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  • The Waiting Game

    The Waiting Game

    The last few weeks of pregnancy feel as if you have to pass through an eternity. So here I am, almost 38 weeks pregnant, waiting on baby #2 to make his debut. The signs of labor coming soon are starting to appear, yet nothing significant so far. I’m ready for maternity leave. I barely make it to 2pm at work without feeling completely exhausted.

    With my first one, I ended up evicting him after 40 weeks. So to feel Braxton hicks and to even be dilated at this point is new to me. I didn’t have any of that with my first. I guess that’s why it’s so hard for me to continue to wait when I start feeling dull back pains and my stomach starting to tighten. All I keep thinking is maybe today is the day. I’ve got my bag packed and ready!

    I just can’t wait to finally hold that new little munchkin in my arms. And also I’m ready to be able to turn over in bed without feeling like I need a pulley system to roll me over. I think my toddler is ready for me to lose the belly too. He has the hardest time getting comfortable on me when I rock him. The insomnia could ease away anytime too. Not that I’m going to get wonderful sleep after the baby is born, but I do admit it’s better than now. I feel as if I have become addicted to Pinterest to pass the time during the sleepless nights, pinning all kinds of things I hope to do with my toddler and newborn once I’m on maternity leave. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer. Good thoughts and happiness to all the pregnant mommas out there feeling the waiting game. Delivery day will be here soon enough!

      

  • Delicious Bruschetta

    Delicious Bruschetta

    My tomato plants have been doing good this year. Yet, once I had a ton of tomatoes, I had to figure out what to do with them. One evening last week, I had a dinner party to go to and needed to bring an appetizer. Being a working mom, I need quick and easy recipes. So, I whipped this up in a flash.

    Bruschetta

    Prep Time: 10 mins

    Cook Time: 3-5 mins

    Total Time: 15 mins

    Ingredients

    1 French Loaf Baguette, sliced

    2 tbsp of minced garlic

    Extra-virgin olive oil

    6 small tomatoes, halved and seeded

    20 fresh basil leaves

    Salt, for taste

    Directions

    Preheat broiler to high. Place bread slices on a pan. Char bread on each side under hot broiler. Drizzle bread with Olive oil. Chop seeded tomatoes and place in a small bowl. Pile basil leaves on top of one another and roll into a log. Thinly slice basil into green confetti and loosely combine with tomatoes. Add a drizzle of oil, garlic,  and salt to the bowl and gently toss tomatoes and basil to coat. Place a spoonful of bruschetta on each slice of bread and serve.

    Enjoy!

  • Southern Style Peach Cobbler

    Southern Style Peach Cobbler

    I have been in a baking mood lately. So, being in the South, of course I needed to make a cobbler. Peach Cobbler at that! I recently found wild blackberries growing in my yard and decided to add some of those to this cobbler too. This delicious, quick and easy cobbler will bring a little southern style to any table and satisfy your sweet tooth.

    Peach and Wild Blackberry Cobbler

    Prep Time: 15 mins

    Cook Time: 35-40 mins

    Total Time: 55 mins

    Servings: 6-8 

    Ingredients

    Filling:

    4 cups of fresh peaches, peeled and sliced

    1 cup of blackberries

    1 tbsp of lemon juice

    1 tbsp of cinnamon

    1/4 cup of sugar

    Crust:

    1 cup of flour

    1 cup of sugar

    1⁄2 tsp of salt

    1 egg, beaten

    6 tbsp of butter, melted

    Directions

    Place peaches and blackberries in bottom of greased 9×9 pan.

    Sprinkle lemon juice, cinnamon, and 1/4 cup of sugar over fruit.

    Sift dry ingredients for the crust.

    Beat egg slightly and add to dry ingredients. Toss with fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over peaches and blackberries.

    Drizzle butter over top.

    Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

    Tada! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and ENJOY!

  • Pavlova: An Australian Dessert

    Pavlova: An Australian Dessert

    This past week, I did an activity where I took my residents on a trip to Australia. We learned about the government, wildlife, local sites, and Australian slang. To make it more enticing for my residents to come to the activity, I made a traditional Australian dessert called Pavlova. It’s a meringue cake with whipped cream and fruit. Surprisingly, it’s gluten free and you could easily make it dairy free by using soy whipped cream. It’s light and fluffy, yet delightfully filling. If you would like to try a taste from the land down under, check it out!

    Pavlova

    6 to 8 servings

    Ingredients

    6 Egg whites, at room temperature

    1/4 tsp of Salt

    1 1/2 cups of Superfine sugar

    1 tbsp of Cornstarch

    2 tsp of Vinegar

    1 tsp of Vanilla

    2 cups of Whipped cream

    3 cups of Fresh fruit 

    Directions

    Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with wax paper, and use a plate or pie tin to draw a 9-inch circle in the middle of the paper with a pencil. Turn the paper over so the circle is on the bottom.

