Little Peanut Mag Spring 2015 by Little Peanut Mag

FOUNDER + EDITOR MEGAN BAILEY

ART DIRECTOR MEGAN BAILEY

ASSISTANT EDITOR JANEE ARHETS

ADVERTISING SANDI MONSEN

PHOTOG RAPHY BECKY KIMBALL

CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOG RAPHY DANIELE ROSE PHOTOG RAPHY TRACY LAYNE PORTRAITS

LITTLE PEANUT MAG www.littlepeanutmag.com submit@littlepeanutmag.com

FROM THE EDI TOR 2015 is such a big year for us here at Little Peanut Mag with so many exciting changes from magazine for little peanuts + moms! We’re happy to share some of our favorite products for kids as well as our must have products for moms - everything from the best shampoo for little heads to our go-to crossbody bag this season. With the holidays just behind us we are moving into Valentine’s day with a special collaboration feature with Mrs. Fields. You guessed itthat means lots of yummy cookies and of course lots of love! It’s also time for a little spring cleaning and we’ve got three amazing room designs that will inspire you to give your kiddos’ space a mini face lift and welcome some warmth!

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We were beyond thrilled to be able to interview one of our long time working-mom inspirations, DeNai Jones, founder and designer of the stylish + iconic diaper bag brand, Petunia Pickle Bottom. Get a peek inside her beautiful home and spend a little time with her two little peanuts. And of course we’ve got a ton of great recipes that are perfect comfort foods for the chilly days ahead and even a special V day drink for the moms. Winter days inside can be hard to keep the kids entertained so we’re also sharing a few fun craft ideas to help keep them busy! This time of year can be tough for us moms with it being too cold outside to do a lot of activities with your little peanuts. Let’s stick together and keep on keeping on (and maybe even pray for an early spring)! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this new baby of ours. Cheers!

MEGAN BAILEY

founder + editor

CURRENT FAVES

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PARTY

FASHION

INSPIRING MOM

From must-have products for mom to essentials for little peanuts, we are sharing our current favorites for both this Spring.

How to party Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day style. Check out our collaboration with Mrs. Fields and get inspired to plan + host your own V-Day celebration.

6 Fashion looks for little peanuts to get you ready for Spring.

Meet DeNai Jones, inspiring working mom + founding designer and creative force behind the fashionable diaper bag brand Petunia Pickle Bottom.

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REAL MOM STORY

ROOM DESIG N

RECIPES

DIY CRAFTS

Meet real mom, Sandra Howell and read her story of the miracles that took place before + after delivering her premature twin girls

Get inspired with 3 amazing spaces for little peanuts. From a neutral woodland animal nursery to a neon nursery to a bold + bright big boy room

5 Recipes to try - easy Fruit Pasta Salad, Green-Pea Soup with a Cheddar-Scallion Panini, Mini Chicken Pot Pies, Raspberry + Almond Linzer Cookies and a special V-Day Drink just for mom

Keep busy indoors during the cold early Spring months with our DIY craft ideas: watercolor snowflakes, DIY Valentine muslin treat bags and a geo craft to spruce up your house.

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VITAMIN C INITIAL GOLD EARRINGS We love anything Maya Brener designs but these gold stud earrings are current peanuts initials. Maya Brenner $196

Brightening face serum that helps to restore moisture and minimize the appearance of drop at a time.

NAIL LACQUER

One Love Organics $68

CHUNKY BOOTS we can’t get enough of their new line of boots. The chunky heel + whiskey bronze color is perfect for Spring.

There’s nothing like a fresh mani and in this pinkypeach shade called Trout Pout you will be feeling fresh for Spring! Butter

Yosi Samra $198

London $15

FLORAL ROBE Do yourself a favor and take a nice hot bath + jump into one of these kimono style silk robes by Pretty Plum Sugar!

for mom CURRENT FAVORITES

HAND CREAM We don’t go anywhere without our tube of shea butter hand cream in our bag. super-creamy + the honey almond scent is just heavenly! L’occitane $28

Pretty Plum Sugar $92

CROSSBODY One of our favorite baby carrying companies just launched this gorgeous leather crossbody bag that we don’t leave the house without!

