10 Baby Names I Love But Won't Be Using

Hello friends! I decided to jump on the bandwagon of the "10 Baby Names I Love But Will Never Use" videos going around on YouTube. I am not planning on having kids for a very long time, but I do love names and already have lists of names that I love and will use for my future kids. With that said, these are also names that I love, but I have specific reasons for why I will not be using each of these names, but if any of these are names of your kids or someone you know, I think these are beautiful and people who have them are very lucky.

Girls

     1. Amelia/Emilia - I love both spellings of this name, but I don't like the way this name
         is pronounced in the US, which is a-MEEL-yah instead of a-MEE-lee-ah, and I'm just
         not a fan of the middle two syllables being squished into one.

     2. Ruby - I think this name is absolutely adorable, but when I think of a name, I have
         to be able to see it on name tags in kindergarten, said at high school graduation,
         on a CEO's desk, etc., and Ruby doesn't fit all those for me, but I still love it.

     3. Iclyn - Iclyn is a newer invented name, and although I think it's beautiful and would
         fit in with all the -lyn names of today, it's just a little too out there for my taste.

     4. Delilah - This is one of those names that I love but my mom hates, and for as close
         as we are, I couldn't name my daughter a name I know she hates, which is why when
         I have kids, she'll find out their names when they're born and opinions don't really
         matter *wink*.

     5. Harper - I love Harper, especially because it's one of the few names that I can get
         the nickname Perrie (which I think is adorable) from, but unfortunately this name
         just entered the top ten most popular names in the US, which means by the time I
         I have a daughter, it'll be even more popular, which I don't like.

Boys

     1. Nathan - This is probably my #1 favorite boys' name, but I have a cousin named
         Nathan, so I won't ne using this for any future sons.

     2. Alek - I love the idea of this name because I think it's strong yet simple and a good
         alternative to the very popular Alexander, but I just can't see myself using it, and
         I can't quite figure out why.

     3. Phoenix - The phoenix is a bird that is reborn from its own ashes, and for me it's a
         personal symbol for overcoming any struggles, but this name, although meaningful,
         is just too out there for my taste.

     4. Matthew - Matthew is a name that, unfortunately, was ruined for me by a Matthew
         I once knew who was just very arrogant, and that's all I can think of when I hear this
         name.

     5. Ezra - I know Ezra because popular recently because of a TV show, but I don't
         carry that association. I honestly think I'm just not cool enough to have a kid named
         Ezra.

Let me know if there are any names you love but won't use in the comments!

I wish you all the best,
Erin

Sweet Spot: Twice Baked Taco Potatoes

Hello friends! I was recently scouring Pinterest for new dinner ideas, and a recipe for taco-topped baked potatoes caught my eye. I decided to take it one step further and double bake them, and it was a total success. I thought I'd share this new creation with you, because it's really just too good to keep to myself.

The Lineup:
     4 large baking potatoes, scrubbed clean
     Olive oil (about 4 tsp)
      Salt & pepper
     1 lb. ground turkey (ground beef works just as well)
     1 packet taco seasoning
     4 tbsp butter
     9 scallions, chopped (I like the green tops, but use what you like)
     Mexican blend shredded cheese (no measurement, it's whatever looks good to you)
     Additional taco toppings (guacamole, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, tortilla chips, etc.)

The Play-by-Play:
     1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. After cleaning the potatoes, poke
         holes in them with a fork to release steam.
     2. Place each potato on a large square of tin foil (I did this on my kitchen table so I
         could spread them out and do them all at once), and drizzle about 1 tsp of olive oil
         on each. Sprinkle each with salt and pepper, then rub oil and seasonings into skin,
         just until coated. Snugly wrap each potato in the foil and place on a baking tray (I
         also lined this with foil to save time later). Bake about 1 hour (this will depend on
         the size of your potatoes, so just make sure they're soft to the touch before taking
         them out).
     3. While the potatoes are baking, fully cook and crumble your ground turkey. Once
         cooked, prepare with the taco seasoning as directed. Once done, turn off heat and
         cover.
     4. Allow potatoes to cool in the foil about 5 minutes, then carefully remove foil and
         place potatoes on foil-lined baking tray (I lined the same one I baked the potatoes
         on) and cool another 5 minutes. Carefully cut each potato in half lengthwise and
         face up on the tray.
     5. In a large bowl, place butter, scallions, salt, and pepper. Carefully scoop out the
         insides of the potatoes, leaving a small amount in tact to hold the shape, and place
         the rest in the bowl, which will melt the butter. Mash up until smooth, and refill
         the potato skins with the mash, smoothing out the tops.
     6. Scoop taco meat (about 1/4-1/3 cup each) onto the potatoes, and top with
         shredded cheese. Place back in the oven until cheese is melted.
     7. Serve and top with additional toppings. Enjoy!

