Nothing But Crumbs

A new day

2011-09-30T07:20:00.011-06:00

What a whirlwind of a few weeks! To sum it all up, I am rejoining the engineering field on Monday and we are preparing to sell our home. We've been cleaning, decluttering, painting, and repairing, all while I've been signing and faxing and calling and emailing to get things ready for Monday. Add to all this chaos that my darling daughter turns 3 years old on Saturday. How did that happen? They really are correct in saying life is what happens while you are busy making other plans - it is amazing.

However, while all this craziness is going on, I made sure I took some time to spend with Ruby. And here is the proof:

I'm all in - who is with me?

2011-08-06T12:54:00.005-06:00

I'm going all in. All in with Scentsy. I am setting my goals and making my plans, and I fully believe it is all possible. Spending the past few days at Scentsy's Fort Worth Stampede convention was inspiring, motivating, and made me realize just how lucky I am to be involved with such an amazing company with incredible products. Between the introductions of the new products, the recognition of top performers, and the great speakers (not to mention all the free give-aways!), I am ready! Ready to host, ready to sponsor, ready to buy, and ready to sell. It is not every day you get to be part of something you truly believe in, so yet one more reason I feel blessed. Between the incentive trip to the Dominican Republic, the leadership retreat in Riveria Maya Mexico, and next year's convention in Las Vegas, I am ready to build my team and help everyone earn some great trips!

So for those of you that don't know, here is a little more information about Scentsy as a company. It has a foundation of Simplicity, Authenticity, and Generosity. It is about real people leading busy lives willing to help one another. It started with a few simple ceramic warmers that use a light bulb to melt wax and release wonderful aromas - no wick, no fire, no soot, no smoke, and no worries of getting burned. Consultants are encourage to be themselves, sell in their own style, no need to try and be someone else. It is also a company that focuses on generosity, helping others - for example they raised $50,000 for the Tarrant Food Bank in the 3 days during convention. Add to that the money they've raised for various other causes and you can't help but realize how much the entire company cares about the community. Are you intrigued yet?

Finally, it is FUN being a consultant! I love the social aspect of helping host parties, witnessing great friends enjoying each other and seeing all the excitement as everyone helps the hostess pick out all her free items. I am eager to answer questions about our products, scents, and specials, as well as questions about how people can be a hostess or even join as a consultant. Add to that how much the company invests in their consultants, from company-wide training calls and on-line material to support we receive from our up-line or even other consultants. I've never felt so supported by another company before and to me, that means a lot.

With all that said, I am always looking for new hostesses and new recruits to join in. Joining is simple, click here, select the Join my Team link at the bottom right and follow the directions. It is $99 for the starter kit, which includes everything you need to run your Scentsy business from the testers and sample products, to catalogs and business cards. What makes this a slam-dunk is how fast most people earn back this initial investment, many with their first party! For those of you who are local, I will even be willing to help you with your first party to help secure more bookings AND earn back your $99 or more. You can't lose in the end. Ready to join?

If you still aren't sure, then lets make a deal: just host a party. Pick a date, invite your friends, earn all the free and half price credits. If at the end of the party you want to sign up, I'll give you the party. All the commission, the bookings, and you can use the free and half price credits as well. You are guaranteed to come out ahead. And what is even better - you can join me in Las Vegas, Mexico, AND the Dominican Republic! Let's go!

AUGUST SPECIAL: 10% off almost everything in the Spring / Summer 2011 catalog

The new catalog comes out in September, contact me for a list of the items that will be discontinued so you can stock up now!

Who wants money?

2011-07-10T15:29:00.004-06:00

I do I do!!! And I would bet you do too. The best part? Its simple. Scentsy. Think about it, if you have to buy a gift and you're not sure what to get someone, how often do you buy some sort of candle or lotion or other scented item for them? Look around your house, how many candles or Scentsy items do you have? How many have you received for a gift? How often do you see cars with air fresheners hanging in them (I bet your car has one right now)? How often do you see parents using antibacterial gel? How often do you see children with stuffed animals or give stuffed animals as a gift? The are EVERYWHERE! Why not take advantage of it and make a little extra spending cash while doing it?

Scentsy is an amazing company to be part of and in all honesty, their products sell themselves. Scentsy offers a variety of training and various incentives - they just had a huge group earn free trips to Disney including spending money. Are you even slightly interested yet? Everyone seems to have their own Scentsy story - I know one of the Directors I've talked to even won a car. They do incentive trips every year as well as conventions (this year is in Ft Worth).

How do you join? What is involved? Any other things to know? Well, here you go:

Signing up is EASY - click on my website, select the "Join my team" link and follow the instructions. The starter kit is $99 and includes everything you'll need to get started. What's even better - commission starts at 20% meaning you'll earn this cost back with your first $500 in sales, and a $500 party is pretty average so it happens quickly, at which point you are already ahead of where you started! If you quit now, you would not be out any money PLUS have a bunch of Scentsy stuff you could still use or give to another consultant - so whats to lose?

Another wonderful thing about Scentsy - how may of you have ever bought a full size Yankee candle? How much did you spend? Now, what do you have left once you've used the wax? Nothing. Your whole investment goes into the trash. Not the same with Scentsy - you purchase the beautiful warmers and then for $5 or less, you get the wax, which can be used over and over and over again and the scents are extremely simple to change. If and when you have exhausted all the scent from the wax, you through it away but keep the warmer. It turns into a much better investment this way. The same goes for the car fresheners Scentsy offers - buy the hanger and the matching scent spray, then just respray your hanger anytime you need it refreshed instead of having to buy a new hanger every few weeks. Again, a much better deal.

Are you ready yet? Let me know if you have any questions and when you are ready to start. I'll even help you host your first party if you'd like and will offer all the support I can. I love what I do and I know you will too.

Happy Smelling!!!

All new 101 in 1,001

2011-06-26T19:26:00.002-06:00

It was time. I finished my list a while back and while I did not complete all my items, I sure made progress on a lot of items. So here I am, in a mind where I have lots of things to change and/or strive for, and I am actually motivated. So here goes nothing. I've created a new list of things to achieve and posted it to the right for everyone to see - and for me to keep track of my progress.

As we know from past experiences, some of the items may change during the 1001 days to accommodate for life, but I have somewhere to start. If you can think of something that is more important that the items I have, let me know and I can adjust. Otherwise, here we go!

And another...

2011-06-26T15:31:00.000-06:00

She is a swimmer!

2011-06-26T15:29:00.001-06:00

Baked Beans for a Crowd

2011-06-26T12:57:00.003-06:00

This recipe comes from my amazing mother-in-law, who I believe got it from someone else as well. Honestly, I don't care about the origin, I just care about them being ready to eat! I love these and as far as I can tell, everyone else who has tried them loves them as well. We usually do half this recipe since there are only a few of us, but if you need a dish for a potluck, picnic, or holiday, you could do the full recipe.

INGREDIENTS

5 cans pork and beans
5 cans Ranch style beans
2 lbs ground beef
1/2 C mustard
1 C brown sugar
2 C ketchup
4 chopped onions

DIRECTIONS

Brown ground beef and onions; drain. Combine all ingredients and bake at 300 degrees for 45 minutes - or cook in a crock pot. Enjoy!

These beans freeze well, so make a batch and save some for later!

Where would you go?

2011-06-26T09:33:00.006-06:00

Paradise, that is where I want to go. To live. To spend the rest of my life. Seriously. You?

I got in contact with a college friend a little while back and I found out she just happens to live in St Croix. Yes, LIVES there. Wow. You always hear about people moving there and very rarely do you think it is something YOU can do. After a short conversation with my husband, we figured why not make it one of our goals. We are starting to do some research to see exactly what it takes and where we would want to go. We know we'll need to find a job that can maintain the lifestyle we want AND that we are willing and qualified to do. We also need to worry about schooling for Ruby. What is the cost of living? What are the houses like? What items are available and what is the lifestyle like? These are all things that need to be looked at with the reality of moving and not just the dream of living in paradise.

So that is it. Our goal is to eventually relocate to somewhere we see as paradise. We don't know when it will happen, but we know that it WILL happen.

With that said - we want your input to add to our growing research. Where would you go? Why would you go there? What do you know about living there? What job would you do and what industries do they have there? Who knows, we might pick yours and then you can come visit any time you want!

July is THE month

2011-06-19T12:23:00.003-06:00

I can NOT wait for July! CAN NOT!!! Anyone who knows me knows that July 4th is my favorite holiday, I mean, its summer, there's no school, we get a day off work, BBQs, picnics, friends and families, and, of course, FIREWORKS. Yup, I love 'em.

Add to all that how Scentsy is introducing this super cute cupcake warmer AND doing their Bring Back My Bar special in July, and I'm even happier. I don't care if this warmer doesn't match my decor. I don't care if I don't have a designated spot for it. It is way too cute for me NOT to buy, and it will be perfect to have out at all of Ruby's birthday parties ... and some of my own. Then there are all the Bring Back My Bar scents, I'm a sucker for special items, or limited-time only deals since last time I bought the Fresh Cut Grass an now I want more. So of course I already order the full bunch of scents so that I can smell them to see if I want more before they go away, and so I have them handy for Heather's July party. In case you're wondering, here is the list:

Banana Flower
Delightful combination of fresh, sweet banana mingled with soft florals.

Banana Nut Bread
Right from the oven with ripe bananas, nuts, and spices.

Cashmere
Sheer floral bouquet combines Moroccan jasmine, lily of the valley,
and bergamot.

Coconut Palm
A blend of tropical coconut and musky patchouli with subtle green notes.

Cutiepie Cupcake
Sweet clementine and yellow cake batter with vanilla and sugary icing.

Exotic Vanilla
/Velvet Spice
Spice up your home with a blend of vanilla bean, jasmine, patchouli,
and sandalwood.

Fresh Cut Cantaloupe
Vine-ripened melon with hints of
juicy orange.

Fried Ice Cream
Vanilla with a nutty touch along with cinnamon and caramel.

Grape Granita
Sun-warmed grape and pineapple with undertones of honeysuckle.

Irish Cream
Smooth and mellow, highlighted with hints of coffee and chocolate.

Lemon Lavender
Inviting blend of tangy lemon and sweet lavender flowers.

Luscious Lemon
Light, creamy lemon.

Orange Dreamsicle
A classic combination of fresh orange, swirled with vanilla cream.

Oxford
A masculine blend of ginger and frankincense with woody cedar and amber undertones.

Red Delicious
Crisp, juicy apples, fresh from
the orchard.

Root Beer Float
Concoction of old-fashioned root beer and creamy vanilla ice cream.

Spiced Orange Harvest
Strong, sweet oranges spiced with cloves and cinnamon.

Strawberry Sweetie
A fruity delight of strawberries sprinkled with sugar and vanilla.

Tuscan Garden
Mediterranean floral bouquet, enhanced by cassis, apples, berries, and rosemary.

Watermelon Patch
Sweet, vine-ripened watermelon.

And don't worry, I should have more pictures of Ruby to post here soon! She's currently outside swimming with Grandma - swimming on her own without her floaties. And she's not even 3 yet. Amazing.

Apple Walnut Gorgonzola Salad

2011-06-14T13:34:00.003-06:00

This is the perfect salad for summer and rivals the one from Bucca di Bepo. I can eat this for a meal by adding some chicken or use it as a side among a variety of meals, either way, I love it. LOVE IT. It is another one of those pick and choose the amounts you want based on your tastes.

