Sweet Sweet Treats! My Christmas Baking List..

Man I love sweets.  I've recently started my christmas baking after lots of googling and pinning.  I thought I'd share the recipes I've tried and the ones on my to-make list.

Buckeyes - My husband loves peanut butter, so these go over well...

Whipped Shortbread  - My fave!! The trick is to whip it FOREVER.... then it melts in your mouth.

Eggnog Cookies  - These were a new one this year, not totally sure what I think yet...

Butterscotch Confetti Squares - YUM YUM YUM!

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies - Again, husband likes these ones and they are oh so cute!  Bake them in a mini muffin pan so they all look uniform.

What's left to make/try....

Nanaimo Bars

Butter Tarts  - I'm going to make them in mini cupcake pans and homemade pie dough.

Ginger Snaps - of course I'll use cookie cutters though so I can get some little gingerbread men and women.

Candy Cane Kiss Brownie Bites  - I can't find the candy cane hershey's kisses' yet but I'll keep lookin'

I'm going to freeze a lot of it so I can just pull it out and use for the few parties we are having.  What are your favorite christmas treats???

30 Week To-Do-List Update

Well we've hit 30 weeks and I feel like it's a milestone.  3/4 done!  The last few weeks have been interesting to say the least but things are looking up and I'm excited for December and January.

We've been taking pre-natal classes at the hospital we are delivering at for the last 5 weeks and our last class is on tuesday.  Last week we got to tour the LDRP Unit and it made it real!  Crazy that in just a couple months we'll be there and get to meet Baby Hill.  I'm so happy we decided to take the classes though, it's been great to meet other people and we've definitely learned lots.

Here are my updated lists... (adapted from this list I found online)

NURSERY

-  Order curtains/drapes and rod

-  Buy new knobs for dresser

-  Buy changing pad and cover for on top of dresser

-  Buy crib mattress

-  Buy crib skirt

-  Buy side table for glider

-  Buy wall art for nursery

-  Buy hangers

-  Mobile?

CLOTHES

-  Wash all clothes and hang/fold

-  Figure out if we need to buy anymore (how much does one need???)

FEEDING

-  Bottles (went with Avent and Tommy Tippee)

-  Bottle Warmer

-  Bottle Sterilizer

-  Formula

-  Cleaning Brush

-  Grass Drying Rack 

-  Burp Cloths

DIAPERS

-  Diaper Bag (ordered this in Graphite.  I really wanted the Storksak but couldn't justify the price..) 

-  Diapers (how many does to buy?)

-  Wipes

-  Diaper Rash Cream

-  Diaper Pail

GEAR

-  Swing (ordered the Craddle 'N Swing My Little Snugabunny)

-  Stroller

-  Carseat

   Baby Carrier/Wear (Is Ergo the best?)

-  Pack & Play

-  Carseat Bundle Up/Cover  

SLEEPING 

-  Crib Sheets

-  Swaddlers

-  Mattress Cover

-  White Noise Machine

-  Humidifier

BATHTIME

 -  Blooming Bath (ordered in Ivory)

-  Wash cloths

-  Baby shampoo

-  Hooded Towels

OTHER

-  Video Monitor 

-  Soothers

-  Thermometer

-  Baby Nail Clippers

-  Laundry Detergent

-  Nose Thingy

Things to Do:

-  Pack Hospital Bag (we probably have some time on this one)

-  Make rug for nursery

-  Book maternity shoot date/time and figure out wardrobe

-  Find 'going home' outfit

29 Weeks

So I am the worst.blogger.ever but that's ok right?  It's so hard to remember to take a darn photo.  With the world of technology, it really shouldn't be that difficult but I just feel like I never look decent anymore...

How far along? 29 weeks

Total weight gain: +12lbs 

Maternity clothes? Oh ya... my pre-pregnancy shirts are starting to show a little belly when I wear them which is not a hot look! 

Stretch marks? No!  Still using Bio-Oil and Mederma daily with hopes that I will skip this part of pregnancy.

Sleep: I LOVE to sleep right now 

Best moment this week:  started 2 week doctors appointments which makes me feel like we really are getting somewhere
Movement: Oh ya! Lovin' every one! 
Looking forward to: Christmas

Food cravings:  No cravings, still have to eat small portions otherwise I feel way to full.  Can't drink any carbonated drinks anymore - it just makes me feel horrible

Anything making you queasy or sick:  not right now

Gender:  we do know but we are keeping it a secret for now...

Labor Signs:  no

Symptoms:  tired

Belly Button in or out?  in

Wedding rings on or off? on 

And my furry little friends...

