Pepper and Feta Mini Quiches

I recently tried a recipe from a fun baby food site I came across - Baby FoodE (http://www.babyfoode.com). I expected to find a nice easy recipe for Little Smiling Man. Instead, I found a nice easy recipe for the whole family!

Pepper and Feta Mini Quiches 

Pepper and Feta Mini Quiches

1/4 c each diced red, yellow and green peppers
4 eggs
1/4 c plain yogurt
2 tbsp breadcrumbs
1 tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp crumbled feta

1. Preheat oven to 350F, and grease muffin tin (or mini muffin tin)
2. Whisk first five ingredients together.
3. Fill muffin tins about 3/4 full.
4. Sprinkle with feta.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes until set and browned around edges.

(The original recipe is here.)

I wanted to share this recipe as I've made it twice in as many weeks! Little Smiling Man enjoys them, Mini Muffin doesn't know what she's missing since she refuses to taste them, and my mom asked me for the recipe after we all enjoyed them for our Boxing Day breakfast. Not a bad wrap sheet!

A few notes -

1. I have used both regular and mini muffin tins for this recipe. It made 18 mini muffins or 8 regular sized muffins. We all agreed that the texture was much nicer for the regular muffin size, so while convenient for Little Smiling Man, I will stick with my regular muffin tin from here on.
2. I love the texture that the yogurt gives these quiches, and it couldn't be easier to add a creamy component. Why did I not think of this?
3. These quiches are super quick and easy. The longest part (aside from baking) was chopping the peppers. Easy peasy!
4. I really enjoy these warm, or even straight out of the fridge. When I'm chasing a toddler and a very active baby who loves to explore, they make a great snack to keep me going. They also transport well for an on the go finger food for littles.

And there you have it. I hope you enjoy these tasty gems; we certainly do!

Indoor Energy Buster - Sleeping Bunnies

After a wonderful, albeit green, Christmas, winter is upon us!  At last!  For the last couple of days we've been having such a great time playing in the snow, and enjoying the winter scenery.  Of course the parts like cars getting stuck in the street and needing to shovel our way out were not aspects of winter that we missed, but they seem a small price to pay for the little kid's joy at finally having snow!

Backing up a little, we had a fantastic family Christmas.  We spent it quietly at home, enjoying each other.  Mini Muffin was very excited for Santa's visit, and enjoyed reading each book, or playing with each toy as they were opened.  She also seemed to get as much joy out of delivering presents to others to open, as she did opening presents for herself.  Grandma (my mom) was up for the week, so we continued to enjoy her company (and appreciate her help!) through Christmas itself.  We had a wonderful family dinner, during which Little Smiling Man discovered a love for orange glazed carrots, turkey and stuffing! 

Our Christmas day ended rather strangely; with our first ever trip to the emergency room for either of our children.  Little Smiling Man had developed a rash on his trunk two days prior.  On Christmas Eve is was worse, and looked kind of like a viral rash.  Christmas Eve was spent holding little man (all night) as he came in and out of sleep and seemed to writhe with discomfort.  On Christmas Day it was a bit worse again, so we creamed him up and went with it.  He was pretty happy and crawling everywhere during the day.  When I took his onesie off Christmas night before bed, he completely freaked out.  His skin was raised, raw and angry.  It was very difficult to comfort him, so we decided to get him checked out.  We must have timed our visit perfectly, as we were in and out within an hour!  We learnt that his rash was actually hives.  Ouch!  There are no antihistamines for babies, so we were told to keep it moisturised, and keep giving Advil for pain.  Poor monkey.  Today, a week after it started, it's pretty much healed and is now itchy because it's peeling.  As for causes, infant hives can be caused by a drug or food allergy, or be a reaction to a virus.  Based on duration, we're guessing it was viral, though it could possibly be related to his flu shot.  I guess we'll know for sure when he gets his second flu shot dose in a month.  In the end, it all worked out fine, and it was very comforting to know that we had been doing all the right things for our poor Little Smiling Man.

And, now that we're through all of that, and are enjoying true winter weather, I thought I'd share another one of our favourite indoor energy busters - Sleeping Bunnies!  It's a very simple song (the tune can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHcFQ9gaMF4), and is one of Mini Muffin's favourite indoor ways to get moving.

Sleeping Bunnies

(child lays on the floor pretending to sleep)

See the sleeping bunnies,
Sleeping until noon.
Come let us wake them with a merry tune.
Oh how still,
Are they ill?

(wait and build expectation in the child)

Wake up sleeping bunnies!

(child jumps up)

Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop!
Hop little bunnies, hop, and stop!

Mini Muffin loves jumping all over the place as she pretends to be a little bunny.  We also change it up as many times as our imaginations will let us.  There are sleeping dinosaurs that stomp around, sleeping kangaroos that jump, and even sleeping airplanes that fly.  We also had sleeping foxes (after much discussion we decided that our foxes would hop), roaring lions, stomping bears, and crawling puppies.  It's a very fun way to get moving, bust some energy, and enjoy song time together.  Even Little Smiling Man gets in on the action as I bounce him like a little bunny in my arms! I think Sleeping Bunnies will be a favourite in our home for some time to come.

Christmas Cards from a Toddler

Mini Muffin and I decided that yesterday was the perfect day for Christmas crafts. There are also a couple of people in her life that we wanted to recognize with cards, so our craft was decided!

I started by prepping while she was at the park with my mom (who's staying with us for the holidays), and Little Smiling Man was napping. I made plain, cream coloured cards, and drew a handful of Christmas trees on green card stock.  Mini Muffin has been working very hard lately on learning to cut with scissors; she's getting quite proficient and is nearly ready to try cutting along lines. So, my vision was that she'd try to cut out the trees, then we'd glue them to the cards and decorate them. Rather ambitious for a little girl of only two and a half!

When she got home, she saw the card stock and her scissors on the table and was super excited to get started! I explained and demonstrated cutting along lines, and she gave it a pretty good try. But, the fun of reducing a piece of paper to many tiny pieces with her scissors soon took over. I decided to let her have her fun (and use easier cutting shapes next time we work on this skill!). By the time she was done, we had dozens of odd shaped pieces of green card stock, with fragments of Christmas trees drawn on them.

Since this project had decidedly not gone to plan, we just started winging it! We tried our hand at cubism with me piecing together tree-like images and Mini Muffin gluing them. Mini Muffin then cut up some of grandma's spare yarn and glued it to some of the cards as decorations for the tree. And, finally she told me what she wanted to say inside, with great quotes like "Merry Holidays for Christmas!" and "Friends!".

All in all, it was a pretty fun project. I think the cards turned out great; to me they look like a two and a half year old loving her craft time!

• 

Parcel for the Food Bank

This morning, for whatever reason I found myself thinking back to an interaction I had at the food bank years ago.  I was chair for a local professional organization, and in preparation for our annual conference I decided to set up charitable donations for our speakers instead of giving out the usual dust gathering trinkets.  The morning of the conference, I headed to the local food bank to drop off the cheque, arriving shortly before they opened.  I ended up in a waiting room with a few folks who were either registering for or waiting to pick up food parcels.  On a table near by was a bag of perishables someone had left that were... perished to say the least.

