Life with two.
Life with two is…busy.
Our days are non-stop. G-tot stopped napping a long time ago so those precious moments of rest when Huggy Baby is sleeping are non-existent. I’m still nursing Huggy. Add to that the fact that he is eating solids three times a day and meals take a LONG time to execute. That doesn’t include meals for the rest of us. Or laundry. Or dishes. Or work. The list goes on.
By the time I get the boys to bed and ready to decompress I am so freakin’ tired.
Life with two is exhausting.
I still find it a little intimidating to leave the house with just the kids and no Josh by my side. I’m not sure I can handle being outnumbered anywhere but my home turf at this point. I’m sure it is all in my head and I would be just fine but the idea of wrangling two around the grocery store with no partner makes me shudder.
Some days I wish I could slow down time. G-tot turned five this past Saturday and the baby will be 7 months in just over a week. It just doesn’t seem possible.
Life with two is amazing.
This is my life.
I love it so very much.
Three thousand two hundred eighty eight days ago I recited hand written vows with my best friend.
Four hundred sixty nine weeks ago we danced hand-in-hand in a huge circle with a slew of our closest friends to All Together Now by The Beatles as our last song of the night.
One hundred eight months ago I married an amazing man.
Sure, our relationship isn’t perfect. Sometimes we fight. Sometimes we go to bed mad.
But every morning a kiss starts off our day and I love him to pieces all over again.
He is the one for me and I am the one for him.
I’m certain of it.
He gets me. In ways that NOBODY else could.
I’m so lucky he said “I do” nine years ago.
Happy Anniversary, Josh. I love you.
This is my Mom.
I would have to say she is my most favorite lady ever. Over the past 35 years she has loved me, guided me, taught me, and cared for me in a way that has made me feel like I hit the lottery when it comes to mothers. She has been a friend, a disciplinarian, a cheerleader, and a shoulder to cry on when I’ve needed one.
She is pretty fantastic.
Today is her birthday.
And although I’ve already wished her a happy birthday on her Facebook wall and I will call her later to tell her the same since we live too far away to celebrate together in person, I want to tell her here too.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
You deserve every wish you have ever made as you’ve blown out the candles on your cake each February 24th.
Inspired by this post written by Daisy over at Curvy Girl Guide (you are reading CGG, right? You know I also write there, correct?), I decided to make a batch of my own bark.
The results were fantastic.
In my opinion, the beauty of bark is that you can throw pretty much whatever you want in the chocolate and create some pretty delicious results. In addition to the dried cranberries, almonds, and cashews, I sprinkled some kosher salt on the top of the chocolate before it set. I highly recommend doing this. I do the same thing when I make almond clusters. I don’t use salted nuts and the addition of the kosher salt at the end is a great contrast to the creamy sweet chocolate.
Cranberry Almond Cashew Bark
Ingredients:
5–6 ounces Chocolate Chips (milk or dark)
1/2 tablespoon vegetable shortening (like Crisco)
Dried Cranberries
Whole Natural Almonds
Cashew Halves & Pieces
Kosher Salt
Directions:
- Place chocolate chips and shortening in a double boiler—I use a small metal bowl set inside a small pan filled with a little water—over medium heat. Stir occasionally as the chips melt being careful to not get any water in the bowl.
- Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 to 1/2 cup each of the almonds, cashews, and dried cranberries.
- Pour the chocolate mixture onto a rimmed cookie sheet lined with wax paper and spread out with a spatula.
- Top the bark with a few more cranberries, almonds, and cashews and sprinkle with kosher salt.
- Refrigerate to set. Break apart set bark with a butter knife.
Notes:
5–6 ounces of chips is about half a bag. I just eyeball it and don’t worry about measuring out the chocolate.
Dry off the bottom of the bowl you melt the chocolate in before pouring the mixture onto the baking sheet so no water drips into the chocolate.
