Post-Holiday Food, Part 2

So we've covered lunch, now how about breakfast?  I've gotten into a very bad habit of eating a granola bar for breakfast while driving to work.  If it's a good day, I'll make some peanut butter toast to eat at stop lights.  A bad day = eating just a spoonful of peanut butter before running out the door.  It's not that I'm busier than anybody else, I just don't take/make the time for breakfast.

My kids and I love oatmeal, but this is not a very car friendly food.  Even if we have a morning at home, cooking oatmeal the right way takes time, and when I'm the kids are hungry, breakfast better be ready.  I tried a recipe for crock pot oatmeal a couple of years ago with disastrous results.  Determined to eat a real breakfast more often, I began my crock pot recipe search again, and this time I've found a winner.  Slow cooker steel cut oats are super easy, nutritious and delicious.

My recipe (A google search will show you 100's of different recipes, but this is what I have done):

1.  Find a large glass bowl that will fit inside your crock pot.  Fill the bowl with 1 cup steel cut oats, 4 cups water and 1/2 cup milk or cream.  Add a dash of salt and cinnamon to taste.  You can add dried fruit now, or wait until morning.

2. Set the bowl in the crock pot, and fill the crock pot with enough water that it comes at least half way up the sides of the glass bowl (essentially creating a water bath).  Cover, and turn the crock pot onto low.

3.  Get 8 hours of sleep.  Wake up.  Eat oatmeal.  Feel good.

Post-Holiday Food

Last weekend we took a mini vacation to the Sun Valley area.  After two days of eating out, I realized that I had managed to eat almost no vegetables (with the exception of veggie pizza).  On our way out of town, we stopped to check out the new Main Street Market.  I bought some quinoa salad, as well as some raw kale salad from the deli.  The quinoa salad had corn and onions mixed in and was pretty standard, but the raw kale salad was really, really good.  It had a lemon vinaigrette, parmesan cheese, pine nuts and red peppers.  Although it couldn't undo the massive amounts of manchego flatbread I had consumed, it did make me feel healthier.  

Hoping to recreate the salad for work lunches this week, I bought kale at the store today.  I bought one bunch of red kale and one of green, but I chose to use the red for this salad.  I also restocked my quinoa supply, since I couldn't remember how old mine was (does it go bad?).  I buy organic quinoa in the bulk section, making it a pretty low cost food.  My original plan was to cook and cool the quinoa, then add the raw kale, taking inspiration from the two grocery store salads.  However, even after chopping it into very thin strips, the kale was still pretty tough.   I ended up lightly sautéing the kale in some olive oil, sea salt and garlic, then tossing with the cooked quinoa.  I forgot to buy pine nuts, so I added some chopped walnuts.  I had half a bag of organic dried cranberries in my fridge, so those went in too.  Instead of making a dressing, I drizzled the salad with olive oil and the juice of half of a lemon.  The result was really good while warm, and I think it will be equally delicious as a cold salad.  I didn't measure anything but the dry quinoa (one cup), but I think this recipe would be very flexible.  I did a search for quinoa and kale salads and found quite a few actual recipes.  I think these sound good: with avocado (yum!), with apple, and a nice wintery version.  Which do you think sounds best?

A Semi-Homemade Christmas

For Blake:

Growing up, my dad always had a Nerf basketball hoop hanging in the kitchen.  Blake has been into makeshift basketball games lately (Who wouldn't love to chuck a wooden car into a mixing bowl?).   I looked at all of the big, plastic toddler b-ball hoops, but they are, well, big and plastic.  I thought a Nerf hoop would be the perfect thing for a big empty wall in his room.  Except, I think they are kind of ugly, too (yikes, I'm picky!).  

Did you know a piece of scrapbook paper is the exact width of a Nerf hoop (that was pure luck)?

I think it is awfully cute!

Total cost: around $6.00, ball included

I already have the 3M strips on the back, so I might try to sneak into his room tomorrow night and stick it to the wall.

