becoming blissfully domestic

almost Irish St. Patrick's Day Chili

2010-03-17T14:46:00.002-05:00

Ok, so this is not really an authentic Irish dish but neither is green beer. Weeks ago I thought about cooking the traditional corned beef and cabbage on St Patty's day but when I planned out our menu and went shopping for the week, I completely forgot. So I decided to just put an Irish spin on what WAS planned for dinner tonight, chili. And what would be more appropriate than Guinness...plus we already had a few in stock since my husband likes to treat himself occasionally after a hard day at work :)

St. Patrick's Day Chili

ingredients:

1 T. oil

2 medium onions, chopped

1 large green bell pepper

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. ground turkey (or pork)

2-3 t. chili powder

1 t. cayenne powder

1 t. ground cumin

2 T. brown sugar

1 bottle (12 oz) dark beer, preferably Guinness or other rich stout
1 can (14.5 oz) black beans, drained
1 can (14.5 oz) red kidney beans, drained
1 can (14.5 oz) pinto beans, drained
1 can (14.5 oz) chili beans
2 cans (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with liquid (regular or chili ready)

**optional: 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce if you like a soupier chili

1. In a large pot, saute onion and pepper in oil over medium heat for about 5 min. Add meat and cook until browned. Drain any excess grease.

2. Add spices, sugar, beer, beans and tomatoes (and sauce if using), stirring well. Let the chili come to a boil and reduce heat and let simmer for at least 25 minutes.

3. Serve with sour cream and green onions, or whatever your favorite chili toppings are.

4. Feel free to drink the remaining beer and celebrate the Irish!

(photo courtesy of myrecipes.com)

lucky in love

2010-03-17T08:20:00.002-05:00

I am so lucky to have you.

You stand beside me, encouraging me and never letting me fight alone.

You inspire me to do greater things than I thought I was capable of.

You never judge, however rediculous my thoughts may be :)

You tolerate me even when I fall into a slump and have "grumpy pants", usually with a smile on your face.

You love me. Always. And for that, I am truly lucky.

love is a handful of honey

2010-03-13T19:48:00.007-06:00

I just wanted to share this great book. Not only is it one of my son's favorite, but it is also quite tolerable, which is important by about the fourth time reading it in a 20 minute span.

Tonight while we were sittng on the floor, reading it yet again, Maddox stood up just as I read "Love is that last little cuddle and kiss...", buried his head in my hair and gave me a giant hug. I completely melted of course with that overwhelming sense of love, not just for him, but from him. One of those truly warm and fuzzy moments. I promise, I will never sigh and think "Really? That one again??"

it's been a long time

2010-03-10T05:20:00.005-06:00

Wow...it has certainly been a long time! I completely abandoned my blogging efforts over the past few months and I have REALLY missed it. Life has been, in short, hectic. We have been travelling a ton, mostly visiting family but we did take a mini-vacation without the little guy so we could have some much needed R&R. I guess in the middle of getting our life back to normal...I have had trouble finding time for just me.
Maddox is 15 months old now (I know...how is that possible?!?) and he is into everything! I have sat down in front of this screen so many times and opened up a new post and it never fails, Maddox comes over and crawls in my lap and tries to type my new blog entry for me. I can barely check my email before he loudly protests the matter. I used to spend quality time with my computer after he was in bed or during naps but I feel like there is so much to do during those few hours of quiet that by the time I am done with chores, I just want to take a shower, curl up on the couch with Brandon, or go to bed.
I am making an effort though to not forget about the little things that keep me sane, like blogging or just reading a book. So here I am, up at 5:00, before the little monster wakes up, attempting to get in a little "me" time. I have to say...it is really nice to drink coffee in the glow of my computer screen. Quite peaceful :)
P.S. I hope you like the spring makeover!

whole wheat bran muffins

2009-12-18T07:10:00.004-06:00

I know these are not as exciting as all the other chocolate, caramely, gooey, frosted, spiced holiday treats that we are bombarded with this time of year but sometimes I just feel like I need a break from that stuff. These muffins make me feel like I am putting something healthy in my body for a change and are a great way to jump start my day...especially with a big cup of chocolate truffle coffee :) I love whole wheat flour so of course that is what I use in this recipe but I have a friend who swears they are way better if you use all-purpose white flour or half of each.
Whole Wheat Bran Muffins

ingredients:
1 1/2 cups wheat bran
1 cup skim milk
1 T. lemon juice (you could totally use buttermilk instead of the skim milk and lemon juice but I never have it on hand)
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 t. vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
Mix together milk and lemon juice. Add to wheat bran; let stand for 10 minutes.
Beat together oil, egg, sugar and vanilla and add to milk/bran mixture. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into milk/bran mixture, until just blended. Fold in raisins and spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Makes 12 muffins.

happy birthday baby

2009-12-17T06:14:00.002-06:00

It is hard to believe what you have accomplished in just one year...and how much you have helped me grow. I can not imagine a world without you in it and am filled with excitement when I think about the many more birthdays to come.
Happy Birthday baby!!!

