Start of School

So it has been a few years since I have gotten to experience the first day of school. Something that is completely chaotic and crazy. But, what a thrill. The new clothes, the new friends, the new experiences. What is better than the first day of school? I can’t think of it. Course, I am a teacher and when boredom sets in at the end of Summer and you realize that you actually want school to start. You want the structure of bells to rule your day and the sound of children learning in your classroom. Or, perhaps I am just strange.

There are the downsides to the first day. Not knowing where you need to be, not knowing what you have to do. And then the countless syllabi that are read from class to class to class. As a teacher, I know that by the end of the day I will be sick of reading the same thing over and over six times, but at least the students will know what they have to do and I will probably have the thing memorized.

Right now, I am long term subbing for a college friend who just had her baby yesterday. It is an hour drive here and home, but somehow it seems worth it to be back in the school setting. I guess I never really realized how much I missed it in the first place. But, I am missing my baby also. Such a hard road the life we live today.

Do you remember that feeling? Or are you the mother standing at the door wondering how your baby got so big?

Diaper Review: Twinkie Tush

DIAPER REVIEW: Twinkie Tush

Type: Fitted
Cost: $30-33

Pros: They are the most absorbent diapers I have ever used, great for overnight, very well made, great for bigger babies, and of course always cute prints

Cons: Higher end of cost (but totally worth it... but it was the only con I could come up with)

Overall thoughts: I bought these because the message board I am involved in rave about them all the time. I desperately needed a nighttime solution for my daughter and these were the answer! I use Twinkie Tush fitted with a wool soaker and it works for 10-12 hours - straight! Everyone should get themselves one of these because it would be the best fluffy mail day ever. They do take some time to air dry, but with how humid it has been I think this may improve with weather. I am still going to use that as an excuse to buy at least one more.

Twinkie Tush Store
Twinkie Tush Facebook
Twinkie Tush Blog

Thirsties Thursday Giveaway!

This week they have Thirsties Duo Diapers! That is one of the most awesome things that Thirsties carries. They are bullet proof when it comes to keeping EBF poop from leaking. These are an awesome choice. I haven't tried them yet, but I would love to!

Thirsties Thursday Giveaway #9! Go check it out and enter for yourself!

Thirsties Thursday Giveaway!

You can never have too many wipes, pail liners, and wet bags! It is another give away and you should check it out too.

Thirsties Thursday Giveaway 8! Click the link to go check it out!

Fit Friday: Taking Measurements

I finally bought a tape measure. I really needed it for sewing, but I am going to use it for my measurements for weight loss. Or at least inch loss. My pounds have slowed down falling off... so now I am going to start taking my inches once a month.

Bust = 41 inches (keep in mind I am still nursing)
Chest = 36 inches
Waist = 33 inches (kind of wish I would have measured how big I was when pregnant...)
Hips = 43 inches

Biceps (taken three inches above elbow) = 13 inches
Thighs (taken seven inches above knee) = 20 inches

Cloth Diaper Lingo

Because sometimes I write as though I am still on my Cloth Diapering board on here and you might get confused with all the abbreviations - here they are along with some links!


AFFF - Arsty Farsty Foo Foo
AIO - All in One
AI2 - All in Two

B4 - BuBuBeBe
BB - Blueberry
BG - Bum Genius
Bish - BeBe Britches
BSRB - Bagshot Row Bamboo

CD - Cloth Diaper
CV - Cotton Velour

DD - Doodle Dypes

EUC - Excellent Used Condition

FB - FuzziBuns
FFS - Free For Shipping
FS - For Sale
FSOT - For Sale or Trade

GM - Goodmama
GMD - Green Mountain Diapers
GUC - Good Used Condition

H&L - Hook and Loop
HC - Hyena Cart
HH - Happy Heiny

IDSO - In desperate search of
ISO - In search of

KL0 - Kissaluvs size 0

M3 - Mamamade
MS - Monkey Snuggles
MMTT - MamaTutu

NIP - New In Package

OBV - Organic Bamboo Velour
ODC - Orange Diaper Company
OS - One Size
OTB - On the Butt
OTW - On the Way