A gentleman came in, perused the bag, knocked a baguette against the table (hard as a rock), smiled, tucked it under his arm, sat down next to me and started chatting.  He was very open with me, telling me that he was a recovering alcoholic on the straight and narrow, had a job that barely paid the rent, and walked everywhere since the bus was too expensive.  He told me that he was very happy to find the baguette because he hoped to be able to make chili soon.  He had been saving what he could from his food bank parcels, and if his next one had some tomato sauce he'd finally have enough to make chili.  You could tell how much he was looking forward to it, and the baguette would just take it to the next level.  Shortly thereafter we said goodbye, and that was that.

Later that day, and periodically through the years, I've found myself thinking back to that man.  He gave me a glimpse into a world I am blessed to not have experienced first hand.  The concept of having to save up to be able to make something as basic as chili is so far away from my reality.  And, I am so grateful for that.  The concept of being thrilled to find a stale baguette worth $1.50 when it's fresh, is also thankfully not part of my reality.  I truly hope that he has found his since found his feet.

Today, I was thinking about people in his situation and how difficult this time of year must be.  With everyone else preparing for the holidays, buying special foods for their family meal and rushing around to finish their Christmas shopping.  For people that have to save up to make chili, I realised that there would most likely not be anything special on their table for Christmas dinner.  That Christmas Day would be a struggle like any other day. 

With that in mind, I decided that in addition to our usual financial donation to the food bank, I would also give a donation of items that will hopefully help make someone's Christmas table a little more special.  I set a budget of $50 and had some fun finding great deals!  My budget ended up filling four shopping bags and I happily left with five cake mixes, five cans of frosting, eight packages of cookies, two packages of chocolates, five boxes of stuffing, and two boxes of apple cider mix. 

When I got home, I did a well overdue clean out of our pantry.  Over time we've accumulated assorted tins of hot chocolate, preserves, relishes, teas and sweets that we just don't consume. A gift basket here, and a hostess gift there add up quickly! I am happy to say that these items filled two more shopping bags, and will hopefully be used and enjoyed instead of taking up space in my cupboards to no end.

And so, six bags full of Christmas goodies were dropped off at the food bank warehouse. My family feels good about it, and I feel that even though it won't keep anyone from going hungry, sometimes something special for the holidays is good for the spirit.  In years to come, I think this surely will be a family Christmas tradition.

Indoor Energy Buster - Balloons!

We are having an unseasonably mild winter so far.  We've had small amounts of snow on the ground twice so far this winter, but here we are on December 16 with not a snowflake to be seen... aside from the paper ones decorating our windows!  With these warm temperatures, everything has been falling as rain.  Lots and lots of heavy rain.  I can only imagine how much snow we'd have on the ground if it had been just a few degrees cooler!

With heavy rain outside, we've been spending more time inside than usual.  And, as we all know toddlers have a lot of energy which needs to be burned off - either outside or in.  Yesterday, we pulled out a tried and true classic to help us burn off our cabin fever.  Balloons!  Mini Muffin actually received it in her advent calendar, and the timing couldn't have been better!

It never ceases to amaze me how much entertainment a balloon can bring.  It was fantastic!  There were lots of smiles, laughter, red cheeks, and huffing and puffing from all the exertion. 











Mama helped make it a bit more challenging - bumping the balloon to the other end of the room, around a corner, or way up high.  Mini Muffin had fun playing "catch" with me, and crawling into corners and behind furniture to retrieve it.  And, of course since it's so light, it's harmless for things on shelves, so there was no mess (aside from the usual chaos around the house)!

Mini Muffin bounced, threw, kicked and chased this balloon for well over half an hour.  She was in constant motion.  I tried to catch the fun in a picture, but with all the motion every single one is blurry.  With hindsight, I suppose that these blurry pictures actually captured the moment perfectly.

DIY - Candy Cane Wreath

It's been a while since I posted, and has it ever been busy!  We had our extended family Christmas during which Little Smiling Man charmed one and all, and Mini Muffin ran amok and had a fantastic time.  We had our immediate family Christmas, during which we had a good catch up, exchanged a few gifts and enjoyed brunch together.  Then, we headed to Niagara and stayed at a water park!  I estimate that we spent nearly 12h in the water, despite staying for just under 48h!  We were all a bit waterlogged by the end.  When we got home Little Smiling Man wasn't himself.  He wasn't... well... smiley.  Then he broke out in a rash, so we went to the doctor where he was diagnosed with hand foot and mouth.  Poor, poor monkey.  All we could do is wait it out, and keep him comfortable with Advil.  Thankfully he's through it now!  We're all enjoying a little bit more sleep, and a lot less fussiness!

And, on the craft/DIY front, I thought I'd share a wreath I made just before heading south.  Let's just say, Pinterest is both my best friend and my worst enemy.  I was super busy with preparations for our trip and life in general, yet this gorgeous wreath just begged to be made!  Luckily, it turned out to be a quick and easy project, with a gorgeous end product!

The finished product!

Here's what you'll need:

1 box of candy canes, plus four additional candy canes*

Scotch tape

Hot glue gun (clear glue)

1.  Trim excess wrapper from the ends of each candy cane.
2.  Pair candy canes with long stems together.  Attach with tape.
3.  Lay out your wreath, joining the taped pairs so that the crooks form hearts.
4.  Along the stems, run a line of hot glue.  Add a dot of hot glue at each point the candy canes join.
5.  Allow to set, and it's ready to hang!  It won't be stiff, but will be held together well.  Hang on a hook, with ribbon, or however you choose!

* Exact quantity may vary depending on which brand of candy canes you buy.

Easy.  Peasy.

Ours adorns our stairwell window, and is held up by suction hooks.  I love this simple, festive touch to our home!

DIY - Mini Muffin Tin Advent Calendar

It's funny to think that our friends south of the border are celebrating Thanksgiving, when we are in full flung Christmas mode.  But, with Canadian Thanksgiving over a month behind us, I guess it's not surprising.  In fact, tomorrow morning we're heading south to enjoy an early Christmas dinner with my extended family.  On Sunday, we're celebrating Christmas with our immediate family (since my sister won't be able to join us on the day).  After this weekend's celebrations, we'll be heading to Niagara for a short getaway with the kids.   

By the time we get back it will be December!  And, December means that the countdown to Christmas is well and truly on - especially for Miss Mini Muffin.  She is all about Santa these days.  As part of the anticipation, we wanted to introduce the traditional advent calendar.  But, I really struggle with the concept of buying a calendar that essentially gives my toddler chocolate every single day for 24 days.  Chocolate and candies are a treat around here, and don't happen often.  Who knows what havoc that calendar could wreak!  I jest.  I'm sure it would be fine.  But, it did get me wondering if I could put together an advent calendar for her that was more suited to our home environment and her personal tastes.  Pinterest to the rescue! I kid you not, Pinterest is both my best friend and worst enemy; so many amazing ideas, yet so little time!

