Potty Training Sticker Chart {free printable}

 

We’ve been teetering into the world of potty training for a while, but I am hoping to make the full on leap.  The little miss loves stickers so I have been looking for a potty training sticker chart.  I found some super cute printables on Pinterest and read a few posts on ways to use a sticker chart.  For us, there is already a lot of potty time so no stickers will be given for just sitting.  But if you have a hard time getting your kid to the loo you may want to give 1 sticker for sitting on the potty.  Here’s how I plan to use the chart:  1 sticker per box, pee pee on potty = 1 sticker, poop on potty = 2 stickers.  Once a row is filled, a small reward will be given (to be determined – likely a small toy).  Once the entire page is filled in a  larger reward will be given (again, TBS – likely a larger toy or a requested excursion/activity).  I’ll keep you posted on how this works out – hoping that the sticker chart is a big hit.

The templates for the free printable potty training sticker charts (boys and girls versions) are available here. 

 

Cupcake Decorating {cooking with kids}

The little miss loves to stand on a stool in the kitchen next to me and “help” me cook.  At first this started as her snacking on whatever I was chopping on my cutting board.  Over the past several months she’s started to actually help me.  I’ve give her little jobs, like ripping kale off of the stalks.  On occasion, we bake a sweet treat for a special occasion (we’ve had several of them lately – no complaints here) and I let the little miss top a small batch of cupcakes with sprinkles.  I put the sprinkles in a cupcake liner on the counter and let her have creative license with the decorating.  She loves the job (what’s not to like?) and takes pride in telling people that she made the cupcakes.  I’m not going to lie – several sprinkles were consumed in the process – but I am usually able to get her to wait until she’s finished with the cupcake decorating to indulge in the remaining sprinkles.

Toddler Paint Pops {DIY project}

I love this idea from Mother Huddle for making paint pops out of the last bits of paint using an ice cube tray and popsicle sticks.  The pops are perfect for little toddler hands and give a new twist to painting for those who are bored with traditional brushes.  Find the full tutorial for making these cute paint pops here.

Healthy Toddler Mini Muffins {toddler snack recipe}

I find that if I make anything in the form of a muffin my toddler goes nuts for them.  She literally devoured these muffins which are packed with veggies and fiber and no added sugar.  They look like a crappy carb (to her), so she was thrilled.  In reality, these muffins are a nutritional powerhouse, at least as far as baked goods go.  The recipe was inspired by “toddler muffins” I saw on Pinterest, which gave me the idea to use up a stray leftover jar of babyfood by making muffins.  I added in leftover steamed veggies (carrots and a bit of chopped cauliflower), substituted flax seed meal and oat flour for the wheat flour that the original recipe called for and used bananas and apple sauce as the “sweeteners”  and in place of butter in the recipe.   The result is a muffin that is hearty and filling – reminiscent of a whole wheat banana bread with only a hint of sweetness.  These are not the type of muffin you would consider a “treat” unless you are a real health nut (like me).  But for a kid who doesn’t get much sugar these are a winning snack and very simple to make.

Be sure to either freeze half of the muffins or refrigerate them within a day (or both).  Because of the high moisture content from the vegetables they will spoil quickly at room temperature.  Also, you can use muffin liners to make these (saves on clean-up), but because they are so moist some of the muffin will stick to paper liners.  The muffins take about 30 minutes to make, not include cooling time.

Healthy Toddler Snack Muffins

4 oz jar pureed squash baby food (such as Earth’s Best)
2 medium bananas (I used frozen bananas, defrosted in the microwave and used the resulting “juice” in the recipe)
1/3 cup shredded carrots (or a mixture of shredded steamed carrots and chopped cauliflower)
½ cup apple sauce
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup oat flour*
½ cup flax seed meal
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease mini muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.  Mix squash through vanilla in a large bowl and stir until well combined.  Whisk together dry ingredients (oat flour through salt) in a medium bowl.  Add mixed dry ingredients to squash mixture and stir just until full incorporated and no dry patches remain.

