Nico's Halloween 2014

This year we decided to do a Mommy and Me costume! 

As you can see, I'm a lion and Nico is a lion hunter! 

Since Nico is still a little too young for candy I came up with a great alternative. We skipped the Trick-or-treating and had a fun African Safari "photo shoot" instead.

(Thanks Pedro for being our photographer! Love you babe!)

 

 

Throw Back Thursday!

Happy Throw-backing!

 It wouldn't be Thursday without it!

 

Sleepy baby! 

 

 Visiting Raleigh ready for his first outing in the cold winter!

 Wedding day! Jan. 16, 2013

 Nice and cozy with Buba!

 Trippy baby-vision

 bundle of joy

Hi!! I'm Nico!

DIY Baby Food

As a young mother, I know better than anyone how difficult in can be to save money. Kids are their own people, and they come with their own needs and expenses. One way Pedro and I have managed to save HUNDREDS of dollars is by making our own baby food!

What I do is make our regular meals (lunch and dinner), I add about a cup of each dish, then I add a cup and a half of water and I blend it up in the Magic Bullet to the desired consistency.  I have been using the regular spices that the meal calls for ever since Nico started on mashed solids at about 6 months, and I have had no health problems (food allergies, upset stomach, etc.) with it at all! 

Best of all is that Nico loves it just as much as he likes Gerber. He has tried a variety of different meals which helped me avoid encouraging picky eating habits, and allows him to get all kinds of vitamins and minerals from diverse sources! 

Today for lunch he enjoyed Parmesan Crab Cake Bites with Cheddar Pasta and Beats! For dessert he had Cinnamon Banana Puree!

The recipes are simple:

Parmesan Crab Cake Bites with Cheddar Pasta and Beats

1 cup cheddar pasta

5 crab cake bites

1 half can of beats

1 1/2 cups of water

Mix all ingredients together and blend to desired consistency. 

Cinnamon Banana Puree

1 1/2 table spoons of cinnamon

3 bananas 

1 cup of milk

Mix all ingredients together and blend to desired consistency.

Whimsical World News: What's for Lunch?

The one thing most people will never be able to forget about their school days it is the food they served in the cafeteria. Depending on what school you attended, there are different variation to the generally uniform bland preservatives being passed off as food.

I did not look forward to these meals at all and would fantasize about deliciously packed lunches from home.   

When I moved to Puerto Rico, though I did not appreciate the public school system, I was incredibly impressed with their lunches! Each public school offered students free home made breakfast and lunch. The meals include rice and some sort of bean, meat, vegetables, a baggie (yes, bag) of milk, and a fruity dessert. 

 

This made me curious as to what children eat for lunch around the world and here is what I found:

France

 

Kenya

 Brazil

 

Japan

 

Israel

 

Finland

 

 

Sweden

Germany

3 Tips to Keep the Winter Weight OFF

Yeah, it's that time of year again. We are putting away the bathing suits and busting out the sweat pants and leggings! We are finally stepping away from the scale and hiding that extra chub under giant comfy sweaters. 

But wouldn't it be nice if we didn't have to get back in to shape come summer 2015? Imagine a world when you look good in a bathing suit ALL YEAR! 

With these simple tips, you can enjoy this holiday season and still avoid falling out of love with your beautiful body! 

1. Toasty Workout! - In some places, I'd imagine that it is getting in to the "Too Cold" temperatures. Too cold to go out for a jog, too cold to take the kids to the park, too cold to enjoy the outside world, just TOO COLD! When the threat of frost bite seems too high, you don't have to risk it. Here is a secret you might not have known; there are hundreds of free full length workout videos on YouTube! And the best part is that there is an excellent variety to fit different needs. Whether you like Zumba, Krav Maga, Belly Dancing, or Weight lifting, I guarantee there is something for everyone. Find a quiet, private place (like your room) and get physical! 

2. Portion Makes Perfect - You might have heard of the healthy alternative to all of the yummy holiday snacks that are floating around this year, and if you are anything like me, that is simply NOT an option. Everything tastes better with an extra scoop of butter, am I right? So, instead of eating cinnamon spice celery sticks, eat whatever you want, just be mindful of how much of it you are eating. If you must try everything this year at Thanksgiving, again like me, try 2 bites of everything and then go back for you favorite. And since you're trying one of everything, you might want to hold off on that second piece of pie. Food for thought. (get it?)

3. Get a dog! - I love animals, but dogs are my all time favorite. No animal will make you feel as loved and welcomed and needed as a dog. Yes, they need you to love them back, and care for them, and most of all, they need you to walk them. A dog will force you to brave those "too cold temps." and by taking them out to do their business, you will receive some much needed sunlight and a breath of fresh air! (Don't only get a dog for this reason though, get one because they are AWESOME!)
But seriously, go outside every once in a while to change your body out of that comfortable sitting position you find yourself in throughout most of the day. Sometimes it is easy to forget that we have legs too!

Mommy & Me Monday!

You just CAN'T contain hair this awesome! 

It must be shared with the World!

Happy Mommy and Me Monday everyone! 

