sunny sunday

Nothing like bright sparkling sunshine in January! We bundled up and headed down to Boulevard to enjoy the newly reopened boardwalk. The best thing about Boulevard park is you can warm up at Wood's coffee afterwards!

big time four year old!

Amelia turned four on Friday! She had some celebrity guests come in from North Dakota (grandparents) to help celebrate. We made strawberry waffles for breakfast and baked pink fairy cupcakes. Amelia ate at Red Robin for lunch and Applebee's for dinner (you can do that on your birthday). We had her little friend birthday party on Saturday and those pictures will be coming shortly (fringe benefit of having a great friend that's also a photographer).

interview with a four year old:girl edition

It's time for the annual birthday interview!

1) best thing about being a four year old?  that I can dress myself!
2) favorite thing to do? play with my toys
3) favorite toy? strawberry shortcake doll (from McDonalds)
4) favorite color? pink and purple
5) favorite food? cupcakes
6) favorite thing to do with your family? play with them all day
7) what do you want to be when you grow up? a cupcake baker that puts ice cream inside the cupcake
8) what makes you happy? when someone cheers me up
9) what makes you sad? when people don't like me anymore
10) who's your teacher? Mrs.C and Mrs. T
11) favorite treat? candy
12) what do you think about before falling asleep? the tooth fairy

Amelia has a bike, a barbie bike. It made me cringe when we first got it but she loves it. It has a special spot for the barbie doll to sit and cruise with you. I didn't want Dale to put it on the bike at first. I noticed a few weeks ago the barbie seat had been attached. Today watching her cruise with her 'Jasmint' doll (don't try and tell Amelia it's 'Jasmine' it's a lost cause) it made me smile to embrace her girliness.

hoopin' it up

We had to get outside and enjoy the rain free day! Hula hoops were in order!

glazed chili pork with sweet potato hash

photo from Real Simple

I used this recipe out of this month's Real Simple magazine. 3 out of 4 people in our house liked it so I will make it again. 


Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 25m
Total Time: 25m

Ingredients

1 pork tenderloin (about 1 1⁄4 pounds) (I used pork chops)

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon chili powder

kosher salt and black pepper

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup ( I used pancake syrup)

2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled

2 large shallots, chopped (green onions)

1 5-ounce package baby spinach, chopped

hot sauce (optional)

Directions

1.Heat broiler. Place the pork on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Rub with 1 teaspoon of the oil, the chili powder, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Broil, turning occasionally and basting with the maple syrup twice, until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

2.Meanwhile, in a food processor fitted with the coarse grating disk, grate the sweet potatoes.

3.Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes and cook, tossing occasionally, until tender, 7 to 9 minutes more. Add the spinach and cook, tossing, until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes more.

4.Serve the pork and potatoes with the hot sauce, if desired
 

weigh in wednesday

down 3.4 pounds (this week was  a lil crazy so it's already Saturday but whatever) toal 6.6 and only 28.4 to go!