June Foodie Penpals Reveal Day!

So, I am beyond excited to share with you all the goodies that I received this month from my Foodie Penpal, Danielle.  I first heard about The Lean Green Bean's Foodie Penpals program from a friend on Twitter.  She was tweeting about how excited she was to start on her Foodie Penpal box, and I had to know what she was talking about!  As soon as I clicked on the link she tweeted to me, I knew I had to be in on this for June!  Basically, Lindsay matches up hundreds of participants each month to be foodie penpals.  On the 5th of each month, the matches are revealed.  You have until the 15th of the month to get your foodie goodies together and mail them out to your penpal. (By the way, the limit for the penpal boxes is $15  so it doesn't break the bank for those of us on a budget. ;) )  On the 30th of the month, you post on your blog about the amazing foodie finds you received from your penpal.  

My Foodie Penpal is a lucky gal who happens to live close to Virginia wine country and fabulous farmers markets.  Here is what I received in my penpal package:

• Coconut Curry Cashews- Can I just say AH-MAZING?  I didn't tell her this, but cashews are my favorite nut!  
• Strawberry Long Island Loose Leaf Tea- I immediately brewed this blend for a pitcher of iced tea.  It was delicious and refreshing!
• Ripe Peach White Balsamic Vinegar- I haven't had the opportunity to try this yet, but I have a few ideas. ;) Perhaps a nice light vinaigrette or a marinade?  I may even try to make a sauce for grilled peaches with this.
• Homemade Strawberry Jam- Danielle used the same strawberries that a local winery near her uses to make their award winning strawberry wine.  I am pretty excited about trying this on some fresh buttermilk biscuits soon!
• Homemade Apple Jelly- She and her fiance made this jelly from apples they bought at a local apple orchard last fall. :)
• Aurora Wine Jelly- Now this might be my most favorite thing in the entire package.  This jelly is made from a chocolate raspberry wine that Danielle loves from a winery close to where she lives.  She suggested that I try it with cream cheese, and I had to oblige. ;) I spread the jelly and cream cheese over waffles for breakfast the next morning.  Delish! I also used the jelly in my new favorite quickie dessert- Chocolate Mug Cake.

I am so glad that I stumbled across this amazing program.  It is fun to put together your box to send out- to share some of your favorite local goodies and homemade treats.  And it is equally as fun to receive your Foodie Penpal box.  I was anxiously awaiting mine that Monday morning, and couldn't wait to open the box and see what new foodie treasures awaited me.  

Won't you join us next month? ;)

If you would like to see what I sent my Foodie Pen Pal, click here. :)

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 30- Post a Photo of Your Style

I am not really sure how to define my style, so I will let the photos below speak for it. ;)  Maybe chic preppy hippie? 

I love this skirt! ^^^ It is actually made from an upcycled outdoor tablecloth! How cool is that?

Do you all think I should go back to being a redhead? ;)

For links to my other Summer Blog Challenge posts, click here.

Pinspiration in the Kitchen- Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

This week's Pinspiration in the Kitchen recipe is absolutely, ridiculously easy.  And tasty to boot!  This recipe for Crock Pot Chicken Tacos was pinned from the blog, Chocolate Therapy.  Click here for the recipe.

You only need 3 ingredients- chicken breasts, salsa, and a packet of taco seasoning.  That is it.  Throw them in the slow cooker and let them go...  Once the chicken was ready, I just shredded the meat right in the Crock Pot using 2 forks.  

I will be honest- I would prefer these shredded chicken tacos over the ground beef variety any day.  Simple, easy to make, and so flavorful!  Just add taco shells or tortillas and your favorite toppings and dinner is served!

To go directly to this pin for repinning, click here.

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 29- "How To" Become a Better Locavore

Today's blog challenge is to write a how-to post.  For today's post I thought I would share with you my five simple steps on how to become more of a locavore.  In our quest to feed our families healthier food, to be kinder to the environment, and to support our communities, more of us are striving to buy and eat local more often.  But it is not always easy. 
Trying to become a locavore may seem daunting, but here are five easy steps that you can take now towards becoming one:


1.  This is probably the easiest and the most obvious, but shop your local farmers markets!  Not only are you buying local, but you can also talk directly to the farmers, producers, and artisans of what you are purchasing right there and then.  You can ask them about their growing methods, how they make their delicious jams, and where they raise their honeybees.  And often times, vendors are more than happy to let you have a taste of what they have on hand, so you can try it before you buy it. ;)

2.  Start small.  After visiting the farmers market, go through your fridge and pantry and choose two to five items you can start buying local immediately.  Local eggs and honey are a great place to start.  My family and I try to buy at least one local meat every week at the farmers market.  One week we bought flank steak.  Last week we bought ground beef. This coming week we are going to try chicken.  Replace your dried herbs with herb plants.  


