WIAW:Toddler Eats

I hope you all had a Terrific Tuesday! It was a busy, yet fun, one for us:)

 I wanted to take the time to share some holiday fun!!!! I am officially signed up for the 2012 Great Blogger Cookie Swap!!!!:) I am so excited. I found out about this last year, we had just moved, and I missed sign ups by a week. So I am so excited to join in this year. I love blogging, I love the holidays, I love blog fun, and I love cookies:) So this is a win, win, win, win! If you don't know about the cookie swap, click here! Julie and Lindsay are hosting the second annual cookie swap and they have all the info you may need. All you have to do is sign up! This year they are collecting money for Cookies for Kids Cancer. When you sign up, you also have to donate $4 to this amazing cause. It is so worth it! After you get signed up, confirm your donation, you will then receive and email on the details:) I can't wait to get in the kitchen and play with some new recipes...and then receive yummy cookies from others:) Okay, so go sign up! Happy Baking!

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Breakfast

Banana Zucchini Mini Muffins with

Homemade Cinnamon Apples

Lunch

Roasted Turkey, Raspberries, and Veggie Sticks

Dinner

Yellow Squash Ravioli with Steamed Broccoli

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The debate last night was quite heated at times...yikes. I was actually uncomfortable at times. Like I had the awkward, had to look away, feeling:/ Anyways, we watched it and it was very telling. We definitely have two very different paths to vote for come next month! I am trying to get my early voting in..I am a BIG promoter of voting so I will be casting my ballot asap:)

Are you voting this year? Did you sign up for the Cookie Swap?

What did you find interesting in the debate last night?

Weekend Recap+Oatmeal Chocolate Chips

Phew. That was a weekend. The stomach virus went through our house this past week and weekend. We so very rarely get sick and have never all been sick at the same time that it was quite the treat. Its over now and I am ready for this busy week! Among the other things I have to do this week, it was Wyatt's birthday yesterday so I am in party planning mode:) We are having a super-hero party so I have a lot to do:) Some of the girls that are coming do not have superhero clothing so I am going to throw together a few "girly" capes:)

Ok, so who watched Revenge last night?! LOVE LOVE that show. Seriously like my favorite. It is getting so good and I am dying to see where they take the show this season. I am wanting Jack and Emily to reunite and be together so much...however, I see them dragging that out for.ever.

There is another round of presidential debates this week. I am hoping it goes a bit smoother for one party. Our VP made himself look like a child at the last weeks, which then in turn just makes the president look worse. I obviously am not a fan of either, but I still think Biden needs to think about his actions affecting other people. Maybe he should stop running his mouth...and the smiling...eek. Okay, off that soapbox;)

I made some delicious cookies last night and thought I would share. What is the best way to to tell if your cookies will be good, you ask?! The dough. Yes, always go by the cookie dough. I am telling you, that is key!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

by Rachel Layfield

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 9-12 minutes

Ingredients (3 dozen)

• 3 1/4 C Flour
• 1 t baking soda
• 3/4 t salt
• 1 1/3 C soft butter
• 1 1/4 C Sugar
• 1 C brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4 t vanilla
• 1 package of mini chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup oats

Instructions

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Beat butter and sugars on medium until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well and then slowly add dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop with an ice cream scoop onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees.

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Ok I am off to finish my Monday things but head back over here tomorrow for another week of Turn The Page Tuesday!!! I have a classic to share with you:) Halloween edition, of course! For those of you who want to know more about our Tuesday link up party, check out the link above! See you tomorrow!

Turn The Page Tuesday Week 7+Melissa and Doug Giveaway!

