A Day in the Life

Just sharing a little day in the life with 5 year old twins, a 1 year old, and a hubby that's actually HOME during a weekday for once! Matt took off this week! So, today was a bit different from what our normal days look like.... number one: because Matt is actually home, & number 2: the kids are on Christmas break from virtual. I'll have to share what a "real" day looks like over here....it's a whole lot of crazy!

7:00

Matt got out of bed around 7-7:30, which means all the kiddos slowly roll out of bed and follow him downstairs....which leaves me to have 10 minutes in bed alone!! we are normally up way before then, but it's break...we are living the dream this week! I made my way down by 7:30 & the first thing I do is make an Arbonne fizz/mindhealth & brew a cup of coffee! Arie actually brews it if I'm honest... he loves pushing the buttons & gets so excited when it starts brewing. The little things when you're a babe!! 

8:00

Got the boys some breakfast, finished my coffee on the couch & then went in to get ready for the day. It was a nice slow morning... I'm usually dressed and ready by 7:30 for the day, so the slower pace was nice for a change!!

9:00

We got ourselves & the boys dressed & ready for the day so we could head out to run a few errands, and just literally go "out". We feel like we've been stuck inside all break so far!! We needed to get out... even if it was really just to gather some groceries!

10:00

We loaded up the car and headed to the market in the next town over. We usually get fresh (live) lobsters there every year for NYE, so that's what we did! We also grabbed a few other things for our dinner!

Our Menu:

lobster

garlic + herb linguine

roasted carrots

cheddar bay biscuits

(kids are making their own pizzas!!)

triple fudge brownies (matts request)

chocolate cake with vanilla icing (boys request)

champagne (my request) lol

& sparkling rose cider for the kids

11:00

we took our groceries to the car & ran back into the strip mall to grab a slice of pizza! It was nice to actually eat out in public for once instead of ordering takeout!! The pizza was delish & the staff there is always so nice! When we finished I ran into the dollar tree & grabbed some fun things for NYE to make it fun for the boys! We plan to decorate the house tomorrow!

12:00

Arie fell asleep on the way home so I got all of our groceries put away & got out all the goodies for tomorrow night! They were super excited to see the things I picked up & can't wait until tomorrow for our "party"!! 

1:00

Arie woke up & was ready to play (after it took him a bit to wake up from being a bit grumpy). We played while the bigger boys played on their new iPods (Matt's gift to them)!

2:00

Our lobsters weren't doing so hot in the water (haha), so we decided we better cook them now & we will just reheat them in butter tomorrow night! The boys helped Matt cook them, even though Peyton BEGGED for an hour to "please lets just keep one!" My true animal lover! As they did that, I cleaned up the downstairs (again) and ran the vacuum.... very exciting I know!

3:00

I went in & decided to start baking the boys' dessert requests for tomorrow night! Don't worry, they are both boxed! Lol I am NOT a baker...cooking I LOVE, but baking is not my thing... I will leave that to my sister!! My cousin and my two nieces showed up with gifts for the boys a bit after! It was so nice to see them since we couldn't get together at Christmas!

4:00

the desserts are done & they smell soooo yummy! I don't even like chocolate much (or dessert really), but I outdid myself! HA!! Thank gosh for boxed recipes!! We just hung out a bit before I started making dinner....new recipe!! homemade supremes wraps! 

5:00

I started dinner around 5ish..got everything out to make it & got to work. I made SUPREME WRAPS! They were literally...so good. But, I also can't move! Lol The twins had leftover ham + potato soup for dinner that I made yesterday afternoon to use up some of our leftover ham! They loved it, Arie loved it, so I  would say it was a win! Arie eats EVERYTHING, so he shared some of mine & Matt's wraps... he was a FAN.

6:00

after supper we went into the living room and just chilled out! The boys got in their jammies, I got in mine/washed my face, and joined everyone on the couch to watch Wheel of Fortune at 7:00 (literally, Parker's favorite show) & Matt and I will start a new Netflix series tonight that my bestie Kate told me about once the kids go to bed!! It's going to be a very low-key night! So, with that I am signing off! Tomorrow we go to NYE mass & back home to start our own little party!!!

We hope everyone has a very safe & very happy New Year! xoxo

Arie's First Birthday (Woodland theme)

I can not believe my Arie Michael is O N E !!! What a wonderful year it has been. He was truly an angel from God... I believe that with my whole heart. He is the happiest, cutest little guy & I am so glad he is mine! His daddy & brothers love him equally as much... he is one lucky babe (so are we!).

