NEW BLOG!!

I have been working on a NEW BLOG! Please follow me there instead! Thank you for checking out this blog! But, I will continue to post on my new blog!

mylovelylifeathome.blogspot.com

Cloth Diapers

We have decided to start cloth diapering Rachel and Theresa. I am prepping for when Tess gets here, but we already started with Rachel...and it's going great!! I came across this fun giveaway and I wanted to share:

www.cloththatcounts.com/?p=1349

<3

27 weeks!

As of Sunday, I am 27 weeks along in my pregnancy!

Our baby girl is about the size of a head of cauliflower. (2 lbs., 14 1/2 inch.)

♥

20 weeks!

On Sunday, I will be 20 weeks along in my pregnancy!!

Our baby girl is about the size of a cantaloupe (6.5 inches, 10.6 oz.)

Half way there! ♥



Citrus Cleaner

Another jar activity!

This cleaner is inexpensive, easy to make, and safe! Such a great way to clean your house without the nasty ingredients that other cleaners have. Cleaning with vinegar is a great way to kill bacteria, mold, and grease. However, it's super stinky! The natural oils in the citrus will cut through the stink while the vinegar does it's job! The citrus also has essential oils that add to your cleaning experience.

All you need is vinegar & citrus peels. (I only went through oranges and limes in the few days that I made this, but feel free to add grapefruit & lemons rinds too)

Pour the vinegar in a 1 quart mason jar. You want to use a large jar so you have enough room for all of your peels. I poured about 1 cup of vinegar in my jar. Start gathering citrus peels and add them to the vinegar. Just keep the jar on your counter, out of the way, and keep adding peels. Use a wooden spoon to jam them in there tight!

(This picture was taken before I added a lot more peels!)

Once you have a good amount of peels, let them sit in the vinegar for a couple of days. Carefully strain the liquid into a cup and transfer into a spray bottle.



You can add a little water or a lot of water, it's up to you. I decided to fill the rest of my spray bottle with water. I've noticed that I need to shake the bottle before spraying the cleaner because of the natural oils from my citrus that run throughout the bottle.  Happy cleaning!♥

Jar of Salt

I am obsessed with Mason Jars! Any way that I can work them into my everyday life makes me happy. :)

We use a sea salt grinder in our kitchen because of the freshness and fun way to add salt to a variety of our meals. However, Daniel has found it hard to add exact measurements to baking recipes or other recipes that call for specific amounts. To fix this issue, we bought a container of Morton's salt for it's pour-ability. I realized that I had a creative mission on my hands!

This craft was a fun way to make our pourable salt stylish and chic. All you will need is a can of salt and a wide mouth mason jar with a ring. There is no need for the round lid.

I used a 16 oz. jar because of the cute size, but I ended up with a little leftover

 salt that I just put in a small container for those recipes that call for "a pinch".

Empty out the salt into a large drinking glass or medium sized mixing bowl (just to store for now). Use scissors to carefully cut the entire top of the salt container off. It should fit the top of your wide mouth jar perfectly! Fill your mason jar to the top and place the round salt top on the rim of your jar. Twist on the jar ring nice and tight. Ta-da!

From this:

Booooooring.....

To this!! :) :)

17 weeks!

I am 17 weeks along in my pregnancy. We go in today for a high-resolution ultrasound to find out the sex of the baby. We are VERY anxious!!


The baby is the size of an onion (5.1 inches, 5.9 oz)

I'll update with our ultrasound results! ♥

13 weeks ♥

I am 13 weeks along in my pregnancy! I am feeling pretty good. I'm running after my 14-month-old, which is keeping me in shape & making the first 13 weeks go by quickly! 

Our baby is the size of a peach! (2.9 inches, .81 oz.) This week little teeth and vocal cords are forming in our litte peach! ♥

Baby #2!

Happy December!! ♥

On the fourth of December, I will be 12 weeks along in my pregnancy!

Our baby is the size of a plum! (2.1 inches, .49 oz) We are very anxious to find out the sex of the baby. That should happen sometime in January, between 17 & 20 weeks. As I grow, I will be posting pictures and updates. ♥



Meals In A Jar

I found this idea online and thought it was fabulous! As you may have guessed, I LOVE canning jars and am always looking for ways to use them. This is a fun way to have a meal ready to eat at home, work, or on the go.

