Crafty Post...

Crafty...

I began these burp cloths a long time ago.. and knowing my friend Megan was having a girl, i knew I had time before I would see her though, since she lives in Ohio..

So while we were there I gave her these 4 of my first ever burp cloths!

I love this Amy Butler fabric..and the more I practiced, the better I got..
Im making a couple for baby #2 as well..

I also gave my friend Traci this Sushi Set gift for her little girl. I found the image and idea on Pinterest. I just love Pinterest!

October Week In Pics & Recipe

Week in Pics!

Monday we had swim lessons, and after I treated Samantha to one of her favorite places.. Panera! We got a very berry smoothie (free) with my reward card, and a baguette to snack on. She waves hi and bye to Panera from the car, and knows where it is in our village when we pass by...

Tuesday...after nap we did a little coloring.. She's getting so good at drawing faces!
For dinner I tried a new recipe I found from Jessica.. who got it from Pinterest I beleive. They were SOOOO good.. Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps! Im making them again very soon!
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
Mexican-esque marinade or taco seasoning for the chicken
1 cup cooked rice
1/2 T. chili powder
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. garlic salt
1 can black beans (drain and rinse)
1/2 onion
Rotel, very well drained
sour cream
shredded cheddar, or Mexican blend cheese
burrito-size flour tortillas
Full Recipe HERE!

Wednesday, I needed a BIG starbucks...Samantha was up a bit overnight, so I was exhausted. I think these LAST two teeth (molars) are really giving her some trouble...

When work and dinner was done, Mat and SJ said they had to run an errand, and they came back with a little pre-birthday treat. Orange Chocolate Sponge Candy.... a whole big box.. Momma's FAVORITE!!!
Thursday we had brother's crib delivered, and we set it up, which prompted me to do more OCD organizing of all his adorable clothes, and stuff in his room

I love nesting ... and I get to decorate his sweet nursery, b/c I never got the chance to do it for SJ, cause we knew we were moving 4 months after she was born, so we waited till we bought this house

After naptime, me and SJ needed some groceries for dinner. Mathew's sister visited us this weekend from Washington,DC, so I had a HUGE pot of homemade sauce simmering all day.. It warmed up the entire house, and made everything so cozy.. along with all my fall candles..

Our dinner on Thursday night... we had Sauce, Cucumber Salad, and Fresh Bread with Homemade Garlic-Herb Butter I made from Fresh Oregano and Parsley from our Herb Garden... yum!!!

Friday, Daddy and Teta Nina, and SJ went to the Zoo, Momma worked and made two dozen cupcakes for my cousin Colin's Birthday on Saturday. My cousin (his mom) put in a cupcake order. I was on the HUNT for Yellow and Blue sprinkles, and after going to 4 stores, including JoAnn's and Michaels, FINALLY the lady at the bakery department at our grocery store took the sprinkles out of the bakery and sold them to me in bulk!

We made homemade pizza for dinner, and then had fresh donuts and cut up honeycrisp apples for dessert! It was a great end to a long and busy week..

Stir Crazy, Spoilings, Sweets and Sippy Cups

And that is just what this post is about.
We are in deep deep winter mode around here.. snow is everywhere! And let me clarify, I am NOT complaining. It is beautiful, and Mathew and I did voluntarily decide to move from the South to the North..ha!

But lately .. Samantha is getting a little stir crazy I feel. I do take her out in the snow, but not when it is a bone chilling 12 degrees and windy...eeks.. Adults can barely handle it, let alone a 1 year old.

So we decided to help us through the whiny moments, and tugging at mommy's legs, wanting to be held, and doing as we call them "bad things" like tipping milk over on purpose, and crushing cereal into the hardwood floors.. After all this was happening, we decided to bust out a few Christmas presents early. I mean, she is 17 months, and doesnt really "get it" yet.. so we thought it would help her to have some new things..

like this...



She loves it. And we put it right in the kitchen so she can cook/bake with Momma side by side.

We also put her PBK Chair together.. I wanted a neutral color and didnt want it monogrammed, just in case she will have to share with her sibling one day...



She loves sitting in it, and standing on it to look out the window and see the snow..


Here is another gift I couldnt resist yesterday when shopping..



This one is under the tree though.. and I cant wait to see her face when she opens it! Okay, maybe I want to play with it a little too. ha!

Sweets: Sunday we are hosting our first family party since being in our new house. We do a progressive party every year since I can remember. My grandpa started the tradition, and it is one person's house for Appetizers, Dinner and Desserts, so we get to see 3 family members' houses, and at the end at Desserts we exchange gifts, we pick names, and the name of the person who had you is revealed. We have such a big family, so this is an easy way to do presents with about 40 people!

So we are hosting appetizers!
I will post many pics and recipes... but I started making a few sweets.. (i know its appetizers.. but its the holidays and I cant resist sweets!!

I made fruity popcorn I got the recipe from: www.ourbestbites.com - one of my favorite sites.

I think it just looks so pretty for Christmas in red.



Im making lots of other goodies, a lot of recipes came from fellow bloggers too!
Pesto Layer Dip, Brownie Bites, and Pastry Wrapped Brie, to name a few!! Stay tuned!

Sippys: Ok Mom's Im on the hunt for a non leaking, non spilling sippy cup! Since Samantha knows how to tip her cup over now, I went shopping yesterday for new sippys... I love the Dr Browns one.. so far so good. The Avent one, STILL Leaks! It even says "magic" sippy cup.. I should have not been deceived!

She's Walking!!!...

Today was get ready for Samanthapalooza day. Jillian came over to help me with Sam, but Sam was SOOOO incredibly cranky, that I got very little accomplished.. So I threw in the towel and we went for a walk with Jillian, and by the end Samantha was out like a light. Ahhhh. I worked for a bit, then continued the partY prep!

As you can see.. things are coming along. I set the table and have some of the decor out now. I made all the cupcakes and tomorrow Im a frostin' fool!



After her nap, she started letting go of things in the house, and just began walking all over the place.. it was amazing. She suddenly had no fear! SHe's been walking here and there across the grass and rooms, but today she took off and totally did it on her own! So proud of her!!

After the walking adventures.., we got the mail and this adorable outfit was in it .. COULD THIS BE ANY CUTER? Its from Julie, Adam and Baby Joey in Cleveland.. Thank you SO much Julie!! Samantha Jane will for SURE be sportin' this on her bday!! And ruffly socks to match.. Julie knows Samantha's style.. She is a girly girl Julie.. Thank you so much again!



Samantha and Grammy hung out today as well. Grammy had a 1/2 day which Momma was very greatful for. She's even keeping her shades on now!