Not Me! Monday

A couple of months ago I noticed a button on Lori's blog to "Pray for baby Stellan". I of course clicked on it was sent to a great blog called My Charming Kids. I immediately became completely wrapped up in the lives of "Big Mac", "McNugget" and "Small Fry". Well McMamma has recently begun something called "Not me! Mondays" and I just had to join in! Thanks so much for the great idea! Here it goes....

• I did not completely blow off Madison's gymnastics because I was um too tired (hung over) from a wedding I went to the night before. Nope not me.
• I would never feed formula to Stella just 'cause I was craving a Red Bull after said wedding. Definitely not.
• Smelling my armpits and scrubbing them with a little soap and water instead of a full shower 'cause there just wasn't enough time is definitely something I would NEVER do! (should have Not hit my feet up too. P.U.)
• I would never, ever, ever fake a headache and go to bed leaving the hubs with the kids just so I could have some well deserved quiet time. That would not be a very motherly thing to do!
• I would never see a person in a restaurant that I wanted to avoid and then walk completely out of my way to avoid that person. That is just plain rude!
• I would also never leave the baby sound asleep in her car seat (it is in the house) instead of putting her to bed so I could blog before she wakes up!

If I were to ever do any of these things someone way think I was a little crazy or just the mom of two little kids!

Wordless Wednesday

Great New Find!

I'm one of those moms who is always on the lookout for adorable new gear and clothing for my girls. That is why I was so excited when I came across JinWood shoes! They have several adorable lines of soft soled shoes and boots for developing little piggies. I'm definitely going to be purchasing some of their stretchy boots for Stella this winter to keep her tiny little feet warm. Besides being too cute for words what I love about JinWood shoes is that they are soft soled which "offers natural development of the child's instep while offering some support and comfort for when the child begins to walk." All of Jinwood's shoes and boots are made of real and genuine leather, real suede, canvas, and 100% cotton. They state that "these materials give a tender feeling and offers skid resistance for the children's protection. The special leather inner sole reduces shock when children walk on the hard ground."

Jinwood was so gracious to send a pair of their Casual Stripe Burgundy White Velcro shoes for Stella. She still has some time before they fit but I just had to have her model them so everyone could see just how cute they are! Thanks so much JinWood!

Whirlwind Weekend!

After so much planning and preparation the WEDDING has come and gone. I'm happy to say everything went smooth (well maybe a couple of little glitches), the bride was beautiful and food was delicious. It was a Sunday afternoon and most people had to go to work so the affair was relatively low key. Madison stole the show and every time we looked the D.J. was playing with her or the photographer was snapping shots. Hope he took pics of other guests too!

Justin's speech was great and he delivered it well. I know I promised to post but never got a chance so here it is now.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen for those of you who don't know me I'm Justin Heald, the best man. On Dave and Brenna's behalf I would like to thank everyone for joining us for this joyous celebration.

They say you don't know what true happiness is until you are married, unfortunately by then it is too late!

First I'd like to say to the beautiful bride Brenna, I've enjoyed getting to know you over the past few years. I also look forward to the friendship we will have for years to come. I have watched Dave become a changed man since being with you. He is now more full of life and happier than he has ever been and I believe that is because of you.

Then there is Dave....We have known each other for almost 25 years. We have had many great times and a few memorable experiences. Dave once let me convince him to split a bottle of vermouth. I thought it would be a great idea. It wasn't! You would think Dave being a little older he would have advised against it, not the case! Then there was a time when we were at a party. Dave leaned against a stove that was filled with paper product. He somehow managed to turn the burners on and all ignite the paper products without even realizing. All he said was "Dude, it got hot in here!". Speaking of hot we once decided to play golf in Mexico at 2:00 in the afternoon. It was so hot it was like playing on the sun! Dave almost didn't make it!

On a more serious note I could not ask for two better friends than Dave and Brenna and am so happy they found one another to spend their lives with.

They say there are two secrets to a happy marriage. Here is to a sense of humor and a short memory! CHEERS!!!

