Thousand Words Thursday. Another Beach Day!

The weather has been wild here. So warm. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy it and know the rest of the country is dealing with some major storms. But, the cons... we NEED the rain, I enjoy my different seasons, and in 2 weeks we are going on our winter vacation. Which entails a cabin in the snow and lots of snowboarding! Snow would be nice!?! I might be the only one in Sunny So-Cal hoping for some bad weather?

This is us at the beach last weekend.

For more Thousand Words Thursday check out, Cheaper Than Therapy!

If you haven't already done so, don't forget to enter my PERSONALIZED CANVAS GIVEAWAY! It ends soon. 

Wordless Wednesday.

Livin' the "Easy" life.

For more Wordless Wednesdays check out, 5 minutes for mom. 

If you haven't already done so, don't forget to enter my PERSONALIZED CANVAS GIVEAWAY! It ends soon.

Totally Talented Tuesday. Play-Doh

I recently bought "Easy" some Play-Doh. Well, I developed a love/hate relationship with it! He absolutely LOVES it. Borderline obsessed with it. Plays with it everyday. Keeps him very occupied... is the love part. The hate part... it gets EVERYWHERE! I'm constantly cleaning up play-doh pieces off the carpet. It made my life harder. Hehe. Oh well, its a childhood classic. I guess I need to get over it. He really likes to watch us make play-doh figures. I'm not so creative so daddy is really cool in "easy's" book! 

Here he is sitting at his table playing with his play-doh. He doesn't even try to eat it! Now for "Easy" thats a REAL talent!

For more Totally Talented Tuesdays, check out Two of a Kind Working on a Full House's blog!

If you haven't already done so, don't forget to enter my PERSONALIZED CANVAS GIVEAWAY! It ends soon. 

PERSONALIZED CANVAS GIVEAWAY!!!

Okay... This is my first giveaway and I'm so excited about it! Somebody is going to be a lucky winner!

Bethany over at Somethin' to Talk About  started the cutest business called Oh Snap! Designs. She paints personalized canvas', picture frames, and makes hair bows for your little ones. Lets support the handmade crafts. Please check out her store. She has some great stuff. I love these canvas' for a babies room or even as a gift. Here are some samples:

Bethany is going to give away to one of my readers a 8 x 10 personalized canvas!!! You can pick any color... any theme... any name... any color ribbon... ITS MADE TO ORDER! How cool is that? I would LOVE put one on "Easy's" bedroom door.

This is what you have to do to enter:

• Leave a comment on this post and tell me who this canvas would be for? (You don't have to give full details yet. I'm just curious)
  

For additional entries:

1. Follow my blog. 
2. Follow me on twitter.
3. Put my button on your sidebar. 
4. or post a blog about this giveaway with a link back to this blog.

Make sure you leave separate comments for each telling me you did so. I will draw the winner February 1st. 

GOOD LUCK!!!

Go to bloggy carnival for more giveaways!

Semi- Wordless Wednesday. Weee!

"Easy" loves to swing... always has. Check out those legs! I think he's getting his chunk back. 

I LOVE IT!

For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5 minutes for mom!

Totally Talented Tuesday AND Tempt my Tummy!

I thought I'd merge two memes in one. I've been making some delish meals lately that totally tempt my tummy... AND I consider a talent! 

Check out Blessed with Grace for more bloggers sharing their recipes and tips!

Check out Two of a kind working on a full house's blog for more talents!

My crock pot has become my new BFF! I've been on a mission to try out different crock pot meals. I usually try about 2 new recipes a week, and some are real keepers! I love the crock pot. Many times at the end of a long day the last thing I want to do is make a home cooked and healthy meal. So I love having one already cooking away. I wasn't a big crock pot fan. I thought the meals turned out pretty bland. But, I've been trying some new things that I never would of thought would be good in the crock pot and was pleasantly surprised. I will share the keepers for any Mommies out there who want to give them a try.  Also, if you have any you want to share... PLEASE do!

