Singin' Saturday (Christmas Edition Part 3)

Singin' Saturday (Christmas Edition Part 2)

Munchin' Monday

Apple Pork-N-Pie

***This is a Crock Pot Meal. It is so delicious, easy, and cheap to make****

What you'll need:

Pork Chops

Peeled & Sliced Apples

 Sugar

Flour

Cinnamon

AllSpice

Water

You'll notice I don't have any measurements. That is on purpose, and it is because I just just eyeball things with more of the stuff I like, less of the things I don't. For those who want to know approximately how much I used, here it is...

2 Thick, Boneless Pork Chops

4 Peeled and Sliced Tart Apples

3/4 Cup Sugar

2 Tablespoons Flour

1.5 Tablespoons Cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon Allspice

3/4 Cup Water

*************

Steps to Take:

1) Wash, Peel, and Slice your apples.

 2) Put your Pork Chop in the crock pot and top with everything else.

3) Cook on high for 4 hours or till internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

4) Plate, Serve, and let your taste buds enjoy!



Singin' Saturday (Christmas Edition Part 1)

The Holiday season is more than just near – it’s here! These next 2 Saturdays will be filled with Christmas themed songs that you can enjoy sharing with your baby. With a fresh layer of snow on the ground outside it is finally starting to feel like the Holidays are near! Merry Christmas everyone!  

Silent Night 

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

The First Noel 

The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

Christmas Don't Be Late

I have only been singing the first verse of this song to baby K, but I included the second verse just in case you wanted to continue singing a little more to your wee-one.

Christmas, Christmas time is near,
Time for toys and time for cheer.
We've been good, but we can't last,
Hurry Christmas, Hurry fast.

Want a plane that loops the loop,
(Alvin:) Me, I want a Hula-Hoop.
(Chipmunks:)
We can hardly stand the wait,
Please Christmas don't be late.

The Bulb Syringe

With having a baby comes the ever daunting task of having to clean their precious little noses out with a bulb syringe.  

Some babies won’t mind you sticking that thing up their nose, while others will absolutely dread it. Right now, (knock on wood) – I’m one of the lucky ones and baby K just kind of stares at me like “Are you sure you know what’s best for me Mama?”

So, it’s a bulb syringe – easy right? You squeeze the bulb; insert it into the baby’s nostril, and release -letting the suction grab up all those disgusting boogers. I’ve discovered by trial and error that there is a right way and a wrong way to using this simple device, and that my friends is the wrong way.

First, let me say that it took me awhile to even entertain the thought of sticking this plastic tube inside my baby’s nose. I had read how you should never stick anything (even the bulb syringe) into a baby’s nose or ears, because it just pushes the gunk up in there farther. However, after my husband had quick success with it one morning, I thought there might be something to this that will get Baby K the relief she needs quickly.

The first few times I tried, it took a very long time for Baby K’s nose to get cleaned out when I just squeezed and released straight into her nose. In fact, I think I stopped trying each of those times because it just wasn’t getting the boogies out, and I swear those things were just getting pushed up there more like I read about it.

Eventually, when she was breathing uncomfortably through her mouth while napping I gave in to trying it again. I held her up in my arms in the kitchen with the bright lights on. Thus, I learned that just going straight in was not doing any good to get the little boogers hanging out right there in her nose. Out of sheer desperation, I pointed the end of the syringe towards the top of her nose where the booger was really hanging on – and after a few attempts I could see that it was being pulled forward! PROGRESS! I was so excited.

I’ve cleaned her nose out several times now, and it only works quickly when I point the syringe towards either the top or bottom of her nostril. If I just go straight in her nose with no direction the boogies just moves further back.

Hope this helps in making your nostril cleaning time much more effective.

Humidifier for Baby K

Hey Moms! It’s time for another lesson Learned tip: Congestion.

Baby K was making an awful wheezing sound for about a day and a half. It started to sound really bad and was breaking my heart, so I called the doctor. I kind of felt like a paranoid first time mom, but the office actually told me to bring her in later that day. Apparently RSV is going around town. After reading a few very similar articles on RSV, I was afraid that this is what she had.

The doctor took a listen to her chest and smiled saying it is NOT RSV. He recommended we get a humidifier and try some saline spray. Chris is not a fan of nose sprays and refused to spray anything up her nose. (It kind of freaked me out too.)

We did race to Meijer that night and pick up a Vicks Cool Moisture Humidifier and a box of the Pediatric VapoPad refills. I love the smell of Vicks, and since baby K is sleeping in the cradle in our room, I got to enjoy and benefit from it too.

It only took one night and part of the morning for her congested, heartbreaking breathing to become normal and beautiful again.

RSV is very serious for babies. So, don’t worry about feeling silly about calling the doctor if your baby is experiencing a slow on-set of cold like symptoms. Take your baby in and let the doctor listen to her breathing.

