Just a Steel Magnolia in Georgia

Dirty Playing Adventures...wait that's not the right order.

2011-04-07T00:20:00.009-04:00

I am sick and tired of being a couch potato...ok so maybe I was never a couch potato per say but I was a house potato...we stay in all the time. Which was fine for 2 adults who would rather cook, craft, watch movies, or read. Its not so fine for two growing boys. I don't want them to grow up staying in... I don't want them to start the video game/tv habit. I want them to play outside..get dirty and have adventures.. Then again that sounds like fun for the whole family...so I want us all to play outside get dirty and have adventures. We have started taking baby steps as the weather gets good. We went this past weekend to a local Civil War Memorial Park...where we flew kites and played ball...it was a blast. We have also started our garden up... and today we took a walk together after dinner.... 2 miles to be exact... Well my hubby and I walked and my 2 year old rode his trike (I don't think I could have went that far even)... The 10 month old rode in a little push car. I would say that's a fine way to start playing those dirty adventures.. That just sounds all wrong doesn't it...but at least we are going to have fun...LOL

WW...Partners in crime.

2011-04-06T20:54:00.002-04:00

A one of a kind handmade cake topper and my first craft of 2011

2011-04-05T08:00:00.010-04:00

I am really happiest when I am crafting and working but sometimes I am not inspired...this one wasn't my idea though..Someone specifically asked me to make it. I had never done a cake topper before... It worked great because their idea inspired me and the result was this cute little family... The picture above was on the cake...the picture below was took just minutes after I was finished and happy with my final creation...I sculpted this for a grooms cake.... Its the groom being dragged by his son and bride...and the sweet groom requested it that way. Hopefully this will be something I get to do more of in the future...This was a little piece of my dream come true...to get to make something that will become a part of someones life...because it is made out of clay its a keepsake... I have so many ideas now for cake toppers...birthdays, weddings, babyshowers etc.. although this one isn't for sale...its already happilly tucked away with the family it was for... if anyone else wants a custom topper feel free to contact me I would love to create something for your special day.

I am linking up to the following

Blue Cricket Show and Tell

A moment in my world.

2011-04-05T06:24:00.000-04:00

The best part of my day comes early before the world is awake and going...its when I hear those sleepy footsteps come rushing to my bedroom. I smile into my pillow when I feel him scramble up and over me...its a king size bed with lots of pillows but I know within a few moments I will have my pillow stolen. He will cuddle up to me and I will pull him closer wrap him tighter in my arms...I dont fall back asleep as quickly as him...My brain has woke up too much...I marveled a second too long at the gift he is. So I say a prayer of thanks slowly saying thank you for each of my blessings..Haven..Soren... Brian...asking that they be protected and watched over..the list goes on till I drift back to sleep...depending on what time it is I may only have a moment...if I am lucky a few hours....Hours of him close to me... breathing with me...his heart beating near me...we were this close once...closer..for 35 weeks he was mine all mine and now I share him with the world..My last thought before I drift back off is usually that I almost missed this magic...I almost missed out on these amazing tiny moments...we wake up noses almost pressed together...tangled in quilts and each others hair..looking directly into each others eyes...the sweetest smile with sparkling blue eyes is staring right at me...he usually pats my cheek in the way I guess I have his since he came into my life...He says hello Moma every morning...and my heart melts...everytime...it never gets old...it never gets boring...hearing those words is magic everytime...seeing that face is a gift.. I am so very thankful for the gift of being a Mom...for the moments I get to share with him..both of them...being a Mom is the greatest gift I have ever been given....I am working to give them the gift of a great Mom.

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I need a good stiff kick in the behind...

2011-04-05T01:40:00.006-04:00

I think the title says it all. I need my behind kicked...um stiffly whatever that means. It's been a while since I have posted. With good reason.... I haven't had anything to say. Well I have had things to say but maybe I was to scared to say them. I am in a funk...a sad funk..a depressed funk...now I haven't been in one this whole time...off and on... I am an emotional person admittedly. Lately its more on than off. I find myself sinking. I have been battling to lose weight...which I have lost...then gained...then lost...then gained again...its a crazy cycle. I am not going to make excuses. I know what it takes to lose weight...but I have to say its hard for me. I have several things against me... My thyroid...it just doesn't work right...and I have insulin resistance... I gain weight so quickly...for example in the past two weeks I had too much on my plate and havent been going to the gym and exercising. I also haven't been eating correctly...so you know what happened. I gained 13 lbs... that's alot of weight to pile on... That's part of the funk. The 2nd part is I want to do something...but I am just not doing it. That's vague... let me elaborate. I am crafty...there is a local market here that is open on Saturday for crafters to set up a booth. I want to set up a booth. To do that I need to make stuff. Doesn't sound hard does it? I go and buy supplies and as soon as I do the inspiration leaves me... Or more honestly fear sets in. I look at all these creative people online...following their dreams opening their own business...or etsy stores. I see the things they make and I think to myself..."why didn't I think of that?" or "I could do that". The honest truth is I could...we all could. People offer tutorials for almost everything if you cant figure it out on your own. So what is stopping me from doing this.... ME... I am looking at myself really hard right now. I am pushing myself to take action... I want to take action. I want to accomplish my dreams. I want to have my own business...albeit a small something.. I want to finally lose all my weight and get healthy... I want so many things...great things...achievable things...and the only thing stopping me...is me... I am not listening to myself when I try to explain that I can do anything I just have to have faith courage and confidence...sadly although I am in a funk...I haven't lost that stubborn streak. I plan on blogging my way out of it....blogging my way through weight loss...and blogging my way out of this funk...till I accomplish my goals...oh yeah and let's not forget while I try to do this I am also trying to be a good Mom and juggling 2 really cute monsters is so much harder than it looks.

WW Soren at 4 months

2010-09-22T00:13:00.002-04:00

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away after this series of posts we may never see him again.

2010-09-22T00:00:00.006-04:00

Its apple time here in my little part of Georgia and so we loaded up the kiddlets this past Sunday and headed out to a local orchard and got some. Ofcourse while we were there we sampled some Apple Cider Slushies, Fried Apple Pies, and Pecan Brittle. We didn't just pick up apples we also picked up Sorghum Syrup...and I can't wait to eat some drizzled over a hot buttered biscuit...If you don't know what Sorghum is the only way I know how to describe it is it's the South's version of molasses. I love it. I have a few recipes that you use it in. Since I now have some I plan on making them and I will be sure to post them. Get ready because the nexts few posts are going to get fruity.

I learned to juggle....which is a good thing since my life has become a circus!

2010-09-20T09:45:00.003-04:00

I want to start off by saying first thank you if you are still a follower. I know I disappeared for a while. I missed blogging. I have been a little busy though. I was trying to figure out this whole Mommy of 2 deal. I feel like I have came a long way from where I was in the beginning. I am not ashamed to admit that at first I didn't think I could do it. I let things get to me. I had a few days where I would call my husband crying and have a mini-meltdown. A few times both kids were crying the house was a mess and lots of things had gone wrong so I sat down and had a good cry with them. It started getting better when I learned a few things.... I figured out that there will never be enough hours in the day, that I will never have enough hands, and that I am not super woman so I just can't do it all at once. I am a perfectionist...and I am learning to let go of perfection. It was really stressful at first. Trying to do everything and expecting so much from myself. I started slowly but surely letting things go and relaxing a little more. Guess what happened...I started really enjoying being a Mom of 2. I was missing out on the little pleasures because I was hyperventilating over the house and other stuff beyond my control. Now I am not saying I don't still get overwhelmed or have rough days...but I certainly have fewer than before. I have also started going to the gym and working out a few days a week. I try and eat healthier. So far I have lost a total of 34lbs since I had the baby. I was trying to lose weight before I got pregnant with the baby so it brings my total up to 67lbs lost in all! I am so excited about that. That has really helped me feel better. I have so much more energy...and let me tell you I need all I can get. I am going to be blogging more (anything is more especially since I haven't in forever!) So check back later this week I have a few things in the works. Keep in mind that blogging will basically be another ball that I will be juggling so give me a chance to work it into the routine. I promise though that I won't drop the ball...

I am back sorta...

2010-07-08T15:08:00.002-04:00

I realize its been forever since I have been on here...So here is a quick update. My little man stayed a little more than a week in the NICU. I was so busy running back and forth to see him and taking care of my 18 month old (who is now almost 20 months) that I couldn't post much. Then when he finally got home the real choas began. We had to take him to the doctor to be checked every couple of days for weight and I can report that the little chunk now weights 9lbs and 7ozs. Taking care of two kidlets all day and the house is pretty much sucking all of my energy up...but I am happy to report that I have been making jams, jellies and drying fruit. So I promise I will be back with another post on that soon. Plus I will be posting pictures... Be back soon...a little is crying and I have to rush off.

S is in NICU

2010-05-27T01:24:00.003-04:00

S was born by C-section Friday 5/21. He weighed 8lbs and 3 Oz at just 36 weeks. His lungs were mature and had he not inhaled amniotic fluid he would be home right now. Instead he is in the NICU battling pneumonia. He has been on a breather. He has an i.v. in the side of his head. He has a feeding tube and he is also on a jaundice light. Pray for my little one he improves everyday...but not fast enough to calm a Mom's heart.

C-section today

2010-05-21T01:50:00.002-04:00

Its 1:50 am as I sit writing this. I should be asleep but I can't. I went to the doctor Thursday for a regular check up... There just wasn't anything regular about it. My doctor wanted to immediately send me to the hospital to get an emergency
C-section....but she and I came to an agreement and instead I will be having a
C-section here shortly. I needed time. A moment to breath in my son as an only son. A little later today his whole world will change and I wanted to give him one more day of what he was used to. We went out and had dinner as a family of 3 for the last time. I didn't know how sad I would feel at this...or how guilty. Why do I feel so guilty? I am not excited at the prospect of what I will go through today. I won't be given an epidural or spinal tap due to complications caused by my cancer years ago. I will be put under general anesthesia. So instead of being able to immediately enjoy my new son I will be out for hours. Don't get me wrong I am looking forward to meeting the new little guy...but there is a part of me that is so sad. I am only 36 weeks pregnant maybe if I had a little longer I would feel differently. I would be ready for this....I knew this new path was coming up in my life...I just wasn't ready to walk on it yet..

So please if you pray say a prayer for me and my family...no matter what your religion or what your belief...Think of us today and send good thoughts good energy and even love our way....because I need it...we all do.

As far as blogging you may not see me for a while. I will be back when I can.

A walk on the farm

2010-05-16T19:25:00.009-04:00

We went to my Mom and Dad's one night this past week for dinner. It was a simple dinner. I got to pick the menu....partly because I am pregnant and mostly because I begged...lol. I asked for breakfast. My Mom made her biscuits and sausage gravy and I took a breakfast casserole. My grandparents were there. After we ate I dragged everybody out for a walk...It was a long slow lazy walk around the farm and here are a few of the pictures I took.

The wheat is almost ready for harvest.

H the one time I could get him to stop running....he slept good that night!

The honeysuckle is starting to take over...notice its almost covering a gate.

I dropped behind to take a shot of everbody slowly walking along...ofcourse no one noticed...What if I was fell over having contractions??...no one would have noticed...lol

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T14:06:00.003-04:00

picture title: Pawpaw's glasses

I am still here and pregnant.

2010-05-10T20:58:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to stop by and say I am still here...and currently still pregnant. Right at this moment I am 34 weeks and 3days pregnant. Last week I had a long visit to labot and delivery where they started giving me the steroid shots to mature his lungs. I go every Monday and Thursday to the doctors office and get monitored. Today there was talk of doing my c-section next week. I walked away from the office feeling a little sad. Hopefully I can stay pregnant as long as possible for the little guys sake. I know its not a long post just wanted to say I am still here and haven't forgot about you...so don't forget about me!

