Brain Potpourri...

1. My little guy turned 3 yesterday....I really can't believe it. As many of you know we celebrate birthdays BIG in our family so the party started yesterday and will continue on through the weekend!! Pictures will be posted soon. Just to give you sneak peek of what he looks like now that he is three (because I assured him he is most DEFINITELY bigger now)....

2. How is your spring cleaning going? Mine is coming along...but not really at the pace I would like! I've got all of my baseboards and walls washed down, I've cleaned some of my windows but not all of them, I've cleaned out the children's rooms and closets....but our closet and my kitchen cabinets are still awaiting some attention. Ugh. I figure if I get a little done every week it will all eventually get done.

3. Thought I would share this with all of you....I try to follow it as much as possible without making myself crazy (as in driving to 2 or 3 different grocery stores)! Ha!

TOP TEN FOODS TO BUY ORGANIC

(most contaminated by pesticides)

STRAWBERRIES

GREEN AND RED BELL PEPPERS

SPINACH

CHERRIES

PEACHES

CANTALOUPE

CELERY

APPLES

APRICOTS

GREEN BEANS

GRAPES

3. I am in love with this wine....quite honestly simply because of the name...

When I first saw it I said to the grocer, "I am going to need a case bottle of that!!!!!!" Now if it just said, "Happy Housewife" instead of Mad Housewife I would be buying stock in it!!!!

4. Have people given up blogging lately?? I've been wondering....

5. My schedule has been filling up quickly with photo sessions. It all gets my creative juices going. I've decided that I truly love pictures that tell a story. A picture you can look at and it makes you pause and wonder what the conversation was while it was captured. I took this picture recently and I think it does just that.....

I love that the little guy is pointing. I love that the older brother has his hand up to his face as if he is contemplating something. I've looked at it a few times and wondered what the conversation was between the two of them.

Welllll.....I think it's time to take a shower my friends, after all it is already 2:10 in the afternoon! Yikes!!! Take Care!

Sometimes you hit the Mother Load....

I am definitely a girl that looooves a good bargain....but I would not call myself a garage sale girl. When I was teaching I use to love garage sales because I could find all kinds of treasures for my classroom...but since I have left the teaching profession I feel that all I seem to find is junk. I may stop at a few a year...but had decided they were a big waste of time.

Until today.

Eva had school today and a nearby neighborhood was having their annual garage sale. I decided it may be fun to walk around it for a little bit while Eva was in school so Jaden and I picked up my mom and away we went looking for treasures (but deep down knowing full well I probably wasn't going to find a darn thing).

One of our first stops I found my first treasure....I have actually wanted this item for my children for some time but never coughed up the dough to purchase it.

Oh yes...it's the Melissa and Doug puppet theater....and this one came with NINE puppets. I am slightly obsessed with Melissa and Doug toys. I love that they are made of quality material...usually wood. I love that they don't have crazy lights and noises as distractions - they honestly foster a child's imagination. This set was in wonderful shape and priced right! I added up about what it would have cost me had I purchased in a store and it would have been WELL over $200. I got a deal. I was super pumped.

Another garage sale we were at had this little gem....

The Pampered Chef Chillzane platter. I've actually looked at this before as I thought it would be great with the pool - but never coughed up the approximately $65 it costs to purchase one. Well my friends, I got one NEVER USED and STILL IN THE BOX for $5. Yes, you read that correctly. Again...I was pumped.

My last deal of the day - I mean century - was something purchased for my little man. Matt and I had been discussing getting him his own jeep to cruise the neighborhood with since he is capable of driving one now. We originally purchased the Jeep for both of our children, but in our little corner of the neighborhood the children spend a lot of time in their jeeps and we knew it would be nice for them each to have their own.

But then again...did we really want to spend the money to purchase another one? I'll be honest - they are NOT cheap!

Hellllllloooooooo garage sale find.....

That's right...our little man will be cruising around in his own little John Deere, complete with working shovel on the front! The tractor was in fantastic shape and let me tell you - this thing can HAUL - our little guy may be the leader of the pack! Ha!! Again, a great deal and I was one pumped Mama.

