Happy New Year, Recipes and More!

I can hardly believe it's 2012! 

Where did 2011 go?

With that said, I'm super excited for this year for obvious reasons. 

We've been busy doing lots around the house getting ready for baby.

We stayed local for the holidays and went to Mammoth for New Years with dear friends!

 

A fun group shot of us in front of a snow cat we took up the mountain for dinner.

Pretty cool, click here for info on where to call to schedule your adventure.

Grandma Bon Bon made us all beanies for the trip. 

Here's Peysie and Mase Face modeling them before they go out for walk.

<3 these lil peanuts to death! 

I've been trying to cook again, now that I'm back to liking all sorts of foods!

Two recipes I made recently were delicious and worth sharing.

White Bean and Hominy Chili

What's hominy?  I didn't know either, but you can find it near the Mexican food specialty items at your favorite grocery store!

Click here for recipe.

Gotta love Cooking Light Mag!

Shrimp, Avocado & Grapefruit Salad

Click here for recipe.

You know it's a good salad when Shane considers it a meal and not a side!

This was so easy, tasty, light and healthy!

Current project-operation nursery.

Our awesome neighbor/friend Dan is helping me paint the room.

26 weeks

Me in front of a paint swatch on the nursery wall.

Getting a decent pic of the belly is no easy task.

Luckily I have a patient/loving photographer (thanks boos!).

More to come on the nursery, painting tips, pics and more!

I think that's all for now.  Still having spurts of insomnia and last night was a dozy, so hopefully this blog post makes some sense!

XO,

S

23 weeks

The belly's a growin and she's a kickin!

The hubby is making progress too! heehee

Love going back and visiting SB!

Great friends, good food & beautiful weather!

XO,
S

Cold Season -2 / Sam-0 AND It's a GIRL!

There's so much I've been wanting to write, but instead I've been man down for the second time this cold and flu season.  GRRRRRR.  I'm seriously begining to think MJ was onto something with the whole face mask thing. 

Don't judge if you see me rockin one of this bad boys over the next few months.

Being sick SUCKS.

Being sick pregnant DOUBLE SUCKS!

Now that I'm almost done being sick, onto more important topics, like the ever awaited confirmation that we're indeed having a BABY GIRL!  We had our 20 week ultrasound last Tuesday (despite being sick, I wasn't going to miss or reschedule this appt. for anything).  We went to a wonderful perinatal doctor-  Dr. Silverman for this appointment.  Our ultrasound was on a huge screen and was completely fascinating.  They measured every little important thing in her body and seeing all four chambers of her heartbeat and all the details of her brain developing was amazing. 
Then, about midway through the appointment, the moment came. 
Doc: Do you want to know the sex?
Us: YES!!!
Doc: It's 100% a healthy baby GIRL

We are so excited and in love already! In addition to the exciting news,  I felt my first real kick during the ultrasound and have felt a few since.  There is nothing better than feeling this little life inside of me.
Shane is getting used to the idea of having a little girl that melts his heart and he can't say NO to. He's  completely on board with being out numbered, so long as I don't go overboard with PINK in the nursery!  Lucky for him, I'm not a big pink person anyways and tend to like neutral decor with pops of color.  I normally like more vintage girly things, but right now, I'm really digging the modern baby stuff.  It will probably be a mish mash of love and hopefully it will come together nicely. 
So here we are, 21 weeks and thrilled as can be to meet our baby girl in less than 4 months.  Holly geese, that's going to come quick. 
Since I was sick over the weekend, I spent time searching the internet for crib bedding.  This has been no easy task for me.  Making decisions these days isn't easy.  I found several I liked, but there's always one thing I would change.  I think I've narrowed it down though and have the one I like.  Still on a hunt, but for now, this is what I think I'm going to go with.  I'll add pops of cherry pink and orange in the room elsewhere to girly it up!

  Oilo Modern Berries- Taupe

Click here for Oilo website

Loving their simplicity and modern sheek designs. 

Lastly, we received our first peice of furniture for the nursery, yippee! 

 Window Day Bed from West Elm (love this place)

Buy here.