Lettuce - I like the mixed greens or romaine
Chopped apples - I use green apples, honey crisp, and/or pink lady
Honey glazed walnuts (or almonds, or pecans, or...)
Craisins
Gorgonzola cheese
Red onion (just a little)
Girard's Apple Poppyseed Dressing

Mix it all up and enjoy!

January Specials

2011-01-02T08:25:00.005-06:00

Happy New Year everyone! Let's hope 2011 is wonderful year filled with family, friends, good health, and happiness. Keep up the positive thoughts and I'm sure some of our dreams can come true.

With that said, for all my Scentsy lovers out there, here is the latest news for the month of January. We have 2 different warmers available for 10% off this month, the Hugs and Kisses above and the Margot you see at the right. The scent of the month is called My Wish.

We are also offering a "Bring Back My Bar" special with 20 previous scents, including Always, Fresh Cut Grass, Sandalwood & Cranberries, and Carrot Cake.

Finally, for anyone wanting to host a party, you will earn double half price items, which is a wonderful deal!

If you haven't heard about Scentsy before, let me know!

Butterscotch Crunchies

2010-12-04T19:02:00.002-06:00

The first batch of Christmas cookies are complete, and this is by far one of the easiest recipes you'll come across. There is something I love about the taste of butterscotch and then add in a little salt and crunch and I'm in heaven. Yum yum!!! I came across this recipe and while I can't pinpoint where I've had these, I know I've had them many, many times and each time, they are just as wonderful.

I hope the next few weeks will bring loads of many more cookies, cakes, and baked goods for me to taste and share, considering I've already been planning some almond spritz cookies and some chocolate peppermint cookies. Here's a good way to start the holiday cooking!!!

INGREDIENTS

1 Bag (11 oz) butterscotch chips
1/4 Cup creamy peanut butter
3 - 1/2 Cups corn flake cereal

DIRECTIONS

Melt butterscotch chips in a double boiler, stirring until melted. Add peanut butter and continue to stir (spray measuring cup with Pam first will help it release). Fold in corn flakes. Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment paper to cool. Once set, enjoy!

Order by Dec 18th for Christmas delivery

2010-12-02T16:48:00.004-06:00

Don't forget about the little ones! They can enjoy Scentsy too. And you have until December 18th to order and get delivery by Christmas. Check out the monthly special and close-out specials for even more deals.

Meanwhile, I'm heading back to my wonderful daughter who is suffering now from Strep Throat. New job means new center which also means new germs. Hopefully this is the worst of it. Poor thing, but we're now off until Monday. Guess it is going to be lots of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Dr. Seuss books for the next couple days.

And for the finale, here is a quick look at how much fun she has with her daddy! They would run down the hallway and dive into the pile of pillows. The pictures don't really do justice but you get the idea.

Sausage, Dried Cranberry, and Apple Stuffing

2010-11-26T06:29:00.003-06:00

Growing up, I was never a big fan of stuffing (or dressing as you may call it). We always had Stovetop Stuffing that I remember and I avoided it at all cost. It wasn't until a few years ago that I tried it again, mixed it with some mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, and cranberry sauce - and quickly realized it had a place. Thanksgiving meals have never been the same! Being the stubborn cook I am, I had to find a homemade recipe since boxed mix just wouldn't do - and this one is my winner.

Ingredients

1 pound sage bulk breakfast sausage
4 tablespoons butter
3 cups sliced leeks, white and pale green parts only, cleaned well (about 2 large leeks)
2 apples, cored and chopped
1 cup chopped celery with leaves
1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
1 cup dried cranberries, rehydrated in boiling water for 15 minutes and drained
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
6 cups boxed bread cubes
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 to 3 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Saute the sausage in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through, crumbling coarsely with the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage and drippings to a large bowl. Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, apples, celery and poultry seasoning to the skillet and saute until the leeks are soft, about 8 minutes. Mix in the drained cranberries, sage and rosemary. Add the mixture to the sausage, then mix in the croutons and parsley. Next add the chicken stock a little at a time until the stuffing is very moist. Be sure not to overdo it; it shouldn't be mushy. Season with salt and pepper. Place in a casserole dish.

Bake in a 14-inch oval or 9 by 13-inch rectangular casserole dish and place, uncovered, in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until the top is crispy and the center piping hot. Remove and serve immediately.

New adventures underway!

2010-11-25T14:10:00.002-06:00

Lots of changes going on in my career life right now, and I'm loving it! I have decided to join the world of Scentsy as an independent consultant and will be selling these amazing warmers and scents through my website (click here). If you are not familiar with these, they are similar to candles, but so much more! The melt scented wax with a light bulb so you never have to be worried about open flames again. Plus, the wax cools quickly so that chance of getting burned is also very slim. They offer over 80 different scents, a variety of warmers from plug-ins to full size, as well as hanging fresheners, room sprays, travel tins, and Scentsy buddies. Check out the website and feel free to contact me with any questions - I am always looking for people who want to host parties or join my team.

Another big change is that yesterday was my last day as a teacher since Monday I am starting as an assistant director at a new center. I am extremely excited about the opportunity it offers, although I'm a little nervous since it is all brand new to me - new location, new staff, new teacher for Ruby.

Meanwhile, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Pink United

2010-08-29T09:41:00.003-06:00

Join the fight to end breast cancer!

As the world's leading breast cancer organization, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is committed to ending breast cancer forever. On October 16, 2010, I will join thousands of others playing a part in the annual Komen Dallas Race for the Cure^®. It’s a 5k run/walk event to raise money for breast cancer.

My goal is to raise at least $200 this year. Please make a donation to help me reach that goal. Online donations are simple, and the donation page is secure. Please go to my fundraising page to make a tax-deductible donation. Or, you can join me and team Pink United for the 5K run/walk at North Park Mall.

The deadline to have my donations collected is by November 12, 2010. By making a donation on my behalf, you are supporting local breast cancer education, screening, treatment, and outreach along with international research that will someday lead us to a world without breast cancer.

Thank you for your support of this cause.

If you have questions or need help please don't hesitate to call the Komen Dallas Race for the Cure office at 214-750-RACE.

Midori Sushi

2010-08-15T14:33:00.003-06:00

Here comes another restaraunt post! This is one of these places the my wonderful husband and I accidentally came across. Midori Sushi in Irving, near the Tom Thumb and Four Seasons. The prices are great and the sushi is delicious! The atmosphere is casual, which I think is what help keep the prices lower than many other places we've tried. The have a lunch buffet that is not bad, but of course it is mainly rolls and not as much variety as we pick ourselves. However, it includes salad, pot stickers, vegetable tempura, mini cheesecake bites, and a few other items - so for the price, we can't complain. At dinner however, we pick a variety of items from the salmon and stick crab, to ordering their Spicy Tuna Tower which is absolutely one of our favorites! Plus, you get a bowl of Miso soup and they bring each person a free "daily special" piece. And what makes it even better for us is we can go, enjoy dinner, AND watch the Rangers game all in one.

Finally, there is another location over off 360 that is nice as well, but I still prefer the original. Yum yum!

It is a shame they are not open on Sunday because I could definitely go for some sushi now!

OMG Cinnamon Toast Cupcakes

2010-08-15T14:11:00.005-06:00

I've never been a huge cake person, as I prefer brownies, ice cream, cookies, and cheesecake, but these are freaking amazing - FREAKING AMAZING! Not only is the frosting moist and creamy, but so is the cupcake. They are sweet without being too sweet and it is almost impossible to eat just one. Consider yourself warned.

Recipe courtesy Cupcakes from the Cake Mix Doctor by Ann Byrn.

INGREDIENTS

CAKE

1 pkg (18.25 oz) yellow cake mix
1 pkg (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
1 1/4 C milk
3/4 C vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 Tbl + 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbl sugar

CINNAMON CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
4 Tbl butter, softened
3 C powdered sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

Mix cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, eggs, and 1 Tbl cinnamon. Fill lined muffin pan about 3/4 full. Bake 18-22 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow to cool prior to frosting.

Mix cream cheese and butter in a large bowl, slowly add powdered sugar and cinnamon until completely combined.

Mix 1 Tbl sugar and 1/4 tsp cinnamon for sprinkling.

Use cinnamon cream cheese frosting and them top with cinnamon sugar mixture. Eat and enjoy!

Orange Julius

2010-08-15T13:56:00.004-06:00

Alright, who remembers these? I know I sure do! We used to go to the mall and beg our parents to get one, they were always so yummy and refreshing. Then, my sister some how got a recipe when she was in high school and we would make them all the time - in orange, lemon, and any other flavors we could. Then for some reason, we stopped and the recipe was lost.

Until a few days ago anyhow. While watching Food Network (as is on so often in our house), Alton Brown was talking about them - and the craving hit me, so I searched high and low for a recipe, and came across this one. Yum! And now, thanks to blogger, I am going to immortalize it so I will never lose it again.

INGREDIENTS

6 oz Frozen OJ concentrate
1 C water

1 C milk

1/3 - 1/2 C powdered sugar (depending on how sweet you want it)

1 tsp Vanilla extract
10-12 ice cubes (or more depending on their size)

DIRECTIONS

Blend all ingredients in a blender. My special trick was to then put the mixture in my ice cream maker and bring it to a much better consistency. Yum yum!

It's been a while, so here you go!

2010-08-15T10:02:00.010-06:00

Waterpark time!

2010-06-21T18:32:00.018-06:00

Ruby dooby doo's!!!

2010-05-30T10:16:00.022-06:00

Lots of updates!!!

2010-04-18T17:56:00.041-06:00

The Great Snowfall of 2010 - 12 inches in 24 hours ... in Texas.

Wilton Cake Class trials - Courses 1 and 2.

Ruby's sailor suit

Ruby's ride

Ruby's first trip to the zoo.

Ruby's first piano lesson

Ruby's other ride

Ruby feeding the ducks - she loved it!

Bluebonnets 2010

Double popeesh

The next morning. 24 hours prior to this she was found sitting on the floor in her bedroom with her bed still a crib. 'Twas time for the toddler bed conversion and it was a total success.

Random Ruby

2010-02-07T10:55:00.009-06:00

Ruby's favorite activity is to put her dolls night-night. She learned this at school and the method is to put the dolls on their belly, pat them on the back, and say "shh-shh-shh". It is quite funny since there are days she will help her teacher put the other students to sleep at nap time this same way ... my little teacher's pet!
Ruby goes from happy to mad in 0.02 seconds...

Seriously mom, why am I wearing this?
This required fast hands since Ruby doesn't leave anything in her hair.
Playing "peek-a-boo where's Ruby?"
Cuddling her baby in the blankets great-grandma made for her - this just happens to be the blankets she always pulls out of the drawer for her dolls, so cute!

Bath time!!!

2010-02-04T16:39:00.007-06:00

Here we go!

2010-02-04T11:29:00.004-06:00

Alright folks, I am doing it! My friend Kelli and I are signed up for the Wilton Cake Decorating Classes, starting with the first course and have plans to take all 4 of them. Be patient, since I'm sure in the next weeks and months I will be posting more and more pictures of the crazy cakes we will be practicing on.

Stay tuned...

Pumpkin Fluff

2010-01-10T19:29:00.004-06:00

I'm a few months late in adding this, but since this is a staple in our house during the fall, I wanted to make sure I listed it! We absolutely love this, and I even shared this with a few more people who are now also Pumpkin Fluff addicts. I enjoy it with Nilla wafers, but it is also good with graham crackers or gingersnaps - or even as a topping on pumpkin pie. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together instant vanilla pudding mix, pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Fold in the thawed frozen whipped topping. Chill in the refrigerator until serving.