Hadley's gift:

For some reason, Hadley's favorite movie is Ratatouille.  Perhaps it's because it's one of the first and few that she has ever watched.  Blake loves Cars.  Cars toys, books, clothes = everywhere you look in Target.  Ratatouille= Nowhere to be found.  I had to take matters into my own hands. 

If you haven't seen the movie, this video will explain what I'm about to show you.

Kids chef hat $4.00 + shipping from amazon.  Rat $0.99 from Ikea

I used a scrap of elastic (that I had from a tutu project 3 years ago) to sew a loop for the rat.  That way he can be taken out and played with.

I think she'll love it!

A Prescription

What Would You Send?

Did you know that you can send small items in the mail without a box?  Checkout this blog to see what they've been sending. What should I drop in the mail tomorrow?

Skating to School

How great is this?

A Last Minute Gift Idea

If you need a gift as soon as possible, or if you have no patience (me), then check out these customized prints from Earlybird Ink.  She will ship the print to you, or for a couple dollars less, you can print it yourself.  Mine arrived in my inbox a few hours after ordering, and she sent me multiple proofs as I couldn't decide on a color/pattern.  If you use the code GRANDOPENING10, you'll get 10% off.

The first nail hole in the office/guest room wall was a bit painful, but I love how it looks!

Here is a sample from her site, so you can see the details.  I copied the white mat/frame idea ($13.99 at Target)

Bonus holiday cheer:  

  I believe I posted it last year, but if you have kids, don't miss the Portable North Pole customized messages from Santa.  My kids have each watched their videos at least 5 times today.

This Would Improve the Christmas Shopping Experience.

Christmas Spirit

Before I really get started, let me warn you that this post will make some of you angry (how very un-Christmas like of you).  As a preface, before you go and accuse me of being a Scrooge, take a look at what my kids will find in their lunch boxes today:

And likewise, here is what will be in mine:

So, back to the reason for this post.  I hate the Christmas radio station.  With a passion.  I swear some of the songs they play are holiday classics only because we hear them on the same station year after year.  Seriously, I've never heard them anywhere else.  I know, I know...some of you are in shock right now.  What a blasphemous thing to say about the elusive Christmas music, which we only get to enjoy 24 hours a day, from November 1st to January 1st each year.  But come on, somebody out there has to agree with me, right?

So, now that I got that negativity out, here is my solution for you.  Have you heard the Sufjan Stevens Christmas album?  If not, turn on Spotify now.  It's Christmas music, some very traditional, but done in a very relaxing, heavily instrumental, somewhat folksy and very Sufjan way.  Try it, you'll like it.  

Now wish me luck, for when my husband reads this latest rant he may divorce me.  He's been singing Little Drummer Boy from the top of his lungs for days.   Oh well, opposites attract, or so they say.

This and That

- My friend gave us the cutest melted snowman cookies today.  I wanted to get a picture, but the kids gobbled them up before we got home.  Here is a picture (with instructions) that I found online.

via

-  Here is a great re-use for cups with domed lids.  I might have to see if Starbucks will give/sell me a few of these, as painting can get very messy here.

 I found this idea on the blog Storage and Glee.  It is full of fun, creative storage ideas.  I've only made it through the first 5 pages, because sure there is something else I should be doing, but I'm excited to see the rest of her finds. 

-I'm trying to come up with ideas to make a star to top our Christmas tree, but I'm not having much luck. Here is one result of my search. 

Any suggestions?

Blue, Part I

Before:

During:

Paper and glue are finally gone, but the ugliness remains:

Faux wainscoting is up (Lowes) and the walls are primed:

Adventures in color matching:

 Sidenote: We learned that while Lowes can match Benjamin Moore colors, they look different in different brands of paint.  The Olympic VOC-free unfortunately looked awful.  Valspar was a winner.  The color is " Mount Saint Anne ," and I found it by googling "the perfect blue-gray-green paint."  Apparently a lot of people are looking for the same thing, because I found lots of ideas.

