Egg-Carton Garden Starter

This spring I decided to cultivate my family's first backyard garden. This adventure can be as simple as taking a trip to your local nursery to purchase seedlings ready to transplant, however, I decided to purchase seed packets so that Walter could watch them grow from the very beginning!

The main reason for starting egg-carton-seedlings in the early Spring is to protect them. If I immediately planted them in the soil outdoors, they are susceptible to frosty cold mornings before the weather permenatly warms up. Heavy April showers can also wash the seeds away from the soil before they have roots. Creating a safe environment for these seedlings ensures them to take root and become strong.

^^ I saved a couple weeks worth of paper egg cartons to begin the process. It's important to use paper cartons, not styrofoam/plastic ones! Because they are biodegradable, these cups can be cut individually from the pack, and planted directly into the dirt when the seedlings are ready!

Start off by separating the top of the carton from the bottom using scissors. Using the scissors or a knife, poke small holes into the bottom of each cup to allow water drainage.

^^Then, place the top of the carton directly underneath the cups. This will act as a tray to soak up excess water.

Select the right seeds for your garden and read each packet before planting! The instructions will tell you exactly how many seeds to plant per cup, along with needed row spacing and sunlight (so save the instructions for backyard planting time).

^^ Create identification markers for each row of seeds. I recycled used popsicle sticks!

^^ Soil is a vital part of the seedling and growing process. The health and success of your fruits and veggies depend on the nutrients it receives through the soil. Bags of soil are all specific to the needs and stages of your produce. Try to find a "seed starter" blend specific for this first stage. I found my seeds and soil at Whole Foods.

Next, comes the fun part, planting! Let your kiddos get their hands dirty and again, follow the instructions on your seed packets... Although W's busy fingers may have put a watermelon seed in the basil cups.

^^ Cover your seeds with more soil, mark them accordingly, and immediately water them!

^^ Place them in a window sill that receives plenty of sunshine. Water (but don't drown) them each morning, and again in the evening if they seem dry. Germination may take weeks, so be patient and continue caring for your seeds. On nicer days, I placed them on my back deck to soak up some sun. 

After 3 and a half weeks I was becoming discouraged, but went to the windowsill with Walter to water our seeds. You would have thought I found a hundred dollars... I seriously squealed. My tomatoes and basil popped up over night! The next few days each seedling decided to poke through the soil to say hello! 

^^ Basil

^^ Tomato

^^ Squash 

^^ Zucchini

Keep on watering and sunning your seedlings until they have two additional leaves (separate from their original ones). Mine are still growing, so we (and by we, I mean Matt) will begin the raised garden construction this weekend! I will be posting an update on how build a garden and transplant your seedlings!

Keep in mind you do not need a "green thumb" to create a garden... I honestly don't believe in such a thing! If you don't have a backyard, box gardens can be made for balconies or patios. Link here. Place your seedling cartons in a window that you frequently pass in the morning so you remember to water them! Like anything in life, it is so rewarding to see the results of your patience and consistent sowing. I'm excited to "reap" what we "sowed" this summer! 

Happy Gardening!

xo- Monica

Toddler Friendly Easter

Easter is by far, my favorite holiday of the year. Celebrating our Risen Savior, family time, brunch, warmer weather, egg hunts, and fun-filled baskets- what's not to love! It's a time of new life that always leaves me refreshed.

Easter baskets and Egg-hunts carry such a special nostalgia for me and I so looked-forward to creating them for my son! However, having a toddler, it has changed my view of how I want to celebrate these holidays. Easter weekend is famous for it's candy, which isn't always toddler friendly. While continuing the tradition of egg-hunting and stuffed baskets, I want to focus more on activities he loves and the reason we celebrate.

^^ Eco Eggs are essentially plastic Easter eggs made from plants, 100% renewable content, and are fully compostable after use. They are made from non-toxic, durable, plant-based plastic and they come in a large size only. Easter-eggs are another plastic source that generate tons of emissions and landfill waste each year. Trust me, I know as a mother it is difficult to avoid plastic because many of my sons toys are, but when there are wooden or recycle-based toy options, I grab them. I found my Eco Eggs at Whole Foods, but you can also order them online, link here.

Two other plant-based plastic products that I love are Green Toys-link here, and Re-play dish-ware for kids- link here.

^^ The Eco Eggs bag is resealable which is perfect to store them until next Easter!

^^ Toddlers are sticker obsessed. I purchased larger sheets of stickers and cut them into smaller squares to fit into the eggs. Walter has recently learned how to peel the individual stickers off the sheet and carefully press them onto paper, his arms, or clothes... really anywhere they'll stick! They keep him busy! Temporary tattoos are also a great option to stuff into these eggs. 

^^ As for something sweet, fruit leather is a great alternative to candy. The individual strips roll up perfectly inside these eggs! Veggie-Go's are great because they contain few wholesome ingredients with no added sugar. Whole Foods 365 brand also has great options. Most fruit leather is gluten and dairy free which is a safe option to bring when attending an egg hunt with multiple kids! 

