Crock Pot Virgin

My awesome sister (well, one of them!) bought me a Crock Pot for my birthday. I've always been intimated by them, sorta wanted one, and figured I should give it a shot, so this was a perfect gift!!

I decided to use it Tuesday night for the first time. I made Mac n Cheese (it was birthday night and I'm pretty sure calories don't count on your birthday)! The recipe wasn't too complicated, though I fidgeted with it a bit (I added some different cheeses and spices because the comments said it was sort of bland). I would give this one an 8 out of 10. It was really indulgent, cheesy and gooey. I had a little bit of curdling with the milk, but not terrible. It was total comfort food.

Photo credit

For dinner tonight, we've go this pesto chicken on the menu. Looks super easy and flavorful.

Photo courtesy of Picky Palate

And, while not a Crock Pot recipe, I'm on a quinoa kick lately and am going to tackle this spinach quinoa recipe as a side dish.



I've also ordered these liners which I've heard are a life saver and am hoping they arrive in time for today's prep work.

So far, I'm loving the simplicity of dumping ingredients in a contraption and it cooking a meal for you. It's really nice to have dinner ready after we put Cam to bed instead of me having to finish cooking dinner. Gives us more time to be together in the evening and watch episodes of Homeland (because yes, my amazing husband ordered Showtime for me as a birthday surprise)!

Do you have any favorite Crock Pot recipes?? Leave me a comment with some ideas!

Things I'm Loving

Thanks for your input on the Things that Confuse Me post. I get the whole artificial sweetener is not considered sugar, but it still seems like false advertising.

But today, let's talk about some things I'm loving right now!

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Facial Peel 

This stuff is awesome. As I inch toward another birthday, I can see the effects of aging, pregnancy, and the environment taking its toll on my skin. I know I'm not old, I'm not saying that. But I do believe that the skin you take care of today will be the skin you are proud of in thirty years. So, after a friend recommended this product, I thought I'd try it. I'm using it along with some Dermalogica products that I also really love (Active Moist moisturizer!) So far, I'm noticing smoother and more vibrant skin.


Book of Mormon (The Musical... not the actual Book of Mormon)

Okay, I know this one is controversial, but I loved it. Rick took me out for a night on the town this week to see it and we laughed so hard (and cringed a few times, too)! You definitely need a sense of humor, and you certainly need to be able to laugh about religion in order to enjoy this. There were a few comments we heard of people sitting around us who were obviously offended, but it's produced by the guys from South Park, so what do you expect?! Two thumbs up from me!


Clean Eating Avocado Pesto Recipe

I pinned this one on my Yum Yum Pinterest board a while ago, and my sister, Allie, told me she tried it last week. She said it was yum yum, so I tried it last night! Rick and I both agreed it was delish and with minimal ingredients it felt light and healthy. We even have leftovers to put on whatever else we want this weekend. Score!


Homeland 

Between people posting about it on Facebook and the actors being nominated for Emmys and other awards, I decided I needed to see what all the hype was about. We ordered the first season on DVD because we don't have Showtime. This show is so addicting we watched the entire first season in three nights. I have been dreaming about it, talking about it, and obsessing about how we are going to see the second season. At one point I almost made Rick call the cable company to order Showtime, but he reminded me we need not make rash decisions. Men.

Anyway, if you have Showtime, watch it. Great television and it is guaranteed to make you feel unsafe and insecure about your country's ability to protect against terrorists. Awesome, right!?


Happy Friday!

Things That Confuse Me

I don't know if it's because I just have too much time on my hands (yea right!) or I think too much (more likely), but I've been rather confused lately by some things. Can you help me!? 

1) Cam loves mandarin oranges. I specifically looked for ones that are "packed in water" instead of syrup to reduce the amount of sugar he's consuming. So obviously when I saw these and read "no sugar added" I thought, "score!"

So I brought them home, he gobbled them up, but after looking more closely it says, "artificially sweetened." What? How can there be no sugar added but it's artificially sweetened?! Explain please.

2) What does "na na" mean? Every time Cam is hungry, he runs to his high chair (or wakes up from his nap) and says, "na na". I say, "are you hungry?" or "do you want to eat?" and he gets excited and says, "na na". What does it mean?!?! It's definitely NOT banana because he hates bananas now and hasn't eaten one in months. So, tell me... what is "na na"??

