Guest Post: Greek Lemon Potatoes by Engineer Mommy

I'm excited today to introduce you to Jennifer from Engineer Mommy!

She has a tasty dinner dish to share with us that I can't wait to try!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey, everyone! My name is Jennifer and I blog over at Engineer Mommy. 

I am so thrilled to be over here at Polkadots on Parade today!

 Jaime is such an incredibly talented woman and I am honored that she has invited me 

to share this easy recipe for Greek Lemon Potatoes with you today!

I am always on the lookout for easy, delicious recipes to feed my family. 

With a 3 year old and a 15 month old occupying my every moment, 

I am usually short on time - there will be no marathon cooking sessions in my kitchen anytime soon! 

I need recipes that require minimal prep time while still producing flavorful, healthy meals. 

And these Greek Lemon Potatoes deliver just that! 

Preparing these potatoes requires combining some ingredients 

and popping them in the oven for about an hour, 

during which time I can concentrate on far more important tasks - 

you know, like building a sand castle or playing "tag" with the kiddos! :)

My kids are picky eaters, and even they cannot get enough of these Greek Lemon Potatoes. 

Bursting with the delicious flavors of lemon & garlic, 

these potatoes are sure to become a favorite side dish in your house, as they have in mine. 

Plus, they're so versatile, they will complement any entrée you may be serving: chicken, beef, fish, etc. 

Just make sure you have enough on hand - people will likely want second servings!

Let's get to the recipe now, shall we?

Greek Lemon Potatoes

Ingredients:

3 lbs baking potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed

5 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp. dried oregano

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

3/4 cup chicken broth

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine all the ingredients in a large baking dish 

and toss the potatoes to ensure that they are fully coated by the sauce.

Bake for 1 hour, turning the potatoes once halfway through the cooking time.

Optional: For crispier edges and more color on the potatoes,

 preheat the broiler and broil the potatoes for an additional 5-10 minutes until they are golden brown.

I've made this a few times beforehand so I can tell you that the chicken broth is essential - 

it infuses a rich flavor into the potatoes and keeps them moist. 

Also, even though it's not necessary, I always place these in the broiler afterward. 

It only takes an extra 5-10 minutes, but it really imparts a lovely color and crispness to the finished product!

It has been a pleasure sharing this with you all today! 

If you'd like to see what else I've been up to recently, 

feel free to check out some of my easy DIY tutorials, 

some fun kids' crafts, and some other delicious recipes!

 Thanks again, Jaime, for having me!

Guest Post from Zillow: 6 Ways to Create a Study Spot for Kids

I'm so excited to have a guest post for you today from Zillow!

Tali Wee offers lots of amazing suggestions to create a great study spot in your home!

6 Ways to Create a Study Spot for Kids

By Tali Wee of Zillow

It is often difficult to motivate kids to sit down and focus on schoolwork in a home full of distractions. 

While it may seem convenient to work at the kitchen table or on the living room sofa, 

designated study zones encourage focused energy 

and motivate kids to complete homework in a timely fashion.

It can be challenging to create a designated study room for kids. 

Short of relocating homes for additional square footage,

homeowners can incorporate a schoolwork spot in existing parts of the house. 

Consider these six ideas for space-saving and effective ways to get kids learning.

Utilize Empty Closet Space

By storing clothes in a dresser or armoire, the closet is freed-up for a study nook. 

Remove closet doors and install a built-in desk, drawers and shelving. 

Embedding the desk in a fitted alcove eliminates potential distractions.

Establish Organization Tactics

Keep clutter off the work space by hanging corkboards and fabric boards. 

These displays keep calendars, previous projects and study materials organized. 

Hanging progress reports motivates and reminds kids about the importance of studying. 

Be sure to add decorative flair to the space without creating unwanted distractions. 

Another decluttering technique is to hang supply baskets. 

Kids can throw supplies in the baskets when they are done with schoolwork 

rather than leaving pencils and protractors scattered out on the desk.

Install Long Countertops

Need study space for more than one child? 

Install a low and extended countertop on an unoccupied wall.

Solo study sessions can also benefit from the extra space.

Spreading out notecards and books makes reviewing information a breeze. 

Further, creative school projects can be easily laid out 

and assembled without creating a mess on the furniture or carpet.

Incorporate Inspirational Décor

It’s important to create a space that stimulates concentration,

but it’s also necessary to incorporate elements to inspire creativity. 

Consider hanging wall maps or stenciling scholarly quotes on walls around the study space. 

These installments are pleasing to the eye but also create a study-centric atmosphere.

Paint a Chalkboard Wall

Chalkboards are a great way to allow kids to play the role of teacher. 

Allow them to work through homework problems with friends or siblings 

on a designated wall in the house. 

Chalkboards add fun and creativity to studying and make work feel like play.

Loft a Bed for Desk Space

If the bedroom is the best space to set up a nook to study,

consider lofting the bed and placing a desk underneath. 

The fort-like atmosphere is appealing to adventure-seeking kids 

and the proximity to the bed allows for an easy transition from late-night studying to sleeping. 

