Sunday Picnic

This past week I injured my back trying to work out and trying to get back into pre-pregnancy shape. Down 34lbs already...woo hoo!

I decided to take this weekend off and simply relax and enjoy some family time. Sunday EM and I planned for a picnic at this great state park that is not far from where we live. So we headed to whole foods to pick up some yummies...every picnic needs tiramisu! 

I had never been to this park before, though EM was CONVINCED that he had brought me once before...I would love to know which past girlfriend he is really thinking of...hmm...

Well I didnt really know what to except and it really blew me away. We discovered this cute little beach that I think we will start taking S to this summer. The water is calmer than at the ocean front and it seems like a quaint little spot for our family to enjoy the sun.

I am slowly starting to look forward to this summer and living at the beach, something that hasnt happened since we moved her after getting married. I guess every location has its ups and downs...I'm just now seeing the ups. :)

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Keilbasa Dinner

A few weeks ago, I was in need of a recipe and a mom in the moms Facebook group I'm in suggested one that was super easy and super yummy! It has very few ingredients.

1. Butter

2. Hillshire farm smoked kielbasa 

3. Green cabbage (the waxy kind)

4. Canned tomatoes. 

Salt and pepper

I cut up the kielbasa into coin sized rounds then place them into a heated skillet. No oil no butter. Just let them brown. Move them around occasionally so they don't burn. 

In another (bigger) pan, I melt 2-3 tbs of butter. The butter amount all depends on how much cabbage you use, you can always add more butter. Use as much cabbage as you see fit. Enough to feed your family, cut it into thin (not too thin) strips. I let it sweat until it is translucentish. 

Once the kielbasa is ready I simply poor it all ontop of the cabbage, grease and all. 

Then open a can of diced tomatoes and poor it all into the pan and mix it all together. 

Salt, pepper, allow the tomato juice to simmer and reduce down a bit. 

Serve and enjoy!

Even EM who has a pickier pallet than I enjoys this dish. He actually buys the ingredients himself so I can make it. Heck he even gets seconds and thirds. Not to mention, this is a super quick dish to throw together...it's perfect for a quick fix!

So give it a try and let me know what you think!


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Baby Bits

Rain rain rain....so much rain! It has been pouring here for hours, so today has turned into a lazy day.

Laundry is done and the house is tidied up. S is currently napping in his swing, so I took advantage and took some pictures of me sweet little love. 

I love his little hands. My new goal is to get a picture of all his cute bits. His little hands and feet and his nose. So we never forget just how precious he was, not that we ever will. 

Well le petit prince just awoke from his slumber, and he is deciding to exercise his lungs...LOL sweet thing.

But I will be back later this afternoon with a really simple and yummy recipe that EM just loves! 

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Mary Undoer of Knots

For all you faith filled mamas: tomorrow starts the Novena to Mary Undoer of Knots. This is a great novena to pray for a special intention in your life. Join me in saying it, simply sign up for email updates at the link below and you will get daily reminders :) simple as that.

Pray More Novenas

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Simplify My Life

I am so beyond excited that Emily Ley has unveiled the NEW Simplified Planners!

How AMAZING are these?! I have been trying for years to better organize my life, and now that I'm not only a wife but a mama, I have to get things in order. I am blessed enough to be able to stay home with my little love, but that doesn't mean I get to sit around and eat bonbons... although a bonbon does sound really good right now! yum!
The only way a creative (doesn't that sound better than unorganized) person like myself can do it all without losing my mind is to simplify it all! Emily Ley's new planners, and soon to come, Home Base Binder will do JUST that!
I have already made my "I need this before Christmas, Christmas List" for EM to enjoy :) Luckily he is a bit type A when it comes to organization so I have that in my favor. Check out her blog (I linked it above) for the release date and for many more great finds!


On a not so wonderful note, today I am slammed with laundry to fold, as we just went to storage and brought out all the summer and pre-pregnancy clothes, which will be interesting to go through, as I probably don't fit into the majority of things.
EM and I have started going back to the gym, now that S can stay in the daycare they provide. I don't know why it is so hard for me to get back into the groove of working out though. I love the gym! I love getting into shape and feeling good about my body, yet when it has been a while, I am VERY good about making an excuse as to why we should go ... tomorrow. Why is procrastination so easy? Or is it more a sense of laziness...that is a horrible thing!

THINGS I NEED TO WORK ON

Organization

Procrastination/Laziness

Mastering the laundry monster

Maybe I should add, "completing the lists I make"...Well off to laundry land.

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My First Mother's Day

Before I dive into how great my little family is, and believe me I will; I want to start off by saying that I completely revamped the look of my blog. I am so excited to introduce this new layout. It has taken a lot of time and effort. Many, many an hour googling! Teaching yourself html is no easy feat! I also wanted to give a shout out to Natalie from The Busy Budgeting Mama.com, her post on how to make a killer blog was a huge help! Check her out ya'll! She is amazing!