Sooooo.....I learned my lesson today.....even though I still wouldn't consider myself a garage sale girl, there are the occasional times when you seriously

HIT THE MOTHER LOAD!!!!

Had to Share....

I took this photo this afternoon during a photo session and I just had to share.....it's so cool when I'm given a chance to capture something that makes me realize just how beautiful God created this world.

Super Eva to the Rescue!!!

That's right folks...there is a new superhero in town and he - I mean SHE - is going to save the world!!!! We think she is as cute as a button - Oops! I mean as TOUGH as nails!

The Power of EDITING...

I mentioned previously that I've taken a few photography classes recently. They were extrememly informative...as always! One of the thing I love about photography is that even when you think you know how to do something - there is STILL more to learn! Editing is an example of that. Just to give you an idea of what editing a picture can do...

Here is the picture right out of my camera...

And here it is edited...

Pretty amazing isn't it?! One of the things I've learned about editing though is that it is not a cut and dry process....there are a million ways to edit a picture. It is not something that is done at the touch of a button either. Sometimes I have people say to me, "oh you just enhanced that picture!" True, but the process of "enhancing" it took some time and thought. The picture above we literally spent an ENTIRE class on (although we were going through things slowly). We looked at color, white balance, exposure, clarity, vibrance, sharpening, etc. There is just so much to look at...so much to consider when editing.

To be honest it kinda makes my mind race and my heart skip a beat when I get going with it! Especially if I have a picture that just kinda "speaks to me"....there are soooo many fun things you can do with it! Just a few more of my favorites of my munckins after being edited...

"Editing can make a WORLD of difference...with photography AND with life!"

--Actually, this quote is from ME! Ha!

A Little Day Trip....

Last week Eva had Spring Break, and even though we decided not to go anywhere this year it was important to both Matt and I that we had quite a few fun things planned throughout the week to make it fun and exciting for her. One of the things planned was a little day trip with my friend Stacey. Stacey and I have been friends since high school and it's so fun to continue to share in eachothers lives...which now include our children!

We started our day by taking our children to a local beach. It was really cold but the sun was shining and the kiddies had fun running around in the sand and playing on the swings and slides!

I loooove this little guy....
These two are so fun to watch together...they only see eachother a few times a year but they seem to always pick up where they left off!

Stacey and I!!! Eva took this picture of us...a little fuzzy but not bad for a 5 year old!

Next we headed to an organic farm to let the kiddies roam around and see the animals! This was the sign on the door to the market area...I got all excited when I saw it and then realized that most would laugh that something like this would bring me joy! Ha! In my defense Stacey also got all excited! Ha!

Jaden making friends with a "moo moo"...

All the kiddies seemed to enjoy this friendly horse...

After seeing the animals and visiting the market the kiddies had a ball just running around the property! They played on the swing set, walked down the lane, and explored the stream. I love how such simple things can be so much fun for them...

After a fun day my little ones were exhausted. Eva and I got a kick out of Jaden...as soon as we got home he sat down on the couch and within minutes he literally fell over sound asleep.

"Life is a ticket to the greatest show on Earth!"

--Martin Fischer

GIVEAWAY....

That's right people...you heard right. I am a Mama on a mission to get you some free stuff. Gotta love that don't you?!

My next giveaway is going to be handled a bit different than giveaways in the past - we like to keep things fresh here at the Blissfully Happy Housewife blog ya know....so here's the scoop:

My friend Jackie makes absolutely beautiful homemade cards. The kind of cards that I would love to be able to make, but quite honestly....who has the time?! Well, Jackie has not only the time...but the talent to back it up. She has been making cards for 10 years and has even won some on-line design contests for her cards! On top of that, the time and love that goes into each and every one of these little gems is completely obvious. But do you know what the best part is? She is already thinking ahead for YOU my friends....ya know, Mother's Day is just around the corner and have YOU purchased your mother a card yet?

