How Much Can I Put in ONE Post?

Starting out with my confessions for the week:

~I already wrote about this, but I thought I'd put it here. We had a potluck at church on Sunday. I took a Stouffer's lasagna I had in the freezer. I felt guilty I didn't cook something. But the two of us could never eat a whole lasagna.

~I bought a foot soak on clearance at Target a few weeks ago. I wanted to give it a try. You put some in a small container of water to soak your feet. This is what we came up with....

Yes- that is Gus's duck bathtub. And yes, my husband and I did it together. We were having a family "spa" moment. Gus was quite confused because he couldn't get in his duck....

~My floor has been disgusting for almost two weeks, and I finally mopped it today. I didn't want to mop it while we had our dog visitor because it would just get dirty really fast....

~There were some piles of clothes in our bathroom that got mixed up - some clean and some dirty. Josh asked, "Are you smelling my pants to see if they are clean?" as I was smelling them. And yes they were clean. However, my pants were dirty...I really need to fold clothes today!

Enough of that!

Things Making Me Smile (What I'm loving):

1) Gus talking, all the time- I know it won't be long before we are having conversations, I can't wait!

2) Gus walking- yes, I said walking! He took 5 steps on Monday (of course while I was gone) and then 3 steps yesterday! I can't believe my little boy is that big.

3)My husband cleaned up my kitchen for me while I was gone on Monday- I REALLY appreciated it!

4)Gus and I made a trip to Hobby Lobby yesterday. I have several craft projects we are going to do, but for now they are a surprise :)

5) I made homemade baked mozzarella sticks last night! I looked at several recipes, and this is what I ended up doing:

Baked Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella Sticks, cut in half
3 eggs, beaten
Flour
Panko
Italian Seasoning
Salt
Marinara Sauce

I put the Mozzarella sticks in the freezer for several hours. I then took them out and cut them in half. I rolled them in flour first. I then dipped them in the egg. Next I dipped them in a mixture of Panko, Italian seasoning (about a teaspoon), and a few dashes of salt. I dipped them back in the egg and again in the Panko mix and placed them on a cookie sheet. If I had room in my freezer, I might have put them back in there for a few minutes to harden the breading a little bit.

I then baked them at 425 for about 10 minutes. The panko wasn't brown yet, so I turned on the broiler just long enough to brown the sticks.

They tasted really good! You could make these ahead of time and just put them in the fridge or freezer. This was an easy appetizer!

6) I just got my floor mopped. It had been dirty for a while. The house now smells fresh and I can relax!

7) I have finished putting all of Gus's pictures up until now into photo books to order. Now I only am waiting for a good sale. I am glad I will have his first year documented well. Hopefully I can keep it up!

8) My feet are warm inside my soft Ugg house shoes my mom got me for Christmas- so comfy!
9)I'm still really enjoying having my nails painted, although I need to redo them right now. I think I'm going to keep painting them for a while!

10) I'm thankful to have a husband that loves our little boy so much! Just this morning, Josh looked at me and said, "I love our little boy." Gus is so blessed to have such a great daddy.

On to Pinterest:

Source: allthingslovelyblog.com via Catie on Pinterest

I saw these French Dip Sandwiches and they look easy and yummy, I want to try!

Source: pixelatedcrumb.com via Catie on Pinterest

These would probably be dangerous for me to make!

Source: foodformyfamily.com via Catie on Pinterest

Homemade chips and Avocado Ranch dip- honestly- what could be better???

Happy Wednesday!! Is it really February already??

Catch-up

The last few days have been pretty busy at our house! Josh worked Saturday, and then we had some friends over on Saturday night. Sunday after church there was a potluck and then we had a birthday party to go to. I felt a little guilty because I took a Stouffer's lasagna to the potluck and didn't actually cook something..... We had it in the freezer, and there was no way we could eat the whole thing ourselves. There you go- I confessed :)

I did make a recipe I wanted to share with you- Beef Stroganoff Sandwiches. These are really easy. I didn't follow a recipe exactly, but this is what I did:

Beef Stroganoff Sandwich

French Bread Loaf
~ 1 lb ground beef
oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
garlic powder
1 cup sour cream
Shredded cheddar cheese

Saute onions in some oil in a skillet until starting to soften. Add beef and cook until done. Add some garlic powder (~1 tsp). Stir in sour cream and cook until warm.

Cut loaf of bread in half, and then into very large pieces- see picture. Pull out a little of the inside to make room for the filling. Put meat on top of bread, and then top with cheese. Bake at 350 until cheese is well melted ~ 15-20 minutes. So Yummy!

