Halloween-y

Things in our home just got a little more spooky! I love October!

Have you decorated? I would love to see your photos!

Link up in the comments if you like.

Have a great day!

Layouts from the October CA Kit!

(click each layout for more detail)

I made these layout using the Crop Addict October 2009 Monthly Kit!

I got out all my Halloween stuff today! Photos of it tomorrow!

High Spirits

Give this kid some balloons and he's happy the rest of the afternoon.

I love his smile.

Tonight, tonight

Today was long and full. Most of all it was good.

I got up early, scrapped a couple of layouts and later in the afternoon I took Jackson to 2 different birthday parties. I took a tons of fabulous photos, ate one too many pieces of cake, and we had an amazing time.


When I got out of the car when we arrived home tonight, this was waiting there to greet me.


The perfect end to a perfect day.

Crop Addict October Kit Sneek Peak

Crop Addict October 2009 Monthly Kit


Crop Addict October 2009 Monthly Kit Option

If you are like me and just now scrapping your Spring/Easter
photos then this kit is just perfect! The layouts I made with it are awesome.
Check back in a couple days to see what I've been creating.

Have a fabulous scrappy day!

P.S. We are having a HUGE fun crop over at Crop Addict October 2-4! You should totally join in! We will have loads of challenges, games, and of course PRIZES!

Everyday Cute

He is really into pointing and showing me things right now. :-)

I love that sweet outfit he's wearing too.

Have a great day!

First Look

So apparently I'm totally uncool and out the loop in the scrapbooking world because I didn't know about 52 Sketches, 52 Weeks.

But now I do, and so I joined in this week with my rendering of sketch #38.

I'm glad I did this too, because those Ultrasound photos had just been sitting in an envelope in my photo box for sometime now.

The scrappy bug has bitten me hard this week, and I've been working on various projects.

Be looking for some great new Etsy items towards the end of the week!

Have a great day!

Mums

Some of my freshly bloomed mums!

I've probably said this before, but I just love photo editing in Picnik!

That's it for today because I need vacuum, mop, and dust.

Hope you have a great afternoon!

What OAM Cooking is like...

So as you know, I attempted once a month cooking for the first time this weekend. These are a few shots I took during the process.

That's alot of stuff!

Yummy Veggies.

Roast.

So, my take on Once A Month cooking after the fact is this. It was exhausting, but totally worth it! I calculated out our cost of eating for the month and it came down to $30 per week for the whole family! Wow!

Now that is something I could get used to!

Also, I'm already totally loving the convenience of being able to take out just the right servings of breakfast or lunch and popping them in the microwave. Fast and easy stuff always wins with me. :-)

Dinner is simple too, because I can just throw the frozen casseroles in the oven for an hour and they're ready. Very nice indeed.

Things I realized while doing this:

We need a deep freeze (but it's ok, because I found a great price on one that's the perfect size for our home).

I'm a really good cook. Everything I made turned out beautifully, which made me want to cook more often.

Chopping vegetables is monotonous, but worth it. I'll admit we didn't eat near enough veggies in my cooking prior to this, but the OAM meals I made include tons of veggies that taste great...so I'm very pleased at that.

Overall it was a great experience. I made the mistake of trying to do three loads on laundry on the evening I had finished cooking everything, and so the next day I was so exhausted I didn't wake up until 10:30 am (which never happens anymore).

So yeah, I will so totally be doing this again. I feel accomplished and am so looking forward to the extra time I'm going to have from not cooking. :-)

Thanks Once a Month Mom!

Because of You I'm Complete (plus a cool contest)

I made this layout using paper and embellishments from the "Nightingale" Kit from Noel Mignon.

The flowers, fancy paper clip, brown metallic trim, bird rub-ons, and brown stickles were some of my favorite embellishments from the kit!

Right now she is having a HUGE contest on her challenge blog where if you make a layout using 5 or more embellishments from one of her kits, you will be entered into a random drawing to win a copy of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2!

I know!

So this is my entry! Wish me luck!

In preparation

For the next 2 days I will be prepping for my first Once a Month Cooking Session.

Yes, I realize it is the middle of the month, but I actually planned it that way based on the times when Dave gets paid. Anywho...

So, have you seen Once A Month Mom's Site?

To put it lightly. It's a.maz.ing.

Recipes, shopping lists, and instructions are
all there, just waiting for you to print them!

My favorite thing about it? It's all FREE!

She seriously is one super generous woman, because I know of people who charge large monthly fees for (less than stellar) similar services.

So, I've taken it upon myself to try OAM cooking for the first time, using her August 09 menus and instructions.

I'm a little nervous about this, but totally excited at the prospect of feeding our family for 30 days for less than $100!

Things I have already done in the process:

Printed out shopping list, directions, and recipes.

Acquired babysitter for cooking day (Sun.).

