Pittsburgh has been getting some warmer weather and sunshine lately! So much so that we mowed our lawn twice this week and it was warm enough for Mavis and I to take a little adventure to a creek near our house.
This was her first experience with a body of water and she was definitely curious, but not super into it. Lola enjoys water, so I wish she had been with us to show Mavis how fun it is, but I’m not confident taking two dogs by the water with an almost 20 week baby bump, lol.
The warmer weather has me dreaming of gardening, too. Jimmy and I were back and forth on starting a garden this year since our baby is due in September and we have done like zero things to prepare for his or her arrival, but we figured we’ll just make the garden smaller this year and if it gets neglected, then oh well. We love gardening too much to give it up 🙂
I’ve been having fun in the kitchen lately! I think my favorite way to cook and bake is to see what we have on hand and then improvise and create meals or treats out of those items.
I realized we had some of the classic tabbouleh ingredients on had yesterday, so I improvised off of this recipe and our little side dish turned out wonderfully!
I had also bought a container of cocoa powder and was in the mood for cookies, so I made these chocolate drop cookies and highly recommend the recipe. It’s simple and they definitely hit the spot.
Other ways I’ve been creative in the kitchen lately include whipping up my favorite homemade baked beans and adding some extra spices, making a strawberries and cream oatmeal creation, and cooking cereal bars with marshmallow fluff, vanilla Chex, and Mr. Goodbars.
Alright, I better get going. I’m having my mother-in-law, mom, and sister over this evening and need to clean up our house a bit! I got the kitchen all cleaned from the aforementioned cooking and baking, but the rest has been a bit neglected 😉
Living My Full Life 
Those cookies look delicious!! I’ve been in such a sweets mood recently that I may have to bake those tomorrow.. Have a great night with your family 🙂
Thank you, Maureen! They are great! They almost taste like brownies, but mixed with a cookie… if that makes sense! I hope you got a chance to make ’em. They’re delish 🙂
That salad looks wonderful and have a fun girls’ night!
Thank you, P! It was so good and the girls’ night was a success!
I think that’s why people enjoy cooking/baking…just using what’s on hand and figuring out what to come up with! I, on the other hand, stress out about what’s missing and do not enjoy the process at all haha
Thank you for your comment, Kylie!! I hope all is well with you!
So funny you mention the stress of getting creative in the kitchen. My sister is just like that! She just told me the other day that she almost didn’t make a meatball recipe because it called for mozzarella cheese and she only had parmesan or something like that! She’s a big time meal planner, whereas I like to wing it. To each their own, I suppose! 🙂
I love how creative you are in the kitchen! So many fun things to make. Since you like to cook, I highly recommend making freezer meals (both breakfasts and dinners) for after Baby Z arrives. We had people bringing meals to us for the first six weeks and then I had a month’s worth of freezer meals prepped ahead. So we didn’t even have to think about meals until we were well established as new parents. That was such a blessing for us! If I lived closer I would totally help stock your freezer! 😉
That’s such a smart idea! I will definitely have to get creative in the kitchen and make a bunch of freezer meals before baby arrives! I know it will be so nice to free up brain space to focus on baby instead of cooking in those first few weeks! And how amazing that you guys had people bringing you meals for six weeks! You have some awesome people in your lives supporting your sweet family! I wish we lived closer, too! I’d help you bake Little Bit’s cake/cupcakes in July in exchange for some freezer meals 😉