Valentine's Day Breakfast - Heart Shaped Pancakes & Frog In The Hole

I never use to celebrate Valentine's Day, but for some reason as I have gotten older I have started too. Last year I planned out a dinner of heart shaped pizza, lovey labeled wines, and heart brownies (see post here.) This year I decided to make something different because my kiddo is now old enough to eat food. I decided on a loving breakfast of heart shaped pancakes and heart shaped frog in the hole.

The whole idea came about when I was at Walmart and saw these cookie cutters for $2.88.

Now I have seen these type of pancake makers at stores before, but always thought they would be something I wouldn't break out very often. The cookie cutters could be used for a variety of functions and were super cheap!

My cookie cutters are metal and metal conducts heat, so I need a way to pick them up out of the pan and decided to use an old cork
I just cut a slit in it big enough to pick up the cutter from the pan.
I placed my cookie cutters in a pan with some oil and waited for them to heat up.
I mixed up some pancake batter.

I poured my batter in and waited for it to get super bubbly. (Notice my center from my frog in the hole.) When the pancakes had lots of bubbles, I used the cork to remove the hot cookie cutter.
Then I flipped each over and waited for the other side to cook.
After those two were cooked, I sprayed down the cookie cutters with some vegetable oil and started on the rest of the batter. I ended up with this beautiful stack of pancakes:
It was a pretty large stack, but my husband and son ate them up.
Well, I gave my son one of them. I am a little strange of a Mom and try to give my kiddo protein in the morning. I think having just carbohydrates and sugary syrup just isn't the healthiest for a young kiddo. Breakfast #2 for my son was a frog in the hole. If you haven't heard of these, it's just a piece of bread with an egg in the middle.

I grabbed the middle size cookie cutter and cut my hole out of my bread.
Keep the inside part, it makes for cute toast on the side. I cooked this piece with the pancakes in the larger pan.
With a little bit of oil in the pan, I put the bread in a pan and
cracked an egg in the center. My son likes salt & pepper on his eggs so I added that.

Once the top of the egg has set, I flipped it over and let it cook until the yoke was hard.
Served with the toasted center, my kiddo ate it up!
Hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Valentine's Day! Even if you don't like/celebrate the holiday, just use it as an opportunity to do something nice for the ones you love.

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Entryway Remodel (DIY Wall Coat Rack & Shelf)

First of all, I want to start this blog out with a tribute, a remembrance, a eulogy....to my coat rack. You have been there through so many years and it is sad to see you go. My coat rack was originally purchased when I moved out of my parents house (12 years ago) and it has lasted through all my moves. It has survived many goodwill piles, only to be pulled out and used again. It's been there through the good, the bad, and the ugly....coats. It has been taken apart, fallen over, held the heaviest load of coats and still lasted until now. Alas, the other day, the coat rack died :( The bottom bolt stripped completely out, with no way of repair. It now stands crooked and falls over frequently. In fact, this morning it fell over and smacked me in the head, and that was the moment when I decided it had to be put down.
Really, my entryway has been in a major need of a remodel. I don't plan on doing any painting, just a new way to organize the coats and maybe if my husband lets me, replace the light fixture.
Now this project probably sounds familiar, after all it was just a few months ago when I built the Shoe Pallet Storage Bench for my mud room.
Which has been so helpful, but in my current entryway I already have a large chest that serves as a bench and toy box. I wanted something somewhat quick and I have had some ideas in mind. Here are a few examples I found of how I would like to remodel my entryway:

In the pic below, I love the baskets for some extra storage. It's a great idea for all the gloves and hats we need during the winter time.

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If I don't need the storage, having a shelf above the hooks adds extra area for decorating too.

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I love the framed numbers and baskets, but not quite sure I really need numbers in the entryway.

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I love the really large hooks on this coat rack.

