missing coffee...

want to try these recipes:

Iced Mocha Frappe (Deen Family)

Iced Coffee

Mochacinno Shakes

laptop decoration

before:

i'm sure the tech folks will be really thrilled when they see my computer, but it looks darn cute if you ask me!

i simply used some removable wall stickers from the dollar store to create my pink and green polka dotted computer!

maybe having my cute computer will make going back to work easier...or not!


after:

dark chocolate banana protein shake

I need to get more protein...esp considering i'm a vegetarian AND pregnant.

In an effort to do so, I came up with this recipe.

I am really not a fan of protein powder, and believe me, thanks to my bodybuilding hubby, I've tried plenty of varieties. I needed a way to mask the flavor. Since I'm a chocolate lover, cocoa powder is my new best friend!

Ingredients:

8oz skim milk
1 scoop protein powder (you choose the brand...I think ours provides 24g of protein per scoop)
1/3 of a frozen banana cut into slices (I would suggest cutting the banana BEFORE you freeze it)
1 heaping tablespoon of cocoa powder (or less if you don't like bittersweet chocolate flavor)

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth

I hope this helps any of the rest of you who are protein-shy.

message boards

I went through the effort (if you've shopped with me you know i hum and haw about stuff) to buy a seagrass board and a dry erase board at the end of last week. I put them up in the kitchen and not 24 hours later...BOOM...yes...feel on the floor. One would think that I would just secure them a little better and be done with it, but I think in the back of my mind that wasn't really for that space in the first place.

so....

I created these little numbers this morning out of foam board, fabric and a hot glue gun. they are secured by my favorite putter-uppers...command strips. oh, and the dry erase part is from Michaels...if you haven't seen these they are in the poster board section. I think they are simply called dry erase sheets. they are great!

notes to self...

future projects...hopefully NEAR future projects...

--revamp headboard
--put up Cameron's tree
--rip up carpet on stairs and decorate
--update Landon's room decor

countertop/tabletop earring holders

i've made larger earring holders in the past, which i like, but i wanted a party favor with a jewelry theme recently and came up with these.

The best part is that they cost less than $2 a piece!

Materials: 4x6 ready to finish frame ($1/piece) from Michaels

Scrapbook Paper

Mod Podge

Stapler

Screen

midnight construction crew at it again!

goodbye ugly orange construction fence...

hello beautiful classy pool fence!

shaun and aaron have been working their tails off lately to get this fence up. THANK YOU to both of them and a special thank you to the Harlow gals! We appreciate his help more than we can express. The whole thing will be up before we know it!

stair decoration

i've been wanting to take up the carpet on the stairs for a while now and this just made me REALLY want to rip it up...like this afternoon!

http://www.justagirlblog.com/2010/08/sas-in-review_08.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+justagirlblog%2FTjAN+%28Just+a+Girl%29

Granted, these stairs are darling in and of themselves, but the quotes are too precious.

i'm thinking i just found a future project.

i guess i should prioritize and focus on the nursery first though :-)

Halloween Costume--Cameron

So, I'm a little nuts and i'm thinking about halloween already and we haven't even finished summer. Cameron will be here Oct 18th and I am certain i will have no time or energy to find/make a costume between then and the big day.

SO...

i think i've decided that she will be an owl. i have found some darling owl hats on etsy.com (my new favorite place).

I need your help to pick which hat she should wear. Vote on the right side if you're willing.

happy voting!

countdown to cameron

i saw an idea similar to this in a magazine a long time ago and swore that i'd do it if we ever had another child. at the time, little did i know how beneficial it might be for a certain very special big brother. Landon is extremely bright but has always had a difficult time with transitions and new situations. I thought that setting a visual countdown to Cameron's arrival would really help him. not only will it help him understand the concept of time and anticipation, I hope it develops a sense of connectivity between the two. When we took the first link off today he was super excited, looked in her room, gave a big grin and nodded his head when we asked if he was excited to meet her! I hope that this countdown becomes a bonding and preparatory experience for all of us!

i didn't want the paper chain to have to stretch the entire house, so i cut 12x12 pieces of scrapbook paper into 1" by 6" strips.


we are 74 days out from the c-section, so i numbered each strip from 1 to 74.


then connected all of the strips to make the chain.

for now, we draped it on her crib. we've got some work to do in the nursery, so until i have a better place...