Recipe Roundup

In the past few weeks we've tried some really great recipes that I found on Pinterest.  I highly recommend these great dishes if you're looking for something quick and easy to make but also pretty healthy.  Enjoy the deliciousness :)

BBQ Shrimp Flatbread

Creamy Shrimp & Mushroom Pasta

 For this pasta dish, I used about 3/4 of the box of pasta but I didn't have enough sauce.  If you need to make more than 4oz. of pasta, I would definitely double the sauce ingredients. 

Grilled Balsamic Bruschetta Chicken

Toasted Sesame Ginger Salmon

I absolutely loved this salmon recipe!  I wanted seconds but I only made (1) 6oz portion for each person.  This is definitely making its way into our lunch/dinner rotation.

Overnight, No-Cook Refrigerator Oatmeal

These oatmeal recipes are amazing!  My husband can have some pretty crazy work hours where his "lunch" hour becomes his "breakfast" hour.  These quick and easy oatmeal options make breakfast for him so much easier.  I make these the night before he has to be at work and then he'll just pop them in the microwave.  Since these oatmeal recipes are made with fresh and healthy ingredients, they are better-tasting options than the boring oatmeal packets where you just add water and much less expensive than purchasing the Perfect Oatmeal at Starbucks.  The 3 flavors I've been making (per my husbands request) are the Mango Almond, Blueberry Maple, and Apple Cinnamon.  After trying all three, he says his favorite is the Mango Almond.  I've been wanting to try the Banana Peanut Butter, but I'm not sure how the banana will taste after soaking all night long.
I can't thank Pinterest enough for all these great finds!
Thanks for stopping by :)     

My Honest Opinion

A few weeks ago I was watching an episode of Ellen and Jessica Alba was one of her guests.  Looking back, I can't even remember what exactly she was promoting but I do know she spoke about her new venture - The Honest Company - a company that produces chemical-free products for babies and families.  Since she spoke about baby products, I was instantly intrigued and got online to find out more.
The Honest Co.'s website is very appealing with it's clean and simple look with really great information that is visible in a clear manner.  One of the first things that caught my eye were the words "Free Trial."  I clicked on the tab and was taken to a page with a series of a few short questions regarding my household.  I was then given the option to choose the Honest Diapers and Wipes bundle and/or the Family Essentials bundle.  Seeing as both options were FREE (all I had to pay was $4.95 for shipping), I chose both bundles.  In just 4 short days, our package arrived.  

Isn't this just the cutest packaging ever?! I loved it right away :)

The diapers and wipes bundle included 7 biodegradable disposable diapers and a pack of 10 biodegradable wipes.  One note worth mentioning, you have the option to select some really cute and modern patterns for the color of the diapers you order - no more boring white!  The Family Essentials bundle included sample size bottles of laundry detergent, shampoo & body wash, healing balm, face & body lotion, and hand soap.
My absolute favorite item was......the.....diapers!!  These diapers are amazing!  For starters, they're biodegradable, 100% non-toxic, chlorine-free, sustainable, and made of plant-based materials; all of which,  make them super safe for baby.  But also, they held up great and did their job fantastically too! I have to admit, I was a little skeptical about trying out a new diaper since our tried and true Pampers Sensitive diapers have never failed us - no leaks, no rash, no nothing for 17 months.  Therefore, my approach to trying out these new diapers was to gradually do so.  At first, we only used them during the day when I knew that Nick was only going to pee.  Then I got brave and put one on Nick after he ate a complete meal fully loaded with fiber and protein!  The Honest diaper passed that test too! Now came one more challenge - the overnight diaper.  Since Nicholas can sleep overnight anywhere between 10 to 12 hours, a diaper needs to be really absorbent.  And sure enough, the Honest diaper held it's own there too.  
When I first put the diaper on Nicholas, I noticed that the elastic inside the diaper (the part that touches the inside of the leg) looked a little tight.  I was afraid that Nick would get red and irritated there, but nope, they're apparently a lot more comfortable than they seem because there was no chaffing.  The backside around the waist area has a small "elastic band" that helps prevent gaping and seems to make the diaper fit just right all the way around.  Also, I quickly noticed that these diapers don't have that medicinal type of smell that regular diapers have - that's a major plus for me.  The only downside to this diaper is that it seems to be really noisy.  You know your baby is wearing a diaper with these diapers on.  But for me, all the pros definitely outweighed this one downside.

