Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Loaf - Pinterest Deal or Dud

via

A month or so ago I tried this delicious bread that I found via Pinterest. It is absolutely fabulous - just as good as it looks. I wanted to write about it right away, but I ended up doubling the recipe and freezing a loaf. I thought I'd wait until we thawed the loaf so I could report about its freeze-ability. It turned out perfectly. I'd highly recommend it if you're looking for a delicious bread.

I followed the recipe exactly using frozen blueberries. They were blueberries that I purchased fresh, spread on a cookie sheet, then froze. I then placed them in a large freezer bag to store so I can measure out what I need to thaw. I've heard from commenters that store-bought frozen blueberries are too watery for the bread. So I would either use fresh blueberries or fresh frozen blueberries like I used. Also, the loaf that I froze I skipped the glaze. I thought I'd add it after it was thawed, but it turns out the bread is perfectly moist and delicious (and sweet!) without it. I think from now on I'll leave the glaze off altogether.

Hope you enjoy! Recipe can be found here.

A Solid Foundation of Faith

My kids are now 3 years, 5 months and 17 months old. Neither are in preschool, so the three of us hang out all day every day together. After carefully considering whether or not to send our 3-year-old to preschool this year, we've decided to keep her home instead. I used to teach at a preschool, and my plan was to start to implement that curriculum at home with both kids. But my 3-year-old already knows all of her shapes, colors, numbers, letters, letter sounds, and most letter blends. She's starting to read and write 3-letter words. We have zero structured learning time as-is; she is just a sponge and loves to learn. I do not feel like she needs any supplementing in that area. She's already where she needs to be for Kindergarten, and I have no interest in rushing any more schooling in unless she's ready and seeking.

So my heart really turned more toward a year-long vacation Bible school set-up. I have such a desire to build the foundation of faith here, in my home, prior to sending my kids off to Kindergarten. My problem is not at all a lack of ideas, resources, or time. It's 100% a lack of planning. We are always dreaming up projects. But, after finally gathering everything to complete them, my 3-year-old has typically lost interest. Often our last-minute ideas require trips to the craft store to complete. I really wanted a way to have a loose plan for each week that includes gathering supplies for different projects to have at-the-ready for times when boredom strikes.

I've been working hard for the past week on a new blog chronicling my plans. A Solid Foundation of Faith is my new baby. Each week I'll add a theme based on a Bible story or concept. I'll list activities, recipes, adventures, service ideas, books, songs, and fingerplays that go along with the theme. From then on it's up to each person how to use it. You can go all-out and schedule your week around the activities. Or, like me, you can pick and choose the projects that would work for your family, gather all of the supplies each weekend, and pull them out when you have the opportunity.

I'll use it much like Tiny Tidbits to feature ideas here and there that I've seen online too. And I'll share with you some things that I learned as a chapel leader of kids 18 months old to 2nd grade over the years. But, unlike this site, the activities will all be geared toward the under Kindergarten crowd, specifically shaping their hearts for Christ.

If this is of any interest to you, I hope you'll come visit!

Women's Fitness - A Great Resource

Another fellow mom of an April 2008 child shared her website with me, and I wanted to add it to my sidebar, but not before pointing you all in that direction. Rachel, a practicing physical therapist, mom to two boys, and a woman committed to healthy living and physical fitness, started a website as a way to compile reliable advice for women regarding living a healthy lifestyle. I hope you'll take a minute to browse her site, and I hope you find as much helpful information as I have.

Here's the link: FitMommy

Freezer Paper Stenciling

Have you ever tried freezer paper stenciling? I tried my hand at it a few weeks ago for the first time, and I am hooked! I offered to make a t-shirt for a friend's little boy's first birthday. It was an Uno themed party, and she couldn't find the shirt she had in mind. She described it to me, and I got to work. I wanted a very clean, almost screen-printed look - not a handmade, artsy look. I bought a handful of shirts thinking this probably wouldn't work, and I had a Plan B and Plan C. I was shocked when it turned out almost flawless after my first attempt! The design itself was the most complicated part as I had to create it from scratch. But I used my SCAL software, Inkscape, and my Cricut to cut the stencil. But it was a lot easier than I imagined despite the many steps. Then I just ironed the freezer paper onto the shirt, and painted 3 thin coats of white fabric paint. I held my breath as I peeled the freezer paper off, and I was so pleased with how crisp the lines were. If you haven't tried this, you should!

