Friday, February 27, 2009

Stay Tuned

I will be hosting some reviews and giveaways shortly that are sure to please mama's and little ones alike. Please stay tuned and you can win some great swag!
Thanks for coming to my blog and being part of it!
Have a wonderful weekend all!
Melanie

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Picture Princess Contest

Introducing Kaia, the next picture princess for Shabby Apple. Kaia is two years old, loving, empathetic, and loves to shake her booty! ha. She loves kids, dancing and playing at the park. Although shy at first, she warms up quickly and is very perceptive. She has a beautiful complexion that will go with your cool toned little girls and girls dresses from shabby baby, like this one.







Tasty Thursday

This is a go to recipe for me. For one, it's very versatile and people love the simple ingredients. It's also super yummy and a one dish meal. I got it out of a One Dish Meals Food & Wine cookbook. Won it when I used to work for American Express. Love the dishes in it! I personally have never used Swiss chard although I would like the Swiss chard. I usually use leeks or chives in place of them and use any kind of ham or bacon I like. I always keep the Gruyere because it has a beautiful, smoky flavor that makes the gratin!

Canadian Bacon, Potato, And Swiss-Chard Gratin

Serves 4

2 TBSP butter
1/2 lb Swiss chard, stems removed, cut into ribbons
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fresh-ground pepper
1 1/2 lb baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8 in thick slices
1/4 lb Gruyere, grated
1/2 lb Canadian bacon, ham or bacon
2/3 c low-sodium chicken broth

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. In a medium frying pan, melt 1 tbsp butter over med low heat. Add the Swiss chard and cook until starting to wilt. Stir in the garlic and 1/8 tsp each of salt and pepper. Cook until no liquid remains in the pan, about 2 Min's.

Butter or spray an 8-by-8-in baking pan or similarly sized gratin dish. Layer one third of the potatoes in the dish and top with 1/8 tsp each of salt and pepper, third of the cheese, and half the meat. Spread the Swiss chard in a single layer. Top with half the remaining potatoes and sprinkle with 1/8 tsp each salt and pepper. Spread half the remaining cheese and the remaining meat over the potatoes.. Add the remaining potatoes to the dish, sprinkle with the remaining 1/8 tsp each of salt and pepper, and top with the remaining cheese and 1 tbsp butter. Pour the chicken broth over all.

Cover the gratin with aluminum foil and bake 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden brown, about 30 Min's longer. let stand 2 to 3 Min's before cutting.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Apartment Hating Part Deux

I know I have mentioned this before but, as it is warming up here in the Phoenix metro area, I feel the need to complain just a little more. The people below us are new. They've been here less than a month. The elderly woman and the little grand daughter she cares for are precious.

Something they cook for dinner, and for snack late at night, and for every meal of the day it seems, smells like DEATH! Garlic and onions and some kind of meat and blech! I think you get the picture. I no sooner open my door and get a waft of this odor that permeates every inch of my small apartment. Great! I close the door and suffer with now the stuffiness, warmth and an added scent that fills my apartment. Maybe I'm a little bitter since the apartment below us was vacant for a year before they moved in?

Next on the list, hmmm. Last night, or should I say early morning? Around 3 A.M. I woke up to my husband coming to bed and lots of voices coming from outside. Normally, that lasts only for a couple of minutes and then it's gone. Last night was another story. Apparently, the twenty something neighbor and his friends decided that drinking all night and hanging on the porch would be a great idea. I heard them talking and laughing until 6 A.M. when it got much louder.

GRRRRRR! My husband isn't bothered by much while he is sleeping but, I am. If I hear a bunch of talking or really loud anything, I'm gonna wake up. So at 6 A.M. I head out to my balcony after moving my fingers in the dark to look for my jacket and some shorts. I manage to put those on and go see what's going on. I look over the balcony and there they were having a deep discussion about baseball.