PF - Prefold
PL/PL'd - Potty Learned
PPD - Postage Paid (postage included in price)
PUL - Polyurethane Laminate (type of fabric)

RaR - RumpaRooz
RnG - Rockin' Green Detergent

SBD - Star Baby Designs
Sbish - Sustainablebabyish

TT - Twinkie Tush

VGUC - Very Good Used Condition

WB - Woolly Bottoms
WCW - Wild Child Woolies
WLW - We Little Woolens

Game Review: Alice:Madness Returns

So, I will start doing game reviews as I have decided that every once and a while I am going to start playing the games from the local video store in alphabetical order. I will also be adding in the ones that we actually felt like buying here and there, but this has been happening less and less lately.

So... Here. We. Go.

Name of Game: Alice: Madness Returns
Date Released: June 14, 2011 (USA)
Trophies: Yes
Exclusive: No (also available on XBOX360 and Windows)

This game is by my favorite company EA. I will try anything that they put out just because they had me obsessed with Sims for so many years. The graphics are fantastic. I actually think it has a feel like Batman: Arkham Asylum. I also think that if you liked that game - you will probably like this one too. Her outfits that change throughout the game are also interesting... I might have a Halloween Costume in mind.

Likes: Shrink Mode, Different/Creative Weapons, Learning the stories along the way concerning Alice, Different worlds are fantastic, starting from nearest platform if you fall

Dislikes: Sometimes manuevering Alice and the camera shots can be annoying, starting over from the beginning if you die

Overall: **** - Four Stars. I enjoyed playing this game and although it has a rather dark spin on Alice in Wonderland, it is great! There are lots of things to explore, find, and do. The creatures are easy once you learn each trick to killing each of them. Loses a star due to the control of the character is sometimes annoying.

Next Review: Bioshock and Bioshock 2 (combined review)

Thirsties Giveaway

As you all know, I am cloth diapering and Thirsties is one of the ones I would like to try. I have held off until she could fit into the Size 2 covers. But, I would love to try the Duo Fab Fitteds! And they are having a giveaway!

Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted Giveaway! Click the link to go check it out!

Stash Shot

This is a picture I took a couple weeks ago for a stash shot thread on the cloth diapering message board. I haven't wrote an updated stash and what it has cost me for a while now... so this is our current funs.

5 Flip Covers (2 bought new, 3 bought used) = $51.00
18 Flip Inserts (8 bought new, 10 bought used) = $42.00
16 Cotton Infant Prefolds (all new) = $24.00
2 Hemp Babies Big Weeds (used) = $8.00
Med Planetwise Wet Bag (new, but on sale) = $9.00
2 Small Wet Bags (homemade) = $10.00
Mamamade AI2 = $25.00
Muttaqin NB Fitted = $14.00

Total = $185.00

I have a Piddle Poddle Cadillac on the way that was $15.00. This doesn't include the shipping on some items or all the supply costs for making my own things, I have fabric and other stuff still lying around. I also made cloth wipes that we use.

Small Wet Bags

These are my first attempts, so I swear they will get better from here on out. I finally used some of the PUL fabric that I had gotten from the Nancy's Notions day... and I am kicking myself for not buying more. I could have made so much more and probably bigger ones.

Below is a couple different versions. I believe I will make them the way the brown/teal one is from here on out. It is the way my Planetwise one is and is nice for washing and wiping out.

I still have enough PUL left to probably make 2 more if anyone is interested. They are about 9"x12" and have a zipper closure. You can choose if you want a loop sewn in and I may be able to even make the loop snappable.

The price is $5.00 (plus shipping), you can contact me at StellarStina@yahoo.com.

It's Been Another Month!

Holy crap. I knew I had been lacking on posting in the blog area and I will get to that in a minute. However, I hadn't realized that it was a whole month.

