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A Life From Scratch.

A Life You Adore Around A Table You Love.

Archives for March 2016

Meals to bring to new parents.

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newborn collageEek! Look at all the newborn squishness. I. LOVE. IT. And yes, these are all actual real babies in my family. I know, how blessed is that? Until little Leland entered the world we basically had a fraternity going on but now we have a little girl to spoil, woohoo!

There is something so special about those first few weeks of a new baby, don’t you think? Moods are elevated due to just a general excitement over a brand new little person in the world! So awesome. And I absolutely love that first visit to mom to meet the new one and, as always, am all about the food. I have a little routine going of what I typically pack the new family so I thought I’d share it with you in case you have a new little person to meet soon. Showing up with a big bag of delicious food is one of the best things you can do for them! Well that, and the midnight feedings. But….um, no thanks. Ha.

Let’s start with the main components here. My go to recipe is this: chicken tortilla pie. It comes together easily (I typically double the recipe and make one for my family as well), it’s so easy to transport, and so easy for mom to bake later in the day. Bonus that it’s pretty healthy and hearty and comforting all at the same time. A huge win all around. I keep the spice factor to a minimum due to any possible breastfeeding and, of course, pack all the essentials to go with it. Here’s what going in the bag:

  • Chicken tortilla pie, wrapped in foil, with a note on top reading ‘bake uncovered at 400 for 25 minutes’
  • baggie of shredded cheddar
  • baggie of chopped cilantro
  • jar of salsa, I use the Frontera brand
  • tortilla chips, I use Donkey Chips
  • a lime
  • 2 Coronas because, hello, having a baby is stressful!

Lastly, another wonderful thing to add is a banana or pumpkin bread. This is great for easy snacking for any toddlers that may be bouncing around or a quick breakfast for the busy and tired mom. We live on Trader Joe’s gluten free pumpkin bread but sadly it’s out of season right now but there are so many delicious offerings at your local stores. Want to go homemade? This lemon zucchini bread is out of this world. 

So that is my typical line up and, thankfully, I’ve never heard any complaints. The chicken tortilla pie not floating your boat? Here are a few other wonderful recipes that keep in line with the easy to put together, easy to transports, and…well….easy to eat equation! I’m sure any would be so appreciated.

I hope you found a recipe or two you can keep on hand for those precious new baby moments! And hey, homemade chocolate chip cookies never hurt anyone, either.

C

 

 

Spring Break Farewell.

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IMG_5445Sorry my friends, no C’s picks this week as we are currently leaving on a jet plane. Boys and my mom (woohoo!) in tow. Yes we are off to Florida for spring break! 

A little recap though for you on this Sunday. And don’t forget if you are meal planning this week I have a hundred and thirty nine (yes, 139!!!) meal line ups for you, right here. 

This was one of the first items to go in my suitcase. I can’t wait to wear it while dining on fish tacos with a margarita in hand, obviously.

I let B pick out his swim suit this year at the Gap. My first choice would have, obviously, been this one but he went with a surfer dude. Hang ten!

Sticking around for spring break? Here are some fun art projects. The canvas print one is my favorite, perfect for the approaching Easter holiday.

How utterly fantastic are these shoes? I’m just saying….

With sports season around the corner (read: endless amounts of hours spent on countless fields) I’m working on getting our family baseball bag all set. Waterproof picnic blanket, umbrella, bug spray, ice packs, sunscreen. It all fits perfect in this amazing tote. Bonus that you can customize a sports ball and your name on it! 

Did you see this article? A Bon Appetit editor ate like Gisele and Tom for a day. I laughed out loud multiple times.

When I get home, I can’t wait to make these.

And THIS. Oh my goodness.

If you’re home this week and want to grill this chicken is the best it can get.

EEK! The cutest little chicks for your Easter table. So so sweet.

The ’10 most drinkable rose wines’. It is the first day of spring, after all. Totally have my eye on that summer water rose. Beautiful! 

And last but not least, if you are looking for the best boyfriend jeans money can buy (I’ve been on a serious hunt) your answer is Kut from the Kloth. Their Catherine boyfriend jeans are where it is at. They are the perfect mix of not too high on the waist but not too low (read: you can bend over and be ok). They wash beautifully, they don’t stretch out as the day goes on, the pocket placement on the rear is killer. Oh and the price, $89! Not too scary at all. They also come in white for summer – YIPPEE.

