What happened, Tuesday?

I know, I know.  I was supposed to blog yesterday.

I didn't.  Shame on me!  I don't actually know what happened yesterday.  The day just flew by and before I knew it, it was bedtime.  Or rather, I passed out from sheer exhaustion.  Guess that energy I was so excited to get back isn't going to be coming around any time soon!

So yesterdays Summer Blog Challenge Prompt was...

What does your significant other do that melts you?

Ya got a minute?

I have been blessed, truly blessed, with my husband.  Now I know that most women will say that but I can tell you that Jon is one of the most amazing people I've ever met.  He's probably reading this with some surprise considering how much I've been moping around lately.

Baby blues, mkay.

But truth be told, there is not one single thing he does that melts me.  It's just him.  He has this insane ability to say the right thing all the time.  When I'm down, he knows exactly how to pick me up.  When I'm exhausted, he's the one who will sit me down and talk me into relaxing.  When I idly chat about some product or book I'm interested in, he finds a way to get in my hands.

But more importantly, Jon loves me for me.  Despite my nagging.  Despite my constant cranky face lately.  He just loves me.  Through and through, no matter what.  He taught me that true love does indeed exist and that the fairy tale romances are nothing compared to the real thing.  I cannot imagine my life without him.

Even when I'm being a crab apple.

That was an easy one.  Whatcha got for me today, Summer Blog Challenge?

What's the best gift you've ever received?

Oh, I could totally make this the most mushy post evah and write about how many wonderful gifts Jon's given me.  iPads, sewing machines, glass jellyfish...

Hey, I like jellyfish.

But instead, I'm going to share a little piece of Erin with you.  I'm going to share my long standing favorite gift of all time.

Pardon the crappy cell pic. I, of course, just realized I never charged my camera battery.

Meet Mr. Bunny.

This cranky curmudgeon of a rabbit was a gift for me when I was three years old. I still remember the excitement of getting him from my mom.  And, of course, we were instantly best friends.

Fast forward 23 years and he's still one of my favorite possessions.  He currently resides in my room and has retired from his life of entertaining children.  After all, I put him through enough...

Pretty sure this pic proves that.

And so you know, Mr. Bunny didn't always look cranky.  He developed that somewhere along the way.  I must have been rough on him as a kid.

So Thanks, Mom, for giving me the best gift ever.

Until next time, Happy Wednesday!

Vacation = Over

So I've been gone for a week.  You know. Just kicking back.  Really getting to know myself again.

If you read that and believed me, please go back and read my older posts.

Okay, so in reality, I had a baby last Monday.  Then spent Tuesday and half of Wednesday in the hospital under "observation."  Beyond that... well, I've just barely been getting through days.

You'd think after already having two kids that I'd be fully prepared for a newborn.  Turns out that is NOT true.  So today I bring you...

The List of Things I'd Either Forgotten or Didn't Know About Having a Newborn.

1.  It does NOT matter how much sleep you think you're getting.  You need more.
Seriously.  I cannot stress enough how much new moms need to take advantage of times when baby is asleep.  Jon's been staying on me about resting but do I listen?  Not at all.  Instead, I dust.  Or I make 800 trips up and down the stairs.  Not the brightest considering I've had a c section.

2.  New Mom Terror never ends.
Yeah, so I thought I'd be cool about stuff this time around.  Nope.  I spend 98% of my day thinking something is wrong.  He's not eating enough.  Not wetting enough diapers.  His skin color looks a little off.  Is he sensitive to the wipes we were using?  Is he breathing?

Yep.  Been stressing about most things.

3.  Showers are blessed moments.
I never realized how much I love showering.  Until my time became limited.

4.  You can indeed have too much of a good thing.
Ever heard of milk over supply?  Or forceful MER? No?  Look them up.

5.  Baby poop isn't real poop.
Poop is generally a gross thing.  But when my little man decided to start his newborn photo session out with a bang (And by bang, I mean explosive pooing sans diaper... we were hoping for cute nekkid pics...)  I barely batted an eye over the fact that it was running down my shirt.

That's my boy.

6.  Time with your spouse is limited.
Jon's on vacation!  And yet, I barely see him.  He's playing with the boys so I can rest, I'm taking care of a nursling.  And once the boys are in bed... well, Jon and I fall asleep too.  We are not the most exciting people lately.

7.  Those baby gadgets that I complained about are amazing.
You know the gadgets I'm talking about.  The swing that is pretty much a baby sitter (*cough* gracosweetpeace*cough*) the bouncer that bounces on it's own.  I chuckled at those.  After all, who was really going to spend 50 bucks on a bouncer that bounces on it's own?  I ended up getting one for $20 at Target (yay clearance!) and Little Man is now happily bouncing.  And my poor aching back gets a break.

Side Note: I have the SweetPeace as well.  Again, amazing deal and it's definitely pretty cool too.

