Strolling around

Guess what my baby was doing while I was working and her dad was studying?

You think it's funny???

That's right. Strolling around downtown Lisbon with a fabulous babysitter and friend (see previous post). And by fabulous I mean REALLY FABULOUS. As in sings at our wedding and baby's baptism out of the goodness of her heart and then takes my baby sightseeing out of the same goodness.

Beats being locked into one room all day in daycare... right baby?  Oh the life.

 

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

Generosity and community

Is it a lion or a cheetah cub being observed in its natural habitat?

"I was just sitting here, playing with my elephant and eating some grass..."

Is this a National Geographic show about cute creatures in grassy areas?

"You again!"

No, it's Addie, the cutest baby that ever was, having fun with her godmother at the park.

 

Her godmother was one of seven people... SEVEN... that signed up on a Doodle I made to ask who could help us take care of her for a few hours in the afternoon while I teach an English class and my hubby is studying for a big fancy shnancy exam. I randomly sent the Doodle to our friends and SEVEN people overwhelmed me with their generosity and enthusiasm at wanting to help and also wanting to spend time with Addie. I really wasn't expecting people to be so nice. Just when you swear off humans and say no one is really there for you... someone does a random act of generosity. In this case seven people. And in a time of extreme stress with this fancy shnancy exam, my starting to work again (even if it is only one class) and Addie refusing to eat (she will only breastfeed...!)... it is comforting to feel so loved at the same time.

 

I have no way of repaying these people. I just pick her up and rush home because she's usually cranky and tired at that time. This is going to prove you can form community... even in a big city like Lisbon. And that people are generally good-hearted, sometimes you just need to ask for help. And God is good, and generally shows signs of it in tough times.

 

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

Friday

A sleeping baby (see babycam below!), Pizzahut, a fort made out of sheets and a movie (that takes two hours to find on your computer, but whatev)... these are the makings of a wonderful Friday night.

 

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

Full-time lunch

Taking care of a house (cooking, cleaning, organizing, "nesting", entertaining) could be a full-time job. Motherhood (feeding, caring, educating, walk-taking) could be a full-time job. Having a marriage, a social life, a volunteer activity or two could be a full-time job.

 

And then you're supposed to put a paid, "actual" job on top of that? Or before that? Or after that?

 

It all comes down to what's really important. The reason I love mormon mommy blogs is that they are so unapologetic about how motherhood is the ultimate and only job, the others come after. (see Natalie Jean's about page question, "do you have a job?"...)The reason I don't like certain homeschooling/work-from-home blogs is that they are very "oh no, I get a paycheck and I work from home on this blog or whatnot... plus I also take care of my kids and am their full-time teacher!" I have a hard time understanding the priorities here.

 

These are REALLY tough decisions.

 

My full-time lunch...

 

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

Easy Pizza-Making

Wheen the SUN HITS YOUR EYE like a big PIZZA PIE...

 

I don't know why people think homemade pizza is time-consuming. I like it because there is very little clean-up. Just the bowl you make the dough in and the cutting board. No pots and pans because you put in directly on wax paper in the oven.

 

Here are my easy peasy steps to homemade pizza:

 

 

 

Step one: the dough

Mix 4 cups flour (half and half whole wheat and white, or whatever you'd like), 2 cups baking powder and 2 tbsp salt in a large bowl. Add 8 tbsp of chilled butter and blend it in with your hands. Add 1 cup milk, blend it into the dough, and GRADUALLY add in another cup (you may not need to use the whole cup), kneading all the while, until the dough is soft but not sticky.

Divide it in half. Roll out two circles and pinch over the ends to form a crust.

 

 

 

Step two: the sauce

Use a 200 ml carton of tomato paste and add in a little salt and pepper, 2-3 tblsp honey and pinches of dried herbs (oregano, basil and parsley).

 

 

Step three: toppings

Spread the tomato sauce on the pizza base and add 200g of shredded cheese. I use the cheapest mozzarella.

Now, go creative on your toppings. The grocery store I shop at, Lidl (or heaven as I like to call it), sells these adorable packages of three bell peppers, red, green and yellow. So my new favorite pizza topping includes these, mini fresh mozzarella balls and little mounds of canned pesto (also sold at my heavenly grocery stores). I also love adding arugula on top when they come out of the oven (not pictured).

Then, top the toppings ;) with another 100-200g of shredded cheese to make sure they stay put.

