We're moved to thesleepytimegal.com.

Join us!

Okay, Okay, so I'm a little late with getting the new site up. It is 11:09pm in my neck of the woods so technically I stuck to my word about having the site up today.

So, check out the new site and leave a comment to enter into the giveaway. You have until Monday by noon (EST) to enter in to win one of these two totes. Good Luck! And enjoy the (we've been staying up late getting it presentable) site!

When a baby is born a special gift comes from Nanny. A gift that must take hours upon weeks to make--you can see it in every hand stitched detail.

Yesterday, Ainsleigh and Annabelle happily received their very own blankets. I know what this means for them: they will become their most prized possession.

Carried everywhere, it'll be their most valuable sleeping aid for the next four years. (That's at least where we are with Caroline's.)

It was a moment to celebrate together.

And a little sneak peak for tomorrow.... see you then!

This little tote has gotten me thinking: don't I need a tote to organize everything in my life?

I love the size, slightly awkwardly large. Perfect for random toys and crayons for occupying kids during church. And perfect for an overnight tote for face wash and makeup.

Oh, wait, I don't ever have any "overnights".

Either way, there are plenty of ways to fill this up.

Maybe one for the car, one for kids' trips...


If you love the tote, check back again this Saturday for a giveaway of one of these here totes, to celebrate the new blog with me!

(I'll be giving away 2 totes from my favorite fabrics!)

The end of Eat Food Not Junk is just around the corner. For some time I've wanted the two blogs to merge and be one. Food is too much a part of our lives to write exclusively about it on another blog--I want all of our loves in one place. So really it isn't the end, it just found a new home.

Until then, here is a tasty chicken entre with a kick that we love. And if you're worried about the kiddies, don't. Tone down the spices or barely coat their strips.

Oven Baked Pecan-Crusted Chicken Fingers

Ingredients

• 1 cup pecan pieces
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons Essence, recipe follows
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup olive oil
  
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut lengthwise into strips
• Chopped parsley, garnish
• Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the pecan pieces, bread crumbs, and Essence. Pulse for 1 minute to combine. Pour into a shallow dish.

In a bowl, beat together the eggs, olive oil and remaining 2 teaspoons of Essence. One at a time, dip the chicken into the egg mixture then dredge in the pecan mixture, shaking to remove any excess. Transfer to the baking sheet and bake, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through and the crust is golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer to 4 plates. Garnish with parsley and serve with the Honey Mustard Dipping sauce on the side.

*Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasonings):

• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons Creole mustard or other hot whole-grain mustard
• Pinch salt
• Pinch cayenne, or to taste

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir well to combine. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use. (Honey-Mustard Dipping Sauce will keep, refrigerated in a covered non-reactive container, for 2 weeks.)

Yield: approximately 3/4 cup

(recipe taken from foodnetwork.com)

Jude Michael Shiffler, my new nephew, was born last week in North Carolina (!) and...

drum roll please...

the new blog that Bobby has put all of his free time (what you're probably thinking is exactly right: he doesn't have much) into will be complete this week.

And to think I thought we were almost done with it back in September!? That's life with kids for ya!

It has been an ongoing project that Bobby has had to teach himself as he goes: I couldn't be anymore pleased with it or his dedication to me through it.

Not one single speck of cheese in that salad--still no dairy.

We're winding down these cold winter days staying indoors. Oh, but how we're looking forward to the upcoming sun in the evening, even if it still is cold outside.


Stay warm this weekend!

Caroline.

She has been invaluable this last year. Somewhere in the intensity of our lives she has stepped up to become my daily relief, runner of all-things baby, and peacemaker (i.e. giving Johanna what she want even if it's her turn to play with it over and over again).

Late afternoons are once again our time. Whether resting under her blankie together or literally running downstairs while the rest of the house sleeps to make something, it's one of our favorite times of the day.

Thus, the artsy clutch. Something I was recently inspired to finally try out for a special someone who can't even comprehend with her four year old mind what she does for me day in and day out.

It was a team effort, really. She got to design her fabric with whatever comes to a child's mind like, "I Luv You", "Coowl Sci" (Cool Sky), and green-haired hills with fabric markers.

And so the pleasing first child graciously thanked me, hugged me, and went along her way, as always, more in love with me than anything I make her.

How I never want to forget this season.

All of my childhood I shared a room. At one point in high school with fewer children home, I claimed the basement room for myself. That was the first time I felt unsettled going to bed alone.

My girls pile on the bed and quietly enjoy being-- being so close to each other, being still in the safety of their own room, together.

Their room got another facelift from newborn photos hanging, diapers stacked, and soft baby animals scattered to big girl things. Well, just beds and a dresser, with expectations of bed making happening at least sometimes.

Clothes sometime make their way into their shared dresser, rarely folded but nicely laid inside; PJs on top, tops in the middle, and pants/skirts on the bottom.

And once the laundry enters their space, it's transformed into new uses. Much more creative uses than I would of come up with.

And yes, there's the struggles with bedtimes with two active girls that would rather be playing with the other than falling asleep.

But, oh, how it satisfies a Mommy's heart that her two loves love the safety and security found in their roommate.

Food. Stomach. Pain.

It's with me when I wake in the morning until nighttime. I miss having a life-- a real life that involves action, goals, dreams, and variety. If it weren't for feeding people, putting people down, and filling sippy cups I'd like to be on the couch all day.

{How I feel all the time, but without the smile!}

"Eat this, don't eat this, take this daily, have another scan..." around and around and around I go...

Today: I canceled my ultrasound and resisted filling the prescription.

Today: I took myself off dairy.

I'm finally taking this into my own hands since traditional medicine isn't cutting it. I'm so done with this seven year reoccurring sickness. I'm putting everything into a possible adult-onset food allergy.

Hello rice milk, goodbye innocent late-night glass of milk.

Think of me when you're dunkin'.

How inspiring it is to be with friends who love using their hands to make special things for the people they love.

Thanks for coming last night everyone!