3.  Start a garden of your own.  You really can't get more local than your own backyard, and you do not have to have a lot of land to start one.  Many vegetables do well in containers on patios.  If you have a smaller backyard like we do, try a small raised garden bed.  We planted a 3x3 foot bed this summer and are growing heirloom tomatoes, poblanos, and jalapenos.  Take it one step further and buy your vegetable plants at the farmers market or a local greenhouse instead of the big chain stores.

4.  And continuing on that thought, forgo the big chain stores and restaurants for smaller, locally owned businesses.  Choose to spend your money at one of these businesses at least two to three times a month.  Buying local means that your money is going right back into the local economy and the community.


5.  Visit a local farm.  I find that you are more apt to buy local (even if it means spending a little more) if you have seen where the food is actually coming from.  Most farmers and vendors welcome visitors and give tours.  I would actually be a little leery of a farmer who wouldn't want their patrons to come check out their facilities.  And bring the kids!  Children loves animals and getting dirty.  And bonus?  You will be lighting the spark in a future generation of locavores! :)

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 28- Laundry Day

Laundry is my favorite household chore. Other than the smell of a clean baby or my baby's breath, the smell of clean laundry is one of my favorite scents. Some call me crazy.  Some people get it.  But I would rather do laundry all day than anything other household chore.  Well, except whites.  I really dislike folding whites.  Too many socks to match and too many of my husband's white t-shirts to fold.

I don't have a "laundry day" per say.  I just do a load as a full one accumulates.  I sort my loads this way- lights (just our clothes), darks (just our clothes), baby girl's clothes & things, towels (kicthen & bath), and whites (anything that needs bleached).

Most of the laundry is washed in Tide and dried with Downy Lavendar & Vanilla dryer sheets.  I have been using this combo for YEARS, and am reluctant to try anything else.  Baby girl's clothes, blankets, burp cloths, etc are all washed in Dreft.  I absolutely love the smell of Dreft.  I used it with my son's baby clothes so many years ago, and smelling it now still evokes memories of his sweet babyness to this day. <3

But THIS is my secret laundry weapon...

At my wit's end with how many adorable baby outfits were being stained and ruined by my baby girl's pooplosions, I turned to my Twitter and this was recommended to me.  And it works!  Any mama who has breastfed knows, boobie milk poop stains are THE WORST. But I just pour a little of this in the sink with warm water, throw in the soiled onesie, and wring it out at the end of day letting it dry as much as possible, and then throw it in with her other clothes when I have enough for a load.  I have had not a single stain on any of her clothes since starting to use this.  

My only wish is that I had a clothesline to at least dry some of our wet laundry on.  I may have to put that on my husband's honey-do list now that my raised garden bed is well under way. ;)

Grief. Unexpected.

Grief takes you by surprise sometimes... It can lie dormant for months, and just like that grip you deep inside again.  Unexpectedly.  And with little or no provocation.  


Today I thought of the little ones I lost so early on in my pregnancies.  How I lost them.  What happened to them.  How they both slipped from my body, from my protection.  Their tiny, tiny bodies being lost to me forever.  Today I thought of how I wish I had them close to me instead of where they both ultimately ended up... flushed away.  I am saddened that what remained of them was not honored how I would have liked.  I think a tiny urn would have done their very brief lives inside of me more honor than what had actually happened to them.  I hate thinking of my babies there.... floating.  They didn't deserve that. But just as I was powerless to protect them inside of me, I was also powerless to protect them once they left me. My heart aches for them...


I am so, so grateful to have my beautiful daughter.  And for my son I was blessed with over 13 years ago.  I know I will see my angels one day.  My sweet babies that I couldn't even name.  I didn't feel like they were ever mine to name.  I know one beautiful day an angel will whisper their names to me as she takes my hand to lead me to them.  To finally hold them both in my arms...

