Saturday, September 20, 2014
PRETTY RUSTIC BABY SHOWER
I was so honored when asked to help with my friend's baby shower a few weeks ago. Since moving to NC I've met quite a few beautiful women from our church and have become close to them in the last year. We gave my friend Hillary a rustic themed baby shower using burlap, mason jars, candles, and lace. All while incorporating her baby girls nursery colors: coral and turquoise. It was elegant, simple and so pretty.
If this isn't the easiest way to handle thank you cards, I don't know what is. At the door we had each guest fill out a sticky note with what they brought for the mama to be, stuck it inside a card and placed the card inside an envelope which they addressed to themselves. It saves the mama so much time.
The diaper cake was made of Honest size 1 diapers and wrapped in burlap.
We welcomed all the guests to write a sweet prayer for the baby girl which will later be given to her on one of her milestone birthdays.
We kept the menu very simple and sweet serving quiche, caramel dipped grapes, bread bowl dip, pumpkin spice cupcakes, caramel popcorn, sweet tea and hot apple cider.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
BABY MUST HAVES: ROUND 2
It’s amazing that just two and half years or so ago I was compiling my wish list for my first baby and how much of it was based on what other people told me to register for and what I supposedly did and didn’t need. First of all, we all have different needs and prefer different things. I tried getting into the cloth diaper thing, it just isn’t for me. I tried every name brand disposable diaper and hated them all and if you’ve been a reader for some time now you know I’m an Honest diaper snob all the way. I registered for washcloths from Babies’R Us.....I hate hate hate them. They roll, don’t ever stay flat, like ever even after you wash them and iron them. Yes, I said iron. I have tried ironing them to stay flat, it doesn’t work. {BTW my favorite washcloths are Thirsties Fab Wipes, they are pretty awesome}
My point is, you’re not going to learn what you like until you’ve used it. Some things you’ll love and some things you’ll hate. I also had several people tell me that it wasn't necessary to register for some nicer items. I can’t tell you how many times I heard “You can get by just fine with the cheaper brand.” It’s cheaper for a reason, and it’s usually based on quality.
My point is, you’re not going to learn what you like until you’ve used it. Some things you’ll love and some things you’ll hate. I also had several people tell me that it wasn't necessary to register for some nicer items. I can’t tell you how many times I heard “You can get by just fine with the cheaper brand.” It’s cheaper for a reason, and it’s usually based on quality.
So this time around I’m tossing some of my less than loved items like those washcloths and I’m snagging some new and favorited ones.
Velour Footed Leggings - These are some of my favorite leggings for baby from BabyGap and they’re perfect for the colder months. They are super soft and cozy. Kensi loved her footed leggings over the last two years and I had to pick up a couple pairs for the new nugget.
4Moms Mamaroo - Over the past week we pulled out our Fisher Price swing while friends were visiting with their babies. We plugged it in and it wouldn’t turn on. The boys took apart the entire thing and found the motor was completely stripped. Awesome. I didn’t care for the thing to begin with, but that just made wanting a new swing turn into needing a new swing. My choice is the Mamaroo. I like the movement options, the functionality and the fact that it isn’t as bulky.
Satsuma Mittens - We used these with Kensi and LOVED them. They were the only little mittens that actually stayed on her little hands. I ended up giving a pair away to a friend who was in need after Kensi outgrew them. These are definitely a must have and make for a great baby gift.
Solly Wrap - I love using a body wraps when we’re out and about. To me it makes it much easier to get things done when wearing the babe and I can only imagine it will make my life easier as I’m with Kensi. Plus a little added weight when walking will help melt a few more pounds off, right?
Inglesina Table Chair - When Kensi was itty bitty we used a table top chair my parents had and once she grew we were given my mom’s vintage wood high chair she used. It’s an antique with no straps and we know it won’t bode well for the new babe for quite some time. We’re getting the Inglesina Table Chair to place at our bar or our dining table. It takes up less space than a full high chair and can easily collapse for travel.
Aden + Anais Dream Blanket - We love all our swaddle blankets we’ve purchased in the last two years and knew we needed one for the babe. Going with one our favorite brands for their breathable fabric and cute patterns.