This week I tried Chicken Enchiladas and Chicken and Spinach Lasagna with white sauce. I was a bit hesitant on the enchilada's but they were good. Not quite as good as making them from scratch, but WAY easier. They almost tasted like a Mexican casserole type dish. Here's the recipe for the Enchiladas:

• 1 lb. ground turkey
• 1 cup chopped onions
• 1/2 cup chopped green peppers
• 16 oz can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
• 6 flour tortillas

1. cook turkey, onions, and green peppers in skillet until browned and vegetables are tender. drain. 
2. Add next 8 ingredients and bring to boil. Reduce heat. cover and simmer 10 minutes.
3. combine cheeses.
4. in slow cooker, layer about 3/4 cup meat mixture, one tortilla, and about 1/3 cup cheese. repeat layers.
5. cover. cook on low 5-7 hours or until heated through
6. To serve, reach to bottom with each spoonful to get all the layer, or carefully invert onto large platter and cut into wedges. Serve with sour cream and/or guacamole!!!

The Chicken and Spinach Lasagna was very easy and yummy! I got this recipe online just click the link. Enjoy!

Thousand Words Thursday. Tidepools!

I guess there's a huge cold front going on throughout most of the U.S.? Not here... Its been crazy hot here for mid January (like 80's!). Strange. So this weekend we headed down to the beach. It was a full moon the last few days so during low tide the tide pools were exposed more than usual. It was a site to see! So much sea life. Just amazing! Joel and I really dig this kind of stuff. Nature nerds. We are happy to see that "Easy" shares in our enthusiasm! He was WAY into it, very curious, and exploring like a big boy... Fun day!

For more Thousand Words Thursday check out, Cheaper Than Therapy!

Wordless Wednesday.

Sweet Boy.

For more Wordless Wednesdays check out, 5 minutes for mom. 

Is it just me...

... Or does "Easy" look WAY older!?! I feel like he has grown in so many ways this last week. And then I look at these new pictures and it makes me sad. He looks different to me. I see a little boy more than a baby. Tear. He has been so cute and creative the way he plays. He is sitting in Joel's suitcase and pretending to drive! I was amazed watching him. He grabbed onto the straps like its the steering wheel and made the car sound effects. Wow. Little sponges indeed! He was very proud of himself and thought it was hilarious when Toby (our pug) jumped into the backseat position. Pretty creative.

He's become much more independent and distancing himself at times. Don't get me wrong... still very much my cuddle bug, but he tells us to "gooo" and pushes us away when he wants his space! And he actually gets embarrassed! Ha. Love it. I will catch him dancing or singing and he gets embarrassed... stops immediately... and tells me to go. 

He's been speaking in FULL sentences. We've been cracking up at some of the things that have been coming out of his mouth! 

Oh and he said his first cuss word. Not cool. I dropped something and accidently said a bad word and he immediately repeated me. Oops. Joel and I looked at each other stunned and both agreed it was time to watch our mouths. Not like we have horrible mouths, but need to watch the slippage. 

Act of kindness...

So I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out how to make myself a blog button. I'm usually semi computer savvy, but for some reason I've been baffled? Mind you... my mind has been complete mush lately. I don't know what it is. I'm exhausted! This toddler is wearing me out. He's transitioning from two naps to one nap so his sleep schedule has been all over the place. That's a whole other story (or should I say blog?) For some reason the last few days have been rough and a bit overwhelming to keep up with cleaning, cooking, entertaining the boy... yadda yadda yadda... the list goes on. We've all been there, done that. I'll be fine. its just been that type of week. Good thing tomorrow is Friday!

Sometimes the smallest things make your day. Amy over at, Thoughts from the Mrs. offered her help and made me my new button! Wow! What a nice thing to do. Thank You Amy! Go give her some blog love. And check out my new blog button. Pretty cute!

Thousand words Thursday. Blocks!

