Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tune In Tuesdays





Something about this song makes me homesick for Las Vegas. It might be the fact that they're a (partially) Las Vegas band (the other members are from Utah), or it might be the lyrics. Either way, it makes me wish I could spend time with my friends back "home." Even if it's not a sentimental song to you, it's still a catchy tune and has quickly become one of my faves. Enjoy!


Nic + Bean

Saturday, August 25, 2012

30 Things in 30 Days.... About Me!

(I first came across this challenge on Six Cherries on Top, who linked up with Best of Both Worlds, who originally got the list/inspiration from Hopes and Dreams.) 

This is the last post to complete this challenge. I don't know if anyone reads these since no one comments on them, but it was still fun to ask myself these questions and really consider the answer.

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for


19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
If money wasn't an issue I would have a hard time deciding between somewhere in Colorado, on 5ish acres with beautiful Coloradoan views, or in California. If we lived in California I'd live in Northern California. Thing is, I love love love Colorado but I miss being within a few hours drive of the ocean. I totally took the ocean for granted when we lived in Las Vegas and it was only 4 hours away, but I miss it so so so much now.

20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.  I don't know if these are significant, but they replay in my mind quite often...
 1. I remember getting violently ill after a surgery. (I don't remember if it was my tonsils/adenoids or my sinus surgery. But I remember violently throwing up in the bushes on the way to the car post surgery. I was in the 3-4yo range. I think that's my first memory. Nice.
2.  I remember sitting in front of our home in Orlando, everything packed into the U-Haul truck, and being really nervous about our move. I kept telling my mom I had to use the bathroom, but when I'd go back inside the house for the umpteenth time to pee and nothing would come out it was obvious I was just nervous. This was the move when I was 7 where we moved from Orlando, FL to Las Vegas, NV.
3. I remember my friend Jes's mom, Cindy, teaching me how to swallow medicine in pill form. I was staying at her house for a week-ish while my mom went out of town, I had a headache, needed to take a Tylenol-type medicine, but they only had pills. I was so scared about taking a pill. She filled up a big plastic Florida Gators tumbler with water, did the same for Jes, set them on the counter in front of us. Had me put the pill on my tongue and had me and Jes race to chug the water cups. I don't remember if I won or lost, but I remember being surprised that the pill was gone at the end of it.

21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
Not having to sleep. Kiiiiiiinda like the Twilight vampires. Except, I don't want to not be able to sleep, because I love sleeping. But I'd like to not HAVE to. There are some days that 15-18ish awake hours in the day just aren't enough to get everything I need to get done, done.
 
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
Now that I have Bean I don't even like thinking to the future. Time goes by so fast normally, I don't like to imagine her being 7, 12 or 17 years old. However, in 5 years I'd like our family to be in a home of our own. In ten years I'd like to be either finishing up my schooling or already working in the labor/breastfeeding support world. In 15 years I'd like to be sitting at the kitchen table helping Bean Girl (who surely won't let me call her that anymore) fill out college applications. ::sniff::

23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
1. Photography - Well shot photographs can take my breath away. There are many memories I'd like to never forget. Photography helps make that a reality.
2. Sewing - I like making sock monsters. And handmade gifts for friends.
3. Baking - I have a crazy sweet tooth. I like to be able to make delish treats to share and to indulge in!
4. Crafting - I've always been pretty creative. I just like the relaxation of crafting.
5. Reading - I love love love reading. I love that I can go anywhere in my imagination and immerse myself in the story.

24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
I was raised by a single mother. That never changed, as in - she didn't marry when I was a child. I am an only child (I have two siblings thanks to my father, but they're 18-19 years older than me, so I never grew up with them in my life.) I'm married, and while Bean is currently an only child we'd like to eventually give her a sibling. So, it'll be very different than how I grew up.

25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
Because the question says, "in history" I feel like I should pick a really important dead person. The guy who discovered penicillin or first lady to pilot an airplane. But, really, if I could have a dinner party with anyone I wanted I'd want these people there:

Rosie O'Donnell
Alanis Morissette
Robin Williams
Julia Roberts
Brandon Boyd
Pink, and,
Ina May Gaskin

26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
That infants are manipulative. I do not, will not, believe that if you carry/hold a baby too much that they'll be spoiled. Or that if you refuse to let them 'cry it out' that they'll never learn to soothe themselves. Babies don't understand the concept of 'tricking' people. They don't understand what your reasons are. They just know that they need/want you. And, really? Before you know it they're grown and don't want to be held... so I'm gonna keep holding babies as much as I can. ♥

27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
My hair color. I used to hate it, but I love it now. I've come to appreciate it just in time for it to start turning grey enough that I HAVE to start coloring it, which makes me sad because I'll never be able to get a color to be exactly like my natural color.

