Little Will- Three Months!

And, just like that, we have a THREE MONTH OLD! How is this possible. I know I say this every month, but the time is seriously flying by. I love Fall and the feeling of the Christmas season approaching, but I hope the time creeps by a bit slower this year because by the time December is here, Will will be a half of a year old. 

Will's third month was FULL of so much fun and some pretty big milestones. At around two and a half months, he started sleeping through the night! He has been consistent ever since and everyone in the Moore house is rested and happy. I cannot begin to express what a game changer this was. In addition to sleeping through the night, he is on a good little daily schedule. 

We thought the two month smiles were great, but the three month smiles are a whole different level. Little Will is just the happiest, smiliest baby! He still loves blowing those bubbles.

He has really started to recognize us and is smiling all the time. His head control is so good and he follows us across the room. It's crazy how much he changes on a day to day basis.

Along with the smiles, he's making so many sweet noises. At times he uses his entire little body to produce the tiniest noise. It's so funny to watch! He's especially talkative when he's laying on the changing table getting his diaper changed or putting his clothes on. I'm surprised he hasn't come close to wiggling off of the dresser yet!

This little boy is the BEST snuggler. He curls up his entire little body and he's in his happy place. 

Bath time might be my favorite time of day! I think little Will is learning to love it, too. (and he loves his hooded towel that I dried off with 28 years ago!)

At the end of August, my Godparents (who live in New York) surprised me with a visit to Charlotte to meet the little nugget. 

It was a wonderful visit and so special to share precious time with them. 

Will also finally got to meet my dear friend Crystal at the beginning of September. It was love at first sight. 

As always, we are loving this new normal and life as a little family. Will is such a little buddy!

William, you make our days so much brighter! Happy 3 months, little one!

Chicken, Artichoke + Sundried Tomato Risotto

When the cupboards go bare in our house and a trip to the grocery store is desperately needed, I always seem to get a creative bone to work with what I have. It's like having my own top chef challenge with myself.

Last weekend, our kitchen was literally OUT of all fresh ingredients. After a day full of cleaning, house projects and a baby that requires A LOT of attention, a trip to the grocery store was last on our agenda. I scoured the pantry and freezer to see what we could make into a meal and my Chicken, Artichoke and Sundried Tomato Risotto was born- all with staple items that are always in my kitchen.

 We don't eat much pasta or rice around here, but I always keep some arborio rice handy for times like these. Chicken broth is another pantry staple. I've been buying Trader Joe's frozen chicken breast tenders and make sure to always have a bag in my freezer. These little guys are great for stir fries, grilled atop a salad or turned into Giada's Crunchy Parmesan Chicken tenders. They thaw so quickly by just placing in a bowl of warm water from the kitchen faucet. Frozen artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes are the other two must have items in my kitchen- great for salads, tapenades and risotto of course!

Chicken, Artichoke + Sundried Tomato Risotto

1 cup arborio rice
1 large shallot, minced
1 lb. fresh or frozen chicken breast tenders, cut into large chunks
2 cups frozen artichoke hearts, thawed (or 1 can of quartered artichoke hearts)
4 cups of low-sodium chicken broth (plus more water if needed)
A few turns of the pan of olive oil
salt and pepper to season
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
Freshly grated parmesan 
Handful of fresh basil

Combine shallots and olive oil In a large French oven or saute pan. (drizzle oil until it just covers the entire bottom of the pan). Heat until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add rice and toast for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Slowly add chicken broth, a little at a time. Do not let the rice dry out. This is a slow process, but well worth the time and love. The risotto will be nice and creamy when it's done. You may need more than 4 cups of chicken broth. Instead of adding more broth, I just use water, or keep watering down the broth that I'm using until the risotto is done. 

While the risotto is cooking, warm some more olive oil on medium-high heat in a medium saute pan. Add artichoke hearts and sundried tomatoes and heat through, about 5 minutes. Remove and add chicken. Saute until chicken is fully cooked.

When the risotto is done, fold in chicken, artichoke- sundried tomato mixture and fresh basil. Season with salt and pepper and finish with grated parmesan.

