nAp TiMe Is ThE nEw HaPpY hOur.

Landen's handwriting

2012-02-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

Husband and I have been trying to encourage Landen to practice his writing, recognize letters of the alphabet in words, and we read to him whenever possible. We try to continue what his teachers at school work with him on in order to best prepare him for his transition to "real" school.

As you can imagine, this has been challenging because he's so high energy. Over the weekend, I tried to get him to sit with me while I wrote out bills so he could practice writing in his notebook - he thought it was better to run laps in the apartment instead. Most days, I'm lucky to get him to write the letter L.

Still, recent testing showed he is on track, which I have had to remind myself when I feel discouraged. Landen is a very bright kid, yet I get nervous when I can't get him to write much at home.

I was so proud and excited when he came home with this:
And I could read what he wrote! Oh, buddy - you make me so proud!

Pinterest-inspired outfit #1

2012-02-13T10:25:00.003-06:00

As I've mentioned previously, I'm in the midst of a self-imposed spending freeze because of our goal to purchase and move into a house SOON.

This especially means, no shopping for me - at least, not retail. Instead, I've been "shopping" my closet and relying on Pinterest to help me coordinate some outfits.

This weekend, I organized my wardrobe. As you can see, I need to find my 2nd set of shower curtain hooks to better organize my collection of scarves. My clothes are versatile enough, and thankfully, I haven't experienced much difficulty with my new goal.

I had to pull out a few pieces due to stains and their size - items I'll need to replace because they're timeless and always in style, like a crisp white button down.

Here is my first Pinterest-inspired outfit:

Black slip-on shoes: Marshal's

Jeans - GAP

Ruffled sweater - White House Black Market

Teal shirt - Banana Republic

Scarf - Made by my classy MIL

Pearl studs - Target

P.S. I will welcome anything you originally intended to donate in the event you clean out your closet/jewelry box/accessory drawer - I will likely be able to extend its life and it will give me something "new" to incorporate in my wardrobe.

PPSS - I enjoy organizing more than I likely should, and could qualify it as a "sickness."

An update on the kids.

2012-02-12T08:00:00.003-06:00

Madelyn, our February birthday girl, is Baby of the Month at school! Her teachers finished with her collage, and I snapped a photo for sentimental reasons. We sent in a collection of 5 photos, plus filled out a small questionaire - it asked for her parents' names, her brother's name, what her favorite foods are (everything), how much she weighed at birth (quite the conversation starter) and how much she weighs now.

Meanwhile, in the Land of 4K, Landen's teacher told us she's had to introduce calestenics during group time because he's so high energy. Jumping Jacks while learning days of the week? You can thank our child for that! I really hope his kindergarten believes in unconventional teaching methods, which Landen seems to respond best to - and if she doesn't, she will. We had a good laugh about that admission.

I need an upgrade.

2012-02-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

I feel like such a tool and so unprofessional when I pull out this cheap, plastic "case" to retrieve a business card to give to a client:

I never thought I'd say this, considering I swore off Coach after I purchased my wallet last summer, but I am really liking their card case styles, two of which are less than $50.

Life is full of irony.

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

Why is it, now that we're trying to save, there are so many beautiful things I want to buy right now? Why do retailers tempt me so?!

What is it about buying a new house that makes me also want to buy new furniture?

And why, considering we own 3 vehicles, is gas going up to $4/gallon this summer?! I already told Husband that one of his precious automobiles will be parked and insurance removed because we will not be able to keep up with maintenance and gas on 3 cars. I think he's just happy I'm not forcing him to sell.

Oh life, you are filled with irony.

I'm trying so very hard NOT to spend any money on anything I don't deem to be a necessity - bills, gas, groceries and medical expenses are necessary. If it doesn't fit into one of those categories, it goes on a "wish list" for another time.

I've been trying to shop my closet and use what I already have. However - if you're cleaning out your closet, jewelry box or accessory drawer; THINK OF ME. I will likely be able to extend its life!

We need to get our taxes done ASAP, but we're STILL waiting on tax documents.

We also need to make regular withdrawls from our dependant flex account for daycare - this will help with that expense! We tend to forget about it though.

Husband and I have committed ourselves to working our tails off, and we're going to try to live off our base income only for the next few months until we close. This poses a huge challenge, but we hope to pad the old savings account as much as possible ... hence why we're on a "necessities only" spending freeze. Any extra earnings will be transferred into the savings account and once it goes in, it doesn't come out.

To say this sucks is an understatement. But the reward will be pretty damn sweet in the end.

My cooking journey.

2012-02-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

When Husband and I met, I didn't know how to boil water.

Seriously!

I didn't know how to read a recipe and my "timer" was the smoke alarm. Oh my poor husband - if he wanted good, unburnt food he had to make it himself!

How ironic that we are now gluten free, because it is a challenge. Aside from Madelyn, who is much too young for this restriction, I am the only member of our family that can tolerate meals "full of gluten."

I enjoy scouring Pinterest for recipes, and while I wouldn't consider myself the next Top Chef by any means, I can make a mean dinner. Quite a few dishes have been inhaled by my quality-focused husband and super-finnicky son. I've had my share of failures, but it still makes me laugh at the progress I've made.

I will admit though, I am terrified of baking. Gluten-free baking is a territory I have yet to fully explore, although I seem to have mastered GF chocolate cake.

Aviation

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

I realized aviation has played a bigger role in my life than I previously admitted.

My childhood home and elementary school was located a block from the 440th Refueling Wing and General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. We were often woken up in the middle of the night because the military was running drills. Lessons during school were paused while aircraft took off. The whole house would shake! And my siblings and I were desensitized in a way - cousins would get excited when they saw an airplane flying overhead. To us, it was just another airplane.

My mother has remarked that she felt bad because we wouldn't get excited about the sight of planes in the sky. And honestly, I tune them out. Even in MN, planes on descent to MSP fly overheard and I hear nothing.

There were many a summer's night spent at the airport's outdoor observation area watching airplanes, and I often marveled at the fact that all of this was possible because a pair of brothers dared to dream.

My mother used to work at the Midwest Express corporate HQ. I'm still sad that Midwest no longer exists.

And now, I am married to an airline pilot.

I have zero ambition to fly an airplane, which I wonder if this admission has disappointed my Husband a bit. He could easily teach me, since he has an instructor's license, but I have no interest. I am much happier seated with the herd. Get me to my destination as fast as possible, please.

It is funny how life turns out. Something I once thought was insignificant plays a major role in the life I lead now.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Cougars

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

I had a dream the other night that a cougar - as in the older woman who dates younger men definition - stalked the courtyard of our rental. Then, as the kids and I walked to the garage before school, the cougar morphed into feline form grabbed Landen and I never saw him again.

It was awful. I woke up sobbing and shaking. I checked on him in bed because the stupid dream was so real I could hear his screams echoing in my head. Of course he was fine, sleeping soundly and completely unaware his neurotic mother was even hovering over his bed. And of course, I never fell back asleep.

I absolutely hate it when I have dreams that play on my biggest fear as a parent.

This one time, at the doctor's ...

2012-02-06T15:13:00.002-06:00

I hate going to the doctor's office. It's awkward, but it's a necessary evil so I suck it up and go. Plus, now that we have children, it is my goal to live forever (as long as possible) because I have people to meet, places to visit and milestones to witness. I want to meet my great-grandchildren, dammit.

Today was D-Day ... doctor appointment day. I appreciate my new doc because she is straight to the point and doesn't bullshit me. When it comes to my health, I want someone to tell it like it is so I can fix whatever problem I am dealing with. Don't sugar coat it!

She's about halfway through the exam, when she breaks the silence with a "is there anything you'd like to tell me?"

"Ummm ... no?"

And of course, I start racking my brain. I feel like I'm 10 again, and I just got caught with my hand in the cookie jar. What the hell does she want?

"This is a safe place," she says.

And then it hit me - the bite marks! She sees the bite marks on my leg! I am embarrassed as I tell her the story. You see, my daughter is on a total Mommy kick right now. And yesterday, Husband and I were getting documents ready to do our taxes. This meant, Mommy was ignoring Maddie, and she was having none of it. So she took out her frustrations by biting my leg.

Seriously, I cannot make this stuff up. And I had a heck of a time convincing my doctor that no, my husband doesn't abuse me. It's merely my 1-year-old voicing her opinion to me.

Shopping my closet.

2012-02-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

I've decided to do some spring cleaning. Yes, I get it's still February and since in we're living in MN I can expect another 2 months of winter, but still ... SPRING.CLEANING.

I started with my closet. I don't have many clothes to begin with because 1) I need a personal shopper BADLY and 2) I keep it simple so my pieces are very versatile and 3) My stylish SIL is going to put up with me shopping her accessory drawer BAHAHAHA. I fully believe in and subscribe to the mix-and-match, 4-pieces-makes-6-outfits MacGyver philosophy of wardrobes. So I keep it safe, keep it simple and keep it timeless with pieces I HOPE stay in style forever.

Holy hell, I had no idea I was hanging on to clothes from my fat days in high school (yes, when I was in high school, I was about 50 pounds heavier than I am now). I was hanging on to stuff from college that was 2 sizes too big because I lost the weight slowly. And why?! I've maintained my current weight for quite some time now, and already purchased pieces in my new size. These "too big" pieces were taking up valuable closet space.

A happy accident during this process allowed me to discover a few pieces I had purchased long ago that I had forgotten about - like a Vera Wang cardi I picked up at Kohls off the clearance rack (a $70 Vera Wang for $8 - yes please!). I found a giant Mary Poppins-style bag I bought at Target when I started working full time two years ago, perfect now because I carry so much with me. Gone are the days where I can carry a tiny handbag.

So here's where I stand:
I have an obnoxious collection of solid color tees (short and long sleeve) from Old Navy and Target;
I have a limited supply of sweaters, which I'll have to build considering I'm a resident of the frozen tundra;
I have 3 dresses;
I have 1 black pantsuit but the pants may need to be altered;
I have 3 button down shirts;
I have 2 pairs of dress pants and 1 pair of khakis;
I need to build my dressy wardrobe - pretty blouses, dresses, and other pieces for going out (rare but it does happen).
I need a new jean jacket - preferrably one that is tailored and fitted. Canadian tuxedo or not, it's an American Classic and I'm obsessed.
I need to add to my accessory collection. Because my wardrobe is so plain, I'd love to punch it up with the accessories.
I will never turn down a good pair of jeans.

Unfortunately, while going through the home-buying process (eek!) I've instituted an extreme spending freeze. So please, if you're doing some spring cleaning of your own, think of me before taking your stuff to Goodwill!

Madelyn's First Fingerpainting

2012-02-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

Don't you just love that her first piece of art is a purple car?! It's so her!

My favorite is the tiny handprint above the rear wheel.

Daddy Daycare

2012-02-03T08:00:00.001-06:00

Husband watches our spawn a couple of days a week, which means updates from him typically include a photo. Below are 3 from Tuesday 1/31 -

Rawr. Madelyn got some face time with one of Landen's toys.

