The . Thome . Home .

This Little Man …

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ImageThis little man to the left turned ONE! on April 30.  We celebrated the following weekend with close family and friends.  Our immediate family list (Aunts/Uncles/Cousins) for both sides gave us a grand total of 90 guests.  Unfortunately, the majority of Dan’s side had a family function, so our list ended up to be around 50 guests.  Sunshine and 70* for Owen’s bash, so thankfully we had plenty of room for people to spread out and not feel cramped in our 1,300 square foot colonial.  Throwing parties, or hosting any gathering in general has to be one of our favorite things to do.  We would have people over all the time if we could.  ImageWe slapped a tent up, and a few tables on friday, a few toys on the lawn and that was it.  We like to keep things pretty simple around here.  As much as I love looking at extreme themed parties on blogs and Ooo and Ahh at the amazing decor and special touches through out the party – it is just too much work.  Or, I am just too cheap/lazy? I keep the decor down to the dessert table (my favorite) and the goodie bags – which I forgot to take pictures of.  Our “theme” was nautical, Owen is a water baby to the max.  He does major water damage during bath time, and comes out wrinkled as a prune.  When it comes to baby pools, it’s just the same.  So – nautical was the easiest thing I could think of.  The dessert table was filled with homemade goodies I made that day and day prior.  And the decor was a cinch to do.

ImageThe banner consisted of paint samples from Home Depot – that I cut a simple triangle out for points.  Used a hole puncher for each corner on the top and wiggled white string through, knotting at each hole.  And there ya go – buying the string cost me $2.99.  Life preservor I bought 50% off at a local craft store for $15.00, shouldn’t have purchased it though.  I thought it would fit in our front door for the summer but it is too wide…. SO it sits in our sun room for now.  The dessert cards were made from cardstock I cut, and glue sticks.  Cute Martha Stewart stickers of anchors pulled the look together.  Desserts were all made from scratch, and cost no more then $15 to make them all.  EXCEPT …. the vegan smash cake.

ImageWe ordered the smash cake a week prior to his party, on his birthday, and picked him up a mini vegan cupcake to try on his birthday as well.  I have never seen a kid less interested in eating icing and cake.  There was hardly any smashing, or tasting for that matter.  Everyone laughed as Owen sat there pushing the cake away from him.  Brody had no problem standing beside, clapping and singing happy birthday, secretly thinking the party was for him. =)  That was the only money spent that was truly wasted for the party, $30 for the cake.  This whole blogging world is not something we do in anticipation for people to read it, so we definitely slack on taking pictures of things we do on a daily basis.  Thankfully, my sister grabbed us for a quick photo on our front steps while it was still light out.  Thank you Aunt Claire!

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Oh akward family photo.  Owen is sucking frosting out from under his finger nail.  Brody appears to be hollering at an attractive girl in the street.  Dan, Oh my husband.  He’s so handsome, no complaints there! 🙂 And me.. well I am a true woman through and through and am never happy with the way I look.  BUT grateful we got one shot of us all together!

Owen – you have added SO much spunk into our lives….. We have had a lot of adjusting, and tons of health – bumps this past year.  It took a really long time for us to understand what works for you best, and we could not be any happier to see what a healthy, wild and vivacious little man you are!  Happppppy Birthday Owen!

By the way … Happy Mothers Day to all moms out there… mothers, mothers-to-be, and grandmothers! Have a beautiful day!

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

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Good morning, Beautiful.  Nothing like waking up, and feeling zero guilt eating a muffin that tastes like a brownie.  Why no guilt? With heart healthy olive oil, and a TON of zucchini in each bite, I would have to say it would be wrong NOT to eat this.  At any time of day for that matter.

INGREDIENTS:  12-16 muffins

  • 1/2 Cup Olive Oil (Use a fruity olive oil, or as mild of one as you have) (Canola oil will work too)
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 1/2 Cups of zucchini, cut into match sticks
  • 1 Cup Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
  • 3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips (Milk Chocolate)

Pre Heat oven to 350*

To begin, take one large zucchini, or two small, and cut into match sticks.  I cut 1/4 inch slices, and cut each circle into sticks. In one bowl, whisk together the olive oil, sugars, vanilla and 2 eggs.  Add in the zucchini, stirring to cover zucchini with the wet ingredients.

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and powder, cinnamon, salt, and cocoa powder.  Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and then add the chocolate chips.

