Month: December 2010

Yesterday we went to our 12 week appointment for the baby.  Brian went with me to this one.  It was our first appointment with the nurse practitioner and seemed important enough for him to go.  She talked a bit about the different testing and screenings available.  She did an exam and then we listened to the heartbeat.  It came in at 170 beats per minute.  I had found it at home with the doppler a few days before so it wasn’t such a big deal.  It was really nice to have the confirmation that all is well and on track.  I go back again at 16 weeks and then we have our first ultrasound at 19 weeks.  It can’t come soon enough! After our appointment we met our potential doula for dinner.  I say potential because we haven’t signed a contract with her yet.  She came highly recommended from a friend (thanks Melinda!).  We both really liked her.  She is a wealth of information and very easy to talk too.  We’re going to decide this weekend for sure but I hope we get to work with her! That’s about it for now.  I’m mulling over my goals for the New

This was saved in my drafts so I’m posting it to get it out of there. Here’s a bit more information to help you if you’re contemplating a similar project: The floor tiles are reversible foam tiles like these ones.  I think they are the same brand.  I got mine at Menard’s.  They are supposedly made of recycled materials.  The reverse side is primary colors.  They are comfortable to walk on and scrub and sweep clean easily.  I cut them with a utility knife.  Pay attention to how many come in a package so you aren’t surprised later (like me).  I needed more than I thought.  Luckily they were on sale when we decided to buy more.  I don’t remember what I paid total but I think it was around $100 with some on sale and some not. I used a roller for extra rough surfaces to paint the block.  It covered fairly well.  I trimmed out and touched up with a 4″ synthetic bristle brush.  I used the same bristle brush to do the ceiling.  It wasn’t worth it to me to even try to roll some of the ceiling with all the corners and whatnot. I did a

These little bags make great reusable hand warmers to tuck in winter coat pockets.  A few seconds in the microwave and they’ll toast right up.  Any type of little fabric bag will work but I couldn’t find a good tutorial explaining how to make them look nicer.  I’ve done all thinking for you, just follow the steps. Supplies: A cute fabric of your choice, I used 100% cotton (Avoid synthetics that may melt or ignite in the microwave!) Regular rice (not quick cooking) or preferred filling Thread that matches Scissors A small funnel A ruler Marking crayon/pencil OR a cutting mat and rotary cutter There you have it – mini rice bag in 7 easy steps.  If you have any questions or catch any mistakes please let me know.  These make great little gifts.  I used the paw print fabric for the girls I work with at the vet clinic.  You could use a cute snowflake or holiday print.  The darker the color the better if most pockets have bits of who-knows-what in them like mine. Did you give any homemade gifts this year?

This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday. I have to jump back in to this!  I haven’t cooked much in ages because I didn’t feel good and then we’ve had a ton of leftovers.  My poor husband! M – Herbed Chicken & Brown Rice* T – Hamburger* with Cream of Mushroom Soup on toast (not for me!) W – Salmon Patties & Whole Grain Noodles R – out for dinner to meet with a potential doula F – Spaghetti & Garlic Toast S – Sirloin Steak* & Red Potatoes S – Leftovers * = from the freezer What’s on your table this week?

Remember awhile back when I posted this post claiming I would post every day for November?  And then, not long after that, I’m sure you remember how my resolve fizzled and this blog once again became neglected and quiet.  Well, my friends, I was not just slacking in my typical way.  I had a really GREAT excuse!! Literally minutes after hitting “publish” on that post my life changed in a big way… My mind and my time during the month of November were quickly overcome with appointments, lab work, and thoughts of a baby to be.  We had been trying to conceive for only 2 months and I was paranoid that it was going to take us a long time.  I was pleasantly surprised that it happened so soon!  We were well in to December before I started to think much about anything else again.  By then, I was having a short period of nausea and generally feeling lousy.  Thank God that passed quickly and since I’ve felt pretty good!  We’re coming up on the 12 week mark this Thursday and so far all is going well.  I’ll be bopping in and out of here but this time – no

Christmas may be over but the folks in my village are continuing business as usual… Do you have a Christmas village?  How long will it stay up for?

One of the main reasons I wanted a better camera was so I could have pictures to go with my recipes.  This is my standby dish when we’re having company.  It is always turns out great and gets rave reviews. Ingredients: 8 oz. cooked pasta 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes (or 1 quart of home canned sauce of choice) 8 oz. browned burger or meat sauce (optional) 3 cups shredded mozzarella 1/2 to 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese 4 oz. can mushrooms (or use fresh, sliced) onion powder garlic powder Italian seasoning salt pepper Grease bottom on a 13 x 9 pan.  I use the end of a stick of butter and prefer a Pyrex dish for the best presentation.  Spread half of the pasta evenly in the bottom.  If using meat or meat sauce, combine it with the tomatoes.  Pour half the sauce over the pasta, even out with the back of a spoon.  Lay out half of the mushrooms on top of the sauce.  Combine the cheeses, sprinkle half of the cheese mixture over the sauce.  Season generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.  Sprinkle heavily with onion powder.  You may want to use fresh

  I got it!! Yay!!! Thank you SO much Julie, Rebecca, and everyone else who helped me pick out a new camera.  After reviewing everything I learned from you and reading lots of reviews I decided to go with Wal-Mart’s Black Friday special:  the Canon EOS Rebel XS with the EF-S 18-55mm lens.  This year was the first in the last several that I actually didn’t go out shopping on Black Friday.  Wal-Mart let me buy the special online on Thursday night, with free shipping.  The price wasn’t that low except it included a nice camera bag, memory card, and tutorial DVD. It came in the mail yesterday.  I tried it out for the first time this morning.  I used the full auto mode and touched these up a little bit in Picasa.  Here’s a sample of what I got… The first shot was of Maci.  Predictable, I know. You can see the hairs on this soybean! This one is my favorite… on the hood of my truck. The barnyard in the morning. I’m more than happy with these first shots, especially considering I’m such a beginner.  I think this camera is going to make it a lot easier to