Its Her Birthday!

Our beautiful baby girl turned 3 years old today.

I made her a Dora cake just like she asked and as you can see, she was pretty pleased!


It was the first time I have ever attempted such a task. The closest Wilton cake class is 1 1/2 hours away so I just winged it with a book. It tasted great and no one could tell it was vegan which is always a good thing. On the decorative scale... I think I could have done better. There is always next time I guess :). Oh and the holes in case you are wondering are from the candles ;).

I made her favorite meal for lunch (gnocchi with tomato sauce) and she was thrilled with all the gifts she received from family and friends. My little puzzle master has been playing with her new puzzles all day :).

I can't believe its been 3 years... Wow how time flies!

The Good Wife's Guide

This advice was featured in the 1955 issue of Housekeeping Monthly. We've come a long way since 1955!

My husband found the entire article extremely amusing. In fact he is still laughing as I type this :).

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

• Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

• Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

• Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

• Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.

• Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

• Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all the noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

• Be happy to see him.

• Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

• Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

• Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquillity where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

• Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

• Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

• Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

• Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

• A good wife always knows her place.

Quotable Sunday

The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence. ~ Dennis Waitely

Remarkable

There is so much talent in this world. I admire people who are able to move you, speak to you and sing with their art, with their creativity. This performance from Kseniya Simonova is no exception.

Wordless Wednesday

Birthdays & Teething

Days are running away on me. I can't believe its the end of September! Our little girl turns 3 years old next week! Hiding her presents has proven to be quite the feat as her little eyes don't miss a thing.

A is now working on her 4th tooth and isn't too happy about it either. The poor babe is up most of the night and is velcroed to me most of the day. There are lots of cuddles and hugs being passed around.

This teething business is awfully strange. Both of our girls had all four teeth break through in a matter of 2-3 weeks! I wish it was a bit more gradual so it wouldn't be as painful for them.

Another strange thing happened, I lost complete track of time and thought we were going away this weekend. Turns out its next weekend! I'd like to blame it on mommy-brain but unfortunately its due to lack of an agenda - which I should be getting any day now Hallelujah!

Quotable Sunday

A competent and self-confident person is incapable of jealousy in anything. Jealousy is invariably a symptom of neurotic insecurity.” ~ Robert A. Heinlein

New Stuff

Not much time to update these days. Things have been nuts around here!

Also, I've been writing reviews for Celebrity Baby Scoop for awhile now and just recently signed on as an Editor. If you are interested in children's products or Celebrity Baby News check them out!

Wordless Wednesday

She loves peaches!

Peach pie & 'nothin else

Sometimes what matters the most is the quality time we spend with our kids. As stay at home moms we are always there for our children but how much of that time is spend giving our full attention?

Owning a business from home comes with many advantages however it also has its disadvantages at times. There is always something to do with never enough time to finish it all. Today I had dishes to wash, laundry to tend to, clothes to fold, toys to pick up, emails to write and articles to post. One thing led to another and then it was breakfast time, then lunch, then the oh so blessed nap time. As my girls are light sleepers, nothing ended up happening during their afternoon siesta.

After waking up refreshed and raring to go, we decided that we would embark on a culinary adventure and make some peach pie. We pulled out our bowls and measured the ingredients. I peeled and chopped the peaches and my three year old placed them into the jumbo measuring cup. I ended up going through more peaches then I had anticipated with the little mouths taking "test bites" along the way.

The pie making adventure lasted a total of 2 hours to prepare (a feat that usually takes me 30 minutes). Sticky, sweet peach juice ended up all over the tablecloth, chairs and clothing and slicked back the little bit of hair on my 8 month old daughter's head! But ah, what fun we had! Photos were snapped with my girls making funny faces, Queen of Hearts Tarts were made with the leftover bits of pie crust and the joy and pride on our 3 year old's face as she rolled the dough out was priceless. All in all it was a wonderful experience even though the entire adventure ended up taking a toll on my dining, living and kitchen area.

The laundry still awaits, the dishes are not finished and my list of chores is still a mile long but in my heart I feel more accomplished then if I would have completing those tasks. I had a beautiful afternoon with my daughters making peach pie and that in itself was the most rewarding task I could have ever completed.

Quotable Sunday

"A person's maturity consists in having found again the seriousness one had as a child, at play". ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Lovely, gorgeous boots

With fall just around the corner, my boot obsession begins. Yet again.

Now the question is whether I will have the will power to resist such gorgeousness.

Update

A has been teething incessantly over the last couple of weeks. There are no tears, no crying just wide eyes and sleepless nights. Instead of going to bed she chooses to walk around the table (did I mention she's been cruising along furniture for the last 3 weeks?), chew toys and yell at the top of her lungs while her big sister sleeps. How fun!
I think she is trying to win "Eater of the year" award as her nursing has increased drastically.

C is growing before our very eyes. Its incredible really. She's gone up an entire shoe size in 3 months! Her vocabulary is increasing rapidly and she is becoming quite opinionated. Wonder where she gets that from ;).

The weather is a huge improvement from what it has been. Warm, sunny and just pleasant overall. We've planned a little vacation for the beginning of October which we are all looking forward to. It is needed in more ways than one!

Wordless Wednesday

Quotable Sunday

There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm" ~ Willa Silbert Cather (winner of the Pulitzer Prize, 1873-1947)

Wings and a conquered fear

We went to the park and a remarkable thing happened.
C got over her fear of swings!
"Mama, I love wings! They are so so much fun!" she said.

She had such a good time with her sister

And her Daddy
And her Mama

It does feel like wings in a way though doesn't it? Flying high up into the clouds.

Wordless Wednesday

September 1

When God created you he threw away the mold baby ;). I wish I had your patience and your strength. You inspire me everyday to become a better human being.

Happy Birthday! I love you so very much.