the remsnyders

a new love is found.

2012-01-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

Over the Christmas holiday, Seth always takes off for a week and we get to enjoy a little family staycation. This year, by far, was the best one yet. We had so much fun being together as a family and having little adventures planned for each day.

One of the mornings, we set aside for going thrifting as a family (inspired by the massive amounts of stuff we needed to drop off), but it seemed like an easy way to kill two birds with one stone. We've been working on our bedroom and basement and were in search of several different pieces. We had somewhat of a vision and an idea where we were going, but in the thrifting world you can't always plan that what you are looking for will actually be in the store and for the price you want to spend. Thankfully on this occasion we scored big on our first stop at Salvation Army. Two beautiful matching side tables for $44 total (the best part was we hit it on a day they were offering an additional 25% off all furniture).

And thus began the transformation. We started off sanding and then used Behr premium plus primer + paint in one to finish the job with two coats. Amazingly, we were even able to salvage the hardware.

The finished product came together exactly as we wanted it to:

You might have noticed a little green chair in the "during" pictures above, Audrey had her first thrift store find too and she came home with a $3 old schoolhouse chair. It was in need of a lot of work, but nothing a little sanding and paint can't fix.

Here is a little thing Seth and I learned in the process, even after being married for 5 years, we are still learning new things about each other. We both are pretty different in our interests, but I think we finally found something that we truly love doing together. And the timing couldn't have been more perfect in light of where we are in making progress on some huge projects in our house. It was as if all the right events finally came together and a light came on, I almost felt a little bit like John + Sherry from Young House Love, minus half of their skills, but we're learning.

I'm working on all the final details of our bedroom, but thanks to a lot of hard work that room is so close to being done. I can't wait to share.

This post has been brought to you courtesy of 3rd trimester nesting.

5 years.

2012-01-24T11:29:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, we celebrated 5 years of marriage. And its been a wonderful 5. I can't wait til 10, 15, and beyond.

In 5 years we've bought a house and a new car (and almost 2 now), a 2 year old in tow, and another baby girl on the way. So many more milestones have been reached and as I think about 5 years, I can't help but feel we've just begun.

Seth, I love you more than words can even say. You are the best man for me and I'm so glad you asked me to be yours. There isn't a day that passes that I don't thank God that he gave you to me. We've come a long way.

dreams do come true.

2012-01-04T12:37:00.000-05:00

I should preface this post by saying, that in the sum total of things I have "won" in my life, I think its a measly total of 1 (a blog giveaway for a poster).

Now rewind...

The week Becca had Behr, by the way my house look for the two weeks following you would have thought that I had the baby. To say everything was a mess is probably an understatment and as much as I love my husband, he really isn't cut out to work, take care of A, and keep our house clean while I recuperate from pulling an all nighter.

So one afternoon, during nap time I was feeling pretty ragged and thinking of sending a hint to Seth about what I "really want for Christmas," I tweeted:

I fell asleep and really thought nothing of it and Seth didn't even mention it when he came home from work. So much for a girl dreaming, right?

The next day, I got an email telling me that Olive Garden had started following me and that they mentioned me on Twitter.

At first I messaged them and asked if it was spam. It was probably total disbelief. Then they gave me an email address to correspond with a member of their team.

Next thing I knew there was a $300 gift card in the mail for Merry Maids to come clean my house. To say I was floored was an understatement. How they found my "wish" I still have no idea, but I am SO grateful. This pregnant mommy was not looking forward to getting down on my hands and knees to clean our floors.

our 2011.

2011-12-31T12:46:00.001-05:00

It's hard to know where to start after a year like this. Seth decided this was our roller coaster year. We had some really high high's and some really low low's. Walking through this year, it didn't particularly feel that volatile, but looking back, it was a significant year.

-We didn't buy clothes (separate post coming on this later).
-We found out about baby girl #2 and Audrey turned 2.

-Our church, that we love, is walking through one of the biggest trials I have ever experienced. It has been good, and we can see good coming from it, but there have been a lot of very sad days.
-Several dear friends got married and Seth was in 2 weddings.

-We made some major progress on house projects (in large part thanks to Pinterest). Our bedroom and dining room are almost done, and the basement ideas are rolling.
-Every single kitchen appliance in our house died and we finally bit the bullet and put new windows on our house. This was probably our biggest house investment year yet. But on the bright side of an investment like that, at least its done?
-We discovered the wonderful gift of Skype as a means of staying in touch with my Mom, Gma, who lives all the way across the country.
-Seth had the opportunity to show his art work not once, but twice, and we got to meet some really cool new people. It was such a privilege. He was able to sell several pieces. And for a proud wifey, this was a high. (If you missed them, he is hoping to do another show in 2012 with a whole new body of work.)

-We celebrated 5 years of marriage in year 4 with a trip to Disney.
-We had one of the best summer vacation trips to Cape May with some of our dearest friends.

-My best friend, of many years, had her first baby boy, Behr. It goes without mentioning that I got to throw her the shower of my dreams too.

And after another year passing, our God has remained the same. He never changes. And for that we are grateful as we look ahead to a new year, 2012. It will no doubt hold many unexpected blessings and trials, but we know that our faithful, good, wise, and loving Savior goes with us.

So as with Merry Christmas, it also seems right to say, Happy New Year, from us to you.

from us to you.

2011-12-24T11:02:00.001-05:00

baby behr.

2011-12-22T10:51:00.001-05:00

There are so many things in life that start with a dream, hope, lots of prayers, and in many cases, waiting. Waiting for something so very good, but trusting in God's perfect time. The birth of this boy represents all of that. This baby was a baby that we had prayed, hoped, and waited for, for a long time. Waiting, even in the midst of heartache, sadness, and grief makes the joy of his arrival that much sweeter.

Becca and I have done just about everything together for our almost past 15 years of friendship, high school yearbook, college, graduation, boys, maids of honor, marriage, and then we both knew we wanted to be Mommies together. On November 19th, 2009, we welcomed this wonderful girl Audrey into our lives and just like with so many things Becca was there. And for the past two years, she has been one of my biggest supports, encouragements, and friendship in motherhood. There are so many moments that I don't know what I would have done without her help. Audrey has been loved like her own girl in so many ways.

And on that day, December 6th, it was her turn, and I was so grateful to be a part of that moment and huge joy in her life. I will never forget those 12 hours, from her text at 5:30pm saying her water broke at Giant, to midnight texts from Dre with her contraction tracker log, leaving for the hospital at 1:30am, and Behr finally being born at 7:45am. She was a champ, a rockstar, my hero (And Becca is one of the only people I would stay up all night for).

This boy is such a wonderful gift to so many. You are loved little Behr. So so much. More than you could ever know.

the party to celebrate 2.

2011-11-21T22:24:00.000-05:00

After last year, Seth told me that I had to keep it simple this year. Two is a big deal, but in the party world, you don't really have to go as all out as one. That wasn't too hard so we decided on a painting party theme. Over the past year, this has been a significant interest that Audrey has had and a very special way for her to spend time with Daddy. It just fit and seemed to be such a defining thing from her second year.

We were blessed to have cousins, grandmas, and a handful of friends join us to celebrate our girl. It went so well and even though it was more low key, it was still memorable. Proof that less, can be more.

In terms of deciding on a color scheme and decorations, thanks to Pinterest, that was easy.

It's amazing to think that this time next year, we will have a growing 6 month old sister to join in the celebration with her big sister. And today, while out running errands, it occurred to me that Audrey's birthday is so perfectly timed in a season where gratefulness and thanks are at the forefront of our minds, because truly her small little life is a wonderful start to that thinking.

(many thanks to our favorite Titi, for highjacking my camera and taking some photos to remember the occasion.)

2 years.

2011-11-18T22:31:00.000-05:00

Where did the time go?

Another year has passed, even faster than the first and this year has brought so much our way.

You learned how to walk.
You learned how to talk (sort of).
You are going to be a big sister to another sister who will undoubtedly follow your every step.
You have used the potty (not consistently, but you're on your way).

You have brought us even more joy.
We love you more than the day we first met you.
You have been Mommy's very best helper.
We thank God for you each day that he gives us with you.

My girl, what would we do without you? Each day brings new fun, challenges, and joys with you in our lives. This has been a big year of many firsts and with each one, we have watched you do so so well. You are truly our delight. There are so many times, countless really, that Daddy and I just look at each other and say, "we can't believe she is ours."

You are unique in so many ways. A girl with many preferences, somewhat precocious at times, but a tender heart and hopefully someday (we pray) a love for Jesus.

Happy year 2. We pray all these new things in you will only flourish in the coming year. I have no doubt they will. We love you. More than words could say.

a return.

2011-10-25T10:31:00.000-04:00

I am sure I've thought a bunch of times throughout the past few weeks about our blog. And I've ignored it. Set it aside. And I am happy to say I have. This pregnancy has simplified life a lot for me/us.

For the first time in months, I finally had a "normal" Monday of staying home, cleaning, doing laundry, and spending time with my girl. Add in a total meal fail with chili, but that couldn't derail me, I was just so happy to be back on some kind of routine. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have debilitating pregnancies as some and I certainly don't want to use our blog as a platform for pregnancy complaints, but this time around has been much harder. I have had persistent stomach issues, tiredness, the usual, all indicating a very healthy baby, but making for a very worn out Mommy.

Meals have been simple. But I finally do have a recipe to share. Little things like this do remind me that some kind of "normal" will return, I just need to be patient and wait for my body to catch up with my ambitions.

But, more than anything, I want to return. This blog has been a wonderful way for me look back and see God's faithfulness on display, life's milestones watching my girl grow up, and even my go to for remembering recipes we have loved.

I want to remember that my girl is now saying her ABC's, is counting to 10 and wants to learn the numbers to 20, loves babies, and that the new life that will join us in March is also reminding us of their existence through tiny baby kicks.

