Oct
2013

Four Things the Inside of Your Car is Saying About You ~ A NickMom Inspired Story #MotherFunny

categories: parenting

This post is part of a sponsored campaign through Collective Bias. When your world is run by very small people, sometimes you just need to laugh.  My kids bring me endless joy and delight, but they also bring major messes, frustration, and copious amounts of bodily fluids to brighten my day. Nickelodeon’s NickMom.com provides hilarious mom-centered content for those moments when you want to lighten up and giggle at yourself and others.  When I read this post, “What does your snack offering say about you?”,  I started thinking about the place where all of our snacks end up… the inside of my car.  I don’t know about you, but my car’s interior basically looks like we are vagabond hoarders on most days.  Inspired by NickMom, I came up with a list to judge us all by the inside of our cars.  Sorry Dr. King, we’ll save the content of our character judging for another day.  I too have a dream.  It involves a car cleaning fairy.

Four Things the Inside of Your Car is Saying About You

1) Sweet and Sour 
The car’s interior looks clean at first glance, but an unpleasant yet unidentifiable smell hits your nostrils as you open the door.  The culprit? A rogue sippy cup thrown under the passenger seat.  Milk does not do well after two weeks unrefrigerated.
You are a big picture kind of girl, but skim over the details.  Your child may accuse you of skipping pages while reading yet another seemingly endless Cat in the Hat book, but at least you are reading to him.

2) Messy Mayhem
Seventeen semi-empty coffee mugs fill every cup holder and crevice in your vehicle.  Each one is filled with a wadded up piece of paper, candy wrapper, or wet wipe.  Your very demanding small people have a lot of energy and in order to keep up you must caffeinate regularly.  You maintain a belief in a cleaning fairy that will someday appear and make all the trash go to its home.

3) Conspiracy Theory or Retail Therapy
Every surface is spotless and shiny and new car smell permeates the air.  Either you are covering up a recent crime spree or you actually bought a new car and have yet to let your children enter the vehicle.  In either case, I’m sure it was justifiable.  

4) Overbooked
Smashed Cheerios line the floorboard as far as the eye can see.  Toys tossed aside crunch underfoot and dvds fill every door pocket. You just had to get through those errands and that Starbucks drive through line, and junior decided to use the snack trap as a projectile.  Priorities, people.  You had that kind of day today.  And yesterday.

So ladies, what does the inside of your car say about you? I’m a combination of Messy Mayhem and Overbooked with a rogue sippy cup thrown in for good measure. If you need a laugh today, follow NickMom on Facebook and Twitter, and check out NickMom.com.  A good belly laugh totally counts as cardio.  Your abs will thank you.


Oct
2013

Eleanor Pearl at Five Months

categories: baby, family, parenting
Time is flying, and our girl is already five months old.
She is so bright eyed and delightful.
She laughs at her brother all day long.
She is incredibly curious and always taking in her surroundings.
She is *this close* to crawling.
She pushes up and rocks back and forth.
Sometimes she even launches herself forward.
She can get pretty much wherever she wants by rolling.
Rolling and chewing, that’s how she spend her days.
Judging by the amount of drool and chewing,
I think her first tooth is not far off.
She loves to be worn in the Ergo or pushed in the stroller and is up for any adventure.
Floor time makes her happy, especially when it is outside on a blanket.
She is loving her “baby office”, and exersaucer from a consignment sale.  

Sweet Eleanor is still exclusively breastfed.
She refuses a bottle, so she is mama’s little sidekick wherever I go.
Sometimes I wish she would take a bottle, 
but I wouldn’t trade our precious nursing relationship for the world.  

We didn’t have a check up this month, 
so I’m guessing her weight is around 15-16 pounds.
Judging by her rubber band wrists and chunky little thighs
she is healthy and growing fast.
She wears 6-12 month clothes.
We are using cloth diapers almost exclusively, and it is so much easier now that the Bear is potty trained (except for nap & night).  One in cloth is WAY easier than two.  Captain Obvious, reporting for duty.
Every time she outgrows something, it breaks my heart just a little.

Our Pearl Girl’s eyes are still a bright, clear blue.
Her hair is still an auburn shade and her eyebrows are red.
I’m on the hunt for soft, handmade, red-haired dolls for Christmas.
Her natural mohawk went away this month as we battled cradle cap.

Ellie and Fisher are really starting to play together, 
and nothing is sweeter.
He loves to make her laugh.
I thank God every day for this precious angel baby.
She is sweet and beautiful and brings us such joy 
and we are so blessed to be her parents.   


