Today The Picky Apple and I celebrate 8 years of marriage.  We’ve been together for 14 years total, and I couldn’t have asked for a better husband.  Our anniversary celebration is being overshadowed by Baby Slingshot’s imminent arrival, so we’re not really doing much to celebrate today.  We may watch our wedding video with The Littlest Apple this evening, but that’s about it!

HOWEVER, since I was already planning on putting together some goodies for The Picky Apple to have at the hospital (after seeing this on Pinterest), I thought I’d make it a two-fer and give it as an anniversary gift.

I included several things he asked to have for snacks (almonds, peanut butter, apples, Goldfish) and several things I know he likes (Reeses Pieces, Snickers, string cheese, Diet Dr. Pepper, peanut butter and cheese crackers).  The Picky Apple has already seen the snacks because he unloaded my groceries from the car after I got home from the grocery store yesterday.  (See what I mean?!  He’s great!)  I spent about 5 minutes throwing this basket together.  Since my focus the last couple days has been on deep cleaning the house, I decided my time was better spent cleaning than making the “perfect” little tags for the gift basket with scrapbook paper and fun scissors.  I’m sure The Picky Apple understands.  In fact, I think he’d much rather have a gunk-free, science-experiment-free refrigerator than adorable gift tags on his hospital snacks.  So he got random, but oh-so-colorful paint chips instead.

I tried to incorporate the snack title in as many of the labels as possible: for the nuts, “I’m NUTS for you!”, for the goldfish, “There are lots of FISH in the sea, but you’re the only one for me!”.  You get the idea.  But for several, I just wrote a sweet note.  The Diet Dr. Pepper note says “You’ve been such a great dad to Finley and I can’t wait to see you hold our new baby boy!”

Happy Anniversary, Nathan!  I love you!

Since Slingshot’s arrival is only days away, I figured it was time to share his nursery with you.  And even though I hate it when bloggers start off their posts with disclaimers, I do have a few disclaimers: The nursery is mostly finished  (the important stuff is done), but I know if I don’t share photos now, it could be a while before I get around to it.  We haven’t made up our minds about the wall art and a few other decorative touches, so the walls are still a little bare.  And in need of some paint touchups.  We’re also still waiting on the rug I ordered, which is backordered until the end of January).  We “borrowed” a rug from The Littlest Apple’s room in the meantime, just to get a feel for the size of the new rug.

So all that being said, here’s Slingshot’s room….

We LOVE that giant window and all the light it lets in, but it sure does make it hard to photograph this room!  The photo below shows the little attic door on the left (there is another door on the opposite wall).  We used those as a guide for how tall to make the board and batten, and I’m so glad that we did.  I feel like those little doors are much less of an eyesore and really blend in now.  I am SO pleased with how the board and batten turned out.  The Picky Apple did a fantastic job, don’t you think?

Here’s the other side of the room, that is definitely in need of some wall art….

We bought that train table for The Littlest Apple’s second birthday.  He never really enjoyed playing with it.  His favorite part of playing with it is taking it apart and throwing the tracks on the ground.  We love it too much to get rid of it, but don’t have another place to store it at the moment.  So we’re hoping that Slingshot enjoys it a little more than his big brother!  Luckily, this bedroom is second in size only to our master bedroom, so there is plenty of space for a ginormous train table.

The curtains are my personal favorite, because I made them.  I’ll share more on that in another post!

And here’s the rug I ordered….

The wall art is a big sticking point right now.  We can’t make up our minds, so we decided not to rush it just so we have something up before Slingshot’s arrival (though it IS driving me a little crazy to not have room “finished”).  We want a series of 5 or 6 framed somethings on one wall (prints?  fun fabrics?  art that my husband and I create?), framed in IKEA Ribba frames like these:

I like these Alphabet Prints from Finny & Zook (and I’m keen on these letters later in the alphabet, which might be weird):

We could also use these Pattern Pieces (in lots of different colors) available for free from Sprik Space.

