14 days of loves: day 12 {the fauxhawk}

Hmmm...

...not really enough hair to rock this fabulous look...

...but at least we tried.  

:)

g

14 days of loves: day 11 {girl babies!}

I have a 'boy baby'...but that doesn't mean I don't love 'girl babies.'

My SIL Jen is having a girl!!!!!  We were so excited to find out last week that there will be a girl baby on Hubby's side of the family.

Little girls are so sweet...have such adorable clothes...sweet, princessy rooms...

I am pretty positive I will never have a girl.  We plan on having one or two more babies...but I am quite convinced they will be boys.  I feel like I was born to be a "boy mama."  I don't mind that boys get dirty, yell, and are physical.  I thought I would looooove baby clothes...but I hardly have had to buy any, and would be totally fine having Baby 2 wear all Cormac's hand-me-downs.  Getting him dressed is not one of my favorite parts of our day together.

I am anticipating a houseful of sports-watching, logical boys.  I envision dirt-covered faces,  adventuring, camping trips, and lots of skinned knees.  Of course, I was a 'girl baby' and I had/did all of these things!

If I am blessed with a girl...of course I will love her endlessly!  I will relish all the girlie things and hopefully raise a strong, smart, down-to-earth girl.

I just have a feeling God put me here to raise boys.  Is that so weird?

Doesn't mean I don't love when other wonderful women in my life have girls....
like my beautiful older Sis.  Her "baby girl" Isabel was my very first niece and probably the most beautiful baby ever....

Then there is my niece Ella...who has the biggest smile and personality a sweet girl can have!

Girl babies are incredibly sweet...

My first ever niece is born!  Probably my first time even holding a baby {at age 24!}

Hubby and Isabel on her first visit to Ohio!

"Gimme five!"  I would be sure to raise a tomboy.

First time holding Ella...so tiny and precious!

I am excited for another girl baby to snuggle!  

I know that Jen will be a lovely 'girl mama.' She will dress her in sweet, dainty dresses and she will be a perfect little angel.  

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

I'll share mine...whenever I finally catch up with these 'love' posts.

Is it okay to blame the baby?  ;)

g

14 days of loves: day 10 {pizza...with goat cheese}

I've had other foodie-types poo-poo me for my love of pizza.  And I'm totally okay with that.  Pizza might be the most perfect food.  Ever.  The only meal I could eat once a week.  Every week.

I won't even be pretentious.  I love regular, old pizza -- with thick crust, red sauce, mozzarella cheese.  It can be delivery.  It can be DiGiorno.  Whatever.  Hubby and I enjoy a night of pizza every week.

However, there are some fancier, healthy versions that are divine.

I tried this pear and arugula version last week and got positively weak in the knees.  Might have something to do with the fact that it has goat cheese on it....

Found the recipe on one of my favorite food blogs -- ValSoCal.

Click {HERE} for her post with the recipe.

Happy Monday!

g

14 days of loves: day 9 {our gray dining room}

Once upon a time, we painted our dining room bright green.

I wrote about it here.

For two and a half years we have enjoyed our vivid dining space...

however, we are soon to list our house for sale

and I had my doubts as to whether any potential buyers would see the beauty in the hue.

In fact, pretty sure it would 

scare most buyers away.

Immediately.

{you need vision people!  it's only paint!}

Anyway, so we painted it.

Um, correction:  Hubby painted it.

{he is an awesome painter!!! we I don't even have to tape anymore!}

Went with Woodlawn Colonial Gray {Valspar}

a color we love so much now we plan

to use it in our new home.

(And by "new" I mean 150 years old.)

Here is the finished product:

Gorgeous gray, right?

I'm also having fun getting packing up all kinds of other things that might deter buyers...such as personal photographs, certain artwork, and raggedy paperback books.  

Oh, and developing an attack plan for hiding all baby items 

whenever we have a showing.

Keeps a mama busy!

As if the crawling kiddo didn't already.

Wanna see him crawl the first time?  Click HERE to see me nearly pee with excitement over this milestone.

:)

Anyone else have a room painted gray that they absolutely love?

g

14 days of loves: day 8 {Jergen's Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer}

...otherwise entitled: Confessions of a Tanorexic. Well, former tanorexic.

This is not to joke.  I know there really are girls/women out there that are addicted to tanning.   It was never a real addiction for me. I didn't go to multiple salons and tan multiple times a day...

but there was a time in my life when I was simply too tan.

Don't believe me?  Check it out:

 I was 19 here. 

I would tan probably 3 or 4 times a week during this period, in a low-pressure/high-likelihood-of-burning bed.    

Clearly I thought raccoon eyes looked good. 

Needless to say, all that tanning leaves me now, 10 years later, with probably more moles, sunspots, and wrinkles than I would have otherwise.

Yes, if I could go back in time, I definitely would not have tanned quite so much.

 I continued to tan since then, but not to such an extreme.  I went through various "pale periods."   I even started actually using sunscreen.

But last year, when I got pregnant,
my semi-regular {bad} habit of tanning came to an abrupt halt.   I had no desire to "overheat" my baby or any of the other crazy stories that I read would happen if you tan while pregnant.
It wasn't hard to stop at all --
 I was too tired to drive to a tanning salon anyway!

