Muffin Tin Monday - Apples

The theme this week for Muffin Tin Monday is apples.  What a great theme, especially leading into Rosh Hashanah at the end of the week.  After a busy morning, I wasn't sure what D would eat, but thought we would give it a try.  

I was getting lunch ready and wanted to a take a picture of the "apple" shaped grilled cheddar and apple sandwich.  (I believe it is really a pumpkin cookie cutter, but hey... D doesn't know).  

Here is the completed muffin tin.  The top row starts with apple sticks, then apple cinnamon rice cakes, and apple chunks.  The bottom row is Applesauce Noodle Kugel and the grilled cheese sandwich.


D enjoyed her Kugel and did a great job eating.  Eventually, she decided that the food would taste better on her tray.

And of course a meal is not complete, if we're not wearing it.

We also read Dr. Seuss's Ten Apples Up on Top! to go with our apple lunch.  D thought the pictures were funny and enjoyed the story during lunch.

Swimming Day 1

Today was our first official swimming lesson.  We are getting lessons from Baby Otter Swim School.  So far I am very impressed by their classes.  They have a program to teach little ones how to get out of the pool if they fall in.  They took D into the pool and showed her how to kick her feet and then gently dunked her under the water.  Though not always happy D did a great job.  The also showed her how to swim to the stairs.  We were told that she did awesome.  She kicked her feet (and even tried using her arms, and maybe a little butterfly) to get over to the stairs.  I was really impressed.  Even though she wasn't thrilled by the whole experience D did everything she was asked to.  And even though her instructor was making her do things she didn't really want to D was comfortable enough to fall asleep on her.  So far so good.  


My only issue is their rule about diapers.  Which I do understand, but as a cloth diaper user, I have invested time and money into getting good quality reusable swim diapers.  Well they want 2 swim diapers and a bathing suit on D as she swims in the pool.  I normally just put a rash guard and swim diaper on D (or a gDiaper without the insert), and have had no problems.  Today she had on an iPlay swim diaper (which does retain water, not sure what I think about that) and then a My Pool Pal Swimster.  Then I bought her some boy swim trunks because her girly bottoms wouldn't fit over the 2 diapers.  I will have to get a pic of D in her swim diapers.

Muffin Tin Monday

I learned about the Muffin Tin Mondays a while ago, and have decided that it is finally time for me to get in the game. I think that using a muffin tin to put together D's meals is great. I am able to make sure that I am giving her a balanced meal, and she has fun checking out all the little nooks and crannies. I have tried this out a few times. Here is what I have done.

This is our meal for this week. There was no theme.

Top Row: Edemame, cheese and mini bowtie pasta

Bottom Row: Plum, there was milk in the empty spot but D pulled it out as soon as I put it down and crackers

D enjoying her Muffin Tin Meal (MTM).

This was my first try at a MTM. I was worried about D taking the whole tray and throwing it on the floor, so we tried individual cups.

Green: Banana Rings Yellow: Baby carrot sticks

Red: Yellow Bell Pepper strips Blue: Cheddar Cheese

I made this one when we got our new "tin" to see if D would dump it all on the floor or not. Thankfully, she didn't, at least not as soon as I gave it to her. I will say that the bottom row did go first.

Top row: Cucumber sticks, shredded cheese, American Chop Suey

Bottom Row: Cherries, pretzels, apple cinnamon rice cakes.

I tried making an MTM to go with Goodnight Moon, which has been D's favorite book recently, no matter what time of day.

Top: Grape Tomatoes -- red balloon, Bunny Cheddar Crackers -- bunny in the story, mozzarella cheese -- cow, apple cinnamon rice cakes -- moon, macaroni and cheese -- bowl full of mush, and brussels sprouts -- rabbit food, and something green for the great, green room.

I am looking forward to doing this regularly for D. Though she's a little young to really get the connections, we're getting there, and Mommy is having a lot of fun!

To learn more about Muffin Tin Mondays.  To see what some other Muffin Tin Moms and Dads did this week.

Yummy, Yummy Waffles

Well, I finally ordered my new waffle iron. This one is to replace the one that fell off the table and broke. I'd been debating which one to buy and finally decided on the Villaware Uno Belgian Wafflemaker (thanks to America's Test Kitchen and Amazon). We decided to put it use this morning and have some waffles. We used the Waffles I recipe from AllRecipes.com, with double the sugar (I used brown, I was out of white), double the vanilla, some cinnamon and some ground flaxseed. The came out great.

They looked great thanks to the new waffle iron, set on 4. And Dylan thought they were yummy. She ate 1/2 a waffle!

Going Away

First, I need to brag about my awesome daughter. I was worried about flying with my 13 month old. I hadn't flown with D since she was 6-7 months old, and was not sure how my mobile daughter would like being confined. She did awesome! Granted Mommy was a little paranoid, and had enough food for a couple days, a Handy Manny DVD, toys (including some new ones), crayons, paper, a magna doodle, my iPhone, and of course me (and my Ergo carrier). She watched about 15 minutes of Manny, had many a snack and took a bit of a nap on me (after some rocking in galley), but she definitely wasn't a bother. Before getting off the plane, the flight attendant complimented her behavior! Yea! My fingers are crossed that she will be that good on the way home.

Waiting in the airport for our flight. (Taken on the JGM's new iPhone.)

D also had a great time with her Munchie Mug, which I bought from The Soft Landing. A great store that sells only BPA free products. D and I love her Munchie Mug. She can walk around with her snack, and I don't have to worry about snacks everywhere. The other thing I like about this snack container, as opposed to some of the others out there, is that the top is fabric. This means that I don't need to worry about any scratches or uncomfortable feelings for D when she puts her hand in, and it is a solid top so there will be no crumbs falling out.

We have spent the past week handing out with Nana, Grandpa and Uncle J. D is loving all the attention she getting, and I am loving getting to spend time with my family. We even went to Massachusetts to visit the family there, and a great time was had by all. I even got to spend some time checking out many a house with solar panels. One can dream, right?

We're having a great time, and know that we will enjoy the next 4 days too!

Introduction

I am a SAHM (stay at home mom), who is interested in doing everything she can to help the environment. Jolly Green Dad (JGD) is not as into being Green as I am, but for the most part he humors my "craziness." This blog is set up to help show people ways to "green" qualities to their lives, and to talk about my daily life. My hope is that this is not preachy, but simply a way of showing people how we can live our lives in a way that helps the environment. The key is to adding what you can to your life style and not going crazy. If you make yourself nuts trying to change your normal habits, it will be that much harder for you and your family. I have tried to add bits and pieces here there for my family. There is still so much I would like to do.

Some of my basics.

I cloth diaper my daughter. We use a selection of cloth diapers, including Bum Genius, Happy Heinys, Fuzzy Bunz and gDiapers. gDiapers are a "hybrid" diaper. I find that they work best for us when we're traveling. As much as I love my cloth diapers, I don't want to

worry about washing them when away on vacation. With gDiapers, I don't have to. I just flush or toss the insert and move on. I feel so much better about using these diapers then using traditional disposables, as I can't stand the thought of a diaper sitting in a landfill for 500 years.

Annie's Organic Buying Club is a great place to get produce if you live in South or Central Florida. I get a box of organic produce every other week and spend much less than I would at the store and the quality is great. I love this club, and am considering changing to weekly boxes instead of biweekly. There are only the three of us here, and JGD has a crazy work schedule, and isn't always home for dinner.

Welcome to my blog and my life.