Last Minute

Nik,

It feels like I'm just keeping my head above water right now. Last week we had four tornado warnings in one day. The wailing of tornado sirens really wears on the nerves. I'd try to keep calm and not think about what we'd do if one hit down. It made me glad that I'm not a news watcher. The few scenes from last week I have seen are lodged in my brain. The whole experience zapped my energy. We're trying to get our house & garden ready for us to leave it, starting to pack and trying not to forget any essentials (plus trying to fit everything in two carry-ons. Darn my self-imposed carry-on policy now that we have a baby), and then trying to get Cub Scout day camp forms collected with the checks so I can mail them off in time. I feel like I'm trying to herd cats on the last one.

Any good tips for flying with an infant? She's such a good and happy baby that I feel a little bit better about the whole idea. But then again, we don't really know what to do with her when she gets mad or upset. I'm hoping our third seatmate is a caring and compassionate person who is okay with me nursing right at their elbow. Baby Girl is stinking cute, so that has to help our cause,  right? I think myself a pretty champion traveler, but this throws a whole different aspect into the picture. I plan to keep traveling even with kids, so I better get this whole thing figured out.

We get to go to a nice restaurant for lunch today. We're leaving the baby with friends and enjoying some grown-up time. I've wanted to go to this restaurant since our anniversary last August, so it better be good! It works out nicely that we're barely getting to go because the restaurant is now on restaurant.com. With code FLAG, coupons are now 80% off. Hip hip for saving money! There are two good ethnic restaurants on the site for you town. Thai and Indian food make me happy.

We celebrated the long weekend on Saturday by hitting up our local grocery store that had a triple coupon promotion going on. If I were to become a couponer, I'd definitely need to get more organized. It was a mess, but we saved a good deal of money. I finally found an Indiana deal site that I like, so I was glad for the heads up on the coupon deal.

I'm going to go throw more stuff in the back bedroom to feel like I'm "packing." I'm accepting prayers on our behalf for traveling with an infant, so be sure to send them my way. We'll see you soon-- but it still doesn't seem soon enough!

Deid

Green Gorilla

Deid,

There's was a yucky storm that rolled through last night--leaving our cars covered in mud. Which to my boys is a really good thing since they LOVE the Green Gorilla car wash. It seems a little pricey for a car wash, but I do love their free vacuums and the complimentary dash wipes (that way I can spiffy up the inside while the outside is getting clean) and figure $8 isn't too bad for a 10 minute mini detail job on a car. Plus the whole experience is worth $8 to my boys--the "octopus" is their favorite part and I actually use the car wash as a bribe for them. Wow, we really need to get out more.

The husband has been the designated waffle maker for years in our house. Somehow mine never turn out as good. I even tried again this morning--with the same recipe he uses. It may take him 3 times as long and he dirties 3 times as many dishes, but he makes some mean waffles. Do you know the secret to a good waffle?

The Pinterest app? Love it! I think I like it better than the actual site in fact. Except that I haven't figured out how to change the notes in re-pins, but that I can live with.

We looked at yet another house this week, the husband was ready to make an offer but I wasn't so set on it. He loved the location and lot, while I was not a fan of the floorplan. Sigh.

Kisses for Millie Moo
Nik

Potluck Ideas

Nik,

What do you take to potlucks? I think picnic and cook-out season is well underway (at least in our neck of the woods). We've been invited to two in the past week and I'm feeling pretty uninspired. We took a generic boxed "Suddenly Salad" type pasta salad to one and a bowl of baby carrots and ranch dressing to the other. Lame. But the funny thing is, I got several compliments on the pasta salad. I guess a sprig of fresh basil, plucked from my herb garden on the walk to the car, elevated it. Watermelon is on sale for Memorial Day. There's something awesome about plucking squares of watermelon from the serving bowl with your fingers. Even after you've had a whole plate full. I want to have a few easy and healthy go-to potluck recipes. And preferably quick, so when I realize the time after surfing blogs for too long (I can't be the only one with this problem) and only have a few minutes before we need to head out, I can still pull it together. Or maybe I should just work on my time management skills.

