Tub Tub Hair

My sweet Miabelle. Her hair just keeps getting better & better...

Wish I was... a mini Cousteau?

FYI...It's not actually Shark Week BUT Nat Geo had a really cool documentary on the Great White Shark vs. the Killer Whale. In 1997 a  group of whale watchers witnessed the only recorded encounter. Killer Whale was the hands down winner.

At one time I hoped to follow in the foot steps of the great Jacques Cousteau & be a kick a$$ marine biologist. I think my desire was sparked by a trilogy of Cousteau photography books my mom & dad picked up at a flea market when I was little.

Thankful for You

I use this blog to talk about the things I am thankful for every time I post. Images of my awesome husband & our beautiful baby girl hog up all the Internet pages:)  My mom & dad deserve a million pages as well.
I am so thankful for the best parents in the world.  Your support & love means EVERYTHING <3

 We love you!!!  xoxoxoxoxox    Liz, Damon & Miabelle

Holiday Yums

I was so excited to tell everyone about the Ben & Jerry's Red Velvet Cake ice cream I found. AND THEN I took a bite...All I taste is red Dye #whatever. It's a  very strange, almost chemically taste. I am going to try & take a few more bites but I am seriously glad I grabbed a pint of B & J's Cinnamon Bun too!!

Something that did work out well?? Stacy's Gingerbread Pita Chips (Giant Eagle). OMG! They ARE Amazing. I really only grabbed them b/c I had a couponyet some how I ate (almost) a whole bag in one car ride!!! I can only imagine dipping them into a Tastefully Simple Toffee cheese ball!!!! YUM

I know I sound like a fat cow but I do also try & incorporate healthy things into our family diet..Last nite was the 1st time I cooked a butternut squash. I took inspiration from Mia who now gives baby jar squash a thumbs up!!!!  What until she tries this recipe for Garlic Baked Butternut Squash from allrecipes.com.  IT sounds simple, but it was totally delicious. The parm cheese rocks out!!!!

• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 
  
• In a large bowl, combine the parsley, oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add squash and toss to coat.
• Transfer to an ungreased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400 
• degrees F for 50-55 minutes or until squash is just tender.

7 Months

From your 6th to 7th month you have had some serious physical changes.
Your started eating cereal &  purees.
You LOVE your oatmeal.
It's a slow process, as we add one new puree every 3-4 days.
We took a whole week off new foods as you were EXTRA fussy. We think it may have been an upset tummy from multigrain cereal.
You like peas. Despise sweet potatoes, bananas & pears. Indifferent to avocado & carrots.  I think it is just going to take a lot more tasting.

The cereal has helped you sleep ALMOST thru the nite. You go to sleep around 7pm. You go down in your crib with no binky. You just sing, coo or fuss for a minute then your out. Were up eating between 4-5am & then back to sleep until 7:30am.
Still taking 2-3 naps. The morning is usually the longest at 1.5 hours. Then 30minutes to an hour in the afternoon.

Started sitting up at 6.5 months!! 

As soon as you started sitting you also started, rolling & rolling & rolling.You have also figured out how how to bounce in your exersaucer. We call you a bucking bronco:)

We will be retiring the Bumbo & moving you to your big girl high chair.  You arch your back & look like you could flip out of the Bumbo at any second as you reach for anything you can find.

I have FINALLY gotten back in to the swing of working!! It took forever but I am working 4 days a week & feeling more productive. I STILL forget at least one thing per day. Whether it's my purse, a piece of my pump or diapers.  That was me before baby so I am sure it won't be getting better any time soon!!!

Feeling It

This could be the motivation I need to get back to the gym.. It makes me laugh out loud...

Baby Blogger

Miabelle,

Today is 11.11.11.  You are officially sitting up. I've suspected over the last week that you were strong enough. I think you could sit up but didn't want anyone to know:) I know that you will be on the move soon & your dad & i will be CHASING after you for a long time to come!!!! Love you sweetheart..XOXOXO

Shark attack or Dance Off?

Coolest band aids ever. I think the Trifecta needs to stock up!!!!!

Peas & Carrots

Introducing solids has been FUN!!  After the initial homemade sweet potato disaster I figured it out. Decided to try some Earth's Best organic jar food to start.  She's tried peas, pears, carrots, & of course sweet potato. So far peas are the run away winner!!!

Tomorrow we are going to try home made bananas. I'm thinking the key is to add way more liquid for a smoother texture. Experimenting with the First Years Babypro. I have a serious food processor on my Xmas list & the VITAMIX in my dreams:)

Couponing Tips

I am a shopaholic. I love thrifting, garage sale-ing and now COUPONING. It is seriously addicting!!!!  My sister in law is a champion couponer & with a few tips from her i was off and running.
If you have watched Extreme Couponing on TLC, don't get your hopes up..lol Getting free groceries is hard. By groceries I mean food items.  Now you want some free toothpaste, razors or super cheap toilet paper?  Let's chat!!!

With stores like Wal-Greens & CVS having Register Reward programs you can easily score tons of "free" (or dirt cheap) items. As long as you don't mind continuing to shop here in order to use your the in store rewards you earn!! Target is another great store to coupon at *Tip* Target will let you stack a manufacturers coupon with a Target. For example, there s a $2 off Maybelline lipstick web coupon on Targets website.  There was also a $2 off Maybelline lipstick in a the Sunday paper a few weeks ago!!!  So the deal right now at Target looks like this

$5.54 for delicious Maybelline lipstick or lip gloss
$2 off Target web coupon
$2 off Sunday paper coupon
$1.54   for delicious Maybelline lipstick or lip gloss AFTER COUPONS!!!!

Not impressed by still paying $1.54 after coupons? Sorry man, make-up is expensive!!! How about some free Annie's Mac & Cheese??  Friend Annie's on Facebook and print a .$75 off coupon. *Tip* Create a FB page just for couponing!!!!!!  Kroger has Annie's on sale $10 for 10 making a box $1. *tip* You don't have to buy 10 to get the $1 deal. *Tip* Kroger doubles coupons up to $1.  So the deal looks like this.

$1.00 for yummy organic Mac & Cheese
$.75 off Facebook coupon
Kroger doubles my coupon to $1
FREE yummy organic Mac & Cheese!!!

Don't think I didn't want to ask all 251 of my FB friends to like Annie's and give me the coupon..HAHA P.S this coupon offer is over.   Some of my most FAVORITE couponing blogs are:
The Krazy Coupon Lady
The Frugal Burgher
Stretching a Buck
Coupon Geek
*Tip* Check em Every Day, multiple times if you can. You never know when a sale will pop up:)