On Sunday I made some biscuits. I bought a heart shaped cookie cutter the other day, so I decided to use it for these. You could use this as an idea for breakfast on Valentine's day! Gus liked the biscuits too.

We have had so much fun letting Gus try new foods. One shock was that he really liked semisweet chocolate- as you can see from this picture:
Gus and I took Sophie (my sister's dog) back to her yesterday. We ate lunch with my grandparents and sister and her husband (not pictured)
After we got home, I had to go to a meeting at church. After all these activities, we are tired! Today I will be catching up around the house, and Gus will be catching up on napping!

Questions and Tagging!

Beth Ann @ My Life More Abundant tagged me to answer some questions and I thought they would be fun to answer!

1. What is your favorite thing about yourself? Wow- this is a hard question. I think it is that I strive each day to serve the Lord by serving my husband and son. They are my priorities.

2. You're at Starbucks. What do you order? Usually a hazelnut latte. During the holidays, pumpkin spice latte. In the summer- mocha frappuccino although I try not too much anymore after I read how many calories are in one!

3. Favorite place to shop for yourself? I didn't think this would be hard to answer but it is! I really like shopping at NorthPark Mall in Dallas, does that count?? I can't think of one store. I have a hard time finding clothes.

4. What was the last book you read? I'm currently reading Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush.

5. Have you ever met a "blogging friend" in real life? No I haven't. I think it would be fun to!

6. Favorite food? Chips and dip or cheese fries

7. Do you have a motto or favorite quote/saying? If so, share. I am going to put several on here! I don't have one specifically that is my favorite.
"It isn't what we say or think that defines us, but what we do. " Jane Austen
"There's nothing like staying at home for real comfort." Jane Austen
"You know my name, not my story. You've heard what I've done, but not what I've been through."

8. Why do you blog? It started as a way to document being pregnant with my little boy Gus. Now I enjoy talking about all different parts of my life- cooking, housework, etc. It has become a really fun hobby!

9. Favorite vacation spot? I enjoy going to the mountains in New Mexico or Colorado. I loved visiting Hawaii and would like to go back some day.

10. Dream that you have yet to fulfill? Not really. My only real dream was always to be a wife and mom. I am so blessed to be able to be doing that. The only thing I would probably add would be some more children.

11. Favorite room in your house? I spend most of my time in our kitchen/living room. I don't know if I really have a favorite room.

Now, I am going to make some questions and tag a few of you!
1. What do you order to drink at Sonic?
2. What is your favorite movie?
3. What is your favorite color?
4. If you could have any animal for a pet, what would it be?
5. What is your favorite flower?
6. If you could go anywhere, where would it be and who would you go with?

I am tagging:
Randi @ Weigle, Inc.
Lea @ CiCi's Corner
Ashley @ Mommy... A work in Progress

Enjoy!

Baked Taquitos

I saw this on Pinterest last weekend and wanted to try it:

Source: thesisterscafe.com via Catie on Pinterest

These baked taquitos looked so good!! I get taquitos often from our Mexican food restaurant, but these looked to be healthier. So, last night I gave them a try. They turned out really good! I had the chicken cooked ahead of time, so it didn't take long to put them together. I made some with flour and some with corn tortillas. I liked the flour, but Josh liked the corn. I made 3 dips to go with them them:
Guacamole
Ranch Jalapeno Dip- so yummy and creamy- we dipped our taquitos in this
Chili's Salsa- we ate our chips with this salsa and I always try to keep some in the fridge
I think good dips can make nearly anything taste good. I will definitely be making this recipe again. For a quick link to it- click HERE. I wish I had a picture of ours, but it always seems to be a little crazy around dinner time. Mine looked just like this picture. This is something different and fun you can try!! Happy Cooking!

Experiments and Favs

I have really enjoyed getting new ideas for all kinds of stuff from Pinterest. You have probably seen this pin going around:

Source: askannamoseley.com via Catie on Pinterest

It tells how to clean your washing machine. Yesterday I decided to try it. Here is my before picture:

And here is my after picture:

You may have noticed I just showed the inside of the washer in the first picture. This is because around the sides was really gross. After I did the wash with vinegar, I really had to scrub everything. It makes me wonder if the vinegar and bleach washes it that much, or if it mostly has to do with me scrubbing! It looks so much nicer though. I think the inside is probably a lot cleaner too, I just can't tell.

I didn't end up cooking dinner last night, but I did try a new recipe from Pinterest for breakfast:

Source: happyhomemaker.me via Catie on Pinterest

These are cranberry orange muffins. Here are what mine looked like: I thought they tasted good, although the cranberries were a little tart. I used fresh ones. If you have ever cooked with cranberries, they are a little hard to cut up. So- I put them in my chopper- it is so much easier! These muffins were easy to make. I sent the rest of them with Josh to work, so I will find out later if they liked them.

