Between 3 Sisters

And I'm back...for now!

2013-05-20T13:37:00.003-07:00

I know, I know...what happened to this little three sister blog of ours?? Almost two months with NO posts?!?!

Well, I am sorry to say that life has been a little busy for me (and my sisters) and I just haven't had time to write much. Just so you don't think I haven't been up to nothing, here is a little sample of what has gone on in my life the last two months.

There have been some box houses and basket hiding...

Also, some lovely spring storms....

There have been smelling of flowers ---uhh whatusetobe flowers anyways.

There have been two birthdays--- a half birthday and a whole birthday. I will let you decided which is which.

We have had some unexpected company...

Old friends have come back to visit...

We have lounged around...

Met some new friends...

Swam with the creatures of the sea...

Even the fast ones...

Learned a new hobby {paddleboarding}...

And enjoyed some sunsets...

I hope to take more time to blog more this summer, but right now I am trying to balance life with an active toddler and a now 8-month old!

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Low Calorie Parmesan and Panko Crusted Tilapia

2013-03-11T18:02:00.001-07:00

I was at Sam's Club the other day and they were giving out samples of a pre-made frozen Parmesan tilapia dinner and it was surprisingly good! I don't usually purchase meals like that so I decided to tackle the recipe on my own and came up with this tonight. It was so DELICIOUS! This seriously will make the list of healthy meals at night....only 295 calories per serving!!

Parmesan and Panko Crusted Tilapia

Ingredients:
4- 6 oz tilapia fillets
1/2 cup egg beaters
2 tablespoons of low-fat mayonnaise
1 cup panko Japanese breadcrumbs
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried parsley

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Line baking sheet with silicone mat or spray with some oil.
3. In shallow bowl whisk egg beaters and mayonnaise.
4. In a different shallow bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan , and spices.
5. Dip fish in egg beater mixture and then coat both sides in the panko mixture.
6. Place coated fillets on baking sheet.
7. Bake for 20-30 minutes until fish is flaky.

The Skinny: Serves 4 @ 295 calories (actually less because you won't use all the egg mixture and breadcrumbs)

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DIY: Beadboard Backed Bookshelf

2013-03-07T06:26:00.004-08:00

I have been trying to purge my house of extras that we just don't need. I feel like my life has been so chaotic since the birth of my second child and that maybe "decluttering" might be what I need to give my life a little order.

With that said, I was organizing my downstairs storage room and purchased some new heavy duty storage shelves. I was left with this sad old bookshelf in which I had no use. My husband always hated this bookshelf, but it was pretty sturdy and a great height so I always seemed to find a good use for it.

It was it's time to go...or was it? I was in need of some toy storage in my toy room/guest bedroom in the basement. (This poor room has so many names, but best to be called the 'room of chaos' or the second toy room so Mommy can workout without kids getting under her feet but also doubles as the guest bedroom once in a while.) The bookshelf might be just what I need to organize the toys in this room.

I started out by sanding down the scratches that were on the bookshelf. First with a 60 grit then a 200 grit sanding block.

And then I removed the cardboard backing.

Next, I primed it all with Zinsser Cover Stain White Primer Sealer. This is the best primer I have found for these faux finished furniture pieces.

I decided to paint it white..... and must have also lost some photos along the way. What you do not see is me painting it white and cutting the bead-board panel to fit the back and installing it. However, I do have a picture of the finished product!

Here it is with the shelves installed.

This room of chaos looks like this most of the time.

With the new (old) bookshelf painted, it now is organized and looks like this!

This whole project cost me $9, the cost of the bead-board. I had the paint and fabric boxes already on hand.

It makes the room look a little more in order now! My son is very good about putting all the toys back when finished playing now that there is a spot they go in!

Happy Painting!!

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Sophistication Sunday - CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara

2013-02-24T17:18:00.001-08:00

My Sophistication Muse, Audrey Hepburn

(Photo Source)

Sophistication Sunday revolves around my favorite beauty finds, techniques, fashion trends and anything else "pretty" that catches my eye. I look forward to sharing these ideas with you and hope to hear your suggestions and feedback as well! I am no expert at beauty or fashion by any means but perhaps that will make my thoughts more relatable. Simply put, I'm just a girly-girl navigating my way through the fabulous finds I come across.

...

Hello everyone! I wanted to hop on quick and write a beauty post about my new favorite mascara the CoverGirl Clump Crusher.

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I know I've said before that CoverGirl isn't currently one of my favorite makeup lines. I really like the prices (obviously) but as far as drugstore brands goes I've had much better luck with Revlon and Maybelline. CoverGirl is very hit and miss for me. Luckily this time, it is a BIG hit!

So many people LOVE the CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara (in the big orange tube) but I never understood the hype. Like Maybelline's famous Great Lash mascara I thought it was just... "meh." I didn't see what the big deal was about lash blast other than the fact that it was the first drugstore mascara I saw that had the rubbery bristles.

However, I got a little adventurous the other day and decided to spend $5 on the newest CoverGirl mascara. CoverGirl describes this product as:

A breakthrough in no-clump mascara. Get 200% more volume and zero clumps. Features an innovative double-sided brush with lash-loading and clump-combing zones to crush clumps.

I am SO glad I took a chance on this! When I used it for the first time I was amazed when I could keep coating, and coating, and reapplying. My lashes didn't stick together, they didn't clump... the application was amazing! Another great bonus is that it doesn't flake off throughout the day and it doesn't leave my lashes feeling stiff or dry. Put one down in the win column for CoverGirl!

I also want to mention that the brush is great for bottom lashes and I love a mascara that works well for upper and lower lashes.

Have you tried the clump crusher? Will you give it a shot?

~Christi

Concealing Under-Eye Circles in 3 Easy Steps

2013-02-18T18:10:00.001-08:00

It seems like I've been battling dark circles ever since I started wearing makeup. Over the years I've tried numerous concealers and eventually found my match in MAC's Studio Finish Concealer. You can read all about my undying love for it here.

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However, I wanted to write an update because I've developed a little under-eye circle "routine" that I am very pleased with. It's a three step process that can be duplicated with either drugstore items or high-end products.

Step 1: Brighten

I've tried numerous neutralizers and different correcting shades but brightening the under-eye area seems to provide the best foundation for treating dark circles.

The product I use for this step is Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Erase Dark Circle Treatment Concealer (holy moly, what a mouthful!) in the shade, you guessed it, "brightener" (the pink-ish shade). If you prefer a high end alternative, try Benefit's Eye Bright.

Brightener

To use the product you just turn the base (and it makes that click-click-click sound) and the liquid comes up through the sponge applicator. From here you can just dab it on under your eyes in a triangle pattern (one corner at your inner eye, the second corner at your outer eye, and the third corner pointing down towards the tip of your cheek) and blend. Quick tip: after using this product for a little while I realized that the sponge soaks up a TON of the makeup. So in my effort to be cost effective I ripped off the sponge applicator. Now I just need a couple clicks to get the amount of product I need. I apply it right to my fourth finger and tap and blend it under my eyes.

