Nawna's News

I'm Not Hatin I'm Just Tellin' YOU....Tryin' To Let You Know What 2013 Went Through!

2013-12-07T19:17:00.001-05:00

There was a time when I thought that the year 1999 held the most sentimental value in my life. I spent that entire year glued to the hip of Shannon Grein, notably the most impressionable person I've ever met who continues to inspire me and in memory never ceases to amaze me or make me smile. That New Year's Eve we held hands all night waiting for Y2K to blackout all the lights of uptown Flagler Beach. We laughed hysterically at 12:01 am when we we're all in one piece. That night, Shannon, Megan and I stumbled up the Boda's staircase and giggled ourselves to sleep, like 3 spoons in a drawer :D Not in a billion years would any of us imagined all the adventures we had would come to a screeching halt so soon in our young lives. I turned 16 years old that year, was surrounded by the best family, best friends and best boyfriends a girl could ever ask for. I lived in a bubble that year that has since popped and I doubted it could ever be topped.

Now some would say the 3 years I gave life would be the best but that's not fair, you can't pick just one! 2005, 2007 and 2010 each gave precious, beautiful additions to the world none of which could be topped (the whole two at once gig has a tiny edge but still...). Ever since "Y2K" I have not cared in the least about New Year's Eve and couldn't tell you where I was even last year! I don't do big parties, I don't care about banging pans and I don't even like champagne but this year is different. Somehow, 13 yrs since we lost Shannon, I managed to change my most memorable year and I am pumped for what is in store for the next!

Lets start with getting engaged on the 9th anniversary of the day I cemented my place as Tommy's girl WITH the ring I waited 3 years for! Next our beautiful first born daughter, Riley Shannon, turned 8 years old and has proven NOT to be mommy's little princess. She is mommy's lil bad ass who is afraid of nothing and is in consideration of being moved to gifted in her school.

With an engagement that gave 4 months lead time to the wedding my best friends in the whole world went into overtime and proved exactly why they are the same as family to me. All of whom have husbands, children and jobs but made 100% sure that my special day was not a jaunt to the courthouse and instead made me feel like the most special person in the world. Kattie, Kiera, Stephanie and Tara not only tolerated my wild ways but also helped pick me up when I was that lady from the depression commercial with a dark cloud raining on her all day. Together with their spouses and my family we pulled off the best wedding ever! It was backyard chic with an old school crowd mingling all together to celebrate Tommy and I making it legit. I will never forget what I remember of it...ever ;)

In July I turnt up and turned out at 30 years old! Yeah, that happened! As per usual, my best friends were with me and we came in swinging! LoL! It is impossible to not have fun with my pound puppies and they made sure I turned thirty and stayed purty...

We crashed into August starting with my wittle bebe twins, Camryn Mackenzie & Chloe Morgan, turning 3 years old. Weren't they just wrapped up in matching pink baby burrito blankets? Not but 22 inches long? What's up with that? Chloe is the sweetest yet shows no sign of being a premie baby born at 3lbs 3 oz. Camryn has turned out to be a walking, talking live-action 3 yr old version of me...and it's really funny but also very scary. Believe me, no one is as scared as I am. They are both very bright, mastered potty training and overall pure adorable.

August 16th rolled in and the highly anticipated honeymoon in Miami took place. You know, it wouldn't be MY blog post if I didn't talk about it...you know, the whole, "I saw Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake live at their last stop of the tour and it was so loud and Jay-Z made me pee and then he told the security to look the other way and then Justin Timberlake 'wrote me a symphony, just to show how much I meant to him' and it was all true"...yeah that part. There is NO ONE I would have rather witnessed it with than Tommy plus my very 1st best friend since 1987, Betsy, gave us a ride and got to listen to me babble all the way there and back! C'mon, try and top that with your honeymoon. Nope. Youuuuuu can't.

We came home from Miami on a Sunday and just like any Quadparents we charged right into the oncoming week. Monday was first day of Kindergarten and 3rd grade then Wednesday our 2nd born, Sienna Leah, turned 6 years old. Sienna has the biggest heart and it's made of pure pink, sparkly gold. She inherited both the sweetest sides of Tommy and I sprinkled heavily with sneaky. McDowell plus Morgan meet Sienna!!

