Snow Days!!!

As snowy, frigid weather sweeps through the Midwest, its nice to take a break and focus on being cozy.  Luckily, I hit up the market on snow-themed books in the children's section at our local library. But books and hot chocolate and movies can only get your kiddo so far when the wiggles start to set in.  By noon, we took it outside for about an hour to shovel the pathways and romp in the snow.  

After drying off and warming up, we were both content to stay in the coziness and do crafty things together.  We made snow scenes with paint and construction paper shapes, then we whipped up  Coconut Snow-Cream.

Most days I try to avoid using tempera paints and go for the Crayola no-mess sets, but sometimes real paint is just more fun.  I had an empty egg carton and cut off the lid.  I filled the lid with a couple tablespoons of water and laid paper towels over the water to absorb it and work as a sponge for paintbrushes.  Then I mixed pastel colors separately in the grooves of the crate.  I left a space between each color mixtures so we wouldn't have spillover issues and muddied colors.  It worked out great!  The most non-messy painting session we've had to date!

I picked out a dark color of construction paper for the "canvas" and white for the snowman shapes.  My little girl helped me find different sizes of circles in the house to trace our snowman shapes. It was good practice the size sequence concept - each time we cut or glued the shapes, I would ask her to point out the biggest circle, bigger circle and smallest circle.  We cut-out the shapes and glued them to our canvas to make our snowy scene.

We glued cotton balls on the bottom as snow and used the end of a pencil eraser dipped in white paint as snow.  It was a fun!  

But the main event was definitely making ice cream from snow - my little one was amazed!  We happened to have some coconut milk and coconut shreds and one thing happened after another … yada, yada, yada … and we had ourselves some fluffy, coco-nuty, sweet, snowy goodness!

Coconut Snow-Cream

Yes, it does taste as good as it looks!

5-6 cups of fresh snow (or enough to fill up a large mixing bowl)

1 can of Coconut Milk

1 cup of granulated white sugar

1/2 cup shredded coconut (chopped finely in a food processor)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Just put all of this in a really big mixing bowl and whip on high with an electric beater.  It mixes up pretty fast - like under 3 minutes.  Serve immediately or store in the freezer for later, but definitely eat within 3 hours of making it.  I would be prepared to use the mixer again for snow-cream stored in the freezer because it hardens up.

I am listening to one of my favorite songs by Burlap to Cashmere, Love Reclaims the Atmosphere.  This song speaks to me anew every time I hear it … and for that reason, you'll hear it loop on my blog media player.  I just heard the line, "I used to walk on water, but now I fan the flame," and it speaks exactly what I've been feeling today.  Some days I feel like a superstar - accomplished, eyes focused, patient, balanced; other days, I feel like all I can do is barely fan the flame in my heart to keep it burning.  On these days, I find myself asking, "Do any of my efforts even matter?"

For me, there is a definite division between dream-driven goals and purpose-driven goals.  Dream-driven goals aren't necessary to my life, but they are novelty and natural at the same time.  My dream-driven goals include to publish a book for children and to achieve reasonable livelihood from my art.  My purpose-driven goals hit to the very core of who I am, who God created me to be, and His lot for my life, such as mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend and lover of Jesus Christ.  At times when these two states of being intertwine, it makes sense - but sometimes it just doesn't!  Nevertheless, my God-given precious lot trumps all.  What hurts is when I have a day where I feel like I'm not any good at ANY of it!  I don't think I'm alone in feeling like that sometimes, but in the midst of it I can tend to get a little (aka - a lot) melodramatic.

Despite all of the melodrama and emotional hiccups - one thing keeps me grounded, thankful and strong:

Photograph by Nigel Howe

And I know that despite how ineffective, unorganized, disconnected, behind-the-mark and unaccomplished I may feel at times - God knows my heart (Psalm 139), loves me ALWAYS (Isaiah 54:10), and only has precious blessings and good gifts in mind for me (James 1:17).  He never condemns me, never berates me and never thinks less of me.  He gives me a new day everyday and His promises to me are eternal and unchanging.  Not one person is exempt from God's unending, never-failing, all-encompassing, extravagant, honest love.  

Knowing all of this, I am immediately able to respond to my self-condemning questions with, "God sees everything I do and, to Him, everything matters."  It's all going to work out (Romans 8:28).  It's all going to make sense … eventually (1 Corinthians 13:12).  He's got it covered.

