Prego and Hungry. All. The. Time.

I have been trying to build up the recipes in my repertoire lately and fill my recipe box ~ which is essentially just a binder filled with loose papers {sometimes jotted down on a scrap or napkin} really ~ but I hope to one day have a fab recipe binder like the ones you can buy on Etsy or I have seen in Chapters stores.

My favourite recipes are:

~ ones that you can make double and freeze one for later {baby on the way}
~ recipes that you can prep ahead of the dinner hour {while Toddler B is napping}
~ really easy, not too many ingredient recipes {extra points for ingredients that I usually have on hand anyway}
AND
~ any sweet, delectable recipe {mmmm cookies... if I could make and eat only baked goods I would be a happy lady}

My friend Sarah over at Daffodil Design introduced me to my new blog addiction Buns in My Oven. Every single recipe on this site sounds so scrumptious that I drool all over my keyboard while I read through and look at the {fab} pictures! Thanks Karly at Buns in My Oven for all the prego cravings! ;) I recently made the Banana Bread Cookies pictured below and they are delish!

Photo from: bunsinmyoven.com

What's your favourite recipe website?

Most Fave Blogs

I try and make time every day or two to check out my most favourite blogs, so I thought I would share a few of them with you. Maybe one will become a favourite of yours too!

Daffodil Design

Mon Petit Amour

The Storque {Etsy's Blog}

How About Orange

Hostess with the Mostess

Everyday Celebrating

Fabulous Female Friday ~ Mon Petit Amour

I am absolutely loving my friend Morgan's blog Mon Petit Amour lately... In one of my first-ever blog posts I talked about how Morgan was my inspiration to start blogging, and it isn't hard to see why. I love all the new mom stuff that she is sharing with her readers lately {she had Baby Hunter in the beginning of December}, and her writing is so perfectly bloggy and fun that it keeps you wanting more! Plus she always finds the cutest images and graphics to post {something I am not very good at}.



If you haven't been over to her blog for a visit in a while, you need to pour yourself a cup of tea and pull up a chair at the computer. Morgan just recently purchased her domain name {so exciting}, and she has gotten back into the blogging groove after a short hiatus to {rightfully so} spend time bonding with Hunter.


This week she is focusing on something called FlyLady, and how you can change your procrastinating ways and not get too overwhelmed with the daily doings of running a household by doing everything a little at a time {and rewarding yourself when you stay on track which I think is key}. I think the suggestions are fantastic and I am making a mental note to go back and really look at the posts when I am done school {sounds a bit like I am procrastinating, but really and honestly I am too busy right now to implement something new}.

Be sure to check out her roundup post "daily deals online for mom and baby." I had wanted to put together a listing of all of these shopping sites, but now we can just share!

Nice work Morgan ~ you are going to be a top mama blogger that so many other bloggers are talking about I just know it!

Sweet Valentine

Sorry about my absence on the blog... something came up that prevented me from being on here for a little while.

Today, I wanted to share with you a site that I found {via another site I love called Everyday Celebrating} that has some really neat ideas for Valentine's Day.

Skip to My Lou is a very cute little corner of the blog world with many crafty ideas that look easy enough for a beginner like myself.

Head on over to see the sweet candy cane lollipop tutorial that Cindy from Skip to My Lou has shared! If you poke around some more there are some adorable printable Valentines too!

Thanks Cindy for sharing!

Spotted at Hostess with the Mostess

It's no secret that I love planning parties, but truly Jenn Sbranti, founder of Hostess with the Mostess, is in a league of her own. I will forever aspire to catch up with her amazing ideas and trendy designs.

I love that Jenn writes about everything to do with entertaining, from menu planning to decorations. And she is uber talented ~ if you read her bio she has a graphic design background, which is probably why her site looks so fabulous!

Some of my favourite categories on the HWTM Blog are:

Real Parties {where Jenn highlights a real party that a real person like you and me planned}
Free Printables {where Jenn shares her incredible graphic design talents with her readers}***Check out the Free New Moon Printables {for the Twilight obsessed}
DIY {where Jenn gives tips and tutorials for the do-it-yourself fan}

Of course, you can't miss the Party Themes section of the wesbite either, where you will find some of the most creative, fun ideas I have ever seen. The Bedtime Story Baby Shower is adorable, and the Santa Baby Christmas party almost makes me wish it was my turn to host Christmas this year! I could get lost on this site for hours {if I had the time}!