Here's a great tutorial if you're interested. Happy stenciling!

Storage containers I couldn't live without

I am a very organization-minded person. When I'm considering anything, my first question is "Where am I going to put it?" We have a very small house with only one living area, so it's very easy to feel overrun by stuff. I love to streamline, purge things, and keep everything organized, and I thought it might be helpful to share with you my favorite storage containers.

Small Toy Storage:

For most of our toys with lots of pieces (Mr. Potato Head sets, building blocks, Little People, all letter toys - magnetic, foam, and letter blocks, etc.) I use the Expedit storage system from Ikea. I absolutely love these pieces because they're very sturdy, very inexpensive, and look higher-end than the equivalent at Target or Walmart. The good: price, quality, style. The bad: the storage shelves are not the standard 12x12. The fact that they are bigger (15x16, I think) is good for more storage room, but it limits the options for baskets. After 5 months of using what we already had basket-wise, I saved up for all of the baskets that actually fit the system. I twas well worth the cost. Now the toys are completely hidden, it's stylish, and the baskets are HUGE!

Here my son demonstrates their use while wearing his favorite storage container. ;) Goofball.

Expedit Storage Shelf

Nasum storage basket

Large Toy Storage:

Big toys (Fisher Price racetrack, farm and animals, basically anything awkwardly shaped and that does not fold) are so very hard to store. If I have them out on a shelf, my house looks like a toy store. They don't fit underneath couches or beds, and most cabinets are too shallow to fit them. We got a wardrobe, also from Ikea, several years back - way before kids. It has changed rooms and purposes more than any other piece of furniture in our house, and we LOVE it. It was only $199, and it has held up very well. It now resides in our family room and holds (and fits!) all of our bulky toys, all of our kids' art supplies, my sewing machine and a box of current projects, diapering supplies for the main living area, books (which I rotate out often), puzzles, games, and stationary/office supplies.

Hemnes Wardrobe

Books, Art Supplies, Puzzles, Computer Supplies:

I absolutely love these locking-lid storage boxes. We have them all over the house for various things. I love that they have a handle on top for easy transporting. These hold art supplies that we can easily grab and carry to the table, books that can be carried outside to read on a blanket, and even our bubbles that we keep in the pantry but carry outside to play. They're inexpensive and sturdy and incredibly handy.

Sterlite Show-off with Locking Lid

Sand, Rice, Other Small Manipulatives:

As you all know by now, we measure, pour, stir, rake, and funnel sand, rice, beans, etc. on a daily basis. My kids love to play with these types of small manipulatives, so we needed a quick, easy, and secure way to store them. In our wardrobe, I have one of these 9x13's of rice, beans, and sand. I also have a separate container with spoons, funnels, measuring cups, etc. They stack easily, are shallow enough that the kids can play with the contents right in this container, and they're sturdy. These are also the perfect size for cookies and casserole leftovers. I think I probably have 15 of these, and I use them ALL the time.

Rubbermaid TakeAlong Container

Shoes, Bed Linens, Unseasonal Clothes

As for just about everything else that doesn't have a home, we keep them in under-the-bed containers. We do not have a linen closet in our house - not even closets in our bathrooms. We have one small coat closet (where I have to store things like the high chair, gift wrapping supplies, pool floaties, life jackets, rain gear, etc.), and that's it save for the closets in the bedrooms. So we store all of our bed linens in under-the-bed containers under the bed for which they're intended. We also use under-the-bed containers for shoes and all of the opposite-season clothing. These are so convenient because they can be easily moved for cleaning. I typically use my Roomba for under-the-bed vacuuming. So, I just lift the dust ruffles, pile the under-the-bed boxes on top of the beds, and let the Roomba run. This way there are no loose things to pick up to clean. Nice and simple.