The one major glitch of the wedding was because of my DH. He honestly wouldn't be Justin if something didn't happen. I think it may be one of the things I love most about him! Justin picked up his tux without trying it on Friday evening. After much coaxing (he would say nagging) he finally tried on the jacket and shoes. I questioned why not the pants and his response was that "they are adjustable so they'll be fine". Well when I arrived back to the hotel after getting my hair done I found Justin in only half a tux on the phone with Men's Wearhouse. Instead of the 36 in. waist he needed they gave him a 46 in. waist! There wasn't anytime to exchange the pants so Justin spent the day looking like M.C. Hammer with paper clips holding his pants up! The only word I can use to describe this situation is TYPICAL!

Here a a couple of pics. With all of us being in the wedding there wasn't much of a chance to take to many. I was really hoping for a family pic of all four of us or at least the three of us but it never happened. We'll just have to wait 'til Stella's christening!

The Countdown Begins

I started a post this morning that actual required a few brain cells to put together. It was all about life insurance and why it is so important to get it now while you are young instead of later. about halfway through though I ended up completely spent and decided ditch the topic. It is actually something I feel strongly about and have lots of info on so I'm sure I'll return to it someday but now is just not the time.



The WEDDING is now just 2 days away. The rehearsal dinner was last night. Everything went well, the banquet hall is beautiful and no matter what the situation Justin and I always have fun with whatever we do.



I proofread Justin's speech on the hour and a half drive up and I'll admit that if he sticks to what he wrote it blows mine out of the water (I'll post a copy later). It is much more heart felt and chockful of personal memories that he shares with the groom.



The dresses are finished being altered and short of me looking like a giant brown Christmas tree (my brother's description not mine) everything fits well.



I'm not sure if it is a cold or allergies but whatever "IT" is Madison has it. She started with a stuffy nose yesterday and now has a little cough and droopy eyes. Hopefully I can find some meds. today that don't come flying out as soon as I give them to her so we can make it through the weekend. I've also decided to do her hair myself. $90.00 plus tip is just insane for a three year old's hair. She doesn't have much, it is very fine and two little hands could destroy anything that is done in a matter of seconds. I just can't bring myself to spend that kind of money on her hair. here is a pic of what I was able to do in under 10 minutes. I curled it with my smallest curler, pulled the crown of her hair back and added the bow. The bow is a little lopsided and I'll take more time on Sunday but overall I think it came out pretty good. What do you think?

I'm off to pick up a few odds and ends before coming home to pack up for tomorrow. Then I'm going to try and spend the rest of the day curled on the couch with Madison in hopes of a speedy recovery for her. She keeps telling me she is better now but I'm not chancing her getting run down!

Wordless Wednesday

Smile!

Do You Do Bamboo?

Did you know that bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth? It can actually grow up to three feet in a day! It is also naturally hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and can grow on rain water alone. This means no pesticides or fertilizers are needed! Why am I telling you this? Well, I just received an absolutely adorable pair of baby p.j.'s from Baby Bam Collection and they are made of 70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton!

Although I have bought several organic cotton items for my children before this is my first experience with anything bamboo. I wasn't sure what to expect because when I think of bamboo I don't necessarily think of soft, cozy, baby clothes. Baby Bam Collection states that their "eco-luxury" baby apparel and accessories look expensive, feels like cashmere and drapes like silk. So I figured with a statement like that it must be worth checking out. I can honestly say that little Stella's Baby Bam Collection p.j.'s are the softest, snuggliest clothing item that I have for her! Not to mention the fact that they are too cute for words! I can't wait for her to be just a little bit bigger to fit into them.

Whether you are looking for some luxurious baby items for your little one, a gift for someone special or just want to learn more about how environmentally friendly bambbo clothing items are I highly recommend checking out Baby Bam Collection!

