Five Favorites {7}

Linking up with Hallie for Five Favorites.

1. I love Fall. I love pumpkin spice and I love carmel corn. These tasty treats were 4 for $1.00 at Sprouts. How could I not buy them?

2. I have not had one of these tasty treats in forever! Yum!! Vanilla frappe from the Bean...yummy

3. I am super excited to try these products and review them for A Mama Collective! (Note: This does not mean I am pregnant) Jason is my tea tester ;-)

4. I don't know if Ted is actually teething yet, but he drools constantly and chomps on everything. I don't know if these necklaces work or not, but really...who cares? How cute is he in this necklace?!

  5. I am in love with this chevron chevron cloth diaper! I think Ted is pretty excited about it too...especially if we win some baby legs too!

  Hope everyone is having a blessed week!

Five Favorites {6}

Hello friends! I've been hiding out the past few weeks. 

For the first 14 weeks with Ted it was just like I was on summer break. Now, all my teacher friends are back to school and staying home with Ted is different. I'm not on Summer Break anymore, I am officially staying home with my son. With that comes some new stresses, such as a big cut in our income and changes in insurance. 

Lots of grown up stuff that I don't like. 

In an ideal world, I could comfortably stay with Ted, guilt-free. No worries about how we are going to make it financially? What to do about insurance in case I get pregnant again soon? How can we afford vacations or trips to visit family?

Like I said...grown up stuff and I don't like it. I have been training to work from home and I am very excited to start. But, there's still the insurance...

So...I'm going to work part-time at Whole Foods! Did you know they offer benefits and vacation to part-time employees? AND a 20% discount? Just think of all the healthy food and new Toms! I'm dreaming about Ted's first shoes being baby Toms! Drool...I'm excited about it, but also nervous. 

It means giving up a few nights home with my boys. I am thankful that with the help of a few friends watching Ted for a couple hours a week, that my sweet boy will mostly be looked after by his dad or me. NO daycare! I think they will really love their time together too! Dad will get to watch a lot more sports instead of Grey's Anatomy.

This and my work from home should make all those grown-up stresses go away. :) 

My ultimate goal is to primarily work from home and then hold on to Whole Foods one day a week for insurance and that discount. Again...dreaming of Toms!

Linking up this week for my Five Favorites with Moxie Wife...


1. My birthday was a month ago and it was perfect! Jason made me a delicious dinner...grilled fish, rice and green veggies! Yum! He also gave me a gift certificate for a 90 minute massage. It was pure bliss! My dear friend brought me coffee on my birthday and another dear friend took me out for a pedicure. It certainly was a perfect birthday :)

2. I mentioned a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon Girl Scout cookie inspired coffee creamer. The thin mint was so yummy, but this one is simply divine! Have you ever drank a Samoas Girl Scout cookie? Amazing...you simply must try!

3. Ted started swimming lessons a few weeks ago! Did you know that Hubbard Family Swim School offers free lessons for infants 2-6 months? Ted loves it!! We were so happy that Daddy was able to make it and take some pictures and videos!

4. A few weekends ago Jason and I had our first night out in over four months! It was fabulous! We went out for my friend's birthday to BLD (delicious risotto) for dinner and The Living Room for drinks. Thanks to my sister and her fiance for watching Ted!

5. Two weekends ago I went to Prescott with my sister and co. to celebrate her upcoming wedding! Ted stayed home with Jason over night and I had a night out with the girls! It was a fabulous weekend, so much fun celebrating and Ted and Jason definitely got their baseball/football fix! I was so worried about leaving Ted (mostly because I knew Jason was nervous) but they did great! It was a great bonding weekend for both of them! Ted takes bottles now when I work and this was the perfect crash course for Ted to bottle feed! I still prefer nursing, but at least now I know he will not starve if he's away from me for a few hours. It was such a fabulous weekend celebrating my sis! We can't wait for Mexico in November!

Five Favorites {5}

1. I went on my first bike ride since before Ted was born! We were supposed to have a birthday breakfast bike ride a couple of weeks ago for Jason's bday, but he had a flat tire. :-/ The other day, my foot was hurting so I didn't want to go for a run. Instead, I went for a bike ride. I prefer bike rides with my sweet hubby, but until Ted is old enough for a trailer, this was good enough.

