Dinner: May 5-11

For my birthday this year my parents got me the cookbook, Dinner A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach.

Dinner A Love Story

Jenny had me at "dinner diary." Every week (for fifteen years!) she wrote down what she wanted to eat for the upcoming week. Brilliant, right? This book, part cookbook and memoir, is the fruit of those 15 years. It is divided into the various stages of Jenny's life (i.e. Just-Married Stage and the New Parent Stage) with stories and recipes that correspond to those days. This book has given me hope for the days to come (you know, when my child might actually eat the food in front of her instead of playing with it. Or, wait - does that ever change?) and perseverance in the nitty-gritty of early parenthood. Basically, it revolutionized the way I do dinner in our house.

Since I love plans and lists I have started planning my own menu at the start of every week. When Sunday rolls around I write down what we're going to have Monday-Sunday of the upcoming week and then on Monday (usually) I head to the store with a complete list of all the ingredients I need to make those meals a reality. Planning out our meals has relieved so much stress! Of course, we don't always follow the plan, but it's such a relief to know that the guesswork has been taken out of "what are we having for dinner tonight?" Plus, when I'm stumped about what to include on the menu it's nice to have a handy reference to look back on - "oh yeah! we had (insert meal here) a few weeks ago and it was awesome! I'll make that!"

So, I've decided to let you in on my weekly menu. Maybe this doesn't interest you in the slightest, or maybe, if you're like me, you love this kind of stuff. I also hope that maybe it gives you fresh ideas for dinner because I know how easy it is to fall into a dinner rut. Finally, I hope you'll share your favorite dinners in the comments below. I always love to hear new ideas!

Without further ado, here is our menu for May 5-11

Monday: Chipotle chili (I decided to make this a vegetarian meal to save money)
Tuesday: Thai basil fried rice (sans radishes - I hate 'em)
Wednesday: Baked potatoes with leftover chili
Thursday: Crispy paprika-parmesan fish with green beans
Friday: Taco pizza (Friday night is always pizza night)
Saturday: Rotini pasta with ground turkey and broccoli
Sunday: Grilled chicken, grilled corn on the cob, homemade sweet potato fries (Forrest is making all of this since it's Mother's Day)

What are you having for dinner?

xo

Review: Healthy Blueberry Muffins (for the toddler who won't eat anything else)

18 months, my friends, is a tumultuous age. I almost feel like I have a mini teenager in the house with all the emotional highs and lows.

While Juniper can still melt my heart with her toothy grin, she can also throw one impressive temper tantrum - in public no less. So far we have survived a tantrum in the library and a tantrum at the park in front of some new friends. I have to say that the latter was more humiliating and I had to fight back tears while my child screamed and kicked and the other child sat watching in quiet fascination and horror.

I have been told that consistency is the key - to keep on disciplining even if it seems like nothing is getting through. But it's hard. Really, really hard.

These days...these days are long and hard and wonderful. These days when she won't eat anything but bagels and cookies... these days when I catch her drawing on the floor, the walls, the kitchen cabinets... these days of pitching fits and then wanting nothing but to be held and cuddled... these days are all too fleeting.

Because these days can be full of a toddler's highs and lows, I have found it imperative to find a few things that lift the spirit. Added bonus if it also fills the tummy and accommodates the picky tastebuds of an 18-month-old.

These muffins are just the ticket.

Sure, they're still starchy and sweet (like a cookie), but unlike a cookie there are more of the good things and less of the bad things.

Here, she looks unsure about what she just put in her mouth.

Ahh, here we go!

I love a muffin that can put a smile on her sweet face.

If you have a picky toddler or if you just need a pick me up, try out these muffins. They are hearty, filling and somehow encouraging for the soul.

xo

Healthy Blueberry Muffins
From The Wednesday Chef

Makes 12 muffins

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/4 c sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp fine sea salt
1/4 c shredded unsweetened coconut
1 large egg
1 c cooked oatmeal
1/2 c whole milk (I used 1% organic and it worked fine)
2 Tbs unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1/4 c fresh or frozen blueberries
Preheat the oven to 400 F and butter a 12 cup muffin tin. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and coconut in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg with the milk and butter. Then, with a fork, add the oatmeal and break up the clumps.