8.  Good nursing bras are hard to find.
That is all.

9.  You will become a pro at doing everything with one hand.
Wonder if I can teach myself to crochet with one hand. Hmmm....

and 10.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to the feeling of being a new mom again.  Every coo, each yawn just melts me.  Stretches and toes curls captivate me.  And nothing beats that moment when he opens his little eyes and stares at me until he snuggles back into my chest for a nap.  I absolutely love my little Gideon and I can't imagine my life without him.

Even if that does mean I'm a sleep deprived, poop stained hunchback.


So I'm a little behind on the Summer Blog Challenge!  I'll catch up.  However, it's day 25 of the challenge so I'll start there.  We'll really catch up tomorrow.


And the prompt is....

What is your ideal day of "Me" Time?

Haha, me time?  I don't even remember what that's like.  Okay, okay...  Let me think.

I would love a day with no set wake up time.  Roll out bed at the crack of noon with my hubby, have a light brunch.  Snuggle a bit, maybe take a walk.  This isn't really me time so far.

So in reality, I'd just want to sleep all day.  Maybe read a book.  Take a bubble bath.  Eat without someone trying to mooch off my plate.  (I know my children aren't the only ones who do that...)

It would be a simple day but it would be bliss!

That's all the time I have for today!  Until tomorrow, Happy Monday!

Whatcha got cooking?

It's nearly 6 am.  I'm supposed to be getting ready to head in for my c section.  Hubby is... But I'm sitting here, blogging my nerves away.

Pretty god things since the Summer Blog Challenge continues.  Speaking of the Summer Blog Challenge, I somehow mis numbered on my SBC page.  It's actually Day 18... Don't ask me how I'm on day 17 considering I blog everyday.

Ah, preggo brain.

Anyway, today's prompt is to...

Share a recipe you love.

Oh, I couldn't pick just one.  So here's a round up of my most recent favorite recipes.

One Pot Spaghetti

We love spaghetti and garlic bread around here.  When I found out that I could make the spaghetti IN THE SAUCE, I had to try it.  It is amazing.  Go.  Make it now.

Mini Frittatas

Always on the quest for new breakfasts, I found this simple and delicious recipe for mini frittatas.  FamilyFun.com never fails to provide food inspiration and this recipe proves it.  Customize this recipe to make even the pickiest eater happy.

   

White Chicken Enchiladas

There are not enough good things for me to say about this amazing recipe.  I'm not big on Mexican food but this definitely changed my mind on enchiladas!  

Lasagna Roll Ups

How about a new spin on an old favorite?  The only thing I found challenging was not eating the filling as I went.

Sausage and Kale Soup

Yeah, I know.  It's June.  Not really soup season.  But I'm pulling the who cares card.  This soup is amazing and takes no time at all to throw together.  And it tastes even better the next day!  Ah, how I love leftovers.

So there you have it!  5 recipes that have stolen my heart.  And the best part about them is how easy they are to make.  Seriously.  

Well, now that I've tortured myself (I haven't eaten since last night and can't till later today. Gr.) I'm going to start getting ready.

Happy Monday!

Late night musings.

So in the hustle and bustle of prepping for baby, I forgot all about today's Summer Blog Challenge post.

Bad. Bad bad bad.

The prompt is....

What are 3 things you are proud of about your personality?

I really hate these talk about me posts.  I never know what to say...  But hey.  I'll give it a shot.

1.  I am compassionate.

Before judging or criticizing, I try to empathize.  I may not always agree with someone or something but I'm always here to lend a hand.  Always here to listen without making remarks.  I wasn't put here to judge.  

2.  I can laugh of the small stuff.

Life is too short to freak out over every little thing.  I learned that a long time ago.  That old saying is true.  There really is no use in crying over spilled milk.

3.  I'm determined.

When I'm feeling passionate about something, I will keep at it.  No matter how many times I fall.  No matter how many people tell me to stop.  I just keep moving forward.

Okay, that was actually easier than I thought it would be.  

And so, to end this night... A final picture of pregnancy.

Good bye, Baby Belly.  I'll miss you!  But not as much as I'll enjoy Belly Baby!!!!

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there.

Especially mine!!!

Tomorrow means baby time so I'll be back on Tuesday or Wednesday!

Happy Sunday!!!!

I'm a little green, okay?

Okay.  I'm going to admit it.  One of the things I am most looking forward to with a new baby is cloth diapering.  I know, I know.  That sounds ridiculous.  But if you read my 6 Things Sunday Baby post, you noticed that prefolds were number two on my list of baby obsessions.

I originally decided to look into full time cloth diapering when I was about 5 months along.  Of course, I was thinking more along the lines of it being a money saver but the more I researched, the more it became clear to me that cloth diapering is so much more than a way to be economical.  What really sold me is knowing how much better cloth is for delicate baby skin.

So I explored my options.  And goodness knows there are a million.  All in ones, all in twos, fitted, pockets,  prefolds, flats... It can seem a little overwhelming when you start to research.  But I got through it and built my stash.

So there's my newborn stash.  Yep.  I'm starting with cloth right away.

Here's what I ended up with.