A homemade gift for my Mom

2010-04-23T10:10:00.010-04:00

My Mom's whole house is done with an outdoor theme. She would rather be outdoors than anywhere else. She loves to garden and go fishing. If the sun is out so is she. Well that's not true because if its overcast she will be outside. It doesn't really matter the season as long as its not storming she will be outside. When it comes to buying her gifts its not hard at all. She likes perfume, jewelry, cookbooks, and everything most women do. However if you want to give her something she is going to love....you make it. So over the years I have made her a gifts here and there. A couple of weeks ago I was at a craft store and they had a papermache/cardboard heart ( I am not sure exactly what it was made of) that was on clearance for just a quarter. I bought it not knowing at the time what I would do with it. Till last week. I decided to try and paint my mom something. I had never done birds before but that is what I settled on. I make the same mistake with everything I make my mom. I tell her I am making her something before I get it done...and she is like a kid that you just told you got her a surprise. She drove me nuts for 2 days till I got it finished then she swooped it away. Where it now hangs in her house somewhere. I barely got it finished and got to take a picture before she pounced. Painting really relaxes me and I learn a little more every time I would love to one day take a class and get really good. Till then my Mom still loved it mistakes and all! I will be linking up to the following. Click the links so that you can check out other creations.

Making the World Cuter

Whatever goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts

We came he puked then we left and Mommy had a contraction in Walmart

2010-04-20T21:34:00.007-04:00

Last week and so far this week have just been filled with excitement around here...like contraction inducing excitement. My birthday was Sunday...I hit the big 29....I say that its big but it sure doesn't feel it. I don't know how its possible that I have been kicking for 29 years when it feels like I just stepped out of high school. So back to last week. I had contractions. This is nothing new to me at this point...but my doctor is growing more concerned...there is no sign that I am going into labor just contractions no progress...but they get stronger and stronger. So I get the news on Thursday that I have to start coming to the office twice a week for the remainder of my pregnancy. Now I am not complaining about going. I am glad she wants to be safe but I am not looking forward to it because getting up and going to the doctor usually wears me out. I don't sleep well anymore and I always make my appointments as early as possible so I am not in the office for 4 or 5 hours...so I have to get up early. I wrangle a 17 month old also lets not forget that...then add to the equation this super belly that I am dragging around...or its dragging me at this point who knows. I will go every Monday and just get monitored for contractions etc...then go back Thursdays get monitored again, get an ultrasound and then see a doctor for a regular appointment. Were still on Thursday here in this little story just to help you keep up....that same day after the doctors appointment my in-laws want to take us out to dinner to celebrate my upcoming birthday. We go to the place of their choice...yeah they are those kinds of in-laws. We walk in the front door go to the hostess and my son who was born with my timing takes the opportunity and pukes all over my husband and himself...It happened in slow motion. The horrified look on the hostesses' face...the same horrified look on my prim and proper in-laws. I would have laughed out right if my son didn't immediately go into melt down with my husband not far behind him. Hubs immediately turns around and walks out the door. Were working as a team now the Hubs and I we don't have to talk. He heads to the back of the SUV where I have an emergency bag packed for just these situations...why? Because I am good? Nope because it has happened before and with our luck I knew it would happen again. Now I am thinking ahead and know that I am going to need Tylenol....because H was starting to feel warm and we had used the last little bit we had the day or so before when he was fussy with a new tooth coming in. So off we go to the Walmart. Hubs stays in the car because in the emergency bag I packed for us I apparently grabbed a shirt that was one of his old ones and he had outgrown it. I went in to Walmart alone with no argument because he didn't want to go in public showing off his belly button...lol. I totally understand because there is no way I would want to show mine off right now either. So I rush into the Walmart to grab Tylenol and in the middle of the rushing (not so much as rushing as waddling faster than normal) when boom I get hit by a contraction...like knock you down take your breath make you puke, die, and come back again...just so you get the idea of how big it was. I make it back to the car winded and clammy. We spend the next 2 days with H at the doctor's and battling a 104 temp....and a nice little strep throat infection. My birthday rolls around H is better and that's more than enough birthday present for me. Sunday night comes and Hubs gets knocked down...throwing up running a fever and its deja vu. He has the same thing H has...so I single parented from Sunday night till Tuesday...today. I have to hand it to any Mom who does it alone...I don't know if I would survive 365 days single parenting...I barely handled 48 hours. Now its not normal for me to actually be the well one. I am usually the one going to the doctor or catching the plague but not this time...or so we thought. We made it through Sunday night all day and all night Monday... Then about 12 this afternoon my hands started burning...A little blister appears on my finger....and within 30 minutes my hands are covered. So we make the trip to the doctor because after 2 hours and benadryl not helping I had to call and of course they want me to come in. I would expect no less...So here we go. The doctor determines that I got into something I am allergic to ( I can only imagine what it could be now). They go ahead and do a full visit though...then it happens I have a contraction in the middle of talking to her...I tried to act like it was nothing but I certainly won't be getting an Oscar because I was promptly put on a monitor. Within 30 mins I had 2 small contractions and 1 medium...well medium for me anyways but enough for them to be concerned...So I am set to have another test on Thursday (Thursdays are starting to kinda suck for me...what happened to Monday being the bad guy) This test will tell if I am in preterm labor or if I am expected to go into preterm labor....Till then I am supposed to keep my feet up and take it easy....which I try to do as much as possible anyways...On the plus side on the way home from the doctor's I got a pity trip to the bakery...So I am going to go put my feet up now while I eat an Ambrosia cookie....yummy... At least today will have a sweet ending....while I cross my fingers that no one pukes, runs a fever or goes into labor tonight...Mommy needs some real sleep.

Thats not Champagne chilling in my fridge its something far better

2010-04-17T12:12:00.003-04:00

How do you like the Cribs view of inside my fridge? Sorry no champagne or caviar...just pepsi, ketchup, milk, and pink liquid gold. What is that pink liquid gold you ask...It's homemade pedialyte. I consider this liquid gold because it has saved me so many times when my son was sick. I don't have to run out and buy pedialyte anymore...and why would I as yucky as it is. Did I mention how expensive it is?...You don't even want to know how much money I have wasted buying it and then my son won't drink it no matter what I do....the yuck taste shines through. I can mix in stuff...but even sick he is smarter than that. There is just no way he will drink it. I have tried everything. One night when he was really sick and on his way to dehydrating I got desperate. I looked up tricks to making your kid drink it. Well it was late and somehow it pulled up a recipe for homemade pedialyte. They gave a few alternates on how you could do it and I have tweaked it until I got something my son will drink. I also checked it out with my son's pediatrician and she was so impressed she wrote the recipe down and now gives it out to all of her patient's parents. She said that the sugar and salt in the recipe are what is really important...thats what pedialyte has anyway.

4 cups of water
1/2 pkg jello any flavor
3 tablespoons of sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix all of it in a pitcher and serve it to your sick kidos. I also freeze this into popsicles. Thats homemade pedialyte for less than a buck! You can even sub in a pkg of koolaid..but increase the sugar to half a cup.

I fell off the Menu Plan Wagon. Although we did ok and ate at home for the most part it would have been better to have a plan. However last weeks unplanned moments were pretty fantastic. I made chocolate covered strawberries one day just because I had the chocolate, strawberries, and a pregnancy induced craving. I also made some really good cheesesteak sandwiches...complete with homemade french bread to serve them on... Which was my first time making bread and my first time actually making a cheesesteak taste like a cheesesteak. I am back on the wagon now so here is what our week looks like. For more ideas head over to The Organizing Junkie.

Monday- Spaghetti, garlic bread, broccoli and pears

Tuesday- BBQ Pork Chops, Au gratin Potatoes, green beans, applesauce

Wednesday- Country ham, biscuits and gravy

Thursday- Chicken Enchiladas

Friday- Creamed Chicken and veggies over biscuits, applesauce

Saturday- Pizza, Corn on the Cob, and fruit salad

Sunday- Steak fingers and brown gravy, Mashed potato, peas, homemade rolls (from dough I froze when I made the cheesesteak buns)

Dessert- Banana Bread( the freezer is full of bananas and more on the counter), Messed up Pineapple upside down cake (my husbands pregnancy craving),

Five question Friday

2010-04-09T14:47:00.002-04:00

Because I haven't posted in so long and because I love reading other peoples answers its only fair that I answer them too...

1. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? Ok so Candice Cameron when she was chunkier. I actually used to get told all the time when my hair was lighter and I was too that I looked like her. I even had to correct a few people in New York that wanted an autograph 10 years ago..I think it had something to do with dark sunglasses a fancy outfit and standing outside of a limo waiting on my mom so we could get driven back to the airport.

2. Did you ever go to summer camp? No way. I love to camp but the whole thing about once you get there you are there totally bothered me. I don't like to be stranded anywhere period...I know for a fact if I had went and wanted to come home my mom would have just told me to suck it up!

3. What sends you running and screaming in the other direction? Snakes I hate hate hate snakes.

4. What is something you do that drives your spouse nuts? I never sing the lyrics to any song right...I always make my own up because my version is better...lol.

5. What is currently your favorite song? Shamman Dragonfly is today but yesterday I was listening to the Zack Brown band all day then the day before I was listening to Elvis...so I guess it depends on what day it is.

Blind to blessings...

2010-03-29T12:54:00.002-04:00

I am guilty sometimes of only seeing the worst. The glass is half empty...the glass is almost out.. rarely pondering that the glass is half full or that my glass sometimes is really over flowing. I am sometimes guilty of being covered in blessings but never "seeing" them. I can say that is not always the case....like today. To be more accurate like the past few days. I think part of the problem is that I spend most of my time rushing. I rush mentally and physically. While I am flying by I see all the bad. I see everything that's not done...or everything I don't have. Its only when I slow down do I start to see all the good....everything I have accomplished..or that I already have everything I need. The last few months have been really hard. I have spent alot of time fearing what was coming after I have the new baby (still nameless in case you were wondering). Because lets be honest. Babies are alot of work. I know 16 months ago I had a newborn. Babies are also alot of money... not to mention now I will have 2 in diapers. One on the liquid gold (at least thats what it costs as much as) that they call formula. I really wasn't looking forward to it...the work, the tiredness, and even more sacrifice to make ends meet. I dwelled completely in the negative because I was moving so fast that I never gave myself a moment to see positive side. This weekend my husband was off of work and we spent the entire weekend wrapped up in each other...the hubs, H and I. We only did what we wanted to do. We played in our yard, went to a park, slept late, stayed up late, took lazy naps, ate late breakfasts, visited friends, and just enjoyed being a family. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with guilt as I watched H play. I had somehow forgot the miracle it was for me to have a baby. I mean I had said thanks for another baby...but deep in my heart I don't think I felt it at least not at the right magnitude. Not that I didn't want it...just that I doubted myself and the situation that I know is right around the corner. It was like a light went off or suddenly everything that had been out of focus finally became not just legible but crystal clear. I started crying. Here I am pregnant again when I was told by so many that I would never have a baby. In remission from a terminal illness that no one thought I would live through. Sitting beside the man that I thought only existed in dreams. Watching my first born son play in our yard as his little brother did his best to kick hard enough to bruise my internal organs (I see soccer in this ones future). I immediately started praying and offering my thanks apologizing for my blindness to all the blessing that surround me. I gave thanks for my babies. I gave thanks for my health. I gave thanks for the man who is my rock. I gave thanks for my husbands job...and although it is not without struggles the opportunity to be able to stay home with my kids. I gave thanks for all the times that somehow our needs were met...when I just "knew" they wouldn't be. I gave thanks for everything that I had previously taken for granted....If right now your glass is half empty then take a moment...maybe you are moving to fast slow down and see how full the glass really is...it may suprise you.

