The Creamer Chronicles

CHEEKS!

2012-02-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

I could kiss them all day!

Freezer cooking

2012-01-31T05:00:00.000-06:00

Spent the weekend stocking the freezer for this week 'cause it's going to be a busy one! Thankfully, Kyle helped with most of the prep.

Oh how I love that boy!

In the freezer this week:

Stuffed peppers
Beef stew
Chicken alfredo
Chicken fajitas
Hamburger patties
Dough for homemade pizza
Breakfast tacos
Muffins

Weekend Sewing

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

I love, love, LOVE these little pants!
This free downloadable pattern comes from
MADE BY RAE.

They are PERFECT for Mary Grace!
I added the cuff at the bottom to be let out as she grows.

SQUEE!!!
So stinkin' cute!

Next on my sewing "to-do" list are a couple of dresses with pantaloons.

Yes, I said pantaloons!

The fabric is holiday themed: a crazy red Valentine print
and a sweet and simple bunny print for Easter/Spring time.

This girl will never want for clothes!
I just wish my weekend was a little longer!

The many faces of John Paul...

2012-01-26T07:44:00.009-06:00

I'm just going to come out and say it,

John Paul is three kinds of crazy!

Every week I find the most interesting pictures of him on my phone and iPad. I never know what I may find and I thought I'd share a little bit of the crazy with you:

Here's cyclops John:

X-ray John:

Swirly-face John:

John in thermal color:

Fat John:

And um, yeah, I don't have any words for this one:

I'm in for a good laugh when I check my photos,
John Paul always makes sure of that!

And sometimes I even find some that warm my heart!

Mama & Mary Grace

2012-01-23T05:43:00.003-06:00

Yeah, she might hate me when she's sixteen for that last one!

dimple butt ~ SQUEEE!

Happy Birthday Danny-bird!

2012-01-19T05:55:00.002-06:00

I can't believe you are already SEVEN!
We love you so much, happy birthday sweet boy!

Bento

2012-01-17T05:00:00.001-06:00

I used to make bento lunches all the time. It was such a nice little treat to open a pretty little boxed lunch during a long shift! I'm going back to bentos in an effort to control what I eat as well as how much. Here's what I packed for Monday's lunch:

On the right: Oatmeal with black berries and raspberries for breakfast.
Top: Ham sandwich with bell pepper strips and olives for lunch.
Front: Hummus with pita chips and cucumber slices for afternoon snack.

Preparing lunch the night before makes me really think about my choices and the bentos make the portion control easy. I'm really going to try losing some weight and getting off of my diabetes medication this year!
(And yeah, I said all of this last year! I lost 25 lbs....then got pregnant! I will NOT be doing that again this year!)

This "Lock and Lock" bento system comes with leak proof lids and a pretty little carrying case. Check it out on Amazon.com HERE.

Adjustments

2012-01-15T18:21:00.007-06:00

Well I survived my first week at work!

Thankfully it was not very busy and I could stare at photos of Mary Grace on my phone and text Doug all day long (and trust me, 12 hours away from your baby is a loooong time!).
It got me through the day.
When I came home I couldn't wait to get showered and snuggled in the bed with my girl.

I was a little surprised when someone else joined us:

I was hoping that Mary Grace had been missing me, but as soon as I had her in my arms she was out like a light! It turns out that my little Danny had been missing me instead. He climbed right into our bed and talked and giggled as he told me all about the things I had missed. He gave me full reports on everybody - even Abby!

All I've been thinking about is leaving my new baby but I left my old babies, too. I never thought once that it might be difficult for little Danny. I have spent every day for the last three months with him and now I'm suddenly gone. Sure, he's old enough to know I have to work, but he's also still little enough to want his mama around to talk, laugh, or to make him a PB&J.
I thought it was just me that was making adjustments, but we are all making them it seems. These little hearts are fragile and they are only little for so long. Yes, I know we'll all adjust in time...but for now I'm snuggling these two up tight, stroking those soft red heads, and listening to them breathe as they sleep.

Right now it's all I can do.

That face...

2012-01-11T13:32:00.004-06:00

Those cheeks...

That smile...

That drool covered chin...

Those beautiful blue eyes...

Not to mention that downy red hair, the smell of her neck, and the warmth of her little body against mine.

How in the world am I supposed to leave her to go back to work?

Please say a prayer I can make it through the next three days.

I have shelves!

2012-01-10T10:28:00.006-06:00

Yeah, it doesn't take much to make me happy!

Our laundry room is the "catch-all" in our home. It's right off the backyard, so the boys come in all dirty and drop their junk before coming into the house (most of the time!). This room also houses all our homeschooling curricula, which is a monster in and of itself! I begged Doug to build me some shelves, and this week he came through.

Here's the before pic as demolition and cleaning begin:

All nice and clean:

Three HUGE and sturdy shelves with storage underneath:

All finished with crisp white paint!
I pared down our curricula to only what would fit on the shelf. Now it is neat and orderly. I also wanted space to store my pantry ~~hoard~~ stockpile (just like the crazies on Extreme Couponing!). I'm going to get some pretty baskets for the top shelf and some bins for each one of the boys to store their crap in for underneath the the shelving unit.

Ahhh, order. I love organization!
I don't get it much with five kids in the house, but the laundry room is my domain and order WILL rule here...if only for today!

Off and running!

2012-01-09T13:00:00.002-06:00

Today was Ryan's first day of college classes.
I tried to talk him into a "First Day of School" photo, you know the ones, but all I could get out of him was this:

He wouldn't admit it, but he was pretty nervous about this whole ordeal. So I spent most of the drive talking about my first day of college life, what to expect, how to navigate campus, and most importantly - where to find the S.U.B so he could get a hot lunch in between classes! I think I'll save the horror stories about some of my professors for another day.
I offered to walk him in to help him find his classes...and just for a split second he considered my offer. But in true Ryan fashion he ran off on his own into this new adventure.

My heart aches a little bit today, and I didn't think it would.
I am so happy to see him at this stage of his life and he's so excited about the future and all it's possibilities. He's getting ready to leave me and there's nothing I can do to stop it. I just can't help but think of him as five years old again singing, "Down By the Bay" and watching Barney on t.v.

17 years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Thank goodness when I got home there was another little one to snuggle. You can rest assure I will not be letting her grown up that fast!

Couponing Creamer Style

2012-01-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

I've never really paid much attention to couponing. In my opinion they didn't really add up to much savings. Store brands of the same product usually are much cheaper than buying name brand with a coupon. Plus, most coupons are for processed foods which we try to avoid.

Then came along a little show on TLC called 'Extreme Couponing'.
I have to admit that I was quite intrigued at their savings! And while I will never purchase 250 cases of soda, I DO need other household items and would like to establish a small stockpile of commonly used items. So I thought I'd dive into the world of coupon clipping!

So this week I checked the CVS circular here in town and clippped coupons that coincided with their sales. I also tried to get items we needed that offered 'extra care bucks' (i.e. FREE MONEY or cash back to use at another visit). I had my plan of attack ready to go and made my purchases:

I was $1.28 from getting a ten dollar extra cash card because they were out of Ivory Soap and I didn't realize it until I got in the car to check my receipt!

Over all I was happy with the transaction:

I think next week I'm going to hone my couponing skills a little more when CVS puts their makeup on sale. If you'd like to save some $$$ at CVS, check out these videos by the Coupon Divas and visit their site at CouponDivas.com

It's just my little way of dealing with anxiety!

