Fireplace Update

We are almost done with our fireplace overhaul. It was a nerve wracking process since we sort of just made up the look with the help of a few inspirational pictures and clearly we aren't interior designers. We also chose the gas fireplace without seeing it in person - ekkk! Pinterest really helped with the whole design process.  Over the course of about 4 months I pinned every fireplace picture that I was drawn to.  From there I looked at all the commonalities among the pictures and pieced together a design that pulled in these elements. This wasn't a cheap project by any means so we were holding our breath the entire time.  I'm happy to report that we are thrilled with the look.  There are a few not-so-perfect little things that can noticed when looking up-close but overall we are happy.  One major challenge that we/they faces was working with the existing built-in cabinets and making it appear as though they were apart of the new design. It really came together nicely! Check it out.

We need to conceal the black cord running from our sound bar to the TV but that just requires a small piece of white plastic tube. We have to replace the sexy brass track lighting and figure out our new flooring situation but the fireplace is DONE. Phew! If we won the lottery we'd install pot lights throughout the living room and put down hardwood throughout the house but we will be hold off on doing that.  I will be on maternity leave for the next year and we'd rather continue contributing to our savings account and open up an RESP for lil' Baby Taylor (the hubby and I are savers and don't charge anything -- well, except our mortgage).  In the mean time we are either going to buy a decorative rug to go in front of the fireplace to fill the gap where our old hearth stuck out or replace the carpet with a cheap 5 year carpet that will last until we put hardwood down. 

As for the light, I've have my eye on this bad boy but unfortunately it won't ship to Canada. Of course. What's with that anyways?! I'm hoping to find something similar here in Canada - fingers crossed.

light from here

 

So that's another room almost done! We've lived here close to two years and in that time we've done a few little projects including our master bedroom, the nursery and dining room (well, we still need to pain out the trim in there...). We are trying to work at one room at a time, finish it off then move onto the next. This is our forever home so we have the time to make calculated decisions and quality investments. The next room I'd like to do is the powder room but we will see how that pans out. I have a feeling we will have my hands full starting in April... 

Sausage & Cheese Risotto

In the summer I posted about my first attempt making risotto. It was pretty good but I wasn't overly thrilled with the time that went into it - it didn't seem worth it.  I decided to give risotto another shot since I have 3/4 of a box still sitting in the cupboard.  This time around I was much happier with the outcome. It was delicious. It was definitely worth the stir time this time around. 

Yield: 3-4 serving

Ingredients
Splash of olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
2 sausages, casing removed
1 cup  Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 cups chicken stock
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup grated cheese (I used fresh parmesan and extra old sharp cheddar)

Method
In a frying pan over medium heat warm olive oil.  Toss in garlic, onion and sausage.  Break up sausage into small pieces as you cook it through, about 5 minutes. Add Arborio rice and stir until mixed in.  Pour in white wine and cook until absorbed, stirring frequently. Add chicken stock a 1/2 cup at a time until each has absorbed.  Keep up the stirring!! Turn heat off once you add the last 1/2 cup but keep on the burner.  Add cheese mixture and stir until melted.  Serve immediately.  Serve with a big ol' salad.

And the winners are...

I'd like to preface this post by saying that everyone has their own needs and opinions so a decision that might be great for one person or family might be completely wrong for another.  I quickly learned through this pregnancy that you can find terrible reviews about a product saying it can harm your child and you are a bad parent to choose it, and the next review someone is raving about it, saying it is a product they couldn't have lived without. Basically you can't win. ha!  So do your research and go with your gut. This decision needs to work for your family and no one elses. If it doesn't pan out the way you had hoped, then switch it up. Ok, now on with the post....

Thanks a million for all of the advice you sent my way on baby bath products. Wowza! So many great options to choose from. I am going to start with the Live Clean Baby line. I know it's not perfect, but I think it will be a perfect fit for us. Not only is it a Canadian company but it also hits all of my requirements.

1) Available locally without having to special order
2)  Completely paraben free
3) Completely sulphate free
4) All-natural
5) Not ridiculously expensive
6) Good at their job!