**I wish I had pictures of what he did to the cake about 10 seconds after this was taken but I was too busy doing damage control to think about pictures :)

fiesta chicken soup

2009-12-10T09:05:00.002-06:00

I made this last night for dinner and it was soooo yummy. My husband really loved it too so this will definitely be on the menu more often. It's great to take the chill off during the winter and it was super easy to make. It was great served with tortilla chips and avocado!
(photo from Southern Living: Christmas Cookbook)

Fiesta Chicken Soup

ingredients:

1 medium onion, diced
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, minced
3 cups chopped cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken that I picked up at the supermarket)
1 (15-ounce) can chili beans
3 1/2 cups chicken or turkey broth
1 (11-ounce) can whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Saute onion in hot oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat 7 minutes or until tender.
Add garlic, and saute 1 minute. Stir in chicken and next 8 ingredients.
Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally; reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.
Top with sour cream and shredded cheese if you like.

yay!

2009-12-08T11:36:00.004-06:00

sugar for sanity

2009-12-02T15:46:00.004-06:00

I don't know what to do with myself! Brandon sould be home in less than 24 hours and I am trying to stop from pacing back and forth from my computer (to check the status of the flight of course) to my phone (to see if I by chamce missed a call from rear detachment. I have not been away from the phone long enough to miss the call but you know crazy phones these days...what if the ringer stops working!?!!!) and then back to the computer, taking a detour to the living room to casually turn on the tv to the weather channel (just to make sure there is no storm anywhere in the vicinity that could delay his plane).

Maddox and I were at the grocery store by 7:30 this morning because at 6 am I was already starting to pace and I know how I can get. For lunch I met a friend at the mall and we window shopped for a whie in an attempt to distract myself but now I am back home and the little guy is sleeping and me...well you know.

Anyway...maybe I will try out a new recipe I found for cheesecake bars to take the edge off :) I will post them if they turn out good! (You know...I am really glad that this wasn't a longer deployment or I would probably have to gain about 20 more pounds!)

giving thanks

2009-11-26T20:14:00.003-06:00

Tonight I am full. Full of turkey and pie. Full of love for my husband and our beautiful son. Full of happiness that my family is being put back together very, very soon. I am full and bursting with thanks for everything God has allowed me to have this year.

Happy Thanksgiving

Baked Pasta with Spinach and Sausage

2009-11-20T09:04:00.004-06:00

This is so delicious! I am not usually a huge fan of sausage but I am in love with this dish. It is such a great meal to prepare when you are having dinner guests because you can prepare it in advance and put in the oven about 30 minutes before you are ready to eat, not to mention it will really impress the guests...I was pretty impressed myself!

Baked Pasta with Spinach and Sausage

12 oz smoked turkey or chicken sausage, sliced lengthwise and cut into 1/4 in. pieces
1 T. olive oil
1 medium red onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 (14.5 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. dried basil
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 lb. rigatoni
10 oz fresh baby spinach (can use 10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained)
8 oz. mozzarella - 4 oz. cut in 1/2 in. cubes, 4 oz. shredded
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat and saute onion until transluscent. Stir in the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
Stir in tomatoes, oregano, and basil; let simmer for 10 minutes. Add cream and cook until warmed through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. If you are using fresh spinach, add it to the boiling pasta at the last minute of cooking and cook until wilted. Drain and return to the pot.
Add the tomato sauce, sausage, spinach, and cubed mozzarella to the pasta and toss to coat.
Pour this into one lightly greased 9x13 in. baking dish, or two 8x8 in. dishes, and top with grated mozzarella and parmesan. Bake until browned and edges are crisp, 20-30 minutes.

apple chicken curry with brown rice

2009-11-15T14:51:00.009-06:00

This was the first time I attempted to make a curry and it actually turned out pretty good. Unfortunately it does not look as appetizing as it is tasty but it's curry...what can you expect? And a major plus, my 11 month old liked it...so much that he had 2 bowls! I can't wait to make this again although I will probably wait until my husband comes home or I have dinner guests because Maddox and I were stuck with a LOT of leftover curry.

