clean plate club

so I have to share our latest favorite dinner discovery!! In less than 30 minutes you can put together a meal that everyone will demolish! Promise! :)

below is what's left of dinner tonight!  I am lousy with the pictures, but just count yourself lucky there are any pics at all! heehee. Sandra Lee, eat your heart out!

pitiful picture, but it was so good, there was nothing left to take a picture of! haha

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, garlic & citrus olive oil sauteed kale, & sauteed mushrooms & squash
Parmesan Crusted Tilapia - this is where Sandra Lee reference comes into play! Store bought, freezer section. Tastes like homemade and great to keep on hand for fast prep nights in the kitchen.

Kale: wash real good, tear out thick stems. mince garlic. add citrus flavored olive oil to pan & saute garlic. (Holy moly. Y'all gotta try citrus flavored olive oil!! I am hooked after day one!) add kale. sautee until slightly wilted.  add seasoning to taste.  I used Paula Deen's seasoning salt 

temecula olive oil. heavenly.

Mushrooms & squash: I needed to use the squash that was about to go bad so I cubed it along with some mushrooms. chopped onion. Put EVOO in pan, added minced garlic, saute, onion, saute. added mushrooms & squash, saute. add seasonings. I used a couple of the new Deen Brothers seasonings and WOW. flavorful!! Hints of sweet and spicy chipotle from the Sweet Poppin' Chipotle & the Funky Chicken seasoning is loaded with salt, garlic, pepper, parsley, among other spices - I could eat it by itself!

can't wait to try the hatch chili olive oil! 911!!

Deen Brothers spices are soon to hit the market! Stay tuned! :)

Seriously, we had a houseful of empty plates.  This is an easy new favorite worth sharing! Hope you enjoy too! :)

Planning a party...

for a one year old should be as easy as 1-2-3 and it is!  There is an old rule (ha - since when do I follow the rules) that says for each birthday a child has, she should have the equivalent number of guests to the age she will be.  A one year old should have one guest and so on and so forth.  Well, I agree to this rule to an extent.  I don't necessarily believe we should only have ONE guest, but having been to a few birthday parties for one year olds, the parties tend to be more for the adults than for the kid who has just about no idea of what's going on.  Frankly, the birthday girl or boy seems a little overwhelmed with the number of guests & activities, so that's why we have decided to keep it simple.  No guest list, no invitations, no messy clean-up.  Just fun in the sun for whoever wants to stop by and say hello! 

We're planning for a picnic in the park complete with finger foods, lemonades, and other yummies made from fresh and local ingredients.  If there's one thing I remember from a party it's definitely the food, and I want this to be special - even if small.  It's also important to me to support Savannah and shop locally (as much as possible) for our goods, so I am going that route for everything that needs buying.  We'll hand-pick our strawberries for the cake & flowers for the table, and I have been scouring local thrift stores for old linens to use as tablecloths.  I want a vintage feel under the Spanish Moss in Forsyth Park.  What a gorgeous setting, and it's one of our many favorite outdoor spots here in Savannah.  Swing sets, sunny days, live music, and fellowship with close friends and family.  Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate Naomi's birthday and my birthing day!! Excitement ensues. :)

I have found a few inspirational pics online.  I want it to be picture-worthy and memorable...well, at least for Mama & Deddy! ;)

the banner around the Oak tree is a must!

I love the colors on this old vintage tablecloth

Daisies & mason jars. Perfect combination! :)

LOVE this!! Used for a wedding, but I adore all the elements that go in to a thoughtful outdoor party!

Gorgeous.

Now there's an idea - chalkboard for birthday messages. Note the over-sized lacy tablecloth too!

Doesn't this look just like a picnic in the lowcountry?

To be such a simple party, I sure am putting a lot of thought into this! Heehee. What can I say? May 11 is a special, special day!!

on a more positive note...

we had THE BEST weekend!  "Declutterfying" is my job for the week ahead, so I will spend the week trying to organize this mess.  Below are a few pictures from this past weekend - Sand Gnats opening game Friday night, followed by Saturday in the park and beach day Sunday.  We tend to stay outside and soak up the sun every chance we get. Lovin' this summertime weather!

first Sand Gnats game of the season!

