swing

How do you like to go up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue? 

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing 

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

River and trees and cattle and all,

Over the countryside.

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown--

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

Robert Louis Stevenson

Agreeable hour

There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.  

-Henry James

Afternoon tea was carefully made with ice water to turn the little color-changing cups dark purple from their normal light pink hue.  The oilcloth mat was carefully set with paper napkins and the little spoons that accompanied the set.

They sat cross-legged {which is custom at an afternoon tea in the middle of the kitchen floor} as we passed the tea around.  We sipped our tea like proper ladies until the little one insisted on pouring.

After ice-water was dumped a few too many times, they danced like natives.  They giggled and stomped  and  sat and poured more.

   Dress-up heels were kicked off and tea cups were purposely tumped over.  Water puddles glistened in the kitchen light like little puddles in the street do after a heavy downpour.  

They scurried away after their clothes were soaked and decided an afternoon in a play tent might just be the perfect end to an afternoon tea.

It was indeed a most-agreeable hour.

Donas on Sunday

On a little island in Mexico you can buy the most wonderful "donas" or donuts.  In the local grocery stores, they are made fresh in the morning and are rolled in sugar.  They are incredible and very different from our donuts here.  They are more cake-like and less sweet.  Without the super sweet glazes and toppings they are a wonderful treat on a special morning.

We finally found a recipe that tastes very close to the donas in Mexico.  What better treat than warm donuts early on a Sunday morning.  This recipe requires frying the batter to cook the dough but I just ran across another recipe for donuts that are baked.  I am eager to try that sometime soon too.  I am sure it is loads healthier than frying. I am not too fond of the house smelling like a grease pit all day...but the wonderful taste and memories seems worth it.  

Homemade Donuts {no-yeast}

1 c. milk
1 c. sugar
2 1/2 tbsp. butter
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 eggs, beaten
4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
confectioners sugar
3 1/2 c. sifted flour
Oil for deep frying

In a bowl combine sugar and butter. Add eggs and blend. Add milk. In another bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add liquid mixture to flour mixture gradually, beating vigorously. Knead lightly on a floured work surface. Add a small amount of flour, if needed to keep dough from sticking.Roll out to 1/4 inch thick rectangle. Use a doughnut cutter to cut dough. Fry in deep hot oil, maintaining a 370°F temperature.
When doughnuts rise to top turn only once. Drain doughnuts on absorbent paper. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

the inseparable bond

My girl loves her boy.  You may remember that they are eating buddies from this post.  Lately, {along with mothering just about anything that could be mothered} my girl has shown great interest in taking care of her pointed-eared boy.  Along with feeding him, playing with him and making beds for him to lay on, she insists on walking him.  This doesn't happen too much these days because of the heat, but when it does, she is in heaven.  She walks down the street giggling as she follow along after her boys.  

style all her own

Glamorous shoes with sparkles and heels {that are always twice your size},

little fingers immersed in paint,

red bows with pink

rain boots on the hottest summer day,

 

big sister's headbands and sunglasses,

all contribute to your most-impeccable style.  Don't ever change your ways.

You style infuses our home with incredible happiness.  

Monthly Organization: sweet memories project UPDATE!

If you remember this post about the Memory Keepers from this fun place, you'll be delighted to know that they are offering $40 off your order with no minimum.  Can you believe that?  

Just use the code: BEGINANYWHERE at checkout and they will deduct $40 off your order.

At $38 bucks a pop, with $40 off, you can have great fun 

making some Memory Keepers of your own!

Enjoy!

Paper Coterie

simple summer: yogurt granola parfait

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They say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

I am not a huge fan of the meal myself but I do understand the importance of the meal to little growing bodies.  

This is a simple and healthy breakfast that can be prepared in a snap.  

My kids like it because it looks like desert instead of breakfast.

Yogurt and Granola Parfait

1/4 cup granola (here is a recipe for making your own)

1/2 cup plain yogurt (I like Greek yogurt)

1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup

Place the granola in the bottom of a clear glass or dish.  