 

 

 

Step four: bake

Bake them at a high temperature, like 200ºC. I have a pizza stone that I like to slide the pizzas onto with wax paper. They usually take about 15 min each. You know when the cheese is melted and starting to get golden on top and when the crust is golden underneath. Enjoy!!!

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

Youth ministry

We just finished a three-year diocesan training course for youth ministers (see fancy diplomas below... we're in the top left corner... except for our baby of course..she's the center of attention as always). I didn't learn much, except for that being in youth ministry is hard, working with others as part of the Church is hard, but both are incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. So maybe that was learning something.

So as not to put all this magnificent training to waste... :/ ... we've accepted our parish priest's request to lead the youth group again. It started up this week and up until the last minute I was having a mental breakdown and trying to quit, thinking what did we get ourselves into. But then that rewarding/fulfilling thing happened again and it all came together (REALLY last minute) and the meeting turned out alright. I have a feeling this will be an INTENSE year.

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

The best, easiest and healthiest salad dressing ever

I have come to terms about not having ranch dressing in Portugal. I have since become addicted to another really easy dressing that makes any salad better and makes you really sad when there is no more salad. THAT is the sign of a good dressing. Plus, it's really easy because there is no chopping involved!

*Based on IGE's Black and Blue Salad

 

 

 

Step one:

Put 1-2 cups of blackberries or blueberries in the blender. Add 4 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, salt and pepper.

 

Step two:

Blend and ENJOY!

 

 

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

Motherhood is awful

It's ripping me apart. I now see why it's so difficult to have children. Not the actually having children part. Pregnancy was exciting, (okay childbirth was awful), watching the baby grow is thrilling and taking care of her is wonderful. She's adorable and makes our lives a million bajillion times better.

 

It's the not-wanting-to-leave-her-ever and wanting-to-build-my-life-around-her but not being able to and that not being good for me and finding the right balance that's killing me. This terrible, do I work? do I do this? do I do that? No one seems to understand that here in Portugal!

 

When I say it's awful I mean sanctifying/makes you a better person and all that. The baby is quite sweet, just to clarify. I just happen to be in the most heart-wrenching, confusing and IMPORTANT decision-making process of my life.

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

Jaaaaazz

This was our date night two weeks ago. Unfortunately the baby crashed it. It's hard to find babysitters... I guess I should ask more often but it just seems like so much work.

 

Last week we went on a dancing date sans baby and that was fabulous. This week with baby. Next week without. Date nights are hard to put energy into, but it's definitely well-spent. I look forward to them all week.

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

Hiking trails and backyards

There is this place in Lisbon that my husband (at the time fiancee) and I happened to stumble upon a few years ago. It is a little neighborhood in the middle of Lisbon's forest. It is my DREAM to live there. Unfortunately houses are not for sale or rent. And that little neighborhood is social housing and belongs to the state. Bummer.

 

So we continue to live in our overpriced 6th-storey apartment that overlooks a highway and I sometimes go to the other place to hike the wonderful hiking trails. Can you imagine having this as your backyard?

Unfortunately, God doesn't seem to be answering prayers the way I WANT Him to. (Imagine that?) Yesterday I heard a little video of Scott Hahn saying, do you pray to change God's mind? I confess, I do. What a struggle.

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest

DIY No-Sew Diaper Changing Pad Cover

We have been spending a lot of money on pretty things for the baby. So I tried making my own DIY changing pad cover with fabric from Ikea and guess what... it worked! And everyone compliments it when they come over. Plus, I don't know how to sew... not even a button... so this is super easy.

 

Step 1:

Cut your fabric in a 80x120 cm rectangle. Then cut about 15x15 cm boxes of  each corner.

Step 2:
Bind the ends of the square together using the strips you iron on and glue fabric together with.
Place on edge...

Fold over...

(This is what I used)

Iron back and forth and voilá...

Repeat with all corners...

 

Step 3:

Bind all four sides down. Fold over a side and place the fabric tape along the edge, then iron back and forth again. Make sure to leave enough space to run elastic through next.

Step 4:
Using any type of elastic string you have (I just had this one), tie it firmly to the edge of a pin and then thread it through the entire edge of the cover.

That's it! Look how wonderfully it blends in with my couch...

And I made another one to switch with when I wash them.

Ah. Much better...

...Follow this blog on Facebook, Bloglovin', Feedly and on Pinterest