A Thousand Flowers Giveaway

Remember when I told you guys I was super busy with moving and a wedding next weekend and actually having work to do? Well, since I don't have time to brain vomit thoughts into posts, we are giving stuff away!

GOOD LUCK AND MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!!

Now here's one of my blogging buds, Cassie:

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Dear sweet friends,

Let a thousand flowers bloom.

Have you heard this quote before? It means 'to encourage many ideas from many sources'.

The meaning of this quote reminded me of what made it possible for me to get to 1,000 followers at Two In Diapers...

You.

When I started blogging, I had no idea that blogging is much more than some time tapping away on my keyboard. It's a beautiful community of people. I'm sure that a blogger cannot do it alone. The followers, sponsors, and friends I've met through blogging have brought me to this point, and so...

 My fabulous sponsors and I have teamed up to give you the first ever group-sponsored giveaway at Two In Diapers!

You are entering the win the following irresistible gifts:

A Vanilla Cream Diamond Candle
A $25 Old Navy Giftcard
A $25 Starbucks Giftcard
An OPI Nail Polish in "Berlin There Done That"

Before we begin, I would like to give a special thanks to the wonderful ladies who contributed!

Julie from The Naptime Review

Bevin from The Lewis Life

Erin from The View From 510

Jess from Jess and the Boys

Kim from Kimberly's Korner

Lena from Mom2MemphisAndRuby

Amy from Not Your Average Baby Blog

Jennifer from Pushing the Lemons

Joanna from Moda Mama

Ok, friends! Good luck to you! This giveaway is open to everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

{Sweet Sponsor}

Light-ish Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I was stressed out yesterday and wanted to bake. Stress-induced baking is always bad. You just know you're going to binge and binge hard. I know, I know...emotional eating is not the way to handle your, er, emotions but whatevs. Since it's fall and since I haven't had anything pumpkin flavored (to eat, I have been bingeing hard on pumpkin drinks), I decided it was okay to make things. Quickly.

I'm not going to admit how many cupcakes I have eaten in the last 24 hours but the good news is that I tried to lighten them up a bit and the "cake" part of it is literally 60 calories. That's it. Then you top it with cream cheese deliciousness and all of a sudden it's 160. OH WELL. That's the price you pay for goodness.

I was inspired by Baking Bites' Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes but a couple of things immediately stood out to me:

A. I only had one egg and there was no way I was going to the store for another one.

B. I did not have half and half. See A.

C. I reeeeeeally didn't want to throw in 3/4 c. of sugar because hello, I'm already gorging and I'm supposed to be slimming down for a wedding next weekend.

So I proceeded to change up a few things and let me just say...they are HEAVEN. They have a little tiny bit of crunch on top from baking but the middle is still ooey gooey goodness. Basically everything you dream of when you want pumpkin pie but then you throw on some frosting. Because who doesn't like frosting? 

Also, keep in mind these little puppies are dense like pumpkin pie, not spongey aka cupcake. I guess the name is a little misleading but if you're looking for a cakey texture, these are NOT going to for you.

Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting (makes 12 cupcakes)

2/3 c. white, all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 15oz. can of pumpkin puree

3 tbsp. Truvia (if you go with real sugar, look up the conversion because it's different)

2 tsp. Splenda Brown Sugar Blend

1 large egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. 1% low-fat milk

1/2 brick of Neufchatel (similar to cream cheese but lighter)

1/2 stick of butter, softened

1 tsp.ish vanilla extract

1-1.5 c. powdered sugar (taste to liking)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Get out your muffin tins and line them and spray with Pam or whatever nonstick type stuff you have on hand. I know it sounds redundant but these puppies are sticky! They are like pumpkin pie without the crust and I think that had I added some flour or spray to the bottom, they would have separated better. Instead, we just licked the bottom of the liner, HAH! Mix wet ingredients first, using a wisk to get rid of any lumps. Once it appears smooth, add in the dry ingredients and mix well. Pour into cupcake tins and bake for 17-20 minutes. 

