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Sunday, February 8, 2015

Our Lazy Sunday

I love Sundays. So far, ours has been quite relaxing.

Since Ava had a long day yesterday from the zoo and missed her nap, I had a feeling that she would need to sleep in this morning. She did. So Ava and I stayed home and Mark went off to church alone. 

He volunteers to play the drums for our church so it isn't unusual for him to go without us if need be. 

Ava and I hung out at home once she woke up. We made breakfast, watched some Sesame Street, played with Play-Doh, and planned tonight's dinner. 

We are having my mom over for dinner tonight so I am going to be making a whole chicken in the slow cooker. It is the second time that I am doing it since Mark loved it the first time I made it.
I'll add my recipe at the bottom of this post from my favorite new cookbook.

Normally, after we finish dinner and Ava is put to bed around 7:30, Mark hunkers down to answer work emails and starts prep work for the upcoming work week. I usually make us some hot tea and a dessert if we have it (I just made organic double chocolate brownies!) for us. While he works, I sit beside him and meal plan dinners for the week with my cookbooks/write up my grocery list so that he can have input on what he wants to eat.

Here are some pictures from today:
(2 days in a row for blogging! Go me!)

Instagram @christinamcguire

She wanted to do her own hair this morning. 

Instagram @christinamcguire


Once Mark got home, Ava and I had just started some fun in the sun. 



We got the pool fence installed earlier this week! Woohoo!





Side walk chalk fun



Loves her sunnies. 

Cooper Currington enjoying the sun with his pal, Ava. 

Mark capturing Ava's sweetness with me. Since being pregnant with Elle, Ava has been extra lovey with me.
I am eating it up. 





Playing dolls on daddy's legs


She loved dropping her dolls into the water and telling them to "kick kick kick!" like her swim coach taught her to do.

Did you notice that Ava got her first "boo boos" (scraped knees) at the Zoo yesterday? She is not very happy about it but is being a trooper and saying "aww better!"


Mark waxing his baby. I mean, truck...

Blogging on the front porch while Mark cleans his truck and Ava naps 


Happy Sunday! 



Tonight's Dinner is from 100 Days Of Real Food blog. Lisa Leake is the mama blogger and recently published her first book which I AM IN LOVE WITH. 

It teaches a lot of tricks to reading food labels upfront/ the differences in real food vs. fake, synthetic ingredients/ gives examples and charts to easily learn how to choose food without being fooled by "healthy claims" on the packaging like "reduced fat" "fat free" "Multigrain" "Ultra Pasteurized", etc. 

After that, it is followed by a ton of very simple, REAL food recipes. You will have most of those ingredients in your kitchen so it isn't like other recipe books that have you dreading having to buy 100 new expensive ingredients for one meal. These are back-to-the-basics ingredients like your great grandmother used...like the ones we should be using now! 




Recipe: The Best Whole Chicken in a Crock Pot
INGREDIENTS
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne (red) pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 1 large chicken
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Combine the dried spices in a small bowl.
  2. Loosely chop the onion and place it in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  3. Remove any giblets from the chicken and then rub the spice mixture all over. You can even put some of the spices inside the cavity and under the skin covering the breasts.
  4. Put prepared chicken on top of the onions in the slow cooker, cover it, and turn it on to high. There is no need to add any liquid.
  5. Cook for 4 – 5 hours on high (for a 3 or 4 pound chicken) or until the chicken is falling off the bone. Don't forget to make your homemade stock with the leftover bones!


Now, I am waiting for my beloved Vani Hari's, The "Food Babe", book to be delivered this upcoming week! 
Her 1st book ever! It is called The Food Babe Way and I plan on learning a TON with this one! I've had this baby on pre-order since December. 



Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday. 
XO
Christina 

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Our Day at Zoo Miami



When Mark and I woke up this morning, Mark told me that he was going to surprise Ava by taking us to the zoo today. I was so excited! For one, I have never been to Zoo Miami. I also knew that Ava loved the Jacksonville Zoo when her Godmother, my friend Sarah, took us when we went to visit her. Mark was golfing when we were at the Jacksonville Zoo so he didn't get to see all of her reactions to the animals. 
Ava loves animals and making the noises that they make as well when she sees them. 

Here are some photos from today's visit to the zoo: 


Yes, Ava carries her purse with her everywhere we go. She keeps her two small dolls (Cinderella and Ariel),  a Lego giraffe, and a Thomas the train with her at all times. 

...and yes, that's her authentic Gucci purse that a very sweet and generous friend of ours bought for her on her 1st birthday.
She sees me carrying a purse and so naturally she started wanting to carry one herself 






















Pit stop for snack time 



crumb face



best daddy in the world














Ava getting cranky and ONLY wanting ME to carry her... typical

25lb Ava + whatever Elle is weighing in at these days 


Missing her nap = cranky Ava



Right before we leave, daddy stops into the gift shop and comes out with a surprise for Ava... "A GEE-RAFF!!!!"
(A giraffe) 

One of her very favorite animals 

Love.
She hasn't let go of it. 


Thank you to my sweet husband for surprising us with a fun day at Zoo Miami 

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! 

XO 
Christina