• 24 Indian Cotton Newborn prefolds. I decided to stock up on prefolds mainly because of their versatility.  It doesn't hurt that I already knew how to use them.  Lol.  
• 9 Prorap Newborn Diaper Covers.  Do you actually need 9?  No.  I bought 9 because I scored an awesome deal.  Yay for seconds!
• 5 Hemp Diaper Liners.  I've never used these before but they come highly recommended for night time absorbency.  If there's one thing I want, it's night time absorbancy.
• 7 Newborn Fitteds.  These were totally unnecessary.  But they were so darn cute, I had to buy them. 
• 3 Fleece Soakers.  For night time wear.  I'd never heard of fleece soakers before.  They're essentially just soft diaper covers.  Apparently, they're amazing and since they're so affordable, why not?
• 30-something cloth wipes
• 1 Large Wet Bag

So that seems like a lot of diapers.  But when you have a little one going every 2ish hours... yeah.  The more the better.  At least, that's how it seems to me.  We'll see how it goes once little man comes home.  I'll be updating about my journey through cloth diapering too... Since I can't be the only one who wants to know what works and what doesn't.

By the way, have you ever seen such a cute diaper?

Oh, Goodmama Diapers... You're bad for my wallet but so so cute.  

So day 16 of the Summer Blog Challenge makes me a bit sad.  It's all about fitness. And exercise is NOT my strong point.

Fitness Guru or Couch Potato?  What are your exercise habits?

I would love to say I'm one of those super moms who goes running marathons.  But truth be told, I am way out of shape.  At least right now.  I can barely climb the stairs.  This may have something to do with the HUGE belly I've been sporting.

However, I do like to maintain an active lifestyle.  When I'm not uncomfortably pregnant.  I'm not big on the gym but I love love love going for walks.  And racing around with my boys.  

Who needs the gym with two boys? LOL.

Maybe after I get the okay from my dr I'll set some crazy fitness goals for myself.  Or not.  I can't think of a single that sounds less fun than working out right now. 

Maybe one of you could help me find the perfect program to get me off my butt after this baby is born!

Until next time, Happy Saturday!

Short Stuff!

It's Friday!  Thank goodness.  I thought this week was going to go by slowly and I was absolutely right.  I'm so happy it's Friday.  The weather is wonderful, my hubby is on his first day of leave.  The goods are in semi good moods... lol.

Life. Is. Good.

So today's blog challenge prompt is a simple one!

Post a picture (taken by you) that you're proud of.

Eeeeeeeee!
Okay, so this picture is of my oldest.  He was maaaaybe 4 months old.  One day, while sitting in his nursery, I decided to play photographer with our old point and shoot and ended up setting this little scene up.  
To this day, this is one of my favorite pictures of him.  
Lol... he was so small... I should replicate this pic with him now.  Now THAT would be quite the picture.
Happy Friday!

15 Tips to Get Through Life

I slept in today!  I feel pretty awesome right now.  The sun is shining, I'm well rested for once and I'm sitting down to one of the best Summer Blog Challenge prompts ever.

15 Tips to Get Through Life

1.  Be true to yourself.
Yeah, you can find that sentiment on nearly every website directed towards women out there.  But it's true.

2. Laugh often.
It not hard to take life too seriously.

3.Don't be afraid to break the chain.
This means something different for everyone.

4.  Live for yourself.
Don't feel obligated to make every choice based off of everyone else.

5. Learn to say "No."
Overextending yourself is exhausting.

6. Don't give up.
If it's important to you, keep at it.

7. Ladies, get professionally fitted for a bra.
It's just easier that way. And your back will thank you.

8. Explore.
Whether it be the woods or the library, keep exploring.

9. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
We all need a hand sometimes.

10.  Learn to keep your heart involved in prioritizing.
Sure, the dishes need done.  But your child will only be little for a little while. The dishes will be there later.

11.  Indulge.
Every so often, treat yourself.  Even if it's just a bubble bath at the end of a busy day.

12. Learn the fine art of compassion.
This needs no explanation.

13. Say "I love you."
Remind the people that you love as often as you can.

14.  Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
After all, they're inevitable.  Might as well accept that and learn to laugh at it!

15.  Live in the present.
It's okay to think about the past and plan for the future.  But don't lose sight of this moment.

There are my tips... What would you add?

10 things I WON'T miss about being pregnant.

I've been doing that thing again.  You know, that end of pregnancy emotional roller coaster thing.  I keep finding myself tearing up of Belly Baby's hiccups, realizing that in just a few short days I won't be feeling him move around this way.

Yeah, I know.  I've done nothing but complain about being pregnant for the past month and now I'm sad that it's ending.

I. Am. Ridiculous.

However, I think there is one sure fire way to help me feel better about my pregnancy ending.  You know, before the baby arrives and I forget all about being sad. (lol)

You've already read 10 Things I'll Miss About Being Pregnant.  Allow me to share with you my new list.