While the cupcakes are in the oven, begin making your frosting. Add all ingredients together and beat with a mixer. If you don't have a mixer, make sure that your cream cheese and butter is very soft, otherwise you will have lots of lumps and chunks. I don't know about you, but I don't fancy myself a big bite of butter.

And that's preeeeetty much that! 

I feel productive and it's wonderful

These last few days, I've been infiltrating Adrian's work space and using his extra computer/desk so that I could get some work done. Yes, work. I am working. It's been amazing. And no, he does not love working with me everyday. Knowing his whereabouts. Taking away his privacy. I think it's kind of hilarious.

Yesterday, I actually had four hours of work time - baby-free, distraction-free. It was heavenly. The other two days this week I have brought Jonas with me. Let's just say...working and being really productive is almost completely impossible when you have a nine-month old crawling all over you.

First of all, he's getting into all of the cords and printer cartridges and dirty, dusty corners of Adrian's office. Secondly, he's so darn cute. He keeps crawling under my desk and laying down, peeking out from under it. How on earth am I supposed to type when there's a cute little critter crawling around?

Anyway, Adrian told me that I seem really, really happy. It's true. When I'm working and using my brain and putting make-up on and getting out of the house, it makes me feel good. I have realized that I tend to determine my worth by my usefulness. My value by my productivity. When you do things you love and do them well, you can't help but feel good.

So basically what I'm saying is, today is a good day.

Kids say the darndest things, part 2

Sometimes my little Gabriel shocks me with the sweet and wise things he says...

It's lunch time and I'm getting Jonas some snacks.

 "Gabriel, would you like some grapes, too?

"No thanks, mom."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, mom. Trust me. That's what friends do, they trust!"

--

Last weekend we spent some time at my friend, Nicole's family ranch. They have all sorts of animals and my friend, Wyndi, was walking around with Gabriel.

"Wyndi, can I pet the guinea pig?"

"Sorry buddy, I think he's too scared to let you pet him."

"But why is he so scared of me? All I want to do is protect him."

--

He has such a kind little soul!

Just because I can...Starbucks gift card giveaway

I don't know about you, but I have been frequenting Starbucks regularly to get a little bit of Fall in my 95 degree life. Hello, pumpkin spice lattes to the max.

And, because I like you all, I am happy it's Fall, I'm feeling a little blogger's guilt for being so busy and I promised some sort of giveaway a while back...

I'm giving away a $15 gift card to Starbucks.

(Is that clapping from the audience, I hear?)

via

And guess what! I'm making it super easy to enter because I know rafflecopters can be a bit overwhelming sometimes. 

Here is the deal...

-Leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite drink is at Starbucks.

-Give me a way to contact you.

-Following is not necessary, though very kind of you to do...and there are many ways to do it!

THAT SIMPLE.

I'll pick a random winner from the comments using Random.org on September 28th (that's Friday, yo). 

Peace out, my homies!

Packing sucks

This is my idea of packing...

Basically what I've been doing is pulling things out of closets, off of shelves, from cabinets. Everything goes on the floor and then I step on them and get really annoyed that they're there. My hope is that eventually I'll get so annoyed that I'll start throwing everything in boxes. 

When I buy boxes. Because I haven't actually done that yet. I have mmm...6? And one of them went to the DVDs. Two of them to toys. Three are empty and waiting to be filled. I might get around to it sometime soon.

The fact that I have two minis who walk/crawl behind me and play with everything I'm packing up pulling out to organize. Gabriel has decided that he absolutely loves all of the toys that he's had shoved into a corner of his closet for the last eight months.

I'm having a hard time deciding what to pack first, which rooms to start with and what to hold off on until closer to our moving date, October 15th. So far, I've pulled out the DVD's, started pulling out all of the toys and organizing them, taken pictures from downstairs off the walls and organized and boxed up Jonas' old clothes.

I need some motivation.

