In case you missed our first dance edition, you can see it here. This proud ex dancer mama has been watching her daughter busta move since the young age of six weeks.
Linking up with Sweet Turtle SoupHappy October friends! October is one of my FAVORITE months out of the year! I love how festive it is! All the pumpkin and Halloween decorations, and if the weather wold just take a hint…ahem…(95 for a high in October is unacceptable)….we’d have it made!
If you would like the directions on the linkup head over to Sweet Turtle Soup, aside from the direction’s you will get to see tons of cute pictures of Courtney’s cute little one!
Anyway, as I was saying, I just love October. I am super looking forward to when Hallie is old enough to celebrate with me and enjoy all of the decorations, fun crafts and festive food, but for now, I will just take her along for the ride and create memories for mommy to cherish!
Over the weekend, Hallie and I attempted a fun Halloween craft I found while Pinteresting! With the help of my mom, who held a reluctant sleepy Hallie while I painted her toes white, we made footprint ghosts to share with Family and friends! Here is the one I am planning on framing to put on our mantle each year:
It turned out pretty cute! We are also going to attempt hand-print spiders…assuming I can get her to fall asleep in a good position without getting paint everywhere…be looking for an update on that!
Also, if you missed my blog with Hallie’s 3 month pictures, here are some cute Halloween ones we got. We also got some of her in her costume….buuuuut…I am still holding on the that adorable surprise, so stay tuned!
Hope everyone has a good Tuesday!
<3 Kelly
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We definitely did! Here are a few pictures!
Hallie and Mommy Friday Night and
Sarah,Hallie and I Saturday at lunch
We are planning on going again this week! Looking forward to update you on that! Hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!
Oh Hey! Friday! Wahoo! We are so glad too! This week has been super crazy at our house! I’ve hardly been home because this baby is in high demand! So this weekend is going to be a lot about relaxing!
Tonight is Joyce’s Mom’s birthday and we are going out to dinner to celebrate. I’m making her birthday cake…more on that in a few
Tomorrow: My other best friend, Sarah, is coming into town and we are having lunch with our Moms. We grew up a few doors down from each other, and it has been a long time (aside from our weddings) that we have had a mother/daughter outing, so this should be fun!
Also My mom and I are doing a little craft store shopping for some various things we want to make for Hallie!
Sunday- Family/Church day and possibly a much needed date night for this Mommy and Daddy!e This will actually be our first one since Hallie was born, so yay!
Anyway on to the Oh hey, Friday business! I thought I would share some of the recipes I have made recently that actually turned out pretty yummy, so here we go!
1.) Spinach Balls-
These are a family favorite! I made them last weekend for a Christopher’s brother’s birthday dinner!
Ingredients-
1 pack frozen spinach
1 stove top stuffing package
1 finely chopped large yellow onion
6 beaten eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
Steps-
Dump all ingredients in a stand mixer and mix well. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Form balls from mixture (about Half Dollar size) and place on cookie sheet spaced about an inch apart,
Cook at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until slightly browned
2.) Chicken Schnitzel (AKA my husbands favorite recipe ever)
Ingredients-
8-10 boneless skinless chicken tenders
dash of salt
dash of pepper
dash of cayenne
3/4 cup of flour
2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 cups of seasoned breadcrumbs
1 lemon wedged
parsley
vegetable oil
Steps-
Prepare 3 separate bowls: 1 with flour, 1 with eggs with dash of cayenne, 1 with breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Heat skillet with vegetable oil over medium heat. Coat each tender with flour first, then egg, then breadcrumb mix. Cook on skillet 4 minutes on each side or until fully cooked through. Place on a plate with paper towels to soak up grease. Sprinkle parsley and squirt lemon wedges over all tenders.
3.) Baked Tortellini Alfredo
Ingredients-
20 oz cheese filled tortellini
1 jar Alfredo sauce
8 oz shredded mozzarella
Steps-
Cook pasta according to package and drain. Coat bottom of a casserole dish with some of Alfredo sauce and dump pasta into dish. Mix with the remaining sauce and half of cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top of pasta and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes
4.) Havarti Spinach Mac and Cheese
Ingredients-
1 box of rotini pasta or desired pasta
2 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups of shredded Havarti cheese
1 cup of cooked spinach chopped
1 Tbsp Garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Steps-
In a large sauce pan melt butter over medium heat
mix in flour and mix constantly until brown rue is formed
Add milk, whisking well until all lumps are beaten out.
When sauce is thickened (about 8 minutes) add cheese and spices and lower heat. Mix in spinach and stir occasionally while cooking pasta according to package so the sauce does not burn.
Drain pasta and add sauce. Viola! Delish!
