Small Business Feature: Sweet Georgia Peach Bakery

Today we have the honor of showcasing a local small business! We absolutely love the owner of Sweet Georgia Peach Bakery, Stephanie, and her family! We are so inspired by the way Stephanie juggles business life and family, all without sacrificing either! Please visit her here. She's made amazing goodies for our families and we can't wait to order from her again!

Photo Credit: Laura Ryan Photography

Where did you learn how to make such delicious treats?

"My twin sister and I were brought up by our grandparents. My Grandmother, Mildred, taught me everything I know when it comes to cooking and baking. The decorating came later, I loved baking by cake decorating was not my forte. We are a basketball loving family and I learned from Michael Jordan on this one: 'I worked on my weakness until it then became my strength'. It has been almost 9 months since Sweet Georgia Peach Bakery's inception and at this point I am confident in my decorating, but baking will always be my passion, as I feel like my Grandma is here with me every time I pull out my mixer."

Photo Credit: Laura Ryan Photography

What inspired you to start your bakery?

My greatest inspiration is definitely my Grandma, but there are many others. I believe that this is my calling, my way to give back to society, and that my Grandma is smiling down on me from heaven knowing that I am happy doing what I love. Being a military spouse, I knew that I wanted to do something that 1) wouldn't take me away from my children on a regular basis, and 2) could travel with me so that I did not have to start a job over every time I moved. Until a year ago I did not even consider that I could take my greatest passion and turn it into a career. It was then that my oldest daughter put in her 'order' for a grand cake and I learned that I could do something with the skills that I had started to develop.

Do you have a favorite cookie or cake recipe?

I use all my own recipes and I'm constantly developing new ones. I believe that my favorite recipe is my chocolate chip cookie recipe because I developed it based on a 'super secret' one that a dear friend in South Carolina gave to me. I would love to one day share a recipe, but this one will definitely remain to secret! I will, however, give y'all a few pointers to make delicious chocolate chip cookies: 1) Use both white and brown sugar, equal parts. 2) Cream the butter and sugars until extremely light and fluffy, don't worry about over doing it with beating until you add eggs and flour! And 3) you want to add more chocolate chips than you think, there should be several in every bite.

Photo Credit: Laura Ryan Photography

Photo Credit: Laura Ryan Photography

Photo Credit: Laura Ryan Photography

 What is your favorite type of event to cater to?

I love to see the faces of the little ones when they smash their cake, especially when it is captured in smash cake photo shoots. These little ones are a major reason why I love what I do. I would have to say, though, that my favorite are the donated cakes that I do. I love providing a dream cake to a child that may not otherwise get one. I love giving and although a cake seems trivial compared to other contributions, I believe that making a child feel special and loved is crucial to development of character. I also love that I can focus on baking and work on creativity (because it does not come naturally for me) without the pressure that comes along with a paid order.

Photo Credit: Laura Ryan Photography

What advice would you give others who are trying to start a business?

Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life! Cliche I know, but nothing rings more true. I believe that it is not in God's will for us to go through life being a slave to our jobs. I believe that when you find your true purpose in life you will have a joy that can't be found anywhere else. Does that mean that you will always be happy in your job? No, just take a peek into my life on Friday night when I had six cakes due on Saturday...not fun! The satisfaction that comes with a job accomplished is worth the trouble though, and I am always ready to start again for the next

Photo Credit: Laura Ryan Photography

week!

Do not start a business in debt! Build up little by little. It may take awhile to get where you want to be, but in the off-chance that it isn't wildly successful, it will not add financial strain to your family. I have plans to open a storefront eventually, and know that debt may come with that, but until then I have a successful business that does not involve debt payments. I am happy to enjoy the fruits of my labor even at this early stage.

I also would like to add that bringing up your child will always come first! You will never look back and think, 'Wow, I wish I would have worked more.' You will most likely think that you should have spent more time enjoying your family and children. No business opportunity will compare to your family. 

