Saturday, June 13, 2015

Keep'em In The 10 Range!


We are still potty training here at Toddler Trails and Tails. Currently we are working on improving our son's aim. I know several mommies that have used cereal for target practice, so I decided to give it a try. I had a stale box in the pantry anyway. (Yes, I have one of those kids that gets four different cereals and opens them, never to eat them in time. But that's a story for another day.)

I noticed a while back that our son likes peeing on things in the potty, so I figured he'd be on board with the cereal practice. We decided to make a game out of it. I put the cereal in a jar and then pasted one of Daddy's bull's eye targets on top. When he goes to the potty he gets to throw "a target" in the toilet and then aim and fire. He is having a blast with this! And thankfully for us, his aim is getting better.

Happy shooting! Have a great weekend and remember, keep'em in the 10 range!

Friday, June 12, 2015

DIY Hand-stamped Cards

 
It's been a long week here at the Turberville house. We've battled rain-induced bad attitudes, stir-craziness, computer (technical) difficulties (a.k.a. This thing better work before I throw it out the nearest window.), and had a truck break down. Adult life is so much fun.
 
So let me get to the post because honestly I don't know how long my computer is going to be "agreeable." Cross your fingers!
 
We have been doing a lot of crafts lately in preparation for Father's Day. Nugget & I hand-stamped these "buggy" cards for Daddy & Poppie. Nana always sends him Grow Pills to throw in his bath. We love to watch these magic pills grow into creatures. Last time around she sent bug Grow Pills, and we ended up with spider, fly, worm, snail, ant, and roach sponges. But I never just throw these sponges in the trash once we are done with our bath time play. I squeeze the water out and let them dry so I can use them as stamps.

 
For this craft you will need:
 
Cardstock or thick paper
acrylic paints
leftover Grow Pill sponges (You can easily find Grow Pills at the dollar store or any big retail store.)
 
Fold cardstock in half to make the card. Then squirt some paint onto the paper so your child can dip the sponges easily into the paint. After that, let your little artist go to town stamping different shapes and colors. It will get messy, so have some wipes nearby and dress in old clothes. Once the card dries, let your little one pen a message inside. Our cards say "Happy Father's Day from your love bugs!"
 
The last card we stamped was from Easter-themed Grow Pills and they yielded an awesome Easter card for our Ma-Ma. Everyone always loves receiving these cards. They are so much more personal than a store-bought greeting card. And honestly, since you are repurposing the sponges and using craft supplies that you probably already have on hand, they are far more cost-effective.


Happy stamping! And Happy Father's Day to all the great Dads out there!

Monday, June 8, 2015

Rainy Day Sensory Art


It's been a long, rainy week. And with an active outdoors-loving toddler, that's always a perfect recipe for a bad attitude and trouble. Needless to say I had to come up with a lot of easy, creative projects to keep Nugget entertained. We did a lot of art projects. He loves creating art! But instead of just giving him watercolors or acrylics, I opted for mixed media projects, so he could play with different textures, colors, and application techniques.


We did several pom-pom projects. We took some bright orange cardstock and glued a discarded game board punch-out on top. Then Nugget decided where he wanted to glue each of the colorful small, medium, or large pom-pom balls. After that he broke out the glitter and colored rice. It's a good thing for him that I'm not one of those anti-glitter Mama's, because he sprinkles it EVERYWHERE. We color our own rice at home. I put a cupful of white rice into a plastic bag and drop in liquid food coloring and mix until I get my desired color. Then I let it dry overnight.

 
After the rice dries, I take some of every color and combine it in an old sprinkle container. This makes it easier for my son to apply it to the glue. It's also good hand-eye coordination practice. And he has a blast making it rain rice. On the above art project, he also broke out the red inkpad and stamped his fingerprints all over the paper.

We had a great time doing these rainy day sensory art projects! And all of the art supplies we used are readily available at your local dollar store. So stock up for a rainy day and get creating!