It took all of September and October to recover from August. I was looking forward to Thanksgiving just as much as anyone else. You get your designated entrée to contribute, you show up, watch men watch tv, kids play hard and ask "when do we eat" all day then you eat...done. This year though, this year threw me for a loop. If I got on Kattie's Facebook I would know the exact day that I was innocently scrolling YouTube, as I do every Saturday morning, and saw a small thumbnail on the right of my screen. It showed a girl with a long blonde ponytail, sparkly bra top and dark red lips. I thought to myself, "Self, this must be old Gwen Stefani footage, let us look." Well folks, if you are my friend on Facebook and haven't deleted me yet from the related posts, you know that that girl turned out to be Iggy Azalea. All I heard was, "Walk a mile in these Louboutin's, but they don't wear that shit where I'm from..." and the rest is history.

I was "head over heels" and made it my bidness to know the who, what, why and where of this long hair don't care chick looking like what I may have envisioned as myself when I was younger. I mean, I was at one point 9 in the middle of West Palm Beach listening to my Snoop Dogg cassette! :D

Back to Thanksgiving, I some way (stalked), some how (begged/max cc) caught wind that she was coming to Florida and would be here in Miami in 3 days. The long and the short of it (is that how you say it? Like the black cat called the kettle back) is that my BFF Tara and I packed our bags, got our husbands consent, drove down south and stood front row not but 12 inches away from Ms. Iggy Azalea herself. It blew my mind, I managed not to pee and I am forever grateful for cards that fell into their place for that to happen. You may call it reckless, you may say "she should be with her kids" but guess what? Fuck you :) I've been a mom 24/7 since I was 21 years old but I'm also still Shawna Leah! Re-read the first paragraph and remember that tomorrow is not promised. We were back home within 24 hrs of leaving and it was hands down the BEST road trip I have ever had. Seeing as that was only a week ago I am still flying high on the wings of the rainbow unicorn I borrowed from Kattie that gave me the experience. Iggy is ridiculous, like me, and I'm beyond stoked I saw her in that intimate setting. Those opportunities don't last forever. I can't even get Jason Mraz to stop in Orlando anymore and if he does the tickets sell out too fast!

Now it's December, I'm still working with Ian Anderson and since our 1st Office Christmas party in 2011, he has since been elected President of the Daytona Beach Association of Realtors and was able to open his own brokerage with me has his right-hand woman! We are a kick ass team, we bring down the worst short sales with 3 mortgages and dozens of liens. We can show most banks how to do their jobs and we have fun getting it done! So, congrats to Ian for hiring me back on my 28th birthday. He took a chance on a girl with 4 kids, 2 of which were 11 month old twins, an unemployed boyfriend, one car and a request to start the job a day later because she was going to see Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj. Bahahahahaha!!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK US OUT - http:www.thedreamhomesteam.com

We'll probably get our tree tonight and will decorate the house. Santa will come, our children will squeal with excitement from their toys and I will sit back with complete contentment. In 2013, I have completed 90% of my unwritten bucket list. It wrote itself as the year went by. Bachelorette party? Check! Marry high school crush? Check! Have fun with my friends and kids, either all together or on "grown ups only" nights? Check! Be grateful for the ups and downs of the year, have no regrets (that's a lie, I do regret that I was unable to witness my long time BFF get married) and thank sweet baby Jesus for all my blessings? QUADRUPLE CHECK!!

Congratulations to all the people in my life "Hi how are you? Yes it's nice to meet me!" and more importantly THANK YOU! You make my life rich with genuine, ride-or-die friendships! To my family, I love you so much and appreciate all that you have taken on this year. My husband, Mom, Dad, Brother and GG picked up a lot of extra shifts while helping me get through gloomy "dungeon days". I could not have made it through with out you... Quadmom/Nawna Leah - OUT!

What I wanted to do and actually did...Legends of Summer Tour

2013-11-25T17:51:00.000-05:00

I had this amazing blog draft written up about my honeymoon in Miami for the sole purpose of talking about JayZ & Justin Timberlake "Legends of Summer" concert again....but I got so wrapped up in thinking about it as I wrote it out that the draft never posted but I did manage to add 13 new views to other peoples random YouTube concert footage.