My husband was in charge of picking out a video monitor so I really don't know much about them.  He decided on the Levana Astra 2 camera video monitor. It was for sale at Costco here in Canada for a great price however when we went to order it was "out of stock". Son of a bitch.  After googling around a bit I found it for $10 more on Amazon.ca so I ordered it yesterday and it should be arriving in the next three weeks.  The key features we were looking for in a monitor were;

 

1) Does not have a breathing sensor pad - we've heard they are super sensitive and frankly I don't want to have a heart attack in the night for no reason
2) A two way intercom so we can sooth our babe from afar if need be (we live in a two story home)
3) A camera that has a zoom and tilt function
4) Comes with two cameras since we hope to have another babe at some point, but if not we could use a camera in the playroom (It would be $100+ to add another camera down the road and was only $50 more to get the two pack right now)
5) Good night vision function

Also a huge thank you to all of my FaceBook friends who helped us make decisions on a stroller.  After waaaaaaaaay too much research and consideration we bit the bullet and order a Bumbleride Indie from a cute little boutique in Oakville, Ontario called Rattle & Stroll.  It is an American stroller so they are difficult to find here in Canada.  Here are the reasons why we decided on this one;

1) It is super duper light weight - 20 lbs!
2) It is a transitional stroller, meaning that it goes from newborn (either in the completely lay flat position or with your car seat) all the way up to 4-5 years old (45 lbs)
3) It is an all terrain stroller 3-wheel stroller that we can use on country roads, at the beach, at the mall, and on hikes with our puppy.
4) It has large rubber wheels that are durable (and removable for travel)
5) Can be used for light jogging if I feel inclined...lol.
6) All fabric is removable and washable
7) It is narrower and shorter than most 3-wheel strollers making it easier to maneuver in small spaces
8) Universal car seat adaptor is included
9) ridiculously easy to steer (because of the light weight and great wheels)
9) It had fantastic reviews!

There are a few things that we aren't super over joyed about, which are;

1) It requires two hands to collapse
2) It's expensive!
3) It's not Canadian
4) You have to buckle the car seat in
5) If I decided to become a marathon runner, this stroller wouldn't be able to withstand it (For those of you who don't know me, this obviously isn't a concern...)

I will keep you posted in the coming months with how our decisions pan out. Thanks again for all the help!

Chicken Taco Rice Bowl

I found a crock pot recipe on Pinterest that I really wanted to try, however I couldn't pull my shit together last night or this morning to actually get the meal in the crock pot. Instead, I made a non-crock pot version after work.  It turned out so yummy! We are happy to have lots of leftovers!

The recipe I was suppose to make (found here)

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients
splash of olive oil
2 chicken breasts, small cubed
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chilli powder
1/2 tablespoon cumin
1/4 tsp dried oregano1/4 tsp cayenne pepper1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 small jar of salsa (whatever hotness you desire)

2 cups cooked rice

shredded cheddar to garnish

Method
Over medium heat warm olive oil in a frying pan.  Toss in cubed chicken breasts until fully cooked.  Add garlic and all spices (chilli powder, cumin, oregano and cayenne pepper) and stir to coat chicken.  Cook for two minutes.  Add black beans and corn and salsa and stir. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes while you cook your rice.  Done and done. Serve chicken mixture over rice and top with cheese. Yummy Mexican food....

So many decisions...

Holy shit. Why didn't anyone warn me about the abundance of decisions one has to make while pregnant? I've been warned a million times that I'll be nauseous, tired, bitchy and bloated but never once did someone tell me "oh yeah by the way, every decision you make will feel like a life or death decision." I swear, choosing a stroller was way more work then choosing my Mazda 3. I've entered what I believe to be the 'crazy lady nesting stage'.  I've made lists, rearranged furniture, I've started packing our hospital bags and have now done 5 loads of baby laundry.  A name has yet to be chosen but for some reason today I feel like finding the right baby bath products is WAY more important than naming our child. WTF?! Don't ask -- there is no logic.


Everyone is different, but for me there are a few must have criteria for our baby products;
1) They must be available without having to special order them.  I want to be able to run out and pick the products up at the drop of a hat.
2)  Completely paraben free
3) Completely sulphate free
4) All-natural
5) Not ridiculously expensive
6) Good at their job!

I've researched many different products however I would love to hear from YOU. I've never used these products before.  Any suggestions? Aleva Naturals Baby Products are currently at the top of my list.  I want to avoid homemade products because I don't want too much on my plate with a new wee one and having to make this stuff. 

Thanks in advance for your help! 

Feel the Love

What a special weekend this is - Valentine's Day followed by a long weekend for Family Day.  My husband and I celebrated by staying in and making a delicious dinner of crab legs, garlic shrimp and Caesar salad, relaxing on the couch and hitting the hay extra early since this little baby girl of ours is making me super sleepy lately. We are heading to my Mom's place today to spend time with my side of the family and we are really looking forward to it. To those of you who cannot be with your family this weekend for whatever reason, may you find pleasure and happiness in the memories that you have with them.

Happy Valentine's Day & Family Day

Much Love,
Jill

21 Habits of Happy People

A few weeks ago, as I lay in bed in the early morning hours checking Facebook I followed this link and read an article that completely resonated with me. I've read it 10 times over since then and decided to post it here so that you all could read it as well. I hope you connect with it as much as I do. 

