Good morning! Can you believe March is almost over? The time is going by way too fast, and I’m about to have a one-year-old soon! I cannot believe it. What they say about time is true, especially after becoming a parent. The days are not long enough! I have my sweet boy down for a nap, my coffee is nice and hot, and it’s the perfect time to fit in a recap blog to catch you all up on the past few weeks.
The sweet comments on my last recap blog meant so much to me! It’s so lovely to hop on here when I can, and I love that you guys have supported that. So many of my favorite bloggers have quit blogging recently, and started posting only to social media, and it makes me sad. I didn’t want to do the same, so I’m trying to keep up as much as possible.
It was cold and rainy on St. Patrick’s Day. I picked up my mom early in the morning to grab a coffee and walk around the Bush N’ Vine farm before the weather got bad. Bugs is obsessed with chickens and any animal. He was making the funniest sounds trying to talk to the chickens. If our HOA allowed it, I would totally get a chicken coop.
We also treated ourselves to a delicious green donut to celebrate the day.
We decided to stop and have lunch at the Garden Cafe before making it back before nap time.
Bugs loves food, so it’s fun going places with him. He wants to eat anything and everything. I ordered chicken breast and cut it up for him, and he ate every bite. He also loved the mandarins. The other night, I made him a baby-friendly chicken salad with shredded chicken, chopped spinach, dillweed, lemon, black pepper, garlic, greek yogurt, tomatoes, and chopped onion. He was OBSESSED! I must try the same recipe using hardboiled eggs since he also loves those.
The Garden Cafe has the best coffee and dessert. I said no to the pie since Kyle wasn’t there to help me eat it, but I did not say no to their coffee! It was only my second cup for the day, and I needed it badly.
Bugs decided he wasn’t going to nap that afternoon, so I put him in the skip hop during my 20-minute Peloton ride. He is obsessed with watching the petals and listening to music. He starts clapping and doing the squat baby dance. I usually have about 20 minutes until he’s over it, but it’s still enough time to fit in a great workout.
Later in the afternoon, I did some more seedlings with my leftover egg cartons.
I made some delicious salads and mocktails on Friday night. I need to get that recipe up asap! There is nothing better than homemade restaurant-style ranch.
We headed to the St. Patrick’s Day festival in Baxter Village on Saturday afternoon. It is a stunning time of year with all the blooming trees and warm weather!
I am just one big jungle gym to him. Does anyone else have a child who is always on the move and never stops wiggling?
I love him so much!
For dinner on Saturday night, I made a giant taco salad platter. It had all the best taco toppings (but I forgot the jalapenos) and a taco ranch. Let me know if you want me to post this recipe, too! I wish I had 1000+ hours in the day or the ability to stay up past 8 pm.
Sometimes, I feel like making a cake. We enjoyed diving into this peachy pineberry almond buttercream cake. I’ll be sharing this recipe soon! It was so good. Cake is one of my favorite desserts. I’d choose it over anything! It was so pretty with the pineberries and peaches. I want to make it all summer long!
The pups had their grooming appointment on Sunday, so we decided to walk the trail while they had their haircuts. We treated ourselves to warm soup and fresh pasta from Blend at the Riverwalk afterward.
Sunday sourdough! Today, I have a whole wheat with nuts and seeds in the works for my dad. If it turns out delicious, I’ll post that recipe soon! But if you missed it, I finally have my sourdough bread recipe up! Seeing photos of your loaves and hearing your feedback made me so happy!
I headed to a local coffee shop to finish the sourdough bread blog and complete a work project for a few hours. My mom has been so kind to come over a few hours a week to help watch Bugs while I do some work.
My sweet neighbor gave Bugs this push car since her boys have grown out of it, and he is absolutely obsessed. It’s all he wants to do in the morning, day, and night. I push him around the backyard and down the sidewalk, and he loves it!
To make meals more manageable, I’ve been making food for him that we all eat. It’s too much to make separate meals, and it has me eating so much healthier. His favorite is no sodium organic tomato sauce, spaghetti squash, garlic powder, ground beef, zucchini, and a sprinkle of organic parmesan cheese. I made a giant batch for the family to eat for a few days. He gets SO MESSY since I let him eat with his fingers, but at least it’s before bathtime.
One of his favorite breakfast foods is banana egg pancakes with oats, cinnamon, and peanut butter added.