"Easy" got a new table for Christmas from his Grandma and he LOVES it. He now has a new interest in blocks. I think he looks so stinkin' cute sitting there playing and watching cartoons!
For more Thousand Words Thursday check out, Cheaper than Therapy.

Oh and BTW, has this felt like the longest week EVER to anyone else? The hubby has been very busy at work and "Easy's" nap schedule is all over the place. I'm tired and this week is dragging. Since a lot of us mommies have toddlers around the same age I'm going to be asking some nap advice real soon....

Wordless Wednesday.

LOVE THIS GUY.

For more wordless Wednesday check out 5 minutes for mom.

Totally Talented Tuesday. Potty training has begun!

I have two talents I would like to share this week. Bragging on "Easy" a bit. Okay. The biggie... "Easy" not only went pee pee in the potty, but get this... HE ASKED TO DO SO!!! So cool. He was literally pointing to our toilet and saying potty and then grabbing himself. I was a bit confused. The conversation went like this:

 

Me: What's wrong "EC"? Do you need to go potty?

Easy: pee pee potty (pointing)

Me: Really? Okay lets try...

We ran to his potty, pulled down his diaper, and BAM! He peed! We were sooo excited! Joel was there as my witness. He got a lot of praise! So ya, I'm gonna listen to his cues a little more. Man oh man we were impressed! We haven't even gotten serious about the potty training yet. What a big boy.

Also, "Easy's" creativity never ceases to amaze me! He found an empty egg cartoon on top of the trash can and low and behold... he put his little people in it! All by himself. Smart and silly boy! He was VERY proud of himself. He just sat there and giggled. It was pretty cute. 

For more Totally Talented Tuesday, check out Two of a Kind, working on a full house's blog!

BIKE RIDE!

On Saturday my mom came out for a couple of hours so we decided to take a bike ride. It was a bit cold so we all bundled up and loaded up the boy on the back of Joel's bike. Don't know why we don't go on bike rides more often? It was so fun! "Easy" LOVED it... he kept saying "wheee!" 

He's been doing this cheesy smile lately... I adore him!

I'm sad this long weekend is coming to an end and that their isn't any holidays to look forward to for awhile. Its been so great to have so much family time. Back to the daily grind. 

Why so dramatic? How could I forget? Our winter vacation is in February! A week! In Tahoe! A cabin in the snow! Snowboarding EVERYDAY! Whoo-hoo! I'm getting excited... Sights are set... something to look forward to!

Gettin' a lot done around here.

Ahhh... This picture makes me melt. Not sure if its the chubby toddler arms? The delicious cheeks? The white hair? Either way it makes me smile. It was a beautiful sunny So-Cal day. I guess its suppose to cool down again? Who knows its all over the place down here? I still look forward to the cold comfy lazy days for a while longer. At least in the evenings the fog rolls in and its freezing (well not really, but cold).  

We opened up the garage door and "Easy" loved playing outside. Its amazing how fast he is becoming a little boy. In just a week he has changed the way he plays. We watched in awe as he threw around his ball. Sooo boy with sound affects and all! CUTE. He took a great nap after this just like I needed! We're getting a lot done around here with Joel having 4 days off and us actually staying at home! "EC" is loving his daddy home (so am I). 

Garage completely cleaned and organized... check. Big TV moved to another wall and mantel decorated... check. Christmas tree thrown away and playroom deep cleaned... check. Next on the list put together "Easy's" little table and chairs, stain it, and finish play room. Pictures to follow. I'm proud of this mass organizing of the house! Great way to start off the new year! 

Thousand Words Thursday... It's a miracle!

"Easy" was hilarious today! He was acting so goofy. He's been fighting a cold and I can tell he was feeling much better. Not only did I get my anti-veggie boy to eat green beans... but he was actually HAPPY and EXCITED to do so??? Naturally I had to document this.
For more Thousand Words Thursday, check out Cheaper than Therapy!