Baby {food} makin’

When Emily first started solid foods, I was on a huge baby food makin’ kick!  I attended a class about starting solids and making your own baby food.  I was sold!  I went to the grocery store and bought organic bananas, carrots, and sweet potatoes.  I was really good about making Emily’s food for a couple of weeks. 

Then I got lazy.

I noticed Gerber makes organic baby food in the cutest little tupperware looking containers.  I thought I would just give them a try.  She loved them and they were soooooo easy.  My mom also got her a bunch of them for Easter so I had nice little stash of the Gerber baby food.

I pretty much ran out of the Gerber this past weekend so I decided to give the baby food makin’ another go.  I spent Sunday going through my baby food cookbook. 

I love this book!  It spells everything out for you, gives great tips, and has great baby recipes!  You can find this book here.

On Sunday, I made Emily some apples and pears with cinnamon and some sweet potatoes and broccoli.  She really likes both of them.

I can’t wait to try more recipes from this book!

I felt so much better about feeding Emily yesterday and today.  I have absolutely nothing against the Gerber foods.  Let’s face it, they’re convenient and babies love it!  But, I just feel like I stay home with the little monster so the least I can do is make her a homemade meal every once in a while.  Right?

I’m tired of looking at myself….

We have so many framed pictures of us around this house, it’s a little ridic.  Seriously.  I think I went a little crazy right after we got engaged and framed every engagement picture and then every wedding picture.  I stuck a picture frame in every empty nook and cranny of our house. 

Well, now I’m a little tired of looking at myself.  But I don’t want to get rid of all my picture frames.  So I thought I would start by taking one of them and giving it a little update.

I started with this picture frame:

That’s the hubs and I in one of our engagement pictures.  Sweet.  But it’s feeling a little outdated.  Our engagement was so 2008!

I contemplated painting the frame white or gray, but I like the drama of the black {for what I was using it for, anyway}.

As you guys heard, we finally got a Hobby Lobby.  So of course I went as soon as the doors opened!  While I was there, I found some cute scrapbook paper and a “bling” W {our last initial} sticker.

I cut out a piece of the scrapbook paper to fit my frame, stuck the bling W in the middle and put it back in the frame.

Simple & elegant.  Just the way I like it! {And I don’t have to stare at myself anymore!}

And it looks good on our entertainment center shelves in the family room!

That’s about all I have time for these days.  Super simple.  Super quick. 

 

 Linking up at these wonderful parties:

M: DIY Showoff Project Parade, Metamorphosis Monday, Made by You Mondays, Just Something I Whipped Up, Today’s Creative Blog

T: Get Your Craft On

W: Passionately Artistic, Twin Dragonfly Designs

Th: Just A Girl, Gluesticks, House of Hepworths

F: Sassy Sites, I’m Lovin’ It, Remodelaholic’s Anonymous, Frugal Friday

S:  I Heart Naptime, Weekend Wrap-Up, Be Different, Act Normal, A Little Lovely

Su:  Under The Table & Dreaming

Crockpot Lemon Herb Chicken

This is seriously the best chicken!!  And it is SO easy!  Here’s how ya do it:

Ingredients:

 

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or fillets

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 heaping tbsp McCormick Lemon Herb seasoning

Lemon juice (optional)

How to make:

Place your chicken in the crockpot and turn the temperature to low.

Pour the cream of chicken soup in a medium sized bowl (you might want to do 2 cans of soup if you are cooking 4-5 or more pieces of chicken).

Add a heaping tbsp of the Lemon Herb seasoning to the soup.

 

I also add about a tbsp of lemon juice just to add to that lemon-y flavor!

Add a 1/2 soup can of water to the mixture (1 whole soup can of water if you are cooking 4-5 or more pieces of chicken).

Stir the soup mixture until well blended.

Pour the mixture over your chicken in the crockpot.

Put the lid on and walk away for 6 hours. 

Come back in 6 hours and serve the chicken over some of Uncle Ben’s Long Grain & Wild Rice with some fresh green beans and you’ve got the best meal ever!

