Fave Friday- Pint Sized Table and Chairs

In a world full of adult-sized things, it's nice to offer your little one a sitting place to call their own. And just because it's kids furniture, doesn't mean it has to clash with the rest of your decor. I adore this hand-crafted table and chairs set by artist Jesse Dirk as featured on Ohdeedoh.com . It's the prefect balance of form and function at an incredible price. Check out her Etsy listing for more info. 

Fave Friday-Super Cool Growth Charts

I've wanted a growth chart for my son's room for a long time. I should have been tracking his height since he was able to stand, but in all of my new mommy craziness, this was something I let slip by. Bad mama! It wasn't that I wasn't searching for a growth chart since my boy began walking, I was! But I gotta say, I was shocked at how expensive some of them were. To be honest, I wasn't too crazy about most of the designs either, so I kept putting it off. Now that my little boy is 19 months old and super curious about everything, I figure keeping track of his height would be a fun activity. It's also a super way to get the kiddies to eat their veggies. Remember the old "eat your broccoli so you can grow up to be big and strong" spiel your parents gave you? Well, what a fun way to show your child exactly how much they are growing each month.

On my latest internet search for the perfect growth chart, I was lucky to come across the super cool Freckle Box. They specialize in adorable personalized products and had the coolest designs for Personalized Growth Charts I've seen, plus the best prices. I was thrilled to find a guitar-themed growth chart for my music obsessed babe. While you're at it, check out there other awesome personalized gifts. I can't wait to order the Coloring Books-so cute!

NOTE: The items featured in Fave Friday are things that I choose and love. If it's not a product or service that I believe in, you won't see it here. 

Fave Friday & Recipe for Slow-Cooked Carnitas Tacos

My family is lucky to be surrounded by some incredible Latin chefs whose amazing creations are always influencing us. And even though I'm Italian, I cook more Spanish and Mexican food than anything else. In fact, my husbands favorite recipe is my Pernil. It may seem like crazy-talk, but it's true! I once roasted five of them (they take 6 hours each) for his 30th birthday bash. Can you say true love?

This week my Fave Friday goes to my good friend, Daisy Martinez. Her new book, Daisy: Morning, Noon and Night recently hit the stores and it's a must have! Daisy great passion for food and family really shows in this awesome new book. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to cook but doesn't have all day to do it. In true Daisy style, the recipes are easy to make and not at all time consuming. Daisy is someone who loves to feed people. She's a mama to four amazing kids, so she really understands the pressures and time constraints of cooking for the family. Her recipes will help you feed your family but still be able to spend the bulk of your time enjoying their company. Made with love from the inside out, THIS BOOK ROCKS!

Slow Cooked Carnitas Tacos

Makes at boat load of tacos (at least enough for 8 people)

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon Adobo

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup water

2 large bay leaves

5-6 pound bone-in pork shoulder, trimmed of most (not all) of it's skin and fat

To assemble tacos, you will need:

1 package of corn tortillas (these are also super simple to make on your own & the flavor can't be beat)

1 whole avocado, diced (or some guacamole)

1 cup shredded red cabbage

hot sauce- our fave is El Yucateco's Green Habanero Sauce

Note:

Corn tortillas are very stiff right out of the package. I prefer to heat them directly over my gas range. For optimal deliciousness and step by step directions, read rock star Chef Rick Bayless' tips for heating tortillas

1)- Place salt, adobo, black pepper, brown sugar, oregano, chipotle chili, vinegar, water and bay leaves in the pot of a large slow cooker. Whisk until combined. Place pork into the pot and cover.

2)- Cook on low setting for 7-8 hours. Remove pork from cooker and shred with two forks. Serve and enjoy!

Fave Friday- Cooking with Kids- The Silver Spoon for Children

A few years go we were given The Silver Spoon cookbook as a gift from close friends. It's considered "Italy's Culinary Bible" and it's a classic. So you can imagine how excited I was to receive The Silver Spoon for Children as a gift for our son from the very same friends! Although our son is only 18 months old, he loves playing around at my feet with wooden spoons, dried pasta and pots while I'm preparing dinner. He shouts "cook! cook!" whenever we head towards the kitchen. For such a young baby, he already shows interest in cooking. How could he not when he's been parked in the kitchen for most of his life watching mama? LOL

Teaching our children to cook is one of the most valuable things we can do as parents. Many lessons can be learned in the kitchen that go beyond just measuring and weighing. Learning to cook gives kids the inside scoop on nutrition and healthy eating. And kids are more likely to eat something that they helped to prepare, which is an added bonus during those picky eating phases. Cooking as a family also promotes family bonding, cultural enrichment and helps to boost a child's self esteem. I could go on and on. So why not give it a try with a fun cookbook like this?