With two cupcake trays, line with cupcake wrappers.  Fill each 3/4 of the way up.  Bake at 350* for 20-28 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean.  Store in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

Easy Art, and Easter Fun

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For Christmas in 2010, our  friends Chris & Lisa gifted us this book.  We are not people who read all the time, well, if any at all.  But, with a sweet note to Dan inside the first page, the pages starting turning, and we could not stop laughing, nodding, and having mini “AHA” moments.  It’s been what? Two years since we received this book, and we have kept it bed side, looking through it frequently.  When it hit me.  GET THIS OUT OF THE BOOK AND ON THE WALLS! The rules/advice/lessons that are laid out in this book are too good to keep tucked away in our bedroom.  Thankfully, I picked up these frames on clearance a while ago, and they were the perfect fit for four of the pages.  We plan to get more frames, and fill the boys bedroom walls with this new art work.  You must get this book if you have a boy – even if you have girls, some of this rules can be applied to anyone’s life.  Female or male.  It’s the bees knees.

Coming from a mother who dances all the time, and having a husband who needs a few cocktails to get out on the dance floor. I HOPE my boys can bust a move.  Speaking of my kids, the other day on Pinterest I stumbled across this mood board for room decor I drooled over – and then wished that I stumbled across the money to buy it all.  There are SO many more inspiring boards to sort through on Lay Baby Lay – Nursery Inspiration & Delights!   One day they will share a room, and I think this will be the color palette and theme we will go with.

Does this post seem random? Because scatter-brained is EXACTLY how I feel lately…. too much to do, too much to keep track of… and lack of a good nights sleep.  It has my mind bouncing in every single direction imaginable! SOoOo…Onto the next… EASTER.  We hosted Easter at our house, an open house to whomever would like to come.  With a busy few days prior, it was nice that the day ended up being super laid back and easy.  I made a new batch of cinnamon rolls and froze them the week prior, making it simply to thaw and bake that day.  (Might I add that this new recipe, via The Pioneer Woman – has kicked my other dough in the a$$) I made a different glaze, but overall the rolls tasted like cinnamon clouds.  They were well worth the calories 🙂 I also made my french toast bake that I recently posted, and a Quiche.  They were all delicious.

The boy’s easter baskets were packed full of goodies.  The easter grass I think was the biggest hit amongst the youngin’s.

Another surprising Cleveland day.  Sunshine, and warmth.  We were out playing most of the afternoon, while the parents sipped on Mimosa’s.  Brody shoved his eggs from the hunt into his coat pocket (^^) as if other kids were going to steal them.  HA. Love him.. we found an egg just yesterday while getting dressed for an errand.

Such a serious face – probably because he does not like any other candy besides chocolate.  The skittles threw him off.

This little guy was probably beginning to become desperate to eat grass.  With his extreme dairy and egg allergies poor thing couldn’t try any easter candy that day.  With his first birthday a few weeks away I found a great Vegan bakery though.  I was seriously worried he was going to have a zucchini smash cake.

This picture was from the day prior to easter at my Aunt’s house.  Brody has such a ball each year with his second cousins on the egg hunt.  And no – fellow stylists – my hair is not purposely “OMBRE”  I wish I could say I was hip and shooting for the look.  I just haven’t colored my hair since I was 32 weeks pregnant with Owen.  SLOW hair growth, and not a chance to get away has left me shaggy.  I feel like a 60-year-old woman contemplating growing out her gray hair.  I haven’t touched it in a year, and now that I do not have the convenience of being at a salon, “letting it go” seems like an excuse to not take of myself.  Oh… a mother’s way.

I hope your spring/easter break was as enjoyable as ours.  Owen enjoyed eating natures candy, grass.  And Brody has stuffed every last dollar bill he found in his piggy bank from his easter egg hunt.  I’m telling ya, that kid will be a rich man one day.  Maybe then he can treat mom to some hair color?! HAHA.. I’m Kidding!

