Week Recap

It's been a rainy week this week. I'm starting to get a little cabin fever. There's only so many fun things you can do indoors with a two year old. I'm ready for some outdoor fun.  

  Luckily, we crammed a bunch of fun into last weekend. We rented canoes with a group of friends and it was SO much fun but super exhausting.

Chaco sandals

 

The weather had been nice and mild and we were able to be outside all weekend to play play-doh, and play in the sand box. Someone is obsessed with play-doh, but I won't name names. I sure hope I'm able to get it out of the outdoor carpet!

Soba Noodle Bowls! These were quick and easy to make for the week for lunches. You can eat them cold or warmed. Healthy and clean! I couldn't find actual soba noodles, so I used whole wheat spaghetti noodles. Throw a handful of spinach in the colander and dump the hot noodles over. Then add some unsalted peanuts, cooked tofu and thinly sliced radishes. Toss in 1/2 cup ponzu sauce and divide into 4 portions for the week.

 Hope everyone has had a great week!
Please feel free share any healthy lunch recipes with me you may have liked.

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Weekend Recap w/ Grilled Pizza

We had a busy weekend packed full of summer fun! It started Friday when we went to see the adorable new Minions movie. SUPER funny and cute. Someone LOVES going to the movies. She wakes up asking if we can go to another movie after every nap (since we usually go after her nap to the matinee.)

Friday night I decided to try my hand at grilled pizza. Let me tell you, it was a huge success. I definitely want to get a pizza peel now. I used an upside down baking sheet covered in cornmeal, which did work pretty good. 

All you do is preheat your grill to medium, brush the grates with some oil, then lay your dough directly on the grate. Close the lid and wait about 2 minutes. Then check for grill marks and that the dough easily releases from the grill. Take it off the grill and flip it over and add your toppings to the grilled side. Grill for another 5-6 minutes or until your toppings cooked and cheese is all melted.

Saturday we went to the local farmers market and scored some great local fruit and veggies. Of course after you buy healthy food it's only right to go get doughnuts, right?

We ended the weekend with another favorite summer treat, froyo! Mally was blown away by all the toppings.

Here's to long summer days and fun weekends.

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Our 4th of July Weekend

We had a great 4th of July long weekend, even though the weather was touch and go for a while. Tom didn't have to work on Friday so we went out for some family fun. We had lunch at a hot chicken spot and then took Mallory to the pet store for a new friend that she uniquely named Nemo...

After securing a sitter, we had a MUCH needed and long overdue date night out for sushi (my favorite.)

The 4th we went over to a pool party where Mally swam (in a puddle jumper) for the first time without someone holding her! We literally could not get her out of the water. 

 

If you've never had Margarita Watermelon, you are missing out. It's watermelon soaked with tequila, salt and lime juice. AH-MAZING.  

I hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th!

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4 Things this Friday!

Four things I'm currently digging right now.

1. Grownup coloring books. What?! I am in love. Yes, I have a toddler and yes I can and do color with her, but she hasn't been too into crayons as of late so I had to take matters into my own hands. Coloring is proven to reduce stress and calm you down. Check out this one and this one.
   
   
2. With 4th of July this weekend, I'm feeling all things summer and red, white and blue. We had a festive little breakfast to celebrate with doughnut holes and fruit. I've also been eying this recipe for lime colada popsicles. Only 3 ingredients!
   
   
   
3. Foam Back rollers. Where has this little thing been all my life? I've been doing the 30 Day Shred and evidently I shredded a little too hard. This roller has been a life saver!
   
4. Watching Storybots videos with my daughter. The Down By the Bay one is hilarious! Fun to find out they have a free app. These little toons are by the Jib Jab Bros. If you have a toddler, get it!
   
   Everyone have a safe and fun 4th of July!!

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4 Things Friday

  It's been such a mild June so far (which is odd) but the heat is a coming. Growing up, I had always wished we had a pool. I had promised myself that when I was an adult I would have a pool! Well, I'm an adult and the only pool I have is 6" deep plastic one from Wal-Mart. (Yes, I get in it with my toddler.) I still swear one day I will have a pool, but until I can save up the trillion dollars it will take to blast through all the rock underground (thanks Tennessee), I will have to beat the heat in other ways. So here's 4 things this Friday I have my eye on for some Summer Fun:   1. There's nothing like running through the sprinklers on a hot day. I'd love to get this one for Mally/me..   2. I love making ice cream in the summertime, but this year I think I might try my hand at popsicles. I've been wanting one of these to make my own healthy options.   3. My kid is OBSESSED with bubbles. In an effort to not black out from having to blow them for her for hours, I'm looking at this to do it for me.   4. How cool of an idea is this? Editable paints!


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Beach trip recap

We recently returned from a great trip to the beach in N.C. The weather couldn't have been better and we couldn't have asked for a better view from our rental house.

