Mini Barbie Cakes

My friend Amy is truly one of those people. Those clever, crafty, amazing people that get it all done with outrageous style, and makes it look easy. One of my favorite "Amy's" was the red patent leather-looking Britney Spears Halloween costume she made from red vinyl table cloths for her 6 foot+ husband one year. (This blonde-wigged crazy man is the very Simon that our baby will be named for if it's a boy...) She also whipped herself up a space suit, made from those silver shiny "emergency" blankets that year. Yes, she was sweating all night long! She's just always pulling an Amy, blowing me away with her cleverness. The only reason I don't hate her is because I love her so much.

Now she's busy being Mama of the year to 4 kiddos, including 6-year-old twin boys. Miss Bethany turned 4 recently and Amy once again pulled an Amy by making mini-Barbie cakes for each of the girls. How cool is this idea? She frosted them up and the girls embellished them with candy. This must have been a dream come true for those lucky kiddos!

Amy's blog is currently a private blog, so I'll have to fill you in on the goods whenever they come along. She tells me she's "toying with the idea" of making it public. If she does, you'll be the first to know. We could all use a little more Amy in our life.

Do you have one of those friends? Or wait, are you one of those people?

Melpo Mene

When did watching commercials become the best way to find new music? (Such as Hem, my last great discovery - via some insurance commercial.) My newest commercial favorite? Well, I just adore the Melpo Mene song "I Adore You" in the new Volvo commercials. You can listen to all of his lovely tunes on his MySpace page. It's good stuff. I could listen all day...in fact, I might just do that.

Spring Bag

I'm still on the hunt for a cute spring bag. This one from Tracy Porter tickles my fancy, but I need the Target-priced version...

Happy Weekend Wishes

Hope you can find some room in your weekend to do some of these things...

I've got my oldest friend {since 7th grade!} friend visiting me! So "laugh" and "talk" are #'s 1 & 2 on the list! {Well, "eat" is probably #1, if we're being realistic!}

Have a lovely weekend!

{Get this print from Orange Beautiful.}

Stackable Birth Stone Rings

I haven't worn my wedding ring since I was pregnant with Mason. I had it re-sized and everything, but for some reason, it just bothers me. What doesn't bother me? Not wearing a wedding ring. I know I'm married. I'm toting around 2 kids and (soon) a big ol' belly. It's not like guys hit on me. But after finding out it sort of bugs Chris, I need to figure something out. I think something like these stackable birthstone rings would do the job for me. A very, very thin band with a cute lil' diamond in it, maybe? I don't know. I do rather like the concept. It's cute. Just an idea. My 10th anniversary is coming up. Perhaps a ring alternative is forthcoming. (Hint, hint, Chris.)

Cravings Report

Here's an oddity from this pregnancy that I don't remember from the others. Thinking about food makes me completely ill. And this is sad for a food-obsessed person like me. I'm the one usually perusing a stack of take-out menus in bed, watching the Food Network and flipping through my book of Austin restaurant reviews. Now I have to change the channel if a food commercial of any sort comes on.

Of course, this hasn't stopped me from being insatiably hungry. Like, crazy hungry. (That part I DO remember from my other pregnancies.) But I get fuller faster, so I just have to eat a million times more often. Like, two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, and two snacks between each. It's insane. Pretzels are my go-to snack. Because they're filling and salty and bland - so they don't disagree with me, particularly. But I also have my cravings. Papa John's pizza, for one. I'm usually a Little Caesars girl, since it's cheap and quick, but lately, it's PJ's or nothing at all. Ham & pineapple, please. I would also eat French Onion soup 4 meals a day (that would be lunch x 2 and dinner x 2). Washing it down with a big ol' root beer float sounds like just the thing. And a bag or 2 (that would be a BIG bag or 2) of Lay's is the perfect snack.

But that's it so far - nothing crazy. Of course, I've never been a pickles-and-ice cream sort of pregnant gal, but you never know...

Anyone crave anything crazy in their pregnancies? Or have any tricks for keeping the nausea at bay?

Charlie Bit Me: The Spoof

Kick What?

Here's a silly Natalie + Maya moment for the memory book.

