Friday Favorites {9.30.11}

Since baby girl is teething and has a fever, we're gonna keep this edition of Friday Favorites short and sweet. Here we go...

1. Isn't this garden party just beautiful? Send me here NAOW! (sorry, I can't find the original source)

2. Dexter Morgan flavored ice cream? How cool is this? Just in time for the season 6 premiere this Sunday!

3. Now that it's officially autumn, I think it is time for the kiddos and I to do some of these fall activities! So fun!

4. Do you want to love thrifting but just feel overwhelmed every time you step foot in a Goodwill? If so, then check out these thrift tips!

5. I am loving this shoe clip DIY! What a creative way to dress up an old pair of shoes! And if DIYs aren't really your thing? Clip-on earrings would work well, too.

6. Misha Lulu's fall collection is uh-mazing! Cutest kids clothes EVER!!

7. I've been craving soup like crazy lately! I have plans to make this, this and this in the near future.

8. Want to learn how to crochet? Then check out this FREE online crochet school! If I wasn't already committed to doing the photography class I signed up for, I'd be all over it!

9. Isn't this the prettiest keyboard you ever did see? I just love washi tape!

10. I picked up Blink 182's latest album, and I must admit, I'm kind of liking it. Definitely has an Angels and Airwaves vibe. Check it out!

As far as the weekend goes - we're hoping to attend our base's Oktoberfest, but it's really gonna depend on how Lola's feeling (poor little lady). We'll see.

Okay, that should do it! Peace out.

Mompetition

Yesterday, while Googling "mom competition" (preschool's been rough, y'all), I came across this YouTube channel. If you're looking to LOL, ROFL and all that other nonsense, I suggest you check out this site. Seriously, so funny!

If you follow me on Facebook then you may have already seen this video, but I liked it so much that I felt obligated to share it here, too! You're welcome.

Don't get me wrong, I breast-feed, cloth diaper and eat organic when I can..but that's my choice! Just like it's your choice to decide what's best for you and your family. As mothers, we should be there to support each other, not tear each other down. Because at the end of the day, who are we to judge one another? Isn't being a parent hard enough?

So next time you find yourself being judgy mcjudgerson (let's be honest, we're all guilty of it), just stop. It's as simple as that. Live and let live. Because you never know who might be capable of a throat punch!  Ya feel me?

If you have a second, could you send a vote my way? Thank you!

Lola Grace - 10 Months

Lola turned 10 months old on the 16th. Man, has it been a big month for our little lady love! She is doing so many new and different things. It's really quite amazing.

Likes: giving kissies, pinching, head-butting, the song "Mama's Little Babies Love Shortening Bread", squealing, crawling super fast, the kitty, food (all kinds), her new "big girl" car seat, anything that's not a toy

Dislikes: diaper changes, shirts going over her head, baths (all of a sudden), her jumper, naps, her crib, when she can't get into things she's not supposed to

She is completely crawling on all fours now, which means she's into everything (pretty much giving me a heart attack on the regular). Also, for the past couple of weeks, she's been standing by pulling herself up on things. Then yesterday, she started cruising along Nico's bed. My guess is that she'll be walking before long!

Baby girl still gets freaked out when strangers try talking to her. Seriously, if someone tries to talk to and/or makes eye contact with her? All hell breaks loose! It's weird, though, because she's the queen of the stare down (just as long as you don't stare back). She's a creeper like that. ;)

She is finally saying "mama", and I couldn't be more excited! Even though she usually says it when she's upset about something, I'll take it. Besides this, she's gotten really good at repeating and responding to what we say in her own little way (babble, of course). It's so cute! Also, she loves to say, "mmm-ba" and "mmm-ma" over and over. Such a good little talker she is!

Lately, she's been incredibly lovey, which just melts my heart. She likes to hold on to me tightly and give kisses on demand. If I say, "kiss", she'll give me the sweetest little smooch. It's, literally, the cutest thing EVER!

I love this babe of mine more and more each day! It's been so fun to watch her learn and grow. We're so lucky that she's part of our little family.

Get Crafty! - Name Painting with Tape

I've decided to start a new feature here on the blog called "Get Crafty!". Basically, whenever I/we do something creative that I think others might enjoy, I'll be posting a "how-to" of sorts, so that you and/or your kid(s) can do it, too!

We did a couple of fun projects this past Sunday, one of them being a name painting using tape. It turned out really cute, so I thought I'd share.

I found the idea for this project here, but since there were no instructions or link to the original source, we just kind of winged it. Luckily, it's pretty self-explanatory.