Apple Chicken Curry with brown rice

1 medium onion, chopped
2 apples, peeled and chopped
3 T. butter
3 T. all purpose flour
1 T. curry powder
1 lb chicken breast or tenders, cut into bite sized pieces (you can use more chicken if you are feeding more tummies :)
1 cup hot chicken broth
1 cup milk
3/4 cup raisins (I used golden raisins but you could use either or none at all)
salt and pepper
1 T. oil or butter to saute chicken

cook chicken in a skillet with oil or butter, set aside
saute apple and onion in butter until slightly tender, add the curry powder and cook for about a minute
add the flour to the apple mixture and cook for 30 seconds before adding the hot chicken broth and milk, stirring well to make sure no flour is sticking. let simmer for about 3 minutes
add chicken and raisins; the curry can continue to simmer over low heat for 5 minutes before serving. season with salt and pepper to taste
serve over brown rice

crunch time!

2009-11-14T07:03:00.006-06:00

As Brandon's return is getting closer and closer, I find myself thinking "what have I been doing for a year?" Some might say "you have raised a child alone" and that in itself is enough to keep one busy for a year...but I had plans. I had big plans of essentially becoming a domestic goddess. I wanted to learn how to bake amazing bread and cook complicated meals like it was no biggie. I wanted to make our house look like a home instead of the place we moved into right before having a baby and never really had time to do anything except put the furniture down and hang a picture. I really wanted to sew more and and make things that would impress my mother-in-law. I was pretty much planning to be Martha....a younger, more fashionable Martha of course :)
Now I know that one does not become Martha in a year...not even close, but I feel like I have not accomplished anything. I had no idea how time consuming taking care of a baby could be. I guess I was naive but I really thought I would have all this time being a SAHM to do crafts and cook and make rediculously cute baby clothes. WRONG. Some days...I am lucky just to get the laundry done. So for the next few weeks, I will probably still be in a semi-panicked state trying to cram in a bunch of stuff I didnt get done while Brandon was gone, but I have come to grips with the fact that my domestic goddess status is on hold until my husband is here and can entertain the little guy so I can at least finish the apron I started like 4 months ago. Now I wonder if I have time to lose a few pounds...

watch this...you won't regret it

2009-11-11T09:12:00.004-06:00

The Way We Get By

This is a beautiful documentary. It will tug at your heart and you will probably cry...but it is worth it. Watch it tonight on PBS.

Happy Veterans Day. Thank you soldiers, past and present, for everything you sacrifice for the life of someone else.

mmmmmmmmm....

2009-11-09T13:02:00.009-06:00

I really love candles...actually obsessed would be a
more accurate way to describe it. During the fall and
winter months, I can't stay away from the candle aisle
in whatever store I happen to be in and I have a rediculous collection of half burned, various pie and spice scented boutique candles stashed in the hall closet. I would say that pumpkin candles have always been my favorite...that is until I found Fireside at Bath and Body Works a few days ago. It is UNBELIEVABLE. I could not stop smelling it. Seriously, I walked around the store with it held under my nose and did the same thing when I got home and ripped open the box. I couldn't get enough of it.

It is hard to describe but it smells like the nice part of wood burning...you know the slightly sweet, warm smell before the smoke takes over...mixed with a splash of men's cologne. It reminds me a lot of my husband actually. It smells like man...rustic, sweet and comforting. It really is intoxicating and quite addictive.

Sorry pumpkin, but it looks like we are going to have to take a break, I have a new man in my life ;)

holiday no-sew blanket

2009-11-07T10:13:00.004-06:00

I have been feeling extra crafty lately so I decided to make Maddox a Christmas blanket. My sewing machine is on the fritz (right before the holidays of course!) so I just bought 2 pieces of fleece and essentially tied them together. Super simple! It did take me a few hours but I did the cutting while Maddox was napping and the tying while he was running back and forth across it and trying to "help". I know there are tons of tutorials out there for how to make these but I really liked this one. I used 1 1/4 yards of fleece and it made the perfect size for a toddler bed. I am thinking about making a smaller blanket using just 1 yard to take along in the car or stroller.

I am definitely addicted to this now! It is so, so easy and I love all of the cute fleece patterns you can find. Great to make for last minute gifts!

i have a date!!!

2009-11-05T05:54:00.004-06:00

In exactly one month from now... okay, give or take a few days...I have a date!
With my husband!!!!!!
This year is finally going to be over. It seems almost surreal that in less than 5 weeks, I get to wake up and see Brandon's face instead of waking up tangled around the huge body pillow taking his place. The anxiety has already set in of course. I am not allowing myself to actually count the days down yet because that would be torture but one month. ONE MONTH!! I feel like a little kid waiting to go on that long awaited trip to Disneyworld, laying awake at night imagining exactly what it will be like to see Mickey up close and to really step foot into Cinderella's castle, except Mickey is my husband and the castle is, well I guess our life together picking up where we left off...that may have gotten a little off point but you get what I am saying. This is going to be the longest month ever. I am trying to keep myself busy over the next few weeks so the anticipation doesn't completely take over.... so everyone I know will probably be getting homemade gifts for Christmas this year, or I may just bake myself into bigger jeans. I am trying to avoid buying a new wardrobe so maybe Maddox and I will take a trip to Hobby Lobby today. Holiday fleece is on sale!

maddox's first halloween!!