I know I have been gone a couple days but we had our best friends Amanda and Brian here! We had an absolute blast and picked up right where we left off! But, we will get to the weekend later this week:) I have lots of pictures to share....it deserves a post of its own! I finally found some yummy coffee creamers last week! I ended up coming home with 4:/ I clearly am indecisive when it comes to choosing between a yummy treat! I ended up with Salted Caramel Mocha and Pumpkin Spice!! mmm!!!! Both are equally yummy so I highly recommend them! I also made a new pumpkin spice muffin this past weekend and it had a surprising ingredient! It is a must share so I will post that one later this week! It has already been a busy week and will be all week...cant complain because thats how I like it.
Amanda and I always enjoyed watching Grey's and Private Practice together...among others. When our husbands were deployed we got spoiled to having each other to watch it together, and even when we moved apart we would sometimes Skype and still watch it together. This past week she was here and we were able to watch it together! It was a lot of fun, just like the old days, but boy was that an intense episode!! I am so annoyed that they never say what actually happened to Mark!;) Maybe this week?:) The shows this fall are so intense..they must bee really trying to bring in more viewers!

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Now onto another edition of Turn The Page Tuesday!!

My book choice for this week is one my son Wyatt just received in the mail! His 4th birthday is on Sunday and my best friend Elizabeth sent him this awesome Halloween pop-up book...he loves it!

Silly Ghosts

By:Janet Lawler

The Spooky Ghosts pop up at night. What is it that they want? Is it to haunt, eat candy, play games? Read along and find out what the ghosts come out to do!!! 

I like this books because it isn't really scary and is perfect for little ones! The best part are the illustrations and pages. It has bright colors and big pop ups! The best page is the last page so have a blast reading to the end!!!

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I hope you all enjoy this book as much as we are! One thing I am doing today is ordering birthday gifts for my sweet baby! He turns 4 on Sunday:( Where has the time gone???! I can't believe it. We aren't celebrating his birthday until next weekend but we have a special day planned on Sunday! Has anyone seen "Hotel Transylvania?" I have been dying to take him to see it! Im not usually a fan off those types of movies but it looks like they did a good job of making it kid friendly!

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On another note, one our "TTPT" readers is hosting a giveaway!!! Head over to Trainy Brainy Blog and enter to win a Melissa and Doug Puzzle book!!!

Have you found any new fall treats? Have you read any of our "TTPT" books?

What are some of your birthday ideas for kids?

Okay, time to pick and book and link up!!!! See you tomorrow for What I Ate Wednesday!:)

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Thursday Things and Recipes

Today is finally here and its going to be a good one! I have a few things to get done at the house today and then its time to get pretty:) Our MP Ball is tonight and I am so looking forward to it. I love the chance to get dressed up and go somewhere with my honey. I can actually say that since 2006, 6 years of MP Balls, I have yet to buy a new dress. Crazy, yes. I have used past prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, etc. Today I am wearing a gorgeous dress I bought for my cousin Christine's wedding from last year. I only wore it to her wedding so I am excited to wear it again:) This is a gorgeous shot of all of us last November. Her wedding was at Union Station in Washington DC! Needless to say, it was beautiful. 

I am going to make a new Pumpkin Spice Muffin for breakfast tomorrow, so I will let you know how they turn out! And so the "pumpkin-ness" continues....

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Did you watch the debate last night? I am not going to get into too much on the issue, but I do think it was a very good debate. It definitely made me realize, again, that the two choices come December are very different. I am voting for Romney as I believe he is the best choice. However, I was raised in to having respect for others and their opinions even if they aren't mine. I answer to God and no one else. And with that, no matter who walks into the Oval office next month, God is in control and nothing surprises him. Ok, I will get off my small soap box;)

Ok, to all my Grey's Anatomy friends.....tonight is gonna be rough;) Yes, I know, they are  not real people;) However, I am completely involved in their "lives"....;) I am so excited that I will have Amanda here to watch it with me!!!! 

I also promised you some recipes so here you go:

Garlic Cheddar Biscuits

by Rachel Layfield

Prep Time: 10 mintes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients (12 biscuits)

• 2 Cups Self-Rising Flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 3 tbs. Crisco
• 2 tbs butter
• Parsley Flakes

Instructions

Add your flour to a mixing bowl. Cut in your crisco until it is pea size. Add milk and mix until blended. Don't over mix. Add cheese and garlic and blend. Fill your muffin pan with biscuit mix. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Melt butter and add parsley flakes. Using a basting brush and top hot biscuits with the butter mix.

