the truth about motherhood.

going on month number two in little charlie's life, i still find myself pretty much housebound. that's right, i haven't quite gotten the hang of taking three kids out on the town. & as much as i'd prefer to be crafting, holding my little baby, doesn't leave much time for projects. so, these days i find myself watching lots of tv. did you happen to catch oprah's the truth about motherhood episode? maybe it's just the stage (of life) i'm in right now, but i swear the entire show was the extension of an on-going conversation playing inside my head. everything they said, i could totally relate to... "oprah is saluting moms everywhere and letting them know they have support. 'we hear from mothers all the time who say they feel alone. they feel overwhelmed; they feel sometimes inadequate. and you say you're afraid to admit the truth for fear of bing judge," oprah says. 'so today we're creating a judgment-free zone, a sisterhood of motherhood where anything goes."

when they said "the expectations we have on ourselves is completely unrealistic. this generation of women was raised to believe that we should and could do it all... and that list (of expectations) is so huge that we think if we can't live up to that, then we're not good moms." i wanted to shout: AMEN! & i couldn't agree more with the idea that "the one universal truth about motherhood seems to be that no one ever tells you what to really expect." so, today, i too am "creating a judgment-free zone, a sisterhood of motherhood where anything goes". & although i LOVE being a mom, (i really, really do!), sometimes, i wish i had been more prepared for motherhood, if you know what i mean. so, here are some of the truths about motherhood, that no one remembered to tell me. maybe someone else can benefit, or possibly at least relate...

* every woman doesn't LOVE being prego. there definitely are some women who do, but i wasn't one of them. i hated getting fat, i never had that "pregnancy glow". all in all, pregnancy isn't exactly my favorite stage in life.
* recovery AFTER the delivery can sometimes be harder, and worse, than the actual delivery. (i was put on bed rest for 6 weeks after i had gavin.)
* stay in the hospital as long as possible. you might be bored & lonely, but when you go home, you're on your own. at least in the hospital you can call a nurse for help.
* i must not have paid very good attention during health class, because i did not realize i would bleed for weeks. (a bit personal, i know, but a truth about motherhood that i did not know.)
* breastfeeding might be natural, but it is definitely NOT easy & often times it can be painful
* hemorrhoids, 'nuf said!
* your boobs will never be perfect again... they'll get super huge (& probably painful while engorged), & then they'll shrink down, practically becoming indentations.
* just because you carried the baby for nine months, doesn't mean you can soothe & quiet them when they are screaming bloody murder, for hours & hours on end.
* sometimes, you'll go days without showering. a pony tail will become your new 'do, a hat your new best friend, & you can go hours without realizing you haven't eaten anything.
* finding the energy & time to do all the things you "used" to do isn't going to be easy
* sleeping more than 2 hours in a row should be considered a luxury
* getting the time & energy to clean the house, fold the laundry, or load the dishwasher will make you feel like you've won the lottery
* counting the number of wet & dirty diapers will become your new hobby
* you'll find yourself thinking "of a day as units of time, each unit consisting of no more than thirty minutes. Full hours can be a little bit intimidating and most activities take about half an hour. Taking a bath: one unit, watching countdown: one unit, web-based research: two units, exercising: three units, having my hair carefully disheveled: four units. It's amazing how the day fills up. (especially when you are feeding the baby every 6 units!)"via about a boy.
* in the end, holding your little baby, seeing them smile, hearing them laugh... will make you forget everything else, as though it never happened, & make you willing to possibly, do it all over again.
edited to add:
* i always knew i was going to breastfeed, i just was never prepared for how much i could (and would) leak. i didn't realize that i could soak through my shirt, even while wearing a nursing pad.
* i wasn't prepared for being man-handled by everyone. i didn't realize that i would also get used to totally strangers grabbing & "feeling up" my boobs.

so, your turn. what are some of the truths about motherhood that you wished someone had told you? what's the real scoop on motherhood?

i'm starving.