But for now we’re happy with the nursery, and it’s time to move on to cleaning the rest of the house like a crazy woman.  I have SO much to do in the next few days!!

A few weeks before Christmas, The Littlest Apple and I decorated a gingerbread house.  To keep it simple, we used a kit from Target, and it was unbelievably easy to throw together.  All the decorations we needed were included, and there was plenty of frosting. BUT the most exciting part was what I told The Littlest Apple as we were decorating:  we were going to blow up the gingerbread house with firecrackers on New Year’s Eve.  And my crazy four year old thought that was about the coolest thing ever. He’s been asking every single day since we built that gingerbread house if it was time to “explode” it yet. So yesterday was the big day!  The Littlest Apple was SO excited to go with The Picky Apple to buy fireworks. But then they got home.  And he remembered that he doesn’t like fireworks.  Not at all. So he said he would watch through the window, hands over his ears, while my husband blew up the gingerbread house. The first firecracker, placed in the corner of the house, merely blew off a corner of the gingerbread roof. But that was enough to send The Littlest Apple running for cover upstairs.  He REALLY doesn’t like fireworks. The second, more strategically placed firecracker flattened the house.  It was neat to see.  I think The Littlest Apple MIGHT have been watching from an upstairs window, but we’re not sure. When came back downstairs and verified that we were done with the fireworks, we let him bash the rest of the gingerbread house to pieces with a hammer. Fun stuff!  I think this could be a new yearly tradition at The Picky Apple house…. Happy 2012 Everyone!

The Littlest Apple and I discovered some new favorite activities this year, several of which I haven’t even shared with you yet (including marshmallow guns, water beads, glow in the dark fun, and more…coming soon in 2012!  One of my goals for 2012 is to be more intentional about planning fun activities, crafts, and science experiments for The Littlest Apple.  I found the Activity Advent Calendar to be really helpful for the month of December, and we did more fun stuff in December than we did all year long.  When I was prepping for each week, I looked over that week’s Advent Activities and purchased supplies and prepared each activity accordingly.  The rest of the year, I may have thought about a particular activity or craft, but didn’t have supplies on hand.  Or I just never planned it in the first place.  With Baby Slingshot arriving soon, I know this will be a challenge, but I also think this will be a great way to spend some quality time with The Littlest Apple.  We probably won’t do something like this every single day, but I may aim for 2-3 crafts/activities a week.  (Blogging about them all is a whole different story!)

So, here are some things The Littlest Apple and I did in 2011….

1.  Mardi Gras Sensory Bin-  This was a new sensory bin for us this year, and The Littlest Apple and I BOTH loved it!  The colored rice, the beads, the feathers, and the masks made this one really special.  Can’t wait to break it out again in a few months!

2.  Does It Dissolve? Anything that involves pouring and stirring is usually a hit with The Littlest Apple, and he’s asked for this activity over and over again.  We also used the index card labels to incorporate some letter and word recognition into this activity.

3.  Easter Cross Suncatcher- My favorite of all the suncatchers we’ve made over the last few years.  The black outline on this one really makes the colors pop, and the colors are bright and lovely for spring.

4.  Fizzy Fun- This was probably the biggest hit of the entire year.  We’ve done this many, many times, and since it just requires a few household ingredients (that I usually have on hand), we do this one as a default activity when we’re looking for something to do.

5.  Milk Magic- This experiment is so mesmerizing to watch.  The swirly, bright colors look beautiful on the backdrop of white milk.  We definitely need to revist this one!

6.  Cup Stacking-  The surprise hit of the year.  Who knew that kids liked to play with plastic cups so much?  Note to self: Always have a stack of cups on hand for The Littlest Apple when I need a minute to get something done.

