a new start

I've decided to resurrect this little blog of mine, and see if I am capable of actually keeping it up. I'd love a record of how we spend our days, a place to put pictures and fun little stories and what we are interested in. I'd like a place to share the crafty stuff I try and make, if for no other reason than to motivate myself to keep making it. And I'd like to try and challenge myself to do something academic, even if it is essentially an online journal! With two small boys to occupy my thoughts I don't spend much time reading or writing anymore, but I feel like I need more of that in my life. So here's to jumping on the bandwagon and engaging in the world around me!

these three truly are my heart

Baby Love

So I thought with with the baby coming and me having the summer off I should use this to document the second half of my pregnancy! I hit the 20 week mark today, and have been feeling movement more and more frequently. Little Ben seemed to really like everything I had to eat today - especially the cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera :) Here's a picture of me from Sunday, definitely starting to get a bit of a baby bump.



I still have a serious aversion to the smell of chicken cooking, but I can eat almost anything now. I'm making shrimp and zucchini over pasta for tonight since Jeff has to work super late! I've also been craving anything salty and vinegary - loving the pickles!

School is over in just two days, and then we leave for Boston on Sunday (Father's Day). I've got a lot planned for this summer and can't wait to get started on it!

craftiness

New Year's resolution? Maybe blogging should have made the list, any, since we have no school today I'll put some recent cards that I made up, and maybe leave a sticky note to update semi-regularly!






I just picked up new pictures from Costco, so I'm thinking about a Halloween layout, some snow pictures and uploading Oklahoma pictures for a photobook :)

Challenge Me

I want to use my time better this month, and not get so stuck in a rut like I usually do! SO I have come up with two challenges for myself this month:

1. actually make all the recipes i marked in my Everyday food magazine.




















2. Work out at least 3 times a week - and as a reward I will be buying new workout pants (tall from target) at the end of the month when I meet my goal! I've been wanting new pants for a while, so this will be good motivation!




I will try to update with recipes and workouts - so far I've been to the gym twice (10/1 and 10/3) so I need to go once more before Tuesday! And I'm making that lasagna recipe tonight since Mark, Jenny and the girls are coming over!

A surprisingly productive Saturday!

We didn't really have plans for this weekend (except for the great concert we went to last night!) so I decided to break out the sewing machine and finally get rid of the sheet covering the office window. JoAnns was having a good sale so I picked out red home decor fabric and some other goodies for future projects and set out to make this curtain. After an emergency stop at another JoAnns before church for bias tape (still not really sure what that is) and a lot of sewing, I finally have a curtain!




It has two rows of buttons to open 1/4 and 1/2 the window - perfect for the office because I'm usually only working in there at night! I don't absolutely love the bottom fabric, but I do love the stripe and they worked together they best out of everything I could find.

Due to an overabundance of milk (thanks Jenny!) we also decided to make ice cream tonight. I wanted to try something other than vanilla, so we made cinnamon in hopes of it tasting like maggie moo's. It was pretty yummy right out of the ice cream maker, but too soupy for me so I'm looking forward to having some tomorrow. Maybe for breakfast with some delicious waffles? Yum!











On the agenda for tomorrow: some stocking stuffers I've been wanting to make, and starting a hand sewing project to work on while we watch tv to keep me off this darn computer!

Shoe shopping

I found myself at Redmill Commons today because I wanted to check out the fabric section at Walmart and the scrapbooking store - but the fabric had already been clearanced out and there wasn't anything super exciting at Beach Scrapbooks. I've been carrying around a store credit for T.J. Maxx for months, and in an effort to use up all these card, decided to stop in. I found 3 cute pairs of shoes! And with my little store credit I only paid 38 dollars!



These were only 5 dollars - just an easy pair of black shoes to throw on, and no heel so maybe they'll be comfortable enough.



These are sneaker-like shoes from Clarke's - definitely good for being on my feet all day!



These are my most exciting pair - metallic pink! These are also Clarke's, and seem very comfy. The girls assured me tonight that they were super cute and would go with lots of outfits.

So I think I might just be ready to start the school year off right - I have got to stop shopping! Although, I probably won't have any time to shop once school starts, so maybe one more trip to the mall while I'm up in NJ won't hurt!

Grill-tastic!