2. I am lucky to share my birthday with a very special six year old, my soon-to-be niece! She is the cutest and we love getting to celebrate together. We seem to always have pizza, either going out for pizza or homemade by my sister. They are both equally delicious! This year, we opted for Spinato's Pizzeria - all of our favorites, and Ava picked out Bosa Donuts for our birthday dessert! Yum! Ted was super excited to rock his Spinato's tshirt!

3. I have officially started training as a VA (Virtual Assistant)! I am super excited about this opportunity for several reasons...1) I get to stay home with Ted. 2) I get to contribute to our family income while staying home with Ted. 3) I love learning new things. 4) I love working with and getting to know new people.

4. I found this delicious new coffee creamer, so now my coffee tastes like a Thin Mint cookie. Seriously, it's amazing.

5. We watched my friend's adorable little girl the past couple days and she's a little smitten with Ted...who isn't? ;-)

Five Favorites {4}

1. This guy's birthday this week. We were supposed to have an awesome birthday breakfast bike ride, but flat tire instead. Boo...we still got to go out for breakfast at The Farmhouse. It was delicious, but I think Liberty Market is better. I made homemade pizza and dessert crepes for his actual birthday. Yum yum...

2. Everyone is starting back to school this week. Teachers, students...everyone except THIS girl! People keep asking me if I am missing teaching. It was always sooo hard giving up summer, now I can't even imagine leaving Ted all day long. But, I guess there are some parts I miss. I loved the teachers I worked with, the comradery, the gossip on the playground. I loved the kids I have taught and the silly things they would say every day. I miss that. Most of all, I am so grateful to be able to stay home with my son. It will take some adjusting and sacrifice, but I can't think of anything more worth giving up the unnecessary "stuff". I am really excited for an opportunity to work from home and I am super excited to get started!

3. I got my first and second Citrus Lane box! They had a two for one promotion, so I got two months for $25! The July box was great! It had an A+A burpy bib and this adorable travel mobile. Ted loves it! I love that it is easy to attach. I was not so impressed with the August box, so I'm pretty happy it was two boxes for $25.

4. I've been back to the gym for a few weeks now. I am doing a Couch to 5K program. I'm just starting week 4...in a few more weeks I'll be ready for a 5K and hopefully my jeans will fit again. ;-)

5. This kid...I just can't express enough how much this kid brings such joy to my heart. If you've been reading my blog, you read about our dear friend's son who passed away last week. I'm still at a complete loss. I've been really focusing on taking in every single moment with Ted and taking nothing for granted. It goes by so fast and we just never know. This week I was reminded that Ted is on loan to us and I need to cherish every single moment.

those cheeks...

 i love how he grabs my hand and won't let go

hopefully he never gets tired of my kisses ;-)

Five Favorites {3}

Linking up with Hallie.

1. I haven't read a book that isn't about pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding or infant sleep in over a year. I love a good biography...especially about 80s actors. I found this one at Barnes & Noble for $5.00. There's at least 4 chapters dedicated to his first movie, one of my all time favorites, "The Outsiders". If you are a fan of 80s movies and the crazy life of movie stars, it does not disappoint. And he's just so pretty!

2. Now going in the very opposite direction...I love everything I've read and heard about our new Pope. This is no exception. 

"We need saints without cassocks, without veils - we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. We need saints that go to the movies that listen to music, that hang out with their friends. We need saints that place God in first place ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints that look for time to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things. We need saints - saints for the 21st century with, a spirituality, appropriate to our new time. We need saints that have a commitment to helping the poor and to make the needed social change.

We need saints to live in the world, to sanctify the world and to not be afraid of living in the world by their presence in it. We need saints that drink Coca-Cola, that eat hot dogs, that surf the internet and that listen to their iPods. We need saints that love the Eucharist, that are not afraid or embarrassed to eat a pizza or drink a beer with their friends. We need saints who love the movies, dance, sports, theatre. We need saints that are open, sociable, normal, happy companions. We need saints who are in this world and who know how to enjoy the best in this world without being callous or mundane. 

