Little Hearts

When Amelia goes down for her afternoon nap, Oliver and I have been enjoying some quality time together.  Sometimes we do a craft; sometimes we bake healthy cookies (I will post the recipe once it's perfected!); sometimes we read a pile of books in our big white comfy chair.  All of these times are extremely precious to me and I've been trying to soak up every minute.  For in the back of my mind, I am thinking the word "September".  That is when this little boy, whom I have spent most of my waking (and sleeping) hours with over the past 4 years or so, will start going to school.  Seven more months with both of my little hearts at home with me.  Seven more months to make every moment count.

The other day, Oliver and I decided to do a simple craft while Amelia slept.  With Valentine's day coming up in a few weeks, we went with that theme.  Pipe cleaners and beads were all that we needed.

Oliver enjoyed stringing beads onto the pipe cleaners, which I then twisted into heart shapes.  Watching the quiet concentration of this small, yet so astoundingly grown up, boy was a moment that I will cherish.  What I will cherish even more, is what he said to me next...

"Mommy, I love doing crafts with you."





I am sharing this at the Moonlight and Mason Jars Link Party!

Ode to Carrot Juice

I have accidentally stumbled upon something incredible.

Last month, I was really sick with a stomach bug.  The kids had it too.  I have never been that sick before.  It was awful.  Caring for and cleaning up after two little ones with tummy troubles while also feeling so ill wasn't fun either.  My husband Chris had to work, so thankfully my Mom travelled up our way and stayed for awhile to take care of us!

Well, while she was here, we picked up a few Bolthouse Farms fruit and veggie drinks.  They're the ones found in the produce section at the grocery store (I am not affiliated with Bolthouse Farms in any way.  You can read my disclaimer here).  We thought that since my stomach couldn't handle solid food, it would be a good way to get some sort of nutrition.

One of those juices was a giant bottle of carrot juice.

I was a bit hesitant to try it and even put it off for awhile.  I thought it would be on par with tomato juice which I DO NOT LIKE.  I am reminded of the time when my friends were drinking Caesars (similar to a Bloody Mary, for all of the American readers) and I thought that I should too.  It was not pretty.  And it wasn't because of the vodka.

Anyway...
I didn't try the carrot juice until well after the illness left our household and my Mom returned to her home.  When I finally tasted it, I was shocked.  It was fantastic!  It's a little bit sweet and absolutely delicious served ice cold.  This Bolthouse version contains a whopping 380% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A and is only 70 calories per 1 cup serving.

According to my research...
(if you watch The Magic School Bus as much as we do, that phrase may make you smile)

Each cup contains a whole lot of vitamins and minerals too.  These include the aforementioned vitamin A, vitamins C, E, & K,  various B vitamins, potassium, folate, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium and zinc.  While the old adage that carrots improve eyesight holds true (did I detect a slight improvement in my horrible night vision while driving the other night?), particularly if you have a vitamin A deficiency, there are also a number of other health benefits that this super food provides.  Everything from helping dry skin to preventing cancer seem to be on the list of amazing things that carrots can do.  "The antioxidants and phytochemicals in carrots may also help with blood sugar regulation, delay the effects of aging, and improve immune function." (Nordqvist, J. (2013, December 16). "What are the health benefits of carrots?." Medical News Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270191.)

How often does something so good for you also taste so amazing?

It sounds silly, but carrot juice makes me feel like skipping and twirling around like a little girl.  Maybe it's all of the antioxidants.  Maybe it's all of the vitamin A.  Whatever it is, I love this stuff and drink at least one glass a day (remember to check with your doctor before changing your diet, especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions).  I've also read that drinking 3 cups or more a day can turn skin orange!  So I try not to overdo it.  Like that episode of The Magic School Bus where Arnold turns orange after eating too many Seaweedies.

Well, I couldn't title this post "Ode to Carrot Juice" without including one.  So here it is...


