tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32769790325515688692024-03-05T16:21:18.978-05:00Pretending To Be A Grown-UpLesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-25612788943113000902013-06-05T14:32:00.000-04:002013-06-05T14:32:30.387-04:00The Elusive Double Nap<i>Tap tap</i>.<div>
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Is this thing on?</div>
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Oh. Hi!</div>
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Do you know what's happening right now at this very moment? Both of my children are sleeping. The last time this occurred was approximately 67 billion years ago, so I'm going to try to be fast here. (Because obviously now that I've declared my victory one or both girls will start shrieking and my quiet time will be over.)</div>
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We cut Anna's nap a few months ago when we were having a hard time with bedtime. While our nighttime routine got about a bajillion times easier, let's just say that Mama has been struggling with the whole "no break from the three-year-old" thing. And boy is this child a three-year-old - in the best and worst ways. She's affectionate and loving ("You're the best mama in the whole town!") and imaginative (just this morning she told me that I didn't need to wipe her butt because she has a boyfriend named Eugene that will do it for her) and also moody and whiny and demanding. I'm trying my best not to hold it against her (rumor has it that I was once a three-year-old, too) but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a daily struggle. </div>
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But then she does things like this and I laugh so hard I forget about everything else and remember that this girl is pretty much the greatest ever...</div>
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And Amelia is truckin' right along, too. Alllllmost crawling. Almost popping a few teeth. Sweetness and smiles all over the place. I<i> know</i> that I've been promising a post devoted to her, and I swear I'm working on it. Until then...</div>
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That's all for now...I hear a baby stirring. Told you I would jinx it!</div>
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Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-1930335641480038172013-03-20T14:10:00.000-04:002013-03-20T14:10:28.503-04:00I Need to Work on My Exorcism SkillsRemember on Thursday when I <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2013/03/so-much-sick.html" target="_blank">posted</a> about declaring our house germ free?<br />
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This is kind of how it played out...<br />
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Me: Germs be gone! Scram! We're done!<br />
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Universe: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Suck it.<br />
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No sooner than I hit "publish", Anna was complaining that her ear was hurting. If there's one area of parenting that I feel like maybe I need to step up my game (one area? ha ha. more like 100 areas, but let's not even start with that today.) it's in the part where I react to injuries and sickness. I'm pretty laid back when it comes to that stuff and I usually brush most things off with a "oh, you're fine, let me kiss it". I think a lot of that attitude comes from teaching and coaching - seventh graders are reaalllly good at faking illness (or think they are, at least) to get out of doing things like take tests or run laps. So when Anna said her ear hurt, we gave her some Tylenol and went about our day. On Friday she never mentioned it, so I figured it had been a headache and forgot about it. By Saturday afternoon, however, she was saying it hurt again, and this time it was clear to see she was feeling miserable. No appetite, glassy eyes, just generally out of it, so Mike and I decided to swing by the pediatric urgent care on our way home from swim lessons. (See? My kid complains of her ear hurting and I'm all, "shake it off! get in the pool!" Mother of the Year, for sure.) And then I started feeling really bad because in both the waiting room and in the examination room she laid her head in my lap and fell asleep - which never happens. And then I started feeling horrible when the nurse asks me if she's been running a temperature, and just when I'm like, "No, not that I know of," she slides the thermometer across Anna's forehead and shows me the reading: 103.4. Raging fever and ear infection. Like I said, Mother of the Year.<br />
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Antibiotics and Tylenol began working their magic right away, enough that Anna could go to a birthday party that evening, but just to be sure we didn't get any slick ideas about getting healthy again, the Universe threw another wrench in our get well plans. And that is how our St. Patrick's Day was spent like many more before it - cleaning up vomit. Except instead of <strike>our drunk selves</strike> drunk college kids, it was our sweet girl, having a bad reaction to the taste of the Tylenol. (I need to give a major shout out to Mike here. I was all, "Ahh! Puke! She's puking! Ahh!" while he's just calmly holding Anna's hair out of her face and rubbing her back as she spews all over him. He was awesome and it was reason number 4,378 why he's a great dad.) We did manage to make the trip to see my parents, although in hindsight we probably should have just stayed home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sacked out at Mema and Grandpa's.</td></tr>
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So I guess I learned a few things this weekend. First, don't tempt the health gods with declarations of sickness-free households. Second, I chose well in my husband, particularly when it comes to dealing with the bodily fluids of our children. And last, and probably the most important, I need to do a better job of listening to my kid when she tells me something is wrong.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-44481186927264349912013-03-13T11:12:00.000-04:002013-03-13T11:12:00.976-04:00So. Much. Sick.Ok. I don't want to jinx anything here, but I'm going to go ahead and declare this the end of the sick season in the Arends household. I mean, yes, both the girls still have <i>slightly</i> runny noses. And Mia is still coughing a little. But seriously? We. Are. Over. It.<br />
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It's been more than a month since Mia tested positive for RSV (a nasty, highly contagious respiratory virus) and it was all pretty much downhill from there. I was sick. Then Anna. Mia then had an ear infection. And even Mike and his iron-clad immune system were no match for this yuckiness. This virus was sneaky, because just when you would think you were feeling better, it would come back even worse.<br />
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I'm putting my foot down. And disinfecting the crap out of every possible surface in our house. Enough. RSV, you may have owned February (and a good chunk of March). But you're done. We're fighting back.<br />
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Plane tickets have been purchased for a vacation to Florida. New summer sandals and bathing suits have been ordered. Dreams of drinking icy cold beers on the beach are replacing feverish dreams of regaining the ability to breathe through my nose. I may even go extra crazy and bust out the self tanner this weekend, because nothing says "I'm healthy and free of germs" quite like a tropical glow. (Also, I just tried on said new bathing suit and I may have been blinded by the pastiness of my skin.) (Also, that might have been a good thing since I probably didn't want to see myself in a bathing suit anyways.) (Also, that is why I will require several alcoholic beverages when on the beach.)<br />
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In short: I have exorcised the germy demons. This house is clear! And ready for spring!<br />
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On an unrelated side note - Mia is over five months old. How is this even possible? I'm working on a post devoted entirely to this sweet girl, but here are a few pics to tide you over. I am so, so happy that she is finally feeling better, because she truly is the happiest baby - so quick with a smile or a giggle and such a pleasure to be around.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oops, ran out of ink in our printer, so I had to get my Photoshop on!</td></tr>
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What are your tricks for staying healthy? And what are you most looking forward to about spring?<br />
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Happy (and Healthy!) Wednesday!<br />
<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-43660123393774799672013-02-15T16:19:00.000-05:002013-02-15T16:19:23.302-05:00A Valentine's Day With No PieI had every intention of a post today filled with adorable pictures of my girls in cute Valentine's Day garb and gleeful pictures of me scarfing delicious pie.<br />
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Alas, Cupid had different plans.<br />
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Back story: For the last two years, <a href="http://babiesandbacon.com/" target="_blank">Alexia</a> and I have taken our girls to a local pie shop for <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2011/02/turned-off-tuesdays.html" target="_blank">bakery treats</a>, <a href="http://babiesandbacon.com/2012/02/nearly-wordless-wednesdsay-its-valentines-pie/" target="_blank">yummy pie</a>, and Valentine's Day celebrating. It's such a sweet tradition, and this year was going to be even sweeter because there are now four little girls to join in on the fun instead of two.<br />
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That's where that sneaky Cupid comes in. He came a little early this year, and instead of shooting us with arrows filled with love, he got us with a nasty virus - RSV to be exact. Apparently this virus is pretty common, but when babies get it, things can get scary if it gets into their lungs. After a three-hour trip to Urgent Care (three hours! the irony!) with Mia on Tuesday night, it quickly became obvious our Valentine's tradition was going to be coming to a screeching halt.<br />
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And then I got sick, too. If being sick sucks, being sick when your kids are also sick might be the worst torture I can think of. Props to Mike for taking over for a day or two, because I was miserable, complainy, and not feeling romantical in the least. (And despite all that he still bought me roses! He's a keeper I do believe.)<br />
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Luckily, I was still able to <strike>bribe with candy</strike> persuade Anna to put on some of her Valentine's Day gear so I could get a few pictures. Despite having a crusty eye (is my child the only one whose eye starts oozing green crud when she gets any sort of cold?) I think she pulls the look off well.<br />
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Fingers crossed we're all on the mend. Poor Mia has been sick more times in her short life than I can remember Anna being her first two years. Her cough is getting better, and she's slowly returning to the smiley, relaxed baby we're used to. Mike and Anna, other than her eye, seem to have avoided this round of yuckiness so far, knock on wood.<br />
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And we're hoping for a rain check for next week. Because after this week, Mama <i>needs</i> some pie.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-47637820376806155792013-02-11T15:26:00.000-05:002013-02-11T15:26:26.837-05:00A New Training PlanThe good news is that it's February 11th and I've actually kept up at least part of my New Year's resolutions.<br />
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The bad news is that it's not the part where I write more on my blog.<br />
