feel myself getting frustrated with her about wanting to nurse all the time, and I have been feeling like it was time for a change.

    Last week I was listening to an episode of "Unruffled" with Janet Lansbury (this podcast is an AMAZING resource for parents who follow the RIE parenting method), and a work-at-home mother was talking about how she had grown apathetic about nursing her 20 month old and she felt like her daughter was picking up on it. Janet mentioned how that wasn't really fair to the child, that something so special and bonding was becoming a point of contention, and she encouraged the mother to set boundaries with breastfeeding, that way the daughter would learn when she could expect a nursing session and wouldn't be asking all the time. Also, breastfeeding wouldn't feel like a burden to the mother, anymore, and nursing would be a sweet time of connection for the both of them, again. It was in that moment that I decided to set some limits with Olivia regarding breastfeeding.

    I wanted nursing to feel special again. I never wanted my baby girl to feel like she's an inconvenience to me. I could also tell that she was picking up on my negative attitude toward her as I grew impatient waiting for her to be finished, so I could move on to whatever important thing needed to be done. So, I decided to day-wean Olivia and reserve breastfeeding for first thing in the morning and before bed times (nap time around 2pm and bedtime around 9pm). I knew I needed to do it for my own mental health, and to preserve the beauty of Olivia's and my breastfeeding relationship. Like I said, Olivia LOVES her "boobie". She will demand it and throw a fit if she doesn't get it. She will try and pull my shirt, stick her hands down my bra and occasionally try to hit me if I don't give it up fast enough. So, needless to say, I was pretty anxious about starting this process. I knew there would be a lot of drama, and I knew I would be having to upset her and endure lots of crying and sadness, but it was easier than I thought! 

    I started the process on Tuesday after she woke up from her nap. Every time she would ask to nurse, I would say "No, baby. We only nurse before you sleep now. You can have boobie before bedtime.". Inevitably, she would throw herself on the floor and cry. I would respond by validating her feelings and offering hugs. "I know, honey. You're really upset because you love nursing and you wanted to nurse right now! But I promise I'll nurse you before bed." Often, she did NOT want my hugs, and the crying would last about a minute and then I could distract her. She asked for it a lot that first day, but the drama subsided as the night went on. And when I climbed in bed and told her it was finally time to nurse, she squealed, did a little dance and said "(Ex)cited! (Ex)cited!". It was so precious and I was refreshed from having my body to myself and I could give her my undivided attention during that special time together. 

    On wednesday, she only asked to nurse a handful of times, and get this, when I told her "not right now. We only nurse at bed times, now, remember?", there were NO TEARS. At all! In fact, I think she only whined a tiiiiny little bit, that first time. And when I put her to bed that night, she actually unlatched, rolled over and let me cuddle her until she fell asleep, instead of falling asleep WHILE nursing. 

    Now, it's Thursday and she only asked to nurse twice, today! And there were no tears and no whining at all. She actually was being silly with me tonight, and saying "num num num" while leaning toward my chest and giving me a cheeky, knowing smile. Until yesterday, the only time she asked me to hold her, she would immediately follow it up with asking to nurse, so I could never really just cuddle her and hug her on my lap, but let me tell you... these cuddles I've been getting, y'all! They're priceless! I couldn't even have told you when the last time was that I just snuggled her and she laid her head on my chest. Somehow, I feel like day-weaning her has STRENGTHENED our bond with one another. It's like, we're nursing less, but we're connecting more and in different ways. My attitude is better when it's time to nurse. I can settle in and snuggle her and savor the time we are spending nestled into each other, because I've had my body to myself for a while. It's so bittersweet, though. I'm realizing that nursing Olivia is the only thing that is really keeping her a baby in my mind. She is so smart and growing so fast. I know that someday very soon, she won't need me as much, anymore, and she will go to sleep without having to nurse. So I'm soaking in this special time with her. I'll keep you updated on how it's going as time progresses. Hug your littles close, mamas! 

xoxo-

Rachel

My 4 Favorite Lip Colors for Fall

I was chatting with one of my instagram engagement pod girls the other day and she described herself as a "very seasonal person". And let me tell you, GIRL, SAME. As soon as the weather starts changing and I can feel fall in the air, I get giddy with excitement and anxious for change. Like, I am going ALL OUT. Let's go get a PSL and hit up the fall candle sale at B&BW. Then, we'll light our candles, bust out the fall decor, turn on Hocus Pocus and pin Halloween costume ideas. 😂 You think I'm kidding, but I'm not!