Foodie on a Budget- A Better Cherry Berry Chiller

I had a request this past week from one of my Twitter followers (who also happens to be very pregnant! ;) ) for a healthier version of McDonald's Cherry Berry Chiller.  I couldn't say no to the cravings of a pregnant woman!  So, I made the sacrifice and picked up a Cherry Berry Chiller from the McDonald's drive-thru.  As most of you probably know, I am not a fan of many things McDonald's.  The Cherry Berry Chiller was refreshing, but overly sweet.  After researching the ingredients on McDonald's website (click here to see them yourself), it was clear to me just why this summertime beverage was so sticky sweet.  Lots of juice concentrate.  
After some experimenting and tweaking (my first version was more berry than cherry), I think I have come up with a recipe that is healthier, but still just as tasty.  Well honestly, I think it is way tastier than it's fast food original. ;)

What you will need:

1/2 cup frozen raspberries

1 cup of frozen cherries, halved

1/2 cup crushed ice (I don't have one of those fancy fridges with the crushed ice setting, so I just took about 3-4 ice cubes, put them in a food storage bag, and pounded them with a meat mallet. ;) )

1 cup of low sugar apple juice (I used Old Orchard Healthy Balance.)

1 tsp honey

(This will make one medium sized chiller.)

Just toss in all the ingredients in a blender.

And blend until all ingredients are combined and smooth.  

And enjoy! :)

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 27- The Best Gift I Have Ever Received

The best gift that I have received in recent history has been my Cuisinart Griddler...

(And yes, I definitely consider my children the best gift ever. But I am am going with an actual wrapped and tagged gift here. ;) )

My husband bought this for me as a gift for our first Christmas together.  

I. Love. This. Thing.

It can griddle or it can grill.  It is even a panini press! (But I have only used it for that purpose once. Why is that??)  Just flip the hot plates over.  It also folds out flat so you can use both hot plates at the same time if you need to feed a crowd.  

I cannot tell you how many times I have used this thing in the past year and a half that I have had it.  

It has grilled steaks, burgers, and chicken.  

It has had countless chocolate chip pancakes flipped on it.

And once. Just once, I made a tomato, mozzarella, and basil panini on it. And I must remedy that asap. ;)

To see my other posts in this Summer Blog Challenge, click here.

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 26- What My Husband Does That Makes My Heart Melt

*As a preface, I did get permission from my husband before posting this. ;)


My husband is the sappiest person I know.  Period.  It doesn't take much for the waterworks to start.  
He shed a few tears as we said our wedding vows.
He cried tears of joy when he saw our daughter on the ultrasound screen and heard her heart beat.
We joked that we would need to have at least 2 boxes of tissues in the delivery room when baby girl was born.  And that may not have been too much of an exaggeration. ;)
There are evenings when I have walked in on my husband holding our sweet little girl on his chest as she slept, and tears were in his eyes and streaming down his face.  He couldn't believe that she was really here with us.  That he had a child of his own.
It breaks his heart to see his mother's mind slipping... wondering how much she will remember about her granddaughter.  Her life.  His childhood. I have held him as tears of utter sadness and helplessness fell from his eyes.


These are the things that my husband does that makes my heart melt.  He isn't afraid or ashamed to let himself feel emotions.  To be overcome by them.  To show them.  To share them with me. <3

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 25- An Ideal Day of "Me" Time

I plan to have some fun with this post because right now this is daydreaming for me. ;)  Not that I would trade a second with my sweet baby girl and my family for anything, but there are times especially over this past week or so when I have longed for just a few hours of time just for me.  A whole day wouldn't really happen right now since I am breastfeeding my daughter, but maybe this fantasy day could happen some time down the line...
This ideal day of "Me" time would start with a cup of coffee brewed at home.  

And at least an hour of uninterrupted time to catch up on my blog reading.  I never seem to have enough time these days to really sit down and read the blogs in my blog reader.

Then I would want to meet some of my closest girlfriends for a nice brunch, complete with mimosas.  Now, this would require something like a teletransportation device since most of my close girlfriends live out of state, and there are not really any good brunch places where I live. ;)  

The rest of my day would be spent at a spa.  Yeah, I know.... so cliche, right?  But I could really use a nice spa day.  I sometimes daydream about a nice pedicure, manicure, a fabulous haircut, maybe even one of those hot stone massages?

