Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

I love smoothies!  They are so delicious, and with so many options for ingredients they can be healthy and filling, too.  My little Peanut and I drank this Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie and munched on my Triple Berries and Cream Muffins and it was the perfect mid-morning snack.

Baby Verse - Free Printable

I made a card for a new baby a while back and promised I'd post the verse that I included with the card as a free printable. Well, here it is!

Frozen Fruit & Veggie Yogurt Dots

My daughter, who is one and a half, loves these food pouches.  Since it's summer I came up with a way to help her cool down while enjoying one of her favorite treats.  And since you can choose varieties of food pouches with fruits and vegetables, I like them over popsicles, which are typically just fruit.

I decided on a pouch with sweet potato, blueberry, millet and greek yogurt.

DIY Picture Frame Refashion Tutorial

This idea to refashion my Ikea picture frame with scraps of fabric came to me while laying in bed one night. Do you hear stories like that all the time? I do. People are always saying how an idea came to them at night.

Well I finally have one of those "it came to me at night" idea stories! After thinking about it, what seemed like all night long, morning finally arrived and I got to try out my idea.

Now I have to admit, my initial thought process for this frame did not include an ombré design. To tell you the truth, I'm actually quite tired of seeing ombré designs EVERYWHERE.

Triple Berries and Cream Muffins

I just love muffins.  And I love berries and cream.  That's why I couldn't pass up these Triple Berries and Cream Muffins!  The coconut oil in the recipe adds even an extra burst of yumminess.  It's hard to describe the deliciousness of these muffins, you'll just have to make them and taste for yourself.  :)

I love to bake, but my little Peanut is scared of my mixer.  That really limits my options since so many baking recipes require creaming butter and sugar together with a mixer.

How To Make A Baby Card From A Gift Bag

I've always enjoyed making homemade cards.  I was in need of a card for a new baby and decided to make the card using a gift bag.  

I still have an abundance of baby girl themed gift bags from my baby shower for my little Peanut.  I can't believe my baby shower was almost two years ago!

Here's how to make your own card from a gift bag.

Greek Flatbread Turkey Sandwiches

These Greek Flatbread Sandwiches are delicious!  We have turkey sandwiches in our house once a week or so and this Greek flatbread is such a nice flavor variation from our typical sandwich bread.

My husband brought home a package of this flatbread a couple of months ago and it has been a staple in our kitchen ever since for a wide variety of meals.

Here is how to make our Greek Flatbread Turkey Sandwiches.

Mommy Linkup Party Premiere!

Hello and welcome to the premiere of the Mommy Linkup Party! But before we join the fun, here's what I've been up to recently on Mimi, Mommy and Me.

Breastfeeding A Toddler - 10 Tips, Tricks and Experiences

Decorate for the 4th of July with Free Printables!

Time Saving Blind Cleaning Tip

Now join us for the party!

 

Hi! Welcome to our
Mommy Linkup Party!

Breastfeeding A Toddler - 10 Tips, Tricks & Experiences

While pregnant with Peanut, I was looking forward to nursing her.  I knew that this was not a guarantee, as breastfeeding often comes with complications and doesn't work for every mother.  But I have been blessed with a smooth and successful breastfeeding experience.

And now I find myself nursing my toddler!  (The term extended breastfeeding refers to breastfeeding your baby after their first birthday.)  I had no idea what to expect in my breastfeeding journey when I started, but I have sure learned a lot these past 18 months!

Here are my 10 tips, tricks and experiences to nursing a toddler:

Decorate for the 4th of July with Free Printables!

Independence Day is only 2 weeks away!  June is flying by so fast!  I hope the weather stays nice for all of the firework shows.

Below are two free Independence Day printables for you to save, print and use as you like!  I see them printed out on card stock and placed around the food table.  Or you could punch a hole in each top corner, tie with string and hang on the front door to welcome your guests and set the festive mood!

Check out my Free Printables page to see all of my free printables.

Do you go out to see fireworks or do you buy them to light off at home?  Last year we watched our neighbor's fireworks display.  Peanut was only 8 months old then and was asleep before the fireworks began.  I'm curious to see how she'll do this year.  :)

I love barbecuing and eating all American food, like corn on the cob and potato salad, on Independence Day.  But we stay at home and avoid the crowds. How are you and your family celebrating the 4th?


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Link It Or Lump It Party #43 - I'm Co-Hosting!

This week I'm co-hosting my very first link up party!  Welcome to Link It Or Lump It #43.

I'm so excited to be a part of this fun party, but before we join in, here's what I've been up to...

Chemical Free Label Removal - Easiest Way EVER!