    Add the egg whites and salt to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on high until the whites form soft peaks, about 1 minute. In a blender, take sugar and blend until granules are superfine. Do not use powdered sugar instead. With the mixer still running, slowly add the sugar and beat on high for another minute or so until the whites hold firm, shiny peaks.

    Remove the bowl from the mixer and sift the cornstarch over the beaten whites. Add the vinegar and vanilla and gently fold them all into the whites with a spatula.

    Scoop the meringue into a pile in the circle on the parchment paper and smooth them out with a spatula. Use the spatula to make a gentle depression in the middle of the meringue.

    Reduce the oven heat to 250°F. Place the meringue in the oven and bake for about 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off the oven, leave the door closed and let the meringue cool completely in the oven.

    Carefully remove the pavlova from the baking sheet and center it on a serving platter. Spread the top evenly with whipped cream and arrange fruit nicely on the top. A variety of fruit can be used. Traditionally, kiwi and passion fruit are used but I put raspberries and blackberries on mine. To serve, cut into wedges.

    Enjoy!

  • Independent Tot

    Independent Tot

    How quickly my little one has grown up. My sweet pea is almost 16 mos. He amazes me everyday with how independent he is. I’m proud to see that he is so free-spirited, yet there is still a part of me that misses his always needing me.

    With my next bundle of joy due in October, I am glad to see that my toddler will be able to teach his little brother how to be so self-sufficient. For only being 16 mos., he plays by himself so well. This was a shock to me just because of other children I’ve seen that can’t play by themselves for two minutes. He’s very vocal too, especially when he’s hungry. It’s getting easier and easier to know exactly what he wants. He’s even getting up on his own in the morning and not having a meltdown because no one is in the room with him. He will at times start playing with his toys and I can hear him rustling around in his room. On some days though, he will tiptoe in our bedroom and surprisingly wake me up with a sweet smile and the best word in the world, “Mom?” I am mesmerized everyday with how intelligent he is.

    My husband stays home with him and has done an amazing job of teaching him morals, values, and everyday education. He’s constantly working with my little one during the day, reading with him, going over numbers and the alphabet. I am always reading with my tot when I get home and singing nursery rhymes with him. To see how advanced he is compared to other children his age truly shows me how much quality educational time with your children makes so much of a difference. 

    I’m proud of my independent sweet pea and constantly astonished by his development. I can’t wait to see how he will interact with the new baby and am excited for the new baby to learn how to be so free-spirited himself. Life never ceases to shock me with vibrancy. 

    If you have any educational ideas you do with your little one, please share! I would love to hear!

  • Parmesan Zucchini and Corn in a Flash

    Parmesan Zucchini and Corn in a Flash

    Have you ever been invited to a party or BBQ last minute and needed to whip up something to bring quickly? Well, this side dish is not only delicious but takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish to prepare. It’s super yummy, healthy, and will add a zest of color to any table. 

    Parmesean Zucchini and Corn

    Prep Time: 5 mins

    Cook Time: 10 mins

    Total Time: 15 mins

    Ingredients

    2 tbsp of Olive oil

    2 tsp of minced garlic

    3-4 Zucchinis, diced

    1 cup of corn kernels, frozen

    1 tsp of Italian Seasoning

    Salt and Pepper, to taste 

    2 tsbp of Lemon Juice

    1 cup of Parmesan Cheese

    Instructions

    Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, about 1 minute.

    Add zucchini, corn, and Italian seasoning. Cook, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is tender and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in lemon juice.  In serving bowl, add Parmesan cheese, toss, and serve!

    Tada! You have a healthy and scrumptious side dish in no time. Dig in!

  • Fun, Thrifty Summer Activities for Your Toddler

    Fun, Thrifty Summer Activities for Your Toddler

    The sun is shining and the weather feels great! If your little one is anything like mine, he constantly wants to be outside. He loves to run around in the yard, but that gets old after a while. So here’s a few fun and inexpensive activities to do with your toddler this summer:

    1.) Sidewalk Chalk: Most Dollar Stores sell this and it will help bring out your toddlers creative side too. They can decorate the entire sidewalk.

      2.) Painting the Sidewalk/Deck: This one is so easy. Give you toddler a paintbrush and a bucket of water. They will have a ball! My sweet pea painted our entire deck and sidewalk. It kept him busy all afternoon.

    3.) Bubbles: You can find a bargain on these at most dollar stores too. To make it even more fun, get the giant bubble wands and your toddler will be so amazed at making big bubbles! And if you have dogs, it will keep them occupied too. Mine love it when my toddler play with bubbles.

