Today I am spending some much-needed quality time with my son, Kenton! Before heading out, we had to grab our shades and leather jackets because we’re cool like that, and I LOVE matching with him whenever possible! Thankfully he still allows me at nine years old to select his clothing options… for now!
Today we are on the hunt for unique and fun Christmas stocking stuffers! We decided to start this adventure first after he told me one of his favorite things about Christmas morning is dumping out his stocking to see what Santa filled it with. When I asked him where to find the best stocking stuffer items he said without hesitation, Five Below and World Market!
Our first stop was Five Below. My son loves this store because he always finds the most unique trinkets to enjoy. From prank bugs and food to fidget gadgets, the variety is numerous to choose from. He also loves all of the specialty candy and food items the store provides. Most of the items he has never seen or tried. We always leave the store finding something completely new to us and inevitably a smile on our faces! I love it because the price point is on point! Let’s be honest, when your kids are young their attention span is short. Their interests are constantly changing. Because of this, it’s nice to offer them fun and entertaining items without spending a lot. At Five Below you can easily fill their stockings without breaking the bank. Also, on a personal note, I love the variety of journals and planners they offer. They also have a great selection of candles and mugs for easy gift giving. On this specific visit, my favorite find was a Gudetama tree ornament for my daughter. Both of my children love this animated character. Kenton’s favorite find was a travel folding mug.
Our next stop was World Market! I have been a loyal shopper to this store chain since college and many of the home decor items I have are from here. What I love most about World Market is the global reach of their items. Every piece feels one-of-a-kind while still remaining reasonably priced. For me, walking into this store is always an adventure because I know I will find the most unique and memorable items for everyone on my gifting list. Besides loving the home good items, the food and beverage options are amazing! Whatever your dietary needs are, you will find something that tastes delicious and most likely something you have yet to try. For me, nothing is more fun than trying new food from different countries. It feels like you are traveling without a passport! Because of the wide variety, I always find delicious wines and chocolates for easy gift ideas. For my girlfriends, I love pairing the bath pampering items with their champagne selection. For my son, he loves how colorful and bright the store is. He enjoys helping me find home decor items and is a great helper when it comes to gifting ideas. If you asked him what he personally loves, he would say the candy and toy selection. Without fail, he’ll find a small toy he’s never seen before, and we’ll have to take it home.
Once done with our shopping adventure, we decided to warm up at Olentangy River Brewing. While there, we sipped on our hot beverages, hot chocolate for Kenton and a seasonal latte for me. Prior to Kenton beginning school, we use to come here all the time. We’d spend hours learning in his activity books and reading together on their cozy leather couches. In some ways, we lived life here. Today as we sat together, memories from our past began to bubble up in my mind. One memory came from my birthday. On this specific birthday I decided to begin celebrating with a large mocha! Kenton, curious as he was, asked if he could try my coffee. His first sip of caffeine goodness came from my oversized white mug here. The frothy coffee design stuck to the top of his lip as he turned it down in disapproval. Laughing gratefully at his response, I knew I would be enjoying this drink all to myself! The next memory came from a late November day a little over four years ago. I remember it was a cold afternoon, but the sun was shining bright. A week before I had had a doctor’s appointment where they confirmed I was pregnant with my second child. I saw my small baby’s outline on the flat screen and heard its heartbeat. Prior to this appointment, I experienced light bleeding which prompted this visit. My healthcare provider was cautiously optimistic as we discussed my situation. Regardless of the bleeding, I had already fallen in love with this little life. As the week continued, however my bleeding worsened as the weekend began. I called my doctor and had an appointment scheduled for early the next week. Wanting to distract myself in the meantime, I entered this building with a heavy heart. I still remember my gray winter boots slowly stepping inside and the sunlight from the large windows hitting them brightly. The sunlight illuminated the tables and chairs before me as I sat down. Besides feeling physically in pain, I was mentally in pain as my mind feared the worst. As I sat with my coffee in hand, I was comforted. The smell of the coffee comforted me as I drank it. The sunshine that covered my skin as I sat beside the window washed me in comfort. And the sound of the people around me chatting to one another comforted me. The comfort I experienced that day still stays with me. And although that pregnancy was not to last, I received the warmth I needed. My next memory came a year later. I sat here alone while Kenton was at school. My belly was round and full of his little sister Ruby. The caffeine from my coffee woke her up as I felt her kicking from within. Excitement at the anticipation of her arrival filled me with happiness. My final memory came only a month later from that day. I sat here gratefully with her safely in my arms. She was warm and small. We met my sister-in-law for Ruby’s first official outing after birth. I remember being tired but grateful to be around people yet again. Today as I wondered through each memory, the main theme from each was comfort.
It’s funny how a place can hold so many memories and stories in our minds. A building is just a building, but it becomes something more when we allow our life to unfold in it. Regardless of what was happening to me personally, this place provided me with comfort. It filled me up both figuratively and literally. Grateful. I am grateful for this place! Today as my son sits near me, he somehow looks more mature. “When did you grow so tall? When did your smile become crooked in that boyish way? When did you learn that information?” Questions like these, pop into my mind as I watch and listen to him. My little boy is still sitting before me, but he’s different now. He’s kind, smart, and sensitive. If I could, I’d hold on to this moment a little longer. I don’t know how many more days we will have like this together. Tomorrow we both will be a little different. Tomorrow we will have new chapters to write. Tomorrow is unknown but today is what we have. In this moment, I sip my coffee. I listen. I watch. I experience. I share in the present and gratefully take in the comfort I am receiving.
Once home and reunited with his little sister, we decided to make one of my mom’s favorite recipes – Pineapple Cake! Not only is this cake moist and delicious, but it is surprisingly easy to prepare. It is the perfect dessert for any holiday gathering because it does not require much preparation or time! For this occasion, we decided to make our cake look like a winter wonderland. We sprinkled coconut flakes over the white icing to create snowflakes. Next, we used marzipan to create winter characters that included- four snowmen, a snow bunny, an artic fox, and a pinguin. None looked particularly exceptional, but we had so much fun creating the little cake toppers together.
Pineapple Cake
Cake Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple, do not drain the liquid
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
Instructions:
Set oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 pan with coconut oil. In a large bowl, combine all of your ingredients and mix thoroughly. Bake your cake for 30-35 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and your toothpick comes out clean from the center. For additional texture, you can add 1/4 cup of coconut flakes to your batter. I decided not to add the additional coconut as my son does not enjoy the addition. Also, for additional cake design, you can evenly place thinly sliced pineapple rings on the bottom of your pan and place a single maraschino cherry in the center of each ring. Once your batter is mixed, dump the mixture over the fruit. Once your cake is done baking, flip the cake upside down to reveal the fruit.
Icing Ingredients:
- 1 stick salted butter, melted
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup coconut flakes, decoration
Instructions:
Combine all of the ingredients except the coconut flakes in a small bowl and mix completely with a handheld mixer. If your icing is too thick, add additional milk to thin it out. Once your cake is done baking, cover it completely with the icing while it is still hot, allowing the icing to melt into the cake. Next, sprinkle coconut flakes all over your cake. Enjoy!
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