Combine the wet ingredients with the dry and then add the blueberries. Both times I have made this, the mixture was really, really thick. I find that it helps to use your hands to incorporate those last bits of coconut or flour in to the mix. Drop by spoonfuls into the prepared muffin pan and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serve warm or at room temp. Apparently these are also perfect to freeze (after completely cooling of course) and heating up whenever the need or mood strikes.

Review: Homemade Play-Dough

Let's talk play dough.

Juniper is now at the age where she is mildly interested in the stuff; however, she has been known to, well...eat it. Disgusting, I know. I mean, what child does that? 

(insert sarcastic tone here if you didn't already pick up on it)

While the smell of store bought play-doh immediately takes me back to my own childhood, I really don't want Juni eating it. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's going to hurt her. It's just...well...it kind of makes me gag and since I'm not 100% sure that it isn't going to make her even the teensy-weensiest bit sick, I thought I should try my hand at some of the homemade stuff.

I tried this recipe about a month ago, and it smelled amazing. Rosemary play dough? Yes please! But it was so sticky. We're talking can't-even-get-it-out-of-the-plastic-bag sticky. After a few play time attempts I threw it out. It was too much hassle, frustrating rather than fun and Juni wasn't interested.

This morning I found this recipe. The only ingredient I was lacking was cream of tartar so Juni and I went to the grocery store to pick some up.

Um...can we talk for a second about how expensive cream of tartar is????? I didn't even look at the price when I picked it up. I mean, come on! It's such a tiny little jar. Yeah, tiny little jar of over $6. What??? So expensive. But a little goes a long way so hopefully I won't be buying this spendy little item for awhile.

Here are the ingredients you'll need for the best homemade play dough I've found:

Oh, you'll also need a really cute assistant who is great at giving the camera all kinds of attitude.

Work the camera, Juni! The camera loves you!

So you put all the ingredients except the food coloring in a 2 quart pot set over low to medium low heat. It looks really lumpy but that's okay. Just stir and stir and stir until it starts to thicken and then you add the food coloring. Then you stir some more until you can't stir anymore because it feels like your arm will fall off.

Then put it on some wax paper to cool.
I'm sad you can't really see the purple color. Next time I won't be so stingy with the color.

Oh, I should also note that this whole stove process took me like 5 minutes, if that. My arm wanted to fall off because the mixture got so thick it was difficult to keep it moving.

Now comes the big test...

Will she like it?
Will it be too sticky?
Will she still love me if her play dough dreams don't come true???

Just kidding on that last one.

Success. She was enamored with it for approximately 7 minutes - a record!

Oh, the attention spans of toddlerhood.

I may have over done it with the play dough pictures.

Oh well.

Here is the totally easy recipe! If you want more detailed instructions, head on over to Musings From a Stay at Home Mom. Her pictures and instructions are fantastic.

Ingredients

1 cup flour
1 cup water
2 tsp cream of tartar
1/3 cup salt
1 Tbs vegetable oil
food coloring

Mix all the ingredients in a 2 quart pot over low to medium low heat. Once it starts to thicken up, add the food coloring. Keep stirring until the mixture is really thick and gathers around the spoon. Remove the dough to waxed paper to cool.

Enjoy!

It's that time again...

Remember that time I took a two and a half month break from blogging?

Yeah, me too.

It's not that I didn't think about it. I had plenty of ideas to write about, but I just lacked the...energy. I kept feeling like the first post back needed to be monumental in order to make up for all the weeks I'd been away.

Meh, I've given up on that idea and instead am just going to tell you about what's going on right now.

Today is Fat Tuesday which means tomorrow officially starts the Lent season.

To be honest, I love this season. I love the struggle of giving something up, the inevitable quiet that happens in my physical and emotional space. It is a sacred time, a time of remembering.

Last year I gave up makeup, and it was quite the challenge! This year I am giving up all social media. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter will not see me and I'll not see them for the next forty days. I'm nervous, it's true. I look at social media in my down time (and my busy time) as a way to relax and check out. Without it, well...lets just say that I'm hoping to embrace more of the quiet I mentioned earlier. I'll be posting here regularly (I hope!) to let you know how it's going.