Where have I been?

2010-03-26T00:09:00.002-04:00

Where have I been? Well I have been baking....a human. Or you could say that I have been getting crafty...because I am making a human. In the past week I think the nesting urge kicked in. I have cleaned and organized my heart out....well not my heart out but I did over do it and had a few contractions. I still don't feel like its done...so I have tried to rest today so that I can get back to it this weekend. I have also cooked alot! Just this week I have made a wonderful pineapple upside down cake. I totally messed up my normal recipe and left out the wet ingredients in the cake. I have to blame it on prego brain because I had to stop what I was doing to get my toddler down for the nap when I got back I forgot the water the cake called for and I just whipped it up and poured it on top of the caramel and pineapple in the bottom of the cake pan. I realized as it was half way through baking that I had forgot something but by then there was no way to correct it. The result was almost like a blondie on top of a pineapple caramel sauce. My husband loved it so much he ate half the pan in 1 day....and he doesn't usually care for sweets. As a matter of fact this will be the first dessert that I haven't had to give away to make sure it didn't go to waste. He finished the rest of the cake the second day...lol. I have tried out a new chili recipe that as type is in the fridge just waiting to be put in the crock pot to simmer tomorrow. I also finally perfected chicken fried chicken which my husband dug into with gusto tonight. I made a double batch of biscuits and froze some for later. I have made my son jello Easter egg jigglers....that he gobbled up and giggled while he did it...lol. Made a junkie dinner of chili dogs and onion rings. Cooked up a big pot of potato ham soup that was loved by the grown ups but the toddler hated. In the works for this weekend I plan on making another cake of some sort or cookies. I may also try to make either lasagna, stuffed shells or lasagna rolls....whatever I come up with. On the crafty end of things I am currently cutting out squares to make my son a rag quilt that will be 4 foot X 4 foot. I also have a artwork idea I really want to try to get to. So hopefully I will have a productive weekend and will have lots of things to post about next week. I know that I am only 27 weeks pregnant but since I measure already 34 weeks pregnant I am in the uncomfortable stage. So my back has been hurting alot and I have to constantly change position...which roughly translates to gotta go Internet this giant baby is breaking my back...and the office chair is apparently trying to help him do it!

Getting to know you.....

2010-03-21T12:00:00.002-04:00

Mannland5 post questions every Sunday that you can copy answer and link back up to her site go check them out and get to know some other bloggers..

The questions..

1. What year did you graduate high school?
1999

2. What part of your body do you neglect the most?
My feet and toes.....no paint in like over a year now...dry skin...argh

3. Beach house or Lake house? Beach house... I love the ocean.

4. Mac or PC? pc even though the mac is pretty cute in the commercials :)

5. Did you wear braces? no

6. If you could be one person for a day..living or deceased..who would you be?

7. How many times have you moved in your life? alot like a whole lot

8. Would you rather cook or clean? cook anytime!!

Five Question Friday

2010-03-18T22:54:00.001-04:00

1. Have you ever had a celeb sighting? Yes a few. When I had leukemia and was in the hospital a few celebs would come through. I got to meet Big Boss Man a wrestler who has now passed away. I got to meet the catcher from the Atlanta Braves Jave Lopez. I was actually on the Sally Jesse Rapheal show when I was 18...a show with a theme about kids with cancer...so I met the "STAR" of that show....and a few other minor celebs..

2. What temperature do you keep your house? 68

3. Do you notice dust at other peoples homes? no...I am so not that kind of chick if I come to see you its to see you I am not judging your house promise!

4. What's the worst job you ever had? I managed 2 photography studios when I was 20. Sales went up everything was going great. Then my district manager came and said that her boss did not like that she had left 2 major stores in the hands of a "child" and that she was going to have to move me down to head photographer. The lady they brought in was 7 years older than me I had to train her and she never could get the responsibility down. I still had to do all the managerial duties because she would come in hung over or not come in at all...even after I told my district manager and she had proof of how lacking her skills were (several customers called corporate and complained about her and she cut off the heads of children in 6 different photo shoots...no parent will pay for a picture of a headless child) I was told to continue to make sure that the shops ran correclty and did I mention that I got a huge pay cut when they dropped me down....after 4 months with no vacation days...working 7 days a week in 2 different cities and not making enough to barely pay for gas to drive...I finally got a day off. I took off out of town with some friends just for the night. I left my cell phone and beeper at home (both of those I might add were my personal property) When I came in on my the Thursday ( mind you I had just had Wednesday off my district manager was waiting...she rimmed me out because the "manager" ruined a whole roll of film when she changed the film without putting the black out bag over the camera....and the manager could not reach me to ask a question on what to do...I walked out...before I said or did something that got the better of me.....the only thing that kept me going as long as I did was my coworkers and my love of photography. (don't judge my photography skills by what you see on here...I do not have a great camera...considering how many times its been dropped and how old it is and it is not a portrait studio setting...not to mention for some reason I can photograph the living with no problem but photographing still life just isn't my forte)

5. What is your most sentimental possession? I have a sick quilt...Its a quilt I have had for many many many years...its the quilt I used when I had cancer...I took it with me on my long hospital stays...my only comfort sick and so far away from home...now I only use it when I am really sick and I am quite protective of it...Its very old and fragile...I have had it since I was 12.

First ever feature...

2010-03-16T12:50:00.002-04:00

I am so excited to be featured on Homemakers To do Tuesday. It was so sweet of her to mention my 1st time applique. It made my day! Go check her site out and see who else she is featuring....and check out her creative ideas....she also has an awesome etsy store!

Just waiting is killing me....

2010-03-16T09:07:00.004-04:00

So I don't really need an excuse to talk about whatever I want because you can look back at my past posts and tell that I can be random...but I am totally a sucker for a linky party....so hit the button above and see what everyone else is talking about....

Ok so today is the day. I have to head to the doctor for my gestational diabetes test...and I get another ultrasound to see how the baby looks due to measuring so far ahead.... I will update when I get back how it went...Say a prayer for me guys that the baby is healthy and fine....and that Mommy is too!!

****update***
Just got back from my morning appointment and wanted to let everyone know what I was told. There is for sure only one in there he is just a big boy. Right now I measure 33 wks and I am only 26 wks....he weighs in at 2 pounds and 16 ounces....I passed my gestational diabetes test with flying colors ( this is a miracle I am actually insulin resistant and so they expected me to fail). They are going to keep a watch on him and if he gets too big they will take him early!

Plans For Me and Questions For You.

2010-03-11T14:02:00.001-05:00

Plan for me: As of tomorrow I will be 26 weeks pregnant. There are alot of things I need to accomplish and get done. I find myself not doing things because I am overwhelmed by what all I need to do. So I have a plan. I am going to make a list of goals for every week and a list of goals for everyday. Then I am going to put that list on my refrigerator so that I look at it a few times a day. I also think that it might be helpful to get on some kind of cleaning schedule. Like on certain days I do certain things. Which hopefully will help prevent the situation I am currently in....I am so behind on laundry and housework its shameful. So this weekend it is my goal to get the house completely cleaned up. That way Monday I will have a fresh slate to start with and the housework should be more managable if kept up with on a daily basis instead of my current method of waiting till it is really dirty (well not dirty as in filthy but certainly messy).

Question for you: Do you follow any kind of cleaning schedule? If so would you mind sharing that schedule with me? So that I can get a better idea and make my own.

I will be posting a goal for each week once I get it all figured out so that maybe it will help hold me accountable! My goals will not just involve cleaning I have alot of projects that need to get done too...If you want to comment with your goals or projects coming up that would be great too....I hope I am not alone in this semi overwhelmed and underorganized ship.

Applique Addiction in the Making

2010-03-08T07:40:00.019-05:00

One of the things that really made me want to start sewing was to be able to make things my way. I always seen things and thought I would like that so much better if... Applique had been on my long lists of got to try for a while. The great thing about applique is its easy to make it your way. I have read all about how to do it and finally worked up the courage to give it a go. I wanted to make something for my son...I hate to say this but when it comes to cute boy clothes out there the selection kind of bites...I mean seriously you have a small section of boy clothes and usually a massive section of girl clothes. It never fails when I go shopping for my son I see very few things that make me think "SO CUTE" but then there are lots of things in the girl section that make me think that way. Since I can't go putting anything pink and frilly on my son it became my mission to make something for my son that rocked my socks. After deciding it was a boy project then I had to find fabric. That only took me 2 weeks to find. When I finally found the fabric I fell in love with it. I love polka dots. However polka dots aren't always very boyish...but this fabric was. Of course I only bought 1/4 of a yard. I was trying to be good and not hoard fabric. I liked it so much though that I really want to make a quilt with it and went back and guess what...its gone. All of it. When I bought it the roll was full. Now they don't know if they will get anymore back in... Does this kind of random torture only happen to me?? I however have sucked it up and moved on with my life (sniffle-sniffle). Who would have thought that finding the fabric would be the easy part. Next I had to choose the shape to applique onto the shirt. I am the queen of procrastination...so it took me a month. I went through every idea under the sun. It had to be cute but it had to be all boy. I went through so many ideas and saved a few because it just didn't do the fabric I chose justice... finally the inspiration came that I needed. My baby shower is coming up in April. My sister has claimed this shower. She wasn't happy that she wasn't allowed to throw the first shower due to my Grandmother's etiquette rule about family not throwing the shower. So when we found out I was pregnant again and seen the gleam of determination in my sisters eye...everyone backed off. They let her have it...even Grandmother. My sister apparently has been thinking about this one a long time because she has it all pretty much planned...and really doesn't care if I have an opinion about it or not. Normally I would have an opinion since I have that type A control freak personality...but being pregnant with a gigantic baby and having a 1 year old who's life mission is to wear me out from the time he opens his eyes in the morning till he closes them at night has beat the opinion out of me...on some things. So my shower will be Pirate themed. My only request was that it be fun silly colorful pirate and not dark scary pirate. So my silly skull was born. Check out the ragged edges I made on the skull..I just love it. I satin stitched the mouth and gave him colorful buttons for eyes. Its not bad for a first attempt at applique and guess what. Its "SO CUTE" and it rocks my socks so mission accomplished! Plus I am also planning to make one for me to wear with a little skull over my bump...that way baby brother isn't left out either. Unfortunately this was not pictured worn by the model it was meant for...he doesn't want to take his pjs off right now and I am fighting a bout of morning sickness so I gave up. But I could not wait to show it off! I am linking up to the parties below. Stop by and check out what everyone else has been making.

Creative Mom's Blog Hop @ Kindred Spirit Mommy

Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design

Whatever goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts

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Five Question Friday

2010-03-05T22:36:00.003-05:00

Five questions and five answers it couldn't get any simpler....which is great considering I have prego brain tonight and I am lucky I can spell my own name. Check out the link for more people playing along

1. What's your guilty pleasure? My current Peppridge Farm Veronas- they are little thumbprint cookies with strawberry in the middle...I love them but hate to share...lol. (They just recently replaced Cherry Cordial Icecream)

2. What is your favorite TV series? Ok I am totally cursed everything I love ends here are a few examples of past favorites... Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, Felicity, Nip Tuck. So I guess my current favorite (still on air) is The Ghost Whisperer...that show kills me. It scares me and makes me cry all at the same time...not to mention totally makes me jealous Jennifer is gorg and has a wardrobe to match. I do actually own all of Gilmore Girls on dvd and never get tired of it...they are a comfort thing. I put them and as background sometimes while I craft or clean if I am not in the mood for music.