I am working on giving Gus more "real" food. He enjoyed some whole wheat bread yesterday for the first time. This morning I gave him apple cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast and he liked it. He really wants to eat "real" food, it is fun. We are still working on trying to get him to figure out how to use a sippy cup. I have also bought the kind with a straw, and we are trying with that too.

My favorite things this week:

1) Gus has been learning so many new things. His new favorite game: I sit on the floor and he stands on my backside. I say, "Where is Gus?" And then I turn around and get to see the biggest smile on my little man's face. It makes my day.

2) Meeting my sister's new sweetie- Sophie. She has puppy breath- who can resist that??

3) Spending Monday with Josh since he was off, anytime I spend with him is always wonderful.

4) My new purple nail polish. Wow- I would never have thought I would be wearing a dark nail polish like this. But it has been really fun. I may start painting my nails all the time :)

Soup, Sophie, and Clapping

This week has been a little crazy at our house! Josh was off Monday, so we stayed at my grandparents until late Monday. There had been a bad dust storm Sunday- this is how I knew:

That dirt just came in the cracks of our back door- really gross!!

Wednesday Gus and I went to pick up my sister's dog- Sophie- who we are dogsitting until Monday. Sophie is a bull mastiff puppy- yes- she is a puppy and huge! She is really sweet. Gus likes her, they played together a little yesterday.

Sophie made herself at home in the laundry room:
I wanted to share a recipe with you today. I found it on Pinterest and talked about it a few weeks ago, but it is so easy I want to put it on here. And, it tastes AMAZING!!!

Tomato Basil Soup
(recipe adapted from HERE)

1 can of crushed tomatoes
2 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 cup of cream
1 stick of butter
Salt and pepper

Simmer the tomatoes on the stove for 30 minutes. Put into a blender and blend with basil. Put back in pan on the stove and add cream and butter. Cook until butter is melted and soup is warm. Add salt and pepper to taste.

This soup is amazing!!!

Here is a video of Gus standing and clapping- ignore my annoying voice please!!!

I'm trying a recipe from Pinterest for dinner, I'll let you know how it turns out!

Confessions and Weekly Pinterest

This weeks confessions:

~I really just can not resist eating chips, especially potato chips. Tuesday I skipped lunch, but then sat down to watch a little tv while Gus napped and ate chips and some salsa I made last week. It tasted so good..... I'm going to regret it when I get on the scale tomorrow.

~I should be picking up my house right now, but I'd rather be on my computer..

~I am really sucked into Downton Abbey. Back when I was single and lived alone, I would get really into a movie or series. For example, I love Jane Austen movies, and I would watch them all the time. Then I would listen to the soundtracks. And then I would be researching quotes... You get the picture. I am thinking about buying the soundtrack to Downton season 1. The haunting melody is amazing.

~Josh and I went to the symphony last Saturday night. The music was really beautiful. I played the violin for 8 years and the piano for 13. I majored in music my freshman year of college. I injured my wrist, and I rarely play anymore- mostly because we don't have a piano right now. When I hear a really good piece of music, I miss my music days. I love to play the piano. I know one day I will play a lot again.

~On a similar note, growing up my life centered around music. I took violin and piano lessons. I played the piano at church. I was in choirs. I played in several orchestras. And now- I only serenade Gus sometimes. I want Gus to have the same appreciate for music that Josh and I have. It is an invaluable gift.

~This morning, I spent a long time in the car driving. The radio stations I usually listen to were playing commercials or songs I didn't like. So, I ended up listening to the BBC for an hour. I felt so old, when did I become an adult?



Now, some ideas I have from Pinterest:

Source: fullofgreatideas.blogspot.com via Catie on Pinterest

I think installing frames around the mirrors in both our bathrooms would add so much!

Source: lifeinthegreenhouse.com via Catie on Pinterest

I am going to try this shells and chicken recipe this week. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Source: thesisterscafe.com via Catie on Pinterest

I can't wait to try these baked taquitos! They will be so much healthier than fried ones.

Source: theidearoom.net via Catie on Pinterest

I want to try these for Valentine's day. I have other ideas for Valentine's but I want to keep them a surprise :)

Source: spirituallythinking.blogspot.com via Catie on Pinterest

Source: imgfave.com via Catie on Pinterest

I believe this is true. Beauty comes from within- the light in your eyes...

We will be having an interesting few days at our house. I am dogsitting my sister's new dog. I will have pictures soon- she is really cute.

