Create-Celebrate-Explore

Kidzui: Valentine's Day Treat for Kids

For the instructions on how to make this fun after school treat for your kids this Valentine's Day head on over to Kidzui.  I have a great tip for labeling glasses too so kids don't forget which one is theirs.

A Ladybug

It's been beautiful weather the past few days in San Diego.  Much too lovely to spend our days indoors.  This morning I decided to enjoy it out in the garden pulling a few weeds.

I came across this beautiful ladybug, and ran inside to grab my camera, along with my new macro lens to have a little play.

I need to keep practicing, especially with the shots as the ladybug was taking flight, but my shots are gradually improving.  I also need to bring out my camera stand, my hands are very shaky.  I do love though that I caught another teeny tiny bug in the top photo right alongside the ladybug. What great timing.

A Little Girl's Bedroom

It's a work in progress, but I thought I'd give you a peek at Marisol's bedroom.  She absolutely loves her room and spends a lot of time playing in there.

 

I still need to hang curtains, organize her closet, make her a jewelry organizer (similar to mine),  paint her ceiling fan, and I'm still looking for the perfect frame for the dress-up station.  One thing at a time though, right!

You can find more information about some of her pretty things here:

• Hair Clip Holder
• Dress Up Station
• Kitchen Spice Rack

Roasted Tomato and Pancetta Bruschetta

Thank you to Hunt’s for sponsoring this post and encouraging my culinary skills! Visit Hunt’s Signature Recipe Collection to find tons of delicious ideas for using Hunt’s tomatoes in your meals.

This is a very simple dish and perfect for a party appetizer, or just to enjoy for lunch.

Roasted Tomato and Pancetta Bruschetta

Ingredients:

• Baguette
• 1 can Hunts Diced Tomatoes (drained)
• 1 jar or can of artichokes (roughly chopped)
• 1/2 cup Pancetta - Italian bacon (diced)
• 1 red onion (diced)
• 1 heaped tsp crushed garlic
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• salt & pepper to taste
• Olive oil
• Fresh basil (chiffonade)
• Parmesan (shaved)

Turn the oven onto 325F.

Gently combine the tomato, artichoke, pancetta, onion, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

Place a piece of foil over a cookie sheet.  Spread the tomato mixture over the foil and place in the oven for appoximately 30 minutes.

Slice the baguette and place on a second cookie sheet.  Brush with just a little olive oil and place in the oven for the last 8 minutes of the tomato mixture cooking (or more, depending on how browned you prefer your bread, I don't like it very crunchy and brown).

Transfer the tomato mixture to a bowl and top with parmesan cheese and basil.  Serve with the toasted bread slices.

 

Tip:  If using a dish such as this for a party appetizer, leave some of the bread fresh, place in a basket and serve with dishes of gourmet oils and balsamic vinegar for dipping.

Did you know: The red antioxidant, lycopene is found naturally in tomatoes. We get most of our lycopene from tomatoes and its absorption is two to three times greater in canned tomatoes than raw tomatoes.

Visit www.Hunts.com for more recipes, and check out the Hunt’s Recipe Rewards program for some great coupons!

Disclosure:  Thank you again to Hunt’s for sponsoring my post. Find more ideas for cooking with tomatoes at Hunt’s Signature Recipe Collection. I was selected for this opportunity by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own. #HuntsRecipe #spon

Project 366: Week Four

January 22: Happy Feet Two - The kids wore their potato-stamped penguin shirts to see Happy Feet Two at the movie theatre.

January 23: The Bird Song - While organizing the shelves in my office I was listening to the birds singing in the tree outside the window.  This drove the dog absolutely crazy. So in-between singing, I was forced to listen to barking too.

January 24: After the rain - snails love to come out on rainy days.  I found this one leaving tracks outside the front door as I came home.

January 25: Australia Day - Just because we aren't there doesn't mean we don't celebrate.  Little man wore his special Milo Cricket outfit that he was given for Christmas.

January 26: An Award - A proud mummy moment.  Flynn was given a reading award.  He loves to read.