French Toast Bake

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Need a simple dish for Easter brunch? Here it is! A french toast bake that can be prepped the night prior, just to be baked off the next day.  This is a fool-proof recipe that I have made a few times this month, and have never been disappointed! I, however, did not prep it ahead of time. (*)  I made it in fifteen minutes and tossed it into the oven to bake.  Layers of french bread, brown sugar crumble, and egg custard make the most moist, fluffy french toast you will ever eat.  Forget the flipping, and soaking each slice of bread.  Make this and it will leave your guests begging for the recipe.  Or make it for yourself, and you will have a quick breakfast every day of the week!  Add fresh berries, and maple syrup to bring it all together.  Or, if your like us, eat it as is.  We are hooked, and know you will be too!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 Loaf of French Bread
  • 8 Eggs
  • 2 1/2 Cups of Milk (2% is what we used)
  • 1/2 Cup of Sugar
  • 2 tsp Vanilla
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ground Nutmeg
  • BROWN SUGAR CRUMBLE
  • 1/2 Cup Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 Stick Cold Butter, cut into cubes
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350*  Butter the bottom of a 9×9 baking dish
Slice the loaf of french bread into 1- inch slices, set aside Approximately 15-18 slices.  In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  In a food processor, (Or with a fork if you do not have one) put all the ingredients for the crumble together and pulse until it looks like wet sand.  Take your baking dish, and place  a single layer of the french bread in the bottom.  Pour 1/2 of the egg mixture on top of the bread, soaking each piece.  With your fingers, place 1/2 the brown sugar crumble on top of the bread.  Repeat, layer of bread, egg mixture, and brown sugar crumble.  Place in the oven at 350* for 45-50 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.  ENJOY!
*If prepping the dish for the next day.  Simple assemble, cover with foil and place in your fridge.  Bake at the same temperature (uncovered), it may need 10 more minutes of baking time.  

Pits and Peaks

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We Clevelanders have really lucked out this past winter, it was beyond mild, and actually quite enjoyable.  The month of March blew our minds with temps in the 70’s, it was magnificent! The picture above was in Downtown Cleveland at the St. Patrick’s Day parade.  We were beyond overdressed for the weather, and slowly had to strip the boys down throughout the parade.  Dan and I might have dropped a pant size in sweat by the time we left.

Exhibit A: Rain boots and all..while other were in shorts and tank tops.

While watching the ever entertaining Keeping up with the Kardashians, (don’t judge me) something caught my attention.  At the dinner table, they sit down and say their “Pit” and “Peak” of their week.  I thought this was such a great idea.  We all have our dinner talk, how was your day, what are we doing tomorrow.. bla bla bla.  But this is such a great way to get everyone at the table talking, and to spark many conversations about the good and bad.  I think, as a parent, this would be a great tool to get to know what’s going on in your kids lives in a different way.  Instead of hounding them all the time! Then my idea stumbled forward.  Since I can never keep my thoughts to myself, and do not have much of a filter, I thought it would be a great idea to make a post once a week about my pit and peak of the week.  Except, I will try to Thome it up and come up with our own wording.

PITS of the month… let’s catch up shall we?… (see, pits?.. gross, I need new wording ideas anyone?)

  • Hands full of laundry, opening up the baby gate to go to the laundry room and taking the entire gate down with me to the floor.  It hurt, just a bit.
  • Getting my period.  One perk I miss from nursing, (not getting one). I’m telling ya.  Periods should be a one time deal.  You get it once, and that’s it.  Gods way of saying “you can have a baby now” and that be the end of it! HA.
  • Trader Joes with Brody.  Five minutes in and the meltdown began.  He started running for the door, I chased after, breaking my flip-flop.  Leaving a cart full of groceries in the store, walking away barefoot with a screaming child on my hip.  Not to mention I parked far away (counts as exercise right?) SO embarrassing!
  • Having to cancel our weekend (1 night) getaway to Columbus to visit our friends, Trevor & Lauren because our darling boys were sick yet again.  We were banking on that child-free time to refresh ourselves from these crazy last few months.  And by refresh I do mean cocktails and sleeping till 9.  OH WELL.

Peaks of the month…

  • Owen started crawling on his knees finally! No more creepy army crawl, or rug burned forearms and legs! Yippee.
  • We won $50,000 in the lottery. HELLO. AMAZING!!
  • IM JUST KIDDING.. 🙂
  • While at Trader Joes, (yes I live there) a very elderly woman (75+) came up to me and said how great I looked for having two boys.  She said, “I don’t know how you do it, must be so tiring.” I smiled and said, “That is so sweet, thank you, they’re good boys (ha) and I drink lots of coffee.” SHE SAID, leaning in with a grin, “You should put some vodka in that coffee.” I DIED.  I didn’t know whether to laugh or hug her.  I thought we might be long-lost sisters with our sense of humor.  It was too funny, and it’s probably so true that half of our grandparents drank all day when our parents were little.  God bless her, she made my month!

What were your Pits n’ Peaks from this past month? Share them with me, I would love to hear from who ever is reading this! I am pretty convinced it is just our parents.  =)

Something else we’ve accomplished this past month and have forgotten about.. the kitchen is repainted! We thought we loved the color, turns out with one swipe of the new color we realized how pea-poop green the walls were.  We lightened everything up, and it flows nicely with the downstairs.  Here’s a glimpse, more updates to come.

Kitchen nook before ...