But I would end my perfect day of "Me" time by having dinner with my sweet family at my favorite local Italian restaurant.  I would even order the tiramisu for dessert. ;)

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 24- My Favorite Eco-Friendly Thing To Do

Now, this one is easy.  My absolute favorite eco-friendly thing to do is to breastfeed.  We often hear about all the health benefits for mom and baby about breastfeeding, but nursing is also a plus for the environment! 

When you think about all the resources that go into the production of formula, then it is easy to see why breastfeeding is the greener alternative.  The energy that the formula factories use to make their products.  The trucks that guzzle gas to ship the cans of formula to the stores.  Not to mention all the packaging from the used formula that gets tossed into trash cans and then eventually to the landfill.


You don't have to constantly sterilize bottles and nipples (you use your dishwasher less!).  You don't have to heat breast milk like you have to do with formula (no need for the microwave!).  
Breastfeeding means less energy use, less waste, less pollution.


Now when I do not have a baby to breastfeed, my next favorite eco-friendly thing to do is to shop the farmers market.  Buying local means that my food travels a shorter distance to get to me (less transportation= less energy use & pollution).  Plus, I can talk to each of the farmers and vendors and know how they raise their livestock, how they grow their fruits and veggies, and how they make their yummy goodies.  I know where my family's food is coming from and what is in it.  
What is your most favorite eco-friendly thing to do? :)

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 23- Favorite Blog Post I Have Written Before This Challenge

This was another tough one for me.  I actually took the time to look back on just about every blog post I have written on here over the past year and a half.  And that was a journey in and of itself... I was reminded again of how much my blog has evolved.  Food and my love for cooking has always been a part of it, but my journey as a mother has been heartbreaking, uplifting, beautiful, and bittersweet.  I read over many of my posts reliving the moments of sadness over the babies I had lost, the hope I felt when we decided to try again, the elation and fear I felt when I found out I was carrying a precious life again, and how truly beautiful it was when my daughter was finally in my arms.  Below are links to two posts that really resonated with me, that I am proud that I had written...


Today is Bittersweet - This is a post I wrote last September on the due date of the baby I had lost in January of that same year.  It was also the day that I was 18 weeks pregnant with my daughter.


The Best Way to Honor Those Whom We Have Lost is to Celebrate the Life That We Do Have - This post I wrote for Mother's Day 2011.  On this particular Mother's Day, I was a mother to my son and a mama to two sweet angels.  


I invite you to read both posts and learn a little more about my journey to the mother that I am now... <3

Pinspiration in the Kitchen- Copycat Cracker Barrel's Hashbrown Casserole

My husband celebrated his first ever Father's Day last Sunday.  As part of his special day, I wanted to make him his absolute favorite breakfast dish from a restaurant who is very well known for their hearty breakfasts.  We love Cracker Barrel.  I must have their buttermilk biscuits and their fried apples every time I am there.  My son is a fan of their pancakes and real maple syrup. But my husband LOVES the hashbrown casserole.  So much so that he always gets a double order of it every time we visit Cracker Barrel.  

At one point early in my obsession with Pinterest, I created a Restaurant Knock Off Recipes to Try board and then, well.... kind of forgot about it.  Until last weekend.  It wasn't in the budget for us to take my husband out for breakfast for Father's Day (we all know how that weekend right before payday week can be).  So, I decided to recreate his favorite breakfast at home instead. ;)

I found a recipe for a copycat version of Cracker Barrel's hashbrown casserole on Food.com.  Click here for the recipe.  I actually ended up halving this recipe.  You can click Servings under the Ingredients for the recipe to change the number of servings.  I still used the entire can of cream of chicken soup though. (I know!  Cream of chicken soup!  Who would have thought?)  The smaller serving did not change the bake time.  In fact, I baked mine about 10 minutes longer to get that nice cheesy, crisp crust along the edges that you see pictured below.

The hashbrown casserole turned out just about exactly like Cracker Barrel's.  My husband definitely approved, and that says a lot. ;)  This made more than 6 servings though.  We were eating leftovers of this for breakfast and lunch for the following two days.  

To go directly to this pin for repinning, click here.

For all of my Pinspiration in the Kitchen posts, click here.