Me: It's now six in the morning and I have been listening to you since about three
Guy 1: *surprised* it's six? I'm so sorry I didn't know it was six already
Guy 2: sorry
Guy 3: *quiet*
Me: It's the middle of the night and you are in a courtyard and your voices are echoing
Guy 1: I'm sorry again
Guy 2: You wanna talk about baseball? ha ha
Me: No, I want you to be quiet please! *goes back to bed*

I can't wait until we move. Hubs says if we aren't in the process of buying or really close to signing papers by the end of our three month left of lease, we are renting a house.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Wordless Wednesday-Sick Princess


Modern Fine Art

My mom is an artist and often she would teach me different techniques that she learned or that she would do by sight. I love art, all kinds of art. I love sculpture and oils, pastel and watercolor, modern and graphic!

I was checking out this site tonight. It has a little bit of everything in it. Giclee, hand textured Giclee prints, seriolithographs, Serigraphs, etc. This artist, Glen Tarnowski, has original oil paintings and original sculpture for sale here even. I really like his Beautiful Mind painting. It reminds of youth and the imagination and possibilities that await.

I think it's worth a look!

Melanie

Monday, February 23, 2009

Monday Madness

Well, we had a great weekend and was even more fun because hubby got a bonus and we were able to get a few things we've been wanting to. We went to a few furniture stores, probably about six, as we were looking for a new sofa. Ours was a hand-me-down and is pretty gross at this point with a toddler running around. We were looking for another micro fiber or a leather sofa. I don't really want to sit on leather all the time but, it's very durable!

Turns out, my Mother-in-Law is getting rid of her $2500 leather sofa, so we are going to buy it on the cheap! woot! We went to IKEA and I tell you, you get sucked into that place and the next thing you know, it's 2 hours later. It's amazing all the things you can find there and what great deals you can get on some household things that are a ton more elsewhere.

We ate out, and went shopping, etc. Now that's what I call a fun girl's weekend! Too bad it's Monday. heh. It's grocery shopping and going to Target for the necessities and/or toiletries day. Cleaning, as my house hasn't been cleaned in days and finding time to finish some frames I've been painting up. Coming home and making dinner. It's crazy and hopefully, I can get it all accomplished before my Sister-in-Law and her twins come over tomorrow. I know she won't mind a little mess though, so that is a save right there.

Hope your Monday wasn't too crazy and that you're getting all you need to get done, accomplished.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Blushing Buttercream Pettiskirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Friday, February 20, 2009

Stride Rite Shoes

Karen over at 3garnetsn2sapphires is giving away your choice of shoes from Stride Rite. That's an awesome giveaway and anyone who has shopped there knows they are high quality! Go here to enter.

Melanie

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Birthday Bash!

I Never Grew Up is having a big Birthday bash full of over 1200.00 worth in prizes! How exciting. You know you want some of the goods! Go check it out and enter to win some fabulous prizes.

Melanie

Thankful Thursday

I'm here again wanting to add a little thanks to the day!

I'm thankful for my comfy, warm, bed that I get to lay my head down on every night. And of course, the security that goes with it.

I'm thankful that my husband still has a job that isn't supposed to be able to support us, but does.
I'm thankful that daughter is thriving, healthy and strong willed. Why strong willed? Because she will be a leader and not a follower!
I'm thankful that I get to eat good food and not worry about my next meal.
I'm thankful that we are at the point where we may be able to buy our own home and what a blessing that will be!
What are you thankful for today? It's necessary to reflect, even on the small stuff. It is necessary to remember that it could always be worse.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Wordless Wednesday-Baby Blues


Tuesday, February 17, 2009

How Do You Track A Local Sex Offender?

I don't know about you, but I'm concerned about the area I live in and my child's safety! Many of us don't know who lives right next door to us, and they could be a sex offender. Besides being generally careful about where my children play and who they are with, I would really like to be able to know who my neighbors are!

There is a newer site that I checked out that allows you to track sex offenders right in your zip code. I went to the track sex offenders website and the first page had me enter in my zip code. After I clicked on the search, it took me to a page that advised me that there were three registered offenders in my area. Scary!

Once I register, it will link me to the national alert registry, which enables me to get:

-Instant access to the detailed reports
-Detailed maps for any location nationwide
-Free child ID kit
-Color photos identifying the offenders
-Conviction information
-Home address of the offenders
-Full names and aliases

It gives me peace of mind knowing that I can get that kind of up to date information whenever I want to! To get into the national alert registry there's only a one time activation fee. I also see that I am able to get monthly reports and updated information if I want for a nominal fee.