February 12.2012
in • I, Me, Mine •It seems that the entire internet has gone Pinterest crazy and I for one cannot blame them. The visual bookmarking beauty of Pinterest speaks near and dear to my creative side. I have a tendency to pin a lot of recipes, stuff to do with the kids, and art and design inspiration.
Even better than pinning is actually making the things I’m pinning.
So, I thought I would share a few of my pins this week that I’m eager to try or found just plain cool.
TARDIS!! I’m currently mourning the imminent passing of Doctor 10—one episode to go—and I’m sure this adorable bag would help ease the pain a bit.
Source: etsy.com via Holly on Pinterest
I will probably never do exactly this craft since we are not Altoid eaters in this house but I’m sure I could find another cute house for these sweet little mice.
Source: mmmcrafts.blogspot.com via Holly on Pinterest
Frozen Strawberry Mojitos? I’m willing to give them a try despite the fact that this drink screams summer and we have snow in Northwest Ohio this week.
Source: heatherross.squarespace.com via Holly on Pinterest
We have everything needed to make these this week already in the house. This pleases me.
Source: kayotic.nl via Holly on Pinterest
Yum. Nothing more needs said.
Source: bakedperfection.com via Holly on Pinterest
What did you pin this week? I’d love it if you would share your favorite Pins in the comments!
January 31.2012
in mommy me, My BoysThere is just something about a happy, giggling baby that warms my heart.
It’s infectious really.
I have a hard time not smiling and laughing right along with my children when they get the giggles—regardless of my mood moments before.
Having a bad day? Watch this. Having a good day? Watch this anyway and make it even better.
When you are done and smiling from the joy Huggy Baby exudes during our tickle fest, head over to the Curvy Girl Guide where I’m talking about creating structure in my chaotic life.
Today is my Dad’s birthday.
He is celebrating his 59th. The fact that this is his last year as a 50-something seems almost impossible to me. For some reason my parents fall into this category of being perpetually in their late 40s or early 50s. Which is ridiculous since I’m 35. If I’m getting older they certainly are.
But… they have this air of youthfulness about them.
For my dad it probably has a lot to do with the fact that he still loves to hunt. He still loves his rock ‘n’ roll. He just refuses to grow old.
It is pretty spectacular.
I hope that’s hereditary.
Happy Birthday Dad!
December 28.2011
in Arts, My Boys, PhotographsNestled in my stocking this Christmas was a beautiful scarf. It’s purple and black and really soft.
I have no idea how to wear it.
Okay, that’s not entirely true. I did wear it like a wrap yesterday over the tank top I was wearing. Because face it, December in NW Ohio doesn’t really bring tank top appropriate weather. And sure, there are all sorts of tutorials on how to tie/drape/origami a scarf on Pinterest so I can probably figure out how to wear one.
I’m not quite convinced I will be able to pull it off.
My boys however, look striking in it.
I mean seriously. Don’t they look like gorgeous gypsy children?
Whatever you may celebrate this time of year, my family and I wish you the happiest moments and memories with the ones you love—today, tomorrow, and always.
 2011 Christmas Card—probably my favorite yet.
December 20.2011
in Food Love, Recipes
In a moment of seasonal inspiration the other day, I concocted what might be my new favorite holiday cocktail. The cranberry margarita. The cranberry and key lime juices are great together. And while I’m usually a regular-on-the-rocks-with-salt sort of girl, the sugar is a perfect contrast to the tartness of the juices. Bonus is that the sugared rim looks a little like fallen snow.
Enjoy.
Cranberry Margarita
1 1/2 oz. tequila
1 oz. triple sec
1 oz. cranberry juice
1/2 oz. lime juice
Mix in a shaker with crushed ice. Serve in a sugar rimmed glass. Serves 1.
Notes:
I used a cranberry juice cocktail. If using an unsweetened cranberry juice you may need to add a bit of sugar or simple syrup.
My lime juice of choice is currently key lime juice leftover from the key lime pie my mom makes me for my birthday. Fresh squeezed limes would be excellent and I’m sure Rose’s Lime Juice would be good as well.
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