This chicken is so YUMMY and so tender.  It just falls off your fork.  I usually drizzle the extra juice from the crockpot over my chicken.

I love finding new recipes to cook for my family.  I always kind of feel like I cook the same things over and over.  Do you have any recipes that you love?  Please share!

I am linking up to many of these great parties:

M: DIY Showoff Project Parade, Metamorphosis Monday, Made by You Mondays, Just Something I Whipped Up, Today’s Creative Blog

T: Get Your Craft On

W: Passionately Artistic, Twin Dragonfly Designs

Th: Just A Girl, Gluesticks, House of Hepworths

F: Sassy Sites, I’m Lovin’ It, Remodelaholic’s Anonymous

S:  I Heart Naptime, Weekend Wrap-Up, Be Different, Act Normal, A Little Lovely

Su:  Under The Table & Dreaming, Remodelaholic

Awkward & Awesome Thursday

I’m back for another exciting edition of Awkward & Awesome Thursday!!

Yee-haw!

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Awkward

Last weekend.  Period.

My dog rubbing her butt across my carpet.  It just looks weird.

Having “that” feeling in your tummy in the middle of Jo Ann’s.  Yikes!

The guy who came yesterday to give us an estimate on a deck.  He was weird and talked too much.

Having a stain on the back of your shorts that you didn’t realize was there.  Classy.

Awesome

My new stroller, the Britax B-Ready.  It’s kind of amazing.

The fact that I just purchased my New Kids On The Block tickets for July 22nd in Orlando.  I’m mildly obsessed!

My husband.  He’s the coolest.

Emily has started saying “ba, ba”.

My followers!  You guys are amazing.

The fact that I have sewn 4 pillows so far with my sewing machine.  I’m takin’ it slow!

Our brand spankin’ new Hobby Lobby!  I melt!

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Ok peeps!  That’s all I’ve got for you this week! 

Hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow with a mini project {projects have been few and far between lately.  Lil’ Bit pretty much consumes all of my time}.

 

The Wonderful World of Pinterest Wednesday

Each week I get more and more sucked into the black hole that is Pinterest.  It is crack.  Officially.  I am sooooo addicted.  I can’t stop pinning and repinning and liking.  I can’t get over how clutch this website is!  Love it.  It has taken me a while to really get into it {I’ve been on there for probably a couple months now}, but I am so glad I found it!

Here are some goodies I found this week:

 

PB&J sushi rolls for kids.  So cute!!

Strawberry shortcake on a stick.  Delish!

…..and dirty laundry, and toys all over the house, and dirty dishes!  Love this!

I love the whimsy design of the addresses on these envelopes.  Might try something like this for Emi’s b-day invites!

Such a cute DIY sandbox!

Love this mantel.  So simple.  So stylish.

And I love this DIY chandy.  The inspiration chandy was over $2000!!!!!  They  made it for around $30!  Amazing!

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If you haven’t joined Pinterest yet, you need to get on that.  Stat!  If you need an invite, let me know.  I have some left.

Also, I would love for you to follow my boards on Pinterest.  I would love to follow your boards too and see what inspires you!

The Mecca

Ok, so usually when I reference “The Mecca” I am talking about The Swamp.  The beautiful home of the Florida Gators…..Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. 

{insert angels singing here}

{via}

But today, my friends, I am talking about a different Mecca.  The Mecca that is most relevant when it is not football season.

{via}

Oh yes.  You see, me and my fellow North Florida crafters have been deprived of a true crafting/sewing/decorating haven.  Sure we have Michael’s & Jo Ann’s but they are clear across town from each other.  And you know how that goes.  You have to go to Michaels to get certain things, and to Jo Ann’s to get other things.  It’s such a mission every time I have a project in mind. 

But ladies and gentlemen, I have good news. 

We finally have a Hobby Lobby!!!