My kids will probably never even know corded or cordless house phones, let alone rotary dial. (I think I am an anomaly for my age having actually used a rotary phone at home.) Kids probably won't know how to read a map or manually roll up a car window. Technology changes so fast that we'll probably feel really old and outdated sooner than our parents did. Don't you think?

I'm going to say not too early for patriotic decorations. But my Easter eggs and little birdie? Probably a little too late for them to still be out.

I got Baby Girl a swimming suit at Gymboree yesterday. I used to say that I would be okay with putting my little girl in a bikini. I mean, I wore one as a toddler and I turned out marginally decent. But I swear that they are the skankiest things, even for infants and toddlers. Little tiny triangles and strings on babies?! It's outrageous. Baby Girl got a rash guard and skirted bottoms. Just about as much coverage as one can get. Too bad it's not on their website, but here it is on eBay. It makes me laugh that none of them on eBay are selling for less than $12.99 when everything at Gymboree is less than that during their sale. Funny how the world works.

Off to get ready for scouts. Last Pack Meeting before our summer break-- HOORAY!
Deid

Going Tagless

Deid,

We're adjusting to having the husband home a little more now that summer is here. It seems we fell into quite the morning routine last semester and he doesn't really fit in it. The boys are used to climbing in bed with me in the morning and fighting over Dad's pillow. Now when they climb in bed they wiggle their way onto his pillow and he gets the boot. I've been begging him to get rid of that pillow for years, but he insists he's never found a pillow worthy to replace it. I don't know what it is, but for some reason they all love that thing. I think its the dust mites.

Is it too early to put up Fourth of July decorations? My decor is in a weird limbo stage and I don't like it. If I put up the red, white, and blue right now it could span from Memorial Day to Labor Day, right?

I've slowly been compiling a list of everyday things that my kids will never get to experience. Like a rotary phone, or the dial on the TV. The other day my 2 year old discovered a tag in a shirt and asked me what it was. Then I realized most clothes, especially kid clothes, are tagless. Who would have thought those would go the way of the Dodo? Pretending to talk on a phone has come a long way from my days of play too. Its migrated from the thumb and pinky out, to now Boodle punches numbers onto his palm and holds his whole little hand up to his ear. What a little techy he is.

Old Navy is having another 50% off clearance sale. Although I don't think I shop at Old Navy much, I always seem to stumble upon that sale and replenish our closets for killer prices. One of my favorites of the sale is stocking up on baby items for later, because someone I know is always having a baby! Gymboree is having a sale this weekend too--everything is $12.99 or less!

Just 1 more week
Nik

Hey Nik,

The birthday was good. A few people, including Mom, told me that they knew the husband would spoil me. He gave me this gel pen that had been left on an abandoned desk in his office for the past semester. It's a Kanuki (I can't find it online) and it's love. I'm obsessed with super fine point pens, and this one is smooth and thin. Perfect. That husband is one good gift giver. (I've been wanting to take it all semester, but he wouldn't let me.) Even better though? Baby Girl slept from midnight until six this morning! I definitely got spoiled.

We made a 10" springform pan worth of cake and didn't come home with any of it. I'll take that as a sign that it was "pretty good" (as that Dudey of yours would say). It was yummy, but I think I'm just as excited for the two half-quarts of ice cream and half box of peanut butter ice cream sandwiches still in the freezer. Trouble. Yummy trouble.

I got to venture out of the house all by myself today. I hit up the post office and Target. The new Garden of Love forever stamps are amazing. I think they are the first forever stamps that I really want to stock up on. Our post office just got them in today, so I recommend getting some before they're all out. It makes me wish I was sending out wedding invitations, just so I could use them on the invitations. I love bright, happy stamps. If you happen to get a letter with one of the Garden of Love stamps from me, you know you're loved. I think I might hoard them. You know how you're pretty much the queen of the post office? I think I'm at least a princess. I know when to use a flat-rate (heavy or dense objects) and when to pay for first-class shipping instead (big, but lighter, objects). You can save a few bucks if you know how to work it right.

