Mommas Like Me

Happy...

2012-02-16T17:14:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been really happy. I don't know quite what it is but I've just been really, really happy. I guess it's because I have been making more of an effort to spend some real quality time with my boy and my man. In the morning and later when Carter comes home from school I am all his until bedtime. We play games, read, go for walks, and find excuses to eat a lot of yummy treats. After Carter goes to bed, my full attention goes to my hubby. We relax, talk, and spend time cuddled up watching our favorite shows. I am making a more conscience effort to be present. It has been absolutely wonderful and I can see and feel changes not only in myself but my guys as well.
I've been taking a lot of time away from blogging, thinking about what I really want in terms of this blog and other life decisions, and getting my priorities in line and let me tell you I am feeling SO refreshed. I am slowly letting go of the guilt I have been feeling about not being able to keep up and remembering that I blog first and foremost for ME. In a way I hate how selfish that sounds, but it's the truth. And if this is something that I want to make last it has to be enjoyable and refreshing...not stressful.
So I thought that I would share with you a few things that have really made me smile over the past couple of weeks. Things that maybe I would have overlooked or not fully enjoyed while I was wrapped up in other stuff. Proof that it really is the little things in life that make me the happiest.
Rain. We haven't had much of it lately, but I absolutely love watching it rain. And there's something about the freshness after a good rain that I love...kinda feels like a fresh clean start.

This face. Need I say more? Perfection. I swear I could stare at him all day. It's been awhile since I just sat and took in how precious he really is. It never ceases to amaze me that he is mine. He's the combination of me and the hubs love brought to life. He's all that I could ever ask for and so much more. I love him more than I could ever express. I am so blessed.

Splurging on something for me. Yeah I know it's just chapstick but trust me, spending $3 on chapstick is a splurge in my opinion! But I LOVE it!

Shaved ice. After school one day, hubs met Carter and I for this special treat. It reminded us of being in Hawaii...one of our favorite places.

Getting dressed in clothes other than sweats. Yup, since we are all finally feeling better it's so nice to actually put on a real outfit, shave my legs, and put on make up! Feeling like a hobo is only fun for so long ;){p.s.- please ignore the unmade bed in the background}

Star Wars. It's a big deal in this house. We took our little Jedi to see it over the weekend and had a blast.

This man. He is the breath of fresh air in my day. My safe place. My comfort. I am so incredibly blessed to be his wife and to be sharing my life with him. Nobody else would do, only him.

New iPad games. Carter and I have been playing a lot of games together on the iPad. He's a little obsessed with the latest game I downloaded for him, Tap Tap Muppets. Watch and see, I think we may have a little DJ in the making...

And something that I just discovered today thanks to Kristine over at The Foley Fam...Birthday Cake Oreos.

MY LIFE IS NOW COMPLETE.

Dear Oreo, if you are reading this please make these a regular flavor. Making these a limited edition item will only force me to be on the next episode of hoarders as a troubled cookie hoarder. I could possibly then die due from being buried alive by a cookie avalanche in my own home...or diabetes, whichever comes first.

So until the next post my peeps...I hope you find joy in your day and lots of reasons to smile.

XOXO

Homemade Granola

2012-02-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

Before I get to today's recipe I just wanted to fill you all in on a couple things.
First, I made an update to the Homemade Coffee Creamer recipe that I shared with you last week and it tastes so much more amazing! So be sure to check that out.
Second, I am starting something new on fb today! I don't know about you but with so many giveaways going on in blog and fb land it's so hard for me to keep up with everything and remember to enter them! So I am creating a status update each week that I'm hoping will act as a sort of giveaway headquarters not only for those who want to promote their giveaway, but also for those who want to easily find giveaways to enter. Here's what the post you'll need to look for on fb will look like...

All you'll need to do is leave a link to your giveaway(s) when you see THIS specific post on my fb page! It would also be great if you could leave a little info on what is being given away and when the giveaway ends. I am hoping that this will not only help my fabulous friends promote their giveaways but that it will help others {such as myself} to keep better track of the giveaways that are going on each week. I am going to try posting this on Mondays but feel free to add to it all week long. I will probably re-share it a couple times during the week as a reminder for everyone. I would absolutely love it if you could help me spread the word on fb, your blog or any other social media outlets you use!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Often on this blog I talk about and share my successes in the kitchen. Rarely do I share my epic fails...and there are many of them. So today I thought I'd share one of each! Let's start with the fail...
I came across a recipe on Pinterest for No Bake, Chewy Granola Bars that looked and sounded delicious and pretty healthy. I love the idea of making my own snacks and knowing what goes into them rather than buying a box of processed mystery food. So I decided to give these a try since I already had most of the ingredients in my pantry.
I was surprised at how super easy they were to make and how delicious they smelled! I couldn't wait to dig in and try one, so as soon as they were cool enough I cut them up and dug right in. OH MY YUM they we AWSOME! Chewy and delicious just as stated! I had to test them out on the boys just to make sure...They LOVED them too!"Woohoo this was too easy," I thought. So I packaged them up and put them away very satisfied with my success.
About an hour later I thought I'd try another one. I opened up the air tight container and pulled one out and excitedly shoved a bite in my mouth. I took a bite...AND NEARLY CHIPPED MY TOOTH!!

The darn thing was as hard as a BRICK!!Out of complete surprise I dropped the other half of the bar on the floor and it shattered like a piece of glass with shards of granola flying all over the kitchen...under the stove, in the sink, and even in the cats water dish.
I was so disappointed. What had I done wrong? Well, that is still to be determined. I think that the recipe itself is still really good but somewhere along the way I screwed up majorly. I think I have an idea of how to fix it but haven't tried it yet. If I have success with these in the future I'll be sure to share but for now I refuse to be responsible for your dental bills and possible need for dentures after having one of these bars.

Moving on to the success story...The granola bar recipe suggested making your own low-fat granola and referenced a recipe that sounded really good so I decided to give it a whirl. Again, this recipe was surprisingly easy and while it was baking in the oven, the smell was intoxicating. After it came out of the oven and cooled off a bit I tried some and it was SO GOOD! So I piled some up on top of my favorite Apple Cinnamon Chobani and went to town.
The original recipe called for adding nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and raisins but since my original intent was to make this into granola bars I didn't really want all that extra foo foo stuff in it so I left it out. If I was not turning it into bars then I would definitely try throwing some of these in.{To view the original recipe please visit Fake Ginger}

Ingredients:2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats1/4 cup brown sugar1 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 unsweetened applesauce1 tablespoon honey1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Other Add In's1 cup nuts {pecans, walnuts, almonds}1/2 cup sunflower seeds1/4 cup sesame seeds1/3 cup raisins
Directions:Preheat oven to 300F
In a large bowl, mix together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and other add in's except raisins if using. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, warm the applesauce with the honey and oil over low heat.
Mix the applesauce mixture into the oat mixture and stir to coat everything. Spread the mixture onto a 9x13 baking pan.
Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until the granola is a deep golden brown. Remove from the oven and stir in raisins if using. Cool completely and enjoy!
Do YOU have a homemade granola recipe that you love?I would love if you would leave a link to it in the comments sections below!

Homemade Coffee Creamer

2012-02-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

About 6 months ago I made a new BFF. In fact, I even let this new friend move in with me. He has a cozy little spot in the kitchen and greets me every morning with his delicious aroma. He doesn't judge me by the way I look in the morning...my swollen eyes, grumpy expression, or the visit I got from the hair fairy...he accepts me for who I am. He goes by the name...Mr. Keurig.

Until Mr. Keurig came into my life, I rarely drank coffee. Starbucks was just an occasional treat. But now, I am hooked. I am pretty particular about the way I like my coffee. I have my creamer to coffee ratio down pat. Some people like their coffee black, I like mine white...yes, I tend to go a little overboard in the creamer department.

I recently came across THIS recipe on Pinterest on how to make your own coffee creamer and I thought I would give it a try. After all, I spend a lot on creamer each week and when I actually looked at the label to see what I was pouring into my coffee I was a little frightened by all the big words. I tweaked the original recipe a bit because it is one of those recipes that is very tweakable {hmm...is that a word?} and may even make some more adjustments when I make it again. But over all it was DELICIOUS and super easy to make. You could totally make it in different flavors, but I chose vanilla cause it's my favorite. So here is the basic recipe and remember...feel free to tweak away *wink*

Homemade Vanilla Coffee Creamer

Ingredients:*14oz milk{I used vanilla almond milk but any milk will do...even heavy cream if you're feeling really naughty}*14oz cream of coconut{or you could use sweetened condensed milk. I didn't have any so that's why I used the coconut}*1 to 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla coffee syrup{or any flavor you like}
** UPDATE 1/13/12**I tried making this with the sweetened condensed milk and liked it SO much better! The mixture wasn't as thick and it tasted more vanilla-y than coconutty...super YUM! Directions:Throw all your ingredients in a quart sized mason jar, screw on the lid and shake it like a polaroid picture!
I saved one of my old store bought bottles of creamer, ripped the label off and filled it with my new homemade creamer so it would be easier to pour.
Easy peasy and delicious!Let me know if you try it and how you change it up!

