Fashionably Domestic

Check that off the list.

2012-02-08T10:20:00.001-06:00

So today the movers came and did our pre-moving inspection where they come and see how many boxes to bring and survey how much big furniture they have to move. Everything for this move seems to happening so fast and its only 5 weeks away! Tell time to slow down a bit please. I love it here in Colorado so much I want to be able to really enjoy the last little bit of time we have here before we head to California.

Next on the list……anatomy ultrasound TOMORROW! I’m so ready to find out the sex of this baby I could just burst. I’ll be sure to update about that tomorrow.

Birthday Surprises!!

2012-01-24T14:25:00.000-06:00

Wow! This weekend shaped up to be one of the busiest most impromptu weekends I’ve had in ages!

My mom turned 50 this Sunday and my brother and I had spent weeks trying to figure out the best possible gift to give our mom for this birthday because we wanted to make it really good. Mom has been under a lot of stress recently. She works a stressful job with long hours and my grandmother, who has been deteriorating mentally, recently got into a car accident. While she is physically fine her car it totaled and she doesn’t know how to handle not having a car.

So Friday afternoon my brother and I were joking about how awesome it would be if I could just be there for her birthday and how we could put me in a big box on mom’s porch and I’d jump out and surprise her. That’s when my practical thinking sister in law says, “Well, why can’t you?” First thing Saturday morning I was on a plane to Texas!

We did actually put me on the porch in a box, I popped out and my mom cried she was so surprised. We went and got a ton of decorations and decorated her apartment, got her a cake, took her out to dinner and played board games. It was so much fun but the trip was just too short! I was back home by Monday morning (thanks to my awesome brother and sister in law for driving me to the airport at 4am!) and was doing makeup for two different photo shoots at 12pm and 4pm.

I’m so tired from the trip that I think it’s going to take me a while to get back my energy! Now off to clean this house and make some cupcakes for my wonderful family!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T12:20:00.003-06:00

Post-It Note Tuesday and Blog Hop!

2012-01-17T11:38:00.003-06:00

Also, welcome to all those from the Totally Tuesday Blog Hop!!

Moving

2012-01-16T13:04:00.000-06:00

It feels like we just here to Colorado and it’s already time to leave. The hubby got orders to Fort Irwin, CA so that is where we’ll be heading in just 7 short weeks. The plus side is it’ll make trips to see his family much easier and the downside is we’ll be in the middle of the desert.

I’ve been in hyper drive mode since we found out. There is so much to get done. March seems like it is so far away and yet right around the corner. I’ve got to get to the optometrist and get new glasses and contacts, get through Snuggle Bug’s birthday and get her an updated physical and TB test for the preschool there, get the dogs to the vet and we’re still waiting on the hubby to get his official orders so we can get on the housing list and schedule things with transportation. There is more to that list but I’m just not thinking clearly at the moment.

Oh and I scheduled our “big” ultrasound…..February 9th and hopefully we’ll find out what we’re having!

Honestly, I’m really sad we’re leaving. Our time in Colorado has been absolutely amazing. We’ve met some great people, had so much fun, Snuggle Bug loves her preschool, I love my university…..it’s hard to say goodbye. But such is the nature of the hubby’s job. I’m sure California will prove to be just as fun as Colorado if not more. It’s all about a positive attitude!

Foray into slow cooking

2012-01-15T19:21:00.012-06:00

I love to cook. I’m the kind of person that gets inspired and will spend hours in the kitchen creating meals. Usually my meals come out pretty good and my family is happy. But Pinterest has changed all that. Thanks to Pinterest and my foray into slow cooking, not very many good meals have been coming out of my kitchen lately.

Pinterest has been my latest obsession. I joined after my friend told me about it and didn’t think I would love it as much as I do.

So many recipes, craft ideas, home décor pictures and makeup tutorials to keep me busy for ages!

I stumbled upon a popular pin with a link to a blog that talked all about make ahead crockpot meals. Meaning, I could put everything raw into a bag and then into my freezer and then into my crockpot and be done. So easy! Between school, an almost 4y/o Snuggle Bug and my 18 week pregnant belly, easy sounded good!

So I went to the store and got everything needed to make six meals, three kinds. Beef stew, Italian Beef and BBQ Chicken. After lots of veggie cutting, meat cutting, seasoning and bagging I was ready to go…….six cheap meals in my deep freeze ready to go into the crock pot first thing in the morning.

I should have thought about this a bit more as I was following the recipes. No blanching of any veggies? Potatoes going in with meat to cook the entire 8 hours? “They’ll be fine” I thought. Not so much.

Night one, a few weeks ago, and I pull out my beef stew. Actually not bad. Soggy mushy potatoes and it needed a bit more meat and seasoning but overall decent. But still not as good as the one I can simmer on the stove that I’ve been making for years. We all ate it, the hubby actually seemed to enjoy it and only remarked that it needed a bit more beef. But it’s generally not hard to please his Army man palette after the years he’s spent eating MREs and DFAC cuisine.

Night two, the next week, BBQ chicken. “Is this supposed to be a soup?” I thought to myself as I looked into the simmering crock pot. I supposed this wouldn’t be going on the buns as I had originally planned. Taste tests showed that I needed to add a few more things to this meal to give it some flavor and those zucchini’s I had put in the bag were nowhere to be found in the crock pot.

Then we make it to tonight, Italian Beef. Toss it in and add the beef broth. Once again I come back and ask myself, “Is this a soup?” Once again, serving over bread may not be an option. So, with the help of a can of tomato sauce, bell peppers, carrots, celery, fresh garlic and seasoning, I turn this base into what eventually became a decent mock ragu. But it was still lacking something.

I couldn’t even finish it. Snuggle Bug took a few bites and wanted no part of it but she did enjoy the crusty Italian bread I served with it. The hubby, well he ate it.

I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong. Other reviewers raved about these meals and I was so looking forward to them being as good as people said. I don’t know what’s wrong but I’m thinking it may be time to give the slow cooker a rest for a while and pull out Mastering the Art of French Cooking again. Julia Child and I seem to be a better fit together than the crock pot and I.

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-25T20:39:00.005-06:00

Merry Christmas to all.........

and to all.....

a goodnight!!!

Checking In

2011-12-19T17:44:00.001-06:00

I’m 14 weeks and 1 day as of today which means I’m in the second trimester! Yay!! It feels like a huge milestone. The morning sickness is still hanging out, but that doesn’t surprise me because it hung around with Snuggle Bug as well. But I’m getting some semblance of an appetite back is good. I’ve been craving hummus oddly enough. Something about it just sounds delicious.

Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans/chickpeas
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon minced garlic

Blend in food processor until smooth and creamy.

It really should have tahini, but I just haven’t had any luck finding it so this works.

The fall semester is now over and I’m waiting for one more grades to come so that I can get my overall GPA for this semester. But given the fact that my studying slipped and my work quality fell after getting pregnant, sick and tired, I’m pleasantly surprised with two B’s and an A so far. I’ve signed up for my Spring classes but there are some things in the works that could change a lot of my plans but I’ll post about all that once we know what is going on.

So, life is going well. Lots of possibilities on the horizon that I cannot wait to see what will happen!

Peekaboo!!

2011-12-02T22:13:00.003-06:00

I've been meaning to post this for a while but just haven't had a chance to yet. A few weeks ago I went in for an appointment and got to see this......

There is our special little surprise at just over 10 weeks. I could hardly believe my eyes when I was the ultrasound! So tiny but so much a baby!

I'm feeling okay overall. Still fighting with being so fatigued but getting through it. I think I've come down with a little case of the flu so that isn't helping things either. But, on the plus side, I've only got a few more days of classes before my Winter break begins and I get some time off. SO ready for that break!

Snow Day

2011-11-09T09:47:00.004-06:00

Last week we got our second snow of the season.

Isn’t it pretty?

It is really starting to feel like the holiday season around here!

Snuggle Bug absolutely adores the snow!

So, of course, when we got home from preschool she had to
play in it!

She ran around, jumped, and threw the snow around; giggling the entire time!

It was so much fun!

And to think I had never seen snow until just 5 years ago.

Surprise!!!

2011-11-01T12:03:00.003-06:00

So, there have been some unexpected and wonderful changes happening in my world lately. School has been keeping be extremely busy, Snuggle Bug is growing up so quickly, I’ve been booking quite a few shoots lately and……..

About two weeksago we found out that we are expecting our second child!

I’m so excited about this unexpected development that I’m hoping to blog through my pregnancy to share and remember these wonderful and sometimes not so wonderful moments.

So I’m thinking about doing a little blog overhaul to get ready for all the fun
things I get to share over the next months. I’ve wanted to so much to find the time to revive my blog. This blog was my saving grace while the hubby was deployed in 2008as I took care of Snuggle Bug all by my lonesome.

It wasn’t so much that I ran out of things to say as much as once we moved to Colorado I had too many things to say! But here we are on yet another journey and I can’t wait talk about it!!

Rock N Roll Denver Half Marathon!!

2011-10-09T21:12:00.003-05:00

I did it! Today I ran the Rock N Roll Denver Half Marathon....that is 13.1 miles! It was one of the best experiences of my life. The course was beautiful, so much to see, the music was great, the people were full of energy....the entire race was amazing! I finished with a time of 2:52 and a pace of 13 min. Not the best time or pace but not bad for someone who hasn't run in almost a month and has never run a race in their life. Either way, i'm proud of myself for doing and i'm SO ready to do another!!

Chirp Chirp

2011-07-10T14:27:00.003-05:00

::Crickets chirping:: Anyone there? Anyone at all?

I miss my poor neglected blog SO much! I sure hope I can find the time very very soon to update it. We just got back from a lovely two week trip to California and had such a wonderful time. From Disneyland, fireworks, pool and seeing family and friends we are just spent but so happy.

Yet another semester of school is completed and more to come. I cannot wait until I finally graduate and can post those cap and gown pictures!

Snuggle Bug is doing wonderfully. She is potty trained and loving school and her little friends.

Life is great!

New Photo Shoot!

2011-03-13T12:38:00.006-06:00

Last week, I got the chance to work with a very talented photographer by the name of Elle!

At the age of 21, he is an incredible talent with an amazing eye and a lot of talent!

I'm really happy, these were a great birthday present for my 25th birthday that was on the 11th (which I will write about in a little while because it ended up being a GREAT birthday)!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T17:49:00.003-06:00

I hope you are all having a wonderful Valentine’s with the special people in your lives!

I’ve had a very busy day so far. I left a teddy bear and card on the hubby’s pillow so he’d find it when he got out of the shower, dropped Snuggle Bug off at school, went to the grocery store, pharmacy (birth control pills, mucho mucho important) and then back home to get ready for a photo shoot. Finished the shoot, picked up Snuggle Bug, got home and made Valentine’s cookies with the Snuggle Bug.

The high point had to be when I came home to find beautiful flowers waiting for me on the doorstep with the sweetest note from the hubby saying:
“Even though I may not always show it, you are the woman I want to be with for the rest of my life. Thank you for loving me.”

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it made my heart melt completely. I’m one lucky lady.

Now I’m off to make a yummy Valentine’s dinner for the family….seafood pasta, yumminess.

Just a day, just an ordinary day....

2011-02-10T14:06:00.000-06:00

Where I’m trying not to fall asleep in my classes! Last night I managed to stay up way too late for someone getting up so early. I stayed up trying to get some things done around the house and didn’t finish until midnight. As soon as I crawl into bed Snuggle Bug wakes up screaming. Then, an hour before my alarm was going to go off, she woke up again screaming. Night terrors are a bitch on mother and child. So, I’m going on a little less than 5 hours of sleep. I’m sure it could be worse (ie. No sleep), but I’m pretty tired none the less. Sitting in two painfully boring classes first thing in the morning doesn’t make it any easier.

This semester is proving to be fairly boring. I have seven papers to write over the next few months, a few are due in by the end of the month and one due later is 20 pages long. Yuck. I’ve spent a lot of time since this semester started asking me why the hell I’m doing this to myself but I know it’s for the best.

To make matters worse the hubby has been on yet another trip and Snuggle Bug is entering the realm of terrible 3’s. She is yelling “no” constantly, pushing limits and just generally being a little crabby butt. When I went to pick her up from daycare yesterday she was upset because she wanted to keep playing, so I let her play just a little longer. When I finally told her it was time to go she melted down, screaming at the top of her lungs, kicked and flailing around. When I finally got a hold of her to put her jacket on she hit me and I heard her teacher gasp behind me. I was absolutely humiliated. After that scene I couldn’t look anyone in the eye as we left the classroom. I’m trying my best to control her and teach her what is right and wrong but this is just getting ridiculous….ridonkulous even.

So there you have it, a brief life update. Nothing special, nothing cool….just an ordinary few days in my life.

Behold the awesomeness....

2011-02-09T12:13:00.001-06:00

Behold the awesomeness that is Hello Kitty......

Oh yeah.....

I LOVE my new Hello Kitty purse!

Stupid Questions

2011-01-11T12:43:00.002-06:00

What a day yesterday was!

When the hubby leaves it is almost guaranteed that something will break or go wrong in the house and yesterday was no exception. After missing his morning flight we finally got him off to the airport for an early afternoon flight to his conference. We grabbed some lunch, came home and then I put Snuggle Bug down for a nap so I could get some cleaning done. When I got her up and started getting her snack ready I realized that her milk wasn’t cold. Then I realized that the fridge wasn’t cold. Yes, that’s right, my refrigerator had stopped working. I have no idea when it went dead on me but it must have been sometime in the morning because everything in my freezer was thawed out almost completely. It was still cold so I did the first thing I could think of….cook it. I spent my entire afternoon and evening cooking two small chickens, chicken breasts, frozen veggies….anything that was usable.