Step 2: Conceal

For this step feel free to substitute your favorite concealer. I of course turn to my MAC studio finish. The price is a bit steep at $18.00 but as I've explained before, I used to buy concealer that was $7 a pop and I would have to buy it probably once every 1-2 months. This concealer lasts me a YEAR at a time, covers blemishes as well, and is more than cost effective considering how frequently I was having to buy drugstore concealer.

MAC Studio Finish in NW20

I simply dab my fourth finger into the pot and then pat it under my eyes and blend. I think one of the keys to this is to remember that more product does not mean better coverage. A lot of people don't like the MAC studio finish for under-eye coverage but I find using just a little goes a long way and as long as you don't cake it on. Love it!

Step 3: Set

For this final step I use ELF's Studio High Definition Undereye Setting Powder. This lovely little product clocks in at $3.00. Woo hoo! If you're looking for a high-end option I've heard good things about Bare Minerals Well-Rested SPF 20 Eye Brightener.

ELF

To finish off the coverage I use my Sigma F86, dip it into the pot, tap off the excess, and dab under my eyes (from inner corner to outer). I find this last step really prevents that annoying crease under the eyes and sets my under-eye makeup for the day.

Truth be told, I don't do this every day (because sometimes I'm lazy, obviously) but I do find this is the best way to deal with my dreaded dark circles and thought I would share it with you guys!

Do you have any tips for concealing under-eye circles? Share below!

~Christi

Lime & Avocado Pork Tacos

2013-02-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves a good Mexican dish, but usually it comes with some SUPER high calories. Not these yummy Lime & Avocado Pork Tacos! Cooking the meat in a crockpot helps retain the pork's juiciness The lime adds just the right kick to compliment the spice of the jalapeno and buttery texture of the avocado. At 384 calories for 2 tacos, this will be one Mexican dish you will for sure repeat!

1.5 pounds pork loin filet, cooked
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 cup water
1 onion, sliced thin
1 jalapeno, seeds removed and sliced thin
1 lime, juiced
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 tomato, diced
1 avocado, sliced in strips
12 corn tortillas

1. In crockpot, place pork loin and cook on low for 6 hours. Shred when cooked.
2. Heat a olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add pork, taco seasoning, cumin, pepper, 1/2 cup water, onion and jalapeño to pan; sauté 8 minutes or until tender.
3. While pork is cooking, heat oven to 400 degrees. Place corn tortillas on cooking stone or baking sheet and cook 5 minutes. Turn over and cook 5 minutes more.
3. Stir in cilantro and lime juice; cook pork until warm.
4. Serve tacos by topping corn tortilla with pork mixture chopped tomato, sliced avocado and some chopped cilantro. Enjoy!

The Skinny: Serves 6 (2 tacos each) for 384 calories

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DIY: Valentine's Day Heart Bird Feeder

2013-02-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

Is there anything sweeter then a little boy and his Grandma?? Or in my son's case his Farmor? There is! And that is watching them make these super cute heart shape bird feeders together!

Here is what you need to make these super cute bird feeders ---btw a GREAT gift idea for Valentine's Day!

1 1/2 cups of birdseed
2 (1/4 oz) packages of unflavored gelatin
heart shaped cookie cutters
cooking spray
wax paper
twine

Step 1: Mix 1/2 cup of water and gelatin together in a bowl.

Stir until dissolved.

Step 2: Pour in 1 1/2 cups of birdseed.

Step 3: Measure about 7 inches of twine out and cut it.

Tie the twine in a knot to make a loop.

Step 4: Lay heart shaped cookie cutters on some wax paper and spray with cooking spray.

Step 5: Fill the cookie cutters half full of the birdseed mixture.

Step 6: Press the birdseed down into the cookie cutter.

Step 7: Lay the twin loop on the birdseed.

Step 8: Top the twine with more birdseed until cookie cutter is full. (Look at those cute little hands!)

You will end up with a couple really cute heart-shaped filled cookie cutters.

Step 9: Let the cookie cutters dry for a few hours and then gently unmold the feeders. Let the birdfeeders dry for another 72 hours until hard.

Step 10: Find a nice spot, preferable near a window, to hang your finished heart bird feeder.

And enjoy the view as you show the birds in your neighborhood some love!!!

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Organizing Under The Sink

2013-02-04T18:08:00.002-08:00

A few weeks ago I came across this post on Pinterest on how to organize your house one day at a time from www.mysimplerlife.com. The idea was simple-- each day of the year have one very small task to complete for a decluttered home. I decided to give it a try. I don't necessarily follow her calendar in order (especially since it's from 2012), but one task a day is my goal.

One day I was doing the dishes and noticed how under the sink in my kitchen was a mess!

I hate having to dig in this cupboard to find my cleaning products, scrub brushes, or large bottles to refill my smaller bottles. This NEEDED to be organized!

I came across this picture from tidymom.net and thought it was such a great idea to keep bottle organized and arranged nicely under the sink.

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However, I have a pull out organizer that holds all of my dish towels and there is no way I could install the tension rod under my sink. I needed another idea. I was going through my bin of organizing extras and came across this $2 towel rod.

I installed the rod on the side of the cupboard and hung up a couple hooks for my brushes.

After hanging all the bottles, I organized everything remaining from least used to most used. The least used items were placed towards the back (large soap containers to refill small container, compost filters, odd cleaning items, etc.) After rummaging through the rest of my organizing items, I was able to use a basket and a glass jar container for my dish soap.

It may not be the prettiest cupboard under the sink, but it was fast, easy, free and now ORGANIZED!

Have a small tip that you have found that keeps your life a little more organized? I would love to hear with a comment below!

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Bow Tie Pasta and Creamy Mushroom Sauce

2013-01-22T18:39:00.000-08:00

Bow Tie Pasta and Creamy Mushroom Sauce
My husband and I are counting our calories again and I made this recipe tonight for dinner. We were both excited at how much this dish filled us up and was so tasty!! My son kept calling it "butterfly pasta" and enjoyed it too. It will definitely be a repeat recipe of ours!

12 ounces uncooked bow tie pasta
1 tablespoon light butter
8 ounces portobello mushrooms, sliced*
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, sliced*
1 small onion, chopped
1/3 cup shallots, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup white wine
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Cook bow tie pasta in pan according to directions on package.
2. At the same time while cooking pasta, heat olive oil in pan.
3. Add onions and shallots to olive oil and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes.
4. Add garlic to onions and cook for 1 minute.
5. Add sliced mushrooms, salt, pepper, and white wine to onion/garlic mixture. Cook until mushrooms are tender.
6. Add cooked bow tie pasta, whipping cream, cheese, and 2 tablespoons parsley to mushrooms. Toss pasta to coat. Salt and pepper to taste if needed.
7. Serve with crusty bread on the side and enjoy!

