Its finally Friday, Im free again, got my motor runnin for a WILD weekend.....

I love that song. There are a collection of good old school country songs that I revel in from childhood - that is one of them. I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing...

Professionally, this week is a blur. I feel like every single minute was planned and I spent the majority running, typing, talking, grading and yada yada. 

Personally, I attempted to wean Taj from the bottle .....  It took me about two minutes to figure out that life is too damn short. I choose not to rush this kid into childhood. Everyone needs a cocktail around the 5:00 hour so he will have his and I will have mine, maybe after he goes to bed :)

Ten on Tuesday - Homemade Forms of Fun

1. Cupcakes - with cotton candy on top.
2. Scrapbooking
3. Building a felt playhouse for my son
4. Sewing ..
5. Redecorating this house so its my own.
6. Photographing everything
7.  Blogging :)
8. Cardboard box fun
9. Writing that business plan Ive been talking about
10. Delicious bread making.

Where did it go?

How did that little guy grow so quickly. Celebrating my son's birthday this past weekend was bittersweet. As much as I love to see Taj grow into a booming being of curiosity, I am deeply saddened that his infancy is over. I look at him today with tear filled eyes knowing that soon enough I will be asking- where did those five years go? I don't intend to make this post purely about my son, even though it is so easy to do, but looking at my one year old - I am reminded of what I need for my life before five years escapes me.

I had the opportunity to talk with a handful of students today about reducing stress. Awww. a novel idea - reducing stress. We started the hour with a life wheel exercise which helps one become aware of the areas in life that need more attention. For me, my wheel was unbalanced. Where was I lacking? Fun and Spirituality. This year, I will restore fun. I will find a way to communicate with the God I talked to all the time as a child....
Saying so and doing so are much different, here's hoping the doing is easy.

Happy Days

Can't Wait To Do This in Taj's Room

Check it out at Apartment Therapy

Taj's big FIRST of 2011.



A letter to 2011

Dear Year of Two Thousand and Eleven.

This letter has taken me one full year to prepare for. Throughout the year of Two Thousand and Ten I thought almost every day of what I wanted from Two Thousand and Eleven. I want you to be different. I want this to be a big and wonderful year. While there is no way you can compete with the fact that Two Thousand and Ten gave me my first born child, I do expect that you do your part in making this year a year filled with more and more happiness and less tears.

In February of  your predecessor, I was blessed with the most precious gift of all. I did not realize before that gift arrived that it would bring with all this other stuff that I did not exactly ask for. For the record, there should be a return policy on post partum depression and six months of sleepless nights...  Okay, I will accept the sleepless nights but the 6 months of weepiness and guilt - well I definitely want my money back on that stuff.....

Also Two Thousand and Eleven, I expect that there will be no hospital stays for me or my child. I request no more pneumonia or breathing treatments. I can handle the occasional ear infection or bronchitis but I am not putting my kid into a torture device for a chest xray again so I am just putting that out there. Make this happen. I will do my part, you do yours gosh dammit.

Since you are going to provide me with more sleep, I am hoping for more and more quality time for my husband and I. More movie going and less "Rob and Big" watching. Also, without a doubt, you need to build in some time for my honeymoon. Make sure that happens in September please.

I realize that I cannot hold you, Two Thousand and Eleven, accountable for such things as weight gain and weight loss. However, if you could just remind me to try and be healthier everyday that would be helpful. Also, if you could make sure that I can find the time to take that Yoga class on Thursday nights with my buddy, I will be muchos grateful.

I am looking for to working with you Two Thousand and Eleven.

Peace Out


Amanda

Life is Too Short To Fold Fitted Sheets... My sentiments exactly!

Find it on Amazon.

Lucky Girl Seeks Lovely Stuff: Life's Code of Conduct .. according to me

Lucky Girl Seeks Lovely Stuff: Life's Code of Conduct .. according to me

Sacrifices

You read all about the sacrifices that one must make as they enter into motherhood. For what I have gotten in return, I don't feel like I have had to sacrifice anything that was too hard to give up. Of course, this is easy to say now that I am past the intitial four months of no sleep. Now that Taj is talking, giggling, playing, and turning I feel like I can finally exhale! The HUGE amount of anxiety that has plaqued me everyday since I gave birth is finally fleeting. I feel a bit of freedom knocking at my door  - So what now?

Yes, there are certain things I cannot do any longer but I am done morning the loss of my independence.  I have learned to look at life with a new approach. I am starting to really focus on tradeoffs. For the past month, I have been dying to bake again and get my hands dirty in the kitchen. While I am no fan of coming home and preparing dinner every night, I do LOVE to bake. I love baking breads, muffins, cakes etc.  With this little one, it has been difficult to stop and enjoy those things I once loved with so many other things I could be doing. Things like dusting, vacuuming, organizing, mopping etc etc. Yesterday I finally decided that for the sake of mental health, I was going to have to bake in the middle of disarray. I prepared some delicious baby veggie soup for Taj and then I dusted off my kitchenaid mixer.  I baked the tastiest little doughnut muffins and all the while, my carpet was covered with a thin layer of dog hair and there were piles of laundry in the dining room.

It is hard getting used to the idea that I might never be the housekeeper that my mother was. That more often than not, if you stop by my house, there will probably be a few tumbleweeds of dog hair rolling around and some dishes in the sink. I have finally let go of this notion that every Saturday morning should be spent cleaning. Now, I certainly don't intend for my house to be filthy all of the time, but it feels great to entertain the idea that on some days, among the chaos, we can still laugh, love, and BAKE!

Eating my veggies...