This book has a fun balance of illustrations and photographs. It's artsy but still makes a great first cookbook for your budding chef. Pair this book with the adult version and you have a great combo gift for your favorite foodies.



For other great kids cookbooks, check out this awesome list at Scholastic.com.


Some of our favorites include:


Cooking on a Stick: Campfire Recipes for Kids by Linda White
Who doesn't love cooking on stick?

Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook combing story telling with simple and fun recipes.

Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook by Georgeanne Brennan
Simple, silly and just plain 'ol fun!

The Healthy Body Cookbook: by Joan D'Amico
this book is great for your little scientist. It shows you how

Yum-o! The Family Cookbook- by Rachael Ray

Kids Around the World Cook!: by Arlette N. Braman
Travel around the world without leaving your kitchen. LOVE THAT! Step-by-step recipes and interesting cultural information on different countries.

Kids Cook 1-2-3 by Rozanne Gold
Recipes with only 3 ingredients each! How simple is that?

**And last but NOT least, a recent discovery of ours thanks to Chowmama Stacie is this awesome book by Tamra Davis of www.tamradaviscookingshow.com. Simple, delcious, easy recipes for a busy family.

Make Me Something Good To Eat- Tamra Davis







NOTE: The items featured in Fave Friday are things that I choose. None of these items were sent to me in exchange for editorial coverage.

Fave Friday Week 2

Photo: The Vintage Pearl

I'm at that age where all of my friends are having babies. In fact, it's happening so fast I hardly keep up with all of the gift giving. I love shopping and I am always on the lookout for something thoughtful, fun and unique. Still, I don't have a ton of money to spend and I want the gifts I give to be useful and from the heart.

I came across The Vintage Pearl thanks to the amazing moms at Cool Mom Picks. They featured one of TVP's initial necklaces's and a rockin' coupon to go along with it!! Too good to pass up, I immediately ordered a few of them as Christmas gifts for some mamas I know. And of course, I purchased one for myself that I still have not taken off. It's super comfy to wear and even after wearing it in the shower, it remains untarnished. WAHOO!

Recently, I found myself trolling for a gift for a friend who is ready to pop and I came across another Vintage Pearl gem, these adorable engraved keepsake spoons. What I love most about them is their nostalgic, vintage kinda feel. We use metal baby spoons in our house (ones my husband used when he was a baby-awww), so I was super psyched to see these. Sterling silver spoons were a popular gift back in the day but thank goodness these are stainless cause this mama ain't polishing! Great twist on an old classic. Practical yet perfectly adorable. Go get yours now!

Fave Friday

Fave Friday is a new little feature I am excited to add to my blog! My hope is that it will offer another element of service to everyone who follows. Fave Friday will be open to anything and everything from products to services, so please feel free to Email, Tweet or Facebook me anything cool you've come across that you think I should check out. I love getting tips from other parents!!




My Fave Friday this week goes to (drum roll please....) the FIRST EVER Edible Schoolyard on the East Coast, even cooler-the first ESY to operate in all four seasons!! And get this, it's in my little out of the way corner of Brooklyn, NY. In fact, its being built for my Alma mater P.S. 216- The Arturo Toscanini School. This school rocks for so many reasons and I was extremely psyched to hear that Alice Waters' amazing program thinks so too! I am still friends with many of my former teachers (over 15 years later!) and recently spent some time with them and the awesome Principal Kaplinsky. This couldn't be happening to a better bunch.I hope that this is just the beginning and that many, many more ESY programs are brought to the east coast. WAY TO GO ALICE!

If you haven't already heard of the Edible Schoolyard, here is a little excerpt regarding the mission from their site:


"The mission of the Edible Schoolyard is to create and sustain an organic garden and landscape that is wholly integrated into the school’s curriculum, culture, and food program.

ESY involves students in all aspects of farming the garden and preparing, serving, and eating food as a means of awakening their senses and encouraging awareness and appreciation of the transformative values of nourishment, community, and stewardship of the land."

Please visit the ESYNY site to see the awesome plans and find out how to volunteer or donate if you can! Even if you don't live in a state that currently has an ESY program, check out their amazing resources (recipes and lessons plans!) that can help you incorporate some of the program into your everyday life or classroom.


**Don't forget to check out the Publication section of the ESY site, where you can purchase any or all of their amazing books. A personal fave of mine is What You Need To Know About School Lunch . It makes a perfect (and unique) gift for a foodie parent of school aged kids.