The reason that I haven't been posting is because I haven't had time. My boyfriend, Ricky quit his job and has been home all the time. He is just like having another child around and I barely get a chance to do anything when playing with my daughter, cooking for Ricky, and doing other things around the house. I have also applied for nearly 15 jobs... this breaks down into 4 teaching positions and then 11 other random things that have popped up around town. I am waiting for a call next week from the only interview I have managed to get. Ugh.

Alina is now three months. That's right - THREE MONTHS!! She was 12 pounds 1 ounce and 23 1/2 inches long at her two month appointment. She is in the 75% percentile for everything. So, we must be doing things right. She smiles, grabs for toys, and rolls over now.

My weight loss has hit a plateau. I am sitting right around 168 pounds. I can't seem to go down, but I haven't gone back up either. So I am still counting this all as a win. If the weather cooperates we will start taking wakes almost daily and I am going to try making a family binder to get the housework done in a more timely fashion.

I think that does it for the update. Welcome new readers, old readers, and whomever else is out there.

Belated Fit Friday Post!

Sorry for being late. With Ricky leaving his job things have been a little hectic around the house. It was a busy weekend with the yard sale we had and then running errands. Returning things we don't need to Walmart for a little extra money. Just preparing for the crunch that will come if he doesn't find a job pronto. I am looking as well.

Anyway, this stress has my mind completely elsewhere and I failed at the water task for myself. I really need a coach kicking me in the butt daily. I started off really well and was drinking at least 2 20oz bottles of water a day. I have also been trying to drink Ice Tee and Koolaid as a sorta water option. It is better than soda right?

4-15-11 180 pounds
4-29-11 175 pounds
5-6-11 171 pounds

I lost 4 more pounds. And I am beginning to wonder how long after giving birth is it safe to be losing this much weight so fast? Probably a question for the doctor on May 17th when my little girl will get shots... I will cry now.

36 Pounds to go.

Sometime today, or tomorrow, or the next day I will be doing my measurements to start keeping track of where the weight is falling off of. I should have done this right away, but you find time to take measurements when you have a crying newborn. It just doesn't happen. I also don't have a measuring tape... so I have to use a cord of somekind and then find a ruler. It is too much work. I should buy a measuring tape - or make one.

Nancy's Notions Field Trip

So, this is a little later than expected, but I haven't been able to blog lately. I will get better. Like... at least two posts today. On Thursday I went with the MIL and SIL to the Nancy's Notions warehouse sale. Apparently, my boyfriend's mother does this every year. I wish I would have known this place was in Wisconsin. I probably would have gone past years as well.

IT WAS CRAZINESS!

See, when I was invited, I didn't know who Nancy was and I certainly didn't know the lady had a television show. I thought we were going to an awesome craft shop with a sweet clearance section. No, this was a warehouse with nothing but sales on fabric, sewing stuff, and countless other crafty things. There were hundreds of women there (and their husbands sitting in the waiting area with couches). I didn't bring a stroller... because I was stupid and naive new mother. Good thing Alina is young and we fashioned her a basket bed (pictured above).

Anyway, it was a long drive - but an overall awesome day! The following is what I made out with:

1/2 yard of PUL in white (it is going to be a hidden layer)
A yard of a knit pattern
20 fat quarters for $20
Some snaps
A snap tool to apply them
2 grab bags full of fabric
And a pattern

ALL FOR UNDER $50. Now to start attempting making my own cloth diapers again. Wish me luck.

I Think I Want to Sell my Stuff!

So, I have been thinking about the things that I have made and that I like staying at home with my baby. I have been thinking more and more about becoming a WAHM - Work at Home Mom. However, I know there are a lot of other people out there making the same things that I am and it is hard to get into the business. I can't even seem to come up with a name, but I do know what I am going to sell. And here are some pictures...


Upcycled Pillowcase Dress - $15 - designs would vary.

Upcycled Yoga Pants - $12 a pair and the design would vary because I reuse and recycle old t-shirts or tank tops.