We need saints."   ~Pope Francis, WYD2013

He is so joyful!

3. I just ordered my first Citrus Lane box! They had a TWO FOR ONE promo, so I thought it was a good time to try it out! I should be receiving the July box any day now and the August box at the end of the month!

An example I googled :)

4. My husband's birthday is Monday and we are going on a Birthday Breakfast Bike ride. It will be our first date since Ted was born. I am so excited for some one on one time with my hubby and to get back on my bike! We haven't been on a bike ride since I was 7 months pregnant (don't tell my doctor I rode my bike that long) ;-)

5. This kid is just too much! It overwhelms me how much I love him.

 

Five Favorites {2}

Linking up with Hallie for my Five Favorites this week.

1. This past weekend, our son was baptized at our church. It was such a special day! He was baptized by our parish priest. He also presided at our wedding and when my husband joined the church earlier this year. I've known him as long as I've lived here, almost 12 years, so it was so special to have him baptize our son! (Check out his sweet ponytail!) Ted's baptism outfit was adorable! I didn't want a three piece suit for an infant and I couldn't find a gown that I really liked that was gender neutral. A friend told me about her son's romper that was Irish linen. I googled it and found this. It was perfect! I love that it is simple and I love the St. Brigid cross on the collar. We will definitely keep this in our family for many years to come.

2. We've been researching cameras and we finally decided to buy this one. We bought it just in time for Ted's baptism. It has been really fun learning how to use it. I love how great the pictures are! Jason is pretty excited about it and likes being artsy with his picture taking. Can you tell?

3. I've never been a dieter. We try to eat healthy, but I could never adopt a diet like Paleo. Mostly because I LOVE grilled cheese sandwiches. I'm pretty sure no bread and cheese allowed. I did come across this delicious recipe. I'd call it "Zucchini Bruschetta". It was delicious and super easy to make. Slice zucchini in a pan. Put sliced tomatoes on top. I drizzled it with balsalmic, olive oil and minced garlic. Add mozzarella or parmesan and bake for 30-40 minutes. Seriously amazing!

4. Some of my favorite girls from Iowa and I started a traveling journal about 10 years ago. Sadly, our first one got lost in the mail. :( We started a new one about 6 months ago and it FINALLY made it's way to me! When we started it, we were all in different states I think. Iowa, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona and maybe New York? Now, four are in Iowa, one in Minnesota and one in Arizona. I am so excited to start writing in this! I keep hearing the music from the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants in my head. I love that we do this and it's just one more way we try to stay connected.

5. This little guy has had a cold for the past few days. The cold is obviously not a favorite, but these snuggles are for sure!

Happy Friday everyone!

Five Favorites

This is my first link up...saw the idea on Anna Kate's blog and linked up to Camp Patton.

This should be fun! :)

1. So, when I was pregnant I spent all my time reading about child birth and forgot to read about when the baby actually is here. Needless to say we had a very rough start. I scoured the interwebs for help, but EVERYONE has contradicting views. I came across this book at a used book store. I had never heard of it, but I LOVE it! Combine what it says about baby having 90 minute wake cycles and what this book says about putting baby on a schedule...I think we have a winner! After 4 days of following baby's cues and a feeding schedule, Ted slept 8 hours last night! Of course, I didn't because I kept waking up expecting him to wake up!

2. I don't know if it's being on a schedule or because he's almost 3 months old...Ted is getting to be so fun! He laughs and "talks" all the time now! I discovered this awesome play mat from a friend. Ted loves it! When he kicks it he plays music and he loves looking in the little mirror.

3. I just discovered this coffee creamer. It is so yummy! Coffee at home that now tastes like an iced mocha?! Yes, please!

4. Ted is so fun now...he enjoys reading/eating books! I love watching him try to grip things.

5. We took Ted to his first baseball game this week and he loved it! He looked like a little old man watching the game. He was even on the jumbotron! I am so bummed I missed a picture of it, but we took plenty of our own.

This little man is 3 months tomorrow and he is getting baptized on Sunday! We are ready for a great weekend!