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For those of you paying attention, that means that I've made our bed every single day since the start of 2013! It might not happen until three in the afternoon, but it happens. And I know some of you might be all like, "Not impressed." I don't blame you. It's probably a totally normal occurrence for most people. But it should be obvious to you that I, especially when it comes to matters of staying organized and mess free, am not like most people.<br />
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I need to start small. I need clear-cut directions. If I get overwhelmed or intimidated I lose focus. Remember when <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2011/06/hi.html" target="_blank">my sister helped me get organized</a>? It didn't all stick, but the parts that did involved a label maker and specific instructions on where things go. Our bathroom closet is filled with sets of plastic drawers that say things like "First Aid" or "Dental" or "Shaving Needs" and in a <i>shocking</i> turn of events, I can go to those drawers almost two years after Kristin helped me set them up and find Neosporin or razor cartridges or nail files exactly where they're supposed to be.<br />
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I'm also this way, I've realized, when it comes to running. For so many years, I would think "I want to be a runner! I'm going to go running!" And then I would lace up my shoes, hit the pavement, and feel like keeling over ten minutes later, muttering curse words under my breath and vowing never to run again <i>because running sucks</i>. Then I read an article about this plan called the "Couch to 5k". You start small - like running for 30 seconds at a time. But it doesn't suck at first, so you keep at it, and then before you know it you're eight weeks in and you can run 3.1 miles without stopping. There is a specific schedule, and if you follow it, it works. I've actually done this program at least three times - once before Mike and I got married, another when Anna was about nine months old, and I finished it again a few weeks ago. I never, ever, thought I could be a runner, and then I ran two half marathons in one year. Luckily, my friend Katie and I just decided to train for a 10k, because I know that I need to follow a training schedule to stay motivated.<br />
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So I guess my bed-making resolution was kind of my attempt to start "training" for a more organized house. I'll probably be in training for a reeeeally long time, but that's ok. It's working. Our bedroom is staying neater. It's amazing what a smoothed bedspread and fluffed-up pillows will do for your overall attitude - it's spilling over into how often I deal with the pile of clothes I let accumulate at the foot of the bed and how often I vacuum. Maybe I can call it my "Slob to Neat Freak" training plan? And maybe, just maybe, it could actually work?<br />
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All you neat freaks out there - what should be my next step? What's something small (remember, baby steps!) that I can add to my daily routine that would help me reach my goal?<br />
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And I know I keep saying it, but I'm really going to try to make the time for this space more often. I always feel like I need to write these epic posts, when really, all I should be doing is documenting our everyday lives. The neat <i>and </i>the messy.<br />
<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-62017243578756857442013-01-16T09:38:00.001-05:002013-01-16T09:38:39.116-05:00Fix Me A Chicken* Pot Pie!One of the very best things I did for myself before Mia made her entrance into the world was to fill our freezer with food. There were many, many items on my "Things To Do Before Baby Arrives" list that I did not get around to, like finish the baby blanket I started knitting six months ago or get Anna out of diapers. But with about two weeks until her due date, I began stockpiling freezer containers and doubling our favorite recipes. Chili, spaghetti sauce, <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2012/01/mmm-that-sounds-good-ill-have-that.html" target="_blank">beef and barley soup</a> - it was <i>such</i> a huge relief those first few weeks to know that my family was going to be eating a healthy meal that didn't require much more than heating up.<br />
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The night before my water broke, I tried out a new recipe for chicken pot pie - mostly because it made two and I was excited to hoard even more food for my freezer. I also really, really love all things pie. Chicken pot pie was always on my list of favorites growing up, but for some reason the idea of baking one just seemed like it would be way too difficult. Even after mastering <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2011/11/her-soul-crawled-out-from-its-hiding.html" target="_blank">Beef & Cheddar Pie</a>, I assumed chicken pot pie would just be more hassle than it was worth.<br />
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I was wrong. It's actually not that hard. And it's so, so good.<br />
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I should first admit, though, that this recipe calls for store-bought pie crust. Maybe someday I'll tackle my fear of pie crust, but for now I'm happy to buy it. You can definitely use homemade if you're super talented like that...just stop showing off, would ya?<br />
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This is comfort food at its finest, and will always remind me of the last meal I prepared before we became a family of four.<br />
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<b>Chicken Pot Pie</b><br />
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What you need:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I apologize in advance for these pictures. They're terrible.</td></tr>
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2 cups diced, peeled potatoes<br />
1 3/4 cups sliced carrots<br />
2/3 cup chopped onion<br />
1/2 cup butter, cubed (the original recipe calls for a full cup, but it's still plenty rich!)<br />
1 cup all-purpose flour<br />
1 3/4 tsp. salt<br />
1 tsp. dried thyme<br />
3/4 tsp. pepper<br />
3 cups chicken broth<br />
1 1/2 cups milk<br />
4 cups cubed cooked chicken (from 3-4 chicken breasts)<br />
1 cup frozen peas<br />
1 cup frozen corn<br />
pastry for two double-crust pies<br />
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What you do:<br />
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1. Place potatoes and carrots in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and set aside.<br />
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2. In a large skillet, saute' onion in butter until tender. Stir in the flour, salt, thyme, and pepper until blended. Gradually stir in the broth and milk. Bring to a boil, then cook and stir for two minutes, or until thickened. It might start out kind of lumpy, but keep stirring! Add chicken, peas, corn, potatoes, and carrots. Remove from heat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know. Doesn't look that appealing. I promise, it gets better.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? Told ya!</td></tr>
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3. Line two pie plates with pastry. Fill with mixture. Top with remaining pastry and seal edges.<br />
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4. Bake one potpie at 425 for 35-40 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Cover and freeze remaining pot pie.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ummmm. Mine got a little overcooked. But still delicious!</td></tr>
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To use frozen pie: shield edges with foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 and bake for 75-80 more minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.<br />
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Mike and I have been known to fight over the leftovers.<br />
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What's your favorite comfort food?<br />
Are you as obsessed with freezing meals ahead of time as I am?<br />
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Will I ever finish that baby blanket?<br />
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Happy Wednesday!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*I realize that the original quote from "The Breakfast Club" is actually <i>turkey</i> pot pie, but it just didn't work. But on that thought, this would be a great recipe to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey!</span>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-3021651507101413852013-01-09T14:05:00.000-05:002013-01-09T14:28:53.238-05:00So. Many. Things.It's been awhile since I've shown my face around here.<br />
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Mostly because we've been busy just sort of living life.<br />
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There have been so many times I have thought to myself, "Oh, I should blog about this!" I used to write out posts in my head at night in bed, before I fell asleep. These days I'm pretty sure that the second I close my eyes I'm out cold. It's not that there hasn't been anything exciting to share, it's that I can't seem to find the time to get it all out.<br />
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I also sort of blame "Friday Night Lights". Have you seen this television show? Gah. Any free time I might now have is devoted to watching another episode of this awesomeness. So many people (ahem, <a href="http://www.babiesandbacon.com/" target="_blank">Alexia</a>, mom, Kristin, etc.) had told me how great this show was, and I even think that Mike and I started watching it a year or two ago. And then when Mia was born I found myself sitting on the couch a lot more and I was all caught up on my other shows, so I decided to give it another go. I'm not joking here, people. Probably my favorite show of <i>all time</i>. Although if you see me in the next couple of days, please ignore my crying and blubbering. Because I have <i>one episode left</i>. ONE. I've sort of been saving it, trying to find the perfect time to watch, because then it will be over and I will be so, so sad. And I will have much more time for productive things, like writing...<br />
<br />
What Would Riggins Do?<br />
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So, really, not my fault that I haven't been around much.<br />
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In all honesty, though, part of my New Year's resolution was to get back to this space more. Because I enjoy it and because I love having this blog as sort of a scrapbook for my life. (The other part of my resolution was to make our bed everyday. Dream big, my friends.) I have some catch up to do - I want to write about Mia's first few months (spoiler alert: she sleeps!) and discuss the completely insane fact that Anna is now three (spoiler alert: she is equal parts tyrant and angel!). I want to do a better job of documenting our story, so that one day, far in the future, I can read back over everything and be reminded of how damn lucky I've been to live this life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avKGNE9S68g/UO2-E4aLGBI/AAAAAAAAE3s/HjthfnyAKyM/s1600/RVP_9247+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avKGNE9S68g/UO2-E4aLGBI/AAAAAAAAE3s/HjthfnyAKyM/s400/RVP_9247+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Mia's newborn session with the extremely amazing <a href="http://www.rachelvanoven.com/" target="_blank">Rachel Vanoven</a>. <br />
I can't even describe to you how much I love this picture.</td></tr>
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As those Dillon Panthers would say: <i>Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose.</i><br />
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Hope to see you back here soon.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-32688548491804221572012-11-08T16:54:00.000-05:002012-11-08T16:54:34.258-05:00Party of FourOh my. Would you believe me if I told you it had been five weeks since our second daughter was born? FIVE WEEKS? It's one of those crazy things where I sometimes stop and say to myself, "Wow, these weeks have flown by!" and I sometimes say, "Wow, only five weeks? It feels like she's been here forever." (That's possibly the lack of sleep talking - dozing in two hour stretches can sometimes make your brain do funny things.)<br />