Any tips for me? Where do you start 

when you have to pack?

5 things about a hospital stay with an 8-month old

Little Jonas was hospitalized last Wednesday with pneumonia and we were finally released on Sunday night. He's fine and healthy and in tip-top (almost) shape, so I wanted to share with you the five things I learned about being confined to a small, shared hospital room with a cooped up, active, psycho-crazy 8-monther.

Poor little boo, with his IV and oxygen and cords of all kinds.

1. When nurses are bad, they're really bad. Up until the last day, we had amazing nurses. They were quick, precise, friendly and accommodating...and then we had Rebeca. She was flighty, lazy, particular, forgetful, and basically made me want to rip my hair out within three seconds of meeting her. Not to mention, she wore these shoes that made the most obnoxious squeak I've ever heard.


2. YOU CANNOT KEEP AN 8-MONTH OLD COOPED UP IN A HOSPITAL BED FOR FIVE DAYS. Yes, that needed caps. Bolded. I probably should make that font size 72. Holy whack-a-mole, it was really tough to keep him occupied. And things that kept him occupied one second, he would dismiss the next and we'd have to play a guessing game until I found something to hold his attention. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy...well, maybe my absolute worst.


3. Keep an extra change of clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and hair brush in your car at all times. For emergencies. Or random hospital stays that you aren't expecting. When we went to the hospital, I thought it would be a few hours, maybe a long night, but definitely not five days. I brought nothing but myself and Jonas, a granola bar, some strawberry puffs and a couple of jars of baby food. Adrian brought me clothes and well...he's a guy. He tried. But he forgot a lot of stuff. And then he did a run to Walmart. Again, he tried. Finally, my mom made a run to buy me some clothes and we were all set. 


4. Have support. Lots of it. People on-call to relieve you, if only for five minutes so you can pee and...pee. I didn't have many visitors and really, that was fine. But I did need someone there just to talk to because talking to an 8-month old can become a little one sided and people start to think you're crazy. Plus, I wasn't able to leave his side unless someone was there to sit with him because he wouldn't sleep in the crib, only a bed. It made it very difficult to use the restroom, stuff my face with food, or stretch my legs.


5. Mom knows best. Call it instincts. When I called the on-call nurse line to see if I needed to bring him in, she said maybe, but he could just need some Tylenol and a good suction. But I knew. No way, crazy lady, I'm bringing him in, I said. And I did, and it was pneumonia. Not bronchitis, not a cold. Again, when they were evaluating us to leave, they wanted to stay another night. I'm sorry, but it was to the point where, for his own health and sanity, there was no way we could keep him cooped up in there any longer. He was literally going to crawl out the door. So we brought him home and he sounds a million times better than he did in the hospital. Boom.

Oh, hey guys. I can stand now.

Side note: apparently hospitals make you learn all kinds of crazy new things. He is now crawling on his hands and knees and pulling himself to a standing position against the couch. I guess he would have ended up walking himself out of the room if we hadn't taken him.

So, we're moving? Obsessed: home edition

Well, it appears that we're buying a house. Yup, just like that. I won't bore you with all the details of the set-up, but essentially Adrian has a friend with quite a bit of property down here in the Valley. He's been showing us different places that he owns and I think we finally found it. Adrian's dream is build a house from the ground up and the property we've found will allow just that.

 It's not perfect by any means; this is a fixer property with some fencing that needs to be torn down, trees that need to be planted and a lot of grading that needs to be done. The house that we'll live in is temporary although nice enough to be a permanent home.

 It is two and a half acres with a manufactured home on the property and it's enormous, not what you would expect when you walk in. We will have four bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open kitchen (though not much counter space, hence the kitchen cart below), a walk in closet in the master, dining area and a spacious living area. This would be the perfect place if we decide we want horses someday!

 Whenever we move, which we've done quite a bit, I get really excited to re-decorate. To me, it feels like a clean slate and gives way to fresh, creative ideas in terms of repurposing things I already have and what I want to add. We'll have to do some editing in terms of what we take with us, but I'm so excited to create a new look for our life and home!