The simple, mundane, just at home moments of life are beautiful. And home is where God has me for now and I have so much to be grateful for even though my heart's ambitions sometimes want to take me other places.

This recipe that I have come to love so much (thanks to Becca's shower) could be the result of pregnancy but I think it is amazing.

Mexican Chopped Salad adapted from SELF

Salad
Mixed Greens
1 yellow/red pepper
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup freshly grated white cheddar (optional)

Dressing
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 TBS honey
2 TBS chopped fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
1 tsp chopped jalapeno (use canned for less heat)

Top with Quinoa with Black Beans and Tomato.

Yum and yum.

a shower. pt 1.

2011-10-16T18:19:00.001-04:00

There are so many things I could say about this special day. But after months of planning and years of dreams, it came together so much better than I could have ever asked or hoped for.

our thrift store desk find (sanded and repainted to match)

a beautiful day to celebrate.

our streamer canopy dreams came to life.

one of the very best friends who I am so glad we could celebrate.

handmade airplanes.

gf/df rice crispie cupcakes.

homemade sodas and paper straws.

lots and lots of cute babies.

& babies to be.

(Photo credit goes to ellie b & kristen leigh)

my "baby" big girl.

2011-09-22T19:19:00.003-04:00

In my absence from blogging, the new baby isn't the only one in our house who has been growing. It seems as though my little "baby" girl is now officially a big girl. It's a bittersweet feeling, but I have to say it is mostly happy because her personality, expressions, and communication have been coming out in all new and wonderful ways.

She has been talking up a storm and now seems to be able to remember things and recall new things she has learned. Just today we were looking at pictures on the fridge and she is quick to point out people she knows. Claire, her cousin, was of particular interest today and not only did she remember her, but she also wouldn't stop talking about her birthday "party" that was a few weeks ago.

My girl, you are a true delight at this age, as you are at every age. To see how you are learning to engage and speak is so much fun.

I love talking to you and I love how you greet me with a "hi" when I go in to get you from your naps.

I love the hugs, kisses, and "pats" you freely give.

I love to watch the sweet relationship that is growing with your Daddy. He loves you so very much.

I love that you ask to pray. It's not uncommon when we pray before dinner that you want to pray several times after.

I love to observe your desire to "help." You want to be right there doing what you are watching and being a part of it.

I love to see your love for books and reading. Mommy has been so grateful for your sweet contentedness to sit in your crib and read for an extended time so I can rest.

We adore you and treasure you. Time is flying by, but we can't wait to see you just love being a big sister. You are going to do so so well.

(Audrey rocking out in baby Kless' new gear. She needed to try it out for him. Or so she thought.)

hey baby.

2011-09-09T21:45:00.000-04:00

On July 28th, I got this. One test, thats all it took and I was pretty convinced.

Then on September 7th at my midwife appointment, we are hearing the heartbeat and Seth couldn't contain his joy and decided it was a good time to announce it to the world, via twitter.

To our delight and to our friend Brian's (probable) disappointment, there was just one little baby bean.

And Audrey is more than overjoyed to be a big sister and we are too to welcome another little baby into our family sometime on or around March 30th.

More on this baby later, because lets just say it has rocked my world and there are far too many people to thank for helping me get through the first trimester.

getting ready for the show.

2011-08-09T10:48:00.000-04:00

It's been busy around here as of late...I mean when is it not? But with Seth's show just 17 days away, there has been a lot of painting going on in our house.

A has picked up the brush too and has loved her time painting with Daddy and she just finished her first masterpiece.

We can't wait for the show to be here and we hope you can join us too.

For more info on the show, check out the Alfred House Gallery.

check it.

2011-08-01T11:55:00.003-04:00

Alfred House Gallery: Seth Remsynder from VsTheBrain on Vimeo.

many thanks to our good friend, Andrew Gallo of VsTheBrain and all our friends who helped make this video. we can't wait until August 26th gets here.

and if you are free, please join us! there is going to be lots of awesome art work up for sale.

considering cloth.

2011-07-19T17:04:00.000-04:00

I've jumped over the fence and back and landed in the middle. I'm seriously considering cloth diapering now.

why the change of heart? disposable diapers have at long last joined the monthly budget category (we were very blessed by an overwhelming amount of diapers when A was born) and it's really not my favorite, the cheapskate side of me just can't imagine maintaining that for the long haul especially as we entertain ideas of adding more kiddos to the brood. after talking to some Momma's who do cloth and hearing how easy it is I've begun to give it another chance in my mind, and with offers like this and this, how could you not?

so my question to fellow cloth diapering mommies is this, what brand do you use and why? and how did you decide to make the switch or start off with cloth? feedback is helpful at this point so bring it.

more ideas for saving a buck.

2011-07-13T14:25:00.001-04:00

so continuing the post where I talked about projects, I thought it might be a good idea to move onto a few more practical suggestions related to bills.

I live by the "you have not, because you ask not" principal.

in the past few weeks I have gotten several offers in the mail for verizon and comcast, begging me to leave directv and promising lower rates if I switch and throwing gift cards my way to incentivize it even more. a few months ago, I called directv, told them the offer, spoke to a representative and she transferred me over to another department because her options were limited, long story short, they lowered my bill $5/month and offered me a $200 credit on my account. needless to say I didn't have to think twice about staying with them. fast forward a few months down the line and here we are with more offers flooding in. I call and again the agent I first speak with only offers me $5/month off, but she transfers me and the next department again issues me a $200 credit towards my account. score.

the next day, I called verizon, requesting they lower my monthly bill, not raise it, and they gave me a $50 courtesy credit just for calling in. granted it took some persistence but it def paid off. double score.

simple principles apply to exchanges like this.

first, never take no for an answer. chances are if the person you are speaking with cant help you you can kindly ask to speak to someone who might have more authority to make changes.

second, talk to the people with courtesy and kindness, it really goes a long way and it makes them want to help you. I'm not saying don't be firm in your requests, but put the ball back in their court and see what they offer you, reminding them you like their service, but the bottom line is what matters must in your budget. in this time of financial difficulty, chances are they personally understand!

third, never pay late fees. sometimes, I space. I forget to pay a bill online every now and then (most of them auto debit, but in this case it makes it harder to remember the ones you actually have to pay), especially around vacation times. chances are, if you rarely do this and you incur a late feel call your provider or credit card and ask them to take it off, they usually do this as a courtesy, especially if you consistently pay on time! things like this will add up and can save you up to $200/year.

fourth, never pay for a checking account, be required to hold a minimum balance, or pay for overdraft protection. several banks offer this free of charge and it saves big bucks in a year. before we made the switch we had paid our bank upwards of $300 in fees and charges to our account. there is no reason to stick it out when other options exist. switching is a hassle, but after 20+ years at my old bank, I just didn't want to pay them anymore, when they should be paying me (our new checking account has a low interest rate that we earn, but its better than nothing).

fifth, if you have a mortgage, make sure you are paying the right amount. there is hardly any part of the country that has been not been hit by the crash in housing prices and finally many states are lowering property taxes (thank the Lord), thus making your payment lower. I called our lender and they informed me that our monthly payment should be significantly lower than what we were paying.

have more questions? shoot me an email, I'd love to talk.

happy money saving !

jimmie cone.

2011-07-12T10:26:00.000-04:00

we had our first jimmie cone visit of the season with some of our favorites, miss kristen + caleb, and lydia. it was preceded by the damascus parade and followed by gf pizza from pasquale's and fireworks. thankfully, audrey was a bigger fan of the fireworks this time around.

leave it to A to make some awesome faces.

happy fourth.

2011-07-06T00:02:00.000-04:00

these days, it is a given that it takes about 10 attempts to get one decent family photo. and with daylight fading fast, these were the best of the bunch that I got all night.

our 4th tradition has continued: spending time with jenne in capitol hill, dinner with friends (new and old), and fireworks by the capitol.

hope your fourth was fabulous. days off to be together as a family never disappoint.

the big show.

2011-07-05T10:37:00.002-04:00

I am so excited to share all the good details with you about seth's upcoming show!

he will be showing his work at our friends brand new gallery in old town alexandria on august 26th-28th. for more details on the event check out their website. we really hope you can join us. feel free to invite your friends and your friend's friends.

the bittersweet part of his show is possibly saying goodbye to some of my personal favorites:

but, also happy because it means others can enjoy them in their homes.

finding a deal.

2011-06-28T13:31:00.001-04:00

if you know me well, you know: I wont pay full price for anything, I always use coupons, and I love finding finding amazing deals on quality (high end) products.

recently I have gotten some emails asking how I shop, where I shop, and ultimately how I find these deals.

even this week, while I have been working on my bedroom project it occurred to me that there are lots of ways to accomplish what you want, get the look you like, and not spend an arm and a leg.

our budget is small, but my taste is probably about 10 times bigger than what I can afford.

but, there are ways, and here are a few suggestions.

establish your budget. put the things you want most at the top of your list and work your way down. if you really want to bite the bullet and spend top dollar for a rug that you LOVE then you might want to think about spending less on accents and possibly using what you already have.

organize. namely, use pinterest, or something like it to come up with a big picture plan. when you know what looks you like, chances are you can find exactly what you want on sale or you can find a look alike for a lot less. (if you want a pinterest invite, email me, I have a bunch)

shop. if you are shopping online, google search coupon codes for the sites you are buying from, chances are you can save an additional 10% or get free shipping. if you are shopping in stores, browse the clearance racks and if possible look for printable coupons online before going into the stores.

make your own. if you cant find what you like, make it yourself. I tried out 3 sets of curtains for our dining room and never settled until I found some fabric I loved and I went from there. I didn't know a thing about sewing when I first came home as a mommy and now I'm picking it up, just with a little trial and error. and the best part, finally having curtains I loved has changed the look of our dining room. (ps-fabric.com, onlinefabricstore.net and the joann fabrics clearance racks are great places to find good fabric deals)

its really pretty simple, but following these things has saved us a lot of money.

here's the real life example.

