That Mama Gretchen

A Peek Inside My Mom Bag

2013-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm always curious what other mamas consider their on-the-go necessities. Am I the only one?

Hope not! Because today I'm giving you a little peek inside my mom bag ...

Yeah, yeah. It kind of looks like a toddler/baby explosion. That's what it feels like too. But really, there is a reason behind everything. With two kiddos in tow I've done my best to narrow down the necessities and eliminate the fluff. Here's what we take out and about each day ...

Diapers + Wipes - We cloth diaper and the BumGenius FreeTime are my favorite diapers for quick changes in the car. I keep a disposable for each child tucked my bag too. And wipes, because whether it be a stinky bum or dirty face, wipes are a must have!

Wet Bag - Usually for dirty cloth diapers, but it easily doubles as a water proof space for wet clothes if there are any accidents. Wait, you mean I'm the only one who has had a child suffer a blowout in the middle of Target? I love Planet Wise's wet/dry bag since it has two zippered compartments.

Change of Clothes - I pack footed jammies for my 8 month old so he has a complete spare outfit without extra bulk. For my toddler who has occasionally overflowed her diaper, I keep an extra pair of pants and socks.

Burp Cloths - They are a nursing essential for us and perfect for cleaning up messes or acting as a place mat.

Baby Blanket - Hands down Aden + Anais bamboo is my number one pick. It keeps us warm and can act as a nursing cover or changing mat.

Snacks - A little tub of cereal, Clif Kid Zbar and a Larabar for mama (the Apple Pie and Peanut Butter Cookie are the best)!

Toys - For the baby, his most favorite banana teether and natural maple ring teether and for the toddler, treasures from the dollar section at Target, a laminated set of flash cards on a binder ring and a mini picture book.

Reusable Bag - Love my Chicobag!

Mom Essentials Mini Bag - I keep a little cosmetic bag full of nursing pads, Hyland's Bumps 'n Bruises Ointment, nail clippers, bandaids, chapstick, hair ties. and Hyland's Teething Tablets .

Hobo Wallet + Mini Calendar - Last but not least, my Hobo wallet has a spot for everything, I'll never trade it for another! And really, how would I keep myself organized without an on-the-go calendar?

Alrighty! What am I missing? What are your mom bag must haves? Share your wisdom and don't forget to leave links!

P.S. My bag is actually not a standard diaper bag. It's a gym bag from Lululemon Athletica! This particular style isn't available, but they have some darling new ones. All their bags have tons of pockets and great over the shoulder carrying options.

This post was originally published on the Baby Gizmo Blog.

Mama, We're So Close!

2013-05-23T09:08:00.003-07:00

Awhile back I entered this photo of Max and I into the Natural Parents Network Flickr Photo Contest. The prompt for entries was, "What Does Natural Parenting Really Look Like?" And this ... this is so us :)

Max in comfy jammies talking to me through grunts and smiles and tickles.

Me wearing sunglasses to hide tired eyes and soothing Max with a little "pat pat" on his bum.

Please take a quick moment and vote for our photo! We're #18, about half way down in the babywearing section! There are some awesome prizes to be had, but more than anything - I'm happy that we were chosen as a visual reminder that natural parenting isn't always an effervescent stroll in the forest - sometimes it's no eye make-up and jammies at noon on a Sunday :)

VOTE HERE

You can vote for up to 5 photos - so feel free to select your top 5 in the poll at the bottom of this link.

Currently

2013-05-22T22:00:00.001-07:00

Eating / / / Mongolian beef for dinner. Chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Because life is not living without dessert ... after the kiddos bedtime, of course.

Loving / / / Jemma's infatuation with picture taking. She loves grabbing my camera, or my phone or my old Kodak that I've passed on to her and taking photos. It's fun seeing the world from her perspective ... ants, grass, her brother, favorite toys and this gem that she snapped of her mama :)

Missing / / / being alone. I never used to like being alone, but now that I'm never alone. I miss it. I'd schedule some alone time, but Max is in full swing separation anxiety these days. Poor boy wails for his mama and I don't want to leave him upset ... or ask someone to stay with an unhappy Bubba.

Moving / / / boxes. Still. I make a little progress each week but this settling into a home isn't going to be complete for quite some time.

Taking / / / a leap into a new sector of babywearing - WRAPS! I've been watching YouTube videos and practicing with a doll. Tomorrow, it's Max's turn :) There is so much to learn - brands, carries, acronyms and lots of lingo. Are you a wrapper? What are your favorite resources? Wraps? Videos? Share!

Hi Ho Hi Ho, It's Back To Work He Goes

2013-05-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

It's true! Dominic has been back to work for three weeks now! Praise the Lord!!!

He was actually offered two different positions by two great companies about a week apart in late April. We weighed the pros and cons of each and landed on the perfect place for him. He's working for a national lumber yard and his official title is Administration Manager. In this position he'll be doing many things I have no interest in fully understanding :) Most days when I ask how things went he says he worked in Excel. And I'm pretty sure if he wasn't married to me, he'd be married to Excel, so this job is obviously a good fit.

Amidst his Excel time he's been doing lots of training with different departments and local yards. He may even be traveling to corporate at some point. To keep up with all the new people, lingo and procedures he has been taking notes on his iPad like a maniac.

When he first got his iPad he had one of the simple covers, but with his daily use he definitely needed something more robust. Thanks to the awesome case and cover company, Snugg, I was able to send Dominic off to work with a Snugg iPad 2 Case in black leather. He's a hip, professional note taker now, that's for sure! Dominic is pretty picky about his technology gear and he has given me the thumbs up on his Snugg case. That's saying a lot. Trust me.