*the following information is from http://www.mindopenerz.com/21-habits-of-happy-people/

“Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed.
We’ve all seen people who are always happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness; they just don’t let it overtake their life. The following are 21 things happy people make a habit of doing:

1. Appreciate Life
Be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life. Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
2. Choose Friends Wisely
Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.
3. Be Considerate
Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Respect them for who they are. Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.
4. Learn Continuously
Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.
5. Creative Problem Solving
Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.
6. Do What They Love
Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy – the extra money of a job you detest isn’t worth it. Make time to enjoy your hobbies and pursue special interests.
7. Enjoy Life
Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the woods etc. Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future.
8. Laugh
Don’t take yourself – or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances. (Naturally there are times that you should be serious as it would be improper to laugh.)
9. Forgive
Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself.
10. Gratitude
Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.
11. Invest in Relationships
Always make sure your loved ones know you love them even in times of conflict. Nurture and grow your relationships with your family and friends by making the time to spend with them. Don’t break your promises to them. Be supportive.
12. Keep Their Word
Honesty is the best policy. Every action and decision you make should be based on honesty. Be honest with yourself and with your loved ones.
13. Meditate
Meditation gives your very active brain a rest. When it’s rested you will have more energy and function at a higher level. Types of meditation include yoga, hypnosis, relaxation tapes, affirmations, visualization or just sitting in complete silence. Find something you enjoy and make the time to practice daily.
14. Mind Their Own Business
Concentrate on creating your life the way you want it. Take care of you and your family. Don’t get overly concerned with what other people are doing or saying. Don’t get caught up with gossip or name calling. Don’t judge. Everyone has a right to live their own life the way they want to – including you.
15. Optimism
See the glass as half full. Find the positive side of any given situation. It’s there – even though it may be hard to find. Know that everything happens for a reason, even though you may never know what the reason is. Steer clear of negative thoughts. If a negative thought creeps in – replace it with a positive thought.
16. Love Unconditionally
Accept others for who they are. You don’t put limitations on your love. Even though you may not always like the actions of your loved ones – you continue to love them.
17. Persistence
Never give up. Face each new challenge with the attitude that it will bring you one step closer to your goal. You will never fail, as long as you never give up. Focus on what you want, learn the required skills, make a plan to succeed and take action. We are always happiest while pursuing something of value to us.
18. Be Proactive
Accept what can not be changed. Happy people don’t waste energy on circumstances beyond their control. Accept your limitations as a human being. Determine how you can take control by creating the outcome you desire – rather than waiting to respond.
19. Self Care
Take care of your mind, body and health. Get regular medical check ups. Eat healthy and work out. Get plenty of rest. Drink lots of water. Exercise your mind by continually energizing it with interesting and exciting challenges.
20. Self Confidence
Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. After all no one likes a phony. Determine who you are in the inside – your own personal likes and dislikes. Be confident in who you are. Do the best you can and don’t second guess yourself.
21. Take Responsibility
Happy people know and understand that they are 100% responsible for their life. They take responsibility for their moods, attitude, thoughts, feelings, actions and words. They are the first to admit when they’ve made a mistake.
Begin today by taking responsibility for your happiness. Work on developing these habits as you own. The more you incorporate the above habits into your daily lifestyle – the happier you will be.
Most of all: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

Hole in the Wall

A few weeks ago we had our fireplace and surround  removed.  We were happy with our decision to pay someone to remove it since there ended up being a thick concrete block that needed to be jack hammered out. Phew!  Measurements were immediately after the removable and now we wait.  Our hope is the project will be completed in the next three weeks but something tells me that it will take longer then that.  We are currently waiting on the cabinet maker to build the upper part of the surround -- a bead board insert that the TV will be attached to.  Here is what our living room currently looks like -- and below that are a few inspirational pictures that helped with our design. I hate waiting....

Inspiration picture borrowed from here

Inspiration picture borrowed from here

Pad See Ew

My husbands favorite Thai dish is Pad See Ew and since he spent the day painting the nursery I attempted to make it for him and surprisingly, it was a success.  He even said he liked it better then the Pad See Ew at our favourite Thai restaurant. Say what?! Hope you like it as much as he did. Cheers!