Oct
2013

Sneaky Veggie Double Chocolate Whole Wheat Muffins

categories: recipes, toddlers
Parenting a toddler comes with a special set of challenges, one of which is trying to get them to eat things outside of their favorite food groups.  Similar to Will Ferrell’s Elf character, most toddler consider the main food groups to be candy, candy corns, cake, cupcakes, cereal, milk, and juice.  We fight toddler meal battles on a daily basis around here, and utilize a variety of techniques to get our growing boy the nutrients he needs without losing our sanity.  I make sneaky veggie smoothies every week, and have started baking sneaky veggie muffins quite often.  I’ve tried a few veggie muffin recipes, and have come up with the one I’m sharing today through trial and error.  This recipe maximizes the good stuff without compromising on taste.  We all love them, and I hope you will as well.
Sneaky Veggie Double Chocolate Whole Wheat Muffins
Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup applesauce
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 eggs or substitute 3 tbsp flax seed mixed with water
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup grated carrot
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350 and grease your muffin tin or line it with paper liners.
Beat the eggs or flax seed mix.  Add the rest of the wet ingredients and mix well.  I use a stand mixer.
Add the dry ingredients slowly, mixing and scraping the sides as you go.
After the other ingredients are well mixed, add the chocolate chips if desired.
Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop the batter in to your muffin tin, filling each spot 2/3 of the way full.
Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes.
Enjoy.  These bad boys are not just for picky toddlers.  They are popular with all members of Casa de Eby.
I wish the Bear would eat his vegetables, and I continue to offer them at lunch and dinner every day.  Someday he will choose to eat them.  For now, I’m getting his nutritional needs met in the form of baked goods.
How do you get your kids to eat vegetables?

Oct
2013

Saving Kid Art {No Hoarding Required} ~ Make A Kid Art Mini Bunting

categories: decorating, family, frugal, kids, toddlers
We have entered in to the classic parent dilemma.  What do we do with all of the treasures our wee ones create without ending up on the show Hoarders?  The Bear is quite the prolific painter, and can turn out 5-6 masterpieces in one sitting.  I know we don’t need to keep all of them, but my mama heart has a hard time parting with his first creative endeavors.  I’ve seen some great ideas out there I want to try, and came up with a few of my own.  I’ll share them all with y’all, starting with today’s mini bunting.  This project is super easy, taking less than one nap time.  Let’s be honest, that’s how we measure our free time.  

 To make the bunting you need a pile of your child’s paintings or drawings, a 2 inch circle craft punch, a hole punch, and a length of twine or hemp cord cut a little longer than the desired length of your bunting.

 Start punching circles out of the paintings.  Be strategic about your cuts and get the precious details: little finger and palm prints, great color mixing, etc.

Punch holes at the top of each of your tiny circle paintings, and string them on to your cord.  Tie a knot after each one to help them stay in place.  Leave extra room at one end of your bunting to add more later.  
Because I’m a tad bit ghetto fabulous, I used duct tape to secure my bunting to the back of the mirror in the Bear’s room.  It is hidden, so know one knows except the internet.  I can easily adjust the length and add or subtract as needed.  
This project could easily be one your child helps with, or a surprise gift for them.  I surprised the Bear with it, and he LOVES it.  He calls it his rainbow upside down.  Precious boy.  Below you can see a bit more of his room and how mini the bunting looks next to his gigantic wall art.  My plan is to add additional layers of bunting as he creates more art work.  
How do you save your child’s artwork? 

I love linking my ideas at these blog parties.  Click the links to check them out and find crafty inspiration.  If you’ve never visited a blog party, you will be blown away by the creativity shared and imaginative ideas.
Monday: CraftOManiac, Mad in Crafts, Sew Chatty,  Keeping It Simple, C.R.A.F.T., Boogie Board Cottage, and Sumo’s Sweet Stuff   
Tuesday:  Hope Studios, Today’s Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, and New Nostalgia
Wednesday: The Trendy Treehouse, Polka Dots on Parade, Lil Luna, and The Thrifty Home
Thursday: All Things with Purpose, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, The Girl Creative, and House of Hepworths
Friday: Sugar and Spice, Kojo Designs, Diana Rambles Pin Me Party, and The Shabby Nest
Weekends: Sweet Tea Social @ Texas Women Bloggers, Tatertots and Jello, Serenity Now, Buttercream Bakehouse, and Candace Creations


Oct
2013

The Love of Grandparents

categories: baby, family, parenting
I love that she looks as though she is breathing her in.  
My parents are the best.
Obviously, I’m biased.
They came to visit last week and we had so much fun.
We didn’t do anything exciting, but spent the whole time playing.
They get down on the floor with my kids and don’t miss a minute.
The effort they make to love on my babies means so much to me.
Both kids absolutely adore Dede and Poppy.
It was such a great reminder to be on the floor, in the moment with my kids.  They don’t need anything fancy, or big experiences, or money spent.  They need love.  A quote hangs on a friend’s wall and keeps coming back to mind daily of late.  “Children have only one childhood.”  So true.  This one childhood is so fleeting as I’m reminded while packing up the tiny clothes they’ve so quickly outgrown.  I want to spend it with them, every bit that I can.  I want to be in the moment, on the floor, soaking it up.  