3) Why on earth does Parenthood (the show) have such mediocre ratings? It's brilliant television I tell ya. I only watch a couple of shows regularly, and this is one of them. In fact, Rick even enjoys watching it with me every Tuesday night. I cry every time. And everyone I know who watches it loves it, too. So why is it always in danger of being cancelled? Confusing!

4) The "baby on board" signs. Really, thanks for the information, minivan but I find the decal confusing because I think it's worthless. Does it really make anyone drive more carefully around you? Doubtful and confusing!


So there you have it. My confused brain on this Thursday morning.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, my husband so kindly informed me that today is National Peanut Butter Day. I'm taking it as a hint to have something prepared for him involving the gooey stuff for dinner.

A Special Wish

Well, call me crazy but it's time to knock off another item on my 30 Before 30 list. So here's the story:

Some days, I miss working with my students. Some days, I miss my internships I held in college for organizations that helped sick children and made impacts in our world far beyond a classroom. But, I really love being at home with my baby and have no desire to split my time between him and a job. So my craving for making an impact in the world and my desire to continue being Campbell's primary caregiver poses a bit of a challenge.

I've been researching and thinking and throwing ideas out to Rick constantly over the last couple of months. I even secured a website domain name to start my own non-profit one night, just to wake up the next morning and cancel it because I realized I'm crazy for thinking I can start an organization and raise my child in the same manner I'm doing now. I'm a dreamer.

After a lot of research and reaching out to various groups, I finally have joined a non-profit organization called A Special Wish Foundation (Chicago Chapter). I went to my first meeting last night and immediately was welcomed by the small, completely volunteer-run group. I was hoping I wouldn't feel like just one of a mass, sitting on the sidelines listening to a head honcho lead a meeting. And I was so pleased when I arrived at the little bar where the group met and everyone introduced themselves to me and told me about their history and goals. They shared a few stories of recent wishes that had been granted, and then presented a couple of kids whose wishes needed granting. One of the guys asked if I wanted to help him grant a wish for an eighteen year old boy who has cerebral palsy and various seizure disorders and is confined to a wheelchair. He wants to go to Disney World. I immediately said yes, and will be meeting this young man and his family next week to start the planning!

I feel so energized and excited about this. It's a well established national organization but its Chicago chapter is intimate and completely volunteer run, which means everyone wants to be there. It's small enough that you get to dive right in and do good work, but large enough that I'm not overwhelmed with taking on too much more responsibility in my already chaotic life. And, it's the exact kind of work I was looking for -- I get to work hands-on with some really special children.

So, farewell #5. I couldn't be more thrilled to cross you off!

5. Get involved in a new organization

Nature Museum

Cam and I took a field trip to the Nature Museum yesterday. We were inspired by my friend Rachel who recently told me about this gem and boy was it fun. First of all, it was convenient -- ten minute drive, free street parking, and free admission for kids under 3 ($9 for adults!).

We spent about an hour and a half exploring the different exhibits and Cam practiced walking running around in his shoes, which I think are too big and he kept tripping. I ned to get him measured! By no means do I think he absorbed any of the cool information I recited to him (did you know that only a handful of scorpions actually carry venom that can be harmful to humans!?!? I don't have to be frightened any more!) But I do think the experience was perfect for this age.


He played with various textures and water and listened to the different sounds of insects and bugs.

He spent a good five minutes just pushing the buttons on the insect wall.

He climbed and crawled through "beaver tunnels."

They have a butterfly exhibit in which hundreds of various butterflies fly around a greenroom. You can go inside and literally surround yourselves with butterflies. We went it... and boy was it HOT! Humid and hot are not my favorite, so we didn't stay too long, and I didn't capture any pictures, but Cam was in awe of the little creatures. He kept trying to grab them and thought it was hysterical when they would fly by him and try to land on us. What a cool experience. Can't wait to go back!

And, I get to check something off of my 30 Before 30 list because I consider this a Chicago landmark I have never visited before!

#14. Go to a Chicago landmark I haven't visited (CHECK!)