2009-11-03T20:33:00.007-06:00

Maddox was the most adorable puppy I have ever laid eyes on! He enjoyed some of the Halloween festivities but I think

he liked chasing a neighbors cat most of all.

Aunt Debbie had lots of treats waiting for us! I think I gained 10 pounds after this holiday...but I couldn't bear to waste all of the yummy chocolates and Maddox can't acquire a taste for sugary sugar coated sugar just yet...what is a mom supposed to do???

Ok so this isn't a Halloween picture but it was just so cute of

Maddox, I couldn't resist sneaking it in!!

another pumpkin recipe

2009-10-27T12:10:00.004-05:00

These are AMAZING.

This may be my favorite pumpkin recipe so far! The muffins are super moist, a little spicy, and the tartness of the apple with pumpkin is wonderful.

mmmmmmm......

Pumpkin Apple Spice Muffins

muffins:

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice**

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and finely chopped

toppings:

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice**

2 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the dry ingredients in a big bowl and make a well in the center.

Mix the pumpkin, butter, and eggs in a seperate bowl and then pour into the dry mix. Stir just until moist.

Stir in the apple (be careful not to overmix) and spoon into muffin pan.

Mix together the sugar and spice and sprinkle over the muffins.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until knife comes out clean. Remove them from the pan immediately and let cool on racks.

Makes about 20 muffins.

**You can use equal parts of cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves, and nutmeg instead of pie spice

I took these to a playdate brunch and they were a big hit, with the kiddos and the mommies!

(Once again, the pictures are terrible and don't do these justice but my kitchen has NO natural light)

pumpkin patch

2009-10-26T20:22:00.004-05:00

It finally stopped raining long enough for us to make a quick trip to a local pumpkin patch. We didn't get to actually go out in the 'patch' and pick one out because the fields were so muddy due to almost a month of non-stop rain, but Maddox didn't know the difference. He just wanted to make sure he touched every single pumpkin...and I'm pretty sure he did.

He would touch one, stick out his tongue, squat down beside it, then move on to another and do this again. He was too cute!
And the tongue is out again! There were actually only like 2 or 3 pictures that his tongue wasn't poking out...I guess that is going to be his new thing for the week.

pumpkin oatmeal breakfast bites

2009-10-24T10:46:00.004-05:00

These are perfect for a healthy breakfast on the go. I am always trying to find breakfast things that Maddox and I both like, so when I found this recipe for Pumpkin Oatmeal Bites, I was super excited! They are really easy to make and are so good for you... not to mention it is yet another way I can use pumpkin!! I modified the recipe and added golden raisins and a tad bit more sugar but you could add nuts or chocolate chips and I am sure they would be wonderful!

(Sorry the picture is so bad, it really does not do these justice.)

Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Bites

ingredients:

1 can pumpkin puree (15oz)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 t. vanilla extract

1 cup whole wheat flour

3 cups quick-cooking oats

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. ground cloves

1/2 t. ginger

1/2 cup raisins (more or less depending on preference)

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the pumpkin, sugars, applesauce, and vanilla in one bowl.

Mix the remaining inredients in a big bowl. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir well (this takes a while to make sure everything is really good and mixed together because it is so sticky)

Drop full tablespoon size clumps onto a greased cookie sheet. They don't spread when they cook so you can put as many a possible on one sheet.

Bake for about 15 min. or until done.

*This makes a LOT...I ususally end up with 30-35 bites, but they do freeze well.

trying to hold it together...

2009-10-21T12:32:00.006-05:00

I have not talked to my husband in 2 days because they are in a blackout. I know that he is okay but I still worry. I need to hear his voice everyday, to know that he is safe and on the other side of the phone. It is an unbelievable comfort to know exactly what he is doing at that very moment.

I miss him more than I knew it was possible. I feel like so much of myself is missing...I am not whole without him. I envy friends whose husbands come home to them everyday, who sit down together for dinner, who share a couch while watching t.v, and who go to sleep in the same bed. This year apart has really made me appreciate Brandon and our relationship, and it has made me realize that there is nothing that I would not do, or withstand for us.

So yesterday when I received the heartbreaking news that his unit had lost another soldier, I broke down. It really hit too close to home this time. I cried until I was out of energy to cry and then did the only thing that I could think of to do...I made brownies and snuggled with our son.

