Posts by Rachel Spoelhof
Easter Essentials
Easter day is approaching, so I wanted to to share a few fun suggestions for your Easter brunch and your Easter baskets.
Yummy Bunnies are a fun and healthy treat you can bring to any Easter celebration. It would even be a fun snack for the kids to make and eat at your party.
All you need to do is make a quick trip to the grocery store for cuties, raisins, bananas, mini marshmallows, strawberries, shredded coconut, toothpicks and green food coloring.
For more details on how to assembly these “cutie” bunnies visit our Yummy Bunny post.
Our Baby Bear Stew cookbook is filled with tasty family recipes that will be sure to delight your Easter day guests. Buy one for yourself to prepare our yummy recipes and grab another as a hostess gift if you will be visiting someone’s house for brunch.
Visit our shopify store to get your copies!
Below I have some great suggestions to fill your child’s Easter basket. All links are for Amazon so you can shop from the comfort of your home. (I know that is a lifesaver as a mom.)
AND when you shop from one of our links Growing Weisser makes a small percentage. Thank you!
I love to give my children books for holiday treats. This Easter book is one of my favorites. It presents the Easter story with great illustrations and simple words for children.
The Story of Easter
We also love this adorable fun dvd that teaches the Easter story using resurrection eggs. It’s called Miss Patty Cake’s Eggstravaganza.
Here are some other neat ideas to fill your child’s Easter basket with fun learning activities. I chose a variety of characters, but if your child fancies a different favorite just use the suggestions below the item to find …
Read MoreRefresh Your Spirit
Recently, I started a new and exciting business venture with a friend. I’m learning fast that just because I’m excited about something doesn’t necessarily mean everyone else is too. I find my belief constantly challenged by the opinions of others. Isn’t it that way with most things? When we allow others’ thoughts and opinions to influence us, suddenly our fire and our light starts to dim.
My same friend, who has been such an encouragement to me, shared this amazing series from Elevation Church called “Crash the Chatterbox.”
The theme of the series reads, “We live in a world full of chatter. Lies of condemnation, fear, insecurity, and discouragement bombard us every day. These lies keep us from hearing God’s voice and realizing the full purpose He has for our lives. But what can we do about it? How can we silence the enemy and discern God’s voice above all others? In this series, we’ll learn how to crash the Chatterbox with the promises of God, and embrace the freedom found only in Him.”
Fears and insecurities can only overcome our beliefs if we let them. What if instead of leaving room for “chatter” we fill our hearts and minds with truth?
I’ve decided that from now on whenever I start to let self-doubt creep into my mind I’m going to fill that space with God’s promises or motivating truths.
Here’s some ideas of how to keep your spirit refreshed:
-Listen to the series “Crash the Chatterbox“
-Listen to positive, uplifting music
-Find motivating personal development podcasts
-Put on some great jams and have a dance party with your kids
-Change scenes. Get out of the house or get some exercise
-Call a friend who always makes you feel good
-Make plans with friends or plan to host …
Read MoreSet Intentions–Find Refreshment
Our theme for this month is REFRESH.
Refresh can be defined as to provide new vigor and energy by rest, food, etc.
Here are two tips to find refreshment in your daily routine:
1. End each day with gratefulness.
We are using and amazing gratitude journal that is so helpful for journaling each day and it is filled with inspiring quotes! Take time to reflect on things you are grateful for and find refreshment in each blessing.
2. Set intentions for the next day
It is so important to be intentional about the way we spend our time. When we set intentions for our day we are more likely to follow through with our plans and find pockets of time to get things done. “Start each day with intention: make a simple plan and then follow through with it.” -Crystal Paine, author of “Choose Gratitude: Blessings Journal”
I know it is so easy to get lost in the business of the day, but when I have intentions or small goals it keeps me focused when I find a pocket of time. Ending each day with gratefulness also helps me to reflect on how I am spending my time. If I didn’t get to something on my list because I was living in the moment spending time with my kids, I don’t see that as something that got in the way of my plans. Instead, I can be grateful for that time and see the blessing of time spent with my children.
Be intentional about fitting these two tasks into your routine and see how your life is changed.
I love this paragraph by Crystal Paine in the introduction of her journal. She writes, “No matter what season of life you’re in or what burdens you’re carrying, there is always, always, …
Read MorePay Attention!
Today I was struck by how easy it would be to go about my day inwardly focused. I have so many things going on at every moment I can get lost feeling overwhelmed by just being Rachel, mommy to three adorable, but needy, girls. By the time I get somewhere the last thing on my mind is others. I’m ready to just tune out for a bit while watching my kids at dance class or the park.
However, by “tuning out” I’m missing out on the opportunities for connections. I am a very shy person and don’t usually instigate conversations, but recently I’ve had some great connections with other parents at my daughter’s dance class. It is so rewarding to have adult conversations and learn about other people while also sharing a little bit about myself. So far it is just nice to have friends that one day a week to talk to, but maybe some day these once a week friends will become something more.
Maybe not, but I’m so glad for the time I do have with them: sharing parenting tips, talking about books and tv shows, recommending swim instructors or house cleaners. We never know what someone might have to offer to us, or what we can offer to someone in return. Maybe that person just needs a smile or a listening ear. I’ve tried to work harder to be patient and polite to customer service agents or make eye contact and smile to the Starbucks employee handing me a drink in the drive thru. I know that I feel better, and it is my hope that maybe I made someone else feel better too!
