grateful

I look at this photo and I can't find the words.  It's not a particular fascinating or overly cute photo, just one of me and my baby boy on the day we celebrated Thanksgiving.  He looks so big and non baby like.    He is drawing letters that actually sort of, kind of look like letters.  He amazes me.  And I get to be his mommy.  I'm still in awe that I am someone's mother and that I get to spend my days with this crazy haired, abc singing, waffle and almond butter loving, boy.  I am blessed.    




thanksgiving 2010

morning magic

It's been earlier mornings over here so I have been trying to bring Jbear to my room for some extra snoozing but it has never been successful.  He'd rather jump around and read books than get some more sleep.  Since we're trying to make a little craft nook in our bedroom there is a lot more open space which I guess for Jbear means "let me bring all my toys and books into mommy and daddy's room".  Although hidden toys like to come out at night when it's dark so I can step right on them, it's fun looking around my room and realizing I've got a playful toddler.

Flour Power

I feel bad for the parents but this is hysterical.  However, I would rather move than clean this up.


via my husband who saw this on Videogum

it's the weekend

I am on my way to visit my parents for an overnight stay and to take maternity portraits of this lovely lady!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!!


my cat loves acorn squash, apparently.  This was the face she was giving me when Jbear and I were eating some.

Cookies!!

Salted Caramel Brownie Cookies 


I've had this recipe bookmarked for years now and just tried it a few weeks ago.  Then I used it again last weekend for Jodi's shower and again yesterday.  They are so so delicious (especially when I remember not to burn them and add more toffee bits).



Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies


I am a bit obsessed with Sheena's recipes.

a fall walk

We went for a walk the other day.  It was a nice long walk although kind of a quiet one.  I watched my boy walk around, stomp on leaves, grant me 1 or 2 looks towards my camera, pick up rocks, and lead me to a new path back to our house.

Acorn Squash

I've been buying, making, and eating acorn squash regularly this fall.  Jbear and I get to eat it all since Joel is not a fan.  I've used this recipe before but wanted to try something a little sweeter.

I drizzled olive oil on the parchment paper, laid the squash pieces down, drizzled agave nectar all over, sprinkled with brown sugar, baked at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes (flipping the pieces once in between) and then ate it all up.

This past week.

I've been trying to focus on where my time goes.  I am terrible at time management and I'm sure a lot of people can say the same... but really I should say that I AM THE WORST with time management.  I want to take care of my baby, teach him, and play with him.  I want to have time to make good meals for him, take long walks (because that is what he loves), and also make sure that he is rested.  I sometimes think I want to do the laundry but I really don't- I just know that my clean underwear will eventually run out.  Sometimes I also think that the dishes have to be done right now or else they will never get done.  Add in also wanting to be a good daughter and friend and trying to keep in touch with those I love.

On top of that I want to book more portrait sessions, work on said portrait sessions, blog about them, blog about anything else, and make up routines for a Zumba class that I someday want to teach.  Then, kind of out the blue, I found a love for food shopping and coming up with meals that I feel my family will enjoy.  I have always been a fan of eating but cooking or baking the food has never really been my strong point- I am hoping to change that a bit.

I know that there is only so much time in each day so I'm starting to focus on certain things on certain days/weeks- with taking care of my son being something that always take precedence, obviously.


I love The Little Red House and have enjoyed a couple of recipes from Sheena's blog.  I made this acorn squash recently and Jbear loved it.  This week I drooled over her chicken soup recipe and the accompanying photos.  Mine looks more like pea soup but the chicken is just hidden.  I used mustard greens instead of collard and regular white beans instead of butter beans.  It was SO delicious... so much in fact that I couldn't wait for a reasonable soup eating hour and just had leftovers for breakfast.  



J loves letters and numbers like crazy!!  My sister in law suggested that I embark on an alphabet project where I teach each letter (phonetically) for a whole week.  We talked about Captial A and lower case a using the chalk board, a huge piece of construction paper and crayon, a paper cut out of an A, and play-dough.  He was excited to go onto B then C but we kept going with A a few days this week.


Now when he sees the play-dough he screams, "AAAAAAAAAA".


Tumbling class.


Bubbles!!!

So I'm aware that this post is random and all over the place but this was our week in review, kind of.  I don't feel that I need to be everything, or do everything I just want to try.  However, knowing myself I have to set some limits or else I'll just get overwhelmed and do nothing.  The way I see it is like this- I'll always be me, a wife, and mother.  Some weeks though I'll be a photographer, an aspiring Zumba intructor, a homemaker and a really great friend who calls you back within a few 24 hours.  Somewhere in between the laundry will hopefully be done.  

Jodi's Baby Shower

I met Jodi through the world of flickr and through the years we've become good friends.  She is no stranger to my blog and when she announced she was pregnant I knew I wanted to be involved with throwing her a baby shower.  I contacted Elizabeth and Erin (who already had pinned the cake she wanted to make for Jodi) and the three of us set out to surprise Jodi with a sweet little baby shower.

It was such a lovely afternoon with some really awesome ladies.  I wish I took more photos (hoping some more show up on flickr) but here is just a glimpse of the little party we had in Jodi and her belly's honor.








A headless Elizabeth preparing a yummy strawberry and mint spritzer.


The Arnold Palmer cake that Erin had always planned on making for Jodi.  Oh my goodness, it was delicious and Erin's first try at swiss meringue buttercream icing (my fave).


Erin at the door, waiting for Jodi to arrive!


Surprise!!!




Jodi's reaction was so amazing and it made us all giddy that we pulled it off!!!

It truly was a great experience planning a party with Erin and Elizabeth.  Erin put it best when she said that the three of us accomplished what we all wanted for this party but couldn't do alone.

Friday Lovin' Music

I had no idea I was such a Beyonce' fan but I can't get over how fun this video is:


It took watching it numerous times to realize that it's part of a really great initiative.


I just saw Feist on Wednesday night and she was amazing!!!  I was also blown away by the girls singing along with her- their vocals are crazy good.


I keep forgetting to bring non Zumba music with me in the car so I've been listening to the radio more often and this song plays non stop.  I can see it getting on my nerves soon but right now I think it's sweet!


I just can't get over how amazing this song is, how incredible her voice is and how powerful it feels.  It's just so personal and I feel kind of like a voyeur for listening to it.  Here is an amazing live version too.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!  Tonight we're going out for Sushi, edamame, and red bean ice cream!

Remembering

My grandfather passed away 5 years ago today.  Today I am celebrating him in my own way- wearing his belt that he gave me (my grandfather was pretty crafty with a needle and thread and shortened the belt to fit me) and baking (and eating) meringues since they were his favorite treat (and circus peanuts, but those are gross).


Dress: Old Navy,  Belt: Pagu,  Tights and Socks: Target,  Boots: Madden Girl via DSW,  Bangles: F21.











Now I'm off to my Zumba class to work off the ridiculous amount of sugar I just ate in 5 minutes.  I have a problem and can't let anything I bake cool down.  I ate 3 meringues before I even transferred them to a plate.

Don't forget to enter the Shabby Apple giveaway- it ends tonight!