Follow Me Wednesday Blog Hop!

2012-02-08T10:52:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Follow Me Wednesday Blog Hop!

3 Four and Under
Mommas Like Me
and
The Studious Stitch
are proud to bring you {Follow Me Wednesday}
Please remember to tell your friends!
The more the merrier!

Thank you for linking up each week, we really appreciate it!

This is a wonderful way to meet new people and follow some awesome blogs!

Here is what you do!

Please add your blog address to the linky list.

Please follow the host blogs!
We will be numbers 1, 2, and 3 on the link list!

If you are new to this hop, Welcome, and please leave us a comment and we will be sure to follow you back!

Please place the Follow Me Wednesday Button somewhere
on your blog!

Then, visit the other blogs on the list.
Follow them if you would like.

Please leave them a comment telling them you are visiting them from {Follow Me Wednesday}!

We all love comments!

Please link up family appropriate blogs only, any blogs that are not family appropriate will be deleted

LACEEEEE...you have some splainin' to do!

2012-02-07T13:08:00.000-08:00

{Just as a warning: this post is probably going to be all over the place. I have about a million thoughts swirling around in my little head and neither the time or energy to organize them. So, it is what it is...}
I feel like I have some splainin' to do. Or in the words of Dr. Phil, its time for me to "get real" about how I've been feeling. I just sat down at my desk in front of my computer for the first time in over a week. In fact, I looked up at my calendar and it was still on the month of January. Sad, I know. Things have been all outta whack here lately. With Carter being super sick {passing it on to momma} and needing my full attention, other things have been put on the back burner. Lately it feels like I have been drowning is a sea of unread/unwritten blog posts, giveaways, linky parties, fb, and emails. Then add to the whirlpool household chores, snot, tissues, medicine, doctors appointments, exhaustion...I barely feel like I can stay afloat!
When I started blogging last year in June, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I never expected my blog to grow as it has or for anyone to even take an interest in it. I never expected to be asked to guest post or have guests post on my blog. I didn't think I'd be asked to participate in giveaways or even host successful ones myself. I had no clue what a blog/fb hop was or what a link party was or that I'd ever join in on one. I didn't know what a sponsor was or how to promote them. I certainly didn't expect to get to know so many amazing people and form relationships with them. And I didn't realize that all of this would/could lead to overwhelming feelings of guilt about not being able to keep up.
It seems that blogging and I have had somewhat of a love/frustrating {but mostly love} relationship. You see, I love my blog and it's little tiny corner of the internet, I love my readers, I love writing, I love sharing and interacting with like minds, and I love to help other people. But what I didn't realize is that blogging can be extremely time consuming...heck it can be ALL consuming! I know that technically I am not obligated to anyone to blog or be apart of all of this and yet, I feel SO guilty when I am not able to leave a comment on everyone's blog post, enter/participate in every giveaway, promote/support every one's business, answer every email, join every party, or post several new posts in a week. No one is making me feel this way...just my own stupid "I have to do it all" self. I then start comparing myself to others who seem to be able to do so much more than I am capable of or even want to do at times. I seriously wonder how some of you seem do it all!
Recently, I have had to tell people "no" when they've asked me to participate in something and let me tell you it just kills me. I HATE feeling like I am letting someone down. And for the most part you have all been very understanding. I've had a few "not so nice" comments that really sting, but at this very moment I really don't feel like I can take on anymore and I will not commit to something that I don't feel like I can follow through on. I'm NOT saying that I want you to stop asking, I'm just saying that the answer might not always be yes and I ask that you please try to understand and respect that.
Balance. I've been thinking a lot about that a lot lately. How do I balance my responsibilities of being a mom, wife and taking care of a home and family with doing something that I absolutely love and without feeling stretched completely thin?Prioritize.
Obviously, my family will ALWAYS come first. Their needs and the responsibilities I've committed myself to will come before anyone and anything else. But what about blogging? I love that too and I deserve to do something that I love. I guess this is where the balance part comes in. It's been suggested that maybe I take a break for awhile, and while that may help, I don't think it would actually solve the problem. So my plan is to get better organized and set my priorities. I am going to set aside only a few hours during the day to blog, fb, email, promote, link, enter, ect. I want to completely devote my evenings and weekends to family...no/very limited blogging duties allowed. If I make a commitment to you I promise I will follow through. I appreciate and value every.single.one. of you who support and read what I have to say and I thank you in advance for understanding where I'm coming from with all this and my need to take a small step back for the time being.
So, that's what's going on here! Just trying to get my crap together and get out of this funky funk I'm in. Do any of you ever feel this way about blogging or life in general? Overwhelmed, like you just can't keep up? I hope I'm not alone in this!

Don't mess with Momma Bear...

2012-02-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

My poor sweet baby is so very sick. I haven't seen him this sick in a really, really long time. He came home from school on Friday and fell asleep on the couch. As much as I just wanted to believe he was tired, mom intuition kicked in and I just knew he was getting sick. Sure he enough he woke up with a fever and vomited later on the night. Since Friday he hasn't been out of bed for more than maybe 3 hours total. He has no appetite, is completely lethargic, has a horrible cough, has woken up 2 mornings in a row with blood all over his face due to a bloody nose...he just isn't himself.

I took him to the doctor this morning and found out that he has a double ear infection, and although he tested negative for the flu, the doctor said he has a really, really bad virus and was also concerned about his asthma. So off we went to Target to pick up a pharmacy of meds for him.

When we got to Target we of course had to wait for the prescriptions to be filled so I picked up a few things we needed while we waited. Even his absolute favorite store couldn't cheer him up. He didn't even ask to go look at the toys! All he wanted to do was sleep...

As we waited in line to pay for our things I could feel the lady behind me shooting daggers at me with her eyes every time Carter coughed up a lung. The conversation that happened next literally made my blood boil and brought the momma bear out in me...
Crotchety Lady, "Ugh, can you tell him to cover his mouth"Me, "He IS"Crotchety Lady, "He shouldn't even be out spreading his germs"Me, "We just came from the doctor and had to pick up his meds"Crotchety Lady, "Well, you shoulda left him at home"Momma Bear Lacee, "REALLY LADY? Do you even have kids?"Crotchety Lady, "No"Momma Bear Lacee, "Then you wouldn't understand so keep your comments to yourself please"Crotchety Lady, "I'm just sayin' you should teach your kid to cover his mouth"Momma Bear Lacee, "HE IS. AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT GO GET IN ANOTHER LINE"Nice Lady behind Crotchety Lady, "Yeah! Keep your mouth shut or move!"{Crotchety Lady storms off to another line}Nice Lady, "You are doing a great job with you son. Don't let people like that get to you."
I was seriously shaking with anger. I wanted to punch.her.in.the.face. I simply don't understand how people can be so incredibly insensitive and rude.
Then there was the "Nice Lady" who I wanted to hug and have a good cry on her shoulder. A mom herself, she had certainly been in my shoes a number of times and knew exactly how I was feeling. Her kind words of support made me think...
As moms we've all dealt with sick babies, tantrums in public, frustrating shopping trips, and probably even Miss Crotchety Lady herself...we've all "been there." We all know the feelings of helplessness, embarrassment, and pure frustration in those situations. But how amazing would it be if the next time you saw a fellow momma enduring one of these not so pleasant motherhood experiences you were like "Nice Lady" and offered a word of encouragement or a reassuring smile letting them know that they are not alone. That they are understood. That we are not judging, but rather empathizing with them because we too have been in their shoes. I think the world would be a better place.
So thank you "Nice Lady" for your kind comments, encouragement and support. You may not know it, but today you made me a better momma. One who will try harder to remember to show support to fellow mommas in distress. Thank you. Thank you.
So now with a kitchen full of various meds...

I'm off to nurse my little boy back to health. What medicine can't heal...love, cuddles and chocolate chips to help the yucky medicine go down will.
Take care everyone.

