My New Fav Dish!!!

This baby has been really funny about what he/she wants me to eat J Once I find a meal I like this child loves for me to eat it until my whole family is sick of the same meal ha! So recently I have been craving Olive Garden's Steak Gorgonzola-Alfredo but my husband will not pay $15.50 a plate every time I am craving it so I decided to try and make it myself. So here is how I make it, you will have to do the portions for your family.

I start out with thin steaks (but whatever size you choose will works this is just a very filling meal) so that I can cut them into thin strips and soak them in balsamic vinegar for about 30 minutes (this replaces their glaze since I don't know how to make it). While cooking the steaks I also saute some spinach with it and set it aside. I also cook my angel hair pasta according to how much my family will eat, then I heat up the alfredo sauce (I use Bertolli's its the best I have found for this) throw in a bunch of gorgonzola cheese (the more the better for me), as well as a few finely chopped up sun-dried tomatoes. I then mix this with the pasta and top it with the steak and spinach last. Sorry I don't have a picture of what it looks like, it normally gets all eaten up before I can get one, my family loves it! Try it out let me know what you think :)

Bon appetit friends!

I'm Sorry....

For the past few weeks I have been meaning to write about how peaceful my house has been lately. We had a relatively painless move, the boys were learning to play so great together, and they were listening when I asked them to do things pretty much the first time, my life felt almost perfect. Then last week hit and something just happened with my whole family. Now my days are filled with "stop fighting", "give that back to him", "go to bed! quit playing!", you get the picture. Some days I don't know how I am going to make it being a momma to boys. There are so many things I don't get about them like the constant wrestling, having to always win (OK I get that one a little), and I especially do not understand sibling rivalry.

I feel like my days are filled with constant frustration on my part and even more repeating what I have said more times than I care. When I ask the boys why they don't listen the first time all I get are shrugs of the shoulders or I don't know. I have tried to be as patient as I can be, showing grace as much as I can, and taking a step back with my attitude. Then today happened, and it seems like all my hard work got shot to hell.

I know that I should not feel guilty when my kids make the wrong choice and I have to discipline them. But when those doe eyes are looking up at you filled with tears and I take a step back to see if the punishment is fitting to the crime and then to realize I have been more harsh than I should be guilt floods me. I end up having a worse day than my kids who have already forgotten what they did and being yelled at or spanked.

I know that I am not a perfect mom, wife, or person and that no one expects me to be. But I want to be the best mom my kids can have. I want them to know that I love them more than I love my own life and I have nothing but their best interest at heart. I want them to feel so secure when they are with me knowing that no matter what I will stick up for them through thick and thin and love them regardless of what they do wrong or right. And so because I want all of these things I am not afraid to tell my kids I'm sorry. I can sit them down and tell them that mommy shouldn't have been as upset as I was and to ask for them to forgive me. I make sure we all hug as much as possible each day even when we fight with each other and that we always tell each other how much we love each other. I'm not perfect and neither are my kids but we all love each other so much, and letting my kids know that I am not the perfect person will help them grow up to be more forgiving of others when bad things come their way.

32 weeks....

I have absolutely hit a wall in this pregnancy this week. Most of the time I don't feel like I know how I am going to make it til my husband gets home and can help out with the boys. There are so many things I feel like I need to do, so much guilt I feel because of the things I am unable to do with my boys. Being outside is pretty much off limits because it is way too hot and I am already swollen enough. Asher and Soren have probably watched too much spiderman, superman, and Popeye to fill a lifetime.

My to do list for this child inside me includes:

• getting the hubs to paint all the trim in the nursery
• decorating the walls
• sewing curtains, a bed skirt, and bumper
• washing the clothes (holy cow I just remembered that one)
• finishing the blanket I am knitting
• cleaning the glider
• packing my bags for the hospital
• aahh geez what am I forgetting

At least tonight I got to meet my doula. That's right friends, I am trying to go all natural! I have felt pretty strongly about having a natural labor since I had Soren. But meeting her was great, she seemed so caring and open to what was important to me which is what I need. This is a new adventure for me, I am so nervous and excited, and scared, and overwhelmed about a new child, labor, and life with three kids.

I can't wait to meet this little person inside of me. This baby has been the busiest one so far, always moving. I don't think he/she ever sleeps, not something that is helping my exhaustion at this point :) And so on that note I am going to go to bed, I am about to fall asleep typing.

Until next week friends!

