I saw this contest for a super cute little pettiskirt for Morgan. I want it so bad!
So go check out the cool skirt I am going to win for Morgan!
http://kezklipz.blogspot.com/2009/06/huge-giveaway.html
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Morgan is 18 months old!
(Morgan in Grandpa's boat.)Morgan is the consummate Daddy's girl. As soon as she hears the garage opening she runs toward the door saying, "Daddy! Daddy!" She's even figured out how to pull open the heavy door to the garage, so she can get to daddy faster. Time to install those child locks!
She adores her brother and insists on doing everything he does. This does not make Joshua very happy most of the time.
She is getting pretty vocal and building up her vocabulary pretty nicely. She loves to try and parrot the sounds that we make, which is such a change from Joshua.
Morgan loves to dance and sing. She particularly likes to dance to the Curious George theme song.
When I took her to the ER for the flu a few weeks back I tried to comfort her by singing Twinkle twinkle, I am a Child of God, and all other songs I could think of. Instead of being comforted she just got mad that she was trying to be pacified. That is until I switched to 'So What', by Pink. She snuggled right in and went to sleep. She's a pistol that one.
She has only been able to go nursery once as she has been sick the last two weeks. Poor thing. She did great the first week though!
Here is Morgan on her first day of nursery. She wasn't too into the photo-op.
Here is how most interactions with her brother end. If I remember correctly she was freaking out because she fell down in the grass. She hates grass and can't put her hands on it. A princess through and through.
I can't believe Morgan is 18 months old already! Time has flown by so fast. We sure do love our little princess.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sew Crazy for polka dots!
I saw these awesome dish towels at Big Lots, 4 for $3, but I didn't have anything to do with them. I was a responsible adult and put them back. Two days later I see a tutorial for making a tote bag from dish towels, it was kismet.
I have had this stuff just sitting around for awhile and finally made the time to sew it all up. You can see how to make yourself one HERE. Very simple considering I'm definitely in the novice sewing category.
The fabrics I chose lends itself to being reversible although it isn't necessarily intended that way. I got a little carried away on the pocket, but what are you gonna do?
I had also seen this tutorial for a wet bag at Little Birdie Secrets. I had not actually heard of a wet bag before, but in the land of perpetual summer you need a good place to store wet bathing suits, clothes, etc. It went surprisingly well for my first zipper and sewing a vinyl insert. If you are going to attempt this, I suggest reading the comments as some folks ask good questions.
I have had this stuff just sitting around for awhile and finally made the time to sew it all up. You can see how to make yourself one HERE. Very simple considering I'm definitely in the novice sewing category.
The fabrics I chose lends itself to being reversible although it isn't necessarily intended that way. I got a little carried away on the pocket, but what are you gonna do?
I had also seen this tutorial for a wet bag at Little Birdie Secrets. I had not actually heard of a wet bag before, but in the land of perpetual summer you need a good place to store wet bathing suits, clothes, etc. It went surprisingly well for my first zipper and sewing a vinyl insert. If you are going to attempt this, I suggest reading the comments as some folks ask good questions.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Dinner Accomplished
Last week we defrosted the deep freeze and besides having to throw out some REALLY old things, I got a good inventory of what is in there. I am horrible at planning ahead so I'm usually trying to defrost something last minute, or we're stuck with boxed Mac 'N Cheese or some other cop out type of meal.
I've decided to try meal planning in earnest. I am also expecting great benefits by fewer trips to the grocery store, less eating out, and less food waste as well. Scroll down to the bottom of my blog and you will see my dinner calendar thus far. Fancy, huh? I like it.
Here's what I have done and I think it would be so cool if someone else gave it a try too.
1. Go to http://www.google.com/calendar/
2. On the right there is a box that says "My calendars." Click on the link to Create a new calendar.
3. Name your calendar and put whatever info you want to. I pretty much left everything blank.
4. If you want to post your meal calendar on your blog you will need to select the option to Make This Calendar Public.
5. Get your settings and info how you want and then click the Create Calendar button
6. Now you are ready to rock and roll! Click on a day, type in what's for dinner, and click Create Event.
7. If you want to Edit Event Details, you could go so far as to put in a recipe or something like that.
8. Now it is time to share your calendar with your blogging audience. In the My Calendars box, click Settings.
9. Next, click on the name of your calendar.
10. From this screen scroll down to Embed this calendar. The default size is quite large, so click on the Customize the color, size, and other options link.
11. On this screen you can mess with the settings to your hearts desire. My calendar is about 500 by 400 I believe.
Hang in there we are almost there.
12. Now add it to your blog. In blogger, go to the Layout tab. Select Add a Gadget, I recommend above or below your posts.
13. Select HTML/Javascript and then paste in your code from the Google Calendar page.
14. Save in the bottom of the window, and you are all set.
15. Time to preview your blog and make any adjustments to size, or location as needed.
If you decide to do this, please let me know. I'd love to get some more dinner ideas.
Also, if needed I can do a proper tutorial with some screen shots. If you get stuck somewhere let me know!!
I've decided to try meal planning in earnest. I am also expecting great benefits by fewer trips to the grocery store, less eating out, and less food waste as well. Scroll down to the bottom of my blog and you will see my dinner calendar thus far. Fancy, huh? I like it.
Here's what I have done and I think it would be so cool if someone else gave it a try too.
