Halloween

Halloween was so much fun yesterday!  For a little more about what our little family did, visit the baby blog.

This was the first year that Amelia expressed an interest in deciding on her own costume.  She told me she wanted to be a "happy tutu pumpkin".  Success!  I happen to love making tutus, so that part was easy enough.  Unfortunately, it seems to be quite difficult to find Amelia-sized orange leotards.  Luckily for us, Target carried a cute little sequined jack o' lantern shirt this year in the girls' department.  The XS was still a little large for my pipsqueak (it came nearly to her knees), but I think it looked adorable and can be worn for years to come!  Also quite fortunately, I happened to have some already-curled green corker in my craft room, so Amelia's pumpkin vines were easily made into a bow.  Something tells me Halloween will not always be this easy and I should appreciate this while I can.

Tulle pumpkin tutu with ribbon accents

Sequined shirt from Target

Corker pumpkin vines

The Little Pumpkin in action

Thanksgiving Casserole

Martha Stewart is a big part of my life.  I subscribe to three of her magazines -- Everyday Food, MS Living, and Whole Living.  I even subscribe to a majority of her email newsletters and mailing lists.  I always appreciate the delicious recipes and handy tips and tricks she publishes.  In her October issue of EDF, I was especially enamored with her Turkey and Stuffing Bake.  I made it for the first time week before last and I'm already making it again (I try not to remake meals very often).  To put it lightly, it's a new family favorite.

Turkey and Stuffing Bake

Serves 2 - Active Time: 25min - Total Time: 1hr

My modifications are in red.  For the three of us, I half the recipe.  It is still easily made in an 8-in square casserole dish.
 

Ingredients:

2 T EVOO

2 lb ground turkey (85% lean) or ground chicken

1 tsp rubbed sage (I doubled up on the sage)

3 T all-purpose flour (I used WW flour)

3.5 cups low-sodium chicken broth (I prefer broth made from Better Than Bouillon)

coarse salt and pepper

1 yellow onion, diced medium

3 celery stalks, diced mdium

1 loaf crusty white bread, cut into large cubes (8 cups) (I used WW bread, too)

2/3 cup dried cranberries (I doubled the cranberries and I soaked them in broth)

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 T unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 425*.  In a large skillet, heat 1 T oil over medium-high.  Add turkey and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until browned, 8 to 10 min.  Add sage and flour and stir to coat.  Add 1/5 cups broth and cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, until liquid is thickened, 2 min.  Season with salt and pepper and transfer mixture to an 8in square baking dish.

2.  Rinse out skillet; wipe dry.  Return to heat and add 1 T oil.  Add onion and celery and cook until softened, 8 min.  Remove from heat and add bread, cranberries, and 2 c. broth; toss until combined.  Stir in eggs.  Spoon bread mixture over turkey mixture; dot with butter.  Bake until juices are bubbling and bread is golden brown. 20 to 25min.  (Just enough time to clean up the kitchen and set the table -- how considerate!)  Let cool 10min before serving.

I think one of the things that is so enjoyable about this meal is that it encompasses the Thanksgiving flavors without requiring days and days of cooking and baking.  It's like Holiday Lite.  Who doesn't love a little added holiday cheer without all the effort??

Cleaning Schedule

Image Source: imperfecthomemaking.com via Ashley on Pinterest

As some of you might know, I follow a cleaning schedule.  It makes life so. much. easier.  I don't know about you, but I feel like it can be a little overwhelming to try to start a day of productivity when you have a never-ending to do list.  To make sure you never experience that feeling again, do yourself a favor and test drive a cleaning schedule.  The beauty of a schedule is that you never feel like you have to clean the entire house in one day.  There is a set starting point and ending point.  Even if you don't follow it religiously, you will have an idea of what you need to accomplish that day and your goal will be totally attainable.

