Oh, I'm so silly.
This bowl is tastier than the oatmeal that was in it.
I'm even sillier than before.
Yay for me!
Monday, March 21, 2011
A Boy And His Bowl
Who me?
Oh, I'm so silly.
This bowl is tastier than the oatmeal that was in it.
I'm even sillier than before.
Yay for me!
Oh, I'm so silly.
This bowl is tastier than the oatmeal that was in it.
I'm even sillier than before.
Yay for me!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Weekly Menu
I would rather do my St. Patrick's Day post, but it's late and I dont have the energy to upload those pics just yet. So in order to off set my laziness a little I figured I would do my weekly menu post albeit almost a week late.
Tuesday: Beef tostadas with a homemade smoothies dessert - yummo!
Wednesday: date night
Thursday: Turkey club sandwiches with chips and smoothies
Friday: Spaghetti with salad
Saturday: Roast chicken with spring veggies
Sunday: Ravioli with artichoke sauce
Monday: Eggs hollandaise with asparagus
Tuesday: Taco bake
Another blog I read also does a weekly menu post and she had the brilliant idea of sharing one of her weekly recipes every time. I love this idea so I am going to follow in her footsteps and try to post one per week, but if there is ever a recipe you see on here and want please leave a comment and I'll be happy to email it to you!
Beef Tostadas - Food Network magazine April 2011
Ingredients
2T vegetable oil
1/2 small red onion
2 cloves of garlic
3/4 lb ground beef
Kosher salt
2T tomato paste
1 T chili powder
1 15 oz. can refrained beans
8 corn tostadas (flat taco shells)
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack
Shredded lettuce, salsa, avocado and/or cilantro for topping
1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the beef and 1/2 tsp salt and cook, breaking up the meat, until browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and chili powder and cook, stirring, about 2 more minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat the refried beans in a small saucepan. Thin the sour cream with about 2T water in a small bowl.
3. Spread the beans on the toastadas, then top with the beef and cheese. Drizzle with the sour cream. Top with lettuce, fresh avocaco, salsa and/or cilantro.
Tuesday: Beef tostadas with a homemade smoothies dessert - yummo!
Wednesday: date night
Thursday: Turkey club sandwiches with chips and smoothies
Friday: Spaghetti with salad
Saturday: Roast chicken with spring veggies
Sunday: Ravioli with artichoke sauce
Monday: Eggs hollandaise with asparagus
Tuesday: Taco bake
Another blog I read also does a weekly menu post and she had the brilliant idea of sharing one of her weekly recipes every time. I love this idea so I am going to follow in her footsteps and try to post one per week, but if there is ever a recipe you see on here and want please leave a comment and I'll be happy to email it to you!
Beef Tostadas - Food Network magazine April 2011
Ingredients
2T vegetable oil
1/2 small red onion
2 cloves of garlic
3/4 lb ground beef
Kosher salt
2T tomato paste
1 T chili powder
1 15 oz. can refrained beans
8 corn tostadas (flat taco shells)
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack
Shredded lettuce, salsa, avocado and/or cilantro for topping
1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the beef and 1/2 tsp salt and cook, breaking up the meat, until browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and chili powder and cook, stirring, about 2 more minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat the refried beans in a small saucepan. Thin the sour cream with about 2T water in a small bowl.
3. Spread the beans on the toastadas, then top with the beef and cheese. Drizzle with the sour cream. Top with lettuce, fresh avocaco, salsa and/or cilantro.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Her Highness
Should anyone ever doubt her royal status, as princess of our hearts.
She looks the part.
And even has her royal wave down pat.
She looks the part.
And even has her royal wave down pat.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Great Falls
A few weeks ago TG and I were sitting on the couch reminiscing about our time in Charlotte, NC when we were DINKYPOPS. One of our favorite activities used to be hiking at Blowing Rock, Chimney Rock or Grandfather Mountain. We haven't done any hiking since we moved to VA which was almost 6 years ago.
We were already looking for something to do outside with the kiddos on that day and when TG mentioned hiking I suddenly remembered several Facebook friends posting pictures of their families at Great Falls.
It wasn't exactly gorgeous weather, but it was warm enough so we decided to give it a go. After Camden took his morning nap I packed a light picnic lunch, TG bundled the kiddos up in layers and we made the quick drive to Great Falls Park.
Snug as a bug and ready to go.
