Christmas Ideas for Kids

Sooo, it’s December! (And yesterday it was July!) I am going to be doing the December Photo Project again this year (one of my favorites) so I’ll be back later with that.

Anyway, I’m about 90% done with the Christmas shopping for the kids, so I thought I’d share a few ideas in case you need a little jump start.

Most of their stocking stuffers and small gifts (and one game to share) are coming from The Land of Nod. We ordered a couple of art sets and a few other things from CP Toys by Constructive Playthings. My mom said our box from US Toy also came but I can’t remember what that order was. (Everything is being shipped to her.)

There’s always the old standby quality toys from Melissa & Doug, although ours are coming discounted via Zulily credits.

The rest (minus their ‘big’ gifts, including all LeapPad accessories are coming from Amazon, can’t beat their prices and free shipping!

Happy shopping for your little ones!

Lifting the burden

Sometimes I wonder if I’ve come to the end of my blogging days.

It used to be so interactive and fun; filling a social need and a fun way to keep up with others in between changing diapers and washing dishes. Commenting was generally higher all around the blogosphere, or at least it was in my experience. Now it usually feels as if I’m staring at a white, sterile, cinderblock wall, trying to think of something to say. (Which is rather boring, no?)

Right. I’m bored with my own blog. And so, so tired.

I know I can’t just quit, cold turkey. I’m sure the grandmothers would stage a resistance and besides, my hosting fees are already paid for two months.

And where else would I share this pudgy face?

(“Singing” in her sweet baby voice.)

I really don’t have a plan. In a lot of ways I feel like the goal is just to survive until this baby is out. Most likely I’ll just continue posting heavy on the photo side but… I guess I needed to tell you I’m taking the pressure off.

take a peek?

My All Things Chic post today: Carousel Designs – Outfitting Your Nursery. You know you want to.

{flower pin giveaway}

I’ve been having fun making these wool felt flower pins, cutting the petals out while I sit with Drew and his homework.  The original tutorial is here but I changed it a little.  (My new favorite blog, by the way.)

And since I’ve gone a leeetle bit overboard, I thought it would be fun to give a few of them away. (Since I don’t personally need six cream flower pins.)

To be entered, simply leave a comment on this post. (Just tell me something interesting, because “pick me” entries are just plain boring. Or tell me what you’re doing this weekend.) I’ll leave it open for a couple of days and choose two random winners Monday. They’ll receive two flower pins in the colors of their choice (but it has to be something I already have – cream, mustard, cranberry, and hot pink).

Happy Friday!

the go-to muffins

My mom made a lot of from-scratch goodies when I was growing up, but she must not have been a big fan of the muffin because the only ones I remember were blueberry, from a box.

I, on the other hand, always seem to have spotty bananas around, which no one will eat. And I find banana bread + kids = too many crumbs. They can handle muffins, though. So we make these all the time and are a huge hit with my kids. (And us parents too, quite frankly.)

Banana Walnut Muffins
(adapted from the recipe in the red & white check BH&G cookbook)

1 3/4 cups flour (I usually use some combination of organic and/or whole wheat pastry)
2/3 cup organic sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (sometimes I use a teeny bit more)
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup organic whole milk (actually, I usually end up splashing a little extra in if the batter seems dry when I go to mix)
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted down
3 small/medium spotty bananas
1 cup finely chopped walnuts
(1 tbs milled flax, optional)

Mix all the dry ingredients in a big bowl. Smash up the bananas (I think it’s easiest to do on a plate with a fork). Add in bananas and all the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well.

Line muffin tin with foil muffin cups and I usually lightly spray with oil. (Paper liners really stick badly to banana muffins for some reason.) Spoon batter into the cups, about 2/3 full. 400 degree oven for 20-22 minutes. It usually makes 14 for us.

Serve warm with BUTTER. :)

pizza, homemade perfection

I hadn’t made homemade pizza in a long while, but we decided to make some a couple of weekends ago. I got the sauce recipe from my cousin Vangie – it’s a lot more like the sauce you find in Italy than American pizza sauce. It’s just a large can of whole peeled tomatos, drained, chopped right into the pan and sauteed in olive oil. That’s it! (I use my pampered chef chopper, handy tool that it is.) So, so good.

Andy requested it again this past weekend and that time we were sure we had some fresh basil on hand. Yuuuuuuuuum.

lunch!

We had chicken soft tacos one day last week. I finely shred the cooked chicken in my food processor and mix in either fresh salsa or taco seasonings. Also, whipping in pureed (drained) fresh spinach is a MUST.

Anyway, the next day we had the leftovers on a huge plate of nachos. I mixed the chicken into leftover refried beans, and topped with more fresh salsa and a plop of sour cream.

Yum.

hey there

It’s funny, I haven’t blogged because I have this little project I keep meaning to get to (and never do) and was thinking I’d share it next. Well, clearly that hasn’t happened so here we are.

The kids started back at school today. We are a little rusty on the early morning thing. Andy had his final interview yesterday (went very well) and if he gets this job with normal hours we’re going to have to finally adjust to getting up earlyish just like everybody else. Internal clocks are hard to re-set.

I suppose it doesn’t help that I stayed up and read

this book start to finish. It’s such a happy, encouraging, wise book. Highly, highly recommend. I even have a copy you can borrow.

Oooh tonight I’m meeting girlfriends at Panera. Which is just nice to have at the back of one’s mind all day, you know?

by the way (DPP)

If you’re interested in seeing other December project photos, they are grouped together on the Flickr group page – check it out! Some really artistic people on there! (Click on thumbnails to enlarge.)

