January was a truly memorable month for our family — birthdays, lost teeth, steady progress on our new house, and plenty of good food. Here’s a look back at our favorite moments from January 2019.

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. At the end of each month I share a short recap of the little and big events that made the month special. Below is our January 2019 roundup.

Recipe love:

These are a few recipes I enjoyed in January from around the web — easy, seasonal, and worth making.

Maple Glazed Salmon from Oh Sweet Basil — healthy, simple, and delicious.

Toasted Coconut Snack Bars from Feasting on Fruit — perfect for healthy snacking.

Chicken Chow Mein from Cooking Classy — a homemade alternative to takeout.

Candied Orange Olive Oil Cake by The Kitchen McCabe — beautiful and flavorful.

Green Chile Enchilada Soup from House of Yumm — comforting on cold days.

New Recipe Videos

We filmed several recipe videos in January — short, helpful clips to make cooking easier. More are coming in February.

Greek Yogurt Pancakes

Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Thai Slow Cooker Ground Turkey

Chocolate Hummus

A few of my favorite things…

Products I reached for again and again this month.

Oxo Cake Tester

I thought a cake tester might be unnecessary, but it quickly became indispensable. I use it for cakes, banana bread, brownies, and more. I love how easily it tells me when baked goods are done.

Pizza Stone

After using a pizza stone for months, I can’t imagine going back. It makes homemade pizza crust crisp and reliable — no soggy or floppy bottoms. We’re considering upgrading to a larger rectangular stone so we can bake two pizzas at once.

Order on Amazon: Rectangular Pizza Stone // Circular Pizza Stone

AmeriColor Gel Food Coloring

I switched to AmeriColor gels this month and noticed a big difference — richer, more vibrant colors and easy-to-use squeeze bottles. They were perfect for decorating Bethany’s birthday cake.

This meme & JOMO

I’ve been embracing JOMO — the joy of missing out — and this meme summed it up perfectly for me.

Life with my tribe

January brought many family highlights. We live near the mountains and I still stop to appreciate the view — it’s a daily reminder of how lucky we are.

Bethany’s Birthday

How is my little girl already eight? This year she’s growing into her own person — thoughtful, imaginative, and fiercely loving. I’m grateful to be her mom and pray daily that I can guide her well.

She chose a slow, simple day: cinnamon rolls for breakfast, a visit to the aquarium, lunch at Village Baker, hamburgers for dinner, and a movie at night. There was also plenty of Lego time and family play. She wanted a unicorn cake — bright, sparkly, and full of color, which fits her perfectly.

She’s a helpful big sister, curious and quick to learn. We celebrated being eight and looked forward to another fun year together.

How I made the unicorn cake:

• I used my favorite Homemade Vanilla Frosting for the base.
• I used a Sweet Tooth Fairy face kit for the horn and ears — the ears are sized better for a standard 9″ cake than for a small 6″ cake.
• I divided the frosting into four bowls and kept one plain white. I colored the remaining batches with AmeriColor gel (Electric Pink, Turquoise, and Regal Purple).
• I lined the three colors inside a large decorating bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip and piped roses to form the mane.

Mara Crib Transition

With a new baby expected any day, we moved Mara from the crib to a toddler bed. It felt bittersweet — she’s still my baby in many ways — but the transition went smoothly. Ritch built the little bed years ago and it fit her perfectly. She adapted easily and we’ve had no issues at bedtime.

Mara, 21 months

Mara struggled a bit this month. She dislocated her elbow and later developed croup followed by an ear infection. After a worrying experience last May that led to a PICU stay, I was quick to seek care this time. The pediatrician prescribed a short steroid course to open her airway, which helped us avoid hospitalization. I’m grateful she recovered and that we were able to address it early.

Gabe lost his first tooth

Gabe lost his first tooth this month. It came out after being very loose for weeks, and though he wasn’t thrilled about having it pulled, he felt much better once it was gone. First lost teeth are always a milestone and a little emotional for parents.

Waiting on baby girl

I shared a 37-week update recently. I’m torn between being ready for labor and wanting a few more calm days with our family of six. I’ve enjoyed slow Saturday mornings and relaxed bedtimes, and I’m savoring these last uncomplicated weeks before our new baby arrives.

Building our HOUSE!

This month the foundation went in and framing began — walls are up and the house is starting to feel real. With the baby on the way, I haven’t had much headspace to plan, but once we settle in after the birth I’m excited to watch the build progress and enjoy a new chapter later this year.

Recipes I’m making on repeat

Some recipes we kept returning to in January.

Homemade Pretzel Bread

Best Cinnamon Rolls EVER

Black Bean Brownies

If you make something from JoyFoodSunshine, I would love to see it! Please rate recipes and leave a comment below. You can also follow along on social media for more recipes and daily life updates.