Saturday Sunrise: Craisin Orange Bread (with chocolate!)

I absolutely love breakfast food, but one of the problems with this is I'm not the most functional morning person. (You saw my New Year's goal to change that right?!)

Weekends, though, now those are a different story. There's no rush to get busy working, so I can take my time with the breakfast preparation. I'm going to start sharing some of these yummy breakfast concoctions in this new Saturday Sunrise feature. (The sunrise came a little later than normal today...oops! I have to get better at figuring out how to schedule posts). 

Today's treat: Craisin Orange Bread (with Chocolate Chips!)

Ingredients you'll need:

• 2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 5 oz. package craisins
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon cranberry juice
• Dash of cinnamon 

(Yields one 9x5 inch loaf)

How to make this goodness:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 9x5 inch loaf pan.

2. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl. Then add craisins and chocolate chips and stir in the mixture. Add in all other ingredients until well-blended. If too soupy, add a tiny bit more flour. 

3. Cook in oven for 50-58 minutes. 

4. Slice, get some coffee or hot tea and have a very happy Saturday. 

—Holli Anne

Resolutions for the New Year

Holli Anne's goals:

I absolutely love when it's a new year. It's such a perfect time for me to reflect on the last year and make new goals for the next. So here are all the things I hope to accomplish this year!

1. Start running regularly again. I used to run three miles a day…then I didn't. I want to get back into that again.

2. Take care of my health better in general: Taking all the medicines doctors tell me to take (I rebel against them), eating something green everyday and to drink more water.

3. Get on a "normal" sleep schedule (the 8-5 work schedule my soon-to-be husband is on would be good).

4. Quit doing things I just like so I have time to do the hobbies I LOVE.

5. Keep writing the book I started late last year.

6. Be a good wife come March 9, and to make our new home look awesome!

7. Start the vegetable garden I've been scheming.

Tyler Anne's goals:

We often joke that the two of us are twins so I wasn't surprised to find out that most of our resolutions were similar. Though I'm not really big on the whole "resolutions" deal (it gives me an excuse to procrastinate for half of the year), I do love goals. 

1. Visit the gym more than 0 times a week and also start up running again too. I used to be an avid runner but man have I been slacking!

2. Cook more and healthier. If you know me then you know I tend to shy away from cooking anything that takes more than 30 minutes.

3. Also get on a more "normal" sleep schedule. I'm trying to make my schedule less night-heavy so I can, you know, see the sun occasionally.

4.  Up my photography. I want to learn more and let my camera get a good workout. 

5. ALSO finish my book! (Holli and I are such twins!)

6. Snail mail it up! I want to write some personal letters to family and friends! So personal, so awesome!

7. Keep working hard on Almost There! (Not hard because I love it!)

DIY: Earring Wall Decor

Instead of that tiny apartment I used to live in, I now live in a town house where my bedroom and office space are one and the same. You won't hear me complaining about it because the room is gigantic. I have three closets (another thing you won't hear my complain about). So when it comes to decorating the walls here, I've been kind of hesitant. I love unique wall pieces but hate using nails. They are way too permanent. I like the option of moving things around depending on my mood. I also really dig decor that isn't perfect in the least--something you see and know that someone worked on it personally.

On top of trying to figure out how to decorate, I also needed to figure out where to put my hanging earrings. I have SO many and I'd like to think they are all kind of random and unique. I usually spend some time trying to figure out which ones to wear so I wanted to be able to browse easily.

ALSO, I needed them to be away from my ferocious lion of a cat Milo!

So, this is what I came up with!

Enjoy!

I have a wall length mirror that sits under this section of wall that I have dedicated to my hanging earrings. It's totally functional, super easy to do, and can be changed in a snap! 

It makes me so happy to look at! Especially with my favorite piece of artwork by Yukalaleigh! (Check out this older post about this awesome artist!)

What you need is super cheap!

• Washi Tape (I got mine at Target.)
• String/hemp/yarn (Mine is from Hobby Lobby. I used 1-ply because I didn't want it too thick.)
• Scissors

For stability I used two pieces of tape on each end and then one in the middle to make kind of a mustache look. (Don't they kind of look like mustaches?!) Then I hung my earrings up! 

I was worried that they would look weird because they were directly against the wall but I have to say it worked out wonderfully!

I also am really happy how the 1-ply looks. It doesn't take away from the tape or the earrings themselves. 

Now when I get ready I can just look at this little section of wall and browse easily! Not to mention, Milo can't touch them!

-Chick Tyler (aka Tyler Anne)

Project 365: Day 4

I've always loved the way baked clay looks and feels, especially after you add some paint. This is the bottom of a little earring bowl I made a while back. It definitely isn't perfect but maybe that's why I like it so much!

-Chick Tyler (aka Tyler Anne)

Project 365: Day 3

I got this pretty little bracelet for Christmas and I pretty much love it. Especially all of the color! 

Anyone else doing a 365 Project? Link in the comments!

-Chick Tyler (aka Tyler Anne)

365 Project: Day 2

I wanted something with a pattern to take a picture of and as I was thinking about what that would be, I looked down and realized my new jeans were perfect. Fun texture and heart pattern! 

Right up my 365 Project's alley! 

-Chick Tyler (aka Tyler Anne)

365 Project: Day 1

Every year I want to do a 365 Photo project and every year I do maybe two pictures and stop. This year I have resolved to not only start a 365 but to finish it!

This year's theme will be Patterns, Textures, & Color!

Here's to Day 1!


I'm counting this one as texture & color. This picture pretty much sums up my love of New Years Eve good times! From the mustache (not my doing) drawn on my hand to the sweet tea from McDonalds (a VERY guilty pleasure of mine), this picture makes my heart happy!

Plus, my skin looks really intense to me in this! Kind of creepy!

Oh well, Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a blast bringing it in!

-Chick Tyler (aka Tyler Anne)