It's okay!

There is nothing like having kids to teach you to not sweat the small stuff! I have to remind myself daily that the toddler meltdown, splattered spaghetti, blowout diaper, lack of a shower and the fact that I am always running late is okay! It's small stuff, small worries...nothing so horrible that it has to ruin our day, steal our joy and make us anxious.

I am guilty of having a bad attitude when all of these small annoyances seem to build up throughout the day. They collide and I have found myself mumbling under my breath, "uhh, oh my gosh, seriously?, lord help me, grr!" The problem isn't that I am expressing frustration, it's that my toddler (all children) is a sponge! He reads my body language, he sees my facial expressions and he hears how I react to everything!

A few months back he dropped something (food of some sort and it got all over) and I heard him say "uhhh, grr" and look at me for a reaction. He was looking for me to get upset at his accident. Not mad, but irritated. And then I realized that I was expecting my 2 year old to behave way older than he is. He's 2 for crying out loud...he's going to drop stuff all the time, have meltdowns, get distracted, throw things. And I'm supposed to behave like the adult, get over it and show him that it's okay. It's okay to make mistakes, to have accidents, because we're not perfect. Because mistakes and accidents are part of learning.

Now, when he drops the cup of milk and it splashes all over the floor or when he has an accident because he thought it was just a fart (lol), I choose to say "it's okay baby, it was an accident, mama will fix it, I love you!"

He has caught on. I hear him saying "it's okay." Especially after the boy Joshua in his potty book has an accident on the floor. He looks at me and says "it's okay, it's just an accident."

Aren't kids the sweetest? God has used mine to teach me so many things. One of them being, to relax, enjoy the important stuff and say "it's okay" to the small stuff.

Turkey parmesan meatballs!

Who doesn't love spaghetti? And spaghetti and meatballs, even better! This is my tried and true turkey meatball recipe. Super easy and super yummy. This is also a great dish to take to a friend who just had a baby or is recovering from surgery, because it is easy to reheat and good for leftovers.

Ingredients:
1lb ground turkey
1/3c bread crumbs
1/4c shredded parmesan
1tsp salt
1/4tsp pepper
1/2tsp garlic
1/2tsp Italian seasoning
A few tbsp olive oil
Marinara (I prefer a simple marinara, such as the Trader Joes brand)
Spaghetti noodles
*A few pinches of red pepper flakes can be added to the marinara for a little kick.

Combine the first seven ingredients in a large mixing bowl (you can use your hands). Form 1.5 inch meatballs. Add olive oil to a large saute pan. Brown meatballs on a medium heat for about 8 mins on each side. Add marinara to pan and continue cooking on a low heat, with lid on, for about another 8mins. Cook noodles separately and add to sauce.

Voila! Quick, easy and tasty din din. Now just add a small salad and a glass of vino and your belly will thank you ;)

Mayday, mayday!!!

Does your house resemble a war zone, bombs going off at any moment (meltdowns/crying spells), somebody needs the paramedic (iky cold/teething), we are running low on supplies (diaper change/potty/nurse the baby/feed the toddler), train the troops (teachable moments)? How could we go through all of this without a few or a lot of mommy war wounds?!

Well, this week was one of those rough weeks that leaves its wounds. Jacob and Ellie both got sick. Ellie is in that separation anxiety phase. Jacob is still learning to be gentle with his sissy and share with others. Mario worked late and endless other things. Needless to say, I needed a mommy timeout.

This is not to say that I don't adore my children, that I am not grateful that I get to raise them, that I wouldn't rather spend time with them than anyone else in the world. But, in order to recharge and regroup for the hardest job in the world, sometimes mommy needs to take a break. A walk, a drive, a shower, a pedicure, a trip to the store, girl time, date night...the important thing is that it be KIDLESS!

Thank God for my sweet hubby because he knows all about the need for mommy timeouts. Friday after he got home he suggested I take a drive and grab some dinner. He would take the kids for a walk to the park. This also allows him to have alone time with the kids. A double bonus. Well, of course I had to argue :/ I knew it was what I needed, but for some reason I didn't want to go. Guilt about feeling like I needed a break, mommy separation anxiety, wifey separation anxiety??? He pushed the idea and I finally did leave. It was just what I needed. I came back, we ate dinner, gave the kids baths, tucked them in bed and spent some time catching up. What a great ending to a rough week!

It made me think about how much my perspective has changed on life. It might sound silly, but the little things mean so much more now that I am a parent. I find happiness and joy in lifes simple pleasures. Giggles, kisses, laughter, a drive with the windows down, getting dolled up, a glass of wine, an old movie, and many more. Life is so much sweeter now that I am a parent.

And in an effort to share some laughter, check out these mommy cartoons...take a breath, laugh and remember to not take yourself too seriously :)

Mama Reviews: Contigo kids water bottle

Why is it so hard to find the perfect paci, bottle or sippy for your little one? Seriously, we go through tons of different brands before we find one that suits baby and mama. It's nice to have friends or family that can suggest their favorites before you go out forking over more money playing that guessing game. Which, leads me to my next topic. The search for the best water bottle for 
Jacob is finally over!

