.

My Camera's 1st Wedding

2012-01-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

Last week we traveled to southern California for a wedding. Our friend Chris was marrying his beautiful Bride. Chris is a great guy that is now married to a wonderful woman! We became friends with Chris in college, he was once my Husband's housemate, and was the videographer for our Wedding. We were so excited to get an invitation to his wedding and be able to make it! I was also thrilled because it would be the 1st time my camera was in attendance at a wedding! Here are some pictures to enjoy from the beautiful union!

Congratulations Chris and Bernadette! We are so happy for your beautiful union!

Baby Love...

2012-01-27T21:54:00.000-08:00

I will have to admit that I miss being pregnant, okay just a lil bit. With my last pregnancy I had the pleasure of being pregnant with one of my dear friends. It was fun to share the journey with such a wonderful person ! Even though we now reside in Northern California and she still resides in Southern we were able to share our pregnancy journey with each other miles away. The picture above was from her Northern Cali Baby Shower(their family lives close to us). She was 31 weeks and I was 33 weeks pregnant!

These are the proud Daddy's! Our baby girl and their baby boy was around 3 months and meeting for the first time!

Now these 2 munchkins are 8 months old! Their parents are chasing them around the room as they crawl, climb, and try to put EVERYTHING in their mouth. We were honored last week when our friends opened up their home and showed us some lovely overnight hospitality! It was also so fun watching these two roll around and play that I had to snap,snap,and snap away!

They even had a pretty Lady come over and add her spice to the fun!

We shall see if this Lil Man and Lil Lady will find more interest in each other 20 something years from now....I am just saying that it is a possibility!!!

Taste This Thursday Party #1

2012-01-25T21:23:00.001-08:00

Crockpot Chicken Barbecue Pizza Soup

Ingredients
2 Tablespoons oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1 Can of Corn 1 Red Pepper
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 Cups Chicken Broth
1/2 Cup BBQ Sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Salt
1/2 Cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

1. Chop the parsley, onion, and pepper

2. Place the chicken and all the rest of the ingredients in the crockpot

3. Don't forget the barbecue sauce...

4. And the seasonings and give it a good stir!

5. Cook 6-8 hours on low. Around hour 4 stir to help the chicken shred.

6. Enjoy because my Husband and I loved it!!!

Linking up with: http://www.joyinthejumble.com/
Taste This Thursday was created to help me and others get the answer to "What should I cook (or bake) today?". Playing is easy, on Thursday's post a recipe that has been tried and tested by you and then pop over
here and add your name to the Mr. Linky. When entering your name also add the
name of the recipe in brackets .

just please follow a few rules!

1. link to your specific blog post, not
your blog’s main page.

2. Follow me and I promise to follow you back!

3. please link back here to me so all this TTT stuff makes sense to
your readers. and its just nice to do ;) grab a button from my sidebar
(see the code box?).It's over there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

4. check out as many links as possible! i am looking forward to being inspired by many recipes! I will also feature some of the recipes each week. Your recipe could be the one! Of course you will also definitely find some new blogs that
you’ve never stumbled upon before – so fun!

What I Wore Wednesday

2012-01-24T14:20:00.001-08:00

I wore this to a wedding last weekend:

My Mom thought of me when she spotted this dress at Ross for $15. My Necklace was purchased from Target on clearance for $4.99

Got my favorite color pumps from Burlington for $19.99

I wore this Saturday outfit a couple of weeks ago:

I love these skinny Mossimo jeans from Target($24.99)

This long sleeve white shirt is also from Target($5.99) and the Armore shirt is from....Target($9.99) too!

Toms from Nordstrom (gift from Aunt In-law)

Linking up with: http://thepleatedpoppy.com
http://www.mommagoround.com
http://raegunwear.blogspot.com
http://www.glamamom.com/

3 Things I Love at 1 Time

2012-01-23T22:41:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday my husband and I had a wedding in the L.A. Area to attend. The hotel accommodations we desired was available for Saturday but not for Friday. My husband then came up with the brilliant idea of making a trip to San Diego on Friday and then leaving Saturday afternoon for the wedding. I was so excited to do 3 things I love:
1. Be in the city that I dearly miss
2. See my beautiful friends faces
3. Eat at one of my favorite places

I soon then got very anxious because I did not know how we were going to do this all in one night. Then a light bulb went off in my head! Which in turn made me send this Event Invite to my SD folks, on Facebook:

"We will be in town for just one night:( We miss SD, Soup Plantation, and you! We would love to experience all 3 at once. Let us know if you and yours are available to join because if we get a total of 20 people we can have a private room to dine! Would hate to pass through town and not give you a BIG hug!!!"

On Friday we rolled off the freeway at exactly 615 pm into San Diego! These are the pictures that were taken in my favorite city, with exactly 21 of my favorite people, and at one of my favorite restaurants!

49er Fever

2012-01-20T05:15:00.000-08:00

Growing up in my house my Mom and Sister got heavily into football and overtime they have become die hard 49ers fans! I personally was not the type that planned my whole day around a game, I never had a favorite team, and certainly did not understand the game. Then a certain gentleman came into my life, who LOVES( yes all capital letters) the 49ers! In the last 5 years of being married I have watched many 49ers games. My 2 year old even gets excited to shout "Go 49ers ! " whenever he recognizes their logo . I realize that the 49ers will always be in my life. This last week was a big game and we watched it at my Mom's house. While watching this game I officially knew I was a fan. It was so fun to me as we watched over good food, kids playing, and we were ALL yelling at the Television! I shared this with my husband and he gave me a kiss and a high five! Looking forward to next Sunday! Go Niners!!!

Valentine's Display

2012-01-18T21:50:00.000-08:00

I have decided to get in the Valentine's spirit early this year! I love celebrating LOVE! I wanted to put together a Valentine's display for my husband (and me)to enjoy throughout the next couple of weeks. I started off looking for a banner to print out. I wanted one that JJ could help me with since he is really into coloring these days.

I placed brown paper under each letter

Since my husband is already mine I added forever

When we took Christmas pics I added L,O,V,and E props. I printed the pics and framed them.

The finished Valentine's Display!
Linking up with: http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com/
http://www.52mantels.com/p/your-mantels.html
http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/
http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com
http://passionatelyperfect.blogspot.com

Big Boy Bed Initiation

2012-01-17T12:01:00.000-08:00

The day has finally come! My husband and I finally got brave and transitioned JJ out of his crib. This was very hard because we felt comfort knowing exactly where JJ was during nap and bedtime....his crib! A Big Boy Bed creates many more possible locations. However, we also realized that we could not keep him in the crib forever. Plus JJ has been requesting to "night night in a big bed". We finally gave in and had a Big Boy Bed Initiation:
1. After his bath the Big Boy brushed his teeth by himself.

