Wednesday's "What We Ate July 15-21, 2013"

How's your summer been treating you? For us, it has kind of been a whirl wind with lots of visitors, but we're hoping to slow down in August & enjoy some extra quiet times & get to a few projects around the house that have been staring us in the face (our bathroom floor needs some help, our fence & patio need to be sealed & some other actually fun projects too!)

This past week, I scored a free solid wood table that I plan to start lovin' on in the next couple of weeks. John also brought me home a sweet wood box that I plan to clean up a bit (is there anything better than free treasures?!) I really want to get into restoring furniture since I really love doing it & it could be a helpful source of income (at least to fund the hobby!) My only problem will be parting with each piece, as I strangely get attached to furniture (as demonstrated by the 13 or so random chairs that fill our house). I also picked up some old, tarnished silverware that I plan to clean up a bit & use for some of my food pics. I can't wait to shine those babies up!

We also had a kickin' BBQ at our house on Tuesday. It was hoooooot, so we were thankful to hang out in our shady yard.  Shady, as in, there was shade. We packed in 23 people in that little space! The kids enjoyed swimming in Ruby's tiny pool. Well actually, they enjoyed taking the water out of the pool to water my gardens, but I wasn't complaining. Free labor!

We had more family in town this week: John's mom & grandma came up from Springfield, MO. We were able to do some fun things with them, like the La Crosse Interstate Fair & riding on the La Crosse Queen. While they were here, it topped out over 100 a few times & even my "anti-oven summer meal" list couldn't encourage me to be in the kitchen. We ate out several times & had our fair share of treats while they were here, & although it was fun (who can resist cheese curds at the fair or ice cream at the Pearl??), I can't wait to get back to cooking healthier meals at home. There's just something so right about getting back into a healthy meal routine, at least for me.

Some of our friends joined us at the fair too! Ruby was quite hesitant about the animals...

Sweaty, happy girlies

After all the hub-bub, I've been feeling quite run down & sick these past couple of days. It is such a physical reminder that food can either help or hinder your body. I think I've just had too much eating out this week & we're not used to that! I'm excited to fill our coming weeks with more fresh veggies, which will include many zucchini, tomatoes, celery, green beans, squash, & plenty of herbs from our garden, as they are looking plump & rich.

On Friday, our baby girl turns two (!!!) & we are celebrating by going camping with some of our neighbors. Stay tuned for a post on her birthday cake, pending I feel much better & it all turns out!

Also, in very exciting news (to me, & maybe only me), I have started the process of switching our blog over from Blogger to WordPress. Why? Well there's a whole host of reasons (this guy posted a list of 35 reasons), but to keep it short, let me just say that with WordPress, there is way more potential for the blog to look like something more representative of us. Don't worry... you'll hear all about the juicy details as they come along!

 Saturday's dinner: grilled pork steaks with zucchini, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, & basil (grilled)

What We Ate July 15-21, 2013
Monday: Creamy avocado pasta with chicken & strawberries
Tuesday: Fillet mignon on the grill with southwest stuffed peppers (the vegetarian version)
Wednesday: John's mom & grandma got into town & we went out to Polito's Pizza
Thursday: We ate at Buzzard Billy's for some cajun food (we weren't hot enough)
Friday: We ate at the La Crosse Interstate Fair (pulled pork sandwiches with cheese curds)
Saturday: Grilled pork steaks with zucchini, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, & basil (grilled)
Sunday: We ate on the La Crosse Queen (carved turkey & roast beef, carrots, wedge potatoes & a roll)

I also made a batch of my homemade deodorant this week

Wednesday's "What We Ate July 8-14, 2013"

One of my favorite lunches: hummus, cucumbers, carrots, whole wheat pita, & La Croix water!

I've been really excited about blogging lately. There have definitely been seasons in my short-lived blogging life when it just felt like an obligation (=no fun) & other times when it's been super exciting & energizing (=super fun) & I guess I'm in that super fun time right now. Note to self: this post will be a good reminder for me when I inevitably stumble upon my more grumpy, lazy, no fun blogging times. That reminds me, have you guys ever used a dictaphone to record your thoughts/notes to self? I kind of want one. Then I can feel even more nerdy like Lewis on Suits. Do you guys ever watch Suits? Sooo good.

(Mom I don't really want a dictaphone, so please don't buy me one for Christmas).

If you haven't noticed, I've been changing things up, little by little. I've created & have tightened up some of my blog goals (which I will share with you soon!) by SMART goaling the heck out of them. I've also been adding a few things like an "About The Machine" page, a "Project Index," & a "Recipe Index", which I have already found personally helpful, so hopefully you will too.

My dad & step mom were in town, so we ate out at Dublin Square so we could eat outside on Saturday

I have also become an affiliate with Amazon & Pinch of Yum (one of my most favorite blogs, evah!) Being an affiliate simply means that if you were to buy POY's e-book or anything from my amazon "favorite list," then I would get a small bit of the profit. One of my financial goals is to be able to make at least $20 a month so that I can pour it back into the blog (i.e. more gourmet desserts, sweet food props, conferences, resources, kitchen necessities, better design, etc).

