just come sit a while with me

Waaaay back a the beginning of the month, I gave myself the challenge of doing the photo a day challenge; which I've stuck pretty darn good to.  See recent posts here, here, here, and here.  More to come!!  

What a great blessing this little challenge has been for me to really take a moment to stop and smell the roses, as you say, and focus on how best capture each moment.  It's just been kinda awesome creating little memories out of a silly little challenge. 

We just recently purchased these bright red chairs, and ooooh how I love them!  Sad thing was I stuck them out on the porch and hadn't even had a chance to sit in them yet.

I went outside (coincidentally chair day) to get the mail while little miss E toddled along.  I rushed past her, grabbed the mail and watched her get into one of the chairs on the porch.  All I could think about was how long it would take me to get her back inside. Goo!  I had so much to do that day!  I went up the porch grabbed the door knob and said, Ok E, let's go inside!  Common!  She just looked up at me and gave me the most earnest and sweetest smile that said: Momma, just come sit a while with me.

  

So I did.  

For the rest of the afternoon, I forgot about the mail.  Forgot about the pile of laundry on my couch and everything else and we just sat.  Ate watermelon (a lot of watermelon as you can see from her chin :) and watched the clouds and cars go by.  Giggling and having fun. 

And you know what the best part was?  

Watching her smell our pink roses on the front porch.  Funny how she watched me do the same thing while I sat in my red chair. 

much love,

{ashlie}

check out my photo a day challenge before they're posted on Instagram 

@aeborn32

*Note:  I find it very bothersome to have two accounts on Instagram.  I will keep @truliescrumptious up, but from now on will be updating my @aeborn32 with my photo a days :)

I Heart....

Audrey Hepburn...

Well, her too, but I trulie love:

 {makeup}.

Do I know how to apply it well or use colors that look good on me?

Well...

probably not. 

But whether it is the dabbling on the blush or the curling of the eyelashes-I love the regime of looking 

-- done up.

I am in the mode of wanting to switch things up and obtaining new products.  I'm over just "buying it because it was on tv", I want to buy it for me.

Hey,

that rhymes :)

So in Lou of writing a post about what I have, I want to know what YOU have and LOVE.  

I wanna know...

What's in your bag?

Ashlie's Top 10...Favorite Baby Things I Could Not Have Lived Without!

Ashlie here.  It's been quite a while, no?
I'm sure you've been thinking-"Have you been living under a rock...?"
Well, kind of.
We've had the most unfortunate and untimely event of my father-in-law passing away suddenly and it's really made me not want to do much socially...or blogically (if that's even a word).
I take great comfort in knowing what I know about the gospel and why we're all here.  Thanks to my wonderful sister, she's taken up blog duty with her fantastic baby tutes here, here, and here.  But the talk of babies if definitely in the air and I thought I would share some of the top ten things I could not lived without with baby E...who is now  almost (*gulp)16 months.

My how time flies...

Top 10 Baby Things I Could Not Have Lived Without

1. First and foremost...the Boppy.  It rarely left my side (literally) for the first three months.  It has to be one of the greatest inventions, next to...

2. The Pump. (I think breast pump sounds so...you know--weird)  Again, the first three months it was a lifesaver.  I went back to work 4 weeks after I had E and it was so nice to be able to give her my milk and still get out of the house.  Plus it was great for Spunky to be able to feed her at night while I slept.  And the baggies to freeze extra milk...love, Love, LOVE!

3. Dr. Brown's Bottles.  They look complicated with all the spouts and spickets, but is totally worth the extra pieces.  I had colic as a baby...(I get reminded how awful I was constantly by aunts and uncles) and I was for sure karma would come looking for me in the form of my new babe, but not with these bottles. BPA free, help aid in reducing gas bubbles and-ahem..colic, and has a natural flow like breast feeding.  Got them off of Amazon and came in a pack with two 4 oz bottles, three 8 oz bottles, and all the trimmings.  

4. The Swaddler.  Even though little E loved to sleep with her arms above her head, we still wrapped her up as tight as a bug in a rug and ---heaven.  Helped her sleep through the night, as well as...

5.  The Sound Machine.  Not only do Spunky and I use a sound machine at night, but so did E.  Still does.  My sister in law said that was on the top of her list for all her kids and it does wonders for not only blocking out noises as they nap, but is a great way to soothe them as bed time comes.  