=D

REAL Proof That God Exists

From the time that I found out I was going to have Nico when I was 18 years old, all I did was worry. People tend to make the mistake of assuming that because a girl is in her late teens, she is more mature in her ability to deal with the situation. 

I assure you that I was not. 

Pedro was unemployed, I only had a part time job, we were living in my mother's house, we were not married, and I was only in my second year of college. I honestly thought my life was over. I would have to quit school to get a full time job to be able to afford a place to live and all the things that a baby needed. Now, I realize that I should have had more faith, but I couldn't see past the things that society had told me about teenage mothers my entire life. 

I was terrified. 

But, Jesus really did come to our rescue. I don't mean that I prayed and some how found the strength, (it took MANY weeks of prayer for that to come) I mean that He literally rescued us! Real time, in our tangible world, He was doing things for Pedro and me that we could physically see! 

First of all, we found out about my pregnancy around Christmas time. What a wonderful present! 

Then, around the time of January, my mother received a large payment of back child support owed from my father, and she gave Pedro and I enough of it to get married and have a mini honeymoon in Disney World! 

AND, she agreed to pay the rent of our apartment if I agreed to stay in school and graduate! (I already had a full scholarship) 

Almost immediately, upon returning from our vacation Pedro found a secure full time job, and I with my part time job, it fit our needs almost perfectly! 

And on top of all this STILL God was working in our lives. As if all of that wasn't enough, He sent us absolutely EVERYTHING we would need for Nico for free! 

The clothes, the lotions, the books, the furniture for his room, the toys, the bottles, the bathtub; we did not need to buy diapers for Nico for the first 3 months of his life! It was incredibly mind blowing to me how He was there for us, even when we had such little faith. 

The most recent donation!

 

Amazingly, even now, He is still showering us with love and gifts. 

We STILL have not had to buy any clothes for Nico, over a year later! As he grows, generous loving people give us clothes that have been lightly used and that are in almost new conditions! Pants, shirts, sweaters, jackets, hats, socks, even shoes!

He even sent it to us according to my style taste! Look at how CUTE this outfit is!!

Received Sunday (Yesterday) 

 

I am sharing this testimony for the benefit of anyone who believes that Jesus is only an abstract idea. 

I want people to know that being unable to see Him, doesn't mean He can't see us! People think that God is far away in heaven, or that He has left us, but He hasn't, and I am giving you real live proof that He never will. 

If you ever doubted that He cares about us, this should put those doubts to rest. If He did this for me, He will do it for you. 

Why?

Because He loves us all the same, and He wants to bless us, even when we resist His love!

Sunday Dinner

Family meals should always be an important time for sharing your lives and bonding with your family. That does not mean that is has to be a serious time of deep conversation and reflection (though it can be); the important thing is that you spend time interacting with one another. 

It seems that all the technological advances over the years have resulted in children being more attached to the internet or video games then to their own parents. 

Dinner time can be a time to interrupt the constant distraction of electronics. 

TURN EVERY THING OFF!! 

And sit down to eat together, at least one meal a day where everyone is at the table.

Cooking a meal for your family does not have to be a time consuming and tedious task! Quick, simple meals can leave your family pleasantly surprised, entertained, and satisfied! 

This week, make your Sunday Dinner special by trying Asparagus and Sausage Carbonara 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 lb thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 3-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
• 2 large shallots, sliced
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper, divided, plus additional to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 3-oz links all-natural, cooked chicken sausage, diced
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 8 oz whole-wheat spaghetti

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet on medium-high, heat oil. Add asparagus, shallots, salt and 1/8 tsp pepper and sauté for about 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly browned. Add 1/3 cup water and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more, until asparagus is crisp-tender and liquid evaporates. Reduce heat to low, add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until garlic has softened, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a medium bowl.
2. Increase heat to medium and add sausage to skillet. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly browned and heated through. Add to bowl with asparagus.
3. In a small bowl, whisk eggs. Stir in 1/4 cup cheese and 1/8 tsp pepper; set aside. To boiling water, add pasta and cook al dente according to package directions. Drain and return pasta to pot, off of the heat. Immediately add egg mixture to hot pasta and stir vigorously until thickened and creamy, about 1 minute. Add asparagus mixture and stir to combine. Season with additional pepper. Divide among serving bowls, top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese, dividing evenly.

**I used a Turkey Keilbasa sausage instead of a chicken sausage. Pedro and Nico both LOVED this!! I recommend it for anyone who is trying to convince their kids that veggies can be super yummy!**

Buen Provecho! =)

Father & Me Friday!

This week I am proud to feature new Kul Dad, Christopher Lantigua and his son Dante! 

 

 

Happy FMF to all the Kul dads out there!!!

Remember to send in any pictures that you would like to feature on next week's FMF!

Throw Back Thursday!

Seeing Dante, the new baby of some old friends, brings back the feels! 

Thursday, you've done it again!

 younger Nico sleeping back when he actually liked pacifiers

First spit bubbles!! 

 Rejecting his pacifier later on in life

 

9 months pregnant at the light house! 

Pedro's 20th birthday

 

Anna and Me on the Ferris Wheel at the best fair in the country!  

NAKED BABY!!!