another reason to love hobby lobby...

40% off coupons. decor for every room in the house.  50% off frames every single day.  so many crafts to get your creative juices flowing.   CHEAP hair bows.  decorations for every holiday imaginable.  yes, i love hobby lobby.  i love hobby lobby so much and visit the store so much, my cute isabella has called it my "work."  when she sees tall buildings, she says, "look mama, daddy's work," and when she sees hobby lobby she says, "mama, there's your work!"  :)

i went there yesterday, and it was another hot summer day.  i didn't have a whole lot of time as i was expecting some ladies to arrive at my house in an hour to do a fun craft w/ the kiddos (which i intend on sharing w/ you soon!).  so, i was rushing through the store as hard as it was (honestly, it had been a few weeks since i had been there and i wanted to look up and down every aisle!) throwing all kinds of things in my basket.  i wanted to make sure i bought enough stuff for everybody.  i get to the cash register and the cashier starts ringing me up.  my total comes to about $70.  oh, wow, didn't know i bought THAT much stuff, but i go ahead and sign it and go on my way.  we walk outside in the sweltering heat, and i get the girls buckled in the car seats.  i sit in the driver seat and put the A/C on full blast.  i take a peak at my receipt and think, "oh, they over charged me $23.00"  i think i'll just come back another day as i don't have a lot of time...but wait.  nope, i can't do that or they'll just say i took the stuff out of my bag.  great.  i have to get out of the car, get the girls out and walk back in.  UGH!!!  nope.  i'm not going to do it.  instead i look at the receipt  for their phone number and dial.  a man answers, and funny enough, i recognize that it is the manager (ha, told you i go there a lot).  i start to explain my situation and before i even ask him to come outside to meet me, he asks, "are you outside?"  i say, "yes!  i am parked right out front!"  he said he would be right out...SWEET!  the nice man came to my car and read thru the receipt, explained line-by-line how i was charged and showed me that i was indeed charged...correctly.  oops!  he was very nice about it and kept assuring me that he didn't mind.  now that is what i call customer service!!!

you would be surprised at what people will do to keep your business.  this isn't the first time i have asked people to come outside b/c i have little ones in the car.  restaurants that don't necessarily have curbside service have brought food to my car b/c i had a sleeping baby in the car!  one time i called a restaurant and ordered a gift certificate over the phone and asked if they would meet me outside as i would have my two children w/ me.  it never hurts to ask...

i'm headed there again this morning to return the items we haven't used...and maybe just take a look around a little more :)

a couple of non-recipes and cooking tips...

i wanted to try some recipes out this weekend so i can share them w/ all of you this week.  i had two in mind...potato salad (summer essential) and pineapple-upside down cake (a recent craving).  first up, my mom's potato salad.  my mom's potato salad is so good, my bro-in-law once wrapped it up in a tortilla and made a taco out of it!  okay, not sure that qualifies a potato salad to be super yummy, but it's an excuse to share this fond memory.  the funny thing about trying to reproduce my mom's so-called recipes is that her way of cooking is a "little of this, little of that" and "i think i add this, but i can't remember..."  so, i have what my mom thinks i need for the potato salad...

- 5 potatoes

- hellman's mayo ("get the hellman's, not miracle whip, hellman's" my mom tells me)

- 4 hard-boiled eggs

- onion and garlic (what she means here is actually onion salt or powder and garlic salt or powder)

- celery (however much i want)

- relish (she tells me this and i laugh b/c we both know she used to chop hamburger dill pickles, but she now uses relish for convenience and i really think you can taste the difference!)

- salt

so, i start boiling the water and add onion powder and salt so the potatoes can soak in the seasoning.  i chop the potatoes in quarters and dump them in the water.  time goes by and i realize that i prob should've checked to see what time i dumped the potatoes in!  oops...i check the potatoes and they are perfect...for mashed potatoes.  wow.  it didn't take me long to mess this up!  the funny thing is i've given my mom a hard time about her potato salad these days b/c the potatoes have been coming out a little softer than usual.  i had even started calling it her "mashed potato-potato salad"...that's what i get!  to remedy the soft potato situation, i drain the water, place them in a bowl and stick it in the fridge for about an hour.  it worked like a charm!  i then follow the "recipe"...