Look at those little toes! Can you even handle it?
What are you soaking up today?


Oct
2013

Game Day Goodies: Snickers and Milky Way Double Chocolate Brownie Bites {With a Coupon!} #GameDayBites

categories: recipes

As a member of Collective Bias, I was asked to create a tasty tailgate party treat to share with y’all.  Brownies are a favorite of the Eby family, so I whipped up a tiny and delicious version perfect for toting to your next tailgate party.  These pint size cuties are portable and contain a special surprise in the center – Milky Way and Snickers Bites!  If you love coupons, head here to grab 2 for Mars Snickers and Milky Way Bites.  Both coupons double when you share them.

Until a few years ago I had no idea baking brownies from scratch was so incredibly easy and delicious.  I really thought that box mixes were the best option out there.  I still love a baking mix, but try to bake from scratch whenever I can.  You can bake from scratch.  It doesn’t take much more time, and is typically more frugal.  

Tail gate party food is tricky because it needs to be portable finger food, and is best when it can be easily packed and moved and not refrigerated.  These brownie bites would be delicious iced with cream cheese frosting, but then their portability would go out the window.  These game day goodies are so easy, and baking from scratch is delicious and satisfying.  

Ready to make your Snickers and Milky Way Double Chocolate Brownie Bites and be the hero of your game day gathering? Here we go…

Ingredients:
1 bag Mars Snickers Bites
1 bag Mars Milky Way Bites
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
mini muffin tin
48 mini cupcake paper liners (optional)
Serves 24 (2 brownie bites each).

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350.  Line your mini muffin tins with your paper liners.
Add one Snickers Bite to the bottom of each cupcake liner of one pan, and a Milky Way Bite to the bottom of each liner in the other pan.  Be sure to differentiate between the two in case of a peanut allergy.
Beat your eggs with a hand or stand mixer.
Add in the melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Mix until smooth.
Add the flour and cocoa powder and mix well, scraping the sides and bottom of your bowl until smooth and well mixed.
Add the chocolate chips and mix slowly until incorporated.
Spoon approximately one tbsp of batter into each cupcake liner.  Smush the batter down into the liner, or go chase your toddler around for a few minutes and let gravity do the work (my method).
Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.  Check them often because they bake very quickly.
Serve any time and enjoy the compliments.

Grab a coupon here for Mars Snickers and Milky Way Bites.  The coupons doubles when you share it with a friend.  Go get it!

What’s your go-to game day treat?


Oct
2013

Life to the Full: Joy and Discovery

categories: life to the full, play, toddler school, toddlers, travel

This sweet boy is at such a fun, wild, crazy, stage of exploring his world and learning through discovery every day.  I love being there for every minute of it, even though I sometimes just need a minute where someone isn’t asking me a question.  His speech has really taken off and he is asking new questions nonstop.  He found the shell above and decided it had tiger stripes like the tiger he saw at the Dallas Zoo.  I’m completely biased, but I’m pretty sure he is a baby genius (just like every mother in history).  I long to be the mama who is all in with my kids, loving them fully with the love of Jesus and guiding them through these childhood years.  

Daily I marvel at his inquisitive nature and the pure joy he finds when he learns something new.  He inspires me to look at the world around me with fresh eyes.  He laughs with wild abandon and is so free.  Do you laugh like that?  I hope I do.  In the midst of this depression battle, moments of pure joy and freedom are illusive.  I’m soaking them up and trying my best to be in the moment, on the floor, playing, laughing, teaching, and fighting for freedom from this struggle.    

I hope to laugh like this every day of my life.
What brought you joy today?
You can find more from my Life to the Full series here.


Sep
2013

Super Easy Fried Plantain Chips

categories: recipes
Fried plantains are one of my favorite quick whole food snacks to whip up.  They are delicious and can be served a number of ways as a snack or the perfect side to Caribbean black beans and rice.  I prefer them with a dash of sea salt.  If you’ve ever wondered what to do with those extra large fruits that resemble bananas but are typically sold individually in the U.S., I’ll share one method that will be a crowd pleaser.  
Plantains are similar in appearance to bananas, but cannot be eaten raw.  Ripe plantains look like a banana that has gone bad, but you can cook a plantain at any stage of ripeness.  I typically buy them green and let them ripen at home.  They can be notoriously difficult to peal.  The easiest method I’ve found is to chop off both ends, slice through the skin down the side, and peel away.  