Cloth Wipes, these are Terry/Flannel - $1 ea or $10 a dozen
There will also be Flannel/Flannel available - 75 cents ea or $8 a dozen

So now I just need to come up with a name of my shop and start selling. Thanks for looking and comment or message me if you are interested in having anything made!!

It's Friday! Let's Talk Fit!

So it has been rainy. What else can you expect from April, right? Well, I have only gotten out on a few walks and I am still not brave enough to start doing actual workouts. However, I am aware on the things that I do to make Alina calm down. I have walked 50 million laps around the house with her. How can she tell the difference of bouncing while standing and sitting? I hold her at the same angle, silly baby.

I know I missed last week and I am sorry. But, I will be a little better about it now. Going into Easter weekend was full on craziness.

4-15-11 180 pounds
4-29-11 175 pounds

I have lost 5 pounds!! Woo Hoo!

40 Pounds to go.

This week I am going to start a food journal. My milk supply is still pretty random and I think it has to do with my lack of water intake and sporatic eating. I hate water. I really do. I will only drink it if it has ice and is super cold. But, this week I will have at least 20 oz of water a day (this isn't enough, I know, but I need to start small). I will also try to eat 2000 calories a day. The typical range for breastfeeding is 1800-2200, so I figured in the middle is a good goal.

Such A Blonde

The long weekend was full of family and fun. I had another baby shower hosted by Ricky's family. It was lots of fun! And fabulous food. They always have the best food at everything, probably because so many of us like to try out new recipes. Alina and I got lots of good loot that I can't wait to try out... however, I will wait because they are bigger clothes and I already know Alina is growing too fast. As I type this she is sleeping on my chest and is so little and adorable... I will miss these days.

Then again, let's get back to the title. I was rocking her in the computer chair and since it wasn't comforting her, I decided to check her diaper. Sure enough, it was wet. She has had a wet diaper nearly every hour today. I swear it is all I am doing. Since she had just peed... or so I thought I decided to leave her on my lap and let her air out a bit. Bad idea. Two seconds of this and she peed all over me. My pants, my shirt, her sleeper... IT WAS A LOT OF PEE!

On the bright side, she is sleeping so cute right now. I picked up trying to crochet. I will post the pictures, when I finally finish something. I am making chains and undoing them over and over. I am too much of a perfectionist and I am beginning to think this was a bad idea... more to come.

Woke Up To Snow

Really, it is mid-April. No, it is passed mid-April! And this morning we woke up to at least two inches of snow on the ground. What is this cruel joke that mother nature is playing? Wasn't it 10 days ago that we had a humid 80 degree day? That was brutal. I might go insane if I can't decide what to do with the electric heater. We put it away... now it is back out. God help our utility bill if this continues.

So instead of getting to go for a walk like we wanted to, Alina and I are struggling to clean up the house. Do you know how much of a disaster a house can become when you have a newborn baby? Well... I won't be sharing photos, but I will tell you it is bad. I stuck to the bare minimum of laundry (mostly because we need clothes to wear and we cloth diaper) and dishes (luckily we have a dishwasher). I think we would have bought paper plates if we didn't have the dishwasher.

Today is a cleaning day. So far I have managed to clean thirty minutes while laying Alina down to sleep. Thirty minutes is the max she will sleep without being on my chest or laying next to me. Another task for today is to make my homemade Mei Tai wrap. Then I can wear her! That will solve everything and I will have a clean house again.

Also... anyone like rummage sale time? I do. Can't wait to sell all the junk I haven't used in over a year. Why did I even move it? Sell, sell, sell. Or upcycle. There will be posts of upcycling old clothes into baby clothes again soon, once Alina lets me put her down long enough to sew.

First Fit Friday!

The above picture was taken in June 2009 when I was showing off my swim suit body for the summer. This was back in the day when I wore make up daily, dyed my hair every six weeks and I was single working hard to find a lifetime partner. Which, that month I met Ricky, the love of my life.

THIS IS MY GOAL PHOTO! (first goal photo anyway... I was 150 lbs in the photo and a size ten. Perfect ten.)