MOMMY MAILBOX

Budu Baby $164

Mommy Mailbox couldn’t be simpler. with gifts to uplift mom. Because when mom’s happy everyone’s happy!

Mommy Mailbox $28.95 | per month

ACCESSORIZE Words to live by. A great saying on your iphone is a must!

Kate Spade $45

RACCOON Masterfully crafted by hand, Chester the Raccoon is a mischief-maker who is usually found scheming his way out of a pickle. Made of brushed wool.

SCOOT SCOOT Ride or die. Our little peanuts live on these scooters all year long. The award winning design is made just for minis and the cold weather can’t keep us from scoot scooting all day. Micro Kickboard

Walnut Animal Society $168

$79.99

OXFORDS Our new favorite shoe brand for little peanuts (and for moms) is Zuzii Footwear. These handmade oxfords are as cute as it gets for both boys and girls. Zuzii Footwear $65

for little peanuts CURRENT FAVORITES STORY TIME TUBBY TIME

PHILLUP CUP One of our favorite children’s brand just launched a revolutionary + highly functional kid cup that hangs up on your fridge. Now kids can help themselves to a drink and no more dirty cups laying around!

A small amount of this all natural kids wash goes a long way. It lathers up like a dream and we also love using it as a bubble bath. The lavender scent (our fave) is just heavenly! Tubby

Introduce your little peanuts to the world of literature + classic writers like Jane Austin and Shakespeare with this line of clever books. BabyLit

$9.99

Todd $12.99

Puj $10

STORY TIME Meal time just got a bit cleaner with this placemat that also catches food from to clean + super cute!

Cibo $24.99

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS It’s all about the throw pillow when it comes to little peanut room design. This charming pillow proves once and for all that it's not so bad to have your head in the clouds. Land of Nod $19

how to party VALENTINE’S DAY COLLABORATION WITH MRS. FIELDS style the perfect love inspired table + lots of cookies! PHOTOGRAPHY BECKY KIMBALL | STYLING MEGAN BAILEY

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It’s no secret we love a good party and what better holiday to celebrate than the one centered around love! We had the opportunity to work with Mrs. cookies! We love everything that goes into party planning from styling the table for our party guests to cooking up the perfect dishes to serve and we are here to share some great ideas and tips for creating a fun + festive Valentine’s Day party. When it comes to styling a holiday party for your family and friends, there are a few key elements to set up your table and what type of backdrop you want to create to set the stage. We always love a visual backdrop whether it be a festive garland or something on a larger scale like a hanging installation or a giant DIY heart shape picture. Make a big impact by re-creating our eye catching heart backdrop- you only need a few simple items. Start with 2x2 wood poles - cut down to the desired size and nailed together to create a frame. Wrap chicken wire across the wood frame and using a staple gun staple the chicken wire to the wood them into the holes of the chicken wire into a heart shape. Easy as that and now you have the perfect frame base for any holiday- just change the shape and color.

For our Valentine’s Day table it was all about creating a setting that was perfect for both little peanuts and adults. We and reds as the main centerpiece on the table. You can do a large arrangement or you can also do lots of smaller vases placed down the middle of the table with a few buds placed in each vase. Another great tip for creating a memorable celebration is to create a personalized place setting for your party guests. There is no better way to make them feel special than a hand lettered place card. Get creative with your place settings by folding your napkins each of your party guests names on them. Try using white ink on a colored stock for more of a visual impact! Once you’ve got your table set it’s time to think about how you want to display your sweets + treats. You can’t go wrong with sugar cookies and candy hearts for this holiday and if you aren’t the baking type, don’t you worry because Mrs. Fields has you covered with their popular heart shaped sugar cookies that

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SOURCES

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spring fashion LOOKS FOR LITTLE PEANUTS PHOTOGRAPHY BECKY KIMBALL

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POM POM BEANIE oh cozy knits DAISY DRESS rylee + cru SANDALES zuzii footwear

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KNIT SCARF oh cozy knits GOOSE TANK rylee + cru TRIANGLE LEGGINGS rylee + cru OXFORD SHOES zuzii footwear

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PETTER PAN SHIRT my little belleville for wren & james MOTO SKINNY JEANS gap kids PURPLE BOOTS dr. martens | nordstrom