An exchange between the little girl and her "future step-mother" in Enchanted cracks me up every time. The step-mama walks in, trying to be cool: "Hey girlfriend! You ready to kick it?". The little girl looks bewildered and replies "Kick what?". Cue my hysterical laughter. Followed by Maya's.

So we've been acting that one out together lately. I'll say "Hey girlfriend...", she'll reply, we'll both crack up. Then Maya says "Wait, this time I'll go first. Hey girlfriend...". It never gets old And we think it's mighty funny. I don't expect you to think it's mighty funny. But I did want to record it for posterity...

{PS - I really want an awesome pair of cowboy boots, like these. But mercy me, they're expensive!}

Going Greener

We are trying our best to be greener. We recycle our little hearts out. I'm a champion of the reusable shopping bag. We've switched over to energy efficient light bulbs. Okay, that's pretty much it. I said we're trying!

One of the ways that we're decidedly and shamefully un-green is our water bottle consumption. I love water bottles. They're handy. They're inexpensive. And we're just in the habit of drinking a case or 2 of water per week. Which is oh-so-wasteful. I feel guilty every time I load a case of water into my cart, but I've been reluctant to change my ways.

So today I finally bit the bullet and bought a water filter for our tap and reusable bottles for the family. We're going to give it a try! I can't say I won't keep buying some water bottles. But this should at least help us cut back...

Hopefully we can master this change. Then it will be on to the next one...

I Need To Make More of An Effort

My friend Cammie recently blogged about her husband's mad skills as a children's hair-stylist. Yes, he really "does" his daughter's hair. Which floored me. Because I don't even think to brush Maya's hair most days. She's just ratty as can be most of the time. Sometimes I ask her to brush it herself (to avoid the drama of hair brushing), and it looks somewhat reasonable. But it's never "done", except maybe one Sunday of the month when I "put curls in". Any additional efforts I make with her hair are in vain (see evidence above - she's qualified to be a Waffle House waitress with that 'do, but that's about it...). I just have no skills in this department. And little motivation to learn those skills.

Until. Google Reader recommended the blog "Hair Today", which is a rather amazing catalog of children's hairstyles. And it made me feel like a total slacker. And it dawned on me that maybe I should try a little harder. At least brush my daughter's hair daily, for crying out loud. So today I attempted a pony-tail 'do (not the one pictured, although not much better). It looked kinda sorta okay-ish, I guess. I just need more practice.

Anyone have any tips for me?

Things I'm Terrible At: Making Decisions

This is the house we looked at a few weeks ago. We haven't even discussed it too much since then. I think Chris would jump right on it, but I'm terrible with these sorts of things. So, why not make a list to help me out. Here's the cons...

• I'm cheap about certain things. I know, I know, I'm not cheap about going on vacation or blowing money at Target. But when it comes to things like houses (which, I know, is an investment, I know!) and furniture, I'm cheap.
  
• I would rather keep that extra mortgage money in my pocket or in savings. Not to mention the extra utilities. Agh. (I'm feeling like Mr. Krabs right now. He's the money-loving crab from SpongeBob, for you folks who have the good sense not to watch that programming gem.)
  
• The thought of spending money on furniture makes me want to be sick. My kids are hard at work destroying the furniture we already have. Why would I buy new furniture for them to puke, poop, spill and/or jump on?
• I'm a creature of habit. This house is literally 5 minutes from my house. But I like my exact location. Not my general location. Exact. It's so convenient. It's got easy access to everything. I know 5 extra minutes isn't a killer. I know. I'm just crazy.
• Moving. Is SUCH a pain. Oh, the work! The fixing up. Showing the house. Keeping it clean (oh, it can't be done). Packing. Moving. Unpacking. Arranging. No. I hate hate hate all of those things. I feel like going to bed just thinking about it.
  
• I can't keep this house clean. How would I keep a bigger house clean? In fact, I don't deserve a bigger house. I'm an unwise house steward.
  
• There's no upstairs "game room". There is a great sized family room downstairs, which might be better anyway, so I can keep a better eye on things. But I like the idea of tucking the mess away upstairs.
  

And for the pros...