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”
― Thích Nhất Hạnh, Peace …
Heart Garland
Just in time for Valentine’s Day tomorrow is a fun craft to brighten your home with reds, pinks, and of course HEARTS!
I used the instructions from Strumpet’s Crumpets Valentine Paper Heart Chain.
- Supplies Needed:
- Colored Construction Paper (I used dark pink, light pink, and red)
- Ruler
- Scissors (or a paper cutter!)
- Stapler
- String or ribbon to hang your garland
Sneaky Applesauce Muffins
Our February theme is RECOMMIT. I have decided to recommit to making healthy muffins for my kids. They are SO picky and I get discouraged when they don’t eat the food I make. However, I know it is important to not get into a rut (a.k.a. quesadillas every meal) AND muffins are an excellent way to sneak healthy extras into my kid’s food. These muffins have applesauce AND butternut squash puree.
I am once again grateful for the new “Deceptively Delicious” cookbooks I received for Christmas that incorporate hidden vegetable purees in the meals.
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Read MoreW.O.W. Enchilada Casserole RENEWED
As a busy mom trying to make healthier meals for my family I’ve decided to revisit some of our family favorites and spruce them up a bit, rather than trying to find completely new recipes. I received a new cookbook for Christmas called, “Deceptively Delicious,” by Jessica Seinfeld that is all about incorporating vegetable purees into your foods.
I love the idea of putting more veggies in my meals because 1) I love veggies, and 2) I’d rather do anything else in the world (even go to the dentist) than struggle to get my kids to eat their veggies every night.
So I combined some principles from Jessica’s Chicken Enchilada recipe to one of our family favorite recipes from Trader Joe’s: W.O.W. Enchilada Casserole.
So here’s my version of W.O.W. Enchilada Casserole (with lots of hidden veggies!)
Ingredients
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TJ’s Olive Oil (for pan)
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1 bottle TJ’s Enchilada Sauce
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1 pound cooked ground beef or ground turkey
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6 TJ’s Green Onions, sliced, green tops preserved for garnish
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1 package TJ’s Corn Tortillas, cut into strips
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1 package TJ’s Mexican Shredded Cheese Blend
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1/2 cup sweet potato puree (made ahead of time!!)
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2 zucchinis grated and pressed to remove moisture
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1 can TJ’s Black Beans, rinsed
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2 TJ’s Avocados, sliced
RENEW Your Relationship
Let’s resolve to RENEW our relationship with our spouse or significant other in 2015!
The Dating Divas are offering a terrific platform to “rock your relationship in 2015” with a fun 30 day Instagram challenge.
Just click the image below to get the instructions and printables!
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Motivation Through Social Media
As a new year dawns, many people make the mistake of committing to resolutions that are too strict or unrealistic. When it comes to social media, many of these resolutions can be to deactivate Facebook or delete certain apps off your phone. While I am all for this if the need is there, I decided to take a more positive spin with Social Media in 2015.
I decided to flood my Instagram and Facebook feeds with positive images that motivate me and encourage my goals for 2015.
Here are some things I’ve done to nourish the resolutions I’ve set in place:
1. Follow a few people whose recipes inspire you to cook and/or eat better. The key component here is to feel motivated by their posts, not discouraged that your diet or cooking ability won’t or can’t measure up.
2. Follow someone who can encourage an area of need in your life. For me lately that has been preparing meals for my kids. I love following “planetbox” to get ideas for fun and healthy kid meals.
3. Follow someone who is successful at what they do. I love seeing someone who is fired up about about their goals and putting plans into action!
4. Follow someone who urges you to be better! I want to get stronger physically this year so I started following a few amazing yogis to encourage my fitness goals.
5. Join a challenge. I love yoga, but don’t have the time right now to join a studio and have not been practicing much since I had kids. However, I joined a really fun yoga challenge that is rekindling my love of yoga and making me realize the benefits of fitness and areas I’m excited to improve upon.
6. Don’t forget about your friends! It can be …
Read MoreThe Joy of Friendship
Christmas time is a great time to reflect on the blessings and joys in our lives. One of my greatest joys the past few years has been the joy of friendship.
A little over three years ago, I became a mom for the first time. It was the best and scariest time of my life being responsible for a tiny little person. Since then we have added two more little blessings to our family and I just don’t know where I would be without the support and love of my friends.
Many of my friends and I met 3 years ago at a breastfeeding support group at our local hospital. We bonded over love for our children and the sheer craziness of our new responsibilities. Over the years I have added friends to my little circle through common interest groups and my Stroller Strides fitness group.
As fun as it is to have play dates and meet ups at parks for the kids, we realize how important it is to just have some MOM time. That is why I am so happy to open my home each year at Christmas for my annual Christmas Cookie Exchange. It is a super fun way to hang out, drink hot chocolate, and eat cookies of course.
So as you enjoy this season of giving and receiving remember to thank the amazing people in your life and the lives of your children for all their support and friendship!
Thank you to my friends and family. I am so blessed!
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