This week, in and amongst our normal routines and getting organised for our upcoming getaway, I took some time to create an advent calendar for Mini Muffin.  It was a great break from the laundry, packing, baking, wrapping, errands and general Christmas prep. 

And here it is - Mini Muffin's Mini Muffin Advent Calendar!



The Final Product!

To make your own, you'll need:

• one mini muffin tin
• 24 small treats - mini muffin tins are shallow, so they need to be small
• 24x  2" cardstock squares (my squares are actually 2"x2.5" rectangles and work well)
• any decorations you'd like to use
• self adhesive magnets
• ribbon to hang

24 days worth of treats

I started out at the dollar store, looking for little treats.  I ended up with a collection of stickers, balloons, hair clips, and a few larger items (pencil, Christmas sticker activity book, antler headband).  Naturally, I did pick up a few candies too.  Every advent calendar needs a few sweets!

Over the next week or so I thought about how to cover the muffin cups.  I knew it would be a piece of cardstock with magnets on the back, but the exact size and design was up in the air.  After I finally had my concept in mind, I pulled out the muffin tin to discover... the holes were much closer than I remembered and my grand idea wouldn't work after all.  Boo. 

I figured I'd just dive in and figure it out as I went along, so I opened up a pad of Christmas scrapbooking paper I bought on clearance a few years ago.  The stars must have been aligned because the first page I flipped to had a calendar on it... and the numbers were the perfect size!  Seriously, what are the odds?  So, I cut them out, affixed the magnets, and filled the tin.  For the larger items, I wrote a little clue on where to find them (and put a reminder in my phone so that the treat gets into its hiding spot in time!).

The final challenge was hanging it.  My tin doesn't have a hole in it, and I intend to continue using it for baking once December is over, so I needed to get a bit creative.  In the end, I took the strongest magnets from my fridge, and used them to hold the ribbon onto the back of the tin.  It's been three days and it's still holding strong, so I think my solution is going to do just fine!

All in all, this was an easy and fun craft to do for my little one, and I am so happy with the final product!  I'm really looking forward to her discovering her treat each day as we move the numbers from the tin to a line down the kitchen door.  And once Christmas has past, all I have to do is pack away the cardstock until next year!

Overnight Pumpkin Oats

While I was pregnant with LSM, I had a pretty big appetite and found myself wanting to snack most of my work morning.  After many attempts at satisfying snacks, I found an overnight oats recipe that fit the bill.  It was healthy, filling, and big enough that I could snack on it all morning long!  Even better, they're super simple to make at night, and oh so quick to grab in the morning.  Now that I'm a mom of two and busy running around the house, I split it in two.  The first half I had while Mini Muffin had her breakfast, and the second half I finished off while she had her morning snack. 

The recipe is from Iowa Girl Eats (here: http://iowagirleats.com/2010/02/03/a-day-in-the-life-of-ige/).  This recipe would also be appropriate for toddlers and older babies (without the almonds).  I hope you enjoy them!

Pumpkin Overnight Oats

1/3 c old fashioned oats
1/2 c pumpkin purée
1/2 c vanilla yogurt
cinnamon to taste
1 banana
Handful almonds (optional)

1.  Mix first four ingredients into a bowl, jar or container.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2.  Serve with sliced banana and almonds.


Really, that's it.  So simple, and so delicious!

Conversation with an Eight Month Old

Little Smiling Man has had a massive week!  He went from scootching with a bit of army crawl to a very efficient and speedy army crawl.  He also started properly crawling.  And, he learnt to sit up all by himself!  What a week! 

All of this new found freedom makes the world a very exciting place.  Combine this with what I expect may be a new tooth or two on the way, and the result is a sudden reluctance to nap (or sleep in general).  Ah, the joys of an overtired baby.  Of course little sleep, chasing him around the house and realising that a whole new level of baby proofing is required, has made for one busy mama!

On Friday, I found myself having a mental conversation with Little Smiling Man that I thought I would share.  Of course, for his responses I translated from babbles, screeches, whines and cries.  So, while not exact, the translation below gives a good overall flavour for our exchange.  For simplicity, I've shortened Little Smiling Man to LSM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mama: "LSM, it's time for a nap!"
LSM:   "But I don't want a nap."

*LSM rubs eyes*

Mama: "Yes LSM, it's time for a nap.  You're very tired, you've been up since 10:00 and it's now 2:00.  That is too long for someone as small as you.  We've tried to get you down for a nap since lunchtime and thus far have failed.  Now, no more excuses, it is time for a nap."
LSM:   "No.  I'm not tired."
Mama: "Yes, you are.  The bags under your eyes have become steamer trunks.  You are tired."
LSM:   "No.  I said I am not tired.  I want to crawl and explore."
Mama: "Napping will give you lots of energy for further exploration.  Just a little rest, and then you can get back to crawling and exploring."
LSM:   "Not. A. Chance.  I have been waiting my entire life to crawl.  Literally my entire life.  I am not stopping now.  I refuse to stop."

*LSM rubs his eyes and yawns*

Mama: "LSM, this is getting ridiculous.  Come have a cuddle with me.  We'll just relax and see if you drift off for a little rest."
LSM:   "Out of the question.  I must continue to move."

*LSM rolls onto tummy and starts rocking back and forth on all fours, then sits up and starts playing with Mama's sweater.  Mama keeps rubbing his back and trying to settle him.*

Mama: "<Sigh> We'll just hang out, and whenever you show the slightest move towards sleep, I will help you to nap."
LSM:   "You're in for a long wait, Mama.  I will not stop moving.  Ever."

.... 58 minutes later.....

LSM:  "Why do I feel so tired!?!  I just want to crawl and explore and crawl and explore.  Is that so much to ask!?!  Why, oh why do I feel so tired!?!?"

*LSM lies on belly, head down on his fists and starts to cry*

Mama: "Remember how I told you that a little rest would give you more energy for exploring?  You need a little rest for that, and to help you feel better.  Here, I'll rub your back."

..... 24 minutes later....

LSM:   "Zzzzzzz......"
Mama: "That was epic. Time to close my eyes!"

..... 34 minutes later....

LSM:   "Let me up!  Time to explore!  Time to see the world!  What did I miss?  What can I get into?"
Mama: "And it begins once again...."

Autumn Pumpkin Muffins - Kidlet Approved!

Now that everyone is healthy again, and I'm moderately rested, we're working on getting back to normal.  Along with sleep and energy levels, appetites are also returning to normal, and I had a can of pumpkin purée staring at me from the pantry.  Obviously it was time to make some muffins with Mini Muffin!

