Fresh Mommy Blog: October 2008

Fab Friday Finds

@ Sweet Peas and Pumpkins: A great, healthy dip, made with pumpkin, of course.

@ Pepper Paints: Pumpkin Pie flavored playdough... need I say more?

@ Bloesom Kids: Christmas is just over 50 days away and coming quick. If you haven't started a list... this gift giving guide will help.

@ The Write Start: A homemade leaf matching game!!

@ Simple Mom: Lower your (and your kids) sugar intake this Halloween.

@ Extra Kisses of Sunshine: Spend less, give more this year with homemade presents.

@ Kaboose: Make something fun out of something old; how to recycle all those used, broken crayons.

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I just adore how excited Baby Blue gets to spend time with her daddy, especially outdoors.

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I've also received some MORE Bloggy Bling!!

I've been able to make so many wonderful blog friends lately, and thanks for thinking of Fresh Mommy with your awards!!

The Kreative Blogger Award was given by Just the Girl!

In the tone of Halloween, I've been BOO'ed

Thank you, Izzy 'N Emmy!

Happy Halloween and Happy Weekend!

days of fall:: 25

What to do when you feel have a toddler that likes to put everything in their mouth, and you want to play with playdough... make some of the edible variety.

The evening began to unveil a very creative flair.

Making silly faces was at the top of our list.

It wasn't good enough that the faces were on the table, we had to make these silly faces a little more personal. Who doesn't like bugging eyes!

Cookie cutters gave us the chance to make some fun shapes too, although smashing the dough down was much more fun.

It takes concentration, deep concentration that makes your face change shape, to mold our special playdough into the intended design.

... or just smash it down again, that really is the most fun.

I like my little snowman.

Baby Blue did too, and wanted to make one herself. As she did, she ended up eating the arms before they made it to his little body.

I think the favorite part of the whole evening was destruction. Baby Blue took out all of her two year old aggression on the dough and loved crumbling it up tiny little piece by tiny little piece... every single part.

Want to try? Just mix equal parts cornstarch (or powdered milk) and creamy peanut butter, you can always add powdered sugar or coco to add more flavor (chocolate peanut butter playdough anyone??). We also used raisins, golden raisins and chocolate chips as accessories. Food + creativity = a whole night of fun!

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesday go HERE and HERE.

days of fall:: 24

Autumn walks.

The morning was a bit to chilly to enjoy a trip outdoors. The frost had settled overnight like a soft blanket covering the neighborhood.

By afternoon, the sunshine had gently warmed the yard, making a perfect stomping ground for fun pink boots to play.

Pink boots filled with chubby little legs.

Pink boots filled with chubby little legs, romping through the leaves.

A wonderfully colorful, not-to-warm yet not-to-cold autumn walk.

days of fall:: 23

I've been on a mission. A mission that seemed to be overwhealming. I mean, there is only so much time in a day. This mission would've included my bread machine, and that would've made it simple. But, to my dismay, my bread machine decided that it did not want to participate in this very important mission... the mission of making simple, healthy bread for my family. Have you ever actually read the ingredient list on store bought bread? There are only a few words on there that I can recognize and pronounce... thus my decision to take on this mission.

It took me a few days to gather the strength to begin. In my head whirled words like measuring, mixing, keading, rising while you carefully watch (more than once!), and precision baking. I've tried to make bread before. With the help of my machine friend, I've made wonderfully moist and delicious bread, but lately it's not been cooperating and has produced wonderfully smelling rocks and lumps.

So, I decided to make it... by hand. Luckily I had help. I enlisted the help of a precious little two year old, and she was more than happy to oblige. The results weren't instant, but the gratification was divine... for we produced a superb loaf of bread, and the kitchen is asking for more.

Now, I think I'll experiment with other ingredients to make cinnamon bread, and chocolate chip something...

Our recipe:

2 tbsp warm water

1 1/2 tsp yeast

1/2 tsp sugar

1 1/2 C flour (whatever kind you prefer... I use whole wheat usually)

1/4 C butter (or shortening if you prefer, it is available organic)

1/4 C sugar (I use organic cane sugar, or sometimes substitute honey)

1C warm water

Pinch of salt

Put warm water, yeast and sugar in bowl to sit about 15 minutes. In the meantime, mix the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl, then add the yeast mixture and mix thoroughly for a few minutes (about 4), remove from bowl and knead (basically just mixing and folding with your hands, kids love helping with this part).

Place dough in greased bowl, covered with damp cloth, and allow to rise for about an hour.

After it rises, knead again to eliminate any bubbles and place in a greased bread (loaf) pan.

Allow to rise for about an hour, uncovered.

Bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Makes one delicious loaf.

Enjoy!

Sunday Citar

Citar = Quote (in Spanish)

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree."

~Emily Bronte

"A fallen leaf is nothing more than a summers wave good bye."

~Anonymous

It's that time for sure now... the days have been to short, the air has been too crisp. Summer is gone until the next... and fall is here to stay, if only for awhile.

"To everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under the sun.

A time to be born and a time to die;

A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill and a time to heal...

A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance...

A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to lose and a time to seek;

A time to rend and a time to sew;

A time to keep silent and a time to speak;

A time to love and a time to hate;

A time for war and a time for peace."

~Ecclesiates 3:1-8

Enjoy the season of life you are in... it won't always be here.

days of fall:: 22

All kids love a trip to Papa's house!! Baby Blue is no exception.