Part way there:

And, done.

The "After":

What do you think?

A Fun Little Project

Ribbon and mini clothespins (Craft Warehouse)

Large thumbtacks (Fred Meyer)

Lots of pictures ( $0.01 prints from Snapfish)

Less than five bucks and less than 30 minutes of work.

I love it!

Good Advice

From the obituary of a 102 year old woman:

"Floss daily, give nice presents, homemade candy is delicious, speak your mind, work hard and always carry a hanky."

Start Playing With Your Food!

Some people (my mother and husband) might tell you that I like to play with my food.  Apparently, I always have and it seems I always will.  You know, stacking broccoli (surprisingly hard), playing the color game (mixing foods on your plate to test the color wheel), and the ever popular try-to-peel-the-raw-red-pepper-stick-in-one-strip-without-breaking-the-skin (impossible).

You see, I really feel that I can't be blamed for what some people may call an impolite habit.  What I'm about to tell you is shocking, but true.  When I was a kid, a large clock hung on the wall above our dining room table.  My parents would have us play this "fun game" called, "Watch the clock and see if Andrea can make it 1/5/10 minutes without talking."  That's emotional abuse, at best, I tell you.  So, what else was I to do but play with my food while sitting in joyful silence?

When you have kids, one of the many truths that nobody tells you is this: You will never again have time to sit and eat a meal, let alone play with one.  On one recent night, I got up from the table 12 times (really, I counted) to refill milk, get a peanut butter sandwich, get plain toast because the peanut butter sandwich is no longer wanted, get another napkin, get a different spoon, get up to get the other red spoon while thinking that there is no way they can possibly tell the difference, get a different cup, get two cups, get the peanut butter sandwich that is now in demand, get a towel because the milk spilled, refill milk, dump out the milk that tastes funny....  You get the picture.  Obviously there are bigger issues at hand than the fact the milk spilled.  Should I be a short order cook and let the kids boss me around?  No.  Do I have the energy to fight it by the time dinner rolls around?  Nope.

So, when you find a food that the kids will willingly eat (2 servings, none the less) and that you can play with, well, I'd say that's a win-win.

You can buy zoo pasta at World Market stores, or here. 

A Mini Recipe

I haven't been very good about posting recipes lately, but here is a quick and easy one.  When I was pregnant with Hadley, we went shopping for a rocker/glider one night.  Suddenly, I had to eat.  Right away.  Luckily there was an restaurant in the same parking lot.  I don't remember what I ordered that night, or how the food was, but Tyler and I have often reminisced about the dipping oil for the bread.  Carrabba's shut down several years ago, so I can't go taste test for comparison, but I believe this recipe comes awfully close.

Carrabba's herb oil, via cdkitchen

INGREDIENTS:

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or as needed)

PREPARATION:

Combine all ingredients, except oil, on a deep plate or bowl. Pour olive oil over.

Warning, this stuff is so addictive.   I may or may not have eaten a hunk of garlic rosemary bread with dipping oil for breakfast.  Enjoy!

Hodel, Oh Hodel, Have I Got a Match For You...

Nothing can make up for missing my kids all day while I'm at work, but an evening of total silliness sure comes close...

For some reason, since the kids were little, when I pull their shirts over their heads I am inspired to sing songs from Fiddler on the Roof...

Matchmaker, matchmaker make me a match...

A cheapo wig from the Target after Halloween sale: Priceless

It seems like only yesterday he was a bouncy baby boy.  Look at him now, with his beautiful flowing locks.

Why is Blake so happy?  Look closely...

The daycare teachers tell us that Blake and Hadley are so close and play so well together that it actually causes problems.  When their classes are on the playground at the same time, Blake apparently blocks other kids from getting to Hadley and sobs if her class goes inside first.  The teachers are starting to coordinate schedules just so they don't have to deal with it.  While I'm sure this is annoying to them, it's a bit heartwarming as a mother.  