Now to my wonderful first Mother's Day! I must admit, I wasn't really excited about Mother's Day. Growing up in an Italian household, where the holiday consists of a mere card and "happy mother's day", I didn't know what to expect.
The day started by waking up next to my little love snuggling between EM and I, he's partial to our memory foam mattress. That alone started the day off right! EM brought me my gift in bed before heading upstairs to make us brunch. Yumm :)

He gave me the most thoughtful gift, something I would have never thought of! He framed our son's feet print from the hospital.

Look how big they were! He might only be 6 weeks old now but he is one chunky monkey! After an amazing brunch and taking my time to get ready for the day...yes that doesn't seem like anything special, but when your showers turn into lightening speed hop in hop outs, taking your sweet time is HUGE!

We then headed to a late lunch; our life might revolve around food. LOL. 

While I was pregnant I was really put off by the thought of eating seafood. Well, when you live at the beach it makes eating out difficult. So we headed to Bubba's, our favorite seafood restaurant for some crab legs and mimosas! This place has the best view on the water! Sitting on the back deck and watching the boats go by.

Little love was such a great little boy, having slept the entire time we were at lunch. My mother-in-law is convinced he is not a real baby. Yes, he is wonderful, I know. :)

I am so blessed to have been able to spend a low-key day with EM and little love! EM was worried it wasn't enough, but just spending time with these two is all I could ever ask for. 

This little guy is the reason I get to celebrate this wonderful day. He has quickly made our lives so incredibly special and so full of meaning. Our hearts overflow daily with the love we have for him that sometimes I don't know how we can handle it!

OK, now no more procrastinating, time to straighten up the house while little love continues to nap. Fingers crossed I can get it all done before he wakes up.

XOMB

My apologies

Sorry for the state of things currently restructuring ye ole blog. Hope you like the coming changes :) 

Little Details

now S is 5 weeks old and he is finally taking longer naps. Praise the Lord!

well in that time today i have found time to catch up on the things i have needed to get done and have sadly procrastinated. thank you notes! very important and yet i have been a bit slow on writing to people. 

yesterday i popped by tjmaxx/homegoods and found the cutest cards. 

i absolutely LOVE paper goods and find that they can really just be a special touch that can make the recipient smile...who doesnt love getting a card in the mail?! i know i internally squeal with joy LOL

marshalls, tjmaxx and homegoods are really great places for finding cute and inexpensive stationary items. go take a look and let me know what goodies you come back with!

XOMB

Check It Out

derby day

check out -- FUN TIMES!

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God's Love

it is amazing how God works through each and every one of us and in truly mysterious ways.

recently I joined a facebook group for catholic mamas and it has been such a blessing. not being from this town and not having had any real opportunity to make friends, it has been hard for me this past year. having found this group of strong faith filled women, in whom I find so much in common, has helped me tremendously. having found sisters in Christ that I can talk to and ask for advice or simply vent my stresses to, has become the greatest gift. 

though they are scattered all over, this group of women has already helped me in such a great way. 

through prayer. 

prayer is such a great tool. one that will help you get through whatever difficulties and challenges your life throws at you. 

no it is not a magic wand, and often times your prayers are not answered, yet the peace you receive from the praying act can often times be enough to help. 

currently I have felt that peace to be ever so present. I have been praying for quite some time for a special intention. EM has been very stressed and through prayer, though the situation is not fully remedied, I have seen a positive change. God is good and never wants to see His children stumble. even if you have to learn to crawl before you can run. 

life truly is a roller coaster. whether a scary one with a lot of loops or a gradual one with many ups and downs, it is a ride to enjoy. the loops and downs are not always the greatest but they make us who we are. and though we are currently in a loop I'm loving the good times from within. 

.....

on a side note: we are still camping out in the living room. the workers should be coming back today, and hopefully EM will be able to be here when they arrive. a bunch of strange men walking around (though they seemed nice), while I try to take care of S makes me a bit anxious. 

like our set up? I think S was looking at angels. he always starts to smile when he looks up at the skylights. :) mama's sweet sweet boy.

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When It Rains It Pours

this is been quite the week! they say when it rains it pours, well it poured! friday I headed downstairs to go grab the ergobaby (try and calm little love down) and out of the corner of my eye I noticed a spot on the ceiling. it was soaked! I called EM and he poked, yes poked it was that wet!, a hole into the ceiling and 5 inches worth of water came flowing out.

look at that giant wet spot!

so now our current adventure is sleeping on the living room floor. a camping adventure for our little family. 

S has been truly wonderful! it's as though he knows mama is tired. the first night he slept 7 hours straight! such a proud mama! 

speaking of little love, we had his one month check up and we have one big boy on our hands! 

12 lb 6 oz of lovin'! this boy makes me so happy I can't believe I was blessed with such a wonderful baby! 

God is so good!

XOMB