BBRRRRR- Chilly Temps and Warm Breakfast

The US is currently in quite the cold snap!!! Because of this I decided last night to try some crockpot oatmeal. This would be a nice warm up to take with me on the way to work. I used the recipe found here: http://www.chow.com/recipes/30656-slow-cooker-steel-cut-oatmeal with a couple tweaks. I decreased the milk, nixed the vanilla extract, and added a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips. Very creamy and warmed me up! How do you keep Jack Frost away??

Overnight Oats- Easy Breakfast

Need an easy go to breakfast? My new one is Overnight Oats. Fix the night before, Grab from the fridge and head out the door. 

What you Need

Container ( I use a protein shake mixer)

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup milk (dairy, almond, coconut)

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 tablespoon flax seeds

Greek yogurt- the more you add the thicker it is-  I use 2 tablespoons

Mix ins 

For mix ins

My fave is a few handfuls of blueberries, pecans and brown sugar.

Other yummy choices

Nutella

Nut butters ( mix with Nutella too)

Banana

Lemon curd 

Strawberry jam

Let your imagination run wild!

Nursing Pad Review

In the market for reusable nursing pads? Here are my fave  https://www.etsy.com/listing/182939403/rainbow-cheetah-leopard-set-of-2-nursing

Check out my review on Rockerbyebaby http://rockerbyebaby.com/blog/2014/7/9/meet-kari-guest-blogger-nursing-pad-reviewer

Easy Lactation Cookies

2 ripe bananas

1 cup oats

Handful semi sweet chocolate chips

2 TBS brewers yeast

1 TBS chia seeds

1 TBS flax seed

Mash banana, mix all ingredients, bake at 350 for 15 minutes. 

I just are 4 of them... Don't judge till you try them!!!

Pumpkin Carrot Cake Muffins

1 package carrot cake mix

1 can pumpkin

1/4 cup milk

2 tbsp vegetable oil

Mix all together. 

Optional top with pumpkin seeds

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

Enjoy!!! (With

coffee is my fave)

**Easy to do with toddler too. My mini chef dumped what I handed him, stirred and sprinkled. **

Diy Photo Booth

Here is a quick trick for a photo booth/light box. I took a piece of printer paper, bent it in half and taped it in a sunny window. 

Ignore the kitty nose prints. And below is a shot. 

What do you use? 

Instagram Sale Tomorrow

My first Instagram Sale is tomorrow afternoon! 

Hope to see you on Instagram - I'm @littlegemskari 

Here is a sneak peak: 

Welcome Home Tory & Nursing Top

We brought our little girl home last week! Victoria Sylvia was born 2/24 <3

As a breastfeeding mommy I'm always looking for comfy clothes to nurse in that don't feel frumpy. Nursing tanks are great but pricey! I found this on Pinterest and had to try it!! Essentially clip the strap and tack down with a couple stitches. The loops slide on your nursing bra and you are off and running! Easy peasey with a $5 tank and a whip stitch. 

Link to post: 

http://www.simplyrealmoms.com/posts/diy-nursing-cami/

Chia Seed Pudding

Happy New Year! Here is a healthy easy treat to help ring in 2014! 

* Warning if you don't like the texture of tapioca pudding - this isn't for you. *

3 TBS chia seeds

1 cup milk ( I used whole because it was in the fridge)

Seasonings ( I used a dash of cinnamon and a splash of vanilla) 

Combine- I put mine in a shaker. 

Place in fridge. 

Stir after an hour or so- I left mine in overnight for a breakfast treat. 

Christmas Fast Approaches!

How does Christmas sneak up on me every year! Still so many fun things to get to! Jackson has been coloring ornaments for present toppers- my helper! But I was hoping to get his lil mitts into some salt dough too. Not to mention cooking, baking, and wrapping! This Saturday is my last show- 9-2 at the Frear Building in Troy (attahced to the Uncle Sam Atrium). And with Victoria (Kurtz Baby #2) coming in February I'm not sure when my next show will be. What last minute preperations are you making??

Brrrr

The nip is back in the air! Time to crochet and make hot cocoa! 

Here is a pic of a not so enthused little man all bundled up! 

What's your favorite way to spend a cold day? 

Easy Black Bean Soup Recipe

2 cans of drained black beans

1/2 jar salsa (I used Newman's Own Mild)

Olive oil- 2 tbs

Onion chopped

Can of stock

Frozen chopped okra ( optional)

Put olive oil in pan with onion sauté .

Put in 1 can of beans- mash the mix

Mix in other ingredients 

Simmer for 15 to 20 mins. 

I served with grilled cheese! Yummy fall dinner :)

October is Here!

October is here!!! Every October my friend at Pugnacious Vegetarian does the October Project- a different photo every day of the month. It's an amazing time capsule of a fun time of the year. If you are looking for some Halloween inspiration or maybe just some inspiration in general- I highly recommend it! http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/

Donughts on a Grill

My little family went camping for Labor Day and I made some yummy donughts on the grill! 

What you need:

Can of buttermilk biscuits

Cinnamon and Sugar

Vegetable Oil

Grill

Pan

Tongs 

Get about a 1/2 inch of oil to a bubble over the grill. 

Place a biscuit in the pot with the center cut out ( a water bottle works great for making the hole). 

Flip with tongs. 

When both sides are golden brown remove.

 Sprinkle hot donught or shake in a bag with cinnamon and sugar. 

Devour! 

Snack Attack

Easy and yummy - 2 things I love! 

Microwave popcorn 

Top with smoked paprika and garlic powder

Slice cheddar cheese

Snack Away! 

What do you like on your popcorn? 

Easy DIY Oatmeal Bath

Who knew making homemade oatmeal bath is this simple?!
Using rolled oats (old fashion) & working in small batches, grind. I used the milling blade on my baby food processor. Oatmeal bath for less than pennies! I make a big batch for my son's baths and store in an airtight container. Works great for eczema, diaper rashes and itchy skin.

Welcome to my Kitchen EZ Tofu Press

I was recently gifted an EZ Tofu Press http://amzn.com/B007LLGMG2 - wow!

I am not a vegetarian and only cooked tofu once - it was too time consuming getting that water out. Not with this lil guy! Water came pouring out and in 15 minutes it was ready for the pan.

I kept it simple- firm tofu, olive oil sprayed in the pan, and adobe. Crisp it up, add 1/3 cup water, 1/2 packet of taco seasoning and a dash of taco sauce. Reduce sauce and serve with your favorite taco fixings.

Yum! Easy! <3 br="" it="">

Sunday Small Things- wk 11

One of my guilty pleasures ( one of many) - peanut butter on chocolate donughts. After a week with a sick 1 year old I needed to indulge! So, this week I'm thankful for a little treat and finally a happy little man again! What were you thankful for this week?

Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian. http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/

Sunday Small Things- Wk 9

Last week I found myself thankful for SOOO many things. My little man turned 1!

To have a happy, healthy, thriving boy is the greatest gift I've ever received. I found myself being thankful for each giggle, tear, silly kiss, dadada, and mamamam this weekend. This last year went by so quickly I can only imagine how quickly he'll be asking for the car keys!

Sunday's Small Things is a weekly feature begun by Pugnacious Vegetarian. http://thepugnaciousvegetarian.com/

Wordless Wednesday- Power Clashing