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December 11, 2024

Brazilan Cheese Bread

Brazilian Cheese Bread- made with mini muffin tins. Try this gluten free snack! Recipe on Shutterbean.com

Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo) is a dream come true for anyone who is gluten-free. I first had them earlier this year at a party and found out they were from Trader Joe’s…which led me to search out the recipe, buy tapioca flour, and never make them because life got in the way.  Tale as old as time!

Last Friday night we were going through the freezer, seeing if we could make some franken-meal with whatever was leftover. Into the air fryer went a bunch of random things including three little rolls of Brazilian Cheese Bread. Three little rolls between the two of us weren’t enough so I looked up the ingredients, found out I had them all and 10 minutes later, we had some in the oven. I live for that kind of thrill. 

Brazilian Cheese Bread- made with mini muffin tins. Try this gluten free snack! Recipe on Shutterbean.com

How do we describe the texture?  They are light and fluffy like a popover but kinda chewy like if grilled cheese and mochi had a baby. These are definitely worth keeping a supply of tapioca flour in your pantry. 

(I get mine at our local Asian grocery store)

Brazilian Cheese Bread- made with mini muffin tins. Try this gluten free snack! Recipe on Shutterbean.com

Casey proceeded to take these little breads a step further and gave them a garlic knot treatment.   Brazilian cheese bread tossed in butter, garlic, and parsley? I dare you to not eat the whole batch 😉  They will make you believe in holiday magic again. 

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December 9, 2024

Intentions for the Week

 

Intentions for the Week Workbook by Tracy Benjamin now on sale!

Intentions for the Week- Week 50 in 2024

Hi hiiiiii! Happy Monday, folks! How was your weekend? I did Self-Check-In yesterday to map out my Intentions for the Week. I also did meal prep yesterday and carried on my Sunday rituals (including pulling cards) and going over my Sunday TO DO List. 

Meal prep this week includes:

Here are my Intentions for the Week! 

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December 8, 2024

My Everyday Life Week 49

Here’s what this past week looked like- My Everyday Life Week 49

I added a new sticker to my shop! TO DO sticker for your notebooks! 

Hooooraaaaay. 

My Everyday Life Week 49 of 2024- Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

Breakfast & checking in. 

My Everyday Life Week 49 of 2024- Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

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December 6, 2024

I LOVE LISTS

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me. I love lists // Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

I LOVE LISTS

  1. What gardeners need to do before the freeze. 
  2. Pantone color of the year is one of my least fave colors. 
  3. I would like to bring this instant pot risotto back into my life. 
  4. This upside-down pecan cake could rival my mom’s coffee cake. 
  5. Taco Bell drive thru with a photobooth??
  6. Can you reuse frying oil? 
  7. Buildings repurposed in cool ways! 
  8. How Fight Club taught us to distrust flying. 
  9. A hair-freezing contest sounds fun. 
  10. Brain Rot is the word of the year. 
  11. What’s a reverse gift list?
  12. Apparently owning a home makes you live longer.
  13. 20 Maps that changed the world. 
  14. Amazing northern lights photos! 
  15. The ultimate Christmas trivia list. 
  16. Time travel-Musicians backstage 1970s. 
  17. Why are potato chip bags so shiny on the inside?
  18. Holiday dresses: one/two/three/four
  19. Weekend baking: tahini cookies / lime macaroons
  20. Here are some homemade holiday gift ideas! 

 

 

I posted my Favorite Things for 2024– Did you see?

Shutterbean Favorite Things Gift Guide 2024-by Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

Did you know that I have a Substack and a YouTube channel? Now you do! Give them both a follow if you like the handwriting aspect of what I do here!

You can see more of my Currently Workbook pages for November on The Handwriting Club. 

Help me Help YOU!

Here’s 40% off your first Thrive Market order.  – I saved $450 last year! 

Buy something from my Etsy shop! You help me pay for my health insurance while you’re working on a planner! 

Use my affiliate link to get a free month of Skillshare premium! 

Want extra discounts and cashback on online purchases? I use Rakuten religiously! 

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December 5, 2024

Shutterbean Favorite Things 2024

Shutterbean Favorite Things Gift Guide 2024-by Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

Shutterbean Favorite Things 2024

Here are things I own and love that brought me a lot of JOY this year! My full disclaimer is- I own everything on this list. No one sponsored this post, but if you do happen to buy anything through my affiliate link, I get a small commission from it, so THANK YOU. High fives. I have a whole list of Amazon favorites if you want to peruse and get some gift ideas for you/loved ones. Gift cards are awesome. I highly encourage those.  Everything on the Shutterbean Favorite Things List for 2024 list is something that enriches my life. Hopefully, you’ll find some value in these items too.  Let’s get into it! Top down here we go! 

Sticker Book

I think every spread of my Currently workbook this year includes one of these stickers. They are all the rage whenever I host an art hangout. The best part is that you get so many of them for a reasonable price. I don’t feel the need to hoard them and when a friend finds one they like and uses it I am PLEASED. It’s like the best clip art in sticker form.  I like the Imaginarium and the Antiquarium versions too.

Hobonichi Planner

This will be my second year using this planner. In 2023, I used the Hobonichi Techo (smaller) — it’s been a fun way to keep a daily log of my life. I’ve been sharing some of my pages through The Handwriting Club and every week here, I’ve been making a new page of art for I LOVE LISTS in my weekly spreads. 

Linea Art Calendar

Continuing the tradition of buying my Mom’s favorite calendar every year. I have it hanging up in my bedroom and I look at it every time I walk out of my bedroom door. She had hers in her kitchen and I like going over to my Dad’s house and seeing that he keeps up her tradition too. 

