June Reads

My goal is 100 for the year, I have read 61 so far(15 this month)! My favorites this month Divergent and The Midwife's Confession

Amy's june-11 book montage

Amy's favorite books »

}

What I learned from Swim Lessons

1. The indoor pool in Fruita rocks: no sun, warm water, and big enough for a lot to be going on and we still had our own area for the babies.

2. It is important to have many cute bathing suits when you have 8 classes in a row!



3. There is an apparent mommy dress code that does not include bikinis--every other mom was wearing a tankini or long sports bras and jogging shorts. I didn't get the memo, and rocked my bikini. In no way do I have a great bikini body but it took me 30 years to gain the confidence to wear one so I do. And felt great, until the teenage older sisters started joining our class...looks like I need a little more time in the gym.

4. My irregularly napping baby did not like class scheduled during her "nap" time. Of course every other day she would fight sleep.

5. My girl is a social animal, she much preferred looking at other babies,getting the lifeguards to hold her, and smiling at everyone than working on her kicks and floats.

6. She is definitely her father's daughter, she is fascinated by how everything works--the rope with floats, the splash pad, the sprinklers, the lights--again way more interesting than learning to blow bubbles.

I wish I had more pictures, but I was by myself so just imagine...

Eating your fruits and veggies

Who knew that Grand Junction had a produce coop? I didn't until a couple weeks ago. This Saturday we got our first basket from Bountiful Baskets(They have locations in a lot of places, so check 'em out!) We got apples, mangos, bananas, plums, strawberries, blackberries, 3 heads of lettuce, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, and green onions--all for $15! My husband was like how are we going to eat all of this! But that is a good problem to have--especially since I am doing Weight Watchers(almost everything we got is 0 points!!)

So I have made some salads--this Raspberry Walnut dressing is awesome--I throw in some blue cheese crumbles, green apple, and top with walnuts! And I had made some Buffalo Chicken Tenders and homemade Blue cheese Dressing--we just chopped these into a salad with tomatoes and chopped carrots.

And some yogurt parfaits with our berries!

And some smoothies--found this in Fitness Magazine--1 cup of mango, 1 cup of pineapple, 1 cup of yogurt, and 2 cups of ice--YUMM!!

Plus on their facebook pages, people trade recipes for the week's baskets.

wanna win a smart trike?

My trendy tykes is giving one away! Head on over there and enter!!

House Hunting Disapointment

So I blogged about the beginning of our house hunting adventure here. Well we found a house, exactly what we wanted and for a great price. It seemed too good to be true. We knew there were multiple offers but we still thought ours would win.(You should know I get emotionally invested easily). Well it didn't. There was an all cash offer, which we can't compete with. After our realtor called and told me and then said I know there is a better one out there for you, I still cried. And cried. And was bummed the whole evening(and truthfully still bummed). It may have been compounded by Grandmaster Bass neighbors blasting their music which meant Elle did not get a good nap and neither did mommy. (I am scared of them now so I didn't go down and ask them to turn it down--apartment life is getting old).

I know that things don't work out the first time and I know there may be a better house out there. But it is kind of like when I was waiting for Kevin to propose. I "knew" it was going to happen, but every birthday or holiday or anniversary that went by with no ring was hard. It is kind of like when we were trying to have Elle and seeing the negative tests, we knew it would happen eventually but it is still disappointing each time you see no. And of course in both these cases, things worked out. I wish I could be as confident as our realtor and friends, who say your house is still out there; but I am not there yet. I need a little more time to mope. On the plus side, I didn't turn to ice cream or chocolate to mope!

Food Issues

And they aren't mine!

Elle is almost a year old, and could care less about eating food. At daycare she will eat stage 2 fruits and veggies and sometimes more than 1. With me, I am lucky to get her to finish a stage 1. I offer her whatever we are eating, is possible. I offer her puffs, cheese crumbles, beans, tortillas, pizza crusts, bananas, pastas. And nothing. I know I shouldn't compare her to others, I just see many babies eating way more than my little one. It causes me anxiety, which she can probably sense which is why she probably doesn't eat for me. We have finally found a sippy cup that works, if only it wasn't so fun to spit out the water all over herself! Any advice or resources?