When we are all a family again, I will never forget this year that we spent so far apart, and I know that it will make us stronger. I can only hope that it will make me a more understanding and supportive wife, and always remember the vows we took not so very long ago.

'Supermom' I am not

2009-10-18T07:54:00.007-05:00

Maddox is officially done with "baby food". He has decided that he no longer likes mush of any sort and will only eat that yummy stuff that big people eat. From the beginning, I have made all of his baby food in my own kitchen. My friends tease that I am attempting to pass as a 'supermom' but now that I look back, I think I partly started doing it out of guilt brought on by my failed attempt (gasp) at breastfeeding.

The entire 8 months that we knew about Maddox before he actually arrived, I talked about the joys of breastfeeding and read pretty much every book ever published on the subject. My husband was just as excited as I was and even went to nursing classes with me. Lots of people warned me that I may have trouble and not to blame myself if I decided not to breastfeed, but of course I reassured them that I would be nursing my child, end of discussion. I had friends who stopped breastfeeding after several days or weeks and told me their accounts of what went wrong but truthfully, I just thought they didn't try hard enough or didn't REALLY want to do it (sorry guys).

Well, after about 7 weeks, I quit nursing. After 7 long weeks of tears, frustration, pain, and resentment, I had to quit...for my own sanity. I dreaded feeding him. He would nurse for sometimes up to an hour and then want to eat again 45 minutes later. He could never get the hang of latching on, I had mastisis twice, and to make matters worse my c-section incision became infected so I was constantly running a fever. Not to mention my husband left for Iraq the day after Maddox was born. ( This was not a good time for me to say the least.) I started to resent my own son and that was the point that I knew this had to stop. Although I know it was the best decision for us, I still feel guilty sometimes, so to ease the guilt I made all of Maddox's baby food. No jars for him ...okay maybe occasionally when I am exhausted he eats Earth's Best organic "Sweet potato and chicken dinner" but don't tell anyone :)

Making purees was really super easy, and we saved tons of money. I just steamed veggies and fruits and either mashed them up or put them in the blender. Then I froze them in ice cube trays so I could get out individual servings. Pureeing is easy, but as I said earlier, Maddox does not like them anymore. Needless to say, coming up with meals for him that are both healthy and edible for someone with only one tooth has become a challenge. These books have been soooo helpful!

Annabel Karmel is wonderful! She has tons of other books about superfoods for babies and toddler meal planners.

I love this book because it is really practical and the recipes are mostly quick and easy, which is essential when I have to cook 2 seperate meals for dinner.

I just want my kid to be healthy so if there are any little things that I can actually do to ensure that, I will. No, I do not yet don a cape and matching heels...but yes, at the end of the day, I want to feel like I am doing something good.

deep fried therapy

2009-10-13T14:29:00.005-05:00

MMMmmmmmmmmm...

These are sooo good...or I guess I should say, WERE good.

I try not to visit this place often, for obvious health reasons, but occasionally, after an especially difficult day (or night), I convince myself that I deserve it. We can all use a little deep-fried, sugar induced euphoria sometimes!

the perfect autumn day

2009-10-10T20:39:00.007-05:00

When I woke up this morning, shivering under the covers, I knew it was going to be a good day! We are having a cold front so of course I went through the house and opened every window and then bundled Maddox and myself up in sweaters and thick socks. I was actually able to enjoy my coffee without having to crank up the a/c.

We started the day off with generous helpings of delicious pumpkin pancakes. (I found this recipe at Life Every Day, thanks Megan!!) They were soooo yummy! I can't wait to make these for my husband...he and I share a deep love for pancakes.

After that, I decided we should head to the park so I could walk off the maple syrup. This was the first time we have been to the park since Maddox started walking so it was a whole new world to him! And it was his first time in the "big boy" swing. He was so serious about the whole experience, it was sooo cute...my baby is not really a baby anymore!!

fall crafting

2009-10-08T13:22:00.009-05:00

I have never owned a wreath. Ever. Not even a sparkly Christmas one with poinsettias or shiny, miniature presents. There really is no reason I have never adorned my door with dead leaves, pinecones, or christmas tree scraps, I guess I just never thought about doing it. I mean, isn't that what moms and grandmas do?? Well, seeing as how I am now a member of the mommy club, why not go crazy :) Not to mention every time I make my weekly trip to Hobby Lobby, which is quite often the highlight of my week (did I mention I'm a mom now?), I feel strongly compelled to make crafty things like holiday centerpieces and swags (you know, those weird floral things that hang over doorways, fireplaces, etc.) and of course...wreaths.

So here is what I did. I started with just a natural dried vine wreath. I bought the cheapest one I could find since I planned to cover it anyway, plus I like the rustic look of its imperfections.