I know what some of you are saying.... 'It's so easy for her, because she's a stay-at-home mom!'  Not even remotely true.  Have you ever tidied the path directly in front of an F3 tornado??  That's kind of what it is like to attempt to clean the house while my little Tasmanian-Devil-of-a-toddler is around.  I can also tell you that I started this schedule when I was still working.  That's right, folks.  Schedules are GREAT for busy professionals and homemakers, alike!  Did I mention that I schedule my weekends so they are free and clear of all household duties??  Sounds delightful, doesn't it? 

Here are a points to keep in mind as you start planning your schedule:

Map your house into cleaning zones.  Lump like items together, such as dusting all the rooms in one region or cleaning all the bathrooms on the same day.  Make sure you work efficiently.  If your greatest challenge is hiking all your cleaning products up your stairs, start storing a set on each level (I live in a 3-story townhouse, so i know this one all too well).  If dusting inflames your sinuses, get it all over with in one day so you can enjoy the rest of the week.  Work smart! 

Keep your weekly schedule in mind.  Are you exhausted after the weekend?  Make Monday's list light.  Do you do all your grocery shopping on Thursdays?  Clean the kitchen on Wednesday when there are fewer food items in it -- groceries love fresh, sparkling kitchens!  Do you have the ladies over for Bible study on Tuesday?  Make sure the living room is dusted and vacuumed the day before.  For me, this means I prepare for weekend guests.  I put the finishing touches on the living areas on Fridays, so they are as fresh as possible, and I refresh the guest rooms on Mondays, once my guests have departed.  That way, the guest rooms are always prepped and ready for any expected visitors.  Also, I keep my workload light on Mondays and Thursdays, due to weekend exhaustion and grocery shopping, respectively.  

Most importantly, be regimented, but not brittle.  If you have to take a day or two off, don't kick yourself.  The point of the schedule is to make life easier, not to make you feel guilty when you haven't checked every item off.  It may be difficult to get started, too.  For me it definitely was.  I had a lot of organization that needed to take place before I could easily clean my horizontal surfaces -- humbling, but true!  Celebrate the little successes and take note as you accomplish increasingly more of your list each week.  In no time, you will have a house that always looks clean and rarely takes much work to maintain.  If you are like I was when I started, you will also notice you can once again devote weekends to fun activities, instead of playing catch up on all your chores.  That is truly a beautiful thing!

If you decide to try this technique out, please let me know how it goes for you!

Here's an example of my weekly schedule.  Tasks such as dishes and light kitchen cleaning are not mentioned, as they take place as needed.  

Monday

o   Coupons

o   1^st story – cleaning

o   1^st story – vacuum

o   Outdoors

Tuesday

o   Meal planning

o   Kitchen deep clean

o   Dining room

Wednesday

o   3^rd story – bedrooms

o   Laundry room

o   3^rd story – vacuum

Thursday

o   Groceries

o   3^rd story – bathrooms

o   Office

o  Living Room

 Friday

o   2^nd story – bathroom

o   2^nd story – vacuum

o   Mop

 Weekend

o   FREE!!!

Crockpot Baked Apple... Sauce?

Since I'm not one for following recipes exactly, I've learned that I often end up with something I wasn't initially expecting. For instance, I set out this morning to make some festive baked apples in my crock pot. While I'm a fairly seasoned apple baker, I've never attempted to make them in my crock pot. So, when I found this recipe on Pinterest, I was excited!

Skinny Chef's Baked Apples

Apparently, I did something wrong along the way. The apples were falling apart a full hour before they were supposed to be done. I have a few theories on what might have gone wrong. First, it is possible I scooped out too much flesh when I cored the apples. Also, the heat in my pot might have been too high, so the apples cooked much faster than they should have. Or, maybe, it just wasn't meant to be. Have any thoughts??

When I saw my apples were not the aesthetically-pleasing subjects I hoped they would be, I closed up the lid and let them continue to stew. I didn't end up with lovely baked apples today, but I come out with my very first attempt at homemade apple sauce! Meli and I ate it warm out of the pot and we were both salivating for seconds after quickly devouring our first bowls. YUMMM! What a wonderful mistake.

fully-mashed sauce

the way I ate my apples - soft and unmashed with an extra bit of margarine

I can't say that all my cooking and baking mistakes turn out this well. In fact, this is a rare treat. I'm thrilled with the results and I'm looking forward to trying the recipe again (both versions -- sauce and baked apples!).