Our delicious dinner last night! We grilled london broil (with a dry rub of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder and salt) and vidalia onion slices. Add that to a salad of mixed baby greens, red peppers, and a tomato fresh from the garden and you have a dinner fit for a king! But the goodness doesn't end there! I made homemade rolls from Jeff's grandma's recipe as a special treat. yum yum!

back to school clothes!

One of the fun things about being a teacher is getting to buy new clothes for school! I know every professional needs to buy new clothes occasionally, but there is nothing quite as exciting as back to school! And since I'm not subbing anymore, I have to vary my outfits alot more - I have to see the same people every day. I actually think I'm going to write down when I wear what, so I don't forget.

This first outfit is a new top from NY&Co - not very fitted, but comfy and a more fun print than I normally go for. And looking at these pics, I'm thinking those pants look a little big...



Top from ATL - final clearance, total price $12 and no sales tax!



Top from NY&Co, capris from the Limited - a good summer outfit. If I can handle heels all day I'll wear some, if not, I have cute black flats.



Shirt and sweater from ATL - I love this sweater and am seriously contemplating going back and buying another. I feel like I could wear less dressy shirts nad get away with it in this.



Shirt and sweater from NY&Co - I love the layered look and the sweater is half silk, so it fells and drapes nicely. Please excuse the lack of ironing - it looked better when I wore it to interview!!



$10 top from the limited - doesn't look too special in the pic, but its a cool fabric and has the right combination of drape and cling!



Another steal from the Limited - I'll probably change up the tie and wear a funky belt for variety.



I liked the color of this shirt, its a nice fall color even though I bought it int he middle of summer! Its hard to go wrong with a button down.



Just a tee from ATL ($8!) but the jacket is super cute! Its a dressy denim, marked down from $89 to $19.99 plus 20% off - score!




So do you think I've done enough shopping?!? Jeff does, for sure! But I'm still looking for a new pair of khakis and maybe another sweater or 2 for layering. Maybe Mom and I can check out Jersey Gardens in a couple weeks.

Fabric finds

I really am going to post. If nothing else, it will be a record for me of the scrapbook pages I've made. Today, however, I went to JoAnns with Danielle and actually found some fun stuff. Apple and pear fabric, since i"m currently obsessed with apple fabric.





And some pretty stuff for burp cloths and maybe a receiving blanket.








And the last bit could be for a nursing cover, I just really liked it and it was on clearance.

Yummy new recipe!

I've been going through my old Cooking Light magazines and trying to pull out recipes I want to try in hopes of adding a few more things to our dinner rotation. I will say it is pretty hit and miss, but this Sesame Brown Rice Salad was really yummy, not to hard to make and the portion size was actually very filling!


Sesame Brown Rice Salad

1 cup brown rice
2 cups shredded chicken
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup peanuts
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp lime juice
4 tsp canola oil
1 tsp sesame oil
2 minced garlic cloves

1. Cook rice according to package directions.

2. Mix rice with chicken, carrot, onions, 2 tbsp peanuts, 2 tsp cilantro and salt.

3. Combine juice and remaining ingredients, drizzle over rice mixture and toss to combine. Sprinkle each serving with peanuts and cilantro.

*my modifications - I used parsley instead of cilantro and I added a red pepper, thinly sliced. I would add more red pepper the next time, and maybe some cabbage, because I liked the extra crunch. Also, I used 2 big garlic cloves, next time I would definitely use less. And I poached the chicken in chicken broth with parsley and garlic powder mixed in and it was delicious and shredded well!

Domestic Diva-ness

So I've been determined to put my free time over summer vacation to good use, because I will probably never have this much free time again! Since I have one of Mom's sewing machines living at my house, I decided to get it out and figure out how to use. IN particular, I've been wanting to make some baby related crafts to give as presents to all my pregnant friends. Brenda is due in August with a little girl, and I wanted to make some cute stuff for her so she wouldn't get stuck with all Max's leftovers. I made a wipes case to hold a small thing of wipes and a couple of disposable diapers, and then some matching burp clothes. I think they came out really cute, and by the end I was finally able to sew a pretty straight seam! That is in itself is definitely an accomplishment! I have at least two more babies on the way that I want to make fun stuff for, plus some curtains and pillows to make for the house, so this hobby should at least keep me occupied though the summer!