Costco parking lot

So... I'm sitting in the Costco parking lot because SOMEONE decided to fall asleep on the drive here. 🙄
I guess since she's getting poked with a needle later today I should be nice. 😬
That's why this blog is going to be random bits of my thoughts as I'm waiting and killing time before I can give my money away to Costco.

I wonder if people think I'm weird or creepy for sitting in my car parked in front of Costco? Of course I picked the closest spot to the front door so everyone can see me. 😒

Do Costco give samples during lunch time? Or just evenings? Hmm??

Month # 8 - wait..what?

Ok, so Clara is almost 8 months old.  Yes, I've been counting my days by how old she is.  So much has changed since my last blog.  She no longer sleeps well, in fact she's been waking every 2-3 hours every night.  Sometimes every hour. Sleeping through the night is now a distant memory.  It's a bit frustrating and discouraging.  I'm conflicted with wanting to sleep and leaving her to cry and wanting to get her becauee I feel that she's crying because she needs me. *sigh* parenthood...

Some thing more positive..
It seems she's had a language explosion lately and by language explosion I mean instead of mm's and aah's she's now saying baas, daas, yahs.  Its very cute to listen to. It is like she's having a conversation all on her own.  What the heck is she trying to correspond, I have no idea.  I just smile and nod:)

We've been missing church service a lot, just making it for the end.  I need to get to a worship/services to reconnect with God. Feeling a bit apathetic and lacking in patience lately...(I blame it on the lack of sleep).

Looks like we're finally getting some work done on home renos. Basement shelves are all done.  Starting to clear out a space for baby to move around.  We will see how things go when she starts moving.  This house is NOT baby safe.

Until next time...

3 months and counting...

My goodness! I can't believe its been over 3 months since little clara's arrival. I have to admit, the first 2 months were tough.  The lack of sleep was so harrrddd. Those that know me, knows that I value sleep above many things in life.
I am very thankful though, Clara is growing well and is a very happy and easy going baby.  Except when she's hungry, then all bets are off and you get angry baby.  But even her cries are pretty tamed compared to others.

High lights over the past few months?

1. Learning to be a mom is hard. Just when you think you've mastered one skill, the baby grows and develops into a different stage of life and throws a new one at you.    I am enjoying every part of it! I remind myself to take time and enjoy every moment I have with her, her little smiles, her hungary cries, her little coos and ahhs.  Because I know she will grow and life will get busy.  Though, life is as busy as you make it out to be:)

2. I didn't realize how much joy Clara would bring to my parents.  I mean, I know they would be happy, but I didn't realize they would be THIS happy. Everything little Clara does, they smile or laugh at from the pure joy of it all.  Even when she poops it brings them joy. 💩

3. Thankful for all the prayers God has answered.  Keeping Clara healthy and safe (despite her crazy mommy fumbling her way around how to take care of her). God has also given me time to rest. Rest my body and my mind.  The past two years has been so hard and full of stress. Looking back, Jesus has been so constant through it all.

4. Reconnecting with church people. I feel like I'm opposite of a lot of people. For most, they disappear after having a kid but I've been going to church more and hanging out with people more! Crazy eh!

Woah, this post is getting long.  Well just one last thing.  I'm super excited about our church summer camp. Excited to spend 5 days with my church family, 5 days away from calgary, 5 days trying to keep baby happy without the comforts of home.
But most importantly, 5 days with my heavenly Dad! I CANT WAIT!

Until next time...:)

Packed and waiting...

We are packed and ready to go!  Alas, we have no where to go to, it's all waiting now:)..

Finally finished packing my hospital bag the other day, thanks to my husband for reminding that the baby can arrive any day now and we SHOULD be ready.

My work load has decreased significantly the last few weeks, but I'm finding myself at a lost as to what to do?  Having lived the last two years of my life with every hour (almost minute) planned and filled with tasks, meetings and volunteering and now finding that I have afternoons free, WHAT?!.  It's such a weird thought.  Of course many of those afternoons I spend in my bed or on my couch snoozing away (the extra baby weight certainly tires you out).  How I desperately wanted those nap times two year ago but could not get them in and now I feel like I'm wasting precious productive time sleeping!

The extra free time has certainly given me a chance to refocus on God and I realize how much I was lacking in my time spent with Him.  Although it really shouldn't matter if we have time or don't have time, it's if we MAKE  time.  I know I didn't make much time for Jesus the last few years, but I'm so thankful that He remains so faithful to me and never left my side.  

This song has been playing in my house the last few days.  Just for me and baby to listen and worship to.  Hope it would encourage and lift up someone else's day too:)

Jesus, we love you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL9DKXtLmU8

New Hobby!