so i've been battling a medical condition. nothing extremely serious, although it is very painful & makes me feel terrible, pretty much all of the time. i've tried natural remedies, as well as lots & lots of strong medications. & yet, nothing seems to kick this bad boy in the butt. so, as a last resort i'm starting a new diet. the no sugar, no wheat, no starch, no dairy, no processed foods diet. i'm a going to avoid all forms of sugar & wheat as well as processed foods that promote yeast growth. basically, i can't eat anything. (on the plus side, maybe i'll lose this baby weight i'm carrying around.)

okay, so maybe "i can't eat anything" is a bit of an exaggeration... i can eat whole grain products (oatmeal, rice, & pastas), things made of corn flour (pretty much anything that is gluten free), fresh meats, fish, eggs, oatmeal, popcorn, soups (without msg), nuts & seeds, vegetables & water. i guess the really tricky part, other than fantazing about all the foods i can't eat, is figuring out what i can eat. any suggestions?

image via here.

i think i'm in love.

i'll take one please.

pardon the interruption...

so i'm busy as a bee, putting together all the swap partners (we have about 300 participants! holy cow!) anyway, as i was saying, i've been playing match maker, when a thought occurred to me. in the past, i've always "paired" up partners, so you swap back & forth, with one another. i've always enjoyed this, because you get to know one person really well. but, i was thinking it could be kinda fun to do a more "random" type of swap... person a gives to person b, person b gives to person c. does that make sense? this way you get to know two people... the person you give to & the person who gives to you. so what do YOU think? any preference? i'm not sold on either idea & seeing that this is YOUR swap, i thought i'd put the ball in your court. (love that tennis humor? speaking of which did anyone catch the men's wimbledon final? it was AMAZING!) anyway, make your preference known.... vote on your preferred swapping method.

introducing...

images & design via ana brandt

happy fourth of july.

here's hoping your holiday is filled with sunshine, family, lots of good food & a few fireworks. no plans are "set" yet, but i'm sure we will end up having a bbq which means loads of mom's patio beans, rene's artichoke dip, and something yummy for dessert, maybe a big 'ole slice of lemonade cake with lots & lots of frosting. if we have a little free time, THIS project will be perfect... both quick & easy. have a great holiday weekend! & don't forget, today's the last day to sign up for the swap!

image via ser.en.dipi.ty

you definitely need to go to disneyland this summer.

as you probably already know, this summer disneyland is pulling out all the stops. everything is bigger, bolder, & more fantastic than ever before, especially the firework spectacular! with eden espinosa (best known for her starring role as elphaba in the LA & san francisco run of wicked) singing magical's theme song as well as classic disney tunes like "baby of mine," you know it's going to be incredible... & the show doesn't let you down. you know it's good when the very big (as in strong), very manly man standing in front of me, whispers to his friend "wow! that was good. that was really really good." so, without any further ado, here's a sneak peak at the incredible finale for disneyland's newest firework spectacular magical, if you want see the ENTIRE show you'll just have to go to disneyland this summer. but, if you really want the "full" effect, watch THIS video of steve davison, vice president of parades & spectaculars, reenacting the finale of the show. then, watch the following video of the "real" thing. & i apologize in advance for any shaky camera work, i was busy juggling a one-month old baby & the camera...



p.s. the new fantasmic & electrial parade are also incredible. trust me!

big, fat, chewy chocolate chip cookies

my girlfriend "c" had been raving, non-stop, about her favorite new cookie recipe. when i realized she was baking up a batch nearly every single day, i decided i needed to whip some up for myself, & they definitely did not disappoint. if you want a cookie that is big, fat & chewy, just like something you'd buy at a fancy bakery, then this cookie is for you.

big, fat, chewy chocolate chip cookies
ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour, "c" suggests you do 1 1/1 cups all-purpose flour & 1/2 cup whole wheat or oat flour (for oat flour simply grind up oatmeal in your blender)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, MELTED
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tb. vanilla extract
1 egg (room temperature)
1 egg yolk (room temperature)
2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

directions:
1. sift together the flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl & set aside
2. in a medium bowl, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended.
3. beat in the vanilla, egg and egg yolk until light and creamy.
4. mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended.
5. stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon.
6. chill the cookie dough in the refrigerator for 45-2 hours (to counteract the melted butter)
6. preheat oven to 325 degrees
7. drop cookie dough 1/4 cup at a time onto cookies sheet, cookie sheet should be 3 inches apart (i did 9 cookies per pan)
8. bake for 13-15 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden brown. this is the key! they might still seem gooey in the middle, but just let them cool on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes before transferring them & they will be perfect. (trust me, i'm speaking from experience, i overcooked my first batch.)