<br />
And so it goes.<br />
<br />
I don't really want to bore you with all the minute details of Amelia's birth, but there are a few key points I'd like to highlight and remember. The first one being, clearly, that I really don't recommend spending your last baby-free night sleeping in a tent out in your backyard. It obviously wasn't planned that way - my due date was still over a week away - but I can remember sleepily thinking to myself <i>as I was peeing in the yard for the third time</i> that I would be really pissed if I wasted my last precious night of uninterrupted slumber in a sleeping bag in the freezing cold with a toddler who kept stealing my blanket and a husband who snored through it all. Wouldn't you know it, my water broke the next afternoon.<br />
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Waking up to this pretty much made it all worth it, though.<br />
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Amelia knew what she was doing, however. In fact, her timing couldn't have been better. Almost my entire pregnancy, my father-in-law joked that September 30th would be a perfect day for her arrival - his birthday, too. And since we never got it together to send him a present, our new daughter knew just how to make us look like the best gift givers <i>in the history of ever</i>. I think the lady from the birth records department came to our room no less than five times, only to be turned away because we hadn't made a final name decision. After consulting many, many people (including all of our nurses and the poor birth records lady), the choice was clear. Amelia and her Opa (Albert Jacob Arends) share initials, and her middle name, Jacoba, is from her great-grandmother on his side. We've been calling her Mia more often than not, and Anna still sometimes throws in a Joey - what she called the baby all throughout my pregnancy.<br />
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It also worked out that my sister and brother-in-law were in town. Without being too graphic, let me just say that when your water breaks and your sister arrives minutes later with adult diapers in hand, you know some kind of fate was involved. All kidding aside, having them and my parents here was incredible. I was an emotional wreck, trying to bake cookies and snuggle with Anna and pack my hospital bag, and they were here answering my questions and cleaning my kitchen and letting Mike and I have some quiet time before we left for the hospital. My sister might want to seriously consider a side career as a doula...<br />
<br />
And then she was here. And all those things people say about your heart growing even bigger than you imagined it could proved to be true. For me, I am finding it so much easier to just enjoy Amelia because I've experience first hand how quickly it goes by. Yes, I was exhausted when they placed her in my arms for the first time. Yes, she didn't want to be put down, preferring to snuggle against one of our chests. But those things will change. We will eventually sleep. Soon enough she will be a toddler whose idea of cuddling lasts about 3.2 seconds. With Anna, it wasn't always easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I see it now, and if the tunnel lasts a little bit longer it wouldn't be such a bad thing.<br />
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We're settling in. We're adjusting. Our first night home from the hospital our poor dog got locked out of the house all night. And on our first outing as a foursome we drove away from the gas pump without paying - luckily the nice policeman who knocked on our door was very understanding (And in all fairness, Mike did swipe the card. The machine didn't read it. Swearsies.).<br />
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We're taking it one day at a time and basically just doing what all other parents try to do - get both kids to nap at the same time. (Victory is mine today! Hooray!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby "Joey" on Halloween</td></tr>
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Welcome to the world, Amelia. We are so very, very glad that you are here.</div>
Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-91189486942829167872012-10-05T12:36:00.000-04:002012-10-05T12:36:51.809-04:00Eviction Notice<i>Editor's Note: I wrote this post last week, thinking I would get around to editing and finishing it sometime this week. It turns out that our baby had different plans - Amelia Jacoba Arends arrived Sunday morning. I guess she was listening!</i><br />
<br />
In the weeks leading up to Anna's birth, I can remember feeling fairly calm. Yes, I was excited about meeting our new baby. But I also knew that life was about to drastically change, and I was content to enjoy my last few days of baby-free time. Mike and I went out to nice dinners. We went to the movies. I spent leisurely hours at Barnes & Noble with stacks of gossip magazines by my side. The new little person would make his or her appearance eventually, and I was in no rush to offer an eviction notice. It probably helped that it was also the holiday season, so there was Christmas shopping and decorating and baking to keep me distracted. It also probably helped that we had the nursery done in October, so I had nothing to stress about - other than if I had read every single page in every single pregnancy book I owned. (For the record, I had. Twice. I found my copy of "Your Pregnancy Week By Week" last week when I was straightening up our bedroom and the last chapter I read this pregnancy was "Week 14". Oops.)<br />
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Once the contractions started? Well, let's just say I felt a little more along the lines of, "Baby, please come out. Like, NOW."<br />
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This time around, though, my emotions have been a little more conflicted. On the one hand, I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of the life I have now. (Remember? We talked about this - I'm slightly sentimental.) But mostly I feel like this pregnancy has been dragging on <i>forever</i>. Yes, it's true that we really have no names picked out (there are a few front runners - more on this subject later). Yes, it's true that until a few days ago the new baby's room didn't have a door and there were random hammers and tape measures strewn about. Yes, it's true that starting all over again at the newborn stage terrifies the crap out of me.<br />
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But despite all of that, even though I haven't read a single page about preparing for child birth this time around or don't have our hospital bags totally packed and ready to go, I know that the minute that little baby is placed in my arms none of it will matter.<br />
<br />
People always say the babies who aren't born first tend to get screwed when it comes to things like baby books or number of photos taken. But it seems to me they have a huge advantage in the fact that their parents already realize how much they are going to be loved. Mike and I have talked so many times about how, having been through it once, it will be so much easier to deal with sleepless nights and poop explosions and crying jags because we know how much we love Anna and we also know how quickly it goes by. (Someone please remind me of this in a few months, though, ok?)<br />
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The car seat and the baby swing might not be totally ready, but our hearts are.<br />
<br />
So with that in mind, Baby, I'm giving you the go-ahead to make your appearance. Just give me a few minutes to brush up on when it is, exactly, that we're supposed to get to the hospital...and don't be offended if you find a screwdriver in your crib.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last photo of our family of three, right before Mike and I left for the hospital on Saturday night.</td></tr>
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<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-24155343532509385352012-09-11T15:15:00.000-04:002012-09-11T15:15:08.408-04:00Oh, hello.Well, would you look at that.<br />
<br />
It's September.<br />
<br />
I think I've posted maybe two or three times this whole summer. In fact, last week Mike made a comment to a friend that I "used to have a blog". So.<br />
<br />
It's not for lack of excitement. There have been lots of changes and lots of posts started in my mind and lots of things I've wanted to share. Mike's parents moved to Florida. We attempted to potty train Anna - and failed miserably. Trips to Indianapolis to visit my sister, setting up new nurseries, fun Pinterest crafts, play dates with friends. Mostly, though, my head and heart have been a jumble of emotions as I try to wrap my brain around the fact that in less than a month we will no longer be a family of three.<br />
<br />
While words cannot describe the joy and excitement I feel about bringing another little person into the world, there is another small part of me that is scared and sad about losing the life I know right at this very moment. Yes, I am exhausted and uncomfortable and have an extremely hard time bending over to do things like tie my shoes, but I also know that our days alone with Anna are fleeting, and I want to spend as much time enjoying them as possible.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong - I know a sibling is one of the greatest gifts we can give her. In fact, one of the moments I look forward to the most (probably after finding out if this new addition will be a boy or a girl) is introducing Anna to her new brother or sister. I get emotional thinking about her walking into the hospital room for the first time, meeting the sibling she will share so much with for the rest of her life.<br />
<br />
But still. I'm sentimental. I'm a sap. And change is sometimes hard. Writing about that change? Even harder.<br />
<br />
.....<br />
<br />
Speaking of siblings and being emotional, though, there <i>is</i> one extremely exciting development that I need to share...<br />
<br />
I'm an aunt!<br />
<br />
A little over two weeks ago, my sister and brother-in-law welcomed Asher Harrison Stanton into the world.<br />
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I couldn't be more proud or excited - or in love. We've already been down to <strike>visit</strike> inhale his baby scent twice, and the one major down side to being pregnant at the same time as my sister is now it's probably not advisable for me to travel too far away and I won't get any Asher snuggles for at least three more weeks. Lame.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited faces on the way to meet our new nephew!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Mike!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The proud daddy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama and son.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am high off baby scent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, hello.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna is so in love with her cousin .</td></tr>
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It's crazy and awesome and frightening that we will have our own new little baby to snuggle and sniff in such a short time...</div>
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And with that in mind, I'm off to haul all those boxes labeled "Newborn" out of the basement and snuggle with my first born.</div>
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If I can bend over to pick her up out of her crib, that is.</div>
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<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-74739655814953440112012-08-13T11:57:00.000-04:002012-08-13T11:57:21.396-04:00The Grilled Pizza IncidentA few months after we moved back to Michigan, Mike made plans to get together with his friend Tom and his new (at least to us) girlfriend Melissa. As is probably typical with a married couple in those first sleep-deprived months of parenthood, we somehow got our signals crossed and I found myself covered in dirt from working out in our garden all afternoon with a house full of guests, no food in the house, and a vague idea in my head that I was planning on making grilled pizzas for dinner. My visions of being one of those cool, have-it-all-together moms were quickly going down the drain as introductions were being made and I was trying to downplay the awesomeness of my muddy Crocs and hide the fact that I had absolutely no <strike>fancy</strike> edible snacks to offer. (Have I mentioned that Melissa is drop-dead gorgeous and a *few* years younger? Sigh.)<br />
