Ode to the Old year and Hello to the New.

If you are like me you feel the Holiday Season went by too fast. But, it's OK. I am glad to be done with 2011.

The year started off great for me! With the arrival of my second baby boy and many snow days! My family was able to spend lots of quality time with our new addition. However things quickly turned south and even as I write this I begin to cry for the loss of so many people I have loved.

So HAPPY NEW YEAR! To:

Laurie (my sister in law taken way before her time on 2/9/2011)

Patsy: My step Grandmother, who I had not seen or spoken to in too many years and now will never have the chance again

My Grandmother Kathy: The Holidays were so hard without you, Even though you moved and we have not shared Christmas in a couple years to know that we will never have the chance to spend the Holiday with you again is difficult

And to Ace: Our family pet for 5 years who disappeared one day after being sick and almost near death just a couple months before, we miss you and hope you are still out there somewhere with a loving home

Yes, I can't wait for this year to be over with! I can't wait to start fresh. I never quite understood New Years Resolutions and why everyone considered the beginning of the year to be a fresh start until now. Every one needs a fresh start sometimes, wheather you create one out of actions you take, such as a move or a dramatic change. Or by just deciding that today is the day the past starts and the future begins. We must all choose to start over some times and tomorrow is my time.

What I plan to do with my new beginning:

1) Exercise and get back to my pre-pregnancy shape by working out a little every day and making healthier choices.

2) Focus more on my art business plan and stop letting myself get distracted from working every weekday while Aidan is in school and I have some time to work, I know I can make a living at my art and plan to prove it to the world.

3) Spend more time doing things with my kids and Eric

4) Get my home better organized so I am less stressed


Things to look forward to this coming year:

1) My Vacation to Galveston in May!!!

2) My Fall wedding!!!


HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!!
And I hope this is the best year ever for you :)

Camden is 11 months old today!!!

I can't believe how big my baby bot is getting. It seems like I just got back from the hospital yesterday but almost a year has gone by.

Most would think I would be happy, this means I can go back to work soon as he will begin to wean himself in the next couple of months. But it just breaks my heart to know that every day that passes he needs me a little less.

I have been so blessed to have been able to stay home with him and Aidan for the last year, even tough it has been tough financially, but I wouldn't have given it up for the world. They develope so fast in the first year that the ability to see your baby change a little every day is a priceless gift to every parent.

I am so lucky and so proud to have two beautiful boys that I am able to wake up to every day.

Yummy Pancakes with fruit and ... Squash?!?

Yes you read correctly, this morning I made pancakes with squash in it. And not just any squash... baby food squash!

It started when I decided to add some of my frozen cherries and blackberries to the batter. I was thinking about how pancakes smothered in syrup are not the healthiest way to start the day, especially if you are feeding them to a 5 year old and 11 month old boy. then I began to search the refrigerator for other yummy things to add...

Apple sauce, great!

Then I began to get a little crazy, "How would they taste if I added a pureed vegetable?" I asked my self, when I remembered the 60+ jars of baby food I had that the baby would no longer allow me to feed him (he wants to feed himself, so I give him finger foods now for every meal). Baby food was a great idea because it is already pureed for me and contains no additives, just fruit or veggies and water.

I added the squash to my batter and to take away the little bit of squash flavor I added a few drops of Vanilla and PRESTO!
Yummy Pancakes that had about 2 servings of fruit and veggies in them.

And best of all my boys LOVED THEM!!!!

If you want to use a vegetable with a stronger flavor use a little less veggie and a little more vanilla flavor or fruits.

Also if you want to reduce the amount of syrup you use crush up some berries and add just a little water and syrup! Frozen fruit works great for this and makes for a quick way to make your breakfast a little more nutritious.

Decorating on a Budget: How to make your own Canvas Prints

There are many websites and stores that offer this service, but you yourself can make beautiful canvas prints at home and here is how.

What you will need:

Ink jet/ laser jet canvas (purchase at any office supply store or online for about $10-$15 for 10 sheets, so about $1.50 a sheet)

4 Stretcher bars (2) 5 inch and (2) 7 inch (purchase at any art supply store for less then $.50 each)

a printer

a staple gun (manual or electric powered)


Most household printers can only print on up to 8.5x11 inch paper. If you have a printer with a larger printable area you can make larger canvas print. For those of you who do not you will only be able to get a 5x7 inch stretched canvas print out of your printer.

1) Choose the picture you would like to print.

2) Use any photo software to adjust the size of your picture and crop it to the right size and shape. If you want the image to wrap around the sides of your canvas you will need to measure the sides of the stretcher bars you will use. Most bars are 3/4 inch which means your picture will need to be at least 6.5x9.5 inches (I like to add about half an inch to each side in case I make a mistake when stretching the canvas onto the bars, so, that's 7x10 inch pic)

3) load your printer with the printable canvas and print at your printer's highest quality.

4) Give the ink some time to dry. Then lay the canvas print side down on a flat surface.

5) Assemble your stretcher bars and lay the completed square on the back of your print (lift the sides to make sure you are on the print so you do not have any white showing on the finished product)

6) Start with one side, fold the canvas around the bars and starting in the center of the bar begin to staple it to the back of the stretcher bar leaving about a quarter of an inch at the corners unattached to the bar.

7) Repeat with the opposite side of the picture from where you started, pulling the canvas tight around the bars as you staple.

8) You should now have two of the sides of your picture stapled to the back of the bars. Now staple one of the other sides leaving the corners.

9) Once you have finished that side you will take one of the corners and fold it to one of the sides of the picture and around to the back of the canvas and staple it down. Do this with both corners.

10) Now finish the last side following steps 8 & 9.

You now have a beautiful stretched canvas you can show off in your home for about $3.50, a fraction of the cost of paying someone else to do it.