^^ Annies Cheddar Bunnies are one of W's favorite snacks. They're the perfect size for toddler hands, and the bunny shape is perfect for Easter!

We're attending an egg hunt at our neighbors home this weekend and each family is bringing a dozen eggs to contribute! I can't wait to watch the egg-hunt frenzy! 

When is comes to Easter baskets, I found it pretty easy to avoid stuffing it with food or sweets. W has a serious sweet tooth (like him Mama), so I guarantee you this child will consume some sweets this weekend. This is his first Easter basket from us (last year he was so little), so I wanted to create a focus around things he loves to do verses food/candy. 

^^ New spring/summer shoes are the perfect thing to stuff in an Easter basket. I've been purchasing moccasins from the Wild Explorers shop for a year now! Each time W outgrows a pair, I grab him another. The 100% leather quality is beyond amazing, and Hannah packages them in the cutest bag accompanied by a sweet and appreciative note. Being an artist myself, it is important for me to support handcrafted small businesses. The amount of love and hard work this woman puts into her shop while being a full-time mom is truly inspiring. They stay on W's busy little feet and we love them!

Link to her shop- here.

^^ These bow ties are made by a local shop, Adibug Designs. They are adorable and clip easily to little button-up shirts! This shop sells boy bow ties and girl hair bows in multiple sizes ranging from newborn to kids. Her etsy shop link here.

^^ The weather is getting warmer by the day, so outdoor fun was a great addition to his basket. Melissa & Doug carries this large triangular shaped chalk which helps toddlers grasp them with their small hands. I liked this outdoor chalk, because it comes in a case to store each piece in individual slots to avoid breaking. The pinwheel & ice-cream cone bubbles were found in the dollar bins- All of these items were found at Target!

^^ Curious George is a favorite in our house. W is really loving coloring on his easel, so I got him his first coloring book. I've also found he has a hard time holding on to round crayons, so I got these triangular large crayons. These also come in a storage case! 

^^ This may come as a surprise, but my son loves putting on my lip balm, or really any chapstick. He second he sees in in the diaper bag, he must unscrew the ball, smell it, and apply! So... I got him his own!

^^ I saved his favorite for last... bunny & books. Last Easter, W's Abuela (my mom) purchased him a bunny. Bunny has become his side kick. He goes everywhere we go, and sleeps tightly tucked in-between W's little arms at night. Needless to say, Bunny is well loved and a bit shaggy after a year of loving. I stuffed a duplicate in his basket for us to have on hand, just incase anything should happen to our beloved Bunny, because he is a necessity in our home!

I hope these ideas helped you make the final touches on your special weekend with your family!

Happy Easter! xo- Monica

Natural "Dye-Free" Easter Eggs

Easter is by far, my favorite holiday of the year. Celebrating our Risen Savior, family time, brunch, warmer weather, egg hunts, and candy-filled baskets- what's not to love! It's a time of new life that always leaves me refreshed.

Dying Easter eggs has always been my favorite activity of this season. It's a great chance to be creative with a blank canvas. Although it's super convenient to purchase pre-made dye, I really enjoy using and experimenting with natural, color creating ingredients. 

^^ First, start with hard boiled eggs. I boil mine for about 9 minutes, turn off the heat, and let them sit  in the hot water another minute or two. Then I drain the water from the pot and let them cool.

Do not worry about exact measurements when making natural dye. The goal is to achieve your desire pigment (darkness & lightness) by playing with the qualities of foods/spices. Have fun with it! If you discover more items that would aid in creating a certain color, just add them to the pot!

^^ For the yellow dye, I used a couple table spoons of turmeric, and two bags of green tea. 

^^ For the green dye, I used two handfuls of chopped spinach, green tea bags, and fresh basil. 

^^ For the pink dye, I used 3 cubed red beets, 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, and 8 oz pomegranate juice.

^^ Place the dye ingredients into seperate sauce pans and fill with water one inch above the ingredients. 

^^ Bring the dye mixture to a boil.

^^ Cover, and let simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour- periodically check on them to see when your desired color is achieved. 

^^ Place a colander or strainer over a bowl and drain your dye. 

 ^^ Add 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar to teach dye while they're still warm. 

Fill dipping jars with the dye, and lower the eggs inside using a small ladle or spoon. I used larger mason jars so that we could dye 2-3 eggs at a time. 

^^ Let the eggs sit for 15-45 minutes depending on the color you want. I let these sit for about 30 minutes, placed them back into the carton cups to drip dry, and then back into the refrigerator. (For egg salad tomorrow!) 

We had a lot of fun watching the white egg shells slowly turn into these beautiful colors. The best part of it all was that we 'made' these colors using natural ingredients! I really look forward to experimenting with new items each year, and I hope you have fun customizing your own colors, too!

Happy Easter! 

xo- Monica

Protein Banana Bread

Bananas don't usually hang around for long in my house. Between the three of us, we go through two big bunches a week. There is a rare case where a few bananas are left behind, turning brown, and I always take full advantage of claiming them for bread before someone else does. 

