...admission

Remember how I was only window shopping? I wasn't going to spend any money?

I have a confession. I just couldn't handle the temptation. I justified it by telling myself it will be the the motivation I need to get my pre-third-baby-body back.

I bought THE DRESS.
And...I don't feel bad about it.

...water

In my height of health-freak-ness, I was a water-a-holic. (In my health-counselor days...) It was a serious problem. I never went anywhere without a water bottle in hand. (Well, except for church. Breaking out a water bottle in church meetings is just...inappropriate in my mind. But that is not what this post is about, nor do I want to debate that subject.)

Anyway...I think one of the main reasons I was such a water fan was because I adored my water bottle. It was a lovely bottle with a perfect lip. That is...until my husband froze it and it cracked when he put it under hot water. That was a sad, sad day. It served me well for 2 years and I haven't been able to find a replacement that I loved quite as much. (Which consequently led to the dehydrated state my body is currently in.)

But, recently I have found the PERFECT bottle. Even better than my first love!! It has a straw that you can remove. So, on days I am feeling dainty and proper, I can drink through the straw while reading a book in my lounge chair. Or...on my pregnant, overheated, big-as-a-whale days, I can pull that sucker out of there and guzzle.

So, farwell pink Nalgene bottle. I will miss you and you were well loved. Goodbye dehydrated pregnant body. I have moved on to bigger and better things.

CamelBak BPA-Free Better Bottle with Bite Valve

...i love you

photo taken by sheena jibson

I walked down the halls of BYU-Idaho and caught a glimpse of you. My heart skipped a beat and i couldn't stop smiling. I could see in the way you walked that you were excited to see me too. Your steps looked more like bounds as you walked towards me, smiling. I thought that I loved you then.

Remember that night we spent all evening together? You went home around midnight and immediately called me. We hadn't had our fill of each other yet. We didn't stop talking until it was time to get ready for class the next morning. I hung up and the phone instantaneously rang. "I forgot to say one thing," you said "I love you!" I melted. I thought I loved you then.

We were on our way to St. George to spend the week with my family at the condo. You proposed. My heart started beating too quickly and I had to tell myself to calm down. "OF COURSE!" was my answer. I thought that I loved you then.

It was the big day. You looked beautiful to me. You were the only one I could see. I couldn't help but stare at you and smile. I was so happy and felt incredibly lucky. Married for time and all eternity sounded just about perfect to me. I thought that I loved you then.

Last night, I peaked in the baby room. There you were, one kid on each knee reading a book. Our cute little girl was cuddled up under your neck and the boy was sitting looking like a mini-you, idolizing his daddy. Tears welled in my eyes as I watched you be a fabulous father. So patient and kind. I'm in love with you, J. I couldn't love you more than I do now. (But...I have said that before, haven't I?)

...pioneers

Happy Pioneer Day, Utah! My, how I love this holiday! Family, food, parades, fireworks, games...

We spent the day with my wonderful sister and her darling family. My sister, the cooking goddess, made some FANTASTIC baby-back ribs and coleslaw and I provided all the produce. (There is nothing better than sweet Utah corn. Well...except for Utah peaches. Those are straight from heaven.) It was delightful and delicious.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. We are going to continue celebrating tomorrow. (I even bought rodeo tickets!! In the grandstand! Wahoo! My husband introduced me to rodeos after we were married and I fell IN LOVE.)

PS...I have been featured over at So Buttons. Thanks, cute Meg!!

...window shopping

Yes, it is true. We have many expenses coming up this year. I have a dentist appointment in 2 weeks for a threatening root canal. (Pray for me!) We are in desperate need of a second car. (Can you believe that we have lived through 7 years of marriage without owning a second car in a public transportation-less city? I hate cars...) J signed up to start his second post-bachelors degree. (I think he wants to kill me.) And, the exciting one, we have baby #3 coming!! Lots of money money money for starving students like ourselves.

I am not a big shopper. I love wandering quaint antique shops and modern boutiques, but I am not the type to spend my free time at the mall. I just don't enjoy it. However, when I am low on funds, shopping becomes a passion. Maybe it is because I like to torture myself by walking through the Nordstom shoe section and find the perfect pair just to have my conscience say, "What about saving for that baby in your tummy or the dumb van that you need to buy??"