 

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Adult Beverage Alert! Death By Margaritas

 
 I can't believe that it is already June. As usual, I'm still playing catch-up from last month. If only I could have half of my son's energy...then I might be able to get everything done! Oh well, at least Summer's in full swing around here now and the grass is bright green and sun's warmth is calling everyone outside. We've been grilling out a lot this week. And what goes better with a family cookout than a cool, refreshing adult beverage.
 
My Mom's margarita's have long been infamous for the killer amount of alcohol they contain. Seriously, they should be the poster child for not drinking and driving. Which you'll want to advise all of your guests to do after they have this deadly concoction.
 
Here's what you will need to make a small pitcher: (4 glasses)
 
1 cup of tequila
1 cup of triple sec
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar + water heated to combine, then cooled)
 
Pour everything into a small pitcher and stir to blend. Serve over crushed ice. If you want to make the blended frozen version, just fill your blender with ice and add ingredients and blend until smooth. This will decrease their potency slightly, so you may or may not want to add more tequila.
 
 
So good and so simple! And so deadly! With half a cup of alcohol in each glass, you'll want to limit your intake. And once you have had one of these babies, you will never look at other margaritas the same again. They have ruined me! I am always disappointed now when I order a margarita in a restaurant. There's just no comparison.

Monday, June 1, 2015

How To Up-cycle An Old Tee Into A Stylish New Scarf.


I saw this on Pinterest originally by icreativeideas.com and like some pins I was skeptical of the result. But I really enjoyed the way my up-cycled scarf turned out. I can't wait to wear it. I also made my son one out of a tan shirt. Better yet, it's a no-sew project. YAY!

Here's what you will need to make your scarf:

an old tee
scissors
a ruler or straight edge (I just eyeballed it.)

First, cut your tee straight off just under the arm sleeves. Then cut even strips vertically for fringes where your made your first cut. (Anna has step-by-step pictures on her website Plan B.) Then take each strip and stretch to make it longer. Join fringes together by twos and knot. Make sure you are knotting side-by-side and not front-to-back. I goofed on mine the first time (mostly because I was wrangling a wild toddler & tying at the same time) and tied the front to the back. Oooops! But at least it was a simple fix and I got it right the second time around lol. Anna takes it a step farther in her tutorial and adds another row of knots. But I stopped with one knotted row because I preferred a simpler design.

 
When I showed my finished product off to my hubby, he had thought that I had purchased it from a store. And it's a great way to repurpose those sentimental clothing items that are ripped or too worn out in places to wear anymore. It would also be a fun, stylish craft for tweens or teens.
 
 
I hope you enjoy your new up-cycled scarf as much as I do mine!


Friday, May 29, 2015

Banana Corn Cakes



Everyone loves pancakes. But some of you may have never heard of their Southern cousin, the corn cake. With a slightly heavier texture and a more savory taste, they are generally served alongside meals instead of with syrup for breakfast. I renovated an old classic corn cake recipe so I could serve these for the morning rush.

Ingredients:

1 8.5oz box Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 egg
2 tbsp. melted butter
3/4 cup milk
2 small bananas, peeled and mashed

Preheat pancake griddle or pan. Place bananas in a large bowl and mash them. Add all remaining ingredients and stir until combined. Batter will be a little lumpy. Spoon onto griddle and flip corn cake when bubbles appear and edges are set. Makes 10-12 cakes.


Grab a fork and your favorite honey or syrup, pile them up, and dig in! These cakes can also be made ahead of time and individually frozen on a cookie sheet placed in the freezer. When frozen, just place in a freezer bag and pull out and reheat as you would your favorite frozen convenience pancake.




Thursday, May 28, 2015


Sending warm wishes and positive vibes to those of you that are currently struggling! Hang in there, the sun will shine again soon!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Black Bean & Corn Salsa


Hope ya'll had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! Ours was frequented by bouts of rain, but we still had a good time overall. Honestly, I didn't cook that much. We dined out most of the weekend at our favorite local restaurants. It's been hot here and that always kills my motivation to fire up the oven. One of the dishes I do enjoy when summer sets in is this Black Bean & Corn Salsa. It is yummy cold with tortilla chips. It also pairs well warm with your favorite lean white meat.