2. The Big Boy picked out the books he wanted to read for bedtime.

3. The Big Boy chose what animals and pillows he wanted to accompany him to his Big Boy territory.

4. We prayed and talked with the Big Boy, explaining what we expected. We said goodnight and love you to the Big Boy.

5. We left the Big Boy alone in his new bed, turned off the light, and turned on "turtle".

6. We heard the Big Boy get out of his bed and we returned to his room to reiterate are expectations.

7. We repeated # 6.
8. We repeated # 6.
9. We repeated # 6.
10. He finally went to sleep in his Big Boy Bed and woke up in his Big Boy Bed!

11. I want to cry because I am officially calling my baby a Big Boy.

Thank You MLK

2012-01-16T13:15:00.001-08:00

“I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., I Have A Dream

I am grateful for the brave Freedom Fighter, Martin Luther King Jr. My Husband and I were able to hold hands as we dated, as we fell in love with each other, as we said our vows to each other , and as we witnessed our children come into this world. I am so glad that MLK fought for his dream because it affected other peoples dreams. I was able to marry my Dream Guy because MLK and others fought for freedom! Thank You Martin Luther King Jr!

Insta-Friday

2012-01-12T23:34:00.000-08:00

Another InstaFriday! Sharing pictures from my camera phone throughout the week!

Rocked this all week! Steve Madden purse from TJmaxx for $32. I got a double deal because it is regularly $98 and I bought it with a gift card I got from my Mom In-law !

I love purple and I am so excited about this purple Coffee mug that I used all week. A gift from my Father In-law!

This girl smiles when ever I say "Hey JoJo!". We were on our way to see our Cousin that got released from the hospital!

This boy carries his "baby"(teadybear) EVERYWHERE!

While visiting my Mom this week my brother(Uncle Von) gave JJ his 1st Red Vine...he is in love!

JoJo got to play with her Girl Cousins while at my Mom's this week...so precious!

1st day at the park after a 3 week break due to weather. He was one happy guy!

JJ playing with his slippers he got from my Mom for CHRISTMAS

A pic of a healthy snack we had this week: Grapes and Veggie Sticks!

JoJo loves bath time!

I am link up here with Insta-Friday

My Momma's Spaghetti Recipe

2012-01-11T22:03:00.001-08:00

This recipe was given to me by my fabulous Mom while I was in college. My roommates and friends loved it and still request it. My husband stated he never cared for spaghetti until he had this one! He always volunteers my spaghetti when we cook for others, go to Potlucks, or have people over. I decided to make this my first recipe I share with my new camera since it holds a special place in my heart and my close ones stomachs!

Ingredients: 2 cans of spaghetti sauce, 1 box of spaghetti noodles(serving size 8), 1/2 of a onion, 1 whole bell pepper, 1 package of kielbasa sausage, 1 lb of lean ground beef (93/7), and 1- 1.5 cup of brown sugar!

Cut your pepper, onion, and sausage in small bite size pieces

Brown the meat(because I buy the lean meat there is barely any fat to drain,so I don't do it at all)

Pour the onion, pepper, and sausage into the ground beef. Cook for 10-15 minutes on medium heat and stirring occasionally. Add pasta sauce and brown sugar!

Boil your noodles

I always throw my noodles on the cabinets to make sure they are done...if they stick they are ready like spaghetti:)

Drain the noodles

Use the same pot you used for the noodles and pour half of your meat sauce in that pot
Pour ALL the noodles in the pot

Pour the other half on the noodles

Stir and there you have it....My Momma's Spaghetti!

*I usually serve with Texas Toast and a lovely Salad
*The Spaghetti is always better the 2nd day!

linking up with: http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com/

New Year and New Camera

2012-01-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

I love taking pictures. All my family and friends know that I will always have my camera handy and ready for any and every occasion. For Christmas I had 3 things on my Christmas List 1. Canon Rebel 2. Canon Rebel 3. Canon Rebel. To my surprise(wink, wink) on Christmas Night I unwrapped my new Canon Rebel T3i from my Sweet Husband!!! I decided to finish 2011 off strong with my Canon Point and Shoot because it has been so good to me capturing so many memories over the last 4 years. I took my new camera out of its box after the New Years and I have been like a kid with a new toy snapping away! I have so much to learn but I am already having so much fun! Here are a couple shots that I have captured over the last couple of days.

JoJo waking up one day this week and her response to Mommy saying "good morning"!

The story of the my kids life in this season... JJ plays and JoJo watches his every move!

JJ being the fun character that he is everyday!

4 Days of Christmas

2011-12-28T21:28:00.000-08:00

We had 4 great days of Christmas. It was JoJo's lst! The kids got spoiled, we got spoiled, and we spoiled each other and our families with love and presents. We enjoyed celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ with Family and Friends!

Day 1 the 23rd- The beginning of the Christmas marathon started with us having Appetizers at my Brother and Sister In-laws house and then we headed down the street to have dinner at Aunt Kits House. We started on the 23rd because the Brother and Sister In-law was going to be out of town on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

We ate....

opened a few presents....

completed JJ's advent calendar...

we sung Happy Birthday to Jesus and ate dessert...

and then got entertained by JJ and his athletic abilities!!!

It was great to experience this Christmas with the Brother and Sister In-law even if it was not on the 25th. Time together is time together!

Day 2 the 24th- My Aunt on my Mom's side of the family hosted her Annual Christmas Eve Party/Family Talent Show.

We were so busy visiting talking, taking pictures, eating, and having fun that we did not do a whole lot of talent. My Mom, Sisters, and I did get our singing on and it was not a perfect tune but perfect fun and laughs!!!

Day 3 the 25th- We started the morning with reading JJ and JoJo the story of the Birth of Jesus . It warmed my heart to sit down do this as a family of 4.

Then the In laws all got together for Breakfast and the opening of gifts.

We then traveled to my Sisters house for dinner and round 2 of opening gifts with my side of the family.

Wes and I did not get JJ and JoJo anything because we knew they would get spoiled by both families and their God-mother! I was 100% correct! We know we will have many years when the kids get older and have personal Christmas list to spoil them!

Day 4 the 26th- We hosted a breakfast for all of our local and San Diego college friends that were visiting in the Bay Area. It was so fun catching up over pancakes, grits, eggs, bacon, fruit, donuts, muffins, and Christmas cookies. When the breakfast was over we were over whelmed by our full stomachs and all the love & fun !

