OK so I'm no June Cleaver

I was talking to some friends about releasing our inner June Cleaver at work the other day, and by this I mean doing one domestic thing and being quite impressed with ourselves.  So I decided to vacuum, scrub down my bathrooms, and bake so my husband had something for his co workers to enjoy at work! So I slapped on some heels and pearls and got moving (ok I was wearing sweatpants and unshoewered).  After all was said and done I thought I would feel so satisfied instead I felt tired, cranky, and I smelled like bleach.  Hmm perhaps I should take baby steps. Perhaps I should have also saved one of the cookie bars I made for myself.  I am eating stale Teddy Grahams right now with my coffee, and I will be letting my husband know about it!

But come on look at my daughters lunch, PB and J Sushi!



I also have been feeling some blog envy lately.  I have seen the most amazing, beautiful photography, taken by beautiful people who write beautifully! I aspire to one day have a blog half as good as their.  But as I look at my brand new baby blog I realize it's me! It's a little messy, unorganized, and I'm figuring it out as I go along, that's my life, and my life is pretty awesome so I guess I am happy exactly where I am right now! I'll just keep plugin along, and one day I hope that someone will enjoying reading it as much as I enjoy writing it!

Oh yea and I made this deliciousness from one of those blogs, Two Peas and their Pod!

Here are my Chocolate and Butterscotch Chip Cookie Bars!

Busy Busy Busy

I, like everyone else, am always rushing.  I compile long list of super important things to do, and am constantly complaining that there is not enough time in the day to do it all.  While on Twitter today (using my time wisely) I came across this confession.  I have been caught red handed.  I thought about what I do all day yes most of it is spent playing with my daughter, but if you add up the sleeping, Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest (oh Pintrest I blame you most) and right now I am drinking coffee and blogging while my daughter naps.  I suppose if you added all this wasted time up I could be power cleaning my house  (not exactly sure what power cleaning is, but I'm pretty sure I'm never gonna do it), training for a marathon (sounds horrible), or becoming Martha Stewart. So I guess if I really wanted to do everything on my lists I probably could, but when I really think about it I'm cool with how I use my time now.  I am lucky enough to get small spurts of downtime, and I think it makes me a happier person to spend most of it doing things that I like!

Oh but they got me I spent the first half of my girls nap getting dinner and dessert ready for my husband and daughter when I go to work tonight.  I am easily guilted, but I happen to remember two of the quickest easiest and cheapest recipes ever! Haha I win!

Two Ingredient Cookies:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 can of pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (didn't count this one)

All you do is mix the ingredients together (it's going to be a really think batter) and form into cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes about 24 cookies. Since they have i have decided to binge eat them while I write this.  Rule of thumb: never ask a woman how many cookies she ate!



Mexican Lasagna:

• 6 small flour tortillas
• 1 can re-fried beans (i like the vegetarian, less calories and plenty of flavor)
• 1/2 lb gd beef, turkey or chicken
• 1/2 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 can salsa Verde (from the Mexican section of the grocery store its always better)
• seasoning salt (to taste)
• chilli powder (to taste)

Brown meat and season with seasoning salt and chilli powder.  Add corn.

In a 9 x 13 greased baking dish put a single layer of tortillas (I cut mine in half so there is less overlap).  Spread on some re-fried bean,  half of the meat and corn mixture, 1/3 cup of the cheese and top with the salsa.  Place another layer of tortillas on top, and do the same.  Top with one more later of tortillas and cover with salsa and cheese.  Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes at 375.  Remove foil and bake for 5 more minutes.


And now I can spend the rest of my time with my girl!

Pizza Party

One of my family's favorite things is the pizza party we have every Friday night! I know we're wild. Your thinking I get it delivered...not this lady! My pizza's from scratch. It is shockingly easy to make good pizza dough (unlike bread, but I'm still trying). You know what I think I'm going to let you in on my secret.

