Thursday Thoughts

First off you should know that Tory Burch is having a sale right now!! I personally cannot afford to buy a thing, but someone should snag these deals while they last.  Here are a couple of things I would love to have:


Eddie Ballet Flat in Magenta - regularly $250, on sale for $175

Marianne Pumps - regularly $350, on sale for $245



First off, I am so thankful that everyone slept well last night.  Phillip slept through the night (as he should!) and Natalie woke twice.  After a night like Tuesday, I'll take that any day of the week. 

Second, I'm thrilled and thankful that my mother in law will be in town this weekend.  Phillip absolutely adores her!  She is also a huge help, so I know I'll get some time to finish up Christmas shopping and maybe even a date night.  I think it's so interesting how almost everyone I know (around our age) has a regularly scheduled "date night" with their spouse.  It sounds great, but Brian and I have just never done that.  After another kid, we may have to start! 

Finally, at the risk of sounding like a huge nerd, I am so thankful for how many AMAZING books I've read lately.  Reading is my relaxation and retreat each day if I can get both kids to nap at the same time.  It doesn't always happen so sometimes it takes me a bit to finish a book!



This book by Barbara Kingsolver, author of the Poison Wood Bible, was unbelievably good!  Great story, really interesting characters.



This book was so good I didn't want it to end.  I absolutely love everything she writes, but this book had me wondering how people think of these things.  Its a really unusual story and you will never guess how it ends.


Okay, that's all for today.  I'd love to hear any book recommendations you have... I'm coming to the bottom of my stash!




Wednesday Whereabouts

Oh my it has been a long one! The littles did not sleep well last night. I was up a total of eight times last night- five with Natalie and three with Phillip. This is such a trying time because of the exhaustion factor, but it's also really special. More on that Monday.

Here's a little Instagram recap of our week:

I drank so many of these today, I lot count.

Phillip loves to be outside so I got Natalie this little bunting to stay warm.  It has come in so handy and it is just too precious!

We went to visit some friends at their new house and Phillip LOVED playing with their nine month old.  I can't believe that Phillip and Natalie could be playing together in just a few months!

 

He even kissed her!

Phillip and his BFF watching Rudolph and eating a little snack :)

He had a kiss for little B too.  These two together just melt my heart.

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Introducing... Tasty Tuesday

I've decided to organize things a bit more here on the blog, just so I can keep my thoughts together and let y'all know what's coming when. So without further ado:

Motherhood Mondays:  war stories, tips, and everything that has to do with the best job in the whole world.

 

Tasty Tuesdays: recipes of course!

 

Wednesday Whereabouts: what we've been up to lately.

 

Thursday Thoughts: just that... random thoughts and sometimes thankfullness.

 

Fashion Friday: fashion for me and the littles - sometimes things we wore and sometimes things we just plain old want!

 

 

Today's recipe is a delicious corn chowder I adapted from Cook's Country Magazine.  If you've never read Cook's Country or its sister publication Cooks Illustrated, you are really missing out.  I've honestly never had a misfire recipe from either one.  Sometimes though, I think they make the recipes a bit more complicated than necessary and frankly these days I need to get dinner on the table in a flash!  So, here's my version of their delicious corn chowder switched up a bit for my hectic schedule and currently dairy free diet.  We enjoyed this last night and it was delicious!  I served pumpkin cornbread and green beans on the side (I know, I know... so much corn).  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Corn Bacon Chowder

Adapted from Cook's Country

 

Ingredients

• 3 cups frozen corn, thawed
• 2 15 oz cans whole kernel corn
• 5 cups chicken broth
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 lb red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1/2 inch dice
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• salt and pepper

Directions

• Puree canned corn and 2 cups broth in blender.
• Cook bacon in  dutch oven over medium heat until crisp.  Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain.  Cook onion, thawed frozen corn, 1/2 teaspoon slat, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in bacon fat until vegetables are softened and golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add potatoes, corn puree, and remaining broth to the dutch oven and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.  Discard cobs and stir in almond milk and reserved bacon.  Season with salt and pepper.
   

A Trip to See Santa

I took the littles to see Santa today, and like most activities involving small children... it did not go as planned.  I did manage to get both children into adorable holiday finery, but I did not manage to get them both into a picture.  Little B was simply not having it today.  I was so optimistic about her medication working, but we've had some of our worst days ever this week.  So much so, that I'm considering cutting out dairy to see if that's affecting her. 

Anywho!  Phillip did have his picture with Santa, or "HoHo" as he calls him.  He was so excited but a bit shy.  He did manage to tell Santa that he wants a race car for Christmas (news to me!) and that his baby sister wants a dollhouse :)

 

 

 

 

Looks like we will be trying again for the Christmas card picture, ha!