We glanced around the internet for some recipes - many we didn't have all the ingredients for, most had too much sugar for our taste, and very few had any whole wheat goodness.  So, working from typical ingredient ratios, we created our own!  I thought I'd capture the recipe here while it's still fresh in my mind -

Autumn Pumpkin Muffins

1 1/4 c whole wheat flour
1 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon*
1 1/2 tsp ginger*
1/8 tsp cloves
Pinch of pepper
1 1/2 c pumpkin purée
1/2 c plain yogurt
1/2 c melted butter
2 eggs
1/3 c brown sugar
1/2 c raisins or chocolate chips (optional)
1/2 c chopped walnuts or pumpkin seeds (optional)

1.  Preheat oven to 350F, and line muffin pan with liners.
2.  Blend together first 8 ingredients in a medium bowl and set aside.  * A note on spices - these muffins are lightly spiced.  I enjoy rich cinnamon and ginger flavours so if I was making these just for me (or adults), I would double the spice.  However, the spice level listed seems to be perfect for the little taste buds in my house!
3.  Mix all wet ingredients, and add in dry.  Mix until just combined.
4.  If desired, add raisins, chocolate chips and/or walnuts.  We made ours without any extras since I wanted Little Smiling Man to be able to enjoy them, and when presented with raisins or chocolate chips Mini Muffin seems to like to pick them out and neglect the rest of the muffin!
5.  Fill muffin cups. The batter will be quite stiff, so won't change shape when baking, and also won't run over from the muffin papers.
6.  Bake for 35 minutes, or until a tested comes out clean.

Makes ~12 regular sized muffins; adding optional ingredients would yield a few extra muffins.

And, there you have it!  Mini Muffin stirred all the dry ingredients for me as I added things to the bowl.  She also had a go at combining the wet and dry ingredients, but the batter was a bit stiff for her, so Mama finished it off!  She was also thrilled when I ran out of plain muffin papers and broke into my Christmas stash.  Santa is going to be a VERY big deal this year!

After watching them bake, Mini Muffin was the first to taste test them; she ate an entire muffin and asked for another.  They have been her go to snack request since then.  Little Smiling Man has been loving them as well!  They're soft and light, so perfect for a baby learning how to manage finger foods.  They're also moist enough to reasonably withstand being held in a baby fist.  He saw me eating one without him this morning and started squawking until I shared it with him.  The best part in my opinion, is that everyone is thoroughly enjoying eating an extra little bit of pumpkin (about 2 tbsp. of purée per muffin)... and all those great vitamins that come along with it!

Since I have a partial can of pumpkin purée left, you'll likely be seeing more yummy pumpkin recipes here.  Stay tuned!

Nap Time Power Struggles - Progress!!

As I mentioned in my "magic happens at daycare" post, nap time with Mini Muffin has been both a trial and a tribulation.  We ensure that she gets lots of physical activity, a good diet and lots of mental stimulation.  Yet, nap time has been tough.  I've had quite a few lucky days, where after driving the long way home she's fallen asleep in the car and could be transferred to her bed for a blissfully long nap.  But, on the days that didn't happen, it's been hours of frustration.

No two children are the same, and certainly what works sleep wise for one, may not work for another.  But, I thought I'd share a progress update on the napping front.  And, perhaps my discovery for Mini Muffin could also help with some other wilful toddler out there.

About two weeks ago, I'd officially had enough.  Enough frustration.  Enough yelling, screaming and crying (on both our parts).  And definitely enough of spending in excess of two hours out of my day trying to get my angel to give in to the nap that she so desperately needs.  It's classic toddler syndrome - tired and in definite need of a nap to recharge, but not wanting to miss a thing.  In addition, it became clear to me that she and I were locked in a power struggle.  As Mini Muffin asserts more independence, sometimes she just needs to rebel against her mama... even if she's very tired and in need of a rest and Mama is offering that rest.  The more I pushed for a nap, the harder she pushed against it and me.  The harder she pushed against me, the more wound up (and less likely to fall asleep) she got, which resulted in me pushing even harder for a nap, and on and on the cycle went. 

One Monday, henceforth referred to as Miraculous Monday, I decided not to push nap time.  We finished up lunch, and then headed upstairs as usual.  Potty break, curtains left partially open, special story (a long French animal book she loves but that Daddy won't read at bedtime), Gro clock, and then the chaos broke out (on her part).  I kept it together, and told her that she didn't need to nap, but she did need to stay in her room.  She could read, play, whatever she wanted, but it had to be quiet and it had to be in her room.  Then I left.  We had a couple of hours of mayhem, mostly involving her leaving her room, and me sending her back in.  Eventually she figured out that I really wasn't making her nap, had some quiet time with books and then... knocked at her door.  I answered it.  She crawled into bed, pulled up her covers and asked for a back rub.  Two minutes later she was asleep.

The next day she played for another two hours, but with no complaints or issues with staying in her room.  I kept an eye on her via the monitor.  Again, she knocked on the door when she was ready.  Zero frustration on my part!  Since then, the time she takes to settle varies from ten minutes to two hours.  Lately it's been more in the ten minute range.  Literally, the last three days she has finished her lunch, told me it's time for her nap and headed on upstairs.  Potty, curtains partially open, special story, Gro clock, and a back rub.  I've been back downstairs in ten minutes.  Flat. 

Who knew that not pushing a nap would result in an easier nap?  It's so counter intuitive to me!  My theory is that she feels in control of when she naps, and since it's her decision she's calmer and therefore able to fall asleep.  Or something to that effect.

A bit more about our new technique -

• Our routine stays the same up until the Gro clock is set.  From there, it varies based on her mood and readiness for sleep.
• At the first sign of fighting sleep, I remind her of the ground rules and leave. 
• If she takes a long time to settle, we do have a wake up time (to ensure night time sleep is possible). 
• If she didn't end up napping, bedtime would move up a bit. 
• There's no pressure to nap, but I do keep on eye on her via the baby monitor so I'm ready to respond when she's ready for her back rub (and therefore sleep).

It's nowhere near an exact science, but rather an art we're figuring out as we go along.  My vision is that it may also transition well to quiet time when she no longer needs a nap.  We're also considering trying it out at bedtime.  I've heard of crazy people who don't make their kids go to bed, but instead just have a set time after which they have to stay in their room.  It seems so strange to me, but perhaps it's a technique that works with Mini Muffin's personality.  Time will tell!

I'm sure it won't work forever, but it's working now, and I am so grateful to have a truce in the nap time power struggles.

Poor Second Baby

Our house is currently in survival mode. The cause? A sick baby. I'm so grateful for the weekend since my husband is home to help keep the ship upright, if not on its usual course.

It all started in the wee hours of Friday morning, Mini Muffin woke up with a miserable stomach bug. Luckily it passed and by Friday afternoon she was back to normal except for reduced appetite. Early afternoon though, Little Smiling Man seemed a bit off. Shortly thereafter he developed a low grade fever. By dinner time he was miserable and the fever was high grade. Hubby got home and I spent hours sitting in the dark, comforting him, and most of the night either rocking him or with him asleep on my chest. Saturday he bounced from fine to feverishly miserable on a whim as we tried to keep him comfortable, allow a low grade fever to do its job but not let a high grade fever take over, and of course keep the toddler fed and busy.

