multitude monday.

56. date night with my husband. the comfort of just being together.
57. pei wei take out.
58. gift cards.
59. farm fresh eggs.
60. moscoto. my new favorite wine. maybe because it tastes like spiked apple juice. yum.
61. sleeping in.
62. sunday morning waffles. with real maple syrup filling all the warm, crispy ridges.
63. bella's chubby cheeks. i'm obsessed with them. especially when she's teething and they're all nice and rosy.
64. having to turn the heat on in the morning. i like to remember it's still winter here in dallas despite what the 70 degree temperature has lead me to believe.
65. warm naan.
66. rubber duckies, bubbles and big girl baths.
67. hulu. we gave up cable and dvr when we had bella. hulu reminds me that god provides sometimes for even our "wants"; like getting watch our favorite tv shows together when we can't during the week. trivial, i know... but i like that god remembers the trivial sometimes. he's good like that.

some blog style.

for your viewing pleasure, my lovely readership.

finally... got some new pics up and revamped my blog a bit. let's face it; it was getting a bit blah and outdated. i love blogging, but i just don't know much about technology. so, during bella's nap time this morning i decided to put on my explore-blogging-technology-thinking-cap and try to manage some sort of a face lift.

voila.

here is the finished product! i am one happy girl. hope you enjoy.

i added some labels to make it easier for you to search for various things, such as recipes or other topics of interest.

i know, i know. i am so talented. (yeah righhhht. way behind the times.)

so, same blog... same recipes, same posts, same craft/decor ideas, same pics... just updated a wee bit and wayyyyy more stylish.

enjoy!

ps. all of my photos on the right hand side (except for our wedding one) are lovely creations by none other than {aka} photography and the talented amanda guevara. look her up on facebook and if you're in the dallas area book her TODAY!

thursday three.

ahhhhh, the thursday three. yes, i'm fully aware that it is--indeed--friday. i know i kept most of you waiting with baited breath. and i apologize.


here we go.


nick
{a disclaimer: i haven't actually asked nick what his highlight was this week, so this is pure speculation on my part. however, i will do my best to name a few so that i will inevitably hit his top moment eventually}
i'd venture to say that one of nick's top highlights of the week was guy time. my poor husband is outnumbered in our household at the moment... and is also in the middle of basketball season, coaching a team full of high school girls. so i'd say any time he can hang out "with the guys" is a good thing. he was able to get away and play basketball with some friends on saturday and on sunday night after church, he had some additional "guy time" with his best buds playing this really-stupid-board-game-where-they-trade-stuff-like-wheat-and-bricks (settlers, anyone??) geesh. anyway, i was really happy for him this weekend to get some good time with friends because i know how hard he works during the week, it's good to have some down time on the weekends. he also got to spend saturday morning with bella while i had some girl time. i know it's always a highlight for him when he gets to hang with his lil girl. he seriously is the *best* dad it makes me want to cry just typing this post. bella loves her daddy! the smile that comes across her face every time she sees him at the end of the day, and how she kicks her little feet in excitement is a top moment of every day for nick. they are so cute together :)


meg
as previously mentioned, i had some lovely "girl time" on saturday morning. one of my sweet friends left this week to start a new nanny job in nyc. so a few of us girls met at one of our apartments for breakfast saturday morning. any time i get to hang out with girls is refreshing to my soul... and as much as i *love* my daughter, it is a wonderful thing to get to go places without lugging half of our apartment with us; or trying to keep her entertained the entire time. it was a nice break for mama! i've also been working hard to incorporate exercise back into my life... and it's been soooo nice. i'm a huge fan of the "30 day shred" with jillian michaels. if you're looking for a good, quick workout to do at home, this is your new bff.