Sriracha-cha: Poser Thai Peanut Noodles & LowCal Spring Rolls

Courtesy of Google Shopping & Breadenfish Media

What does Sriracha sauce, broccoli slaw, rice vermicelli, peanut butter, bean sprouts, spaghetti noodles,  soy sauce, jicama, rice vinegar, spring roll wrappers, sesame seed oil, an apple and a lime have in common?  They are all in my world renown, low calorie, kid friendly dinner ... not sure about the "world renown", but my family and friends REALLY like it!  My good friend Emily, creator and writer of Running Like A Mother blog, and I even had a spring roll wrapping party this week and got to munch on the goods with our kiddos.  Emily steamed edamame that we ate on the side for extra protein and nutrition.  It was probably the most flavorful meal I had all week!

Courtesy of runninglikeamother.com

Here's what you need to make Poser Thai Peanut Noodles and LowCal Spring Rolls:

~ Shopping List ~

Fresh Ingredients

1 lime or lime juice concentrate
1 tbsp garlic paste (or 2-3 garlic cloves, crushed into paste)
1 bag Dole broccoli slaw
1/2 cup bean sprouts, fresh or canned
1/2 cup Dole carrot shreds
1 Gala or Fuji apple, peeled and cut into spears
1/2 Jicama, peeled and sliced (optional)
1 - 12 oz bag Spring Roll Wrappers

Pantry Ingredients

1 tbsp Sriracha sauce (or to taste)
1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
3/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 tsp sesame seed oil
1/2 cup peanut butter (or more!)
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp ginger powder
4 oz Rice Vermicelli noodles (also known as cellophane noodles)
8 oz Whole Wheat Spaghetti noodles


LowCal Spring Rolls
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 28 min
Yields 12-14 Rolls

1) Heat oil in a frying pan on medium-high, then toss 1/3 cup broccoli slaw, carrot shreds and bean sprouts in to quickly stir-fry.  Don't overcook - make sure it stays crunchy!  2) Use instructions on the bag of vermicelli to prep the noodles (usually involves soaking the noodles in warm water.)  3) Add 1/4 cups rice vinegar, 3 tbsp soy sauce and 1/2 tbsp garlic paste to the frying pan.  Stir and turn heat to low-medium.  4) Stir prepped noodles into frying pan and turn off heat.  5) Prep your spring roll wrappers per package instructions, set your oven on 400 degrees, and spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray.  6) Now the rolling of the spring rolls!  Place a small amount of the veggie/noodle mix onto the spring roll wrapper and fold away.  Secure the seams with a paste made of 1 tbsp water and 1 tbsp flour.  Optional: brush each roll with a little olive oil. (See folding instructions below.)  7) Once you fill your baking sheet, place rolls in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes, turn the rolls and leave in for another 10-12 minutes or until browned on both sides.  8) Serve hot and dip in sweet & sour sauce or my Thai Cucumber Sauce (see recipe below).

Watch to learn how to wrap your spring rolls, but bake instead of fry :D

Poser Thai Peanut Noodles

Prep Time: 15 min

Chill Time: 30 min

Yields 6-8 servings

1) Prep spaghetti noodles per package instructions for al-dente, drain immediately after cooked.  2) Mix the dressing in a small bowl: 1/2 cup rice vinegar, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup peanut butter (or more if you like a thicker dressing), 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1/2 tsp ginger powder, 2 tbsp boiling spaghetti noodle water, 1/2 tbsp garlic paste, 1/2 tbsp sriracha sauce, and 1/2 tsp sesame seed oil.  3) Peel your apple and  jicama, cutting both it into bit-size spears.  Place spears in a large bowl and toss in about 1/4 cup lime juice, which will preserve their color and crunch.  4) Add the rest of the broccoli slaw (a little over 1 cup), jicama spears and whole wheat spaghetti noodles.  5) Toss everything in the peanut sauce really well.  6) Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and serve chilled .... kids LOVE it!

Thai Cucumber Sauce
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/2 clear corn syrup
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Sriracha sauce (or to taste)
1/2 cucumber, peeled and diced
Heat vinegar and salt in a saucepan until boiling.  Stir in syrup and boil for 2-3 minutes.  Remove from heat, stir in Sriracha sauce and pour over diced cucumber.  Place in fridge 30-45 minutes.  Serve chilled.

DIY Bath Salt

I have a public confession to make: I have recently become addicted to bath salts and I have been making them in my kitchen.  Wait ... before you unsubscribe to my feed, it's not what you think!  Sorry for my morbid sense of humor!  

I'm not talking about the illicit, chemically charged, deadly, make-you-go-crazy bath salts; instead, I'm talking about the all natural, put-in-a-relaxing-foot-soak bath salts!  They are the easiest thing to make and since I'm such a reluctant crafter, easy is my middle name!  (Again, not what you think!)

