Thanksgiving Onesie

If you have found me on Pinterest, you can find the inspiration for Kid's first Thanksgiving onesie.

I would have liked to have this post up before Thanksgiving. That would have been nice. Except, I didn't decide to make a Thanksgiving onesie until about 9pm on Thanksgiving eve.

Last minute. That's how I roll.

I made my way down to my craft room and found an old pair of brown corduroy maternity pants that I ripped mid-pregnancy. I also found an orange plaid shirt that was going to be worn by the ring bearer at my wedding. The shirt didn't get worn. I forgot to return it.

First, I grabbed a stack of printer paper to make my templates. I do them all by hand, and I'm also a perfectionist. I knew I wouldn't get it right on the first try. And I didn't. But, after a few tries, I had the perfect turkey body and feathers.

I should have pinned my patterns to the fabric, but I didn't. I held it in place with my fingers and cut away. If you do this at home, pin the pattern to your fabric and then cut. It will keep you from being annoyed.

I then cut a triangle from the orange shirt for a beak, and took two buttons for the eyes. I then added a little fray check to each piece and allowed them an hour to dry.

Next, add the beak and buttons to the turkey body.

Now, I could have used a sewing machine to sew on the feathers and turkey. But, we were going to be spending a few hours in the car to deliver Thankgsiving meals. So instead, I opted to sew by hand.

I'd say it was a success!

((this moment))

((this moment))

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 ~SouleMama~

\\Thankful Thursday Vol. 3//

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I find that it is impossibly easy to get into a rut of negativity. And once you're there, it's hard to climb your way out. Writing down my thankfuls for each week has become a way to stay away from the negative. Feel free to leave your thankfuls in the comments.

This week, I am thankful for...

...the family. The whole thing. My husband and I are rather lucky in that both of our parents live not more than 10 minutes away. Our siblings all live in the state (okay, one is living in Spain, but she'll be home soon!). Family really is the biggest part of my life and something I am thankful for each and every day.

image source

...wool socks. They hug your feet! They're so cozy! I love wool socks. It's that time of year again when the wool socks come out in full force. One of the first things I do when I get home from work (besides loving up the baby boy, of course!) is change my socks. Adios work socks. Hello wool socks! Cozy, warm, delightful.

image source

...Aldi. It's a grocery store. And it is amazing. The produce is delicious. Delicious and really inexpensive. A lot of people around these parts are rather skeptical about this particular grocery store. Like any store, all you need to do is check ingredient labels. And when you're buying produce? Just pick out the good stuff (again, like any grocery store). Do you have an Aldi in your area?

...Kid's health. He has been such a healthy boy to this point. He hasn't had more than a little cough and a runny nose that lasted a day and a half.

Step By Step Nursery: Mobile

Way back when I was newly pregnant, I began searching Pinterest and Houzz for nursery inspiration. Mostly, I was looking for a color scheme or a theme. Something to guide my projects. The hubs and I decided on some colors, a stripe pattern, and the fact that we didn't want an overbearing theme that would take over the entire room.

We I decided upon a diaper storage solution that I knew would be a hit, but I knew we needed a little bit more.

Then, it all came together. I had been having this feeling that I would give birth a day early (wow, was I wrong). I thought for sure that I would give birth on May 14th. The anniversary of my Boppa's death. Because I was sure that Kid would be born then, I wanted to honor Boppa in some way. I wanted to create some sort of connection between Boppa and Kid, mostly because I knew that Kid would be born on the anniversary of Boppa's death.

I had the perfect idea! I mobile of P-38s. My Boppa was a pilot during World War II. He flew P-38s. Isn't he a handsome Boppa?

Kid had to have P-38s in his room. And the mobile was the perfect place.

The mobile is hanging over his diaper pail. I didn't want to put it over his crib or the changing table. It is far to heavy. Each airplane is metal...and they're kind of heavy. I would hate for a plane to fall and hit the baby. So. Over the diaper pail, in the corner of the room. Away from where the baby (or anyone) will hang out.

Weekly Meal Plan

I'm always amazed at how quickly Sunday arrives. Friday rolls around and then, just like that, it's Sunday.

Quite simply, Sunday has become errand day. Today's to-do list included the grocery story, a few clothing stores (for the baby, not me!), and my parents' house. They've given us a secretary desk and a couch. They wanted it out of their house yesterday.

I have to admit that I have gotten a lot better at "going with the flow" on Sundays. It used to be really difficult for me. I've always had a list of things to get done over the weekend. I would be immensely bothered on Sunday evenings if even one thing was left unchecked on the list. But lately, I've been more relaxed. I have allowed myself to enjoy the simple moments of the day with my three boys.

