Thursday, November 28, 2013
CHRISTMAS WISH LIST: KITCHEN ACCESSORIES
I’m always on the lookout for fun, simple, well made, unique toys that allow Kensi to play without having everything coached to her. Our plan this year for Christmas was to give her an adorable buggy style doll stroller, but if you read our other posts, then you know that won’t be delivered until spring! Kensi enjoys doing lots of things mommy and daddy do. She helps us make our coffee each morning by placing the pod in the machine and pressing the buttons (this and our phone is as much tech toy-ish exposure she really gets). She also loves to help us prepare meals and even does a great job scooping, pouring and mixing.
When I was little and I had my own play kitchen I loved my little coffee maker that actually let water run through when you pressed the button, or my plastic eggs that held an egg with yolk on the inside. Why did I love those toys so much? Because to me, they were as close to the real thing.
I’m gushing over the appliance toys they’re creating for play kitchens such as the toasters, stand mixers and coffee makers. Kids love these items for the same reasons I loved my similar toys. Now I lean towards wooden toys because they are built to last. I’m usually not going to find bits and pieces of a broken plastic handle all over the floor when someone accidentally steps on it.
Toy companies such as Hape, Plan, and Haba are leaders in the wooden toy era. However, I’m not always a fan of the bold colors offered, but they’re adorable nonetheless. I’m loving Pottery Barn Kids Wooden Appliances. Their neutral cream color palette will go with any playroom decor and like several of the other wooden toys by other companies, they’re gender neutral. My most favorite attribute of Pottery Barn Wooden Appliances are the accessories. How can you not just explode with happiness over the little honey jar that goes with the toaster??
Of course kidlits don’t need every appliance for their play kitchen {if they have a play kitchen that is....you don’t necessarily need one!} First of all, where are they going to store all of these appliances? Ha, same issue we all have right? But how fun it would be for them to have a gem like one of these to spark their inner-chef. Are these not the cutest play breakfast accessories you ever did see?
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
'TIS THE SEASON TO BE THANKFUL
So today I was so excited to get more of my Christmas shopping done especially since I received some discount codes via email from some of my favorite stores in anticipation of Black Friday. As I go to add the baby doll stroller I've had picked out for weeks for our daughter, I was devastated to see it's on back order.....until March! I was immediately saddened and my heart sank as I thought about how excited I was for this to be her 'big' gift for Christmas this year. Our holidays are already on hiatus because we're in the middle of building our house and will soon be moving in to it in just a couple weeks. As ridiculous as it may sound to some, I started to tear up thinking about how we're not going to have the perfect Christmas because I waited a couple days too long to purchase this item. My husband saw how upset I was. I was more bummed out than anything. He looked at me and said 'Rach you're missing the point!' He was right.
I had built up this idea of a perfect Christmas in our new house and this perfect Christmas was unrealistic. He proved his point even further tonight as we ordered our pizza for Thanksgiving Eve. As much as I'm sick of being in the furnished apartment we're in, where we don't have our own furniture, we don't have our holiday decorations or anything else because they're in storage.....he created a Thanksgiving Eve tradition for us. He set up our table for din, gave each of us our drink of choice, pulled out a game of Farkle and turned on our favorite thanksgiving episodes from Friends.
In the middle of all this he looked at me and said, 'This may not be perfect, it may never be perfect, but as long as we have us...then it will always be great.'
My husband completely shook my world today and I'm so THANKFUL! As much as I try to plan, I don't want to miss out on these moments. We have so much to be thankful for! Thanks babe, I love you.
We hope everyone finds the time to spend tomorrow with family and close loved ones. May you discover something new you're thankful for this year, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
SWEET DREAMS
Kensi has fallen in love with our bed. She loves to lounge in there and watch her morning cartoons. She has to stack two pillows on top of each other so she’s propped up just right and then pulls the sheets up to her belly. Her personality is really becoming apparent. She’s our goofy little girl with blend of our quirks and we fall in love with her more and more everyday.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
BEER ME...TURKEY STYLE
Over the last few years I have really grown to love hosting thanksgiving for our close friends. Every other year we spend the entire week of Thanksgiving in California with my sister's fam and dear friends. I was so excited to contribute our turkey recipe last year and it was yet again loved by all!
We love making our own Thanksgiving din; there’s something about lounging in our jams in the morning watching the Macy’s Day Parade, cooking all afternoon, diving into our feast and then ending the night kicking off the Christmas season with our favorite Christmas movies with some Eggnog! But before I get ahead of myself, I still have a turkey to make. We love love love our beer and when we saw this had beer and rosemary {Mike’s favorite} we thought BOOM! THIS IS OURS! IF you’re anything like us and will use any excuse to make beer part of your menu then this turkey is just for you.
Beer Brine Turkey
1 Whole Turkey, Thawed {12-14 lb.}
1/4 cup Butter, melted
2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
1 Tablespoon Rosemary, fresh & chopped {or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary}
1 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
1 can/bottle Dark Beer {12 oz}
1/2 cup Cold Water
1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
Preheat oven to 325’ F. Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey {save this for added flavor when making your gravy, simply cook & brown gibbets/neck in a pan and use the pan with its drippings for your gravy that you’ll finish once your turkey is done} Rinse the turkey inside and outside with cold water; pat dry with paper towels. Fold wings across back of turkey so tips are touching. In a shallow roasting pan, place the turkey breast side up.
In a medium microwavable bowl, stir together melted butter, mustard, rosemary, salt, pepper & beer. Microwave uncovered on HIGH 1 to 1-1/2 minutes, stirring after 30 seconds, until well mixed. Brush about 1/3 of the mixture evenly over the turkey. Fasten the drumsticks together with bakers twine. Insert an overproof meat thermometer so tip is in the thickest park of the inside thigh and does NOT touch the bone.
Roast uncovered 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Brush with additional beer mixture and pan juices every 30 minutes. The turkey is done when the thermometer reads 165*F and drumsticks move easily when lifted or twisted. If necessary, cover turkey breast with foil during last 1-1/2 to 2 hours of baking to prevent excess browning.
When the turkey is done, remove and let it stand 15 to 20 minutes before carving. This makes it easier and allows it to stay juicy. Remove skewers and twine before slicing.
While the turkey is sitting, measure drippings and enough water to make 2 cups. In 2-quart saucepan, heat drippings to boiling. In small cup, stir together cold water and flour until smooth. Stir flour mixture into boiling drippings. Continue stirring 2 to 3 minutes longer or until gravy is thickened and bubbly.
I love to garnish the bird with orange slices and sprigs of rosemary.
Hoping you have a Happy Turkey Day All!
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