2012-01-03T05:00:00.002-06:00

I go back to work in ten days!
I cannot go into all the anxiety and emotional turmoil that I'm feeling in regards to leaving my baby, so I'm channeling it into something productive: cooking.

I know Doug will be challenged trying to run the household with the newbie around. I'm hoping having some quick fix meals in the freezer will help lighten the load a little.

Last week I managed to stock the freezer with:

4 rounds of pizza dough
24 mini english muffin pizzas
1 chicken spaghetti casserole
4 lbs of taco meat
5 dozen green chili chicken tamales
2 quarts of pinto beans
20 twice baked potatoes
24 waffles

And this week I'm going to work on some casseroles. Pinterest has some great recipes, just type in "freezer meals" into the search engine.
I'm also adding a great little kitchen tip! Line your casserole dish with foil and freeze the casserole in the dish you will cook it in. When frozen, pop it out with the foil, wrap, and store in a large ziplock. When ready to cook, just put it back into the casserole dish and into the oven! This way you cut down on storage space AND clean up!

And don't worry, I have provided Mary Grace her own private stash of freezer meals!

2012

2012-01-02T13:44:00.003-06:00

Wishing you peace...

and joy...

in the new year!

Christmas Blessings~

2011-12-23T17:41:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas to all our wonderful family and friends!

( I dare 'ya not to smile!)

Making Merry

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-06:00

O come let us adore Him...

2011-12-15T05:00:00.002-06:00

Because LEGO people need a Savior, too!

Two months old

2011-12-13T18:50:00.000-06:00

And yes, she has us all wrapped around her little finger!

Another surprise in the garden!

2011-12-13T05:00:00.002-06:00

We were cleaning out the flower beds in the front yard when JP discovered these "paper lanterns". I recognized them as part of the gooseberry family because I have grown tomatillos before. I didn't know if they were edible (I didn't even know what they were!) but after a quick search on Google we identified them as ground cherries, a.k.a. cape gooseberries.

I had absolutely NO idea on how they ended up in our front yard flower garden. I know I didn't plant them! While we were harvesting them off the ground, JP noticed that the plant was located beneath the bird bath and came to the conclusion that a bird must have eaten a gooseberry "then pooped the seeds while drinking at our birdbath".

I don't know how they got there (but JP's answer is probably the most feasible!) but I'm glad they found their way into the garden. I'm going to save the seeds from a few of them to plant in the backyard next spring. The rest we'll make into a ground cherry pie.
I'm so excited over this find ('cause I'm nerdy like that!). I'm even more excited that this plant can take harsh conditions and doesn't mind being neglected in the garden. Hopefully by this time next year we'll be make pints and pints of ground cherry jam!

Oh, and in case you were wondering,
ground cherries taste like a mixture of banana and pineapple with the texture of a tomato.

My poor neglected garden!

2011-12-12T11:31:00.008-06:00

My poor, sad little garden has been neglected for quite some time now. I initially turned my back on it about four months into my pregnancy. Some how stooping, weeding, and sweating just wasn't appealing back then. Also, we had one of the hottest, driest summers ever last summer here in Texas and most plant life took a beating. So I just ignored my little garden boxes while my attentions went to our new baby....and trying to stay cool!

I ventured out to the garden today to check on the sad state of things only to discover that a little neglect might be a good thing. Here are dried up eggplant and pepper plants amongst thriving red onions!

And even more onions among the weeds!

The turnip seeds I scattered a few weeks ago need thinning...BAD!
I hadn't even realized they spouted because we've had one day of rain and several nights of freezing temps.

Even the swiss chard spouted and is growing.

The garlic JP planted is just now sprouting and should do just fine over the winter. We'll cover the bed with leaves and straw and harvest the garlic in the spring.

I think I'd like to spend a day tending to the garden and getting it ready to "put to bed" for the winter. I miss not being in the garden, but it will have to wait until next spring to get any more attention from me.

I sure wish the kids and house could stand a little neglect like the garden, 'cause just for one day I'd like to get "put to bed" for a bit and take a long nap!

We're just a bunch of party animals!

2011-12-09T18:48:00.008-06:00

It's a wild Friday night here in the Creamer household!

The little ones have settled in for a movie:

Santa Claus is Coming to Town to be exact!
(and they're even eating in the living room, popcorn and hot chocolate.
Talk about living on the edge!)

I'm sitting in the den with my scented candles burning and enjoying the glow of the Christmas lights.

And Kyle is baking up a storm in the kitchen.

Yup, we're one wild bunch!

Card Sharks

2011-12-08T11:25:00.002-06:00

I had asked John Paul to take Mary Grace to the living room for a few minutes while I got dressed for the day. When I came to claim her again, I found this...

They were "teaching" her how to play UNO!

Day off

2011-12-05T16:38:00.003-06:00

On Doug's day off we went on a little family excursion to the Wharton County Historical Museum to see their nativity scenes display. In all the five years we've lived here I have never visited the museum. I have to say that it is a great place to visit! There is lots of history in this little town and the whole family thoroughly enjoyed it.

But there was one thing that was perplexing...

Trying to explain a switchboard to a smart phone generation!

Bethlehemian Rhapsody

2011-12-02T09:56:00.001-06:00

Because what says Christmas like Queen, right?

Tamales!

2011-12-02T05:00:00.001-06:00

Me and my little soux chefs spent the day making tamales. It only took me three days to get to the point of assembly, but the kids didn't mind, and we had a wonderful morning just talking, laughing, and making at the kitchen table.

It's the stuff memories are made of.

In the end we made five dozen tamales for Christmas Eve dinner after Mass. We'll have enough left over for Santa and his reindeer (and any elves that want to come for a visit over the holidays!).

The annual Christmas card photo fiasco!

2011-11-30T17:43:00.008-06:00

Every year it's the same story...
WHY CAN'T WE GET ONE, SINGLE ACCEPTABLE PICTURE OF THE KIDS?

I do have to admit that this year was definitely better than the last few. I only had one stroke and didn't lose my voice! You'd think these kids were at the age where they could take simple direction...you'd THINK!

Most of the time JP, Danny, and Abby weren't even looking at the camera. Funny thing is is that wherever the dog was looking, the kids were too.

Then the giggles start.

Then there are the two oldest who are waaay too cool to be posing for family pictures. These guys look like they're trying to make the next cover of GQ magazine!

Abby gives Danny a bath.

Then Mary Grace gets one, too!

Up to this point, Abby was the most well behaved of the bunch! Hopefully we'll be able to salvage just one out of the dozens taken!

Decking the halls

2011-11-28T19:10:00.004-06:00

Thankful

2011-11-25T20:22:00.002-06:00

We have so much to be thankful for this season:
health,
life,
love,
and I'm feeling mighty unworthy of such goodness these days.
Unworthy, but so very thankful!

One month old

2011-11-19T21:28:00.004-06:00

Don't let the red hair fool you,
this is our most mellow kiddo yet!

Has it already been a month?
Seems like just yesterday to me.
We are still finding our way through these newborn days and the fog is starting to clear a bit.

Life is good, tiring, but good!

Another growing season

2011-11-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

I saw seed packets in the store the other day and like a knee-jerk reaction, I bought some. I had Kyle clean out the garden boxes nearest the house (four 4X4 boxes I had used for herbs in the past) and filled them with compost that has been brewing the last nine months.

John Paul and I planted about 40 cloves of garlic, some swiss chard, turnips, and romaine lettuce seeds.

I'm not sure how this fledgling garden is going to fare this fall with my attentions on a new baby.

But I guess it will manage, like I will manage...

I'll provide them both with sunshine, food, and lots of love, and they will grow.