January 27: National Chocolate Cake Day - and I celebrated wtih a big slice of chocolate cake. It was delicious.

January 28: Yarn and Bread - I met up with a friend at Panera Bread where we chatted, and ate, and worked on our latest knitting projects.  It was a great morning.

Documenting our day.  For 366 days.

Photographs taken with a combination of Camera+ and Instagram iPhone apps.

You can view full-size images and keep up with my Project 366 on Flickr and follow me on Instagram too.

Rusty and Rosy: Learning with Maps

I'm over at Rusty and Rosy today showing you some fun activities you can do with your kids to teach them about understanding maps.

Multiples and More: Valentine's Day Craft

 

 

Are you already crafting for Valentine's Day?  We are.  Today I'm sharing how to make this simple Valentine's Day necklace over at Multiples and More. 

As seen on:

Twin Life Magazine

Zui: Valentine's Day Tic-Tac-Toe

Looking for a fun Valentine's Day game to play with your loved one?  I'm over at Zui.com showing you how to make this fun chalkboard tic-tac-toe game.

Project 366: Week Three

 

 

January 15: Los Angeles - We took another drive along the coast up north to Los Angeles and enjoyed a lovely dinner with good friends. We were driving at sunset on a drizzly evening and I love the colors in the sky in this shot.

January 16: Decorating - Marisol loves her room.  It's almost finished.  We added decals to her walls, turning her light into a flower and adding mushrooms and grass to the base of it while her wise old owl looked on.

January 17: Taco Tuesday - Do you celebrate this each week too? We love Taco Tuesday.  Sometimes I'll make tacos and quesadillas at home, other weeks we will go out to eat, or pick up take out at our favorite little place Cotixan.

January 18: Reading - I have started reading again in the evenings.  It is on my 40 by 40 list to read 5 books in the next 6 months.  I finished my first book already, Special Delivery by Zoe Barnes.

January 19: Field Trip - We went on a field trip with the Kinder class to Souplantation, where the children were all encouraged to try a new vegetable, learned about the benefits of eating fruit and veggies, and made yummy pizzas (which had to include veggies) for lunch.

January 20: Walking - A friend started a little walking group for a few of us.  Our goal is to take 10,000 steps a day.  I'm not doing so well.   It's only been a week though so I won't be too hard on myself. 

January 21: My fortune - I was styling a table setting for Chinese New Year.  We ate a lot of fortune cookies.  This was my favorite message.  I would like a vacation.

Documenting our day.  For 366 days.

Photographs taken with a combination of Camera+ and Instagram iPhone apps.

You can view full-size images and keep up with my Project 366 on Flickr

Celebrate Chinese New Year At Home

 

Chinese New Year (also known as the Spring Festival) begins on January 23rd ringing in the "Year of the Dragon".  The eve of Chinese New Year, January 22nd, marks the start of celebrations with a reunion of loved ones for a feast. 

Prosperity, peace, happiness and longevity all symbolize the Chinese New Year, one of the most important and festive Chinese holidays.  Celebrate this festive holiday at home with loved ones, with these tips, and P.F. Chang's delicious Home Menu.

Hang red paper lanterns, and put together a lovely table in red and gold to bring all of your family and friends together.

Keep the food simple.  P.F. Chang's home menu meals take approximately 15 minutes to heat (follow the directions on the packet) and are delicious.  Above are pictured the Shanghai Style Beef, Grilled Chicken Teriyak with Lo Mein Noodles, and Firecracker Shrimp with Yakisoba Noodles.  Serve with steamed rice, chicken and sweet corn soup, and scatter fortune cookies on the table.   P.F. Chang's have a delicious recipe for Dragon Punch too.

Don't forget the Red Envelopes too. 

P.F. Chang's "Celebrate the Year of the Dragon" promotion on Facebook will be launching on Monday, January 23 at 12pm EST.  Learn more about the Year of the Dragon and Chinese New .

Follow P.F. Chang's on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Disclosure: P.F. Chang’s Bistro and P.F. Chang’s Home Menu provided me with a Red Envelope Celebration Kit including gift cards and free product.