God Bless, 

 &

Revive Your Diet

Instead of making a vague New Year's resolution of "eat healthier" or "go on a diet", why don't you try to make a few small changes first. Maybe drastically changing how you eat all at one time will work, or it might not. So how about making gradual changes that you'll be more likely to continue throughout the year?

Here are some ideas for changes you can make to the food you're currently eating:

Snickers : trail mix, mixed nuts
Reese's : apples & peanut butter
Chips : unsalted/unbuttered popcorn or pretzels
Pastries : fresh fruit, smoothie
Cookies : protein bar, meal-replacement bar

Wow, dessert sounds pretty good right now! You might not have as big of a sweet tooth as we do, so here are some other thoughts:

Try trading in your current carb-filled items with the whole wheat/grain option: whole wheat bread & pasta.
Reduce the amount of meals with red meat down to 1 or 2 a week.
Serve fruit and/or veggies with every meal. We usually split an apple or orange with dinner.

Obviously you can't completely cut all of the unhealthy items from your diet. You're going to find yourself in situations where there might not be a ton of healthy options (birthday parties, office celebrations, date nights, etc...). But the point we're trying to make is that you can always choose the best of what is in front of you. You need to decide what will work for you. By all means, celebrate with loved ones and enjoy a large meal or dessert once in awhile. But don't let one decision snowball into a day/week/month of poor food choices.

Drink more water! I'm sure you've heard/read this so many times. I know I have and I tend to ignore it. Then at the end of the day when I can't figure out why I'm so thirsty and my head hurts, I remember I've only had a cup of coffee all day. Yikes! Trust me, the added trips to the bathroom are very much worth it! Try trading in your second cup of coffee/soda/tea for a cool glass of water. There are many products out there that can help flavor your water for little to no added calories.

Gradually try these small changes. We hope you'll be able to stick to your goals! We're always here if you need encouragement!

What diet changes do you have planned for the New Year?

God Bless,

Revive Yourself This January

Hello Friends!

We hope you had a great time bringing in the New Year with your family and friends!

January always signifies a fresh start and renewing ourselves. (Although fresh starts can happen at anytime!) Next week we will be starting a month long series on reviving four specific areas: Spirit, Body, Home, and Diet. We want to offer easy, simple ways to give you a fresh take on daily life without feeling like you need to commit to making huge resolutions. We hope you join us every Wednesday this month!

God Bless,

 &

Harvest Week: Recipes

Ahhh cooking in the Fall...is there anything better? The smell of warm meals and treats coming from the kitchen just makes a house feel like a home. Our Thanksgiving celebrations may be small this year, but we still plan on whipping up something yummy for our families! Here are some of the dishes and desserts we love to make (and devour!):

What are you cooking for Thanksgiving? We'd love to hear about your family's favorite dishes!

God Bless, 

&

Friday Favorites: Naturebox

We recently had the opportunity to try out some Naturebox products. The idea of having a subscription service that gives you snacks that are relatively healthy and minimally processed is unique. You can pronounce all the ingredients and have options like non-GMO, gluten free, soy free, egg free, and nut free. They have something for all tastes and a variety of dietary needs. Here is what we thought about the snacks we got in our free trial!

These are our personal takes on these awesome snacks, but you can always see for yourself at Naturebox. You can get a free trial where you only have to pay shipping. Happy snacking!

What kind of healthy snacks do you recommend?

Have you tried Naturebox? What do you think?

Blessings,

 and

Pumpkin Week: Pumpkin Pie Blizzard

Every fall even though I am bundled up in a jacket and scarf, I will go to DQ for their delicious Pumpkin Pie Blizzard. I realize it is fall and Dairy Queen's Blizzards are usually a cold, sweet treat enjoyed in summer, but every bite of this sweet treat deserves a yum!

Now for a few years, we lived in an area where the nearest Dairy Queen was a good couple hours away. Coming back to an area with a DQ, I had totally forgotten about this tasty treat until I passed by on and read their sign! You ready to know what it tastes like?

