While getting into the car after a particularly trying visit to the craft store…
Gracen: I’m happy! I’m a good girl.
Mama: Yes, baby. You’re a good girl.
Gracen: But Mama’s still feeling a little bit up-set though…
Mama: (nods)
Gracen: I LOVE YOUUUU!
Mama: I love you too, Grae.
Gracen: Mama still loves Grae Grae even when she’s up-set.
Yes I do, sweet girl. Always and forever.
♥
One of the things I’ve been doing to encourage independent play {and creativity} in recent months is keeping a fun, inviting, and well-stocked ‘creative table’ for Gracen. All it is is her little table (or sometimes a tray or even the floor) with an assortment of materials available for her free use. Sometimes it’s paper and glue and embellishments (like in our Christmas tree creative table), sometimes it’s play dough and cookie cutters and decorations, and sometimes it’s a tray of baking soda with droppers and dishes of different coloured vinegars. Naturally, some creative table set-ups are more open-ended and some lend themselves more to a finished product, but either way, the purpose is for Gracen to explore materials, experiment, and create freely while enjoying the process.
Today, Miss G and I did a little bit of shopping for this year’s Valentine’s Day projects (yes, we’re thinking about it already), and though I intended on holding off on a Valentine’s themed creative table for a while yet, my little lady popped up from her afternoon nap and her first words were, “I want to craft now. Grae Grae gets her new craft things!” And that was that. A Valentine’s creative table it was.
Together we gathered up all sorts of pink and red craft supplies… Smelly markers, sparkly foam shapes, bingo dabbers, stamps and a stamp pad, doilies, construction paper hearts, and some glue.
As she does with most creative projects, Grae dove right in.
The immediate favourite? The foam stickers. She plower through the initial stash and asked for more right away.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, she came and went as she pleased, adding to her pieces as she wished.
Here are a few of the pieces she declared ‘finished’…
While it won’t be around until the big day (I try to change up our creative table supplies every 4 to 7 days or so), there’s no doubt it will be enjoyed, added to, and revisited for several days to come.
♥
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Recently, Gracen has become borderline obsessed with all things searching-based. She loves a good game of hide-and-seek, she adores playing ‘I Spy’, and there’s nothing better than a ‘Where’s Waldo?’ book. So this afternoon, after a busy morning filled with a morning walk, a first attempt at skating, and an impromptu hair cut, we decided to pull together a low-key searching activity indoors.
First, we rounded up some coins (aka treasure) and gave them a good scrub in hot soapy water {because money grosses me out}. (Of course you could always use something different as treasure…plastic gems, tiny toys, play money, etc.)
After drying off the coins, we spread them out on a plastic serving tray…
And hid the treasure with the coloured rice we made months ago (plain rice, sand, flour, dry pasta, beans, and cornmeal would all be good alternatives).
Voila – treasure hidden.
Next, we gathered a few treasure finding tools.
We laid our tray down on a towel for easier clean up, retrieved one of Miss G’s piggy banks for treasure collection, and the search began.
Searching…
Found something… Jackpot!
Clink! Into the piggy bank (cue Miss G’s ‘money, money, moneeeeey’ song and dance).
Grae had so much fun with this little game that I’m certain it will sit out in our living room for the next few days being enjoyed by our little search-obsessed girl time and time again.
♥
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After our morning adventure, Miss G and I spontaneously decided to head down to Broadway to get her hair trimmed. As usual, we went to Melonhead, and as usual, we had another great experience. Though this was Grae’s third haircut, it was the first that I had not prepared for by packing along very special sit still treats. ☺ Thankfully, it wasn’t an issue. We walked in without an appointment and got in immediately (which is always nice). Gracen chose where she’d like to sit (the pink car – again) and happily enjoyed some crazy Treehouse show while the lovely stylist snipped away.
Before.
During.
After.
A sweet little style.
Celebratory pony ride.
Before I knew it, Gracen was sporting a cute new do and we were on our way.