But soon had enough and decided it was nap time.

And this is how the kiddos watched their morning cartoons!

Then, at some point during the day, Landen deemed clothes were optional.

Never a dull moment at Daddy Daycare!

Just breathe.

2012-02-02T09:21:00.002-06:00

I want to update y'all on our house-hunting so badly, but it changes by the minute. It seems by the time I finish a post, something happens that makes it obsolete.

To say we're actively looking would be a gross understatement. I think every second of spare time has been devoted to showings and we are in touch with our realtor daily. Sometimes multiple times a day. I talk to her more than my mother (sorry Mom)! There are nights I don't get home until 9/10 p.m. because I meet Husband and Realtor at the property. It's insane.

Though our budget offers plenty of possibilities, its also highly competitive. Sure, we could probably get into a really nice townhome, and I was considering that given the fact that they're low maintenance - seriously, with Husband's erratic schedule, I'm not a fan of doing yard work or blowing snow with young children left unsupervised. It's not that I have a problem doing the work, I have a problem leaving them alone.

We have friends that purchased a townhouse when they were first married and before their adorable babies came. It's adorable - they did a really nice job on it. But the spiral staircase, tiny kitchen and awkward layout just doesn't cut it for their family of 4. Plus they are upside down on the mortgage. They're looking to get out this spring, even though they'll lose $$ on it. Townhomes are wonderful for young professionals or married people; but I don't think they're right for growing families.

We are focusing on single family homes in the southwest metro, specifically Prior Lake, Savage, Lakeville, Eagan and possibly as far as Farmington. There are very few traditional sellers, and the majority of the market is comprised of foreclosures and short sales. People trash these properties. It's pretty unfortunate. Homes with good bones and lots of potential are basically in ruin because people take out their frustration on the property. I get that in some cases, bad things happen to good people. But come on! After some showings, I feel like I need to bathe in bleach and sanitizer.

We found a single family house in Lakeville that is a traditional seller. The location of this property is perfect - easy commute for me. The daycare is on the way to my office, and the rates are cheaper. The school district is good, and I'd be proud to send my kids there. The in-laws went with me to view the property a couple weeks ago, and Husband just saw it a few days back. The potential is there. The yard offers the space Husband craves. The 1960s smack you in the face upon entry and it definitely needs to be updated to this decade, but it is solid. I cannot stop thinking about this house - I have ideas! And I get excited each time it pops up in my train of thought.

Husband, always the practical one, is taking things slow. He continues to schedule showings of other properties, continues to crunch numbers, and has cut a favorable arrangement with our property manager given our situation. He wants to see what our tax return is before putting down an offer - any offer, lowball or not. I am trusting his judgement, but will admit I will be very disappointed if we miss out on the opportunity the "Siberia" home represents.

The bottom line is, I am ready. I am ready to throw down some roots and buy my children a home to grow up in. I am ready to make this commitment and take this step. Be still my heart - for I realize this is a decision that must be made with logic.

Sea Life at MOA

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

Family was in town this past weekend, and the kids were treated to an afternoon at the aquarium. It's at the Mall of America, and it was our first visit. I was impressed! It's not huge by any means, but the exhibits were cool - including a tunnel aquarium with fish and sharks swimming over our head!

I knew Landen would love it; he's always taken to aquariums quite nicely. And he was very excited to see the fish. There were a couple times he asked, "Mom is this glass?!" because the creature spooked him a little and wanted to be sure he wouldn't get bit. He was also hesitant to venture into the tunnel aquarium, but once he saw I went in and touched the tank, his curiosity took over and he was amazed!

It was Madelyn's first time at an aquarium. As you can see, the sting rays were quite interactive with her:
When we ventured into the jellyfish room, she squealed with excitement which SIL/Auntie May May captured on video.

At the end of the tour, there was a display of a giant shark jaw. The montage explains it all:

Such a ham!

Landen cannot wait to show Daddy Sea Life!

Storage bench and cube ottomans

2012-01-31T08:00:00.001-06:00

I have had my eye on a coffee table that multi-tasks for some time now.

My entire family knows how much I love antiques and vintage items. I love to imagine the stories such objects hold and could spend hours browsing the shelves of what some call "junk." A few months back, C asked if I'd like an old steamer trunk, which I regrettably turned down because I was nervous about potential injuries from my wild children.

I told her I wanted something that could double as storage - toy storage - with soft edges. I was presented with this for Christmas this year:

I love it! The bench is pretty deep so it will hide lots of toys that we keep in the living room for the kids, and the top flips over to reveal a hard surface tray. And the cube ottomans have proven useful as well. Madelyn has begun to walk inbetween them, and Landen loves to perch himself on one as he watches his new collection of movies from C and Poppa T.

Husband and I love putting our feet up as well.

I must admit - my thrifting dream come true would be to find an authentic, antique Louis Vuitton trunk. OMG!

White Chicken Chili recipe

2012-01-30T10:20:00.002-06:00

But first, a gripe: why manufacture a white crock pot?

Moving on - this is one of the easiest recipes EVER. Prep time is 5 minutes at most, making this recipe perfect for working Moms or people with jam-packed schedules.

Ingredients:
2 frozen chicken breasts
1 can Rotel tomatoes, undrained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of corn, undrained
1-pkg Hidden Valley Ranch mix
1-8 oz pkg of cream cheese

Optional, if you want to bring the heat -
1 T cumin
1 t chili seasoning

Note: I modified ingredients slightly to make them GF for my husband and son.

Directions:
Place frozen chicken breasts in crockpot. Add corn, Rotel, black beans and Hidden Valley. Spice if desired. Stir to combine. Place cream cheese on top.

Cook on low 6-8 hours, stirring occaissionally to mix in cheese.

I also added a glass of water to keep the chili from drying out.

The chicken will become soft and you will be able to shred it as it cooks.

Our apartment smelled amazing! I served it over white rice, and it was delicious. I didn't include the chili seasoning and added a little cumin, which brought just enough heat without overpowering it. It was too spicy for my son, however - though he gobbled it up, I won't use the cumin next time.

GF Lasagna Roll-ups

2012-01-27T14:38:00.002-06:00

Tried a new recipe recently -

Need:

12 GF Lasagna noodles

1 lb ground turkey
(chicken cubes would be really good too!)
Can of Hunt's diced tomatoes
1-cup mozzarella cheese

2-cups Marinara sauce (Prego is GF)
1.5-cups Alfredo sauce (Bertolli is GF)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*

Boil noodles.

Mix sauces.

Brown meat, add cheese and tomatoes.

Scoop meat mix onto lasagna noodle and roll up. This can be tedious. Lay in 9x13 pan, crease down. Repeat 11 times. Leave approximately an inch border between rolls and edge of pan.

Ladle sauces over rolls, and sprinkle more mozarella cheese on top.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Prepare yourself - my husband and super-picky son devoured helping after helping of this!

WTF

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

Seriously, how the EFF does one slice their thumb open on a laundry basket?!

What sports will they play?

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

Husband and I spend a lot of time daydreaming about what sports our kids will play as they get older.

Will Landen play hockey? This scares me a little because of the violence of the sport. One could argue that all sports come with some risk of injury, but Hockey is famous for its aggressiveness.

Or will he prefer La Crosse?

Or maybe he'll want to play soccer - seriously, the boy child is currently obsessed with soccer. I'm told (by Husband) that those are the 3 most popular sports in MN. Who knows? Maybe he'll prefer football or baseball.

And then there's Miss Maddie. I would love to enroll her in dance classes in a couple years, but let's be honest with ourselves - she will likely be a tomboy. She growls and attacks her dresses unless leggings are involved. She beats the snot out of her baby dolls and prefers trucks to one of her girly toys.

Only time will tell what they get involved with. No matter what they choose, Husband and I will be investing plenty of time in the stands, cheering for our star athletes.

Grocery success!

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

I've made it my mission to get my grocery bill under control.

Food is expensive, and with couponing and sale match-ups, I've been working hard to reduce this expense to offset the cost of daycare and saving for a house. I've also been meal planning, and sticking to a grocery list.

On Friday, I went grocery shopping before picking up the kiddos at school. I purchased enough to make 8 dinners, plus lunches, breakfasts and snacks. Here's my total:

Considering our bill was over $200 when we first moved to MN, I'd say this is a dramatic improvement!

Madelyn's "baby"

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

While trying to get Madelyn to sleep through the night (which is pretty hit or miss), I've worked to get her attached to a Snuggle Friend that would help soothe her in the middle of the night.

It worked. This Giraffe is her baby.

Husband, Landen and I will ask her, "Maddie, where's your baby?" And she'll speed-crawl into her room to find it. She sleeps with it. She clutches it when she wakes up in the morning. It's gotten to the point that I've pinned a couple adorable giraffe pictures on Pinterest to print out and frame when she's in her own room.

Furniture

2012-01-23T11:15:00.002-06:00

Anyone want to buy me:

- a King-size bed (Queen bed to go into guest room if we purchase a 4-bedroom)
- bedroom furniture (Landen will be inheriting our current set)
- a dining set (current one has seen better days, though I do have some ideas for a rehab)
- a sectional
- a large, upholstered ottoman
- 2 end tables
- lamps

**crickets**

Please?!

I am obsessed with this scarf.

2012-01-23T10:54:00.000-06:00

Cannot stop thinking about it ...

It would be awesome to cuddle up in while working in my frigid office!

New friends

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

When we lived in Wisconsin, it was very hard for me to make new friends. It's true! I'd meet amazing people through work and participate in hilarious conversations with them; and then they'd learn I have young children.

Apparently, young children = the plague. Like if I sneeze on you, you'd find yourself pregnant as if it were a contagious disease.

It got to the point where I wondered if it was me.

Well, talk about a complete 180. Since moving to MN, we befriended a family and our children love playing together. I really enjoy hanging out with them because we all (kids included) have a good time.

And one of my co-workers and I are starting to hang out outside of work.

Plus, we spend a lot more time with our college friends P & E and their baby, J.

It's so nice to have a social life again.

Can I be serious for a minute?

2012-01-20T13:38:00.002-06:00

I think my job is turning me into a hypochondriac. Why?

Cancer. I know this is a touchy subject, but hear me out.

A lot of my clients are in the medical field. Of those clients, about 40% are pediatric oncologists.

In my opinion, that has got to be the worst job in the world.

I tear up a little every time I work on stationary for those clients.

No child should have to experience such a terrible thing.

You know how they say God wouldn't give you anything he thought you couldn't handle?

Pretty sure childhood cancer is the work of the devil.

And now, since I spend so much time working on such stationary, I fear everything "off kilter" with my kids is a sign of cancer.

Madelyn, who is dominating the transition to table foods, has been a little constipated as her body adjusts to this. I worry it's cancer.

Landen, my Wild Man, is covered in bruises because he plays rough. I fear those bruises are a symptom of leukemia.

Perhaps I'm being ridiculous. But I would be lying if I didn't admit that I am paying attention.

This pretty much sums it up.

