Valentine's Day Celebration 2014

I love, LOVE which means I love Valentine's Day!! A lot of people feel like you need to have a significant other to celebrate the holiday…WRONG! Celebrate yourself! Go on a mini shopping trip, get a pedicure or manicure or just sit down in a quiet room and have a nice cup of tea! This is a holiday to celebrate the love you have for the people in your life and yourself! That being said I am going to share with you some awesome Valentines Day ideas in the next few days! =)


I am going to start by talking about this SUPER cute block from Koobik! She has some of the most adorable blocks for all occasions! The blocks are done from anything from a baptism to a specific holiday! On top of her awesome blocks her gift wrapping is impeccable and super fashionable! 

Introducing Koobik:

Hi, my name is Anya. I own and operate Koobik. I was born and raised in Russia in a loving home filled with homemade toys. My dad and his remarkably rewarding line of work played an enormous role in me becoming a second generation toymaker. 

When I was little, my kindergarten teacher had a collection of old wooden blocks that her son made. I liked them so much, my dad ended up making same blocks for me. When my family made the decision to move to sunny California, these toys were the first belongings that I packed in my suitcase. Twenty years later, I still have my old familiar wooden blocks. Every time that I see them, I travel back in time and in my heart turn into that little girl, who has one of a kind magic blocks that where made just for her.
I recreated my dad’s wooden blocks a couple of years ago because I know that they will last a lifetime and travel the world. More importantly, these blocks can be passed on from one generation onto the next. 

All blocks I make have one thing in common: my attention to detail makes each item special and unique. I want to playfully support children's development, make their lives happier, more exciting, and full of the delight of discovery: to put it simply, to make their world a little more child-friendly.

I am so happy to share my products and with all of you. Welcome to my store! I hope you will fall in love with my designs as I do, over and over every day.

Be Happy,

Anya

Here is the block she made me for Valentines Day! Each side has something sentimental to me and my husband! Till the end is inscribed in our wedding rings, the quote next to it is part of our wedding song, the names are names of "famous couples names" anyone knows me knows I LOVE the movie Gone With the Wind!  Then you have mine and my husbands name and then a beautiful heart shaped stamped on top! I absolutely LOVE it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Enjoy!

It is as Simple as 1-2-3!

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Part 4: No Boil Cheesy Lasagna Freezer Meal

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Part 4: No Boil Cheesy Lasagna Freezer Meal

Tip: If your freezer is cluttered can you see anything in it? Do you know what you even have? I doubt it! Here are a few easy steps!

Step 1:
Go through and de-clutter! YIKES!

Step 2:
Organize each shelf!Throw out the old and keep the good!


Step 3:
Put a list on the outside of your freezer so you know what you have. I place dates next to each item so I know when I made the item or purchased the item!



OK so here is my yummy lasagna freezer meal recipe!! 

Ingredients

• 1 (9 ounce) box of barilla no-boil lasagna noodles
• 1 lb of Turkey Ground Beef
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 (24 ounce) container Ricotta 
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1 (24 ounce) jar or can spaghetti or pasta sauce (I use homemade marinara but yo can use jarred)

Instructions

Combine 2 cups mozzarella, Ricotta, eggs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir to combine.

 

Cook Ground Turkey in pan and place sauce on the meat

Spread about 1/2 cup of the sauce mixture on bottom of a 9 x 13 pan

Spread about 1/3 of the cheese filling over the sauce and top with three noodles.

Layer the sauce, cheese and noodles two more times.

End the layers with the sauce and remaining 1 cup cheese and parmesan. Add 1/4 cup water to the sauce jar/can and shake with the lid if necessary to stretch the sauce and cover the pasta.

Label foil with directions: Thaw 24 hours. Bake 350 1 hour covered, stand 10 minutes.

Cover with foil sprayed with cooking spray on the cheese side. Freeze or bake.

It is as Simple as 1-2-3!

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Everything But The Kitchen Sink Part 3: Meatloaf Freezer Meal

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Part 3: Meatloaf Freezer Meal

Preparing for baby is in full swing! Here is another EASY freezer meal! MEATLOAF! Here are 3 easy and fast steps!

