Christmas Memory Book

After Christmas, what do you do with all the cards you received? Especially the photo cards of all your lovely family and friends! Do you:
1) Read it and immediately throw it in the trash? (true story - I've heard people do this!)
2) Put the card on display and/or stick the photo on the fridge only to remove them after Christmas and stuff them in a drawer
3) Keep Christmas alive year-round by letting those photo cards remain on the fridge til the following Christmas.

I fall into the #2 category myself...

...but what if there was a clever, sentimental, crafty and oh-so-much-better alternative to these choices!? Enter Brown Paper Packages and the author, Kierste's, Christmas Memory Binder. What a FABULOUS idea!



Kierste includes Christmas cards and photos (including her own family's) along with the various "Top 10" lists of the previous years among other things. Check out her blog for more photos and description of the project. This is definitely going on my ever-growing to-do list. Crafty and organized! The perfect combination...

Embracing "housewife"

Now that I am done school (at least for this semester...I'm not sure when I'm going back) I feel like my mental capacity has increased - a HUGE weight has been lifted off my shoulders. As a result of this, I came to realize that I should be doing a much better job with preparing meals for our family (or dinners at least). I am quite proud of my latest endeavor - Moroccan Red Lentil Soup and from-scratch FRENCH BREAD! I had never used yeast in my life before this. Here are a few of my brag photos. You'll just have to take my word for it that it was delicious!

Moroccan Red Lentil Soup w/ sour cream & cilantro

Fresh French Bread

My greatest kitchen accomplishment thus far :)

Mmmmm...fresh warm bread w/ butter

Is your mouth watering et? Click on the links above to get the recipes. Enjoy!!!

P.S. I didn't have turmeric, saffron or tomato paste, so instead I substituted dry mustard powder for the turmeric, left out the saffron (not sure I like it), and just added a few more tomatoes in place of the tomato paste. I also let simmer quite a bit longer than the recipe called for.

What is one of your favorite winter recipes?

Let's hope I stick around this time.

I'm not making any promises to the upcoming frequency of my blogs, but for now...I am back. It took a couple things to inspire me to start blogging again: a newfound obsession with the oh-so-wonderful blogs out there (Prudent Baby and kiki creates: two of my MANY favorites) and a complete design revamp of my own. The problem with reading blogs is that the list of DIY projects that are added to my to-do list never stops growing!!! In fact, I would probably have a different craft or project for every day of next year. Ahhh, if only! Here are the next two on my list: (I know, I know, it's less than a month until Christmas! Gotta get on it!

No Sew Ruffled Tree Skirt

DIY Christmas trees

Well, considering that it's 3:18am, I've barely slept a wink AND my baby could very well be awake in the next 4-6 hours, I suppose I should give this "sleeping" thing another shot. Listen to these random words people, "Be VERY thankful you do not suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome!" And if you are in the minority of humans that do...well, I'm suffering with you. Better go get my iron levels checked. I'll put that on the list.

Crafts and such

 Last summer I bought my first, very own sewing machine - and boy, was I ever excited! I discovered the world of Fabricland and have spent many hours since then roaming and dreaming about the countless things I could create. Bliss! My first project was a baby change table pad cover. A friend of mine gave me her daughter's old change table, but seeing that it didn't fit in with my nursery decor I thought, "Hey! Let's be crafty!" So, with Jason's help, we decided that we would spray paint it brown to match the crib and dresser, replace the makeshift pull-out drawer with pretty baskets, and I would sew something to hide the existing change pad, complete with clown characters and uncomfortable plastic. Here is the "before" picture (minus the pad and drawer, which made it much, much worse) and the beautiful "after" photo!

Then, after thinking looooong and hard about what I wanted to make next, I decided on a nursing cover. Here is the result:

I lined it with flannel because the outer fabric was a bit too stiff. 

Although I'm not the only mom I know that has sold nursing covers, I thought I would give it a shot. I'm asking $18, which is a great price compared to what you would pay in the store (anywhere from $30-$45 it seems) So let me know if you'd like one or know anyone who does! What am I up to next? A pretty fabric clutch from Simply Totes. Wish me luck! 

Just life...

As much as I wish I was in bed right now, I sure am enjoying my late-night Vector and yogurt. Yummmmmm...I was ever-so-stoked when I thought Kaden was down for the night before 9pm! But I was wrong. It's looking hopeful now :) You'll know if he wakes if this post is cut short, haha.

I had a good week. Relatively uneventful, but good nonetheless. Sometimes it is nice to just sail through the days without a whole lot of up and downs. I'm not too sure I would have had the energy for that, considering the little munchkin's sleep schedule of late. An extra feed or two in the night can sure take it's toll! I'm living (sometimes not-so-living proof) :).

But back to my week...Monday and Tuesday I nannied, as per usge. The days went by pretty slow but I managed. Recently it has felt like such a chore to get up so early and spend my time in someone else's house watching someone else's children (4 to be exact!). This week I tried really hard to alter my perspective and really enjoy the kids and have fun with them instead of merely getting through the days - it helped! When my mom was visiting a couple of weeks ago (another thing I need to blog about!), she came to watch the kids with me the first day she was here. Her attitude with the kids was really refreshing and contagious and I vowed to make more of an effort for both their sake and mine. Thanks mom! Tuesday was our small group Bible study, which we are SO blessed to be a part of. But because of my zombie-like state, I can't say I had the greatest time. Plus, Jason was at home sick so I had the baby and he was not cooperating either. There's always next week! Wednesday morning was my women's Bible study.

...............nearly 48 hours later..............

I suppose I should post this now!! Needless to say, Kaden woke up and I fell into a trance-like state staying up with him...Til next time.

Friday's Facts

1) Always check dirty laundry for random items - paper napkins in particular - before washing.

2) Vacuuming is WAY too much fun after being without one for 6 weeks.

Can you tell I'm a stay-at-home mom??? But do I ever love it!!

Sleep Stories

This post will not be very exciting for any of you, but is more for myself to remember Kaden's latest triumphs in the sleep department. I never thought I could be so happy about something so seemingly trivial,  like sleep, but when it comes to your own child and his accomplishments and growth, that is very exciting. Four nights ago I decided that I would start trying to put Kaden to sleep in his crib at night rather than sleeping with me. Co-sleeping was good while it lasted as it helped me to get the sleep I needed so that I could actually enjoy my days with him and be slightly productive. But I really like to sprawl, and so having him in our bed was not ideal. Anyhoo, the first night was successful - I think he slept for 3 3 hour chunks with a couple feeds in between. It was strange to get up during the night again, but not nearly as exhausting because he eats MUCH faster now. 10-15 mins and he's be snoozing again, without so much as a twitch when I put him back to bed. The second night was almost the same, but only 2 hours for the third chunk of sleep. Following? Now the THIRD night - a BREAKTHROUGH! Boy was I stoked when he finally woke up 5 and 1/2 hours after going to sleep :) Of course I didn't sleep straight through that because my body is so used to waking up frequently...but alas, its progress! Finally, last night he slept 4 and 1/2 hours and then another 3 before I took him to my bed for an extra hour of sleep before we needed to get up for church. My little boy is growing up!! I should probably add that prior to these last four days Kaden would wake up every 2 or 3 hours during the night like clockwork. Hence the reason he had been sleeping with me for the last month or so. Before I know it, he's going to be sleeping in a big boy bed! haha oh gosh, let's not think too far ahead :)