♥
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While on Christmas vacation in the Okanagan, I finally came across something I’d been on the lookout for for a while now… Old-school double-bladed skates. ☺
And though we didn’t get around to a family skate session while on vacation, today my little lady and I stopped by Hillcrest Centre for their weekly preschooler skate.
Gracen was really excited about trying skating, so we got suited up and hit the ice. At first, we skated hand in hand, her taking quick small steps on the slippery surface and I doing my best to balance the both of us. After a few minutes, I realized we’d both be better off starting with one of the plastic support apparatuses (thank heavens for them!) It was so much easier, especially with my rusty skating skills involved. Grae stood in front with me behind her and all was good. In fact, we happily made it all the way down the ice and halfway back again before she took her first spill. That’s when things started going downhill a wee bit. While she’d been confident and happy for the first bit, after the fall she was anxious and much more cautious. Though I got her up and having fun again, she told me several times ‘Dis ice is soooooo slippery. Too slippery, Mama!’
In an effort to turn things around, I offered to push her on a chair for a bit like many of the other parents were doing with their kids. Needless to say, with the risk of falling removed and the fact that she could glide across the ice at super speed without really having to put forth any effort added in, she loved it.
With spirits boosted from a good long chair ride, we hit the ice again and tried holding hands and using a cone for support.
It was short, but overall I’d say our first ever skating session was a success. Gracen left happy and she says she’s excited to go again next time. Can’t ask for much more than that. ☺
♥
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Ahhh… Is there anything better than starting off the day with a good walk and a generous dose of crisp air?
A new goal of mine is to explore places around our beautiful city that we don’t usually venture out to. So today, the three of us headed out, walked the seawall along Beach Avenue (stopping to visit the inukshuk and explore the beach), and visited a new-to-us park. It was a perfect way to start a Sunday.
♥
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Since returning home from vacation last week, we’ve been in a bit of a ‘getting back on track’ mode… While we’re pretty good at maintaining Gracen’s overall schedule while away, some things are harder to control. While on vacation, the time Grae’s left to find and engage in activities on her own is minimal – and for good reason as there are cousins and grandparents to play with! The trouble is, mix the lack of time to practice independence with a whole lot more media exposure (I’m learning that our television is on for, perhaps, an abnormally small fraction of the day), and by the time we return home, I’ve got a stage five clinger on my hands. And don’t get me wrong – I love having my little sidekick right next to me most of the time… But sometimes a mama has just got to do something on her own, without a little pair of hands in the mix. Not to mention that I think independent play is a very important skill for kids to learn.
So tonight, as I was whipping together some dinner, I thought of a little game that would allow Miss G (my purple dinosaur) to be right there in the kitchen with me, while allowing me a wee bit of space. Flipping some chicken using tongs caused me to remember the mini tongs we’d put in Grae’s Christmas stocking. I added two bowls and some shell pasta to the mix, and we had a game on our hands.
The goal? Simply using the tongs to pick up the shells from one bowl and transfer them to the other bowl.
Now this may sound ridiculously easy, but for a toddler who’s had minimal experience with tongs and whose motor skills are not yet fully developed, it’s quite a challenge at first.
But not for long. After successfully transferring all of the pasta pieces twice, Gracen asked for something new. I quickly scanned our kitchen and came up these honey mandarins.
I could already see that her tong transferring skills had improved this time around.
After a couple of rounds with the oranges, Miss G wanted to try something new again, so we dug these bells out of a craft box to use.
It is such a simple activity, but this little ‘game’ certainly kept my clingy monkey happily engaged until dinner was ready. And sometimes that’s just what a mama needs.
♥
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Us.
♥
Growing up, there was a group of 7 of us girls who were extremely close. Throughout the years, some of us have moved, married, developed careers, and had babies, and all of us have grown up and changed. The thing is, bring us all together again, and it’s as close to effortless as friendship can be.
Today Grae and I had the opportunity to spend time with 3 of those friends (plus an adorable little addition to the crew named Miss A). We brunched, walked, reminisced, and conducted a mini photo shoot which I’m certain led several strangers to believe that we are completely insane (I don’t blame them). Grae soaked up every moment.
