Mother's Day-what I'm stalking

Here is what I am craving for Mother's Day! Just need to get my list out there for husband to see. Hopefully. J, are you reading? :)

I need this knife. I have NO good knives and I have used this knife multiple times at sister's house. It is amazing and my cooking will improve tenfold. Here that? More cooking. Better cooking.

It needs to be this one: the Wusthof 7" Santoku. Neeeeed it.

Sold at Bed Bath and Beyond.

I also would like some money to spend on books at Amazon. Cause they are for my Kindle app. So please and thank you, my Goodreads list of "To Read" is growing ridic.

 I also would like a strawberry huller. We eat a lot of berries up in this heezy. I'm not choosy on brand, but I want it to be easy. LG has a rad one from Williams Sonoma. This is an Oxo brand one. Also sold alongside that marvelous knife at Bed Bath and Beyond.

 What girl doesn't need more Scentsy? I would like some spring fragrances. I can pick them out if you desire. Clean, crisp, not food related smells. The Scentsy is only online honey bun. :) I also have a consultant-I can give you her email. Ha!

And duh. I always need more coffee. This is also only sold online. But, I can go to the magical BBB and choose flavors as well. I'm not hard to please. :)

One might think it was Christmas/Birthday up in here. But no-just my greedy heart wanting needing some new items. Please and thank you. I have been a great mom and now have two kidlets, so I think one gift from each would be aprope. Hope you agree! Love in advance!

Lately

Lately I've been:

Reading a lot during free time (Fire, Not My Daughter, Ashes, Lockdown, Maze Runner)

Neglecting chores to read or play in the playroom with the kids

Stressing about how grody my house is

Not doing a damn thing about it

Trying to concoct meals for these kiddos

Cleaning out my bookshelf (that someone, ahem, keeps pulling books off of) and taking them to the secondhand store for store credit. Score. Just keep bankrollin my addiction.

Trying to get through a burgeoning to do list

Sleeping like crap

Having allergies like whoa

Trying to catch up on blogs and comments

Trying to plan the beach packing-ha. That's a joke.

Having a lot of joint pain-doctor Thursday!

Enjoying playdates with old friends

Thinking of Father's Day gifts, Mother's Day gifts, and MIL b'day gifts

Trying not to shank my loud ass dogs

Trying not to throw up over the amounts of dog hair wafting around my home

And, then there's more reading to do. :)

What have you all been up to lately?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

You're not a baby anymore

Harrison,
As I just sat rocking you for your afternoon nap, I looked you over and huffed your sweet smell. But, it's gone. Now, you smell like a real person {still not sure how that's possible} and real food. You had sweet potatoes and Lima beans in your hair. Your little newborn smell is gone unless it's right after a bath.

Granted, you're 10.5 months old. You're a boy, and you are stinky. ;) You eat all table food now, still with only two bottom teeth halfway in and a top tooth breaking through right now. You act like an old pro on the eating, and you are SO very different from your sis on that. You will literally eat anything-not just food. I've caught you with a plastic golf ball in your mouth-the whole thing, a rubber stopper from a door stop, a sticker, a piece of dry dogwood, and a piece of plastic from around a spice container. Yikes. Real food wise, you are eating it all and do not discriminate. Today was a GF pancake and turkey sausage for breakfast and Limas, sweet potatoes, ravioli, and chicken for lunch.

You are crawling everywhere and into everything. You are pulling up and walking while holding on to things. Our house currently looks like an asylum/show home because things are Jerry rigged and put up everywhere. The tv has a piece of cardboard taped over the button so you can't turn it on and off. The dish receiver has tape over all its buttons, all of my faux plants are moved, the fireplace decor is barren, the ashes all vacuumed out, every cabinet and drawer needs a lock, and I have no more BBW plug ins because you are obsessed with them.

You are so different, so BOY, and so my little buddy. You are not much for sitting still, but in the morning when we wake up together, you will lean against me while sitting on my lap and let me attempt to feed you your bottle. That's another thing-you're slowly weaning off the bottle, or want to do it yourself. But, for about ten minutes in the morning you will let me hold you and we will cuddle. You do still live for me to rock you before any bedtimes, and since Emma never liked that, I'm milking that one.