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Yesterday, I was at Hobby Lobby and I found some super big coat hooks (like in the picture above) and matching cast iron L-brackets, perfect for a shelf! My idea-- make a shelf with the L-brackets and place a rustic piece of wood below with my large hooks attached to them. It's seems pretty simple, with the exception of me finishing the wood (which I hate sanding) but overall should be a somewhat quick project. I think for the top of the shelf, I will have a couple baskets with some frames in the middle. Enough for some extra storage if needed.

Wish me luck and stay tuned for the results!

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The Joys Of Toddlerhood Part 1

My son is officially 15 months and 2 weeks old today and more active than ever! Usually, all you hear about the toddler years are the fighting, yelling, and the naughtiness of a toddler, but I wanted to write a little short blog on the joys of toddlerhood.
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Every morning when I go in to pick up my son from his crib, he has such excitement on his face. I would like to think that the joy is to see me (and some might be), but I think the majority of his excitement if for all the new things he knows he will learn that day. It's amazing to think that a short 15 months ago he was just a little baby that would barely move.

Each morning we wake up, take out the dog, make our hike down the stairs to put food in the dog bowl, and make the great climb back up the stairs to begin the day. (I like to think the climb up the stairs is his little version of Mt. Everest.) He makes me coffee (well I set it all up, he pushes the button) and I usually make him oatmeal. With spoon in hand, in about 30 minutes, he has managed to eat half of the oatmeal and use the rest for a nice moistrizing facial mask.

After breakfast, the day goes pretty much on a schedule. We play, he naps, eat lunch, play again, nap, play, dinner, and bedtime...you get the idea. Our days are somewhat of a routine but the moments when we play are the best and they change daily. He has almost mastered the names of all the animals in his books. (Well, he can't say them, but I can ask him and he will point at the picture.) I can ask 'what sound does a snake make' and he will boastfully respond "sssssss" or 'what sound does a piggy make' and he will give me the biggest snort you have ever heard from a little boy. We are still working on the sound a duck makes, but all he can muster is a "duck duck" instead of a "quack quack", I am sure those "q's" are a hard one to learn.

He loves to watch the birds on our bird feeders and giggles each time a new one flies over (counted 11 the other day!) We walk up and down our driveway, which is almost a quarter of a mile each time. He has mastered the log roll, working on the somersault, and hopefully we can start the cartwheel soon. He's a tough kid who falls down on his face several times a day and makes little sound if any. He carries his monkey everywhere he goes and says "hot" at anything that is Mom's food. We read about 30 books a day and he makes engine noises while playing with his trucks. He points at everthing, claps for himself when he does something he is proud of, and runs around the house like a little maniac.
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I still look forward to when he learns to use his imagination, which he has not quite grasped the concept yet. (I made him some x-ray glasses out of Duplo blocks yesterday and he was not impressed.) There are moments of the beginning temper tantrums, him shaking his head "no", whining, and picky eating which I am sure will get worse before they get better. I have responded calmly and cooly and hope to keep that up.

Despite the bad moments, all the fun moments of watching him learn, explore, and experiment are worth every penny. I hope this posts makes you look forward to your little one reaching this fun toddler stage or makes you remember when your child was his age. I understand these years are some of the best you will remember and I hope to relish in the moment while I have it.

"For infants and toddlers learning and living are the same thing. If they feel secure, treasured, loved, their own energy and curiosity will bring them new understanding and new skills." - Amy Laura Dombro

I leave you with this video of him I find hilaroious. We took him to the Children's Science Museum and he learned that if he jumps on the scale he can make the needle move. We had quite the laugh watching him.

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Healthy Oven Fried Chicken

There are moments where foods that are totally not healthy for you sound so delicious and you just can't resist them. I love my classic comfort foods: fried chicken & mashed potatoes, shepherd's pie, meatloaf, mac & cheese....etc. The other night I was CRAVING some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy. We are still on our eating healthy routine, so I tried to make a "healthier" version of fried chicken. Fried chicken, with no frying involved! The crumb coating I used to dip the chicken in cooked up crispy and delicious and kept the chicken very moist. I hope you enjoy! (My battery was dead on my camera, so the pic I found is very close on how it turned out...complete with my skin on mashed potatoes!)