What a memorable 4 Days of Christmas. I am so looking forward to next year! I love Christmas. I will miss all the decorations, Christmas music, Christmas cards, and making it a point to acknowledge the birth of Christ.

Personalized Crafty Wrapping!!!

2011-12-21T22:51:00.000-08:00

I was so not looking forward to wrapping our 20 something gifts for family and friends!!! I decided I would turn it into a craft project. I had so much fun this year wrapping...

Linking up with: http://passionatelyperfect.blogspot.com

http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com/
http://katherinescorner.com/

http://www.happyhourprojects.com/

What I Wore Wednesday!

2011-12-21T03:42:00.000-08:00

I had to take a picture of 2 outfits I wore this week because my husband absolutely loved them both! He complimented more than I can recount on both of these outfits. I aim to please the husband so I wanted to make sure I captured these outfits and I also thought it would be fun to join all the other fashionable ladies at the link parties for the first time! In the picture above my hat, sweater, and leggings were from Target! The Ugg boots were purchased by my husband from the Ugg Store!

Wore this outfit when I woke up early to mail off Christmas presents and do the rest of my Christmas shopping at 8am in the morning. Yes you read right I got out the house at 8am to miss all the lines in the mall and post office. I wanted to be festive so I wore this colorful sweater from Old Navy and the pants are also from Old Navy. I purchased the grey low cut comfortable boots from Marshalls at only $24!

Seeing Christmas through the Lil one's eyes! Part II

2011-12-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

One thing I am going to really miss when Christmas has passed is our new" Advent Calendar Tradition". JJ's Great Aunt Kit has done a good job with making it fun and educational. She bought JJ the whole alphabet and numbers in puzzle pieces and placed them behind the 25 doors of Christmas. Every couple days he has opened the advent calendar to complete his alphabet and numbers puzzle.

We cheered JJ on when he correctly identified the numbers and letters correctly ! Aunt Kit also added cars, balls, and gingerbread cookies to the mix!

I am also looking forward to next Christmas to see if JoJo will be more involved in all the fun and learning experience!

What a great morning with the Advent Calendar and Family!

Another Christmas Tradition Created

2011-12-17T20:45:00.000-08:00

We went to the "Festival of Lights" in our town. This was the 25th year that this particular neighborhood held this event and this year their were over 152 homes participating in decorating and lighting up their houses for the "Festival of Lights". Luminaries were placed throughout the whole entire neighborhood. We had the kids in the back seat, the windows down, and the holiday music on as we took in the sights and sounds up close and personal! It was great and we all enjoyed it!

Looking forward to next year!!!

Insta-Friday

2011-12-15T23:16:00.000-08:00

Pictures taken from my camera phone through out the week...

Our week consisted of being sick, sick, and sick. I have been sounding like I am coughing up a lung, the kids have been running from me as I try to clean the consistent runny noses, both kids have been waking up in the middle of the night from congestion, we have went through about 4 boxes of Kleenex, and I can't tell you how many cups of tea I have drunk! Just glad that this has hit us now and will be gone before Christmas! This means we stayed in the house in our pajamas and slippers all week...

We gave the kids extra TLC!

In the midst of sickness I did do one craft project and made a Christmas Card banner!

JJ got bored and got naked a couple of times and then got cold!?

We did a lot of coloring, puzzles, listening to music, and of course watching cartoons!

JJ wanted to exercise despite having a runny nose so he jumped on his bike.... with Bell Bear!

One of the only times we did go out we went to go look at Christmas lights around town and found this amazing house. The picture does not do it justice at all. If you look close they even had the garage on display!

Linking up with: http://liferearranged.com/

Christmas Banner made....

2011-12-13T14:37:00.000-08:00

...... with Christmas cards, yarn, and a hole puncher!!! My original idea from this blog did not work because the Christmas Cards keep coming. These Christmas cards are too thoughtful and cute to keep piled up where they are not able to be seen individually . I love that I can look at my family and friends throughout the day on display! I also have plenty of room to add to the banner!

Happy 30th Birthday to my Dear Friend!!!

2011-12-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

One of my closest, dearest, and greatest friends turned the big 30 Today. She currently resides in Texas, while I live in California.I really wish I could of been with her as she celebrated leaving her 20's last night at her big 30th Birthday Party. I wanted to do something extra special to wish her a Happy 30th Birthday. This is what I came up with, wrapped, and took to the post office for delivery! I mailed this off in the middle of the week thinking that it would get to her before her birthday. Just checked the tracking number and it looks like it will not be delivered until the 14th. I am glad I took pictures. This way I can give it to her today through this blog.

1. My friend loves everything about music and movies! I knew that she would enjoy an I-tunes gift card!

2. I contacted her husband to ask what he thought she would like and one of the things he said was a GAP gift-card!

3. My third gift was a personalized frame and inside I stated "10 Reasons Why I Love you". Here are my reasons:

1. You can always cheer me up.

2. You and I have tons of inside jokes.

3. You are like a real Sister to me.

4. You are super nice (sometimes), smart, beautiful, great, awesome, and amazingly wonderful.

5. You can make me laugh until I cry or pee in my pants.... or both!

6. You and I can give each other one look and it's just like having a conversation.

7. You never judge me but always try to understand me.

8. You know everything about me.

9. You are Yolanda and you never try to be anyone else.

10. You love me and I most certainly love you too!

I can't believe I met Yolanda when she was 20 and I was 19. Ten years have gone by quickly. I guess time flies when you're enjoying each other. Once again, Happy 30th Birthday Yolanda!

Linking up with: http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com/
http://weinzapfelbabyberry.blogspot.com/

The Evolution of our Family and Christmas Cards!

2011-12-10T17:53:00.000-08:00

Newly Weds and our 1st Christmas as a Married Couple!!!

2nd Christmas and expecting our 1st Baby in 7 months!!!

3rd Christmas and JJ's 1st Christmas!!!

4th Christmas, JJ's 2nd, and expecting next baby...It's a Girl!!!

5th Christmas, JJ's 3rd, and JoJo's 1st....
....This is exactly why I like doing Christmas Cards! I get to see myself, my husband, and my family mature each year. It has been a fun tradition for me. This year the day before Thanksgiving I got my Christmas Cards in the mail so that they could be delivered the day after Thanksgiving( The official day that the Christmas celebrating starts). My goal is always to have them delivered ASAP. This way my family and friends get to enjoy them longer, they have a return address to send us one, and I think we get our money's worth!

linking up with:
http://walkwithmebyfaith.blogspot.com/

Homemade and Frugal Christmas Display

2011-12-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

One thing I love about this time of the year is receiving Christmas Cards from all of our family and friends. This year I wanted to create a special place for them to reside. I cleared a book shelf and I used recycled vases and ribbon, dollar spot(from Target) bulbs and red buckets, wrapping paper, a brown paper bag, dollar store picture frames, and candy canes. Total was $12 including tax!


