Is This Really Happening??

It was a hectic day about three and a half years ago when I sat down at the end of the day exhausted, having just rocked my 18 month old baby to sleep for the 5th time that day, laundry piled high, and a kitchen sink full of dishes, when I thought...these day are going to last forever...or so it seemed.

We spent most of our day on the floor playing, scribbling on paper while sitting in her highchair, going on "walks" around our backyard and kicking the ball all over the place. We were pals. We had hours upon hours to play and play, or so I thought.

Those hours of play turned into days which turned into weeks and months and now I sit on the eve of her first FULL day of Kindergarten and think...where has the time gone?! Where is the baby we waited 10 years for gone to and why does she have to grow up? Don't get my wrong, there have been tough parenting days, we all have them, but I've cherished my time at home with Addison these last 5 years immensely.

We are closing an amazing chapter in our lives and moving on to another? How can the next chapter be better than our last? People say "she will love Kingergarten!" I say, "that's great, but I will miss her, tremendously." She's my only little. She's my little love, my miracle child, our gift.

So as I grieve the closing of one chapter and turn the page into another, I shed some tears...tears of joy, thankflness, happiness, and some sadness. She's another year older and starting school. Is this real?

I pray that we've prepared her enough for the world she's about to expereince. I pray that she knows who she is enough to believe in herself and love herself even when the days are rough. Mostly, I pray that she knows God loves her no matter what may happen in her day. That HE is always there to call on and that HE will protect her and that HE will love her unconditionally when that friend says "she isn't her friend anymore."

My child, you are loved. You are a daily blessing and joy to our lives. Our lives are SO much richer with you in it. Stand tall, love who you are, how you were made, and how God has gifted you for this life. We are cheering you on, always.

Mama will always be here, (I'm just across the street actually) waiting with open arms. We will always and forever be pals.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Hip Hip Hooray For Granola Bars!

Who doesn't love the chewy, sweet, and sometimes crispy taste of granola bars? I know I do! And actually, Addison has taken a liking to them as well. Yay! She tried something new and turns out, she likes it. Score for this Mama who's always looking for something different to give her for a snack.

But as most of you know, the granola bars you buy in the store are filled with junk! High Fructose Corn Syrup! No thank you!

So I decided to whip up a recipe I found here (http://www.fifteenspatulas.com/chocolate-chip-granola-bars/ ). I definitely recommend using a long, flat spatula for the job when it comes time to shape them on the cookie sheet. It works great!

These turned out yummy! Crunchy on the outside and a little chewy in the center. Next time I think I will cut back my cooking time a bit as we like chewier granola bars. But overall, a solid recipe.

The best part is my hubby (who tends to be particularly fussy about homemade goodies/clean eating recipes), liked them...a lot!

If you make them, shoot me a comment, I'd love to hear what you think.

Happy snacking!

Are Kale Chips Still In??

I think so and I sure hope so considering healthy foods should never go out of style! ;) 

Kale is filled with so many important nutrients. Some have even gone as far as to call it "the World's healthiest food!" Kale, a leafy green, is available in curly, ornamental, or dinosaur varieties. It belongs to the Brassica family that includes cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, collards, broccoli, and brussel sprouts. Kale boasts vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. It's also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus! Whew! Sounds like a super food to me!

Kale can be bitter in flavor so if you plan on using it in a salad it's best to marinade the leaves by massaging them with a dressing of your choice for 15 minutes prior to serving. 

Today I made kale chips-so delicate and crunchy! Are they like chips? No. But they do satisfy that longing for something salty and crunchy. So why not induldge?! They're SUPER healthy for you!

Now, I've made kale chips before but the recipe I had wasn't a good one. It's important not to overcook the leaves or undercook the leaves. 

Here's a link to the recipe I used: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/crispy-kale-chips-recipe.html

I did some online research and a bag of kale chips (bought in the store) can cost from $5.59-$9.49! Say what?! Mine (as pictured below) only cost me $1.50! Ah-mazing deal. So why not make them at home? Give 'em a try, I'm sure you'll enjoy the health benefits and crunch!