Follow Me Wednesday Blog Hop!

2012-01-31T20:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Follow Me Wednesday Blog Hop!

3 Four and Under
Mommas Like Me
and
The Studious Stitch
are proud to bring you {Follow Me Wednesday}
Please remember to tell your friends!
The more the merrier!
We had over 100 blogs link up last week!
Thank you for linking up each week, we really appreciate it!
Lets see if we can beat that number this week!

This is a wonderful way to meet new people and follow some awesome blogs!

Here is what you do!

Please add your blog address to the linky list.

Please follow the host blogs!
We will be numbers 1, 2, and 3 on the link list!

If you are new to this hop, Welcome, and please leave us a comment and we will be sure to follow you back!

Please place the Follow Me Wednesday Button somewhere
on your blog!

Then, visit the other blogs on the list.
Follow them if you would like.

Please leave them a comment telling them you are visiting them from {Follow Me Wednesday}!

We all love comments!

Please link up family appropriate blogs only, any blogs that are not family appropriate will be deleted

Chocolate Pudding Poke Cake

2012-01-31T15:45:00.000-08:00

Remember last week when I shared THIS post with you on my recipe for Oreo bark and told you that I had another yummy dessert recipe for you? Well, your wait is over my dears...

Let me tell you all little something about this cake. It was new recipe the I had been wanting to try for awhile and the opportunity finally came up to make it when some friends of ours invited us over for dinner and asked me to bring dessert. Well, once I put this cake together I was MORTIFIED by the way it looked...so mortified in fact, that I didn't even take a picture of the whole finished cake. It was ugly and just looked gross.
First off the original recipe I had found called for Oreo pudding which I couldn't find. So I decided to go with french vanilla pudding because in my mind french vanilla is supposed to taste better than regular old vanilla, right? Well, what I didn't realize is that french vanilla pudding is yellow and looks like egg yolks {blech}. When I poured the pudding over the cake I wanted to cry it looked so horrid. I begged my husband to stop by the store so I could pick up an emergency dessert and his reply was,
"Chocolate cake, pudding and Oreos...how could it possibly taste bad?!"My reply, "Did you even LOOK at it? It looks disgusting! I should take a bite first to make sure it's good."Hubbs, "You can't take cake to someone else's house with a bite missing out of it!"Me, "It's for their own good!!"
Long story short...I didn't take a bite out of the cake and I brought it...totally against my will. I was so embarrassed and warned everyone just how gross it was probably going to taste. But to my surprise everyone LOVED it!! I wondered if they were just being nice so I cut myself a piece and tried it...HOLY MOSES it was DELICIOUS!!
So the moral of the story is this...Just because it looks gross doesn't mean it is!
The best thing about this cake is that it's totally adaptable. You could pretty much use any cake/pudding combo that floats your boat! I think a vanilla cake with banana pudding and some crushed vanilla wafers on top would be amazing. The possibilities are endless! So here's the basic recipe and feel free to change it up however you wish...

Chocolate Pudding Poke Cake

Ingredients

Cake mix of your choice and ingredients to make it2 boxes {3.4 oz} instant pudding of your choiceCookie topping of your choice finely crushed
Directions
Bake cake according to directions on the box. Once done, remove from oven and poke holes all over the cake with the handle of a wooden spoon like so...

Now make the pudding according to the directions on the box and allow the pudding to sit for a few minutes to slightly thicken. Pour the pudding over the warm cake and spread out evenly with a spatula. Top with the crushed cookies and refrigerate. The longer you leave the cake in the fridge the more time it has to soak up all of the pudding goodness and the better it tastes. I recommend making it the day before you want to serve it.

Hopefully the next time I make this it will look a lot prettier.But even if it doesn't it will still taste delicious!

2012-01-26T13:45:00.000-08:00

Mommas like me

Blog Makeover!!

Happy can't even begin to describe how I feel right now...I am downright GIDDY!!!My little ol blog has finally gotten a beautiful makeover!!!
I have never been happy with the way Mommas like me originally looked. It was boring, drab, colorless, and didn't reflect my personality whatsoever. Unfortunately, though, I lack in the skill department when it comes to blog design...or anything computer related for that matter. So about a month or so ago I began looking into having someone do the work for me. I looked at several different blog designers but ultimately fell in love with one pretty much right from the beginning. I was always excited to see her latest designs for other blogs and loved every one she did. Her style seemed to match with mine and I knew that she was going to be the one to give MLM a facelift.
So, thanks to the incredibly talented and super sweet Cindy at Blessed Design Studio I now have a beautiful blog that I am so incredibly proud of! Cindy was an absolute dream to work with. She was patient, kind, and I felt like she really listened and understood the look I was going for. In my opinion, she went above and beyond what I even imagined. Not only do I have a pretty new blog to show off but I also feel like I made a sweet new friend in the process. So THANK YOU Cindy for all your hard work! If you are looking you give you blog a makeover, I highly recommend checking out her portfolio HERE.
Just In case you forgot, here is what MLM looked like before...

And now just look at it!

Such a perfect reflection of who I am and what I love. I think my absolute favorite part is my cute little navigation bar. You're going to want to check out each category because I have made some changes to those pages as well to better organize them. Oh and did you notice the little tab that says, "Sponsor?" That's right! MLM is soon going to be offering sponsorship! I am so excited about the opportunity to feature YOUR lovely blogs on mine! So keep an eye out for more info on that soon!

Also, if you scroll down a bit you'll notice in the side bar that I have two new blog buttons. If you currently have my button on your blog I would love it if you could replace it with one of my new ones. The current sizes are 150x150 and 300x100 but if you need a different size I will do my best to accommodate that.

Well, I hope you enjoy the new blog design! And as always, thank you for your support!

WIW aka What I Wore {or in some cases didn't wear}...

2012-01-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

I don't usually do WIW posts.

Truth is, I spend most of my time in my sweats. I will even wear workout clothes when I have no intention of actually working out because they are comfy. It also gives me an excuse not to do my hair or makeup because people will think that I just came from the gym. And I may or may not have dropped off Carter at school two days in a row in my P.J's/sweatpants...and I also might have forgotten to put a bra on one of those days too.

*hangs head in shame*

{wow I'm being really honest today aren't I}

I really should try harder, I know. And thanks to two fabulous ladies and their awesome handmade accessories, I actually decided to get dressed up this weekend! Even though I'm only wearing jeans, a t-shirt, a belted sweater and some totally cute boots that you can't see...I think the accessories make all the difference.

So a BIG thank you to Nichelle of Vintage Wanna Bee for my beautiful rosette necklace and Nay of Cover to Cover and Everything in Between for my awesome cowl! I seriously love them both so much!

Like I mentioned, both of these items were handmade by these talented ladies with lots of love and I am super proud to wear them and show them off. I love handmade items because they are one of a kind and you usually won't find anyone else with the same thing. Plus, knowing that something was made especially for me makes me feel special...I like feeling special ;)

So please...SUPPORT HANDMADE!

xoxo,

Lacee

P.S.- You are going to want to stick around because a little birdie told me that my new blog design is probably going to be installed tomorrow!!!

Follow Me Wednesday Blog Hop!

2012-01-24T22:17:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Follow Me Wednesday Blog Hop!

3 Four and Under
Mommas Like Me
and
The Studious Stitch
are proud to bring you {Follow Me Wednesday}
Please remember to tell your friends!
The more the merrier!
Thank you for linking up each week, I really appreciate it!

This is a wonderful way to meet new people and follow some awesome blogs!

Here is what you do!

Please add your blog address to the linky list.

Please follow the host blogs!
We will be numbers 1, 2, and 3 on the link list!

If you are new to this hop, Welcome, and please leave us a comment and we will be sure to follow you back!

Please place the Follow Me Wednesday Button somewhere
on your blog!

Then, visit the other blogs on the list.
Follow them if you would like.

Please leave them a comment telling them you are visiting them from {Follow Me Wednesday}!

We all love comments!

Please link up family appropriate blogs only, any blogs that are not family appropriate will be deleted

Oreo Bark

2012-01-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

Some friends of ours invited us to their house for dinner the other night and I was asked to bring dessert...it's kinda my thang ;) There were two recipes that I had been wanting to try so I decided to go ahead and make them both.

WHY I always decide to try new things for the first time when I'm asked to bring something to someone else's house instead of sticking with what I know is good I'll never know...I totally stress myself out. But thankfully both recipes turned out fantastic and got rave reviews from everyone there. So here is the first recipe for...