Orange Cranberry Bread

2010-01-10T10:48:00.005-06:00

Wow - that is all I can say. I initially made two large loaves of this and was going to send one with my husband to work since I doubted we'd eat both in time. I was so glad I didn't since the first loaf was gone in a day. I am now completely addicted to the orange cranberry flavors and need to go stock up on cranberries! This is a wonderful, dense bread that you can hear calling your name while it sits in the kitchen. It has quite a cranberry bite right after it is baked, but after sitting over night the flavors meld and it becomes even better. If you want to eat it right out of the oven, I would suggest putting a little glaze on it to sweeten it up (mix up some OJ, vanilla, and powdered sugar), otherwise make it and enjoy it the next day.

Now, I think I'll have to make some later today!

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup orange juice
Grated peel of 1 orange
2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
2 tablespoons hot water
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. In another bowl, beat egg. Add orange juice, peel, butter and hot water. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Gently fold in cranberries. Spoon into greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2010-01-10T10:37:00.003-06:00

I had heard about this recipe over and over and over, and finally decided to try - and holy cow it is yummy!!! I made it on Christmas for my in-laws (we didn't have any leftovers) and then again on New Year's Eve (again, without leftovers). It is so simple and sooooo rich, I highly suggest starting with a small piece. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (8 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent rolls
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, room temperature

Directions

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Beat the cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar and the vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth.
Unroll the cans of crescent roll dough, and use a rolling pin to shape each piece into 9x13 inch rectangles. Press one piece into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Evenly spread the cream cheese mixture into the baking dish, then cover with the remaining piece of crescent dough. Stir together 3/4 cup of sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Dot the mixture over the top of the cheesecake.
Bake in the preheated oven until the crescent dough has puffed and turned golden brown, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 squares.

Some holiday pictures

2010-01-03T18:27:00.031-06:00

ICE! at the Gaylord

2009-12-08T08:31:00.013-06:00

More to come soon!

A night at home

2009-11-24T21:01:00.010-06:00

Ruby's First Day at the Park

2009-11-07T21:53:00.024-06:00

Ruby's First Haircut

2009-10-25T17:03:00.011-06:00

Ruby's day with dad and grandpa

2009-10-14T05:43:00.016-06:00

One year pictures

2009-10-04T14:58:00.012-06:00

Ruby's 1st Birthday - A Flutter-by Day

2009-10-04T14:31:00.011-06:00

As always, Ruby was a gem for her 1st birthday party. As parents, we could not have asked for the day to go any better...well, other than wishing she would have napped sooner rather than later, but it all worked out. We had a wonderful turnout of family and friends, good food, nice conversations, and a whirlwind of pictures. Our house was turned into a butterfly haven with window clings and wall stickers covering the living room, our plates and other partywares had a cute butterfly pattern, and the house was filled with pink, white, and lilac balloons. It was a wonderful end to a marvelous week off spent with my mom and step-dad. The only part that makes me sad is that it is over - both the week with my family AND the first year of Ruby's life. Where did the time go?

And thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special, we are lucky to have each and every one of you in our lives!

Happy 1st Birthday Ruby-doo's!!!

2009-10-01T08:19:00.003-06:00

Sorry about the delay folks!

2009-09-25T20:15:00.016-06:00

Ruby is growing

2009-08-02T08:08:00.011-06:00

Ruby goes swimming

2009-07-05T13:31:00.010-06:00

What's going on

2009-07-04T20:38:00.007-06:00

So much going on and so little time to actually write about it! Ruby is now 9 months old and as you can see, she is able to stand on her own without assistance. She has even started to take a few steps, too - so it is only a matter of time until the kitties are REALLY in trouble.

She had her 9 month check up and she is almost at 20 pounds now. We are still in shock that she is ALREADY 9 months, it is so hard to believe. They checked her iron levels (which are fine), gave her a TB test (so far so good), and gave her the hep B vaccine. She only cried for the vaccine, my little trooper! And (drum roll please) ... the pedi gave me to okay to try and re-introduce dairy and soy into my diet! We are going to start slow with hidden dairy first, then move onto cheese and yogurt, and if all goes well, then ice cream and milk. Once that is done, we'll do the same for soy. I haven't had much yet, but the one sandwich I did have has not caused any issues. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Cheese fries, sour cream, milk shakes here I come!

Meanwhile, I have been working for almost 3 months now and am loving it! I have my own class of 4 year olds now and while there are still stressful times, I am so much happier than I was at my previous job. Plus, I get to nurse Ruby as needed and I love being so close to her. And while I don't miss my old job, I do miss a lot of the people (and the bigger pay checks, but this is so worth it!). Speaking of, I need to send them a note saying hi - if any of you are reading this, I hope all is well and I do miss you guys!

Nothing else super exciting is going on here - just living life. Our days are filled with work, sleep, eating, and taking care of Ruby. We've got a decent routine and are really just enjoying being a family. It still shocks me at how much spare time we had before Ruby as compared to now, especially since I'm not sure WHERE the time goes now - but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Ruby is the best thing to ever happen to me!

As for Ruby, she was able to enjoy her first firework show last night. We went to a minor league baseball game (Airhogs) and were able to see the Lone Star fireworks from the stadium (Lone Star is where we usually go on July 3rd, but we wanted to avoid the chaos with Ruby this year). She had a good time at the game, but was awake far too late and became a monster. Sooooo, tonight she went to bed at 8pm and since daddy is working, I'm relaxing on the couch and missing fireworks on my favorite holiday. Well, I guess I shouldn't say missing, I should say not watching since I made the choice and I don't mind it. Ruby comes first, and as much as I love the 4th of July, well, the partying is just going to have to wait another year. And that is okay.

Now, with all that said, I hope everyone has a wonderful July 4th as I am now off to bed.

Ruby's Walker

2009-07-02T09:28:00.004-06:00

Long overdue pictures

2009-05-30T17:48:00.014-06:00

What a month!

2009-05-02T14:20:00.004-06:00

First - I'll come back and add pictures later.

April - Month Six of Ruby's life, and what a wild ride it has been! She went from sitting up for her six month pictures on April first, to crawling, to now already pulling up and sort of shuffling along the edge of things. Oh, and she got both her bottom teeth at the same time, and it feels as if her top teeth are getting ready to break through as well. My goodness! Add to that my going back to work on the 15th, another round of mastitis, the whole family having an upper respiratory infection, and the worries of Swine Flu - you can only imagine how little (think NONE) free time I've had! Beyond all the craziness though, it has been fun. I have been put in charge of a classroom of two year olds which has been an eye opening experience none the less. Rather than spending my days sitting at a desk watching the clock, I now monitor snack times, bathroom training, sing "If You're Happy and You Know It", and chase after kiddos for 8 hours. The monetary pay is MUCH less than working at TI, but the personal reward is so much greater. When first interviewing, my boss made it sound like she has high hopes for me to promote quickly since I have so much education (although the fact it is engineering doesn't seem to matter). And - for the first time in my career life, I actually WANT to promote. Sooooo - I have high hopes myself for where life is taking me. But for now, I have a mobile daughter who is requiring my attention, so any further updates will just have to wait.

Happy May everyone!

Bluebonnets!!!

2009-04-05T07:18:00.017-06:00

Texas tradition: take pictures in the bluebonnets every spring - and that is just what we did! None have been edited or cropped yet, but they are still fun.

Six Month Pictures

2009-04-02T12:11:00.010-06:00

Taco Seasoning

2009-03-22T08:49:00.004-06:00

Thanks to Ruby, many taco seasonings are even off limits because they contain soy. However, this is a good thing since I've been wanting to find a homemade seasoning anyhow - and I did! This one is a little spicier than the packets we normally would buy, but its delicious and is now what we will use anytime we need taco seasoning. I hope you enjoy it too!

I'll include the measurements for a single serving as well as the measurements if you want to put together a large amount and store it for future use.

INGREDIENTS

SINGLE SERVING

1 Tbl chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp white pepper

1 tsp corn starch

BULK

3/4 C chili powder
1 Tbl garlic powder
1 Tbl onion powder
1/2 Tbl crushed red pepper flakes
1 Tbl oregano
2 Tbl paprika
1/4 C + 2 Tbl cumin

2 Tbl salt
2 Tbl white pepper

1/4 C corn starch

DIRECTIONS

Mix all ingredients together. Use 3 Tbl and 2/3 cup of water for each pound of browned meat.

Trouble is brewing

2009-03-20T16:21:00.008-06:00

And while she's not QUITE crawling, she still is able to move around. I see babyproofing happening REALLY soon.

Ruby starts cereal

2009-03-18T20:11:00.010-06:00

The "A-Ha" Moment

2009-03-17T20:59:00.003-06:00

I had a break-through moment today, filled with a feeling I NEVER thought I would have. My husband and I ran to the supermarket this afternoon to pick up a few things he needed. As we were standing in the check-out line, I asked him if he had any cash. He said yes (which alone is amazing since we NEVER carry cash either) and asked why. I stated I wanted to purchase a lottery ticket (one of my 101 goals, just because), so he gave me the money and we went to purchase the tickets. On the drive home, we talked about what would and would not change in our lives if we won. I think after taxes we would end up with about 4 million, which is a big amount of course, but we don't expect it to let us live lavishly the rest of our lives without working. While we were discussing this, the thought came to me that even though I could now sufficiently be a stay at home mom, I'm actually excited about the thought of teaching math and I would still want to go forward with it. What!?!?! I must be crazy, right? I've always been the person who said if I ever won, I would quit my job and be done. And if I were still at TI, that is exactly how I would be thinking. But now, while I am looking into the testing for certification and realizing I have quite a bit of catching up and studying to do, I'm excited about it. I WANT to do it. Sure, I haven't started yet so I don't know for sure this is THE path, but just being able to say this is something I WANT to do even if I don't HAVE to is HUGE. Like, really, amazingly, freakishly huge for me.

And so, while I still hope my numbers hit, I know even if they don't, I still won something with that $2.00 we spent on those tickets. Just another indicator that things DO happen for a reason.

Snickerdoodle popcorn

2009-03-16T13:22:00.003-06:00

I was looking for a sweet snack using what I have around the house and came across this recipe - and yummy! My husband said between this (crack corn as we call it now) and the pretzel recipe, we should sell this stuff. I hope to find some more popcorn recipes as well, so be on the lookout!

INGREDIENTS

1 bag microwave popcorn, popped
8 Tbls butter
1/3 C sugar
1 Tbl cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

Put butter, sugar, and cinnamon in the microwave for a minute. Stir and microwave another 30 seconds. Stir well again. Pour mixture over popcorn to coat well and bake for 10 minutes at 200 degrees, stir, and bake another 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Just too cute for words

2009-03-15T20:39:00.002-06:00

Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Roast

2009-03-15T08:02:00.003-06:00

First off, I apologize for the lack of food pictures lately - they just have not been turning out well! I'll work on my photography skills so we can start getting better images again.

Next - I love my slow cooker! LOVE!!! I've been trying to find more and more recipes to make in it and this one is definitely a keeper! I was hoping this was going to taste as wonderful as it sounded and smelled, but I think it came out even better. I served it with a Sausage, Cranberry, Apple Stuffing (I still need to tweak the recipe before I post it) and homemade cranberry sauce - my husband and I both cleaned our plates! Luckily, we have enough to each have another full serving and I can't wait. The smell reminds me of the holidays, and I love the holidays, but this is so super simple to put together. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

INGREDIENTS

1 (3 lb) Boneless pork loin roast
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 (16 oz) can whole berry cranberry sauce
1/4 C honey
1 tsp Orange zest
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

Place pork roast in slow cooker and season with salt and pepper.

