Random Rambles

Oh. My. Aching. Back.

I’m tired.

Hubby and I worked all day on some post-baby meal prep.

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We did this before Wryder came and it was soooooo handy!  In Denver, after Sawyer, we had such a huge community  of friends that brought us food, we didn’t cook for almost 6 weeks!  How awesome is that?!

Our sweet friends from church and MOPS brought us food after Wryder, there’s just not as many people in general out here on the plains compared to the city, ya know!?

We ended up making:

  • 4 pans of lasagna
  • fixings for 3 pots of beef and barley stew
  • fixings for 3 pots of taco soup
  • 4 pans of enchiladas
  • 10 loaves of pumpkin bread
  • 6 loaves of banana bread
  • 2 dozen bagel sandwiches
  • 10 dozen cookies
  • 4 homemade frozen pizzas

We laid out some ribeye roasts to cut steaks and fajita/stir fry meat and browned some hamburger to have on hand for tacos, etc.   I can throw together some fruit and veggies quick enough if hubby runs the grill!  Thankfully, he gets home in good time every evening so I’ll have help for suppers…

I think we’ll all survive.  I’d just so much rather snuggle a baby and bond with my new family of five than be cooking in the kitchen, yes?!

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The girls in the Phipps house loves us some cute fingernails!  I paint Sawyer’s twice a week, usually the same with mine.

I’ve had my eye on some Jamberry nails for a while, I just didn’t know quite what to think about them.  My sweet cousin Melissa sent me some samples and I put them on tonight – which was quicker than I was expecting – and I’m afraid I’m in love….

IMG_2404-2Cute, yes?!  I’m hoping they last as long as they say do…but it is my first time applying them so I’m giving them a LOT of grace.  😉

I’m just thinking that it they last longer than three days that’s better than polish.  🙂  I’ll let you know what I think and you might have to order some, too!

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My sweet friend Amy is currently in the throes of a fundraiser for IVF treatments.  Her husband, Jake, judged with Wrex at CSU.  Jake (is a stinkin’ rockstar – go Google him) has cystic fibrosis and due to the biological absence of the vas deferens in CF patients, IVF is the only way for them to have children.

Their first born is now two and they’re off and running for number two!  You can follow their journey on her blog at http://cheerwineandsunshine.blogspot.com.

For a fundraiser, she’s making these GORGEOUS necklaces!

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10577098_812705330545_6333226034779753199_n10423908_812705739725_7944755054005360727_nI ordered three peas in a pod (pink, blue, pink for my babies) for myself and I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it turned out!

IMG_2406Isn’t that gorgeous??  Her prices are on point, she’s FAST and it’s for a good cause! She’s already shipped out well over 100 but she’s ready for more orders!

She offers two different chain/wire colors, four bead colors and four chain length options.  If you want to order one of your own, get a hold of me or visit her Etsy store at www.etsy.com/shop/dustanddaffodils.

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This guy:

IMG_2401Seriously handsome, yes??  He’s a dream…the best husband, dad and teammate a girl could ask for.  Hoping Monday doesn’t come too soon…

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Sayble is growing, no doubt.  (If you’ve seen my belly, you’d agree.  *ahem*)  All of the moving about is my FAVORITE part of pregnancy, hands down.  She’s been a lot more active and purposeful lately and I have loved every minute of it.

I know we women have the hard job of birthing the baby and our hubby’s get off easy, but they sure don’t get to fully experience the sweetness of a miracle on the inside.  It still leaves me in awe…every. single. time.

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Sleep.  Good sleep.  I hope at least.  Night night!

DIY: Gourmet S’mores

I mentioned yesterday that we cooked up some gourmet s’mores ’round the fire pit this weekend…and they were delish!  I mean, the classic s’more is pretty hard to beat, but I nosed around and found a few others that we think might take the cake.

The Nutty Buddy

graham cracker
marshmallow
peanut butter cup
 

The Salted Caramel

graham cracker
chocolate/caramel square (Ghirardelli or Caramello)
sea salt
marshmallow
 

Mexican Hot Chocolate

graham cracker
chocolate
marshmallow
cinnamon
nutmeg
 

The Grasshopper

graham cracker
peppermint patty
marshmallow
 

Two we didn’t try (but I definitely think we should have) are:

The Samoa

graham cracker
chocolate/caramel square
toasted coconut
marshmallow
 

The Nutella

graham cracker
chocolate
spread of Nutella
marshmallow
 

My favorite was the Salted Caramel – man it was good!  The Nutty Buddy and the Grasshopper were popular as well…but, really, IS there a bad s’more?!

I created a little menu for our occasion and I’ll attach it here so you can download and print for your next fire feast.  (Click on the image and then right click to save)

SmoresMenu

If you have a yummy s’more recipe to share, please do…there’s still lots of summer left!

Fun Friday

The weather yesterday was absolutely divine!  As much as I’m an extremist in most other areas of life (cleanliness, organization, event planning, grocery shopping, etc.), I’m not when it comes to weather.  I freeze to death when it’s 50 or below and I sweat to death when it’s 80 or above.  I like a constant 75 with a gentle breeze – is that too much to ask?

We spent a little time outside yesterday because, despite our colds, we just couldn’t help ourselves!  Sawyer chased down Paint the Cat, who has grown significantly over the winter.

Fat cat
Fat cat

Wryder’s hair had gotten really long on top.

See how long that middle section is??
See how long that middle section is??

We’ve been combing it over and it had gotten way over, so yesterday he got his first (redneck) haircut!

Daddy's also a barber...
Daddy’s also a barber…

I was afraid he would absolutely hate the clippers but lo and behold, he loved them!  I think he’d have sat there all day.  He looks quite handsome with his new do.

Awwww...
Awwww…

We also finished re-organizing the garage.  Sigh.  Are we the only ones that do that??  You get it all straightened up and then life happens and then it looks like a tornado hit it and you have to start all over again?  Drives me nuts.  Sometimes it takes a swift kick in the rear and some nice weather to get some of that stuff done.  We have a friend staying with us for a little while so we needed to make adequate space for a few of his things.

Speaking of said friend, I made breakfast on Tuesday morning…french toast…one of my specialties.  I didn’t eat any since I’m doing the no-gluten thing but Sawyer didn’t really dig right in, much to my surprise.  She’s been sick so I didn’t think much about it…until I tasted a piece of hers.  That’s weird, I thought.  It tasted familiar, but it did not taste like cinnamon.  My brain started running through the catalog of spices and it hit me – NUTMEG!  Oh, it was NOT good…not in that quantity, at least!  Poor guy ate all three pieces I put on his plate.  Sigh.  Not my shiniest culinary attempt.

But back to the weather…today is just as nice out, there’s a new baby calf in the corrals, we’re all feeling a little better and daddy should have a pretty short sale.  Sounds like a fun Friday to me!