(Pinch of Yum & Amazon Affiliate info)

I'm also trying to get more connected with other bloggers. I recently joined a few blogging facebook groups & they have already been SUPER helpful, especially when it comes to how to improve your blog. I've registered for a few conferences this fall & I just had breakfast with one of my friends from The Live-In Kitchen, whose recipes you've seen me steal before. We were able to chat about goals & ideas & it was suuuuper helpful to have someone in person, sort of mentor me a bit in this blog world I've found myself in (thank you Lindsay!)

I'm excited about these changes & there are definitely more to come, so stay tuned. Remember to stay connected through my new-ish facebook page, on pinterest, twitter, & blog lovin' so that you don't miss any of the juicy details!

Friday's dinner: breakfast tacos (corn tortillas, hash browns, eggs over easy, sausage, & cilantro) with red grapes 

What We Ate July 8-14, 2013
Monday: Chicken, chickpea, pesto salad with whole wheat pita & red grapes
Tuesday: Black bean spinach enchiladas with pineapple
Wednesday: Dill pesto fettuccine with mixed green salad (romaine lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, sesame seeds, balsamic dressing)
Thursday: Roasted vegetable sandwich with goat cheese, spinach, & balsamic with french fries & pineapple
Friday: Breakfast tacos (corn tortillas, hash browns, eggs over easy, sausage, & cilantro) with red grapes
Saturday: My dad & step mom were in town, so we ate out at Dublin Square so we could eat outside
Sunday: Hamburgers with whole wheat buns & au gratin potatoes

I also made another batch of whole wheat bread & crockpot yogurt this week. I also posted a starting list of "anti-oven" summer meals on Monday, so make sure that you keep coming back to check that out, as I will be adding more!

Wednesday's "What We Ate July 1-7, 2013"

I'll let my pictures do the majority of the talking from this week. As you know, it was the 4th of July & you should know by now that in our house, we take every holiday super seriously. We plan special foods & special activities with special friends. For the past couple of years, a group of 6-7 of our friends have gathered from Minneapolis, Chicago, & Duluth at our house to celebrate the 4th (you may have seen this post before). Two years ago, I was very pregnant with Ruby, so I recruited all of my friends to help with a little nesting (we made this too). Last year, it was literally 115 degrees all weekend, so we just mostly were sweaty & hunkered down in our basement. This year, we ate every meal out on our finished patio, lingered long into the night since we now have beautiful lights out there, & drank far too many (not really, mom) margaritas.  It was a blast.

Thursday's dinner: fish tacos (corn tortillas, lime-grilled tilapia, black beans, rice, queso, salsa verde & cilantro) with roasted corn guacamole & tortilla chips

This little beer treat was from our friends in Chicago. Hibiscus beer? Yessss.

Ruby may have experienced her first (& second) temporary tattoos this weekend. Here is Batu, the fox.

 She wanted the second one on her neck. Honest.

 Enjoying our patio on the 4th

Waving at all the people walking on the street, just before the fireworks

 Breakfast of champions on Friday. Corn tortillas, scrambled eggs, black beans, queso, roasted corn guac, & salsa verde with strawberries.

 We took a hike on the 5th because it was a gorgeous day. Here is Ruby gazing at two of her aunties.

 It's a sweaty job, but doesn't he look good?

We bought a new couch & love seat ($30. Vintage. Floral. Ethan Allen.) from a rummage sale on Saturday, so we said goodbye to this lovely couch. Even though it's gorgeous, it was starting to seriously fall apart. 

Saturday's dinner: fresh spring rolls (shredded cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts & cucumber) with peanut sauce & veggie fried rice

What We Ate July 1-7, 2013
Monday: Shredded chicken nachos in mini bell peppers with pineapple
Tuesday: Vegetable kebabs (red bell peppers, onions, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, & zucchini) with strawberry short cake for dessert
Wednesday: Hummus pitas with carrots, cucumbers, & french fries
Thursday: Fish tacos (corn tortillas, lime-grilled tilapia, black beans, rice, queso, salsa verde & cilantro) with roasted corn guacamole & tortilla chips
Friday: Chicken & vegetable kebabs on the grill (sesame marinated chicken, red bell peppers, onions, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, & zucchini)
Saturday: Fresh spring rolls (shredded cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts & cucumber) with peanut sauce & vegetable fried rice
Sunday: Frozen pepperoni pizza with lime margaritas & sliced apples

I also made a batch of whole wheat bread this week.

Wednesday's "What We Ate June 24-30, 2013"

This past weekend, John & I had the pleasure of officiating at a wedding for some friends of ours. It was quite the gorgeous day- the rain stopped just long enough for a lovely ceremony & then just sprinkled a little bit over dinner. Every little detail from the succulents in the bride's bouquet to the thoughtfully-made guest book were all so them. It was also at one of the area's most gorgeous getaways, so it was quite the treat all around.

Of course, at almost every wedding we attend, we are drawn back into reflecting on our wedding. All of the crazy amounts of questions that need answering, decisions that need to be made, & energy that goes into every detail is enough to give someone a serious anxiety attack.

John & I were only engaged for 5 months & we planned our wedding while living almost 5 hours apart from each other. At the time of planning our wedding, I was also trying to sell my house in Duluth & John had just bought our house in La Crosse & was furiously working on it so that it could be ready for when I moved in. So when it comes to weddings, believe be, I know anxiety.