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Taco Bowls

by Rachel Layfield

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients (2 Bowls)

• Tortilla of choice
• 1 strip of Flank Steak
• 1/4 tsp Cumin
• 1/4 tsp Ground Mustard
• 1/4 tsp garlic
• 1/4 tsp Paprika
• Romaine Lettuce
• tomato
• cucumber
• black olives
• 3 green onions
• Fresh shredded cheddar cheese
• Fresh Salsa
• 1 avocado
• Ranch dressing
• jalapeño
• cilantro

Instructions

Marinate (4 hours-overnight) steak with spices and green onions. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut up all vegetables and place in bowl. Using a flat dish, add 1 cup of warm water and 3 T of EVOO together. Soak tortillas until soft. Place two oven safe bowls onto a cookie sheet. Cover with aluminum foil and spray with crisco cooking spray. Lay tortillas over foil and bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, take tortillas off bowl and bake another 5 minutes. Grill steak to your desire. Add all veggies to bowl. Top with thin sliced steak. Top with fresh salsa, cheese, and ranch dressing.

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I hope you all have an awesome Thursday!!! Tomorrow is another edition of Flashback Friday:)

WIAW

Here we go Wednesday! Man, it has been a long week but I have gotten a lot done, so its been worth it! I also cannot wait for tomorrow because we have our annual Military Police Ball and the best part you ask?!?!!? Our best friends are coming to OUR HOUSE!:) I cannot wait. We haven't seen them in a year and we have 4 full days with them!:)

I bought some pumpkin a coupe days ago and am ready to start baking pumpkin style;) I am thinking my first bake will be Pumpkin Spice Muffins or bread:) MMM....I can taste it now! I haven't had much luck finding seasonal coffee creamers yet...a con to living in a small town. One thing I have fully stocked up on are my wallflowers! If you haven't stopped into Bath and Body Works you should, again, head there pronto!

Now onto What I Ate Wednesday with Jenn over at Peas and Crayons!!! If you haven't jumped on board with this yummy link party, you definitely should! You can get lots of food ideas:) I will definitely post some Halloween and Pumpkin treats next week!

Breakfast

2 Van's Blueberry Waffles

Lunch

Kashi Freezer Meal:

Sesame Chicken

Dinner

Zucchini and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken

Potato and Brussel Sprout Medley

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Well there ya have it! Tomorrow will be recipe day....yeah, the procrastination has gotten that bad;) Now to change the subject...Is it too soon to say Christmas season is near;) I am soooo ready!!!!:) Have a great Wednesday!

Project Date Night: Building a Porch Swing

Today is the first day in a while that I haven't posted first thing in the morning. It has been so busy around here...we have company in this weekend and something going on every weekend for the next month and a half! So, today is going to be simple.

With it being fall and all, I have been dying to get a porch swing hung outside. It is so beautiful here and its perfect weather for a swing. At first we were going to buy one, and then my husband offered to build me one...okay!:) So, tonight is a project date night!!!

I am always looking for new creative ideas for date nights at home. As you know, once you have kids it is harder to get out. So, why not have a date night at home?! I will post my creative date nights when I have them, and hope they help inspire you to bring the "dating" back home:)

Tonight my honey and I are building this:

Source

I am headed out now to go pick out a paint color, and then it will be back home to whip up some yummy Steak Taco Salad Bowls (recipe to come) and then start building!:) I will post pictures when the swing is hung!:)

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What would you build?

