Menu Monday!

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // July 14, 2014 // 10 Comments

Happy Monday! We had a fabulous, but tiring weekend. Hope yours was a great one as well!

This is going to be a shortened menu this week. I’m leaving out of town on Wednesday, so I’ll just be jotting down a few things I’m making ahead for my husband, so he doesn’t starve 🙂 It’s a lot of Mexican items…. just realized. But it’s his favorite genre. He’ll balance it out by going out to eat, I’m sure.

If this is your first time visiting for Menu Monday, then welcome! This is where I share my weekly dinner menu, along with recipes. We are a vegetarian family, so if you are also meatless, or looking for ideas for a Meatless Monday, then you’re at the right place! For more information on how I menu plan, look at this.

Monday:
Tacos

Tuesday:
Our 7 Year wedding anniversary. So we’re headed out to eat!

Make Ahead Items:
Black Bean & Butternut Squash Enchiladas
(From this blog) – never got around to making them this week

Breakfast Pinwheels

Frozen Pizzas

Extra Taco Mix

Large pot of black beans and rice

Need ideas for dinner? Follow my Pinterest board – it’s where I save all of my dinner ideas!

http://www.pinterest.com/ktcupoftea/good-eats-dinner/

Hey Hey! It’s Friday!

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // July 11, 2014 // No Comments

TGIF! I hope you had a FAB week!

Here’s what I was up to the last few days:

1. Over the 4th weekend, we decided to go for a hike at a mountain. BIG mistake. We were so pooped by the time it was over, thanks to the super hot weather, and the fact that we were climbing…. a mountain. We had to get burritos because of it.

2. I’ve been busy prepping food to feed a small army. It’s meals for the husband when I travel up to Michigan for my sister’s wedding next week. (Speaking of wedding, did you see my last minute post this week on fun bridal shower gift ideas?) He’ll be home by himself for a week before he joins us up north. He’ll probably eat out a few days, but he needs some real food. Stay tuned for a future Menu Monday where I talk about my favorite make ahead meals.

3. Today is Elizabeth’s 9 month birthday!!! I can’t believe she’s at the 9 month mark already. If you didn’t read Wednesday’s update post, do! Here’s a picture preview – a collage of Elizabeth at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months!

4. We had our favorite dinner on Monday – Kale, Black Bean and Avocado Burrito Bowls. So yummy! And the leftovers last forever. AND it’s baby friendly! Win-Win-Win!

5. As you read, we are currently visiting family in Virginia Beach! I love visiting my in-laws!

Let me know what you’ve been up to in the comments below! Have a great weekend!

Linking up with:

30 Outfits 30 Days Challenge | Day 19-24 Recap

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // July 10, 2014 // 9 Comments

It’s hard to believe another 6 days are done for the 30 Outfits in 30 Days Challenge! Just one more set left. If you’re not sure what’s up, you can read more here. But, long story short: I chose 30 items from my closet, and challenged myself to make 30 unique outfits for the next 30 days!

FYI – for those that didn’t catch it on Instagram this week, my previous pink sandals (which I bought to replace the original, rough looking pink sandals) broke! So I had to go to Target to try to return/exchange them. Unfortunately, they only had one white pair in the store, so I decided that, instead of driving all over town looking for the exact PINK ones, I’d just get the white ones. Sigh…. Looks like they’re almost sold out online too… oh well.

I had 3 “New to Me” outfits this week – Day 2, 3 and 6. I’ve never worn those combos before, and I’m pleased with how it turned out! That’s what this challenge is for – getting out of the same ol’ outfit ruts and trying some new ideas.

Here are my thoughts from this week’s outfits.

Most Worn Item | My striped wedges from Target! 4 of the 6 outfits have them. They are so comfortable.

Favorite Outfit | This is a toughy… I really like Day 2, 3 & 5. But my MOST favorite is Day 2. I loved the pink/pink combo.

Least Favorite Outfit | Like last week, I liked them all. But Day 4 was kind of boring. But it was practical!! I was doing housework all day. No need for wedges and a statement necklace 🙂

This Week’s Surprise | I learned that I only like shirts tucked in when I have something to wear over it – i.e. a sweater or jacket. I just feel better when I can throw on a jacket.

Hardest Thing About This Week | There are a few pieces that I haven’t used much these last few weeks, and I need to make sure I use them!! I meant to do it this week, but the outfit ideas slip out of my brain before I have a chance to execute them.

Below are each day’s outfits, along with links for each item OR a similar item. And we had one appearance from Mr. Power Outlet 🙂

Outfits: From L to R, Top Row

1. Dress (Old); Necklace (Similar); Wedges
2. Top; Sweater (Similar); Skirt; Wedges
3. Shirt (Similar); Skirt; Wedges
4. Shirt (Similar); Shorts; Sandals
5. Shirt (Similar); Jeans; Wedges; Necklace (Similar)
6. Polo; Shorts; Necklace (Similar); Sandals

Stay tuned next Thursday for the final 6 outfits!!! Crazy!

Linked Up at:

Elizabeth’s 9 Month Update!

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // July 9, 2014 // 11 Comments

Elizabeth is 9 months (well technically on Friday… but who cares)! That’s a milestone 🙂 For kicks, here is the little Bean at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months!

Isn’t that a hoot??? She’s changed so much! Anywho, here’s what she’s been up to for the last month!

Height/Weight | She was at the doctor a few weeks ago because she was sick, but they didn’t measure her! But her weight was 16.2 lbs. She’s following her little growth curve perfectly!

