Thursday, June 26, 2014

#hiloskyeveryday2014 Week 26

Today marks week 26 and that means that we are halfway through my 52 weeks of #hiloskyeveryday2014 posts!  Crazy!

Day 171 - She went from being scared of the water to loving it!  For at least an hour straight she jumped into the pool, climbed out of the pool, jumped into the pool, climbed out of the pool... Blakely slept good that night! 


Day 172 - My 13 week (and 1 day) baby bump! 


Day 173 - These two <3 


Day 174 - The day that my hubby got to be a part of the show at Sesame Place!  He rocked it!  


Day 175 - it's the little things, like this moment, that make my day! 


Day 176 - That is a "For Sale" sign on our lawn!!!  The Hiloskys are going to be moving!  And the sooner the better!  Who thinks this is going to be fun with a pregnant Mama and two toddlers?!?  Anyone?!?


Day 177 - Today is Derek Jeter's birthday!  Something we celebrate in the Hilosky House!  You can read this blog post to find out more about our love of the Yankees! 


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Lemon Blueberry Muffins



Last Friday, I took my *almost three year old* Lacie Jane out for some Mommy and Me time!  We do almost everything as a family, either with John on the weekend or just the three girls during the week.  We hardly ever split up.  But every once in awhile, I think it's nice to have some special one on one time!  It's finally blueberry picking season in New Jersey, and you do not know what you are missing if you have never had New Jersey blueberries!  They are the BEST!  We always go to a local organic blueberry farm!

Here's my sweet girl picking (and eating) blueberries! 

And just for fun, this is what Lacie looked like last summer on her very first trip to the blueberry farm!  She was just the cutest little thing!

Now since we spent all that time and energy picking delicious, organic blueberries, I knew that I wanted to make muffins that would be relatively healthy!  I used all organic ingredients for these muffins, but you can certainly use whatever baking supplies you keep on hand! 

Your Shopping List for the Lemon Blueberry Muffins:
  • zest and juice from 1 lemon
  • 1/3 cup sugar 
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 1/2 tsp baking powder 
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 cup milk 
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled 
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 1 heaping cup of fresh blueberries
  • raw sugar for sprinkling (optional) 
Now Let's Make the Lemon Blueberry Muffins:
  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and use paper liners or spray (I used a coconut oil spray) a 12 - 14 cup muffin pan.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the lemon zest and sugar.  Rub or whisk together until this mixture becomes very fragrant.
  3. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the bowl and whisk together until thoroughly incorporated.
  4. In a large glass measuring cup, squeeze the juice from the lemon.  Add in the milk until it reaches the 1 cup line marker.  
  5. Add the coconut oil, eggs, and honey.  Whisk the wet mixture together until thoroughly incorporated. 
  6. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined.
  7. Gently fold in the blueberries.
  8. Divide batter evenly into prepared muffin cups.  If desired, sprinkle a pinch of raw sugar over the tops of the muffins.  
  9. Bake in preheated oven for 20 - 23 minutes.
  10. Cool muffins in pans for 10 minutes.  Transfer muffins to wire racks to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.  




Sunday, June 22, 2014

Cake Mix Coffee Cake


I know it has been awhile since I posted a new recipe.  If you want to know why, you can read this post which explains it all!

Last Sunday, I really wanted to make a coffee cake for out annual Father's Day Brunch.  I have a favorite blueberry coffee cake recipe that I have made in the past, but I didn't happen to have any fresh blueberries.  So I took the topping from that recipe, made a few changes, and created an awesome Cake Mix Coffee Cake instead!

Hooray for CAKE MIX RECIPE #37!!! 



Your Shopping List for the Cake Mix Coffee Cake:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 stick butter, melted and cooled
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 sticks cold butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3 tsp cinnamon 
Now Let's Make the Cake Mix Coffee Cake:
  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking pan
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the cake mix, milk, melted butter, and eggs for 30 seconds on the lowest speed.  Scrape down the sides and then turn mixer to medium speed and beat for another 1-2 minutes until smooth.  
  3. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for approximately 20 minutes until the top is set but the cake isn't cooked completely through
  4. While the cake is baking, make the topping
  5. Whisk together the flour, white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl
  6. Use a pastry cutter to cut in the cold butter cubes until mixture is crumbly 
  7. As soon as cake top appears to be set (approximately 20 minutes), remove from oven and sprinkle crumb mixture over the top of the cake
  8. Return to oven and bake an additional 20 minutes until cake is fully cooked and the crumble topping is hard and golden brown
  9. Allow cake to cool on wire rack before cutting into squares and serving

You will not be disappointed in this coffee cake recipe!  Especially if, like me, you want equal parts cake and crumb topping!  

Enjoy! 

Thursday, June 19, 2014

#hiloskyeveryday2014 Week 25

Day 164 - This was a very special day for the Hiloskys!  It was the day we announced to the world that we will be a family of five this Christmas!  Here Blakely is wearing a shirt that says "I'm the Big Sister."  This was Lacie's shirt when we announced that we were expecting Blakely!  You can read more about our announcement and see the announcement picture here! 