* You can substitute any type of mushroom for this dish, just make it a full 12 ounces.

The Skinny: Serves 6 @ 352 calories

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Happy (Busy) New Year!

2013-01-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

I know, I know... a little late on the HAPPY New Year! But this Mama has been busy! It's now January 19th and this is my first post of the New Year and I will explain why.

In September, I had my second child and since then my life has been in great disarray. In addition to the challenges of a newborn, I have a crazy, energetic toddler to run after. I have felt so overwhelmed in the last few months. I somehow managed to balance two kids, working from home, keeping the house clean, volunteering for my MOPS group, making healthy meals, working out an hour a day, doing some DIY projects, and blogging for the first few months of Remy's life. However, at some point around Christmas I just felt exhausted and guilty for neglecting my children for my many activities.

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At that point I made the decision to scale down my activities in this new year. My children are growing up so fast and soon they will be in school. While they are little, I want to spend all my free time playing, talking, reading, and exploring with them. I have made it a weekly goal to bring my son to library story time, play play-dough, read books, finger paint, color, pretend, build legos, and sing lots and lots of songs. (No matter how horrible of a singer I might be!)

Scaling down my activities this year means you will see me blog less, work less, clean less, build less, and craft less. This doesn't mean I won't posts blogs anymore. I have about a million blogs running around in my head on a daily basis, but I will only try to write them when my kids are napping.

I really hope to make 2013, 2014, 2015 years where I spend as much time as I can with my kids! Before I know it (2015) my little guy will be starting school and the moments of my kids and I spending days together will be gone.

Until then...

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Top Beauty Products of 2012

2013-01-13T16:20:00.000-08:00

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Yes, I realize we are half way into January but it is still the first month of a brand new year! What better way to prepare for the year ahead than to reflect upon the wonderful blessings of the previous year. And when I say blessings, it's okay to include awesome beauty products, right?? :)

I'm always keeping an eye out for new products to add to or improve my routine. So take a moment to look through my favorite products from the past year and let me know in the comments if you found something in 2012 that you will continue to keep in your beauty arsenal.

Favorite Foundation of 2012:

L'Oreal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream

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Last February I blogged about BB Creams and my process in researching and eventually buying one to sample. At this time, American makeup brands were just starting to develop their own versions of BB cream. Suffice to say there weren't many options at the drugstore (I could only find Garnier's BB cream) and all others were out of my price range and could only be purchased at places like Sephora. I purchased Etude House BB Magic Cream and loved that it cut down on the midday t-zone shine. However, as the months wore on and hot weather settled in, the t-zone shine worsened (dang it!) and more importantly, the color was too light for my face. I no longer frequent tanning beds but since I use sunless tanner it would make my face look whiter than the rest of my body. Granted, one of the purposes of BB cream is to lighten scars and freckles through the "whitening" agent of the product, but as I said this just didn't work with the bronze goddess look I strive for in the summer months. Lastly, I wanted the convenience of just being able to run out and buy some BB cream instead of ordering it online. OKAY GET TO THE POINT, right? :) As drugstore brands started coming out with their own versions of BB cream I read lots of reviews and decided to try L'Oreal's BB cream. Basically, any other BB cream sounded like it would not work with my oily t-zone. So for me, Garnier and Maybelline were out.

Now the good stuff. The L'Oreal BB cream is great because it comes in different shades and has a very light feel to it. I currently use the shade "light" and will switch the "medium" for the spring and summer. The product actually comes out white with little beads. When I apply it, I simply put some on my favorite makeup brush (more on that later), dab it on my face, and starting buffing it in. The white color and beads quickly mix together and provide a light wash of color over the face.

So the main reasons I love this product? #1 I am not a morning person and I love that BB creams and tinted moisturizers shorten my routine. After I wash my face and put eye cream on I go right to the BB cream. The moisturizing, priming, and tinting is all completed in one easy and fast step. Lazy beauties rejoice! I also like that it doesn't have a heavy or cakey feel. I've used various foundations over the years but always gravitate back towards lighter products because I don't like the heavy feel. This BB cream is natural looking and any blemishes that aren't covered I simply cover with some concealer.

Note: The product also claims to correct but I don't know that I've noticed any correcting abilities. The only other thing that would be nice was if it also provided some SPF.

Favorite Powder of 2012:

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

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If you read any of my beauty posts with any regularity you know that I am constantly trying to find a way to combat shine. I love this powder from Rimmel because it gives me a matte, airbrushed finish. It's a great product for setting my make up and a great powder for touching up my t-zone after work. I wish it were in a compact so I could touch up on the go but for now I just use a big, fluffy powder brush. I have this powder in the shade, "Buff Beige" and will probably have to switch to a slightly darker shade for spring and summer.

Favorite Blush of 2012:

MAC Powder Blush in "Gingerly"

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Stepping outside of the realm of drugstore favorites, MAC's Gingerly was definitely my favorite blush discovery of 2012. This shade, though it looks like a plain brown in the pain, is incredibly beautiful and natural looking. It provides a nice warm flush to the cheeks that I can use year round (though I particularly love using it in Fall & Winter). As I've stated before, some products are worth paying a little extra for. I use this blush CONSTANTLY and I still haven't hit pan in a YEAR! Like their Studio Finish Concealer that I adore, this is totally worth the cost. Oh and did I mention it stays on for hours??

Favorite Lip Products of 2012:

Revlon Lip Butters, Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains.
Maybelline Baby Lips

Lip Butters

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Some of you probably remember my overzealous love for the lip butters so I won't go into too much detail. I'll just say, lip butters feel great on the lips and provide amazing color. Basically, it's lipstick with legit moisturizing properties. So many pretty colors to choose from, so little time. (Color above is "Strawberry Shortcake")

Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

After the lip butter craze Revlon followed up with the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. I loved this lip product because it actually felt moisturizing and didn't leave weird lines on my lips like most stains. Whenever I tried lip stains before they wore off unevenly and made my lips feel incredibly parched. These balm stains are smooth and shiny and leave a great wash of color on the lips. One of my favorite ways to use this product is when I'm going for a red lip look. I line my lips, apply the balm stain in "Romantic" (pictured above), and finish off with the lip butter in "Candy Apple." My favorite kissable balm shades are, Romantic, Honey (great, "my lips but better" shade), Adore, and Rendezvous.

Baby Lips

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I was actually late in jumping on the Baby Lips bandwagon. I didn't see what the big draw was and one day decided to just give it a try. I don't have any of the colored shades but I am obsessed with Peppermint and Quenched. Both have a great smell but more importantly the feel on my lips is amazing! It's a great base for other lip products and doesn't ever become gummy or tacky.

