Healthy Broccoli Tots

As a mom I am always trying to find new ways for Charlotte to get her veggies. We are very lucky that she is an amazing eater and quite the little piggy! She loves her carbs (pasta, bread, crackers, etc), but when it comes to meats and veggies she can be a little picky because of texture. I actually saw this recipe on Pinterest for 21 day fix recipes and thought it would be perfect Charlotte and then Kyle and I could enjoy too! :)

I actually had some leftover broccoli florets in the fridge and figured I should probably use them before they went bad!

Healthy Broccoli Tots 

• 12 oz. broccoli florets 
• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 cup sharp cheddar or mozzarella (I used mozzarella)
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 
• salt and pepper 

-Steam your broccoli in pot and then drain and rinse. Pat dry with paper towel to remove excess water. 

-Add 2 cups of the broccoli to your food processor ( I used our Vitamix) 

- In a bowl, combine the egg whites, cheese, breadcrumbs and S&P. Once the broccoli is finely chopped, add the broccoli to the bowl. Mix well

- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper ( Very important! I doubled this recipe and ran out of parchment on the other baking sheet. Even with cooking spray, the result was not the same) 

- Roll into balls or use a mini ice cream scoop or melon baller and place on baking sheet. 

-Cook for 8-10 minutes, then flip and cook for another 8-10 minutes! 

They turned out great! Husband and toddler approved! Charlotte was already done with dinner but she saw me sampling and asked for a taste and asked for more! :) 

Steamed Broccoli

Egg Whites, Breadcrumbs, Cheese and S&P

Blend until finely chopped

Add broccoli to the bowl 

Drop onto parchment lined baking sheets

Turn after 8-10 minutes of baking! Nice and crispy!

The final product! Yummy! 

Mediterranean Egg Cups

I have been making "egg cups" or "egg muffins" for a while now! They simplify your morning, not only in cooking your breakfast, but also in clean up!

I think egg cups are best when you experiment with what you like. I've made very healthy egg cups with only red peppers and spinach and very yummy egg cups with croissants, sausage and cheese! Think about what flavors you like and just improvise! Here is a recipe that I came up with that we are really enjoying!

Mediterranean Egg Cups 

• 12 eggs (beaten in a large mixing bowl) 
• 1 red pepper (diced) 
• 1 lg. onion (diced) 
• 1 package sliced baby bella mushrooms 
• 1 package crumbled feta 
• Cooking Spray ( I prefer TJ's Coconut Oil Spray) 
• Salt & Pepper 

1. -Dice red pepper, onion and mushrooms. Spray non-stick frying pan and sauté veggies. I think this step is really important because it brings out the flavor. Once translucent and soft, set aside and let cool. 
2. -Whisk together 12 eggs and add salt and pepper. 
3. -Add cooled veggie mixture and feta cheese 
4. -Spray muffin tin with cooking spray and divide the egg mixture evenly. 
5. -Cook at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes! 

This recipe makes 12 egg cups. A serving is equivalent to 2 egg cups. So, this is a perfect recipe to make in the beginning of the week and then eat throughout the week. You can always double this recipe if you have a larger family! I usually microwave mine for 45-60 seconds before eating! These are toddler and husband approved! 

Yummy!

Enjoy! 

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

This past week, I began decorating the house for Christmas! I don't know how it is already December! It feels like we were just arriving back to the "mainland" a couple weeks ago. Time is flying and I just want it to slow down!

This year, we spent the Thanksgiving weekend in Sarasota with my family. Normally, I would be picking up my Christmas tree first thing Friday morning, along with some great Black Friday deals, but that didn't happen this year! So, we are playing catch up to get decorated for Christmas!

We got our tree on Monday after work. Sadly, we got it home and it did not fit in the house! The top of the tree grazed the ceiling... Oops! We thought it was an 8 ft. tree, but I think it was more like 9 ft! So, that project was on hold until we could saw off some of the base!

Picking out our tree!

I brought down all of our decor from the attic on Tuesday and I was just so happy. I hadn't seen some of my Christmas decor for 2 years! (1st year we were in Virginia Beach, 2nd year we were in Hawaii with limited decorations) I was even more elated that now I get to decorate Charlotte's room and playroom! In between a few work emails and calls, I listened to Christmas music and began to decorate! I even started to hang the lights on the exterior of the house against my husband's orders to not get on a ladder! I just wanted to help expedite the process, especially because there isn't much daylight left once Kyle gets home!

Outdoor Lights!

This year I added wreaths and candles to the windows!

All things gold- our tree this year! 

Love the simple, classic look of the tree this year! Normally I mix a dark red, but I like the simplicity of all gold.

