Rustic Barrel End Table

Mike was in the mood for a new, rustic-looking end table. Everything we looked at in mainstream furniture stores looked too glossy, new, perfect, everything he didn't want for his hunting and fishing-themed man-cave. So, the idea came across to visit a local winery to purchase a used oak barrel.

From there, he cut it a little shorter, to be a good end-table height, and stained it to match our furniture.

He wants YOU to know that he would be happy to make one for you if you're interested...contact his secretary, me, via email for pricing and shipping!

noelle.fahey@gmail.com

Toddler Easter Basket Items

First off, I ordered this awesome personalized basket and liner from Bella Creative Expressions Boutique on Etsy. LOVE. Now, what to fill it with...for a 15 month old. Hmmm...

While perusing my favorite store, Target, I was greeted with plenty of options for a toddler Easter basket. We didn't want to get her only candy and chocolate, obviously. So, although some of the toys may be more appropriate when she gets a little older, I still think she'll dig what I picked out. Here's my list:

• pink Disney ball
• Dora the Explorer bubbles
• pink sunglasses with rainbow side pieces
• purple harmonica
• purple Sing-a-Ma-Jig
• white bunny ears
• animal crackers
• magnetic drawing board

How LMFAO Saved My Life

What's with this crazy band? Are they joking or serious? Are those outfits for real? Animal-print spandex, wild hair, shaking their junk all over their music videos, retro-modern dance moves? I just didn't get it.

....Until my 15 month fell in LOVE with them. Don't ask me how. I think it had something to do with Mike showing  her the Party Rock Anthem music video one day while trying to get her to dance. Well, that did it. Not only did she dance, but it is THE ONLY SONG that can cause her to laugh and smile and bounce her little legs in the car when she was just crying a minute ago. Guaranteed. On our toughest drives, we listened to this song SIX times in a row. It's on both of our iPods and cell phones for temper tantrum backup. I will never judge again. Thanks, LMFAO, for your party rockin'.

80 Degrees in March

How random and wonderful to have a week of 80 degree weather in the midst of March. Olive loves to go walking with her daddy and her newest passion is her brand new pink car, courtesy of Aunt Kelly! What a little adventurist. You can't tell she's a daddy's girl, can you?

Olive's New Room Progress

We had the nursery gender neutral for this reason, so the baby boy will take that room while Olive moves into the old office. It has been fun so far, transitioning her into a more girly, personalized room. While we don't have the time that we did while preparing for our first, it's still nice to see a room coming along quite nicely. And, I don't hate the green as passionately as I did a few weeks ago.

What we've done: painted walls and trim, replaced electrical plates, installed new ceiling fan, added obvious baby stuff to the room.

What we still need to do: move the rest of the 'adult' stuff out: ironing board, power tools, my book stash, filing cabinet, printer, switch all of her clothes and toys into this room, get a chair for the corner of the room.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

...from our family to yours! Slainte!

Why Does My Baby Love My Phone?

This kid loves phones. LOVES them. Don't try to fool her with one of those play cell phones, either. She sees through your trickery. Here are a few action shots of her with my phone and the last few are what happens when I take it away (using butter and a shoe horn, of course).

Plugged In

As a behavior incentive, I have a jar on my desk at work. Each time my whole class is doing a stellar job on something, they get a few marbles in the jar. Once said jar is full, they can vote on a class reward party. Some past parties have been: extra recess, ice cream, movie and snack, read-in, etc. This time, they voted on an electronics party. It really amazes me how proficient kids are with technology. Right now, I'm blogging from my classroom while there are little groups of kids circled around games, iPods, phones, computers, tablets, etc. It's weird. I feel like they don't even notice I'm here {not that I haven't felt that way before, but you know what I mean. Heh.). I wonder if this is the future of education. I wonder if my kids will be plugged in all day, everyday. Olive already knows how to unlock my smartphone and scroll sideways through the apps. I wonder what my children's education will be like. I wonder if I'll be teaching someday from my couch in PJs, with a latte, to my students in another country or something. It'd really reduce the papercuts, which is a major health hazard in this profession, I tell you.

Happy Friday.

Corned Beef Dip

 

Corned Beef Bagel Dip

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 (2.5 ounce) packages thinly sliced deli corned beef, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish (optional)
• 4 bagels, cut into bite-size pieces

Directions

In a bowl, combine mayonnaise and sour cream. Stir in the corned beef, onion, parsley, seasoned salt and horseradish if desired. Serve with bagel pieces

Cravings

I Love:

• fish/seafood with tons of lemon
• all breakfast foods, but a big weakness for donuts (I had maple BACON donuts this morning. Yeah, you heard me.)
• Mexican food. Any/all.
• pink lemonade
• water

I Could Do Without:

• beef
• pork
• garlic
• bread

Differences in cravings with Olive and baby boy...

With Olive, I wanted fruit. Fruit juice. Anything fruity. Now, I don't.
With Olive, I wanted candy. Cookies. Cake. Lots and LOTS of ice cream and Slurpees. Now...not as much. Don't get me wrong, I'll never turn down dessert, but I'm not salivating at the prospect of a cherry Slurpee and mapping out the nearest 7-Eleven stores.

The weight gain has been slower this time around, BUT I still have 15 weeks until my due date, so....we'll see. Knock on wood that these donuts don't catch up to me. :) Mmm.