Pinspired: Easter centerpiece

Today is the last day of February {thank goodness!}, and I am so ready for March.  The beginning of Spring, warmer weather {fingers crossed} and one of my favorite holidays, Easter.  We will be in Dallas for Easter, so I wasn't planning on decorating too much.  However when I saw these arrangements popping up all over Pinterest, I was pinspired if you will.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to two bags of Starburst jellybeans, a package of Peeps and some lovely {and cheap!} tulips from Trader Joe's, I think my pinspiration worked.

 

Just be sure to put your flowers in another vase inside the larger vase so they will last.

Happy decorating!

Words to live by

If you're anything like me, you find yourself daily saying, "There is just not enough time in the day." It seems the older I get, I find this to be even more true. So, that being said, I'm always looking for ways to cheat time and add more hours to my day. That or at least just make my bed and run the dishwasher.

 

 

Fortunately these little sayings and words of wisdom have been helping me lately. 

 

"Beat them up."

 

This comes from my mother-in-law and is in reference to spouse/kids. I love it! No, she does not mean physically beat them up {oh but there have been days...I kid!}, rather beat them up by waking up before them each morning. She has shared that when her kids were younger she would wake up at all kind of crazy hours so that she could get herself completely ready {cheers to a working mama!}, fix breakfast and pack lunches. She then was pleasant and calm and had time to enjoy the morning with her husband and kiddos. What a novel idea! I am notorious for hitting snooze and then find myself running late. Not a good scene for G and B to see me running around like a crazy person in the morning. I have been working on "beating them up" and will continue, but wow are the mornings tough on this tired, pregger mama.

 

 

 

"Touch it once."

 

As much as I would love to have a spotlessly clean house, I do not. This is a constant struggle for us. I love this saying that comes from my mom's best friend. It makes so much sense. I am notorious for starting to put things away or starting to fold the laundry, but then I get sidetracked with something else. Touch it once. When the laundry is your hands, fold it and put it away. Don't just fold it and leave it in stacks. Don't just unpack the groceries and leave on the counter. Touch it once. Finish putting them in the pantry.  Don't put those Thin Mints you're holding down.  Touch it once.  Shove them in your mouth. :)  Does it work that way too?

 

 

 

"If you can't get out of it, get into it."



This little nugget comes from a dear friend and fellow blogger. She too is a new mama and like us all is balancing the juggling act of doing it all. I love how she is so honest about her lack of love for early mornings {I hear you sister!} but recognizes that little man of hers is getting up regardless. So, if you can't get out of it, get into it. I have to remind myself of this daily with our balancing act of getting everyone up and out the door, working all day and then coming home to play the role of fabulous housewife/mom {I'm a really good actress!}. As much as I want to come home each afternoon, put on my sweats and crash with an episode of Real Housewives, it's just not happening. I'm trying to "get into it" with setting fun routines and asking for help {wow, there's a post in itself}. B gets G bathed and down while I try some new recipes. It's certainly an ongoing act of finding routine and balance, but since I'm not getting out of it, I'll at least find the postive in it.

 

 

 

What sayings or words of wisdom inspire and motivate you?

 

Cheesy Quinoa Bowl with Sprouts

The Bolton family loves them some quinoa.  Let me tell you!  You would think we would be a little quinoa-ed out from all the new recipes I've been trying, but we're not.  Here is a new one I whipped up last night that was quite the hit!

Cheesy Quinoa Bowl with Sprouts

{adapted from une-deux senses}

 

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked quinoa
3 cloves garlic, minced
4  tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup crumbled French feta cheese
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
shaved Brussels sprouts
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Toss shaved Brussels sprouts in one tablespoon of olive oil, salt and pepper.  Roast for 25 minutes.

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.  Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about one minute.  Add the quinoa and heat until warmed and the garlic flavor is fragrant throughout.  Once warmed through, add the Parmesan and heat until it starts to melt, about one to two minutes.  Remove from heat, then stir in the feta cheese, roasted sprouts and pine nuts.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Scenes from the weekend...