Between June 2009 and June 2010, I had gained 50 pounds. It was fifty pounds of ugly fat that I had to buy all new clothes. The first time in my life I had to buy large shirts instead of medium and the first time I actually was calling jeans "fat jeans". I kept putting working out off because Ricky and I were trying to conceive a baby. And finally I did. July 2nd, 2010 I took the test and it came back positive. This put off working out, yet again.

November 2010, I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes and it was the best thing that could have happened. It made me watch my diet and eat better. It forced me, or else I could hurt my baby. I ended up only gaining 17 pounds during pregnancy. A feat that I am VERY proud of.

First Prenatal Visit: 192 pounds
Day Before Delivery: 209 pounds
Day Home From Hospital: 200 pounds

First weigh in (Today): 180 pounds
Goal weight: 135 pounds

45 pounds to go...

This is all in anticipation of my six week check up next week that the doctor will hopefully give me the go ahead to start working out (more than just casual walks). So next week I'm not sure if I will lose more weight, but I am already eating better and breastfeeding. And anyone who wants to join me in the Fit Fridays - I would love to support you.

Attempt at Making My Own

So, I really want to try fitteds. They are so adorable and it seems to be all the rage. However, we are strapped for cash since the Winter utility bill was ginormous. It just means that I can't stalk cute places like Goodmama Diapers and Twinkie Tush Diapers. They are all the rave right now and have great reviews. This all leads to me attempting to make my own.

I am a decent sewer. I can do clothes, but apparently I am not good with elastic and measuring my child. It is a little too small, but it was a good first attempt. Next time will be better. I promise.

Next time...

I will wash the fabric first.
I will buy a measuring tape.
I will use a real pattern, not just finaggle one.
I will take my time (I always ruin cute clothes by making it too fast).

Stay tuned for the next attempt.

My Start-Up Stash!

So we took the plunge and decided that we would cloth diaper. Mostly for the financial savings, but also because they save the environment and are so damn cute. They can be a little bulky at times, but generally it isn't so bad and I know they are going to look ADORABLE under all the summer dresses I have planned.

For my cheap start up...

Cottonbabies.com Trial Kit - $35.00
2 Small Bummis Whisper Wrap Covers
6 Chinese Small prefolds
1 Snappi

I tried this for a couple weeks to see if I really liked it. I had disposables that I had gotten as gifts to use up anyway. It went well so I bought...

10 Chinese small prefolds ($15.00)
2 Flip OS Diapers with 1 stay dry insert ($16.95 each)
3 stay dry inserts ($4.00 each)

Grand total of $95.00 and I can wash almost every other day. This was all ordered from Cottonbabies.com and all free shipping and it is all new stuff. I know that buying used can be cheap as well which I probably will do. As we continue, I will build the stash slowly. Maybe a cover every couple weeks or some cute fitteds. For those looking for a cheap place to start... this is definitely it!

Being a Mom Begins!

I had my baby. And that is part of the reason I haven't been blogging. However, I will start again. Not to mention, I have a lot more to talk about when it comes to my opinions on how to raise our little daughter. So, from here on out I will probably talk about the following:

-Cloth Diapering
-DIY Crafts, Clothes, and other sewing
-Growing Up in Wisconsin
-Weight Loss Journey
-Video Games & Movies
-Anything else I feel like writing about...

Now to the interesting stuff!

Alina Joy
March 10th, 2011
9 lbs 1 oz
20 1/2 inches
7:26pm

Her birth story

March 9th
Noon: We arrived at the hospital intending on doing an induction. However, once the monitors were hooked up we found out that I was having contractions... I just couldn't feel them yet.