Warning: You may become as addicted as I am to Hostess with the Mostess - don't say I didn't warn you! ;)

Learning to Create

So, if you haven't noticed through the many crafty/creative websites and blogs that I have added links to, I am totally inspired these days by the many creatively cool women out there. However, at this point my skills are lacking to truly keep up with most of the fabulous ideas they come up with... and my craft cupboard is pretty much bare.

Today, I went to Wal-Mart and picked up some paper and a bucket containing fun little things like pipe cleaners, pom poms and googly eyes. Maybe I will be inspired to create something with my little guy in the next while. In the meantime, I have been wanting to replicate these fun pumpkin decorations that I found at Hostess with the Mostess {originally at Three Wheels Turning} for a long time, and now hopefully I will have everything I need to do it! Wish me luck!

Oh, and if you have any tips on building up a craft cupboard {must-have items} or beginner projects please send them my way! threemes@gmail.com

Happy Halloween!

More Inspiring Blogs

I am going to be taking next week off from blogging, so while I am on hiatus, here are some blogs I am totally inspired by these days for you to peek at if you are interested:

The Creative Party Place

The Creative Crate

Love. Obsess. Inspire.

How About Orange

Hostess with the Mostess

I'll be back again next Monday (October 26th)!

11 Weeks Until Christmas

I get a plethora of e-newsletters every week/month, and one of them this morning (http://www.simplemom.net/) reminded me that there are 11 weeks until Christmas. That may seem like a lot of time, but really when you put into perspective all the things that most people try to accomplish before the holidays, it really isn't!

Simple Mom writer Tsh (pronounced "Tish") is attempting to help everyone stay sane this year by setting weekly goals for each of us to accomplish so that we aren't doing everything last minute again this year. She has entitled the series of newsletters "12 Weeks to a Peaceful Christmas"

This week she suggests that you gather up all the addresses you will need for your holiday cards and research the different option that you have for sending said cards. Tsh suggests three options to consider {excluding the traditonal store-bought cards}, including making your own cards, ordering custom photo cards, or sending e-cards {and donating the money you would have spent on cards and postage to a charity}.

This made me curious, what option do you think you are going to pursue this year??? This year my family and I will be in Mexico for Christmas, something I am both excited and sad about {yay for getting out of the cold, boo for the change in traditions}. But, since I am already going to be having an un-traditional holiday, perhaps I should consider stepping out of my usual holiday card plan and look into the e-card option. Just not sure if the older generation will embrace this new-age idea... I think Grandma likes to proudly display her card {and the enclosed family photo} for all her friends to see.

Celebrating Each and Every Day

When I first started my blog, about a month ago now, I had read a handful of blogs before and was following a couple. Now I find myself enthralled with the vast numbers of creatively cool women that are out there blogging about things they love. I discover a new, exciting blog almost everyday. Topics range from DIY projects, home decor, and renovating, to motherhood, online shopping, and crafting.

While I don’t have the ability to follow each and every blog I find, I do make time for my new favourite site that I have subscribed to which is all about a topic that is very near and dear to my heart... events! {I love event planning and I am currently going to school one evening a week to get my Event Management Certificate from Mount Royal.} Michelle Stepp is the fabulous female behind “Everyday Celebrating,” and is an event planner in the Nashville, Tennesee area. I, quite simply, love reading her blog. I am fascinated by the stuff that she both finds and creates, and the events that she features.

I was super pumped when, after emailing Michelle to ask her about her fun blog header {which I love and hope to be able to emulate with my own one day when I have the skills}, and she got back to me – that very day! I am amazed that not only are the blogging women I find talented, but they are gracious and sweet too... and Michelle is no exception. When I emailed her back again to ask if it was okay that I feature her on here today, she was kind enough to say yes.