Enlisted the help of a partner (my hubs, we'll see how that works out ;-).

Things I'll be doing today:

Coupons and shopping for items on the list

Cleaning out the fridge and freezer.

Sunday is Cooking and Freezing Day!
Wish me luck!

If you have any tips or ideas to share, please do!
I'm new to this whole thing and would greatly appreciate your advice.

WW- Scarecrowman

At times Dave and I like to add our own little flair to words, like instead of saying "UPS Man", we will run it all together and say "UPS'man" (emphasis on the "sman" part :-). This is a fun, silly thing that we have done since we started dating.

We're weird. I know.

Moving on.

So, this is our "scarecrowman".

Just another little celebration of Fall around here.

For more Wordful Wednesday goodness, head over to 7 Clown Circus.

Thanks to Angie for hosting!

Halloween Cards

I made these the other night and just wanted to share.

I'm so excited that October is almost here!

Menu Plan Monday 9/14/09

Today I'm battling a terrible cold, but I wanted to do this really quickly so that hopefully it's one less thing I can worry about this week.

Monday: Breakfast for Dinner- Simple Crepes (recipe below) and fresh fruit

Tuesday: Crockpot Beef Stew and homemade rolls

Wednesday: Spaghetti Bolognese with salad

Thursday: Empanadas and Spanish Rice (one of my most popular recipes)

Friday: Pizza Night

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Simple Crepes Recipe

You will need:

2 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk
a pinch of salt
1 cup flour
3 tablespoons butter (softened)


1. In a mixing bowl whisk together the milk, water, and eggs.
Then slowly add the flour and salt. Whisk together until smooth.

2. Warm your skillet to Medium/High heat.
Pour the crepe mixture into the skillet making
sure to have it coat the entire bottom of the pan evenly.

3. Cook each crepe for two minutes or so then flip with a spatula to cook the other side.

Makes 4 large crepes, or 6 medium crepes.

Best when served warm with butter, homemade whipped cream, or fresh fruit compote.

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Awhile back several of you requested that I share more recipes,
so starting today I'm going to try and do that.

Now that it isn't blazing hot here anymore,
I'm more willing to get in the kitchen and try out new things!

Have a great week!

Text-a-thon for a Cause with Kelly Ripa! Win a brand new Electrolux Washer and Dryer!

Did you know that September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month?

Electrolux and Kelly Ripa are committed to raising money and awareness to support this worthy cause. Together, they are launching an exciting campaign that utilizes a form of communication that many of us use every day - texting! During September, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Electrolux and Kelly are holding a "Text-a-Thon for a Cause" to help raise support for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund whose mission is to fund research to find a method of early detection and ultimately a cure for ovarian cancer.

Throughout September, you can donate $5 to the cause by texting "KELLY" to 85944 from your mobile phones (standard text messaging rates apply) - or logging on to
www.kelly-confidential.com. Also, every time you log on to the Web site, you'll be entered for a chance to win an amazing contribution to your home - a luxury front load washer and dryer from Electrolux in Turquoise Sky, the color inspired by the teal ribbon of ovarian cancer awareness.

Also during September, visitors to Kelly Confidential can help spread awareness for this important cause by sending a virtual T-shirt to a friend. For every virtual t-shirt sent, Electrolux will donate $1 to the OCRF. Fashion-forward Moms can also purchase a limited edition T-shirt designed by Ripa; 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts will go to OCRF.

Here you can watch Kelly's Public Service Announcement where she discusses spreading the word about Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

P.S. I have no affiliation with Electrolux or Kelly Ripa.
I did this post as an entry for a contest to win an Electrolux Washer and Dryer pair for myself.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I love you and I hope you have an awesome birthday!

XoXoXoX

Overhaul

There is something about the change of seasons that sends me into overdrive.

I'm an emotional mess.

One day I'm higher than a kite and the next I don't even want to get out of bed or comb my hair.

I make it through though, moment by moment.
I'm trying and there's a lot to be said for that.

Things will turn out ok if I just keep trying.
It's good to have a mantra I think.

Today I will try to really scrub the kitchen down, because the apple sauce splatters always come back mysteriously.

The house smells great thanks to Ember scented candles from Pier One*. The votives are cheap and make the whole house smell dreamy.
That's enough to make me want to do a little more each day.

I need to overhaul; clean out the ugly.

In my house and in my mind.

*I do not have any affiliation with Pier One.
I buy their candles all the time and just wanted to share how much I love the Ember scent.

WW- Fall means Renaissance Festival!

As if this blog wasn't proof enough that I am a nerd, here's some huge proof. :-)

I LOVE The Texas Renaissance Festival! I've gone as long as I can remember. It's just a part of who I am.

And yes, until I had J, I even dressed the part.

Here are some photos of past years at TRF. Today I'm looking through these and am getting totally excited to go again in just a few weeks!