In case you're interested, below in BLUE is the original recipe from which I took my inspiration. I modified it quite a bit. I cored the apples, stuffed them each with a few spoons of brown sugar, topped the sugar with one pat of margarine per apple, and sprinkling each apple pot with a healthy dose of cinnamon and a pinch of ground clove. I did pour cider over the apples and into the pot, as well. The apples were split open in about an hour's time and they were sauce-soft by 2.5hr. I used Macintosh apples.

coring apples, stuffed apples, happily cooking, saucy apples

Original Recipe from Skinny Chef

Ingredients

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
2 tablespoons trans-fat free margarine
1 teaspoon cinnamon
6 Gala or Macintosh apples, cored
1/2 cup apple juice or apple cider
2 tablespoons orange liquor (optional)

Directions

Preheat a large crock-pot on high heat and preset it for 3 hours. In a large bowl, mix brown sugar, walnuts, margarine, and cinnamon. Fill the apples with the filling and place them in the crock-pot. Pour in the apple juice or cider and the liquor, if using. Cover and cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours on high heat until the apples are soft and begin to collapse.

Simple Pleasures

Image Source: kimasurf.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Thinking of simple pleasures has been particularly easy today.  Thanks to God for a GOOD Monday!  Here goes today's list:

• Waking up before sunrise on a Monday, actually getting in some vinyasa yoga, and not being dead to the world by noon (amazing... and quite rare!).
• The smell that fills the house when I'm slow cooking something delicious.  It's as if the smell is saying, "patience pays!"
• Checking things off the To Do List.  I find myself adding items that I've already completed just so I can have the pleasure of checking them right off.

Here's a to pleasurable, productive week!

Christmas by way of Elfster

So, it may seem a little early for a post like this, but I would like to announce that I am already fully immersed in Christmas excitement!  Menu are being planned, gifts are being hunted, and new crafts are in the works. 

A couple a years ago, we started a new family tradition for Christmas.  Instead of everyone buying gifts for each and every member of the family, we hold a Secret Santa Exchange.  Each participant draws a name and then purchase a present (or presents!) for just their one recipient.  We set a price limit, to keep things fair, and then we go crazy!

I feel like this new concept opens up a very different type of Christmas for us.  First, there's an added sense of mystery.  No one knows who selected them until the big day!  Also, there's no direct discussion of *who* is getting *what* for *whom* (see below).  Finally, with the gift-giving budget significantly reduced, I feel like there is more Christmas Spirit available for allocation.  We're not as financially and temporally stressed, so the little details can really shine through.  We can focus on our lovely shared meals and on actually enjoying time with one another.

I think one of the best parts of one of these kinds of exchanges is using fun tools like Elfster.  Elfster facilitates the whole process, allowing a well-orgnaized exchange without blowing anyone's cover.  When we've done {analog} exchanges in the past, someone had to keep track of all the draws, thus ruining the mystery.  With Elfster, everyone is invited to the exchange and each person RSVPs (no one is forced into the process by having their name thrown into the mix without permission.  Trust me, it happens.).  A draw date is selected ahead of time and the draw is performed automatically.  Everyone is notified of their draw, without the information being posted publicly (except to the Organizer who must specifically request to see the draws -- no accidental beans spilt!).  Then, the real fun begins.  Elfster allows participants to create their wishlists, so gift giving is left to chance.  They even offer a nifty "add to wishlist" button that allows you to add items to your wishlist directly from the sit you're already viewing, all without logging into Elfster.  Additionally, Elfster allows the exchange participants to ask one another anonymous questions.  It's really pretty fun, once everyone gets the hang of it.  From an organization standpoint, Elfster rocks at keeping everyone on track.  The organizer posts information about when/where/how the exchange takes place and there is the ability to send reminders about the exchange.  Again, these are real issues that truly do come up in exchanges!

   

 Here's a peek at our actual exchange, including a feed of everyone's wishlist additions.  