Every once in a while someone will slip up and ask me about it but I want it on the record that I'm stamping it as TOP 10 most amazing things I've ever done. For people who know me, it was equivalent to me being able to spend the night in Times Square (Bucket List).

My husband is a laid back, chill, under excitable kinda guy so he was like the awkward guy at the prom trying to slow dance but this time it was at a massive hip hop/pop concert so he didn't know how to "act" and instead played the part of "Treyyyy in the wiiiiiind" in the movie Nell just swaying side to side. Which I don't blame him cause it was hard to top the loud, long blonde haired girl next to him rapping and singing every single word like it was HER JOB!!! Flamboyant hand gestures mixed with fake gang signs (they were real to me) flying everywhere....he was probably just trying to stay steady and ready to catch the wild woman he'd now refer to as his wife :D

Quick (long) back story...I personally have seen over 50 of the greatest live acts thanks to a festival called Sunfest in West Palm Beach where is ironically when our oldest daughter was conceived (in 2004- line up Gavin DeGraw, Chaka Kan, Steve Winwood, and more). I've seen No Doubt, Ja Rule, Jazon Mraz 3 times, Bonnie Raitt, Fiona Apple, John Mayer (when he first popped off in 2001 then again at TD Waterhouse), Santana and this never ending list of #legends. Then I've seen big stadium concerts like Britney Spears (twice once with Nicki Minaj), Ciara opening for Gwen Stefani, N*Sync and a lots of others including the Justin Timberlake & Christina Aguilera "Stripped" tour.

Back to the concert...parts I left out previous versions of the story was when we literally went from one end of stadium to find our seats to only be redirected to the complete opposite side. It happened SIX times and I chose to wear SIX inch wedges (just for great photos which NO ONE took one of me in)...so we're running, we're sweating, I'm still holding my pee from the hotel room...and August in Miami is pretty unforgiving as far as humidity. I'm not joking it was so horrible, it could have ruined our night...do not fret, I took a 20 question survey for the venue PLUS wrote a letter...none of the people working the event knew that the entire back end behind the stag was closed off....See photo below to really absorb what six times from the one circly gate on bottom left side of the stage seating allllllllll the way to the other side really looked/felt like

We find our seats but we agree that Justin will obviously open for Jay-Z so I send hubby off for more beer (I still have not peed)...lights drop, and as I inhale the giant gusts of cannabis breeze, it took me 3 seconds to identify the stage visuals were the new Holy Grail song with both of them on it. Enter panic mode...

This is the part of the story where I admit I was sad for approximately 30 seconds because Tommy wasn't there to witness it OR me basically climaxing when Jay came out. You may or may not know that there was no intermission because they chose to mash into each others songs doing every other which was just another mind blowing cherry on top....I've carried two babies in my belly, I've left the country once (lol), and I can not remember a time in my life where I felt so one in a million and it was for 3 straight hours. For me personally, I feel like I saw the equivalent to Michael Jackson+Madonna+Whitney Houston ALL combined....yeah....that's where I'm at and why I can't stop thinking about it. I mean JayZ told security to just go ahead and leave because we (as in him and I) were turning it into a club and they just needed to turn their backs...and they did what he said cause guess what, WE DID TURN IT OUT cause guess what, I WITNESSED IT!

Here was the set list in order of performance...all classics:

People may be under impressed and can not relate to my enthusiasm at all but that's their bad. I spent my 20's raising and making babies so at 30 yrs old, when I got to experience the most amazing night of entertainment and had my best friend/husband by my side to enjoy it with...just faghetabout it! We put in a lot of work to stay together and that concert was our wedding gift from God or maybe just Lawd Yeezus :)
I did a terrible job video taping but you can see them on my YouTube Channel where I also added footage from people who weren't as out of their mind as I was while taping... To conclude this blog dedicated to best live show I've ever seen, here's a video of them singing "Forever Young" which they shout out to Trayvon Martin's family who were in the crowd but I'm dedicating to Shannon and Mackenzie Grien I promise not to bring it up again unless someone asks...or I find an opportunity to bring it up...so yeah I'll never stop talking about it

Random yet Helpful - Gas Calculator

2013-08-08T15:18:00.000-04:00

I am on a countdown to our honeymoon trip to Miami next weekend and because we're not in the most amazing economy I am planning, estimating and calculating anything I can. I believe that if you have a question, that google will without a doubt have an answer.