Ingredients: (Can easily be doubled.)

1 15oz. can black beans (drained & rinsed)
1 15oz. can whole kernel corn (drained)
1 14oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies (a.k.a. Rotel tomatoes, I use mild.)
chopped fresh oregano (to taste, optional)
chopped fresh cilantro (to taste, optional)
salt & pepper (to taste)

For salsa:

Mix everything together in a large bowl, seasoning to taste with herbs. If desired, juice of a fresh lime can be added for an extra flavor boost. Serve with tortilla chips.

For side dish:

Add black beans, corn, diced tomatoes with green chilies, salt, and pepper to a large pot and cook on stovetop at medium-high heat until warmed through. Remove from heat and add freshly chopped herbs. Stir to combine. Great served alongside lean pork or chicken.



Friday, May 22, 2015

Mexican Cornbread Casserole

 
This Mexican Cornbread Casserole is both delicious and filling. The original recipe came out of an old church cookbook I treasure. However, like most recipes, I've tweaked it to my taste.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 15 oz. can chili beans
2 cups of salsa (I use mild.)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 14oz. can of fiesta corn (or whole kernel corn), drained
1 packet taco seasoning

Topping:

2 boxes of Jiffy cornbread mix
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brown ground beef and onion on stovetop at high heat. Pour into a 13x9 baking dish. Add taco seasoning, chili beans, salsa, cheddar cheese, fiesta corn, and sour cream. Mix until combined.

 
In a large bowl combine cornbread mix, eggs, and milk. Stir thoroughly. Pour evenly over ground beef filling. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serves 6.
 


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Country-Style Zucchini Bread

 
 
Every summer I plant zucchini squash and every summer I end up with too many plants maturing all at once. And even after sharing with all of my neighbors, I would still have a lot left over. That's when I began hiding my plentiful squash in muffins, breads, and cakes. I love this recipe that came out of my local Carolina Country magazine years ago. It actually lists it as a cake and calls for a cream cheese frosting, but I have always omitted the frosting and baked it in a loaf pan as you would bread.
 
Ingredients:
2 cups of finely grated zucchini
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 8oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup chopped pecans
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the oil, white sugar, brown sugar, salt, vanilla, cinnamon, and eggs in a large bowl. Slowly add the flour in and mix well. Then add the zucchini, pineapple, and pecans and stir to combine. Pour into two loaf pans, or if you prefer, a 13x9 cake pan. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown and bread springs back when touched.
 
I found this recipe plenty sweet enough without adding the cream cheese frosting. But for those of you who would like to serve it as a cake, I will include the frosting recipe.
 
Cream Cheese Frosting:
 
1 8oz. package of softened cream cheese
1/2 cup softened butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
 
Cream butter and cream cheese together. Add powdered sugar in slowly and mix to combine. Add vanilla extract and stir well. Spread frosting over completely cooled cake.
 
Good eats!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Easy Can Up-cycle!

             
 
This is easy can up-cycle that even the youngest toddler can achieve. And the best part is that you probably have all the items you need laying around the house. My son had a ball doing this and he was very proud of his finished product. He even insisted that I put his prized toy front loader in the picture with it.
 
For this craft you will need:
 
an empty, clean metal can
an old sock (white or lighter color)
liquid food coloring
tape
 
Place can into sock until the top of the can is even with the top of the sock. Cut off sock below the bottom of the can. Have your child take the food coloring and drip dots and make designs all around the outside of the sock while it's still on the can. Once your child has finished with their design, remove sock and rinse under cold water. Note that the colors and design will bleed, becoming abstract. Wring out excess water and hang to dry. When dry, place sock back on can and fold under the loose sock end and tape in place on the inside.
 
I am using our can to hold pens on my desk. These would look great in multiples for a craft room or office. This would also be a great and inexpensive gift for Dad this upcoming Father's Day.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Banana Nut Muffin Cheat!