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After a quick shower and rushed trip to the grocery store, I returned to make amends and dazzle them all with my grilled-pizza-making-skills. <i>Once they taste this</i>, I thought to myself, <i> I will be totally redeemed and they will forget all about the stale bag of pretzels I offered them and realize I am a cool mom after all!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Yeah, not so much. I guess in my haste I forgot to look up the recipe, because the damn pizzas took FOREVER to cook. I'm pretty sure Tom and Melissa left before anything was done, claiming the need to be at a graduation party, but in reality they probably got so hungry they needed to make a break for it before they passed out from hunger.<br />
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I am proud to say that since that awful, awful May day I have totally perfected the grilling of the pizza - in fact it's probably been one our favorite summer meals.<br />
<br />
Except Tom and Melissa just <i>had</i> to move to Colorado, so even if I wanted to prove to them that I'm not a total spaz, I couldn't.<br />
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The best I can do is share my recipe and technique. So here it goes...<br />
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<i>Spoiler Alert:</i> <i>This is going to get long. It's really not complicated, just lots of steps, especially if you are going to be making your own dough and sauce. You can totally skip those steps and just move right on to the grilling technique if you want!</i><br />
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The first part is the dough. When we lived in South Carolina, our grocery store sold fresh pizza dough that was awesome. I haven't been able to find it here, but after trying a few recipes I think I've found the best one. It is, in fact, called "The Best-Ever Pizza Dough" and can be found <a href="http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/bean-bacon-coleslaw/" target="_blank">here</a>. It's perfectly chewy and crispy, just the way I like it. You need to make it at least a day in advance.<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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1 cup lukewarm water (105-115 degrees) <i>I never measure the temp...just use warm-ish water</i><br />
1 tsp. honey<br />
2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast <i>(the little packets they sell are exactly this amount, fyi)</i><br />
3 cups (or more) all-purpose flour<br />
1 3/4 tsp. coarse salt<br />
2 tbsp. EVOO<br />
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1. Mix the water and the honey in a liquid measuring cup until the honey dissolves. Sprinkle with the yeast and let the mixture stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, using a food processor, pulse the flour and salt to mix.<br />
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2. Pour the yeast mixture and the EVOO over the flour mixture. Process until the dough comes together in a sticky ball, 20 to 30 seconds.<br />
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3. Put the dough on a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.<br />
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4. Add the dough to a large, oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm, draft-free area until doubled in size, about an hour - I put mine in the microwave, just so it's safe from toddler hands or curious dogs.<br />
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5. Punch the dough down and put it back on a floured work surface. Quarter the dough using a knife.<br />
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6. With each section of dough, work it into a ball and roll it until smooth.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5o8QD0sw_Uw/UCkcfWazBsI/AAAAAAAAEtM/EmNRYpj0z-Q/s1600/August+2012+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5o8QD0sw_Uw/UCkcfWazBsI/AAAAAAAAEtM/EmNRYpj0z-Q/s400/August+2012+028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolling dough and taking pictures at the same time is not so easy - sorry for the crappy lighting!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME__XfaR9dVLs4BT68yQ7POkZEPLGrVw8zdPrF4gnC0zohnLv89AlvhDIIiQnFKIZpIEMHeAIBqD0X7w825JIViQEJFXbHwRlG-5YGR47SUuE9cGMOew_WWoAYCD4F-ZfEF-r-w0Fe81S/s1600/August+2012+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjME__XfaR9dVLs4BT68yQ7POkZEPLGrVw8zdPrF4gnC0zohnLv89AlvhDIIiQnFKIZpIEMHeAIBqD0X7w825JIViQEJFXbHwRlG-5YGR47SUuE9cGMOew_WWoAYCD4F-ZfEF-r-w0Fe81S/s400/August+2012+031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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7. Each dough ball goes into a plastic bag. If you are going to be eating it soon, refrigerate it for 10 to 48 hours, otherwise you can freeze it for up to two weeks. We usually eat two pizzas at a time and freeze the other two. Let the dough sit at room temperature for about an hour before you shape it, if it's been in the freezer let it sit out for two hours.<br />
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8. Working with one dough ball at a time, press it out onto a lightly floured work surface and press into the shape you want. I usually just go with the shape naturally - they never turn out totally round, more like ovals or rectangles. You could also cut the dough here to make mini pizzas if you want!<br />
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I like to make my own sauce, mostly because I'm picky and don't like sauce that tastes over-cooked or seasoned. Here is my basic recipe - doctor it up as you like! This is enough sauce for two rounds of pizza, so I usually keep the leftovers in the fridge until we grill the second half of the dough, as long as it's within ten days or so.<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
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1 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes<br />
1 14.5-ounce can of tomato sauce - but you probably only use about half the can<br />
1 tsp. Kosher salt<br />
1 tbs. EVOO<br />
Fresh garlic, grated or minced- I usually use one or two cloves<br />
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1. Throw all the diced tomatoes, half the tomato sauce, the salt, EVOO, and garlic into a blender or food processor. Pulse a few times until you get your desired consistency. I like it a little chunky, but you can make it smoother if you want. Season to taste and add more tomato sauce until it's how you like it!<br />
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Now you are ready to grill. There are tons of recipes out there for different kinds of pizzas, but I have to admit that I'm a <strike>boring</strike> simple girl when it comes to pizza. I like plain cheese. Maybe some basil or fresh mushrooms. No BBQ sauce or other crazy concoctions for this girl. But if you are into pizza that's a little crazier (Pepperoni? Calm down, would you?!) here is where you'd want to assemble all your ingredients.
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Ingredients:<br />
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Pizza sauce - half of recipe above, about a cup<br />
Pizza Dough<br />
EVOO<br />
Mozzarella cheese - 1 to 2 cups<br />
Toppings of your choosing<br />
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1. Preheat a grill to 500.<br />
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2. Lower the heat on one side of the grill to low. Oil the grate on that side of the grill. I sometimes use a paper towel soaked in oil with some tongs, other times I just use a pastry brush to put the oil directly on the crusts. I've even sprayed the crust with non-stick cooking spray before. Move the shaped dough to the grill. Lower the edge of the dough onto the oiled grill. For bigger pizzas, grill two at a time. If you're making mini pizzas you can grill eight at a time.<br />
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3. Cover the grill and cook until the crusts begin to bubble and brown, about 3 minutes. Loosen the crusts with a metal spatula and flip over, cooking until they begin to brown on the bottom, about 2 more minutes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEOXbTmS2f0/UCkdcDvMRLI/AAAAAAAAEuc/NwNSraRjh_Y/s1600/August+2012+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GEOXbTmS2f0/UCkdcDvMRLI/AAAAAAAAEuc/NwNSraRjh_Y/s400/August+2012+068.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back of our grill is a little hotter than the front, but even burnt it still tastes delish!</td></tr>
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4. Flip the crusts back over to their original sides, but this time put a baking sheet underneath (thanks for the tip, Fred and Sarah!). Spread the pizza sauce over the crust and then sprinkle with cheese and any toppings you want to add. Cover and cook until the cheese is melty and golden, 2 to 3 minutes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you guess which one I'm going to eat?</td></tr>
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Hooray! You're done! I honestly think this pizza tastes way better than any you can get delivered, and it is SO much cheaper.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVvQYuhuXEk/UCkdwEppU8I/AAAAAAAAEu0/cuIxV7qX8L8/s1600/August+2012+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVvQYuhuXEk/UCkdwEppU8I/AAAAAAAAEu0/cuIxV7qX8L8/s400/August+2012+083.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Plus, you could totally impress Tom and Melissa. If only they didn't live so far away...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HLFtOC5X78/UCkdxj_DniI/AAAAAAAAEvE/FJxGhj-5P3w/s1600/August+2012+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2HLFtOC5X78/UCkdxj_DniI/AAAAAAAAEvE/FJxGhj-5P3w/s400/August+2012+091.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna's face when I told her there were people out there who doubted my grilled-pizza-making-skills. She just can't believe it.</td></tr>
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Happy Monday!Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-89377843767175118582012-07-10T14:55:00.000-04:002012-07-10T14:55:05.026-04:00Summertime in Northern MichiganOk. I'm about to throw a whole lot of vacation pictures at you. I kind of wish I could make a slideshow and then force you all to sit there while I went through them one by one telling funny stories and trying to make you understand how amazingly awesome these two weeks were. But I don't even think the pictures would do any justice (as much fun as you would have listening to my boring stories of dunes and waves and parades and fireworks and, well, you get the point) because this vacation truly was perfection. It was such a nice blend of family and friends and laughter and sunsets and cherry pie - all the things in life that make me happy.<br />
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And here are some of the pics snapped on my phone (and some from Mike's and some from this guy Steve who seemed to be following us around...)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike and Anna walking at sunset; playing on the beach at Crystal Lake; hiking Sleeping Bear; sunset at Lake Michigan<br />wine tasting at L. Mawby; more sunset; cherries on the beach; Uncle TJ and Anna<br />the pier at Frankfort (times two); waves; looking for fish<br />more waves; the dunes; don't worry - it's juice!; sunset at Crystal Lake</td></tr>
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And while it seems like I have a lot of pictures, looking through them I realized that we busted our good camera out a total of about three times. My iPhone filled in here and there, but overall most of the really good stuff is captured only in my head. So I guess I'll be forced to share those slides only with myself, on the days when I need a sweet reminder of how lucky I am and how much I have to be thankful for.