 7 Fascinating Details of Abraham's Life

Time Saving Blind Cleaning Tip

Now on to the party!

Your hosts for the party are:

I'd like to welcome our guest host for the week, Lila from Mimi, Mommy, and Me.

Hi, I'm Lila, a mommy blogger who loves to take pictures, tackle new creative projects and share my experiences with others.  I am a wife to an amazing God-fearing man and a mommy to a beautiful little girl. I love all things blog...reading them, writing them and pinning them. I have a lot to learn in the blogging world, but love a challenge that helps me grow!

Google + / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin' / Twitter

And now, without further ado, it's Party Time!!

Time Saving Blind Cleaning Tip

I like tips and tricks that speed up my cleaning routine.  Some tasks are so tedious, I just want to get them done and move on.  While cleaning the blinds in front of my sliding door the other day, I found a trick that saved me a lot of time!

7 Fascinating Details of Abraham's Life

While reading the story of Abraham in Genesis the other day, I read a few details that I always seem to forget after awhile.  Abraham is a very significant historical man of God, and he lived an extremely fascinating life!  Here are 7 of my favorite details of Abraham's life.

The story of Abraham begins in Genesis 11:26 and goes through Genesis 25:11.

Chemical Free Label Removal - Easiest Way EVER!

I love saving my glass jars.  They are perfect for so many crafts and storage purposes.  But getting the labels off of jars can be tricky.  I like to avoid using chemicals as often as I can and stumbled on this chemical free method that is so simple.

I tried using olive oil, which did help remove the label glue, but it was time consuming and no fun.

Father's Day Card - Free Printable

Father's Day is this coming Sunday!  I designed this Father's Day card for Peanut to give my husband.  I have it available below as a free printable if you'd like to use it for your kids, too! 

 

Since our little Peanut is only 18 months old, I'm going to have her color on the inside with some crayons to add her personal touch.

DIY Doll Tube Sock Pants

After giving Peanut one of my old dolls, I realized she did not have her original pants and her bare back end needed covering.  My husband told me he had an old tube sock that I could use.  So here is a DIY tutorial of how I used an old tube sock to make Peanut's doll a pair of pants.

It worked out perfectly that the tube sock I used was red and white.  It coordinates with the dolls dress!  A repurposed hand me down.  I love second hand clothes!

Find me on Bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Here is another step I'm taking as I grow my blog. I just signed up for my Bloglovin account!

If you have an account with Bloglovin click the link at the top of this post to follow Mimi, Mommy and Me.

Thank you, and if you have any Bloglovin tips for me, please share them in the comments!

Removing Spit Up and Vomit Smell

My little Peanut got sick the other day.  She only threw up once, but once is enough to need to know how to remove the smell of vomit.  I found this post via Pinterest and got to work.

We washed Peanuts blankets and clothes in the washing machine and after two washings, the smell was gone.  But her pacifier strap had obviously taken the brunt of the *ahem* sickness.

Her pacifier strap also had been spit up on numerous times so it had long since been fresh smelling.

Knowing I couldn't throw it in the wash I tried this solution.

Since I only needed to clean the pacifier strap, I made a small portion of the cleaner.

5 Tips for Using Cloth Baby Wipes

I gave up baby wipes back when my little one was about 5 weeks old.  Here are 5 tips to a smooth transition away from baby wipes to cloth wipes if you are looking to save money or reduce the chemicals your baby is exposed to.

Back when Peanut was a newborn her doctor suggested organic and natural brand wipes that used less chemicals, since most of the chemicals in baby wipes have not been tested for long term effects.

I thought I had just the answer when my sister-in-law gave me a recipe for homemade wipes using paper towels, baby shampoo and water, but before I could use the whole batch they got moldy.

Gross and no thank you!

And then when my little Peanut was 5 weeks old she developed a diaper rash. I was instructed by the doctor to not use baby wipes while we treated the rash. She told me just to use a wash cloth and water.

So I gave up the wipes and never looked back.

Here are 5 tips for going baby wipe free and transitioning to cloth baby wipes, based on my experiences:

Trust In The Lord - Free Printable



I love how spring brings out the most vibrant colors in the flowers in my yard.  I've added a Bible verse to this pretty picture of purple heather.  This is a free printable that I'm sharing with you!

Just right click on the image to save it to your computer and print it on your home printer, or send it to your favorite one hour photo.  It is sized as an 8 x 10 image.

I love this verse.  It is such a good reminder to trust the Lord in all circumstances.  It can be so hard not to lean on our own understanding, but when it contradicts God's word, we need to trust in Him alone.