Dominic's first casual Friday and a peek at his desk ... I need to visit for a lunch date soon!

Honestly, I am so thankful that a perfect, even better, job came along so quickly. Dominic was laid off on March 23rd and he started his new one on April 30th. That's quite the answer to prayer! It's definitely scary being a one income family faced with unemployment and we're praising the Lord for his faithfulness to our family. Plus, with this job Dominic is traveling less, doing something he enjoys more and once his 90 days is complete we'll even be able to switch to his health insurance which is much more reasonable than what we have now. All in all, we're happy to be settling into a long-term employment opportunity, it takes a weight off and fits perfectly in my 2013 word of "settle". One step at a time; one more step to be thankful for.

"I Love You Soooooo Much!"

2013-05-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is Jemma's new phrase. I hear it a few days each day or so and it melts my heart. Especially since it's accompanied by a giant leg squeeze, kiss or bear hug. I mean, she is awesome. Like, throw all the tantrums you want kiddo, just as long as you ask to "swuggin" me every night and emphasize the "soooooo much" we're golden.

I had a wonderful Mother's Day with my two munchkins this year. Dominic's parents and my family joined us on Saturday for a zoo adventure and we all went to church and had a yummy mom's day luncheon afterwards. Dominic took on desserts and whipped up TWO Pinterest creations - Oreo Krispies and Cake Batter Fudge. Both were fabulous! I even got to sneak away after Max's bedtime (which he was not happy with and made that very clear to Dominic and my Mom when he woke while I was gone) to see my bestie who was in town for a short visit.

Oh, and gifts! I gave my mama and Dominic's mom a pair of super soft jammies. For my mom and my two sisters (who are practically like second mother's to Jemma and Max), I gifted a kitchen towel with one of my Grammy's handwritten recipe cards printed on it. Jemma bought me the Expedit desk to add to one of our bookshelves and someday soon it will house my crafts and sewing in a corner of the guest room. Max is ordering me a special "Max" present since I already have this necklace from my first Mother's Day with Jemma. Of course, behind every thoughtful child is a wonderful Daddy making it all happen ;)

Here's a picture peek at our weekend ...

Attempting a pre-church Mother's Day photo. No one was very interested.

Max's moccs c/o Freshly Picked

My Mama teaches kindergarten and therefore, is quite the artist! She and Jemma blessed me with this sidewalk love note :)

Jemmie and I both wore our zebra shirts to the zoo | Another attempt at a photo with my babies - bombed by Jemma's gift shop purple monkey who never leaves her side now | Talk about a gorgeous!!! day for a zoo trip

We forgot to tell my Mama to wear her zoo stripes :(

I'm definitely in love with our most recent Craigslist purchase, the BOB did us well at the zoo | Jem talks most about the elephants after each zoo trip, I mean, they are pretty awesome

Happenstance blogger meet up at the zoo with The Pierogie Mama and her family

My Mama made the most delightful picnic lunch ... a variety of pasta salads in mason jars, watermelon, a cheese/sausage/cracker platter and banana roll up bars

Did you know that a mama hippo can bite an alligator in half if it threatens her young? Yay, I think I could do so pretty ferocious things to protect my babies too. | Trying to get some smiles by the "Mom and Me" sign | "Wook! It's a fa-gogo!!!"

Lordy, Lordy - Max is one sweet little picnic man

Leak Free Is the Way To Be

2013-05-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Parent’s Choice Overnight Baby Diapers.

This month I embarked upon my 31st month of diapering. It's been a wild ride filled with fluffy bums, messes, research, lots of laundry and a hefty dose of trial and error. Diapering children definitely has a learning curve - one I still seem to be figuring out most days!

Read the rest of this entry »

19/52 & 20/52

2013-05-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013

Jemma / / / We broke out the "outside chalk" this week. Jem. is. a. fan.

Max / / / Incessant giggles came from this boy during his first swing adventure.

Jemma / / / Kids start smiling for pictures when they turn three, right?

Max / / / Because they obviously smile a ton when they are 9 months :) And wiggle. Hence the plethora of blurry photos I have these days.

Style File | Barefoot, Not Pregnant

2013-05-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

CHURCH ... dress, target | lace cardigan, pink blush

I first wore this dress when I was 32 weeks pregnant with Max. I love love love maternity clothes and other closet treasures pieces that can transition through life with me. It's good for my pocketbook and it's equally good for my self-esteem. This dress is one such piece and so is this gorgeous lace cardigan I recently paired it with. I bet you can't even guess which one is technically maternity clothing?

Do you have maternity clothes you've worn during pregnancy and long after? How about "normal" pieces that have seen you through your 9 months with child? Share and you may win $25 to go shopping at Pink Blush Maternity!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. Are you on the hunt for trendy maternity clothes? Stop by Pink Blush! This, this and this are my current favorites!

Starbucks Copycat | Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

2013-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've always been a breakfast girl. French toast, yes! Pancakes, even better! Toast with apricot jam, one of my favorite! But recently, I've come to realize that I feel much better throughout the day if I start it off with a protein rich breakfast. Hence, the birth of a Starbuck's copycat - the Sausage and Cheddar Classic Breakfast Sandwich which I have dubbed the breakfast sandwich of champions.

Now, I'm sure you're thinking, what's so special about making a breakfast sandwich. Who needs a recipe for that? Well, let me tell you, the surprise lays in the egg preparation ...

