Well it's official. Garrett had his first trip to the ER. It's funny (in an ironic way...not a haha sort of way) actually as I'd just been thinking that we where quite lucky that he's not ended up in the ER yet. He's a monkey sort of boy, always climbing and jumping. And there have been so many days where I just grasp my head and think "Oh boy! Here we go!" but up until now we'd been lucky and every little bump has just been minor.

About a week and a half ago, on the 19th I was at work. It was just before five o'clock and I glanced at my phone and noticed two texts from Steve. One said "SOS 911" and the other "CALL ME PLEASE!" I sort of laughed figuring it was some sort of joke but called him right away anyhow. His voice on the phone was one of panic and my heart flipped in my chest when he said "I'm bringing Garrett to the hospital. He fell. He hit his head and there's blood everywhere!" After a few questions I asked him to bring him up to my unit so I could see him. It sounded like he was alright minus the shock of it all so I figured I'd take a little look at him first and decide if he needed further examination from there...can you tell I'm a nurse?!?

He called back about five minutes later saying "I think I need to take him to the ER. He's staring off into space and not responding" Enter momma panic mode. I quickly handed off my patients and headed to the ER to meet them. My poor boy was banged up and definitely not himself. We where brought back to the room and the triage nurse looked him over a bit. The PA came in then and did a neuro work up on him. For the most part he seemed alright. A bit unsteady on his feet but his pupils and reflexes looked alright. He offered a CT scan to rule out a brain bleed/injury but due to the fact that we would have needed to sedate him for that I opted to bring him home and keep a close eye on him. I sent Steve home then with him and headed back to my floor to hand off my patients. I hurried home and he was just headed to bed when I arrived. It was a long night waking him up constantly to check on him and we ended up just letting him sleep with us, for our own piece of mind.

We had strict instructions to "keep him mellow" for a few days. *Insert snorty laugh* How in the world do you keep a 21 month old "mellow"? No amounts of Mickey or Guppies keeps my boy still. Instead we plunked him in his car seat and did some driving, a little antique picking and errand running where the only way we managed to keep him still. I'll tell you though, that was by far the scariest moment in my life. You feel so helpless in those moments, especially when you're not there. Thankfully it seems he suffered a small concussion with some bumps and bruises. My heart is beyond joyful it wasn't something more serious/life effecting.

Fathers Day 2015

Father's Day was mellow around these parts. I left the days activities up to Steve as he is, after all the Father in the house. His favorite thing to do each Fathers Day is stop in at the local car show. It's held in a local park which is next to the lake so it makes for a nice walk and afternoon. We headed there and Garrett had much fun trying to touch each and every car. Needless to say momma did a lot of running that day!

We made a quick stop then after the car show at a local A&W. It was a sunny warm day out so we decided that instead of eating in the truck we'd sit on the back of the tailgate and eat there. Garrett had such fun with that: eating and watching people come and go. About half way through our meal this older gentleman came up with a huge smile on his face and said "I just needed to come over and say this, I hope you don't mind. It's so wonderful and encouraging to see parents making things fun for their children. Spending time as a family. It's rare to see parents doing such a good job these days!" and he walked away. Steve and I sort of looked at each other...it was a strange moment but one that will forever stick in my mind. It's rare that someone, let alone a complete stranger stops and let's you know that you're really going a good job as a parent.

Later that day then we made a trip North. Steve been wanting a bagger for the new mower we'd bought and the stores around here didn't carry the one he wanted. So we took a little trip. No worries though...some snacks and a couple episodes of Bubble Guppies and little man was out for the count (as was momma!)

That evening we stopped at my parents. We'd been pickin' the day prior and I couldn't wait to give my dad his gift. It was an antique bottle from a soda company from his home town. He'd told us stories of walking down there as a child, to get a soda. He's been able to find a few smaller bottles from the company but the large ones are a bit harder to come by I guess. So, when I came across it I knew we had to grab it for him!

My parents are antique lovers through and through and have passed that love right on to me. So the bottle not only came from an equal passion of our hearts but also as a reminder of his childhood.

And there ya have it. Another Father's Day in the books!

Spring At The Homestead

I've dubbed this little slice of heaven of ours "The Homestead" and while I've gotten a couple dozen laughs and jokes made about it I think it's just perfect. After all the definition of the word "homestead" is the following:

"any dwelling with its land and buildings where a family makes its home"

I think that's what we're doing here at the M house. Making this plot of land and this ole' home ours, our home. Furthermore I had to come up with some sort of good name after my husband shot down the "Marks Baby Farm" idea. He's rather strong minded in the fact that this will not become a baby farm. Little does he know ;)

Anywho, now that the weather is warmer in these parts and the sun is out more days than not everything it really starting to take off and bloom and I'm LOVING it! It's been fun seeing what kind of mystery plants will sprout up, left behind from the previous owners. 

