Let the nervousness begin

I'm getting nervous.  Nervous because Jack's party is Saturday.  The party we decided to have 3 weeks before his birthday becuase "Early October weather is always beautiful" I said. 

The party is planned for outside.  With 50 people. 

The forecast is 52 and 30% chance of rain.  I am now in panic mode.  Do I book a place last minute?  Do I cancel and reschedule?  Or do I go with the flow and let things be as they may?

Maybe the weatherman is wrong.  We shall see.

Wordish Wednesday...

Such a tough decision......

For more Wordless Wednesdays be sure to check out The Paper Mama.

Meetup Monday!

This weekend had perfect Fall weather.  I love weekends like this, and I am beginning to think Jack does too.  He was SOOOOO happy this weekend which made this one of the best weekends we have had together.   We also had his first year pictures taken this weekend, so I am excited to see how they turn out!  We are having his first birthday party this Saturday even though his birthday is not until October 21.  We are having it outside, and hoping the weather stays nice!  I will be sure to fill you in on all of our plans.

So before we get to meetup Monday, a couple of pictures of Jack from this weekend.  One thing I am learning, is how hard it is to take a picture of a walking 11 month old!  He will not sit still long enough for me to get a picture of him!  If any of you all have an idea on how to get them to sit still, please, let me know!

(I love how BIG his smile is here!)

Have a great  Monday, and please join me for Meetup Monday! 

<a href="http://www.justanothermomday.blogspot.com"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i219/agrip76/coffee.jpg" /></a>

If this is your first time linking up to Meetup Monday, here's the info:

Add a link below to a specific blog post or your main blog address

If you could grab my button and pop it up on your blog someplace visible, that would make my day!

Most importantly: Make someone's day by commenting on the blog post of the two blogs (or more) before you.

Winners !

I hope you are all having a great weekend! I have three winners to annouce, sorry for the delay.  The winner of the $5 Walmart Gift Certificate and Gain T-shirt are:
Norma, and KC Confections!

 

And the winner of the O.C. Styles $20 Gift Certificate is Heather Allen!

Congrats to all of you and I will be contacting you via email!

 This weekend is the perfect fall weekend!  I will have pictures Monday and be sure to join Meetup Monday!  All the cool kids are doing it!

Welcome Friday and a Sweet Pea Totes Giveaway!

TGIF!!!  I can't tell you how happy I am that this week is over.  Some weeks just feel longer than others.  This was one of those weeks.  I want to welcome all my new visitors from New Friend Friday and Featuring You Friday, and I hope you like what you see!

So back to the weekend.  I hope you all have fun plans for this first weekend of fall!  We are going to have Jack's 1 year pictures taken.  I can't wait!!!  We also are going out for our anniversary Saturday....dinner and a movie.  We have seen one movie since Jack was born!  Any good movies out there?

Speaking of going out, I found the cutest boutique on Etsy; Sweet Pea Totes.
It was love at first sight.  I girl can never have to many handbags or purses can she?  So I now have them on my list for holiday gifts. 
I especially love these. 

Aren't they both perfect for Fall?  Mary creates one-of-a-kind handbags and accessories that are inspired by today's hottest designer fabrics. Her creations are all original designs from patterns she drafts myself so her handbags, clutches and wristlets are one of a kind.

The best part?  Mary is offering one of my readers any wristlet priced $26.00 and under, like this one....

To enter to win this AMAZING contest, visit Sweet Pea Tote's shop and comment on which wristlet you would choose!

Additional Entries:

Follow Sweet Pea Tote's Blog at http://sweetpeatotes.blogspot.com/

Follow my blog (if you do just let me know!)

Contest ends Sunday October 3, at 11:59pm.  Winner will be choosen via random.org and contacted via email! 

Good Luck, and have a great weekend!

Wordish Wednesday...Anniversary Edition.

3 years ago, I had a very important date. 

I want to thank my husband for being a great husband, father and best friend.  I can't believe it's been 3 years. 

So on this "Wordish Wednesday" I thought I would include some of my favs from my wedding. 

You can view other Wordless Wednesdays at the paper mama.  Have a great day!

Have a great day!

and the countdown begins.....

30 days.  That's the number of days until Jack become a toddler and will no longer be a baby.  This is also the period where I get that ever growing feeling of dred and sadness deep down inside.  Sometimes I think to myself "He can't be almost one already, he was just born!"  I still see that tiny, new little baby.  The one that needed me and counted on me.   Then I stop and realize that he still needs me and counts on me now, but just in different ways.

I can't believe what a wonderful, smart person he is turning into.  He is discovering something new everyday, and I can just see how hard he is thinking and taking it all in.  And his melt-my-heart smile I get when I pick him up from daycare is something I will never erase from my mind. 

Time flies.  The most important thing I have learned since becoming a mom is: slow down, enjoy life.  Things aren't as bad as they seem.  We can never get time back.  Make the most of it.

Happy 11 months Jack.  I love you.

Dinner, and a Show! (Benihana Giveaway!)

We don't go out nearly as much now that we have Jack, but when we do, one of our favorite places is Benihana.  I love the soup, I love the salad, and I love the meals!  My favorite meal is the Hibachi Steak and Chicken combo.  I am especially crazy about the ginger dipping sauce for the meal, I could eat it by the spoonful!