We've got an 80 degree day here. Sorry for the cold there. You know what Mom always says, "If you're cold, you're not working hard enough." Sounds like you guys are pretty lazy in your neck of the woods. ;-)

Not long 'til we see each other. Will we still write each other blog-letters then?
Deid

We Be Sewing

Good Morning Deid,

Well you're a year older--how does it feel? How did the ice cream cake turn out for your party? We made some rhubarb crisp and celebrated from afar. Remember 9 years ago when I bought a car on your birthday--and you claimed I ruined your special day because the car wasn't for you?


Our thermometer says our house is 64 and my boys' purple lips say it isn't lying. The thought of turning on a heater is ridiculous. Rain is in the forecast for the next two days. It has been such a wet spring that I have moss growing in my flower pots. Moss! In the desert!

I'm sure you're aware, but once I start thinking and researching about a product it kind of consumes my life. Last week the Bernina store set me off and there would be no rest until I had made a decision on a new sewing machine. I looked at Berninas and Pfaffs, as they are they only two brands with dealers in the valley. And then found a barely used Viking Emerald 183 on KSL.com. I made yet another phone call to Mom, who being a Viking fan herself, encouraged me to just buy it already! After a week of bugging her about sewing machine brands and her holding back, she even broke down and admitted that she thinks Vikings are better than Berninas (funny how that never came up when I was considering a Bernina). I called about it and the husband insisted we make the 4 hour round trip drive right then to get it--so we did! I'm excited to try it out and see if I can blame the old machine for all my sewing mishaps, or if it really is just me. And in case you are wondering, it comes with more features than the Berninas and Pfaffs I was looking at but cost less!


Last night our BIL said he's starting to realize that Parish girls like "expensive things". He's wrong there, we like quality things, which could easily be read as expensive things I suppose. But there is a difference. We'll take cheap clothes and even cheap jewelry, but when it comes to investment items--its all about the quality.


We looked at a house on Friday, and while it wasn't the scariest thing we've seen it was the smelliest. Dudey walked around holding his shirt over his nose, begging us not to buy it. It was bank owned home and in need of new carpet to get rid of the pet smells and a fresh coat of paint. It was a big house with a finished basement, yard, garden spot and fruit trees so new carpet wasn't the deal breaker. But the evidence of mice in the basement was. New carpet and paint is easy enough, but assuring me that the mouse problem has been fixed isn't. Ugh.

Happy Monday!
Nik

I Go Out Walking

Hey Nik,

Baby Girl and I went out for our first walk today. I figured we'd better go before the day got too warm. And this time it wasn't because I'm a wimp. The little one sweats like nobody's business in her car seat. I spied a couple of cardinals along the way, so I thought I'd send you a shot. I could have cropped it closer, but where's the fun in that? You see the red bird, right? If I weren't so impatient, I think I could like birdwatching.

Along the way I saw this tree in bloom. The one tree in our backyard that didn't get cut down this week is the same kind of tree, but our blossoms haven't opened. Is it a tulip tree? I've heard of them before, and well, that sure looks like a tulip to me. I need some horticulture expertise on this one.

There are lots of houses for sale in our neighborhood, just in case you get the itch to move to Indiana and want to be our neighbor. That would be fun, wouldn't it? Though the houses in our neighborhood are all probably smaller than your apartment. I guess it would solve your Thursday night dilemma, if nothing else.

We don't have too many plans for my birthday. Sunday birthdays tend to be a little low-key. We're having some friends over for grilled pizza, then our new church building is getting dedicated and we'll top off the night with an ice cream cake. Sister #4 rocks the ice cream cakes, so I had her send instructions to the husband. It's going to be a chocolate-peanut butter wonderland (with peanut butter Oreos for the crust and peanut butter ice cream sandwiches layered between more ice cream goodness).

We've gone out to eat a couple of times over the past week, thanks to free birthday meal coupons. Signing up for email lists is the way to go. We went through this list and this list, subscribing to lots of email lists. It makes checking my junk email address exciting for once! If that doesn't scream cheap grad student, what does? Oh well, we might be cheap, but if it scores us free meals, why not? Plus it extends my birthday celebrating!