Tommy thinks its annoying that I even think of these things but I know deep down a) he's jealous he didn't think of it himself and b) appreciates that I am smart enough to ponder these things.

So, you all know we have four darling daughters and for us to get away for a weekend takes a lot of effort by many party's. In part of my planning I wondered how long it would take us to get there (Complete side note: we have to know so we can get home at a reasonable time because it's our 2 oldest girls first day of school the next day.....yes, score, stresssss) so thanks to google I know it's 4 hours and 3 minutes in current traffic and 272 miles. That's not the clever part...

I referred back to my belief in google and just for fun searched "gas calculations" and BOOM! A website for AAA takes the two addresses, the make & model of your vehicle and tells you how much based on current average of gas in our area to calculate the cost!! I know what you're saying.."Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?? Damn Shawna's amazing"...I know, I know :)

Anyhow, for you my friends I present the website for you to use if ever curious of the gas expense involved. CLICK HERE -------> AAA Fuel Cost Calculator

As one wise man said, "You-you, you can thank me now!" LoLLLL!

Shutterfly Makes Cute & Easy Thank You Cards...easy equals thumbs up!

2013-07-15T14:34:00.000-04:00

Stationery Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Pinning! Duh!

2012-02-04T11:33:00.001-05:00

Have you been introduced to Pinterest yet? Pinterest.Com Have you been immersed into the vast galaxy of fun, interesting, quirky, and always time consuming site that allows you to learn and see so many things you never knew you needed to know??? As if I needed to feel more inspired to do more things that I'll never do!!

"Oh wow! I can turn an old trampoline into a weird teepee house...mmm, yeah that's good, mental note/REPIN!" Lets get real, for starters, I don't have a backyard therefore do not have a trampoline orrrrrr a place to put a teepee....so I spent 10-15 minutes reading and thinking about something I can't do now and took on a piece of my rare and fleeting mental space...So I guess what I'm wondering is this: is pinning winning or just another epic fail? Repurposed Trampoline

It's really fun to pin and see what my friends and strangers I follow can find and I do enjoy the organization factor. If the family is in bed or you get some down time (I suggest you block out at least 28 hours) go over to Pinterest.com and request an invite. Also, I forewarn you to come out of your mesmerizing trip to Pinterest land with at least a new recipe for dinner that night to offset your hunny's dirty scowls!

I pin on my phone all the time, which for the record is not as fun as on full desktop version, so if you wanna check out the randomness I find click here: Shawna Leah
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Oh...and don't even get me started on StumbleUpon!

ReCycling

2012-01-05T22:50:00.003-05:00

I love this idea! My boyfriend and one of my best friends love to "pick" and I think this is an awesome example of refurbishing an old/used coffee table. I want to partake in the next golfcart pickin' exploration just so I can try this out!!

Click Here:
Turn Coffee Table Into Ottoman

CheezY BeeF BaKe

2011-12-13T17:53:00.000-05:00

I've been making this recipe for years and its always a homerun meal! Dad & Kids Approved! I found it in my Grandma's Taste of Home back in 2006 and have been subscribed to the mag ever since.

The ingredients may sound like an odd mix but trust me, its delish! Its also a nice crazy weeknight or day before pay day kinda meal with all the random ingredients that you sometimes have one part but not the other to make a normal meal (spaghetti sauce no spaghetti noodles or taco seasoning and meat but no taco shells/tortillas). It's original title was Cheese-Topped Beef Bake but its known around this Quad Mom house as Cheezy Beef Bake. You're jeans might not appreciate it but your belly will :)

It warms up great for lunches the next day at work IF you're lucky enough to have leftovers. I ended up dishing out the serving I brought to BOTH my bosses and one is on a strict no carb diet! LoL! She couldn't help but try it, it made the whole office smell like love! <3