Ingredients

1 package of white chocolate chips

15 regular sized Oreos chopped OR aprox. 45 mini Oreos

*I used mini Oreos so I wouldn't have to chop up the larger ones*

Directions

Line an 8x8 pan with enough parchment or waxed paper for a 1 inch overhang on each side.

Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler over low heat stirring constantly. Once completely melted and smooth, transfer to a heat safe bowl to cool for about 5 minutes. Add the chopped {or mini} Oreos and stir to combine.

Pour mixture into prepared pan and smooth with a spatula. Sprinkle the top with some finely crushed Oreos then pop in the fridge and chill for at least 10 minutes or until the chocolate becomes solid.

Once solid, lift the bark out by the waxed paper and break it into pieces.

This is pretty much the work of the Devil himself.

Absolutely, positively delicious and addicting. Let's just say...

You've Been Warned!!

Enjoy!!

xoxo,

Lacee

P.S.- Check back soon for the other recipe! *Hint* It involves cake and pudding and I almost chickened out and didn't take it!

Meet Lacey of Little Miss Nerd Girl!

2012-01-23T09:20:00.000-08:00

If you're anything like me, you probably spent your younger years dreaming about and planning your future. What career you'll have, when you'll get married, where you'll live, and how many kids you'll have, if any. You had your perfect life planned out in your head and had every intention of executing it perfectly.

Fast forward...

Has your life turned out like you imagined or is it completely different? Do you ever look back and wonder, "How did I get here?"

Today's guest poster talks about this very thing. I am so happy to have my bloggy friend Lacey from Little Miss Nerd Girl here on the blog today sharing her journey of how she became a stay-at-home momma. Not only does Lacey have a cool name *wink*, but she's super sweet and talented as well! If you ever need any help or a new design for your blog, she's your go to girl! So please take a minute to get to know the awesome momma...

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“Do you know what you call those who use towels and never wash them, eat meals and never do the dishes, sit in rooms they never clean, and are entertained till they drop? If you have just answered, ‘A house guest,’ you're wrong because I have just described my kids.” - Erma Bombeck

Earlier in the week, as I was walking with an armful of toys and water cups, I stopped and stared at what I was holding and wondered to myself, “How in the world did I end up a stay-at-home mom?”

I don’t want you to think I don’t like my “job.” I quite like it, love it even. As long as I have kids at home during the day, I hope that I can be home with them (however, I do wish I received a bit more time off than I do now). But three kids in two and a half years, staying home with them and living in Texas was never in my plans.

When I started high school I was going to go to college, get my degree in graphic design or computer animation, get married in my late twenties and then have kids several years later.

I had no idea.

No idea that I would soon end up hating school (after loving it my whole life) and ditch the college idea – which meant my awesome job as a designer or animator was ditched too.

No idea that at 18 years old I would meet my future husband and at the age of 20 we’d start dating.

No idea that six weeks after we started dating we’d be engaged.

No idea that I’d be married at the age of 21.

No idea that I’d leave California at the age of 23 to move to Texas - a state where we knew absolutely nobody.

No idea that I’d own my first home shortly after.

And the biggest thing I had no idea about was my future children. That after miscarrying once and not getting pregnant for four years we would be blessed with three children in less than three years.

No idea that I would want to stay home with those three squishy babes.

If you had told the fifteen year old me what was in store, I would have laughed at you. “No way,” I’d have said as I shook my head. “I have a plan. And there is no way I am getting married that young and having three kids.” I would have turned back to my journal and written about this crazy person telling me about my future and drawn a picture of you. I had no idea that my life would have turned out better than I could ever imagined or planned for. And, sometimes, having no idea what the future holds is a good thing.

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I absolutely love Lacey's last sentence, "And, sometimes, having no idea what the future holds is a good thing." Isn't that so true? I would love if you would show Lacey some love by stopping by her blog or fb page to say Hi. She's such a sweetheart and I know you'll love getting to know her!

Thanks Lacey for sharing your story with us today!

xoxo,

Lacee

Here Comes The Rain...

2012-01-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

There's a storm coming.

The same winter storm that has been coming around this time for years now.

The rain falls heavy and sometimes lasts for days...even weeks.

The clouds are dark.

The sun doesn't shine through.

It's not something that I look forward to, but no matter how hard I try I can't stop it from coming...nobody can.

This storm is not one that takes place outside.

It takes place inside...inside of me.

A storm of emotion.

The rain falls from my eyes in the form of tears.

The dark clouds of sadness consume me.

My normally sunny disposition in unable to break through.

Sometimes I can feel it coming, and I do my best to prepare for it.

Other times its like a flash flood coming with no warning at all.

It's hard to believe that I have weathered this storm for 13 years.

It's hard to believe that I have lived almost half my life without her...my mom.

I remember when I first lost her and how people told me that it would get easier.

That time would heal my wounds.

I believed them.

I kept waiting...days, weeks, months, years.

It never got easier.

Sure the pain has lessened, I have more good days now than bad, but easy? No.

It's not easy going through life without someone you love, without your best friend.

It's not easy experiencing life's joys without them by your side. It makes those moments bittersweet at best.

It's not easy being consumed with jealousy while you watch your friends with their moms.

It's not easy to feel like you are forgetting them...their smell, their laugh, their smile, their touch.

It's not easy trying to describe to your son the grandma he never met.

It's not easy when the pain is so gut wrenching that it keeps you in bed for days.

It's not easy trying to smile and put on a happy face when inside your heart is breaking.

I know those people were only trying to comfort me, but it's hard not to feel like I was mislead.

Like I've been waiting all this time for something that was never going to happen anyway.

But then again, I don't think you can fully understand what its like until you lose someone so close to you...a piece of your heart.

I came across a quote a few years ago that really describes it perfectly...

"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens, but it is never gone." ~Rose F. Kennedy

I know now that pain is not going to go away...at least not right now.

I know that the best thing for me to do is just allow the pain and sadness to come...that its better to not fight it, hold it in and bottle it up as I have done in the past.

To allow it to remind me to be grateful for what I have, what I have become, what I've learned, and for beautiful memories that were made.

I know that it's ok to be sad.

It doesn't mean I'm weak, it means I'm human.

I know that the storm will pass, but for now I'll let the rain fall. Because after the storm not only will the sun shine again, but sometimes there is even a rainbow.

Mom,
You are loved and missed so much by so many. There is not a day that goes by where I don't think of you. You are forever in my heart until we meet again...

Pamela

March 24, 1948 - January 22, 1999

Love always your little girl,
Lacee

Follow Me Wednesday Blog Hop!

2012-01-17T22:55:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Follow Me Wednesday Blog Hop!

3 Four and Under
Mommas Like Me
and
The Studious Stitch
are proud to bring you {Follow Me Wednesday}
Please remember to tell your friends!
The more the merrier!
Thank you for linking up each week, I really appreciate it!

This is a wonderful way to meet new people and follow some awesome blogs!

Here is what you do!

Please add your blog address to the linky list.

Please follow the host blogs!
We will be numbers 1, 2, and 3 on the link list!

If you are new to this hop, Welcome, and please leave us a comment and we will be sure to follow you back!

Please place the Follow Me Wednesday Button somewhere
on your blog!

Then, visit the other blogs on the list.
Follow them if you would like.

Please leave them a comment telling them you are visiting them from {Follow Me Wednesday}!

We all love comments!

Please link up family appropriate blogs only, any blogs that are not family appropriate will be deleted

Fly on the wall

2012-01-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall? Ya know, to see/hear what goes on behind closed doors. I know I have. I think if we were able to be a tiny little spectator in someone else's home we would see that maybe our family isn't as weird as we think it is...or then again, maybe it is ;)

It's been a rough week and a half around here. Carter was sick, there were allergic reactions to things, daddy was on a business trip, then momma came down with one of THESE again...joy. But despite feeling like poop for most of the week I was able to sit back, really listen and enjoy some of the silly, disgusting, and super sweet conversations that went on in my house. Yes, you could say that I was a fly on my own wall. So here's a look into some of the things you would've heard if you were a tiny creeper in my house...

I was in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher. Just as I'm putting the knives away Carter walks in...

"Whoa mom, be careful and watch out for your weenie around those knives"

"I don't have a weenie dude"

{dear god please don't let him ask what I really have!}

"You don't have a weenie?"

"Nope"

"You only have a booty?! That's terrible mommy just terrible!"

My son constantly has his hands down his pants. Here's what his dad had to say to him about that...