7.  Slime-There are so many neat-o recipes like this floating around on the internet for slime, gak, oobleck, etc.  I plan to try more of these in the future, because it’s a really great sensory experience for The Littlest Apple (as well as a good lesson in following the recipe!).  This slime had a neat texture that was lots of fun to play with.

8.  Autumn Cork Painting-  I LOVED this art project!  I thought it turned out beautifully, and The Littlest Apple even joined in despite his initial rejection.  This was one of YOUR favorite Picky Apple post this year too, judging by all the Pinterest interest it received.

9.  Gumdrop Sculptures- This was another activity that I came up with spur of the moment using things we had on hand (including the several-years-old-yucky-gumdrops).  The Littlest Apple is in a building phase, so this one kept him busy for quite a while.

10.  Gingerbread Playdough- This was a new playdough for us this year, and we played with it all through the month of December.  It smells fantastic, and the rollers and cookie cutters made this extra festive.

11. Salt Dough Ornaments-  The Littlest Apple and I had a blast making these and painting them, then using them as ornaments and gift tags.  Definitely a new annual Christmas tradition for The Picky Apple house.

I’ll have one more “Best Of 2011″ post for you tomorrow, but these little morsels of deliciousness were too amazing not to share today.  If you’re still trying to figure out a an easy, fun appetizer to serve for New Year’s Eve, here you go!  The Picky Apple doesn’t care for goat cheese, so I got the whole batch of these to myself.  And yes, I did eat them all.  Pretty much in one sitting.  I called it…”lunch.”  If I had more ingredients on hand, I would absolutely make these again for New Year’s Eve (or any other excuse to eat them again.)!

Pancetta Cups with Goat Cheese and Pear

recipe from The Galley Gourmet

Ingredients:

• 16 thin slices (about 1/2 pound) of pancetta (not paper thin)
• 1 large or 2 small pears, peeled, cored and diced
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 4 ounces mild goat cheese
• 1 Tablespoon half-and-half
• 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• Honey to drizzle

Snuggly fit the slices of pancetta into the wells of a mini-muffin pan.  To help keep their shape while baking, ball up a small piece of aluminum foil and place into a pancetta cup.  Repeat with the remaining cups.  Place the pan into a cold oven and close the door.  Turn the oven to 400º F and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pancetta is browned and crisp.  Carefully remove the cups, discarding the foil ball, and place them on a paper towel-lined rack to cool.  The cups will continue to crisp as they cool.

Meanwhile, toss the pears with the lemon juice in a medium bowl; set aside.  In a separate bowl, stir together the goat cheese and half-and-half.

Transfer the pancetta cups to a serving plate.  FIll each cup with a spoonful of pears.  Pipe using a piping bag or place dollops of the cheese mixture onto the pears.  Sprinkle with the thyme leaves and drizzle with honey.  Serve immediately.  Enjoy!

Onward with the year in review!  I had so many great projects in mind this year (and a huge list for next year, thanks to Pinterest), but not many of them actually came to fruition.  Mostly because I’ve been working on the biggest project of all, growing Baby Slingshot!  So here are my Top 10 Projects of 2011 (and I use the term “projects” loosely, as you’ll see….)

1.  Monthly Cleaning Calendar-  The first half of the year I was focused on keeping a clean house, and my custom monthly cleaning calendar really worked for me.  A sample calendar still remains in my sidebar, if you’re interested.  Things have gone downhill of late, but I’ve got a new, easier system lined up for the new year that takes in to account the new addition to the family.  We’ll see how it goes.

2.  How to Clean Your Bathroom in 11 Minutes- This year, I found a bathroom cleaning method (and products) that works for me.  This quick and easy routine makes a dreaded task much more bearable.

3.  Dress Up Storage Bin and Puppet Theater- Now HERE’s a real project for you!  My husband did all the building for this and I painted and sewed the curtains (and gathered the costumes and puppets).  This labor of love was auctioned off by The Littlest Apple’s preschool.  I wish we had one for our house too!