Yeild: 4-5 servings


Not my picture -- picture borrowed from here

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large beef steak, thinly sliced
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
1 egg
1 package thick rice noodles

Marinade Ingredients
3 tablespoons soya sauce
2 teaspoons brown sugar

Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients
3 tablespoons soya sauce
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup beef stock

Method
Slice steak and let marinade in the soya sauce and brown sugar mixture for 10 minutes while you prepare everything. Cook rice noodles and set aside. Warm wok over medium heat and scramble the egg. Set egg aside. In the wok warm olive oil over medium and cook up minced garlic for 30 seconds before adding beef strips with marinade. Cook for 4 minutes flipping once. Add broccoli, scrambled egg, cooked rice noodles, and stir fry sauce. Stir to coat noodles. Cook until broccoli is desired tenderness and some of the sauce has evaporated. Serve with Thai chili sauce on the side and garnish with cilantro if you like that shit.

Let the Games Begin!

My husband and I have been completely avoiding the fact that we have to get our asses in gear and prepare for the arrival of our little one.  I mentioned in a previous post that our infertility experience has taught me to slow down and smell the roses. I no longer plan my life months in advance and enjoy savouring the little beautiful moments that each day brings. Perhaps that's why we've found ourselves taking our time with preparations.  I'm moving into the third trimester which means baby will be here in a few short months, which also means that we can't push things for much longer. The first coat of paint went on the walls today for the baby's room and we are totally diggin' the fresh colour. I think this is the push we needed to get things done. I'm not going to lie, it is completely overwhelming making so many decisions. Names, childcare, nursery colours, strollers, highchairs, blah blah blah. It's enough to make you go crazy! I plan on getting everything done over the next few weeks so that I can return back to my 'smell to roses' mentality and enjoy every single moment that is left in this pregnancy. We worked so hard to get here and it would be a shame to stress the remaining weeks away.  Here are a few sneak peek pictures of the nursery along with some of the pictures I'm using for inspiration (thank God for Pinterest!). We have decided on a mint and coral colour scheme and I'm looking forward to having it all come together.  I don't want the nursery to be as 'cluttered' as the inspiration pictures but you get the idea...


Inspirational Picture (pic from www.decorpad.com)

Bird art from HomeSense

Nursery Before Picture

 

First coat of paint is up!

Shrimp in a Spicy Thai Coconut Sauce

There is a fantastic little family owned authentic Thai restaurant in St. Thomas that I adore called Café Siam.  I love, love, love Thai food.   The only thing that I don't like about Thai food is cilantro - yuck! I've tried time and time again to like it but I just can't.  Dammit.  Anyways tonight I wanted to hit up that cute little restaurant for some good grub however the football game line up cramped my style. I decided instead that I would try to make some yummy Thai food on my own.  SUCCESS! I was so pleased with this dish - to me, it totally tasted like restaurant food. I had a tough time follow the original recipe found here, because of the lack of ethnic food selection at our local grocery store. Below is the recipe that I used with all of my substitutions. It honestly was the easiest meal to make and took about 5 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes of cook time. Minus the 45 minutes I wandered the grocery store looking for ingredients from the original recipe.

Hope you like it as much as we did.

Yield: 3 Servings

Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
lemon zest from 1/2 a lemon
1/2 of a jalapeno, minced (seeds removed!)
1 tablespoon hot pepper paste (found this at Bulk Barn for $2.00!)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb raw, peeled shrimp (I bought the frozen guys)
1/2 can unsweetened coconut milk
juice from 1/2 a lime (I used the light stuff)
1 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce
Fresh cilantro to garnish (Yuck! I didn't use this)

Method
Warm oil over medium heat in a wok or fry pan.  Add ginger, lemon zest, jalapeno, and garlic.  Cook for two minutes before adding the shrimp.  Cook for about 2 minutes until they are about half cooked (sort of pinkish).  Pour in remaining ingredients. Simmer for 3 minutes or until shrimp are cooked through.  Serve over basmati rice, or rice noodles.

Living Room Overhaul

Since moving to our new pad nearly two years ago we knew the configuration of our living room needed to change in some way.  My husband who happens to be a very patient person and logical thinker (umm, completely opposite of me!) said that we needed to live in the space for a year before making any big decision. Not only would that help us see how we use the space but it also would give us a chance to see how our financials were panning out. Dammit, he had a point.  So this past summer we made some decisions about the space and started to get to work.  As you guys know, this summer probably wasn't the best time to get started since we were going through fertility treatment and I spent 23 days on bed rest from my OHSS. Oops. We've been puttering away at the space and we are thrilled with how it's (slooooooowly) coming along. By mid February we will be completely done the space and I can't wait.  We are doing an entire fireplace overhaul since our current wood burning fireplace isn't in proper working order.  Bring on the gas remote controlled fireplace!  Here are a few before and during pictures along with a list of the crap that goes along with the overhaul.  I will obviously post the after pictures once everything is completed.

