I really like today

I really like today.

It involved a lot of:

 sunshine, windows open, some amazing sushi-bowls, birthday cards in the mail, my girls being exceptionally sweet (no melt downs! Huzzah!), and an evening with no TV or computers or phones. Just breakfast for dinner, Lily and Eden laying on me and asking me questions about all sorts of animals while Maggie slept on Chad's chest.

Then the girls took a nice bubbly "purple bath!!!!!" (storage bin in the shower....so excited to have  tubs in our house) and then fuzzy footy jammies and sucking tooth paste of of tooth brushes. Chad talked to Maggers while I finished up dishes.

Now its just us three. Maggie squawking, rolling around the floor, and us vegged out on the couches.

I really like today.

Lazy

Please expect lazy blog posts for the next little while. We close on our (very first) home on Friday (my birthday!!) and so my attention is kinda focused on that.

And my babies. I can't get enough of my sweet Magnolia June.

-posted from my iPhone

mermaid chips

I know, I know, anooother recipe post?

Well, yeah. Its a good one too.

MERMAID CHIPS!!! (aka: kale chips)

I am actually not a fan of kale. I think its kinda gross, and rubbery and when cooked, just kinda slimey. Bleh.

I keep seeing people making kale chips on the internet and thought, "come on, everyones doing it Rachel" so I fell under self-peer pressure. Is that a thing?

Well, glad I did. Cause they are dang good.

how ya make them:

wash, dry the kale

cut the leaves from the stem

tear into bit size peices 

toss with some olive oil, just enough to coat

add a pinch of salt (go light on the salt...I added too much the first time)

my friend Hanna advised added some sesame seeds to it too..YUM, so doing that next time.

then you just lay them on a cookie sheet, all spread out and bake at 350 for a about 10 min, or until they are all crispy.

Then eat them and let your mind be blown. Super crispy and almost melty.

We told the girls they were mermaid chips and the name stuck (cuase they look kinda sea-weedy dont they?)

roasted almond maple veggies+sausage

We have always loved roasting our veggies. It just makes them so much more flavorful.

I made something a little different than our usual other day, and we will most definitely be repeating it.....

(all ingredients are approximate...I never measured, and used what I had on hand)

• 2 peeled sweet potatoes, cut in 1inch chunks
• about 2 cups of brussle sprouts, washed, halved or quarttered 
• about 1.5 cups of peeled carrots, chopped into 1 inch chunks
• 1/2 large onion, chopped into small chunks
• 2/3 cup dried cranberries
• 3/4 cup roughly chopped almonds
• two large sausages
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
• couple shakes of balsamic vinegar
• olive oil (just enough to coat veggies...couple tbsp?)
• 1 tbsp parsly 
• 1 tsp coarse sea salt
• garlic!--I love it, so I added two big cloves
• pepper to taste

Peel/chop all your veggies while you brown the sausages, dont cook, just brown. Then slice those into about 1 inch slices, add all that to a 9x13. Then add the rest of the ingredients, stir it all around to coat everything evenly. Bake that all at 375 for about half hour, or until carrots and sweet potatoes are soft.

ps- paleo friendly, and vegan friendly...obviously if you cut out the sausage.

typical tuesday: Meagan Holden

Happy tuesday all!

Today one of my old friends (old, as in, we've been friends for a while, not age wise) is sharing her typical tuesday with us. I loved reading her post, its been who knows how long since we have seen each other and it was so fun to see into her life! When ever I think of Meagan I think of someone who is genuinely happy, a totally athlete, a fabulous dancer and a lover of Madonna. Oh and she used to rock a spiky blonde hair cut. Here's Meagan!:

Hello, my name is Meagan and in all of one year I got married, had a baby, and bought a house! These days really do come and go right before my eyes. 

Here is a pretty "Typical Tuesday" for me and my family. 

Good Morning! It's 1:33am on a Tuesday morning, and Weston (my 12 month old) needs a night time nursing session.

 Well, good morning...again! 4 1/2 hours later, Weston wakes up again for some more boobies :) He typically wakes up at 1am and again at 6am. 

 Then, Weston OFFICIALLY wakes up around 7:15am-8am. Today, he is up at 7:51am.

I grab my camera and go! I surprise Weston with a bright flash in the eyes, that blinds him and he squints.

There we go... here's a close up. I love it when he wakes up happy!

 Weston does this thing now, where as soon as I come into the room, he dashes across his bed and turns on his soother. It's like he is saying "Mom, look how cool this is!" 

He is pretty cute, isn't he?

Grizzle! This is our family dog, Griz. He's a Morkie: a maltese and a yorkie mix. 

He's bashful. He also runs into Weston's room to greet us for the day.

 Griz hears someone coming! He is actually a pretty good watch dog. 