 Here are some of the things I'm eyeing (minus the lamp, I like the style which is why I added it but I would NEVER pay $200+ for one!):

For the new house by jessica-ayala on Polyvore

At first I was hesitant to move forward with this because it's in the ranches on the outskirts of town but you know, I'm kind of excited now. It's only about 7 or 8 minutes from where we live now and the drive to Gabriel school will only be an extra 5. Having grown up in the country without neighbors, I really enjoy the peace and privacy. There are a couple of homes around us but nothing like living in a track home neighborhood, which we do now.

 I know we've been indecisive about what we want and where we'd like to live, but we see this as a strategic move. Right now, we need to be here. This is where Adrian's work is until the foreseeable future. Until that changes, this is where our home needs to be and we need to set up roots here. It also gives us a bargaining chip instead of throwing away cash while renting our lives away so that in five, ten years when we're ready to move home, we'll have a house worth enough to make a down payment on a new home.

Anyway, that's all. We'll have a move in date hopefully by the end of today, but I'm thinking it will be mid-October. I also have to break the news to my current landlord that we won't, in fact, be staying until January like I told her last week. Like any deal, it isn't done until the last paper is signed, which we haven't so there is still the chance it could fall through, though it's doubtful at this point.

Basically this all means I have a shit-ton of work to do in a very short amount of time so if you don't hear a lot from me, don't be shocked.

My name's not mommy today!

Anybody else tell your kids that?

No?

Just me?

I'm going to admit I'm a little grumpy this morning. The only thing that's saving me is this IV of coffee going I have going and the fact that I'm making a stop at 7/11 to get some of their Pumpkin Spice brew when I take Gabriel to school.

Anyway, ever notice that when your kids need something and both you and the husband are around, the kids always ask you? Funny how that works. And how said husband will direct children to the mother even if they're in the other room/upstairs taking care of another child/doing something important?

And, speaking of husbands (adore/love) him, but when mine works an entire week - as in you know, without going in late or taking off early - he's had a long week. I'm not going to say it, I'm not going to say it...(Iwork24/7/365foreverinlifetakingcareofyourchildren!!!kakdfj;adklfj;adkfiworiuc) Phew, I think that feels better. I'm so grateful that he works hard so I can stay home with the kids but I think because I don't physically work outside the home, there's a belief that what I do as work is not exhausting. Newsflash: IT IS.

Or how if you tell your kids you'll get them - say - a drink, and then they follow you around, right on your heels, until it is in their beloved sticky little hands?

How about when you've acknowledged them and said you'll do something in just one minute please, yet they feel the need to repeat your name over. and over. and over. until you get your booty up and just do it?

I'll admit it. 

After hearing my name repeated like that god-awful Family Guy commercial...mom, mommy, momma, mom, mom, mom...

When I've already ripped chunks of hair out of my head and my brain is numb from the bleach I've inhaled while cleaning pee stains off the front of the toilet (boys, blech!)...

...yes, I've told my son my name is not mommy anymore.

After a 30 second blank stare, he breaks into a full on grin and says, "Mom, you're just joking me, aren't you!?"

And then I can't help but laugh.

Eight months old

Remember when I told you that I was going to be really scared when he became mobile? I'd say it's equal parts fun, frustrating and fear-inducing. But really, he is just such a sweet, good baby. I can't believe how close we are to 1 year, it is just crazy.