Our white chairs are getting splashed with color later next week, along with the legs of the table to freshen it up.  The room just feels more serene, which I like.  I spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Our aisle-way of a kitchen feels so much bigger now with lighter walls, and a new rug we meant to put under the table in the nook.  It happens to be a great fit in front of the oven/cabinets, and great for those little baby knees to crawl on!

For the weekend coming up, we’re filling ours with birthday invites for Owen’s FIRST bash, and a family birthday party on sunday at a bounce house place.  Should be interesting considering Brody has been terrified of those for a while.  Hopefully he’ll warm up since he’s a big boy now as we keep telling him! Happy weekend!

Raising TWO boys.

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Raising TWO boys.  Two boys that are my entire world.  They are the reason why I do everything now-a-days, and will forever be that way.  They have shaped me into the person I am today, and I hope that one day they will feel the same way about Dan and I.  I look at their sweet little faces and every now and then it just hits me.  They are only “babies” for so long, then comes the pre-teen years, and the teenage years, the college days, and the real world.  And all I feel is sheer and utter anxiety.  I want nothing more for these boys to have a beautiful, fulfilling life.  Our parenting in many ways, will mold them into the type of kid, teen, and adult they will one day be.  Our sweet little boys will one day slam doors in our faces, angry that I won’t let them play video games for hours.  One day they will try to take the keys to the car to go to a party their father and I didn’t approve of.  And eventually, they will fall for a girl.  And I can only hope they will be gentlemen.  To think we can have so much impact on their future, is overwhelming, and exciting all at the same time.  Each household is different.  Faith, work life, schooling, and home life, every house is completely different, not one the same.  And yet, we must all hope at the end of the day that we are doing a good job at raising our kids.  No matter which way we go about it.  Kind, ambitious, generous, trustworthy, compassionate, just a few characteristics I hope our kids will have.

I will be the first to say, that we are not perfect.  Dan and I both had different upbringings.  We experienced a variety of hurdles that I know shaped us into who we are today.  With kids these days though, I feel like there are SO many more hurdles to worry about then what we had just a mere 15-20 years ago.   The bullying, social networks, cell phones, so and so forth.  Kids are just a lot more advanced in age, easily influenced, and grow up way to quick.  As parents, I know we hope to keep the boys on a slower pace.  Not just give up and let them jump into things when they are not mature enough for it.  Yet, holding them back from things could in the end keep  them a little to sheltered?

With pre-school right around the bend for Brody, my natural instincts as a mother makes me what to home school him and keep him away from anything bad in the world.  I know, however, that I cannot do that.  He must experience things in life, the good, the bad, and the ugly to give him a stronger foundation in life.  To think that someone, whether it be a teacher, student, or friend of his may one day be mean to him, and put him down in any way just makes my eyes tear up.  I remember being bullied, even through some years at highschool.  I was never really a “cool girl.”  I was pretty plain jane, a “prude”, and not into parties and drinking.  I had my fair share of comments, and yet I made it out okay.  I can only hope that my kids will have a great relationship with their dad and I, and feel comfortable to discuss anything that is on their mind.  To help them shuffle through the hard stuff.

The balance between being a parent and a friend I am sure will weigh heavy on us in their teen years.  One stern comment about a friend we do not approve of, or an outfit we want them to change, I am will sure send them flying in that direction even more.  Each child will go through phases, and do things we may not approve of.  These younger years we may be spoiling them more than we should.  And have questioned whether or not we are too laid back with the boys.  Then I heard a comment during an interview one day.  A grandmother asking a host whether or not it is a good or bad thing that she spoils her granddaughter to an extreme.  I was ready to hear, “Heck ya, do not fill this little girls head with the idea that life is peaches and cream.” Quite the contrary, the host said to spoil her, give her all the unconditional love you have to offer.  Because someday, a teacher, or a friend will not be nice to her.  In fact, will probably bring her down.  And she will always know she has you to come back to and feel that love from.  I cried.  Okay, a lot.  Every day is a gift.  The future is never promised.  Our children are our world, and whether or not we go about raising them how our neighbor or friend may be doing with theirs, they will all get on the same bus one day.  We can only hope as parents that our children will be kind to one another.  The balance you find as a parent is all your own.  I know from the way my boys interact with others now, that they will continue to make me proud every day.  I must learn not to worry so much.  Breathe a little, and trust in ourselves as new parents.  We must learn as we go, take each day at a time.  I cannot be the only parent that thinks this far ahead right?

A Finished Basement!

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The “hard part” is over with!! YIPPEEEEE!! Seriously, we’re that excited.  This basement  has been one of the more drawn out projects we’ve had since we did our 3 month flip.  It feels like we’ve watched an ugly duckling turn into a beautiful swan.  A basement we used to tip toe through to get into the laundry area, is now an area that we kick our socks off in and play with the kids.  We are smitten.  We have a lot of decorating/furniture figuring out to do, but the more expensive pieces to this project are over with.