"Carter, stop doing that or I'm going to put a mouse trap down your pants! That'll teach you to keep your hands out!"

{insert hysterical laughter from the three of us here}

While sitting on the couch watching cartoons Carter looks up at me and says...

"Momma this is my happy place right here"

"Yea?"

"Yup, snuggling with you"

{insert heart melting here}

While sitting in bed looking like a heaping pile of ugliness, hubbs looks over and says...

"You look so pretty"

{part of me wants to punch him and the other part wonders why he never compliments me when I'm actually looking good...but mostly I want to hug him and keep him around forever}

On his way out of the room Carter stops, turns around and says...

"Hey mom I got a little something for ya...FAAAARRRRTTTT!"

"CARTER GRIFFITH"

"Oh and something for dad too...FAAAARRRRTTTT!"

"OMG Carter you are a sick dog!"

{insert endless giggles here}

On hubbs way out the door to leave for work Carter runs to the door and says...

"Goodbye best friend!"

"Goodbye best friend"

There are also times when those of us in the house are defiant...

"Carter you need to stop telling me NO and listen!"

"NO! I don't have to listen to you!"

"Don't you talk to me like that!"

His reply said in true Adam Sandler/Billy Madison style {click HERE to watch}...

"Oh I can. And I will."

{insert desperately trying not to laugh here}

While Carter is in the bathroom getting ready for school I hear him singing...

"Ain't nobody dope as me I'm just so fresh and clean...so fresh and so clean, clean"

Hubbs confesses about a 2am snack raid gone bad...

"I went to the pantry to get a snack. It was dark and I couldn't see. I reached for the bag of m&m's, grabbed a handful and put them in my mouth. When I went to chew I realized it was POPCORN KERNELS I had put in my mouth!"

"LOL! That'll teach you! You could've chipped a tooth ya dork!"

For some reason hubbs leaves a pair of his work pants on the kitchen counter. Carter walks in this morning and upon seeing them blurts out this little gem...

"OH NO! Dad forgot to wear pants to work!"

"No buddy, dad wore pants to work I promise"

"Then he forgot his extra pair in case he poops!"

If I was a fly on YOUR wall what kind of silly or sweet things would I hear?

xoxo,

Lacee

Guest post from Momma Kate!

2012-01-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

Excited...nah, that doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about having my friend Kate from Momma Kate here today. I'm literally bursting at the seams with happiness! I love this girl. Like L.O.V.E her. If I could run off to NM to hang out with her and eat chips and salsa with her I would in a heartbeat. She is about as sweet as they come and I know you all are going to adore her just as much as I do. If you don't already follow Kate's blog then you NEED to!

When Kate sent me this post I read it and could relate to every single word. I was so excited to be able to share it with you because I know many of you other mommas have/do feel the same exact way.

So take it away my lovely lady!

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She was crying. Well, more like screaming. You know, that one cry that says, "I'm-so-exhausted-my-teeth-hurt-I-really-just-need-to-fall-asleep-but-am-fighting-it-for-no-apparent-reason". I handed her to Daniel, feeling helpless. Dressed in my scrubs and cup of coffee in my hand, it was 6:00 pm. That meant I was leaving for a night of work. I walked out the door to the sounds of fussy, cranky baby. All I wanted to do was rock and comfort her, but I couldn't. I HAD to leave for work. I felt that pit in my stomach. You know, that horrible knot. To sum it up in 2 words:

MOMMA GUILT

Before I go on, I'll let you know a little more about me. My name is Kate. I'm a twenty-something that considers myself one lucky gal. I'm married to a chef-in-training, named Daniel. We have a 9 month old daughter, Claire, who is the light of our lives.

I work full-time as a Registered Nurse with new mommas and babies. I work the night shift, which means Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, I give Claire kisses and leave her with her Daddy for the night.

But on with the story...

Any working mom can vividly recall the first time she had to leave her baby to go back to work after maternity leave. It's not a pretty sight. You call home about a million times to check in. You think your baby can't possibly survive without you. It's all you think about for those 8 hours, or 12 for me. And then you go home and realize that the world didn't stop turning. Your baby survived without you, and is quite content actually. So why do you still feel guilty?

MOM GUILT

(noun)

1. That nagging, unrelenting feeling that leaves you feeling inadequate in every and all ways about your mothering abilities.

2. Unjustified guilt about not being perfect as a mother.

Also see: crazy, emotional, plain ol' waste of time

Source: feel-dont-think.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest

As a maternity nurse, I would like to say I knew a thing of two about breastfeeding, even before I had ever done it myself. I knew the ins and outs of latching. I knew the facts about how great it is for baby. I saw how moms and their babies bonded. When I was pregnant, all I could think is I can't wait to breastfeed my baby. And I did. She latched beautifully. Other than the occasional sore nipple, things were great in the breastfeeding department. And then I went back to work. I turned into a pumping machine. I pumped as much as I could. But in a 12 hour shift, where I sometimes barely have time to pee, I just couldn't keep it up. A month after a returned to work, I gave Claire her first bottle of formula.

Now I should mention I didn't hate formula. I'm not THAT nurse. But for my daughter? Oh heck no! Why? Because that would mean I'm not perfect, and my body is failing my daughter. (Like, I said, mom guilt does crazy things to our brains!) As I made that first bottle and fed it to Claire, tears were running uncontrollably down my cheeks. My husband couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

Why was I crying?
Because I felt like a failure.
Why did I feel like a failure?
Because I wasn't being perfect for my baby.

And then it hit me.

Source: lollipops.bigcartel.com via Kate on Pinterest

Motherhood isn't about being perfect, and it's not about feeling guilty when you are imperfect.

Motherhood, in and of itself, is perfect.

It doesn't matter how I fed my baby. It doesn't matter that I leave 3 nights out of the week for work. It doesn't matter if I don't do everything by the book. What matters is that I have a tiny, little person in my life. She has brought so much joy into every single day. She has given me a reason to get up in the mornings (literally, haha). This tiny little 9 month old has already taught me so much about life, love, and what is really important.

As mothers, we have choices. We can either choose to spend our days consumed with thoughts of guilt, or we can spend our days not sweating the small stuff. There are things in life we can control, and things we can't. So instead of worrying and feeling guilty about the things we can't control, lets start focusing on the things we can control!

Source: uhohitsem.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest

I wanted to share this with Mommas Like Me readers, because I know that us mommas do need to stick together and learn from each other. So from one momma to all of you others, lets squash the momma guilt and enjoy the time we have with our little families! Because when you take the time to stop looking at the negative stuff, you will find there is a TON of positives that you have overlooked! Plus, life is more fun this way ;)

Source: pearls-curlsandasoutherngirl.tumblr.com via Kate on Pinterest

Mommas, (and Daddas, and those who aren't) I would love it if you would stop by and visit me sometime over on my blog. I'd love to hear how you have learned to look past momma guilt and what has helped you along the way!

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She's a breath of fresh air isn't she? And how gorgeous is baby Claire?! So please go say hi to Kate and show her some love! You can visit her on her blog or on her fb...better yet, both!

Thanks so much Kate for guest posting on Mommas Like Me today! Ya know I love ya girl ;)

xoxo,
Lacee

Fitness funnies & an "ah ha" moment

2012-01-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

I've been MIA at the gym all week due to a sick kiddo and the hubby being out of town. I came across this email I had saved a couple years ago when I had started working out with a trainer {more on that at another time} and just had to share it with you all...it always makes me laugh when I read it :)

Oh and something else! Last night while watching The Biggest Loser {do any of you watch that show?} I had one of those "ah ha" moments I always used to hear Oprah talk about. They had a segment where the nutritionist came on and took the contestants grocery shopping to teach them about what kind of food they should be buying. When they got to the store, after they had all grabbed a shopping cart she said the most brilliant thing that will forever change the way I think of grocery shopping and a cart. She told the contestants to...

"Think of the empty shopping cart as your stomach. You want to fill it first with the good stuff."

Isn't that just BRILLIANT? I tell ya I had to hit rewind and listen to that again just to let it soak in! So simple, yet SO profound. Anywho, I just thought I'd share that little tid bit with you :) Now on to the funny stuff!

A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM

If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine

Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, I purchased a week of personal training at the local health club.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
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MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!
Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!
Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!
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TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
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WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.
My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the heck would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.
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THURSDAY:
Christo was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.
He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny brat to find me.
Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.
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FRIDAY:
I hate that stupid Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.
Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the stupid barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
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SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..
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SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

xoxo,

Lacee

Stuffed Bell Peppers

2012-01-11T13:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a recipe that I made on Sunday that was absolutely delicious, easy and HEALTHY!

