Weekend Recap {in photos}

This week we've shown you some bits and pieces from this past weekend.  We were only in Virginia for a couple of days so we used it to spend some quality time together. Saturday morning we woke up and let the girls play while we had our morning coffee.

Then we went in search of breakfast at the local farmer's market (gluten free oat/fruit bar for me, a vegan spinach wrap for Amanda, a chocolate croissant for Andrew).  The sun was shining and it was so lovely to see all the brightly colored produce lining the street.

Lyla and Aurora are only 10 months apart in age which seemed like a huge age gap when Lyla was first born.  But as the months pass their interactions are getting more and more fun to watch.  Aurora was giving her cousin kisses and hugs, patting her head and even trying to share her food with Lyla.  

(We took Lyla in to get Aurora up from her nap and let them play in the crib for a bit!)

Sunday, after a huge homemade breakfast (...then lunch), we lounged around avoiding the inevitable goodbyes.  It was a wonderful (and too short!) weekend.  Lyla slept better than she has in a while (which means I got a good night's sleep too) and Amanda kept us well-fed with yummy home-cooked meals.  So while I was sad when the trip was over, I at least came home feeling a bit refreshed.

xo

Jayme

Traveling Wardrobe {Vintage Style}

I hate packing for trips.  I am the type of person who likes to dress based on my mood so planning outfits ahead of time is really not my thing.  When packing for a vacation I usually grab a bunch of separates (various colors of basic tanks, skirts/pants/shorts) and then throw in some random accessories that will work with any combination of my separates.  Here's what I wore one of our days in Virginia this weekend:

Plain black tank and cuffed denim cut-offs accessorized with vintage vest, leather belt, silver jewelry.  I know, I know...it's not rocket science.  And honestly I didn't love the outfit.  But I feel like as part of showing "mom style" I want to be real and show things that are practical and things that I actually wore (rather than just put on to pose for a few photos).  When you have a cute baby on your hip, chances are no one is looking at YOU anyway!  (Lyla was rocking a little vintage romper--yellow and white gingham print and an anchor embroidered on the front!)  I may have to start re-thinking my jewelry choices, seeing as Lyla is now interested in grabbing any and everything--as you can see in the photos, she was digging my necklace!  Check out the Miskabelle blog tomorrow to see what Amanda wore this past weekend!

xo
Jayme

Vegan for a Day: Black Bean, Corn, Tomato, and Onion Salad over Quinoa with Avocado Vinaigrette

Jayme, Andrew and Lyla came for a Virginia visit this weekend, and it was fantastic.

at the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning

 But it was also a little challenging:  I had to figure out how to cook for a vegan (me), gluten-free gal (J), and veggie-hating brother-in-law (to be fair, he did eat some veggies). Food plays an important role in entertaining, and I wanted everyone--self included--to feel happy and satisfied.

snacky snack snack snack

We had a ton of healthy, yummy snacks on Friday (chips, hummus, guacamole, crackers, etc.) before dinner, some pad thai and chicken skewers on Saturday, a Sunday brunch that included tofu scramble, GF pancakes, turkey bacon and fresh fruit, and this delicious salad, along with leftovers for lunch. 

This salad is a meal, for sure: you've got your veggies, your bean, your grains, your healthy fats. It's all in there. And it's easy!  A little prep work for the veggies and dressing, but can be ready in about 15 minutes (or less, if you have some help!).

Black Bean, Corn, Tomato and Onion Salad over Quinoa
w/ Avocado Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS

Salad
2 cans (15.5 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed
4 ears corn, boiled and cut off cob (you could also use 1-2 cans of corn or a package of frozen, in a pinch, but obviously, fresh tastes best!)
1 small sweet onion, finely chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped

Quinoa
1 cup quinoa (choose your favorite variety)
2 cups water

Vinaigrette
1 medium avocado
3 Tablespoons lime juice (about 1 fresh lime)
2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon agave syrup (or sugar)
2/3 cup vegetable stock
1 green onion, minced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon sea salt

PREPARATION

1.  If boiling corn, prepare the pot with water (no salt).  Add quinoa and water to sacuepan and cook as directed.
2.  Once corn is ready and slightly cool, cut off cob and put in serving bowl.  Add all other vegetable ingredients as well to make salad.
3.  Let quinoa cool while you make the vinaigrette.
4.  Add all ingredients to a small blender or food processor (I used my immersion/stick blender with its shake cup, and it worked perefctly!).  Blend until smooth, but not thick.  It should look like a runny guacamole.  If too thick, add a little more vinegar.
5. Add cooled quinoa to salad and mix.
6. Pour dressing over salad and mix (you may only use 2/3 of the dressing...it's up to you how saucy you want the salad mixture!).