makes 18-20 cookies

now grab a big glass of milk & enjoy. oh! & you might want to double the recipe, because they go fast!

currently loving...

i spotted THIS print on decor8 & fell in love immediately.

i'm starting to develop a complex.

yes, i realize that i just had a baby. yes, i realize that she was my third baby. yes, i realize that my body isn't just going to bounce back. these are all truths that i've accepted. however, i'm starting to develop just a bit of a complex, courtesy of my four year old gavin. case, or rather, cases in point...

* the day after i had charlie, the boys came to visit me in the hospital. at one point, i got up out of bed & immediately gavin said "oh good mom! you're almost skinny again."
* recently i bribed my kids with the promise of mickey d's happy meals (yes, i am that mom). we were waiting in the drive thru, when gavin randomly announced "mom, you can't eat mcdonald's. it will make you fat." funny thing is, he doesn't think the rule applies to him.
* just yesterday, gavin was giving the babysitter a tour of our house. when he got to our office, where my bike is set up on the trainer, gavin told her "& this is the bike my mom has to ride to make her skinnier."

if this keeps up, & gavin continues to be more concerned (than i am) about how skinny i am, i don't know if i'll have the nerve to get into a bathing suit this summer. personally, i've been pretty thrilled with my recovery, but gavin's got me doubting myself. oh heavens!

drumroll please...

shout it from the roof tops, tell your friends, invite your neighbors, send an email, post it on your blog. anything & everything that will get the word out. i want EVERYONE in the world knows about the third annual favorite things swap. i hope you are as excited as i am! here are all the particulars...

it's really quite simple: as a participant, you will be asked to choose at least three objects (i don't think anyone would mind if you decide to send more) that are some of YOUR favorite things to send to your partner... maybe it's an apron you made, your new favorite book, or that favorite flavor of lip gloss. be creative & most importantly have fun with it! objects can be new or vintage, bought or handmade... just remember, it is best to send something the you'd be pleased & excited to receive yourself.

ready to join the fun? please e-mail your particulars to accordingtokelly@gmail.com. sign-ups will be open until friday, july 3rd... so get your friends involved! upon receiving your "rsvp" i will send out a confirmation email, if you don't hear from me, email me again, sometime emails can get lost & i don't want anyone left out in the cold! so here's what i need from you:

• your name.
• mailing address.
• email address.
• website / blog
(must be involved with at least one of these).
• a little something about yourself.
• please indicate if you are willing to ship internationally.
swap partners will be emailed to you shortly after the sign-up deadline. the delivery date for this swap is Friday, July 31st... please have it postmarked by then.

once you receive your package, be sure to post photos here, for everyone to enjoy! if you have any questions/ comments, just drop me a line at: accordingtokelly@gmail.com

i'm so excited! i can't wait. i hope you are too!

the secret is the yogurt.

jeffy's favorite new breakfast recipe, is one i came across, courtesy of the 43rd pillsbury bake-off. you know the recipe is a winner when hours later, the hubby is still talking about how good breakfast was. (i really should point out that jeffy isn't a big breakfast-y kind of guy. i might love thinnies, french toast & german pancakes, but jeffy prefers his breakfasts to be a little less eggy.) & i guess the boys liked it too, because the licked their plates clean, literally.

orange-almond breakfast bake
rolls:
1 egg
1/4 cup yoplait original 99% fat free orange creme yogurt
1 can pillsbury refrigerated orange flavor sweet rolls with icing

sauce:
icing from can of sweet rolls
2 tb butter
1 tb orange juice
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup smucker's sweet orange marmalade
1/4 cup sliced almonds

