The "I just had a baby" Summer Bucket List

The following is a guest post written by Lindsay, who blogs over at The Naughty Mommy. We are participating in A Grande Life’s Summer Blog Swap! Check out Lindsay's blog to see my guest post, "50 Summer Fun Activities."

 

 Last week I gave birth to my second child. I also have a two-year-old. Let’s just say that I expect this summer to be about SURVIVING. Hence, my summer bucket list is not going to have cool things like “go deep-sea diving off the coast of Florida” or “go see one of my favorite bands play in concert.” No, my summer bucket list is going to have “mom things” on it. I present to you my list of challenging feats that I will attempt to accomplish during the months of June, July, and August. I call it… The “I Just Had A Baby” Summer Bucket List:

1. Get dressed in something other than nursing shirts and sweatpants.
2. Take both kids to the store (any store), by myself.
3. Enjoy a summer cocktail…well, several summer cocktails.
4. Go for a run alone. Without a dog, without any kids, and without the jogging stroller.
5. Wear a bikini again. In public.
6. Tell my husband I’m sick and then marathon the 25 episodes of old-school Real Housewives of Orange County that have accumulated on my TiVo.
7. Figure out how to set up the darn sprinkler in the backyard.
8. Learn how to blow better bubbles so my two-year-old doesn’t always say “Oh no, bubbles broken!” when I try to do it.
9.  Eat a meal that doesn't consist of my toddler's leftovers or a granola bar.
10. Get a full night of sleep. (Just once, pretty please??)
11. Start pumping so that I can go out sans baby for more than twenty minutes at a time.
12. Eat dinner out at a restaurant with my husband.
13. Make it to the beach somehow!
14. Get my daughter to kick her Caillou habit...it's starting to look like a full-fledged addiction.
15. Figure out the trick to a baby boy NOT peeing on you every time his diaper is changed.

Be sure to follow Lindsay on Pinterest and Facebook as well!

cool it! 101 popsicle recipes...

I have been mia again for a few days.  I was in DC...as a chaperone.    I was imagining awful AWFUL things with 42 8th graders, and I was really anxious about leaving Jack for 2 days, but you know what??  It was sooo much better than I imagined.  The kids were amazing, and Jack survived without me for 3 days.  Having never been to DC, I was amazed with it all.  It is a place I definitely want to go back to one day as a family.  I will have picture later this week, but in the meantime I wanted to share these delicious treats now that things are starting to heat up outside. ( I can't believe it's almost June!).  

Embracing homemaking has 101 homemade popsicle ideas and they are all sure to be a hit this Summer.

Orange Julius is one I just have to try....go check it out and get ready for Summer!

Gone fishing....

My husband loves to fish.  He waits all winter for that first nice day where he can get out on his own and get some fishing done.  Well now he has a new fishing buddy....Jack.  Jack is getting just as into it as my husband.  So last night they grabbed their poles, loaded the wagon and headed down to the nearby pond.  

Jack got his first fish of the season.  

Hopefully it's his first of many this season.....Have a great Wednesday.

Blueberry Love...

We went blueberry picking over the weekend and I have 15 pounds of blueberries to go through.  We freeze some for the winter to make muffins or pancakes, but I wanted to make some recipes now using these fresh blueberries.  I found a few of my favorites and wanted to share them with you...enjoy, and have a great weekend!

I am making these right now....

Sweet Pea Kitchen's Brown Sugar Blueberry Cookies

Blueberry Boy Bait courtesty of Smitten Kitchen!

Baked Banana Blueberry Oatmeal from the Curvy Carrot

Two Pea's Lemon Blueberry Bars

My Blueberry Crumble Bars!

And we must end with a cocktail...

Cucumber Gin and Tonic with Blueberries

A natural.....

I hope you all had a nice, relaxing weekend.  We had a BUSY weekend.  Fests, pools, friends and lots of sun.  I don't know if I mentioned this, but my husband and I love to kayak.  We bought kayaks of our own a few years ago.  Last year we didn't go out much because Jack couldn't come and we didn't want to leave him too much.  Well this year we decided to try taking him with us.  We figured he would last about 10 minutes and then cry he wanted to go home.  

Not the case at all:

I think we have a little kayaker on our hands.  He LOVED sitting with us and fished with his dad.  He loves paddling and looking in the water for "Nemo".  He lasted over 2 hours, hopefully this will be something he loves doing for years to come!

Have a great Monday, and don't forget to enter the Pillsbury Baguette Chips giveaway that ends tonight!!!

First week ...

So my first week of Summer has flown by.  So much that forgot to post all week.  We have been super busy here with the great (now getting super hot) weather here.  I love being home with Jack, and I think he loves it too.  In fact, yesterday he said to me "I want you to stay home Mommy, and Daddy to go to work". 

I thought I would post some pics from our week.  Jack had his first Cubs game this week, and had a blast...even though he didn't really watch the game.  But he has not learned all the words to "take me out to the ballgame".  Two things we learned this week....he's terrified of the pool this year, and trying to leave him at the gym childcare for the first time was a HUGE fail. 