Deid

Thursday Nights

Hey Deid,

School may be out for the summer, but the husband is teaching a class in Kaysville every Thursday and we still haven't figured out what we'll do during that time. Remember last time he taught, and the boys and I crashed your stake softball and dinner night every week? We could sure use that distraction again this summer. Last week we went down with him and I took the boys fishing at the botanical center pond and then we visited his grandma. She celebrated her 80th birthday on Sunday and still mows her own lawn (with a push mower)! I can't decide if we should make the weekly drive with him, or if we should stay home.

I've been using the Mr. Clean Bathroom Cleaner lately and love the smell of it. It has a really light smell that leaves my bathrooms smelling like a clean load of laundry (pretty sure its because of the lavender vanilla scent). Which is much improved from used-by-2-little-boys smell it commonly has going on.

Have I told you about the perfect location our garden is in? It is in the middle of a city block and is a grassy pasture with old trees, and rock piles that they used to keep horses in. And we'll even water with a little stream. All that is missing is a fort or tree house. It's the place little boys dreams are made of. Boodle had fun climbing on tree stumps, while Dudey had so much fun playing in the dirt and was covered head to toe when it was time to come home the other night.

Your birthday is in just a couple days, do you have big plans to celebrate?

Nik

A Skeptic Convinced

Nik,

Sometimes I find it humorous how skeptical I can be. I was skeptical of Breath Right strips, until I found a coupon for a free pack in the grocery store parking lot. Funny that they do what they claim, right?! That coupon saved my bacon some nights during pregnancy. And during delivery.

I've realized I was skeptical of cardinals, until I see them flying around our backyard. They really are red, just like they're depicted on scenic Christmas cards. Why did I think they wouldn't be? I think the state bird of Indiana just might be my new favorite. As if I used to have an old favorite bird...

I was skeptic of eBates. I'd seen it around, but thought it sounded too good to be true. Basically you get cash back for shopping at different websites. Well, a few weeks ago I got my first "big fat check." It was a whopping $3.52, but my on-line shopping hasn't been too frequent lately. I couldn't believe it worked. Plus I scored a Target gift card, and Target gift cards are one of my favorite things. Even if they end up going toward diapers. I still feel like the world [Target] is my oyster with a five dollar bulls-eye gift card in my wallet. I've tried lots of other point based shopping websites, but I'm favoring getting a check instead of points. (And it has a ton of websites that pay out, though sadly Amazon isn't one of them.)

I don't think I've had any good ideas lately. I'm proud when I remember what side I last fed on and what time that took place. My brain power all goes to thrilling things like that lately. Though when faced with a blow-out earlier this week and no husband home to help, I was amazed at how well I dealt with it. Even with towels in the laundry and bath stuff in disarray. It was one of those "capable mommy" moments. I've read lots of accounts from mommy bloggers about the difficulties of gracefully removing poopy onesies. Let's just say I'm a skeptic no more.

Deid

Sewing Machines and Sofas

Hey Deid,

It's kind of a rainy and dreary day, and the mood of our house about matches it. I'm trying to be happy and productive, but my boys have been whining since they woke up. Whiny boys=very grumpy mom. Boodle has been sick with a stomach bug, so I'm trying to be patient. But a stomach bug and a newly potty trained 2 year old, a disaster does make. And the 5 year old, well he just needs a nap.

I've been looking at sewing machines, as mine is officially a piece of junk and needs to go. Mom's been encouraging me to splurged for a "nice" one. While I'm not so sure I need all the niceties, I am confident I will not buy many more machines. As this one should last a very long time. The Bernina store offered me a good price for a floor model, but as it is "basic" I'm still undecided and weighing Mom's advice. I wish sewing machine companies would put their prices online for me to see. Dragging 2 boys to different dealers just to get a feel may be the death of me. Did you know Consumer Reports quit testing sewing machines years ago? How dare they! What am I supposed to do now!? If you or anyone listening in has an opinion on brand or must have features I'd love to hear them.

I planted my flower pots yesterday and every time I look out my kitchen window they make me happy. Hopefully we'll get to plant our garden by the end of the week.