I thought I'd give you a little glimpse of our place, The Homestead today. All the pretty blossoms and greens we have growing! 

And there ya have it. A little glimpse into our slice of heaven! I'm hoping that next year I'm able to do even more landscaping and plant some more lovely flowers!

Shop Spotlight: EllieDeeDesigns

What EllieDeeDesigns Is Known For || EllieDeeDesigns is ran by Danielle, a sweet 25 year old who spends her free time crafting the most adorable handmade items! Her shop name was inspired by her little Doxie, Ellie. Danielle has been crafting since she was a small child often asking for paints and craft kits instead of toys. Her passion has turned into EllieDeeDesigns, an Etsy shop specializing in wood plaques, canvas art, needlework and more!

My Favorite Products || EllieDeeDesigns just so happens to have all sorts of adorable things that I'm convinced that I need. Danielle's style of work is that of my own heart and I simply can not get enough of it! I am obsessed with the mini firecracker set she sent me! They are the most perfect addition to our mantel for the upcoming holiday!

In addition to the firecracker set I'm also loving this cute But First, Coffee sign. I mean how cute would that be in a kitchen or over a little coffee bar area?! The distressed scalloped edges put it right up there on my want list! And this Happy Birthday Chalkboard sign? How fun is that with little ones in the house? The middle part is a chalkboard so it can be switched out for whomever's birthday it is! I've got one of those saved in my cart...for when hubby isn't paying attention to the bank statements! ;) These rustic wood block pumpkins are also a must have if you ask me! They would look great on anyone's deck, walkway and/or mantel for the fall season! The texture of the corrugated board on the front gives them an extra amount of detail that flat painted wood pumpkins don't usually have! And this adorable inspirational quote board, after a Winnie the Pooh quote? Swoon! That's a for sure if/when I need to decorate another nursery! And every little inch of it is hand painted! How incredible is that?!?

Another great thing about EllieDeeDesigns? (Do we need more reasons to love her?!) is that she is willing to create custom orders as well! So, the sky is the limit with this fun shop!

Quality + Craftsmanship || I've noticed that so, so many shops these days use vinyl stickers on their items and while I do love the look of that as well there is just something about handmade items that makes my heart go pitter patter. I think it's the rawness of it. The lines may not always be 100% smooth and perfect but I personally think that makes it better, more unique. Danielle paints each and every one of her items by hand however and has an incredibly steady hand, as evidence by those perfectly painted lines and stars! Curious what her process all involves? Danielle explains it best:

"Most Etsy shops use some sort of vinyl stickers on their plaques. My items are different because everything I paint is by hand, no vinyl or stickers of any kind. I'll sketch out the design on regular paper first, then lay a piece of tissue paper on top and trace the design onto the tissue paper. Once the background color is painted on the plaque, I'll lay the tissue paper down and retrace the design so it transfers to the plaque (a lot more work than vinyl, but the result is pretty awesome). Then I paint over the design and add little details to make it unique. I'm a huge fan of the antiqued/distressed look that comes from sanding the edges and staining the wood with a dark brown glaze. The creative possibilities are endless, I find new inspiration everywhere."

I feel like that honestly says enough about Danielle and EllieDeeDesigns. Her willingness and dedication simply can not be beat! I love that she spends her time handcrafting each and every item and knowing that each brush stroke was added with love and care. Her items are incredible. Pictures don't do them justice.

Value + Recommendation l l I'd highly recommend EllieDeeDesigns to anyone looking for home décor! The items are of great quality, fairly priced and Danielle is such a joy to work with!

Giveaway || Danielle is super sweet and is giving one of my lucky readers the chance to win one of the following items:

That's right! The winner will get to pick between a "Stars and Stripes plaque" and set of mini firecrackers and a "Chevron Flag plaque". Enter via Raffelcopter below! Good luck my friends! (And even better luck picking one of those items when you win!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

{One Pan} Mexican Rice Casserole

I wracked my brain for dinner last night. Sometimes I hate cooking because I don't know what to make. And try cooking with a 34lb-ish toddler on your hip trying to reach and grab everything. Easier said than done!

I pulled together some Southwest Fiesta Lime Chicken but had no clue what to have with it. Enter this incredibly tasty recipe! I think it's intended to be a main dish/casserole but we used it as a side to our chicken. And once we got all done with dinner my husband kindly pointed out that the chicken probably would have been really great mixed into the rice dish.

Nice call husband, nice call.

This recipe is SUPER easy, uses one pan and takes hardly anytime at all! My top three qualifications for an recipe in my box! So, here we have it: Mexican Rice Casserole!