28. What is your love language?
Words of Affirmation and Quality Time were tied for #1 after I took the Quiz to Learn my Love Language

29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
They mistake my passion for things for judgement toward them if they're not passionate about the same things. I realize that everyone has their own path in life. Moms, especially, are all making choices that they feel are best. Just because it's different than what I do doesn't mean that I think you're wrong. I hate mommy-wars. If you want to ask my advice, and then follow suit that's awesome! But, if you don't - that's cool too!

30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.
1. That I was caring.
2. That I treated people with love and compassion.
3. That I was selfless.
4. That I was a good daughter.
5. " " friend.
6. " " wife.
7. " " mother.
8. That I was forgiving.
9. That I was honest.
10.  That I was a good person.


Best of Both Worlds

Friday, August 24, 2012

Foodie Friday

This won't be an every Friday thing because I don't cook/bake fancy new recipes very often, but when I do - and it's one I want to share - I'll share them on Fridays as to not muddy up my family blog with food posts.

After berry picking last weekend I quickly realized that I picked more berries than I could eat before they went bad. I began searching Pinterest for baked goods that used raspberries. I pinned a lot of recipes, but decided on baking this one because I already had all the ingredients in the house. :) Bonus: It's vegan, which means I get to lick the spoon and bowl after I put the muffins in the oven without worrying about salmonella. Hahaha!

I made the recipe found on egglesscooking.com and it was really easy. I did substitute grapefruit zest for the orange zest it called for, but you can't really taste the citrus once the muffins are cooked so I'd imagine you could use any citrus zest you have on hand.

Vegan Cornmeal Raspberry Muffins

Ingredients:
  • 1 And 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 3/4 Cup Cornmeal
  • 3/4 Cup Sugar
  • 3 Teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
  • Orange Zest From One Orange (I used one grapefruit)
  • 1 Cup Raspberries, Fresh (If you use frozen, don't thaw first)
  • 1 And 1/4 Cups Almond Milk (I used coconut milk)
  • 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/4 Cup Oil
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Procedure:
  1. Preheat oven to 400F/200C for 15 minutes. Grease or line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. Mix together the almond milk and vinegar; set aside for a couple of minutes until it curdles.
  3. In a large bowl combine together the dry ingredients including the orange zest. Take 2 tablespoons of this mixture and
  4. combine it with the berries, in a separate bowl. This will avoid the berries from sinking to the bottom of the muffins.
  5. In another bowl whisk together the curdled milk mixture, oil and vanilla extract.
  6. Gently fold in the wet ingredients into the dry mixture. Stir in the berries. Do not over mix the batter.
  7. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins, about 2/3rds full. I got only 11 muffins for the above measurement.
  8. Sprinkle some sugar on top of the muffins. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean.
  9. Transfer to a wire rack and let it cool for at least 5 minutes before removing from the pan.
 
They were a hit in my house. The texture is really great and I love that they're not super sweet. They have some sweet crunch from the sugar on top, they have some tart from the raspberries, and the cornmeal adds a really nice flavor. I still have more raspberries in the fridge, I see another batch of these in our future!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Tune in Tuesdays

This week's song is from my most favorite band in the entire universe, Incubus. I've loved them since my freshman year in High School. I've only missed one of their tours since then (due to Bean being too little to leave alone for that long), and I have the possibility of going to their concert on August 30th on their current tour (with Linkin Park) if the stars align and our friends in Denver can come with us and if my mom can watch Bean.... I am holding my breath and crossing all my fingers and toes that this works out. It's been too long since I've seen them in concert and the itch to go is driving me CRAZY.

I love all their songs. The older ones are the ones I'm MOST fond of, but I love them all. I decided to share Sick Sad Little World because it has an amazing musical interlude half way through the song. The guitar and bass players are amazing at what they do. Brandon's (the lead singer) voice is amazing. This song is amazing. Incubus is amazing. Here's to hoping that I will get to see them on the 30th!