Here's what you will need:

1. The first thing you'll need to do is cut strips of tape to spell your kid's name (the tape we had on hand was a little thick, so we cut it in half). Then tape it to the paper, making sure to leave enough space for each letter.

2. Next, have your kiddo cover as much of the paper as they can with paint (we used this paint, but any water-based paint would work). Then let it dry.

3. Once the paint is completely dry, carefully removed the tape, making sure not to rip it.

Voila! You have awesome artwork with your child's name. Such a fun way to brighten up a room! 

The A-Z of Me

A. Age: 29
B. Bed size: Queen - we really want a King, but our current bedroom is too small. Sigh.
C. Chore that you hate: I don't like doing dishes. Cleaning up cat shit is pretty lame, too.
D. Dogs: Nope. My kids and cat keep me plenty busy.
E. Essential start to your day: Lately it's been coffee. I'm kind of a grump without it.
F. Favorite color: turquoise, aqua
G. Gold or Silver: gold (we're including white gold, right?)
H. Height: 5'3''
I. Instruments you play: none
J. Job title: stay-at-home mama, housewife, baby wrangler
K. Kids: 2 (one of each)
L. Live: currently stationed in VA
M. Mother’s name: Garre
N. Nicknames: Nan, Nanna Sue, Jo
O. Overnight hospital stays: Yes, when I had my babies.
P. Pet peeves: mean people
Q. Quote from a movie: (from Garden State) Sam: That's life. If nothing else, it's life. It's real, and sometimes it fuc*in' hurts, but it's sort of all we have.
R. Right or left handed: left
S. Siblings: 2 brothers (both younger)
T. Time you wake up: 7:15 a.m. on school days and 8-8:30-ish the rest of the time
U. Underwear: Like, do I wear them? Yes.
V. Vegetable you hate: I pretty much love all vegetables, unless they're in the form of a drink (i.e. V8). Gross.
W. What makes you run late: Nothing, really. I'm rarely late for anything these days.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: dental
Y. Yummy food that you make: I make lots of yummy things. Right now, I'm really into using the Crock-Pot.
Z. Zoo animal: Pandas!

Friday Favorites {9.23.11}

Anyone have anything fun planned this weekend? We were invited to go to the Capital Home Show, which I'm pretty excited about. We're just hoping our littles are up for the challenge! It's hard to make plans for more than a couple hours at a time when you have a toddler who can become a bit troublesome (to put it mildly) without his afternoon nap + a baby who likes to breast-feed pretty much nonstop. But, we're gonna try it. And if things go smoothly, we may just be able to do all-day events like this more often. We're keeping our fingers crossed!

Anyway, here are my favsies from around the web this week. Enjoy!!

1. Isn't this papercut gorge? Check out Elsita's other work here.

2. If you were a child of the 80's (or even the 90's), then I'm pretty sure you can relate to Danielle's latest post on Hello Giggles about technology. This brought back so many memories for me!

3. Are you kidding me with this panda bread? It's almost too cute to eat! Almost.

4. Did you guys see the premiere of New Girl, starring Zooey Deschanel? Seriously good stuff!

5. I recently found the motherload of craft tutorials! This is super useful since I plan on making at least some of the gifts we give out at Christmas this year (trips back home are spensive, y'all).

6. I am obsessed with this necklace designed by Miss James of Bleubird Vintage. So pretty!

7. If you're looking to mix up the way you wear your scarf this fall, then this how-to should come in handy. You're welcome.

8. This post about experiencing things a second time, through your child's eyes, makes me smile.

9. Free disguise kit, anyone? I'll definitely be adding this to my rainy day bag o' tricks!

10. I am loving that leopard print is back in this season. Especially when paired with a bright color, like it is here. These wedges are pretty amazing, too!

Have a great weekend, guys!

A New Addition

A tiny new little person joined our family this week. My first niece, Farrah Claire.

Congrats to Corbin, Lorelei and her big brother, Major! We love you guys!!

Is It Halloween Yet?

Okay, so I may be getting ahead of myself a bit, but can we talk about Halloween for a second? This will be Lola's first Halloween and only the second one that the hubby's been home for since Nico was born. This makes it pretty special for us! So much so, in fact, that everyone (other than myself) has already decided what they're going to be (well, I decided for Lola). The boys ordered their costumes last night and I picked up the little lady's today.

Here's what we ended up with:

Dan will be going as Mario (sorry in advance to our neighbor's who have to witness this first-hand).

You can't have Mario without his sidekick, right? So Nico will be going as, none other than, Luigi.