Mother's Curse

We all have said it at least once. "I don't want to be like my mom or dad" or whoever raised you and got on your last nerve! My Mother was the primary parent in my life. Dad and mom were married but, separated a lot when I was younger and when they finally divorced, I lived with my mom.

When I was younger, dad would wake up very early and start whistling, making coffee, being generally chipper. Mom would wake up later, grouchy, silent, and angry if anyone tried to even whisper to her for the first hour. Dad would comment on how he and I were generally chipper and lovely in the morning and not at all like my mom and my little sister.

Fast forward to today. I'm 33, a wife, mother to one, step-mom to another. I like my sleep. Scratch that, I LOVE my sleep. I'm one of those people that needs at LEAST 7 hours of sleep to feel functional through the day. And don't even try and wake me up because I will murder you, in my sleep. Hubby can attest to that last statement.

He's a snuggler, but that's another post. He stays up later than I because he is on a night shift. Conversations usually end up like this

Him: tiptoes through the room, turns on the closet light, starts taking off contacts
Me: "ungghhh"
Him: continues getting ready for bed
Me: *SIGH* "why do you always have to wake me UP?" loud tone
Him: "you're too light of a sleeper"
Me: goes to the bathroom, swaying like a drunkard *pees*
Him: tries to get up on me and snuggle
Me: *SWAT* "leave me alone!!"

And so it goes on, almost nightly, unless I don't wake up which is rare. My daughter is the only one that can get away with waking me up. I guess it's a mommy thing because, I know she needs me. That doesn't change the fact that I'm a grouch first thing in the morning, and would love to have some caffeine pumping through me before I have to do all the things mommies do.

It amazes me that I'm like this now. Although, I'm not sure why? My mom was, and is, a mean woman when she first wakes up. She needs a cup of coffee and a cig at least, to function! ha ha. Why couldn't I have stayed the chipper girl? One never can tell where the line is. That line where your parent ends and you begin. It's part of us, no matter if we hate it or not. My mother calls it "the mother's curse". You become like your mom and/or your child inflicts on you, what you've inflicted on her.

Guess I'll have to start figuring out what "mother's curse" I'm gonna pass on to my girl...

Monday, February 16, 2009

My Wonderful Walls

My wonderful walls is an awesome website that sells kids murals and nursery art. The stencils for the murals have an adhesive already on them and they also sell canvas wall art if you're not looking to change your child's room completely. Go see how cute their flower themed and farm themed murals are!

Who Says Romance Is Dead?


Did you add a little romance back into your relationship this weekend? Hallmark holiday or not, I was able to share some romance with my husband that I will remember for a long time to come! My husband has maybe one romance bone in his body so, this makes it extra special.

The weekend before Valentine's, I asked him if we could do a date night. We set it up and were able to have a lovely evening. Valentine's day, we had both the kids so I made a special dinner of rib eye steak and shrimp cocktail(he likes it, I don't) and scrumptious mint chocolate chunk brownies! We watched Chronicles of Narnia and spent time hanging out with the kids.

The kicker, he asked me to paint a picture with him. Something we could do together. Wha....???? I was surprised to say the least, and then thought it was just.too.sweet! Artistically it may not be all that but, I will be keeping this picture in our room to remember a time when we both did something together and enjoyed working as a team. We don't do it often enough anymore and I must say, we are at our best when we work as a team!
I also got a little unmentionable too! Another first in our relationship. I don't care if you do something together on a holiday or you do it when you carve out the time but, honestly, it's sooo important and always brings us closer together when we make the extra effort!

I have to brag on the Hubs because it only comes around once every so often. =) Above is picture of said "project". It's gonna go in my room to remind me that we do have the ability to be romantic. heh


Melanie

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Conservatory Overcoat GIVEAWAY!!!!