In the Picture

One of the blogs I follow posted this response to her feelings about this article written by Allison Tate. I couldn't help but relate deeply and start thinking about how I don't want to be one of those moms who never gets in the picture with her kids because I don't love the way I look. I have over 1,600 pictures on my phone alone. I'll take a guess that 1,500 of them are of Cam alone being cute and doing funny things. I'm sure I'm in a couple of them, but I certainly don't jump into pictures in general. I'm a bit camera shy mostly because I can always find a flaw in a picture of myself. But, I need to get in more of the pictures. I need Cam to look back at pictures of me and see how much I love him, not just hear me tell him. I need him to see that I was once youthful and energetic and did fun things with him.

I have some really special pictures of me and my mom growing up. I can think of one in particular of her snuggling me in a crowd when I was a little girl. Her bangs are full and her hair is braided. And I'm nuzzled up in her lap wearing a pink romper. I need to dig that up and frame it... it's a good one. And, I think I love it so much because it's a perfect example of how I remember my mom. Loving on me. Not showy or flashy. No posing with an arm popped on her hip. No perfect lighting or adorable props. Just me and my mom, loving on me as she does so well.

I love this quote from Allison's article:

"I'm everywhere in their young lives, and yet I have very few pictures of me with them. Someday I won't be here -- and I don't know if that someday is tomorrow or thirty or forty or fifty years from now -- but I want them to have pictures of me. I want them to see the way I looked at them, see how much I loved them. I am not perfect to look at and I am not perfect to love, but I am perfectly their mother.”

And, I am so grateful that as a young mother, I can learn from others before me and make an effort to have less regrets later down the road. So today, I'm adding something to my ever growing To Do List -- get in the picture. 

Here are a few (unposed, non-professional) pictures I managed to scrape up of me and my sweet boy that I hope one day he will cherish as much as I do. I hope he sees the ridiculous amount of love I have for him, unposed and unscripted.

#19

At the beginning of the year, I posted my not-so-traditional resolutions list of thirty things I want to accomplish in the next year (before the big 3-0!) Call me an overachiever, but I'm ready to cross one off my list!

#19. Organize something I've been neglecting. 

I consider myself a pretty organized person. My house is typically tidy and if a closet gets too unruly or the pantry is exploding with boxes of cereal and crackers, I spend a quick twenty minutes every now and again cleaning it up. I have a serious problem walking into a Container Store and not walking out empty handed.

But, the car is another story. I take full responsibility for caring for the car because I use it most. While I'll ask Rick to fill the washer fluid or check a tire, I'm the one who schedules maintenance check ups, gets it washed, and gets the oil changed. I'm also the one who throws piles of clothes in the trunk to take to a donation site and leaves them in there for weeks. I hoard toys for Cam in the car and collect reusable shopping bags which have been known to fill the entire trunk.

So, the car became the easy target for item number 19 on my list. Earlier this week, Cam and I went over to Rachel's to play with little Colin and organize our #26Acts collection for The Night Ministry. (Check out Rachel's post about what we collected! And, thank you to Sara, Allie, Anne and Mom for the incredibly generous donations you all made toward this fun project. You won't believe what I was able to bring over to Rachel's because of all your generosity!)

My trunk was full to the top of stuff to drop off, so finally emptying it out led me to the conclusion it was time to organize the car. The boys checked out all the goods...

photo courtesy of Rachel Friedman

So, on Wednesday, while Cam napped, I took the monitor outside with me as the sun was shining and the crisp 54 degree day breezed by. (Is it Spring!? I'm so confused by this weather!) I brought items inside that belonged in the house, put all the garbage in the trash and even vacuumed out the crumbs and leaves. All the grocery bags are tucked neatly inside a larger one and our little umbrella stroller is the only occupant of the trunk at this time. High five to me.

I'm going to cross this one off the list because that's why I love lists most. Crossing things off. Putting a big check next to a task. It's gratifying in the most inexplicable way.

1. Go an entire week without straightening my hair
2. Go to a movie by myself
3. Read a book from high school that I never actually read
4. Wear a bikini for the first time. EVER.
5. Get involved in a new organization
6. Get my eyebrows threaded
7. Pay for someone's meal anonymously
8. Reconnect with an old friend
9. Go unplugged for an entire day (no internet or TV)
10. Try snowboarding
11. Dress up and have drinks/dinner at the Drake Hotel
12. Visit the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL
13. Sing karaoke in public
14. Go to a Chicago landmark I haven't visited
15. Surprise someone
16. Submit a recipe for the Pillsbury bake off
17. Eat oysters
18. Visit somewhere new (city, state or country)
19. Organize something I've been neglecting
20. Try a new class at the gym
21. Watch 5 movies on Rick's Must-See List
22. Take Cam on a special mommy-son date
23. Go camping
24. Learn about a relative/ancestor I don't know much about
25. Grow an herb garden
26. Take a class to pursue an interest
27. Attend a new Summer Chicago festival
28. Get a spray tan
29. Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier
30. Let go of insecurities and be truly content with who I am

But, I think I'm going to keep this goal and try to do it monthly. Pick something I've been neglecting (oh guest room...) and spend twenty minutes organizing it.

