February 7th, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: A bit of yellow

I live in Southern California; this means I can grow many traditional bulb plants (daffodils, tulips, and the like), but they bloom super early. Every year, without fail, I get the first bloom of the year with in a few days of my Mom’s birthday (Feb. 5th). These two popped up on the 6th and made me smile. Happy Birthday Mom! Miss you!

Do you have a wordless wednesday post? Link up below.

February 5th, 2012

P366: Jan 29th-Feb 4th

::insert witty commentary about our week here::

Short version: It was long, I’m exhausted. Highlight was a road trip to Ojai to the best toy store ever.

Sunday

Helping me make heart shaped croutons.

Monday

Backyard explorer.

Tuesday

And I quote, “giddy-up, bouncy fish!”

Wednesday

He was very excited about his “toy story magazine”

Thursday

Coolest toy store ever! And Spencer was super well behaved. (in love with the floor, too)

Friday

Slide.

Saturday

He’s so pleased he can finally reach the tree.

That’s our week! Linking up with Amy!

February 2nd, 2012

Mama Duck Plays All Day

Spencer and I were having a lovely little bath time. Lovely if you ignore the fact that I practically had to hoist myself of my seat every time he needed adjustment or a toy fetched. He has a family of rubber ducks: mama, daddy and two smaller ducks (my charmingly self-centered boy calls both Spencer). He was playing driving, as he is wont to do in the bath and the following transpired:

Spencer: Daddy duck is driving to work. He works hard.
Me: What’s mama duck doing?
Spencer: Driving to Target
Me {laughing}: Is that all mama duck does? Goes to Target?
Spencer: No. {serious voice} She drives to Target, buys apple-peach, plays all day and then makes dinner.
Me: {speechless}
Spencer: Daddy duck comes homes and eats dinner and plays with Spencer ducks and has bath.
Me: Some mama ducks work.
Spencer: No. Mama ducks play all day.
Me: {sigh}

And then to complete my stay-at-home-mom cliche, after bedtime, I ate a giant bowl of ice cream, watched reality tv and thought about writing this post.

I am choosing to think that he is speaking to his experience (I do stay home, after all) and not his universal views on gender roles. We haven’t stressed a gender neutral upbringing, but we make very few restrictions on his choices for play, toys or dress-up. His preschool teachers are delighted that he plays with girls equally as much as boys and his dress-up fashion sense is favorably noted. Apparently he has a tendancy to put on some bracelets or a necklace with his firefighter outfit. And really, what better time for an arm party than when toddlers are fighting fires?

I was just taken aback. Ten, hell even five, years ago, I never would have imagined my future as a stay-at-home. Most days I love it and I feel that by Spencer being home most days and being in school two morning a week, he is really getting great exposure to both worlds. Part of me feels like it was a throwaway comment by a toddler and part of me thinks that I have failed completely in parenting.

At least he likes toca hair salon and robot lab equally on the ipad. That should count for something. Right? RIGHT?

February 2nd, 2012

Sweetheart Salad with Strawberry Basil Vinagrette

I’m so pleased to be a part of the Southern California Lady Bloggers Romantic Progressive Dinner. This collection of recipes hosted on different blogs is designed to inspire a little romance in everyone for this Valentine’s Day. Welcome! Please enjoy the salad course.

Sweetheart Salad is a simple little salad with which I decided to take sweethearts a little literally. The dressing is a slightly sweet blend of strawberries and vinegar (with no oil or added sugar) and just a hint of basil. Add some fresh blueberries, pecans and goat cheese and then top it all off with some simple, yet adorable, heart shaped croutons.

Pin It

Sweetheart Salad
Serves 2 (or more, just increase the salad toppings and greens as needed)
1 batch strawberry basil vinaigrette (well, probably a half batch for if making it for two) recipe below
1/4 cup blueberries
about 12 candied pecans
2 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled
2 cups romaine lettuce or mixed greens (spinach would be great, too!)
half recipe heart shaped croutons recipe below

1. For this salad, I like to toss the greens with the blueberries and pecans and then plate the base salad mixture and then add the goat cheese and croutons on top after it is plated.
2. Please keep in mind that the salad as photographed is very lightly dressed because it photographed better. Your leaves will be distinctly more red.

Strawberry Basil Vinaigrette
1 cup chopped strawberries (fresh or unsweetened frozen)
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons loosely torn fresh basil
dash salt
water

1. In measuring cup or small bowl, combine strawberries and vinegar.
2. Using an immersion blender, puree until smooth. (Or skip the measuring cup in step one and do it all in a blender)
3. Add the basil leaves one tablespoon at a time, pureeing until smooth.
4. Add salt and puree. If dressing is to thick, add water one teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
5. Keep chilled until ready for use.

Heart Shaped Croutons
Serves 4 (on a salad)
4 slices sandwich bread (or french or whatever you have laying around)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Heart shaped cookie cutters, pastry brush, cookie sheet

1. Using cookie cutters, cut heart shapes out of bread and place on cookie sheet
2. Let sit for an hour, then preheat oven to 350 degrees
3. In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix oil, salt and pepper
4. Using a pastry brush or a spoon, brush heart shapes with oil mixture. Flip and brush other side.
5. Place in oven and cook for 8 minutes. Turn shapes over and continue baking for an additional 8 minutes until shapes are golden brown
6. Let cool on cookie sheet and enjoy!
7. Croutons are best enjoyed on the same day, but will keep for a few day in an airtight container at room temperature.

Now head over to The Gonzo Gourmet for Steakhouse Steaks for Two to continue on to the main course portion of the Southern California Lady Bloggers Romantic Progressive Dinner.