If you'd like a free printable for your kids' room, here is a classic child's prayer.

What is your favorite Bible verse?  I'd love to add it to a pretty picture to share with others.  :)



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Quick and Easy Olive Oil Bread

This post for Classic Crusty Herbed Dinner Loaf had me sold right away.  (I've actually been calling this Olive Oil Bread, but when I went to link to the recipe I realized I was way off! Oh well. :) )  The biggest selling point was the claim that it only takes an hour from start to finish. 

Homemade bread in an hour?!  For some reason my brain thinks any recipe involving yeast takes many hours and lots of labor.

It looked delicious, sounded simple and quick, and used ingredients I had on hand.  The recipe lets you choose your choice of herb to add.  I chose oregano because I like oregano and it is a pretty versatile herb.

Vintage Pyrex

I have a new love. Vintage Pyrex. Before I saw the picture below on Pinterest, I didn't even know vintage Pyrex existed.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/574771971165998957/

Well, I knew Pyrex existed and that all grandmothers had Pyrex, thus making it vintage, but I never knew how beautiful it was!

Floor Cleaning Solution Recipe

Recently I was on the lookout for a floor cleaning solution that I could make from ingredients in my kitchen. 

With a toddler in the house, who has on more than one occasion eaten food right off the floor, I wanted to know that the ingredients in my floor cleaner were not toxic. I modified my version from this recipe. It fits the bill and leaves my floors so nice and clean.

The first time I used this recipe, I didn't add any essential oils and the smell of vinegar was very strong!

So then I added some sweet orange essential oil.  It helped with the vinegar smell so I would definitely recommend adding some essential oils to scent the solution.

This is a really simple recipe, which is another reason I like it!

Super Simple Sugar Cookie Bars

I made these Sugar Cookie Bars in a pinch. They were so easy, I just had to share them with you!

On Resurrection Sunday we were invited to a friend's house for a get together. I hate showing up to a host's house empty handed, but it was the night before the event and I still hadn't found the time to make something to bring.

I woke up to nurse my little Peanut at about 3 am and couldn't get back to sleep. I was lying in bed thinking of what to make in the short amount of time I would have the next morning.

I turned to Pinterest and one idea lead to another and after viewing what seemed like a hundred recipe ideas, I turned off my phone and went back to sleep.

The next morning I was ready as Peanut and I entered the kitchen for breakfast. I knew I wanted to make a bar cookie.


Second Hand Clothing ROCKS! Here's Why...

When my little girl was 4-months-old, a friend told me about the Just Between Friends consignment sale in our town.  She raved about how there were the best deals there and how cute the clothes were and on and on.  I decided to check it out and now know that second hand clothing is the best!

The Just Between Friends sale is held in the spring and fall here in our town.  This last sale was my third shopping trip. Find out my shopping tips for the sale here.

Including tax on my most recent trip I bought 27 items for just under $60.00.  That is just over $2.00 an item.  Some consignors sell their clothing in sets and this can work out to a better deal than if they were sold individually. 

Here are a few of my purchases that were sold in sets.

Mother's Day Free Printable

This is my second Mother's Day. I found this Mother's Day craft and I just love how it uses traced cutouts of both the hands and feet.

I can't get enough of documenting my little Peanut's growth. This is a perfect project for a sentimental sap like me!

Below is a free printable of the verse and flower frame for this craft so you can make this to remember your little one's cute fingers and toes. Just right click and save it, then open it up and print!

10 Breastfeeding Tips, Tricks and Experiences

As a first-time mom, to my now 18-month-old, I knew I wanted to breastfeed. I didn't know much else about breastfeeding, just that as long as my body and the baby cooperated, that was the way I wanted to feed her.

Looking back at the last year and a half I realize how many tips and tricks I have learned.

I hope my experiences can help and be an encouragement for someone who may be where I was just a short time ago.

Co-Sleeping - Shhhh. The Baby's Sleeping (...in our bed, *gasp*!)

I don't remember specifically discussing co-sleeping with my husband before our daughter was born, but since our first days of parenting we have become extremely familiar with the co-sleeping discussion.

When we began our parenting journey, we had a lot of preconceived ideas about how things were going to be, as I'm sure most new parents do.  Things typically don't turn out the way we think they will.

Yes, it's true. Our 18-month-old baby sleeps in our bed.

We didn't start out on our parenting journey thinking, "Let's be one of THOSE couples. Let's share our bed with our baby! Yay!"

She didn't always sleep in our bed either. But let me tell you how this bed sharing arrangement came to be.

