Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Learning is Fun! Lion Mask & Shadow Seeking

It's 5:15pm and both of my kids are sleeping...what's going on?!?! 


One activity that me & Autumn did this past week that was a lot of fun was we made a lion mask.  These are so easy and so fun!  Just go to Google & type in "Lion Mask Template" (or any animal for that matter) & you will get plenty of options.  Some websites have the option to print them in color if you want to work on cutting or gluing.  Since Autumn is on the younger side of doing those activities (22 months) we printed out a plain mask & let her color in her lion with colored pencils (I try to let her use different art mediums...you could obviously use markers or crayons or paint or anything you wanted).  Before she colored in her mask, I glued it on cardboard (an old diaper box) & cut around the outline and also some eye holes.  After it's colored you just cut some slits and tie elastic to it and voila! You have your very own little lion.  Here a picture of my little lion: 

I wish you could see the video of her "roaring".  It is pee your pants funny, but I am challenged in the phone to computer to Internet department.  I must remember to take cute videos on my Bloggie so that I can actually watch them on my computer!  If we did this again, I would use a more dramatic medium (paint maybe) to see the colors better & use something softer than cardboard to make it stiff because her little nose got a bit red.  I bet a paper plate would work. 

Now, for an activity flop (I really need to come up with something catchy and cute for our successes and failures).  The one that comes to mind right away is the afternoon we spent outside looking for our shadow.  Not so much looking for it as trying to explain to Autumn what a shadow is and where to find it.  It was very obvious to me where my outline was on the grass, but she was not getting it.  At all :)  We'll try again down the road!  Maybe if we watched Peter Pan before we went outside...

Monday, February 27, 2012

Food Love: Salsa Chicken

Ok folks, this recipe is EASY & YUMMY.  What more could you ask for?  About 4+ years ago, I went on a women's retreat at my church and there was some kind of thingy there where they handed out recipes and this was one of them.  I'm not sure who to credit with the brilliant-ness since it was just a hand written recipe on a piece of paper that I don't have any more.

This is one of my recipes that I fall back on and pretty much keep on hand at all times.  I was going to try to post a new recipe that I tried this past week but I only cooked two new things and they both flopped (hey-it happens).  So I decided to post a tried and true recipe that won't steer you wrong!  It only calls for 4 ingredients (how fab is that?).

Without further ado, may I present the easiest and yummiest salsa chicken in the world:

Ingredients:
Raw chicken breasts (however many you need) & cut that fat off. And those tendons.  Ick.
A taco seasoning packet (any brand will do)
Salsa (Mild! Medium! Hot! Whatever floats your boat!)
Cheddar Cheese

1.  Butter up your baking dish either with butter or spray (honestly, you may be able to skip this step, but I grease everything.  Everything).
2. Place raw chicken in baking dish.
3. Sprinkle taco seasoning on chicken (be generous!).
4. Pour salsa on chicken (again-generosity does not go amiss here).
5. Bake until chicken is cooked (try 350 for 30-35 mins for starters).
6. Sprinkle cheddar cheese to your liking on top and bake until melted.

Congratulations, you're done!  Now, EAT!

This chicken is so great because it is flavorful, moist, and cheesy.  You can make it as mild or as spicy as you like and I have yet to make it for someone who doesn't say "Meg, this is so good!" :)

Sorry I don't have a picture.  I have eaten this lots and lots and lots, but never taken a picture.  Next time I make it, I will take a picture and update this post.

I normally serve this meal with Spanish rice and corn.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

To Remember This Day

This is an old one from January 16, but just now getting around to it.  And I have another one on my phone that I'll post soon.  They are really fun to write!  And I imagine when I am old and grey I will enjoy them tremendously.

Monday
Backyard
Brrrr cold
Windy
Curly Sue bundled up
Bubbles
Catch them
Clap them
Chase them
Giggles
Squeals
JOY over the bubbles!!!
"Bub-o, bub-o, bub-o"
"Mommy! Bub-o!"
My Full heart might burst
My cup runneth over
All because of some bubbles


Blog Death is on the horizon

Yes, 'tis true.   This blog is almost dead.  I go back and forth with just deleting it permantly.  I almost decide to delete it, but then I wonder "what about those times I really enjoy writing posts"  or "what about when I go back to Germany & my peeps want updates"?  So, I am going to try to revive it.  I think. 

Recently, I have been in Baby Land.  Know what I mean?  Here is an example:

Now you get it.  Oh, and without a husband! (Temporarily...well, 3 more months)

However, both of the babies in Baby Land are doing exceedingly well (not sure how long that will last).   One is learning to sleep through the night and one is potty training, but both are making progress!

SO, I think what I am going to do is have some weekly features.  I may be totally kidding myself since I've tried this before, but I'm kind of excited about it.

Here's what I got:

Monday-  Food Love. I love to cook. Probably didn't know that, huh? Well, you wouldn't since I'm not the best cook ever or a "natural" cook. I mean, I grew up on Stove Top and canned vegetables. That aside, I love to try new recipes and I get so so excited when I find one that I like! And, since I'm not so very excellent at cooking, I can guarantee the recipes I post will be easy. I get ideas from all over so I will have to look into copyright stuff I guess before I post them.

Wednesday-  Kid Love. Me and my daughter do lots of fun activites both indoors and out. Some flop and some are awesome. So I'll post one thing we did that we loved and one thing we did that crashed and burned.   

Friday- Book Love. Probably a book review of a book I read in the past week & if I haven't read a book in the past week (Um, what??? I know, but it does occasionally happen), then maybe I'll just gab about a book I love or review an older book or something else bookish.

Those are my goals.  I think if I get back in the habit of posting more reguarly, more posts will undoubtedly crop up.  But, for now, that is what I am going to try to do.  Enjoy!