2012-01-19T15:32:00.002-06:00

This face says it all. My "here goes nothing, because I don't have an effing clue about what's going to happen next and we all know how much I hate the unknown" face; which best depicts my reaction for the week.

Yesterday, we received very good news from our mortgage lender and pretty much could have the financial "run of the mill." Yeah right. We insisted on running scenarios on homes less than half our pre-approval. I'd like to keep my home rather than have it foreclosed on next year, thankyouverymuch.

I suppose I have sticker shock. I've never seen so many zeroes in my life. And that's not saying much because it's not like I grew up wealthy or make the big $$ now. So that aspect kind of, sort of, maybe freaks me out a little.

Today, I called a realtor with a rather prominent local agency. Her reputation appeals to me - she tells it like it is, she's one hell of a negotiator and I'm pretty sure she's going to laugh at me when I tell her I want my mortgage to be as teeny as possible with the seller paying ALL of our closing costs.

Good luck with that, right? Well, a girl can dream. And we can't try for it if I don't put it out there.

We meet with her on Tuesday, and meanwhile we are going to send her listings of homes that catch our eye. Pretty sure she'll know who prefers what considering Husband's choices are in the country and on acreage, whereas mine are city-based. (I foresee another giggle on her part.)

That face also sums up my crazy work week. I love printing, paper products and stationary. But I'm to the point now where the sight of an envelope makes me gag. Pure overkill, and my eyeballs ache.

Tomorrow night is wine night with the girls. And I am very much looking forward to it.

We took the first step ...

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

... and met with a mortgage lender.

The kids played with their Aunt while we discussed how many zeroes we could have at our disposal.

I would be lying if I didn't mention how completely emotional I had been leading up to this meeting - excited, scared, nervous, tense, you name it! Even though everyone is fully aware how much, how long, we've dreamed of this; it's still a huge decision.

Anywho -

It's kind of fun because one of my co-workers (whom I'm getting to know as a friend - very cool!) is also going through the process. We've been each other's sounding boards!

I don't think our "list of demands" is too demanding - we need a 3-bedroom, 1 bath home with a decent-sized yard for the kiddos and a 2-car garage. We'd prefer a 4-bedroom, 2 bath home though considering we entertain quite a bit. I'd like to have an extra bedroom for when we have out-of-town guests too.

We want a house that is structurally sound and in good condition. We don't want any surprises with the furnace, electrical wiring and plumbing. The house should have a newer roof, siding and windows. We are ok with doing cosmetic upgrades, and I can live with 80s decor so long as the potential is there. Plus, a coat of paint can do wonders until we can afford a big reno.

The big debate is this - Husband wants to move out of the city. And he wants acreage. Me? I want to stay in the city. And I don't want acreage - haha! I don't mind having to do work, I do mind having to leave my young kids unsupervised while I do said work. We both agreed to consider each other's desires, even though one of us will have to compromise in this regard.

Let the house hunt begin!

Madelyn's First Birthday

2012-01-18T08:00:00.002-06:00

Now that Christmas is over and the decorations are put away, our next project is planning Madelyn's First Birthday.

Let's pause for a moment so that thought can settle in - my baby is going to be 1 next month.

I found a photograph of Madelyn on the day we brought her home, snuggling against her Daddy's chest while our couch was fixed. I was in horrible shape, in pain and could barely walk without help or Percoset. Husband had a scope done earlier in the day to test for celiac disease. We were both in such rough shape! And there's Miss Maddie, just adapting to the craziness that defines her parents and her brother. That pretty much sums up the first year of her life - adaptation.

I'm planning an Alice in Wonderland-themed party for Maddie, but I'm calling it a "Madelyn in ONEderland" party (clever, right?). SIL made her a tutu (aka toupe if you ask dear Husband) for the occaision, and I may or may not be hunting for a blue dress that channels Alice, even though everyone is aware of my daughter's sheer hatred of dresses. I've been pinning a lot of ideas on Pinterest.

I have to admit though, I feel guilty.

When Landen turned 1, we didn't have the resources to give him something special. I baked a cake and cupcakes for smashing, and we had immediate family over to visit and shower Landen with presents. And while I've always been a fan of simplicity, I wish I could have done more. I've reasoned that his 5th birthday in August will have to be extra special and I've already begun bouncing ideas off Landen. I've suggested a park, the zoo, and indoor bounce house ...

"A truck stop?" My Husband asked.

"YES!!!!" Landen exclaimed excitedly.

My husband is full of great ideas.

Stationery Card

2012-01-17T16:08:00.001-06:00

Somebunny's birthday Birthday Invitation

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The gift of reading ...

2012-01-17T10:00:00.000-06:00

For Christmas this year, my family gave me two books I am excited to read.

First, this one -
While I'm not all that into politics, her story does inspire the hell out of me. I cheered for this woman since I saw the headlines. There are some very graphic pictures in this book, and I have a feeling the story is going to make me cry.

And yes, I have this book. Perhaps you don't share my opinion (and that's fine) but I think he was a horrible President. However. I am curious about why he made the decisions he did. I don't know what it was like to be in those moments, with the fate of the country and millions of people in your hands. I don't know the pressure one is under when your job title is "Leader of the Free World." While I don't want his decisions to be justified, I do want to understand them because his term was quite volatile considering what we as a country endured.

Christmas Recap 2011: Part VII

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

We finished our Christmas Voyage in Milwaukee.

Would you believe I took NO PICTURES during our time there?

Landen was in awe to learn he had still more presents to open. He got a Vikings helmet and jersey. He finally took the hat off, but in its place was the helmet. He also opened clothes and a pair of Mr. Potato Heads he could dress up as different Toy Story characters.

Madelyn opened a kitchen, an activity bug and clothing. By the time we got to my mother's, she had become a pro at unwrapping thanks to all the practice she had received.

We went to my aunt's house to visit with the family. I hadn't seem them since a family wedding the weekend before we moved; a few relatives before that. My cousin and his wife are expecting their first baby in April and just bought a house. Another cousin is considering attending Minnesota for college - and I hope she picks it! My cousin and his wife were in town from Madison, and we were able to catch up with my cousin who lives downtown with her 2-year-old and husband.

The week of travels ended quickly, but it was a lot of fun. Teleportation really needs to be invented, just saying - but I am so glad Husband and I had the opportunity to take so much time off to mark Madelyn's first Christmas and see everyone. It will be a while before we can do that again. I'm trying to talk my family into coming up here to celebrate the holidays, so we'll see - we have a year to plan the 2012 gatherings!

Christmas Recap 2011 Part VI

2012-01-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

After the presents were opened on Christmas morning, we loaded up and drove to Husband's mother's house. Landen burst through the door, "Hi, did Santa Claus come?"

Why yes he did, buddy.

Madelyn felt like she won the jackpot:

Their grandparents gave them a sibling present.

And of course, they got into a fight:

Landen got a Vikings hat from Santa. And it was glued to his head for days. He probably would have slept in it if it were comfortable to.

And no, we weren't allowed to remove the stickers.

Maddie was obsessed with the curled ribbon on her presents.

She learned how to climb stairs on Christmas Day, so Poppa K introduced her to our friend the baby gate.

Landen was beyond pleased!

But Madelyn was so tired, she fell asleep in her high chair during dinner.

So Mommy had some fun at her expense.

It was a great holiday!

Christmas Recap Part V: Camo Cutie

2012-01-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

I had to share this picture of Madelyn - on Christmas Day, she opened a pink camo hat. We put it on her, and she wouldn't take it off. She was quite excited!

She also got her first pony, and what girl's wardrobe doesn't require a leopard-print handbag?

Landen wasn't interested in having his picture taken - he was too busy playing with a new truck.

Christmas 2011 Recap Part IV

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-06:00

Christmas Eve. This may be my favorite day of our whole trip. At one point on this day, Husband pulled me aside and told me he and Poppa Ron were taking Landen to hunt for Santa Claus. FIL and I quickly arranged presents under the tree while Landen hunted.

Finally, I heard the excitement of my 4-year-old approaching the house. "We saw Rudolph's nose!" He exclaimed. And when he opened the door, FIL and I told him that Santa was here and he just missed him. The look on Landen's face damn near brought tears to my eyes - it was a look of magic and wonder, and I was overjoyed he was so excited.

When he saw the presents, he leapt for the tree. He was beyond excited to finally receive his Vikings Pillow Pet, which was left unwrapped on purpose. Santa knew how badly he wanted it!

Even Madelyn was excited!

Notice we got her in a dress for Christmas Eve? Even her Great Grandmother knows Madelyn hates wearing dresses. But C tricked her into thinking her tights were leggings, so it was a good day!

It was so cool to see them so excited!

And the family - Great Grandma J and Poppa R with Chili, whom both kids ADORED:

C, Poppa T, and family friends T and J:

During dinner, Madelyn conquered her Great-Grandmother's jello and got mad at me for not getting heaping spoonfuls in her mouth fast enough.

Then Landen said something that warmed the hearts of everyone in the room:

"This is the best family ever."

Tag. I'm It.

2012-01-11T10:11:00.004-06:00

SIL, at I Made My Bed, tagged me in a fun game being played in the blog-o-sphere. My turn:

[the rules...]
one\ you must post the rules.
two\ post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
three\ answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you've tagged.
four\ tag eleven people and link them on your post
five\ let them know you've tagged them!

[Eleven fun facts about this girl...]
one\Naturally, I'm a righty. However, when I was 7 I had surgery on my right hand which put me out of commission for a month. I had to learn to do things with my left, thus making me ambidextrous. It's a cool party trick.

two\ I love headbands.

three\ I took shop classes in junior high and I know my way around a power tool. When Husband and I started dating, this idea scared him. I think he's coming around though - last year he bought me a power sander.

four\ However, I know nothing about cars and never cut the grass in my life.

five\ When I lived in WI, I couldn't make friends to save my life. People learned I had young kids and avoided me. Now in MN, my social calendar has exploded and it's been fun. We're meeting and spending time with other families.

six\ That being said, my son is a little social butterfly. I swear he's averaging a playdate and birthday party a week.

seven\ I have an Iowa Snuggie. Please shoot me if I ever own a Forever Lazy.

eight\ I have so many decor and DIY ideas for a house it's ridiculous.

nine\ I don't know what I'd do if French Vanilla creamer never came into my life.

ten\ I am kind of sad my daughter hates dresses and prefers to play with cars than her baby dolls. But, she adores her brother. He plays with cars and trucks, so will she.

eleven\ I hate coming up with random facts about me. I certainly don't feel like any of these are interesting.