Where do your good ideas come? My come while I'm in the shower. This morning I figured out how to rearrange our apartment to better accommodate your little family while you're here! Really it is brilliant and will include either a day bed or this sofa in our office. I have a vision! Now to convince the hubs this is a good idea.

See you soon
Nik

Cool Down

Hey Nik,

Hope you survived your boot camp butt-kickin' this morning. Fun for you. How much longer does your sentence prize go? (Only 15 days until we fly home!)

So, it's 61 degrees in our house today and I'm wondering if maybe we should turn on the heat. I'm okay with the cool down, but you'd think the husband was going to freeze. Millie Moo is getting some more wears out of her pants and long sleeves, which makes me happy. I think instead of turning on the heat I'll just bake. I made biscuits yesterday to go with dinner. I can't remember the last time I made biscuits, and boy, are they good!

Our garden is all planted. Here's hoping to a successful crop. Exciting that you got a garden spot! I love how good gardening is for the soul. And I think it's equally good, if not more so, for your little guys. So many life lessons to be learned in the garden (like faith, patience, humility, reliance on the Lord, and work come to mind).

We were talking with some friends about building cabins/log houses last night. Remember the huge pile of wood shavings we had in the yard from when Mom and Dad build our house? And remember how I hid your glasses in the pile? I remember Mom and Dad being ticked and searching through the pile at dusk. Total needle in a haystack type situation. I am still left wondering how I got possession of your glasses. Blind girls like us don't go without them very often.

Oh man, I love that Dudey. You can tell him Millie Moo has plenty of dresses at this size, but I'll start sending requests when I find gaps in her wardrobe. We just got back from her one month pediatrician visit. She's up a pound since birth, but her weight gain has slowed in the past two weeks. She's all arms and legs. Maybe I'll have itty-bitty kids like you. Or maybe I'll start feeling even more like a milk cow and plump her up. Chubby babies are overrated, right?!

Happy Monday!
Deid

Beat the Heat

Deid,

Can it really be that hot? What are you going to do when July and August come? To beat the heat eat salads, grilled pizza, smoothies, and when it is really hot I recommend heading to DQ for a Mister Misty Slushie and calling that dinner.

Can I tell you how sore I am today? Like volleyball camp sore. All because of Boot Camp on Wednesday. I can't believe people pay money to hurt like this. I have to mentally prepare myself to go up or down the stairs and I'm afraid today's session did little to improve the problem.

Have you heard what Mom wants us to wear for family pictures? I started a Pinterest board of family photo ideas in case she hasn't decided yet. It looks like I'm drawn to bright colors or neutrals with lots of texture. But that "We're hanging on" Christmas card--so want to do that.

There's been a weird smell in our house and I think I finally figured out where it was coming from. Our last remaining fish, our algae eater Zuke? Yeah think he's been dead for a while. In my defense, it is hard to know with such a low maintenance fish that never seems to move in daylight. On Tuesday, one of the Joy School kid asked if he was dead. Of course I told him no because there was no way I was taking care of it with an audience. But yeah, he was very much dead. So before school on Thursday I made sure he had been properly disposed of. I'm pretty sure Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon was based on a plecostamus.  What do you think?

My Dudey must be missing you. Yesterday he asked if we could move closer to Indiana, so it wouldn't take so long to get to your house. Then he was worried his Joy School friends would be late when school was at our house and reconsidered. Now we are supposed to move just a little bit closer to Indiana, but not too far from Logan for his friends. And he keeps asking if we can buy Millie Moo more clothes. Are you putting him up to that? Specifically, a dress?

Suspiciously yours,
Nik

Surviving Summer

Nik,

Help! It's so hot here. I don't remember how to navigate weather like this. What do you eat for dinner when it's hot, besides popsicles? It feels like we just had stew and homemade bread weather. Now the stove is off-limits and there is no way in Hades--that would be my kitchen-- I'm turning on the oven. Anyone reading in, I'm taking suggestions. Please. Because I'm already sick of sandwiches and we've only had them for lunch today. (I still love my discovery of poppy seed dressing in chicken salad sandwiches. It's the perfect addition with grapes, apples and celery. Mmm!)