bel
our sweet girl is changing by the minute. this has been my most favorite stage so far... she is just so fun! this week, there are three highlights for little bella grace: first, we have a tooth! nick&i have been on "tooth-watch" lately, as her four front teeth look like they are about to pop through. she has been putting anything and everything in her mouth to chew on... her favorites include our noses and chins. lovely. just on tuesday i put my finger in her mouth and felt along her gums to find a sharp lil tooth that had finally poked through! secondly, our sweet little one has taken a while to develop her leg strength. her auntie gret has lovingly described her as a "rag doll" while trying to get her to stand. she is just such a peanut!!! i have put her in her jumper every morning for the past few months to try to develop those lil legs and it has finally paid off. just this week, while the girls were over one night, bella stood like she had been doing it for years. she grabbed onto our friend, kristin's fingers and stood for a while, looking around at everyone like "what? i'm standing, what?" so cocky-like. love it. and lastly, she took her first big-girl bath this week in the rub-a-dub-tub. can't believe it. she loved it. she chases the bubbles, trying to grab them and kicks and splashes the entire time. our girl is fearless. and she is growing... and we love watching her change, her personality emerge and the sparkle in her eyes while she discovers new things. love her so much!


and there you have it, folks... another thursday three. tune in next week... same time, same place. i will leave you with a few photos of bella's big week.

what's for dinner tonight {feta stuffed chicken}.

feta cheese is one of my favorite things. yum, yum, yum. so i'm not a super huge fan of martha stewart, but this recipe tempts me to become one. it's a super easy recipe that results in a super delish and a-bit-of-a-fancy dish to make for your special someone one night or for yourself if you want a lil treat. my sis and i also made it for our entire family (all six of the adults) when we were all together over christmas. it's really soooo good.

try it tonight. and thank martha, not me (although you can thank me for posting).

feta stuffed chicken

* 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (6 to 8 oz each)

* 3/4 c. crumbled feta cheese

* 1 t. dried oregano (basil works well, too if you like that better)

* salt and pepper to taste

* 2 T. olive oil

* 1/2 c. chicken stock (martha says to use homemade... which might be alot easier if you get paid to spend allllllll day cooking. for the rest of us, i say store bought)

* juice of half a lemon

* 2 T. butter

-in a small bowl, combine feta and oregano.

-hold chicken breast in the palm of your hand and use a knife to cut a pocket: start at the thicker part of the breast and pivot the knife, creating a deep pocket that will keep the other side of the chicken breast intact.

-stuff pockets with the feta mixture; season both sides of each chicken breast generously with salt&pepper.

-heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. add chicken and heat for 6-7 minutes on both sides. cover skillet and cook until chicken is opaque and in instant read thermometer reads 160 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken. remove chicken, keep warm.

-add chicken stock to the skillet and cook, using a wooden spoon to scrape brown bits from the bottom of the pan. allow to reduce slightly. add lemon juice and butter. reduce heat to low and cook until butter is melted and sauce is thickened. serve chicken drizzled with pan sauce.

i serve this dish with grilled asparagus and it is *fabulous*.

enjoy!

multitude monday.

47. breakfast with girlfriends; girl talk + coffee? yes, please.
48. my hazelnut scented candle.
49. the swiffer and clorox wipes... two of my favorite cleaning aids.
50. spider mums from the husband.
51. dressing up my baby girl in cute gap *clearance* dresses.
52. blueberries&cheerios.
53. crockpot dinners.
54. seeing a sweet note written to me on our foggy bathroom mirror from a cute guy i know.
55. striped baby tights. and chubby baby thighs.

thirtieth birthday three.

i'm bringing back the "thursday three" (i know, i know... you've missed it). this week will be a little different. it will be all about my thirtieth birthday celebrations last week. i'm going to try to condense it down into three points... here goes.

so i turned thirty last thursday. those of you that are "bachelor" fans and have been watching this season, you'll appreciate when i say: not twenty nine... not thirty one... but thirty. (thank you, crazy michelle.) nick spoiled me and made it so special. here are the top three moments.

1. our beloved, maggianos.

after i got home from work thursday night, nick had lined up his mom to babysit bel and we headed to our favorite special occassion spot: maggianos. YUM. it works out rather perfectly that it's one of our most loved restaurants and a popular gift card choice for parents to give the teachers for christmas presents at first baptist academy. ahhhh, our favorite foods for free?? even better. we dined on our favorites: bruchetta, chopped salad, chicken&spinach manicotti and creme brulee for dessert. throw in a tasty pomegranate martini and good conversation with a handsome man and you have one happy birthday girl.