Favorite Eyebrow Product of 2012:

Maybelline Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil

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I've cycled through numerous eyebrow products and have had plenty of mediocre brow pencils. This brow pencil from Maybelline is now my definite favorite! It applies easily and stays ALL day! I use it in the shade medium brown.

Favorite Eyeliner of 2012:

NYX Slide On Eye Pencil

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In a serious effort to find suitable drugstore alternatives to my high-end favorites, I stumbled upon NYX Slide On Eye Pencils. As some of you may have remembered I was obsessed with Clinique Quickliner for years. In fact, I still love it! But I was determined to find a less expensive alternative. I tried a few other drugstore eyeliners and none of them worked as well. Too many drugstore eyeliners pull and I wanted something that didn't irritate my eyes and would glide on with ease. I kept hearing good things about the NYX slide on pencil but when I went to purchase it at an ULTA in Woodbury, MN they didn't carry it. I really wanted to see if this would be my new holy grail eyeliner so I found it on ULTA's website and promptly ordered one. When the eyeliner arrived at my door it was basically love at first sight! The color is great and the formula is creamy but not watery or runny. It stays on all day and slides on like a dream (hence the name, I suppose!). I use the shade "Brown Perfection" for my everyday eye looks. I also purchased the pencil in "Jet Black" but unfortunately this doesn't stay on as well. It really pools in the inner corner of my eyes and I HATE that. I don't know what the deal is with that but I haven't had any other issues with the other shades I've purchased and as I mentioned, brown perfection is well... perfect! The only other downside is that these pencils are not self-sharpening like Clinique's. However, to me it is a small price to pay considering I am paying half the price. I find the pencil sharpens best with an actual NYX pencil sharpener (which you can also buy at ULTA).

One more thing, if you like playing around with fun eye colors these come in a wide range of shades and the color payoff is fantastic. I recommend Golden Olive (a different shade but very beautiful and natural), Pretty Violet (vibrant purple), Sunrise Blue (a cerulean shade), and Tropical Green (bright, blue green shade).

Favorite Brushes of 2012:
Sigma F80 & E40

Makeup brushes are definitely more of an investment. Truth be told it is very hard for me to shell out cash for them. But honestly to me they make a huge difference in the application of makeup and enable me to apply products with better precision.

Sigma F80

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This is the most AMAZING face brush for foundation, BB cream, tinted moisturizer, etc. It has the perfect thickness, length, and texture and helps makeup to go on like butta! (er... butter) I've used it for regular foundation and use it everyday with the L'Oreal BB cream. This is probably the best beauty purchase I made this year is a fraction of the price of expensive brushes from brands like MAC.

Sigma E40

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Like the Sigma F80, I use this baby every. single. day. No joke! I love this brush for adding the perfect amount of shadow to my crease. It supplies just that little extra amount of dimension to my eye look. I typically dip it in Urban Decay's "buck" eye shadow and then do a windshield wiper motion across both of my eye creases. If I want to add a little more shading I will dip it in a darker shade, tape off the excess, and apply it to the outer corner of my eyelids and blend into the crease. Once again, this brush is a fraction of the cost of similar MAC brushes. Perfection!

Well that was a long list wasn't it?!! There were just too many great discoveries in 2012. I can't wait to see what the next year brings!

What were some of your favorites you discovered in 2012?

~Christi

DIY: $4.99 Hair Accessory Organizer

2012-12-22T07:31:00.001-08:00

When you 3 month old daughter has this much hair, hair accessories are unavoidable. You can try your hardest to resist, but once you clip that first barrette in her hair you are hooked for life!

In addition to me buying every cute little headband or barrette I see, many people have made me hair accessories for her and that is where the problem lies. I am overflowing with hair accessories and needed a way to organize them. I was talking it over with my sister Luci one day and she said something about seeing an accordion hat rack that would work to organize them and from there the ideas began to flow...

First I went on Amazon in search for an accordion hat rack. I found this one below for $4.99!

I took it apart.

Painted it pink with the leftover paint I had from decorating her room. (Notice I attached all the knobs on cardboard for easier painting.)

Next, I used some leftover ribbon I had from her room and looped it through the holes of the pieces.

I ended up with all the pieces looking like this:

I secured the ribbon with a drop of hot glue to the backside of all the pieces.

Then I made sure to press the ribbon down until it stuck and wiped off any excess.

I ended up with all the pieces having ribbons glued to them and just needed to reassemble the hat rack.

I decided to change out the center knobs for some more decorative ones I found at Target.

I hung it up in her room,

and then filled it with all the hair accessories.

Let's just say this is one of the quickest and ONLY projects I have done since she was born. (Just a little busy with a toddler and a 3 month old if you can't tell by the lack of blogs!) It functions great to organize all of her hair accessories and adds some cute decoration to her room. This one is almost full, so I might have to make another one!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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20 Minute Meal: Low Calorie Salmon with Creamy Lemon Caper Sauce

2012-12-12T18:10:00.001-08:00

I had a hot date tonight, my son. I am trying to add more fish to our diet and because my husband doesn't like it very much I decided to try to eat it on the nights my husband is working. I came up with this yummy recipe tonight! Not only is it super good, but it's low calorie!

4 (4 oz) salmon pieces (You will notice in my pics I only made 2 pieces for my son and I)
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
3 tablespoons light butter
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed

Season salmon with salt and pepper. Place in baking dish and cook for 15-20 minutest at 400 degrees until flaky.

While the salmon is cooking, melt butter in a small pan over medium heat.

Once butter is melted, whisk in evaporated milk

Then add in dill

Lemon pepper seasoning

And lastly the capers

Whisk continuously until reduced to sauce consistency, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat. (Make sure you whisk continuously In between and whining toddler and a crying baby, I stopped whisking and my sauce is not as smooth as I would like it to be.)

Pour sauce over salmon and served with a nicely sized portion of green veggies!

The Skinny: Serves 4 @ 316 calories

*calorie information from http://caloriecount.about.com

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DIY: Hidden Storage Wall Cubby

2012-11-30T07:51:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I wrote a blog about my Paint Only Remodels of our Main Bathroom. Now I have talked about this about a million times before, but if you missed it-- I am only allowed to remodel this house using paint. We plan on building a new house on this land in a few years, so my husband doesn't want me to waste money on something we will eventually bulldoze. (You can read more about it on the blog above.)

Part of the issue with our bathroom is storage. We have three drawers and two cupboards...which are all a perfect height for a toddler to get into and unpack every day while getting ready. It's very annoying. We have tried drawer hooks, but he still gets into them. I set out to create another storage unit on the wall, but we really didn't have room for another medicine cabinet, so I came up with this idea for Storage Wall Cubbies. A few months ago I created these fake paintings and wrote a little DIY Faking a Painting.