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HENLEY TEE j. crew FLANNEL SHIRT gap kids GRAY SKINNYJEANS rowen christian LEATHER HIGHTOPS zuzii footwear

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YELLOW BOW zuzii MINI PEASANT DRESS ace & jig OXFORD SHOES zuzii footwear

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DOMINO BAJA PULLOVER ace & jig SWEATPANTS gap kids SLIP-ON SHOES gap kids

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meet DENAI JONES INSPIRING MOM + founding designer and creative force behind the fashionable diaper bag brand Petunia Pickle Bottom

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIELE ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY

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WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE DIAPER BAGS?

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PARTS ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I think in life, if we are given an idea, it is up to us to turn it into a dream—and then a reality. Back in the year 2000, before I became a mom, my husband and I were freshly out of college and had a lot of ambitions about what we wanted to do, see and experience. I have always been a creative person and I had this spark of an idea for a diaper bag—a specific look and functionality for it. I did some research and realized nothing like it existed in the market, nor did anything fashionable or colorful for that matter. So, what started as a tiny spark of an idea blossomed into a dream to create something modern, style-minded and useful for mothers. Then, with a lot of hard work and support from my husband, family and friends, it became a reality.

I would say that creativity is pretty well woven into my DNA, and I am forever grateful I get to do what I love for work! I come to work knowing I will feed some part of my creativity. It wasn’t always like that of course. In the first several years of the business I was knee deep in creating production spreadsheets, determining fabric yields and buys, hunting down the best prices on shipping boxes—you name it. During the first half of the life of our business, I was a part-time creative and it was certainly a challenge to straddle both the creative and business side

WHERE DID YOU G ROW UP AND HAS IT INSPIRED YOUR DESIG NS? I was raised and still reside with my family in the beachside town of Ventura, California. Thanks to my parents, my childhood was filled with art classes of all types, 4-H, and a lot of travel and outdoor exploration, both near and far. I believe that my experiences and appreciation for art and travel have had a huge impact on my work.

AFTER A LONG BUSY WEEK WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO UNWIND? Our favorite pastime is hopping in our VW Van. Whether we head out on quick ride to the beach, a weekend camping trip, or a week of exploring and wandering far from home, it forces our family to slow down and enjoy quality time together. We love to roam in the van; this is our most precious time as a family. We draw inward to one another and force out the static of life..

HOW DO YOU BALANCE WORK LIFE AND FAMILY LIFE?

At first, tying to come up with a name for the idea I had was challenging. Trying to land on a perfect name kept me up at night. Then one day, it just came to me. My father had affectionately coined the nickname Petunia Pickle Bottom for me when I was a toddler, and it seemed like the perfect fit. Of course, he was super proud.

My husband and I both believe the family comes first— which we try to infuse in our company culture. But the fact that we are on the same page helps to support our balance. We also have both sets of grandparents who are big part of our boys’ lives. Setting up a successful support system is key to our success. I feel like I am pretty good at shutting off work and being present when home. I’m not perfect though, and for those times when imbalance creeps in, I try to shift my focus to what’s right in front of me. My family is definitely my first priority and being a present mother has the most meaning to me.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT INSPIRE YOUR DESIG NS?

WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT FAVE COLORS TO DESIG N WITH?

Travel. Travel. Travel. The more I travel, the more my inspiration tank fills up. I am a wanderlust and love to experience the “newness” and variety of different cultures, patterns, architecture, and design. Our customer fan base also serves as a point of inspiration, especially with the ever-changing needs of modern motherhood. I always try to listen to their mothering stories, as a well as thoughts and feedback on our Petunia Pickle Bottom products and designs.

Black and white seem to be my go-to color combination at the moment. Each color speaks volumes independently and then together they create an amazing statement.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME PETUNIA PICKLE BOTTOM?

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WHAT QUOTE BEST DESCRIBES YOU + WHAT YOU LIVE BY? “When you are in a place, you ought to be there.” -Author unknown

BESIDES DESIG NING BAGS, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE TO DO? In the little spare time I have, I enjoy painting, drawing, taking horseback riding lessons, crafting with my boys, and of course, traveling with my family!

