Teacher Appreciation: DIY Flashcards

It's National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day!

We said thanks to our teachers with mini fruit pizzas and homemade flashcards.

The flashcards were such a hit this morning, I wish it was my own idea. But it wasn't. The very resourceful blog, Urban Bliss Life did, and I'm so glad I stumbled across it. Isn't it great that we have so many creative, unique and craftastic ideas right at our finger tips?

I recreated them in InDesign and added my own touch with a cover card with a note from Carson and a binder ring. I printed, laminated and trimmed myself, but if you're not feeling design savvy enough to recreate, you can purchase the printable from the site.

The teachers loved them!

The fruit pizza might look like a Martha Stewart concoction, but they were actually pretty easy.

There's not even much of a recipe to follow.

Sugar Cookies + Frosting + Fruit

Sugar Cookies: I bought the Betty Crocker pre-made mix in a bag where you just add butter and egg. I didn't even mess with cookie cutters, just made drop cookies and they were flat enough to ice and top.

Frosting: I used cream cheese frosting

Fruit: I used three small strawberry slices, a kiwi half, 2 blueberries and a red raspberry on each cookie

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

Spring in January

Hey friends! How was your weekend? Can you believe the weather forecast for this week in Kansas City?

Amazing. I never thought I would be taking so many walks in January. Crazy.

We are putting some serious miles on the stroller. And Jake is in dog heaven with how many walks off the leash he is getting.

On our walk last Friday, we passed a small child and his mom as I heard:

Mom: That's a pretty dog, isn't it [child's name]?
Kid: Yeah, he looks like an oreo. But only double stuffed.

Ha! Kids are so cute!! I can't wait until Carson says really cute and the darnedest of things.

As mentioned last week, we joined friends at J Gilberts for Restaurant Week on Saturday. I had heard a ton of positive feedback about this place. My verdict: It was good, but I honestly expected more. Will I go back? Yes. I always give places a second chance. Why? Because I believe in second chances.

I think it is mainly because I compare all steakhouses to Capital Grille. And it might have been due to the pre-set/limited menu and the amount of the same dishes being prepared in the kitchen. I have worked in quite a few restaurants and know how happy "specials" make chefs and cooks.

Carson slept the entire time at dinner. It's so easy to take him places right now.

Now...getting out the door? Not so much. If there's one thing I have learned to change about myself since becoming a mommy, you have to be flexible. Which is really hard for an extremely planned person like myself. At any moment, your plan can change. Scratch that, you don't really get to have plans with a newborn:).

Right as we were walking out the door for dinner, Carson spit up all over his clothes and we had to change him. Right as we put him in the car seat (in the new clothes), he spit up again. Needless to say, we were late. I swear, we are late everywhere we go these days. I promise we will be on time again someday. 

Speaking of dinner, I tried a new recipe last week worth mentioning. It will definitely be making friends with the other recipes in my cookbook. The best part? It was pretty easy to make.

Spinach Lasagna with Pesto and Mushrooms. This was really tasty. The hubs loved it. It made a huge pan of it, so be ready for left overs. Good thing lasagna is super yummy as leftovers.

I made several modifications per the reviews and personal preference:

- Added shredded chicken because I love me some meat
- Added some crushed red pepper
- Used more mozzarella cheese in place of the shredded provolone (I couldn't find shredded provolone)
- I used fresh spinach as the recipe calls for, but next time might try frozen as the reviews suggest, easy peasy.

Hope everyone has a great week! Off to enjoy our daily stroll in this beautiful sunshine spring weather.

I could get used to this.

Bobble Bobble

Let's not shake it shake it.
Don't drop it drop it,
can you take it take it

How was that for a 504 Boyz revised version of the song Wobble Wobble?

There's a reason for my lyric weirdness. Promise. Stay with me.

Carson has been doing extremely well with holding his head up lately, so Brian talked me into giving the Bumbo its first try.

Verdict: Bobble Bobble

Say hi to Big Boy Bobble Head! :)

He did really well, just not quite ready for the Bumbo. His little head was a-bobblin' and a-shakin'. Made mom a little too nervous to let him do it all by himself.

Incoming! {A glimpse into the future} BAM!

I pictured Carson asking me to climb a tree at 5 years-old and me saying no and freaking out for his safety. Am I going to be that mom that won't let her kid be adventurous or do anything risky?

I'm already known to be somewhat of a worry wart...hmmm...we'll leave the risk taking activities to dad. Having a girl would be so much easier. Sans their teenage years that is. :)

Speaking of 5 years...wanna know what you get for five years of service?

This beauty.

Brian celebrated 5 years with his company and he got to pick a gift from a book full of a variety of options.

What does he pick? A panini maker. Not the pearl necklace or CZ diamond ring (it was really pretty for a CZ) for his wife. Just kidding, the panini maker is cool.

