recipe box: twenty three

lemon dill ricotta dip

what you need

one cup fat free ricotta

two tablespoons fresh dill

one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

salt & pepper to taste
sliced hot house cucumber 

& crackers to scoop

 tip: the gourmet garden herb tubes are amazing.

they are organic and free of preservatives and dyes.

the pros, if you don't grow your own herbs-

it's ready to use, it lasts at least a month

in the refrigerator and it's fast to 

squeeze into any recipe!

we currently have garlic, ginger, cilantro and dill.

there is no peeling the garlic or ginger, grating, chopping

mincing or smashing, it's all done for you! 

to learn more

what to do

place first three ingredients in bowl

 mix together until well combined.

 add salt and pepper to taste.

 you'll want to keep refrigerated until serving.

in the meantime, slice the cucumber in diagonals.

serve on top of, or on the side with crackers.

my friends loved it scooped up with cucumbers.

enjoy! 

recipe box: twenty two

spicy turkey lettuce wraps

what you need

filling

twenty ounce of lean ground turkey 

one medium onion- diced

salt & pepper to taste

two large cloves garlic- chopped

two heaping tablespoons of fresh ginger- peeled & minced

 three green onions- chopped

8oz can sliced water chestnuts- drained & chopped

fourth of cup peanuts- chopped

 lettuce leaves- rinsed and patted dry

sauce

one tablespoon sesame oil

two tablespoons soy sauce

half tablespoon water

one tablespoon natural peanut butter

half tablespoon honey

one tablespoons + one teaspoon rice vinegar

two teaspoons chili garlic sauce 

(or you make your own by mixing sriracha with minced garlic) 

dash of fresh pepper

 what to do

Heat a large, non-stick skillet on high. 

Add chicken, onion, salt & pepper

and cook until chicken is nearly done

stirring often to break up the meat. 

Add in garlic and ginger and 

continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink.

Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, 

combine sesame oil, soy sauce, water, 

peanut butter, honey, rice vinegar, 

chili garlic sauce and pepper. 

Microwave for 20 seconds, then stir until smooth. 

Add into the skillet and stir to combine.

 Add green onion and water chestnuts into the skillet 

then cook for one to two minutes until the onions 

are soft and the water chestnuts are heated through.

Sprinkle with chopped peanuts (we used spicy peanuts)

and serve with cold lettuce leaves.

note

this is a healthier, lighter version

of pf changs lettuce wraps- we used turkey

instead of chicken just by preference.

you could totally make this vegetarian

using whatever meat substitute 

or tofu you choose!

 tip

we made a dipping sauce using

House of Tsang Bangkok Padang Peanut sauce (1/4 cup) 

two tablespoons rice wine vinegar

two teaspoons sesame oil

a few dashes of soy sauce

whisk until combined and it's ready

dip or drizzle it over your wraps!

enjoy

family vacation

calabash, nc

twenty twelve

until next year

<<<>>>

[taken by me last year at Ripley's Aquarium]

vacation starts tomorrow afternoon!

I'll be posting about it once we return-

happy weekend

♥

sweet summer time

summer for us has never been a big deal
it was like any other day but because 
Adriana is in school now, it's a break for her.

the time we had on the days when she didn't have school

we spent out or at home doing things- things we don't

really have the time to do with me being in school full time, 

daddy working full time and her in school all day.

but it's summer time, so this is THE time to make sure those

days count and to make sure she has as much fun as possible

before first grade sets in and the hard work starts.
and of course for Ryland before he starts
kindergarten Fall of 2013.

we've been keeping super busy with

 activities at home like art projects, reading,
going to museums and special places for them.
here are some pictures I wanted to share
of what we have been up to.






<<<>>>

p l a c e s

we've

b e e n

Ed McKay's Book Store
Adriana does a summer reading thing with 
them where if she reads ten books she gets 
a five dollar credit, so buys more books! 


ArtQuest
Adriana and Ryland LOVE this place
it's got tons of art activities
and it gets their brain juices flowing.
they can be as creative as they wish to be!


Fun Fourth
a fourth of July festival Greensboro has
and we go every year, we were part of
trying to make a high five world record!

The Children's Museum
an amazing place for all ages
to become interactive with the fun
environment they have set up.
it's amazing!


The South Elm Urban Market
while this is more so for teens and adults
there are a lot of activities they aim 
for children at this wonderful market.
ice cream truck please?

 

happy sweet summer to you
soak up what is left because
it will be cold before you know it
{thank goodness}

adriana turns six

we woke up and did our usual happy birthday dance

and got ready for the day. she had decided she wanted

to come to class with me so she could see me dance-

so off we were, dropped Ryland off with my parents

and headed to class where she giggled and played

and watched me dance for a couple hours. 

daddy got off work around noon in time for us 

all to meet at the house and head out for a day 

of celebrating our little lady's birthday!

 we go to the children's museum to find out they 

are closed on the ONE day we needed them open.

thankfully, there were no tears so we packed up

the car once again and I headed to the best place

I knew would cheer her up- starbucks!