Hadley, after daycare last night:  "Mommy! Mommy!  Last time, at school, I saw a coat and a hat and gloves, and it turned around and it was Blakey!  My eyes went like this (got big) and I was so excited that I jumped and I jumped!"   

Could there be any better answer to the question, "How was your day?" 

So this was actually this morning, but it cracks me up.

I've been a bad blogger

Life is busy, but in a very good way.  Sure there are negatives, but they are outweighed by the many, many positives.   Little things, like hearing Hadley speak in an English accent while playing with a toy castle tonight.
-Watching Blake play with these magnetic blocks, his tongue covering his top lip as he was deep in concentration.
-Dinner time positives look like this: Both kids eating a good dinner, asking for seconds, maybe even thirds, without screaming fighting, or throwing food.  That right there, that's a huge positive.
-I had a frustrating day at work, but on my way out the door a nurse very sincerely said, "thank you for all of your help today." That little positive completely erased the negatives of the day.
-After dinner tonight, the kids asked to go on an adventure on the path behind our house.  We spent the next 20 minutes running through leaf piles in the dark.  Positive.
-The other night, I surprised the kids with a new book from my gift stash at bed time, just because.  Who remembers this book from childhood?  I was flooded with memories when we got to the page about chocolate cake.  I very clearly remember wanting cake every time my mom read me this book.  The addiction started at a young age.
- Speaking of cake, I'm planning to bake a few as gifts for people.  I've been in a gifting mood; care packages, baby gifts, birthday gifts, just because gifts.  I'm hoping to create a "positive" for others when they receive their gifts.
- Speaking of that, my commute has recently tripled, so I really appreciate having pretty things to look at.   There is one particular house that I drive by every day that has really beautiful flowers.  I've committed the address to memory and I've been thinking of sending an unsigned post card, thanking them for brightening my day.  But then I think that maybe that's creepy.  Would you be happy or creeped out if your purple flowers received a secret admirer postcard in the mail?

Well, I should wrap up this weekly blog and start preparing for the big holiday tomorrow.  Our kids have been practicing "trick-or-treating" at every door in our house for the past few weeks.  Hadley is pretty consistent, but Blake's only hitting the correct verbiage every 2nd or 3rd time.  Oh well, it is more entertaining when you open the door to a 2 year old in a cow costume saying, "I need candy!"  or "Smell my feet!"

Super Soup!

Long time, no post. So, I'm back and I'm going to talk about the ever exciting cruciferous vegetable: broccoli. Specifically, broccoli soup. This stuff is super easy, cheap and healthy. The best, most super part? Blake ate two bowls. Hadley only ate one serving, but she didn't fight it, and after dinner she asked if she could clear the table and load the dishwasher! See? Magic soup.

First, melt some butter in a soup pot. Chop up some broccoli (I used three large heads), some carrots, and an onion. Toss it in the pot.

Okay, so I kind of forgot about photos and that's the last recipe picture I have.  So, you can find the recipe here.   But, I do have a photo of Blake eating the soup, and if you look closely you might find Waldo Tyler.

While broccoli soup capped off a good day of vegetable eating by the kiddos yesterday, tonight we made it to bedtime realizing that the only veggies the kids ate today were corn on the cob and sweet potato fries. So, my somewhat selfish bedtime snack choice was pumpkin smoothies.  Two cups for me, one for each of the kids.  Delicious!   I did a google search for pumpkin smoothie recipes and ended up just winging it with ingredients I saw in different recipes.  1 can organic pumpkin, vanilla yogurt, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice + extra cinnamon, a spoonful of brown sugar and some ice cubes.  Blend it up and enjoy!  

(Bonus- both pumpkin and cinnamon are known to have anti-inflammatory and pain relieving qualities.  I sure hope it works, because as of bedtime, Blake is refusing to walk due to a sore leg following his 2 year vaccinations.  Do you think we can send him to daycare in a stroller?)

Love This!

Family Photos

This outfit will likely not make the cut.

