I love free stuff!

I just made the cutest cards for my mom, dad, husband, MIL and FIL for mother's day and father's day and it was FREE!! I found some codes on the inside of jelly belly jelly bean bags (that I bought on SALE the day after easter!!). I love making specialized cards like these for the fam. and they love receiving them!!
See my project and Make your own cards here!

Babycakes Photography 3 month pictures

Mrs. Cindy at Babycakes Photography does such a wonderful job taking baby pictures. Here are a few of Selah's 3 month pictures. Love them!

my favorite!

 seriously precious

 ha!

I adore that sleeping face.

Homemade Goldfish

Today I made my own goldfish after I saw the idea on pinterest. They did not really taste like goldfish but they were very yummy and quite addictive. It was super easy to do and I even made my own fish cutter. If you want to make them I have posted to recipe below. Also, Monday Sundae Funday was really awesome for Craig and I but for Selah, not so much. I think she was over stimulated at Coldstone because she cried all the way home. I got the signature birthday cake something and it rocked. You should go get one next Monday. :)

Goldfish Cheddar Crackers

• 1 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoon(s) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (I used salted butter, but didn’t add any salt afterward)
• 8 ounce(s) grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (around 2 cups). Note: you can experiment with other cheeses. Some people have tried this and loved the results!
• 3/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/8 teaspoon onion powder (note: this is optional since it isn’t part of the original recipe, but I decided to add anyway since I used it)
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) fresh-ground pepper

(UPDATE #2: I think 1-2 teaspoons of baking powder might help it puff up…but I’m not sure since I haven’t tried it. If anybody decides to try this, please let me know.)

Directions

1. Pulse the flour,onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper together using a food processor.
2. Add the butter and cheese, and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
3. Pulse in 3 to 4 tablespoons of water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and only enough so that the dough forms a ball and rides the blade. Remove, wrap in plastic, and chill for 20 minutes (I put it in the freezer for 20 minutes and in the fridge for 10) or up to 24 hours.
4. Bake the crackers: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking pans with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside. Roll the dough out to 1/8th-inch thickness, using flour if necessary to prevent stickiness. Cut out as many crackers as possible.
5. To add character to the fish: break off an end from a side of a toothpick so it is blunt. Use that point to make the goldfish eyes. To make the smile, lay the toothpick down on its side, press, and drag. If you try to use the toothpick point, it will ruin the smile.
6. Optional: Refrigerate for another 15 minutes or so to make sure they won’t spread.
7. Place them on the prepared baking pans. Bake until golden and crisp (13-18 minutes). Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
8. They are best when completely cooled and the next day in my opinion. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Copied and pasted from Missanthropistskitchen.com

Brandie's notes: I did not put onion powder (b/c I didn't have any) nor did I add the baking powder and mine puffed up. That is all I have to add.

It's Monday, Sundae, Funday, OHHH

 I told Craig we needed to come up with something to do on Mondays that would make us look forward to the most dreaded day of the week. He suggested we go get ice cream, thus Monday Sundae Funday was born. I sing the name of the day to the Justin Bieber song Baby. It's awesome. So, this is how it works. We wrote down all of the ice cream places we could think of on sticky notes and we are going to draw one tonight (it's Sunday) so we can plan accordingly. Then tomorrow, after dinner we will go there! Woohoo. Tomorrow will be our first. If you hate Mondays, you should do it too. And the winner is... COLDSTONE!

Some days are more challenging than others...

So Selah has been a little sick lately with some nasty congestion, therefore my day is more centered on her than normal. (My parenting philosophy is that our child is an addition to our family, not the center of it). However, when she is sick and helpless and pitiful, all that goes out the window. So, last night (and the three nights before that) she woke up at 4ish because she couldn't breathe well. So I nursed her (even tho it wasn't time) and rocked her for a while. Then Craig put her in her bouncy chair and massaged her hands till she fell asleep. So she woke up around 9, and I fed her again and put her in my bed because I was exhausted. Then we actually got up for the day around... oh 11ish. Everyday when we get up she talks to her chicken (on her bouncy chair) for about an hour (it's awesome for me!) So I ate breakfast (almond butter toast, berries, applesauce, and a hashbrown) at about 11:30. Then, I remade a photo book that I worked on for HOURS yesterday, only to to lose everything last night when I got ready to order it. So, breakfast, check, photo book complete and ordered this time, check, called the doctor for Selah, check, talked to hubby on phone for his lunch break, ch...wait the hour is up Craig I have to go. (Selah is crying at this point). So I put her in her pack-n-play for a nap. It works too... for 10 minutes. She can't breathe so she wakes up. I put my project down (I'm compiling a cookbook), and pick Selah up and lay her on my chest on the couch while I watch Rachael Ray. She sleeps like a baby. :) But, my stomach is growling like there is no tomorrow. Don't want to wake her but. So. Hungry. So I attempt to get up (after shes been sleeping for 40 minutes on my chest) to put her in her baby bed. 5 minutes later, she is back in my arms and I am trying to find something to eat. It's almost impossible to make food while holding a baby so I heated some rotel dip (thanks jess, lifesaver) and grabbed a diet coke. That's an ok lunch right? At least I had a good breakfast. Did I mention I'm still in my jammies? Did I tell you about the three poopy diapers in two hours? Did I tell you I am typing this with one hand while I hold her with the other? Daddy will be home in three hours. I'm counting down. It is one of THOSE days, but I love her. She's worth it. Thank you Jesus for this blessing.

P.S. I would post some pictures but, I'm still in my jammies. :)

So, do you dress like cows often?

It's been a while since my last post because we have been busy moving into our new home! YES, finally. I will post some pictures as soon as it resembles something of a house (right now there are boxes everywhere). Anyway, the point of this post is to share about our recent free food score. Yesterday (July 8) was Cow Appreciation Day. If you dressed like a cow and went to your local Chick-Fil-A, you could get a free meal, so Craig and I found some old t-shirts, did some snipping and assembled a magnificent cow costume (ok not that magnificent, but hey it scored us a free meal). We even dressed little Selah up as a wee baby calf. One day, I'm sure she will ask us what in the world we were thinking. Until then...

New Adventure, Selah's Closet

So mom and I have been dreaming of opening an Etsy store with baby clothes and accessories, and we have done it! I am loving it, even if we don't sell a thing. It is so much fun and we work crazy hours just because we can't stop! Many times Craig has come home from work to a messy house and no supper cooked because I am working on a headband or something. Everyday we put up new items, so if you know someone with a baby or like fun headbands for yourself, check out the site.
www.selahscloset.etsy.com