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meet

SANDRA HOWELL REAL MOM STORY the miracles that took place before + after delivering premature twin girls

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRACY LAYNE PORTRAITS HAIR + MAKEUP BY AMBER RENE SALON

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014, 4:30 in the morning. I'm 28 weeks along with twin baby girls. I am barely taking in the fact that at almost 40 years old I'm going to start all over again with not one but two baby girls. My husband and I thought we were through having children so this spontaneous excitement came with a little shock and much surprise! Feeling somewhat uncomfortable I got up to use the bathroom on this morning and after doing so, went to lay back down in bed and while lying there, turned over and felt a large gush. I thought to myself that my water had broken and knew that it was way to early for this to have happen. I got up and realized that my water hadn't broken but I was bleeding tremendously. A calmness took over me at that moment and I know it was very bad and that probably someone was not going to make it out of this alive. As the hours unfolded and a storm began to rage I wondered if the waters would calm and if my story would end in happiness or tragedy. The bleeding would not stop and in order to be able to get on the Life Flight I would have

to be stabilized. I live in a small rural town, Vernal, Utah and the hospital did not have enough blood to give me or the Platelets that I needed so desperately. I would not live with out them. At this point I had already lost 3 liters of blood and keep in mind that the human body only holds between 5 1/2 to 6 liters of blood and a little more than that if you are pregnant. With the help of many prayers and positioning, I was able to get on the helicopter to get to the University of Utah to try to save me. I was told my babies probably would not make it. The flight nurse was one of my many Angels that day. I happened to know her and she had been called in that day. I truly needed her. She kept me calm. As the helicopter took off I looked down and saw my 9 and 6 year old daughters waving at me. I cried to God and prayed that would not be the last time they saw me. The flight nurse stayed with me because I was on my own. My family was trying their hardest to get to Salt Lake City, Utah which was 3 hours away. She held my hand and continued to make me focus on her and the look in her eyes told me it was going to

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be alright. She kept me still and despite how bad I needed the platelets, she knew if she turned me off my side where it turned out I had a placenta abruption in one of the placentas, I would have likely bled out during that fight and we would not have made it. Going through the doors of the University was somewhat of a relief until I got in the doors. My arterial line started to gush and the flight nurse still telling me it would be ok, wanted my husbands phone number and called an told him to get there as fast as possible. I was so calm during all of this and was okay with whatever the outcome. At that moment I felt myself bleeding again and lying there waiting for the flight nurse to tell me it would be okay. I looked at her and saw tears in her eyes and she would not tell me it was going to be okay anymore. I knew then that I was probably going to die. I heard the doctor call a code and into the OR they rushed me. I remember certain things, I remember feeling the emergency C-section as there was not time to fully sedate me. The babies were taken in 6 minutes flat. I remember not much after that. I ended up losing more than 6 liters of blood and had 32 transfusions between all of the different blood products. The next think I remember is coming to and hearing monitors go off and upon hearing the beeps I realized I was alive. I thought I would die. The next thing I knew a nurse came up to me and said can I take your phone so I can go take pictures of your babies. I said, "They Lived!" and she said "yes, and they are doing well." My little 2 pound miracles were alive and surprising everyone. My little Amanda and Kadee were alive. I cried in excitement and thankfulness to God for this miracle. Many more would follow. The babies both had their ups and downs throughout their almost 2 1/2 month stay. There were days that they were doing great and then suddenly went down hill. They were on and off vents and different ways to administer oxygen. They had many procedures, IV's, Spinal taps, infections such as Sepsis and NEC, antibiotics, heart tests, eye exams, the fear of brain bleeds and heart murmurs etc. etc., the list goes on and on. Anyone having Preemies understands the fear of the unknown of all of these things. Through all of this I witnessed my preemies along with many others fight so hard to live. The waves of my storm were big and small depending on the day. The emotions were a roller coaster of highs and lows. I was diligent in being with them as often as I could. At times I felt I lived at the U and the rest of the time I was at the Ronald McDonald House trying to care for my older daughters. I had lots of help and the service of that house will affect generations to come. Thanks to the RMH, I was able to stay close by my babies. It would have been impossible without them. One of the hardest parts about this was not being able to bond with these sweet babies. I could not touch them or hold them for a couple of weeks. I was pretty ill myself so it took a great deal of time to adjust. These babies did not seem like my own. Many other people were taking

