Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake

I first found this recipe on Pinterest. Isn't that where everyone finds recipes now?! Anyway, I didn't have all the butter that it called for so I modified it a little. It came out fantastic. Definitely a keeper. We ate it for dessert after dinner and then again for a sweet breakfast. Here is the recipe I ended up with.

Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake

Cake
3 C. flour
1/4 t. salt
4 t. baking powder
1 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. milk
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1/2 C. butter, melted

Topping
1/2 C. butter, softened
1 C. brown sugar
2 T. flour
1 T. cinnamon

Glaze
2 C. powdered sugar
5 T. milk
1 t. vanilla

Cake - Heat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar. Add milk, eggs, and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Stir in melted butter last. Pour into a 9x13 pan.

Topping - Mix all ingredients together and drop by the spoonful onto the cake and then swirl with a knife.
Bake for ~35 minute or until toothpick comes out clean.

Glaze - Mix all ingredients and pour over warm cake. Enjoy :-)

Lego Organization {Instruction Manuals}

My son received a few sets of Lego Duplos for Christmas. Thankfully they all fit into one container. Unfortunately, the instruction manuals kept getting crushed on the bottom of the container. So, I started brainstorming Lego organization ideas. My first thought was to run to Staples and grab an adhesive binder pocket to stick on the side of the Lego Duplo container. I was thrilled with this solution...my two year old was not. So, I was stuck at home and needed to make do with the supplies I had on hand. In the end I think it turned out better than my original idea.

I ran to my craft closet and emerged with the following items.

Mailing tape, scalloped paper punch, 12"x12" cardstock, paper cutter (ultimately not used), and Martha Stewart Labels (not shown).

I folded the cardstock, placed the label on the front and attached it to the back of the Lego container with the mailing tape.The tape secures the pocket to the container and effectively laminates the front of the pocket to protect it from the two year old who wouldn't let me go to the store in the first place.

Our Lego container went from this.

To this.

Ahhh. Much better.

An Organized Junk Drawer

I was at Homegoods the other day and saw this great drawer organizer. It was only $7.99, so I threw it in my cart.

When I got home I got to work. This is what the drawer looked like when I started.

I guess it wasn't horrendous, but it wasn't great either. I started by pulling everything out of the drawer, setting it on the table, and getting rid of anything that didn't belong in the drawer. Next, I lined the bottom of the drawer with some pretty drawer paper. Also from Homegoods. Finally, my assistant and I put all of the remaining items into the new organizer.

And popped it back into the newly lined drawer.

It has been a few months since I finished this small project and it is still organized. And I still smile every time I open the drawer!