In my hours of holding my little sleeping furnace, who seems to wake crying if I even think about putting him down, I have found myself reflecting on sickness in our house since Mini Muffin was born almost two and a half years ago. The differences between her and her little brother's experiences are significant.

Mini Muffin caught her first cold at five months, and a second one around eight months.  We stayed home and cuddled her better. We avoided any kid with even the slightest runny nose at play group. And, she stayed pretty much healthy. Mini Muffin had her first high fever at one year three weeks, her first week of daycare. And, every few weeks for months thereafter she had a fever, cold, flu or all of the above. Mama looked after her, or grandma came to help out so mama could go to work. It was tough, and I cursed those daycare bugs, and the parents that sent their kids to daycare sick to infect my baby. Finally, it seemed like she'd built up her immunity and the frequency of illness thankfully dropped off. These days, she's a pretty healthy kid with (what I suspect to be) a pretty strong immune system.

Little Smiling Man, however, has had all the bugs his sister carries around to contend with.  He had his first cold at three weeks, and I'm not actually sure how many more he's had over the months.  He gets through it as we're out and about at parks, playgroups, or other activities.  They really don't seem to have much of an effect on his mood at all.  And, I'm careful to keep his drooled on toys away from the healthy babies around him.  When Mini Muffin is under the weather we do our best with hygiene, and avoiding the kisses and licks (yes, licks) that Mini Muffin loves to give her brother.  It's a rather futile battle though.  When he was small, I could baby wear, or have him out of her reach.  These days, he's all about exploring via rolling, scooching and crawling backwards.  There's really no protecting him from his sister's germ-ridden love.  And so, he had his first fever at 7.5 months.  Poor second baby.

I am, however, hopeful that all of these sniffles and warm foreheads are building up one wicked immune system.  And, maybe there's an end in sight to the incessant bugs floating around our house.  A mama can hope, right? 

Craft Idea - Hallowe'en Handprints

We are in full autumn mode!  We've been doing for lots of fall walks, enjoying the last warm-ish days, and sadly packing away all things summer.  Fall has also crept into our diet with more apples and squash.  So, as Little Smiling Man naps and Mini Muffin plays with orange playdough while we wait for our pumpkin oatmeal muffins to cool, it seems like a great time to share a little handprint craft we did the other day.  It makes a great seasonal decoration, is small to store, and will be super cute to pull out again next year and see how much Mini Muffin has grown.

Before the toddler phase, arts and crafts were certainly a long way behind me.  As in, I'm pretty sure I left arts and crafts behind in elementary school.  So, I've been doing a lot of learning... and a lot of idea gathering on Pintrest!  This idea was just too cute to miss!



Eek!

As you can see, it was mostly a mommy craft with a bit of toddler input.  Mini Muffin thinks "her spider" is pretty cool, and loves the webs created around it in purple (her favourite colour).  And, mommy had some fun doing something crafty during naptime. 
A little bit more about the process -

I chose to work on canvas for longevity and display purposes, but you could very easily work on paper.  I also used tempera paints to keep everything non-toxic and easy to clean. 

Since we didn't have any orange paint on hand, I mixed some up and prepped the canvas while Mini Muffin was napping.  I applied a couple of layers with a sponge brush, and then dabbed with a sponge to even out the texture.  Once it was dry, we painted Mini Muffin's hands and pressed them down one at a time to make our spider.  The next day (also during her nap), I broke out the purple and a fine paint brush to finished it off.  She was so surprised to see the end result when she woke up, and I had so much fun painting.  As I said, it's been years!

I had a few learnings through the process, which the very crafty would find basic.  When I mixed the orange, I was completely off with the red/yellow proportion.  For the record, Hallowe'en orange is mostly yellow.  I ended up with so much orange as I added more and more yellow to find the right shade!  I also found the by using a foam brush (which is all I had on hand), I ended up with a really streaky canvas.  It looked kind of cool, but wasn't the look I was going for.  Hence, improvising with the sponge.  I love the mottled texture of the final product!

So, there's a fun handprint Hallowe'en idea.  Now, on to create one for Little Smiling Man!

Simply Delicious - Cauliflower Soup for Everyone!

I've been learning a bit more about cauliflower recently.  I'd always written it off due to its colour - I mean how could a white vegetable contain much in the way of nutrients?  Well, cauliflower is really back in vogue these days.  And, it turns out that it's super healthy!  It's a great source of vitamin C, folate, and vitamin K, as well as fibre.

Unfortunately, I'm not a huge fan of plain old boiled or steamed cauliflower, and adding cheese sauce seems to sort of defeat the purpose.  So, after talking to a friend about an amazing cauliflower soup she threw together for her baby, I decided to see if I could come up with my own version.  It was so easy and simple, I forgot to even take a picture of it before it was all gobbled up or frozen into baby cubes.

Here's the recipe, should you choose to give it a whirl -

Cauliflower Carrot Soup

1 medium head of cauliflower
2 large carrots
1 medium onion
2 medium cloves garlic
1 tbsp butter
4 cups low sodium chicken stock

1.  Melt butter in a large pot, and add chopped onion and crushed garlic.  Cook over medium heat until onion is translucent.
2.  Add stock, chopped carrots, and cauliflower flowerets.  Bring to a boil.
3.  Cook covered, over medium heat until cauliflower is fall-apart cooked.
4.  Blend until smooth, adding water if too thick.
5.  Serve and enjoy!

Everyone in my family enjoyed this soup, especially Little Smiling Man. I'd even say that it's his favourite food so far!  It was versatile and delicious, and so very easy to make.  This one will definitely reappear on our table to help us all enjoy more cauliflower!

Magic Happens at Daycare

Magic happens at daycare!  A friend of mine coined this phrase to explain why our children seem to be completely different people when in the care of someone outside of the home.

Here are some "magical" cases:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Case 1:
Mini Muffin fights naps to the bitter end at home.  A nap can literally take hours to start, regardless of how much physical and/or mental stimulation she's had, time, routine or sleeping environment.  It takes forever, and a lot of mental fortitude from her parents so that we can avoid getting frustrated with her and making the situation worse.  Left to her own devices she does everything she can to keep herself awake and has never fallen asleep for a nap unattended.  With a parent in the room, she also does everything she can to keep herself awake, but can sometimes be lulled to sleep by a persistent parent. 

When Mini Muffin started in the "big kid" room at daycare, I naturally asked how she had napped.  I was told that she had a good sleep, but was the last kid to fall asleep.  I thought "Aha!  So it's not just me!", only to have my bubble burst immediately thereafter.  Carer: "Yes, she was the very last one to fall asleep, but she did it completely on her own - no back rubbing or anything.  She fell asleep at a quarter to one."  Me (knowing their schedule): "I'm sorry, pardon?  A quarter to one?" "Yes." "As in 12:45?" "Yes (looking at me like I'm simple because I don't know what a quarter to one means).  We start settling for nap at 12:30 and she fell asleep on her own at 12:45.  Oh, and we make the room conducive to sleep - it's dark and we play nature sounds."