SAUSAGE, EGG AND CHEESE BREAKFAST SANDWICH

INGREDIENTS

1 egg
dash of milk
dash of salt & pepper
1 slice of cheese, Colby Jack is my preference
1 sausage patty
1 English muffin, toasted and buttered

DIRECTIONS

Toast your English muffin, butter and lay open on a plate.
Prepare sausage patty according to directions. I purchase Jimmy Dean patties at Costco and you can prepare them on a skillet or microwave them. Place on top of one side of the English muffin.
While your sausage patty is cooking, crack your egg into a coffee mug, add milk, salt and pepper and whisk. Microwave* for one minute. Add cheese on top of egg (while it's still in the mug) and microwave for another 15 seconds.
Scoop your egg out with a large spoon and place on top of your hot sausage patty. Top with the other side of the English muffin and dig into your protein rich breakfast!

*Every microwave is different. Play around with yours to get the perfect timing.

This post was originally published on the Baby Gizmo Blog.

{GUEST POST} Confessions of An Elementary School Teacher

2013-05-13T06:00:00.001-07:00

Leah is at it again. I pretty much stare at my inbox most of the day waiting for a fab email from her witty mind. It's besties like her that make the rough days less rough and the good days more awesome. Today was no disappointment.

- - - - -

It should be noted that this post is based on zero facts and absolutely no research. It is a confessional. MY CONFESSIONAL (and I’m not even Catholic) … so, do not assume that all teachers do/say the same things that I am sharing. Know that each teacher has their own dirty laundry though (I’m just hanging mine in public). Enjoy.

CONFESSIONS OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER

I keep a backup pair of comfy shoes in my desk (aka: metallic gold boat shoes) to slip on just in case my heels start hurting my feet. (9 times out of 10 I take the heels off within the first hour of school).
Sometimes, during a really great activity or assignment, I step back and think to myself, “Wow! I am awesome!”
I rely on my class to get us where we need to be on time. I figure there is no chance that 32 5th graders are going to let me teach through PE, lunch or recess.
When I make a mistake in front of the class, I act like I meant to do it. I usually say something like, “Just checking to make sure you were paying attention.” Or “I was wondering when somebody was going to catch that!”
Being that I spend the majority of my day with 11 year olds, I find myself adopting their hobbies and passions. I now regularly play Angry Birds and have a secret obsession for One Direction.
I often spend the first 15 (plus) minutes of my planning time sitting in front of my computer staring at the screen “checking my email” because it is the first time I have sat down all day and I am that tired.
When the students ask, “Who is your favorite?” and I say, “You are ALL my favorite!” (I am lying, obviously.)
Pranking other teachers is one of my favorite things to do. (I’ve done this already this year and plan to do this to our principal).
Most of my good lessons come when I’m flying by the seat of my pants and then I can’t repeat them later.
Whenever the kids are not in the classroom I turn the lights off. Somehow dark and quiet seem fabulous together.
I feel like parents who give me coffee cards really understand me.
I go to the office several times a day just to see if anything yummy has been put out in the staff room since my last visit.
I love reading out loud to my class. I secretly think I’m a great reader/story- teller and make them listen to me daily. (I think they like it, too).
I cried almost every night my first year teaching.
I still cry over my students sometimes.
I have a secret hope of having one of my students end up on Oprah as an adult because they grew up and turned out awesome. In my mind I can just hear them… “I don’t remember much about elementary school… but my 5th grade teacher was so smart and funny and she really believed in me and she is the main reason I am what I am today!”

- - - - -

Isn't it kinda fun seeing inside the mind of a teacher? With the end of the school year in sight, maybe consider doing a little something fun to motivate the teachers in our life to stick it out these last few weeks. I hear some of them are very motivated by coffee cards, wink wink.

A Day In the Life

2013-05-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

There was a time, a few short months ago, that making it through the day was nothing short of a miracle. I was near going crazy being pulled in too many directions. Trying to meet too many needs for too many people. On occasion I still have freak out days - um, hello, like Jem's epic meltdown yesterday that ended with a 2 1/2 hour nap - but for the most part we're in a real good swing of things.

Kind of boring to list out our daily happenings. But I did it once when Jemma was 16 months old and I've liked looking back at what our schedule used to be like. So, for now, at 2 years and 7 months and 9 months our days tend to look like this ...

7-8 am | Max usually wakes up first, if Jemma has snuck into our bed he wakes her up shortly after. Then there's a giggle eruption. Jammies come off, new diapers go on and we all head into the bathroom so I can get ready. Every mama needs to don a fresh pair of yoga pants in the morning, right?

8-9 am | Breakfast time! It doesn't come soon enough for Jemma who has recently learned the word "hungry" and chants it quite a bit. I'm thinking that a box of cereal is going to start residing in the corner of our bathroom. Jem and I love sharing pancakes or "cheese sandwich" a la Starbucks. Applesauce is also high on Jemma's list of breakfast requests ... and every other meal or snacktime too.

9-10 am | We attempt to accomplish some chores - dishes or laundry. Sometimes we play or color or read "stowies". Sometimes the littles hop into the bath to splash around. With our new to us jogger, sometimes we head out on a walk. There is a farm stand just a short walk away and we all love picking out fresh produce.

10-11 am | Max's morning nap and Jemma's quiet time. Yeah - half the time it ends in Jemma waking up Max earlier than he wants, we're practicing. My best solution has been to give her my phone for a movie or game time and tuck her in a little pillow corner of our room.

11-2 pm | If we're heading out for errands, this is the time. If not, we'll work around the house (chores and projects seem to be never ending!) and eat lunch.

2-4 pm | Afternoon naps for all! I'm guilty (or is that lucky) of stealing a nap most days. It's just so quiet and calm and Max will sleep twice as long if I'm next to him, so, I stay. He smells like the ocean and I love laying next to him letting him nurse to his heart's content. Honestly, I can't wait until the day that I can convince them to both snuggle with me for a snooze - I mean, they would now, but I doubt anyone would actually sleep. On a good day we'll all rest for an hour and a half or so and spend another half hour snuggling before we actually get up.