3. Can you speak any foreign languages? I speak a little French, Italian, and Spanish. I was fluent in French at one time but not anymore....

4. How many pairs of shoes do you own? Not alot. I am not a shoe girl. I have a couple pairs of tennis shoes. A pair of Black dress shoes and brown..maybe a few flats and then flops for summer...

5. What's your favorite kind of M&M's...peanut, almond, straight up regular, etc.?
Ok I love plain with buttered popcorn at the movies but if I am just eating them alone I want the peanut!

Follow Friday

2010-03-05T08:40:00.004-05:00

Its follow friday again. Below are 2 buttons click either one and add yourself to the link and then follow the rules below.

Here is how it works....

Add your blog link to the MckLinky you will find on One 2 Try or Trendy Treehouse's Post ~ Remember to leave your blog name under Your name.

Make sure to follow the host of the party...so you will follow One 2 Try or Trendy Treehouse...or both like I do!!

Grab the Button of the one you choose to follow for your blog ~ so more people can share in this FUN!

Follow other Blogs that have linked up ~ Don't forget to comment saying that you are now following them and visiting from Follow Me Friday so they can find you!

If someone follows you make sure you follow back ~ It's only fair. LOL

The more you follow, the more will follow you! It's that easy!

This is for blogs only ~ no advertising links please! Have fun!

Its a pretty neat way to find blogs and meet new friends too!

Wordless Wednesday- 1 year ago today

2010-03-03T18:56:00.002-05:00

Menu Plan Monday

2010-03-01T20:32:00.003-05:00

This weekend I had a horrible stomach bug so I didn't do any cooking (or eating) My stomach still feels kinda iffy so I am going to take it slow about what I make. We did go grocery shopping earlier today (almost killed me I am not fully recovered) and loaded up on fresh strawberries, grapes, Fuji apples, bananas and cantaloupe from Sam's Club. As always for more great ideas head over to the Organizing Junkie for more ideas and links

Breakfast for the toddler and I will be: Yogurt with berries, Scrambled eggs with Cinnamon Raisin Toast, Banana Bread, Oatmeal. We will just choose from the menu based on what I feel like or what he asks for. The hubs always takes yogurt and a breakfast bar or oatmeal...he is a creature of habit and eats the same thing everyday. Plus he won't eat when he first wakes up so he has to have something he can eat at work on the go.

Lunches for the toddler and I: Soup, Turkey and Cheese Sand. Baked Chips, Fruit or left overs. Again that is a whatever we feel like at the time menu to choose from.

Now for Suppers

Monday- Turkey and Cheese Heroes, Baked Chips, Fresh fruit

Tuesday- Herb Chicken and Gravy, Stuffing, and Green beans

Wed- Cinnamon Rolls, Scrambled Cheese Eggs, Bacon and Fresh Fruit

Thursday- Enchiladas, Steamed Veggies, Fresh Fruit

Friday- Pizza, Veggies, and fresh fruit

Saturday- Sloppy Joes, Spicy Fries, Fresh Fruit

Sunday- Slow cooker Pork, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, Rolls and Fruit

Fairy Bear

2010-03-01T12:25:00.011-05:00

Here is another one of my little hand sculpted creatures. This is Sunshine from my fairy bear collection. I sculpted her because I am tired of winter and we need some sunshine. She has little flowers and sparlkly wings...and it felt a little brighter after I got her done.

**I do want to clarify that the little creatures I post on here are not themselves for sale. These I make just for my own enjoyment. I do not currently have an etsy store...it will be a few weeks before I do.

Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts

Crazy about cookbooks.

2010-02-26T13:02:00.005-05:00

Kelly's Korner wanted to know what everybody collects so I thought I would show you guys. I hate to admit this but my collection fills that bookcase to the bursting point. Thats right I have way more cookbooks than what is showing. I even have so many that they don't all fit on that bookshelf they are also in another one in my storage room...its an obsession. I mean honestly in this picture you can only see the top 3 shelves the bottom 2 shelves are empty....for now. I just can't help it I love to cook and love love love to try new recipes. There are 2 really good reasons why that thing is such a mess. My 1 year old decided all of the sudden he really pulling my cookbooks off the shelf. So he went through and pulled and pulled till he completely cleared out the bottom 2 shelfs. The I decided since he did that I need to organize them and purge some out anyways so I would take this as a sign it was time....that was Monday and my house is covered in cookbooks. They have been shuffled and moved so many times its going to take me forever to get them all back together and really organized. I refuse to just shove them all willy nilly back in that thing. In all honesty its driving me crazy that its not done yet. So this weekend will probably be my breaking point and I will get them all back in there....well the ones I am going to keep. I have gotten better about buying cookbooks. When I quit work in 2008 I made a commitment not to buy cookbooks because I had so many and because it cost so much. Well I did good I only bought 1 in 2009. I bought 1 the other day so I guess that was my one for 2010....good thing Mother's Day and my birthday are still coming up! It doesn't count if they are gifts..lol. I have also learned not to buy cookbooks just because of the great food in them. It doesn't matter how wonderful they are if they don't fit into my family's tastes and lifestyle. So there is collection. What do you collect?

Follow Me Friday

2010-02-26T01:50:00.004-05:00

Its Friday again. I had so much fun with last weeks Follow me Friday I decided to give it a go again...There are two different sites that I am participating in. Trendy Treehouse and One 2 Try check them both out!

Here is how it works....

Add your blog link to the MckLinky you will find on Trendy Treehouse's Post ~ Remember to leave your blog name under Your name.

Follow Trendy Treehouse ~ They will follow you back

Grab the Follow Me Friday Button for your blog ~ so more people can share in this FUN!

Follow other Blogs that have linked up ~ Don't forget to comment saying that you are now following them and visiting from Follow Me Friday so they can find you!

If someone follows you make sure you follow back ~ It's only fair. LOL

The more you follow, the more will follow you! It's that easy!

This is for blogs only ~ no advertising links please! Have fun!

Its a pretty neat way to find blogs and meet new friends too!

Apparently I am pregnant with a gigantic baby.

2010-02-24T13:53:00.006-05:00

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Warning: Before reading the following post please prepare yourself for irrational fears and emotions of a paranoid pregnant woman. If you too are paranoid please hit your back button now...do not subject yourself to more un-necessary fears. Also those sensitive to ramblings with no point and no directions would also do well to hit your back button...this is a post, this is only a post, if it were a real breakdown there would be no post.
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I went to the doctor today for a routine baby check up. Everything was fine...well sorta. I mentioned to my doctor that the baby was huge. She laughed and I said no I am serious....Now at this point I am 23wks and 5 days pregnant. I told her that I was uncomfortable and that the baby would press into my lungs..she said that wasn't possible yet..I said measure me. My doctor humored me. She broke out the tape measure and put it to my belly. She measured and then she re-measured...looked me in the eye and said well you measure 30 wks. Although I expected her to tell me that I measured ahead...I did not expect her to tell me that I measured 7 wks ahead...If I had not been laying down I might have fell down. She wasn't overly concerned and said the next time I come in they will do a ultrasound and get a definite idea of his size. Now 4 wks ago he was right on schedule. Weighed in at 12oz. That means I will worry and stress over this till my ultrasound in 3wks. See there is one thing that I am not good at....its awaiting medical tests or results...I mean I imagine the WORST...I have a good imagination too just ask my husband. If I have to wait for a while for a doctor's appointment when I am sick or if I have to wait to long for a result from a test it starts getting iffy up there in my brain...I google it and diagnose myself... You don't even want to know what all I have thought I have had...or how many times I have flipped out because of it...lol. I can laugh now as I look back at it...but at the time it is not funny. I think this stems from when I had cancer. Every time the doctor had a test done it was bad news...somehow that fear programmed itself into my head...so anything medical scares the crap out of me. I know and realize I fought cancer and won. Cancer is the scariest battle you can fight in my opinion....so I feel like should have came away with bravado...instead I came away with chickenidis. That's right I said it. I came away with feathers instead of armor. In the day to day battle of life I am ready to face it head on and I do have armor. Having cancer made me stronger in every possible way...except one...medical problems are my kryptonite. When it comes to anything medical the armor falls off and you can see the feathers that I have hidden underneath (I had the beak removed). Its almost a relief to say this on here...because there are only 2 people in this whole world that know how terrified I am of anything medical. My Momma is a good southern Mom so I know she won't tell...and my husband well he is a little afraid because I am a good southern wife and have a cast iron skillet...I know he won't tell. So now 3 people know. My Mom, the Hubs and you Internet. So Internet in case you don't realize it...southern women are tough...we tote cast iron skillets and we aren't afraid to use them...If you know whats good for you, you will keep the secret Internet...because if I see an article in the Enquirer about a huge beakless chicken pregnant with a gigantic baby...I am going to know who ran their mouth...and it will ruin our friendship...totally. Remember I walk softly and carry a big skillet.

I made a Hootie....but no blow fish.

2010-02-22T11:11:00.016-05:00

Last year I picked up clay and started I guess what you could call sculpting. I have made lots of little creatures and different things and surprisingly people want to buy them. It really took off at Christmastime when friends came over and seen ornaments that I was making for my personal tree...suddenly everyone wanted one. I sold so many ornaments I did not get to keep any for me....Well maybe I hid a Santa and a reindeer..lol. So I am currently in the process of opening an etsy store.. To sale my little creatures, ornaments, art and anything else I make. I don't mind if someone recreates Hootie for their own personal enjoyment but I do ask that you not sale him...since he is my original creation. I hope you all think he is as cute as I do. I will be linking to several parties to share my new little friend. Contact me if you want a friend of your own! Check out the links below for some inspiring ideas from other creative people.

Kindred Spirit Mommy- Creative Mom's Blog Hop

Sumo's Sweet Stuff- Market yourself Monday

Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts

Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design

Get your Craft on @ Life as Lori

Finger Prints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday

Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap up

Menu Plan Monday

2010-02-21T20:13:00.005-05:00

So I am back. I skipped a week last week. I cooked I just did not get around to posting my menu. I missed doing it. When I post my menu it always gives me that extra push I need to stick to my menu. There are alot of people who participate in Menu Plan Monday so head over the Organizing Junkies for lots of links and ideas. I have a few projects in the works and so that means I will be posting them later this week.. So if you come back you will see some of my sculpting. I made a cute little owl over the weekend I can't wait to show him. I will probably be posting a recipe or two. So this could be a week that ends up having lots of posts. I also have a Dr's appt for a baby check up. Everyone cross your fingers and say a little prayer for me that I don't end up with Gestational Diabetes.

Monday- Cheeseburgers, Spicy Fries, Fruit Salad

Tuesday -Bbq chicken, mashed potatoes, peas, rolls

Wednesday- Country Ham, Biscuits, Gravy, Scrambled Eggs

Thursday-Tacos, Steamed Broccoli, applesauce

Friday-White Pizza I don't officially have a recipe for this one but I seen something on foodnetworks the best thing I ever ate pizza edition with a cheese with a white sauce and spinach and I want to try to make something similar. If anyone has a recipe feel free to send it to me.

Saturday- Chili and Cornbread

Sunday- Honey Glazed Ham, Greenbeans with new potatoes, Macaroni and cheese, Rolls, Fruit

I also plan to make an applecrisp this week at some point.