It's Daddy! Good morning husband :) 

Griz lays down at the door, he's a fluffy little thing.

Weston finds his toy of the day, his RED HAMMER. He brings it to me and climbs up my leg for his morning nurse.

 Gawwwwsh I look so glamorous in the morning. Yes, Weston holds onto his hammer while he nurses. 

Immediately after Weston is full, he demands to be read. 

His book of the week is "When a Dragon Moves In"... 

All the meanwhile, while I get to have story time with Weston, Dad slaves away in the kitchen. He literally makes breakfast for us EVERY morning. 

He is my hero.

After breakfast, Weston plays with his best bud Grizzle. He goes up and down the slide. 

Jason, my husband, goes to work Monday through Friday, while I stay at home. Then on the weekends, we reverse roles. 

I go to work for 5 hours on Saturday and another 5 hours on Sunday, and he gets to play stay at home dad. It's a fun role swap! 

This is how we get through the day. Our morning motivation is what we like to call it.

Here we are...on the road! We're going to Grandma's house today.

I live in Burlington, WA. My mom lives north of us, about an hour away. She lives in Birch Bay, WA. It's a few cities north of Bellingham (my old hometown).

It's probably about 10-10:30am.

Griz. Enjoying the scenic view.

Bellingham in 9 miles...

 Gizzle is le tired.

 There is this rock along the highway that gets painted about every month by different people and groups. 

Sometimes it's for the celebration of a WWU college graduate, or someone's arrival home, or a sports team making it to state...you get the idea. 

Right now it looks like a blob of colors.

 We've made it to Bellingham. 30 minutes down, only another 30 to go!

This is my old exit. Where Jason and I lived pre-baby life.

Oh snap! Get your game face on...Birch Bay is coming up. 2 exits to go!

Seashell Way. My mom's street.

 Backseat driver. 

Weston, we're here! It's about 11:30am.

We get right to snack time! 

Blueberries, some rice cake and avacado.

Grandma Becky!

She has 5 kids of her own. I am the third child and the first girl.  

I told her to smile for me. This is what I got. Haaaa... love you mom!

Weston is the youngest of 5 grandchildren.

 I think they're looking at the ceiling lights. Pretty awesome when you're only 12 months.

My mom and I were watching the news. They were re-capping the GOP debate from the night before. My mom had to bring out her pocket-sized Constitution book. 

 Weston will know his Bill of Rights and the Preamble before he's 2 years old! 

More blueberries. Weston loves them with all his heart.

Griz is hoping he'll drop a few for him.

Hiiiiii...well we headed upstairs to play with toys and my mom showed me her Wii FIT. I forgot to take pictures. Sorry!

 Ok. On the road again. Time to head home in the drizzling rain. 

Hello people. I live in the Pacific NorthWest.

 It rains. 

A LOT.

My Exit! 

Sunset Drive. I am not in Burlington yet. Only in Bellingham. 

I need to get some groceries! And we don't have one of my favorite stores where I live. So anytime I'm passing through Bellingham, I stock up on Taco Seasoning, Chicken sausages, and Wild Caught fish. Yum!

Look what I drive by? The LDS church. My old "stomping grounds".

Can you tell which store I'm headed for?

The one and only: Trader Joe's!

 It really, truly is a nasty day today! We brave the storm and head inside for cover.

The nice cashier lady gave Weston a sticker. 3 stickers actually. I'm trying to make him pose for the camera, but he doesn't want to.

We're home! Finally. It's about 4:30-5pm.

Jason's parents come over to visit. Grandma Lois & Grandpa Jim.

They come over almost everyday. They live, seriously, 2 minutes away. 

Weston loves them to pieces.

 Playing on the couch. 

I don't know what it is about this couch, but Weston loves to roll around in it, and dig his face in the cushions.

Nice hair dude! There's the dragon book on the railing, along with his other favorite book "Pete the Cat".

Watching Weston play his little heart out. And laughing at me taking a gazillion pictures. I'm the family paparazzi, what can I say!

 Griz has to get in on the action, too!

Careful there Jason, you might just accidentally make up with the dog!

Dad's mouth.

I started playing with the camera's color settings. Just for funsies!!

I've been having a shoulder flare up all week. 

Yes, this is me icing it. The strap doesn't stay velcroed...so I use clothes pins to do the trick.

Happy baby!

 Play time is over guys.... we eat dinner. Put Weston in his PJ's, rock him to sleep and he's out by 8:30pm.

Mom and Dad get a little one on one time. Dad studies a bit and Mom plays on FB or reads. 

The time is now 10:14pm. Time to hit the hay.

G'night!

Love, Meagan




Thanks Meagan! Loved it!
Check out Meagan's blog HERE


Wanna share a typical tuesday with us?
Please do!
Email me, k?
rachel . meynders @ gmail .  com