1:00pm: After an hour of monitoring, the doctor decided to go ahead with the Cytotec. Cytotec is a cervix ripening medication to make the cervix more favorable for the induction.
- 2 cm 50% effaced

5:00pm: Started second round of Cytotec, still having some contractions. I could feel them at this point, but they weren't too bad.
- 2 cm 50% effaced

10:00pm: No change and so we decide that I can try and sleep through the contractions that I am having and we can start the Pitocin in the morning.
- 2 cm 50% effaced

March 10th

2:40am: After trying to sleep, but waking every hour to pee... I was woken by a semi-painful contraction and then decided maybe I have to pee again. However, I couldn't hold it on the way to the bathroom and it was clear. Yep - my water broke. Nurses did a test to verify it and I called Ricky to come back to the hospital (he was at home)
- 3 cm 50% effaced

7:30am: After 5 hours of painful contractions, I decide that med-free is not for me. I ask for the epidural and they start the IV drip. Now, I just get to wait for the man with the drugs to come with his magical tray.
- 3 cm 50% effaced, contractions are 3 min apart and 90 seconds long

9:30am: So, it took 2 hours, 7 stabs to my back, and I finally got my epidural. That was heaven. I was so tired. And my mom arrived! Ricky went home to take care of Alexander (our dog) and try and take a nap. My epidural wasn't a super strong one! I could still move my legs and feel them just fine. There was a really slight numb feeling in my toes. So, it really just took care of the pain.
- 4 cm 50% effaced, don't know about the contractions, I couldn't feel them anymore.

1:00pm: Needed another dose of the epidural and they started the Pitocin because the epidural had slowed contractions.
- I think it was 5 cm at this point... I was really sleepy.

3:00pm: Another round of epidural, strong one. Doctor stopped in to check on me because he had a dentist appt at 3:30 to go to. Figured he had time. Which, ends up he did.

4:00pm: The round from 3 didn't work! I had such bad contractions by 4 that I was crying and they weren't really going away. They turned the pit off and I was given more meds through the epidural. The pain went away, but the pressure didn't. I was so uncomfortable...
- 8cm, fully dilated on left with 2 cm left on the right

5:00pm: The pressure only got worse and worse. They made me lay on my right side to try and get that right side to dilate. They turned the Pitocin back on.
- 8cm, same as before

6:00pm: I got the feeling that pushing would make me feel better. And the doctor said that I could push even though I was still only 8 cm. After a few pushes he was able to push the 2 cm on the right beside her head... somehow - I don't know how that worked, but I either dilated completely while starting to push or he moved it. It is kind of a blur right here.

7:26pm: After an hour and half of pushing, with Ricky as the perfect coach - our daughter Alina Joy was born! I screamed bloody murder when she finally came out. It hurt. It hurt a lot. Course, I left her head half out for three contractions trying to get the rest out. Every time they were telling me she would be born on the next contraction... I called them liars after every set of pushes when she didn't come.

I got skin-to-skin contact right away!
I was able to latch her with in 30 min of birth!
I got a few stitches, but not too bad.
My mom was there for the birth of her granddaughter!

It was an amazing day.

Because Everyone Gets Them...

I know that as a child I did not get many things with my name on it. Most of the time I blame that my name doesn't fit comfortably on anything... or it ends up being huge. Most of the time teachers called me "Christin" because the 'A' was cut off. It is apparently easier to assume that an 'E' was cut off... whatever.

In this day and age, it seems that everyone puts their baby's name on the wall either with decorated letters or wall decals. Since we are planning on having more than one - I didn't go with the wall decal. I don't think they come off easily and I don't want my next child to feel jipped if they have to share a room and their name isn't as big or matchy... or whatever. So I went with the wooden letters.

I went to Hobby Lobby and bought what I thought would end up as a cute end product and this is what I came up with. I also realized that if my mother did this with my name... it would have cost twice as much. Do you think people think of these things when naming their children these days? Like a monogram with 5 letters is less than 9? Hmmm...

DIY Baby Clothes: Pants

Okay, so I have a lot of clothes that I no longer use. No longer wear... or that I have had way too long. You will see in this series of things that I make that I have clothes that I have had since High School. I will even see if I can find proof of how old some of these clothes are... maybe. Like I said before, I have never been good at taking a lot of pictures or documenting my life. That must be why blogging is so hard.