Well hello,

It's been a long long time since I've posted anything here.  Sadly, my obsession with baking and cooking has died down quite a bit.  Why you may ask?  Mostly due to my busy, busy schedule, but I'm hoping that with the baby arriving soon and the fact that I will be at home most of the time will allow me to pick up this almost forgotten hobby:)

Speaking of hobbies.  Over the years I've indulged in many different types, from jewelry making to cake pop making to collecting children's books to gardening...and the list continues!  Lately I've been very interested in the area of homemade natural moisturizers.  I guess you can say it all started when, two years ago, a co-worker gave me a homemade sugar hand scrub for Christmas.  I tried it and thought it was amazing!  It made my hands feel so soft and the fact that it was made from coconut oil and sugar with a few drops of essential oil made it sound so easy.  I started googling and pinteresting on the various DIY scrubs and creams you can make.  Alas, busyness took over and it was quickly forgotten.

Fast forward to today and currently 8 1/2 months pregnant and suffering from the usual symptoms of pregnancy mainly those dreading stretch marks. I've decided to test out some of these DIY creams and such.  Since none of the other store bought products has helped much, plus my skin has always reacted to certain commercial products.

We will start with a Coconut Oil with tea tree oil cream and a May Chang Sugar hand Scrub.  Since they both require very little ingredients:)

I can't say if they work or not since I literally just made them and started using them today, but I wanted to blog about it for my own sake, to keep track of what I've done.  So if it does work!  I will post the recipe later:)

That's all for now.  :)

Mini pumpkin pies. Bite size:)

21 days

Extreme dreams ministry put out a challenge to fast for 21 days.  You can fast anything you want, TV, internet, Facebook, food, etc.  The purpose is to seek God's heart through the 21 days of fasting and praying.  I really don't think I can go for 21 days without any solid food, especially with the Thanksgiving Feast Potluck coming up.  So I've decided to fast 21 days of no TVshows, youtube or  movies.  And the last 10 days, I'll fast solid food.
Even with the extra time because of no TV, I still find myself too busy to get into the prayer room.  Why?!?!?   I really have to remember why I'm fasting.  I have to stop filling the extra time with work and other hobbies!! Well it's only morning...so I still got the rest of the day:)

Blueberry Muffin recipe

Blueberry Muffin 

1/2 cup butter

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp slat

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup milk

1 pint blueberries (or more if you like them a lot)

Preheat oven to 350 F.  In a bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar until smooth.  Add the eggs one by one, waiting until the first egg is absorbed before adding the second.  Sift the dry ingredients over the bowl and stir in the sour cream and milk.  Stir the mixture with a rubber spatula util all the liquid is absorbed and there is no loose flour in the bowl.  Don't overwork the mixture.  Toss the blueberries with 2 Tbs flour this will prevents them from sinking to the bottom of your muffin when you bake them.

Bake for about 25 mins or until golden brown and a knife or toothpick stuck into one of the muffins comes out clean.

Sprinkle with confectioners sugar(optional)

Blueberry Muffins

Okay, so it has been a while.  A long while.  It's been so long that Blogger has changed it's format and looks.  

Anyways, back to the real reason why I'm posting.  Blueberry Muffins!!!  Anyone that knows me knows, I love blueberries.  For the record, I did bake a batch earlier this month, but forgot to take pictures.  By the time I remember and wanted to take picture of the one blueberry muffin I saved, it started to grow some fuzzy friends:P Yum!

Well enough about fuzzy friends, here are some pictures of the muffins and flowers from my garden!  No zucchinis, tomatoes or strawberries yet.  I think someone (stupid birds!) has been eating my strawberries, I'll have to get those netting things to put on top.

Tonkatsu (breaded pork)

I had the pass few days off work, so I decided to experiment with something different for dinner. I saw a video on youtube on how to make an easy Tonkatsu and decided to try it (link below). I am not one for breaded food, but it seemed fun to make and I really wanted something different for dinner (too many restaurant meals!).

I added steak as well, just to see what breaded steak would taste like. The steps are incredibly easy, and the food...delicious! Watching it fry in the oil is pretty fun too. Can't say it is too healthy, but once in a while is okay. One annoying thing is dealing with the oil after.

I was also craving something sweet, so I made creme caramel again. Last time I posted a recipe for creme caramel I forgot to take some after pictures, but this time I actually did forget again...*sorry* I ate it before taking a picture, but luckily I had made 6 creme caramels. So I prep another one....and yes I ate that one too:P

At midnight tonight, I start my 30 hour famine. Wish me luck! No yummy food for 30 hours. I have to say sorry ahead of time to all those who are sleeping over with me. I get extremely grumpy and moody when I'm hungry. You've been warned!!!

Enjoy

Tonkatsu (youtube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTuLdSNg_IY&list=FL9-B8qXBgjNVgNsJpbVDflg&index=1&feature=plpp_video