December 18, 2019

Gingerbread Cookies

Every year one of my childhood friends would have a gingerbread house /gingerbread cookie decorating themed birthday party and I LOOKED FORWARD TO IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR. I loved coming home and putting my gingerbread house on display in the kitchen all month long while my brothers slowly picked at it, turning it into a humble scrapyard by the end of the month.

Casey, Cooper and I moved into my childhood home almost 8 years ago which is right near one my closest friends, Caley. We’ve been friends since 7th grade and our kids are growing up together in the same neighborhood. We’ve had a nice gingerbread house tradition going on since we moved back. Some years it’s houses, some years it’s cookies. We switch hosting.It was this holiday activity a few years ago that pulled me into the holiday spirit (for my son!) while grieving super hard over my Mom’s death. I’m am lucky to have a friend like her in my life.

If you are really present with yourself and the experience, cookie baking will give you a good dose of holiday magic if you’re feeling a little bahumbug. Taking your time, talking to friends, getting lost in decorating your cookies can be the best way to unwind.

I’ve been using this recipe from Simply Recipes for the past few years and it has never let me down. It doubles nicely. The dough is a dream to work with. It almost feels like playdoh. Rolling out, cutting out shapes and decorating cookies is the best way to spread some holiday magic this season. Perhaps you can have your own cookie baking party this weekend? You still have time to gather the ingredients. Come on!

LISTS

December 16, 2019

Intentions for the Week

Happy Monday, friends!

We are on week 51 of 2019. Here’s what Week 51looked like last year.

This weekend we had basketball tournaments, laundry, housework, packing up orders, MEAL PREP and dinner out with my Dad and his girlfriend (life is so weird!). We caught up on some sleep and had quality kitten time. The little boy still has no name. Hopefully, we will by the end of the week.

Meal prep has been a long time coming!

I’ve just been out of practice and also working my way out of a food/grief rut. The holidays are especially challenging. At least I am heading into the week with some good options.

View this post on Instagram

Back in the saddle! ✨🐎🥗 swipe to see my salad goals this week. #shutterbeanmealprep #thingsorganizedneatly

A post shared by Tracy Benjamin (@shutterbean) on Dec 15, 2019 at 5:12pm PST

Meal Prep this week includes:

iced tea
hard-boiled eggs
arugula
mom’s salad dressing
romaine lettuce
roasted brussels sprouts
roasted delicata squash
cut up celery, pepper & carrots
black beans
wild rice
cooked salmon
croutons

YOU CAN TELL I WANT TO EAT SALAD THIS WEEK, HUH?

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Even though I could upload my master address list and have envelopes printed, I feel the most holiday magic when I’m writing the names and addresses of loved ones on envelopes. ✨🖊💌 #keephandwritingalive #mintedholiday #thehandwritingclub

A post shared by Tracy Benjamin (@shutterbean) on Dec 15, 2019 at 10:47am PST

Holiday cards are almost done! I have to pack them up and ship them out. Time to sit down and figure out my Intentions for the Week. Let’s do this.

my everyday life, Photography

December 15, 2019

My Everyday Life Week 50

Here’s what this past week looked like – My Everyday Life Week 50

Thank heavens for the Sun. I needed to see some this week.

Because life has looked like this for a few weeks.

Waking up with these two.

On the lookout:

Art date with Neiley. We checked out open studios in Sausalito.

This masterpiece was “PRICELESS”

LISTS

December 13, 2019

I LOVE LISTS

Thinking of gifting a Pep Talk Pack? Find them in my Etsy Shop

Order your Currently Workbook and join me in self-reflection for 2020!

Grab yourself a Food Journal to track your eating habits & practice your handwiting!

recipes

December 11, 2019

Matcha Sesame Granola

Granola therapy is needed this time of year. What is granola therapy?

It is the soothing act of:

mixing a bunch of ingredients

dumping said ingredients on a baking sheet

toasting them all til lightly browned

perfuming your house with sweet notes of oats & maple syrup

waiting for granola to cool

tasting bits of crispy coconut shreds laced with matcha

transferring granola to a jar

listening to every ingredient make its own symphony against glass

inhaling the bits that don’t make it into the jar

you repeat the process a whole bunch of times

and have a HUGE payoff for minimal work.

That’s granola therapy.

It’s forgiving.

Just don’t burn it.

It’s been a while since I’ve been wowed by a granola recipe. This Matcha Sesame Granola recipe is FANTASTIC! There’s a bit of matcha powder mixed in. You can taste it most in the toasted coconut. It adds a nice floral tea note to the mix. What I like most is the combination of things added. I’m a sucker for coconut in my granola and I LOOOOVE sesame seeds as well.

Making granola as gifts is a thoughtful gesture for your friends who simply cannot eat another cookie. You’re giving your loved ones the gift of a healthy breakfast and during this time of year, that’s GOLDEN.

Happy granola therapy to you! Make sure you save a bit for yourself too.

LISTS

December 9, 2019

Intentions for the Week:

Intentions for the Week: Week 50

Happy Monday, friends!

This weekend was very peopley! I went into the city for a birthday dinner and a friend’s party- didn’t get home until after midnight! Sunday I went to see the Open Studios in Sausalito with a friend and it was so much fun. We got to see some sunshine this weekend and I am super happy about that. When you have rain for an extended period of time, it’s always nice to see some sun. I learned that in my 4 years of living in Oregon. We have a few weeks left of this month and we start a new year. I’ll be working in my food journal and my Currently Workbook for 2020. Join me! You know I’ll be sharing my Currently pages every month. It will be fun to do it together. I’m sitting down with my calendar and writing down my Intentions for the Week. Here they are!