It's the perfect place to...

Play with flashlights.

Have a good conversation with your "baby" at the table.

And, of course, color with Papa!

We'll make another trip over there soon... Baby Blue wouldn't have it any other way... and neither would I.

Fab Friday Finds

@ Maya Made: What can YOU make out of a sack?

@ The Lil' Peanut Patch: A healthy alternative, homemade fruit leather.

@ Oh Dee Doh: Ikea + $50 = Great kids play kitchen! I think I may have found a Christmas gift for Baby Blue.

@ Grocery Mama: Another perfect pumpkin idea!

@ Stubby Pencil Studio: The BEST eco-friendly art tools.

@ Little Mama and Company: Fun craft with the kids... or by yourself.

@ Maya Made: More sack ideas. I would love to make... or just have a bag like that.

@ Frugal Dad: In his words... Frighteningly Frugal Homemade Halloween Costume Ideas.

@ Clever Dude: Can you do it? Stop complaining for 7 days.

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We've begun preparations for the frosty fall days and the penetrating winter weather that's sure to be had around here soon. It was time to dig out all the knit hats, mittens and scarves.... Baby Blue loved playing in them!

Happy Friday!!

What Do You See?

When you close your eyes and think of a small, sometimes insignificant yet beautiful creature flying through the fresh spring air... what do you see? There are a few things that may come to mind... but what I'm thinking of is butterfly. Maybe that's because I've just received a butterfly award from a new friend at Froggity and form Dr. Wifey. So here are my one-word answers...

1) Where is your cell phone? Table

2) Where is your significant other? Here

3) Your hair color? Highlighted

4) Your mother? Close

5) You father? Daddy

6) Your favorite thing? Family

7) Your dream last night? Dream?

8) Your dream/goal? LIFE!!!

9) The room you're in? Den

10) Your hobby? Depends

11) Your fear? Stickers ;)

12) Where do you want to be in six years? Home

13) Where were you last night? Home

14) What you're not? Pretentious

15) One of your wish-list items? Shopping!

16) Where you grew up? Near

17) The last thing you did? Ate

18) What you're wearing? PJ's

19) Your TV? Plasma

20) Your pets? Dolce

21) Your computer? MAC!!

22) Your mood? Content

23) Missing someone? Friend

24) Your car? Expedition

25) Something you're not wearing? Jewelry

26) Favorite store? Decisions...

27) Your summer? Perfect

28) Love someone? Absolutely

29) Your favorite color? When?

30) When is the last time you laughed? Today

31) Last time you cried? Yesterday

Thanks for the fun! Also, a big thank you to Dr. Wifey for the Friendship Award. You've been so sweet... and it's been fun meeting you.

days of fall:: 21

A perfect ending to a chilly fall day. Grilled Cheddar-ella sandwiches (Cheddar and Mozzarella) and a warm cup of tomato soup. I love how Baby Blue climbs up to the table ready to eat this tasty feast. She loves it too. She likes to "dip my bread like Daddy does" into the soup.

Good soup. Good sandwich. Good conversation. They all went hand-in-hand around our table last night.

(Oh, and just an update on Baby Blue... she is perfectly normal and healthy this morning. I did check on her last night, and she was on the floor!! She must've fallen out of her bed. So I scooped her up in my arms, and sat with her for awhile as she went right back to sleep, none the wiser.... again, another analogy that doesn't make a whole lot of sense... why didn't I just say that she wasn't aware. I digress, thanks for everyone's encouragement and prayers!!)

She's "High-as-a-Kite"

Sauced. Juiced. Laced. Glazed. Tipsy. Three sheets to the wind.

Ok, I don't know where that last one came from, but it works, I guess.

I'm sorry, my sweet baby, that you're now high and acting rather strangely.

Our day started like this:

We woke up (usually how we begin most mornings).

Baby Blue has a doctor's appointment... this is her regular well-baby visit, but we were going to talk to him about how she's been feeling as well.

We are getting ready to go soon, and Baby Blue walks out of the kitchen holding an EMPTY bottle of Children's Tylenol Plus Cold!!

Where did she ever manage to get this from and how did she open it??? I was speechless.

Once I regained some composure, I asked if she drank it and she simply said, "Yes."

We need to be at the doctors office soon, so we pack up and head over a little early. They check her out, everything seems fine... acting her normal self, and screaming when they try to touch her... yep, she's fine. We call Poison Control as well. They go through all the ingredients listed, figure out how much she took, and continue with the questions. She now is falling asleep in the car, but wakes up soon and still knows who we are, yep, she's fine. A little drowsy, but fine.

Poison Control reassures me that she will be drowsy from the cold medication, since she took well over a 24 hour dose in one foul swoop, but as long as she's playing fine... and she is... then she's ok.

Nap time rolls around and she plays in her bed through the entire 2 hours in her room. Never falls asleep. Now, she's acting strangely.

Wrestling the cat and saying, "Ow, Ow" as the cat paws at Baby Blue's head... but they continue on. She'll stand in the middle of the hallway in a trance and then get a silly grin across her face. She stops and stares. Walks and falls. Acts numb to any circumstance, and walks around making strange noises and gestures. I know she'll be fine. But if anyone knows how to sober up a kid... let me know. Right now, I've got her on a carb load.

Hopefully she remembers this in her more mature years, and stays away from the sauce!