CLICK HERE for Cheezy Beef Bake on Taste of Home

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) medium pasta shells
1 pound ground beef
1 jar (26 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 carton (8 ounces) spreadable chive and onion cream cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and taco seasoning.
In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and sour cream; set aside.
Drain the pasta; stir into beef mixture. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Spread with cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

$$ McDowell Money $$

2011-09-18T16:43:00.000-04:00

So if you're a parent like me, it’s highly likely that you have requested something of your child and the task was either ignored or you were met with a whining tantrum. Consequently you may have chosen to find items of interest and use what is called bribery to get what you need out of them. I have tried a lot of different angles with this system because whether or not its frowned upon by professionals, I will do what it takes to keep what limited sanity I still have and keep my kids happy at the same time. When Riley was younger it was a lot easier to find things that would easily persuade her, usually candy was an easy and cheap fix. Like in potty training, she could get 1 skittle for number one and 3 skittles for number 2 :) Well right now she is 6 years old going on 19 and her little sister Sienna is not far behind. They are almost amused at the suggestion of candy to clean their room and usually Riley has a smart mouth reply like, "I can just ask Daddy for some, I don't have to clean anything for it," and sadly I know she's probably right...damn that Tommy!

Anyhow, I just wanted to share what is probably not a new idea but is new to us and it seems to be a real hit around the McMorgan household. It's called McDowell Money and it starts with getting a craft project out of it by having the girls pick four colors (2 each) of colored paper and cutting them into however many pieces you can get in a rectangular, money shape. Chose the denomination and color code it however you choose. Ours is green for $0.50, blue for $1.00, orange for $5.00 and pink for $10.00. They colored each piece of money on one side and then I wrote and initialed the other (initialing prevents counterfeit <3 I love my girls but they are half Tommy aka sneaky).

We then sat down as a familia and discussed a couple different lists. One of all the special trips that they could save up for like St. Augustine fort, movies, putt-putt, picnic, camping, etc. The other list was of things they could convert their McDowell money into real money and buy like dress-up clothes, lego’s, make-up, Dragon Ball Z dvds, and even simple items like soda which is prohibited in our house as far as the kids go. Including them helped them visualize the things they would work/save for and helped build excitement. The most important list was the one we put together of all the tasks, attitude (or lack of) and example behaviors to demonstrate which were all ways for making McDowell Money.
We put the list up where they can easily review anytime then emptied two Crystal Light containers for banks (squeeze another project out of decorating the banks) and voila. The best part is that just like a bank, they can deposit money and if they make mistakes the Bank of Parents DEDUCTS money! If Sienna remembers to put her shoes by the door and takes the extra step of getting everyone’s shoes to the shoe rack she can make $1. However, if she then proceeds to run over to her sisters and take away their toys or refuse to share she will then have a Bad Choice Fee applied and lose money based on severity.

I’ve done the point system, the chart of chores, and general bribing with whatever exciting thing is coming up (ex.: “If you don’t go to bed Santa is NEVER coming to the house!!!” and then after Christmas it’s, “If you don’t put those toys where they belong Santa is coming back to take them to good kids who’ll appreciate them!!!!”) Right now, in this money driven generation, my girls are fully aware of cash and that it can buy them what they want but could use to learn how hard it is to acquire and how important saving it can be.
It’s a lot of extra steps in place of just giving them real money but if you’re household budget is like ours it’s hard to keep extra cash on hand so it works out to convert at your convenience (it also works to keep Tommy out of their banks).

Some of the things they can buy are obviously things we would do regardless of their fake money bankroll but it never hurts to get a little lesson on doing something for a reward instead of spoiling them. Next time we go to Target and they point at 30billion things they want me to buy with that magic plastic debit card I can remind them they should be doing more to help out around the house or whine less so they can make more McDowell Money!!! :D

Nawn's First Original Recipe

2011-09-01T12:38:00.000-04:00

First orignial recipe! Yet to be titled ;) Basically, we had nothing but a list of random ingredients/leftovers that I successfully mixed together to create a yummy new entree! Even though there is pasta involved, I added enough mushrooms and peas that it was only 1/4 of the dish...

Leftover chicken, any kind, cut up into smaller bites (ours was mixed with sauteed onion from previous dinner)
BowTie pasta
Frozen peas
Can of mushrooms
3 strips of bacon
1 jar alfredo sauce
1 tablespoon cream cheese

Cook pasta...Cook peas...cook bacon (we had microwave precooked so it took 25 seconds)...stir in alfredo sauce, cream cheese, mushrooms, cooked peas, bacon shredded into pieces...season to taste VoiLa! I couldn't quite place where I had tasted something similar before and then BAM! I remembered...when my Dad traveled to Orlando on business he'd always take me to the Cheesecake Factory who offered almost the same exact dish! Soooooooo good!