"You're not a bad mom"

We had a rough weekend with Gus as far as napping and sleeping at night goes. We went to visit my grandparents for two nights. The day we were leaving started out with Gus not wanting to take his morning nap at the normal time. That night Josh and I went out and Gus stayed with my grandparents. When we got home we found out he had fought to go to sleep. He then woke up around 3 am. I got up and lay him down, and he proceeded to start crying every 10 minutes after I put him down. I was exhausted, and each time he started crying I had almost fallen back asleep. After an hour, I finally told Josh so he could put him back down. By that time, Gus was screaming. Josh decided to feed him because that seemed the only solution. I went back to bed and cried. Why will Gus not sleep through the night??? Yes, he has done it a few times, but he is over 10 months old. So many people I know and read about have babies that sleep 10-12 hours at night.... What am I doing wrong???

After Josh fed Gus, Gus went to sleep. Josh came back to bed and held my hand. I just started crying. Then he said, "It's ok to be frustrated. It doesn't make you a bad mom." That was what I needed to hear. I wasn't mad at Gus. I was just frustrated, exhausted, and out of ideas.

The next night was a little better but not much.

We came home yesterday, and guess what..... Gus slept until 6 am. I was shocked. It made me never want to leave the house over night again (not really!!). I don't want to be one of those people who can't do things because her children are on such a strict schedule.

Anyways, life goes one. My job right now is to serve and take care of Josh and Gus. And for this time, that may be getting up multiple times during the night to get Gus back to sleep.

I am thankful for my sweet husband who helps me and tells me I am not a bad mom.

I am blessed everyday by my sweet little boy. And even if I have to get up with him for several more years, he is worth it..

I am so blessed, I am reminded of it everyday. This post is not meant to be complaining. It is me being honest. I have tough days, and I get frustrated. But I always know- I am blessed.

Gus- Don't ever grow up :)

This post will be short and sweet- I have a lot to do today!

I just wanted to put up a couple of things about my little man. Isn't he cute?!? We went to baby Gap a few weeks ago, and they had some really cute stuff I got for Gus, including this onesy. We get most of his clothes at Target, but I couldn't resist...
Next I have a few videos. This first one is him walking and pushing his cart around the house. This is his favorite thing now. He walks from one end of the house to the other.



This one may be a little harder to see. Gus has a face he makes when he is faking that he is upset. He squints his eyes. Lately he has started imitating us when we do it to him. That's what he is doing here:


I'm trying to capture all these little cute things he is doing, or I know I will forget!! He finally has started making the clapping motion! But, he still holds one of his hands in a fist when he does it. We will keep working on it.

When I think of this song, it makes me cry. I never want to forget the precious moments:

"Your little hands wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up
It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
No, no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up" ~Taylor Swift

Looking back and Likes

What was I doing a year ago?? What about two years ago??

Two years ago- I was on my honeymoon :)

Josh and I went to Colorado Springs for our honeymoon and stayed at an amazing hotel called the Cliff House.

Last year, I was VERY pregnant with Gus. Here is a picture very close to a year ago:
I was so swollen the last few months of pregnancy. I was so ready for Gus to be here. But I would do it all over again in a second- Gus was worth every pain and strain.

I have had a lot of fun on Pinterest this week finding ideas for crafts and Gus's birthday. I found this one this morning- covering switch covers with scrapbook paper- so cute!

Source: housewivesofriverton.blogspot.com via Catie on Pinterest

As I said yesterday, I was planning on cleaning out my freezer, and I did it! I always enjoy checking off tasks in my planner. Here is before:

And after:
I also cleaned the fridge, and even took out several of the shelves and scrubbed them. So far cleaning is off to a good start this year!

My favorite things this week were:

~These beautiful flowers that were delivered on Monday for my anniversary from my sweet husband:
~I painted my nails this week. I never paint my nails, and if I do it is usually clear. I have had fun with them painted, maybe I'll do it more often:
~Yesterday it was in the 60's outside! I opened our windows, and Gus and I spent some time outside. I let him play on the back porch and we went for a walk around the neighborhood. The sun felt wonderful. I am really looking forward to when Gus can play outside. He had a lot of fun yesterday and wasn't too happy when we went inside. It is going to be warm today too. I have on a short-sleeved shirt- wow my arms are so pale....

~Gus only woke up ONCE last night- yay!!!!

~Last night Josh picked up Mexican food for dinner on his way home. It was SO good. And I didn't have to clean up the kitchen- big plus!

I hope y'all have a great friday! Also- I made a facebook page for my blog- if you like to follow blogs that way. There's a button on the top right side!