The Beaba Babycook

This weekend I had the opportunity to experiment with my Beaba Babycook. Saturday started with a trip to the Vincennes Farmer's Market. I purchased two butternut squash, tomatoes, and a jar of Papa Ed's Pepper Butter.

During Taj's first morning nap, I cut up the squash into tiny cubes and commenced to steaming and then pureeing in the Babycook. In retrospect, I wish I had just cooked the squash by roasting it in the oven as cleaning and cubing the butternut squash took a good 15-20 minutes and these days, i don't have that much time to spare. In any case, the steaming process took about 15 minutes. I then pureed by adding back my cooking water and pulsing for quite a while. The squash babyfood is good, although it is pretty thick and starchy. It seems best served with some extra water before warming and a nice thin fruit.

Two batches of squash later, I opened my "Cooking for Baby" cookbook.  I then, set out to make Taj a fan of zucchini. 

                                         

While I am still a bit skeptical about the zucchini, the cookbook states that zucchini is a perfect "first food" because of its mild and tender flesh. It also added that the skin would provide great nutrional value. I cleaned (throughly) two zucchini and then cubed them and let my Babycook do its work. The result was a beautiful rich, green puree. I tasted it and frankly, the flavor was very strong but tasty - especially when paired with my third and final babyfood project of the day....

ORANGES AND BANANAS!

This was my most successful attempt of the day. .

Come with me and you'll be

In a world of pure imagination

Take a look and you'll see

Into your imagination

We'll begin with a spin

Trav'ling in the world of my creation

What we'll see will defy

Explanation

If you want to view paradise

Simply look around and view it

Anything you want to, do it

Want to change the world, there's nothing to it

There is no life I know

To compare with pure imagination

Living there, you'll be free

If you truly wish to be

If you want to view paradise

Simply look around and view it

Anything you want to, do it

Want to change the world, there's nothing to it

There is no life I know

To compare with pure imagination

Living there, you'll be free

If you truly wish to be

Blog Content

A couple of friends have asked me if my blog, formerly all about crafting, sewing, handbags, and other random "stuff" is going to turn into a blog about baby "stuff". The answer to that question is yes and no. Now that I have a baby in my life it is hard not to write about the good and bad "stuff" you find when catering to the needs of a growing child. With that said, I don't intend to leave out the good and bad stuff that apply to big girls and boys either. So don't turn me off just yet.

Ella's Organic Baby Food

Just recieved by first order from diapers.com of Ella's Organic Baby Foods.

Why did this conventional farm girl go for this expensive ORGANIC baby food?

Here is my justification.

1. I had a coupon and free shipping.

2. I was bored with the standard Gerber and Beech Nut varieties.

3. The packaging is brilliant.

4. I have not had the time yet to break out my super dee duper Beaba Baby Food Maker and after reading the reviews of this baby food, I figured it was the closest thing to fresh, homemade baby food I could find.

After using the baby food, here is my review.

Positive

1.  The baby food tastes very, very fresh - you can tell there are absolutely no additives (water, sugar, etc).

2.  The packaging is pretty awesome, no baby food on my fingers etc. Reminds me of my capri-sun days.

3.  The flavors I have tried so far taste yummy and I have not been able to find baby food in stage one that include fruits and veggies like blueberries, pumpkin, and parsnips in many other brands.

Negative

1.  When I buy a food called Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Pumpkin, and Blueberries - I expect that the first ingredient with the largest percentage would be sweet potatoes - NOT SO MUCH - it is apples. In fact, over half of the make up is apples, with sweet potatoes only being 23%.You will find that with several of their varieties, a fruit is the first ingredient. I think that is a bit misleading.

NO WONDER THEY TASTE SO GOOD!

Looking for a Baby Shower Gift? This is IT!

Find them at Aden & Anais

Looking for the answers to my big sleep question....

Almost 5 months ago, I gave birth to a booming bundle of joy named Taj Kumar aka- tajaroo, tajmia, tajers, tajimoto, pea pie.  5 months ago I began to sacrifice the comfort and joy that comes with a full night sleep. With all my family and friends rallying behind me, they all assured me that eventually little tajer dodger would eventually sleep through the night.  They said this at 5 weeks, at 8 weeks, at 12 weeks and now - everyone just says - I'm sorry.

And now... every night from 2-4 am little Taj and I do this dance.
He wimpers, I lay awake and think, maybe he will just go back to sleep.
About 5 minutes later, the wimper becomes more frantic, like "HEY YOU - WHY AREN'T YOU LISTENING TO ME? GET IN HERE ALREADY!
2-3 Minutes later and I have a mad little monkey demanding some attention.
About 5 minutes later, he is gulping down his 4 oz and all is right again in his world.
I lay him down after he is done and listen to him talk and gurgle himself back to sleep.
Now, it is 25 minutes later and I lay awake listening to the sweet conversations a 5 mos old has with himself as my husband is sleeping soundly.

So what to do? The doctor tells me it is about time to let the little guy cry out that mid night feeding. At 15+ lbs, he doesn't physically need it and is probably waking more out of habit than hunger. Also, the sooner I practice this new dance, the sooner Taj will get it. But what's a worried new mom like me to do?

To let cry or not let cry, I guess I am probably not the first new mom to ask this question.

The Bottomless Update

So what have I been working on lately?
Hmm - that is a loaded question. 
Here is one hint.

This lucky girl will be making bags right and left over the next few weeks to sell at the Alachua Craft Fair on April 19. Please come and see me if you want to make a purchase.

Also, keep your eyes pealed - You will soon find "Lucky You" bags on Etsy :) Here is one of my favorites - The Manhattan Bag

Come and Follow Me!

I have added the "followers" box to my blog.
Please follow me :) Its back to blogging friends!