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I always wanted to. . . . .

...Have a cute blog!

Okay, not that this was an easy feat. Because, I'm not a patient enough person to learn something new...sometimes. It depends. But today was the day. And this took me a while. I am not going to be like the people at iKea that told Ryan and me that it would only take us an hour to assemble our dresser. Liars. You can read about that here.

So I give you..... Blog Makeover 2011.

Step 1: Background, the easiest step
Find the background you want at www.shabbyblogs.com or 
www.thecutestblogontheblock.com or
ourblogtemplates.com or 
hotbliggityblog.com
or some other cute site. 
There will be a code. This is called an HTML code. Go to your Dashboard on blogger, click Design, and under the Page Elements tab, click  Add a Gadget in the box. Go to Add HTML. Copy the code and there you go!

Step 2: Get a header, duh (Some people call them banners)
So this is always so cute on other people's blogs, but I never thought I could do it. Till I saw a video at:
http://shabbyblogs.com/
Go there and pick out a header, download it and watch this video. http://shabbyblogs.com/?page_id=9&id=314
Presto chang-o!  I am sure their are other headers you can find and do the video steps.  There are some more here: http://thecutestblogontheblock.com/free/free-backgrounds.html?section=3
Now that was the easy part. Step 1 and 2 are a piece of cake compared to Step 3. If Step 1 and Step 2 were a challenge, I suggest you take a small break, or wait a day. If it makes you crazy, I am sorry. Really.

Step 3: Cute fonts
While looking at www.shabbyblogs.com I saw a free fonts site and I was skeptical. But what I discovered was a whole new world. I have always loved cute fonts, but never knew quite how to do it.
First, go to this site: http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/
Get you some adorable fonts and pick a favorite. I suggest writing it down, cause you need to spell it right later. Then, go here and follow the instructions. Make sure you follow them WORD FOR WORD, or you might wind up tearing your hair out.
http://www.kevinandamanda.com/whatsnew/tutorials/how-to-use-a-cute-font-for-your-blogger-post-titles.html
I messed up something and had to go back through the steps a few times to get it right. But I think it was worth it! So cute, right?

But if Step 3 scares you, it shouldn't, cause it wasn't THAT bad. Now, I can't really help you if you are stuck. I am not THAT good. It did make me feel like I was cast in The Social Network....writing code, etc. Ha! How do people do this for a living! But if you just do Steps 1 and 2, you still have a make-over! :)

Enjoy!!

Warning: Don't Read if you are hungry!

 Okay, don't read this if you are hungry. Cause you will want to eat. I mean really eat. Like oops-I-went-to-the-grocery-store-hungry eat. (Big mistake if you are pregnant. Yesterday I came home with two Slim Jims.)

Lately everything I eat is awesome. Most of these are what I made, but trust me, it's not limited to my cooking.

This roast was awesome...I ate so much Ryan was staring at me and I thought I was gonna be sick. So good.

While my awesome Mother in Law was here, she made this fruit salad. This was the best thing I have ever had.

Chicken Parm. Best thing I ever had.

Slushy from the Oasis place on Bethany and Greenville in Allen. Strawberry Pineapple. Best thing I have ever eaten.

To reward you for sticking with this post, here is an awesome recipe.  I got this from a PTA mom at school. After the snow days, they had a soup/chili day. It came on just the right day. I needed it. And this soup is so good and so easy. I made it last week and it lasted Ryan and I for 3 1/2 meals. Seriously. SOOOO yummy! Try it and tell me how it is!

Taco Soup

2 lbs ground beef 

1 small onion, chopped*

2 cans 14.5oz  stewed tomatoes**

1 pkg Ranch Dressing Mix

1 15oz can Kidney beans

1 15 oz can pinto beans

1 1/2 cups water

1 can mexicorn (I used corn)

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 pkg. Taco seasoning

salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

Brown beef with onions*, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Add taco seasoning, dressing mix, mexicorn, stewed tomatoes**, Rotel tomatoes, kidney beans, pinto beans, water in a large pot (very large). Bring to a boil and simmer 30 minutes. Serve with cheese and tortilla chips if desired. Enjoy!

*I always use onion powder in place of onions. This is my trick and I can never tell the difference. 

**Ryan hated the big tomatoes, so next time I will use diced or petite diced. 

In an unrelated note....They really should have these everywhere:

Something I'm just passionate about

I love to cook. I don't know why I didn't discover this earlier in life, but I know it now. I absolutely love it. I love trying new recipes. We even have an unofficial rating system in our house.