We also spent a lot of time with my sister and brother-in-law. Check out this picture I found of my boy and my nephew (6 weeks younger than G). Keep in mind that this is an old picture. The trees no longer have leaves up here in Minnesota. And we definitely would not be outside with out our winter jackets and hats!

So Sunday is here, and while there are a few things left undone on my list, the majority were completed.

I got to the grocery store. Refilled the fridge, freezer, and pantry.

I got to the clothing store. New (well, some used) clothes for the boy. The kid is growing like a weed. He'll be 8 months old on December 2nd and we've already moved him into 12 month clothes. Granted, he's in cloth diapers, which are quite a bit more bulky than disposables. But it's not just that. He is one long boy!

While I enjoy buying him new clothes, it's so sad to pack away the old ones! He's already growing so fast and I know it won't be slowing down!

Alrightly. Time to write out the meal plan and then get back to enjoying my family!

Sunday: dinner at my sister and brother-in-law's new house
Monday: dinner at my parents' house
Tuesday: Chipotle Meatloaf
Wednesday: Crockpot Beef Stew
Thursday: Thanksgiving!
Friday: Leftovers!
Saturday: Chicken Tacos

I hope everyone's week starts wonderfully!

((this moment))

((this moment))

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 ~SouleMama~

\\Thankful Thursday Vol. 2//

It's time, again, to list the thankfuls for the week.

Feel free to leave your thankfuls in the comments!

1. Pa (my dad). Because everyone needs an awesome Pa. You may think I'm just going through the list of my family members. Which I very easily could do, as I am thankful for each and every one of them. But this week, it's my dad. I have one of those dads that would drop everything to help. He'd give me the shirt off his back. And he'd pick up the baby boy from daycare three days in a row because there were conflicts with mine and the hubby's schedule. That Pa. He's one great dad and amazing grandpa.

2. Once Upon a Child. I'm rather short. So I kind of expected a small baby. He is not small. I should have known, too, as the hubs is 6'2". Not short by any means. Our little boy is growing rather quickly. His clothing sizes, at 7 months, are between 9 and 12 months. It seems as though I have to buy him more clothes every couple of weeks. Which is not easy on the pocket book. The other day, I spent $30 and got 2 winter jackets, three books, and a puzzle. I checked the price of winter jackets at Target in the baby's size. $32.

3. My 20 to 25 minute commute to work. You mean, people actually enjoy sitting in their vehicles? To go to work? What? Here's the thing. I love my job. Besides staying at home, I can't think of something I'd rather do. Sometimes, I find it difficult to switch gears from work to home or home to work. Twenty minutes is the perfect amount of time to prepare for work, or the decompress after a long day. It's also the perfect time to see the beautiful Minnesota sun rises.

Stay tuned for next week's Thankful Thursday.

{recetas} Stoplight Chili

I had to play around with the name of this recipe a little bit. Part of me wanted to call it "But the Kitchen Sink Chili" because you can throw just about anything into the pot and it will taste good (except, of course, the kitchen sink).

Then, I wanted to name it "Expiration Date Chili." Does anyone watch The Middle? There was an episode about how they have "Expiration Date Soup." SO funny.

Okay, quick side note. I always read the blog Simply Anchored, (she's great, go read her blog! and, she has a babe about the same age as mine...) and she always mentions how she has a glass of wine while blogging or perusing the internet at night. Since the birth of my little man, I just haven't felt relaxed slash organized enough

to sit down and blog with a glass of wine. It's in a juice glass though. The wine glasses are up really high (above the fridge-yes, I'm short) and I didn't feel like getting out the step stool. Wine in a juice glass it is!

BUT! I am doing it now (and folding laundry, as you can see by the socks on the coffee table).

Oh yeah. The recipe. And it's name. I decided upon Stoplight Chili because I had a green and yellow pepper that needed to be used. So I chopped them and added them to the pot. And since chili is red, I had a stoplight in a pot (plus mushrooms. I love mushrooms). Mushrooms, though, turn a lot of people off, so you can definitely leave them out!

What you need:

• 1 package of mushrooms (optional)
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 (28 ounce) can of diced tomatoes
• 2 (10 ounce) cans of diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 can of mild chili ready beans
• minced onion
• chili powder
• cayenne pepper
• garlic powder
• sour cream (optional)
• cheese (optional)

What you do:

• This is really hard, so pay close attention.
• First, chop the vegetables and add them to a pot.
• Next, brown some ground beef in a frying pan. While it is browning, add a sprinkle or two of the cayenne pepper and a bit (about half a teaspoon) of the minced onion. Continue to cook the meat through.