1. Go to http://www.google.com/calendar/
2. On the right there is a box that says "My calendars." Click on the link to Create a new calendar.
3. Name your calendar and put whatever info you want to. I pretty much left everything blank.
4. If you want to post your meal calendar on your blog you will need to select the option to Make This Calendar Public.
5. Get your settings and info how you want and then click the Create Calendar button
6. Now you are ready to rock and roll! Click on a day, type in what's for dinner, and click Create Event.
7. If you want to Edit Event Details, you could go so far as to put in a recipe or something like that.
8. Now it is time to share your calendar with your blogging audience. In the My Calendars box, click Settings.
9. Next, click on the name of your calendar.
10. From this screen scroll down to Embed this calendar. The default size is quite large, so click on the Customize the color, size, and other options link.
11. On this screen you can mess with the settings to your hearts desire. My calendar is about 500 by 400 I believe.
Hang in there we are almost there.
12. Now add it to your blog. In blogger, go to the Layout tab. Select Add a Gadget, I recommend above or below your posts.
13. Select HTML/Javascript and then paste in your code from the Google Calendar page.
14. Save in the bottom of the window, and you are all set.
15. Time to preview your blog and make any adjustments to size, or location as needed.
If you decide to do this, please let me know. I'd love to get some more dinner ideas.
Also, if needed I can do a proper tutorial with some screen shots. If you get stuck somewhere let me know!!
Good Value Brand? Good Grief that's gross!
We are far from brand name snobs around here and the majority of the time I am very pleased with the store brand products offered. However I have recently noticed an upcropping of an even cheaper selection of products that goes by the name of Kroger Value(at least at Fry's.)
I have seen the same plain white packaging at other stores, and I have a feeling it's the same stuff even if the name is different.
Back to the point. Yesterday I went on a marathon shopping expedition at Fry's and had on my list a few Good Value products to investigate.
#1 - Kroger Value Apple Juice COCKTAIL. I hadn't noticed the word Cocktail when checking out the ad. Cocktail, means 25% juice. I didn't even bother checking out what the other ingredients may have been.
#2 - Pillsbury-esque buttermilk biscuits. (You know the kind in the pressure can that you twist and pop.) Well upon inspecting the product, I noticed it said artificially flavored buttermilk biscuits. Mmmm, Yummy, let's see what makes it artificially flavored. Among a host of crazy long chemical names, I come across less than 2% of beef tallow.
I'll be honest, I didn't know exactly what tallow was when I read it, but I knew it didn't belong in my biscuits.
Just so we all know, beef tallow is rendered from the hard fat around the kidneys and loins. Doubly lucky for us tallow can be stored for extended periods without the need for refrigeration.
Honestly I have been fighting the nausea ever since I started writing this post.
#3 Imitation shredded mozzerella cheese. (this was not on my shopping list, but by this point all of the Kroger Value products were flashing like neon lights to me.) I couldn't even bring myself to look at the ingredients.
I check labels carefully due to Morgan's allergies, but I'm not overly fanatical about all natural, or organic products. This however crosses into completely insane and not fit for human consumption. (IMHO)
There is such a thing as TOO cheap and I now feel that my previous avoidance of these products were completely founded.
What sort of crazy items do you run into at the grocery store?
I have seen the same plain white packaging at other stores, and I have a feeling it's the same stuff even if the name is different.
Back to the point. Yesterday I went on a marathon shopping expedition at Fry's and had on my list a few Good Value products to investigate.
#1 - Kroger Value Apple Juice COCKTAIL. I hadn't noticed the word Cocktail when checking out the ad. Cocktail, means 25% juice. I didn't even bother checking out what the other ingredients may have been.
#2 - Pillsbury-esque buttermilk biscuits. (You know the kind in the pressure can that you twist and pop.) Well upon inspecting the product, I noticed it said artificially flavored buttermilk biscuits. Mmmm, Yummy, let's see what makes it artificially flavored. Among a host of crazy long chemical names, I come across less than 2% of beef tallow.
I'll be honest, I didn't know exactly what tallow was when I read it, but I knew it didn't belong in my biscuits.
Just so we all know, beef tallow is rendered from the hard fat around the kidneys and loins. Doubly lucky for us tallow can be stored for extended periods without the need for refrigeration.
Honestly I have been fighting the nausea ever since I started writing this post.
#3 Imitation shredded mozzerella cheese. (this was not on my shopping list, but by this point all of the Kroger Value products were flashing like neon lights to me.) I couldn't even bring myself to look at the ingredients.
I check labels carefully due to Morgan's allergies, but I'm not overly fanatical about all natural, or organic products. This however crosses into completely insane and not fit for human consumption. (IMHO)
There is such a thing as TOO cheap and I now feel that my previous avoidance of these products were completely founded.
What sort of crazy items do you run into at the grocery store?
Monday, June 1, 2009
Conversations with Joshua III
This afternoon we were coming down the stairs after naptime and I was carrying Morgan. I was encouraging Joshua to move quickly down the stairs as Morgan gets a little heavy.
Mommy: Joshua, let's keep moving, Morgan's getting heavy!
Joshua: Oh, it will hurt when you drop Morgan. She'll roll down the stairs and that will be funny, but it will hurt her and that would be too bad.
[emphasis added]
Apparently he enjoys physical comedic gags. At least he would feel bad about his sister getting hurt. I also enjoy that he is certain that I will be dropping Morgan.
Mommy: Joshua, let's keep moving, Morgan's getting heavy!
Joshua: Oh, it will hurt when you drop Morgan. She'll roll down the stairs and that will be funny, but it will hurt her and that would be too bad.
[emphasis added]
Apparently he enjoys physical comedic gags. At least he would feel bad about his sister getting hurt. I also enjoy that he is certain that I will be dropping Morgan.
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