Baked Blueberry goodness!

Today was a beautiful day in eastern Idaho. I loaded up my two boys and met my mother and sister at a garage  sale- so totally syked about garage sale season is starting- then we met my husband for a trip to the zoo. It was a fun time there and being the first day it was open it was still not too busy. My first born son is not quite 2 and loves to be around animals. So it was fun getting to show him the animals and teaching him their names. And we will have a fun memory to tease him about when he gets older- he jumped the dividing fence and took off after a peacock. The peacock was quite disturbed that something was chasing him. After we were done at the zoo I said goodbye to my mother, sister, husband and 1st born. I got to  have a "relaxing" break from being a mother of two for a bit.
I had asked my mom earlier if I could make them all dinner. I loved baked fruit, I think it's tasty and delicious. My husband does not. We have yet to find a baked fruit that he likes. Cruising Pinterest one day I found a recipe for Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast. It sounded so amazing, but it's in a 8x9 dish, I'm usual hungry but not usually that hungry, I was very excited that my mom was okay with me cooking for them. But who's going to turn down a tasty dinner, they don't have to cook?
It was a great dish and my family all enjoyed it, pairing with the sides of left over Easter eggs and  some bacon, it feed a family of five and a half. The half is my son, he's odd about what he eats.
The recipe was easy and straight forward. Although there were a few things I had to cheat; the butter is meant to be soften...opps, it's time to make dinner I have no time to wait for the butter to soften. Thank goodness for the microwave. 10 secs and then 10secs. Perfect.
It also called for a room temperature egg, enh... I just tossed it in. This is the "finished" product minus the oven time.

And this is the finished product. It was super tasty, mmmm. Looks tasty huh? My son (who is part of his father and seems odd around cooked fruit) even ate more then I thought he would. And the whole dish was gone. This will definitively get written onto a nice little index card and find a new home in my recipe box.

Give it a shot check out "Alexandra's Kitchen" for the recipe- it will be worth your time! 

http://www.alexandracooks.com/2011/06/29/buttermilk-blueberry-breakfast-cake/

Baby Massage

Baby Massage has a lot of perks. It can help soothe a fussy or gassy baby. And for me the best perk is that it allows me to feel like I am doing something, anything, to help my crying child. And therefor, relieving my stress. It can also help to soothe colic and gives you some great bonding time with your little treasure! 

When I was at the doctors office awhile ago, I found a very helpful article in Parent's Magazine. And the only thing that could have made it more helpful was to have pictures. I love pictures. (Which led to an extensive collection of children's books before they were even a blip on my radar.)
And there is something about a picture. You can take in so much information with out reading a thing. So to help parents who need a quick solution (case in point, me) that doesn't require a lot of reading to get to that solution. I've taken the list off the site and paired it with a picture. I recommend reading over the whole "game play" before you jump in. Partly because I was not able to cover every massage technique they covered and it's just a good idea. Below is the link to the article on Parent's Magazine site.
http://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/how-to-massage-baby/

So to get started you will need to be in a comfortable warm room. Sitting on the floor in a diamond shape Lay baby out in front of you, her head resting on your feet, in just her diapers. I like to lay a cuddly blanket under my boy. You will also need to have some oil or lotion so as not to chafe your child's skin. Use your child as a guide. Start your massage when they are relaxed but alert. Avoid the times after they wake up or are just fed. I prefer right after bath time.

*using your fingertips make circles on belly, clockwise
*Holding knees and feet together, gently press up towards
belly and rotate to the right a few times (great for gassiness)

Head and Face
*make little circles over the scalp with fingertips (shampoing)
*gently hold ear and rub between thumb and index
*starting between eyebrows make and arch up and down to chin, forming
a heart shape
*start at bridge of nose and stroke down to jaw line
*make little circles along jaw line from ear to chin

Chest
*Place hands on chest and stroke outwards towards sides
*starting in the center of the chest stroke up, out and down forming a heart (repeat)
*trace hands from one hip to opposite shoulder, repeat with other side

Arms
*with your hand in a "c" shape stroke baby's arm from shoulder to wrist
* Gently "wring" baby's arms shoulder to wrist
*Stroke baby's palm, wrist to finger's
*"milk" the fingers (gently squeezing as you pull on the fingers)

Back
*laying baby on her belly (on your legs might work best)
baby's hands out in front to support
*avoid putting any pressure on spine
*place hands on either side of spine moving away from spine
( repeat the full length)
* Stabilize baby with one hand on butt with the other hand stroke from
 neck to butt (repeat on other side)
*stroke in small circles down one side of the spine, repeat with other side

