Pool Time!

Here was our pool day the other day! This floaty makes swimming so much fun! Hope you got yours!

My mom and I hope you all are enjoying your summer so far. We look forward to new products, colors and growth in the coming months. So please keep following - we have exciting adventures ahead!

Happy Summer!

Summer by the pool!

Rylynn and I have been going to the pool practically every day this summer. At first I was hesitant to bring her since previously she was not a fan of the pool...AT ALL. She would maybe on a good day last for 10 min! Well, have I found the trick (or rather my friend Jana) - swim trainer floaties! YES - the COOL small rubber tube that you inflate with a bicycle pump and the floaty goes up and over their head/shoulders and they wear it like a tank top with inner tube attached - pictures to come :) Rylynn mastered this tube the first day - you have to be balanced and able to kick your feet under the water and maneuver by yourself. She is obviously very independent and did not want mommy's help. Today she went around in circles and kicked her feet to follow me. I tell you - this is the greatest kiddo toy out there. Our average pool time now is 2+ hours with this floaty! So thank you Jana for buying this for us! - Our summer would be hot without it!

OH and you can buy these at http://www.lesliespool.com/browse/Home/Recreation-Lifestyle/Learn-to-Swim/D/30000/P/1:100:9000:900040

ENJOY! You will love your summer that much more!

Peaches Peaches and MORE Peaches!

My grandparents have a huge peach tree in their backyard and it is loaded with peaches! Every time I visit they try to give me as many as they can or will fit into a plastic grocery bag. I have them everywhere in my house, and I was beginning to feel bad because I wasn't eating them fast enough. HAHAHA - as I am writing this my mother just called to tell me she just got MORE peaches from Grandmas house for me!! I told her NOOOO - more peaches!

Well here are a couple of really simple and yummy recipes that involve peaches - so if you have the same problem as I do please feel free to make your own peach creation!

Peach martini

Puree peaches ( I used skin and all)

coconut rum

peach liqueur

and a dash of lime

Add 1 -2 shots of puree (depending on how peachy you want it)

Add 1 shot coconut rum

Add 1 shot peach liqueur

and a dash of lime (fresh squeezed if you can)

shake shake shake in a martini mixer with crushed ice and WAHLAW you have a yummy and semi healthy martini!

Broiled Peaches with spiced whip cream

cut peaches into wedges (leave skin on)

place on cookie sheet and sprinkle with brown sugar OR raw sugar

place under broiler until sugar is melted and crisp

As they cool, whip 1 cup heavy whipping cream with 3 -4 packets splenda and cinnamon (you can also add a liqueur of your choice too for extra yum factor) until stiff peaks form.

Place a dollop of cream on top of crisp/gooey peaches - Enjoy!

Easy Peach Cobbler

3 -4 C of peeled peaches (place peaches in HOT water and skin comes right off)

1 C oatmeal

1/2 C sugar

1/3 C brown sugar

1 t cinnamon

MIX above ingredients with 1 stick of chopped butter until well incorporated.

you may add raisins and nuts too - depends on your taste buds.

Place peeled peaches in buttered baking dish, sprinkle topping on top and bake for 30 min at 350 until bubbly and golden brown.

OF COURSE add ice cream on top!

TO SAVE the peaches that you do not use, cut up in wedges drizzle honey on them and place them in large zip lock baggie and freeze! This way when you need peaches you can take them out and they will be sweet and ready to eat or cook with (and they don't stick together either)!

New Sunday tradition!

I love making yummy breakfast on Sunday mornings for my family. I came across this new cinnamon doughnut hole recipe in my FoodNetwork magazine and thought it sounded daunting. BUT I made it and it was super easy and of course super yummy! This is not something you make often (calories are not so friendly) but for a special treat or Sunday breakfast it works great. And your family thinks your so talented and cool for making them...heehee!

So here it is - try it!

4 T unsalted butter

1 t vanilla extract

1/2 C flour

1/2 C instant mashed potatoes

1 1/2 C sugar

1/2 t salt

3 large eggs plus 1 egg white

2 T ground cinnamon

vegetable oil, for frying

1. combine 1/2 cup water, the butter and vanilla in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer, stirring to melt butter. Remove from heat and stir in flour, instant potatoes, 1/2 cup sugar and salt. Return to medium heat and stir dough till its tight and doesn't stick to sides - 2 min. Transfer dough to a bowl and cool for 10 min.

2. beat dough with wooden spoon, add eggs one at a time -mixing until each egg is fully incorporated before adding next. once all eggs are added beat with spoon till glossy and smooth -1 min. Set aside for 1 hour!

3. mix remaining sugar and cinnamon in shallow dish. Place heavy bottom pot over medium heat and fill it about 1/3 of the way with the oil -340 deg. With small ice cream scoop, drop heaping teaspoons of dough into the oil (in batches). FRY - turning once, until golden brown - 6 min. Transfer doughnuts with a slotted spoon to the cinnamon-sugar mixture and roll to coat. serve warm!

ENJOY!

No more pantry tantrums!

My adorable daughter has been quite the busy little bee when it comes to opening the kitchen pantry. I will have my back turned for 30 sec and she will have all crackers, snack boxes and my onions out on the floor! This can put a damper on things, since it NEVER stops and time outs tend to not work at times. So instead of fighting the battle I found some fabulous lever locks (since our pantry has the lever handle rather than the round one) and they work perfectly. They actually look pretty nice and don't look so obvious! So here is the link if you would like to buy some :)

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3502248

Our little family went to the pool today and got some sun and enjoyed the cold water....it was 91 today! I worked on my tan while Rylynn and daddy played - not a bad deal!

Happy Summer!

Toddler Towel Feature -

This is a great pool/beach or bath tub towel. The hood is great at keeping your little ones' head warm and dry and the long towel is great for them to snuggle and wrap around themselves. My daughter loves this towel -I bring it to the lake and pool and of course use it for bath time. She dries off faster with bamboo - much faster than terry cloth or cotton. You will have to check them out http://www.babyurprecious.com/

We have found the perfect laundry detergent to wash your bamboo toddler towel in -
http://www.shaklee.net/babyurprecious we became distributors since they are a perfect partner with our bamboo products! Enjoy these cute pictures of Rylynn :)

Rylynn's Day at Costco -

Rylynn loves bags! I think I mentioned in an earlier blog that she loves carrying around plastic baggies and tote bags and filling them up...well she took it upon herself to hold 3 of my recycle bags while walking into Costco! She was too cute, holding her arms up so the bags wouldn't fall down. She was the spectacle of Costco - everyone was stopping asking if I had a camera....well of course I had my iPhone :) Anyhoos - enjoy the pictures and video. It was too cute to pass up. Not only does my child LOVE to shop BUT she recycles too and know how important it is to re-use your tote bags!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK4BYPp3hSY