Christmas at our House

Just wanted to share our Christmas Trees this year... 

And our 'Dallas Cowboys' colors inspired Christmas Tree upstairs.  White, Silver, and Dark Blue!

Now we just need some warm weather so we can get our lights up outside!   Up next is my baking list and what I've completed so far!  I'm seriously enjoying documenting it all. 

Oh Christmas Tree

I hope everyone has their Christmas Tree up already!  No need to wait until December, I've been listening to Christmas music and had our trees up for a couple weeks already.  I love this time of year and there's something even more exciting about it knowing that our family will be bigger next year.  

In order to get ready for Christmas, I'm doing my typical 'research' so I thought I'd share some of the things that inspired me this year.  I just have to pick up new tree skirts and then I'll be ready to share my Christmas Trees!  

I LOVE Greenland Garden Centre!  It's amazing to walk through and see all their Christmas Tree set ups and creative ideas.  They have awesome tips and classes about how to decorate the perfect Christmas Tree. 

Some of my favorites that I saw this year... 

 So it was about this point that I realized a pattern.... aqua/teal and bright colors!  I wasn't taking any photos of the typical red and greens so I knew I'd be doing my second tree in different colors this year.

Had to take a photo of this next one as it was our wedding colors! Purple/Green  :)

Ahh so beautiful.  I can't believe it's less than a month away!

Stroller, Check. Carseat, Check.

Yesterday I was telling someone that we went out and purchased our Stoller and Carseat (after much research) and their response... "Why? It's so early.  Maybe someone wanted to get that for you at your shower."  Seriously?  Umm... It's a month till Christmas and under 2 months until we are considered 'full term'.  Not only that, I'm having a shower after baby is born as we are not sharing the gender.  Do people actually wait to buy a stroller till after?  Also, there are people who go into labor early all the time, I really hope I'm not one of them but isn't it better to be prepared?  And lastly, I hear that the further along you are the more uncomfortable you get, so doesn't it make sense to get as much done as you can?  I don't know, maybe it is to early but as a 'planner', I didn't appreciate the comment.  Rant over.

Anyways, so I heard yesterday from a friend that the stroller and carseat they wanted were backordered and they had to wait 6 weeks for them to come in.  Of course this got me worried, so right after work we went and bought them. 

We decided to go with the Britax B-Agile Stroller and B-Safe Carseat.  Mainly because of the ease of use and how light they are.  It's so easy to fold with just one hand.   I think the dogs were more curious than anything about what was in the boxes.

I love not having to put things together and husbands are just so great at it! Then again, this looked super easy, I don't think it even came with instructions.

And of course, we had to test it out so we strapped Pez into the Carseat.  It was so hard to try to get a photo and the only one I got that wasn't blurry, his one eye is closed.  Oh well, still a little cutie!

What??? Liebster Award

I can't believe I missed this comment from one of my favorite bloggers A Wife's Life over a week ago.  It's a nomination for the Liebster Award given to new or up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers.  

Hopefully I get all this right! 

The Rules:

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.

3. Choose 11 new bloggers(with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.

4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.

5. No tag backs

 

My 11 Random Facts

1.  I love to sing and have had the opportunity to sing with some pretty talented people. 

2.  I dislike flying. 

3.  Josh was my boss before we started dating. :S

4.  I get a serious high from finding great deals. 

5.  I adore anything purple. 

6.  I have a small obsession with fonts. 

7.  I enjoy listening to Dr.Laura - she's nuts! 

8.  I enjoy super hot bubble baths, where you're basically burning.  (Missing this now that I'm pregnant) 

9.  Favorite drink is a paralyzer (can't wait to have one in a few months) 

10.  I love sweats, if I could live in them and pajamas, I would.

11.  I have way to many shoes. 

Tagger Questions 

1. What is your favorite junk food?

Chips, chips, and more chips.  Love the salt.
2. Why did you start blogging?

Starting blogging to keep track of my thoughts and ideas and remember my pregnancy.
3. What is your favorite season?

Summer!  Our winters here are cold and I love the warm weather the summer brings. 
4. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas of course.  Love the food, gatherings, decorating, and baking.  Can I say that my least favorite is Halloween - just can't seem to get into it!
5. What's your favorite blog to read?

There are so many that I love.  For craft ideas, I like Sugarbeecrafts.  For pregnancy, I like LittleBabyGarvin.  For inspiration, I like AWifesLife.
6. What are some of your hobbies?