I wish I could take credit for this idea, but it was ALL Nico. He decided long ago that he and Daddy were going as this dynamic duo and couldn't be convinced otherwise. He's still trying to persuade me to go as the princess, but it's NOT gonna happen. Sorry, little dude!

Finally, Lola will be going as a kitty. 

Why, you may ask? Well, because it was on sale at Costco for $13.99. You really can't beat that! 

I had actually been toying with the idea of her going as this cute owl from Pottery Barn, but just can't justify spending $54 on a costume she'll only wear once. These are tough times, people!

Anyhow, since she's going as a kitty, I'll probably end up being something cat-related, too. My mom will also be in town, so maybe we can go as a litter of kitties? We'll see.

So, we've got Mario, Luigi, a kitty and possibly two cats. Pretty random, if you ask me. But us Brock's are a pretty random bunch!

Bring it, Halloween! We're ready for you!

There's A Storm A-Brewin'!

"Cloudy with a chance of rain" seems to be the norm around here these days. This is much different than the sunny San Diego we've grown used to. Not that I'm complaining. I'm actually pretty excited for my kids to experience all four seasons. Hah! Who am I kidding? I'm excited to experience all four seasons. Cuz let's be real - in Texas (where I grew up), there's truly only summer and winter.

Since it's raining outside (again), we'll be spending our day crafting, playing cars and watching movies. Also, if my little bosses will oblige, I plan on sewing and hanging kitchen curtains (look out for a tutorial to follow).

What do you do to keep busy on rainy days? I'd love to hear your suggestions and what works for you! Because this is what we have to look forward to for the next six days...

Another Week, Another To-Do List

{source)

Phew, this weekend was rough! Let's just leave it at that. On top of this, BOTH our little ones were sick. I really thought Lola was gonna dodge the bullet (being that she's breast-fed and all), but nope, she got it.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: there are few things worse than a sick baby. It's just breaks muh little heart. Luckily, they're both doing much better today.

Anyway, since Nico is able to return to school, I thought it was time to scratch some stuff off the ol' to-do list.

Here are some things I'm hoping to get done this week:

To Do:

• Go through our closet and get rid of all the stuff that no longer fits or that I will likely never wear again (rainbow hoodies & unicorn shirts, you no longer have a place in my wardrobe!)
• Sort through all of Lola's clothes and box up the stuff that no longer fits
• Move all of Nico's shorts to his dresser to make room in his closet for his fall/winter clothes
• Purge hall closet of all jackets/coats that went out of style in 2005 or earlier
• Put the baby gates up at the top and bottom of the stairs
• Decide how we want to go about baby-proofing and get it done (these are at the top of my list)
• Sew cafe curtains for the kitchen
• Dye my hair (my premature greys really seem to be multiplying by the minute)
• Get my hair cut
• Make appointments to get flu shots for Nico, Lola & myself
• Take Lola's 10 month pics and do a blog post

If I can get these things done this week, I'll be happy. It may not seem like much, but on top of cooking, cleaning, laundry, taking Nico to and from school, chasing the little lady around non-stop and blogging, it should be plenty for me.

Here's to a productive week!

Friday Favorites {9.16.11}

There isn't really much to report on the home front, other than that Nico is still sick. Poor little guy. Because of this, our weekend will probably be relatively low-key. We're hoping to get him over this funk so he can return to school on Monday. I'm not thrilled that he's only made it to preschool TWICE since it started, but that's life for ya. Always keeping us on our toes.

Even though it's been kind of a bummer around here, I went ahead with my list of favorites for the week (this always seems to cheer me up). I hope you enjoy them!

1. Isn't this image just magical? I am obsessed with dreamcatchers these days!

2. After spending most of our nights the past couple of months watching Breaking Bad (seriously, it's that good), I'm happy to report that we're almost caught up! I recently came across this paper doll of Walt and had to share. So fun!

3. I think I'll try my hand at making these lazagna cups next week. Aren't they cute?

4. I cannot wait to sign-up for the Bluum Box! A monthly package full of baby/mommy goodies? I'm in. And if baby stuff isn't really your thing, you can sign up for the Birch Box to received beauty products instead.

5. What a neat way to decorate for the fall! I'll definitely be making these to hang around our living room.

6. Over the weekend, I plan on repurposing an old Orla Kiely tablecloth into these cafe curtains. They seem super easy to make, which is a plus.

7. Speaking of kitchen stuff, isn't this beverage station genius? I'm so doing this!

8. If you've got a little artist like me, then the Patterns for Colouring website will be right up your alley. Tons of free, downloadable coloring pages to choose from!