10 Things I WON'T (seriously, not even a little bit) Miss About Being Pregnant.

1.  Heartburn.
I cannot wait to be able to eat without feeling like my chest and throat are one fire.  Goodness, I can't wait to have a small glass of water without thinking in the middle of it "That was a bad idea."  My heartburn has gotten so bad that nothing, and I mean nothing, has helped alleviate it.

2. Fatigue.
I have two very active little boys.  I don't have time to be tired.  And yet here I am.  Constantly feeling like I could fall asleep at any given moment.  There are days that I am so tired that lifting my arm feels like work.  I have to push through it, though, which leaves me even more tired and cranky by the end of the day.

3. Mood Swings.
There.  I said it.  I feel pretty bad for the people around me sometimes.  Mostly my husband.  Because I know that I haven't been the sweetest lately.  Especially the last month.  I'm either freaking out about not having everything ready in time or moping about because I'm "fat."  Poor Jon does everything he can to make sure I'm feeling confident about the baby's arrival AND my physical appearance but apparently these pregnancy hormones aren't allowing me to thinking rationally.  Instead of realizing that I am 5 days from giving birth I'm thinking "I looked like a beached whale!"

4.  The "Hungry/Full" Cycle.
I start out starving.  I feel like I could eat 11 whole pizzas.  And then I take 2 bites and end up feeling over full.  5 minutes later, I'm hungry again.  Then full.  Then hungry. Then full.

You get the picture.

5. People saying "No baby yet?"
I get that one less than "You look like you're going to pop!"  Yes.  I know.  I am large.  Round.  I look like I'm going to pop.  But please please please stop reminding me.  Especially if you don't know me!  It's one thing for my mom to sympathetically say "Oh honey, you look so uncomfortable."  It's an entirely different thing to have a stranger say "Wow!  You look like you're about to pop! You are real big!"

That, my dear reader, was a direct quote from the salesperson that showed up last week at my door.  Needless to say, he is NOT getting my business.

6. Maternity Clothes.
Some of them are comfy.  Some are even cute.  But they are flimsy.  And cost an arm and a leg.  So I won't miss them.  At all.

7. Insomnia
Remember how I said I was fatigued?  Doesn't actually mean I'm sleeping.  I am oddly shaped at this point that getting comfortable is nearly impossible.  I spend more time at night tossing and turning than anything.

8. Muscle Cramps
I get a cramp in my right leg nearly every night.  It is not my favorite.

9.  Weekly doctor appointments.
I don't like going to the dr as it stands.  I'm now going weekly.  I sit in the waiting room for 20 minutes to be seen for 5 and told to come back the next week.  The only perk of that is hearing the baby's heartbeat.  But the rest of the visit it just a med assistant saying "Everything looks good."

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for that!  I just wish I didn't have to drag my tired behind to the dr every single week.

10.  The Anticipation.
I'm pretty sure that was my number 10 for things I will miss so you're probably confused.  I am going to miss the Happy Anticipation.  I am not going to miss the anticipation of surgery.  It's just a c section... but I'm still shaking in my slipper socks this morning over the fact that I'm going under the knife.  Yep.

So there you have it!  10 things I won't miss.  I feel a little better.

And since I'm feeling better, here's day 13 of the Summer Blog Challenge.

Where do you see yourself at the end of the year?

Less pregnant.  And happily parenting 3 crazy, mischievous little boys with my wonderful husband.  As for anything else... well, we'll see where life takes me ;)

Happy Wednesday!

I like mac and cheeeeese.

That title makes me think of that cartoon on Cartoon Network forever ago.  Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.  Does any one remember this guy?

Ah, Cheese.  I spent too much time giggling over him saying "I like cereal."

I'm easily entertained.

Either way, I'm pretty sure Cheese would have flipped over my newest favorite recipe.

Revolutionary Mac and Cheese.

Okay, so I saw this online somewhere along the way and thought to myself... "Erin, this is the dumbest concept ever.  Something so simple could not taste as delicious as you think it will."  Turns out Erin was wrong.  Apparently, you only need milk, cheese, dijon and pasta to make the worlds most epic Mac and Cheese.

Mmmmm...  I made this a few nights ago and I'm already wondering when I can make it again.  It really is that good.  Not to mention that it only takes 20 minutes of minimal work.

Revolutionary Mac & CheeseSource: Cate’s World Kitchen  adapted from White on Rice

Ingredients:
2 cups dried pasta
2 cups 2% or skim milk
1 cup loosely packed shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dijon mustard

Directions:

In a small saucepan, add pasta and milk.  Bring to simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes, until pasta is soft, stirring frequently and ensuring milk does not boil.

Turn heat off, add cheese & salt & and stir to combine.  Stir in the mustard a little at a time to taste. Cover and let stand for about 5 minutes, then stir again and serve. If not creamy enough, add milk a little at a time, and gently stir.

If you would like to bake it at this point, place in a baking dish and top with a generous sprinkling of cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 10 minutes until cheese has melted.

I opted not to bake mine since it looked so creamy delicious upon completion.  And we ate it as a main course.  Because there is no other way to eat mac and cheese, according to my kiddos.  (This rule is null and void if hot dogs will appear in the same meal.)

