So Proud of my Husband..

I'm proud of my husband for the way he is helping me so much through this pregnancy...

The grocery store runs..gatorade runs..the back massages and letting me sleep in..

I'm proud of him for setting goals to lose weight and
already in a couple months losing 20 pounds! going after 20 more!

And I'm proud of the way he is supporting his brother's Ministry.. Dirty Vagabond..
and working so hard to raise money for those teens.

He is running the Pittsburgh Marathon Relay next weekend..
So far he has raised $1,000 in just over 2 days! His goal is 3,000.
But the Ministry is still under their goal of 30,000.. All of the runners are raising money and even though I'm not a part of it...I want to help support my husband's efforts..

So please...watch the video below..and if you can/feel called...

please donate to help my brother-in-law and this Ministry.

I have first handed seen God working in the lives of these teens!
This is my husband's big brother's ministry..
and He and his wife, with their 6 children, give all of themselves to these teens..
Would love to help them out..even if it's with a shameless blog post. ;)
Lately I've been getting 10,000 + views a day.........
PLEASE...if you are reading this..

even ten dollars can make a difference in their efforts.

I know we all have different things we support but If you can help...
it would be amazing. I'll let you know how it goes!!!! :)
It's been so exciting seeing the donations role in for Dirty Vagabond!
It is refreshing and inspiring to see people come together to help others.
Please pray for this ministry and their efforts in your prayers tonight.
God Bless! 



Anddd....hopefully my husband isn't that awkward runner on sunday. 
hehe love you honey. :)

Color Crush - Olive and Sky

Loving this color combo of Olive & Sky.

If we have a boy would love to use these colors..

or even do it for a girl and add in pops of coral instead of the deep blue.

the nesting bug has kicked in... in between the throwing up.

image found on pinterest via House of Turquoise

Creamy Chicken Rice & Vegetables

Realizing that lately all my content on my blog/facebook/twitter is food related..

Let's blame in on the pregnancy. haha.

But I made this up as I went along tonight and it was soooo good that I

already went back for a late night snack from the leftovers.

So I had to share.

If you are wanting something SIMPLE savory and warm..this is it.

I started off just cleaning out the fridge using up veggies..

husband requested something simple..and this is the result!

Creamy Chicken Rice & Vegetables

INGREDIENTS

1 large(huge) chicken breast (cooked up a bunch for other recipes)

4 small carrots

1/2 large green pepper

1 green onion

Instant Brown Rice

salt & pepper

2 TB Butter

2 TB Flour

1 Cup Chicken Broth (more or less)

DIRECTIONS

-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

(I moved up to 375 after 30 minutes. I was getting hungry.)

-I used frozen Chicken..So I defrosted a few minutes in the microwave to speed up cooking time.. then put in casserole pan (still a little frozen)

-Drizzled  Chicken with Olive Oil. And Cover with Lawry's Seasoned Salt.

(If you have never used this..get it! The Pioneer Woman convinced me. and I love it.)

-COVER WITH FOIL..keeps moisture in. (mine were skinless so they had no protection.. I completely sealed the pan and notice a difference when I don't.)

-Pop in oven for 50 minutes (varies to how much chicken/if frozen.. you get the idea..)

-While the chicken is doing it's thing.. start chopping vegetables.

Use whatever you like and have in the fridge!

-I wanted my chopped carrots soft..sounded yummy..

So I steamed them in a pan with a little water.

Once the water boiled off and they were soft enough I added in the chopped green onion, green peppers & a splash of olive oil.

-I sauteed that up and then put on low.

-Get the Instant Rice going. I made 4 servings.

SAUCE:

-Once the rice is done toss the vegetables into that pan and stir.

-In the vegetables old pan melt  2 TB butter

-add 2 TB Flour and brown.. do not burn. (you want to cook off the flour taste)

-Pour in Chicken stock (I think I put in about a cup..but maybe less.

eyeball it.. you can always add more. 

tip: If you add in too much liquid.. my mom taught me to put in a bowl a little flour and water..stir..and then add into  sauce. thickens it back up.)

-Salt and Pepper Sauce

FINAL STEPS:

-Slice up chicken very thin.

-Put Chicken in pan with rice and vegetables

-At this point you can put the sauce in with everything..

but we poured it over our own bowls when we served up..

then when putting the food away combined it all together. either works.

-Salt and Pepper to taste

I always love seeing what real people are cooking up in their kitchens..

so thought I would share! I'm no chef but my family loved it!