1. heat over to 400 degrees. spray the bottom of a 9x13" dish.
2. in a small bowl, beat egg with fork or wire whisk, stir in yogurt until smooth.
3. unroll dough on cutting board. set icing aside. cut each strip in half, crosswise. dip each strip completely in egg mixture, then twist 2 or 3 times, & place in baking dish. bake 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.
4. meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat icing, butter, orange juice, almond extrat & marmalade to boiling over medium heat. reduce heat to medium-low, cook 2 - 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened & shiny. remove from heat, stir in almonds.
5. loosen rolls from baking dish with spatula. drizzle with sauce, serve immediately.

please excuse us, we're tired & cranky.

i don't want to complain, because that's not really my nature, although, i have no problem making excuses... so, i'm sorry if i haven't called you back. i'm sorry if you've emailed & received no reply back from me. i'm sorry if you've commented on the blog & i haven't made the effort to visit yours. i can assure you this isn't typical kelly behavior. after all, my mother did raise me with manners, & just a touch of class. but these days, with two wild & crazy boys competing for their moms attention, one hyper dog, a few cases of thrush, several sleepless nights & a baby who wants needs requires to be held 24/7, all adds up to one mom who isn't exactly a happy camper. & i know, i know... "this to shall pass." i'm just hoping it will pass soon! until then, i just keep repeating to myself "keep calm & carry on." so again i must apologize... if we happen to chat & i'm not overly bubbly & enthusiastic, or if i'm not posting as much to the blog, as often as usual - just understand how hard it is to do all these things with a screaming baby in your arms, two little boys nagging at you to bake them cookies, all the while, all you want to do is sleep (& maybe take a quiet, peaceful shower). hopefully the "sun will come out, tomorrow." until then, i'm hoping i can "keep calm and carry on."

image via anne taintor.

not your mama's rice krispie treats.

i went swimming again last night. & once again, i was starving when all was said & done. i was craving something i hadn't had in years... this peanut buttery, butterscotchy kix (as in cereal) mix that my friend's mom used to make when we were kids. i know, totally random. too bad for me, i don't have the recipe (although, i'm on the hunt, i'll let you know if i'm successful). so, i had to improvise. luckily, i did have this recipe scrawled in my recipe book. i'd never made it before, & had no idea where it came from, but it definitely caught my eye. so, today, the boys & i whipped it up. it was quick, easy & best of all - no baking was involved. i love not having to heat up the oven on a hot summer's day. & as they say... "don't just a book by it's cover," the same is true here. i'm the first to admit, they don't look mouth-watering. but, i promise, once you give them a try, you might not ever make rice krispies the same again.

not your mama's rice krispie treats
ingredients:
2 skor bars (or any chocolate covered toffee candy bars)
2 cups rice krispies
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
16 regular sized marshmallows (or 133 miniature)
1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

directions:
1. using a rolling pin or mallet crush the candy bar into pieces. (personally i like kinda bigger chunks. if the pieces are too small you don't really taste them. but that's just me!)
2. place peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl & microwave on high until hot (about 45 seconds). add marshmallow & microwave until softened (about 30 seconds).
3. now this next part you want to do fairly quickly: combine the peanut butter marshmallow mixture with the rice krispies. stirring until all the krispies are evenly coated. then, add the skor pieces & chocolate chips, stirring until combined.
4. spray your hands with pam (or coating them with oil would work too), then shape mixtures into rice krispie balls. or, i'm sure you could do the typical "bars" too. but, i wouldn't actually know, because i just followed the recipes & made balls.

yum! yum! yum! these definitely didn't last long in our house. i'll probably be making another batch tomorrow (unless i can find that mysterious kix recipe). no biggie though, they only take about 10 minutes to make. i think i can handle that.

sometimes, being a "mom blogger" is a good gig...

like, when a HUGE & mysterious package arrives on your doorstep.

then, when you open it up, you find an ENTIRE potty training "kit" courtesy of huggies.
looks like i'm going to a very busy girl over the next little while, wish me (& owen) luck.

before & after.

six weeks later, i am still amazed that i am no longer pregnant & that my little girl is finally here - ready to be cuddled & loved. as you can imagine, i don't get much done these days because most of my time is spent, simply staring at her. & although i usually try to avoid the camera's lens while pregnant, i have to admit i'm glad i was talked into encouraged to do THIS photo shoot. now i can always remember the before & after.