Anyway, I got the instructions for this from Samster Mommy Blog. This blog was posted on The Bump and I decided to check it out! AMAZING BLOG! I learned so much and I was inspired to start making things of my own. I don't have step by step... because I didn't take photos of the step by step. If you want them I can document with the next pair I make. I plan to make a ton out of old clothes and fabric I have laying around.

BEFORE


AFTER


Super easy. Super cute. Even used the straps as a cute extra embellishment on the waistband. It literally took me 20 minutes to make these. And I am super proud about lining up the stripes... cause I am crazy like that.

The Baby Shower

Okay... so my baby shower was January 22nd. It was a while ago and while I sit down to start writing my Thank Yous... I remembered. I have a blog. And I also remembered it has been a long time since I wrote on my blog. So much for all of my New Year's Revolutions. However, you will be happy to know that I have been taking more pictures than I used to. Which is a step forward and a step in the right direction for documenting my baby's life.




That was my awesome cake! I got tons of stuff and my baby is set. We still have a few essentials to get... like diapers. But, I have enough clothes and all the big stuff we need. So, from here on out everything else is smooth sailing. Just need to have her. I love my family and my friends! Especially, my friend Ashley for throwing me such an awesome party!

Here comes the pictures of Taz...

Like I said, I am going to take pictures with my digital camera on a daily basis. This is supposed to be practice so that I learn to have it with me when I have a baby. Course, I will be so excited that I probably won't have a problem taking photos. Anyway... here starts the documentation of Taz's life. If only she knew she is my current muse.

Above... she likes to sleep on her back.
Below... she didn't like her picture taken in that attractive position.





Above... Taz likes cashews. And tomato soup.
Below... Today I was eating these and I shared. However, when I was done, she didn't feel like she was done. So she spent 15 minutes trying to get the canister open. Good luck, kitty.

The Cutest Thing I've Ever Made.

Cherry & Chocolate Mice! I first ran into these at my Dad's side family Christmas. My step-sister made them to go along with her Cheese Ball. She is so creative and I often steal ideas from her. So, I decided I wanted to make them too.



Aren't they adorable? I forgot to take a picture (because I am bad with the whole camera thing) of all the ones I made. There were 24 mice. Now, after being eaten New Year's Weekend... there are only two. Funny thing is, I didn't eat any - because I am not a big fan of cherries.

Anyway... to make them yourself. You need cherries with stems, chocolate for dipping, Hugs or Kisses, almond slices, frosting, and gel. I bought everything already made because I am lazy and didn't want to make my own frosting or gel.

Dip the cherries in the chocolate. You can use Milk or White chocolate.

Attach Hug or Kiss with frosting with two almond slices to the cherry.

Take red gel and dot on the eyes.

They are done! So simple. And so cute!

It's The New Year!

Good-bye 2010 and Hello 2011. I am already looking forward to this year. There is so much to look forward to. Although, I hadn't come up with any resolutions until just today. To be honest I hadn't even really thought about it. How does anyone get away with not making resolutions? Apparently, I did.

1. Post on the blog everyday. I am going to try. Whether it is a random picture I have taken (which I assume that will be easier once the baby is born) or something actually interesting. I want to be more committed to my blog.

2. Take more pictures. This goes along with number one. Somehow I realized that I just don't take pictures. Whether Ricky and I go out or stay in... we never take pictures. I have no pictures from the Holidays at all. For the first few months you might see a lot of Taz, Togomei, and Alexander... and then a lot of the baby after that. At least it will be something. Pictures every day. At least one.

3. Lose weight. Okay, okay. I know this is cliche. But, I have my goal photo all ready from June 2009. Of course, I am waiting until I give birth and I am planning to breastfeed. Most say that that will take off the pounds for me. Plus, I will have a baby and a dog to take for walks. My town has lovely trails to walk on. It can be done. I can make it back down to a healthy, happy 140 pounds.

Now. I have a few days to catch up on, but I think it can be done. I have just begun to realize how much my life is going to change in just two months. TWO MONTHS! Just try not to panic. Right.