Linking up with: Passionately Perfect-Coffee and Conversation Tiaras and Bowties-All That Shimmers Katherine's Corner-Thursday Favorite Things The Charm of Home-Home Sweet Home

Candy Cane Twists(Sugar Cookies)

2011-12-07T00:30:00.000-08:00

I know I have said this more than once but I LOVE Christmas. I was totally in the holiday cheer and baking spirit this weekend so I made these Candy Cane Twists. They turned out so cute and could also be used as ornaments! FYI: Don't try them with healthy butter spread(smart balance and etc). I tried to make a healthy version and my husband absolutely hated them. If you want to check out more great cookies to bake in this season go to this lovely blog and this lovely blog for more great recipes. I am linking up with the cookie exchange!

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

1/2 cup butter, slightly softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
1/2 teaspoon green food coloring

Instructions

Using an electric mixer set on medium-high speed, cream the butter. Continue beating and gradually add the sugar.
Beat in the egg until evenly mixed, then add the vanilla extract, the peppermint extract, and the salt and blend well.
Use a wooden spoon to stir in the flour, one third at a time, until evenly mixed.
Divide the dough into thirds. Add the red food coloring to one third and the green food coloring to another, then knead the coloring into the dough. Flatten each third into a K-inch-thick rectangle, cover it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
Heat the oven to 375°. On a lightly floured surface, roll a pair of tablespoon-size pieces of contrasting colored dough into 8-inch-long ropes. Twist them together, pinch the ends, then bend the cookies into a candy cane shape. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Bake the cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet until set but not brown, about 10 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through. Cool the sheets on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to the rack to continue cooling.

Seeing Christmas through the Lil one's eyes!

2011-12-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

All the holidays are so much richer now that I have children, especially my favorite one....Christmas! I was so excited when JJ's Great Aunt Kit stated that she got a special advent calendar for him. Last night JJ paid Aunt Kit a visit in his Christmas pajamas to open the first 4 days. There wasa "surprise"for each 25 days until Christmas. He was anxious to open each "door" but they just opened the first 4. Fun times! So much to learn! You can almost see his brain growing! Aunt Kit( a retired elementary teacher) was the teacher last night and JJ was the student with all the fun and educational surprises that were behind the doors! Looking forward to seeing JJ open all the rest! We will definitely do this next year with JoJo too! I also can't wait until this Christmas because we will read JJ and JoJo the birth of Christ for the 1st time. I love how we are creating traditions for our Lil Family!

What makes me smile...Family Photo Shoot!

2011-12-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

I love love love the Christmas Season! I am especially in the spirit because it will be JoJo's 1st. I wanted to make sure we captured her and the family in this season . We had a Christmas/Fall photo shoot a couple of weeks ago. Believe it or not this was my birthday gift from my husband. Yes my birthday is in August and I told him I wanted a Christmas/Fall photo session in November. I am so glad I waited patiently for 3 months to receive my birthday gift. Thank you to my husband and once again to our photographer, Melissa! I have already did our Christmas Cards, a Pinterest project, and have a couple other ideas for these photos!

Family Photo and Frame Idea!!!

2011-11-29T11:50:00.000-08:00

A Pinterest project I did was incorporated in our family photos this year.

I pinned it & immediately knew I could make it right then...So I did! I believe it was originally from this blog. It took me less than 10 minutes to make. Anything less than 10 minutes with 2 kids is sweet!
It is a photo frame with the words "this is our happily ever after" and my family standing behind it. I had the help our lovely photographer Melissa to make it happen!
Ta-da:

My Own Twist To It:

After the photo shoot was done I was left with the frame and wording. I decided to put my own twist to it. I took another picture from our photo shoot and placed it in the frame! I then placed it on our dresser. I love looking at it everyday!

Linking up with: http://babymakingmachine.blogspot.com
http://diyhshp.blogspot.com
http://www.craftyconfessions.com
http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/
http://passionatelyperfect.blogspot.com/
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/

Hosting our 1st Thanksgiving Dinner Part V: 5 reasons why a Thankful Day was a Great Day...

2011-11-25T15:55:00.000-08:00

Yes "we" and not "I" hosted our 1st Thanksgiving Dinner. My husband cut his 1st Turkey and helped out so much. We had 21 family and friends over for a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner and of course the Football Game too!

1. The Turkey was a hit. My first time cooking a Turkey!I found a great recipe: Bacon Wrapped Turkey with Pear Cider Gravy.

2. I had fun planning everything from the picking out the Turkey Recipe, Appetizers, and Decorations!!!

3. I delegated and did not take on the whole Thanksgiving Dinner. We had a Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner. I just made the Turkey and Appetizers. I started to to make cupcakes too but forgot that the oven was going to be occupied by Mr. Turkey. I am so glad that I did not make them because we had more than enough desserts!!!

4. I enjoyed every moment and had fun with the family...many kodak moments!!!

5. I relaxed with the family as we enjoyed each-other and the big Football game!

Hosting My 1st Thanksgiving Dinner Part IV

2011-11-23T16:01:00.000-08:00


Made my Centerpieces using:

Leaves from the Backyard

I washed them with soap and water. Then I let them air dry

Used old glass vases (that my husband gave me flowers in) and crazy glue.

I glued them on leaving space in between the leaves.* I used latex gloves so that I would not get glue on my fingers

I placed a pumpkin candle in the vase that was leftover from Halloween.

I grabbed pears and apples from the fridge to place in another vase.

This is my Thanksgiving Centerpiece....price $0

Linking up with:
http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com/

http://passionatelyperfect.blogspot.com/

http://jaimelyn11.blogspot.com/

Hosting My 1st Thanksgiving Dinner Part III

2011-11-22T20:21:00.000-08:00

1. Banner complete and hung
2. Grocery Shopping Complete
3. Turkey in the fridge thawing out
4. Picked Centerpieces
5. Searching for cute cupcakes for the big Turkey Day....

Hosting My 1st Thanksgiving Dinner Part II

2011-11-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

We are going Potluck Style for the Feast this Thursday. Which leaves me a little nervous, being that certain family members can run on the late side. We can't start the feast until all the main dishes are in the house.To ease my anxiety I have been looking up some good, fun, and easy appetizers...