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 22- When You Were a Kid, What Did You Want to Be When You Grew Up?

It happened in the second grade.  The moment I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.

I had had an awful first grade year.  I was a chatty little girl, and my first grade teacher wasn't very fond of that trait (or it seemed maybe me).  I was always in trouble- sitting by myself with my desk turned away from the class.  Once she even put my desk in the supply closet, isolating me from everyone and thoroughly humiliating me.  Each six weeks we were given a cardboard cut-out, usually in the shape of some popular children's cartoon character.  Each student's cut-out would be displayed across the bottom of the chalkboard, all strung together.  Every time we got in trouble, our teacher would punch a hole in our cut-out. I vividly remember one of these said six weeks.  The cardboard cut-outs were Shirt Tales characters.  I got in trouble so many times that grading period that my Shirt Tales looked like a piece of swiss cheese.  I was so ashamed.  And then it got worse.  She made us wear our cut-outs around our necks for the entire day on the last day of the six weeks.  I wanted to cry.  Now the whole school would know just how "bad" I was- in the lunch line, at the restrooms, on the playground.  I had decided that I didn't like school very much that year.


I reluctantly started the second grade, sure that I would be embarrassed again.  I really wasn't a bad child.  I just liked to talk... a lot.  My second grade teacher surprised me in so many ways.  She never moved my desk.  She never yelled at me in front of the entire class.  And she did NOT do those awful cardboard cut-outs.  I remember that she had her very own library in our classroom.  Looking back, she used that little library quite a few times to redirect me when I was being a little too social.  She would ask me to sit back on the little rug  among the bookshelves and pick out a book to read.  But I felt special, not punished.  I was allowed to go back and read to myself any book that I wanted during class time.  That school year my reading level took off.  I loved to read.  I read all the time.  I actually loved going to school.
My second grade year was the year I decided that I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up.  I wanted to be just like Mrs. Cromwell.  I wanted to help children, teach them, make them feel special.  I would spend hours lining up my stuffed animals in front of a chalkboard at home and playing school.  


I did become a teacher, and I taught middle school and high school for almost 8 years.  I mostly worked with at-risk teenagers- rough home lives, had been expelled from their previous schools, reading way below grade level, on house arrest or parole.  You name it, I have probably seen it.  I loved what I did, and my hope is that I was able to touch at least a few of my students the way that my second grade teacher was able to inspire me.  That maybe I was able to make a few of them feel special too.  I think that one day I will return to teaching, or at least to working with youth in need.  But right now I have the most important and rewarding job that I can even imagine. ;)


To see all of my Summer Blog Challenge posts, click here.

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 21- Most Recent Words of Wisdom That Stuck With You

"What you do today is important, because you are exchanging a day of your life for it."

I follow an inspirational website on Twitter called Tiny Buddha.  One morning last week I signed onto my Twitter, and Tiny Buddha had tweeted the quote above.  It was one of those "huh" moments for me.  How often do we trudge through each day, just trying to get to the end of the workday, or to when our spouse comes home from work to help with the kids, or for bedtime when we finally get a little quiet?  I know I have been guilty of going through days of my life with blinders on.  Just get to this moment, this hour, this place in the day.  But what about the other moments leading up to that time?  Why should those be tossed aside while waiting for a better moment in time?

I think this quote puts it all in perspective.  We only have so many days left on this planet- to be with our loved ones, to make a difference, to smile and laugh.  Is what you are doing today worth the price of even one of those days?  I find myself asking this question more often now. 

Foodie on a Budget- Basil Balsamic Marinated Chicken For Two

This is my gorgeous and overabundant basil plant...

With basil coming out of my ears, you know that I would have to post a basil-based recipe.  And I bet you thought it might be a pesto recipe, huh?  But nooooo....  I am going to give you a recipe for a super simple (and light!) basil marinade for your chicken! ;) This recipe is enough marinade for 2-4 servings.  I used it for a large split chicken breast for my husband and I for dinner this week.  There was still a decent amount of marinade left in the bag after I took the chicken out, so I could have marinated another breast with this same recipe.

What you will need:

A large handful of basil leaves (approx 20-25)

2 cloves of garlic

1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar

3-4 tablespoons of olive oil

Salt & pepper

One 1 1/2 lb split chicken breast

Quart sized food storage bag

(Pretty simple, right??)