• I love the neighborhood. Tree-lined. 20-year-old houses with classic-style architecture. Larger lots than in newer neighborhoods (but not too big to handle).
• We have lots of friends nearby, including one of Maya's favorite friends, who she'd be in Kindergarten with next year.
• The floor plan is perfect for us. It's a party house, 100 percent! Perfect layout to have big bashes. Great back patio. Great "flow". I love the layout.
• All bedrooms upstairs! Perfect for a still-growing family. And the bedrooms are all good sized. The master is huge. The secondary bedrooms would work for 2 kids each.
  
• It has a HUGE long driveway with a detached garage and a gate at the house line. Which means the kids could ride bikes in the back on the driveway without my constant supervision, although I'd just be in the kitchen, which overlooks the yard. Which is perfect. (Because I hate supervising my kids. Just kidding. Sort of.)
  

And the pro/con...

• It's been updated, but not necessarily to my taste. It's all fine and dandy, I'll take it, but it's not like, the exact granite or tile I would have picked. It is nice, though. And Chris and I are famous for talking about doing millions of projects but actually doing exactly zero projects. So other "improvements" would probably not ever get done, in reality.

Technically, we're fine in this house. The baby can sleep in the office until it's big enough to share a room. (But these bedrooms are small. Ack.) And we have one more year until we need to settle where we want to settle for a longer haul - Maya starts Kindergarten a year from this fall, and we'd like to be settled by then. So we could hold out and try again this time next year. More money in my pocket for an entire year. I like that. But I also like this house. It's all very confusing.

So those are my talking points. Now, will someone just please make a decision for me? That would make my life much easier.

Mix & Match

Last night as I put Chris' plain white plate o' spaghetti & garlic bread next to his super-fancy & cute plate o' salad, I was struck by how bored I am with our white dinner plates. I do have a collection of random & adorable salad-size plates, but dinner plates are harder to mix and match, I've found. So I'm LOVING this collection of mix-able, match-able plates. These might be just what I'm looking for.

Anyone have another recommendation for me?

Lovely Design

Google Reader recommended the blog Lovely Design to me this week, and I can certainly see why. It's...well, lovely! I especially love these first birthday invites, which she designed and printed at home on ribbed cardstock (is there such a thing?!), then fancied up by rounding the corners (is there a tool for that?!). I think they're amazing! Do check out her blog for lots o' lovely stuff!

Photo Glass Works

{1;2;3;4}

I'm rather smitten with Photo Glass Works - beautiful photographs and art turned necklaces and/or earrings. Gorgeous stuff, do check it out!

In Search of a Gnome

My Dad wants a custom garden gnome. Like, one that's made to look like him. Yeah, that's totally something my Dad would want. It's not surprising. Unfortunately, I can't find such a thing. {The above photo was the closest I came, har har.} Anyone know of a source?

Yeah, I didn't think so...

They have lots of cool gnomes here, though, Dad.

**Update: Seth Price is my HERO!!! Get your personalized gnomes (+ stauettes & gargoyles) here. Thanks, Seth!**

Make Your Own Path

I'm loving these letter-pressed maps! Each one is unique - and lovely! Love it!

Get it here.

Maya's Reaction

I was nervous to tell Maya about the baby. I was. Because you just never know how she'll react. It really could have gone either way. And it's with GREAT relief that I tell you...she was ecstatic!

"Maya", I asked her, "guess who has a baby in her tummy?" And she went through her laundry list of preschool and church teachers. No, no, no. "Give me a hint!" she demanded. "She's tall. She has 2 kids." Maya's eyes lit up. "Is it Natalie?!"

When I verified that it was, indeed, Natalie (geesh!) she ran right over and lifted up my shirt. "There's no baby in there! When do you need to go to the hospital? When is that baby coming out?" Then she proceeded to run around the house in hysterics. "We're getting a baby, we're getting a baby, we're getting a baby..." Mason, of course, joined in the mayhem, although he has no clue. But my oh my, the relief to see her so, so very excited about her new "sister" (of course).

Now, if it ends up being a boy...well, we'll see if that news is as happily received...

"Mikey"

We started calling Masey's precious blankie "Blank" a while back, but it never stuck with Mason. He calls it Blankie, but it Masey-speak, it sounds like "Mikey". So, of course, we've all latched on to it and now Blank has become Mikey. And he loves Mikey more than ever! Just call him Linus Cottam...