I thought they would be great to use as a cover to a wall cubby! A great way to hide the clutter and add some art to the wall. Here is my little DIY on how I created these Hidden Storage Wall Cubbies

To start you need to create two 10"x10" Storage Wall Cubbies:

1'x4'x7' Pine Boards

2' square of 1/4" plywood

Nailgun (or hammer and small nails)

Miter Saw

Table Saw

Wood Glue

4 small hinges

2 cabinet magnet catches

First cut your 1'x4'x6' pine board into 8 pieces that are 10" long with a 45 degree angle on each piece:

Each cubby will need 4 boards that look like below. I like to line them up to make sure they are all the exact same size.

With the boards above, you will assemble your wall cubby. I started with gluing the boards together to make a square.

You will end up with a square like below. (Use can use a L-square ruler to make sure it is square.)

Using an nail gun (or just a hammer and nails) reinforce the box in each corner.

Measure the outside of your cubby box and cut the 2' square of 1/4" plywood into two pieces to be the back of your cubby box. My cubbies are 10"x10" so I cut the plywood to be a 10"x10" square.

Attach the back using a nail gun (or hammer and nails) to create more support to the box.

You now have a finished wall cubby (or two in my case!)

Now we need to sand and paint it to look professional :) Most likely, you will have some sort of a little gap where the boards meet. Use some wood fill to fill this gap.

Let it dry overnight.

Then sand it with 60 grit, 100 grit, and then 200 grit.

Paint the box your desired color. My frames on my fake paintings are brown, so I matched the color for the cubbies.

After two coats and a day of drying you should have two wall cubbies that look like this:

Next, install the hinges. Measure two inches from the top and bottom on the frame of your fake paintings.

Install the hinges and you will have a frame that looks like this:

Next, on the cubbies mark where the hinges of the fake painting will meet cubbie. Make sure you give them enough room to close and line up on the cubby straight.

Drill holes in the cubby for the hinges and then screw the hinges in place.

Now to attach the magnetic catches. These will make sure the frame on the front will stay closed.

Measure two inches to the inside of the cubbies.

Install the magnetic catches.

On the frame of the fake paintings, install the metal plate for the magnetic catches.

You should end up with some finished Hidden Storage Wall Cubbies that look like this.

Install them on the wall, preferable in a stud so they can handle weight of whatever you put in them. Once installed you have a couple of Hidden Storage Wall Cubbies that hide all your junk you don't want people to see and

add a little wall decoration to the bathroom at the same time!

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Thanksgiving Warm Fuzzies

2012-11-22T20:37:00.002-08:00

Well I did it! I made my first Thanksgiving dinner! Truth be told I wasn't very nervous because my Mom was there in case I had any questions. But everything turned out fabulously and was quite delicious (if I do say so myself).

My dinner didn't look this fabulous but it was pretty dang good!

Of course, in the midst of delicious food and the clatter of silverware, I couldn't help but look around and feel so incredibly thankful. It was just a small gathering, hubby, my parents, and myself. Still, I was surrounded by three people who have had a profound impact on my life.