6. Minky Blankets.  Not sold in stores :)  My mom made E six minkys when she was born.  Perfect for winter time and still perfect for E when she wants something soft to cuddle.  Like they say, you can never have too many blankets and I certainly have the blanket basket to prove it. 

7.  Car Seat Cover.  Also made by mom, (not the one pictured--I was too lazy to get a real pic.  Just know it's waaay cuter than the one above :)  I had a minky and a cotton one.  Minky which was great to have in the winter as E was born in December and the cotton we switched out in the spring.  LOVED to have them not only for nap time on the go, but also to ward off nosy strangers wanting to look at my baby.  It may be just me, but I wasn't real keen on letting wierdies breathe on her.  When someone asked too look at her, I could politely say, she's taking a nap and I don't want to wake her...enough said.

8. The Vibrating Chair.  One of the only tools that E really loved up until she could crawl.  I distinctly remember one time she was sleeping in it while I was vacuuming.  She was so out I moved her (gently) around as I was vacuuming and she didn't even move.  Great, great thing to have when you feel like you need to get something done around the house.  But only if you feel like it :)

9. Aveeno Lavender Baby Lotion.  This lotion smells so good I even use it for myself.  (I have my own separate bottle).  I put it on after tubby time and it makes her skin super dooper soft and the lavender scent is extremely soothing--enough to want me take a nap.

10.  Total Baby App.  After you have a baby...you really can't tell which is up is down, whether it's night or day, and it makes you kinda crazy.  You'd be surprised how you can barely function with two hours of sleep. This app was so helpful to remind me when she was changed-how many wets and solids she'd had (which was great to have at pediatrician appointments), when she was fed last, for how long and what side I had fed her last (again, you'd be surprised at how easy you forget), when she slept last and for how long, and any other pertinent information you'd like to add.  I only used this until I got back on a good sleep schedule and could remember on my own, but was super helpful to have by my side at all times.  

What are your top ten? Anything to add, subtract, multiply--tell us.  We're BOTH getting close to game time and would always love to hear what you can't live without when it comes to baby!

Ashlie's Favorite Things: Fruity Ice Cuby Smoothies

I am so excited about this post, I'm just about to pee my pants!  So yesterday, if you remember, I did a post on how you MYO baby food. 

(if not-here's a refresher)

And you thought it was Awesome...right?! 

But today I've created the ultimate ice cube treat for YOU!  

(Baby can have some too if you're willing to share :)

Are you ready?!

EEEEK!

-----------

I MadeMyOwn:

Fruity Ice Cube Smoothies.

Can I get a YUM-O?

So, methinks I'm a genius and that I've discovered the next best thing next to sliced bread, but I'll let you be the judge.

Here's how you make 'em.

Along the same lines as the baby food: we're gonna blend in some fruit for our ---fruity ice cuby smoothies.  I've done some blueberries with bananas, along with yogurt and a little bit of milk.  I only made a small test batch, so I only threw in a little handful of everything. Next time for sho' I'm making more!

  But what would also be AMAAA-ZINGLY HEALTHY, which I'm not getting there- you can add plain yogurt (or go GREEK!), skim milk and some lean protein mix.  And if you're brave enough, put in some carrots or spinach...  

Whirl it up nice and thick.

 {I see you're drinking 1%. Is that 'cause you think you're fat? 'Cause you're not. You could be drinking whole if you wanted to.}

 Pour into your ice cuby tray.  As you can see I dribbled and mixed my pineapple, banana, mango smoothie (heavenly BTW) with my blueberrie* banana.   But no worries, you can't mess up perfection like this :)

(*note: I've spelt {trulie} too many times, I add "ie" to everything...probably b/c I like it better that way?  Yeah. Most Definitely.)

 Freeze for a couple hours, until, well--frozen.  Then add a few cubies to your blender with some milk.  I did 3 cubes with about 1/4C milk for a small smoothie.  I'll do 6 with about 1/2C milk for my breakfast in the morning :)

 Can you say perfection? Mmmmm!

So now you know my most latest and GREATEST invention yet -an even faster way to get your morning, noon, or evening {or midnight!} smoothie snack in like 10 SECONDS!  

Go get busy and MYO Fruity Ice Cuby Smoothies!  

Go! 

Go! 

Go!