The recipe doubles easily and I'm already wondering what sort of additions I can put in.  I'm thinking bacon and tomato? Mmmm...

I'm going to do something horrible now.  After I wrote about such delicious food, I'm going to answer today's Summer Blog Challenge prompt.

What has been your worst injury?

I'm evil! 

Actually, you have nothing to worry about. I've never broken bones, never had stitches, unless you count my c section...  Seriously.  I mean, I've hurt myself and all that... but nothing serious enough to warrant a blog post!  In fact, I've been sitting here on the prompt for days trying to remember at least ONE interesting injury. 

Oh well.  I'll call myself lucky for not having an injury worth writing about.

Actually, it's a good thing I didn't gross you out.  Now you can make some mac and cheese.  Make it revolutionary. 

Happy Tuesday!

It's the best day everrrrr...

The Summer Blog Challenge continues.  And I'm having a tough time with this one.  Today's prompt is

What has been the best day of your life?

That really is a tough one.  There have been so many wonderful days.

I could choose this moment.

Meeting my first son for the first time was definitely one of the most amazing moments of my life.

Or maybe this one...

After all, you only get to have your second child once!

Maybe this is the moment I should write about.

Nothing beats a romantic elopement.

Then again, there is this...

Seeing this face for the first time certainly made my heart leap.

There are so many "best days."  So many memorable moments.  It would be impossible for me to choose just one.  So I'll leave you with this.

I have been blessed beyond reason.  God has provided me with love and laughter and I am forever grateful. There isn't a single thing I'd change.

Until next time, my sentimental readers, Happy Monday!  May it rank among your best!

6 Things Sunday. Children's Books.

If you follow my blog at all, you'll know that I actually started a Summer Reading Program with my youngsters. Our local library offers this program and it's just awesome.  For our age group, we read 30 stories (per child) and after we've done so, we can get a prize.

As if we really needed incentive to read.  This is a book loving household.

However, this program was the inspiration for this weeks 6 Things Sunday.

6 Books You NEED to Read Your Child. (Because they're wonderful.)

1. Corduroy by Don Freeman
Growing up, this was a favorite story of mine.  A little teddy sits in a department store, waiting for someone to love him enough to bring him home, and finds out his overalls are missing a button. Of course, he sets out to find his button and in the long run learns a very valuable lesson. And the children who are reading do too!  It's what's on the inside that counts!

2. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Ferdinand is a little bull who's a bit different from all the rest.  While his peers are all eager to be picked for the bull fights in Madrid, Ferdinand is content to sit "Just quietly" and smell the flowers.  Many people believe this is a story about non violence in a violent world (I'm guessing due to the bull fighting) but most will agree the true lesson of this story is about self acceptance.

3. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss
Of course Dr. Seuss would make an appearance on this list!  There are so many Dr. Seuss titles to choose from but this is my personal favorite. With his usual entertaining style of writing, Dr. Seuss teaches appreciation for what you have.

“It's a troublesome world. All the people who're in it 

are troubled with troubles almost every minute. 

You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot,

for the places and people you're lucky you're not.”

4. The Frog and Toad Collection by Arnold Lobel 
Frog and Toad stories are the best.  Each is just a few pages long with such lovely meanings behind them.  Most of them are about true friendship.  This adorable duo shows what real friendship is all about, whether it be through being helpful or doing nice things for one another.  And the illustrations are just magnificent.  My personal favorite shows Toad in his swimsuit.

Toad is so cute.

5. Unlovable by Dan Yaccarino
Okay, I'll admit it.  Even the cover of this book makes me squeal with delight.  Have you ever seen a more adorable looking dog?  My youngest sister introduced me to this story and it just delights me.  The main character, a pug named Alfred, believes he is unlovable and is very lonely.  After a new dog moves next door, he is taught a BIG lesson about being himself.  And that he's not unlovable after all.

6. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
This story is about a little mouse with a BIG name.  She finds herself in the unfortunate position of being a bit of a misfit in school due to her name and is dealing with the negative emotions that come with it.  However, in the end, this sweet little mouse learns to appreciate her uniqueness.

There you have it!  6 children's stories I'm hung up on.  If you haven't had the pleasure of reading some of these, please, do yourself (and your kiddos) a favor and head to your library to check them out.

Yay for double digits!  It's day 10 of the Summer Blog Challenge!

Cost aside, what famous piece of art would you like to own?

Yikes. That's a tough one.  Believe it or not, I'm more impressed with the "unknown" artists I stumble upon.  Right now I'm obsessed with Osnat Fine Art on Etsy.

Have you ever seen anything so magnificent?  Someone feel free to buy this for me.

Now I'm going to go lust after the rest of this artist's work.  Until next time, Happy Sunday!

The list will never be entirely crossed out!

There are now 8 days left of my pregnancy.  Or less if this child decides to spare me further physical misery.  Why is it that the last week or so of pregnancy is the worst?  I'm not sleeping again, I have constant leg cramps AND the heartburn is back with a vengeance.  I think this is totally unfair.  C'mon, body!  I need rest!  I need to build up my strength!