care of them and they didn't seem like mine yet. I felt as though I was a visitor and so afraid I would loose one or both of them at any time, made it hard to let myself feel close to them. I was scared to love them but loved them more than I could imagine. These little beautiful creatures were my hero's. They fought so hard to live that It made me fight for me and them. In the NICU world breast milk is considered miracle milk. It truly is. My doctor let me know that because of all the trauma my body had been through I probably would not be able to produce much. Well I did and was so thrilled. Any time I had the chance to provide Kangaroo care which is holding the babies skin to skin and attempt to let them nurse I would do it. I did produce but not nearly enough to sustain the babies. I did use donor milk while in the hospital and through many miracles had other breast milk that I received from 3 different women during my stay. I could never repay them for this. Without this milk my babies would not have left the hospital as soon as they did. The formulas they would give my babies were not working, and in fact some of it was making them sick. One of the main problems with preemies is that they have trouble eating and latching on and getting the nutrition they need so breast milk is vital to their fight and survival. These women and the donors do so much. You will never know what it means to do that for someone. It is a big deal, a very big deal. One of those special women brought breast milk from the other side of the city for me and has made a huge difference in my life. It was there at the times I needed it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m grateful to know this wonderful women and thank her for her sacrifice. And the other two women have turned into great friends. They were able to send me home with about 300 bottles of frozen breast milk which got me through about 3 months after I returned home. I met these ladies for a reason. They were producing more breast milk than ever and I know it was so they could help me and my babies. This made it possible for my little Kadee to be discharged just shy of a week after my little Amanda. I certainly tried my best to continue to nurse and pump but my body stopped way too soon. That was my favorite part with my other daughters was to breast feed and get that closeness. There were many tears shed because I could not do it alone but my gratitude for these three women will never be forgotten. Miracles have continued to happen. My little ones are now 9 months old and are thriving and perfect. I still look for things I'm scared will happen and can't believe these two little babies are now 15 and 16 pounds and look totally normal. They just needed to be here and shake my ship a bit and cause some waves. The waters have calmed now and that doesn't mean they won't pick back up but for now we are content and happy. I now have four beautiful daughters and a husband that loves us all. We are blessed to have had this experienced and looking back I would not change a thing because through this I have become strong and that is because my preemies showed me how to be strong. God is good and miracles are real. littlepeanutmag.com

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ROOM DESIGN THREE INSPIRING KIDS SPACES from neutral woodland to bold + bright

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OLIVER’S NEUTRAL NURSERY DESIG N BY SISSY + MARLEY When it comes to picking a color for your nursery you can never go wrong with a neutral color palette for both girls and boys. We are just smitten with Oliver’s whimsical nursery covered from head to toe in tan stars with touches of woodland animals. Modern yet cozy, this is a dream nursery for any little peanut. Our favorite part about this room in the reading nook designed perfectly with clear book ledges to house Oliver’s little library and a sleek rocker. Add a faux fur throw and a plush animal to finish off a stylish reading area.

SOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY MARCO RICCA CRIB + CHANGER DUC DUC ROCKER MONTE DESIGN MIRROR RHBABY & CHILD RABBIT PRINT ANIMAL PRINT SHOP LIGHT RANDOM PENDANT BY MOOI BOOK LEDGES UBABUB DEAR HEAD TAMAR MOGENDORFF

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POPPY’S NEON NURSERY DESIG N BY LIFE.STYLE. This “glam-rock un-nursery” mixes sophisticated prints and cheerful children’s prints with unique accessories that are still relatable to children. Shannon and her team spiced up traditional pieces with decorative hardware to create a great vibe of bold sophistication. The hot pink is still feminine, but sets a different tone than pastel or baby pink. The chairs are comfy enough for a nursery but can grow along with Poppy. The light fixture is a vintage Murano chandelier and the neon “Poppy” sign was a unique way to add a different type of artwork.

SOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY DIANA RELTH CRIB TARGET CREDENZA HARDWARE NEST HARDWARE LIGHTING FIXTURE VINTAGE WALLPAPER PHILLIP JEFFRIES GRASSCLOTH PERSONALIZED LIBRARY JUNIPER BOOKS THROW MISSONI HOME CEILING MODERN MASTERS GOLD PAINT NEON SIGN CUSTOM DESIGN

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GABRIEL’S BOLD ROOM DESIG N BY SISSY + MARLEY Modern + bold is where it’s at when it comes to interior design with contrasting black and white paired with pops of colors. We love the fun and bright vibe of Gabriel’s big boy room. It’ stylish and also functional with lots of space to play and be inspired. What little boy wouldn’t want to call this space his very own? Don’t be afraid to mix and match bold patterns from the rug to the bedding, wall paper and even artwork. And double up your decor pieces with actual toys your little peanuts can play with!

SOURCES PHOTOGRAPHY MARCO RICCA BED + DRESSER DUC DUC RUG MADELINE WEINRIB TABLE + CHAIRS LITTLE NEST YOLK CHAIR LITTLE NEST WALLPAPER FERM LIVING CEILING LIGHT KARTELL BOOK LEDGES LAND OF NOD BEDDING SHEETS SERENA + LILY THROW DONNA WILSON littlepeanutmag.com

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RECIPES littlepeanutmag.com

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QUICK STRAWBERRY + BLUEBERRY PASTA SALAD ING REDIENTS - 1 3/4 cups dried bow-tie pasta - 3/4 cup sliced strawberries - 3/4 cup blueberries - 3 ounces small fresh mozzarella cheese balls, halved - Handful fresh julienne basil leaves - 1/4 - 1/3 cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing

DIRECTIONS - Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and rinse well with cold water and drain again. - In a large bowl toss together pasta, strawberries, blueberries, cheese, and basil. Add the dressing; toss again.

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G REEN-PEA SOUP + CHEDDAR-SCALLION PANINI DIRECTIONS - In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon butter over medium. Add scallions, and cook, stirring, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add peas, broth, and 3 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until peas are tender, about 5 minutes; set aside. - In a medium bowl, toss cheddar with scallions. Make 4 sandwiches with cheddar mixture and bread. - In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low. Place sandwiches in skillet, and cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side, adding remaining tablespoon butter to skillet to cook second side. - Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth (filling blender only halfway to prevent spattering). If necessary, adjust consistency with a little bit of water. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice

ING REDIENTS - 3 tablespoons butter - 4 scallions - 3 boxes (10 ounces each) frozen peas - 1 can (14.5 ounces) reduced-sodium chicken broth - 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar (6 ounces) - 8 slices sourdough bread - Coarse salt and ground pepper - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

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MINI CHICKEN POT PIE ING REDIENTS - 16 oz. boneless skinless chicken - 1 (14.5 oz) can low-sodium chicken broth - 1 tsp + 1 Tbsp olive oil - 1 cup peeled and diced carrots - 3/4 cup diced celery (about 2 large stalks) - 3/4 cup finely diced yellow onion - 2/3 cup frozen peas - 3 Tbsp butter - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour - 2/3 cup milk - 1 1/2 tsp dried parsley + a little extra for tops - 1/4 tsp dried thyme - 1/4 tsp rosemary - salt + pepper to taste - 2 sheets frozen puff pastry dough (thawed) - 1 egg

DIRECTIONS - Heat 1 tsp. olive oil over medium high heat. Once hot, grill chicken, remove from pan and pull apart into bite sized pieces - In same pan add 1 Tbsp. olive oil, diced carrots, onion and celery. Saute vegetables, stirring occasionally until lightly golden and tender, about 5 - 6 minutes. Pour vegetables into a bowl and set aside. - Reduce heat to medium, melt butter in saucepan (brown it a bit for and extra layer of flavor), then add in flour and cook, stirring constantly for about 20 seconds (it will be very thick). - While stirring, slowly add in milk followed by chicken broth, parsley, thyme, rosemary and season with salt and pepper to taste. - Bring mixture just to a boil, then slightly reduce heat and cook about 1 minute longer until thickened, stirring constantly. - Remove sauce from heat and add sautĂŠed vegetables, frozen peas and diced chicken to sauce, then toss to evenly coat. - Pour mixture into individual ramekins. - Roll out puff pastry to 1/8" thickness and cut into squares big enough to have a slight overhang over each ramekin (size will depend on the size of your ramekin). - Create an egg wash and brush over all the puff pastry. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, salt and parsley. - Bake in 400 degree oven until nicely golden about 12 - 14 minutes. Serve warm. littlepeanutmag.com