Follow Me Friday

2010-02-19T14:45:00.002-05:00

Its no secret you can look at the blogs I follow on my profile. I love to find cool fun and creative blogs. About anything from cooking, sewing , crafting, decorating, saving money, or just being a mommy. Now I found a way to find more blogs check out the Trendy Treehouse for all the links to blogs available.

Here is how it works....

Add your blog link to the MckLinky below ~ Remember to leave your blog name under Your name.

Follow Trendy Treehouse ~ They will follow you back

Grab the Follow Me Friday Button for your blog ~ so more people can share in this FUN!

Follow other Blogs that have linked up ~ Don't forget to comment saying that you are now following them and visiting from Follow Me Friday so they can find you!

If someone follows you make sure you follow back ~ It's only fair. LOL

The more you follow, the more will follow you! It's that easy!

This is for blogs only ~ no advertising links please! Have fun!

Its a pretty neat way to find blogs and meet new friends too!

I won a contest!

2010-02-15T13:07:00.002-05:00

I entered a contest at an amazing site I found Park City Girl . The prize for the contest that she was offering was for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle called Chirp! The contest got me to her site but her amazing quilts kept me there. Over the weekend I looked at her site alot and got so much inspiration. It really got the quilting bug going again. I have quilted by hand before I made a total of 4 quilts....It takes forever by hand and since I have had my son I haven't really picked it back up. I just started learning to use a sewing machine and it has really revived my desire to create. So this whole weekend after looking and reading so much of her site I wanted so badly to make my new little baby who is due in June a new quilt. When I got a free minute today I went back to Park City Girl's site. I forgot that today was the day. Her newest post was announcing the winners. I read it never expecting to see my name. I am so excited and so thankful that I was one of the winners I can't wait to get my fabric! You can be sure that you will be seeing a post in the future showing just how I used them! Thanks Park City Girl and Fat Quarter Shop! Head on over by clicking the links above and check out both great sites!

I figured out what a seam ripper was for!

2010-02-15T00:53:00.019-05:00

So this weekend was my niece's birthday party. My sister actually drove in from out of town to throw the party so it could be with family. She lives in North Carolina and we don't get to see each other a whole lot. A few times a year really at most. When my nephew was born 9 years ago (wow time really goes fast) she lived basically next door so we seen each other all the time. I got to watch my nephew grow up. It makes me really sad that I don't get to see my niece like that. Anyways it was never set in stone a certain date that she would be coming so I slowly just started gathering stuff that I would put together a gift bag for her birthday. Thats my favorite thing to do for kids. I don't like to give them one big gift I like to give them several smaller gifts. I had already gotten a few things together but needed a few more...So on Friday night I got inspiration for what I wanted. My timing is always off so wouldn't you know it that it was snowing and looking pretty ugly out there...for North Georgia snow tends to set off a panic...What I mean by that is that you can't get a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk without a fight. I have never understood that either because if it snows and your trapped in a gallon of milk won't last long unless you can keep it cold...because a good rainstorm around here knocks the power out so if you just say "SNOW" the power goes off. I know you can put it outside and all but the first thing I think of if I know I won't have power is...cans of soup or snacky junk food...because worse comes to worse you can heat a can of soup in a stoneware mug over a candle flame....at least it worked for me. (Drastic times called for drastic measures when your 13 and dramatic on top of it all) So here it was Friday night snowing and the party was Saturday afternoon. I get in my car and head to hobby lobby and buy some fabric. Then I head over to Walmart and buy a T-shirt. I came home and did lots of research online. I used a tutorial on ~Ruffles and Stuff~ . and I was able to make this.

I will be honest. It did not take me the 15 minutes it took her it took me 5 hours. I will tell you why though. I don't know what I am doing...lol. I have never sewed on jersey for one and I have never used a zigzag stitch.... I have never measured fabric for a specific size and cut it out. I finally figured out what a seam ripper was for...especially since I had to use it and rip out every stitch I had done more than once. One of the times I had to do that was because I did not sew the rightsides together... So when I flipped it out the tag was on the outside and in front. It was a learning experience. I know now more about sewing than I did. I learn more everytime I make something. I am slowly but surely losing my fear of sewing. When I finally got it done and got it finished I felt on top of the world. I have never felt like that after a craft. I think it was because this was something I had to work at... I mean really work. I had to figure out how to set my machine and then I had to thread and re-thread it everytime I messed up. I had to use the seam ripper and take out all my mistakes. I am not saying that all my other crafting times I have not had to work at...I do I work on all my crafts but I usually am able to master most of them quickly. Sewing is a whole new ball game for me. I also think it made me feel so good because I did not give up when it got really difficult. I could have put it down and said I will do this later...then I may or may not have ever finished it. I didn't do that though I told myself over and over..."you can do this you can figure this out"...and I did do it and I did figure it out. I thought that after that initial burst of happiness with the dress I would never feel that satisfaction again at least until the next project...but I was so wrong. It doubled when I saw this.

She played in it all evening and then she had to sleep in it because she loved it so much...Now I can't wait for my next project!

I wanted to share my project over on Sumo's Sweet Stuff. Go check out the post for lots of links and see what everyone else is creating.

I also finally get to participate in Kindred Spirit Mommy's Creative blog hop! Head over there for even more links to check out.

I needed a little craft therapy and found it at Life in the Pitts! Check out some of the links there if you need craft therapy too!

Someday crafts just started a party check hers out!

I'm also joing Kara for look what I made day!

I am also link up with Fireflies and Jellybeans to Show off my stuff!

If you like crafts you can make an wear check out this post on The Train To Crazy for links.

Everything etsy is also having a linky party for things you have made and since I made this I qualify...yay! Head over and check out some more cool projects people made!

My last link up for this party...because I love her site so much check out Tatertots and Jello and you can see her linky party for her Weekend Wrap Up Party!

First time sewing!!

2010-02-11T00:14:00.011-05:00

I have wanted to learn to sew for a long time. I actually bought a sewing machine about 5 years ago....and it sat in the box for almost 5 years...except for a short 30 minute session of practicing on scrap fabric and flipping out because I am not I repeat not good with anything that has working parts...I mean seriously...I use a mixer and a food processor all the time...Do you want to know how many times I have cleaned cake batter off the walls, me , my kid, and anything else near by?...I can operate a mixer I just have technical difficulties. As far as the food processor goes its touch and go sometimes....I get it to work and do what I want but thankfully it has all those safety features that are probably the only reason I still have all my fingers. I quilt and have quilted for years...guess how I do it...By hand...why? because I was scared of that machine. (to clarify all the quilts I have done are very simple patterns basically just blocks I have arranged in different sizes) The urge to sew has gotten stronger and stronger. I have read so many blogs that show how to sew or what they have made and I thing that is what finally gave me more confidence. I wanted to face my fear head on...I mean its just a machine....so with courage I got the phone book out and found a lady offering sewing classes...lol. She allowed me to bring my machine so that the beast and I could become friends. Last week was my first class and the beast and I are on talking terms...we are working on having a relationship. My husband is always supportive so he surprised me with a beast carrier...so I can lug beast safely to and from the classroom. Then because my husband is one of those men he got me a tool box with lots of sewing gadgets...that I will probably hurt my self on...but I am determined to learn to sew. I don't technically get to sew in class till tomorrow..but I was dying to do something now. I have surfed the net for weeks seeing things I would like to do. Then today I knew. I wanted to make a hooded towel for my son. Of course once I knew what I wanted to do cable went out which means Internet went out and I was left alone wanting to sew and no tutorial to make it better. So I winged it. This is hooded towel...my way (not the right way probably but it worked for me) Since I finally made something I finally get to play along with so many of the creative blogs I have found check out the bottom of the post for links to find inspiration for you next project.

What you need:

1 washcloth
1 towel
thread
pins
1 beast (or whatever you call your sewing machine)

First take the wash cloth and pull to corners to the center and pin them together like this

I just did a straight stitch from the bottom to the top point. I pulled the pins out as I went and back stitched at the beginning and end. Next I pinned the hood to the towel part. I made sure to center it.

Again I just did a straight stitch from one left to the right and made sure to back stitch at the beginning and end. It ended up so cute and I was so proud of myself I made another one. In pink this time to give to my niece this Saturday as part of her birthday present. Now this may not be the absolute correct way to do it but it worked for me. It also gave me the confidence that I needed and beast and I are on our way to being besties for sure.. Check them out. My model is currently asleep for the night and I did not have a chance to take a pic of him in it. I made the brown first and pink second...Total time it took for both was less than an hour!! I can only imagine how much this will cut down on my quilting time!

Since I finally made something I finally get to play along with the look what I made day at Creations by Kara! Check the post out and see what all the other crafty people have been up to!

I have to get in on the fun over at Fireflies and Jellybeans too. For more of a creative fix head over there and check everyones out too!!

Check out the Strut your Stuff party over at Somewhat Simple there are so many creations to check out there too!

Tater Tots and jello also has a Weekend wrap up lots of links!

Banana Bread

2010-02-09T20:49:00.003-05:00

This is our favorite banana bread recipe. My husband never liked banana bread till this one. I went through a faze where I made a different banana bread every week determined to find the best one possible...this was our winner...and you can find it here at Cooking Light. Cooking Light is a site I visit often because it never hurts to eat healthy especially when it tastes as good as the recipes I have tried of theirs. My husband, family, and friends love this banana bread. To this day I haven't told anyone that its a healthier lighter version of the traditional banana bread....However don't think that just because its healthier its different. It is so moist and so tasty you won't miss the extra fat and calories that other recipes for the same bread kind of bread pack. Tonight I made it in two smaller loaves. In one of those loaves I sprinkled in chocolate chips....not many just a 1/4 cup or so...I also tend to typically use a vanilla yogurt instead of plain...because I don't have plain yogurt in my house all that much I always have vanilla though. My son who is 1 loves it so much that he stands outside of the stove and says bite bite the whole time it is baking (every time I make it)...So far this is the only thing he does that for. Its a miracle if I get it cooled completely before I have to give him a slice...Try it and see if you don't love it as much as we do!

Classic Banana Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.

Place sugar and butter in a large bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 1 minute). Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt, and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. Spoon batter into an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Yield: 1 loaf, 14 servings (serving size: 1 slice)

CALORIES 187 (21% from fat); FAT 4.3g (sat 2.4g,mono 1.2g,poly 0.3g); IRON 1mg; CHOLESTEROL 40mg; CALCIUM 20mg; CARBOHYDRATE 34.4g; SODIUM 198mg; PROTEIN 3.3g; FIBER 1.1g

Cooking Light

Broccolie Cheese Soup

2010-02-08T23:47:00.002-05:00

I am a soup person. I like soup alot. Its not all I eat, but it is one of my favorite things to eat....as long as its good. This soup is great. Its creamy, cheesy and has a few vegetables thrown in there for good measure. Now you can make this as healthy as you like or not...I have made it using low fat ingredients and skim milk. Either way you go this soup is good. I will try and add a picture tomorrow..I am technology challenged and cannot get my camera to co-operate with me at this time. This soup makes plenty to feed 4 hungry adults with leftovers. Its great served in bread bowls.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

4-5 cups of chopped broccoli
3/4 cup of finely diced carrot
5 1/2 cups of chicken broth
5 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1/2 pound Velveeta cubed (you can use regular, 2%, or the Mexican they are all good)
2-3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
pepper to your taste

Directions
In a large pot over medium heat, simmer the carrots for 5 mins then add the broccoli and simmer for 10 minutes more. In a separate skillet over medium heat, melt the butter, add the onions and saute till nice and tender this usually takes 5 minutes or so. Then add the flour to the onions and stir well. I recommend a whisk for this that way you get it really smooth. Its going to form a pasty substance let this cook for about a minute. Keep stirring because you really want to cook the flour to get the raw taste out but not really brown or burn the mixture. Slowly add the milk and stir until thick. Now pour your milk mixture into the broccoli/carrot mixture in the pot and stir well. Then add the cheese, stirring until melted. Finally, give it a little taste and add the pepper the way you like it...typically we don't add salt.

