Although I really wanted to take Gracen to the members only penguin premier last week, events that start at 5:30 p.m. don’t really work for our 6:30 p.m. to bed gal. But that’s okay. I’ll happily skip evening events order to continue having a little lady that sleeps 12 hours through the night and another 2 during the day any day of the week. In our house, a well-rested munchkin equals a happy mama. We meant to get to the aquarium the day after the premier, but play dates and days-too-gorgeous-to-not-spend-at-the-beach got in our way. We finally made it there this morning though, and let me tell you, the penguins are ridiculously cute. They even wear beaded bracelets around their flippers. The penguin show was good {from what I could hear over the audience chatter} and the new habitat is pretty cool, albeit smaller and less grand than what I was expecting. Gracen’s favourite part was a little kids’ area they had set up in a corner where they were offering penguin bingo sheets and mini pencils. The only thing I was a little disappointed about was the fact that there is no seating or standing area where children can see the penguins when they’re up on the rock area of their environment (which is where they were both times we visited). Of course, you can just hold them up for a better view, but it makes for tired arms and a lack of good photo opportunities if you’re the only parent accompanying your child. A little inconvenient, but not a deal breaker. We enjoyed seeing the penguins enough to stop by twice during our visit and will definitely be back again. 
♥
To enter:
Here it is… Round 12 of 
Breakfast // Chia Goodness made with whole organic milk. Strawberries, blueberries, and apple slices.
Breakfast // Organic eggs scrambled with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and herbs. Toasted Sovital bread drizzled with olive oil. Watermelon sticks. Strawberries and blueberries.
Breakfast // 
Breakfast // Organic shredded wheat cereal with bananas, strawberries, and whole, organic milk.
Snack // Frozen organic blueberries (one of the easiest and most loved snacks in our house).
Snack // Banana bites (clockwise from left: almond butter and raw sunflower seeds, almond butter with brown rice crisps and raisins, peanut butter with unsweetened coconut, peanut butter with 
Snack // Stovetop-popped popcorn.
Snack // Apple slices with all-natural peanut butter and organic oats.
Lunch // Wholewheat noodles with steamed veggies, tofu, black bean sauce, and sesame seeds.
Snacks & Lunch {on the go} // Tofu cubes. 
Lunch // Organic wholewheat 
Lunch // Spinach and tortellini soup with veggies and multigrain breadsticks.
Dinner // Homemade wholewheat thin crust pizza (on left: BBQ chicken with roasted red peppers, red onions, and herbs, on the right: roasted zucchini, red pepper, yellow pepper, artichoke, broccoli, red onion, and sun-dried tomato).
Dinner // Creamy baby potatoes with fresh dill {from our garden!} Roasted carrot. Steamed beets. Roasted chicken. Fresh corn {off the cob}.
Dessert // 
Dessert // 
We chopped up a couple of big slices of watermelon, grabbed a lemon and lime from the fridge, and clipped a couple of mint sprigs from the garden, and we were good to go.
Put your watermelon chunks into a blender.
Taste midway through to ensure yumminess.
Next, juice a lime…
And a lemon.
Pull out the seeds and pour the juice and pulp into your blender.
Next, sniff in the deliciousness that is fresh mint.
Then pop it into the blender.
Secure the lid on the blender and blend everything until smooth. (Depending on the juiciness of your watermelon, you may need to pulse and shake the blender a few times in order to build up a little liquid.)
Once fully blended, carefully pour the mixture into your popsicle moulds.
Then add the sticks and pop them into the freezer.
If there’s any leftover, let you toddler have a little taste and watch her eyes light up with excitement. If Grae’s reaction to the frozen pops is anything like the reaction she had to the juice, I know she’ll love them.
We started by gathering our ingredients. Here’s what you need: mango, plain Greek yogurt, lemons, and pure vanilla (and a blender, spoon, and popsicle moulds of some sort).
Get started by putting all of your mango chunks into your blender.
Then add a generous amount of really good, thick Greek yogurt. (We used the no fat kind this time around because it’s what we had on hand, but since these popsicles are really for Gracen more than anyone else, I’d normally use the full fat kind.)
Next up – juice a couple of lemons…
And add the juice and pulp to the blender.
Lastly, add a splash of pure vanilla for a little hint of sweetness. (Depending on the sweetness of your mango, you may want to add a tiny bit of honey or pure maple syrup at this point too, but if your mango is ripe and naturally sweet, you won’t need it).
Next, blend away!
While your mixture is blending, get your moulds out and ready. (I love these old-school Tupperware ones from Gma Char… They remind me of summers on the back deck as a kid!)
When your mango mixture is smooth and creamy, pour it into the moulds, leaving a little room at the top for expansion.
