Thursday, October 30, 2014
Ideas for another day...
I really should change the name of this blog since I am really just using it as a bookmark for stuff I need to pin and can't otherwise. Anyway, next year's Christmas present for myself will be a router so I can do some cool stuff on my stair wall. This video explains how to use the bits I want to use for it. Obviously the end product won't look exactly as pictured, but I hope it looks very similar to it!
Monday, August 25, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Bathe baby in 10 easy steps!
Disclaimer: I know I'm putting this non-food post on my food blog, but I didn't want to put this on my personal blog ;)
So anyway, with my first two children, I hated giving baths. I got that silly little bathtub that came with its own little sprayer, which was expensive, big and bulky, hurt my back to use, and really just not an efficient way to bathe a baby. After swearing to my back that I would do my best not to inflict back pain on it again, I came up with the following solution - daddy would bathe the baby. hahaha. Yeah right... Actually, as of late, I have become pretty organized. So, the first thing I did was go to walmart and buy this cheap little caddy for around 2 bucks. I filled it with baby wash, lotion, the sponge/brush from the hospital, rash cream, vaseline, 2 hooded towels, and 4 washcloths. I put two sets of towels and washcloths just in case I'm not supermom and don't get around to doing the laundry in time for the next bath. I keep the bath stuff in the laundry room so that after the towels come out of the dryer, I just roll them up and put them back in the caddy.
Then I got this primo bath seat on Amazon for under $12. Best thing ever. I have used it ever since my little guy was a newborn. Now, five months later, my little chunker just might have to graduate to the bathtub soon, or maybe he'll just have to sit in the sink ;)
Another thing I have is a detachable faucet head. This allows me to rinse baby easily and adjust the water pressure so it's not too powerful. You could just use a cup or something to rinse, but this is so much easier.
Here are the steps I use to ensure a smooth and simple bath routine:
1. Clean sink and put bath seat in. Make sure stuff around the sink is pushed far enough away that baby won't grab the dish brush while you're bathing them.
2. Place caddy next to the sink. It's easier to have the baby wash turned closest to the sink for easy dispensing.
3. Clear off counter and lay a thick blanket down. When my son was a newborn I put a boppy on top of the blanket. Place a hooded towel on the blanket so that after the bath you can swiftly lay them down and wrap them up.
4. Next to the towel, place a clean outfit. On top of that outfit place an open diaper.
*With your bathing station all set up, you are ready to bathe baby!
5. Turn water on to correct temperature. BabyCenter website recommends bath water that is between 90 and 100 degrees F. *important* Never leave running water on baby while soaping another areas. I move the faucet so the water runs in the corner. Always feel the water as it is coming out of the faucet during rinses to ensure water doesn't change to really hot or really cold - this does happen. It only takes a second to scald baby.
6. Undress baby and gently place in bath seat.
7. Take one washcloth and place over belly and upper legs. Otherwise, you'll probably get a wet surprise ;) This also helps keep baby warm.
8. Soaping time! I usually soap the legs and move up from there, rinsing every so often so baby stays warm. I do the head second to last, then as I'm about to take baby out of the seat, I'll get his back and do an extra rinse as I'm holding him up.
9. Quickly set baby on blanket, wrap him up, dry him off, put diaper on, and get him dressed.
10. Give baby lots of kisses and enjoy the clean baby smell!
*I think this goes without saying, but never take your hands off baby when you have them on the counter and never leave the sink while baby is in there.
What once was a stressful experience is now a soothing and sweet time for me and my baby. Happy bathing!
Then I got this primo bath seat on Amazon for under $12. Best thing ever. I have used it ever since my little guy was a newborn. Now, five months later, my little chunker just might have to graduate to the bathtub soon, or maybe he'll just have to sit in the sink ;)
Another thing I have is a detachable faucet head. This allows me to rinse baby easily and adjust the water pressure so it's not too powerful. You could just use a cup or something to rinse, but this is so much easier.
Here are the steps I use to ensure a smooth and simple bath routine:
1. Clean sink and put bath seat in. Make sure stuff around the sink is pushed far enough away that baby won't grab the dish brush while you're bathing them.
2. Place caddy next to the sink. It's easier to have the baby wash turned closest to the sink for easy dispensing.
3. Clear off counter and lay a thick blanket down. When my son was a newborn I put a boppy on top of the blanket. Place a hooded towel on the blanket so that after the bath you can swiftly lay them down and wrap them up.
4. Next to the towel, place a clean outfit. On top of that outfit place an open diaper.
*With your bathing station all set up, you are ready to bathe baby!
5. Turn water on to correct temperature. BabyCenter website recommends bath water that is between 90 and 100 degrees F. *important* Never leave running water on baby while soaping another areas. I move the faucet so the water runs in the corner. Always feel the water as it is coming out of the faucet during rinses to ensure water doesn't change to really hot or really cold - this does happen. It only takes a second to scald baby.