First, do a rough chop on the basil leaves, and then the garlic.  Toss them into a blender or food processor.  Pour in the balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.

Blend until nice and smooth.  Pierce the chicken breast in several places on both sides and then place in the food storage bag.  Pour the marinade in the blender over the chicken, zip close the bag, and massage marinade into the meat for a few minutes.  Refrigerate for 2-4 hours.  When done marinating, take the chicken out of the bag and shake off the excess.  Then simply grill or bake.  Cooking time will depend on how thick your chicken breast is and whether your chicken is bone-in or boneless. 

This chicken breast was wonderfully flavorful and juicy.  My husband and I just cut this split chicken breast in half and shared it. You could also use this recipe for any other cuts of chicken- boneless breasts, a whole cut-up chicken, chicken thighs.  The marinade recipe could be easily doubled if needed.

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 20- Photo of Me as a Young Child

Foodie on a Budget- Don't Toss That! Freeze it!

How many times are you finding yourself tossing out that bunch of wilted herbs you bought for a few snippets the week before?  Or tossing out that container of chiles in adobo sauce when you only needed one a few weeks before for a recipe?  I think I have been guilty of those things more times than I can stand.  If you happen to own a blender, an ice cube tray,  and a freezer, then you are in luck!  Here are a few ways to preserve some of those leftover culinary must-haves and waste no more.

Saving cut herbs is easy!  If you haven't used them all up within 3 or 4 days of purchasing them, then blend with a little bit of water and freeze them.  I had some leftover parsley and just blended it with a little bit of water and poured into an ice cube tray.  When you need parsley for a soup or sauce, just pop out one of the cubes and let it melt as you are cooking.  You can do this with just about any leafy herb- basil, oregano, cilantro, sage...

I often end up using chiles in adobo sauce for some of my favorite Latin recipes.  Problem is you usually only need one chile and a few tablespoons of the sauce for each recipe.  I would take the remaining chiles and sauce and place them in a storage container in the fridge determined to use them before they went bad in a couple of weeks.  About 100% of the time, that never happened.  So, now after I have opened the can and used what I needed for my recipe, I immediately toss the remaining chiles and sauce in my handy blender.  I blend until smooth and then spoon out into an ice cube tray. 

Once they are frozen hard, I pop out the chile cubes (and/or the parsley cubes) and store in a freezer bag (separately, of course!).  Be sure to label and date the bag so you always know how long they have been hanging out in the freezer.  These cubes will stay good for MONTHS frozen. With the chile cubes, you can choose to defrost them in the fridge before cooking or just add them to your sauce frozen as it is simmering and let them melt in.

Note:  One chile cube is about the equivalent of one chile and two tablespoons of adobo sauce.

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 19- Something You're Proud of From the Last Few Days

This is what I am most proud of from the last few days...

My husband and my baby girl on his first Father's Day <3

My husband.  He is an incredible man with a huge, huge heart.  I couldn't ask for a better father to our baby daughter, or a better stepfather to my son.  He works so hard so I can stay at home with our little girl.  He takes care of this little family, and is always there when I need him.  I love you, honey... 

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 18- A Recipe I Love

For the mama who loves to cook as much as I do, you would think this would be an easy one, right?  Well, it is not.  I have so many recipes that I love, and once again I am asked to choose just one...  So, I am going to choose three! :)


I am going to go with a theme here- favorite comfort foods.  My ultimate favorite comfort food is risotto.  I call it grown-up mac 'n cheese.  What I like most about risotto is that it is SO versatile!  You can add just about whatever you would like to it.  But good risotto does require patience.  It takes a while for the chicken broth (or veggie broth) to be absorbed by the rice, plus you have to park yourself by the stove for about an hour.  But it is so worth it!  Here is a link to my very own Summertime Risotto recipe- click here.

For snowy winter evenings or a rainy day, I love to make Avgolemono Soup- a Greek chicken lemon soup.  My favorite recipe for it also happens to be a Cooking Light recipe (healthy too!).  Click here for the recipe.

