Try Consignment, Linguine & Thin Zucchini, and More Bathtime Fun

We all like to see our cherubs in adorable garbs, but with them outgrowing outfits in a few months this habit can become quite expensive. One way to save some cash in this arena is shopping at a consignment store, where the clothes have been previously owned, but lightly used.

Doing this offers other advantages as well. The uniqueness value of the clothes goes up. And because you're not buying new clothes, the footprint of your purchase will be close to nil (even more so if you skip the bag). If you don't know of a children's clothing consignment store near you try a search on the internet, or ask around your mommy groups or parent circles.

Recipe:

Linguine with Zucchini and Goat Cheese

Compliments of Real Simple, this recipe really is. The use of goat cheese for a white sauce is a nice change from the typical cream, and the thinly sliced zucchinis almost melt in your mouth (which is why I always add more).

Serves 3-4

Ingredients
12 oz. linguine (3/4 box)
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 lb. zucchini, sliced into thin half-moons
kosher salt and pepper
1 clove garlic, chopped
5 oz. fresh goat cheese, crumbled
2 tsp. grated organic lemon zest

1) Cook pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta, and return it to the pot.

2) Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring, until the zucchini is tender and any liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute more.

3) Add all but 2 tablespoons of the cheese to the pasta. Add the reserved cooking water, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir until creamy. Serve pasta topped with zucchini, lemon zest, and remaining 2 tablespoons cheese.

Project:

Make Bathtime More Fun

What You Will Need:

Scissors
Craft foam (several colors)
Fish/marine animal stencils or templates
One aquarium fish net

1) Use stencils or templates to trace shapes onto the craft foam. Then use scissors to cut out the foam shapes.

2) Have the shapes and net ready for the next bathtime, and introduce the game, Go Fish, to your child. The game can initially be to collect all the fish/marine animals in the water. Later you can change the game up: like collecting all of a certain color or type.


"The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." -John Buchan