Easter Basket Ideas {non-candy} for 18+ months

As Easter is sneaking up right up behind me, and by right up behind me I mean in 4 days!  I am scrambling my brain as of what to put in an 18 months old Easter basket.  Holden was 6 months last year, and didn’t get to go walk around the yard and search for eggs, so this year he gets to and I want to make the first year memorable!  But with that in mind, I also don’t want my son bouncing off the walls from a sugar high that I have to deal with the sugar crash later in the day.  No thanks dude!

So what is one mommy to put in the eggs of the egg hunt for her 18 month old?  From above talking about sugar rushes/crashes, I surely don’t want to put all candy in there!  He’s never had candy, nor will he till he’s 10 if I can help it!  And any and all candy that goes in there will be consumed by me or my hubby…probably the latter, but I digress…….

So I got some good ideas from my good ol’ noggin, aaaaaaand my pantry.  Also mommies/daddies, keep in mind, these kiddos don't know what's "supposed" to be in the eggs, so let your imagination go wild!  It's just fun to watch them explore and the joy on their face when they find it and see the little surprise in there!   

So here is what will be in some of Holden’s Easter eggs in no particular order:

-Box of raisins

-Yogurt covered raisins

-Goldfish

-Teddy Grahams

-Coins/dollar bills for his piggy bank

-Buddy Bucks (for our local grocery store game machine)

-Crayons (if they fit haha)

-Stickers

-Baby carrots

-Little People toys

-Dried fruit

-Vanilla wafers

-Animal Crackers

-Granola

***DISCLAIMER***  Before putting ANY food items in your plastic eggs, be sure to wash them!  ;)

 

So now you have some candy free ideas of what to stick in your toddler Easter eggs for their hunt! 

Now here is what we will have in Holden’s Easter Basket.

Oh *side note*!  I got these really cute bunny footprints at our local grocery store to tape down to the floor leading outside to the deck in the backyard that leads to the grass where the eggs will be hidden!  It will be epic!  So if you see those anywhere, grab them and have fun!  

Here is what all I have for Holden's actual Easter basket....this won't all fit in the basket per say, but I might put it all in his wagon and have it outside for him.  :)

 Here is are some photos of what is in the basket in case you need some ideas!

I got this basket at World Market on clearance for $4 woot woot!  We have Holden's first baby bible in there, The Bunny Book, a train book, and some little rubber duckies that swim in the tub!

These are some plastic eggs I got at the dollar store, for you guessed it, $1!  Camo and sports theme.  Typical little boy themed stuff. :)

Grandma Sharon got all these lovelies for Master Holden. :)
 

Praying

This won't be a long entry, mostly because it's 11:22pm and I need to get to bed.  But this was weighing on my mind and had to get it out there in world, so maybe someone else who needs to read/hear this, it will reach them. 

Don't underestimate the power of praying.  Ever.  In my current bible study class, Live a Praying Life by Jennifer Kennedy Dean (who I got to meet last weekend....will post about that in the next week!) and it has just opened my eyes to a new kind of praying.  Not "how" I pray, but how I pray.  By that I mean, not the words that are mashed in between Dear Lord and Amen, I mean the reason why I pray; the necessity of me praying; the process or prayer for me. 

This bible study is just amazing I can't get enough of it.  I plan to write a blog 1. about the bible study and my thoughts and 2. all my notes I have been taking during the study, I want to share with you all.

After today's bible study session, I feel that know I have this knowledge of prayer, that I need to share it with whoever is willing to listen.  In church on Sunday Pastor David said, to show up, step up and toughen up.  You may be asking, what does that have to do with prayer, EVERYTHING.  This is how I got the translation to me, everyone else probably got their own translation as well.  Showing up is half the battle, as the old saying goes.  I am showing up to the Father, I am letting him know I am there, I am letting him see me work through his praises.  Stepping it up is what I am doing with my praying life.  I am not only praying when I need something, or want something, I am always in prayer.  I am always conscious that I am praying and what I'm praying about.  Toughin' up with my way of being Holy and prayer.  I am not going to let Satan take a hold of my life or come into my life.  I am gonna rough house him if he tries to show up; I'm prepared to fight the demons!

I could go on for days right now that all is running through my head, but I got the gist of what was heavy on my heart tonight.  I hope the spirit is speaking to you as He is speaking me tonight. 