A Child's Prayer - Free Printable

"Father in heaven, hear my prayer..." This prayer is one I would say before falling asleep as a child.  Here it is as a handy printable!  I am going to print it out as an 8 x 10 photo and frame it for my little Peanut's room.

 

This is a prayer my parents taught me when I was little.  I would say it before falling asleep every night. I look forward to teaching it to Peanut as she gets older.

This would be a great gift in a frame for a new baby or as a gift for a toddler.  I love receiving things like this as gifts.  They last so much longer than clothes and toys.

Have you seen this chart for Reducing Ingredients?  It would make a nice gift for a house warming party or as part of a wedding gift.

What are your favorite gifts to give for milestone events?  I'm always looking for ideas that are fun and memorable.

Let me know how you use this printable, I'd love to see it and post it here to share with others too!


Linked up to: Turn it up Tuesday,  Small Victories Sunday, Grace At Home, Dare To Share, Create Link Inspire, Lovely Ladies Linky, Linkn Blogs, Pintastic Pinteresting Party, Parenting Pointers Linky Party, Motivation Monday, That's Fresh Friday, Pin It Party, Link It or Lump It, Babies and Beyond,  Mommy Linkup Party.
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I was featured!
 

Reducing Ingredients

A good friend gave me a copy of this chart, with the conversions to reduce ingredients in a recipe, years ago.  I have had it on my fridge ever since.  It comes in so handy! Here it is for you in a free printable version.

The other day Peanut grabbed a corner of it and nearly ripped it right off the fridge.  I panicked at the thought of losing it, so I decided I would type up a copy and save it on my computer, just in case anything ever happened to the original.

I hope this helps you in the kitchen as much as it has helped me!

This chart in a frame for the kitchen would make a great house warming gift or as part of a wedding gift.

Need an idea for a present for a new baby or toddler?  Try this idea!

Do you reduce or increase recipes very often? What are your tricks for altering a recipe without messing it up? Please share, I love learning new tricks!

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Laundry Day Oops

I was driving over to a friend's house today and was thinking about my morning.

I was thinking about the load of laundry I did and how I had to use my favorite stain stick on so many dirty knees and sleeves of Peanut's clothes.

Resurrection Sunday

A collection of images. 

The common link between them is that they were all taken on Resurrection Sunday.

He is risen! 

What a great time to spend with loved ones in remembrance of the love and sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Diaper Genie (Free!) Bag Option

I have a Diaper Genie and I love the way it locks in the stinkies. Although I don't love the price of the refill bag cartridges.  If you are like me and love to save money while still enjoying little luxuries, like a stink-free living space, then read on to learn how I came up with a free way to use my Diaper Genie, without having to buy refill bags!

Up until now I have been using my Diaper Genie for only the soiled diapers and using a flip top can lined with a plastic grocery bag for the wet diapers.

But summer is on its way and the heat of summer brings out the stinkies, even in the just wet diapers.

So I came up with a plan. I decided that if I could get a plastic grocery bag to work in my Diaper Genie, then I could eliminate the smell altogether and not spend an arm and a leg to do it.

Just Between Friends - Kids Consignment Sale

I love going to the Just Between Friends kids consignment sale. The one I go to its held twice a year. The upcoming sale is the last week of April/first week of May.

You can visit the Just Between Friends website here. On it they have their locations, dates and times of all their sales. The admission price is a dollar or two depending on which day of the sale you attend, but I have always found free admission tickets on their website.

Bring reusable shopping bags with you to hold your purchases!  I also bring my stroller to act as a cart and I carry my daughter.  I also bring a friend.  Shopping is more fun with company!

There is a spring sale and a fall sale. The spring sale has warm weather clothing and the fall sale has cold weather clothes.

I look mainly for $2 to $4 bargains while shopping and at the last sale was able to update my daughter's closet for winter pretty nicely for $50.

I quickly took some pictures while at the last sale to show my husband the scale of the event.  They are a bit blurry since I had a squirmy baby in my arms and only had my slow cell phone shutter to rely on!

Almost all of the clothes look new or just slightly used. They are also in style.

Flavored Gelatin Squares - Without Artificial Ingredients

When our one-year-old came down with a sore throat, we thought we'd make her some Jell-O, knowing how good it feels on a sore throat.

The only problem was we try our best to avoid artificial ingredients. Knowing how the brightly artificially colored treat is also flavored artificially we set out to find a suitable alternative.

My super-shopper husband came home with a package of Knox Original Gelatine, complete with a recipe on the back of the box for Fruit Juice Knox Blox.

They were pretty simple to make. We chose to use white grape juice and opted to add honey, like the recipe suggested, since honey is good for sore throats.