Except swiss chard won't wake me up at 4 a.m.!
;-)

Officially gone off the deep end!

2011-11-14T17:10:00.005-06:00

I finally harvested some of the horseradish that we planted last winter. This is hardy stuff! It survived the hottest, driest Texas summer that we've had in a long time and is practically busting out of the enormous planter that we are growing it in!

Why did I harvest this pungent root you ask?

Well my husband found a recipe for "Master Tonic" online and wanted to brew a batch.

Master Tonic is a health elixir similar to a tincture. It is practically guaranteed to cure anything that ails you...especially ridding you of of a cold or flu within 24 hours!

Master Tonic Ingredients
1 part fresh chopped garlic cloves (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitical)
1 part fresh chopped white onions (similar properties to garlic)
1 part fresh grated ginger root (increases circulation to the extremities)
1 part fresh grated horseradish root (increases blood flow)
1 part fresh chopped Cayenne peppers, Jalapenos, Serranos, Habeneros, African bird peppers....any combination of the hottest peppers available
Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar

Preparation
· Fill a glass jar 3/4 of the way full with equal parts of the above fresh chopped and grated herbs.
Then fill to the top with raw unfiltered, unbleached, nondistilled apple cider vinegar like Bragg's.
· Close and shake vigorously and then top off the vinegar if necessary. Store in a cool, dark place and shake daily. Let mixture steep for two weeks. Filter the mixture through a clean piece of cotton, bottle and label.
· Make sure that when you are making this tonic that you shake it every time you walk by it, a minimum of once per day. Remember that all the herbs and vegetables should be fresh (and organic if possible), and to use dried herbs only in an emergency.

Usage:
Strain liquids from solids through muslin cloth or strainer into a glass container. Take 1/2 to 1 ounce, two or more times daily.

This stuff is not for the faint of heart! Just chopping and grating all the ingredients cleared my sinuses AND everyone else's in the house! I cannot imagine drinking it straight but it might be tasty in some V-8 juice or as a dressing for salad. No one in the house has been sick yet, but you can be sure at the first sign of a sniffle that I'll be testing this home remedy...and I'll let you know how it works!

Read what others are saying about Master Tonic:
Click here
or here
or just Google it yourself!

Cloud Sand

2011-11-10T05:00:00.001-06:00

In an effort to get the boys to finish school work and chores in a timely manner, I bribed them with cloud sand.

Cloud sand is really lovely stuff!
Soft, silky, moldable (is that even a word?), and super easy to make.

Mix together 8 cups of plain flour with 1 cup of baby oil.
The baby oil gives it a wonderful scent.
I actually think it helped to calm the kids a bit.

This kept them busy for HOURS which allowed for me and Mary Grace to have a little cat nap on the couch. Thankfully, it cleans up pretty easily too...and the mess was well worth getting to nap!

Daddy's girl

2011-11-06T14:03:00.005-06:00

Smashing Pumpkins

2011-11-02T19:50:00.006-05:00

When we got the kids pumpkins for halloween, I purchased two extra to make some pumpkin puree for holiday baking. I've never made my own pumpkin puree, but it was super easy and I don't think we'll be using the canned stuff ever again!

Wash and dry pumpkins, cut into quarters or eighths, scoop out seeds, and place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for one hour and allow to cool.
Peel off skin and place pumpkin meat into food processor. Process until smooth.

Put serving size portions into ziplocks and freeze.

Canned pumpkin costs a little under two bucks here. I purchased a large pumpkin for $3.88 and got 12 cups of puree (and I still have another pumpkin sitting on the porch waiting to be roasted!). I was so inspired by the fresh puree that I made two loaves of:
Pumpkin Gingerbread

Trust me, you want to make this!
And I have a feeling those 12 cups are going to get used up FAST!

Mary Grace ~ Child of God

2011-10-31T13:20:00.007-05:00

Happy Anniversary

2011-10-23T22:37:00.000-05:00

18 years and five babies.
I could not want for more.

Double Digits!

2011-10-18T22:58:00.005-05:00

This is what it looks like to be totally awesome
and ten years old!

Happy birthday John Paul!

We love you so very much!

Introducing...

2011-10-16T17:56:00.006-05:00

Mary Grace Faustina Creamer
October 12, 2011 at 8:27 a.m.
6lbs 13 oz. 20 1/4 inches

Update on us

2011-10-10T18:34:00.006-05:00

I'm currently just shy of 38 weeks pregnant now and the jig is up!

My blood pressure is getting worse.
My blood sugars are wack-a-doodle.
I'm old.

The doc says it's time to deliver and I'm not fighting him about it.

Wednesday October 12th is "D" day.

I have to let go of all control and completely rely on God for both our sakes.
He has carried us thus far.
He gave us this gift against all odds.
She shouldn't have survived past 12 weeks, yet here she is!

I told myself that anything past 36 weeks would be gravy...
I feel like my gravy boat overflowing.

Please offer a prayer for us on Wednesday.

The paracord bracelet

2011-10-06T05:00:00.000-05:00

My Boy Scout and survival enthusiast, Kyle, recently discovered how to make paracord bracelets.
They're actually pretty neat!
The elasticity of paracord and its ability to withstand immense weight makes it a very useful tool during emergency situations. Paracord is a must-have in every survival kit. Paracord can be used as bootlaces, clothesline, pet collars, emergency tourniquets, knife handle sheaths, belts and gun straps.

He's spent the greater part of two days making them for his friends and Scout troop.

He's really quite good at it and is considering selling them online!

I just don't have the heart to tell him that its just like knitting...
but for dudes!

Sometimes I like a little artsy with my fartsy...

2011-10-05T13:35:00.007-05:00

Strange artwork is showing up all over the Creamer household this week!
Like this masterpiece on the family note board:

Pictures of guns on the bulletin board :

(ha ha, get it? BULLET-in board!)

It's even showing up on the FURNITURE!
Thank goodness for washable markers!

But this one is by far my favorite:

**LUV**

Right to Life Sunday

2011-10-02T21:39:00.006-05:00

Yesterday we participated in Right to Life Sunday. It is a peaceful and prayerful presence in our community to protest the horrors of abortion and pray for an end to abortion in our country.

Some stood in silent prayer:

Others held signs:

Even the littlest ones understand that the womb must be protected as one of the safest places on earth.

Because if abortion isn't wrong,
then nothing is.

Thank you good Father, Gabriel Espinoza, for organizing this event. And God bless the parishioners of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Holy Family Catholic churches.

Please pray for an end to abortion.

A most blessed day!

2011-09-20T14:23:00.006-05:00

Doug's precious cousins, Kristi and Joni, came halfway across Texas this past weekend to give us the most wonderful baby shower!

They planned EVERYTHING!
I was told to just sit back, relax, and enjoy...

BOY, DID I EVER!

I'm still amazed at all the loving support we have received, I mean, this is baby number five! I would have thought all the hoop-la would have vanished by now. But this out pouring of love has blessed my heart and soul in ways I could have never imagined.

Thank you all for the beautiful cards, well wishes, and most generous gifts for our baby girl. I hope none of you noticed, but I had to slip away to the bathroom a couple of times during the day to compose myself for fear of blubbering like a baby in front of you all!

Maybe it was crazy pregnancy hormones...

Or maybe it was being surrounded by the most wonderful friends and family a girl like me could ever wish for.

We love you.
We thank you.
We have been so blessed by your presence in our lives.

I can't wait for our daughter to know you all too!

2 for 1!