If you are pregnant this is a perfect meal...

something simple but with taste.

that sentence sounds weird but makes

perfect sense to a sick pregnant lady. ;)

Best Homemade Mac N' Cheese Recipe EVER

I wanted something warm cheesey gooey yummy...

and The Pioneer Woman's Macaroni & Cheese sounded just right.

If you have been thinking about buying a cookbook..........BUY HERS.

I have her first one but her second one is on my must buy list.

I used her recipe with a couple tweaks with what we had/what we wanted..

and ended up with the most amazing Mac N Cheese we've ever tasted.

We wanted to eat the entire bowl.

we didn't............ but we wanted too. ;)

I realized the NEED to post this recipe on here once I instagramed this photo and

my facebook blew up with PLEASE SHARE!!!!!!!!..(more or less)

So I'm going to share miss ree drummonds masterpiece..

hop over and thank her for this recipe of yumminess.

 SEE ORIGINAL RECIPE POST FOR ORIGINAL VERSION

She shares on her blog the version of undercooking

the pasta and baking it in the oven to make it bubbly and golden.

I might try that version one day...but

I was wanting something fast..

I had hungry mouths to feed.

This way made up fast..and fast is good at dinner time.

(made with shells once.)

Listing the ingredients I used

(only difference than hers...I used mini shells,

less butter/flour..and Velveeta Cheese)

'UHHH-MAZING' Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

-4 Cups dried Pasta

-1 Egg Beaten

-3 TB of Butter

-Just under 1/4 cup All-purpose Flour

-2 /12 cups Whole Milk

-2 heaping teaspoons of Dry Mustard

- 8 ounces Velveeta (or 3 1/2 cups of Cheese of Choice)

-1/2 teaspoon Salt (more to taste)

-1/2 teaspoon Lawy's Seasoned Salt (The Pioneer woman convinced me to buy..so good)

1/2 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

(hubby put hot sauce on his)

INSTRUCTIONS:

-Cook Macaroni until al dente (or till the softness you like to eat!)

-Drain.

-In a small bowl, beat egg.

-In a large pot, melt butter and sprinkle in flour.

-Whisk together over medium-low heat..

-Cooking mixture for five minutes..whisking constantly. don't let burn.

-Pour in milk, add mustard and whisk until smooth.

-Cook for five minutes until very thick.

-Reduce heat to low.

-Take 1/4 cup of the sauce and slowly pour it into beaten egg..

-whisking constantly to avoid scrambling eggs :)

-Pour egg mixture into sauce..whisking constantly.. stirring until smooth.

-Add in Cheese and stir to melt.

-Add salt and pepper..taste and add more seasoning if desired.

-Pour in drained, cooked shells and stir to combine.

-Serve Immediately to get the full creamy deliciousness.

ENJOY!

again..to see the original version check out this post..

Our Week by iPhone. Get all up in our Business.

MY FUNNY GIRLS - Sienna does not lack personality.

this girl is making faces all day..Love her kissy face.

Sophie: "Hey mom! take a picture of me..I'm exercising."

*note the sneakers..summer dress..exercise band..and one glove...she's rocking it.

In the Kitchen - Chicken Pot Pie sounded so good

so I used a recipe from my Pioneer Woman's cookbook.

I loved it. I think next time I won't put in as much cream though.

(it calls for 1 cup cream but also has a butter flour roux.)

Baby #3 Update- Almost 9 weeks. Sick. very..very..sick.

More than my first 2 pregnancies combined and then tripled.

So grateful for my mom..who cleaned out my fridge during her visit. something a sick pregnant mama does NOT want to do. I hold my breath when I open my fridge just because of all the mixed food smells. (I feel crazy) And feeling so blessed by a random dinner drop off from Meg & Mark!! I didn't even know it was coming..so thankful for their kindness!

Sprite is my best friend (or anything bubbly really) I find myself just trying to survive till nap time..and then survive till bed time. haha. Hopefully only a few more weeks of this because I feel completely useless. Trying to remember that there is a crazy amazing miracle of a baby growing super fast in me but wowww.. I'm sick.
I lay on the couch a lot. and I don't know if it's a baby rule..but if they see me sitting/not moving..they must be ON ME. and there is only so much of me...so I end up with one covering their ground on me and the other trying to squeeze on but very unhappy to only get one shoulder. haha. I try and fit in snuggle time with each one. :)

FIRSTS- (for sienna) Corn on the cob.

