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February Photo A Day!

Who would like to join me?!?! I'm starting a photo a day challenge from Fat Mum Slim. It's so much fun & I think great for practicing photography...especially on my new camera! :) Let me know if you are doing the challenge & where I can follow you...I would love to follow and see all your wonderful pictures! :)

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<3 My new bag!

I just won this Cynthia Rowley satchel on eBay…retail $249…got it for $115! But it won’t be just any bag, it will actually be my diaper bag for my beautiful baby. I didn’t just want a plain diaper bag, but I saw this bag in burgundy at TJ Maxx and loved how spacious it was-and of course great for baby stuff! Sadly when I went back, it was gone…but thankful for eBay; found the same bag & in a color I love even more! :) I should get it in a few days! For all the mamas out there…what are some diaper bag essentials?

25

The big 25…quarter of a century…25 years old. That is my number today! Happy birthday to me! :) But also a lot to think about. These past few years just seem to fly by, and like everyone says…the older you get, the fast time goes by. It seems it’s hard to enjoy or notice the little things some times. So I decided to challenge myself to 25 things while I’m still 25. I really hope to move forward with all of  these…kind of like mini resolutions (ps: my new years resolutions are included in here as well). These are not in any specific order.

1. Thank God more
2. Read scripture more
3. Pray more
4. Be optimistic
5. Be a more Godly wife
6. Be a Godly mother
7. Take more pictures & get better (picture a day challenge)
8. Be happy, no matter what anyone says
9. More date nights & time with Dmitriy
10. Love those around me
11. Spend more time with friends
12. Grow my relationship with family
13. Eat healthier
14. Do something active every day & get back into running (after baby)
15. Do more of what I love – including blogging! :)
16. Explore more of Buffalo
17. Journal my life via blog, scrapbooking, etc.
18. Read more books
19. Get back into design – maybe open a business?
20. Take a vacation with just Dmitriy & myself
21. Do more creative DIYs
22. Learn Photoshop & Illustrator
23. Plan more get-togethers & dinners
24. Make our house a home - organize, clean, decorate!
25. Simplify life – less stuff & not always rushing around!

Well here is my list…would anyone like to share your plans, hopes, dreams for this year?

I really hope that I spend more time on things that make me happy, enjoy life, and to the fullest. Be blessed everyone!

Baby update – 6 months & growing

Happy Sunday everyone! While I was getting ready for church today I realized I haven’t updated you much on the baby map around here. Thankfully the pregnancy is going well…no morning sickness…no weird cravings. And even with a minor Bicornuate Uterus the baby is healthy and strong. Kicking like crazy and making sure I know its there.

This is my outfit I wore to church today. I don’t have much option of what to wear now days…so I try to get as stylish and creative as I can! I read a few pregnancy fashion tips on this blog post & would say it helped a bit. :)

Top: Loft – Belt: Target – Skirt: H&M Mama Collection – Boots: Nine West

Here’s my bump…I can no longer see my feet at this point…putting on my shoes, shaving…all now getting very difficult to do! But gotta keep going, can’t get lazy right? :) Although honestly sometimes I miss running and doing things on my own…gets a little frustrating asking everyone for help because I know I can’t do it myself.

And yes…we are having a girl! I made these cupcakes for my family…and they all bit into them at the same time! :) But as my doctor said…keep all the receipts! When my mom was pregnant they told her I was going to be a boy, but when I was born…SURPRISE! It’s a girl :)

I’m slowing getting things for the nursery…I will share with you when I get closer to putting it together. I’ll try to get an inspiration board together before hand.

Thank you lovelies…Have a great day!

PS: I’m starting a photo challenge…I’m a little behind, but my belly is for Day 20: Something I Saw

Image credit belongs to One Fell Swoop

I got a camera!!!

I know it’s a little late, but I GOT A CAMERA! My husband got me a Canon 60D for Christmas. I couldn’t take a picture of the camera with the camera…but here’s a lens as proof :) I really hope I can learn quickly to make my photos look awesome…but practice makes perfect right?? :) PS: Here is a link for great photography tips from A Beautiful Mess.

Image credit belongs to One Fell Swoop

Eyes…

Hello my lovelies! Long time no see! Get it, play on words :) For those of you who know me well (or sit by me in while taking notes) know that I love drawing eyes. Thought I would share a little bit with you. These are a few of my favorites that I came across on Pinterest. Enjoy!

 

Click on image for credit

Dining Etiquette 101

Sometimes I myself wonder what the proper way of setting up & dining at a formal restaurant. And since the holidays are drawing near, here is a great diagram for tips on etiquette at the table. If you don’t drink alcohol (like me) you would only have one glass instead of the four; less dishes! :)

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Chicken Pot Pie

Let’s just say this is one of our go to meals in our home along with a few others. It is something we crave often + easy & SO good! We can eat the whole pie in one day if no one stopped us :) LOL I usually make a full 9” pie, but making mini pies for a party would be a great option as well!

Few tips before you get started: Make sure you seal the edges VERY well & then create several cuts in the top crust. This will prevent the inside of the pie from boiling over & the steam has plenty of spaces to get out. Enjoy! Let me know what you think! This would be a great fall comfort food for your home!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast - cubed
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• 1/3 cup butter
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
• 1 3/4 cups chicken broth (1 - 14.5 oz. can)
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2 (9-inch) unbaked pie crusts

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, and peas. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.
3. In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

PS: You can also add 1/2 cup celery with the carrots and peas – our family isn’t big fans of celery so we leave it out.

CREDIT: Recipe - Image

Surprise!

Surprise! Guess who’s back?!?! And guess what? I’m not the only one…my husband and I are having a baby! Most of my family and friends already knew, but thought I’d share with all of you. This is an older ultrasound so the baby is actually now about 12 weeks. :) But that’s not the only change…I actually miss blogging and really hope to make time and get back into writing. I know I keep saying it, but it’s so hard with work, bible study, and other church/family events. But what do you all miss??