2011-09-16T05:00:00.001-05:00

We went to the hospital yesterday for my routine antenatal testing:

Baby was gorgeous on the monitor and the ultrasound showed that she finally turned to the vertex (head down), which is great because she is rapidly running out of wiggle room!

While there, we had to get Danny's "monster eye" checked out (thanks neighbor kid!). Danny had a tear in the sclera and was seeing shadows of a "big black tree" in his periphery.

With the doctors we have to use being an hour away it was nice that our visits could coincide and that everything turned out really well, especially for Danny.

But I think he was a little disappointed he didn't get an eye patch!

Good bye old friend...

2011-09-13T05:00:00.000-05:00

I'm packing away my faithful old sewing machine for grander plans. My sewing desk will now become a changing/dressing table for our new baby girl!

I've been ready to make this change for a while now and finally this weekend I finished the last of the items on my "to do" list...two more nursing dresses for my post-partum wardrobe.

I simply want to rest and gestate on my days off from now on. So if you see me with a sewing needle, glue gun, or knitting loom in my hands...
feel free to smack me!

From drab to FAB ~ part 2

2011-09-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

The second part of the furniture re-furbishing projects is DONE!
You might remember the thrift store coffee table I got for five bucks:

Now check out our new window seat!

The sad part is that I didn't have one, single, solitary thing to do with the make-over!
Ryan ended up painting the table the same luscious chocolate as the rocker on one of the days I worked last week. Doug cut the foam seat and upholstered the bench with the staple gun as I laid like a beached whale on the adjacent couch spouting orders!

Let's just say it was a "group effort" to get this project done!

Meatless Fridays

2011-09-09T05:00:00.000-05:00

This week's meatless meal is totally adaptable to your taste and is a great way to clean out the fridge or pantry. Why spend alot of money at Chipoltle or Bullritos when you can make it yourself for pennies!
This week's meatless meal is:

Stuffed Burritos with Cilantro-Lime Rice

(this recipe is substituted with quinoa since I can't eat rice!)

To make rice:
Cook rice according to package directions but substitute chicken stock for water and add one clove of chopped garlic. When rice is finished cooking, add the zest and juice of one lime and a handful of chopped fresh cilantro. Salt to taste.
To substitute quinoa, follow the same directions!

To make burritos, fill whole wheat tortillas with:
Black beans
Corn
Avocado
Pico de Gallo
Refried Beans
Cheese
Or whatever suits your taste buds!

It's so easy and kids just love it ~ especially when they get to make their own!

Being "average" has never looked so good!

2011-09-08T05:00:00.001-05:00

I had appointments with my regular OB and the perinatologist this week. I was dreading the perinatologist because at the last appointment I had with him he just kept going on and on about how HUGE my baby was (and was going to be!).
So, I've been eating well (most of the time) and taking my insulin on time. I was bracing myself for the news that she'd be five pounds by now, but there was no mention of her size. I finally broke down and asked him how big she was.
His answer:

"Oh, she's AVERAGE!
She's normal size and weight, about the 53rd percentile."

I was never so happy to hear the word AVERAGE to describe one of my children in all my life!
53rd percentile for size/weight is almost unheard of for insulin dependent diabetics, glad to hear I'm doing something right!

So Doug and I celebrated by going out to lunch complete with desert! LOL!

Right now...

2011-09-07T05:00:00.001-05:00

From drab to FAB!

2011-09-06T05:00:00.002-05:00

Well, I got one out of two projects completed this weekend ~
Not too bad for an old pregnant lady!

You remember our old glider rocker before...

Now check out the after!

I went to Hob Lob and found this damask upholstery fabric on sale for 10 bucks a yard (normally $21.99!) and decided to paint the frame chocolate instead of antique white. I cannot tell you how much I love this new look!

I think it will be one of my little "nursing nests" for when the baby comes. I even filled up a basket with diapers, wipes, burp cloths, blankies, and the all important Boppy to sit beside the rocker.

I'm sure many a late night will be spent here...and I can't wait!

A labor of love...

2011-09-04T05:58:00.006-05:00

Last Friday the ladies at work gave me the most wonderful baby shower!

Themes and decorations were planned and purchased. The break room was transformed into a pink garden wonderland. Even one of the nurses handmade this gorgeous cake!

Everyone brought a dish to share. The food was DELICIOUS! Even the patients cooperated for a while while we ate, laughed, and opened presents!

I was overwhelmed and humbled by this most gracious act of kindness!
There was a lot of time and effort put into this, and they took time out of their busy lives to do this for me and my baby. I told them I really didn't feel worthy of such a gift, after all, it was my fifth baby! But that's when one of the ladies said, "That's when you need something like this the most!"

I think she was right!
Thank you all for making me feel very special, very blessed, and very loved!

Projects in the works

2011-09-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

We ventured out to the thrift store on my day off and I came across this sad (but sturdy) coffee table for FIVE BUCKS! Picture, if you will, it painted in a gorgeous antique white and distressed, topped off with a four inch cushion and pillows in a pretty print!

I KNOW, RIGHT?

And while I'm at it, I thought I'd paint our glider/rocker the same antique white and recover these 17 year old cushions in a chocolate toille and add pretty pink pillow.

I think my plans for doing might be grander than my physical capacity to do! While I'm at work, I think I might have to delegate the painting to the boys (it doesn't have to be perfect because it's going to be distressed anyway!) and I'll tackle the sewing over the weekend.

I've rocked all my babies in that chair and I can't wait to rock our newest little one to sleep in something pretty befitting our little princess! ;-)

You know you live in a small town when...

2011-08-31T05:00:00.001-05:00

They open a Denny's and it makes front page news!

Yes, our little town FINALLY has a restaurant open past 8pm, and the kids could not be more excited! Wharton has not seen this much action since they remodeled Walmart!

We went for brunch the other day and Danny downed four pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, and finished Doug's waffle!

Maybe they should call it

DANNY'S

It all caught up to me!

2011-08-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

I was scheduled to work Friday, and I DID show up...

AS A PATIENT!

(my monitor screen with contractions every two minutes.)

I woke up about 2:30 am with contractions and tried to ignore them until 5am when I finally woke Doug up and told him we had to go get checked out. After a couple of IV bags, blood work, and some medication they finally let me go home.

I do not make a good patient, so I'm going to take it easy this weekend and try really hard to do nothing.

I have to keep working or we'll loose our insurance.
Praying I can make it six more weeks,
will you pray, too?

Meatless Friday

2011-08-26T05:00:00.000-05:00

This week's meal isn't really a whole meal. It's the basis to let your imagination roam free. You can stuff or top this naan with anything! If you're unfamiliar with naan, it is basically just an Indian style flat bread. Okay, maybe it's not "just" flat bread. This stuff is AMAZING. It is soft, pillowy, full of lovely bubbles and so extremely versatile. You can eat this along side of a meal to sop up gravies and juices, you can make flat bread sandwiches with it, top it with tomato sauce and cheese for a quick personal pizza, use it in place of tortillas for quesadillas... the possibilities are endless!!
This week's Meatless Friday meal is:

Quick and Easy Naan Bread

1 1/2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
Up to four cups flour, plus a few tbsp for workspace

Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy. Add salt and three cups of flour. Mix thoroughly and add up to another cup of flour to get a nice, soft, pliable dough. Knead dough on a floured workspace about 20 times and form into a tight ball. Put dough in a well oiled bowl and cover with a damp towel.
Put in a warm place to rise for 30-45 minutes. Dough won't rise much, but it doesn't need to. Turn dough out onto a floured workspace. Divide dough into 8 pieces and roll out with a rolling pin to about 1/8" thick.
Grill naan pieces on a grill or electric griddle. In a pinch, a frying pan sprayed with some nonstick cooking spray will work. Grill for 1-2 minutes on each side.