This is our very first picture of our basement from when we purchased the home.  The light colored patch near the steps was actually just the beginning to a long crack dividing our basement in half.  We knew that it would have to be fixed eventually, and that time had come.  But goodness forbid we just fix one thing and let it be… we have to go over the top.

 The floors were dug out, and new concrete was poured.  A hefty project, costing us a whopping $2,300.  (Believe it or not that is pennies compared to what most companies would have charged.)  After letting our account breathe for a few weeks, we busted out our windows and put in new ones.  I am shocked we did not do this a long time ago, I think a strong gust would have pushed the old ones in.

goodbye cracked floor, hello gravel. See the old windows? YIKES!

New windows

Dan and John were able to get the windows done on a sunday morning, and that following week they busted out the stud work along all the walls.  It was so nice to see our basement taking on a new look!

Stud work, and our new flooring

As you can see above, our fireplace did not have any stud work done above it.  We had big plans for this fireplace.  It was obvious that it had not been touched in who knows how many years.  So, our game plan was to get everything cleared from a chimney company to make sure it is safe to use, and then begin our fabulous brick work we had planned to go to the ceiling.  After we got the fireplace checked out, dollar signs were flashing in our  face.  Just to get it cleaned, checked with a camera was creeping up to the $200 mark.  Not mentioning all the other bits and pieces.  It was turning into a $800-$1,000 job.  NOT HAPPENING! At least not for now, we still had so much more to pay for.  So, we stuffed that bad boy up like a turkey to block the draft and covered up our fireplace with drywall.  Thankfully, if we decide to stay here for many more years and want to invest in it, we can simply remove the drywall and rebuild.  Until then, we’ll put the money in other places!

Dry wall - check!

This is the official point where Dan and I got a little ahead of ourselves, and got serious about our “deadline.”  We wanted this basement complete by March 1, Brody’s birthday.  So after comparing prices with carpet, we called Empire to come over and price it out since they were having a 70% off winter clearance.  The guy kind of laughed at us as we shook our heads at eachother over the prices he was telling us.  “Well, your not going to carpet a room for $400.”  We knew that, but we also wanted to get the best deal possible.  After him giving us his never ending sales pitches, and “calling his people” to see what he could do for us, we got the price down to $1,300.  We were pleased with that.  “Okay guys, so with this deal,” He said,  “The carpet will get installed tommorow morning, can you have the painting done by tonight?” WHHHHATTTT!! We almost always manage to dig ourselves into a hole we cannot get out of.  The “deal” would only be good for that very day because of how many loops he had to go through to cut the price down.  So, there we were, awkwardly sitting at the table as I am scrunching my face at Dan, angry and stressed while the man was filling out paperwork.  What was I going to say, “Can you excuse us?” As we step three feet back into our sunroom to discuss this, in “private”?  I was hoping that this guy was going to come over, give us a price and we would call when we were ready.  Instead we had Dan in the sunroom evaluating the funds, seeing if we could hand over that much money.  I wanted to throw up.  I hate spending money so quickly.  We said yes, we usually do.  We gave the man his money, and the moment he left we threw the kids into the car and ran to Home Depot for paint.  Gotta do what-cha gotta do right?!

We don’t have any pictures of just the new paint, because it was all done in one night.  And quite honestly, we were to occupied with our liter of wine and paint brushes to get through the night.  We got it done though, and by 9:30 am the next morning, our basement looked like this….

Going down....you do not have to tip toe anymore!

Under our stairs, have to come up with something clever/cute for the kiddos.

Furniture shopping kicked up the next day, where we found ourselves circling the store a number of times.  We bickered back and forth over two seating arrangements that we could not agree on.  Then dan planted himself on this giant leather sectional, and his dimples were screaming from the roof tops of the furniture store.  So, he won.  He doubled our furniture budget, and I, like a true smart ass said, “I don’t want to hear it, you make the money, spend it as you will.” I was being sarcastic to a point, but he does work hard for his money, so I figured if plopping himself onto a leather couch at the end of his work day makes him feel good, then so be it.  Happy husband, happy home. (haha) I’ll save you the hour long story of us getting the furniture home.  We decided to pick it up to save $100 delivery fee, and this is how our morning went.  3 cars, 5 hours, RAIN, curse words, scratched walls, and wine by 5:00.  NEVER again!

Wall mount for the T.V. came in today, thank goodness! That table gives me anxiety!