Cutest baby bum ever!

My next favorite products were the samples of the laundry detergent, hand soap, and face & body lotion.  All these products did their job well and have the added perks of being safe and non-toxic.  The Honest Company does not use any harmful or health compromising chemicals in any of their products.  I liked that all these products did not have an overwhelmingly obvious scent and that the hand soap did not dry out my hands.  The lotion was also good because you could feel it sink into your skin and soothe any dryness.  I strongly dislike lotions that are runny and/or sticky.  This one was the exact opposite.  Great products!
Unfortunately, there were a few items that I wasn't all that excited about.  For starters, the wipes.  When Nicholas was 6 months and started eating solid foods, we had to switch from the Pampers Sensitive Wipes to the Pampers Sensitive Thick Care Wipes.  Let's just say I needed a wipe that could handle a lot more during diaper changes!  I love my son, but it's pretty gross when you can feel what you're wiping.    Sadly, the Honest wipes are quite thin in comparison to the wipes we currently use so I wasn't sold on this product.  The shampoo & body wash wasn't terrible, but for Nicholas' fine yet curly hair, it seemed to make it feel dry and frizzy.  Nicholas' hair is usually pretty shiny on it's own, but the morning following his evening bath, his hair just looked dull and messy.  And yes, he did have bed head, but usually once I re-wet it and comb it, it settles down.  However, that wasn't happening this time.  Lastly, the healing balm just seemed like regular Vaseline.  I'm fortunate to not have to deal with diaper rash a whole lot with Nicholas, but when I read "healing balm" on the tube, I expected a cream-like substance comparative to Desitin.  I can see how this Healing Balm can help protect babies' bums from getting a rash, but I don't see it healing any redness or discomfort.  But, since Nicholas didn't have any kind of diaper rash to treat while we were testing out these products, I don't know for sure.
And now, for how all this works.  Should you decide you only want to try out the samples, you have until 7 days after you receive your trial package to cancel your membership.  If you do not call to cancel, the bundle you selected will automatically be shipped out to you and you will be charged for your first monthly subscription.  Since I wasn't ready to receive more diapers because we had just purchased some, I simply called the Customer Service line and had my membership inactivated.  The process was really simple and the Customer Service rep was extremely polite and willing to help me.  You don't see that very often anymore! The rep also informed me that they are flexible and willing to work with the customer when it comes to how often the bundles get shipped out.  
All in all, I was extremely impressed with this great line of products.  Another great thing to note is that with every purchase you (and I) make, Honest will donate diapers to children in poverty.  I love shopping and supporting companies that pay it forward and help those in need.  
Thanks for stopping by,

