"caps! caps for sale! fifty cents a cap!"

posting these pictures makes me think of that childhood book Caps for Sale.  If you haven't read it yet... please do.  Its a oldie but goodie and definitely one to read to your child.

i am finally announcing new postings on my etsy site!  i'm so excited to start making these!  little baby hats!  please check them out.  order one or two and let me know if you have any custom orders you'd like me to do!  check them out here: sixteen sunbuckles

recipe of the week: my mom's meatloaf

Now that I have a (soon to be) 4 month old I feel like our lives are crazier than ever.  I'm anxious to get back into the kitchen but I honestly don't have more than 10 minutes at one time to do anything once I get in there.  I'm starting to love make ahead meals.  I love anything that is delicious and a breeze to make.  I pulled out this family gem yesterday.  Meatloaf.  I don't make it often but when I do I'm amazed at how easy it is.  Everyone usually loves it too.  So I'm sharing my mom's delicious meatloaf recipe with you.  I hope your family enjoys it as much as we do.

 Mom's Meatloaf

{the goods}
1 lb ground beef (i used regular but you could use extra lean or turkey for a healthier meal)
4 bread slices, cubed (pull out that dry old bread you have at the back of your refrigerator)
1/4 c milk
1/4 c minced onion (or 1/4 pk onion soup mix)
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
ketchup
1 bay leaf

Preheat oven to 350 deg.  In large bowl, mix all ingredients, (using hands).  Put mixture in small baking pan.  Form into loaf.  top with ketchup and one bay leaf.  Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Remove to serving plate, draining grease.

My suggestion is to double the recipe.  Make one freeze one.  :)

fall in alberta

Just thought I'd share one of the best parts about living in Alberta.  Its gorgeous in the fall.

its getting chilly so anna is always bundled up on our afternoon walks

eucharisteo: 401-450

401.  the way my baby's face lights up when she recognizes me
402.  my baby sleeping for two hours after the sing and song program we go to downtown
403.  soft warm blankets straight from the dryer
404.  big fluffy snowflakes
405.  the steam rising from a hot mug of apple cider
406.  getting your hair to do exactly what you want it to do one morning
407.  new makeup
408.  my dvr
409.  the feeling you have after a great workout and shower
410.  yoga class with a good friend
411.  doughnut holes
412.  pumpkin bread
413.  argyle socks
414.  knitted baby hats
415.  vanilla ice cream cones dipped in rice krispies
416.  peppermint ice cream
417.  great conversations at daybreak
418.  prayinlg for someone else
418.  the sound of the ice cream truck
419.  when our day goes according to schedule and by the books
420.  a happy baby
421.  watching my babys face light up when we do airplane
422.  quick fast food drive thrus
423.  my baby talking to herself in her crib
424.  skyping with my nephews
425.  hearing my nephew noah sing
426.  hearing my nephew count backwards from 20
427.  my baby falling asleep on her own with out any fussing
428.  watching my baby look out the window in the backseat
429.  seeing her happy in someone else's arms in the church nursery
430.  the northern lights
431.  zulily deals i get everyday
432.  my kindle fire
433.  checking out a good book at the library
434.  being able to put books on hold online and then picking them up at the library
435.  bright yellow birch tree leaves
436.  a beautiful hike in the woods
437.  waterfalls
438.  our dog getting super excited when he sees a squirrel
439.  big knobby walking sticks
440.  cedar plank salmon
441.  kabobs on the grill
442.  a beautiful fruit salad
443.  tupperware
444.  the smell of fresh pine
445.  seeing my husband enjoy his record player
446.  lazy sundays watching football with my husband
447.  how excited my dog gets when we say "walk"
448.  wreaths on doors
449.  christmas decorations at the mall
450.  the ballet

recipe of the week: banana chocolate cake

FINALLY back in the kitchen again!  It is so nice my 3 1/2 month old can entertain herself on the floor for a few minutes at least.  Her fingers are her best friend and favorite toy.  I'm trying to savor every minute of this time.  I can't even imagine how busy we will be once she is on the move.

I've literally had this recipe hanging up inside my cupboard to try for months.  I finally decided its now or never.  Boy am I glad I tried it.  This recipe is amazing.   Its one of those "I can sit down and eat the entire thing" sort of recipes.  I had literally no self control this week.  Next week.. gym.

Banana Chocolate Cake
Total Time: 1 hr 15 min
{the goods}
2 c mashed ripe banana (2-3 bananas)
2 tsp lemon juice
2 1/2 c flour
1/2 c cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c veg oil
2 c lightly packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 Tbl. vanilla
1 1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

Glaze:
1/4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 Tbl. milk

Preheat oven to 375.  Grease and flour a 10" bundt pan.  In small bowl, mix banana and lemon juice.  Set aside.  In a medium bowl mix together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.  In large bowl beat oil and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs one at a time and add vanilla.  Blend in half the flour mixture and half the buttermilk.  Then mix in remaining flour and buttermilk.  Fold in bananas and 1/2 cup chocolate chips.  Spread into prepared pan.