You'll Need

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 zucchini, diced

1 cup corn kernels, frozen, canned or roasted

1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained

1 cup white rice*

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

 

Follow These Steps

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium high heat.

 

Add garlic, onion and bell pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in zucchini and corn until tender and heated through, about 2 minutes.

 

Stir in diced tomatoes, rice, chili powder, cumin and 1 1/2 cups water; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

 

Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until rice is cooked through, about 15-18 minutes.

 

Stir in cheese until melted through, about 1-2 minutes.

 

Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro, if desired.

 

A {Long Overdue} Catch Up

Just when it seems the days couldn't get any shorter they go and shrink again. My goal was to get back to this little space of mine in a big way come June and truth be told I haven't been making near the priority that I'd planned.

Garrett is down to one nap now (most days) so I have to cram everything I'd like to do into that morning nap. And let's face it...a shower, hot meal and cup of coffee always seem to take the cake. It's also been lovely out here lately, when it's not raining that is so much of our day is spent outside. I've been trying to stick Garrett to a tighter schedule lately in attempts to get him to bed earlier and it's certainly working so I do have a few more free moments in the evening but time with my husband seems to take priority there. I can't say that I feel guilty about it because in fact I love moments spent with them. I do love coming back to this space though and scrolling through old posts so it saddens me a bit that some of the recent moments and memories weren't documents. My thoughts and feeling never turned into words to be read in years to come.

Today I thought I'd play a little catch up. Touch on some of the things that have been happening around these parts...A couple weekends back Steve and I took part in the local annual St. Baldricks's Event. We brought both our Advocare business and my Young Living business and set them up at the vendor fair. It was a complete bust as there was hardly anyone there but it was sort of fun to get away for the afternoon, just the two of us. Plus, some of our friends stopped by and we go to hang out with them as well. Our favorite handmade soap and candle lady was there as well so you'd better believe that I came home with bags full of soap once again. Luckily husband is supportive of this habit...

I'd taken a few days off work last week and they where quickly filled with classes and meetings...so much for relaxation! Good news? I'm officially ACLS certified for another two years! Whoo! This class came during a week when Garrett decided sleeping was for the birds so I was dragging by 7am those days! And of course I scheduled myself for the late classes (5pm to 9pm). Talk about tired! Luckily these three little beauties kept me going!

I've been working like a mad dog lately to get our landscaping done and garden planted. Let me tell you...easier said than done with a 21 month old helper! Dirt and water flies everywhere and we go through an average of about 4-7 outfits per day her lately...I sort of feel like I'm back in the newborn stage some days with the amount of laundry I've been doing!

One particular flower bed I replaced mulch in seemed to be the home of about 7,000 ants and boy did I stir them up! They ended up all over me, all over Garrett and all over everything!

The sunsets have been crazy insane around here lately making me incredibly glad we live in the country as we never really caught glimpse of the beauty when we lived in town! Here's a couple of the latest ones I snapped:

Want to see what naptime rejuvenation looks like around these parts?? Here it is: Iced coffee, country tunes, catching up on my piles of magazines and giving myself a good Jamberry manicure!

Whew! That was a long one I know but thanks for bearing with me! Stay tuned! I've got some great shop spotlights, tips on chemical free cleaning/living, tons of photos of my handsome little guy, tasty recipes and more!

Bake: Lemon Cupcakes With Strawberry Frosting

Summer is nearly here and I'm about ready just to call it good. I mean really what's the difference if we start celebrating summer now or in three weeks?! I feel like the world would be more happy if we just started summer now, today. Am I right? So, in honor of summer starting I thought I'd share a delicious recipe with y'all. These cupcakes are to die for. I'm talking soft, tart cupcake covered with the most delicious strawberry buttercream. They are divine! I just can't/won't be held responsible for what they may do to ones thighs. Don't say I didn't warn you...

Ingredients:

 

Cupcakes

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
4 teaspoons grated lemon zest
4 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sour cream

 

Strawberry Buttercream

2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup strawberry jam
pinch of salt
6 cups powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk

To make the cupcakes: In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a separate mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Add the flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream (batter will be thick).

 

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full with batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely.

To make the buttercream: Beat butter and vanilla until creamy. Mix in strawberry jam and salt. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating until combined. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach desired consistency.

 

Frost cooled cupcakes however you'd like. Top with fresh strawberries if desired.

 

Make ahead tip: Cupcakes can be made ahead 1 day in advance, covered, and stored at room temperature. Frosting can also be made 1 day in advance, covered, and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use. Decorate/assemble cupcakes immediately before serving. Leftover cupcakes keep well covered tightly at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 3 days. Frosted or unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

 

Enjoy!