images via ana brandt

it was magical.

tonight, i was invited by disneyland to preview their brand new line-up of nighttime entertainment called summer nightastic! which includes a new & improved electrical parade; a bigger & bolder fantasmic! complete with ursula the sea witch & her pet eels; & a fireworks spectacular created especially to celebrate summer nightastic! called magical. and as you can imagine, the evening was, well - magical. the firework display is definitely one you don't want to miss. if i haven't already, this little video will definitely pique your interest. although it's not the actual fireworks spectacular, it's the next best thing... steve davison, vp of parades & spectaculars (i love his title! so fitting because he is spectacular!), reenacting the finale of the show. he is super animated & very entertaining, think "jazz fingers."



to see steve davison's complete reenactment go HERE, you'll be amazed. but don't forget to watch all 6 videos to get the whole experience.

p.s. If you want to catch disneyland's all new firework spectacular magical, & you are a southern california resident (residents who live in zip codes 90000 through 93599 & 21000-22999), you can purchase a 3-day disneyland park hopper ticket for just $99. hello?! that's just $33/ day! plus, the tickets are valid for 45 days from the first use, so you don't have to use all 3 days at once! for more information & all the details, go HERE.

taking the plunge.

eleanor roosevelt once said "do one thing every day that scares you." so, with that in mind, today i took the plunge - literally... i went for a swim. no, not a casual, frolick-lick swim with the boys. but an intensive, calorie-burning, hunger-inducing swim. & unlike my boys, who are fish when it comes to the water, i'm the exact opposite. i feel more like a fish out of water when it comes to swimming. so, although it may have required several (internal) pep-talks, eventually i donned my bubblegum pink swim cap & googles and literally took the plunge. i have terrible technique, i'm still getting the whole breathing thing down, i can barely swim in a straight line, & i doubt i will ever master that fancy swim turn. but, today i did one thing that scares me. & hopefully, tomorrow, it won't scare me quite as much. as long as i keep singing "just keep swimming, just keep swimming," i think i might even start to enjoy this whole swimming thing.

the break up.

i have to admit, this isn't a conversation i've been wanting to have. in fact, i've been putting it off for far too long. i always seem to find one excuse or another. & even though it's all i've thought about lately, even though i've played the scene over & over a thousand times in my head, even though i've planned out exactly what i've wanted to say... now that the moment is here, now that you & i are finally face-to-face, the words seem to escape me.

this definitely isn't an easy situation. but i have to admit, you were never right for me. i think, even in the very beginning, deep down, i knew that this would never really work. but, it was hard to ignore those sparks. even now, the sparks are still there. it's like i can hear them calling my name. & seeing you, just sitting there, looking soooo good, makes this even harder. i guess that's why they say "breaking up is hard to do."

i wish we could still be friends, but you & i both know that that never works out. no, no... it's not you, it's me. see, i'm just not that strong - occasional get-togethers, watching you with other people, all along pretending i'm no longer interested in you... yeah! i don't think that would last very long. pretty soon we'd be inseperable, once again. but i'm serious about it this time. that's why i think, no, i KNOW i need a completely clean break. you are just too much of an addiction for me to handle.

you've probably already noticed, but lately, i've been spending less & less time with you. slowly, but surely, i have been trying to ease you out of my daily life. &, i'm proud (although a little sad too) to admit, at this writing i have gone 1 week, 5 days, 12 hours & 37 minutes without you. honestly, you probably haven't even missed me, but i have missed you. & i will continue to miss you, every day of my life, because you will always have a piece of my heart. but this time, it really is goodbye. cherry coke, dr. pepper & regular coke, oh how i'll miss you, but really & truly, this has to be the end of our relationship, it's time to go our seperate ways. i just hope i have the strength to live without you... i'll definitely be in need of a re-bound relationship.

D.I.Y. boutique wipes case tutorial

lately, my crafting time is either very limited or totally non-existant... which makes sewing anything completely out of the question. but giving up crafting cold turkey is definitely not an option. so, i've had to to devise some crafts that i can do standing up, holding a baby, in a very short time period. luckily, you can never have too many fancy-nancy boutique style wipes case - especially if you don't have to pay the fancy-nancy boutique style prices...

