Catching Moments: {4/52}:

*Finding Forts around the house

We have had a lot of lazy days this week and when I walked by the playroom one morning I saw a mound of chairs and blankets and this is what I saw inside. Charli constructed a fort for her and her brother to play in! I am so thankful they have each other! 

Recipe: Gluten Free Pizza Crust:

Happy Friday Friends! 

I don't know about you but Friday's in our house usually call for pizza. Though when you have Celiac Disease "pizza night" can turn into pizza for everyone else and a salad for mommy. Thankfully over the years a ton of places have started carrying Gluten Free pizza. While that is so awesome you have to remember that people who actually have the disease have to be extremely careful with cross contamination. I can't tell you how much I have gotten sick because of this (which is why we do not eat out all that often). So Pizza Night in our house may be a little different than most families but it is just as delicious and we know exactly what is going into our tummies, because I make it fresh! 

If you remember I have talked about Pamela's Gluten Free flour a lot because it is the only GF Flour we keep in the house. We find it to be much more cost efficient by buying it in bulk through Amazon so we always have it on hand! We have their Bread Mix as well as their Baking Mix. I make all of my bread fresh with their flour, muffins, waffles, pancakes, biscuits, donuts, and yes even pizza crust! So if you are feeling crazy tonight and want to try something different here is how you can make your very own fresh Gluten Free Pizza Crust.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups Pamela's Bread Mix

1 packet of Yeast

1/4 cup oil

1 1/2 cups warm water

Preparation: (This makes 2 12 to 14 inch crusts)

In a Stand Mixer with whisk attachment

Combine dry mix, yeast, oil, and water. 

Mix on medium for 2 minutes.

Take 1/2 the dough and place onto heavily greased baking sheet.

Spread dough into crust shape (you will need to pour some oil into your hands and a little onto the dough to keep it from sticking)

Let rest one hour.

Preheat oven to 375. Bake for 30 minutes on lower rack.

Add sauce and toppings. Continue baking 10 minutes, until toppings are melted.

Dough will puff while baking.

This is seriously the best gluten free pizza I have had and it is so incredibly easy to make. What I love about it even more is that you can freeze them after partially baking them for 20 minutes! Just wrap them after cooling and freeze! Then you can always have homemade GF crust on hand! 

Such an easy nap time prep! 

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend and Happy Pizza Making! 

Charli's Chapter: Writing my Name:

From Charli's Chair:

At the young age of three

Mommy & Daddy taught me

To write out these letters

That spelt CHARLI

We worked and we practiced

On each little letter

It didn't take long

My handwriting got better!

Now we are working

On handwriting at school

I think what I'm being taught

Is pretty darn cool! 

Note From Mommy:

The above picture in purple crayon was the very first time she ever wrote her name which was back at the beginning of October. I am just now getting around to posting about it since her very first "handwriting practice" sheet was sent home in her folder today! We couldn't be more proud of how well she is doing in school and this just continues to prove it to us! 

We are so proud of you Charli Adele, keep up the good work! 

***

Until my next adventure...

Thanks for stopping by!

xo charli

Our Home Decor: Winter Edition:

I hope everyone has enjoyed their weekend and is staying warm with all this Winter weather we are having! 

The big Blizzard up north and our frigid temps here in Florida (we even saw snow flurries...) Yes people, you read that correctly... Snow Flurries, in Jacksonville... I'm not gonna lie, I was not excited about it like everyone else. I saw WAY. TOO. MUCH. SNOW. last year in Newport. I was more 

"Go home snow, you're drunk... You don't belong in Florida!" I don't mind the chilly temps though. They are a nice change in pace here and there but I am looking forward to the warmer weather that is coming this week for sure! 

But before I start changing things up again for Valentine's Day I wanted to share a snippet of our Winter Home. I don't do too much for "Winter Decor" but I just love the look and feel of Winter pieces still around through January. I keep it clean and simple.

I hope you enjoy!

Front Porch:

Front Sitting Room:

Dining Room:

Family Room:

Happy Decorating! 

Catching Moments: {3/52}:

*My Mini-Me

One of our three year old's absolute favorite things to do is clean and organize (just like her mama). She will follow me around the house with all of her little cleaning supplies and dust, sweep, and mop right along side me.