.So excited when I saw it at the grocery store!

Playing Movie.. this lasted all of 5 minutes.

and then they moved on to fighting over ONE toy in the entire house FULL of toys... :)
Sound familiar? I'm thinking this is just going to be life with more than one child..hehe.

Playtime outside.

Some of the youth group kids forked our yard...
Don't worry I made them feel bad they made a pregnant lady and 3 yr old pick them up. ;)
It's hard to be mad when you know a priest helped in the pranking...

A VERY RARE shot of sienna- she's not moving.

I feel like sienna is calming down. I feel like in all my blog posts she is referred to as the wild one. and that's because she IS. but...she is talking a lot now and I think that being able to tell us what she wants is making her more content.. she is just always going to be on an on the go baby. Her favorite thing to say is "no"..and "IwannaGo".. and "sorry"...  that sums her up. haha.

  

Sienna trying to get in on mom and dad hugging..

  

PARENTING- Just one of those days....

you just have to be content with..they are healthy and dressed.

Grabbed up some discounted flowers right after easter..

can't wait for the cold nights to pass so I can start to garden!

We..meaning sienna.. "lost" the keys.......

Came across this little busy bee and was hoping to find it in her cardboard mailbox..

no luck. probably out with the trash.

Sharing an AMAZING homemade Mac N' Cheese Recipe next post!

It's the best I've ever tried.. you need to know this one..

I wanted to eat the entire pan.

and that's not the pregnancy talking. my husband did too.

(we didn't though. just fyi.)

It's different this time around without her...

I only have a minute.

I have one sick baby with daddy

and one wild thing grandma is chasing for me.

Luckily my mom is in town.. because I feel useless at times with how sick I am.

24-7 sick. I feel like I'm on a long bumpy car ride..

in the back seat.. and can't get out to get some fresh air.

It's worse than with the girls. combined.

But I can't help but think of how each pregnancy... I shared with Shannon.

We were on the same baby track!

We would commiserate the sickness..the I want to eat everything in sight..

the EXCITEDNESS!! sharing when the babies kicked or contraction

details when it came time.

I miss that. 

and sometimes I find myself struggling again with "him" even though I still include him in my prayers each night. I feel just confused. confused that someone could do something like he did to such a beautiful person. a person who loved him with all his faults even when she was getting away from him to protect herself and her children. who told everyone to forgive him. she saw the good in people even when no one else did. so I'm trying to be like that.. but its hard when I think about these moments and experiences we can't share anymore.

I've found myself going to text her.

or when the girls are down thinking Oh, I could call now I have a moment.

Saying a prayer for her help during these hard weeks..

and for blessings from above for this pregnancy and baby.

I miss you Shannon. Help me to be a good mama like you!

A New Grocery Cart Staple

We have a new favorite. We can't go back to the generic brand we got before..

we are hooked. this is a must in the grocery cart.

A while back Welch's contacted me about trying out their new Welch's Natural Spreads.

I never turn down something edible. It think it's a blogger rule. ;)

A few days later 2 jars showed up on my door step!

The girls were excited..not only did we get mail..but they could EAT IT. haha...

Was officially the best mom ever. they appreciate the little things at this age.

But I realized, after the jar was ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE...

That maybe I should blog about it before it's empty. haha.

The husband was actually the one who loved it the most I think.

He's trying to eat nothing with high fructose corn syrup in it.

tougher than you would think..but this spread has none.

The girls loved it..but they aren't hard to please.

Welch's did a good job of camouflaging the good stuff in this

that the girls had no clue that I was going all healthy on them.

With this pregnancy I am loving eggs and toast in the morning..

so this morning we whipped some up and of course put some of the spread on it!

We've been eating it on everything.

I think it would be really good in greek yogurt...

or on top of pancakes with powdered sugar...trying that next.

Have you tried their spreads before??

Check out Welch's on Facebook.

Split Pea Soup Recipe- Pregnancy Craving #1

With this Pregnancy, nothing sounds good to me...

so when something does..I jump on it!

Split Pea Soup sounded amazingggg..

So at the grocery store I pulled up a recipe on my phone,
grabbed up some potatoes, peas, onion and bread,

 and made it for dinner last night!

I used Ina Garten's Split Pea Soup Recipe on Food Network to know where to start..

Here's my take on the recipe.. check out the comments on the

food network page above to get even more ideas

on how to tweak the recipe to make it how you like it!

