Nursery Theme Ideas

Now that I've had one baby shower, everything feels so much more real.  We are currently inundated with all things baby and I have another shower next month!  The thing is that we could possibly be moving and we could possibly be staying where we're at, which make it hard to put together a nursery.  The last thing I want to do is do all the work of putting one up and then have to take it down and pack it up.  Also, the fact that we are TEAM Green has a lot to do with not yet starting on the nursery.  Although we could do a neutral theme, I'd rather do a gender specific one. 

Another thing is that the baby will be in our room with us for at least the first month or two, so there isn't a huge rush to get the nursery 100% set up by the birth.  The main thing I know we'll need will be a bassinet, since baby will be in our room for that time and a glider so I hubby and I can rock baby to sleep.

In the meantime, here are some ideas I’ve come across for nurseries.  I don’t know how I’ll ever decide!

Cream, white, tan/brown

White, green, and pink

Black, white, and pink

Pink & black damask

Disney themed

Animal themed

So many to choose from and they are all so cute!  I feel like I need to see and meet this kid to figure out which theme will fit his or her personality.  So I guess this means the nursery will be finished by Christmas, 

lol!

I'm open to suggestions as always! Tell me what you think! Which theme do you like best??

Happy bumping!

xxoo,

Pregnancy Belly | Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yep, I’m back with another delicious recipe!  Chocolate chip cookies are my absolutely favorite cookies in the world.  There is no other cookie like it, that matches up to it, that IS IT!

I've made these cookies going on 4-5 years now.  The one big difference in my cookies rather than traditional chocolate chip cookie recipes is that I use shortening and a bit more vanilla than most recipes call for.

So, without further ado:

• 3/4 cup of Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 – 1 1/2(6 oz.) package semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 cup)

*The main recipe is adapted from Crisco’s recipe for Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, but like I said I add a little extra of my fave ingredients like vanilla and chocolate chips.
Directions

1. HEAT oven to 375ºF.
   
2. COMBINE shortening, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into shortening mixture until just blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
   
3. DROP by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet.
   
4. BAKE 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies, or 11 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet on a cooling rack. Remove cookies to rack to cool completely.

*BONUS* CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE OR DIP

1. DRIZZLE: Melt 1 cup semi-sweet or white chocolate pieces with 1 teaspoon shortening over very low heat. Stir well. If too thick to drizzle, add 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoon more shortening to thin. Drizzle from end of spoon back and forth over cookie. Sprinkle with nuts before chocolate hardens. To harden chocolate quickly, place in refrigerator for a few minutes.
   
2. DIP: Spoon melted chocolate into custard cup. Dip one end of cooled cookie halfway up in chocolate. Sprinkle with finely chopped nuts before chocolate hardens, or drizzle with contrasting white or dark chocolate. Place on wax paper.

As you can see this recipe does not call for any white granulated sugar which is a little different from most recipes I’ve come across.  I find that without the granulated sugar, the result is a chewy, moist, and dense cookie.

These can be made into bars or large rounds, so get as creative as you want with them.

Give them a go, I can assure you that they won’t disappoint!

Happy bumping!

xxoo,

Thing's I'm Loving | The Top 10 [6.30-7.6]

Okay everyone, so I know its been a while, but I decided to bring back an old favorite.  Here's this week's 10 thing's I'm loving!

Drum roll.....



Luigi's Mango Italian Ice

Mistresses

Lemonheads

Gumballs

So You Think You Can Dance

Scope Outlast Mouthwash

Chicken Pot Pie

Pizza

Nail polish

Sales

Happy Bumping!

xxoo,

Tenns

Happy 4th of July!

Happy bumping!

xxoo,

Tenns

Baby This Week | 25 Weeks

Baby is the size of a cauliflower this week, yep that's right a whole cauliflower!  That means that he or she measures about 13.6 to 14.8 in and weighs about 1.5 to 2.2 lb.  Baby is packing on some serious weight since last week.  Over the next few weeks, baby will continue to grow in mass, developing muscle and acquiring more fat.  During this week the nervous system is rapidly developing and baby even has a sense of equilibrium.  Does that mean that baby can get dizzy?  Maybe he or she doesn't, since there's no gravity in there.  He or she does know which way is up or down at this point.  Another cool thing is that baby is growing hair, everywhere that is.  Make me wonder how much hair this little one with be born with.  I don't ever have heartburn, but who knows!  Baby's hands are fully developed by this week, fingerprints and all! Also, the structure of the spine is beginning to form (33 rings, 150 joints, and 1000 ligaments)!  It's all so amazing!