*One-on-One time is rare when you have an older sibling

But the mornings that big sis has school are the mornings that it's just the two of us. The house is quiet (ish) and this little guy gets the play room and all of the toys to himself! 

Crew's Corner: Ol' Blue:

From Crew's Crib:

Every where that I go

And every thing that I do

I am never without

My boy Ol' Blue

In my bed as I sleep

At the table as I eat

In the car as we drive

He's right by my side

I've grown quite attached

To this puppy you see

I always make sure

He is right next to me

***

Until my next adventure...

Thanks for stopping by!

xo crew

Charli Adele: 3.5 Year Update:

Happy Half Birthday to our sweet little princess (yesterday)!!

Something we have been doing for both kids since they were 6 months old has been celebrating their half birthday's (because why not?) and I have no plans of stopping anytime soon! Especially after the look on Charli's face yesterday morning when I jumped into bed with her and said Happy Half Birthday!! We giggled, we sang, and all day she said "I'm a WHOLE HALF today, woohoo" hahaha! One thing our sweet girl wanted was a birthday crown so Momma went to work and crafted up this crown by using some of my card stock paper and some gold metallic spray paint I had on hand. Those two minutes of crafting made one little girls day!!

 My plan from here on out is to celebrate Charli and Crew's half's together since they are only 3 weeks apart but since Crew still really doesn't know we celebrated yesterday and boy was it fun!

I still can't believe we are this close to having a FOUR year old... Where in the world have the past 3.5 years gone? I know I say it all the time but I wish time would just slow down a bit. One of my all time favorite quotes (and I say it out loud all the time) 

"The days are long, but the years are short".

It couldn't be more true. Even the hardest of days I try to soak in every little thing I can because I know I won't get these days or time back with our babies. 

Charli's intelligence is amazing and she is still just as sweet and spunky as ever. Some of her favorite things to do right now are to Sing & Dance, Play House, Cook in her Kitchen, Read, or sit at the table and play with little figurines (Minnie Mouse, Sheriff Callie, Frozen, etc.) and make up her own story lines. It is my favorite thing she does, I love watching her imagination at work! 

Charli's Stats:

*Height: Just over 42 inches (one inch for each month old she is! Since she is literally 42 months haha)

*Weight: 44 lbs

*Clothes: 4T and 5T

*Sleep: Bedtime is still 7PM and she wakes around 7AM. She still goes down around 1PM for "rest/relaxing time". Somedays she ends up falling asleep for an hour, somedays she just lays in her bed or in her teepee until it is time to get out. I feel so incredibly grateful that she is still so good during this time and stays quiet and listens because Crew still takes about a 3 hour nap. 

*Food: Charli has become a lot pickier of an eater within the last year. She "needs" ranch to eat her chicken (whatever, it works and I literally give her the smallest dab... pick and choose your battles right.) It seems like every night we are asking her to eat her dinner. I still don't cater to her, she gets what I make (and clearly I know she is not starving). Some of her favorites though are: Breakfast: "Nana's favorite fings" (belvita's); Lunch: Apples with peanut butter on them; Snacks: First let me start by saying that girlfriend would snack, ALL.DAY.LONG. if I let her... But some faves are cheese sticks, apples, grapes, applesauces, oranges, goldfish, rice cakes, pirate booty, crackers; Dinner: Chicken & French fries if I let her, Pasta is her absolute favorite, Taco Tuesday, and breakfast for dinner (eggs, bacon, etc).

*Social: Charli is as social as they come! She loves school and all of her friends and they all love her. Her absolute favorite thing to do is to perform. She will sit everyone down and sing and dance for as long as you let her. It is hilarious and adorable. Don't dare talk though during a performance... You will get scolded. Charli truly just loves life and the joy and happiness she has radiates! The love she has for her baby brother is also amazing. They love rough housing and wrestling (though mommy has tried making it a new house rule... No Rough Housing... Too many bruises). 

I still can't believe we have a 3 1/2 year old 

(and yes, I know you were wondering, her 4th Birthday is already planned!) ;) 

Happy Half Birthday Charli Adele!

We love you!