This overcoat is STUNNING! Handmade to boot!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

kelty speedster stroller giveaway

All you mama's and daddy's out there that want to be able to jog or have an extra comfortable stroller to roll your little one in should check out momfuse.com's giveaway for the Kelty Speedster stroller. Ends February 19th so hurry!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's day regardless of who you are, what relationship status you're in, your age, or country. Remember, someone loves you and that's what's important. Being loved is a basic human desire and need. Even if you feel lost right now and out of place or that no one loves you, there is a creator of all things that loves you more than any one person could ever love you!
Enjoy the day and remember today is YOUR day because you have life and there is hope in it!
*Big e hugs for everyone*

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Reason Number 5042 Why I HATE Apartment Living

I've lived in apartments for WAY too long. I don't have a lot of money or income so home buying has really been out of reach for my husband and I. It was really out of reach when I was single. I hate them. You get the hint.

So, here's the rub. My neighbors that share a Master bedroom wall like to have sex, A LOT. I suppose I should laugh at it since there's nothing really wrong with that but, there is something wrong with it if you're waking your neighbors up at three, four, even five in the morning doing it!!! I get to hear voices, banging, etc! Yay!

People close to me know that you don't wake me up in the middle of the night, you just don't! I've become a cranky old lady at 33. The only one that gets away with that is my little one.

Moving on, I don't understand why they feel the need to do it in the middle of the night when they have to know that if they can hear me talking through the wall, then I can hear them! Two, why in the middle of the night at all hours? ha ha Maybe they're doing it BECAUSE of the noise?

Either way, sharing paper thin walls with an entire family is not my idea of fun! Don't even get me started on my new neighbors below and their yummy(disgusting) cooking smells that waft into my lovely apartment home!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

New Goodies Over At KaiLei Designs

I've put up a few new items I've been furiously creating. I'm trying to stock up the shop since the cupboards have been a little bare ;).
Please go check them out and any feedback is appreciated for sure!
KaiLei Designs and my etsy shop have been updated.
Oh, and be sure to pay attention because one of them is a sneak peak to a very special giveaway that will be coming up soon!
Thanks
Melanie

Alpinestars Shoutout!

I wanted to take a moment and give a shoutout to Alpinestars clothing company. I won a contest over at Jolly Mom and was notified yesterday. From UPS today, I received my blouse!!!
Can you say lightning fast?!
Thank you to the Alpinestars team for caring, even for a customer that won an item and didn't purchase it!
Melanie
P.S. the top is super cute!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Diamond necklace giveaway

What gal doesn't want a diamond necklace? haha. Especially if it's FREE! Go check out
Gem Affair and check out the contest here! What a nice way to celebrate her Birthda!.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Shoutout For That Blog Place

That blog place is an upcoming website that creates custom headers and backgrounds for your blog. They recently did a giveaway on their blog for a free header and sadly, I wasn't a winner. :( I WAS however, very surprised to see in my email a code for a FREE header of my own. They were kind enough to give me a code because I entered. Isn't that awesome?

Go check them out and see if any of there backgrounds and headers fit your personality!

Melanie

Pre-Valentine's Day Date Night

Hubs and I went out on a date. We don't do them all that often and next weekend we will have his son and our daughter so, we decided to do a little valentine's date night this weekend. My Brother and Sister-in-law were lovely enough to oblige taking our girl for awhile. ;)


We haven't celebrated Valentine's I think since before we were married three years ago. We usually put a little more effort into our anniversary. Anyway, we went to a restaurant we've never been to, named Portland's. It's located downtown Phoenix and it's a little corner restaurant facing the new rail system.


We had a cozy little seat in the corner, candle lit, by the window. We sat side by side enjoying the intimacy of the restaurant and the closeness of each other. We ordered a lovely meal with grilled sirloin and chipotle hollandaise, mixed spring greens with a house red wine vinaigrette(excellent!), and tiramisu (strong esspresso!).


We talked about love, religion, our kids, and surprisingly, spent some of being quiet.


We then hit up Glendale, where they were having a Glendale Chocolate Affaire event going on. Many local vendors and boutiques showed off their wares and made up special treats. We managed to pick up some chocolate, chocolate mint, and chocolate cherry fudge. Oh, and a chocolate dipped banana for later! YUMMMY!


Our evening was a time to reconnect, a time to remember each other, and a time to recharge our batteries from everyday life. I know you read in magazines and books that it's important to make time for each other, etc. Take it from a regular stay at home wife and Mommy, it's extremely important to have emotional intimacy with your partner and to take time to get away from the everyday hum drum.