On the plus side, I did get this outta of the deal. It was pretty tasty too.

I checked the breaker box and that was still fine. We had power to the house so that wasn’t an issue. So I plugged it into the outlet above the one it was in and presto it started working again. So the first time I call maintenance they tell me they can’t be out till Wednesday since the fridge is working again. Great. So the hubby calls them in between flights and guess what? They tell him they can be out in a few hours. Who knew a man’s voice could get so much done? Well they came out and treated me like an idiot. “Well, ma’am, you know you can plug the fridge into any outlet, not just this one.” Or, my personal favorite, “Are you sure you didn’t just lose power to the house for a while and just didn’t know it?” Yes. That must be it. I must be a complete total dumbfuck. Excuse the language but, in this case, I think it is warranted. I really dislike being treated like an idiot purely because I’m a woman.

So, long story short, my fridge died, my food went bad, maintenance sucks, but the fridge is working again (for now) and that’s what matters.
Hopefully today is a much better day.

Time in the Kitchen

2011-01-08T12:18:00.002-06:00

I may be down, but I’m not out! Last night I was feeling a little better and all I wanted to do is get into the kitchen and make something yummy.

Oatmeal Date Bars and Whole Wheat Oat Muffins……Don’t they look delicious?

Oatmeal Date Bars

2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 1/2 Tsp Cinnamon
Pinch of Salt
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2 Cup Vanilla Soy Milk
3 Tbsp Agave Nectar or Honey
1/2 Cup Applesauce
1 Large Egg
1 Tsp Vanilla
3/4 Cup Dried Dates
1/4 Cup Chopped Pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place the first 5 dry ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine.
Mix the milk, applesauce, egg, agave, and vanilla in a separate bowl.
Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stir to combine and then stir in the dried dates and pecans. Pour the oatmeal mixture into a buttered or greased 7 x 11 inch baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes or until thickened and golden.
Cool, cut into squares and serve.

Whole Wheat Oat Muffins

3/4 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
3/4 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Nutmeg
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Agave
¼ cup molasses
1 Tsp Vanilla
1/2 Cup Vanilla Soy Milk (Or any milk)
1/2 Cup Vegetable or Canola Oil
2 Large Eggs, whisked

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix the first 7 ingredients in a bowl to combine.
Whisk the remaining ingredients in a separate bowl until combined.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
Fill 12 muffin cups (that have been greased or lined with paper cups) 3/4 full.
Bake 20-22 minutes for regular size muffins (or 12 minutes for mini muffins) or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Watch the muffins carefully. If you let them overcook they can become quite hard and dry…not yummy. I’ve also added mashed banana in the past or a jar of mashed banana and apples baby food and it makes for quite tasty and moist muffins. I may have posted this recipe before and if I did then here it is again!

I still don’t have my voice back, hopefully soon, but I can at least do something productive!

Sick Day/Blog Hop

2011-01-07T09:46:00.008-06:00

I'm sick....what a bummer! It started on Tuesday with just a sore throat and the sniffles and then it progressed from there. Now I just feel like one big ball of snot and as of yesterday i've completely lost my voice. I had a photo shoot planned for today that i'm going to have to reschedule, which stinks because we had some very interesting ideas planned. On a cuter note, as I was getting Snuggle Bug dressed for school I had to whisper to her since I don't have a voice. She decided that she needed to whisper back to me. She whispered to me up until the hubby told her it was time to go...cutest kid ever.

I suppose I'll take today to relax, do some reading for school since my classes start in a little over a week and just enjoy the quiet for a while. I'm no good at resting though. Instead I sit here and look around the house thinking about what I could be doing if I were well. Yeah, resting really isn't my thing.

So today I will leave you with one of my favorite sick day soups that always makes me feel a little better.

Ginger Chicken Soup (from a 2004 Real Simple Magazine)

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons ginger grated fresh ginger
2 32-ounce containers low-sodium chicken broth
2 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped
2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
2 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 medium turnip, peeled and chopped (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 2- to 2 1/2-pound rotisserie chicken
1/2 cup frozen peas
4 scallions, sliced
4 biscuits, store-bought or made from a mix (optional)

Directions
1.Heat the oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
2.Add the broth. Stir in the parsnips, carrots, celery, turnip, and ½ teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
3.Meanwhile, using a fork or your fingers, shred the chicken meat, discarding the skin and bones. 4.Add the chicken, peas, and scallions to the saucepan and cook until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with the biscuits, if using.

OH YEAH.....

Its blog hop time! I just LOVE blog hops! They give me the chance to find some awesome new blogs and gain some awesome new followers!

and Hop Along Friday!!

Winter break is coming to an end

2011-01-06T23:04:00.000-06:00

It feels like the winter break just started….. but it actually ends in a little over a week! ACK! Time flies when you’re having fun.

Almost two weeks with family in the house and then this last week has been spent trying to get the house back in order from the blissful chaos of the holidays. The hubby goes on a business trip in a few days and I get to spend a handful of nights crafting, cleaning and reading, some of my favorite things to do when he is away. Then come the 18th its back to school for me. I learned the hard way that it can be very difficult keeping a balance between home and school because school can really take over a person’s life. I’ve also realized that I very much miss a stay at home mom. I know getting an education is the right thing to do but I often miss staying at home to teach and play with Snuggle Bug. She is growing up so fast and it feels like I can’t keep up anymore. On a positive note, I think I’ve gotten my schedule spread out enough to actually be able to spend some time focusing on the house and family, rather than burying myself under homework when I walked in the door at 5:30pm like I did this past semester. You know you’re studying too much when your 2 year old tells everyone, “mommy is doing homework.”

I’m feeling pretty positive about 2011 and the spring semester. I only hope I can keep this positivity up.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T22:18:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year!!!

How are you planning on spending 2011? What are your resolutions?

I want to manage my time between school and my family so I can be sure to not get lost in my own personal pursuits and take care of my family the way they deserve.

2010 was an amazing year for me. So many changes, so many challenges that I faced and triumphed over. I really hope that 2011 will be just as good...if not better!

Winter Break!!

2010-12-16T18:42:00.002-06:00

Winter Break is here!!!!!!!!

I finished my last two finals today, which means it is time for winter break....four weeks of no classes, no homework and no tests! I've really enjoyed this semester but I am so happy to get a break.

Its going to be a very busy holiday! The hubby's family starts making their way here for Christmas soon. His brother and his brother's two kiddos should be here on Monday and there is so much to do! This house is a mess because i've been so focused on school over the past few weeks. I think its time to make a to do list and get cracking on that!

Oh yeah!

2010-12-10T15:25:00.001-06:00

I just logged onto my twitter, first time in months, and found it was hacked! Ugh!

If you are following me and were getting stupid tweets about pharmacy stuff or anything along those lines then i'm really sorry! I deleted all the posts and everything should be good now.

Sorry!

What a semester!

2010-12-10T15:13:00.005-06:00

I'm almost done with my first semester at the University of Colorado! I have finals next week and then its time for winter break!

It has been so different being back on campus after so many years away, but this semester has been a good experience. I've made some new friends, gained a wonderful mentor, and learned that there are amazing professors out there and some who will push their personal beliefs on you all semester until you want to lose your mind. I got knocked down and built back up and its been really good for me.

Snuggle Bug absolutely loves her daycare and talks about her friends all the time. She is really thriving, learning a ton and loves being around her peers. Four months later and I still hate dropping her off each morning. I'm glad she is happy but I feel like I am missing so much and it still breaks my heart. I just remind myself that i'm doing this for her so I can provide her with a better life.

Now it times to study for finals and get ready for a wonderful holiday season. The hubby's mom and two brothers are coming out along with his brother's two kiddos. I'm going to have a full house this Christmas!

Ben's latest film!

2010-10-02T15:32:00.001-05:00

Here is my brother's latest short...... Be sure to comment on it at youtube and let him know you liked it!!

Well Hello!

2010-07-24T11:51:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to drop in and let everyone know that I haven’t abandoned my blog!
There has been so much going on over the last couple of months it has been difficult to find the time to get on and update.

I was accepted to the University of Colorado so I’m excited to say that in a few weeks I’m going to be going back to school fulltime. I’m really excited but a little nervous. Snuggle Bug will be starting at a wonderful daycare center on campus so I’ll be nearby. They have a great curriculum and I think it will be a really wonderful experience for her.

We did our usual trip to San Diego over the 4th and had a wonderful time. Between the aquarium, zoo, setting up and shoot on the 4th and spending time with family and friends it was a very busy week and half!

The hubby has been busy with work as usual and I’ve been doing my homemaking, cooking and crafting.

There is so much more I want to update about but it will have to wait till later. But I promise I’m going to try soon to post regularly. Hopefully some new crafting ideas or new recipes soon!

Rainbow Falls

2010-06-02T10:20:00.008-05:00

I am loving it here in Colorado! I can't even tell you how beautiful it is out here and how much fun we have been having since we got here. I can, however, show you some pictures from are recent trip to Rainbow Falls.

Some people seem to think the graffitti is an eyesore but I happen to think its beautiful. It adds such an interesting feel to the falls.

Besides, how can anything be an eyesore with that in view? Lovely!

Snuggle Bug found it all very interesting. The water was particularly fun for her to splash her hands in.

"No!" was what she was telling me each time I tried to help her. Ah, toddlers.

Even I decided to get in on the fun and hop in the water.

It was COLD!

We had such a great morning! Other families were there throwing frisbees around, enjoying picnics and just taking in the scene views. We will definately be going there again!

Worldess Wednesday

2010-05-19T11:28:00.003-05:00

PS. Sorry for not posting recently. There has been a ton going on and I just haven't had a lot of time to attend to my blog. I'm hoping that once things calm down, the hubby comes home from his TDY and I get my educational stuff figured out i'll be able to sit down and really focus on my blog again. I miss it!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T10:46:00.000-05:00

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-05-11T15:43:00.001-05:00

Sad News

2010-05-04T16:16:00.002-05:00

On Friday I got a call from my mother telling me that her cat was at the vet. She said that Gypsy was lethargic, vomiting, groaning and she knew something was wrong. Unfortunately, something was wrong. Gypsy was suffering from liver failure. She made it until Monday morning and they made her as comfortable as possible before she finally passed away. Obviously my mother is very upset as anyone would be at the loss of a pet, especially one who has been a member of the family for so long. It is never easy to say goodbye to a pet.

So, after 11 years of faithful friendship we have to say goodbye to sweet little Gypsy.

Whole Wheat Banana Flaxseed Mini Muffins

2010-04-28T10:58:00.003-05:00

I love spending time in the kitchen. Getting in there and experimenting with different flavors and textures relaxes me for some reason. So yesterday on a whim I hopped into the kitchen and decided to whip something up. This is what I came up with…..

Whole Wheat Banana Flaxseed Mini Muffins

1 ½ cups of whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons milled flaxseed
3 bananas, mashed
¾ cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dash of fresh grated nutmeg
¾ teaspoon cinnamon

Combine wet and dry ingredients separately. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
Bake at 375 for 12 minutes. Makes 32 mini muffins.

I want to call these “healthy” but I have a hard time saying that with so much sugar in the recipe. Next time I make these I’m going to try substituting 1/3 cup agave nectar for the all the sugar in the recipe and maybe a scoop or two of wheat germ.

Either way, they are super yummy and Snuggle Bug gobbled these up as soon as she tasted one. Enjoy!

Another Monday Morning

2010-04-26T08:34:00.004-05:00

All is quiet in the house. The hubby is off to work, Snuggle Bug is still resting quietly and I’ve been milling about the house since 6am. It’s a pretty calm morning, so far. I did, however, wake up with one teeny tiny question……

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?
Snow at the end of April? Seriously?

My home town is going to have a high of 83 today. Do you know why? Because it’s Spring. Apparently Colorado missed the memo.

I know I’ve been talking a lot about the weather, springtime and such but you have to keep in mind I’m from the south and even though I’ve been living in colder climates for about 3.5 years now, that still apparently isn’t quite enough time for me to enjoy the fact that it stays colder much longer around here than I’d like. I’m just ready to pull out the spring clothes, plant some flowers and sit on my back porch with a glass of iced tea. Doesn’t that sound so much better than schlepping about in that lovely dirt and snow mixture while bundled up to look like the kid from a Christmas Story, “I can’t put my arms down!”? For me that will only work when the holidays are coming up and you’ve got enough warm Christmas cheer to combat the cold winter sludge.

Nonetheless, Snuggle Bug and I will make the most of it. I’ve got a few projects in mind and once she wakes up and has breakfast we’ll venture out to pick up some groceries and a few other items. Now a positive to all this cold, I can get to a few more stores before my cold items thaw out too much. See? You always have to look for a silver lining.

Look! It's a Lawn!!

2010-04-23T10:48:00.004-05:00

LOOK!!

Can you see the difference? You see that green stuff? Its grass!

After about a month of living with a dirt backyard after the straw and netting blew away they finally came and put in the grass yesterday. It is so nice to finally have a lawn. The dogs, of course, ran out to break it in immediately. That was nice of them, eh? After I got that cleaned up I let Snuggle Bug go outside to check things out. I’m ashamed to say this is her first lawn. At our old house we never could seem to get the grass to grow and it was so gross out back that we never let her play out there. But not anymore!

