Playroom Decorating Part II

The playroom is finally coming along.  We are just missing a few pieces and it will be complete.  In the meantime, we have been using it non-stop, and the little man is loving it.

We were looking for a nice shelving unit that would fit along the long empty wall, and everything we seemed to like cost a fortune, and I was trying to be as cost effective as I could with this project.  After researching some websites, I decided on the Ikea Expedit bookshelves.  So I sent my husband down to Ikea to make the purchase and put them together.

I really liked the green baskets that Jen used in her blog so I decided on using the same Room Essentials Yweave Baskets from Target. The rug was from Urban Outfitters and I love the look, however, since I was trying to stay on budget, I went for a cheaper rug, and now, I wish I would have splurged for a nicer one.  I have a feeling we will get a year out of this one and then will be looking for a replacement.

I found inspiration from Pinterest on putting together an ABC wall.  There are some Etsy shops that you can purchase all of the letters already painted, but I went to my local craft store, picked up the letters and a few cans of spray paint, and saved myself $80 on my DIY project.  The little guy loves the wall, and every time we sing the ABC song, he looks up there and waves his hands.  It is pretty stinkin' cute!

The last few pictures are of our reading area.  I found the bookshelf from Land of Nod and the pillows I had recovered in fabric that I found at a local fabric store.  They are Dwell Studio pieces and can be found on my Pinterest board.

It is still a work in progress, but we are almost done--and most importantly the little guy loves his new play area and mom and dad love the clean space downstairs!

Quick weekend dinner - Pesto Quinoa with Chicken, Broccoli, and Sundried Tomatoes

My husband was working last weekend and I was in need of a quick meal that I could whip up while entertaining a 10 month old.  I had some chicken defrosting in the fridge and I wanted to use up some frozen broccoli I had in the freezer.  Pasta sounded good but I did not have any in the pantry.  So I reached for the quinoa again and tried to get a little creative.  So, I scrounged through the refrigerator and found some pesto, sundried tomatoes, and parmesan.

I baked my chicken breasts ahead of time so I could just throw everything together right before my husband walked through the door.  Once they were done I chopped them up, along with my sun-dried tomatoes.

Next I cooked the quinoa in chicken stock to give it a little extra flavor, and steamed my broccoli.

10-15 minutes later we were ready to throw it all together in the pot and toss in a couple tablespoons of pesto.

I decided to top if off with some shaved parmesan.

It was a nice quick meal, and the husband and little guy enjoyed it.  I am really starting to enjoy cooking with quinoa.

Pesto Quinoa with Chicken, Sun-dried Tomatoes, and Broccoli
1 cup of dried quinoa
2 cups of chicken stock
2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
2 cups of broccoli (can use fresh or frozen- I had frozen on hand)
1/4 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
3 Tablespoons of basil pesto
Parmesan shavings for garnish

Cook quinoa in chicken stock according to package directions.  Meanwhile, Steam broccoli 8-10 minutes, or until tender.  Chop cooked chicken and sun-dried tomatoes.  Add to cooked quinoa.  Mix in 3 Tablespoons of pesto and serve. Top with shaved parmesan.

Roasted Tomatoes with Shrimp and Feta

I ran across this recipe about 8 years ago when I was in college in Ann Arbor and was receiving a monthly subscription to Real Simple magazine.  That was when Facebook was just making its way across colleges, and pinning recipes on Pinterest did not exist.  I often found myself ripping pages out of a magazine and sticking them in my recipe box for later use.  Most of them were not put to use until I was married 3 years ago.

I remembered I had this little gem tucked with my recipes when my mom pulled it up on Pinterest during our visit to Florida and made it for our family one evening.  I have made it twice since then, usually when I have a lot of tomatoes to use up in the summer months.  I whipped it up this past week, and it was YUM, YUM, YUM.

I had to take a picture to prove that I had the original published magazine recipe.  Or you can find the original one online here.

It really is simple.  I cut up some tomatoes (I did not measure anything for this--I pretty much used what I had on hand at home).  Added minced garlic, EVOO, and salt and pepper and popped it in the over for 20 minutes.

In the meantime I got the shrimp ready, and topped it off with a little extra salt and pepper.

After the 20 minutes I threw in the shrimp, lemon juice, and feta.  I did not have fresh parsley on hand, so I used dried basil and oregano to give it a little more flavor.  I have used fresh basil before, and I would have used it again if I had not let the second plant I had this summer perish due to the extreme heat. (I do not have a green thumb-obviously). 

In the pan went back into the oven for another 10 minutes.

During that time I was able to catch my two guys having some fun on the kitchen floor (my husband is going to kill me for posting this!)

After the 10 minutes, we served it up and enjoyed.  The original recipe states to serve with crusty bread, which would be delicious, but I think it would be great on rice or pasta as well.  We decided to put it on a bed of quinoa, just to change it up.

This was the best picture I could get.  My husband scooped it up for me since I was having to feed our little guy, so I was not able to make it too presentable.  But it sure tasted good!

