In Pictures | Christmas Eve & Christmas 2014

We spent two days with family, full of food, little ones, lots of wonderful gifts, and missed nap times. 

Our lives are full. 

Baby Marin | Week Forty Four

Marin experienced her first Christmas Eve & Christmas this past week. She loved the ribbon, she loved the wrapping paper. She is loving her new books and toys. She was pretty wiped out by the end of the festivities, but I know she loved every bit of it. She didn't want to miss a thing. 

Also, I cannot believe I am writing these words...... but we have teeth! Her little teeth are finally breaking through. So far, I can feel two of them. She won't let you look at them, but I am certain they are finally there. 

Baby Marin. Week Forty Four. 

Hollen Photography | The Holt Family

I had the opportunity to photograph the Holt family last weekend. Kristin was one of our doulas and taught portions of our birthing classes for Marin. Her family was so wonderful to photograph. Their backyard is full of chickens, bunnies, ducks, trees, swings. It is a childhood dream.

Need family photos taken? We would love to hang out with you and your family for a photoshoot. 

For more information, please check out our website. 

The Hollen Home | Christmas 2014

This blog would not be complete without some photos of our Christmas decorations. I toned it down a lot more this year than the years past. Most of that is due to the fact that all of the decorations were either put up at nap time or bed time for baby. I do think I want to revamp my decorations next year and try and snag some sale items after Christmas this year. It's time. I did buy a few ornaments this year though and for the second year in a row, we are rocking the white Christmas tree. I love the white Christmas tree. Geoff the cat hasn't been too much of a terror when it comes to the tree this year. Marin also hasn't attacked the tree....yet. We also, of course, have Blinko in the kitchen. He is a tradition. 

I love this time of year and how cozy our home feels. 

Super Simple Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Now that I have a small child, being able to take an afternoon and cook is pretty much a thing of the past. I am always looking for ways to still eat healthy and well but also save time. I would much rather be hanging out with my kid instead of standing over a stove top all day. I do love the therapeutic mind-space cooking puts you in, but my life is taken over by smashed bananas and baby bottles. When it's nap time, I cook. 

I have been making a batch of these sweet potatoes about once a week. I put eggs on top of them for breakfast. I place them in salads. I eat them just by themselves. I add a little bit of cheese and greek yogurt for a loaded baked potato. 

Also, if it's your sort of thing, these are paleo. I go back and forth with eating paleo and I hope to commit to the Whole30 after the holidays. Cheese, man. I miss my cheese! 

I added some mushrooms to this batch as well because I needed to eat them up before they went bad in the black hole that is our fridge. 

Ingredients: 

3 or 4 large sweet potatoes

I added mushrooms this round 

Coconut Oil

Ghee (I use this one) 

Sea Salt

Red Pepper Flakes

Freshly Ground Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Scrub sweet potatoes and peel

Cut into bite size pieces

Warm a few spoonfuls of coconut oil and Ghee

Mix coconut oil and Ghee into a bowl with the sweet potatoes

Sprinkle see salt, pepper flakes, and ground pepper generously

Spread out sweet potatoes on a cookie sheet

Bake for 45-50 minutes

About half way through, toss potatoes

Let cool, enjoy!