Everyone meal preps differently. I am not as systematic as some. Certain weeks I am super ON it and others I can barely get Sunday dinner together. But, here are the five things I meal prep almost every week for our family. I try to think of staples we can eat throughout the week alone, together or perhaps with a protein thrown on top. Then I pick different proteins to make at different times of the week. These are adaptable to most cuisines. So, I can easily make salmon or crispy tofu on ...
Mom Life
Daddy-Daughter Fairy Date
Today is Hendrix, Ellington's god-brother's, fifth birthday and he invited Ellington to Disneyland with his family to celebrate. We are cognizant that Sienna sometimes feels left behind. So that Sienna didn't feel left out, Lateef thought of a special activity and planned a fun daddy-daughter fairy date. She often says, "what about me" or is told, "next time, Sienna". So, we decided to wait until the morning of to tell Ellington he is going to Disneyland. This was primarily so that he wouldn’t ...
Potty Training Mr. Stubborn
Ellington, who turned three a couple of months ago, is a very strong-willed child. Very. When it came to potty training, he was pretty clear that he had zero interest. He would rather lay down and let you change him. We tried everything - bare bottom waist down, a large dinosaur in the bathroom with reward stickers when you potty and bribery with cars and cupcakes and even seeing his new friends at school use the bathroom. He had zero interest. Nothing motivated him to want to go. Lateef ...
Baby Led Weaning Recipes
I always thought I would be one of those moms who pureed all her babies' food way ahead of time and had it labeled and had it perfect in the freezer and ready for my little ones. When I was pregnant with Ellington, my pediatrician told me about baby led weaning ("BLW"). She recommended it and did it with her kids. I read up on BLW and as soon as I heard that there was a food introduction method that cuts down on time slaving over a blender and putting it in small containers, I was sold. I love ...
Keeping it Simple This Holiday Season
I made a promise to myself to keep it simple this holiday season. I honestly have had to keep saying this mantra quietly to myself for the past month. I, and all of us, have a tendency to think we can do it all. I've also been trying to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Being thankful and giving, spending quality time with our families and friends, giving to those in need, creating memories that put awe and a twinkle in our little one's eyes, making time to kiss under the mistletoe. For ...
Favorite Toddler TV Shows
Here's a list of our favorite toddler TV shows. If we're going to let our kids watch TV, we try to make it educational (obviously, there are some exceptions). We generally try to do as little TV as possible - an hour or two a few days a week. Also, we prefer to have a number of days throughout the week when they watch no TV - otherwise Ellington seems to crave it and ask for it all the time. BUT, when the TV is on for the Ellington, this is what he watches. Ellington is a little over 2 1/2 - I ...