I distinctively remember the days & weeks after our wedding... wait, we could just watch movies & go on long walks & make dinner... together?? Whaaaat? It was like something straight out of a fairytale. It was crazy amazing awesome, to say the least & I'm hoping that wherever you are right now, Dave & Meagan, that you are enjoying every little moment of your honeymoon!

One of the most important details of a wedding, of course, is what's being served for the meal. At our wedding, we had originally planned to serve a traditional Thanksgiving-type meal, complete with turkeys on the grill, garlic mashed potatoes, & homemade stuffing. About 6 weeks before the wedding, our caterer became unavailable, so that left us in a panic, to say the least. We needed something delicious & something that fit into our ridiculous budget!

Enter Famous Daves. Yep, we had Famous Daves cater at our wedding & it was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions we were forced into making. You should have heard the oogles & moans at the reception. And there was so much food left over that my parents had pulled pork sandwiches, literally for weeks.We had a handful of family & friends chip in to make our desserts-- homemade apple & pumpkin pies, two of our favorites. So in the end we did still get a touch of our Thanksgiving meal.

At the wedding this past weekend, Gracie's catered. They have, hands down, the best Greek food in La Crosse & we weren't disappointed one bit. There were mounds of hummus, spinach pie, pita bread, feta, olives, chicken kabobs, roasted potatoes, Greek salad.... it was incredible. We ate until we were full, & left quite satisfied by the whole day. It was gorgeous, God was so in it, & we were the pleasant kind of exhausted.

To celebrate all the happened over the weekend, we made ourselves some steak tacos with homemade pico de gallo for dinner on Sunday & I made a batch of peanut butter chocolate pudding with homemade whipped cream for dessert. We try not to treat ourselves with food for every celebration, but this weekend really called for a bit of luxury.

What was the best food you've ever eaten at a wedding?

Sunday's dinner: steak tacos (grilled steak, corn tortillas, cheese, & homemade pico- tomatoes, red pepper, cilantro, & onions)

What We Ate June 24-30, 2013
Monday: Chicken Caesar pitas with strawberries
Tuesday: Cauliflower Alfredo lasagna with carrots, cucumbers, & hummus
Wednesday: Grilled hamburgers with whole wheat buns & maple glazed carrots
Thursday: We ate at the Waterfront for happy hour with the bridal party & family
Friday: We ate with the bridal party & family for the rehearsal dinner
Saturday: We ate at the wedding (catered by Gracie's!!)
Sunday: Steak tacos (grilled steak, corn tortillas, cheese, & homemade pico- tomatoes, red pepper, cilantro, & onions) with homemade peanut butter chocolate pudding for dessert

I also made a few batches of bread & nutty chocolate chip granola bars this week.

Wednesday's "What We Ate June 17-23, 2013"

Lately I've been thinking a lot about why I write this blog. Why do I spend the hours thinking about, preparing, planning, writing, & editing these words? Why do I take so.much.time arranging the food or projects I make, to take thirty pictures of them & then use one? Why am I compelled to use sacred free time pouring out into this blog?

My whole life, I've been passionate about collaboration. I so appreciate when I post a simple recipe for homemade canned spaghetti sauce & a reader suggests an even smarter way to do it. I get excited when I learn a little bit more about you when you add stories from your life in the comments below. I love sharing ideas, failures, recipes, & those special moments that just need to be shared. I love being honest about hard things & celebrating the joys of sugary treats. And I don't think that I would get to experience this kind of collaboration if I didn't write consistently & you didn't respond. So thank you (& please keep it up!)

I also love how blogging has challenged me to grow. When I first started blogging, it was a way to stay in touch with family & friends & share some of the crazy projects that we embark on (i.e. bathroom remodeling). I've had some terrible posts with some horrible pictures & lots of type-os. Thank you for still reading past them all! (honesty note: sometimes I get a little bit of satisfaction when I see a type-o on a big blogger's site because I am reminded that they too, are in fact human!) Now I see this blog more as a tool to help me grow & improve some of the things I've always wanted to accomplish.

I believe that blogging has helped me become more intentional, more focused, more thoughtful, & more aware of how much I still would like to grow! I so desire to get better at cooking, baking, & overall project making. Over the next couple of weeks (months?), I plan to get a whole lot more specific about some of my goals so that they might become reality instead of just swimming thoughts around my brain (for example, I'd love to spend more time re-doing furniture to sell or take a french pastry class!) I want to share my goals with you so you can help keep me accountable & maybe it will inspire you a little to do the same.

Blogging about food specifically has helped me stay accountable to some of the values that we are trying to live out (eating mostly whole foods, as well as mostly organic meat & produce all while sticking to our budget). There's nothing like a weekly post on what we ate to motivate me to choose healthy, wholesome dinner options for our family. And you know what? Sometimes hotdogs are still served because, well, that's life. But other times it has really encouraged me to try a bit harder to not just give in to my feelings & wants, but what's best for our family in the long run.

I also love how blogging is my special little time where I can work at something important to me. I don't know many stay-at-home-parents who are sain without some kind of hobby. I honestly consider blogging my little piece of work & Ruby is sometimes respectful of that work time. I do my best to spend time on my blog when she's napping or in bed for the night so that I can really savor those times with her & not feel guilty for putting on Fantastic Mr. Fox because I would rather work on the blog than entertain her (not like I've ever done that before...) But I also really want writing on this blog to continue to be something that I enjoy. Even though it is work, I want to make sure that it is usually something that leaves me refreshed, energized, & motivated to keep going (not an obligation).