One of my favorite things to change with the seasons is my makeup and jewelry. Because it is SO dang hot in Texas (even in the fall, unfortunately) you can't exactly bust out the riding boots and chunky sweaters, so makeup is a great way to bring in the fall feeling. Nothing is more classic fall to me than a gold or bronze eyeshadow with pretty plum or burgundy lips. So, I've compiled the 4 lipsticks that I can NOT get enough of this season. All of these are linked in my liketoknow.it, which you can shop HERE.

L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Original Satin - Saucy Mauve

This is the most beautiful purple-y mauve. It's almost a nude but with gorgeous purple hues. The formula is smooth, buttery and moisturizing. 

Milani Lipstick Color Statement- Matte Naked

Milani makeup is so inexpensive and really amazing from the price standpoint. I have so many of their lipsticks and this one is a fave. It looks best on lighter skin tones and is a lovely matte nude.

Anastasia Liquid Lipstick- Heathers

Anastasia products speak for themselves. This matte liquid lipstick ain't coming off. It laughs at your makeup remover wipes, so you know it'll stay put when you wear your mask. It definitely gets darker as it dries, so it's more brown in person than it looks in this pic. Definitely a dramatic shade.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream- Prague

Who are we kidding. NYX Prague is my go-to for every season. If I'm wearing lipstick, it's probably prague. It's a gorgeous deep pink that looks good on basically everyone. It's fool-proof and the formula is amazing. It's matte but doesn't dry out your lips or make them sticky like some matte formulas do. And it's very affordable! I counted and I have 3 tubes of it!

There you have it! My 4 fave lip colors for the season. But here's the thing. Hopefully you are wearing your mask when you're out and about, so it's not like anyone but your close, socially distant friends and immediate family will see how beautiful you look in these lipsticks. It can be your little secret. You look GORG under that mask. <3 Let that be a confidence booster for you and #wearyourdamnmask. 

xoxo-

Rachel

Quarantine Check In

How are you holding up, everybody? These are some CRAZY TIMES we are living in, huh? Sometimes it doesn't even feel real; when I'm watching the news, it feels like I'm watching a science fiction movie. But, Covid-19 is no joke. I hope you're all sheltering in place and staying safe, taking all necessary precautions. We sure are!

I haven't "worked" (in a traditional sense) since I was 37 weeks pregnant. But, let's be real, motherhood is MORE than a full time job. Gil is a realtor and works from home, making occasional work errands like showing houses and meeting with stagers. He has also been the one to run to the grocery store. Olivia and I have been home since March 15th. Usually the two of us get really stir crazy staying home! Living very near to a local park has been my saving grace. When the weather is nice, we load Olivia up in the stroller and walk a couple miles in the fresh air. It's been so good for my spirits. We have made exceptions to spend time with friends and family who we know have also been social distancing, but we've been extra careful.

I'm actually pretty proud of the way I've been handling all of this. Occasionally, I have panic attacks and anxiety. I don't like change, especially that which happens very suddenly, so I guess that's one reason I'm surprised at my response to a global pandemic. Maybe it's because I'm a mom now and I have a child I need to be strong for? Maybe it's because I feel a big responsibility to take care of everyone that I can by staying home and staying healthy, not putting others at risk of sickness or death, just because I want to get out and about.

I've taken this opportunity to plan and dream for when this is all over. We cleared the clutter off of our patio and made it all pretty, so we've been spending a lot of time out there. I've been cooking dinner every night and it's been kind of exciting to try new recipes and to realize that there's a lot I can cook without a recipe because I know it by heart, now. I've been reading a lot of books and we've been organizing and decluttering, but let's be real. We've also been pigging out, netflix binging, staying in our jammies all day and doing a whole lot of chilling on the couch.