One down... twenty-nine to go!

Big Boy

Someone turned 14 months yesterday. He's a full on toddler now who can eat me under the table, babbles a mile a minute and is running around all day. Actually running. He has grown a lot physically and mentally in the last month. If I could stop time, I'd stop it right now. This is such a perfect age of fun and growth but without the major tantrums or attitude of the terrible twos.

His new favorite activity is to open the drawer under the oven, take out the baking pans and bang them, spin them and carry them around the house. I think he's trying to tell me he's ready for some baking lessons!

In the last few days, he's become so confident with walking that he's actually taken off running. He'll grab whatever toys he can find and just run around the island in our kitchen babbling away. It's too funny.

He's also climbing on everything.

 

And finding new favorite spots to sit. 

 

He has learned to say a few new words like "sooo" (shoe), "dis" (this) and "mama." He still says "dada" way more often than "mama" but we definitely got a few "mama"s in there! He knows that a sheep says "baa" and a cow says "moo" and a monkey says "ooo ooo ooo." But, he will only perform one of those for about a week, then forget it. As soon as he learns something new, he's so excited about it he forgets what he knew before. He's got a memory like his dad.

He can put items in a bucket or bin now and he's working on stacking rings. He can climb into his little red wagon by himself and when he does, he'll say, "weeee" which of course means, "push me!" He has started to "drive" his toy cars along furniture and the fridge. He happily climbs into his chair and reads his books when he needs some quiet time.

He's still obsessed with Maizey. Like laughs to the point of turning red when she runs around him.  And Maizey is such a good sport. He still likes other dogs, but it's clear that he has a special love for his pup. Love that!

 

We are currently in a transition to one nap. Some days he's sleeping twice and some days one, which makes it difficult for us to have concrete plans during the day or attend our classes regularly. Luckily though, I'm learning how to adapt to all the unpredictability and if my house goes an extra day without being scrubbed, so be it.

I'm seriously loving this age and the constant personality that shines through every pore of this child.

New Recipes... New Year!

While I didn't make real resolutions this year (and I'm kinda liking it!), secretly I've been wanting to try out some new recipes and kick my butt into gear about making more meals at home. You see, with the holidays it got too easy ordering in and eating out. I also have to admit to eating cereal for dinner several nights in the past month. So, with the new year here, I thought, "why not try some new recipes!?" You can be sure each of these has been simple enough for me to make while keeping an eye on a now running toddler and delicious enough that my husband ate them.

The World's Best Chicken (according to someone on Pinterest)
(original recipe: http://rachelschultz.com/2012/07/11/worlds-best-chicken)

This was really yummy and easy to make (only three ingredients!) Rick isn't a huge mustard fan but still really enjoyed this. 

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt & pepper
Rosemary

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, mix together mustard, syrup, and vinegar. Place chicken breasts into 9×13 greased baking dish. Season with salt & lots of pepper. Pour mustard mixture over chicken. Make sure each breast is coated. No need to marinate.
Bake for about 30-40 minutes, or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees. Exactly how long you should leave it in is based on personal preference and your oven. I like my chicken borderline dried out, so I leave it in the full 40 minutes, and sometimes even bump the heat up to 450 degrees to really get the flavors baked on. (Line your pan with foil to keep clean up easy!)  There will be extra sauce in the pan, which you can elect to toss out or use for extra flavoring. Season with chopped rosemary. And prepare for people to ask you to make it again!


Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa
(original recipe: http://www.closetcooking.com/2012/11/cheesy-broccoli-quinoa.html) 

Okay so this one is also SUPER simple and was a great side dish to the chicken last night. I can imagine a lot of variations (subbing different cheeses, adding some red pepper flakes for kick, etc.) and look forward to experimenting with this one! I used chicken broth because that's what I had in my pantry, and I think it added a great flavor as opposed to water.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa, well rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water
• 2 cups broccoli, chopped
• 1 cup cheddar, shredded
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring the quinoa, broth and broccoli to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat and simmer covered until the broth has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender,about 13-17 minutes.
2. Mix in the cheese, let it melt and season with salt and pepper.