Routine | Elizabeth is starting to SLIGHTLY change her routine.

7:00am – Wake up and bottle.
7:30am – Play time!
8:00am – Breakfast time – usually oatmeal and applesauce or a yogurt with fruit.
8:30am – If it’s Monday, Wednesday or Friday, we do a bath. Leaning back to rinse her head is still “scary”…. when does that end?
9:00am – Down for first nap of the day, and usually finishes off whatever was left in her bottle.
10:00am – Wake up, and then bottle.
10:30am – Play time! Or errands.
11:30am – Lunch time – I’ll eat with her, so sometimes it’s leftovers from dinner, or I make some eggs!
12:30pm – Down for the afternoon nap, and finishes whatever was left in her bottle.
2:30-3:00pm – Wake up and bottle.
3:30pm – Small snack – usually something pre-done (like puffs, or teething biscuit)
4:00pm – She plays while I start dinner.
5:00pm – Husband’s usually home by now, and we all three sit down for dinner.
6:00pm – Get ready for bed! She changes into jammies, and gets her final bottle.
6:30pm – Lights out and asleep!

Sleeping | Still sleeping amazing *knock on wood* with a full 12 hours at night, plus two naps. Her morning nap is getting shorter, and only lasts between 1-1.5 hours. But her afternoon nap is longer.

Eating | She’s started pushing away her bottle after drinking 4 oz. That’s why we’ve had to start her on 3 square meals a day. She’ll usually drink another 2 oz., though, before her nap. Her favorite foods right now are avocado, yogurt, black beans, corn, peaches and pasta.

Sizes | HA! This child is currently using clothes in 3 different sizes. She’s wearing 6 month onesies and dresses, 9 month pants, and 12 month pajamas. At least I’m getting a lot of use out of those 6 month clothes!

Milestones | This last month was hilarious! On her 8 month birthday, she just started ticking them all off the list!

Elizabeth started crawling on her 8 month birthday! It was only a few steps, but she soon got speedy! Now she just zooms around!
Every place in the house is a new adventure – she is obsessed with the dining room.
She is starting to pull to stand now. Over the weekend, she pulled to stand in her crib. Had to snap a picture!
Elizabeth tried a veggie pattie for the first time… not sure if that’s baby appropriate, but she loved it!
She loves books! We have a bin full of books, and she crawls over and starts pulling them out. She especially loves finger puppet books.
Elizabeth also enjoys knocking down towers 🙂
We both love playing peek-a-boo around the coffee table. Now that she crawls, we peek around at one another!
She started babbling a bit more, instead of her typical “aaaahhhh”. She started saying baa baa baa and dadadadadada.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from over the last month! The picture at top left is when she pulled to stand in her crib just a few days ago! She was pretty proud 🙂

Bride-To-Be Gift Ideas

by Katie @ Cup of Tea // July 8, 2014 // 2 Comments

I hope she’s not reading this, but my sister is getting married in just a few weeks!!! I wanted to get her a fun Sister gift beyond something off the registry. (But don’t worry – still got something off the registry, because nothing says “I love you, Sister” like a spatula.)

We’ve always enjoyed tiny toiletries and used to collect them. And when I asked her what she would like to do the night before the wedding, and she just said she wanted to relax and do an old fashioned spa night like we used to do as kids.

So I decided to combine those two things – travel sized toiletries and spa night – to create a fun Bride-to-Be gift! Plus, I figured she could take some of these items on the honeymoon!

First I went out to Forever 21 to pick up a fun cosmetic/travel bag. I knew they had cute ones because I recently bought myself one 🙂 I found this large floral bag with a black bow detail. The bow reminded me of the Ted Baker cosmetic bags, which have been on my wish list for months!

While there, I noticed Forever 21 had quite a few cheap face product. I just picked up a few for fun. I grabbed makeup remover wipes, a few sheet masks, and two eye masks (can’t find online). I also saw a cute make up brush set. They’re polka dot! Love it!

I raided my own stash of tiny toiletries to find a few more things: travel size St. Ives Apricot Scrub, Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo & Conditioner, Aveda Energy Lotion, and Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Passion.

And then………. I went to Sephora. Just to find a few extra things. A great addition were travel sizes of perfumes. It’s hard to travel with perfume, especially those full sizes. So stick with a roller ball or a sampler set, like this one. I also grabbed a Smith’s Rosebud Salve, because it rocks. The other items were some point rewards (yay me!) that I decided to gift as well. I got a MakeUp Forever mini set of lipstick and mascara. I also got a sample of the Algenist Detoxifying Exfoliator.

Finally, I grabbed a travel set of Philosophy products (similar). This set alone would make a great gift! Plus it came in a travel bag. It’s not as cute as a floral cosmetic bag, but it’s useful!I’m really excited for her to crack into this! We’ve got a few things to experiment with the night before the wedding, but she also has some things to take with her on the honeymoon.

I love tiny toiletries!

One of my other favorite gift ideas for a bride-to-be is a recipe card with one of your favorite recipes written on it. Include a kitchen item to help make it (grab it off the registry!). It’s personal but still getting the bride something she wants and will use.

For other gift ideas and gift wrap inspiration, check out my Pinterest Board!

http://www.pinterest.com/ktcupoftea/gift-ideas/

What were some of your favorite gifts you have received?

*Note: none of the links are affiliated. They’re just links to the products for easy browsing!

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