I love fresh banana nut muffins made from scratch, but as a busy mom of an active toddler I lack the time to make them. So here's where Nana's great fake-out tip comes into play. Easy, toddler-approved, and ready to eat in under 30 minutes!


You only need these two ingredients plus milk.
 
 
First, mash the ripe banana in a bowl. This is my son's favorite job! He loves cooking with me. Then add the muffin mix and the milk as directed on the back of the package. Stir to combine. Then pour into a muffin tin and bake in an oven that's been preheated to 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until risen and lightly golden. One pack of muffin mix usually yields 6 medium muffins.
 
 
Then just sit back and enjoy a nice cup of coffee while you watch as your muffins disappear. Seriously so good that you would never know that they were not completely homemade. I've sent these to school, work, and on fishing/hunting trips and the bag always comes back empty with rave reviews.
 

 


Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Simple Savory Roasted Potatoes

 
 
I've been making these since I was a little girl. It was always my job to toss the potatoes with the oil and spices after Momma cut them into wedges. So simple. So good.
 
Ingredients:
 
4 potatoes, cut into wedges
extra virgin olive oil-enough to coat potatoes
1 tsp. thyme
salt & pepper to taste
 
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a roasting pan mix potatoes, oil, & spices. Make sure the potatoes are in one even layer or they will not get crispy. Cook in oven for 45 minutes. This time could vary depending on your oven and the thickness of your potato wedges.
 
A wonderful side dish for chicken, beef, or pork. Mmmm...I can taste the crispy, caramelized, savory, potatoey goodness already!

Friday, May 8, 2015

Mouth-Watering Sausage, Cheese, And Onion Quiche

 
My mother created this recipe after trying many different quiche recipes over the years. She always uses six eggs and 1 1/2 cups of milk for her base. Usually she fills them with leftovers from the fridge. But my family's favorite is the sausage, cheese, and onion quiche she makes. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Ingredients: (Makes 2 quiches)

2 pie shells ( I use Pillsbury ready-made, but you can make your own crust too.)
1 lb. Jimmy Dean sausage
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 medium onion, chopped
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 tsp. Kosher salt
1 tsp. cracked black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brown sausage and chopped onion in a pan on the stovetop at high heat. Place uncooked pie shells on a cookie sheet and divide sausage mixture between them. Then top each with 1 cup of shredded cheese. In a bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Then divide and pour the wet mixture evenly over top of each pie shell. Place in oven and cook for 45 minutes. Let sit a few minutes before cutting. I always serve mine with a salad.


This recipe is great for using up eggs that are getting old. I made these quiches all the time when we had pet chickens in North Carolina. I sure do miss all of those farm fresh eggs!

 


Wednesday, May 6, 2015

An Open Letter To My Mother

 

 
Dear Momma B,
 
I love you more than you know. You make me smile when no one else can. You offer wisdom, strength, and love unconditionally. You are a great mother and grandmother. I can still remember you rocking me in your recliner when I was upset as a little girl. Your snuggly hugs were always so comforting. I miss them greatly now that we are thousands of miles apart.
 
You are my confidant and my best friend. I can share my thoughts and feelings openly with you without any fear of recourse. You are my biggest fan and my cheerleader. I have so many heartfelt childhood memories of us huddled in the kitchen cooking together, picking and planting flowers in your garden, and going to the movies and eating monster cookies. And who can forget our mother/daughter road trips. Feeding alligators in Louisiana; strolling the beaches all around the Gulf; shopping in New Orleans; and visiting every zoo, museum, and aquarium in the South. We have had so many fun times!
 
And we have had to support each other through bad times too. Hardship, illness, death- life has kicked us in the teeth more than a few times. But we've always pulled through. You are my rock, my heart.
 
Now that I have a son of my own, I appreciate you even more. You put so much time and effort into raising us, making us happy, and keeping us healthy. I can only hope to be half as good a mother as you have been to me. Hugs!
 
