Halloween Party

On Tuesday, the Little Gym hosted a Halloween party in the evening.  Tuesday was a very busy day because Layla had her regular gym class in the morning, as well as an awesome photo shoot (pictures posted soon!).  But after a long nap, I put her into her costume and off we went to the party!  As you can see, Layla is going as a penguin this year!

She thought her costume was really cool and loved looking at herself in the mirror.

 We were told to bring guests, so my sister and dad came along.

   

There was a lot for the kids to do, including a huge slide, games, music and dancing.  Layla danced nonstop for a full hour! She went from one area of the room to the next saying "Hi" to everyone and showing them her dance moves! This was her first dance party and I'm pretty sure she had a great time! 

Weekend Update: Oct. 23rd & 24th

What a great weekend! On Saturday morning, Layla and I met my mom and sister at the 12th annual Red Ribbon Day at Nomahegan Park in Cranford.  It was a free family event to raise awareness for drug prevention and education.  There were tons of free giveaways, games, a bouncy castle, petty zoo and helicopter landings.

This was Layla's first time in a bouncy castle.  It was great because it was just for really small kids.  She was completely transfixed!  She stayed in the exact same spot and just bounced up and down smiling for fifteen minutes.  The walls were really high and adults couldn't go inside, so this was the best shot I got of her.

She loved the petting zoo!  Her favorite animals were the rabbits and the chickens. 

Here is the helicopter right after it landed.  They even let kids climb inside! This one was an air ambulance.

We ended the morning at the playground.  This is one exhausted little girl! She could barely keep her eyes open while on the swing.

Saturday evening I made a nice dinner and we just stayed in and relaxed.  

And on Sunday, I had the entire day to myself! I went to my friend Whitney's baby shower and had a great time and then did some solo shopping (which never happens!) down in Cherry Hill.   The only downside to the weekend was the traffic coming home and the fact that I didn't get to spend a lot of time with Monte. 

And the BEST part of the weekend - Layla ate soy yogurt with no reaction!  We have slowly been introducing wheat and soy into her diet.  They are in almost everything - crackers, bread, pasta, you name it.  We've noticed that Layla does much better with whole wheat as opposed to white bread and pasta.  These products usually also have some form of soy in it as well, and since we haven't noticed any reaction, I really wanted to give yogurt a try.  She ate the whole container right up!  I am so excited by this progress.  I feel like God is really with us and hope that these are just the first of more allergies that go away. 

We are going to keep giving her yogurt this week and monitor her eczema, and if all goes well, try soy milk.  Layla is still on a very expensive formula and I would be thrilled if we could move on to soy milk.

So that was my weekend! Hope you all enjoyed yours as well.  I'm looking forward to Halloween next weekend and my costume is almost all set!

1 Squash 2 Ways!

I've had a butternut squash sitting in my fridge all week, but was tired of my same ol' recipes.  So I decided to create my own dishes and they turned out pretty good! The first one is sweet, the second savory. Layla couldn't eat the second one because it contained dairy, but she really enjoyed the cinnamon apple squash.

First I baked the squash, uncut in a 400 degree oven for an hour.  You will know when it's done when the skin is easy to pierce with a fork and peels off easily.  Once cool, cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds.

Cinnamon Apples and Squash
1/2 baked squash
3 baked apples, with skin
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp maple syrup

Mash ingredients together in a bowl (or puree for babies who prefer a smooth texture)

Mashed Squash with Garlic and Asiago Cheese
1/2 baked squash
1/4 cup milk
1 T butter or margarine
1 cup asiago cheese
1/2 tsp crushed garlic (or more, if you prefer)
salt and pepper to taste

Mash ingredients as you would potatoes.  Delicious!

In other news, we had a good week! Layla and I returned to Melick's farm with my mom and sister.  The apples were pretty much all gone, but we picked up some little pumpkins and I bought cranberry orange marmalade to put on my baked brie dish - Yum!

Layla loved seeing the donkeys

I LOVE this picture - it was like they were posing!

Layla and MaryGrace picking out pumpkins

Me and my beautiful mom

Layla and I also checked out a few new parks in our area that we haven't been to.  It's always fun to explore a new place.

Layla loves to swing!

We also made some forts with blankets.  Layla's hair looked so funny.

Eat Your Veggies: Kale Chips

I've never eaten kale before, but I thought I'd give it a try as a Krispy Kale Chip!  These chips are loaded with fiber and vitamins A, K, and C.  They were pretty good, although I would definitely recommend just making what you need, and throwing out any leftovers.  I made too many and tried to save some for the next day, but they didn't taste (or smell) good at all.