Sorry about boot camp. Sort of. I'm jealous. I've made peace with my postpartum body because, hello, it grew me a baby. But still, there are times I want all of my old clothes to fit like they used to. Boot camp would be good for me. So would eating less than three servings of ice cream a day. What? It was mother's day. I "deserved" it, right?! I've decided postpartum bodies have some redeeming qualities. At least when my belly is jiggly, my chest is big enough to compensate so my waist still looks proportionally right.

We bought peppers and tomato starts today. Salsa in the making! Maybe tonight when it cools off a few degrees we'll get them in the ground. I love playing in the dirt. Your boys like tomatoes on the patio. Easy access that way. Possums are nasty, but I don't think they eat plants. It's the bunnies and the squirrels you've got to beware of. Seriously, they make me want to curse. So much that sometimes I do. Like when they nibble my blueberry bushes to stems. Grr.

The husband is home from school today. Hooray for summer! Since it's so hot outside we're watching TV in the middle of the day. It feels so indulgent. We're getting caught up on The Voice. It's a good thing we both married husbands who get music. Maybe one day it will rub off on us? Probably not.

Wimpy in this weather,
Deid

Boot Camp Might Kill Me

Hey Deid,

Remember how I won that free session of bootcamp from the gym's March Madness Bracket Challenge? I'm still trying to decide if that really qualifies as a prize, since it is way more punishment than prize! Today was our hardest day yet and I left with legs and arms of jello. Lifting Boodle in to the car to come home almost did me in. Tomorrow should be a sore one. I'm now convinced the "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" saying came from bootcamp.

I'm itching to get my hands in some dirt and watch things grow in a garden, but alas, there is no garden for us. After our awful experience at the community garden last year--there was a rodent infestation and you know how I don't do rodents--I made the husband promise me we would have our own little piece of earth for a garden this year. But try as we might, it hasn't happened yet. Maybe this will be the year I become the expert in container gardening.

What's your favorite read in the blog world lately? My Reader seems to go in cycles. Does yours do this too? Sometimes it is full of money saving blogs, other times it is crafting blogs, and I've been on a home decor kick for too long and need some fresh reads.

Jealous of your house, but you can keep the possums!
Nik

Holla Back

Hey Nik,

I like the epistolary twist on the blog. I also happen to love the word "epistolary." Blame it all on reading Ella Minnow Pea and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society in quick succession a few years ago.

I had a great day on Sunday. My first Mother's Day will always be remembered for speaking in church. The girl that spoke before me used the last tissue (and had me crying before I even got to the pulpit). Thankfully I'd thought to stock the diaper bag with a travel pack of tissues. Unfortunately I'd left the diaper bag with the baby, all in trust of the husband. He dug through the diaper bag and found the tissues, and as I got up to speak, tossed them to me from the second row. People think it's good to open with a joke, but we had a whole comedy routine going on. We've played pitcher and catcher together in softball and I think it showed. It was a seamless delivery.

It's hot and humid here in Indiana. It makes me miss Utah with those cool mountain nights. I just went to get the mail and it's clouded over, threatening rain. In the meantime, there is some hot oppressive air out there. Too bad you guys are freezing today. I'd encourage you to visit, but freezing might be better than melting.

Millie Moo got a bath and slathered in lotion last night. I know how you love sweet-smelling babies, so I mugged all over her. Will you write out your boys' initials on their tummies with lotion tonight after baths, just for Aunt Deid? The husband suggested I do it to our baby, but her tummy is pretty small and she's too wiggly.

Speaking of tummies, it sounds like the fun of tummy time is over. Peace out,
Deid

Super Mom

Hey Deid,

How was your first Mother's Day? I'm sure Millie Moo and her dad took good care of you! Don't be jealous but I got a necklace that says "World's Best Mom" and a singing card. My boys love those things, but they sure get annoying fast. This one sings, "My mom is a Super Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!" I tried finding it online so you could listen, but no luck. I wore my necklace to church with pride. But really they should have saved the gifts for today. As I was cleaning the lotion off my scriptures, a magazine, the lamp shade, and night stand (all thanks to the little one), my older one started screaming for me to hold him. Finally, I yelled back asking what he needed and learned that he was stuck. Yep, his knee was wedged between the rails of the bunkbed. Long story short, I ended up taking the rail off to free his little knee. Now who's the super mom?