I stalked these pillows at target for forever, until their price went from $20 a piece, to $5. Yes, I have a problem.

All and all, this basement journey was a long and expensive one.  After all the hard work, and the money was spent, we both must say we do not regret our decision to finish it.  We have spent more time this past week down there, than anywhere else in our house.  We are in love, and know when the day comes to sell this home, hopefully this will help! Plus, we got it done in time for this little mans birthday.  THE BIG 3!!!

Happy Birthday Brody!! No really, this is your birthday present, the basement.  We cannot afford a gift.  JK.  ha, we love you!!!!

Q is for Quinoa

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Quinoa, a “grain” (technically a seed) that I have passed up on the shelves for a few months now.  I tend to gravitate more towards couscous or rice when I am in need of a quick side dish.  QUINOA is my NEW favorite.  Easy as pie to prepare, and endless ways to enjoy.  This is the perfect pantry item to use as a main dish, and a simple side.  Kid tested, husband tested, and mother approved. This grain is the newest super-food, it will be used and abused in our house due to Owen’s never ending allergy issues. Gluten free, wheat free, dairy free, the list goes on…. Perfect for my little “O”.  It is amazing how such a tiny grain is filled with so many nutrients. Google away, you will be impressed. This is the dinner we made the other evening, already wanting to make it again!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 Cup Quinoa
  • 2 Cup Chicken Stock (you can use vegetable stock, or water to cut calories)
  • 1 Eggplant, cubed
  • 5 Small zucchini, sliced
  • 1 Cup Grape Tomatoes
  • Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 Cup Feta Cheese
  • Salt, pepper, and garlic powder

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350*

Line a baking sheet with foil.  Cut the eggplant and zucchini, and place onto the baking sheet.  Add the grape tomatoes whole (they will burst).  Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and a pinch of garlic powder. Mix with your hands, and spread into an even layer.  Let roast until everything softens and tomatoes burst. (Approximately 45 minutes)

In the meantime, in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat, bring chicken stock and quinoa to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and let cook for 10-15 minutes, until grain is translucent and you can see a ring around the grain. (Check your package for directions as well) Fluff with a fork, turn off heat and set aside.

Once vegetables are done, place quinoa in the bottom of a serving dish, spoon vegetables on top. Squeeze lemon juice on top, and crumble feta over the entire dish. DELICIOUS!

P.S.  “Q” is also for “Q-T pie” Look at this kid! 9 months old already! LOVE HIM.

Kiss me, an Irish Carbomb Cupcake.

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“I swear, I only had one.” Looking for an adult treat to bring to a party? St. Patrick’s Day is a well celebrated day in the Thome home. Even though we are not 100% Irish, we have definitely grown to act like it come this time of year. When I was little, I tried Irish dancing. Key word here, TRIED. My best friend in grade school was a phenomenal Irish dancer (Katie-Rose, hope you don’t mind I mentioned ya!) I longed to be able to dance even a step or two like her. So I tried, and I remember nearly crying at all my classes with my teacher. I thought she was so mean. Now, looking back she was probably really frustrated with me because I was terrible at it. She used to gather the girls in a line, and we would practice a certain step. Those that got it, were dismissed to stand against the wall. I was always the last girl dancing (it scarred me for life, haha). So, I quit, and just continued to admire Irish dancers from there on out. I let go of my curly hair – embellished dress dream. HAHA. Hand me ten of these cupcakes and I might get loose enough to show you a few steps, though. I have made these cupcakes before, but they needed some tweaking. I adapted the cake recipe, and made the ganache and frosting my own. If you do not enjoy alcohol, more than likely these will not be on your to make list. If you do, you will love this tipsy treat.

INGREDIENTS:

CUPCAKE:

  • 1 3/4 Cup Flour
  • 2 Cups Sugar
  • 3/4 Cup Cocoa Powder (I used Trader Joes brand- Hershey’s will do)
  • 2 tsp. Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp. Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1 Cup Whole Milk
  • 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 Cup Guinness
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

GANACHE FILLING:

  • 10 oz Bittersweet Chocolate Chips (I used Ghirardelli)
  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • 2 Tbsp Whiskey (I used Jameson)
  • 2/3 Cup Cream

FROSTING:

  • 2 Sticks Unsalted Butter
  • 4 Cups Powdered Sugar
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/2 Cup Bailey’s

The Whiskey Ganache Filling...

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350*

The ganache and frosting I made ahead of time, so they both had time to sit and set. For the ganache, melt chocolate over a double boiler. Heat your cream in a heat proof glass in your microwave just until warm. Once chocolate has melted, turn off your double boiler and add the butter, cream, and whiskey. Stir until mixture is smooth and has thickened. Place in another bowl, and cover with clear wrap.