I am hoping to get over both of those fears this summer.  In the meantime check back here for a couple great giveaways.  I will also promise to post way more.  Have a great Friday.

Goodbye Summer...what I'll miss..

Just some of the 1,293,381 things I will miss about Summer and Summer break.


1.  Walks around the block.

2.  Morning Starbucks trips.

3.  Pool Days.




4.  Sleeping in (a bit more than during the school year).


5.  Afternoon Popsicles.

6.  Warm Summer Nights

7.  Playing with firetrucks ALL DAY

8.  Doing nothing at all.


What will you miss about Summer?  What are you looking forward with Fall?

2 weeks

August 1.  I can't believe it's here already.  This summer has flown by.  Actually it feels like I just finished work yesterday for the Summer.  And now here I am with 2 weeks left until I start my new job and have to leave Jack everyday. 

My heart is beginning to hurt.  Last Summer it hurt too, but this Summer it hurts twice as bad.  I can't even explain how much has changed in a year.  I can have conversations with him now.  He tells me what he wants, and what he wants to do.  He LOVES the park and swimming and the sprinkler parks.  He loves playing with his firetrucks, going to fests, and taking Lenny for walks.  And he even loves time-outs...(something I have to change). He loves running and even says .."on your mark, get set, gooooooooooooo!"

I am hoping to enjoy every single second we have left....because next Summer I am sure I will be saying the same thing and he will be doing so many more things that amaze me. 

 

Blueberry Boy Bait

I mentioned earlier that we went blueberry picking over the weekend.  It rained while we were there, but we still managed to get 15 pounds of blueberries....and I probably ate about 10 lbs while we were there. Now comes my favorite part.  Using them.  Of course my favorite food blog Smitten Kitchen had this amazing recipe for Blueberry Boy Bait.  The name sold me.  I instantly whipped this little cake together and ended up with something so delicious and buttery that I could have eaten the whole cake tonight.  Instead I am restraining myself and sharing this must make recipe with you.

You are probably asking...."What kind of name is Blueberry Boy Bait?"  Well I'll tell you.  In 1954 a 15 year old girl won second place in the junior division of a local bake off with a variation of this recipe.   She named it, after the effect it had on boys.  Brilliant.  Try it, and I think you'll agree.     

p.s. after 1000 attempts at taking photos of the finished product, I borrowed Smitten Kitchen's.  Her pictures are always amazing. 

Blueberry Boy Bait 
from Smitten Kitchen

2 cups plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon table salt
16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (if frozen, do not defrost first as it tends to muddle in the batter)

Topping
1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (do not defrost)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon


For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 13 by 9-inch baking pan.
Whisk two cups flour, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl. With electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium-high speed until fluffy, about two minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated and scraping down bowl. Reduce speed to medium and beat in one-third of flour mixture until incorporated; beat in half of milk. Beat in half of remaining flour mixture, then remaining milk, and finally remaining flour mixture. Toss blueberries with remaining one teaspoon flour. Using rubber spatula, gently fold in blueberries. Spread batter into prepared pan.

For the topping:
Scatter blueberries over top of batter. Stir sugar and cinnamon together in small bowl and sprinkle over batter. Bake until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan 20 minutes, then turn out and place on serving platter (topping side up). Serve warm or at room temperature. (Cake can be stored in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.)

Key Lime Pie

This post does not need a fancy title, or fancy pictures or fancy anything really.  In fact my pictures don't look nearly as good as this dessert tastes. 

I first fell in love with Key Lime Pie my frist time visiting Key West.  I have never been a lemon or lime lover, so I was hesitant to try this dessert.  One bite and I was hooked.  I now make this in the Summer, regulary.  In fact, I make this in the Winter reguarly too.  While the picture may look pretty "blah", the taste is not....it's like a vacation in your mouth.  And like they say ....Key Lime Pie should NEVER be green.

This recipe is easier than counting to ten.  It the perfect last minute desesert and requires almost no ingredients.  I have tried many Key Lime Pie recipes, but always come back to this one.

Nellie & Joe's Recipe.  It's on the back of their Key Lime Juice bottle...and it's also listed below.  This recipe calls for a graham cracker crust, but when I'm feeling a bit crazy I make it with a strore bought Oreo Crust.  Perfection.

Nellie & Joe's Key Lime Pie
9" graham cracker pie crust (or Oreo)
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
3 egg yolks (whites not used)
1/2 cup Nellie & Joe's Key Lime Juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine milk, egg yolks and lime juice.  Blend until smooth.  Pour filling into pie shell and back for 15 minutes.  Allow to stand 10 minutes before refrigerating.  Goes great topped with freshly whipped cream.

100...and a fireman!

I will call this Summer....."The Summer of Not Posting". 

I am have been bad on the posting this summer.  Mostly because Jack and I are spending every second playing, walking, swimming, eating....and when he naps, I clean.