I'll encourage you to just do the best you can during this time. You were thrust into this situation just like everyone else. It's okay to allow a bunch more screen time than you normally would, and don't feel bad if your kids have eaten one too many bags of cheetos every day for the past 3 months. We are figuring all this out and coping in our own ways.

I've been thinking a lot about people who battle depression, anxiety and substance abuse issues. About people who are recovering alcoholics and people who just were starting to feel like they were getting out of funks. I'm thinking about people who are sheltering in place all alone and are craving human touch. I'm holding space for all those people and keeping them in my prayers; I hope you'll do the same. When all of this is over, the world will be a better place, I just know it. I think we will have a lot more grace for each other and we'll have a whole new appreciation for our essential workers and healthcare workers and teachers. We will come out of this better. HANG IN THERE.

xoxo- Rachel

The Most Delicious Baked Oatmeal!

For this week’s weekly bake I decided to make one of my favorite breakfast recipes. It carries SO MUCH nostalgia for me because they used to serve it at the summer camp I grew up going to. BAKED OATMEAL. 😍

With the corona virus spreading rapidly, everyone’s kids are home from school and many cities are under strict shelter in place orders. I’m sure that many moms and dads are running out of ideas of things to do to keep the kiddos entertained. This recipe is super fun and easy to make. You can whip it up in the morning, or make it ahead to have for breakfast the next day! You can use it as a fun activity to do with your littles and they can help you stir all the ingredients together. It’s very versatile and you can throw chopped fruit into your batter before you bake it, if you'd like. The possibilities are endless. SO. Without further adieu, I give you baked oatmeal.

Ingredients:

-3 cups quick oats
-two eggs beaten
-1 cup packed brown sugar
-1tbsp baking powder
-1tsp ground cinnamon
-1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter
-1.5 cups 2% milk

Directions:
1. Mix together milk, butter, eggs, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon.
2. Stir in the quick oats.
3. Pour the batter into a greased baking dish.
4. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees
5. Serve warm! You can pour warm milk and maple syrup on top or serve with fruit. You do you!

Please let me know if you make this recipe! I'd love to know if you enjoy it as much as I do. 

xoxo- Rachel

Olivia is ONE! (Late Post)

How did this happen? Didn't I just bring her home? Didn't I just take her to her two week doctor's appointment? Didn't she just have her first bath? When did my baby turn into a toddler right before my eyes? Everyone tells you not to blink, but it's just UNREAL how fast time passes once you have a baby. It's true that the days are long, but the years are so painfully short.

When we brought Olivia home, I had some postpartum depression. I was usually okay during the day, but at night I would spiral. I was very doom and gloom. "I'll never be able to ride in Gil's convertible again because it's a two-seater.", "I'll never be able to go get late night tacos with my friends.", "I'll never be able to be away from her because I'm breastfeeding." and I would cry. It really felt like we would never find our new normal. But here we are! With a little help from Zoloft and a lot of practice, I’m proud of the mom I’ve become. I still mess up and get frustrate, I still have mom guilt and I fail her every day, but I love Olivia more than life itself.

She is so amazing and learning so incredibly quickly! She started walking at 11 months and now she is running around and getting into all kinds of stuff she isn’t supposed to. She recognizes songs and starts trying to sing along. She can kiss, hug and rock her babies and can point out noses, mouths and toes. She's also starting to learn animal sounds like "woof", "quack" and "ooh-ooh ah-ah". Gosh, she's just so smart and it's my greatest joy to watch her grow into a sweet little girl. Looking forward to a million more birthday celebrations with you, Livie-Lou!

xoxo- Rachel

Perfectly Pink Denim Jacket Worn 3 Ways

I was doing my usual LIKEtoKNOW.it scrolling when I saw it... a PINK denim jacket. I feel like I've never seen such a thing in my entire life but I NEEDED IT. Best part? It was less than $20! So, when running errands with the fam, we swung by Walmart so I could try it on. I'm very particular about denim jackets. They need to be soft, with long enough arms and I want the hem to hit a little below my true waist. Not too short or it reminds me of the early 2000s (when we wore shrugs and goucho pants. *shudder*). Not too long or it makes me look like a kid wearing a hand-me-down, too big jacket. Anyway... I'm picky. What can I say? 