- add mayo (however much i think is good)

- add chopped hard boiled eggs

- stir

- add chopped celery

- add garlic salt

- add salt

- stir

- add more mayo

- add more garlic salt

- add more salt

- stir

and that was it!  i thought it tasted good before popping it in the fridge until dinner, but while eating dinner i thought it could've used more seasoning.  and then while ling in bed, ready to go to sleep i remember...i forgot the pickles!  classic.

i was going to share the pineapple upside-down cake "recipe", but i feel this blog entry is already a little lengthy so i will share it next week.  i hope to bake it again this weekend w/ an added step my mom told me the day after i baked it :)

something i've already know about myself and has become even more apparent as of late is that i am not so good at relaying instructions.  i hope to improve as i blog more and start some projects.  i plan to take photos as i'm in the process of projects.  also, i'm not very good at sticking to recipes (my husband gives me a hard time about this).  i'm pretty sure that is why my cake pops tasted delicious but weren't so pretty as little miss momma's cake pops.  when i bake cakes i use extra light tasting olive oil (bertolli) instead of vegetable oil...in return cakes come out SUPER MOIST!  yummmmm....but when it came to staying in place on lollipop sticks, some came tumbling down :(  so after dipping them in melted chocolate i couldn't let them dry standing up.  they dried cake ball down and this is what they looked like...

you can actually seen a fallen soldier on the left, hahaha!

so, back to me not being great at explaining how to make things and not sticking to recipes...i've decided to bring in my girlfriends for some help (except they don't know this yet).  i will still share an occasional recipe, but i think my amigas could do a better job and i will take photos of the process and taste-test :)  BRILLIANT!!!

i realize you really didn't learn a new recipe today, but i hope you learned a new trick and maybe got to know me a little better.

one more thing before i leave (i know i said my blog entry was lengthy, but when i'm on a roll i just need to go w/ it)...sunday i had hoped to post my highlights of the week and hope to do in the future.  unfortunately, my night didn't go as planned, but i would just love to share these precious moments w/ you...

**my sophia moment**

i was holding her before putting her down for the night and smiled down at her sweet face.  she looked at me, smiled and took her paci out.  she then start "talking" to me in a soft whisper.  she just babbled on and on while grinning and looking right into my eyes.  she would stop, and i whispered back to her.  we went back and forth for a few minutes, and i relished every second!  such a treasured moment!!

she loves gabbing on the phone and whoever she talks to makes her laugh!

**my isabella moment**

isabella has long hair that tends to curl on the ends so i never think to curl it.  every once in awhile she'll watch me use a curling iron and she'll ask me to "make her hair hot".  i grant her wish by curling one, maybe two strands of hair.  well, while my hubby took sophia to her 12 month check-up, isabella stayed home w/ me and as usual she came into the bathroom as i was using my curling iron (mainly as a straightener, but whatever).  she sweetly asked me if i would "make her hair hot", and i thought what a perfect time to curl all of her hair!  just me and her in the bathroom having a mother/daughter moment.  her smile was so big during the whole three minutes it took me to curl her hair.

next...hot rollers!

hope you ladies have a fantastic week!!  savor those little lovely moments...

time is on my side...

it's late friday night...hubby is out, girls are down...what is a girl to do?  BLOG!  hello!  i CANNOT believe it's friday already!  wednesday was a rainy day and for this lady, that means there is not enough coffee in the world to get me going.  thursday i woke up w/ what i like to call a "rainy day hangover".  gosh i felt like dookie.  if it wasn't for me having to get my daughter to art camp by 10:00 a.m., i probably wouldn't have gotten the day started til the afternoon.  after an afternoon play-date at a water park, i got home just in time to shower and pretty-up for a new women's bible study that night.  and your probably thinking, why pretty-up?  this girl likes to dress for my girls!  these opportunities don't come often so yes, i'm blow drying my hair AND wearing it down.  and yes, i broke out the skinny jeans!  i arrived at my friend's house for the study and i just felt like, "ahhhh," and exhale.  the last two days just felt like somewhat of a blur.  i just somehow made it through, and at the moment i'm surrounded by my compadres, my team mates, my cheerleading squad.  we just happen to be reading a book by the same author of the book i mentioned a couple of days ago.  MAKE OVER: REVITALIZING THE MANY ROLES YOU FILL by jen hatmaker is a fantastic book!  this lady is honest, funny and makes you feel at home.  we started the the evening by going around introducing ourselves and telling everyone what we hoped to get out of this book.  a lot of us knew each other, knew of each other...somehow connected.  the biggest connection was the book of course and we're all just trying to figure out how to "reclaim beauty together in our roles: believer, wife, mother, professional, daughter, and friend." basically, we all feel frazzled most days and we're in this together!