While on the path from the car to the first overlook Riley found a walking stick and proceeded to "pokes it in the muds" every chance she got.
She could hear the waterfall.
Practicing her rock climbing skills that she would put to good use later in the day.
At the first overlook.
The view and the sound of all that rushing water was breathtaking.
TG wore Cam in the Ergo on his back the entire time. Camden loved it.
After checking out the falls from the three overlooks we headed off the trail and did a small climb carefully down the cliffs to a little beach by the water. Riley was in heaven throwing pebbles by the handful into the river.
We ate our lunch down here and gave little man a break from the Ergo.
As we were posing for this shot a park ranger helicopter came swooping in from our right over the rocks and flew low over the river, circling a few times before heading out. Riley and Camden loved it.
After lunch and all the helicopter excitement I spent a little while sitting on the rocks, holding Cam, and watching the water while Riley kept throwing pebbles.
See? In heaven.
I let Cam put his toes in the shell sand.
Then it was time to call it a day and head back up the hill.
Riley is a natural climber. I kept close to her, but she wanted to do it "alls by myselfs" and she did. She might have jumped in as many mud puddles as possible as she climbed.
We had the perfect day and we can't wait to go back again.
We were already looking for something to do outside with the kiddos on that day and when TG mentioned hiking I suddenly remembered several Facebook friends posting pictures of their families at Great Falls.
It wasn't exactly gorgeous weather, but it was warm enough so we decided to give it a go. After Camden took his morning nap I packed a light picnic lunch, TG bundled the kiddos up in layers and we made the quick drive to Great Falls Park.
Snug as a bug and ready to go.
While on the path from the car to the first overlook Riley found a walking stick and proceeded to "pokes it in the muds" every chance she got.
She could hear the waterfall.
Practicing her rock climbing skills that she would put to good use later in the day.
At the first overlook.
The view and the sound of all that rushing water was breathtaking.
TG wore Cam in the Ergo on his back the entire time. Camden loved it.
After checking out the falls from the three overlooks we headed off the trail and did a small climb carefully down the cliffs to a little beach by the water. Riley was in heaven throwing pebbles by the handful into the river.
We ate our lunch down here and gave little man a break from the Ergo.
As we were posing for this shot a park ranger helicopter came swooping in from our right over the rocks and flew low over the river, circling a few times before heading out. Riley and Camden loved it.
After lunch and all the helicopter excitement I spent a little while sitting on the rocks, holding Cam, and watching the water while Riley kept throwing pebbles.
See? In heaven.
I let Cam put his toes in the shell sand.
Then it was time to call it a day and head back up the hill.
Riley is a natural climber. I kept close to her, but she wanted to do it "alls by myselfs" and she did. She might have jumped in as many mud puddles as possible as she climbed.
We had the perfect day and we can't wait to go back again.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Weekly Menu And Meal Planning
An IRL friend of mine, who is the amazing Momma to twins (seriously she has time to work, blog, menu plan, cook, clean and more with twin babies?!?) writes a weekly menu post. I love reading it because I am always looking for new ideas for our dinners.
After we had Camden I started using a weekly refrigerator magnet menu planner to plan a week worth of dinners and then shop to the menu.
Here's my beauty in all her glory on my very cluttered and messy fridge. The bottom left is my gallon sized ziplock bag of coupons. On the far left you can see just a peek at my weekly cleaning schedule too, but that's another post entirely.
I found my lil planner a couple years ago in the $1 section at Target, I wish I had gotten more. Part of the reason I started planning was to keep me organized, the other part is to help me stick to our $150/week grocery budget. Some weeks I'm way under and some weeks I'm right at the $150 because that amount includes EVERYTHING - not just food, but toiletries, diapers, cleaning supplies, everything!
In order to stick to that budget I shop the sales, use coupons, and visit more than one store to get the best prices on things. On the weeks when I know it will be tighter (which are the weeks where we need diapers, detergent, pull ups, wipes, paper products and more at the same time) I just get creative with the menu. I try to make recipes that use the same ingredients so specialty ingredients don't go to waste. I also use rotisserie chickens A LOT because I can get two meals worth out of the chicken for only $4 and I don't have to cook chicken which kinds of grosses me out.
I do my planning and shopping on Tuesdays, but I try to write recipes into my little menu as I find ones I want to make during the week. I get my recipes from all sorts of places including Food Network and Cooking Light magazine, some food blogs, friends and google searches.
So with all that said, here's the meals for our week!