You can add fresh garlic, cilantro, green onion, etc... to the dough for added flavor, or just eat plain!

Rag Wreath

2011-08-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

Working on an OB unit lets me see the latest baby decor and trends. Usually, family or friends bring a cute wreath to place on the room door of the new mother. I've seen LOTS of cute wreaths and they usually come with a hefty price for that cuteness! So being the cheapskate that I am, I knew I could make my own for our sweet baby girl.

Considering my obsession with fabric, I made a rag wreath and I am in love with this craft!

This project could not be more simple!

I bought an inexpensive wreath (18 inch in size), about two yards total of colorful fabrics, and some tulle.

In PINK of course!

Cut one inch wide strips of fabric about 12 inches long and start tying around the wreath. Tie the strips close together for a fuller look.

You can also add bits of ribbon, tulle, and rick rack to add texture and to boost the cuteness factor!

This was so simple that Danny and I put this together in about an hour! We already have plans for making Halloween and Christmas themed wreaths.
I'm still thinking about embellishing our baby wreath. Maybe nesting one of my homemade rag dolls inside and her name in wood cut outs decoupaged with scrapbook paper. Stay tuned for the final product!

I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille

2011-08-24T05:00:00.001-05:00

Just before leaving work the other day, my manager asks if I could be at the hospital in the morning (my day off of course!) to "play a pregnant patient" for a commercial for the hospital. "Ummm...sure, I guess", was my reply. She also needed a family for the commercial, so I volunteered my motley crew.

The morning of the shoot I asked her if she was sure she wanted US!
I mean, I don't think the camera crew was expecting a 40-something couple with four kids in tow for their commercial!

It was really simple. I just laid in bed and was handed a baby by one of the nurses. My wonderful family comes in and we all adore the baby.

And it only took us seven takes and less than 20 minutes to get it right!

Now if the actual labor and delivery could be that easy!

(You know I'll post the commercial link when I get it...
that is if we don't end up on the cutting room floor!)

My days are not mine anymore!

2011-08-21T17:20:00.002-05:00

I'm tired and I haven't even begun the week yet!
My days are no longer mine anymore, get this:

I work 12 hour shifts three days a week.
I have to go back to said work for two days out of the week for antenatal testing, 'cause you know....I'm OLD!
Doctor appointment weekly unless I see the Perinatologist or Internal Medicine docs, then that's twice a week.

Right there is SEVEN days ~ last I recall there were only seven days in a week!

I think I'd be ok with it if the hospital/Dr.'s offices were just down the street, but we have an hour commute both ways. That means the kids have to come with us AND I'm going to have to keep working just to pay for the gas to get to and from appointments!

Work is killing me.
Being pregnant and on my feet for 12 hours a day is excruciating.
The girls at work are awesome in that they really do try to make my assignments easier (giving me the closer labor rooms or the less difficult patients!), but it's still so hard and it takes me a whole day off just to recover.
As you see, there will be no more days off!

Just wondering...
is it wrong to pray to win the lottery?

Meatless Friday

2011-08-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

I'm combining two previously posted Meatless Friday meals AND building up my freezer stash....two birds with one stone, fabulous!
I'm going to make a huge batch of the super easy

Crock Pot Marinara Sauce

and put it into quart sized ziplock bags for the freezer. I should get anywhere from 4 to 6 quarts of the sauce to make quick meals after the baby comes.

Then I'm going to make a double batch of

Spinach Stuffed Shells

I'm going to freeze just the stuffed shells without the sauce so I can store them easily in gallon sized ziplocks. When ready to serve, I'll just take out what we need, place them in a casserole dish, ladle defrosted sauce over the top, and pop into the oven!

Growing baby,
growing freezer stash for when baby arrives.
I feel like I'm making my way into the home stretch with just eight more weeks of preparations to go!

Mason Jar soap dispenser

2011-08-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

Here's another little piece of crafty crap I found on Pinterest,
a Mason Jar soap dispenser~
Super cute and super easy to make!

Take an old Mason Jar with the lid attached and using an awl, punch out holes to get a hole in the lid about the size of a dime.

Take the pump from one of those plastic prefilled soap dispensers and rest it inside the hole you just made. You want the pump base to be bigger than the hole for a tight fit. Now gently press and twist the pump down until it fits through the hole.

Unscrew the lid and turn upside down. Fill around the base of the pump with a good epoxy and let dry. Fill with your favorite hand soap.
That's it!

So cute that I made one for the bathroom and one for the kitchen!
It holds way more soap (about 2 1/2 times more) than the cheapo plastic prefilled dispensers, and it lets me water down the soap to make it stretch a bit farther.
Although, next time I think I might fill with a clear soap to see the details of the pretty jars!

Some people call it "nesting"...

2011-08-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

I call it an episode of
HOARDERS!

I've been sloooowly trying to declutter and organize the house before the baby comes. It's been SUPER easy with four rowdy boys, homeschooling, and working full time!

I decided to clean out the water heater closet this week.

I should have just stayed in bed.

We had crap piled almost to the ceiling in that little 6X3 closet!

Three trash bags and a gallon of sweet tea later, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief as that little task was marked off my list.

Now the empty closet is the secret headquarters for super heroes!
Shhh....don't tell anyone!

First day back to (home) school!

2011-08-16T05:00:00.000-05:00

We started our homeschooling year yesterday.
It went fairly smoothly...

Kyle and Doug discussing history and theology.

Danny working on phonics.

Then there is John Paul, who refused to get out of his pajamas!
Thank goodness he's not in public school, I have a feeling there would have been many parent/teacher conferences in my future!

OUCH!

2011-08-15T15:28:00.002-05:00

We've lived in the country for close to five years now and last week we had our FIRST trip to the ER with a kid....pretty good track record IMHO!

Instead of getting bit by a snake, breaking a leg by jumping out of a tree, or getting shot with a BB gun, Kyle took a nasty fall off of his bike and fractured his wrist!

But if you ask him, he'll tell you he did it while hunting wild hogs!

Meatless Friday

2011-08-12T05:00:00.000-05:00

This week's meal is very versatile! You can substitute any vegetable, add more eggs, more spice, etc... it is very forgiving! It's also a good way to clean out the fridge of leftovers. Although I am a lover of quiche, I do not like the crust (or the carb load!) so this fits the bill perfectly!
This week's Meatless Friday meal is:

Frittata

1 1/2 cups red potato, cubed
1 cup onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups broccoli florets, chopped and steamed
1/2 cup Jarlsberg cheese (or whatever you have on hand)
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
a pinch of red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Saute the potato and onion over medium heat in an oven-safe skillet with a little olive oil for about 10 min or until potato is tender. Stir frequently. Add broccoli florets and top with cheese.

Mix eggs, milk, salt, and paprika. Pour into skillet over broccoli/potato/onion mixture. Shake the pan a bit to distribute the ingredients. Cook over medium heat for 5-10 min or until the bottom starts to set up while the top is till a bit liquid.

Move skillet to oven and cook for another 15-20 min or until the frittata has set up. A toothpick inserted about an inch from the center should come out clean.

You know what they say...

2011-08-10T10:14:00.003-05:00

GO BIG OR GO HOME!

Well it looks like we've applied that little saying in the baby growing dept.
I had an appointment with the perinatologist and this kid is HUGE!
She's a a little over 3 1/2 pounds at 28 weeks (a whole pound bigger than she's supposed to be!)

