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I need to update the blog roll and am interested in finding some new blogs to read and getting to know more about you all! So please post a link to yours in the comment section and tell me a little bit about what you like to blog about!

Thanks!

21 Things You Don't Know About Me



1. I have scoliosis-pretty bad too. I was supposed to wear a brace for 3 years starting when I was 12. I only wore it for 1 because it was pure torture. I pay the price for that decision. That is the single thing I regret in my life. I struggle with chronic pain every day of my life.

2. Salad is my favorite food. Yes, it is possible. I eat at least 1-2 salads per day!

3. My Dad died when I was 3. My step-dad had been  my "dad" since I was 5.

4. I am scared of elevators. Especially small ones. In Italy- I took the stairs a lot!

5. I am a little like Erin Brockovich- I wear what I want and I don't care what people think.

6. My husband is 21 years older than me. Go ahead. Gasp. You know you want to. My dad was 18 years older than my mom. It must run in thr family.

7. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason, some in which we may not know for many years after the fact. Even my battle with infertility, as horrible it is- it has made me a better mother and shown me how strong I am.  

8. I have absolutely no musical or artist abilities.

9. I honestly cant remember the last time I saw my toes unpainted.

10. I once posed for Playboy. The pictures were never printed.

11. My favorite movie of all time is Casino. I've seen it 546294875839 times. At least.

12. I am very opinionated. Sometimes this is good. Sometimes this is not.

13. I was raised extremely spoiled, but had a very unstructured unstable life bouncing between my grandparents and my mom/step dads. I moved out on my own when I was 16.

14. Because of the above, I strive to be the opposite. I like schedules and routines and my days are exactly that. I think I like it so much so because I never had that.

15. I am not into sweets and don't buy junk food.

16. I wanted to be a Respiratory Therapist growing up and was fascinated by the lungs.

17. I was born in Houston, TX and lived there until I was 5.

18. I think everyone looks better tan (fake tan of course!).

19. Being a mom is my single greatest accomplishment. My kids have given me purpose in life.

20. I am very picky about my pillows! Non one is allowed to touch my (3) pillows! To me it's like someone using my toothbrush...keep your hands (and head) off my pillows!

21. I only wash my hair twice a week.

Recent Purchase: Maclaren Quest Sport Stroller

I have a slight problem with strollers, slight meaning I always have to know what is out, what strollers do what, whats new, whats coming out, who's got new color coming out even if I;m not on the market for one....YEARS before I got pregnant with little M I would research strollers and dream of which one I would be pushing her in someday. It is my thing. Kinda like with your wedding, you know how you had one thing that was super important to you? The one little detail that was make or break for you? For me it was the flowers. In baby world its the stroller! So when it was time to start looking for something a little more light weight and smaller, I got excited! I don't rush into these kind of purchases, I do my research, see what my options are, drive to multiple store if need be to test drive, and I do have a budget in mind.

I am still planning on using my Peg Perego Pliko Switch (which I love love, but lets face it, that thing is big, heavy and a beast when folded) but I needed something for quick trips like picking Kay up from school, and for the nanny to use on the days she's here. And so it began......

I have always seen Maclaren's out and about, so I knew they were one to look at. I had also heard a lot about the Chicco Liteway,  so off to the stores I went with little M in tow to test them out. First, Maclaren makes about 4 different lightweight strollers, each with a little more luxuries and features than the next with each one getting more and more expensive. I was very disappointed in the Chicco Liteway- I really don't see what the hype is about. It maneuvered so poorly, and I think its because of those 2 freaky little wheels in the front. I had such better expectations from it and was really unimpressed. It had some pluses, but for a 20.00 difference in price, the Maclaren Triumph was so much better!! Both had the adjustable back which was a must for me but the Triumph was sturdier but lighter, had a attached carrying strap, and maneuvered GREAT for an umbrella, best one I tried so far. So after checking out a few others, I decided on the Triumph. But of course, nothing is ever easy for me and the 2010 models weren't out yet, so I had to wait a few weeks. No biggie.

So I went to the store yesterday to purchase and once again got lured into the amazing stroller section at Buy Buy Baby and started to really look at the difference between the Triumph and the Quest Sport. Yes,the Quest was way more than I wanted to spend, but you could really see a difference in features. One, it has MUCH more padding in the seat, it also has a extended footrest for the littler ones. It also has a little pouch in the back for Mom (none of the other had that!). The seat on the Quest made the Triumph feel like a Chinese torcher board. And right then I thought to myself, If I were Miss M and had to ride in this stroller for the next 3 years what would I be more comfortable in? The board or the luxury padding? SOLD!

I had a 20% off coupon, so that helped me justify the price difference :) I ended up getting the Champagne and Back as pictured and I cant wait to use it! I have never heard anyone complain about the Maclaren's so I feel confident in my choice. Just don't tell my husband :)

HOME!