Anyway, it's an interesting way to eat your veggies!

Friday's Frugal Finds

Here's my confession: I LOVE bargain shopping.  To me, there is honestly nothing better than finding a great deal.  I have made a hobby (read: obsession) with browsing the racks of local consignment and thrift stores, spending my Saturday mornings going to garage sales, and, if I'm really lucky, hitting up a rummage sale! I have found that people either really love or really hate shopping this way.  Here are some of the reasons why I love being a bargain-hunter:

1. SAVING MONEY - Bargain-hunting allows me to support my shopping habit without breaking the bank.  Retail therapy is the ultimate form of therapy in my opinion, and doing it on the cheap allows me to do it frequently. 

2. BEING GREEN - Bargain-hunting is an easy way to save the planet.  By shopping locally for products that have been previously owned, I am doing my small part in helping the environment.

3.  SHOPPING SMART - Let's be honest.  Parents know how quickly kids outgrow their clothes, shoes and even toys.  Bargain shopping is a great way to get something I need short-term (such as size 4 snow boots) without spending a fortune. 

4. FINDING TREASURES - It is amazing what people get rid of.  Just yesterday, I found a $400 French Connection Grecian gown with the tags still on for $40!  I have purchased antique picture frames, furniture, and jewelry, to name just a few, that I'd never find anywhere in the stores. 

To further prove my point, here are some of the amazing things that I've found this month.

A shopping bag-full of summer clothes for Layla for next year - $5

Bongo canvas bag (NEW, with tags), which I'm now using as a diaper bag -  $3

Teapot and mug (been looking for a similar one for AGES) - $2

"Family" picture frame (NEW, in original packaging) - $2

Wooden bead toy - $ 5

Fisher Price Doll House with Sounds - $ 5

Bag full of assorted Fisher Price people - $1.90

baby GAP fleece - $1

Osh Kosh rain jacket with hood - $3

aqua L.L. Bean fleece - $1

purple Osh Kosh snow pants with bib - $5

Nick Jr. snow pants - $2

baby GAP corduroy pants (NEW) - $1

Waterproof snow boots - $4

Such amazing deals! Happy bargain shopping!

I.C.O.E. bracelets

I was very happy to find out that there are bracelets for people with food allergies. I immediately ordered one for Layla from the website In Case of Emergency Bracelets (icoebracelets.com). There were several sites that sold similar products, but I chose this one because it had bracelets small enough for her wrist. When she is older, I will probably buy her one that looks more "kid-friendly", but this one serves its purpose.

Her tiny bracelet lists her most serious food allergies (peanut, milk, egg and fish), both in symbols and words, and two emergency contact numbers.

Layla luckily is never left in the care of people who aren't aware of her allergies, but I am glad to keep this in her diaper bag in case there is a situation where she is alone with someone who might not know what she can and cannot eat. It's always better to be safe than sorry!

Anyway, thought I'd share this product!

Old T-shirt = New Scarf

When I saw this easy craft in a magazine, I knew I had to try it. All I did was make one horizontal cut underneath the sleeves of an old t-shirt. I discarded the top part of the shirt, which left just a band of fabric (the bottom of the shirt). Then I cut long fringe around the band(about 1/4 inch thick) starting from the end where I made the original cut (the top of the band).

Now my old t-shirt is a fun scarf! I can't wait to wear this!

Another Fall Favorite - Chili!

Even though the weather has felt more like summer than fall, I decided to make one of my favorite cold-weather dishes. Chili is such a perfect dinner - it's quick to make, easy to store, and very filling!

1lb ground turkey + 1 can kidney beans (drained) + one package of El Paso chili seasoning + 2 cans of tomato sauce

I made my own tortilla chips by brushing wheat tortilla wraps, cut into eighths, with olive oil and baking for 10 minutes.

Add a side of corn and voila! Quick and easy dinner! Layla LOVED it (even without the cheddar cheese and sour cream).

Oatmeal Apple Crisp

The traditional recipe calls for butter, but I found that if you use an equal amount of oil (I used canola), it comes out just as delicious.

WARNING: Contains Wheat

Ingredients:
4-5 large apples, cored and peeled
1/3 cup flour
1 cup oatmeal
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup oil

Cut apples into bite-sized pieces and place in a baking dish. In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add oil and mix until crumbly. Pour mixture over apples. Bake for 45 minutes at 375 degrees (apples will be soft and the crust will be golden brown).