On his actual birthday, it was mostly just him & I until about 3:00. Matt had to go into work & the twins had school. As soon as we woke up, the twins JUMPED up & screamed (in his face, naturally) HAPPY BIRTHDAY! They gave him all the hugs and sugars they could before they left for school and helped him open up his gifts from us. Arie & I went for breakfast after drop off and just spent the rest of the day playing until we picked the twins up from school. Once Matt got home, we ordered from our favorite hibachi place because Arie loves loves loves their fried rice & noodles... literally, I never saw anything like it! We sang after & ate cake & just relaxed the rest of the night with our little family. It was a great day!

On the weekend we had a party at our house for his birthday filled with family, friends, & food... our three favorites!! We had 40ish people over for brunch around 11:00, and the party lasted well into the night! Arie had so much fun trying to keep up with all of his cousins & friends (after he napped for the first two hours of his party... it's hard being one!).

I decided to do a "woodland" theme for his first birthday. He really isn't into anything particular, so I figured I would base it off the way I am decorating his bedroom. I ordered the cutest little trees, animal figurines, posters, balloons.. and my hubby & his friend made the wooden platters I used all over the island. They turned out SO good. I loved it. All of the food was wonderful... my mom was a huge help in that department... she is the best..I've said that multiple times over my last several posts...but it's true! Everything I learned about hosting, I've learned from her! We had tons of food to choose from...it was fun to make it "brunch"!

MENU:
chicken salad on croissants
French toast bagels/plain bagels 
[plain, salted caramel, or strawberry cream cheese]
my mom's famous pear salad
pasta salad
donuts
cinnamon rolls 
cheese & bacon quiche
breakfast casserole
fruit & dip
charcuterie board
chocolate peanut butter cake
acorn cookies
hot pretzels 
pumpkin bread
creme filled wafer rolls
mimosa bar, coffee, tea, soda, beer, juice, water

As for the decorations, I ordered most off of amazon and a few other places!  Matt made the wooden pedestals & I made the letter A that was on his cake. The twins helped me gather sticks from the yard & I broke them up & hot glued them to cardboard in the shape of an A. It was super fun for them to help with!! The balloons & gold 1 candle were from the Dollar General, and the deer antlers were from Walmart!

For the main table, I cut the paper to fit my island and taped it under so it didn't slide. Then I placed all of the platters around to see where I should lay out the trees/aniamls. Once I had everything in place, I hot glued the trees/animals to the paper so they didn't fall over or get knocked down when people were grabbing their food! Super easy!! I linked all decor below!

wood table cover (this was actually thick wrapping paper!) 

woodland signs

gold, ivory & green brush trees

multi colored brush trees

trees with figurines

round glass display stands

square glass display stands

acrylic 4 tier stand (this was my favorite!)

forest animals

more forest animals

I had so much fun planning and decorating for my boys first!! If you want any of the recipes, message me & I'll get them to you! :) and a huge thank you to everyone who made something, helped, and came to celebrate our boy! He is so loved & we are so grateful to have such wonderful family & friends

xo,

Erin

Chicken + Broccoli Casserole

okay... this was a MAJOR hit with my twins. If the boys like it, it's a total win in my book, and will probably become a staple in my house! Such a good comfort food dish... absolutely perfect for fall!

INGREDIENTS

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast

s+p to taste

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 cup of milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 can cream of chicken

8oz frozen broccoli florets, steamed & drained

1 1/2 cups club or ritz crackers, crushed

1. place chicken in slow cooker & season with s+p to taste. pour a little water or chicken broth into the slow cooker, just to cover the bottom of the pot (not to cover the chicken). Cook on high for 4 hours. Once cooked, shred and place into a large mixing bowl.

2. preheat oven to 350.

2. add salt, pepper, paprika, milk, cheese, cream of chicken to the shredded chicken and mix until combined. 

3. grease a 9x9 casserole dish & place half of the chicken mixture into the dish. 

5. scatter broccoli evenly over chicken mixture

6. sprinkle crackers on top of broccoli

7. add in the remaining chicken mixture to the top

8. bake for 25 minutes & enjoy!

what's for dinner + burrito bowls

another week of meal planning.. done! Nothing makes me happier than planning out dinners, so I don't have to rush around and scramble every night thinking of what to make....just makes my life a little bit easier! My absolute favorite this week that I'll be making is the Southwestern Pizza. It's been one of my favorite "pizzas" of all time... such a fun change instead of a normal pizza dish! 

I hope everyone had a fun weekend!! We spent Friday going to the peds for checkups for the 3 boys. We got lunch after & took our first trip to Target since quarantine started! We came home, ordered take out, & watched movies with the kids. Perfect Friday night! Saturday we woke up & went to visit my nana K. The boys were so excited to see her & she was just as excited to see them. We spent the rest of the afternoon at my parents swimming & I brought leftover chicken bbq for dinner. Sunday was also spent at the pool! We actually stayed there most of the day & had a delicious dinner made by my mom. It was a great weekend altogether! I hope you all have a great week!! 