Combine all remaining ingredients well and pour over roast. Cook on low for about 4-5 hours. Remove roast and allow to set for about 10 minutes for the juices to redistribute. Slice and serve, topping with the cranberry cooking liquid.

Grandma's Banana Bread

2009-03-13T10:48:00.003-06:00

Yet again, we have another banana recipe, because, if you remember, I do love bananas! Anyhow, I got this recipe from my mother-in-law, who is the bestest mother-in-law in the world. She makes banana and pumpkin bread just for me (she leaves the nuts out since I'm not a fan of nuts in my breads), and they are FABULOUS! We are both excited to think about Ruby getting older and enjoying all the baked goods we both make, as well as all 3 of us being able to bake together - we can't wait for the cookie cutter time!

This is the best, most moist, quick, and easy banana bread recipe and I see many loaves of this in my future.

INGREDIENTS

3 banana's, mashed
1/2 C butter, softened
1 C Sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 C Flour
1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 C nuts - if you want them, I don't

DIRECTIONS

Cream together bananas, butter, sugar, and eggs. Add flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda - mix well. Add nuts if you want. Pour into a greased bread pan and bake about an hour at 300 degrees. (Mine took about 70 minutes)

Enjoy!

I made it!

2009-03-09T10:02:00.008-06:00

My husband's cousin was having a baby shower for her second daughter and trying to figure out what to get her was pretty difficult. I wanted to get her something special as well as something useful, and since she had stuff that she used for her two year old daughter, what can you do? After a little research and a recharge of my creative genes, I decided to do a diaper cake and a homemade baby book (using a template I received from another friend). A little frustration, some fishing line, new black ink, and a quick shopping trip - this is what we ended up with (no images of the baby book, sorry!). All in all, I was pretty impressed with how it turned out and hope to have a chance to make more in the future, I hadn't realized how much I missed the creative activities!

It all started with this card. The little girl's room is going to be a safari type theme, so what better than an animal? And for a little girl, how cute is the pink and green giraffe?

Looking for more items in the same color scheme, I found a green bottle that just happen to be the same brand they had registered for. And then there is the rattle - this is actually one of Ruby's favorite toys right now since she can grasp it quite easily, although she is in the stage of hitting herself in the head with everything, but she doesn't seem to mind.

The hardest part was finding something to put on top. I ALMOST did a big bow but figured, how is that useful? Instead, I got lucky enough to find this little bath towel that not only had a giraffe, but also matched the color scheme - score!

Anyhow, I think this was quite the success and I am proud of it.

A Black and White Montage

2009-03-08T14:09:00.007-06:00

Enjoying the outdoors

2009-02-26T18:31:00.010-06:00

And some indoor cuteness

Almond Lemon Chicken

2009-02-26T18:23:00.004-06:00

This is one of those recipes that I wouldn't have originally tried, but with my limited diet and my husbands desire to use the almonds we had, he decided to make it. And wow. We ate it all up so quick I didn't even have a chance to get a picture ... either time! It is a little more time consuming than my husband wanted, but he didn't realize that until he was knee deep in the recipe, so he continued on. We serve this with white rice cooked in chicken broth and some sort of vegetable, and never have leftovers.

INGREDIENTS

5 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons Dijon-style prepared mustard
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
6 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 cup sliced almonds
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
6 slices lemon, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Combine the lemon juice, mustard, garlic and white pepper. Beat in 5 tablespoons of the olive oil. Put the chicken in a shallow container and pour the lemon mixture over it. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

In a large skillet, saute the almonds in 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil until golden. Remove from skillet and reserve. Wipe out the skillet. Drain the chicken, reserving the lemon marinade. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet, then add chicken breasts and brown over high heat until breast is brown on each side (6 to 10 minutes). Remove from skillet and reserve.

Strain the lemon marinade into the skillet. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. Add chicken broth and cornstarch/water mixture. Cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reduces by half (about 5 minutes). Add marmalade and stir over medium heat until melted. Stir in the butter a bit at a time over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in parsley and red pepper flakes. Return chicken to skillet and heat through. Add reserved almonds and garnish with lemon slices.

Raven's Grill

2009-02-25T17:23:00.003-06:00

One of the first places I went with my husband and his family to eat was Raven's Grill at Texas Star gold course. They introduced me to the great southern staple that is Chicken Fried Steak, accompanied with mashed potatoes, fried okra, Texas toast, and a salad. Holy cow! My husband and I split the Double Barrel and still had leftovers, I couldn't believe how huge the portions were. We really enjoy eating here since its always a laid back, golf course cafe type atmosphere and I don't think we've ever had a wait. It reminds me of one of those places that only regulars attend so everyone knows everyone. Oh, and they have an herbal vinaigrette that is freaking awesome, too!!! And the nachos, ohhhhh the nachos. They are another one of those gigantic portions for not a lot of money and so tasty. Basically, if you want a nice, casual atmosphere and some wonderful home style cooking that is extremely affordable, head to Raven's Grill.

Picture of the week

2009-02-24T15:39:00.000-06:00

Snuffer's

2009-02-24T15:16:00.004-06:00

I'm on a roll today kids! Here is restaurant entry number two - Snuffers! They have the best, most amazing, absolutely divine, heart-stopping goodness called cheese fries. They are not only covered in cheddar cheese, but then are served with crumbled bacon, chives, jalapenos, and ranch dressing. These are by far one of the staples you MUST get when in the Dallas area. And yet another food I cannot have due to my daughters dairy intolerance right now. My waist line loves it, my mouth however has another opinion. Absence DEFINITELY makes the heart grow fonder. Anyhow - our normal meal at this wonderful place is an order of cheese fries, an order of fried pickles (huge order so be warned), and a pitcher of Shiner Bock. This, obviously, is not for the faint of heart (or dieting patrons).

Melting pot

2009-02-24T15:03:00.003-06:00

Mmmmm ... fondue! Remember when I said I was going to post about some of our favorite restaurants? Well, here's the first! We absolutely LOVE The Melting Pot. This is the first place I took my husband for his birthday and also the same place he proposed. The meal is amazing and you get to spend a few hours with the one you love. The atmosphere is nice - the one in Addison is more of a private, date like setting and the one in Southlake is more open, but still with dim lights and a great ambiance. The service is always marvelous and the food, well, the food is always wonderful. This is one of the places that I dearly miss while on my dairy and soy free diet, and as soon as I ween, we will be heading right out to indulge!

Now, we almost always get the same meal - one of the Big Night Out meals. We start with the Swiss cheese (and I'm not normally a fan of Swiss, but this is like a piece of melted heaven for dipping bread and apples). The next course is salads which we tend to mix up a little, sometimes getting a chef, sometimes a Caesar, and sometimes whatever the special salad is. I, of course, always top it off with their wine garlic seasoning - which someday I'm going to have to purchase. Next comes the main course - meat. We get the Coq au Vin cooking style and get whatever mix of meats is offered, including lobster, chicken, shrimp, beef, pork, and who knows what else. We almost always get a second helping of the vegetables as well - we're big fans of squash and mushrooms, and my husband loves the broccoli. Finally, we end it all with the Banana's Foster chocolate (which seems to come on and off the menu, but even if it is not listed, we are still able to get it). Yum! Fruit, pound cake, brownies, and marshmallows all to dip in fantastic chocolate, how can you go wrong? And did I forget to mention wine? The have quite an extensive wine list as well and we usually grab a bottle of something to indulge in. All in all, we have never been disappointed with the food or service and if it wasn't for the cost and calories, we'd dine here every night. But, this is the real world, so we keep it to just a few times a year - and i can't wait until we get to go again.

Happy Mardi Gras

2009-02-24T10:06:00.010-06:00

It all started with a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras - my cousin, his two friends, and me. We rented a balcony over bourbon Street for a few hours and my life changed forever - you see, I met a man there who invited us back that evening since his uncle owned the place. We spent the next few days together and learned we lived just miles apart back in Texas.

This is my cousin and I before heading out to meet back up with that stranger who was letting us on the balcony for free.

This is me and that stranger back in Texas, one of our first few times out.

On to some baseball!

We later bought a house.

And got married.

And along came baby.

The most precious thing in the world.

My heart has changed forever, all because of that stranger ... who my daughter now calls daddy and I call my husband.

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!!!

Addictions

2009-02-22T08:49:00.004-06:00

In my continuing quest to find foods without any sort of dairy or soy, my wonderful husband said he wanted fried catfish. Now, I've never been a big fish eater and growing up, seafood consisted of shrimp and fish sticks. He on the other hand LOVES fish and has always talked about fried catfish, so I figured what the heck. I was not that excited about it, but it didn't have dairy or soy, AND it meant he would be making some fried squash too, which I do love, so I went with it. Normally, he was used to fried catfish made with cornmeal, but he decided to try a different seasoning and grabbed the Louisiana Fry mix. Oh. My. GAWD! We couldn't get enough of the fish that night, I was completely impressed and asked for it again the following week. And the following week. AND the following week. Then we secured an old fryer his mother had. And we've had fried catfish and squash every week since. Yes, we are officially addicted to this fry seasoning. I think we are even eating this more often than we are eating pasta, which for anyone who knows me, this is amazing because I love pasta. And I can't wait until I can eat lasagna and vodka sauce and all those yummy, cheesy, creamy pasta dishes again - but I'm sure this recipe will stay on our menu then too. I might just add a cheesy salad. (((grin)))

So go buy some and fry yourself some tasty catfish!

Cran-Orange Oatmeal Muffin Drops

2009-02-19T12:15:00.003-06:00

I have been completely addicted to orange cranberry flavors lately and came across this recipe. My husband and I ate all these within 2 days and then made another batch - they are amazing! I will be making sure I always have a bag of frozen cranberries around so I can whip up a batch of these whenever the mood strikes.

INGREDIENTS

1 C Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 C Butter, soften
3/4 C Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1/4 C Milk
1 tsp Orange Zest
1 1/2 C Oats
3/4 C Cranberries, chopped
3/4 C Walnuts, chopped (optional)

GLAZE:

1 C Powdered Sugar
1/2 tsp Orange Zest
1/4 tsp Vanilla
1-2 Tbl Orange Juice

DIRECTIONS

Cream together butter and brown sugar. Add egg, milk and orange zest.

Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Mix together butter mixture with flour mixture.

Add oats and cranberries (and walnuts if you want them).

Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes, until edges slightly brown. Move to wire rack an allow to cool.

Prepare glaze: mix powdered sugar, orange zest, vanilla and a Tbl of OJ - continue adding OJ until it reaches the consistency you desire.

Once cookies are cooled, top with glaze as desired.

Store in air tight container, separate layers with wax paper. Cookies will increase in moisture after about 8 hours.

Help is needed

2009-02-19T09:28:00.002-06:00

http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/applicants/watch/odIFs4H82Ds

Please take a moment to help out one of my cousins. He is applying for the best job in the world, which you can read about here http://www.islandreefjob.com/ and needs everyone to vote on his video - it is only a minute of your time and could help lead to his dream. Just click on the first link and then (hopefully) rate him 4 or 5 stars. That's it! Thanks!

