Everyday Cori By Corine Ingrassia

Look, Feel and Live Your Most Well-Lived Life

kids

Girls Style: Transitioning Tweed Into Spring

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When the weather and your wardrobe are still transitioning between seasons, it can be hard to decide how to dress for the day. Is it too cool for shorts? It is too warm for pants?

What I love to do during this time of year is mix a little bit of both seasons together.

My daughter has a really cute pair of tweed shorts that she wore in the winter with tights that I wanted squeeze one more use out of, so the other day I paired it up with a long sleeve peasant top and sandals.

I LOVE pairing long sleeve tops and shorts and it is perfect for the spring transition or a cool summer night.

All of the items Laina is wering in the above picture are last year’s styles so unfortunately you probable wouldn’t be able to find them- but below is a an even more summery version for light tweed shorts. Most of the items are on sale… and how ridiculously cute are these feathery sandals??

Tangerine peasant top, Children’s Place $10

Black tweed shorts, Lands End $14.99

Union Bay sandals, DWS $26.95

Beaded stretch headband, Tilt $7.99

The Day My 3 Year Old Gave Birth… To A FurReal Pet

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My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are expecting their first child in a few weeks.  Each time we see my sister-in-law’s growing belly, we talk about the anticipated arrival of their new baby cousin.

They are excited- though I am certain that neither Ryan (7) nor Laina (3) really “get” the whole baby in-belly concept. Still, up until now neither have really asked any technical questions about it {wipes sweat from my forehead}.

However, this afternoon as we were getting ready to go to the bus stop to pick up Ryan, I turned around to find my 3 year old’s belly suddenly seemed … larger.

She explained to me very matter of factly– “My puppy has to grow and get big. So I put him in my shirt. When he gets big, I will take him out. But don’t worry, Mommy- it won’t hurt when I take him out.”

Where do kids come up with this stuff?

We walked out with puppy-in-shirt and when we parked at the bus stop, I couldn’t help but dig a little more.

And well… there you have it.

Sitter Update

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Last week, I shared a few big accomplishments. This week, Quaker has asked me to share a little update on how my big accomplishment is going– and what a perfect week it was to post about it!

This week started out pretty crazy. Crazy good, but crazy. I can’t divulge full details just yet (though it is killing me, believe me!) but, something came about very last minute, in the midst of an already very busy work week. I knew the only way I could pull it off was to call in help – and thankfully, I was able to call on our new sitter.

In between the hustle and bustle Monday, I snapped a few of the sweetest moments between Laina and our new friend, that I think illustrates just how well my accomplishment is going-

 

I would say it was going pretty well!

I think there is this misconception amongst many of us work at home moms, that we feel because we have career with a flexible work schedule, we are expected to be able to “do it all” without ever needing help. In my experience? That could not be further from the truth. There is no doubt about it, working at home is a sweet position to be in, but it is not the sunshine and lollipops it would seem.

There is always business that need tending to during the day and juggling those work things with Mommy things is stressful because A.) Your “work time” ends up being broken up  and scattered through out your whole day, and B.) THE GUILT. Oh, the guilt! Who wants to have to turn down a request for a tea party because you have a conference call? It is heart breaking.

Having our sitter on hand has helped balance all of that. My week has more concrete work hours and I feel good knowing that my daughter is having a blast playing with someone she adores during those hours.

Sometimes the silliest things hold us back from reaching our goals, but often when we finally make the initiative to tackle them we are left wondering why it took us so long?  That is the case with my long deliberation on “to hire a sitter or not to hire a sitter?”

After 130 years without an oatmeal cookie? I am sure Quaker feels the same.

In my post last week, Quaker  and I asked you to share your big accomplishments or goal for a chance to win a variety of  their all new (and delicious) Quaker oatmeal cookies, along with a $75 Visa giftcard to help you achieve a goal of your own.

So many of the entries reminded me of things I needed to add to my own to-do list, so thank you for that!

And without further adue, the winner of the Quaker giveaway is … {{drum rolls please}} …

* MARGARET S. – who hopes to accomplish putting together photo books that she started years ago.* ––(I can relate to that one!!)

The new Quaker oatmeal cookies are a MUST try- my personal favorite is the soft oatmeal raisin.

If you are interested receiving a sample of Quaker’s new oatmeal cookies, their Facebook is a buzz about an upcoming cookie promotion they are working out. So, stay tuned to the official Quaker Facebook page!

Disclosure:  Quaker sponsored the theme of this post as well as the giveaway mentioned. All thoughts, opinons and adorable children are my own.

How To: Ham & Cheese Lasagna

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My son, at 6 years old is a total foodie. And not just in the way his Mom is a foodie (the consuming kind), he actually enjoys cooking!

He is enrolled in a cooking class right now and not that he ever really leaves me any to taste, from the scraps and crumbs I’ve had the honor of nibbling on, he is learning to cook some delish meals.

Although cooking with him at the moment completely stresses me out, I am trying- with every ounce of my being to embrace this passion of his- because I know with the proper training in a few years I could very well be running my very own dinner-sweat shop  have the very next Top Chef on my hands.

So this week we cooked the Ham & Cheese lasagna he cooked a few weeks ago in class.

Try it. You will die and go to cheese heaven- I promise.

HAM & CHEESE LASAGNA RECIPE

ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)
  • 4 stalks celery, thinly sliced (2 cups)
  • 4 carrots, chopped (2 cups)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups sliced crimini mushrooms or other small brown mushrooms (8 oz.)
  • 2 cups cubed cooked ham
  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • 1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1-1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese (6 oz.)
  • 12  lasagna noodles (7 to 8 oz.)
directions1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F.

2. For sauce, in a 12-inch skillet sauté onion, celery, carrots, and garlic, in hot oil over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add mushrooms and ham. Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in cream, undrained tomatoes, water, and wine. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and ground black pepper.

4. Boil lasagna noodles.

5. In a bowl combine cheeses.

6. Spoon 1-1/2 cups of the sauce in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the cheese mixture. Top with 4 lasagna noodles, overlapping as needed. Repeat twice. Spoon on remaining sauce and sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture.

7. Bake about 30 minutes or until heated through. Let stand, 10 minutes before serving. Makes 12 servings.

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