4. Rice Heat Therapy Packs-  I loved these so much, I made them for Mother’s Day AND for Christmas.  Such an easy little handmade gift!

5.  It’s a….- BOY!  This has been our biggest project of 2011.  Only a few more days to go before Baby Slingshot is here!

6.  Thankful Banner-  Late this fall, I finally got my crafting mojo back, and eeked out this Thanksgiving Banner just in time for Turkey Day.  This was my first project using burlap.  Love it!

7.  Slingshot’s Nursery- Okay, so I haven’t really shared any updates, but the nursery is mostly finished.  (I’ll share some photos in the next few days)  The walls are finished, the crib, rocker, changing table have all been set up.  A rug has been ordered.  We’re doing some DIY curtains and still need some wall accessories.  All in all, the nursery is turning out just how I’d hoped!  Here’s a pic from a few weeks ago when the board and batten was going up…

8.  Activity Advent Calendar- This was such a fun project, and an important part of our December.  The Littlest Apple LOVED checking the Advent Calendar each morning to see what our activity for the day was.  I think our favorite was the North Pole Breakfast.  Can’t wait to do this again next year!

9.  Going Primal/Paleo-  Going gluten, grain, and sugar free has been such a life-changer for me, and I definitely consider this a “project.”  A year ago, I NEVER would have considered doing something like this, but now I can’t imagine going back.  I feel great (as great as I can for being 36 weeks pregnant), I’ve got more energy than ever and I’m getting sick less often.  I’m looking forward to a Paleo/Primal 2012!

10.  Peppermint and Lemon Foot Soak- I made 10 of these this Christmas (including one for myself!).  It was so easy to throw together, and the smell is divine.  Such a great way to relax after being on your feet all day.

With 2012 right around the corner, it’s time to reflect on 2011.  Today I’d like to share my favorite recipes from the last year (in chronological order)….

1.  Caribbean Chicken Kebabs with Lime-Cayenne Butter-  Hands down, the best thing we grilled all year long.  Great flavors, and also goes well with beef and shrimp.

2.  Fig Prosciutto Pizza with Arugula- The recipe that started my fig obsession.  Sweet fig preserves paired with salty prosciutto and cheese….I don’t think I will ever get tired of this pizza.  Craving it right now!

3.  Pumpkin Waffles- My first time using our waffle maker.  The beginning of the Waffle Revolution at our house, and the best waffle recipe I tried all year long (and I tried quite a few!).

4.  Cajun Chicken Pasta- (no photo).  One of my favorite dishes ever.  So easy to make, and easy to adapt for a large dinner party.

5.  Beef With Peppers- This has become my go-to stir fry dish when I’m craving Asian takeout.  I love the flavors and the slight spiciness of this dish!

6.  Bacon Wrapped Figs- Heavenly little morsels!  A great appetizer or snack, but good luck sharing them with anyone else.  You’ll want to eat them all!

7.  Crockpot Whole Chicken-The easiest way to cook a whole chicken.  Produces a tender, juicy, flavorful chicken that can be used in soups, casseroles, or eaten straight out of the crockpot.

8.  Fall Salad with Butternut Squash and Apple Butter Vinaigrette- The beginning of my current salad obsession.  This one has several of my favorite things: butternut squash, goat cheese, pecans, and dried cranberries.  A great side dish for Fall.

9.  Winter Berry Salad Wreath with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing- This salad not only looks gorgeous but tastes delicious too.  Not too difficult to make, and great for when you want to impress.  Perfect for brunch, potluck dinners, or holiday parties.

10.  Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Cilantro Pesto-  Primal cooking at it’s best.  The Cilantro Pesto is out of this world!

11.  Pomegranate Hazelnut Holiday Salad with Maple Bacon Dressing- yes, this was my most recent post, and yes, this is the third salad on my Top 11 List, but this one is just too delicious not to include.  I love pomegranate and bacon.  Especially together.

