Brain Dump

1. Last week we made these yummy Butternut Squash Tacos. I love that you don't need a ton of ingredients and they were so good! So I snapped a picture...

Ingredients:

-1 med Butternut Squash, peeled, cubed

-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

-2 teaspoons cumin, more to taste

-1 teaspoon salt, more to taste

-1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground, more to taste

-corn tortillas

-tomatillo salsa

-cilantro (optional)

-sour cream

-black beans

(any other fillers that you like)

Method: Dice the squash to about 1/2" square pieces or smaller. Saute in oil and add seasonings to finish cooking. Adjust the salt to taste depending on the size of squash. Heat up tortillas and enjoy.

2. Back in April, when our local Borders was going out of business, we picked up this bookcase for about $20:

After it sat in our kitchen for a couple months :( we finally followed through with our idea and made this:

We took off the vinyl shelves and added 2 or 3 inch wood ledges (can't remember the measurements) to keep the books in place. Then we painted the whole thing white. This has been SO much more functional for Luke (and he doesn't pull all the books off and throw them around like he did with the traditional bookcase). So if there is a Borders going out of business close to you, think about it. Although I should warn you that it may not be the cheapest way to go. All that wood was expensive!

It was after this project that I decided to be done with projects for a little while. The only space we really have to do things like this is the living/family room and it is SO stressful to be doing it with little kids (okay, 1 little kid) running around, playing with the hammer, etc. So I called it quits. At least until I have a garage or all my kids are in school (wonder which one of those will happen first...).

Have I stuck with this goal? Mostly. That's all I'm going to say about it :).

3. Melatonin.

If you read our blog, you know that we don't get much sleep around here. But lately it has been Luke that is waking up several times a night and is not tired at all. I tried phasing out the nap but that didn't really help and he really has a hard time getting through the day without a nap.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

yes, that is a hard wood floor

After trying a few other suggestions, one friend told me that she gives her kids Melatonin occasionally if they seem really worked up before bed or have been traveling a lot. Andrew gave me the medical okay since it is a natural sleep aid that is water soluble. There is only one problem: Luke won't chew the chewable tablet. We've tried crushing it in food etc., but we still aren't sure if he is actually ingesting it. So the verdict is still out. But I had to throw the idea out there anyway because it really should work (even if just a placebo effect). Find it at Whole Foods, give it to them 1/2 hour before bed.

4. We have been listening to this book on tape:

So far we really like it (almost done)! It is short, to the point, easy to understand, and full of sound advice. I recommend checking it out (I think it is only 3 cd's which is ridiculously doable). We want you all to have adequate retirement funds someday.

5 (last one, I promise). United Art & Education.

I might be really embarrassing myself here but did everyone know about this store but me? It is amazing! I could spend hours perusing all the educational games, toys and books. I've always wondered where all the creative, smart toys were hiding. Here they are (but they aren't really cheap so save up).

That's all I got.