D.I.Y. boutique wipes case tutorial
supplies needed: one travel wipes case, some batting, a fabric scrap, mod podge & sponge brush, trim and hot glue.
time needed: 1/2 hour
crafting expertise: beginner... if you can wield a glue gun, you're good to go.

click on pictures to enlarge

bubblicious.

it's the end of the school year & i'm excited (& a bit nervous) to have ALL the kids home ALL the time, but more on that later. right now we're talking about teacher thank yous. for gavin's teacher we filled an apothecary jar with gumballs & attached a card that read "thank you for 'chews-ing' to share your talents. gavin had a 'ball' this year!" for the office staff we did the same thing on a smaller scale using mason jars. (thanks for the brilliant idea julie!) then for all of each of gav's little classmates, we wrapped up big 'ole glittery bouncy balls with a note that said "hope you have a 'ball' this summer!" so what are you doing, or did you do, for your teachers this year?

FREE krispy kreme doughnuts today!

in case you didn't know, & i admit i didn't, the first friday of every june is national doughnut day. krsipy kreme is joining in the celebration by giving away a FREE doughnut to all of it's cutsomers! Hip Hip Hooray! no purchase necessary... all customers receive one FREE doughnut. find the nearest krsipy kreme location HERE.

p.s. i believe that dunkin' donuts is giving away a free doughnut with the purchase of any beverage.

beauty advice from gwyn...

"beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. that, or a kick-ass red lipstick."
gwyneth paltrow

i'm dirty & i stink.

if you have boys & they like trucks, they will LOVE i'm dirty & i stink.

sugar & spice & everything nice

it's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
without saying a word you can light up the dark
try as i may i could never explain
what i hear when you don't say a thing

the smile on your face lets me know that you need me
there's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
the touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever i fall
you say it best when you say nothing at all

all day long i can hear people talking out loud
but when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd
old mr. webster could never define
what's being said between your heart and mine

the smile on your face lets me know that you need me
there's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
the touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever i fall
you say it best when you say nothing at all

- alison krauss

snakes & snails & puppy dog tails

here's little o practicing his latest hobby... snail catching. i don't know what he loves more - finding a slimy little sucker or scaring gavin with them. yep! the big & tough 4 year old runs crying when he sees a snail, & owen the two year old screams with glee! i wonder if he'd eat escargot?

some new bling.

coconutty pudding cake & coconutty cream cheese frosting

so, i'm still pretending i'm in hawaii. unfortunately, our hawaiian feast has been devoured, & the chocolate haupia pie is long gone. not a problem though. i whipped up a light & fluffy coconutty cake to fill the void. i absolutely love & adore THIS coconut cake. (just thinking about it makes my mouth drool.) but, seeing as i'm trying to lose all this "baby fat" i'm carrying around, i figured i should avoid the 1 1/2 lb. of butter, 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream & 8 oz. of cream cheese that recipe calls for. (talk about a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!) instead i tried a new (& definitely less intensive) recipe that resulted in a very moist (i hate that word... it gives me the "willies" just saying it in my head), a very easy, & a very tasty cake.

coconutty pudding cake & coconutty cream cheese frosting
cake:
1 package white cake mix (told you it was EASY!)
1 package coconut or vanilla flavor instant pudding mix (4 serving size)
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup oil
1 cup flaked coconut (optional, depending on how conconutty you like your cake)
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

frosting:
2 tbsp. butter
2 cups coconut
8 oz. cream cheese
2 tsp. milk
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

for cake: blend all of the ingredients, except the coconut, in a large mixing bowl. slowly add in the coconut (if you choose to) & slowly mix. pour into 2 greased & floured 9-inch layer pans or one 9 x 13 pan. bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick come out clean.

for frosting: cream 2 tbsp. butter with cream cheese. slowly add milk, sugar, vanilla & 1 3/4 cups of coconut. spread on top of cake & sprinkle with remaining coconut. if you want to get fancy, you could always toast the coconut.

make sure to have a large glass of milk on hand & enjoy!

you might think i'm crazy...

