Quinnie's Birthday Countdown!

Lilypie Second Birthday tickers

February 28, 2012

Be back soon!

I know I have been MIA lately.  Having time to blog is something I look forward to (as well as getting to read blogs).  I have been up to my elbows in tests since Thursday and hope to find my way out this week.  Next week is spring break so I know I will get caught up soon.  It is my own fault for giving tests during the same week in all my classes!  (135 lower level exams and 29 upper level exams with in-class and take-home components - what was I thinking!!)

But...I promise I'll be back so please give me a day or so and I'll be back to my normal self :)

February 24, 2012

Easy Egg Bake

I have been getting home pretty late for the last week (after 6pm) and the last thing I want to do is figure out what is for supper when I walk in the door.  So I like when most of my work is done in advance!!


Easy Egg Bake

Spray 8x8 baking dish


Layer the following in dish in order listed:

  • 3 slices of bread with crust removed, cut into small pieces
  • 0.5 lb Velveeta cheese, cubed
  • 1 cup of diced ham (or bacon or sausage)
  • 1/4 cup melted margarine
------------------------------------------------------
Mix below ingredients and then pour over the above ingredients
  • 6 eggs beaten
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • pepper to taste
  • 1.5 cups milk
------------------------------------------------

Refrigerate overnight (covered)

Bake uncovered for 1 hour at 300 degrees

February 22, 2012

Lent - giving up?

I remember when I was in high school, some of my friends would talk about giving something up for lent.  I had never really heard of that before (they were Catholic, I am not).  Yet one year, I decided to give it a try.  I decided to give up chocolate.  Now my Dad was pretty skeptical about me being able to do this.  He bet me $5 that I couldn't do it.  Now, I have to admit, I never realized at that time how many things I ate that had chocolate in them that weren't just "candy bars" - I mean, even my Quaker granola bars had chocolate chips in them!  The closest I got to losing the bet (unintentionally of course) was when I was helping out for a veteran's fundraiser and got done cutting a chocolate cake and I almost licked the knife :)  But, I did end up doing it. 

Now as an adult, I haven't really thought much about "giving something up" for lent anymore.  I had a hard time with this idea as then I would just go back to my same habits after those 40 days.  So this year, I'm going to try something new.

This year I'm going to take something on instead of giving something up.  I'm going to take on trying to drink more water (and then hopefully less pop).  I'm going to take on trying to eat healthier, especially snack healthier (and then hopefully less sugary snacks). 

So today I stop trying to only be better for a short time and try to become better for the long run. 

Anyone here doing anything special for lent?

February 20, 2012

Outfit of the Week

Ready for spring?

Dress:  Worthington Sleeveless Maxi Dress - current price at JcPenney:  $35



Shoes:  a.n.a Corinne Thong Sandals - current price at JcPenney:  $25



Bracelets:  Jennifer Lopez Gold Tone Twisted Bangle Bracelet - current price at Kohls:  $14.30





February 16, 2012

I'm ready for a healthly household!

I know I'm not the only one who is getting tired of a sick household!  However, this past 2 weeks has been a bit frustrating.  Here is the story:

Quinn was not eating very well and she had a cold.  However, since our little Quinn is so tiny as it is, I was getting nervous about her going for so long without eating very well.  Bronchiolitis was going around the daycare so I finally decided after a week of this, it was time to get her seen (she never had a fever nor sounded wheezy, but come on, it was time!)  Good news was that everything was great...except her ears.  We had a double ear infection which was our main culprit of not wanting to eat.

The hubby started feeling bad shortly after this (Super Bowl Sunday) and he is one that gets sinus infections pretty easy and they seem to be very hard for him to get rid of.  He went to the doctor that Tuesday, and they didn't really think anything was wrong.

Fast forward to last weekend.  Hubby was feeling a little better so he went on his dart tournament from Friday night - late Saturday (so he came home on Sunday).  Owen wakes up with a somewhat red eye, but otherwise seems fine.  So we all go on about our day.  Saturday morning, Owen looks about the same but as the morning progressed, his eyes got redder.  Hmm...was this pink-eye?  I hate always jumping to the conclusion that any red in the eye means pink-eye.  Finally around noon I go to the restroom and look in the mirror and look a bit closer and low and behold, one of my eyes is starting to get red.  Darn pink-eye!  Got us some eye drop antibiotics.  Luckily, Quinn didn't get it!