[questions from Lindsay]
one\Since you know will soon know what I am looking forward to in the new year, What are you looking forward to? Buying a house, even though I'm quite terrified of writing that check.

two\What must always be in your purse/bag when you leave the house? Chapstick.

three\What did you want to be as a child, is that who you are today? I wanted to be a dancing, writing, space-exploring forensic anthropologist with a law degree. I pursued the writing part and currently work in the print industry.

four\What is your favorite TV show at the moment? Husband hogs the remote, so its a lot of Pawn Stars, Storage Wars, Moonshiners and those ridiculous logging shows.

five\What is your greatest fear? Burying my children. Failure. Being alone.

six\What is one thing you would want in your dream home? 4 bedrooms, 2-car garage, DISHWASHER, wine fridge (duh) and a fenced-in backyard

seven\I am borrowing this from a question I saw once, Is there a certain trend you wish you could pull off? What is it? Nose stud.

eight\ Why did you start your blog? I wanted something to give my great-grandchildren so they could get to know us and know our story.

nine\If you could meet anyone, past or present, who would it be? Why? Grace Kelly. What girl wouldn't want to grow up to be a real princess?

ten\Favorite vacation spot? Colorado, hands down. We're going in May!

eleven\What are your feelings about macaroni and cheese? Maddie loves it.

[Questions from Ashley]
one\ Is there a word you don't like? Mike Hunt.

two\ If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what would it be? 22 was a great year - I got married, graduated from college, honeymooned in CO and took my first real job.

three\ What is your favorite drink? Wine.

four\ What would you name the autobiography of your life? Nap Time Is The New Happy Hour. Because it truly is.

five\ What story does your family always tell about you? The time I ate a dust bunny.

six\ What's your favorite season? Summer.

seven\ What would your ideal job be? Print Manager.

eight\ What's one thing you regret? Do you have regrets? No regrets, but there are things I wish I did - I wish I did a study abroad. I wish I pursued that fellowship in NYC. I wish I saved more money instead of drinking it away.

nine\ What is your favorite food? Anything Mexican. LOVE.

ten\ Are you a morning or night person? Night.

eleven\ If you could live anywhere, where would you live? Dubuque, IA/Galena, IL area

[Questions from Megan]
one\ If you could travel anywhere for 10 days, would you spend all 10 days at 1 location or 1 day at 10 locations? Where? I would spend 10 days at 1 location, and I'd want to go to Poland. Ever since I traced my family to a small Polish town I can't spell or pronounce, I've wanted to see it and experience it.

two\ Favorite accessory (don't say phone) Pearls.

three\ Favorite Breakfast Food? Eggs.

four\ Do you really use recipes/ideas from Pinterest? Yes, all the time!

five\ Biggest pet peeve to fellow bloggers? Take the songs off your page. It wakes the babies, and you get unfollowed. Sorry.

six\ Favorite US city other than your home area? Nashville

seven\ Do you use cash (daily, not event related)? I don't like to carry cash on me.

eight\ What celebrity would you like to be and why? Grace Kelly. I love her story. And I admire her grace and sophistication. She's always been someone I looked up to.

nine\ If you could have a chef cook all your meals would you use him/her or still cook yourself? I would still cook myself. I'd take a maid and a nanny though.

ten\ What website (other than GR or Blogger) would you say you never go a single day without viewing it? I am always on Pinterest, Twitter, bank and my work site.

eleven\ Single or Married ladies...what is your best advice to the single ladies? Every woman deserves her own fairytale. Many women have said to me, "Not everyone can have what you have." Why not?! Don't settle. Don't sell yourself short. Don't rush to get married just so you can have the ring. You deserve to be treated like a queen. Don't get impatient, because marriage is a lifetime committment. It takes work. When you find your person, you will know. Until that time comes, have fun.

[Questions from Me]

one/What is your go-to outfit?

two/ What is your guilty pleasure?

three/ What is the most valuable lesson you've ever learned?

four/ How did you overcome one of your fears?

five/ If you won the lottery today, how would you spend the money?

six / What is one thing you never thought you could do but now enjoy?

six/ Tell us about your proudest moment.

seven/ What motivates you to be a better peson, employee, etc.?

eight/ What is one of your goals for 2012? Why did you set this, and what is your plan to make it happen?

nine/ Do you enjoy answering survey questions? =)

ten/ Is there any portion of your life you wish you could do over? Describe that time and explain why.

eleven/ What is your go-to, signature recipe?

I tag:

1 - Erin @LeuschkeFamily

2 - Mandy @MommyMusings

3 - Green Girl @Green Girl In WI

4 - Chelsea @ HomeIsMe

5 - Erin @SuburbanUtopia

Christmas 2011 Recap Part III

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

Yes, these four pictures of the same pose deserve their own post because of the story they tell. Even though Madelyn and Landen absolutely adore each other, at the end of the day they're still siblings. And siblings fight.

Case in point - when this photo was taken, Landen was protesting.

And Maddie was looking at me like, "Mom, seriously? He's touching me and he smells like tree sap."

Now we're getting somewhere - at least they're kind of smiling, although Maddie still looks annoyed.

And done.

Not to worry - adorable pictures of two excited kids were taken on Christmas Eve!

Relief.

2012-01-10T08:22:00.000-06:00

Tonight, I am breathing sighs of relief for many reasons. But the one I want to discuss involves my least favorite topic ... money.

This time, though, this isn't a rant!

We are paying off debt. Last month, I paid off medical bills from Madelyn's birth. And this month - our credit card bill will be paid off.

Our move from Milwaukee to the Twin Cities gave us credit card debt for the first time in our lives, and it felt like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. Paying this off; it couldn't have come at a better time because soon (like this week) we will be meeting with a mortgage lender.

I am hoping Husband will let me pay off our smallest student loan with some of our tax refund, but we'll see. I've been trying to pay this off for 3 years now and he's always put the kabosh on that idea.

In other expense reduction news:
We are cancelling cable. It's gotten to the point where we cannot justify keeping it.

Madelyn has started the transition from formula to whole milk. This will save us another $100/month.

I've been successful at reducing our grocery bill! I am not quite satisfied with what I pay for groceries, but I am pleased with the progress. Still, I am seriously considering growing a garden and raising chickens for their meat. Yes, I just said that. I've also successfully convinced Husband to kill me some pheasants and turkeys with the guns he's now allowed to accumulate. We also save a little by making our own GF bread. Meal-planning has also helped a lot, as do the coupons.

This is one of my goals for 2012 - to be more financially responsible and spend healthy.

Landen-ism

2012-01-09T11:22:00.001-06:00

Husband and I have gotten into the habit of letting him know bedtime is approaching. One day, while Husband was on a trip, I let Landen know bedtime was in 15 minutes.

"Better make these minutes count, Landen," I said.

"1, 2, 3 , 4 ..." he replied.

Christmas 2011 Recap Part II

2012-01-08T20:24:00.005-06:00

Back at the house, we started decorating. Landen's first job was to remove the tree wrap:

Let the holidays begin!

Christmas 2011 recap, Part I

2012-01-07T13:30:00.002-06:00

With keys to our rental in hand, we packed up and embarked on a 6-hour drive to our first stop on the Great Christmas Voyage of 2011. The kids tolerated the ride quite well, although Landen asked "Are we there yet?" every 10 minutes (as kids do).

We met the in-laws at a local tree farm and Landen was given the responsibility of selecting and cutting down a tree.

This is it! And yes, he really is holding a hacksaw.

With the help of Daddy and Poppa T, Landen got to work.

It was cold, but quite the experience for the little guy. He did a good job! Madelyn was bundled in so many layers, she couldn't move. Her facial expression reminded me of the opening scene of Christmas Vacation, where Audrey's eyeballs freeze. Once we got to the house, the process of decorating began ...

Yes, I'm a Mom. And yes, I'm inked.

2012-01-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

When I was in high school, I wanted so badly to get a tattoo. And no, it's not because my peers had them - I simply appreciated them as the ultimate form of self-expression because they're so permanent. Tattoos are a beautiful art form, one that has withstood the test of time; and even though it seems everyone and their mother has one now - no tattoo is the same. No two tattoos carry the same meaning. And that is special.

At the time, by law, I needed my mother's written consent and signature to get inked before I turned 18. She wouldn't go for that, but said she was okay with me getting one if she could come with me.

Well, that was the problem. At the time, I was terrified of needles. It wasn't something I could plan on, because I would chicken out. If I was going to get a tattoo, it had to be spontaneous. Unexpected. And unplanned.

A few weeks after I turned 18, when I was still grieving from Grandpa's death, I walked into a tattoo shop with $60 in hand and walked out with this:

Yes, it looks like crap. I get it. And yes, my mother was pissed when I stretched one day and my shirt raised just high enough to reveal it. This faded heart is on my hip and two pregnancies stretched my skin and warped its appearance.

But I love it.

I wouldn't dream of covering it up or having it lasered. This heart means so much to me. Not only did I overcome my fear of needles, but I feel like I carry Grandpa's love with me. This tattoo is as much a part of me and my identity as my height ... or my eyecolor.

I got that tattoo 10 years ago, and I want to build a collection so badly. I'm not sure what though. I know I want to get something that symbolizes my husband and I kids. I have a few tattoos pinned on Pinterest, but the search for the perfect tattoo continues ...

I like crosses, and am considering one on my back. I want a four leaf clover on my wrist, because I'm Irish. On my other wrist, I want a word. A strong word, like Faith or something. I pinned an amazing peacock tattoo and would love that on my side ... maybe have the peacock's feathers incorporate my precious heart. And I want to use my tricep to honor my husband and kids - a string of orchids or something? So many ideas, but I bring the design in my head to reality.

Landen and the Timberwolves

2012-01-05T09:56:00.002-06:00

Last night, Landen participated in his first professional sporting experience and he was so excited about it! His aunt scored free tickets to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Landen was beside himself. Pictures were taken from M's Twitter feed and Husband's texts, so I take zero credit for this post, other than documenting a fun first for my first born.

They had really good seats! At one point I asked Husband how L was doing. The response: "Shock and awe."
And Landen devoured a tub of popcorn.

With Aunt - thank you for taking me!

And 2/3 of the greatest loves of my life:

At home, Maddie and I had a girls night in. She was kind of fussy though. Jealous, perhaps?

Caught!

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

On NYE, we went to our friends' pajama party which is becoming an annual tradition for us. This year was kid-friendly, and Landen made a new friend A. It was fun to watch them play together, and we've been joking that the two of them will get married since they're so close in age!

Friends live in a tri-level, and we were seated in the livingroom. Next thing we know, we hear Landen coughing and gagging. "Did you try a gummy bear, bud?" asked one Friend. Landen nodded in between gags. Turns out, Landen tried to sneak a gummy bear from the buffet in the kitchen. Much to his surprise, they had been soaked in vodka. Pretty sure the poor kid will never sneak a gummy bear again! To this day, he says he ate a "gummy bear with dirty juice and it was disgusting!"

When we arrived, Husband and I had zero intentions of "partying." We were really tired. But good friends were in town that we haven't seen in years, and we enjoyed it. It started snowing. Husband gave me the green light to drink since he knew I wouldn't drive in the snow. Before I knew it, I finished a bottle of wine and was halfway through a 2nd. I had a headache the next day, but was functional.

And much to our surprise, both kids stayed up until 2:30 a.m. with zero fussing. Too much to see, I suppose. We thought for sure we'd sleep in the next morning! Not so much - Madelyn was up for the day at 7:30 a.m.

