Author

admin

Browsing

Life in Durango & Isla’s Two Month Anniversary

Our first week in Durango was very go-go-go. We’ve gotten into more of a routine by the point, which helps this feel more like home. We’ve established local restaurant favorites – Himalayan Kitchen, Grassburger, Durango Coffee Company, and Cream Bean Berry – and had a schedule for exercise, feeding, sleeping, “working,” etc. Isla is growing by the second – I wish we knew her exact weight, because I feel like she’s doubled in size in the last 8 weeks. She celebrated her two month anniversary on Monday, August 4. I cannot believe it. She is super smiley, gurgles all day long, wants to be “standing” all the time, still spits up everywhere after eating (see bottom photo), does not enjoy tummy time except for the first 1-2 minutes, and is very used to having a camera in her face. Isla’s gassiness is much better now that I’ve cut out all dairy (i.e. become a vegan – ohmygosh I miss cheese!). Her (okay, my) favorite books are Snuggle Puppy and Oh Baby, Go Baby. She is finally getting used to taking a bottle, but I am not a huge fan of pumping! Isla went on her first hike and slept through the entire adventure (typical!). She loves, and I mean loves, sleeping in the BabyBjorn carrier. We are doing CIO (ah!) and had her fall asleep without a peep the last two nights (praying it stays that way!). We’re still learning lots and lots every day. We love her to pieces.

I put together two short videos: here and here

Lastly, the Trumpette giveaway winner is Caron B! Congratulations!


Isla Week 2 and 3

Sasha’s special feeding time // Bloomers by Baby Grace // Happy little Isla

DSC_0622

Mesmerized by the sun – I need to get her in some shades quickly

Isla Week 2 and 3_3

It’s hard to tell, but that onesie was covered in spit up minutes before these photos were taken

DSC_0543

Finally taking a bottle – this is a huge accomplishment and relief to me after much resistance

Isla Week 2 and 3_2

Sleepy girl in my favorite J. Crew onesie // Working on tummy time // Her signature Zoolander look

DSC_0229

Our first baby is loving Colorado (perhaps the most!)

Isla Week 2 and 3_4

After every feeding, Sasha tries to teach Isla to stand – he seems to think this is a requirement at 2 months… crazy man

DSC_0735

If Sasha wakes up first, Isla will be wearing her UT onesie

isla_2month_4

Sasha’s dad drove from Texas (16 hours) for TWO days!

DSC_0819

Getting ready for a MAM pacifier giveaway (coming soon!)

isla_2month_5

I love Baby Gap so much – this dress is one of my favorites

isla_2month

Two months already? How is this happening?

DSC_1023

This face is a regular

isla_2month_2

I couldn’t get enough as you can tell!

DSC_0962

Little Miss-chievous Isla

isla_2month_3

Working hard on that tummy time


 

Some iPhone snapshots

Isla Week 2 and 3_5

Braving dinners out on the town with this little unpredictable one – Grassburger is our favorite

Isla Week 2 and 3_6Sasha’s hardcore strength training is beginning to work // And that is his repayment // My favorite face in the world

Vegan Black Bean Brownies + The New York Baking Company

Ever since my vegan chocolate beet muffin success, I’ve felt a little braver in the baking department. Rizzi from The New York Baking Company (Facebook page) asked me to review their brightly colored silicone baking cups, which you can buy on Amazon here. After doing some research, I decided to try baking vegan, gluten-free black bean brownies. I found a number of different recipes online, and adapted them to make our own unique blend (mainly adapted from The Minimalist Baker’s recipe here). Sasha and I devored them within minutes – they are that good (and we’ve made them multiple times in the past week!). Did I mention they are flourless and have no dairy products? It’s definitely seems too good to be true. I have included photos and the recipe below – I highly recommend you make these if you’re trying to satisfy a sweet tooth. 

The baking cups worked like a charm. They cost $9.95 and are worth every penny. Not only are these colorful cups BPA free, they are easy to clean – just rinse them and pop them into the dishwasher. The cupcakes came right (without any difficulty!) and into our mouths. Delicious! If you enjoy baking but hate peeling cupcakes, brownies, and muffins out of wrappers, I highly recommend you buy these cups.

Ingredients

  • 1 can black beans
  • 2.5 tablespoons flaxseed meal + 6 tablespoons water to create a flaxseed ‘egg’
  • 3 tablespoons of melted coconut oil
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup of Truvia sugar blend
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 bar of vegan, gluten free chocolate (I love this one!)