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1 cup Chex Rice cereal
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
2. Line a baking sheet and place a metal cooling rack on top of it. (The key to a "crispy" chicken is to have air baking the chicken all around, including the bottom. The cooling rack will allow the heat to circulate.) Spray cooking rack with spray oil.
3. In a food processor, grind the cereal, panko crumbs, salt, peppers, and paprika. Place crumb mixture in a dish big enough to fit each chicken breast.
4. In a shallow bowl, mix the mayo, egg whites, and mustard together until somewhat smooth. (It's going to look gross.)
5. Dip each chicken breast (both sides) in the mayo mixture then into the crumb mixture until coated well.
6. Place each chicken breast on the cooling rack, not touching.
7. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken. A thermometer inserted in the thickest part chicken should be 160 degrees F.
8. Serve with some mashed potatoes and country gravy. YUMMY!!

The Skinny: Serves 4 @ 229 calories

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Top 10 Products For Toddlers

It's official (for a few months now), my little baby boy is now a toddler. According to the thefreedictionary.com, a toddler is "a child between 12 and 36 months of age. During this period of development the child acquires a sense of autonomy and independence through the mastery of various specialized tasks such as control of body functions, refinement of motor and language skills, and acquisition of socially acceptable behavior, especially toleration of delayed gratification and acceptance of separation from the mother or parents. The period is characterized by exploration of the environment and rapid cognitive development as the child strives for self-assertion and personal interaction with others while struggling with parental discipline and sibling rivalry."

Wow, that was long!! However, right on when it comes to my crazy, adventurous, totally uncoordinated little boy! With the onset of toddler years, I have found some products that I honestly could not live without and I thought I would share my must have list for toddlers (in no particular order).

1. Waterproof SuperBib

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I don't know about you, but I do not like doing laundry all the time. These waterproof bibs help out with that. Not only do they keep water, soup, cereal, and whatever else off my kiddo's clothes they also are easy to wash in the sink. I wash them with the high chair tray and lay them both out to dry. The material makes these bibs dry super fast and they are usually ready for the next meal in a couple hours.

2. Baby Moccasins source

I really should call these "soft leather" shoes because they aren't moccasins in the true sense, but they remind me of them. My little guy spends majority of the day in his sleeper and I slip these shoes over the bottom of his sleepers to prevent him from sliding around on the floor. The shoes have a soft leather sole on the bottom, which allow them to grip the hard floors better. Also, they form better to the kiddos chubby feet, so I think it makes it easier for him to walk around then normal shoes.

3. Baby Signing Time

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We started playing this video for Aiden when he was about 5 months old. The songs will get stuck in your head and drive you crazy, but your kid will love this video. He get's so excited every time I turn it on and he has picked up on the signing. It has been very helpful since he can't quite communicate verbally with us yet.

4. Playtex Insulated Cups
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I have tried several brands of sippy cups, but I like this kind the best. They keep his milk colder, longer and they wash up easier then other brands. The inside has this rubber stopper that can easily be removed and washed in the dishwasher.

5. Baby Toothbrush (aka back teething brush)source

The young toddler years are a fun time when their molars begin to come in. It is HORRIBLE!! I found these baby tooth brushes that are suppose to help them brush their teeth, but I have found they are wonderful for his back teeth coming in. They are soft, so I don't worry about him falling with one in his mouth and he absolutely loves them. I only wish they were colored. It's hard to see them on the floor and I vacuumed up one the other day...

6. Snack Catchers

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The snack catchers are the greatest invention! My little man loves his cheerios and these snack catchers provide entertainment. Your child has to work at opening the flaps to get a cheerio and the flaps keep most of the cheerios contained. They allow him to walk around and explore with his food, without making such a huge mess.

7. Suction Plates/Bowls
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These plates/bowls are great for teaching your little one how to use eating utensils. I started putting Aiden's oatmeal and yogurt in these bowls every morning and sticking them to his high chair tray. These bowl are great because it allows them to learn how to use a spoon and scoop up food without the bowl sliding off the tray. At first he made quite the mess, and still does, but each day he gets better at feeding himself.