For All My Ladies

There was a time when I would've loved to ask every woman I met, "What brand of makeup are you wearing?"  I always felt like everybody else had such flawless, even-toned skin while maintaining a fresh, natural look.  I longed to have that same complexion.  My biggest insecurity has been and continues to be my skin (on my face).  I struggled with acne as a teenager and as a last resort after using practically everything my dermatologist prescribed was Acutane.  Those 8 months were amazing!  No breakouts, no shiny/oily T-zone, nothing!  However, after all the creams and peels and medications I had used, I still had redness on my face and acne scars.  There was no way I would ever leave my house without makeup on because I was (and still am) extremely self-conscious about my non-perfect skin.  
Over the past 12 years that I've been using makeup, I've used so many different brands - Estee Lauder, Lancome, Chanel, Christian Dior, MAC, Origins, Smashbox, Bare Minerals, Stila, Laura Mercier, and a few others I'm sure.  I never stuck with one particular brand because I never loved the way my skin looked, it was always just OK.  But one fine day, as I was just perusing the makeup counter at Nordstrom, these sparkly little bottles caught my eye.  I didn't even notice when the associate came up and asked if I was looking for something in particular and I honestly wasn't, but when she asked if I wanted to test out a makeup, I figured "Sure, why not?" 
Well folks, I can FINALLY say I LOVE my makeup because it makes my skin look fantastic!  After a long, hot and humid South Texas day my makeup isn't melting off or creasing.  With the help of the non-silicone primer I started using, my makeup stays in place and gives a very natural and soft finish - nothing cake-y.  I personally don't like to see when women wear makeup that's super thick and obvious.  So fortunately, this makeup allows you to wear as little or as much as you'd like.  Another important note, my makeup routine takes only about 10 minutes - max.  With a toddler either waiting for me to get dressed or still sleeping while I'm getting ready, I obviously don't have tons of time.  

Although you can't see it so well in this photo, the green/black sparkly canister of the Prep+Prime bottle is what initially caught my eye :)

I've used other makeup primers before but never really liked how they felt on my skin, particularly the silicone-based ones.  I could instantly feel my pores getting clogged with those! The Prep+Primer Skin Base Visage is creamy yet airy and fluffy and glides right onto my skin, leaving it feeling extremely smooth and surprisingly hydrated.  After that, I apply the Matchmaster foundation using a foundation brush and then dust on a little of the Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder.  I love this stuff! It's very much like the Makeup Forever HD Powder.  It has no color so it simply mattifies the skin.  I usually only use it on the areas of my face where I know I have shine.  
More recently I've started getting facials and microdermabrasion procedures a little more frequently.  I have seen a lot of improvement in my skin but it's still not where I'd love for it to be.  I'm waiting for the day where I'm blemish free and can walk out the door for quick errands without worrying about my face.  Until then, I'm so grateful for that super sweet associate that tried out this new makeup on me.  I couldn't be happier :) 

Pergola Update:
Over the weekend my husband was able to squeeze in two days to work on the pergola.  Unfortunately, these pictures don't really show all the time and labor put into this project plus the fact that it was a steamy and humid 90+ degrees for those two days.  

Since the 6x6 cedar posts were already installed, the next step was to work on the frame for the roof.  Eight 18ft cedar boards had to be cut and painted in order to build the 13'x16' frame

Here are 2 out of the 8 18ft boards cut and getting painted

Ta-da!  And the frame is complete!  Next up, the 2x6 beams need to be cut, painted, and installed above the frame.

 Stay tuned & thanks for stopping by!

We Love Our Mother Earth

Finally! I've just now been able to squeeze in some time to update the blog.  Things have been a little chaotic over at our house this week - our son was battling his first-ever fever that was caused by an ear infection, then a bad reaction to the antibiotics, then loss of appetite, and finally he's back to normal.  Not to mention we received a new shipment of merchandise that needed to be tagged and then uploaded to the website.  Craziness!!
This past Sunday, we celebrated Earth Day by creating a little herb garden.  As I've mentioned before, I'm just now getting a little more comfortable cooking and I find it incredibly frustrating when I find a recipe that needs parsley or cilantro so I go to the store and buy some, only to have it spoil days later because I only needed 1/4 tsp of it.  With that in mind, I decided to make a little garden where we can always have fresh herbs available.  
I had my heart set on a particular pot that I had seen at The Home Depot.  But of course, when we went to buy it, there was only one left and it had a crack right over the edge of it.  So off we went to hunt down another one!  After two more stops, I finally found another one that was perfect.  

I started off with 3 bags of Organic Choice potting soil, my awesome pot, and 6 different herbs -
parsley, cilantro, sage, rosemary, mint, and basil.