My latest creation: Lemon Sorbet Foot Soak

1 cup Epsom salt

1/4 cup sea salt (I use pink salt for color)

2 tbsp Sweet Almond Oil

8-10 drops Lemon Essential Oil

Combine the salts in a plastic bowl.  In a separate dish, combine the oils.  Once the oils are mixed together well, stir them into the salt mixture.  Stir the oils into the salt and keep in a sealed, plastic container.  I've been keeping mine in a baby formula dispenser, such as Munchkin brand Powdered Formula Dispenser.  I can put in more than one bath salt mixture, keeping them ready for whenever I wish to use them!  

P.S. For an aromatherapy soak, pour 2 tbsp of Lemon Sorbet Foot Soak and 2 tbsp of Rosewater into your foot bath.  Add warm water and turn on the bubbles!  I did this the other day and it softened my feet and lifted my mood all at the same time.  Not to mention, lemon has natural anti-fungal and antiseptic properties. Check out the healing powers of Lemon Essential Oils on Doterra's website!  You'll be amazed!

DIY Cold Remedies

Body aches from head to toe.  Can't get enough sleep.  Runny nose and raspy cough.  

I hate being sick!  

On days like this I'm so thankful for my momma!  I use her tips and tricks to nurse my colds (it doesn't hurt that she is coincidentally also a nurse), which means that honey, epsom salt, an herbal heat compress, and Theraflu are essentials for making me feel better.  Being a teenager of the 90's, staying home sick from school meant that I'd be watching tv and sipping on Theraflu.  Now I have a toddler to tend to which means I don't get to sleep as much or pamper my cold as much as I'd like!  So I grab a moment whenever I can.  For instance, while my daughter was at preschool, I pulled the humidifier into the bathroom and ran a hot bath with my homemade bath salts. 

Cold Remedy Bath Salt - in a plastic or glassbowl mix 1/4 cup Epsom salt, 2 tbsp pink sea salt and essiental oil mixture (I premix 1 tbsp sweet almond oil and 3 drops of peppermint essental oil).  I usually make up a bunch at once, package them in little glass bottles and give them as gifts.

To Theraflu Or Not To Theraflu? I looked at the ingredient list on a packet of Theraflu and here's what I found: 1) Acetaphetamine - the painkiller you find in Tylenol, 2) Dextromethorphan - a cough suppressant, 3) Chlopheniramine - antihistamine used to treat runny nose and sneezing, 4) Dyphenhydramine - treats runny nose, cough and sneezing but also causes drowsiness, 5) Pheniramine - antihistamine used to treat cold symptoms, 6) Guaifenesin - cough expectorant, and 7) Phenylephran - a decongestant.  If you feel uncomfortable taking any of these substances, a more natural alternative is ginger tea with lemon juice and honey.  But if you want something stronger, you really can't go wrong with the moonshiner's method: whiskey, lemon juice and honey.  The Kitchn blog has a good post and recipe, check it out.  

An Herbal Heat Pack Can Cure Anything  I get a migraine about every other week, especially between seasons when the weather jumps around.  I swear I wouldn't be able to survive migraines, colds or a nasty case of the flu without the herbal hot/cold pack my mom made for me!  She made it with rice and dried lavendar and chamomile buds.  I heat it in the microwave for a minute and forty seconds ... Perfection!  So comforting on an achy head, for sinus pressure and for cold chills.  Frugal Granola has a really good DIY tutorial, definitely check it out!

PS. While researching for this post, I found a flu map on Theraflu's website, which is great for tracking flu epidemics in your area! 

March Freebies: Chevron Background & Clover Buttons

Spiff up your website or blog with my March Freebie Graphics Package, a Monochrome Chevron Background and 4 Leaf Clover Social Media Buttons!  Click on the images you want and drag them to your desktop or right-click and save.  (If you're new to using customized social media buttons, check out my notes at the bottom of this post).  Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest and Subscribe to my blog via email for more freebies and tips!

3 Steps for Blogger Custom Social Media Buttons:
1) Save the facebook, twitter, email, pinterest, linkedin, and rss images to your desktop, then upload the pictures to your Picasa or Photobucket account (this will give you the image links you need for Step 3).
2) Login to your Blogger dashboard, go to Layout, click "Add A Widget", then select the HTML widget.
3) Fill the HTML Widget pop-up screen with the following code:

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.MyFacebookLink.com"><img src="YourImageLink"></a>
<a href="http://www.MyTwitterLink.com"><img src="YourImageLink"></a>
<a href="http://www.MyEmailLink.com"><img src="YourImageLink"></a>
<a href="http://www.MyPinterestLink.com"><img src="YourImageLink"></a>
<a href="http://www.MyLinkedinLink.com"><img src="YourImageLink"></a>
<a href="http://www.MyRssLink.com"><img src="YourImageLink"></a>
</div>

Now all you have to do is personalize the information within the links!