Hosting My 1st Thanksgiving Dinner Part I

2011-11-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

Hosting my First Thanksgiving Dinner this year! I am really excited about hosting and just spending time with family. First thing on the list is picking a simple, easy, and affordable centerpiece for the table. I am stuck between Fruit Centerpieces and spelling out GIVING THANKS. I think I will go with both some how...

Crockpot Jambalaya

2011-11-17T12:45:00.000-08:00

Throw all of this into the Crockpot:
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
1 pound beef sausage, sliced
1 pound of shrimp
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
3 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
1 cup chicken broth
2 tsp dried oregano2 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Cook on low for 6-8hrs or High for 3-4hrs
I serve with instant rice from Trader Joes and cornbread

5 tips for Parents to have a great Date Night!

2011-11-15T10:04:00.000-08:00

1. We left BOTH kids behind...
with Grandma D and Papa. Sometimes it is hard as parents to leave the kids behind. I have decided it’s not a date with someone else tagging along. Even if the baby is still small, it’s really nice to be able to leave her home.
2. We did not discuss the kids the entire time.
The issues and even great stories about the kids will still be there when we go home. We took time to enjoy each others company, not discuss why JJ can't understand why he should not kick the ball in the house. We talked about our dreams and goals. We also took time to even reminisce about our first date and other experiences in our past that put a smile on both of our faces.
3. We both put forth a lil effort in our appearance.

Yes and I had on a hat and my husband a sweatsuit but our attire was put together with a little effort. I love my husband in a nice sweatsuit especially when he is freshly shaved and groomed. My husband loves when my hair is pulled back and me in jeans. We both complimented each other.
4. We picked a great place.

Wes chose a great Thai House Resturant that was family owned, very small, and intimate. I not only loved the food I loved everything, from the decor to the customer service.
5. We took in the moment
We both kept on saying ..." it feels good to be out with just you", "can you remember the last time we went to a resturant and just fed ourselves", "this reminds me of when we were dating or married without kids", and "this is nice".

Looking forward to the next one!

1/2 a year old!!!

2011-11-12T13:58:00.000-08:00

My JoElle has just reached a monumental stage in life. Our Baby Girl is now 6 months.

“It seems like only yesterday”…

…I cried my eyes out when I seen my beautiful baby girl for the first time.

These days, JoJo…

likes rice cereal

likes to put whatever she can put into her mouth(including her feet) using her amazing motor skills

likes to bounce in her jumper

likes to smile & laugh while her brother is running across the room, taking her toys from her, dancing to his worship songs, or yelling his usual "NO"

These days, (and everyday) we enjoy…

when JoJo lights up after seeing one of us walk in a room

when JoJo performs her soldier crawl across the living room

when JoJo has a deep, belly laugh and the giggles…

…and the list goes on and on….

We love you JoJo , thank you for these amazing 6 months!

JJ gets his 1st hair cut!

2011-11-10T00:42:00.000-08:00

A debate that Wes and I have been having is the status of JJ's hair. Wes felt it was time to cut it and I wanted to hold on as long as possible. After seeing this picture and others taken over the last couple of weeks I finally gave into my husband's theory. I came to the conclusion that my theory of keeping ALL of JJ's precious curls forever was not realistic.

I made a compromise and told Wes if we were going to cut it I wanted to do it. He was a little hesitant, being that I do not have any experience in the hair cutting business. At the end of the day I became Mommy the Barber and cut 3 hand fulls of hair off of my sweet baby boy's head.

This is the first picture that JJ took of his new hair cut.We went out to the garage where Wes' office(his desk next to the wash machine and dryer) is located to show off the handsome Lil Boy and Mom's 1st haircut! Wes was impressed!

I know now why I wanted to wait. He now looks like a bigger boy and I wanted to hold on as long as I could to my baby boy.

Insta-Friday

2011-11-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

Another InstaFriday! Linking up with pictures from my camera phone throughout the week!

We celebrated with costumes, family, and friends on the 31st and the weekend! To read more about the day read this blog! I also made this yummy cupcakes:)

One of my favorite days of the week is Sunday...going to church as a FAMILY! JJ was sleepy even before we got to church:(

Pure Happiness= Cinnamon Toast and Coffee!!!

JJ joined JoJo and I for a walk(my work-out) this week. This is also how I look when I work-out!!!

A Patient that delivered at my Hospital gave us Nurses Zucchini and Banana Bread. They were so good and I thought they were packaged quite cute!

This picture was taken after my husband said"The day I give JoJo away at her wedding will be sad and sweet for me!"

Got together with the family on Sunday night and had a Mexican Fiesta Dinner....Delish!!!(My Sister and Niece in the pic above)

My husband has been so busy with work and school that I have had to shop for him! I enjoy doing it! I was in love with this sweater and took a picture of it and my husband loved it too. Went back to get it and they no longer had his size;(

Had breakfast for dinner on Wednesday...one of my favorites!

In traffic on the way home from work and got a picture of a woman driving and reading. Then I thought how bad am I...I am taking a picture while driving(in traffic)?


JoJo did not want to take a nap when I was trying to nap, so I had a Lil photo shoot with my Girl! I am link up here with Insta-Friday

Cabbage,Shrimp, and Meat Medley!!!

2011-11-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

My Sister told me about this recipe off hand after she got it from a Co-Worker. It does not even have a name so I named it. It was super easy and my Husband said it is one of his favorites now! Enjoy:)

Ingredients: 2 Bags of Fresh express Coleslaw(Green cabbage and purple cabbage, and carrots)

                 1lb of Lean Ground Beef(93/7)
                   1 Package of Smoked Beef Sausage or Beef Polska Kielbasa
                   1lb of Shrimp( tail off, peeled and deveined)
                   1/2 of Onion
                  2 Tbs Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper

1. Cook and brown the Ground Beef. Season to taste with salt and pepper.( I usually do not have to drain fat from my 93/7 lean ground beef because it is minimal). Then add the cut up Smoked Sausage.

2. Cut Onion and add to the Medley. Stir and let the Smoke Sausage brown a bit.

3. Add the 2 Bags of Cole Slaw and just keep on stirring. Stir, Stir, and Stir. Believe me that the Cole Slaw will get soft.

4. Add Shrimp(unthawed) and keep on stirring ....and stirring until shrimp is cooked all the way through.

5. Wa La! You have your Cabbage, Shrimp, and Meat Medley!

Great with CornBread!!!

Costumes, Candy, and Cuteness!

