Earth Day- Creating play ideas with reusable materials

I was cutting up some egg cartons for the typical "bug" art, and realized these would be perfect homes for our baby animals my students are obsessed with. Then, I cut toilet paper rolls in half for ramps, and glued together wine corks to make trees. The top two photos are what I made, the last one is what one of my students did. A tunnel bridge, so clever! It was great to see the children see how important it is to reuse materials and how fun it is to create something unexpected!

Quick, cheap and easy!

Tilapia quesadilla

Season tilapia with garlic salt, pepper, paprika and chili con limon
Sautee in olive oil until done, about 5 or so minutes.
On another pan, heat tortilla in a little butter, add in cheese and fish, then another tortilla
Cook until desired doneness
Through on some smashed avocado and your favorite salsa, and your done! Low-fat, and yummy!

Day 2-5....so I'm not that great at my daily recordings of getting "Vegas Ready"...

Day 2 and 3-3 mile power walk

Day 4-1.5 mile walk, I was with my slow poke dad, but at least I got out and walked!

Day 5- 100 squats, 50 push-ups of various kinds, and 100 sit-up of various kinds

Day 1:

200 squats (in reps of 50, and in between push up and sit up exercises)
50 criss cross sit ups, 50 side-ups and 50 double leg stretch.
25 down dog push ups, 25 chattaranga push ups and 25 regular push ups.

Explanation of exercises upon request :)

New Mom Going to Vegas 37 Day Challenge

Ok, so in 37 days I will be going to Vegas for my cousins bachelorette. I am the only married momma on the trip. All of the other bridesmaides, 6 of them. Have toned, never been pregnant bodies. I am a petite woman, 5 feet average 107 lbs. I gained 30 lbs during my pregnancy and have lost the weight. I am actually smaller than ever. I know gag right. But I have a flabby stretched out stomach, and don't look toned.

I can tell you how I lost my last of the baby weight, NO alcohol, no extra carbs, crackers and such, and NO dessert. I have slacked off a bit, but now it's time to get back in gear, and see if exercising everyday really will make the difference. Exercising sometimes while my baby is awake and playing in the same room I try to work out!

In a pinch for a bath toy?

I realized my ten month old son was over his bath toys when as soon as I put him in the tub, we tried to climb out! As a preschool teacher I am particular with my toys and books for my son. I want them to be developmental, and stimulate his cognitive development while improving his motor skills. So...

I cut up  a sponge in squares, small enough for him to hold, but big enough so he won't choke. He loves them!

Squeezing a sponge (or anything) develops fine motor and prepares their fingers for holding a pencil. Shows cause and effect, and feels great for little teethers!!!

Just when I thought...

Just when I thought I had a schedule going,
just when I thought my baby could sleep easy,
just when I thought he was a good eater,
just when I thought we was about to walk,
just when I thought that tooth was finally going to pop through...

Time happened, schedules changed, opinionated about food, crawling first is more important, the tooth is still sitting there

But I still love you, I still adore you, I still think you are the most wonderful little person.

You are teaching me to be more flexible, to be more easy-going, to be more patient.
Thank you little D.

Taking time

Taking time to do something you love, for you, is important. Mom's do everything for their children, husbands, work, social lives. But what about taking the time to do something for ourselves?

I work in a very affluent area, where I see many mom's who have ample time to do things for themselves. Ample money too. The mom's who get weekly mani/pedis, massages, facials. Daily yoga, pilates, personal trainer sessions. I wonder if they are more stress-free, more lively with their kids, feel sexier for their husbands?

I think if I had all that time I would.
So finally I convinced my husband that I NEED yoga every Saturday morning. Yoga for me has always been my form of exercise, my escape, my drug. I have been practicing for almost 10 years, and it's a lot for me to not do it everyday. I mean, I do some down dogs and what not on the carpet while my son plays, he just stares and laughs at me. But to leave the house, the laundry, the husband, the kid, and go do something for myself. Yes it does take up about 3 and a half hours, between driving and the hour and a half class. But so what.