The Perfect Night Cap ... for a toddler

My toddler can't get to sleep at night without her evening dose of milk and a "show-show" (aka. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse).  So when we ran out of 2% milk right before dinner, I knew I had to find a good alternative to suffice her milk addiction.  I scoured the cupboards and found a box of unopened powdered milk.  Now, we all know that powdered milk tastes like it was evaporated inside the udder, which is why I decided to mask the tasted with a frozen banana, dash of cinnamon and stevia.  It's not as thick and sugary as a banana milkshake, but a toddler will never know the difference!

Monkey Milk Night Cap

In a blender mix:

1 cup water

1/3 cup powdered milk

1 frozen banana (unfrozen would work fine too)

1 dash of ground cinnamon

4 drops of liquid stevia sweetener

French country brunch on a budget

Surprisingly, a French brunch is easier, healthier and cheaper to create than you might think ... and can quickly become a weekend favorite for your family.  About a year ago, a friend of mine introduced me to crêpes.  Versatile and simple, crêpes are a great alternative to the run of the mill pancakes or waffles.  Although my first few attempts at making a crêpe weren't very successful, I've finally found my niche and now enjoy how easy and affordable they are to make!  

Here are a few things you need to know about crêpes:

1)  They really only require four ingredients: flour, milk, eggs and butter

2)  They aren't just for breakfast ... savory crêpes are just as good as sweet ones!  Take some inspiration from the Atlanta-based crêpe specialty restaurant, Crêpe Revolution

3)  Although whole eggs are traditionally listed as an ingredient, you can also make them with just the fluffy whites (at least, to my taste!)

4)  Don't let pictures fool you - there is no perfect crêpe!  

5)  Chemistry is truly what achieves this French delicacy ... so your recipe is everything!

Have a country, French breakfast with your family or girlfriends this weekend!  And here are some ideas to set the table:

Abbey's Perfect Crêpe

makes 10-12 medium size crêpes

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups 2% or whole milk

6 tbsp melted butter (or about 4 tbsp canola oil)

2 dashes of salt

2 tbsp sugar (optional)

8 eggs, whites beaten until foamy (tip: save the yokes and cook separately for added protein)

In a medium size mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt and sugar.  Stir in the milk and melted butter or oil.  In a separate bowl, separate the egg whites from the yolks.  With a fork or small whisk, rapidly whisk the egg whites for about a minute ... you'll know they are ready when they begin to feel like a liquid (rather than separated and lumpy) and a thick foam will settle on the surface.  With a spatula, fold the foamy egg whites into the main bowl with the flour, milk, and butter mixture.  I gently fold it in, letting the foamy egg whites achieve a light, airy mixture.  Although there are really nice, expensive crêpe pans, I just use a rounded edge non-stick pan over medium-low heat.  Cook the crêpe almost as you would a pancake, and remember that crêpes are supposed to be nearly paper thin, light and a little stretchy.  Once cooked, glaze with yogurt, sprinkle with fresh cut fruit, roll, and serve! (For a really good visual tutorial, check out the Summer6676 video on Youtube)

Lemon & Honey Yogurt

Mix the following ingredients to make a zesty yogurt topping for your crêpes

2 - 7 oz containers of Fage 2% Greek Yogurt

Zest from two lemons

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

4 tbsp honey

Strawberry Iced Tea

2 Celestial Seasonings strawberry herbal tea bags 

2 cups boiling water

4 tbsp honey

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

4 cups ice

Bring water to a boil and add tea bags.  Use tea package instructions to achieve a strong brew of tea.  Add tea brew, honey and lemon to a half gallon pitcher and stir.  Add ice and then fill with cold water about an inch from the brim.  Serve over ice and with a sprig of mint for garnish.

Note to Reader: This recipe is one that I've created to my taste and preference.  For a more traditional crêpe, go to the Food Network website ... Alton Brown has a really good crepe recipe and a great tutorial on Youtube.

My growing love for coconut ...

Coconut can be an acquired taste, but most of the time you either love it or you hate it.  I have to admit that my taste for coconut has matured along with me throughout the years.  From about three years old until middle school, I always associated the commercially reproduced smell of coconut with sunscreen ... that is, until I just stopped wearing sunscreen altogether (a poor decision that I truly regret).  Post middle school and sunscreen era, I would periodically buy a coconut scented body spray, use it for a few weeks, and then would inevitably toss it aside for a more multi-dimensional fragrance.  The common freezer item, shredded coconut, was just as easily tossed aside ... you could throw it into muffins, candy and cakes or you could skip it completely with no loss!  It wasn't until I was "of age" that coconut took on a new meaning for me in the form of the piña colada, but that ended when I learned that the fun, little cocktail was costing me almost 650 calories a pop ... which was more than half a day's calorie intake for me at that point.  All that time, I never realized was that the water was the good stuff!