That’s it! Let your little one slurp up the extras, put the lids on the moulds, and pop them in the freezer!
Our popsicle stash has taken a major hit these past few days… If this weather is going to continue like this {and hopefully it will}, we’d better get on replenishing our stock asap.
Floral sunglasses: Joe / Hooded sweater: Joe / Purple tee: Joe / Black leggings: H&M / Runners: New Balance, thrifted / Muscleman pose: Directed by Papa
Crossover ballet sweater: Baby Gap / Yellow tee: Next / “Cousin” Jeans: H&M / Fluorescent sneakers: H&M / Vintage Kermit: Belonged to Papa when he was little
Felt flower hair clip: Handmade by Mama / Fuchsia tee: Next / Floral sundress: H&M / Multi-coloured sandals: Joe
Butterfly headband: Handmade by Mama (
Sunhat: Baby Gap / Hooded sweater: Levi’s / Babydoll dress: Old Navy / Multi-coloured sandals: Joe
Hair clip: Kulai Klips / Plaid button-up: Joe / Pink onesie: H&M / “Cousin” jeans: H&M / Fluorescent sneakers: H&M / Vintage doll: Belonged to Mama when she was little and Manmaw Sue before that!
Felt heart hair clip: Handmade by Mama / Quilted sweater: Joe / Polkadot dress: H&M / Leggings: H&M / Ruffled flats: Unknown (gifted)
But after a long day, I must say that I’m perfectly happy having the evening to clean my house, work on some 
This little girl never ceases to amaze me. This morning, she chose to wear red glittered Dorothy shoes, but after having them on for a minute, we realized that they, like many of her other shoes, are now too small (sad day). I asked her to go to the closet and pick out another pair, and this is what she came back with… Of all pairs, Mama’s red ballet flats.
Our little lady seems to be on an eating binge these last few days. If we didn’t know her better, it’d almost be alarming. She piles away huge portions of food during her snack and meal times, and then just after we get her hands and faced washed, she’s asking for something more. It’s quite amazing, actually. She’s like a bottomless pit. Luckily, we know that she goes through these stages every now and again. She eats everything in sight for about a week, and then everything suddenly levels out and goes back to normal again. Here is some of what she ate the past week:
Breakfast // Organic Greek yogurt with bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and a sprinkling of chia.
Breakfast // Multigrain bagel with all-natural cream cheese and avocado. Strawberry slices.
Breakfast // Wholewheat oat waffle with Greek yogurt and fresh blueberries.
Breakfast // Toasted wholewheat cinnamon raisin bagel with all-natural peanut butter, banana slices, and organic raisins.
Breakfast // Toasted Sovital bread (dark 11 gain rye) with olive oil and avocado. Cottage cheese. Blueberries.
Snack // Homemade pita crisps.
Snack // 
{Outdoor Picnic} Snacks // Watermelon slices. 
Snack // ‘Lulu Mix’ ( pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, organic raisins, organic cranberries, organic corn puffs).
Snacks & Lunch {on the go} // Watermelon chunks. Blueberries. Apple slices. Mozzarella slices. Mini turkey and oat meatloaf. Veggie penne noodles. Raw almonds. Avocado.
Lunch // Veggie sandwich on Sovital bread (all-natural cream cheese, cucumbers, spinach, avocado, and red onion). Steamed edamame. Blueberries and strawberries.
Lunch // Grilled {all-natural} turkey, mozzarella, and spinach on chia bread. Orange slices.
Lunch {on the go} // Turkey and oat meatballs. Cheddar cubes. Carrot coins. Strawberry slices. Avocado chunks. Veggie penne noodles. Multigrain flatbread.
Lunch {out with Mama on Mother’s Day} // Bradner Farms Flatbread Pizza (organic free-range chicken, nut-free pesto, roasted red peppers, and red onions) from the 
Lunch // Tortellini Salad (all-natural cheese tortellini, avocado, sun-dried tomato, artichoke hearts, toasted pine nuts, olive oil, red chili flakes, and freshly-ground pepper).
Dinner // Quinoa bowl (organic quinoa with spicy piri piri sauce, sautéed red onions, red peppers, and yellow peppers, grated mozzarella, and avocado chunks).
Dinner // Baked vegetable ziti (veggie penne, zucchini, broccoli, spinach, homemade tomato sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella). Mini turkey and oat meatloaf.
Dinner // Seedy turkey and oat burger topped with fresh veggies and cheddar on a multigrain flatbread bun.
Dinner // Teriyaki chicken on sticky rice (a special treat). Steamed edamame. Steamed broccoli.
Dinner // Chicken roasted with garlic and fresh rosemary. Roasted carrots, baby potatoes, and beets.
Dessert // 
Dessert // 
{A Special} Drink // Frothy raspberry milk.