(soup)

Okay, since a million people have asked. Gretchen’s text said: 32 oz frozen hashbrowns (she uses more; I used that and then the 4 leftover potatoes from Thanksgiving) and 1 1/2 cup chopped onion – simmer in 2 cans chicken broth for 30 minutes. (I actually used chicken stock instead.) After that, add in 2 cans cream of celery soup, 2 cans cream of chicken soup, and 4 cups milk and pretty much when it’s hot, the soup is ready. I also added some salt. You can top with crumbled bacon and grated cheddar like we did and serve with hot crusty bread.

(I would prefer not to use the condensed soups. Sub ideas? Brite?)

You need this recipe

I was reminded about this breakfast dish a couple of months ago when I visited Dolly. She whipped it up Friday night for our Saturday morning together and I had forgotten how good/easy/convenient it is. (It’s from the cookbook of one of our old churches so some of you may already have it.)

Since then I’ve made it several Saturday evenings for Sunday morning breakfast. Which as we all know, Sunday mornings need all the help they can get.

Sausage Breakfast Bake

Grease or spray the bottom of a baking dish.  Tear bits of bread and toss ‘em in.  Our favorite is whole wheat French bread. (Not pictured; this is just sandwich bread, not as good.):

Brown a package of sausage:

Pour drained meat over bread in dish:

Top with grated cheese:

Mix 6 eggs, 2 cups milk, and 1 tsp prepared mustard and pour slowly over top of cheese.  Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight:

Bake at 350 covered for 45 minutes and uncovered 15 minutes.  Just make sure you set the alarm in time. ;)

And then be thankful you have breakfast all ready and leftovers for at least the next day!

Chicken Salad (I know you love my creative title)

This is one of the throwdown meals in our house, when I realize my kids were hungry about fifteen minutes ago. I usually have these items on hand and it can be made in a big hurry.

Brown chicken in butter (on stove, in fry pan). I usually use 2-3 chicken breasts but it really doesn’t matter. Just use enough that will feed your whole family. (I also just use my kitchen shears and cut the chicken into bites, dropping them into the pan as I go.) When it’s cooled some, put it in a big bowl.

Add: a couple of stalks of washed celery (I think in that photo I had used 3), chopped into chunks. Dump in rinsed grapes, some raisins, and nuts (walnuts usually, pecans work, too). Mix in two generous spoonfuls of mayo, splash with lemon juice and stir to coat. That’s it! My kids (and hubby) GOBBLE this up, which is another reason it’s an oft-rotated meal at our house.

Which makes me curious.  What’s your go-to meal when you’re in a pinch?

Every mother should read this book

My cousin Vangie gave me a copy of this book when she returned my itty-bitty girl baby clothes a couple of months ago. I just this past weekend had a chance to pick it up and have been devouring it (pun totally intended) ever since.

It’s an easy read in that she’s a good author and it flows well. It’s logical and fascinating.  Coincidentally, I’ve been following Jo-Lynne’s similar journey and it just so happened that one of the first books she read was Nina Planck’s first book, Real Food. (All that to say, I was already sensitized to it before Vange ever gave me a copy.)  Also, as a Christian, Planck’s principles just follow the created order of things, which I appreciate.

Anyway, I just can’t say enough good things about it.

Beads

(I couldn’t post about this until after Mother’s Day, when the grandmas had received their necklaces from my kids.)

This was a perfect (pre-bedtime) preschool activity and the kids LOVED it.  I just got some jewelry string and beads from Walmart and let them go to town.

Madeline’s asked to do this again a few times since then.

Cheeky

But that’s okay because now I have a Red Hot Obedience Pot sitting on my windowsill

Yesterday morning our mother’s fellowship group had a guest speaker (who is a shirt-tail relative of mine, i.e. my cousin’s sister-in-law) do a little workshop on her Behavior Boosters – a line of simple and easy ideas to motivate positive behavior in children. It was excellent.

(Although, here’s the honest truth, Gretchen and I looked at each other afterwards and decided we felt like the lamest mothers ever.)

From her website: “Behavior Boosters is a book series designed to encourage anyone involved with children to motivate positive behavior using fun and simple ideas.

–Ashley Goertemiller, Author & Speaker

It’s a great resource, be sure to check it out!

Product review: Sweet Pea Ring Slings

I don’t often blog about things I buy (because hello, awkward) but this gem I definitely want to highlight because I looooove it. And there may be another mama out there looking for a good ring sling.

Anyway, Andy got me a silk sling for Christmas, per my wish list. Mine is a little greener of a blue than the one pictured but the cream is the same. It’s from Sweet Pea Ring Slings and the owner, Christie, is fabulous to work with. I highly, highly recommend.

A couple of particular things I love about this sling… It has a light padding on the ring shoulder that is hidden within the fabric — it is amazingly comfortable. I also love her “Eclipse” shoulder with the vertical stitching (not horizontal across the fabric above the rings). It’s visually pleasing and yet very sturdy.

The tail isn’t too long but long enough. I wore Arianna napping in my black one (also from SPRS) at the park one day last week, and the tail was the perfect length to have over her head, shielding her from the wind and sunlight. It’s also a great nursing cover.

Happy babywearing!

(Disclosure: this is not a sponsored post.  We bought the sling ourselves and nothing was given in return for this post; I simply want to share the love.)

Merry Christmas!