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RASPBERRY + ALMOND LINZER COOKIES DIRECTIONS - In a food processor, process almonds and ¼ cup of brown sugar until almonds are finely ground. - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. - Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and the remaining ¼ cup brown sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the almond mixture, then the flour mixture, mixing until just combined (do not overmix). - Divide the dough in half, shape into two disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours. - Heat oven to 350° F. On a lightly-floured surface, roll out each piece of dough to a 1/8-inch thickness. {Note that dough is very delicate so handle gently} Using a 2- to 2 ½-inch round cookie cutter, cut the dough into rounds and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. Using a ¾- to 1-inch round cookie cutter, cut out the centers from half of the cookies. Re-roll and cut the scraps as necessary. - Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until the edges are golden, 8 to 10 minutes, time varies with oven so watch carefully and don't over bake. Cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. - Sprinkle the confectioners’ sugar on the cookies with the holes. Spread 1 teaspoon jam on the remaining cookies and top with the sugared cookies. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

ING REDIENTS - 2/3 cup toasted almonds - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar - 2 1/2 cups flour + more for work surface - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon - 1 large egg - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract - 1 tablespoon confections' sugar - 1 12 ounce jar raspberry jam

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CRAN-RASPBERRY SPRITZER VALENTINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DRINK ING REDIENTS - 16oz cranberry-raspberry juice - 20 ounces lemon-lime soda - 1 lemon, quartered - ice cubes - fresh raspberries - Opt. raspberry vodka

DIRECTIONS - Fill four glasses with ice. Divide the cranberry-raspberry juice among the glasses. - Divide the lemon-lime soda among the glasses, topping off each cup. - Squeeze a hint of fresh lemon juice over each, then garnish with a few fresh raspberries. Stir and serve immediately. ** For a fun twist add 1 oz. raspberry vodka to each glass for an adult twist

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CRAFTS littlepeanutmag.com

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WATERCOLOR SNOWFLAKES Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a think for watercolor paintings and so do our little peanuts. Painting is such a great activity for kids do to any time of the year because it builds fine motor skills as well as creativity + imagination. You can also make great wall accents with these snowflake watercolor prints! All you need is some watercolor paints, canvases, and craft tape. Let your little peanuts stick pieces of tape on their canvas to make snowflake shapes. Paint the canvas desired color and let dry. Once dry peal off tape. Hang + enjoy. littlepeanutmag.com

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DIY VALENTINE’S DAY TREAT BAGS Valentine’s Day is all about giving little gifts to those who we love and our special to us. We remember the days of picking out our favorite character V Day cards at the grocery store and picking our favorite card to give to that special someone in our class. We love this holiday and getting crafty with Valentine’s might just be our favorite! Take it up a notch and get creative this Valentin’s day with DIY muslin treat bags. Let your little peanuts help decorate the bags and fill them with sweet treats and little gifts. TIP: to make perfect shaped hearts use a shape punch to create a stencil Trace your shape lightly on the muslin bag with a pencil then fill in with craft paint. Easy as that!

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WOODEN G EO SHAPES Spending much of the winter days indoors can also be rough on us moms! Here is a great craft you can do to help pass the time and also add some fun ( + cheap) new decor pieces to your house to cheer things up! We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough of geo shapes right now and they are hot when it comes to style and design. Make your own wooden geometric shapes by following these simple steps: -. Get small wood craft sticks or match sticks found at your local craft store. Cut down to size if needed. - Using a hot glue gun glue the edges together to form desired geo shape. Let harden and cool. - Spray paint shapes color of choice. Think white, black or gold for a modern touch! - Put them on your kitchen table, entry table, coffee table or even a book shelf! Enjoy!

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