This is the "stuff" I used to cover it. I dug through the seasonal 1/2 off bins and found different colored faux berries, balls, twigs, a mum, acorns, and autumn leaves.

I hot glued them on and topped it off with ribbon. I made a bow and tied the ribbon around the wreath and left it loose in the back so I could use it as a hanger.

TA-DAA!!

It was surprisingly simple, the whole thing cost about $8 and I was able to make it during Maddox's nap (which was essential since he has entered the uber-clingy faze and doesn't allow me to do ANYTHING without him)

This little project really helped lift my spirits and jump-start the harvest season. Its still 85 degrees outside but at least my house is starting to smell and look like fall!

good news is good news!!

2009-10-04T20:24:00.005-05:00

So I try not to get too excited when my husband gives me dates about him coming home from Iraq, just because whatever information they get is usually wrong, or it changes at the last minute. I have learned not to trust anything until it happens, that way I don't get my hopes up. Who am I kidding? I always get my hopes up even though I know it will change...but that is just the army life I suppose. But a few days ago Brandon called with news that he will (unless of course, something major happens) be home for Maddox's 1st birthday!!! He is actually scheduled to be home 2 weeks before the big day so even if he does get delayed, he should still make it home by then.

I have been praying and pretty much holding my breath that he would be home for our little guy's birthday ever since he walked out of the hospital the day after Maddox was born to get on a plane for Iraq. Not to menton that this also means that he will be home for Christmas...our first Christmas together as a family. Words can not express how happy I am to get this wonderful news and the peace I am feeling tonight as I write this. I can not wait until this long, LONG year is over and Brandon is back home with us again.

granola: take 2

2009-10-01T10:38:00.009-05:00

I have to say that this time, the granola is pretty darn good. I made this batch for my mother while we were visiting with her, so the ingredients are a little different from what I would ususally put together for myself, but even so I couldn't stop eating it!

This time I used:

2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup honey

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon water

cinnamon (I just poured some in until it smelled like enough)

1/2 cup pecans

1/2 cup dried fruit-raisons and cranberries

I mixed all of the dry ingredients together in one bowl, except for the fruit. Then I mixed the wet ingredients in a small sauce pan and let simmer for 1 minute before pouring over the dry ingredients and mixed it all together. I spread the granola out on a greased cookie sheet and baked at 275 degrees for 30 minutes ( I stirred the mix halfway through) and then added the dried fruit and continued baking for another 10 minutes.

It turned out fabulous! Cooking at a lower temp for a longer time really gave the oats the perfect crunch. I am going to try this method again once I get home and add a few more things that I like.

and he's off!

2009-09-25T10:17:00.008-05:00

I can NOT believe it...my little monkey is walking! Maddox has been taking steps for a few weeks now but only 3 or 4 at a time until he would fall and realize that crawling would get him where he wanted to go a lot faster. That is until last night, when he started walking all over the house in his grand attempt to grab the dog's tail!

We are in Alabama visiting my mom and I am so glad we were here when Maddox started walking because my mom does not see us nearly as much as she would like, since we live halfway across the country, and she feels like she has missed out on a lot. So she is more than thrilled to be a part of this huge milestone!

I just can't believe he caught on so soon!! He is only 9 months old and I really didn't expect to be chasing him around this early. Needless to say...he is now into EVERYTHING. HE NEVER STOPS GOING! I don't know where he gets the energy but I wish he would channel some of it to me since I am the one trying to keep up.

"Autumn, the year's last, lovliest smile."

2009-09-23T09:09:00.003-05:00

I can already smell the spicy and sweet perfume of pumpkins, apples, and cinnamon oozing from my oven. I long to feel the chill of early morning, crisp air as I walk out the door, coffee in hand. I welcome Fall, and urge you not to hesitate...I have, after all, been waiting since March!

one down, 19 more to go

2009-09-22T14:39:00.004-05:00

After many, MANY months of teething, I stuck my finger in Maddox's mouth this morning to dig out the mysterious black thing that he found under the refrigerator (I know, its gross, but it happens) I couldn't believe it when he chomped down on my finger and there it was! I had almost given up hope that we would ever see teeth in the little guy's mouth, but seeing as how Maddox now refuses to eat anything that he can not feed to himself, I guess it is a good thing that teeth are finally coming in.

I really tried to take a picture but I had no luck...he sees me coming and refuses to open up for anything but food.

"of course they are homemade.."