Add yogurt on top.  Drizzle with maple syrup.

recipe courtesy of Real Simple

summer's end

The days of long evenings and plenty of daylight are {mentally} diminishing all too quick.  Summer night swinging will soon give way to cooler Fall evenings filled sweet smells of pinon wood on the fire.  Apples will flood the produce section of the grocery store and I will dream of being somewhere to pick them from the trees.  Cool mornings will require a jacket while hot afternoons will remind us of summer not so long ago.  School schedules will consume our days and dictate our bedtimes.  The pools will close and the parks will become crowded as the temperatures become tolerable enough to play outside in the afternoons.  A new coolness in the air will give new energy to all the tired souls.

Even in the hottest parts, something changes in the air after Labor Day.  It may not be drastic but usually it is enough to trigger a mental change, a change that gives hope to the changing season ahead.

We are desperately awaiting Fall's arrival.

recycle bin art

When they wanted to fingerpaint and all I had was regular printer paper, I decided to dig around to find something a bit more substantial so that the paper wouldn't rip and tear when enormous amounts of paint smeared around the paper make it soggy beyond belief.  We hunted for construction paper or watercolor paper but couldn't find any.  Finally, we dug in the recycle bin and tore open some cardboard cereal  and granola bar boxes to paint on.  

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The cardboard was perfect and a great way to re-purpose some old boxes.  The kids enjoyed picking which box they wanted to decorate.  Next time we will definitely be reaching for the recycle bin for art projects rather than buying special paper.

journey by foot

When you travel somewhere by foot, often times there is this great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that comes with getting somewhere without the car. While this doesn't happen too often around here because of the little ones in tow, I was delighted when my big girl suggested we go to the donut shop on foot.

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What could be better than a walk to the local donut shop on a hot and balmy summer morning?  Thankfully, we began our journey semi early so the heat wasn't too exhausting.

The Big Wheel rider happily led the way with donuts on her mind.  

{This is a great incentive for those little riders that tire after a few blocks.}

We pretended we were Dora and the explorers as we listed all the spots on the map we needed to pass before getting to the donut shop.  This little trick helped motivate the little rider too.

Finally, after crossing the street, passing the high-powered spray of the neighborhood sprinklers, going up the hill, past the fire house and down the little path, we made it!  I had my sincere doubts but was elated that we made it to our goal on foot!

We ordered and sat inside on the tall chrome bar-stools with red cushions {these are a big deal for little ones who merely reach half-way up the stool when standing on the floor}. 

A couple donuts were bought and cut into bite-sized portions. 

Hungry little tummies devoured the donuts all too quick as Momma yearned for a bit more air-conditioned comfort before returning home.

Our way home wasn't as seamless as our journey there.  By the time I had gathered up the water bottles and threw the trash away, this little guy was safely buckled in the stroller.

This meant one thing...the little one wanted to push the stroller home.

And so she did...

She walked most of the way which seemed to fray on the nerves of the Big Wheel rider.  Waiting for the little one pushing the stroller here and there is no fun when all you want to do is ride downhill all the way home.  

Finally, I talked her into riding with her beloved giraffe for the last part of our trip.

As we got closer to home, we met up with the garbage truck.  Seeing the big green truck pull up the street was most definitely the highlight of our trip.

Who doesn't love watching the big truck with it's robotic arm lift and dump the large bins?

simple summer: strawberry popsicles

Williams Sonoma

A hot afternoon with a popsicle is the epitome of summer around here.

When I happened upon these super fun popsicle molds on clearance at a store recently, I knew they would be a big end-of-summer hit.  I got a box of them and tried them out the other day.  I think you could probably freeze anything in that cute strawberry shape and just about any kid would eat it.   We have used crushed strawberries with a bit of water and juice and juice to make our popsicles.  Maybe I will try spinach tomorrow--hee, hee.