2011-10-31T23:27:00.000-07:00

It's that time again of the year to dress up, eat sweets, and admire everyone in their costumes. I enjoy this time of the year so much more now that I have kids. 2 weeks ago I found costumes for the kids 1/2 off! Did not know when and where they were going to wear them but I could not pass them up. We especially bought them because each costume represents the kids and their particular stages in life right now.

JJ was a Hamburger. Why was this fitting for him? JJ is currently going through the "Terrible Twos". Each day we do not what type of Hamburger is going to wake up. We can get a bold and spicy one(attitude), one with pineapple on it(a sweet boy), or one that is medium rare(grumpy with moments of joy).

JoJo was a Strawberry. She is simply Sweet and Plump on each and everyday. We feel really blessed to have such a sweet tempered and easy going baby. SWEET!

What would you know? Uncle T invited us over to his neighborhood Carnival down the street. It was a great set-up, the kids costumes were cute, and we thought the sweets were delish(except for JoJo)!

We then went to Great Aunt Kit's and Uncle Dennis' House. JJ played when them and in their backyard, still wearing his costume! JoJo was tired from the previous activities and slept.

On Halloween we were invited us to a Halloween Park Party. My friend that we do play-dates with was hosting it. It was so so fun! She did a great job with picking a great park, serving healthy snacks,giving out pumpkins, and favor bags. We had a costume great time. JJ had a wonderful nap after it was all over!

Who needs to Trick or Treat after all of this? Not us! Instead we passed out Candy to the Trick or Treaters.

Insta-Friday

2011-10-28T00:23:00.000-07:00

Another InstaFriday! Linking up with pictures from my camera phone throughout the week!

JoJo is still a great walking companion! I captured a picture of our shadow from one of our walks this week.

My husband had to dress up for school( his Master's Program) as something that represents him! He loves Christian Rap!

JJ went to the Pumpkin Patch for the first time! You can read about it here!

My Big Boy has been sleeping in lately.I think he is going through a growth spurt because he has been having an increased appetite too!

JJ had a play date at Super Franks....one of our favorite places now!

In love with making this Salad this week.

JoJo will be crawling any day now. I caught her scooting this week!

Helping JJ eat and Nursing....now when am I suppose to eat?

JJ loved counting pumpkins this week.

We were trying to let JJ be more independent on the stairs this week.

I took both of the kids to the park this week. Very fun!

JoJo and I matched this week!

Appreciating that JoJo is not wearing shoes yet. It has been a chore for us to find JJ the right shoes in this season. A picture of JoJo and I trying to wait patiently as Wes helped JJ try on shoes.

JoJo wore a purple dress to church...my favorite color!

JJ fell asleep in the car on the way home from church. Which meant his nap was going to be non existing when we got home.

Had fun making these cute pumpkins, that sit on our dresser for the Fall season!

I am link up here with Insta-Friday

Pumpkin at the Patch!

2011-10-27T02:17:00.000-07:00

JJ had his first experience at a Patch. It was so awesome to see his reaction to all the pumpkins.

When we first arrived he was very serious as he checked the scene out! He even tried to count all the pumpkins when we arrived. I told him that it was too many to count, but E for effort!

Then he came alive and started to put some pep in his step!

All of a sudden his amusement with all pumpkins came to a complete pause. Why? JJ saw his first skeleton. We tried and succeeded in distracting him back to the real reason why we came to the patch.

Once again, the pumpkins got his attention and the scary ole skeleton was part of our past.

The animals did not do much for JJ.

Oh how I just love Pumpkins and this time of the year!!!

There were hundreds of pumpkins and they looked the same from afar. As you came closer to exam them you could see that they were not. Just like God created the people in the world, uniquely different.

Could not leave the Patch without getting a picture of the Boy, the Girl, and my arm all together!

Salad Bar Lunch ....Made at Home!

2011-10-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

I love going to places like Soup Plantation, Fresh Express, and other places that have great Salad Bars. On Sunday for lunch I wanted something light, good, and fulfilling. I opened the fridge and their was a bag of salad(with carrots and cabbage), cheddar cheese, rice vinegar, and ranch dressing. I opened the pantry and found croutons, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and kernel corn. I mixed all these together. The Salad Bar salad was light, good, fulling, and it also looked pretty! Here are the Ingredients again:

Salad (I used 1/4 to 1/2 the bag)
Kernel Corn (I sprinkled about 1/4 of the can)
Kidney Beans (I sprinkled about 1/4 of the can)
Garbanzo Beans (I sprinkled about 1/4 of the can)
Cheddar Cheese (about 2 Tbsp)
Croutons (10 Croutons)
Rice Vinegar(I spayed the entire salad)
Ranch Dressing (I just used 1 squirt)

* I stored the left over can goods in plastic containers in the fridge. I used them to make the same lunch over the next 2 days:)

My 2 Lil Pumpkins!

2011-10-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

The Story of my 2 Lil Pumpkins

I am totally in Love with pumpkins this Fall! I saw these 2 Lil Pumpkins at Safeway and they reminded me of my real Pumpkins(my kids). One is tall and thin(for a pumpkin) compared to the other, which is short and plump.I ran to Joann fabrics and picked up some supplies(ribbon and decorated paper), printed out a picture of each kid, and found some crazy glue. I did not know exactly how this was going to turn out....

To begin the crazy glue was a big fail so I tried two-sided tape to put my kids names on the 2 Lil Pumpkins. I also hole-punched their pictures and ran the ribbon through, so that the pictures could hang.

I thought this was cute, but my 2 Lil pumpkins still did not satisfy my eyes.

I took the picture faces off the 2 Lil Pumpkins and decided to try just the names and ribbons.

I placed my 2 Lil pumpkins in the living room with a picture in between them.

Then I placed the picture on the side of my 2 Lil Pumpkins.

I then took the picture away . JJ (the real JJ) was trying to pull the 2 Lil pumpkins down from the entertainment center . I took this as a sign that they did not belong in the living room.

I was still not satisfied with the look and location of my 2 Lil Pumpkins. I changed their ribbon with some recycled ribbon . I also turned the pattern around on JJ's

name, to make it look masculine.

I then took my the 2 Lil pumpkins up stairs. I placed them on our dresser next to our mini personalized calendar.

Nope, I didn't like that. And then finally my eyes were satisfied. This was the final look and place for my 2 Lil Pumpkins.

Linking up with:

lollipops

craftomaniac.blogspot.com

Insta-Friday

2011-10-21T00:21:00.000-07:00

Another InstaFriday!
Link up the silly, sweet little moments that make up your week from your phone camera!

