miscellany monday on this memorial day.

grab a button and link up below!  

the rules:  keep your miscellany as random as possible.

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{1} motherhood: you search everywhere for eggless chicken nuggets {because you've heard that even picky eater kid's will eat chicken nuggets}, you find some {they are organic = major score!}, and then your child will not give even the smallest bite the honor of resting on his tongue for just a mere second.  so, what happens?  mommy ends up eating egg-free chicken nuggets for dinner.  they weren't half bad.

{2} speaking of eggless, or not so eggless...

this is hunter on eggs {at 10 mos}: 

bear in mind that all of these symptoms were multiplied over his entire body... he also had some respiratory issues... it was a million times worse than it even looks = super sad.

this is hunter after an ER visit, steroid shot and several hours:

aww, much better.  so, from 10 mos on... nothing containing eggs has been allowed!  

 {3} speaking of eggs... which reminds me of food...  i'm about to get back on the diet wagon and lose my baby weight.  it will be six weeks before i can exercise {well, i might sneak in a run here or there... shhh... don't tell} but, in the meantime, i can start eating super duper healthy!  and thanks to lynette @ dancing barefoot on weathered ground, eating healthy got way easier.  i won a champion juicer from her!  woo hoo!  thanks a million, lynette!  oh, she's having another giveaway starting tuesday {as in the day after today}... it's a surprise but will be just as superb as this giveaway!  

{via}

do you juice?

{4} speaking of baby weight... can you believe that i just peed 5 {f-i-v-e} times in the last hour?!?  it must mean sage is coming soon.  if she doesn't come before friday {as in june 4; as in just four days away} she will most definitely be here then!  my doc is guessing sage will be 6 lbs 15 oz.  she guessed right on with hunter.   so, as of next monday, i'll be at least that much lighter... yay... my bladder is looking forward to it.

{5} sorry for all of the speaking of's.  

{6} as we are enjoying this memorial day, let us be quick to remember the countless sacrifices that our military men, women and families make {and have made} on a daily basis.  may we honor them always!  

{via}

dear john(ny)...

to the world you are kelly (middle name).  

to telemarketers you are john (first name).  

to yours truly, and yours alone, you are johnny. 

you are my man.  my leader.  my lover.  forever.

the day i became yours, 5 1/2 years ago, was the best ever.

i'm blessed indeed.  the Lord was ever so gracious in gifting me with you.

watching you comfort me when my hormones have gone haywire as i cry bloody murder over a dirty toothbrush holder at midnight reaffirms the blessing of you.

and knowing that my kids get to be your kids... wow, that is just amazingly delicious chocolate fudge icing on my double quadruple decker dark chocolate cake.

can this really be my life?  pinch me. 

oh wait,  that sweet lil' baby kick just reminded me that, yes, it's really true.

"...wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

-psalm 139:14b

oreo overload.

hi.  most people call me chunky, hunky or handsome, but you can call me hunter.

i have an egg allergy which drives my mama crazy.  i don't see what the big deal is.

i mean, i can still eat the best store bought cookies ever... oreo's... since these bad boys are egg free.

mmmm. that's what i'm talking 'bout.

it's important to get it all in.

well, almost all of it.

g is for granny, glamourous and goofy.

g is for granny.  

meet my granny.  she's {almost} 75 and you'd never know it...  swears she'll be dead by the end of the week, but with all of her acupuncture, herbal concoctions, and detox machines {which she paid $1,000 for and purchased it at the fair... yes, the fair... as in carnivals, cotton candy, ferris wheels} i'm convinced she'll outlive me.

g is for glamorous.  

meet my glamorous granny.  i received this information in an email from her:  

"I'm modeling in a Fashion show... It's a tea party and fund raiser for the senior center here in town. I have three outfits to model, all from Coldwater Creek."

and not only that, she has bought me every single fabulous pair of gigantic gold earrings i own.  she picks them all out on her own, too.  

g is for goofy.  

meet my goofy granny.  she brings her own water in a water bottle everywhere we go and when we are at restaurants, she asks for a glass of ice but no water.  why?  because she pours her own water in the glass.  she doesn't want to drink their unfiltered water... hmmm... i've tried, all my life, to tell her that the ice is made from the same unfiltered water as the water would be.  

oh, and when i said in a post that my face was bit by the swollen bug, she called me, very concerned, and wanted to know what kind of bug a swollen one was {she hadn't heard of it before}. 

don't worry, she's a good sport and loves a good laugh... plus she tried linking up to miscellany monday last week when the links were thumbnail pictures... she added a picture and was so proud that her picture was on my blog.  let me remind you that she had no blog to link the thumbnail to, so she linked to mine.  ha!  so now here's a real picture, granny, of you, on my blog, with your great grandson!

"gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life." 

- proverbs 16:31

i love you granny!  we wish you weren't 3,000 miles away from us!

miscellany monday. grab the NEW button and join in!

grab the button and link up below!  i'd love to have you!

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yes, miscellany monday has a new and wayyyy better look... all thanks to the extremely talented hannah at vivid design studio!  

{1}  i never fully realized how big double strollers are until we put ours in the back of our car.  goodness gracious... talk about massive.  i'm not quite sure where the groceries are going to go.  hmmm... good excuse to go grocery shopping alone!  : )

{2} adoption... taking orphans out of this world and bringing them into a family to be cherished and treasured.  i have three stunningly beautiful nieces that were adopted {one is still in the adoption process} so adoption is near and dear to my heart.  click to enter a giveaway to win a love is not a color t-shirt that is bringing attention to adoption over at charisa's for such as these.  also, visit lauren's living by faith to check out her block party blog sale to help raise funds to bring her baby boy home from ethiopia!

"learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless..." - isaiah 1:17

{3} angel soft is neither soft nor angelic {which is a real bummer since it costs just as much as the good stuff}.  they should be fined for false advertising.  devil hard would suit it much better.  this goes on the don't buy list right along with scott tissue. 

{4} ice, ice baby.  all my life i've been drinking water luke warm or room temperature.  just as of two weeks ago, i've become quite acquainted with ice.  i can't get enough of it.  i eat it plain {gasp!  it's so bad for your teeth and i'm ocd about teeth... that goes to show just how much i love it} and fill up my water glasses full of ice.  the husband said that after years of trying to convince me of the goodness of ice, he's glad i'm "humbly accepting the maturation of my tastebuds."  

{5} you should know that if i disappear off the face of my blog it's likely that i've gone into labor.  i'm 11 days away from the d-date and my first was 17 days early.  so, any second now, i'll be meeting my precious babe.  oh, and last but not least, {although this will be the last one} here's a belly shot: {in an effort to let sage know that her mama loves her just as much as her big brother... even though he got his very own pregnancy journal and she didn't... }

a shortcut.

in an attempt to find ways to get ready faster - especially in light of our newborn's upcoming arrival and well, we have a 15 month old - i hopefully found a shortcut.

now, my real life friends might gasp... i've been talking about doing this for months upon months... and now that i finally did, i didn't tell anyone {besides, of course, the husband, my mom and my bff}. so, yes, surprise, surprise....

i got a short cut. {all thanks to my uber talented hair stylist friend, annie.}

12 inches off to be more specific...

i hope you like.  i am lovin' it.

i would've loved to have highlights too, i think it would trendify the cut even more so, but it's more important for my baby's butts to be diapered than for my hair to look terrificly trendy. {spoken like a true mom}

and it turns out that i'm a hero too... all of my hair is being sent somewhere to be stuffed in a pantyhose and sent out into the ocean to absorb the oil from the oil spill.  no joke.

and, on to much more important things, my sister-in-law, cindy, and niece, libby, just returned from haiti.  thank you so much for your prayers for them!  she met her beautiful daughter, keemberlie, that they are in the process of adopting.  click to read more about their trip... the Lord is so good!

{keemberlie - in the pink, cindy, and libby}

#1 reason WHY a full term preggers shouldn't...

paint their own toe nails:

the big toe was, by far, the hardest, as you can tell by the looks of it.

the good news?  i didn't have to watermark this pic because i don't want any credit for it whatsoever.

oh, and don't be jealous of my super long monkey like toes {my big toe is over an inch and a half long}.  they come in handy {wait, am i allowed to use the word handy when referring to my feet?!? hmmm.}  and can pick up a plethora of things that fall on the floor {which is especially nice since the belly is in the way these days}.

help! i'm in charge of feeding my family...

now what?!?  last week i confessed all of my shortcomings when it comes to anything dealing with the kitchen.  i asked for help.  and wow, i got tons of amazing tips that i must share with everyone.  if i didn't, it would be an injustice to all.  i'm also glad to know that i'm not the only one who grapples with this.

so, here's the 4-1-1 on how to eat healthy, maintain a budget, plan meals, all while not going crazy...

{i chose broad tips so everyone could benefit.  if you want the scoop on coupons, click to read more.}

{1}

rachel, had my most favorite tip!  it's so simple and smart:

      

{2}

kristin, gave this great tip, and has a wealth of information regarding meal planning on her blog.

