Don't judge me...

I had a chai tea latte and a cheeseburger for lunch. It was heaven.

Sweet Faces...

Would you just look at this sweet boy? Some times I love him so much I could just squeeze him to bits...he is such a joy in my life and I am daily, daily thankful to be his mama! Say a little prayer for me would you? I can just feel the enemy poking at me...through this and that he is working his way into my head trying to convince me that I am not a good mom...you moms know how it goes...a remark heard here or there, thrown at your direction or just at people "like" you...and before you know it you are questioning your mothering skills...

If you click on this photo to enlarge it you can see his most recent injury. In the nursery at church yesterday he fell off of a bench and hit his lip...by the time they came to get me he was already done crying and off to play...we don't dilly with minor injuries here...I either tell him "Save your tears for important things" or "It will get better before you get married". :)
Bop-Bop, if you are reading this...I hope it makes your day to know that Moses was asking for you all day...I kept telling him that you are in NJ and that we will see you soon!

Here is another sweet face that I just love...I have been trying forever to create my own little dolly to sell in the shop...a hard task for many reasons...mostly my lack of skill and my desire for it to look like my own creation...hard to do with a million dolls on Etsy. I love how she turned out...you can go meet Alice and Annie in the shop...

Here is another of my favorites at the moment...I had some zippers I wanted to use up and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out...also ready and in the shop!

Onto the winner...you all are the biggest bunch of weirdos, er I mean most wonderful readers ever...some of you had me gagging...April, if my husband did that...there would be fighting words, Kate-I grew up in Howard County mostly, Smith family-peanut butter chili sandwiches...barf, Mique-you are better woman than I, Amanda- I put ketchup in my eggs too-yum!, Jennifer P-you made my day! but the strangest and most gagging to me of all was.......

Jenn-whose hubby puts SWISS cheese on poptarts!!! I would link to you if I could but please contact me via Etsy to get me your address. :)

Hope your day is happy!! :) xoxo

Maryland is most definitely part of the south and the givewaway.

So just to set the record straight, Maryland is part of the South both historically and according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yes, Old Bay is a Maryland thing...I grew up there and it is a staple condiment in most restaurants. :) And it is fabulous!! I have also had it up and down the coast so I guess it is hit or miss...anywho...onto the free stuff! And yes my husband butters iced poptarts as well. So does his whole family. :)

This weeks giveaway is a bit of a mystery...you will receive the above sweet little tin just full of fun goodies but I won't tell you what they will be...you'll just have to trust me! :) To be entered to win you must leave a comment on THIS post...in that comment you must tell me you or your spouses weirdest habit...I'll choose the winner on Monday!! :)

Have a great weekend!! xoxo

Guess what...

there will be a GIVeAway!! later on today...so come back later!! :)

Fabulous things...

Don't you just love it when you get the perfect gift? My dear bloggy/etsy friend April sent me the above print for my birthday and I just LOVE it...I would like to think of it as one of my mission statements for life...taking ordinary things and making them extraordinary! :) I can't wait to frame it and find a place where it will remind me of a life goal! Makes me feel all loved and whatnot! I almost even cried when I opened it. Thanks April!! :)
And here is another fabulous thing...my favorite scraps of all time are on sale for 50% off!!!! Ashley has even lowered the shipping making it an even more fabulous deal than usual...head on over to LassieGirl and get yourself some...I PROMISE that you won't regret the box of fabulous scraps that you get in the mail!! Perfect for a million things! And if there are none listed just ask...I am certain she will hook you up!! :)


And onto fabulous foods...so as my dear husband and I sat down to lunch this afternoon to cooked at home hamburgers and french fries, I began to shake one of my favorite condiments of all time onto my fries. My husband looks at me and without batting an eye calls me a redneck. I am surely offended. I refuse to believe that it is a redneck trait to use such a fine condiment in a way that it suggests on the very container...which he read only to find out such information.
So please tell me, or my husband rather, that it is not a redneck thing to do...but merely taking advantage of a delicious southern goody. He puts BUTTER on Poptarts for crying out loud...who is he to talk?

