Wordless Wednesday: it's a sickness really

I am a sucker for too much reality TV, especially....

This could be the best season of Big Brother ever!

Sad I know!

TAT: my go to recipes

This week is all about great, easy recipes. I am super excited to see all the yummy posts at Growing Up Geeky for this!

I got into freezer cooking right before P was born. We found some really good recipes for us in the book 30 Meals in One Day. It was a godsend until I had to give up food (okay just soy and milk, but that is most food) to continue to BF. 

I still use several recipes from this book, especially the chili - yummy. Since P arrived I have become addicted to Pinterest. I have written about two super easy and yummy recipes.  You can check them out!

Chicken enchiladas 

http://myorganizedchaosverstreate.blogspot.com/2012/07/pinterest-recipe-enchiladas.html

*I get four meals out if this. I am able to get 8 hearty enchiladas that I package by 2s and freeze before cooking. Mmmmm!

Four cheese stuffed shells
http://myorganizedchaosverstreate.blogspot.com/2012/06/omg-good-new-recipe.html

*OMG - this is heaven in a dish!  I also get several meals out of this, 3 to be exact. I think we are having this tomorrow!

Weekly wrap up

Getting back into work has gone pretty smoothly. I've kept up with most of my blogging hopes too. Here's my plan for this week:

- TAT looks awesome!  I can't wait to see all the links!
- I really am going to write about getting ready for school.
- I'm planning on writing back some of P's favorites but I'm looking for some recommendations!

It's a lighter week but I'm tired!  I will be here but a little less writing for me!

Review:Tommee Tippee

Tommee Tippee was a newer brand when I was pregnant. I registered for and received some of their items and was excited to try them. Unfortunately since they were newer, most were online only at that point. Since then Tommee Tippee has become more well known and is available at several stores near me, like Target and Babies R Us.

Lucky for me, I was sent a few Explora Truly Spill Proof cups to try. I couldn't get a picture of the cups in the packaging because P was so excited to try them. I think she likes them!

What I like is this:

- they really are spill proof. P is into throwing but these cups survive her torture without loosing their liquid!

- the spout is not too close to a bottle but not too far either. 

- they are easy to clean!

- the travel lid is there but doesn't detach so we can't loose it!

Perfect size with grippers in the side!

I love the cute designs!  They do have more neutral and boy designs too!

Here is that great travel lid up close!

Again, we are both big fans!

I am excited to get not only their insulated options but some of their dishes too!  You should check them out!

**I was provided with a set of cups to try and review. These are my opinions and are not swayed by outside sources. 

My Cleveland 3 Day Experience

This will be a photo dump with a few comments because there is no way to write about the whole experience. I will say that my body gt the best of me and I didn't make it through all 60 miles but I did my best, had fun, helped raise awareness, and feel closer to the cause. Here goes!

Opening ceremony was in the Paul Brown parking lot. Pretty cool - even being a Bengals fan!

Every walker is invited to write why we walk. 

Here is my BFF and rock star walker!

The stage for opening ceremony. 

They have lots of this lights around the opening ceremony site with the reasons why we walk.  I really love them!

 

This is the first thing we saw as we walked away from opening ceremonies!

 

 

There were people and groups that we called "walker stalkers."  They were around all weekend cheering us on, giving us goodies, and being a source of good energy!

 

There were pit stops every 3-4 miles.  It was a place to get more water, food, medical help, and relieve yourself!

**Did you notice the very pregnant walker in the first pit stop picture???  She is due in early October!

 

There were some great views of the lake along the way!

 

Lots of boobs all weekend long!

This is us at camp at the end of day 2.

You could send a walker a note with chocolate.  I got mine from Melissa - the woman and great friend we were walking for!

Night 2 we had some bad thunder and lightening.  We were relocated inside for about 2 hours.

We finished!!!!

 

Closing ceremonies!  The top picture is all the walkers and crew saluting the survivors as they entered!  What an amazing event!

 

 

{almost} Wordless Wednesday

I have been working with P all summer for this kind of post!

Here is my tongue!

These are my hands!

This is my eye!

My FAVORITE - my nose!!!

TAT: baby must haves

I linking up with Melissa at Growing up Geeky for another week of Toddle Along Tuesday. This week s all about baby must haves. Here are my go tos for a little little one!

1. Video monitor

I cannot imagine not having this. We have a noisy sleeper who randomly cries as she rolls over so I would hate to have to run into her room at every sound. This also allowed us to get a little extra sleep since we could glance t the picture to know if things were okay without acing to get out of bed. 

2. Boppy pillow

I know that some moms swear by the my breast friend. This version is more portable and cheaper.  I began using it at the hospital while i was learning to nurse her over a c-section scar.  We still use it at bed time to cuddle and read. Love it!

3. Breast pump

This is more for working breast feeding moms but I loved mine. While I would have loved to exclusively nurse her, figuring out her latch literally destroyed me so it was great to take a weekend off but still keep my supply and give her only breast milk. It was also convent for work. Bonus:Medela has THE BEST customer service on earth!  They saved me twice when I thought that my pump was ruined by teaching me some easy maintenance and sending me new, free parts! Love them!

4. Swaddle Me Blanket

This blanket answered our prayers!  We had a baby who needed to be swaddled to sleep well but always wanted to bust out. Enter Swaddle Me. Love it!