Singing, trying to furnish & decorate my house, cooking, shopping!
7. If you could take a break from life and travel, where would you go?

Italy and Greece.
8. What's your must have beauty product?

I rarely wear makeup, not because I don't like it or have an appreciation for it but because I'm to lazy.  But my favorite things are my eyelash curler and bronzer.
9. What's your favorite app if you have a smartphone?

Probably What to Expect right now.
10. What's your dream job?

Own & Run a successful business where I can show true appreciation to my employees and clients.
11. What is your favorite song right now?

 Anything christmas!

 

11 New Bloggers

1. Elenie - The Counts 

2.  Kate - Awaiting Baby O'Brien 

3.  Charlene - Becoming the Barrs 

4.  Katie - My Blossoming Bud 

5.  Halleigh - Little Baby Bean Hill 

6.  Baby Mama - My First Baby Bump 

7.  Mandy - The Duprees and Baby 

8.  Jillian - The Stotz Family Story 

9.  Mandy - The Whitt's World 

10.  Steel Magnolia - Timing is Everything  

11.  Taylor - Princess Made Mommy 

Questions for Nominees 

1.  What is your favorite candy? 

2.  What inspires you? 

3.  What is your least favorite holiday? 

4.  What are you most afraid of? 

5.  What is the most important quality in a partner?

6.  What is your favorite sports team? 

7.  What do you like most about Christmas? 

8.  Words of Wisdom?

9.  What actor/actress would you say is most like you? 

10.  How/Why did you come up with your blog name?

11.  Bath or Shower?   

The Never Ending Lists....

I have a million lists.  To do, to buy, to make, to research..... I think there are so many that it makes me less organized than I'd be without them - sad but true.  I'm going to try to compile a 'master' list here and start crossing things off as time is going to fly by with the holidays around the corner.

Nursery
-  Buy Glider (finally bought one even though it's not what I wanted, it was a great deal.  I really wanted grey or white but ended up with black.  I'm going to hide it with pillows and blankets!  Friends of ours said that a recliner was a good option though and this has both, so hopefully it'll do the trick.)
-  Order Crib and Dress (Found them at sears.ca and they come in next week!)
-  Paint (Glad to have this project finished.  I am so happy with the outcome but sadly the photo makes it look brown.  It is definitely white and grey!)

-  Order curtains/drapes and rod (waiting to see if potterybarnkids.com has any black friday sales!)
-  Buy new knobs for dresser
-  Buy changing pad and cover for on top of dresser
-  Buy crib mattress
-  Buy crib sheets and skirt
-  Buy side table for glider


Baby Supplies / Feeding
-  Wash all clothes and hang/fold (need to find hangers...)
-  Bottles (went with Avent and Tommy Tippee)
-  Swing (ordered the Craddle 'N Swing My Little Snugabunny)
-  Blooming Bath (ordered in Ivory)
-  Diaper Bag (ordered this in Graphite.  I really wanted the Storksak but couldn't justify the price..) 
-  Diapers (how many does to buy?)
-  Formula (?)
-  Video Monitor  
-  Mattress cover
-  Bottle Warmer/Sterilizer?
-  Humidifier
-  Stroller
-  Carseat
-  Carseat Bundle Up/Cover 

Other 
-  Pack Hospital Bag (we probably have some time on this one)
-  Make rug for nursery

I'm sure this will get longer as I realize all I've missed! Let's see how much I can check off in the next few weeks before Christmas.

24 Weeks

 This is what I see when I look down now..... crazy!

How far along? 24 weeks

Total weight gain: 10lbs

Maternity clothes? I'm having trouble finding pants that fit well so I'm living in leggings and sweat pants.

Stretch marks? No, hopefully it'll stay that way!

Sleep: Just ok.
Best moment this week:  an unexpected ultrasound in a good, not scary situation

Miss Anything?  paralyzers, I swear I'm going to have one in the hospital
Movement: Lots of kicks and wiggles.

Food cravings:  I like dessert but nothing that I'd describe as a craving really.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  no

Gender:  we do know but we are keeping it a secret for now...

Labor Signs:  no

Symptoms:  none

Belly Button in or out?  in

Wedding rings on or off? on 
Looking forward to: painting this weekend with a crazy insane mask we bought to keep me and baby safe!

How far along? 22 weeks 

Total weight gain: 4lbs

Maternity clothes? Yep!  Love my h&m maternity pants.

Stretch marks? no.  Still have itchy skin though.. 

Sleep: lovin' it!
Best moment this week:  thanksgiving dinners and gatherings

Miss Anything?  not really
Movement: yes, lots!