Now nearing my thirtieth birthday, I am pumped when I see coconut water on sale at Target!  As a confession, I am just short of hoarding coconut water when I find a good sale ... and for good reason!  Coconut water is high in potassium, antioxidants and minerals.  According to Dr Oz, coconut water can help reduce high blood pressure and can be used to help combat inflammation.  Not to mention, coconut water contains cytokinin, a plant hormone that assists with cell growth and some believe to be an untapped fountain of youth.

Some of my favorite coconut water infused drinks are Zico, SoBe's Lifewater Pacific Coconut, and LaCroix Coconut Sparkling Water.  100% pure coconut water, Zico contains the most coconut water out of the three and is marketed as a sports drink.  SoBe is definitely a treat because it has the most flavor and contains 20 grams of sugar in each bottle.  LaCroix is more of a sipper.  Although it is low calorie, it can also be a little low on flavor ... but it puts some extra zing in a fruit smoothie.  Try my recipe out!  With added antioxidants from the cocoa powder and strawberries, the 60 calories, 12 carbs, 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of protein per serving make a really healthy snack or treat!

Strawberry Coconut Smoothie

8 oz LaCroix Natural Coconut Sparkling Water (about 3/4 a can)

1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries

3-4 tbsp Hershey's Cocoa Special Dark Powder (or to taste)

2 packets Purevia Stevia

6-8 ice cubes

Toss everything in a blender, blend it, add some ice, and blend a little bit more.  Should serve two with a little bit leftover.  

Confession of an Involuntary Spicer

For reasons often beyond my control, I keep accidentally spicing my food with the wrong seasonings!  First of all, I'm a cheapskate and have failed to find a spice rack that suits my taste and budget.  Consequently, if you spend any time in my kitchen you can't miss the eyesore of a spice shelf that sits above the stove ... it's completely atrocious, but it seems to work for me most of the time!  

Due to my lack of spice organization, I have stumbled upon some unlikely flavors while cooking under pressure (aka - hungry, cranky toddler and husband).  I'll admit that most of my involuntary spicings have caused my poor husband to dry heave; however, on the brighter side, I have discovered spice pairings that are out of this world, awesome!  I'm a glass is half full type of girl, so let's concentrate on the awesome involuntary spicing incidents:

1)  The "Nutmeg In Chicken Salad" Incident

In a late lunch, crying toddler tizzy, I grabbed for the paprika to finish off my chicken salad dish.  Unbeknownst to me, I had previously placed the identical bottles of paprika and nutmeg beside each other with the labels facing the wall.  I shook a pretty hefty sprinkling over my gourmet chicken salad before I took in the distinct aroma of pumpkin pie.  Let me tell you, this was a happy accident!  Try it and you'll never go back to paprika in your chicken salad!

2)  The "Cumin In Rice Pudding" Incident

I love using leftover rice to make pudding for breakfast.  Most of the time, I cook a few tablespoons of quinoa into my rice for added nutrients and protein, so our version of rice pudding for breakfast isn't exactly junk food!  Same situation this time: identical spice containers + haphazard shelf + labels facing the wall = involuntary spicing!  To my surprise, a dash of cumin along with cinnamon creates a pleasingly smoky flavored rice pudding.  Who would have thought?!   I'm just thankful that the dill container has no resemblance to the cinnamon container ... we would have had a much different result, by far!

Try out an unlikely spice pairing today!  It's oddly freeing to a by-the-book cook!  One of my favorite unlikely pairing is adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to chocolate.  Try making hot fudge sauce for ice cream and add a little zing with cayenne, or hot chocolate with a punch.  

All-Natural Facial Exfoliants

Natural remedies are almost always the way to go when it comes to health, and I am finding this more true than ever regarding the condition of my skin.  With the springtime flowers in bloom and the smell of freshly cut grass, I want to align my winter-parched skin with nature all the more!  Here are a few remedies I've been adding to my skin regimen that are giving me a nature-kissed glow:

Play In The Mud!

www.livingclayco.com

I have been using pure powder clay to create a facial mask that is truly one with nature.  I find that drug store and even high end masks can become drying and counter-productive, so I like to use the simplest form to get the best results: 100% mud.  To find the right product, you will want to go online or to health food stores and look for "Calcium Bentonite Clay."  I am using Detox Clay Powder from Nature's Body Beautful, which is 100% calcium bentonite clay.  Just so you know, the slogan rings true, "So pure you can eat it!"  My grandparents actually use a teaspoon mixed with a glass of water to ease a sick stomach ... haven't tried that one yet, but it sure does ease the effects of my combination skin!