You love to play, either with Emma or alone. You are very good at independent play. I learned with your sis that it's super important to develop that skill. You are also OBSESSED with Emma. She loves when you "chase" her or steal her binkie or just sit and watch her. You love to bang things and toys around. Ha! You also have no fear. Hold me.

I am planning your first birthday party now and can't believe I've been at home with my babies for almost an entire year! I'm still getting the hang of it! We are going to the beach in two weeks and I can't wait to see what you think of the pool and ocean! You will most likely try to eat the sand. ;)

Little one, you are growing so fast, but I am so happy I've been with you every day and watched you grow!


Just noticed that almost every picture he is in his high chair EATING-haha!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Fashion to Figure review

About a month ago, I was contacted by a company called Fashion to Figure to do a review. This online shop is for women's plus size clothing, and at a size 12-14, I qualified for the plus size part. Which by the way, when did that happen? Maybe I'm delusional, but I sincerely didn't know a size 12 was considered plus size.

I looked through their shop and liked a lot of what I saw. I finally narrowed it down, because as a stay at home mom, let's face it, I don't go out to fancy places a lot, and I also don't dress up unless it's date night or girls' night out. So, I wanted something practical for carrying a 24 pound tot and that would hide my still larger than I would prefer tummy.

Hence, the neon striped, cuffed dolman sleeve jersey top. I LOVE IT. Love. Like, I wish they made it in 5 other colors, because I would totally buy it. But sadly, they do not.

I had a great experience browsing the website, dealing with their customer service and my specific representative. My only "complaint" is that several of the things I wanted weren't available in my size. Like they would start at a 2X. Or only have a cute dress I wanted in a 3X.

Anyway, I am definitely on the lookout for some more tops I can order because the pricing is great and the shipping is a $5 flat rate. Win-win.

So, here is the fabulous shirt. Admire it. Like it. Tell me what you think.

And let's also excuse the craptastic iPhone instagram photo. We can do better than this, but when getting your husband to take a pic at 8:00 am, one can't be too picky.

Now let's see some other things I'm wanting-hoping they have my size.

The great thing about all of these tops is that they are between $20-24!

So, if you are in the same market as me, clothing wise, check out Fashion to Figure and find yourself something cute!

FTC: The company, Fashion to Figure contacted me to do a review. They sent me the item, but no money was exchanged. All opinions are my own.

Braves Game Adventure

Jason gets Braves tickets from his work occasionally, and when we were offered weekend game tickets for Sunday, we couldn't pass it up! The last time we went, I was pregnant with Harrison and Emma was 20 months old. A lot has changed since then! So, we got ready on Sunday, and after stopping to get some new shirts for me and Emma, we were on the way to Turner Field!

We had lots of snacks and drinks, and the weather was almost perfect. 

Here is Miss Emma posing in her new t-shirt.

With pig tails, of course!

Haha! This picture cracks me up! Jason was wearing Harrison in the Bjorn and 

while walking through the park, we decided it would be faster for Emma to be on 

his shoulders. Poor thing was like a pack mule hauling those two heavy jokers!

Sitting in her seat-right behind home plate, only a few rows up!

Harrison spent the majority of the game on one of our laps, or 

going to the breezeway to get cooled off.

Sweet sister and brother sharing a seat!

We had a great time and won the game! Emma ate about $30 worth of slushies, popcorn, fries, hot dogs, chicken fingers, etc. It was a great day!

Easter 2012 in the Ham with the fam!

We had a fabulous Easter weekend in Montgomery and Birmingham with all of our family! The kids and I went to FeFe and Poppy's house in Montgomery for a day and a half before traveling to Birmingham for a full family Easter. FeFe and Poppy joined us on Sunday and we played the day away after a fabulous brunch of ham, homemade green bean casserole!,  squash casserole, pineapple casserole, and rolls. The green bean cass was from my MIL and it was TO DIE FOR. I'll post the recipe at the end of this post. Seriously, everyone raved about it. even my dad, who eats like 1T of food per meal. I will NEVER make the canned beans/French's casserole again. No way. This was amazing! everything was great and we had a blast seeing everyone! Especially since J took Monday off and we were in no rush to return home!