Seriously!?!?  Fifteen minutes!?!?!  Between naps and bedtime, some days I feel like I do nothing but try to settle her for sleep.  Magic happens at daycare.

Case 2:
Mini Muffin is quite particular on her diet.  We try not to make too big a deal out of what she will and will not eat, to avoid it turning into more of a power struggle.  She actually tastes more things when we pretty much leave her to her own devices.  That being said, I'm very familiar with her refusing to eat foods that most kids love (e.g. pasta, scrambled eggs, ketchup or any kind of sauce being among them).

I picked her up one day to hear that she refuses to eat cheese.  Yes, I'm well aware.  She will eat it melted; but normal, cold, delicious cheese?  No way.  Oh, but she ate her crackers (a steadfast favourite of hers at home), ham and pickles, she just left the cheese.  What!?!?!  She ate ham?  And pickles?  Huh?  Then I was told that they make their snacks fun - cubes of ham, triangles of cheese, round pickles and rectangular crackers.  Hmmm.... I suppose I could try to make snacks more fun. 

I replicated the snack at home a few weeks later.  Mini Muffin ate the crackers, and built houses and towers out of the rest.  Not a crumb passed her lips, even when asked.  So much for fun.  Magic happens at daycare.

Case 3:
My friend's toddler went through a stage of throwing her plate on the floor when she didn't want any more, didn't like the offerings, or sometimes just for fun. 

One day at pick up, she was told that her daughter had thrown her plate on the floor.  The carer explained that she'd asked her to pick up the food and carry her plate over to the garbage to throw out her wasted food, and then return to the table to wait for the others to finish - which is exactly what this little toddler did. 

And, for the record, she never again threw her plate on the floor.... at daycare anyway.  Magic happens at daycare.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm still not sure how I feel about this phenomenon.  I'm happy that my little person is well behaved when I'm not around, and that she seems to be stepping outside her comfort zone.  She also seems to push boundaries much harder at home.  I'd like to think that it's because home is a safe place for her to grow and learn and that she knows we'll love her unconditionally, and not because she sees me as a push over.  For the record, I don't think she sees me as a push over; I think she just has a need to continually confirm that the boundaries haven't shifted, and by extension that I haven't suddenly morphed into a push over. 

In conclusion, magic does indeed seem to happen at daycare.  And, it sure would be nice if once in a while Mini Muffin would share some of that daycare napping magic with me.   

Easy Mommy Win - Carrots!

You may perhaps recall that Mini Muffin is a bit of a picky eater.  In addition to continuing to offer her healthy, whole foods including a variety of vegetables (which are usually declined), I'm always on the lookout for ways to sneak the nutrients she needs into foods she'll enjoy.

Carrots have always been a tough one.  Despite being sweet and delicious, Mini Muffin is determined to avoid them.  And, their bright colour can make them tricky to disguise.  Not long ago she tried Motts fruit and veggie sauce, which is essentially applesauce with some peach and what I can only assume is a token amount of carrot (based on its place in the ingredient list).  She loved it, and it soon became known as "orange applesauce".

The other day, Mini Muffin was requesting orange applesauce and we were all out.  She and I decided that mommy should try to make some.  And so, a healthier version of orange applesauce was born.

Orange Applesauce

3 apples (any sweet variety)
1/2 large carrot

1.  Cook carrot by desired method (boiling, steaming, etc).  This is also a great opportunity to use up left over carrot - which is exactly what I did! 

2.  Place peeled, cored and chopped apple, along with carrot in a medium saucepan. 

3.  Add water until apples and carrots are almost covered.  Ensure all carrots are under water.

4.  Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until apple is fall-apart cooked and carrot is very soft.  Almost all water will have boiled off.  If water is boiled off before carrot and apple are thoroughly cooked, add boiling water.

5.  Put apple-carrot mixture through blender until very smooth.  Add warm water if consistency is too thick for your taste.  If you want a chunkier sauce you could mash it, however the carrots will not be hidden in this case.  I used my Magic Bullet, and made sure every last chunk was gone - it came out to be almost exactly like store bought texture, maybe even a little bit smoother.

The final result, was a brilliant orange and sweet applesauce, with no added sweetener required and no preservatives.  The test came when I gave it to Mini Muffin for dessert.  Three servings later, we had to convince her to wait for breakfast to enjoy more!  It's official, mommy's orange applesauce is more popular than the store bought variety.  Even better, it's also completely baby appropriate!

And that, is my easy mommy win for carrots.  Next on the agenda... figuring out which greens I can hide in applesauce! 

Milk Cubes - Why didn't I think of this sooner!?!

I have been very fortunate to be able to exclusively breastfeed both my babies.  It's been, and continues to be, amazing.  Little Smiling Man is seven months old today, and is therefore also about a month into experiencing solids.  Well, actually purées, but I digress... So far he's enjoyed cereals, egg yolks and quite an array of vegetables.  He seems pretty enthusiastic about the whole concept!

As many a smart mama will tell you, if you're making puréed baby food for your little angel, freezing it in an ice cube tray is super convenient.  Once frozen, just pop it out and into a freezer bag, label and away you go!  We still use this technique to freeze homemade soups in small portions for Mini Muffin, and with trying to give Little Smiling Man lots of variety, I'm in baby cube making mode!

Since I chose to introduce iron fortified baby cereals, and he's never had formula, our dietitian recommended using "mix with breastmilk", as opposed to "mix with water" cereals.  The mix with water variety are super convenient, but contain several ingredients that formula fed babies would have been exposed to, but breastfed babies would not. So, to keep things simple for their tummies, and to make it easy to identify any potential food intolerance, we use only the mix with breastmilk variety of baby cereal.

Here comes the challenging part: Managing milk inventories to mix cereal.  Breastmilk doesn't keep long in the fridge, and especially in the early days of introducing solids you use so little to mix cereal.  Sometimes we waste pumped milk because we don't use enough.  Sometimes Little Smiling Man nurses so much (e.g. during teething) that I have nothing to spare for cereal.  Sometimes we're busy and finding time to pump is difficult.  Sometimes I have excess supply and pump a whole bottle, so freeze it to avoid wastage.  But, the frozen bag can only be defrosted in its entirety, and so leads to wasted milk in the end since my little guy also refuses the bottle.  All of this to say, we seem to constantly be in a state of having too much or too little breastmilk for mixing cereal.

And so, after two years of freezing cubes of all sorts of things, it suddenly dawned on me... milk cubes!  When I'm able to pump a whole bottle, instead of using a too-big bag, just freeze it in an ice cube tray.  Then, if we're short on milk, I can just take out a single serve cube, defrost, mix, and the wastage is minimal.  Sweet and simple.



Almost ready - defrosting indirectly with hot water

The question I therefore have to ask is....  Why on earth didn't I think of this two years ago!?!?!

