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Part II: Volvo + The Art of Slow Living this Holiday Season

December 13, 2017 By Naomi Robinson | Bakers Royale 7 Comments

December is always my favorite month but also the busiest for work. Finding balance can be a challenge sometimes, but this year I’ve teamed up with Volvo Car USA. If you read my post here then you know between recipe testing, writing, shooting and editing I’m taking a breath and practicing the art of slow living between the mad rush of life and the holidays.

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Not that I need a reminder, but a little nudge from my boys and one of the safest cars isn’t so bad, right? By reminders I mean my boys telling me things don’t need to be perfect and Volvo’s XC90 gently bumping me back to the center of the lane if I inadvertently drift from a lack of focus. So between running around from work to carpool to shuffling kids from sports to music, I’m savoring the quiet moments. The moments when my boys get to be boys—not little athletes, or practicing musicians or classroom students—just care-free time that, as we all know, passes way too quickly. 

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Working as my co-pilot to get from one place to the next is Volvo’s new XC90 that I’m absolutely crazy about. It’s like driving with heightened Spiderman senses. Who’s going to say no to features like blind spot alerts for when another car enters your blind spot or approaches too fast and then will gently steer you back in your lane or the Pilot Assist that when it’s engaged will help you follow the flow of traffic. But one of the coolest features that I love, and my boys are mesmerized by, is the 360 camera that gives you a birds-eye view of the area surrounding the car. This is a massive assistant when I’m pulling out of school parking lots and little kids are darting in and out from every direction.

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So a few weekends ago, we went to El Capitan, a glamping site that we usually go to during summer. Where we play outside, dine outside and the only inside time is when the camp fire burns out and we close our eyes to the lulling sounds of nature. I know my ten-year-old likes going there because he’s able  to enjoy me as the mom who is playing ball rather than the mom fielding emails. And the mom who actually sets a table rather than doing dinner on disposable plates.

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But the best moments are when we play until we are red in the face and fall to the ground. That’s where he moves from telling me why I missed catching that last ball to life as he sees it from his world.

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His voice and words carry and nudge me back to the center lane of life, where our laughter silences all distractions and slow living unfolds from one uneventful moment to the next. The moments that make me want to hold his boyhood close to my chest slow the time if only for another year or two.

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Filed Under: Good Things

« Part I: Volvo + The Art of Slow Living this Holiday Season
Mango Coconut Curry Soup »

Comments

  1. Gina @Running to the Kitchen says

    December 14, 2017 at 3:52 am

    Such sweet memories!

  2. Leigh Ann says

    December 14, 2017 at 6:18 am

    What a perfect day! So many memories made!

  3. Natasha @ Salt & Lavender says

    December 14, 2017 at 7:48 am

    Your boys are getting so big! I’m just as bad at not slowing down during December too. I’m so glad we get some time off of work… I will be practicing some slow living then! That Volvo is so sleek… must have been so much fun doing this post.

  4. Tieghan Gerard says

    December 15, 2017 at 7:10 pm

    Such a sweet post. Always love seeing your sweet family!

  5. Lindsay Cotter says

    December 15, 2017 at 7:28 pm

    Sweet pictures! Slowing down to enjoy those moments and make memories is awesome! And what else is awesome is that Volvo!

  6. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says

    December 16, 2017 at 9:40 am

    Slowing down and spending time with family sounds perfect this holiday season! love this!

  7. cakespy says

    December 19, 2017 at 4:02 am

    Love your sense of sweetness and adventure. <3 cool opportunity!

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About Naomi Robinson

Welcome to my cozy corner where baking meets random thoughts and musings. I’m a self-taught baker sharing all things sweet (and some savory—okay, and cocktails) with a whisk in one hand and a camera in the other.

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Truvia Sweet Complete Sweeteners are zero-calorie and made with plant-based stevia sweetness. Whether you are using the All-Purpose, Brown, or Confectioners Sweetener, they measure cup-for-cup like sugar in your favorite seasonal baked goods! 

Apple Spiced Cake 
Serves 12 

3 cups (14 oz.) self-rising flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 
3 eggs
1 cup (6.25 oz.) Truvia Sweet Complete Granulated All-Purpose Sweetener 
1 cup (5.75 oz.) Truvia Sweet Complete Brown Sweetener 
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup vegetable oil 
1 1/2 cups (5.5 oz.) peeled and shredded granny smith apple, about 2 large

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 10-12 cup bundt pan with non-stick spray. Set aside. 

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Set aside.

In a second large bowl, add the eggs, and beat until combined. Add both the Truvia Sweet Complete Granulated All-Purpose and Brown Sweeteners, whisk until fully incorporated. Pour in buttermilk, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil, whisk until combined. 

Fold dry ingredients into the wet until smooth. Add the grated apples and fold until just combined. 

Pour batter in prepared pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out free of wet batter. Transfer cake to a wire rack and let cool in the bundt pan for 20 minutes. Unmold cake and let cool completely on a wire rack. Before serving, dust with Truvia Sweet Complete Confectioners Sweetener. Enjoy outside with a seasonal beverage!
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