I found a rug I loved on shades of light. it's usually a store I can't afford anything from, its my go to place for ideas and then I usually go elsewhere to find it for cheaper.

but on this occasion, it worked out because once I decided what size and color I wanted the price dropped $400. I'm not kidding. I don't know how it happened and I am praying the right size comes in the mail, but I took screen shots to show the deal that almost felt too good to be true.

design I wanted.

color I wanted.

more to come on our bedroom redesign later but, thanks to the coupon code discount from young house love, I only spent $154 and change, shipping included, for this beauty.

have more questions? feel free to shoot me an email. I always love talking deals.

recipe of the week.

2011-06-24T11:15:00.001-04:00

fridays are such good days for recipes. especially when they involve the crock pot. its hard to believe it, but in our almost 5 years of marriage, I have never made ribs. gasp. i think it was kind of like the whole chicken thing for me, it was intimidating and it seemed like a kind of meat that had a great potential for total catastrophe if I did it wrong. happy to say the first time around, it rocked. and because it was so good, I just had to share.

slow cooker honey barbeque ribs

3 lbs boneless pork ribs
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar (next time I am going to try and substitute molasses)
1/2 cup raw honey
1/4 cup dijon mustard
2 Tbl Worcestershire sauce
1/2 Tbl liquid smoke

place pork ribs in bottom of slow cooker. cover and cook on High for 3 hours. drain and discard liquid. reduce heat to low. in a bowl, combine garlic salt, pepper, ketchup, brown sugar, honey, spicy brown mustard, worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke. mix well. pour over ribs in slow cooker. cover and cook on low for 3 hours.

and also because its friday, I had to share something that has made me laugh...

found on one of my new favorite blogs, homemade crap. horrible blog title, but great ideas.

shoppering.

2011-06-23T15:05:00.000-04:00

yes, were still doing our clothing fast. and we've stayed true to the rules. but this past mother's day my mom blessed me with a very generous gift card to nordstrom (thanks mom!) and I was able to pick out a new bathing suit. score.

after I selected the suit of my choice, the boys opted out of more browsing with me in the shoe department and lounged with audrey instead. clearly, she knows how to shop, with a statement at the beginning saying, "I'm gonna buy this." I really am not sure how she learned it?

girly, we love you, shopping and all. I can't wait til you get big and we can shop together.

an announcement.

2011-06-17T09:51:00.000-04:00

I've talked about my hubby's art from time to time and I'm so excited to share some news about the latest goings on with his work.

this is something that has been a work in progress for awhile, but he is going to be having his first big plaid show at the end of the summer. more details, dates, and updates will be coming soon as we solidify them. but for now, please be praying that he would be able to get a lot of his work together and for success as we start planning.

and this is where you come in...we would love to see you there! if any of you have seen his work online, it really doesn't do it justice (and I'm not just a biased wife), it really is best appreciated in person.

recipe of the week.

2011-06-16T11:08:00.000-04:00

trying new recipes hasn't been happening much, I went from doing a detox to wedding celebrations, to birthday celebrations to vacation. so needless to say, I haven't been cooking nearly as much as I usually do and I really have missed it.

it was so nice to get back into following through with my meal plans last night and made these:

(image courtesy of whole foods market)

grilled apple and cheddar grass fed beef burgers

3/4 pound 90% lean ground grass-fed beef
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
2 ounces sharp cheddar, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded peeled granny smith apple

combine beef, onion, cheddar, mustard, salt, pepper and apple in a large bowl and form into four (4-inch) patties. grill over medium heat or broil, flipping once, until done to your taste, 6 to 8 minutes.

quinoa with black beans and cilantro (from bon appetit)

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cups chopped white onion

1 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 cup quinoa

2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 15oz can of black beans (or used soaked if desired)

1/2 cup chopped cilantro, divided

crumbled cotija or feta cheese to top with (optional)

Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and red pepper; sauté until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in next 4 ingredients. Add water; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until quinoa is almost tender, about 14 minutes. Add beans and 1/4 cup cilantro; cook uncovered until heated through and liquid is fully absorbed, about 3 minutes. Transfer to bowl; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cilantro and cheese, if desired.

there and back.

2011-06-13T13:48:00.001-04:00

life has been full. wonderfully full. the other day as we were leaving the house, rushing out to the car for the 10th time that day I had the thought...I should be grateful for these moments in life when there aren't enough minutes in the day and I forgot a sippy cup and I have to rush to a dinner to celebrate a birthday because these moments are life happening. of life being lived, not wasted. I can shun the busy and crave the quiet, the solitary and although those are moments I cherish, I am so grateful to God for the people (and child) he put in our lives to celebrate, to spend time with, to talk to, to teach, to love, to learn from, to embrace. I want to be grateful for these times, to love them and be content where God has me, whatever he brings my way.

in the past week we have celebrated two birthdays, visited the farm to bring a pig home (dead that is), got a nasty cold, dined with friends on the deck for dinner, packed our bags and unpacked from our beach trip to cape may with friends, and welcomed a plastic duck into our family. its been truly a blessed month and the beach was heaven. with that busyness, the camera has been left at home and the camera phone has taken over.

and in other news, bon iver has their new album streaming on NPR this week for free. score. go check it out. its awesome.

a secret.

2011-06-07T20:19:00.000-04:00

this post has been one that I have been writing in my head for weeks now. so many thoughts and emotions flood my mind when I would think about it. but I'm so glad I don't have to keep this secret anymore.

becs is my bestest friend and she has been walking alongside me in my role as a mother for the past year and half and has been such a big help and support to me. I don't know what I would have done without her. but now, more than ever, I am so glad it is her turn. this wee babe is the answer to many prayers and petitions to the Lord.

psalm 118:23 "this is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes."

yes. it is the Lords doing and it is marvelous. He is the giver of all life and because of that, we rejoice.

and now, its time for me to run off to brainstorm more ideas for the best baby shower. ever.

a week of instagrams.

2011-06-02T12:56:00.001-04:00

there are some things in life you say you will never do. number one, that usually isn't a good idea to say "never". number two, sometimes you just have to learn and realize there is good in some things and try it out. I've enjoyed it so far and its been a fun way to document all the goings on in our past week. if you follow me on instagram, sorry for the duplicates.

this pretty much sums up our past week. friends for dinner, weekends with daddy, games for memorial day, freshly cut grass, cleaning house, holding babies, and celebrating our nana's birthday at the pool.

and lastly for a good laugh. here is our girl in her true glory with oven mitts on.

deal of the day.

2011-05-26T15:07:00.000-04:00

tiny prints is offering a pretty sweet deal of the day today. all fathers day cards are 75% off + free shipping.

with cute cards like this to choose from its hard to pass it up:

and the best part...it only cost $1.04 shipped (make sure to use code DOD0526 to get the deal). score.

good read.

2011-05-25T09:56:00.000-04:00

it's a long one, but good. and well worth the time it takes to get through the whole article.

it made seth and I rethink a lot. how we use all the technology in our lives. iPhones, laptops, blogs, news and iPads. it made me stop and consider how I am "present" in life and not checked out in a virtual world that vies for our attention at every turn.

(as a side note, its cool to see Jon, the writer of this review, where he is now. back he in high school he was my english teacher and he was a huge driving force in teaching me how to write and thinking through the why behind it. I'm so glad to see that he is in a position to use his writing gifts to in a context like this to challenge and provoke people to stop and think.)

enjoy.

a weekend.

2011-05-23T12:26:00.000-04:00

strawberry picking and peonies at butlers.

after our dishwasher saw its end on wednesday, our oven kicked the bucket on friday. what are the chances? so we ended up back at sears to buy a new one and audrey discovered the train. she and daddy went for a ride. needless to say she loved every second. she even said "please" to go on.

we dropped little A off at home for bed and then went to the hospital to meet baby bennett. seeing our dear friends jim & tessa with their second little boy was just the sweetest thing.

saturday morning started with a text from one of my best friends, stef, saying that their little girl had arrived in the middle of the night at home (not planned). and her birth story is def one for the record books and was quite a bit more epic than her older brother, jackson.

we enjoyed our saturday morning breakfast tradition of pancakes with the addition of freshly picked strawberries.

saturday night little a got to have another train ride with daddy at the rio.

sunday morning, after church, we finally got to meet little baby abigail and hear the story in person. (for the record, there are no story tellers like stef's hubby, andrew.)

we left from the hospital to go to PA to celebrate our nephew's first birthday. audrey and israel are 6 months apart to the day and its sweet to see how much they enjoy each other being so close in age.

(A's very first scooter ride. another thing that she was just dying to do as soon as she saw her older cousins riding them. she was intent on fitting right in and loved riding around and having daddy push her)

what a week it has been. and thankfully they don't come around very often. 2 new appliances, a newly walking audrey, a speeding ticket, 2 train rides, first time strawberry picking, 2 new babies and a first birthday party. so much to celebrate and so much to be grateful for.

18 months of motherhood.

2011-05-19T16:18:00.000-04:00

today marks the day I held my girl for the first time.
saw her face.
kissed her cheeks.
fed her.
counted her ten fingers. and ten toes.
named her the name we talked about just three weeks before she was born. audrey. it suited her so perfectly. and it just fit.

in the 18 months since that day, motherhood has and continues to be one of the most fulfilling and joyful callings.

I have heard her first words.
I have watched her take her first steps.
I have rejoiced at the miracle of a 8 hours of sleep and then 12.
I have kissed boo boos.
I have given hundreds of hugs and snuggles.
I have cleaned up even more messes.
& with each of these things. there has been joy.

joy that cant be explained, only experienced.