So, window shopping has become a favorite pasttime. And, as a result of all this window shopping, I have started a new wishlist.

I have been doing some design work for Shabby Apple lately and have fallen deeply in love. DEEEPLY. I am struggling not to spend all our car money on dresses, shoes and bags. (Have I told you that I hate cars? Cause I do.) And...their fall line comes out in August. (I LOVE fall clothes and accessories. They are the most redeeming thing about the cold weather.)
Here are some of my favorite things. If I didn't have this growing belly bump, I probably would buy that dress right now. I love it! And, aren't those shoes to die for?

dress | shoes | bag

Have you ever shopped the Target jewelry section? I hadn't until last week. (Can you believe that? Accessory obsessed me??) I usually go to Target with my kids to let them run off steam and the jewelry section isn't the safest place for a crazy 2-year-old and a prissy, princess wanna-be 4-year-old. My husband saved the day last week and let me do a little kid-less grocery shopping at Target. So, with a basket-full of eggs, milk and naan, I meandered my way to the accessory isle. Holy Macaroni! Cute, CHEAP stuff! I'm a sucker for big earrings...

Top Pair | Middle Pair | Bottom Pair

When I am pregnant, I am even more obsessed with food than normal. (It is possible!) It consumes my thoughts. (Half the time I wish I could stop thinking about it because I end up making a quick dash to the bathroom at the thought. How I hate this nausea.) Williams Sonoma and I have become best friends. They always serve me yummy samples that sit well with my weak stomach as I walk in the door. I have been dreaming of paninis lately and soon added a panini press to my wish-list right along side this clear-bowl kitchenaide.

KitchenAid | Panini Press

Oh...and I'd like to send a special thank you out to my mom. She called me this morning to tell me about a great deal on a cruise that I "need to go on" in August. So tempting...soooo tempting. I can't.

Mom! Please. Don't tempt me anymore. (I love you!)

My most commonly said phrase in the past 2 months: "Someday, when I am rich."

...bookbinding

Image via Paige E.

I just signed up for this bookbinding class. Paige is awesome and I can't wait to learn from her mega-skills. Wanna join me??

INFO HERE

...per requests

Yes...I do realize that I look more than 14 weeks pregnant. And yes, I know that I am in that awkward stage where no one knows whether I am gaining weight or pregnant. And yes, I know that I am carrying a little high and it looks funny. (What does that mean? Boy? Girl?) And yes...I know that my fingers look short and stumpy in this picture. But hey...you asked for it.

...lazy days of summer

I have never been a sunbather. Even though I tan up easily, I find it hot and boring. (And...my olive/dark skinned dad lost 1/2 his ear last year to skin cancer. I am now an spf 50 lover and I embrace my naturally light, fair skin.) I am a water lover. I would much rather be splashing and swimming with the kids. But, with all this nasty morning sickness, the thought of a pool didn't really appeal.

My kids, however, were begging to swim and get out of the house. (Poor children of pregnant mothers! They are really deprived!) So, after adorning my kids and myself with layers upon layers of spf 50, we headed to the pool. (With a prayer in my heart that I wouldn't puke.)

I discovered something once I dragged myself to the pool. Floating in the water=morning sickness cure!! Seriously. It was really weird. I started relaxing in the pool and about 5 minutes later started feeling better. I got out of the pool and that heavy, sick feeling came back. So...all your pregnant women out there...get yourself to the pool and see if it works for you!

In the past 9 days, we have been to the pool 6 times. It has been glorious! Nothing beats a break from nausea...

...no-fail apple pie

I have had a few requests for my apple pie recipe. This was actually the first time that I ever made it. You may be asking yourself, "Why does she call it 'no-fail' when she has only tried it once?" The reason is...I am NOT a baker. If I can make this successfully the first time...it must be no-fail.

I actually found a recipe that looked intriguing and totally tweaked it. I added about 5 things and took out 2 ingredients. (This is my problem with baking. I don't like to be told what to do and I always change the recipes. That's a problem when baking is a science.) I guess the only thing I really took from the recipe is that she pours the "sauce" of the filling onto the pie last. (On top of the top crust.) I thought that was a genius idea! The butter and sugar browned the top crust up beautifully. So, the recipe is pretty much mine. The order of ingredients can be attributed to Sharon J. (A church acquaintance.)