I'm so excited about the holiday season and sharing all of our traditions with Charlotte. I think she is still a bit young for Elf on the Shelf, but I did bring it out anyway! I showed it to her and it "he/she" went straight in her mouth!

Charlotte's Christmas Tree

Even Macey Jane has a tree!

Charlotte's Christmas Corner in her playroom 

We plan to take Charlotte to see Santa Claus this weekend. I'm not sure if we can top last year's photos; they were pretty perfect! We have lots of holiday events this week and Kyle's Christmas Party on Thursday night! This is such a fun time of year!

Charlotte with Santa in 2015- 5 months old!

Charlotte: 15 Months

Our baby is growing up faster than I ever thought possible! She's getting so smart and really developing her own personality. She moved into the pre-toddler class from the infant room and she has really enjoyed the change. The pre-toddler class is much more regimented and has a good routine. When she was in the infant class, the babies would always wake her up, but in the new class they all nap at the same time! She loves to play outside and almost everyday her sheet is marked that she played in "home living" which is like a little house with a kitchen. She has also started to clean at home! She will take paper towels or a toy and wipe the floors and couch. It's hilarious, but I guess she has learned something from watching me! 

Overall, Charlotte has an amazing temperament. She throws tantrums everything now and then where she basically will fall to the ground, but we just ignore her and usually it's over in a couple of seconds. Usually this is over us taking away the remote, cell phone or other item she isn't supposed to be playing with. She definitely likes to "rough house" as I like to call it. I was sitting next to her this past weekend in the car and she tried to pinch me. I said, "Owww" and she just laughed. Of course, she likes the reaction I am giving her. I'm trying to teach her gentleness and sometimes it does work! 

The pumpkin patch!

Fall Festival riding a horse!

Florida-Georgia Weekend

Halloween!

At school they have pictures of some of the family members. Her teacher told me that when she is sad or sometimes just because, she will go over and kiss my picture. How sweet is that? 

Weight: 24 lbs, 8.5 oz (86%) 
Height: 31 3/4 inches (82%)
Diaper Size:  Still in size 5, but will probably jump up to 6s on our next Costco run. They cut into her thighs/hips sometimes, so I think she could use a little extra room! 
Clothing Size: 18 months-24 months and some 2T. Just depends on the brand!
Eye Color: Blue!!
Favorite Toy:  She loves her Fisher Price Picnic Basket  and her Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair! She climbs all over it and sits in it! I definitely recommend it and it is also great for pictures! She is also in love with books right now. Her favorite books are the ones with flaps to pull down! 
Hair: Still bald on top! But, most people are surprised when they see her and see how much hair she has in the back. Her hair definitely doesn't convey in pictures! I actually was able to do pigtails the other day. It looked so silly! 
Teeth: At her 11 month update, she had two teeth!! Now she has SEVEN, with a molar coming in as well! 
Sleeping Habits: She loves her sleep! She goes to bed around 7pm and is up between 6:30-7am. When she is home, she takes 2 naps, but at school she only gets one from 11:30-2:00 or so. She sleeps on a cot at school which I still can't believe that she actually sits/sleeps there! She usually goes to school 3-4 days a week depending on my work schedule, so when she is home with me, she gets to get caught up on her sleep! We had a record sleep moment last night. She slept from 6:30pm-9:30am. 
Milestones: She's mastered walking and is starting to pick up the speed! She is very determined and is getting really good with her hands. She can put blocks into her little square and she likes to figure out how things work. One of her favorite things to do is open the drawer in the bathroom and pull all of my makeup out. She is already a girly girl! 
Words: Wow, this one is exciting. She literally copies everything we say and it is so cute! Some of my favorite words that she says: 

• Snack (this is actually Kyle's favorite) She says this and stands at her highchair. She wants to eat constantly. 

• Dada (she loves to call his name out in the morning to come get her from her crib)

• Car 

• More

• Nana (for banana)

• Walk

Looking forward to: The upcoming holiday season! Charlotte was so precious with all of the Halloween festivities! She is really starting to understand! She totally got trick or treating and walked right up to the houses to get her candy. The good thing is she doesn't understand the candy thing just yet! Also, it will be great to be together with family! She loves her cousins and they have so much fun playing together! 
Adventures this Month:  Charlotte went to her first football game and cheered on the Jacksonville Jaguars! She had her first dental appointment to get all of her SEVEN teeth checked out! :) She rode a horse at the fall festival and absolutely loved it! She spent the weekend with Gaga in Orlando and got to meet some of Daddy's friends in New Smyrna Beach! She also experienced her first Florida-Georgia weekend and she had a blast, hence why she slept over 14 hours last night! 

We will see you again for an update at 18 months! 