Steps

  1. Turn oven to 350 degrees in the bake setting
  2. Mix 2.5 tablespoons of your flaxseed meal with 6 tablespoons of water and set aside to settle
  3. Add together all of your dry ingredients (sea salt, cocoa powder, sugar blend, baking powder) and mix
  4. Add the melted coconut oil and vanilla extract and stir well
  5. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute and add to the bowl
  6. Add your flax egg – the batter should be icing-like texture at this point
  7. In a separate bowl, add the drained, clean black beans and grind them until they are a soft, blended texture (you can do this in a blender or food processor, but my parents don’t have one in their house in Durango – it works easily by hand too)
  8. Add the ground beans to the batter and mix well
  9. Line your muffin tray with the baking cups and add the batter to each cup – these don’t rise much, so you don’t need to leave space
  10. I added some almond butter to the batter for the last few muffins for a little extra kick – delicious!
  11. Allow the brownies to bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the outside is slightly crispy, then wait until they cool off and enjoy!

DSC_0494

DSC_0508

blackbean1

DSC_0506

blackbean2

DSC_0539

DSC_0701

DSC_0704

DSC_0705

DSC_0708

Et voilà – the final product below!

DSC_0710

DSC_0712

DSC_0722

DSC_0733

One happy mouth


Recipe adapted from The Minimalist Baker

Baking cups provided by The New York Baking Company – all opinions are my own

Photos by me!

Isla’s Newborn Photos by Taylor Lord

When the doorbell rang yesterday, and Sasha came into the living room with a package, I freaked out. Isla’s newborn photos had arrived from Taylor Lord. We opened them, read Taylor’s sweet letter and immediately started looking at each photo, one by one. I love them so much. Taylor captured our happiness and Isla’s sweetness perfectly. I am absolutely terrible at editing down photos, so pardon the large number of pictures in this post, but I had to share my favorites. I love this little girl so much, and I am so happy that the Lord blessed Taylor with such an incredible talent. View Taylor’s website here and her blog here. View details about Isla’s nursery here.

PS We took these over a month ago – Isla is so much bigger by now! It’s crazy how fast they grow.

Oh, and the Trumpette giveaway ends tonight at midnight! Enter here to win a free set of adorable socks!

DSC_0630

Isla1

isla15

Baby Isla-013

isla2

isla21

Baby Isla-116

isla3

isla4

Baby Isla-048

isla5

isla6

isla16

Baby Isla-077

isla7

isla19

Baby Isla-063

isla18

isla8

Baby Isla-074

isla14

isla20

Baby Isla-111

isla9

Baby Isla-070

isla10

isla17

Baby Isla-084

isla11

isla12

Baby Isla-116

isla13

 

Isla’s Rifle Paper Co. Inspired Birth Announcements

At long last, Isla’s birth announcements have been sent! I am so relieved to have completed this major project – one which started well before she was born! I did the calligraphy on all 100 envelopes prior to her birth (thank goodness!), cut the envelope liners using this Rifle Paper Co. wrapping paper, stamped our return address using a custom stamp from Angelique Ink, and created the design for the announcement (which was printed by Czar Press). When Isla arrived, all I had left to do was update the design with the appropriate information, get it printed, have Isla’s photos taken by Taylor Lord and printed locally, add the photos to the glassine bags, punch holes, tie bows, and voila – done. Whew. Yes, I am exhausted, but so happy to have finished my second big project (first being Sasha’s graduation announcements). Baby number two will likely have an e-card (ha!).

IslaAnnouncement1

DSC_0128

DSC_0163

IslaAnnouncement2

DSC_0173

DSC_0180


Duplex announcement card printing by Czar Press

Ribbon and kraft envelopes from Paper Source

Wildflower Liner from Rifle Paper Co.

Isla photo by Taylor Lord

Custom return stamp from Angelique Ink

Dr. Martin’s Pen White calligraphy ink from Paper and Ink Arts

Glassine bags from JenStampz

Calligraphy and photos by me

Isla Loves: Trumpette (Giveaway)

For years, my ‘go-to’ gift for newborns has been Trumpette socks. What little Texan boy doesn’t need these cowboy socks, and what tiny baby girl doesn’t need some ballet socks? My mum introduced me to these sweet shoe-like socks, and I was excited when she gave Isla her first pair of Jitterbug Jennys. Isla wears a different pair almost every day, as each box comes in a variety of colors. She’s had lots of compliments while strolling around downtown Durango so far! While I love Isla’s shoe collection (15 pairs so far!), I know realize that Trumpette socks are much, much more realistic and useful.

I’m excited to be teaming up with Trumpette to give away a box of socks to one lucky follower! In order to enter the giveaway, you must do the following:

  1. Go to Trumpette.com and decide which set of socks you’d like to win – then write a comment at the bottom of this post explaining which set you’d like and who you’d be buying them for
  2. You will get an extra entry by becoming a follower of Snapshots and My Thoughts (see ‘Follow’ button at the bottom righthand corner on desktop version of the blog)
  3. You can also get additional entries by liking Trumpette on their Facebook page and by following them on Instagram

One winner will be drawn at random. The more entries you have, the higher the chance you’ll win! The giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, August 1. I am looking forward to your responses! For more Trumpette photos, click here.IslaTrumpette1

IslaTrumpette3

IslaTrumpette2

IslaTrumpette4