I wish you all the best,
Erin
    

Harry Potter Baby Names

Hello friends! I have been absolutely obsessed with Harry Potter lately (it's been in phases since I discovered HP ages ago), and I also love names, as some of you may know, so I figured I'd combine the two and give you some of my favorite Harry Potter baby names. I'll include a bit of character context, origin, and meaning of each name, as well as why I picked these names over all the others in Harry Potter (because there are a lot!). Also look out for the ways I would use each name in the first and middle name spots.

Girls

• Arabella (Arabella Figg - member of the Order of the Phoenix) - Latin, "yielding to prayer"
• Arabella is a one I picked because it seems very usable and on-trend yet unique, especially with names like Annabelle and Aria being so popular.
• Suggested pairings: Arabella Grace, Katherine Arabella

 

• Bellatrix (Bellatrix Lestrange - Death Eater) - Latin, "female warrior"
• Bellatrix is another name that seems on-trend with names like Beatrix and Isabella, but hasn't reached the Top 1000 yet.
• Suggested pairings: Bellatrix Jade, Ava Bellatrix

• Fleur (Fleur Delacour - Triwizard Champion of Beauxbatons) - French, "flower"
• Fleur is a beautiful alternative to names like Rose and Violet.
• Suggested pairings: Fleur Adeleine, Cosette Fleur

• Ginny (Ginny Weasley - member of Dumbledore's Army, Harry's wife) - Latin, "from the ginger flower"
• Ginny feels a bit like an old lady name to me, so it fits right in with more popular names geezer like Ivy and Lucy.
• Suggested pairings: Ginny Meredith, Clementine Ginny

• Hermione (Hermione Granger - founder of Dumbledore's Army, Harry's best friend) - Greek, "well-born, earthly"
• Hermione as a name has become strongly associated with this character, but I love it because she's such a strong, modern female lead. This name can be made more usable with nicknames like Minnie and Mia, or even Hero if you're brave.
• Suggested pairings: Hermione Sage, Evelyn Hermione

• Lavender (Lavender Brown - member of Dumbledore's Army) - Latin, "to wash," also a color name
• Lavender is another great alternative to Violet, and also fits right in with trendy color names like Blue, Gray, and Olive.
• Suggested pairings: Lavender Gabrielle, Everly Lavender

• Luna (Luna Lovegood - member of Dumbledore's Army) - Latin, "moon"
• Luna is a gorgeous nature name, and has a similar feel to Stella and Lily. Luna is also fantastically quirky in Harry Potter, making her an awesome namesake.
• Suggested pairings: Luna Ingrid, Brighton Luna

• Marietta (Marietta Edgecombe - member of Dumbledore's Army) - Italian, "sea of bitterness or sorrow"
• Marietta is a great way to honor the classic Mary and its many forms, but can also be used to get many nicknames, such as Mari, Marie, and Etta. 
• Suggested pairings: Marietta Faye, Lorainne Marietta 

• Minerva (Minerva McGonagall - Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts) - Latin, "intellect"
• Minerva sound very powerful and mature, and can be made more usable with nicknames like Minnie or Eva. Professor McGonagall is a great leader and has such a quiet strength to her, and I think any little girl named Minerva is bound to have those same qualities.
• Suggested pairings: Minerva Hazel, Vivienne Minerva

• Poppy (Poppy Pomfrey - Hogwarts' school nurse) - Latin, "poppy flower"
• Poppy is another great and underused flower name, so it fits right in with names like Rose, Violet, and Daisy.
• Suggested pairings: Poppy Eleanor, Charlotte Poppy