And we can't forget the ultimate comfort food dessert- chocolate chip cookies!  I actually just stumbled across this recipe from Once Upon a Chef last week, and it is unanimous in this house that it is now our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.  I featured this cookie in my Pinspiration in the Kitchen post last Friday- click here.  (You can also find a link to the recipe in my post.) ;)

What are some of your favorite recipes?  Feel free to share the links to them below in the comments! :)

Breastfeeding Mama Essentials Giveaway- Ends 6/25/12

As those of you who have been following along with my motherhood journey through this blog (or Twitter or Facebook) know, breastfeeding is an issue and a task that is close to my heart- literally and figuratively. ;)  I breastfed my son for 9 1/2 months over 13 years ago, and I have been breastfeeding my daughter since she was born in February. My goal is to breastfeed her until at least 12 months. Once we meet that goal, then we will go from there. I have been fortunate enough to have received more than enough of the essentials I needed for breastfeeding my daughter, and I want to pass on some of that good fortune to one lucky mama to help her accomplish her goal of breastfeeding.

Included in this prize package is a My Brest Friend nursing pillow, a Baby Blind breastfeeding cover, and a 60 count box of Hygeia Nursing Pads.  All the essentials to get you started!  Please note, this giveaway has not been sponsored by any of the companies named above.  I am not getting paid for this. I am just wanting to pass along the good fortune. :)

The My Brest Friend pillow came highly recommended by many experienced breastfeeding mamas.  I had high hopes that we would love it- I did.  Baby girl did not.  But I know many mamas who swear by this pillow.  We tried it a couple of times, but baby girl preferred our other nursing pillow (still does!).  What I like about this pillow is the lower back support for mama and the very neat pocket attached to the front for stashing a snack for you, or a burp cloth, or a cell phone.  For more information on the My Brest Friend nursing pillow, click here.

A nursing cover can be an essential for the new mama unsure of nursing in public, and can be a great way to ease into it.  Trust me, with enough practice you and baby will get good at doing it quickly and discreetly, and confidently.  The Baby Blind breastfeeding cover has flexible boning at the top so you can stay covered while being able to peek down at baby.

And every new breastfeeding mama needs nursing pads.  Some mamas find that they may even need them before baby officially arrives. ;)  Included in this prize package is a 60 count box of Hygeia nursing pads.  For more information on Hygeia products, click here.

So, how can you win this Breastfeeding Mama Essentials prize package?  Using the Rafflecopter form below, start with leaving a comment on this post.  If you are an experienced breastfeeding mama, comment below with your best piece of advice for a new nursing mama.  If you are brand new to breastfeeding, comment below on what your biggest worry or concern about nursing is.  The blog comment is mandatory, will earn you 2 entries, and will open up the Rafflecopter to additional ways you can gain entries.
This giveaway ends on June 25, 2012 at 12:01am, and is open to US residents only.  There will only be 1 winner of this prize package.  Please see the Terms & Conditions below for more details.


What is my best piece of advice for new breastfeeding mamas?  

Be gentle with yourself and baby.  Have patience.  It may take a few days, maybe even a few weeks, but you and baby can get this.  And never hesitate to ask for help if you need it- from a nurse, a lactation consultant, an experienced friend, an online community, anywhere you can get good advice and support.  And even if you have a rough start, just persevere.  Baby girl & I had a bumpy start.  Click here for our breastfeeding story- Our Bumpy Breastfeeding Start

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 17- 3 Things That I Am Proud of About My Personality

1.  My ability to find the humor and perhaps the silver lining in most situations.  Bad things happen, but once they have happened the only thing you have control over is how you react to them.


2.  I don't stay angry for very long.  I say what I need to say, and then I let it go.  I rarely hold grudges.  Life is too short.


3.  I try to stay as open-minded as possible.  I allow myself to be open to new ideas, different viewpoints, new experiences and people.  It is amazing how much you can broaden your life, your perspective by just opening your mind a little.


To see all my Summer Blog Challenge posts, click here.

Sand Pail List 2012- Check #1 Off the List! :)

The first item on my family's Sand Pail List can now officially be crossed off!  Our family's raised garden bed is finished and planted. :) It took a little longer than we had originally planned, but there were several steps involved to make sure the frame was built right, the soil was well fertilized, and we would be able to keep out the local wildlife.  