Legs
*hold ankle w/ one hand while with the other in a "c" shape
thumb down stroke from thigh to foot (repeat on other side)
*grasp one leg in both hands and from thigh to foot gently twist like your
wringing a towel
*Gently press on sole of foot with thumbs then "milk" the toes

My son was not keen on the foot stuff, but he's super ticklish there. Just a few more hints keep them 10-30 min long. And be willing to adjust or stop if your child seems to be done. Try to make it a daily habit and you're massaging your baby not tickling, use firm but gentle strokes. Take your time and alow your child time to relax in each hold you do before you start.
And again check out the article I used to make the pictures!
http://www.parents.com/baby/care/newborn/how-to-massage-baby/

Image Printing the Cheap way

So I was flipping channels one Saturday morning and on the PBS channel (my channel flipping is quick and easy I have 10 channels, actually 3 channels and their sub-channels) I stopped and watched a feature on ways to spruce up the house. They had a monogram pillow, well hello there! Ah! I love monogrammed things. I always wanted something monogrammed, but I held off. My thinking was well some day I'll get married and then I will want something monogrammed with my married initials. Fast forward a decade or so and I get married... Changed two letters, yep two letters. Exchanged my "e" for an "a" and added a "t." By gosh I will have something monogrammed! So watching the show I was inspired! Had to have my initials proud and beautiful on my bed. But the show host had used iron on letters. That seems much too pricey and in hard to find sizes, for me to wanna do it.
Then I had a flash of an idea! Giddy with excitement I went to my local Walmart and picked up some pillowcases, in an off white. I contemplated orange but went with the white. This is the finished product.

Aw! How cute! His and Her's. Or actually Her's and His'. So, it's the same process to get these fun pillows but I'm just going to walk you through a different image. Here's what you are going to need....

Freezer Paper (aisle that has tin foil)

Pencil
Excato Knife

Acrylic Paint
Paint Brush
Magazine you DON'T care about
Pillow case
Iron and Ironing board
And some cardboard to place between the layers when painting



First you will need to come up with a design, you can either free hand it- which is what I did. Or print of a picture and lay it under the freezer paper. Simply trace, I know you use to do it as a kid. After you have drawn out your image, and are happy with it, you will use your excato knife to cut it out. What you cut out will be painted in. If it helps use a marker or crayon to color in pieces to help you know what to cut and what to not to cut.

Here is my image cut out. You need to make sure you keep the pieces that add to your image, ie the eye's and nose on my skull and cross bones. 

My family seems a little horrified with my, lets call it "fixation" on skulls, but come on! With two boys it's going to come with the territory, I will embrace with open arms.

The next step: Take your iron and ironing board (hopefully you have been warming your iron up for awhile- on the hottest setting) Place the image on your fabric and iron on. I usually do the large image first and then the little details after. 

Here is the fun part, after you take your cardboard between the layers, take your paint and brush and paint over the space that the freezer paper doesn't cover. And let dry.

Once The paint is dry you can gently and carefully pull off the freezer paper. And Ta-Da!

Lovely Fun! This pillowcase will now spice up my changing table. Hope you enjoy and I would love to see your creations! Please share!

Say What?!? Oven Grilled Cheese?

So I found this on the wonderful Pinterest. But when I went to the said site there was not really any great directions. More of a general idea.
So here is my first attempt at Grilled Cheese in the oven. It turned out pretty well. For having not idea on oven temp or lenght in the over, I'd say great Success. Not sure it was worth it for a dinner for two. Although I am always on the hunt for recipes that leave me fairly free at the time of day when "It all hits the Fan." If you are a mother with more then one child, I'm sure you can relate. It's that time (no matter how you try to scramble it) around dinner when you are trying to get dinner ready and keep your children happy- add in if you are just getting home from work to this and oi! The situation at our house: I'm trying to get dinner on the table by 6, my first born is crying and saying "ea-ea-ea-ea-t" as I'm throwing anything I can at him. My second born is in his bouncer screaming to be feed. And unlike his brother I can not exactly throw some food at him- I am his food, and I am busy. Needless to say it's kinda chaotic for a little bit. But once food is on the table and in the baby- it's calm, calm-ish. Life ceases to be calm with children around.
Anyways back to the subject at hand,
Grilled Cheese
get two baking sheets (same size is best but not necessary & if you have a heavier one use that for the top)
bread (butter one side- let's be honest it's tastier)
cheese
*I put some sandwich meat on my sandwich
Preheat oven 350* I will most likely play with this setting but it worked--put the baking sheets in the oven to preheat
prepare your sandwiches how you normally would once the oven beeps at you that it's pre-heated pull out one sheet place your sandwiches on then sandwich other baking sheet bottom down on top. Place back in oven for 10-15 min.
My sandwiches were not golden brown they were yellow, but they were crispy and that's what I liked. My son even ate the sandwiches. Normally he will tear them apart eat only the cheese then discard the rest. Typically it looks like a crime scene around his seat after grilled cheese nights. Tonight not so much.
Hope you enjoy your sandwiches, our's were delish!
below is the site I got the idea from.
http://lifehacker.com/5900569/make-perfect-grilled-cheese-sandwiches-with-a-pair-of-baking-sheets?sf3809004=1 

