Creamy Tomato Tortellini Skillet

I cannot take credit for this recipe. I wish I could. But, I can't.
I can take credit for pinning it on my ever-growing Pinterest "DinnerTime" board. (that counts toward culinary genius, right??)

We have a family of 3.5 (the half is fiercely kicking his way out through my belly button as I'm typing this...). We ate this for two meals - my husband ate it cold...(blah) - I did not - I warm my food, like a normal human being ;)

I must say that this recipe exceeded my usual budget for a meal, but it was so good and easy that I may keep it on my menu rotation. I'm cheap when it comes to food. I love to cook, but I try to keep my meals to only a few dollars per person. (this is probably why I rarely bake - it becomes too expensive). I hate to spend too much money on food just like I hate spending money on toilet paper and paper towels - these things don't last long. ;) I will add that I do calculate the price of organic produce into the price per serving since I like knowing that I'm not feeding pesticides to my family with every bite of food. ;)

Anyway - here's the delightful recipe that scored rave reviews with my hubs and my 2 year old. I hope you like it just as much as we do!

Creamy Tomato Tortellini Skillet (found: here @ Mostly Homemade Mom)

16oz package frozen/refrig cheese tortellini
15oz can Italian diced tomatoes
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped (I didn't chop mine - just threw it in)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t ground pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced (I used 1.5)
3/4 c milk
3/4 c heavy cream (I used half and half - for price and for calories!)
2 T all-purpose flour
1/4 c grated Parm cheese

Prepare tortellini as directed on package.
Meanwhile, combine tomatoes (undrained), garlic, spinach, salt, and pepper in a large skillet over med-high heat. Stir occasionally until the mixture begins to boil.
In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, cream, and flour. Pour into skillet, along with parm cheese.
Cook until bubbling again, then reduce heat and simmer about 3 minutes until thick.
Add cooked tortellini and stir to fully coat with sauce.
Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes to further thicken the sauce.

Enjoy!

A PlayRoom TakeOver

I tried so hard to fight it.

I did everything I could to make sure my family room didn't look like a daycare. I really did.

But, when 1400 sq feet must contain a toddler, his toys, and a new baby, some things must change.

So, instead of "daycare," I went with "preschool" ;)

This is Samuel's new play area:

pardon the terrible lighting, I have very little natural light in my family room...

Before the toddler takeover, this wall housed our entertainment center and two bookcases full of baskets of toys and books. Granted, the baskets were pretty baskets...BUT I found his bigger toys taking over the floor for lack of a "place."

I am a firm believer in "a place for everything and everything in it's place." So, this conversion of a family room wall to a playroom was necessary to contain the clutter.

The alphabet rug is from Walmart. The letter and number art is from Hobby Lobby. I made sure that the playroom decorations coordinated with my family room decorations. I didn't want it to seem too crazy and out of sorts. So, the family room is now being redecorated to house navy blue and white (my favorite! and a reason to shop for new decorations!)

I must say, the magnetic chalkboard has been the star of the show! I do not know how a certain little boy lived without it. I highly recommend it. Plus, he can write all over the walls and bookcases with the chalk and it wipes clean! :)

I still rotate his books and toys. We have a closet in the family room that houses some other toys and books. When I find that he's getting bored with the toys in the bins and shelves, I rotate them with some toys from the closet. Sometimes I'll simply rotate the bins or rearrange the shelves. This throws him for a loop when he's looking for something specific, but it brings toys he's ignored to the forefront to catch his attention.

Those shelves house his art supplies, blocks, cars, puzzles, games, musical instruments...etc. It's wonderful to have a space for everything! :)

This space works great for all of us. It freed up the other living space in the family room for us, while giving him a space all his own!

Now...to find a place for a baby swing... ;)

When Mommy-Guilt Became my God

"Is he watching too much TV?"
"Is he eating too much candy?"
"I should make preservative-free Spaghettios instead of buying these..."
"Am I doing enough holiday crafts?"
"Do I have enough paint handprints to last a lifetime??"
"Should I get sugar free apple juice?"
"Am I rocking him too long for naps?"
"Should I be doing devotions with him?"
"He doesn't have enough space to play..."
"Should I get him better books?"
"Should I start him in an activity?"
"Am I spending enough time with him?"
"Is it bad for me to leave him alone long enough to do laundry?"

....couldn't you just smack me, NOW?!

This was my brain. For two years, this was my brain. MOMMY GUILT OVERLOAD.

I felt like, no matter what I did, I wasn't a good enough mom. I felt that I needed to be in the floor, playing with my child 24/7, with only chores done during naps or bedtime. But when would I spend time with my husband?!

....ah!

Then, I started Kelly Minter's "No Other Gods" Bible study. Within the first two days, God broke down my Mommy-Guilt Walls and I was able to breathe,

A god. Anything that takes our focus or attention away from God is a god. Anything we serve is a god. (yikes).

I was going through my days, frantically praying that I was "good enough", all the while, serving no one but myself through my mommy-guilt. I wasn't finding joy in motherhood, I was simply obsessing and comparing myself to who I thought I should be. I needed to be comparing myself to God and no one else.

When I started to see myself through God's eyes, I was able to let go of the burden of mommy-guilt. God chose me to be a mommy to these two precious, albeit ornery, boys WAY before I had them with me. I was good enough in His eyes, THEN. Before preservative-free candy was even a thought. Before holiday crafts filled up my Pinterest boards. God chose me BEFORE those things entered my mind.

My purpose, as a mommy to these two mini-men, is to raise them to be Godly men. Period. As long as they love God and serve Him with their heart, soul, and mind, I have done my work as a mommy. As long as they love people and put others' needs before their own, I have done my work as a mommy.

This purpose isn't served through obsessing about whether or not I'm good enough. God decided that. Now it's my job to carry through with it, while holding onto HIS hand as tight as I possibly can each and every day. Because, to be honest, I'm clueless on how to raise Godly children without God telling me how.

So, it's okay that Samuel has watched 6 episodes of UmiZoomi today. He's also pretended shoe laces were spaghetti, counted blocks, read books, laughed ALL morning, and instructed his daddy on how to say the alphabet.

At the end of the day, when Samuel thanks God for "today" and "monkeys"...and bows his head to say, "thank you for food" before dinner...I know that I'm on the right track.

He's happy. He's learning. He's praying.

My god needs to be My God. My focus and attention cannot be overrun with guilt, else I'm serving someone else, entirely.

"Whatever you do, do ALL to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well." 2 Timothy 1:5