Pinnable Me--On my Craft List

Etsy via me via Pinterest
i want to use this fabric to make these

Sewing in No man's Land via me via Pinterest


and I would love to try these
JameeHomemakerBlog via Kelly Rogers via Pinterest

Join the link up party at paw prints and pastry bags

Elle's Year 1 Book!!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Cover: Sweet Little Birdies Announcement from Hello Love Designs (etsy)

Page 1: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Summer Album 10
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be
Page 2: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Scrappable Template
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be
Page 3: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Summer Album 10
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be
Page 4-5: Template: Tiffany Tillman LeftyRighty 5
Papers and Elements: Bella Gypsy Sunshine Sorbet

Page 6-7: Template: Tiffany Tillman LeftyRighty 5
Papers and Elements: Bella Gypsy Sunshine Sorbet

Page 8: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Summer Album 10
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be

Page 9: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates 25DaysTemplate_001
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be

Page 10: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Summer Album 10
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be

Page 11: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Summer Album 4
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be

Page 12: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Scrappable Template
Papers and Elements: Golden Girls Little Spooks

Page 13: Layout inspired by desktop download from Golden Girls Blog
Papers and Elements Golden Girls Little Spooks and Custom Cutie

Page 14: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Summer Album 24
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be

Page 15: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Summer Album 24
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be

Page 16: Template: AN Quirky Tags (DHD)
Papers and Elements: Jennifer Labre Designs A Touch of Spice

Page 17: Template: Jenn Lindsey Temp Blends 3 Plus 1
Papers and Elements: Shabby Princess The Promise Collection

Page 18: Layout inspired by Desktop download
Papers and Elements: Santa’s Grotto Collab Kit (After 5 designs)

Page 19: Template: Jenn Lindsey Temp Blends
Papers and Elements: Santa’s Grotto Collab Kit

Page 20: Template: Kwresh tdd 22
Papers and Elements: Ellie Lash Jolly Holiday

Page 21: Template: Jenn Lindsey DAY3_tempblends_holidays2010(free download from her blog)
Papers and Elements: ellie Lash Jolly Holiday

Page 22: Template: Jenn Lindsey Temp Blends 2 plus 1
Papers and Elements: Santa’s Grotto Collab Kit

Page 23: Christmas Card—Shutterfly

Page 24: Template: Splendid Fiins
Papers and Elements: And Everything Nice

Page 25: Template: Tiffany Tillman Templates Summer Album 24
Papers and Elements: Sweet As Can Be

Page 26: Template and Papers and Elements: Jessica Sprague Photoshop Friday #15

Page 27: Template: Tiffany Tillman Holiday Templates 11
Papers and Elements: Jessica Sprague Photoshop Friday #15

Page 33 : Template: Tiffany Tillman Simply Tiffany Studios 52 Template 7

Papers and Elements: Tiffany Tillman Pink Snow
Fonts: Smiley Monster and Pea Alesea

Page 34 : Template: Simply Tiffany Studios Template 9
Papers and Elements: Golden Girls Bunny Trails
Fonts: Futura Medium and Hula Skirt Girl

Page 35: Template: SimplyTiffany Studios 52 Template 8
Papers and Elements: Golden Girls Bunny Trails Kit
Fonts: Howser and Futura

Page 36: Quickpage from DHD international Scrapbooking Day Blog Hop (Shannon Dombkowski)

Page 37: Quickpage from DHD international Scrapboking Day Blog Hop ( Jen Papadimitriou)

Page 38: Template: Tiffany Tillman Holiday Templates 17
Papers and Elements: As Sweet As Can Be
Fonts: Annoying Kettle

Page 39: Template: Simply Tiffany Studios 52 Template 12
Papers and Elements: Meredith Cardall Designs Poppy Kit

Page 40: Template: Tiffany Tillman Holiday Templates 17
Papers and Elements: As Sweet As Can Be

Garden Photo Shoot

I was so lucky to find Casey of Legacy Photography 11 months ago after Elle was born. She has a special for babies, we get pictures taken about every 3 months and then at the year she will put together a collage of your baby growing. I couldn't believe the great price and when we go in we don't just take a couple pictures and go--we do full on ohoto shoots with outfit changes and "sets" and this time we hit the Botanical Gardens for this series. If you live in the Grand Valley, check her out you won't regret it. Plus if you like her page on Facebook, she is doing a Winning Wednesday giveaway!!