If you are as passionate about events as I am, or even if you just need some fresh new ideas for an upcoming family shin-dig, please check out Everyday Celebrating. I am positive you will be as hooked as I am after viewing the cute kabob invites Michelle found, or the fun Halloween ideas she’s rounding up. As Michelle’s concept implies, we should all celebrate each and every day... whether there’s an official reason to or not! Cheers!

Fab Female in the Limelight

I discovered Paula and her company Limelight Photography through a good old fashioned Google search for "baby photographers in Calgary." I fell in love with her work, and after looking at her portfolio even decided to do some prenatal pictures. Since then we have worked with Paula three more times: when Baby B was 3-months-old, again when he was 9-months-old, and most recently we did a family shoot in August.

I have the pictures Paula has taken for us everywhere in my house. It's so important to me to document the growth of my family, and capture whatever moments we can forever in photographs. Paula is not only super-talented, but she has this amazing ability to click that button at just the right moment finding the smile between the cries of a newborn, or playful innocence in a tired, moody toddler. She also offers packages that include your touched-up digital negatives ~ a total must for anyone who is indecisive like me {I could never go through a bunch of pictures, and just pick a few poses}!

Paula is an inspiration to me for a variety of reasons, one being that I always wanted to be a good photographer, but never really had the skill {a photography class in college helped me discover this}. Second, Paula has turned a skill and obvious passion into her own business. And, third, she is also a mom and wife and somehow makes it all work!

I highly recommend Paula if you are looking for a photographer to help you hold onto your memories {she also does amazing weddings}. Here are pictures from each of the photo sessions my family has had with Limelight Photography. Please note that I have chosen to only share pictures that do not show our faces because I want to maintain a certain amount of privacy for my husband and son {they didn't decide to start writing this blog afterall}. This is not meant to devalue Paula's work... trust me she does also take fabulous pictures from the front! Check out Paula's blog to see more!

To Love, Honor, and Vacuum

**As I mentioned in my previous post, we are leaving today for a mini vacation in San Diego. I will be back on Monday afternoon, but being the keener I am, I have already written posts for the days that I am away and they will automatically go up at 9:00 on Friday and Monday mornings.**

I discovered this gem of a blog about a year ago and immediately signed up to receive the weekly emails. Author of To Love, Honor, and Vacuum, Sheila Wray Gregoire from Belleville, Ontario, has lots to say, and whether you are Christian or not, have kids or don't, it is a good read for anyone and everyone who is married. I am certainly not an expert on marriage, probably no one is, but I think Sheila is pretty darn close. Her writing is encouraging and straightforward. I learn something about myself every time I visit her site, and I find tools to help me change the things that I don't like about myself or my life.

The email that I received on Friday was all about not fretting when you feel like you aren't good at anything early in your marriage, and not comparing yourself to women who have been doing things {like cooking} alot longer than you. It's always nice to know that there are others out there who are going through the same thing as you! Here's a quote from Sheila's post/email entitled "September Resolutions":

"Simply by living, life often gets easier. We get practice. Practice at making a decent meal. Practice at putting our toys away. Practice at sharing our lives and our hearts. Hopefully practice at keeping our wallets—and our mouths—closed when necessary. And most importantly, practice at showing others how much we love them. And practice does a lot more for you than an endless list of resolutions."

The Blog that Inspired Me

There is one blog in particular that inspired me to stop thinking about writing my own blog and actually do it, and that is Mon Petit Amour (http://www.bebechouchou.blogspot.com/) by my seven months preggo and unbelievably talented {I'm serious, there isn't anything she isn't good at I am pretty sure} friend Morgan. It seems fitting therefore, that I feature Morgan and Mon Petit Amour as my first Friday post since she is such a "Fabulous Female."

Morgan has found some really interesting baby and maternity products and companies over the last six months or so, since starting the blog, and I check it out at least a couple times a week. She even has contests to enter and promotions exclusively for her readers from some of the companies she has featured.

I am inspired that she has turned her cute little blog so quickly into something that so many women enjoy, and that might even make her some moolah down the road. Morgan is such a kind and generous person, and it definitely comes through in her writing ~ she makes you feel right at home on her blog. Please check it out!

~Lauren