 

Baby - Just like the previous recent weeks, baby is extremely active, like all the time!  Even though they say that at this point babies sleep 80-90% of the time, it doesn't seem like this little one does.  Kick, jabs, and movements overall have gotten stronger.  It seemed like last week I felt movement pretty high up, but the past few days I've felt it down low.  This probably means that baby flipped, which he or she will continue to do until about 36ish weeks, when they start running out of room.  At night this kid likes to poke me in the ribs and during the day it likes to play with my bellybutton. Its so funny and cute!

 

Me - Not much so far, which is good!  Sleeping is becoming increasingly more uncomfortable and I'm still getting up at least once a night to tinkle.  My belly has really started to protrude and get heavier.  If I'm laying down, it takes me longer to get up or roll over to get up.  I can still run up stairs and walk pretty fast, but I have to slow it down a lot more than I used.  I do have a renewed sense of energy this week, so I have been taking advantage and getting things done around the house.  Still have my rings on, no swelling, heartburn, Braxton Hicks, or any other pre-term labor symptoms.  Outside of the normal discomfort, I'm feeling pretty good.  I'm picked up about 2 lbs in the last week and my belly is now 33" around. I have my first baby shower this weekend and I'm totally ready for the holiday to get here!  I'll be updating you all on how that went next week!

 

Hubs - He's been busy working, but takes time out to talk to the baby most every day.  Hubs keeps me grounded and makes me feel less insecure about my changing body.  We have been talking and planning even more for baby's arrival.  We still have a lot to accomplish before October, yikes!

 

Well folks, until next time!

Happy bumping!

xxoo,

Tenns

What To Do With Your Leftover Candle Wax

As you know from my previous post on candles, that I love candles, especially ones from Bath & Body Works.  Unfortunately, when the wicks burn out there is often times about a half of an inch leftover in the jar.  I never want to just throw it out, because its still good wax and has the lovely scent still in it too. Throughout the year BBW has many sales on their candles, both the big and small ones.  Most times, especially during the holidays I like to stock up, so I can burn them throughout the season.  This is great, until you are left with 4 or 5 candles with a half inch of wax left in them.  If you have this same issue, here’s what to do:

1. Place candle in freezer for a few hours (1-2).  This will harden the wax and make it separate from the glass easier.

2. Once the wax is frozen, remove from freezer and with a knife, spoon, fork, I recommend a knife puncture the wax.  It should break up into large pieces and come cleanly off the glass.

3. Use this wax in a wax warmer, which you can find at most craft and décor stores.  Most of these wax warmers are no more than $15 and come with a lightbulb that is easily replaceable.  Some do come with tealight candles, but I recommend the lighbulb ones, because they last longer and are less maintenance.

You typically need to switch the wax out after a few week, depending on how often you warm it.  Wax warmers make nice decorative elements to your space, and double with scenting your home.  Your also able to use the leftover wax, so you don’t feel like you didn’t get your money’s worth out of the candle.

Of course if you’re super crafty you can have a conglomerate of waxes leftover from several candles and make new candle.  This would require you to to purchase a container to put the candle in and a wick to burn it, but would otherwise be pretty simple.

I hope this gives you some ideas for how to use leftover wax!  I know we all want to get our money’s worth out of things we purchase and enjoy them to the fullness, sometimes finding a new way to repurpose something does just that.

Happy bumping!

xxoo,

They Look So Real!

So, I don’t know if you’ve been in Hobby Lobby lately, but if you have and paid a visit to the section around the artificial flowers and fruit, you might have seen these.  I was on my way to the jewelry-making section, when these fun finds caught my eye.  Don’t they look good enough to eat?!?  I couldn’t believe how realistic they looked.  Typically, I’m not a fan of artificial food décor, but these are really good dupes.

The cutest ones to me were the cupcakes, picture above.  I thought to myself, ‘wow, these look better than some real cupcakes’.  I think these would be great centerpieces for a bridal or baby shower.  They are whimsical and fun, but I do recommend that you might want to have the real thing one hand, because these fun decorative elements will definitely spark your guest’s sweet tooth.

I did not purchase these, I would have, but have absolutely no use for them right now.  If your party planning or brainstorming for ideas for décor or centerpieces for a function you might wanna pay Hobby Lobby a visit.  Its one of my fave stores and they always have great sales and coupons (usually 40% off a regular price item) offered.  They also have a mobile app on iTunes and Android in which you can use their coupon straight form it.

Fun times!

Happy bumping!

xxoo,