home is where the heart is

So this weekend we headed over the mountains to Denver to attend a graduation party and Father's Day with the inlaws and it really got me thinking how much I miss Denver. At the party, I saw many of my favorite former students, students who I was very close to--girls that I coached who would hang out after practice and even after the season to talk with me, girls(now young women) who still email and text me. I am not that same teacher anymore. Moving to Grand Junction and starting a new teaching job gave me some distance--I did not have to be the hyper involved new teacher anymore, I could take time to find my place. Having a baby gave me even more distance, I love my job but my priorities are different--I don't take everything so life or death stress level serious. I am still connected to my students but in a more measured way. But part of me misses the teacher that I was.

And I miss the big city life. On Sunday, I met a friend at a great park playground to play--a playground that was close to a pond that we could have paddle boated on, a playground with SHADE!, a playground surrounded by miles of walking paths and gardens. And I chose that over the zoo. I miss the funky little restaurants and fun things to do that Denver has. And I miss the network of friends that I had. In 7 years, I had built up a network that was more than just the people I teach with. I know that making friends and building that back up takes time--and I love my friends here--it is just different.

I miss being close to family, we chose to move away and live away from both sets of parents. But it would be really nice to get a couple of hours, a night, or even a weekend away together without a baby. And without family around that seems next to impossible.

I thought I would be over this move by now, it has been over 3 years. Maybe it was just a lack of sleep on vacation, or getting to eat at some favorite restaurants, or driving by old haunts? (And I didn't even have time to shop!) Anyone else ever feel this way?

Now that we are looking into buying a home, it seems more permanent. And I fully believe in the sentiment that home is where the heart is. And I know I love our life here and want to raise Elle here, but sometimes I just wish for a little more.

Pinnable Me--1st Birthday Inspiration

We are in the midst of party planning for the Elle Belle, here are pictures I have "pinned" to help me plan the party.

Party Invite Picture(we did one in the botanical gardens today!!)
Source


Cake Idea(former student is going to make for me!)
Source


Would love to do a dessert buffet!
Source

Join the link up party at paw prints and pastry bags

Read this Book!!

This is an awesome book. I read it in a day and a half and if I didn't have a baby crawling all over totally interested in my books I would have read it nonstop! In the vein of Hunger Games, it takes place in a dystopian future where young people have to choose a faction to belong to for the rest of their lives. The factions are coolly named for the personality trait that they believe is most important: abnegation, amity, candor, erudite, dauntless. But the main character's test proves she is something different--a divergent. The story of her choice, its implications, and the results of a segregated society provide intrigue and end in a war. I believe this is going to be a series...

If I could choose again...

...I would still choose you!

Happy Anniversary Kevin!

I created this cool Google search story for our anniversary, but they only give you 7 searches and our 3 years encompassed way more than those. And since my husband is kind of shy--I will share what I think his search terms were.
He searched: finding rational women in Denver, CO
He searched: OK so she is a little emotional, now what
I searched: dating an engineer
I searched: what is Formula 1
He searched: first Valentine's Day Gifts
I searched:airfares to California
He searched: installing and finishing drywall
I searched:paint colors
He searched: engagement rings
He searched: Custer, South Dakota
I searched: surviving the end of the school year
I searched: wedding venues, photographers, DJs, dresses, bridesmaid dresses,flowers, dresses, first dance songs, dresses
He searched: Catholic wedding requirements
He searched: job openings in CDOT
He searched: cheap apartments in Grand Junction
I searched: long distance relationships
He searched: rental cars(almost every weekend)
I searched: apartments in Grand Junction
I searched: any job in Grand Junction
He searched: honeymoons
He searched: shady beaches
I searched: packing for mystery honeymoon
He searched: surprising your wife with honeymoon
I searched: pregnancy symptoms
He searched: hybrid cars
I searched: nursery ideas for apartments
He searched: nicer apartments in Grand Junction
I searched:recovering from a c-section
He searched: panic attacks
I searched: weaning your baby
He searched: getting your baby to sleep
I searched: daycares
He searched: daycares
I searched: workout plans for getting your prebaby body back
He searched: workout wear to reward wife
Together we are searching: new homes!
You can make your own Google search story here!