5. Bouncer

This was a life saver for me.  P was not a swing child (luckily friends told me to beware), and this was the only place that she would nap.  She did sleep in her own crib at night but with limited stair usage for me, I needed a place to put here in our living room.  The pack n play only worked every once in a while.  The bouncer ALWAYS worked.  This is my go to purchase for baby showers! 

Weekly Wrap-up

Hello!  So last week I had two posts written and was trying to add some photos and my IPad was not having it.  Needless to say I did not get my to do list done.  This will make this week (with school starting) a whole lot easier!

Here is the plan:
- I am really going to post about the 3 Day.  It is ready to go!
- TAT is on the agenda too.  Check back to see more about it!
- I have a post in the works about the knitting projects.  I need to get the pictures in.
- I am going to write about getting ready for school.  I know that it is after the fact but this year is so different with having P.  It has been a lot of work!

17 months!

I can't believe that this was not a part of my weekly list of to-dos but I think that I am in denial of the date because of school starting. Anyhow, P is 17 months today!  Here is the run down!

Age: 17 months

Stats: No official stats but she is around 25lbs. I am dying to know how tall she is and where it falls for the typical kid. Not for competition sake, just comparison. 

Sizes: Still size 4 diapers. I may be jinxing us but the overnights have calmed down. I was thinking about looking at overnight diapers but she has been normal for the whole month. Clothes are solidly 24 month items. I am trying to figure out the difference between 24 months and 2T. I don't get it. 

Sleeping: She is doing well here. Napping has been challenging this week. She barely slept (nap wise) yesterday at all. Today she has been down for almost 3 hours. I hope that getting back on the school schedule will help with this. 

Eating: Still great here. She has now had grapes - cut up of course. I wish she liked PB&J but she is very disinterested. There are plenty of foods she loves so I'll take it!

Favorites: She is loving the phone - and I found a toy phone from Leap Frog that she is in love with. We have picnics everyday. And books! I think we could read half the day and have picnics most of the rest of the day.   She also likes to do rolls (with help of course)!

Wordless Wednesday: helping mama at school

TAT: is there balance after kids?

I'm linking up with Melissa at Growing Up Geeky for Toddle Along Tuesday. This week's topic J's finding balance in life. Like her, I have struggled to find that balance. 

Like a lot of other people, I have several parts to my life. I have J, P, work, extra-circulars (like basketball and track), my friends, our extended family, our home, and my hobbies.  This summer I have been able to balance a little better - especially with J, P, our home, my friends, and my hobbies. BUT the biggies are around - work and extra circulars.

I resolve to do the following in this school year to help balance our lives:
1. We will do a monthly date night. Even if it means a babysitter.
2. I will do as much school work at school so I can be present at home.
3. I will continue to utilize freezer meals, leftovers, and cleaning throughout the week to leave weekends for more fun.
4. I will allow myself to say no to some things - even if it s for extra money. We are okay!

How about you?  Do you ave balance? Or a good freezer meal for me to try?

Weekly wrap-up

I'm back!  This week I'm getting ready to go back to school (work for me) so I will be figuring out my schedule for the school year in terms of blogging. I think I am going to try to average about 3-4 posts per week. Some weeks may be more or less but that is the goal.

I have 2 bigger things on the horizon. I am going to co-host a link party on Thursdays with Mrs Monica from Running Through Parenthood in Heels and will be having a review/giveaway from Sweet December Hats in October. I am so excited about both!

This week here is my plan:
- TAT is about finding balance. Totally appropriate as my at home time is winding down.
- I have some great pictures for wordless Wednesday
- I'm going to write a little about prepping for back to school.
- I'm hoping to share some knitting projects I'm working in too!

MIA

Sorry I've been MIA since the 3 Day. It was a great, emotional, and painful weekend. Fruday started off well, but I ended the day dehydrated. Saturday was better but I ended the day with a HUGE blood blister. It almost took me out for Sunday. I did get in a few miles but they were rough.

Breast cancer is close to my heart. I will stay involved with Susan G Komen and the 3 Day. Although, I don't think that I will attempt to walk again. My body does not seem to be built to walk 60 miles in 3 days. I hope to crew someday.

I will be back to blogging regularly now. School is on the horizon but I am ready (ish)!

Leaving my family for 3 days

I've written about the 3 day before so I'm not going to go into the event too much. You are welcome to read more at www.the3day.org/goto/MilesForMelissaHV. I'm now in getting ready mode. J will be home with P. I've tried to get as much done so I feel lke I'm having a part in her weekend. J will be great. P will be great. I will be a little sad but happy to know they are together. 

I think I'm packed. Honestly, if I don't have it packed, I will either have to buy it or go without. Otherwise I am ready to show my support of lots of wonderful people by walking 60 miles over 3 days. 

I'm walking mainly for a great friend that was recently diagnosed. She is finishing up her courageous fight but it is still now and real for all of us. 

I am blessed to be a part of a great group of girlfriends at work. We support each other no matter what. This was our most recent stumble. I think that we have all come out on the other side closer and stronger. Especially Melissa!  I'm so proud to be her friend!

Here is the basic course for the weekend. Fingers crossed I make it all 60!!!  I'm excited!