Chia Pudding

The chia seed might be one of my favorite food finds of 2013. I shared my love for chia seeds back in March and have enjoyed experimenting with them ever since! A reader left a comment on my original chia seed post telling me that her favorite way to eat the seeds was in chia pudding. It took me several months, but I finally put the chia pudding to the test and I am addicted. If you like tapioca pudding, there is a good chance you will like this! The texture is very similar. The great thing about this pudding is that it's healthy, filled with tons of nutrients and also satisfies a sweet craving when needed! I have been eating chia pudding for breakfast with fresh berries or in a small cup as an afternoon snack. It's delicious and satisfying!

After browsing several recipes, I determined that the ratio/recipe below seems to be the best and most commonly used. The best part about the pudding "base" is that you can play with flavors to mix it up. My favorite additions right now are cinnamon and nutmeg. Pumpkin pie spice would be an excellent addition for a Fall flavored treat!

Chia Pudding

3 Tbsp. chia seeds
1 cup almond coconut blend milk (or milk of your choice)
2 Tbsp. Grade A Dark Maple Syrup
Sprinkle of cinnamon & nutmeg

In a mason jar, add chia seeds, coconut milk, maple syrup and spices. Whisk to combine and screw the lid on tightly. Shake vigorously for 30-60 seconds. Set jar in refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight. 

For another natural source of sweetness, try stevia!

Five on Friday

It's Friday and I'm excited to finally link up with my very first Five on Friday post! I love reading through many of these each week and decided it was time that I join the fun. (Thank you for hosting April, Darci, Natasha and Christina!)

Here's what's on my mind this week.

ONE

As much as I love Fall and everything that comes with it, I'm a little sad that this Summer is coming to a close. Summer of 2013 will forever hold a special place in my heart since it was the summer that we brought our sweet baby Will into the world! We spent nine months in anticipation of this little lovie...getting our home and our hearts ready to meet this tiny person and this summer was ALL ABOUT HIM. I never want to forget the excitement we felt as we waited for our first baby. We love our little boy so much! As we transition into crisp weather and pumpkin flavored everything, we are looking forward as we continue making more memories with our little family!

TWO

Speaking of the little mister, I'm excited to report that he has been sleeping through the night consistently for two weeks now! Needless to say, everyone is smiling in the Moore house. 

THREE

You all know by now that I am a huge fan of healthy sides that are quick and easy for weeknight cooking. Skinny Taste wins again with this Skillet Mexican Zucchini! I made this last night and Mark and I both loved it. My friend Ashley suggested adding black beans- a great addition in my opinion! While the zucchini is still in season, make this! 

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FOUR

Our home renovation is FINALLY winding down. We have been under construction since April. April! If we have learned anything through this it's that these projects always, always take longer than anticipated. We are down to countertop and backsplash installation, and detail work like new crown moulding and painting cabinets. In our long quest to find the perfect slab of granite, we were recently introduced to quartz. If you have any experience with this material, or have it anywhere in your home, I would love to hear your thoughts! I love, love, love Carerra Marble but it is so impractical in a kitchen, especially in a kitchen where serious cooking takes place. Many of the quartz options provide the look of marble without the maintenance! I was going to go with a light, creamy granite, but the quartz is so tempting. A crisp white kitchen has always been my dream! I'm also on the hunt for the perfect grayish-taupe color to paint the island. 

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FIVE

If you are a do it yourself manicure person like me, a good top coat is a must. I used to swear by Essie Good to Go but I have found a new love. This Seche Vite is by far the best topcoat EVER. It goes on smooth, leaves a shiny finish and dries super fast. My nails stay for days. 

Enjoy the weekend everyone! 

Roasted Summer Vegetables

One of the best things about Summer is the abundance of fresh produce that's in season. I know I have said this time and time again, but Summer cooking is just fresh and easy, which is the best way to cook in my opinion! I remember eating so much zucchini and summer squash when I was younger and although I never hated it, I never went crazy over it. Unless my mom breaded it in Italian bread crumbs! As I've gotten older, I've learned to LOVE these two vegetables.