    4.) Playing at the Park: My sweet pea loves to go swing and play on the slide. This is great for social interaction too. He always gets to meet new kids at the park.

      5.) Kiddie Pool: I got ours from K-Mart for less than $12. I think my son would stay in that pool all day if I let him. It helps keep him cool on those hot summer days and you too! I dip my feet in while he plays in the water. You could also get water guns from the Dollar Store and have a water gun fight with your little one. It makes me feel like a kid again.

      6.) Tie Dye: This one is a little more messy but so much fun! You also get to keep whatever you tie dye whether it be shirts, a tapestry, or pillowcases. You can get a tie dye kit from Wal-Mart for less than $10 and a pack of t-shirts for around $5-6.  

    Whatever fun adventures you decide to do with your toddler is all well worth the quality time they get to spend with you. Hope my ideas help make the summer a little more fun for you and your toddler. I would love to hear any other ideas you have done with your little ones. Happy Summer Everyone! 

     

  • Yummy Lemon Bars

    Yummy Lemon Bars

    It’s summer time and I have been craving citrus so much during this pregnancy. Anything lemon or lime, I have been baking away. Which is rare for me, because most times I will tend to make more chocolate or creamy sweet treats. These lemons bars though are to die for. They will just melt in your mouth. But don’t just take my word for it, try out this simple recipe for yourself! 

    Yummy Lemon Bars

    Prep Time: 15 mins

    Cook Time: 40 mins

    Total Time: 55 mins

    Ingredients

    Crust:

    1 cup of butter, softened

    1/2 cup of sugar

    2 cups of flour

    Lemon Topper:

    4 Eggs

    1 1/2 cups of sugar

    1/4 cup of flour

    2 Lemons, juiced

    Optional: Powdered Sugar for topping 

    Directions

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9×13 inch pan.

    Bake for 15-20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden. In another bowl, whisk together the 1 1/2 cups of sugar and 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.

    Bake for an additional 20 minutes in the oven. The bars will firm up as they cool. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top after bars have cooled.

    Enjoy!

  • Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

    Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

    It’s summer time! Trying to avoid turning on the oven as much as possible? Trying to eat healthier to stay in shape for swimsuit weather? Need a recipe that won’t take a while to make? Well if you answered yes to any of those questions, then this quick and easy recipe should do the trick. Also, it gives a festive splash of color on any table and will impress your taste buds with it’s yummy flavor!

    Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

    Prep Time: 15 mins

    Total Time: 15 mins

    Serves 8-10

    Ingredients

    One carton of Cherry Tomatoes

    2-3 medium Cucumbers – Diced

    2 medium Avocados – Diced

    8 oz of Goronzola Cheese – Crumbled

    1/2 cup of Red Onion- Diced

    1/4 cup of olive oil

    1/4 cup of Balsalmic Vinegar

    Salt and Pepper for taste

    Instructions

    Chop Cherry Tomatoes in half. Add to a bowl.

    Dice Cucumbers, Avocados, and Red Onion. Add to bowl.

    Add Gorgonzola Crumbles to bowl.

    Whisk together olive oil, balsalmic vinegar, salt, and pepper – pour over salad.

    Toss gently. Serve immediately.

    Enjoy!

  • 4 Things to Do For Your Fur Babies on the 4th of July Weekend

    4 Things to Do For Your Fur Babies on the 4th of July Weekend

    It’s the holiday weekend and everyone is ready to celebrate! Cookouts and fireworks are fun and festive but don’t forget about your pets. Pets tend to get lost and run away the most on the 4th of July weekend due to getting scared from all the fireworks and commotion. Here are four tips that can help relieve your pets stress during the holiday festivities:

    1.) Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! Make sure you play and exercise your pets during the days of the holiday weekend. If your pets are exercised and tired they are more likely to relax and not have the energy for the noise scare them as much.

    2.) A Little Extra Food Never Hurts. Give your pets a little more of a portion this weekend. Fuller tummies ease the your pet’s stress levels and allow them to take it easy. And hey!, it’s not like you’re dieting this weekend at your friends or family cookouts while you eat hot dogs, hamburgers, and lemon ice box pies.

    3.) Let Them Hide Out! Let your pets hide out inside if they need to. Leaving them outside all night or getting frustrated with them that they won’t come from out underneath the bed isn’t helping them relax. Once they feel comfortable and at ease they will go back to a normal routine.  4.) Act normal and calm your pets! If your pets see that you are relaxed then they will have a tendency to relax themselves. Also, snuggling, petting, and comforting your pet will help relieve their anxiety.

    With these four tips, your pets should be able to make it through the holiday weekend. I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July! And always love and hug your fur babies lots!

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