St. Patty's Day & a haircut

Little man is 17 months this month.  He had not had a hair cut yet, and he was growing quite the gnarly rat tail, crazy triangle bangs, and long shabbys over his ears.  But, on the bright side, he was getting the cuuuutest curls!  That boy is genetically allllllll my husband's side of the family, so I smile that he got my blond hair, and was really loving that he has my curls.  But, at last, it was time for a hair cut.  I really wanted to go to "Peak-A-Doo" in Durham to get it cut, but just could not bring myself to spend that much money when we have a pair of clippers here.  It actually turned out fantastic.  Phillip was so proud of himself for doing such a good job, and the fact that he got to do Carters "1st haircut" made him crazy excited too.  All he could talk about the rest of the night was that haircut.  It was quite cute!  Here are the before pictures.  It's the most recent ones I have of him and they aren't meant to be "hair shots" but it's the best I have.  I was really just trying to capture how cute he was just running around in his diaper and long socks :)

Tell me these boys don't have matching head shapes!!!... I dare ya! ;)

The finished product and a happy daddy!

Now, he's soooo over being strapped to a chair!

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, and I was planning on actually being a good wife and putting my previous experiences with Phillip's favorite meal, corned beef and cabbage, and trying it again.  But, thank the Lord, his mother decided to make it for him!  Wheeeew!~  So, instead, we did sort of an Italian take on an Irish day.  Wednesdays are "Sketti-Wednesday" nights, and I can't break that tradition because it throws my ENTIRE week off.  So, I present to you Irish-Italian Dinner:

 

"AKA- Green Spaghetti and Sauce"

 I'll admit, it looked kinda creepy, especially once the sauce got mixed in, but it was very fun and something I will keep in mind for the future when we're really digging into teaching colors.  All I did was throw in a little food dye with the noodles while they were boiling!  Easy Peasy!

 

Little Man certainly didn't seem to mind it!

I'm always up for doing a theme for anything for any type of holiday, so the dinner was fun, and so was dressing Carter in all green yesterday.  He was adorable with his green shirt, jeans, and green patent-leather boots I found him at Walmart.  I know, they sound absolutely hideous, but they are sooooo fun, and ADDOOOOORABLE!!  He looked so cute when I dropped him off!  My little Irish-man!  (*insert gushing momma here!**)  So, I went to pick him up and noticed that some kid was running around in the hallway with a teacher with the most crackhead outfit on.  I kept moving on my merry way thinking "Geez, poor kid!" until that kid turned around, yelled "momma!" at me and then came running towards me.  That poor kid was mine!  Oh Mercy!  I usually end up sending sets of clothes to the daycare for backups when Carter has an accident.  They obviously did not see that they were matching sets, b/c my kid was wearing his brown Christmas shirt that says "Not an Elf", some baby-blue and white striped pants, and his crazy green boots.  It was quite the site to behold.  I had grand plans on taking him to the park to play after daycare as a surprise, but I just couldn't bring myself to take him in public.  I just knew I would get "looks" from all the momma's.... "what was she thinking!!...... That poor baby!" So, instead, we went home, and we played on the back deck.  We can prop it open and close the gate to the stairs down to the yard, and I can watch him while I'm cooking.  This works out pretty well for us, and it gives Carter a chance to be a wild-man.  Here are some pics of him outside in his outfit:

Absolutely Crazzzzy!

Does he not look like one of those crazy strong man lifting dumb-bells!!??  Hammer-pants and all!!

.... And no, that is no nasty used trash can he is playing in!!  He's COMPLETELY obsessed with putting stuff in our trash, so we got him one of his own so he will stop throwing our stuff away!

Holy Cannelini beans... that is good!

I've had this recipe marked under my "favorites" bar for a long time, but I've been waiting for ground turkey to go on sale  the right day to make it.  I finally got around to making it last night and oh my goodness it is sooooo good!  It was actually pretty easy and fast to make, and not too expensive b/c I had most of the stuff in stock besides the ground turkey.  I was surprised how brothy this soup was b/c the pictures doesn't show very much broth.  But, please, try this recipe!!  IT'S SOOO GOOD and not very fatty!  It didn't make very much, so after dinner I found myself making an extra pot so I could have it for lunches this week, and to freeze some.  Check out Martha Stewart's website for the original post.  I left the jalapenos out of mine because Carter was eating the soup too.  The soup was still very good.  Phillip had sour cream and jalapenos to add to his and he said it was amazing.  The prep time, and cooking time listed on the site are definitely correct, but it's not something you have to stand over and worry about while it's cooking.  It took about 40 minutes start to finish.  I'm a big fan of cutting corners to make things go faster so I used a bag of frozen chopped onions the second time I made it and it was perfection! (Oh, and let's not forget that they also sell the jalapenos canned already chopped and seeded!  Score!)  The Cannelini beans were hard to find, but I eventually found them at Food Lion.  If you can't find any I'm sure you can substitute with Northern Beans, even though they have a bit different taste.