Ode to Carrot Juice

Oh carrot juice!
Sweet orange nectar
As a seed you start
So small.
Within Earth's embrace,
You grow.
Nourished by soil, sun,
Rainfall.
A hidden wonder lies
Below.
Your destiny we shall not
Forestall.
For, your great goodness, now
I know.
Nature's nourishment is the gift you impart
To all.

Amelia's Artwork

The other day, I was writing a list.  As a habitual list-maker, it was likely one of many: a grocery list, a to-do list, an idea list - the list goes on.  Well, Amelia came along and wanted my pencil and notepad. Curious as to what she would do, I gave it to her.  She immediately scribbled on the paper (and the table leg and the floor).

It always amazes me how young children pick up so much just by watching us!

Amelia also came across a sticker on the floor that had lost its stickiness.  I think it was a Halloween sticker (it is now January).  No matter how much I clean our floors, I am always finding stuff that I've missed, dirt, crumbs, and random things in weird places; this usually starts about 10 minutes after I finish cleaning the floors.  If I'm lucky.  Such is life with two kids and a dog!  Anyway, Amelia tried to stick that unsticky sticker onto everything: the couch, Oliver, me.

So when Oliver wanted to make drawings yesterday...

I thought it was about time for Amelia to join in too!

I keep a basket handy with colouring books, crayons and stickers.  That way, we can make drawings at a moment's notice (and the kids can be quickly occupied for a few minutes when necessary).  And if I'm really on the ball, I change out the stickers in the basket depending on the season.

Amelia loved sticking on those stickers, which took some serious concentration!  Now, her very first work of art is hanging on our wall.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Yep, these are just as good as they sound.  So good, that I usually reserve them for special occasions.  This past Christmas, I tweaked the original recipe slightly by switching regular peanut butter for the natural 100% peanuts kind.  Also, I replaced cow's milk (that's what Oliver calls milk now) with unsweetened almond milk.  They turned out better than ever!  And since the changes are healthier ones, they make this little pleasure just a tiny bit less guilty.

Here's my new version of the recipe...

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter, soft
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup natural, 100% peanuts peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
2 tblsp unsweetened almond milk
40 mini peanut butter cups

Preheat oven to 375.
Mix together flour, salt, baking soda.  Set aside.
Cream butter, sugar, peanut butter, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg, vanilla, and milk.
Add flour mixture.
Mix well.
Shape into 40 balls and place into un-greased mini muffin pan.
Bake for 8 min.
Remove from oven and immediately press mini peanut butter cups into each ball.
Let cool and place in freezer for a few min until chocolate sets.
Carefully remove from pan.

Enjoy!



 I am sharing this at...
Moonlight and Mason Jars Link Party :: Tasty Tuesday at I'm Not a Trophy Wife

Go

Happy New Year!

I love the idea of choosing a "word of the year".  A word chosen at the start of the new year to ponder on and provide inspiration throughout the months to come.  I started a list of possible words and chose the word spark for 2012.  A little spark came to life that year - our daughter Amelia.  For 2013 I thought long and hard about a word of the year and revisited and added to that same list of possible words.  I even started a blog post, but never finished it.

Over the past couple days, I've been looking back at 2013.  As I did so, I began to notice that the word "push" had been quietly motivating me throughout the year, which I wrote about yesterday.  I realized that I had made an effort to push myself outside of my comfort zone as well as push past and surpass some of my goals and expectations.

While pondering on a word today to choose for 2014, I came across that old list from previous years and, right smack in the middle of that list, found the word push.

Notice how the word push is the only one all in lower-case letters?  Totally found it that way.  I think push chose me last year and I didn't even realize it.

For this upcoming year, I want to keep the forward momentum that the word push unwittingly provided last year.  My word for 2014 has been popping up in my mind lately and is also on that old list, right at the top.  The word "go".

Oh yeah!  I almost forgot!  I have a 5k race to get to.  Going to start this year off running!
Let's go!