This is a screenshot of the "+ Wishlist" button at work.  Caribbean Blue Le Creuset??  Yes, please!

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty inspired. If you need a closer look, you're welcome to look me up and look over my wishlist.. hint, hint!

New Potatoes and Green Beans

This is, by far, one of my favorite side dishes.  It is so very simple, yet so satisfying.  I always find myself going back for second.. or fourths.  

I start my scrubbing and cutting my new potatoes.  These particular ones were pretty small, so I just halved or quartered them.  Cut out any blemishes or eyes.  I put the prepped potatoes directly into my steamer and set the steamer for 20 min. 

While my potatoes start to steam, I prep the fresh green beans.  I simply wash, snap off the ends, and snap in half, when I want more manageable pieces.  I remove any blemished beans as I go.  If I have the opportunity, I like to remove blemished beans before I purchase them -- no use paying for beans I'm just going to throw away.  After a total of about 10 minutes, I throw the green beans in the steamer, in the same dish as the potatoes.

After another 7min or so, I check the veggies for tenderness.  I like the potatoes to be softened through, but the beans to still have a crispness to them.  Once this is achieved, I take the dish off the steamer, give it a shake to release any excess water, and pour the veggies into a nice serving dish.  Then, I throw in a few pats of butter to melt.  This step is totally optional, as the potatoes and beans are 100% delicious without the butter.  I'm a creature of habit, though!  Finally, I give everything a final swirl and then top it off with some decorative salt and pepper.  My favorite combination right now is cracked white pepper and Kilauea black finishing salt.   

Bon Appétit!

Bench Brunch

Since I started staying home, Amelia and I have created a few new Mama-and-Little-Sweetie traditions.  One of my favorites is Bench Brunch.  A few times a week, we prepare a snack and hit the road.  We take the stroller out of our subdivision and down the street a little ways to our favorite bench.  Once there, we settle in for a bite to eat and a talk about the world around us.  Sometimes we identify cloud shapes, other times we watch the resident hawks hunt.  On especially pretty days, like today, we extend our walk and explore the neighborhood a bit.  On the way home, Amelia always asks me to recline her seat ("make it a hammock, Mama!") and she watches the sky drift by. 

 

Here we are heading out this morning.  I've learned the key to a relaxing Bench Brunch is preparedness.  We each have a snack, water, and a yummy drink (milk for her, tea for me).  We clip my insulated lunchbox to the stroller with a Mommy Hook (love those things!) and then we clip Hammie's leash to the same hook.  I've learned the hard way that Hamlet's leash will slip through my hands right as my tea starts to fall and the stroller tries to jump off the road.  This simplifies the situation just a bit.  This morning was our first BB accompanied by cool autumn breezes, so we also equipped ourselves with light jackets.  What a concept!

Isn't this pathway inviting? 

Today we discovered morning glory blooms in our backyard area!  We have conservation land behind the house and the growth of the foliage in the past year has been outstanding.  I love finding new treasures like these.

I believe the very best part of this little routine we keep is that Amelia and I look forward to it equally.  When I mention is, she is overcome with excitement.   It warms my heart to have something like this to share with her.  As she grows, I hope we continue to keep this tradition.

What traditions or routines do you have?  What special activity calms your mind and lightens your soul?

My Newest Love

As of late, I find myself asking what I did with my free time previously.  I recently discovered (okay, I already knew about it, but finally gave into my urges for) Pinterest.  Are you familiar??  Heaven.

On my old laptop, I have folders within folders within folders, all with pictures, recipes, ideas. For some of these files, I had the good sense to make note of the URL from which they came.  Most of them, however, are completely untraceable (I'm no TARU investigator, although I do watch a lot of Law and Order.  That's another story).  If I wanted to find the original posts again, it would take ages.

So, here I am, fully immersed in the Pinterest culture and all the wonders it provides.  I woke up this morning, pulled my phone off its charger, and immediately started pinning.  I know things are so exciting and new in the beginning of the relationship and, eventually, everything slows down a little.  In the meantime, I will continue to pin.