It makes yummy sandwiches.

Buffalo Grilled Chicken Cheese was on the menu the other night. They were delicious.

A little on the hot side, but we like it hot around here. I can't wait to come up with some other panini concoctions. Does anyone else have a panini maker or a good recipe to pass along to this first timer?

Ending with the Friday Phone Dump. Why? Cuz it's Friday! 

Lots of fun adventures for me and Big Boy this week. We enjoyed several walks, had lunch with Caitlin, visited Daddy's office, tried two new recipes, met baby buddies Heidi and Beau, and caught up on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Those are some crazy bias, but I can't stop watching.

And since this post was musically inspired, click here to put some real Friday pep in your step. Makes me laugh every time I hear it.

Oh and guess what? I found an App for the Blackberry similar to Instagram, called InstaPhoto. Now I can join the cool kids with insta-photos, although this version isn't as cool.

Have a great weekend!

Fall Back

Well hello Monday, I mean goodbye Monday.

I meant to post this last night, but couldn't because Time Warner Cable is seriously the worst cable/Internet provider on this earth and can't seem to get ours working correctly or consistently. Will U-Verse please just come to our area? Puh-puh-puh-pleaaaasssseee?

And now, I sit here at work trying to crank out this post because I have been that MIA from this blog (thanks to my friend Mark for reminding me). Did I mention that it's already insanely dark outside?

Makes me moody. And somewhat depressed.

While I appreciated the extra hour of sleep this Sunday AM (but not really because I woke up at the same time), I really dislike how early it gets dark now.

In case you were wondering, Baby K is still nestled all cozy inside my belly and is making no apparent signs of coming early or on time for that matter. I'm hoping to hear some results of progression this week, but mainly I'm just trying to stay positive.

He will come when he is ready. I'm just convinced he's as stubborn as his daddy and will procrastinate as long as he can. Two traits I definitely do not possess:)

So, I don't like "falling back" this time of year, but I definitely enjoy having the fall season back. There is something about this time of year that just makes me smile.

The weather and fashion attire play a part (although my attire* options are slim pickens these days), and most certainly the holidays, but one of my favorite parts is all the flavors and aromas that come with fall cooking, baking and eating.

Here's a few of the things I've been munching or sipping on the last few weeks:

 Source 
M&M's White Chocolate Candy Corn

It's no secret how much I love sweets, I have blogged about it way too many times. These are G-double-O-D-GOOD. White chocolate AND candy corn combined? How could they not be?

Source  
Coffee-mate Pumpkin Spice Creamer
It's not quite comparable to Starbuck's pumpkin spice latte, but it makes for a tasty, festive cup of Joe when you don't feel like spending $4+ on a latte.

Source (photo only)  
Penne with Sweet Pepper Cayenne Sauce
This recipe is a keeper, definitely enjoyed the slightly healthier version of sauce (sour cream vs. something like a heavy cream) and red bell peppers
I modified it a bit. Used penne pasta instead of Fettuccine, added chicken (cubed, then sauteed in a pan with some cajun spice), fat free sour cream and added a zucchini because I had one in the fridge.

Source 
Pumpkin Spice Muffins
I got this recipe from Vanessa's blog and these are EXTREMELY tasty. I was skeptical of only two ingredients, but I will definitely be making them again.

I took her advice and cooked them 25 minutes compared to 12 minutes and they turned out great. I also used some of the excess batter in a mini-muffin pan and they turned out great at 20 minutes baking time.

FYI, I highly recommend them with the cream cheese frosting! Although they are pretty freakin' good without:). Thanks for the recipe Vanessa!

Source 
Lobster Bisque at Capital Grille
We had dinner with the in laws on Saturday night, and the lobster bisque at Capital Grille was AMAZING. Although my step mom, Lori, tells me she thinks her recipe is better. I'll be sure to get it from her and report back:). Don't you just love soup this time of year?

Ok, now that I have made all of you hungry including myself, it's time I get outta here.

I leave you with this hysterical video. I'm sure many of you have already seen it since it was posted all over facebook last week. But by chance someone missed it, it's worth watching. Hilarious. The last kids in the video are my fav.

  Halloween Challenge: I Told My Kids I Ate all Their Halloween Candy

*My feet are starting to swell a bit. I couldn't fit my foot into my favorite pair of riding boots last week with socks on. Boo.

Mean Green Broccoli Cheddar Soup

I am beyond done with this weather. I think you all know that. But, until then, I'll continue making soup.

A couple weeks ago, we made Broccoli Cheddar Soup, a recipe I received from a co-worker. Last week it was crock pot potato soup from Callie's blog. This Friday, it'll be Butternut Squash soup. See a pattern? Soups tend to be good Friday night meals during lent.

