Toddler Fun with Bubbles and a Bowl

I know! I know! I barely started my blog and I am already slackin' on posts!  Well, in my defense, I do chase around a 2 1/2 year old boy and have to keep him entertained so there will be NO melt downs!!!! Everyone with children knows, WE DON'T WANT THAT!!!!  So, sometimes I fall into the cloud of caring for my child and I get to come up for air here & there! Like now, for instance!  Haha!

Today it has been raining all day long! What do you do to keep an energetic toddler at bay?  Well, if you're like me you peruse Pinterest for ideas on how to keep the youngin' busy!  I came across a Pin about using good ol' fashioned dish soap (like a 1/4 teaspoon) and some water in a large bowl and add straws!  INSTANT FUN!!!!

 

It didn't take the lil Mr. long before he caught onto how to use the straw to blow & make lots of bubbles!!!

 

 

 

Then he used the straw to pop them, swoosh them around, make some more bubbles, make a mess, clean it up (amazing, I know!) and ya know, that kept him entertained for over an hour!!!! Happy Mommy right here! 

 

 

Here are a few other ideas for entertaining your Toddler with stuff you most likely have lying around the house! These are O'lovely & Lil Mr. approved!!! ;o)

 

Turn a cardboard box into a coloring haven

 

Edible Sensory Paint (homemade fingerpainting that's non-toxic)

 

Make Your own Colored Playdough

 

Shaving Cream Finger Painting

 

Tape some painters tape to outline tile floor and give your toddler a broom & tell them to "play the sweep game", have them sweep little small toys, marbles, rice, whatever small that you have that is easy for them to sweep up and have them sweep the stuff into the taped tile square.....a fun "game" that teaches them motor skills!  This is a very simple but fun activity for toddlers because they actually LOVE to help and this activity teaches them how to sweep by making it into a game!  When I did this with the Lil Mr. I forgot to snap some pics, so when I bring the activity back I will update the post so you can have a visual!   

 

These activities were all a hit in our household and are sure to be used again and again until he grows out of this kind of play!!!  Hope you enjoy and give them a try with your lil one!

 

 

Chilean Quinoa Salad

Every so often, and definitely not often enough,I like to crack open my Chilean Kitchen cookbook!!! It helps me to feel closer to my family there..........AND, since I have no idea about the food in Chile (except for the minimal time I spent there and being served up yummy dishes by Mi Abuelita), I had to buy this book to learn how to prepare authentic Chilean dishes!  Ya see, my Father is from Chile and his entire family (damn near) all reside there!  I didn't grow up with that side of the family and was only around my Father a handful of times during my youth!  I did go and visit him there after he moved back to retire and I just LOVED it!!!! If I only spoke Spanish fluently I may have uprooted my Hubby and furry babies to relocate (before the munchkin came into our lives)!!!!

 click here to buy

Anyway, I got on my Chilean kick this past week and we happen to love quinoa!! So when I stumbled across the recipe for a Chilean Quinoa Salad I got super excited!  I did modify the recipe to fit our family taste (Hubs hates any variety of bell pepper, sigh!) so I substituted the red bell pepper for banana peppers that I grow in my little container garden!  I also used Cherry Husk Tomatoes that also grow in my little garden too!

See!!!! Isn't my little standing container garden bed CUTE!! I just love this thing!!! I am a garden novice!!! I primarily have only had herb gardens!!!  I did kill my zucchini and yellow squash that I originally planted with the tomatoes though (they caught something nasty, don't have a clue what!) but the banana peppers & tomatoes have thrived quite well!!!

Ok, so back to the quinoa...........I gathered all the necessary ingredients and started preparing the tomatoes, red onion & banana peppers.  Then I placed the quinoa & 3 cups of vegetable broth in a medium sized saucepan over high heat to bring to a boil (you can substitute chicken broth or even just water, though I suggest using a broth to give the quinoa more flavor), then turn the heat down and let it do it's thing!  In about 15 minutes you will have fluffy quinoa!!


In a large bowl add all the yumminess together.........drizzle the olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro and add salt and pepper and BAM.......Chilean Quinoa Salad is ready!  Now, please try not to eat all of this for yourself and share with your loved ones!  Yes, it is that good!  My husband and I had seconds and were still looking at eachother like "should we get more.." aahhh, such little piggies!

Chilean Quinoa Salad
serves approx. 4

1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed
3 cups Vegetable Broth (or chicken broth or water)
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
2-3 banana peppers, finely diced (these aren't spicy at all...)
1 cup finely chopped red onion or sweet onion (whatever you have on hand)
1/2 cup finely minced fresh cilantro
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice  (zest the lemon to add more lemony flavor)
1/2 cup olive oil (I used extra virgin)
salt & pepper to taste


In a medium saucepan add quinoa and vegetable broth, cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat and cook on low heat for approx. 12-15 min.  Drain and let the quinoa cool.  Place the cooled quinoa in a bowl and fluff with a fork.

Add the tomatoes, banana peppers, onions, cilantro, lemon juice, olive oil, salt & pepper and toss it all together.   Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.  This allows all the flavors to marry together and the longer it sits the more delicious it becomes.