• Next, open your cans of tomatoes, beans, and tomatoes with chilies. Add these to the same pot as the chopped vegetables.
• When the meat is cooked, add it to the pot as well (do you see how easy this is?). Place the pot on the stove over medium heat. Sprinkle in some garlic powder (about half a teaspoon), some cayenne pepper (half a teaspoon), and some chili powder (one teaspoon). The problem is that I don't measure my seasonings/spices very often. I sprinkle a little bit, stir, and taste. It seems to work.
• Soon, the chili will boil. Allow it to continue until the vegetables are soft, or cooked to your liking. My dad doesn't like soft (or "mushy" according to him) vegetables, so there is always a little crunch to his chili.
• Serve and enjoy! I always include sour cream and cheese for my husband. I don't particularly care for either, so I leave them out. And, I usually forget to buy them. So the hubs doesn't have them all the time either (like tonight). Whoops.

{recetas} Ginger Chicken & Veggies

Finally, another recipe!

I've started to get a little bit creative with my cooking. I'm not always following recipes to a T anymore. In fact, sometimes I don't follow a recipe at all. I have to admit, I am proud of myself for that.

But, I must admit. My dinner experiments do not always work out. The flavors don't always meld. The hubs, though, eats it all up (even if it's horrible). Part of it is that he's not a picky eater (at all). Part of it is because he hates wasting food. Me too.

Anyway. This was a recipe that worked.

What you need:

• 2 boneless chicken breasts
• 1 package frozen stir-fry blend vegetables
• Tamari sauce
• Fish sauce
• ground ginger
• coconut oil (for cooking)
• sea salt

What you do:

• First, mix 5 tbsp. tamari sauce and 3 tbsp. fish sauce in a bowl. Allow the chicken breasts to marinate for at least 1 hour. After marinating, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
• Heat the coconut oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Place the chicken pieces in the pan and cook through. While cooking, add a few tablespoons of the tamari and fish sauce. Sprinkle 1/2 a teaspoon ground ginger over the chicken while it cooks.
• When heated through, remove the chicken from the pan. Pour in the frozen and vegetables and heat. One done, add the chicken back to the pan. Mix the chicken and vegetables together. Sprinkle a few cranks of the salt grinder over the veggies and chicken.
• Have yourself a little taste tests. More ginger? Add it! More salt? Add that, too.
• Serve. You could serve the chicken and vegetables over rice. Or over warmed broccoli slaw. Or, just on a plate.

Weekly Meal Plan

I can hardly believe that it is already Sunday! The weekends fly by so quickly. The babe and I have had a weekend filled with crafting and family. And the hubs? He had a wonderful weekend of hunting. Heading out on Friday night, he made his way north to spend time sitting in a tree in hopes of spotting a deer. I spent some time cleaning out the basement freezer, in hopes of filling it with venison.

Breakfast:

I've decided to include breakfast in the meal plan, as it is the most important meal of the day. And because I have realized that breakfast has been skipped more often than not. Or, it has been eaten in the car on the way to daycare.

Sunday: Fried eggs & bacon
Monday through Friday: Crust-less Garden Quiche
Saturday: Spinach Frittata

The best part about breakfast during the week is that I make the quiche on Sunday, cut and freeze it, then have servings ready to go each morning. Super easy! Especially since I sleep as late as possible, and then have to rush around the house to get ready and leave on time. You'd think I'd learn...

Now, on to dinner.

Sunday: Chicken Thighs with Peppery Pesto
Monday: Cumin Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Cauliflower
Tuesday: Chili
Wednesday: Steak Hash with Avocado Red Pepper Spread
Thursday: Pot Roast
Friday: Hot Pepper Stir Fry
Saturday: Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Ooh. My mouth is watering already!

On a completely different note, check out this side-by-side of the little boy:

I know it's a little old, as Kid is now 7.5 months old, but isn't that cute? He has gotten SO. BIG. He almost looks like an old man in the picture of him at two months. He still has those big blue eyes, though!

((this moment))

((this moment))

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

~SouleMama~

\\Thankful Thursday Vol. 1//

I find that it is impossibly easy to get into a rut of negativity. And once you're there, it's hard to climb your way out. With my whole heart, I believe that you have the power to have a good day or a bad day. You can make your day fabulous or, you can decide to have a not-so-great day.