gathering w/ all these ladies reminds me of the other jen hatmaker book i'm reading, OUT OF THE SPIN CYCLE.  one of the recent subjects was having those friends to join you in this crazy part of life.  i thank those friends of mine that are experiencing this young motherhood thing.  we chat it up about our daily adventures and laugh over how we all deal w/ the same day-to-day shenanigans a house of toddlers and babies bring.  it's funny though.  we're always offering each other babysitting, but we don't really take each other up on it!  no matter how many times people offer, we feel bad for asking.  we all have a lot going on and never want to add on to the madness of someone else's day.  i have a solution.  a schedule.  you wouldn't feel so bad asking me to watch your babies one afternoon if you knew next week you would be doing the same thing, right?  anyone else do this w/ your friends?  i've brought it up to a few ladies and hope we start something soon...i hope to let you now how it goes!

i'm amused by the timing of of what's going on right now.  the start of this blog, starting a new bible study and both books i'm reading all go hand-in-hand.  God has a lot in-store for me, and i hope to learn a lot from all of this and hope you do, too!

next week i plan to share a new recipe and project...this blog is about to get a little more lively ;)

it all started with cake pops...

i had been planning for my baby girl's first birthday party and decided i wanted to make cake pops.  i googled "cake pops" and looked at a few recipes.  i came across one that was posted on someone's blog.  there were pictures, step-by-step instructions and a cute narration from someone calling herself "little miss momma."  i had gone back to the recipe a couple of times and decided it was the one i wanted to do.  after writing down what i needed to buy, i started wandering around her blog.  this girl sounded like someone i would like...sweet personality, honest and into a lot of the same things i am.  she talked about fashion, home decor, being a mom, crafts, and even gave a tutorial on how to get her hair-do (which is super cute).  i got to thinking this is what i would LOVE to do!  after reading more about her and why she decided to blog, i was inspired.  i can do this.  it would be fun.  my friends would enjoy it (I HOPE!).  maybe they would feel inspired, too!  i could have links to my friends' businesses.  i could feature them and let them have a moment to shine!  the ideas just kept coming (and they still are) and so one night i went for it.  my husband walked into the study and asked what i was doing..."oh, i'm starting a blog."  you can imagine his bewilderment as i hadn't mentioned it to him at all.  i told him that it was a chance to just unload all the thoughts and ideas in my head.  "you never tell me about any of that," he said.  i explained it was different talking about these things w/ fellow moms and that he prob wouldn't be interested.  he then asked why i couldn't start it later and asked me to come to bed.  i said, "*nope."  that's the problem.  so many times i want to do something whether it be upload 300+ pictures from my camera to the computer, try sewing a pillowcase dress, or update my dandies blog (which i will introduce you to another day ;)), but i don't b/c everyone and everything in this house comes first.  and that's okay.  that's not going to change, but i will make ME a priority, too.  and that is what i hope you start to do, too.  you have an idea, go w/ it!  you want to start that project...the load of laundry sitting on your couch can wait (believe me, it's not going anywhere).  i hear it all the time, "a happy wife, a happy life," and isn't it true?  do something that makes you happy and makes you feel like that girl before you were a wife and a mom...and let it help you be the best wife and mom you can be!

and thank you, ashley stock for doing what you do.  it was b/c of your blog and your words that motivated me to share my dandy life :)

*yeah, i said nope and my poor hubby went to bed. minutes later i followed him to snuggle until he fell asleep. bleery-eyed i returned to my computer to finish what i started!

let's get this party started...

so, i started this blog days ago and have yet to share it w/ anyone!  i wanted it to be a little more "finished", but i'm realizing it's going to be a work-in-progress...my life story!  i have soooo many ideas for this blog and hope to see it all come to fruition.  those of you reading it right now are dear to me.  my friends and fellow moms that are just trying to figure this mom-gig out!  while we absolutely LOVE motherhood, we all know it's tough.  it's a LOT of work...and at the end of the day, after the toys have been picked up and the kids are in bed, we wouldn't mind a little "me" time.  i want to give you a little "you" time.  when you have a moment, check the blog out for some crafty ideas, decorating ideas and maybe a new recipe for dinner.  OR read about how i too went to the dry cleaners to pick up my hubby's clothes only to find out i already had :)  AND get to know some of my mommy friends as i plan to have a "fab-mama-jamma of the month".  it's a place to feel at home...inspired...and leave you feeling like you're not the only crazy one ;)

i leave you w/ this...an excerpt from an awesome book, OUT OF THE SPIN CYCLE: DEVOTIONS TO LIGHTEN YOUR MOTHER LOAD.  i had heard about this book, and my friend, brooke, mentioned how much she loved it, so i went to buy it, and i too love it!  she also said she wanted to share this poem with everyone, but it was a bit long to type.  so, let me give you a hand, brooke ;)

here's to you lovelies!