9. This makes me giggle. Every. single. time.

10. I literally squealed with excitement over this announcement! Even though Lola won't be potty-training for quite some time, I'm loving the new patterns and colors of diapers coming out!

Have a great weekend, everyone! It's supposed to be in the 60's here (swoon), which we're really looking forward to.

Sick Kid

Wanna know how many times Nico has been sick in his 3.5 years of life? Two. Which is why I'm a little perturbed that one of these two times is after only his SECOND day of preschool.

I can't say I was totally unprepared for this happening, being that my mom has been warning me for years about how often kid's get sick once they start school. With all the yucky germs being passed around, it's bound to happen. I just didn't think it would happen this soon.

But here we are. Home sick from school.

I truly hate making Nico miss out on all the fun, but I'm not going to be THAT mom who let's her kid get everyone else's kid sick. Nope, not gonna happen.

Other than a quick trip to Target yesterday to check out the Missoni line (which was completely picked over, btw), we spent the entire day watching movies and napping. Pretty awesome if you ask me. The little dude seemed to enjoy it, too (minus the whole being sick part).

I'm optimistic that this "bug" will pass quickly and Lo won't catch whatever it is he has. She hasn't had a cold in her (almost) ten months of existence (thank you, breast-feeding) and I'm hoping to keep it this way.

Sick little people really are the worst, aren't they? Especially when they don't know how (read: refuse) to blow their nose. So, so sad.

A Mixtape for Your Tuesday Mornin'

Good morning! I've decided to start a new feature on the little ol' blog. Every once in a while, when the mood strikes, I will be posting a mixed tape.

I made this first mix with autumn in mind, even though we have a little over a week until it officially begins. When I think of fall, I think of somewhat mellow, laid-back music. And for the most part, that is what this is.

Enjoy!

(Sidenote: At my doc appt. yesterday, they told me it is unlikely that I have another infection (phew!) and that it's probably just a clogged duct, which can sometimes happen after a bout of mastitis. I have been instructed to purchase an electric heating pad to apply to the "area", which I'm hoping will bring me some relief.)

Real Talk: My Bewb Hurts

Okay guys, I planned on posting a playlist today (which is kick ace, btw), but I just don't have it in me to deal with arranging the songs and whatnot. Why you might ask? Because my bewb is killing me! Like, for rizzle. Sorry if this is TMI, but it's real life, people. Where shit like this happens.

If you've been reading my blog for a while, then you know that a couple months ago I got mastitis. For those of you lucky enough to not have dealt with this breast-feeding issue, it's basically THE worst pain you could ever get in your bosom, EVER. Or so I thought...

Shortly after finishing my antibiotics for said diagnosis, I began getting a shooting pain in my tata that was like woah (it basically feels like razor blades)! Because I was unable to get a regular doc appointment (if you live on post, you've probably had the same issue), I went to the ER, where I was told that nothing was wrong. What the what? I kindly explained to the doctor that something was, in fact, very wrong. I told her that based on my research, I believed I had thrush. She agreed that it might be possible, prescribed me Nystatin and I was on my merry way. Wham! Bam! Thank you, ma'am!

The only problem was that I didn't actually have thrush (sue me, I'm not a doctor). I'm guessing I was wrong, anyway, since the medication didn't seem to work.

Fast forward a month later -- and I'm still having the shooting pains. Only they're worse...much worse. Also, the engorgement is back and I'm pretty sure I've been having a fever off and on. It's really and truly the most painful thing I've ever experienced, which is saying a lot (hello, botched c-section).

Anyway, today is my lucky day because there was a cancellation, so I am finally able to get in to see a primary care doctor this afternoon. Hallelujah! I am praying to sweet baby Jesus that they can help a sister out, because if not? Well, let's just say it won't pretty. So if you wouldn't mind, could you say a little prayer for me (to whomever it is you might pray to)? Because, ladies? My fun bag can only take so much hurt. And I have long surpassed my pain threshold.

Please and thank you!

Friday Favorites {9.9.11}

Man, did this week go by fast or what? Between it being a four day work week (you know, for the hubs) and the little guy starting preschool, the past few days have flown by. Not that I'm complaining.