4-5 pm | Dinner prep and sharing practice :) If dinner plans are quick we've been making it a regular event to head to the neighborhood park. Vitamin D, grass and the yellow slide for the win!

5-6 pm | Clutter control and waiting for Daddy to arrive home. This can be a rough hour as everyone gets antsy for food and some Daddy snuggles.

6-8 pm | We eat and everyone gets ready for bed. Max is more than ready to be in bed by 7 and Jemma follows sometime around 8 or 8:30. It's been later than her normal 7:30 bedtime lately thanks to the late setting sun. We do teeth, story (her choice), Bible reading (always the story of Jesus' birth and on occasion the story of Joseph which are apparently her favorites) and prayers which she says herself now - too darling.

8-? pm/am | Jemma usually gets up once or twice asking for more hemp milk or searching for a particular stuffed animal. If she wasn't so sweet, peeking her head out of her door and calling for us, it would be annoying , but it's not and I know she won't need us at bedtime forever. Max needs to nurse or be rocked once or twice as well before fully settling in for the night. During my up and down with the munchkins, I wrap up chores that take two hands, blog, respond to emails and all that jazz. Sometimes Dominic and I will watch a show, but usually he'll relax with his and I'll watch Nashville or Grey's, Revolution or Call the Midwife once he goes to bed. Yes, I've gotten into a bad routine of staying up until the wee hours again. Alas, the quiet is just so peaceful, I can't seem to keep away.

Someday Hair

2013-05-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've noticed, but I did it! I got a fresh new look and am oh so happy with how light and fabulous it is. Plus, taking the short{er} hair plunge seemed worthwhile when I had a good 12 inches to send off to Locks of Love. Have long hair yourself? Have you thought about going short and donating to Locks of Love? You should! Read about the donation requirements here, there aren't many.

Not ready to chop it all off? Well, lucky you ... you can still manage this elegant updo:

Um, isn't Judy adorable? I seriously love how her hair turned out!

Don't forget to enter the sweepstakes and check out the prizes and promotions from BlogHer!

P.S. This is the last hair update for a LONG time. Cross my heart.

This is a sponsored post through the BlogHer Publishing Network. Thank you for reading, watching and taking a moment to support the companies and networks that support this lil' ol' blog.

Progress & Permanence

2013-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Lately we've accomplished a few projects that are really making us feel settled. It has been coming slowly because we've been doing other boring house things like installing a garage door opener, addings window screens, placing curtain rods, buying appliances (also known as necessary money pits) and having a front door peep hole added. It's funny, when you buy a new construction home, all the things you have to/want to add to actually function in it. We still have a list of un-fun things like blinds (another money pit), a backyard fence and garbage disposal ... someday, someday.

I promise I'm not complaining. Just logging the little things I didn't think about in the beginning of our home journey :)

Now, the fun projects ...

Master closet upgrade! Three cheers for more storage! I've been sorting through clothes - slowly but surely parting with my former office wardrobe and coming to grips with my mom size. So much I want things to be simpler and reducing stuff will make that happen.

Inspired by this pin, we made a collage wall. It's pretty much my favorite thing! I have some photos tagged with photo sizes so I can order updated prints, sorting through iPhoto right after this post is done. This wall is kind of in the entry - right across from the formal dining room.

We be killin' dead space in the garage! I can't even tell you how much I love our storage shelves! There is officially space for kid's clothes bins (since I thrift and garage sale most of their pieces, I buy ahead and have a bin for each size) and holiday stuff -yay!

These are the plans for more shelves on the other side of the garage. And yes, that is a parking spot for our stroller :)

That's our Annie Sloan dresser in the breakfast nook. I'm planning to put my cookbooks and such on the shelves and do my best to keep my little orchid house (did you know that's what those glass houses were called?) plants alive.

Best of all, I'm feeling settled because my life long dream of having an address stamp has come true! We're going to be here for awhile and nothing says long-term like having your name and address permanently fixed onto a return address stamp. Am I right, or am I right?

Amy of Yellow Fish Paperie was so kind to send me one of her awesome self-inking stamps. It took Dominic and I awhile to agree on the perfect design for us, but we finally did - the SMITH one on the left was our final pick - and I'm smitten with it! I want to send out tons and tons of mail just so I can stamp our home's address in the top right of a billion envelopes :)

A little bit about Amy of Yellow Fish Paperie ...
I have always loved snail mail and used to write daily letters to my grandparents as a kid. I embellished these as much as possible with stickers, sealing wax, personalized stationary, embossers and of course, stamps! Getting a personal letter in the mail is a great feeling and I love designing and creating products to help give letters and invitations that extra something. This interest led me to create Yellow Fish Paperie. When I’m not making stamps and stationary, I enjoy cooking, gardening, and reading scripture and books of all sorts. I live in Oregon with my wonderful husband and work part time at a non-profit that helps charities to meet their goals.

Isn't she just a gem? I totally love that she believes in and promotes snail mail. Snail mail rocks. And I'm not talking bills and such, I'm talking about the friendly note that we all love seeing appear in our inbox :)

In case I'm not the only one who has been dreaming of an address stamp of their very own - Yellow Fish Paperie is giving one away! Enter here ...

*** THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED ***

Loved

2013-05-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a lovely little break from blog land! I definitely need to do this more often. Unplugging is a great feeling, very peaceful and calm ... even if I did stumble along the way and Instagram a few pics and catch up on Call the Midwife.