This jacket is SO soft, it's got some nice stretch to it and the pink is so sweet and versatile. If you feel like your heart wants you to get it but you feel like it's too bold, or you wouldn't get enough wear out of it, here are 3 ways to style it, just to give you some inspiration.

Athleisure, baby! Toss it on over whatever you're wearing to the gym (or to Target, let's be real.)

With white, chambray and a little bling. You really could wear this outfit anywhere. I think it's perfect for brunch with friends or a baby shower.

Today I wore it over a graphic tee, with my fave stretchy skinnies and rain boots. These hunter boots are like 30% off right now, btw! 

Listen. Just do it. Get you the jacket. It's super affordable! Click to shop any of these outfits.

Oh yeah, and here's a pic of how cute Olivia is in case you needed a reminder. 😊

xoxo- Rachel

Motherhood: The Hardest Job on Planet Earth

Oh, hey! Remember me? It's been a minute. This motherhood thing, y'all. I tell ya. I've wanted to be a mom my entire life but being a stay at home mom is the hardest job I've ever had. Nothing could have prepared me for this. 

Olivia has been cutting a top tooth for weeks now and she has been SO irritable and reverted to nursing 6 or 7 times a day instead of just nursing before naps and bed time. She has been wanting me to entertain her all day long, crying if I get up to try and go to the bathroom, let alone attempt to clean house or do the dishes. One minute she's content and playing and the next minute she's crying and wanting to be held and freaking out if I try and put her down. I love this feisty, opinionated little person SO MUCH she has no idea. It's hard to see her so emotional and not really know what she needs or how to help. At this age, they can't control their emotions and often those emotions come out as slapping and throwing things and screaming. It's emotionally taxing and personally, I find it difficult to keep my cool a lot of the time. I huff and puff and sometimes raise my voice in frustration, but I'm reminding myself that she needs me to be the calm in her storm. I have to keep it together when she can't, even when I don't feel like I have it in me. It's. A. Lot. 

Sorry for all that. Sometimes moms just need to vent. 

Even though there are rough parts of motherhood, I wouldn't change it for the world. For every tough day there are twice as many extremely happy days. There are hard moments and rewarding ones. Like when she sees Gil walk through the door and says "daddy!", or when we are out and about and she points to every fluffy thing and says "puppy!". I love watching her figure out how to work her favorite toys and learn new skills like putting a ball in a cup and playing peek-a-boo. And now, she's WALKING! I'm so insanely proud of her and I can't believe how time is flying. So I will hold on to every difficult moment as if it were my last because every night when I kiss her little head and I nurse her to sleep, I remember that she will never be this little again. 

xoxo- Rachel 

Are you an "angry mom"?

Full disclosure, I've been really super irritable lately. I've been impatient with Olivia and my husband, Gil. But I haven't been able to put my finger on what's causing it! It feels kind of like I felt before I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and got on Zoloft. Do I need to up my dose? I'm not opposed to that, but I'd love to try some other things first.

Something got me thinking, though. I was scrolling Instagram (surprise, surprise) and I saw this little graphic from @mombrain.therapist.

WOW, right?? I don't know about you, mama, but I could probably circle 5 or 6 things on this list of unmet needs. I realized that I'm really not taking care of myself very well. I'm a huge proponent of self-care but I've been slacking on that lately. I need to prioritize it. For example, I have been reading the same book since November! It's not even a long book!! I couldn't tell you the last time I worked out. I haven't been out alone with friends since Olivia was born (almost 11 months ago!) and Gil and I have only been on 3 dates since I gave birth. I never drink enough water and I'm always scrambling around to clean and tidy while Olivia is napping instead of doing something for myself. I told myself it wouldn't get to this point and that I wouldn't lose sight of how important it is to take care of myself and relax, but I'm in dire need of some TLC now.