It's Fall Y'all

I think I'm part of the 99% of the world that loves the fall season! I wasn't the first one at Starbucks to grab the first PSL of the season, but I have indulged in one or two since they made their debut a few weeks ago! I have pumpkin creamer in my fridge and pumpkin waffles in my freezer! Thanks, Trader Joe's! In Hawaii, we didn't have seasons (it was always hot) and I literally got to bring one bin of fall holiday decor with me. It just didn't feel like fall at all! Now that we are back in Jacksonville, I am definitely experiencing fall and love it! It's been chilly (in the 60s in the morning) and the air is a little more crisp. We have been to the pumpkin patch and have pulled out our winter clothes and boots! So fun!

Our garage is slowly getting organized, but my fall decor still isn't accessible! :( I'm hoping that changes this weekend and I can finally get my pumpkins out! Here is what I was able to come up with so far!

Our fall decor thus far, sad I know!
$10 Mum from Costco,  a pumpkin from one of my many trips to Home Depot
and a fall wreath from Hobby Lobby that I have used for several seasons, purchased with a 40% off coupon, of course! 

We took Charlotte to the pumpkin patch on Monday and had so much fun! There was a small petting zoo, too. Charlotte loved the animals! We even went down the bounce house slide! So adventurous! Here are few pics from our fun day at the patch! 

Here is a little DIY project that you can do in your own neighborhood or with friends. When we were in Hawaii, we lived in an amazing, close-knit neighborhood. I got "Boo'd" right before Halloween and I think I cried. I obviously was a new mom and very hormonal, but I thought it was such a sweet idea! So, I am sharing my "Boo'd" ideas with you. The goal is that this little project will keeping giving and before you know it, your whole neighborhood will have been "Boo'd"! 

Check out Target or Walmart and stock up on some items for your basket or bag. Here is what I included: 

• Pumpkin container from Target
• Individual Goldfish packs 
• Seasonal Candle 
• Magnetic Notepad 
• Candy Corn 

Once you have your items, find a printable online or just write something out! Pinterest has a lot of ideas! I used this site for printables.  I would advise printing on cardstock or backing it with a thicker paper so it holds up. The "We've been Boo'd" sign will get posted on your neighbor's door, so it needs to withstand the elements. The idea is to start with 2 neighbors, then those 2 neighbors each give to 2 more neighbors. I have 3 friends in the neighborhood, so I did all 3! (I hope they aren't reading this!) I've also seen this done for other holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas! So fun! 

I got all my supplies at Target and spent less than $20!

I had thought of doing a homemade treat, but then decided against it since the recipient isn't supposed to know who sent it. If you don't know who sent it, would you really eat it?!?!
Instead, I divided candy corn into treat bags and tied with baker's twine! 

On Saturday, our neighborhood hosted a Fall Festival complete with a petting zoo, horse rides, bounce house, face painting and a balloon artist! Charlotte took a long morning nap so we got there right at the heat of the day. Charlotte absolutely loved the animals and was so excited to pet them. The animals just sat there while all the kids poked and prodded them! Charlotte even rode the horse and wasn't scared at all. She looked like a little pro with her hand on the horn and all.

Another great weekend in the books! Have a great week everyone! 

Hawaii --> Florida: An Update!

Wow, how is it already mid-October?!? Last time I posted it was mid-July and we were celebrating Charlotte's first birthday! Honestly, the past 4-5 months have been a complete blur! Here is what we have been up to:

June: We moved out of our house in Hawaii and into a hotel. We wanted to maximize our time together even though Kyle had to continue with his job in Hawaii until mid-July. I decided to come home to see family and also focus on studying for my real estate license! We stayed at an amazing hotel in Waikiki, the Ilikai! Charlotte and I explored and walked the streets and beach during the day and then Kyle would come home and we would have a nice dinner out. We rigged up the crib to fit in the shower (there was no tub) so Charlotte would go to sleep around 6:30/7:00 and we were able to enjoy  the evening and watch TV without sitting in silence and darkness. I am sure many parents can relate that hotel living usually isn't fun, but we tried to make the best of it! We celebrated my 27th birthday and a couple days later it was time to head to Florida! We had a night flight and Charlotte was an angel. I was super nervous traveling with a baby and a dog, but they did amazing. Charlotte had her own seat and was asleep before we pulled away from the gate. We made it to Florida and our first stop was Chick-fil-A! Yum! It took a few days for us to adjust, but ironically enough, Charlotte slept the latest she has ever slept (8:30am) for a couple of days. It was heavenly. Very soon she was back to her 6:30am wake-up with the sunrise!