Completed Tasks:
A new couch (from IKEA)
Custom bamboo roman shades (Blinds2Go)
Brown faux leather chair (Target)
Throw pillows (homemade!)
Trim & cabinets sanded down & painted white
Ugly 80's banisters removed
Walls painted
Beige outlets changed to white
New white return air vents
White washed fireplace (before we decided to replace it)
New sleek flat screen TV and sound bar (sold the old one!)
Square Ottoman (lowes.ca)

In the Works Tasks:
Banister step to be replaced due to holes
Patch job on the bulkhead

To Do Tasks:
New ceiling light fixture (yet to choose one)
Gas fireplace overhaul (done by Firetech)
Paint touch ups around bulk head
Art for over the couch (I hate picking out art!)




First day as home owners - April 25th, 2012



How the Living Room was for over a year
 

Our Living Room - In progress




Couch (check out the super-duper oak kitchen!)

Homemade pillows (fabric from Lens Mill)

Bay window now sporting a lounge chair



Square Ottoman with storage

Quick & Easy Chicken Parm

Regardless of the fact that I have blonde hair and blue eyes, I think I should have been born into an Italian family.  I f'n love red wine like nobody's business, I can eat enough pizza to sink a ship and pasta, oh man. So good. On boxing day I had lunch with a few high school friends.  We opted to go out for lunch so we didn't have to worry about cooking anything and could spend the time together catching up instead.  My girlfriend ordered chicken parmesan that was literally the size of her face (honest to God, that's actually how they advertised it on the menu!).  Since then I have wanted to make a simple recipe for it. We really enjoyed it and I hope you do too!

Yield: 2 Servings

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, tenderized
2 tablespoons flour
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup of a mixture of panko breadcrumbs & freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup pasta sauce
1/4 cup grated mozza and parmesan cheese to top

Method
In a ziplock bag or between plastic wrap place both chicken breasts. Using a meat tenderizer flatten out those breasts. Remove from plastic and coast breasts with flour. Dip into beaten egg.  Then coat generously with breadcrumb/parmesan cheese mixture.  Place in a greased oven safe dish and top with pasta sauce and mozza/parmesan cheese.  Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve over pasta.

Chairs & Pink...

Tell me this; Why are nursery gliders so freakin' ugly and why are all infant girl clothes an obnoxious pink colour?

I've been on the hunt for a nice looking glider-type chair and have figured out that it doesn't exist in Canada for under $1,000. WTF!? I want a stylish looking chair that can remain in our daughters room for years and years to come as a reading chair in a cozy little reading corner.  We'd also like to use it again if we are blessed in the future with another little one.  The wood gliders that seems to be everywhere are definitely eyesores.  Target in the States of course have a few really cute ones but they are on line only and don't ship to Canada. S.O.B.  

Off to Home Sense I go...

Vitamix

My amazing husband spoiled me so much this Christmas and as a result I am now a very proud owner of a Vitamix!  Over the last two years we have been daily green smoothie drinkers (with the exception of the first 4 months of pregnancy - damn you pregnancy sickness), so having a Vitamix is going to be a game changer in this house.  Every morning I would struggle with our old blender as it jammed up with frozen pineapple and never fully pureed everything. I drink my smoothies in the car on my way to work and find it easier and safer to use a straw -- this was problematic with all those darn chunks (first world problems are such a bitch!). Since arriving home with our new Vitamix 3 days ago, we have consumed 4 smoothies each and made a batch of squash soup. I think it's safe to say we are obsessed.  I've posted a few different green smoothie recipes on my blog but this is the one we are currently digging' and have for a while now -- it has a four food groups and a crapload of protein. Enjoy!

Yields: 2 large smoothies

Ingredients
2 cups unsweetened Almond milk (vanilla or original - we alternate)
1/2 frozen banana
1 1/2 cups of frozen fruit (pineapple, mango & strawberries are our mixture of choice)
1/2 cup fat free Greek yogurt (plain, honey, or vanilla - we alternate)
1/4 cup rolled oats
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
2 huge handfuls of fresh spinach (apparently you shouldn't eat frozen spinach raw...)

*to be honest, I eyeball everything so you may have to add more almond milk. Tomorrow morning I will measure everything out and make any necessary changes to this recipe.

Method
I found adding spinach first followed by almond milk and everything else on top to be the most successful order to get a good blend flow going without having to use the plunger. Turn Vitamix to variable 4-5 for about 10 seconds, crank to 10 for 10 more seconds and end on high for 10 seconds or until it looks like all the chunks are gone.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas friends, family & readers! 

 

We had a lovely whirlwind of a week with a lot of packing, unpacking, visiting, eating, laughing and celebrating.  Our four Christmases have come to an end and now we prepare for a New Years Eve celebration with a group of very special friends.  Santa sure was good to us this year -- even more so then normal!  We are feeling so grateful and excited that our hearts could just about burst.  We cannot wait for the arrival of our daughter in late April!