If you're linking up this week be sure to grab my button and link up here

Nic + Bean

Thursday, August 16, 2012

30 Things in 30 Days.... About Me!

(I first came across this challenge on Six Cherries on Top, who linked up with Best of Both Worlds, who originally got the list/inspiration from Hopes and Dreams.) 

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?

19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

12. Describe a typical day in your current life. 
7:15 Wake up
7:30 Emily gets dropped off
8:00 Bean wakes up
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Errands/Play at the park/library/Bean's room
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Naptime
3:00 Wake up/Snack/Play
3:45-4:30 (depending on the day) Emily gets picked up
5:00 Start prepping dinner
5:30 Cook dinner
6:00 Eat dinner
7:00 Family time
7:30 Bathtime
7:45 PJs/Storytime/Bottle
8:00 Bedtime
8:30 Pick up the house/Finish 'chores' that didn't get done in the day
10:00 Jeff goes to bed, I get on the computer
11:30-12:00 Get ready for bed, lay down, watch TV
12:00-2:00 (depending on how tired/stressed I am) Fall asleep.
This is for M-F, on the weekends it's all the same except I sleep until Bean wakes me up sometime after 8am.

13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have. 
1. I care too much about my friends and family. To the point where I give myself perpetual stomach aches and stress over their lives.
2. I'm insecure. I'm always worried about if people like me, what they're saying about me, what they really think about me, etc.
3. I'm a worry-wort. I think about the what-ifs too much.
4. I'm a control freak. Not always having to make the decisions, etc... but more about stuff I have NO control over. It keeps me up at night wishing I could make something happen, or change something, when it's completely out of my control.
5. I'm sensitive. My feelings get hurt easily. Unfortunately over the years I've stopped coming across as hurt and emotional and now come across as confrontational and angry when someone hurts my feelings. I need to work on it.

14. Describe 5 strengths you have. 
1. I'm loving. If I love you my love for you is fierce. Once you're in my heart it takes a LOT for me to stop caring about you.
2. I'm dependable. If you need me, I'll do everything in my power to be there for you.
3. I'm creative and resourceful. I can make a fun time out of nothing - so long as whoever I'm with allows me to do it and doesn't rain on the parade.
4. I'm sensitive. I know it's in my negative list, but because I'm sensitive I usually root for the underdog and try to find the best in people/silver lining in crappy situations. People sometimes get frustrated at me for this, "Why are you defending him?? Just be pissed with me!!" But I'm sure that underdog appreciates SOMEONE being on their side.
5. I'm protective. If, however, that underdog turns out to actually just be a dog and treating someone I love poorly - repeatedly - I will turn on them in an instant.

15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why? 
A house cat (in a loving home). Their life is lived on their terms, their family love them for their quirks, they leave them be, but when they come around their humans love all over them. They get to gaze outside, nap in the sunlight, sleep 18-20 hours a day, and they're so pretty! ♥

 16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments? 
1. My daughter
2. My marriage
3. My 2 college degrees. Even if they don't mean much to the real world they mean something to me.
4.
5.

17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at? 
Being the best mom to Bean that I can. There are days that I feel I rocked at being a Mom, and there are days where I go to bed feeling like I could have/should have done a hundred things differently.

18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive? 
My father's absence. I don't know if I ever forgave him, but I finally accepted it for what it is and let it go. It still irritates me, but I don't have an emotional breakdown when I think about it anymore. I used to take it personally, like he wasn't around because he didn't love me, but I know that he wasn't around because he was an irresponsible, addict, fool of a man. I'm better off with him NOT being in my life. I'm thankful he's not in Bean's either.




Best of Both Worlds

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Wordless Wednesday : Dancing in a Tunnel

Please excuse my bun-hair, I wasn't planning on getting in front of the camera lens today.


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Tune in Tuesdays!

This Tuesday's song pick is a beautifully slow, dreamy, touching song. It's by Sara Bareilles and it's called Once Upon Another Time. Her voice moves me. It has since I first heard it 7+ years ago. This song evoked an emotional reaction when I first heard it. Bean's 2nd birthday has had me in a very nostalgic mood for the past week or so. The PMS that's creeping in over top of me is pushing that nostalgia over the edge and turning me into a weepy sap.