2.  Divide batter among prepared muffin tins and bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 15 to 20 minutes.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.  Store at room temperature for 1 day, refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze.

*To make homemade oat flour grind old-fashioned oats in a food process until they resemble a coarse flour.

Initial Necklaces {Gift Idea}

Initial necklaces are such a great gift idea and you can give them without spending a fortune by finding an artisan designer.  I adore the tiny initial necklaces made by Sarah Feingold of Feingold Jewelry.  Sarah is a multitalented childhood friend who is both a jewelry designer and Etsy’s in-house counsel.  Sarah’s handmade vintage brass letters come on a sterling silver chain; the petite letters are simple and modern.

Sarah’s initial necklaces would make a great gift for any mom, grad, bat mitzvah or sweet sixteen.  It’s a thoughtful and reasonably priced “push gift” if any of you out there are looking for a hint to pass on to your significant other.

Check out Sarah’s full jewelry line here.  Initial necklaces are $18 each.

Ratio Custom Shirts {Daddy Gift Ideas}

I know it’s a little early to be thinking about Father’s Day, but men can be hard to shop for.  Why not skip the tie for Father’s Day and buy your favorite daddy a custom-made shirt?  My husband loves custom shirts and I have been buying them from a British company for years.  Then I heard about Ratio Clothing, a company that makes custom-made shirts in the USA for about the same price as a shirt from J.Crew.  Ratio Clothing is well-know among the personal shopping crowd, selling directly to customers online.  I first heard of them from an acquaintance – a butler in NYC.  They sell dress shirts, casual flannels and oxfords.

My husband’s biggest gripe with dress shirts is that they’re cut too wide.  He likes a nice slim fit so I ordered several for the holidays.  I used the measurements from my husband’s suit jacket and dress shirts (neck, chest, arm, etc.), without taking any actual measurements, and the online ordering was simple.  The shirts are beautifully made – the fabric is soft and strong, the fit is amazing (custom – can you believe?) and the fabric choices are both classic and modern.  The main gripe I have about the shirts is with how long they take, which is no different from the British company I was ordering from and is par for the course for custom-made shirts.  It means planning ahead and ordering at least 6 weeks in advance to guarantee delivery in time for your occasion.  For the procrastinators out there, you can print a picture of the shirt and gift wrap it.  I’ve had to do that in the past for gifts (tsk, tsk).

Also, I often order shirts for my husband with a monogram and I didn’t like the way the monogram turned out on these shirts.  It wasn’t crisp enough and the letters were very small.  Ratio was very responsive to my feedback and looked into the monogram issue.  Apparently they got a new monogramming machine and that’s the look of the new monograms.  They may change the monogramming machine in the future so you should ask before ordering if you want a monogram.  I’ll definitely order more shirts in the future, sans the monogram.

You really can’t go wrong with one of the Ratio shirts for daddy; it’s an indulgence that will make him feel appreciated.

Special thanks to Ratio Clothing for providing a sample for review purposes (I purchased 3 shirts after the initial sample and plan to order a few more for Father’s Day).

Organic Truffle Honey {easy appetizer}

Sometimes you just need a simple appetizer to put out and nothing is easier than serving a piece of cheese with honey drizzled over the top.  Sounds basic, but if you use a truly delicious honey, like this amazing organic truffle-infused honey from deRosario, it’s a very special treat.  I served it over Tellagio with some simple wheat crackers, and the flavor combination is extraordinary.   daRosario Organic White Truffle Acacia Honey is available on FreshDirect ($16.49/ 4.5 oz jar) and at select gourmet markets.

Note: Honey is generally not given to babies under the age of 12 months so keep this one away from the very little one.