Tuesday: Portobella parmesan from Food Network magazine - it was DELICIOUS
Wednesday: Weekly date night with twinnie and her kids
Thursday: Chicken in wine sauce with brown butter green beans
Friday: Turkey club sandwiches with fruit salad
Saturday: Cheeseburger chili mac an old Rachael Ray standby
Sunday: Chicken and mushroom alfredo with peas
Monday: Eggs over toast with hollandaise and bacon
Tuesday: Chicken taquitos with black beans and rice
If you write a weekly menu post leave me a comment so I can add you to my blogs I read for recipe inspiration! Or if you have an amazing recipe I just have to try leave me a comment!
After we had Camden I started using a weekly refrigerator magnet menu planner to plan a week worth of dinners and then shop to the menu.
Here's my beauty in all her glory on my very cluttered and messy fridge. The bottom left is my gallon sized ziplock bag of coupons. On the far left you can see just a peek at my weekly cleaning schedule too, but that's another post entirely.
I found my lil planner a couple years ago in the $1 section at Target, I wish I had gotten more. Part of the reason I started planning was to keep me organized, the other part is to help me stick to our $150/week grocery budget. Some weeks I'm way under and some weeks I'm right at the $150 because that amount includes EVERYTHING - not just food, but toiletries, diapers, cleaning supplies, everything!
In order to stick to that budget I shop the sales, use coupons, and visit more than one store to get the best prices on things. On the weeks when I know it will be tighter (which are the weeks where we need diapers, detergent, pull ups, wipes, paper products and more at the same time) I just get creative with the menu. I try to make recipes that use the same ingredients so specialty ingredients don't go to waste. I also use rotisserie chickens A LOT because I can get two meals worth out of the chicken for only $4 and I don't have to cook chicken which kinds of grosses me out.
I do my planning and shopping on Tuesdays, but I try to write recipes into my little menu as I find ones I want to make during the week. I get my recipes from all sorts of places including Food Network and Cooking Light magazine, some food blogs, friends and google searches.
So with all that said, here's the meals for our week!
Tuesday: Portobella parmesan from Food Network magazine - it was DELICIOUS
Wednesday: Weekly date night with twinnie and her kids
Thursday: Chicken in wine sauce with brown butter green beans
Friday: Turkey club sandwiches with fruit salad
Saturday: Cheeseburger chili mac an old Rachael Ray standby
Sunday: Chicken and mushroom alfredo with peas
Monday: Eggs over toast with hollandaise and bacon
Tuesday: Chicken taquitos with black beans and rice
If you write a weekly menu post leave me a comment so I can add you to my blogs I read for recipe inspiration! Or if you have an amazing recipe I just have to try leave me a comment!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Baby In The Sink
When Riley was a baby we bathed her in the kitchen sink quite a bit because her master bathroom had sliding shower doors that made it quite difficult to reach around and bathe a slippery baby.
Camden has never had a bath in the sink until this February. It was an impromptu washing after I gave him his first popsicle. Cam got more of the treat on himself than in his mouth and I just couldn't put him down for his nap as sticky as he was.
It was sort of a rite of passage and he loved it as much as his big sister used to.
Hi Mom!
Trying to help me out.
This is fun!
Camden has never had a bath in the sink until this February. It was an impromptu washing after I gave him his first popsicle. Cam got more of the treat on himself than in his mouth and I just couldn't put him down for his nap as sticky as he was.
It was sort of a rite of passage and he loved it as much as his big sister used to.
Hi Mom!
Trying to help me out.
This is fun!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Seen and Heard
SASS-A-FRAS.
Funny lil man showing you his big chompers.
Hey Mom, take a pick-shers of me and Sheriff Woody.
Mr. non stop mobile.
Either Southwest.com had a glitch or flying from Kansas City just got a hell of a lot more expensive...
HEARD:
Riley: Hey Mom, guess what? I gots a day-bee in my bell-wee.
She's rubbing her belly.
Me: Oh really?
Riley: Yes, it's a day-bee doy.
Riley: He's comin soon. Den I gonna go's to w-iv at Char-wotte's house.
Me: You're leaving me?
Riley: Yep.
Me: Where will you sleep?
Riley: In Char-wotte's room.
Me: Where will your baby sleep?
Riley: sighing as if I'm slow, bothering her, or both... In day-bee An-fer-knee's room.
Riley and I cuddling in my bed watching a show before her bedtime. She's holding my hand and my ring is twisted around backwards.