I'm sorry if this is your husband, but I had to get a shot of super dad!

Super Dad: one who carries diaper bag, toy baseball bat, and stuffed bunny tucked into britches all while conversing via telephone while little ones jump in bouncy house while at ball game. Also note sippy cup in left pocket. Super Dad, indeed!

our spider monkey taking off on Saturday afternoon

seriously. best crawler ever! she'll be walking within the month!

ok, take a look at the back of this outfit. Little girls are so much fun!

Deddy captured this moment perfectly - Naomi is loving her baby...cue the "aww" from Mama!

leaving baby in the dust!

"Im gonna get you!"

:)

Beach day on Sunday afternoon

she loves her new tent!

playing peek-a-boo with Deddy

"Peek-a-boo, I see you!"

All smiles all the time! Well, most of the time! :)

cheesin'!

time to "declutterfy"

oh my. oh. my. OH MY.  I am too organized a person for our house to be this messy aka "clutterfied."  It's so bad that I had to come up with a word to describe it, and it describes it well!  As you all know by now, I have started selling old clothes and household goods on eBay and am doing pretty good at it - at least one item sold per week, but this new "business" is quickly adding to the clutter! I am slowly but surely collecting older goods from anywhere and everywhere I can get my hands on things: Goodwill and other thrift stores, friends, family, and even dumpsters.  How does the age-old saying go again? "One man's trash is another man's treasure?"  Well it certainly is for us - except the treasure is money in our pockets!  All well and good (how could it not be), but "stuff" is taking over this house!

They don't call it spring cleaning for nothin', and I am getting ready to get rid of it all.  Baby toys, clothing of all sizes, books, blankets, pillows, decorations, knickknacks of all shapes and sizes - they all seem to find permanent homes at our house (like the coffee table or computer room).  Spring cleaning has officially hit the Lee household. FUN FUN.  Now I know why my mama always said she needed eight arms to get everything done! I need eight arms and two more dedicated, hard-working people to accomplish this monstrous task! ;)

seriously, martha? an ENTIRE box of snacks? FIVE pacies? THREE books? TWO bugsprays? TWO hand sanitizers? ok, yeah. two hand sanitizers. you can never have too much of that stuff!! ridiculous. the best part: there's not a single diaper in my diaper bag!!

Take a look at all of the "necessities" carried around in my diaper bag. No wonder my back's been hurtin!  I'm pretty embarrassed to even be telling this on myself, so I will skip the condition of the guest room and garage (don't even mention the backyard). Seriously yall, I am about to PURGE EVERYTHING!! Get. me. outta. here!!

These are a few of my favorite things...

As a new parent, there are a few goodies that I've discovered along the way that are just too good to keep secret.  Most are baby items, but the first is for kids of all ages!

 1.  Bamboo sheets & comforters - now this is one for everybody!  How come I had never heard of these until now?  Seriously, bamboo sheets are the softest, silkiest sheets that I have ever felt or grown to love, and bamboo is light as a feather making them exceptional for summertime comforters too.  Bamboo also has a way of helping regulate body temperature, so you never feel too hot or too cold underneath the sheets. Definitely the best sleep I've had in a while, and if you're patient and lucky, discount stores like Tuesday Morning will offer them at affordable prices.

Just lovely!

2.  For teething - A.  Amazon: Munchkin Feeder- a fresh food feeder that I was skeptical of at first (made a mess and was hard to clean), but as Naomi began to teethe, I realized that these are amazing!  I load them with ice and frozen strawberries/bananas for a tasty teething treat that she loves!
 B.  The teething necklace is BPA and phthalate-free and is made of silicone.  It's a favorite because from far away it looks like a pretty stone, and I'm able to "fix it and forget it."  Once it's on, I don't have to worry about remembering a teething toy while on the go.

3.  Peltor Junior Ear Muffs - with summer festivals and fireworks quickly approaching, we need protection for those little ears and these ear muffs are all the rave online!  From celebrities like Gwen Stefani and Gwenyth Paltrow to the not-so celebrities like myself, these are a necessity if you are to be taking little kids to loud events.