 The colors in the salad are so gorgeous...of course, as the avocado oxidizes, it will get a little more brown, so this is best served within a day or two.  You can eat it warm if you prefer, by adding the quinoa immediately, but we found it tasted best cold.  Refreshing, healthy, delicious!

Have you made any Meatless Monday recipes lately, from this blog or somewhere else? I'd love to hear about them!

Bon Apetit,
Amanda

Is there anything cuter...

than kissing babies?

These little cousins are enjoying some time together this weekend.  Hope you're enjoying your weekend too!

xo
Amanda & Aurora, Jayme & Lyla

What Aurora Wore: Bare Midriff

Even though I love the look of a thin sliver of perfect tummy from this season's cropped shirt trend, I, myself, do not have the figure (or courage?) to pull it off.

But you know who has the best midriff? Babies!  For babies, the rounder the belly, the better.  Aurora dared to bare in a cute top I thrifted this week.  These pictures make her look so grown up.  And her whole outfit is thrifted/hand-me-down.  It's easy to be stylish on a budget...and we waste less too (more on that in a future post).

tie blouse-The Children's Place (thrifted), scooter skirt-hand me down, gold bow flats-Gymboree (thrifted), koi becklace (mama's!)

One day, Aurora came over to me while I was brushing my teeth...and she was wearing one of my necklaces that had been resting on my dresser!  She never seemed to notice to my jewelry, other than occasionally pulling on my earrings, but I guess she was paying attention!  Lately, I've been letting her wear this little fish necklace, since the chain is kind of short. She loves it!

You know what she also loves?  BUBBLES.  Like, with a passion.  If she sees the bubble container, there is no stopping here (there are a lot of bubbles blown inside the house here, and even, on one occasion, in the car!). She calls them Bub-bullsh. It's beyond cute.  She is still working on learning to blow them herself.  Unfortunately, she gets the bubble blower too close to her mouth and ends up with soapy lips!

We're linking up with Mama Loves Papa again this week for Small Style!  Click the link to check out other cuties in their best duds.

xo,
Amanda & Aurora

A First Father's Day

I am the worst at thinking of creative gifts for birthdays and holidays.  The one thing I do like to always do is make a homemade card.  So I knew for sure that Lyla and I would make her daddy a Father's Day card.  Lyla 'made' some foot prints and I helped her with the rest... ; )

We also got him some cheesy key chains (one that said #1 DAD and one with a little photo frame with Lyla's picture in it--which is now has looped onto his keys).  I know....not the most extravagant first father's day gifts.  But Andrew isn't all that much into "stuff" (although he does have a soft spot for shoes and watches) so my big gift to him was a fun day with his girls.  After church and lunch with my parents we ventured out golfing--with Lyla in tow.  A risky decision, but she was perfection!   I documented our outing with Andrew's iPhone via Instagram (I got a little obsessed...and am now considering trading in my trusty Blackberry for my own iPhone!).

tiny passenger

Lyla and I followed on foot

sleeping babe

putt putt

artsy shot 

handsome daddy

daddy and baby

mama and baby (wide-eyed, just waking!)

baby wearing (a passed out little gal)

tiny hands and feet

When we got home we relaxed for a bit and then grilled some steaks for dinner.  A simple dinner at home was a great way to end the day (oh, and strawberry banana smoothies!).  I feel so lucky that my husband loves just spending time with us.--"his girls" (I love when he calls us that!).  Even before I married Andrew I knew he'd be a great dad...and so far I couldn't have been more right.  His patience and selflessness amazes me everyday.   I only he hope he enjoyed his first Father's Day as much as I did!

xo
Jayme

{Lyla} 6 months old.

Half of Lyla's first year has now passed.  She has been with us for 6 months!    As my dad said the other day "She is gonna be a character!"  Not sure if this translates to non-Central/Western Pennsylvanians.  In other words--you can already see what a silly and fun personality she has!  We can get her to giggle at the drop of hat (often times during a crying fit we'll do something silly to get her to laugh...she will grin and giggle, then continue crying.  It is so maddening...but also hilarious).  As I posted before, Lyla's rolling like a champ and attempting to crawl.  Her 6 month doctor's appointment is on Friday and I'm anxious to see how much she weighs.  I've already given up lugging her around in her car seat--it is just too dang heavy.  We're getting good use out of our front carrier and sling.

She is one expressive little baby! (wearing her hat, on an unseasonably cool day in May)

She is babbling lots and lots..."dada", "baba", "abfff", etc.  She grabs everything she can reach (her favorites include my blackberry and the TV remote...).  She is [still] trying to figure out this whole sleeping thing....napping only in someone's arms or her front carrier and waking 3-4 times per night.

Yet still, we are smitten.  She is a little piece of heaven on earth.  Every day is a challenge but each morning I wake up excited to see Lyla grow and learn more and more.

xo
Jayme