Happy cooking and shopping and traveling and playing, friends! 
C

 

The next steps.

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brand2I still can’t get over the love from last month. It seriously amazes me what people will respond to. I put myself out there on the heels of a local magazine article coming out and, well, I’m so glad I did. It was, hands down, my most popular post to date reaching over 8,000 people on Facebook. Not too shabby! So thank you. Thank you for the likes, comments, shares, and love. I’ve said it before and I will never ever stop saying it: I seriously appreciate every. single. one.

So, what happens next. A wonderful question. So much of the love received was so positive and often times, humorous, and then I got the occasional question or two: so, what is it you do? What is it you’re going to do?

Excellent questions my friends, excellent. Because I just happened to sort of piece it all together myself.

You all know I’ve established this blog as a hobby. A fun space to be creative and share recipes with family and friends. And then it continued to grow and I was still so naive about the whole thing thinking ‘hmmm, what am I going to do when I grow up?’

What I didn’t realize is I was doing it. Come on, C. Building a brand is an incredibly hard thing to establish authentically. Yet perhaps some of the best brands are those built when you don’t even know it’s happening.

If anyone asks me truly what I’ve done since staying home with the kids I would say that I have been mothering. I’ve been changing diapers and doing midnight feedings (for a year, by the way) and driving to baseball and to football and wrapping birthday presents and playing room mom and so on and so forth. This is what I’ve been doing. Yet throughout it all, even in the haze of not sleeping, I was building up the brand of A Life From Scratch. Making every single decision, often at odd hours. What font to use. What quality photograph. What size photograph. What exact shade of pink my dress should be in the logo. Figuring out the spacing between L’s stripes in the logo. Writing all content. Photographing food. Figuring out what words I like to use. What words I don’t like to use. It just kept going and going and going and eventually the end result was something bigger than I ever even knew was even being built.

Weird, right? My goal was never to create a brand. It was born out of the chaos of my kids, the drive to be creative, and very little help in terms of actually having normal working time to devote to it all. It was something that was truly needed in my life as it just kept….going. It never occurred to me not to do this. Then all of a sudden poof! I had this brand – this business – when often times I was wondering what else I should be doing. 

During a recent date out with Mike, you know, where we can complete actual whole sentences to each other, he randomly began speaking about his senior exec partners over at Aetna. He said there was a discussion that, 9 times out of 10, it makes sense to do what you’re already doing way better than to actually expand it. Yes, yes. The timing of it all was uncanny. It’s exactly what I needed to hear. 

Now, onto the what’s happening next part. I’ve got this brand, what is it that I’m doing with it? To be clear, the blog does bring in (a little) income. That all happens through advertising right over there on the side and links I create to specific items our family uses and enjoys and is excited about. This was, and is, never the point of the blog. I’ve always shared and linked items I’m truly digging. If people click and eventually buy that’s fantastic. I’m making money while I’m carpooling kids around. And if not, that is A OK too.

Even more exciting is that I’ve partnered up with CaptureHits Marketing Group. This was a huge step for me. My baby, so to speak, is now in the hands of some serious experts. They are handling all the behind the scenes items that I am clueless about that moves an established brand from point A to point B. All the tricky side of Google and SEO work and link building. That stuff, mama has no time for. And let’s be honest, has no clue about.

The goal is to build up even more advertising opportunities, even more followers, even more subscribers, to get big enough until….wait for it….a book makes sense.

Yes.

That is my goal. I’ve always wanted something of mine to be in the hands of people that choose it. A physical, heavy, bound, beautiful, book. It’s a dream, really. Content is already swirling around in my head and in my dreams and, perhaps, on my Mac. And it’s good my friends. It’s about happy stuff and hard stuff and everything in between all brought together by…..food. Because if you haven’t figured out by now that is my love language. My life language, really. And I can’t wait to share more and more with you.

Thank you, as always, for following our little lives along and supporting our (growing!) brand. It means more to me than you know.