JoJo and I attended my Cousin's Shower and I made her a Diaper Baby you can see tutorial here


The Girls beat the Guys in getting dressed for church. Wes is in charge of JJ and I am in charge of JoJo on Sunday Mornings.

I had my first sauerkraut sandwich while watching the Sunday Game.

We kicked JJ out of his playzone and gave it completely to JoJo. She loves rolling around and I love that she is safely rolling around now . She is also getting really good with her motor skills, hands and feet. Very talented girl:)

Grandma D has been a great help in holding JoJo because the baby girl is going through some serious separation anxiety.

Wes and I were able to go on a date...with JoJo.

Wes had another long week with school and work. He was so happy to get some good quality time with the kids and me.

Enjoyed a Pumpkin Iced latte and Pumpkin Pie Fro-Yo this week! I love fall but we had some hot days this week.

JJ is still perfecting his tricycle skills and showing interest in cars, trucks, and tractors. The Boy still plays with his basketball 50% of the day!

JJ had a play-date this week with his friends Chase and Tamara. Not only are we working on colors, numbers and letters but were also working on sharing and not hitting.

My Mom came over to visit her Bell Grand-children!

JoJo and I worked out(walking) together while Wes and JJ went to the gym.

We moved Wes' study area into the garage. This is where he can get some peace and quiet.... next to the wash machine and dryer.

I cooked Ribs in the crock pot for the first time this week. Recipe from this blog

Love seeing Fall things around the house this week!

I am link up here with Insta-Friday

What I Love Wednesday

2011-10-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

Today is What I Love Wednesday. I LOVE my babies. I especially love that they are finally playing together at times. Since JoJo arrived JJ has been jealous and ignoring his Lil Sister. You can imagine how happy I was when I seen and captured JJ playing with JoJo last week. They played peek-a-boo together for the 1st time!

Peek-a-Boo I LOVE these two.

{linking up with Lollipops Cards}

I am finally falling in love with Pink

2011-10-18T09:45:00.000-07:00

Purple is my favorite color! I have always thought that the color purple was so different. I felt unique with not following the crowd of gals who loved the color pink. I vowed if I ever had a little Girl to never put her in pink.

Guess what? I have a 5 month old Girl now and for some reason I can't resist the color pink. What's the famous saying? If you can't beat them join them! I'm linking this entry for this week's Pink Friday and Pink Saturday.

Tutorial for Making a Diaper Baby

2011-10-17T00:08:00.000-07:00

What you need: 50 size 2 Diapers, a Diaper box, regular size rubber bands, large rubber bands, baby clothes(preferably off the registry) and optionally other little gifts off the registry to fill the basket!

1. Roll one diaper and rubber band it

2. Unwrap the following diapers and roll around the rubber banded diaper one by one, until the head is as big as you want it to be. 3.Then do the following for the body(stomach).

4. Place big rubber bands individually around the head and stomach. 5. Then place a big rubber band around the head and body to connect them together.

6. Roll one diaper then roll the end of that diaper into another one to make the limbs

7. Secure the limbs with rubber-bands

8. Roll the completed limbs individually into one diaper, the long way

9. Tuck and secure the limbs into the already placed rubber-bands that were placed on the body

10. Now you can dress your Diaper Baby.- I used a hat, long sleeve onesie, and pants that were on the registry.

11. To make it look even more fun and realistic add a binkie(pacifier)!

12. Diaper Baby needs a carrier/home! I use a Costco Size diaper box. Cut off the flaps that were used to close the box and cut down the front of the box in a half oval shape.

13. Wrap the box with wrapping paper.

14. Then place 2 of the 3 packs of diapers that came in the Costco box back in the box. This way Diaper Baby can sit high and be seen!

15. Place the tissue paper and the rest of the gifts that you got off the registry to fill the box up!

16. Receiving blankets looked better than the tissue paper, so I switched them out!

17. Give it to a Beautiful Expecting Mommy!

Linking up with .......

www.Craftyconfessions.com

www.Katherinescorner.com

Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

lollipops

withashotofbrandy

Savvy Southern Style

crafty scrappy happy

www.handymancraftywoman.com

www.somewhatsimple.com

Chic On A Shoestring – Flaunt It Friday

http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/

National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day

2011-10-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Did you know that October 15th has officially been designated as a national day of remembrance for miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss? As I complete another week of being a Birth Center R.N.,this is just a quick reminder to reflect on your own families and count your blessings. If you have healthy children, give them extra hugs and kisses today.

Many of us go through life blissfully unaware of all the complications that can arise in pregnancy, so please don’t take healthy pregnancies and children for granted. Before I started working in the Labor

& Delivery, sure I knew people lost their babies but I didn't understand the deep hurt that comes along with such a devastating experience. That is exactly why I started this blog when I got pregnant. I wanted to record the Miracle of life and not take it for granted, thus the title bellmiracle.blogspot.com

I will never forget the first Patient that I took care of who lost her baby 5 years ago. It was going to be her first baby. She was full-term and had Gestational Diabetes, that was not controlled well. She arrived to the clinic for a NST(Non-Stress Test) but when the baby was placed on the monitor there was no heartbeat. Since she was so far along in her pregnancy she had to attempt to push her fully developed baby out. The Gestational Diabetes caused the baby to be over 10lbs and she ended up getting a C-section. There was nothing but sorrow in the Operating Room when this demise baby was born. I cried with this family and still cry every time I have to assist with these deliveries. I have not forgotten about any of them and their personal stories.

Those who have suffered a loss, you have my deepest sympathy.

Insta-Friday

2011-10-14T20:54:00.000-07:00

Whatcha been up to this week?
Capture the simple, silly moments from your week using nothing but a cell phone camera and then link up!

I had the chance of make a bed up while a Baby was in it!

Got this lovely Thank You Card from a patient that I helped deliver their 2nd Baby. They spelled my name wrong but it still touched my heart!

Another Patient who delivered their baby at our hospital sent all the Nurses these yummy cupcakes.

JoJo is falling more and more in love with JJ. JJ is still ignoring and still jealous at times.

Cooked Savory Bacon Chicken for Crock-tober that was hosted at this blog !

Made a Diaper Baby for the 1st time for my Cousin's Shower Tomorrow!

Savory Bacon Chicken Crockpot Recipe!

2011-10-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

I am linking up with another blog for Crock-tober. I love Crock Pot recipes because they are easy and so convenient when you have a busy day. I love to smell the food cook ALL day too! Here is one recipe that I really enjoy!