Great Expectations

Oh, I tried, tried, tried to keep this pregnancy under wraps until the PC 12 week mark. Or if not that, at least until after my first doctor's appointment. But they keep moving that out {now one week from today} and I'm no longer able to pretend that I'm feeling just fine when in fact, I want to crawl into a bed piled high with food, food and more food so that I can conveniently alternate between sleeping and eating, sleeping and eating. And concentrating on not vomiting is taking up all of my precious blogging time. So I had to let you know!

That said, we're of course, thrilled. And as I said, I haven't been to the doctor yet, but "the internet" tells me I'm about 8 weeks along and should be due around November 6. Which is dangerously close to my November 8 birthday. And November is altogether too crowded anyway, so we'll cross our fingers for a Halloween baby.

Now, I just have to break it to Maya. This could go 1 of 2 ways, and I'm worried she's going to flip her lid. We shall see...

Easter Babies

Okay, so they're not technically babies anymore. {What!? When did that happen???} But they're still my babies! And I love to dress them up for Easter. Maya's dress came with a matching doll dress that Gracie, her most bestest teddy bear, looked smashing in. And Mason's jacket was a must-have, come heck or wild goose chase {thanks for running around town for me, Chris!}. They looked the part of my Easter babies, that's for sure.

Why Weepest Thou?

A little weeping is always on my Easter agenda. I just can't help myself. But unlike Mary Magdeline's tears of sadness when she discovered the empty tomb on that first Easter morning, my tears are tears of joy - not unlike the tears she shed when she met her risen Lord.

"Alleluia, Alleluia!", Mary Magdeline sings in a song from the Savior of the World production. "Angels brought the joyful tidings: Fear not - Christ is risen this day. Heaven came down to tend his body - why I grieved, I cannot say."

Later, when at last the resurrected Savior appeared to Thomas, Thomas is able to see the Lord with his own eyes and feel the wounds in his hands. John 20:29 says "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

I've read and heard that scripture many times, and one point, it finally dawned on me: "Those who have not seen and yet have believed"...that's ME. And you. And anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.

Because I am not an eyewitness of Jesus Christ. I have never seen Him in real life. I haven't felt the wounds in His hands. But I'm still a witness. Because I believe in Him. And I follow Him. And I know, I know, that He lives!

Happy Easter!

The Hunt

It wouldn't be Easter without an egg hunt, would it? And, as Maya informed me, "looking for eggs is like Easter because first it was like we lost Jesus, and then we found Him again". Right on, sister!

What I Know About Life

What I know about life is...not much. You might have guessed that. After all, I'm only 30! And the older I get, the less I know. {Ah, to be 16 again!} But I love life. I think it's exciting. So many possibilities. So many opportunities. You never know what will happen next.

Which is why I've fallen in love with the song "To Be Surprised" by Sondre Lerche (from the Dan in Real Life soundtrack.) The words go like so...

I'm not gonna lie
Saying everyone will be all right and fine until we die
But what else can you do but hope and pray and say
that we'll get by?
But be be prepared to be surprised.
Baby, be prepared to be surprised
You'd better be prepared to be surprised
That's all I know

And that's totally how I see life. Really, all we can do is prepare to be surprised. We don't know what's in store. But I'll bet it's going to be good!

{Photo from Flickr.}

Mama Worries

The doctor warned me that "Mason's" "medicine" might cause some rather "violent diarrhea". Hooray. And after our friend verified a raging diaper rash for his little guy when he was on the same "medicine", I'm shaking in my booties. Because diarrhea + diaper rash are pretty much number last on the list of things I feel like dealing with right now.

So I've been pumping that kid full of yogurt, the only solution I know of, and I come to you for your advice. How else do you ward off diarrhea? Garlic? Stake to the heart? If you know of a solution, please advise me, won't you?

Thanks. From me and from "Mason". And "Mason's bottom".

Note To Self:

This is so true is so many different ways. Whether it's your job or {your job of} being a Mama or busting your butt in any number of ways...it's always worth it! Don't forget that!

{Buy the print here. Via Design Crush.}

Decorating For Easter Dinner

I love these super-simple decorating ideas from Family Circle. Wide, brightly colored ribbon down the middle of the table...huge bowls of dyed eggs...small vases of spring flowers. So pretty, so simple, so fresh. Perfect for the Easter table!