& i probably am. i don't think you can watch as much late night television, as i have lately, without going a bit loopy. but that's what happens when you watch zillions of informercials. unfortunately, my recent lack of sleep makes me a sucker - look what showed up on my front porch recently... come on! admit you're jealous. you want a topsy turvy upside down tomato planter too! maybe i'll have to order your baby can read or snuggie next.

hawaiian staycation.

so, i've got a hawaiian itch, & i've got it bad. unfortunately, it's looking like it's not going getting scratched anytime soon. not a problem - i'm adaptable like that.... enter the hawaiian staycation. the waves might not be crashing outside my window, or a breeze rustling through the palm trees, but it's doesn't take much to create a little island paradise of my own...

* jack johnson on repeat
* a little bit of johnson's baby oil gel with cocoa butter slathered on. (the lotion is wonderful too!)
* piña coladas complete with tiny umbrella, whipped cream & cherry
* & all the makings of my own personal hawaiian luau:

hawaiian kalua pork
4-5 lb. pork butt or shoulder
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
2-3 tablespoons hawaiian salt (or coarse sea salt)
2 cups apple cider

the night before... rub the pork with salt & liquid smoke, and place in the crockpot. cover with apple cider. turn crockpot on low & leave it to cook for 10-16 hours, flipping pork over halfway through. take meat out of crockpot and shred with two forks.

serve the pork with sticky rice, macaroni salad & finish the feast with a big 'ole slice of ted's chocolate haupia pie. yum! yum! yum!


so break out your grass skirt & coconut bra... let's staycation together. at the very least, whip up a ted's chocolate haupia pie, it's heavenly! i think i'll go cut myself another slice.

playlist emergency.

i made caramel crack this past weekend & unfortunately, it's as yummy and addicting as ever - so, i've been nibbling at it ever since. (the rolled oats make it a practical choice for breakfast!) & although it is definitely delicious, i am no longer "with child", so i can no longer blame any weight gain on the fact that i'm eating for two. seeing as i'm not planning on giving up desserts any time soon, i really need to stick to my running regime. but, it's hard to coax my lazy bum out the door when i've got no "tunes" to get me motivated, energized & ready to "feel the burn."


i am definitely in need of a new playlist that will get my toes tapping & my heart racing... any suggestions? i'd love to hear from you - what's your favorite song or songs that get you going? i've got an itunes gift card that i'm just itching to spend. any ideas? play my little game & there just might be an itunes gift card in store for you too, at least one of you that is!

today was historic...

that's right! today, charlie made her first official visit to the happiest place on earth
& received her very own pair of mickey ears to celebrate the occasion.

in the words of the fabulous judy garland...

"always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."

carbo loading.

it's BBQ time at our house. some of our favorite menu items? patio beans, sizzling country ribs, coleen's beach week pasta salad, layered spinach tortellini salad, lemonade cake & frosting. another BBQ staple at our house is the cheese bread. just thinking about it is making me hungry.

chbeese read
ingredients:
one loaf of french bread
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup mayonnaise (we are best foods kind of people)
3/4 cup chopped onion
dash of worcestershire sauce
dash of salt & pepper

mix the all of the ingredients (except the bread) & let the flavors "mix" for about an hour or more.

split the loaf of french bread lengthwise. spread topping on top of each half. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes or until topping is hot & bubbly. cut into serving pieces & serve hot.

enjoy!

$1 flippity flops

it's that time of year again... just in time for summer, one of my favorite sales is here. the annual, "one day wonder" old navy $1 flippity flop sale. yep! yep! you can outfit your entire family with solid colored flip flops for just one buck each. with a deal this good, you know they are going to go fast, so be sure to hit your local old navy
early in the morning this Saturday, May 23rd. you don't want to miss the "feeting frenzy."

today, my running shoes came out of retirement.