I am so exited that I finally found these Contigo water bottles! I have used many different ones and these are by far the best for the following reasons: LEAK PROOF when open or closed, durable, easy to clean, vibrant colors, soft and easy to use spout, spot for attaching to backpack or diaper bag. The only thing that is kinda of a downfall is the price. They come about $10 a piece! But, considering all of the pros, they are worth it to me. I bought three and that should be enough to rotate while some are in the dishwasher. Also, Jacob has been using them for about a week and I have had no problems. He really seems to like them. Check out my pictures below to get an idea.

Tasty Trials: German chocolate fudge bites

I don't know if it's because Starbucks started making their pumpkin spice latte (reminding me of Fall) or if it's just left over cravings from being pregnant with my youngest. Either way, I have been on a dessert kick!

Today I took a crack at German chocolate fudge bites. Refined sugar free, dairy free, egg free and gluten free! Totally guilt free...wink, wink ;) No, really if you're going to have a treat these really aren't too bad for ya.

These are easy to make and only require a few ingredients and a food processor. They were a hit at our house. Mario and Jacob gobbled up three a piece before I was done rolling all of them. Check out the recipe here. Compliments of Chocolate Covered Katie.

Pizza Playdate

Pizza pie!!! Who doesn't love pizza? My friend Jen and I try to get the kids together for a playdate once a week. It is a great opportunity for the kids to play and release some energy (makes nap time do much easier :) and for Jen and I to drink COFFEE and catch up. We usually take a trip to the park, but this time we decided to plan something fun for the kids to make. Her daughter and Jacob are eight months apart and are the perfect age for helping in the kitchen. What better than to make homemade pizza?! Her husband made the dough (how sweet, right?) and I brought the toppings. I provided the recipe to the pizza dough below. I really liked this particular dough because it was easy to roll out and soft and tasty out of the oven.

Jason's Pizza Dough:
·3 c. bread (or reg) flour
·1 tbsp. sugar
·1 tsp. salt
·2 tbsp. olive oil,
·1 c. warm water w/a packet of  yeast mixed in.

·After water and yeast are mixed, mix everything together in mixer w/any herbs of choice. Let rise, covered. (Make sure yeast isn't expired)
· If you have a hook attachment for your mixer that works best, but if not, use your regular attachments.

The kids had a great time spooning on the sauce and sprinkling the toppings. Half of the toppings got eaten before the pizzas could make it in the oven. Oh well, the important thing is they had fun! Then they got to enjoy all their hard work. We are planning a cookie decorating playdate very soon. What new and creative ways have you mixed up your childs play time?

Tasty Trials: Raw lemon coconut truffles

My friend Tony shares my love for all things lemon and coconut. He recently had surgery so I decided to make him some healthy treats. I am always interested in recipes that don't involve dairy, since my son is dairy free. I had all of the ingredients on hand besides the lemons that I picked up earlier that week. It is a very easy recipe and only calls for a few ingredients and a food processor. I will definitely be making these truffles again. They cut the sweet craving, while still being healthy. Jacob loved them as much as me!

The only thing I changed was to add an extra tbsp of coconut oil and lemon juice. Mostly because it made the truffles more moist. The extra moisture was a good choice since they are better stored in the fridge. If you share the same love for all things lemon and coconut you must try this recipe. Delicious! Check out the recipe here. Compliments of the Petite Kitchen.

Mommy Essentials

Raise your hand if you looked tore up the day after you gave birth to your precious bundle of joy?!?! Lets face it we can't all look as stunning and adorable as the Duchess. (side note: I just love her for rocking her postpartum belly!) I was just happy I made it through 24 hours of labor and hours of pushing, alive and holding a healthy little peanut. All I could think about was caring for baby, eating and being as comfortable as possible. I was never so happy to eat hospital food in my robe :/ I packed tons of stuff I never even used in my hospital bag. I really could have survived with the following mommy essentials:
· robe
· chapstick
· headband/hair tie
· slippers
· healthy snacks
· sleep nursing bra & pads
· camera/phone & charger
· pjs
· outfit for baby
· toiletries
That's really all I needed. They supply you with diapers, blankets/pillows, feminine hygiene products, food and drugs!!! Because you might feel like you just got run over by a train...no biggie :/

"I cannot live without books" -Thomas Jefferson

Remember how busy we thought we were before kids?! I used to be able to find time for hobbies and leisure. Now, it would be a Christmas miracle to read a book, shave my legs/paint my toenails regularly or go shopping for fun. Out of all of those, I would probably choose to read a good book, snuggled up with a cup of coffee or cider and snacking on something horribly bad for you. What would you choose if you had hours to yourself? Since I'm reminiscing I will share a few....or a lot of my favorites. (In no particular order)

· A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
· The Joy Luck Club
· Interpreter of Maladies
· Cronicles of Narnia
· The Hours
· Glass Castle
· The Namesake
· Ordinary People
· Get Me Out
· The Help
· Water for Elephants
· Memoirs of a Geisha
· Gap Creek
· The Bell Jar
· Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
· Bossypants
· Catcher and the Rye
· A Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing
· Atonement

Any favorites of yours I don't have listed? It's always nice to share favorites others have yet to discover.