Think of pumpkin pie filling in ice cream form with pie crust pieces mixed in. The flavor is subtle, yet in every bite, you taste the familiarity of this classic fall time pastry.The pie crust bits aren't even soggy, they taste like you just crumbled it, fresh baked. And to top it off, you have whipped cream of course!

Are there any frozen, fall, sweet treats we should try? Please share!

Blessings,

Pumpkin Week: Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows

Hot chocolate is a wonderful, hot treat for any age. I love a mountain of marshmallows in my mug and I think I might've found the most amazing thing to happen to hot chocolate.....Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows! Did your mind just explode with excitement? If you've already discovered these tasties, then please excuse me for just now coming on to the scene.

My days have been so busy lately that I need coffee to get through the day. When I get Little Girl in bed at the end of the day and have some time to myself (you know, those 10 minutes between loads of laundry and cleaning the kitchen), sipping on hot chocolate lets me go to a whole new place. I get to be a kid again and stuff more marshmallow than liquid in my cup. Then it's back to work, taking care of my beautiful family.

So feel free to indulge this evening when you get the chance. Or heck, skip the hot chocolate and pop a few 'mallows while you catch up on your favorite tv show (Blacklist anyone?)! No judgement here!

We want to hear about your favorite pumpkin treats!

God Bless,

Pumpkin Week: Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix and M&Ms

Today is all about trail mix and a trail mix staple, M&Ms. YUM! Pumpkin is so popular these days that everyone tries to put it in everything, which being a fellow pumpkin lover, I do not mind and love to spend some of our grocery budget trying new pumpkin products.

Trail mix always makes for a great snack. At Target, I found their Archer Farms Monster Trail Mix (your basic peanuts, M&Ms, raisins, and peanut butter chips) in Pumpkin Spice. Everything was the same except for the M&Ms are Pumpkin Spice, and the candy chips are a festive orange and brown, and all are doused in pumpkin spice seasoning. Pumpkin just exploded over trail mix! If you are a big pumpkin spice fan and don't want it in a form of a drink, this is definitely for you.

I love me some M&Ms. Give me a bag small bag, you know ones you see when you are checking out of the grocery store, and an hour of Gilmore Girls and you can call the bag of M&Ms demolished. So then we had to try Pumpkin Spice M&Ms. If you like M&Ms they are great. Although if you are looking for the pumpkin spice, the taste it faint and very subtle. There were only a few we could taste a pumpkin spice but they were still yummy!

Are there any pumpkin or pumpkin spice snacks you would recommend? We are all for trying them!

Happy Harvest Blessings,

Pumpkin Week: PSL & Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin

Welcome to Pumpkin Week! Here and James & June, we love all things pumpkin. You might be over everything pumpkin, but we're not! So we've dedicated this week to the official mascot of fall. And to kick it off, it's pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin cream cheese muffins!

Starbucks is one of our favorite indulgences! There's just something about a warm cup of coffee in your hand and a sweet treat to snack on. Living in the PNW, we have plenty of coffee shops to choose from. I like to try all of the little coffee stands around us, but something keeps pulling me back to Starbucks.

To us, nothing says Fall like grabbing a cuppa joe and walking through park as the leaves change or even strolling around Target checking out cute decorations.

What flavor of coffee gets you in the mood for Fall?
Know of any good coffee places besides Starbucks? We'd love to try them out!

It's time for another giveaway! All you have to do is comment on any Pumpkin Week post with your favorite pumpkin flavored food item, share the Pumpkin Week Facebook post, and follow us on Pinterest before 5pm PST on Friday! You could win your choice of 2 of our Pumpkin Week features! Winner will be chosen at random at 5pm PST on Friday! 

Happy Fall Y'all!

God Bless,

Create Your Own No Bake Energy Bites

Now that we have gotten a chance to work on our blog a bit, it is so great to be back! I have a fun recipe for "WWMW" (What We Made Wednesday). I hope you enjoy!

