Eatin' Easter Treats, Peeps & Krispies

If you have never had homemade rice crispy treats then you've never experienced the awesome power of marshmallows. I wanted to do something festive tonight for dessert because my in-laws were coming for dinner. We usually eat at their house on Tuesday, but they were going to help me clean some because my Raleigh has now decided she likes to held a lot! Oh joy, so when I set her down she cries. Sorry kid, we aint gonna do this. We got almost every room cleaned so I am a happy momma.

Anyways, I decided to go with Easter Rice Crispies then added some cute festive decorations on at the end. Here is the trick to delicious gooeyness:

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp butter
• 10 oz marshmallows (the minis are easier)
• Green food coloring
• 6 cups Rice Crispy cereal
• Easter candy (i used m&m)

First you melt the butter in a big pan. Once the butter is melted, then add the marshmallows. Try to refrain from eating...if you can. Stir & fold marshmallows til melted.

Remove from heat. Next, add 4-6 drops of green food coloring or until your desired green color, mix well. I liked mine to look like green grass, but since we have weird weather its still got brown patches too. Add cereal, fold in til all is coated, I found adding a little at a time is less messy. Mix in the candy of your choosing, start to cave to the munching while cooking. Press into a 13x9 glass pan, easier for you later if you spray it with Pam.

Let cool or for impatient people like me, faster results put in the fridge. Finally, my favorite part, DECORATE!!!

& the verdict is...?

Well dinner & dessert turned out to be a success. Plus I got my house cleaned in the process. It's nice to have family around that are willing to help you clean so you don't feel overwhelmed, because being a mom definitely does that to you. I enjoyed a very long hot bath after everyone left & now ready for bed. Good night all. Hope you enjoy the ooey gooey, chocolatey treats during Easter. Remember what Easter is truly about though, our Lord Almighty. Hope to see you in church on the 31st!

Homemade Baby Food: Quick, Easy, & Cheap!

One of my favorite things to do these days is to make baby food for Raleigh. I like knowing what is in her food. Jarred baby food at the store can have a shelf life of 3 years!!! That in my mind is gross, knowing that if I bought baby food now then I can save it for my next baby. YUCK! It has so many preservatives in it, obviously if you can keep it for so long.

Homemade baby food is so inexpensive. Think about it:
At the store- 1 jar of food (2oz)= $1
Homemade- 10 jars of food(20oz)= $.88 
That is such a huge difference. Raleigh would get 8 meals instead of 1 for cheaper. It doesn't take long & it makes me feel so good when she eats it. We both love it, well she has a bit more experience in the tasting department than me, but I have tasted them too because its just water & food. She likes me mixing them up, so we make combos. I just pull 1 cube of this another of that & she's is always happy with the end result. So here's the how to:

Things you'll need:

• Baby bullet (blender works too)
• Ice cube trays (silicone molds work best)
• Steamer or pot
• Gallon size freezer bags

First, you have to choose the fruit or veggie you want your precious little one to try. Remember let them stay on one new food for 3-4 days before introducing a new one so you can see if they have any allergic reaction. The first set of foods recommended for the 4-6 month age are:

• pears
• apples
• zucchini
• rice cereal
• peas
• sweet potato
• banana
• avocado
• squash

There are a few I haven't tried on there, but I'll give you the easy & yummy tips for the ones I have done. Keep in mind you can always replace the water with milk. Also the more water/milk you add the more ounces you'll get because the puree is thinner. You'll know when it's smooth & right for your little one.

Sweet Potato
1 sweet potato= 20oz

• Peel & slice
• Steam or boil until soft
• Mix in blender with 1 cup water til smooth
• Pour into trays/molds
• Freeze then pop out when done

Banana

1 Banana= 8oz

• Peel & slice
• Mix in blender with 1/4 cup water til smooth
• Repeat 

Peas
1 cup peas= 8oz

• Steam
• Mix in blender with 1/4 cup water til smooth
• Repeat 

Pears

1 pear= 8oz

• Peel, core, & cube
• Mix in blender with 1/4 cup water til smooth
• Repeat 

Apples  (choose a sweeter kind like red delicious, with the more tart you have to add some of sugar)

1 apple= 6oz

• Peel, core, & cube
• Steam or boil til soft
• Mix in blender with 1/4 cup water til smooth
• Repeat

Rice cereal (now here's the tricky one)

1/2 brown rice= 32oz

• Ground the brown rice into a powder with the flat blade on the mixer
• Pour into pot with 4 cups water (I use less because I mix with other purees)
• Bring to boil
• Cover & cook on low for 20 minutes (stir occasionally, keep from sticking)
• Stir & mix in separate container if you want a combo
• Pour into trays/molds

After they are frozen sold the molds will pop out, if they are being stubborn then a little water will help. The ice cubes will pop out if you get a butter knife & push it down on the side of each cube. All of mine pop out by themselves. Place them in a freezer bag & you are set to go for awhile. Hope all this helps :)

Babysitting is tough on a new mommy

So being a new mom definitely takes a toll on your nerves. You can stress out about anything from spit up to sickness to allergies. My newest challenge to overcome is a new person outside family babysitting her.

Raleigh is 5 1/2 months, even though shes a giant & can wear 9 month sleepers, she is still my little munchkin so this was hard. :) She is a good baby, only cries if she's sick, hungry, or tired. It's hard to make a schedule & say goodbye even though you know you'll see them in a few hours. Anyone who says it's easy for someone new to take your little one is wrong. Well maybe if it's your second, third, or fourth then you probably would be jumping at the chance. Heck I know now I appreciate it so much when family & close friends want to watch her while me & the hubby go out for a date night. It is hard though when she's your first & still young, especially when you do not know the person very well. The family was from our church & my husband has known the family since he was a kid so that was helping, but its hard when I, personally, don't know them very well. It is good to expand your babysitter list though, just be cautious about the people you choose.

It all ended perfect for everyone on Sunday night. I talked to the mom on the phone & it just reassured me that she was the right mom for the job. It helps knowing all her kids turned out pretty good too ;) It was a new experience for me & now I know without a doubt that I can trust them with my sweet Raleigh. I loved getting the pictures of her playing with their kids & hearing the stories about the kids wanting to hold, play, & feed her. It makes me happy knowing that other people get as much joy out of hearing her giggling & talking as I do. This experience definitely makes you appreciate the time you have with your little ones. Makes your heart melt when they see you & smile or squeal, because they know mommy is there now.

New Adventures

Hi everyone!

First off I want to introduce myself, I am Nicole Hill. I am a new mom balancing work, life, husband, baby & now a blog. Many of us have been in this place before where you have so much on your plate but you're still wanting to try new things. I want to just share my journey & new discoveries with you. 

I love Diy projects, trying new recipes, and playing with my baby girl. I would love for you to follow me and give me your input on anything & everything. This is exciting for me & I can not wait to experience all that this new blog has to offer me. 

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