                                                                                   country music star Luke Bryan's son sporting the Peltor Jrs

4. Kind Suds Oatmeal Soap - I discovered this yummy soap while on Jam Cruise back in January, and I am already trying to conserve the last of what's left!  It is an all-natural vegan soap with itty-bitty bits of oatmeal great for a tough scrub but gentle enough for babies. What's not to love?!


5. Beach Tent - I don't know why it has taken us this long to order one of these (it would've been GREAT for last year), but better late than never!  For long days at the beach or park, this will be a perfect place for Naomi to have for herself. Great for when she needs to take a break and get out of the sun to lie down for a bit.

this baby is an imposter! Need pics of sweet Omi instead!

6. California Baby Sun Stick - Sticking with the beach theme, this is great for little faces!  Lotion is tough to rub in around little eyes and faces that won't stay still, so this stick comes in handy!  It's large enough that it should last all summer, and it is all-natural too. I was fortunate enough to find this locally for a little less than what it's available for online, but it is a great product to have in the diaper bag!

7. Mrs. Meyers Geranium All-Purpose Cleaner - A little goes a long way (only need 2Tbs + water to fill in spray bottle), non-toxic, and the smell is simply delightful.  I look for excuses to spray the counters! Ok, well not really, but at least this stuff makes it a little more enjoyable!

8. Badger All-Natural Bug Repellent - organic, DEET-free, and safe for teeny bodies!  It's made from citronella, wintergreen, and rosemary and smells so good! It works well, and most importantly keeps the pesky sand gnats away which is a true necessity here in the lowcountry!

less than $10, and lasts for a while!

Well, that's it for now, but you know I will be back with more when time allows.  I felt the need to share with you items that make day-to-day living easier, more fun, and just a little bit sweeter! What products are must-haves at your house??  Do tell! :) Until next time, I hope you all have a lovely day!

Let the whining..ahem..weaning begin! :)

So, it's official. Little Omivore isn't so little anymore. :( Mama is VERY sad about this, but at the same time, I am also ecstatic about watching our wee one master milestones as she grows.  She is not quite walking yet, but she stands on her own two feet and balances without any assistance.  She can point out your eyes, mouth, and sometimes nose, and she leans in to give kisses regularly!  Right now, we are hoping to learn "How big are you?" by her first birthday - it is taking a while to learn that one though! :)

With all of this new learning going on at such a rapid pace, we want to encourage her independence as much as possible, and sadly, this involves giving up the boob!  How can she continue to gain her independence if she needs constant contact with mom?? I can just see it now...Naomi running over to me WHINING during story time with her friends demanding a suckle. heehee.  I've actually seen this happen at Oatland Island except with a child pushing three, and boy let me tell you, it's not a pretty sight! :) We've got to get this under control - she is quickly approaching toddlerhood. She's not a baby anymore!! "Wahhhh," cries Mama! ;)

Yummy yummy DAIRY!!

So last night, we let her cry her way through her wake-ups (she woke twice), and although this is probably the hardest part of the process for all three of us, we know that she will soon be sleeping through the night again if we stand our ground!  She had me up five different times one night last week - that ain't gone happen again! lol. When she realizes that Mama isn't coming in with the nightly pacifier, she will quickly learn to pacify herself or at least we hope so! I will keep you all posted on that one.

Cow's milk daze! haha

I'm glad that I have been able to breastfeed for this long and am truly proud of the both of us!  She's a great eater and has been drinking whole milk for about a month now, so it is time.  I know, I know.  Cow's milk is known to give allergies and is low-iron (which can cause iron-deficiency anemia before age one), but Naomi gets plenty of iron-rich foods to supplement that need. Have you seen this girl eat kale?! Kale AND broccoli by the handfuls - I'm not worried about it!  If she had an allergy, I would've already known about it.  She's ready!

a little more expensive, but worth all the fuss to me! Plus it's still cheaper than formula!

We do provide organic cow's milk, and here's why.  Organic cows are healthy cows.  They are not given any antibiotics or growth hormones, and their fields are free of harmful pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.  Simply (and what worries me), these harmful agents can potentially cause life-threatening problems, and I want the best for my kids straight out the door!