Love you bunches,
 
Baby B


Monday, May 4, 2015

Adult Beverage Alert! Pink Panties Cocktail


It was sunny and beautiful here this weekend! Perfect weather for playing outdoors, grilling hamburgers, and enjoying a refreshing adult beverage. Our Pink Panties Cocktail is refreshing, easy to make, and the perfect blend of tart and sweet. And since it's light on alcohol, it's perfect for your upcoming Mother's Day brunch.
 
This is a variation on a classic Mimosa that I learned from a friend. Our version only contains two ingredients. But I've seen several versions online that add different simple syrups to change the taste and color.
 

Ingredients:
Moscato (I used Barefoot.)
Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice
 
Fill cocktail glass with ice. Add 3 parts Moscato and 1 part grapefruit juice. Stir and enjoy!
 
Simple and refreshing! If it's effervescence you desire, you could substitute Barefoot Bubbly or your favorite Champagne instead of Moscato.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Memory Footprint Keepsake



Create a one-of-a-kind present for Dad or Granddad to cherish this Father's Day! We took one of Daddy's old military dress shirts and up-cycled it into this lovely keepsake. My son stamped his footprint at the bottom of ours, but this would look great with all of a soldier's medals and ribbons on it too.

You will need:
one of Daddy's old shirts
a canvas or thick cardboard
a frame
stapler
acrylic paint

Take apart frame and remove glass. For our Memory Footprint Keepsake, we used an 8x10 frame and canvas. Place canvas on the desired portion of the shirt to be displayed and measure and cut 1 inch out from all canvas edges. Wrap shirt tightly around canvas and staple in place on back (like upholstering a chair.) If desired, you can then stamp a footprint or handprint on the front, or affix other mementos. Then place the covered canvas back into the frame and secure the back.


Sure to look great on Dad's desk or hanging proudly in his office!


Monday, April 27, 2015

4 Healthy & Delicious Smoothie Recipes

Slammin' Sunrise "Green" Smoothie
found on hellifignaw.blogspot.com


Who's in need of some new, healthy, and delicious smoothie recipes? These are four of our online favorites. Each is filling and nutritious. Drink up!
 

 
 
This yummy smoothie comes from Katie at This Chick Cooks. Made from bananas, oats, milk, and peanut butter. Mmmm! Peanut butter!
 
 
peaches and cream smoothie 
 
 
This creamy delight comes from Jess at Happily Hughes, a personal trainer mama that packs protein powder and almond milk into her smoothie for an added health benefit. I wonder if I'll look as fit and healthy as her if I drink enough of these! (Chuckles)
 
 
 
 
Lean, green nutrition from ~L at Hell If I Gnaw. Organic spinach is hidden amongst blueberries, strawberries, bananas, and almond milk. Great for sneaking greens into your kiddos!
 
 
Layered Breakfast Berry Smoothie ~ Delicious, healthy booster for breakfast ! #Smoothies #Drinks #Breakfast
 
 
This pretty smoothie comes from Linda at With A Blast. Greek yogurt, honey, bananas, berries, and spices. Check out how she combines and layers everything beautifully on her site. Would be great for brunch!


Friday, April 24, 2015

Messy Backyard Fun! Ballon Process Art



My son had a ball doing this balloon process art! It's a great backyard activity! We just stamped a piece of cardboard. But the possibilities are endless! Had it been warmer I would have used water balloons dipped in paint and let him throw them. Of course, it's all about the process, not the end result, so have fun with it!

Here's what you need:
balloons
acrylic paint
cardboard, paper, or canvas

You'll want to dress your little one in old clothes for this project! We had quite a few spills and splatters. A.K.A. We ruined some clothes-but it was fun! Well worth it! :)

Just dip balloon in paint.

Stamp on cardboard.
 

Remove and repeat as desired.