Boys

• Amos (Amos Diggory - father of Cedric Diggory) - Hebrew, "strong, brave"
• Amos fits right in with the slew of popular Hebrew boys' names like Asher, Caleb, and Isaac.
• Suggested pairings: Amos Zachary, Frederick Amos

• Cedric (Cedric Diggory - Triwizard Champion of Hogwarts) - Celtic, "bounty"
• Cedric is right on trend with rising Irish and Celtic names like Declan, Aiden, and Maddox.
• Suggested pairings: Cedric Elliott, Jameson Cedric

• Dean (Dean Thomas - member of Dumbledore's Army) - Latin, "chief"
• Dean has a certain ring to it that reminds me of old-school class and charm, and fits right in with popular short boys' names like Ben and Jake.
• Suggested pairings: Dean Xavier, Matthew Dean

• Finnigan (Seamus Finnigan - member of Dumbledore's Army) - Irish, "fair"
• Finnigan is probably toward the top of the popular Irish surname list, but with a cute nickname like Finn, I just can't resist.
• Suggested pairings: Finnigan Thomas, Daniel Finnigan

• Fletcher (Mundungus Fletcher - member of the Order of the Phoenix) - English, "arrow-maker"
• Fletcher is a bit less common than Finnigan as far as surname names go, but it still fits right in and is unique enough that there won't be five Fletchers in your son's class, which is always a plus in my opinion.
• Suggested pairings: Fletcher Gray, Rowan Fletcher

• Harry (Harry Potter - The Chosen One, leader of Dumbledore's Army) - German, "estate ruler"
• Harry is probably the most classic name of the whole series, but that's why it's so loved. Harry stands for so many great things, so it's a wonderful namesake for any little boy.
• Suggested pairings: Harry Samuel, Benjamin Harry

• Ollivander (Garrick Ollivander - owner of Ollivander's Wand Shop) - Mediterranean, "he who owns the olive wand"
• Ollivander, at least to me, is the perfect mash-up of names, which makes is a great alternative to popular names like Oliver and Alexander, and fits right in with names like Evander.
• Suggested pairings: Ollivander James, Ford Ollivander

• Phineas (Phineas Nigellus Black - former Hogwarts headmaster) - Hebrew, "oracle"
• Phineas is just a fun name, and while some people may not think it's usable, there's no denying that lovably unique and quirky, and definitely a different way to get the nickname Finn.
• Suggested pairings: Phineas Jude, Wyatt Phineas

• Remus (Remus Lupin - werewolf, member of the Order of the Phoenix) - Roman, meaning unknown
• Remus is a true example of someone being loved despite their flaws, and while there are moments when he cannot control those flaws, the times when he is in control show that he is fiercely loyal and protective, and that's enough meaning for me.
• Suggested pairings: Remus Zane, Dexter Remus

• Ron (Ron Weasley - member of Dumbledore's Army, Harry's best friend) - Hebrew, "joy"
• Ron is one if my favorite characters in the whole series, so I'm a bit biased, but I would love to name a child after someone who is truly good and loyal, and would do anything for those he loves.
• Suggested pairings: Ron Timothy, Caledon Ron

*All photos from http://harrypotter.wikia.com

I wish you all the best,
Erin

20 Things I've Learned by 20

Hello friends! My 20th birthday is coming up, and I've learned quite a bit over the last two decades, so I thought I'd share 20 things I've learned in 20 years.

• Life rarely goes as planned, so take everything in stride and keep moving forward.
• It's okay to put yourself first; don't set yourself on fire to keep others warm.

• If someone has a negative impact on you, you are completely justified in letting them go, and you don't owe them a reason.
• Doing something you love, regardless of what anyone says, is not a waste of time.
• There is no one right way to do things, and that goes for everything from tying a shoe to deciding what to do with your life.
• Enjoy spending time with yourself - you're awesome, and you should really get to know yourself better.
• Do more meaningful things with your spare time; it's much more satisfying reading a book or baking a cake than it is stalking social media.

• Don't ever think you're too good to learn something from anyone - everyone you meet can be a teacher, you just have to be humble enough to listen to them.
• Embrace your struggles but don't let them define you - you are so much more than that.

• Stop comparing yourself to others; just because someone else is at a certain point in their life doesn't mean you're supposed to be there, too.
• There is definitely a way to make your dreams reality, it just might take some time to make it happen.

