I have to write this down - Spaghetti and Meatballs

The problem with making things from your head is trying to recreate them later. I made the best Spaghetti sauce I've ever made yesterday and today it was even better.

So for future reference, here is my best guess at what I did.

15 cloves of garlic (4 for meatballs)
2 onions sliced in half, then quartered
1 1/2 red peppers, cut in chunks

roast in oven at 425 til they start to brown

blend in high powered blender with 3 raw carrots and 1/2 cup water

add blended veggies to
2 large cans crushed tomatoes
2 small cans paste
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp oregano
2 tsp basil
1/4 fresh basil, chopped
2 bay leaves

water as needed, (note to self) remember sauce thickens, be wise!!

Simmer about 3-4 hours, til meat is cooked through

Meatballs
1 package ground, white meat Turkey
1 2/3 cups breadcrumbs
1 egg
1/4 cup fresh parsley
reserved garlic
at least 1 cup frozen spinach, thawed and drained
generous 1/3 cup ramano cheese
sprinkle in extra basil and oregano maybe 1 tsp ea

mix together, form into balls and toss in the sauce.

Without bad days,

you can't appreciate the good. Today was a good day. There was relatively no fighting. Everyone was happy, Daisy was whiney, but she's sick again, so she's allowed to be. And everyone ate their dinner. I made spaghetti and meatballs. I think the sauce was so good this time because I roasted the peppers, onions, and garlic first, added chopped carrots, and used fresh basil.

What better way to end a good day than with a bowl of skettis? Maddy's even danced for us!



I still didn't get to vacuum or fold laundry which is piling up in the crib and now I've got dirty laundry starting to get out of hand, but there's always a tomorrow.

I LOVE Saving!!

Up here, I have to drive miles to get the good stuff, so I'm always searching the deal sites to see where I can save.

Are you subscribed to Mamapedia?

follow this link andsign up.

One of today's deals is $40 at ecomom for $20. I found a great lotion for Daisy's eczema from Episencial, which I can only find online so I think I'll get some more and maybe some puff snacks, who knows. Maybe some makeup? Use the code SPRING10 to save another 10% and get the deal for $18. Plus if you sign up and purchase, I earn $10! So do it! haha!!

NYC, Here we came...

Because of an "impending storm" our school district again closed and we had to drive the girls to school. So being halfway there, we drove to Poughkeepsie to do some shopping. Maddy asked, "Going to Hattan?" She remembers our visit last week, which was so fun! It was awesome to get out and see Kristin again!

We'll be back soon! I realized how easy it was and was hitting myself for taking so long to test out the ride down. I only wish I had more time and could spend the entire day down there. Daisy and Maddy were so good!! As the train left, Maddy looked out the window and said, "Bye City. See you next soon." Indeed, we will!

Dinner Strike = Dinner Smoothies

The girls are on strike. I feel like these past few weeks I have once again completely given up on cooking. They won't touch what I've been eating so I quickly boil some pasta, heat up some TJs chicken and fries or frozen pizza, or cheerios. It had to stop. So Sunday I went to an old favorite Avocado Smoothies. The next day, I made it again, but I added 2 TBSP ground flax, 1 Cup Spinach, and 2 dates. They love them!

Tonight we tried a new smoothie, Sweet Potato. I really wanted to add some greens but I already altered the recipe quite a bit so I opted not to. I don't always make the best choices when I mess with a recipe. This time I lucked out...these were goooooooood! EVERYONE, liked them.

Sweet Potato Smoothie

2 medium sweet potatoes, cooked, and cooled
1/2 cup (120 ml) almond milk
1 banana
1 apple, quartered
2 cups frozen strawberries
6 ounce strawberry yogurt
2 Medjool dates or 1 TBSP honey/agave/maple syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 TBSP ground flax

Blend it all up in that order in your Vitamix (my favorite kitchen gadget).

They are back on track to eating better! Now, what smoothie will we have tomorrow???

Kaity's Science project cont...

We decided on seltzer instead of juice. Maybe that wasn't as good a choice because it is merely water. And look at her results so far!



"It's a miracle!" She was shouting and so excited. Too bad the flower we are watering hasn't sprouted yet!!

I have to do some research and find out if it's true...look what I found online:

"Carbonation:
Help your plant thrive by giving it carbonated water. Carbonation is really carbon dioxide, which is what plants take out of the air that they breathe. If they can take it out of the water as well, they tend to grow faster. Carbonated Seltzer Water, a website developed to discuss the importance of carbonation in water, says that carbonation has been shown to make plants grow taller and stronger due to the CO2 and the other nutrients found in the seltzer water."

There IS something worse than getting no sleep

I've lost count of how many times I've been thrown up on tonight. Who knows when I'll get to take a shower.

I finally gave up lying in bed because I already changed my sheets twice. Ugh, [whining now] all the laundry that is wating for me...I don't want to face the day. Not only are the baby and I on our third outfits for the night, don't forget the two sheet sets, but I also wasn't paying attention to time and gave Maddy a full cup of water before bed and she wet it twice!!!! So she is on her 3rd set of sheets, 3rd set of jammies, and I've got to wash ALL her blankies, AND, I've got the whole week's worth of stuff. [ /end whining]

Thinking about it is exhausting me and to do it on no sleep is impossible. At least Maddy didn't wake me, no, wait, she did. Thankfully, becoming a mother also involes become superwoman...I know I'll get it done. Might not be folded, but it'll be clean!! I just hope I can find some time to take a shower.

I also hope the day is easier for poor Daisy Doodle. She is vomiting up everything. There's no fever, but she isn't feeling well.

Science Fair

I need help! I've never had to do a science project. Not just any project, she needs to test the scientific method...IN FIRST GRADE!! Seriously? They haven't even learned that yet. So, no solar systems, volcanoes, or what not.

After hours of searching the internet, I found something that she wanted to do. The Question: Do snails move faster on soil or concrete? So I called the 2 pet stores near us...near being 60+ minutes away, without traffic, though there isn't ever traffic, just horse trailers or tractors carrying bushels of hay. You don't want to get stuck behind one of those. Anyway who knew that terrestrial snails are not available at the pet store this time of year??? Only aquatic. Having no knowledge of snails, other than don't put salt on them, I had to ask, "I probably wouldn't be able to use those, would I?"

Back to square one. I want to think of something that she can do on her own where I merely supervise and help out with her presentation AND it must be fun so that she's excited to do it. I think I finally came up with something. The Question: Can a plant survive with juice instead of water? (I know it's not so eloquent, I need to reword it)

We are going to plant a seed in a cup to see if we can get it to sprout and also buy a small potted plant.

Here is where I need YOUR help. Do we need to have a constant? Is that the correct word? Do we need to also try to grow a plant with water? Should we purchase 2 potted plants and water one? I just don't know! I wish there was a site like starfall for ALL subjects!! Is there one and I not know about it?

Happy 8 Months!

Lots of things to be HAPPY about!

Tickles



Mangoes



Baths



Snacks



Sisters



AND

Moving!!!!



However, going backwards and getting lost under the crib is nothing to be happy about!

My Little Artist

Maddy loves to draw spiders.



Pretty good for a 2 year old, eh?