6. Undress baby and gently place in bath seat.
7. Take one washcloth and place over belly and upper legs. Otherwise, you'll probably get a wet surprise ;) This also helps keep baby warm.
8. Soaping time! I usually soap the legs and move up from there, rinsing every so often so baby stays warm. I do the head second to last, then as I'm about to take baby out of the seat, I'll get his back and do an extra rinse as I'm holding him up.
9. Quickly set baby on blanket, wrap him up, dry him off, put diaper on, and get him dressed.
10. Give baby lots of kisses and enjoy the clean baby smell!
*I think this goes without saying, but never take your hands off baby when you have them on the counter and never leave the sink while baby is in there.
What once was a stressful experience is now a soothing and sweet time for me and my baby. Happy bathing!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Chicken Pasta Salad
A while back, I was at a reunion and had the best pasta salad I had ever tried. After getting the recipe and making it a few times, nothing really compares to it in my mind. If someone says 'pasta salad', I immediately think of the wondrous salad that I have come to know and love. It is so simple, yet so delicious.
When I got the recipe, it was more like 'put a little of this in and a little of that', and well, I really don't like doing that when I haven't made a recipe before, so I have listed approximately how much you can start with and then you can tweak and change to your hearts content to make it a love for your buds - yes that was a pun...
Ingredients:
1lb chicken
2 T cooking oil
16 oz pkg bowtie pasta
rosemary
thyme
1 small red onion, chopped
1 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil (I get mine from costco)
1 small container grape tomatoes, cut in halves
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
cardini's ceasar dressing (costco sometimes carries, but I had to brave walmart this go around)
To prepare chicken, heat frying pan with oil and place chicken that has been seasoned liberally with rosemary and thyme. Really, it may seem like a lot, but once you mix it in with the rest of the salad, the seasonings mix. I probably use about 3 to 4 Tablespoons for the chicken, a mixture of the Rosemary and Thyme. Cook thoroughly on both sides and let cool. Next prepare pasta according to package. Once cooked, drain and rinse with cold water. You'll note, in the picture I used some weird spiral pasta. That's because the beautiful bowtie bowl went to the church barbeque and I wanted some extra for home and was low on bowties, but you can use whatever. At this point, pour pasta into a large bowl and mix a little of the ceasar dressing in to prevent the pasta from sticking later on. Cut chicken up into bite size pieces and put in bowl with pasta. Usually I haven't prepared my other ingredients, so the bowl goes in the fridge till I'm ready. Next, add onion, sun dried tomatoes (drained somewhat, but some oil goes well), grape tomatoes, and if the salad is completely cooled add the feta as well. I probably mixed about 6 oz of ceasar dressing; it's really up to you and how creamy you like your salad. Do a taste test and after you're satisfied, let chill in the fridge for a few hours. Hope you enjoy! I have received many compliments on this recipe.
When I got the recipe, it was more like 'put a little of this in and a little of that', and well, I really don't like doing that when I haven't made a recipe before, so I have listed approximately how much you can start with and then you can tweak and change to your hearts content to make it a love for your buds - yes that was a pun...
Ingredients:
1lb chicken
2 T cooking oil
16 oz pkg bowtie pasta
rosemary
thyme
1 small red onion, chopped
1 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil (I get mine from costco)
1 small container grape tomatoes, cut in halves
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
cardini's ceasar dressing (costco sometimes carries, but I had to brave walmart this go around)
To prepare chicken, heat frying pan with oil and place chicken that has been seasoned liberally with rosemary and thyme. Really, it may seem like a lot, but once you mix it in with the rest of the salad, the seasonings mix. I probably use about 3 to 4 Tablespoons for the chicken, a mixture of the Rosemary and Thyme. Cook thoroughly on both sides and let cool. Next prepare pasta according to package. Once cooked, drain and rinse with cold water. You'll note, in the picture I used some weird spiral pasta. That's because the beautiful bowtie bowl went to the church barbeque and I wanted some extra for home and was low on bowties, but you can use whatever. At this point, pour pasta into a large bowl and mix a little of the ceasar dressing in to prevent the pasta from sticking later on. Cut chicken up into bite size pieces and put in bowl with pasta. Usually I haven't prepared my other ingredients, so the bowl goes in the fridge till I'm ready. Next, add onion, sun dried tomatoes (drained somewhat, but some oil goes well), grape tomatoes, and if the salad is completely cooled add the feta as well. I probably mixed about 6 oz of ceasar dressing; it's really up to you and how creamy you like your salad. Do a taste test and after you're satisfied, let chill in the fridge for a few hours. Hope you enjoy! I have received many compliments on this recipe.
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