Tell us how they turn out!:) 

Ashlie's Favorite Things: MYO Baby Food

I think one of my favorite things about being a mom is being able to provide and nurture my family.  Even if I think cooking is a worse chore than loading the dishwasher {baking is my forte}.

Like tonight, I had a polish hot dog and zucchini squash with cheese.  Mmm... 

I know, you're totally dying to come to my house for dinner right now.

{But it really was good!}

But I love, love, love making my own {MakeYourOwn} baby food.  It's one of the easiest things I could ever comprehend, unlike comprehending the game of cribbage-which is like rocket science to me. 

{My husband can't understand how and why I don't understand it...}

 I know some peeps prefer the jared kind-which is great too; but for me this is a cost effective and creative way to get yummy somethings in my babys' belly, and um, remember that I like EASY and FAST?

My SIL, Taya told me about it and it sounded like a TON of work fun. But really the first time I did it,  I thought it was the bees knees! 

 {hmm do bees really have knees?  Time for Fruity Fact Friday research...}

If you've never done it, give it a whirl and see what you think!  

** If you are totally NOT interested in making baby food-hold on, I've got something for you too... just keep reading.

K, what you need:

Ice Cube Trays

Fruit &/or Veggies

For Veggies: Boiling water accompanied by a stove

A Blender or Food Processor

Small Spatulua/Spoon

Freezer (I'm pretty sure everyone has one of these.  Maybe two. Lucky!)

For las frutas:  First ya take the bananas, pears, peaches, apples, plums,nectarines what-ev. and you cut them into chunks.  Stick them in the blender, add a little bit of water and liquify them down to your preferred consistency. 


For las venduras:  Sweet potatoes, yams, carrots, zucchini, spinach,beans, what-have-you, cut them into chunks.  Boil them until soft and mushy.  Stick in the blender, add a little bit of agua and liquify them down to your preferred consistency.
*Hint: Use the water that you used for boiling the veggies in the blender.  If you have a steamer-more power to ya, or should I say more nutrients for ya!  I don't have one so I use the boiled water to put the nutrients back into my veggie, then save it in a tupperware (as long as it hasn't been sitting in my fridge too long) for the next time.  I like to do all my cooking in one afternoon so I usually use it up.  It takes a while since I only have two trays. :o} (*note to self: need more ice trays.) But it's worth it!

 

Pour into ice cube trays.  Use your spatula/spoon to help you so you don't get your counter all messy.  Like me. :/ 

Place in freezer.  Freeze.  

Once frozen, pop them out and place in a zippy.  I like to put the date and what it is, since some things tend to look similar in this frigid state.  If you need a little help popping them out, I use my knife to give me a little leverage.  Once zipped in tight, place in the freezer until your ready to use.  

I've heard that they stay good for around 3 months.  I just finished up carrots and sweet potatoes that I made July 26th! 

 Can I tell you how nice it is, when E is hungry to put her in her chair, pull out a couple of cubes, nuke them in the micro, poor a little rice or oatmeal cereal to thicken it up and 

BOOM! 

Done!  

Most excellente, I say.

And you can always mix and match.  Some plums with bananas, sweet potatoes with carrots...you get the picture.

**For those of you that don't have to worry about making dinner for a little one, I got a frozen treat for you too.  Now, I have not tried it..yet.  Sounds pretty promising right?!

  I ran out of time today, but first thing when I get home from work tomorrow (if the temperament of my child allows it) I'm planning on testing it out to actually make sure it works.    

I've talked before about wanting food fast and easy, what, like a zillion times because honestly I go from 0 to starving in under 10.2.  Ask Spunky, he can vouch, cuz I get really grumpy.

I've been trying my hardest to get in the habit of eating healthier, not only for myself, but for my family.  Another great reason why I like to MMO{make my own} stuff-I know exactly what goes in it.  But more times than not, I buy a bunch of fresh produce with the best of intentions and I usually forget to eat it or I don't get to it in time and it goes bad.  It's a waste of food and money which to me, is a cryin' shame.  

Boo.

:'{

So my idea is to... 

Hmmmm.

Hmmmmmmmmm...

Know what?

You'll just have to wait and see.

{Talk about a cliff hanger!} 

Whoa.  

I. Am. EXCITED!

Yea?

Waaaay.

So look out tomorrow to see what I've come up with.

I can tell you're so excited too.  

Aren't chya?

Yeah,

I thought so. 

Until tomorrow...