2. mall date.

yes please. on saturday we dropped bella off at nick's parents for overnight and when we got back in the car, nick looked at me and said "wanna go shopping?" yes, he knows the way to my heart. we walked around the mall (my favorite mall that is nothing but outlet stores. love it!) for a bit and purchased a couple shirts from jcrew and gap. two of my favorites. it was perfect.

3. surprise!

we left the mall and got in the car to go to dinner. when we were about fifteen minutes away, nick asked me to close my eyes so i would be surprised. when i opened them, we were in one of our favorite areas of dallas: the bishop arts district. those of you that live in dallas... you have to come here if you haven't already. we love it! quaint little shops and restaurants and plenty of hole-in-the-wall places which we are huge fans of. one of our fav restaurant there is a trendy lil pizza place that has oh-so-delish-thin-crust pizza... with toppings like pancetta and goat cheese. YUM. nick lead me upstairs to where all of our good friends were waiting. so. fun. we stayed up that night until almost two oclock in the morning, and since we were bella-free we got to sleep in until almost noon. happy birthday to me.

i am very excited to be thirty... my life has only gotten better and richer and more blessed with each season, so i can only anticipate what the lord has in store for the years to come.

mama confessions.

i feel as though it is a "mom trap"... or let me rephrase... a "human trap" to present our lives as though we have everything together. when i woke up this morning, i was faced with the overwhelmingness that is my life right now. our apartment is a wreck. i haven't exercised since who-knows-when. every day i struggle to fit my time with jesus in. it is the end of january and i still feel like i'm getting back into a routine since the holidays. and in some sense, still feel like i'm adjusting to life as a mom. and bella turns eight months old today. (eight months?! where has time gone).

anyone??? please tell me i am not alone!

so here are my mama confessions. lest you think i have it all together.

1. as previously stated, i haven't exercised in a very long time. this is partially due to the state of extreme discomfort&pain that my body was in for months after having bella. but still, i hate it. trying to figure out where to fit that into my daily routine so i can get this bod toned and in shape before swimsuit season... or before i get pregnant again, whichever comes first (kidding, kidding!).

2. i haven't painted my toenails in probably two months. i partially blame winter. and close-toed shoes.

3. i cry everytime i pack away clothes bella has outgrown.

4. if someone could pay me to be a wife, a mom, decorater of our home, meal planner, professional blogger, cook and crafter, i would be as happy as a clam. all the other responsibilities (ahem... cleaning) i would gladly hire someone else to do.

5. speaking of cleaning, i always make sure our apartment is neat and picked up. but finding the energy to clean each week is a chore for me. i am constantly busy and on the go with my part time jobs throughout the week (i work 20+ hrs a week which i am BEYOND thankful for) our mornings at home all i want to do is snuggle with bella, read to her and play with her. i would be perfectly fine if i spent her naptime only drinking coffee, reading, blogging, eating breakfast and watching morning talk shows.

6. i cried the week i stopped nursing.

7. i *thought* i had lost allllll my pregnancy weight... then i found out a couple weeks ago that the scale i was weighing myself on was wrong. ehhhhh. still only have about six pounds to lose. but still. annoying.

8. i kiss bella's cheeks at least thirty five times a day. at LEAST.

9. i wish that nick could get paid to stay at home and hang out with us. i am always sad on mondays when he goes back to work. we miss him!!

10. i think i am about three months behind on bella's baby book. i have a running list in my mind of everything i need to record and write down. ridiculous! this isn't supposed to happen until at least your second baby... my poor future children...

11. i have all the ingredients to make sugar cookies in my pantry. i was meaning to make them for the girls on nick's basketball team... before christmas break. ooops.

phew. glad i got all of that off my chest. am i alone in all of these things? please, other mamas... help me out here.