We don't do it nearly enough!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

We Have A WINNER!

According to random.org, our winner is number

30!

Sandy said: I adore the whimsy flower frame! Just too cute...you are very creative :0) Thanks for sharing this adorable giveaway!!!!

Congrats to my winner!

Please send me an email within 48 hours to claim your prize, and comment on this post!

Melanie

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

AWWWWWWW!

My daughter had just turned five months old a few days before. I forgot about this video since it was in a different folder than all the others. Takes me back, almost two years ago now. Thank God for video recorders. Such a wonderful way to remember things!



Safety Caps-Review




Unless you're insanely diligent in every aspect of planning for your baby, you're going to take some things for granted. Well, I have! My daughter, who is two years old now has her nursery set up so that it is "child proofed", and I've put the standard outlet plugs in her room as a safety precaution, as well as throughout the house. In doing so, I thought she was protected.

What I didn't realize was that she wasn't safe if she were to get one of the plug covers in her hands. The plug covers are a standard 1 3/8 in and can fit into even a young child's mouth. George, the creator of SafetyCaps had that happen to him. His daughter was able to fit a standard sized plug into her mouth and choked on it. He was determined to change that.

He created a high quality, plastic cover that is 2 1/4 in wide and comes with "pacifier inspired" air holes. The Safety cap comes flat topped, and made with a clear plastic that is intended to blend in with any home decor.

Above, is a picture in my daughter's room of the standard plug and the safety plug for reference. Now that I have some of these, I will be changing my plug covers out and replacing them with the larger covers. You can never be too safe when it comes to your child(ren).

Monday, February 2, 2009

500 to Pearl Girl Tags Giveaway

Momdot is holding another spectacular contest! Winner will receive a $500 gift card to pearl girl tags jewelry. Go check it out and tell them about the most special time you've had with your loved one!

Melanie

Prayer Request For a Mommy

Cynthia over at Confessions of a Yummy Mummy was expecting her son, Aiden in a couple of weeks. She had a Dr. appointment this morning that revealed the baby had been born into heaven, apparently from a cord injury.

The baby was big and she had to have a C section. I have no way to relate to her loss but, I can, we all can say some prayers for her today on behalf of her loss. She needs to feel the Lord with her during this time.

Melanie

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Mamalicious Monday

I'm going to join in on The Gift Closet's mamalicious Monday this week! A place where you can list all your mommy related stories, how-to's, etc.

My precious daughter is two and has been really empathetic for awhile. She doesn't like seeing anyone hurt, hearing babies cry, or even when mommy whines at daddy(I would NEVER do that :))

I slammed my head HARD on the freezer door tonight. I let out a yelp and she was right there making the cutest "awww mama" sound. She insisted on kissing my boo boo and patting my head. She kept looking at my face to make sure I was alright and she showered me with hugs and kisses. *now see I'm gonna start crying* She is a loving spirit, and surprises me everyday with how much of a capacity for love she has, even at two. I can't wait to see what she's like when she grows up!

I love you baby!

Skin MD-Review


Just about everyone knows that in winter our skin has a tendency to be dry, cracked, irritated, just plain rough! Here in AZ, we don't have the bitter cold to contend with like a lot of other states but, we do have DRY!

My daughter has mild eczema right now and I get terribly dry skin in the winter. I asked the skin MD company to send me a sample of their natural skin care lotion, because I had heard about it and wanted to try it out. I received my sample a few days ago and am already enjoying the benefits!

I put it on right away because I wanted to see how it felt. There is no colorant and are no perfumes. The lotion has the faintest, familiar scent of your other sunscreen related products. Immediately, my skin was soothed and that was a great feeling! I checked the ingredients on the back and the second ingredient was aloe. An awesome and quality ingredient!

The lotion is not super thick or greasy, goes on easily and rubs in relatively quickly. It contains an SPF 15, which makes it a perfect everyday lotion, especially for us out here in the desert. This lotion is also recommended for those who have eczema, psoriasis, and people that have dry, itchy skin from thyroid problems as well.

Overall, with the quality ingredients and lack of colorants and perfumes, this is a wonderful skin care product! It may take a few days for you to notice significant improvements, but you will see them!