After a doctor’s appointment, my parents stopped by, and I made yummy steak salads. They had cast iron grilled steak, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, avocado, corn, everything but the bagel crackers, and creamy homemade ranch.
Tux is now a couch potato! I can’t believe he will jump up and cuddle so close. I never thought he’d get to this level! He keeps improving and improving!
I’m still on my Peloton kick! I’m entering week fifteen here soon and just as obsessed! I love hitting PRs and taking all the pop-punk classes available. A few mornings ago, I was so hungry after a ride that I had a plate of potatoes, apples, avocado, and a cheesy vegetable omelet.
In the afternoon, when I get my crazy sweet tooth, I love having homemade healthy hot chocolate and rice cakes with peanut butter and honey. The hot chocolate has almond milk, cocoa powder, and honey.
Oats are another one of my favorite pre-workout or post-workout breakfasts.
After doing dinner and bathtime with bugs, Kyle took over for bedtime so I could go to sunset yoga at the Greenway, and it was so beautiful and relaxing!
I took my latest obsession, Hop Water, with me! This stuff is so good!!! The class was so relaxing, especially after being tackled all day by an eleven-month-old.
After yoga, we did taco Tuesday at Taco Milino!
Another rainy day called for yummy treats at The Goodlife Organic with my sweet boy! I had a kid’s smoothie and a breakfast bowl to share with him. He was also obsessed with the peanut butter energy ball.
Book time before bed! He is in the opening and closing of the book phase right now.
Homemade mini pancakes to put in the freezer for easy meals! These have whole wheat flour, eggs, cinnamon, almond milk, peanut butter, and banana. I microwave them for 20 seconds out of the freezer, and they are delicious! I usually serve them with fresh fruit and scrambled eggs.
After an afternoon park date, we returned for some mommy and me lunch! We had eggs, black bean rice, and peaches!
My tomatoes are ready for the transfer!
Garden bug 🙂
We converted my office into a closet and changing room for bugs since it was easier to keep it all downstairs. This past weekend, I cleaned out the space and put everything back into his nursery. It feels so good to have my little office back! Enjoying the final day of my tulips!
Since the mornings have been nice lately, we’ve been taking early walks! I love catching the sunrise.
Of course, we must finish every walk with a cruise around the yard. When I stop, he starts turning the wheel and banging on the horn to get me to push him. It’s so funny. So many tomato varieties! I cannot wait for the harvest this summer.
Little beggar!
I found some eggs in the tree next to my garden! They are so beautiful. We picked up Blend for dinner on Friday night to enjoy out on the patio. I bought a little folding chair for bugs, and it has a food tray. It’s super cute! I did the build-your-own salad with lettuce, chicken, cheese, onion, peppers, banana peppers, pesto, hummus, couscous, cucumber, mozzarella, and jalapeno ranch on the side. I am a dressing gal, but this salad had so much flavor I didn’t even need it.
On Saturday, we headed to Flower Child for lunch. It was so good! I had the grilled chicken avocado caesar salad, and bugs had the kid’s plate with steak, mac and cheese, quinoa, and corn. He ate every single bite! We split the lemon pound cake muffin, and it was amazing!
Sunday breakfast was blueberry oatmeal with peanut butter and cinnamon! I did my Peloton before catching up on some housework.
Sunsets with my favorite 🙂 A few days ago, we headed to the gardens with my mom to walk around and have lunch by the pond. I am in love with Glencairn this time of year! We picked up the common market chicken salad and turkey sandwich with soup. We also had the oat milk lattes from Two Scoops for a much-needed pick-me-up. By the way, the Pineapple Spindrift was INCREDIBLE!
My sweet boy! He loved watching the bees in the azalea bushes. He thought their buzzing sound was so funny.
It’s crazy how fast life goes. I’ve been visiting this park for the past nine years, and now I’m visiting this park with my son. He makes it so much more special.
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon putting my seedlings into the garden, and I cannot wait to see them grow!
I hope you all have the best weekend! I will try my best to sneak away and get some recipe blogs up soon!
Questions for you!
- Is there a place you have visited a lot in the past ten years?
- What are you most excited about for April?
- What is your favorite cake flavor?