Baby Food

I have many "Momma" friends and some that have babies so I thought I would share some of my baby food recipes! It really is an easy process! Although this is a great way to feed your baby, which ever way you choose is great, too! I am not a supporter of making a mom feel guilty for the way she chooses to feed her baby! I am pro breastfeeding and making my own baby food, however, that's me!:) I would love to hear about what you do with your baby/toddler:)
I have been making baby food since my first son, Wyatt, started eating solid foods! He is now a thriving 3 year old..yikes:( I aim to blend food groups together so that when I go to prepare a meal, I can just get a few cubes and I am giving my boys a complete meal! I have made many blends of food, which I will list below! For those of you who want a guide, I LOVE and use "Super Baby Foods" by Ruth Yaron. This book was written by a mom and is full of how to's, recipes, and more! It is your complete guide to feeding your "Super" baby:) I highly recommend it! my mom used it with my little sisters, and then passed it down to me!! So, Thanks Mom for setting the standard of feeding for my children:)
I like to make a fruit blend to add to yogurt and oatmeal for breakfast, and then I make a veggie, meat, and grain mix for lunch and dinner. I usually have three different blends to choose from. If you don't have a food processor and can get one, I highly recommend it! I have a Cuisinart and what I like about mine is it has different settings. This comes in handy from first solids to later eating chunkier, heartier foods. Mine has a "food processor" mode that gives you the consistency of store bought baby food. Some processors just have one setting, and those you can monitor the consistency as it blends. It is nice to be able to hit which button I want, and let it go:) Again, this works for me, everyone has their own way!:) All ways are great! the fresh fruit you can just blend. The veggies, grains, and meats you cook before and then blend! I steam my veggies, roast my meats, and cook my grains! If you need a smoother consistency, I sometimes add some of the leftover "veggie water" from when I steamed them!




I ordered the OXO baby food trays! I do love the baby food cups and accessories that come with the "Beaba", "Magic Bullet", etc. However, I make a lot of food at one time-enough for 2-3 weeks, so I find that the trays work best! You can freeze in these trays and then take out what you need when you need it! I hope this helps you and maybe even encourages you to try! Its a great feeling knowing you are giving your children fresh food without anything else added:) Below I will list some of my favorite baby food combinations!
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Breakfast
*Strawberry, Blueberry, and Banana
*Apple, Strawberry, and Peach
*Mango, Blueberry, and Strawberry
**I also just mash them fresh into oatmeal or yogurt!

Lunch/Dinner
*Squash, Zucchini, and Broccoli
*Green beans, Broccoli, and Apple
*Carrot, Potato, and Brown Rice
*Spinach, Peas, and Pear
*Edamame, Brown Rice, and Apple
*Peas and Carrots, Spaghetti Squash, and Whole Wheat Pasta
*Ground Turkey, Spinach, and Apple
*Ground Chicken, Broccoli, and Sweet Potato
**I like to mix in a fruit so the veggies are more appealing;) When you are just starting out, start with one and work up to the combinations!
Enjoy:)
RL

Library and A New Recipe

I have been taking Wyatt to Story Time at the Library on Wednesday mornings and he really enjoys it. We are having a play date at our house today with some new friends, so we aren't able to go. So yesterday I took him to just get some new books. If only you could have seen him;) He was running around the children's book center grabbing books off the shelves without even looking at them! I would look at it, it wouldn't be a good one for him, so he would run and put it back (or I would because they are labeled by last name), and go get the next one! He was having a blast. I like this Library because they have play mats out, tables and chairs for them to read, and puzzles on the tables for kids to occupy themselves:) So I am able to go checkout our books while Wyatt plays. As pretty as this picture may sound, it wasn't all a bed of roses..Elias was fussing, and trying to push himself out of his stroller...which, as you know, the readers in the library love to hear;) Things aren't always what they appear..or as pleasant as how you read it;)

I made Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup last night and thought I would share the recipe!

WHOLE WHEAT CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Take your Bone-in chicken breasts and roast them in the oven on 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Take them out of the oven when finished and let cool. Pull the chicken off the bone and set aside.

Cut up your carrots, celery, and onion.

I made some homemade stock last week, so I used that as the base in my soup. Then add another 6 cups of water to your 6 cups of stock. Let your veggies sauté in your pan with EVOO for about 3-4 minutes and then pour in your stock and water!

Add 2 Bay leaves and a couple whole cloves (optional) and let it come to a full boil. Turn down the heat, and i like to let it sit and rest-it allows the flavors to combine better. Bring it back to a boil and add your noodles. I used whole wheat egg noodles, but you can use whatever you like!
This makes a huge pot of soup; plenty to freeze for later, which is the best part! I served my soup with Garlic Cheddar biscuits! (Red Lobster wanna-be's;))
Enjoy!
Have an awesome Wednesday:)
RL