Baby's First (solid) Foods!

I've had a few moms message me and ask me what table foods I started Arie with, so I figured I would share! I exclusively nursed Arie since he was born. He is just about 10 months (he also has 8 teeth) so he is OVER eating pouches & puffs... he just doesn't prefer them anymore, and would rather have more "solid" foods. I do still nurse him in the morning & before bed around 7:30-8:00...& occasionally during the night if he reaches for me/is fussing. Other than that though, we are almost full force with the solid foods! And he couldn't be happier about it..... Obviously!

Since I started Arie on table foods, we mostly stick to BLW (Baby Led Weaning)...meaning I cut up the food and let him feed himself. We actually started that quite early with him, unlike we did with the twins. I do feed him with a fork/spoon with some things... mostly yogurts, apple sauce, etc.

these are just what we are comfortable with giving him. I hope it gives you some ideas & I hope your little one loves them as much as Arie does! Happy Feeding!!

*IMPORTANT* 

almost all of these foods I either cut up or break up into VERY tiny pieces. Please do not give your baby anything too big, as their airway is extremely small. If in doubt, cut it up more! Never leave them while they are eating! And make sure they get plenty of water between bites. :)

• scrambled eggs
• mac & cheese (we typically use Annie's)
• chicken nuggets
• french toast sticks
• buttermilk pancakes + waffles
• hotdogs (skin off & cut lengthwise into 6 long strips, & cut in the tiniest of pieces)
• arrowroot biscuits (Gerber)
• breakfast sausage (cut lengthwise into 4 long strips & cut into small bites)
• homemade mashed potatoes
• shredded cheese or cheese sticks
• meatballs
• pasta/rice
• little muffins (we get Entenmann's)
• riced veggies
• whole milk yogurt (Gerber)
• strawberries
• hard boiled eggs (no yolk)
• apple sauce pouches 
• sweet potato + broccoli bites (we get Aldi brand)
• veggie straws
• banana cookies (Gerber)
• peanut butter + jelly on wheat bread (I flatten the bread & cut off the edges before assembling) 
• lil crunchies (Gerber) /little munchers (Little Journey-- Aldi)
• baked oat bars-- we love Brekkie Bites by Simply Nature (Aldi)

Zucchini Cakes

There's nothing better than a fresh zucchini in the summer! We have a garden out back & every year our zucchini/squash take off...and this is the recipe I love to make with them (unless we grill them)! My brother Brendan (@Brendan_in_tucson) actually gave this recipe to my mom YEARS ago when I still lived at home & I loved it ever since! If you don't know my brother, he is a GREAT cook. He makes up recipes all the time and they are always sooo good. He's working on a cookbook now, so when it comes out, I'll let you all know!

I usually pair these with parmesan couscous & another veggie, but I didn't realize I didn't have any couscous left, so I decided to make it with fiesta quinoa from ALDI. They have the best frozen veggies/quinoa!! Happy Cooking!! 

INGREDIENTS

3 cups shredded zucchini (squeeze out excess water)

1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs

1 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay

2 eggs

1 onion, finely chopped

salt + pepper

[[honey mustard for dipping]]

 

1. preheat oven to 375

2. mix all ingredients together & form into patties. 

3. place on a greased baking sheet & bake for 20-25 minutes until sides/bottom are golden brown.

4. dip with honey mustard & enjoy!!

Spaghetti + Meatballs

recipe for meatballs adapted from here

what an easy, universal weeknight dinner. I don't make spaghetti & meatballs too often, when I do I usually switch up the recipes from time to time. This one is my most used though! I love the parmesan in the meatballs... so good!! After I bake them in the oven (if we are close to supper time), I'll throw them in a deep sided skillet & pour sauce on them to keep them warm. If I bake them in the morning, I'll just toss them in the crock pot on low with the sauce. Easy peasy. I'm always down to try new meatball recipes... send me your favorites!! 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs (I use panko)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (I use preminced, so 1 teaspoon)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (I use shredded, but grated works too!)
• 3 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley 
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/2 box spaghetti noodles
• 24 oz jar pasta sauce (I use Specially Selected Marinara from ALDI)

1. preheat oven to 400

2. mix beef, onion, bread crumbs, garlic, egg, parmesan, ketchup, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil in a large mixing bowl. Form into 1 inch balls & place on a greased cookie sheet.

3. bake for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

4. cook pasta according to packaged directions. drain.

5. in a large pot or deep sided skillet, pour sauce to warm. add meatballs once cooked through & mix well with sauce.

6. serve with pasta & extra parmesan! enjoy!!