So I ended up pretty pale by the end of my pregnancy...

even though it was mid-summer....

and I was okay with that.

However, I cannot deny: I like being tan.

Not overly-tan, like above, but with a nice
subtle, healthy, beachy glow.

So, I've turned to self-tanning.

I've tried spray-tans at the salon, but unless I do the palest possible shade I end up looking "orangey." 

Plus, with Baby it is rather inconvenient to ever go tanning anywhere.

I've tried lotions, but those have left me pretty streaky.

My latest find:

Jergen's Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer...

I actually use the "fair to medium" version...and I LOVE it!

It doesn't smell, it is really lightweight, dries quickly and leaves my skin soft.  

Did I mention I love it?

I exfoliate during my morning shower and apply after drying off for smooth results.

I  just use it instead of my normal body lotion.

I saw nice results after 3 days --

highly recommend if you are looking for a 

UV-Free glow!

Still looking for a good facial self-tanner

that is within my scant beauty budget.

Anyone have one they love, that is not too pricey?

'Til I find one, I'll stick with a little bit o' bronzer now and then. 

And sunscreen every. single. day.

g

14 days of loves: day 7 {wine lover's healthy weight loss plan}

While roaming through the cookbook section of Half Price Books the other day I came across this little gem: The Wine Lover's Healthy Weight Loss Plan.  

I was intrigued. A diet consisting of wine!  Lose weight while drinking lots and lots of wine!  Okay, not really.

Written by a cardiologist and wine lover, the book gives a lot of background on the history of wine in the human diet, the amazing health benefits {only when in moderation...which is one glass at dinner for women, two for men} and the French Paradox -- basically extensive research done in regions where there is a high percentage of the population drinking wine in moderation their entire lives.  Oddly, or maybe not oddly, this research shows that moderate wine drinkers live longer than non-drinkers.  Some vino-for-thought, eh?


I drink a glass of red every night at dinner.  Not only is it heart-healthy due to the antioxidants, but since I view it as my "treat" I tend to not feel like I need to eat any dessert.  Calorie saver!  100 instead of 400 - woo hoo!  :)

The book gives a compelling argument for enjoying a glass with dinner each night.  Also, after giving you a lot of really interesting information on why wine can enhance your life in many ways and help you live longer, it then has a whole slew of delicious, healthy recipes that are based on a Mediterranean diet - supposedly the healthiest way to eat.  In sum, instead of striving for a low-fat diet, rather choose foods that contain "healthy fats," lots of fruits and veggies, fish {rich in omega-3's,} whole grains, and only cooking with olive or canola oil.

Oh, and red wine.  Of course.

I strongly desire to introduce my children to very, very watered down wine when they are the right age.  I want them to grow up knowing the health benefits, and that wine should be a regular part of the dinner table.

It's okay if you think that sounds crazy.  I don't mind.  Neither do all the Europeans that do it.  The practice is probably not any crazier than a person letting their kiddo eat mac n cheese every night, or cereal for dinner, just because they don't like what you cooked.  Also, wine {again, in moderation!} has more health benefits than soda.  Yet many parents don't mind letting their kids chug that down like it's water.   Just sayin'.  To each his own when it comes to nutrition, values and parenting strategies.  :)

Especially to wine-drinkers, I recommend this book.  But even if you aren't, it is enlightening.  I loved the subject, the writing style, and can't wait to try the recipes!

Salud!

g

healthy stir-fry #3 : {broccolini, walnuts and gingered beef}

Here we are folks - the third installment of my favorite healthy stir-frys.  This one is for you red meat lovers out there.  And you broccoli lovers.
{adapted from recipe found on prevention.com}

You will need:

2 Tbsp fresh ginger, finely chopped

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1/4 cup water

3 Tbsp sesame oil

1 1/2 lbs {I used 4 bunches} of broccolini {baby broccoli}

 3/4 lb of flank steak -- I buy it already in thin strips...cheaper/easier that way -- then I cut the strips into smaller, more bitesize pieces.

1 bunch of scallions {green onions, about 6} cut into 1 inch pieces 

1/2 cup walnut pieces, chopped coarsely {toast them for extra yumminess!}

1. Whisk ginger, soy sauce, and a few tablespoons of the water in a small bowl.

2. Heat sesame oil on high heat in your wok.

3. Add broccolini and stir fry for 3 minutes.  Then add rest of water and stir fry another 2-3 minutes.

4. Add steak, scallions, and soy mixture and stir fry 2 minutes or until beef is just cooked through...don't overcook.

5. Stir in chopped walnuts and serve hot!

 I'm not the hugest broccoli fan...but I'm trying!  

It is soooo good for you (vitamin C!!!)

 I'm a nerd and like to chop all my ingredients and display on one huge cutting board before dumping them in the wok/pot/pan.

This cutting board is not nearly big enough.

 When you first put your broccolini in the wok, it looks kind of dull...

 ...but after stir frying a few minutes and adding the water for a couple more, 

it turns a bright, vibrant green!  

Hopefully this, and stir-fry #1 and #2

inspired you to whip out that wok!

g