Super Simple Southwest Chicken Soup

2009-02-16T18:49:00.004-06:00

Two words: Simply yummy! I am hoping to get some baking done tonight and needed a quick and easy recipe for dinner, and I came across this one. My husband has always been a big fan of chicken tortilla soup and I've been a big soup kick lately anyhow, so this sort of just feel into place. We were both HIGHLY impressed with how well this turned out, especially for how easy it is to put together. We will definitely be adding this to our menu of dinner items, which is great since I'm still sans dairy and soy which leaves our menu rather weak.

INGREDIENTS

1 can Corn (15 oz)
2 cans Chicken Broth (14.5 oz)
1 can Black Beans, rinsed (15 oz)
1 can Rotel (10 oz)*
Chicken**
1/4 tsp Cumin
1/4 tsp Chili Powder
1/4 ts[ Garlic Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp White Pepper

TOPPINGS
Sliced Avocado
Lime wedges to squeeze
Shredded Cheese
Tortilla Chips

*Rotel is diced tomatoes and green chili's. I used the one with lime and cilantro and hope to always use this one with this recipe, it was fantastic!

**I used an 8 oz package of pre-cooked chicken for ease of preparation. I was going to use a store bought Rotisserie chicken, but it had whey protein which I can't have. It was great with the chicken we used but I can see how the rotisserie would have been better.

DIRECTIONS

Combine all ingredients through white pepper in large sauce pan. Bring soup to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer. That's it. Seriously. Serve with your choice of toppings, but I suggest them all. You can adjust the spiciness as needed.

Now, I of course ate it without the cheese and it was wonderful, although I can definitely see how the cheese would make it better. 8 months and counting until I can verify that.

We have a thumb sucker!

2009-02-15T12:07:00.003-06:00

Help wanted, apply inside

2009-02-08T11:18:00.002-06:00

Alright readers, I'm looking for insight, advice, and recommendations - so please leave your comments below! I am really struggling with trying to figure out what I want to do. I spent 6 years in school for a BS and MS degree in Materials Science and Engineering and then spent 7 years working as a Yield Enhancement Engineer at a semiconductor company. The problem? My job was FAR from satisfying and in all honesty, I am glad I was forced to make a decision on how to move forward because I would have stayed in that position until retirement otherwise. Now don't get me wrong, I did not hate my job, and in fact enjoyed many parts of it - but the parts I enjoyed were the parts not nearly as critical for my position. I liked the supportive type functions much more than the team leader and influencer stuff. I always felt like my peers knew more than me so I was quite timid and usually deferred to them.

So what do I enjoy? Well, the most satisfying thing I remember is when I was a teaching assistant in grad school for a "Chemistry for non-Science Majors". I was tutoring one of my students who just could not grasp the periodic table and after going over how the period table is laid out according to the electron orbitals, there was her "a-ha" moment. It all made sense now and she finally, after chemistry in high school and again in college, understood. I felt so good to make a difference in one person's life. I realize I'm a developed and I enjoy numbers and those black and white things, the right and wrong, the it works or it doesn't work. I'm good with the stuff in the middle, where you give me a general outline or idea of what you want, I can get you 80-90% of the way to the finish line, if someone else can tend to those final details.

So where do you come in? I need to know what types of jobs I should be looking at. My first thought is math teacher, but that means more schooling and a pretty significant pay cut - plus I'm not sure what the job market is for math teachers around here. However, if I end up in a good district, then we can send Ruby there instead of dealing with private school since the district we live in is, well, not really where we want to send her. Plus I get summer's and holidays off, which means more time to spend with Ruby. Okay, so what are some other options though? Some thing in banking or finance? What schooling or training is needed? Oh yeah, and how do I deal with pumping if I have long interviews or training or other thing like that?

HELP!!!

Mmmmm! Toes!

2009-02-05T16:42:00.002-06:00

Yay! Our little pumpkin has found her toes, and its quite cute. I do have to say diaper changes were MUCH easier before. I'm sure it is just going to get worse though, but that's okay, it means she's growing and learning - and THAT is good.

On another note, I took her in for her 4 month shots today - and she was a trooper. She cried a little, but quickly recovered and has been a wonderfully happy child ever since. I am just hoping she can keep this mentality with the shots and not get my super severe fear of needles - so I just have to hide my fear around her. We might make daddy be the one to go with her more often, but shhhh, don't tell him! (((giggle))) Oh, and she measured in the 99% for length / height. no wonder she is already in her 6-9 months clothes. She definitely got her dads genes in the height sense, lucky girl!

4 months and counting

2009-02-02T08:35:00.010-06:00

Wow, January was quite a ride for us. I went back to work and Ruby went to daycare and my husband went back to midnights. Of course, I was back to work for about 3 weeks when I got laid off, so I'm back at home with Ruby again. We also all spent most of the month sick, from head colds and coughs, to me having mastitis and Ruby getting an ear infection, along with my husband dealing with not one, but two different boils. Needless to say, it was quite a rough month ... but it wasn't all bad!

Ruby started doing a LOT better with tummy time and is doing really well with rolling over. She's good when it comes to rolling from back to belly, but still needs more practice going from belly to back. I think the fluffy diapers and not nearly enough tummy time are the main reasons, so we'll work on more tummy time to help her out. Meanwhile, she's seems to be doing great with her hands, grabbing items and holding them - and EVERYTHING goes into her mouth. She's learned how to snatch our glasses off our face and loves when I do kissy noises on her hand. She also giggles when we kiss her belly during diaper changes. She smiles more than not anymore and has really learned how to make all sorts of racket, although she doesn't quite understand the indoor verses outdoor voice yet.

I think we are all really starting to get this family stuff down. My husband and I dropped her off at daycare one day and then came home to clean and it just felt strange not to have her around. She has become such a huge part of our life its amazing to think that just a short period ago it was just the two of us, and while I'll admit I miss some of the couple time my husband and I once had, I wouldn't trade what we have now for anything.

My sister and sister in law also came to visit (and I shamelessly stole the pictures from her blog). It was a nice, relaxing weekend for them to get to spend some time with Ruby.

And Ruby really enjoyed spending quality time with her aunts. She got a little spoiled of course, but isn't that what aunts are suppose to do?

Ruby continues to grow each and every day and is now into her 6-9 month clothes, its incredible. I get a little sad every time I have to put another outfit in the bucket because it just doesn't fit anymore. Good thing baby clothes are so inexpensive!

Life goes on

2009-01-29T16:22:00.004-06:00

I now get to see this sweet, smiling face a lot more. Sadly, after 9 years with my company, due to the economy sucking big time I was laid off. It's a bittersweet end for a lot of reasons. This job is THE reason I moved to Texas, so I feel as if a part of me is now missing and I'm a little lost. My husband and I will financially be able to manage for a while, but unless we can find some big ways to reduce our expenses, I will need to find something else and I have no idea what I want to do. On another hand, this is the age where Ruby really begins to start her learning and developing process, where she starts giggling more, sitting up and crawling, and all those other things that will be wonderful for me to watch and experience. While I would never have quit my job with our current situation, there is definitely a big part of me that is excited about staying home with her for a while - just don't let my responsible side hear that! My biggest concern when I got the news was how this would impact Ruby's health insurance since both her and I were on my plan at work, and this alone really made me feel sick. Luckily, my husband talked to his HR department who said that we can be added at anytime since I lost my job and coverage. Thank goodness. I know that everything else will work out, maybe not ideally the way we want it to, but we know what are options are and as long as we keep our eyes open on our situation, we should be able to make it without an issue. We know others who work with my husband and have wives that stay at home with their kids, so managing on my husbands salary alone is do-able, it just might mean moving and / or selling a car and such. Now, I will admit that if we have to move, I am going to cry because of all the work we did in the nursery!

Anyhow, life goes on and I know we'll be okay. It is tough times for a lot of people and while it sucks, at least we have a plan.

Oh yeah - and I've never been happier that we decided to go the cloth diaper / wipes and breastfeeding route. At least we know we won't have to spend any more money on those items!

Long overdue update!

2009-01-22T12:14:00.005-06:00

Wow, the time has just flown by! I apologize for not having any updates sooner and I'll do my best to post more often, but on to the good stuff!!!

Let's start with month 3 - December. This was a rather rough month for both myself and Ruby, and I can honestly say I'm glad it is over. We continued to struggle with her showing signs of some sort of allergy and after a little research and talking to the pediatrician, I was going to eliminate soy from my diet as well as dairy. For any of you label readers, you'll know that almost everything seems to have either dairy or soy in it - and forget processed foods and easy freezer meals. Luckily, everything I read stated that most people allergic to soy could still tolerate soy oil, soybean oil, and soy lecithin. After a short time, the diaper changes started going better and I know we finally found the issue - so I've been both dairy AND soy free ever since. It's hard and we are basically rotating a few meals at this point in time, but its working. Hopefully we can start to branch out and make more meals, but with all the other changes that have gone on recently, we'll wait until things settle down to really worry about it.

This was also the month where Ruby quit falling asleep for naps easily, and since we didn't realize it, we had several evenings with complete meltdowns. Between swaddling and shooshing and gentle rocking and nursing and laying her on her side and various online conversations and books, we managed to get through that rough patch and are back to happy baby.

On to some good news, Ruby began really smiling in December, smiling more than just in her sleep - an it feels so good to see it. Right now, there is nothing better than peeking over at her in the morning when she first wakes up and she greets you with that big, open-mouth smile.

This month however has been crazy-busy, which is both good and bad. I returned to work on January 7th, which meant Ruby was starting daycare. I am still torn about having to send her to daycare and basically let a stranger raise my daughter, but my husband and I have had several conversations on this subject and while WE are willing to give up things NOW to make it possible for me to stay home, we are NOT willing to give up all the dreams we have for Ruby in the future - from traveling to private school and college. I know its the right decision but I still don't like it. Lucky for me, my husband was on evening shift at the time and could take Ruby to daycare, because in all honesty, if I had to do it, I don't think I would have left her there. Of course, my husbands schedule has been changing constantly since the beginning of the month so its been a bit difficult to get into any sort of routine. We're managing on a day to day basis now, but we both agree we need to sit down and get a sort of daily list of what needs to be done and what needs to be ready before bedtime. From washing bottles and pump parts and diapers, to getting the diaper bag packed, making dinner, bathing Ruby, and getting my work stuff together, plus dealing with my husbands new school schedule, its been quit chaotic around here. I know with time, things will work out better and we'll develop a more efficient routine, so I just need to survive until then.

Oh! Another update - we visited with the hematologist after Ruby's test came back with abnormal hemoglobin and it turns out she has a strain of J-Baltimore hemoglobin, which she got from either my husband or myself. All the information they have on this strain indicates it is completely benign and she should have no health issues from it - which also means that whichever one of us has it has nothing to worry about as well. Now, if I never have to go back to Childrens Medical Center, THAT would be great. Walking in there and seeing all those children who are going through chemo is heart-wrenching. I can't even imagine what it feels like to be a parent of a REALLY sick child, and I hope I never know that pain.

Ruby is really starting to learn now, as she has begun rolling over, both from back to belly and belly to back. She hasn't completely mastered it, but she is sure getting there. She has also been gaining better control of her arms and hands. She loves to grab the items hanging from Mr. Octopus and, another new habit, stick them in her mouth. She will suck or chew on anything she can - rattles, stuffed toys, paci's, shoulders. She is so alert and always taking in everything around her, it is so fun to watch all these changes! This parenthood thing is so much better than I could have ever imagined, and even on the hardest of days, I will never regret my decision to have a child - Ruby really is the light of my life.