Ashley says
This recap post made my Friday, Taralynn! Loved this one and yes, I would love to see that taco salad recipe when you get a chance. It looks amazing! It makes me sad that bloggers are moving more to social media only too. I would love to hear who some of your favorite bloggers are sometime! You’re my favorite blogger and I’m sure I’d love them, too! 🙂
I hope you and your sweet family have the best weekend friend!!
Make Life Marvelous
Taralynn McNitt says
Awww, thanks, Ashley!!!
I pin a lot of my favorite blogs on Pinterest. I’m super into the homestead bloggers that garden, make bread, and live the country life! I’m obsessed with their content lol
I hope you have the best day!
Jennifer says
It’s all of the tiny fingers in the food pics for me 🙂
I don’t know what it is, but I LOVED this recap blog – all of the pics of you and food bring me back to the many years of reading. I LOVE it!! It looks like you’re having an amazing spring.
I CANNOT WAIT TO START GARDENING!!
Taralynn McNitt says
AWWWW thank you so much, Jennifer!!!This comment made my day!
It’s been so nice being able to get to gardening!!
Mie says
I’m so glad you dob’t stop blogging, your blog is my all time favorite and it makes me so happy to read, you feel like an old friend that I’m keeping up with and I just love it. Been reading your blog since the Tumblr days. Literally feel like I know you, you know. Probably weird, but I don’t care. I’m sure blogs will make a comeback in the near future anyway, people will get bored with the minimal crap you get from Social media platforms, blogs are a lot more wholesome in my opinion, and I get so sad when the good ones quit.. so cheers to you for still standing strong and being a great blogger. Hope you’re having a great day ❤️
Taralynn McNitt says
Hi, Mie! Thank you for those kind words! ❤️ Definitely gives me the push to keep going!
Ashton Jury says
April is my birthday month; I don’t really care about birthdays but it’s something to look forward too. I love spring (though fall is my favorite) and all the veggies that come with it. I made a delicious cauliflower soup last week and this week I’m going to do an asparagus one.
All your food pics look delicious, and I love seeing bugs little hands in them. Chocolate cake is probably my all-time favorite, but I love a funfetti too.
Taralynn McNitt says
Happy birthday, month!
Asparagus soup? that sounds amazing! I am also looking forward to all the fresh veggies and produce this year.
🙂
Kayla says
Love the recaps! I like that you blog and not just use social media. I can’t tell you the number of times that I’ve gone back to read a post for a recipe or for gardening tips. We’re trying to kids now and I’ve already gone back to learn from your pregnancy posts! I also like that you are so real in your posts. I don’t just want to hear the amazing parts of pregnancy and raising kids. It’s so nice to get a real description of your experience.
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you, Kayla! That is so so so sweet!
Abbey Bradish says
I’m having my first baby in July. I’ve been loving watching your little one grow and his curiosity about the outside. I would love if you did a blog of all your baby foods. Especially those pancakes!
Taralynn McNitt says
Congrats, Abbey! This is such an exciting time for you. I am definitely planning to do a food blog throughout the months of his first year! 🙂
Susie says
So glad you’ve decided to keep blogging – you have always been my favorite. I love your recaps, I know we don’t see it all but your life seems so lovely especially now with your sweet Bugs! I could eat his little toes up!
I’m in the SF Bay Area and Lake Tahoe is a place we visit every year. I’m not a skier so my favorite time to go is during the warmer months when we can hike and swim.
I’m looking forward to more blooming flowers in April!
My favorite cake would have to be lemon, with chocolate a close second. Your berry-peach cake looked divine!
P.S. thank you for your sourdough bread blog. Must have been a lot of work for you, but it’s so helpful and very appreciated.
Taralynn McNitt says
Thank you, Susie!! You always make my day!
I LOVE LAKE TAHOE! I want to go back so bad.
ohhh lemon cake is so good! Sallys Baking Addiction has my favorite lemon cake recipe 🙂
Gilly says
Love your recaps! Please never stop ❤️
I read from Australia xxx
Could you do a post on how to do your tomatoes? Love to do this also xx
Thanks 😊
Taralynn McNitt says
Awww, thank you!!!!
I will do a big garden post here in a few months! 🙂
Rachel says
Would you consider doing a Tux recap now that you’ve had him for a couple years? I’ve loved seeing his journey from super scared rescue pup to happy, healthy family pet!
Taralynn McNitt says
Yes! 🙂 I sprinkle in a lot of Tux recaps in my blogs, but I’ll try to dedicate one to him soon!