Salad: it doesn’t have to be boring.  I’ve got a whole board of salad inspiration on Pinterest.  I eat salads frequently for lunch, and by changing them up with new and different flavor combinations, I don’t get tired of eating them.  Yes, they take a little prep work in advance, but do the work once, and you’ll have enough salad for a few days!

This Pomegranate Hazelnut Holiday Salad with Maple Bacon Dressing is one AMAZING salad!  I’ve thrown this salad together at least 3 times in the last month, and I just can’t get enough of it.  I suppose I’m a little slow jumping on the pomegranate band-wagon: until I made this salad, I don’t think I’d had pomegranate or pomegranate juice.  But now I love those messy little seeds with all my heart!

And then there’s the dressing…made of maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, and….wait for it….bacon grease.  It really doesn’t get any better than that.

In order to make this salad a little more filling for a lunch or dinner (and to get some extra protein), I add grilled chicken or turkey (as in the photo, taken shortly after Thanksgiving) and crumbled goat cheese.  I think the goat cheese pairs well with the bacon and pomegranate flavors, but other cheeses would probably work great too!

Pomegranate Hazelnut Holiday Salad with Maple Bacon Dressing

recipe adapted from Lauren’s Latest

Ingredients:

• 8 cups Mixed Greens
• 12 slices Bacon, cooked and crumbled (save your bacon grease, see below!)
• ¾ cups Chopped, Toasted Hazelnuts
• 1 whole Pomegranate, Peeled And Arils Removed
• 1 cup chopped grilled chicken or leftover turkey
• 3/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 3 Tablespoons Warm Bacon Grease (reserved From Cooking The Bacon)
• 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
• 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
• Salt And Pepper, to taste

To make salad: Toss greens, bacon, hazelnuts, pomegranate, grilled chicken/turkey, and goat cheese together in a bowl.

To make dressing: Place bacon grease, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper (if using) into a small jar and shake until combined. Pour dressing over salad, toss and serve immediately.

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!

Making salt dough ornaments has been on my list of things to try for several years now, and this year, we finally made them.  They were super duper easy to make (only 3 ingredients!), and The Littlest Apple and I both had lots of fun painting them once they were dry.  We used washable tempera paints, but I’m sure acrylic would also work well.  You can play around with stamps and pressing patterns into the dough before baking (we did a few of those, like the red star that you can just barely see in the very top right of the photo below).  Next year we might break out the glitter too!

One special thing we did this year was the Family Thumbprint Christmas Tree Ornament (you can see 2 pictured above).  I wanted a way to document our last year as a family of 3, and I thought this would be a cute way to do it.  We pressed our thumbprints into the dough before baking, and then I colored them each a different color and added some details and our name with a black fine-tip Sharpie.  Next year, we’re going to need a bigger tree ornament to fit all 4 of our thumbprints!  This was actually the only salt dough ornament that went on the tree.

The rest were used for gift tags!  Part necessity because we ran out of gift tags, part “okay, what do we do with all of the ornaments now that we made them?”  Aside from their slightly delicate nature (I did accidentally break one when I stacked a few presents on top of each other), I LOVE the way the salt dough ornaments look as gift tags.  I wrote on them with a fine tip sharpie.

One batch of dough made plenty for us!

Salt Dough Ornaments

recipe from The Happy Housewife

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup warm water

Mix together flour and salt.  Then mix in the warm water.  Mix until you have a dough that is similar in consistency to pie crust.  Take the dough and place it on a floured surface.  Roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick.  Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. If you don’t have cookie cutters you could use a glass to cut circles.  Put the shapes on a cookie sheet.  Then take a sharp object (I used a meat thermometer) to put a small hole in each shape where you will insert the ribbon. Make sure the hole goes all the way through the dough, because it will close up slightly while baking.  Bake the salt dough ornaments for 4 to 6 hours at 200 degrees or until hardened.  Paint and decorate as desired!