Picture fiesta below:

Emma was honing her egg hunting skills in Montgomery. Hilarious!

Emma and Letta (PS her real name is Scarlet in case 

you've been living under a rock. :) haha just kidding!)

Sweet girl!

Equally sweet little monkey!

Cute brother!

Handsome hubby!

Sissy and Scarlet

My precious boy who just turned TEN months old!

Posing with his momma!

Haha! He looks over it!

Let's play ball!

Doing what he does best-eating!

Sissy with the girls

So begins the paparazzi! We took probably 303040 photos of the three

 of them and got about 2 that looked good. Typical.

Winner! Minus the bink in buddy's mouth.

Loo was serious on the egg hunting. 

Scarlet, not so much!

Playing on the see saw from the neighbor's junk heap!

And brother's birthday was the day after Easter. Sister and I surprised him with steaks and massive amounts of leftover casserole deliciousness. And sister hooked him up with a monster trashcan!! He LOVED it!

We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends! Now counting down to the St. George Island beach trip on Cinco de Mayo!  Yayayayayay!

Here is the green bean casserole recipe.

via Martha Stewart Living, November 2000

Ingredients:

*6 T unsalted butter, plus more for dish

*1 medium onion, 1/4 inch dice

*1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch dice (I know it sounds weird, but just GO with it!)

* 1 Lb button mushrooms, stems trimmed and quartered

*2 tsp coarse salt

*1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

*1 1/2 Lb haricot vert or regular green beans (I used haricot vert-skinny French green beans)

*6 T all purpose flour

*2 C cream

*1 pinch cayenne

*1 C grated Parmesan (I used shaved DiGiorgnio)

*1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg

*1/4 C breadcrumbs (I used Panko)

*1/4 C canola oil for frying

*4 shallots, cut into 1/4 inch rings

Directions:

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 T butter. Add onion, and saute until it begins to soften, about 4 minutes. Add bell pepper and mushrooms, and cook until softened and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Season with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside to cool.

2. Prepare an ice bath. Fill a large bowl with ice and water; set aside. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add beans and cook until bright green and just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and plunge into ice bath to stop cooking. When cooled, toss drained beans with mushroom mixture; set aside.

3. Melt the remaining 4 T butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add 1/4 C flour, whisk constantly until mixture begins to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Pour in milk and continue whisking until mixture has thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in cayenne, nutmeg and the remaining salt and pepper. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Pour over beans and toss to combine.

4. Butter a 9x13 glass or ceramic baking dish. Spread half of the green bean mixture over the bottom. Sprinkle on half the grated Parmesan and spread with the remaining green bean mixture. Combine the remaining Parmesan and breadcrumbs and sprinkle over casserole. Cover with foil, and refrigerate until just before serving.

5. Heat canola oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat. Toss shallot rings with the remaining 2 T flour. Fry the shallots in batches, turning frequently until golden brown. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Place in an airtight container and set aside until ready to serve.

6. Heat broiler and cook casserole covered until mixture is bubbly and heated through about 10 minutes. Uncover and cook until top is golden brown, about 30 seconds (WATCH THIS, WE ALMOST BURNED IT!). Sprinkle fried shallots over top and serve immediately.

AAAAAHHH-MAYYYYY-ZING!

Hope you all had a hoppy Easter! OK, that was gay. Sorry.

Birmingham on Dwellable

More Update

OK, since I'm so behind, it's time for more life updates.

First up, sister, brother, and I had a life changing breakfast casserole over Easter vacay from the fabulous Heather at The Spohrs are Multiplying. It was SO good and sister fried up some sausage to go with it. Major props to brother for MAKING IT! xoxo

Here is the recipe from Heather's blog:

Green Chile Breakfast Casserole

Recipe type: Breakfast

Author: Heather from The Spohrs Are Multiplying

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 45 mins

Total time: 55 mins

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 14 oz of diced green chiles
• 8 oz Cheddar Cheese, grated
• 8 oz Jack Cheese grated
• 4 eggs
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Place 1/2 of the chiles in a layer in a greased casserole dish.
3. Sprinkle 1/2 of both cheeses.
4. Add remaining chiles, top with remaining cheese.
5. Beat eggs/flour/milk/salt until smooth.
6. Pour over casserole and bake at 350 degrees for approx 45 mins.