And who dosn't love a show while you eat, I never get tired of the chef's performance!  I also love seeing them cook my meal in front of me.  Of course, I was more than excited when I was contacted to host a giveaway for Behihana.

What's even better, is Benihana has a great special going on in September. 
Benihana’s September Chef’s Special:
Hibachi Ribeye for Two- $38
*Two hibachi ribeye steak entrees served with Benihana onion soup, Benihana salad, hibachi shrimp appetizer, mushrooms, hibachi vegetables, homemade dipping sauces, steamed rice and Japanese hot green tea.
Featured Drinks*Fuji Appletini- Ketel One vodka, apple liqueur and Benihana Plum Wine are shaken together for a refreshing twist on the classic apple martini.


*Green Tea Colada- A delicious Japanese twist on the pina colada.  A frozen blend of Mailbu Rum, ZEN Green Tea Liqueur, pineapple and coconut.


*Sake Sangria- Everyone’s favorite wine punch is made better with a splash of sake.  Choose from Red Plum or White Peach.
To find your local Benihana click here. 

To enter this great contest, all you  have to do is comment below on what you would order off the menu if you win! YOu can view the menu here!


Extra Entries:
Follow me (comment if you already do!)
Follow Benihana on Twitter

Contest ends Tuesday September 28th at 11:59 pm.  Winner will be choosen via random.org and contacted via email!
Good Luck!

a little help from my friends......

When I look at my number of followers, I get happy.  412.  That is a lot.  That's 412 more than I thought I would ever have.

On the otherhand, when I look at my comments, I get sad.  Sometimes I get 10 or 11 but usually it's 2 or 3.  This makes me think that the whole followers is just "a number" and maybe doesn't matter as much as everything thinks it does.

How do you other experienced bloggers get more comments?  I comment as much as I can on other people's blogs but I want more.

I would love your advice.........or your comments.

Meetup Monday!

I wish weekends were never-ending.  I wish Sunday mornings were every morning, and I wish lazy Saturdays were every Saturday.  We did nothing this weekend, and those are my favorite weekends.

It seems everyday Jack is doing something new or looks just a little bit older.  It is so fun, and exciting, but also sad.  I also find myself crying a lot more.  Not all bad cries.  A lot of good cries...like when Jack walked, or when he experiences something for first time or sometimes just because I can't believe he is mine.   But I am also crying knowing my tiny little baby, is no longer that.  He is growing up...fast.

So another Monday is here, which means Meetup Monday!

<a href="http://www.justanothermomday.blogspot.com"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i219/agrip76/coffee.jpg" /></a>

If this is your first time linking up to Meetup Monday, here's the info:

Add a link below to a specific blog post or your main blog address

If you could grab my button and pop it up on your blog someplace visible, that would make my day!

Most importantly: Make someone's day by commenting on the blog post of the two blogs (or more) before you.

Pumpkin Pumpkin Everywhere...

I love pumpkin.

I love pumpkin everything.  Pumpkin room spray, pumpkin candles, pumpkin soap...

and pumpkin beer

So when Fall arrives, get it all out and soak it all in.

Today, however, I decided to use this type of pumpkin:

I have been trying to buy pumpkin for weeks. I went to every single grocery store I passed by, and all of them were out of it.  My dreams came true today, as there was a HUGE supply of pumpkin at the store.  Of course I bought cans and cans of it.  My frist recipe to make?  Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies of course!  

These cookies might be the best cookie I have ever had.  They are like heaven, soft, and almost cake like.  My friends, family and co-workers beg me to make these every year.  So here they are.  I hope you enjoy them.  I think you will. 

And don't worry, there are more pumpkin recipes to come!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup white sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2 cups (12-ounce bag) semisweet chocolate chips

Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.

Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.

"Gain" new friends...but keep the old (and a giveaway!)

It's Friday!!!

I just love the Friday feeling.  The feeling of knowing I have two glorious days off with my family, two days to relax and unwind.  I want to welcome back all of my loyal readers, and I also want to welcome my new friends visiting from Featuring You Friday , and New Friend Friday! And as the saying goes..."Gain new friends but keep the old..." (well maybe that's not the saying exactly) I have a small giveaway!

I spend much of my days in the kitchen washing dishes, especially now that our dishwasher is broken.  I have to have a good scent when washing dishes, and Gain has done just that. I am so excited that I have been given the opportunity to try the new Gain Dish Liquid in the Original Scent.  P&G and My Blog Spark sent me a free bottle of Gain to try and I love it!  Origonal Gain has a fresh, clean smell, and also gets the job done with my dishes!

To learn more and keep up with Gain, you can “Like” Gain on Facebook and Follow Gain on Twitter!

Two (2) of my readers will receive:

• $5 Walmart Gift Card
• I Heart Gain T-Shirt (size large)

All you have to do is comment below! Conest will end, Friday September 24th, at 11:59pm. via random.org.  Winner will be contacted via email!
Good Luck and have a great, relaxing weekend.  Enjoy every second of it!

bath time!

view other Wordless Wednesday photos at the paper mama!