Gill's Pinterest Salmon
(combination/variation of these two recipes: http://pinterest.com/pin/279363983107179126 and http://pinterest.com/pin/279363983107179122)

I was intrigued by the use of nuts in one of the recipes and the use of herbs de provence (a mixture of spices that I bought a long time ago for another recipe). They've been sitting in my pantry and I wanted to use them! I think my modifications turned out well. I liked the tang that the mustard gave and the crunch of the cashews. I'm sure you could use whatever nut you had on hand or breadcrumbs if you are allergic to nuts. This was a fun experimentation!

Ingredients (Note: I did not use measurements. So, use your judgment)

salmon
herbs de provence
olive oil
cashews
dijon mustard

First, crush the cashews using a rolling pin and a ziploc bag. Then, rub some olive oil on the salmon (or use olive oil PAM). Sprinkle some herbs de provence on the salmon. Using a butter knife or spatula, spread dijon mustard on the salmon -- enough to cover but not saturating. Then press the crushed cashews onto the salmon to form a coating.

Bake at 400 for about twenty minutes or until cooked to your desired taste.


PS -- if you eat salmon regularly like we do, and you don't already buy your salmon at Costco, you should. The piece of salmon I bought today cost $11.54 and I was able to cut five portions from it. I normally cut them into portion sizes when I come home then freeze them individually. I think Costco's quality is excellent and the value can't be beaten.

Happy cooking everyone!

My Not So Traditional Resolutions

A new year means a fresh start, a clean slate. That's what we all love about it, right? A chance to forgive ourselves for our mistakes of last year and look forward to new memories and opportunities for growth.

I hate new year's resolutions for so many reasons but mostly because they are usually abstract or unattainable or I'm not held accountable for them and fail to stick with them. I am usually hesitant to go out of my comfort zone, I tend to find excuses to get out of achieving my resolutions and in the end I just feel bad about myself. So, instead, I have a new idea for my "resolution" this year...

In a couple of weeks, I will turn 29 years old. Kind of hard to believe I'm almost thirty. I used to think thirty was so old. What did I know!?! I've caught wind of people who are making "30 Before 30" lists, and as a way of marking my last year in my twenties, I thought it would be a great idea to make my own list. Call it a bucket list or thirty resolutions, but I'm excited about it and think this will be a fun way for me to accomplish some important things.

It has taken me a long time to come up with this list. It's a combination of things I've been wanting to do, things that I need to do, and things I should do to break out of my comfort zone. To be honest, some of these things truly frighten me (#4!!). But, I'm excited and feeling empowered and ready to tackle this year with everything I got.

Here's what I hope to accomplish by the time I turn thirty (January 2014):

1. Go an entire week without straightening my hair
2. Go to a movie by myself
3. Read a book from high school that I never actually read
4. Wear a bikini for the first time. EVER.
5. Get involved in a new organization
6. Get my eyebrows threaded
7. Pay for someone's meal anonymously
8. Reconnect with an old friend
9. Go unplugged for an entire day (no internet or TV)
10. Try snowboarding
11. Dress up and have drinks/dinner at the Drake Hotel
12. Visit the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL
13. Sing karaoke in public
14. Go to a Chicago landmark I haven't visited
15. Surprise someone
16. Submit a recipe for the Pillsbury bake off
17. Eat oysters
18. Visit somewhere new (city, state or country)
19. Organize something I've been neglecting
20. Try a new class at the gym
21. Watch 5 movies on Rick's Must-See List
22. Take Cam on a special mommy-son date
23. Go camping
24. Learn about a relative/ancestor I don't know much about
25. Grow an herb garden
26. Take a class to pursue an interest
27. Attend a new Summer Chicago festival
28. Get a spray tan
29. Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier
30. Let go of insecurities and be truly content with who I am

I'll expect my friends and family to help me achieve these, so don't be surprised if I call you and ask you to join me on an adventure. And, as a means of holding myself accountable, I'll be sharing my progress so you can watch me cross off my items one by one!

Happy 2013!!