luckily, their forced retirement was short-lived... boy did it feel good to tie those babies on. & within moments of tying my laces, gigi came running, ready to hit the pavement with me. seeing as she has put on a few sympathy pounds, as i've continually gained more & more weight over the last several months, i guess it's only fitting that she accompany me. unfortunately, the whole "running" part didn't come as easily as i imagined. in fact, today i realized that i run like a girl. actually, i run more like a granny - some one's great granny that is.

i started out strong. going up the hill i was feeling pretty good. but it didn't take long for me to realize how out of shape i am. pretty soon i was huffing & puffing along. my steps started to slow, if not drag. good thing i had brought gigi along - she was able to pull me along. i may have been slow (so slow, i probably could have walked faster) but i didn't stop once, & i never walked... i just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

i wouldn't say i ran very far, but, it was a start. by the time we were done, both gigi & i were exhausted. gigi's tongue was nearly dragging on the pavement & mine probably looked pretty similar. not only was i tired, but i felt like all my girly parts were going to fall out - like i just had another baby... but i'm sure that was just all the fat melting away.

& how did i celebrate this first post-pregnancy workout? by finishing up the remainders of a tub of coffee heath bar crunch. okay, so that doesn't exactly help me eliminate the big fat post pregnancy butt i've developed, but it's all about the baby steps here.

super fantastic, totally awesome giveaway.

do you live in or near orange county? even if you don't - if you are willing to jump on a jet plane, ride the train, travel by car, run, hop or skip your way to the OC.... then, boy! do i have a giveaway for you.


one lucky person is going to win an on-location orange county portrait sitting & a complimentary 8x10 portrait (a package worth a whopping $320) from michelle photography. so how do YOU win? simply go HERE & leave a comment. how easy is that? so what are you still doing here? now go enter NOW! (& just because you aren't local to the OC doesn't mean you can't enter... if you happen to win, you could always just "gift" your session to me as a baby present. i'm totally okay with that.) good luck... & may the force be with you.

playing dress up.

okay, okay... i've got something to admit. i'm kinda getting used to the whole "girly" thing, & a little bit of pink, doesn't exactly mean the end of the world. i'm slowly adjusting to this new life, with this new little girl. & it's definitely true what they say... dressing the little princess for the day is way more fun than the boys ever were. there's just something magical about ruffles & lace. 

singing charlie into the world.

my gal pal, let's call her "c" for anonymity's sake, is the ultimate party planner. construction themed birthday parties (complete with dirt cupcakes) & winter parties involving an incredible hot chocolate bar, just to describe a few of her past soirees. so, when i requested an unconventional baby shower, she didn't even bat an eye. instead of making me & all the other guests play "guess mom's tummy size" or "name that baby food," we sang our little hearts out. that's right! we celebrated charlie's impending arrival into this world at a korean karaoke studio. (i didn't realize places like this actually existed outside of the movie lost in translation, let alone my own hometown suburbia.) the evening consisted of good friends, good food & lots of songs involving the words baby & girl. for those of you who missed out on the fun, & those of you in attendance that want to re-live the night, here's a 3 minute & 38 second recap. & i apologize in advance for the quality.... but, the room was dark with a strobe light, which made it hard to video tape. plus, it'll help protect the identity of the singer's, even if just a little bit.

charlie's world.

if you've been following my baby drama, then you know i was having a tough time making any kind of decision regarding the newest little princess' palace. which quilt to hang, what color to paint the dresser, blah blah blah. at that "point in my life," i felt like these decisions were uber-important... you know, a "make it, or break it" type of thing. but we all know, that was just the hormones talking.

after agonizing over the decisions for weeks, boring my hubby, mom & friends by constantly asking them over & over again for their opinion, i still couldn't make up my mind. the night before going to the hospital i must have changed the quilt on the wall four different times. eventually i settled on one i thought i like best. but there still wasn't anything on the walls. we packed up the boys & headed out in search of some "artwork"... there's nothing like last minute. we did find a little something, but i still wasn't exactly loving the room, but with a hospital stay drawing nearer to my future i finally decided i would just deal with it all later.

luckily for me though i have a doll of a hubby. while i was vacationing at the hospital, the hubby, my mil & the boys were playing "surprise by design." as i sipped apple juice & feasted on crushed ice they were painting, decorating & putting the finishing touches on charlie's world...