This recipe is Pinterest inspired and oh so easy. I didn't even look at the original recipe and just kind of put it together myself. I found a lonely eggplant in the back of my refrigerator moments after I put the pan in the oven, but I think it would be a great addition! We had this on Sunday night with grilled chicken thighs and ice cold Blue Moon and called it dinner!

P.S. the leftovers are delicious.

Roasted Summer Vegetables

1-2 large zucchini, sliced thin

1-2 large Summer squash, sliced thin

1 large red onion, sliced thin

1-2 tomatoes, sliced

Olive oil for drizzling

Shredded parmesan for sprinkling

Salt and pepper, to taste

In a medium-large baking dish, spread the sliced onions. Toss with a little bit of olive oil. Line up sliced  vegetables in your baking dish, alternating the zucchini, squash and tomato. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Little Will- Two Months!

Prince William turned 2 months old on Friday and if I'm being honest, my heart ached a little. These little peanuts grow and change so fast and I'm trying my hardest to soak up each day and enjoy all of the special moments.

Will's second month was filled with milestones! At around 6 weeks, he started REALLY smiling at us! This moment made all of the sleepless nights more than worth it. He's smiling more and more each day- when he smiles with his whole face and his tiny scrunched up nose, it kills us! 

He's started to sleep longer at night and is getting a little bit more predictable. His tiny, newborn cries have gotten a bit louder and I think he's starting to discover that he has a voice! 

Speaking of crying, there is one thing that always calms him down. DANCING. He especially loves dancing with the lovies (Aunt Nat and Aunt Andi)! I think his perfect dance party playlist would include Get Lucky, Blurred Lines, Take Back the Night and Counting Stars. The little man has good taste in music ;) After all, it was a constant dance party when he was snuggled up in my belly. Especially when J. Timberlake was turned up loud.

One of the highlights of July was the meeting of the second generation lovies!!! My very best friend, Meghan, had a little boy in December and we patiently waited to see if Dylan would have a future wife or a future brother from another mother. We had the best time when the McConnells visited Charlotte. Will loves his Aunt MOD and Uncle S2H so much already and the baby boys are well on their way to becoming best friends! It's time for family vacations!

My dear friend Lauren also made a stop in Charlotte with her baby girl, Camilla! So many baby friends for the little mister.

The little one also took his first Kiawah Island vacation! Kiawah is my very favorite of the Carolina beaches and it's a special place for my family. It was so much fun to enjoy a family vacation this year with the newest lovie in tow! 

Will LOVED the beach. His sound machine plays waves at night when he goes to bed and I know he just loved a real life giant version of his favorite noise. He just cruised in his tent that we set up every day, fondly referred to by my dad as "Camp Will". 

This month, Will is especially loving his swing, his play mat, walks in the neighborhood and wearing STRIPES! When he's excited and happy, he wiggles and kicks all over the place. 

He's also starting to notice his giant red dog, Wrigley! He doesn't even mind when the doodle comes up to him and licks the entire side of his face. 

I just love this little boy so much. 

Happy two months, little one!

Home Management, Vol. 2

I'm an organization junkie. I prefer my to-do lists on paper with small boxes to check off and while I could use the calendar on my iPhone, I prefer to keep a paper planner. With everything color coded, of course! I shared my home management binder in this post and two years later, I'm still using my binder and adapting it to our changing needs. Now that I have the schedule of a tiny human to take into consideration, I'm finding that my home management binder is more necessary than ever before. Having everything in one place eliminates stacks of papers, piles of post-its and keeps my stream of consciousness in one place.

My creative friend Jen from The Polka Dot Posie recently designed her own planner and I absolutely love it! This week, she introduced some free printables for home management binders and they are beyond wonderful! My school days are long gone, but back to School season is always the beginning of the "planner year" for me and I always get the itch to get all of my ducks in a row. And since sharing is caring, I thought I would post the link today in case anyone else is interested. 

As soon as I hit publish on this post, I am printing some copies of my own. Check out The Polka Dot Posie to see how you can make their printable planner work for you!