{3}

mama d, is flat out wonder mom.  she raised 14 kids and i admire her a whole bunch.  if anyone knows about meal planning, it's her!  she has gobs of info on her blog, too! she said:

{4}

partial empty nester has a "power 12" list for healthy eating. 

{5}

ashley said:

also, remember to visit your farmer's market for fresh produce that is usually way cheaper and tastier than that bought at a grocery store.  co-op's are also great ways to save on produce.

websites to bookmark:

angel food ministries: healthy meals you can order for a very low price. {thanks charisa!}

health castle: great advice from dieticians on meal planning. {thanks summer!}

meal planning and info for certain allergies {my particular favorite, thank you diana!}

together we save: couponing and tips to get the cheapest deals. {thank you lea!}

kraft: budget wise meals... i've made several of these and they are delish!!!

now, here is an amazing food blog by my extremely talented friend, rebekah.

chelsea at triumphs and blunders is a riot.  this gal wins the prize for funniest blogger ever.  i just love her.  she bakes and bakes and then bakes some more.  you must visit.

leanna has a fun blog with great recipes:

and my we'd so be friend's in real life friend, natalie at the busy budgeting mama always has tips and fantastic recipes.

last but not least, this is oh so very helpful for writing out your grocery list. it keeps you all neat and organized:

i know there is much more info out there...  cheers to happy budget friendly, healthy, meal planning!

thank you to everyone for your helpful tips! 

she rises while it is yet night and  provides food for her household... proverbs 31:15a

miscellany monday... join in on the random.

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{1} it's miscellany monday's true test today {since there no bribes for entering}... if you want to join in the random, grab the button above, and link up below.  i know we'd all love to visit your blog to read your miscellany.  rules: keep the post as random as possible.

{2} thank you mr. pharmacy man, you now have my business for life {unless i get an offer from target for a free $10 gift card with a transferred or new prescription}.  why, you ask?  insert our conversation here:

pharmacy man: how far along are you?

me: i am 37.5 weeks... 2.5 weeks to go.

pharmacy man: i thought you were going to say you had 3 months left or something.  your belly is small.

me: i feel huge. gigantic, even.  thank you for just making my entire day month.

{4} apparently visiting the aquarium will do strange things to you.  i woke up from a nightmare last night barking like a sea lion.

{5} if you are anxious for a new blog design, but are not anxious to pay for one, enter to win a beautiful new blog makeover...

{6} hunter was recently contacted by the children's place to model their zip up jammy's   he's been practicing: {evidently he has decided that the baby gate is the perfect prop}

{for clarification purposes: he hasn't really been contacted... i'm not one of those parents that think their child could actually be a model.}

cute and chubby. giveaway winner, too.

congratulations to this lucky gal: 

stephanie

she will be the proud new owner of whatever clutch her heart so desires from 

charm design!

thank you to everyone who entered!  

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okay, on to the cute and chubby.

and i'm not talking about myself.  

look at this handful of handsome {with the emphasis on handful these days}...

his walk resembles a monkey on a tight rope.

silly smile.

every little guy should have a camo hat {$5.99 at target}.

pure cuteness.

daddy said this is a weed and not a flower.  little boys don't play with flowers.  only weeds.

"behold, children are a heritage from the Lord..." psalm 127:3a

prayer request: my sister-in-law (with my 4 yr. old niece) is traveling to haiti tomorrow to meet this beauty:

 

isn't she too adorable!?! this is keemberlie, and they are in the process of adopting her.  click for more details.

p.s. - don't forget about miscellany monday... here's the button in case you want to plan ahead.  : )

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a fast five dollar fix.

{i must say that i'm oh so very excited about next week's kitchen help post!  you shared such helpful ideas!  thank you times a million.  i hope we all can learn new things... i know i certainly did!  if you still haven't entered the wanna clinch a clutch giveaway, you have until friday morning... so hurry already!}

before:

remember this little {un}beauty {i.e. - the lamp}?!?

i mustered up a tiny bit of brain power and came up with a fast five dollar fix for beautification purposes.

i love to be crafty but no one has ever mistaken me for ms. stewart.  needless to say, i like crafts if they're quick, dirt cheap, and super easy {i.e. - no sewing is allowed to be involved... i can't even sew on a button... hence, if you've noticed as of late, my man certainly didn't marry me for my homemaking skills}.

my materials:

pink ribbon, scissors, glue dots, martha stewart stickers.  yes, i said stickers.  this is my kind of craft.  especially since i spent less than $5.  

after... five minutes later:

wa-lah!   i think it turned out halfway decent since my hubby's response was: "hmm... it's better than i expected."