Peach And Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad

I found this yummy recipe in Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet Cookbook 2.
It is delicious and you want to eat it all!! This recipe is best during the summer months when the peaches and heirloom tomatoes are in season and at their peak. Have the fun for me was going out the garden and picking the fresh basil and tomatoes!

Ingredients
1 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar 2 large ripe peaches,pits
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice removed and sliced
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) 2 fresh mozzarella balls,ovolini-
1/8 tsp sea salt shaped(egg shaped),sliced
Pinch freshly ground black pepper Small handful fresh basil
2 large ripe heirloom tomatoes,sliced leaves, thinly sliced

Method

1. In small bowl, whisk together vinegar,lemon juice,EVOO,salt and pepper.
Set aside. To assemble salad, layer sliced tomatoes,peaches and mozzarella,
fanning out across a serving platter. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with
basil leaves thinly sliced. I left my basil whole as I love the taste of it.

Enjoy!!

2 More Days Until We Start This.....

There is this wonderful Blog that I follow called Bushel And A Peck. Christie is an amazing Momma of 2 beautiful children. She has created this family as we did by choosing to adopt. She did a challenge last yr. that I followed on and off of not spending for 30 days except for the essentials. So, she is doing it again and has challenged those that want to do it to bite the bullet and do it.

We have accepted the challenge and will be joining in on this journey. I still have a few things to do to prepare for the journey like buying hubby's BD present, BD cards, cake mix etc. Finishing off buying Princesses school supplies and Emperor's lunch bag. I think then I will be set.... I hope.



I have to admit 30 days without Starbucks is going to be hard for me.... Especially when the Pumpkin Spice Latte will be coming out around the corner.

Off to work I go to get my pantry in order and pick up anything we might need before the challenge starts. In many ways it will help me to be more prepared and to be creative with cooking. Which by the way is one of my favorite things to do! Maybe I will even start to make things more with all of the craft supplies I have lying around the house .....


Join in or follow along. We can always use the support to change old habits!




" Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."
Maria Robinson

What Cupcake Are You?

You Are an Amaretto Chocolate Cherry Cupcake

You have a deep desire to leave your mark on the world. You want to change things for the better. You are an object of fascination for many. You shine brightly and boldly. You are youthful in spirit and appearance. You refuse to grow up! To be honest, danger excites you a little. You believe that anything that is worth doing has some risk.

What Exotic Cupcake Are You?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

Oh I love it! They know me to well...... and the cup cake sounds Divine!

Sunday Snapshots {He Sleeps...}

In a big boy bed now!!!


First night in his bed!

So, our little Emperor turned 3 in May. Since we have been home (March 2010) he has been sleeping in a crib. Sometimes it was easy getting him to bed and other times it was difficult. He always wanted to fall asleep in our bed. For awhile this was fine with me.... it was a great way to bound with him. We would sing, tell stories and just snuggle together. He would fall asleep and we would transfer him into the crib. On occasion he would wake up,but not that often.

Then as the months went by he would not fall asleep very fast. I would end up spending hours with him. There came a point in our relationship that I needed to change this. So, I tried just doing the night time routine with him in the crib. Not so comfortable for me leaning over the crib. We tried doing the routine in our bed and then having him walk to his room and putting him in the crib.Some times this was fine and other times it was not. On those occasions he would just wail until I came back in to comfort him. This would take about 10 mins. and then he was out.

In the morning when he would wake up he would start moving around alittle then to standing up and shouting for us anywhere from 5:30-7:30 when we would get up. So, one day I had a talk with him about the crib. It went like this.....

Me JJ do you like your crib?
LE No Mommy.
Me Why JJ?
LE Cause it's for babies.
Me Oh....
LE I wann sleep in the big bed (we have a twin bed in his room). I'm a big boy now.
Me Okay honey we will try it tonight.


He has to have his blanket and his Panda Bear named Simon with him every night. Our agency gave him the bear when he got home. I had the blanket made for him from here Southern Sassy Pants


I just love these monkeys for my little Monkey!!