I got her favorite drink (split with Ryland, always)

a caramel frapp with no coffee and tons of caramel syrup

and a birthday cake pop.

all sorrows were forgotten and we headed to high point

for a movie and dinner afterwards.

we loaded up on popcorn and drink then headed in

to find our perfect seat to watch Brave.

and let me just say, it was amazing! 

not the story line I anticipated but boy 

every moment of the story line was exciting 

and I even cried a few times.

 It's a must see if you love Pixar!

We enjoyed a relaxing dinner 

and had ice cream cake when we got home.

It couldn't have been more perfect and

Adriana had so much fun!

thank you to everyone who made it extra special-

to family and friends who wished her a happy birthday

and/or sent her a gift- she loves everything

and loves you very very much! 

for more pictures 
find me here!

her story

I am so in love with this little lady.

words can't even describe how much I love being her mommy.

the whole reason I'm posting is because those sweet 

little cheeks and lips and tiny little nose

turn six on Monday (July 16th).

my first for so, so many things. 

without her, I don't even know if I would 

have been lucky enough to have kids. 

I've never really talked here on my blog

about this day and I've been asked, so here goes.

I found out I was pregnant with her a month before

I graduated high school, I was five months along- 

yes I'm one of those women who had no idea she 

was pregnant- ask anyone I know who knew me then,

I didn't look pregnant until that fifth month.

I graduated June 6th, 2006.

I felt accomplished but overwhelmed.

my life was going to start in a way I hadn't anticipated.

I was rushed to the hospital July 13th, 2006.

Adriana was suppose to be a September baby but instead

wanted to grace us with her presence two months early.

I was in labor for three days until I couldn't take

the magnesium any longer, so we made the decision to let 

her come as she pleased and that we would be ready for

whatever lay ahead of us, good or bad. 

She was born July 16th, 2006.

I don't really remember what I should have

because of the magnesium but I do remember seeing her 

briefly before they rushed her to the NICU.

I was cleaned up and everyone left the room.

I tell you, that was the only moment in my life where

I felt completely alone and vulnerable. 

I sat on the bed, everyone gone, everything clean

as a whistle, my belly empty, no baby and all who was

in the room previously and those friends and family

who came to sit and wait had followed like a flock

of birds to gather around and see Adriana for

the moment they strolled her out to the elevator.

I sat there on the cold bed, quietly.

I had never felt this sort of emptiness.

was my baby girl okay?

was she going to make it?

I held my belly.

I cried.

a nurse came in and asked me if I needed anything, 

water? ham sandwich? crackers?

I said no but in my head I was screaming-

I hate ham! I don't need water!

I just want my baby.

I remember being wheeled up to the NICU.

I could hardly contain myself-

I was anxious, exhausted and ready to see her.

she was in an incubator, 
I remember reaching my hand in to touch her

and it being double the size of her head.

I remember thinking how much it had to have hurt

to have an IV on the top of her head

and that with each pump of her chest as her heart

beat the little stickers would shake.

I feared for so long that her condition (being so early)
was a result of something I had done.

but I was reassured that I was healthy,
and that these things happen without explanation.

I had many hardships leaving the hospital-

the most important of all was leaving without my baby.

I had NICU nurses who made me feel like I was

the crappiest mother of the year because I wasn't

in the hospital every second of every day.

I was eighteen. 

they looked right through me.

I was some "teenage mother" who didn't care.

I was judged walking in and walking out.

what they didn't know is how ready and willing

I was to be a mother-

not because it happened and I had to be,

but because I had a responsibility and I wanted to be.

I was there as often as I could be.

I wasn't out partying, I wasn't out doing my thing, 

I was preparing for her early arrival at home.

I was there every second of every day that I could be.

I suffered from postpartum depression for a while

and struggled more than I could handle at times but

when Adriana got closer and closer to the weight she

needed to be to leave the NICU, the better I healed.

I had finally got to bring her home and just in time 

for the celebration of her birth and arrival-

her baby shower.

 

I remember moving a lot.

finding my way as a mother.

finding our way as a family.

it wasn't easy- 

there were a lot of bumps in the road.

but nothing in the whole wide world could have

prepared me to love such a sweet little soul

as much as I love her.

I couldn't prepare for something like that.

I felt my love for her way before I felt her move.

and nothing, nothing in this world

could ever, ever change that.

I'm so proud of her.

she is bright and beautiful,

bold and encouraging, 

silly and contagious,

daring and creative
healthy and loving.

she's out of this world perfect to me.

I can't wait to spend the rest of my days

growing older and watching her blossom!

happy birthday sweet little lady.