So, I'm home and OMG I had the most incredible time! The flight home yesterday was very long (12 hours of flying) and now here I am up at 4:30 am. :)

A short recap:

• Italy is amazing, incredible, nothing like I've ever seen. AMAZING! The buildings and architecture are such an amazing sight to see- so ornate and beautiful! and to think they built all that by hand without the use of modern day technology.
• I ate HUGE 4 course meals every night and ate gelato single.every.day and lost weight.
• I was in the most beautiful cities and cried myself to sleep every night because I missed my kids so much.
• There are hardly any fat people in Italy- which makes me realize how disgusting the US's eating habits/food are.
• I will never understand how to properly use a bedat (I even googled, which is a scary scary site), they are not practical at all...I'm so confused?! I just don't get it.
• They eat pizza with a fork and a knife, and don't slice it. You get the whole thing on a plate and start in the middle.
• I want a little Italian speaking baby.
• I saw a fashion show in Milan fashion week- who can say that??!
• The restaurant don't open for dinner until 7:30- and prime eating time is 9:00pm, by 9:30pm, they are packed! Dinner also takes around 2 hours.
• Every day at 4:30-5:30 pm, there are huge long lines outside of every gelato shop on the streets. That's what they d0- have gelato at 5:00, then dinner around 8-9. There are no snacks, no chips, no fast food. You get gelato at 5 or you go hungry until dinner.
• The city of Torino was my last on my list, and I wasn't too excited about it- but it REALLY surprised me. It's a site to see! 

• Every thing in Italy is VERY expensive, I'm talking 70++ dollars for dinner every night and 50 dollar lunches. Prepare to spend some money if you go.
• Every woman has a Louis Vitton bag- everyone!! They LOVE Louis Vitton. They also are very into boots. In many different heights, and styles. The fashion was amazing to see.
• The people are very friendly!

That's all I can think of for now, but expect a post FULL of pictures very soon. I cant wait to share them!! I also cant wait to catch up on all your blogs!

Now I waiting for my  kids to wake up so I can spend every second with their sweet little faces- I missed them SO much. And let me tell you alot can happen in a week. My mom said Miss M took a STEP. Just one, but itsa comin'! She's spending more time standing independently and she's also just cutting her top left tooth. And her hair is longer :( I missed all that. It's amazing how much they grow and change in a week. If you have kids, hug them extra tight today- for tomorrow they will be bigger!!

Ciao Ciao for now.

Ciao!

Alrighty guys, I'm off to Italy for 7 days, 8 nights! Not sure if I'll be blogging or not, but I am so excited I cant see straight! I am also sick to my stomach at the thought of being away from my babies for this long. It's like that feeling in your stomach when you were a little kid away from home. I am really sad about that :( I've spent as much time with them today as possible! Love them more than life.

Here's a little glimpse of where I'll be next week......

You know I'll post all about it when I return!!

Bye bloggy friends- I'll miss you!!

xoxo

A Special Not So Wordless Wednesday

I want to share with you all Miss M's 6 month photo shoot pics. Yeah yeah, I know she's 8.5 months now, but better late than never right?! That seems to be my mantra around here these days. I am so glad that she didn't have any teeth yet in these pics, because shortly after the first one popped through. So these are my last pro pics as a toothless baby. And just an FYI: the onsie she is wearing I had custom made to say her first and middle name, and as you know I don't share their names on my blog to protect them from any creepy creepertons on the Internet, so I had to block out everything but her initials- so, no your eyes aren't playing tricks on you ;) It was SO cute though. Here are some of my favs. Enjoy!

Dinner

I got a head of cabbage in my Bountiful Basket this week, and  I love cabbage! I have a great recipe for sweet and sour cabbage soup that I make as well, but tonight its all about the cabbage roll baby!

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

1 1/2 - 2 lbs lean ground beef (90% lean)

1-1/2 cups rice, cooked and cooled

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup celery, chopped

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

29 oz can of tomato puree

2 Tbsp brown sugar

15 oz can of sauerkraut, drained and rinsed

 

Directions:

• Boil a pot of water large enough to hold your head of cabbage. Once boiled immerse cabbage in water for about 2 minutes. Remove from water and let drain. When cool enough to handle gently remove leaves. When you reach the point where they aren't soft enough dunk back into your still boiling pot of water. Repeat process until you have all the leaves you need.  
• Mix the beef, rice, onion, celery, garlic, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and 3 Tbsp of the tomato puree.
• In a large roasting pan or casserole dish (I used a 10X15 glass pan) covered with aluminum foil, evenly spread the sauerkraut as the bottom layer. 
• Lay your cabbage leaf on a clean work surface and fill with an amount that will be easily rolled. Not too full or it may split during cooking. Roll for the stem side in folding in edges as you go. 
• Lay seam side down on the sauerkraut. Continue with this until you are out of leaves. **You probably will have left over filling**
• Mix 2 Tbsp of brown sugar into the tomato puree and pour over rolls. I LOVE sauerkraut, so I also top with sauerkraut. Add about 1/2 can of water to the edges. 
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 2 hrs or until everything looks nice and tender and the meat is cooked through!