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours, 15 minutes

Ingredients:

8 bacon slices( to be more healthier you can use turkey bacon)
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 (10 oz) cans roasted garlic cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream(I like to use light sour cream for everythiing)
1/2 cup flour

Preparation:

You can prepare this one of two ways. Place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-low heat until some of the fat is rendered. Be sure that the bacon is still pliable and not crisp. Drain on paper towels. If you use this method, reduce the flour to 1/4 cup. Or don't cook the bacon and proceed with the recipe. Then wrap one slice of bacon around each boneless chicken breast and place in a 4-5 quart crockpot. In medium bowl, combine condensed soups, sour cream, and flour and mix with wire whisk to blend. Pour over chicken. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours until chicken and bacon are thoroughly cooked. You may want to remove the chicken and beat the sauce with a wire whisk so it is very well blended. Pour sauce over chicken. Serves 8
* I like to eat with rice and veggies

Loosing weight after Pregnancy

2011-10-10T11:01:00.000-07:00


Before I begin this blog I would like to say Happy 5 months to my sweet Baby Girl! Carrying this sweet Baby Girl I gained 30lbs in my last pregnancy. I read that on average it takes celebrities 3 months to loose their baby weight and non-celebrities(people like me) 9 months. Well, I thought I would challenge myself and have the goal of loosing my pregnancy weight at the 5 month mark. Today the 5 month weigh in was conducted. Drum-roll please................... I am still 3 pounds away from my goal. At first glance at the scale I was a bit bitter. Nevertheless, I am choosing to stay focus. Now the new goal is to loose it ALL by the holidays. I will continue with my same regimen. Here are some acknowledgments to what has helped me get this far on the scale:

These running shoes feels so good and light. They motivate to run and walk. With two kids I only run about once a week.

Since I can't run consistently I walk 3-4 times a week with the kids. This App allows me to calculate how far I have walked and how many calories I have burned.

Studies show that you burn 20 calories for every ounce of breast milk that is produced. This pump is allowing me to have a successful nursing experience. I use it 2-3 a week to keep my milk production flowing while at work.

This is by far my favorite non-fat Greek Yogurt. I believe non-fat yogurt helped me take away all my tummy fat with my first born and is helping me shed away after this pregnancy too. I read about a study conducted with two groups. Group A was Yogurt Eaters on a weight loss plan and Group B was Non Yogurt Eaters on the same weight loss plan. Group A(Yogurt Eaters) loss 81% more belly fat than Group B(Non Yogurt Eaters)!

This is my Great Double Stroller. Without it I would not be able to walk with both kids. With my weight loss app I take a 1 mile route to the park(we stop and play) and the same route back . The goal at hand is to walk 2 miles 3-4 times a week.

When the weather is not great and I can't get out the house this Treadmill is my work-out saver. It's parked in the garage. I have learned that you burn more calories when on incline status. I walk 2 miles on a complete incline when I workout. I jump on it when the kid(s) are sleep and/or JoJo is watching me. I try to always remember to stretch!

A well balanced diet has been a good key. I always buy lean meats and try to add fish to the menu. I have to make sure I do not cheat myself on any calories because I am nursing. I just make sure they are healthy calories the majority of the time.

An encouraging Husband also motivates me. He tells me that I can do it and even if I don't loose my pregnancy weight he will still love me the same. His active life-style of working out also challenges me.

Things I love love love about Fall!

2011-10-06T16:18:00.000-07:00

I love how the trees and leaves change color this time of the year!

I love seeing pumpkins around the house, stores, and hope to take the kids to a pumpkin patch this year!

I love how I have a justifiable reason to turn on the fireplace!

I love good soups in the Fall! My husband makes a good Zuppa Toscana Soup(Olive Garden Style)!

I love drinking Coffee, Latte's, and Tea's so much more this time of the year!

I love the sound of Football on Saturday Mornings and Sunday Afternoons. I have also learned how to enjoy it with the hubby, despite not completely understanding it!

I love these boots I Wore last Fall and could not wait to bring them out of their box! Did it today:)

I love dressing the kids in warm clothes, like the boots My Sister got JoJo. Now we get to see Miss Thang work the boots!

I loved putting hats on JJ when he was baby. Now he will not let me get close to him with one of these things. Now I can put JoJo's hats to use!

I love Date Nights in the Fall and Winter. They seem more romantic and intimate to me. I love getting all bundled up to go out in the cold with my Love!

Light Chicken Tamale Casserole

2011-10-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

INGREDIENTS:

As you can see I love to shop at the one-stop store...TARGET!

1 cup (4 ounces) preshredded 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese, divided
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup egg substitute
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
1 (8.5-ounce) box corn muffin mix
1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
Cooking spray
1 (10-ounce) can red enchilada sauce
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Combine 1/4 cup cheese and next 7 ingredients (through chiles) in a large bowl, stirring just until moist. Pour mixture into a 13 x 9–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
3. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until set. Pierce entire surface liberally with a fork; pour enchilada sauce over top. Top with chicken; sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until cheese melts. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces; top each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream.

Loved that it was low in calories!

Amount per serving (8 Servings)

Calories: 354


1. My Husband and my 2 year old LOVED it! Served it with my Poppyseed Salad.	2. Thought it was better on day 2! 3. Next time I want to try Green Enchilada Sauce:)

Parenthood changes aspects of your friendships

2011-09-29T00:09:00.000-07:00

Over the last week we were able to hook up with two couples or I should say families that are dear and near to our heart. We have known these individuals even before they were married.

While hanging out with both couples I realized how are relationship dynamics have changed. When getting together with these couples we use to meet up and watch a movie, play board games, and other fun things. Now are hangouts are centered around watching, playing, and loving on the kids. One other major thing that has changed is our conversation topics. Here are some examples of our conversations that I remembered from the past and observed now in the present :

Past conversation topics(as Non-Parents)

Dynamics of marriage life
Extended family
Movies we seen lately
Where we want to go on our next vacation
World Events
Dreams and Goals
God
Work

Present Conversation Topics(as Parents)

Babies daily routines
Feeding schedules
Sleep deprivation
Babies weight patterns
Immunizations
Breast Feeding
Marriage dynamics with the kids
Passing along gently used baby clothes
Believing God for provision for a growing family

I am glad I can still call these wonderful couples friends, despite life changes. And I feel blessed to be adventuring through Parenthood with great friends.

We met the Stoke's Family for Coffee and Dessert. The Fellowship and Dessert was so good and refreshing!!!

We were invited to the Osborne's Annual Barbeque!!! We took a plate home and smiling hearts after spending time with them.