Month: October 2012

Monday Motherhood Moments ~ A Giggle For Our Mommies

 

How many children do you have, Mom? Or perhaps the better question is, how many little ones would you like to have?

After having my twins, prematurely at that, my husband and I immediately said that we were done. My body was exhausted, so were my emotions, not to mention the piles of laundry, the bags under my eyes and the countless days of going without a refreshing shower.

But about three years later, the “baby” talk started. With little reluctance, we both agreed that we missed those baby days…A LOT. And so motherhood washed over me again, and oh how blessed we were!

Motherhood shapes us in the most amazing way. Despite the sleepless nights, potty training nightmares, and terrible twos, I wouldn’t trade a moment of it. I can officially say we are done having children, but the memories of my children as young little ones, will forever hold my heart.

Relish the little moments, Mom. However many children drift into your waiting arms…just savor the sweetness of it.

Written by:

Valerie King

Social Media Director, IntelliGender

Foodie Friday ~ Chicken Cordon Bleu

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast

halves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

6 slices Sw iss cheese

4 slices cooked ham

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 7×11 inch baking dish w ith

nonstick cooking spray.

2. Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness.

3. Sprinkle each piece of chicken on both sides w ith salt and pepper. Place 1 cheese

slice and 1 ham slice on top of each breast. Roll up each breast, and secure w ith a

toothpick. Place in baking dish, and sprinkle chicken evenly w ith bread crumbs.

4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from oven, and

place 1/2 cheese slice on top of each breast. Return to oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or

until cheese has melted. Remove toothpicks, and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Thursday Crafts For Kids ~ Paper Plate Pumpkins

Such a cute little jack o’ lantern that your children will adore making! Not only is it easy, it’s the perfect little project for an afternoon at home. Hang it on a door or in a window.

Perfect for ages 4 and above (with mom’s help!).

What you’ll need:

Mini paper plate

Orange acrylic craft paint

Yellow craft foam

Green craft foam

Brown craft foam

Scissors

Glue

Place the paper plate upside down on your work surface and paint it orange. Set aside to dry and repeat with a second coat if needed.

Cut out facial shapes (triangles for eyes and a mouth with a few missing teeth) and glue to the plate.

Use scissors to trim the plate into a pumpkin-like shape. Do this by cutting a dip in the top where the stem would be and trim the bottom to flatten it a bit.

Cut two simple oval-shaped leaves from green craft foam and glue to back of the plate at the top of the pumpkin.

Cut a simple rectangular stem from brown craft foam and glue to the back of the plate, between the leaves.

Tuesday Thoughts ~ Nursing In Public

Are you a nursing mom or planning to be?

If so, what are your thoughts on the following:

Nursing in public…

Do you choose to find a private place away from the bustling public to nurse your little one? Why or why not? How about using a nursing blanket to hide baby while you breastfeed? What are you comfortable with as a nursing mom in public? Share with us!

Monday Moments ~ Love At First Sight

 

Isn’t this picture stunning?!

Just moments after giving birth, this loving new mom cradles her new little life.

I remember my special moment of becoming mom like it was yesterday. For me, the birth of my twins was a scary moment. An utterly, overwhelming, and heart stopping moment of fear. Why? My boys were born 10 weeks early. With the uncertainty of their prematurity, I wasn’t really able to enjoy the first moments of their life. But I will say…the love of motherhood was instantaneous for me.

Love at first sight is real. Especially when your eyes meet the eyes of your child for the very first time.

When my third son was born four years later, my experience was much different. I was able to hold him right after birth, caress his plump pink cheek right away, and nurse him just minutes after he was laid in my arms for the very first time.

But as I relish those first moments with my children, I can say without a doubt…

Love at first sight is real. No matter how early, how late, how easy your birth is, or how hard it was…when your eyes meet the eyes of your child for the very first time the feeling is the same. Amazing and unexplainable…in the most magical way.

~ Valerie King

IntelliGender

Social Media Director

Foodie Friday ~ Tasty Baked Ziti

 

  • 1 pound dry ziti pasta
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
  • 6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups sour cream
  • 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Directions

1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.

2.In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.

3.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees). Butter a 9×13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
4.Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.

Thursday Crafts For Kids ~ Faux Stained Glass Fall Pumpkin Window Art

 

Perfect for ages 5 and up

  • Yellow and orange tissue paper
  • 1 sheet heavy weight clear self-stick laminating film (recommended: Con-Tact paper)
  • 1 sheet black construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Pen
  • Scissors
  • 12″ length of yarn
  • Suction cup window hanger
  • Glue stick
  • Pattern (on Kaboose.com)

How to make it:

  1. Tear tissue paper into strips, then cut or tear into squares.
  2. Peel back half of the backing from the laminating film, leaving the other half still protected. Fold over the backing to keep out of the way.
  3. Place tissue paper squares onto sticky side of laminating film, making about an 8-inch circle. Be sure to alternate colors and keep them close together, overlapping is fine too.
  4. Carefully peel the backing off the other side of the laminating film, then fold that film over onto the exposed tissue paper pieces, sandwiching them between the films. Press out any air bubbles. Trim any overlapping film off.
  5. Fold construction paper in half cut out pumpkin shape. This should yield two identical pumpkins because the construction paper was folded.
  6. Place the construction paper pumpkin onto the tissue paper-decorated film. Trace around the pumpkin with a pen and cut out shape with scissors, trimming the film about ¼” smaller than your tracing.
  7. Fold the yarn in half creating a loop. Use a glue stick to attach the open ends of that yarn onto one of the black paper pumpkin stems. Cover the rest of the pumpkin shape with glue stick.
  8. Place the tissue papered film onto the pumpkin, pressing down to secure, then run a glue stick around the second pumpkin shape and press down on top.
  9. Hang in a sunny window.