Father's day in Florida (a few days late.)

What did you do for Father's day?
We spent the day on the boat, at 3 rooker island. We met up with a bunch of our friends and all set up camp tents. Makayla is loving the water thanks to her Grandmom swim lessons so we spent most of the day floating in the water and relaxing. She enjoys the sand and playing shells with Grandmom as well. Her are a few pictures from our day. Steve got to fly a kite and had a blast.























I also wanted to note a special Thank you to my hubby! Thank you so much for all you do for Makayla and I. I am so grateful to be able to spend these days with her. She is growing up so fast. There is not a day that goes by that your hard work and sacrifice go unnoticed. I love you more and more each day.

Also to my Dad and my Father in law! Thank you both for being wonderful Dad's to Steve and I and Grandfather's to Makayla, she loves you both so much!

Tickle Your Taste Buds Tuesday

Like I have said in the past I always give credit where credit is due! I did not come up with this recipe on my own. Melissa decided to share it with me and return I decided to share with you.

This recipe is brought to you by.... Melissa!

Cookie Dough Dip

She does not use the pecans, but she does add a bit more brown sugar and powdered sugar. She just serves it in a dish with graham crackers and nilla wafers. YUM.


1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 TBL brown sugar
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
Graham crackers

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add sugars; beat just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Place cream cheese mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap; shape into a ball. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Just before serving, roll cheese ball in If you want pecans. Serve with graham crackers.

Doesn't that sound yummy? I can't wait to try it!

Do you have a recipe you want to share? Email me at slbower(at)gmail(dot)com. I am always looking for new recipe ideas. Let me know if you try this one or you have a suggestion.

Did you miss out on all the past recipes? Just click on the picture at the top of this post and you can see them all. Give a try there are some good ones!

ENJOY!

Time out

Recently Makayla has found her rebellious side. She knows what NO means, she just decides when to listen and when to do whatever she wants.

She has finally found Molly's dogs bowls. This has become a major fight. She plays in the water and then spreads it all over the floor. She also likes to pick them up and throw them down. Why is this a problem you ask? Well they are ceramic and cute and she throws them on the tile. They have not broken yet and I hope they don't.

So how am I going to get her to stop playing with the dog bowls? Why TIME OUT of course. I started by sitting her against the wall in the hall way but she fought back by banging her head against the wall. I needed a special place for her to sit that she knew she was in trouble. So I had my mom Make this.

I sit down on the floor with her and hold her hands and tell her she is in time out and why. I make her sit for about 45 seconds right now. That will be increasing as she gets older. She sits pretty well for the most part.

She knows now that when she touches the dog bowls she goes in time out. She even put herself in time out after touching them this morning. Ohh My little trouble maker.

Do you have any behavior suggestions for a 12 month old? Leave me a comment I am open to suggestion and need them!

Do you have a deep covered baker from Pampered Chef? NO! Why not? It is the best thing ever! I use mine all the time. I make the 30 minute chicken recipe at least once a week. Let me know if you need to order one, or you can just go here.
My sister sent me this recipe and I thought I would try it out, and share it with you.

Mexican Chicken “Lasagna”

A fun twist on lasagna starts with salsa and corn tortillas to create a quick microwave casserole.

Ingredients

¼cup lightly packed fresh cilantro leaves
1pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
2cups (8 oz) shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1medium onion (about 2/3 cup chopped)
1can (28 oz) enchilada sauce
12(6-in.) corn tortillas
3cups diced or shredded cooked chicken You can use left over 30 minute chicken
Additional chopped fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

Chop cilantro
Microwave cream cheese for 30-45 seconds or until very soft. Put cream cheese. Add cilantro and 1½ cups of the Monterey Jack cheese; mix well.
Chop onion set aside.
Spread 2/3 cup of the enchilada sauce over bottom of Deep Covered Baker.
Pour the remaining enchilada sauce into a bowl set aside.

To assemble lasagna

dip four tortillas into enchilada sauce in bowl arrange over sauce in baker, overlapping as necessary. Scoop half of the cream cheese mixture over tortillas--spread
Top with 1 cup of the chicken and one-third of the onion. Repeat layers one time.
Dip remaining four tortillas into sauce and arrange over second layer.
Top with remaining chicken and onion. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over lasagna and sprinkle with remaining ½ cup Monterey Jack cheese.

Microwave, covered, on HIGH 12-15 minutes or until center is hot. Let stand 10 minutes. Sprinkle with additional chopped cilantro. Cut into squares SERVE.

This recipe can be assembled up to one night in advance. Prepare through Step 2; cover and refrigerate.When ready to serve, let baker stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 21-23 minutes or until hot. Proceed as recipe directs.

Are you thinking eww gross chicken in the microwave? Stop thinking that. This thing makes the best chicken and it doesn't taste at all like it came out of the microwave. Try it I dare you. It makes quick and easy meals in no time.

I hope you enjoy. Let me know if you make it and if you like it.
Do you have a suggestion or a recipe you would like me to post leave it in the comments or shoot me an email. slbower(at)gmail(dot)com. Don't worry I always give credit where credit is due.

Movie Monday

I have been using the flip a lot lately so I thought I would share some videos.

Here is one of Makayla walking I love how she tottles when she walks.


Here is a video of swimming lessons. She seems to really be enjoying her self now and getting really good at kicking and getting to the wall. Hope you enjoy.

Crash and Burn...

***warning*** Overload of updates and pictures.

The past week has been a little crazy for us.

Makayla turned 11 months old.