  The little bug did well on the trip over. We uploaded some Disney movies to an old iPad and made sure to have plenty of snacks on hand.    She ran a little fever the first day we were out there, but had no other symptoms and it was gone the next day. Any other mom's have a toddler that happens to? It's not the first trip it's happened on.   Like I said, we had great weather and only one day was a little chilly on the beach which was fine with me :)

  We caught some yummy crabs in the canal and someone caught their first fish on her Disney Princess fishing pole! It was a great (and blessedly uneventful) trip!  

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Picnic time

It was a hot week and weekend round here. Humid and rain...and a roof leak... But a cold front has come through and now it is fantastic outside, which is exactly where I want to be non stop. There's nothing like good picnic to round out the last lazy days of summer. I keep an old wooden picnic basket at the ready at all times. I keep essentials stocked in there. We never camp without it. It's got little salt and pepper shakers, a lighter, plates and wet wipes, cutlery, etc. I even have an old oilcloth tablecloth folded up inside.

In light of the cooler summer weather, I did a round up of all my picnic essentials! Now get outside!

cutlery / ikat plates / blanket / basket

Super Easy Homemade Lemonade

I'm on a lemon kick this summer. I always love lemons. Lemon candles, lemon house cleaners, even my signature fragrance is called Lemon Sugar. (smells so good and affordable!). I decided on my summer bucket list that I was going to master fresh squeezed lemonade this year. Well, I'm here to tell you I did and it is easy and delicious!

The first go around, I squeezed the lemons this way:

By hand

Not impossible and really not that hard, but it did take a while. So the second time around, I remembered that I had an attachment for my stand mixer (you can get them here).

Made things go WAY faster and easier. I juiced 2 bags of lemons which will make about 3 batches. I just save the extra juice in the fridge in a large mason jar.

There are only 3 ingredients in my Lemonade: Lemon Juice, Water and Simple Syrup. Simple syrup is just taking equal parts sugar and water and simmering it in a sauce pan until it's dissolved. As with my juice, I made extra simple syrup to keep in the fridge so I could whip up extra batches on the fly. There you have it! What's your favorite summer drink?

Lemonade

Makes 2 quarts.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup lemon juice (5-7 lemons depending on size..could be less or more)
• 1 Cup Simple Syrup (if you like it real sweet, use another 1/2 cup more)
• Appx 6 cups water (enough to fill your container the rest of the way)
• Lemon wedges and Mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Make your simple syrup. Mix 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water in a sauce pan. Simmer and stir until sugar is dissolved. This will make a little more than a cup. Save the rest in an air tight container in the fridge for more lemonade, Mojitos or Juleps!
2. Juice your lemons until you have 1 cup.
3. Mix 1 cup simple syrup and 1 cup lemon juice in a 2 quart pitcher. Fill pitcher the rest of the way with cool water. 
4. Stir - Pour - Enjoy on a porch!

I love the polar vortex

I know it's cliche - but how bout this weather! I cannot get over the fall like temps we are having in the middle of July! I've been sitting on the back porch reading in jeans and a long sleeve t shirt. LONG SLEEVE. What?! I decided that it was mandatory that we eat all three meals outside today. Days like these only come around every now and then and it's important to enjoy every second.

We kicked off the day with buttermilk blueberry pancakes and fruit. Yum. 

Then we headed to the park for a hike and a picnic

 

Cheese, crackers, nuts and grapes. PB sandwich for the little one, and fresh squeezed lemonade. I kept the lemonade in a mason jar in our cooler. I hope no one thought we were drinking shine..

 

Someone LOVE riding down the slide. I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful week!

 

Summer fun list!

I will admit, every now and then I get an excited feeling knowing that Fall will be here before you know it. It's my favorite season and just thinking about cool weather and pumpkin spice EVERYTHING gives me chills! But my dad always says "don't wish you days away" and I have to agree. So I've decided to cram as much summer fun in for the remainder of the season as I can. Today I'm sharing my Summer Bucket List. 20 fun things to fill out the remainder of those long summer days!

1. Made homemade lemonade (or limeade)
2. Draw all over the driveway with sidewalk chalk
3. Blow bubbles
4. Run in the sprinklers (maybe save that one for the backyard!)
5. Catch lightning bugs in a mason jar (and release them!)
6. Go to a County Fair
7. Hula Hoop or Jump Rope
8. Go on a Bike Ride
9. Visit the Farmers Market
10. Go out for Ice Cream (or froyo) and eat it outside
11. Host a Cookout
12. Have a Picnic at the park or in the yard
13. Go swimming
14. Toss a baseball with someone or play frisbee
15. Visit a State Park
16. Pick berries
17. Make homemade icecream
18. Visit a food truck
19. Go to the Zoo / Aquarium / Museum
20. Make Smores