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What's for dinner: week of July 6th

Sharing what's for dinner this week in the Steigerwalt house! The twins baseball season starts tonight, so easy dinners are a must. We typically order out once a week, usually on the weekends if we are home. Most weekends we spend Friday & Saturday night at my moms & eat supper there with my parents, sister & her family. We are expecting yucky weather this weekend & my sister has plans, so were giving my parents a break from all of us (ha!!) If you're interested in any of the other recipes, let me know & I'll post them this week :) 

This veggie & sausage dish has been a favorite of mine for a few years. We actually got it from Home Chef & loved it, so I saved the recipe & I have made it ever since, with a few changes. Hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

EVOO

4 cloves minced garlic (I use preminced, so 2 teaspoons)

1 red onion, diced

8oz grape tomatoes, cut in half

2 zucchini, cut in half moons

2 bell peppers, sliced (I use whatever colors I have in the fridge)

lemon juice 

chicken sausage 18oz, sliced into rounds (I used spinach & feta sausage)

orzo pasta 12oz

shredded parmesan

s+p 

1. bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. add orzo & cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Save 1/2 cup pasta water & drain the rest.

2. in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in sausage & cook until browned. Set aside.

3. heat another drizzle of olive oil in the pan & add onion & zucchini. Cook until softened.

4. add peppers, garlic & tomatoes. Cook until softened. Season with s+p.

5. add orzo & sausage into veggie mixture. add in 1/4 c of parmesan, squeeze in a little of lemon & a splash of the reserved pasta water & mix together.

6. serve with extra parm & enjoy!

xoxo

Erin

Cait's Famous Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are seriously the best. They are 100% our families favorite. If you don't know, my nephew Liam has extreme food allergies (it's so awful). One thing he is very allergic to eggs..so since he was officially diagnosed, my sister has researched a TON of recipes that will suit her little guy....all eggless...and all absolutely delicious. I actually prefer all of the dessert recipes she's made that are without eggs. You'd never even be able to tell the difference (except for the fact they're even tastier)! Make them for yourself...you will not be disappointed. They are super easy to make & will for sure be a hit at any get together (hint: 4th of July!). If you do make them, snap a picture & tag us on IG @caitlinm.thompson & @eksteigerwalt! Hope you love them as much as we do!

(they love helping me bake!!)

(parkers face!! LOL)

Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup of butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons water

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Beat butter with white & brown sugar for 1-2 minutes until creamy.
3. Add in flour & baking soda. Mix.
4. Add water, oil, & vanilla. Mix. (if dry, add more water by the tablespoon & mix with hands. I usually add in 3-4)
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Drop by 1-2 tablespoons (I prefer 2 tablespoons) on a greased cookie sheet or parchment paper.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned.
8. Enjoy!!! (makes about 24)

xoxo, 

Erin

Fourth of July Finds

does anyone else LOVE the fourth of July like I do?! This is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate (besides Christmas, of course). We usually go to my parents house, spend the day lounging by the pool & end with a cookout loaded with all of our favorite summer foods. When our town held fireworks, everyone would come to our house & watch from the street, but since they no longer do, Matt goes all out & buys a bunch for us to do together. He already went out & stocked up on a ton of fireworks for the kids, so after dinner we will head outside & light up the sky. I love watching the kids get excited over it. It's such a fun family holiday!! And you know I love any excuse to wear red, white & blue!! Almost everything I am sharing, I own myself, with the exception of a few things that are no longer in stock, so I found some other options for those :)  some of my must haves:

Link for shorts HERE

these shorts are so cute. they fit true to size (I am wearing a size 4).

Link for top HERE 

I got this shirt a few years ago & its my go to 4th top!! & it's still in stock! (size M)

Link for jacket HERE 

everyone who sees me in this jacket, LOVES it. it's so adorable, especially with white jeans or shorts! (size S)

link for beach towels HERE 

I bought 3 of these towels for the boys! They love all things USA, so I got these to match their American Flag swim suits.

bikini top link HERE

bottoms linked HERE

I actually have the suit below, but it's no longer in stock! anything seersucker, is for me. (size M in top, S on bottom)

sunnies linked HERE

I actually bought these on a whim online. I usually like to try them on in store, but with cover, I haven't gone anywhere, let alone shopping. I am obsessed with these!!

koozies linked HERE

we are huge koozie fans here. anytime I find cute ones (target sucker spot!!) I snag a few. I thought these were cute to have if you are planning a big 4th party for your guests to use/keep! You can even get them personalized... so cute!

link for similar wreath HERE

my mom got me the cutest wreath from Pier 1. They're actually closing down, so I wasn't able to get a direct link to the one I have, but this one is pretty close & so adorable!

link for American flag blanket HERE

if you know me, you know I love blankets & you know I love America. My brother & SIL actually got me this for my birthday & I love it! It's so soft!!! I'll be bringing this along where ever we go at night to light fireworks!

I hope everyone has a happy & safe fourth!!! xo