Weekly Meal Plan #58

SUNDAY was...
Fajitas at our new neighbors!! Such a fun night :)

MONDAY
Meatloaf

TUESDAY
Tuscan Sausage Soup (pin)

WEDNESDAY
Crockpot Ravioli (pin) (unless we go out for trivia night!)

THURSDAY
Chef Salad

FRIDAY
Tex Mex Pizza with chorizo

SATURDAY
Something easy... chicken maybe!

Recap

The "House Guest Book"

So, the other day I was stuck at the car dealership (with all 3 girls) getting the car serviced and I managed to flip through a few magazines (yes... I did say I was there with all 3 girls AND I read a magazine... miracle I know)... but that's besides the point, anyway, I was perusing my latest Southern Living and came across their "Secrets to Southern Charm" section and was immediately intrigued!

Now I'm a Jersey girl... nothing southern about that, right? BUT I spent 5 years at Clemson in South Carolina (totally Southern) and I've always considered myself to be a southern girl at heart so I jumped right in.

It was a very good list and I actually did some of them already (have a signature drink at parties) BUT one got me excited and I decided right then and there that I was going to do it. That was #203... "Revive the House Guest Book". I LOVE this idea! What a perfect way to remember visits both large and small; from playdates with one of two buddies to our annual Christmas Cocktail party. Genius. Really. And I knew exactly where to put it; my hubby's Great Uncles antique desk that sits in our front hall that hubby and my dad refinished.

Pretty, huh? ALSO, I was even MORE excited because I thought this was the perfect tradition to start with our new home since we just moved in. So off I ran to Target to look for the MooreBabies new house guest book... but I didn't quite find one that I wanted; the ones at Target were more practical than pretty enough to sit on a gorgeous antique desk.

So I ran to Barnes and Noble and SUCESS!

I did have to sort of back-fill since I just bought it and we've had people over already but I am super excited to have a record of all gatherings hosted at our house!

 

Linking up: Nifty Thrifty Things, DIY Showoff, Creating my way to success , CRAFT, Keeping it SImple , Under the Table Dreaming , A Bowl full of Lemons, Sweet Little Gals , Our Delightful Home , Chef in Training , Homework , Blackberry Vine ,  ,Not just a Housewife , Elizabeth & Co. , Romance on a Dime, DIY By design, Handy man Crafty Woman, Someday Crafts, Gingersnap Crafts, Dragonfly Designs, Trendy Treehouse, Sew Much Ado , My Girlish Whims, Vintage Gwen, Crafty Blog Stalker , Momnivores Dilemma , RaeGun's Ramblings , shaken together life, nap time crafter, Ladybird Ln, Bacon Time,

Pizza Night #17: 1st Pizza Night in the NEW House!

We have officially been in the new house for 5 weeks and I think I am starting to get myself into a routine... which has been kind of hard because IN those 5 weeks we had house guests 3 times (ok, so it was just my parents for 2 times but STILL... a house guest is a house guest), went to Busch Gardens twice, celebrated Easter, and had my daughters 4th birthday party. Phew!

We did manage to start up on of our old traditions, Homemade Pizza Night, which was so fun! The girls love to watch daddy toss the pizza dough and help put on all the toppings. We didn't try a new pizza recipe, we just stuck with good old premade publix dough, fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, and mushroom.

 

 

 And Voila...

Equipment :: 3rd child vs 1st child

I remember with my first child, knowing the exact day that I could start using some new piece of equipment. For example, the bumbo seat has a manufacturer suggested age of 1 month, or when a child can support their own head.  With my oldest, that thing would have put away until the second she turned 1 month and then she'd be in it. Not a day before, not a date late.

This go 'round I totally forgot about the bumbo seat. The other day I happen to see one in a picture and I thought to myself, "OH YEAH!! I totally forgot about that, I wonder when Lizzie can go in it". So off to google I went and lo and behold she could have been in it like 2 months earlier. Woops. Not that that's a bad thing, I just forgot.

But she likes it, see... even if I am a little late.

After that revelation I asked myself what else I needed to get out of the attic.
The exersaucer, of course! My other two LIVED in that thing!
So off to google again I went to see the age range on that thing... approximately 4 months to walking.

Which clearly means nothing to me because I decided to put her in it with a towel wrapped around her to keep her steady. (shh don't tell). See, back with child #1 I wouldn't think of putting my child in early; "oh no! But it clearly says 4 months, my daughter isn't 4 months yet, so I can't!".

Loves it!

Along the same lines, but not "equipment"-wise; I was at a birthday party today with all 3 girls and when it came time to feed Lizzie, I got my nursing cover and started to feed her. Until I didn't want to miss out on all the conversations so I got up and was feeding Lizzie while walking around (with the nursing cover).
One of the mom commented that she could tell I was on #3 because with #1, breastfeeding would require the glider, with the gliding foot rest, and the boppy.... by #3 you are so practiced that you can do it while walking around keeping an eye on your other children at a birthday party. I just smiled; you do what you have to do.

JUST like the Luvs diapers commercials - 1st child vs 2nd child. PS - love these commercials!

Weekly Meal Plan #57

SUNDAY was...
Italian Panko crusted tilapia with wild rice and asparagus

MONDAY
Meatloaf

TUESDAY
Marinated Flank Steak (by broiling it... fingers crossed! We don't have a grill yet at the new house so I'm going to see how this works!)

WEDNESDAY
Mushroom Chicken Bake

THURSDAY
Lemon Garlic Shrimp & Grits

FRIDAY
Company is in town!! Soooooo I'm not entirely sure yet :)

3 months :)

What activities did Lizzie do during month 3?
- Celebrated Valentine's Day
- Officially moved into our new house
- Got a new playground and went on her first swing
- Celebrated sissy Charlotte's 4th birthday party at the park

- Went to Junior league meetings
- Went to the Y "kidzone"
- Went to the park
- Went to a birthday party
- Gigi & Pop pop visited

How is Lizzie sleeping?
- Goes to bed between 9 and 10 and wakes up once around 5/6, eats, and sleeps a little longer until maybe 8 or 9

What am I eating?
- Mommy milk

What "skills" has Lizzie mastered?
- She laughed out loud on the swing in the backyard

- Rolled over from front to back... once
- Sitting in her high chair for dinner instead of in the bouncy seat - she loves being up with all the action

Plans for month 3 include...
- Going to Busch Gardens
- Hosting a house warming playdate at the new house
- Celebrate Easter with Gigi, Pop pop, Aunt and Uncle and cousin
- Birthday parties!
Happy 3 months Lizzie!

New House :: Laundry Room

So we FINALLY moved! Like, we are officially sleeping in the new house (which, I suppose is now considered "the house" and the other one is the "old house")... anyway, we made the move over! Of course not everything is at the (new) house, but we're like 98% there.

So HERE is the laundry room...

 

 

Yeah, I know... not that impressive. BUT I am over-the-moon-super-excited about this laundry room because THIS is what my laundry room used to look like...

Yes folks, my laundry room was in my garage, along with everything else that overflowed out of my house like seldom used small appliances, canned goods, and towers of Rubbermaid bins.  Awesome, huh?

Not at all! Especially in Florida where it meant that doing laundry in the summer time was like stepping into a stinky sauna. Blech!

So now you know why I am thrilled about my new (quite plain) laundry room. I may have to commission my girlfriend over at Memorable Designs to make me a cute wall vinyl saying like she has in her laundry room!