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Happy Tuesday!Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-90117741281206518382012-06-21T14:19:00.000-04:002012-06-21T14:19:49.607-04:00Sand Beneath Our Feet, Big Blue Sky Above Our HeadsSaturday is vacation day, people. Which means we'll be packing up and heading out for two weeks of lake living on the beautiful shores of Crystal Lake. It also means that I have been in vacation mode for the last five days - grocery shopping and cooking anything that actually resembles a meal? Why would I do that when we're going out of town? Eating anything besides cereal and scrambled eggs hardly makes any sense when we're about to be gone, right? (I hope I'm not the only one who thinks this way - and if I am I totally blame the pregnancy for my laziness.) Although I should mention that I am slightly obsessed with the eggs I buy at our local farmers' market and sort of feel like even if I am serving brinner multiple nights a week, it is a totally legit, delicious meal.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two bucks a dozen. I stalk the egg man like it's my job.</td></tr>
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It's been a long, long time since Mike has been able to take this much time off of work, and I'm so looking forward to all the family time. Rumor has it the cottage we're renting doesn't even have Internet access, so if you happen to see a slightly crazed pregnant lady wandering the beaches of northern Michigan holding her cell phone up trying to load Facebook, there's a pretty good chance it's me. Just kidding. <i>Sort of</i>. In all honesty, as much as I know I am obsessed with my iPhone and all the time-wasting activities it has to offer, I'm sort of excited to see how I function (and how much I enjoy myself) without all the distractions. Again, I blame the pregnancy, but I'm starting to feel a lot of nostalgia over the fact that this will probably be our last family trip as a trio and I want to make sure I soak it all in.<br />
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Even if I can't document it all on Instagram. (I'm @lesliearends if you ever want to follow along!)<br />
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I'll leave you with one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands that pretty much sums up how I'm feeling.<br />
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Happy Summer!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hlJmhaTkWvU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">I know that you're smiling, baby, </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">I don't even need to see your face </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Sunset at the shoreline, we are laughing, breaking up, </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Just like the waves </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Are you feeling, feeling, feeling like I'm, feeling </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Like I'm floating, floating, up above that big blue ocean </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Sand beneath our feet, big blue sky above our heads, </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">No need to keep stressing from our everyday life on our minds </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">We have got to leave all that behind </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Well, I have got a sister, </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">And she has got a baby with brand new eyes </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">And her daddy is an engineer, </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">And they just took her to the sea for the first time </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Now they're under, under, underneath a big umbrella </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Summer, summer, summer time to help us forget, nine to fives </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">We have got to leave all that behind </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">I have worries to give to the sea </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">We can walk dear the pier is farther than it seems </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Midnight at the shoreline, fireworks above us </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">A screaming bloom </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">They're sent by some teenager and kid whoever you are </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">I am thanking you </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Now we're dancing, dancing, dancing with no music </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">What is happening, happening, happening and no feelings </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Except this is right </span><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">We just had to leave all that behind</span></i><br style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><br />
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<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-22903576904293816842012-06-11T14:39:00.000-04:002012-06-11T14:39:01.538-04:00Such A Nice Way<i>Babies are such a nice way to start people. </i>- Don Herrold<br />
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It seems I have a knack for being pregnant for all of my sister's big life milestones.<br />
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I found out I was pregnant with Anna just a few short weeks before Kristin's bachelorette party in Las Vegas and was at that lovely "Is she with child or did she just drink too many beers?" stage of pregnancy for her wedding. So when I found out that Kristin and Drew were going to be parents, my first thoughts (after, of course, sheer and total excitement at becoming an aunt) were of how I could steal their thunder. Just kidding, <i>obviously</i>. But, as luck would have it, those two life-changing pink lines showed up just five weeks later.<br />
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Being pregnant at the same time as Kristin has been so much fun (except for the times when she's all, "Oh, I just ran five miles! I feel amazing!" and I'm all, "Oh, I just barfed! And then I took a nap!"), and I am so, so excited that our babies will be close in age and that Anna will have not one, but two little ones to boss around at family gatherings.<br />
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So despite my very best efforts to one-up them once again (I was hoping for twins!), yesterday was all about showering Kristin and Drew with all kinds of love for their new baby boy. And it was such a special day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I6Bqrm1EGEQ/T9VRMW71UkI/AAAAAAAAEMM/yh_rW2uDbAk/s1600/Kristin%2527s+Baby+Shower+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I6Bqrm1EGEQ/T9VRMW71UkI/AAAAAAAAEMM/yh_rW2uDbAk/s400/Kristin%2527s+Baby+Shower+007.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mason jars painted on the inside with craft paint, tied with twine. Flowers from Costco and pennants made from bamboo skewers and scrapbooking paper!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Wishes for Baby" cards purchased on Etsy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ErinsArtwork?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">here</a>. Filled out by all the guests and put together in a photo album. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candy goody bags - labels printed with a free template from <a href="http://www.ontobaby.com/free-printables/" target="_blank">this site</a>. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pennants made with scrapbooking paper and twine. Candy game (in the back) taken from <a href="http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/2010/07/candy-game-printables.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful and delicious cupcakes made by the talented Angela Munsell. Cupcake toppers are scrapbooking paper and toothpicks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you tell I was excited about the cupcakes? I am pregnant, after all.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cupcake baker and her adorable son!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special thanks to Trista for taking pictures while I was playing hostess!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's a natural.</td></tr>
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Not that anyone had any doubt, but the whole day was such a sweet reminder of how much love and happiness this little guy is going to be surrounded by. It was so neat to see all these people in one room celebrating the new life Kristin and Drew are bringing into the world, and I can't think of two people who will make better parents. Baby Boy Stanton is one lucky kid.<br />
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Thank you so much to everyone who came to celebrate and made the day so special!<br />
<br />
And Kristin and Drew - I love you both so much and can't wait to be an auntie! Also, if you could give me a heads up if you're planning any big life milestones in the future, I'd appreciate it. I kinda want to get an idea of just how many times I'm going to need to be pregnant, mmkay?Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-38708671463921989832012-05-21T15:15:00.001-04:002012-05-21T15:15:51.348-04:00On Pink Sparkly Nail PolishBack in the days when I was footloose and fancy free (ahem, childless), one of my favorite evening activities was to give myself manicures and pedicures. I think it started the summer Mike was working in Puerto Rico - I rented every season of "Sex and the City" and spent all those cold, lonely nights re-watching my favorite show and soaking my feet in a big tub of warm, soapy water and filing my nails. Yes, yes, I'm aware that there are nail salons available for this very thing, but for some reason I just sort of like doing it myself. (Also, I <i>always</i> seem to get cut by the poor nail technicians. I've determined I must have thin skin, but nonetheless I'm kind of terrified of contracting a horrible, flesh-eating disease.)<br />
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As you can imagine, this sort of activity is kind of difficult when there is a toddler running around. But on Friday night, with a baby shower to attend the next day and the weather heating up (also, maybe some gentle nudging from my sister), I decided a pedicure was <strike>in order</strike> totally and completely necessary if I ever wanted to show my feet in public again. And so it was that our little family (Mike included!) found ourselves huddled on the couch with our feet soaking while we watched "March of the Penguins" and Anna and I poured over the polish colors in my stash. Fun family times, right?<br />
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While trying to paint Anna's toes proved to be one of the most infuriating tasks I've taken on as a mother, it really had me thinking a lot about having a daughter. Before I ever had kids, and even up until the moment Anna was born and Mike declared, "It's a girl!", I was pretty convinced I was destined to be the mother to boys. I'm not really sure why, but for some reason it was all I could picture, even though I grew up with only one sister. I can remember getting a package from my mom in the mail for my birthday when I was pregnant with Anna and it was filled with knitting needles and yarn and other fun sewing and crafting goodies and it was the first time I thought to myself that I might be a little sad if I never had a daughter, because then who would I send crafty care packages to? And now I'm pretty convinced that I'm destined to be the mother to all girls - which is basically me confessing that now that I have a daughter, the idea of a baby with little boy parts scares the crap out of me.<br />
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I know, without a doubt, that Mike never expected to be spending a Friday night up to his shins in bubbles and shouting, "Pedicure Party!" while his daughter and wife debated the merits of pink sparkles. But I also know that Mike and Anna share one of the most amazing and natural relationships I've ever witnessed, even though sparkly things are high on her list and not-so-high on his. I suppose being a parent is like many things in life - you have no idea what to expect, and then you just learn as you go, even if it's not what you planned or imagined.<br />
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But watching the man you love throw his idea of a good time out the window to appease the little girl you adore, you can sure feel a lot better about knowing that no matter what, it's going to be amazing.<br />
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Especially if you have a fresh pedicure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike took this picture one evening out in the yard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was going on while I was at the aforementioned baby shower.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing ball with Dada.</td></tr>
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<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-87361024016989315062012-05-09T16:13:00.001-04:002012-05-09T16:13:45.646-04:00Noodles!Now that the <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2012/05/chuck-norris-has-got-nothin-on-me.html" target="_blank">cat is out of the bag</a>, so to speak, I want to make sure that this space doesn't become all pregnancy, baby, blah, blah, blah. Yes, obviously, I will write about my excitement and fear and all the other fun things that go along with bringing a person into the world - how could I not? But for today, I thought I'd share another of my favorite recipes. Especially since I finally feel like actually eating and cooking again.<br />