Chirp

I'm adding Lenox's Chirp pattern to my list of china possibilities. The birds are a little quirky, but I like it. What do you think? Could you eat off bird plates, or is that, um...for the birds?

Making Me Laugh Tonight

I know I'm easily amused. In fact, it's something I like very well about myself. Because being easily amused means being frequently amused. And I do love to be amused.

Anyway, tonight as I gave Mason his prescription for his poor ears, I checked the label, where I was directed to: Give "Mason" 3/4 of a teaspoon daily for 10 days.

And for some reason, it cracked me up that it said "Mason". Like, "Mason", if that is his real name. Or "Mason", wink wink, and by that I mean the hoodlums you'll be selling doses to at $5 bucks a pop. Or "Mason", right, is that what we're calling it these days.

I mean, it's antibiotics for an ear infection. It's not Percocet. Or OxyContin. Or {my personal favorite} Vicodin. It has no street value with the high school crowd. It won't make me a little cash on the side. All it's good for is making an ear infection better. And judging from how well we're doing so far with these ear infections, it might not even be good for that.

I will say, though, "Mason" did seem fond of the taste - Or, at least, he liked it better than the Mucinex I gave him next. I hope do he doesn't get addicted, that little rascal "Mason".

If that's even his real name.

One Of Those Days...

We've been buzzing around like little bees all day today...

• Showered, dressed and ready to drive the preschool carpool? Check!
• Mason to the doctor to "make sure" his last ear infection cleared up? Check! {And it did not, by the way, clear up. Worse than ever. New antibiotic to try...}
• Pit stop for a reward doughnut for Mason {ah, what the heck one for me, too!} and a kolache for me {mmm!}? Check!
• Mason's prescription dropped off? Check!
• Home to scramble for a potluck item for today's preschool egg hunt? Check! {Thank goodness we always have tons of fruit on hand - I whipped up a lovely little fruit plate.}
• Off to the egg hunt with time to spare? Check! {Maya cleaned house and got a huge basket full. Mason, on the other hand, found one piece of candy and lost his focus altogether. C'mon, kid! Get it together!}
• Tour a "backup" preschool in case Maya doesn't make it off the waiting list at our #1 choice for next year? Check! {I really liked it and would be very comfortable sending her there. But I'm still married to my first choice and have my fingers and toes crossed for good news...}
• Home for a little rest? Check!

Then we're off to:

• Take Maya to the doctor to find out why she's constantly complaining that she "can't breathe" but isn't congested. Yikes. I'm hoping she doesn't have asthma or pneumonia or something.
• Stop by Walgreens to get prescriptions + a lifetime supply of Mucinex for the snot king. {That would be Mason.}
• Maybe taking Jori's advice and hitting IHOP for dinner. I'm in no mood to cook. In fact, yesterday's dishes are still all over the counter, and I'm really in no mood to clean, cook, and then clean again.
  

Happy Thursday to you all!

Easter Egg Nests

How's this for an adorable + easy + yummy Easter treat? Except I'll substitute Cadbury mini-eggs for the jelly beans. Find out how here.

A Desk Of Her Own...

Maya so needs this fabulous desk to do all of her sketching and coloring and writing. Isn't it pretty?

{Via Design Crush.}

Cherish Life

I'm loving all of Kathryn Riechert's designs - particularly the "cherish life" necklace. So, so appropriate - for all of us!

Surfer Boy

I'm not the Gymboree maniac I was when Maya was a baby. In fact, I hardly ever pop my head in there anymore, being the frugal gal I am, especially when it comes to kids' clothing! But I do still get their e-mails, and immediately fell in love with this swimming get-up for my li'l guy. First of all, I'm loving all the patchwork that's EVERYWHERE these days. And in a swim trunk? Too cute! And the "rash guard" is the best thing ever. First of all, less suncreening required. I have to keep my pasty little guy as albino as possible, after all. And second, it just looks so cute! Can't wait to see him scampering around the pool in this...

Good Enough To Eat

My friend Austin sent me these images, which were created entirely out of food. Crazy, right? They're amazing. And right up my alley. I'm drooling just looking at them!

{If anyone knows where these originated, let me know, won't you? I've love to give credit...}