Come find me! I'd love to stalk -- I mean, see! -- what you're pinning!!

Simple Pleasures

I find it so fun to reflect on the little things in life that bring me joy. I would like to start a tradition where I periodically post a short list with of these precious items. Heere's a start:

- Pink candles, especially Yankee Candle's Pink Sands. Pretty, sexy, sweet.

- 83-degree weather. This is my all-time favorite temperature. It signals the times of year that are comfortable and relaxed. It's just warm enough to melt away my cares.

- Long-lost songs from my childhood. Hearing a song I haven't heard in years ignites a special kind of fondness in my heart. Reminiscing on old times can be so good for the soul... and dancing is good for the body!

May I ask a favor of you? Would you plesse share with me a few of your simple pleasures? Hearing others' lists almost always reminds me of a few of my own. I'd love to feature some of yours in a future post!

Be A Coupon Extraordinaire!

So, you may or may not know that I coupon. By no means would I qualify for the extreme couponing shows, nor do I aspire to earn such a role, but I would say I do a pretty good job for my fam. There are certain products, such as deodorant and toothpaste, for which I refuse to pay full price. Likewise, you will likely find a few extras of this week's sale items stashed away in my house. As a matter of fact, I have 4 bottles of Hershey's syrup (I'm the only one who uses it in our family) and 4 jars of peanut butter in my pantry at this very moment. Excessive?? No, just thrifty!

For those of you who don't know much about couponing, it's not *just* about snipping the colorful little rectangles from the Sunday paper. In fact, it's really about research! I combine manufacturers coupons + store coupons + store sales to attempt to find the best price possible for any given item. This means I put in a couple hours work before I even think about stepping foot in the store.

How it's Done

My couponing week starts on Sunday when I pick up at least two copies of the Sunday paper (always checking to make sure my inserts are present before purchasing... It heart breaking to get home and realize I'm missing an insert!). Why two, you ask? To take advanatage of BOGO deals where you can use a coupon on each other the items. Por ejemplo, Ben and Jerry's is BOGO at $4.29. Publix allows me to use a coupon on the tub that costs me $4.29 and another coupon on the one that costs me nothing. So, if each of my coupons gives me $1.50 off, I get my ice cream for $1.29 OR $0.65 a piece!! Glory hallelujah! That extra newspaper has already paid for itself.

Over the next few days, I clip my coups and organize them in my binder (see more below). On Tuesdays, the ads come out with the sales and matchups for my grocery store -- I'm partial to Publix, although I always check other stores for better deals. Once I've familiarized myself with the hot buys for the week, I plan the family menu. From the menu, I compile my grocery list and then I gather all necessary coupons (I usually have to print a few, but most are patiently waiting for me in my binder).

Thursday is the big day. I head to the store, armed and ready. More often than I would prefer, there are variations on the deals (e.g. regional differences, excluded items) and I have to rethink a dinner or revamp the plan a bit. To make sure I'm prepared for such instances, I like to shop with my coupon binder in hand. I used to feel silly doing this, but it has ended up being a conversation starter with a lot of really interesting people. I almost always come away from those situations, having gained an extra tip or some encouragement from a fellow couponer (ther are herds of us out there!).

Now comes the biggest part of the day: checkout! I'd be lying if I said I don't sometimes get a little nervous at this point. With $250 worth of groceries in my cart, and a $100 budget for the week, I can't afford mistakes. So, to tip the scales in my favor, I like to do a little cashier profiling. I've always instinctively done this, but when I read about it on a couponing site, I realized how important it really is. There are cashiers out there who will assist me in my journey and there are those who take every measure they can to make things more difficult. My personal favorites are the young men, ages teens to mid-twenties. They are friendly and eager to get the job done. Once they know my game, they are as helpful as can be. I have two particular ones at mt local Publix who joke with me about my savings ratios from week to week and even ask me where Amelia is, if I sneak out for a late evening shopping trip. My least favorite cashiers are the middle-age ladies. While some are great, I've had several who argue with me about the coupon policies (even though I know it better than they do) and who seem to give me an attitude. The latter really rubs me the wrong way, because I am the kind of couponer who goes out of my way to be courteous. I do not deplete shelves of their stock and I do not abuse the system like some of the crazy couponers do!! Phew, sorry, that's the end of my rant. Back to our topic! As I approach, I remind myself to be organized, confident but courteous, and always (with humility!) ask questions when coupons don't ring how I expected them to. Sometimes the mistake is on my end and I need to learn from it, and sometimes the mistake is with the coupon and it needs to be adjusted. Most importantly, I try to sit back and savor the adrenaline rush as I watch the total plummet. This is very exciting, people!