Simpy Delicious - Special Banana Pancakes

I'm all about an easy dinner after a busy Friday!  So, yesterday I drew on one of my tried and true toddler dinners - "Special Banana Pancakes".

These pancakes came about when Mini Muffin was about nine months old.  I was desperately trying to find some form of protein that she would actually eat, aside from milk.  Eggs seemed like a reasonable alternative to the meat she refused, but she really didn't take to them.  So, I came up with her very own special banana pancakes - banana mashed with egg and cooked in a bit of butter like a pancake.  She LOVED them from the get go, and to this day she'll gobble down two eggs in one sitting!

Now, I thought I was being all novel and inventive coming up with these pancakes.  However, I soon came across a banana egg scramble variation on an online community.  Then, I received an email from Self magazine touting gluten free pancakes... which were essentially my recipe with a bit of baking soda!  So, I must concede, they are not what you would call novel, but they are what I would call a quick, easy and awesome way to get egg into a baby or toddler!

And, the 'recipe' -

Special Banana Pancakes

1 very ripe banana (well mashed)
2 eggs

1.  Scramble eggs and combine with banana.
2.  Melt a small amount of butter in a frying pan. 
3.  When butter is bubbly, drop batter into pan.  I suggest pancakes be on the small side (one spoonful per pancake) because they can be a bit tricky to turn.  Flip when reasonably set.

We serve these plain - the banana flavour comes through strongly and makes them sweet so they really don't need anything!  They also reheat fairly well, so I try to make a bit extra for a quick and easy snack the next day.  Enjoy!

Blissful Moment

Little Smiling Man cut his first tooth yesterday!  Amazingly, he remained his usual smiling self throughout the process, with perhaps only slightly more disrupted sleep than normal, and a few extra cuddles.  He's such an amazing little guy!

Sleep, however has been at a premium lately.  Little Smiling Man being up an extra time each night was just the tip of the iceberg.  Mini Muffin has been struggling with a cough and cold which has been keeping her up, waking her frequently, and causing very early risings.  Everyone is sleep deprived!

But last night, in and amongst the fatigue, I had a truly blissful moment.  Little Smiling Man got up for his usual one o'clock nurse, and then less than an hour later there were squeaks and squeals coming from his nursery.  Groaning and bleary eyed, I rolled out of bed once again.  When I approached his crib, he smiled at me, and as soon as I picked him up he burrowed into my shoulder.  He had no interest in nursing, he was just looking for a cuddle!  We settled into the glider and I got to hold my peaceful, happy baby while he settled back to sleep, content with the world.  We rocked and cuddled, for what I can still only describe as a blissful time.  I watched him as he slept in my arms, and felt an overwhelming sense of peace and calm.  The fatigue even slipped away!  After a time, he was happy to settle back into his crib, and I got to sleep undisturbed for three-ish hours until Mini Muffin was up for the day.

Babies are little for such a short time.  He's already so big - as of last week, he's 2.5 times his birth weight and well and truly into 9 month sized clothing at just six months old!  As exciting as it is, I've also been a bit sad about his first tooth coming through.  It really is an undeniable sign that time is passing and he's not my little newborn anymore.  But, last night I could clearly see that he's still my little baby, cuddled up in my arms and finding comfort there.  And, it reminds me that even on difficult days, I really am the happiest I've ever been with these two little blossoms! 

Good Morning!

I love singing.  Mini Muffin loves singing.  Even my husband gets in on the action!  We love songs with actions, songs with funny rhymes, songs to help distract the littles while we're waiting, songs to bring a smile to the face, songs to get the sillies out - the list is endless.

When Mini Muffin was born I knew very minimal kids songs.  As in, basics like Bingo, Isty Bitsy Spider and just a handful of others.  Through mothers groups, both my and Mini Muffin's repertoires expanded, and happily Little Smiling Man is now also being exposed to some pretty fun songs.

One time we always sing is in the morning.  I greet each child in the morning with a good morning song; basically to the tune of Happy Birthday, just like my mom used to sing to me.  My husband has his own good morning song that his dad used to sing when he was a kid.  Mini Muffin has started singing a version of my good morning song to Little Smiling Man as well - heart warming to say the least!

However, lately yet another good morning song has emerged in our home.  And, it's so popular we've been singing it morning, noon, and... well... not night since we're (hopefully) all fast asleep in our beds.  It's called the Good Morning Train, and is far and away Mini Muffin's favourite song at the moment.  You can hear a rendition of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8_CCseQW7c

We have lots of fun with all the "choo choo" sound effects, especially since Mini Muffin is a huge train fan these days.  We also make a point of naming people in our extended family and friends that we don't see too often as a way to think of them and include them in our day.  It's fantastic when Mini Muffin stops me to inform me that she will be singing it, and proceeds to name anyone that's on her mind - each with a VERY enthusiastic "choo choo!" afterwards.

What's your favourite song to start off the day?  

"Two Minutes!"

"Two minutes" is a phrase we now hear often in our house... very often.  Neither hubby, nor I, realised that we said it.  Then, this fabulous little mirror who regularly lets us know what we really look and sound like (aka Mini Muffin) picked it up.  All of a sudden, she started telling us "I be right be back... two minutes!" (only to pop back around the corner ten seconds later, loudly announcing that she'd returned - love her!).  At first we were confused; where on earth did that come from?  Then, I started noticing myself telling her we would be leaving in two minutes, or that I'd be back in two minutes from a run to basement pantry, etc.  Then, I started noticing my husband using similar phrases.  I guess we just live in a two minute household.

And that, I think, is partly why an article I recently read on decluttering stuck with me.  Sadly, I forgot to bookmark it and it seems to be lost forever.  However, amongst all the usual stuff (make your bed, mess attracts mess, etc), was a little gem that I've been putting to the test with pretty solid results.  This article proposed that if a task would take two minutes or less, do it immediately; if it will take more than two minutes you can put it off if you want to. 

When I read it, I thought "Hmmm... interesting..." and promptly moved on.  The next day, as I put a broken down box into a pile on the counter to later go out to the recycling bin, it popped into my head.  The twenty steps or so would definitely take less than two minutes, so I took it straight to the bin.  One less thing on the counter.  I caught myself the same way, putting some rogue barrettes in a pile on the table to be taken upstairs later.  Approximately 30 seconds later they were away and not causing clutter on the table. 

It's also worked to help push me to complete every day tasks when I see they need doing as opposed to the dreaded "later".  After all, it only takes two minutes, so why wait?  Corralling shoes at the front door, making the bed, straightening up Little Smiling Man's diaper changing stuff, putting away the shirt that was hanging to dry, and the list goes on.  Each thing in itself is small, yet those two minutes give a small sense of accomplishment and spur on more two minute projects.  Bit by bit, I can honestly say that I've noticed a difference... even if it is just the lack of recycling items accumulating on the kitchen counter!

