Steph's Pick | Pregnancy Tips {Part II}

I'll be honest... I haven't been the best pregnant person this time around. And by that I mean that I essentially haven't opened one pregnancy book, I often forget that I'm even pregnant AND I never spend more than 10 minutes at my doctor's office. Now I realize this is pretty normal the second (and third and fourth..) time around but it still feels as if this little girlie is getting a little less lovin'.

In an effort to bring a little more attention to this growing bean I wanted to highlight a few Pregnancy Tips (for those who care).

1. Bar of Soap in Bed for Leg Cramping

Some of you remember when I blogged about this during my pregnancy with Nora. You can read that post here. Well the leg cramps are officially back (as of this morning) SO you can bet this mama is pulling out the ivory soap bar and putting it under our sheets... regardless of the weird looks ya'll may be giving me right now :)

2. Ruby Love Baby Books

I just realized that although I did highlight these on our blog (see Nora's book here), I've never really even given an update on just how much I LOVE these books.

Well - let's just say I'm slightly obsessed with Ruby Love Baby Books and was reminded of my love of these when I received Baby Girl #2's book in the mail just yesterday! You can imagine my excitement...I love me some snail mail (even if I'm the one that ordered it).

3. Baby Name Website - Social Security Administration Popular Baby Names.

I'll admit - there is nothing fancy about the website I'm going to tell you about BUT it has been a very useful tool when talking about this little girlie's name. Thanks Nealy for sending us to it.

The Social Security Administration has what I would consider the most accurate data for all names and they even go back to the 1880's! Alan spent an hour or so searching by decade for the Top 100 names of each decade (again - starting in the 1880's) to be sure we covered all of the basis!

No - we have yet to decide on a name. But we're getting closer. However, we'll wait to disclose the name until after this little girl makes her big entrance.

4. A little indulgence - Wetzel Pretzel

Ladies - I'm no saint. Not that any of you thought I was - but I certainly love to indulge every once in awhile during pregnancy. Well the little pretzel bits at Wetzel Pretzel have come to the rescue a couple times during Pregnancy II.

Read about my first Wetzel Pretzel Craving on Scottsdale Moms Blog - I still chuckle when I read that post!

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{busy bee}

When I titled this post I didn't think twice about it. However - I apologize in advance to those of you who may be expecting a Nora update - this is more a Steph update.

I know, I know... I'm not nearly as exciting {nor as cute} AND - let's be honest - Nora is our sweet little busy bee. But you'll just have to come back another time for a Nora update ;)

Regardless... let's move on.

November, December and January have been busy months so I thought I'd give you a little extra blog-reading (and looking) to keep you up to date on all of our happenings.

November and December were the months of babies. Babies, babies and more babies were born.

My sweet nephew (first boy might I add), Mason was born Nov 22nd. See his birth

announcement here.

He was followed by our dear friend's baby, Easton on Dec 3rd. See his birth announcement here.

And last but not least - our sweet friend's had their second girl, Clara on Dec 28th. See her announcement here.

{Note: I do have two more birth announcements I've been working on BUT they has yet to be put in the mail so I'd hate to spoil the surprise. So... we must wait for the H's & L's announcement at another time).

And of course you can't forget a few Christmas cards I worked on during the holiday season.

Now on to January...

Yes, yes - that is what you think it is - Tempo Medical's Co-Ease Self-Adherent Wrap. A friend actually had enough faith in my {amateur} photography skills that he asked me to take some photos for a couple projects his employer is working on. The photo above is just one of the many

shots I got of the product. Kinda cool, huh?!

Next I had a friend, Nealy, ask me to help her design her business logo. If you're from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, please do check out Photography by Nealy. Her work is so incredible!

January also brought some fun changes to our home. I just recently changed positions within Family Matters and am now managing the social media ("Like" us on Facebook and "Follow" us on Twitter pretty please). This has changed my work schedule considerably and is allowing me to be home with Nora more often...which I'm soooo happy about. Don't worry - I still have quite the full schedule - just rather than being in the office I'm in my new "office" - the park, library, kid's classes, Chick-fil-a play land - you name it, we've been there :)

I've also been working on an INCREDIBLE Valentine's Dinner with Fleming's Steakhouse, Mom it Forward, Scottsdale Moms Blog and Streetlight Phoenix. Read more about this local opportunity to GIVE BACK this Valentine's. So cool...Alan and I can't wait to be able to dine on a perfectly cooked steak (no - we're not vegetarians in case you wondered) AND be able to give to the ministry of Streetlight Phoenix.

And lastly - this past week I've been working with a couple of other sweet friends and planning a Scottsdale Cooking Club (yipee)! We've already had to close the club b/c we're at the max number of people (20) and we cannot wait to get started! I'll post at another date about how YOU can start your own cooking club and the logistics involved :) (oh - and just b/c I'm weird I created the above logo - every cooking club needs a logo, right?)

Now off to bed...and as Nora would say...night, night!

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Mommy SOS | Flower Girl

Just this past week Nora was asked by one of our dear friends to be her flower girl in her upcoming July wedding. We were so honored by her request and are thankful to be asked to be a part of their big day. It's sure to be a wonderful wedding.