Salad Dressing Scrub

courtesy of buzzle.com

I've started doing the mud mask at the beginning of the week followed by a light, all-natural scrub mid-week.  Like I mentioned previously, I have combination skin, so it's dry in some areas and oily in others.  I also tend to get enlarged pores (they've become worse with age) and flaky skin in the oily areas.  Most scrubs are harsh, leaving me with an overly rosy look in all the wrong places, which is why I always fall back on a remedy that's tried and true: apple cider vinegar.  As most people, I hate the smell of vinegar; however, I put up with the smell to get the amazing result of glowing, even-toned, youthful skin.  All you need is a washcloth, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and hot water.

1)  Pour the vinegar into the middle of a folded washcloth

2)  Run the cloth under hot water (as hot as you can stand)

3)  Scrub your face all over for about one minute, concentrating on your t-zone and any other problematic areas

4)  Rinse with the coldest water you can stand ... done!

I would definitely recommend this step for acne-prone skin, but I would not recommend scrubbing infected areas.  Instead, I would dab blemished areas with the washcloth vinegar water mixture, so as not to break skin or irritate the area.  (In between applications, simply using hot and cold water can sometimes be better than using creams or washes, which can be abrasive to sensitive infected areas).  Apple cider vinegar is an anti-inflamatory and anti-bacterial remedy, which is great for acne-prone skin.  It is just as good for clear skin types, as it tones and conditions at the same time, leaving you with healthy, glowing skin for days following.  Pure, simple, inexpensive ... I love it!

Hamanteschen Cookies

This is a picture of the fruits of my labor on Purim Thursday.  Cookies are just not one of my favorite things to make, so when I say "labor" it's oddly accurate!  I used the recipe posted earlier last week, but had to make some revisions.  Also, the altered version, which was supposed to render 36 cookies, turned out to be a smaller batch than I had anticipated.  I tweaked the recipe as follows to suit my taste:

3 large eggs

5/8 cup sugar (I'm just making it a rounded 1/2 cup)

2 tsp lemon zest

3/4 cup butter, melted

3 cups all-purpose flour

Strawberry Preserves

Guava Jelly

In a nutshell: 1) grease the cookie sheets, 2) Beat eggs, 3) Add sugar, lemon peel and melted butter, beating mixture until light and fluffy, 4) Add flour and mix well, 5) Cover and refrigerate for 1.5 hours, 6) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees, 7) On a floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-inch thickness, 8) Cut with a floured 3-inch round cookie cutter or cup, 9) Place an inch apart on cookie sheets, 10) Spoon a teaspoon of fruit filling onto each circle, alternating flavors, 11) Moisten edges of dough circles with water, 12) Folding 3 sides in, shape into triangles and pinch corners to seal, 13) Bake for 8-12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown, 14) Remove, cool, enjoy!

Day 24: Toddler TMI

Courtesy of Rachel Mathew Photography

Last Friday was just an all-around great day.  I feel so blessed on the days when my life is enriched with family time and small accomplishments.  I had just finished cleaning the house and was playing on the living room floor with Hana when my husband came home from work that evening.  He was tired and I didn't feel like cooking so we decided to make good use of an Applebee's gift card we received for Christmas.

We were seated at the booth closest to the bathroom and kitchen, which is not really our ideal place to sit but it's the best seat in the house to Hana.  Like most toddlers, Hana is an unreserved social butterfly and she is always very eager connect to with people everywhere we go.  I love watching the varying reactions from people when Hana innocently breaches their comfort zones.  

As Hana sat in her high chair at the end of our table, she started to notice the traffic of people moving to and fro behind her.  In an attempt to get smiles or reactions, she started yelling at each passerby, "Hey ... hi ... hi!"  Some people would smile and respond, while others gave an almost annoyed side glance and kept walking toward their destination.  While I always want to make sure that Hana is on her best behavior, I also never want to deny her something that is natural and innocent.  I feel out the situation and if she's not being too loud I let her jibber jabber away.

As we ate dinner, she was able to get some short conversations out of old ladies and waitresses, but the patrons at a nearby table seemed put off by her attempts to connect with them.  At one point, Hana twisted around to greet another passerby and somehow squeezed out some trapped gas rather loudly.  Immediately following her string of flatulence, Hana announced, "Ma, I poop!  I poop!"  I could feel the cold stares coming from our neighboring table shooting through me as I painfully held in my rolling laughter.  Again, I never deny her what is natural and innocent ... at least until she's old enough to understand social parameters.