Ingredients:
one ripe plantain
one tbsp olive oil
sea salt
Directions:
Peel your plantain and slice very thinly.
Heat your olive oil in a skillet for a few minutes.
Toss in your slices and separate them.
Flip them every few minutes so they cook thoroughly.
When they are tender to the touch, remove to a paper towel. 
Sprinkle sea salt on top.
Serve hot.
Plantain chips are also tasty when topped with cinnamon, sugar, or smashed after frying and refried.
Have you ever tried fried plantains?
What’s your favorite exotic fruit or vegetable dish? 


Sep
2013

Meal Plan: Killer Cheesy Garlic Bread {Tasty Sides}

categories: meal planning, recipes
I am not a food blogger.
Not by a long shot.
But, I do love to eat. 
It’s one of my favorite hobbies.
In order for us to eat delicious meals and stay on track with our grocery budget, we’ve been pretty serious about our meal planning lately.  I’m loving it.  Planning out our meals means I’m not in a panic at 5 pm when I have hungry people expecting to be fed.  This Killer Cheesy Garlic Bread is a favorite side for just about any meal, but we try not to have it too often because it isn’t exactly healthy.  Oh, but it is tasty my friends.  
Jed has declared the making of cheesy garlic bread one of my spiritual gifts.  I guess I’ll take it.  This is really more of a process than an actual recipe, but hopefully it will be clear enough for you to recreate it in your own kitchen should you so choose.  It is so easy, and definitely a crowd pleaser and MUCH better than the premade variety.  
Ingredients:
1 loaf french bread – I love a good crusty baguette.
Butter or Buttery Spread (It doesn’t really matter.  Pick your poison.)
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Shredded Parmesan Cheese (It tastes best if shredded fresh for both, but bagged is fine.)
Minced Garlic
Garlic Salt
I’m going to warn you now as I have before that I like garlic more than the average bear.  It probably stems from my childhood fear of vampires, but I’ll work that out in therapy.  
Directions: 
Slice your french bread.  Lay it out on your baking sheet.  Butter both sides.  Just do it.  Sprinkle garlic salt liberally on both sides.  Don’t question it.  With a butter knife, scoop out minced garlic and spread liberally on the top side of each slice of bread.  Don’t be afraid.  Grab a handful of your shredded mozzarella and sprinkle liberally on each slice, then follow with the parmesan.  If you aren’t in the mood to shred your cheese, big slices of fresh mozzarella are delightful on top of the bread.  Go back and add more cheese.  Stick it all in the oven on 400 for about 5 minutes.  Watch it, because it will burn fast and then everyone will cry.  I know this from experience.  Enjoy your cheesy garlic goodness.
Last week we had Killer Cheesy Garlic Bread with my Creamy Garden Veggie Spaghetti.  
What’s your go-to side dish?
Read more about our meal planning adventures here.  


Sep
2013

Vintage Blue Mason Beach Memory Jar

categories: family, frugal, travel
I am blessed to have a small collection of vintage blue Mason jars from my paternal grandmother, my Meme.  Most of them have their original tin lids and are in perfect condition.  I display them all over our house and am constantly changing out the displays.  Every time I help host a bridal or baby shower, the jars come with me to add a bit of vintage flair to the decorations.  After our recent beach trip, I decided to add to the beach memory jar I started a few years ago.  It is a simple and affordable way to preserve our special finds and remind our family of our amazing travels.  I filled the bottom of the jar with the pure white sand of the miracle strip of beach we visit in Navarre Beach, Florida.  It looks like sugar and reminds me of one of my favorite places in the world.  Next I carefully drop shells into the jar one by one.  I use the tines of a fork to arrange the shells.  It is a bit tricky to get everything positioned the way I want it, but worth the effort.  I love that I can easily add to and rearrange my little collection with special finds after every trip.  
How do you preserve travel memories?

If you would like to start your own collection of blue Ball Mason jars, the company recently re-released a heritage collection.  You can use the link below to get a set of 6 for around $2 a jar.The link is an affiliate link, which means you pay the same price but your purchase helps support our family.  We appreciate it any time you use a sponsor or affiliate link.  Thanks for reading!
  

I love linking my ideas at these blog parties.  Click the links to check them out and find crafty inspiration.  If you’ve never visited a blog party, you will be blown away by the creativity shared and imaginative ideas.
Monday: CraftOManiac, Mad in Crafts, Sew Chatty,  Keeping It Simple, C.R.A.F.T., Boogie Board Cottage, and Sumo’s Sweet Stuff   
Tuesday:  Hope Studios, Today’s Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, and New Nostalgia
Wednesday: The Trendy Treehouse, Polka Dots on Parade, Lil Luna, and The Thrifty Home
Thursday: All Things with Purpose, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Creek Cottage, The Girl Creative, and House of Hepworths
Friday: Sugar and Spice, Kojo Designs, Diana Rambles Pin Me Party, and The Shabby Nest
Weekends: Sweet Tea Social @ Texas Women Bloggers, Tatertots and Jello, Serenity Now, Buttercream Bakehouse, and Candace Creations