The Woman Behind The Best Man

Our friend's wedding is now just one short week away. My hubby Justin is the best man and to be honest I am dreading the speech that he is going to give. I'm sure he'll have already had a few cocktails and when this happens he tends to ramble on. I'm also fearful that he won't have prepared anything ahead of time and will just try to wing it. I offered to help him out by writing the speech for him. I came up with (basically "borrowed" a few lines from different sites that I found on the topic) a speech that is a little humorous, kind of sweet and most importantly SHORT! I emailed him a copy and his response was that it was "kinda lame" he also told me not to worry 'cause he has been working on something. I admit that is kind of hokey but people especially from older generations eat that stuff up. Anyway here is my speech. What do you think?

Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen I am up here to say a few thank yous, make a toast, sing the groom's praises and tell you all about his good points. The first two things are fine, but unfortunately I can't sing and I won't lie. Dave and I have been friends since______________ .I value my friendship with Dave and I look forward to having the same great friendship with his lovely new bride Brenna. I know one important thing about Brenna. She has made Dave happier then I have ever seen him. Today is a day of joy and happiness for all of us. But it is not just a day... it's the very special beginning of a new life between Dave and Brenna. My only advice to you Dave is to keep your ears open, mouth shut and occasionally respond with a “Yes Dear” and if you can find the humor in whatever happens to you, your lives will be full of joy. Congratulations!

P.S. I also did a gust blog reviewing the Sleepy Wrap over at Just Talk!

Who's Who?

So many people have told me that my girls look exactly alike (besides the hair color). Some days I see it and others I think they look totally different. So here are my comparison shots. They are both 7 weeks in the pictures. I can see similarities but still many differences. I also think they may look more different from each other in the pictures because of the different angles they were taken at. What do you think?

Madison


Stella

Tasty Tuesday

This recipe is from my William Sonoma Slow Cooker recipe book. Very yummy and it can easily be altered for you vegetarians and vegans! If you are into slow cookers I highly recommend this cookbook 'cause it is full of delicious recipes! Also if you are on Weight Watchers I figured out the points to be between 10-7 points based on serving 6-8 people.

Tuscan Ribollita

1 lb. dried cannellini beans

1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling

2 chopped yellow onions

1/4 tomato paste

8 cups chicken broth (or vegetable)

1 bunch kale or savoy cabbage

4 coarsely chopped carrots

2 stalks celery

1 tablespoon fresh thyme

salt and pepper freshly ground

day old country bread, 3 cups cubed

Soak the beans in a large bowl, covered in cold water for at least 8 hours or over night. Alternatively, put the beans in a large saucepan with cold water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 1 hour. Drain the beans and set aside

Heat the 1/4 cup olive oil in large pan. Add onions and garlic and saute until softened, about 5 min. add the tomato paste and saute until it darkens, about 2 minutes longer. Pour in the broth, raise the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat.

Put the drained beans, kale, carrots, celery and thyme in slow cooker. Sprinkle with 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Pour in broth mixture. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. About 10 minutes before the soup is ready, stir in the bread cubes, cover and continue to cook. Have extra olive oil at the table in case anyone wants to drizzle extra over top.

September Babywearing Photo Contest

Danielle from New Mommy Rant clued me into a contest going on over at Baby Sling Blog right now. It is a babywearing photo contests and the winner will receive a pair of Baby Legs! I'm psyched about this because they are probably one of the few clothing items that Stella does not currently own. LOL! For those of you that have a babywearing picture that you would like to enter make sure to do so before September 26th. Here is the link Baby Sling Blog Contest. Good luck to all who enter and thanks to Pete aka Mr. New Mommy Rant who took this awesome picture of Stella sound asleep in her Sleepy Wrap from Heavenly Hold!

The Cost of Friendship

Engagement Party Gift: $75
Bridal Shower: $300
Bridal Shower Invitations: $50
Shower Gift: $100
Bridesmaid Dress: $250
Shoes: $50
Alterations: $130
Flower Girl Dress $170
Shoes: $40
Alterations: $50
Best Man Tux: $120
and shoe rental
Bachelor Party $400
Hair for bridesmaid and flower girl: $150
Two night Hotel Stay $300
Wedding Gift: Undecided

Did I forget anything?????