I almost followed it exactly..****with my changes marked underneath.
it's delicious. and SO EASY.

Split Pea Soup

Ingredients

1 Cup chopped yellow onions

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/8 cup good olive oil

**I used what I had

1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1-1/2 Teaspoons Salt

1 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 Cups medium-diced carrots (3 to 4 carrots)

1 Cup medium-diced red boiling potatoes, unpeeled 3 small

**I put in 4 potatoes

1 pound dried split green peas

8 cups chicken stock or water

**I used 4 cups water & 4 cups Vegetable Stock (What I had)

Directions

In a 4 quart stockpot on medium heat - saute the onions and garlic with the olive oil, oregano, salt & pepper until the onions are translucent..10 - 15 minutes.

Add the carrots, potatoes, stock/water and ALL the split peas (her version says 1/2)

Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 40 minutes.

Stir frequently to keep solids from burning on the bottom.

Taste for salt and pepper and simmer for another 40 minutes.
(Add in more water if you want it less thick..I added in a cup or so..)

Serves 5-6

So yummy served with a piece of french bread.

mm..I want leftovers now..... ;)

Pregnancy Craving #2

I made a pumpkin pie tonight....... hehe.

(I followed the instructions on the can.. was heavy with the spices. :)

I had some pre-made dough in the fridge.

(I grabbed it up because someone left a

coupon on it in the grocery store. so nice right??)

I love my husband so much..

I realized as I was about to put in my evaporated milk it was old..

so he ran to the grocery store to get me some..

only I said condensed milk by accident...........

so he went BACK and got me the right ingredient.

because he loves me so much. :)

he texted this the other night.. he knows I'm having a hard time being SO sick..

things like this help. :)

Easter!- Sophie, 3 years old: "Jesus Saved us!"

Hope all of you had a wonderful Easter!

Thought I would share our Weekend..(I love being able to click back each year!)
The Easter bunny hopped through our house

and left some fun stuff to celebrate Jesus' Resurrection.. and a fewww sweets. ;)

Sophia was so funny..she kept telling us

"Jesus was trapped but then he went like that (does a wiggle) and got out!.. and he got the bad guys(??) and Heaven won!.....Jesus saved us!" haha...

It was a fun day of visiting with family, playing, eating & going to Church.
We even got in a 3 hour family nap..Easter miracle! seriously....
Thank you Jesus. haha we needed it.

Easter Baskets found at Jo-Ann's on clearance (only because I'm horribly last minute..)

I loved them! They are nice and sturdy too.

We have an Easter tradition that the Easter Bunny
and her stuffed animals have an Easter Tea Party!...
and when the girls wake up they can join in on it!

I found a tea set this year that a bit "fancier" for an older sophia..
(a tin one from Babies R Us)

Sienna immediately grabbed up a muffin as soon as she saw them..

she held it the whole morning until she put it in her Easter Basket for later. ;)

The Bouncy Balls the Eater Bunny found at Target were a hit!

I loved the colors..the girls loved rolling on them..

daddy loved throwing it at them and watching them giggle...............

I was so happy with the Tote Bag the Easter Bunny found at the Dollar Store

(and the bible drawing pad too!) The Bag said "Jesus my Forever Friend"..

they had a bunch of cute ones.

I LOVED seeing sienna open the eggs and discover what was inside!

She then went on to hoard all of the jelly beans... in her mouth.

It was an "Adventure" at mass on Easter...Sienna was feeling a bit...wild.

But we MADE IT! haha. and nap time soon followed.
*dress from target maternity

The only family photo I have.. :) Easter Dinner with Ben's Family..

It was fun seeing all the kids play together..

and  a polish get together wouldn't be complete without some Kielbasa. ;)

We were sent home with leftover ham..

I am making Split Pea & Ham Soup with it tonight. yummy.

  

Family Floor Snuggles before bed time..

and sienna snuggling with the baby bump ;)

I love the shot of Ben snuggling with one of his ballerinas...hehe.

I grabbed up, the day after Easter, some discounted dresses from Target.

(Sophie is wearing hers) They call them their Wedding day dresses..

They posed for these photos. Sienna is wearing her ballerina

gear the easter bunny brought them. SOOO CUTEEEE.

The night before Easter Ben and I went with his

little brother, sister & her boyfriend to the phillies game!

I mean Pirates game.. ;) We lost. but it was still fun.. a fireworks night!

Can't wait to see all of your posts on your Easter!

Love seeing how everyone celebrates it.