(photo credits: miss kristen)

my girl, your daddy and I adore and love you.
there isnt a day that goes by that we dont thank God for you.
every day we have with you is a gift.
& that is whats real.

lately.

2011-05-18T10:26:00.000-04:00

life never seems to slow down. this past week has been a little busier than normal.

fleet foxes on sunday was amazing. if you ever have the chance to see them live, you totally should. and to make the show even more fun, this actress was sitting two rows in front of us.

she looks more like this now:

and sadly, none of us had the courage to go up to talk to her before she left. sigh.

monday we bought a new dishwasher. exciting date night, right? ours was on its last legs and thankfully we were able to get an amazing deal.

which come tuesday, we might as well have paid full price for the dishwasher because after 28 years, I landed my first speeding ticket. $80. major ouch. I wasn't sure if I wanted to cry or just be angry. lets just say I decided against crying.

and in the mix of all this we have been loving dinners on the deck.

and watching our girl walk for the first time.

happy wednesday, its all downhill from here to the weekend. which I already can't wait for.

featured.

2011-05-14T22:29:00.000-04:00

so because jenny + jamison have such amazing taste.

and because pinterest is an amazing way to connect people who have never met.

our little blog and a few pictures I took was featured over on love the day.

you should go check it out.

and in our weekend, if it were not for these shoes, me waking up at 7am this morning would have been all for nothing.

the baby bazaar was a huge let down this year, but scoring some sweet pink baby chucks did lessen the blow.

thankfully the rest of the day was productive, I was able to help a good friend make some curtains and sew some pillows.

thankfully, the weekend isn't over yet. fleet foxes with friends is tomorrow night and I cannot wait.

meal planning.

2011-05-10T19:14:00.000-04:00

over the 4 1/2 years of our marriage, I have not meal planned at all, meal planned for a month, a week and two weeks at a time. since coming home and settling more into my role as wife and homemaker this has been an area that I have been able to focus more of my time and attention to. as a result, I started meal planning for two weeks at a time and have been doing so for about a year now. its has worked out really well, even as we have gotten our weekly food deliveries. in fact it has served me more to have a plan for the food that comes so that none of it goes to waste. not to mention sticking to a very small food budget.

I sat down to plan our next two weeks of meals and this is what I came up with. (mondays are always omitted because we do date night and weekends are usually excluded because we often eat leftovers or stick with our weekend "traditions" of breakfast for dinner or homemade pizzas.)

tuesday: chicken enchilada casserole

wednesday: spicy beef kebabs with green peppers, onion & quinoa

thursday: coconut rice & beans

friday: spicy honey chicken with sweet potato fries (with the fries, you can substitute coconut oil for the olive oil and it adds a really nice flavor)

tuesday: spice rubbed grilled pork chops (this is me being optimistic that we will get our pig this week or next) with grilled asparagus

wednesday: brown rice pasta with meat sauce

thursday: grilled cajun chicken salad

friday: jalapeno cheeseburgers with grilled onion & sweet potato fries

in terms of how I approach my meal plans, I have learned a lot from megan and her post on meal planning I found extremely helpful in finding my way. I follow her system of crossing things off as a go and using the days as a tentative plan, but sometimes, I just don't always want what I have planned for the assigned day. and the reality is too, life happens, we go out to eat or dinner just ends up being a total fail. when I don't use that meal it usually gets cycled on to my next two week plan.

happy meal making!

a mother's day.

2011-05-09T12:15:00.000-04:00

remember easter? mother's day was reminiscent. only thing missing was the mounds bar (thankfully).

but my sweet little loves made up for the lack of pictures with a note on some pretty flowers. and some of my favorite snacks.

mother's day really is just like any other day of the year, life goes on. I woke up with a sore throat and some head congestion, we didn't make it to church, and I stayed in bed most of the morning. the start of the day made me want to just stop and ask if we could just "reschedule." thankfully, as the day went on I did feel better and we were able to enjoy some time out as a family and picked up sushi for dinner on our way home.

babies don't stop for holidays and I want to soak up all the goodness of that, even if that means I don't get just the right picture that makes it look "perfect."

mothers day, for me, is more of an opportunity to think on and be grateful for what the moms in our lives have invested into us. that we wouldn't be where we are today if it weren't for these women.

to my mom, thank you for raising me and teaching me about the Lord. thank you for showing me what it means to have an open home and loving people. so now, as I have my own home, can do the same.

to my mother in law, thank you for raising your boy so well. and for many years of patient investment into his life even during many rough years.

to both our moms, thank you for changing countless diapers, reading hundreds of books, giving hugs and kisses, baths, and meals. thank you for driving us and putting up with us when we learned to drive you. for loving us no matter where we were at and who we were. for encouraging us to pursue an education and go to college. for standing by us when we joined our lives together and embracing each of us in our new families. for loving our girl, as we now have the privilege of following in your footsteps as parents. we love you both, so very much, and can never repay you for all you have done for us.

cinco de mayo party.

2011-05-06T09:56:00.001-04:00

our week of parties has come to an end. my only regret...that I didn't take more pictures of the festivities. this is what happens every time I throw a party.

a. I remember to only take pictures before people start flooding in while everything looks nice.

b. I totally forgo option a and start back paddling by taking pictures during the party. thus only getting pictures of people and not the pretty details.

c. assign someone as the designated picture taker.

as you can see I went with option a and next time I really should just plan for option c. but I'm happy with that for now because that meant for once, I got to sit down and actually enjoy it myself. a rare occurrence when you are playing hostess. the food was delicious, the company was perfect, and the weather was a little cooler than normal, but I can't complain after our sweltering temperatures last year.

here is what we served up this year:

smoky beef tacos

slow cooker chili chicken tacos

cilantro lime rice

cabbage slaw

chipotle tartar sauce

homemade guacamole

and sangria.

to all our friends who couldn't make it, you were missed, and we can't wait to party it up with you next year.

a little bit of everything.

2011-05-03T12:17:00.001-04:00

our friends, andrew + carissa, are adopting a little girl, rinah, from uganda. we have been praying for months for the day she will come home. and we are still waiting. and still praying. and now we have this wonderful poster as reminder on our wall to keep praying. our hearts will be so glad when that day comes.

in other tuesday miscellany, the new fleet foxes album is on amazon daily deal download for $3.99 (today only). for once in my life I am actually glad that I waited to get this album. we are going to see them with friends in less than 2 weeks and I couldn't be more excited.

if you need a great recipe idea, you should make spicy honey chicken. they tasted delicious, your tummy will be glad, and I will def make them again. (the only modification that I made was I used chicken tenderloins instead of thighs.)

and until next tuesday, I am counting down the days to this amazing app.

water baby.

2011-05-02T16:56:00.000-04:00

last week...in the midst of a pouring rain. A desperately wanted to go outside and "splash splash splash" (pronounced "spash" "spash" "spash" in her words). don't worry there were no tornado watches or warnings when I let her do this. and what better way to welcome home daddy than a cute, wet baby?

easter us.

2011-04-30T09:19:00.001-04:00

one tired baby + her uncanny ability to get into anything + a mounds bar + wanting to walk, but not knowing how = these pictures.

as a mom there can be this idea in my mind of how I want a picture to look. and a lot of the time, that just doesn't happen when you have a cranky toddler who doesn't have the ability to grasp mom's dream. our family easter pictures were the result of about six tries (with naps in between) and it's a good opportunity to realize its not about perfect, its about capturing the here + now and being grateful for it. even in a year so much has changed. because some day these toddler days will be gone, there won't be a baby to hold as cranky as they are, and she will be walking on her own. we have so much where we are, and I don't want to miss out on the good of the "now".

very jane.

2011-04-29T15:15:00.001-04:00

meet very jane. an all new "deal" site. for their first start-up week, each day, they are giving everything away for free. yes, mostly. all you have to do is cover your shipping (on this item it's $3.95) and you can have these pretties all for yourself:

our week of parties starts tomorrow with a dear friend's birthday celebration and cinco de mayo next thursday. we like times like these. lots of laughter, a very full house, and many memories.

and with that have a happy friday and weekend!

easter lunch.

2011-04-28T16:00:00.000-04:00

final easter post to come.

all girl.

2011-04-27T09:22:00.000-04:00

A's recent interests seem to have a lot to do with purses, shoes, accessories, babies, and really anything super girly. while we were in harrisburg celebrating easter with family, audrey was able to find new interests to explore. her expanding vocabulary is now including these things with her saying: "baby", "shoes", "eyes", "mouth", "ears", and "nose." it has been a fun age to watch her figure out her world more and the way it works.

more easter pictures to come, I broke them up in sections, there were just too many to choose from.

almost famous.

2011-04-25T11:41:00.002-04:00

well, not really. but there is kind of a story behind this picture. can you figure it out?

remember pinterest? I've talked about it on here before. it's my new favorite way to organize and keep all my project ideas together. its changed the way I do projects and I love it.

more recently I noticed that our little family blog was picking up a significant amount of traffic and I was a little curious why, and I found out that sherry from young house love had picked up a pin of a picture on our blog from jenny + jamison's wedding.

so really, its nothing special, just kind of neat. and I can't even fully take the credit because jenny truly is the one who has amazing style and I just got to take a picture of it.

if you would like an invite to pinterest to join in on all the fun project organizing leave a comment and I'll get in touch.

happy monday!

easter felt garland pretties.

2011-04-21T15:42:00.000-04:00

decorating for the holidays, now that I'm a mommy who stays at home has been so much more fun. everything is new and I have had a great time brainstorming ways to incorporate new decorations into each holiday we celebrate.

for this project, all you need is a sewing machine, felt, and a spool of white thread. for any crafters out there who find a use for felt, buying it by the yard is definitely the cheapest way to go. for a project like this all you need is about a quarter yard of each color.

a wedding weekend.