 

 

Lazy Day Cheesy Pasta Bake

It's a Sunday evening after a very strenuous day of, wait for it - couch surfing. We've moved from the couch, to the fridge, back to couch about 4 times today.  It was our first official day of our holiday with no plans and we consciously decided to be lazy bums. Mission accomplished! We've reading our fair share of blogs, and  news articles today, watched way too much football and Food Network shows and consumed more cheese then any normal person should in a day. This perfect relaxing day was topped off by a tasty and not very healthy homemade cheesy pasta bake. I swear this baby is going to be born with a brick of cheese in each hand and an appetite for dairy like no other. Without further ado here the super easy recipe. Enjoy fellow cheese lovers.

yield: 4 servings

Ingredients
1 box smart pasta (I used bow pasta because lets face it, they are so freakin' cute looking)
1/4 cup butter/margarine
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 cups milk
pinch of nutmeg
1/2 container of light onion & chive cream cheese
3/4 grated cheese (I used a combo of regular cheddar, extra old cheddar and fresh parmesan)
1/4 cup dry Italian breadcrumbs


Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook pasta until it is just tender.  You don't want to cook all the way through.  Rinse with water and set aside. In a medium/large sauce pan melt butter over medium heat.  Add flour and stir for 2 minutes. SLOWLY add milk and whisk as you do this to avoid clumping. bring to a simmer. Add nutmeg, cream cheese, and grated cheese and whisk until melted. Add cooked pasta and mix until coated.  Pour into an oven safe baking dish and cover with breadcrumbs.  Bake for 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes. Yummmmmmy cheese....

An extra special Christmas morning

One of the many reasons we are reaaaaaaaaally looking forward to Christmas morning...

Chewy Ginger Cookies & Shortbread

This weekend was suppose to be spend surrounded by some very special friends at a Christmas party near Peterborough.  We hit the highway yesterday morning and ended up making the decision (after far too much deliberation) to turn around and head home because of the terrible weather in the GTA.  While we were totally bummed to miss the party we were grateful that we made it home safe and sound.  This weekend hasn't all been bad though.  We got to visit and snuggle with a very special 8-day old baby who melted our hearts.  We also spend this morning sipping on hot chocolate, listening to Christmas tunes while baking way too many cookies.  There is absolutely nothing better then Christmas time. The hubster voted on shortbread cookies and chew ginger cookies.  We worked together and were able to make 8 dozen cookies in 1.5 hours. They are delish! I've used the chewy ginger cookie recipe a lot but this was a new shortbread recipe.  I still think my mom still makes the best shortbread cookies I've ever had but these are pretty tasty too!

Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients
1 cup of room temperature unsalted butter
½ cup of confectioners’/powdered/icing sugar
¼ cup of cornstarch
1 ½ cups of all purpose white flour

Method
In a stand mixer mix butter on medium for 5 minutes to get it fluffy. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar and cornstarch. Continue mixing on medium for 2 minutes.  Slowly add flour and mix for 2 additional minutes.  Spoon onto a cookie sheet and press the tops down slightly with a fork.  Bake for 9 minutes at 375 degrees or until edges just start to brown.  Keep a close eye because they brown up pretty darn quick!

Enjoy!

Donation Party

Our 5th Annual Cookie Exchange didn't happen this year.  In fact, something a million times better, and healthier happened instead.  Our group of friends voted and we decided to have a donation party instead.  Not only would it save us time, energy and calories, but it also helped us demonstration to the little ones the importance of giving back to our community.  It was a huge success!  My husband and I hosted this year.  We had the crew over for a casual pizza dinner and each family had to bring at least 4 canned food items and a children's toy. Check out the goods that are being donated!  It was neat to see the little kids have an understanding that the toys were going to people who needed them.  I'm excited to teach my little one this lesson eventually.  I hope that this annual Cookie Exchange Donation Party continues for years and years to come.




Two of our super crafty friends brought an awesome craft for the kids to complete after dinner.  They even brought one for Baby T! How cute are these?! Homemade with barn boards! Thank you C & HJ.

And because I've been lacking in the recipe department lately here is a recipe for the punch I made.