My parents continue to inspire me with their wisdom, faith and generosity. I hope I am half as amazing as they are when I have my own children.

~~~

And my husband. He inspires me daily with his kind heart and genuine spirit. It is such a gift to be married to such an amazing, faith-filled man. How did I get so lucky?

I hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating with your loved ones. It is a beautiful life that God gives us and we have so much to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving.

~Christi

Printable Toy Car Road Map

2012-11-21T07:15:00.002-08:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and for many families that means traveling to see relatives. We now have a two year old and a two month old so I am anticipating our five hour road trip might not be the most enjoyable experience for any of us, but it is totally worth it to see family! I have been racking my brain with ideas to keep my toddler busy on this drive!

The other day, I purchased this great car seat tray from a friend of mine for Aiden to play on while on the trip:

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I already have crayons and coloring books packed, but I was trying to think of some more fun toys he can use on this tray. The picture shows toy cars, and seeing this I came up with a great idea! A small Toy Car Road Map!

I looked all over online to see if someone had one of these available that I could just print off, but the search resulted in nothing :(

That is when I decided to use my skills as a graphic designer! I found some free map elements online and created my own little road map for Aiden to play with online.

I printed them on two 8.5"x11" sheets of photo paper...but really any paper will work. I wanted a little weight to the paper and I am out of white card stock, so photo paper was my next option.

Next I put them in a sheet protector, back to back. The tray isn't big enough to have them side by side, so he can flip this over and change the map if he likes. Also, the sheet protector will hopefully protect it from spills and food in the car.

The size is just perfect for the map! There is also space on the side to store extra cars.

As I am writing this blog and taking pictures, Aiden can't help himself to play with the map as I am doing so :) Hopefully, he will feel the same way in the car tomorrow!

Here are the road maps up close:

If you would like your own road map, you can click on the pictures above and download the pdf. In case there are other graphic designers out there, I left the pdf to be editable in illustrator if you would like to move the buildings and roads around.

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels!!!

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Mom's Sweet Potato Casserole

2012-11-19T07:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I received a call from my sister Luci requesting my husband's mother's Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe. She said, "I looked for it on the blog, but I couldn't find it." That is when I realized I have never posted this very popular dish of my husband's family. In fact, my husband says every year how this dish is his favorite of all the Thanksgiving dishes. This dish has been liked by so many, that I have given out the recipe too many times to count (hopefully it's not a secret family recipe!) The dish can be made the night before for easy baking. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! (I will try to take a picture of the casserole myself this Thanksgiving, until then here's one I found online that looks similar.)

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8 medium sweet potatoes or 8 medium yams
3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 stick melted)
1/3 cup evaporated milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour

1. Boil sweet potatoes or yams till soft. Mash together.
2. Mix mashed potatoes, 1/2 cup melted butter, evaporated milk, eggs and vanilla. Mix together and beat well.
3. Pour into a 9 x 13 pan.
4. Now make the topping. Mix brown sugar, flour, and pecans together.
5. Mix in remaining cup of melted butter (about 1/4 cup). Mix well.
6. Pour topping on top of potatoes.
7. Bake 40-50 minutes at 350 degrees.

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Tuesday Questionnaire

2012-11-13T20:07:00.002-08:00

I snagged this survey from one of my favorite beauty gurus Amarixe. I figured, why not? Feel free to copy and fill it out yourself. How is your week going so far?

1.) Mood:

Tired and a bit lethargic. Not my normal chipper self! Happy thought? Thanksgiving is next week!
(Mmm stuffing)

2.) What is the last song/album you purchased?

Taylor Swift's Red. It is amaaaaaaaaaazing :) I'm particularly fond of #9 (it's just happy!), #12, #13, #14 and of course my favorite from the whole album, #16 :) What can I say, that girl knows how to write!

(photo source)

3.) The best video game system ever is __________.

Erm... not a gamer. The last time I played video games loyally I was quite young so probably the Sega Genesis :) I played Sonic & X-Men quite a bit.

(photo source)

4.) Current nail polish:

Revlon Mistletoe. It's a beautiful dark green. The green/gold sheen is very subtle. It reminds me a lot of OPI's lucerne-tainly look marvelous but in green.

(photo source)

5.) How many times did you hit the snooze button this morning?

Honestly way too many... I need to utilize that app I downloaded that forces me to do math problems in order to snooze. But seriously, I have a snooze button problem.

(Photo Source)

6.) Current outfit:

Pink, plaid jammies and a t-shirt. It's almost bed time!

(Photo Source)

7.) What is the furthest distance you've ever driven?

On my own, completely by myself? Just to the Twin Cities and back. I'm a road wimp and hate driving :)

(I only do this at stoplights)

8.) You can only use one mascara for the rest of your life-- which one is it?!

Ooh this is tough! I guess I would have to go with Maybelline The Falsies. It's not my favorite for bottom lashes but I love it for dramatic upper lashes. I mentioned it in my favorite drugstore staples post here.

(Photo Source)

9.) If you could have a $1000 gift card to anywhere right now, where would you choose?

Hmm I would probably choose a place like Home Goods or some other home decor place. We are (most likely) going to begin building our first home in the next few months so my mind is more focused on that kind of stuff right now :)

(Photo Source)

10.) Weekly Goals:

Ooh I need to finish making my list for Thanksgiving dinner (I'm in charge of it this year - eek!). I also need to continue my current organization project. My next area to tackle for this is probably my overflowing jewelry armoire :)

(Photo Source)

~Christi

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

2012-11-01T09:21:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was Halloween and I am sure many of you had little (or huge in our case) pumpkins out front that looked something like this:

Hopefully, you were a little more creative cutting yours then we were! I am not a fan of wasting food, so this morning I got up and began to cook down our pumpkins. (See Pumpkin Pie From Real Pumpkins blog for more details on how to do this.)

After an hour of baking I ended up with a pumpkin mess like this. Poor little girl. (Yes, my pumpkin was a girl, those are eyelashes above not eyebrows.)

I scraped out all the soft pumpkin meat.

Processed it in the food processor.

I have enough pumpkin to last a lifetime right now, so I came up with this little idea for breakfast and made it this morning for the men in my life (my husband and Aiden).

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:

2 tablespoons of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of ginger

1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

1 loaf of french bread

1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese (softened)

1 cup (almost) of pumpkin puree (divided really into 1/2 cup and 1/3 cup)

1/4 and 2 tablespoons of sugar

1 egg

1 cup of milk

To start, you need some pumpkin pie spice. This can be made by mixing cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, and nutmeg together.

In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice, and 1/4 cup of sugar.

Mix until smooth.

Take your french loaf and cut it into 3 inch pieces. In each piece, cut the center out to create a "pocket" for the cream cheese mixture.

Using a small spoon stuff each piece with the mixture. (I imagine this could be done the night before and left in the refrigerator overnight.)

Next you will need to make your french toast batter. Combine 1 egg, 1 cup of milk, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1/3 cups of pumpkin puree and 1 tablespoon of pumpkin mix into a shallow dish.

Whisk together. Also at this time, put your skillet on the stove with some butter or oil in it and heat over medium heat until it is hot.

Let the dipping begin!! Dip each piece of french toast in the batter. I like to let mine soak it up a little.

Place each piece in your skillet and cook until golden on the side that is down.

Flip the toast over and cook on the other side until done. The center filling should be warm.

You are done! Serve it dusted with some powered sugar or covered in maple syrup and ENJOY!!

Nothing says fall like this Pumpkin Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast!

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Baby 2.0: Being A Mother Of Two Children

2012-10-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

It's been officially one month since we brought home our second child Remy. It feels strange, because I can honestly say that it hasn't felt like it's been a month. Things have been going pretty good, but you can tell by my lack of blogging that I have been a little busy. With that said, I have been pretty good about responding to the random emails I get from a number of friends asking many questions--- such as "How are you doing?" "Are you getting sleep?" "Are you going insane yet?" and more along those lines. I love the concern that my friends have and thought I would write a blog about the most common question of all, "What's it like having two kids?" Well here it goes....

The Second Is Easier