My guess is the answer is no....don't feel bad, I haven't either.

Jackie and her giveaway to the rescue!!!!! You can win the following card for your Mama AAAAND a beautiful SET of homemade cards to give her as a gift!!


You could be the envy of your neighborhood....you could say, "Ya, I'm totally on top of the whole Mother's Day thing...I'm just organized like that."

Here is how you enter...
1. Visit my blog (oh wait, you already did that didn't you?!)
2. Look at the picture of the camera in my sidebar and write down what the caption that goes with it says...
3. Go to Jackie's blog http://www.designsbyjax.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment on her post with the giveaway telling her what the caption says!

It's that simple my friends....go for it...and GOOD LUCK!

Did ya think I fell off the face of the earth?!

I haven't been blogging....obviously. My computer was acting up and I've learned not to mess with computers. My knowledge of all things computer is about as accurate as my knowledge of rocket science. I quickly took my little baby to the computer doctor and let them deal with it....but that also meant I was without it for awhile. Sooooo.....here are a few things that have been RIVETING my mind the last couple of days (please note the sarcasm in this...ha!)....

2. I don't watch Dancing with the Stars...but I have caught it a few times this season. I have two words for you...Kate Gosselin.
Oh. My. Word. I have to be honest in saying deep down I was kinda rooting for her - I really was. I thought it could be a fresh start...stepping out on her own. I thought this could totally be her "take-a-deep-breath-put-your-big-girl-panties-on-and-deal-with-it-moment"!! Well...I couldn't be more disappointed. I'll just leave it there because quite honestly I don't even know where to start.


2. I have a slight obsession with the comedian Dane Cook....No, not because of the way he looks (jeez...give me some credit!)...but rather for the fact that I laugh sooooo incredibly hard when I watch his comedy. If you don't know who this comedian is I suggest you look him up...but I'll forewarn you that he IS pretty...ahem...."brash" about things. But my word....I laugh and laugh until my stomach hurts - which is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world. I was watching him late one night this weekend - COMPLETELY by myself - and I was literally ROLLING with laughter. I love it.

3. Off the subject of celebrities and on to....GARDENING!!! It's tiiiiiiiiime!! I'm pretty pumped and I don't think my excitement is even half of what the kiddies excitement is! I am asked daily if we can go work in the garden and at this point that just means tilling it and picking up rocks!!! Here is what we are planning on planting this year....

Basil

Green Peppers

Carrots

Corn

Popcorn (we are all excited about this one)

Potatoes

Onions

Lettuce

Tomatoes

4. I have taken a few photography classes the past month...one in Chicago and one here locally. Both classes were wonderful and reminded me not only how much I love photography...but just HOW MUCH I have to learn!!! It's amazing. My most recent class was on shooting in RAW....all I've got to say is WOW! If anyone out there has any experience shooting in RAW that they would like to share I am allllll ears!

5. Giveaway coming soon....very soon.

6. Sometimes I'm really bad about actually following through with ideas I have in my mind. This is especially true when it comes to decorating. I just let my ideas stew...and stew...and stew. Right now I have a zillion ideas in my mind for our home - I just need to make them reality. Anyone else have issues with this?

7. Do you ever wonder who reads your blog? I do. I am always floored when I run into people I haven't seen in years and they bring up that they read my blog. Really?? Me?? I also sometimes wonder about the people that I've never met that read it...people that never leave comments but are faithful readers. I have readers in Shelby, Michigan and Eugene Oregon. I have readers in Venice, Florida and waaaaay up in Canada. I just want ya'll to know that I don't know who you are.....but I'm flattered you stop by!

Those are my random thoughts for now my friends....stay tuned for that giveaway!!

Hugs!
Jamie

No One Tells You About This One....

When I was preparing to become a mother I found myself continuously preparing. Preparing the house. Preparing the nursery. Preparing for the birth. Preparing...preparing...preparing.

On top of that people (especially new mothers) are more than willing to give you advice. Advice on how to get through the labor. Advice on how to feed your newborn. Advice on how to get your child to nap. Advice...advice...advice.