5.) Super simple chocolatey goodness cake-
(I am making this today, but I have made it SOO many times and every time people are begging for the recipe…I am usually embarrassed to give it to them because it is so easy!
Ingredients-
ANY chocolate cake mix. I like Devils Food or Triple Chocolate, but any brand/kind will do!
1 bag of milk chocolate chips
1 cup sour cream
1 3.5 oz chocolate pudding mix
(all ingredients such as eggs/oil on cake box recipe)
1 large whipped chocolate frosting
Steps-
Start preparing cake according to directions on box in mixer
add sour cream, 1 cup chocolate chips and pudding mix to cake mix and beat well
Bake in 2 9 inch greased cake pans according to cake mix directions
Let cool completely.
Place one cooled cake on cake stand and spread chocolate frosting over the top of the cake to form a filling. Place 2nd cake on top and finish frosting cake. Decorate with remaining chocolate chips.
Hope everyone enjoys these recipes and please share your favorite recipes with me!
<3 Kelly
Linking up with September Farm
I was lucky enough to have my husband home on paternity leave the first 2 weeks of Hallie’s life. The days passed quickly though and by the 3rd week, he had to return to work.
So, here I was a brand new mommy alone with my baby girl for first the time trying to get her on a schedule and keep the house in good shape as well. Towards the end of the week I had a pretty good schedule down and was folding clothes one day in the living room after getting Hallie down for a nap. I was just thinking to myself “Wow, way to go Momma!, you got this! You’re like Super Mom! The baby is asleep, the floors are vacuumed and mopped, the kitchen is clean and I’m folding the… When all of a sudden a loud chirping interrupted my thoughts.
Before I could figure out where it was coming from, a bird shot out of our fireplace and started flying frantically around my house. Having visions of bird poop all over my freshly cleaned house, I panicked! I grabbed a mop from our utility closet and started chasing it around the house.
When the darn thing flew into Hallie’s room I started fuming! It landed on the windowsill and I ran after him (I’m just assuming here) yelling at him in a hushed voice (Mom’s you know how that goes) “If you wake up that baby, I’ll whack you!” I finally shooed him out of her room and shut the door behind me, miraculously without waking Hallie!
I continue running around like a chicken with my head cut off, mop raised above my head, closing doors behind me so that I could keep him (again just assuming) in the main part of the house where I had both front door and back door open and waiting.
Finally after about 20 minutes the bird found the back door, and I slammed it after him praying to never do that again….FAST FORWARD to last Friday.
Hallie was down for her morning nap and I had just stepped out of the shower when I heard Stella barking her head off from her crate! Assuming the worst I ran out to the main part of the house in just my towel to see ANOTHER damn bird (PROBABLY THE SAME TROUBLE MAKER!) flying around my house! SERIOUSLY! You can’t make this stuff up!
This time I got smart, and the FIRST thing I did was close Hallie’s bedroom door, followed by the rest of the doors in the house. Then I ran to our bedroom and put on my bathrobe, closing that door after me. I grabbed the same mop and started chasing him (It was most certainly a he) around, trying to usher him toward the open back door. I was seriously a sight to see. Wet hair, bathrobe, mop raised running after a BIRD like a crazy person! Yelling all the while!
Let me tell you something….birds are dumb. This bird flew into 2 windows and a mirror before he finally found the open door another 20 minutes later!
Luckily I escaped both experiences without having to clean up bird poop…just some feathers!
I hope you never have this experience at your house, but if you do know 2 things.
1.) It will happen when you are the only one home and your kids are asleep and
2,) Your husband will laugh when you tell him about it!
<3 Kelly
Happy Monday!! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Ours was awesome! Hallie’s pictures went GREAT despite the crazy morning before them! I can’t wait to share them with you! We should get them on Tuesday, so be looking for them later in the week! Also I may have a new snazzy Blog Cover photo too! Many thanks again to Larissa with Purple Moments Photography! We also got to spend a TON of time with Christopher’s Mom/Memi! Here are some cute pics of Hallie with Memi and Pop.
Now on to Monday! For today’s Must Have Monday, I thought now that we have reached the 3 month mark, I would share with you some of the products that we couldn’t live with out in our first 3 months! Some of these products I have shared with you before, but they are just THAT important guys!
1.) The Fisher Price Rock n’ Play Sleeper– This sleeper is awesome! It is the perfect height to put by the bed while they are small AND it vibrates and rocks! Now that Hallie is in her crib, we don’t use it for sleeping, but FUN FACT…she is happily kicking away in it next to me, RIGHT NOW!
2.) Carters Newborn and Preemie sized onesies. If your little one is long and skinny like mine…these will be the ONLY ones that fit just right!
