jodi’s baby shower

my wonderful friend, jodi, is having her first baby!!!  baby boy s. will be here in mid-march.  oh boy oh boy…a baby!  so life changing!  i am very excited for her & she is definitely meant to be a mommy.  i was so excited to shop for her gifts, well, shopping in general is my favorite pastime no matter what the occasion is!  baby stuff is just so stinkin’ cute!  her shower theme was so adorbs!  an animal theme through and through, from the animal cookie favors to the cute little elephant sign holder.  so many thoughtful touches executed by her step mom, kelly!  we can’t wait to meet the cute little bugger {yay!}; see you soon!!

mommy to be, jodi, me, and kt

mommy to be, jodi, me, + kt

write a wish for baby boy s.

write a wish for baby boy s.

kt + moi

kt + moi

cute little details

cute little details

purty wrapped gift

purty wrapped gift

the goods!

the goods!

another mommy to be, kim!

another mommy to be, kim!

what a sweet time it was!  so excited for the baby boom going on around me!  we are all so very blessed.

children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.  Psalm 127:3

lovely lazy day

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coffee and quiche.

after a day and night of being icky sickly, i awoke to a doting hubby charming!  voila, breakfast was awaiting me.  he had prepared a quaint breakfast spread {coffee, mimosas, quiche, and fruit}.  i was still feeling a bit under the weather but it was quite nice to be able to sit together; spend our time talking, eating, and relaxing.  i love spending quality time with him since he’s been traveling so much for work {insert sad face}.

broccoli quiche // 6 servings

2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, minced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 cups chopped fresh broccoli
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 eggs, well beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon butter, melted

directions

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
* Over medium-low heat melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onions, garlic and broccoli. Cook slowly, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are soft. Spoon vegetables into crust and sprinkle with cheese.
* Combine eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in melted butter. Pour egg mixture over vegetables and cheese.
* Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until center has set.

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later that day:  i was feeling much better, thanks to the meds [although i’m not a meds type of gal]!  anyhoo, i pulled out my new shoes {love!}  they are soooo comfy!  i am not a sneaker kind of girl but i love how it has the hidden heel [love the height], it’s a little bit funky, and the street feel of these shoes are rockin’.  it was a part of my ‘click and buy’ streak of late.  prancing around in these chaussures makes me smile.

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[some delicious, spicy stew // not for the timid tastebuds]

we wanted a cozy night in and the hubby charming really wanted to cook up something to eat.  he put together a beef stew in our fabulous slow cooker.  we debated on just a vegetable stew but we succumb to the cow :p

slow cooker beef stew
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon paprika [we replaced this with cayenne!]
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups beef broth
3 potatoes, diced
4 carrots, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped

directions

*Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, and celery.
*Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours.

we both want to abate not so good foods from our diet and strive to balance out a healthier palate {cross our fingers}.  i am in awe of folks who are so resolute with always eating healthy, organic, and fresh!  i love sweets, although i have somewhat diminished my intake by the pounds/per year {heh}.  i think ordering the 20 boxes of girl scout cookies might negate the above positive thinking {yikes!}.

don’t be mundane

sometimes work clothes, for me, can be so mundane.  my utilitarian uniform is your basic black.  for some, it’s their staple color; for me it’s sooooo boring.  i know it’s a classic, stylish choice {i do think black can be so sophisticated} but when it’s a forced everyday option, it can be quite trite versus putting in the effort to be creative.  i try at times but usually fail.  i was particularly loving this shirt.  i don’t wear it often but when i put it on today {i usually don’t wear flow-y type tops}, i was feeling like it was going to be a good day!  throw on an accessory and bam! you’ve got yourself an outfit.

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 so, at the end of the day…it was a great day.  thanks to my nifty, flow-y top and necklace.  sometimes, it’s the little things, huh?  you made me feel a bit more chic today, merci.