Happy Sunday!

Here is my lovely family, ready for church:)

Jonah wasn't thrilled at being told to stand still, hence his sour expression...

...and Livy was enamored with her "mermaid skirt":)

Happy Sunday!

Nap Time

 

This is what my "Ricky" has looked like for months as Jonah came to greet him everyday at 5 am:/

Thus, we decided to raise the white flag of surrender & institute a midday nap for Jonah, something he hasn't enjoyed for a year!

Result: this past week, Jonah has napped everyday & though bedtimes have been moved forward, our days & especially mornings have been MUCH better!

Here's some of the things we've been doing while adapting to this new schedule:

I've officially begun Jonah's birthday preparations:)

We' tried a new Pinterest recipe for granola bars...

...and a new Pinterest recipe for Greek yogurt pancakes (recipe to follow)...



...and we've done some new arts & crafts projects!



Now if we could just get Buttercup to sleep at night...yawn....

Recipes to follow next!

Tiffany

DIY Baby Food

Our sweet & feisty Buttercup is almost 7 months old and has been chowing down on solids for the past 6 weeks.

You see, this is how our evenings were looking, thus why we started introducing solids at 5 months!  Anything to help our growing girl sleep...so that we could too!

Of course buying baby food is expensive and an added burden to the grocery budget...so I've been making my own...

 ...enter the Sweet Potato!

I simply washed & pierced the spud and popped it in the toaster oven for 45mins-1 hr at 350 degrees.

 

Once the spud cooled I scooped out the soft flesh...

...popped it in the blender with some boiled water (cooled)...

...and ta da!  Homemade, all natural baby food!

I used an ice tray (each cube is roughly 1 oz), froze the portions and then placed the cubes in a container.

We then prepared Buttercup for her 1st sweet potato tasting...

...and after a few spoonfuls...

...this was her consensus!  Yummy!

After the sweet potato success, I tried prunes- just popped them from the bag into the blender with plenty of cool, boiled water.  Buttercup loves these too!

I haven't run the numbers but I've guestimated huge savings by making these 2 baby food items at home.

What else is Rosebud eating?

Avocado- just mash & it's ready!

Banana- again, mash & it's ready!

Apples- I pureed applesauce & a drop of water to make it super smooth.

Pears- peel, puree with water & it's ready!

Peaches- simmer frozen peaches, use the cooking water & puree.

Yo Baby Yogurt- Buttercup likes the banana but LOVES the mango yogurt:)

So far so good & we've tried some combinations of the above foods.

  Next on the agenda: trying butternut squash & making homemade yogurt!!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Tiffany

Happy Father's Day

These are late (as always it seems:/) but here are pictures from Father's Day:)

Livy & Jonah were being very sweet...for a few seconds:)

My beautiful family- so blessed!

Here is "Ricky" with Granddaddy & my little brothers:)



Here's a rather impromptu family pic (minus the kids), following a big lunch- really should take family pics before we eat:/



And here's Granddaddy, enjoying some relaxation at 623 E 68th St with Rosebud, after a very full & meaningful Father's Day!

 It's almost time for our next round of Sunday family pictures:)

Spread some love & thanks for stopping by,
Tiffany

Homemade Chewy, Choc Chip Granola Bars

Confession: I've been on Pinterest browsing for more DIY projects...but this time, for the kitchen!

 I have previously tried a few homemade granola bars but haven't found one that my Little Ms loved...

...until now!

Behold these: Chewy, Choc Chip Granola Bars!

And not only are these homemade & super easy but they're no bake too!

I started with OF oats...

...pulsed them in the food processor (ten 1 second pulses)...

 ...added the oats to puffed millet cereal...

...and Rice Crispies... 

...then I cooked some honey, brown sugar, vegetable & salt for a couple of minutes...

...poured the hot mixture over the cereal and poured into the prepared pan...

TIP: Don't press the cereal down!!!

...and my little helper was ready to sprinkle mini choc chips...

 ...all over the top & press them into place!

Livy was so pleased with her efforts:)

And here is my little chef devouring her "swee swee"!!!

Homemade Chewy, Choc Chip Granola Bars

adapted from Kitchen Travels recipe

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup old fashioned oats (I briefly pulsed mine in food processor)

3/4 cup puffed rice cereal

3/4 cup puffed whole grain cereal (I used millet)

1/3 cup local honey

1/3 cup light brown sugar (I used dark)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 tsp kosher salt (I used sea salt)

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Grease an 8x8 pan and line with parchment, leaving 1 inch overhang on each side.

2. Combine oats & cereal in large bowl.

3. Combine honey, sugar, oil & salt in saucepan and melt over medium high heat.  Bring to gentle boil & boil 1 minute.

4. Pour hot honey mixture over cereal & mix.  

5. Pour hot granola into prepared pan- DON'T PRESS DOWN YET!

6. When granola is cool enough to touch, sprinkle choc chips over the top & press into place, gently.

7. Cool to room temperature & cut into bars.  Store in airtight container for 1 week or freeze.

Enjoy!

Tiffany

Vintage Mother's Day

This is very late, but these were taken in honor of Mother's Day (last month:/)...

...showcasing my 3 lovely & squirmy Little Ms all in blue:)

Jonah, sporting his blue seersucker trousers & linen shirt...

...Livy sporting her new "bluebird twirly dress"...

...and Rosebud sporting a vintage blue gingham dress,
previously worn by myself & Gramma!

Three generations represented in this vintage frock...

...making me, one happy Mama:)

Have a great day & enjoy those you love!
Tiffany

DIY Pool Noodle Abacus

I recently discovered Happy Hooligans on Pinterest & began following their fun projects.

In the past month I've implemented 3 activities and my Little Ms are thrilled:)

The latest addition is this pool noodle abacus...

...ok, it's not technically an abacus but that's what it reminds me of:)

Here's how to make your own:

Saw the pool noodles into desired segments using a serrated knife.

 Then slice through the top layer on each "bead".

Attach some rope/heavy twine in desired location & slide beads into place using the split tops.

I attached my hemp twine to a fence post & a small tree- it's perfect.

The following morning, my Little Ms went running over to see their "new toy"-

Jonah, especially has enjoyed arranging the abacus "beads":)

More outdoor fun= happy kids!

Cost:

2 Pool Noodles: $2 (Dollar Tree)

Hemp Twine: free

TOTAL: $2!!!

 Thanks for stopping by,

Tiffany

Happy Sunday

I recently realized that if I don't purpose to take pictures of my sweet little Ms, none will be taken:/

So I proposed to "Ricky" that we would be taking family pictures

 each Sunday morning before church...

...hoping we can keep up with this new tradition & get some fun pictures in the process!

Happy Sunday from the "Ricardos":)