Over dinner, I asked her what her favourite part about today was. Her response was, “Those friends.” Good call, baby girl, good call. I can only hope she finds girlfriends that stand the test of time one day.
♥
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Breakfast // Organic shredded wheat cereal with hemp hearts, frozen blueberries, fresh raspberries, and organic milk.
Breakfast // French toast (made with omega seed bread) with plain organic yogurt, frozen blueberries, a TINY drizzle of pure maple syrup, and a sprinkling of cinnamon.
Breakfast // Wholewheat cinnamon raisin English muffin with all-natural peanut butter. Kiwi slices. Fresh raspberries.
Breakfast // Parmesan basil scrambled eggs. Homestyle potatoes with onions and peppers. Flaxseed toast.
Breakfast // Wholewheat raspberry scone. Kiwi slices. Fresh raspberries. Raspberry tea.
Breakfast // Flaxseed toast with all-natural peanut butter, chia seeds, and hemp hearts.
Breakfast // Wholewheat ‘Gracen’ pancakes.
Lunch // Southwest turkey chili with sour cream. Avocado couscous salad.
Lunch // Black bean veggie quesadilla on an Ezekiel 4:9 tortilla with sour cream and fresh avocado.
Lunch // Parmesan and avocado toast. Carrot sticks and hummus. Apple slices.
Lunch // Wholewheat elk pasta with baby peas, edamame beans, and fresh parmesan.
Lunch // Chicken, tofu, and veggie stir-fry on fresh rice noodles.
Lunch // Curried tuna and apple salad on a tomato wrap. Red pepper slices. Roasted squash.
Lunch // Potato and leek soup with chickpeas and veggies. Wholewheat naan.
Dinner // Wholewheat spaghetti with spicy turkey tomato sauce and fresh parmesan. Roasted Brussels sprouts.
Dinner // Creamy corn and veggie soup. Multi-seed flatbread with humus.
Dinner // Harvest grains, steamed veggies, and sesame tempeh.
Dinner // Parmesan and walnut encrusted chicken. Roasted Brussels sprouts. Roasted golden beets with feta. Cheese ravioli with herbs and spices brought home from Italy.
Dinner // Tuscan sausage soup with shell pasta, spinach, and white beans. Parmesan rye spears.
Dinner // Homemade pizza (BBQ chicken and roasted veggie and feta).
Dinner // Wholewheat penne with tomato basil turkey sauce and feta.
♥
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I know that green smoothies may seem a little trendy with all of the New Year’s resolutions happening right now, but the truth is that they’re really easy, really healthy, and pretty much a fool-proof way to start your day.
Grae and I have been making green smoothies for a long while now (and even made one with all green ingredients for last year’s St. Patrick’s Day), but I decided I’d make a habit of making one each morning after slipping into a routine of skipping breakfast for the last couple of months of 2012. So far, we’ve pretty much started each day of the New Year with a green smoothie of some sort (we often just add a couple of giant handfuls of kale or spinach to this trusty standby), but this particular one has quickly become our very favourite.
Here’s the lineup of ingredients… Some cold water, several ice cubes, pure orange juice (or better yet – a fresh squeezed orange), half an apple, a pear, a banana, and a few kale leaves.
To get started, peel the banana, chop up the pear, and peel and chop the apple (as long as you don’t mind some added texture, feel free to leave the apple peel on).
Now pop those things into the blender {while sneaking a few bites of course}.
Next, remove the stems from the kale.
And add it to the blender along with the orange juice, water, and ice cubes.
This part isn’t necessary and certainly doesn’t change the flavour, but we always add a big scoop of chia seeds to our smoothies. The nutritional benefits of chia are amazing and it keeps your smoothie from separating if you store extras in the fridge overnight. Bonus!
Next, blend everything up. We normally start on a low setting until the ingredients are combined, then crank it up and let it blend a while longer so that it doesn’t feel as though you’re drinking a salad. ☺
(If you really don’t like the idea of drinking leaves and want your smoothie to be as smooth as possible, blend just your liquids and leafy greens first, then add in the other ingredients afterwards.)