I'll admit that it's sometimes hard not to get my identity wrapped up into who's-reading-what & how-many-people-liked-whatever. It's always a huge bummer when I get a rejection email from Tastespotting or foodgawker, & alternately, it's hard to not get sucked into the idea that I should be getting my worth out of this blog when a recipe is accepted. I have to constantly remind myself that this blog is not what I should be getting my worth from & it shouldn't be something that meets my needs for validation.

It's strange & amusing to me that some of the posts that I thought would be a smashing success, didn't seem to be interesting to many people, but others that I wasn't particularly excited about (with the least creative pictures ever) become some of my most viewed recipes. I'm definitely still learning what people like to read & share, but I also selfishly post a lot of things that we like so that I will have an online recipe book of sorts. Finally! The truth comes out!

In the next few weeks & months, I plan to get more specific about my goals. I want to write them down where I can see them every day so that they will challenge & inspire me. You'll definitely see some changes in the blog, but just bare with me. There will still be posts about what we ate & recipes for practical things like homemade bug spray & lists of summer foods to cook that don't involve the oven. And there will be a bit more intentionality. At least, that's what I'm hoping for.

If you're a blogger, what has helped you grow your blog? If you're an avid blog reader, what do you really appreciate about your favorite blogs? Please comment below!

Thursday's dinner: mushroom pizza with a cauliflower basil crust

What We Ate June 17-23, 2013

Monday: BLT's on whole wheat toast with strawberries & carrots
Tuesday: Brats with crispy edamame & a handful of other sides (we were at a BBQ)
Wednesday: Smoked salmon salads (mixed greens, smoked salmon, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, & balsamic vinaigrette) with toasted baguette
Thursday: Mushroom pizza with a cauliflower basil crust, which was OK, nothing spectacular
Friday: Breaded pork chops with cheesy broccoli quinoa
Saturday: Tofu stir fry with a mix of brown & white rice
Sunday: Homemade steak & red pepper pizza

I also made a batch of whole wheat bread, crockpot yogurt, & whole wheat carrot walnut muffins this week.

Wednesday's "What We Ate June 10-16, 2013"

Are you ready for some more real-talk on this day? I'm sort of freaking out for two reasons.

#1: Bats.
Ever since we have lived in our house, we've had a couple of bats grace us with their presence every summer. One of the most terrifying ways to ever wake up in the middle of the night is to the sound of your husband saying, "honey don't move" because there's a bat chilling on our headboard. There has been much screaming, much hiding under the covers, & much rescuing by John (what would I do without that man??) So we've had a couple of bats here & there... but then last spring we had a local company weatherize our house (insulating the attic was one of the main jobs) & we just sort of figured that would help take care of our bat issues.

Last week, as I was pulling back the curtains in our room, something caught my eye. At first, I literally thought that it was a dead leaf in between the screen & the window, but at a closer look, I saw a foot... & then a wing... & then it breathing. A bat! Noooooooo!! I furiously started taking pictures & texting John, asking him what to do. He encouraged me to grab a towel & open the screen on another window & try to wrap it up & throw it outside. So I mustered up all the courage I could find & started to open the window. But then the thing screetch/hissed at me & that was over. I screamed, scared the daylights out of my daughter & slammed the window shut.

At first glance, it sort of looks like a leaf, right?

 Wishful thinking.

More texting to John, more encouraging texts back...I re-gained what little bit of courage I had left & made another go at it. But then I noticed that the bat wasn't breathing anymore. It looked like I may have killed it when I slammed the window shut. At that point, I was so overwhelmed by the situation/grossed out that I decided to (foolishly) leave the window where it was & leave the bat for John to clean up (he was coming home for lunch in a few hours).

Sor Ruby & I went about our day. We went for a nice long walked & played at a nearby park. When we came back home, we immediately went upstairs to change her diaper. She ran into our room & said the creepiest words she's ever said to me, "mama where bat go?" Yes, the bat was gone. GONE!

Insert hysterical Gillian (picture me opening every cupboard/door/closet, etc. with extreme caution). I think I crouched around the rest of the day, just expecting it to come flying through the house. I tried to calm myself down with logic-" It is more afraid of me that I am of it." Really though? I'm not so sure. "Bats eat nearly their body weight in mosquitos every night." Thank you for that fact, but who cares right now? Mosquitoes seem kind of OK at the moment. "They aren't that creepy." No one even says that. They are terrifying. Logic wasn't much of a comfort to me.

Some might call it torture, others might call it education.

It was amazing how creeped out I felt in our own house. It just felt yucky. Every sound made me jump. Every shadow made me look. That night, we had a surprise visit from some dear friends from Duluth, MN- Michael & Brenda Gatlin. I had the pleasure of working on staff with them at the Duluth Vineyard for nearly 3 years, so when I got a call from Brenda saying they were cruising through La Crosse, we jumped on the opportunity to eat with them. Plus, it would get me out of the bat house.

We had a lovely time catching up at dinner. Ruby absolutely loved both of them. We got home sort of late (about 10:00), so as John carried up a sleepying Ruby from the car, I was trying to get ready for bed myself. We walked into our bedroom & guess who greeted us? The bat! It was flying around like crazy in our bedroom! So I instantly fell to the floor & screamed, which of course woke Ruby up. I snatched her from John's arms & scoot/crawled out into the hall to leave John vs. the bat (John won).