Day 165 - Spending some time at our pool! 


Day 166 - Happy Father's Day!  What's a better present then some morning snuggles!?!


Day 167 - Every year our church holds a carnival to raise money for the parish and the school!  This was Lacie's second year attending and her very first time riding a ride all by herself.  She was super excited to sit there like a big girl...but then the ride started and I think she got a bit scared!  I was still a very proud Mama! 


Day 168 - Lacie was finally able to keep her burger on the roll the entire time she ate it! 


Day 169 - This is Blakely's "I love Mommy's crockpot pulled pork tacos" face! 


Day 170  - Today was opening day at the u-pick Organic Blueberry Farm by our house!  Of course Lacie and I were there first thing this morning!  It was special Mommy/Lacie time!  My bucket was full but most of Lacie's blueberries ended up in her tummy! 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Hilosky Family Party of 5!!!!

Last Friday, we made a pretty big announcement....


The entire Hilosky Family was super excited to announce that one very special Christmas present is already on the way!  Hooray for Baby #3!  

I've always known that I wanted a big family.  When I met John, I told him *on our very first date* that I wanted kids...four to be exact...and if he didn't see kids in his future then there was really no point in continuing further into a relationship.  Boy am I lucky that he didn't think I was crazy!  And here we are, five years into our marriage, and Baby #3 is on the way!!!

Our chalkboard announcement!

I am due December 26th!  This day also happens to be my mom's birthday!  It would be awesome for this little girl or boy to share that special day with my Mom, but I have a feeling he/she will have their own birthday!  
Last Friday Marked 12 Weeks!!!

Oh and in case you were wondering where all my food recipes have gone...they have temporarily been traded for lots of morning sickness!  Something I did not have one bit of with Lacie or Blakely, which of course already has me thinking Baby #3 is a BOY!  Of course I am always wrong!

Blakely Hope wearing the I'm the Big Sister shirt, passed down to her from Lacie!  

And here's a sweet picture of Lacie Jane, just in case you were wondering what Lacie looked like when she announced to the world that she was going to be a big sister!  Yes she was only 6 months old!  And yes everyone thought we were crazy!  It was the best thing we have ever done!  

And don't worry, that morning sickness is going away so new recipes will be up soon! 





Thursday, June 12, 2014

#hiloskyeveryday2014 Weeks 23 and 24

Day 150 - We were gifted this slide from cousins and I have never seen Lacie enjoy a toy more!  Both girls will go up and down this slide a million times!  


Day 151 - Blakely's first time eating corn that is still on the cob!  She loved it!  Can't wait for Jersey corn! 


Day 152 - Happy Birthday to my Hubby!  Can you tell that Blakely was so over singing "Happy Birthday" and just wanted to eat a cupcake already?!?  In case you were wondering, these are my Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing!  John's favorite!  


Day 153 - Posing with Abby at Sesame Place!  Lacie was excited...B wasn't so sure...


Day 154 - This day (June 3rd) marked the 8th anniversary of the day that I met John!  I had made a batch of Heath Bar Crunch that day, and I swear this is the dessert that started it all.  You can read about it here.  


Day 155 - This may not seem like a special picture...but it is!  This is the first day that Lacie Jane pooped on the potty!  Only you potty training Mamas and Daddys will understand our excitement!  See Lacie has been fully day time potty trained and in underwear since November...but she would never poop...EVER!  She would do that business every night while she was sleeping (and of course wearing a diaper).  I am happy to say that this has become an everyday thing!!!!  Now we can truly say our girl is POTTY TRAINED! HALLELUJAH! 


Day 156 - Blakely's favorite hiding spot is the oven in her kitchen.  She likes it so much that the door has now broken 3 times...Mama is done fixing it!  


Day 157 - We finally got our much needed new car - a Mini Van!  On #hiloskyeveryday2014 Week 13 I posted a picture of John's truck being towed!  It was getting old and it was just time for an upgrade!  Now, John will be driving my Mazda CX5 (perfect on gas) to and from work!  And I will be carting the girls around in the mini van! 


Day 158 - Celebrating my Father-In-Law's 70th Birthday with a nice dinner out! 


Day 159 - Lacie Jane just doing a little sun bathing! 


Day 160 - Sweet B's idea of how to help Mama fold laundry! 


Day 161 - Oh you know when your kids arrange themselves on a chair and say "Mommy take a picture!"  I guess it's safe to say I take a lot of pictures of my children! 


Day 162 - June 11th marks the anniversary of me and the hubby's very first date to the Cheesecake Factory!  So of course my very thoughtful husband picked up two slices of cheesecake on his way home from work!  He's the best!  


Day 163 - Sweet B woke up in a great mood today!  This little face makes my morning so happy! 

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