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I think I was first inspired to make this after reading a recipe in the Rachael Ray magazine. I kind of took what she offered and changed it up a bit to fit our tastes. It's an easy, quick meal that is awesome for summer, and it's totally toddler approved. It's also awesome because you can throw in whatever veggies you might have on hand. And the leftovers (if you have any) are delicious the next day - perfect to take to work or eat in the driveway while your kid creates masterpieces with sidewalk chalk!<br />
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<b>Cold Asian Noodle Salad</b><br />
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What you need:<br />
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(Since this is not an actual recipe, my measurements aren't too exact. Sorry!)<br />
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1 package of Soba noodles - you could use rice noodles if you want to go gluten free, or even regular spaghetti would probably work<br />
Ken's Lite Asian Sesame salad dressing - or something comparable. I also have made dressing from scratch using tamari sauce when feeding gluten-free eaters. Probably better for you, but I'm lazy!<br />
Spinach, chopped - a couple of big handfuls<br />
Carrots, grated - I used probably 7 or 8 baby carrots.<br />
Fresh cilantro, chopped - a big handful<br />
Peanuts, chopped - a handful<br />
Green Onions, chopped - two or three<br />
Any other fresh vegetables you want to add - this is a great way to sneak veggies in. I usually add an orange or yellow bell pepper, but I forgot to buy one. I usually add fresh basil, too, but I haven't started my garden yet and the basil at the grocery store didn't look that great. I bet cucumbers and tomatoes would be delicious!<br />
Cooked Chicken - again, I'm lazy, so I used a rotisserie chicken (also, I'm struggling with raw meat these days), but you could save money by cooking your own.<br />
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What you do:<br />
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1. Prepare the noodles according to the directions. Soba noodles are super fast - they cook in about four minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.<br />
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2. Chop or grate all your veggies and herbs and the chicken.<br />
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3. Mix it all together in a big bowl and pour the dressing on top. I just eyeball it - I try to go on the light side, that way you can add more if you want more flavor. Give it another stir and you are good to go!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warning: Lady & The Tramp inspired eating may happen as a result of serving this meal.</td></tr>
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Enjoy!<br />
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And not to be all pregnancy, baby, blah, blah, blah on you, but we're super excited because tomorrow we have our big ultrasound. Spoiler alert: not finding out the gender! Yes, yes, I know that this will drive most people crazy. But what can I say? We love a good surprise. And the color yellow.<br />
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Happy Wednesday!Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-66829865968152890962012-05-02T14:48:00.003-04:002012-05-02T14:48:54.013-04:00Chuck Norris Has Got Nothin' On MeIt occurred to me over the weekend that at this time last year I was handing in my final <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2011/05/yo-adrian-i-did-it.html" target="_blank">Master's Degree</a> project and putting the finishing touches on my <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-final-countdown.html" target="_blank">half marathon training</a>. My half birthday was last week, which means I turned thirty more than <i>six months ago</i>. And I started to feel a little down on myself. I mean, I basically went all Chuck Norris on the last year of my twenties, what with finishing my degree and running two half marathons (and obviously a ton of other cool stuff that I can't seem to remember right now). Since then, though, it's been kind of a <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2011/11/shes-crafty-and-shes-just-my-type.html" target="_blank">random assortment of crafting and baking</a> (thank you, Pinterest) and just sort of living life - all in a really great, non-martial-artsy kind of way.<br />
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But just as I began to think that thirty had gotten the best of me, I remembered that I'm doing something that even that silly Chuck Norris couldn't, that my thirtieth year (Or is it my thirty-first? That math is confusing...) is going to blow <i>most</i> others out of the water because of one small (well, about the size of an apple right now) reason<i>.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arends clan will become a family of four in early October - and this little girl will be a big sister!</td></tr>
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So while it's true I haven't been logging the miles on the treadmill (thank you very much, <strike>morning</strike> all-day sickness) or writing any thesis papers, I suppose I can cut myself a <i>little </i>slack. There is a tiny person growing inside me, after all.<br />
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Even Chuck Norris has to take a break sometimes, right?<br />
<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-66760093430700200782012-04-10T08:41:00.000-04:002012-04-10T08:41:19.859-04:00If You Give A Mama A Trip To Target...I can remember a Mother's Day from when I was younger, probably eleven or twelve, where my dad took my sister and I to a Detroit Tigers baseball game, leaving my mom alone. At the time, I can remember thinking how sad she must have been, that her whole family was abandoning her on the most special of all days and how she must have spent the afternoon waiting by the window for us to return.<br />
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And then I became a mom myself, and I imagine now that the second our car rolled out of the driveway she was doing a little happy dance in the living room. It was probably the best damn Mother's Day she'd had in the history of ever.<br />
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On Friday, my in-laws came and scooped up Anna for a day of Costco shopping and visiting relatives in Grand Rapids. All week, I had been planning in my head what I was going to do with my temporary freedom, and it mostly involved a Starbucks run and a glorious, peaceful, toddler-free trip to Target where I meandered through the aisles and stocked up on Easter basket goodies. The only bad thing? The part where I had to pay for all the fun stuff I had blissfully thrown in my cart.<br />
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As if the day couldn't get better, my Target adventure was followed by a sushi lunch date with Mike. We sat at the bar, conversed like real grown-ups, and didn't have to stop our conversation twenty times to pick food up off the floor or flag the waitress over to bring us some more milk or more napkins. It was glorious.<br />
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And I swear to you, the rest of the weekend played out like that children's book, "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie", because it seems those few precious hours of Anna-free time were just what I needed. I finally cleaned and organized the toys that were threatening to take over our living room. I swept and mopped every floor in our house. I washed windows. Heck, I even painted my toenails. The next morning, I cleaned and vacuumed out my car. I was on fire, and all it had taken was a soy latte, that red bullseye, and some wasabi.<br />
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Sometimes, as a stay-at-home-mom, I don't feel entitled to take days off. It's so hard to remember that even though I'm not on a payroll or punching a clock, I so need those mental health days to decompress and drink coffee alone and try on twenty things without a two-year-old trying to escape the dressing room.<br />
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All my cleaning and toe-nail polishing was followed up with a visit to meet my dear friend's baby and a trip to my parents' house to celebrate Easter. We ate cheesy potatoes, eggs benedict, and lots of chocolate, and finished the day with an egg hunt out in the yard.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what the mullet looks like first thing in the morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"No pictures!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to hunt.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Aunt Janet is the master of the egg hunt.</td></tr>
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I hope everyone's weekend was as awesome as ours, even if you didn't get to go to Target.<br />
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This afternoon, we embark on a trip down to Florida - Mike is fishing with his brother, and Anna, my mom and I are heading down to visit my sister. I'm looking forward to the beach and the sun. And maybe even giving my mom an afternoon or two off so she can go to Target!<br />
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Happy Tuesday!<br />
<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-12646158805324116172012-04-02T16:36:00.000-04:002012-04-02T16:36:37.694-04:00You Can't Have 'No' In Your HeartThere's a running joke around our house that Anna has, by leaps and bounds, the coolest hair of anyone in the family.<br />
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And when I say coolest, I mean "looks the most like Joe Dirt".<br />
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<br />
Leading up to her birth, I was convinced my baby would enter the world with a head full of long, flowing locks. Heartburn doesn't lie, does it? And according to all the old wives' tales, constantly reaching for the Tums during pregnancy means your kid will pop out ready to be the next Pantene model. Well, it turns out all the old wives are full of it, because Anna had barely a fuzz covering her noggin - a fuzz that stayed put well beyond her first birthday.<br />
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Finally, though, her hair <i>did </i>begin to grow.<br />
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Except. Well, except for one small problem. Her hair is growing, yes. But it is only growing <i>in the back</i>.<br />
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People, my child has a mullet. She is business in the front and party in the back. She could get through a security checkpoint into Canada without a problem <i>or</i> a passport of the paper kind . I'm pretty sure any hockey team would give her a spot on their roster simply by looking at her. It's hard core.<br />
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On a good day, she resembles Florence Henderson in her Brady Bunch days.<br />
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On a bad day? Well, let's just say that she would fit right in with Billy Ray and his achy, breaky heart.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GwVDDtYigmg/T3oDweW42mI/AAAAAAAAD_w/-G3ziUPbgEw/s1600/Anna+Billy+Ray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GwVDDtYigmg/T3oDweW42mI/AAAAAAAAD_w/-G3ziUPbgEw/s400/Anna+Billy+Ray.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you are ever feeling sad, I urge you to use Google Images to look up "mullet". You will be giggling the rest of the day.</td></tr>
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She was born in the South, after all. Maybe this is her way of telling us she wants to be a country music singer when she grows up.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ci-3EA2u2g/T3oHyUaZMCI/AAAAAAAAEAI/6qJQge-9vDo/s1600/Anna+band+perry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3ci-3EA2u2g/T3oHyUaZMCI/AAAAAAAAEAI/6qJQge-9vDo/s400/Anna+band+perry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just to clarify, The Band Perry (pictured on the right) is a <i>current</i> band. This picture is from the last year, meaning those dudes cut their hair like that on purpose. Maybe Anna is a trendsetter?</td></tr>
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Sure, we could cut it. But then how in the world will we torture her with pictures when she's a teenager?
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We've tried putting in cute little barrettes or headbands to distract people from what's really going on - usually involving bribery in the form of gummy bears - but they never seem to last longer than an hour or two. I have to say, despite the fact that she is still mistaken for a boy (with a really bad haircut) on almost a daily basis, the idea that my daughter could easily be an extra in a White Snake video makes me smile.<br />
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If that's not love, I don't know what is.<br />
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Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to enroll Anna in guitar lessons and buy her some cowboy boots. And maybe add a little hair-growing serum to her milk while I'm at it...<br />
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<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-12141389316330653522012-03-23T15:17:00.000-04:002012-03-23T15:17:43.446-04:00I Need A KristinterventionIn more ways than one. For reals.<br />
