Garden

Every spring, Scott and I pull out our garden gloves and start planting our veggie garden.  And come July, I. am. over. it.  Mainly, I am over the heat and the mosquitoes, but also, we get so busy with all the great things summer has to offer, our garden gets put on the back burner. 

I made it a personal goal this year to not let the weeds take over/ forget to water/ over plant/ just give up on the garden.  I've tried to do a little every week so it never gets too overwhelming.  I've also tried to let Fiona "help" pull the weeds and pick the veggies.  We are working on our colors, so it makes it a fun game to "only pick the red ones" 

Hope you all have a fabulous and safe July 4th! 

Our Weekend

Happy Hump day, Friends! Phheww! This week has been crazy busy, but so glad we are at the halfway mark of the week! Here is a little recap of our weekend, which went by entirely too fast! Scott worked on Saturday, so Fi and I had a fun little Mommy Daughter day of hanging/organizing around the house. We missed Daddy though, so we made some goodies and headed over to the firehouse to visit him. 

I know its just a matter of time before she figures out the hole fireman's pole and how much fun that is, but for now, she is super content just being in our laps.

We went to my parents for dinner.  (I just love that Buddha belly Fi is rocking right now)

Sunday, we went to the pool with some friends, and this time Fi loved it!!

I think Scott secretly wants a punk baby, she came walking up to me sporting this look. 

These two are exactly 1.5 hours apart.  I see them being BFFs in their future, fo sho! Glamor babes!

Crunchy Romaine Toss

Anytime we go to a pot luck or family reunion, my Mom always makes her famous Crunchy Romaine Toss.  Literally, people specifically go out of their way to grab some before its gone, and if she feels like changing it up every once in a while and doesn't make it (gasp!) grown men will indeed cry.  So, it is with her permission, I share with your another favorite strawberry recipe. 

(Sorry the pic is such bad quality.  Almost forgot to take a pic when we ate it this last Saturday.) This was the aftermath of round 1. 

Crunchy Romaine Toss

Ingredients:

2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped

2 Cups fresh strawberries/ blueberries or mandarin oranges, sliced

(we just prefer strawberries)

1 package ramen noodles

1 Cup chopped walnuts or pecans 

1/4 Cup butter

Dressing:

1/2 Cup sugar/splenda/ or honey

1/2 Cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

3 teaspoons soy sauce

a Pinch of salt and pepper

Directions: 

Combine sugar, oil, vinegar, soy sauce, salt, and pepper in a jar with a tight-fitting lid (mason jar); shake until well blended. 

Break ramen noodles into small pieces, discarding flavor packet.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir noodles and nuts until browned, about 5 minutes. 

Drain on paper towels and allow to cool.

Combine noodles, nuts, strawberries, and romaine lettuce, in a bowl; toss gently. 

Dress with 1 cup, or more, of dressing; toss to coat.

Enjoy! Let me know what you think! Sadly, strawberry season is almost over here in NC, but blueberry and Peach are quickly upon us!!! Hope everyone has a great Thursday! XO

Baby Style: Bubble Rompers

There is just something about little chubby legs waddling around in rompers.  I think they are THE cutest little girl apparel.  They are so summery and fit those Buddha bellies so nicely.  I have been waiting and waiting for that plaid romper to come back in Fiona's size at Old Navy, but I'm starting to think it will be sold out for good.  It would be the perfect outfit for our trip up to the Highland Games in Grandfather mountain in July.  I snagged the fireworks romper for Memorial day, but never took a picture.  That is also great for the Fourth of July!   

<>Plaid Bubble Romper<> Teal Romper<>Fireworks Romper<>Chambray Romper<>

For some absolutely beautiful and unique rompers and dresses for little girls, check out Brass Razoo Kids.  I want one of everything in both Fi AND my size! Her summer collection and website launch Friday and I can't wait to see the collection in full.  

Our trip to the Mountains

Well, it's back to reality and the sweltering heat.  We had a great time this past weekend up at our family's mountain house in Ashe County, NC.  With highs in the 70's and low humidity, I could have stayed forever!  Despite having her 85th ear infection, Fiona enjoyed herself immensely.  

She loved hanging out on the porch, and feeding her baby in the kid's rocking chair.

Saturday morning, the men went fly fishing on Helton Creek, while we stayed back for naps and a little relaxation time. When they got back home and ate lunch we packed up the coolers for some kayaking down the New River.  I was a little nervous about taking Fiona, but she was amazing.  She just hung out and watched the world go by and was the best kayaking partner ever! 

Her little life jacket cracked me up! She looked like a little turtle and waddling around everywhere, gah toddlers are the best! 

Once we got home, we did a little back porch sittin'.

The dogs had a great time, as well.  Anytime they can be free and explore, is a good day in their books. 

So it looks like we can mark off mountain kayaking and back porch sitting from our Summer Bucket List.  Have a great Tuesday! 

Our weekend

Happy Tuesday and 4 day work week, Friends! I was so sad to see this past weekend come to an end.  We had the most beautiful weather here the past couple of days.  The kind where you just want to roll out a big blanket and stretch out in a big patch of sun. We had a low key Memorial Day this year.  We had plans of making it to the local Memorial Day ceremony, but decided against it this year thinking Fiona might get too scared of the 21 gun salute.  We pretty much hung around the house, did a couple projects (which I'll show y'all later) and worked in the yard. 

We went to a hot air balloon festival Saturday, relaxed by our neighbor's pool during the early afternoons on Sunday and Monday, and cried Tuesday morning when we woke, because it all went by too quickly.

This really is one of my favorite stages with Fiona.  Everything is so new and exciting and I just love watching her curiosity bloom.

She slowly warmed up to the water, but absolutely loved swimming around with Daddy. 

These two! (sigh)

Summertime Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Every time we would go and visit my mother's mom, Gammy, she would make us kids her famous chocolate cake, and my Dad a Rhubarb Pie.  I never cared for the rhubarb pie mainly because it was so tart and I was too busy with her chocolate cake, but oh how things have changed.  Fast forward 20 years and I decided to make a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie for my Dad's birthday.  

It was THE. BEST. PIE. EVER.  Now, as the weather starts heating up, my husband starts putting in his requests for the pie.

This past weekend, we went to the NC State Farmer's Market to pick up some Strawberries and decided it was warm enough to make the first strawberry rhubarb pie of the summer. Here is the recipe that I use and have tweaked over the years.  Let me know what you think.  

3 cups Fresh Strawberries, sliced

3 cups Rhubarb, cut into 1- inch pieces

3/4 cup Sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp. Lemon Juice

4 tbsp. Quick-Cooking (Instant) Tapioca

2 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into small pieces. 

2 Frozen deep dish ready made pie crusts

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Pie Filling

Toss the fruit with the Sugar, Vanilla Extract, Lemon Juice and Tapioca in a large bowl.  Let stand for 15 minutes. 

Prepare pie crusts, (Now you can make your own, but this is where "nobody's got time for that" comes in. 

Pour filling into one of the crusts

Scatter butter pieces over the filling 

Place the other pie crust on top

Put the pie on a cookie sheet and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes

Turn the heat down to 350 and continue to back for another 30-40 minutes or until juices bubble and crust turns brown.
We always spoon a little locally made Vanilla ice cream on top, but for some reason this time Front Porch Praline Crunch found its way into my shopping bag, (I could have sworn I grabbed Vanilla).  But it was actually even better than regular vanilla. 

ENJOY!