Riley: I fa-wix you wing Mom.
Me: Oh thanks bug.
Riley: I wants a wing too Mom.
Me: You have lots of rings Sass.
Riley: sighs. But, but, but I wants a biiiiiiiig wing.
Me: laughing
Riley: Oh, I wubs you Mom.
Before she went to bed the night before I told her I was going to the gym and that I would be riding the bike. This morning when I went in to get her up for the day...
Riley: Oh hi Mom! Hi! I awake! Those dump ta-wucks are being so w-oud.
Me: Good morning sweetie.
Riley: Dids you have fun ridin you bike?
Riley: I hopes you had fun a-cause I mee-ssed you.
Riley waiting for me to open the sliding door to our van.
Riley: To infinity, and beyond!
Funny lil man showing you his big chompers.
Hey Mom, take a pick-shers of me and Sheriff Woody.
Mr. non stop mobile.
Either Southwest.com had a glitch or flying from Kansas City just got a hell of a lot more expensive...
HEARD:
Riley: Hey Mom, guess what? I gots a day-bee in my bell-wee.
She's rubbing her belly.
Me: Oh really?
Riley: Yes, it's a day-bee doy.
Riley: He's comin soon. Den I gonna go's to w-iv at Char-wotte's house.
Me: You're leaving me?
Riley: Yep.
Me: Where will you sleep?
Riley: In Char-wotte's room.
Me: Where will your baby sleep?
Riley: sighing as if I'm slow, bothering her, or both... In day-bee An-fer-knee's room.
Riley and I cuddling in my bed watching a show before her bedtime. She's holding my hand and my ring is twisted around backwards.
Riley: I fa-wix you wing Mom.
Me: Oh thanks bug.
Riley: I wants a wing too Mom.
Me: You have lots of rings Sass.
Riley: sighs. But, but, but I wants a biiiiiiiig wing.
Me: laughing
Riley: Oh, I wubs you Mom.
Before she went to bed the night before I told her I was going to the gym and that I would be riding the bike. This morning when I went in to get her up for the day...
Riley: Oh hi Mom! Hi! I awake! Those dump ta-wucks are being so w-oud.
Me: Good morning sweetie.
Riley: Dids you have fun ridin you bike?
Riley: I hopes you had fun a-cause I mee-ssed you.
Riley waiting for me to open the sliding door to our van.
Riley: To infinity, and beyond!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Fly Girl
Last week we started having dance parties after dinner. TG turns on Music Choice on Demand and we all dance around our living room to their "Latest Hits".
Now, every night Riley asks for us to turn on the song where the "fire-der-werks are coming out dat girls tummy" and the song "where dat girl gots da glidder on her eyes and her wips and dat one bigs ear-ding".
So we dance to Katy Perry's 'Fireworks' twice before moving on to Ke-dollar sign-ha's 'We Are Who We Are' and then finish it up with Far East Movement's 'Rocketeer' which she doesn't ask for, but it's TG's favorite.
She sings.
She jumps.
She wiggles.
She gets down.
He prefers to watch.
And laugh at all our antics.
Now, every night Riley asks for us to turn on the song where the "fire-der-werks are coming out dat girls tummy" and the song "where dat girl gots da glidder on her eyes and her wips and dat one bigs ear-ding".
So we dance to Katy Perry's 'Fireworks' twice before moving on to Ke-dollar sign-ha's 'We Are Who We Are' and then finish it up with Far East Movement's 'Rocketeer' which she doesn't ask for, but it's TG's favorite.
She sings.
She jumps.
She wiggles.
She gets down.
He prefers to watch.
And laugh at all our antics.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Peas In A Pod
My two babies might simultaneously smile for a picture someday, but for now our timing is off.
Riley is a quickdraw. She smiles right away and then soon tires of the antics.
Cam is a slow-mo. It takes him a minute to warm up before he will smile for you.
Quickdraw + slow-mo = 1 out of 2 smiles per photo
She's smiling, he's just starting to perk up.
He's cracking up, she's done.
So for now a sweet kissing pic will have to do.
Riley is a quickdraw. She smiles right away and then soon tires of the antics.
Cam is a slow-mo. It takes him a minute to warm up before he will smile for you.
Quickdraw + slow-mo = 1 out of 2 smiles per photo
She's smiling, he's just starting to perk up.
He's cracking up, she's done.
So for now a sweet kissing pic will have to do.
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