Smooch on that baby girl for me.
Nik

Five Favorites for Friday

Here are five random things that top my favorite list at the moment:

Albanese Gummi Bears- The best gummy bears you've ever tasted. Buying them in a five pound bag may be trouble, but it's trouble I'm willing to tango with! Their factory outlet is on our way to Chicago and definitely worth stopping in.

Lilly Pulitzer Wink Perfume- This is my requested Mother's Day present for my first Mother's Day. I think it would be the perfect bright scent for spring and summer!

Composting- I get ridiculously excited to save our kitchen scraps for our new compost bin instead of sending them down the garbage disposal. Hoping for some black gold soon!

Rosette Ribbons- Nikkala shared this printable at The Crafting Chicks last year and I've been a fan ever since. This month it's getting done up as pins for two little birthday boys turning one. I'll wrap up their presents in brown kraft paper and pin the rosettes on some ribbon. Wrapping paper and a cute badge for the birthday boys. Though if you don't have birthdays coming up, it looks like National Donut Day is coming up soon...

Halo Swaddle Sleepsack- It might be the ugliest sleeping contraption ever invented. So ugly I threw away a coupon that came in my registry bag from Target because I couldn't imagine buying one. And yet, it is true love. Thank you, hospital, for sending us home with one. My baby girl sleeps like a champ when she's all swaddled up. And it's so much easier than fumbling around with a blanket in the middle of the night. Despite its looks, I'm sold.


What are you loving this Friday? Share with us!

Meatball Subs

Several months ago I spotted "Meatball Subs" on a friends menu plan. The thought has stuck with me through the months and I finally got around to making them last week. And we're having them again this week. They were that big of a hit and that easy to put together! (Funny little aside: I told the friend that I had been inspired by her menu plan and had been thinking of meatball subs ever since. She told me they'd never had meatball subs! I am convinced I saw it written up on her whiteboard, but either way, I found a winner!)

You will need meatballs and spaghetti sauce. You can use homemade meatballs and sauce or go the easy route and use pre-packaged of both. I just had a baby, so I chose pre-packaged... Okay, so I'd probably choose pre-packaged even if I hadn't just had a baby!

The first time I made these we simmered the meatballs in the sauce in a pan on the stove. This time I opted for the slow cooker. Either way works. Follow the directions on your meatball package for cooking them.

After your meatballs are cooked through preheat your broiler. Spoon the saucy meatballs onto hoagie buns, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese and broil. I added on sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions, not because they are necessary, but because I had them in the fridge. If I wasn't saving the bell pepper in the fridge for Cinco de Mayo, I'd probably have sauteed it and used it, too. The first time we made these it was strictly meatballs, sauce and cheese and they were good enough to make again!

Pop the open-faced subs under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the bread is a bit toasty.

A hearty, easy meal that comes together pretty quickly. We served ours with corn on the cob and sweet potato fries. Yum!

Fixing Up Cupcakes

There's nothing new about gourmet cupcakes. Cupcake shops have popped up across the country, but did you know getting that gourmet taste at home is easy? It's true.

I'm a fan of from scratch cupcakes, but mixes work fine as well. The secret is to layer the flavors. This is a caramel pumpkin cupcake. The first time I made it using Martha Stewart's pumpkin cupcake recipe and the second time just I added some pumpkin puree to a spice cake mix. The base isn't nearly as important as what you put on top! Swirl a little Smuckers caramel ice cream topping on and top with cream cheese frosting. I left the caramel peaking through and people went crazy over it!

This is a raspberry chocolate cheesecake cupcake, impressive sounding right? It is just a chocolate cupcake, frosted with a thin layer of Nutella, a little raspberry jam, and then frosted with cream cheese frosting. Heavenly.

What's your favorite kind of cupcake?