Mommy Mondays: Paisley Jean is 15 Months Old

This post was scheduled for last Monday, but the entire Hilosky Family was down with the stomach virus.  And it didn't hit everyone at once...it was slow...spanning many many days! 

Thank goodness we are all healthy at the moment! 

Now onto more important things...

My sweetest Paisley Jean turned 15 months old on March 11th! 

Paisley's 15 Month Stats:

20 pounds

29.5 inches

25th percentile 

We had her 15 month checkup a few days after and Paisley is hitting every milestone! 

Our pediatrician was especially impressed with Paisley's like of words (she says almost 50) and how she tries to repeat everything you say by imitating certain sounds! 

Paisley Jean one year ago at three months old! 

A couple of days after turning 15 months we celebrated St. Paddy's Day!  Look at how big she is and how long her hair is! 

St. Paddy's Day 2015 - what a difference a year makes! 

#hiloskyeveryday2016 Weeks 9 and 10

Day 56 - It's blurry because that's how fast she runs!  

Day 57 - Lacie got her dance recital costume! We both love it! 

Day 58 - Little Miss Paisley Jean walking like a big girl outside!  

Day 59 - Standing on their ages at the track #onyourmarkgetsetgo

Day 60 - bedtime hugs 

Day 61 - Daddy/Daughter soccer!  

Day 62 - Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!  #thecatinthehat

Day 63 - wine and tacos...because 2 out of 3 kids were sick all day 

Day 64 - we are so lucky that we rarely get sick, but Lacie picked up something and was down for the count for 48 hours.  Finally feeling a bit better! 

Day 65 - Have I ever mentioned how much Paisley Jean love love loves her bath?!?!  And how much she hates getting out of the tub?!?

Day 66 - Stroller Races! 

Day 67 - Family Walk

Day 68 - loving this amazing weather! 

Day 69 - escape artist...she may look like me but she is 100% John!

Show and Tell Tuesday: Hometown Edition

Today I am participating in Show and Tell Tuesdays - a link up that meets twice each month to share something about ourselves!  

Today we are talking about our HOMETOWNS! 

I grew up here:

in Hamilton Square, NJ.

You've probably never ever heard of my hometown, but I love it!  

I loved it so much that I made my hometown my own children's hometown!

Currently it is 0.9 miles from my front door to my parents front door.  

So clearly my hometown is AWESOME! 

Recently, it was named the Happiest Place to live in the state of NJ.  You can read the article HERE and see what data they used to make those conclusions! 

From the article 

"When Pharrel was thinking of his hit song he was probably standing in the middle of Hamilton Square reflecting on the area around him."

"If only there were slightly more sunny days in the Square, then the city would probably be home to unicorns."

In edition to being raised and raising my own kids in Hamilton Square:

John and I got engaged in Hamilton Square - at a beautiful park called Sayen Gardens! 

And then we took our wedding pictures in the same park! 

John and I had our wedding ceremony in Hamilton Square at the church that I was raised in - Saint Gregory the Great.  

All three of our girls were baptized in this church!

Lacie and Blakely were both born in Hamilton Square at a hospital that is literally around the corner from our house.

And in September, Lacie will start Kindergarten in Hamilton! 

Here is a list of our Show and Tell Tuesday Topics:

Irish Soda Bread

It's March!!!

And that means Saint Paddy's Day!  

This year it also means Easter! 

My very favorite thing to make in the month of March is Irish Soda Bread.  A few years ago, I set out to make a really great version of this bread...and I came up with an awesome recipe!  

This recipe is honestly the BEST Irish Soda Bread I've ever had! 

Irish Soda Bread tends to be dry...this recipe is NOT! 

I tend to want to eat Irish Soda Bread with a ton of butter...you do not need any butter for this bread!  I promise!

 

Your Shopping List for the Irish Soda Bread:

• 4 cups of all purpose flour 
• 1 cup sugar 
• 1 tbsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt 
• 1 stick butter, cut into small cubes
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk 
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp water

Now Let's Make the Irish Soda Bread:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper
2. In a large mixing bowl place 4 cups of flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tbsp baking soda, and 1 tsp salt.  Whisk these ingredients together
3. Add the cubed butter (very cold  - it should be right out of the fridge) and use your *clean* hands to incorporate the butter into the dry mixture until crumbly
   
4. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the raisins
5. Pour the buttermilk in and mix with spoon until dough forms
6. Turn out dough onto floured surface and shape into a ball
   
7. Divide ball into two even halves and shape each half into a round loaf - place onto prepared baking sheet
8. Use a knife to score a cross into the top of each loaf
   
9. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until tops of loaves are golden brown
10. Place 1/3 cup sugar and 2 tbsp water into a bowl
11. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds
12. Use a pastry brush to brush tops of loaves with the sugar water while bread is still warm from the oven (I did two coats of the sugar water on each loaf - I still had a little bit left)
    
    
    
    Store in an airtight container and eat in 1-2 days! 

Friday Favorites

Oh Hey, It's FRIDAY!!!

And just like every Friday, I'm linking up to share the things that I am LOVING this week!

FULLER HOUSE

Oh Em Gee!  Today is the day!!!  Fuller House is here!!!  If you are looking for me this weekend, I will be binge watching Fuller House!  And I will be making John watch it with me.  I grew up watching Full House and now I still watch the reruns at night when they're one.  I love the fact that my own girls will get to grow up with this show!

And let's be honest, Uncle Jesse is still looking pretty good! 

Blakely's First Dance Costume

I walked into dance class with B on Wednesday and their recital outfits had come in!  We got to go in the room and try them on the girls (just to make sure everything fit).  I'm pretty sure Blakely has been waiting for this day since Lacie got her first recital outfit last year!  She was so excited.  She was even more excited that her costume looks like Cinderella in her mind!  I can't even stand the cuteness! 

Neiman Marcus Bars

I made a new Neiman Marcus Bar recipe for Lacie's half birthday and I shared it on the blog earlier this week!  These may just be my favorite of all the Neiman Marcus Bar recipes!  Seriously the Double Chocolate Flavor is Great!  You can check out the recipe here!

If chocolate isn't your thing, try my Red Velvet Neiman Marcus Bars

Or My Lemon Neiman Marcus Bars

Or My Chocolate Coconut Neiman Marcus Bars

These ones are really great for Easter!  They're a Neiman Marcus Bar version of the Chocolate Coconut Eggs!

St. Paddy's Day

I love celebrating St. Paddy's Day with the kids!  I always buy them cute shirts or outfits to wear the whole month of March!  How fun are these shirts?  I like them because they're a bit different from all of the other St. Paddy's Day gear! 

I also love these shirts that my Aunt got the girls this year!

And I love these for the baby!