The broccoli cheddar soup was pretty tasty. I liked it more than Brian did, but I like vegetables way more than he does. This recipe happened to include a vegetable I had never cooked with before: leeks. I couldn't even tell you what they taste like, but I liked knowing I was getting two hearty vegetables in this soup.

You puree this soup in a blender, which I thought would be a major chore. It actually wasn't too bad at all and according to the recipe, adding the cheese in the blender ensures that it will melt evenly and won't clump. 

Oh, and don't let the green color of this soup scare you. It did me at first, but I got over that quickly.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 lb. leeks, white and light green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced thin, and washed thoroughly
1 bunch broccoli, florets cut into 1-inch pieces, stems trimmed and sliced thin
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
3/4 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1 cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
Salt and Pepper

1. Melt the butter in a large pot, over medium heat. Add the leeks and broccoli stems and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

2. Stir in the broth and water and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the broccoli stems are soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in the broccoli florets and continue to simmer, covered, until tender, about 5 minutes.

3. Puree the soup with the milk, cheddar and mustard in a blender, in batches, until the cheese is melted and the soup is very smooth. Return the soup to a clean pot and cook gently over medium-low hear until the soup is hot. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Broccoli & Leeks

Happy soup:) Luv me some pepper.

Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Basil

We tried this recipe a couple weeks ago, and it was quite tasty. When I first read through it, I wasn't too sure it had much to offer. Pasta, tomatoes and some other stuff. Seemed somewhat boring.

However, the flavors really came together offering a delicious dish with veggies. The one thing the hubs struggles with, so I try my damnedest to get him to eat rabbit food when I can.

Brian also wasn't too psyched about it because it was meatless, but he was surprisingly pleased and more than cleaned his plate. Plus, you could easily add chicken to the recipe if preferred.

Pasta with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Basil

Grape Tomatoes can be substituted, but because they tend to be sweeter, you will want to reduce or omit the sugar.

6 cups cherry tomatoes (about 2 pounds), halved (I used Grape tomatoes, 2 small containers)
1 shallot, halved and sliced thin
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 garlic cloves, sliced thin (I minced it)
1 teaspoon sugar (I omitted this due to using grape tomatoes)
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper
12 oz. whole-wheat penne
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup shredded fresh basil

1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Toss the tomatoes with the shallot, oil, vinegar, garlic, sugar, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in bowl.

2. Spread the tomatoes out over a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until the tomato skins have shriveled slightly, but the tomatoes still retain their shape and the shallot edges are beginning to brown, 35 to 40 minutes (do not stir the tomatoes during roasting). Let the tomatoes cool 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Add the pasta and 1 Tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot.

4. Gently scrape the tomatoes into the pot with pasta. Add 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese and basil and toss. Before serving, add reserved cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup cheese on top.

Enjoy!

Oh Happy {Heart} Day!

Happy HEART day everyone!

I'm not much of a Valentine's Day person, as evident here, but everyone deserves a little love. It doesn't necessarily need to be on a particular day of the year for me, but I'll go with it.

Me and the Mr. have never done much to celebrate this day, but we did incorporate the signature V-day symbol in our meals for the past few days. Ok, not Brian, just me:).

I'm a sucker for love. And for practicing my photog skills on my food. If I only had a better subject than food and my dog. Someday.

Dinner on Friday night. Chicken with vegetables on the grill. Mmm...sweet potatoes.

Saturday night dinner: Heart shaped spinach and feta turkey burgers.

One of my favs about Valentine's Day. Conversation hearts.

Tonight, we cooked dinner together, one of Pioneer Woman's recipes. Three Cheese Stuffed Shells. Pair any pasta with cheese and basil and call it a day. They were super yummy.

 I didn't take too many pics of the entire recipe, because PW's are much better. You can check them out here.

Pasta, the key to my heart.

Dinner wouldn't be complete without wine, of course.

 Cabernet Sauvignon, delish.

We always exchange cards, trying to find the most fitting card for each other. He was spot on this year. I have saved each and every card we have ever exchanged. Someday, when we are old and wrinkly, we will rummage through the box of cards and get a good laugh.

One of the many names I like to call Brian. Somewhere along the lines, he caught on. :) 

And I couldn't forget dessert. Only Brian's fav: Lemon Bars. I pulled this powdered sugar stencil trick also off PW's blog.

Love. Love. Love.

And now, it's half time of the KSU vs. KU game and we are winning. Did you just hear what I said?

We are winning! All I can do from allowing my emotions to rip out of my skin is sit here and blog and try to stay calm. It would seriously be the best V-day present ever.

{Fast forward 1 hour}

OMG! We just won! I can't believe it! What a great ending to Valentine's Day!

Well peeps, I think I might have just changed my mind how I truly feel about this holiday.

Happy heart day to all my fabulous readers! Mine is filled with EXCITEMENT!