I know this one is a HUGE statement to start out this blog, but I really feel (and might regret) saying that so far having a second child is easier. I say this because you aren't as jumpy or as clueless of a parent the second time around. I remember when we first had Aiden and any little noise he made would send me running over to the bassinet. You aren't familiar with nursing (which I can say now I have had two kids, Aiden was SUPER hard to nurse) and you just aren't accustom to all the other things that come with a baby (burping, diapers, crying, and lack of sleep.) With the second one, it's just like a repeat, especially if you are like me and can remember doing it with the first one not very long ago. Now, I should also say that God has blessed me with not one, but two calm babies with quiet cries-- who enjoy sleeping. This could change any minute with her and I might regret writing these words because she is only a month old, but so far she has been an easy baby to have.

The Balancing Act

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It's somewhat of a balancing act to have a 2 year old and a 1 month old. As an only child your toddler is use to you praising every little accomplishment, laughing at all the silly things they do, and comforting every little noise of frustration they might make. When the second child comes along, it's hard to be there to "reaffirm" every little action he or she makes. Between lack of sleep, nursing a newborn, changing multiple diapers daily, and trying to maintain your household it becomes very hard to notice every little movement the first child makes and give them the praise you use to. They notice this and it's hard for them to understand. I know it's very hard it is for him to comprehend having a sibling this at this age, so I try to make my best effort to give him my undivided attention between all the other activities going on around the house. Even if it's yelling "Good job buddy!" all the way across the house, he hears me and notices that I am noticing him.

Super Powers

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With the second child comes a type of parenting super power you never wished you had so much with the first--- the ability to not just protect one child, but now two children. It sounds easy enough, but you never realize until you bring home child number 2 that you might have to protect them from child number 1, especially a toddler! My toddler is all boy....loud, hyper, rough, and dirty. With the new baby around, I have to make sure he understands he can't be so rough with her and it's very difficult for him to understand. The other day I turned my back for a second and he was trying to shove a bottle into her mouth. (It was seriously a second-- I walked 5 feet from the table to the kitchen.) He has a habit of shoving a stuff in her face and yelling "THANK YOU BROTHER" as he things he is being helpful. Although you can't really grow eyes in the back of your head (which would be nice), I now have to learn to scan the room for any "harmful scenarios" that could take place between a toddler and a baby. He is learning not to be as rough with her, but he still has to be reminded once in a while.

Enjoy The Moments

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In all the not so fun times of adding a second baby, it's important to remember to enjoy the moments with your kiddos especially in hard times. I found at first I was becoming very frustrated with having two kids. It gets overwhelming to change 7 "stinky" diapers in 2 hours or have your toddler mimic the cry of the baby at the same time to get attention. Not to mention the hormone fluctuations that come with just having a baby. Life can be hard adjusting to two kids and I found myself yelling more and honestly most of the yelling was directed at my toddler. Not screaming or anything like that, but just yelling "No" or "Timeout" louder. Let's face it, toddlers do naughty things because they don't know any better and they are learning. I had to stop and remind myself that at this moment-- the moment when I have a 2 year old and a 1 month old-- will never happen again! This is the only time in my life when my kids will be this age. I don't want to feel like all I do is yell at my kids. I don't want my toddler to learn yelling is the way to handle stress. I don't want the baby to grow up only knowing a mother who yells. It's important to realize that these "hard time" are not really hard. They are uncomfortable moments, but will for sure make good memories some day. It's important to keep my cool, control my emotions, and speak in a normal voice for the benefit of all of us.

Ask For Help

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This one is a given. With the second child, you have less time to get things done like you use to so asking for help needs to be done. I don't think I have every had a problem asking for help when I have needed to. I am one of those people that speaks their feelings, so asking for help just comes naturally to me. I have no problem asking my Mom to watch the kids or the husband to vacuum the living room, but I have now found a new resource of help--- my toddler. Toddlers LOVE to help out with anything they can and I take full advantage of it! Aiden enjoys getting the burp rag, throwing the diapers away, getting my water bottle, unloading the dishwasher, and even burping his sister (which he has learned to do gently.) It makes me happy (and sad) to see how much he is no longer by baby but a helpful little boy that LOVES to help his Mama out!

Well that is how being mother of two has been going for me. Times aren't perfect always, but we are learning as each day goes by...and WOW is time flying by! I can't believe it's already been a month!

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Learning How to Say "No"

2012-10-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

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One would think that saying "no" is just a natural thing. I'm sure parents will tell you it's all they hear their kids say some days. But somewhere along the line I forgot how important it can be to invoke the two-letter word and more importantly how to recognize when I've had enough.

With the end of grad school and my burgeoning excitement about the excess of time I would have to do things, I was quickly reminded of a topic that many women struggle with. Learning to say no.

As you all know, when school came to an end my mind was racing with wonderful, dreamy ideas about how I would spend my free time (see the list here). So far I haven’t actually accomplished very much on that list (ha) but I did do a great job of overwhelming myself and committing to too many obligations. Why do we do this to ourselves? …Seriously?!

Last week I found myself in the middle of a freak out because I forgot just how important it is to have “me time.” I volunteered for too many activities that required a lot of time and all of the sudden I was feeling stressed again. The activities became a chore I dreaded instead of a volunteer experience that I looked forward to. I knew deep down that these activities shouldn't feel like such a burden. I also had to acknowledge that as much as I love socializing I have to have my alone time as well. Some people don’t need this, but I do. Without I feel stretched out and all over the place.

So on one hand I was sitting there feeling completely overwhelmed and in the next breath extremely guilty at the thought of dropping one of the commitments. While I was stressing over this one night, Nathan simply sat and rationalized with me about my options and tried to make me feel better about what I knew I needed to do. I went to bed with a clear conscience.

However, the next morning I woke up and had this random desire to get involved in the Big Sister program. “I would be an awesome big sister!” I thought. “I always wanted a little sister and this would be a great use of my time.” (Face Palm). Once I realized what I was doing I shook my head and remembered my breakthrough from the night before. It would be foolish to fall into the same predicament once again. Upon telling one of my friends about this she smiled and said, “You caught the do-gooder trait.” We talked a little bit about why women and mothers in particular so often find themselves in this predicament. Is it just a part of our DNA? Perhaps we are just naturally inclined to do more and serve others. It’s not a bad trait to have but it is just as important to have the power to say “no”

So after dropping an activity (and deciding it would be wise not to pick up another) I am happy to report I feel much more peaceful and relaxed. It may be human nature as a wife and/or mother to want to volunteer for everything and overextend ourselves. But the reality is if we don't take care of our priorities first then we can't truly serve others.

Have you ever found yourself in this predicament before? Maybe it's time for you to start practicing "no" as well... :)

~Christi

Cleaning Queen Tip #2: Cleaning Stains From White Carpets

2012-10-11T09:19:00.001-07:00

This post is dedicated to our mother, the cleaning queen. As long as we can remember, our Mom has always had some crazy cleaning tips that work like magic! To this day, we still bring over our laundry to have her get a spot out or ask her for tips on those hard to clean items. She always has a recommendation that works 99% of the time. We thought it would be nice to share some of her genius cleaning tips periodically. Thanks Mom for all you have done for us over the years!

Today's' Tip:
Cleaning Stains From White Carpets

Back in April, I was working one morning and my son was playing so quietly beside me.

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I should have known something was wrong, that is when I turned to see this:

Yep, that is maple syrup he is drinking out of the jug and that lovely maple syrup stain has been on my carpet forever! I have tried to scrub it out with various carpet cleaning chemicals, but it just has stayed there.

It's a little lighter than the original, but still there.

One day I was complaining to my Mom about how bad our carpet looks and that I can't seem to get this stain out and another (where I spilled an entire cup of coffee.) She told me to try vinegar and baking soda.