I'm making the commitment to sit down and plan strategic "me time" every week. We are the MAMAS. We take care of people all day and if you're a nursing, co-sleeping mama like I am, all night, as well. :P So, will you make that commitment with me? To take care of yourself, whatever that looks like for you? It's really important, because I think as moms, we frequently convince ourselves that anything we do for ourselves is less important. But we have to fill ourselves up to pour out into others.

I'm going to make sure I take at least 6 hours a week for myself. I'm going to go blog at Starbucks with a tasty frappuccino or roam Home Goods aimlessly and see what kind of trouble I can get into. I'm going to drink a lot of water and eat nutritious snacks. I'm going to snuggle my sweet daughter and not feel guilty about needing time alone. I'm going to thank my hubby for keeping the baby occupied while I take a nice hot shower and it's all going to make me a better mama. How are you going to commit to taking care of yourself? Let me know in the comments below.

xoxo- Rachel

Shop with LIKEtoKNOW.it

I've been looking for an easy way to share my favorite clothes and products with y'all for a LONG TIME. Enter: LIKEtoKNOW.it! Just download the app from the App store and search "ohrachie". When you follow me, all the pictures are linked with where to buy each product. Make sure to follow me for exclusive outfits and product recommendations!

Scout Baby Co. Swings!

Olivia LOVES to swing. She giggles and smiles and spreads her little toes. There's a particular park we go to that has a bucket swing and she is obsessed. So obsessed that I was determined to get her a swing for home. 

I was thrilled to discover Scout Baby Co. and their gorgeous line of handmade baby and toddler swings. They are a Texas company (that's a plus) and they have tons of beautiful fabrics from which to choose.

Facts about Scout Baby Co. Swings:

Quality- 100% Cotton or Cotton/Linen blended fabrics are soft, breathable, and washable.

Pure- 100% Cotton ropes that are chemical free, bleach free, and dye free & SUPER STRONG. The ropes hold 400 lbs. 

Natural- The wooden rods, rings, and beads are all untreated. They are free from harmful chemicals that can irritate your babies skin. They are conditioned with 100% organic food grade coconut oil. 

Safety- Their swings are CPSC Compliant + additional safety precautions like safety belts sewn into every swing and hardware that holds 3 times more than the required weight limits!

If you're dying to get your baby a gorgeous handmade sling, I highly recommend Scout Baby Co. Slings! You can use my code for 10% off your first order: OHRACHIE10

Introducing: Piña Antiques & Collectibles

For as long as I can remember, I've loved antiques. It probably started because of my Nanaw who had such an eclectic collection of knick-knacks. She had teacups and saucers, music boxes, teddy bears, Taco Bell chihuahuas and wooden animals, and many other things that I'm sure weren't even on my radar as I was only a child. I started accumulating all kinds of random whimsical things and when I was a teenager, my mom said that my room looked like a garage sale. (Thinking back, I can't disagree with her.) I just LOVED pretty things but I didn't know how to put them together in a way that actually looked good.

Now that I'm a grown woman with a place of my own, I think I have a little better of a handle on it, but let's be real, who would notice my decor with all the toys strewn about? (#momlife) I still can spot a treasure when I see one, and I'm constantly tempted to buy all kinds of gorgeous collectibles that I don't have room for in my 800 sqft condo. So...

I created Piña Antiques and Collectibles! An online antique and vintage shop where all the items are curated by me. I'll be searching for and collecting beautiful accessories for your home throughout the week and giving you sneak peeks on Instagram stories. Then, weekly or bi-weekly I'll host a flash sale where you can purchase the items I've selected. We're going to start small and the first sale won't be until late February, but I will definitely be posting sneak peeks on Instagram stories and tons of decor inspiration on my feed. I'd love for you to join me on the gram in the mean time. Just click the pic below! See you over there?

xoxo- Rachel

My Five Favorite Christmas Gifts

I don't know about y'all but I am SO NOT READY for the holidays to be over. It was Olivia's first Christmas and it was supposed to be so over the top whimsical and magical but we both got sick for a whole week before Christmas so we didn't get to do as many festive things as I would have liked and it really put a damper on things... So, I'm still watching Hallmark Christmas movies and the tree is still up, at least for tonight. And, so that I can keep reliving the Christmas magic, it's time for a ChRiStMaS bLoG pOsT! 