Ingredients

4 large bell peppers

1 cup cooked brown rice

1 lb lean ground turkey

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 can diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning

Tomato sauce, enough to cover the bottom of a casserole dish plus a few tablespoons extra

2 tbsp canola oil or olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Shredded cheese

**Note: I only used 2 bell peppers since the hubbs wasn't home for dinner and even if he was he wouldn't touch this meal with a 10 foot pole. I had a ton of left over filling that I put in the freezer to use for this recipe again next week. YAY for thinking ahead!

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut bell pepper in half lengthwise and discard seeds and membranes.

Place a thin layer of tomato sauce in the bottom of your casserole dish.

In a pan, add oil and sautee the onions until translucent {5-7 minutes}. Add minced garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Then add the ground turkey and brown.

In a large bowl, combine the cooked ground turkey, brown rice, diced tomatoes, and a couple tablespoons of tomato sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Scoop the mixture into each bell pepper half and place in the casserole dish.

Cover the dish with tinfoil and bake for 30 minutes. Switch the oven to broil, uncover the dish and sprinkle each pepper with cheese.

Broil until cheese is melted and bubbly.

They make great leftovers too!

Enjoy!

xoxo,

Lacee

Sleep deprivation...and other "joys" of motherhood.

2012-01-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

Here's a little rant for ya...

{please note that when I am sleep deprived I am extremely sarcastic. Ok that's a lie, I'm sarcastic pretty much all the time but sleep deprivation only makes it that much more dramatic.}

I only got about 4 hours sleep last night {I normally need about 8-10 to function properly}. If you follow me on fb then you know that my little man is sick with an ear infection and what I like to call "goopy eye" yes, I do believe that is a medical term.

I gave him the prescribed amoxicillin yesterday only to find his poor little body covered in hives a few hours later! I tired not to freak out and scare him but inside I was seriously FREAKING out. After talking to the doctor and coming to the conclusion that he was allergic to amoxicillin, I did the next illogical thing and googled "allergy to amoxicillin" to try to find something I could do to relieve his itchiness.

WHY don't I ever learn my lesson when it comes to googling stuff like this???

Words like: anaphylactic shock, difficultly breathing, monitor closely, and call 911 pop up. Tingly sweat begins to form under my arms. My heart begins to race. HOLY CRAP this is serious!! I finally come across some advice to give him some Benedryl. I run to my pharmacy of a medicine cabinet...CRAP AGAIN! No benedryl. Thankfully I have the most wonderful in-laws ever who brought some over at 10:30 at night {hubs is in Arizona for work...I love how this stuff only seems to happen when he is gone}. I gave some to Carter and he fell peacefully asleep about 20 minutes later.

I, on the other hand, couldn't get those scary words out of my head. So again, I did the logical thing and sat on the floor next to his bed and listened to him breathe with 911 preset to dial in my phone and my iPad to keep me company. Once I was somewhat confident that he wasn't going to go into shock, I went to my bed and tried to become animal-like with my sense of hearing. My ears were perked up and tuned in to hear even the slightest sounds of "difficult breathing." I swear I could hear my neighbors across the street snoring. I continued to check on him every half hour thereafter.

This, friends, is the part of motherhood that no one ever seems to tell you about. The sleepless nights due to endless worrying. The constantly running scenarios through your head of what you'll do if something bad happens...

What if he stops breathing?

Will I get to his room fast enough?

I better sleep on top of the covers so that I don't become entangled in the sheets and waste precious seconds of oxygen not getting to his brain!

Will I even hear him?

I better set my alarm to wake me up every 30 minutes!

What if I trip over something and break my ankle and have to army crawl down the hallway AGAIN wasting precious oxygen to brain seconds???

It's 3 am...I better get up, clean the house and make sure I have a clear path!

Seriously people, THESE are the joys of motherhood??? I think not.

ANYways...he woke up hive free and full of spunk again this morning...thank God. We are off to go pick up a new prescription that the pharmacist said could make him have the same reaction...REALLY? Then WHY are we giving it to him? UGH. I guess we shall see.

BTW, if you're wondering where Part 3 of the Bringing Sexy Back series is...so am I. I've been meaning to work on it but it just hasn't happened. Haven't been that motivated to talk about fitness since I haven't been to the gym since Friday. I promise I will just as soon as things return to "normal" around here. I will, however, post a yummy healthy recipe later today for you all to enjoy so keep an eye out for that!

Take care and stay well everyone!

And thanks for humoring me this morning ;)

xoxo,

Lacee

Introducing Nichelle from Vintage Wanna Bee! {Giveaway}

2012-01-09T09:22:00.000-08:00

So one morning last month I woke up, sat down in front of my computer and saw that I had won a $100 shop credit to Vintage Wanna Bee. HUH?!? I rubbed my eyes, because surely I had to be dreaming, only to look at it and see that it was TRUE! I nearly fell out of my seat! I called my hubby {who didn't know what the heck a vintage wanna bee was, but acted happy for me anyways} then proceeded to do a happy dance all over my house.

I contacted Nichelle and then spent hours swooning over everything in her shop. I felt like a kid in a candy store! But you know what else happened in the process? I met one of the sweetest, most generous, inspiring girls ever! Not only did she agree to do a little interview for me but she also offered to give something to all of YOU! So please take a minute to get to know this girl...she's as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside and I am so happy that I get to share her with you all today.

1) What inspired you to open Vintage Wanna Bee?

Well, I didn't plan on opening a shop, or being a blogger. I just started blogging because I was recovering from a major accident, and made crafts in my spare time. For some reason, people liked what they saw, and my little corner of blog world turned into what is now, Vintage Wanna Bee. It's been a crazy ride, but I've learned so much about myself, and I've grown so much as a person because of all the wonderful things, and wonderful people I've met because of this. I first and foremost love sharing a little sunshine, and bits of my story with all of you. It's just a bonus, and a blessing that I'm able to have a small handmade business, I truly love what I do.

2) Where do you go for inspiration?

No idea. I just take in everything around me. I've always been a hands on person. Sometimes, I'll just sit, watch a movie and let my hands do their thing. Of course, I would be lying if I didn't say Pinterest. That place is a gold mine for creativity. But, I enjoy just letting my imagination do it's thing. I'd rather be in a room of endless supplies and let what happens happens, then be in a room where things have already been created.

3) What is your favorite thing in your shop?

Haha. I love headbands. I wear them all the time. I wear my rosette headbands constantly, and mermaid headbands are gorgeous! I wish you could all see them in person. It may be because I hand stitch every sequin and bead, but that one is just so pretty. *cough* If I do say so myself.

4) Besides blogging and crafting what other hobbies do you enjoy?

I love singing and hiking. Or, singing while hiking. I also love the outdoors, lacrosse, being with family and friends, and service projects. There's nothing better then helping another person out, while creating memories with those you care about.

5) What advice would you give to someone wanting to open their own shop?

Be patient. Success doesn't happen over night. Blogging and owning your own shop takes a lot of hard work, stress and tears, but if it's your dream, do it! Don't let anything hold you back, and just keep moving forward! Stay true to yourself, and you'll be happy.

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Don't you just lover her already? Seriously, she's like a little ray of sunshine isn't she?! And Nichelle is definitely going to brighten YOUR day because here's what she's giving away...

Here are some of the beautiful things you'll be able to choose from in her shop...

Beautiful right?! Now get yourself entered to win!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bringing Sexy Back Part 2: Meal Prep & What I Ate Today

2012-01-06T07:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome back for part 2 everyone!

If you're just now finding this series I encourage you to go read Part 1 HERE.

First off I just want to thank everyone for the amazing response from part 1. Your comments, support and just plain awesomeness is so motivating to me! There are quite a few other bloggers sharing some really great heath and fitness posts right now, so make sure you are following me on fb because I often share great articles from my other bloggy pals on there for you to enjoy.

So in this post I'm going to be talking about what to do with all the delicious food you just brought home from the grocery store. One excuse that I've often used is that "I just don't have time" or "I'm too tired" to cook a healthy meal each night. So then fast food or something processed and microwaveable it is. But really if you prepare ahead of time you should have NO EXCUSE. Now I'm not saying that once you decide to start eating healthy you should never go out to eat again or that you have to say bye bye to your favorite treats...HA! just take a look at my recipes tab and you'll see that I LOVE desserts and would rather cut off a limb than say goodbye to them forever. So I'll also talk about what I like to call "cheat days."

