It's been an awesome month here at Architecture of a Mom. I am amazed and truly blessed by all the readers and other bloggers I 'met' this month! And I had a lot of fun sharing some of the things I cooked and created this month!

Here were some of the favorite posts of the month

Cooking:





So...what was your favorite post this month? I'd love to hear yours!

I think I'm not alone in my desire to use zucchini this time of year. I don't have any zucchini in my garden this year (silly squash bugs makes it a losing battle for me--this year it wasn't worth the effort!), but I think we all know a gardener that is begging us to please, please take a zucchini (or 12)! So I went looking for some kind of zucchini side dish that would be consumed by my somewhat picky husband and 4 year old.

I found all kinds of options online via pinterest, but the idea of making some kind of baked dumpling really appealed to me--I think the texture is what is off-putting for many, and this option masks the sometimes mush texture of any summer squash. I found 2 recipes in particular that appealed to me from The Way to His Heart and The Naptime Chef. Both of these bloggers used some kind of cheese and breadcrumbs and then cooked the bites in a mini muffin pan. I switched up my recipe a bit based off theirs to adapt to the type of cheese I had on hand and the hardware I have (no mini muffin pan). I also added some garlic to give the flavor some more strength. Unfortunately, although these were ok, I don't think I went far enough adding strong flavor (my husband and I like a little more spice). Next time I make this, I think I'll add more garlic--and maybe use more cheese--or even pepper jack cheese.

But this is a great dish, especially for children (and adults) who like a mild tasting side.

In the next couple of weeks, it's looking like it's going to be pretty crazy at work for me. It's the perfect time to pull out quick and easy meals...like breakfast for dinner and remaking leftovers!! But then again, during the week, that's pretty much all I do--quick and easy!

The good news is that we're looking at some birthday celebrations this weekend--it's always great to have some

Monday: Pork Quesadillas using left over pork chops and corn and salad
Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner (per special request from my husband), Pears

Wednesday: Mini Meatloaves, Mashed Potatoes

Thursday: Brown Sugar Chicken (I'm hoping to share this recipe with you soon!), Green Beans, Pears, Salad
Friday: Birthday Dinner for a friend
Saturday: Birthday Lunch for a niece, so dinner will probably be light--like grilled cheese
Sunday: Hamburgers on the Grill

I don't usually post about works in progress. I also don't post about projects in Friday Fun. However, the kids haven't done anything crazy that I can write about, and it's been pretty busy at work. 

So random question...Do you like my banner? It started out as the peek a hoo banner at the Cutest Blog on the Block If you want to check them out, click on one of the links above, or on the link at the sidebar. Keep in mind that banners don't link back automatically to their site like their banners do...so if you use a banner from their site, be sure to create some kind of link to give credit where its due!!

Anyway I love the banner, but I've never really been happy with how my banner doesn't really connect to architecture, or motherhood, or even my themes of cooking, creativity and frugality.

Anyway, with an architecture degree I actually have some artistic background, so I started doing some sketches. I started with some architectural elements. I really liked my sketch of a Corinthian column, but I still needed some mommy factor...enter some little birdies....

A few weeks ago, I was at one of the local malls and I picked up some Pottery Barn catalogs. I was excited when I got to the Pottery Barn Kids catalog and saw lots and lots of butterfly imagery--and some I knew I could knock-off for Lil Bit's on-going room project. This was the image that caught my eye (the classic paisley room p84 in the PB Kids Catalog if you have the print version)--I loved the artwork, although it looks like PB doesn't actually sell some of the items, I really wanted the button butterfly art. This is what I came up with for the knock-off:


Now, if you recall, we've got a butterfly/fairy theme going on, with the following artwork already in there:

The butterfly panel art:



And the origami butterfly art:

So you know that this was going to go right along with the theme! And it was super easy!

You will need a canvas covered board, paint, scrapbook paper, a large paint sample or more paper in a contrasting color, decoupage medium, craft glue, and buttons.

I took a canvas covered board that I had on hand. I painted it with the seemingly everlasting sample of Weathered Glass from Valspar.


I then rescued my piece of art from a young art thief.


She's inexperienced, but very determined, I tell you!

Then I took a piece of scrapbook paper and trimmed it down to be the same proportions as the canvas board. I decoupaged the paper in the center of the board.



Then I took a 8x10 paint sample from Sherwin Williams that was part of the paint selection process in Lil Bit's room. (Did you know that paint swatches came that big? It's awesome for helping visualize without actually painting a swatch). I centered the paint sample in the scrapbook paper and decoupaged that down too. I then did a layer of decoupage medium over the whole thing. (FYI those paint swatches want to curl, so you may be better off using a contrasting scrapbooking paper).

Then, having laid out a pretty butterfly with some buttons, I carefully transferred the pattern to the layout I was creating, and then glued down the butterfly with craft glue. That's it! I'm still waiting for it to be completely dry, but then we'll probably find a frame, and then up it goes in Lil Bit's room!

I'll probably frame this piece of art, but what a simple way to knock off some Pottery Barn catalog art!