Here's how I made my Pesto Pasta Salad

Once I started boiling water for my pasta (I used penne noodles, but you can use spiral or bow tie too), I began to make my homemade pesto. Feel free to use premade pesto. Trader Joe's has a yummy pesto in the fresh section and also in their pasta sauce isle. I got my food processor ready and added the following ingredients:

2 handfuls of fresh basil
1/3 cup roasted pine nuts (you can always toast raw pine nuts yourself or just buy them already roasted)
3 T of olive oil
2 t crushed garlic
A pinch of salt and fresh ground black pepper

Puree all the ingredients until smooth; add more basil or oil if needed. If it's too thick, add a little oil; and if it's too runny, add some more basil. Just taste it as you make it and add whatever it needs to your liking!

Once you've made your pesto and pasta, you can start layering your meal. Put a few spoonfuls of pesto on the bottom as your first layer. Halve grape tomatoes for the next layer. The pesto with help the tomatoes keep their fresh color. Next, pile on cubes of your favorite cheese. I used pepper jack, but mozzarella would be delicious too! Finally, add your pasta and screw on the lid. I bought reusable lids. They are great to use once you open a jar that has been vacuumed, but they come in handy for canned recipes that don't need vacuuming in the first place. Stack your jars in the fridge and eat them within a week. Mine look a little dewy because they were in the fridge for a while before I was able to take pictures.

There are SO many other options for a meal in a jar. I want to try chicken salad next time:

1st layer: marinated chickpeas OR black beans (marinated in the dressing of your choice)
2nd layer: chopped grilled chicken
3rd layer: chopped bell pepper
4th layer: halved grape tomatoes
5th layer: chopped lettuce

Just shake the jar and your chicken salad is ready to eat!

Toasted Coconut

I made a tray of toasted coconut for a cookie recipe which turned out to be a flop. I was left with a full container of toasted coconut that sat in my pantry for a day or two before I realized just how much I could do with it!

No only did the coconut make my house smell amazing, I ended up using it for so many things! One morning I sprinkled it on my oatmeal, another day I made coconut maple syrup and topped my pancakes with my toasty flakes. You can use it over ice cream & smoothies, or on top of frosted cookies & cupcakes. 

It's an inexpensive way to add a nutty, tropical flavor to SO many dishes!

Just pour a bag on sweetened coconut flakes on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure that the coconut is spread evenly on the sheet. Bake at 350° for about 20 minutes or until all of the flakes are perfectly golden. Be sure to stir the flakes every 5 minutes to ensure an even toast.

♥

Tropical Watermelon Sorbet

Giada De Laurentiis has a show called Giada at Home where she features dozens of delicious dishes. We record her show so I can write down all of my favorites! I've gotten some fabulous recipes from that show! ♥

This Tropical Watermelon Sorbet recipe is one that was featured on her show. When I watched her make it I was instantly smitten! We have the exact ice cream/sorbet maker that she used, so I think it was meant to be! This sweet & tangy dessert is perfect during a hot day or to serve after a dinner party. It will take your tastebuds to a tropical paradise!

What you'll need:

• 1 (2-pound) piece seedless watermelon, rind removed and flesh cut into 1-inch pieces to yield about 3 1/2 cups
• 1 (6-ounce) can pineapple juice, chilled
• 3/4 cup ginger ale, chilled
• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 large limes)
• 1/2 cup grenadine (recommended: Rose's)

I recommend that ALL of the ingredients be chilled before you use them.

In a blender, blend the watermelon, pineapple juice, ginger ale, lime juice, and grenadine until smooth. Pour into an ice cream maker (I have the "Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker") and freeze, according to the manufacturer's instructions, for about 35 minutes.

10 minutes:

20 minutes:

30 minutes

Spoon into glasses or small bowls and serve.

Delicious!! ♥



*Just a note: the ginger ale can be replaced with dark rum.*

Double Chocolate Brownie Dough Balls

Hello September!!

I love Fall and all of it's beauty! Such amazing colors, & warm feelings! I can't get enough of fresh apples & school supplies. :)

September is the perfect time for planning and making fun school snacks and treats. These little bites are adorable, delicious, & perfect for school or work lunches.

This recipe for Double Chocolate Brownie Dough Balls is from OhSheGlows.com  

 

1/2 cup raw cashews

12 Medjool dates (1 cup packed & pitted)

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tbsp pure maple syrup

1/4 tsp kosher salt, or to taste

1/4 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup shredded coconut

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

1. In a food processor, add the cashews and process until a fine crumb. Be sure not to over process and release the oils too much.

2. Now add in the pitted dates and process until chunky. Add in the rest of the ingredients (except walnuts) and process until a dough forms. Stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Pulse in walnuts so they remain chunky. Add a bit more liquid sweetener if dough is too dry.

3. Form into balls and store in fridge or freezer.

These little bites have the perfect amount of sweetness and pop.

I stored mine in the freezer and they always kept their chew!