2011-04-18T15:14:00.002-04:00

this was probably one of the most memorable weddings I have ever been to. the decorations were lovely and handmade. the food was the best I'd had at a wedding. the bride, jenny, was one of the most beautiful I have seen. the groom's toast was the funniest I have ever heard (I only wish I had recorded it). the weather was incredible, ranging from pouring rain to clouds, to a break in the rain, to a getaway at the end that was the biggest downpour I have ever been in. lets just say all the guests got soaked and ran screaming back to the tent to try and stay dry once we said farewell to our friends.

it was a great time to celebrate the faithfulness of God in bringing jenny and jamison together. we love you two very much and can't wait to see all that God has for you in the years to come.

a lovey surprise.

2011-04-17T22:10:00.000-04:00

sometimes, my lovey blows me away with his surprises.

and this was no exception.

we had been presented with an opportunity to get an iPad, but it seemed like seth was dragging his feet about it. and today as I was laying down for a nap, he came in with a little surprise. in true seth artist style, he presented me with this box.

and for many more reasons than this, I love him so so much.

(we already tried out the photo booth app with a nice self portrait.)

sweet meeps.

2011-04-16T09:22:00.000-04:00

our girl was featured on kristen's blog today showing off her newfound skills. they were too cute not to post one, but to see the rest, go here.

sometimes for cute pictures you really have to make a sacrifice tromping through the woods. I was like a fish out of water and sadly enough, I stepped in the mud in some of my favorite flats and I am praying they can be rescued.

a table for many.

2011-04-15T10:09:00.000-04:00

since we have owned our home, our front door has always been open to our friends and family. we have always wanted our home to be a place that people felt welcome, included, and a part of our family. in our 3 years of being here, we have seen that desire become a reality as we have watched our front door open time and time again to those we love the most. there is so much of life that is shared over a meal, relaxing in the living room on the couch, summer dinners on the deck, or making meals together in the kitchen. I'm so glad its never been about a perfectly neat home, but instead bringing people into the reality of our lives and sometimes it is messy, our child screams at dinner time, and a meal isn't always a success.

at least one night a week, usually thursdays, the sound of laughter, and voices of friends fill our home and gather around our table. we love these times, and as a wife and someone who didn't know how to cook when I got married it has provided me with an opportunity to not only learn how to cook more, but cook for many, try new things, and doing it all on a small budget. for me, I have loved the challenge. some thursdays, I have a head count as text messages roll in throughout the day, and other times, I'm operating off an estimate, and every so often there is always a surprise thrown in and you learn to adapt and add a place for more.

hopefully soon, I'll get my act together and do a post on meals for a crowd. but for now, its friday, the weather is amazing, and our day is shaping up to be quite full.

seth is in a wedding this weekend, we have the rehearsal and dinner to go to tonight, and a day to celebrate tomorrow. looking at the weather forecast, we are already fervently praying for the rain to hold off and for the Lord to give them a beautiful day.

happy friday!

a half walker.

2011-04-13T13:00:00.000-04:00

when we went to see the cherry blossoms last week, little miss decided that she was ready to walk, with one hand. she's not all there yet, but this is a huge step in the right direction (no pun intended). coming up on 17 months, we are hoping for an independent walker by 18 months.

a sunday with nana.

2011-04-11T12:55:00.000-04:00

jenne, aka nana (pronounced nay-nay), is one of audrey's favorites, and one of our dearest friends. even living in dc, jenne has served our family in numerous ways and we are so grateful she is in our lives.

we got five guys for lunch, went to church and then the perfect end to a fun sunday, salted caramel ice cream, made by carissa. sundays like these are some of my favorites.

many things.

2011-04-10T10:54:00.001-04:00

its been a full week.

with mom here visiting a lot happened.

we dedicated our girl.

we saw cherry blossoms.

we went to the zoo.

A started walking with only one hand. this is a huge accomplishment from the girl who would drop to the ground if you let go of one hand.

we went to get A's "first shoes" at the nordstrom kids shoe dept. mommy picked out a pair of purple toms.

our dining room chairs came, thats a step in the right direction for my dining room project.

I think I went to target about 4 times in one week.

the rubber met the road with our resolution and for the first time I was kicking myself for even getting into it when I went into the j.crew outlet. (utter stupidity. yes. for going into the store. not for making the resolution.)

we celebrated seth's grandfathers 80th birthday.

we were sad to see g-ma go. we so enjoyed having her here and it's always sad to say goodbye. we wish she could stay and play all the time.

today were off to dc in the afternoon to spend time with some good friends. such a wonderful end to a very good week.

many, many posts with pictures to come. nothing like having mom in town to make me get out the camera to take lots of pictures of all our adventures.

recipe of the week.

2011-04-08T12:19:00.000-04:00

this is going to make for a great summer side, or lunch, or anything really because it was just that yummy and easy to make. great source of protein and great taste. double score.

(image via epicurious)

black-bean and tomato quinoa from gourmet

2 teaspoons grated lime zest

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled (to make this DF you can use earth balance spread)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil (I used olive oil)

1 teaspoon sugar (I used palm sugar)

1 cup quinoa

1 (14- to 15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

2 medium tomatoes, diced

4 scallions, chopped

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

whisk together lime zest and juice, butter, oil, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.

wash quinoa in 3 changes of cold water in a bowl, draining in a sieve each time.

cook quinoa in a medium pot of boiling salted water (1 tablespoon salt for 2 quarts water), uncovered, until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat and remove lid. let stand 5 minutes.

add quinoa to dressing and toss until dressing is absorbed, then stir in remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to taste.

enjoy!

audrey's dedication day.

2011-04-07T11:44:00.000-04:00

as told through pictures.

(any master entertainers out there with any suggestions on how to actually have a clean kitchen while hosting a party?)

to our family and friends who were able to come, we are so grateful you were able to share in this special day with us. and we are so glad that you are not only a part of our lives, but our girl's life too. we love you all so much.

yarn easter eggs. how to.

2011-04-06T10:38:00.000-04:00

easter is just around the corner and any holiday is just an excuse to craft something to decorate. Lord knows I love to make anything with yarn so it made sense to turn transform these eggs:

into these pretties:

it's the easiest project ever. and all you need is:

styrofoam eggs.

here's how to make it happen:

starting from the top apply felt glue and begin winding the yarn in circular motion around the egg.

it should look something like this:

once you get about half way down, trim off your yarn piece.

turn the egg over and apply glue to the bottom, just like you did with the top

and continue winding with circular motion,

until the two ends meet up and then apply felt glue to the exposed area. and press the two ends together.

and there she is, the finished product.

the best part is joining her up with the rest of her friends to decorate around the house with.

because I already had most of the products around to work with this was a very inexpensive project. the only item I had to buy was the styrofoam eggs for $3.99 at joann fabrics.

happy easter crafting.

our girl.

2011-04-05T13:51:00.001-04:00

from the day she was born A was a sleeper. she loves it. just like her momma.

and it came as no surprise on the morning of her baby dedication she had to be woken up so we could actually get out the door on time (ie five minutes fashionably late). it made for a frantic rush to get everyone dressed and ready to go, so sadly, this is the only picture I got of her all dressed up in her cute outfit and I left our camera at home, so no pictures of her actual dedication either. mom fail.

(little baby sleepy eyes)

I was quite relieved that after a short nap after church our girl was as happy as a clam and ready to party with all her family and friends who came to celebrate with us.

my girl, here you are at 16 months and you are as more of a joy as ever. your expressive personality, creative use of words, funny faces, pig tails, and sweet bed-time kisses are some of mommas favorite things right now. it is a delight to watch you grow and to have a day where we could publicly dedicate you to the Lord who has so kindly given you to us. we love you more than words can say and you are a gift that we simply do not deserve.

dedication day pictures are up next.

walking at the airport.

2011-04-04T13:26:00.000-04:00

mom is here and we are having so much fun. we got to pick her up from the airport on friday and audrey set out to show gma her new favorite trick. we are hoping she is going to keep this trend going and actually start walking on her own.

audrey's dedication day went so well. the weather was amazing. the company of family and friends were such a blessing. and we ate great food off to grill. more to come on that later. for now, we are getting ready to head out the door to enjoy this beautiful warmth outside.

friday aspirations.

2011-04-01T09:58:00.000-04:00

friday is finally here. the long awaited day of the week where I just wake up breathing a sigh of relief knowing that the weekend ahead includes family time. and lots of it.

mom comes in from az this afternoon and we are counting down the hours and the minutes til we can go pick her up.

meanwhile, in the midst of a crazy week, we were finally able to book our mini family vacation to cape may. check that off the bucket list.

while we are on that subject I am happy to say I am a little past the half way point of checking off the 5k. I am about to start on week 5, day 1 and I have to say its hard work, but has been so rewarding. I don't love it while I am doing it, but I love how I feel after.

and as if we didn't have enough going on, its full speed ahead with re-doing our dining room. its been a work in progress, gathering ideas and waiting for the right time to put it all together. I ordered the new chairs this week and am trying to settle on a rug. here are a few before (and somewhat during with the paint sample on the wall) pictures.

the weekend ahead looks lovely and sunday may just have the weather we prayed for to grill out for audrey's dedication lunch.

happy friday!

a half week.