Couponing Organization... A Must!!

I highly recommend using some type of organizer if you are thinking about using any quantity of coupons. For me, the best utility is my coupon binder. I have a three-ring binder filled with baseball trading card inserts to hold the coupons. The inserts are organized by categories, complete with a Table of Contents. I wish I could say I invented this system, but I did not. For more information, I recommend you check out The Krazy Coupon Lady. I've altered some of her categories to better fit my own preferences, but I think this is a great place to start. Be sure to read her tip about warning the shoppers in line behind you!

Couponing Sites are Your Friend!

Each week, I do my homework using my favorite coupon site, Southern Savers. Southern Savers actually posts several stores' circulars with the coupon matchups under each sales item. This is EXTREMELY helpful! I find that I still do a little work beyond that, such as finding matchups for the items I need that are not included in the circular, but most my work can be done straight from this site. Southern Savers even tells in which insert (such as the SmartSource insert from the 9/18 paper) I can find the coupons I need. What a blessing! I truly believe I would not coupon if I didn't have this great resource to help wit so much of the work.

Final Thoughts

I'm going to leave you with a few finally thoughts and tips I think are important if you want to try out couponing.

Do your research. Learn your store's coupon policy (google is your friend!). I the process, don't allow yourself to get too overwhelmed in the beginning. There's a lot to learn in order to do it right, but it gets easy! Stay diligent and find your rhythm. You have to be consistent in order to get results. If you don't get the paper every week, you won't have the coupons you need, and your savings will not reflect the amount of effort you put in. When I realized this, everything got easier. Also, keep in mind this isn't rocket science. Once you learn the systems, you know how to work them. There might be tweeks to the policies here and there, but it's not like you have to educate yourself every week!! I promise that if you really give this a go, you will see a return on your investment. I know it's not for everyone, but if you have any level of interest, it's worth exploring. Not to mention, I am happy to help with any questions you have along the way. On that note, I wish you well on your journey, whatever route you chose to take! Happy shopping!

Welcome

Welcome! For those of you who don't know me, I'm Ashley from Welcoming Baby Berman and Ashy and Josh. I've decided to compartmentalize my life a bit and create a blog specifically about my adventures in domesticity.

For a little background information, I am a Texan girl who grew up in California and Florida. My dear, sweet husband is a Yankee -- bless his heart! ;) -- born in New Jersey and raised in Florida. Our lives merged on a hot, humid night at the University of Florida, where we were both studying. We soon discovered, we each grew up with a love of delicious food, family traditions, and making memories with precious friends. I hope you will find these great love affairs reflected in our lives.

We welcomed a little sweet pie into our lives in the winter of 2009. Her name is Amelia and we affectionately refer to her with such names as Peachie Pie and Little Pinky... hence, the blog's title. It doesn't hurt that Amelia and I share an immense fondness for the color PINK.

In April 2011, our family made one of its biggest changes thus far and I quit my job to stay home with the little sweetie. What a blessing this has been! Amelia and I spend lots of our days cooking, crafting, and finding more things to add to the never-ending To Do List.

I am so looking forward to documenting and sharing some of our experiences. If I had to guess, I would think this blog will mostly be about cooking and baking, but I'm hoping to bring in a few embellishments by way of crafts and travels. If you have any requests as to what you would like to see, PLEASE let me know. I love a little added inspiration :)

Here's to a new journey together! Happy reading!!