Bake until a skewer inserted into the thickest part of the cake comes out with only a few moist crumbs (about 55 min).  Cool in pan, set on cooling rack for 30 min before turning out onto a cake plate.

Glaze.  Melt remaining 1/4 c. chocolate chips with milk in a small bowl for 1 minute.  Wisk together until smooth. Drizzle over cake.  Serve warm or at room temperature (with ice cream!)

Serving:
1 slice
220 calories
4 g protein
8 g total fat (2 g sat fat)
25 mg cholesterol
33 g carbohydrates
2 g fibre
20 g sugars
130 mg sodium

diy of the week: "hand" painted ornaments

so i'm taking a little break from the eucharisteo.  why you ask?  well have you tried to write 1,000 things that make you feel joyful?  easier said than done!  seriously try it... especially after a long frustrating day.  it'll definitely make you realize you don't need to sweat the small stuff (and yes, just like the book says its all small stuff).  I'm postponing the rest until next month.  I'm still writing them down but as the list gets longer I am finding its a bigger challenge!

i wanted to FINALLY blog about Anna's first craft project.  ok yes, she is only a few months old and i doubt she'll have any fond memories of doing it but it sure was fun for me! this would be great to do every year and see how much she grows.

"hand" painted ornaments
{the goods}
a child's hand
clear plastic ornaments (plastic is perfect so you never have to worry about it breaking)
embossing clear stamp pad
glitter or embossing powder
embossing gun
ribbon
hot glue gun
plastic or paper towel (just to lay out so you don't get glitter everywhere)

{get to crafting}
take the child's hand and stamp it on the stamp pad.  place child's hand on ornament.  sprinkle a fine amount of glitter over the stamped hand print.  shake off excess glitter.  heat print with embossing gun (but don't overheat and melt the ornament!).  let cool.  take ribbon and make bow.  hot glue bow to top of ornament.  hang and enjoy!

eucharisteo: 351-400

351.  sun shining through a window on to the floor
352.  a cat bathing in the sunlight
353.  a beautiful fall day in the dog park
354.  seeing how excited anna gets when i sing to her
355.  fall smelling candles
356.  a welcoming fall wreath on the door
357.  hot herbal teas when you are sick
358.  curling up in your husbands oversized bathrobe when you are sick
359.  hot herbal teas
360.  snapple peach tea
361.  patio seating at a restaurant
362.  our purdue scentsy in our living room (boiler up)
363.  the little purdue onesie and purdue hat my husband bought anna while he was in w. lafayette
364.  all the beautiful photographs my good friend took of anna
365.  my new nephew, caleb isaac
366.  my sister n law had a fast and easy labor
367.  technology and the ability to see my nephew via email picture two hours after he is born
368.  my baby learning how to roll from back to stomach
369.  the little giggles that she just started
370.  baby feet splashing in the water
371.  that feeling you have after finishing a great book
372.  that feeling you have after you finished a great workout
373.  trying a new recipe
374.  leaves falling off the trees when the wind blows
375.  the pretty yellow flowers my husband brought home for me yesterday
376.  my husband renting a chick flick just because he knows i'll like it
377.  spending tuesday mornings with new friends at daybreak women's ministry
378.  my baby's face lighting up when she sees me in the morning
379.  clean sheets on the bed
380. i have parents willing to travel to canada
381.  the new mom's support group at the hospital
382.  my baby's face lightening up when we swing "head shoulders knees and toes"
383.  all the cute stories my mom tells me about noah, she is one proud grandma!
384.  being able to celebrate the canadian thanksgiving with my parents
385.  finishing our prayer for anna's baby dedication (tooks us forever!)
386.  fall sunlight streaming in through our bedroom windows
387.  the fact that i have all my laundry washed before noon
388.  the days i have worked out, showered, and eaten breakfast & lunch (with a happy baby) before noon
389.  hearing brandon and anna laughing over the baby monitor as he gets her ready for bed
390.  the wonderful nurses at the fort hospital
391.  how exhausted anna is after one hour of singing at mother goose on Wednesdays
392.  eating lunch with good friends
393.  the hub bub of an airports (yes i'm weird but i love them)
394.  cute jack-o-lanters
395.  hot apple cider
396.  my supportive mother n law
397.  my new purple bathrobe
398.  costco
399.  a great deal
400.  buying the family turkey for thanksgiving