♥ my new cousin

yipee!!! I have a new cousin today - Ella Jane!!!

Sending our love to Kyle, Sara and Ella today!!!

xoxoxo

ps: mommy said she'll post a tutorial later of how to make my cute shirt :)

Steph's Pick - Panini Recipes

Remember this post? Probably not.... that was back in May of 2008. I can't imagine that anyone was reading our blog at that time :)

Since receiving our panini grill (which happens to be on sale!) as a gift, we've used it countless times. It's been an awesome appliance to have around the kitchen. And for those of you questioning this statement - we have a very small kitchen and don't have a ton of storage space, but I'd gladly make space for our panini grill. It makes for very easy lunches, dinners, desserts and we've even used it for "Make your own Panini Parties" (so fun btw!!!).

The following Panini recipes came from my friend, Michelle, who has yet to enter the blogging community so I've taken it upon myself to post all of her delicious treats on our blog :)

Ham and Cheese Panini (serves 4)

ingredients.

8 slices prosciutto ham

brie cheese

1 granny smith apple, thinly sliced

1/4 cup thinly diced scallions

4 tbsp. butter

8 slices sourdough bread

directions.

1. melt butter and stir in chopped scallions. spread onto bread

2. layer prosciutto, brie slices and apple slices onto bread

3. grill in a panini grill or saute in a pan for 3-5 minutes, or until cheese melts.

Slider Panini (serves 2)

ingredients.

4-6 slices good grade roast beef deli meat

2 portobello mushroom caps- sliced

3 cloves garlic - minced

1 sweet onion - sliced

1/3 cup blue cheese

4 slices sourdough bread

1 tbsp butter

2 tbsp olive oil

directions.

1. saute the onions with 1 tbsp olive oil on low-med heat for 15-20 minutes, until oinions are caramel color

2. saute the mushrooms with garlic and 1 tbsp olive oil for 5 minutes

3. spread butter on outside of bread, top with roast beef, mushroom mixture, onions and blue cheese. grill in panini press or in a saute pan for 4-5 minutes.

i♥hats

thanks laura and phil... you're the best!!!

Steph's Pick - Amy Butler Fabric

Now, I'll admit, I'm a little biased towards pretty things. I think most of us would admit that we are, right? So when I was first introduced to textile design guru, Amy Butler's fabric a couple months back, I couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised. Fabric that actually looks like it was designed in the 21st century, what???!!! Although I have yet to purchase any of her lovely textiles, I'll admit, I've been drooling over so many of her lines and dreaming of my first fabric store outing ever since :)

Some of my favorite lines are featured below.

And if I am completely honest I'd have to say that one of the other things I love about Amy is that she's spent the last 20+ years in the Midwest (Kansas and Ohio). I love me some Midwest ladies.

I've got a Favorites Folder full of DIY ideas begging to be completed with Amy Butler fabric. Now I just need to convince a friend with a sewing machine to let Nora and me come over.

I can't wait...

Click Here to find a store that carries Amy's fabrics near you!

Scottsdale Moms Blog - Skype

In today's Flies Blend post over at Scottsdale Moms Blog, check out one of my favorite mom-techy resources, Skype. A must have for all parents out there. (Added bonus: It's FREE!)

mr. sun

oh mister sun, sun,
mister golden sun,
please shine down on me!

Steph's Pick - Cream Cheese Salsa Chicken

Interested in an easy-peasy recipe??? And by easy I mean E-A-S-Y!!! Isn't every cook looking for the occassional recipe that takes no time and tastes super yummy?

My sister-in-law, Sara (due any day with baby r), gave me this recipe and since sending it to me I've probably made it half a dozen times. Gotta love my sister-in-laws!!!

cream cheese salsa chicken

ingredients.

3-4 Frozen Chicken Breasts

1 can black beans (rinsed)

1 can whole kernel corn

1 jar salsa

8 oz cream cheese

directions.

Simply throw everything (minus the cream cheese) in a crockpot and cook on high for 5 hours. Add the cream cheese to melt over everything the last 30 minutes. Shred chicken and serve over rice or in tortilla's.

(And for those of you wondering about the frozen chicken breasts - yes - that's the best part of this recipe. Throw it in and don't even think about dethawing them.)

SpaFinder.com Deal Days

Spa Deals - yes please!!! Count me in! All across the nation spas are offering select treatments for only $50.

Although I have yet to actually participate in this event, I just got off the phone with the Hotel Valley Ho booking my treatment - The Best Fifty (25 min Facial and 25 min Massage) - yipee!!

Go here to enter your email and zip code to find participating spas in your area. There are all kinds of treatments like massages, pedicures, body wraps, facials and more.

Everyone could use a little pampering, right? Book your appointment before Sunday.

Nora Recommends - Personalized Inchbug Labels

I'm not ashamed to admit that I LOVE our church nursery!!! What an incredible blessing that other people are willing to watch our little cutie-patutie while we go to church. After retrieving Nora from the nursery a couple of times we would always find all of our valuables (the 3 B's - Baby, Bottle and Bag) labeled with Nora's name written on masking tape. You know me - that just wasn't going to do.

Introducing InchBug Labels for Bottles and Sippy Cups. Perfect! We were lucky enough to receive an order of these for Nora from some dear friends and they have been so fun. As you can see from the picture above, they are perfect for our bottles and will work just as well with her sippy cups in the future.

On another note - it's cold (brrrrrr...) and rainy here in AZ today. Although it isn't preferrable weather it was a great reason to bust out one of Nora's cute hats. Yipee.... love me some TwoSeasideBabes hats!!!

Steph's Pick - ScottsdaleMomsBlog.com

As most of you know, I became a mom to our daughter, Nora, in July. Mommy-hood has been such a great adventure!

In my short stint as a mommy, I quickly noticed that there were not many resources online for Scottsdale Moms. So, my friend Joy and I decided something must be done. So we have started a blog highlighting great things to do in Scottsdale, local businesses, mommy resources and soon Scottsdale Moms Spotlights (highlighting mommies right here in Scottsdale who have extraordinary skills and wisdom to share.)

To launch our site, we want to give YOU a present! We have a $25 GIFT CARD to the dawwling little baby store Moonbeams. (I did say we are about supporting those small business owners around these parts.)

Just go to www.scottsdalemomsblog.com and read the short, super simple instructions. Then, pass it onto your friends.

(oh - and look for us on Facebook too!)

Florida Keys

Last week we were fortunate enough to spend a 5-day family vacation in the Florida Keys with Mom and Dad Triggs, Mom Flies and Nick, Abby and Adelyn. How fun is that!!!???Seriously.

We spent our days playing with babies, watching a little Olympics (Go USA!!!), chatting with the ladies, getting some sun, taste-testing Key Lime Pie, cookin' yummy food and lovin on our family. It was such a blessing to have some serious R&R with both of our families.
I thought in order to give you all an idea of how our trip went I'd give you a short list of the Do's and Don't's in traveling with a 7 month old :)

DO be sure to pack enough diapers in your diaper bag for the flight (wish I would have taken this advice - yes - we did spend 30+ min frantically looking for a couple more diapers in MIA)

DON'T bring a stroller that won't fit through security. It only adds more time onto your already lengthy security check.

DO bring a portable DVD player for easy access entertainment on the plane and in the car

DON'T plan on reading on the plane. I used to love this aspect of traveling.

DO vacation with your family. It was a blast!

And finally DON'T try the Rum Runner (the Key Lime Pina Colada was much better - hehe)