But...then I started thinking...how in the world am I going to get our rambunctious going to be two-year old to do her flower girl responsibilities? Namely walking down the aisle.

Obviously if we had a child that sat still for more than 2-seconds and obeyed everything we said it would be a different story. We don't.

So... I need your mommy advice. What can we do to help prepare Nora for being a flower girl in July? I fully realize that we have plenty of time but I was just thinking about it and thought better now than never :)

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Steph's Pick | Green Salad with Apple, Feta, Pecans and Balsamic Dressing

I'm always on the look-out for new salad recipes to try. I know, I know... I can easily just make something up on my own....greens, cheese, nuts, dressing and fruit...but for some reason I always feel more confident in a recipe rather than my own ability to create something.

So thanks to PW's Tasty Kitchen (and Twinks - recipe sharer) I tried this INCREDIBLE salad this week and LOVED it.

Here it is all for all of you salad lovers out there...

Green Salad with Apple, Feta, Pecans and Balsamic Dressing

Ingredients:

FOR THE SUGARED PECANS:

1/2 cups pecan pieces

2 Tbsp sugar

___

FOR THE SALAD:

Baby Spinach

1 head romaine lettuce, torn

1 whole granny smith apple, cored and very thinly sliced

4 ounces crumbled feta

____

FOR THE DRESSING:

1/2 cups red onion, finely chopped

3 Tbsp red wine vinegar

3 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

2 Tbsp sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Directions:

Place nuts in a medium skillet with 2 tbsp sugar. Cook over medium-high heat until nuts are coated and brown, stirring constantly (about 5 min); set aside.

Toss salad greens, apples and cheese.

Combine dressing ingredients in a blender and blend well. Pour over salad just before serving.

Sprinkle with candied nuts.

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Steph's Pick | Paper {Product} Snobs

I'll admit it - we're total paper {products} snobs. There... I said it. I'm not really even ashamed of it.

Now I had every intention of doing a vlog (video-blog for my non-blogging friends out there) for this post. In it I was going to show you my Rudolph nose as I articulated our reasons for paying the extra buck for good paper products. Well....that's not going to happen (sorry). This mama is just a little too sick and tired for vlogging. One of these days...

Well on to our paper product "must-haves." And please.. don't stop reading here. The information below might just change your life (hehe)...

1) Viva Paper Towels

Some of you may remember my post back in May about these beauties. Well we love them so much I just had to highlight them again. I know.... paper towels for Steph's Pick 2x - crazy!

They are well worth the money and you will never go back to the other brands once buying a roll or rolls of Viva!

2) Puffs Ultra

There is nothing worse than being sick and needing to blow your nose every 5 minutes. Trust me...I'm in the middle of one nasty sinus infection right now and my nose hates me! Well, it doesn't hate me as much as it could because we're a little snobby when it comes to our tissues as well. Puffs Ultra has time and time again been Consumer Reports #1 Tissue choice (and you know how much we love CR). Not only are these tissues super soft - they are very strong as well.

3) Charmin Ultra Soft

Next up - the paper product used most often in this household (and yours too) - toilet paper! I might get some slack for posting about such a sensitive topic but I'm willing to take the backlash if it means saving you from problems down there.

To prevent said issues from happening we are willing to pay the extra dollars to keep things fresh and clean. 'Nough said.

4) Kirkland Baby Wipes

Last but not least - A Nora Recommends - the best baby wipes - Kirkland (Costco) Baby Wipes. Honestly I had no idea I could actually have an opinion about baby wipes. Well, needless to say, I do. These are hands down the best baby wipes. Both the thickest and softest. Love me some Costco.

That's it - what can I say - we live luxuriously in some ways ;)

Happy Friday!

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christmas 2010 recap

Happy New Year!!!! As we look back on 2010 and consider all that God has done in our lives we are thankful for so much!

Here's just one thing we're thankful for.... time in Iowa with family over the holidays.

First - if you missed the videos I posted earlier this week of Nora sledding you MUST check

them out. They are just too funny.

To go along with those - here's a pic of the gang out sledding one day.

One morning we were able to meet one of my most favorite people in the whole wide world - Allie & her daughter Reese - at a play land for a morning of fun. For both girls and moms.

And a family gathering just wouldn't be complete without a family pic. I'm pretty impressed we were able to get all children awake and somewhat looking at the camera (minus Ella).

Nora got to meet her GG Theda thanks to "Shuttle Ray." Thanks Ray for picking up grandma and bringing her to Des Moines to spend some quality time with her great-grandkids.

Nora is blessed to have so many of her great-grandparents who are always eager to give her lots of hugs and kisses when they see her. Her GG Mary and GG Harvey came to Mt. Vernon to say hi.

I was really hoping we'd have a White Christmas. Don't get me wrong - I love the warmer weather in AZ but around the holidays I really miss cold weather and snow. So needless to say - I got my wish! And of course I was not about to miss the opportunity to get an updated family picture in the SNOW!!!

And lastly - we spent Christmas Eve with the Triggs side in Mt. Vernon.... and of course, we had to snap a family pic with everyone.

Happy New Year from all of us! May God continue to do great things in your lives over the next year.

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