I have a feeling she is going to be a daddy's girl though, notice which ducky she likes. That's okay though, she'll always be my little Pebbles.

Christmas in pictures

2008-12-26T16:19:00.015-06:00

Dear Santa

2008-12-21T14:10:00.004-06:00

Dear Santa,

For Christmas I would like to learn how to nap and to stop growing out of my clothes so fast. Oh, I would also like a pony since every little girl needs a pony.

Thank you,

Ruby

Living with an infant

2008-12-16T10:06:00.007-06:00

This is our house Pre-Ruby:

This is our house now:

All expecting mom's, BEWARE!

And, since I need to post a picture of the little stinker who makes this all possible:

A December to Remember

2008-12-13T21:03:00.005-06:00

That's right - I'm totally that girl in the Lexus commercial! My wonderful husband and I decided it was time to get a new vehicle, between the ABS light that was always on and the fact the front seat was useless with Ruby's car seat in the back, it was more than time. What is even better? We're not paying much more a month than we were before, meanwhile I'm driving a much safer BRAND NEW vehicle. We started by looking at the ES350 because I've always felt SUV's are just too big for me, but after seeing that the ES350 is actually a little bit longer and wider, and getting a MUCH better deal on the RX, we went for the RX - and we figured it is a lot more practical considering we have an infant and all her stuff (i.e. stroller) to lug around.

So, like the commercial, it definitely is a December to Remember!

PS - what makes this even better? We now get FREE valet parking at the Rangers games - woohoo!!!

Cloth diapers 101

2008-12-08T16:27:00.004-06:00

It's been a little over 2 months since Ruby was born and I think we are good to go on our cloth diapers now and have even started using cloth wipes soooo, in an attempt to put together as much information for anyone who is interested, I will list it all here.

First thing first - Types of cloth diapers

Flats / prefolds: These are what most people think of when they hear Cloth Diapers. They are the flat piece of material that needs to be folded and some how hooked onto the baby along with a waterproof cover. This tends to be the most economical method to use cloth diapers, but it also seems to be the most involved. There are also a variety of types and it seems that Green Mountain diapers tend to be the most popular choice among the people I know that use these. I don't have any experience with these though.

Contours: These are similar to flats / prefolds, but they are contoured to fit into the covers better. Again, I don't know much about these since we don't use them.

Fitteds: These fit like disposables and are usually sized (S, M, L, etc) to change with your growing baby. These will still need a waterproof cover however. I know a lot of people who rave about the Kissaluv fitted size 0 for newborns with thirsties covers (I'll talk about this in a moment) - we bought some and tried, but I failed at these. They kept Ruby's messes in without a problem, but I ran into wicking issues and fit issues and other problems, so I abandoned them. Again, some people really love this method - me, not so much.

Covers: These are what are used with the above types of diapers. It is what keeps clothing and such from getting wet. There is also a variety of these, from a type of cover that fits over in the same way a disposable fits (with velcro type closures or snaps) to wool and fleece soakers which basically just pull on.

Pocket diapers: These are what we use (and LOVE). It is basically a waterproof cover attached to a fleece type material with a pocket where you stuff the material that is used to hold to moisture. What is nice about the one's we use (BumGenuis 3.0 One Size) are that they will grow with Ruby so we should never need to replace them due to size - and she should wear them until she potty trains. The one size aspect is some snaps on the front that adjust the rise to fit her - and let me tell you, these things fit great around her legs (as long as you get it tight enough, since my dear husband had an explosion from one he did not get tight enough today!).

All in ones / all in twos: These are the closest to a disposable, since its all one piece, but made of cloth. I think the difference is the all in ones have the absorbency sewn in so it looks like a disposable and the all in twos have it attached on top, sort of like an extra flap which allows it to dry faster.

Now, onto what I've found is needed:

Diapers, obviously. How many you need is up to you as far as how often you'll do laundry. Newborns seem to need 12-18 day. I've seen typical recommendations suggesting about 24-36 diapers and plan to wash about every other day (you don't want them to sit too long).

Diaper pail - I have yet to talk to someone who uses cloth diapers with your typical diaper pail, there always seem to be issues. Most people recommend a plastic trash can with a flip-top lid, they say the air flow actually helps keep them from stinking as much.

Diaper pail liner - some people use a pillow case, we however have waterproof liners. Actually 2 since a) I wash it every time I wash the diapers and b) we'll need it if our daycare agrees to use them. I've seen some people like 3-4 due to daycare and such, so far though for us, 2 seems like it will work. I'll let you know if that changes once I go back to work.

Wetbags - these are smaller waterproof bags to keep in your diaper bag. The size and number you'll want depends on you and your family. We currently have two - 1 small that holds a single diaper and 1 larger one that will hold 4-5 diapers. Some of these even have a tab that you can put a drop of essential oil on to help with any smells.

Cloth diaper safe detergent - Since you want these to absorb the moisture and not repel it, you need to be careful with how you wash them. We used Planet at first and then I've found someone that sells wonderfully scented diaper safe detergent (Crunchy Clean). Oh, and never, never, never use fabric softener - it builds up on the fabric and can cause repelling. I also put a few drops of tea tree oil in which helps prevent stink issues (and also helps get rid of the mildew smell I sometimes noticed in our front loader!).

Wipes - we are in the midst of switching to cloth for a couple reasons. One being its obviously better for the environment and the second being that we're washing diapers anyhow so its just easier than having to have a trashcan AND the diaper pail. Plus, what I've learned is the wipes seem much better at cleaning her bottom off and keeping poo of me! I took an old wipes container, used a few drops of tea tree oil (retards bacteria growth), a squirt of baby oil, a squirt of baby bath, a squirt of baby lotion, and water, and then soaked baby wash clothes in it. When I take the wipe out, I squeeze all the excess moisture out and at that point, they feel the same temperature as your disposable wipes which was my main concern. As for what will be in the diaper bag, I'll have to see how well these work in the wipes cases coming with my new diaper bags. Hopefully, I can be done with all things disposable though. I think we have about 20 clothes right now so we'll see if I need to get more.

This is all we are using as of now, but Ruby is still exclusively breastfed. Once she starts having more solids, then we may investigate a diaper spray or disposable liners. A diaper sprayer is basically a kitchen sprayer hooked up to the toilet and is used to spray off the solids into the toilet. The liners are just that, liners placed inside the diaper and if I remember, all the ones I've seen can be flushed, so it just keeps it from sticking to the diaper. I have no experience with these, but wanted to put the information out there.

We're working on it

2008-12-07T21:11:00.003-06:00

Christmas pictures that is! This was our first attempt and of the picturs I took, this was the only one in focus ... and then she started screaming. Sooooo ... Ruby is in bed and we'll have to try again on another day. Such as life.

Diaper Bags

2008-12-07T17:27:00.005-06:00

After 2 months I've learned that as cute as the Jeep bags are, I get highly annoyed with them since they do NOT have a good shoulder strap. Also, I try to carry my purse with them as well since I want something small I can fit my keys, wallet, cell phone, and chapstick - and I want it to be SEPARATE from the bag, so additional pockets do NOTHING for this. After a little exploration and some chatting on a message board, I was pointed towards the "seconds" at www.fleurville.com. Everyone raved about the Mothership bag, so of course I had to pick up one of those, but since the site offers free shipping on orders over $99 and the one bag and shipping would have been half of that, I figured why not just get enough to qualify for free shipping? (Yes, I spent money to save money, I am woman, deal with it!) So now I wait. Wait for this most recent purchase to arrive and hopefully I am as happy with them as everyone else. And I even bought the green one so my husband has something NOT pink to use.

For anyone in the market for a diaper bag, I highly suggest thinking about what features you want - and then make sure you get one that has a good shoulder strap as too!

A rough day times 2

2008-12-06T17:02:00.008-06:00

Yesterday was one of those days I wanted to curl into a ball and cry. My house was a mess, as it always seems to be lately, the trash was too full to put anything in, laundry was half done, my husband was working, and Ruby was as fussy as fussy can be - she wouldn't let me put her down or she screamed, she didn't want to eat, she didn't want me to sit down, she would only take her paci for a few minutes, I had to change her diaper evey 5 minutes it seemed, and she's decided she likes to shake her head back and forth HARD, so she's knocked me in the face and chin on several occasions. Oh yeah - at 8pm I still had only had breakfast since I couldn't get enough time to make anything to eat. Luckily she still goes down at night and sleeps pretty well and for that I am beyond thankful.

Then comes today. She was GREAT, WONDERFUL, HAPPY, and SMILING ... until my husband had to leave for work. Ever since, minus a few SHORT naps, she has been fussy again - and continues to spit up. I have had to change my bra, wash the couch cushion, change her top TWICE in 20 minutes, gone through countless spit rags, and finally put a bib on her and said screw it, at which point she decided to just scream bloody murder - then I just sat and cried. My pediatrician keeps saying some kids just spit up - but I just can't get on board with THIS MUCH being okay. And while my elimination of dairy has seemed to help some, she sill seems really mucousy which leads me to believe that there is still something else going on, whether it is an allergy to what I'm eating or some other sort of allergy. Add this all up and I am stressed out and emotional. We head back to the doctor next week though so once again, I am going to bring it up. If it turns out this all normal, then maybe I'm the one who needs medication.

UPDATE: Happiest Baby on the Block and the Miracle Blanket are my new best friends. Used the techniues when Ruby was crying bloody murder, and not only did it shut her up and put her to sleep, but she's been sleeping since about 7pm and its now 9:45pm. It may screw up her sleep tonight some, but at least I'll have a little bit of down time before then. Anyone who is skeptical of spending the money on those two items, just do it - you will NOT regret it!

Traveling with a 2 month old

2008-12-03T20:31:00.010-06:00

My husband and I decided to take a quick trip to San Antonio on his weekend while I'm still off work since we normally don't have the same weekends. We also figured this would be a good trial with Ruby to see how she does with traveling. First thing first, we realized quickly we need a bigger car, so it looks like we'll be doing some car shopping soon. Joy. Along those same lines though, with a 2 month old, there is a LOT of crap to take when traveling since we wanted to make sure we had the items that tend to soothe her - which means not only did we need her car seat, stroller, Pack-N-Play to sleep in, but we needed her bouncy chair and her floor mat as well. So, not only was the car filled to the gills, but as you can see our hotel room quickly turned into a nursery as well. (I also told him that when we get a new bed, we are totally getting a king!!!)

Family photo in front of the Alamo, aren't we cute!?!?

While in the Alamo, Mr. Octopus brought out that cute little smile of hers and we FINALLY got a good picture of it! Hooray!

Mom and Ruby - the Moby Wrap is the ONLY way to manage the Riverwalk with an infant

This is what we call her "Elvis lip" - she used to do this every time she dirtied her diaper, and now she just does it randomly at times, it is quite comical. Watch for a picture of her "Thriller hands" in the future!

On the way home, we stopped in Gruene (pronounced "Green") Texas and while wandering around the little town, came across this shop, so of course we snapped a picture!

All in all, it was a successful trip, considering we had a 2 month old. She did really well ... until we tried to eat and then (everytime) she got fussy - but she seemed to enjoy the fresh air and was quite alert while we wandered around, plus she slept well at night (and so did I - again I'm all about a King bed now). Who knows the next time we'll be able to travel, but we can apply the lessons we've learned this time and hopefully as she gets older, traveling will get easier (at least in SOME aspects anyhow!