Sterlite Underbed Storage Box (with wheels - a must!)

Hope these solutions are helpful for you! What are your favorite storage solutions?

Kid lunches: A muffin tin alternative

I started doing muffin tin lunches for my 3-year-old daughter (and now my 14-month-old son) for almost 1 1/2 years now. I love the fact that it challenges me to think outside the box with variety, but I've found a flaw. In order to save leftovers, I have to move them to a different container. The 6-cup muffin tins from Dollar Tree don't even fit into gallon-sized Ziplocs, so saving them in the tin isn't an option. Bummer.

Awhile back I was browsing Inchbug ordering some cup labels for the kids, and I saw these containers. There are a ton of different food storage options on that site, but these fit the bill for us perfectly. They have a snap-on lid for the dip portion and the whole thing making it perfect for lunches on-the-go and for storing leftovers. We use the middle portion for yogurt, peanut butter, hummus, ranch dressing, etc. Then I just fill the outside with a handful of other things - celery sticks, baby carrots, PB and honey sandwiches (cut into stars above), apple slices, cheese sticks, and the list goes on and on. My 3-year-old loves the containers (something about giving lunch to her in a compartmentalized tray appeals to her), and I love the convenience of not having to dirty yet another container for leftovers. These are also much easier to clean than the muffin tins which do not hold up well in the dishwasher.

Hope you find these as helpful as I have!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie

(Image courtesy of Nestle's Very Best Baking Site)

We had my mother-in-law over for dinner and dessert to celebrate her birthday last week, and I was looking for something a little different than a cake. I stumbled upon this recipe, and I knew it was a winner. This is absolutely the easiest pie I have ever made - it's even easier than making chocolate chip cookies. It took me less than two minutes from the time I started my mixer until the pie was in the oven. If you are looking for a SIMPLE, very quick, and delicious recipe, this is a great go-to. It's one of those recipes that you can remember and not have to even consult the recipe in the process. We served it warm with homemade vanilla ice cream.

Here is the link to the recipe.

I did make a couple of changes. I omitted the nuts since I didn't have any on hand, and I added a teaspoon of vanilla. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly. In the future, I would use mini chocolate chips since mine all sank to the bottom. It didn't change the flavor at all, but it looked a little off when we cut into it. That didn't change the fact that we gobbled it up so quickly I was unable to get a picture, though!

Sidenote: My favorite restaurant dessert (at least my favorite every-day restaurant dessert) is the Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie from Chili's. It is the only one I crave. Of course, it was deemed one of the 20 worst-for-you desserts in America. =P This pie could be almost exactly the same by adding walnuts and coconut to the filling and hot fudge and caramel sauce to the top of the ice cream. Delicious!

Valentine's Idea

I saw this amazing website on TV this morning, and I can't stop thinking about the possibilities! Check them out if you have a minute.

Snow Days are for Baking

Knowing it was going to be a crazy, icy, snowy day here in Texas, we loaded up with baking supplies. This coconut lime banana bread got the winning vote, and we spent the morning covered in flour and mashed bananas. If you're looking for a great recipe, this was a hit! I made it according to the recipe save for two things. I had already used all of our yogurt to make smoothies, so I just used a quarter cup of a smoothie in its place. Also, mine cooked for significantly longer than an hour - probably closer to 1 1/2 hours, actually. I've never had a problem with my oven timing following other recipes, so it may be that this recipe was written for a convection oven. Enjoy!

I'm seeing a version of this under our tree for sure!

I can't wait to get started on this! What a precious gift for a little girl. Do you know anyone who would love this as much as my sweet daughter?