The Cheesecake Factory-Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic

If you have any suggestions or potential variations post them!

Just a Girl...

2011-08-29T19:35:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, I get overwhelmed with the pull and struggle of balance it takes to maintain being someones Mom, Employee, Best Friend, Daughter, Girlfriend, Sister and all of the above...sometimes I think girls, probably guys too, have to stop to think about and nurture what it is about them that makes up who they are as just a girl...There a lots of times where I feel like I have to be "on" in one sense or another whether I'm feeding multiple mouths, organizing and managing a business or staying afloat on what those closest to me are experiencing and how they feel about it...don't you sometimes just want to lay in a pink ocean of pillows and teacup Yorkies while you watch Britney Spears videos for hours and drink wine or any fruity drink that magically has zero calories or carbs??? I mean, c'mon...

Everyone must have that urge to stop the clock and revel in what it is that makes them who they are down to the core. As I've gotten older and gained more responsibilities life has managed to make me sometimes feel guilty for wanting Nawn-time but I don't think I'd be any good to anyone if I didn't keep myself feeling feisty and alive full of PINK! Besides,I think its a good influence raising little ladies that they see their MaMa as more than just a cook and housekeeper!.....and every so often, while the kids are at school, the twins are napping and Tommy's in a 48 hour Law & Order Marathon, I will lay on my hot pink Company Store comforter with my stanky old Yorkie and $9 calorie packed vino and stop to smell the flowers (preferably not JD's breath) and try enjoy being just a girl! Ladies, feel free to follow my lead <3 data-blogger-escaped-allowfullscreen="" data-blogger-escaped-frameborder="0" data-blogger-escaped-height="345" data-blogger-escaped-iframe="" data-blogger-escaped-src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VBmMU_iwe6U?hd=1" data-blogger-escaped-width="560">

Linguine With White Clam Sauce

2011-08-26T18:58:00.001-04:00

This meal is amazing for 3 reasons:
1) good for cooking on a budget
2) guaranteed enough to take to work the next day & sometimes tastes better the next day!
3) tastes amazing in general, ALL four of my kids eat it including twins and Miss Picky Eater Sienna.

I'll post a pic the next time I cook it, its so pretty with the bright green parsley in the end...let me know what you think

Ingredients You Probably Have Already:
1 package linguine
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Ingredients You'll Need To Scoop Up:
1/2 cup chopped parsley
3 cans (6 1/2 oz each) minced clams, undrained

Cook pasta....lightly brown garlic in hot oil...remove from heat and add parsley, pepper, salt, clams WITH juice and lemon juice...cook that over low heat for 5 min or until heated through...pour over pasta and TaDa! I always like to add 1 cup parm cheese to it at the end because I'm a fatty like that ;D

Bon Appetit!

Legoland Countdown

2011-08-26T17:55:00.001-04:00

Alright guys! I don't know about you but this familia is stoked on the upcoming opening of LegoLand in Winter Haven, FL (Orlando area) on OCTOBER 15th, 2011....My oldest daughter is not impressed with the Disney princess characters so I'm looking forward to having another family trip option soon! Adults $65 Kids $55...Are you guys excited? Has anyone ever visited the one in Cali?

Back @ It Again!

2011-08-25T17:33:00.001-04:00

Alright folks, so the twins obviously arrived and consequently I've been going 1,000 miles per hour since then and haven't been keeping up on this blogging opportunity. We have so many stories to share and I regret not being able to share them! :( Lots of times I am unable to fully express my thoughts, ideas and experiences with the limited characters of a Facebook post so I plan to fully utilize this blog and deliver Nawna's News on a regular basis. HAHAHAHHA! I love calling it Nawna's News...I truly entertain myself <3

So stay tuned to more and more content regarding anything and everything. I encourage you to comment and give me feedback on all the posts. Also feel free to share this blog with others who you think might enjoy it!

Love,

Quad Mom aka Shawna Leah aka Nawna

Moms of Twins in Flagler & Volusia County

2010-06-26T20:19:00.001-04:00

Having been unable to find any local groups, sites, etc. I created my own on Facebook. Please do all parents of twins a favor and help share this link so we can really get it up and going. If you offer any special courses, info or items specifically for moms of multiples in this area let me know and we can try to incorporate it into the page.