Print Your Own Gift Tags

I spent some time this morning putting together these cute gift tags for all of us to use! Simply print them with your color printer on cardstock (or any heavier paper) to add just one more personal touch to the gifts you love to give.

And then if you wanted a larger tag on that special package:

The best way I found to print these the correct size was to RIGHT CLICK on the photo and PRINT PICTURE. Colors may vary by printer.

Just Showing Off...

I’m just showing off my two loves with this post. Here Daddy and baby K are checking out the Black Friday ads for the best deals.

Munchin' Monday (is baaaack!)

The EASIEST Mock Tuna Casserole EVER!

This is a favorite in our house with not only my husband and I, but also with both of the exchange students we have hosted in the past. It is so quick and easy to make – I like to keep all the ingredients on hand for those nights when I just don’t feel like cooking anything because there is no cutting and viryually no mess!

Utensils:

Casserole Dish

Can Opener

Colander (optional)

Ingredients:

Chicken Noodle Soup

Tuna

Peas

Egg

Milk

Shredded Colby/Jack Cheese

Original Chips

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

1)      Preheat oven to 425 degrees

2)      Drain Soup, Peas, and Tuna

3)      Mix with the Egg, a touch of Milk, and a little Salt & Pepper <<This should be moist, but not have standing liquid>>

4)      Spread desired amount of Cheese on top of dish

5)      Cover with crumbled Potato Chips

6)      Bake in oven uncovered for 30-35 Minutes <<Cheese should be well melted>>  

And Waa-Laa! Dinner is ready to eat in a snap. 

Christmas Card Fun!

2011 - Christmas Card Project

I’m more artistically challenged than I am creative, but this year (with the help of my mother-in-law) I have decided to craft my own Christmas Cards. It was actually pretty simple, a lot of fun, and after the initial $70 investment in products – not too expensive.

I used all Stampin’ Up Products because my MIL is a demonstrator, and because I’ve seen many wonderful cards made with this brand. If you’d like to order Stampin’ Up for yourself – please do so through her website by CLICKING HERE.  

Supplies:
Pacific Blue Card Stock  
Tempting Turquoise Card Stock
Silver Glimmer Paper
Whisper White Paper

Silver Ribbon *Not Stampin' Up*
Pacific Blue Marker
Black Marker

Orange Marker

Dazzling Detail (bottle)

Snow Much Fun Stamp Set

Christmas Saying *Not Stampin’ Up*

Paper Cutter

Black StazOn Ink

Dot Runner Tape

Tacky Tape (1/4” Wide)

Ribbon Hole Puncher *Not Stampin’ Up*

Scissors

Stampin’ Scrub

Stampin’ Mist

****************

Card “Recipe”:

1) Cut ALL paper products.

I originally started making these as your typical folding card, then realized I needed about 20 more cards than I had enough paper for. So… I made the executive decision to make my cards back-to-back as opposed to the traditional folding card.

Cutting Specks:

Pacific Blue Paper: 4¼ X 5½

 *If you are making one-sided cards –Cut each piece in half.

Tempting Turquoise Paper: 4 X 5¼

Silver Glimmer Paper: 3¼ X 3¼  

Whisper White Paper: 3X3

2)      Stamp Snowman on Whisper White paper

3)      Color Pacific Blue on Hat and Scarf, Basic Black on Boots, and Orange on Nose.

4)      Squeeze a little Dazzling Detail on Snowman’s Buttons, End of his hat, and the snowball.

5)      Border the back of the Whisper White paper with the Tacky Tape and stick to silver glimmer paper.

6)      Punch Ribbon holes in center/bottom of the Turquoise paper.

7)      Cut Ribbon to about the length of the paper.

I didn't think about the ribbon when I was designing the card in my head with my MIL. She thought it would be a nice touch, so we headed to Hobby Lobby and picked up the Ribbon Hole Punch and the Ribbon.

8)      Insert one ribbon end through each hole from the front and then cross them in the back bringing each end through the other side.

9)      Border the back of the Glimmer paper with dot runner and stick to top portion of the Tempting Turquoise.

10) Border the Turquoise Paper with dot runner and stick to Pacific Blue Card Stock Paper.

11)   Stamp Message on the upper backside of Pacific Blue paper.

I used a message stamp that my mom bought me from Hobby Lobby, but you can use any message stamp you’d like – Stampin’ Up has some great ones. You can actually see in the "supplies" photo that I originally had "Hope Your Christmas is Snow Much Fun" (included in stamp set) under the snowman picture, but I changed it when I discovered I needed more paper.

12)   Sign Card, Place in Envelope, Apply Postage and let it bring a smile to someone’s face!

Singin' Saturday (On Sunday)

I appologize for my tardiness... Motherhood is kicking my butt at the moment, and I guess I've been on some-what of an emotional rollercoaster.

1 2 Buckle My Shoe

1, 2, Buckle my shoe.
3, 4 Shut the door.
5, 6 Pick up sticks.
7, 8 Lay them straight.
9, 10 A big fat hen!