So John got the little critter out of our house that night & we were able to sleep semi-peacefully. The next morning I called the Wisconsin Bat Specialists to see what they could do & they arranged for a guy to come out the very next day to give me a quote. Insert freak-out story #2.

#2: Bat removal.
So we have a small colony of bats living in our attic. Before you vow to never come to my house again, the guy said that by "small colony" he meant like 10-15 bats. Still, why ever use the word "colony?" It's just too much. He said that they can get into holes literally the size of quarters & that our house had many available spots for them to sneak in (he may have used the words "bat highway"). He said that it would be a lot of work, but that the problem could be remedied. But not without a hefty fee of course.

So here I am, the day after getting most of the work done. I cut the guy a check yesterday, but I had such a hard time giving it to him. I absolutely appreciate his work & know that it's something that we need to do, but I've always really struggled during "financial emergency" periods in our life. It's just really hard for me to not find security or satisfaction in knowing we have a little lump some growing in the bank.

The bat removal nearly emptied our small savings, but like John keeps reminding me, God has taken care of us our whole lives & he's not going to stop now. Although I completely agree with him, I'm really struggling with living that out right now. Instantly my mind goes to thoughts like "what can we sell?" or "maybe I should look for a job?" or "what happens if we have another emergency before we can beef up our emergency fund?" They are all yucky feelings & I know that in the end, more money won't bring me more comfort or joy. Heck, we just paid off my student loans a few months ago & I thought that would make us feel rich, but it didn't.

Although I know that we need to be responsible with our money, I am choosing on this day, to not freak out any more. I am choosing to trust that God has our back & that he will take care of us. I am choosing to believe that we made the right decision to remove these little bats from our home. I am choosing to let God be our security. No amount of baking, eating, writing, sleeping, cleaning, walking, or planning can give me as much comfort as he can (those are the things I usually try to find comfort in when I'm stressed out). Ooh, these things are touuuuugh.

So day one of bat removal has been completed. All but two openings have been sealed & they will be back to seal those holes the first week of August (they can't seal all of the holes right now in case there are babies up there who can't fly to get out until August-ish). Then hopefully we will be a little less batty around here.

On to lighter things. Have you liked our fancy, shmancy new facebook page yet? I am trying to grow my readership up a tad & would love it for you to like my new page & share it with others that might enjoy it as well. Also make sure you check out my pinterest page, follow us on twitter & check out blog lovin' so you can stay in touch!

 Sunday's dinner: smoked salmon, boursin cheese spread, red peppers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, & a toasted french baguette

What We Ate June 10-16, 2013
Monday: Shredded chicken nachos in mini bell peppers
Tuesday: Chicken brats on the grill with a cherry tomato, avocado, & fresh mozzarella salad
Wednesday: We had a surprise visit from some out of town friends who took us to Manny's
Thursday: Roasted beet garden salads with Italian bread & a balsamic/olive oil dipping sauce
Friday: Dill pesto on fettuccine noodles with a fresh green salad (mixed greens, mushrooms, cucumbers, avocado, soy nuts, & balsamic vinaigrette)
Saturday: Grilled steak with mushrooms & onions & sweet potatoes
Sunday: One of my ultimate favorite summer meals-- smoked salmon, boursin cheese spread, red peppers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, apples, & a toasted french baguette

This week I also made a batch of graham crackers, nutty chocolate chip granola bars, & for Father's day, some cinnamon rolls using this pesto roll recipe for the dough.

Wednesday's "What We Ate June 3-9, 2013"

It's been a soggy spring/summer (what is this?) I've resorted to covering some of my vegetable plants (in raised beds) with big pieces of plywood when it's raining so that they won't literally float away. So far, I think that's been working well (at least it gives me some peace mentally). Most of my veggie plants are still mighty small, but I'm hoping that they are just working really hard at getting their roots down deep & that once we get some sun they will shoot up! How are your veggie plants looking?

With the damp weather, both Ruby & I have been a little stir-crazy to get outside. I think she's been able to use her new pool twice since we got it because, really who wants to sit outside in the rain & swim? Maybe she would, but I'm not that self-sacrificing/crazy of a mother to let her do that. Instead, we kicked it up a notch & went hiking the other day in our rain gear. With our hoods up. With an umbrella. The umbrella only lasted about 5 minutes, but it was worth a try. Ruby's hood kept falling off & it was nearly impossible for me to put it back up with her on my back ("mama! my hood! down! help!"), so I scooted her around to my front & then we cuddle hiked in the rain. Yet another win for the Ergo. Seriously, I love this carrier. It may have been one of our more special moments together (after we got situated).

Another highlight of our week was, of course, our local farmers' market again. This week, Ruby & I joined in on the free yoga that they offer. There's one for the kids at 3:45 a few times this summer & one for the adults at 4:30 every other week. I have to admit that it was a little awkward to do something so physical in front of a lot of people & I definitely overdid it ("hey! she's doing it! I can too!") but besides all that, I still found it to be really enjoyable. I love yoga, & when it's paired with being outside in the sunshine (yes, it came out for awhile!) & the overall atmosphere of the market, it's just about near heaven status for me.