Such As These Week 4: The Condensed Version

This past week, I've been an unfaithful blogger ... and I'm blogging about parenting my little girl, nonetheless.  Way to shovel another layer onto the already existent pile of mommy guilt!  I guess I feel a little self-redemption for the fact that my focus has fully shifted to her and my home this week.  In light of that, I'll just give a recap of the week:

Saturday, Day 18:  While my husband was out of town most of the afternoon and evening, Hana and I had our first girl's movie night in.  We played with puzzles and ate cookies while watching Dumbo.

Sunday, Day 19:  Hana got to sit in on her first Breadenfish meeting.  We outlined curriculum goals on our laptops while she played with her Playdough.  She concluded the meeting by throwing numerous wads of Playdough at us ...

Monday, Day 20:  The post-party, post-headcold, post-stomach flu state of our home prompted me to do cleaning.  Always the cheerful helper, Hana assisted in picking up her toys and returning them to her toy baskets, and then she cheerfully dumped them all out.  Upon seeing my reaction, the expression on her face read something like this:  "That was the point of the task, right?"

Tuesday, Day 21:  We went to grandma's house to visit with "mawmaw", "pawpaw" and "Racho."  Hana also adopted a new, fun past-time: dumping oversized stuffed animals onto my mom's toy poodle as he sleeps.

serious bed-head

Wednesday, Day 22:  Hana spent some of the day playing at her cousin's house.  She almost begged me to put her to bed that evening.  As I was changing her diaper, I just started praying for her aloud, asking the Lord to bless her and give her a peaceful sleep.  Right as I was about to close my prayer, Hana says, "Amen."

Thursday, Day 23:  Hana woke up with some serious bed-head and an attitude to match.  She did not want milk!  She did not want a diaper change!  She did not want anything ... so it seemed.  As I sat on the couch flipping through the DVR to find her "show, show mickey," Hana drags a blanket over to me and says, "Mama, cuckle."  She didn't want anything but for me to cuddle her!  I took my independent toddler up on her request and we "cuckled" for a good thirty minutes.

Day 17: The Pitter Patter of Sticky Feet

Friday almost always fills me with an emotional combination of relief and exhaustion.  On one hand, I'm excited for the weekend, spending time as a family and working on our projects.  While on the other hand, I'm almost useless when it comes having fun.  Yesterday, I felt that sense of physical weariness, but my heart also felt weary and worn.  Despite my hard work all week, I still had bills to pay, piles dishes to wash, sticky floors to clean, projects to finish, and an active toddler to keep up with.

Finding a spot of quiet time to myself, I felt my heart needing a Word from the Lord about restoration.  I did a word search in the back of my Bible and read through all the verses that included the words restore and restoration.  Out all of them, this one really stood out to me: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalm 51:12 NIV)  

I read in a commentary that the context of David's request is a twofold desire for restoration of the heart and support through the Spirit.  Sometimes a weary heart just needs to have a restored joy in the Lord.  Being a parent can become emotionally exhausting and each parent has different challenges, depending on the factors of their home environment.  But, ultimately, we are divinely appointed to care for, discipline and nurture our children.  For that task, we need constant restoration when we are weary, willingness when we are frustrated, and support when the weight becomes too strong.  

With my heart restored, I decided to stop striving.  I needed that Word to put my strength to the most important task.  I put the bills aside, let the pile of dishes sit, joyfully walked on my sticky floors, put my projects to rest, and chased my active toddler around the house.

Day 15: All The Small Things

Preparing for dinner often becomes the greatest source of drama in our house.  It usually takes this course: my husband gets home, I am making dinner, Hana is hungry, he wants to talk about his day, Hana becomes slightly jealous, and eventually it ends with our hungry, cranky girl having a meltdown in the middle of the kitchen floor.  It's times like this when the little things REALLY do matter.  

My husband is so intuitive and self-sacrificing.  Witnessing this chain of events about to unfold this evening, he scooped Hana up to give her some much needed attention and play time. Before I knew it, he and Hana were sitting at the table playing with her new Playdough, which was a recent birthday gift for her from my cousin.  I'm so thankful for my husband who always  acknowledges the little things and knows when to take time with our little one.

Day 14: Simple Love

The month of February is a very sentimental month for Josh and me.  On February 16th of 2007, we went on our first date.  We had mutual friends in high school, but had been out of touch since my graduation in 2000.  Near the end of 2006, I received a Myspace friend request from Josh and I accepted the request, thinking nothing of it.  Little did I know, it was his first step to getting back in touch with me.  A month passed and he sent me a message asking to hang out with a group of friends.  Looking back on it now, there is such a sweetness to the way he pursued a platonic relationship just so that he could get to know me.  He definitely pulled a fast one though, staging a "group" hang out that turned into a one on one dinner.  