DIY - Cozy Baby Blanket

Sweater season is officially back, and with it comes the need to make sure Little Smiling Man is as cozy as can be.  This week, I found myself pulling out the receiving blankets I made for him before birth more often.  I'm so glad I took the time - they truly are my go-to blanket!

Let me tell you a bit about them, because these aren't any old receiving blankets.  These are a) made with love, b) extra cozy without being too bulky, and c) perfect for someone (like me) just learning how to sew.  In fact, this blanket pattern was my very first sewing project, and the prototype was quickly claimed by Mini Muffin.  It continues to be her comfort item at bedtime, I love that she's comforted by something I made!

It all started a couple of years ago, with a very experienced quilter from work telling me about making receiving blankets for a colleague that was expecting.  It sounded so simple - one yard each of two complementary flannels.  Cut one 30" square and one 40" square from each, and through some sewing magic create two beautiful blankets that are a cross between a basic receiving blanket and a simple quilt.  Sounds interesting, right?  She called them "twenty minute receiving blankets", but ascertained that even with her experience it took her a bit longer.  Fast forward to my expecting Little Smiling Man, and several others in my social set also expecting babies around the same time.  I thought it would be lovely for Little Smiling Man to have something made especially for him, and to give these as gifts to some of the other new arrivals.  I literally googled twenty minute receiving blanket and came across a free online tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Company (here: http://shops.missouriquiltco.com/product/self-binding-baby-blanket-pattern/).  It turns out that it's the same tutorial my coworker had used!  What took her an hour or so, took me longer.  The first one took two evenings.  The second one took a single evening, and eventually I got it down to a couple of hours during which I could escape from the outside world and focus on a simple, enjoyable project.

With hindsight, the time spent on these blankets was very well spent!  I find them so versatile.  Being about three feet square, they're great for carseats, swaddling newborns, rolling on when we're out and about, can still be used as receiving blankets and to clean up messes, are thick enough to be perfect for spring and fall weather, and are both soft and durable.  Since Little Smiling Man was a March baby, we used them often over the first few months, and I suspect I'll also be using them frequently over the coming months as well.

At this point I've made a half dozen or so, so here are my tips (to supplement the fantastic tutorial above) -

1.  Don't skip the prewashing... or the ironing.
Flannel shrinks.  A lot.  Putting your uncut flannel through the wash means that it won't go all wonky on you later.  After it comes out of the dryer, ironing will make cutting so much easier!

2.  Perfect squares do matter. 
I'm pretty sure it takes me about as long to cut the fabric as it does to pin and sew.  But, if you're not square, it's definitely a problem, so it's worth the time.

3.  Exact measurements, however, don't matter. 
If one of your squares is slightly bigger or smaller, it really doesn't matter, it just changes the width of the border and the overall size of the blanket. 

4.  Sometimes, if you're new to sewing, the top stitching goes a bit funny in places. 
Don't sweat it, no one will notice (and if they do, they won't say anything!).  When I made my first blanket, I was very caught up in it being perfect.  It wasn't.  And, it's still very well loved.  Just enjoy the process, and it'll all work out in the end.  And, I find that each subsequent blanket gets a little bit closer to perfect.



5.  Thread a new bobbin before starting the top stitching. 
If you want to go start to finish without stopping, you'll need a full bobbin.  Trust me.

6.  If you plan to use these for yourself, make several.
In the spring, these were literally the only blanket we used for swaddling due to the chilly weather (and their perfect size).  Plus they were used for going out, snuggling, etc.  We loved using them so much that they always seemed to be in the wash!  Having several meant that we were rarely caught without one.     

And, that's my little summary and review of one fantastically simple, handmade baby blanket, that I adore. 

Enjoy!!

Perfect Homemade Peanut Butter and Other Good Stuff Granola Bars

In our house, we love granola bars as a quick and convenient snack.  Hubby takes them to work, I use them as energy boosts when I'm on the go (which seems to be most of the time!), and Mini Muffin enjoys them as an occasional treat.  I've been trying to find a delicious, simple and relatively healthy recipe for a homemade version.  It's harder than you might think!  Some were too heavy, some too sweet, and don't get me started on problems getting some of them to bind...

The closest recipe to 'just right' that I've found is from Super Healthy Kids (here: http://www.superhealthykids.com/peanut-butter-chocolate-trail-mix-granola-bars/).  I really enjoyed them as they were, but thought they could be even better.  So, using it as a guideline, I incorporated my favourite aspects of all the other recipes to create my own "perfect", simple, no-bake recipe.  I hope you enjoy it!

Perfect Homemade Peanut Butter and Other Good Stuff Granola Bars 
 
Ingredients
 
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
2/3 cup roughly chopped raw almonds
2/3 cup Rice Krispies cereal
1/3 cup ground flax seed
1 1/2 cups "other good stuff"
1 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
pinch of salt

Directions

1.  Line a 8x8 (or similar) pan with parchment paper.
2.  Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl. "Other Good Stuff" includes things like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips, etc.  I used 1/4 cup each of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, mini chocolate chips and craisins, as well as 1/2 cup raisins.  By mixing it up, and using what you have on hand, these bars can be different every time.  Try a few salted nuts to get a sweet and salty combo, or banana chips with coconut to give a tropical flare.  Your imagination (and the contents of your pantry) are the limit!
3.  Warm peanut butter until it pours easily (~45 seconds in my microwave), then stir in honey and salt.  If you want to reduce the amount of honey, just compensate with peanut butter so there's still enough moisture to bind the bars.
4.  Mix wet and dry ingredients; I found using my hands was most effective.  
5.  Transfer to parchment lined pan.  Using another piece of parchment paper firmly press down into an even and well compacted layer.
6.  Refrigerate and cut into bars when well chilled.  Store covered in refrigerator. 

The final step, of course, is to enjoy them.  Mini Muffin's verdict? "There's chocolate in there... more treat, please!".

Mothering Blossoms - An Introduction

And, here we go...

I suppose it makes sense to mark my entrance into the world of blogging with an introduction of sorts - both for myself and this blog.

I'm Marie, and I have the privilege of raising two young children with my amazing husband.  I'm currently on maternity leave, and loving even the most challenging of days!

This blog has been a bud in the back of my mind for quite some time.  I have no doubt that it will evolve over time, but at present my vision for it is simple.  This is a place to capture and share some of my discoveries in motherhood.  So far, they've been varied - from foods my picky toddler will actually eat, to activity ideas, to general realisations about my kidlets.

So, much of this will revolve around said kidlets.  Mini Muffin is rapidly coming up on two and a half.  She's happy, articulate, strong willed, busy, affectionate, strong willed... did I mention strong willed?  She currently loves reading, soccer, singing, anything involving paint, going to the park, and paying close attention to her baby brother. Her brother, Little Smiling Man, is now six months.  He's incredibly happy, laid back, and loves to screech!  He's recently started solids and sits unsupported, so it's a pretty exciting time developmentally.  All in all, I'm one lucky mama!

And, I'll leave it there for now.  I've much more to write about in time!