We have no real plans for the weekend, but being that the forecast is predicting rain ALL weekend long, something tells me we won't be doing much. And I'm totally okay with this. ;)

So without further ado, here are this week's links:

1. This embroidery wall hanging would look perfect in our living room. And what a great message!

2. If you need help understanding your DSLR out of auto mode, I recommend checking out this tutorial.

3. Now that it's finally starting to get cooler out, I plan on doing this with Nico. Such a good idea!

4. Microwave potato chips? Yes, please!

5. I am uber excited this show is back on. I DIE!

6. I have been lusting after these shoes for months. Too bad they are way out of our price range.

7. I love this candle DIY with vintage tins. These would be perfect to give out at Christmas.

8. Now that we're gearing up for our first East Coast winter, I'm on the hunt for coats for all of us (something we didn't need in San Diego). This one has me DYING from the cute!

9. Follow my friend Brandy to see the week-by-week growth of her baby, Aiden. He's a cutie!

10. Only 4 more days until the launch of Missoni for Target! You better believe I'm gonna be there bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first thing Tuesday morning!

Happy Friday! See you guys next week!!

Nico's First Day of Preschool

Yesterday was Nico's first day of preschool. I'm not gonna lie, it was it pretty hard to keep it together. I thought I was going to burst into tears at any given moment. Luckily, I refrained from doing so, saving us all a lot of embarrassment.

Nico, on the other hand, had absolutely no problem with me leaving him there. In fact, he was too preoccupied to even give me a proper goodbye. He was all, "later, dude!". Really, kid? That's all I get?!

It's funny because just over a year ago, he would practically have a nervous breakdown when I left him in childcare at the Y. This go round, the only time he got upset was when I picked him up from school. Boy, what a difference a year makes.

I will definitely miss having this guy home with me full-time, but know that school is the best thing for him. His little mind goes a mile a minute and needs to be challenged. Also, it'll be good for him to socialize with other kids on a regular basis. Plus, it gives me one-on-one time with Lola, which is something I haven't had much of up until now. All in all, this was the best decision for all of us.

I'm so proud of my little man! He's becoming such a big boy! He'll be going to part-day school, three times a week and couldn't be more excited. 

(sidenote: he was originally enrolled in 5-day school, but after orientation last week, we decided that 3 days would be good to start with.)

What's Cookin'? - Stuffed Shells

Last night for dinner, we had Spinach & Ricotta-Stuffed Shells. This recipe was found via Pinterest (if you haven't heard of it yet, get ready to be addicted).

I've never actually cooked stuffed shells before (I know, right?), but these were surprisingly easy. And ZOMG, were they amazing!

If you're looking for a super fast and yummy dish, then this recipe is for you! Including bake time, it only took me about 40 minutes to make. A home-cooked meal really doesn't get much quicker than that!

I apologize for the lousy shot of the half-eaten shells, but we were so hungry that I forgot to snap photos beforehand.

Try this recipe out and let me know how you like it! Enjoy!!

Happy Labor Day!

Today, we're just cooking out and takin' it easy. Happy Labor Day, frands!!

Friday Favorites {9.2.11}

This weekend we have a TON of errands to run. With it being almost three weeks between pay periods, our fridge is in a sad, sad state. On our list of to-do's is to hit up Costco, Trader Joe's, the Commissary and possibly an Asian market. Exciting, right? Haha! I kid. Luckily, we've also got plans to go fall clothes shopping and to attend a cookout, which should be fun. Also, Dan's only working half a day today and has Monday off, which makes my heart feel super happy (Ni Hao, Kai-Lan anyone?)!

Do any of you have plans for the long weekend? I hope you enjoy this weeks links!

1. Lately, I have been obsessed with birdcages. I love seeing all the different ways people use them.

2. I've been wanting to make a yarn wreath for ages. I think it's about time I did it.

3. I recently came across this blog and am hooked. If you're looking for a funny gal to give it to you straight, look no further. And her son, Everett, is pretty awesome, too!

4. In San Diego, we would frequent this little Thai restaurant down the street from us on the regular. Their food was delish! My favorite dish, by far, was the Pad See Ew. I plan on recreating it next week (hence the trip to the Asian market) using this recipe.

5. This dress collection is amazing! Total swoonage happening.

6. These stamps are pretty adorable.

7. Having two kids doesn't leave a lot of time for extracurriculars, but these classes can be done from the comfort of your home. I just signed up for the Simply SLR class.

8. This is such a fun idea. The kids would love it!

9. I recently came across the holy grail of digital pretties + tutorials for websites, blogs, etc. Once Nico starts preschool, I totally plan on taking advantage of all this site has to offer.

10. This bubble tea would be perfect on a hot summer day. YUM!

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!

A Little Music for Your Afternoon

I am LOVING this band right now! If you haven't heard their album, I suggest you check it out! Seriously good stuff.

Enjoy!!