Boxed Cards

Before little Kyle was born I got these boxed cards at Costco. I always like to have a set of cards on hand just in case you need a card at the last minute and can't get to the store. These cards are adorable handmade cards and I think run around $12.99. Here are also pictures of 2 other boxes I had purchased in the past. I really recommend them.

Have great Sunday.  The weather has improved today so maybe we can take the baby for a stroller ride.

Linda

Summer Bags

I received an email from http://www.ebags.com/ and they are having 20 % off sitewide and free shipping over $75. Sale ends May 17th. Here were a few of my summer favorites.

Shoe Dilemma

I have a question for you mom's out there.  While I was pregnant my co-workers all said my shoe size will increase and won't go back.  Have you had this problem?  I have been trying to organize my closet the last few days and decided to go through my shoes.  Well I currently have 20 pairs (yes 20) that don't fit anymore.  Some I still have the tags on.  UGH!!  Sad but I wish I could say taking 20 pairs of shoes out of my closet made a dent but I would be lying.  I definitely have a purse fetish but I guess I have a little shoe fetish as well (ha-ha).  Some of my friends have said they waited a month and were able to wear their shoes again.   My feet don't look swollen and some of these feel so small I don't think I will ever get into them again.  Could you let me know what you found after your pregnancy.  For now I will bag the shoes up and hang on to them for a little while and try them in a few weeks before getting rid of them but it looks like I have some shoe shopping in my future:-)

Linda

Mojito Cake Recipe

Here is a yummy cake recipe I found the other day that I was just dying to try.  (This is not helping my baby weight loss.  ha-ha).  I made this yesterday but didn't have any mint so I left that out and no heavy cream but used cool whip instead.  It turned out yummy!!  This cake will be perfect during the summer.  The hubs loved it and said he thought this was a keeper recipe.  Hope you enjoy.  Have a great weekend all.


Mojito Cake

Cake

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix

1 cup unflavored carbonated water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup rum or 1 teaspoon rum extract plus 1/4 cup water

3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves

2 teaspoons grated lime peel

3 egg whites

Glaze

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/4 cup water

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup rum or 2 teaspoons rum extract plus 1/2 cup water

Garnish

1 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

15 fresh mint leaves, if desired

Shredded lime peel, if desired


1. Heat oven to 350°F for shiny metal or glass pan (or 325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour.

2. In large bowl, beat cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour batter into pan.

3. Bake 28 to 33 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, mix glaze ingredients. Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium; continue to boil 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until glaze has thickened slightly.

5. Poke warm cake every inch with fork tines. Pour glaze slowly over cake. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

6. In small bowl, beat whipping cream and powdered sugar on high speed until soft peaks form. Garnish each serving with whipped cream, mint leaf and shredded lime peel. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Beauty Products and a update

Happy Thursday,

I hope you are having better weather than we are here in the Chicagoland area.  It's been storming all night long and is still raining.  I am hoping for some nice weather soon so I can take the baby for a little stroller ride.  It's been quite cold around here.  Momma's needing a little sunshine and to get out a bit.  Tuesday Kyle and I both had doctors appointments.  Kyle is 2 weeks old now and is weighing 10 pounds already.  The doctor said he is doing fantastic.  We have a little chunky monkey on our hands :-)  Then my doctor released me to drive and has increased the amount of weight I can lift from 10 pounds to 20 pounds. I am dying to start working out again but due to the c-section he said I have to wait until after my 6 week appointment before I can begin any exercising except for short walks.  UGH!! Since I could drive I did run to the store last night while the hubs watched the baby.  It felt good to get out of the house for a bit and get some groceries.

Well on to my post for today.  We all have our favorite beauty products and I wanted to share a few of mine I use daily that I would recommend.  I love Philosophy products especially their cleansers.  My routine is I usually use the purity in the morning and the exfoliating wash at night.  I also love their body lotion Amazing Grace. It has such a light scent and it is a great moisturizer.  I also have 2 products by Bare Escentuals that I can't be without.   I use the multitasking bisque to cover up those dark circles which with these every 2 hour feedings I am really needing lately (ha-ha).  And then I also LOVE their warmth which is a bronzer that gives my pale skin a bit of color.  I have tried the Bare Escentials foundation as well but I don't really like foundations and so I only use the warmth.  Do you all have any beauty products that are your favorites?

What do you like on your popcorn?

After we put the baby down last night my husband and I had some time to watch a Law and Order episode and make some popcorn.  We have one of those Stir Crazy popcorn poppers.  We haven't made popcorn in a while and so it was a nice treat.  It got me thinking, what do you like to put on your popcorn.  My husband just likes salt and since I was a kid I LOVE putting a little butter and some parmesan cheese on it.  Does anyone else like putting parmesan cheese on their popcorn?

Linda

Some cute party invites

I came across some cute party invites that I thought were adorable for a summer party.   They are from http://www.paperbuzz.com/.  Here were some of my favorites and they are inexpensive too.

Linda

Vera Bradley

I received this cute Vera Bradley All in one wristlet from my sister to carry in my diaper bag.  She has been using one for a while and just loves it when she is running a quick errand and doesn't want to carry her whole purse.   It is just perfect and even fits my phone.  Once we can take Kyle out more I can just throw this in the diaper bag and go.  No need to lug another purse around.  Love it.  Thanks again sis.

 

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!!!

Linda

Wishing you all a Very Happy Mother's Day!!

What a special Mother's Day it is for me this year.  I've waited so long for this day and this year I have a son to celebrate with.  We are so blessed and thankful.

Introducing our newest memember of the family

Hi Everyone,

Our new addition has finally arrived. Kyle Gardner arrived on 4/26/10 at 4:31 pm and weighed 9 pounds 4 oz and 21 1/2 inches long.  He is just the sweetest thing.

I went into labor at 4:00 am on Sunday the 25th.  An hour later noticed spotting and called the doctor he said to head to labor and delivery to be checked.  The baby was fine but my contractions weren't close enough together so they sent me home.  The doctor said once the contractions are 5 minutes apart for one hour call him back.  My husband and I went home and throughout the day the contractions became worse.  Finally at 6:30 pm I told my husband we need to go to the hospital.  By the time we got to the hospital the contractions were 3 minutes then 2 minutes apart.  I was ready for my epidural by this time.  It was a long night and I was making progress but by 9:00 am on the 26th part of the epidural was wearing off and they had to give me more 3 times over the next several hours.  The hospital said this can sometimes happen with people especially when the labor was so long.  After a couple more hours I was dialated to a 6 and the doctor broke my water and gave me a little pitocin to try and speed things up a little.  Well it was time to push and I pushed for 2 1/2 hours.  The head was halfway down but I had started to spike a fever and had to give me antibiotics and the doctor did not feel the head was going to come out.  At this time she recommended a c-section.  They took me down and out came our little cutie.  After we heard how big he was I was glad they did the c-section. We were in the hospital until Thursday and we are trying to get used to all this.  It is quite a change but a wonderful one.  My husband and I are still getting used to these 2 hour feedings. Everyone warns you how tired you are going to be but I really never understood it until now. 

I have missed checking in with you all and will try to catch up soon.  Here is another link if you would like to see some more pictures. Friday night my husband and I just laughed Kyle was just so cute posing for the camer. Our little guy has quite the expressions.

http://www.girlwiththecurlz.com/kyle/dy2

Linda