What you will need:

2 lbs of ground beef

2 eggs

Bread crumbs

1/2 Onion

Fresh Minced Garlic ( I like a LOT of this!)

1/2 Avocado - YES, it keeps it moist and ooo so yummy!

Salt and Pepper to taste

Step one: Mix all ingredients in one bowl. Form the meatloaf and bake!

Step 2: Cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes 

Step 3: Freeze! When you are ready to eat defrost it and bake it at 325 degrees for 30 minutes!

 It is as Simple as 1-2-3!

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Tater Tot Taco Casserole Recipe

I am trying to spice up my menu! I found this awesome recipe and had to share it!! Being pregnant and working full-time I am exhausted at the end of the day and needed an EASY dinner well I found it! I hope you think so too!!

Tater Tot Taco Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Turkey Meat
1/2 Onion
2 Cloves of Garlic Minced
1 Package of Taco Seasoning
1 Can of Corn
1 Can of Beans, Drained and Rinsed
1 Bag of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Bag of Tater Tots
1 Can of Enchilada Sauce
1 Can of Sliced Black Olives (optional)



Step 1:
Mix: 1 lb. Ground Turkey Meat, 1/2 Onion, 2 Cloves of Garlic Minced in a pan

Step 2:
Drain meat mixture, add corn, beans and taco seasoning

Step 3:
Add Tater Tots and 1/2 the bag of cheese mix it in with the meat mixture

Step 4:
Add 1/3 of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the pan

Step 5:
Add meat and tater tot mixture pour the rest of the sauce on top

Step 6:

Bake at 375 for 40 minutes

Step 7:

Add the rest of the cheese and black olives (optional) until bubbly for about 5 minutes!

Enjoy!!

It is as Simple as 1-2-3!!

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New Baby: Hospital Checklist Must-Haves!

There is so much to do and to prepare before baby but what happens when the day has come and baby is on the way? In preparation for a new baby a hospital checklist is a must! I polled all my mommy friends and this is the list I came up with! I needed to share it with you all and hope it is helpful!! I bought a lot of the items off of Amazon! I found they had the best prices and more items in bulk such as nursing pads!

A few other tips from Simple As 1-2-3:

• Make sure you have your pediatricians number on hand. You will have to call them after the baby is born to schedule your first visit!

• Prepare your hospital bag at least a month before you go to the hospital, you never know when the baby will come…sometimes their plans are much different then yours!

• Put the carseat in the car at least a month before baby comes, you don't want to be figuring out and reading manuals on the day you are about to deliver! Tip: Go to your local police station and ask if there is someone who can put the carseat in for you, some cops are specifically trained in the safety of a carseat and how it is supposed to go!

• If you have pets or other children at home come up with a plan on who will be coming to take care of them and speak to those individuals a head of time!

Here are a few more tips that I found!

8 Tips for Leaving the Hospital:

By: Everyday Family

1.  Send as much home as you can the day before you check out of the hospital. Chances are your room will be full of balloons, flowers, or cards.

2.  Be sure to have an extra pair of baggy clothes to wear home. Even after delivery, you will be most comfortable in clothes that are significantly larger than your pre-pregnancy clothes.

3.  Ask your escort to bring the car as close to the hospital as possible, and carry only baby and burp cloth to the car. Don’t try to juggle too many things yourself as you bring your new baby outside of the hospital for the first time.

4.  Take your time! New mommies walk slow, especially those who have had a c-section. Besides, you only get to bring your baby home for the first time once; so slow down and enjoy every moment!

5.  Never underestimate how complicated car seats can be. If you have never used a car seat, or if you have never used the particular car seat in your car that day, review the manual before you get to the car with baby. Some people find it easiest to strap the baby into the car seat first, carry that to the car, and then strap the car seat into the car. Never put a rear-facing car seat in the front seat!

6.  At home, stock up on sanitary napkins (ideally before you go the hospital), so your partner does not have to make multiple trips to the store and can stay with you as much as possible. You will probably bleed for four to six weeks after delivery. And remember, in the beginning, you will need extra long and extra absorbent pads!