Month 2

2008-12-01T14:27:00.011-06:00

Wow - these past 2 months sure went a lot faster than those last 2 months of pregnancy, and its so completely unfair! I don't even want to think about how fast these next few weeks are going to go, these few short weeks I have left at home with my precious pumpkin, it completely breaks my heart. Until then, we'll enjoy every moment we can, even those where the colic monster is visiting while tears stream down my face - sure it is frustrating, but it is part of motherhood and I'm okay with it. On to the past month!
I think the biggest thing in this last month is learning Ruby has a milk protein allergy, it has been a HUGE step for us in dealing with her fussiness and learning what I can and cannot eat. We are close to a month clean now and she seems so much better, although she still has her moments (like all of yesterday) and I have to admit, its not as bad for me as I thought. It has us eating at home more often and I have a feeling it will help me lose weight a little faster since I have to cut almost all of the higher fat foods I was eating out, not just the cheeses, but most of the bakery items too unless I make them myself. Regardless, it is all worth it to ensure Ruby is doing better and is able to continue to be exclusively on breast milk.
This past month Ruby has also begun to smile, and not just in her sleep. Mr. Octopus seems to be the best at getting her to show those gums of hers! Now, if we could only get some better pictures of her when she is smiling - as of now, she seems to know the camera is coming out and then refuses anymore smiles and coos. Stubborn little stinker of mine!

She is also starting to get decent head and neck control, so much so that we can put her in lumpy (aka her bumbo) for short periods of time. However, it sure can make burping her a little more difficult since she prefers to look around. Luckily, she hasn't done TOO much twisting and turning during feedings yet, I can only imagine how painful that will get!

And lately, she has discovered her hand - or fist rather! It is all she can do to try and get the whole thing wedged into her mouth. The hand in mouth used to be a feeding queue and that has since gone the way of those newborn clothes since she will finish a feeding and then begin sucking on her hand, making quite loud and obnoxious slurping noises. At first I was fearful that she wasn't getting enough to eat, but I've since learned that this is common among the online mom's I know. Babies really are such strange creatures!

We head to the pediatrician for her 2 month appointment on December 10th, at which point she needs to get her first round of vaccinations (sniff sniff). What I haven't blogged about is that she will also be heading to an appointment with a hematologist. It seems that her PKU test came back with some form of unidentified hemoglobin, so we're going in for more testing. My husband did a little googling and it seems that most of the time when this happens, it is completely harmless and nothing comes of it - so I've basically done my best to not worry or think about it. Most typically if something is wrong, it is linked to some sort of anemia, and since Ruby is not showing any signs of anemia, I'm just waiting to hear what the doctors say.

This little girl has captured my heart and I look forward to watching her grow and learn about life. I don't think I've ever felt as loved and needed as I do as a mother, knowing this little innocent life is completely dependent on my husband and I for everything - and that makes me feel more important than anything. And while there are times when I miss the ease of not being a parent (such as how I could just grab my purse and head to the store), I can never imagine missing out on all the joy she has brought to my life. So, Ruby Ann, my dearest baby girl, no matter what life throws at you and how old you get, your father and I thank the Lord for you each and every day - you will never live a day without love. Remember that. Happy 2 month birthday sweetheart!

Thats it!

2008-11-30T19:47:00.003-06:00

I love my daughter, I love her more than I ever thought possible and while there were times during my pregnancy I was ready to call it quits, I'd do it all over again. With that said, she is very high maintenance, with today being one of those days where I couldn't put her down. Not only would she fuss if I did, but she would get herself into such a tizzy with her ear-piercing screams that there would be moments where she wouldn't be breathing, as if she was taking a second to muster up as much energy as she could to put into her rage. It breaks me heart when she gets like that, but it is also frustrating because I sit and helplessly watch as the tumble furs flutter across the floor, laughing at me since they know I am unable to catch them because my hands are occupied. I then think of the toilets that need cleaning, the tubs that need scrubbing, the dishes waiting to be put away, the laundry piling up in the buckets (albeit clean laundry), and on and on. I am able to get her diapers washed and at least one meal in (heating dinner right now), and I consider myself lucky if I find time to do anything else. So, knowing that I will be returning to work in a few weeks, I am going to discuss with my husband that we have a few options as of now - 1) since he will be off on 2 week days while Ruby is in daycare, HE can be responsible to take care of the chores, 2) get someone to watch Ruby on Saturday or Sunday so I / we can get the house cleaned, or 3) we're going to hire a housekeeper. If it's not stressful enough having to deal with Ruby when the colic monster is visiting, its so much worse if my house is in shambles - especially when I'm alone. I'm not sure how we go about finding a housekeeper, but I have 3 weeks to figure it out.

I don't know how other people do it and I feel a little bit like a failure to think about it, but whatever we are doing right now is not working an I need some cleanliness to keep my sanity! Le sigh...

So, dear husband of mine, you have a choice to make, because if you leave it up to me, we're hiring a housekeeper!

My latest obsession

2008-11-30T13:31:00.011-06:00

BABY LEGS!!! These things are great and make diaper changing SO MUCH EASIER. What is also great is that they'll fit her for more than just a month or two, considering she is already growing out of some of her 0-3 month clothing and it makes me sad! Yes, I know some of the reason is the cloth diapers are so much fluffier, but even with a disposable on there are several outfits and onesies she no longer fits. I can't believe it is already time to put some of the clothes away. *wipes tear away*

Anyhow, here are the sets I've already received and oh how I love them!

Pumpkin Muffins

2008-11-30T12:46:00.003-06:00

While on the search for a dairy free Thanksgiving menu, I found a recipe for pumpkin muffins (which I used in my dressing - recipe to come) that required no substitutions. I love pumpkin almost as much as I love banana, so I not only bought enough canned pumpkin to make these muffins once along with a pumpkin pie, I bought several more cans as well to have on hand. These will most likely become something we have often especially since I can have them for breakfast, which is the one meal that seems to be the hardest without milk.

INGREDIENTS

1 can pumpkin (not pie filling)
2/3 C vegetable oil
3 eggs
3 C Flour

2 C Sugar

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cloves

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

Mix pumpkin, oil and eggs. Combine will remaining ingredients and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow to cool and enjoy!

Pasta E Fagioli

2008-11-29T19:56:00.006-06:00

This is modeled after Olive Garden's Pasta E Fagioli soup that I've been craving. I actually wrote Olive Garden to see what they had on their menu that didn't have any butter or milk products and the response I got was not to eat there. Joy. Well, if nothing else, this milk free diet will surely help our pocketbook AND my waist line, but thats another post.

I grabbed this recipe off some website and changed a few things to suit my tastes, plus I had a zucchini left over from Thanksgiving to use. I am very happy with the way it turned out and will be making this again. The one thing to note is that I cook the pasta separately and add it to the individual bowls. I'll store it in a separate container too - I haven't figured out how to keep it from getting all gummy, so this method works for me!

INGREDIENTS

1 lb ground beef
1 C diced onion
1 C grated carrot
1 C diced celery
1 small zucchini, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
29 oz crushed tomatoes
1 can red kidney beans
1 can great northern beans
1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)
1 can chicken broth
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 lb ditali pasta

DIRECTIONS

Brown meat in a large stock pot, drain off any fat.

Add onion, carrot, celery, zucchini, and garlic - saute about 10 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients, except pasta, and simmer for about an hour.

Cook pasta per directions to al dente.

Spoon pasta into bowl and top with soup - enjoy!

This is love

2008-11-29T19:50:00.005-06:00

Ruby and Daddy

Ruby sleeping on Mommy

Ruby and mommy

Mr. Octopus

2008-11-24T16:56:00.004-06:00

See this? Look close - see Mr. Octopus hanging there? He is Ruby's favorite toy, she will lay there and stare at him, making all sorts of facing and some random noises. It is one of our weapons to fight the Colic Monster. We have even recently learned to take him with us and hang him from her car seat handle when we are out to help keep her content - and it is wonderful. The problem? You can't just buy Mr. Octopus, you have to get the whole playmat - which sucks since we were all prepared to buy another one or two of these for her. Phooey. It actually kind of reminds me of the scene from "Best in Show" where they are screaming at the sales clerk in the store as they are looking for a replacement toy for their dog - I could totally see my husband and I being THOSE people if we lost Mr. Octopus, but THAT will never happen because we will NEVER lose him. (NOTE for any grandparents and family reading this - if you can find Mr. Octopus for sale somewhere such as second hand shops or what-not, please snatch him up for us!) So, we will continue trying to get some of those random smile pictures of Ruby playing with Mr. Octopus to post in the near future - so stay tuned!!

Picture of the week

2008-11-22T20:42:00.003-06:00

Ruby and her Grandpa having a grand ole time. She sure is turning into quite the little chunk!!!

Sausage Rolls

2008-11-22T20:35:00.003-06:00

My husbands favorite breakfast item is Sausage Rolls, with the problem being that most places seem to use sausage with cheese in it. Well, that, and the fact that I don't know what is in the roll part - so we had to find a way to make these at home. And we did. These are so simple and really quite tasty, plus there are little so I'm sure it will become something Ruby enjoys eating when the time comes.

INGREDIENTS and RECIPE

Little Smokies
1 Can refrigerated crescent dough

Preheat oven according to crescent roll instructions.
Roll out dough and cut triangles in half, roll each half around a little smokie and place on cookie sheet.
Cook according to crescent dough instructions.

Lentil Soup

2008-11-22T20:26:00.003-06:00

With Ruby's milk allergy, I have to basically learn a completely new menu of foods - all without cheese and sour cream, and, of course, without any other milk proteins such as whey or casein. My first NEW recipe was a lentil soup recipe from Cooking Light. This was actually quite impressive and will be a wonderful base for future soups which I will be adding various vegetables and meats to. Plus, it is going to be great for winter - hooray!

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbl Olive Oil
2 1/2 C Chopped Onion (sweet is preferred)
1 C Chopped Celery
1 C Chopped Carrot
1/2 tsp dried Thyme
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 C green lentils
4 C chicken broth
1 C water
1 (14.5 ounce) can petite cut diced tomatoes, drained
2 Tbl lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
3/4 tsp black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion through bay leaf to pan and saute for about 12 minutes.

Add lentils and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Stir in broth, water, and tomatoes - bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 40 minutes.

Remove from heat, let stand for about 5 minutes and discard bay leaf.

Add juice, salt, paprika, Cajun seasoning, and pepper.

Serve with crusty bread or rolls.

Our own tradition

2008-11-10T19:18:00.003-06:00

A World Wildlife Fund catalog randomly appeared in our mailbox one day, filled with a variety of precious stuffed animals which can easily be obtained by a donation. After quickly browsing through the pages while my husband and I continuously "oohhh'd" and "aahhh'd" over them all, he mentioned this could be the start of a Christmas tradition with Ruby. I previously stated I wanted to start donating to some sort of animal foundation, whether it was giving money, food, supplies, or time to the local shelter or dealing with something different, I wanted to make sure we were doing SOMETHING - and it is now obvious that my husband does listen to me since HE is the one that mentioned going this route. We have since decided we are going to donate to the WWF each year for Christmas and Ruby will get the stuffed animal representing the animal we choose to sponsor as well as an adoption certificate, color photo, and a species spotlight card. We'll keep all the certificates and paperwork in a photo album for her and she'll have the stuffed animals to play with, plus, the main reason for doing this, it will teach her about donating in a way that gives her something to look forward to. Of course, once she is older we can look into doing something along the lines of soup kitchens or Susan Komen events, but for now we can begin this as a tradition that we hope will stick with her for the rest of her life.