Stats

Height: TALL

Weight: HEAVY

Diaper size: Size 5

Clothing size: 18-24 months

Likes: Feeding himself, getting into everything possible (especially cords behind the TV, FUN), crawling under the table, knocking over his big brother's block castles

 Dislikes: Diaper changing, being confined when he wants to be exploring, napping, bed time

 Special notes: This month was a little difficult. I lost the majority of my milk supply in Napa and it took several days to get it back, which in turn made his going to sleep process difficult. Although I'm back up and running, he had gotten used to nursing several times during the night and we're just now getting back to our regular sleep schedule. He still does not like formula at all. Sometimes he'll tolerate it, but only when it's convenient for him, not me. Otherwise, he's crawling EVERYWHERE. Frustrates the heck out of Gabriel because he can no longer play with his stuff on the floor. Jonas is eating predominantly table food now, with very little pureed foods in the mix, except for sometimes in the  mornings. Some of his favorite foods right now are toast, shells and cheese, freeze-dried yogurt bites, bananas, mum mums, string cheese, mango and avocado. At this point he's only nursing about 4 times a day. Naps from 8:30-10(:30?) and again from about 12:30 or 1-2:30 or 3. Oh, and he needs a haircut. BIG TIME.

Okay mom, I'm chillin'

I'm not chillin', MOM, don't make me take pictures!!!!
Must move, must crawl, must get away from here!

Alright, chillin' again, I found a fruit loop from bro's cereal that he dropped I knocked over.

SO HAPPPYYYY. She let me sit up!!!!

Crazy lady is so funny when she tries to make me laugh. 

One month old.

Two months old.

Three months old.

Four months old.

Five months old.

Six months old.

Seven months old.

It's beginning to look a lot like Fall...okay, no it isn't but I am pretending

There's something about fall that makes me get all crafty. Do you get like that, too? I realize teeeechnically speaking, fall is about 17 days away, but Starbucks basically said "THE HELL WITH THAT(!)" and already has Pumpkin Spice Lattes back on the menu which in my mind equals the return of my favorite season.

I'm not going to lie. I bought a couple of items today to start on a Christmas craft. Nothing like being prepared, right? I haven't started actually busting out my fall decor yet since it's possible (not probable, but there is the chance) that our landlord will tell us we need to be out at the end of the month if we aren't planning to renew our lease for another year. As a landlord myself, I can't see that being to her benefit whatsoever and she's a pretty cool chick so I'm just crossing my fingers. Should know tomorrow so I'll keep everyone who cares so, so, so much posted.

Anywho, I still want to start integrating some fall colors into my life and I had a little burlap lying around so I thought I would use it to create a table...something. Not a table runner, too short. Not a table cloth, too small. I guess something to hold the knick-knacky crap, candles and pine cones that end up on my table during Autumn so it doesn't scratch my absolutely gorgeous dining room table. It might end up on our smaller eating table in the kitchen but for now I like where it's it. Usually I keep it covered up by this God-awful thing:

AKA - remnant of last year's Thanksgiving party. I needed more table cloths last year and shocker - when I went out last minute to get more, this was all I could find. Not exactly sure why it stayed put...I guess a new table cloth isn't what I would consider high on my priority list of things to buy. It sits right below hangers, starch spray and all the other shit I forget I need until I need it really badly. 

That's pretty much the extent of the supply list here. I suppose you could wing the lettering but since I have the handwriting of a 12-year old girl, I figured I'd do myself a favor. Burlap, stencil, sharpie, cardboard for underneath. That's it. I wrote "eat" on one side and "drink" on the other since this was going on my dining room table. 

You'll have to be careful of the marker bleeding. I didn't anticipate that and I have a couple of splotchy places. Otherwise, I think it looks rather clear.

 

I also didn't realize how dark my living room is in terms of the photos so I apologize for that whole - can't really see what's going on - thing. 

Some generous soul on Instagram gave me the lowdown on how to iron burlap so when I do that tomorrow, I'll make sure to take a better photo...possibly one where you can see the whole table. Maybe.

And that's that. Oh, and I frayed the edges by literally grabbing one strand and pulling. Or two sometimes. It was very easy. Trimmed the edges to match on all sides and voila. 

Wedding weekend

There's isn't much to say; the photos speak mostly for themselves. This weekend was filled with so much fun, bonding with loved ones, sharing laughs and drinks, and celebrating the marriage of two very close friends.