2009-09-17T14:54:00.006-05:00

I try to make it a point to send my husband something baked or bad for him at least once a month. I am not exactly know for my amazing homemade cookies...so of course, he usually requests chocolate chip. My cookies always seem to come out a bit extra crispy so you add on the travel time it takes for them to make it to the other side of the world and they become personal weapons. My husband never complains but I can imagine him excitedly opening the package only to find a bag full of cookies hard enough to use in combat. So I started trying out different cookie mixes and refrigerated doughs. That is how I fell in love with Betty Crocker "Homemade cookies in 20 minutes". It's just cookie mix in a bag and you add 1 egg and a stick of butter, stir it up, scoop them out onto the pan and bake. Not only are they super easy, but each batch costs less than $2.00. The cookies come out moist and slightly chewy and I even kept a few in a bag for about 2 weeks to see what my husband could expect and they were still soft and just as yummy! The best part...Brandon can't tell they are not really made from scratch...I guess he thinks I have just gotten better at baking.

this little piggy had pancakes, this little piggy had none

2009-09-16T22:25:00.009-05:00

Maddox loves his feet. He is constantly finding new ways to use them and incorporate them in everyday tasks. Just last week he started pushing the buttons on his miniature grill with his toes and always has his feet up on the shopping cart when we shop. So it's only obvious that his feet should be included during mealtime as well...I mean, don't piggies have to eat too?

pancake day!

2009-09-12T20:10:00.015-05:00

Several weeks ago, after an emotionally exhausting week, I decided to make pancakes to reward myself for surviving another week. The maple syrup sugar rush seemed to help my mood so after that, I thought it would be a neat idea to make pancakes every weekend, kind of like a way to celebrate that we are one week closer to Brandon being safe at home. I wanted to make the pancakes as healthy as possible since Maddox helps me eat them, so I tried several whole wheat recipes but didn't really get the light and fluffy pancakes I was hoping for. This morning I just winged it and I have to admit, I was impressed with the outcome!

Slightly Healthy Whole Wheat Pancakes

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup 2% milk (I'm sure they would turn out fine if you used skim or whole milk, this is just what I used)
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce

First, mix all of the dry ingredients together

Next, mix the wet ingredients in a seperate bowl

Pour the wet mixture into the dry mix, and stir just until there are no dry spots.
Be careful not to stir the mix too much, the batter should be lumpy.

Heat a skillet over medium heat.
Pour the batter onto the buttered (or PAM) skillet once it is hot enough.
I use a 1/4 cup scoop to make the pancakes all about the same size and I ended up with 10, medium sized pancakes.

Flip the pancakes once the bubbles on the top start to pop. Once you flip, try not to mash the pancake with a spatula to make it cook faster, it can the pancakes tough and they lose their fluffiness. They should cook for about 1 1/2-2 min. on each side.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee, smother the pancakes with
your favorite toppings, take a deep breath, and enjoy!

**I prefer peanut butter and maple syrup on mine (so much for healthy) but

Maddox thinks they are great with just sliced bananas.

remembering

2009-09-11T19:58:00.004-05:00

As I was driving to the doctor's office this morning for Maddox's 9 month checkup, I flipped the radio to the local station that brodcasts NPR. As the voice on the radio listed names of the many soldiers that had been killed overseas, just in the last week, I couldn't breath. I talked to my husband yesterday so I know he is safe, but as these young men, and the wives and children they left behind were discussed, I couldn't help but think "what if?"

We are lucky, Brandon has a much safer job now than he did a few months ago, and I find myself forgetting what it was like to lie awake at night wondering what he was doing and if he was okay. Or when the phone would ring, and I would hesitate to answer because I was afraid it could be bad news. I was sure I would have gray hair by the end of this very long 12 months. Of course I still worry, but I feel like I have become somewhat numb to the danger...my way of coping maybe.

granola: take 1

2009-09-10T11:21:00.011-05:00

One of my favorite things to do during the fall is make granola. I'm not sure why I only really do it in the fall but the smell of oats and cinnamon oozing from my kitchen probably has something to do with it. So it has become somewhat of a tradition for me to make yummy cranberry granola at the first sign of Autumn. (since we live in Texas...there really is NO chance of cool weather and crunchy leaves anywhere in the near future but that is beside the point)

Granola is really easy to make so it's only natural that I would mess it up. I never use the same recipe...and I sometimes change the recipes I do use so the first few batches of the season usually don't turn out the best. Last night, I started rifling through granola recipes but didnt see anything that really said "this is the ONE" so I just threw some things together. The result was edible but definitely not a winning combination. I won't give you the exact measurements, for obvious reasons, but I used honey and brown sugar as sweeteners, rolled oats, a little wheat germ, just a splash of water, some pecans, sliced almonds, cinnamon, and oil. Oh, and I added dried cranberries and dates once it cooled down a bit.