During my week off I took the chance to recreate a picture based on this darling "Loved" onesie. Jemma and Max are almost spot on in age - just a week or so off - can you believe how full Jem's cheeks were?

Although this picture is freakin' adorbs, and I kinda can't wait to do it again when #3 comes along someday, the biggest news of the week is that Dominic's had his first week back to work - YIPPEE! In the end, he received two job offers and we were able to really assess his career future and what fit him best. Such a blessing and answer to prayer. He is working at a building supply company - the same field he was in before - but in an administrative management role with a bend on finances ... a perfect role for him to apply his talents and passions. I'm so happy for him! The kids and I are planning a lunch visit once he gets moved into his office - we can't wait, especially Jemma, to see Daddy's new "wert" (work)!

In other big news ... my little sis graduated from college and we hosted a family party for her on Sunday evening. Even better, she didn't leave after the party! Aunt Hannah is taking up residence in our guest room. She's one of my besties and I'm thrilled the kiddos will get a hefty dose of her since she's been away during her senior year. It's gonna be a good summer. My Mom and other sis are teachers, so by the end of June we're all in heaven because we love doing life together!

What's been new with you lately?

P.S. I went headband shopping over at Gizmo - LOVE! Oh, and Dominic snuck a pressie into my Mom's car this week so I wouldn't find it ... I wonder if he saw my Mother's Day gift idea post?!?!? Oh, and every month I eagerly await Oana Befort's new desktop calendar. They are the. most. gorgeous. and I smile every time I open my computer. May is no exception.

16/52 & 17/52 & 18/52

2013-05-05T21:40:00.000-07:00

a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013

Jemma / / / Making cake. Chocolate to be exact. Her favorite.

Max / / / Jemma's old nanny came to visit (she's practically part of the family) and loved on Max a bit. He may be half thinking that it would be a good idea for me to get a job so they can hang out more!

Jemma / / / The steps are always a good place for a snack.

Max / / / Jem made a mess and bolted. Max was pleased as punch to be left with the play room to himself for once.

Jemma / / / A cup of tea for you? A cup of tea for me!

Max / / / Max adores the great outdoors, always turning his face into the wind.

P.S. A little behind, huh? Yikes! I didn't stop taking my weekly photos, just got behind in posting. Probably won't be the last time. I can't wait for more outside photos! This week has be gorgeous! Summer is here!!!

A Break + Links

2013-04-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Screen-Free Week starts tomorrow and I'm taking the opportunity to sign off for a little while. Haven't heard of Screen-Free Week? I wrote all about it over at Baby Gizmo in case you're interested :) The kiddos will be 100% screen-free (or at least that's the plan pending any major meltdowns), but I'll be popping on for a limited amount of time for work. I'm thinking just an hour each evening. Then you can find me reading a book in the bubble bath or working on Project Life. Who knows, I may even start organizing the dreaded spare room that has been dubbed "The Sort Room". I really need to. Like really really. But I've been avoiding it like the plague.

While I'm away, feel free to check out these links - oldies, newies and all goodies!

I shared a simple little craft over here for Earth Day - give me a vote before Monday if you can!

This extra twist makes teeth brushing a breeze.

What if I decided to collect these? Beyond pretty and sweet.

Really truly thinking about painting mine. But what if it goes wrong?!?!? And what color? It's red now and I'm over it.

After shoes, this is Max's favorite thing to chew on.

Don't forget to enter the current giveaway! You could win letter blocks of your little one's name!

This is the sign of a wonderful mama!

DIY decals? I love the bike!

Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin' for awesome Mother's Day gift(s) :)

Praying for this sweet family - read their story and send up your prayers too!

The munchkin's silverware drawer and more.

Just received my address stamp from Yellow Fish Paperie - IN LOVE!

Texas would be lucky to have her as their Mrs.

Dominic and I went to a screening of Nefarious on Friday night while my mom fed our kids scrambled eggs and cupcakes and let them stay away until 9:30 pm, ohmygoodness! and it was truly eye opening to the human trafficking problem around the globe. Did you know that Seattle is one of the top trafficking/prostitution cities in the world? Me either. Becoming aware is one of the first steps in ending the awfulness - take a peek at the video.

Alright - signing off for some rest, relaxation and home organization! Have a blessed week, friends!

Spring Fashion Week | Take Two

2013-04-24T22:49:00.001-07:00

I made it back with a few more outfits! This has been a successful week of real clothes for two reasons - 1) THE SUN! 2) Lots of errands. I do kind of miss my yoga pants, but there is always next week :)

The munchkins have been a crack up this week - so chipper and snuggly. I <3 them. Yes, <3. We've been cruisin' in our new to us BOB Duallie Revolution - highly recommend. And I've been working on projects around the house while prepping all my items for the Just Between Friends sale.

Dominic finished two awesome projects this week - a Pinterest inspired wall of shelves for my framed photos and a closet storage upgrade in our master walk-in. I can't wait to fold clothes. And I'm not even being sarcastic!

Ok, on to this week's mama fashion ...

button up + shorts, old navy | hoodie, men's department at H&M | sandals, american eagle

Wore this on our trip to Home Depot for the closet storage supplies. It was much too cold, but Dominic bought be a latte on the way so I warmed up pretty quick. Plus, ohmygoodness, my day four dirty hair turned out so chic in this headband and low poof pony. Short hair is working for me!

blouse, H&M | sweater, target | skinnies, wit & wisdom via nordstrom | wedges, indigo brand thrifted via goodwill

I wore a freakin' silk shirt this week. Totally not normal. I had a solo meeting - no kiddos - so decided to really go for it. Oh, and I tried some fashion pose advice and this is the best I got with this outfit. Yeah, I know. Totally ridiculous. I'm looking way too far down and my arms look limp. But whatever, I'm wearing a silk shirt!

shorts, old navy | top, target | sunnies, american eagle | tevas, AKA the most comfy flip flops

Winner of the most comfy outfit right here! Super soft 3/4 sleeve sweater top from the clearance section, I love 3/4s, especially when they are only $8! And shorts were a valid choice as it reached into the 70s today - that's sweating weather for the Northwest! I wore this to get a pedicure, since Dominic is off work right now I've been sneaking away every few days for some mama alone time, and then to drop off all my consignment items at Just Between Friends. Oh, and to dinner with my mom - the best spring rolls and pad thai EVER, nom nom nom.