Garrett: 21 Months

Stats & Recent Appointment: His next appointment isn't until he's two and it's a challenge getting him to sit still. Based on judgment I'd say he's definitely sprouted upwards! I feel like I'm constantly adding to his pile of outgrown lately just due to height. None of his 2T pants fit at this point as they are too short. Most of the 3T fit but sometimes are a bit big in the waist. Thank goodness for elastic waist adjustments!  

Features: He's totally a spitting image of my husband if you ask me! Some say they see bits and pieces of me in him but I beg to differ. He has Steve's nose, ears, chin, hair color and eye color. It does seem like he's going to be rather tall with huge feet so there's hope he'll have some of my genes after all.    

Teeth: The gangs all here! Every tooth minus his two year molars is in. I keep trying to peak to see if we've made any progress with those but he keeps his teeth under tight jaws wraps.

Sleep: I sort of feel like a fool/mom failure over the fact that my son is months shy of age two and still is a crappy sleeper. His pedi keeps reminding me that every child is different and that some children just don't require a ton of sleep. I call bulls**t. So, I'll leave it at it's a work in progress. I bought him a diffuser for his room and we've been using Young Living's SleepyIze every single naptime and bedtime and that seems to have greatly improved his sleep habits! The nights when he is a challenge he's usually just up once now, around 1am. He just doesn't like to go back to sleep after waking up and is famous for falling asleep around 4am, just when my alarm is going off. So on those days I function on around 3 hours of sleep. Perhaps he's just prepping me for Baby #2 huh?!? 😉

Eating: Better. We seem to have gotten over that "I'm not going to eat anything you give to me stage" Some days are better than others but for the most part he does fairly well. He continues to love his "nolis" (granola bars), oatmeal, whole wheat breaded chicken fries, fish, crackers, pretzels, meatballs, spaghetti, waffles, toast, fruit, smoothies, mac & cheese (Annie's brand-shells are his favorite), Annie's All Stars (like spaghetti-o's). Veggies are still a struggle and anything he's not overly used to. He eats far more of a variety at my parents house which is slightly frustrating...course he also loves to sleep there...

Diapering: Size six. Still using Target brand. We've bought potty chairs for him as well as undies so several times a day I'll put his undies on and let him run around in those. Some days he's super interested in the potty and others not so much. I'm trying not to rush him and go with his speed. We had one successful potty time so far, on the 26th of May. He officially peed in the potty for the first time! I was at work when he did it so my mom was sure to send me a picture!

Clothing: 3T it is! I can hardly believe that he fits into all those clothes I thrifted last spring but it's true! There are a couple 24m and 2T items left in his drawers but they are getting fewer and fewer.

Social: His vocabulary has taken a big jump again this month! He's stringing together sentences like mad these days and it's so cute to actually be able to have conversations with him!

dada
momma

uh-oh

baby

 waw-werr = water

 ma-wilk = milk

moooothieee = smoothie
choose = juice

i don't see it

i go find it

tickle, tickle, tickle

one!

granpa = grandpa

granma/hamma/hammie = grandma

go bye

noah (my brother, Noah)

kay kay (my sister, Kaitlyn)

uncle boobie (my brother-in-law, Bobby)
wowww (when he finds something amazing)
 ouch (when he falls/trips)

Hot Dog! = when he wants to watch Mickey Mouse

baayyy = play

bus

truck

car

choo choo = train

wiggle

away

mine

no

get out!

wwaaaiiitt = wait

peeassee = please

We've also been working a lot on animal noises and he's able to tell us the noises that a chicken, duck, cow, kitten, sheep, owl, dog, pig (that one is freaking cute because he scrunches up his little nose!) & horse make. If you ask him what a monster says he'll lift his arms above his head, and yell "rawrr". Love it! If you ask him to show you one he'll hold up one finger...we've been working on two. He's been good about saying "one, two, three!" but won't say two or three by themselves. He is constantly running around saying "I don't see..." and usually that sentence is ended with "moos". There are times you'll ask him where something is and he'll jump up and run away saying "I go get..." It is funny to watch him now follow our daily patterns and routines. We've gotten into the habit that when he's done eating I'll give him a warm wash cloth to wash the table and his mouth with. He knows then when he's unbuckled to run to the bathroom, where we wash his hands and brush his teeth. He is a total "monkey see" "monkey do" lately as well. He knows

Likes: Music, smoothies, playing outside especially with/in his water table, Grandpa, his uncle Noah, being nudie.  

Dislikes: Food, being told "no", being away from momma, being told he has to come in the house...he loves to be outside! And the only way I can get him into the tub lately is if he gets to hold his bar of soap...otherwise a bath just isn't happening...kids...