So now comes the fun part when we turn it into our own backyard oasis. I’ve been scanning craigslist daily for patio furniture I can rehab and I’m hoping to find a little swing set for snuggle bug. Then again there is a park literally across the street so we may look for something else. I don’t know yet. I just want to be able to finally enjoy our outdoor space for once. I keep reading blogs where people have taken the crappiest looking stuff and turned it into something really amazing. I want to try that myself! Any tips from the rehabbers on what to look for in furniture or rehab projects? I’d love to make some fun one of a kind stuff outside of the small craft projects I already do.

Side note:

If you're over from Friday Follow or New Friend Friday let me know!

Its Curtains for You!

2010-04-22T12:32:00.006-05:00

Yay for playdates. Snuggle Bug just loves them and I love that she gets a chance to play with some kids her age. With her being an only child it’s so important to make sure she is getting proper socialization so she isn’t just playing with grownups all the time. But having other kids over shows me how much we need to teach her how to share a bit better. She has no issue at first but then when she really wants a toy that someone else has she screams bloody murder. Yes, I’ve got a screamer on my hands. I’m actually surprised that the neighbors having called the cops on us yet with all the screaming Snuggle Bug does. But now the kiddos have gone on their merry way and Snuggle Bug is enjoying some quiet snack time in the playroom. Ah, quiet. It’s nice while it lasts, which isn’t very long at all.

Is this not the cutest fabric? I got it on sale a few weeks ago to make into curtains for Snuggle Bug’s playroom. I absolutely puffy heart this fabric. But now I don’t know what kind of curtains to make with it. Valances? Balloon shades? Roman shades? I don’t know and there are so many different styles out there.

Here is the playroom. Excuse the mess, our little playdate friends just left so the place isn’t completely picked up. Thoughts?

I also bought these two fabrics for summer dresses for Snuggle Bug.

I don’t actually know what I want to use this fleece for. But I saw it on sale and loved it so here it is. Ideas?

So i've got a lot of ideas in the works if I could just get my sewing room up and running again. Maybe that will be my next project this weekend.

Spring? Where are you Spring??

2010-04-21T10:21:00.004-05:00

Has anyone seen spring? Because I sure haven’t. I love spring. I love being able to get outside in the nice weather and plant things. Despite my black thumb I do enjoy basking in my attempts at not killing the most basic of plants.

It was such a lovely day yesterday. The sun was shining, I had the windows open; it was the kind of day that makes you wake up feeling positive. This morning is one of those mornings that you wake up; hear the rain the groan loudly while you pull the covers over your head begging for just 15 more minutes. We had originally planned a fun filled trip to the zoo but that obviously isn’t going to happen today because the equation of wet + cold + toddler does not equal a calm mommy. But the season has just started and that season pass will come in handy soon enough with many zoo pictures to follow. So what do you do on days like this? Cold, wet days when you and your kiddos are stuck inside. I always love new ideas.

Ooooh and I almost forgot to post a wonderful new recipe I tried out.

Unfortunately, I have no picture of the actual meal, because I was so excited to try it that I ate it all up before I realized I hadn’t taken a picture. Oops!

Cioppino

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon herbs de provence
1 bay leaf
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup clam juice
1 tomato, diced
1 cup chicken or fish stock
1 cup water
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
½ pound mussels, cleaned and debearded
½ pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
½ pound scallops
½ pound skinless halibut

Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in large soup pot. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, herbs de provence, bay leaf and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste. Add clam juice, bring to a boil and cook over medium-high heat for 3 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, chicken or fish stock and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in vinegar, salt and pepper.
Bring back soup base back to a boil. Add shrimp, scallops, mussels and halibut. Reduce heat and simmer, until everything is cooked, about 5 to 10 minutes. Serve with crusty Italian bread.

Enjoy!!

Post It Note Tuesday

2010-04-20T16:19:00.001-05:00

It's a Beautiful Crafty Day!

2010-04-20T10:51:00.002-05:00

Good morning blog world! It is such a lovely day today. The sun is shining; it’s cool outside and beautiful. Snuggle Bug just finished a yummy bowl of oatmeal and I’m enjoying a cup of coffee. It’s a good start to a good day. Peaches is doing well since her surgery last week and seems to be recovering well. She was very drugged up when the hubby brought her home on Wednesday but after about 6 days of rest and relaxation – which is hard for a very energetic dog like her- she is doing well. She doesn’t love the cone she has to wear to keep her from messing with the stitches but she seems to be getting used to it.

Nice days like these bring out my creative side. I haven’t had any craft projects to post in at least a month and I’m itching to get something going soon. My sewing room isn’t even close to being unpacked unfortunately. I’ve been waiting on the hubby to put my desk together but I’m about to give up and just do it myself because I really want it done. I also need to go buy another shelf since the one I had in my old sewing room broke during the move. I’m just ready to make something special.
Actually I do have a mini craft that Snuggle Bug and I did earlier this week.

Letter Decorating!

Snuggle Bug just LOVES the alphabet. So what could be more fun to a 2 year old then to decorate the alphabet? She was so proud when I put them on the wall for all to see. When the hubby got home from work that evening she was thrilled to show him the special project she had done. We also made stick puppets but she has hidden those away so I can’t take a picture. I love doing little crafts with her. I think this week it’ll be something with macaroni noodles or paper cups. Oh the possibilities!

Grocery Savings and Doggy Surgery

2010-04-12T15:35:00.001-05:00

Recently I joined a site called the Grocery Game. If you’re an avid coupon clipping deal hunter like I am then you’ve probably heard of it in the past. How it works is there are lists to grocery stores in your area. On each list are sale items that are coupled with coupons from the Sunday paper so that you can get the rock bottom lowest price and the more that you shop the list the more you save. You pay $5 per list every 8 weeks which for us equals out to $7.50 a month for the three lists that we receive which are Safeway, King Soopers and Walgreens. I’ve been at this for about 3 weeks now and I will say I’ve seen a significant savings already even though I’m still working on my stockpile. Stockpiling is another principal in the grocery game. Sales run every couple of weeks and you stockpile those sale items that you need so you won’t have to buy more until they come on sale again. That way you’re always buying your items for the lowest possible price. They even have items marked in green on the list that are things you can get for free when you combine a sale and a coupon. Today I managed to get Nivea body wash and Lunchables for free thanks to a sale and coupon. Over the past couple of weeks I see an average savings of 25% which may not sound like much but it is great to see “You saved $71 today” or “You saved $35 today” on my receipts. I will say you could probably do what the Grocery Game on your own without paying for the list but I’m honestly paying for the convenience of it all. I originally went into it thinking I’d just do the free trial and opt out but I’m hooked.

In other news, my little fur-baby is going in for surgery on Wednesday. When we made it here to Colorado we noticed that she had began limping and decided to get her checked out. Low and behold the poor thing has a torn ACL and a bone deformity that we didn’t know about. So after a trip to the canine orthopedic clinic it was determined that she’d need surgery. Even though it’s horrible expensive we’re going to go ahead with it because we don’t want her to be in pain anymore and for it to get worse and worse. Please send out lots of prayers and good thoughts to my little Peaches on Wednesday!

Checking In

2010-03-31T10:20:00.001-06:00

It’s that wonderful time again. Yes, its babysitter interviewing time. It feels like I just did this not too long ago actually. I put ads out, interviewed each candidate, thought long and hard and finally found a sitter. The sitter I chose the first time was very sweet and Snuggle Bug just loved her. She has great availability, was educated and experienced. Then a few months later whenever I’d call she’d have classes during the day and be working weekends and evenings so she was never available. It was quite a letdown to go through all that only to have a sitter flake a few months later. Especially during a deployment when I needed the extra help. I’m hoping this time around is a bit better.

I was speaking to a friend of mine last night who told me she couldn’t imagine having to find a sitter. She only leaves her children with family. I really envy people who have family nearby to help with occasional sitting.

In other news, we’re pretty well settled here in Colorado, as I mentioned in my last post. The area is beautiful, the people have been nice and I feel very comfortable here after the last couple of weeks. We’ve got pretty much all the boxes unpacked now, except for the office which I’m not touching until the hubby gets in there and sorts some things out. It’s mostly his stuff anyway. So reasonably that room will stay that way until he decides there is something he needs and has to go through everything to find it.

Snuggle Bug did quite well with the transition. There were some rough nights at first with her trying to get used to her new room but we’ve finally gotten into a good routine and she is much happier now. I say that as she throws a huge toddler fit in front of me for no apparent reason. I guess she wants me to wrap this up. I just thought I’d check in and let everyone know we’re doing well, getting settled and should hopefully be posting more soon!

Getting Settled

2010-03-22T17:15:00.005-06:00

What a busy few weeks this has been with SO many changes! It all started on my birthday when the movers came to pack us up. The next day our stuff was put on a truck and they drove into the sunset. We cleaned and painted and got everything in the house ready to rent and by Monday is was time for us to pack up the car and head to Colorado. The drive wasn't bad, about 8 hours, which is long enoug when you've got two dogs and a toddler in the car with you. Snuggle Bug did very well for being couped up so long actually. Thank goodness for portable DVD players and Elmo. We got to Colorado that evening, checked into our hotel and the next day was the day us to sign for our new house, it was right down the road from our hotel on post so it was pretty convenient. Then we waited....and waited.....and waited... for our stuff to finally arrive. It finally made it to us on Friday. We had days of beautiful sunny warm weather out here and on Friday, of course, we had to get a random snow storm. I felt so bad for the movers having to move in all our stuff in that nasty weather. Those guys really earned their money. The past few days have involved tons of unpacking. Who knew we had so much stuff? Snuggle Bug's room was first on my list because I wanted her to get settled first. The living room is about done, got the curtains hung today, the dining room is unpacked but still a mess and Snuggle Bug's play area is a mess but that is only because she likes to pull out every toy she sees me put away.

So here we are in Colorado. I really like the area so far and I love our house. There's so much to see and do around here and having such a wonderful view of the mountains doesn't hurt either. So thats whats been going on during my blog hiatus. I'm sure there is more I could tell you about but I should probably get back to getting the house together and then start dinner.

Birthdays and Movers

2010-03-11T22:09:00.000-06:00

Today is my birthday. The sad part is I’ve had to be reminded of that a few times earlier today because I completely forgot. It has been such a long day. Today is the official beginning of our big move to Colorado and I’m so excited and just so ready to get there and get settled. The movers came to pack us up and got to the house a little before 8am and spent the entire day there; finally finishing at around 5pm. I didn’t realize we had so much stuff! Tomorrow the movers will come back and pack all our stuff onto a truck and on its way to Colorado it goes. So we’re living in a hotel for the next week or so which could be better and could be worse. Snuggle Bug is handling everything really well so far which is a big relief for me. I was quite worried she would freak out and I’d damage my child forever. Can you imagine in her little world leaving the only house you’ve ever known? That is a huge change in her little world.

The hubby took us out to dinner after we got checked into the hotel. We were both so tired and Snuggle Bug was just grouchy and ready to eat and go to bed. But the food was good and its always nice not having to cook. I’m sure after a week or so of take out I’m going to be dying for a home cooked meal – even if I’m the one cooking it. I will admit since it’s my birthday I was hoping for a little cake. Something about birthdays just makes me crave cake. Yum. Now I’m drooling about cake. Maybe I’ll run by Wal-Mart and get a small one just to celebrate our move and my birthday all in one. I think that is a good enough excuse for cake.

2-20-10 Photo Shoot

2010-03-07T22:54:00.006-06:00

I meant to post some of these earlier, but here are some pictures from the 2-20-10 photo shoot. There were so many wonderful photographers involved and we had a lot of fun even though it was freezing out!

and a few of the hubby and I.

HUGE thanks to Kim Kravitz Photography, James Smotherman of Smo Shots, Kenneth Rodriguez Photography and Danta Simonsen!! They all do amazing work!

Help Help!!

2010-03-03T13:04:00.001-06:00

Goodness. It has been such a long few days I don’t even know where to begin. The hubby has been sick for over a week now so I’ve been taking care of him as best as I can while doing my usual chores. Then Snuggle Bug came down with a fever last night and has been coughing all day. All of this usually wouldn’t stress me out but add to that the fact that we are moving in less than two weeks and everything has fallen on me when it comes to getting the house ready. This is one of the first times I’ve sat down for a long period of time in a days. Snuggle Bug is down for her nap and I really should be patching up the nail holes on the walls, ordering the mulch for the front and back gardens and cleaning up the garage. Then there are the dishes and laundry and other daily chores that don’t stop just because we’re moving. I’ve already gone to the dentist this morning and the store to pick up some Gatorade for the hubby and stuff for the house. Mommy needs a time out very badly at the moment. So I think I’m going to take a few minutes to myself to enjoy the smell of the beef stew in the Crockpot and listen to the sound of quiet.

Two Weeks!!

2010-02-25T13:42:00.001-06:00

We have just two weeks until the movers come to pack up our stuff! I cannot believe how quickly the time is flying by before we get to Colorado and we are so ready. It feels like there is just so much I need to get done and so little time to finish everything on my to do list. I’m actually sitting here writing while I procrastinate – I need to clean the bathrooms – which is probably why nothing is getting done. Oh well, I think I deserve the occasional procrastination day. I’m just really enjoying the quiet. Snuggle Bug has officially entered into the terrible two’s with a vengeance. Yelling “no!” at everything, throwing fits over the smallest things and just generally feeling very unpleasant. It is taking some real getting used to. I just keep reminding myself that this is all a phase and should end in, oh, the next 16 years or so. Definitely loving motherhood.

