April Thirty

This month I got my "monthly date night" in just in time. Grateful for wonderful friends to watch Ella.

I'm lucky to have such a wonderful man!

April Twenty Ninth

This little pumpkin brings so many smiles to us. Here are a few of her just being a goof.

April Twenty Eighth

Snuggling this cutie tonight so his mom and dad can go on a date!

April Twenty Seventh

Awesome day yardsaling with an awesome friend! I got all this booty (13 books, 1 brain quest, a Vtech ball, and a Little People tree and alphabet mat all for $8!

April Twenty Sixth

Two terrible teeth!

April Twenty Fifth

Because eating books is more fun than reading them.

Amazing

If you like cookies, ice cream, birthday cake, happiness, or love you will love these!

April Twenty Fourth

The best day to live in an apartment? Coupon day! Thanks neighbors for discarding your coupons; bring on the free Dairy Queen!

April Twenty Third

Although yesterday was Ella's 5 month birthday was yesterday, she just wasn't feeling pictures. I tried again today, as you can see, she still wasn't feeling pictures.

These aren't the bloobers, these are the best....

April Twenty Second

We don't joke around about sun exposure!

April Twenty First

I love when Josh grills. 1. I don't have to cook or clean up 2. It tastes so good 3. It means it's summer!

April Twentieth

Ella went in nursery for the first time today; she cried slightly more than me. :)

For a celebration, Josh and I had pulled pork sandwiches and quinoa fruit basil salad.

This was my first time making pulled pork, and it was easier than chili! I threw the pork loin in the crockpot with enough water to just barely cover the meat. Cook on high for about 7 hours. Drain water, shred pork, once all water is removed add your favorite BBQ sauce to the meat and cook in crockpot for 30 minutes.

The salad was also pretty good and easy.
Make your dressing first, set aside. Mix 1/2 Tbs of lemon juice and EVOO, chop 5 basil leaves, add pepper and salt to taste.

Cook quinoa according to the box. Mix together 1/2 a cup of blueberries, cubed cucumbers, cubed mango, and dried cranberries; set aside.

Enjoy with some blueberry lemonade; just add fresh blueberries to a glass of dread lemonade.

April Nineteenth

We had an eventful day. Yard sales, free burritos, and a trip to the grocery store, but best of all was Ella rolling over.

She has done it before, but only after we have rolled her over so she understands her "escape route" from tummy time, but today was different. I set her down and she rolled over from tummy to back all on her own. After my screaming and clapping, she did it again too!

April Eighteenth

Trip to have a (free) McDonalds lunch with Daddy!

April Seventeenth

Today I rocked out my coupons at Target. I got the pictured items, worth $100.60 for only $57.29. I saved $43.31 thanks to coupons, buy 3 get an item free promotions, and 5% off with my Target Red Card.

And in my way home, I got a free premium chicken wrap at McDonalds. I got crispy ranch, but didn't love the ranch sauce and would recommend something else, maybe the bacon.

April Sixteenth

Play date with future boyfriend, Jonathan.

April Fifteenth

Tummy time! Mommy needs a treat after Ella cries through her tummy time.

April Fourteenth

Josh and I made our very own cheese today! It wasn't too hard, and was actually pretty cool. We started with Queso Blanco, which is apparently an easy cheese!

Tomorrow night = tacos with Queso blanco

April Thirteenth

Visit with Aunt Katie! :)

Thanks!

Thanks, Gram, for my new outfit!

April Twelfth

Meeting Aunt Lauren! Still a little shy around new people. (Daddy also thought my socks and pants matched perfectly!)

Goat Cheese Arugula Pizza

Since we had arugula in the fridge from our date-night recipe, I wanted to try this pizza this week as well.

Ingredients: 
pesto sauce
1 unbaked pizza crust
goat cheese (6 ounces recommended)
3 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
garlic, thinly sliced and chopped
olive oil (we used garlic infused oil, but any olive oil will work)
fresh arugula (1 cup recommended)
* One thing I love about a recipe like this, is you never have to measure anything - just add as much of each ingredient as you would like, and enjoy a pizza created specifically for you! 

Directions: 
1. Preheat the oven according to the pizza crust instructions.
2. Brush crust with olive oil, spread the pesto out over the crust. Sprinkle the goat cheese around the pizza, place tomatoes on top of cheese, add the garlic.
3. Place pizza directly in preheated oven, back for 5 to 10 minutes or until crust edges are golden
4. After taking out of the oven, let sit for a few minutes before adding the arugula.

April Eleventh

It's official. Not only can I not remember life without this cutie, But I can't even fathom how I lived without these smiles!

April Tenth

There's a tooth in there, I swear!

April Ninth

Tuesday is date night at the Gillespie house. This week we wanted to try a new recipe - and it was definitely a huge hit! I have to give a shout to Real Simple for the original recipe.

Pasta with sausage, arugula, and crispy bread crumbs (creative name, I know).

Ingredients:
3/4 pound gemelli or short pasta (we used cannellini pasta)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup panko
1 teaspoon dried thyme
kosher salt
black pepper
3/4 pound Italian sausage links, casings removed
1 medium onion, thinly sliced (we did about 1/3rd of an onion).
5 ounces baby arugula (we did about 3 ounces)

1. Cook pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of water. Drain pasta, pour into large bowl
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bread crumbs and cook, stirring often, until golden brown. Mix in the thyme and 1/4 teaspoon of both salt and pepper. Transfer to small bowl; set aside.
3. Head 1 teaspoon of oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and onion and cook, breaking up the sausage, until the onion is soft and the sausage is browned.
4. Add the sausage mixture, arugula, and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water to the pasta and toss to combine. Sprinkle bread crumbs on top and serve. (We also added parmigiano reggiano)

Spring is in the Air

Yippee! Ella and I got out to get some sun today, feeling much better! Bring on the vitamin D.

April Eighth

Guess which one of these "twins" slept 12 hours straight last night? 7:20 pm to 7:19 am!!! (I also got 6.5 hours + an hour nap...I woke up at 6:15, had a heart attack, snuck in to check on Ella, then back to bed!)

Mommy obviously had lots of energy this morning, thus the matching outfits! :) 

April Seventh

Ella joined us for a game of Dominion. Josh and I have recently found this game, and love it!

Thumb thumb thumb thumb

She finally found it! What do you think is a harder habit to break kids of: pacifier or thumb sucking?

April Sixth

My little beauty is pretty excited about my new reading material!

April Fifth

All dressed up to go see Daddy at work!

April Fourth .2

Ella also had her first swing ride yesterday; I love watching her eyes as she takes the world in.

April Fourth

Ella's very first yard sale find! Go Ella! If this girl is going to be a true Gillespie she needs to be musically inclined, unlike her mother. Starting her early!

April Third

Dairy Queen for dessert! Yeah for 'Buy 1 get 1' coupons!

April Second

"They call me "'Chubby'" is always funny, no matter how old "Chubby" is!

Easter

This year has been full of wonderful first; it is pure joy to add Ella to our family traditions.

I loved shopping for my little girl's first Easter dress, and I loved dressing her my first Easter dress, I'm so grateful my mom saved it for 26 years! :)