We ate dinner at the market on Friday & man oh man... this might be an expensive summer! This year there are more food carts that are selling hot, ready-to-eat food (besides all of the fruits, veggies, meats & cheeses). There's a local brat cart from our fav coffee joint, the Root Note, that is pretty much the best thing ever. You can get all kinds of crazy good toppings (like sauteed morrels, pico de gallo, curried caramelized onions, pickled celery, rhubarb ketchup, & walnut pesto) & they have different options for brats, too, like vegetarian smoked apple sage brats, buffalo hills bison brats, & meadowfed meats alpaca brats. Oh my goodness yes.

We also had a nice lazy Saturday, but still managed to get a few things done. We put up some white lights both on our patio & porch (something we've wanted to do, oh since we bought the house in '09), I fixed a bunch of cloth diaper covers (I took off the velcro & replaced them with snaps), & we also made a few wind chimes (one out of bottle caps & the other from shells from our Florida trip). I'll post a couple of pictures just as soon as I get around to taking some pictures of them. We did all this while watching a couple of movies & enjoying each other's company. It felt good to just be at home with one another & putz around. It's my favorite.

How do you like to spend time together with your family?

Friday's dinner: we each had an egg roll & split a bison brat covered in walnut pesto & a deli sandwich from the co-op

What We Ate June 3-9, 2013
Monday: Fried eggs, bacon & avocado on whole wheat toasts with grapes
Tuesday: Caprese-stuffed hamburgers (basil, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes) with Korean grilled asparagus
Wednesday: Tilapia with brown & white rice, rolled in seaweed & slathered in sriracha
Thursday: Veggie Alfredo lasagna with green salad (spring mix, carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, sunflowers & balsamic vinaigrette)
Friday: We ate at our lovely farmers' market: we each had an egg roll & split a bison brat covered in walnut pesto & a deli sandwich from the co-op
Saturday: Blackened tilapia sandwiches with sweet potato fries
Sunday: Homemade white cheddar macaroni & cheese with broccoli & grapes

I also made a batch of whole wheat bread & a new granola bar recipe (will post soon!) this week (update: here is the recipe for nutty chocolate chip granola bars).

Wednesday's "What We Ate May 27-June 2, 2013"

Let me tell you a little bit about our weekend. First of all, grilling has been happening at least once or twice a week lately. We have a charcoal grill, so grilling really is kind of a bigger event than if we had a gas grill. Sure, using gas would be quicker, but I kind of enjoy the fact that charcoal grilling causes us to enjoy the more lengthy process of cooking more. It encourages us to do things like have serious conversations while we cook (instead of rushing to get food on the table with a choppy, "so how was your day?") & it usually means we eat later on in the evening, but then we feel sort of posh about that, so it's all good (& when I mean later, it's like 7, so we're really not even on the brink of cool). Of course, the time it takes limits how much we can do it, but that way it stays a novelty & not a frustration.

Plus, while we are waiting for our grill to heat up, that means we get to enjoy a cool beverage & our luxurious patio furniture while Ruby sorts through rocks (one of her favorite activities... is she my kid or what?) We might even devour a half a block of cheese & crackers while waiting because we're so used to eating earlier, but that's not the worst thing that could happen...

We tried to be even more weekend-y on Saturday by going out to brunch, which is something that rarely happens since John has rehearsal every Saturday morning & needs to be at church by 9am on Sundays. It was quite a treat for us. So much, that we even enjoyed a bloddy. Oh Fayze's, you are so good to us.

We did a little bit of yard work (it was severely limited by our weed wacker running out of whatever it is that cuts the weeds & me having zero motivation for going to Menards) & John ran some electricity back to our patio, so it will be even more pleasant (fun lights here we come!) We helped some friends with wedding crafts in the afternoon & John had practice, but we were still able to enjoy some spaghetti & probably the best homemade garlic bread I've ever eaten (made with fresh mozz people!) 

On Sunday we went to church & ate with some friends afterward. For some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to go to the mall (ugh, the mall!) after Ruby's nap. We were looking for wedding outfits for the wedding we are officiating at the end of the month (we had zero luck, by the way, surprise, surprise). Do you get depressed by the mall like I do? All I want to do is eat popcorn & donuts & drink lattes & buy over-priced books. It's weird & unsettling. So much that I may have ate popcorn & a gin & tonic for dinner on Sunday, but that has yet to be confirmed.

How do you enjoy your weekends?

 Friday's date night dinner: grilled pork chops & butter bean & spinach salad

What We Ate May 27-June 2, 2013
Monday: We grilled with friends (we brought our co-op's own brats & watermelon)
Tuesday: Vegetable nachos (tortilla chips, black beans, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, red onion, shredded cheese, cumin, & chili powder, after cooking topped with greek yogurt cilantro, avocado, & salsa)
Wednesday: My grandpa & grandma paid us a visit, so we went out to a Mexican seafood joint
Thursday: Homemade fish sticks & sweet potato fries
Friday: Grilled pork chops & butter bean & spinach salad
Saturday: Whole wheat spaghetti with homemade sauce, cheesy garlic bread & mixed green salad
Sunday: I might be guilty of having popcorn & a gin & tonic for dinner. John was much more sensible & ate a feta & spinach omelette.

I also made a batch of whole wheat bread & whole wheat coconut chocolate chip cookies this week.