• Learn to do basic tasks - laundry, cooking, cleaning, quick home fixes - because eventually you're going to have to do them yourself.
• Take every chance you get to go explore someplace new; every place you go has incredible adventures you couldn't ever imagine.

• Don't live in a bubble; it's great to have dreams and stories in your head, but it's crucial to know what's happening in the world, and people will take you much more seriously if you can have an intellectual conversation about it.
• Be passionate about something - anything, whether it's a book series or a sports team or a hobby - for no reason other than that you love it.

• It's okay to have days where you don't get out of your pajamas or go one step up and put on leggings and a sweatshirt, but know how to dress for a variety of occasions - interviews, weddings, and fun days out all have different requirements, but you can put your own spin on anything.
• Spend as much time with your family as possible; someday things will change and you'll treasure the time you spent together.
• Stop caring what other people think; if you want to wear that Harry Potter sweater or dance like an idiot or take an alternate career path, just do it, and do it proudly.

• Take care of yourself - your mental health is just as important as your physical health, so exercise and eat right for your body, but watch mindless TV and eat that ice cream for your mind.
• Stay true to who you are, because when it comes down to it, you are the only you there has ever been and ever will be, and it's a shame if you spend that time being you trying to be someone else.

Cheers to 20 years!

*Note: all images saved from Pinterest.

I wish you all the best,
Erin

Sweet Spot: The BEST Glazed Vanilla Scones (Big Batch Recipe)

Hello friends! I have another scone recipe for you all, but this one is much different from my other scone recipe. These are extra decadent and yummy, and the huge batch size lets you enjoy them much longer.

The Lineup (Scones):
      4 cups AP flour
     4 tbsp sugar
     2 tbsp baking powder
     1/2 tsp salt
     12 tbsp salted butter, cold and cubed
     1 large (5.6 oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix
     2 tbsp vanilla
     2 eggs
     1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
(Glaze)
     4 tbsp salted butter, softened
     1 tbsp vanilla
     1/2-1 cup heavy whipping cream (depending on desired glaze consistency - 1/2 cup
          will be more like frosting, 1 cup will be a thick but fluid glaze, which is what I did)
      2 cups confectioners sugar

The Play-by-Play:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line baking sheets with either parchment paper or silicon mats.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Drop in cold butter cubes and quickly squish into flour. This will create flakes of butter but must be done fairly quickly to avoid melting (alternate methods below).
3. Mix in pudding mix, then add vanilla, eggs, and cream. Work together with a spoon, then use hands to combine. Dough is done when no longer tacky to the touch.
4. Using an ice cream scoop, place 1 tbsp balls of dough onto sheets. Flatten slightly, as dough doesn't spread too much.
   
5. Bake for 8-10 minutes and leave to cool.
   
6. To make the glaze: Whip butter, then beat in cream and vanilla, starting only with 1/2 cup cream (more can be added after sugar). Beat in sugar until combined, then check consistency. For more runny glaze, add more cream).
7. Spread or pour the glaze onto the scones, and eat them as quickly as possible. If you make them last more than a few hours, they keep uncovered for two days or covered for a week.
   

Quick Play:
This recipe made 45 scones, and I certainly did not need that many at one time. I made the dough as directed, then scooped the balls onto a lined baking sheet and stuck them in the freezer. I saved ten to bake and glaze, and then put the glaze into individual(ish) cups and froze them, too. I then divided the frozen dough into bags (about a dozen per bag), labeled them with baking directions, and put everything in a big bag to freeze until I want these heavenly scones again. To bake them, I thaw the dough to room temperature, flatten it, and bake as directed. The glaze will also thaw, and it goes on top of the tasty little scones as quickly as I can do it. I waste no time in eating these guys.

*I mentioned about that there are a few other ways to cut butter into flour, the most popular being a pastry cutter (or forks if you don't have that), and then by pulsing them together in a food processor. Frankly, I'm too impatient for a pastry cutter and too lazy to wash a food processor bowl and blade, so quick hands are definitely my preferred method, but do whatever you'd like.

The Playmaker:
Adapted from http://www.crazyforcrust.com/2013/05/starbucks-petite-vanilla-scone-copycat/

I wish you all the best,
Erin