7.  Before leaving the hospital, ask for the direct number of the maternity ward and the name of a nurse or two (and their shift hours) you can call from home if you have an important question. Many hospitals provide a call service or “warm line” for new mothers with questions.

8.  Don’t feel rushed out the door! Make sure all of your questions are answered before you leave the hospital. Find out when you should schedule your child’s first checkup; and make sure you get the answers to anything you are unsure about, from diaper changing to breastfeeding.

Special Notes for Winter Deliveries:

Be sure to have warm clothing for your new baby to come home in! If your new baby has a blanket for extra warmth, remember to strap him or her into the car seat first, then place the blanket on top. Never place a blanket between your child and the car seat strap.

If you can, have someone in your home turn the temperature to 72 degrees before you arrive home. This way, it will be the same temperature as your hospital room. You can slowly decrease the temperature one degree per day, until it is at the temperature you prefer.

It is as simple as 1-2-3!

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Everything But The Kitchen Sink Part 2: Chicken & Rice Freezer Meal

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Part 2: Chicken & Rice Freezer Meal

In order to prepare for a new baby meals need to be set a side and frozen to make the transition of having a new baby in the home smoother for not only the new parents but also the baby! Here is a simple but yummy freezer meal dish to make a head of time and freeze!

Chicken & Rice

What you will need:

4 Chicken Breasts

2  Bags of Rice

2 Cans of Cream of Chicken

Thyme

Onion Powder

Salt and Pepper

Step 1: Cook rice and place in bowl

Step 2: Cook chicken in a pan for 20 minutes on 350 bake—when you defrost it to eat it you will end up baking it for a little longer so the chicken is 100% cooked! For now just cook it so that it is 1/2 cooked! Sprinkle chicken with a little bit of thyme and onion powder.

Step 3: Empty one can of the cream of chicken into the rice

Step 4: Sprinkle Thyme, Onion Powder, Salt & Pepper to taste mix it all together

Step 5: Pour into a baking pan and smooth out evenly 

Step 6: Take your other can of cream of chicken and pour into bowl, place a little bit of Thyme, Onion Powder, Salt & Pepper to taste mix it all together

Step 7: Take chicken out of oven and place it on top of the rice mixture

Step 8: Pour cream sauce on top

Step 9: Freeze!

Put frozen chicken dish in oven on 350 degrees for 45 minutes covered. Last 10 minutes uncover it!

Note: Place 1/4 cup water in pan before cooking!

Enjoy!

It is as simple as 1-2-3!

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Part 1: Mac & Cheese Freezer Meal

I am getting ready for baby Addison and started to prepare meals for the week she comes! My mom stopped by and helped me whip up a few yummy items! We opened open my pantry and started grabbing items to see what we could make and we through in everything but the kitchen sink! These are easy meals and easy items that you either already have or can run out quickly to pick up!

Here is the first yummy recipe!

MAC AND CHEESE


OH yes I said it Mac and Cheese…so yummy and EASY! Here is what you need:

2 lbs of elbow pasta
7 cups of sharp cheddar cheese
4 cups of milk
2 cups of bread crumbs
3 strips of bacon


Place a little bit of oil and butter in a sauce pan...

Boil water and add 2lbs of pasta

Put your bread crumbs in the pan with the melted butter and oil on low and brown the bread crumbs!

Spray the inside of the your pan(s)!

Nice and brown!!

Put the cheese in a bowl...

Add pasta..

Mix the cheese and pasta together then had the 4 cups of milk mix all the way through!

I added a few strips of bacon for a little more flavor..yummm!

Place the pasta mixture in the pan. It filled 2 pans for me!

Sprinkle bread crumbs on top of the pasta...

SOO GOOD..

Place foil on top and freeze!

If you defrost the dish you will have to bake it for 20 minutes on 350. If you choose to not defrost and to throw it in the oven frozen you will need to bake it for 45-60 minutes on 350.  Take the cover off the last 10 minutes and brown the top and until bubbly!!

This dish (one pan) is 2 1/2 meals! So I got 5 meals out of it!!

Enjoy!!

It is as Simple as 1-2-3!!

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