2011-03-30T16:15:00.000-04:00

its the wednesday that feels like a thursday. and it was a tuesday that felt like a wednesday and so on. ever have that kind of week?

monday was a great laundry day. the key to success was getting audrey on my side, teaching her that its way cooler to help mommy by "patting" the folded clothes rather than tearing them out of the basket.

tuesday was a grocery day. which involved almost getting pulled over on the way to the grocery store. we are talking so close, I had my sob story already prepared, the sinking feeling in your gut when you see the cop car lurch forward, the lights go on, and the siren wails. thankfully, it was the acura behind me that fell prey to the radar gun. I really don't know how I escaped that because when I looked down at my speedometer Lord knows I was wayyy over. in my defense, I was coming down a hill. thankfully our trip to trader joes was mostly uneventful.

and don't let this little cart of food fool you. it rang up to a whopping $102. it was one of those trips to the grocery store where you think "I've got this under control, I don't really have that many things on my list." hah. always comes back to get you. every time.

and today, its just kind of a quiet wednesday.

mom is coming to town on friday (which I almost typed tomorrow because it really does feel like thursday). hooray.

audrey's baby dedication is on sunday and friends and family will be in town visiting for that.

with the impending craziness of a full weekend, basketball to watch (go butler!) and lots to get done, I have been meal planning, cleaning, shopping, and brainstorming in every free moment I get. not to mention making another list of things I need to get at the store. because one trip this week wasn't enough?

not to mention audrey has been keeping me busy with her new antics, that I have affectionately named "perching." (don't worry this is all parentally supervised "perching")

but I can't totally complain...I have such a cute face to keep me company. in the past few days she has turned into quite the chatterbox occasionally slipping in a coherently understandable word. its pretty sweet.

in other blog worthy mentions, if you have a free second, check out our friend Ben's website. he wrote a song and is raising money for samaritans purse which is participating in aid relief in japan.

happy wednesday.

on buying local.

2011-03-27T15:06:00.001-04:00

the longer we do it, the more we love it. buying local that is. I wrote in a previous post about our journey with food and talked a little bit about it, but didn't really explain why and what I appreciate about it.

for our family of three, its much more cost effective than "gourmet" or "organic" grocery stores such as trader joes, whole foods, and moms. grass fed beef, free range chicken, and pastured pork can be upwards of $9.99/pound, we simply cannot afford that. when you are buying from a farmer you are cutting out the middle man. we save big in this area and pay about $3.50 per pound for our meat. on a whim we decided to order a pig this spring and I can't wait. it also provides good variety from our usual meat and chicken dinner options.

the biggest incentive for me is having more knowledge of where your food is coming from, what a farmers philosophy is, and the environment the animals are raised in. if you live in md/va and want a recommendation I cannot say enough good things about the farmer we order our meat from.

in terms of dairy and veggies, we have been very happy with south mountain but I am hoping with growing season just around the corner that I will be able to buy more from the farmers markets in our area instead of relying on our weekly delivery. it has been a great experience, but I really appreciate the direct interaction with the farmers themselves. also, this year we hope to grow more ourselves in our backyard. we had some success with tomatoes, jalapenos, and fresh herbs last year. for a great book on how to do that, the backyard homestead is a great resource.

not every week I can get what I need in our delivery, and when I do have to shop in the store, I often refer to this list to guide me in making decisions about what to buy. I find this list helpful when there are times when I do want to buy organic, but need to pinch pennies in our monthly food budget.

to find a local farm, csa, or farmers market in your area, this is a great search engine.

with all of this, here is the reality, not every family is in a season or has a desire to eat this way. take these thoughts with a grain of salt realizing, I am learning as I go too.

recipe(s) of the week. tacos.

2011-03-26T10:51:00.000-04:00

(image via martha stewart)

we love tacos in our house. there is no question that during any given week we could eat them at least once. so much so, that I have it broken down by categories of favorite tacos based on the meat I use to make them.

ground beef (you can substitute chicken or turkey) go to penzeys spices and buy their fajita seasoning. becca gave it to me as a gift for christmas and it changed the way I make ground beef tacos. right now if you use coupon code 00002C you get $5 off.

shredded beef (made with a beef roast)

dark meat (chicken thighs) *this is a crockpot wonder and has been a recipe that has been passed on from friend to friend. even people who don't normally like dark meat love these tacos. they are worth giving a try.

white meat (chicken breasts) this is great for the summer months.

fish tacos jenne introduced me to these. this recipe can be modified to use cornmeal instead of flour and you can use gf beer. for all non-gf eaters, enjoy as is. the chipotle tartar sauce and slaw is incredible.

cilantro lime rice is my go to side dish.

all this taco talk makes me even more excited for our annual cinco de mayo party that is just around the corner now. and chances are I will probably be serving some of these recipes there. cant wait.

imperfection.

2011-03-24T22:16:00.000-04:00

blogs make life look perfect. I'm sure ours looks peachy most of the time. that gourmet meals are always on our table for dinner, that my house is neat, the laundry is folded, my child just loves life every second, and that seth and I love each other perfectly. but the reality is, life isn't always perfect and thats ok. today was one of those days that its not about the perfect of a schedule running smoothly, but its about embracing the interruptions, the accidents, and the naptime that just won't happen (even when I desperately need a nap).

sometimes when things don't go my way, I get angry. I'm not a perfect person. but having this sweet girl in my life to remind me of my imperfections, I have a choice. I can stay angry and frustrated about my lack of control, or I can move on and be glad for where God has me in that moment and all that in spite of the inconveniences I have so much to be grateful for.

like this sweet girl who waves and "woofs" at the window to the people (and doggies) walking by.

for this sweet face that melts my heart every time and reminds me that I am so blessed to be her momma.

for simple meals. like this one. that isn't fancy, but it makes the husband happy.

spilled puffs. that I am responsible for.

but for a sweet girl who is always happy to help her momma out.

for my measuring cups and spoons that provide my girl with endless entertainment. especially in times of desperation.

for my amazing husband. after a long day of work. who cleaned up the puffs and blew on each one of them to make sure there were clean? this moment is no exception of the many ways he selflessly and sacrificially serves our family.

and lastly, for my girl who learned to say and sign "please" and nod her head yes & no this past week.

life isn't about perfect. and I'm so glad for that. who else wants to join the club?

date night and pig tails.

2011-03-22T12:44:00.000-04:00

monday was date night as usual. and thanks to my new found inspiration from last week, I was able to put together a fun outfit to go out with my lovey.

here's what I put together:
j.crew button up ruffled white shirt paired with, seafoam green sweater from gap.
j.crew matchstick black pants.
frye molly flats. (if I could have a pair in every color I would be the happiest girl in the world.)

date night involved shopping again. seth is in a wedding in a few weeks and he lucked out and "needs" to buy clothes to go with the other groomsmen. we tried j.crew and came up empty, ate dinner at maggiano's and then moved on to urban outfitters. thankfully just before the store closed seth was able to find some pants and I browsed the sale section. sadly enough, I left empty handed. I found these beautiful shoes, but there was no match anywhere in sight. and believe me I was on my hands and knees looking under the rack and inside every box to find this shoes match all to no avail. dont worry, even if I had found the match, it would have been a legit purchase thanks to a store credit to urban. score. I guess better things are waiting for me on another visit.

and in other exciting news, audrey is officially sporting pig tails. melt my heart, I was the happiest mom in the world when I was able to put them in her hair for church on sunday. granted, she hates the little elastics that I use for her hair so I had to distract her with a pack of gum. a new recent curiosity she has. and if you chew gum in front of her you can pretty much count on her trying to fish it out of your mouth with her little pointer finger.

another victory this week, which never happens, I was actually able to do all our laundry in one day. that includes: lights, darks, seth's work clothes, and towels. this was no small miracle. now its waiting in nice piles to be put away. here's to hoping that happens before weeks end. I'm really starting to wonder if laundry baskets are just going to be a permanent fixture in our bedroom (as pictured above).

happy friday.

2011-03-18T12:24:00.000-04:00

fridays are happy days because...

I woke up to an email saying I won this giveaway by a vintage poster. bear in mind, I never enter giveaways, because I always feel like it's a lost cause and why waste my time. but I have to say I'm glad I did and will probably be entering more in the future. why not? now its just a matter of deciding which one I want.

with a weather forecast of 73 today, I am already planning on making these on the grill for friends coming to dinner tonight. I would be lying if I said I wasn't already looking forward to eating them and I haven't even had breakfast or lunch yet.

march madness games continue today. true confession: I didn't fill out a bracket, but I still love watching the games. I always root for the underdog and the one team I'm going for this year would def be butler. they won my heart last year when they played against duke in the final championship game. I even got to talk to mike dunleavy about that game on an elevator in a mall when I was in baltimore last may (that interaction could really be a blog post in and of itself). true story.

happy thursdays make for happy fridays.

we ate spaghetti squash with chips & sour cream for lunch.

we watched lots of basketball.

audrey got to play with her favorite thing, wipes.

went on not one, but two walks. which audrey really wanted to wear her sunglasses for.

and our evening ended celebrating a dear friends birthday for dinner out. it was just about a perfect day.

happy happy friday and weekend.

meet flor.

2011-03-17T12:42:00.000-04:00

to all the lovers of their homes, in particular, those who have wood floors or spaces that need covered.

meet FLOR.

if I had known about this company a long time ago, I probably would have used more of it in my house. its a much more affordable solution to area rugs and you can even customize your look by staggering the tiles or doing a traditional look piecing them together. with a little handy dandy FLOR builder, you can put it all together before you buy.

I'm seriously considering this option for our dining room because if one tile gets stained its easy to take up and replace and the price is about 50-75 cheaper than purchasing an area rug. the only question is, do seth and I have what it takes to put something like this together?

recipe of the week.