I was right in the middle of writing my Wonderful World of Pinterest Wednesday post when I had the bright idea to Google to see when the store was actually going to open {I knew it was this month sometime}.  I called the number for the store and a cheerful lady answered and proceeded to tell me that THE STORE OPENED IT’S DOORS TODAY!!!!!!!!!  They finished early and the grand opening is today!!!!  Hallelujah!!!!!!!!

{cue angelic singing choir again}

Seriously, I about wet my pants I was so excited.  So, as soon as Emily wakes from her nap we will be joyfully perusing the aisles of our brand new Hobby Lobby!!!!!!  I am always seeing such neat things on people’s blogs from mirrors, to knobs, to scrapbook paper that they have purchased from Hobby Lobby and I’ve always been so jealous. 

Ok, can you tell I’m excited?

I’m going to go wrap up the Pinterest post now because I found some neat things there this week and I can’t wait to share! 

Stay tuned……

Baby Steps

I have mentioned a few times here that I am taking baby steps with my blog.  I absolutely love to write and share my daily shenanigans with anyone who is willing to listen read.  I truly write on this blog because I want to.  I want to document my life as a wife and mom doing the things I enjoy.  But the added bonus……YOU GUYS!  Yup, you!  It is so nice to know that I have people out there that have taken the time to click the little “follow” button on the sidebar and want to go on this journey with me.  I love comments, and I love knowing that you’re out there somewhere.  It’s such a great little bonus to something I already enjoy doing.

My first “baby step” was to have a giveaway when I reached 50 followers.  That happened and we had a great giveaway sponsored by my friend Brooke.  Woo-hoo!

My next “baby step” and/or goal is 75 followers.  When I reach 75 followers, I think I am going to treat myself to a blog makeover.  I have tried to do it myself, and it is just plain ‘ole tiring.  Between making headers in Photoshop and trying to figure out the HTML code to change things around in Blogger…..it wears me out.  Seriously.  And I just don’t have time for it. 

So, I’ve checked out a few design services and I think I’ve decided on B’s Blog Boutique. 

She has designed for some of my favorite blogs including Tatertots & Jello and The Shabby Chic Cottage.  And her prices really aren’t bad at all.

So that’s that.  75 followers and I’m diving head first into full blog overhaul!  That sounds reasonable, right?

So spread the word and tell your friends to come follow my blog {because I reeeeeeeaaally want a makeover}!

Our little girl is all grown up….

Ok, so maybe not all grown up!  But she did take a big step toward womanhood on Sunday. 

Yup, she got her ears pierced!  I think she looks sooooo stinkin’ cute! 

And you know what?  She was a trooper!  She cried {obviously….I think I cried when I got my 3rd hole at like 17 years old.  That junk hurts!}, but she was over it after a couple of minutes. 

Scott did such a great job with her.  He sat in the piercing seat and held her while I was having a meltdown in the corner.  Hah!  Poor baby, she didn’t even have a clue what was comin’ in those pictures above.

So here are some shots I snapped earlier of her new bling! 

You don’t really realize how squirmy these little rugrats are until you try to take a picture of them!  Sheesh!  I almost never got a decent picture of the new jewels {ok, ok….they’re cubic zirconia but a girl can pretend, right?}.

Anyway, we ended up doing it at good ‘ole Claires.  I was really pleased with the whole process.  The girl who did it was really good and she took her time and was great with Emily.  VEEEEEERRRYYYYY important to this mama!  All in all, I’m glad we did it because I was so indecisive about it {especially doing it at Claires}.  I knew I wanted to do it, but I didn’t want to put my baby girl through that and I was worried about all sorts of minor stuff.  But, it all worked out and she’s well on her way to becoming a little lady!

xoxo,

Amy

 

Inspiration

One thing I love about “blogland” is all the inspiration that is out there.  There is seriously so much inspiration from so many fabulous women, it’s kind of sickening.  And this is why blogging is so addicting.  I just can’t stop being inspired!