Brightest Blessings,
Valerie

Crockpot Banana Bread, Yumo!

I wanted to make banana bread the other night....but was out of eggs.  Whomp Whomp.  So I made a post on FB about how I was out of eggs and couldn't make it after all.  Well I am glad I did!  My friend Jennifer commented on my post and said to try a recipe of banana bread and to make it in the crock pot.  Whoa, mind blown!

So I took my own banana bread recipe and just used the crock pot instead of the oven.  It only took 30 min more than the oven, and the shape was oval vs rectangle.  ;)  So here is my recipe and cook times for crock pot.  Give it a try and let me know how yours comes out!   It was soooooooooooo delish!  Just as good as the oven.  Great to make during the summer time so you won't heat up the house!  :) 

 Ingredients:

1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinammon
1 tsp vanilla
1tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chopped walnuts/pecans
3-4 mashed bananas

**The sour cream guarantees a moist and tender loaf.**



Directions:

1.  Grease and flour your crock pot

2.  In large bowl, cream together butter, white/brown sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla, mix well.  Combine flour, baking soda and salt.  Stir into butter mixture until smooth.  Finally fold in bananas, sour cream and walnuts.

3.  Pour into greased crocked pot and cook for 1 and half hours on high.  Every crock pot varies, so just eyeball yours, it may take less or more time.

4.  Sprinkle 1/4 cup brown sugar on top, and some extra nuts if you have some!  ;)

Enjoy!

Brightest Blessings,
Valerie

Grandma's Coming To Visit!

In two weeks my mom aka Grandma Sharon will be here!  All the way from Virginia!  WOO HOO!  I am so excited, she'll be here for a month.  I've been busy getting the guest room all cleaned out.  I got a dresser and mirror set for FREE from a Facebook garage sale page.  Can't beat free.  It needs a little cleaning up, but I can work on that in the next few months.  Just something to have for Momma to put all her clothes and stuff.  Since she's staying so long, it'll feel a little more like home than living out of a suitcase.

I am going to try and make an itinerary of some fun things for us to do around town when she is here.  Now that Holden is older and walking, it will be a little more fun than having to drag my stroller everywhere and now can let him run and explore! 

Here are some sites I want us to go see and things I want to do!

• Go visit some of the missions
• Have a movie night with my mom
• Go to Morgan's Wonderland
• See the Japanese Tea Gardens
• Visit the San Antonio Fire Museum
• Visit San Antonio Children's Museum with Grandma
• Take Grandma to the Quadrangle at Ft. Sam and feed the animals

That's all I can think of now.....see my parents used to live here back in the 90's so they aren't new to town and know and have seen some of these sites.  But I figured seeing it as a Grandma with your grandson would be a little more fun. 

Till next time.....

Brightest Blessings,
Valerie

How to Bathe The Bath Toys

I was giving Holden a bath the other night, he's splashing around, laughing and playing with his toys.  Then my super duper mom goggles came into play....I saw something floating in the water.  **insert Jaws theme music** 

Based on a previous experience I wish upon no parent, I in fact thought Holden had pooped in the tub, again.  So I quickly grabbed him out, then realized upon closer inspection, if in fact was not poo, but a big ol' nasty piece of MOLD!  Groody!!

I was a bit perplexed, he only has one small whale toy that has a hole in the bottom and can squirt water, the rest are letters/numbers and some little people.  So I don't know if the mold had floated out of the one and only squirt toy we had or what, but I saw a problem that needed to be fixed.

So the next day while I was on my cleaning spree of the guest room and Hubby/Holden's bathroom, I cleaned all his bath toys.  Here is what I did, pretty simple and easy to remember.

1.  Fill up tub with 3-4 gallons of water
2.  Add 1-2 cups of bleach
3.  Let soak for 45-60 minutes
4.  Give a good swirl in the water every 15 minutes
5.  Scrub EACH INDIVIDUAL TOY down with a toothbrush or scrub brush
6.  Let them air dry/or dry with towel
7.  Repeat every other week

toys soaking in bleach/water mixture

I let the big toys air dry in the tub.  I washed the cloth duck in the washer later that day.

toys drying on bath mat.  flipped them half once to dry evenly.