2011-03-16T12:11:00.000-04:00

I'm back. after long last I have something food-worthy to share. and since I feel like I can smell spring in the air today I hope to keep them coming. what is it about spring that brings inspiration to making yummy food? I would have to say that it could have something to do with dinners on the deck, grilling out, and not being sick anymore that would be at the top of my list.

chicken enchilada casserole adapted from cooking light

(image from cooking light)

here's what you need:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed (when in season fresh corn would be an amazing addition)
1/3 cup (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups chopped onion, divided
6 garlic cloves, minced and divided
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
2/3 cup salsa verde (you can make your own from this recipe...you wont be sad you did or if you want to save time buy a store brand, we like the TJ's salsa verde)
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons chopped pickled jalapeño pepper (if you do not like spicy do not put these in, they def add a bit of heat)
9 (6-inch) corn tortillas
shredded sharp cheddar cheese
here's how to do it:
1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Boil chicken on stovetop for 15 min, cool, and then shred. Place chicken in a medium bowl. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons cilantro, corn, and next 5 ingredients (through black pepper) to chicken; toss to combine.
3. Return pan to medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup onion; sauté 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 3 garlic cloves; sauté 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add onion mixture to chicken mixture; stir to combine.
4. Combine remaining 1 1/2 cups onion, remaining 3 garlic cloves, broth, salsa, 1/4 cup water, and jalapeño in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Carefully pour mixture into a blender; add 2 tablespoons cilantro. Process until smooth.
5. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tortillas; cook 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Remove tortillas from pan; repeat procedure with remaining tortillas. Cut tortillas into quarters.
6. Spread 1/2 cup salsa mixture in the bottom of an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 12 tortilla quarters over salsa mixture. Spoon half of chicken mixture over tortillas. Repeat layers, ending with tortillas. Pour remaining salsa mixture over tortillas; sprinkle evenly with cheddar cheese. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned. Top with remaining cilantro.
I served it with avocado and sour cream to cool off our spicier version. it was easy, delicious, and made for great leftovers.

babies in b&w.

2011-03-15T12:57:00.000-04:00

last friday we got to have some play time with jackson and they loved the time they had together. the last picture pretty much sums up how they were while we were over at his house. they are just the sweetest little buddies.
I've been trying to remember to have my camera with me around the house and places we go. there are so many wonderful moments to capture and it helps me remember all these precious times of audrey still being a little girl. and with the mommy brain I have it doesn't hurt to help me remember what actually happened in our week.

makeover monday.

2011-03-14T16:06:00.000-04:00

it happens to every girl. you wake up, shower, have to get dressed but stand in front of your closet and mutter to yourself, "I feel like I have nothing to wear." story of my life almost every day. not buying any clothes has been so so good, but it has left me at times, feeling a little uninspired about what to wear. the sweats have been winning way to much, and if it isn't that, I've opted for my "fat jeans" which may as well be sweatpants.

but thanks be to God for good friends, who sacrifice their morning to help me out and bring a little life back into my "boring" closet.

and because its a monday say hello to no makeup and un-styled hair.

the aftermath.

I learned its just a matter of being creative, trying new things, and putting things together to see if it will work, and its ok if it doesn't. and more importantly, I realized even more that I don't need any new clothes, that I really have plenty. and in this process I was even able to get rid of more clothes. success.

little to big.

2011-03-10T20:53:00.001-05:00

there are some days, like today, that I miss having a baby audrey around. like a little, little baby audrey.

who pretends to suck her thumb with daddy and mommy.

who is tiny enough to curl up in her little lamb chair.

who makes cute little baby faces.

who's head is too little for her hat.

who has sweet baby pudge and fuzzy chick hair.

our baby girl, has turned into a big girl the past few weeks. literally growing up before our eyes.

who wants to eat lunch wearing her sunglasses.

who sits up, on her own with perfect posture.

who crawls around with her car making "vrooming" noises.

who signs and says "more" and "please" incessantly.

and lastly, who wants to "play" angry birds all on her own.

my girl, you are loved. every day. we have loved watching you grow over this past year and a half.

learning to draw.

2011-03-08T12:45:00.001-05:00

as told through pictures.

and naturally, because you are a girl, it is appropriate that you would want to pretend that its momma's lip gloss too.

not to mention, daddy, being the artist that he is, is quite pleased that she is learning the skills at such a young age.

for any momma's looking to buy these crayons, you can get them on amazon for a great price. some local targets carry them too.

1825 days.

2011-03-07T10:40:00.000-05:00

I'll take care of you, if you ask me to.

take care, beach house

today marks 5 years of being an "us." I'll never forget that day and because I'm a girl I'll never forget what seth or I were wearing when we sat at that table in borders to "talk." I was so nervous that day, I barely ate anything. I liked Seth and I hoped he liked me too. I'm so glad he did. he has made me the happiest girl in the whole world.

here we are now, a mortgage to pay, a baby in tow, and a life ahead of us to look forward to. I don't really care what comes, as long as Seth is by my side.

we got to have some time away to celebrate, contemplate, talk, and enjoy time with each other. and it was so good. reston town center was the destination choice and it was the best. would def recommend it.

we browsed paper source. which also happens to be one of my favorite stores. its a crafting heaven.

seth left his mark in the store. along with the other extremely mature "graffiti."

doing what any man would naturally do while their wife looks around anthropologie.

pretty flowers for sale.

pitango. a new favorite. their gelato is amazing. I'm only bummed that we didn't get to go back to try their sorbet before we went home. I have no doubt it is equally amazing.

red velvet cupcakes. yarmmmmm.

because there was a wait for dinner at clyde's we went to pitango for dessert before dinner. only one of the small benefits of being an adult.

dinner was lovely and was then followed by the kings speech. such a good movie. I never pay to go see movies, but I was grateful to walk out and not feel like I wasted $22 on a bad experience. it was an amazing story and well worth all of the oscars it won.

our last day was rainy and cold. we had every intention of eating at counter burger before we went home, but the rain was coming down in buckets and neither of us relished the idea of being soaked. and truth be told, we really missed our little baby girl. she makes coming home so much more fun.

the end.

a house. a home.

2011-03-04T12:22:00.001-05:00

when we first bought our house someone told me that it would take 5 years to really settle in and do most of the projects on my to-do list. here we are almost 3 years later and I think I can see a light. there are still things I want to do, but I'm not as overwhelmed with the sheer enormity of the task, and it seems the my list has been pared down to a more attainable goal.

part of my reason for waiting on some projects isn't a matter of time or effort, but its the patience of finding the right items for the look you want for a room. and for me, that can mean looking and looking and looking some more. but I think I've found a look I like and thanks to pinterest, organizing all my ideas has been so much easier. heres to hoping it looks as pretty in reality as it does on my page.

its amazing what round 2 of the stomach flu can help you accomplish by way of ideas when you are stuck in bed, curled up with your laptop. I guess I can't say that it was so bad if I was able to find all of this beautiful inspiration?

but I'm grateful that while I was sick, meeps was in good hands. and she had lots of fun with miss kristen and aunt becca too.

happy weekend to all of you. I'm looking forward to a night away with my boy to celebrate 5 years of being an "us."I'm suprising him with all the plans. yay. and hooray.

late walker. early talker.

2011-03-02T13:05:00.000-05:00

little a had her 15 month appointment yesterday and it was confirmed that she still is our little peanut, weighing in at 18lbs, 8 oz (3%) and 29 1/2 in long.

she has no interest in walking at this point. although we are hoping that will change in the months to come. there are times when walking is a joy:

and then there are times when walking really isn't:

she is really ok with walking if you are holding both of her hands and she can cruise along with your help and the minute you let go of one hand, down she goes, and in this case its all tears with the walker. bottom line, she wants to do it on her own, and as a mom, I figure why push her to do something she just isn't ready for.

we are pretty confident that she is capable of doing it especially after she climbed up on the couch, by herself, this week.

she likes to go at her own pace. and for these times, I'm grateful, because it helps me get to know my girl better. her personality traits are coming out more and more as the days pass. and so we've concluded, shes a talker, not a walker. her love is of the verbal and she seems to be content with the way she gets around now, by lightning crawling wherever she goes. her vocabulary seems to have expanded leaps and bounds in the past two weeks and I am loving it. each day brings many opportunities to teach new words and its the most amazing thing, when you point at an object and she says it back to you clear as day.

and speaking of words...I finally used all my letters in words with friends (the equivalent of using all of your tiles in scrabble). it was a pretty good feeling. I'm not going to lie. the game isn't over yet, kendra could still come back, but its not looking good.

a date night for me & the mr.

2011-03-01T11:19:00.000-05:00

yesterday, was a half success. and by half, I mean I only got half of the laundry done. which if you are wondering what I'm talking about, it is that I forgot load #3 in the washer and load #2 in the dryer overnight. so...load #3 is going to have to run again because nobody likes smelly "clean" laundry that sat all wet.

but all was not lost. remember this list? training started yesterday for the 5k. I'm following this plan, because frankly, my only form of exercise is carrying audrey up and down the stairs, and thats really not enough to say that I'm "in shape." I'm a little sore today, I'm not going to lie, but I did it and here's to hoping I can actually walk enough to get on the treadmill tomorrow to keep going.

mondays are also date nights for us. a tradition we have kept for 5+ years now. every monday (or just about) we get to go out for dinner, talk about life, have fun adventures, and laugh a lot. date nights wouldnt happen were it not for dre + bec, they are so good to us to care for our girl week after week.

this week dinner was mama lucias, another favorite local restaurant, and this week was a total let down. I sent my first plate back, and the second wasn't much better. it was as if they totally changed up their recipes and tried to convince me it tasted the same.

onward and upward, we left and headed to the mall to use a $25 credit to j.crew that was expiring soon, we stuck to the rules, and walked out with a little something for both of us. score.

seth with his "wanter" on as he looks at a table full of ties. reason being, we were able to get the $25 credit because seth bought his long desired suit from j.crew and we actually got a small percent back for paying for something that costs as much as a kitchen appliance.

the mall doesn't have much for us these days since we aren't spending money there and I was still hungry since I didn't eat much dinner, so we picked up some gf donuts at the store and seth couldn't resist making a detour into five below. I had never been and I really just would have rather sat in the car, but you cant really sit alone in the car in a dark parking lot, andddd it was date night. it could have been worse, but lets just say I probably won't be frequenting the place. I wish I could have videoed the only other people in the store, two chicks, singing out loud to katy perry's teenage dream. do you expect anything else from the dollar store?

our night ended with one of our favorite one on one games, word on the street. for the record, I won, but seth usually beats me.