   We plan to fill it with pillows and use it as a comfy place to sit or sleep.  

Let the decorating and filling the nursery with LOVE begin.  

TTFN. 

 

XO,

S

Megan's Pulled Pork

These little suckers were goooooood!

Great/EASY recipe for parties. 

We served these up for the USC domination of UCLA this past Saturday!

Ingredients:

1 Pork Shoulder (3-5 lbs)

Liquid Smoke (tbl. per lb.)

1 Head of Chopped Cabbage

Soy Sauce (to taste)

Start with the pork shoulder and cut off the fat (this job screamed Shane, I need you!).  Once the fat is trimmed, put it in the crock pot on high with the liquid smoke.  You'll want to add a tablespoon of liquid smoke per pound of meat.  Let it cook on high for 8 hours.  After 8 hours, you'll want to drain the juice into a bowl and set aside.  At this point, your pork will be VERY stinky (good stinky, but stinky) and easy to shred.  Shred the pork and add chopped cabbage. Add back in a few ladles of juice and some soy sauce and let cook for 1 hour.  Serve it up on some Kings Hawaiian rolls.

Enjoy!
And thanks Megan for the wonderful recipe.  

XO, 

S

Cravings.

I heard they would come and they've finally arrived- CRAVINGS. 

Nothing too out of the ordinary, but here's what BB (Baby Ball) and I are craving as of late:

Pasta, hot, warm, rich cheesy PASTA

Get in my belly. 

(side note: this craving is super weird because I did not fancy pasta prior to pregnancy, it didn't agree with my tummy, so I'd opt for spaghetti squash or sauce over veggies)

Next up, The Habit Charburger

(side note:  I used to like my burgers plain, now I like them with cheese and grilled onions)

Next- FRUIT, fruit and more Fruit! 

Loving FRESH citrus and berries. 

CANNOT get enough!

Lastly, I'm really diggin these little guys- Sour Patch Kids.

 I'm normally more of a chocolate, salty sweet kinda girl, but right now these are my jam!

That's all I can think of at the moment.  Yesterday, we had a standard appointment with our OB and we got to hear the heartbeat again.  I love that wa-wa-wa sound, it's like music to my ears.  Next week we have our 20 week screening and find out 100% what the sex is (that is if the baby is cooperating)! 

CANNOT WAIT to start decorating.

TTFN.

XO, 

S

P.S. 

19 weeks and counting

Knowledge is Power!

...or OVERWHELMING!

Here's my new library, mostly given or lent to us by friends. 

I think I bought two of these and have opened three.(insert ashamed face here)

The first 16 weeks were about trying to feel better, now it's time to get my read on. 

Do you have a favorite, must read baby book?

I must say Exploiting My Baby by Teresa Strasser is my fav!

Happy Reading!

XO,
S

FINALLY... I am human again.

self portrait - weeks 6-16

Wow, that was the world's longest hang over and to think it wasn't even from drinking?!  Wondering what in the heck I'm talking about, well if you've ever experienced  "morning sickness" (let me clear my throat and say bullshit, all day sickness), it sucks, BUT the good news is it has finally passed (KNOCK ON EVERYTHING AROUND YOU, just in case).  I can finally enjoy my growing mid section and the little being inside me!  Yippee!

Bet you didn't know, I heart drugs!

Explanation: Unfortunately, before I could enjoy officially being nausea free, I caught a terrible cold.  Let me just tell you, being sick and pregnant double sucks.  I didn't realize what a druggy I was, until I couldn't take any for my recent cold. After a weekend of sniffles and trouble breathing through both my nose and mouth, I reached out to my doctor who said I could take Benadryl.  It dried me up real nice, but made the insomnia I was experiencing worse (gave me a whole new meaning to Up All Night, practice? Maybe!), either way- NO BUENO.  Long story short, I'm better now and happy, happy, happy.  Unfortunately I missed this 'happy' feeling on my bday, but que sera sera, on to greener pastures, there's always next year!

Next up, Thanksgiving and the holidays, woohoo!  My favorite time of year.   

XO, 

S

P.S. Stay healthy!