P.S. Dominic got a job offer and another is practically pending! Praise the Lord!!! Looks like I'll be losing my handyman in the next week or two. Sadness. Well, I'd rather lose my handyman and pay the mortgage - so, in the long run things are gonna be just fine. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

P.S.S. I linked up with The Pleated Poppy too - totally inspired by some of the outfits over there!

Two and Half

2013-04-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Half birthdays have always been a celebration around here.

Jemma's second was no exception. I even cancelled her dentist appointment and took her for "pink birthday cake" which she had been incessantly requesting after watching a birthday episode of Dora. In anticipation for her dentist appointment we had been talking about the teeth doctor and how they count and clean your teeth and every time we left home she would anxiously ask, "Teef dod-or?" After assuring her that, no, the teeth doctor was not in her near future, she relaxed and enjoyed her birthday cake in the form of her first Starbuck's cake pop. And she learned to so sweetly respond, "Two and half" when asked how old she is now :)

I hate to bore you all with Jem's little milestone list, but her baby book ended at a year, so this is where all her cute words and stories get logged :) Oh, and her stats ... at 2 1/2 she is approximately 32 pounds and 37 inches.

UNIQUE WORDS + PHRASES

Zebras are "zebbies"
Knows her first and last name
Knows that I am Gretchen and her Dad is Dominic
Can count to 12, but skips 7 every time
Yells, "Mama's home!" or "Daddy's home!" and runs to us with a big hug when we return, even if it's just from the garage :)
Daddy goes to "wert" every day
Has just recently started saying Max with an "x" syllable instead of just "Ma"
When she is in a different room I'll yell, "Jemma, where are you?" and she responds, "I'm here, Mama!!!!"
Says, "I try, I do it!", "It's mine, it's Jemmie's!" and "That's better!" often
Poop is "poot" and when she toots it's called a "fluff"

LOVES

Hemp milk and watered down apple juice
Singing the ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Rain Rain Go Away and this weird counting song I made up
Applesauce and anything "choc-a-lit"
Chipotle burrito bowl and salty chips
Bubbles, slide and baths
Obsessed with going to church, she calls it "Jemma's church" and asks if we can go every day. Yep, looks like we found a good kid's program!
Picking out her own clothes - pajamas are a favorite followed by anything with an animal on it, sometimes she'll allow flower prints
The color purple
Taking baths, she especially loves to lay on her tummy and "swim"
Her collection of stuffed animals: brown dog, black dog (which is bigger in size and is sometimes called "mama dog"), doll (sometimes called Molly), baby, a hedgehog named Jack because it looks like her aunt's hamster named Jack, raccoon, fox and a bear named Bruce
Going to the store which she calls the "storn"
Wearing her frog or red rain boots
Pretend wrestling with Max, he crawls on her and she rolls him off and they laugh and laugh and laugh
Visiting friends, which is anyone she has fun with
Reading "Five Minutes Peace" - she narrates the whole thing and I need to get it on video stat
Watching Super Why, Dora, Arthur and Caillou
When I carry her and Max at the say time, she says "one baby" and points to herself and then "two babies" and points to Max

Jemma only has one major dislike and that's the idea of using the potty which I am choosing not to push, her time will come. She is the biggest joy in my life - so full of zest and compassion. I love her heart and learn so much from her every day. Two and a half is plain ol' awesome. Three will be fabulous I'm sure, but for now, I'm happy relishing in this middle point.

Little Letter Lover

2013-04-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

In early December I was sitting at a stop sign and I heard Jemma whispering to herself. I tipped my head and listened closer and this is what I heard ... "T-E-X-A-C-O".

My baby was reciting her letters!

During our errands that day I pointed out random signs with capital letters and she knew them all! I didn't really believe it, but I kept quizzing her and sure enough. Girlfriend had a pretty good handle on her ABCs. I text my Mom who teaches kindergarten and she quickly scolded me saying that I shouldn't be one of those moms wishing for an early reader. I promised her I didn't teach her ... she just knew TEXACO and it was all down hill from there. Later, we deduced that she had watched a LeapFrog Alphabet movie and most likely picked up on her letters from that.

Since, she's learned her lower case letters and seeing that she seems to have a real knack and interest in letters I've slowly been adding some alphabet activities into our daily life.

Our next little project is learning some sequences of letters, starting with her name. Now, I promise I have no intention of pushing reading or writing, but as she shows interest, I figure I'll go along with it. And really, she's 2, so her interest in things is super touch and go. One minute it's letters, the next dinosaurs, and the next she's climbing on "Mama horsie" and coaxing me to gallop around the living room. So, we'll see how long we can sit still and focus :)

The arrival of Ah!Natural Baby's 15 piece Speller Blocks was just perfect for our latest letter game. Jemma is learning the first of many important words and I'm happy knowing that this set of blocks will last us far into our homeschooling years. Plus, these handcrafted blocks are about a billion times sturdier, not to mention more beautiful, than letter flash cards. Can I get an "Amen!" on that? Plus, Ah!Natural Baby products are made in the USA from Pacific Northwest grown and harvested wood and then sealed with beeswax and grapeseed oil. So there is no need for worry when Max jumps into our letter game and starts gnawing on a block.