My favorite candy bars are Mounds and Almond Joy. I could almost eat them for breakfast....almost. But I try to be healthy for breakfast--and it has to be quick. I have found that most store bought cereals are too sweet for me. But there's still  that craving for chocolate-coconutty (that's a word because I say so!) goodness of those candy bars. So I have developed this version of granola--based on those super yummy candy bars!

If you want something a little on the lighter side--you know, even healthier for breakfast, you can go lighter on the sweetener or the oil.



Mounds (or Almond Joy!) Granola

Preheat oven to 350

Combine the following dry ingredients until you have 8 cups:

6 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup coconut
1/4-1/2 cup each of any of the following based on your preference/dietary concerns: wheat germ, any type of flour (soy, rice, whole wheat), cornmeal, any type of nut, any type of seed)

add 2 heaping tablespoons of baking cocoa

Mix the following wet ingredients separately:
3/4 cup vegetable oil (keep the variety neutral/mild tasting)
3/4 cup sweetener (honey, corn syrup, or brown sugar)

Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients.



Bake for 30-40 minutes in a non-stick 9x13 cake pan, stirring every 10-15 minutes. You know it's done when the oats are golden brown. Allow to cool.



Serve with milk or yogurt. Enjoy some chocolate-coconutty goodness for breakfast--and it's super filling and you know exactly what's in it, unlike those fruit loops....

It's time for another week of menus. Once again, it's time for more produce. We're looking forward to that, since last time while we were on vacation they had to cancel the delivery from lack of interest. Boo for that! But we are also getting some produce from the garden--mostly tomatoes--so on mini meatloaves on Friday we'll have some fresh tomato jam. I'm hoping to share that recipe with you soon!

Monday: Crockpot French Dip Subs from What's Cooking in the Burbs, fresh fruit, salad
Tuesday: Leftover Brown Sugar Chicken on salad, fresh fruit
Wednesday: Grilled Hamburgers, Grilled Corn
Thursday: Asian Sausage

Friday: Mini Meatloaves, veggies, bread


Saturday: Dinner at a friends house. We'e bringing Deviled Eggs and Pina Colada Cake




Sunday: Leftovers or dinner with family

So, what do you have cooking this week?

Over the past few months, I have been explaining myself to my eldest more and more.

No, not making excuses. Really. I promise.

Rather, I want her to understand the WHY behind discipline.

After all, Lil Bit is 4. Pardon me--I mean she is 4 and a half, as she will tell you if you ask. I can simply discipline my 15 month twins--all they need to know is "No! Don't hit. Don't Bite. Simple commands are best, simply because that's where their comprehension level is. But at 4--well, she wants to know why.

At first, the simple explanation was, "Because mommy and daddy don't want you to hurt [fill in the blank]."

But last week, while we were on vacation, she came to me in tears. Daddy had reprimanded her about stealing his drink (without asking)--and drinking it all.So I thought it was time to go a step further in the explanations.

Me: "Do you understand why Daddy doesn't want you to take his drink?"

Lil Bit: "No!"

Me: "Because Mommy and Daddy want you to learn to do things that God tells us to do. He tells us to do two things. Do you know what God wants us to do?"

Lil Bit: [A thoughtful silence] "What does God want us to do?"

Me: "God tells us to do two things: Love God, and love each other. When Mommy and Daddy tell you not to do something, it is usually because if you do it, you aren't loving somebody."

Lil Bit: "Oh."

Me: "So tell me, who were you not loving just now?"

Lil Bit: "Daddy?"

Me: "That's right! And what do you think you should do about it?"

Lil Bit: "Say I'm sorry." The tears were gone, she understood, and off she ran to apologize to her daddy.

And now, for the last week or so, when Lil Bit isn't doing what she should, "I ask her, who are you not loving?" And that usually prompts a turnaround and immediate apology. What a difference the understanding of why makes! The apology doesn't mean that there aren't consequences, but she is learning!

Of course, as I teach my child, I also have to examine my heart. Who am I not loving? It's a daily question that I should ask myself.

And if you're curious where I got what I told Lil Bit, here is the reference:

Are you ready for a super easy tutorial?

I promise, only basic sewing tools (and knowledge!) was used for this project.

Do you, or someone you know, have a stuffed animal that needs a little something extra? A little bling? Like this little guy...

What? You don't have a hot pink tiger? Don't worry, any stuffed animal will do.

Okay, got the animal in question? Here are the other tools you will need:

Needle
Satin Ribbon with some sort of pattern/decoration in it
Thread that coordinates with the decoration
A snap--you can buy this in any sewing notion section of a craft store. I even think that walmart has them
A lighter


...and then the top of the collar looks like this when done! You can't even see the stitches. If you don't have a  nice little pattern like this, you can cover the back side of the stitches with a button.


Now comes the easy part. Wrap the ribbon back around the neck of the stuffed animal--not too tightly, now! Line up where the other part of the snap needs to go, and sew it on. No need to be too neat with the back side of this one, since no one will see it.



Kudos to Lil Bit who gave me the idea for this project when she asked if "Tiggie" could have a necklace!