I will be honest...by the time I was ready to give birth I felt prepared. And looking back I really think I was prepared.

But there was one area of motherhood that no one really talks about and I was NOT prepared for...

MOMMY GUILT.

Mommy guilt can hit me and I feel like I just got hit by a Mack Truck. And the thing I've learned is Mommy guilt doesn't seem to end.

When my children were newborns the guilt would come in the form of feeling bad if I got them off of their schedule. I was also still working at that point and the guilt I would feel when I would leave my child to go to work was sometimes completely consuming. It crushed me.

As my children have gotten older the guilt can come at me in many different forms....

I will feel guilty if I feel I haven't spent adequate play time with my children during the course of a day (due to getting housework done, all of us running errands, etc).

I feel guilty if I forget an appointment or GASP!! - even worse - I actually drove my daughter to school on a day the WHOLE SCHOOL was closed! Ya. It's the truth. (only I honestly didn't feel guilty about this one because Eva, Jaden, and I were all laughing so hard when we pulled into the school and realized we were the only ones in the parking lot!).

The guilt crushes me when I have my hands full with dinner and one of my children says, "Mommy, will you play with me?"

I feel guilty when I spend time on ME....time that could be spent on THEM.

The list is endless.

I know that it's important for my children to be able to play on their own. I know that it's important that I get things done around the house. I know that any ordinary mom accidentally misses an occasional appointment (although I may be one of the few that has drove her child to school when it was CLOSED!!! - ha!).

I know all that.

But it doesn't make the guilt just go away. I (as all mothers do) want so badly for my children to have memories of a wonderful childhood. A childhood where their Mommy played with them and created special memories with them. I have amazing memories of my childhood.

Sooo...I decided to ask my mom about all this. I asked her about my childhood. She reminded me that yes, she played with me.

But she also did all the laundry.
And cleaned the house.
And cooked.
And ran errands.
And watched General Hospital every day (I died laughing when she reminded me of this).
And taught exercise classes.
And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

And I still have amazing memories of my mom running around the yard with us, and painting our faces, and playing games, and making us special lunches, and taking us on special trips. Amazing amazing memories.

So...I will keep my head up and continue to tell myself that I am doing all I can to raise these little people right. To raise them to understand that even though they are my world, my world can not completely revolve around them.

And I will NOT feel guilty about it.

Ok...maybe just a little.

Watch Out World...

There is a NEW driver in town!
That's right....our little guy has mastered the Jeep.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST HUSBAND AND DADDY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!

WE LOVE YOU "ALL THE WAY TO AUSTRALIA AND BACK"!

In honor of spring....SPRING ROLLS!

My friend Uyen is from Vietnam. The first time I was at her home she made spring rolls for me. I have to be honest....I was a little hestiant. I am not a HUGE fan of cusine like this, but I told her I would give it a shot.

Oh. My. Word.

She opened a whooooooole new world for me and now I am hooked.

COMPLETELY HOOKED.

Being the good hostess that she is she not only made them for me, but she had an entire platter put together of ingredients so she could teach me to make my own. It was like a playdate for our kiddies and a cooking lesson for me - how cool is that?!!

I seriously CRAVE these things and today I finally went out, bought the ingredients and made them myself. Mine did not look nearly as pretty as hers and mine wasn't quite as authentic...but Uyen explained to me that you really can't mess it up...just include what you like. Today I made my own...I included rice vermicelli (basically a rice noodle), snow peas, sprouts, carrots, green onions, and chicken. It's all rolled up in rice paper (which feels like plastic before it is wet - the kids think it is SUPER cool)! I then dipped it in a peanut sauce (Uyen makes her own - I cheated and just bought it)!

It was DELICIOUS and soooooo healthy! I have a new favorite for lunch - I seriously ate two and could have ate about 2 more (but stopped myself...reluctantly).

Thanks Uyen for a FUN new recipe that is tooooo delish for words!

From Our Little House to Yours....

HAVE A "HOPPY" EASTER!