She is now what I would call a 90% walker. She can walk, but she only does it when she wants to. She has quit the attitude when she gets mad which is very funny when you are not on the receiving end of her anger. She is on milk now....no more formula woohooo. She is talking up a storm and learning new words everyday. She will be 1 in just a few short week, I still can't believe it. Her party planning is going well. Just a few things to put together and it will be party time.

She is swimming like a fish kicking like a frog, at swim lessons. She swims to the wall and climbs out. I have to say I am amazed at her progress in such a short period of time. She has 2 weeks left I am fairly confident that she will be swimming on her own by the end.

(this is her new face)

She had her first big crash and burn yesterday. She was walking on my Mom's patio and took a nose dive on the concrete. She was not happy to say the least. She scratched up her nose and lip but is fine other then that.

Makayla's personalty keeps us laughing all the time. Our almost toddler is becoming very independent with a mind of her own. She is in love with Mickey Mouse and carries him everywhere. But I have to say her most favorite thing to do these days is to play in the dog crate. She climbs in all on her own and closes the door. Who am I to argue with her she locks herself in the dog crate I get dinner cooked, its win, win as I see it.

She also seems to have a good time in the laundry basket. That is until she gets stuck.

Ohh and one more thought. Do they make time out seats with seat belts? I think we are going to need one and SOON!

Silly Goose

Not much here to update we have swim lessons 3 days a week for 1/2 an hour. Makayla is doing very well. She can almost climb up the wall by herself, kick her legs and she knows where the wall is. She is working on blowing bubbles, and "reach and pulls" but for the most part she is doing well. She is very ACTIVE which I why I have had a lack of entry's these days. I don't get computer time unless she is asleep. She can now open all the cabinets so we had to install child safety locks this week, she was not happy when she learned she couldn't open them.

I had to clean out the cabinet for the water guy and she decided to get in it. What a goof ball.
I also found her in Molly's cage the other day. I was cooking her dinner and she was kinda quit when I went to check on her she had climbed into Molly's cage with Winnie the Pooh and was pretending to sleep. She is such a silly girl.

Ohhh and as for walking....she is about a 60% walker. She can take 3-6 steps in a row without holding on to anything. If she is holding something she can walk all day. I got her walking on video also but you will have to wait for that. I am tired and going to bed now.

Thanks for checking in.

It's Tuesday

I have to give credit where credit is due. I did not come up with this recipe on my own though I did tweak it a little. This is from Rachael Ray's Magazine. It is really yummy. If you make it let me know if you like it of what you would change. ENJOY!

Summer Shrimp Rolls

EVOO
1/2 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined, chopped
1/2 cup of frozen corn or fresh if you have it
1/4 cup mayo (yes I made and ate something with Mayo)
Old bay-----Rachael used pesto but this is what I changed
lemon juice
1/2 red bell pepper
2 green onions
S&P (salt and Pepper)
Sesame seed Hoggie rolls. (She used hot dog buns)

Chop red pepper, slice green onion,
mix together mayo, juice from about half a lemon, and old bay or pesto (not both) to taste, add a little S&P

Heat Evoo in a pan.
Sprinkle a little old bay and a little lemon juice on the shrimp.
Put seasoned shrimp and corn in a pan cook until shrimp are cooked 5-8 min.

In a bowl mix together shrimp, corn mixture, mayo mixture, and red pepper and green onions.
Mix so everything is coated in the sauce. Put in fridge until cool. I cleaned all the dishes while it was cooling.
Cut open Hoggie roll spoon shrimp mixture into Hoggie rolls. We topped them with shredded lettuce. They were so yummy.
I didn't try the pesto it just didn't sound good me, but the old bay was perfect. Hope you enjoy let me know how it turns out!

Do you have a recipe you want to share? Email me at slbower (at) gmail (dot) com. You will get the credit I promise.

Be sure to look at yesterdays post. There are 2 really cute videos of Makayla. Just keep scrolling

Can you smell your toes?

I feel like we have been so busy the past few days. Last Friday we had a wonderful play date at Alicia's house, Makayla is no longer the youngest kid in playgroup and is learning how to hold her own with the bigger kids. Saturday we spent most of the day in the fabric store picking fabrics with Nenny, Lynn, and Grandmom. (Makayla LOVES the fabric store----she loves all the colors and touching grabbing all the different patterns) Sunday we celebrated Aunt Sara's birthday and played with cousin Shea. Monday we started swim lessons. Makayla did great. Our goal is to get her used to the water and survival if she falls in. I will keep you updated on her progress.

Makayla is into EVERYTHING. She can now open cabinet doors and empty them quickly, pull her baskets out of her toy shelf, destroy my bathroom cabinet in 2.2 seconds, take 3-4 steps in a row, drink formula mixed with real milk from a sippy, tell her Mom to "stop it" scream really loudly in a restaurant, put the right shape into holes in toys, fly on her new Mickey Mouse air plane, smell her own toes, swim under water (well she did this for the first time today at swim lessons), roll a ball, and destroy an important piece of paper in seconds. She is a very active little girl, she keeps me on my toes and surprises me everyday with how much she learns and how she expresses herself.

We are planning finishing up all the details for her 1st birthday. Can you believe in just a month or so our baby Makayla will have survived her first year of life? I cannot believe how fast it has flown by. She is such a big girl now, and a funny one I might add.

Here are a few videos for you all to get your Makayla fix, since I know that is what you come for. Don't forget to check back on Tuesday for "Tickle your taste buds Tuesday."