To make the frosting (so simple) use a handheld mixer. Beat the butter until light and fluffy (2 minutes or so) Add the vanilla and baileys and mix on low until incorporated. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until the frosting is smooth. Cover bowl with clear wrap, and set aside as well.

For the cupcake portion, you will need 2 medium size bowls. Take all the dry ingredients, flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt, and whisk together to beat out any small lumps. In another bowl, stir together the milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add your wet ingredients to dry, mix on low until batter comes together. DO NOT OVER MIX. Add the cup of guinness beer last, the batter will look runny in comparison to most. This is just what you want. Fill your lined cupcake pan, each 3/4 of the way full. Bake at 350* for 15-18 minutes. Once toothpick comes out clean, your cupcakes are done. Let them cool completely!

Using a cupcake corer, or simply a paring knife and a spoon, cut out a small section in the middle of your cooled cupcake (only go 2/3 of the way down) Take a zip lock bag, and fill it with the ganache, cut a small hole in the corner and pipe the ganache into the hole just to fill it. Once all the cupcakes are filled, frost them as you please. Store in an airtight container, and in all seriousness these are ADULT ONLY cupcakes!

Cupcake recipe barely adapted from the one and only Ina Garten :Beatty’s Chocolate Cake Which is my go to chocolate cake recipe as is, its fabulous.

8 Years….

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Dan and I are coming up on the 8th year since we have been together. Since valentine’s day is right around the bend, I thought it was only appropriate to do a post about the man I love the most. Eight years seems like such a long time, yet has truly gone by in a flash. We met in high school, obviously. Dan was a member of a band called “Ruet Caelum” and let me tell ya, back then, they were quite the hit in town. Not exactly my cup of tea when it comes to music, but to the girls in high school they were the “Justin Bieber”of boys to hang around. Naturally, my show choir-performing self gravitated to their shows, although most of my time was spent on the side lines in fear of the mosh pits the cool kids would start. I would never survive, jazz hands were more my thing. We started talking more when he became part of the crew for my show choir, and began “dating” fairly quickly. We were two complete dorks…

Dan, his senior year of high school. I was already at a community college. I was a year older, and a cougar at the time, going for the younger men…haha. Here, he was accepting an award for his photography, in which he then received a scholarship to CCAD in Columbus where he attended in the fall.

Dan’s senior prom, 2005. Notice my horrific jersey shore tan? I am sure I will be kicking myself in the dermatologist’s office 15 years from now. Not to mention Dan’s haircut that I did, prior to cosmetology school. (Not too shabby?)

Had to throw this in year while looking through old pictures. This set was built during Dan’s senior year. Done by the one and only John Thome. Just goes to show that John is so multi talented, this boat set was built for the play ‘Anything Goes’. We are so lucky to have him helping with our house. We then, had no idea how much his handy skills would impact our future home!

Dan went off to college… where back home, I attended Cosmetology school. This was probably my face the entire year, wondering what my cute boyfriend was up to in college? Hair was always a passion of mine I dabbled in way before school. I always played around with hair during high school. I have no idea what gave me the balls to attempt it without truly knowing what I was doing. And kudos to those who let me cut/color/style their hair back then (you were brave).

Dan was a sophomore in college when we started the discussion about me moving to Columbus after hair school. I remember the conversations like they happened yesterday. Some days, it was, “Babe, I cannot wait until your done with school and can move here.” Other times, it was, “I think I am going to get an apartment, and a dog for company.” HAHA. I should have been offended, but I knew that this step was going to be a HUGE one for both Dan and I. Cosmetology school soon came to an end and 3 days later I was moving to Columbus. We were both thrilled the “long distance” relationship of ours was coming to an end.

Love this picture. We were so young, looking so fresh (not like exhausted parents). More than anything, it was around 11:30am in this picture, and we were at the bar for a drink. Ahhh…Those were the days!

Columbus was good to us, LOTS of great memories. And many I am sure we do not remember so well… like this Halloween night for Dan. I sure hope Dan and his buddy did not have their beer goggles on the ENTIRE evening. He will not approve that I put this picture in, but this is too funny. Plus, he is dressed as a priest. How ridiculous in this picture.

Looks like Dan got the best of both worlds. His girlfriend to move in, and a puppy along with it. Meet Gambino. Yes, his mobster name fits his bad attitude completely. We should have known.
While in C-bus I worked at a great salon, in their training program. Unfortunately, a lot was going on there, and the assistants got lost in the shuffle. We spent most of our time running errands for stylists, cleaning, and desk work instead of truly studying under the stylists. So after a year of working my butt off, all day every day, and not advancing in my career, I made the decision to say goodbye to Columbus. And goodbye to afternoon cocktails =( It was sad to leave, but, Dan was ready to come home as well. I think we were both over it!