I close my eyes and listen to this song and it's like I'm the one driving the car. I'm watching the yellow lines on the road, feeling the warmth from the sun on my arms through the car windows, I'm driving up a mountain-side on a curvy road, everything is in slow motion. I can hear Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah coming from my car's speakers, I notice the light haze of cigarette smoke swirling in the air around me. I can smell the outside, earthy, air. There is some sort of ornament dangling from my rear view mirror that I see slowly swaying right to left as I follow the curve of the road. At first I feel anxious and lost, but by the end of the song I feel at peace. I feel older and wiser and realize that the shit I'm worrying about isn't as big as it seems. By the end of the song it's nighttime, I'm still driving, but I'm not trying to escape anymore. I'm driving because I can, because I can take myself where I need to go, because I enjoy driving. I remember those anxious memories, but they don't scare me anymore. I'm ok. When the song started I noticed my pulse sped up, but the end of it my pulse and my breathing had considerably slowed. It happened like that, the whole mental and physical experience, each of the 15 times (in a row) I listened to it.

I love her voice and I love her ability to completely paint a scene in my mind's eye.



"Once Upon Another Time"

Once upon another time
Somebody's hands who felt like mine
Turned the key and took a drive
Was free
Highway curve, the sun sank low
Buckley on the radio
Cigarette was burning slow
So breathe

Just yellow lines and tire marks
And sun-kissed skin and handle bars
And where I stood was where I was to be

No enemies to call my own
No porch light on to pull me home
And where I was is beautiful
Because I was free

Once upon another time
Before I knew which life was mine
Before I left the child behind me
I saw myself in summer nights
And stars lit up like candle light
I make my wish but mostly I believed...

In yellow lines and tire marks
Sun-kissed skin and handle bars
And where I stood was where I was to be

Once upon another time
Decided nothing good in dying
So I would just keep on driving
Because I was free 

If you're linking up this week be sure to grab my button and link up here. Now excuse me while I go listen to this song on repeat, with my eyes closed for another hour.

Nic + Bean

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Bean Girl is TWO!

Happy Birthday Bean! It absolutely amazes me that my little baby isn't a baby anymore, but instead a bonafide toddler. She looks more like a kid now, less like a baby. She's going a million miles a minute; running, jumping, hopping, climbing and talking. Talking SO much! Her speech and vocabulary has exploded in the last month! For a couple weeks before her two year well check I started writing down the words I'd hear her say and was astounded that she was regularly saying and using 109 words! Her pediatrician was impressed with the number of words she says and the fact that she strings together 2-word sentences. She weighed in at a whopping 22.5lbs (5% she's always been petite), is 33.5" tall (45%), and her head is 19" around (70% sorry for the big head genes, kiddo).


Jeff and I spent an hour the night before her birthday blowing up 60 balloons and put them on her bedroom floor so she'd get a birthday surprise when she woke up. I know that she doesn't understand what a birthday is, but I wanted her to know it was a special day. She had never had a room full of balloons, so I'm hoping that the balloons did the trick. She loved them!

 

After we dropped Emily off at her theater class we went to my mom's for a quick birthday breakfast where Bean had a pumpkin muffin. I meant to put a candle in it to make it more festive, but forgot the candle.... Still, we sung, and she didn't like it. lol. She liked the muffin, though!


Her birthday was an exciting day.... she finally was old enough to get her grocery-cart-car-drivers-license. And, check out the name of the car!


 We ended the day with an official "birthday cupcake" complete with candle and singing - which she did not enjoy - but I think she appreciated the chocolate cake. :)

 
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Her birthday party was Thomas themed. We held it at my mom's house on Saturday and after many days on Pinterest, many late nights crafting, many hours baking, and then more hours setting up and decorating the party went off without a hitch. I'm exhausted after the ordeal, but I'm SO glad that I did all the planning and preparing that I did because my girl loved her party. I'll let the pics speak for themselves.

 
 
 
 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now that the festivities are done I have to get back to real life. I had let the house completely go for the 3 days leading up to her party, trading house work for party planning, but now it looks like a bomb went off up in here. I thought I was almost over my cold, but now feel like it's just moved from my sinuses to my chest - making it hard for me to breathe. It's going to be FUN trying to clean the house, as well as purging Bean's old toys to make room for her new birthday toys, with Emily and Bean running amok in the apartment. *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* I'm going to go to bed early-ish tonight and hope that I'll wake up feeling 100% better. 

I can't believe I've been a Mommy for 2 years now. ♥