With no expectations, anxiety or preoccupation, I met my friend for dinner, but by the end of the evening we both knew we were meant to be more than friends.  We were married five months later. We spent the first two years as a couple, getting pregnant by surprise in late Spring 2009.  Our little Hana had a March 2010 due date and by the end of January we were hustling to prepare for her arrival, decorating her nursery and hosting the baby shower in our home.  Amidst the busyness, I came down with bronchitis, which quickly turned into pneumonia-like symptoms.  My primary care physician called in antibiotics and an inhaler, and I thought I was on the mend so I continued working and busying myself with preparing for the baby.  

On February 11th of 2010, Josh and I met at the doctor's office for my 36 week check-up and ultrasound during our lunch hours, anticipating Hana's first 4D ultrasound.  I remember feeling fatigued, weak and out of breath due to my respiratory sickness, but I was unaware that my body was seriously dehydrated.  During the ultrasound, the sonographer realized that Hana was sitting in an amniotic sac with no fluid and wasn't receiving any blood through the umbilical cord.  Although we had no way of tracking how long she had been without fluid and blood, the fetal heart monitor picked up a slow but steady heart rate.  I was rushed rushed into an emergency c-section and by God's grace gave birth to Hana that afternoon, who came out quiet but strong.

Hana spent two weeks in the NICU fighting off jaundice and gaining an appetite.  God blessed us with the ability to be present for almost every one of her feedings.  I'll never forget watching her sweet, big, blue eyes when she would look up at me.  For a preemie, she had a strong, serious stare and her seriousness cracked up the nurses.  She was just so little!  She could practically swim in her preemie clothes!  

We spent that Valentine's Day in the hospital with Hana.  While February already carried a sense of nostalgia for us, Hana's birth created a sentiment beyond words.  Overjoyed with thankfulness and love, I kept finding myself reminded of this verse, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us..."  That verse comes out of 1 John 4:10-12 and it reads:

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

We are so blessed to be chosen and loved by God, our Father!  I am so thankful to live inside His love and to be able to extend His love through me.  Josh, Hana and myself complete His love every day by doing the simple things.  Love is only extravagant when it is shown in the simplest and purest of ways.  

Day 13: Thankful

In the days following Hana's birthday party, I have spent some time writing out thank you notes.  I am finding Hana's birthdays and Christmases to be so humbling because our family showers her with gifts and attention.  It is so wonderful to watch her enjoy her new toys and treats, but it is even better to watch people love on her.  It's crazy how when people are loving towards our daughter, Josh and I feel the extension of that love.  It really is humbling and such a blessing to be a part of such joy.

Day 12: The Midnight Watch

Last night, the effects of Hana's cold seemed to be dying down.  She went to bed gladly without crying and quickly fell into a deep sleep.  Then, at around two in the morning, I woke up to hear her whimpering in her crib.  As I was pulling my covers off to go check on her, I heard her begin to gag and choke.  I ran to her crib and realized she was vomiting, so I placed her on her hands and knees in the crib to keep her from aspirating.  When it seemed as though she was done, I started to clean her up and pull the sheets off her bed.  As soon as I had gotten her into a fresh set of pajamas and her bedding changed, I laid her down and the process started all over again within seconds.  That's when I decided to bring her into bed with me so that I could keep a better watch on her.  

Once in our bed, I laid towels underneath her and placed a large bowl near the bed ... just to be fully prepared.  By that time, she had woken up slightly but was ready to go back to sleep.  I laid at a safe distance, caressing her fine hair and rubbing her little, soft back.  She opened her eyes, studying my face for a few seconds, and then began grinning from cheek to cheek.  She pulled herself up to look me face to face, with her button nose about two inches from mine, and she stated, "Mama, I two."  As she held up her thumb and index finger, trying to make a two, I said, "Yes, you're a big girl."  Then, she leaned in to give me a kiss on the lips, rolled over and fell fast asleep.  I am so thankful I brought her to bed with me ... for more reasons than one!

Day 11: Birthday Parties & Runny Noses

Hana's second birthday party was this weekend and our house was plastered with images of Elmo.  From the Elmo birthday cake to the Pin The Nose On The Elmo game, Hana walked through the house as if in some sort of Sesame Street wonderland.  However, her shrill exclamations of pure joy were followed by episodes of little raspy coughs ... less than ideal for a birthday party scenario.  

While we were on the mend and non-contagious, the dragging, left over effects of our virus were evident to everyone around us.  Between Hana's constantly runny nose and my old lady cackle, I can imagine that our loved ones were leery to come too close.  But despite our lingering sickness, everything seemed to run without a hitch.  We had a wonderful time with our family, talking, laughing and catching up.  

Our sincerest gratitude to everyone who traveled and were able to take time out of their Saturday to eat Elmo cake with us!  We feel so blessed to have such caring, supportive and involved people to call our family and friends.