Usually, Gil and I just each pick one bigger thing that we want for Christmas and buy it for ourselves, but this year, we did stockings, too, and I really loved it! I had so much fun picking out little candies, toiletries and other odds and ends for Gil. Olivia's favorite things to play with are measuring cups and spatulas so we didn't get much of anything for her besides a banana toothbrush and some bath toys. :P But I got a few items I was SUPER excited about from my parents and I'm gonna share those with you today, so, without further adieu... my five favorite Christmas gifts (in no particular order). Click the pictures to shop! 

Leopard Loopy Case

Many of my favorite Instagram influencers have this case and it was just CALLING TO ME. I got the iPhone 11 Pro for our anniversary, so I'm glad I have my gorgeous new case to keep it in pristine condition.

Wildbird Chambray Ring Sling in "Scoter"

So much of my life is spend wearing Olivia around. I love my original blue Wildbird sling SO MUCH so it made sense that I'd get a more neutral option as well. I LOVE Scoter and it's far more beautiful in person with the intricate weave pattern. 

Quip Toothbrush 

Regular toothbrushes do the trick just fine, but the Quip is just SO fun. Gil and I got them for each other as stocking stuffers. We love the timer aspect that buzzes every 30 seconds to alert you to move on to the next quadrant of your mouth. We know we're getting a really thorough clean every time we brush. Plus, they're just cool looking. 

Glass Nesting Prep Bowls

My brothers got me these amazing nesting prep bowls since they know I've been baking so much, lately. I told them how I like to set out all my ingredients beforehand so that I feel like I'm doing my own little baking show. :P I've seriously gotten SO much use out of these darn things. Such a thoughtful gift from them.

Williams Sonoma - "Essentials of Baking"

This Williams Sonoma Essentials of Baking book is INCREDIBLE. It is informative and the photography is so beautiful. I love how each recipe has a sidebar with a few ways you could spice up whatever you are baking. It would surely take a lifetime to bake everything in this book with all the variations, but I sure will try. 

Our Christmas was really lovely and relaxing and I hope yours was, too! Tell me. What were some of your favorite things about your Christmas? What about your favorite gifts you received, or gave? Let me know. 

xoxo- Rachel

P.S. These are not affiliate links. I am not getting paid to share any of these products. 

How to make Mulled Wine (a.k.a. Glogg)

If you've been following me for any length of time, you know I place A LOT of value on hygge. If you want to learn more about hygge, a quick Google will get you pretty far, but simply put, hygge is the concept of feeling cozy. Think soft blankets, hot drinks, fuzzy socks, a cat purring beside you, scented candles, snuggling up by the fireplace... doesn't it all sound heavenly? I KNOW. That's why I'm obsessed with hygge.

Hot drinks are a major part of hygge for me, especially during the winter time. I drink coffee, hot cocoa, apple cider, but when I really want to kick it up a notch, like a true Scandinavian, I make mulled wine! As fancy as it sounds, it really isn't difficult to make! All you actually need is wine and mulling spices. Here's how I make it.

Ingredients:

- 1 bottle of wine (I like to use a nice heavy red for glogg)

- 2 cinnamon sticks

- 4 star anise

- 3 cardamom pods

- 10 cloves

- cranberries

- orange slices

(There are so many other things you can add and Pinterest has tons of ideas.)

Instructions:

1. Pour the bottle of wine into a pot on the stove.

2. Add your fruit, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and cloves.

3. Simmer until hot and you can smell all the delicious wintery scents.

4. Serve hot! 

Let me know if you make some glogg this season. I can't wait to hear how you like it. 

xoxo- Rachel