Summer is half way over.  I have been busy.  I feel like Summer is flying by.  But I have one little thing to make it up to you.  A giveaway.  I have reached 100.  100 followers on my Facebook page.  That makes me so so happy.  To those that "like" me, check out my giveaway over on Facebook...and if you don't, "like: me now!?

I don't know if I have mentioned this, but Jack is obsessed with Firetrucks.  When I say obsessed that is an understatement.  He talks about them NONSTOP.   I hear him in his crib at night saying hi to the firetruck, and when he is awake, he is about EVERYTHING firetruck. 

So here are a few pics of my future fireman. 

I hope you are enjoying the heat and the Summer.  We are.  Things are good. 

  

Watermelon, Feta and Basil Salad.....

You know, the older I get the more I forget.  I love this little "salad" so much that I MAY have posted this last summer.  If I did you get a repeat.  This is such a refreshing, simple dish that would be the perfect addition to any 4th of July BBQ.    The combination may sound strange, but believe me, it's the perfect match.  I like a lot of basil and feta, so I'll leave it up to you to decide how much to add.

Watermelon, Feta and Basil Salad (serves 2)

2 cups seedless watermelon, diced
 feta cheese, crumbled
basil leaves, julienned
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper

Dice, crumble, julienne, drizzle, grind. Taste. Adjust.

Welcome to Chicago....a Blue Bunny Giveway!

It has been heating up here in Chicago, and it's only going to get hotter!! Our favorite way to cool off is with a HUGE bowl of ice cream.  So you can guess how excited I was when Blue Bunny contacted me, wanting to send me samples of their ice cream! 

Blue Bunny has never been available in Chicago until now, and people all over town are excited to pick up their favorite Blue Bunny flavors at their local Jewel.  Blue Bunny sent me five gallons of ice cream: Birthday Party, Bunny Tracks, Banana Split, Pistachio Almond, and Peanut Butter Panic.   My favorite flavor was Bunny Tracks, but every flavor was so amazing,  and so creamy and perfect for a hot summer day!

To celebrate Blue Bunny's arrival to Chicago, they are giving 3 of my readers 5 Bunny Bucks...that's good for any 5 gallons of Blue Bunny Ice Cream!

To enter: (mandatory)

Visit Blue Bunny's website and comment on your favorite flavor! (please leave your email with at least one comment)

Additional Entries:

1. Like Blue Bunny on Facebook

2. Follow Blue Bunny on Twitter

3. Post about this contest on your Facebook Wall

4. Like Just Another Manic Momday on Facebook (comment on facebook and here)

5. Follow my blog!

Contest ends Thursday July 7th at 11:59 pm.  Winners will be choosen via random.org and contacted via email. Good Luck!

*Blue Bunny provided me with the product, but all opinions are my own!

  

I'm smitten....for Summer Strawberry Cake

Reason #142 of why I love Summer, is berries.  I love all berries; blue, black, rasp, straw.  You name is, I love it.  So when I came across Smitten Kitchen's Strawberry Summer Cake, I immediately ran home and went to work.

It was a unanimous vote....heavenly.  My husband said it tasted like "strawberry shortcake, only 1 million times better".  I just think it's delish.  It does take some time to bake, but the preparation time is simple and quick.  I highly suggest this for your next summer party or bbq or for dessert tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Summer Cake

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for pie plate
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 cup) plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 10-inch pie pan or 9-inch deep-dish pie pan (what I used).

Whisk flour or flours, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until pale and fluffy with an electric mixer, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla until just combined. Add dry mixture gradually, mixing until just smooth.

Pour into prepared pie plate. Arrange strawberries, cut side down, on top of batter, as closely as possible in a single layer (some overlapping is okay!). Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.

Bake cake for 10 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake cake until golden brown and a tester comes out free of wet batter, about 50 minutes to 60 minutes. (Gooey strawberries on the tester are a given.) Let cool in pan on a rack. Cut into wedges. Serve with whipped cream.

** Cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days, loosely covered, ours will not make it that long

just one of them days....and a winner!

Do you ever feel like going back to work on a Tuesday is sometimes more stressful and hectic than Mondays?  I do.  I am having one of those days.

But I we had a great weekend.  We had family in from Florida; my aunt, uncle, cousin and her family, which includes my god daughter.

We had such a great time, and I love seeing them.  I am a little disappointed in my photos.  I wish I got more, and I wish they were better quality.  Nevertheless, we celebrated birthdays, had bbq's, went to the zoo, (Jack's first time!) and went to the beach. 

It was the perfect end to the perfect summer in a perfect city.

How did you spend your holiday weekend?

And I have a winner!  Congrats to Jen @ South of Sheridan!

You will be contacted via email!

a day at the beach....

So Sunday we took Jack to the beach.  I wanted to take him before his first birthday so he could experience the sand and water.  So we packed our beach bags and our cooler and set off to Lake Michigan for a day at the beach. 

Our "day at the beach" lasted an hour.  Jack HATED the sand.  He screamed like I have never heard him scream before.  So we moved him to the middle of our towels, gave him some cheerios and he was in heaven.

We still had a perfect time, sand and all.....and we will try again next year.

Before the screaming began......