New Year's Eve!

So the New Year is quickly approaching. 2014 sped by with major highlights like watching Zooey grow from a 1 year old to a 2 year old, David graduating with his masters and starting his doctorate, being part of an engagement scheme (heehee), chopping my hair off only to grow it back out, running my first 10k trail run, opening up my Etsy shop MiddleCoast, getting pregnant with my 2nd, and I'm sure much much more!

I'm not sure what 2015 will have in store for me, but I can tell you this: we are welcoming a baby girl OR baby boy in April, I'm turning 30, and am going to be in a wedding (as a bridesmaid) next October. Some other things that may or may not happen is running a 15k or half marathon, reorganizing the house like mad, continuing to eat even healthier, add to my home gym, and dedicate more time to my Etsy shop and MiddleCoastMommy.

So welcome 2015, it'll be a great year, and so Happy New Year to you all!

XOXO, MiddleCoastMommy

Christmas Tree/Winter Landscape Craft

Kids Christmas Tree/Winter Landscape Craft

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not here is a fun wintery craft for kids! I call it a "Christmas
Tree/Winter Landscape" craft since it is up to the crafter as to what scene to create. It's also a great craft for young kids learning basic shapes, such as triangle, rectangle, and star. Older children can get as creative and detailed as they would like too. Hope you enjoy the craft!

Christmas Tree/Winter Landscape Craft How-To:

Supplies: Green, yellow, brown, white, and light or dark blue construction paper, scissors, liquid glue, glitter, colored pencils or crayons, and a pencil

Instructions:

1. Draw and cut 3 triangles out of green paper (small, medium, and large)
2. Draw and cut a rectangle out of brown paper (shape can be skinny or fat-depends on what tree trunk you'd like)
3. If creating a Christmas tree, draw and cut a star out of yellow paper. If creating a winter landscape draw, color, and cut a snowman
4. Draw and cut landscape out of white paper (can be a simple rectangle shape or you can add hills)
5. Glue landscape on blue paper followed by, tree trunk, large triangle, medium triangle, small triangle, and star or snowman
6. If creating a Christmas tree use liquid glue to create garland and/or ornament shapes on tree, and/or add dots to sky for nighttime stars if creating a winter landscape (or just because!)
7. Let dry and enjoy your lovely winter craft!

XOXO Happy Crafting!
MiddleCoastMommy

David Graduates!

David being hooded

This past Saturday, David graduated from Judson University with a Master of Education in Literacy.
It truly is a fantastic school and program. Not only is the methodology up and coming, but the teachers honestly care about every student that walks through their doors.

We are so proud of him finishing his masters, and excited that he is starting his doctorate!

I will say though, it is tough being a mom when your spouse works
full time and goes to school. So it is important to have family and friends by your side, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it!

Happy Graduation David!

Tunes for Toys

The Alder Path

This past Saturday I played a show at Blue Box Cafe, which was fundraising money for kids in need. One could either donate a toy or buy a raffle ticket. In total they raised over $1,000 with the event! We mainly played our own songs (we being "The Alder Path"), but we did throw in a few covers including a couple Christmas tunes! It was a lot of fun, and even Zooey enjoyed herself!

As a review, Blue Box Cafe is a delicious place to go in the Northwest Chicago suburbs. It is Doctor Who themed so it has a few memorabilia, blue walls, and art. The cafe has a variety of great sandwiches, soup, and baked goods. The coffee is Chicago-brewed Metropolis Coffee so it is always fresh. They also are active with events from music shows, COS play, game nights, etc. I highly recommend it if you're ever nearby.

Zooey turned TWO

Happy 2nd Birthday Zooey!

This year David and I hosted Thanksgiving. It turned out lovely (and here's hoping you all had a great one)!

Our little Zooey's birthday fell two days after Thanksgiving. We decided to switch things up a little bit from last year, and hold a Birthday Brunch for immediate family. Family started arriving around 10:30 and left around 1:30 just in time for Zooey's nap.

To make the brunch deliciously fun we set up coffee, juice, fruit, "top" your own waffles (toppings like strawberries, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, pumpkin spice, etc.), an egg casserole and a vanilla cake with chocolate icing! Everything was delicious, but we especially got a lot of compliments on the egg casserole and requests for the recipe. So I thought i'd share with you in case you're looking for an easy meal to feed many.

Simple Baked Egg Casserole

Ingredients: 
1 pound ground sausage
2 1/2 cups milk
10-12 eggs
2 peppers (green, orange, and/or yellow)
Dash of salt
Pepper to your liking


Instructions:
-Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
-Cook sausage in pan (unless you get precooked turkey)
-Heat peppers up on pan with sausage (once sausage is cooked)
-Beat eggs and milk
-Add sausage and peppers to egg mixture
-Put mixture in greased 9x13 inch pan
-Bake 40-45 minutes until done

**You can add 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese if desired
**If you're looking for a VEGAN option use faux eggs, faux sausage and unsweetened almond milk
**Feel free to add topping(s) after it's been baked, such as crushed red pepper and/or hot sauce

Enjoy!

xoxo, MiddleCoast

DIY Santa Advent Calendar

DIY Santa Advent Craft

Can you believe it? It's December 1st! Thus starts the season of advent calendars. If you're looking for a new, fun and cute spin on advent calendars that don't involve chocolate try making this DIY Santa Advent Calendar.



DIY Santa Advent Calendar Instructions:

Supplies: Red and white construction paper, pencil, colored pencils, scissors, glue, and cotton balls

How To:

Zooey loved the cotton ball step!

1. Draw a Santa hat on red paper
2. Draw fluffy hat parts on white paper
3. Cut out Santa hat and fluffy parts, glue together
4. Draw a long oval shape (width of the hat), this will be the face and beard
5. Draw eyes and nose (mine are simple yet cute so no need to get fancy)
6. Draw beard (connects to hat and include mustache under nose)
7. Color in the face (add rosy cheeks if you'd like)
8. Write numbers 1-25 anywhere you'd like on the fluffy hat parts, mustache, and beard
9. Glue Santa head to hat
10. Fluff out a cotton ball and glue on top of number to corresponding day

**It's a great craft to hang on the fridge :)

Hope you enjoy this cute and simple kids advent craft!

Cyber Monday at MiddleCoast

Dainty Emerald Green Bezeled Onyx Necklace

To all those Cyber Monday shoppers out there, keep handmade artists in mind by checking out Etsy or even better MiddleCoast on Etsy! With coupon code JOLLY you can take 15% off your purchase at MiddleCoast!

Happy shopping!

XOXO, MiddleCoastMommy