Easy Pizza Dough:
(adapted from my Kitchen aide cookbook)

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast (1 packet)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus a little extra to cover the finished dough (only the good stuff for me)
• 2-3 cups flour

Add the cup of warm water to the bowl of your mixer. This recipe is forgiving so just don't make it scalding hot, you don't want to kill the yeast. Put the yeast in and let dissolve for about a minute.
Add a squirt of honey, salt and olive oil. Feed the yeast baby!!
Put the dough hook attachment on your mixer and slowly add flour on a low speed until the dough isn't sticking to the bowl. It should all be stuck on the hook when it's ready, and just slightly sticky. Let the dough knead for about 5 minutes on a medium speed.

Drizzle that extra olive oil in the bowl and cover the dough so it won't stick.


Let it rise in a warm place for about an hour. (Don't worry about being specific on time I've let it rise anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours and it still turns out).

It should have grown quite a bit, slightly less than double it's size. Punch it down (let that aggression out)! And stretch on cookie sheet! Feel free to toss it, but I am pretty uncoordinated so I'll leave that to you!
Top and bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes!


I topped mine with garlic and olive oil, mozzarella and cheddar cheese, shredded chicken , and broccoli! Yum! Sorry this is the precooked shot, I was too hungry to remember the after!

Chocolate on my mouse

Yep you guessed it I'm making dessert! Don't worry it's healthy dessert (well healthyish). There is no oil, flour, and there's fruit in it! I created this recipe because I needed something sweet to go with my afternoon coffee, I am still not buying any processed cookies or sweets at the grocery store, and I joined Tasty Kitchen to share my recipes with even more people! But of course I got an email this morning tell me I messed up the recipe! I made Peanut butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars and forgot to put peanut butter in the recipe (hmm and perhaps I should shorten the name). Well maybe this blogging will improve my organization. It actually hindered my ability to clean the house, and my overall hygiene is now worse. Baby girl takes a short nap so I have to pick and choose what I can do. Unfortunately for my husband and those around me Showering is not high on the list. Plus I'm ready a hair care book that discourages washing and brushing hair!! More on that later (yep your sensing some before and after pics!) I apologize for my rambling today! I will get to the point!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

• 1-½ cup Rolled Oats
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• ¼ cups Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• ½ cups Milk (almond, Soy, Regular)
• 1 Egg Beaten
• 1 whole Mashed Banana
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• ¼ cups Peanut Butter
• 1 Tablespoon Honey
• ¼ cups Dark Chocolate Chips

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

In a large bowl mix together oats, baking powder, salt, sugar and cinnamon. Add milk and beaten egg.

Add the mashed banana, vanilla, peanut butter and honey. Mix, then fold in chocolate chips.

Pour mixture into a 9×9 pan and, bake for 20 minutes!

Easy, Healthy, Delicious!

And yes I actually have chocolate on my mouse! I was trying to eat and write this at the same time! Well that's the story of my life. (Perhaps that should be the name of the blog)



Baby Girl says make them today!

What I like about you

Yesterday after a long overdue get together with the girls a friend asked for a favor. She had been talking to a counselor and had been assigned to have three people write three things that they like about her. I was honored to have been asked and thought this was a beautiful exercise. I love the idea of letting people know how important they are to you and reminding them of the amazing person they are. This is what I love about her!

Your personality is bubbly and sweet, and when you walk into a room you make everything better! Your presence is comforting and fun, and the minute I see you I can't help but remember all the silly adventures we have had, and the ridiculous conversations over coffee always rudely interrupted by customers! When you walked in my house the other day after we haven't seen each other for awhile I saw you and heard your laugh and felt like no time had passed and we were the same two girls from years back! (Smarter and more mature now of course ;)

You always let me know how important I am to you. You are an amazing friend. As I write this I feel guilty that I do not tell you this more often. You always have had my back, and supported me in everything I do. You make me feel important and tell me what you like about me all the time.

You see the best in people. When you describe me I have always felt you are describing the person that I want to be, and the fact that you already think of me that way makes me feel like I am doing something right.

You are an amazing person, and you bring joy to everyone you come across. As I sat down to write this I thought about all the fun we have had and I have come to the conclusion we do not see each other enough!! What are you doing next week!

Love you!

Linds

*I now realize that there are so many people in my life that I should do this for!