Note: This is NOT a "diet." I hate the word diet. To me it means temporary, restrictions, going hungry, and just plain torture. I look at this as my new way of eating...forever. When I eat this way I actually eat MORE than I would if I was eating bad...the difference is I'm putting good stuff in mouth and I'm not skipping meals in order to try to starve myself thin. So get the word diet out of your head and start thinking long term.

Part 2

Meal Prep & What I Ate Today

***Meal Prep. Like I mentioned in part 1, I use Sundays as my day to prepare for the week ahead. Once I'm home from the store I unpack everything and start to prepare my food for the week. If my food is already prepared I can't really make excuses. So the first thing I do is wash and prepare all my veggies this way I don't have to spend extra time during the week doing so. I chop, slice and cut everything up and put it into individual baggies.

When I want a snack, I can reach in the fridge and grab a baggie! I also prep as much as I can for dinners too. For instance, this week we were having chicken stir fry, so on Sunday I cut everything up, put it in baggies and when it came time to make it on Wednesday all I had to do was throw it in a pan!

It doesn't get much easier than that now does it!? I even do the same thing for smoothies, one of Carter's favorite after school snacks and a great in-between meals snack option for me as well. You'll need a bag of frozen fruit, a large container of yogurt, a mini muffin tin and some baggies.

Start by filling the holes of the mini muffin tin with yogurt then pop it in the freezer for about an hour.

Once frozen, pop them out with a knife and put two in a baggie along with about a cup of frozen fruit. You should get 12 smoothies out of one pan!

Store the bags in the freezer and then when you want a smoothie throw a bag in the blender and add a cup of orange juice or diet cranberry juice! You could even throw in a scoop of protein powder too. EASY!

Remember: Preparation makes it easier to make better choices!

***What I ate today. All my food is prepared and I even have a menu planned out with everything I'm going to eat...It's a no brainer! I don't have to think...YES! So here's what a typical day of eating would look like for me...

Breakfast:

Multi grain cheerios topped with fruit {usually a banana}, skim milk, coffee

A bowl of oatmeal topped with fruit {usually berries}, coffee

These both keep me full until lunch time.

Lunch: I actually timed how long it took me to make my lunch today. Since everything was prepared it only took 3 minutes, THREE minutes peeps! Now you can't tell me that you don't have 3 minutes everyday to make your lunch...NO EXCUSES.

Instead of bread I use Multi Grain Wasa Crackers. I get them from Target in the cracker aisle. They are about half the calories of a slice of bread and I love the crunch!

I top each cracker with a little mayo made with olive oil, some fresh deli sliced turkey, tomatoes or avocados and a few basil leaves. SO delicious and flavorful! Then I pile up the rest of my plate with veggies and a little low-fat ranch for dipping :)

For a little boost of caffeine I add one of these green tea packets to my water and I'm good to go!

Somedays I may also have leftover dinner from the night before for lunch...if there is any.

Snack: If I'm hungry for an afternoon snack I'll usually make the smoothie that I talked about above. It's perfect because that is the time Carter get's home from school and that is usually what he wants. Another choice for me is some greek yogurt {I heart Chobani} topped with some granola. Both these will hold me over until dinner time.

Dinner: Usually one of the following. All of these can be prepared in 30 minutes or less and some can be prepped ahead of time.

Chicken Stir Fry, with brown rice {Click HERE for the recipe}

Bleu Cheese Turkey Burgers with fruit salad {Click HERE for the recipe}

Garlic Roast Chicken with Rosemary and veggies {Click HERE for the recipe}

Turkey Tacos with low carb tortillas, fresh homemade guacamole and black beans

Breakfast for dinner which usually consists of a 2 egg omelet with 1 yolk, some cheese and maybe some ham, peppers or onions thrown in, a side of fruit or yogurt with granola.

***Cheat days: Like I mentioned above, I have cheat days. I do not believe in becoming a food Nazi and not allowing yourself to indulge every now and then. If I eat good and healthy all week long and have stuck to my workout routine then I allow myself to indulge a little on the weekends. If I want to have pizza and a beer, then I do. If a slice of chocolate cake sounds good, then I eat it. If I want to go out to dinner and have chips and salsa, then I will. BUT I will make sure to get back on track come Monday!! Just remember all things in moderation. Don't eat like it's going to be the last meal of your life.

Also, don't beat yourself up over a moment of weakness during the week. So you ate half a bag of puffy cheetos and drank a cherry coke on Wednesday...get over it, move on, and do better tomorrow. But don't throw in the towel just because you made one mistake.

Alright, so that's it for part 2! I hope you found this helpful and as always if you have any questions feel free to ask. In part 3 I plan on discussing exercise so make sure you check back next week for that!

Do you have any healthy meals/snacks or tips for healthy eating that you'd like to share? Please leave any links or advice in the comment section below so we can all check them out!

xoxo,

Lacee

Bringing Sexy Back Part 1: Preparing to Eat Healthy

2012-01-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

If you read THIS recent post of mine then you know that one of my goals for 2012 is to get back in shape and eat healthier. I have no excuse. I've done it before. I once was a

workout-aholic, super healthy eater, lost 20lbs, in the best shape of my life kinda lady. But what was missing and why did I go back to my old ways? I was lacking...

BALANCE

that and I also just became lazy. I went from one extreme to the next...working out 6 days a week to zero. Eating super healthy and counting calories to stuffing my face with Jack in the Box tacos and every treat imaginable on Pinterest {don't worry Pinterest, I still love you}. I know better. I've beaten myself up over it. And now I'm ready to change. Eating right and exercising has to become my lifestyle...not just a last minute rush to get in shape before summer comes.

Since I know that many of you have the same "get healthy" goal as I do I thought I'd share my knowledge with you. Now I am not a nutritionist, fitness trainer, or doctor...I'm just your average girl who wants to share with you what has worked for me in the past and what my plan is for the future. Hopefully you'll find some of this useful, but ultimately you have to find what will work best for you.

So in part 1 of this little mini series I thought I'd share with you how I plan to change my eating habits and how I prepare to do so. I think that changing your eating habits is the most important thing to do. Not that working out isn't, but if you continue to throw back Big Mac's everyday...working out is really going to be pointless.

Part 1

Preparing to Eat Healthy

***Shopping on a budget. I think one of the biggest misconceptions/excuses {I even thought this way at one point} is that you can't eat healthy on a budget. This is so not true! What I've come to learn in my situation is that it costs me about the same. My weekly grocery budget is around $140 a week for the three of us. This not only includes our food but also household items, pet care, and health and beauty products. It can be done! It just takes a lot of preparation and planning {you're probably going to hear me say those words a lot}.

I grocery shop every Sunday. I feel like it's the perfect day for me to get everything prepared for the week. Since hubby is home and can watch Carter I get to shop ALONE. This helps me tremendously! I'm less likely to impulse buy without someone begging me to buy Oreos and I can get it done in about half the time! I know exactly how much I can spend for the week but I make sure to use a calculator to keep me on track. Knowing that I only have a certain amout of money to spend helps me to make better choices about what I put in my cart. How do I know what to put in my cart you ask? Well that brings me to my next point...

***Make healthy choices. After all, we are trying to get healthy right? Here are a few examples of the foods I eat and try to have on hand...

*Lean protein {chicken, fish, turkey...we eat a lot of Jennie-O ground turkey in this house!}

*LOTS of fruits and veggies {think a variety of color and what's in season. I also plan on planting a garden in the spring. I've done this in the past and it helps cut costs on our favorite veggies tremendously.}

*Whole grains {whole grain bread, brown rice, multi grain cheerios...think brown not white haha}

*Healthy fats {avocados, olive oil, nuts}

*Dairy {low fat cottage cheese, skim milk, low fat yogurt}

*WATER {the least amount of your calories should come from what you drink. Don't drink your calories!}

*Green Tea {It's a great alternative if you are a soda drinker. The caffeine will give you that extra boost you need and you can either drink it hot or cold. Lipton makes little flavored green tea packets with zero calories that I sometimes use}

I might be forgetting some stuff but at least you get the general idea. Stay away from processed food as much as possible. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store...if it grows out of the ground, eat it! Now that you know what kind of food to look for the next step is...