Okay, that nagging in the back of my head telling me that I need to get up and clean is winning me over. I’m off to get a few things done around here.

Did I set a new vomit record?

2010-02-22T11:26:00.001-06:00

What a weekend! This is the first time since early Sunday morning that I’ve been able to crawl out of bed after being very sick. Vomiting six times in six hours… yeah, no fun. I think its a new record. The hubby took over all the house duties, took care of Snuggle Bug and kept a close eye on me. He is such a good hubby!

Saturday started out as a good day. We had a photo shoot planned for later afternoon with a bunch of local photographers meeting to take pictures and exchange ideas. After braving the cold for about an hour we all met at a restaurant down the street to continue chatting and have dinner. We finished there around 7ish and a few of us met for drinks at a small bar. The hubby and I so rarely get to go out together it was nice being able to be out as a couple. See? Good Saturday. Then 4am Sunday morning rolls around and I’m awakened by a horrible feeling in my stomach. I knew it wasn’t good and it all went downhill from there. After the third trip to the bathroom I knew it was time wake up the hubby because I was feeling pretty bad. He brought me a cool washcloth, rubbed by back and tried as hard as he could to make sure I was well taken care of. Around 4pm yesterday evening I managed to make it out of bed for about an hour before I needed to lie back down. It was a very long day. This morning I’m still feeling under the weather but well enough that I don’t want to be in bed anymore. I’m just so ready to feel back to normal.

Vomit and Toddlers

2010-02-19T09:35:00.000-06:00

Good morning! It is a cold and dreary day today; I’m very ready for spring. Snuggle Bug is sitting next to me having her breakfast after a long evening/night. It started out as a good day, went to the grocery store, played, and cleaned, the usual stuff. Towards the evening I noticed that she was starting to act like she was tired. She kept walking over holding her arms up to be held. I finally decided that she must still be tired and put her down for a small nap before dinner. About 10 minutes later the hubby and I hear her crying and assume she is just annoyed about being put in her crib and figured she would fall asleep shortly. 5 more minutes go by and she is still crying. Hmmm, okay. A few more minutes and we couldn’t stand it anymore so the hubby went upstairs to get her. Suddenly I hear “Liz!!” as I’m in the kitchen making dinner and I drop everything to run upstairs to see what the problem is. I walk into Snuggle Bug’s bedroom and I see it… a very upset two year old covered in vomit and clutching her favorite bunny. Oh my. So I started piling puke stained sheets and crib toys onto a towel before getting Snuggle Bug into the tub. Okay, she is clean and her things are in the wash. We must be good to go, right? Yeah, not so much. I check her for fever and no fever. That’s good at least. She wants to play with her toys. Another good sign. She wasn’t interested in dinner which I assumed was because her stomach was still upset. The hubby and I have our dinner while she plays and life seems good. Then she toddles over to me looking upset and wants a hug. Just as I reach to pick her up, BOOM, vomit. All over my couch. Luckily, very little actually got on her so she only needed a new shirt.

She has puked on me more times than I can count in the last two years. Then add in her pooping, peeing, sneezing, drooling, or wiping her nose on me and I can safely say I’ve been covered in some sort of baby bodily fluid much of the last two years. Ah, the joys of motherhood.

Anyone know how to get vomit out of a couch? I’ve apparently forgotten.

Happy Birthday to my Snuggle Bug!!

2010-02-17T14:41:00.001-06:00

Today is Snuggle Bug’s birthday!

I cannot believe two years have gone by! It feels like just yesterday I was pregnant and now my Snuggle Bug is becoming a big girl. It all goes by so quickly!

We spent the last 5 days with family back home and just got in from our long drive last night. Man was I tired. 9+ hours in a car with a toddler can be very exhausting but I will say she did very well. We only had a few minor meltdowns so it could have been much worse. The Hubby was originally planning on going with us but had to make an impromptu trip to Georgia to fix some issues we’ve been having with our rental home there. He was definitely missed.

Since we were there so close to Snuggle bug’s actual birthday my family decided to give her a small birthday party so that we could all celebrate together. It was really nice just being able to relax with family and chat. The trip went by so quickly but I wanted to make sure we made it back today so that we could spend her birthday with the hubby since he missed it last year.

Tonight we’re going to have some well needed family time, play some games, have a yummy dinner and just enjoy a great birthday!

Happy Birthday to my sweet Snuggle Bug!

Quick Note

2010-02-12T13:48:00.002-06:00

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I will be out of town until next week so you may not hear from me for a few days. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Storytime Pillow and a new purse

2010-02-10T11:01:00.004-06:00

I have been in quite a creative mood lately! I love when I get into moods like this because I finally complete all those projects I’ve been meaning to finish.

Yesterday Snuggle Bug took an extra long nap so after getting my chore list finished I found myself with some extra time to fill before she woke up and that means time to sew!

One of Snuggle Bug’s favorite books is The Very Hungry Caterpillar so she woke up to a brand new story time pillow.

The night before the hubby went out on a nighttime shoot so I took that quiet evening to myself to attempt to make a purse. I had never done it before so there was a little trial and error but overall I’m happy with the result.

I embellished the front with beads and a bow to hide a flub up on my seam. Hey, at least I’m honest about it!

I’ve got one more project to post about; probably my favorite project in the bunch, but you will have to come back next time for that one!

So whats next? Maybe an apron or something new for Snuggle Bug? Maybe try my hand a smaller version of that purse and see if I can perfect my technique. I love crafting!

Quiet time for mommy

2010-02-08T22:06:00.002-06:00

All is quiet on the home front. The hubby is away at a photo shoot and Snuggle Bug is asleep so I’m getting a rare quiet moment to myself. I’ve spent some hours working on a few different sewing projects but unfortunately my back can only take bending over my sewing machine for so long. Apparently my back has decided to get old before I do. But the quiet is definitely nice after last week. Snuggle Bug is just finally starting to kick whatever she’s been sick with. But unfortunately in the process she got accustomed to being catered to and isn’t thrilled that it isn’t happening anymore. This would probably be a good time to take a long hot bubble bath but realistically I’ll probably spend the time cleaning. I would never be able to sit too long knowing that there are things around the house that need to be done.

But during this brief interlude from my “alone” time I can finally show you the entire little special thing I made for Snuggle Bug a few weeks ago….

A tutu! Isn’t it adorable? I think every girl should have one.

It was incredibly easy to make, no sew and only cost a few dollars to make. Snuggle Bug liked it so much she didn’t want to take it off.

With luck I should have the purse I’m working on finished soon and maybe the newspaper bead project as well. I think that’s my problem, I always start so many projects at once. I get overly excited when I see something I want to try and run out to get started. Then of course I get distracted with the project I had begun before that and it takes me forever to actually complete everything. That being said I should probably run off to finish some of those projects while I can, huh?

Under the weather

2010-02-04T15:43:00.004-06:00

Things that make you go awwwwww!

The hubby decided to make her a little place to lay down to watch TV since she doesn't feel well. Aren't they cute?

Snuggle Bug started coughing a few days ago and today my poor baby is just so under the weather. She is tired, has no appetite, and coughed so hard earlier that she threw up a ridiculous amount of snot. Sorry for the description but you get the idea. It is the worst thing in the world when your baby is sick. I just wish that I could do something to make her feel better.

Days like these make me want to call my own mother to say thank you for the countless days and nights she spent worrying about my brother and I when we got sick. Parenthood can really put things into perspective.

I wish I could make this post longer but as I type Snuggle Bug is starting to get a little bit whiney, which means she is probably starting to feel a little bit worse. I really hope this passed quickly so my sweet baby can feel good again!

Groundhog Day!

2010-02-02T14:03:00.000-06:00

Its Groundhog Day boys and girls! What does that mean? Well, the famous Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his stump to make his predictions and tell us if there will be 6 more weeks of winter OR if spring is just around the corner. I know we’re all hoping for some warm weather around here!

So what did Phil have to say today?

Yep, 6 more weeks of winter. Boo! But if it makes you feel any better is has been said that Phil only gets it right about 30% of the time. I guess we’ll have to wait and see!

Smothered Pork Chops with polenta

2010-02-01T09:33:00.002-06:00

The other night I tried out a new yummy meal that I think we’ll definitely be adding to our list of make again meals.

Smothered Pork Chops

2 bell peppers sliced, yellow and red
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons drained capers
1 to 1 ½ cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
4 boneless pork chops

Heat two tablespoons vegetable oil over medium heat and brown pork chops on all sides then put aside. Add remaining vegetable oil, onions and bell peppers to the pan and cook until tender. Mix in flour, cook for 2 minutes. Add vinegar, capers, broth and pork chops. Cover and cook until sauce thickens and pork chops are cooked through. Season with salt and pepper, top with parsley and serve.

About halfway through making the pork chops it dawned on me that I hadn’t thought about a side dish. Oopppsssss! So I did a quick search online and decided on this yummy polenta recipe that can be customized to fit your purposes.

Polenta with rosemary and parmesan

2 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, or more if desired
salt and black pepper to taste

In a saucepan, bring to a boil the chicken broth, water, milk, garlic, rosemary, and salt. Gradually whisk in cornmeal, set heat to medium-low, and simmer the cornmeal mixture until thick and creamy, stirring often to prevent lumps, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the Parmesan cheese until well combined.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole. Spoon the polenta into the prepared casserole, adding more Parmesan cheese if desired. Sprinkle the top with salt and pepper.

Bake in the preheated oven until the polenta is bubbling and golden brown on top, about 30 minutes.

For my purpose I cut the rosemary down and added some mozzarella cheese on top. It was so yummy! I served the pork chops on top of the polenta and the texture complimented everything really well. Then for our veggie I just went with something simple, steamed corn.

Enjoy!!

Ghost Towns

2010-01-29T17:11:00.001-06:00

Buuuurrrr, is It cold out there! We just got home from spending the day looking at ghost towns in the area and goodness was it interesting.

There was an old 1920s high school with a piano still sitting on their auditorium stage and old tattered curtains hanging in the window. The snow falling through the torn roof made it that much more beautiful and peaceful. Then there was an abandoned building from the 1800s where a few stone walls were still intact. There are probably so many stories that could be told about what happened in those rooms. Another “abandoned” high school that wasn’t as abandoned as we had originally thought. When the hubby walked up the front door he heard music playing inside which was a hint that it may be time to go. Or maybe the goats and pony in behind the school should have been a clue? Maybe the abandoned car or debris? Anyway….Then we stopped in a tiny town to enjoy the looking at the shops and small town atmosphere. While I wandered around the photographer hubby was snapping shots so pictures will be posted very soon. Unfortunately our time ran out too soon and we weren’t able to see everything we would have liked but we had a good time.

I love going to these old places and wondering what the story behind them is. I mean who were the people who used these buildings years ago? Who went to school there or who lived in that old house?

Now I’m completely exhausted so I think tonight’s dinner will be something simple, pasta and garlic bread maybe. Gotta keep this famil fed!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

2010-01-26T16:03:00.002-06:00

Yes I am!

Earlier this month the sweet vintage housewife lil’ miss Cat at The Vintage Housewife had a wonderful giveaway! What did a win? Lucky me, exactly what I needed to get this house smelling divine before our big move…

These Mrs. Meyers cleaning products smell so wonderfully fresh they make me actually WANT to clean! Didn’t she wrap everything so cute? There was even the most adorable flower barrette included in this special prize box!

and look at that card! (I should have turned off my flash, huh?)

Just opening the box put me in such a good mood with all the colors and great smells. I never win anything! You all should stop on over and pay Cat a visit, I've loved her blog since the day I found it.

Thanks Cat!

Balsamic Chicken

2010-01-25T22:15:00.001-06:00

A little while ago I mentioned a balsamic chicken recipe that I would post eventually......so here it is!

Balsamic Chicken

Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Minced garlic
Dried Thyme
Salt and pepper
Chicken breast

I have t apologize, I don’t measure much. I’m a pinch of this and pinch of that kind of girl so use your best judgment.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Rub chicken with minced garlic. I love garlic so I use quite a bit. Lightly drizzle chicken breast with olive oil and pour balsamic vinegar over chicken. I would say probably half a cup to a ¾ cup for four chicken breasts, depending upon how much you like balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with dried thyme, salt and pepper to taste. Bake at 375 for 35 to 45 minutes. I usually serve this with steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

Great Deal!

2010-01-25T21:53:00.003-06:00

I have to take a quick minute to post about my score for Snuggle Bug! I absolutely love looking for deals at garage sales, craigslist and classified ads. This evening I was looking through a local yard sale website and found a wonderful little item for Snuggle Bug, a sandbox for $15! I've been wanting to get her one for a little while now but hadn't decided on what kind to get and when. The ones that I had been looking at were usually retailing for around $40 to $50 which is why I was so thrilled when I saw this listing. It even included a bucket, shovel and other toys! Its in good condition aside from a little cleaning since it was on their porch but overall a great deal.

I love saving money!

Because there isn't already enough to think about.

2010-01-23T14:27:00.000-06:00

Preschool. Seems a little bit early to start thinking about that when Snuggle Bug is only about to turn two next month, right? WRONG. Holy crap this preschool stuff is a lot more in depth than I ever realized. Montessori, Play based, Waldorf, or Reggio Emilio? Which style is the best? What the heck are they anyway? Then there is the question of if preschool really is that important. The hubby didn’t go to preschool and he turned out just fine.