WELL....that was 3 weeks ago and he has been totally fine with it. He sleeps through the night, when he wakes up in the morning he crawls out of bed and plays with his toys. He is now able to turn on the computer and starts playing STARFALL( this is an awesome Educational site). He loves his new found freedom! We do too! On occasion though he will be in different clothes with a clean diaper on when I go to wake him up. Oh what fun!!!

Anyone have idea's how to help him want to use the potty consistently? He knows how to use. He just prefers not to unless I take him and offer him MM's. Help!! He starts preschool in 1.5 weeks and it would be wonderful if we had this under our belt!

Wordless Wednesday...

I love this boy!!

The Red Boots

Look what I found in one of our bins? Princesses cute little Lands End boots from when she was 3. I bought them for her before we moved up here to the Seattle area.
Little Emperor loves them and they are so stink'in cute on him.










It makes me happy to recycle items from one child to the next. I gave up on trying to sell all of her items and just donated everything. For one week everyday I was running to the Goodwill with a trunk full of things. I found for me it was so cleansing and freeing to see the items go and knowing they would be loved by people that really need them.

My goal is to get my car into our 2 car garage. Hubby's fits it is just my car needs to also. I dislike going out in the morning and scrapping off the ice and snow when we get it here. I am in a clean out and organize mode. It feels great!!

When the summer weather is gloomy this is what you do PURGE!!!


Okay I need to cut down the size of my pictures. They are getting cut off. I think I might have to have a revamping of my blog to fix this. I love the bigger pictures!

Sunday Snapshot First Haircut!

My precious boy love was so in need of a trim.... With his SN though I am just not sure what to do for a hair cut. This was his first haircut last September. I actually have only taken him in 2 times. I tend to like the longer look.
It shows off his beautiful eyes and cute nose.


Love those precious little lips... just makes me want to smother him in kisses and hear that adorable little giggle he has!!



There were no tears and no fears on his part. He just climbed right in to the jet and became the greatest Blue Angels pilot!!



He had a blast flying that jet! On occasion he had to be reminded to sit still and keep his seat belt fastened..... LOL!!



It was an okay cut (I am not into the bowl cut). I had to fix it a bit as his hair grows differently on his right side. It needed to be feathered and shaped a little. So, we decided it was about the experience rather than the perfect cut the first time. Go ahead and join in at Ni Hao Y'all
.

A Loss.....

My last post was the start of our 2 weeks of vacation.On a sad note I had to cut my part of the trip short. My sweet Molly Muggins caught pneumonia while being kenneled. I came back early to be with her and say my good byes. It is always not easy to say good bye to a beloved pet that is your daughter before you have your own children..... At least now she is at peace and is enjoying running and chasing in heaven with our funny boy Dakota and our wonderful cat Tigger. Since we have moved to Seattle area we have now lost all 3 Amigos!






Awe Miss Molly you were such a precious girl always so faithful and loyal. You were a Mama's girl and would stay up for me, wait by the door, bark from the backyard when my car would pull in to the drive way. You loved to run and jump, play with your squeaky toys and tennis ball, and tug a rope. You will truly be missed with all of your sweet and gentle ways. Those soulful eye's will be for etched in my mind. Miss you already.....

Mom

Princess is now 12!

I know I have been gone for awhile. I would imagine that you all have forgotten about us and wondered what has happen to us. We are still here and trying to have summer here in the PNW. The later has been difficult as we have had a very rainy,gray summer most of the time..... Oh how I long for the sun! Enough of that.... we are still enjoying our selves as a family of 4!

We took an early summer vacation to Newport Beach to celebrate princesses 12th birthday, father's day and just enjoy being with family. Of course the weather in So. CA during the month of June is known as June gloom! Yes, that is what we experienced! It could not burst our sunny bubbles though as we had so much to celebrate and do!

We had a great trip and got to see most of our family! I will share more pictures tomorrow.