***Create a menu for the week and never leave home without your grocery list! Again, these both help out in the impulse buy department. I create a menu for the entire week {breakfast, lunch and dinner}, make up my list according to it, then shop. Have you ever gone grocery shopping without a list? I have, and let me tell you I always come out with things I don't need and things I needed but forgot. It's almost the same as going to the store hungry which is a big no-no too. Having a menu also takes the guess work out of what I'm going to eat at any given time. Since I know what we are having and my fridge is stocked with everything I need to make it, I'm less likely to choose fast food or an unhealthy alternative. Once you prepare your menu and list you are ready to hit the store!

***Stay focused and DON'T BUY BAD FOOD! Like I said, grocery shopping alone is key for me. I whip out my list, turn on my calculator and get in my grocery shopping zone. If you are tempted to add something to your cart that is not on your list, stop and think about whether or not it is a good choice before you throw it in. Will it help you reach your goal? Will having it in the house tempt you? Trust me, if there is bad food in your house you are going to eat it. I know I do! That package of cookies you bought thinking you'd only eat ONE will come back to haunt you and keep calling your name from the pantry {eeeeeeat meeeeeee *insert name here*!}. Why even bother tempting yourself like that? Stay focused and be determined to make good choices.

***Get everybody in the house on board. It is SO much easier to eat healthy when the whole family is on board. Get everyone involved in eating healthy. Get your hubby on board and talk about reaching your fitness goals together. Talk to your children about how important it is and make it fun. Planting a garden together is a such a great experience and will often get kids to try new things because they grew it themselves! Work together as a team and encourage one another to eat well and try new things. I really do believe it is our responsibility as parents to teach our kids how to eat healthy and make good choices. I am so inspired by Jamie Oliver when it comes to this...I heart him, like big pink fluffy heart him ;)

Will others in the house throw a fit because you stopped buying their favorite Ho-Ho's and Ding Dongs? Heck ya they will! Expect it. Learn to say NO. In the past, before we started eating healthy, Carter was hooked on chocolate milk {totally my fault}. He wouldn't even drink regular milk. Well, one day I just stopped buying it. I gave him regular milk to drink and he threw a fit! He flat out refused. I explained to him the reason we wouldn't be having chocolate milk anymore. That it was a treat and not something we should have everyday. He didn't care, but I stuck to my guns and said NO. It took days of endless whining and crying but I knew he'd get thirsty enough and drink it eventually, and ya know what? HE DID.

So the point of my little story is that it's not always going to be easy, but change IS possible, for you and everyone else in your house. Remember, if you're the one that does the shopping YOU have the power to decide what you bring back into your home. Don't buy it and they won't eat it. The best thing you can do is set a good example!

So there you have it! You're now prepared to get some healthy food in the house! But now what will you do with it once you get it all home? In part 2 I'll share some tips on how I prepare food for the week and I'll even share an example or two of what I would eat on a typical day....ohhh the excitement ;) So stay tuned...part 2 will be coming soon!

Click HERE to read part 2!

Have any shopping tips or advice to add on what I mentioned above? Have you written a recent blog post about it? Feel free to share it in the comment section below so everyone can benefit!

xoxo,

Lacee

Linking up here

Random Thoughts and Giveaway News

2012-01-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

After two weeks of being lazy as dirt, its back to the swing of things. As much as I have absolutely loved having my boys home with me, I find it nearly impossible to get anything done when they are around. Cuddling and fun becomes top priority. Yesterday I was supposed to spend the day preparing for the week, answering the emails I have been neglecting, and working out a new and improved schedule for myself but instead my day started off like this...

There's no better way to start the new year than with a flat tire, right?

WRONG!

I swear, it's always something...

And not so fun to find out that all 4 tires are going to need to be replaced with a cost of somewhere around $600. Just when you think you may be able to catch up...nope. Oh well, what can ya do. So with that, I think my motto for 2012 will be....

"Seek out life's happiness in all of life's crappiness"

In other news, does anyone else find it absolutely impossible to get out of bed at a decent hour when the sun doesn't come out to wake you? I mean, I'll be the first to admit that in the past two weeks I haven't gotten out of be before...oh 9am, but today with Carter starting school, grocery shopping to be done and about a million other things on my to-do list I really needed to get up at like 7. Didn't happen. It's still dark out and it's 9 o'clock! Just another reason why I dislike winter so much and why I should move the coffee maker to my nightstand.

Speaking of things to do today...I'm going to the gym. Can't you just feel my excitement radiating through your computer screen? I haven't had time to mentally prepare myself for squeezing my fanny into a pair of workout pants or how I'm going to try not to look like I'm going to pass out on the treadmill and stair monster...but that's probably a good thing because surely I'd talk myself out of such humiliation. I know that just getting there is the biggest battle. Once I'm there it should all be ok...right? Let's hope so!

So this week, among a million other things, I'm going to be figuring out a routine for myself. Besides all my mommy and wife responsibilities I want to fit in blogging, eating healthy and working out. So with that said, it's time to strap on my super mom cape, GET OFF MY BUTT, and get going. Rest assured I'll get to your emails asap and keep you updated on my progress this week...it should be quite entertaining ;)

Oh but before I go I have some exciting stuff to share with you! I'm participating in two HUGE giveaways right now! Among all the fabulous prizes up for grabs I'm giving away a

FREE Large ad space (300x200) on Mommas Like Me!

So check out the links below and get yourself entered to win!

Talk to you all soon my lovelies!

xoxo,

Lacee

11 Favorite Blog Posts in 2011

2011-12-30T10:01:00.000-08:00

I've seen a few other bloggers posting there favorite or most popular blog posts of 2011 and thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and do it too. Even though I have only been blogging for half the year, I thought it would be fun to revisit some of my fav's. If you are new to Mommas Like Me then it will be a great way for you to see some of my older stuff too. Ok here goes...

11 Favorite Blog Posts in 2011
in no particular order *wink*

Let's start with the 3 posts that got the most page views, shall we?

#1 with 931 page views No Sew Fleece Blankets
A great tutorial on how to make those super snuggly blankets

#2 with 1,098 page views DIY Tiered Platers

Another fun tutorial on how to make these adorable stacked plates

#3 with a whopping 2,880 page views and over 400 pins on Pinterest...
Pretzel Kisses
If you haven't made these yet then you are seriously missing out!!

So those were some of your favorites, now on to mine...

#4 Letter to my Momma. This was one of my very first posts and probably the most emotional post I've written to date. Up until I wrote that post I had kept every.single.one of those feelings bottled up inside me for 12 years. It felt SO good to finally open up and let those feelings out...a little blogging therapy, if you will. That post taught me that unless you are willing to be vulnerable with your feelings you can't receive any real help and encouragement. It taught me that sharing my story not only helps me, but it can help others too.

#5 Bad Momma. Here is another post where I first decided to bare my momma soul for everyone to see. I was nervous about what people would think, but I knew I wanted to keep it real and share the not so fun sides of parenting as well. I was so glad to know I wasn't alone!

#6 "THAT" Mom. I decided with this post to show just how imperfectly perfect I really am. My crazy pre-mommy thoughts of sunshine and rainbows compared to the reality of everyday life with a tiny human. Thankfully, many of you could relate :)

#7 Remembering Dad. Another gut wrenching, emotional post I wrote about the loss of my dad. After re-reading it, it amazes me how much you can still learn from someone even after they are gone. How much he still inspires me to be a better person by the example he left behind. The way he made me feel when he was around will forever be with me and will continue to influence the kind of parent I want to be to my son.

#8 A New Chapter: Kindergarten {and also The Night Before Kindergarten and The BIG Day...ok I know that's really 3 but they all kinda go together!} We hit a huge milestone this year with my little man starting school. And although I was beside myself with sadness that my baby is growing up, I absolutely love seeing him blossom...so bittersweet!

#9 You Know You're a Momma If... Here's where I tried my hand at being funny...and thankfully, you guys laughed {even if it was just out of sympathy...I'll take it!}.

#10 The Little Things. This post was all about a lesson I learned while attending a special event at Carter's school. It really hit me hard that day about how little our kids ask of us. What they really want more than anything else is for us to be there for them. To be present, involved and proud.

#11 Resolutions. This is actually a post that I had no intention of writing but was inspired by several other bloggy friends to do so. This post is a reflection of 2011...my failures, disappointments and hard times, along with the joys and milestones that I had. It makes me excited for a fresh start in 2012 and I'm looking forward to tackling the goals I have set.

Well friends, there you have it! My top 11 in 2011!
What was YOUR favorite Mommas Like Me blog post this year?
Or, if you have a favorite blog post of your own from 2011 please post it in the
comments below, I'd love to read it!

xoxo,

Lacee