When I was a very young child my parents did not have a lot of money so needless to say hunting for the best preschool was not something that they had to worry about. So I went to a state funded preschool program for low income families. As a child I remember loving every minute of it. I got to play with neat toys, play with other kids – well aside from that weird kid who kept pretending to slit people’s wrists…I wonder what happened to him? - and learn about numbers, shapes and other things a geeky child such as myself enjoyed.

Obviously we’re not living in a city like New York where you have to begin planning at conception then years later get up in the middle of the night to stand outside a preschool with hundreds of other applicants praying that their child is selected. But despite that there is still the desire to make sure that my little one goes to the best preschool she can, well, as good a school as we can afford anyway. Our upcoming move is the very first one that I’ve had to consider things such as school districts, preschools and the various educational factors. The hubby just rolls his eyes when I squeal in delight about finding a new activity for us all to do in Colorado – Gymboree anyone? – I’m just so excited about finally moving somewhere larger and having access to fun classes and opportunities for Snuggle Bug.

This is one of those moments where I mention that no one tells you that parenthood has this much pressure involved. As if caring for a fragile newborn isn’t pressure enough. Now add on the pressure of trying not turning them into a mental defective and hoping twenty years later they aren’t yelling at you about how your decision to put them into a Waldorf preschool instead of a Montessori school ruined their entire life. Oh my.

Building a Computer

2010-01-21T10:13:00.003-06:00

Yesterday I told you all about the hubby sitting down at our kitchen table to build a new computer. While he was working I couldn't resist snapping a few shots of him lost in computer land.

The hubby hard at work.

Cords, wires, spinning things, blinking things....yeah.

Deep thoughts.

I was making dinner while he was doing this so I didn't get a chance to take too many shots but you get the idea.

There Is No Clear Topic In This Post.

2010-01-20T16:56:00.001-06:00

Its true. There really is no clear topic in this post so I couldn't think of a more fitting title than just that.

As I type the hubby is sitting at our kitchen table building a computer. I love my computer nerd savvy husband. This isn’t just any old computer either. This is a “super” computer as he puts it. What makes it super? Yeah, I’ve got no idea. But either way I know it’ll come out nicely because he’s got a talent for this kind of stuff. To me, it all looks like a random assortment of wires, bolts and metal bits. Looking into that box I may as well be staring into the human brain. But combined it obviously becomes something pretty darn neat or he wouldn’t be sitting there like a kid with a new toy.

Today was a fairly productive day. Snuggle Bug spent the morning at daycare while I ran to do some errands. Managed to save just about $15 bucks on groceries for the week, go me. I think I’m finally getting the hang of this coupon stuff. Maybe one day I’ll be one of those women who walk into the store and walk out with a cart full of groceries for $10 bucks. It’s pretty impressive I must say but I’ve got a while before I reach that power shopper status. Then I went to Target, 25 miles away in the next town because our town isn’t cool enough for a Target apparently, to get Snuggle Bug a new pair of sneakers. Her tiny feet are FINALLY starting to grow. The kid turns two in less than a month and she is finally wearing size 4 shoes. I blame those itty bitty feet on her late walking. I mean who can walk on such tiny feet; it’s like a balancing act! Then again I suppose all walking is a balancing act. I think I read somewhere that with every step we take we’re just moments away from falling on our face. Something to think about.

In preparation for our impending move we finally managed to get one of the dogs to the vet to get her shots updated and get more of her Heartguard. I feel like such a terrible pet owner because the year the hubby was deployed I wasn’t able to get the dogs to the vet. At that point I refused to put Snuggle Bug in any sort of daycare situation and the dogs are both so big it can be tricky to handle them and a baby. So unfortunately the last year their veterinary care fell by the wayside. On a more positive note, the vet said that Daisy is healthy, but slightly overweight, which we knew. I love that dog but she is so darn lazy. Getting her to get up and play, especially in the cold or heat, is a challenge. She much prefers to lay there and stare at you with those “why are you bothering me you moron?” eyes. Yeah, good dog. Peaches is the next to go in tomorrow and hopefully we’ll get the same positive healthy results from her check up too. She is my sweet, snuggly and extremely hyper little dog. She has a special place in my heart for the fact that she was adopted and returned to the rescue center so many times they were losing hope on her ever finding a forever home. How can you pass up a dog like that? I’ve always had a soft spot for the underdog. But I digress….

Anyway, it’s time for me to make my family a yummy meal! I’m making a tasty and simple balsamic chicken that I’ll be sure to post the recipe for soon. It always comes out great!

Late Night Mommy Musing

2010-01-19T00:10:00.001-06:00

Do you ever have nights where you just can’t sleep? Yeah, so do I. So here I sit in bed next to my snoring hubby with my laptop typing the night away while the rest of my family sleeps. I love my family. Despite the moments where I want to lock myself in the bathroom for a few spare moments of silence, pay no attention to the constantly running toilet, I still love that they are mine.

When my curly haired toddler runs up to me with snot running down her nose, hugs me as she wipes her nose on my shoulder and then runs of giggling I’m reminded of why God gave us children….to give us a sense of humor.

How can you be serious when you’re wandering around with snot on your shoulder, mashed peas on your shirt , sipping stale cold coffee and yelling “Don’t shove that crayon in the dog’s nose!” while your child squeals in delight? That’s right, you can’t. Because if you try you’re going to get wrinkles and I don’t need any more factors that lead to wrinkles. Instead I’ll take rolling around on the floor with my baby laughing at her silly faces and enjoying motherhood.

I make the mention of snot not because Snuggle Bug has a perpetually runny nose but rather because the poor thing has been dealing with a cold for the past few days that has made my sweet girl a snot factory. That is part of the reason I’m still awake. Because if tonight follows suit with our last two nights she will be awake in just a few hours crying because she can’t breathe through the abundance of mucus in her nose. Which will prompt me or the hubby, me if I’m awake, to come in with the snot sucker thingy to clear her nose. Then we rock for a while and try to get her back to sleep.

Maybe after that I’ll think about going to bed. Or maybe I’ll do some laundry, who knows?

Potty Training

2010-01-18T17:18:00.001-06:00

Yes, it’s that time in toddlerhood…potty training. Well, technically, this is potty training take two. A few months ago we started and were making good progress. She peed in the potty twice and seemed to be having a fun time with the entire thing. Then we began traveling, a week in Colorado, two weeks in California. Then the holidays came and went and in all that madness potty training went on the back burner. I really should have tried harder but I just got lost in everything there was to do. But here we are just a few weeks away from Snuggle Bug’s second birthday and it’s time to pull the pink potty out and get started again! Our chart is all ready and by her potty. She LOVES her sticker chart! There is a spot for a sticker each time she goes into the potty, tries to go potty, pulls her pants up and down, washes her hands and so on. Those little colorful stickers make her so proud! The only problem we really had during that time was the problems we had with the pull-ups giving her a rash. She has such sensitive skin it can be tricky to find things that won’t irritate her skin. Do they make cloth pull-ups that are actually absorbent? We attempted the cloth training panties but they were so thin that her first accident soaked all over the place. Needless to say we put those to the side for when she has a bit more bladder control. I guess I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears out for something that will work for us.

It is hard to believe that we’re already at this stage. It seems like time is going buy so quickly and before I know it she’ll be grown! But until then I’m going to enjoy every toddler minute I can with my baby, get every snuggle, every kiss and soak up all the memories. I love being a mommy!

Upcycling

2010-01-17T21:06:00.005-06:00

Over the past couple of days I have been overflowing with creative ideas. My most recent ideas have involved upcycling. For those of you who don’t know what that is, upcycling is taking an item that has been discarded or that no one has use for anymore and turning it into something better. I LOVE upcycling! Earlier this week I did a run to Goodwill and found some wonderful gems to work with. Now Snuggle Bug has some brand new items for her wardrobe.!

This skirt was made from a bedskirt that cost $1.99. There is still lots of fabric left that i'm not sure what to do with. Maybe a purse?

These pants are from a Tshirt that was on the 99cents rack.

I’m also working on an adorable shirt dress for Snuggle Bug which I’ll post just as soon as it’s done.

My other latest projects have been kanzashi flowers. Such simple but beautiful little cloth flowers that can be used to embellish your craft projects! A wonderful tutorial can be found at http://www.mookychick.co.uk/diy_ethic/kanzashi_tutorial.php

Here are a few that I’ve made recently.

They are so simple and fun to make. Definately a great way to use up those tiny fabric scraps!

I've got so many different projects that i'm working on and I can't wait to share them as I finish them!

Cold Winter Day

2010-01-07T09:43:00.003-06:00

It was a cold, snowy day yesterday. One of those days that makes you want to curl up next to the fireplace with a nice warm blanket. So what is a better thing to do on a cold dreary day than bake cookies! Sugar cookies happen to be one of the hubby’s favorites so that is what I made.

Sugar Cookies
1 cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
granulated sugar

Cream butter; beat in sugar gradually. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla extract; stir to blend. Combine and sift flour, baking powder, and salt; add gradually to creamed mixture, mixing thoroughly.. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls. Place 2" apart on greased baking sheet. Flatten with bottom of glass that's been greased and dipped in granulated sugar. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to racks immediately to cool.

Don’t they look yummy?

They didn’t last very long in this house either!

For our yummy snowy cold winter’s night dinner I made Clam Chowder with crescent rolls. It was so yummy!

Clam Chowder

1/2 pound bacon, cooked them crumbled
5 unpeeled potatoes, diced
2 celery stalks, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
2 (6.5 ounce) cans chopped clams with juice
2 (1.8 ounce) packages dry leek soup mix
1 quart half-and-half
1 Bottle Clam Juice

Place the bacon in a large pot and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisped and browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the drippings in the pot. Crumble then set the bacon aside. Stir the potatoes and celery into the bacon fat. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Pour the juice from the clams into the pot, bottle of clam juice and add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the potatoes are just tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
Stir the leek soup mix into the potatoes until no lumps of soup remain. Stir in the clams, reserved bacon, and half-and-half cream. Cook and stir until the chowder returns to a simmer and thickens, about 10 minutes more.

Thank goodness there are leftovers from last night or I think I’d have to make this again soon!

Jose Cuervo Cookies

2010-01-05T15:06:00.000-06:00

Jose Cuervo Cookies

1 tsp baking soda, 1 cup of sugar,1 tsp salt,
1 cup of brown sugar, 1 cup of butter, 4 large eggs, 1 cup nuts, 2 cups of dried fruit,
1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Sample the Cuervo to check quality..

Take a large bowl, Check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality,Pour one level cup and drink.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter In a large fluffy bowl.

Add one peastoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still ok, try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.

Pick the frigging fruit off the floor.

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaters just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity.

Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who geeves a sheet. Check the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.

Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.

Don't forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the wishdasher.

Dinner and Home Staging

2010-01-04T21:48:00.002-06:00

The house smells so yummy right now! I’ve had stew simmering in the crockpot all day and the longer it cooks the better it smells. I’m going to toss some cornbread in the oven before too much longer. Beef Stew and cornbread, now that is a yummy cold day meal! <---I wrote that about three hours ago and it tasted just as yummy as it smelled! I started my blog entry earlier today but got a little distracted with finishing dinner, getting everyone fed and getting the little one into bed. But now the kitchen is clean, the house is quiet and the little one is fast asleep. Time for a little blogging and quiet time before bed.

The meeting with the realtor went well today. He seems like a knowledgeable person who will do a good job. I hope this turns out better than our last attempt at selling this house, 2 showings in a 6 month period…..not good. Tomorrow I’m going to start the staging process but I’m running into one little problem, toys. Everything I read about staging says to put the toys away which is easier said than done with a toddler. Since her bedroom is upstairs it is hard to keep everything up there when we spend most of our day downstairs. Not to mention her bedroom is already overflowing as it is. She is quite a blessed little girl! Staging is pretty tricky when you’re still living in your home. Our house is filled with family photos and special keepsakes that make our house feel like a home. I hate the idea of living in a generic house but if it helps then we’ll do what we have to.

Here is a little home staging inspiration.

Now, how do you get a house to look like that when there is a toddler, two dogs and husband running around?

Five Minute Craft of the Day!

2010-01-03T20:40:00.003-06:00

Does anyone else love pretty storage? Bins, baskets, boxes…..i’m in love with decorative storage! I seem to go through phases. One moment it is baskets, baskets for everything I can see. Then it is plastic storage bins and off I run to the store for plastic storage bins to organize whatever mess is around and now its jars and boxes. I love jars, so perfect for those odds and ends just not big enough for a box or bin.

A little peek into my bathroom closet….

Now it is time for a 5 minute craft project of the day! I went to walmart and purchased a few simple white storage boxes in varying sizes that cost between $7 and $4. Something along the lines of this…

I had planned on buying some stamps for this project but was sad to find that my walmart didn’t sell stamps and the nearest craft store was 30 minutes away and closed on Sunday. Since I’m not the patient type I looked for a new option which ended up being rub on transfers which cost about $2.50 for a pack. I had never used them beforebut I love them now because they are so easy!

Here we have the finished product.

Aren’t they pretty? Five minutes and $13.50 later i've got two adorable boxes to store my scrapbooking supplies! I bought one more box in brown for sewing supplies and I'll probably end up buying a few more before my pretty storage box phase ends. Hmmm, I wonder what is next. Bags maybe? I guess we'll see!