You know what I like? Quick, easy, and healthy, especially when it comes to food! Whether you are a busy mom, working woman, or a college student, making these no bake energy bites are a great snack or breakfast on the go. 

I am always searching for recipes that I can make fresh at home. I have seen lots of Pinterest recipes on no bake energy bites and they are all so different and tasty. They can either be healthy or indulgent, and the best part is you can make them to your liking. Here’s how to make them!

When you've chosen and mixed up all your ingredients (I always end up doing it by hand), stick the mixture into the fridge for about 20-30 minutes. Then I take a cookie scoop or create balls by hand and stick them in mini muffin liners. I like to add a little visual appeal to my food. Lastly, I have stick them in a container and stick them in the fridge and eat a few while I'm at it. They will last for about a week in the fridge.

Here is a batch I made the other night. I just used what I had at home this time around. I used old fashioned oats for my base and peanut butter. For my add ins, I had unsweetened coconut flakes, cranberries, honey, mini dark chocolate chips, and cinnamon. They sure make a good breakfast while I am chasing my little cruiser around the house!

What kind of things would you add to your energy bites?

What are some easy and healthy recipes do you have?

Please share!

Blessings,

What We Made Wednesday: A1 Rib Roast in a Crockpot

We are heading into crockpot season soon but my husband and I couldn't wait for it. So a couple weeks ago we made an A.1. Rib Roast in the crockpot. In our household, A.1. and red meat just go together like a PB&J sanwhich. We cannot have one without the other. So we found a tasty recipe that has both. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare and in about 8 hours you'll find yourself eating a a nice hearty meal.

Here is what you'll need...

• 3/4 cup A.1. Sauce
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 packet of onion mushroom soup mix
• 1 boneless beef chuck roast (2lbs to 2 1/2lbs)
• 1lb baby red potatoes, halved
• 1 16oz package of baby carrots
• 1 package frozen pearl onions

How it's done...

Mix the A.1., water, and onion mushroom soup mix and set aside. Stick your roast and vegetables in the crockpot, and then pour the mixture you set aside over all the the meat and veggies. Set you crockpot on low and check back 8 hours later for a yummy meal!

The recipe looked great as is, but we made a few changes. Like I mentioned before, we love A.1., so we added a little more than the recipe asked for. We also love pearl onions instead of a regular onion and plus no tears! Our potatoes could have gone in whole but they were a little on the bigger side we we halved them. Lastly, our roast was too big for our pot so we had to cut it up. In the end, it was more of a stew but the meat was still tender and juicy. We love veggies so I would have added more as well!

(CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL RECIPE)

What kinds of other veggies go well with a crockpot roast or stew?

How would you add your own spin to this recipe?

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

What We Made Wednesday: Spicing It Up!

I absolutely LOVE to bake! There's just something about mixing together a bunch of little things to create a big delicious masterpiece. Of course, not all of my creations turn out, but I'm not that picky when it comes to baked items. As long as it's sweet, it's my kind of treat!

With a little one in the house now, I haven't had much time to cook and bake things from scratch. I've resorted to... *gulp*...boxed mixes. I know I know. Every avid baker out there just cringed! But hey, if using a box means I can satisfy my sweet tooth AND have time to play with my little girl, then count me in!

So if you're looking for a quick and easy way to spice up a box of cake or muffin mix, here's your answer: Cream cheese! Everyone likes cream cheese, right? 

Please excuse the sloppy pouring job. Prepare whatever cake/muffin mix you like according to the package (I chose banana bread, but there are tons of yummy choices out there!). Then just fill each cup halfway, add a small slice of cream cheese, then pour just enough mix to cover the cream cheese. Bake muffins according to the package and you end up with this: 

Warm, yummy muffins with the perfect surprise inside! Enjoy! 

What's your favorite dessert to make? 

How do you spice up boring recipes? 

God Bless,