Yields: A lot of punch! 4+ regular sized jugs

Ingredients 
 

2 frozen cranberry juice + 4 cans of water
1 tin of pineapple juice
1/2 can frozen orange juice + 1 can of water
1 bottle of ginger ale
maraschino cherries
Ice
*add more water if it's not to your taste preference

10 Cold Remedies (Pregnancy Friendly)

It was inevitable...I caught a cold. About two weeks ago my husband started to come down with a cold that stuck around way too long.  I managed to steer clear of a cold since last May, which is an impressive feat for a teacher so it's about time.  I hope this means this is my winter cold and I'll be in the clear for a while. Winter vacation will have nothing to do with snotty Kleenex, coughing fits, and noodle soup for breakfast (I'd rather eat Christmas cookies for breakfast during my vacation!).  Thankfully I've never been one to take medication when I'm sick.  I've only been on antibiotics once in the last 11 years (BOOYA!) and my body does a good job and getting over sicknesses pretty darn quickly.  I truly believe the reason why I don't get sick very often is because I rely on my body to fight its' own battle (that is of course unless it's a bad infection in which case I would totally take medication to help -- but I haven't had to).  During pregnancy most medications should be avoided so this was no big change for me. Here is a list of home remedies that are pregnancy friendly.

1. Mentholated Steamer - Pour boiling water into a salad bowl and add a small tab of vicks vaporub. Drape a towel over your head and the bowl for 5 minutes and take deep breaths.  This sooths a sore throat and helps break up all that gross snot. I try to do this at least 3 times a day.

2. Soup - YUMMY! The heat feels so good on the throat and it gets nutrients in you when you might not have an appetite.

3. Bed side Humidifier - We purchased a cool mist humidifier and run it every night for about an hour in the winter months (I get nose bleeds so this helps limit those). When there is a sickness floating around our house we run it all night long.

4. Emergen-C Health Booster - We only drink one of these a day when there is a chance of a cold or if we have a cold.  I had my Fertility Doctor read over the ingredients and I got the thumbs up that it is ok to drink.  It is an adult formula so it isn't safe for kids to drink. I've figured out that the when you mix a little pineapple juice with the orange flavoured packet it tastes delish!

5. REST - the more sleep the better!

6. Stay hydrated - I drink a ton of orange juice, water and hot water with pasteurized honey and fresh lemon slices. I usually have two drinks on the go while I'm sick. When you think you've drank enough, have more!

7. A daily vitamin - I'm obviously currently taking prenatal vitamins (actually I have been for 3+ years in preparation for pregnancy -- oops! Little did I know it would take a looooong time to get here).

8. Salt water gargle - 1 teaspoon in a half mug of boiling water. Gargle. The more frequent the better!  I try for 4 times daily. It kills helps with inflammation in the throat and kills off bacteria and prevents more from growing. So much better then those sugary gross tasting throat lozenges.

9. Neti pot - It feels weird to do this but it works!  It's the same deal as gargling with salt water but the neti pot gets into your sinuses and prevents sinus and ear infections.  I once started to develop a sinus infection and was able to combat it with the neti and avoided going on antibiotics. Totally worth the purchase.

10. Fresh air - Even in the cold months I try to get outside at least once for a short walk to get some fresh air into my lungs. It does the body and mind some good.

Bring on Winter

Yup - this happened this weekend! 2.5 feet of snow. Good thing the hubby bit the bullet and purchased a snow blower this year. Bring on Winter! We are ready :) 

 

 

One Dish Chicken Alfredo

Today was a good day!  No headaches, no nausea and my energy was relatively normal. On good days I can face cooking (thus the reason my recipe posts have been lacking over the last four months). My husband requested Chicken Alfredo for dinner tonight so I hit the internet. I stumbled across this recipe that claimed a tasty meal in just one dish. Less dishes?! Less time?! Sign me up! I didn't follow this recipe to a T (shocking, I know), but it turned out pretty tasty!  Not restaurant quality since there is no butter used and I used half and half instead of heavy cream.  Trust me, your arteries will thank you since it does have a cup of cheese in it. Hope you enjoy!

Yield: 4 Servings

Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 chicken breasts, cubed
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup half and half cream
1/2 cup milk
3/4 box of smart pasta (about three cups), uncooked
1 cup grated parmesan cheese (more if desired)

Method
Over medium/high heat warm oil and add chicken cubes and garlic.  Cook chicken until all pink is gone.  Add all remaining ingredients (except the cheese!!!) and bring to a boil (yes, you are adding raw noodles, not cooked noodles).  Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Stir twice. After 15 minutes add cheese and stir to mix for a few minutes over low heat.  Chances are the cream has separated a bit -- stirring it will make it nice and creamy.  The starch from the pasta really thickens things up.  Enjoy!