Moccasins - Another favorite from our first. I love the fact that they actually stay on, they’re stylish and they keep those little toes covered! I’ve always purchased ours from Freshly Picked but I am loving the cute design and patterns from Mini Mocks Shop right now.
4Moms Mamaroo - Over the past week we pulled out our Fisher Price swing while friends were visiting with their babies. We plugged it in and it wouldn’t turn on. The boys took apart the entire thing and found the motor was completely stripped. Awesome. I didn’t care for the thing to begin with, but that just made wanting a new swing turn into needing a new swing. My choice is the Mamaroo. I like the movement options, the functionality and the fact that it isn’t as bulky.
Satsuma Mittens - We used these with Kensi and LOVED them. They were the only little mittens that actually stayed on her little hands. I ended up giving a pair away to a friend who was in need after Kensi outgrew them. These are definitely a must have and make for a great baby gift.
Inglesina Table Chair - When Kensi was itty bitty we used a table top chair my parents had and once she grew we were given my mom’s vintage wood high chair she used. It’s an antique with no straps and we know it won’t bode well for the new babe for quite some time. We’re getting the Inglesina Table Chair to place at our bar or our dining table. It takes up less space than a full high chair and can easily collapse for travel.
Aden + Anais Dream Blanket - We love all our swaddle blankets we’ve purchased in the last two years and knew we needed one for the babe. Going with one our favorite brands for their breathable fabric and cute patterns.
Moccasins - Another favorite from our first. I love the fact that they actually stay on, they’re stylish and they keep those little toes covered! I’ve always purchased ours from Freshly Picked but I am loving the cute design and patterns from Mini Mocks Shop right now.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
TOO EARLY
Well hello there 2am, 4am and my beautiful restless baby girl who only stopped rolling once I turned on a movie. We go through spurts of good and bad sleep at our house. The past two nights....bad. I like to think there's some reason for this each and every time, like right now I like to make the weather change responsible, yep it's gotta be the temp change this week, that's the only explanation. But truthfully, it happens every few weeks. Oh wait I know what it is! It's having a toddler {and the weather} :)
Part of me wonders when we will all actually sleep well again. I know it's not in our near future with the second nugget on it's way. Remember back before kids what sleeping was like? You could literally fall alseep anywhere, have a good deep sleep and wake up refreshed and ready to go? Maybe sometimes you slept in until mid morning on the weekends. Now it's never a deep sleep, you're constantly waiting for the sound of baby steps to come thumping down the hall, you get an inch and half of the bed because the baby sleeps sideways, and by the time 5am rolls around you're usually thanking God it's finally 'morning' and you want to get up because you slept like crap; you're sore and hey you may as well get in some yoga because you'll get sidetracked by the day's needs.
I wouldn't trade my snuggles for anything, but oh how I wonder what good deep sleep is like...
Zzzzz Zzzzz Zzzzzz
Oh wait, she's sleeping now but it's yoga time.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Another win for Pinterest goes into the books today. Yesterday I found canned pumpkin on sale at Target and bought half the shelf. In need of some new pumpkin recipes I went searching on Pinterest. Since we have a serious weakness for cookies {and yes we are dunkers for that matter} I looked for something that combined the two. This recipe was simple and very close to my regular, go to oatmeal chocolate chip recipe my mom and I have been using since I was itty bitty.
Since my larger cookie scoop broke a few months ago I used my small sized one and made the perfect sized cookies for snacks and Kensi. It totally made her afternoon and gave me my chocolate fix for the day and satisfied my fall craving of pumpkin.
2 cups Flour
1-1/2 cups Oatmeal
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Salt
8 oz Unsalted Butter, room temperature
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
1/2 cup White Sugar
1 Egg
1 cup Pumpkin
2 teaspoons Vanilla
1 cup Chocolate Chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixer, beat butter and sugars together. Add egg, pumpkin and vanilla. Mix together.
In a separate bowl mix flour, oatmeal, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt.
Add flour mixture a little a time to the butter/pumpkin mixture. Combine until smooth. Fold in chocolate chips.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and scoop dough into small balls and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 13-15 minutes.
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