The best feeling

It's Friday and I should be making you a list about my favorite things, but today I can think of just one, my girl. I have been reading Bloom by Kelle Hampton and am inspired by her unexpected journey through motherhood, and the every present joy she exudes although her life is much different then she could have imagined. I wondered if I could do it. Would I be that strong if I unexpectedly had a child with special needs, could I be that joyful and proud. I hope I would, but I think it's one of those things that you find stength that you didn't know existed when you need it most.

Her words make me hold my girl a little tighter and relish the little moments we have together that usually all blend together. She fell asleep in the car after a fun outing to meet Dad for lunch, and I had to carefully take each strap of the car seat off her limp little arms, and slowly pull her torward me. Her plump little cheek rested on my shoulder and her body sunk into mine as I took her upstairs to her room. I breathed in her powdery scent, her fine blond hair still smelled freshly washed and I brushed off the grains of rice still stuck to her shirt from lunch. She's sixteen months old already and I am getting these moments less and less. She is growing into my independent lady hiding her hand behind her back when I reach for it and not letting me pick her up when she wants to walk on her own. I am so proud at who she is becoming but I already miss those days when I just held and rocked her all day long. She was perfectly content being strapped on to me and going wherever I went.

So today my favorite thing is just that, enjoying the special day to day moments that often get ignored. Truly enjoying the time I get to spend with her in the present, and being truly grateful for the life I have been given.

Sneaky Sneaky

We had a wonderful Easter weekend out of town with family, my girl has recovered from her ear infection, and I have a nice slow moving relaxing week ahead of me! Things are looking good! I even have time to sneak in some reading! If you haven't heard about it already you must read Bloom by Kelle Hampton. It is an amazing book that will make you cry and make you feel good all over all at the same time! It is the perfect mothers day gift! And check out her blog, Enjoying the Small Things, too!



ooo!! I love baby feet!

Although Easter was wonderful, we got to spend time with both our families, I of course binged on candy and rich food (yes it was my daughters candy). So I have been in a state of bloat since this weekend. But I have discovered haw to end it.....eating fruits and vegetables, and literally making my husband take the candy out of the house (it's sad how little self control I have when it comes to chocolate.) Since this ear infection my girl has also been a little pickier. So what do I do? I hide vegetables in everything!! Wahahah! (That's my evil laugh). Our morning veggie was spinach hid in a smoothie!



Check out her wild pants!

Sounds gross you say. Nope can't even taste the spinach!
Here's how:

Sneaky Smoothie

1 banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
a couple frozen strawberries
a scoop of plain yogurt
a splash of apple juice
a cup of fresh spinach (loosely packed)

Blend and enjoy! And serve in a cool cup if possible! Please excuse my inexact measurements. I just like to throw stuff in! This makes enough for us two gals to share.

I tried a new vegetable this week, too. Cauliflower! I know weird I've never tried it but it always seemed so bland, but not when you spice it up and roast it! Even my husband loved it.

I also tried this sneaky recipe for dinner, Baked Potato Soup, from Gina's Skinny Recipes. It was a great way to use leftover cauliflower! Plus it makes the soup less carby, so you can have a roll with it! What you know my deal with carbs!

Friday Favorite Product Reveiw

I know Fridays are now officially for my fave things, and do you know what my favorite thing is? Being cheap! I love thrift stores and DIY projects, re purposing, my entire house is furnished with stuff our family and friends wanted to get rid of, pretty much anything to save a buck! Yesterday during nap time I was feeling especially ambitious, I was getting some serous gray hairs, and really not feeling paying $70 at the salon to color my hair. So I tried a new product!



John Frieda Hair color. I got mine at Target for about $8 (there was a $2 off coupon attached!) I used Dark chocolate brown, pretty similar to my natural hair color. (I wouldn't use the box if you wanted to do something drastic)! I have used other box hair colors before and this one was a little cooler. had better gloves and conditioner, and it was the foam which I had a little too much fun with.



Overall a great product! I wanted my hair to look pretty much the same as it did before just warmer and no grays. Here is the before and after.



I know I know excellent photography! Nice thumb in the picture! I like the results and it was super easy and quick. I colored my hair showered and blow dried it while the baby girl napped! I'm impressed with myself! Usually I don't even shower. But my lack of personal hygiene is a topic for another day! Happy Easter Everyone!