Mini Vacay

Last week we took a mini vacay to Myrtle Beach. It was so nice to have a few days away to recharge and relax (as much as you can with three kiddos in tow!). We ate at Crab Catchers, our favorite place in Little River, spent a lot of time in the pool, took sunrise and evening trips to the beach (yes, no daytime beach for us...have you seen the fair skin our family rocks!), and took the babes to play in the arcade and have icecream. It was delightful!

Little Diggers

First time with toes in the water!

Preparing to jump waves

That's right people...it's a cat on a leash.

Sam loving the ocean breeze

Two of my sweet boys

Little Mermaid

She had sand in places sand isn't supposed to be!

More wave jumping

Pool time!

A little unsure about this...but he ended up loving it! I wish his skin loved it more. (Boo eczema!)

All smiles

Silly girl

Little Water Bug

Here comes a belly buster!

The higher, the better

Sacked out after a golfcart ride.

The Whole 30 Challenge

I'm doing the Whole 30 Challenge...I guess I should say "we" are doing the challenge. Leave it to Nick to seek out the most difficult (for me) dietary change possible.

I will admit, I have a strong affinity for sweet tea, chocolate chip cookies, cake, icecream, and I'll never pass a Krispy Kreme if the HOT sign is on. Sugar. Sweets. I LOVE them! But not for the next 30 days.

For the next 30 days, it's Meat, Vegetables, Fruits, and Fats. No Dairy, Grains, Legumes, Alcohol,  Sugar, or Sugar Substitutes. I am eager to see and feel the results. A healthy body and mind will be worth the sacrifice of sweets.

I am on Day 5 and here are a few of the things I've been eating this week:

Breakfast

Eggs with Tomatoes and Spinach and Berry Mix

Eggs with Green Peppers and Onion and Grapefruit sections

Zucchini and Onion Egg Muffins

Lunch

Everything but the kitchen sink salad

Chicken with Pineapple Mango Salsa and Blueberry Spinach Salad

Avocado Egg Salad with Cucumbers, Carrots and Cantaloupe

Dinner

Chicken with Tessemae's Paleo BBQ Sauce, Sweet Potato Hash and Asparagus

Sirloin, Sweet Potato with Cinnamon, and Broccoli with Lemon and Garlic

Tessemae's BBQ Chicken, Balsamic Zucchini and Onions and Cantaloupe

Did I mention that I can't have conventional coffee creamer? Thank heavens for Coconut Milk!


  

Lemon Blueberry Bread

Thank you Pinterest for another delicious recipe idea. I saw this recipe for Lemon Blueberry Bread and I had to make it.
This is the end product. (Don't you always like to see what you're making before you see the process? I do!) :)

 Here's the cast of characters:

• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbs lemon juice
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups AP flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tbs grated lemon zest (I just used the zest from 1 large lemon)
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (I vote for fresh!)

       Ingredients for the Glaze

• 2 tbs lemon juice
• 1/4 cup sugar

 Step 1: Mix together butter, sugar, lemon juice, and eggs.

Step 2: Mix together flour, baking powder, and salt.

Step 3: Combine your wets into your dry ingredients. Alternate milk and egg mixture until all wets are mixed in.

Step 4: Fold in the lemon zest and blueberries.

Step 5: Pour this fine looking batter (pictured below) into a greased and floured loaf pan (8x4)

 Step 6: Bake it in a 350 oven for 60-70 minutes (until a toothpick comes out clean)

Step 7: After taking it out, wait 10 minutes and then remove the bread to cool on a wire rack.

Step 8: Once the bread has cooled a bit, make your glaze by mixing the 2tbs lemon juice and 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Drizzle over the bread and then enjoy! 

It was a hit at our house, and I'm sure it will be at your home too!

Playing Catch Up

So...the summer list is a wee bit harder to accomplish when you have an infant. Don't get me wrong, we've been plenty busy and have had a lot of fun, but some of the things I put on the list aren't "baby friendly". 

One place we did visit that was fun for the whole crew was the Greensboro Children's Museum. Nick won a family membership at a golf tournament and we made our first trip several weeks ago. The kids were entertained for hours, and they can't wait to go back.

Here's a few pictures of the fun!

Slingshot Iced Coffee

I have a special place in my heart for coffee. Recently, I've read about two different brands of coffee concentrate. One brand, Slingshot Coffee, is made right here in North Carolina, so when I saw it at Whole Foods this weekend I knew I had to get a bottle.

They use different types of coffee, which they choose based on seasonal availability, and make small batches of coffee concentrate. The bottle I bought says it is the Ethiopian variety.

I used 2oz of the concentrate, a splash of creamer, and filled the rest with milk (about 6 oz).
*The second time I made it, I put ice and ingredients in a cocktail shaker and mixed it. I think this blended everything much better!

Would you just look at that creamy coffee goodness! So yummy!

Sam a 7 Months

We're on the other side of half a year and my baby is growing up way too fast.

7 months:

Weight: 16.5 lbs 

Length:  26.5 inches

Sleep: Naps twice a day...afternoon nap is usually longer than the morning. Sam has slept through the night a handful of times, but still typically wakes once a night to eat.

Awake: Sam can roll or scoot on his back to get across the room, but no belly crawling yet. Sits well when assisted by his boppy. Very interested in everything that is going on around him!

Eating: Sam usually eats baby food twice a day. I had big plans on making his baby food...then I visited the Target baby food aisle! They have the best selection of organic baby food. Green veggies weren't his favorite, but he will eat them if they are in a combo with a fruit (especially pear). He loves corn and cherry, spinach and pear, kale, squash, and more!

Other fun facts: I am trying to treat his eczema with a natural soap made with a variety of oils and beeswax, taking fish oil daily, and a salve with natural anti-inflammatory ingredients. I'm over the steroid creams. He loves to talk with you...mostly in grunts and squeals. Has the cutest cheesy smile ever (see above!)

Sam at 6 Months

Happy Half-Birthday Little Sam-A-Do!

 6 months:

 

Weight: 15 lbs 5 oz

Length:  26 inches

Sleep: Still napping twice a day.  Goes to bed around 8:30 and is up once during the night to eat. No sleeping through the night in sight!

 

Awake: Loves to bounce in the Jump-A-Roo, sits in his boppy and will teeth on just about any toy (but his Sophie giraffe is a favorite), and is not a fan of being "left alone" (ie Mama out of sight) for more than a few minutes.

Eating: Has tried almost all single fruits and veggies and will no longer eat cereal. After trying bananas a few times, I think he may have an allergy to them so we're staying away from them for the time being. Still a boobie baby...no bottles here.

Other fun facts: Remains our smiley baby! Gives the best sloppy kisses. Still battling eczema. :( LOVES for me to sing to him. His favorite songs are: You Are My Sunshine, The Wheels on the Bus, and If You're Happy and You Know It.