A (Fairly Lame) Ode to Mothers


An ode to the marvelous woman called "Mother"
Though not one of us is exactly like another.
From the second we're born to the minute we die
Our preferences are as limitless as stars in the sky.

We might have been perfectly gracious before
But childbirth entered us in the Mommy War.
Rather than letting everyone else be
We criticize parenting that isn't exactly like . . . me.

So once and for all let me put this to rest
None of us owns the title of "best."
Natural childbirth does not make you a hippy
Epidurals are not just for women who want to feel trippy.
In a bathtub with a doula or in a hospital bed
We all got a baby with limbs and a head.

Nursing is great if nothing goes wrong
But some nipples turn inward and refuse to play along.
This is a choice for each mom - it's her route
So it's just A + B and everyone else can C their way out.

Schedules and timers do not make you cruel
Feeding on demand does not make you a fool.
In the nursery with a monitor or in the family bed
Every chick gets to pick where her baby lays his head.

If I see one more mom roll her eyes at "organic . . ."
"Partially hydrogenated" throws some of us into panic.
But neither judge Sonic burgers and fries
Some of us just want to enjoy food before we die.

Preschool, home school, public, or Montessori
Listen, my friends, and I'll tell you a story:
Two moms differed on favorite school trends
Their kids turned out pretty much the same.  The end.

If a girl gets the title of "mom" accidentally
The worst thing we can do is treat her judgmentally.
How about some love, some help, some advice?
She needs our love and we shouldn't think twice.

Discipline through various methods will prevail
Look, we're all just trying to keep our kids out of jail.
These things are just preferences, not right or wrong
What matters more is teaching our kids to get along-
To love and to share, to speak gently and kind,
To obey so that mom won't go out of her mind.

Showing them Jesus is our common ground
Teaching them how he can always be found.
He's present in public school and Waldorf (so trendy)
He's over at Whole Foods but also at Wendy's.
Jesus never cared about these sorts of things
It's our hearts that he wants and the worship we bring.

It's time for us moms to declare a truce
Regardless if we buy Capris Sun or 100 percent juice.
My way is not your way, and your way isn't mine
But both of our kids will turn out just fine.

Rather than judging and looking down our noses
Let's enjoy the common ground motherhood poses.
As believers, we all love the same good Lord
We all have children who tell us "I'm bored."

We all need more sleep than these tiny five hours
Most of us struggle to find time for a shower.
We haven't been to the bathroom alone in an age
Our mothers have all told us, "Relax, this is just a stage."

We all love our babies so much we could die
We'd take a bullet for each one without batting an eye.
Though we are different, we're in the same tribe
Motherhood requires a similar vibe-
Love and affection, sacrifice and grace
Laughter, which keeps the whole mechanism in place.

Though different, by the grace of God, I suspect:
ALL children will rise up and call us . . . collect.

why hello...

i'm here, back again, for more blogging fun.  i used to blog and loved it.  i mainly blogged about my pregnancy, then having a baby and then just the weekly events of our family.  unfortunately, it became a chore.  i felt like many looked forward to it (which is good, right?) but it was to see pictures from every outing and every growing day of our little one.  i felt stressed out about not keeping up w/ it.  so, i quit.  over the years i missed it.  so many random thoughts and funny moments that happen to this 30-something, stay-at-home mama should be shared.  okay, maybe it's not SO important that everyone SHOULD hear about them, but i  sure love heytelling (if you don't know what this is, GET IT!) my girlfriends throughout the day about my cat's poo hanging from her booty or the fact that it's noon and have yet to brush my teeth :)  and yes, there is facebook, but i don't think three sentence-long status updates are cool.  before facebook i would sometimes email a few ladies about a funny convo w/ the hubs just to share...or vent about how the laundry never ends and i need a cocktail :)  yup.  no need for a response, just want to share my dandy life.  besides, i seriously need to rid my brain of some of these thoughts just so i have space to remember what i want to say next...

SO, i'm back in the blogging world, but this time it's just about me!  is that so bad?  and while a HUGE part of me is about my family that i adore, i won't feel the pressure of uploading photos from the week or detailing every single milestone of our growing girls.  BUT i'm sure this will happen A LOT.

me + my faith + my family + my hobbies + my randomness= my dandy life