I'm so grateful for nights like these to spend with my lovey. he's my favorite.

the weekend & what mondays are all about.

2011-02-28T11:13:00.000-05:00

last night my friend, Jo, asked what I did last week. I honestly can't remember. I'll blame it on mommy brain. but I'm grateful I have pictures like these to remind me at least what we did this past weekend. our weekend started off with a day off with daddy on friday and a trip to the mall and then dinner with friends. we ate these. and in my effort to get dinner in the over quickly, I left out the chipotle peppers. but the meat didn't miss them. praise God when unintentional modifications work out for the best.

saturday was fun. jess took audrey. we got good stuff for dinner, which is one of our dc faves. it was a little crazy there (when is it not?) and somehow my order didn't get placed at the register and we left without a burger for me (so grateful for seth + andrew going back for it) and then some old man was mean to me at the pick up counter when I asked about missing condiments. it was one of those times when I just had to move on, forget about it, and not let it ruin the fun of the night.

after dinner with friends, it was on to see beach house at the 930 club. this was our first show we've been to since audrey was born and it did not disappoint. they were amazing. one of those bands that are great recorded but worlds better live. well worth the $25 ticket. played all my favorite songs. and, if you dont own their cd you should buy it.

and the aftermath of a busy weekend. laundry piles taking over our bedroom and all. it looks a lot better today. I promise.

its monday, and its my home day. the weekends are fun, but I love coming back to my job as a wife and mommy, chasing this girl around, meal planning, doing laundry, running the dishwasher, straightening up our house, emptying out trash cans, and cleaning up messes.

this weekend seth found out he has high cholesterol and he's saying goodbye to eggs every morning for breakfast and its back to steel cut oats. so I'm taking it upon myself to eat all the eggs in our house. egg salad is def going to happen for lunch today. here's to hoping I don't end up with high cholesterol as a result.

and really what would the start of a week be without a little puffs explosion and some book reading time. ndb. dont worry, I did clean them up, after audrey made it her job to crush half of them into oblivion.

heres to a happy week.

right now, by way of meals, its looking pretty good. I'm trying out some new stuff and I am hoping I'll have some recipes to share by weeks end (if seth likes what I try out on him). its been awhile since I've posted a recipe and the reality is, I haven't tried anything new.

and, I have to add, the oscars last night were terrible. there was very little movie variety in terms of nominations, the hosts were some of the worst I've seen to date, and there weren't even many pretty dresses to look at. all that to say, I was pleased that the kings speech won best picture. that was a nice consolation prize. kind of like when arcade fire won best album at the grammys.

the end for now. I'm contemplating a shower or a nap. we'll see which one wins.

baby favorites.

2011-02-23T22:39:00.001-05:00

ever since audrey was born I have been wanting to compile my baby favorites, and as friends have new babies, I am constantly giving out a list of my must have baby items. its a diverse list, but I narrowed it down to the items that I have used the most during audrey's first year.

if you know someone who is having a baby and need to give a gift, any of these would be a huge blessing no doubt.

aden+anais swaddle blankets. I am pretty much convinced that I couldn't have survived the first 3-4 months without these. several moms recommended them to me and I am so glad I went out to buy them before audrey was born. they are the best size for swaddling, lightweight, comfy, and you can use them to cover the babies in their carriers, etc.

swaddle designs sleep sack. the first one we got was a gift from my baby shower and we loved it so much we bought it in a bigger size. I love how soft and thick they are and do a great job keeping baby warm when they outgrow the swaddle age.

ugg baby boots. truth be told I don't think it makes any sense to spend big bucks on baby, but if you have a gift card these are well worth it, especially for the cold winter months we have here. we couldnt get audrey to keep her socks on to save our lives and shoes were the same story, these were the best solution and we def dont regret spending the money.

maclaren umbrella stroller. if you talk to any mom who has one they love them. and I couldn't have survived audrey's first trip out west without it. I was able to hold a 4 month old and fold a stroller with one hand. truly a godsend. and makes for good quick errands to the store when you dont want to pull something heavy out of the trunk.

carters white onesies. I prefer the carters onesies over the gerber brand...solely on the basis that they are pretty true to size. the gerber brand runs very small.

old navy socks. before audrey was really into pulling off her socks, these were the only socks that actually fit and would stay on her little baby feet. baby gap also makes them too.

munchkin spoons. I pulled these out for the first time a few weeks ago to give audrey some food and I don't know why I waited so long. the long handle made feeding her so much easier.

bumkins bibs. I tried several other brands and these were the only ones that did the job for a. you can throw them in the wash, they dry quickly, the fold up easily to throw in your purse, and they have good coverage.

bottles. I nursed audrey for the first 14 months, but seth and I left her with a sitter at least once a week for date night and these bottles were the best. my neighbor, who had a baby a few weeks before me, passed one along to me, and after trying so many other bottles this was the only kind a would take. changed our lives. if you are planning on nursing and also bottle feeding, this is a great option. once she got the hang of it, I was able to phase these out and started using these glass bottles that I got at my baby shower.

bundle me. if you have a winter baby this is a must have. we couldn't have survived without it. and this past christmas we got the toddler bundle me for our stroller. (right now the price is the cheapest I've ever seen it, $26.99 on amazon)

baby mum-mum. for months 7-12, these were a favorite snack for a. and are great for throwing in your purse on the go or your diaper bag. they have def been a godsend when out with a fussy baby.

jj cole diapers and wipes pod. this has been a lifesaver. you have diapers and wipes in the same place, with a changing pad. great for errands on the go or when you stop carrying a diaper bag and want to just carry your purse.

dust buster. random. I know. but trust me had I known how much I would have used it now, I would have put one on my baby registry. once the kids start eating and you dont want to have to break out the vacuum after ever meal, this has saved the day time after time.

petit appetit cookbook. this was a gift from one of my sweetest friends and was such a blessing for this inexperienced new mom who wanted to make my own baby food.

american apparel baby beanie hat. these are the best. and also make a great gift. the first one we got was a gift to us, and with so many colors to choose from, its been fun to pick out more for little a to wear. and really they look adorable on little babes (figure below).

finding our way.

2011-02-22T12:39:00.000-05:00

its everywhere you go. often the subject of many conversations. what you eat, how you eat, where you buy your food, etc. this has been a post that has been on my mind for awhile and I've put off saying anything about the topic at all, because really, although this is a way we choose to live our lives, I don't want it to be something that defines us first and foremost. several people in the past few months have had questions about how we do food and other things in our home and I hope this post can serve as an answer to some of those questions.

and, its been a journey. and its still going. our household made a dramatic change in 2008. and I've been learning every since. that change set into motion a greater desire to know about the food I am putting into my body and how it effects me and the rest of our family. It made me realize that I want to read every label and understand what ingredients are. since 2008 we have not only eliminated gluten, we have also said goodbye to preservatives, corn syrup, MSG, modified food starch, and the list could really keep going on. we strive to eat fresh, local food (whenever possible) and limit our trips to the grocery store.

having done all this, I haven't arrived and don't consider myself in anyway better than anyone else who doesn't eat the way we do, nor do I feel it is in my place to encourage people to make a change to their dietary choices. I have tried to keep our blog free from starting controversy over hot button topics, but have wanted to maintain an attitude that encourages anyone who is interested to come talk to me.

and like I mentioned before, the reality is, I'm still learning. in a year from now I am sure I will look back on even more changes and modifications that we've made.

we choose to eat grass fed beef and free range chickens from a local farm. if you want any recccommendations, I have a side bar topic for eating local.

we get our milk, egg, butter and veggies delivered from a local farm as well (more on that on the side bar).

we buy our olive oil from a family owned farm in CA and it has been amazing. the price on this fluctuates, and what it is priced at right now is a lot higher than what we paid for it when we pre-ordered in december. I am hoping the price will come down when we order again.

just this year, we eliminated all refined, bleached sugar and have chosen to use palm sugar, honey, coconut oil, coconut flour, almond flour, and other ingredients to bake from scratch.

audrey wears pampers. and I'm ok with that for now. when she was born, learning about diapering wasn't a top priority for me. now that she is more than a year, we have started to talk about other options and decided that cloth diapering is not for us and will probably go towards chlorine free now that I've done some research on it.

I don't make my own laundry detergent, dish detergents or soaps, but I am looking into more natural cost effective options that I can buy. and who knows, maybe a year from now I will be making my own.

here's the reality, we all go at our own pace and do whats best for our families at that given time. for some seasons, we can't spend the money on things because our budget doesn't allow. and to be totally honest, we don't always eat healthy, but we do most of the time.

I am grateful for the changes we've made and I do feel that it has helped us to feel better, to be more healthy, and to be more educated on what we consume.

my friend, Sarah, posted a link to a wonderful resource entitled, healthy 4 life, which I found extremely helpful. saving naturally and the nourishing gourmet have also been wonderful resources as well.

if you have any questions, email me (janetremsnyder [at] gmail.com), I would love to chat more.

an afternoon at the park.

2011-02-18T20:28:00.001-05:00

it was 71 degrees today. and it was time to shake the cabin fever. we fit in two trips out today. one in the morning with tiff, her boys, and the twins (did I forget to mention she's my hero?) and then in the afternoon we spent some time with makenna and hannah.

audrey did NOT like the mulch. at one point she thought she wanted to get down to play in it, but then screamed when she realized it was not what she was hoping for.

signing "more" to mommy. not sure why at this moment. but I am guessing she wanted to play more.

audrey and makenna are friends. hannah and I are convinced that one day they will be bff's.

it only seemed fitting that after a long day of playing outside, our evening with audrey would end with her having a sink bath. if only it were just that simple. towards the end of her bath time, she decided it would be a good time to poop. not a little. a lot. and lets just say that seth is my hero for cleaning it up.