Big Boy Room

Believe it or not, Natalie is still sleeping in our bedroom! Our house is a three story townhouse with one bedroom on the first floor and two on the third floor. So, we thought it was best for Phillip to stay upstairs in his nursery for a while and just keep Natalie with us. But, she's nearing the six month mark, when Phillip started pulling up and sitting well. That means its about time for her to move out of the bassinet and into the crib. Phillip is still in the crib at this point, although he uses it as a toddler daybed. Side note, it's too funny but Phillip will still stay in his bed and call me to come get him even though he can obviously just get in and out!

So, in January we will be moving Phillip downstairs to his own "big boy room." I'm sure I won't have it all finalized when he moves in, but I've been thinking a lot about how I want it to look. I will definitely have a few fun "kiddish" accents, but overall I want it to be a room that can grow with him until highschool if possible.  So, I'm thinking that most of the furniture and fabrics will be very classic and I'll throw in some fun accessories.

Here are a few of my inspiration rooms/items:

I want the room to have a few fun doggy accents and I think this pillow would be adorable layered with the PB Grand bedding and a big check euro sham.

I love the idea of a gallery wall of fun dog prints like these here.  Some could be silhouettes and others could be more classic looking and antique prints.
 

These are too cute and (according to Pinterest!) very easy to DIY.

I love this PB Grand bedding with the red piping, but I may try to find a cheaper alternative.

Love these check shams!
 

Love the check shams here, but I would do those on the euros and then have the red/white embroidered pillows in front of that.

We will be using a vintage twin bed, but I plan to paint it a dark blue similar to this.

Benjamin Moore Heavenly Blue

Benjamin Moore Paladium Blue

 Thoughts?  Suggestions??

A Man Pleasing Meal

I keep seeing this one recipe floating around Pinterest titled "Man Pleasing Chicken." I have a recipe to share with y'all and it isn't THAT recipe, but it certainly is man pleasing. When I saw this recipe a while back on Confections of a Foodie Bride, I knew instantly I had to make it.  It combines so many of the things my husband loves - brisket, barbecue sauce, and brie!  Whatsmore, it's one of those recipes that really sounds impressive, but itsn't all that complicated to put together. 

The only changes I made to the recipe were to add some apple cider vinegar to the barbecue sauce because I thought it needed a bit more tang and I used corn tortillas.

Brisket & Brie Quesadillas with Mango Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients

• Brisket
• 3 lb brisket
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 16 oz Dublin Dr. Pepper (made with real sugar)
• Mango Barbecue Sauce
• 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (about 3/4 – 1 cup)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp Creole (spicy brown) mustard
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1/4 cup mango chutney (1/4 cup homemade or purchased)
• Quesadillas
• 8 corn tortillas
• 8 oz brie, thinly sliced
• 1 cup monterrey jack, shredded
• olive oil or cooking spray, to brush tortillas
• cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. To make the brisket: Rub the meat with salt, pepper, chili powder, and garlic.
2. Place brisket in the crockpot and pour the Dr. Pepper over the top.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours.
4. Remove from the crockpot and let rest for 15 minutes.
5. Slice against the grain (1/8-1/4 inch thick).
6. To make the barbecue sauce: Heat olive oil in a 2-qt sauce pan.
7. Saute onions for 5 minutes.
8. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
9. Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for 5 minutes.
10. Transfer to a blender or food processor and run until smooth.
11. To assemble the quesadillas: Heat a griddle or large pan over medium-high.
12. Lay out the tortillas. Divide the meat, brie, and monterrey jack between the tortillas, placing the meat and cheese on half of the tortilla.
13. Top with a spoonful or two of barbecue sauce and fold the other half over.  (I didn't fold the tortillas, but instead topped one tortilla with meat, cheese, and sauce layered and then put another tortilla on top.) 
14. Place on the heated grill (brushing the tortilla with oil or cooking spray will prevent sticking).
15. Cook until the bottom is crisp and flip over.
16. Remove from heat and cut into 2-3 wedges. Serve with extra barbecue sauce.

Yields: 8 servings

 

 

 

Four Months

Even though she is almost half way through the month now, I wanted to write down a few things about little Natalie at four months old.

Natalie - you are 4 months old now!

 

 

You weigh 13 lbs and are 24 inches tall.

You wear a size 3-6 months clothes, and a size 2 diaper.

 

 

You are still exclusively breastfeeding and you nurse about 7 times a day.

 

 

You sleep about 10-11 hours at night and take 2 to 3 naps.  You USED to just about sleep through the night, but lately we've been seeing eachother a few times a night ;)

 

Everyone who sees you comments how you look just like a baby doll.  No joke, at least four times, people have stopped us to ask if you are a real baby!

 

 

 

 

You roll over both ways and can prop up on your elbows, but you're still not a big fan of tummy time.

 

 

 

 

 

You LOVE to watch your big brother.

 

 

 

 

You are the sweetest little girl and we are just so blessed to have you!

 

We love you Natalie girl!