*Photo credit: Silver Branch Photography

 

Rainy Day Activities for the Kids

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Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day! Rain has a funny way of dampening everyone’s moods. Winter’s flurries have seemed to subsided and made way to a string of really gloomy, wet days. Ever heard the expression ‘in like a lion, out like a lamb’? Well, the lion is definitely here, and it’s best to be prepared to handle the touchy moods (already influenced by the weather) of the kids (ok, and me) and have some activities planned for the kids! My adamant followers might be thinking: Hey C, didn’t you just write a piece about snow day activities, and how might these indoor activities be any different? Truth be told, I’m constantly thinking about new ideas for posts, so these are just some more indoor ideas. Perfect for anyone that may hear ‘I’m bored’ once or twice during spring break.

slime

slime

Magnetic Slime! (Source: Frugalfun4boys)

This idea name contains two words of things that I never thought I would make! I immediately thought: “well I certainly won’t be able to make something magnetic without access to a lab” and then jumped to having doubts about making slime with household items. The truth is, it’s quite easy and can make for a thrilling way to spend a couple of hours while being pent up inside while Mother Nature relentlessly pours it down outside. You’re going to need to do some online shopping to find some of the rarer items that you’ll need, but trust me, it’ll be worth it!

To start this little makeshift science experiment, you’ll need:

  • Liquid starch (find it at most grocery stores)
  • Elmer’s glue
  • Iron Oxide Powder (this is what makes it magnetic!) Find it on Amazon for pretty cheap.
  • Disposable paper bowls
  • A neodymium magnet (also found on Amazon, these are stronger than regular magnets)

Off we go!

  1. Start by pouring ¼ cup of the liquid starch in a paper bowl. Sprinkle in 2 tbs. of iron powder and stir it until it’s well combined.
  2. Stir in ¼ cup of Elmer’s glue. It’s going to look pretty globby and weird, but keep going!
  3. Take the gloop out of the bowl using your hands. You should be able to squish it around and toss it around like a ball of dough. Beware, your hands might be a little black for a bit from the iron powder, but it will wash out within a day. Disposable gloves will solve this problem.
  4. With a paper towel, pat the slime to get off any extra liquid. Once it’s dry, you’re all set to start playing with the magnets!

Beware: the magnets are quite strong (much stronger than regular old magnets), so you may end up pinching your fingers between them when stacking them up. Be careful and have fun.

Soap Clouds (Source: Ourbestbites)

What better way to spend the rainy day inside than making a cloud! This will be an awesome time to tell the kids about the formation of rain from clouds, and can be an excellent visualization for them on a gloomy, cloudy day. Although these clouds are made nothing like real clouds, it’s definitely another awesome mini science experiment.

bar of soap

For some reason, the only soap that has seemed to work with these is Ivory soap, so make sure you grab a bar or two from the store. Start by placing a sheet of paper towel in the base of the microwave. Then, simply place the bar of soap onto the paper towel and start it on high power for a minute or two. This sounds a lot messier than it actually ends up being. You may not need to let it sit there for the whole time, but just kind of gauge it as it grows and you can stop it at any time to your preferred size.

I’m really not sure what makes it poof up, but something about microwaving soap leaves you with a surprisingly cotton-like structure that really does look like a cloud! For the little ones, be careful when handing their cloud to them because smashing this up can lead to a ton of soap dust everywhere. Be gentle!

Once the kids have had their fun with their personal clouds, you can even recycle them back into soap to use around the house! Simply place the cloud into a large bowl and have them mash and mash and mash until you’re left with a powdery base. It’s actually quite satisfying, much like popping bubble wrap as it crinkles between your fingers. Then, using an electric beater or food processor, add a bit of warm water until it starts to come back together.

Use cookie cutters to make cute shapes of soap to use around the house! Obviously, be sure to thoroughly wash all containers that you used here. You can also use food coloring for beautiful new bars of soap. Once they sit and cool for a few days, they’re back into their original for of a bar of soap….magic!

Balloon Rocket (Source: Listotic)

This one is the quickest and easiest of the three but can keep the boys busy for hours on end. I’m sure we’ve all done this at some point in a science class to explain Newton’s Law of motion. Perfect for a rainy day when everyone is fighting for ideas to defeat the ever-present enemy of boredom. Simply take a balloon and blow it up. Then, take a decent length of string and put it through a straw and then tie the two ends to two chairs spaced a few feet apart.  