Diy Blocks

***This is one of my old post from another blog****
Well, I live in a small town and rumor has it we use to have a recycling plant (rumor is it burnt down thanks to the local youth) anyways I hate to waste, and when the nearest place to recycle is an hour away (and I never get out of town) I try to get creative with they things that would normal go to the trash. And with a new baby in the house it opens up a whole new world of things to create!
So today I would like to share how to take those old random small boxes or cartons and make something new! Enjoy!
1) find some small boxes, I will be using a carton (for soymilk)

2) place one carton inside the other (you can add some objects, buttons, beans, bells- so they make noises)

3) Push them together

4) gather some tissue paper, the shiny kind, tape, packaging tape and scissors

 5) wrap like you would a present and viola!

6) make sure you tape the edges down so little fingers don't undue what you've done!

7) stack, build and destroy!

My top 10 "Hey that's clever"

One of the boards that I have on Pinterest is called "Clever, Clever" these are the one's that I feel are the one's that jump out the most to me (from things around the house or easy to make)

1)When wrapping a present add a fold on the front to hold the card
http://www.marthastewart.com/272242/built-in-gift-cards?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/wrap-it-up
2) Nursing strap, a strip of fabric that has two clips at either end, makes any blanket into a cover
http://deliacreates.blogspot.com/2012/01/nesting-with-i-am-momma-hear-me-roar.html
3) A stapler remover to force jump rings apart- great alternative to using your finger nails
http://wins.failblog.org/2012/03/10/epic-win-photos-protip-win/
4) Mix water and rubbing alcohol together in a baggie- place in freezer. Diy ice pack for boo-boo's
http://disdressed.blogspot.com/2009/06/icey-cold-icepack.html
5) Use bread tag's to keep the end's to tape easy to get to
(sorry this pin's home is mia)
6) Using a spare tension rod under the sink to hang your spray bottles
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/under-sink-solu-150146
7) Extra pipe insulator lying around? Put it to work by taping the ends together, Viola! Wreath!
 http://www.thepennyparlor.com/2010/09/coffee-filter-wreath.html
8) Take a paper clip twisted into a "s" shape to hold your bracelets so you can fasten
http://lifehacker.com/5690114/use-an-paper-clip-to-put-on-bracelets-the-easy-way?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lifehacker%2Ffull+%28Lifehacker%29
9) Binder clips clipped to the side of tables hold your charger's, keeping them in easy reach
http://media-cache.pinterest.com/upload/140244975865590659_6cf64U4l.jpg
10) Bread tags slip so nicely onto the ends of power cords- no more guessing which cord goes to which electronic
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/label-cords-at-both-ends-for-m-145848?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+apartmenttherapy%2Funplggd+%28Unplggd%29&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner 
Hope you enjoyed! Don't forget to use the links to get the full details on the Top Ten! Or see the other clever things that didn't make the list at http://pinterest.com/molliepetpat/clever-clever/

Betty Crocker's Sweet and Sour Meat balls

This is a dish that I adore and it's so easy to make (specially if your lazy like me and just buy the pre-made meatballs)
I found the Betty Crocker Cook Book at a yard sale- so it's kinda old. No idea how it would compare to a newer edition. The one I have is from 1981- like I said old, older than I am actually.
In the book there is a recipe for making your own meat balls, I choose to buy pre-made; 1- it's easier and 2- raw meat, nooooot my favorite feeling.
Here's the recipe:
Meatballs
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/3 cup vinegar
1 can pineapple chunks
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 small green pepper
and there is a "how to" but I don't follow that-shhhhh! Don't tell Betty.
This is how I do it, dump all the above ingredients into a large skillet bring to a boil. Cover and  let simmer. Simmer for 10-15 min.
I also make rice with this recipe 1cup rice for 2 cups water. Bring to boil in sauce pan, cover and simmer for 15 min.
Mmmm Tasty :) This recipe will feed my family of 3 with left overs for a few days (depending on who all eats the leftovers)