If you have no idea what Old Bay is...then you are missing out...and you live either too far North or too far from the East coast. :)

Hope you are fabulous today! :) xoxo

And then it hits you...

There's a baby in there!! We had our first peek and listen today...baby was jumping all around and having a good 'ol time...and best of all looks absolutely perfect! :)

um....where's the weekend?

Seriously, where did the weekend go? It zoomed by so fast that I am not even sure what to share from the last few days...it was a great weekend, mind you, just fast...at church on Sunday we had a Hawaiian themed cookout and it was tons of fun...above are the fruit kabobs I made as the dish we brought....yum!

Moses loved the lei and cried when he broke it...isn't he a cutie...all dressed up in his Hawaiian outfit. :) He was also walking around the cookout like the party was for him, waving and saying hi to people as he passed by them. :)

They had this enormous slide that we rented...Moses braved it twice and then decided he wanted his clothes back on. :) Look at the face!

Doug had been ridiculous in spoiling me this birthday...I got these FUN bowls one day, a flash diffuser for my camera and today I got a wii fit! SO fun...even if it will tell me about my increasing weight gain. :)

I think he has a problem.

And here is an actual belly shot for you...taken two days after 12 weeks...i am pretty sure I didn't show this much with Moses at 12 weeks but here we are. :)

And we have cake!!! Yummy, delicious and perfect cake!! Goes great with the flowers my honey brought me home the other day too! He should be careful not to spoil me too much...he has to live with me. :) Not too many plans for my birthday today...life does go on you know. We went out to lunch and frozen yogurt and now both of the boys are sleeping. :) We are praying for Doug's crazy schedule to even out a bit soon...thought he did surprise me yesterday with the night off!! :)
So here's to the last year of my 20's!! Hope you are having a fabulous day!

I'm still here!!!

Did you miss me? I didn't really go far but Doug had his first time off in oh...over a week...and what a tough week it was but it's over and things for his job are looking up...they think they found the perfect partner for him and that is a relief to us all! In case you didn't know...he has been doing the job of two or more...the other guy that was supposed to be working with him up and quit...then walked out. He was supposed to have last night off too but at the last moment they called him to come in because of some issues at work...and being the kind of man he is...he went to bed to get what sleep he could and left for work at nine. Our time off together was WONDERFUL and so much fun!! I wish every woman on Earth loved spending time with their husbands the way that I do. :) You want to hear the craziest part of his whole job so far...besides the wacky hours? He has lost over 30 pounds since starting!!! Don't you just hate him? I mean seriously...he looks great, always has to me but do you really pick the time that you KNOW your wife is getting fatter by the second to lose 30 lbs (and counting) over night? Sheesh. Regardless I am super proud of him for the man he is, job performance, weight loss and all. :)Today makes me 12 weeks pregnant. :) To date I haven't gained an ounce. Thanks to all the morning sickness I actually lost some weight and just now I have balanced back to my normal numbers. My body has definitely changed shape...it's like this time around my body was like "oh, I got this and know what's up" and went poof! and assumed the shape. This week baby is the size of a lime and is working on his little reflexes. :) I am doing SO much better than I was...still tired at times and sick if I wait too long to eat but I'll take it! :)

Today I am working on some yummy thank you's for some folks in our life who have been good to us lately. Here in the South we speak food for all occasions. Nothing says thanks heaps like some homemade goodies. :)

mmmmm......

Here is the recipe. It's my go-to chocolate chip recipe...I never make them any other way because these are perfect!! I got the recipe from a Martha Stewart magazine...don't let that name throw you...it's a super easy and yummy cookie!