If you’re concerned about the same thing happening with your kids’ bath toys, here are a few tips I’ve learned:

 

-If in doubt, throw it out!

-Plug up any toys that are able to hold water with hot glue.

-Look for toys that have screw off caps, like these toys we have

-Clean and disinfect bath toys on a regular basis.  Even ones that don't collect water.

-Clean and disinfect the toy holder as well.

yay!  clean toys!  :)

Copycat McDonald's Carmel Iced Coffee

I love carmel iced coffee's.  My wallet however does not.  lol  But to give myself some credit, I do buy McDonald's ice coffees more than Starbucks, one because of the prices, and two the taste.  I prefer McyD's over 4-bucks, I mean Starbucks.  So I looked online for some copycat recipes and saw several different kinds, but they were all for mocha or vanilla--no carmel ones.

So one day while getting a iced coffee one day, I watched how they made it.  Simple enough, coffee, cream, carmel sauce, carmel +syrup and ice.  I can do that!  So off to the grocery store I go to get the things I need.  I had to go to Wal-Mart to get the carmel sauce, my grocery store only had vanilla.  Boo!  I got the brand name Torani for the carmel syrup, I didn't see any other options available, but get what your store has.  :)

Oh, and to clarify, when I say Carmel sauce--I am referring to the Troani sauce.  When I say syrup, I am referring to the syrup you put on top of ice cream.  Make sense?  ;)

Ingredients:
Brewed Coffee
Half & Half (or your preferred creamer or milk)
Carmel syrup
Carmel sauce
Ice

I brew a pot of coffee and put it in a pitcher and set it in the fridge overnight.  This is key, so when you go to make your coffee, it's already ice cold!

1.  Put as much ice as you like in cup
2.  Pour coffee over ice
3.  Pour in 1/4 cup half & half (creamer or milk)
4.  Pour in 2 tbsp carmel sauce
5.  Mix well, add more half & half or carmel sauce to taste
6.  Drizzle carme syrup on top
7.  Enjoy!

This is pretty spot on for the McDonald's iced coffee.  Let me know if you try it and what you think!  :)

Brightest Blessings,
Valerie

A Toddler & Mommy's New Year Resoultions

Happy New Year!  First of all I am pretty darn proud of myself.  I actually got a blog entry in on the first of the year!  WOO HOO!

I am not into new years resolutions, let me rephrase that; I am not into the "typical" new years resolutions: loose weight, work out more, eat healthier, get organized......blah blah blah.  Newsflash, we ALL need to do that! 

So as I write my new years resolutions down, I started to think.....after much reflecting on this past year, I realized all my resolutions are faith based.  I think this year, is a year of working on me.  Finding me.  Being true to myself. 
They really aren't resolutions as much as they are goals.  I will strive my hardest to do and keep up with it.  I have never done that before with any past resolutions, but I have a feeling this year will be different.  They may seem like an everyday type task versus something to work towards, but after much reflecting back on this past year, I know what I need to work on.

• Be more diligent in my quite time with the Lord 

• Give my all in my bible studies, no slacking!

• Write my prayers down

• Go to church every Wednesday night (even when I'm too tired!)

• Pray before meals (I am so bad about this!) 

• Work on my patience (that one is for you Kenny! ;) )

And of course I just couldn't go without having put down what Holden's New Year Resolutions are......


Holden's New Year Resolutions

Play with my own real toys--for real!
  although I thoroughly enjoyed Nana's gifts of my own dog food bowl, my very own pan, my remote and my metal keys I asked for.....I will try to actually play with my little people farm tractor and airplane, and not let the dogs eat my little people.

Take a shot at potty training
  I'll be 2 this year!  Whoa!  But I'm not quite sure how I will "take a shot" but hey, I think if I have mommy's help to get up to the potty, it'll be an adventure for sure!

Master using my utensils
  so apparently taking food from my left hand and placing it on my fork in my right hand isn't quite the right way to use my fork, and the spoon isn't for flinging food...hmmmm.....says who?!?!

Stop feeding the dogs ALL my meals
  now if my highchair is a dog nose level, I can't help that.  And those two beautiful brown eyed girls that are always starting at me sure now how to put on the puppy dog eyes!  I can't resist!

Stay adorable
  nailed it!  ;)






Brightest Blessings,
Valerie