Ta-da!! All finished!    

After I started my little project I realized that all 6 herbs weren't going to fit.  I ended up returning the basil because I know how much it will grow and we won't have use for all of it.  I'd hate for it to go to waste. 

I love how my mini herb garden turned out and it only took me about an hour to do it.  While my son was having a blast on his swing, I was able to get it all finished.  Only downside, the mosquitos!! I'm anxious to see how these little guys grow!  Now all I need are cute little markers for each herb...any idea where I can find some?
Thanks for stopping by!

Backyard Oasis - Phase 1

On Thursday, my good friend and I took our 15 month old boys to the beach.  I'm happy to report that the boys had a blast and we (the moms) were pretty proud of ourselves for tackling a successful day trip on our own.  The only downside was that there were a whole bunch of bees that came sneaking up on our little spot under our umbrella and I got scorched.  But my skin will heal and the bees didn't sting anyone.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to snap any pictures because priority #1 was hanging on to our little guys since all they wanted to do was run into the water.  I love that they are so adventurous!  Being out there reminded me how much I enjoy soaking up the sun.  Luckily for us, we only live about an hour away from the beach so we will be heading back out there soon.  

Back on the home front, my husband and I have been planning on what to do with our decently sized backyard since we moved in over a year ago.  We planned to maintain a grassy area where Nicholas could play, but we also wanted to add stamped concrete.  One area would be for a dining set under a pergola, another would be for a sandbox, and lastly, a small, cozy sitting area with a fire pit.  As much as we'd love for this whole project to happen overnight, we know that's just not possible.  But little by little, we've been tackling what we can.

The first project we finished, well my husband really, [ I picked out the fabric :) ] was the sandbox for Nicholas.  I found this great pin on Pinterest with step-by-step instructions on how to build this fantastic sandbox.  The sandbox only took 2 days to complete.  A few days later, Nicholas and his friend Milo broke it in.  The sand freaked them out a little, but they got over it and then ran to the pool!  And since we live in South Texas, this sandbox and pool will be getting a lot of use!   

Here's the semi-complete sandbox.  All that was left was to stain it,
staple the canopy on, and fill it with sand

Here, Milo & Nicholas tried it out for the first time.  I think Milo was telling me a joke here :)

"Mom, could you please stop taking pictures of me? It's embarrassing" 

As soon as they saw the sprinkles of water, they just had to check it out :)

Next step of our backyard transformation - the pergola.  Most of the cedar needed to finish building the pergola has already been delivered and hauled from the curbside to the backyard.  My husband has made the drawing as to how he's going to build it, so all he needs is time.  After the pergola goes up, next on the list is landscaping! That's the one part I'm not looking forward to.  The extreme heat and lack of rain where we live makes having nice plants and flowers challenging.  But, we're still going to try.  

This is what one side of our backyard looks like right now.  In a few weeks  the pergola
will finally be completed (my husband only has 1-2 days a week to work on this project).

Stay tuned to see the big reveal!  Thanks for stopping by!

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Well another Easter has come and gone, and I'm actually a little sad about it.  The warm weather, all the bright and cheery colors of the season, and seeing the smiles on our children's faces as they run around in search for all their eggs and then watch as confetti flies all over, is such a wonderful feeling.

We were pretty busy last week prepping for an Easter party, assembling mini Easter baskets, and painting egg shells.  Here's a look at our life last week in pictures - enjoy :)

Goldfish carrots for the mini Easter baskets

Bunny Bait treats I made for an Easter party
Nicholas was invited to - it was delicious!

This picture makes me laugh every timeI see it! It looks like he's
holding on fordear life!

Working on his little egg decorating project

Score! Nicholas came out with a Rice Krispie Treat!  He kept going back for those...
I think he was mesmerized by the shiny, blue wrapper.