Shower Time!

I got to help plan a bridal shower this past week for a dear friend whose wedding I am in.  I was so excited to get to do the decorations and my mind was so full of ideas.  My first stop was to a thrift store called Value Village for some random pieces of china, old candlestick holders, old candy dishes, and some fun glasses to start with my projects.

I love these plates!

I started out piecing the plates together finding fun combinations before gluing them, here is what I came up with.

The bride is from New York but loves everything southern, so my inspiration for this party went from there. After scouring the Internet for days I found enough ideas to have a great party. I wanted to keep it as simple as I could so that the little details made a big difference. I used an old pitcher and a bath salts jar to take the place of vases for the flowers. Old lace curtains with bright color sheets under them became our tablecloths, and old mason jars were our choice for drinking cups.

I wanted to make the jars look cute and personal and I found great printouts on Martha Stewart's wedding website to add a special touch. I glued them on to a doily and used twine around the back to add a little southern flare. I also used Martha's website to get the letter printouts for their banner. I then glued the letters to scrapbook paper and hung it all up on twine with mini clothes pins.

We set up all the food on their bar, and instead of using a tablecloth and trying to fold it up to fit the bar I used my old women's handkercheifs (they are for a quilt I want to make) and placed a different color under each plate. We had lots of great southern food which included fried macaroni and pimento cheese bites, chicken salad sandwiches, mini ham and cheese sandwiches, a cheese platter, veggies, fruits, enchilda dip, buffalo dip, and all the desserts you can imagine. For our drinks we offered sweet tea and a fun party punch.



The groom to be.



We had a great time planning, decorating, eating, and celebrating with the bride-to-be. This is going to be one wedding I won't forget, even if I am as big as a house in a bride's maid dress.

The bride to be and all of her presents!

New York I Love You!

I love NYC! I lived there for almost 2 years and had the time of my life. A few weeks ago I had a great new friend move there and I jumped at the opportunity to go visit her with some other great friends :) So after a very tearful see you soon to my hot husband and my sweet boys I boarded a plane for a girls weekendish adventure. After a not so fun flight for me (I always fly with meds and didn't get to this time) we finally made it! A quick drop off of our bags and off to Coney Island we go to eat some yummy Russian food. 

After feeling our stomachs full we headed back to Brooklyn to get a good night sleep. And of course when I am on a vacation with lots of places to go I get up as soon as possible ready to walk my butt off. First stop was Chinatown where we were bombarded with fake Gucci, Chanel, and Prada bags.

We then walked our way up to one of my favorite places in the city Soho where we went into as many stores as my large starting to swell feet would let me.

All the walking we did made us so hungry so I took my friends to the best burger place in town Corner Bistro. Its a tiny little joint that is tucked in the West Village. It only takes cash and offers huge burgers and cheap beer to wash it down with.

So with our bellies full we of course needed to eat dessert...off to the best cupcakes in the world The Magnolia Bakery!

Oh man, trying to walk around after all that food on our stomach did us in. We took a nice subway ride home and relaxed for the night for another long day in the city. The next morning we were up and at it early again ready to walk our way around midtown and hit up Central Park. First stop FAO Schwarz the greatest toy store around.

Then a fun walk by central park on our way to see Masha's new school.

A quick stop over at Fordham, Masha's grad school, and we also went to the Lincoln Center which I have never seen before.

All this walking was making us hungry so off to Whole Food's we went to gear up for our horse ride through Central Park. After eating we noticed it was pouring rain but we were determined to get that horse ride. How sweet and romantic to ride through the park with 3 of my good girlfriends :)

We then made a trip up to Radio City Music Hall to walk around and visit The Rock.

We stayed around there because the Storm of the Year hit us and finally got to go see an old city friend at San Loco Taco. There we got to laugh lots and eat way more than we should have.

After dinner and dessert it was back on the subway we went, to spend our last night in the city with our dear friend Masha.

We shared more laughs than girlfriends should be allowed to have and the inside jokes are endless. I love my friends and the time I got to spend with them. That night I cried because I was so ready to see my family and so sad to leave a friend. I would love to live in the city again one day, but maybe when my kids are older. I had a hard enough time dragging the one around inside me I can't imagine doing it with three of them. So maybe one day it will happen again, until then I can't wait to go visit more.

Oh yea, check out my sweet ride home, Dara you are the best!!!!!!!

And our only picture of being lost in DC :)