I got the lecture on controlling my blood sugars better and exercising....I really wanted to tell him that I much rather lay around, sew, and drink sweet tea all day, but then I thought I'd better not.

So we're watching every carb that goes into my mouth and my tea is now sweetened with stevia.

Oh, here's the other kicker...

She's breech!

But we're going to have a little talk, she and I, about turning the right way to come out before she gets to be 36 weeks!

Prayers appreciated!

Baby Dolls!

2011-08-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

I love hand made baby dolls, you know, the rag doll kind ~ not the creepy plastic kind! And after four boys I FINALLY get to have some in the house!

I wanted to make our baby girl her very own baby doll for Christmas. Yeah, I know she'll only be 2 1/2 months old, but I wanted to do it anyway!
Humor me.

I found the perfect FREE pattern from Emily Martin at Black Apple (and featured HERE on MarthaStewart.com)

You'll want to watch the video segment from the show to get all the little tips and different embellishments you can use when making the dolls. These two lovelies went together in an hour!

I LOVE THEM!

I stitched their little faces instead of painting them since these dolls will be chewed and drooled on!
I also didn't add any vintage buttons, ribbon, or rick rack for the very same reasons, but I'm sure future versions will be embellished to the MAX!

And oh how I can't wait for those toothless little gums to get a hold on one of these sweet dolls!

Frozen Assets

2011-08-08T05:00:00.001-05:00

Y'all know I'm all about the planning

(or maybe I'm just anal retentive....whatever!).
But I'm a little freaked out that this baby will be here in about ten weeks!

I'm SO not ready!

In a lame attempt to try to control my environment, I thought I'd focus on stocking the freezer with meals for after the baby comes.

The weekends I'm not working I'm going to make double batches of our meals and freeze one of them. Making a double batch isn't any harder than making the original meal, so I might as well stock up while I can!
Saturday night we had beef enchiladas. The tray on the left is sauced, cheesed and ready for the oven! The tray on the right is plain (sauce is in the pantry) and ready for the freezer. After an overnight chill, it will go into a large ziplock to save space until we are ready to eat.

Sunday I put a pot of taco soup and a crock of chili on to cook all day.
I'll take some of the soup for lunches this week and we'll have the chili (with cheddar cheese muffins!) for dinner Sunday night. All the leftovers will go into large ziplocks for the freezer.

If I can do three meals a weekend then that will roughly give me 24 meals for when the baby comes!

Can somebody holla!

Less stress at dinner time, less mess, and less expense...
more time for cuddling baby!

Meatless Fridays

2011-08-04T20:50:00.004-05:00

I don't really have a meatless meal this Friday due to my work schedule. But this week I DID discover an incredible accompaniment to any meal. This quick bread is so good and you can add just about anything to this basic mix like jalapenos, bacon, or ham. These can be served with a bowl of soup, chili, or a big garden salad. They must be served right out of the oven and they are truly addictive!

Cheddar Cheese Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 stick melted salted butter

Whisk together dry ingredients, then stir in cheese.
In a separate bowl, whisk egg, milk, and butter together. Pour milk mixture into dry ingredients and stir with a spoon to combine.
Bake in greased muffin tins at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Makes 12.

Capt-Dan America!

2011-08-04T05:00:00.001-05:00

Evil doers BEWARE!

(just don't tell him it's a modified frisbee!)

More sewing for baby

2011-08-03T05:00:00.001-05:00

This past weekend I found an easy (and free!) pattern for
contoured baby burp cloths online.
You can find the pattern HERE.
So I dug into my scrap pile and bought an inexpensive towel from Walmart for backing (instead of the suggested flannel).

I figured toweling would be better, cause when my babies puke, they puke BIG! Plus, when the baby out grows them they'll make great dust cloths or wash rags for Abby.

I also picked up a few large hand towels and made a couple of changing mats:

I'm not a big fan of diaper bags so I made the mats with two pockets at the bottom to hold diapers, a baggie of wipes, cell phone, keys, whatever!

And it folds up nice and compact to throw into my purse or baby sling!

Ten burp cloths and two changing mats for a grand total of $6.00.
SCORE!

Somebody pass me my insulin pen!

2011-08-01T19:53:00.004-05:00

Ryan and Kyle's birthdays are just three days apart.
Kyle turned 14 and Ryan is now 17.

Kyle had a homemade red velvet ice cream cake
and Ryan had a white coconut cake.

...and I'm about to slip into a diabetic coma from all the eating out and celebrating!

Happy birthday boys!
We love you so much!

Bleach pen t-shirts

2011-07-31T23:36:00.002-05:00

Hob Lob had their t-shirts marked 50% off of their already cheap price of $3.99 so I bought the boys several to make some custom shirts. I had seen some bleach pen tees on Pinterest.com and thought it would be fun to try them.

We were not disappointed!

Kyle made this awesome shirt and four more over the weekend! The boys really had fun with this project and now I have a little keepsake of their artwork.

To make your own, just place a piece of waxed paper inside the shirt to keep the pen from bleeding through. Have the kids draw on the front of the shirt with chalk then trace over the chalk lines with a Clorox bleach pen. When the lines turn the desired color, wash out in the sink and toss in the washing machine.

Now my house smells all bleachy and sanitized...
too bad it's not from actual cleaning!

Meatless Fridays

2011-07-29T05:00:00.000-05:00

Any kind of summer cooking where you don't have to turn on the oven is great by me! Grilling these burgers outside gives them a wonderful smoky flavor, and canned salmon is always great for the budget! JP and Dan call these "crabby patties"...I call them DELISH!
This week's Meatless Friday meal is:

Salmon Burgers

1 (16 ounce) can salmon, drained and flaked
2 eggs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1/4 cup Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs or Panko
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 pinch red pepper flakes

2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 pinch dried basil

In a medium bowl, mix together the salmon, eggs, parsley, onion, breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of basil, and red pepper flakes. Form into 6 firmly packed patties, about 1/2 inch thick.
Grill patties or cook on stove top in a small amount of oil until golden brown on both sides.
In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and a pinch of basil. Use as a sauce for your patties.

The most horrific room in the house,

2011-07-27T05:00:00.001-05:00

which happens to be the boys bathroom, is getting a makeover!

The bathroom is the most awful shade of lime green you have ever seen, and well, smells like a boys bathroom.

Seriously!
The dog won't even go in there!

While I'm working the next two days, Doug and the boys have vowed to clean it up and paint it.

With some inexpensive accessories and some handmade rag rugs for the floor, we'll see if it's fit for human habitation in a few days!

Stay tuned!

During these dog days of summer...

2011-07-26T05:00:00.000-05:00

All I want to do is make warm, cozy quilts for an autumn baby!

The heat is horrific here in south Texas.
To get what I mean, turn your oven on to 350 degrees ~
then climb in!
I have no tolerance for the heat at all so I just stay inside with my fan and glass of iced sweet tea and sew...

...and dream of chilly fall days cuddling up in this quilt with a precious baby girl!

