Christina McGuire : April 2014

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Mark's New Truck + Saturday + Overnight Oats Recipe

On Friday Mark drove up to pick up his new truck. He researched a lot and decided to go with the new Chevy Silverado. This truck is huge! He's loving his new V8 pick up and even named her Black Betty. Hahaha We played the song on the way to lunch the next day...

He's a very happy boy now that he has a truck again! I'm pretty sure I caught him going out to look at it 10+ times on Saturday morning.

I'm happy for him. Mark takes REALLY good care of our cars. He actually enjoys detailing them (he always has) and I know this truck will be just as "babied" as his Dodge truck in college.

Off to see Mom&Dad McGuire on Saturday! Mark's dad and step mom are visiting from West Linn, OR. The 3 of us picked them up from their hotel on Ft. Lauderdale beach and drove to Dania beach to walk around and eat dinner at the new Quarterdeck on the Dania Pier.

We had a great time

Ava wasn't sure about the view and then forgot all about it once she got to play with ice cubes, straws, and chop sticks at the table.

Chop sticks = baby drum sticks

She was going to town on them. We had a guy come over and comment on her talent :)

I let him know that her father is a drummer so it may be in the cards for her to be a drummer one day. I know Mark is already excited to buy her a mini drum kit. (Lord. help. me!!!!)

Made this on Friday morning. Very yummy. I love when I have fresh mint on hand. Mint makes everything taste so tropical and delicious!

If you're running out ideas for a quick breakfast in the morning, try this...

It can be made 100 different ways which allows you to make it your own and have fun with it. I think that's what I love most about learning how to make these simple, healthy meals: you can change them up to satisfy whatever you're in the mood for and never get bored with them.

I prepped these for Mark and I on Friday night right before I went to bed. We ate them on Saturday morning and they were delicious. (Ava enjoys them too!)

OVERNIGHT OATS

The "base":

•1cup oats

•1 cup almond/ or coconut milk

•2 tbsp of chia seeds

Your favorite "toppings":

•1 tbsp raw, unfiltered honey

•1/2 banana (slices)

•2 strawberries (slices)

•1 tsp of semi sweet chocolate chips

/ vegan chocolate chips/ etc.

•dash of cinnamon (not shown in picture)

Mix ingredients together and place into the refrigerator until the morning.

That's it!

Eat cold or heat up for a delicious breakfast in the morning.

That's it! Super easy. The oats soften and "cook" themselves overnight. How cool is that!? Plus, it's one more reason to get to use your good 'ole mason jars.

Any quick and healthy breakfast ideas that you enjoy?

You know I am always wanting more ideas!

Hope you all enjoy your Sunday. If you try the oatmeal recipe, let me know how you made yours!

Christina

Friday, April 25, 2014

My Simple & Healthy Pancakes {toddler approved!}

Just wanted to share my very yummy, simple, healthy, and even toddler approved pancakes! I made these today just having fun in the kitchen and using what I had on hand.

I think cooking is more fun when you don't have a recipe (with SOME things! Ha) I knew as long as I had 1 to 2 eggs and banana.. It should all work out. I started experimenting with pancakes about a year ago when I saw this little photo circulating on social media:

A little thin for my liking (but still good) so I started adding oats.

Hope you like them or share one of your pancake recipes with me!

Into the blender!

Photo from my Instagram account:

(Oops! Forgot to mention the 2 tbsp of chia seeds in batter!)

Cooper wants some too.

Happy Friday!

Christina

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER!

Hope all of our friends and family had a wonderful day celebrating Easter.

As Ava woke up, Mark and I got really excited because this was the first time we were getting to watch Ava go outside and find her Easter basket.

I loved every moment.

One of the fun parts about being a parent is getting to live out these holidays through the eyes of your child experiencing it all for the first time.

After she opened her basket, we got ready for church and followed church with a delicious lobster and lamb chop lunch at Mark's family's house. My mother was with us too so it was nice to have both of our moms with us to spend Ava's 1st Easter as an active toddler. I am already looking forward to this holiday season now that Ava is a little older...

Here is some of how we spent our Easter:

( I tried to load the video of her going outside to find her basket from the Easter Bunny but it won't play after I load it on here. Sad.)

Here was Ava's basket.

She got a:

-Minnie Mouse (or as she says, "Minnie Mou!"

-A quacking toy duck because Ava loves to say, "Ack! Ack! Ack!" like a duck...

-A light up, spinning bumble bee toy

-A light up chick baton

-Easter eggs filled with snacks

Inside waiting for Daddy to help her open her basket

All ready for church

Discovering cookies, raisins, and yogurt melts in her Easter eggs

Mark plays the drums our church's band

Playing with Daddy's drums after service. This makes Mark proud as you can imagine...and especially because no one tells her to do it. She loves playing already.