Jen over at I Heart Organizing is one of my biggest sources of inspiration.  She is so amazing, words cannot even describe.  If you haven’t been over to check out her blog, I suggest you stop reading mine and go……now!  :-)

She tackles all sorts of amazing projects and is just so….organized!  And she’s cute as a button to boot!

Today, Jen is sharing a free printable!  It’s a home project organization list so you can keep all those home projects in order and cross them off your cute little list once they are complete!

{Click the picture to download your free copy.}

I hope you enjoy Jen’s blog as much as I do and gather some inspiration from her as well.

Do you have a fab blog that you absolutely love?  Please share!  I love finding new blogs!

xoxo,

Amy

Under Construction

The blog is going to be under construction for a couple of days.  I am changing up a few things.  So, I apologize if things seem a little "off".  Hang in there with me and hopefully it'll look a little bit better around here on the flip side!


Thanks a million!

White Lace Designs giveaway winner…..

{via}

 

 

Congrats Tryna*!  You’ve won yourself the Crabby Baby set!  Be on the lookout for an email from me!

Thank you to everyone who entered my very first giveaway!  I can’t wait to continue to grow my blog and have more fun giveaways in the future!

Have a great weekend!

xoxo,

Amy

May happenings {catch-up}

May has been a super busy month so far.  And I am super behind on blog posts about all that’s been going on!  So let’s rewind back to the very beginning of May (actually, the end of April).

The last weekend of April we traveled down to South Florida for Scott’s goddaughter’s first Communion.  We killed a lot of birds with one stone that weekend because his mom also lives down there, as well as all of his best friends.  So we hung out with his mom on Friday, went to the Communion and the party on Saturday, and then on Sunday we had a BBQ/pool party with all of our close friends down there.

{Not a great pic, but she looks so cute!}

{This is Scott, Emily, and me with his goddaughter and her sister.}

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Sunday was the pool party/BBQ.  It was a lot of fun and really great to see everyone.  We were really excited for everyone to meet Emily for the first time!  But, before we headed to the party, we met one of my very dear friends, Andrea, for breakfast.

{Such a cute picture.  Emily was obsessed with her necklace.  And I kind of was too.  So cute.}

{Me, Andrea, and Em}

{I’m not sure who let these 3 guys have the babies.  LOL.  But, a good pic nonetheless.}

{This is Mariola & AJ.  Our due date was one day apart.  She ended up having AJ a few weeks early though.}

{Emily loves the water.}

{These are all the babies!  It’s crazy to think that just 4 years ago, none of these bambinos existed!  Now they’re everywhere!!}

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Moving on……

The next event was Cinco de Mayo.  I hosted a small dinner party at my house.  I tried to get creative with the decor, but only had a couple of days to clean and pull it all together since we had just got back from South Florida.

Here’s what I came up with….

 

 

Nothing crazy or special but it was fun.  We had some Skinny Girl Margaritas and they were yum!  Have you guys had that before?  You gotta try it!

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Next up…..Emily’s BBF’s (baby best friend’s) baptism.  That’s right!  Miss Jhett Olivia Lauer was baptized in a really cute & simple ceremony.

{Sorry the picture is so horrible.  I didn’t have my good camera with me.}

{Jhett & Emily kind of <3 each other.}

{So stinkin’ cute.}

I made this shirt, bow, & pacifier clip for Jhett’s baptism gift:

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And last but not least…..Mother’s Day!  I had such a wonderful day with my husband and my sweet baby girl.  They got me a sewing machine!!  I was so excited!  I’ve already sewn a few pillows!  My mom & dad came over that evening and we grilled out and just enjoyed each other’s company.

}

{My mom, Emily, and I!}

{Me & my sweet girl.  Whew, I look rough!  We had been out riding around on the golf cart so I was a mess.}

{See that pretty bracelet I’m wearing?  My mom got me that for Mother’s Day!}

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Ok, so I think I’m all caught up now!  Whew!  Sorry if I bored you with my life stories & events.  I promise I’ll have something more exciting next time! 

xoxo,

Amy