Depending on the kind of apples you use, the sugar is optional. I include it when I use very tart apples, such as Granny Smith. You can also substitute brown sugar.

Apple Picking 10-3-10

One of my favorite fall activities is apple picking. It's not so much that I like apples (they are definitely not my favorite fruit). There is just something about the fresh air, blue sky, and leaves crunching underfoot that is so intrinsically autumn.

Last week, we took a drive out to Melick's Farm in Oldwick, NJ. I have been apple picking here since I was a kid and it's exciting to have introduced this tradition to my own family. Layla was estatic to see the field of pumpkins. Her favorite song lately has been about pumpkins and she has even created her own sign for pumpkin (tapping her head) based on a line from the song:

First you take a pumpkin, big and round and fat

Then you cut the top off, that'll be the hat

Then you hollow out the mouth, the nose, the eyes

Put it in a window for a Halloween surprise!

Her signing has really taken off this month, so I thought it was really cool when she made up her own sign for a word that she didn't know.

We all really enjoyed the hayride. Although the farm was pretty packed (it was a Sunday), there was no more than a 5 minute wait. Layla was intrigued by the tractor, and kept calling it "bus".

Even though she is probably too young to really understand, it was cool showing Layla that apples grow on trees (I know many children who when asked where food comes from, reply, "the store") and letting her pick her very own apples.

Afterwards, we took a break to play on the playground. In addition to the apples, we bought a mini pumpkin, blueberry preserves, pumpkin butter, apple cider, and apple cider donuts. I usually buy apple butter and Triple Crown preserves (Cherry, Raspberry and Strawberry), but I wanted to try something new. I love using their preserves when I make baked brie, which is one of my favorite fall recipes. We didn't get a chance to go to the Tewksbury Inn, a fantastic place to grab lunch and a drink, but I plan on going back before the season is over. What a beautiful day!

Introduction

If you told me a few years ago that I'd ever have a blog, I'd probably call you crazy. It's not that I don't enjoy talking (if you know me, you're laughing right now) or that I don't have a lot to say (I do!) I've just always been hesitant about jumping on board with the newest technology. I don't want to be connected 24/7, which is why I don't have a smart phone or a twitter account. I'd much rather be outdoors than watching television and I despise talking on the phone.

However, when I got pregnant with my daughter Layla, I found myself glued to the computer, tirelessly surfing the internet for message boards, articles, products and blogs related to parenting and children. Since all of my friends fell somewhere on the single/dating/newlywed spectrum, I had nowhere to turn to answer my endless questions about becoming a mom. Despite my background in child development, my hunger for all things baby was insatiable.

After Layla was born, I thought that my days of compulsive Googling were numbered. After all, I had a newborn who needed around the clock attention. Yet every spare moment (mostly after those daily 3AM feedings when my little girl had a fully belly and was sound asleep, and her sleep-deprived mom was wide awake!) was spent searching for the hottest new toy, the best deal on diapers, and an exciting new activity to fill my long days as a stay-at-home mom.
When we suspected that Layla had food allergies, my search turned to articles on treating her reactions and later, when our suspicions were confirmed, allergy-free recipes. Having no personal or family history of food allergies, this news came as a shock. My husband and I would have been lost, had it not been for the wealth of information available to us on the net.

So why am I starting this blog? Well for one, after twelve waking hours spent with a fourteen month old, when the Wiggles theme song finally gets out of my head and I'm finished cleaning peas off of the wall, it's nice to sit down and talk to other adults (even if it's about, well, how catchy the Wiggles theme song is and the best ways to clean peas off of the wall!) Secondly, after reading my friends' blogs, I have come to realize what a nice way blogging is to document these fleeting days of having a toddler. Before I know it, Layla (and hopefully, someday, her siblings) will be off to school and I can resume my career as a school psychologist. When I take off my stay-at-home mommy hat and my days are filled with meetings and reports, I will be glad that I kept a record of my crazy days at home.

Finally, and probably most importantly, I'd like to share with others what I've learned about raising a child with food allergies. I don't claim to be an expert by any means. There are many moms and dads who probably have a much better handle on it than I do. However, I know how scary it can be and how much it can change a family's lifestyle, so I'd love to talk about what I learn as we nagivate this unfamiliar territory. Unfortunately, when I have talked about my daughter's allergies, the responses have ranged from complete understanding to downright ignorance. Hopefully, by talking about this topic, more people can become educated and develop both tolerance (when I ask for the tenth time if that cookie has nuts in it) and understanding.