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups (about 12 ounces) semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.
2. Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

And in the shop it's a BDAY SALE!! Go to the shop to check it out! :) It ends on my birthday on Monday and will probably be my last sale for a good long while so stock up while you can!! :)

And P.S. I have the coolest friends...remember Aaron and Jeremy I told you about a few post ago...well they went and got cooler...here they are in an article on PASTE magazine(an awesome music magazine). You can go here to see it. :)

Have a great weekend!! :) XOXO

I've been busy...

Here are some of my favorites...all in the shop waiting for you!

You know your bathroom is dirty when...

So you know the cleanliness of your home has taken a turn for the worse when your toddler takes things into his own hands. This morning when we were getting ready for church we heard that scary silence that only comes when a toddler is is up to no good. We found him in the upstairs bathroom. Literally taking matters into his own hands. He had the comet. Oh yes. It was in a baby proofed cabinet so the fact that he got his hands on it proves his genius right? Anyway. By the time I got there the sink was covered, the toilet was covered, his toilet was covered, the floor was covered and the tub was covered. What was I to do but clean the bathroom, right then and there, in my church clothes. He left the bathroom and made periodic checks to make sure I was doing my job. The bright spot in all of this is that at least this proves that I do clean the bathrooms...how else would he know what to do with the comet?

Summer fun and bun in the oven.

Last night I did some research and found some new parks in the area to take Moses to. I feel like summer is slipping away so fast that we have to act now and not put off things that we want to do...Belmont park is one of a few on the list I made last night.

The best part of this one was that it had a splash park! How fun is that! And free!!One of Moses challenges at the moment is keeping his clothes on...we had to fight to keep the swim diaper on here. Then we had to fight to get his shorts back on before he played at the nearby playground.

We had a great morning...we love finding new places and are really trying to take advantage of the great city we live in while we still live here. With Doug's job we never know when or where that next move will be. :)

My mail man has been good to me this week...I got a fun package from Scottie that included this super cute house...I LOVE anything with our name on it...

And now I will really look like a pro with my website on a tag and all. :)

And earlier this week I got a great package from my MIL that included this sweet dresser scarf that she stitched along with some other goodies including some fall clothes for Moses!

This week baby is the size of a fig (1 1/2in long).How come this doesn't look fig sized to me?

Last week when we went to our first doctors appointment, the nurse matter-of-factly stated that I should expect to gain between 25-35lbs. I had to try hard not to laugh out loud. Even Doug could hardly keep a straight face. I wanted to say "try doubling that number sister". I don't do anything half heartedly....last time I was pushing 55lbs of "baby weight". At least this time I know enough to not worry about it and hopefully by the grace of God it will all just melt away again...a girl can hope can't she? :)

Hope your weekend is swell...I'll work on a giveaway real soon! :)
xoxoxo

I am a birthday cake brat.

There are very few things that I am bratty and demanding about. At least I would like to think that there are...I am sure the loved ones in my life could point out more but this is not their blog. :) Every year Doug asks me what I want for my birthday and every year I give the same answer: a birthday cake. Not homemade. Not that he made from scratch. But a yummy bakery made rectangle of a pallet for mounds of butter cream icing and huge delish flowers. Those who know me well, know my distain for cake mix in a box so they sometimes find it strange that this is what I want for a birthday cake but...what I give and what I get are two different things right? So, every year I tell Doug that this is what I want. And every year he tries too hard. One year he got a round variety flavor cake. One year I think he got a red velvet cake. I have blocked the other years out but it's not that he doesn't try he just tries too hard. He wants so much to please me that he goes above and beyond. Last night we had the talk. Honey, I say, I want a cake, a rectangle, white or yellow cake with butter cream frosting and lots of flowers, from a bakery. He gave me this look like I was nuts, like after years of failed requests he would try to be creative again. I have faith in you honey. :) Heres a link. (choc butter cream filling with butter cream frosting on the outside, yellow cake). :) He's a good honey. :) And here is where you may think I am a weirdo...I put that yummy new cake right in the freezer...I love me some frozen cake. :)