Clean Clean Clean

2010-01-03T12:34:00.004-06:00

Yes, it is that time again. We’re going to be putting the house back on the market in hopes that it will sell in the next three months. While I’m not holding my breath on that happening I nonetheless have to get this house back in showing shape. Not an easy task with a messy husband, toddler and large dogs. I’ve spent my entire morning cleaning out closets (and wondering how they’ve gotten so bad since the last time I did this), folding laundry and making lists of stuff I need to get things more organized. It’s so easy to lose yourself in the amounts of tiny clutter that can accumulate. I’ve had to put a few of my crafty projects on the back burner for now while I tackle my current project. Sometimes it seems like I’ve got 20 things going at once and I want to do them all at the same time! The sad thing is that I haven’t finished a complete project in ages. The hubby is probably starting to wonder what I do all those hours that I’m working in my craft room. But this gives me time to get my crafting supplies a bit more organized. Right now they are all living in a number of shoe boxes and plastic bags so it is probably time to invest in some better storage options.

In other news the hubby managed to break a fairly expensive camera lens while he was out shooting yesterday and he had that thing all of two months. Apparently the winter weather doesn’t agree with his California boy nature because this is the third time he’s slipped on a patch of ice this winter. Here’s hoping his warranty will cover getting it fixed. He did manage to come home with some lovely pictures of the winter landscape around the area. He’s getting good at this new hobby of his!

Here are a few shots he took……

He found a small ghost town about an hour away from us and he said that the old general store still had stuff in it. How cool is that? I love old towns and buildings because there is just so much history. We're heading to a ghost town a few hours away this Friday and i'll be sure to take my camera along! Okay ladies and gents my break time is over and i'm off to get more done!

Creativity

2010-01-02T10:20:00.002-06:00

Good morning! The hubby is off shooting most of the day and while I sit here starting a quiet day with my Snuggle Bug and sipping my cup of coffee I’m feeling motivated this New Year to get organized and creative! Since last night I’ve been looking up projects, writing down my ideas and tomorrow I’m off to the craft and fabric store. Do you ever get in a creative mood? I read all these wonderful blogs where these amazing ladies organize their home using beautiful storage ideas they’ve created from everyday items and they inspire me to do the same. This year I’m going to be more creative! With our move coming up in just a few short months I feel the need to clear the clutter so I can make our new home even better than this one. This New Year is full of creative possibilities and I’m ready to tackle them all and live in a more beautiful and creative world! I’m off to spend time with my Snuggle Bug but before a do here is a little creative inspiration……..

Feeling inspire yet??

Lets get crafting!!

Why Men Are Never Depressed

2010-01-01T12:02:00.001-06:00

This was posted on Sugar Pie Farmhouse and I had to repost it here....its too funny!

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED:

Men Are Just Happier People ~ What do you expect from such simple creatures?
•Your last name stays put.
•The garage is all yours.
•Wedding plans take care of themselves.
•Chocolate is just another snack.
•You can never be pregnant.
•You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
•You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
•Car mechanics tell you the truth.
•The world is your urinal.
•You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
•You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
•Same work, more pay.
•Wrinkles add character.
•Wedding dress $5000 Tux rental-$100.
•People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
•New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
•One mood all the time.
•Phone conversations tend to be over in 30 seconds flat.
•You know stuff about tanks.
•A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
•You can open all your own jars.
•You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
•If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
•Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
•Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
•You never have strap problems in public.
•You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
•Everything on your face stays its original color.
•The same hair style lasts for years, maybe decades.
•You only have to shave your face and neck.
•You can play with toys all your life.
•One wallet and one pair of shoes --one color for all seasons.
•You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look
•You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
•You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
•You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

Happy New Year!!

2009-12-31T11:15:00.001-06:00

I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year!!!

New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-30T21:38:00.004-06:00

The new year is approaching fast and as I run around my house this evening doing chores and making muffins for our morning breakfast I can’t help but think ahead to what the new year will bring and what changes I can make to make this new year a wonderful one for my family and I.

As a homemaker I sometimes find myself feeling like I’m not contributing to life. I often watch my husband with his career and feel like he is actually doing something for the world as I sit here. Sometimes it can be easy to feel like the countless hours spent mopping, sweeping, dusting; baking and everything else that goes into taking care of a home are a waste. Especially when the next day the house seems to become a mess again and I’m back to where I started the day before. I guess that brings me to my new year’s resolutions:

Appreciate. This year I’m going to try to appreciate the blessing I’ve been given of being able to take care of my family in the way that I do. Being able to be home with my child, making my family home cooked meals, keeping our home warm and full of love are just a few of the things I’m going to appreciate more.

Joy. I’m going to find joy in the little things in life. A clean kitchen. Folding laundry. Time spent with my family. I’m going to try to find joy in the things that I do everyday.

Embrace. I’m going to embrace my life and remember that what I do is valuable to my family and to myself. I’m going to learn not to find self worth in what people think I should be doing but in the fact that I know I’m doing the right things for the people I love.

There is so much to look ahead to for us this year with our upcoming move that I’m sure will bring on many life changes for us. I’m excited to take on whatever life brings my way in 2010!

Winter Photo Shoot

2009-12-29T11:12:00.007-06:00

Since getting home from his deployment the hubby has taken a recent interest in photography which I think is a great thing. He is such a creative person I love to see his ideas. There is a local photography group that he joined up with that does group photo shoots and mentor sessions and I got to be a model, well one of three anyway! It was a lot of fun running around pretending to be a model even though it was absolutely freezing outside! Here are some of the shots...

This is a good shot of me being a model for the hubby. I like it!

Thanks to Kim Kravitz Photography, Photos by GI and Nadja Peery of Mutt Shots for their great work! They are all very talented!

Looking Ahead.

2009-12-28T10:45:00.001-06:00

How was your Christmas? Mine wasn’t bad! Despite being sick Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I managed to get through it (with the help of DayQuil), make a yummy Christmas meal and enjoy a great Christmas with family and friends. Snuggle Bug made out this year with tons of gifts from the grandma’s, mom & dad and of course Santa. She didn’t fully understand the concept of opening the presents but she isn’t even two yet so I imagine next year she’ll figure it out. She did enjoy watching mommy and daddy open her gifts for her and showing her what she got.

Now I’m in the process of finding new homes for all these toys and preparing for the coming of the New Year which brings about lots of new adventures for our family! Between now and April I’ve got to get this house in top shape because in just a few short months we’re moving to Colorado. I’m so excited for our move and ready to April to get here! After our trip to see the area back in October I’ve been more than ready to pack up and head that way. The area is just beautiful! But until then I’ve got more than enough things on my to do list to keep me occupied all the way into spring. Speaking of that to do list….I should probably get off the computer and start some of it!

Holiday Baking

2009-12-20T21:26:00.005-06:00

I absolutely love holiday baking! I must go through bags of flour, sugar, eggs and milk this time of year. But there is something so special about turning on some Christmas music, putting on my apron and spending time baking yummy treats for the people I love. Tonight I made the classic Christmas treat, Gingerbread….yum!

Here is Snuggle Bug decorating her very first gingerbread cookie! Its in the shape of a Christmas tree but she decided on yellow icing.
But she decided later on to add in a little green for good measure.
That cookie is looking pretty good! As you can see by her face she had to take a little sample of that green frosting. Gotta make sure it tastes good!

Here are the finished cookies and the hubby and Snuggle Bug decorated. Aren't they cute?
The hubbt decorating. Not too creative but at least I got him to help a bit!
Here are the rest of the finished decorated cookies. I made even more but decided to save the rest to decorate later, closer to Christmas. But these here are for eating NOW! After we were done I sipped some egg nog (no one else likes it but me) and we watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas together before Snuggle Bug went to bed. I love Christmas moments like these!

Seasons Greetings!!

2009-12-14T14:24:00.006-06:00

It’s the most wonderful time of the yearrrrrrrr!! I love this time of year! With the snow and lights and festive decorations it is such a happy season. It is also a very busy time of year! The hubby and I just got back from a week in Colorado and then two week long vacation in San Diego, with a little side trip to Las Vegas, and had such a wonderful time! We spent about a week in Colorado checking out the area we’re moving to and just seeing what the area has to offer. Let me just say I am so darn excited about this move I could burst! The area is beautiful being at the foot of a gorgeous mountain and the city has so much to offer. I really think our family could be very happy there. The post the hubby is being assigned to is also wonderful. Very pretty, small and clean. The entire week left us with a very good feeling about living there for the next 3+ years. We had about two weeks at home to rest before we packed up and flew to San Diego for Thanksgiving and two full weeks of lovely weather, family time and some yummy Thanksgiving food. The entire trip didn’t go without a minor disaster when Snuggle bug got very sick a few days after we got there. She started sleeping a lot and acting like she didn’t feel well then the fever started. Let me tell you seeing her temperature shoot up to 104.6 was so scary! Thankfully the doctors at a nearby hospital took good care of her and she was feeling better in no time. While we were in San Diego we took a quick side trip to Las Vegas while the hubby’s mom took care of Snuggle Bug. It was the first time since he has been back from deployment that we really got to spend some one on one time together. It can be nice to have some grown up time occasionally. As we were driving back from Las Vegas the hubby and I had a bright idea to stop at every tourist trap we could find and let me tell you we found some gems.
Now for some highlights from our trip…..

Here we have Alien Fresh Jerky. It is conveniently located right next to......
The World's Largest Thermometer! Nope, not joking. I'm standing in front of what is billed as the World's Largest Thermometer. They used to have a gift shop but sadly is was closed down :: sad face ::

Close up shot of the thermometer.

Then it was on to Calico Early Man Site.
Which apparently is closed on Tuesdays.
This was my personal favorite, Calico Ghost Town.
The hubby hanging out with the locals.

Sadly, this is the only picture of us in Las Vegas. We realized that on our way out of town and decided to snap one real quick, notice the car roof.

It was such a great trip and I've got so many more pictures to post in the coming days! I have been a terrible blog owner as of late I will admit. Once the hubby came home life got busy and my blogging has suffered quite a bit. But hopefully I can make a turn for the better and hop on here more. I've got so much more to share with you all!

Getting Back to Normal

2009-10-27T09:40:00.001-06:00

He’s home! Well, actually he has been home a few weeks now but all the same….HE’S HOME!! It was a cold early morning when we went to the welcome ceremony but what an exciting morning! I was so nervous I was shaking a little bit getting ready to see him after such a long time apart. We’ve settled back into a routine so easily it is hard to believe that that we’ve only spent two weeks together out of the past 12 months.

Snuggle Bug is beyond thrilled at having daddy home. She had no issues getting used to him and knew who he was as soon as she saw him. Now whenever he comes home from work or walks into the room she yells “daddy!” and grins from ear to ear. She is such a daddy’s girl.

There is a lot going on over the next 6 months or so. We’re heading out to Colorado next week for a 4 day visit. Trying to find a place to live, tour schools and just look around the area. Then we’re spending Thanksgiving in California with the hubby’s family and 4 days in Las Vegas. Then Christmas comes which is always a time of year that flies by. Then New Years, Snuggle Bug’s 2nd birthday in February and my one year blogversary! Then we make our big move to Colorado! Wow! Lots lots lots going on.

BUT…..speaking of Christmas I found a great deal for those of you with younger children! Coupons.com has a $10 off coupon for the Playskool Musical Sit & Spin! That brought mine from $24.95 to $14.95 at my local Wal-Mart. Gotta love saving money on Christmas gifts!

I should get back to the housework but I wanted to post a quick update to say I’m still here, he’s home and life is great!

I cannot believe this....

2009-10-07T13:52:00.001-05:00

Oh my. Let me tell you all it has been quite a time these last few weeks. The hubby was scheduled to get home on the 1st of October thus ending this awful 12 month deployment. That then was pushed back to the 3rd of October. He got to his first stop in Europe late Saturday which means you would think that today, Wednesday the 7th, that he would be home with his family. NOPE! Saturday rolls around and the landing gear on their plane breaks….but that doesn’t mean they get a new plane. That means they get to wait for the new part to come in. The part finally gets there, the plane is fixed and last night I was getting phone calls about the welcome ceremony that should have taken place at 5am this morning. I use the word SHOULD because last night I get a phone call letting me know that the hubbies plane as been turned around…..they lost one of their engines. Now they are going to have to wait at least 3 to 4 days minimum while the plane is fixed. They have other planes there but they are all scheduled for other missions. These are the only guys not home yet. Everyone else is back….and I mean everyone. I have no more friends because they are all with their husbands now. It is so hard to see everyone happily enjoying their families and here I sit alone. Every time I get my hopes up and believe that he is coming home he doesn’t make it back. Something always seems to happen. I feel like crap right now and I’m trying to stay positive but I don’t understand why they won’t find another way to get them home. I mean it may be a very small group but they still have families who have been waiting a very long time. At this point I don’t think this will ever end.

ELF order came!

2009-09-16T21:06:00.003-05:00

A few posts ago I mentioned a wonderful website called www.eyeslipsface.com which sells bargain cosmetics, mostly for $1 each.

I placed my order on the 2nd and it made it to me on the 12th, but I’m sure part of the issue with the shipping length was due to the Labor Day holiday. I have heard people say in the past that shipping has been has fast as a few days and as long and 3 weeks.