It was my first time attempting a lattice crust. Don't make fun...

NO-FAIL APPLE PIE

Your Favorite Pie Crust Recipe (THIS is my current favorite)
7 cooking apples (I use Granny Smith)
juice of 1 lemon
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c butter
3 tbsp flour
1/4 c water
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c packed brown sugar

1. Cover the bottom of your pie pan with 1/2 of the crust.
2. Peel, core and slice the apples. (The thicker the apples, the more crunchy they will be. I like apples that aren't too firm, so I cut mine 1/4" thick. My mom loves crunchy apple pies, so she does hers about 1/2" thick. Totally up to you.) Toss apples with lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg. Spread evenly (it will be heaping) into the pie pan.
3. Make a lattice crust top on the pie. (I guess you can do whatever you want, but this makes it easy to pour the liquid-mixture in.)
4. In a sauce pan, melt butter. Add flour first and then add water, vanilla and the sugars. Bring to a boil and then let simmer for a few minutes.
5. Pour liquid-mixture on top of the lattice crust. Do it slowly and let it sink into the apples or it will run over the sides of the pie.
6. Place pie in a 450 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and cook for another 40 minutes. (I put my pie pan on top of a foil-lined cookie sheet because apple pies tend to spill over when cooking.)
7. Eat and ENJOY!

This is a picture of the pie before I poured the sauce on.

...shopping when pregnant

I hate shopping for clothes when I am pregnant. I hate buying anything that I will only get to wear for maybe 6 months, spending a ton of money, and still feeling yucky in my new clothes. In fact, I hate it so much, that I refuse to do it. I have some ugly maternity clothes, and I am just going to deal with them for the next 5.5 months.

I still love shopping, but when I am pregnant I always end up with a bunch of new shoes, bags and accessories. (Cause...no matter how much weight you gain, that cute purse will still fit you.)

I took my kids to target a couple days ago for a little retail therapy. (A bit unusual for me lately, since we are saving for a new car...ick. I hate cars and how much money they are.) While we were there, I bought myself a brand spanken new PURPLE purse and a pair of silver (seriously comfy) shoes. It has been way too long since I bought myself a new purse. I can't wait to try it out! And the best part of the whole experience? I only spent $25 TOTAL! I love you, Target...

SILVER SHOE

PURPLE PURSE

...my favorite holiday

I couldn't sleep last night. I laid in bed trying to decide if it was because I was stressed about all the work I need to do, another dumb pregnancy symptom or because I was excited about the next day's events. Maybe it was all three.

This morning, I was trying to explain to my husband why the 4th is my favorite holiday. He likes Independence Day, but didn't think it should be in the running for a "favorite holiday." Here are some of my arguments for the 4th:

It is a holiday centered around being together with your family and food.
It is warm outside.
You get to go to cute, little town parades and catch a ton of salt water taffy.
Barbeque's! Camping!
No present giving and receiving, so you are together with your family because you love to be together.

I think I finally convinced him that the 4th could be on the list of top 5 holidays. (It's still my #1)

I have great plans for food today. We started off the morning by eating homemade waffles. Yummy! Crispy on the outside; soft and warm on the inside. (The Better Home and Gardens Cookbook recipe is delish.) We topped them with peaches (my favorite food) and cream. It was heavenly. Dinner will consist of bbqed Teriyaki Burgers, Watermelon, garden fresh green beans and fresh Utah corn. Oh...and homemade apple pie for dessert.

I am off to marinade the burgers with my homemade Teriyaki sauce! I hope your holiday is full of family and fun!

...good thing i forget

Baby a month ago, at 9 weeks pregnant

It is a good thing I forgot what it is like to be pregnant, or this baby probably wouldn't be coming to our family. (I am sure I will forget again soon after this baby is born...)

I am now 3 months along and spending 1/2 of my awake time leaning over the toilet seat. I have contemplated moving my computer into the bathroom in an effort to catch up on my work in between throwing up, but realized that I would rather not spend ALL day in there.

However, I am even more excited than I am sick. Every night, I lay in bed trying to feel the baby. I know it is early yet, but I still search for those lovely tummy flutters. I can't wait to feel that. The kicks inside me make the sickness all worthwhile.