My husband put tall posts at each corner of the frame, and installed the netting.  This should deter the deer and the bunnies. ;)

Next up was the planting of the tomatoes.  I decided to place a mixture of crushed egg shells and Epsom salts in the hole before planting each plant.  I only did this with the tomato plants.  This mixture is supposed to provide the young plants with extra calcium and minerals, and eventually a higher yield of fruit.  We shall see. ;)  This season I just planted 3 kinds of tomatoes- a Big Boy and then 2 different heirlooms, Brandywine and Mr. Stripey.

The finished raised garden bed!  (Notice the protector and guardian of the vegetables?)

I also planted a row of poblano peppers and a row of jalapeno peppers.  I have high hopes that I will yield enough homegrown tomatoes and peppers to can my own salsa this summer. (Fingers crossed!)  I planted marigolds all around the border of the bed to naturally ward off pests.  My son also sprinkled crushed egg shells around the base of each plant to keep the slugs away.  Apparently, they are not too keen on the jagged edges of the shells.  The shells also allow even more calcium to eventually seep into the soil and to the plants' roots.  

I kept it local and bought all of my plants from a local greenhouse. :)

I am looking forward to seeing how our first experiment with raised bed (and natural!) gardening turns out.

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 16- Fitness Guru or Couch Potato?

Is there a middle ground here?  ;)  I would say I am a former fitness guru making my comeback... slowly, but surely.  I have been easing back into a fitness routine since having my daughter in early February.  I am definitely back to my pre-pregnancy size, but still have some work to do to tone and define.  

I have practiced yoga for the past 7 years, and I continued that practice all throughout my pregnancy but on a scaled back level.  I avoided a lot of physical activity while pregnant out of fear.  I have a history of unexplained miscarriages.  I did nothing that would jeopardize my little growing baby.  I knew I would gain slightly more weight than I had wanted to, but I had also decided that it was worth it.  I would have time after my sweet baby was here to work out and try to lose the extra weight.  

So, here I am.  The extra weight is off is little over 4 months after giving birth to my little Carina.  I attribute it to healthy eating (for the most part), exercise, and breastfeeding.  Wow, does breastfeeding help you lose the weight quicker!  Mostly because you burn a substantial amount of calories every day just feeding your baby. ;)
My hope is to get back to my pre-pregnancy level of yoga fitness, and then at some point in the near future get my certification as a yoga instructor.  I would like to specialize in prenatal and fertility yoga. 

Pinspiration in the Kitchen- Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have a tried and true chocolate chip cookie recipe that I have stood by for many, many years.  It started over 10 years ago when I bought my first pack of Butter Crisco sticks. I tried the recipe for the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies that came with the pack, and knew I had found my go-to recipe.  These cookies became much requested by my family over the years. Yes, I have tried different recipes here and there, but nothing that came close to my Butter Crisco recipe.
Until this week...

This week I decided to try Once Upon a Chef's recipe for Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Click here for the recipe.
So, what are the secret ingredients?  You will have to click on the recipe link above to find out.  I don't want to give away all of Once Upon a Chef's secrets. ;)
The only ingredient I left out was the pecans.  I didn't actually have any in the house, so I just opted to forgo them.  They were amazing without them, but I am sure they are amazing with them as well.
My family LOVED them.  Heck, I loved them.  I ate 3 within 30 minutes of them being out of the oven!  These are seriously THE BEST chocolate chip cookies I have ever made.  After trying one, my husband said that I would be lucky if any of these cookies made it until the morning!  Well, they made it past morning, but not by much.  By the next evening, the entire batch was gone!

To go directly to this pin for repinning, click here.

Summer Blog Challenge, Day 15- A Photo (Okay, Photos) I Took That I am Proud of...

Okay, now this is a hard one.  I LOVE taking photos, and in an earlier life I was *almost* doing photography professionally.  
I think nowadays just about anyone can take a really pretty photo.  The new cameras (even the ones on our cell phones!) make it damn near impossible to take a photograph that completely sucks.
The photographs I find interesting, that catch my eye are taken from an angle (figuratively and literally) that is unexpected.  That photographer not only knows how to take a really good photo, they also have a creative vision.  


So, I have a feeling I will be including a few photos I took in this post.  It is hard for me to narrow down just one that I am especially proud of.  Take a look and let me know which one is your favorite. ;)

My favorite photo of my husband (and the city he loves)

Inside El Morro, Puerto Rico

Can you see me? ;)

Looking towards the heavens- World Trade Center Site

A day at the park