I highly doubt my body is even listening to me since I just got another leg cramp. Hm.

Either way, it's been a while since I posted my list of 24 things to do before the baby arrives.  Let's see what progress has been made....

1. 
   Rewrite my shop info.  This is especially important since I plan on taking some time off of Sugar Crumbs etsy shop once the baby is here.
2. "Camp" in the back yard with the boys.  And by camp, I mean stay up late, roast marshmallows and play with flashlights before we all pass out from exhaustion.
3. Reorganize the laundry room.  I figure with the amount of laundry I'll be doing, I might as well make the laundry area pretty.
4. Have a special date night with the husband.  Because we all know how much alone time parents of newborns get.
5. Clean the van.  I have two boys.  It needs cleaned before I add a third to the mix.
6. Spend some quality time with my mama.  After all, once the new grandbaby is here, the attention is going to be on him. LOL!
7. Go see What to Expect When You're Expecting.  The movie doesn't look the best.  But I'm expecting.  It's seems necessary.
8. Take Sir Yanks A Lot on a long walk.  And I am, of course, referring to the dog.  Who won't be getting many walks from me this summer.
9. Research summer camps.  Because the boys are finally old enough to enjoy them!
10. Destash some yarn.  I can't believe I'm saying this.  But I have too many skeins of yarn that I am NEVER going to use.
11. Freeze meals.  I've never really done this before.  And I don't really need to now.  Between my family and Jon's family, we have plenty of people ready to help however they can... But I kind of like the idea of freezing food to help with the work load after baby is born.
12. Read.  I'd like to read as much as possible between now and then.  I've worked through tons of books in the past few weeks.  It's be nice just grabbing them at the library too.  I'm getting tons of exposure to authors and genres I've never been interested in.  And now I'm finding interest!
13. Start the Summer Reading Program with the boys.  One of my favorite things is reading to my kiddos.  So this is just the perfect program for us to get involved in.  Especially since I wont be able to rough and tumble with them for part of the summer.
14. Go to church.  I miss church.  A lot.  My energy level just isn't where it needs to be on Sunday mornings but that's really no excuse.  I'm really going to make an effort to be there at least once before baby arrives.
15. Go to a farmers market.  With a DIY market bag.  I don't even need a reason for this one.  It's just an awesome idea.
16. Write down a list of things I'll miss about being pregnant.  This is my last.  I want to remember it.
17. Write down a list of things I won't miss about being pregnant.  For the same reason as above.
18. Crochet baby booties.  This is ridiculous.  It'll be June and HOT when the baby is born.  But I don't care.  Again, last baby.  I'm going to enjoy it.
19. Make strawberry pie with my boys.  Just because I love them.  And pie.
20. Hang some family photos.  We need more pics up around the house.  However, Jon and I are ridiculous.  We'd much rather start horrible projects than figure out how to hang pictures. lol.
21. Paint the hall.  I started it weeks ago.  Pretty sure I should finish it.  Like yesterday. 
22. Take that walk Jon and I have been talking about for about 3 months now. Maybe I won't collapse from exhaustion from it.
23. Get a pedicure.  I can barely reach my feet.  And I plan on living in flip flops this summer.  I NEED a pedicure.
24. Get my hair done.  This is one of those shallow wants.  I want to highlight the mess out of my hair.  So that it looks less... well, like it does now. lol.

Yikes... that's not a lot of progress...  Maybe I need to buckle down and work on this.

Did you remember that it's day 9 of the Summer Blog Challenge?  Well it is.  And today's prompt prompted all sorts of laughing on my end.  Because I couldn't come up with just one thing to share...

What is your worst cooking disaster?

Oh, gosh.  There are just so many stories I can share.  But I think I'll share my mom's favorite.  In middle school, we made a recipe book in Life Skills.  Included was a recipe for Baked Ziti.  Excited to show off my new found "cooking" skills, I offered to make dinner at home.  Mom bought me all of the ingredients and let me go to town in the kitchen, making what I promised to be the most amazing Baked Ziti she had ever feasted upon. 

However, there was one crucial detail I missed.  The ziti should be cooked.  I, however, dumped uncooked ziti into the baking dish.  And when people bit down into my "amazing" baked ziti, I pointed out that "It's supposed to be crunchy."  Apparently, I realized my mistake right away. 

Luckily, my Baked Ziti has improved since then... 

So that's my worst cooking disaster...  But not my favorite.  My favorite is one I found on Pinterest forever ago.

LOL!  That still makes me laugh.

Until next time, Happy Saturday!

Indoor Herbs!

Have you ever seen this before?  I was looking for ways to bring herbs inside without taking up tons of space and this is what I found.  The blogger at Not Just a Housewife is a genius.  So much so that I could NOT get this project out of my head.  For days upon days I sat around wondering if I could do it.

And I found out that I couldn't.  Because I have NO idea what tools are in my husbands stash or how to use them.  But Jon was on board and happy to help.