Wednesday's "What We Ate May 20-26, 2013"

I do some pretty strange things when my family starts feeling sick. Things like eating raw garlic cloves & sticking garlic oil in our ears. We take vitamins & run salt water through our sinuses & use homeopathic medicines. We eat lots & lots of healthy foods; ones packed with healthy nutrients & gut-friendly probiotics. We sip tea with local honey. We sleep. We rest. We hibernate.

I'm actually working on a more extensive post with more of the things we do to prevent sickness & help it pass without using lots of medicines filled with artificial dyes & unnecessary interventions. I'm convinced that most of the time, what our bodies really need is good nutrition, fluids, & rest & that modern medicine often gets in the way of our bodies natural ability to heal. I'm obviously not a dietitian or an expert on natural medicine, but we do some things that have really helped us feel better naturally, so I'd just like to share our experiences with you. I'll let you know when it's ready to post (** update: it is linked above).

What made me think of this is that this past week, Ruby & I have both been fighting a cold. No matter how much you try to prevent sickness, sometimes it just happens. She's had a runny nose most of the week & has been up coughing a lot at night. I've had a lot of pressure in my sinuses & have been really low on energy. I've been trying to baby us a little back to health & prevent any further sickness (namely ear infections for her).

Our meals were simple this week, but tasty. I'm still obsessed with sweet potato hash, so I made that again. My family came in to town for the holiday weekend, so we were able to eat out a few times with them & enjoy grilling one of the days (it was raining, but oh well). Most of the meals I prepared were quick ones because we've been busy with band practice, pre-marital counseling, family, bachelor parties, & an herb class (more on that later). This next week our meals will be just as simple, as it's another busy, busy week for us. Hopefully it will be less snotty.

What do you like to eat in the midst of a busy/sick week?

Wednesday's dinner: chicken Caesar salads with roasted garlic & whole wheat pitas

What We Ate May 20-26, 2013

Monday: Venison tacos (corn tortillas, avocado, cheese, tomatoes, bell peppers) with watermelon
Tuesday: Mushroom & onion omelets with pineapple & whole wheat toast
Wednesday: Chicken Caesar salads with roasted garlic & whole wheat pitas
Thursday: Sweet potato hash with caramelized onions, sausage, & eggs with whole wheat toast
Friday: Sandwiches from our co-op while we were at our farmer's market
Saturday: We ate out with my family
Sunday: Grilled chicken with asparagus & fresh salad (lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, soy nuts)

I also made a batch of crockpot yogurt this week.

Wednesday's "What We Ate May 13-19, 2013"

Dear garlic lovers,
I wish you all could have been at my house on Monday for dinner. I followed the directions for a supposedly tasty garlicy cauliflower mash (mock mashed potatoes). I was a little squeemish about the 4 (FOUR) whole, raw garlic cloves that were needed, but I went against my gut & followed the directions. The first taste was painful. The second (why, oh why was there a second?!) literally made me cry. The day where there was too much garlic was in fact discovered at dinner on Monday. The mash was sadly tossed. I thought about running to the store for more cauliflower, but I hardly ever do that while cooking, so we just ate some hummus & cucumbers instead. It was a sad night, but I will try again.

In other happier news, I had a wonderful veggie burger making party with some of the other ladies from our church last week. We do a lot of grilling in the summer as a church, so we wanted to provide a stellar veggie option. We had a blast, chatting over wine & a few snacks & veggie burgering it up. Thanks for joining me in making 114 burgs, ladies!

 Roasted beet hummus from the veggie burger making party

  Ricotta vegetable dip, also from the party

This week I also continued on my chicken enchilada obsession & tried it out as pizza (recently, I've also made it as pasta). Basically you just sub the tomato sauce for enchilada sauce, top with sauteed peppers & chicken, with a bunch of spices & cheese & then top with sour cream/greek yogurt & bam! You've got yourself a chicken enchilada pizza.

The week mostly went well eating-wise, in spite of Monday. After the garlic catastrophe, it so made me appreciate that when meals go wrong, we still have tons of food that is available for us to eat. Not everyone can choose what meals they have, let alone how much they eat & when, & definitely not everyone can throw away their nasty dinner & exchange it for a better one. We are so richly blessed.

What are you eating these days? Was anything an epic fail?

Thursday's dinner: whole wheat almond pancakes with scrambled eggs & strawberries

What We Ate May 13-19, 2013
Monday: Almond crusted chicken nuggets with garlicy cauliflower mash cucumbers & hummus
Tuesday: Veggie burgers with salad (spring mix, carrots, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, ranch dressing)
Wednesday: Chicken enchilada pizza
Thursday: Whole wheat almond pancakes with scrambled eggs & strawberries
Friday: Creamy avocado pasta
Saturday: Roasted vegetable sandwich with goat cheese, spinach & balsamic with tortilla chips & salsa
Sunday: We had pizza with friends

I also made a batch of bread & whole wheat burger buns this week.

Wednesday's "What We Ate May 6-12, 2013"

Are you ready for summertime food? Have you dusted off your grills yet? Wiped off that skuzzy patio furniture? Located your kids sidewalk chalk? Although we've been experiencing much on again/off again spring here in Wisconsin (we had a frost advisory on Sunday, but on Tuesday it was 80 degrees), John & I are so in grill mode. Over the past week, we've still been pretty busy with our yard work (John leveled the ground by our raised beds & placed a few patio blocks, surrounded by rock & I finished some painting & prepped the ground for some grass seeds), we've still been able to enjoy a meal or two outdoors on our patio.