As kids, we always colored Easter eggs with food coloring and vinegar, but I always remember hating the smell.  So now, on Pinterest of course, I learned you can color egg shells with Kool-Aid.  So here's Nick's first attempt at it.  Not too bad for a 15-month old :)

Here are the colors we used for his "Kool-Eggs"

I was pretty surprised to see that we didn't make a huge mess!
Nicholas would just color one egg at a time and then
 let me take it out so it could dry.  I was loving how into it he was!

Now we moved up to coloring 3 colors at one time!

And here is his masterpiece

Saturday afternoon, Nicholas went over to his cousin's house for another Easter party and he had a blast.  Another piñata and another egg hunt!! I was a little disappointed that I couldn't make it to the party (my husband and I had bought tickets months before for a concert out of town. At the time of the purchase, I hadn't realized it was on Easter weekend.  But I knew our son was in good hands with my Mom and sister).  

Nicholas waving "hey" with his cousins Kayla & Claire

Piñata time!!

LOL! He's very happy to have found another Easter basket

Confetti in his curls

On Easter Sunday, we were able to get a great picture of Nicholas with his Easter baskets.  I love his madras pants!

And last but not least, here are a few of my favorite shots of Nick all dressed up for his Easter pictures.  Thank you to All Good Productions for these great photos!

I hope everyone had a blessed and memorable Easter! 

Dinner for Three

I have never been much of a cook, not even during my post-college years and I was living on my own.  I think I somehow managed to get by on just cereal and sandwiches.  The Food Network always caught my attention and whatever Giada or The Barefoot Contessa were making always looked delicious, but I never really felt the need to try it for myself.  

Today, I'm blessed to have married someone who could care less if all I made him to eat were pancakes or grilled cheese sandwiches.  My husband is usually the one who cooks in our house if we all want to have a great meal.  But lately, his work schedule has been all kinds of crazy so I've had to get more comfortable in the kitchen - for the sake of our son.  Nine months ago, providing food for our little guy was no problem.  All he needed was pureed first foods, that was such a breeze! I made him applesauce, pears, plums, peaches, mango, pineapple, beets, spinach, carrots, asparagus, sweet potato, peas, avocado - you name it!  If it could be steamed and pureed, our son ate it.  

Our little guy enjoying his pureed peas (July 2011)

But then, he graduated to more textured food and needed meats incorporated into his diet.  This is where it got tricky.  Pureeing beef was just gross - it would come out chalky, smelled funny, and just didn't have a good flavor and then the chicken was just too dry.  I ended up buying stage 3 meals from Plum Organics and now Sprout and that just made life so much easier.  And now, since he mainly eats table food, we have become more mindful of what we eat because he wants to eat what we eat.  We've only fed our son organic fruits, veggies, meats, and dairy since he was 6 months old so we've now incorporated that into our own diets. 

Now let me tell you, if you haven't hopped on the Pinterest band wagon, you must! Pinterest has saved my family! I find such great tasting and easy recipes all the time.  I love that the ingredient list is short and is mostly stuff that you already have in your pantry.  Last Friday, in observation of Lent, I made Shrimp Sandwiches with Chipotle Avocado Mayonnaise.  These sandwiches were amazing! The avocado mayonnaise really added flavor to the meal.  The only downside here, not enough for seconds...boo :(

Then on Sunday, because I didn't want the leftover avocado mayonnaise to go to waste, we made these Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches.  Again, another great lunch!  It's such a great feeling to know my husband and son are well fed and love the food they're eating.   

Last night was another seafood special night.  This time, I made Crab Cake Stuffed Shrimp along with Baked Tilapia with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Herbs and a side of asparagus.  Both were great recipes for all of us to enjoy.

Slowly but surely I'm liking this whole idea of cooking, sometimes it's not so bad but then other times I get discouraged when what I make doesn't come out looking like the picture from the recipe.  Oh well, at least I have the encouragement from my husband and even if it tastes bad, he'll say it's delicious with a big smile on his face.