My Cheap Decorating Ways

It's no secret that I'm in love with the Christmas season!!!  Yesterday was one of my most favourite days of the year -- Decorating day!  I blasted Christmas tunes (thank you Rogers channel 710), burned pine candles, and drank hot chocolate while I slowly emptied two totes full of Christmas decorations. love.it.love.it.love.it. It occurred to me yesterday that while I love looking at Christmas decorations at the stores I don't like spending money on something that I can only use for 6 weeks of the year. I don't actually own very many Christmas pieces other then tree decorations -- 6 mercury glass Christmas trees, a willow tree nativity scene (a gift), and a sliver reindeer.  The rest of my decorations are my everyday items converted to something festive either by using cheap items from the dollar store or Christmas tree decorations. Check out my cheap decorating ways in the pictures below. Fa'la'la'la'la, la'la'la'LA!

Add ribbon to existing candle holders

Cake stand with a few dollar store decorations



Christmas cards and wrapping paper in frames.
Pinecones from outside with dollar store berries.
Red & white books that I had laying around.



I've seen these suckers sell for up to $20 a piece.
Mine were $2 from the dollar store and I just added ribbon that I had already.

$2 wreath (Michaels with coupon) and $1 dollar store berries.
Everyday candle sticks & tray with Christmas tree decorations on top

Folded cozy blankets and dollar store berries in my everyday vase

The First Trimester

To be honest, I thought since we went through hell and back to become pregnant that that gracious powers above would make my pregnancy an absolute breeze.  Oh, how naive I was! I experienced a solid 14 weeks of all-day nausea paired with exhaustion.  It's sad to say, but I eventually got used to the fact that I wanted to puke every minute of every day.  The nausea would wake me up from a deep sleep and I found myself  spending a great deal of time standing in the bathroom staring at my beautiful scary reflection while trying to keep down saltine and gold fish crackers.  A sick part of me enjoyed the nausea because it let me know that our babes was doing its' thing in my belly. By week 15 the nausea subsided for the most part.  Cue the raging headaches.  While the exhaustion and nausea has moved on, my head often feels like it might combust at any given moment.  My amazing OB has me booked in to see a neurologist to make sure everything is a-ok but her and I both are fairly confident that it's the raging hormones that are causing the raging headaches.  Regardless of the 'side effects' of carrying this gift in me I am so beyond thrilled and blessed to be able to experience this. Emotionally I have felt great the entire time. Fingers crossed that the headaches dissipate and the emotional stability remains throughout the next two trimesters -- for everyone's sake!  Bring on week 17! My advice to anyone in the first trimester...

I might be having too much fun making these....

Keep Calm

When I see them for the first time in the grocery store I fist-pump in the air.

When I smell them it feels like Christmas.

When I peel them they make me salivate like my chocolate lab.

When I eat them I always have to eat two at a time (that's what she said).

When they are no longer in season I begin having the winter-blues.

An Extra Hour

How did you spend your extra hour?  15 years ago I spend an extra hour in bed sleeping away my raging adolescent hormones. 10 years ago I was pumped to have an extra hour of drinking time at The Palace in Guelph. This year I spend it on an early morning walk with my family. How times have changes, but I'm completely ok with it.  It was a perfect fall morning -- frost on the ground, the sun shinning and a very, very happy puppy.  Life is good. Enjoy the extra hour folks and don't forget to change your alarm clock so you don't show up to work an hour early. That would be brutal...

 

Mini Pumpkin Scones

Ever notice that Pinterest lies sometimes?! If you don't know what I mean check out this hilarious website. I was so frustrated last week when I decided to make these delicious looking pumpkin cookies and they ended up not being cookies at all (1st world problems...).  In my opinion cookies are suppose to be dense, rich, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. I knew as I was mixing the 'dough' that these weren't going to be cookies since the 'dough' was actually a batter. Dammit again. The silver lining is that I ended up altering the recipe on the fly and it wasn't a completely flop. Thank God because the original recipe yielded 60 freakin' cookies, which turned out to be 60 tasty mini pumpkin scones. My husband and I ended up having to take a bunch to work just to get rid of them and they were a hit. Here is the cookie scone recipe that I altered. Enjoy!

Yield: 24
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened not melted
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon making soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 1/2 cups flour

Icing
1/4 cup butter, softened not melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons milk
splash of vanilla
1 1/2 - 2 cups powdered sugar

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With a stand mixer or electric mixer cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg and vanilla and mix. Sprinkle in baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin and continue to mix until combined. On low, slowly add flour a little at a time until combined. Do not over mix. Drop by tablespoon onto a ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. *these aren't pretty looking scones until you ice them since it's difficult to shape batter.

Icing Method
Using a stand mixer or electric mixer combine butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla.  Once mixed slowly add powdered sugar.  To thicken icing simply add more powered sugar.  Do not ice scones until they are completely cooled.  I learned this the hard way...story of my life! Sprinkle with cinnamon to making them look Purdy.