These 2 photos are from 2005.

That seems like forever ago.

This photo is from 2004. My mom hand sewed that amazing dress.
It was a **cough**size 6**cough**

This photo is from Jackson's 2nd Ren Fest, which was last year.

We took him the year before also, when he was only 2 months old...but I do not have digital copies of those photos anymore because I had a much older lappy then, and no external hard drive.

Let's just say I've learned my lesson since then.

Have a Wordy Wednesday post of your own?

Head over to 7 Clown Circus and share it!
Thanks to Angie for hosting Wordy Wednesday!

It's funny how the night can make you blind

When I first heard this song, I was still fairly depressed and so I felt like Rob Thomas had written it and was singing it just for me (and really, who wouldn't want that? ;-)

But then I found out that he wrote it about his wife, who struggles from the painful disease Lupus. She actually even sings along with him on the song.

Knowing that made the song mean even more to me.

That's the kind of love we all deserve to have.

Anyway, I've been rocking this song over and over on my iPod lately, and just wanted to share it with you.

Live the life you love

The other day I saw a car with a bumper sticker that said just that.

Live the life you love.

I smiled immediately, because I love it when it seems like their sticker is speaking only to me, even if it's just for the few seconds we're at the red light.

But then I got to thinking.... am I following that rule? Do I love the way things are?

For the most part yes. I LOVE my family and even more than that I LOVE being able to care for them.

But as far as knowing what I want to do with the rest of my life...on that front, well....I'm a little clueless.

Ok, really I'm not clueless at all...but I say that a lot because I know what I want and need for myself and my family.....but that seems to be the exact opposite from what other people think I should be doing.

And so now I know you're thinking "Well then, Haley...just do what you want. Don't listen to those other people!"

And I want to, I really do....but I'm a people pleaser by nature, and so I have these awful feelings of guilt which really bring me down.

That explains why I feel small.

To add insult to injury, I'm frustrated because it was so easy to get pregnant with Jackson and now it is seeming not as simple with baby #2.

I was downright certain that this was our month...but it wasn't.

Patience isn't one of my virtues, I'll say that right here and now.

I'm trying to be strong and proud of who I am...even if no one else is. I'm trying to hold our little life together and grow within it.

But it can be exhausting and sometimes I just want to hide in a corner.

Really, I just want people to like me for who I am.

I'm going to Live the Life I Love....and I hope everyone can love me for that, no strings attached.

Small

is how I'm feeling right now.

I'll return when I'm feeling more mighty, perhaps then I'll have the strength to offer feelings...or an explanation.

For now I'll remain small.

Daddy Pak Review and Giveaway- It's not just for Daddies!

********This Giveaway is now closed********

And the Winner is...

Xenia!

Congrats! I'll be contacting you shortly!

*********************************************************

Ever had one of those moments where your toddler is clinging to your leg with a snotty nose and you have your infant in your arms that just spit up....suddenly you are digging through the diaper bag with your one free hand to hunt down the wipes and clean everything up.

Sound familiar?

Well the people at Daddy Pak address this problem and others related to standard diaper bags with the DB-101, the very first Daddy Pak model.

In addition to coming up with something Daddy wouldn't be embarrassed to use in public, the Daddy Pak offers all it's users hands free convenience.


*Daddy Pak model DB-101 is designed after a popular fanny-pack style sport bag that offers a hands free way to carry around the much needed baby items for today’s on the go lifestyle. Currently you can get it in a black nylon/canvas material or a brown faux suede. It has a large opening for the main compartment, with interior pockets and straps to keep everything organized and 2 large bottle holders to accommodate the different size bottles. It also sports a lumbar support, carry handle, a 1.5 inch wide belt strap, and a heavy duty buckle for a secure fit. This design type is not offered yet in the dad gear marketplace and The Daddy Pak has received a 99% approval rating in market research.


Daddy Pak is also developing 4 more styles that are coming soon.


Daddy Pak is great for anyone who does not want to carry a large bulky diaper bag around with them. I especially like this concept when thinking about trips to theme parks, the zoo, or museums. Since you are wearing the pak, you don't have to leave anything in the stroller unattended...the pak even has a zippered pouch on the front to hold car keys, cash and your debit card.

DaddyPak might not be a good fit for you if you prefer to have a larger diaper bag, don't like wearing things around your waist, or need large amounts of formula or baby food on hand.

Thank You to Daddy Pak for sending me one of your Paks to test.

Want to win a Daddy Pak for yourself?

Just leave a comment on this post by Midnight CST Sept. 11th. One winner will be chosen randomly using random.org and announced shortly there after. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen.
Open to the U.S. and Canada.

Good Luck!

*Taken from Daddy Pak's Website.

**Daddy Pak provided. I was not paid to write this review.