This is what I received for a grand total of $17.45……

That’s a lot of stuff! I used a coupon code, which they have tons of different ones, and got $7.50 off my order which includes

Blending Eye Brush
Smudge Eye Sponge
Eyeliner Brush
Eye Shadow Brush
Brightening Eye Color Quad (in Drama)
Shimmering Facial Whip (in Toasted)
(3) Duo Cream Eye shadows (in Black Licorice, Mocha Swirl and Butter Pecan)
(2) Mineral Eye shadows (in Socialite and Glamorous)

I haven’t gotten to try everything out yet but I can give a little low down on what I have tried….

Duo Cream Eye Shadows – They are great! The pigments are good, not too intense but still very pretty. They are creamy and smooth and go on really well and have decent staying power. I wore them out today and they were still looking good this evening.

Candy Shop Lip Gloss tin (in Frosting Fanatic) – This stuff smells fantastic and offers a slightly golden shimmer to the lips. It is thick but goes on smooth. It smells so yummy!!

Plumping Lip Glaze (in Ruby Kiss) – The color side is lovely and sheer. As far as the plumping side goes, despite the tingling feeling I didn’t see a lot of plumping in my lips. I think as far as plumping glosses go I am going to stick with my Sally Hansen Lip Inflation. The packaging is also a bit deceptive. From the side it looks like there is a good amount of product. But when you turn it over and look from the bottom you realize that there really isn’t very much. But at the same time when you’re only paying a dollar for a product I suppose you can’t expect to get extremely large amounts but I do wish there were a little bit more.

Overall the quality is pretty amazing for products of this price and I’m really happy with my purchases. I will definitely be ordering from them again!

Where is that chicken noodle soup?

2009-09-12T21:47:00.002-05:00

Oh my! This week cold cereal tiredness developed into full blown sick. I knew something was up because I was just so tired and then Wednesday night I lay in bed all night hugging a trashcan. First came the tiredness, sore throat, sick feeling then came the fever, chills, sweating and all over awful feelings. It was one rough night. Thursday morning came and I lay in bed wondering how I would make it down the stairs with Snuggle Bug to make her breakfast and get her ready for the day. I managed to get up the energy to get her diaper changed a basic breakfast of cut up bananas and a cereal bar made before I collapsed on our couch. Thankfully I have been blessed with a friend who came to my rescue. As soon as she knew I was ill she was at my house with a gallon of Gatorade, crackers and a bottle of ginger ale. Thank goodness, because I had nothing in the house to drink except milk, soda and juice all of which would have been way too gross to drink while sick. She ended up taking Snuggle Bug out for a few hours so I could sleep and rest without worrying about keeping an eye on my ever precocious toddler.

Thursday night my fever finally broke and I when I would have probably gotten a decent night sleep I was up every four hours. Why? Because my poor little Snuggle Bug had a fever and congestion. I knew the instant she was brought home that something was up because the poor thing just looked pale and tired. But thankfully her fever has gone down and despite a grouchy day today she seems to be doing well. I’m still fairly tired at the moment but I’m hoping to be back to normal soon. I’ve just got so much around the house that needs to be done. Pheeewwwww…..what a week!

Cold Cereal

2009-09-08T21:11:00.001-05:00

I have been out of it for the past couple of days. You know those days where all you want to do is sit somewhere in silence and stare….those sort of days. A cold cereal for dinner kind of day, that’s what today is and that is what I am having right now. I have been meaning to post the pictures of the rest of the onesies I did for Snuggle Bug but I have been lacking in the motivation to even get the pictures off my camera. So I think my plan for the rest of the night will be to take a shower and head to bed extra early so I can wake up in the morning with the energy to tackle all the housework that didn’t get done today. Night night!

Crafty Night! - Part Two

2009-09-04T00:22:00.004-05:00

Tonight is yet another crafty night! I ran to the store today with a few ideas in my head and a small budget and I’m so pleased with the outcome!

Last week a friend of mine gave me a pair of shoes that had been sent to her. They were just a basic pair of white sneakers that had been bought from a garage sale. She didn’t want them so they made their way to me. They had a lot of potential!

After a swim in some pink dye and new laces….

Tada! Aren’t they adorable? For a grand total of $3 bucks for the dye and ribbon Snuggle Bug has an adorable pair of pink sneakers!

Then we move on to the basic white bodysuit/onesie….

I got a pack of 5 for $11 dollars. Three of them went into a dye bath (you’ll see those in my next post!) and two stayed white. With the help of an iron on appliqué…..

Simple and adorable! I went ahead and sewed the appliqué down as well just for added strength since this is for a toddler.

Then, after picking through a fabric remnant bin, I found some lovely lavender material and a polka dot material (you’ll see the polka dot in a later post because I’m still not sure what to use it for) and…..

Snuggle Bug got a simple pair of winter sweat pants! These are the pants as they are now and tomorrow I’ll be embellishing them with something girly. I still haven’t decided what…any ideas?

Well, that was tonight’s crafty journey and there is more to come!

Crafty Night!

2009-09-02T22:51:00.004-05:00

Tonight that crafty feeling came over me and you know what that means...making things for Snuggle Bug!

Tonight's feature....Snuggle Bug's Bake Shop!

Felt food is so much to make and oh so easy! I grabbed my 99 cent felt and started working. The great thing about it is you don't need a pattern. Just an idea in your head and the stuff to make it. Hmmm, what should I make next?

Bargain Alert!!

2009-09-02T13:44:00.001-05:00

Attention Bargain Hunting Ladies!

www.eyeslipsface.com

I have been turned on to the most fabulous cosmetics site! “Why?” You might ask….because everything is $1! Yes, just $1. I love makeup, I really do. There is something about stepping out of the house with a full face of makeup and my hair done that makes me feel confident and sexy. The only downside is that I don’t always have the money to run out and buy all the makeup I want... and trust me there is a lot that I want. But this site is wonderful! For a buck, okay some products can go as high as like 3 bucks, I can get all sorts of things and they always have new coupon codes for discounts or free stuff. I just made my first order so I’m anxiously awaiting my products so I can try them out. I’ll be sure to post my thoughts on these things but for a dollar who couldn’t afford just to try them, right?

I have been on such a bargain hunting kick the past few days! Snuggle Bug and I spent yesterday morning out and about running from thrift store to thrift store. Sadly, we didn’t find much. But I have not given up hope! Tomorrow we are going to go back out to a town about 30 minutes away and try again. There is a new antique store I want to check out and fingers crossed we find those gems we are looking for. Snuggle Bug is such a good shopping partner and she can spot those things on lower shelves that I wouldn’t see (usually toys, hehe). Wish us luck you bargain divas! I go to so many of your blogs and see all these wonderful things you all find….I hope we have the same luck but we will definitely have fun looking!

Sunday

2009-08-30T15:11:00.001-05:00

I love the transition from spring to fall. I’ve had the windows open the last couple of days and the whole house just feels so fresh! The air is getting cooler and soon the trees will start changing. Then it is time for pumpkins and hay bales, apple cider and orange leaves and all those wonderful fall smells and feelings. Mmmmm….sounds cozy!

I’ve been going through closets, when Snuggle Bug isn’t bringing me a story to read, and getting rid of the clutter. I love the feel of a clean organized house. It makes me feel calmer like everything is in its place. Its something I learned from my mother.

I think I feel this motivation to get us ready for our move and just to get the house ready for the hubby coming home. I want to make sure everything is clean, organized and ready for him. Truth be told, the house could be a complete pigsty and he probably wouldn’t notice because he is just ready to be with his family again.

(Breaking to read the Dr. Seuss’s ABC book that Snuggle Bug has thrust into my hands.)

She loves to read and I swear we don’t go more than an hour without her bringing me a book to read. I love that she prefers a good book over a television show. It reminds me of when I was a child. A trip to the library was so exciting for my brother and I. We would run to the children’s section and just scan through all these wonderful books, looking for just the right story. Then we’d take our books home and lose ourselves in stories of Amelia Bedelia, Babar, Charlotte’s Web….oh the memories. The hubby is already talking about buying a copy of ‘Matilda’ to read to her when he gets home. We both want her to continue on with her love of reading. Speaking of, she is beckoning mommy to read her another book so that is my queue to get off the computer for a little while and get back to my reading and cleaning.

GREAT NEWS!

2009-08-26T14:31:00.004-05:00

I just got off the phone with the hubby and he had some good, great, wonderful news....

We're moving to Colorado!!!!!! Yay!!!

We are OFFICIALLY moving! I am beyond excited! He had been talking wit his guy about us being able to move and we had asked for Texas on the top of our list and the put down Colorado and DC/VA on the list as well but never thought either of those would happen. I am so happy! I have a friend there who I have to call and get all the info from and I cannot wait to get there. We won't be moving till the spring but I have go plenty to keep me busy till then. My goodness I can't believe there is finally light at the end of the tunnel and we're really going to be getting out of this state!

Lunch time....yummy!

2009-08-26T13:23:00.000-05:00

I just popped my lunch in the oven, a mini veggie pizza, and my does it smells yummy!

1 personal size pizza crust
Baby spinach
Tomatoes
Fat free cottage cheese
Oregano
Basil

I didn’t put exact amounts because honestly I just toss whatever amount looks good and hope for the best. Then I topped it with a red wine vinaigrette….

Red wine vinegar
Shallots, finely chopped
Dijon mustard
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper

I tossed in about a tablespoon of the vinegar, mustard and olive oil…maybe less of the vinegar depending upon how tangy you like it then I just chopped up one shallot and tossed some in to my liking.

So then assemble the pizza, drizzle on the vinaigrette and bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. I’ve made a few variations of this with pita bread, adding chicken and using feta cheese. But I found the feta cheese to be a bit too tangy with the vinaigrette.

Today is one of those rainy, gray, stay at home and curl up with a blanket kind of days. We got a very loud storm last night. It didn’t wake me up by my dog nudging me in fear did. For such a big dog she can be such a scaredy cat. So I reassured her that everything was okay and gave her a little drink of water…sounds like I’ve got three kids rather than one. I’ve really got to shake off this rainy day funk and get to my housework so I’m sitting here sipping my pomegranate energy tea. I’m honestly not sure if it really does boost my energy but I figure it is worth a try plus it tastes really yummy! Well, with snuggle bug down for her nap and my lunch ready I guess I should skedaddle!

I'm back in action!

2009-08-25T02:39:00.002-05:00

Wow! I have been MIA for sometime now, haven’t I? I’ve been meaning to update and post but with school, Snuggle Bug and life in general the time has just gotten away from me.

I’m happy to report we’ve got a little more than month left until the hubby comes home…..yay!!! I feel like I’ve been waiting on this forever. So in preparation I’m looking for a new dress for myself and Snuggle Bug, trying to get the house ready and pulling out my recipes so I can cook up a welcome up feast soon. I have to admit it feels like the time is slowing but I had a feeling it would once we go this close.

Hmmm, I’d love to give an update of all the wonderful fun things I’ve been doing this summer while I haven’t posted. But honestly I don’t know that I’ve got many interesting stories at this point. Snuggle Bug and I have been enjoying a quiet and peaceful summer to ourselves really. She took her first steps…..finally……a few weeks ago. I was beyond excited! Of course she hasn’t taken anymore since. I talked to her doctor last week and she said she wasn’t worried and that it sounded like she was just waiting on her daddy to walk given her history. She waited to stand and cruise until he was home on his R&R and I’m pretty sure she is waiting to walk until she gets her daddy back. Kind of a toddler protest I suppose.

I haven’t been too terribly creative as of late. But I did do an abstract work not too long ago…..

I was feeling a torrent of emotions while doing that one. It kind of represents my anger and frustrations that transform into enlightening and then peace. It makes sense to me anyway lol. There has been talk of a move in the works and I’m so ready. We’re just waiting to find out exactly where. But the point is…..we’re moving!! Yay!!! I’ve been doing the happy dance ever since I found I was no longer sentenced to years in a Midwestern exile. It has brought a lot of peace to my life I have to say.

Well, I suppose that will have to do for now but I promise to start posting more regularly with all the details of getting our wonderful soldier home!

What a nice day!

2009-07-18T11:27:00.001-05:00

I am loving the weather today! We’re at 75 degrees right now and we’re only supposed to get up to a high of 80, yay! The sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day here. I’m thinking Snuggle Bug and I should go out and do something but I don’t know what. Maybe we’ll make a trip to the park or something; it just seems a shame to not enjoy this kind of weather!

In other news we’re in the deployment home stretch. I am so ready to get this done and knowing that we’ve got just a couple of months left is relief. At the same time it is still far enough away that it feels like time is dragging by as slowly as it possibly can. It’s been a long year and I’m just ready for life to be normal again. I know the hubby is more than ready to get home to me and his little Snuggle Bug. I’ve started my to do list so I can make sure I have enough time to get everything done that I want/need to before he gets home. I know half of it is stuff that he won’t care about, like cleaning out the car and finding a new comforter for the bedroom, but it will make me feel good getting it done. But we’re just going to keep counting down and soon this will all be behind us!

In other news, Snuggle Bug seems to be making some progress towards walking….finally! We’re still not there yet but hopefully soon since she is 17 months as of yesterday. She is using her push toy stroller to walk and getting about on all fours on her feet rather than her knees. I’m so ready to see her walk but I honestly think she is waiting for daddy. She refused to stand up for months and then in the two weeks he was home for his leave she was up and cruising like nothing. She and her daddy just share a special bond and she really trusts him. So I hope she’ll walk soon but it wouldn’t shock me if she waited on her daddy….stubborn little girl she is.