Christmas re-caps to come soon!

My ROCKSTAR deal

2012-01-03T09:30:00.002-06:00

When we were still living in Iowa, I bought a pair of black boots. This was at least 4 years ago, considering we moved back to my hometown in WI in December 2007! During our vacation, they died. The scuff marks and lacerations in the boot were too much - and I was kind of sad because they were really cute. They had a buckle, were calf-height and the heel didn't hurt my knees. While at my mother's, I was on a mission to purchase a new pair to replace the Iowa Boots for $50 or less.

Enter Kohl's.

And I found these:
Croft & Borrow, retail $79.99

Kohl's had them marked down to $30.99 during their massive after-Christmas sale. Mom gave me her $30 in Kohls cash. I only paid for the tax on these babies.

My total: $1.05.

I love their simplicity, and the heel height is similar to the Iowa Boots so I can wear them with relative comfort. My aunt has gotten into couponing like I have (and she goes as far as to write the price she paid on the box), and she threatened to steal them Sex & The City style. I love their height - I'm rocking them right now, and yes I do have a little swagger in my step when I brag about how much I paid for them.

Propeller locket

2012-01-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

My sister gave me one of the most unique and thoughtful Christmas gifts I've ever received. If you read my blog for more than 5 seconds, then you know my husband is an airline pilot. He's held licenses for approximately 10 years now - as long as I've known him. Aviation is as much a part of our relationship and marriage as well, oxygen.

When I opened my sister's gift, I was immediately touched when I saw this propeller:
And even more so when she informed me it was a locket:

Now I just need to print tiny pictures of our children and the locket will be complete.

2011: The year of transitions.

2011-12-31T08:00:00.002-06:00

2011 kept us on our toes and I felt like we were constantly adapting to whatever life threw our way. It felt like we were playing "Survivor: The Home Game" because there was so much happening!

January 2011: I was very pregnant and very sick. I had to go in a couple of times to have my blood pressure checked because my doctor feared I had pre-eclampsia. Plus, I was dreadfully uncomfortable from hauling an 11-lb baby around inside me. We switched to the insurance offered through my employer so I could enjoy the convenience of the on-site clinic for my almost daily doctor appointments. And truth be told, I had never been more scared in my entire life.

February 2011: Madelyn arrived on the 27th! And with lots of drama in the delivery room, but so worth it in the end. She has added so much joy to our lives, and thank God she's such a mellow and adaptive child because her parents and brother are crazy. She adores her big brother, and her personality is one to be reckoned with.

March 2011: Husband was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, thus beginning our gluten-free journey. I had a very difficult recovery, and I recall a moment where Husband and I were clearing shelves in our kitchen while our 2-day old slept, and I cried as I wondered what the hell I'd cook for my family.

Landen continued to attend school during my maternity leave so he wouldn't miss any of the daily lessons taught. Plus, I didn't want to interrupt his routine and I felt it was important he have some play time with his friends.

April 2011: I was on maternity leave, and still struggling with the help of painkillers.

May 2011: Returned to work mid-May. I cried a little on Maddie's first day, because even though I believe daycare is an invaluable experience for children, I feel infants are much too young to get anything out of it.

June 2011: This was a quiet month for us. Nothing major or spectacular happened that I can recall.

July 2011: Our friends' baby was born.

August 2011: I weaned Madelyn and celebrated 6 months of nursing. I wanted to make it a year, but decided she was done when she bit me so hard, she drew blood. Still, I'm proud of hitting the 6-month mark. (I had to wean Landen at 4 months.) I accepted a transfer opportunity with QG to the St. Cloud area.

September 2011: Landen started 4K. It was hard to believe how quickly the years had passed and how grown up my #1 is. My 10-year HS reunion was over Labor Day weekend but we were in MN to look at houses in the St. Cloud/Big Lake area, since we were under the impression that I would transfer there with QG. It's also around this time we decided Landen needed to be on the gluten-free diet as well due to his symptoms.

October 2011: My transfer fell through. I got a new job in Burnsville, MN. We moved to Minnesota. We have a new apartment and a brand new life. I really enjoy my new position, and my experience with QG has proven valuable as I advance in my career. Though I'll never perfect it, I am having a much easier time balancing work and motherhood. And that is important to me. I also shed all 65+ pounds of the pregnancy weight I gained with Madelyn, and bought some new clothes to celebrate my new Mom body and my new position. I'm so relieved to be able to wear jeans to work. (Oh yes, be jealous!)

November 2011: This month was devoted to financial recovery from the move. Even though we did it ourselves (and appreciate the help of friends and family), there was quite a shock to our accounts. We had to pay two rents, two daycare bills, two utility bills plus call every company to get credits for additional charges. It was a nightmare. There were a few nights where I had to get creative for dinner but we managed.

We had family pictures taken.

December 2011: Husband and I had nearly two weeks off over Christmas, which was awesome! We spent a lot of time with relatives, and it was nice that everyone shared in Madelyn's first Christmas. She opened some presents, but overall she enjoyed playing with the boxes (what kid isn't?!) Upon entry at each house, I warned them that I'd be putting a serious dent in their wine stash - and ironically, I received two unique wine openers! I think the biggest reason I was so excited for the holidays was because Landen was so excited. He completely understood what was happening, and his Christmas Eve was made when Daddy and Papa Ron took him out to look for Santa Claus. It was truly magical.

Bring it 2012!

Happy Holidays, Blogland!

2011-12-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

I am off to embark on what we've coined "The Great Christmas Voyage of 2011" featuring 3 Christmas celebrations in two states during the glorious 10-14 days Husband and I have off work.

Best wishes for a safe, happy and relaxing holiday season with your loved ones, and may 2012 be a prosperous year for us all!

My posts will resume after the New Year, though I'll likely read your posts inbetween.

Holidazzle

2011-12-22T09:14:00.000-06:00

Recently we started what we hope will become a new holiday tradition - the Holidazzle Holiday Lights Parade downtown. We went with family friends, and froze our tails off but it was so worth it. We took the light rail in, and Husband and I turned the kiddos into little marshmellows with the multiple layers of winter clothes we dressed them in.

(Yes, my daughter is pulling her mittens off in this picture. She despises those things and is constantly removing them in fury. Isn't it hilarious how you can only see our babies' eyeballs?!)

Husband was in charge of the camera and he took numerous shots of the parade. These five should provide a good sampling of the event:

(Pinochio)

(Pirate Ship)

They put a lot of effort into this event and it shows - I certainly appreciate that! Santa came at the end of the parade and Landen was really excited to see him.

Afterwards, we went to the 8th floor of Macy's to check out their holiday display. Oh my goodness - Husband has these pictures on his iPhone, but believe me when I say words cannot do justice. It was like walking through the North Pole and peeking in the windows of an Elf town - Landen saw where they slept, went to school and worked. He learned there are magic forests in Santa Land that sing Christmas Carols, and how reindeer learn to fly so they could pull Santa's sleigh. It was really neat to watch him take it all in!

My munchkins ...

2011-12-21T09:05:00.001-06:00

Saturday I dusted the cobwebs off my Canon Rebel circa late 2005 and took a few pictures of my mini humans. First, an adorable one of my #1 -

(Let's pretend there isn't a ketschup stain on his cheek, k?)

And a goofy one, which is a more common expression for this kid:

And Maddie - doesn't she look like trouble here? "Keep your eye on me Mom, I'm about to tear stuff up!"

(Wearing her Disney princess shirt!)

And this picture is just too adorable for words.

MiMO

2011-12-18T11:04:00.004-06:00

I am loving Pinterest! And I make it a point to refer to my boards when getting ready. As I've mentioned in the past, wearing a uniform to work for 2 years has killed my wardrobe - Pinterest fulfills a role as personal stylist.

On this day I cheated. I found a board with colors I love and pieces I already had.

Source: polyvore.com via Brianne on Pinterest

And here's my version, as shown via cheesy work bathroom self-portrait:

Black tee: Old Navy
Green scarf: GAP
Jeans: GAP
Black boots: don't know; purchased years ago in IA

Broke Girl Does Christmas

2011-12-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

The tree was $20. The tree skirt was found on the cheap at Marshall's. I picked up the wrapping paper for pennies during an after-Christmas sale, and I'm using the front of last year's cards as gift tags. Don't judge me.

A Natural Beauty

2011-12-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

If only I looked this cute when I had food on my face and severe bedhead ...

I need to coupon to the extreme.

2011-12-15T10:45:00.002-06:00

Let's talk about my least favorite topic: money.

I hate money. I hate the negative effect it has on people - it doesn't matter if you have too much or not enough. There is nothing else I've encountered that brings more stress than a simple piece of paper.

I feel like it's my job to stretch every cent of our income as far as it can go, so we spend a lot of time shopping around for the best prices on everything from groceries to insurance. I'm proud to say that our debt is minimal, and our bills are under control (although for the first time in our lives, we have a credit card balance from the move) ...

... except for one.

DAYCARE.

Oh my goodness - putting two kids in daycare 3 days a week is the equivalent of paying a mortgage on a very nice house. It's more than 5x what we pay on our student loans, and it's the biggest monthly expense we have. It's ridiculous!

Shortly after we moved to MN, I learned this. Are you kidding me? Daycare costs in MN are the 3rd highest in the country?!

So now, I am motivated. I need to lower other expenses further to offset this cost. I'm focusing on groceries and shopping, because I can use coupons. While I've couponed since January, and was serious about it when we lived in WI, I dropped off a little during our adjustment period. I need to get back into it, hot and heavy.

See? Stressed out over money. I hate this.

During nap time, I watched a little bit of the Extreme Couponing marathon on TLC. The episode profiled a young woman who was student teaching, married and mother to a 9-month old daughter. Because she and her husband earn less than $30K/year combined, they live with her parents. Her father doesn't work due to an injury and her brother is handicapped, so she also provides for them. She had a $900 grocery bill, but paid only $25. I was motivated, y'all.

How do you budget? Any tips that can be shared, I GREATLY appreciate it.

Christmas Program 12/5

2011-12-14T08:53:00.000-06:00

I met Husband and the kids at the school after work for their Christmas program. It was our first experience, so we weren't sure what to expect - certainly not for Maddie to participate!

The teachers sang "Jingle Bells," and the babies were supposed to rattle the bells. Not my daughter - she glared at us, refused to shake the bells and it was as though she had "EFF OFF" stamped across her forehead. It was adorable. I cried.

Then, it was Landen's turn and he did awesome! We practiced his song ("Must Be Santa") prior to his program, and he put a lot of effort into learning the words. We still sing the song.

Peek-a-boo!

All the kids in his class ...

Maddie loved watching her brother! Once again, she gave it her silly stamp of approval!

Santa

2011-12-13T08:45:00.000-06:00

Santa visited the kids' school, and unfortunately - Landen wasn't having any of it. Are you sure you don't want to tell Santa what you want for Christmas, bud? Yes, he replied as he ran off to play with his friend C. So, since Maddie couldn't protest, I sat her on Santa's lap with camera in hand and hoped for the best:

At first, she made faces at her teachers and gave the situation her own silly stamp of approval.