My first mistake was the oil. I used peanut oil which, by the way, I never cook with, but had some in the pantry leftover from when my husband tried to fry something. Brandon often gets in weird moods and decides to fry whatever he can find...anything from the typical fried dishes like fish and onion rings, to green vegetables that should NOT be fried...but thats another blog. Anyway, so I thought I would use peanut oil, I mean what difference does it make really? Well, the smell killed my cinnamon buzz for starters, and my granola tastes a little like scorched peanut butter. I will definitely stick to canola or veggie oil from now on.

My second mistake was temperature and baking time. I cooked at 350 for 25 min, stirring every 10 min. 350 was a little too hot...I think next time I will cook in a cooler oven for a little longer. The granola came out a little too brown and like I said, tasted a bit scorched.

So I am going to keep experimenting and will update on my adventures in granola making!

to the market, to the market

2009-09-08T21:26:00.014-05:00

I.
Love.
Grocery.
Shopping.
Just making a list of produce, canned goods, and other items currently missing from my fridge makes me giddy. I just love being surrounded by the rows and rows of everything from fresh fruits and veggies to imported dried pastas and loaves of crusty bread. I could spend hours walking up and down each aisle comparing ingredients of jarred sauces, organic kettle chips, and cake mixes.
Maddox is at the age now where he will sit patiently in the cart while I roam aimlessly through the store but I do worry that as he gets older he will cease to be fascinated by the bright lights and unfamiliar faces. I guess I will savor my last few months of peaceful shopping...or maybe dad will have to babysit while mommy has alone time at the market :)

...and the ducks go 'quack quack'

2009-09-06T11:05:00.009-05:00

I guess you could say our trip to the zoo was a bust. We drove an hour to the zoo, walked around for 2 hours in sweltering heat just to see sleeping primates and a lot of animals hiding in the shade. On the way out, we saw a couple of ducks...lets just say that it was the highlight of the day for Maddox.

going home

2009-09-02T10:29:00.003-05:00

I just bought a plane ticket to visit my family in Alabama. I have been putting it off because of the fear of flying with a baby. I have only flown 4 times in my life so I am not that familiar with airports and usually manage to get lost and begin panicking over the thought of missing my flight. So the prospect of doing that with baby in tow is enough to make me queezy.

I have only been home once since my son was born, and I drove, alone, with a 4 1/2 month old. What was I thinking? I don't know but I do know that I will NEVER do that again. We did break it up into two days, stopping half way to stay overnight, but it was still hard! I listened to several audio books to keep myself from dying of the boredom that comes with being in a car for 13 hours without anyone to talk to....other than the screaming child in the back seat who, after the first day, decided he never wanted to be in a carseat again. So lets hope that we have better luck on the plane.

missing him

2009-09-01T20:51:00.005-05:00

"Instead of thinking about what you are missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing."

This is my new mantra. I repeat it to myself daily, sometimes hourly, and recently it has saved me from many exhausting meltdowns. I use this quote in a more literal sense than the author intended, but it works for me. What is it that I am missing? My husband left for Iraq 8 months, 2 weeks, and one day ago. But it feels like he has been gone for years. For the majority of this deployment, I have been drowning in my own loneliness. I miss him more than I would have thought possible to miss anything, but it's time to lift myself out of this miserable slump.

My husband is definitely the 'glass half full' type. He gives me pep talks quite frequently and after this deployment may have a future as an inspirational speaker...
but I know he is tired of being the sunshine in the relationship so I am trying my hand at optimism (as I write, the pessimist inside is laughing and saying "yeah right, you?")

I should be more thankful for the amazing things my life has recently been blessed with. My husband of course being one of them. And our beautiful, healthy, 8 month old son. I am so grateful for my new family and the relationship my husband and I have...we actually like each other which is becoming rare among married couples, and he is my best friend. So this is what I am focusing on, and the fact that we only have 3 months left. I WILL pull through this...maybe even with a smile on my face, or at least not a scowl.

becoming blissfully domestic...

2009-08-30T14:24:00.004-05:00

So here I am, sitting on my couch, trying to figure out a clever name for my blog. I don't even know if anyone will want to read what I write or not (I am thinking most likely not) but it seems like a good form of therapy for me so I am going to give this a try.

Most of the blogs I like to follow are written by other stay at home moms. I am, by the way, in awe of these women, and consider them in a category of 'superwomen' who not only raise their children full time but also find time to take on many other roles such as writer, photographer, nurse, therapist, coach, chef, creative artist, and faithful, supportive wife...just to name a few.
It overwhelms me but at the same time, inspires me. I am amazed at how much I love being a wife and mother, and if it is the only 'career' I ever have, I don't think I will regret it. This life is still so new to me but I am excited about the prospect of becoming "domestic" as some would put it...blissfully domestic.