8 Months!

Well here I am again- almost 2 weeks late posting this. Little M is 8 months old and is a bundle of fun these days! She's cruising all over the places holding onto furniture and will even stand for a few second without holding onto anything. She's really starting to show her personality. I think she's going to be a lot more reserved than me and Kay, she's a thinker and boy is she STRONG. Nothing stands in her way of something she wants! She's a happy little baby and loves to play. Here is all about Miss M at 8 months:

- She hasn't been to the Dr. but I am guessing she weighs in the 18-19 pound range.
- She wears 9 month or 12 month cloths and a size 3 diaper.
- She has her two bottom teeth.
- She eats 3 solid meals a day and has about (4) 6 oz. bottles a day. We are trying more and more finger foods and so far some of her favs are cheerios, puffs, shredded cheese, scrambled eggs, broccoli, waffles, green beans, bread, cottage cheese, pasta, and bananas. She is a great eater!! She'll eat anything you put in front of her. I haven't started meats yet, and am very hesitant. We are planning on waiting at least until 9 months- or really when she can eat the meat we do. All organic, free range, hormone/antibiotic free meats. Yes, its very expensive (I pay about 13.00 for 3 chicken breasts!) but its the only meat I feed my family. Even though she only eats Earths Best Organic baby food, I still don't trust what meat is in there and don't know how and what it was processed (is it white meat? dark meat? etc.). I want to be able to control what is going into my little babies body! So she's a veggie for now.
-She sleeps from 7 to 6:30-7:00am and we just moved to 2 naps per day. One in the morning around 9:30-10:00, and one around 2:00 (her longest).
-She gets a bath every night now because she is a MESS after dinner!
- She does great with the sippy cup and loves cold water. We just started diluted juice, and so far she doesn't know what to think of it. She prefers water.

-She loves: Peekaboo, dropping things and me saying Uh-Oh!,  the cat water (I cant keep her out of it!), bath time, going for walks, and DVD cases.

- She hates: Getting in the car seat, getting dressed, when mommy leaves :(, being tortured by her sister, and getting her face cleaned off.

1 thing I have been keeping my eye is her lack of babbling. She still does not "babble". I would be lying if I said it didn't concern me a bit. No babababa, dadadadada, or mamamama yet. She does however make noises, blows raspberries, knows her name, makes noises with intent, but she's defiantly not as verbal as Kay. I plan on bringing this up at her 9 month appointment. I'm not too worried yet, as she has been SO far advanced in her physical development, but it is something I am aware of.

Wordless Wednesday- Vintage Edition

My Grandmother in 1961....total hottie huh?!

Me (the brunette) and my cousins at the beach in the summer of 1987. I was 5 almost 6.

This picture below reminds me of Kay!!

Halloween

Is just around the corner and I need your help! What should Miss M be for her first Halloween?! Here is what I've narrowed it down too:

A pink poodle:

a cow:

or a pink piggy:

I really think she would look cute as any of them :) and I'm leaning toward the pink poodle, but the others are so cute too that I cant make up my mind. Which one is your favorite?

Kay has already decided that she is going to be Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz!

Our Week in Pictures

This week we discovered that broccoli IS good...

We celebrated my mother in laws 80th birthday...

and we told her this guy was her birthday present ; ) He was just a cute waiter that worked there...

Kay decided she would join her sister in her crib one morning...

and that made Miss M very excited!

Little M also loves to see mommy and a bubba (her bottle) first thing in the morning...its makes her really really happy!

I bought some super cute Jessica Simpson Clog Platforms for fall at Macy's on sale for 60.00!

We pulled out a new toy to play with...

The girls had fun. I think Kay liked the ball popper more than her baby sister!

and I discovered that still, at 8 months old, Little M's eyes still aren't really a color. They are just a really murky gray color....I mean, when is this gonna change?!

I also finalized our Italy trip! Everything is booked; all our transfers, hotels, train tickets, DONE!

and just a tip for any AAA members out there, I seriously could not have planned this trip without their help! Part of your membership is vacation planning and I have never utilized this before. I met with the AAA international travel agent 3 times over the last week. She helped narrow down and pick hotels, explained the train system, and booked everything for me. Seriously a HUGE help! I was sort of lost before I met with her, because picking hotels without knowing the public transportation systems/locations, etc. is a huge challenge! So that's all taken care of and I feel so much better. Italy here we come!

Hope everyone has a safe and relaxing Labor day weekend! I know I'm looking forward to it!

Wordless Wednesday