30 weeks!

10 weeks to go...holy crap!

Belly Rubs

Belly rubs are an absolute staple in our house. They make everyone smile, they make everyone happy, and they feel good too!

Have you rubbed a belly lately?! If not...you should try it!

Happy Bellys!

Let there be plants!

We are in business people!

If you have been following our adventure, Hubby and I have taken to gardening. Well, Hubby has taken to gardening and I am reaping the rewards.

We shopped for plants, found stuff we would both love...other than the bell peppers, those were my selfish choice because I just love them!

But other than those, we have a lettuce section

cilantro

tomatoes

and even cucumber!

We are up and running and definitely excited!

(he is so cute!)

Happy Earth!

What do you get....

Sometimes my best "creations" come when I am just playing around and having fun in the kitchen. What do you get when you have a trial chocolate cake (I was testing the recipe for an upcoming birthday cake), a vanilla simple syrup, strawberries on sale (99 cents per pound!!), and homemade whipped cream...

a delicious Easter treat!

So I have been meaning to blog about this for awhile but never had the best reason so now I am going to take my chance. Not only is this blog about our Easter dessert, it is about being brave and experimenting in the kitchen.

I am by NO means an expert in the kitchen. I still learn something new everytime I cook and everytime I watch the Food Network. BUT I will say that I am a much better cook than when I started and I owe a lot of that to being brave enough to just try new things and being okay with failure.

Cooking and baking is about trial and error. As much as the story on the bag wants you to believe that Mrs. Wakefield just HAPPENED to create a recipe for a delicious baked treat and just HAPPENED to toss in some chocolate pieces and BAM out came Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookies, I have a hard time buying it.

Sure, she might have had her batter ready to go but once she realized the chips didnt melt, you dont think she experimented to come up with what is now one of the best cookies on the planet?! Trial and Error.

Be brave. Try using new ingredients. Try "creating" a recipe just from what you have in the pantry or on hand. Be okay if it tastes terrible and finds it way to the trash, but learn from that and don't let it bother you enough that you can't try again. (It has taken me years to be okay with that mind you)

I have found that some of the best recipes and frankly the most enjoyable cooking experiences have come from when I am just playing around and having fun in the kitchen. I promise, over time...it will make you a better cook and you will enjoy food and the fruits of your labor even more!

Happy Cooking!

Here's the dirt on our garden (HA! Dirt...Garden...get it?!)

So as you may recall, Hubby and I have decided to become one with nature and attempt to grow our own produce.

Step two in the "starting your own garden" handbook involves dirt. Lots of it. Three different kinds to be exact but I am going to be honest with you, I am not sure what they are. All I know is that mixed together it pretty much looks like potting soil but dirt is easier to say so we are going to continue to call it dirt.

The pot was removed, mulch was added as filler, and dirt was added. We are in business people!

The next question (as Hubby tested the waters and tossed a tennis ball near it and watched Bailey jump right in) was how we are planning to keep the dogs out. We get the best sunlight in the middle of the yard so while we could have put it in a raised location, they chances of tomato survival were slim to none. My suggestion was a tazer and cookies. Everytime they go near it, they get tazed. Everytime they walk away, they get a cookie. Apparently Hubby thought this was inhumane or something. He is a softy.

(And I am only joking people...please dont comment or send me any nasty email...we dont taze them...only make them wear funny costumes and hats for punishment)

and maybe the occasional napkin or E-collar...just saying...

Anyways...focus Megan!

We compromised and decided on chicken wire. We figured this would at least keep them away from the plants they couldnt reach. When I say "they"...I mean Bailey.

As you can see, we also sectioned off the garden for each plant. This will make it easier to keep track of what is what and allows for each plant to have his/her own growing space. This is looking easy!

Next step...plants! Wish us luck!

Happy Gardening!

28 weeks = start of month 7th = start of 3rd trimester

Easter Sunday started our 28th week. We are officially in the 3rd trimester. Should I start freaking out yet...

Happy Baby!

My Black Thumb

So Hubby and I have tossed around the idea of planting a garden for awhile. Not for flowers so much as for fruits and vegetables. We actually attempted one in our old house...

but soon realized that:

a) plants need sunlight

b) the hose was too far away

and

c) we got lazy

(and yes...they are planted in a pick-up toolbox...we are innovative)

Anyways...we have continued to talk about it but with the three beasts, the challenge was not only where we would put it so they couldnt attack it but would we have time to maintain it.

We have gotten to know our neighbors a couple houses down (they recently had an ADORABLE baby girl in January!) and what would you know...they recently planted a garden! This was all the motivation that Hubby needed and he too was on a mission.

I will document our "journey" in stages, hopefully in the end with me holding a GIANT bell pepper or tomato or something, so be ready!

Friday, we began our "journey". We went with a 5x3 size and based on what Hubby has read and the info he got from our neighbor, doing it this way should make it easier to maintain. I am crossing my fingers.

First came the building of the frame. I was 100% not involved in this process. This is all Hubby. (please disregard the pot in the middle...it was there to keep the bedliner down during the storm of 2010 which proved to be less than impressive...by less than impressive I mean it didnt rain)

Next step...dirt! Stay tuned!

Happy Green Thumb...hopefully!