You know you've been sick for too long when you just forget what it is like to feel well.  That's how I was last week.  However, after a relaxing, fun-filled weekend of feeling better, I so appreciate my health!  I think I take it for granted too often, but what a joy to not be sick. 

 

We hit the road Friday and headed to Center Hill Lake with two other couples and their babes.  What fun!  We literally lounged, laughed and stuffed our faces.  It's the little moments for me these days that really get me.  Sitting in pjs, sipping my whipped cream topped hot chocolate {my indulgence for the weekend!}, while watching my little man dance around with his friends as I chat with mine, I realize just how blessed I am {another thing I take for granted far too often}.

 

Was sad to leave Saturday night but nursery duty at church yesterday morning called us home.  Church, lunch and a nap.  The perfect Sunday!  Capped off the weekend watching the Oscars and was shocked to realize I have seen none of the nominated films {really, NONE!}.  B and I are about to have some serious On Demand time.  Loved the musical tributes {cause I'm a sucker for musical theatre} but have to wonder if everyone other than the cast of Les Mis was a little over it.  I mean it's the Oscars, not the Tonys.  Happy Monday friends!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rest

Rest. A four letter word that rarely appears in my day to day life. Well that is until sickness takes over and knocks you down making you meet rest face to face.

 

 

This really resonated with me. What is it about rest that makes us feel unworthy or guilty or even apologetic? I rarely get sick where I am just completely out of commission, but this past week, I thought I was dying {I asked B if he thought he could raise George as a single dad!}. I think I fought it and fought it for so long because I have this sense of pride {or I don't know what} that won't allow me to be sick and just rest. Sadly, I finally had to give in, and you know what? I'm so glad I did.

 

 

I finally realized work, social functions, a clean house...none of that matters when it comes to my {and my baby's} health. I finally accepted that I needed to just stop and rest. After many, many days in bed I finally feel like I am on the mend. Heading to the lake this afternoon with my boys and some friends. So looking forward to some more rest and a chance to relax and catch up with those that I love. Cheers friends!

Scenes from the weekend...

Two boxes of Kleenex, my bed and matzo ball soup.  That pretty much sums up what I did this weekend.  While I was laid up, my boys enjoyed some sweet time with MeMo.  I am so thankful she was here to help so I could rest.  Now I'm just ready to feel well again and rejoin the land of the living.  Here's hoping the worst is over! 

Day of Love

How did everyone enjoy the day of love?  Did someone send you flowers?  Did you eat lots of chocolates?  I saw on Instagram a Vday celebration of Chick-fil-a, a bottle of wine and a puzzle at home.  My kind of night. J

 

My day of love was sweet.  Spent it with my two favorite guys and a lovely head cold {boo being sick}.  Was supposed to go to breakfast with B but chose sleep over a date with my main man.  Managed to pull off all of G’s valentines {thank you Pinterest!}, but alas that fabulous homemade treat for his party did not get baked {I was so going for the pies!}.  Thanks to a quick trip to Donut Den, some happy toddlers would be sinking their teeth into pink frosted and sprinkled donuts.  G’s party was so cute, and he got some great valentines.  We made it home in time to whip up a salad and caprese bites to take to our potluck Valentine’s party with friends {so the way to go!}.  It was so fun catching up with friends and watching all the babes play.  I am so hoping this becomes an annual tradition.  We got home and welcomed MeMo who is in town for the weekend.  Thankfully she was keeping the little man today, so B and I headed out this morning for our overdue Valentine’s breakfast date.  It was so nice to have time just to ourselves and the perfect way to start the day.  I think my gift was a hit too!  You have to check out Datevitation.  I just love these coupon books and cannot wait to have B redeem them.  Now just ready to make it through this day and relax this weekend.  See you Monday!