I love you to the moon and back a million times.

♥, mommy

summer vacation: the car ride

[our beach trip July 2011] 

The car ride can sometimes be the hardest part about going on

vacation with little ones but I tell you, the more I do it

the more I learn so I'm doing this post to make a list

for myself but to also help moms and dads out there 

who have a vacation planned and need some idea's!

keeping busy

you always want to make sure you bring enough things

to keep the kids busy- this results in less boredom

which we all know leads to unhappy kids

and parents who want to pull their hair out. 

you can bring coloring books and crayons

it's always a big hit with my kids.

a fresh new coloring book

and sharp new crayons- there is nothing better!

I just bought two dry erase boards that

came with the marker and eraser from Target

for $1.00 each, they keep my kids content

for hours- so it was a steal.

make sure you have their favorite music

downloaded on your ipod, mp3 player or on cd.

this could make a tantrum or boredom

turn into a dance/singing party.

you can pack their favorite books

and read to them or have them read it to you!

another level up to make books fab on your car ride

books on tape/cd- you can even download them now a days.

games are a little harder for younger kids

but travel size games are always great-

this can include flash cards, card games, all

the way up to I spy or connect four- you name it. 

they make all sorts of games now in travel size

so it's easier for your kids to play

in a much smaller space.

My kids have the leap pads- those are

great for car rides, just remember to bring

all of the games and extra batteries

if you don't use the rechargeable ones!

Always make sure to grab one or two

of their favorite toys from home, something they

are familiar with in case they do get bored 

with the newer things or aren't happy 

with them to begin with.

moms minivan dot com has 

some really great idea's too!

<<<>>> 

I mentioned iPods and electronic devices

just make sure they are juiced up for the first

few hours and remember to bring your chargers-

including a car charger which may make it easier 

to charge up if it dies- you want to make sure

they are in working order and don't shut off

while their favorite book or song is playing.

Also for parents who let their kids play

games or do things on their phones,

great time to let them play!

 

pack snacks

I always want to get to where we are going as
fast and safely as possible and by fast I mean
if we don't have to stop, that's ten times better.
For me, this means packing enough snacks for the 
car ride and if we are on the road for 
lunch or dinner, to pack wisely for each.
This means more money in our pocket for our trip!
We always make sure to grab a bag of ice
and fill up our cooler- some of my ideas;
a fruit salad with melon and berries
I bring toothpicks to make it fun to eat- they love it. 
bananas and apples are a perfect pre-wrapped snack
as well as raisins, banana chips, or dried fruit.
Shelled edamame are super tasty cold and fun to eat 
with fingers as are carrot and celery sticks
with peanut butter or hummus. 
We also really like frozen grapes- it's a huge hit.
For lunch I like to make sandwiches like, 
pb&j, hummus and cheese or turkey and avocado.
Pasta or bean salads with veggies and 
an herb vinaigrette are also good idea's that 
keep up well in the cooler on the ride.
For toddlers, pre-made toddler and baby foods like 
Sprout Organics, Plum Organics, Happy Baby Foods
are good to think about and bring as well.   
Whole wheat crackers, soft bagels, no-salt pretzels
 rice cakes, dry cereals, sugar free yogurt with granola,
string cheese; all good things to bring as well.
I like to stock up on a few avocados and saltines- 
I peel the skin back and voila
perfect mommy/daddy snack for the car ride!
Always make sure to have tons of water and juice boxes.

I have a really great tip for no mess juice boxes, too.

you know the triangle flaps on either side?

pull them up!

have the kids hold them by the flaps

instead of grabbing it by the sides to prevent

squeezing and juice going everywhere.

like this; it works every single time!!

  

<<<>>>

for those with smaller children

snacking isn't always a good idea in the car.

there is a choking hazard where as it would be hard

to aid a child who is choking.

it may be easier to stop at a rest area

and use that time to have a small picnic

and take a potty break!

 taking turns

make sure if you have your partner with you

or even a friend to take turns with the kids.

you need a moment to yourself even if it's driving

or laying in the passenger seat to rest your eyes.

It can be stressful and exhausting- let the other drive 

and take turns making sure the kids are content

and hey, if they are already take advantage of

that time and let them be solo as long as possible

who knows they may just fall asleep

and then none of this information will even 

be necessary until the car ride back, if even then!

 if they can be happy by themselves

the less hectic and more fun the car ride will be.

Bring some music and ear buds with you

grab an avocado or a bag of popcorn

and your ice cold water with lemon,

put your feet out the window,

close your eyes, take a deep breath

and imagine being on the beach 

or where ever you may be going-

 it's totally worth it

and before you know it you'll be there!

<<<>>>

What ever you do, don't let the kids sense
that you're tense about them being unhappy-
 If you need to stop to stretch, do it! 
It may end up being just what they needed.