Tips-If you like it spicy go for the Mexican Velveeta and even use a fiesta blend of shredded cheese. Also I don't recommend that you boil it because it burns really easy and the burn taste goes all through the entire soup and you taste it in every bite (just ask me how I know)

Menu Plan Monday

2010-02-08T23:22:00.005-05:00

Hey remember me...I've been MIA...well sort of. What I have really been is alot of nothing. I had strep throat and then a sinus infection back to back....but here I am back again trying to get on top of the menu planning game. If you haven't already seriously head over to The Organizing Junkie and check out all the great ideas you can get from all the other people linking up....they can really inspire you...I know that I definetly needed it to get going today!

Monday-Broccoli Cheese Soup and Pioneer Woman's Drip beef (the one with the peppers) and holy moly these were good. I have not ate red meat hardly at all since I got pregnant but I seen these and had to have them. I did mine in the slow cooker all day...did I mention how good these were?

Tuesday- Nachos

Wednesday- Chili and cornbread (with planned extra for Sat.)

Thursday-Cracked Pepper Turkey Tenderloin, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Homemade Applesauce

Friday- Enchiladas, Refried Beans, Corn on the cob, Homemade Applesauce

Saturday- Chili Dogs, Crispy Rounds

Sunday-Pork Roast, Scalloped Potatoes, Peas

Desserts planned for this week- I am making a pan of birthday brownies for the Hubs chocoholic Grandma.(sending the whole pan to her!)
Banana Bread (2 small loaves 1 for now and 1 to freeze)
I plan to start some Amish friendship bread.
Apple Butter Cake (Sunday's special dessert)

Sometimes just a sign helps your heartache..

2010-01-31T01:01:00.004-05:00

I miss someone. I've actually missed them for a long time...but there are times when the hurt and longing for someone you miss is stronger than others...when it is so strong you feel the physical pain of heartbreak..you think you have healed but your reminded that there are pieces missing and will be forever...I read a post that struck a cord with my heart over at Family Stamping and Food. Almost 5 years ago I lost my Nana. My Nana was a huge part of my life. She pretty much raised me...not because I didn't have a Mom I did and still do and she is my best friend...but my Nana was just something indescribable. She was the rock of our family. All of us were drawn to her. If you had troubles or problems you went to Nana. She fought a war with cancer...and lost. Even as I type this the pain of her loss is fresh and no less painful than it was when I watched her take her last breath...I was beside her because she stayed beside me when I fought my war with cancer. I prayed just as hard for her as I know she did for me. For the past couple of months I have missed her more than ever..the sound of her voice..her words of encouragement. I wanted her beside me again....and since I couldn't have that I wanted a sign...just any sign that she was watching that she knew...that she knew I missed her and loved her. That she knew I was able to have a baby...that I was fixing to have another one. I know that she is watching in my heart I really do. I know that she is up there in heaven watching and smiling down....but I just needed some peace...just plain greed I guess because really I just want her back so bad...even if just for a moment. I got my sign and it gave me the peace I wanted...

My Nana was a great cook...and in my family there are not that many of them. There didn't have to be...Nana was queen in the kitchen as well as in our hearts. My Mom is just now becoming a good cook...she says it took her all this time to find patience for cooking...I think it took her this long to just figure out that the fire alarm was not the oven timer telling her when dinner was done and that recipes were meant to be followed and that sometimes you shouldn't "wing it" especially if you couldn't fly...learn to fly then "wing it". (Now this is nothing that my Mom and I haven't laughed or talked about thousands of times so don't think I am talking bad about my Mom...I am southern and we don't do that...but we are honest and state pure truths..especially when said Mom is out of town for a month and did not make me that dump cake she promised before she left...hi Mom if your reading this...should have stuck to your promise and I wouldn't have outed you on the net.) Anyways back to Nana. She loved cooking and passed that love on to me...and being that I was the first one to love it out of all her kids I was the one she taught to cook. She never followed recipes...she threw the ingredients together...she didn't even own measuring cups or measuring spoons...and that was how I learned to make all of her food. Now there were times when I really had trouble with the dish...her fudge to this day is still not something I can whip up without ruining dinner plates (story on that some other time), her biscuits aren't my strong point either because her biscuits stayed soft all day...they never ever hardened up...even days later...not that they lasted that long ( I make good biscuits but they have a shelf life of a few hours then they start to harden)...and the final one was her chocolate pie recipe...because I begged and pleaded she would sometimes write up a "recipe" but it was just a guess at the measurements of what she put in it. When anyone wants a "Granny dish" (I was the only one who called her Nana) they call me. I true to her teaching don't measure on her dishes because now I can cook (almost except those 3 things) like her. (I have to measure on everything else though and I own several sets of measuring cups and spoons because I am not queen in the kitchen at this point I am somewhere around duchess..but I am working on it) The other day when my missing her was at one of its highest points I was going through cookbooks and recipe boxes. In one of those recipe boxes a scrap of paper fell out. It was old and dirty. It landed face down so I couldn't tell what was on it till I picked it up and flipped it over. Goosebumps and tingles covered me from head to toe...in my Nana's handwriting was her recipe for chocolate pie....and all I could think was thanks Nana I needed that...I love you too.

Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails....

2010-01-25T23:18:00.002-05:00

Today was finally the big day. The day that I have been waiting for...I found out what I will be having today. Another little boy. As I sit here thinking about what this means to me...it takes my breath away and makes me cry. My feelings are so beyond words. Right now inside of me there is a little man. A little man that I was told so many times I would never have. He is my second little man but no less precious than the first. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be apart of another life... another life that I know will be something special. So little man inside of me wiggling around....Mommy loves you and I am waiting to hold you, to kiss you, to finally look into those little eyes...those little eyes that I never dreamed that I would be gifted with. I can't wait for all the miracles we get to have together your first cry, your first smile, your first laugh and so many more. There is so much for you to see and do. You have a loving Daddy waiting, and a loving big brother. We are all waiting for you....20 weeks isn't very long...so get strong and grow some more...till I can hold you in my arms...I will hold you inside with my heart...

Krispy Kreme Deal

2010-01-25T01:37:00.003-05:00

You will probably be seeing a few posts coming up with good deals I am finding. I bought a book wrote by Coupon Mom and have been learning alot. Seriously I recommend this book and I am so excited to get started.

Have you ever heard of Krispy Kreme? We had a date night on Saturday and I did not get to go to the restaurant I wanted because there was an hour wait...a whole hour here people. I just could not see waiting that long even if it was for the best Italian place around. So we ended up going to a place that didn't have really anything I wanted. I doggie bagged over half my plate. My husband knew I didn't really enjoy the meaty place he picked because I am still not eating alot of meat. So he took me for a doughnut. I walked in that place and got a whiff and a few minutes later we walked out with a full dozen....I have never in my life bought 12 doughnuts. Usually just a couple maybe 6 max. I am never buying 12 doughnuts at one time again either...because between the hubs, H and I we have ate them all except one...and I feel totally guilty..not really they were great and I haven't really ate any junk food this entire time...unless you count the new chocolate Cheerios...I did eat a box of those in a week..anyways back to the deal. Right now if you buy a dozen doughnuts at Krispy Kreme you get 12 free Valentines. Now I know your thinking so what Valentines? Here is where the deal comes in....each valentine gets you a free doughnut. Which I think is perfect. They have no expiration date and the hubs and I can stop in occasionally and get a free doughnut each and get a doughnut fix...without the temptation of 9 more waiting when we finish them. It also kinda works out that you basically get a dozen doughnuts free....which is a pretty sweet deal...pun intended.

Last weeks Cauliflower Soup recipe

2010-01-20T13:00:00.005-05:00

Here we go last weeks soup recipe. This recipe is really forgiving and really easy to change up any way you like. What I mean by forgiving is at one time or another I have forgotten steps or ingredients and added them out of order or forgot them all together....I like a recipe that doesn't hold a grudge about the tiny details and still tastes this good. Also you can omit the butter and use skim milk and make it pretty healthy. I actually made this soup on Weight Watchers that way and it was low in points

Cauliflower Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
5-6 cups of finely chopped cauliflower (a large head should get you that much)
1 cup of onion
1 clove garlic (chopped, smashed, or diced)
3 tablespoons of flour
4 cups chicken broth
1 c milk
8 oz Brie (peel and remove the rind)chopped
1/2-3/4 teaspoon of dried thyme
Salt and pepper to your taste
dash of cayenne
green onions, chives, cheese or bacon pieces for garnish

In a large soup pot, preferably non-stick heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Saute for 3-5 minutes. Add the chopped cauliflower and saute for another 7-10 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the chicken broth and milk. Cook for 5-7 minutes more till it starts to bubble and thicken up. Now add the Brie and thyme and season with the salt and pepper and cayenne to taste. Cook until the Brie fully melts. Now you can eat it this way or you can put it in a food processor in small batches and puree it till its creamy...or hey if you have an emersion blender like I did at one time and you didn't loose the parts use that.

**Now I cheat alot, I make my chicken broth out of water and bouillon cubes. Occasionally I want to make it heartier and I dice up carrots and celery and add it in with the onions and cauliflower. Sometimes I even go wild and add in a small diced up potato....this recipe is really flexible just make it yours. I top mine with chives cheese and bacon. Forgive the picture I was eating it out of a white soup bowl and it didn't want to show up anything but washed out. This would be my husbands gigantomous bowl and his equally huge helping of cheese.

Menu Plan Monday-on Tuesday

2010-01-19T19:36:00.004-05:00

Hey I maybe late posting but I actually have had my menu planned since Sat. Last week I did great following my menu the only thing I did not make was the lasagna cups and that was because my Mom invited us to dinner. I am not going to pass of the chance for Mom's homecooking (at least not her meatloaf). Remember to check out the Organizing Junkie's Post for more ideas. This is how my week looks menu wise.

Monday- Ground beef Stroganoff, crescent rolls, peas, and fruit salad

Tuesday- Chicken Fajitas, Mexican Rice, Fruit Salad

Wed- BBQ chicken stuffed baked potatoes, steamed veggies and Applesauce

Thursday- Homemade Pizza half pepperoni & half hawaiian (still trying to find the perfect crust recipe but its been fun trying them out) corn on the cob and steamed broccoli

Friday- Breakfast Biscuits, Sausage, Scrambled eggs

Saturday-Steak Sandwhiches and oven fries

Sunday- Lasagna cups, Mixed Steamed Veggies and cesar salad

At some point this week I will make something sweet and will be sure to post so check back.