Are you participating in Lent this year? I'd love to hear what you're giving up or adding!

xo

Happy Christmas Friday!

I can hardly believe Christmas is a mere few days away! Forrest turns in his final project today (cheers throughout the land!) and we hit the road tomorrow for Arizona. I can't wait! What are your weekend and Christmas plans? I hope you are able to spend the holiday with people you love, and, as cheesy as it sounds, I hope your heart is full of joy, peace and wonder.

In the meantime, here are a few fun links around the web!

Have you seen this video about an airline playing Santa to its passengers? I totally got choked up.

51 Times in 2013 Jennifer Lawrence Proved She Was Master of the Universe.

8 Items Every New Parent Needs. Made me laugh.

I absolutely loved reading this birth story. I also love watching her HGTV design show.

Mocking It Up: a fun infographic about all the Mock Newbery lists around the country.

Finally, my friend Julia writes a hilarious & thought provoking blog called: Eating Stories Like Grapes. You should check it out!

Merry Christmas, friends!
xo

A Very Manly Christmas

You are probably already done with all of your Christmas shopping, but just in case you're not...here are a few ideas for that special fellow in your life!

Make magazine
$34.95 for a year (6 magazines)

Image retrieved from here

This magazine is perfect for the guy who loves to know how things work and is interested in building a few special projects of his own. Forrest had a subscription for a year (6 magazines a year) and he loved it.

Dear Mr. Watterson
$18.99 for the DVD (check out the link for all the bundle gift options!)

Image retrieved from here

For the guy who loved reading Calvin and Hobbes as a kid. Or, if you are my husband, still loves reading them.

Knitted ties
$ depends on the type of yarn you buy

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Maybe this one will need to wait until you have a bit more time, but how awesome are these hand knit ties? I love homemade gifts and this one is so original!

ASOS Cable Sweater with Elbow Patches
$35.39 ON SALE

Image retrieved from here

Because...who doesn't love their man in a sweater that has elbow patches??

NBA League Pass
$39.99 for mobile

Image retrieved from here

Because the Blazers are ON FIRE this year and he needs to watch all of the games.

What are your go-to items for your fella? I'd love to hear.

xo

Eyes of Faith

The snow started to fall on Saturday morning. The flakes were small but consistent. I watched as my neighborhood was transformed from normal to wonderland, and my heart felt full.

...

The baby and I enjoyed the glow of lights from our small tree and played while Harry Potter battled trolls and dragons in the background. Still my heart felt full but also distracted.

Despite the beauty of our cozy home, I felt discontentment and jealousy creep in. Instead of being still and soaking in the glow of Juniper's smile, I focused on the small screen in my hand and the pictures of other homes with better decorations and trees. Later, I was, I am, embarrassed that I let myself be distracted from the loveliness that is my home and my life.

...

It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in the lives of others. To put more energy in watching and assuming what life is like for so-and-so. To get caught up in jealousy and envy at the good fortune of others. Why is it so hard for me shut off Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? Why do I focus so much on the perceived lives of others instead of marveling at the beautiful life I have been given?

...

Yesterday morning I listened to an Imago Dei podcast from the first Sunday of Advent. I was so encouraged by the songs, the Scripture and the message. One question that stood out to me was:

In this Advent season what kind of eyes do you have? Natural eyes or eyes of faith? What distractions are keeping you from having eyes of faith?

Welp. Ain't that just so appropriate?

I decided that for this Advent season I need a break from so much social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). I removed the Facebook and Twitter apps from my iPod Touch and I am going to try to check it less frequently. I want to be present in this season. I want to focus on my beautiful girl and really listen to her babbles because, as I'm always reminded, these days together are just too fleeting. I want to soak in the light from my tiny tree and breathe a prayer of thanks for a warm house and a roof over my head. I want to look for the Christ child and ponder His coming, and I want to be ready and waiting for His still small voice.

Happy Advent season my lovely friends.
Much love to you.