Garlic Mushroom & Spinach quinoa

You guys, I LOVE quinoa, like I would marry it if I could.  Ok, that is a bit extreme but I do love love love it! It's a great replacement for rice and just all around very healthy for you.  I made this dish the other night for dinner and while it's not very filling, it was so good.

Garlic Mushroom & Spinach Quinoa

Ingredients:

2 cups water

1 cup quinoa

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 cup fresh spinach

6 cloves of garlic

pepper

basil

Start by cooking your quinoa - mix 2 cups of water with 1 cup of quinoa in a saucepan and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover, for about 14 minutes, stirring frequently.

In a separate saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the mushrooms, spinach and garlic. Saute for about 5-7 minutes then add a dash of pepper and basil and mix in your cooked quinoa.

I added Parmesan cheese to mine and it was so delish!  Hope you enjoy this as much as me!

Friday Faves

So so happy it's Friday! This has been a really long week and I am looking forward to some down time.

{ONE}

Am I the last person on Earth to get the new Taylor Swift CD? Probably.  I just ordered it and cannot wait to get it this weekend (Thank you Amazon Prime!)

{TWO}

I really really want to head down to the city this Saturday for the lighting of the Magnificent Mile and parade, however, I'm just not sure it will work out with a 3 month old. It's still under debate. 

{THREE}

With Thanksgiving being next week (and also one of my FAVORITE holidays), I've been searching for a dessert to bring to my Aunts.  I'm liking this Apple Cinnamon White Cake but am still undecided

{FOUR}

And once Thanksgiving is over, I will be in Christmas mode full swing! I don't know why, but I just can't jump on the decorating for Christmas early bandwagon.  I need to celebrate each holiday, one at a time.

{FIVE}

We had our first snowfall of the season earlier this week (barely an inch) and as soon as the kids woke up and saw they were begging to go outside!! So after breakfast, we put Avery down for a nap and headed out for a little. They were loving it and did not want to come in!

Happy Weekend!

Linking up with:

The Good Life

September Farm

Christmas for the kiddos

Is anyone else as oblivious as me that Christmas is 34 days away!? I mean, when did that happen?! Now I totally understand why people are putting their trees up already (even though I could never bring myself to put ours up before Thanksgiving)

Anyhoo, it's time to round up some gift ideas for my sweet kiddos.

First up is for my little man.  He is almost 4 1/2 and wants EVERYTHING he sees.  While I do want to buy him everything, I keep reminding him that Santa will not be bringing 1000 presents. 

1.  Skippyjon Jones Snow What - This is just one book from the series but thought it would be a good place to start since I want to start reading books from a series to Brayden.  I think it will be fun for him to follow one character.

2. Hoot Owl Hoot - Not gonna lie, the colors of this board game are what I'm drawn to most, but I also think it sounds like a fun little game to play!

3. T Rex Takedown - This is one of those items Brayden saw on TV and was begging for, I hope he still loves it once Christmas rolls around

4. Kinetic Sand - My little guy already has blue and green but he could always use more, this stuff is so awesome!

5. Fisher-Price Imaginext Eagle Talon Castle- This is one of Brayden's "bigger" gifts and I asked part of our family to get all of the little things that go along with this. He's into castles and dragons so I'm hoping he likes this!

6. Yahtzee Jr - Who doesn't love this game!? I am SO excited to play this with him

7. Magnatiles - We already have the starter set of this but it's only 32 pcs and it's just not enough.  These are so pricey though so I asked my in laws to get these for both the kiddos

8.  Magic Science - My little guy is really into doing science experiments so this looks fun, I just hope it's not a total waste of money

9. Planes Legos - My kids are really into legos, and although Brayden is older he still loves the duplos. I tried getting him some of the sets for older kids but the pieces are so small, everything just gets lost, plus he doesn't really have the attention span to do those harder ones.


Now on to Miss Ella.  She is a little over 2 and becoming really into playing with toys! Of course I want to buy her everything too but I think she will be good with the below! 