We have our fall family photos coming up next week, so I'm starting to tackle that oh so difficult problem of what to wear.  The truth is, when we get the photos back, we probably won't even notice what we were wearing.  We'll notice that Blake has his fingers in his nose in 84% of the shots.  Hadley will be screaming at Blake in 79% of the shots.  I'll be trying to keep them separated in 94% of the shots.  We will all be looking at the camera in 4% of the photos, and we will all be smiling in exactly one photo.  This is exactly why I can't fathom paying big bucks for photos at this time.  We simply don't have it in the budget, especially considering there is a chance that none of them will turn out.  However, if I had the money, here is the photographer I would use.   Her photos are always so wonderful.

Now, off to choose outfits.  Or perhaps I should be picking out the bribes.  Fruit snacks...lollipops...$20 in the piggy bank if you'll sit still and just smile, just one time, I beg you...

Compost!

If you live in the Boise area, you can purchase a compost bin from Allied Waste for $42!  That's a great deal. We now have a big enough yard for the bin, so we picked one up yesterday, and I'm excited to finally start composting.  A large amount of our kitchen trash is food scraps, vegetable peels, egg shells, etc.  Combined with yard waste, I think we'll be able to significantly reduce the amount of trash we put out each week.

If you are interested in buying one, you can go to Allied Waste at 11101 W Executive drive during normal business hours.

Two!

My baby is two!  How did that happen?  I still remember every little detail of his birth day like it was yesterday.

Ready to meet my baby.

8 pounds, 12 ounces of adorable, handsome boy.

First family photo

One day old and sleeping sweetly.

Little did we know that he would scream,

 and scream,

 and scream for the next 10 weeks.

  But we sure loved him anyway.

My little pumpkins at the pumpkin patch, 10.16.09

And now, somehow here we are.  I have a two year old and a three year old.  No more of this baby business; these are two full blown little people and they rule my world.  Blake hasn't forgotten how to scream (the colic was great training for his lungs), but he is also the sweetest boy.  He loves to cuddle, give kisses and tell me he loves me.  Even when wheeling from one room to the next on a ride on toy, he never forgets to say, "uh-by, love you, see you later, I'll be back soon," and then blows me a kiss.  When he returns, he demands "hugs."  

Perhaps it's to balance his soft, emotional side, but this kid loves all things "boy."  Cars, trucks, mud and sports.  To be fair, he also plays a mean game of "baby" or "house," but give this kid a toy with wheels, and he's a happy camper.  This made choosing his birthday party theme an easy task.  Planning the party, not so simple.  I somehow decided that it would be a good idea to have his party exactly one week after moving to a new house, which meant I was completely un-prepared.  The cakes were moderately burnt, the muffins severely so (darn new-to-me oven).  The decorations were non-existent, and the "game" was created 15 minutes before guests arrived.  Which is actually not so bad, considering that the frosting was being made and cakes assembled once the party was in full swing.  Oh well, Blake didn't know the difference. 

Without further ado, here are a few pictures from Blake's Truck/Car 2nd birthday party.  

Just a boy and his truck.  And, uh, his patent leather heels.

Blueberry Zucchini muffins, black bean chips, corn chips and pineapple salsa, dried fruit mix, truck cookies and juice boxes in the shape of a truck.

I had planned to make a pinata, but when I found this one for less than $9 at the party store, I couldn't pass it up.

 We filled a laundry basket with every car, truck and train in the house and brought them outside to play with.  Vroom, vroom!

The last minute homemade party game- car races!  It's a good thing we had plenty of cardboard from the move!

Chocolate turtle cake and pumpkin cake with whipped cream cheese frosting for the adults.

Dirt dessert for the kids.  Served inside Blake's new tractor from Grandma.  

It seemed like a good idea at first, especially as Blake sat motionless while everybody sang to him. 

But of course, if you present a 2 year old with a brand new ride on toy, he's not going to sit still for long. Oops.  If you're going to eat dirt anyway, it might as well be eaten off the floor, right?

Happy Birthday, Blake!