Meatless Fridays

2011-07-22T05:00:00.000-05:00

My summer garden is pretty much done except for eggplants and peppers. We'll be harvesting those until well into October! This is a great way to use up that eggplant and it doesn't have all that breading like a traditional eggplant Parmesan.
This week's Meatless Friday meal is:

Eggplant Gratin

Olive oil for frying
1 1/2 pounds eggplant, unpeeled, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
2 extra large eggs
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup marinara sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 425 F. Heat 1/8 inch of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Do not use extra virgin olive oil, the smoke temperature is too low.
When the olive oil is almost smoking, add several slices of eggplant and cook them. Flip them once they get light brown. Both sides should be cooked through in 5 minutes. Transfer cooked eggplant to paper towels to drain. Do this until all eggplant slices are cooked.
In a small bowl, mix together the ricotta, eggs, half-and-half, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. In a shallow baking dish, place a layer of eggplant then sprinkle with more pepper and Parmesan cheese. Spoon on half of the marinara and half of the ricotta mixture. Place the second layer of eggplant on top of the mixtures, top that with the rest of the marinara, and ricotta mixture.
Spread the mozzarella on top and bake for 10 minutes.
Lower the heat to 375 F and bake for another 20 minutes or until the top is lightly browned.

I don't think you're ready for this jelly...

2011-07-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

...cause my jelly's so booty-licious!
(thanks Beyonce!)

Yes, I'm at it again, making more jelly.
And I know what you're thinking.
One day I WILL get a life, but that day is not today!
Today I am making lemon balm & hibiscus flower jelly.

To make this incredible tasting jelly you need:
1 cup of chopped lemon balm, leaves and stems
1 cup of hibiscus flower petals
3 cups of water
juice of one lemon
one box of powdered pectin
4 cups of sugar

Bring lemon balm, flower petals, and water to a boil then remove from heat and let steep 10 minutes to make a tea. Strain and add enough water back into mixture until you have three cups. Your mixture will look filthy! Don't worry, because the magic happens when you add the lemon juice! The mixture turns the color of the flowers you used. Now add pectin and put mixture in a pot over high heat. Add sugar and bring to a rolling boil for two minutes. Pour into hot sterilized jars and cap. You can put the jars into the fridge once set for immediate use or can in a hot water bath for 10 minutes to preserve.

And who needs artificial coloring and high fructose corn syrup when God gives you color and flavor like this naturally!

a WTH? moment

2011-07-19T05:00:00.000-05:00

This week we had an invasion of ants in the pantry!
On my one day off I cleaned out the pantry for Doug to spray
and wondered to myself...

...how the heck did I end up with FIVE bottles of corn syrup?

The kindness of others...

2011-07-18T05:00:00.001-05:00

Since announcing our pregnancy we have been flooded with nothing but well wishes, prayers, and loving kindness from all of you! We already have a most wonderful little "stock pile" of gently used baby items, packs and packs of diapers, and baby care items from our precious family and neighbors with promises of so much more to come.
My heart can scarcely take it in!
We are so touched and humbled to be thought of in these generous ways.

We could never thank you enough for your kindness....
so we are asking God to.

Meatless Fridays

2011-07-15T05:00:00.001-05:00

Here is a fabulous high protein / low carb meal. Leftovers can even be eaten cold! It's a great way to sneak veggies into the kid's diet and is very filling!
This week's Meatless Friday meal is:

Spaghetti Squash Quinoa Bake

4 cups of cooked spaghetti squash (1 large)
16oz cottage cheese
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups cooked quinoa
1/2 cup egg whites
4 large eggs, beaten
1 cup shredded cheese
2 teaspoon dry dill

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Pre-oil a deep baking dish.
Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the pepper and onion. Saute, stirring often, until caramelized (about 10-15 minutes).
Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Transfer to the pre-oiled dish and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes or until the bake is set and the top is golden. If you would like to reduce the cooking time to an hour, use two deep pie dishes instead of the large baking dish (you can always freeze one for another meal!).

SON-flowers

2011-07-13T10:52:00.006-05:00

More sewing

2011-07-12T05:00:00.001-05:00

I think I've been sewing so much because it's just way too hot to do anything else! When I sew I have my fan on high, a glass of sweet tea, and my favorite chick flick on the DVR. The boys are out and about in the woods or the pool and don't need my attention like they once did....so it's just me and my sewing machine!

This weekend I made a simple maternity house dress from a tattered old t-shirt and vintage sheet scrap:

It's light and cool and perfect for doing nothing in,
except maybe more sewing!

Weekend sewing

2011-07-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

I found this cute pattern for fabric headbands at Happy Together

I must have made a dozen of them from fabric scraps I had laying around. They literally come together in minutes!

They are perfect for working around the house,
a quick trip to the store, or for hiding any bad hair day.

Umm Danny, that's not quite what I had in mind!

Meatless Fridays

2011-07-08T05:00:00.001-05:00

Finding low carb AND meatless meals has been an adventure! I really love this idea since it comes together so quickly and requires NO cooking. I take these to work in my little bento boxes for a quick snack, they are so filling.
This week's Meatless Friday meal is:

Avocado Salad Lettuce Wraps

2 avocados cubed and slightly mashed
3 small tomatoes, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, diced
1/2 small red onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
fresh corn cut from 1 cob
juice of one lime
romaine lettuce leaves

Optional: You can add grilled, flaked fish or black beans for added protein.

Combine all ingredients and fill lettuce leaves.
See, I told 'ya it was quick and easy~

Beat the heat!

2011-07-07T05:00:00.001-05:00

With lemon balm popsicles!

Lemon balm is a soothing and calming herb,
popsicles are cooling and refreshing...
it's a total win/win!

To make these delightful treats:

3 cups of chopped lemon balm, leaves and stems
6 cups of water
Sweeten to taste

Simmer lemon balm and water for 20 minutes over low heat to make a tea.
Strain out leaves, then sweeten with sugar, honey, or stevia.
Pour into molds and freeze.

I made these refreshing pops for the kids (with a little help from Danny!).

Then I put fresh leaves and the tea mixture into ice cube trays to make my sweet tea super fancy!

A tale of two hearts...

2011-07-06T08:25:00.002-05:00

This little heart, it beats...

JP and Danny listening to the baby's heartbeat via doppler

My heart, it bursts!

All about motherwort

2011-07-05T05:00:00.001-05:00

When I found out we were expecting way back in February, I made sure to plant motherwort in the herb garden! It's just now coming into flower and ripe for harvest...good thing, too, a tincture takes at least six weeks to brew!

You take motherwort tincture (tea from the plant is very bitter!) when you need a bit of mothering...like after having a baby, or anytime you feel stressed or anxious.

Like many herbs, motherwort is named for its medicinal purpose. It has several specific actions which benefit mothers and women in general. This herb is NOT recommend during pregnancy until you reach the last few days of it (39 weeks and greater). It can be used to treat false labor pains and to bring about a sense of peace during labor because of its sedating qualities. It is highly recommended for postpartum use to tone the uterus, decrease bleeding, and to increase milk production. It is also a wonderful remedy for the baby blues (which I tend to get horribly!)

This herb also has great cardiac benefits as well. It lowers blood pressure and rapid heart beat. It also acts as a sedative to calm the nerves and promotes a restful sleep.

The leaves and flowers are harvested when the plant is in full bloom and can be dried for tea or soaked in alcohol or glycerine to make a tincture.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/health/alternative-medicine/articles/73304.aspx#ixzz1QOcoipBG

Beach Bums

2011-07-04T05:00:00.003-05:00

I spent the whole day doing nothing but sitting in the cabana, sipping sweet tea, and watching my babies play and explore.

Nothing like it in the world, it restoreth my soul!

It may have to become a weekly event!

(I'm sure the boys wouldn't mind!)

