New Breakfast Ideas??? Yes, please!

So Josh and I had the following conversation this morning

K: "What do you want for breakfast?"
J: "I don't know...what do you want for breakfast?"
K: "I don't know either.  I'm so SICK of everything we usually have..."
J: "Ya, me too..."

So after that scintillating conversation, we had toast and smoothies.  We often have toast and smoothies...

I'm in the mood for something new, so if you have any ideas, send them my way ;)

I remembered a recipe my sister Nicole sent to me last week, and I have everything in my pantry, so today I tried it out.  I think it may just be my new favourite thing to make breakfast more interesting.

Paleo Granola

Ingredients: 

3/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds
3/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
2 1/2 cups slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups ground almonds (see note)
1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded/flaked coconut
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Mix all of the above in a large bowl.  To the bowl, add...

3 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup honey

Stir until it's combined and then add...

2/3 cup melted coconut oil

Stir everything together and lay out on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.  At this point it will look like this:

Before baking

Before baking closeup

Put it in the oven at 325 degrees for 20 minutes, stir, and bake for 15 minutes more.  When you're done, it will look like this:

After baking

After baking closeup

It's delicious!  Add it to yogurt, salads, or just eat as-is :)

Ok, now who has some other breakfast ideas for us????

Happy Half Birthday Beautiful Abby!

It's hard to believe, but it's been 6 months since we've had our little angel in our lives.  Every day now is bringing something new and something else for us to be in awe of.  In celebration, I baked a cake...

Josh and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Abby enjoyed the little bit of icing I couldn't lick off her finger before it got into her mouth ;)  I think half birthdays are going to become a tradition here in the Henderson house.  Read all about the half birthday celebration here.

Baby girl...I can't wait to see what you're like in 6 more months ;)

Sewing, and painting, and laundry...oh my!

So what's a gal to do when she's off on maternity leave and the baby is sleeping??

Simple answer: TAKE A NAP. 

My answer: BE PRODUCTIVE!

I will say that not teaching this year has left me a bit lacking in the direction department.  Don't get me wrong...Abby keeps me all kinds of busy, but I've found myself getting to the end of the day and feeling like I didn't get anything 'accomplished'.  My cure to that has been to start sewing again.  A few years ago I started quilting (or at least piecing quilts) thanks to my Aunt Pauline (aka the QuiltnQueen), and I had a few unfinished projects that I have dug out and started working on.

I started this quilt probably 4 years ago.  Here it is part way through:

 

All the blocks have been sewn together and the sashing (a border around the edges) has been added.  The backing is done as well, so the only thing left to do is get it quilted together :)

 

My next project is a 'wonky' quilt that I've been wanting to do from ages.  The original pattern is from Elizabeth Hartman, over at Oh, Fransson!  Mine didn't turn out quite as pretty, but I'm happy with the results.  I think the 'wonky' pattern might be the type for me.  You don't have to be as exact with cutting ;)

 

The next quilt I'll be attempting is actually my Aunt Pauline's pattern that was featured on Moda Bakeshop.  It will be the finishing touch to our bedroom!

 

Isn't it beautiful!!  And it should come together quite This is the colour scheme I'm thinking of...

 

 I've also been working on some things for Abby...

Here's a double-sided/reversible bandana bib :)

  

I made 2 larger sleep sacks which keep her nice and cozy in the winter.

It hasn't been all fun and games though.  It seems like the laundry just keeps on coming and coming.  How one little girl can produce SO much laundry, I'll never know.  This is the scene on my bedroom floor at least twice a week!!

Finally, we've been doing some painting around the house.  It was mostly in preparation for Christmas events, but I know we'll be finishing the rest of the house within the year.  Normally I don't mind painting, but I'm dreading this project.  So far we've done our front vestibule and our bathroom.  I will say though that there's nothing like a freshly painted room to make you feel productive ;)

Now that the new year is here, I'm sure that my focus will be returning to getting some things ready for the fall and getting some of my French materials ready for Teachers Pay Teachers.  Wish me luck!