Here is the recipe we used:
2 cups fresh crushed strawberries OR any other kind of berry you want
3/4 cup water
3 Tbs sugar
recipe courtesy of the Williams Sonoma popsicle box

These molds are awesome because the popsicle just comes right out of the silicone.  No standing in front of the sink holding the molds under hot water to release the frozen popiscle from the frozen plastic.  I have done that many a time and find it quite frustrating with a child pulling at the bottom of your shorts begging for their little treat.

I wanted to share this revelation in popsicle molds with my fellow mommas, just in case your kids are as crazy about popsicles as mine are.

Enjoy!

simple summer: the basil

Somehow, through the worse heat and lack of any substantial rain, our basil plant has thrived.  At the beginning of summer, we planted a pizza garden in a large pot.  It had red pepper, basil and cherry tomatoes. The only plant that grew was the basil.

While we had hoped for a bountiful crop like this:

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we actually got something more like this:

When a plant thrives at my house, I often take note and plant the same thing, in the same pot, in the same place next year.  It must be the right place, in the right light and the right container.  I seem to have finally found this spot for the basil.  I have never had any luck with any type of herb...ever.

With this "basil luck," we have begun to use basil on everything.  I love basil and having it on my back patio is such a treat.  It is a little oasis amongst the dry, scorched land that surrounds us.

A few nights ago, I made our typical breakfast-for-dinner meal with scrambled eggs.  Instead of just the usual eggs on tortillas with a little salsa, I added some shredded basil.  It was incredibly tasty and another way to use some of the bounty growing outside.  If you are looking for a new way to spice up the old scrambled eggs, this just might suit your fancy.  

sweet friends

These two have known each other since birth.  We walked them in strollers religiously for years after their birth.  They played together on the floor in the living room, outside on the back deck, in the landscaping rocks, in the pool and on the playground.  They have grown apart in distance (different schools) but their hearts still remain close.

Here's to a wonderful year with new friends and old!

simple summer: i heart popcorn

Did you know you can make popcorn in the microwave with a paper bag? 

 All you need are these simple things:

a paper lunch sack

tape

popcorn kernels

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and, of course, the microwave.

If you want, you can also add some seasonings too OR just eat it plain.

For me, it is a great substitution for those crunchy snacks I crave in the middle of the hot day. 

It is a super healthy whole grain snack...and quite tasty too!

Homemade Microwave Popcorn:

 1. Put 1/4 cup popcorn in a brown paper lunch sack.  

Fold the top over a few times and tape it closed

2. Place in the microwave tape side up for about 2-3 minutes or until there is 5 seconds between pops.

3.  Enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of www.snack-girl.com

what's for lunch?

As summer begins to dwindle, I can't help but think about packing lunches each day.  In the beginning, I am revved up to concoct artful and creative packaging to entice a sometimes picky eater.  As the school year progresses, I must admit that this excitement fades and the lunches seem to appear more and more identical.

BUT for now, I will revel in my excitement and attempt some artful creations inside the little lunch sack she carries each day.

Have you ever seen this fun blog?  This mom makes super cute lunch displays in her son's lunch each day.

  They are amazing.  While I won't be making such creative food arrangements in my girl's lunch sack, I do enjoy being inspired to try new foods and mixtures of foods.  

She also has a ton of great healthy recipes too.

I also really enjoy serving a variety of color each day.  Even if she picks at the veggies and devours the fruit [and always the carbs], at least she will be exposed to a healthy mixture.

These are our favorite staples for snack-time during the school year.  They are all healthy and a snap to pack.

These are our lunch sack staples.

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Less always seems to be more when it comes to lunches.  So many times, I pack a ton and she comes home with nothing eaten.  It is almost as if it defeats her to even try to eat it.  This year I am going to focus on mini-portions.  "Mini" definitely seems to go over better in the lunch sack.  Mini portions seem to entice the little hands.

While I love my girl's compact and sturdy lunch sack, I am considering a Bento box to help compartmentalize and separate the foods.  

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I know a friend that uses silicone cupcake liners to separate foods too.

Another friend always cuts her son's sandwich with a fun-shaped cookie cutter.

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What are you packing for lunch this year?  Any ideas/creations to share?