Meatless Fridays

2011-07-01T05:00:00.000-05:00

Back to Meatless Fridays again!
This is a great recipe for a fresh sauce that comes together in minutes. I have tons of cherry tomatoes and will be making this quite often. And since cherry tomatoes are in season, you can get them at a great price at the store or Farmer's Market. The family will enjoy theirs over spaghetti...I'll be having mine over zucchini ribbons for a practically carbless meal. This week's Meatless Friday meal is:

Spaghetti Pomodoro

1 lb. spaghetti
3 pints fresh cherry or grape tomatoes, (cut lengthwise)
3 cloves of garlic (sliced in half, lengthwise)
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
6 basil leaves (more to garnish)
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil

Put the water on for the pasta. Put olive oil in warm pan, add garlic & pepper flakes. Brown the garlic, be careful not to burn it, but do get it nice & golden. Add the tomatoes. Be careful, it will spatter due to the moisture of the tomatoes. Add the basil leaves, salt & pepper. Cook the sauce on medium high until the tomatoes start to break down. At this point I like to get the back of a fork or even a potato masher & crush the tomatoes slightly.

While the sauce is simmering , cook the pasta according to directions. Drain the pasta & put it in the pan with the sauce. Mix until all the noodles are covered. Transfer to a serving platter & garnish with fresh chopped basil.

More crap from my garden...

2011-06-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

GARLIC!

This is the very first time I've ever grown garlic and I have to say that it's going to be a year round staple in the garden from now on! So easy to grow! I simply took one of the bulbs I purchased at the store, divided the cloves and stuck them into the soil about an inch deep. When they flowered, I just snipped off the flower to direct all the growing energy to the bulb, and when the tops died off I pulled them up.

They'll dry outside for a week or so and then I'll store them inside.

I have another garlic patch of about 25 cloves that should be ready in August. I'll save one of these cloves to plant when I pull my second harvest up.

Now if I could just wash this garlic smell off my hands!

All about mullein

2011-06-29T05:00:00.002-05:00

This year I have a small medicinal herb garden growing.
One of my prized herbs is mullein (pronounced like mull-in).

Mullein Tea is quite popular as a medicinal tea due to its treatment of respiratory ailments, including chronic bronchitis, asthmatic coughs, hoarseness, and congestion. When this herbal tea is applied as a compress it also relieves skin irritations such as acne, eczema, and bruises. In addition, mullein leaf tea helps alleviate abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fluid retention.

I initially grew it to make mullein oil, a wonderful treatment for bacterial ear infections! After harvesting a big basket full of leaves, I carefully washed them and placed them in the dehydrator for 10 hours. Then the dried leaves were put into a glass jar, two cloves of garlic were added, and then covered with olive oil to steep in the pantry for a couple of weeks.

What you get is an incredible antibiotic, anti-fungal, soothing oil!
(left: dried leaves for tea, right: mullein & garlic oil)

Gently warm the oil before using then apply several drops into the ear canal and cover with a clean cloth or cotton ball. Apply 2-3 times daily.
I think I'll be using this as a preventative to ear problems in our boys. They are quite a "waxy" bunch if you know what I mean! They also do lots of swimming during the summer and playing in the woods. This remedy is also good for pets who have ear problems!

While waiting in joyful hope...

2011-06-28T05:00:00.003-05:00

I kind of got on a roll sewing this past weekend and made a quilt for our baby girl.

Definitely nothing fancy.

But completely handmade with love
and thoroughly therapeutic for this restless mama!

Zippered pouch

2011-06-27T05:00:00.001-05:00

I needed something to carry around all my diabetes supplies when I'm at work and on the go, so I made this cute and custom little zippered pouch.

It's incredibly easy to make, here's a tutorial:

Cut four pieces of fabric to the desired size of your finished bag. Two pieces of the outside fabric and two of the lining. Place the outside fabric and the lining with right sides together and then put your zipper between them.

Using the zipper foot on your machine, sew the fabrics to one side of the zipper.
Flip your fabrics to the side and repeat with the other two pieces of fabric on the other side of the zipper.

When you open up your piece, the fabrics now have the wrong sides facing. Open the zipper now (if you don't you won't be able to turn your pouch inside out later on!)

Now bring the right sides of the lining together and the right sides of the outside together and pin. Sew around the entire piece just leaving a 2 inch gap on the lining side to turn your pouch out. Cut the excess zipper off.

Turn the piece inside out and poke the corners out so they are nice and sharp! Sew the gap closed that you used to turn the fabric through.

Tuck the lining into the pouch, and voila!
Finished!

These can be made to any size and are perfect for all sorts of storage from shoes to cosmetics.

Even crappy bottles of insulin, glucometers, and syringes....
but hey, at least it looks cute!

Happy Birthday!

2011-06-23T22:46:00.003-05:00

Wishing a very happy birthday to my baby daddy
(of almost 20 years!),

Doug E. Poo

Hope you have a wonderful day!
We love you very much!

Saving your harvest

2011-06-21T05:00:00.001-05:00

I have cherry tomatoes coming out my ears!
To keep them from going to waste, I roasted them and stored them in olive oil. They are delicious on EVERYTHING!

Slice the sweet cherry tomatoes in half and sprinkle on salt, pepper, thyme, and crushed garlic. Toss with a generous amount of olive oil and place cut side up on a baking sheet.

Bake at 300 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours and store in an air tight container. Will keep on the counter for a few weeks.

So delicious on a piece of crusty french bread slathered with ricotta cheese!

Game night

2011-06-20T05:00:00.001-05:00

Last week when we ended up all day in Sugarland at doctors appointments, Doug's mom came over to watch the kids. She taught them a little domino game called "Mexican Train".
Last night we had a family dinner in honor of Father's Day and the little kids challenged Nana to a Mexican Train tournament:

Woe to us all ~ for the student has become the master!
(and he's NOT a gracious winner at that!)

Shooting up

2011-06-15T05:00:00.002-05:00

What I thought would be a routine doctor's appointment turned into an all day affair. My blood sugar is out of control and it doesn't matter how strictly I watch my carb intake or not...my body is failing me.

Last night I gave myself my first insulin injection.

I'm overwhelmed.

Starting an insulin regimen while working hellacious 12 hour shifts where I don't have time to pee much less find time to eat on a schedule is daunting.

I'm scared.

But I have to do this for our baby. There is no choice. I know there could be worse things to worry about but this is still a big deal for me.I'll be taking a break from the rest of the week to deal with life

I'm thankful.

For all of you and your prayers! Where would we be without them?

Ponderings of a nine year old...

2011-06-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

John Paul asks me in the garden the other day,
"Mom, which is easier to grow?
People or vegetables?"

I say to him, "If growing babies was as easy as growing tomatoes, I might have had a whole bushel of them!"

Still taking one day at a time.
It's hard at my age.
Your prayers are much appreciated.

Lemon Balm Jelly

2011-06-13T05:00:00.000-05:00

Y'all, I am a jelly making FOOL!
I always thought it was an all day, labor intensive endeavor, but when you make jelly in small batches, it's quite easy and very delicious.

Today I made a few pints of lemon balm jelly.
Lemon balm is a member of the mint family and can become quite invasive if not kept in check. My lemon balm started having plans of world domination so I had to put the smack-down on him!

I used the exact same recipe that I used for the rose petal jelly I made a few weeks ago. This time I used 2 cups of lemon balm stalks and leaves roughly chopped in the place of rose petals. You can check out the complete recipe HERE.

Looks and tastes like liquid sunshine!
Best of all, no high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, or artificial coloring.

Little Red Riding Hood ~ Creamer Style!

2011-06-09T05:00:00.001-05:00

My little red haired Danny went over the river and through the woods to his Grandma's house to carry a basket of vegetables to her from the garden.

Beets, tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, and zucchini!

But don't worry!
There was no big bad wolf waiting for him at Grandma's,
only a feisty little Shitzu named Bandit!