I thought, "What the heck!" At least we will have fun watching the chemicals react. So I sprinkled some baking soda on the stain.

And poured some vinegar over the top.

We had a little floor volcano that was fun to watch. (My son loved watching it.)

And then I scrubbed it in with a brush. (I alternated with my son, who finds scrubbing stains out of carpet super fun.)

My Mom told me to put a white towel over the spot and let it dry. (White, so the color of your towel will not bleed onto your carpet.)

After letting it dry, vacuum up the remaining baking soda. And the stain is MAGICALLY gone!!

The only bad part is now I have a white spot on the carpet where I cleaned it! It just shows you how bad these carpets need to be professionally cleaned. I am sure we will track on it enough to blend in with the rest soon enough! Also, not sure if this will work on colored carpet, so I am just giving you a warning to maybe stick with white carpet only.

Do you have any awesome cleaning tips you would like to share? If so, comment below. We would love to hear any ideas to make cleaning easier!

Baby 2.0: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of Postpartum Life

2012-10-03T13:36:00.002-07:00

It's now been 2 weeks since I had my little Remy! Each day is more and more of a joy to see her little movements, smiles, and expressions. Remy is my second child and having an almost 2 year old running around at the same time as taking care of a newborn can be exciting. Fortunately, I have my in-laws here for another few days to help me out while I heal up from my c-section.

With that being said, I am 2 weeks into postpartum life and I feel that I must have blocked a lot of this phase after Aiden because many new things I am experiencing I don't remember having with him. With that being said, I thought I would write a post on the good, the bad, and the ugly of this phase.

The Good

No Longer Pregnant- Of course this would be number one! I love being pregnant but the last few weeks of being large and uncomfortable, the heartburn, and the lack of sleep due to a baby partying hard at 3am makes it tough. Having her out is very nice!

Baby Faces- The look on a newborn when they have a full belly after eating is priceless. It's a combo look of almost being drunk and happy. Sometimes we will get the largest grin on her face, I know it is most likely gas, but it does truly melt your heart.

Big Brother Fun- Her brother, Aiden, is still somewhat unsure what to do with her, but each day he gets better. We have to work with him on touching her soft and being gentle, but I am sure he will learn that soon enough. It is very sweet to see him kiss her on the head and quite humorous when he mimics her cry. Each day is a new adventure with the two.

The Bad

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Emotions- This comes with all pregnancies. Some women have it worse then others, but I just keep reminding myself that it's just hormones adjusting and I won't let them take over my life. If I feel like crying, I do and when people ask what's wrong, I just tell them it's hormones. If I get mad, I trying to calmly remind myself that it's hormones and this too shall pass. Basically, I probably say "it's just hormones" a couple times a day to myself to keep myself calmed down. I will not let the hormones control my life.

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Lack of sleep- Going on 2 weeks now with not sleeping more than 3.5 hours at a time has been rough. Not as rough as it was with my first child, but rough still. I have a policy that up to 2 weeks you feed them at least every 4 hours at night and every 2-3 during the day. I have to practically strip her naked to wake her up to eat at night, but in the long run, I know she needs the nutrients more then her sleep. After her 2 week checkup we will see if the Dr. oks me to start trying to let her sleep through the night on her own....I hope so!

The Ugly

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Menopause- Well not really, but I feel like I could be on a commercial for a woman going through menopause. I have hot flashes and cold sweats at night. It's horrible. I wake with my pillow soaked and have to flip it over when I get back to bed. It's getting better each day, but I am praying for the cold weather right now!

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Hives- BY FAR THE WORST! I did not have this with Aiden, but I think it is somewhat common with women. I had a friend who broke out in hives for months and then found out she was pregnant and it was a side effect. I am experiencing this postpartum and it is very uncomfortable. I try my hardest not to scratch them and take benadryl each night to help out.

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Body Image- There is a little known secret (really known quite well) that even though the baby comes out, it doesn't mean that your body goes back all at once. In fact, it takes up to 2 months for all your organs to return to their normal spots and your women parts to shrink back to their old size. (I like the pic above because it shows how your organs change.) I think I blocked out this part with Aiden. I was calling myself Humpty Dumpty in the hospital, as I felt like my stomach was long, big, and awkward just like the sketches you see of Humpty Dumpty In addition, I made the stupid mistake of weighing myself yesterday. There was a little part in my mind that hoped I would step on that scale and have only 10 pounds to lose, though I am not one of those lucky women. I gain the weight with my pregnancies (50 pounds with both) and will have to lose the weight again like I did with my first. I honestly should have waited to weigh myself until I was a full 2 months postpartum, because the damage on the scale might not have been so bad :)

Well, that is my postpartum life--the good, the bad, and the ugly. Although there are two negative categories (bad and ugly) I don't want to detract on how much I am so happy to have this new little girl in my life. I love being a mother and the good, bad, and the ugly all come with this task. I would take all the negative (and more) for all the positives that come from my children any day!

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Make Ahead Meals: Wild Rice and Sausage Casserole

2012-10-01T11:07:00.005-07:00

I am starting a series of blogs for Make Ahead Meals that I am preparing before Baby 2.0 arrives. Every night when I make dinner, I am doubling the recipe and putting the second in the freezer. I am hoping that the prepared meals will help on those totally exhausted days when cooking sounds like no fun. I am hoping many of the meals I will be preparing will be somewhat healthy and low calorie, but I know there will be some meals mixed in that aren't. To prepare for the freezer meals, I purchased some slow cooker liners (for the crockpot meals), gallon freezer bags (for the freezer skillet meals), and Aluminum Foil Steam Table Pans with matching lids (for the freezer casseroles).

I made this recipe a while back and it is now one of my husband's favorite casseroles and he requests it all the time.

2 packages (6.3 oz each) rice pilaf

2 cups of wild rice mixture, cooked

1 lb bulk pork sausage

12 celery ribs, chopped

8 medium carrots, sliced

2 cans (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

2 cans (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

4 tsp onion powder

2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp pepper

4 cups of chinese chow mein noodles

2 packages (2.5 oz.) of sliced almonds

Prepare rice pilaf according to package directions.

I like this brand of rice pilaf, but I only use 1 seasoning packet as I find with two it gets too salty.

In large skillet, cook the sausage, celery, and carrots over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. The veggies might be a bit crisp, but will cook down in the oven.

In a large bowl, combine the soups, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper.

Add mixture to the skillet full of carrot, celery, and sausage.

Add in the rice pilaf mixture and stir.

Add in cooked wild rice and 1 package of almonds.

Stir.

Grease two baking dishes. I made the meal that night, so used the smaller one for dinner and the larger one is for the deep freezer.

Transfer the casserole over to the two dishes.

Sprinkler top with remaining package of sliced almonds.

And top with chow mein noodles.

Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. I use tin foil on the top and then cover with the lid that matches the pan to prevent freezer burn. Label the freezer one to thaw, bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until warm.

For dinner that night, bake the remaining casserole at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Enjoy!!

Meals to date:

1 x White Baked Penne Pasta

1 x Curried Pork Loin

1 x Honey Orange Pork Loin

1 x BBQ Pulling Pork Loin

2 x Spaghetti and Meatballs (really just frozen meatball)

1 x Sweet & Tangy Meatballs

1 x Quesadilla Casserole

1 x Cranberry Chicken

1 x Apricot BBQ Chicken

1 x Sticky Chicky

1 x Wild Rice and Sausage Casserole

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Baby 2.0: Please Welcome Remy

2012-09-25T13:12:00.001-07:00

After 39 weeks of anticipation, I am excited to finally introduce to you:

Remy Leola

She was born a few days ago and weighted a whopping 6 pounds 8 ounces. She has the blackest, thickest hair I have ever seen on a baby.

Her older brother is somewhat fascinated by her. (Here he is counting her toes.)

For the most part he still doesn't quite understand what to do with her, but he is adjusting fine.

I have to say, having a kid the second time around appears to be so much easier then the first time. (Read the blog, Please Welcome Aiden.) I so far have seemed to handle the lack of sleep better and nursing doesn't appear to be quite as challenging as the first time. I luckily have the help of my in-laws who are staying with me for two weeks, so the adjustment has been made so much easier by them!

With that said, the normal duties of cooking, cleaning, and blogging will again be put on the back burner until I have adjusted to being mother of two. I look forward to the next few weeks of quiet times holding her and not so quiet times while playing with her older brother.

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