Notes

add more chiles if you like it spicier

Next up, I am officially addicted to Draw Something. I need an intervention. Please play me if you are not already. My username is edwardsedition. Seriously. I crack up so much at my drawings, other people's drawings, and I have been known to text and tweet drawings asking for help. Ha! Very fun.

I need a DVR like whoa! I've been super spoiled with FeFe and sister by PAUSING a show because I'm being interrupted by kidlets. Also, I love the "let me record things and watch them later" aspect. I know, I'm about 5 years behind, but this ties in nicely with my next "obsession."

I was recently reading an article in People about Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss of Hunger Games) and she mentioned a show she loved on National Geographic channel called Doomsday Preppers. Intrigued, I checked into it and found out it was about people who thought the end of the world was coming (they had various end of the world ideas). The show centers around what they do to prepare and how they can improve. Y'all-if we have a major national disaster, I'm screwed. I have about 9 cans of Campbells in my pantry, 12 bottles of water, 3 band aids, 2 handguns, 30 bullets, and 1 flash light. These jokers have "bug out" areas where they go if something major happens (like a nuclear bomb or a massive power grid failure). They also have THOUSANDS of food items, medical supplies, water and air filtration systems, guns galore, military background, etc. I feel like a loser just watching it but it is so fascinating. Apparently I'm asking for bullets and canned goods for Mother's Day. FeFe has been DVR'ing episodes for me since I go visit about once a week! Ha!

I also CAN'T STOP reading, buying, and checking out dystopian themed books (Hunger Games, Delirium, Unwinds, etc-google or good reads dystopian and you will get TONS of good recommendations if you are into that!). My Good Reads page is ridic! recently I have purchased Pandemonium (the second book to Delirium) and Crossed (the second book to Matched). I've also gotten on a major library kick with the dystopian teen fiction, so I'm using all of nap time to READ instead of clean or prep for dinner. Yikes.If you want some book titles or recommendations, let me know. Girlfriend is a reading hooker.

Last but not least, an update on the gluten free living. I've been gluten free since the end of January. At first, I was feeling great and sure this was the best decision for me and my health. Then slowly, I started having the joint pains again-this time with more frequency and pain. Then I would randomly eat gluten in small amounts, mainly when out of town. Now, even when I have absolutely no gluten, I'm still having the pains intermittently. However, I am still gluten free. I still make exceptions when traveling by eating a meal or snack with gluten in it. At home, I am almost always GF. I have found out some things I was eating were not actually GF, even though one would assume so. I guess I need to keep checking even if I assume it "should be" GF. I have been reading about osteoarthritis and feel like I'm on that track since I have rheumatoid arthritis. Maybe I'm just reaching for answers.I need to lose weight-about 30 pounds. I think I'm going to have to get back on Weight Watchers and also watch my gluten intake. I'm a little discouraged-I was so sure that the gluten was making me have the pains, and now that I'm 99% sure it wasn't, it's like, what now? 

Anyway, next up is Easter recap and an awesome review!!!

Hope you're all doing well and you're still reading!

An Explanation

Dudes. What has happened? I owe y'all an explanation. Unfortunately, I don't really have one. Except that I lost my blogging mojo and we've been sick since February 24. Yeah, a month. Just now well.

I'll try to catch you up a la bullet points. And lots of pictures. But, it's going to be crazy, yo. Sorry in advance.

Edited to add: I started this post on March 25 and am finally finishing it the day after Easter. For the love. And we have no bullet points. We just have pictures with details. :)


Here we have where I left off. Our lovely trip to Nashville to visit bestie LG and her boy Peebs. And let's not forget about her boo Erik. I heart him too. We had a big old time with a virus, double ear infection, and other assorted issues. We returned home and tried to mend ourselves. That continued "The Week of Sick."