And then she realized she was no longer with her Mama.

At which point, she looks at Santa with an expression like "the hell?" After this photo was taken, she reached out to me with the pouty lip extended and I knew that was the end of that.

MiMO Monday: Office Christmas Party

2011-12-12T08:00:00.002-06:00

I finally feel like I have a legitimate outfit - so I am participating in Chelsea's and Holly's MiMO Monday!

It's not very often I get dressed up - after 4 years of wearing "mom-uniforms" (lounge pants/jeans if I have to go somewhere with a solid tee) I feel like I've neglected myself when it comes to such event. I'm not complaining because I gladly put the kiddos before me, but I am admitting it can be a challenge. I also admit that I have been stressing out a little over my work Christmas party.

What the hell was I going to wear?

SIL voted my black WHBM dress and a gray CK dress I wore to P&E's wedding into the running. There were a lot of "Do you have this ... or this ... ?" from her, and a lot of "No ..." from me. I turned to Pinterest for inspiration and found this:

Source: polyvore.com via Brianne on Pinterest

My gray dress is very similar to the dress in the board. I have NONE of the accessories in my possession but I loved the idea of combining gray with such a rich color.

Here is how I made it my own:

I apologize that you can't see all the elements. I sent my husband this picture (who sadly couldn't accompany me because he had a trip), but said I looked beautiful

Gray dress - Calvin Klein, Boston Store
Teal wrap - Jones New York, gift from MIL
Teal/Black pumps - Boston Store
Teal/Black clutch - Boston Store
Black Pearl jewelry - Christmas gift from Husband, 2009

I really hope this isn't my last MiMO post!

My great-grandmother's brooch

2011-12-11T10:23:00.002-06:00

Before I learned I was pregnant with Maddie, Mom, Sis and I were organizing the large expanse of a basement that is utilized as storage. {{It has a lot of potential as additional square footage; unfortunately, estimates for drywall and plumbing are ridiculous!}}

We stumbled upon my great-grandmother's belongings. She passed away when I was 11 and I remember she always wore coordinating jewelry with her dresses. She was a very classy lady, and I was browsing her old jewelry. I'm sure it isn't worth much since it's simple department store pieces, but the sentimental value is priceless. With permission, I claimed a clip-on earring I'd like to turn into a necklace pendant and this brooch:

I love this brooch. I love its simple flower design with a small crystal in the center. I love that its a family heirloom, and I love that its unique. However, I love it so much I'm terrified of losing it so I rarely wear it.

Do you have any jewelry pieces that hold a strong sentimental value?

Virginia Tech

2011-12-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

I covered the first shooting back in February 2007, when I was a staff writer. I was pregnant with Landen at the time, and I was dumb-founded by the tragedy - how could such an awful thing happen?! At the same time, I was motivated to connect this story to my newspaper's market. Somehow, I tracked down a student who graduated from a high school in the area and was a freshman at Virginia Tech. And somehow, despite the campus phone lines being clogged for obvious reasons, I managed to reach this student and speak with him about his experience. His story still haunts me to this day - up until that moment, he never knew what a gun sounded like let alone having to take cover. He never experienced the loss of a loved one, and he suddenly found himself mourning the loss of his friend who was killed in the rampage. Once the story printed, the paper received a lot of mail in regards to what I wrote and it's one of the most memorable stories I've ever written.

So imagine my shock when I saw this headline ...

This is just too much.

On decorating for Christmas this year ...

2011-12-08T11:01:00.002-06:00

Initially, we weren't going to decorate for Christmas this year because of our travel plans. We wouldn't be home for the holidays, so what's the point? Plus, we reasoned, our tree would not fit in our apartment due to the layout.

Well, Landen wasn't having any of it. We needed to decorate for Christmas he insisted! If we don't, Santa Claus wouldn't come! We told him he was going to cut down his own tree and decorate it at Papa T's, and that we already forwarded Santa our "vacation address," but he still wouldn't accept it.

We gave in - I mean, Christmas is all about children, right? And this is such a magical time of year! We're excited to see Landen so excited. How could we deny him a tree, and ornaments and decorations?

Husband took the kids to Target after school one day this week, and purchased an thin, apartment-sized, 6-foot tree for less than $20. Landen helped decorate and put lights on, and has already claimed it for his room next year.

We'll probably have to purchase a second one for Madelyn's room, because I can envision arguments over it when she's older ...

Homemade bread

2011-12-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

One of my goals is to start making our own bread because, 1) we "inherited" a bread machine from Mom; 2) Husband is celiac; and 3) GF bread is EXPENSIVE.

Bread mixes are cheaper and the loaves are bigger.

So far, we tried two:
1) Pamela's

It was AWESOME when it first came out because it was warm and soft - a great comfort food! But then we refridgerated it instead of froze it, and the bread was no bueno. Because it was our own error, I can't discredit this product.

2) Gluten-Free Pantry

It tasted sweet. I liked it, and I think Husband is tolerating it. We learned our lesson the first time; and sliced it before freezing it.

The main observation we (I) made is that the mixes taste better than Udi's.

The shiz my daughter does.

2011-12-03T08:00:00.001-06:00

Diva has been so much fun lately - seriously, she is proving to be quite the little comedian. Her new favorite game is to take random things and "hide" them in the silliest places. She grabs the lucky object, crawls away at 200 mph because she is so excited about it and thinks she hot stuff while laughing uncontrollably and said object pounds into the floor as she crawls.

Last night, she set up a bit of a scavenger hunt for me. She put her brother's toy car here:

Before pausing to pull all of the DVDs out of our TV cabinet:

And put one of her bath toys in my hand bag ...

Then put her ring in the oven drawer where I keep my pans ...

Going to do this!

2011-11-30T08:00:00.004-06:00

I have the Instagram app downloaded on my iPhone and I have a lot of fun playing with the different photo settings.

That is the photography nerd in me, friends. Learn to love it!

The other day, I discovered Sticky Gram, which turns your Instagram photos into magnets! For $15, they'll magnetize 9 of your photos. I think that's a pretty good deal, and have 5/9 photos selected.

This really excited me!

{Again. Photography Nerd.}

Just saying.

2011-11-29T21:59:00.004-06:00

I have stopped and started this post so many times it would frustrate you, but it has been difficult to organize my thoughts. Still, I need to write. I have an emotion that needs to be freed. I have a thought that needs to be vocalized. And there is a pain in my heart that needs someone to listen.

Tonight my mother delivered devastating news.

And thank God I didn't get her voicemail until later in the evening, after the kids had gone to bed.

D and I grew up together. We weren't BFFs in the traditional sense where we went to each other's birthday parties or even hung out outside of school. But, we went to the same elementary, middle and high school together. We went to the same school-sponsored functions. He played football. I performed during half time with the poms squad. Mom still works with his mom, and that is how the two of us receive updates on each other.

Tonight, I got an update on D.

His wife - his 29-year-old wife and mother of his young children - has just six months to live. She went to the doctor because she had a fever. It was soon discovered cancer was ravaging her entire body.

Still, I am not sure why I am taking this so hard. I never met his wife. Is it because she's so young? I'm only a year younger than D and his wife. Is it because our children are so close in age? Perhaps it's the shock of it all - the news is so final.

You have cancer. There is nothing we can do for you. You have six months to live.

How do you process that? How can one look at her children, knowing she won't see their next birthday, let alone graduations, marriages and grandchildren? Yes, that is what I find so difficult about this. It isn't fair. She's been cheated. She's had one of the most precious things ripped from her - time. And there is nothing she can do about it. Even if she had the fight of a bull in her, it's too late.

I am angry. As beautiful life is - and yes, it really truly is beautiful - I will never understand it. And it really sucks that it has to be situations like this that remind us how fragile life really is. That all we ever really have is the present ... this moment you find yourself in right now.

And yes, I did leave my computer to check on my peaceful, sleeping babies - my Madelyn who has been refusing to sleep as of late unless she is in her Mama's arms; and my Landen, whose defiance challenges every nerve in my body. That's when the hot tears started. Uncontrollable, because in that moment, I found myself in her shoes. I empathesized with her situation. I am blessed to have married my best friend, a man I've known for almost half my life now. As I watched our children sleep, the two miracles our love has created, I couldn't escape one single thought:

No one could ever love them as I do.

Pinterest-inspired Roasted Garlic Chicken Pizza

2011-11-29T08:23:00.000-06:00

Source: gimmesomeoven.com via Brianne on Pinterest

Tonight, I made my first Pinterest-inspired recipe, Roasted Garlic Chicken Pizza. I had to make a few modifications, including ensuring it was gluten free, but the recipe served as a solid foundation.

I made pizza crust from scratch using the recipe on the box of gluten free Bisquick. Then I spread a layer of Philadelphia Cooking Cream in Italian Herb, and sprinkled the garlic, chicken, parsley and mozarella. Onions can be added but I opted to not include them.

Here is the final result - it was delicious! The crust was thick, which I prefer and the flavor was good. Husband suggested following the recipe to make other pizza variations. And another score, I have leftovers to take to work!

An amazingly delicious work-in-progress

2011-11-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

Recently, Husband and I were inspired by an episode of Man v. Food, where Adam Richman sampled a unique Mexican dish. Green peppers were cut open, its contents removed and filled with cubes of Monterey Jack cheese. The peppers were then closed with toothpicks and grilled until black and the cheese melted. It was served with strips of steak on corn tortillas.

We decided to try it!

We bought peppers, steak cubes, Monterey Jack cheese and corn tortillas. All gluten-free and safe for Husband to enjoy! Husband cut open the peppers, removed the "guts" and filled with cheese. He sat them upright in a muffin tin and baked while he sauteed the steak. He decided to cook the steak with a can of Rotel.

I apologize for not taking pictures of the process or the end result, but there wasn't time - the aroma made our stomachs crave the dish and we devoured it in silence. It was that good! The flavor exploded in our mouths, and we couldn't believe how good it was!

This dish has earned a spot in our rotation, but we will continue to tweak it. Next time, we'll likely slow cook the meat and Rotel mixture so it is really soft. We also need more cheese. But all in all, absolutely amazing; and not bad for only having a 45-second spot on Man v. Food to go by!

I have a fantasy.

2011-11-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

(No not that kind of fantasy, you sicko!)

If you know anything about my husband, then you know he obsessively daydreams about owning a truck. A big truck. A diesel. With lots of stupid, ridiculous lights on the roof and in a color other than black, likely to spite me because he knows how much I love black vehicles.

I can't help it - I think it's classy. But I suppose when it comes to something meant to work and get dirty and pull things, it's not meant to look classy. It's meant to work.

But I digress. My husband wants a truck like our 4-year-old wants a Vikings Pillow Pet - that kind of "If I don't get it right now, I may die/too impatient to wait" desire.

And I fantasize about surprising him with one. A truck - we're back to talking about my husband.