Moms-of-Twins-in-Flagler-Volusia-County Facebook Link

Vidalia Sweet Chicken Casserole

2010-06-23T16:14:00.001-04:00

After making the original recipe there are definite tweaks to be made so I’ll list my version of the recipe below:

• 3 to 4 boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 to 4 large red-skinned or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 1 to 2 medium Vidalia sweet onions, peeled and sliced
• 1 can (10 3/4 ounces each) cream of mushroom soup, undiluted (Tommy doesn’t like “fungus” so I used cream of chicken soup)
• salt, pepper, seasoning of your choice and paprika, to taste

Wash chicken and pat dry. Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, your fav seasoning (Montreal Chicken Seasoning for me) and paprika. Brown chicken breasts in oil and drain on paper towel. Grease a 11 x 9 casserole. Layer sliced potatoes on bottom; follow with a layer of onions and top with a layer of soup. Gently, place chicken breast over soup and sprinkle with more salt, pepper, and paprika. Cover tightly with lid or foil and bake at 350° for 1 hour. (I ended up having to cook it about 15 minutes longer so make sure to check before taking it out of oven completely).
Serves 3 to 4.

*Pretty darn easy, could do it from my kitchen stool and appeals to any "meat and potato" guy*

Pudding Popcorn Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes

2010-06-21T23:21:00.001-04:00

Technically it'd called Sweet 'n' Salty Popcorn but I feel the title doesn't do it justice. This was pretty easy and SUPER yummy so I have officially renamed it "Pudding Popcorn" Mmmm, Mmm YuM! Click on the lick below and ENJOY:

Sweet 'n' Salty Popcorn Recipe | Taste of Home Recipes

Finding Baby Gear For A Household With Limited Space

2010-06-21T22:52:00.001-04:00

Back in 2005 right before the real estate market's bubble popped, Tommy and I bought a cute 2 bedroom/2 bath townhouse less than a mile from the beach. For a small family of three (four including J.D. our Yorkshire Terrier) it was absolutely perfect. Now as a family of four headed into six with J.D. aaaaaand Marlee the English Bulldog, our space is limited.

When I found out we were getting TWO babies at once I immediately went into OCD-mode and had to figure out how we were going to make this work. Although the babies are not here yet I have purchased some items that have eased some of my anxiety and I would recommend to those people in similar situations.

1. We already have two girls in one bedroom but to try and squeeze in two babies was just out of the question. Our master bedroom is oversized but with that said, two full sized cribs just wasn't feasible for us so I went out searching for acceptable sleeping gear for the girls.

I was pleasantly surprised when I tracked down this Graco Bassinet/Pack-n-Play in a new pattern called Rittenhouse. If this was going to be more than a temporary arrangement I needed a pattern that would compliment our bedroom and not rub in Tommy's face that he STILL didn't get his baby boy! Once the girls are both here and we have the both set up I'll post pics so you can see how easily the bassinets blended into our room.

Testing, Testing, 1...2...3!

2010-06-21T21:47:00.001-04:00

Here we go folks! Lets start this with a full update on each family member to give you a good grasp of what exactly I'm working with here.

Tommy is currently looking for work since his management position ended once the branch of his construction supply company closed. He's an eager beaver now trying to get out of the house and catch a break from 24/7 girly girl pink! If you know of any good jobs out there, holler at your girl!

I'd say it was about 2 weeks after he was let go that we discovered that not only were we pregnant but that we'd be getting a two for one deal: twins! The pregnancy, although consider high risk, has been going well and the babies are right on schedule. As of today I am 29 weeks pregnant but my uterus is actually measuring full term as if there was one big baby in there. The uterus is unable to identify there are two babies and therefore I have been put on bed rest that will last until I'm 34 week to hopefully prevent premature labor. If you're wondering how I feel...try not to! Ha! My joints need to be oiled, my upper and lower torso no longer have any cushioning in between and I feel approximately 12 months pregnant. I know there is light at the end of the tunnel though and that it will include two adorable baby girls.

Our older girls are very excited for babies in the house so we're excited to see how helpful they will be! That's it for now! I have some cool recipes I tried out for Father's Day yesterday that I'd like to add so stayed tuned and enjoy! <3