While these options don’t guarantee an A+ on the next exam,

they encourage students to get work done efficiently outside of the classroom. 

Discuss various installments that may help keep children attentive after school. 

It is important to consider their input 

since the kids who influence the creativity of the design

benefit most from a functional study space.

Thanks Tali! I am feeling so inspired to tackle my space and make the most out of it!

Guest Post: Choose Joy

One of the greatest parts of blogging is all of the remarkable women I have met!

Today I'd like you to meet Emmy and hear her incredible story.

She is kind, generous, and very talented.

I am so happy to have her living in my community.

Take it away Emmy!

I'm Emmy, I'm 35, and I'm infertile.

Wait, let me back up.  I'm Emmy.  Jaime has been so sweet to allow me to invade her space for the day.  I own Much Ado About You {where I used to sell printed day planners, and now I just sell printables}, I occasionally blog {Confessions of a Paper Freak}, and I incessantly Instagram {@itsjustemmy}.  I am married to my high school sweetheart and as of this year we have been together for more than half our lives.

Almost 11 years ago I got pregnant for the first time.  Nathan and I were so excited, and immediately started planning that child's future.  We were thinking of names... wondering if it would be a boy or a girl... hoping its due date of December 26th would not mean we were going to have a Christmas baby.

But just a few days later I started bleeding heavily, and knew in an instant that that baby was gone. 

We had only just begun trying to get pregnant, but I had so many friends experiencing infertility and I begged God to spare us from that roller coaster.

Our doctor told us that since we were so early in the pregnancy I would not need a D & C, and that technically I could get pregnant as soon as my next cycle.

Which I did.

That pregnancy was such a relief, and I vividly remember thanking God that I was never going to have to walk that long and painful road of infertility.

A year after Beau was born we decided to start trying for a second baby.  We wanted four, so we thought we'd better get going!

God had different plans for our family. 

The next six years were spent going from one doctor's appointment to the next... from one surgery to the next... all in an effort to figure out why my young and seemingly healthy body was not working.

I have Endometriosis, a condition that basically destroys your body from the inside out.  During my final surgery my doctor made the painful decision to remove both of my non-functioning fallopian tubes, hoping it would increase the chance of my third and final IVF {invitro-fertilization} treatment being successful. 

The next month we had our final IVF procedure.  It failed.  We were done.

We were physically {well mostly me on that one}, emotionally, and financially spent.  The chance of a natural pregnancy was eliminated with the removal of my tubes.  I was officially STERILE.  It is still strange to say those words.  I am a woman that cannot do what I was created to do... bear children.  That is a very strange reality to be faced with.

I spent seven dark years in the thick of my infertility {I say "my" infertility because the issues were mine... with another woman my husband could have had more children... more salt in the wounds}.  For some of those years Nathan and I were not on the same page.  He didn't understand my desperation for a child when I already was a mom.  Those years I struggled with a deep loneliness that I had never known.  It is so hard to explain what infertility feels like to someone that has never experienced it, but the bottom line is... IT SUCKS.

However, God also used those seven years to challenge my character and bring me to a place of total trust and reliance on His plan for my life.  I came to a point where I had to say, "God, I love you and I trust you, and I know that {while very different from mine} Your plan is the best plan for my life.  So even if I never have another baby I will praise you and be thankful for whatever it is that you call me to do."

And I really was at peace.  Without tubes I no longer had to live in two week cycles, wondering if each late period was the one.  I had an incredible eight year old that was the joy of my life, a loving, supportive husband, a thriving business... life was good.

Now since I have already babbled on for quite some time {and probably lost most of you} I will leave this next part of the story short and sweet {if you would like to read the whole story, you can find it here}.  Through miraculous circumstances, in March of 2011 we brought home the most beautiful baby girl that looks nothing like us. 

And in the instant that I met her I understood every no that God had placed in my path. 

If you are in a season of not understanding the circumstances of your life, please be encouraged that someday you may understand and even appreciate the painful path that you are walking. 

Since experiencing infertility and adoption I have a heart for encouraging hurting women.  Several months ago I felt a calling on my life to do something to help other women that are experiencing similar trials, and the Choose Joy event was born. 

Choose Joy is a one-day conference in Southern California for women and couples that are experiencing infertility and/or desire to grow their families through adoption.  I have somehow convinced several other women from all over the country to come and be a part of this event.  We have speakers on topics such as "God's Heart for the Hurting; Waiting Hurts, Waiting Perfects", "Having a Heart of Hope: Overcoming the Hurt of Infertility", "The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly of International Adoption", and much, much more.  My desire is for this to be a day of connection and community, and for women to open their minds to the plan that God has for their family.     

The event will include a luncheon and a dessert, and at the end we will be raffling off a cash prize to help someone grow their family.

Tickets are on sale for $30 through the 25th of January.  {After that the price goes up to $40, so don't delay!}  Please visit the website for all the details on the location and schedule, bios on each speaker, and to register for the event. 

If you aren't experiencing infertility, statistics say that someone you know is.  Please pass this website on to your friends or family that could use some support. 

Thanks for reading my story.
XOXO,
Emmy