I would have to be sneaky though, since I'd have to come up with approximately $50,000 to get the truck he wants. It's hard to hide something like that. And then, I'd have to come up with a plausible reason to leave the house to pick it up ...

I fantasize that I would park it somewhere. And I'd suggest we go for a drive. Anywhere. To see the neighborhoods. To spend time together. Because going for a drive means we can strap our children down without it looking like child abuse, and not have to threaten them to sit.

(What? Parents of blogland, I know you identify with this.)

We'd pass it, and he would say something like, "That is a nice truck."

And I would jingle the keys in his face and say, "Good, because it's yours."

He wouldn't believe it. He wouldn't believe me. He'd say a lot of "yeah right"s and "whatever"s and "Can we afford that?" And I'd say, "Yes, bitch! Get in!"

Ok, I wouldn't say "bitch" in front of the kids, but you get the idea.

I fantasize he would be shocked when he realizes that key really does in fact unlock the truck; really does fit in the ignition; and oh my god, it starts! He would think he's dreaming, but oh no - it's real! I fantasize there would be tears in his eyes (though that likely won't happen but this is my fantasy so let me be), and I would be raised to "best wife in the world" status.

But the moment isn't about me. It's about showing my husband in a big way how much his hard work is appreciated. It's about giving him something he's wanted since he could (legally) drive, maybe before that. And hopefully in that moment, he would know that he deserves it.

I hope I can do that for him someday.

A funny ...

2011-11-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

Bonus points if you know the TV show ...

Bare Escentuals Make-Up

2011-11-25T09:48:00.000-06:00

I have been wearing Bare Escentuals make-up for 6 years now; since August 2005 to be exact, right before my wedding. I cannot praise them enough!

You see, I survived my teenage years with relatively flawless skin. My breakouts consisted of a single zit, and that was it. Hate me, I get it. However, when I started college, that all changed. I endured horrible breakouts on my cheeks, chin and forehead. I developed rosacea. I was sensitive to cold and heat, and many of my previously trusted products caused my skin issues to flare dramatically. It was annoying. It made me self-conscious. And I was bitter, given how amazing my skin was in high school.

I was on a girls weekend with my soon-to-be in-laws at the Mall of America, when I heard about Bare Escentuals. I heard it was supposed to be phenomenal for people with sensitive skin, and that it covers rosacea like a dream. It had the reputation of being a natural make-up containing no preservatives yet covered flawlessly. I wanted to try it. My sister-in-law and I booked “makeovers” that afternoon.

And from that moment on, I was hooked. To this day, I still wear the look they taught me 6 years ago. I love it that much.

I will say this about the make-up: it is expensive. Foundation alone is $26. But that $26 tub of foundation can last me 6 months, so in theory, it costs about the same as Cover Girl or Maybelline. It’s worth it to me, because my skin has reaped the reward. It does what it promises – it doesn’t irritate my skin, and once a month I can count on it to conceal my breakouts. LOVE IT!!!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T10:00:00.000-06:00

"Thank you, Lord, for the food before us; the friends beside us; and the love between us."

That pretty much sums up how I feel this Thanksgiving!

1. I am thankful we took advantage of the opportunity to consolidate cities, and live where Husband works. It has been so wonderfully awesome to have so much family time.

2. I am thankful for career advancement.

3. I am thankful for two healthy, happy, and intelligent children. They bring so much joy and meaning to our lives!

4. I am thankful to have the love of such a wonderful man ... though I'm pretty certain Husband would tell me to shut up had I said that out loud. He isn't the mushy type.

5. I am thankful for the roof over our head, the mess on the floor and the dirty dishes in the sink; because it means we can feed our family and provide for our children.

6. I am thankful someone had the idea to grind a coffee bean and create the drink responsible for keeping me awake on my sleep-deprived days.

7. And I am thankful someone turned a grape into wine, because I look forward to a glass each evening!

8. I am thankful for those who risk their lives to keep us safe and fight for us (police officers, fire fighters, military personnel) - your sacrifices are appreciated beyond what words can express.

9. I am thankful to have people in my life who inspire me - I have family members whose work ethic and passions are unsurpassed; I have friends whose happiness and fun is contagious; and I read about others who motivate me to be the best I can be (like Gabrielle Giffords).

10. I am thankful to subscribe to things that happily waste my time, like Blogger, Twitter and Pinterest. What do you mean this isn't a good use of company time?! So many great ideas are shared here!

New Dishes!

2011-11-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

While I love the set I registered for and received as a wedding gift, I was considering purchasing a small, casual set for just us to eat off of.

Mom set me up with my own coffeemaker, and I bought a couple new mugs (she was uber-excited to have me join the coffee club). I loved the mugs so much that Mom bought me the rest of the set as an early Christmas gift. I'm in love!

Pillow Pets!

2011-11-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, Grandma G came to visit. Both kids were treated with Pillow Pets:

Maddie got a purple unicorn I named Edith.

Husband asked what a female Mr. Ed would be called, and I answered Edith. Thus, a snuggle friend is named.

Landen, of course, got a dog.

"Mom, I got a dog! I got my Colby Jack!"

The kids have loved snuggling, cuddling, pouncing and loving on their Pillow Pets!

Maddie's first snow!

2011-11-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

{Saturday, November 19}

This will never happen again!

2011-11-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

DREAMING ...

2011-11-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Houses:

Please drop to our price range. I WANT YOU!!!

kthanxbye.

Oh the lazy evenings we could spend on that porch!

(LOVE the Craftsman style!)

Sectional

2011-11-18T08:00:00.002-06:00

The vast majority of our furniture is hand-me-down, and though its served us well, I hope to purchase a sectional for the new house. Once again, thank you Pinterest for providing the inspiration!

I'm in love with the idea of the entire family seated on the same piece of furniture - and this once looks so cozy and perfect for napping!

About a month ...

2011-11-17T14:47:00.004-06:00

It's been approximately a month since we transplanted our lives in MN. Here's what we've been up to:

- Landen and Madelyn spend their days at New Horizon Academy. They are able to spend at least 1 day at home a week with Dad.

- We are pretty much settled in the new place. All but two boxes have been unpacked. Our saving grace is our garage, which performs double duty as our storage locker and shelters two vehicles.

- In the first month we were here, we had to pay double on everything because people can't a) LISTEN and b) DO THEIR JOBS. It was a little rough trying to juggle everything, but the kinks seem to be worked out now.

- I am on my own at my new job. It is much less stressful - even though my tasks are still driven by deadlines, they aren't as strict. Additionally, my commute has practically disappeared. I went from two hours a day to maybe a half an hour. I have more time in the morning. I have more time in the evening. And I have more time for extra kisses and hugs at dropoff if needed.

- Our apartment has a dishwasher. This has changed my life in so many ways!

- We still don't have in-unit laundry, but I no longer have to cart a basket full of clothes, laundry supplies plus children down a flight of stairs. Now, the machines are the next door over. It's a lot better!

- Husband is home so much more now. It's like we're a "normal" family, where we hold 9-5 jobs ... however, since Husband is home more, he's had to take on more "housewife" duties like laundry and cleaning. I don't think he likes that.

- HELLO CONVENIENCE. In Wisconsin, we lived in a small town. It was a trip to get to the grocery store or Target. Now that we're city slickers (Gawd, I love this lifestyle), everything is right there. I grew up living in the suburbs, so I feel like I'm back in my element.

- No more work uniforms. However, my office has no dress code so it's perfectly acceptable to wear jeans!

- We've been cooking a lot more. I've had a few big successes (turkey chili, roasts in the crock pot, scalloped potatoes & ham) and some major fails. But we won't discuss those ...

- We are finally in a legitimate position to buy a house!

- Madelyn is pulling herself up. Which means Daddy needs to lower her crib mattress, STAT!

- She also decided it's way cooler to play peek-a-boo at 4 a.m. than to sleep.

- Landen is now following a behavior chart. We keep track of his good behavior with stickers, and he gets weekly awards to celebrate when he reaches a goal.

- We found a new pediatrician for the kids. Madelyn's 9-month appointment is on Tuesday. We'll see how it goes - so far, the clinic hours seem super-convenient in case we have a sick kid.

- I am in the process of organizing my life thanks to the Life Your Way Printables I found online.

That is our life in a nutshell.

Kitchens

2011-11-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

As we get serious about buying a house, we realize our requirements for a kitchen are pretty simple: the house has to have one. Beyond that, the details will come later.

The aethestics are something Husband and I frequently discuss because we both should be happy with the look of the house. However, our tastes differ so we've had a few heated discussions on the topic. I have always loved the look of dark countertops with dark wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances. Our apartment offers that current look in our kitchen, and though it's very classy and looks amazing; it's dark. I have horrible vision as it is, and I often find myself squinting to see what I'm doing!

Plus, Madelyn loves to kiss our stainless steel appliances. Our 4-year-old also leaves his mark with smudges and handprints. Though they look great, stainless + children = not awesome.

Husband likes the look of white appliances and maple cabinets. The look is too country for me.

Experience has shown me the value of white appliances with children - much easier to keep clean!

Recently, I suggested white cabinetry with white appliances to make the look seem stream-lined and cohesive - and finally, a look we both agree upon!

Thank you, Pinterest - this is a look we both agree upon, only with lighter floors and white appliances. LOVE the cabinetry, the island and farmhouse sink!

House Hunters

2011-11-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Our lease with our current apartment complex ends next May, and that is it - that is our deadline to find, purchase and move into a house! Enough stalling. I'm done dragging my feet and worrying about the details. It's time to put up or shut up, and lay down some damn roots for our family.

I've already told my husband that I am not considering another big move, and therefore intend to remain in the Twin Cities until Maddie graduates high school. Our move from WI to MN wasn't a terrible experience - the kids tolerated the drive well, and we had plenty of help from friends and family (whom I can't thank enough, by the way) - but the thought of packing and relocating someplace new leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I'm dreading packing up again this Spring, but the chore is tolerated by the fact that it's a local move.

At this time, we decided to get serious after the holidays. We're pretty much unpacked in the apartment (minus two boxes), and we're about 90% settled into our new routines. Maddie has adjusted phenomenally, and though Landen is taking things a bit slower, he seems to be ok. I am officially on my own as an account manager at my new job, so once we return from our holiday travels, we're going to pursue our dream of homeownership!

Goodness, it feels like my life is constantly in transition.

Said by me ...

2011-11-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

When E sent me the invite to Happy Hour via text,

"Why is she inviting me to Happy Hour? She lives in Minnesota."

... was my first thought.

Umm, DUH!

JoJo's Rise & Wine

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

Recently my friend E invited me out for Happy Hour. We met at JoJo's Rise and Wine in Burnsville - very cute!

Yes we did drink an entire bottle of Malbac and talk for hours!

The ambiance was cozy. It was a great way to unwind after a busy day at work!

In other news ...

2011-11-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

Look who's pulling herself up ...

We're in real trouble!

Look what I found ...

2011-11-12T08:00:00.001-06:00

As my iPhone searched for a wireless network, look what I found:

Apparently the FBI was running surveillance near my apartment!