To encourage your little ones to love their letters and learn their names, Ah!Natural Baby is giving away a set of custom blocks spelling your child's first name. These are a bit different than the Speller Blocks as all sides are the same letter, but if you'd like to order the Speller Blocks you can save 25% with the coupon code "Natural"! Enter through the Rafflecopter below before May 7th ...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Believe it or not, but one of the brother's behind Ah!Natural Baby and I went to grade school and high school together! What a small world it is when blogging and small business ownership bring people together again! In exchange for chattin' up Ah!Natural Baby's Speller Blocks and other awesome products I was gifted a set of Speller Blocks; no other compensation was exchanged. Thank you so much for supporting the businesses that bless my family and I.

Spring Fashion Week | Take One

2013-04-22T13:39:00.000-07:00

So, being true to myself in this crazy role of mothering I'm a little behind. But I still wanted to jump in and prove that I actually get dressed on occasion. Like twice in two days!

Thanks for the inspiration, Deanna!

tank, nordstrom | cardi, target | jeans, citizens of humanity via consignment | sandals, american eagle

I springified this outfit with sandals even though it was much to chilly. Then wore it to community group.

dress, H&M | sweater, old navy | flats, target via consignment | belt, target

A dress! For church! This goodie has seem me through so much ... 9 months preggo, prepartum (is that a word?) and now postpartum. Love her. Kind of makes me want to trek to H&M stat to see if there are any spring treasures worth throwing my personal money at.

I'll do my best to take off my Ellie leggings (my current SAHM fashion obsession) and put on some other spring pieces this week. No promises.

P.S. I really need fashion pose advice! Look at the camera? Don't? Smile? Smirk? Where do my hands go?!?! Heavens! I wanna look chic like Kendi or Blair or Kacia :)

You Never Forget a Beautiful Thing You Have Made

2013-04-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

More than any other experience in my life, becoming a mother has changed me.

It's breathtaking to look at these babies. The ones who started so small, grew in my belly and still, many days, cling to me tightly as we adventure through life together. My Jemma and Max are precious. They light up my days and are no doubt God's greatest gift to me.

Knowing that there are mamas and babies out there who never get to experience the beauty and boldness of life together absolutely breaks my heart. It makes for a somber Mother's Day as mamas reach for babies who aren't close or little ones crave the touch and smell of the woman who birthed them. Somaliland is one of the places suffering this heartache. The infant and maternal mortality rate is devastating and not only is change desperately needed, for humanities sake, it's required.

Join with me this Mother's Day and help bring change to Somaliland through the Edna Adan University Hospital by purchase a beautiful print for yourself, your own mama or a dear mama friend - 50% of the sale will go directly to Edna Adan Hospital.

Logo of the Edan Adan Hospital, source

"The health of the people of Somaliland is among the worst in Africa, with one of the highest Maternal and Infant Mortality rates in the world. Every year, one baby in eight dies in infancy while nearly 4000 Somali women die in childbirth. This tragedy can be attributed in large part to the long civil war which brought about the death or departure of nearly all of the country’s trained health care professionals." The good news is that this hospital is working to change these statistics and improve maternal health. From educating midwives and fighting female genital mutilation, the Edna Adan University Hospital is making big changes for the people of Somaliland.

Watch this video for a special peek into the hospital and Edna Adan herself.

As we celebrate Mother's Day this year, I'm encouraged to know that across the ocean there are individuals taking ginormous steps to keep more mamas and babies together. Purchase a print. Tweet about this fundraiser - #give2ednaadan. Share the print on Pinterst or Instagram. Let's spread the word. Make a difference. And send a very special prayer on behalf of those diligently working to make Mother's Day something worth celebrating!

P.S. Speaking of caring for mamas near and far, Adriel is always accepting birth kits for mamas in Papua New Guinea and this wonderful mama friend of mine is hosting a Mother's Day auction on Facebook this week to support Teen Challenge Springboard which has positively impacted her family.

"Mom's Taking Us To The Zoo Tomorrow ..."

2013-04-19T11:42:00.001-07:00

Oh, Raffi, you have a song for every life event. What would we do without you?

With the unfortunate events of Dominic's unemployment, we've been blessed with some extra family time these last few weeks. Gotta look on the bright side! Most of this time has been dedicated to projects at home, although I keep telling him, all the projects on HGTV come together much faster than ours :). But, we did squirrel away a whole day to spend at the zoo for a little something fun!

This zoo trip was Jemma's second visit - she was around Max's age the first time we went - and this time was so much more awesome. Two and a half is the perfect age for a zoo trip. She couldn't wait to check out all the "aminals" and seeing that it was a cool day in early April (read, chance of rain, only trek out if you dare), the zoo wasn't very busy.

We packed up the car with all our gear and oh, was there a lot of gear, got a fix-it ticket for a dead brake light on the way (so lame), and pulled into the zoo around 10 am with coffee in hand.

Commence the photo documentation ...

Jemma's favorite zoo friends were the elephants, followed by the penguins and the aquarium full of "fee!" - she still talks about them often! The weather turned out PERFECT, Max snoozed on the go and we had a yummy picnic lunch that did not get stolen by the seagulls.

We're already planning our next zoo trip - a different one farther north - as our Mother's Day celebration! Jemma is a obviously a zoo girl and since I walked and wore Max the entire time, he is a zoo lover too!