Originally I saw an indoor, less messy version of this posted by homesthetics.net on Pinterest. But I knew that a toddler would have a hard time keeping everything neatly printed and the area orderly. So that's why we moved our project outside. But if you have older kids you should definitely check out their link-https://www.pinterest.com/pin/530791506058755804/
 


Happy Painting!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Delicious! Almost Shrimp Scampi



Does it get any better than shrimp & butter? Our Almost Shrimp Scampi is buttery goodness at its best! It's toddler-approved and cooks in less than 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

2 lb. raw, peel-on, deveined large shrimp
1/2 stick of butter
1 tbsp. of olive oil
2 tsp. minced garlic
garnish- fresh, chopped parsley (optional)
salt & pepper to taste

Heat pan on stovetop at medium-high heat. Pour in olive oil and add the butter. Stir continuously until melted. Add garlic and shrimp. Cook for a few minutes on each side until shrimp are pink and cooked through. Remove from heat and garnish. Great over pasta or served with a salad and French bread.


Tuesday, April 21, 2015

How To Soothe A Toddler's Sunburn

Image result for toddler sunburn

Sunburns result from the skin being damaged by the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Most sunburns are first-degree burns and only affect the outer layer of skin, resulting in minor pain and redness. These are easily treated at home. However, sunburn that is red, painful, and swells up into blisters (a second-degree burn), means that deep skin layers and nerve endings have been damaged and may require a doctor's intervention to heal.

A baby or a toddler with a sunburn can be heartbreaking. They do not understand why they are in pain and all you can do as a parent is treat their symptoms while their skin heals. Following these few steps can help you soothe your child's discomfort.

Treat sunburn as you would any other burn:
  1. Cool down the skin with plain water compresses.
  2. Treat the pain with Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin).
  3. Topical Hydrocortisone cream may or may not help. Store the cream in the refrigerator for an extra cooling effect going on the skin.
  4. Use Aloe Vera Gel as a soothing lotion.
  5. If skin blisters are present, DO NOT pop them, as this can lead to a skin infection.
Next time be sure your child wears sunscreen, a hat, a sun shirt, and sun shades to avoid getting a sunburn. Also you need to avoid taking your little one out in direct sunlight from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., when the sun's UV rays are the highest.     

 

Source: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/sunburn-topic-overview

Monday, April 20, 2015

Got Snow?!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.
I hear the weather down in the lower 48 is getting warmer. Meanwhile, it's still snowing up here. This weekend we went hiking in the pass. It was still a winter wonderland! Trekking in the snow with a toddler-is that possible? Sure it is! You just need the right gear.

Snow boots
A good pair of snow boots are a must. They need to be waterproof and have plenty of insulation to keep your little one's feet warm and dry. I'm a big fan of lightweight insulation, especially for kids. My kiddo sports Kamik's.

Snow suit
Here is another snow trekking necessity. It too must be water-resistant and have plenty of insulation for playing in the snow. I'm a big fan of the grow-with-your-child products. That way you can at least get two seasons use before your child outgrows it. I like Columbia snow suits.

Mittens
Your child needs a warm pair of mittens. They need to be waterproof or water-resistant and preferably not cotton. Cotton traps moisture and moisture + cold = frostbite. Opt for a completely synthetic fabric, wool, leather, or fur. Here too, I like Columbia.

Base layers
Always dress your little one in layers. Thermals are great. Preferably use the moisture-wicking kind. That way if your child gets hot you can always remove one layer. Even with socks you need to layer or use non-cotton, moisture-wicking material to prevent sweating. Sweating leads to moisture accumulation which can also lead to frostbite.

Hat
Be sure to outfit your kiddo with a warm hat. I like fleece hats with ear flaps. If its really cold I will top it off with a fur(or faux fur) cap. Mostly though we just throw the snow suit's hood up and roll.

Accessories
Don't forget that you're out to have fun! Pack snowshoes, hiking sticks, skis, and whatever else you enjoy! We like to carry a sled so we can pull our son when he gets tired. And don't forget the Hot Hands for a quick warm-up. And, as always, you need to pack a first aid kit and an emergency blanket.

Afterwards, take the kids in for cocoa and warm up by the fire!