Babs

A little Day in the Life... Vacation Edition Every year we head to coastal Florida with Mr. Babs' family. He's the baby of 8 and once a year we gather with his four remaining siblings for two sweet weeks of sunshine and togetherness. Most come in from Chicago, one from the West Coast and when we're all under one roof, it's lots of fun. Before we even think about packing, the dinner reservations are made! There are priorities, right!! We rent a house, settle into slow mornings and lazy days, and ease right into vacation mode. Bill's brother Jim is the tech guy who prepares a daily itinerary - printed and handed out to each vacationer. During coffee hour, the stories start flowing, and suddenly we're laughing about memories from 40 years ago while catching up on what all the kids (and grandkids!) are up to now. With more than 40 cousins in this crew, there's never a shortage of updates. We share photos, play endless rounds of Rummikub and Kings Go Wild, head out for a little excursion or two... and simply enjoy being together. It's simple, it's loud, it's full of love and we wouldn't miss it for the world.💛

Every year for over 15 years we have been escaping the cold northeast and heading to sunny Florida with Mr. Babs’ family for a few weeks. I thought it would be fun to share what I packed for this annual trip. How do you like my looks? Click the link in my bio to see all of my Florida looks!

Doing nothing, but with you 🤍 Lucky to have found someone that thinks this is everything even after 56 years!

Lose your phone? No problem. But here’s the real question… do you have your Emergency Contact (Medical ID) set up? If not, someone may have no way to reach the people who matter most. And if you ever find a lost phone, you can access someone’s Emergency Contact (Medical ID) right from the lock screen — no password needed. So…if you haven’t set yours up yet… today’s the day. Here’s how to add it: 1️⃣ Open the Health app 2️⃣ Tap your profile picture (top right) 3️⃣ Tap Medical ID 4️⃣ Tap Edit 5️⃣ Scroll to Emergency Contacts 6️⃣ Tap Add Emergency Contact (or edit/remove one) 7️⃣ Tap Done If you find a phone, here’s how to check for contact info: 📱 Wake the phone ➡️ Tap Emergency ➡️ Tap Medical ID (bottom left) ✅ Emergency contact info will appear right there It takes two minutes. It’s one of those things you hope you never need… but you’ll be so glad it’s there. 💛

Babs Hack! 🥂✨ Champagne (or wine!) not cold in time for the big day? Don’t you worry, do this. 🍾 Place bottle in an ice bucket (or big bowl!) 🍾 Fill it with ice 🍾 Add 4 tbsp salt. Mix 🍾 Pour in water to cover most of the bottle Salt lowers the freezing point of the ice water so the bath gets colder than regular ice water and chills the champagne faster! In about 10 minutes… perfectly chilled and ready to pour! Cheers ! 🥂

Click the link in my bio for the recipes for everything I made for Galentines Day! And make sure you sign up for my new monthly Substack - “What’s on the Menu?” Valentine’s Day is one of my favorites because it’s the perfect excuse to celebrate the people you love most 💗 Mr. Babs is the youngest of 8 (yes, EIGHT!) which means I hit the jackpot with the best sisters-in-law. Two weeks in Florida every year = nonstop laughs, sunshine, and memories ☀️ So this year… I threw a Sister-in-Law GALENTINE’S PARTY 💃💞 Our Galentine’s Menu: ♥️ Chocolate Covered Strawberry Jell-O Shots ♥️ Spiked Chocolate Fondue ♥️ Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake ♥️ Oreo Jell-O Shots ♥️ Valentine Crack ♥️ Boozy Cherries ♥️ Dirty Shirley with Whipped Cream (optional) And you KNOW I went all in on the theme… GALENTINE’S TREATS with a little kick! 🍓🍫🥂

#Ad These @lays showed up at my door in less than 72 hours — the Lay’s Challenge that had 100,000 people signing up during the Big Game! Every delivery came with a promise: the freshest bag of Lay’s within 72 hours, or you get a year’s supply. Did you know Lay’s are made from real potatoes, from real farms all around the US? And the chips go from potato to chip to your door in 72 hours. I have to say, these are the freshest chips I have ever tasted. Follow along at LaysChallenge.com (https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://LaysChallenge.com__;!!FBl7RhjNdtJEi0k!sYUHkvNadgltP6op5OHvCQWZdRaNCRCGha6i7Lr5sZ21LgA4XmO-RH92lu7cn2jXsPKiP9ca0Cd8HrXH-NCGiP8$)  and see how many Lay's have been delivered so far.

I am so excited to share that I’ve partnered with Birch Lane to create my very own collection of pillows inspired by the cozy corners of the Basket House. These pillows blend countryside florals with the linen-inspired textures I use in my home.  Each piece feels warm, inviting, and meant to be lived with.  Renovating the Basket House gave me an opportunity to define my own style.  A style that captures the charm, timelessness, history and nostalgia of the home and its surroundings.  Every pillow in the collection beckons back to a corner of the Basket House.  Toss them on a sofa, layer them on a bed, or gather them where family and friends come together.  Each pillow can be customized by shape, fabric and fill.  Bring a piece of the Basket House to your home.  The collection can be found @birchlane, XO Babs.