(You ever think he should be running the crafty section of Sugar Crumbs? Lol... he probably could, what with my involvement lately.  I blame pregnancy!)

Either way, an hour of work gave us this.

How awesome is this?  I swear this is the focal point of our kitchen now.  The best part about the whole project was how cheap it was.  We had almost all of the supplies on hand.  All we needed was the three pipe clamps and 3 plants.  Which ran this project up to a whopping $7.

So, it's day 8 of the Summer Blog Challenge.  Today's prompt?

Aside from blogging, what's your favorite guilty pleasure?

That is a tough one.  I like to do so many things, it's hard to narrow it down to just one favorite.  

I like to be productive in a non productive way.  There.  That's my guilty pleasure.  I love to be productive but never in the useful way.  Like, I'm never thinking "Wow! I should reorganize this cabinet!"  Instead, I'll look at said disorganized cabinet and think "I bet I have some felt in there somewhere... I did want to make that cell phone cozy..."  

I chalk this up to Jon's theory.  Creative people are disorganized.  He's really right.  Maybe I should try to focus some of that productive energy into reorganizing the kitchen cabinets today.

Nah.  That'll just turn into me making cookies.

On second thought, I should.  Cookies are sounding mighty tasty right about now...

Happy Friday, folks!!!

Picture This. Something That Makes You Happy.

It's Thursday!  Yay Thursday!  This means we're one day closer to the weekend.  I love weekends.  They're always filled with so much family fun and excitement.

Actually, that's not true.  Weekends around here consist of me going through a near coma from fatigue and Jon working on household projects.  The kids don't really do much different.  Just their usual game of Seek and Destroy.  Hm, I think that might actually be what they're doing.  Seeking and destroying the things I've managed to tidy up in the midst of my weekend fatigue.

By the way, we like to call that my "Sadderday." Get it?

Anyway, it's Day 7 of the Summer Blog Challenge.  And today's an easy one.

Post a picture of something that makes you happy.

Yes.  That is my bed.

And the reason is totally irrelevant to my prior rambling!

So I thought about doing what most moms would do.  Post a picture of my favorite little boys.  But I think everyone knows they make happy.  Most of the time.  I suppose I could have posted a picture of a hobby, pet or some other member of my family.  But again.  You probably already knew those things made me happy.  (Most of the time.)

So instead, I chose the picture of my bed.  For various reasons.  The most obvious is because I love love love to sleep lately.  If I could spend all day sleeping, I would.  I wake up counting down the hours till I can go back to bed.  But that's not the big reason.

It's no secret that I am now huge.  My stomach is so round that bending is near impossible at this point.  Which means making the bed is ridiculous.  So much of the time, rather than put myself through the ridiculous workout of making our bed, I'll just kinda straighten the sheets. Which is NOT the same.  (Nothing is the same as climbing into a bed of cool, smoothed out sheets.)  However, every night after I brush my teeth, I am greeted with not only a neatly made bed but a bed with the sheets neatly pulled back and my pillows arranged the way I like them. 

This, of course, makes me smile.  Every single time.  Not because I'm really that hooked on a neatly made bed.  But because it's my husband who does this every single night.  He doesn't say anything about it.  Doesn't groan or grumble.  Doesn't expect a pat on the back or praise.  He just does it.  And to me, that says a lot.  The fact that he knows me well enough to toss my pillows in the correct place for my knees speaks volumes.  Or that he tucks the blanket way down low so I don't overheat... Amazing!  

I suppose I should have just posted a picture of him.  He does make me happy.  But I think this picture really demonstrates one of the 8,324, 731 reasons he makes me happy.  

Until next time, Happy Thursday!

SBC. Nicknames. (This is kind of unfair!)

It's day 6 for the Summer Blog Challenge and I'm feeling a little blue about it.  Today's prompt is...

What are some nicknames you have and why?

You know what?  I can't think of any real nicknames people have for me!  I mean, there are people I talk to sporadically that call me random things.  Mama E is one... But the reason behind that is pretty darn obvious.

Aside from that one, my mom calls me Ibis.  Not often any more but when I was little she did all the time.  And you know what?  I don't know why.  I should have her guest post the reason.  I know you're all dying to know.

When I was a kid, my dad called me Peabody.  Again... don't ask me why!  I just don't know.

The most recent "nickname" I have is "Cobra."  Only on occasion and only from Jon.  This is because I"m graceful and dangerous, much like a cobra.  Sigh.  Okay, that's not true. The reason Jon calls me cobra is kind of weird.

I say/do a lot of things that make him laugh or roll his eyes.  You know, silly things.  And his response is to call me a Goober. Every time.  However, one fateful day, Jon decided to call me Goober over text.  And was auto corrected. Apparently, in auto correct land the proper spelling for Goober is Cobra.

And so I became Cobra.  But only when I do something stupid!

See... no consistent nicknames here.  I think I need one.  And so I dub myself Empress Amazicon.
...Or not.

Pinterest Pick.Strawberry Cheesecake. (And the Summer Challenge Continues!)