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Today is my sweet sister's birthday. And while Kristin is basking in the sun in the faraway land known as Florida, I am sadly stuck in Michigan. (Although, no complaints about the weather, because I have been doing quite a bit of basking myself. Thank you, Mother Nature!)<br />
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We won't be drinking margaritas together to celebrate, but that doesn't mean she hasn't been on my mind all day, because I sure do miss her.<br />
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Do you know who else misses her?<br />
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My house.<br />
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Remember <a href="http://lesliearends.blogspot.com/2011/06/hi.html" target="_blank">that time</a> she came over and basically kicked my ass and ordered me around and forced me to get organized? Weeellll...let's just say I haven't exactly been living up to her expectations. I'm pretty sure every surface in my house has suffered my abuse, and it ain't pretty.<br />
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I don't think I can convince her to leave the beach to, ya know, beat me into organizing my life. Which means I must take matters into my own hands.<br />
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I've been pondering a few things I've seen on Pinterest, like a <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-cleaning-process-and-500-give-away.html" target="_blank">daily cleaning schedule</a> or one of those "<a href="http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/organized-home.html" target="_blank">52 Weeks to an Organized Life</a>" deals. I don't know. I'm feeling overwhelmed. And embarrassed.<br />
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On a scale from one to ten, how pitiful is it if a stay-at-home mom wants to hire a cleaning service? (Although, as I said to my friend Katie today, my house is too much of a wreck to probably even get a cleaning service to come!)<br />
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You gotta start somewhere, right? So Kristin, in honor of that magical day you entered the world, I'm going to clean at least one room of my house today. If that doesn't shout "I'm so happy you were born!", then I'm not sure what does...<br />
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Happy Birthday, sister! I hope your day is surface-abuse free and full of wonderful things that make you happy. I love you!<br />
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<b>Anyone have any tips or pointers for me? Experience with those daily cleaning schedules? HELP ME!</b>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-64600756450190610812012-03-13T16:23:00.000-04:002012-03-13T16:23:19.441-04:00Nap Time, I Thought We Were CoolI think that Mike and I are dealing with a little Post-Traumatic Stress when it comes to Anna's sleeping habits. I mean, the kid has been slumbering twelve to thirteen hours a night in her own crib for more than a year, and I swear to you the one night she happens to wake up we both get all twitchy and angry and totally revert to our sleep-deprived maniacal selves. That's the way we functioned the entire first year of her life, because girlfriend was not what is known as the kind of baby who, well, sleeps like a baby. Or, rather, maybe she was, and the person who came up with that expression is a huge jackass.<br />
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I've been noticing lately lots of pictures of kids popping up on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram sleeping in totally random places - sacked out in front of their blocks, curled up with the family dog, sawing logs in their high chair - and I find myself chuckling and feeling just the tiniest bit jealous. Because there is no chance in hell that Anna would EVER fall asleep anywhere but in a moving vehicle, someone's arms, or her crib. And while we've come leaps and bounds since her first year, (despite her lack of spontaneous nodding off) there have been some changes 'round here in her sleeping patterns, and they've got me quaking in my boots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wL6U6NIZntE/T1-nD2tAeVI/AAAAAAAAD_A/Vd3rB9OB-nE/s1600/August+2011+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wL6U6NIZntE/T1-nD2tAeVI/AAAAAAAAD_A/Vd3rB9OB-nE/s400/August+2011+035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rarest of all Anna sightings - spontaneous sleeping!</td></tr>
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I am starting to fear that Anna is coming to the end of napping days. It hurts almost to type it. Nap time - those treasured two or three hours every day when I can pop open a bottle of pinot and catch up on reality TV (ha)- seems to be disappearing. I put Anna in her crib, and no joke, two hours later she will still be in there laughing and singing and talking to her toys. She's not crying or complaining - she's genuinely having fun. As I type this I can hear her calling to Super Grover to bring her a sandwich. Some days she finally seems to give up and go to sleep, but by then it's pretty much the time she's supposed to be waking up, and her whole schedule gets out of whack. Other days, she fights it and I relent and go get her. At first, on the days she would miss her nap, come six o'clock she would be a walking little terror. But lately I've noticed that missing her nap doesn't seem to throw her off as much as it used to, and she goes to sleep at night much faster and easier. Is this how it all ends? Please say it ain't so!<br />
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Two smaller things have been happening, but none so life-altering as the loss of the nap. First, Anna has rediscovered sleeping with her mama and dada. It started one of those twitchy nights when she woke up for some reason or another, and instead of putting in the work to rock her or sing to her or rub her back while she went back to sleep, I simply scooped her up and brought her into our bed. As I was doing I thought to myself, "Oh, this could be trouble!" But then we all snuggled up and slept wonderfully and that was that. Until two nights later, when she was up again. This time, I was more determined (less lazy?), but Anna had other plans. Immediately she was asking, "Sleep in dada's bed?" Well played, kid. So far, it hasn't been too much of a problem - she's probably been joining us about once a week, and both Mike and I sort of like having her around. She did sleep with us the entire first year of her life, after all. The girl knows how to get what she wants, though, and we have created a (snuggle) monster. I submit the following photo as evidence:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6lcdLt0YnU/T1-mNPiTJOI/AAAAAAAAD-0/okvRpQcuHO0/s1600/photo+%252815%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6lcdLt0YnU/T1-mNPiTJOI/AAAAAAAAD-0/okvRpQcuHO0/s400/photo+%252815%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She somehow convinced my sister to share a twin bed with her...</td></tr>
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The last thing is much less dramatic, although it definitely has the possibility to be, well, messier. Several mornings a week I open Anna's door to find a small pile on the floor consisting of pajamas and a diaper. And a naked, bouncy toddler grinning up at me. So far, no accidents, but who knows how long that luck will last. The girl wants to be naked, I guess.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpwlglEgCjA/T1-mN4DdvSI/AAAAAAAAD-s/ZYjGlzw1uJY/s1600/photo+%252816%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpwlglEgCjA/T1-mN4DdvSI/AAAAAAAAD-s/ZYjGlzw1uJY/s400/photo+%252816%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who can blame her, really?</td></tr>
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All is quiet in her room now, which means that she'll probably be asleep until dinner. So I best be gettin' my drink on. Or, you know, folding some laundry.<br />
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<b>Parents - when did your kids drop their naps? Am I fooling myself in thinking this might just be a phase? And any tips for keeping my baby clothed (and her crib free of poop)?? </b>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-55771901031294880452012-02-29T09:46:00.001-05:002012-02-29T09:46:26.289-05:00Huge Elmo, Pie, and a Baby ShowerWell. Would you look at that? The month of February is basically over, and it turns out I've been kind of a slacker in the blogging department.<br />
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Truth is, it hasn't been too exciting of a month. But in a good way, I suppose. We did take Anna to see Sesame Street Live ("Elmo is huge! On the stage!") and we did have some fun celebrating Valentine's Day (with delicious pie, how else?). Of course I didn't really document either of those things, but lucky for me my good friend Alexia did, so if you're so inclined you can check it out <a href="http://babiesandbacon.com/2012/02/nearly-wordless-wednesday-its-elmo-really/" target="_blank">here</a> and<a href="http://babiesandbacon.com/2012/02/nearly-wordless-wednesdsay-its-valentines-pie/" target="_blank"> here</a>. (She's eight months pregnant, so I'm not really sure what my excuse is, but I'm thankful she's a lot more on the ball than I am!)<br />
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Mike and I also escaped for a little weekend adventure (baby free!) up to Traverse City. Kristin and Drew were up there for the Special Olympics, and we had lots of fun exploring and hiking and taking in all the festivities. It was quick, but so nice to get away without Anna for a couple of days.<br />
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Probably the biggest excitement in February was a baby shower we threw for my oldest friend Caitlin. (When I say oldest, I mean that we have been friends since we were in our mama's bellies - not that she is <i>old!</i>) And seeing that her sweet baby girl arrived on Saturday, I suppose I could share some pictures from the party.<br />
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I'd never really been involved in throwing a baby shower before, but I have to admit it was a ton of fun. Of course Pinterest played a huge part in many of the ideas we used (did you expect anything else?), but the whole day was such a lovely celebration of Caitlin and Doug and the new life they are bringing into the world.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the life of me, I could not blur out the address using Photoshop. Paint for the win!<br />Invitations from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lilmoptop?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Etsy</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We played a fun game with everyone's baby photos</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favors - <a href="http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/02/love-you-bookmark.html" target="_blank">here</a> is the original link for the DIY instructions</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all signed a copy of Caitlin's favorite book when she was a baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The decorations were simple, but oh-so-fitting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's a party without a little champagne?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGNr12-2vDI/T02I5TxIgtI/AAAAAAAAD9E/64qwjv9oXZ0/s1600/Feb+2012+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGNr12-2vDI/T02I5TxIgtI/AAAAAAAAD9E/64qwjv9oXZ0/s400/Feb+2012+036.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious cookies from Caitlin's aunt and uncle's bakery - <a href="http://hstrial-wbuda.homestead.com/Index.html" target="_blank">Johnny B's Cookies</a></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjE2GwxYJpqBqATgCxzPBJe-vkfy_WzadqXO9s1yHsTP7B9gudJCPgKAYkCMiiZjTQJqqFTlO8TYHciyaQ3HFnHNRr-Izmdwd6tNYMXC4NzTFiQ6G66pynyd74cMAgMi6-sC1KD8cWRBl/s1600/Feb+2012+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjE2GwxYJpqBqATgCxzPBJe-vkfy_WzadqXO9s1yHsTP7B9gudJCPgKAYkCMiiZjTQJqqFTlO8TYHciyaQ3HFnHNRr-Izmdwd6tNYMXC4NzTFiQ6G66pynyd74cMAgMi6-sC1KD8cWRBl/s400/Feb+2012+045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dK0yYsIiKoU/T02I6oy5sJI/AAAAAAAAD9c/4vdDsbmtGkE/s1600/Feb+2012+046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dK0yYsIiKoU/T02I6oy5sJI/AAAAAAAAD9c/4vdDsbmtGkE/s400/Feb+2012+046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CQ1GHCC7Aw8/T02I6zxidJI/AAAAAAAAD9k/wOj_tsMbcno/s1600/Feb+2012+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CQ1GHCC7Aw8/T02I6zxidJI/AAAAAAAAD9k/wOj_tsMbcno/s400/Feb+2012+054.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parents-to-be</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QxwFBkK_YfU/T02I7oxaV_I/AAAAAAAAD9o/paNJ1yzMYSE/s1600/Feb+2012+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QxwFBkK_YfU/T02I7oxaV_I/AAAAAAAAD9o/paNJ1yzMYSE/s400/Feb+2012+058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Womb Sisters!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n88Z7pdDh40/T02I9HZEOFI/AAAAAAAAD98/hDHxAr0p4Zc/s1600/Feb+2012+068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n88Z7pdDh40/T02I9HZEOFI/AAAAAAAAD98/hDHxAr0p4Zc/s400/Feb+2012+068.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the ladies made these sweet buttons for everyone to wear - little Caitlin and Leslie were so cute!</td></tr>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Now all that's left is a trip to Chicago so I can squeeze baby Madeline in person!<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br />
I hope everyone has had a wonderful, er, month. Here's to March - I'm ready for some sunshine!<br />
