By the time Friday rolls around, Joe and I are both in the mood for a low key night, which means a workout together at the gym, eating Chipotle and watching something on TV. Maybe not the most exciting routine around, but I love it so much. Last week when were were watching Shark Tank on ABC, one of our favorite shows, I was drawn to a particular business idea that was being pitched to the sharks on the show. … Read More
{Life Simplified Series} Simplified Spending
At the beginning of the year I talked about the words that I want to define 2014 in my life. Those words, discipline and simplicity, have been on my mind a lot over the past month. I’ve found countless moments when I was in need of more discipline or simplicity in my day-to-day life. Today I’m kicking off a series of posts over the next couple months focusing on simplifying daily life. Since I don’t have it all figured out … Read More
Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake for Two
Happy Monday, friends! I’m so excited that February is finally here. In my mind, January is always a bit of a dull month where spring feels forever away and the post-holiday blues have set in. But February brings the Super Bowl and the Olympics and Valentine’s Day and spring is just close enough that there is a light at the end of the winter tunnel. Although I’ve never been much for the pressure associated with Valentine’s Day (the gifts! and … Read More
Fly Joy Nutrition Bar Giveaway
I feel like it’s been forever since I did a giveaway on Espresso and Cream! Maybe it’s because it has been forever. I’ve been trying to cut back on the giveaways and focus on only promoting products I really love and am passionate about, meaning fewer giveaways. But! When I do have a product I’m excited about, I have to let you in on it. When I was home over the holidays, I had the opportunity to sample my cousin’s … Read More
Thoughts on Getting a New Puppy
Well, friends, we’ve had Miss Pippa for a little over a month and a half, so I figured it was high time to put a post together on thoughts about getting a second dog. This was the first puppy Joe and I have trained (we got Nutmeg from my parents as a perfectly behaved 3-year-old dog) so we were a little nervous to say the least. The fact that both of us have full-time jobs that require us to be … Read More
Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake
Maybe you’re already thinking about Valentine’s Day? Maybe, if you’re like me, you think Valentine’s Day could be done a little better. I like Valentine’s Day, but I really don’t like the chiche roses and pressure to do something grand or give the perfect gift. A couple years back, Joe and I agree to never go out to eat on Valentine’s Day. We usually go out to eat a couple weeks before or a week after the actual day, avoiding … Read More
Espresso and Cream Home: Living Room Refresh
Welcome to another edition of the Espresso and Cream Home Tour. If I were a good blogger, I’m sure I would have gotten my act together and done a complete home tour series before we hit the 1 year mark in our home (on February 8th), but that’s just not going to happen. I’m trying to draw this thing out and milk it for all it’s worth, friends. 😉 If you’re looking to get caught up, here are the other … Read More
Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate & Cranberry Cookies
Now that January is almost over I’m allowed to start posting cookie recipes again, right? Right. After all, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means all resolutions to eat less sweets will pretty much be thrown out the window in favor of chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. I never get sick of the process of baking cookies. Something about creaming the butter together with sugar, listening to the hum of the electric mixer, seeing the dough come together, … Read More
Sharing From Around the Web
Hello, friends, and happy Thursday! I love Thursdays because they’re close enough to the weekend that it feels exciting and celebratory, plus we’re having friends over for dinner tonight which feels like we’re kicking off the weekend just a little bit earlier than usual. I’m making Eat Live Run’s slow cooker beef short ribs with asparagus and baked potatoes and berries with whipped cream for dessert. I’m a little nervous at the idea of making a new recipe for first … Read More
Apple Pie Almond Meal Pancakes
Is there anything better than weekend breakfasts? Joe and I make a point to eat breakfast together almost every morning. We’re even the crazy people who wake up an extra hour earlier than we need to because we want time to drink coffee, eat breakfast, talk and watch a little morning news. Weekend breakfasts, however, are an entirely different thing. We have time to wake up a little later and still soak up a few hours together, drinking cups and … Read More
My Favorite Way to Make Coffee
It’s no secret I love coffee. You know that, right? I love everything about coffee: the way it smells, the ritual surrounding it, drinking coffee with friends and ending the night with something sweet and a cup of decaf. I’ve been doing an okay job with cutting out caffeine, but truthfully I usually use coffee as a reward for doing something good. Drank a lot of water and ate plenty of veggies today? Okay, have a cup of decaf in … Read More
Find Me on Instagram
1. Trying on my new Stitch Fix top. 2. Rainbow cookie crumbles during recipe testing at work. 3. Food styling a shot for Tasteseekers Kitchen 4. Little Pippa after she jumped in the shower with Joe 5. Two of my three loves cuddling on the couch 6. Enjoying the BCS Championship game with great friends and awesome food 6. Nutmeg and Pippa, probably up to no good 7. Re-organizing my closet and trying to focus on simplicity in this area … Read More