One way I have helped myself have wonderful days, and avoid the rut of negativity, is a gratitude journal. I write down the things I am thankful for.

And I've decided to bring that to the blog. Welcome to the birth of Thankful Thursdays. Each Thursday, I will write about a few of the things I've been thankful for in the past week. Feel free to leave your "thankfuls" in the comments!

1. I've been so thankful for my mom. Without her, I wouldn't be here (duh). I wouldn't be the person that I am today. The woman is is, quite simply, one of a kind. I had a bit of a meltdown on Sunday. The hubs was out of town, the babes was a bit ornery. And the mama was quite frustrated. A quick phone call to my mama and all was right in the world again.

2. The Ergo. Oh, my dear, sweet, favorite baby product. Okay. I don't know if it is my absolute favorite. But I love it. It comes in handy when the daddy is working late, the baby is fussy, and dinner is being made. Plop the baby in the Ergo and life is good. He loves it, too. The hubby and I both use the Ergo on a weekly basis. We shuttle it with us everywhere we go. And the best part? Deer Day was this past weekend, so my sister and I went shopping. Baby G got hungry...strap him in the Ergo...nurse and shop. At. The. Same. Time.

3. My job. Quite simply, I love teaching. I work with the littlest kids at the school (kindergarten!) and find so much joy in those little buggers. We have been talking about working and playing together: what it looks like, what it feels like, what it sounds like. One of my kiddos said, "Playing together is being friendful." Friendful! What a delightful word! He coined that word on Monday, and I have used it so many time since then. Five- and six-year-olds are so thoughtful, so caring. I love that I can to teach them each day.

Weekly Meal Plan

It's that time again. Time for a meal plan.

I feel like I've been pretty wishy-washy about the meal plans as of late.

Wasn't it just a month or two ago that I decided to change them up and create the meal plan after the grocery shopping?

Well. With the school year in full swing, that isn't working. Dinner isn't getting made without a trip or two to the grocery store.

Needless to say, I'm back to my "old school" way of making a meal plan and then shopping.

(We'll see how long this lasts...)

Sunday: homemade chicken soup (so excited for soup season!)
Monday: white wine chicken thighs & warm spinach salad
Tuesday: ginger chicken stir fry
Wednesday: breakfast burgers & sweet potato hash
Thursday: salmon packets
Friday: DATE NIGHT! (we're going out to dinner!)
Saturday: Creamy Chicken Casserole



And there you have it, my friends. Dinners for the week. Look for a couple of the recipes to show up on my {receats} page in the near future!

((this moment))

((this moment))

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 ~SouleMama~

Seven Months

My little man is seven months old.

I cannot believe how time has flown by.

SEVEN months! I'm just skipping the six month update. Sorry, bud.

At seven months you...

...weigh a lot and are quite long. We don't have exact stats, as you won't be back to the doctor until January (as a nine month old!). Your hair is still pretty non-existent (I think you get that from your mama!). Your legs are as chunky as can be.

...have two teeth. Your bottom chompers cut through a week or two ago. So stinkin' cute. Your sleep/life wasn't thrown too out of whack while those teeth came in. We'll see how the next ones go!

...experienced your first Halloween! We dressed you as Bam Bam Rubble. Daddy and I went as Barney and Betty Rubble. You enjoyed sitting in your stroller while trick-or-treating at Mootzie and Pa's house with Ava and Jacob.

...love to jump! You would probably be content if we left you in your jumper all day.

...are STILL working on sitting up and rolling from your back to your tummy. This is when I need to remind myself that you got here six weeks early. You'll roll over eventually. You'll sit up unsupported, too.

...LOVE sweet potatoes and kabocha squash. Your cousin's grandpa grew the squash and gave us some to puree into food for you. It's probably your favorite. We held off on the solid foods until you were six months old. We started with sweet potato and skipped rice cereal all together. You've loved the squash. Next up: avocado, beans, and peas. We will then be introducing you to some yummy fruits.

...sat in a pumpkin!

You're our pride and joy, little buddy. We love you for always, baby boy.

((this moment))

((this moment))

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 ~SouleMama~

 

Sad, Sad.

Like most, I take a ton of pictures on my phone.

Like most, I update my phone when the software is available.

But oh so sadly, something went horribly wrong. And my phone got restored. 

And my pictures got deleted. Gone. Adios.

I'm so bummed.

My mom has been texting me the pictures of G that I have texted her. I've taken them off of Facebook.

It's just not the same.

So now. The day after Halloween, here is the picture (the one, the only) that I have on my phone.