Turkey and White Bean Chili

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 jalapenos, diced and seeded for milder taste
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 cans (19 ounces each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• Sour cream, cilantro, and radishes, for garnish

Directions

1. In a large, deep, skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey; season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up turkey with spoon, until browned, 9 minutes.
2. Add onion and jalapenos; cook until soft, 3 minutes. Stir in cumin and tomato paste; cook 2 minutes.
3. Add cannellini beans, chicken broth, and water; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until thick, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Garnish with sour cream, cilantro, and radishes, if desired.

Skinny au' gratin potatoes

Phillip and I are really trying to do well for ourselves and loose some weight.  It's been very nice to have the shift in temperature and be able to walk outside at the end of the day.  I found this recipe on the Weight Watchers website and it actually turned out pretty well.  This recipe calls for Yukon Golds, but I really hate those, so I ended up using our regular baking potatoes and it still turned out pretty well.  I bought a 10 pound bag of potatoes trying to save a buck (what was I thinking!!!) and we've been eating off this bag for 3 weeks now!!  Wont do that again!  Anywhooo!  Next time I will peel the potatoes because it seems like it added a tang to it that wasn't right.  I definitely encourage this recipe though!  So yummy!

au gratin potatoes

POINTS® Value:    3 Servings:  8 Preparation Time:  20 min Cooking Time:  90 min Level of Difficulty:  Moderate

Our cheesy potato dish is the perfect crowd pleaser—rich enough for your spouse and kids, yet light enough to keep your waistline slim.

Ingredients

	1 spray(s) cooking spray
	1 Tbsp butter
	1 medium onion(s), thinly sliced
	2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
	2 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
	2 pound(s) Yukon Gold potato(es), thinly sliced
	1 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
	1 tsp table salt
	1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 2-quart covered baking dish with cooking spray.
  
• Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour; add milk slowly, stirring. Add potatoes and stir to mix. Bring to a boil. Stir in 3/4 cup of cheese, salt and pepper.
  
• Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and level out surface. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered. Cover and bake until potatoes are fork-tender, about 20 minutes more.
  
• Change oven temperature to broil. Sprinkle remaining cheese over potatoes. Broil 6 inches from the heating element until the cheese is golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before slicing into 8 pieces.

March Madness

It's been about a month since I last blogged. I'm kinda loosing my "umph" for my blog. I made it mostly for my friends and family when I was pregnant, hoping they could keep up with mine and Carter's progress during that time, and it eventually just became a place where I could share my ideas and crafts that I found online and tried myself.  I feel swamped lately with work and keeping Carter entertained because he is learning so much. I really don't have time to do all the baking and sewing and crafting that I originally had grand dreams of. I'm really not sure if anyone reads this dang thing anymore.
Anyway, if you do, here's a little catch up (only a month late!) I wanted to do a little more than paper valentine's for Carter's class so I tried my hand at cookie cutters and royal icing. First of all, when looking for recipes to use for cookies that will be shaped, look specifically for cookie-cutter recipes. The one I used was FAN-FREAKIN'-TASTIC, but it certainly was not meant for being cut and shaped. So, the beautiful hearts that Carter and I cut out ended up looking like huge blobs..... tasty huge blobs of course. This was the first time that I got Carter involved in cooking. Usually I give him a bowl, spoon, pan, or what ever else I'm using to mimic me in the kitchen. This time, I let him stir the batter and cut out the shapes of the cookies. HE LOOOOVED IT!! My little man is definitely a fan of mommy's when she's cooking! I covered my work area in powdered sugar so my cookies wouldn't stick and he would not stop putting his face in it and licking it up! At one point his whole face was covered and he just smiled, and smiled! I wish I had more pictures of it, but I had to force Phillip to take pictures of us when we were almost done so I didn't get many. That poor kid isn't going to have any pictures of him and his momma when he grows up! Only his daddy! (**insert Bitter Betty here**)

My royal icing looks like a vat of Pepto Bismol!

AND PLEASE LET ME ADD THIS LITTLE SIDE NOTE:
yes, I'm aware of the ridiculous pile of dirty dishes behind me in my PUTRID/UGLY kitchen. I'll take a pass on this one because it was Valentines' Day and I was busy making these cookies, and a ridiculously messy and intense recipe for this:

Chicken Tetrazzini (I'll post the recipe and back story later... it's actually quite funny)

As I said before, the cookies were soooo yummy, but they turned out as blobs, so I had to get the cookie cutter out again and just cut out the shapes from the middle of the blobs. After they cooled I attempted royal icing. Some of it was pretty, others not so much. I put the initials of each child on their cookie and attached their Valentine to the back.



My friend Kristen and I hosted a baby shower for my long time friend from high school, Jaime. She is due in 2 weeks. She looks absolutely stunning and I wish I looked that great during my pregnancy! We had it at the Cheesecake Factory and boy that is always fantastic! I couldn't go all out on the decorations like I wanted to, but I still got a little bit in. I decorated the tables with tea lights, white flowers, a teddy bear, and a pair of blue gingham baby-booties that I made for Mr. Mason. I didn't get a picture of them before I gave them to her, but these will have to do.