1. Little People Snow White Cottage - Ella loves the little people so I don't see how she won't love this

2. Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs little people - of course she needs all her peeps to go with the cottage

3. Singing Elsa doll - Ella loves Frozen (along with the rest of the world) and I know she will love this doll!

4. Minnie Mouse Birthday Boutique - give Ella anything Minnie and she is one happy girl

5. Disney Princess Figure playset - my kids love these playsets and these princesses will be a great addition

6. B Dr Set - I think this will be so much fun to play with!

7. Thinkfun roll & play board game - Since Ella is not much of a talker, I think this game is right up her alley

8. Legos - this girl loves her some legos!

9. Mickey Mouse Play Doh - again, anything Mickey and she is all for so I know she'll love this


So there, that's what's on my kids' Christmas lists (if they like it or not, ha) Little Avery won't get too much but we still have to get a couple of things, afterall, I don't want the kids to think Santa forgot about her!

Tell me what's on your kids' Christmas list? I would love hearing new ideas!

The ending of an era

Last Friday, November 14th, Heaven gained another angel.  My Grandma Marie passed away peacefully with all her loved ones by her side.  In some ways, it still doesn't feel real to me, like she's not gone.  Maybe it's because before last Friday, we had many scares that "this was it" and she always pulled through.

I am going to miss my Grandma so much.  She was such a fun old lady to be around and always had the best stories.  I admired the strong woman she was very much.  My Grandma always told me who cares if the house is messy, because in the end, it doesn't matter and you are going to wish you didn't put so much time into cleaning, rather spend more time with your family.  She also always told me don't worry about what others think because they aren't thinking about you! I love this advice and will cherish it always.

Today is my Grandmas wake and tomorrow the funeral.  These are going to be some hard couple of days but I know my Grandma is smiling down on all of us and the beautiful family she built.  She lived a long, good life and this week, we will celebrate that.

I love you with all my heart Grandma!

Avery's Baptism

Our sweet Avery Jane was baptized on Sunday, and although she screamed through the entire thing, it was still so special.

I mean, I just can't - she is just so damn cute!

Avery and her Godparents

Our families -the best shot we could get some random to take :) (I love how you can barely see Avery!)

My sweet family who gives my life purpose, love them to pieces!

Avery is 3 Months!

My sweet, sweet Avery Jane, you are now 3 months old and the time keeps going faster and faster. Some days it feels like you've always been with us and others I cannot believe 3 months have already gone by!

You seriously smile all of the time and it makes me so happy to see you so happy! You remind me alot of Brayden because he was the same way.

This month (10/21) you giggled your first little giggle! I was the only one around (so most people don't believe me) - you were laying on your back and I grabbed your fingers to lift you up to a sitting position and once you were sitting, you let out this cute little giggle.  I was so excited to be the one who was there with you when you did this.


You have started eating your hands this month and you just can't get enough! It's so funny to watch you, you'll start with them balled up kind of licking them, then they go in your mouth and you make the funniest faces, as if you're disgusted but you keep doing it.  It makes me chuckle.






You are eating and sleeping like a champ - you don't take very good naps during the day but you are sleeping through the night 10-11 hours so I will not complain!! During the day you eat every 2 hours like clockwork, but again, I will not complain since you are sleeping!!

You love laying on your back with your toys dangling down above you - it makes you so happy and you have started to bat them with your hands. It seems like your most favorite thing to do lately :)

You celebrated your first holiday this month, Halloween!! You were the cutest pumpkin I've ever seen!

You tried out the bumbo chair and you love it ( I knew you would ) - your brother and sister think it's their new toy though and they keep sitting in it - they are so goofy :)

Tummy time is getting better and better, you can lay on your tummy (sometimes) for about 20 minutes with no complaining.  You love to watch your brother and sister play or look at your toys I have dangling from your play mat.

You are wearing all 3 month clothes and will probably be going into 6 month sleepers very soon. 

You're still in size 1 diapers and it doesn't seem like we need to move up just yet.

You're still coo-ing and talking like crazy! I always imitate you and you just love that! Sometimes you let out really loud squeals, it's so cute! One of my favorite things to do with you is hold you in front of a mirror and just make silly faces or smile at you, you seem to like it too :)

Your brother and sister don't pay too much attention to you but when they do it's so sweet o see.  Ella loves giving you hugs and tries to put things in your hands for you to hold.  She is very protective of your pacifiers too :)

Brayden always says good morning to you and goodnight and gives you kisses and hugs.  He thinks you're so adorable

I've got to say baby girl, each month is getting better and better.  You are such a little joy to be around.  You're really only grumpy at night and it's not so bad anymore.  I just tell myself it's just a phase.  I can tell you love me just as much as I love you (which is alot!!) just by looking into your eyes.  I cannot wait to keep watching you grow, even if it's at lightning speed!

I love you so much Avery Jane!