I will post the recipe for my cauliflower soup from last week I have just been super busy organizing and cleaning.....I think its a nesting thing. Not to mention the cute birthday gift I am working on for my niece....check back for that too.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-13T09:08:00.000-05:00

Sockless but Thankful

2010-01-11T23:30:00.006-05:00

My husband came in from work today and immediately started helping me around the house without being asked. He knew I had a rough day with our son still being sick and he said he wanted to take some of my load off....He is banking extra brownie points here people. I was too tired at the time and my brain was numb or I might have been suspicious...not that he normally doesn't help just usually I have to ask. He started doing laundry. I don't know many husbands that are like this but his favorite house job is laundry....he actually likes to wash, fold, hang, and put away clothes. (when I ask for help around the house that's what he automatically wants to do) I am expecting at anytime this fact to get out and I will be approached by some brainy woman scientist who wants a sample of his DNA so he can be cloned. Which after she reads this post fully she may change her mind. So he is doing the laundry thing and he does the washing folding and hanging parts of it quite well without any instructions or help from me. The putting away of things not so much. Tonight he didn't ask me where anything went like he normally does. He put everything away on his own while I was emptying the dishwasher. I thought nothing of it. That goes to show how tired I am. Usually I help put things away just to make sure what happened next is avoided. Fast forward till a little later tonight he and my son are already in bed and I wanted to take a little while to unwind before trying to do the same. So I went to go take a relaxing bubble bath. It was all fine till I needed my pjs. Here is my husbands laundry downfall. He can't remember where anything goes. Now I have showed him so many times its unbelievable which is why I usually put the laundry away with him so I can tell him every time where things go. Tonight I found my T-shirts in my underthings drawer, my underthings in my pj drawer, my yoga pants in my sock drawer, some sweaters in my grubby clothes drawer, and my pjs in his sock drawer...I still haven't found my socks....After the day I have had and pretty much the weekend we have had I am just thankful the laundry has been done..I am going to have to ask if he can remember where my socks are if I don't find them tomorrow because my feet are freezing....for now I guess I will settle for just putting my cold feet on his warm ones....I would steal a pair of his socks but I can't find his either...but at least the act of sock theft did help me find my pjs.

Menu Plan Monday

2010-01-11T00:33:00.005-05:00

So last weeks menu did not go exactly as planned. We had a very rough week. My son got sick and I was so busy taking care of him that I didn't get to cook everything. Alot of nights we ended up eating soup from the pantry or quick bites I keep on hand from the freezer. To top my week off our water froze so it was just one of those weeks where everything worked against me. Its a new week though and a new opportunity to stick to goal so I am going to try this again. I do still expect to have a busy week H is still sick and I go to the doctor to find out what baby #2 is. Remember to check out the Organizing Junkie's post lots of links for more ideas. Oh yeah, this is not my first one that was a typo this is my 2nd one!

Monday- Turkey Kielbasa wKraut, black eyed peas, turnip greens, and probably some form of potato (to make this meal more enjoyable for the hubs he isn't a huge fan)

Tuesday- Cauliflower Soup and bread of some sort (even people who don't like cauliflower like this one...my hubs thought it was potato for months before I told him otherwise)

Wed.- Chicken breast stuffed with jalapeno and cheese, mashed potatoes, peas, rolls

Thursday-Lasagna cups, broccoli, applesauce

Friday-Crunchy Beef Tacos, Fiesta Rice, mixed fruit (this is tentative we may or may not go out to eat to celebrate our new boy or girl depending on how H feels)

Saturday-Country Fried Steak Fingers, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans, Rolls

Sunday- Pork Roast, Green Beans, Scalloped Potatoes

Revenge is Sweet and Frozen

2010-01-09T00:02:00.006-05:00

I am going to start this off just by saying I am pregnant. I am pregnant and hormonal...which translates to not always in control of my emotions. In times of stress I lose futher control of those emotions and it lands me where I am right now. Does anyone know how to melt boots? Ok well not boots but ice in the boots...They are so big they won't fit in the microwave and even if they would I am not sure that I want to smell the smell that would come out of those boots defrosting. I would deserve that though. The nasty boot smell I am sure that would come out of the microwave because of what I did....I am going to confess. I am going to just go ahead and get it off my chest. My son is sick...very sick and ofcourse this all hits right when we get snow and ice and can't get to the doctor...Early am on Thursday my son woke up running a fever and I gave him tylenol. After an hour of watching his temp not fall but rise I gave him motrin and proceeded to stay up all night with him. I am a night owl and don't go to bed till 2 a.m. every night so I had not even been to bed. Needless to say I stayed up till 6 a.m. before he fell asleep comfortably after his fever broke...We (translate he) got up at 10 a.m. ready to go...I dragged up at 10 a.m. with him but not ready to go. He was fine all day while the ice and snow came but fastforward to later that night...his fever goes up again and this time he lays around alot not moving...then he starts vomiting...I spend most of Thursday night cleaning up him, me and anything unlucky enough to get in our path (which was mostly just me)...Now mind you my husband is up with us too...but when H gets sick he wants me and only me thats it...So he stayed attached to me...Thursday night drifts into Friday morning and the 3 of us spend the whole night awake (thats 2 in a row for H and I). I am cruising on no sleep, exhaustion and enough worry plus hormones to make Roseanne (Barr) seem sweet. His temperature does it again and falls away with the morning. I have spent most of the night holding him...and worrying. I call the Doctor and ofcourse they will see him at 2:40p.m. ....which at 8 a.m. is pretty far away. So I have to dwell, worry and stew for quite sometime before I can breath again. The stress and crazyness is now circling over head...you can practically see it.(except my husband who apparently goes blind when a warning sign is flashing) I really do have a great husband but when I am stressed and hormonal it doesn't matter I overact like the angry/dramatic/irrational/hormonal/psycho pregnant woman I am. Now I don't get violent I am 5'4" and he is 6'5". So what good would it do if I did...bruise an ankle... plus he is smart enough not to bend his head down for me when I ask him to so I can brain him with an iron skillet...and again the only things I can really reach are ankles and knees. Those just wouldn't be as satisfying. So my usual retaliation is a mean look, a huff, and a threat...you know something like "I hope you remember how to make my Stroganoff because the only way you will ever get it again is if you make it yourself". Now you may not think this is a significant threat....but my husband likes to eat..alot. So threatening him in the food department is usally the way to go. I have used those threats too much apparently without follow through and he knows I never stick to them....they have lost their pull. My mean look and my huff don't do any good except to make me feel a little better. So there is no gratification to the craziness that comes boiling out of me....well till today. I was running back and fourth between our master bedroom and adjoining bathroom. I was trying to keep busy so that I might work some of the crazy out of my system... when boom. The crazy pregnant bomb was detonaited. I stub my toe on something....the pain the agony...you know the kind. Its so bad you can't even think of bad words to help. You suck air in but don't let any air out as the pain radiates from that tiny toe all through your body. I collapsed on our bed paralyzed. I couldn't move...I'm still holding my breath and going blue. The pain is magnifying to a deep throb. When my eyes uncrossed I could finally see what had almost brought about the great toe breakage of 2010. Can anyone guess what it was? It was a pair of size 14 black waterproof work boots...boots that I had repeatedly asked someone not pregnant and owned said boots to put them away so a situation like this wouldn't happen...I seen those boots and something clicked in my head...crazy pregnant lady took over..It didn't help I was still holding my breath so I am pretty sure the lack of oxygen was also a culprit. B (the hubs) was asleep on the couch which also didn't help his case. It only made crazy pregnant lady's anger boil harder. He who is not pregnant, who did not put away his shoes, who hadn't spent the majority of the night covered in grossness was asleep and snoring peacefully away. I grabbed up those boots not really knowing what I was doing or thinking and took them (limped them) into our bathroom. I went straight to the tub and put them under the water and filled his waterproof boots up. I know they really are waterproof for sure now because not a drop of water came back out....then I walked them to our front door opened it and set thim outside. Outside in the snowy icy weather where the temprature was 14 degrees. I shut the door leaned back against it and felt very satisfied...the crazy pregnant woman beast was quiet and glowing with triumph. That glow lasted for about 3 minutes before the guilt set in. I was heading back to the door to get them when H woke up from a short nap he was taking. He is extra fussy so I went straight to him...and accidentally forgot those boots. I went on about my day oblivious to the popsicles in the making. We left took the baby to the doctor. Got meds and a diagnosis. Strep throat again. This time it was worse they say because he had little white bumps in his throat and his throat was very swelled. We left the doctor's office after 4 pm went to pick up medicine and then headed home finally. We had a simple dinner of soup and went about our nightly routine of getting H ready for bed. Then my husband starts looking for his boots so he can have them ready the next morning....I helped him look for them (pregnancy brain rot made me forget what I did that is my story and I am sticking to it). Suddenly it dawned on me where they were. You should have seen his face when I told him...he ran out and grabbed the boots. Sure enough those things are really waterproof and there is a boot shaped popsicle in each one to prove it. So now I sit here with boots that have popsicles in them and I feel guilty (kinda)....but the crazy pregnant part of me is glowing still with sweet revenge...the only upside to the whole thing is I just bet when I huff and give him a mean look now it has more pull than it did before...if it doesn't I may find something else to freeze...hahaha.

Pot Roast & Not Homemade Oreos

2010-01-06T19:31:00.006-05:00

So first the pot roast. I have to be honest I am not much of a meat eater right now. Pregnancy for me makes me almost a vegetarian. My husband however is a meat and potatoes kinda man. So to entice myself to eat meat I am experimenting. What I want to eat all the time right now is fruit and veggies. I am enjoying strawberries with vanilla yogurt....Salads...huge salads with everything on them covered in ranch dressing...the homemade kind...spicy hot v8 with extra hot sauce...hot salsa with baked chips.. This pot roast was good but it didn't really make me "love" it. I liked it and probably ate a couple of ounces. My husband "loved" it. He ate several helpings of the meat and potatoes and said the recipe was a keeper ad he would eat it again. So here is my experiment

Manly Slow cooker Pot Roast

3 lb roast (whatever your favorite cut is)
1 pkg Brown Gravy Mix
1 can French Onion Soup
1 can Golden Mushroom Soup
2 c. baby carrots
2 c. of peeled cubed potatoes
1 c. water
1 T. Worcestershire Sauce

Put the meat int the slow cooker. Place the veggies around it. In a medium sized bowl mix the Brown Gravy Mix, Onion Soup, Mushroom Soup, water and Worcestershire sauce. Turn on low and cook 8-10 hours.

I wanted to make Homemade Oreos....not just any Oreos though Mommy's Kitchen's Oreos Do you see that picture above? That's not oreos...What happened you ask. Well my kitchen gremlin did it again. I laid out the butter and the cream cheese in preparation for the recipe. They were ready so I went to go get the cake mix out. I looked everywhere....I know I had a dark chocolate cake mix!...I reorganized my pantry last week after Christmas. I put that cake mix towards the front because I knew I wanted to make those oreos...that cake mix was no where to be found. I emptied that sucker out. I messed up all the work I did. Guess what I found....well it wasn't a chocolate cake mix that's for sure. I found a carrot cake mix...a carrot cake mix that I did not put in there. What kind of kitchen gremlin takes a chocolate cake mix and puts a carrot cake mix in its place?....my kitchen gremlin thats who. So after cramming everything back in there....and only having to pull half of it back out once because I packed the carrot cake mix up again (that's my karma I guess for the language I was muttering while I was losing my cake mix mind). I held to another 2010 goal. I didn't waste that butter and cream cheese. I didn't see the glass half empty (OK for a few minutes I did the important thing is I corrected it)...I made carrot cake....well what do I call them? They aren't Oreo's (on a side note I haven't given up on the those I will be getting another chocolate cake mix) I guess I can call them carrot cake cream pies. They are good just extremely rich and here is the recipe if you want to try it...just make sure your gremlin didn't get your cake mix. Tomorrow looks like I will be organizing my pantry again...and maybe scrapping cream cheese filling off my cabinets...If you only knew the mess I made. Happy cleaning...wait I mean happy cooking your probably not as messy as me.