Inedible (It's been years....but it happened once or twice)
Good not great
Great, I'd eat it again
Exceptional, I'd eat it tomorrow and the next day and the next

So I strive for the last one. I really try. Because as we say "If its always exceptional, it's never exceptional."

Well so this love has developed into another love as our friends became parents. The new love: Taking People Meals. I love it. Love doing it. It makes me so happy.

So our friends are having babies, and I love bringing them food. I love bringing my pregnant friends food. I love people coming over to eat food. It's become a bit of an obsession. I even have a refill deal. (Bring me the tin back and I'll refill it.)

I don't want this to sound like I have this all figured out. Because one day I may come back later (after our little girl comes) and change this, but I have a few things I think a meal needs if you bring it to a family. And a helpful video (don't worry I didn't make the video, I saw it on the Today show).

1. Main dish. It's best to bring it in something they can throw away or keep. If I bring someone flowers, I  love to bring it in a vase (it can be from the dollar store) that they can keep. If someone brings me food in a pyrex (that they want back), the first thing I'm gonna think is...Holy crap, pyrexes are HARD TO CLEAN! :)
I also think it's good to bring a 8x8 dish. Especially if they are receiving a ton of food. But ask..maybe they love leftovers. Some people will eat anything leftover. (I am not one of them. But my husband is.)

I love to take Baked Ziti because it's one of my favorites and I think one of my best. I always try to abide by the "Guest Room Rule" I read somewhere: "Do for them what you would want as a guest!"
If you want the recipe, ask...it's awesome and easy!

2. Small side. I think salad is easiest, and in a container they can throw away. Vegetables...when in doubt, ask! Maybe they love peas.

3. Small (or large dessert). Someone told me once that they loved it if someone would bring them one slice of cake. They were trying to lose baby weight, and the last thing they wanted was a massive chocolate cake. Well, they wanted it, but they didn't want the calories. Again, I like to put it in a ziplock or throw-away container. But, I have had people say "Where are the rest of these brownies?"...so take it with a grain of salt. :)

4. Paper plates, knives, napkins. Makes it easier!

5. Small token. This is totally optional, but I love doing this. Something they can keep. At least send a little card of congratulations! I like to give a little onsie. They are so cheap and you can find some really cute ones at Target.

Now, again, I don't have this all figured out. Please don't think I do. But I think it's a good start. I would love ideas!

Now the promised video.

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We got bored...

This is a long overdue post, but when it snowed like crazy, we got bored. Ryan and I both stayed home from work, and shenanigans ensued. See below.

We dressed up our dogs.

Resourcefully cooked.

Pancakes. Training for when we have kids. (My Dad always make us initial pancakes)

I wanted to do a puzzle. Ryan did not.

Read funny things at WhenParentsText.com

The dogs got a little stir-crazy, too.... 

Gotta go....Sadie is trying to drag Lewis around the house.

Sadie is in L-O-V-E

Sadie has been searching for a male companion her whole life. Most of her dog buddies that are male seem to live farther away. She hangs out with girls mostly. She has been wanting a boyfriend forever. Now, don't worry, she is fixed. But she wants a male friend. Remember this?

Well, she has found a new love. His name is Lewis. Ryan bought him for me for Valentines. I love Lewis. He is super cute.

So when we brought Lewis home, we put him in a chair and wanted to see what the dogs would do. They were intrigued. Parker was a little scared. But Sadie, oh. She loved him instantly. And never wanted to leave his side.

Meet Lewis.

At first it was cute. Really cute. We put him in our room and only let Sadie see him every now and then. We keep our door closed, and she usually runs to it to see if it is open. 

It was a cute little quirk. Then it got weird. I was out taking pictures and I got this text: 

Hahahhahahaha. I am probably the only one who thinks this is hysterical. Here are some pictures of Sadie and Lewis.

Giving Lewis some lovin'. 

Guarding Lewis from Parker.

Hey! Stay away from Lewis!

I will guard you forever, Lewis.

What's in a name?

Okay, we know we're having a girl. 95% sure. That's pretty close to 100%. But now we are trying to name her. This is super difficult. It's way more difficult than I thought it would be! But really, think....you have to call them that the rest of their lives. Forever I will be calling this name up the stairs. Calling this name out the front door when it's time for dinner or to come inside for the night. How do I pick?

We have a short list. I think we know the name, but I am skeptical. What if she doesn't look like a _____? I have read lots of baby sites and baby books looking for names. But how do I pick?

Help. Any suggestions?

And Sadie and Parker are our dogs. So they're out. (Should have thought that through....)