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<b>What has filled your February?</b>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-87728836866079703432012-02-01T14:56:00.000-05:002012-02-01T14:56:34.149-05:00Pinny Party!Ok. Ok. I promise that I will stop talking about Pinterest. Soon.<br />
<br />
Just not today.<br />
<br />
It seems as though my beloved site is going mainstream. And I've heard some grumbling. Like people who are all mad that now everyone else has discovered this little gem and think it's getting tarnished or something. To me, the more the merrier. Because now there are even more people sharing even more awesome ideas and recipes for me to try. So, all you new Pinterest users? We're cool.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago (well, actually it was probably more like a month ago, but I am slow) something amazing happened. See, my friend Trista had this great idea that we should start organized little parties where we make something we find on Pinterest. When she told me, I was like, "Um, excuse me while my head explodes." Because, first of all, you know that I love making crafts, especially ones I find on Pinterest. And secondly, I loved the idea of getting my craft on with a bunch of other fun girls.<br />
<br />
And the best part? We are going to call them "Pinny Parties".<br />
<br />
As a stay-at-home-mom, (as it has probably become pretty obvious to you) life isn't always mega-exciting, and I sometimes find myself <i>craving</i> interaction with other adults. I mean, I <i>love</i> staying home with Anna, but there are days when episodes of <i>Sesame Street</i> and trips to the park and conversations with a two-year-old just ain't cuttin' it. Of course I have Mike, and while he is amazing and patient and excellent at listening to me ramble on about every minute detail of our day and keeping me sane, the one thing he is not? A girl. And there's just something about a group of girls getting together and laughing and eating that can't be replaced with anything else.<br />
<br />
So, the date was the set and the project was selected and the supplies were purchased. And craft and laugh and eat we did.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXSW3mS57W4/Tw362ZvaCNI/AAAAAAAADWc/qjczMmF8Y2c/s1600/January+2012+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXSW3mS57W4/Tw362ZvaCNI/AAAAAAAADWc/qjczMmF8Y2c/s400/January+2012+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard at work!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9oQZIOonL4c/Tw3615dt9GI/AAAAAAAADWU/JbkJLHU086k/s1600/January+2012+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9oQZIOonL4c/Tw3615dt9GI/AAAAAAAADWU/JbkJLHU086k/s400/January+2012+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marshmallow fluff & cream cheese fruit dip - also known to me as "crack"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnxzZWTe6qA/Tw36-iqdFoI/AAAAAAAADWs/bUBoX8Z0sWY/s1600/January+2012+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hnxzZWTe6qA/Tw36-iqdFoI/AAAAAAAADWs/bUBoX8Z0sWY/s400/January+2012+012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cute did these turn out?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KmC1DL8pOvk/Tw37AWPLYeI/AAAAAAAADW0/ZOGA-p9ScAg/s1600/January+2012+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KmC1DL8pOvk/Tw37AWPLYeI/AAAAAAAADW0/ZOGA-p9ScAg/s400/January+2012+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny was giving me serious vacation envy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aO0J0IjjTBI/Tw4UWyx4MdI/AAAAAAAADZo/Su3ZlsMeQ7g/s1600/photo+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aO0J0IjjTBI/Tw4UWyx4MdI/AAAAAAAADZo/Su3ZlsMeQ7g/s400/photo+%252811%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of my collection.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.crunchybetty.com/diy-picture-tiles-you-will-never-buy-a-photo-frame-again?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CrunchyBetty+%28Crunchy+Betty%29" target="_blank">Here</a> is the link to the original site where we found the idea - she goes into much more detail on how to make them, so check it out! We wanted to pick something fairly easy and cheap for our first try, and I think we did a great job.<br />
<br />
Basically, we bought tiles from Home Depot (I think they were around 31 cents each). Some girls used actual photos, some used photos printed on plain computer paper. Both turned out, although I would say the ones that were on regular paper did a bit more "bleeding". Modge Podge the back of the photo, press down on the tile, and let it dry for a bit. Then Modge Podge over everything to seal it all in. I didn't get any pictures, but some used scrapbooking paper to accent or add borders and words.<br />
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I decided to hang mine on the wall using some of those little Command picture-hanging strips. They can also be used as coasters, although I think it would probably be best to use some kind of sealant so that water drips won't ruin them.<br />
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So there you have it. Our very first Pinny Party was a success - and I can't wait for the next one!<br />
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<b>Have you made anything awesome you found on Pinterest? </b>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-54140231839360723732012-01-25T14:34:00.000-05:002012-01-25T14:38:11.157-05:00This One Time? At Band Camp?This one time? At band camp?<br />
<br />
I met my best friend.<br />
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(Was your mind going to a dirty place involving a flute? I thought so. Get it out of the gutter!)<br />
<br />
Well, to be technical, I met Amy a few weeks <i>before</i> we left for band camp, the summer before we started our freshman year of high school. For those of you keeping track, that was 1995, which means we've been friends for almost seventeen years. More than half our lives. Crazy. (It also means that I'm old, because that dorky, awkward thirteen-year-old with the Luke Perry obsession doesn't seem like she could be gone. Oh wait. She isn't. She's now just a dorky, awkward thirty-year-old with a Luke Perry obsession that is bordering on kinda sad.)<br />
<br />
Anyways.<br />
<br />
At this magical little camp in northern Michigan I bonded with a girl I started calling "Buttons". I haven't the slightest idea why, but for some reason it stuck. She started calling me "Snickers", because during snack break I liked to buy giant Snickers bars to stuff my face with. (I don't care what anyone says, that marching was hard work and I needed my protein!) I knew Amy was the real deal when she braved the scary senior boys cabin to ask them if I could have my orthotics back. You see, I had bunions, and when they stole my shoes they also stole my orthotics and how in the world would I be able to march properly if my arches weren't being supported?<br />
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Are you getting an awesome image in your head of what I was like when I was thirteen?<br />
<br />
From there we were pretty much inseparable. We were voted "Class Best Friends". We went off to different colleges, but still stayed in touch. We had our ups and downs, as all good relationships do. We fought, we cried, we laughed, we made up. We saw each other through graduations and first jobs and law school and engagements and weddings and babies. The night I met Mike? We were out celebrating Amy's birthday. That's a story for another day, but let's just say that she had a hand in bringing us together.<br />
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I was lucky enough to escape last week for a long weekend to visit Amy in Virginia. It had been over a year since we had seen each other last, and it was such an awesome three days spent laughing and drinking wine and knitting and just catching up. I'm pretty sure that there wasn't more than three minutes of silence the whole time we were together, and it is such a lovely feeling to know that while our lives have changed so drastically since that first summer, I'm pretty sure she would still have my back if I needed to confront some scary boys.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_temnMqH0J8/TyBXCYyDXwI/AAAAAAAADls/BWNc4YKFmaQ/s1600/Amy+and+Leslie+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_temnMqH0J8/TyBXCYyDXwI/AAAAAAAADls/BWNc4YKFmaQ/s400/Amy+and+Leslie+002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this picture is from 1998. All my band camp pictures are in a box somewhere at my parents' house. But, as you can see, by this time we were already much, much cooler than we were when we first met.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Beach 2012</td></tr>
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We're still Snickers and Buttons.<br />
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And, for the record, I really do think Luke Perry has got it goin' on. Team Dylan, all the way, baby.<br />
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Happy Wednesday!!Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276979032551568869.post-75247434090151658652012-01-20T08:51:00.001-05:002012-01-20T08:51:19.410-05:00Mmm. That Sounds Good. I'll Have That.I was recently invited to participate in a recipe swapping club by Tara over at <a href="http://www.anunconventionaljune.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">An Unconventional June</a>. Basically, a bunch of people (I think there's five of us right now) all contribute five recipes, and then Tara maps out the whole month with grocery lists and calendars and directions for everything. I sometimes get stuck in such a rut when it comes to menu planning - I have days when I feel totally inspired to try to new things, and others where I'm basically scrounging my cupboards and serving my family random leftovers and cans of things I want to use up before they go bad. This way, I have it all right there in front of me and it is so, so easy.<br />
<br />
This month has been a little crazy, though. I went to Virginia to visit my friend Amy (more on that in a later post) so I was out of the dinner-making game for almost a week. And with the loss of our dog, everyone in the Arends house has been a little down in the dumps. (Side note here: our other dog, Jasper, has probably been taking it the hardest. Not really eating, not wanting to go outside, sleeping a lot. Lola was basically the doggy equivalent to his wife, so we're spoiling him with extra walks and dinner scraps. Poor guy.)<br />
<br />
Anyways, to combat the colder temperatures we're having and our grumpy moods, I thought I'd deviate from the menu planning tonight and cook a big pot of one of our favorite soups. It's a little more time consuming than something I'd usually make during the week, but the results are warm and comforting - just what we need.<br />
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(Also, I wanted an excuse to use this video from "Dumb and Dumber" in my post. Delicious soup and Jim Carrey in one day? Sounds good to me.)<br />
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<b>Beef and Barley Soup</b><br />
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What you need:<br />
2 tbsp. EVOO<br />
1 lb. London broil, cut into 3/4-inch cubes<br />
salt & pepper<br />
1 large onion, chopped<br />
1 medium carrot, chopped (I sometimes throw in a little extra - I love carrots!)<br />
8 oz. cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced (I use white mushrooms if I can't find creminis)<br />
2 tbsp. minced garlic (from 4 cloves)<br />
2 tbsp. tomato paste<br />
3/4 cup dry red wine<br />
4 cups chicken stock<br />
2 cups water<br />
3/4 cup pearl barley<br />
parsley<br />
horseradish<br />
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What you do:<br />
1. Heat 1 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Season beef with 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper, and brown on all sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just noticed that renegade piece of meat that was trying to make a break for it. Not so fast, buddy.</td></tr>
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2. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tsp. oil, and cook onion, carrot, and mushrooms until golden, stirring occasionally, 12 to 15 minutes. Season with 1/2 tsp. salt.<br />
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3. Add garlic and tomato paste, and cook, stirring until caramelized, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add wine. Return to heat, bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits using a wooden spoon. Cook until reduced by half (5 minutes or so).<br />
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4. Return beef to pot, and add stock and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally for 1 hour.<br />
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5. Add barley, and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover and cook until beef and barley are tender, 20 to 25 minutes more. Stir in parsley and garnish with horseradish and serve with crusty bread for dipping!<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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I might be making <a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/reeses-peanut-butter-cup-popcorn/" target="_blank">this</a> for dessert, because, really, how could I not?<br />
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The original soup recipe is from Martha Stewart Living - you can find it <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/854311/beef-and-barley-soup" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Happy Friday!<br />
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<b>Do you have any menu planning tips or tricks? How do you keep motivated to cook?</b>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00498337786873387637noreply@blogger.com4