8. GoGo Squeeze Apple Sauce

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I came across these at Costco one day-- I actually picked them up for my husband to take to work. I gave one to my little guy and he loved them. They are easy to keep in the diaper bag and for him to eat on the go. The unique design allows him to squeeze the apple sauce into his mouth without making a mess.

9. Sun Maid Fruit Bits

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I am somewhat obsessed with dried fruit, but cutting up dried apricots and apples for my son is a little bit of pain. I found these fruit bits in the store one day and they are a staple around our household now. I keep a pack in the diaper bag for a healthy snack on the go. I will sprinkle some in his yogurt, oatmeal, or just as a fruit part of his lunch.

10. Dollar Tree Board Books

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My kiddo LOVES to read, but he is not the most gentle child with books. I have already spent many of hours taping together pages of books. (OK, that's exaggerating it's been just two books.) The Dollar Tree offers these awesome board books for $1 each. The stories are short, simple, and virtually indestructible. Also, they have some foam books that can go in the bathtub and make a great teething toy.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my Top 10 products for toddlers. Do you have some favorites that you can't live without? If so, let me know. I am always looking for new things to make my life easier!

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Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry Blender Pancakes

Who doesn't like to wake up on a Sunday morning to some nice, hot, yummy pancakes? My friend Kami (who is a personal trainer) told me that her daughter loves blender oatmeal pancakes that she makes and I thought it would be a good morning to try to make something similar myself.

What makes blender pancakes so easy is you can pour the batter right from the blender into the skillet, with little or no mess. (Granted my pancakes still don't look uniform at all!) I ended up making up this recipe after looking online at a few blender pancake recipes. We are trying to eat healthy and low-calorie, so I doctored up this recipe to keep the calories lower and packed it full of whole grains. At 347 calories per serving, it's not the lowest calorie recipe but better than the normal pancake. Also, it serves 4 people and makes quite a healthy amount of pancakes for each person. Hope you enjoy, I know we did!1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 1/4 cups skim milk
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
3/4 cup egg substitute
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries

1. Pour about 1/2 tablespoon of oil into large skillet and begin heating it.
2. In a blender, combine the milk and whole wheat flour. Blend until smooth. (Scrape the sides of blender if needed.)
3. Add the oats, egg substitute, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, brown sugar, and salt. Blend together until smooth.
4. Stir in the cranberries.
5. Spoon about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake onto griddle. Turn pancakes over when tops are covered with bubbles; cook until bottoms are lightly browned. Repeat process till all are cooked (using up the oil if needed.)
6. You can eat the pancakes with syrup, butter, or a dusting of powder sugar. I found because there is so much brown sugar in the recipe it was sweet enough to eat plain and I just added a few sprays of spray butter to the pancake.

The Skinny: Serves 4 @ 347 each serving

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Sophistication Sundays - Current Drugstore Staples

My Sophistication Muse, Audrey Hepburn

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Sophistication Sunday revolves around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else "pretty" that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I'm just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.

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I decided to just do a random mash up of the drugstore favorites I've come to depend on. As my mom, sisters and myself have often discussed, there are certain things you will pay extra for (i.e. MAC concealer is my must) and other things from the drugstore that will do the job. So today I'm going to give a brief overview of a few of my current drugstore staples that I absolutely love.

1. Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer Pro
Unique advanced formula with 5 in 1 results:
Smoothes to minimize pores, resurfaces for an even complexion, brightens skin all day, protects skin from environmental aggressors and mattifies and eliminates shine.

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After searching for a long time for a primer that lasts and isn't too expensive (hello, smashbox primer!) I keep coming back to Rimmel's Fix & Perfect Primer Pro. It has a clear formulation unlike their original formula and comes with the added bonus of brightening and mattifying skin. It isn't super oily like some drugstore primers and I really think it helps control shine more than the regular primer. I'm also happy to report it doesn't have that odd gasoline-like smell I've noticed in Hard Candy and E.L.F. primer. For now I am pleased with with this stuff and will keep using it unless I find something better!

2. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

Revolutionary air-soft mousse provides perfecting coverage for 100% velvet-matte perfection.

Ideal for normal to oily skin.

Although I still love tinted moisturizer there are times when I want a more flawless finish. When I want a more "flawless" finish I also want to use a product that won't make my face a total oil slick. As I have aged my skin has progressed from super dry to "normal to oily." Yes, I now know what the dreaded t-zone is. So the last thing I want to do is contribute to this problem. So when I am looking for great coverage my go to product is Maybelline's Dream Matte Mousse (not to be confused with Maybelline's Dream Smooth Mousse). I figured with a name that mentioned "matte" it was worth a try! I love how this product has a whipped consistency and is lighter than your traditional liquid foundation. I apply it using a foundation brush (though you can use your fingers if you prefer) and have been so pleased with the finish! It isn't too heavy or cakey and gives me great coverage with minimal mid-day shine. I don't think it's possible to go a whole day without some shine in the t-zone but I do notice a significant difference when I use this product vs. other foundation products. Great, flawless, matte finish!

3. Maybelline Dream Nude Foam
Our most lightweight foundation for 100% nude perfection.
Lightweight foam for a flawless finish. Ideal for normal skin.

When I was at Target a few days ago (Target is SO my downfall) I also noticed that Maybelline is featuring a new product called Dream Nude Foam. I was really intrigued by the foam factor and the lightness of the product. I was anxious to see how it matched up against tinted moisturizer. The packaging is a little different in that it is a small metal can that you actually shake up (kind of like spray paint - it even makes that sound!). The foam is very similar to what you get when using hair mousse but it is tinted. When I use this I just shake it up, put some on my foundation brush and apply it with swirling motions around my face. I am really happy with how seamlessly the product blends while still providing light-medium coverage. It disappears easily into the skin and gives you that necessary coverage without being overly heavy. So when I am looking for lighter coverage this is a great secondary option that provides a bit more moisture without being heavy. It is a little more awkward for me to apply but overall I am pleased with the finish. It isn't as mattifying as the Dream Matte Mousse so I have to blot my t-zone at lunch time, but it still is a nice, light alternative to regular foundation.

4. E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
This gentle and completely sheer Eyeshadow Primer has key vitamins A, C and E to help prevent aging and moisturizes the skin. The formula glides on easily and disappears instantly to create longer-lasting, crease-proof eyeshadow.

I have tried a number of different eye shadow primer's and can honestly say I am just as pleased with the E.L.F. $3 option as I am the Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer. I know people might think I'm crazy for saying that but I am honestly just as pleased when I use either product. And truthfully I like using the E.L.F. product because it comes with a wand so to me it is even easier to apply a quick dab to each eye! It prevents creasing and gives your shadow great staying power. If you're looking for an easy, inexpensive eye shadow primer that will give you great results, this is the way to go!

5. Maybelline "The Falsies"

False lash glam in a tube, instantly! 300% more visible lashes corner-to-corner, no gaps.

Okay 2 things I need to say quickly: no this isn't a Maybelline love-fest and please remember, mascara is SO subjective!!! I really think everyone wants something different for mascara. I've tried many that people love and rave about and have hated them. Just this week I gave my mom one of the MAC mascaras I purchased and while I wasn't pleased it was exactly what she was looking for in a mascara!

That being said, Maybelline's "The Falsies" is my go to mascara when I am going for a dramatic look. I really think a lot of this comes down to the formula of the mascara and more importantly the "spoon brush." The product is a little wet so I have to make sure to let it dry (and not sneeze after I've applied it, haha!) but it really gives me that full, dramatic lash look I want for a night on the town! I should say, it is not the same as actually wearing false lashes (as the add campaign will have you believe) but the spoon design of the brush really gives me the ability to apply multiple, thickening coats that build up to my ideal finish. Love this stuff!!!

So these are just a few of my main drug-store must haves! Do you have any drugstore products that you depend on? Please share below! I'm always game for trying a new product :)

~Christi


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