3.) Pampers Sensitive diapers– These have been great because Hallie has always been a great sleeper, and I don’t have to worry about her getting a rash from staying in the same diaper while she sleeps for a long time.
4.) Board Books…any and all board books! Room on the Broom is a favorite right now, but Hallie just LOVES to be read to! She stares at the pictures and has recently started cooing back! So cute!
5.) Dr. Brown Bottles– This brand it great! Especially for gassy babies!
6.) Chicco Key Fit 30 Infant seat- LOVE our carseat! I especially love how padded the infant cushion is because of how little Hallie was in the beginning!
7.) Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle- OKAY I’ll admit, I was pretty skeptical of this contraption at first, and I still think it’s kind of ugly and HATE covering up Hallie’s cute PJs, BUT IT WORKS! She can’t kick out of it, and sleeps infinitely better with it on!
8.) Skip Hop Owl Activity Gym– It makes tummy time a little better for a baby who hates it. It has mirrors and a lot of cute toys and places to attach rings!
9.) Avent Soothie Pacifier- These dumb things were the ONLY pacis Hallie would take FOREVER! They are ugly and cover her whole face, but she loves them!
10) Kate Quinn organics receiving blanket- This blanket is so soft! And Hallie loves it!
1.) Coffee! I really don’t care what brand for the most part, but Dunkin Donuts is my FAVE…and trust me..I bleed coffee..especially now!
2.) My planner!! I know, I know! I’ve told you before, but seriously this brand! It has a grid system, so I can keep work separate from my personal life, separate from Christopher’s schedule and Hallie’s schedule! AMAZING!
3) High Rise Leggings from Forever 21– I love how these stretched with my baby belly before and after pregnancy while I worked on getting back into jeans!
4.) Gilligan O’Malley nursing bras- These were comfy and functional while I was pumping (THANK THE LORD I AM DONE)
5.) A phone with a great camera to capture those smiles and cute faces for friends and family! I have the Samsung S5, sorry guys, not an Apple user here…
6.) High Low shirts to go over said leggings. Especially ones that open in the front for…ahem…easy access,,,
7.)Thermos Intak water bottle– I love how there is a dial on the side that counts how many times I have filled it up, so I can make sure to drink plenty of water, while nursing, and now while I am still attempting to lose that baby weight!
8.) Ouchless hair ties- Love these from Goody because they are cute and people might not notice that you have spit up in your hair…ha! Just kidding, but seriously, these are great! Best part..they dont leave creases!
9.) Coach Diaper Bag– LOVE THE POCKETS!
10.) Motorola Video Monitor– This one is cool because you can move the camera around on the handheld device in case baby moves in the crib. It also has a microphone so you can talk to baby from another room!
What were your must- haves in the first few months?
<3 Kelly
Linking up with Life of Meg
Ps…I am now on BlogLovin…check it out and don’t forget to follow me there or by email!
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Hello readers and Happy Friday!!! Are you as ecstatic for the weekend as me?! Good!
I seem to be extra bouncy today! I don’t know if it’s because it’s Friday, and we have so many fun things to look forward to today and into the weekend, or if it’s the weather, or the fact that my adorable daughter is giggling and cooing at me more and more and it melts this mommy’s heart clear to the floor! Whatever the reason, here are 5 things that have me excited today!
1.) We got Hallie’s Halloween costume in the mail yesterday!!!! Wahooo!!! I cannot wait to reveal it to you in October, but just know 2 things! 1. It is FREAKING ADORABLE and 2. I will be writing a review on maker of said costume sometime in October, so be looking out for that!
2.) Today we are having lunch with Joyce…or Tia Joyce to Hallie! Ever had a friend who could finish your thoughts, is ALWAYS there for you no matter what, you can have giggle fits like you are first graders again with? Yep, that’s Joyce! It’s been about a week since we have seen each other (yes, that’s a LONG TIME) and even longer since we’ve had a good ‘ol bestie lunch, so this sh’all be fun (Joyce…see what I did there?…Sh’all!…Ha!)
3.) My Mother In Law (Don’t you hate that term! It always sounds like it has a negative connotation even though mine is a saint!) is coming in tonight for the weekend! I REALLY hit the jackpot of Mother’s In Law you guys! She is so sweet, thoughtful and always so helpful, and definitely where my wonderful husband got his sense of humor from! Ps. She did an amazing job raising him! Hallie cannot wait to spend some time with her Memi, and I am looking forward to it just as much!
Yesterday Hallie and I met up for a play date with my friend Parisa and her adorable little girl Darya!
Before we left Daddy snapped a few pictures of his girls!
First we met up at the carousel in the mall so that the girls could have a ride. Darya was so cute! She had her BIG brown eyes set on the pony she wanted to ride on as soon as she arrived!
That face…really!?