Apple Watch

I am in my second year of using an Apple Watch. I used to be team FITBIT for many years. To say that it has changed my life FOR THE BETTER is an understatement. The most used feature on it? Finding my phone. I also track my workouts, sleep (if I have enough battery), and time EVERYTHING with it. I got myself some extra chargers so I have one at my desk and one in my bathroom. Occasionally one of them makes its way into the car. 

Time Marker Water Bottle:

Here’s the deal with this water bottle. It’s my second favorite water vessel. My first is my ICESHAKER tumbler that needs a new lid but they don’t sell the lids to the one I need so I am forever in this analysis paralysis loop about having to get a whole new tumbler and losing the one I have that has stickers I like on it. All of this because a small gasket fell off the lid and now it leaks if I knock it over which I have because I am me. Whew. Anywho…I like this time marker water bottle. I have my MAGIC HAPPENS sticker on it and it reminds me to drink water. I have always been fond of the cap. Something about it that reminds me of turning on old stereo equipment. I thought that I would look at the time marker on the side to keep track of my water intake but I don’t. Maybe by saying this out loud, I will pay attention more. I’ll get back to you on that. 

LED Galaxy Projector

This year I moved my elliptical machine + our bike into the garage and made my own little gym. You know what kept me going back? Besides this song (thanks for calling me out, Spotify!). THIS LIGHT.  It’s like my own version of Soul Cycle but in the comfort of my disorganized garage.  The best part is that I have all the lights off and just the projector on and I can’t see the mess I am surrounded in in the garage. GAME CHANGER. I also use this speaker so I can rock out. 

Wrist warmers

Lululemon makes a scuba sweatshirt that I love because they all have wrist hole situations. All of mine are tattered right now and that pisses me off so the easiest replacement for me is to wear wrist warmers. I feel comforted by them. I only am annoyed by them when I need to wash my hands. 

Whiteboard with storage

Who couldn’t use desk storage and a whiteboard at your fingertips? I keep lip gloss, post-its, pens, and a tarot deck in mine. I like using it with my favorite dry erase pen

Incense Papers

Incense is my favorite. It’s a habit I picked up in college. Unfortunately, not everyone in my family loves incense. That’s why I like these papers; they burn relatively fast. One small piece of paper can instantly change a room’s mood but not smoke you out on an extended-release basis. The folding of the paper is very magical. A ritual I quite enjoy. This is my favorite scent they make. Thank you to my friend Reese for introducing me to incense papers!  He also influenced my board game and bubble bear excitement. 

Desk Pad

I film my content on The Handwriting Club with a black background. This faux leather desk pad reminds me how much I love a clean slate. Plus, it’s really great for writing on top of. 

Hues & Clues Board Game

This game is sooooo fun! It’s also a real brain-bender and fascinating to play. You get to see how other people perceive & describe colors. It’s sooo satisfying when you pick THE RIGHT ONE. 

Bubble Bear

Can I tell you what I love most about having this bubble bear? Not only is it a good regulation tool because it forces you to push air out, but it’s a real delight maker. A bubble bear can shift a mood in a second. Watch someone’s inner child spring forward when bubbles are around. You’re going to want to load up on bubble fluid. I keep ours under our kitchen sink. Oh, and I painted my bubble bear black with black gesso a few months ago. I LOVE IT EVEN MORE. 

Opi Nail Polish-Suzi Mio

For my toenails cuz I like contrast when I look at my feet. 

Essie Nail Polish- Gadget Free

I love how much my fingers sparkle with this polish. The silver is so bright at times you also don’t see chips. 

Kur Nude Nail 

The perfect polish adds a bit of shine and doesn’t show as much if it gets chipped on the edges. 

Ginger Mint Toothpaste

This toothpaste is a nice splurge. I also like the way it tastes. It’s something  I don’t mind sitting out on the bathroom counter because the packaging is pretty and it reminds me of traveling to Europe. 

Thanks for reading my annual Shutterbean Favorite Things 2024! 

Check out my favorite things from the past:

Favorite Things 2023

Favorite Things 2022

Favorite Things 2021

Favorite Things 2020

Favorite Things 2019

Favorite Things 2018

 

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December 2, 2024

Intentions for the Week

 

Intentions for the Week Workbook by Tracy Benjamin now on sale!

Intentions for the Week- Week 49 in 2024

Hi hiiiiii! Happy Monday, folks! How was your weekend? We got back from our trip up north Saturday night. I did Self-Check-In yesterday to map out my Intentions for the Week. Since I was gone, I had some catching up to do. I worked on the November pages of my Currently Workbook and made a video! It took me forever because my microphone was being dumb. Did you know that mercury is in retrograde right now? That means technology gets really screwy (my mom used to use that word). Here’s how I used my Currently Workbook (they’re in the shop!) to process my grief in November. 

 

I’ll be posting more on The Handwriting Club this week. If you’ve been wondering where all my Currently posts have been, they live there! 

Here are my Intentions for the Week! 

CONTINUE READING

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December 1, 2024

My Everyday Life Week 48

Here’s what this past week looked like- My Everyday Life Week 48

Last Sunday marked 7 years without my Mom. I pulled out her ashes and hugged her and wrote her a letter. 

My Everyday Life Week 45 of 2024- Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

I also had lunch with my brother at The Butcher’s Son.

My Everyday Life Week 45 of 2024- Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

Something my Mom said/something I think about while planning a holiday feast.  This postcard comes from my Mom Yourself postcard pack. 

My Everyday Life Week 45 of 2024- Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

We drove up to my Uncle’s on the Trinity river. 

My Everyday Life Week 45 of 2024- Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

Life is slow and very quiet there. 

My Everyday Life Week 45 of 2024- Tracy Benjamin of Shutterbean.com

CONTINUE READING