July: I continued to study for my real estate licensing exam and my mom and I took a short weekend trip over 4th of July to Savannah. We had a great time enjoying the city and the wonderful restaurants. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it! Make sure you stay in the historic district so you can walk everywhere! Charlotte went to bed early on 4th of July and it was raining, but we did have a perfect view of the fireworks from our hotel room! I stayed busy with Charlotte visiting friends, planning her 1st birthday party, shopping and studying for my exam! We had a fun couple weeks of no real responsibilities and it was fun for Charlotte to spend time with her grandparents! Kyle finally joined us in Florida mid-July, right before Charlotte's birthday.  On July 18, we had her party. I did get a chance to post about that. You can read that here. After her birthday, we had another health scare with her seizures. She was cutting her top 2 teeth and having fevers. This was her second seizure and lasted 9 minutes. We spent a couple of days in the hospital having an EEG and MRI to rule out any other issues. That was a very stressful time, but we are happy to report that Charlotte is as healthy as they come!

August: We spent a few days up in Jacksonville getting our house ready to move in. Our tenants left quite a disaster and we wanted to do some small upgrades before we moved in. I also passed my real estate licensing exam (on the first attempt) and was so excited to have that behind me! We moved back up to Jax on August 13 and our life was complete chaos for the next month! No one told me how hard it is to unpack with a toddler in tow! And wow, I think our house shrunk or we added an extra human being and all of the stuff that she needs! We turned the dining room into a playroom and lost a guest bedroom. There were a handful of times I contemplated packing things back up and moving to a bigger house, lol! The weekend after we moved in, Charlotte had two more seizures, which threw us all for a loop. We were hospitalized again, which is so hard, because no one gets any sleep and it is hard to contain a toddler in a crib/hospital room. Thankfully, Charlotte hasn't had any additional seizures since then and has gotten an all clear from the neurologist that she will grow out her seizures and everything will be just fine! However, he did mention that the peak time for seizures is between 18-24 months and that every time you have a seizure, your chances increase of having another. So, we are bracing ourselves for the next one, which is not a fun experience, but hopefully she will stay healthy and won't run any fevers! At the end of the month, Kyle and I took a trip to Charleston to pick up our car that was being shipped from Hawaii! We had a nice, relaxing weekend!

September: I finally started to feel a little bit situated when September rolled around. Charlotte started school and I began working and we started to establish a good routine! The boxes were still everywhere and you couldn't even turn around in the garage it was so full, but we slowly started making progress. With the start of football season, I realized it was going to be hard to get anything done this fall! We spent the weekend in Gainesville for the ECU game and it was nice to see my mom and family! The kids were so cute together! At the end of the month, Kyle traveled to San Diego for a work trip and just like that the month had flown by!

October: We ventured back to Gainesville for the Ole Miss game and had fun seeing some friends and last weekend attended a friend's wedding in New Smyrna Beach! So much fun! What's up for the rest of this month?! I'm guessing a whole lot more football, everything pumpkin and enjoying this fall weather!

A few favorites from the last few months!

I am hoping to get back into a blogging routine! I really enjoy it! I'm hoping to do some more updates on Charlotte too. Not monthly, but some type of schedule. She is growing too fast!

Charlotte turns ONE!

We celebrated Charlotte's 1st birthday with a party last Saturday! We had so much fun planning her first birthday and she had such a good time seeing family, playing with friends and eating cake! She was a little unsure at first, but once she tasted that yummy buttercream frosting, she couldn't stop!

I went back and forth on a theme for Charlotte's party, but ultimately decided on a pink and gold glitter theme. Originally, I had starting planning for a Frozen themed birthday for both Charlotte and her cousin, Kate, as they were born 6 days apart. Our joint birthday plans fell through, so about 2 weeks before Charlotte's birthday I began planning! It was so much fun to put together her first birthday and I still cannot believe that she is "ONE"!  My Mom hosted the party at her house since we are still living out of suitcases and waiting to move back into our house in Jacksonville!

Charlotte's 1st Birthday Invitation!

Here are some of my favorite photos from the day! 

Charlotte with her Paw Paw 

1st Year Banner

Homemade Tulle Wreaths with Charlotte's Monogram and "1"
These were a labor of love, but turned out really cute! 

Look at that pouty face!

Banners: Etsy- Lily Kate Parties (local to Orlando)

First Birthday Poster: Etsy- My Lil Sunshine Shop

Birthday Hat and "ONE" Cake Bunting: Etsy- Kutiebowtuties

Invitation: Etsy- PartyInvitesandMore

Rosette Cake and Cupcakes: Publix 

Cupcake Topper Printables: Etsy- Nifty Printables 

Cake Stands: Home Goods 

On Sunday, we took some more pictures with Charlotte! She absolutely loved her cake once again! Daddy is the best photographer and always captures Charlotte at her cutest moments! 

Happy, Happy Birthday to our little Angel!