Dumb Luck

...is sometimes the best kind!  I love when I literally stumble onto something!  Dont know how I missed this program option, I've had it all along--like 4 years.  But look what I can do.  I will need a 25th hour in my day to play with this some more.  Not all these photos are great--but the kids sure is.  Some are my new favs of little Berk but I am enjoying just knowing I put this together! 

slurpp!

Hurry!  Don't let my Mom see me!  I can hear him sucking this juice box as fast as he can.  And that is because I have usually been pretty cautious on what I give the kids.  And juice is limited to some degree.  What you don't see is this was his second box, with cupcakes to follow!  But it was Big Brother's birthday party and he was just so excited to be running with the big kids.  The baby of the family ALWAYS grows up so much faster...much to this Mommy's dismay.

Rock my world!

I read a post on one of my favorite blogs http://www.destinyinbloom.com/ yesterday.  The guest writer was talking about re-connecting on facebook with high school friends.  You could have pasted my name and picture at the bottom of her post!  It was so familiar.  I spent over 10 years basically hiding in the shadows from all those I went to school with.  Mostly because as she put it "I am not that girl any more!"  I am the one that grew up with you but I am so much more than I was back then.  And thank GOD!  I am still the same in some ways mind you, but I have conquered so much, found my place in my own life, my world--not the world, just my world.  And I love it. Check out their website.

Welcome to motherhood

4th Birthday

3rd Birthday


2nd Birthday

1st Birthday

Birthday!

Bradford, Brandon's grandmother's maiden name.

Max, my Father-in-law's middle name.

Bradford Max, my first born son.

He amazes me everyday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-i8aJ2Jhyw

Everyone gave us a hard time for not finding out what we were having. Then we kept our baby names a secret. The whole pregnancy was all about me. Brandon doted over me, took such wonderful care of me. It was the best pregnancy ever. He was the perfect husband and daddy-to-be. I LOVE surprises. We both do. And I also wanted Brandon to have that one moment where he could be the one to announce to everyone what we had. After 9 months, it was all about Brandon and what he was announcing. He was so excited about that! Watching this video makes me smile every time! As far as the baby's name, I think pregnant women should reserve the right to change their mind all the way to the last second! So don't monogram anything for me until the baby is here, in case I change my mind on the name. Like I did with Berkeley....while pushing, I switched to my beloved Berkeley...but that is a post for another time...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRADFORD MAX ARNOLD! You have made me a mommy!

Cooking out of the BOX

So for the first time in my adult life I am actually making a cake from a box! No, not from scratch with organic, whole wheat flour. I see you rolling your eyes at me. I hear your moaning and groaning from Bradford's first birthday party!
But remember I made up for it with the Celebrity jumbo petifores with fondant icing that next year. And last year we did Cupcake Cottage.
This year I decided to go back to making them myself!
After much blog-reading, web-searching and asking an older lady lots of questions on the cake aisle of Target, I did it! I made a damn boxed cake! It was not without much doctoring!
1. I used milk instead of water
2. I added an extra egg for a total of 4
3. I added a packet of vanilla instant pudding mix and 1t of pure vanilla extract
4. Real melted butter in place of the oil!
5. But I did make real butter cream frosting. I added some sour cream to it to cut the overly sweetness.

So all in all, my "Semi-Homemade" style cupcakes turned out pretty good! Of course the mess is worth just going back to Cupcake Cottage next year!

Tip Jukie

Dont forget about Tip Junkies 12 days of Giveaways! Starting Nov 9th! Check it out everyday and comment to be entered into a drawing for free stuff!!

Christmas Sanity

7 Weeks and counting....

How many of you stress about spending time with family during the holidays? (I can get that.) How many of stress about the gift giving, the "having" to shop for "just the right thing"? (I don't get that :)) How many of you stress about how much money you spend during the holidays? (Everyone gets that!!) How about keeping it positive this year. How about some Christmas Sanity with that Cheer!!

How??

Well start with remembering to:

1. Take a deep breathe and let it all out slowly! Find the joy in giving, leave the stress behind.

2. Make a list of who you have to buy for. Slim it down to the closest ones and make it personal!

3. Set a dollar amount you can live with! Get something that makes someone smile.

4. Be realistic about your time commitments. Make it about quality time this year, not quantity!

5. Remember that Christmas is about family. Cherish your time with those closest to you!

Attitude! That's what it is, so have the right one. Enjoy