Kids Say The Darndest Things!

2011-11-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

On Sunday, Husband and I looked at a house in Prior Lake. It is our goal to purchase and move into a house when our lease ends in May.

This house in particular had plenty of potential. Though older and in need of plenty of cosmestic upgrades, it's located on a quiet street close to the elementary and middle schools, and only a few miles from the lake. The yard was decent - offering the right amount of space for a backyard BBQ with a small group of friends, and room for the kids to expel their energy. There was a four-car garage, though detached, but we could live with that. The listing described 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a full basement and 1700-square feet.

"Can we get a dog?" Landen asked from the back seat. Kind of random, but we could tell it's been on his mind for a while.

"What would you name it?"

"Colby Jack," he replied. "Because it's my favorite cheese."

Oh my goodness, we laughed! Isn't that an awesome name for a dog?!

Skinny Jeans

2011-11-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

A few weekends ago, my SIL and I went shopping. I was on a mission to purchase some casual clothes for work (there's no code, which is awesome). I picked up 15 tops in neutrals and 3 pairs of pants, and I'm quite pleased with the additions. I still want to find some new jewelry and shoes; I've been wearing my black heels since starting my new job and I desire some variety!

Lately, I have been loving the skinny-jeans-and-boots trend. While browsing the sales racks at Old Navy, I decided to try on a pair:

Old Navy "The Diva" skinny jeans

FAIL!!! Dude, my ankles were too big for the opening, and my hips (which birthed two children) were too awkward for the fit. I'm kind of disappointed, especially since I've sucessfully shed my 60+ lbs of pregnancy weight! Apparently I'm destined to stay with the bootleg cut.

However, I'm thinking leggings and tall boots would look all right - perhaps cozy for the office?

The shiz my husband says.

2011-11-09T21:57:00.004-06:00

It started with the Taylor Swift commercial for Cover Girl.

"I don't understand why people find her attractive," he said. "I would rather stare at a dog's ass than look at her."

The rest of the commercial was punctuated by gags and grunts of distaste.

And then she won Entertainer of the Year.

"WHAT?!"

"She sings about her latest boyfriends!"

"You're so mean, I'm just a teen ..."

"I'm sure you have some hair on that va-jay-jay ... GROW UP! And you can blog about that!"

"I would probably feel better shoving my fingers down my throat than listening to her say thank you!"

"Really, they sat her next to Tim McGraw?! That {{as in her first single}} happened what, 10 years ago? When she was 13?!"

So ... you're saying you're not a fan?

Other addictions ...

2011-11-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

After I've had my coffee each morning, I then turn to my other addicitions:

YUM!!!!

And then at night, I turn to Sutter Home White Merlot.

Space.

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

My sister is good for posting ahh-mazing decor ideas, and I've stolen two that make me giddy:

The first, is such a great use of wasted space! This fulfills my OCD tendancies and strong desire for organization and order.

And the second, I can envision something like this for Maddie's room. I wouldn't pair these colors together, but I really like how it looks. It's fresh. I love the wall decals and the dress form.

Hair Inspiration

2011-11-07T08:00:00.002-06:00

Lately, I have fighting the urge to drastically change my appearance, which includes chopping my hair and dying it darker. Is it bad that my hair inspiration picture is that of a baby?

I can't help it - I think it's adorable!

Picture Day

2011-11-06T12:00:00.002-06:00

Recently, the kids had Picture Day at their new school. Landen did awesome, and his proofs were adorable! And then, there's Miss Maddie:

Maddie to Photographer: "I effing hate you."

Needless to say, we won't be ordering prints of her. Landen and Maddie did take pictures together, and she cooperated a little better for that one. We ordered prints of Landen and of the siblings together.

Halloween preview

2011-11-04T11:30:00.000-05:00

October 31st marked quite a few "firsts" for us - our first holiday in MN, Maddie's first Halloween, and our first time trick-or-treating at night. A second post (aka photo dump) is coming soon, but here is a preview:

Our friend P (Harry Potter) with the cutest little dragon in the world, J; a sleeping Madelyn, as the Growling Flower; and the world's greatest superhero, Landen as Buzz Lightyear!

Just funny!

2011-11-03T10:08:00.000-05:00

Where was this china when I created my wedding registry?! This would be too awesome to sip from with my girlfriends!

Allow me to introduce ...

2011-11-02T16:42:00.002-05:00

My latest addiction:

Out of pure necessity, I started drinking coffee in the morning. With the recommendation of a fellow Blog/Twitter Mom, I add a crap-ton of sweetener and French Vanilla creamer - absolutely delicious!

It's weird because up until this point, I hated coffee. I hated the bitter taste and the smell. And until I make my modifications, I have to plug my nose. Now, I look forward to this every morning when I walk in my office.

I need the perk because Madelyn has been suffering while her eye teeth come in. Her parents haven't been sleeping well, because she hasn't been sleeping well. Plus, coffee is free at my office. I've already warned dear Husband that we will likely need to invest in a coffeemaker ...

We salute you, America.

2011-10-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

It's been 2 weeks ...

2011-10-29T16:04:00.002-05:00

We have a new place, I have a new job, the kids attend a new school and we are living a new life. The adjustment period is nearing its close, and it seems we are doing well with the change. It's been ahh-mazing seeing Husband so much, and fun to be close to friends and Husband's sister. The new job is awesome, and I am really excited about it. I get to play with fonts and the Pantone color wheel, which satisfies my creative urges.

It's been two weeks since we packed up our lives in WI and transplated it in MN. Though its not quite home, I am enjoying the vibe of the Twin Cities. I wake up each day with a smile on my face, and I know in my heart we made a good decision for our family.

I appreciate your support; these past two weeks have been frantic as we worked to get unpacked, settled and utilities hooked up. I hope to return to my regularly scheduled blog posts soon.

All our bags are packed ...

2011-10-13T11:33:00.002-05:00

... we're ready to go!

My last day at work was today. The kids are taking part in good-bye celebrations at school. Husband is loading the truck and trailering the car, before doing the exit walk-through at our apartment.

Then, early tomorrow morning (after spending the night in a hotel), we'll head to Minnesota.

It's bittersweet.

I'm so excited for this new chapter in our lives.

But it's hard to say goodbye.

On Maddie.

2011-10-12T10:20:00.002-05:00

Me: Why are you telling people Maddie is 6 months old? She's 7.5!

Husband: I know, but I don't want to think of her as being that old already. Next comes Homecoming and boys, and I don't like that.

(Honey, I believe we have a whole childhood to enjoy with her before she starts bringing boys home!)

Husband: I hope I can survive.

Me: I hope her boyfriends survive.

We're in trouble now!

2011-10-12T10:14:00.001-05:00

Maddie is crawling, and getting faster by the second. She started by crawling short distances to get her chubby hands on her brother's toy cars. Then, she crawled from the couch to the TV because she discovered its great fun to pick up the wireless router and slam it on our DVR box. And now? She follows me down the hall into the bathroom. She follows me into the kitchen. She pauses when she realizes we are passing a new room to explore or a wall to bang on. And now ... she has started pulling herself up in her crib, so her mattress will be lowered.

Am I the only one?

2011-10-11T09:29:00.003-05:00

Becoming a mother has been the most amazing, humbling and educational experience of my life. It also exposed me to some fears never before experienced. Am I neurotic, or does every mother experience this paranoia?

1. Kidnappings = My.WORST.nightmare. The very thought of it gives me the shakes. I have a rule with Landen that he needs to be in my line of sight at all times, no matter what; no matter where we are. If we send Landen outside to play, you bet your ass I am supervising and giving strangers the stink eye. Landen doesn't quite grasp the "stranger danger" concept yet, and still considers everyone a potential BFF. It's awesome he's so polite and greets everyone with a friendly hello; but I worry said person will snatch him up Elizabeth Smart-style.

2. Pediphiles in the bathroom. I think Husband gives Landen a little more independance than I do. We were shopping one day, and Landen had to answer the call of nature. Husband told Landen to go into the men's room - we'd wait outside the door. I know Husband is trying to teach Landen a life skill - Daddy can't accompany him forever. Mama's reaction? Oh hell no! I frantically reminded Husband of pediphiles lurking in the shadows of public restrooms and insisted he go with our 4-year-old.

3. When I run errands with both kids, I think "he looks like a serial killer," when we pass men who stare at me a little to long. My guard is always up, and I am constantly in Mama Grizzly mode. I usually return a glare that says, "Make a move, and I'll claw out your eyeballs."

4. I have very high standards when it comes to who will watch my kids. Close relatives and friends are always at the top of this list, and if Husband and I need someone to watch our kids I prefer one of them. This means we will likely NEVER hire the neighborhood high schooler for babysitting services. When it comes to daycare facilities and schools, I base decisions on feelings. I know immediately if I can send my kids to a certain school based solely on how I feel within the first 5 seconds of being within the facility. If it passes the "feeling test," it must then hold up to a very long and detailed checklist that I go through with a fine-toothed comb.

5. In parking lots, I have Landen touch our parked car before we walk into a store. It's to teach him not to dart into traffic and to wait for an adult so he can hold hands. It's a very strict rule I have.

6. Recently, Milwaukee had its first "fetal abduction" case, where a full-term baby was forcibly removed from his mother's womb. Both the mother and baby died. I read somewhere that the number one cause of death for pregnant women is homicide. When I was pregnant with both Landen and Madelyn, this was my biggest fear - that I would be killed for my baby.

7. My husband is not allowed to acquire any more guns until we have a gun safe. Yes, we have guns. Yes, we have curious and mobile children. And yes, they are hidden, unloaded, with safeties on, appropriate locks in place and bullets hidden in a separate location. And yes, I share this information in the event we host a play date or baby sit ... which is another reason why I insist we invest in a gun safe.

8. I have moments where I wish I knew how to shoot a gun, because I am absolutely terrified of a child abductor breaking into our house when Husband is on a trip and I have no way to defend myself. But, I am terrified of guns. Husband fantasizes about my learning to shoot. I break down in tears of fear from simply holding one so I doubt lessons will happen anytime soon.

There are more, of course - and the most important thing I learned as a parent is to follow my intuition and instinct. It is right 99.9% of the time!

LOL.

2011-10-07T12:19:00.002-05:00

Me to Husband: We won the lottery.

{Insert long pause.}

Me to Husband: $6

Husband: LOL! I was hoping you'd say at least $500K.

Me: Shit, I'd be happy with $100K.

Husband: I know right?!

RIP Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T08:14:00.002-05:00

Even though I've only just begun to appreciate Apple (we have a couple iPods and recently purchased the iPhone), I've always been inspired by this man's story. He never graduated from college, and yet; he lead one of the most successful and innovative companies known today. That Apple icon is recognizable all over the world. His products are used by millions. And all because Steve Jobs was brave enough to think outside the box. Yesterday, I learned Jobs passed away. He was 56. Shocked of course; and ironically I learned of his death on my iPhone ... the very device he invented. His legacy lives on.