Attach the balloon to the straw with tape, and hold the blown up balloon from the opening side, making sure that no air comes out. From one chair, release the balloon and watch it race across the taught string! To make it even more fun, you can duplicate the setup and have full on races!

Although a rainy day might dampen your spirits, try some of these ideas out with the kids and have a little fun the next time Mother Nature decides to rain on your parade.

Balloon

Balloons

Motherhood: on ‘rewild the child.’

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IMG_6516An article was sent to me a bit while back by our darling cousin (also an early childhood expert, ahem) with the cute text ‘see, I told you all B’s scrapes and cuts are a sign of intelligence! Read below.’

It could not have come at a more perfect time where as just the night before, while I was cooking away something tasty and B was coloring in the bay window, M asked me ‘where is L?’

‘I don’t know.’

Like – literally, don’t know. I knew he was outside and yes, could run out and call his name and he’d eventually emerge from our yard or a neighbors or deep in the woods but precisely where he was, I was clueless.

It was also pitch black and kind of cold. I then thought had a thought: am I an insane parent? 

I poked my head outside into the cold and there he was. With his normal gang and they were taking turns climbing up the slide and trying to wrestle each other off the top of it. Bam, kid down. Laughing. Climbing. Pushing. Fighting. Laughing again.

I sighed a big sigh and refrained from comment and went back inside. I’m content with no blood or broken bones.

It’s always been this way. And 90% of the time I don’t even question it. Visions of L and, partner in crime, Ryder running wild through our yard carrying large sticks, still in diapers, with Meadow toddling behind will always be in my memory. And now little B has joined the gang and they do scary things the include but are not limited too the following: climbing broken fences to try and hang from trees, making actual spears to throw, wrestling – always wrestling, ending up in someones home two blocks away, sledding in an actual ravine, riding motorized vehicles, being told they can walk around the block only to wander over a mile away (you know, towards the pretty 3rd graders that happen to live across the woods), climbing – always climbing, pushing limits, making mistakes. 

It’s funny how ‘normal’ this all is to me and I’m often reminded that it isn’t entirely ‘normal’ when another mom visits. ‘You just let them run out the door?’ ‘He rides his scooter into the street?’ ‘You let them wrestle?’ 

Well…..yes. I mean, maybe it’s just these weird kids but is there really another option? 

Obviously, the most basic of things are being enforced here. They went to Safety Town. Shocking, I know. Helmets, look both ways, don’t talk to strangers. I promise you these have been taught. Yet beyond that, well, there is sort of a trust factor that is built up. Don’t be dumb, and you will be given the freedom to roam. And watch your brother. Always watch your brother.

I recall a time recently I got a text warning me the boys were ‘building a large barricade in the woods.’ Wait, I’m confused. Is this…..bad?

I looked out the window and sure enough they were hauling lumber and leaves and rocks and twisting it all into some intricate formation. Cool. Carry on.

Another time L and a friend disappeared deep into the woods only to come back scared, scared, because they broke part of a fence while riding the four wheeler. And an adult saw and spoke to them about it. They looked like they had seen a legitimate ghost. Rightfully so, we don’t break people’s property! We spoke about it, reassured them all would be OK, and ended up fixing the fence.

I could go on and on with stories like this. Stories of things that feel just a little bit un safe. That teeter on the edge of is this ok or not ok. Yet that teetering is where I feel my boys grow best. Do they always lean the right way? No, no. But that’s all part of it.

‘Humans are designed to experience a degree of fear – manage it out of their lives and they will seek it elsewhere, on the internet or with self-destructive behaviour‘ and that ‘Unsupervised time, even just in the yard, might lead to more cuts and scrapes or fights between siblings, but it is what many of us did as children and it teaches them how to make risk-related decisions for themselves.’

Amen.

Have they come home bleeding, scared, hurt and/or all of the above? Absolutely. But I can’t tell you how many countless times they have hurt themselves right under my supervision. Kids are going to get hurt. And I think they learn even more about it when mom isn’t present to navigate the whole situation for them. They actually almost seem like different children when I’m not in plain sight and I intend to give them as much breathing room as they have shown they can responsibly manage.

So here’s to raising ‘wild’ kids. Within reason, of course.

 

 

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