Canvas Pictures {design}

I love scattering pictures of my little one around the house, but at some point all the random pictures propped up, tucked into the sides of mirror frames and taped to the outside of other frames (don’t judge) reminds me more of a college dorm than a respectable adult pad.  When the nice people over at Printcopia offered to send me an 8×10 canvas picture gratis, I was happy to accet and excited to have a professional canvas to display.  The process for ordering from Printcopia was very simple.  I did need to flag a cropping concern for the designer (wanted to make sure the little miss’s mouth wasn’t going to be cut off since it was close to the edge) and there was no comment box during the design process, so I sent them an e-mail with the specifications.  A designer from Printcopia quickly replied and confirmed that her chin would have been cut off and easily moved the edge to accommodate her whole face.  I didn’t realize that when you print a picture on canvas it prints a few shades darker so the first picture I received was a little too dark – it was still cute but you almost couldn’t see the picture on the wall from far away.  I e-mailed Printcopia to tell them my concern and a desiger called me the next day to discuss whether we should use a different picture for the reprint or whether they should lighten it for me.  Ultimately we stuck with the same picture, and the second print came out beautifully.  Although it took a few tries to get it right, Printcopia had great customer service and a quick turnaround time.  The final canvas is bright and a lovely addition to my semi-respectable adult pad.

Special thanks to Printcopia for providing a sample 8×10 canvas for review.

Kate Quinn Organics Semi-Annual Sale {deals}

Need some new duds for the little one?  Kate Quinn Organics, one of my very fave organic kids clothing brands, is having their semi-annual $10 sale.  I’m not sure why they call it a $10 sale since the prices range from $10-20, but the sale prices are still great.  April 9-April 16, 2013.

Sweet Potato Corn Cakes with Yogurt Sauce {family dinner}

This recipe came about because of the surplus of frozen corn I’ve been trying to clear out of the freezer from last summer’s bounty.  Making sweet potato and corn cakes was a nice change of pace and made for a satisfying vegetarian meal that the whole family enjoyed (my 2-year-old loves these “sweet cakes” and especially likes having her own little bowl of dipping sauce for dunking).

This recipe is inspired by the recipe fromBudget Bytes, which I adapted and made gluten-free by using more corn meal and omitting the bread crumbs.  They’re lightly seared in oil, rather than fried, to keep them healthy.  The creaminess of the sweet potatoes provides a nice contrast for the toothsome corn kernels and the yogurt sauce gives the dish a little tang.  I made my standard (very simple) yogurt sauce using Greek yogurt, lime juice rather than the usual lemon, salt and pepper.  For those without a freezer full of corn, use any store-bought frozen corn in this recipe.

Sweet Potato Corn Cakes with Yogurt Sauce

Yield: Serves 6 as an appetizer or 4 as an entree

Allow time to refrigerate the mixture before cooking to give the ingredients time to bind (it prevents the cakes from falling apart while cooking). These corn cakes are best served immediately, rather than reheating. Serve them as an appetizer, or pair with salad or braised greens for a complete meal.

Ingredients

• 4 large sweet potatoes (about 3 lbs.)
• 1 1/3 cup white corn meal
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup chopped scallions
• 1/4 bunch cilantro, chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 4 Tbs. vegetable oil (for frying)
• Cilantro sprigs for garnish (optional)
• 1/2 small clove garlic
• 6 oz. Greek yogurt (fat free, lowfat or regular)
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• juice of 1/2 lime
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pierce potatoes with knife several times and wrap each individually in tin foil. Bake potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil for 30-50 minutes, or until soft when pierced with a knife. Alternatively, cook sweet potatoes in the microwave by wrapped one potato in a damp paper towel and cooking on high for 4-5 minutes, or until soft. Repeat with remaining potatoes. When cool enough to handle, slice potatoes in half and scoop out flesh into a large bowl.
2. Add corn meal, corn, egg, scallions, cilantro, cumin, salt and cayenne pepper to bowl. Stir until well combined. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make the yogurt sauce. Place garlic in bowl of food processor and pulse until minced. yogurt, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, lime juice and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Preheat oven to 250 degrees and line a baking sheet with tin foil; place in oven. Heat 2 Tbs. oil on large nonstick griddle (or in large skillet over medium-high heat). Shape sweet potato mixture into medium patties (about 1/3 cup each), and flatten until about no more than 1″ thick. Working in batches, cook in oil until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Keep cooked corn cakes warm in oven on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat cooking with remaining oil and patties. Serve warm with yogurt sauce. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if desired.