Like many of you I’m running out of activities and ideas for my kiddos and desperately need them to independently play more and more. I try and rotate toys and books but also layer in fun homemade sensory activities every week or so. This one is super easy to do and most likely everyone reading this has the ingredients in their pantry right now. My kiddos love playing at the beach and at our last home Mr. A had made a sand box that Milly used daily. Until we decide if we are going to build a sandbox again or possibly a swing set playhouse with one built in, making some homemade moon sand is about as close to a sand box as it gets. This stuff is soft and comes together like damp sand so it’s fun to build and play with. I add a little essential oils to the mix to make it even more sensory with calming oils like lemongrass and lavender. If you have a shallow plastic bin or an activity table like this one I’d double the recipe but I like putting it in a tray and letting Milly play with it at her outdoor table. If you play with it inside I’d suggest putting an outdoor blanket or shower curtain or mat down underneath it to make clean up a breeze. I’d love to know if you make this moon sand for you kids and see the pics. If you make this recipe post it on social and tag me on instagram @BrandiMilloy!

Homemade Moon Sand

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• 8 cups flour

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 8 drops essential oils

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together until combined. Pour into tray and add scoops, shovels, wooden & plastic toys and let your children explore!

You can elevate even the lamest store bought dip by simply making your own chips. I love homemade pita chips. They are so easy to make and brownie points if you serve them warm-they make everything even better. Pita holds up pretty nicely in the freezer so you might as well keep a bag of pita bread on hand just so you can always make these chips. Baked with a little EVOO and garlic salt, they are so easy to make and versatile enough for any flavoring, really! Enjoy!

Homemade Pita Chips

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• 1 bag of 16 oz. pita bread

• Olive oil

• Garlic salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F

2. Using a pizza cutter, slice pita into chips by cutting each pita into half and then in thirds.

3. Place on baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic salt.

4. Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until warm and slightly crispy.

I love everything about summer- especially when it really starts to get warm and on every corner in LA you’ll see a rainbow umbrella perched atop a fruit cart stand. Ripe watermelon, bright mango, juicy pineapple, melon, cucumber and jicama sliced large and wrapped in bags ready for the next customer drive by. If you want it served the traditional way, they’ll squeeze fresh lime juice and sprinkle chili lime seasoning on top. One summer I practically lived on these bags of fruit. I’d get off work late, pull up and buy a bag of Mexican fruit and sit in traffic long enough to miss dinner and be so exhausted by the time I got home that the only thing sustaining me after 3pm was the fruit. This is one of those snacks that takes little effort but most are too lazy to do. I mean you do need to wash and slice fruit so I get it. We are people of convenience. If I’m just making this for myself and only have a few ingredients on hand, I’ll try to do at least two sweet options and one vegetable. The recipe is so easy I’ll spare you on actually writing something out but basically you slice your fruit , sprinkle with a little fresh lime juice and top with chili lime seasoning or Tajin (these little to go packets are perfect). This is a great snack for on the go! Being a Mom forces you to always pack snacks and this is when I pack one for myself too. Wait to squeeze the lime and seasoning on top until you’re ready to enjoy. Would love to know what fruit combos you put together and if there are any other toppings you like, let me know! I’m always down to try something new.

My mother in law makes the most delicious raspberry jam.  She gave us a jar once and we finished it off in less than a week.  I started craving it like crazy. Every time I saw her I would ask if she made some more (which probably got annoying-sorry). It's just that Mr. A and I make breakfast every morning and typically it involves some form of jam so it's top of mind every day.  And while I love buying fresh jam from the farmer's market, it can get pricey when it really is the simplest thing to make.  Whether it's smeared on sourdough bread under melty brie, bacon and eggs (seriously-try it!!!) or simply slathered on a buttered biscuit-we are jam people, folks. This recipe is inspired by my mother in law's. It takes about 15 minutes to make and you only need two ingredients. If you're like me, I'd make a couple batches as back up cause it's so yummy you'll end up adding it to just about everything you eat. 

Old Fashioned Raspberry Jam

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• 2 heaping cups fresh organic raspberries, rinsed
• 1 cup organic sugar

Directions

1. Place berries in stainless steel pot and bring to a full boil, mashing the berries with a wooden spoon. Boil for 1 minute on high heat, stirring constantly.  Add sugar and continue to boil for 3-5 minutes or until thickened.  Store in mason jar in refrigerator and enjoy!

Everyone would always ask me what cravings I was having when I was pregnant and I really didn't have any...except orange juice. I wanted to drink orange juice all. of. the. time. Ironically, when I'm not pregnant I don't really drink oj at all! 

When Mr. A and I were on our honeymoon in Italy we had the most delicious blood orange juice. It tasted so fresh and smooth. It was a little sweeter than the regular orange stuff and the color was this beautiful bold red.  When we took the train from Florence to Naples, we drank it with champagne and it was the perfect compliment to the golden bubbly. 

So when the craving hit for this juice, it took me .2 seconds to get some fresh blood oranges from Melissa's Produce.  This recipe is super simple and as fresh as it gets.  This juice also a great base for mocktails and cocktails. I like to add equal parts juice to sparking water and garnish with a splash of lime and sprig of basil for a refreshing mocktail. It's also great added to a glass of prosecco or in your margarita in place of triple sec!

Homemade Fresh Squeezed Blood Orange Juice

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

1 serving

3 large blood oranges

ice

1. Rinse blood oranges and slice in half. 

2. Juice oranges. 

3. Pour juice over ice and garnish with sliced blood orange and enjoy!