Carrot Cake Cream Pies

Cookie Recipe
1 package carrot cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 c. veg. oil
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Add oil and eggs to cake mix and blend together. Roll dough into balls. I used a teaspoon so that I could get all the little balls about the same size. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 7-8 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on sheet for about 2 minutes. Remove cookies from sheet and place on cooling rack. To assemble the cookies I used a pastry bag with a star tip...I could tell you what size but I don't remember and its in there soaking the frosting off. I add about a tablespoon of filling into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie similar in size on top of the filling. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling Recipe:
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1 block of cream cheese (8 ounces)
4 c. confectioner's sugar
1 T cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Cream butter and add cream cheese and mix well. Combine cinnamon and confectioners sugar add slowly to the creamed butter mixture. Mix until completely combined.

***On a side note I toasted some pecans and chopped them then rolled some of the cookies in them...you will see one in the picture above.

It always happens.

2010-01-05T19:40:00.002-05:00

When I make a plan mayhem usually follows. Remember that goal of cooking and eating at home...well today I got shot down...not only did I get shot down I crashed and burned in a mighty way....my sugar came crashing down and I had a angry tired toddler who just added to the flames. I took my son H to his 1 year well check. The same well check that the Dr's office has re-scheduled on me twice now. I was optimistic..another goal for 2010..I want to see the glass half full instead of the normal way I see it...because to be honest I usually am the one to see the glass is half empty or in a dramatic panic its all the way empty. So I went in there thinking we will be in and out. I packed my son a bottle/sippy, snacks, and toys. He is not the most patient of people....I will be honest he got that from me...he is also a tad dramatic...that's totally from me too. However I thought I was prepared. I wasn't. The place was packed standing room only. We spent 3 hours in that doctors office. We all limped out. I felt like I had just fought a war. Between the bully in the waiting room kicking H's toys around and pushing H down and me chasing him for two hours around the waiting room. To the 1 hr in the actual examining room and H screaming the entire time because it was too hot and he was uncomfortable. He had played with all his toys ate all his snacks and drank his bottle/sippy....needless to say it was 3 hours of Hades. Did I mention he got two shots and a thing stuck down his throat to test for strep? Which was negative by the way. When we finally made it out the door and were in site of the car I felt like I had climbed a mountain, survived a tornado, and ran a marathon. All of the sudden my sugar bottomed out. I got the shakes, dizzy and sick to my stomach. I crawled in the passenger seat while my husband buckled the screaming H in. At this point he was screaming from hunger, pain, exhaustion and pure drama. My husband took one look at me and drove straight to a take out place. I gave in. I had no more fight in me. It was a good 45+ mins home in bumper to bumper traffic and I knew I wouldn't make it. Now I feel totally guilt ridden. I ate take out. We spent money that we didn't have to. However I am more determined than ever to make this goal and not eat out. In the middle of eating my husband looked at me and said " I know that look I am going to enjoy this because I doubt we will eat out again for a long time". He is so absolutely right it makes me more determined than ever...So the roast is done and cooling. I will put it in a container and let every one know if my experiment with the recipe worked tomorrow. I am off for now to go sterilize myself and my son from lord only knows what germs we picked up at that office. I am looking on the bright side....tomorrows dinner is mostly done!

Menu Plan Monday

2010-01-05T00:48:00.004-05:00

So this is a 2010 goal of mine. To make a menu and stick to it. I really want to save as much money as possible this year and eating at home is the first step. I have a semi-picky husband and a toddler that one day eats everything and the next day hates everything. I am just getting started so I am working on more ideas. However check out the organizing junkie's post. There are so many great ideas there I hope to borrow some for future menus. I know I am getting started late but I intend to get this started much sooner in the future.

Monday- (I was running around doing errands so when I got home I grabbed the easiest thing to make) Fish Sticks, Mac-n-Cheese, applesauce, green beans.

Tuesday- Slow cooker Pot Roast, Carrots, Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli, Garlic Cheese Biscuits (One year well check for my son and at 3pm no less so I know I will be late getting home with traffic and all. Yay me planning ahead.)

Wed- Turkey Kielbasa with Sauerkraut, Black-eyed Peas, Turnip Greens, Cornbread, and probably some form of potato (for the hubby this isn't one of his favorite dinners).

Thursday-Left Over Roast Morph (I will post what I do with this on Thursday I am thinking it might be barb-q biscuit cups) vegetable and applesauce.

Fri- Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Mashed potatoes, Peas, and rolls. (Quick food I bought the chicken breasts stuffed in the freezer section they are jalapeno and cheese filled)

Sat- Crunchy Beef Tacos, Fiesta Rice, and applesauce

Sunday- Slow Cooker Pork Roast, Green Beans, Potato Packets.

I will post some recipes I try and I also plan to make a dessert and will post that also. I really want to try and stick to this hopefully this will be one 2010 goal I keep.

Nice to Meet Me.

2009-12-29T01:42:00.000-05:00

So this is my hi. My introduction to blog-land. This may be a long one because I don't know how to introduce myself with just a brief hi there and be sure that you get the feel of who I am and what this is about....They say first impressions are important. However I totally want some slack cut here. I just got my 1 year old back to sleep and I am 4 months pregnant. Also factor in that I hosted Christmas at my house this year.....What was I thinking??? I am going to blame it on the hormones they made me think I am invincible.... Just so you can picture it a brief description of the mayhem. A large southern family gathered in a space that although large enough theoretically to hold them seemed to shrink as the hours passed. I cooked, baked and cleaned house like a mad woman for a week before. The house was spotless the place was shiny...then enter stage left the people that I am blood related to...and let the insanity begin. We had an arguing married couple, an angry toddler, a grandfather hard of hearing so everyone was speaking very loudly, a grandmother that is also hard of hearing and even harder at understanding, an overwhelmed hormonal cook/hostess, and the icing on the cake one drunken relative. All in all I really enjoyed my family I always do. The married couple made up before they left...the toddler got a nap...the family is always loud so the hard of hearing doesn't make a difference...grandma likes to repeat herself so eventually someone gets it...the hormonal cook and hostess has some really good memories and the drunken relative will be given a hard time into 2010(not to mention we have pics of them being goofy...ha blackmail is sweet). My family is far from perfect, but they don't have to be. This blog is about my real life. I want this for a written memory...so that someday my kids and I can look back and see our adventures....now on to the real intro.

My name is Cas. I have been married for 3 years to a great man who has also turned out to be a great father. We had our first son in November 2008. I am currently pregnant and won't find out the sex until late Jan. 2010. I don't have a preference healthy is all that matters. (I do however have a sneaky suspicion its a girl). I am currently in remission from A. M. L Leukemia. When I was diagnosed in 1998 I was told that it was terminal. At the time they discovered the cancer I had no symptoms other than tiredness. I was a normal 17 year old girl. I had a job and was in high school. I just happened to apply for another job that required a physical....needless to say they seen something in my blood work and sent me to a hematologist/oncologist. I was naive as was my family. We didn't even know what oncologist meant. So when they gave me 2 weeks to live it came as quite a blow. I was offered an experimental type of chemotherapy that the doctors hoped would give me 2 months(they were just full of lovely news that day). I took that chemo after alot of begging and pleading from my family. I didn't want to take it because they told me how sick it was going to make me at the time I wasn't sick at all and didn't want to get that way. The cancer went into remission within 3days of the first round of chemo. None of my doctors ever believed it was gone. I took 7 rounds of chemo. Each round lasted from 5-7 days and had between 2-4 different types of meds in them. It took me a year and a half to finish the chemo the doctors had mapped out. In that year I almost died 4 times. I wound up in ICU one of those times with a blood pressure of 50/20. My whole family stood around me and said their good byes after the doctor told them it was the end. I was supposedly unconscious but I was there. I heard them all. I felt their love and their sorrow. Through all of this my 17 year old invincible mentality never let me believe the doctors when they said I was going to die. I am here today because of a miracle. The cancer never came back after that first chemo. I was officially declared in remission in 1999 personally I count it from the 3rd day of my first chemo. I grew up quick after having been diagnosed with a terminal illness. I walked away with a different view on life. I am me. I make mistakes. I am never perfect. I have spent time with a therapist because although I never feared or thought about death while I was sick those fears and worries stayed with me. I am learning to deal with the aftermath and scars it left so that I am able to enjoy the gift of today without worrying about yesterday or tomorrow.

I was diagnosed later with PCOS. Because I don't ovulate I was told I would not be able to have children without 1) weight loss and 2) fertility treatments. I did the weight loss thing (well a little..I could always use more) Then I tried the fertility treatments. I didn't respond to the first stages and was told that I would have to go through a more extensive cycle with no guarantee of being able to conceive. I will probably say this again but I really don't like doctors , their offices', waiting for tests, or hospitals. So telling me that I would have to have more of all those things to have a kid....not to mention $$$$ ended my dream of having a family (or so I thought). My husband is supportive so when I told him in Feb. 2008 I was done. I didn't want to go through anymore he readily agreed. We love each other and he said that was enough.....fast-forward to June 2008 for months I had been sick and tired. I started getting scared. I thought that maybe my cancer was back. I took my very scared and emotional self to the doctor. I cried and told my doctor everything. What I thought was wrong(don't look up symptoms on the Internet people) and she has been my doctor for 10+ years so she knows my whole story. She calmly said lets run some tests. Now at my doctors office they automatically make you give a urine sample when you get there. They do a standard protein and sugar test on everyone. My doctor literally walked out of the office to order blood tests but came flying back in not 2 mins later. She had a stunned look on her face and I was totally going to pass out or panic or maybe both till she blurted...your pregnant...So I did pass out and when I came around I panicked....A blurry ultrasound later ( crying my eyes out people) I found out I was 15 weeks pregnant.... So lots of test and ultrasounds for many months to come confirmed that my baby boy was healthy. Although born 5 wks early by emergency c-section (more on that later) he breathed on his own and was released from the hospital before me.

Fast-forward again to 7 months after he is born and I am not feeling good again results in an appointment with an endocrinologist specialist (I totally self diagnosed of the Internet) Confirms my suspicions that my thyroid is messed up. I was diagnosed with post-partum thyroidism and given meds. This doctor was actually a fertility specialist and he did a complete analysis on me (unasked). He then proceeds to tell me it was a miracle I got pregnant in the first place. I don't have enough estrogen or progesterone to actually get pregnant and then maintain it. He also told me that I would probably not be able to get pregnant on my own again....I wasn't upset. I had my miracle baby and that was enough. I am thankful especially when I know there are so many other people that want babies. I was content just to pray and hope for them. So he says come back in 12 wks so I can re-check your blood to make sure you are responding to the meds. I came back still tired and not feeling well and was totally convinced (I am dramatic) that my thyroid was worse not better. So I get there and they do a huge blood draw and I leave with an appointment to come back in 5 days so the doctor can re-evaluate my med cycle.....but then 45 mins later my cell phone is ringing its my doctors number is showing. Which starts an instant panic attack (hello in remission from cancer here). I answer the phone breathing heavy (totally obscene phone call in the making). My doctor tells me to calm down and that my blood work is fine but my hcg levels are really high. Ummm...hello doctor speak english am I dying was my response. He casually says no but your really pregnant....Have you ever seen father of the bride II? Where Steve Martin gets the news his wife is pregnant and totally panics. He says alot of stuff that is not understandable and then passes out....My husband tells me that was my reaction (I have made him watch that movie too many times apparently). However instead of that reaction in the privacy of a office I did that in Target. So now we are on baby number 2 aka the nugget.

I know this post was long. Maybe a little bit longer than what it should have been (who am I kidding this post was a mini novel). I just wanted you to get a good idea of who I am. Its never boring here. Stick around and find out.