ROASTED TOMATOES WITH SHRIMP AND FETA
from Real Simple

Ingredients
5 large tomatoes, cut into eighths
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of minced garlic
salt and pepper (as desired)
1 1/2 pounds of medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
1 cup of crumbled feta

Directions
1. Heat overn to 450 F, Place tomatoes in large baking dish and spoon garlic and olive oil over.
2. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss.  Roast on top rack of oven for 20 minutes.
3. Remove dish from over and stir in shrimp, parsley, and lemon juice.  Sprinkle with feta.
4. Return to oven until shrimp are cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve

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Playroom Decorating Part I

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were upstairs in our playroom with our son, and we were reminded of an idea we had a few months back.  Shortly after the birth of our little guy, we quickly realized how difficult it would be for the two of us to get back to the gym, so we had this grand idea of finally putting our bonus room to some use.  We thought it would be a great place to throw some small weights and workout equipment so that they would be at our reach.

Well, we laugh about that now, because a few short months later, after our TV room downstairs seemed to be accumulating more and more toys, swings, play mats, etc, we decided to put our bonus room to a more logical use.  We decided to declutter the downstairs and make our little guy a playroom of his own.

Here are some pictures of what we started with.

Of course I had to scrounge Pinterest for a few ideas.  You can check out my playroom board here. I found a few blogs that had a look that I loved.  One was from one of my favorite blogs.  I Heart Organizing.  You can see Jen's room that inspired me here and another blog that used a similar idea was found at bubblesandbobbins.com.  

More pictures of the playroom update coming soon.

10 Months and Counting

This labor day marks our little guy's 10 month birthday.  This past week has been a rough one for not only him, but mom and dad as well.  He has been fussy all week, and on Tuesday, he starting running a low grade fever.  It was pretty pitiful, because the kid that LOVES to walk all over the house, just wanted to be held and put his head on his mommy's shoulder.

Of course, it was just a viral infection, and it needed to run it's course, but it still was hard to watch him in pain and not feeling well.  I am grateful that it was just a viral infection though, and I really to think the power of breastfeeding does help keep him pretty healthy.  So, Friday the fever was gone, then of course...more teething.  I love this stage, transitioning from my baby to my little toddler, but I could do without the teething process.  I think tooth #7 is starting it's way down his gums, which makes for another screaming, fussy few days.

Nevertheless, I hope this coming week, and starting his 10th month will be better for him.  He is developing quite a personality now. He has been walking for a month and half now, and is a lot more sturdy on his feet.  He can stand on his own, and I am quite impressed at the strength of those little calves and thighs. He can bend and hold a squat for quite a while.  I am pretty jealous!

He has not said any concrete words quite yet, but is still babbling.  I tried yesterday to get him to say "mama" and all I could get out of him was "rahrahrah".  Close enough I guess. We have been signing some words to him as well, and last night after dinner, when I asked him if he was all done, he waved his hands in the air and signed "all done".

He is a pretty good eater, and is nursing still about 4 times a day.  I made most of his baby food (which I will go into in a another post) but he now is primarily on table food.  He eats what mom and dad eat and he loves any and all kinds of protein.  Steak, pork tenderloin, chicken, shrimp, you name it, he shovels it in.

He points to his alphabet on the wall when you sing him the alphabet song, and when you count to ten he is starting to point to the numbers on the wall.  His new thing is to run to a pillow or mommy and put his head down.  It is pretty sweet, however, mommy is the recipient of most hugs.  I think daddy is feeling a little left out, but he will warm up to him soon.

He has been sleeping through the night since he was just shy of 5 months (8pm-6:30am), but lately, with a few vacations, the illness, and teeth, we have had a few interrupted nights of sleep, but I won't complain.  It just means a little extra cuddling with my little guy.  He still is not a great napper, but I rather get my sleep at night these days!!

These ten months have been the most rewarding time in my life, and my husband and I are so blessed to have this wondefrul source of love and joy in our lives.

Stats: (some from 9 month appointment) 18 lbs 5 oz, 28.5 inches long

I Kept Running

We are now at 10 months old, and I figured since I am starting part-time this week, (and the fact that it has been TEN months) I would dust off the old running shoes and hit the pavement.  It is funny, during my maternity leave I was jogging some and was attending yoga more regularly.  But since I went back to work, that has slacked off, since I prefer to spend my spare hours with my little guy.  I mean, look at him.  Who could resist.

But it is time to focus a little on me, maybe just 20 minutes a day, and I think I can make daddy spend some spare time with the little guy and I can get back in shape, maybe even hit the gym that I have not frequented since I was 8 1/2 months pregnant.

I often wonder how hard can it be.  I completed a half marathon 3 months before I was pregnant.  I ran until I was 33 weeks pregnant.  I think I can manage it 10 months post pregnancy.  So, with my jogging stroller in one hand and pumping against the wind with the other, I hope to get what every new mom deserves, a few minutes to breathe in the fresh air and gather my thoughts, and to feel good about myself all the while.

Even the thought of running wears this guy out!