Here is Fenn (a.k.a. Peebs) and Emma at lunch in Nashville after the mommas 

shopped up the consignment and thrift stores! Lunch at 2:00. Yikers.

Here is a rare shot of Emma and Harrison dressed and looking non trailer. Emma is going through some phases with her "Boodee" as she calls him. Sometimes she abuses him, other times she is in his face saying "Coo Coo little baby, I love you." Mind you, brother is about to weigh the same as her and he's gonna take her down soon.

Modeling some of her summer outfits from her FeFe. Girl is dressed and ready for this summer!

I'm sensing a pattern here. Another pose where she hijacked the LV bag I inherited. She keeps a lot of important items such as blocks, beads, smurfs, and little people inside. And she likes to tote this joker eva-where.

Here is Buddy getting down on some toys at LG's house. He was just learning to crawl here. Now he likes to book it and stand up. Dude is going to be walking by 10 months. Hold me.

Emma has finally learned how to climb all the way up and do the slide at playscapes by herself. 

It is so cute and she begs to go to "Chic-A-Lay" to do the slide.

At the wholesale club where they give out free dum-dums. Emma wanted to share 

with Buddy and boyfriend was ready to get down on a lolli.

While on our Nashville jaunt, Auntie Laura hooked my boy up with some MAD hand me downs. Girl don't play. Harrison is modeling Peebs' Columbia jacket and tie onesie, plus cute shoes. :) PS, there were SEVEN smocked outfits WITH TAGS ON THEM for Harry to borrow. Right on.

Oh Lord help me, this was a rough day. We were at Kroger doing our weekly shopping, and in the checkout line, Harrison had DIARRHEA through his diaper and clothes, all over the buggy, floor, etc. I died right there. Then I said screw it, paid, and left. Got to the car, surveyed the damage, passed out, then realized I had NO DIAPER BAG. Cardinal mom sin. Luckily I had just bought a pack of Huggies overnights, but I had to wipe him with two NAPKINS in my console and since his clothes were ruined, he rode home on a plastic grocery bag. Not my best moment.

Harrison has literally eaten anything I put in front of him. This day was plums. 

He is an eating machine. I'm scared for our wallets when he reaches teenage years.

We went to a ballgame with some friends and this is Emma and Sara Kay playing baseball. So freaking cute. 

Planting sunflowers at FeFe and Poppy's house. They are actually growing!

Harrison's trick the month of March was crawling onto EVERYTHING. 

He gets up to something and then pulls up and squeals.

Also a favorite exploration place-then he falls in the crack between the table and couch and loses his mind because he's wedged like cheese.

On one of our many jaunts to Birmingham/Montgomery to see the grand-parentals, FeFe and I raided Target for "just some conditioner." We bought probably 20 things from the dollar spot for Easter and made Emma model this headband thing. Notice the giant egg cookie she bribed out of her FeFe.

Making funny faces. Her favorite pastime.

Making gluten free bread. Very good and easy! More on the GF journey soon! It's been about 3 months.

Oh dear Lord-one of the reasons I've been going back and forth to Birmingham is for a MAJOR consignment sale. One trip was to drop off all of my sale items. I filled up my ENTIRE EXPEDITION. I had so much stuff, that I calculated how much I was selling, and it was $1250 worth of stuff. There is no way I will sell everything, plus the business I work with takes about 30%, but if I did, I would make about $900. I am already working on a spreadsheet for what I can purchase with my "paycheck". Haha!

I made liquid sidewalk chalk (Pinterest inspired, duh) and Emma was in LOVE. It was ridiculously easy-as in 1C cornstarch, 1 C water, divvy up into muffin tins and add food coloring. The end. It does wash off the cement. Just get a naked baby and don't let them paint themselves. Cause that was harder to remove.

OK so the photo bombing is over for now. I don't exactly have my mojo back in the blogging department, but this post helps me feel more caught up. I have a lot going on. I plan to blog about Easter, more travels, upcoming trips and plans, a review, gluten free living, and more. I hope I still have some readers and friends left! Sorry to have been absent for so long. The sickness really got us down! Fingers crossed for very warm weather, healthy kids. and lots of fun adventures!

I hope you all are well and had a blessed Easter holiday.