Doug is the best present giver. He always knows just the thing to make me happy. I am far from a frou-frou girl and he knows that. He gets me gifts that speak to my practical side and I wouldn't have it any other way. One year for Valentines day he got me a bouquet of Henckle knives. One year an arrangement of super quality gardening tools. As much as gifts are my love language it seems that the more practical they are the more they sing to me. Any birthday money I am blessed to receive is treated the same way...what can I get that will bless me for a long while and not just for the right now? This year anything I receive will go to completing my bedroom set with a nightstand. :) We have one of the above (in a dark wood color)because that's all the money we had at the time and you don't just go charging a nightstand. :) As I think back through the years of gift receiving, the things I remember the most are things I still use today...
Like my mixer. I love this mixer so much and use it year round...

and nesting mixing bowls...I LOVE these. I got a set years ago and still use them every day. I have a semi-set in white. Moses busted one and I have requested a new set in fun colors for my birthday. :) So, this totally wasn't the post I was planning today but here we are. :) Let's see a post on YOUR blog about some of your favorite gifts through the years.

Hope you are well and blessed! :) xoxo

For the Love of my sanity.

Help me breathe some life into my shop. :)

It's a BOGO SALE!
Buy One Item and Get One For 50% Off!!!

50% will come off of less expensive items(s).
Please DO NOT PAY but wait for a revised invoice!! :)

Does not apply to custom orders!!

xoxo

boy vs. table.

Boy loses and has his first shiner. He has officially entered boyhood. :) For some reason his new mark of tough guy-ness doesn't photograph well but his left eye has quite the blue and purple tint to it...not to mention that he constantly looks like he is giving you the stink eye thanks to the swelling. :)

We made a surprise trip to Radford this weekend...Moses learned the wonders of the trampoline...

and thoroughly enjoyed Canaan's company the whole weekend...

Moses loved to follow him around...

We drove down to surprise Michelle for her birthday. :)

And visit with friends...this photo pretty much typifies our times together...lots of food, talking and silly stories.

And now we have the joy of watching our kids have a battle of wills...or play together. :)

It was a fun weekend but ended all too fast...

About the size of a kumquat...

That's how big baby is this week...and is a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce,minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin. I'm not even sure what a kumquat is but there you have it.

The giveaway this week is being hosted by GroceryMama. Go there to enter to win a towel set!

And do yourself a favor and go see Kristi here...look at the amazingly cute pillow she made from the humble pillow-top I made for her...she is AmAzInG!!

And just because I love you...one of my FAVORITE chocolate cake recipes. And its from Cooking Light...my favorite cooking magazine...so you can tell yourself that it's good for you. I made this a couple of weeks ago...yum! You should make it this weekend.

Texas Sheet Cake

Ingredients

Cooking spray
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa, divided
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract, divided
2 large eggs
6 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup fat-free milk
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

Coat a 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray, and dust with 2 teaspoons flour. Set aside.

Lightly spoon 2 cups flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 2 cups flour and next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Combine 3/4 cup water, 1/2 cup butter, and 1/4 cup cocoa in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Add to flour mixture. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Add buttermilk, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and eggs; beat well. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 375° for 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Place on a wire rack.

Combine 6 tablespoons butter, fat-free milk, and remaining 1/4 cup cocoa in a saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Gradually stir in powdered sugar and remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla. Spread over hot cake. Sprinkle cake with pecans. Cool completely on wire rack.

I added sprinkles because they make even a pity party seem festive. I seem to be climbing out of the pit at the moment...though some moments still kick my bum but it's getting better by the day...I even made something new today...

Remember those cute little kitchen towels your granny would crochet a button and handle to? Well at least my granny did...lots of them. When we were in SC my sister in law and I discussed how great these towels are but how they need to be modernized a bit...well here is my go...what do you think? It's in the shop if you can't live without it. :)

Have a great weekend! xoxoxo