That, and what does a 3 month old really NEED for Christmas? I mean, the clothes are really for us, not her and we'll obviously buy her toys as time goes on. AND, it's not like she will be able to OPEN anything herself, so at least this way she has something from her first Christmas even if she won't remember it.

If you are interested in what's available, you can see it all here.

You can't bottle this up or I'd be a millionaire

2008-11-09T17:10:00.005-06:00

As I sit holding my daughter, who is sleeping so soundly it renders me motionless, I am overcome with a wave of emotions so strong it becomes almost impossible not to cry. I am quickly learning what it means to be a mother, and how simple acts such as sleeping and eating become the most precious moments of my day, times where I am able to forget the rest of the world and instead snuggle with this ball of love my husband and I created. It is times like this when I understand what people mean when they previously muttered "You won't understand until you have your own child" because in all honesty, there are so completely right.

Looking down at her while she is sprawled across my chest makes me feel like life is just too good to be true and any minute this magnificent existence is going to slip away from me as I wake up from the best dream ever. It's that feeling of "this is too perfect to be happening to me", and I can only compare it to the feeling I had as I was walking down the aisle at my wedding, the complete giddiness of what's to come and how wonderful I felt, that total amazement of the moment actually being MINE, knowing this moment, this life, everything turned out so much better than I ever could have expected or hoped - and recognizing that for the rest of my life, there will never be a shortage of love. And even all THAT doesn't truly explain just how euphoric she makes me feel, because there are no words that can ever sum up what it means to be a parent.

So, as a wise person once told me, you'll finally understand when you have a child of your own.

Diapers, diapers, diapers

2008-11-08T21:24:00.004-06:00

After fighting with the fitted and covers and learning the one's my cousin gave me are still either too big or don't fit right, I finally found a cloth diaper that seems to work on Ruby - the BumGenius 3.0 one size. We currently have 2 of these, I ordered a few more as well as a I figured I'd give a few of the other one size diapers a try. Lucky for me I was able to not only get free shipping, but I also got $10 off my order. (You can too at diapers.com, use coupon code RUBY to get $10 off your first order - plus they carry disposable diapers, formula, clothing, bottles, etc.) Now I wait for my "fluffy mail" aka cloth diapers to arrive. Once we get a few more so that my husband can get more experience with them, then I'll look into buying a full set so that we can finally get Ruby OUT of the disposables completely, and I can take them into our daycare and attempt to convince them to use them. I may need to purchase another diaper pail liner or large wet bag to use at the daycare, but I'll wait until they agree to use them. Keep your fingers crossed they say yes!

And so it goes...

2008-11-06T15:05:00.003-06:00

We think Ruby has a milk allergy. Le sigh. This means eliminating ALL dairy items from my diet for at least 3 weeks to see how she reacts. Okay, no milk, cheese, yogurt - simple enough. Not. It means no products that contain any milk proteins, which means nothing with milk, butter, whey, or casein in the ingredients. It's amazing what that cuts out. Some breads, frozen french fries, rice-a-roni's, and on and on. Basically, 80% of what I eat has some trace amount of dairy in it - usually in the form of cheese (cream cheese, Parmesan, etc). It also means I have very little options when it comes to dining out since I have no way of knowing what is in what I'm eating, and since my husband is working evenings and Ruby hates being put down, cooking dinner is close to impossible so I need quick, easy choices. And yes the moby wrap lets me "hold" her without using my hands, but since it puts her right up against me and she is notorious for spitting up ALL THE TIME, I limit how much I use it right now - one can only handle smelling like spoiled milk for so long! With that, wish us luck that either 1) she isn't allergic to milk and it is something simpler like a simple stomach bug or allergy to something I rarely eat or 2) this dairy free dining gets easier. In the end, as long as Ruby is happy and healthy, it is all worth it.

Bottle Drying Rack

2008-11-04T10:00:00.003-06:00

I registered for this during one of my "add everything" frenzies and then regretted it once I got it since we are using the Playtex Drop-In's, thinking I wouldn't get any use out of it. I was planning on returning it but never got a chance to to do it since things got so crazy between being put on bedrest and then actually having Ruby, so it sat in her room. And now, I'm so glad I did keep it! It's perfect to use for drying the pump parts, the milk storage bottles, the bottle nipples, and her binkies. Who knew? It's actually to the point where I'm sure I would regret it if i actually HAD returned it, since we all know the bottles and parts wouldn't dry as fast or completely by just laying them on a towel. Hooray for being a procrastinater!

Bottle drying rack - 2 thumbs up!

Month 1

2008-11-03T11:37:00.007-06:00

The day we brought her home:

Ruby at 1 month:

Ruby turned 1 month old on November 1st and while I was hoping to make this post then, she had other plans for me: she introduced me to a night of colic. So, I apologize for being a little late on this but I've also learned that we are no longer on OUR schedule, we are now always on HER schedule, meaning LATE is going to happen. With that, lets get on to the good stuff.

First off, I'm going to go back to the hospital days and list what I took and found useful while there. (This is just a copy from what I previously posted on a message board)

Remember, this is coming from someone who was induced, a needle phob who had an epidural, who is breastfeeding, had a very mild, grade 1 tear, and dealt with 9 full months of heavy throat mucus which lead to nausea most of the time.

Hospital bag - what I used:
My own pillows (both DH and I)
Blanket for DH
Towels (hospital ones suck)
Slippers
Comfy clothes for after birth (they helped me feel much more human than the gown - although I did use the gown as a sort of robe since I didn't have one)
My own toiletries - showers before made me sick and the first shower post birth was like heaven, and so nice to have my own stuff.
CD of calm music - used when I napped during the day
Notebook - used to track questions I had as well as my birth experience
Snacks - after birth
baby clothes / blankets - the 0-3 months swollow her so I'm glad I brought extras, as well as she spit up before we even left, and the blankets were good in the pictures.
I did not bring make -up but I don't ewar it often anyhow. I did have lotion and chapstick though.
Camera, cell phones, laptop, and chargers
Boppy - I LOVE this pillow and use it often, both to support Ruby as well as to lean on since my back is sore
Breast cream (Lansinoh)
Money for parking and for snacks / soda

And here are a few things I learned those first few days:

The epidural was NOTHING compared to what I expected. I am a HUGE needle phob and just cry when they MENTION taking blood. Seriously, it hurt worse when I have a big pimple on my back than the epi did. Also, the epi is applied by gravity, so don't sit up too much. I did, and it wore of on my left, I started have extreme back labor and thought I was going to die. I can't IMAGINE going through that without med's. My IV sucked 10x more than the epi.

I think being completely numb also takes away any modesty I had. I had no issues laying there for all the world to see and examine since I couldn't feel anything - and I've always been one to be a little more modest, even at the doctor (I refuse to go to a male OB/GYN). Amazingly, even being numb, I was still able to push just fine and had Ruby out within half an hour.

Recovery is not nearly as bad as I expected. My back and abdomen are more sore than my vag is. Bowel movements haven't been that bad either, although the pushing is a little strange feeling - not sure how else to explain. Make sure to take your colace and just be patient and you shouldn't have any issues.

The bleeding didn't last nearly as long as I expected. I figured it would still be heavy, but honestly, the heavy, red stuff was basically gone by day 2.

I didn't feel that immediate connection when she was first born since it STILL didn't seem completely real to me, so don't feel bad if it doesn't happen to you. I have since gone through those emotions though and am totally in love with her. There are still days it doesn't seem real and I'm waiting for her REAL mom to come take her back - luckily I AM her real mom so that won't happen.

Now, on to the first month of her life, which by the way is filled more with her dad and I learning than it is with her milestones.

Breastfeeding SUCKS at first. I've never been one to have tender breasts so I was hoping this would be fairly easy for me - nope. There were several times where I sobbed while feeding her because I was in so much pain and told my husband I was ready to give her a bottle. Luckily, I also told him BEFORE her birth that I'd need his support at times to encourage me when I felt that way - which is exactly what he did. Between the first and second week I remember it being the worst, and one side hurt more which lead me to favor the other side. I was a little worried it would cause supply issues on that side, but by pumping that side some as well as still letting her feed on it every 3rd or 4th time, we never had any issues. By the end of week 2 the horrible, miserable, stabbing, my nipple is being chopped off pain went away and while it still took another week or two for the discomfort to go away, it was significantly much more manageable. Now, at over a month, we are still strictly breastfeeding and while there are still times its uncomfortable, I am glad I didn't give up. There are even times where it is stress reducing and feels like nice bonding time with her. With that, I'll say the same things I've read from other people a million times, don't quit until you've stuck with it for at least 3-4 weeks (unless of course you have other health reasons).

Speaking of feeding, we also introduced her to a bottle at 4 weeks, since once I'm back at work she'll have to take a bottle at daycare. I pumped, filled the bottle for dad, he gave her the bottle and she took it like a champ, drank a full 4 ounces, then came back to me a nursed a little longer - so it appears she isn't too picky about where her food comes from, as long as she gets it. Hooray!

Diapers - this has been a rocky road for us. I'm still planning on making it to 100% cloth diapers, but we've been fighting major leaks and issues. The fitteds and covers seem extremely bulky on her and leave red marks on her legs, which of course worries me some. I had to get some help on how to put the covers on to prevent leaks and I think we MAY have this down with them, but the red marks still bother me. Not sure we'll keep using those particular diapers but who knows. The really cute ones my cousin made still seem to leak, so I might contact her to see if she has any suggestions. According to the pediatrician today, Ruby is a very long and lean baby, so the lack of chubby thighs might be part of the problem. Also, she can be a pretty heavy wetter at night and the fitted diapers get soaked quickly, so I just bought some BumGenuis 3.0 one size that so many people swear by for night time - we still need to try these out and see if they work. I know I might have to try several different brands to find some that work, I just hope I can find them before my husband decides we don't need to spend anymore money on cloth diapers that don't seem to work. Meanwhile, we continue with a combination of cloth and sposies while we work through our trials. Wish me luck!

The Moby Wrap ROCKS. Ruby doesn't like to be put down so once my husband went back to work, it was hard for me to get ANYTHING done. That, and I feel guilty if she's awake and I'm not holding or entertaing her so I really try to limit the amount of time she is in her swing or bouncer. This of course leads to my house getting clutter and me getting stressed out. So, when I went to our local cloth diaper store (Babies Bottoms and More) to ask about her leaking, I was also able to talk to them about a carrier. They had me try the Moby Wrap. I bought one, then went to Babies R Us and used it - holy cow this thing is wonderful! Our BRU was having a huge sale so the store was filled with families and strollers and just wandering through the aisles was a chore. However, since I had her against my chest and didn't have to manuever a stroller through the chaos, it was a rather stress free trip for me. Oh, and Ruby slept through it wonderfully. I can't rave about this enough.

Those are the main things for now. I'll be back later to add pictures and anything else I forgot, but at least I've got this started!

4 Week Pictures

2008-10-31T12:26:00.010-06:00

Ruby turned 4 weeks old on Wednesday, so we took her to Sears to get some pictures. Hopefully we'll be going back monthly for a while since we joined the club they have and now don't have sitting fees - yay! It's so hard to believe it's been almost a month already, especially since the 9 months of being pregnant felt like a LIFETIME, but now that she's here, everyone said time would fly by. And it has. But, enough of the parental boo-hoo'ing, on to the images!