Busy Bees

It's been quite a while since I posted anything because things have been super busy at home! Here's a quick run down of what we've been up to:

*We had the three gum trees in front of our house and one on the side cut down.  I *hate* the thought of cutting down trees, but this was the smartest decision we've ever made! The house looks so much better, we no longer have to worry about our pipes, and the clean-up has been reduced by at least 95%! These trees drop something all year round.  We plan to replace the trees with some nice Japanese maples in the spring.

*We took a nice ride down to Atlantic City for the NJEA Teacher's convention.  Layla always has fun getting out and Monte and I had a nice dinner while Layla napped in her stroller :)

* I have been working on a BIG project for my dad.  I signed up for a free trial at ancestry.com to research his family.  My plan is to put together a family tree and a binder of records to give him on Christmas (shhhh! It's a surprise!)  My dad doesn't know much about his dad's family because his dad passed away when he was about Layla's age.  I know this will be a very special gift for him, and I'm very excited to give it to him! I have found out a lot of information, but I'm pressed for time because I need to cancel the account before my free trial  is over!

*Monte is almost finished with his garage project and I have to admit - it looks great! I hope to post some pictures soon.

*I have gotten a great jump start on my Christmas shopping! I am doing it all on a budget and I'm amazed at the great deals I've found.

* Layla got her 9th tooth! She has also turned into a dancing machine and started saying "I wuv you!"

Layla's Photo Shoot!

My awesomely talented friend, Shannon, took some phenomenal pictures of Layla a few weeks ago.  She came with us to The Little Gym and then we went to Mindowaskian Park in Westfield.  I honestly love every picture she took - they capture her emotions, which is so hard to do!  Here are some of my favorites.

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!