P.S. Things on the job front are looking good - I hope to have awesome news to share soon! Dominic has been working so hard to find a new and better position and I am so proud of him! He's a real trooper - up early, job research, home projects and baby snuggles. In the Daddy/husband job of life, I'm giving him an A+! Plus, I can't rave enough about how he has prepared our family financially for the unknowns that life often throws. Before I became a SAHM we completed Baby Step 3 (following Dave Ramsey's guide), saving 3-6 months of our living expenses. This has allowed us to breath easy (well, at least easier) as we've paid our first month's mortgage payment with virtually no income! Eek! In a time that would otherwise be extremely scary, I feel so blessed that Dominic has safeguarded our family with diligence in our finances. And, praise the Lord that it looks like he'll be back working soon - less than a month after he was laid off!

Boy Mama

2013-04-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

This little man brings so much joy to my heart. He is a constant source of snuggles and smiles and the bond growing between he and Jemma is absolutely darling. They are the sweetest brother and sister pair I know!

Ever since he was born, I've believed that Max is a very old soul. Sometimes the way he looks at me shows such a deep, kindhearted compassion. It's amazing what a good long stare can communicate between two people, no matter their age. Not long ago I was worried silly about becoming a boy mama and now I couldn't imagine it any other way! Max has stretched me and grown me in ways only the Lord could have planned.

If these days of manly grunts, wresting and food inhaling are any sign of my future I'm in for a very fun ride. I've told Dominic that if we only have boys from this point forward, I wouldn't be disappointed. Although, if that's comes true I will have a truck load of the sweetest girl's clothes to pass on. Pretty much, boys are the bee's knees in my book. Especially if they are anything like my Max.

Love you Bubs!

Linking up with ...

P.S. Do you see his bunny teeth?!? I finally caught them in a photo! Sad thing is, those chompers bit me the other day! It wasn't at all malicious, it was almost like he didn't fully know they were there/grown in that far. Hoping for many non-biting nursing days ahead :) And yes, we're subtly shouting our state pride with the adorable state tee c/o of Deya Studios - Washingtonians for life!

Home Sweet Home

2013-04-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Buying a home ain't no simple thing. Most days I'm still reeling a bit that this place is actually ours. I mean, aren't we mere 20 year old love birds just graduating from college? Oh, no, that's right, we're turning 27 this year and have added two bambinos to our clan! Awhile back I mentioned writing a post about why we waited five years to buy a house, and I'm still planning on doing that, but today, I thought I'd delve into why we went with a newly built home instead of a vintage charmer and the whole process of buying our first home.

So, to start off, I think most people would pin Dominic and I as the perfect couple to buy a fixer upper. Dom is super handy and I'm resourceful in a prairie kind of way. But when it comes down to our every day life, we always knew we wanted our home to be our sanctuary, our quiet, peaceful place. To be that for us, we knew we wanted a newly built home.

Rather than have a remodeling to-do list, we wanted to craft a want-to-do list to personalize our new home. Especially with two little ones under foot, we knew we couldn't survive any huge overhauls. It just isn't in the cards for our personalities and patience levels. And yes, feel free to read that as we chose to buy a new home to save our marriage, because, in fact, an older home could have really tested our ability to love through thick and thin. In the eight weeks we've been here we've accomplished two fun projects (our Annie Sloan dresser re-do for the breakfast nook and garage storage shelves) and we have a Pinterest-inspired list of future endeavors too.

Now, how did this whole thing begin ...

Our search for a home started many moons ago - like, over a year ago when we placed on offer on a little lot of forest in a quaint neighborhood. We planned to build there and I even had my maternity pictures with Max taken there. Then the county got involved and we've been at a stand still ever since. Thanksyouverymuchforbeingsodifficult. In December, after six months of living with my parents we decided it was time to make a move since the county wasn't planning to budge. This whole county thing is a really long and boring story which is why I'm not going into detail. We contacted our realtor, whom we love, and started checking out listings. We apologized numerous times for being so picky - I wanted white trim, Dominic wanted a shop, I wanted a master bath tub and space for a fenced yard. And on and on the list went. We threw up our arms in early January and trusted that the Lord would bring us the perfect place. A week or so later, Cheryl called with a newly built home that had just dropped into our price range. We viewed it that morning, fell in love, scheduled a second tour so family could take a peek and began working on our financing.

With the guidance of our realtor and the graciousness of our credit union and builder we arranged for closing and all the pieces fell into place. In mid-February we got our keys and just like that, we became homeowners!

Some days I still feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of home ownership, then again, it feels wonderful to be somewhere more permanent. No moves in the future for us! We've landed in a happy place and can't wait to fully make it our own.

Tour coming soon! And an Annie Sloan tutorial too!

Interested in learning more about buying a newly built home, check out BHI’s Start Fresh Buy New website. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The Crockpot Club | Award Winning Chili

2013-04-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

AWARD WINNING CHILI
Brought to you by Lauren from The Crafty Ginger

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs ground beef, browned & drained
2 cans each of Kidney Beans, Red Beans & Black Beans (with the juice)
1 jar each of spicy & original Tabasco chili seasoning (we buy this at hy-vee)

DIRECTIONS

Mix all ingredients together & cook on low in a crockpot for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.

NOTES FROM THE CHEF
This is actually a double batch, but we make it & freeze the rest. This recipe makes 10 BIG bowls.

- - - - -

As if one chili recipe wasn't enough for today - I've now got your mouth watering with another! Chili is one of Jemma's absolute favorites lately too - she calls it "dip" and expects chips with it :) - so chili is a pretty frequent meal our menu! Excited to try this crockpot version soon!

Would you like to contribute a recipe to The Crockpot Club?

Fill out this form and email me a picture of the final dish!