I think it's ok, to say "I need" every once and a while. I think weekly yoga makes me a happier person, a better mom, and a sexier wife. Thank you very much.

Egg Muffins for Brunch

Egg muffins for Easter Brunch

Preheat oven 375 degrees
8 eggs
1/4 cup milk or half and half
1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp baking powder
Parmesean
Salt and Pepper
2 heaping cups of spinach (I used fresh)
Turkey bacon, or any breakfast meat

While your meat is cooking on a medium skillet,  combine in a medium bowl, eggs, milk, oil, baking powder and S&P and whisk.

Once your meat cooked, chop it up along with the spinach and put mixture evenly on the bottom of your sprayed muffin tin. Sprinkle a good amount of grated parmesan cheese on top. Pour egg mixture, bake for 15-18 minutes, depending on your oven.

I took mine out at 16 minutes, and they seemed a little underdone, so I took them out again at 18, and my mom said they were slightly over done. I thought they were perfect. Perhaps everyone has a preference on the egg doneness!

This was my first time making these, and I thought they turned out pretty well, but just like an omelette I bet you can add anything as long as it's finely chopped. Also, next time I will add cheddar cheese in the egg mixture, I will keep you posted on how that turns out!

Scatter-brained wife, to organized mom

I have lived with my husband for about five years. My routine was while my husband worked on Saturday mornings was, I would clean the house. So that by 2 when he came home, everything was done and we could spend time together. Now, I can't believe it took me all day to clean! I would simply start a task, such as dusting, and think "ok, when I'm done I will mop." But then I would decide to wipe down the walls because that hasn't been done in awhile, and once that was completed I forgot all about the floors since the laundry was done. Scatter-brained housewife.

Now, I have limited time, before my son wakes up around 6:30 am and during his morning nap, if I'm lucky it's two hours! Motherhood has organized me! This morning, Easter Sunday is a perfect example. Right now my son is playing, but about an hour ago, at 6am, I turned on the coffee, through laundry in the wash and picked up bagels for breakfast. I am hosting 10 people for Easter Brunch. Yesterday I cleaned, so this way I can have time to prepare the fruit salad during his morning nap, and make mini turkey bacon and spinach quiches I will post later. Hosting parties, cleaning the house and making sure one has the time to spend with the family, all takes planning. In the beginning I was stressed out about knowing all of the things I had to do, but now I don't stress, I don't even think, I JUST DO. So relax, everything will get done, even the dog will get fed and walked. Enjoy the process because it can be just as fun as the product.

Egg Shakers for Easter

For my son's first Easter I made him egg shakers! Just put some dried rice inside and use some good painters tape to secure shut. They're a great musical instrument and of course he loves to put them in his mouth!

Quick dinner for baby and me

 Whole wheat penne with veggies, garbanzo beans and rosemary. I made this dinner for my 10 month old and I. It's cheap, healthy and great cold for lunch leftovers!

1 can drained garbanzo beans
Olive Oil
2-3 cloves garlic
Oregano

1 package of whole wheat penne, I used half the bag for my son and I
1/3 bag of frozen veggies, or however much you prefer, plus some heaping handfulls of spinach
Rosemary or basil
Parmesean cheese
Salt and Pepper

In a large deep skillet, sautee olive oil (coat the pan) with 2 cloves of garlic
Add garbanzo beans
Give a good sprinkle of salt and oregano. That's it!
Sautee until brown, pour into bowl. These are a classic family appetizer with Italian dinners, but once added with veggies, the texture changes.

In the same skillet, add garlic and more olive oil, once heated, add veggies. I have used fresh and frozen and the variety is endless, especially for my 10 month old and I. Carrots, zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli, peas, green beans, spinach. Add salt, pepper and either rosemary or basil. If you don't have fresh herbs, but have and italian seasoning mix, use that!

While veggies are cooking, cook penne 8-10 minutes. Drain, then add to veggies. Add garbanzo beans, more herbs and parmesean.

Fast, easy and only 2 pots to clean!!