Then late Saturday I start coming down with a sore throat and hubby gets home and doesn't look so good either.  He goes to the doctor again on Valentine's day to be told he not only has a sinus infection, but bronchitis to boot.

Will it ever end?!?

February 14, 2012

Need some sweets?

So, last night I made a lot of mini-cupcakes for the kids' valentines parties. 


Although these are nice, thought I'd give you some more exciting sweet treats (with the link-ups) that I've found online lately!


The first couple of recipes all come from My Baking Addiction

Chambord Cupcakes:  Adult cupcakes :)



Red Velvet cupcakes in a jar:  For gifts to anyone!


Then for those of us who want recipes that are really simple...

I'll refer to these as Easy Brownies.  Found them via The Londoner



February 13, 2012

Outfit of the Week

Shirt:  Women's Printed Bow-Tie Chiffon Top - current price at Old Navy:  $24.94


Blazer:  Women's Denim Blazers - current price at Old Navy:  $39.94




Pants:  Bright Denim Skinny Jeans - current price at New York and Company:  $59.95.

Deal Alert:  All pants and jeans are currently buy one get one free at NYand Company!



Shoes:  Bandolino Annemarie Pump - current price at DSW:  $59.95


February 10, 2012

Quinn's speech update

Quinn started her speech help on Tuesday this week.  As this was our first experience with a new person, our therapist mainly observed Quinn to get to know her and to let Quinn get used to seeing her as well.

The therapist mentioned that she wouldn't be surprised if the middle ear fluid was the biggest obstacle in Quinn's way right now.  She asked if we were having her hearing re-tested as suggested and I told her I was going to at the end of this month, but then Quinn got a double-ear infection so we have to wait 6-8 weeks after she finishes her antibiotics before we can have it tested again.

When people asked me about getting her these services and wondering if I have "jumped the gun" since she hasn't been formally tested for a speech delay, I said "what could it hurt?"  Why wouldn't I get these services for her if they are willing to help provide them at a very reasonable cost for us?  I would rather get the services and find out that she would have been fine without them then to find out that she could have benefited greatly from them and I didn't get them for her.

Hoping her communication gets better and better.  She has definitely began to start attempting to communicate more through more sounds and gestures.  In addition, she has began to understand more of what we are saying too!

February 7, 2012

Quick Quinn Update

Took Quinn to the doctor on Friday afternoon - no fever, no wheezing or any sounds of concerns in her breathing (thank goodness), a little red throat and a double ear infection :(  Amoxicillan for 10 days.

Today she is acting much more like herself.  Still not eating well but headed in the right direction!

February 6, 2012

Outfit of the Week

Top:  Bisou Cami Top, Ruffled Trim - current price at JcPenney:  $16


Sweater:  nicole by Nicole Miller Stripe Sweater - current price at JcPenney:  $25.00

Jeans:  Lee Slender Secret Jeans - current price at JcPenny:  $30.00

Shoes:  Call It Spring Chynna Sandal - current price at JcPenney - $40

Purse:  Nicole by Nicole Miller Bella Shopper Handbag - current price at JcPenney:  $40.00





February 3, 2012

Quinnie Update

The last 10 days have been pretty rough with Quinn.  She hasn't been feeling well but she hasn't ever had a fever.  She has had a runny nose, cough (sometimes to the point where she sounds like she might get sick), and hardly any appetite.  Doesn't help that she is also teething.  So ibuprofen is making her feel better but no fever?  In addition, she isn't wheezing (thank heavens) which we've been watching as a baby in the other room at daycare had gotten bronchiolitis.  I think I may have to take her to the doctor today to make sure that this is just a cold and nothing more serious.

Before this illness, she was eating pretty well and starting to "talk" a lot more.  She absolutlely loves to make funny sounds with her lips :) 

Quinn appears to have a big fascination with ....cows!  It all started with our farm animal puzzle that we got out for her in early September.  She got very attached to the cow puzzle piece (it was the only thing that made her happy at Owen's birthday - she didn't let go of it for about 2 hours!)  In the last month, she will giggle when I make a "moo" sound for her.  But to top it all off, when I drop her off at daycare now, the first thing she goes to is the pile of stuffed animals and she picks up the stuffed cow and carries it around!

Haven't found out about the middle ear stuff yet as they wanted us to come back in late January - mid February to have it looked at again (in case she only had it from not feeling well), but she isn't feeling well now either so I don't know if when I take her to the doctor today if they will be able to make any decisions further about that!