There is a certain nostalgia about banana bread for me. My Mom constantly kept a loaf in the kitchen to snack on. I remember my Dad coming home from a long morning on his feet at the hospital, my mom made a pot of coffee for them to share, and they sat and rested. This time is still a ritual for them and I love when I'm there to join in. 

^^ I let my "banana bread bananas" brown a few days after the first brown spots appear. This ensures the perfect mashing consistency so there are no random chunks of banana in the bread. For this recipe I used a combination of whole wheat flour and almond flour. Almond flour is literally blanched and skinless almonds that have been finely ground into a powder. I LOVE this almond meal because it allows me to make bread with out it being so dense and flour-filled. You can usually find it in the baking section or gluten-free section of the grocery store. 

I really love homemade bread. You just can't beat a slice of banana, pumpkin, or plain cinnamon bread paired with a cup of coffee in the afternoon. It's the perfect pick-me-up during nap time or work/school breaks. However, most bread recipes are full of butter, flour, and sugar. I've replace refined/processed sugars with maple syrup and honey. I've also replace butter and oil with apple sauce and yogurt. Lastly, the whole wheat gives this bread a great dose of whole grains, while the chia seeds and almond meal boost this bread full of protein. My banana obsessed baby & hubby can't eat this bread fast enough.

^^ Mash the bananas with a fork. 

^^ Add all wet ingredients to the bananas: yogurt, maple syrup, honey, eggs, vanilla, applesauce. 

^^ Combine all dry ingredients: almond flour, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, chia seeds, salt, baking soda. 

^^ Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix until combined.

** I didn't add nuts to this recipe because of the almond meal. If you like that extra crunch, roast 1/4 cup of sliced almonds or chopped walnuts and fold them into the mixture. 

^^ Spray loaf pan with a non-stick spray or melted coconut oil. I love this spray because it is versatile between grilling, baking, and cooking!

^^ Pour the batter into the loaf pan and sprinkle the top with raw oats. 

^^ Walaaa! Perfectly golden Banana Bread and it smells sooo good! For breakfast, I love topping a slice of this Protein Banana bread with crunchy peanut-butter! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup honey
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup apple sauce
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 plain whole-milk yogurt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• oats for topping

Instruction: 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the loaf pan and set it aside.
• Whisk together the dry ingredients: flours, salt, baking soda, chia seeds, and cinnamon. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, mash the bananas. Add in the honey, apple sauce, yogurt, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla. Stir until combined.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined. 
• Pour batter into the loaf pan and top with oats. 
• Bake for 40-50 minutes or until done- a tester inserted comes out clean. 
• Let cool completely in the loaf pan, then turn out to a cooling rack. Store in foil or in an airtight container for the week! 

Happy baking!
xo- Monica

Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats

This may come as no surprise to you by now, but breakfast is by far my favorite meal. No part of my day can begin until I've had a cup of strong coffee and sustenance. Luckily, it must run in my blood, because little man is the same way. We wake up, and immediately head to the kitchen to fuel-up for the day. Although I love smoothies, eggs, yogurt, etc... oatmeal is my jam. 

My fav method of cooking oats is by using steel cut oats and almond milk over a stove. This is a 30-40 minute process which I generally have no time for, so... I started making over-night-oats! The mixture involves equal parts oats, liquid (milk), and sometimes yogurt; leave them in a jar in the fridge overnight, and ta-daaaaa... hassle-free oatmeal in the morning. I was skeptical at first, being an oatmeal extremist, but this method is such a time-saver and so good. 

There is NO COOKING involved at all...

Overnight-oat-base:

-1/3 cup oats

-1/3 cup almond milk

-1/4 cup coconut yogurt

This is the base recipe I use for all of my variations of Over-Night-Oats. I have fun experimenting with these each week, giving them a new spin with different ingredients. This week I made Blueberry Muffin Oats, and we devoured them.

^^ I used plain coconut milk and added vanilla extract to the oat mixture. The extract lends a vanilla flavor without having the added sugar of "vanilla flavored" yogurt.

^^ I like to use frozen blueberries, but you can also use fresh if you prefer.

^^ The finished product, come morning!

^^ This topping is totally optional. Although the overnight-oats resemble the taste of a blueberry pie, this crunchy topping really takes it to the next level! 

^^ This is essentially a small batch of simple granola. Just 5 ingredients and less than 10 minutes of baking. Store for the week!

Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 cup coconut yogurt
• 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/2 tsp chia seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Put oats, chia seeds, blueberries, yogurt, vanilla, and almond milk in a jar with a tight lid. (I use 6-8 oz mason jars).
• Stir until all ingredients are combined, then cover tightly.
• Leave the covered jar to sit in the refrigerator over night. 
• In the morning, uncover, stir the oats, and top with the pie crust topping and more berries.
• *** I love these cold, but you can heat them up briefly in the microwave. 

"Streusel" Topping

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 tablespoon room temp coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of raw sugar or maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instruction: 

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl using your fingers to incorporate the coconut oil.
• Put mixture onto a glass baking dish and bake for 5 minutes, stir, and bake for another 3 minutes.
• Let cool completely, then top the Blueberry Muffin Oats and store in an airtight container. 

Enjoy!

xo- Monica