Now pour into cups and enjoy!
Gracen’s Favourite Green Smoothie
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend for approximately 45 seconds.
Enjoy!
♥
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Tonight Gracen and I whipped up one of our easy family favourites for dinner. I’ve been asked for a detailed recipe for these baked burritos time and time again, but to be honest, they’re so easy, a recipe isn’t really required. There are tons of different possibilities, but we keep ours very simple…
First off, our usual list of ingredients… Wholewheat tortillas, shredded chicken breast, refried beans (you can easily make your own or look for the can with the lowest sodium – some are though the roof with salt), cheese (in this case an all-natural vintage white cheddar, but colby, jalapeño jack, and mozzarella work well too), and salsa verde (or ‘green sauce’ – I always pick the one with a short list of wholesome ingredients).
All it really takes is layering up the ingredients on the tortillas. First up – the refried beans. We use a heaping scoop per tortilla and spread it out across the centre of a tortilla using the back of a spoon.
Next, we take a little bit of shredded chicken breast and distribute it over the beans. Be sure not to over fill the tortillas – you want them to roll easily at the end.
Next, add a tiny sprinkle of cheese.
And if desired, add a couple of jalapeño peppers to each shell (we leave a couple without for Miss G).
That’s it. Now gently roll up the tortillas and place them in a glass baking dish, lining them up tightly, one next to the other.
Eight burritos should fit perfectly in your dish.
With the burritos finished, pour the salsa verde evenly on top.
How much salsa you use just depends on how saucy you want the dish. We normally use between 1/2 and 3/4 of a jar so that all of the burritos have some salsa on top, but are not fully covered.
Last step – sprinkle a small amount of cheese on top of the salsa.
Ready for the oven!
Bake until the filling is piping hot and the cheese is melty, then allow the burritos to broil for a couple of minutes so that the cheese becomes golden and the tortilla edges begin to get crispy.
Top with avocado chunks, green onions, or fresh cilantro (or better yet – all 3) and serve with a side of sautéed veggies and/or rice.
Watching: Strangely enough, this video. Brad and I laugh about it all the time. Not only is about all things spooky {and our little girl has been known to be frightened of a loud sneeze}, but the song itself is hilariously odd. It’s slow and soft, yet surprisingly upbeat all at once. “Spooky things doing a spooky dance….” Kills me every time.
Singing: Right now, every song she hears. This little lady is a total music lover who chooses to watch music videos over television and can often be found dancing and singing while doing other activities. New favourites added to her repertoire include Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Rock-a-Bye Baby, Spooky Spooky, and I’ll Love You Forever.
Playing: Dress-up. Constantly. Poppop recently made her a wooden dress-up centre and she got all kinds of costumes and accessories for it for Christmas. It’s not unusual for us to have a fairy, jester, or cat roaming around the house nowadays. In fact, yesterday I took a pink poodle out for a walk around the neighbourhood.
Talking about: Everything. Non-stop. Our days are question after question after question. “What’s that?”, “What’s it called?”, “Why for?”, “Who’s dat?”, “What his name is?”, “What dat sound is?”, “What’s Mama talking about?”
Reading: Goodnight Goon by Michael Rex. She and Papa picked it our at our latest library visit, and despite the fact that she can be ultra sensitive and the book is about a ‘cold gray tomb with a black lagoon, and two slimy claws, and a couple of jaws’ etc., we’ve read it every day before both nap time and bedtime since we checked it out.
Eating: During our 3 weeks of vacation, I think she ate her weight in pistachios, cashews, and other fancy nuts we don’t normally keep around. Now that we’re home and getting back into a routine, we’ve been making smoothies each morning (which has been great for getting a good amount of green veggies into our breakfasts) and she loves the whole process – gathering ingredients, making the smoothies, and slurping them up.
♥
Danielle from Sometimes Sweet, a blog I’ve followed for a very long time now, does regular Currently posts which inspired my Gracen-modified ones. ☺
The perfect way to cap off a Sunday. ☺
sous chef // best part of baking