Some of our guests. The guest of honor is Jaime, she's in the black. Also adorable and pregnant is Kristen, in the green sweater. We are all good friends from high school, and I'm so lucky we all keep in touch.

See that cutie in the red t-shirt? That is Mr. Mason's sweet older brother, Chase. He's adorable and will make such a good big brother! Oh!! Also, in front of him are the blue baby booties I made.

Everyone full on lunch, cheesecake, done with presents, and cleaning off the table

Good friends! (Left to right: Kelly, Jaime, Kristen, and me)

We make cute kids!


Adorable!

The girls

Oh, this picture is a little random, but it made me laugh. Carter has a new habit of playing in his ball pit  the "Let's Give Mommy a Heart Attack Way"  THE WROOOONG WAY. He'll put his hands on the top, and then throw his body foward, while standing in the pit. So, he goes down face first, still holding on, and the pit comes down too, throwing the balls everywhere! He pushes it back up, then does it all over again. Crazy baby! I had enough of the panic attacks, so I put the pit away for a couple of weeks hoping he would forget his new habit (yeah right, what was I thinking??). I brought it back out, with the balls in a trash bag. I was folding laundry one day and heard the sound of balls hitting the front hall, and then I found this.

He still sat down in the middle of them and threw them everywhere like he was in his pit!

We also had some crazy weather this month and I'll post pictures of that another time. Hope you are all doing well, and I appreciate you checking in on us if you are. See you soon.

This time ______ years ago...

This time 3 years ago Phillip was just graduating with his Master's degree, we bought our first pet, and we were looking for a house. We found our perfect "first home" in April and we fell in love and had to have it.

This time 2 years ago I was struggling with a serious case of the flu and had to go to the doctor to get blood tests done. That's when I was told that I was pregnant, and we fell in love with this little guy.

This time last year hubby had moved out and was working at UNC-G at the best job we could have ever asked for. We were driving 5 hours every weekend to see each other as much as we could. I cried through every hour that Carter screamed in the backseat on the way home. I had little man to my self for 5 months. I learned a lot about him, about myself, how to be a good mommy, how to live on my own, how to depend on friends, and how to eventually say goodbye to those precious friends. Phillip and I both learned about ourselves as a couple and what our marriage could and couldn't handle. I'm stronger, bitter, and grateful for those 5 months. Now we are back together, strong, and loving having our little family back together. I've said it once, and I'll say it a million times.... I am truly blessed.
Thank you to all my friends and loved ones who pulled me through this time last year and helped me and my family stay strong. I cry as I write this post b/c I miss you so much and I'm soooo incredibly grateful that I have you in my life. I've gotten to the point of being a blubbery idiot as I sit at my desk typing this, so really want I to say is THANK YOU, AND I LOVE YOU!

My time with Carter last year:

Beautiful blue eyes

Making our first friend

Packing up for the cold weather

Not so happy that momma is attempting tummy time

Learning to roll over

Saying good bye to daddy

Spending time with mommy and daddy's friends

Getting used to bath time

Cooking with mommy

My little valentine

Heavy heart

Sorry for not posting lately. I've been insanely busy with lots of baby shower planning, sewing, and other projects and so much more. First and foremost

HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY DARA!!!

HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY JAIME!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONICA!!

My heart is really heavy right now and sad for my co-worker. Her husband is in the Reserves and has been overseas for over a year and a half, with no break to come home within that time. He was scheduled to come home Valentine's Day weekend. Then, yesterday, she got a call saying he didn't know any details, but they were on the way home, didn't know when they would get there or anything, but they were headed home. So, she got word last night that they would be in today. Then, this morning, she got a call from her husband saying that he would have to stay (because he is a commanding officer) due to a couple of his soldiers got DUI's after going out last night and he doesn't know how long it will be to get the sticky legal details straightened out of these men. It may be a day, it may be several. No one knows.
....I just can't imagine how that could feel......
Phillip and I were only apart from each other for 5 months and saw each other on the weekends, and it was still heart wrenching. I have a dear friend who's husband is also in the military and she and her toddler son had to be separated from him for quite a while also. My heart is so sad for these families who have to do without seeing their spouses for so long, and for those who never get to see their spouses again. To make matters worse, my co-worker's child has autism. One of the serious "side-effect" of autism is that these individuals do not do well with change. It puts their world in an absolute spin and things are not good. This poor boy was told so many different dates of when his father was coming home, then told that he will see him tomorrow, and then to was told he's not sure when he will be home. I feel for him. I feel for his momma. I feel for his daddy. I feel for the other soldiers who were a little too reckless on their return home. I feel for their families. My heart is just very heavy today, but I am MORE than GRATEFUL for the soldiers that serve our country and put their lives on the line for us. I hope you all get to return to your families, for good, very soon.