The bride and groom not even bothering to come and see our now 7 week old daughter or bothering to send a card or call or email...... Priceless!!!!!!!
Sorry just pissy 'cause I just finished booking our hotel room and spending more money on the f'ing wedding that I don't want to be in. Could have taken Madison to Disney World for what we have spent. Thanks for listening to my rant!

Oh I take back the no email. I got one from the bride that she was meeting with a jewelry consultant from Macy's Herald Square about the bridal party's jewelry. She must be smoking crack if she thinks I'm spending more on stuff I'll never wear again. Did I also mention that her last marriage lasted for 3 weeks????? If not for the fact that the hubs has been friends with the groom since he was 8 years old I would have told her where to stick her wedding plans by now.

Making Babywearing Look Good

For those of you that have read my blog before you probably already know that I'm new to the world of babywearing. It was nowhere near as popular 3 short years ago when I had Madison compared to what it has become now. Like many others before me I can not get enough! Besides wanting to get my hands on every type of babywearing device on the market I've also started to become obsessed with all the different colors and prints available. After all I want to look good while wearing my baby 'cause just being practical is never enough! That is why I flipped when I discovered Rockin' Baby Sling. They were so gracious to send me a Rockin' Baby Pouch in "West End Girls". Besides looking good and being reversible for more fashion versatility it is super comfy and adjustable too! It has a series of zippers in the back that allow the pouch to vary depending on a person's size plus a cover for over top of the zippers to keep them hidden away! How cool is that? Rockin' Baby Slings also offers a ring sling in a ton of great color/pattern choices. Everyone is bound to find at least one that they love.

For novices like me there are directions for all of the different carrying positions right on the website! This was a huge benefit since my 3 year old decided to make confetti out of the instruction booklet! In the pictures below I am holding baby Stella in the cradle hold which is meant for newborns-6 months old and Madison in the hip carry meant for 6 months-35 pounds. For me personally I enjoy wearing Stella in a wrap because she is still so tiny but can definitely see using the pouch more as she grows. I loved the hip carry with Madison and can definitely see carrying Stella frequently like this in the months to come. Although Madison fits within the weight limit her long, lanky legs made me decide she may be past the wearing stage. She still had fun hamming it up for the pics! There are still three more carrying positions for me to test out and I can't wait to try them! Thanks so much Rockin' Baby Sling!

Stella in the Cradle Hold

Madison in the Hip Carry

Wordless Wednesday

First Day of Nursery School

Tasty Tuesday

Sunday Fundays are starting once again this weekend. What is Sunday Funday? We are a football obsessed family who absolutely loves football Sunday. During football season it is not uncommon for us to have anywhere from 10-20 people over stuffing their faces, watching their game and going crazy over their standings in our football pool every single weekend. two of my favorite recipes to serve up are Buffalo Chicken Chili which was created by Rachel Ray and Italian Nachos which were inspired by Johnny Carino's. Here is the recipe for the nachos just beware that they are in no way, shape or form healthy and usually need to be chased with some antacids! Nevertheless they are way yummy!

Ingredients: 2 packs wonton wrappers 1 1/2lb Italian sausage (hot or sweet)

1-2 jars alfredo sauce 1 jar vinegar banana peppers (hot or sweet)

1 can sliced black olives shredded mozzarella

4-5 seeded, diced tomatoes vegetable or canola oil

oregano garlic powder

1. Sprinkle oregano and garlic powder on wonton wrappers. Fry wonton wrappers in hot oil or brush with oil and bake in oven until golden brown.
2. Crumble sausage and brown. Drain all excess fat.
3. Heat alfredo sauce.
4. Layer wonton wrappers in a baking pan with alfredo sauce, sausage, peppers, olives and diced tomatoes.
5. Sprinkle mozzarella over top and bake until bubbly.