Grandma’s Pie 🍕 3 ingredients and it comes together in five minutes AND it blows any pizzeria out of the water! INGREDIENTS:  ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 (1-pound) balls pizza dough, at room temperature 2½ cups (10 ounces) shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese ¼ cup (1 ounce) grated Pecorino Romano cheese 1 (12- to 14-ounce) jar pizza sauce Kosher salt INSTRUCTIONS: Arrange a rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven as high as it will go (usually around 500°F). Coat a sheet pan with the olive oil, then add the pizza dough. Pinch the balls together to form one big piece, turn to coat in the oil, then gently stretch and dimple until the dough fills the pan. (If the dough springs back, cover with plastic wrap and rest at room temperature for 10 minutes, then try again.) Use a gentle hand to avoid toughening the crust. Sprinkle the dough with the mozzarella and pecorino, leaving a ½-inch border at the edges. Dollop spoonfuls of the pizza sauce all over (the pizza won’t be covered in sauce). Sprinkle with salt. Bake on the lower rack, rotating the pan halfway through, until the crust is browned and the mozzarella is browned in spots, 15 to 17 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then cut into squares and serve.

Valentine’s Day will always have my heart 💗 As a former preschool teacher and director, celebrating is second nature to me. With my grandkids, that means hands-on fun, lots of pink and red, sprinkles everywhere and yes, pink lemonade is allowed. 😉 Here are a few of my favorite @birchlane Valentine’s finds that make it all feel extra special 💌 Vase (https://www.birchlane.com/a/pdp/-B110023620.html?piid=null) Cupcake Stands (https://www.birchlane.com/a/pdp/-B110023889.html?piid=null) Heart Mini Bowls (https://www.birchlane.com/a/pdp/-B112502885.html?piid=106481489) Cocotte (https://www.birchlane.com/a/pdp/-KBGD1281.html?piid=64985824) Berry Garland (https://www.birchlane.com/a/pdp/-B111923749.html?piid=null) Wreath (https://www.birchlane.com/a/pdp/-B110023928.html?piid=null) #mybirchlane #birchlanepartner

A little robe hack I’ve picked up over the years! Instead of wrapping it all the way around, I tie it in the front. It keeps everything in place, nothing moves around, and it feels a bit more flattering too. Comfortable, easy, and one less thing to think about while getting ready. 🧖‍♀️ Sometimes the simplest little tricks really do make a difference!

Don’t do these three things after a big snow fall — plus I added a special bonus at the end! ❄ Don’t waste all your time digging your car out. Just pop a tarp over your car before the snow starts. No garage, no problem. When the snow has ceased, whip that tarp off and you are on your way! You can find these tarps at the hardware store for under $20 and reuse storm after storm. ❄ Don’t wait to shovel all at once. Keep up with the snow, if you can. Shovel 2-4”at a time as the snow is falling. This will prevent the snow from compacting, making it too heavy to lift. And you will avoid the snow from turning into a sheet of ice on your walk or driveway. ❄ Don’t have coffee before you shovel. Caffeine is a stimulant, and that, combined with strenuous exercise and the cold can lead to trouble. If you are over 50 - please think twice about shoveling. ❄ And by all means, don’t let the kids have all the fun! Make snow ice cream and maple taffy pops. Here is the recipe for snow ice cream. Snow Ice Cream INGREDIENTS:  1½ cups heavy cream  ⅓ cup powdered sugar  Splash of vanilla Optional: Sprinkles INSTRUCTIONS: Hollow out a well in the snow, big enough to nestle your ice cream bowl right in the snow. Sprinkle the well with salt to help keep the ice cream bowl cold - this will help the ice cream freeze faster. Nestle your bowl inside the well. Add the cream, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt. Whisk continuously for about 20 minutes. Give each kid a turn. It will slowly turn into soft serve and then the most amazing ice cream you have ever tasted!!

I love a good snowstorm as much as anyone ❄️ But a major storm calls for a little preparation. Here’s what you should do 24 hours before the snow hits. 🔋 Charge everything. Phones, tablets, laptops—get them to full juice. Download a couple of movies while you’re at it (just in case). Make sure you have plenty of batteries and flashlights on hand so you’re ready if the power goes out. 🛁 Fill the tubs. Fill every bathtub—and if you have a top-loader washer, fill that too. If the power goes out, water service can be affected, and you’ll need water for all sorts of things…including flushing the toilet. One gallon per flush, poured in quickly, relies on good old gravity. Fill those tubs! 💦 Protect your pipes. Frozen pipes are a nightmare—trust me, Mr. Babs and I have lived it. Keep pipes along exterior walls warm by opening interior doors so heat can circulate. Open the cabinets under sinks on exterior walls to let warm air reach those pipes and help prevent a burst. ⛽ Fill up your gas tank. Aim for at least a half tank. Cold temperatures can cause moisture buildup in a low tank, which may freeze fuel lines and leave your car inoperable. 💨 Check exterior vents. Make sure heating and dryer exhaust vents are clear of snow. Blocked vents can force toxic gases back into your home. Carbon monoxide deaths spike during storms for this very reason—so clear those vents and be sure your CO detector is working. Stay safe out there ❤️Cozy up, cook something comforting, and enjoy the beauty. Keeping you all in my prayers.

Stuck in the snow and not sure how to get out? ❄️ Keep a bin of kitty litter in your trunk. It helps absorb moisture and gives your tires extra traction. Pour it under the tires to help get moving. No kitty litter? Place a floor mat under the tire for traction and accelerate slowly. Everyone stay safe, and when possible, stay off the roads. ❄️🚗

❄️ Thick ice on your windshield making you crazy when you’re rushing out the door? Try my easy DIY ice-melt solution! Rule of thumb: 2 parts rubbing alcohol to 1 part water. INGREDIENTS: ⅔ cup rubbing alcohol ⅓ cup water INSTRUCTIONS: Combine in a spray bottle and spray directly on the windshield as needed. Bonus: This solution can stay in your car all winter long—ready whenever you need it!