Rainbow Cake on a Stick

One of our favorite boys turns two today. Since he got a baby brother as an early birthday gift, we offered to make a cake to deliver to free up her hands a little more. I've been wanting a reason to try out this Rainbow Cake, so we dove in. It was such a fun lesson for my daughter in color-mixing and measuring. We had a blast. I made the cake in loaf pans to cut down into a square, so I had lots of scraps. While my 2-year-old napped, I dreamt up a fun creation for her that was a HUGE hit. I just cut hearts out of each color of cake, put a dot of frosting as glue between each heart, then put it on a stick. To say she was thrilled would be a gross understatement.

No more brown apple slices

(Please forgive my absence lately. Our Internet has been spotty but is finally fixed. Hope to be back up and running regularly now!)

This is a great idea for packing apple slices for on-the-go snacking in a way that keeps them from turning brown. I love this!

Had to share

I've made this cake a few times now, and it is always a HUGE hit. It is so easy and delicious that it's just too good not to share. It is made from a box cake mix, whipped cream (in a tub), Butterfinger bars, and caramel sauce (in a jar). Couldn't be simpler. If you're looking for an easy cake to take to a party or potluck (or if you're just craving sweets!), go make this cake.

Kelly's Butterfinger Cake

Holiday Craft-along

Can you believe it's time to get started on Christmas crafting? Hobby Lobby certainly can as their aisles are already loaded with green and red, sprigs of evergreen laced with shiny ribbons, and thousands of glittery ornaments.

I just ran across this Handmade Holiday Craftalong link that already has some amazing ideas. I plan to follow along and sew up a storm in the next few months, and I thought it may be helpful for some of you! Here's the link.

The Plan

Well, after posing a question on Facebook regarding meal planning and talking to some people who have planned meals for awhile, the plan is underway. My goal was to get started by the time my son was 2 months old. Today's his 2-month birthday, and tomorrow the plan begins!

I'm so thankful that my sister wanted to join me in this endeavor. Because we're both going in together, we're only having to plan half of the weeks. We're doing one seafood day, one vegetarian day, and homemade pizzas every Friday (thanks Tara!). We started a blog, Feeding our Families, to keep everything straight, so you're welcome to check it out, follow along, and/or contribute recipes. The way we're using it is to make sure the week is up well in advance. That way we can print the recipes, make our grocery list, and shop for up to 2 weeks at a time if we want. We can also spend time preparing food the weekend prior if need be.

Another aspect of the blog is going to be to compile recipes for freezer-friendly meals and desserts. This way it can serve as a resource if we have some free time that we'd like to spend making meals to freeze or if we want to have dessert one evening. Please feel free to comment with ideas for those as well.

As this is a work-in-progress, we'd love any input you have that might make things function more smoothly. But, for now, we've got a dozen or so weeks planned out with zero meals repeated so far! And we're really excited to be trying out so many new, delicious things. Here's to planning ahead and not playing the grocery game each and every evening!

Great idea!

I love this idea. How fun, easy, and sentimental. I think it would make a great gift from kids. Check out her entire blog, too. LOTS of great "unplugged" ideas.

Mother's Day

I found a great post linking to TONS of Mother's Day crafting ideas. It's not too late to get started making something for mom. I'm dogearing this for future birthdays as well. Enjoy!

Embellishing Hand Sanitizer

I came across this cute idea while perusing the Internet recently. What a great idea! You could go with any theme, and think creatively. Maybe make one that matches a new baby's nursery. You could make one for a relative in a nursing home, as a teacher gift, and for your family doctor or pediatrician's office. Vets, dentists, church nurseries...the possibilities are endless. What a cute idea!

Plantable Paper

(Photo courtesy of Alpha Mom)

Alpha Mom has a really great tutorial for plantable paper. This would be a great idea to use as gift tags or name cards for table settings. But I think I'm going to make some to use as thank-you cards. What a fun project! My 2-year-old would love helping me with this one.

Two more cute ideas

Serving Pink Lemonade has a precious tutorial on a felt toolbox that I'd love to make.

And The Magic Bean has a great idea to make fabric photo baby blocks.

Can't wait to be back in the crafting business and get to work!