This past week, we had a few flops for meals (the stir fry & tuna noodle casserole were kind of blah), a few surprisingly tasty meals (cobb salads), & of course, an old summer standby (burgers) with the added bonus of a new edamame salsa recipe (soo good!) I can't wait to try out more meals that use in season foods & local produce.

Which reminds me, on Friday, Ruby & I had quite the lovely day. We got up early & headed out to rummage sales for the morning. We found a couple gems (mostly some toys for her to play with in the newly fenced in yard, as well as some clothes that actually might fit her), but most of all, we just had a great time interacting & enjoying the experience of rummaging together. She loved seeing so many new faces & all of the items that people had for sale. Later in the day, we went to the children's museum, & then our local farmer's market. It was so refreshing to be there & the sun came out at the most perfect time, so it was pleasantly warm.

Our farmer's market is really quite the special treat. I just love all of the hustle & bustle-- all of the beautiful local produce, crafts, plants, flowers, meats, eggs... I just want it all! They even have a band play on most Fridays & starting in June, will offer free yoga in the park right next to the market. They will even be doing a few kids' yoga sessions! Ruby loooved the music & again, all of the new faces. I think she is an extrovert at heart (which is terrifying, by the way). She loved running around with a group of (unfamiliar) children in the park & chasing after a dog she became acquainted with.

I think we've discovered our new Friday tradition, my friends. What a wonderful way to start the weekend! I can't wait to start planning my meals around the bounty of fresh veggies from my garden & from the farmer's market this summer.

What are some of your favorite summertime meals?

Monday's dinner: burgers on the grill with edamame salsa & tortilla chips

What We Ate May 6-12, 2013
Monday: Burgers on the grill with edamame salsa & tortilla chips
Tuesday: Southwest stuffed peppers with watermelon
Wednesday: Chicken & sugar snap pea stir fry with rice
Thursday: We went bike shopping & stopped at Maggie's for dinner
Friday: Cobb salads with whole wheat pitas
Saturday: Skillet tuna noodle casserole
Sunday: We celebrated mother's day at Piggy's (mostly just for the flourless chocolate cake!)

I also made a batch of yogurt & whole wheat bread this week.

Wednesday's "What We Ate April 29-May 5, 2013"

Oooh-wee, did we have quite the productive weekend! We've been working on our yard for 3 weekends in a row now & it seems like every other second we've had we've either been planning our next project or shopping at Menards for the items we need. Finally, we are starting to see the light & all the joys & excitement that finishing projects brings. Unfortunately (for my husband), my list is till existent, but I think I'll give him a break for a couple weekends at least (maybe).

Over the past couple of weekends, we have ripped out masses of bushes, an existing fence, & have tore up a lot of our yard in preparation for a new fence. Our neighbor graciously volunteered his time to help John & man, did they work hard! We still have to stain the fence, & I've got a bit more painting to do (I painted our front door, just finished the railings & 2 flower boxes on Tuesday, but still have to paint our shutters & the foundation) & lots of gardening (John has 2 more flower boxes to build & the cucumber trellis, plus the actual veggie planting), but at least we now have a confined space where Ruby can play & enjoy the outdoors while we work.

Our primary reason for a fence was Ruby's safety, but also my sanity. I wanted to be able to garden without keeping a (literal) leash on her. She's a very curious kid & our yard is pretty much the size of a minivan, so it wouldn't take much for her to bolt out into the street. A fence gives her the opportunity to play as she will, but in a space that I can constantly (or not so constantly) keep an eye on her.

 We are now officially Americans who own a picket fence. What happened to us?

 The north side of the house with a view of our patio. No more bushes!!

 We have 2 gates to contain the wee one.

Check out all the landscaping I have yet to do...

Along with our busy project weekend, came some tasty summer foods. Friday hardly felt like summer around here (mid 30's & raining!) so we needed some serious comfort food to warm up, but Sunday we were able to enjoy grilling & eat on our little patio that we built in 2011. It was our first official meal out there since we built it (we just finally got a table & chairs a few months ago!) & I foresee many, many evenings spent out there.

Grilling is one of our favorite pass times. For real. Grilling is so satisfying & delicious (we are hardcore charcoal people) & it sort of forces you to sit back, enjoy an adult beverage, & take in all that summer has to offer you. It's quite lovely.

What are your favorite grill-able meals?

Sunday's dinner: steak & bell pepper kabobs on the grill with left-over cilantro lime rice & strawberries

What We Ate April 29-May 5, 2013
Monday: Breakfast pizza with grapes
Tuesday: Olive Garden's copycat Zuppa Toscana with cheddar scallion scones
Wednesday: Veggie burgers & asparagus on the grill
Thursday: Black bean spinach enchiladas with tortilla chops & salsa
Friday: We ate at our favorite local breakfast diner, Fayzes after a cold day working outside
Saturday: Fish tacos (tilapia, cheese, black beans, salsa, avocado) with cilantro lime rice
Sunday: Steak & bell pepper kabobs on the grill with left-over cilantro lime rice & strawberries

I also made a batch of carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, basic almond granola & whole wheat cornbread this week.