Food cravings:  nothing that I MUST HAVE!

Anything making you queasy or sick:  no

Gender:  we do know but we are keeping it a secret for now, it has been very hard!

Labor Signs:  no

Symptoms:  none

Belly Button in or out?  in

Wedding rings on or off? on 
Looking forward to: starting the nursery - might paint next weekend!

21 weeks - we are over halfway there!

(IGNORE MY BAD HAIR..)

How far along? 21 weeks 

Total weight gain: 3lbs

Maternity clothes? Pants, pants, and more pants.  

Stretch marks? no.  Still have itchy skin though.. 

Sleep: normal again, yipee!
Best moment this week:  all the movement, especially seeing it from the outside

Miss Anything?  nothing right now.
Movement: yes :)

Food cravings:  not really but I did just eat a waffle at 9pm eek.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  nope

Gender:  secret

Labor Signs:  no

Symptoms:  none

Belly Button in or out?  in

Wedding rings on or off? on 
Looking forward to: shopping

pets or pests?

Today was a ridiculously frustrating one with the dogs.  Somedays are great and some just aren't.  Today wasn't.  They bark and fight and pee on my floor so I lose my mind.  Why not just lay down for a bit?  Play with the ball?  Come over and cuddle?  Eat some dog food? Chew a bone?  Nope, it must involve me getting off my butt and constantly entertaining.  Ok sorry, rant over.  In order to fix this problem, I'm going to try to take them for more walks so they can get some exercise (and it wouldn't hurt me either) starting TOMORROW.

In the meantime, I'm going to look back at a few photos from the last year of the best times with the pups.  They are so dang cute and I love them so much.  Happy Birthday Babies!

happy halloween!

I love holidays but halloween is not one of my favorites.  I don't really know why though.  I had fun in my early 20's dressing up and drinking ridiculous amounts.  Now I love the door ringing (minus the dogs barking) or hearing 'trick or treat' and handing out candy.  Funny how times change, but good change.  

I started noticing lots of holiday pins on pinterest and thought I'd share a few of my favorites.  Also, I'm going to try to attempt a few of them this year, so we'll see how that turns out.  Some people are so damn creative, I love it.  

Costumes

It's likely that I won't be dressing up this year but if I do venture out, I hope I see some awesome homemade costumes like these.  Homemade is the best.  

 Jelly Bean Costume - more here

Laundry Basket Costume - more here

Party Ideas

If I was throwing a party, I would definitely be trying to make these.  They are so cute! 

Spider Cider/Witchs Brew/Zombie Juice - more here

 Clever Ice Bucket/Drink Holder - more here

Halloween Wreaths 

I love wreaths and these are soooo cool.  I want to make sure our front porch/door is always looking nice and festive.  So this is going to be my halloween project - I'll post how it turns out.... 

Tulle Halloween Wreath - more here

 All of this gets me super excited for the upcoming holidays.  We are having a big Thanksgiving Supper at our house with friends, so I'm sure I'll have lots of photos from that to share providing it goes well!  It's going to be great to experience holidays again with a baby, I think it may make it even more exciting... if that's possible.

cribs, cribs, and more cribs

We are casually browsing at a kids furniture store recently and they tell us that some items take 6-12 weeks to come in plus backorder.  Yikes!  So I guess we need to order something sooner than later.  

The colors that I'm considering for the striped walls...

Zircon 

Pure White 

Still deciding on accent colors. 

College Wood Work Augusta

 

College Wood Work Augusta Dresser (obviously in white) 

Delta Santiago Crib

Delta Santiago Dresser

Zoom Crib

 Lots of decisions to make but I'm hoping we'll have something ordered by next week.  Start painting in October after a fun Thanksgiving Weekend!  Next task, research gliders....

20 Weeks

How far along? 20 weeks 

Total weight gain: 0 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yup! Just bought 2 pairs of pants at H&M last night including some turquoise/mint green ones.  We'll see how much I wear them though I do think they hug my bum nicely ;)

Stretch marks? none.  My skin feels itchy all over though which is irritating.

Sleep: love it!
Best moment this week:  finding out gender (it's a secret), feeling more movement and starting to shop! 

Miss Anything?  umm, my energy and paralyzers.
Movement: yup, mostly in the morning and at night. 

Food cravings: No but I'm more hungry everyday.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  not right now.

Gender:  we know!!!  

Labor Signs:  no

Symptoms:  Sleepy

Belly Button in or out?  in

Wedding rings on or off? on 
Looking forward to: getting started on the nursery!