It's no secret that I spend a lot of time browsing recipes on Pinterest.  It's also no secret that most of the recipes I end up pinning are desserts.  I won't deny it.  I'm a sugar fiend.  

Of course, most recipes get pinned and forgotten because I lack the energy/time to put effort into one of the millions of delicious looking desserts I find.  (Think that energy will come back post delivery?  I hope so...)

I was in the middle of one of my late night food wanderings when I came across this picture over at Not Just a Mommy.  Mini Fudge Bottom Strawberry Cheesecakes.  Have you seen anything so incredible looking?  Anything so... tempting?  If I were on a diet, this would've killed it.  I know this because I spent this morning making yet another batch for my own enjoyment.

That's right.  I made a batch of mini cheesecakes before lunch.  Which should tell you how easy they are to make.  The real beauty of this dessert is that while it's impressive looking, it is effortless. I even rushed through it and this is what I got.

(Um, there were more than 3... We're not going to talk about what happened to the rest.)

Delicious.  Would you believe it took me less than 15 minutes of prep time?  I'm not kidding.  It took me even less time to eat 2 of them.  But like I said... we're not talking about the ones not pictured.

So if you're looking for an amazing treat to whip up, definitely head over to Not Just a Mommy and make use of her awesome recipe for Mini Fudge Bottom Cheesecakes.  And while you're there, browse the rest of her blog.  She has some amazing tutorials and party ideas.  

Speaking of amazing, I'm actually remembering to include Day 5 of the Summer Blog Challenge!  You know, that thing I told you about late last night.  Today's prompt is...

What are your short term goals for this month and why?

Nice!  This is an easy one.  Since I never stop talking about it, I'm having a baby this month.  In less than 2 weeks, to be precise.  So my goals this month are pretty simple.  I need to get my Etsy shop set up for vacation time.  I'm taking two weeks off of the entire shop and the summer off of all custom/made to order items.  I have my whole life to make toys and sell them but my baby is only going to be a baby for a little while.  Not to mention, getting used to life with three little boys is going to be challenging.  I also need to finish getting everything organized in the house for my return from the hospital.  Having a csection means there are certain things I need to do before hand to make my recovery easier.  You know, like putting things within easy reach.

More importantly, my main goal for the month is enjoy my life.  I have been endlessly blessed and I am determined to appreciate all that I have.  

How about you?  What are you goals for the month (besides making some awesome cheesecake)?

Until tomorrow, Happy Tuesday!

Summer Blog Challenge

One of the things I've never done before is a blog challenge.  Mostly because I didn't even know that was a thing!  But an opportunity presented itself and think I'm going to take it.  Kassie of Going Green with the Grizls is holding a blog challenge that seems easy enough for me to jump on board with.  Even with my impending arrival.

I've already missed a few days... What can I say?  I like to be fashionably late.  So here's my speedy catch up.

1.  Why are you doing this challenge?
Easy.  Because I can't turn down a challenge.  Unless its a hard one.
Actually, the real reason is that as I move closer to my delivery, I'm realizing tutorials and recipes and all the normal cool stuff I post (My posts are cool, right?) are going to dwindle a bit this summer.  After all, those first few weeks with a newb are a lot of work.  However, I love my blog and want to keep at it. So let the prompts roll in and I'll keep throwing my normal stuff in the mix.

2. Post a picture of you smiling.

Done!

3. List 15 interesting things about yourself.
Really?  15?  I don't know... I mean, I don't want to be so focused on myself... But if you insist.

• I hate lima beans.
• Despite being a natural red head (auburn really), I'm always dying my hair... various shades of red.
• E.T. scares me more than anything in the world.
• Spiders are a close second.
• I live by the motto "Why buy when I can DIY?"
• If I could live on a farm, I would. Complete with chickens and goats.
• I wouldn't actually eat those chickens. I believe in pet chickens!
• I spend too much time listening to "uncool" music. Like ELO. Hush.
• Speaking of ELO, Xanadu is a guilty pleasure movie of mine.
• I LOVE lists.  I make at least 3 a day. I even have a list of lists to make.
• My husband's dog is my nemesis. Except when he's not. We have a complicated relationship.
• I steal my husbands pillow 3 seconds after he gets out of bed. Even in my sleep.
• Moose are my favorite.  Jellyfish are a close second.
• Having sons is my favorite.  Because they're just as nuts as I am.
• I like to munch ice.  By the glassful.  And I'm not anemic. 

There now... that wasn't so bad.

And 4. What's the meaning behind your blog name?

That's a simple one.  There is so much bitterness in this world.  So many people are sour.  And everyone has their time of being a crab apple.  Between my blog and my Etsy Shop, I'm hoping people get a little bit of sweetness.  Even if it's just a crumb.  

Get it?

All caught up!  If you're not following me, now's a good time to jump on board since I'll be updating every day for a while.  You'll get to see my totally awesome responses to the Summer Challenge Prompts AND enjoy my normal rambling.  I know.  You're excited.

Until next time, Happy Monday!