My blogging has suffered recently due to my current class and I’m sorry. When I get a spare moment in the evenings it’s generally devoted to getting my coursework done then the housework after that so by the time it is all done I’m just ready to stare into space on the couch before falling asleep. But with luck my life will get more interesting soon and I’ll find the time to update more because I love blogging!

Oh yeah! I can’t forget to add these adorable photos of Family Day on post last weekend. Snuggle Bug just looks so cute with her little ponytail and she finally has long enough hair for me to do it!

Little Update

2009-07-14T21:01:00.000-05:00

Snuggle Bug is growing up so fast! She pulled herself onto the couch today for the first time. It took some effort and time to figure out the mechanics but low and behold when she figured out she could use a pillow on the floor to boost herself up that seemed to help quite a bit. Oh and her newest word? Cookie. I bought some Kashi chewy oatmeal dark chocolate cookies and gave her a bite of mine. After one bite she showed herself to be an absolute cookie addict, just like her daddy. I know I’ve been a bit slow on my posts lately. I’m in school and one of the classes I’m taking turned out to be a real butt kicker. The instructor seems to be purposely making the course harder than it should be just for the heck of it. Makes it hard for me when I’m already trying to balance things with the hubby gone and Snuggle Bug getting into everything she possibly can. I’ll definitely be trying to update more often though! But for now I need to go and get some more work done for class. Night!

Ben Green Films

2009-07-07T15:26:00.003-05:00

Jack Knifed Wolves coming soon....

Disclaimer: As a proud sister of a very talented filmmaker I've got to support my big brother! His ideas are amazing and his dedication is an inspiration to anyone working towards their dream. Keep it up big brother, you're awesome!

Hmmm....like banging my head into a wall.

2009-07-06T17:25:00.001-05:00

I don’t really know what else to say honestly. The day started off fine. We went to the grocery store and came in a dollar under budget, which was great. It is always a good feeling when I hit the mark and walk out with everything we need for the week. Yay!

Snuggle Bug has hit that point where she is into everything so today I decided it’d be a good idea to get some cabinet latches, just so that she couldn’t open up the cabinets and get into my baking supplies and stuff she doesn’t need to be in. Seems like an easy enough task, right? Wrong. Very very wrong. I read the directions, laid out the contents of the box and got everything I was supposed to need for installation…a simple screwdriver. Ha. I sat down and marked out where the screws were supposed to go. They wouldn’t go in. Of course not. They are cheap piddly little screws that have no real point to them. I fought with those things for a while and even tried different screws I had but to no avail. The angle I was trying to screw them in at didn’t help I’m sure. In my madness I even tried superglue. Then I went to google to see if it had any answers. There I found numerous videos of people effortlessly installing their cabinet latches. Screw here, there, five minutes later a safe cabinet without breaking a sweat. Grrrr. Then the video of someone pre drilling the hole. Duh. I ran to the garage, got the drill, something I’ve used on more than one occasion and put on the drill bit and began drilling my pilot holes. First hole complete….yay! Second hole…snap. Yes folks the drill bit broke off. Are you kidding me?? So the drill bit has been removed, the holes filled and no evidence of my fight to child proof my home. Now I’ve got to find a way to use these latches or find a better brand….preferably one that isn’t parent proof.

Oh yeah and the cherry on top? I’m taking care of a car for the hubby’s friend who is deployed with him. I try to start the car once a week or so and move it up and down the driveway since I can’t really drive it too much because I don’t have a third car seat and we already have two cars. But I do try to take good care of it, start it, make sure everything is good to go and all that. I go out there today to do my car shuffling and…..click click click……the battery is dead. I started that car a week ago and it was fine and here we are a week later and it won’t start. My Toyota sat for almost 4 months and started up just fine when the next time I pulled I took it out for a drive. So I got online and looked up that car model and why it would be dead after a week of sitting. Turns out this particular car model likes to do this. I read through many stories of people whose car battery would die after sitting no more than a few days. Of course.

My mantra for the day to keep me sane….”its all good.” If I remind myself to be positive then I won’t lose my mind.

Happy 4th of July!!!!!

2009-07-04T12:37:00.006-05:00

Happy 4th of July!!!

Today is a day of mixed emotions for me. This day is usually one of the high points of my year. The hubby and I spend a few weeks with his family on the west coast. We enjoy the beach, weather, friends and family and then spend the 4th out on the beach doing his fireworks show. It’s a lot of work but we always have so much fun. This is the first time since we’ve been married that I haven’t spend this day covered in sand and dirt, loading shells, wiring things all for a 20 minute light display in the sky, that generally the hubby doesn’t even see until someone shows him the video.

This year I could have tried to make it out there, just Snuggle Bug and I, but it just didn’t seem right. I wouldn’t be working on a show with the hubby; I wouldn’t have him around as we ran for late night Mexican food, walked down the beach after I nag him to go, getting some In N Out burgers, grabbing some sushi, wander around the fair and all the things that make this time of year very special for me. A lot of the trip revolves around food and blowing things up apparently, hehe.

So in that spirit here are a few July 4th memories from the years past….

Be safe and enjoy the 4th!!

Motivation

2009-07-02T14:23:00.001-05:00

Finally, some motivation! For over a week now I have been dragging to do anything. Running errands, cleaning the house, laundry, homework….it has all required massive amounts of energy that I just have not wanted to give. It is very unlike me because I am usually the queen of clean. But I have felt myself getting overwhelmed watching everything pile up in front of me that rather than fixing it I’ve just been trying to ignore it. Yeah, that didn’t work.

Anyone who knows me knows that when there are dishes sitting in the sink and laundry piled up in the laundry room and bedroom I’m having a bad week. But today I woke up, gave myself a good kick in the butt and started trying to get some stuff done around here. I’ve managed to get all the bathrooms cleaned, kitchen clean, dinner is in the crockpot, working on making a dent in the laundry and I’m actually seeing some progress which is enough to motivate me to keep going. Snuggle Bug must notice the difference in me too because she has been in a wonderful mood today, which I cannot say for the past few days.

Hubby FINALLY got his father’s day package yesterday and talk about late! But at least it made it there.

Here is a little peek of what he got…..

I also added some snacks and things that I know he enjoys. I sent his 4th of July package earlier this week and I know that will be late too but it is a very important package. The 4th of July is his absolute favorite holiday. He waits all year for that day and runs around like a kid on Christmas. Why is this? Because the 4th of July is the day he gets to indulge his inner pyro. He learned from his father and has been doing fireworks professionally whenever he gets the chance, which with his job is very rarely, usually once a year. So we both look forward to our trip to California in July to spend time with his family and for him to have some fun. I’ll post a picture of that box as soon as he gets it, so in a few weeks I guess.

Well, there is my update and I need to get off my bum and get back to my chores!

Motherhood

2009-06-24T12:19:00.004-05:00

Motherhood is a challenge. I think any mom who just read those words laughed a bit. She probably reflected back to the time when her baby threw up on her, her toddler pulled their diaper off and left her with a nasty surprise after naptime, her child drew on the walls and all those other wonderful moments that make mothers around the world look at their children and ask the same question “Are you sure you’re mine?”

I have learned so much in the last 16 months with my daughter. One of those realizations has been that some mothers can be very insecure, myself included. I want to be the best mother I can possibly be to Snuggle Bug because I feel that she deserves the best I can give to her. That being said, I’m a far cry from the best mother on the planet for a few reasons.

One, I let her watch TV. Yes, I’ve read the studies; yes I know it’s not the best thing in the world for her and, no, she doesn’t sit in front of the TV all day. But sometimes 30 minutes watching Elmo’s World or Sesame Street makes her happy and gives me a chance to make lunch or dinner.
Two, she knows the word tattoo. I have a decent sized tattoo on my arm that she loved to look at when it was new. She kept crawling over, pointing to it and then looking up at me with this inquisitive face. So one day I pointed and said “tattoo” and she pointed and repeated, well to the best of her toddler ability that is.
Three, we don’t eat at the dinner table. It is not uncommon for me to pull her highchair into the living room and for us to eat dinner and watch Jeopardy together. It’s our favorite evening show. Growing up the only time I ever sat at the dinner table was during holidays. Once I was out of a highchair I vividly remember the Strawberry Shortcake TV tray that I sat at during dinner time with my family as we ate dinner in the living room and watched family shows together. Then again, this was back in the day when they actually had shows on in the evening that the entire family could watch together (Alf anyone?). The hubby’s family also wasn’t one to sit at the table and enjoy family meals. Despite the lack of family bonding around the dinner table we both have strong bonds with our families and did spend time with them. Neither of us turned out to be delinquents and are both functional members of society.

I have no doubt there are more but this is what comes to mind at the moment.

For a while I’ve felt bad about these things. Not because I personally think they’re wrong but because of the comparisons I’ve made to other mothers. I’ll never fully understand why mothers are always fighting each other trying to prove that they have the better parenting skill. It’s not like anyone is going to give us a medal if the house is immaculate 24/7 and your baby is walking, potty training and reading Tolstoy by 10 months old. That is something I’ve had to remind myself daily because it’s easy to fall into the mommy guilt trap.

I was chatting with a friend yesterday who has a child close to Snuggle Bug’s age. She asked what I was up to and I told her I was sitting with Snuggle Bug while she finished up dinner. Her response was interesting, “Oh well we eat dinner together at the dining table. No TV, no computer, no phone or anything.” Now I don’t think she was trying to sound high and mighty but never the less her response made me feel like she was trying to prove something. I’ve been blessed with a passive child who has decided that things like walking and teething are better left till later. This means, at 16 months, she only has 4 teeth and still isn’t walking. She cruises like a maniac and crawls and just a few months ago began crawling with her belly off the ground. So I’ve encountered many comments about this. “Why can’t she walk?” or “It’s sad she can’t play with other children her own age….” I had a friend send me a picture of her child and another child their age running at the park and the note said “it’s sad she can’t come run with them but maybe soon.” Yeah, it pissed me off because I want my child to have everything other children her age have.

I thought a lot last night about what makes a good mother. I’ve decided, to me, a good mother is a woman who loves her child(ren) unconditionally and deeply and does everything in her power to give them the best she can. I’m not a perfect person and I’m not a perfect mother but I love my Snuggle Bug with all my heart and will do anything in my power to make her life and happy and positive one. Oh motherhood, who knew it would be like this?

Oh Strawberry Shortcake...the memories....

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path."-- Agatha Christie

Its not the heat....its the humidity!

2009-06-23T17:09:00.004-05:00

Summer is upon us!

Oh my is it hot! We have an “Excessive Heat Warning” today because we’re about to break the 100 degree mark. Yesterday I met a friend for dinner (50 cent taco night, yay!) and it was so humid that just walking from the car to the restaurant door caused us to both break a slight sweat. You'd think after two years in Georgia i'd be a bit more climatized to it all. Honestly I shouldn't complain too much though. It is currently 102 degrees in my hometown and 112 degrees where the hubby is located. Poor guy, I honestly don’t know how he stands it. Thankfully we don’t have a terribly long time until he is back home with us.

I started my class yesterday for the Summer quarter at school, I’m taking Fine Arts appreciation. I know I know, sounds like a gimmie course and usually anything with the word “appreciation” is. But I need a fine arts credit and since I’m doing my work online this is the easiest way of going about it. I’m less than six classes away from finishing the coursework for my Associates degree and I’m so ready to move on to my Bachelors. It feels like I’ve been working on this forever. I started it before I got married then with moving a few times, having a baby, working and just life in general its been a stop and start process. But seeing light at the end of the tunnel makes me happy.

Well, I should be off now so I can get Snuggle Bugs dinner on the stove and get my Jambalaya simmering!

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T18:35:00.005-05:00

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful daddies out there!!

I'm happy to say i've been blessed with a man who is the best father to Snuggle Bug I could ever imagine. They share a special bond that warms my heart whenever I see them together.

They have so much fun together!

and he takes very good care of his little pumpkin!

We love you babe! Happy Father's Day!

Good Surprise!

2009-06-15T17:59:00.003-05:00

Sometimes when you’re having a bad day its amazing how something can unexpectedly turn it all around.

I've been feeling a bit down the past couple of days, not sure why. We're coming to the end of the deployment but I’ve still got a few more months to go so I’m just going through a rough patch. Snuggle Bug has been in a growth spurt and teething which has made for some grumpy moments and since we're hitting the toddler stage she is into everything. It can be very tiring.

We went to the grocery store and she through a huge fit on the way out. Serves me right for going so late in the morning but I got caught up with stuff I was trying to do before we went. I went over budget which always bothers me because I'm picky about that sort of thing. I swear it seems like each trip gets more and more expensive for some reason. Snuggle Bug screamed on the drive home, despite my efforts to pass her toys and snacks, which made for a lovely 20 minutes. Once we got home she ate her lunch while I put away the groceries and then once she went down for a nap I decided to rest for a bit myself. The sad part is even after that nap I’m still tired.

But here is the good part….

After we got up from our naps, had snack time and played I got a knock at the door where a surprised was waiting for me.

These!

Aren't they pretty???

He has no idea how much these flowers made my day.

For Mother's Day he sent me a gift certificate for a massage. Here it is middle of June and I still haven't had a chance to go cash it in. Maybe soon.

I gave the delivery woman a strange look because I didn't think she was at the right house. I looked and thought "It's not my birthday" lol. But they were indeed for me! Now I've got to find a good place for them so whenever I look over at them I can have that reminder of how much someone truly loves me. I've really got myself a good man!