Back home, Dan kicked up work with a mobility company. I jumped right back into the salon I went to school through, and was thrilled to be back with my friends. Three short months following, we found out we were expecting. Jaws dropped, tears were shed, and I probably had a few panic attacks. Sooner than later, we realized everything happens for a reason, and every baby is a blessing. We were excited, and terrified all at the same time. We had to find a house, solidify our careers as much as possible, and well, say goodbye to the glory days. Fast forward to March 1, 2009.

Dan becoming a DAD! My love for Dan has always been strong. Each month through the pregnancy he was so thoughtful and caring, even when I was looking like a whale and being hormonal. He was always so sweet. The day Brody was born, and the nurse put Brody in dan’s narms, it was like the world stood still. That father son bond was so natural. Watching Brody open his eyes, they just stared at each other. It was truly spectacular. We then knew everything was going to be okay. Now, enough with the sappy moments, before I start to cry.

We did not rush off to get married when we found out we were expecting. We had already squashed that “first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby.” At that point, we were together for 5 years, and engagement talk was flying, and plans for a wedding within the year were set in our minds. So, we knew, we would always be together, there was no need to rush. We waited until Brody was 5 months old, and had a complete DIY backyard wedding. (Details will soon follow) Never noticed how the man’s tie matched our decor, very appropriate.

Our wedding day was pure bliss. Full of laughter. I think we laughed through a lot of our ceremony. We then realized that we had changed so much over those past 5 years. And we always stuck by one another. Things were not always peachy, we had our roller coaster ride. Yet, he was always the one sitting next to me, holding my hand through everything.

And then we passed marriage test number 1: Getting rid of your husbands dog.

This huge beast became a little to overwhelming. He was not a big fan of me, and always had to be blocked off away from Brody. So after a lot of arguing, we finally found him a new home before we bought our house. He is with my cousin and his wonderful girlfriend, and he is spoiled rotten. Dan still jabs at me and says “I can’t wait until we decide we’re ready for a dog, and I get to give it away 3 years later.” It’s not funny, I know. But, life has been much easier without this mobster.

In the blink of an eye, Brody turned 1. He was such an amazing baby. He did everything by the book, step by step. He made us look like pros in the parenting department.

In result of Brody being such a gerber baby, and always wanting a large family, we were ready to start trying for a second. We started try a month shy of Brody’s birthday. We assumed, due to the manner Brody was conceived in, that getting pregnant wouldn’t take any time at all. Seven months later, and six pregnancy tests to reassure we were really pregnant and we did it! A sibling was on the way. The 1 to 2 stage with Brody was such a blast, such a whirlwind. His vocabulary multiplied by the day, and it took until the day Owen was born until we both realized what a toddler he had become.

Meet Owen Vincent Thome, born April 30, 2011. We did not know what we were having the second time around, and when we heard the words “It’s a boy!” I could not stop crying. Yes, I have realized that I am not one of those mothers that give birth and just smile, sigh and look down at their baby. I am in histerics, sobbing, and talking in circles. With Owen, I just remember saying how estatic I was that Brody had a brother, and how I felt so much love for this new addition. I always wanted a lot of children, and they say you’ll have plenty of love for each one. It is so true.

Seeing the two of them interact now makes all the sleepless nights worth it. We have had an interesting adjustment to adding another one to the bunch. But moments like this picture captured makes it all worth it. I feel so fortunate to have my kids and my husband. It is funny how things all work out in the end. I never thought I would be 25, married to a wonderful man, have two beautiful boys, and live in a home we made our own. Dan and I have never really celebrated Valentine’s day, but this year I hope he knows more than ever how much I adore him. I love you Dan!

Look what we’ve done 🙂

Silly things I love about my husband ….

  • 1. His slight obsession with cleanliness. Lucky he is not a slob.
  • 2. He appreciates a good haircut more than Uncle Jesse from full house.
  • 3. He hasn’t seem to notice my post-pregnancy rolls that fold of my jeans as I reach to pick up something…. God bless high wasted jeans.
  • 4. He has to pull my van up to the garage every time he gets home from work. It drives him crazy when I park half way up. I think I do it on purpose at this point.
  • 5. Somehow his feet are WAY smoother than mine. Not fair.
  • 6. Last but not least, no matter how much I have changed over the past 8 years, he has obviously found new reasons to love me. I love him more than anything for that alone.