Quick Venting Session

I have so so so so much stuff to do before Sunday morning! But before I get to all of that stuff, I need to vent. Most days, I don't try to accomplish too many things while the kids are awake. I don't want them to remember me as the mom who never spent any time with them. However, due to all of this "stuff" that needs doing, I was going to try to check some things off the list while they were around. I figured if I just sat at the kitchen table and finished making a birthday card they would just play nicely around me. False. I sat at the table for less than a minute, cut out one measly circle, and there they were hanging off the edge of the table whining at me. Disappointed, I slung myself onto the couch and pouted. And what did they do next???? Well, they played nicely around me while I stared at the wall, of course!!! What is up with that?!?!?

Embrace the Camera: February 3, 2011

It has been insanely busy at our house lately which is why I've missed a few weeks of Embrace the Camera. I feel okay about that, though, because in doing so I feel like I've really been living intentionally around here so far this year. Other than birthing a baby and nourishing it for a year, I didn't do much else in 2010. I really want to step up my life in 2011 - spiritually, personally, physically, etc. Basically in all aspects (except having a baby!) ha, ha. So please excuse my absence, but know that I'm doing good things :)

I really am in this week's picture, it's just hard to tell. I'm the one on the left, the big, fat troll --


Zoe and I recently made a shadow box and are slowly growing our list of characters. During brother's nap we tip toe back to mommy's closet, close the door, turn on the flashlight, and set the stage. She loves it. And so do I. This is such a special time I'm trying to hold onto -- one-on-one time with my little girl. She is growing up so fast! I know Colby will drop the two nap schedule soon, but until then, I'm going to cherish these moments.

Embrace the Camera: January 13, 2011

Me and Zoe soaking up our vitamin D while "little brudder" takes a nap. This is such a cozy spot on sunny, winter days!

And, just for fun, a flashback to me and Zoe last year at this time --

41 weeks pregnant. Everything about this picture cracks me up. The birthing pool in the background. Zoe's missing pigtail. Zoe's hair in general. The look on her face. The look on my face. How huge I am. Clearly, baby boy, we were doing nothing but waitin' on YOU! And, boy, were we tired of it!


Embrace the camera! It's fun!

Embrace the Camera: January 6, 2011

That (above) was my first time writing 2011. Feels weird, like it always does at the beginning of a new year. I sure hope this one doesn't go as fast as last year. The years seem to fly by now that we have kids. Time flies when you're having fun, right? Or, maybe, time flies when you're sleep deprived, changing countless diapers, nursing 8 times a day, constantly cleaning up puke, making dinner, doing laundry, etc. etc. etc! :) 2010 was a great year (I can say that now that it's over :) ) But I'm really looking forward to new beginnings around here. Happy new year!

This week's picture is from our time in the states {over the holidays} at my parents' house. J and Zoe playing in the snow. Zoe is officially not my daughter. She loves the snow. I do not. I'm more like Colby, who, yesterday, as I was dressing him for an outing in the snow, screamed the entire time. I sat him near the window as I was putting on my coat hoping the view would intrigue him, but the poor boy was so padded in snow gear (think A Christmas Story) that he fell straight back, hitting his head on the air vent. I just kept telling myself that once we got out there he would love it and stop crying. I was wrong. He cried the entire time. Then I cried once we got back inside and finally took off all of our layers. Can we say - not. worth. it?!

Without further ado, here are my two snow bunnies on a beautiful snowy day in Pennsylvania

Peppermint Bark Cookies

I love peppermint bark so, naturally, I was very excited to try out this recipe. It is now my new favorite holiday treat. And a very festive addition to my holiday baking! Here's the recipe -

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg yolk
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped (or use chocolate chips)
1 cup chopped Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses (or use crumbled candy canes)
2 ounces white chocolate

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan with nonstick spray. Line bottom of pan with long strip of 9-inch-wide parchment paper, leaving overhang on both short sides of pan.


2. Whisk flour and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in sugar. Continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl, about 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla, then egg yolk. Gradually add flour mixture, beating on low speed just to blend.

3. Drop dough into prepared baking pan, spacing evenly. Using moistened fingertips, press dough to form even layer over bottom of pan. Pierce dough all over with fork.

4. Bake cookie base until light golden brown and slightly puffed and edges begin to come away from sides of pan, about 30 minutes. Place pan on rack; immediately sprinkle bittersweet chocolate over. Let stand until chocolate softens, about 3 minutes. Using small offset spatula, spread bittersweet chocolate over top of cookie in thin even layer. Immediately sprinkle chopped candy cane kisses over (or candy canes).

5. Stir white chocolate in medium metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. If it’s too tough and thick to stir, add a tiny drizzle of vegetable oil or 1/2 tsp. of shortening to thin it out. Remove from over water. Using fork, drizzle white chocolate all over cookies. Chill until white chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.

6. Using paper overhang as aid, lift cookie from pan and transfer to work surface. Using large knife, cut cookie into irregular pieces.

Cooking Tips:
*DO AHEAD Can be made 1 week ahead. Store in refrigerator (or freezer) in airtight containers between layers of waxed paper or parchment paper. Can be stored in the freezer for several weeks.

Yield: About 36 pieces
Source: Adapted from Bon Appetit

Embrace the Camera: December 9, 2010 - Flashback

We didn't take a single picture this week (until today; I got my camera back!), so today's embrace the camera features a flashback to last year at this time. Looking at this picture, I have to laugh. It was only the second week in December, my due date was January 10th, but I was so completely certain that my baby was coming early. In fact, I was pretty confident he'd be here on or before December 29th. He had to be. I was huge. And very uncomfortable. But baby boy didn't show up until January 19th! Yes, 9 days AFTER my due date! Oh well, he came when he was good and ready.

Zoe's hair {and outfit!} crack me up.

To make matters worse, my husband and child liked to mock me.

Embrace the Camera: December 2, 2010

My last Embrace the Camera featured pictures from my birthday "party," during which, the flash on my camera completely and randomly died. So, my NEW Nikon was rushed to the shop in hopes that we might get it back before the holidays! Despite the fact that I haven't had my camera, I do have some fabulous embrace-worthy photos to share today. We got the rest of our pictures back from our family photo shoot and I am beyond pleased with them!

There are many more to share, but at an average of 10 minutes per photo to upload onto here, forget it!

Enjoy...and embrace your camera!